bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Which substances loaded onto collagen scaffolds influence oral tissue regeneration?—an overview of the last 15 years
Authors: Edelmayer Michael , Wehner Christian , Ulm Christian , Zechner Werner , Shafer David , Agis Hermann
Published: August 2020

Background

Collagen scaffolds are widely used for guided bone or tissue regeneration. Aiming to enhance their regenerative properties, studies have loaded various substances onto these scaffolds. This review aims to provide an overview of existing literature which conducted in vitro, in vivo, and clinical testing of drug-loaded collagen scaffolds and analyze their outcome of promoting oral regeneration.

Materials and methods

PubMed, Scopus, and Ovid Medline® were systematically searched for publications from 2005 to 2019. Journal articles assessing the effect of substances on oral hard or soft tissue regeneration, while using collagen carriers, were screened and qualitatively analyzed. Studies were grouped according to their used substance type—biological medical products, pharmaceuticals, and tissue-, cell-, and matrix-derived products.

Results

A total of 77 publications, applying 36 different substances, were included. Collagen scaffolds were demonstrating favorable adsorption behavior and release kinetics which could even be modified. BMP-2 was investigated most frequently, showing positive effects on oral tissue regeneration. BMP-9 showed comparable results at lower concentrations. Also, FGF2 enhanced bone and periodontal healing. Antibiotics improved the scaffold’s anti-microbial activity and reduced the penetrability for bacteria.

Conclusion

Growth factors showed promising results for oral tissue regeneration, while other substances were investigated less frequently. Found effects of investigated substances as well as adsorption and release properties of collagen scaffolds should be considered for further investigation.

Clinical relevance:Collagen scaffolds are reliable carriers for any of the applied substances. BMP-2, BMP-9, and FGF2 showed enhanced bone and periodontal healing. Antibiotics improved anti-microbial properties of the scaffolds.
Structural controls on the hydrogeological functioning of a floodplain
Authors: Martin Simon , Klingler Stefan , Dietrich Peter , Leven Carsten , Cirpka Olaf A.
Published: August 2020

Floodplains are often conceptualized as homogeneous sediment bodies which connect streams with their respective catchment and buffer agricultural inputs. This has led to a general bias within the hydrological community towards research on sites where the floodplain is a clear conduit for groundwater flow. In humid temperate regions of central Europe, floodplains have experienced rapid environmental changes since the last glaciation, yielding significant bedrock weathering and predominantly fine-grained, highly stratified hillslope and floodplain sediments. Such heterogeneous sedimentary architecture leads to conceptual ambiguities in the interpretation of the hydrogeological functioning of floodplains, thus raising the question: Do floodplains act as barriers or conduits to groundwater flow? This study analyzes the Ammer floodplain close to Tübingen in south-western Germany as a representative mid-section floodplain in a temperate climate where the regional bedrock-geology is dominated by mudstones. Geological, geophysical, and geochemical characterization and monitoring techniques were combined to shed light on the internal geological structure as a key control modulating the floodplain hydrology. Two partially separate groundwater systems were identified: a gravel body at the bottom of the Quaternary sediments and a Holocene confined tufaceous aquifer, separated by low-permeability clays. Despite flow being predominantly along-valley, sulfate concentrations in the floodplain aquifers showed evidence of a strong connection to the gypsum-bearing hillslope, particularly where tributary valley sediments are present (e.g., alluvial fans). Results from a floodplain water balance suggest the hillslope- and floodplain-aquifer material act as a barrier to hillslope groundwater recharge, where a large fraction may be bypassing the local floodplain groundwater system.
West syndrome: a comprehensive review
Authors: Pavone Piero , Polizzi Agata , Marino Simona Domenica , Corsello Giovanni , Falsaperla Raffaele , Marino Silvia , Ruggieri Martino
Published: August 2020

Since its first clinical description (on his son) by William James West (1793–1848) in 1841, and the definition of the classical triad of (1) infantile spasms; (2) hypsarrhythmia, and (3) developmental arrest or regression as “West syndrome”, new and relevant advances have been recorded in this uncommon disorder. New approaches include terminology of clinical spasms (e.g., infantile (IS) vs. epileptic spasms (ES)), variety of clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) features (e.g., typical ictal phenomena without EEG abnormalities), burden of developmental delay, spectrum of associated genetic abnormalities, pathogenesis, treatment options, and related outcome and prognosis. Aside the classical manifestations, IS or ES may present with atypical electroclinical phenotypes (e.g., subtle spasms; modified hypsarrhythmia) and may have their onset outside infancy. An increasing number of genes, proteins, and signaling pathways play crucial roles in the pathogenesis. This condition is currently regarded as a spectrum of disorders: the so-called infantile spasm syndrome (ISs), in association with other causal factors, including structural, infectious, metabolic, syndromic, and immunologic events, all acting on a genetic predisposing background. Hormonal therapy and ketogenic diet are widely used also in combination with (classical and recent) pharmacological drugs. Biologically targeted and gene therapies are increasingly studied. The present narrative review searched in seven electronic databases (primary MeSH terms/keywords included West syndrome, infantile spasms and infantile spasms syndrome and were coupled to 25 secondary clinical, EEG, therapeutic, outcomes, and associated conditions terms) including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central, Web of Sciences, Pubmed, Scopus, and OMIM to highlight the past knowledge and more recent advances.
Prophylactic nimodipine treatment improves hearing outcome after vestibular schwannoma surgery in men: a subgroup analysis of a randomized multicenter phase III trial
Authors: Scheller Christian , Rampp Stefan , Leisz Sandra , Tatagiba Marcos , Gharabaghi Alireza , Ramina Kristofer F. , Ganslandt Oliver , Matthies Cordula , Westermaier Thomas , Antoniadis Gregor , Pedro Maria T. , Rohde Veit , von Eckardstein Kajetan , Scheller Konstanze , Strauss Christian
Published: August 2020

A 2016 published randomized multicenter phase III trial of prophylactic nimodipine treatment in vestibular schwannoma surgery showed only a tendency for higher hearing preservation rates in the treatment group. Gender was not included in statistical analysis at that time. A retrospective analysis of the trial considering gender, preoperative hearing, and nimodipine treatment was performed. The treatment group received parenteral nimodipine from the day before surgery until the seventh postoperative day. The control group was not treated prophylactically. Cochlear nerve function was determined by pure-tone audiometry with speech discrimination preoperatively, during in-patient care, and 1 year after surgery and classified according to the Gardner-Robertson grading scale (GR). Logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant effect for higher hearing preservation rates (pre- and postoperative GR 1–4) in 40 men comparing the treatment (n = 21) and the control (n = 19) groups (p = 0.028), but not in 54 women comparing 27 women in both groups (p = 0.077). The results were also statistically significant for preservation of postoperative hearing with pre- and postoperative GR 1–3 (p = 0.024). There were no differences in tumor sizes between the treatment and the control groups in men, whereas statistically significant larger tumors were observed in the female treatment group compared with the female control group. Prophylactic nimodipine is safe, and an effect for hearing preservation in 40 men with preoperative hearing ability of GR 1–4 was shown in this retrospective investigation. The imbalance in tumor size with larger tumors in females of the treatment group may falsely suggest a gender-related effect. Further investigations are recommended to clarify whether gender has impact on nimodipine’s efficacy.
N-glycosylation of the human β1,4-galactosyltransferase 4 is crucial for its activity and Golgi localization
Authors: Shauchuk Auhen , Szulc Bożena , Maszczak-Seneczko Dorota , Wiertelak Wojciech , Skurska Edyta , Olczak Mariusz
Published: August 2020

β1,4-galactosyltransferase 4 (B4GalT4) is one of seven B4GalTs that belong to CAZy glycosyltransferase family 7 and transfer galactose to growing sugar moieties of proteins, glycolipids, glycosaminoglycans as well as single sugar for lactose synthesis. Herein, we identify two asparagine-linked glycosylation sites in B4GalT4. We found that mutation of one site (Asn220) had greater impact on enzymatic activity while another (Asn335) on Golgi localization and presence of N-glycans at both sites is required for production of stable and enzymatically active protein and its secretion. Additionally, we confirm B4GalT4 involvement in synthesis of keratan sulfate (KS) by generating A375 B4GalT4 knock-out cell lines that show drastic decrease in the amount of KS proteoglycans and no significant structural changes in N- and O-glycans. We show that KS decrease in A375 cells deficient in B4GalT4 activity can be rescued by overproduction of either partially or fully glycosylated B4GalT4 but not with N-glycan-depleted B4GalT4 version.
Performance and Market Maturity in Mutual Funds: Is Real Estate Different?
Authors: MacGregor Bryan D. , Schulz Rainer , Zhao Yuan
Published: August 2020

Despite the lack of convincing evidence that active investment fund managers add value, the number of actively-managed US mutual funds has increased substantially over the last 25 years. While non-sector diversified mutual funds have received much attention, sector funds, except real estate mutual funds (REMFs), have not. In this paper, we provide new and more robust evidence on the performance of active REMFs compared to all actively managed mutual funds. We use the Carhart four-factor model with an additional liquidity factor as a risk-adjusted benchmark. We use wild bootstrap methods to deal with small samples, non-normality and heteroscedasticity, and we control for the false discovery of significant results. For portfolios of fund types, we find evidence of both significant outperformance and underperformance, net of fees, during 1992-2016. We consider non-overlapping five-year and three-year periods and find very limited evidence of persistent outperformance. For individual funds, we find that, for both sector and diversified funds, net of fees, only 0.79% are skilled. We find persistence in skills for only two individual fund managers of diversified funds. We investigate the effects of the outsourcing of management and of team versus individual management. Outsourcing has no effect on performance of non-RE sector funds but, for cap-based funds and style-based funds, it has a negative effect. There is some evidence that this may also be true for REMFs. Team management has no effect for any types of funds. Overall, we conclude that REMFs are generally no different from other sector funds.
Moth assemblages within urban domestic gardens respond positively to habitat complexity, but only at a scale that extends beyond the garden boundary
Authors: Ellis Emilie E. , Wilkinson Tom L.
Published: August 2020

‘Wildlife-friendly’ gardening is a dominant theme in the media that readily engages public attention. However, there is little empirical evidence of the ecological benefits of increased habitat quality of individual domestic gardens. This study uses light-trapping to examine the response of moth assemblages to domestic gardens that are assessed in terms of their habitat complexity (simple and complex) both within the garden and extending out to a 30 m radius that includes surrounding habitats. The results clearly show that moth assemblages were influenced by complex habitats (particularly increasing levels of the variable shrubs and decreasing levels of artificial surfaces), but only at a scale that extended beyond the garden boundary to include the surrounding area. In other words, neither the complexity of the habitat within the garden or the size of the garden had any influence on the abundance or diversity of the moth assemblage. These results have implications for both garden management and landscape planning – if domestic gardens are to be a useful component of strategies to reduce biodiversity loss within the urban environment then they should provide good habitat quality and be managed as a network of interconnected patches rather than as individual units.
How Does Mining Salinisation Gradient Affect the Structure and Functioning of Macroinvertebrate Communities?
Authors: Sowa Agnieszka , Krodkiewska Mariola , Halabowski Dariusz
Published: August 2020

Elevated salinity creates degrading conditions for the development of aquatic biota in different regions of the world. There is a need for research on freshwater salinisation in order to understand how this stressor alters ecosystem function and to predict changes in biodiversity globally. Such data are missing from Central Europe, and therefore, the presented study was performed in inland anthropogenic ponds with different salinity levels located in the second largest European hard coal basin. The researcher indicated a positive correlation between water salinity and the biomass and density of macrozoobenthos as well as the percentage of shredders and the abundance of alien species, whereas there was a decrease in taxa diversity and richness and the abundance of filtering and gathering collectors and predators along with increasing salinity. The survey showed that a high level of nutrients and organic matter were also significantly correlated with the distribution of the macroinvertebrate taxa and functional feeding groups. The conducted research confirmed that mining salinisation acts as a strong filter that shapes the biodiversity because it affects the composition, abundance, biomass and functional traits of benthic macroinvertebrates and significantly contributes to the invasion of alien species.
Effects of nasal high flow on sympathovagal balance, sleep, and sleep-related breathing in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Spiesshoefer Jens , Bannwitz Britta , Mohr Michael , Herkenrath Simon , Randerath Winfried , Sciarrone Paolo , Thiedemann Christian , Schneider Hartmut , Braun Andrew T. , Emdin Michele , Passino Claudio , Dreher Michael , Boentert Matthias , Giannoni Alberto
Published: August 2020

Background

In precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH), nasal high flow therapy (NHF) may favorably alter sympathovagal balance (SVB) and sleep-related breathing through washout of anatomical dead space and alleviation of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to generation of positive airway pressure.

Objectives

To investigate the effects of NHF on SVB, sleep, and OSA in patients with PH, and compare them with those of positive airway pressure therapy (PAP).

Methods

Twelve patients with PH (Nice class I or IV) and confirmed OSA underwent full polysomnography, and noninvasive monitoring of SVB parameters (spectral analysis of heart rate, diastolic blood pressure variability). Study nights were randomly split into four 2-h segments with no treatment, PAP, NHF 20 L/min, or NHF 50 L/min. In-depth SVB analysis was conducted on 10-min epochs during daytime and stable N2 sleep at nighttime.

Results

At daytime and compared with no treatment, NHF20 and NHF50 were associated with a flow-dependent increase in peripheral oxygen saturation but a shift in SVB towards increased sympathetic drive. At nighttime, NHF20 was associated with increased parasympathetic drive and improvements in sleep efficiency, but did not alter OSA severity. NHF50 was poorly tolerated. PAP therapy improved OSA but had heterogenous effects on SVB and neutral effects on sleep outcomes. Hemodynamic effects were neutral for all interventions.

Conclusions

In sleeping PH patients with OSA NHF20 but not NHF50 leads to decreased sympathetic drive likely due to washout of anatomical dead space. NHF was not effective in lowering the apnea-hypopnoea index and NHF50 was poorly tolerated.
Treatment Updates for Neuromuscular Channelopathies
Authors: Jitpimolmard Nantaporn , Matthews Emma , Fialho Doreen
Published: August 2020

Purpose of review

This article aims to review the current and upcoming treatment options of primary muscle channelopathies including the non-dystrophic myotonias and periodic paralyses.

Recent findings

The efficacy of mexiletine in the treatment of myotonia is now supported by two randomised placebo-controlled trials, one of which utilised a novel aggregated n-of-1 design. This has resulted in licencing of the drug via orphan drug status. There is also good evidence that mexiletine is well tolerated and safe in this patient group without the need for intensive monitoring. A range of alternative antimyotonic treatment options include lamotrigine, carbamazepine and ranolazine exist with variable evidence base. In vitro studies have shown insight into reasons for treatment failure of some medications with certain genotypes opening the era of mutation-specific therapy such as use of flecainide. In the periodic paralyses, the ability of MRI to distinguish between reversible oedema and irreversible fatty replacement makes it an increasingly useful tool to guide and assess pharmacological treatment. Unfortunately, the striking efficacy of bumetanide in hypokalaemic periodic paralysis animal models was not replicated in a recent pilot study in humans.

The treatment of skeletal muscle channelopathies combines dietary and lifestyle advice together with pharmacological interventions. The rarity of these conditions remains a barrier for clinical studies but the example of the aggregated n-of-1 trial of mexiletine shows that innovative trial design can overcome these hurdles. Further research is required to test efficacy of drugs shown to have promising characteristics in preclinical experiments such as safinamide, riluzule and magnesium for myotonia or bumetanide for hypokalaemic periodic paralysis.
The role of restraint in fatal excited delirium: a research synthesis and pooled analysis
Authors: Strömmer Ellen M. F. , Leith Wendy , Zeegers Maurice P. , Freeman Michael D.
Published: August 2020

The purpose of the present study was to perform a comprehensive scientific literature review and pooled data risk factor analysis of excited delirium syndrome (ExDS) and agitated delirium (AgDS). All cases of ExDS or AgDS described individually in the literature published before April 23, 2020 were used to create a database of cases, including demographics, use of force, drug intoxication, mental illness, and survival outcome. Odds ratios were used to quantify the association between death and diagnosis (ExDS vs. AgDS) across the covariates. There were 61 articles describing 168 cases of ExDS or AgDS, of which 104 (62%) were fatal. ExDS was diagnosed in 120 (71%) cases, and AgDS in 48 (29%). Fatalities were more likely to be diagnosed as ExDS (OR: 9.9,p < 0.0001). Aggressive restraint (i.e. manhandling, handcuffs, and hobble ties)was more common in ExDS (ORs: 4.7, 14, 29.2, respectively,p < 0.0001) and fatal cases (ORs: 7.4, 10.7, 50, respectively, p < 0.0001). Sedation was more common in AgDS and survived cases (OR:11, 25, respectively,p < 0.0001). The results of the study indicate that a diagnosis of ExDS is far more likely to be associated with both aggressive restraint and death, in comparison with AgDS. There is no evidence to support ExDS as a cause of death in the absence of restraint. These findings are at odds with previously published theories indicating that ExDS-related death is due to an occult pathophysiologic process. When death has occurred in an aggressively restrained individual who fits the profile of either ExDS or AgDS, restraint-related asphyxia must be considered a likely cause of the death.
Do Criminals Live Faster Than Soldiers and Firefighters?
Authors: Kwiek Monika , Piotrowski Przemysław
Published: August 2020

A high risk of morbidity-mortality caused by a harsh and unpredictable environment is considered to be associated with a fast life history (LH) strategy, commonly linked with criminal behavior. However, offenders are not the only group with a high exposure to extrinsic morbidity-mortality. In the present study, we investigated the LH strategies employed by two groups of Polish men: incarcerated offenders (N = 84) as well as soldiers and firefighters (N = 117), whose professions involve an elevated risk of injury and premature death. The subjects were asked to complete the Mini-K (used as a psychosocial LH indicator) and a questionnaire which included a number of biodemographic LH variables. Although biodemographic and psychosocial LH indicators should be closely linked with each other, the actual connection between them is unclear. Thus, this study was driven by two aims: comparing LH strategies in two groups of men with a high risk of premature morbidity-mortality and investigating the relationship between the biodemographic and psychosocial LH dimensions. The study showed that incarcerated men employed faster LH strategies than soldiers and firefighters, but only in relation to biodemographic variables (e.g., number of siblings, age of sexual initiation, life expectancy). No intergroup differences emerged regarding psychosocial LH indicators. Moreover, the correlation analysis showed a weak association between biodemographic and psychosocial LH indicators. The results strengthen the legitimacy of incorporating biodemographic LH traits into research models and indicate the need for further research on the accuracy of the Mini-K. The possible explanations for the intergroup differences in LH strategies are discussed.
Swimming pool heating technology: A state-of-the-art review
Authors: Li Yantong , Nord Natasa , Huang Gongsheng , Li Xin
Published: August 2020

A large amount of heat is needed to maintain the thermal comfort of both indoor and outdoor swimming pools in cold seasons. This motivates the development of various heating technologies aiming to reduce energy use, as well as operating and investment costs. Although their development can be traced back to the 1960s, a comprehensive review of these technologies is lacking. Therefore, this paper presents a comprehensive review of the development of heating technologies for swimming pools. This review firstly introduces available heat transfer models that can be used to calculate or predict heat loss and heat gain for swimming pools. Then, different passive and active technologies are summarized. The active heating technologies used for indoor swimming pools include solar collector, heat pump, waste heat recovery, geothermal energy, and congregation technologies. The active heating technologies used for outdoor swimming pools include solar collector, heat pump, PCM storage, geothermal energy, biomass heater, and waste heat recovery technologies. A discussion is presented on the practical and possible heating techniques for swimming pool applications. Finally, through the reviewed literature, future research opportunities are identified, to guide researchers to investigate swimming pool heating systems with suitable and relevant technologies.
Food Supply Chains as Cyber-Physical Systems: a Path for More Sustainable Personalized Nutrition
Authors: Smetana Sergiy , Aganovic Kemal , Heinz Volker
Published: August 2020

Current food system evolved in a great degree because of the development of processing and food engineering technologies: people learned to bake bread long before the advent of agriculture; salting and smoking supported nomad lifestyles; canning allowed for longer military marches; etc. Food processing technologies went through evolution and significant optimization and currently rely on minor fraction of energy comparing with initial prototypes. Emerging processing technologies (high-pressure, pulsed electric fields, ohmic heating, ultrasound) and novel food systems (cultured biomass, 3-D bioprinting, cyber-physical chains) try to challenge the existing chains by developing potentially more nutritious and sustainable food solutions. However, new food systems rely on low technology readiness levels and estimation of their potential future benefits or drawbacks is a complex task mostly due to the lack of integrated data. The research is aimed for the development of conceptual guidelines of food production system structuring as cyber-physical systems. The study indicates that cyber-physical nature of modern food is a key for the engineering of more nutritious and sustainable paths for novel food systems. Implementation of machine learning methods for the collection, integration, and analysis of data associated with biomass production and processing on different levels from molecular to global, leads to the precise analysis of food systems and estimation of upscaling benefits, as well as possible negative rebound effects associated with societal attitude. Moreover, such data-integrated assessment systems allow transparency of chains, integration of nutritional and environmental properties, and construction of personalized nutrition technologies.
Greg, ML – Machine Learning for Healthcare at a Scale
Authors: Lapadula Paola , Mecca Giansalvatore , Santoro Donatello , Solimando Luisa , Veltri Enzo
Published: August 2020

This paper introduces the Greg, ML platform, a machine-learning engine and toolset conceived to generate automatic diagnostic suggestions based on patient profiles. Greg, ML departs from many other experiences in machine learning for healthcare in the fact that it was designed to handle a large number of different diagnoses, in the order of the hundreds. We discuss the architecture that stands at the core of Greg, ML, designed to handle the complex challenges posed by this ambitious goal, and confirm its effectiveness with experimental results based on the working prototype we have developed. Finally, we discuss challenges and opportunities related to the use of this kind of tools in medicine, and some important lessons learned while developing the tool. In this respect, we underline that Greg, ML should be conceived primarily as a support for expert doctors in their diagnostic decisions, and can hardly replace humans in their judgment.
Ontology Modularization with OAPT
Authors: Algergawy Alsayed , Babalou Samira , Klan Friederike , König-Ries Birgitta
Published: August 2020

Ontologies are the backbone of the Semantic Web. As a result, the number of existing ontologies and the number of topics covered by them has increased considerably. With this, reusing these ontologies becomes preferable to constructing new ontologies from scratch. However, a user might be interested in a part and/or a set of parts of a given ontology, only. Therefore, ontology modularization, i.e., splitting up an ontology into smaller parts that can be independently used, becomes a necessity. In this paper, we introduce a new approach to partition ontology based on theseeding-basedscheme, which is developed and implemented through the Ontology Analysis and Partitioning Tool (OAPT). This tool proceeds according to the following methodology: first, before a candidate ontology is partitioned,OAPToptionally analyzes the input ontology to determine, if this ontology is worth considering using a predefined set of criteria that quantify the semantic and structural richness of the ontology. After that, we apply the seeding-based partitioning algorithm to modularize it into a set of modules. To decide upon a suitable number of modules that will be generated by partitioning the ontology, we provide the user a recommendation based on an information theoretic model selection method. We demonstrate the effectiveness of theOAPTtool and validate the performance of the partitioning approach by conducting an extensive set of experiments. The results prove the quality and the efficiency of the proposed tool.
Effect of contact forms on the wear of hard silicon surfaces by soft polymers
Authors: Zhang Zhaoxiang , Jia Xiaohong , Guo Fei , Shan Zhongde , Wang Yuming
Published: August 2020

The mechanism of hard surfaces worn by soft polymers is not clearly understood. In this paper, a new hypothesis has been proposed, it holds that the stress acting on the hard surface under certain working conditions is the main reason for wear of the hard surface by a soft polymer. The hypothesis was investigated by changing the contact form between tribo-pairs. For this, friction tests between six polymer spheres and smooth, rough, and inclined monocrystalline silicon surfaces were carried out. The results show that for the same tribo-pair, the silicon surface will not be worn in some contact forms, but in other contact forms it will be worn. We believe the wear of hard surface by a soft polymer is the result of the combined stress state action on the hard surface.
Technology Considerations for Enabling eSource in Clinical Research: Industry Perspective
Authors: Jennings Donald G. , Nordo Amy , Vattikola Aruna , Kjaer Jesper
Published: August 2020

Background

The technological complexities and broad operational scope of eSource impede coordinated, inter-organizational action on advancing at-scale solutions.

Methods

We introduce an architectural framework for articulating technological considerations across organizations. The architecture neither implies nor endorses solution implementations; rather, it proposes solution functionality based upon principles and good clinical practices.

Results

Key technology considerations include patterns of anticipated use, implications to the current state of clinical trial operations, and the need for new technologies (i.e., IoT, Big Data, Predictive Analytics).

Conclusion

Technology considerations drive implications beyond technology—influencing regulatory, process, and ethical realms of clinical research.
Moderators of Improvement From Mindfulness-Based vs Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Provoked Vestibulodynia
Authors: Brotto Lori A. , Zdaniuk Bozena , Rietchel Lauren , Basson Rosemary , Bergeron Sophie
Published: August 2020

Background and Aim

The goal was to evaluate the moderators of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to improve dyspareunia, reduce pain catastrophizing, and improve overall sexual function in women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD). Both treatments effectively reduced self-reported pain, sexual dysfunction, and pain catastrophizing in women with PVD.

Methods

A total of 130 women with PVD were assigned to CBT or MBCT.

Outcomes

Potential moderators included (i) PVD subtype (primary or secondary), (ii) baseline pain intensity, (iii) trait mindfulness, (iv) treatment credibility, (v) relationship duration, and (vi) age. Outcomes were pain intensity, sexual function, and pain catastrophizing at 4 time points: before and after treatment and 6- and 12-month follow-up. Moderation was tested using multilevel models, nesting 4 time points within participants. The interaction of the moderator, time effect, and treatment group was evaluated for significance, and a simple slope analysis of significant interactions was performed.

Results

Pain reduction across 4 time points was the greatest in women who were younger, in relationships of shorter duration, and with greater baseline pain. Treatment credibility moderated pain intensity outcomes (B = 0.305, P < .01) where those with higher treatment credibility ratings (for that particular treatment) improved more in MBCT than CBT. PVD subtype moderated pain catastrophizing (B = 3.150, P < .05). Those with primary PVD improved more in the CBT condition, whereas women with secondary PVD improved more in the MBCT condition. Relationship length moderated sexual function (B = 0.195, P < .01). Women in shorter relationships improved more with MBCT, whereas women in longer relationships improved more on sexual function with CBT. No other tested variables moderated outcomes differentially across both treatment conditions.

Clinical Implications

Women who present with high credibility about mindfulness, in shorter relationships, and with secondary PVD might respond better to MBCT whereas those with primary PVD and longer relationships might respond better to CBT.

Strengths & Limitations

Clinical sample. Half the women who were not sexually active were omitted from analyses of sexual function.

Conclusion

Overall, treatment credibility, relationship length, and PVD subtype were found to moderate improvements differently in MBCT and CBT. These findings may assist clinicians in individualizing psychological treatment for women with PVD.

Clinical Trial Registration

This clinical trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01704456.
Fiscal Pressures and Discriminatory Policing: Evidence from Traffic Stops in Missouri
Authors: Harris Allison P. , Ash Elliott , Fagan Jeffrey
Published: August 2020

This paper provides evidence of racial variation in traffic enforcement responses to local government budget stress using data from policing agencies in the state of Missouri from 2001 through 2012. Like previous studies, we find that local budget stress is associated with higher citation rates; we also find an increase in traffic-stop arrest rates. However, we find that these effects are concentrated among White (rather than Black or Latino) drivers. The results are robust to the inclusion of a range of covariates and a variety of model specifications, including a regression discontinuity examining bare budget shortfalls. Considering potential mechanisms, we find that targeting of White drivers is higher where the White-to-Black income ratio is higher, consistent with the targeting of drivers who are better able to pay fines. Further, the relative effect on White drivers is higher in areas with statistical over-policing of Black drivers: when Black drivers are already getting too many fines, police cite White drivers from whom they are presumably more likely to be able to raise the needed extra revenue. These results highlight the relationship between policing-as-taxation and racial inequality in policing outcomes.
Continuum of maternal health care services and its impact on child immunization in India: an application of the propensity score matching approach
Authors: Usman Mohd , Anand Enu , Siddiqui Laeek , Unisa Sayeed
Published: August 2020

Continuum of care throughout pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery has proved to be a critical health intervention for improving the health of mothers and their newborn children. Using data from the fourth wave of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) conducted in 2015–16, this study examined the correlates of utilization of maternal health care services and child immunization following the continuum of care approach in India. The study also assessed whether the continuity in utilizing maternal health care services affects the immunization of children. A total of 33,422 survey women aged 15–49 were included in the analysis of maternal health care indicators, and 8246 children aged 12–23 months for the analysis of child immunization. The results indicated that about 19% of the women had completed the maternal health continuum, i.e. received full antenatal care, had an institutional delivery and received postnatal care. Women with a higher level of education and of higher economic status were more likely to have complete continuum of care. Continuity of maternal health care was found to be associated with an increase in the immunization level of children. It was observed that 76% of the children whose mothers had complete continuum of care were fully immunized. Furthermore, the results from propensity score matching revealed that if mothers received continuum of care, the chance of their child being fully immunized increased by 17 percentage points. The results suggest that promotion of the continuum of maternal health care approach could help reduce not only the burden of maternal deaths in India, but also that of child deaths by increasing the immunization level of children.
X-ray computed microtomography for the structural analysis of jewelry from the Museum “Royal Tombs of Sipán”
Authors: de Azeredo Soraia Rodrigues , Cesareo Roberto , Dominguez Angel Guillermo Bustamante , Lopes Ricardo Tadeu
Published: August 2020

Precious ornaments from the Museum Royal Tombs of Sipán were analyzed by X-ray computed microtomography (microCT). The ornaments analyzed were golden earrings produced by the Moche culture that flourished along the north coast of present-day Peru between approximately 100 and 600 AD. Sipán, also known as Huava Rajada, is a mochica archaeological complex in the north of Peru. In particular, the spectacular jewelry, mainly composed of gold, silver, and copper alloys, gilded copper, and tumbaga, from the Museum “Royal Tombs of Sipán,” in Lambayeque, north of Peru, are some of the most sophisticated metalworking ever produced of pre-Columbian America. A portable microCT system consisting of a high-resolution flat panel detector and a mini X-ray tube were used for the structural analysis of these ornaments. The microCT images show parts of the internal structure, highlighting the manufacturing technique and gold sheets joining techniques of the Moche artisans. Furthermore, the advantage of using the portable microCT system for nondestructive testing is clear when the sample cannot be taken to the laboratory.
Plasma Depletion Bays in the Equatorial Ionosphere Observed by FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC During 2007–2014
Authors: Chang F. Y. , Liu J. Y. , Fang T. W. , Rajesh P. K. , Lin C. H.
Published: August 2020

A new feature of plasma depletion bay (PDB) on the longitudinal structure over the equatorial and low latitudes is observed by the FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC (F3/C) electron density profiles. The existence of the PDB feature is confirmed by the OI 135.6 nm radiance from TIMED/GUVI, which together with F3/C electron density shows that one North PDB extending to the Southern Hemisphere prominently appears over Southwest America while three South PDBs extending to the Northern Hemisphere occur over North Atlantic, India Ocean, and Southeast Asia. Three‐dimensional F3/C ionospheric electron densities are further used to examine PDB structures at various local times, seasons, solar activities, and altitudes during 2007−2014. It is found that the north PDB is observed during October−March, while the south PDBs mostly exist during April−September. These PDBs can be observed within 250–350 km altitudes in the nighttime, appearing pronounced over 275–300 km altitudes around 2300–0100 LT, in the low solar activity year of 2007. Global effective wind patterns computed using the horizontal wind model HWM93 in solstice months suggest that summer‐to‐winter field‐aligned winds projected from zonal neutral winds play an important role.
Characteristics of Reconnection Sites and Fast Flow Channels in an MHD Simulation
Authors: McPherron R. L. , El‐Alaoui M. , Walker R. J. , Richard R.
Published: August 2020

We investigate an interval of moderate magnetic activity from 0–8 UT on 14 March 2008 by using a global magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulation with high spatial and temporal resolution. Observations show several distinct substorms during this interval. One of these with onset at 04:44 UT occurs at 04:42 UT in the simulation. The simulation shows reconnection is continuously present at multiple sites. During the growth phase, the number of X‐lines decreases as their total length increase and their locations approach the Earth. The X‐lines create multiple fast flow channels with dipolarization fronts. The total length and area of these channels increase during the growth phase as they penetrate closer to the Earth carrying more magnetic flux. The 04:42 UT onset in the simulation was preceded by the growth of an X‐line that eventually extended 55 RE from 12 RE premidnight to 50 on the dawn side. It produced a narrow flow channel parallel to the X‐line that eventually penetrated inside 10 RE rapidly depositing magnetic flux as the expansion phase developed. Despite this good agreement in expansion phase onset time, ground and satellite observations suggest a quiet growth phase with a sudden onset of reconnection. It may be possible to explain the difference between observations and simulations if all growth phase activity in the simulation maps to the ionosphere at very high latitudes. An auroral streamer at onset maps in the simulation very close to Earth. A recovery phase streamer maps to the middle tail.
Agulhas Ring Heat Content and Transport in the South Atlantic Estimated by Combining Satellite Altimetry and Argo Profiling Floats Data
Authors: Laxenaire R. , Speich S. , Stegner A.
Published: August 2020

The Agulhas leakage of Indian Ocean waters into the Atlantic has been shown to be a key link in global ocean circulation and climate; an increased understanding of this process is therefore of more than just of local interest. While knowledge of the Agulhas leakage has increased over the past 30 years, the precise mechanisms at play and water properties transferred are still not sufficiently documented. This study covers the Agulhas rings heat content and transport, which contribute to the meridional overturning circulation of the global ocean during their route across the South Atlantic Ocean. By applying TOEddies, an eddy detection and tracking algorithm that takes into account eddy merging and splitting, to satellite altimetry maps combined with a colocation of the detected eddies with Argo floats vertical profiles, we are able to document the important heat anomaly characterizing Agulhas rings and their evolution across the Cape Basin and the South Atlantic Ocean. Notwithstanding that in situ data coverage is still limited at the ocean mesoscale, we have estimated an averaged Agulhas rings subsurface heat transport of 2.5 × 10−2 PW and 1.5 × 10−2 PW across the eastern and western South Atlantic Ocean, respectively.
Tropical Cyclone Activities in Warm Climate with Quadrupled CO2 Concentration Simulated by a New General Circulation Model
Authors: Song Chanwoo , Park Sungsu , Shin Jihoon
Published: August 2020

To understand the impacts of global warming on tropical cyclones (TCs), we compared various TC properties and environmental conditions during the pre‐industrial period with those in a warm climate with quadrupled CO2 concentration using the Seoul National University Earth System Model Version 0 with a unified convection scheme (SEM0‐UNICON). TCs in warm climate are faster, stronger, and larger with more precipitation but are short‐lived and fewer than those in cold climate. Fewer TCs in warm climate are associated with the decreases in the climatological mean upward flow at 500 hPa (ω500) and the increase in saturation deficit at 600 hPa (δ600). In contrast, enhanced TC intensity is associated with the increases in sea surface temperature, upward ω500, column‐integrated water vapor, convective available potential energy, and horizontal moisture convergence below 700 hPa along TC tracks.
Ocean Biogeochemistry in GFDL's Earth System Model 4.1 and Its Response to Increasing Atmospheric CO2
Authors: Stock Charles A. , Dunne John P. , Fan Songmiao , Ginoux Paul , John Jasmin , Krasting John P. , Laufkötter Charlotte , Paulot Fabien , Zadeh Niki
Published: August 2020

This contribution describes the ocean biogeochemical component of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's Earth System Model 4.1 (GFDL‐ESM4.1), assesses GFDL‐ESM4.1's capacity to capture observed ocean biogeochemical patterns, and documents its response to increasing atmospheric CO2. Notable differences relative to the previous generation of GFDL ESM's include enhanced resolution of plankton food web dynamics, refined particle remineralization, and a larger number of exchanges of nutrients across Earth system components. During model spin‐up, the carbon drift rapidly fell below the 10 Pg C per century equilibration criterion established by the Coupled Climate‐Carbon Cycle Model Intercomparison Project (C4MIP). Simulations robustly captured large‐scale observed nutrient distributions, plankton dynamics, and characteristics of the biological pump. The model overexpressed phosphate limitation and open ocean hypoxia in some areas but still yielded realistic surface and deep carbon system properties, including cumulative carbon uptake since preindustrial times and over the last decades that is consistent with observation‐based estimates. The model's response to the direct and radiative effects of a 200% atmospheric CO2increase from preindustrial conditions (i.e., years 101–120 of a 1% CO2yr−1simulation) included (a) a weakened, shoaling organic carbon pump leading to a 38% reduction in the sinking flux at 2,000 m; (b) a two‐thirds reduction in the calcium carbonate pump that nonetheless generated only weak calcite compensation on century time‐scales; and, in contrast to previous GFDL ESMs, (c) a moderate reduction in global net primary production that was amplified at higher trophic levels. We conclude with a discussion of model limitations and priority developments.
Hydrological Tracking Model for Amazon Surface Waters
Authors: Sorribas Mino Viana , de Paiva Rodrigo Cauduro Dias , Fleischmann Ayan Santos , Collischonn Walter
Published: August 2020

This study presents an alternative model for hydrological tracking of surface waters designed to investigate multiyear storage and movement of water in large river basins. We coupled this model with a background solution from a large‐scale hydrological‐hydrodynamic model to study the fate of waters in the Amazon River basin (6 million km2) considering the following: (i) the surface water travel times, (ii) the role of large floodable areas (17% of the basin), and (iii) the relations between water composition and lithological sources. Through numerical experiments, we investigated the spatial distribution of in‐stream surface water travel time for the Amazon River Basin (relative to the outlet) and the role of floodplains in seasonal water storage. We estimate that surface water travel time is likely to be less than 90 days (median of 45 days), although about 20% of the flowing water passes through large floodplains. Our modeling exercises indicate that whole‐basin monthly water net balance between river and floodplain can reach up to magnitudes of 105 m3/s; the water exchanged with floodplains during the annual floods can represent a large portion (up to 40%) of the basin discharge during low waters season. Finally, we took advantage of the tracking approach to study the hydrograph composition based on parent river lithology quantifying the role of major tributaries. Parallel to the development of global hydrology databases, new modeling approaches are also required to push advances in the discussion of renewal and travel times of surface waters in large river basins.