bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multicomponent condensation on the nucleation stage
Authors: Kuchma Anatoly E. , Shchekin Alexander K.
Published: February 2019

A new analysis of evolution of an ensemble of supercritical (in size) droplets in the atmosphere of several condensing vapors has been presented. The analysis has been performed for the nucleation stage of formation and growth of the supercritical droplets in a closed system with a fixed amount of condensing species. The nucleation stage starts with appearance of supercritical droplets and finishes when nucleation rate of new critical droplets in the closed system ceases due to vapor depletion by the growing supercritical droplets. Here, we extend the mean-field theory for the nucleation stage of gas bubbles formation at degassing of a solution of several dissolved gases, which was published recently [A. E. Kuchma et al., J. Chem. Phys. 148, 234103 (2018)], to the nucleation stage of multicomponent nucleation and growth of supercritical droplets at isothermal conditions. An approach, which allows one to find all vapor supersaturations and the distribution of supercritical droplets in sizes as functions of time on the nucleation stage, has been proposed here for a real multicomponent solution and illustrated in the case of ideal multicomponent solution in supercritical droplets.
Effect of toroidal rotation on the linear stability of drift-resistive-inertial ballooning modes
Authors: Xu J. Q. , Peng X. D. , Chen L. J.
Published: February 2019

The two-fluid drift-resistive-inertial-ballooning mode model [Rafiq et al., Phys. Plasmas 17, 082511 (2010)] developed by Rafiq et al. has been improved with the inclusion of the effects of local toroidal rotation and its shear. Linear fluid simulations have shown that the drift-resistive-inertial ballooning modes (DRIBMs) are destabilized by the toroidal rotation. It has been discovered that the effect of velocity shear on the DRIBMs strongly depends on the type of driving force. For the case of the density gradient driven DRIBMs, the modes can be stabilized by large velocity shear, while for the electron temperature gradient driven DRIBMs (ηe-driven DRIBMs), the velocity shear is shown to have a more effective stabilizing effect. However, in the situation of the ion temperature gradient driven DRIBMs (ηi-driven DRIBMs), the modes are further destabilized by the velocity shear. The behaviors of DRIBMs driven by the coexistence of ion and electron temperature gradients are shown to be similar to the ηe-driven DRIBMs, suggesting that the electron temperature gradient is one kind of strong driving force for DRIBMs. Besides, the toroidal ion temperature gradient modes are shown to be destabilized by the rotation and the velocity shear.
Flow characteristics inside droplets moving in a curved microchannel with rectangular section
Authors: Liu Zhaomiao , Li Mengqi , Pang Yan , Zhang Longxiang , Ren Yanlin , Wang Ju
Published: February 2019

A micro-particle image velocimetry system is used to study the internal flow field of droplets in a curved channel, with consideration of the effects of capillary number, viscosity ratio, droplet size, channel curvature, and interfacial tension on the flow field. It is found from the experiment that there is a clockwise eddy in the upper part of the droplet, and three more in the lower part, of which the left and right ones are counterclockwise and the middle one is clockwise. By adjusting the above parameters, the flow field structure transitions can be realized. Either the decrease in the viscosity ratio, droplet size, channel curvature, and interfacial tension or the increase in capillary number will all weaken the effect of the lower gap oil film on the movement of the droplets, resulting in disappearance of the lower intermediate eddy. In case the droplet size is further reduced, the two eddies below will gradually approach and merge. After the addition of more surfactants, the eddy at the lower portion of the droplet may not form a complete rotating structure, or be transferred to other planes inside the droplet, and the eddy originally presented in the upper portion of the droplet expands to occupy the entire droplet. The results of this study are useful for screening high-throughput cell manipulation application reaction conditions, further expanding the application range of flow cytometry, and providing experimental support for extraction, synthesis, and heat and mass transfer directly relying on the internal convection of droplets.
Strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy induced by broken symmetry of A1-CoPt
Authors: Caesario Petrus , Harumoto Takashi , Nakamura Yoshio , Shi Ji
Published: February 2019

Strained CoPt films have been deposited on TiN intermediate layers with single crystal MgO as the substrate. At a thickness of 2.5 nm, CoPt films grow epitaxially on the TiN layer while being strained horizontally. On the other hand, the 10 nm sample is partially relaxed by misfit dislocations. Different strain conditions result in different c/a ratios of the respective lattices. With a c/a ratio of 0.974, the 2.5 nm CoPt film with a perpendicular coercivity of 11 kOe could be obtained at a temperature (400°C) much lower than the usual fabrication temperature (∼800°C). The broken symmetry induced by the lattice distortion is believed to be the main source of the perpendicular magnetization. This study may open new possibilities of fabricating CoPt based magnetic recording media at lower temperatures.
Role of hybridization and magnetic effects in massive Dirac cones: Magnetic topological heterostructures with controlled film thickness
Authors: Okuyama Yuma , Ishikawa Ryo , Kuroda Shinji , Hirahara Toru
Published: February 2019

We fabricated MnBi2Se4/(n − 1) quintuple layer (QL) Bi2Se3 magnetic topological heterostructures (n = 1–6) and measured the Dirac cone dispersion with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We observed a clear gap opening for films with n = 2–6 and the gap size decreased as the film thickness increased. From magnetization measurements using SQUID, all the heterostructures showed hysteresis loops at 4 K and at room temperature, confirming that MnBi2Se4 is a room temperature van der Waals ferromagnet. We were able to distinguish the contribution of the hybridization and magnetic effects on the observed Dirac-cone gap directly using a four-band model and its implications on the behavior of the expected quantum anomalous Hall effect is discussed.
Thermal-induced irreversible straining of ultrathin boron nitride nanosheets
Authors: Qu Wenyang , Gou Feilin , Ke Changhong
Published: February 2019

We investigate the thermal-induced mechanical deformations in mono- and few-layer hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) on flat silicon dioxide substrates by using atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The measurements reveal that the deformation of thin BNNS follows the reversible expansion/contraction of the substrate at relatively low temperatures. Irreversible deformations in BNNS are observed at elevated temperatures, which are attributed to interfacial sliding on the BNNS-substrate interface that is caused by the temperature-dependent thermal expansion mismatch of BN and substrate materials. Monolayer BNNS is found to possess the highest onset temperature of irreversible straining, which decreases with an increase in the BNNS thickness. The interfacial load transfer characteristics of the BNNS-substrate interface are quantitatively investigated using a micromechanics model. The analysis reveals that monolayer BNNS possesses a maximum interfacial shear strength of about 28.38 MPa on its binding interface with substrates at about 525 °C. The findings are useful to better understand the fundamental structural and mechanical properties of BNNS and in pursuit of its applications, in particular, those involved with high temperature processing and/or working environments.
Electrostatic field imaged in 3D around an electron nano-emitter
Authors: Johnson-Groh Mara
Published: February 2019

Nanoscale electro-static fields of a sharp tungsten electron emitter were measured and showed almost perfect agreement with simulated data.
Photocatalysis of γ–cyclodextrin-functionalised Fe3O4 nanoparticles for degrading Bisphenol A in polluted waters
Authors: Neamţu Mariana , Nădejde Claudia , Hodoroabă Vasile-Dan , Schneider Rudolf J. , Ababei Gabriel , Panne Ulrich
Published: February 2019

Environmental contextEfficiently removing persistent organic pollutants, such as Bisphenol A, from wastewaters is essential for maintaining environmental quality. The present work applies advanced oxidation processes and the enhanced photocatalytic activity of cyclodextrin-immobilised magnetic nanoparticles for the removal of Bisphenol A under mild conditions. The study highlights the need to consider eco-friendly, safe and cost-effective approaches for the removal of persistent hazardous pollutants from wastewaters.
AbstractThe efficiency, relatively low cost and eco-friendly nature of hydrogen peroxide-assisted photocatalysis treatment procedures are significant advantages over conventional techniques for wastewater remediation. Herein, we evaluate the behaviour of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) immobilised on either bare or chitosan (CS)–functionalised Fe3O4 nanoparticles, for photodegrading Bisphenol A (BPA) in ultrapure water and in real wastewater samples. The BPA removal efficiencies with Fe3O4/γ-CD and Fe3O4/CS/γ-CD were compared with those of Fe3O4/β-CD, and were monitored under UVA irradiation at near-neutral pH. The addition of H2O2 at low concentrations (15mmolL−1) significantly increased BPA photodegradation in the presence of each nanocomposite. The highest catalytic activity was shown by both Fe3O4/γ-CD and Fe3O4/CS/γ-CD nanocomposites (~60 and 27% BPA removal in ultrapure water and real wastewater effluent, respectively). Our findings reveal the superior performance of γ-CD-functionalised Fe3O4 relative to that of Fe3O4/β-CD. The use of CD-based nanocomposites as photocatalytic materials could be an attractive option in the pre- or post-treatment stage of wastewaters by advanced oxidation processes before or after biological treatment.
Corrigendum to: Decision making over condom use during menses to avert sexually transmissible infections
Authors: Crosby Richard A. , Graham Cynthia A. , Sanders Stephanie A. , Yarber William L. , Wheeler Marija V. , Milhausen Robin R. , Vitzthum Virginia J.
Published: February 2019

Background:The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that receptive partners in penile–vaginal intercourse (PVI) who exercise independent decision making over condom use during menses do so to avert sexually transmissible infection (STI) transmission or acquisition. Methods: Data were collected through a partnership with Clue, the industry-leading female health app. A brief web-based questionnaire was developed, translated into 10 languages, and made accessible via a URL link sent to Clue users and posted on social media. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥14 years, not being currently pregnant and engaging in PVI and condom use during menses in the past 3 months. The analytical subsample comprised 12889 respondents residing in 146 countries. Results: Twenty per cent indicated independent decision making about condom use during menses. Independent decision making was associated with lower odds of reporting that condoms were used for contraception (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.65; 99% confidence interval (CI) 0.57–0.73) and higher odds that they were used for the prevention of STIs (aOR 1.44; 99% CI 1.28–1.61). A third significant finding pertained to always using condoms during menses; this was less likely among those indicating independent (female only) decision making (aOR 0.69; 99% CI 0.62–0.78). Non-significant associations with another two outcomes were found: protecting the partner against menstrual blood and protecting themselves against semen. Conclusions: Findings from people in 146 countries strongly support the hypothesis that those exercising independent decision making over condom use during menses do so to avert STI transmission or acquisition. That only one-fifth of this global sample reported this type of independent decision making suggests that empowerment-oriented (structural-level) interventions may be advantageous for individuals who are the receptive partner in PVI that occurs during menses.
Disciplinary registers in a first-year program
Authors: Ferreira Alfredo A. , Zappa-Hollman Sandra
Published: February 2019

With notable exceptions, few studies of teaching and learning of scholarly registers and genres to users of English as an additional language focus on curriculum. For a contextualized understanding of register-curriculum relations, this study investigates disciplinary registers in the Academic English Program at Vantage College, a new alternative-entry, first-year program at the University of British Columbia, Canada. In integrating content and language instruction, the curriculum adopts systemic functional linguistics as the informing theory of language. Program registers and their relations are investigated usingMatthiessen’s (2015)context-based register typology. This novel case study highlights register-curriculum relations in key aspects, including discipline-specific variation in register instruction, planned learning trajectories, faculty collaborations, and relations between English for general and specific academic purposes.
Transverse structure and energy deposition by a subTW femtosecond laser in air: from single filament to superfilament
Authors: Pushkarev D , Mitina E , Shipilo D , Panov N , Uryupina D , Ushakov A , Volkov R , Karabutov A , Babushkin I , Demircan A , Morgner U , Kosareva O , Savel’ev A
Published: February 2019

We traced experimentally transition from a single air filament to the superfilament under action of powerful loosely focused (NA ∼ 0.0021) femtosecond beam. Two regimes were exploited with multifilament formation by artificial amplitude or intrinsic amplitude/phase front modulation of the beam having 10–60 critical powers P
cr. Transverse spatial structure and energy density in the filament were studied using wideband acoustic detection and beam mode imaging single shot techniques at different distances along the optical path. We showed that with intrinsic front modulation a single extremely long ionized channel is formed provided peak power P of the initial beam does not exceed 20P
cr. Its volumetric energy density is ∼1.5–3 times higher than in the single filament, while linear energy density is almost 10 times higher. Artificial amplitude modulation leads to formation of either a single long filament or two closely spaced filaments at the same initial conditions. Maximal volumetric energy density was the same in both cases and slightly less than without this modulation. A few closely spaced filaments are generated at higher peak powers P with volumetric and linear energy densities experiencing fast nonlinear increase with P. Highest linear energy density achieved was 600 μJ cm−1, i.e. almost 100 times higher than that of the single filament with increase in energy 10 times only. The volumetric energy density also increases by a factor of 10 to ∼800 mJ cm−3 proving huge increase in intensity and electron density that is characteristic feature of the superfilamentation. These findings were supported by the numerical simulations based on the Forward Maxwell equation with resolved driver of the field that showed superfilament splitting and confirmed energy densities estimated from the experimental data.
Functional connectivity associated with tau levels in ageing, Alzheimer’s, and small vessel disease
Authors: Franzmeier Nicolai , Rubinski Anna , Neitzel Julia , Kim Yeshin , Damm Alexander , Na Duk L , Kim Hee Jin , Lyoo Chul Hyoung , Cho Hana , Finsterwalder Sofia , Duering Marco , Seo Sang Won , Ewers Michael ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: February 2019

In Alzheimer’s disease, tau pathology spreads hierarchically from the inferior temporal lobe throughout the cortex, ensuing cognitive decline and dementia. Similarly, circumscribed patterns of pathological tau have been observed in normal ageing and small vessel disease, suggesting a spatially ordered distribution of tau pathology across normal ageing and different diseases. In vitro findings suggest that pathological tau may spread ‘prion-like’ across neuronal connections in an activity-dependent manner. Supporting this notion, functional brain networks show a spatial correspondence to tau deposition patterns. However, it remains unclear whether higher network-connectivity facilitates tau propagation. To address this, we included 55 normal aged elderly (i.e. cognitively normal, amyloid-negative), 50 Alzheimer’s disease patients (i.e. amyloid-positive) covering the preclinical to dementia spectrum, as well as 36 patients with pure (i.e. amyloid-negative) vascular cognitive impairment due to small vessel disease. All subjects were assessed with AV1451 tau-PET and resting-state functional MRI. Within each group, we computed atlas-based resting-state functional MRI functional connectivity across 400 regions of interest covering the entire neocortex. Using the same atlas, we also assessed within each group the covariance of tau-PET levels among the 400 regions of interest. We found that higher resting-state functional MRI assessed functional connectivity between any given region of interest pair was associated with higher covariance in tau-PET binding in corresponding regions of interest. This result was consistently found in normal ageing, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular cognitive impairment. In particular, inferior temporal tau-hotspots, as defined by highest tau-PET uptake, showed high predictive value of tau-PET levels in functionally closely connected regions of interest. These associations between functional connectivity and tau-PET uptake were detected regardless of presence of dementia symptoms (mild cognitive impairment or dementia), amyloid deposition (as assessed by amyloid-PET) or small vessel disease. Our findings suggest that higher functional connectivity between brain regions is associated with shared tau-levels, supporting the view of prion-like tau spreading facilitated by neural activity.
Fairy Tales versus Facts: Genre Matters to the Developing Brain
Authors: Aboud Katherine S , Bailey Stephen K , Del Tufo Stephanie N , Barquero Laura A , Cutting Laurie E
Published: February 2019

Neurobiological studies of discourse comprehension have almost exclusively focused on narrative comprehension. However, successful engagement in modern society, particularly in educational settings, also requires comprehension with an aim to learn new information (i.e., “expository comprehension”). Despite its prevalence, no studies to date have neurobiologically characterized expository comprehension as compared with narrative. In the current study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging in typically developing children to test whether different genres require specialized brain networks. In addition to expected activations in language and comprehension areas in the default mode network (DMN), expository comprehension required significantly greater activation in the frontoparietal control network (FPN) than narrative comprehension, and relied significantly less on posterior regions in the DMN. Functional connectivity analysis revealed that, compared with narrative, the FPN robustly correlated with the DMN, and this inter-network communication was higher with increased reading expertise. These findings suggest that, relative to narrative comprehension, expository comprehension shows (1) a unique configuration of the DMN, potentially to support non-social comprehension processes, and (2) increased utilization of top-down regions to help support goal-directed comprehension processes in the DMN. More generally, our findings reveal that different types of discourse-level comprehension place diverse neural demands on the developing brain.
Epidermal growth factor-like repeats of SCUBE1 derived from platelets are critical for thrombus formation
Authors: Liao Wei-Ju , Wu Meng-Ying , Peng Chen-Chung , Tung Yi-Chung , Yang Ruey-Bing
Published: February 2019

Aims

SCUBE1 [signal peptide-CUB-epidermal growth factor (EGF) domain-containing protein 1], expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) and platelets, exists in soluble or membrane forms. We previously showed that soluble SCUBE1 is a biomarker for platelet activation and also an active participant of thrombosis. However, whether the adhesive module of its EGF-like repeats is essential and the specific contribution of SCUBE1 synthesized in ECs or platelets to thrombosis in vivo remain unclear.

Methods and results

We generated new mutant (Δ2) mice lacking the entire EGF-like repeats to evaluate the module’s functional importance during thrombogenesis in vivo. The Δ2 platelet-rich plasma showed markedly impaired platelet aggregation induced by agonists including adenosine diphosphate, collagen, the thrombin agonist PAR-4 peptide and the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619. Consistently, genetic ablation of the EGF-like repeats diminished arterial thrombosis and protected Δ2 mice against lethal thromboembolism. On flow chamber assay, whole blood isolated from Δ2 or wild-type (WT) mice pre-treated with blocking antibodies against the EGF-like repeats showed a significant decrease in platelet deposition and thrombus formation on collagen-coated surfaces under arterial shear rates. Moreover, we created animals expressing SCUBE1 only in ECs (S1-EC) or platelets (S1-PLT) by reciprocal bone-marrow transplantation between WT and Δ2 mice. The time of carotid arterial thrombosis induced by ferric chloride was normal in S1-PLT chimeric mice but much prolonged in S1-EC animals.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that platelet-derived SCUBE1 plays a critical role in arterial thrombosis via its adhesive EGF-like repeats in vivo and suggest targeting these adhesive motifs of SCUBE1 for potential anti-thrombotic strategy.
Echocardiographic predictors of reoperation for subaortic stenosis in children and adults
Authors: Theocharis Paraskevi , Viola Nicola , Papamichael Nikolaos D , Kaarne Markku , Bharucha Tara
Published: February 2019

OBJECTIVES

Subaortic stenosis (SAS) can present as various types of obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) below the level of the aortic valve. Even though corrective surgery has been identified as the most effective treatment, SAS more frequently reoccurs requiring reoperation in a significant proportion of the patients. Previous studies have focused on predictors of recurrence in various subgroups of patients with SAS, but rarely in the overall population of patients with SAS. The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of recurrence of SAS after initial corrective surgery.

METHODS

Patients from the database of the Congenital Cardiology Department of the University Hospital of Southampton with significant SAS requiring corrective surgery were included in the study. Data retrieved were obtained and used to determine the predictors of SAS recurrence after the initial corrective surgery.

RESULTS

Eighty-two patients (paediatric, n = 72 and adult, n = 10) who underwent initial successful resection were included in the analysis. Thirty patients required reoperation for recurrent SAS. These were significantly younger (median age 3.0 vs 6.7 years, P = 0.002). The recurrence of SAS was more common in patients with an interrupted aortic arch (23.3% vs 3.8%, P = 0.010) and unfavourable left ventricle geometry (43.3% vs 7.6%, P < 0.001), with steeper aortoseptal angle (131.0° ± 8.7° vs 136.1° ± 8.6°, P = 0.030), shorter distance between the point of obstruction of the LVOT and the aortic valve annulus in systole and diastole (median 4.30 vs 5.90 mm, P = 0.003 and 3.65 vs 4.95 mm, P = 0.006, respectively) and in those who had higher residual peak and mean LVOT gradients postoperatively (29.3 ± 16.0 vs 19.8 ± 10.7 mmHg, P = 0.006 and 15.9 ± 8.3 vs 10.1 ± 5.8 mmHg, P = 0.002, respectively). Overall, the presence of an interrupted aortic arch [odds ratio (OR) 10.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46–73.25; P < 0.019] and unfavourable left ventricle geometry (OR 10.42, 95% CI 1.86–58.39; P < 0.008) could independently predict reoperation for SAS after initial successful resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who have initial corrective surgery for SAS at a younger age, unfavourable left ventricle geometry, an interrupted aortic arch and higher early postoperative LVOT gradients are more likely to have recurrent SAS requiring reoperation.
Association of menopausal characteristics and risk of coronary heart disease: a pan-European case–cohort analysis
Authors: Dam Veerle , van der Schouw Yvonne T , Onland-Moret N Charlotte , Groenwold Rolf H H , Peters Sanne A E , Burgess Stephen , Wood Angela M , Chirlaque Maria-Dolores , Moons Karel G M , Oliver-Williams Clare , Schuit Ewoud , Tikk Kaja , Weiderpass Elisabete , Holm Marianne , Tjønneland Anne , Kühn Tilman , Fortner Renée T , Trichopoulou Antonia , Karakatsani Anna , La Vecchia Carlo , Ferrari Pietro , Gunter Marc , Masala Giovanna , Sieri Sabina , Tumino Rosario , Panico Salvatore , Boer Jolanda M A , Verschuren W M Monique , Salamanca-Fernández Elena , Arriola Larraitz , Moreno-Iribas Conchi , Engström Gunnar , Melander Olle , Nordendahl Maria , Wennberg Patrik , Key Timothy J , Colorado-Yohar Sandra , Matullo Giuseppe , Overvad Kim , Clavel-Chapelon Francoise , Boeing Heiner , Quiros J Ramon , di Angelantonio Emanuele , Langenberg Claudia , Sweeting Michael J , Riboli Elio , Wareham Nicholas J , Danesh John , Butterworth Adam
Published: February 2019

Background

Earlier age at menopause has been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but the shape of association and role of established cardiovascular risk factors remain unclear. Therefore, we examined the associations between menopausal characteristics and CHD risk; the shape of the association between age at menopause and CHD risk; and the extent to which these associations are explained by established cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods

We used data from EPIC-CVD, a case–cohort study, which includes data from 23 centres from 10 European countries. We included only women, of whom 10 880 comprise the randomly selected sub-cohort, supplemented with 4522 cases outside the sub-cohort. We conducted Prentice-weighted Cox proportional hazards regressions with age as the underlying time scale, stratified by country and adjusted for relevant confounders.

Results

After confounder and intermediate adjustment, post-menopausal women were not at higher CHD risk compared with pre-menopausal women. Among post-menopausal women, earlier menopause was linearly associated with higher CHD risk [HRconfounder and intermediate adjusted per-year decrease = 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–1.03, p = 0.001]. Women with a surgical menopause were at higher risk of CHD compared with those with natural menopause (HRconfounder-adjusted = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.10–1.42, p < 0.001), but this attenuated after additional adjustment for age at menopause and intermediates (HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.96–1.29, p = 0.15). A proportion of the association was explained by cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusions

Earlier and surgical menopause were associated with higher CHD risk. These associations could partially be explained by differences in conventional cardiovascular risk factors. These women might benefit from close monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors and disease.
An argument for reporting data standardization procedures in multi-site predictive modeling: case study on the impact of LOINC standardization on model performance
Authors: Barda Amie J , Ruiz Victor M , Gigliotti Tony , Tsui Fuchiang (Rich)
Published: February 2019

Objectives

We aimed to gain a better understanding of how standardization of laboratory data can impact predictive model performance in multi-site datasets. We hypothesized that standardizing local laboratory codes to logical observation identifiers names and codes (LOINC) would produce predictive models that significantly outperform those learned utilizing local laboratory codes.

Materials and Methods

We predicted 30-day hospital readmission for a set of heart failure-specific visits to 13 hospitals from 2008 to 2012. Laboratory test results were extracted and then manually cleaned and mapped to LOINC. We extracted features to summarize laboratory data for each patient and used a training dataset (2008–2011) to learn models using a variety of feature selection techniques and classifiers. We evaluated our hypothesis by comparing model performance on an independent test dataset (2012).

Results

Models that utilized LOINC performed significantly better than models that utilized local laboratory test codes, regardless of the feature selection technique and classifier approach used.

Discussion and Conclusion

We quantitatively demonstrated the positive impact of standardizing multi-site laboratory data to LOINC prior to use in predictive models. We used our findings to argue for the need for detailed reporting of data standardization procedures in predictive modeling, especially in studies leveraging multi-site datasets extracted from electronic health records.
Risk Factors for Infection After Intramedullary Nailing of Open Tibial Shaft Fractures in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Whiting Paul S. , Galat Daniel D. , Zirkle Lewis G. , Shaw Michael K. , Galat Jeremiah D.
Published: February 2019

Objectives:

(1) To determine the infection rate after fixation of open tibial shaft fractures using the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nail in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and (2) to identify risk factors for infection.

Design:

Prospective cohort study using an international online database.

Setting:

Multiple hospitals in LMICs worldwide.

Patients/Participants:

A total of 1061 open tibia fractures treated with the SIGN nail in LMICs between March 2000 and February 2013.

Intervention:

Intravenous antibiotic administration, surgical debridement, and definitive intramedullary nailing within 14 days of injury.

Main Outcome Measurements:

Deep or superficial infection at follow-up, implant breakage/loosening, angular deformity >10 degrees, repeat surgery, radiographic union, weight bearing, and ability to kneel.

Results:

The overall infection rate was 11.9%. Infection rates by the Gustilo and Anderson classification were type 1: 5.1%, type II: 12.6%, type IIIa: 12.5%, type IIIb: 29.1%, and type IIIc: 16.7% (P = 0.001 between groups). Patients who developed infection had a longer mean time from injury to definitive surgery (4.7 vs. 3.9 days, P = 0.03) and from injury to wound closure (13.7 vs. 3.6 days, P < 0.001). Distal fractures had a higher infection rate than midshaft fractures (13.3% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.03). Infection rates were not associated with time from injury to initial debridement, time from injury to initial antibiotic administration, or total duration of antibiotics.

Conclusions:

Open tibia fractures can be managed effectively using the SIGN intramedullary nail in LMICs with an overall infection rate of 11.9%. Risk factors for infection identified include more severe soft-tissue injury, delayed nailing, delayed wound closure, and distal fracture location.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Long-term Chronological Changes in Very Asymmetric Keratoconus
Authors: Koh Shizuka , Inoue Ryota , Maeda Naoyuki , Kabata Daijiro , Shintani Ayumi , Jhanji Vishal , Klyce Stephen D. , Maruyama Kazuichi , Nishida Kohji
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

To investigate chronological changes in patients with very asymmetric keratoconus (KC) by Scheimpflug-based corneal tomographic evaluation.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 382 patients with KC attending a university hospital. Patients who were diagnosed with KC in one eye and forme fruste keratoconus in the other eye at the last visit and followed up with Scheimpflug-based tomographic corneal imaging were included. The anterior radius of curvature (ARC) and posterior radius of curvature (PRC) obtained at a 3.0-mm optical zone and the thinnest pachymetry reading of corneal thickness (Tmin), were used to investigate the chronological changes in tomographic parameters.

Results:

Twenty-six patients aged 16 to 66 years met the inclusion criteria. The mean observation period was 6 years and 4 months. There was a significant increase in annual change in PRC with a longer follow-up period after initial examination (P = 0.011). Moreover, a greater increase in annual change in ARC was observed in patients in whom the initial examination was performed at a younger age than in those in whom it was performed at an older age (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

On the basis of tomographic evaluation, even if the measured values are almost stable and within normal limits, a long-term clinical follow-up is warranted in forme fruste keratoconus eyes. Younger patients with very asymmetric keratoconus should be monitored carefully.
Effectiveness and safety of 5% lidocaine-medicated plaster on localized neuropathic pain after knee surgery: a randomized, double-blind controlled trial
Authors: Pickering Gisèle , Voute Marion , Macian Nicolas , Ganry Hervé , Pereira Bruno
Published: February 2019

Localized neuropathic pain symptoms are reported after knee surgery in 30% to 50% of patients. 5% lidocaine plaster (LP5) is recommended for localized neuropathic pain, but evidence in postsurgery neuropathic pain is missing. This study focuses on the effectiveness of LP5 on allodynia, hyperalgesia, and thermal stimuli in postsurgery knee localized neuropathic pain. A randomized double-blind, 2 parallel groups, controlled trial (NCT02763592) took place in 36 patients (age, 69.4 ± 7.3 years) at the Clinical Pharmacology Center, University Hospital Clermont-Ferrand, France. Patients randomly received LP5 or placebo plaster during 3 months. Neuropathic pain intensity and several parameters (dynamic mechanical allodynia, mechanical [von Frey], heat and cold detection and pain thresholds [Pathway Medoc], and size of the allodynic area were recorded at each visit [inclusion, day 7, 15, month 1, 2, and 3]). From day 7 onwards, dynamic mechanical allodynia diminished progressively of ≥ 30% over 3 months (P = 0.003) in 96% of patients (23/24) and of ≥ 50% in 83% of patients (20/24). Cold pain and maximal mechanical pain thresholds improved over 3 months (P = 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively). This study shows for the first time the effectiveness of LP5 on dynamic mechanical allodynia, pain, pressure, and cold thresholds over 3 months in knee localized neuropathic pain. Beyond the inhibition of sodium channels by LP5, these findings suggest the involvement of cold and mechanical receptors that participate to pain chronicisation and also of the non-negligible placebo effect of the patch, items that need to be explored further and challenged in other etiologies of localized neuropathic pain.
Analgesic prescribing trends in a national sample of older veterans with osteoarthritis: 2012-2017
Authors: Trentalange Mark , Runels Tessa , Bean Andrew , Kerns Robert D. , Bair Matthew J. , Brody Abraham A. , Brandt Cynthia A. , Hwang Ula ,   the EAASE (Evaluating Arthritis Analgesic Safety and Effectiveness) Investigators
Published: February 2019

Few investigations examine patterns of opioid and nonopioid analgesic prescribing and concurrent pain intensity ratings before and after institution of safer prescribing programs such as the October 2013 Veterans Health Administration system-wide Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI) implementation. We conducted a quasi-experimental pre–post observational study of all older U.S. veterans (≥50 years old) with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. All associated outpatient analgesic prescriptions and outpatient pain intensity ratings from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016, were analyzed with segmented regression of interrupted time series. Standardized monthly rates for each analgesic class (total, opioid, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, acetaminophen, and other study analgesics) were analyzed with segmented negative binomial regression models with overall slope, step, and slope change. Similarly, segmented linear regression was used to analyze pain intensity ratings and percentage of those reporting pain. All models were additionally adjusted for age, sex, and race. Before OSI implementation, total analgesic prescriptions showed a steady rise, abruptly decreasing to a flat trajectory after OSI implementation. This trend was primarily due to a decrease in opioid prescribing after OSI. Total prescribing after OSI implementation was partially compensated by continuing increased prescribing of other study analgesics as well as a significant rise in acetaminophen prescriptions (post-OSI). No changes in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescribing were seen. A small rise in the percentage of those reporting pain but not mean pain intensity ratings continued over the study period with no changes associated with OSI. Changes in analgesic prescribing trends were not paralleled by changes in reported pain intensity for older veterans with osteoarthritis.
Effect of Prescription Size on Opioid Use and Patient Satisfaction After Minor Hand Surgery
Authors: Gaddis Andrew , Dowlati Ehsan , Apel Peter J. , Bravo Cesar J. , Dancea Horatiu C. , Hagan Hugh J. , Mierisch Cay M. , Metzger Tom A. , Mierisch Cassandra
Published: February 2019

Objective:

To determine the influence of initial prescription size on opioid consumption after minor hand surgeries. Secondary outcomes include efficacy of pain control, patient satisfaction, and refill requests.

Background:

Retrospective studies have shown that opioid prescriptions for acute pain after surgical procedures are often excessive in size, which encourages misuse. This is the first prospective randomized trial on the influence of initial prescription size on opioid consumption in the setting of acute postsurgical pain.

Methods:

In a prospective randomized trial at a single-academic institution, patients were provided an initial prescription of either 10 or 30 hydrocodone/acetaminophen (5/325 mg) pills after surgery. Two hundred opioid-naive patients, aged 19 to 69, undergoing elective outpatient minor hand surgeries were enrolled over 9 months, with a follow-up period of 10 to 14 days.

Results:

One hundred seventy-four patients were included in this analysis. Patients initially prescribed 30 pills (n = 79), when compared with patients initially prescribed 10 pills (n = 95), used significantly more opioid (P = <0.001, mean 11.9 vs 6.4 pills), had significantly more leftover medication (P = <0.001, mean 20.0 vs 5.2 pills), and were over 3 times more likely to still be taking opioid at follow-up (15% vs 4%). There was no significant difference in refills requested, or in patient satisfaction with postoperative pain control.

Conclusions:

Providing large opioid prescriptions for the management of acute pain after minor upper extremity surgeries increases overall opioid use when compared with smaller initial prescriptions. The size of initial opioid prescription is a modifiable variable that should be considered both in patient care and research design.
An economical viable tokamak fusion reactor based on the ITER experience
Authors: Janeschitz G.
Published: February 2019

This is my personal vision and outlook towards a fusion reactor based on my extensive experience from being part of the ITER design, and now construction, as well as leading the largest fusion technology program worldwide (KIT—Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) for 7 years. In particular, I want to discuss how a fusion reactor can be economically viable without employing too advanced physics and technology. It certainly will be a pulsed machine (approx. 20 000 s pulses) with thermal energy storage (turbine is steady state). I also want to discuss the optimum machine size and toroidal field for such a machine and why I think that high field and smaller plasmas may not necessarily make a fusion reactor more competitive. When one extrapolates from today's knowledge on ITER construction, even considering that ITER can be built much cheaper, it is clear that a fusion power plant will cost more than 10 or more likely more than 15 billion Euros/Dollars (the first of a kind even approx. 30 billion). Therefore, in order to have an economically attractive fusion reactor, it needs to produce a large amount of power (on the order of 2.5 GW electric). The possible size (R ∼ 10 m) and reasonably conservative physics basis of such a machine will be briefly described in the presentation. If we are successful in achieving advanced physics in a burning plasma, e.g. in ITER, then we can make the machine slightly smaller but the principal arguments for a large machine will not change significantly. Key technologies and their status will be discussed with particular emphasis on a realistic blanket and divertor design and the size and issues of a tritium-plant (T-plant) for such a machine as well as the challenges which have to be overcome beyond what is needed for ITER. Finally, a simple economic consideration will be discussed to show that a large machine could be economically viable, even in today's environment, in particular, in competition with renewables.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Fusion energy using tokamaks: can development be accelerated?’.
Engineering challenges for accelerated fusion demonstrators
Authors: Surrey E.
Published: February 2019

There are several programmes within the fusion community that are engaged in the design of fusion devices to follow the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), referred to as ‘demonstrators’. These programmes have identified many issues over the past decade, and research now concentrates on optimizing the combination of systems against a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) which may vary between programmes. While the return on investment in and experience from ITER is seen as an important factor in this research there are significant differences in the operational conditions and KPI of demonstrators that generate additional problems requiring different solutions. Among these problems are the necessary use of uncommon materials for structural and functional purposes, the impact of the availability KPI on basic machine design, configuration and component lifetime and the integration of the tritium fuel and thermodynamic cycles. These raise issues of component manufacture and standards and of resource availability in the required quantities and quality that are independent of device size and design. Interpreting ‘accelerating fusion’ in a wider sense, the impact of these issues, analysed in respect of developmental timescales, shows that a strategy of early engagement with the industrial supply chain and the development of computational engineering testing and verification will be essential to prevent prolonged timescales to fusion progress.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Fusion energy using tokamaks: can development be accelerated?’
Can the development of fusion energy be accelerated? An introduction to the proceedings
Authors: Windsor Colin
Published: February 2019

This introduction reviews the unique opportunity of fusion power to deliver safe, carbon-free, abundant, base-load power. The differences from fission power are considered: especially why a Chernobyl, Three Mile Island or Fukushima accident could not happen with a fusion reactor. The Lawson triple product is introduced, along with tokamaks, or magnetic bottles, whose ability to approach close to the fusion burn conditions has so far put them above their competitors. Our last fusion power Discussion Meeting was organized by Derek Robinson FRS in 1998, and the progress since then is reviewed. Tokamaks are introduced, and the advantages of spherical tokamaks are listed along with the special engineering challenges that they introduce. Their key advantage is high plasma pressure, and the importantβparameter indicating the efficiency of the magnetic field use is introduced. High-temperature superconductors are described along with the opportunities they allow for higher magnetic fields at higher current densities and more modest cryogenic temperatures. The question posed is whether the two developments of spherical tokamaks and high-temperature superconductors could lead to more economical fusion power plants and faster development than the current route through ITER and DEMO.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Fusion energy using tokamaks: can development be accelerated?’.
Streptomyces cadmiisoli sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from cadmium-contaminated soil
Authors: Li Kaiqin , Tang Xinke , Zhao Jiarong , Guo Yihui , Tang Yongjie , Gao Jian
Published: February 2019

A novel

Streptomyces

strain, ZFG47T, isolated from a cadmium-contaminated soil sample, was taxonomically studied in detail. Strain ZFG47T formed long, flexuous spiral spore chains consisting of elliptoid spores with spiny surfaces. The cell-wall hydrolysates contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The major menaquinones consisted of MK-9(H2), MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H8). The major polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis indicated that this strain belongs to the genus

Streptomyces

, showing the highest sequence similarity to

Streptomyces
koyangensis VK-A60T (98.7 %). However, the digital DNA–DNA hybridization value, the average nucleotide identity value and the MLSA evolutionary distance between this strain and S. koyangensis VK-A60T showed that it belonged to a distinct species. Furthermore, the novel isolate could be distinctly differentiated from S. koyangensis VK-A60T by morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. On the basis of the evidence from this polyphasic study, it is concluded that strain ZFG47T represents a novel species of the genus

Streptomyces

, for which the name Streptomyces cadmiisoli sp. nov. is proposed, with strain ZFG47T (CICC 11050T=JCM 32897T) as the type strain.
Pan-genome analyses of model fungal species
Authors: McCarthy Charley G. P. , Fitzpatrick David A.
Published: February 2019

The concept of the species ‘pan-genome’, the union of ‘core’ conserved genes and all ‘accessory’ non-conserved genes across all strains of a species, was first proposed in prokaryotes to account for intraspecific variability. Species pan-genomes have been extensively studied in prokaryotes, but evidence of species pan-genomes has also been demonstrated in eukaryotes such as plants and fungi. Using a previously published methodology based on sequence homology and conserved microsynteny, in addition to bespoke pipelines, we have investigated the pan-genomes of four model fungal species: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii and Aspergillus fumigatus. Between 80 and 90 % of gene models per strain in each of these species are core genes that are highly conserved across all strains of that species, many of which are involved in housekeeping and conserved survival processes. In many of these species, the remaining ‘accessory’ gene models are clustered within subterminal regions and may be involved in pathogenesis and antimicrobial resistance. Analysis of the ancestry of species core and accessory genomes suggests that fungal pan-genomes evolve by strain-level innovations such as gene duplication as opposed to wide-scale horizontal gene transfer. Our findings lend further supporting evidence to the existence of species pan-genomes in eukaryote taxa.