bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ivermectin activates GIRK channels in a PIP2‐dependent, Gβγ‐independent manner and an amino acid residue at the slide helix governs the activation
Authors: Chen I‐Shan , Tateyama Michihiro , Fukata Yuko , Uesugi Motonari , Kubo Yoshihiro
Published: July 2017

Key points

Ivermectin (IVM) is a widely used antiparasitic drug in humans and pets which activates glutamate‐gated Cl− channel in parasites.

It is known that IVM binds to the transmembrane domains (TMs) of several ligand‐gated channels, such as Cys‐loop receptors and P2X receptors.

We found that the G‐protein‐gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channel, especially GIRK2, is activated by IVM directly in a Gβγ‐independent manner, but the activation is dependent on phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐biphosphate (PIP2).

We identified a critical amino acid residue of GIRK2 for activation by IVM, Ile82, located in the slide helix between the TM1 and the N‐terminal cytoplasmic tail domain (CTD).

The results demonstrate that the TM–CTD interface in GIRK channel, rather than the TMs, governs IVM‐mediated activation and provide us with novel insights on the mode of action of IVM in ion channels.

Ivermectin (IVM) is a widely used antiparasitic drug in humans and pets which activates glutamate‐gated Cl− channel in parasites. It is also known that IVM binds to the transmembrane domains (TMs) of several ligand‐gated channels, such as Cys‐loop receptors and P2X receptors. In this study, we found that the G‐protein‐gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channel is activated by IVM directly. Electrophysiological recordings in Xenopus oocytes revealed that IVM activates GIRK channel in a phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐biphosphate (PIP2)‐dependent manner, and that the IVM‐mediated GIRK activation is independent of Gβγ subunits. We found that IVM activates GIRK2 more efficiently than GIRK4. In cultured hippocampal neurons, we also observed that IVM activates native GIRK current. Chimeric and mutagenesis analyses identified an amino acid residue unique to GIRK2 among the GIRK family, Ile82, located in the slide helix between the TM1 and the N‐terminal cytoplasmic tail domain (CTD), which is critical for the activation. The results demonstrate that the TM–CTD interface in GIRK channels, rather than the TMs, governs IVM‐mediated activation. These findings provide us with novel insights on the mode of action of IVM in ion channels that could lead to identification of new pharmacophores which activate the GIRK channel.
Lateral Motion Stability Control Via Sampled-Data Output Feedback of a High-Speed Electric Vehicle Driven by Four In-Wheel Motors
Authors: Meng Qinghua , Qian Chunjiang , Wang Pan
Published: July 2017

This paper presents a lateral motion stability control method for an electric vehicle (EV) driven by four in-wheel motors subject to time-variable high speeds and uncertain disturbances caused by severe road conditions, siding wind forces, and different tire pressures. In order to tackle the uncertain disturbances, an almost disturbance decoupling method (ADD) using sampled-data output feedback control which is more suitable for computer implementation is proposed based on the domination approach. The proposed controller can attenuate the disturbances' effect on the output to an arbitrary degree of accuracy. Simulation results under different speeds by matlab show the effectiveness of the control method.
Flow Unsteadiness and Stability Characteristics of Low-Re Flow Past an Inclined Triangular Cylinder
Authors: Zhang Wei , Yang Hui , Dou Hua-Shu , Zhu Zuchao
Published: July 2017

The present study investigates the two-dimensional flow past an inclined triangular cylinder at Re = 100. Numerical simulation is performed to explore the effect of cylinder inclination on the aerodynamic quantities, unsteady flow patterns, time-averaged flow characteristics, and flow unsteadiness. We also provide the first global linear stability analysis and sensitivity analysis on the targeted physical problem for the potential application of flow control. The objective of this work is to quantitatively identify the effect of cylinder inclination on the characteristic quantities and unsteady flow patterns, with emphasis on the flow unsteadiness and instability. Numerical results reveal that the flow unsteadiness is generally more pronounced for the base-facing-like cylinders (α → 60 deg) where separation occurs at the front corners. The inclined cylinder reduces the velocity deficiency in the near-wake, and the reduction in far-wake is the most notable for the α = 30 deg cylinder. The transverse distributions of several quantities are shifted toward the negative y-direction, such as the maximum velocity deficiency and maximum/minimum velocity fluctuation. Finally, the global stability and sensitivity analysis show that the spatial structures of perturbed velocities are quite similar for α ≤ 30 deg and the temporal growth rate of perturbation is sensitive to the near-wake flow, while for α ≥ 40 deg there are remarkable transverse expansion and streamwise elongation of the perturbed velocities, and the growth rate is sensitive to the far-wake flow.
Simultaneous Analysis of Elastic and Nonspecific Adhesive Properties of Thin Sample and Biological Cell Considering Bottom Substrate Effect
Authors: Managuli Vishwanath , Roy Sitikantha
Published: July 2017

A new asymptotically correct contact model has been developed for conical tip based atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation. This new model provides both elastic and nonspecific adhesion properties of cells and soft gels by taking sample thickness at the point of indentation and its depth of indentation into consideration. The bottom substrate effect (BSE) is the most common source of error in the study of “AFM force maps” of the cellular sample. The present model incorporates an asymptotically correct correction term as a function of depth of indentation to eliminate the substrate effect in the analysis. Later, the model is extended to analyze the unloading portion of the indentation curve to extract the stiffness and adhesive properties simultaneously. A comparative study of the estimated material properties using other established contact models shows that the provided corrections effectively curb the errors coming from infinite thickness assumption. Nonspecific adhesive nature of a cell is represented in terms of adhesion parameter (γa) based on the “work of adhesion,” this is an alternative to the peak value of tip–sample attractive (negative) force commonly used as representative adhesion measurement. The simple analytical expression of the model can help in estimating more realistic and accurate biomechanical properties of cells from atomic force microscopy based indentation technique.
Dynamic Analysis of a Truss Spar-Type Floating Foundation for 5 MW Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine
Authors: Liu Liqin , Jin Weichen , Guo Ying
Published: July 2017

This paper studies the dynamic characteristic of the truss Spar-type floating foundation used to support the offshore vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT). The effects of changes in foundation structural parameters on its motions were evaluated. The results show that radius of the buoyancy tank, radius of the upper mechanical tank, interval of the center of gravity and center of buoyancy, and height of the upper mechanical tank have important effects on the heave and pitch motions of the foundation. Two sets of foundation parameters (FS-1 and FS-2) were selected to support the 5 MW Darrieus wind turbine. The motion performances of the two floating VAWTs, S-1 (the VAWT supported by FS-1) and S-2 (the VAWT supported by FS-2), were analyzed and compared. It was observed that the amplitudes of the heave and pitch motions of the floating VAWT depend on the wave loads; the mean values of the heave and pitch motions depend on the aerodynamic loads. The floating VAWT S-2 had better motion performance; its heave and pitch motions were all small. The heave frequencies of the floating VAWT were equal to the wave frequencies. For the pitch frequencies, there is a component of the rotor rotational frequency (0.175 Hz) for cases LC1 to LC4, while the amplitudes of the twice-per-revolution (2P) response are far smaller than the amplitudes of the wave response.
Impact of Climate Change on Design of Offshore Wind Turbine Considering Dynamic Soil–Structure Interaction
Authors: Bisoi Swagata , Haldar Sumanta
Published: July 2017

This study assesses the serviceability and fatigue limit states of the offshore wind turbine (OWT) founded in clay incorporating the impact of climate change. Two different offshore locations at east and west coasts in India are chosen. The ensemble of future time series of wind speed, wave height, and period is forecasted using statistical downscaling model (SDSM) at the regional level using the general circulation model (GCM) corresponding to the A1B, A2, and B1 emission scenarios. The downscaling model is calibrated by comparing simulations driven by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) high-resolution data and station data. Responses of OWT are obtained from dynamic analysis in a time domain using finite element (FE). The tower and monopile are modeled as Euler–Bernoulli beam, and soil resistance is modeled as American Petroleum Institute (API)-based p–y springs. The study shows future wind and wave loads are site specific, and it increases in the west coast and decreases in the east coast of India due to climate change. The simulation shows a substantial increase in future wind energy production at west coast compared to that of the east coast; however, safety margin considering serviceability and fatigue life decreases which requires modification in the design.
Shoulder Strength Requirements for Upper Limb Functional Tasks: Do Age and Rotator Cuff Tear Status Matter?
Authors: Santago Anthony C. , Vidt Meghan E. , Li Xiaotong , Tuohy Christopher J. , Poehling Gary G. , Freehill Michael T. , Saul Katherine R.
Published: July 2017

Understanding upper limb strength requirements for daily tasks is imperative for early detection of strength loss that may progress to disability due to age or rotator cuff tear. We quantified shoulder strength requirements for 5 upper limb tasks performed by 3 groups: uninjured young adults and older adults, and older adults with a degenerative supraspinatus tear prior to repair. Musculoskeletal models were developed for each group representing age, sex, and tear-related strength losses. Percentage of available strength used was quantified for the subset of tasks requiring the largest amount of shoulder strength. Significant differences in strength requirements existed across tasks: upward reach 105° required the largest average strength; axilla wash required the largest peak strength. However, there were limited differences across participant groups. Older adults with and without a tear used a larger percentage of their shoulder elevation (p < .001, p < .001) and external rotation (p < .001, p = .017) strength than the young adults, respectively. Presence of a tear significantly increased percentage of internal rotation strength compared to young (p < .001) and uninjured older adults (p = .008). Marked differences in strength demand across tasks indicate the need for evaluating a diversity of functional tasks to effectively detect early strength loss, which may lead to disability.
On the Relation Between Infants’ Spatial Object Processing and Their Motor Skills
Authors: Kubicek Claudia , Schwarzer Gudrun
Published: July 2017

From birth, infants encounter an environment full of objects and learn rapidly about their spatial characteristics. According to Newcombe, Uttal, and Sauter (2013), spatial development includes (1) the development of intraobject representations with the ability to transform them by mental rotation, and (2) the development of interobject representations with the ability to find and predict certain object locations. Infants’ remarkable improvements of these two strands of spatial object processing raise the major question of which factors may drive them. In this article, we discuss the extent to which infants’ development of intra- and interobject representations is related to their emerging motor skills. In particular, we provide a review on how far infants’ development of mental object rotation ability and their ability to localize objects are related to their manual object exploration and locomotion skills. We document a bulk of evidence suggesting such a link between infants’ motor development and their spatial object processing and also discuss and critically reconsider the implications of these studies.
The Effect of Abdominal Muscle Activation Techniques on Trunk and Lower Limb Mechanics During the Single-Leg Squat Task in Females
Authors: Linde Lukas D. , Archibald Jessica , Lampert Eve C. , Srbely John Z.
Published: July 2017

Context: Females suffer 4 to 6 times more noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than males due to neuromuscular control deficits of the hip musculature leading to increases in hip adduction angle, knee abduction angle, and knee abduction moment during dynamic tasks such as single-leg squats. Lateral trunk displacement has been further related to ACL injury risk in females, leading to the incorporation of core strength/stability exercises in ACL preventative training programs. However, the direct mechanism relating lateral trunk displacement and lower limb ACL risk factors is not well established. Objective: To assess the relationship between lateral trunk displacement and lower limb measures of ACL injury risk by altering trunk control through abdominal activation techniques during single-leg squats in healthy females. Design: Interventional study setting: movement and posture laboratory. Participants: A total of 13 healthy females (21.3 [0.88] y, 1.68 [0.07] m, and 58.27 [5.46] kg). Intervention: Trunk position and lower limb kinematics were recorded using an optoelectric motion capture system during single-leg squats under differing conditions of abdominal muscle activation (abdominal hollowing, abdominal bracing, and control), confirmed using surface electromyography. Main Outcome Measures: Lateral trunk displacement, peak hip adduction angle, peak knee abduction angle/moment, and average muscle activity from bilateral internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae muscles. Results: No differences were observed for peak lateral trunk displacement, peak hip adduction angle, or peak knee abduction angle/moment. Abdominal hollowing and bracing elicited greater muscle activation than the control condition, and bracing was greater than hollowing in 4 of 6 muscles recorded. Conclusion: The lack of reduction in trunk, hip, and knee measures of ACL injury risk during abdominal hollowing and bracing suggests that these techniques alone may provide minimal benefit in ACL injury prevention training.
Acute Effects and Perceptions of Deep Oscillation Therapy for Improving Hamstring Flexibility
Authors: Winkelmann Zachary K. , Roberts Ethan J. , Games Kenneth E.
Published: July 2017

Context: Hamstring inflexibility is typically treated using therapeutic massage, stretching, and soft tissue mobilization. An alternative intervention is deep oscillation therapy (DOT). Currently, there is a lack of evidence to support DOT’s effectiveness to improve flexibility. Objective: To explore the effectiveness of DOT to improve hamstring flexibility. Design: Randomized single-cohort design. Setting: Research laboratory. Participants: Twenty-nine healthy, physically active individuals (self-reported activity of a minimum 200 min/wk). Interventions: All participants received a single session of DOT with randomization of the participant’s leg for the intervention. The DOT intervention parameters included a 1∶1 mode and 70% to 80% dosage at various frequencies for 28 minutes. Hamstring flexibility was assessed using passive straight leg raise for hip flexion using a digital inclinometer. Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated using the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score and the Global Rating of Change (GRoC). Main Outcome Measure: The independent variable was time (pre and post). The dependent variables included passive straight leg raise, the GRoC, and the participant’s perceptions of the intervention. Statistical analyses included a dependent t test and a Pearson correlation. Results: Participants reported no issues with sport, activities of daily living, or quality of life prior to beginning the intervention study on the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score. Passive straight leg raise significantly improved post-DOT (95% confidence interval, 4.48°–7.85°, P < .001) with a mean difference of 6.17 ± 4.42° (pre-DOT = 75.43 ± 21.82° and post-DOT = 81.60 ± 23.17°). A significant moderate positive correlation was identified (r = .439, P = .02) among all participants between the GRoC and the mean change score of hamstring flexibility. Participants believed that the intervention improved their hamstring flexibility (5.41 ± 1.02 points) and was relaxing (6.21 ± 0.86). Conclusions: DOT is an effective intervention to increase hamstring flexibility.
Performance Outcomes After Hook of Hamate Fractures in Major League Baseball Players
Authors: Guss Michael S. , Begly John P. , Ramme Austin J. , Taormina David P. , Rettig Michael E. , Capo John T.
Published: July 2017

Context: Major League Baseball (MLB) players are at risk of hook of hamate fractures. There is a paucity of data assessing the effect of a hook of hamate fracture on MLB players’ future athletic performance. Objective: To determine if MLB players who sustain hook of hamate fractures demonstrate decreased performance upon return to competition when compared with their performance before injury and that of their control-matched peers. Design: Retrospective case-control design. Setting: Retrospective database study. Participants: 18 MLB players who sustained hook of hamate fractures. Methods: Data for 18 MLB players with hook of hamate fractures incurred over 26 seasons (1989–2014) were obtained from injury reports, press releases, and player profiles (www.mlb.com and www.baseballreference.com). Player age, position, number of years in the league, mechanism of injury, and treatment were recorded. Individual season statistics for the 2 seasons immediately prior to injury and the 2 seasons after injury for the main performance variable—Wins Above Replacement—were obtained. Eighteen controls matched by player position, age, and performance statistics were identified. A performance comparison of the cohorts was performed. Main Outcome Measures: Postinjury performance compared with preinjury performance and matched-controls. Results: Mean age at the time of injury was 25.1 years with a mean of 4.4 seasons of MLB experience prior to injury. All injuries were sustained to their nondominant batting hand. All players underwent operative intervention. There was no significant change in Wins Above Replacement or isolated power when preinjury and postinjury performance were compared. When compared with matched-controls, no significant decline in performance in Wins Above Replacement the first season and second season after injury was found. Conclusion: MLB players sustaining hook of hamate fractures can reasonably expect to return to their preinjury performance levels following operative treatment.
Validating Center-of-Pressure Balance Measurements Using the MatScan® Pressure Mat
Authors: Goetschius John , Feger Mark A. , Hertel Jay , Hart Joseph M.
Published: July 2017

Context: Measurements of center-of-pressure (COP) excursions during balance are common practice in clinical and research settings to evaluate adaptations in postural control due to pathological or environmental conditions. Traditionally measured using laboratory force plates, pressure-mat devices may be a suitable option for clinicians and scientist to measure COP excursions. Objective: Compare COP measures and changes during balance between MatScan® pressure mat and force plate. Design: Validation study. Setting: Laboratory. Participants: 30 healthy, young adults (19 female, 11 male, 22.7 ± 3.4 y, 70.3 ± SD kg, 1.71 ± 0.09 m). Main Outcomes: COP excursions were simultaneously measured using pressure-mat and force-plate devices. Participants completed 3 eyes-open and 3 eyes-closed single-leg balance trials (10 s). Mean of the 3 trials was used to calculate 4 COP variables: medial-lateral and anterior-posterior excursion, total distance, and area with eyes open and eyes closed. Percent change and effect sizes were calculated between eyes-open to eyes-closed conditions for each variable and for both devices. Results: All COP variables were highly correlated between devices for eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions (all r > .92, P < .001). Bland-Altman plots suggest the pressure-mat COP measurements were smaller than those of the force-plate, and the differences between devices appeared to increase as the measurement magnitude increased. Percent change in COP variables was highly correlated between devices (r > .85, P < .001). Cohen d effect sizes between eyes-open and eyes-closed were all large (d > 2.25) and similar in magnitude between devices. Conclusion: COP measures were correlated between devices, but values tended to be smaller using the pressure mat. The pressure mat and force plate detected comparable magnitude changes in COP measurements between eyes-open and eyes-closed. Pressure mats may provide a viable option for detecting large magnitude changes in postural control during short-duration testing.
Goal-Directed Self-Talk Used During Technical Skill Acquisition: The Case of Novice Ultimate Frisbee Players
Authors: Latinjak Alexander T. , Masó Marc , Comoutos Nikos
Published: July 2017

Even though goal-directed self-talk is a key element in self-regulated learning, providing instruction and giving feedback during technical skill acquisition, few studies have explored the specific functions with which it might enhance learning and improve performance. Therefore, immediately after a training session, 32 novice Ultimate Frisbee players (Mage = 22.88,SD = 9.71) were asked to report as many self-instructions as they remembered using before task execution, after unsuccessful throws, and after successful throws. A hierarchical content analysis indicated that players used mainly instructional self-talk in all situations. However, instructional self-talk was aimed at technical aspects before their throws; at negative reinforcement, error detection, and technical adjustment after unsuccessful throws; and at positive reinforcement and technical transference after successful throws. Other functions of self-talk were confidence-enhancement and goal-promotion. Overall, we discussed that goal-directed self-talk is a relevant self-regulated learning strategy employed by novice Ultimate Frisbee players when acquiring technical skills.
Patient safety during procedural sedation using capnography monitoring: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Saunders Rhodri , Struys Michel M R F , Pollock Richard F , Mestek Michael , Lightdale Jenifer R
Published: July 2017

Objective

To evaluate the effect of capnography monitoring on sedation-related adverse events during procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) administered for ambulatory surgery relative to visual assessment and pulse oximetry alone.

Design and setting

Systematic literature review and random effects meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reporting sedation-related adverse event incidence when adding capnography to visual assessment and pulse oximetry in patients undergoing PSA during ambulatory surgery in the hospital setting. Searches for eligible studies published between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2016 (inclusive) were conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE without any language constraints. Searches were conducted in January 2017, screening and data extraction were conducted by two independent reviewers, and study quality was assessed using a modified Jadad scale.

Interventions

Capnography monitoring relative to visual assessment and pulse oximetry alone.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Predefined endpoints of interest were desaturation/hypoxaemia (the primary endpoint), apnoea, aspiration, bradycardia, hypotension, premature procedure termination, respiratory failure, use of assisted/bag-mask ventilation and death during PSA.

Results

The literature search identified 1006 unique articles, of which 13 were ultimately included in the meta-analysis. Addition of capnography to visual assessment and pulse oximetry was associated with a significant reduction in mild (risk ratio (RR) 0.77, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.89) and severe (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.81) desaturation, as well as in the use of assisted ventilation (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.95). No significant differences in other endpoints were identified.

Conclusions

Meta-analysis of 13 RCTs published between 2006 and 2016 showed a reduction in respiratory compromise (from respiratory insufficiency to failure) during PSA with the inclusion of capnography monitoring. In particular, use of capnography was associated with less mild and severe oxygen desaturation, which may have helped to avoid the need for assisted ventilation.
Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of cognitive processing therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder among Japanese patients: the Safety, Power, Intimacy, Esteem, Trust (SPINET) study
Authors: Ito Masaya , Horikoshi Masaru , Resick Patricia A , Katayanagi Akiko , Miyamae Mitsuhiro , Takagishi Yuriko , Takebayashi Yoshitake , Kanie Ayako , Hirabayashi Naotsugu , Furukawa Toshiaki A
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is widely regarded as a safe and effective first-line treatment for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, no comparative studies have been conducted to examine the treatment outcomes in an Asian population. The aim of the present trial is to investigate the efficacy of CPT (individual format) as a treatment for PTSD in a population of Japanese patients.

Methods and analysis

A 16-week, single-centre, assessor-masked, randomised, parallel-group superiority trial has been designed to compare the efficacy of CPT in conjunction with treatment as usual (mostly pharmacotherapy and clinical monitoring) versus treatment as usual alone. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) will be our primary outcome measure of the post-traumatic stress symptoms at 17 weeks, whereas the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and determination of the operationally defined responder status will be used to assess the secondary outcomes. An estimated sample size of 29 participants in each group will be required to detect an expected effect size of 1.4 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.95).

Ethics and dissemination

The institutional review board at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry in Japan approved this study. The results of this clinical trial will be presented at conferences and disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial registration number

UMIN000021670 (registered on 1 April 2016).
Is the current level of training in the use of equipment for prehospital radio communication sufficient? A cross-sectional study among prehospital physicians in Denmark
Authors: Holm Jimmy Højberg
Published: July 2017

Background

Physicians working in prehospital care are expected to handle radio communication both within their own sector as well as with other divisions of the National Emergency Services. To date, no study has been conducted on the level of training received by physicians in the use of the equipment provided or on the level of competency acquired by physicians.

Methods

In order to investigate the self-assessed skill level acquired in the use of the TETRA (TErrestrial Trunked RAdio) authority radio for communication in a prehospital setting, a cross-sectional study was conducted by questionnaire circulated to all 454 physicians working in the Danish Emergency Medical Services.

Results

A lack of training was found among physicians working in prehospital care in Denmark in relation to the proper use of essential communication equipment. Prior to starting their first shift in a prehospital setting 38% of physicians reported having received no training in the use of the equipment, while 80% of physicians reported having received one1 hour of training or less. Among the majority of physicians their current level of training was sufficient for their everyday needs for prehospital communication but for 28% of physicians their current level of training was insufficient as they were unable to handle communication at this level.

Conclusion

As the first study in its field, this study investigated the training received in the use of essential communication equipment among physicians working in prehospital care in Denmark. The study found that competency does not appear to have been prioritised as highly as other technical skills needed to function in these settings. For the majority of physicians their current level of training was sufficient for everyday use but for a substantial minority further training is required, especially if the redundancy of the prehospital system is to be preserved.
The epidemiological profile of hysterectomy in rural Chinese women: a population-based study
Authors: Liu Fangfang , Pan Yaqi , Liang Yongmei , Zhang Chaoting , Deng Qiuju , Li Xiang , Liu Mengfei , He Zhonghu , Liu Ying , Li Jingjing , Ning Tao , Guo Chuanhai , Xu Ruiping , Zhang Lixin , Cai Hong , Ke Yang
Published: July 2017

Objectives

Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed on women in developed countries; however, little is known about the epidemiology of hysterectomy in low-income to middle-income regions. This study seeks to evaluate the prevalence of hysterectomy and its risk factors in rural China.

Methods

Questionnaires were collected from 3328 female adults aged 25â€“69 years in rural Anyang, China, in 2009â€“2011. Hysterectomy status was ascertained by the gynaecologist at the time of cytological test. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the risk factors for hysterectomy.

Results

The overall prevalence of hysterectomy was 3.31% (110/3328). Women above the age of 40 years had a higher prevalence of prior hysterectomy, compared with those aged 25â€“39 years (5.01% vs 0.33%). Obesity was marginally related with a higher risk of hysterectomy (adjusted OR=1.59; 95%â€‰CI 0.99 to 2.56; body mass index (BMI) â‰¥28.0 vs 18.5 â‰¤ BMI <24.0). History of prior pregnancy loss conferred a greater risk for hysterectomy (adjusted OR=1.51; 95%â€‰CI 1.02 to 2.23). Of the 75 (68.18%, 75/110) cases who provided further information on hysterectomy, 84.00% (63/75) had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and 70.67% (53/75) had received surgery for leiomyoma.

Conclusions

Rural Chinese women had a relatively low prevalence of hysterectomy, and the majority of reported hysterectomies were performed abdominally for leiomyoma. Hysterectomy prevalence differed significantly by age, BMI and history of pregnancy loss. This study expands the current understanding of the epidemiology of hysterectomy in lower resource areas.
Impact of participant attrition on child injury outcome estimates: a longitudinal birth cohort study in Australia
Authors: Cameron Cate M , Osborne Jodie M , Spinks Anneliese B , Davey Tamzyn M , Sipe Neil , McClure Roderick J
Published: July 2017

Background

Longitudinal research is subject to participant attrition. Systemic differences between retained participants and those lost to attrition potentially bias prevalence of outcomes, as well as exposure-outcome associations. This study examines the impact of attrition on the prevalence of child injury outcomes and the association between sociodemographic factors and child injury.

Methods

Participants were recruited as part of the Environments for Healthy Living (EFHL) birth cohort study. Baseline data were drawn from maternal surveys. Child injury outcome data were extracted from hospital records, 2006–2013. Participant attrition status was assessed up to 2014. Rates of injury-related episodes of care were calculated, taking into account exposure time and Poisson regression was performed to estimate exposure-outcome associations.

Results

Of the 2222 participating families, 799 families (36.0%) had complete follow-up data. Those with incomplete data included 137 (6.2%) who withdrew, 308 (13.8%) were lost to follow-up and 978 families (44.0%) who were partial/non-responders. Families of lower socioeconomic status were less likely to have complete follow-up data (p<0.05). Systematic differences in attrition did not result in differential child injury outcomes or significant differences between the attrition and non-attrition groups in risk factor effect estimates. Participants who withdrew were the only group to demonstrate differences in child injury outcomes.

Conclusion

This research suggests that even with considerable attrition, if the proportion of participants who withdraw is minimal, overall attrition is unlikely to affect the population prevalence estimate of child injury or measures of association between sociodemographic factors and child injury.
A cross-sectional analysis of pharmaceutical industry-funded events for health professionals in Australia
Authors: Fabbri Alice , Grundy Quinn , Mintzes Barbara , Swandari Swestika , Moynihan Ray , Walkom Emily , Bero Lisa A
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To analyse patterns and characteristics of pharmaceutical industry sponsorship of events for Australian health professionals and to understand the implications of recent changes in transparency provisions that no longer require reporting of payments for food and beverages.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis.

Participants and setting

301 publicly available company transparency reports downloaded from the website of Medicines Australia, the pharmaceutical industry trade association, covering the period from October 2011 to September 2015.

Results

Forty-two companies sponsored 116 845 events for health professionals, on average 608 per week with 30 attendees per event. Events typically included a broad range of health professionals: 82.0% included medical doctors, including specialists and primary care doctors, and 38.3% trainees. Oncology, surgery and endocrinology were the most frequent clinical areas of focus. Most events (64.2%) were held in a clinical setting. The median cost per event was $A263 (IQR $A153–1195) and over 90% included food and beverages.

Conclusions

Over this 4-year period, industry-sponsored events were widespread and pharmaceutical companies maintained a high frequency of contact with health professionals. Most events were held in clinical settings, suggesting a pervasive commercial presence in everyday clinical practice. Food and beverages, known to be associated with changes to prescribing practice, were almost always provided. New Australian transparency provisions explicitly exclude meals from the reporting requirements; thus, a large proportion of potentially influential payments from pharmaceutical companies to health professionals will disappear from public view.
Defining clinically important perioperative blood loss and transfusion for the Standardised Endpoints for Perioperative Medicine (StEP) collaborative: a protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Bartoszko Justyna , Vorobeichik Leon , Jayarajah Mohandas , Karkouti Keyvan , Klein Andrew A , Lamy Andre , Mazer C David , Murphy Mike , Richards Toby , Englesakis Marina , Myles Paul S , Wijeysundera Duminda N
Published: July 2017

Introduction

‘Standardised Endpoints for Perioperative Medicine’ (StEP) is an international collaboration undertaking development of consensus-based consistent definitions for endpoints in perioperative clinical trials. Inconsistency in endpoint definitions can make interpretation of trial results more difficult, especially if conflicting evidence is present. Furthermore, this inconsistency impedes evidence synthesis and meta-analyses. The goals of StEP are to harmonise definitions for clinically meaningful endpoints and specify standards for endpoint reporting in clinical trials. To help inform this endeavour, we aim to conduct a scoping review to systematically characterise the definitions of clinically important endpoints in the existing published literature on perioperative blood loss and transfusion.

Methods and analysis

The scoping review will be conducted using the widely adopted framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley, with modifications from Levac. We refined our methods with guidance from research librarians as well as researchers and clinicians with content expertise. The electronic literature search will involve several databases including Medline, PubMed-not-Medline and Embase. Our review has three objectives, namely to (1) identify definitions of significant blood loss and transfusion used in previously published large perioperative randomised trials; (2) identify previously developed consensus-based definitions for significant blood loss and transfusion in perioperative medicine and related fields; and (3) describe the association between different magnitudes of blood loss and transfusion with postoperative outcomes. The multistage review process for each question will involve two reviewers screening abstracts, reading full-text articles and performing data extraction. The abstracted data will be organised and subsequently analysed in an iterative process.

Ethics and dissemination

This scoping review of the previously published literature does not require research ethics approval. The results will be used to inform a consensus-based process to develop definitions of clinically important perioperative blood loss and transfusion. The results of the scoping review will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Phonon, elastic and thermodynamic properties of L12 phase Rh3Zr under pressure from first-principles
Authors: Wang Leini , Jian Zhang , Ning Wei
Published: July 2017

The phonon, elastic and thermodynamic properties of L12 phase Rh3Zr have been investigated by density functional theory approach combining with quasi-harmonic approximation model. The relaxed lattice parameters of L12 phase Rh3Zr at zero pressure are in good agreement with the experiment. To judge the stability of L12 phase Rh3Zr under high pressure, the phonon band structure has been studied. The results show that L12 phase Rh3Zr possesses dynamical stability in the pressure range from 0[Formula: see text]GPa to 80[Formula: see text]GPa due to the absence of imaginary frequencies. The pressure dependences of elastic constants [Formula: see text] have been analyzed. All the elastic constants of Rh3Zr in a wide pressure range (0–80[Formula: see text]GPa) meet general mechanical conditions, suggesting that L12 phase Rh3Zr is mechanically stable under pressure up to 80[Formula: see text]GPa. L12 phase Rh3Zr exhibits ductility under high pressure and the pressure can improve the ductility from the results of the value of [Formula: see text] and Poisson’s ratio [Formula: see text]. Hence, it is obvious that the mechanical properties of Rh3Zr can be improved under high pressure. Moreover, we have obtained the thermodynamic properties using the quasi-harmonic Debye model. We note that the effect of the temperature on the Debye temperature [Formula: see text] is smaller than that of the pressure. We believe that our result will be a good guidance to future works and applications.
A question on weakly ℋ-subgroups of a finite group
Authors: Gao Jinxin , Guo Xiuyun
Published: July 2017

A subgroup [Formula: see text] of a finite group [Formula: see text] is said to be an [Formula: see text]-subgroup in [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text]; and [Formula: see text] is said to be a weakly [Formula: see text]-subgroup in [Formula: see text] if there is a normal subgroup [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text]-subgroup of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we give a positive answer to a problem posed by Li and Qiao [On weakly [Formula: see text]-subgroups and [Formula: see text]-nilpotency of finite groups, J. Algebra Appl. 16 (2017) 1750042].
Solving Inverse Laplace Equation with Singularity by Weighted Reproducing Kernel Collocation Method
Authors: Yang Judy P. , Guan Pai-Chen , Fan Chia-Ming
Published: July 2017

This work introduces the weighted collocation method with reproducing kernel approximation to solve the inverse Laplace equations. As the inverse problems in consideration are equipped with over-specified boundary conditions, the resulting equations yield an overdetermined system. Following our previous work, the weighted collocation method using a least-squares minimization has shown to solve the inverse Cauchy problems efficiently without using techniques such as iteration and regularization. In this work, we further consider solving the inverse problems of Laplace type and introduce the Shepard functions to deal with singularity. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the validity of the method.
Thermal Shock Resistance of Chemical Vapor Deposited Zinc Sulfide Under Active Cooling
Authors: Li Huimin , Cheng Tianbao , Ma Yongbin , Xu Baosheng , Fang Daining , Yang Yazheng
Published: July 2017

The thermal shock resistance of chemical vapor deposited zinc sulfide (CVD ZnS) infrared side window of high-speed vehicles with convective cooling is studied using finite volume method. The involved factors are the surface heat flux, coolant temperature, convective heat transfer coefficient, and thermal shock initial temperature. All the material properties are temperature-dependent. The study shows that convective cooling can improve the thermal up shock resistance of CVD ZnS caused by aerodynamic heating at the upper surface. On the other hand, it can also lead to thermal down shock failure at the lower surface. The critical failure time corresponding to thermal down shock failure is much less than that corresponding to thermal up shock failure. Thus, thermal down shock failure should be avoided in application. The critical thermal shock initial temperatures, below which convective cooling will not cause thermal down shock failure, for different coolants are calculated.
Uncertain Buckling and Sensitivity Analysis of Functionally Graded Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Composite Beam
Authors: Pouresmaeeli S. , Fazelzadeh S. A.
Published: July 2017

The static instability of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) beam in the presence of the material and geometrical uncertainties is investigated. By utilizing the extended rule of mixture, the mechanical properties of nanocomposite beam are estimated, and critical buckling loads are obtained by the use of Galerkin’s method. To take propagation of uncertain variables into account, a nonprobabilistic approach is employed. The suggested model is justified by a great agreement between the given results and available data in the literature. The most prominent uncertain variables are distinguished based on a sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, the influence of volume fraction of the carbon nanotube on the upper and lower bounds of uncertain buckling load and uncertainty propagation percent of FG-CNTRC beam is examined.
The circular law for random regular digraphs with random edge weights
Authors: Cook Nicholas
Published: July 2017

We consider random [Formula: see text] matrices of the form [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the adjacency matrix of a uniform random [Formula: see text]-regular directed graph on [Formula: see text] vertices, with [Formula: see text] for some fixed [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text] matrix of i.i.d. centered random variables with unit variance and finite [Formula: see text]th moment (here ∘ denotes the matrix Hadamard product). We show that as [Formula: see text], the empirical spectral distribution of [Formula: see text] converges weakly in probability to the normalized Lebesgue measure on the unit disk.
FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND CORPORATE CASH HOLDINGS: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS USING FIRM LEVEL DATA
Authors: RASHID ABDUL , ASHFAQ MARYAM
Published: July 2017

This paper empirically investigates whether the sensitivity of cash to its firm-specific determinants differs across financially constrained and unconstrained firms. We sort out firm-year observations as financially constrained and unconstrained based on the median value of three alternative measures: the firm size, dividend payout ratio, and Whited and Wu (WW) index. In order to mitigate the problem of endogeneity and to take into account the dynamic nature of the panel dataset, we apply the robust two-step system-GMM estimator on unbalanced annual panel dataset covering the period 2001–2013. The results suggest that financially constrained firms (FCFs) decrease their cash holdings with size, leverage, and the payout ratio, while they increase their cash amounts with both the market-to-book value and the cash flow volatility. On the other hand, for financially unconstrained firms (FUCFs), we show that there is a positive relationship between cash holdings and firm size, the payout ratio, and the market-to-book value, while both the cash flow volatility and leverage are negatively related to cash holdings. These asymmetries in the sensitivity of cash to its determinants are robust across all the three measures of financial constraints used in the study.
Algorithm 976
Authors: Brake Daniel A. , Bates Daniel J. , Hao Wenrui , Hauenstein Jonathan D. , Sommese Andrew J. , Wampler Charles W.
Published: July 2017

Bertini_real is a compiled command line program for numerically decomposing the real portion of a positive-dimensional complex component of an algebraic set. The software uses homotopy continuation to solve a series of systems via regeneration from a witness set to compute a cell decomposition. The implemented decomposition algorithms are similar to the well-known cylindrical algebraic decomposition (CAD) first established by Collins in that they produce a set of connected cells. In contrast to the CAD, Bertini_real produces cells with midpoints connected to boundary points by homotopies, which can easily be numerically tracked. Furthermore, the implemented decomposition for surfaces naturally yields a triangulation. This CAD-like decomposition captures the topological information and permits further computation on the real sets, such as sampling, visualization, and three-dimensional printing.
Search Result Diversification in Short Text Streams
Authors: Liang Shangsong , Yilmaz Emine , Shen Hong , Rijke Maarten De , Croft W. Bruce
Published: July 2017

We consider the problem of search result diversification for streams of short texts. Diversifying search results in short text streams is more challenging than in the case of long documents, as it is difficult to capture the latent topics of short documents. To capture the changes of topics and the probabilities of documents for a given query at a specific time in a short text stream, we propose a dynamic Dirichlet multinomial mixture topic model, called D2M3, as well as a Gibbs sampling algorithm for the inference. We also propose a streaming diversification algorithm, SDA, that integrates the information captured by D2M3 with our proposed modified version of the PM-2 (Proportionality-based diversification Method -- second version) diversification algorithm. We conduct experiments on a Twitter dataset and find that SDA statistically significantly outperforms state-of-the-art non-streaming retrieval methods, plain streaming retrieval methods, as well as streaming diversification methods that use other dynamic topic models.