bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classical Pauli repulsion: An anisotropic, atomic multipole model
Authors: Rackers Joshua A. , Ponder Jay W.
Published: February 2019

Pauli repulsion is a key component of any theory of intermolecular interactions. Although Pauli or exchange repulsion has its origin in the quantum mechanical nature of electrons, it is possible to describe the resulting energetic effects via a classical model in terms of the overlap of electron densities. In fact, closed shell intermolecular repulsion can be explained as a diminution of election density in the internuclear region resulting in decreased screening of nuclear charges and increased nuclear-nuclear repulsion. We provide a concise anisotropic repulsion formulation using the atomic multipoles from the Atomic Multipole Optimized Energetics for Biomolecular Applications force field to describe the electron density at each atom in a larger system. Mathematically, the proposed model consists of damped pairwise exponential multipolar repulsion interactions truncated at short range, which are suitable for use in compute-intensive biomolecular force fields and molecular dynamics simulations. Parameters for 26 atom classes encompassing most organic molecules are derived from a fit to Symmetry Adapted Perturbation Theory exchange repulsion energies for the S101 dimer database. Several applications of the multipolar Pauli repulsion model are discussed, including noble gas interactions, analysis of stationary points on the water dimer potential surface, and the directionality of several halogen bonding interactions.
Using Green-Kubo modal analysis (GKMA) and interface conductance modal analysis (ICMA) to study phonon transport with molecular dynamics
Authors: Seyf Hamid Reza , Gordiz Kiarash , DeAngelis Freddy , Henry Asegun
Published: February 2019

While current descriptions of thermal transport exist for well-ordered solids, i.e., crystal lattices, new methods are needed to describe thermal transport in systems with lack of symmetry such as structurally/compositionally disordered solids and interfaces. In this tutorial, we discuss the formalism, implementation, and application of two recently developed methods, Green-Kubo modal analysis and interface conductance modal analysis, to predict the thermal conductivity and thermal interface conductance, respectively. Specifically, these methods enable the prediction of phonon contributions to transport in crystalline materials with any level of defects, up through fully amorphous solids, dilute to fully random alloys, molecules, nanostructures, and across interfaces involving any of these material classes—all within a single and unified perspective. This tutorial article not only describes the methods, but also provides example codes that can be used for their direct implementation. The design and functionality of the codes is also discussed in order to reduce the barrier to more extensive utilization of these approaches by others.
Numerical simulation and study of the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition growth of ZnO film
Authors: Li Jian , Cai Jiandong , Wu Ziling , Wang Jie , Pei Yanli , Wang Gang
Published: February 2019

The effect on the gas flow field, temperature field, and deposition rate of zinc oxide in commercial metal-organic chemical vapor deposition was numerically investigated in three dimensions. The proposed three-dimensional reaction chamber model is used for numerical simulation and experimental verification. However, under the process conditions, there is a large eddy in the reaction chamber because of the influence of buoyancy and rotational force, which affects the stability of the flow field. The presence of vortices can adversely affect interface steepness, surface morphology, and doping uniformity. However, porous media play a good role in flow stability. Accordingly, a reasonable porous medium with an appropriate distance between a porous medium and a susceptor was developed to reduce pre-reaction, improve flow stability, and increase the ZnO deposition rate.
Range-separated multideterminant density-functional theory with a short-range correlation functional of the on-top pair density
Authors: Ferté Anthony , Giner Emmanuel , Toulouse Julien
Published: February 2019

We introduce an approximation to the short-range correlation energy functional with multideterminantal reference involved in a variant of range-separated density-functional theory. This approximation is a local functional of the density, the density gradient, and the on-top pair density, which locally interpolates between the standard Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof correlation functional at a vanishing range-separation parameter and the known exact asymptotic expansion at a large range-separation parameter. When combined with (selected) configuration-interaction calculations for the long-range wave function, this approximation gives accurate dissociation energy curves of the H2, Li2, and Be2 molecules and thus appears as a promising way to accurately account for static correlation in range-separated density-functional theory.
Experimental investigation of shock oscillations on V-shaped blunt leading edges
Authors: Zhang Zhiyu , Li Zhufei , Huang Rong , Yang Jiming
Published: February 2019

Shock oscillations on a series of V-shaped blunt leading edges with R/r (i.e., the crotch rounding radius R to the leading edge radius r) ranging from 0 to 9 are experimentally investigated at Mach 6. A combination of high-speed schlieren and image processing technologies is used to capture the flow features during the shock oscillations. The observed primary shock structures are categorized as regular reflection (type A), Mach reflection (type B), and regular reflection from the same family (type C). It is revealed that the competition of the two opposite jets near the stagnation point and the breathing-like motion of the flow at the crotch region cause severe oscillations for types B and C. These oscillations are classified into four patterns with the increase of R/r: global swing, mixing of swing and arch-recover, global arch-recover, and local arch-recover. Correspondingly, the coherent structure of the oscillations gradually changes from an antisymmetric one to a symmetrical one. The transitions of the four patterns are quantitatively identified by the analyses of the root mean square of the fluctuations of the triple point TP and the shock point SP on the symmetrical line, which almost linearly decrease with the increase of R/r. Moreover, both TP and SP in the shock oscillations present energetic dominant frequencies that vary significantly with R/r. However, a nearly universal Strouhal number is obtained when the distances from TP (for type B) and the self-induced kink (for type C) to the stagnation point are employed as the relevant lengths, which suggests a possible physical mechanism for the oscillations. This study indicates that the shock oscillations can be suppressed by a properly large R/r, which is recommended for the design of V-shaped cowl lips.
Two-dimensional modeling image of space charge migration in a needle-like electron beam plasma
Authors: Bai Xiaoyan , Chen Chen , Li Hong , Liu Wandong , Chen Wei
Published: February 2019

Charge neutralization in a continuous electron beam plasma (EBP) in a half-open space at intermediate and high pressures is an important physical issue. A two-dimensional numerical simulation was performed to illustrate the spatial and temporary evolution of the needle-like EBP from the beginning of electron beam injection to the quasi-steady state. The temporary evolution of the space charge separates into three phases and the involved respective physical processes controlling different phases were identified. The first phase lasts for less than 1 ns, where the space charge comprising the beam electrons is mainly near the exiting entrance. In the second phase, a significant ring-shaped distribution of space charge appears because of broad differences in the energy and charge distributions. Moreover, the space potential first increases and then decreases, a result of competition between the charge accumulation by the injection of beam electrons and the charge migration of plasma electrons. The second phase lasts from 1 ns to about 3 μs. In the third phase, the EBP reaches quasi-equilibrium, where the spatial potential is a result of ambipolar diffusion and is therefore only correlated with the distribution of plasma electrons. As a result, the spatial and temporary evolution of the continuous EBP is governed by energy and charge deposition, whereas the parameter values in the quasi-steady state are mainly determined by the energy deposition.
Design and performance of hybrid piezoelectric-electromagnetic energy harvester with trapezoidal beam and magnet sleeve
Authors: Zhang Guangyi , Gao Shiqiao , Liu Haipeng , Zhang Wenwu
Published: February 2019

At present, piezoelectric energy harvesters are disadvantaged by their low efficiency and high operating frequencies. To address these shortcomings, we propose herein a hybrid piezoelectric-electromagnetic energy harvester (HPEH) for the low-frequency vibration environment, which is composed of a piezoelectric part featured with a double-clamped trapezoidal beam and an electromagnetic part featured with a magnet sleeve and plane coils. The modeling and experiment of the HPEH were carried out to optimize the structure and performance. We find experimentally that the proposed device not only increases the piezoelectric output but also highly improves the electromagnetic output. At the excitation acceleration 2 m/s2, the average output power of the piezoelectric part and the electromagnetic part is increased by 30.5% and 20 times, respectively. The total output power of the HPEH is increased by 52.4%, reaching 0.637 mW. The results show that the proposed HPEH can efficiently use vibration energy to improve its output performance, which has the potential to power wireless intelligent sensor network and wearable electronic devices.
Orchard management and preferential flow in Andosols – comparing two kiwifruit orchards in New Zealand
Authors: Müller Karin , Duwig Céline , Tinet Anne-Julie , Strozzi Alfonso Gastelum , Spadini Lorenzo , Morel Marie Christine , Charrier Pascal
Published: February 2019

Sustainable horticulture depends on the integrity of soil functions, which directly depend on soil architecture affecting aggregation, root growth, as well as liquid and gas permeability. We hypothesised that changes in soil architecture resulting from feedback mechanisms between management, soil organic carbon contents (SOC), biota and vegetation can be captured with X-ray computed tomography (CT), and that these affect the soil filtering function, which thus, can be manipulated through orchard management. We compared the transport of copper, a widely used fungicide, through intact soil cores from vine rows of kiwifruit orchards under organic and integrated management. We first derived 3D-macropore characteristics from CT-images, followed by leaching a pulse of copper and a tracer through the same cores. The organic orchard soil had a significantly higher SOC content than the integrated orchard soil, and this was positively correlated with total porosity. Macropores (>92µm) were larger with a higher connectivity, but significantly fewer in the organic than the integrated orchard soil. This resulted in a lower macroporosity and a better copper filtering capacity of the organic than the integrated orchard soil. Copper distribution was reasonably predicted when combining SOC contents, pH and macropore characteristics. Significant relationships between soil parameters and indicators of the strength of preferential flow verified that CT-derived macropore characteristics can be used to predict functional solute transport parameters. The relevance of our results and relationships observed between macropore characteristics, functional indicators of preferential flow and the fate of copper needs verification with samples representing more soils and sites.
Arg302 governs the pK
a
of Glu325 in LacY
Authors: Grytsyk Natalia , Santos Seiça Ana Filipa , Sugihara Junichi , Kaback H. Ronald , Hellwig Petra
Published: February 2019

Significance

The alkaline pK for galactoside binding by the lactose permease of
Escherichia coli
correlates precisely with the pK
a
of Glu325, as determined by reaction-induced surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS). Glu325 must be protonated for LacY to bind sugar effectively, but deprotonation is also essential for transport. SEIRAS is utilized to test the effect of mutating residues in the immediate neighborhood of Glu325 based on the rationale that interaction will alter the pK
a
. Neutral replacement of Arg302 with Ala has little or no effect, while replacement with positively charged Lys causes a two-pH unit acid shift. Since a number of other mutations in the vicinity have little effect, it is concluded that Arg302 is important for deprotonation of Glu325.
Role for nuclear interleukin-37 in the suppression of innate immunity
Authors: Li Suzhao , Amo-Aparicio Jesus , Neff Charles P. , Tengesdal Isak W. , Azam Tania , Palmer Brent E. , López-Vales Rubèn , Bufler Philip , Dinarello Charles A.
Published: February 2019

Significance

Interleukin-1 family members are highly inflammatory, but member IL-37 is unique in broadly suppressing inflammation and specific immunity. IL-37 is a dual-function cytokine by binding in the nucleus and to cell surface receptors. We generated an IL-37 transgenic mouse carrying the aspartic acid (D) to alanine (A) mutation at amino acid 20 (D20A), which prevents the nuclear translocation of IL-37. In transgenic mice expressing native IL-37, inflammatory cytokines are reduced during systemic endotoxemia, but, in mice expressing the D20A mutation, protection is lost, consistent with a nuclear function of IL-37. Nevertheless, IL-37D20A released from cells binds to its receptors and initiates suppression of innate inflammation. These studies reveal a nuclear function of IL-37 in vivo.
Current research on instructed second language learning
Authors: DeKeyser Robert M. , Prieto Botana Goretti
Published: February 2019

In this introductory chapter we provide a picture of recent research on instructed second language learning (ISLA), not about its findings, but about what questions it addresses, on what aspects of the second language, and with what methodologies. We also address some potential reasons for why ISLA research is a relatively small part of the SLA research published in the leading journals, and for why a rather small part of that ISLA research is carried out in actual classrooms. We then present a set of questions about research methodology and generalizability of results that we asked the authors of each empirical chapter in the book (Chapters 2–9) to address, and we provide a brief overview of where the various contributions fall on the spectrum from least to most instructional intervention, which in turn largely determines their answers to the questions we asked them to address.
Integrating instructed second language research, pragmatics, and corpus-based instruction
Authors: Bardovi-Harlig Kathleen , Mossman Sabrina , Su Yunwen
Published: February 2019

This paper discusses the issues raised by implementing instruction in language classrooms for the purpose of researching the effects of instruction on second language acquisition. We examine the process of developing and implementing novel corpus-based instruction for the teaching of pragmatic routines in a study that compared the use of teacher-developed corpus-based materials to guided, hands-on corpus searches by learners (Bardovi-Harlig, Mossman, & Su, 2017). We use this study as the impetus for reflection on the experimenters’ role in materials and activities development and the difference between experimental instruction and classroom teaching. We further discuss the role of learner proficiency levels and grammatical and lexical development in response to instruction, teacher collaboration, and generalizability to other contexts.
The effects of recasts versus prompts on immediate uptake and learning of a complex target structure
Authors: Nassaji Hossein
Published: February 2019

This study compared the effects of recasts and prompts on learning a complex target structure (English relative clauses). It also examined how these effects were mediated by learners’ level of language proficiency. Fifty-four high- and low-proficiency ESL learners were assigned to three groups: recast (n = 18), prompt (n = 18), and control (n = 18). Both uptake and pretest-posttest measures were used to assess feedback effectiveness. Each learner met with a native-speaker interlocutor outside the classroom four times over a four-week period for the pretest, treatment, and immediate and delayed posttests. Picture-cued oral production tasks were developed and used to elicit the use of relative clauses. The findings revealed an advantage for recasts over prompts, and also showed that the two feedback types varied in their effects on uptake versus learning and also interacted differently with learners’ levels of language proficiency. Although the study was conducted outside the classroom, the pedagogical relevance will be discussed.
Monotonicity of maximal equicontinuous factors and an application to toral flows
Authors: Hauser T. , Jäger T.
Published: February 2019

We show that for group actions on locally connected spaces the maximal equicontinuous factor map is always monotone, that is, the preimages of single points are connected. As an application, we obtain that if the maximal equicontinuous factor of a homeomorphism of the two-torus is minimal, then it is either (i) an irrational translation of the two-torus, (ii) an irrational rotation on the circle, or (iii) the identity on a singleton.
Weak mixing for nonsingular Bernoulli actions of countable amenable groups
Authors: Danilenko Alexandre
Published: February 2019

Let

G
G

be an amenable discrete countable infinite group, let

A
A

be a finite set, and let

(

μ
g

)

g
∈
G

(\mu _g)_{g\in G}

be a family of probability measures on

A
A

such that

inf

g
∈
G

min

a
∈
A

μ
g

(
a
)
>
0

\inf _{g\in G}\min _{a\in A}\mu _g(a)>0

. It is shown (among other results) that if the Bernoulli shiftwise action of

G
G

on the infinite product space

⨂

g
∈
G

(
A
,

μ
g

)

\bigotimes _{g\in G}(A,\mu _g)

is nonsingular and conservative, then it is weakly mixing. This answers in the positive a question by Z. Kosloff, who proved recently that the conservative Bernoulli

Z

d

\mathbb {Z}^d

-actions are ergodic. As a byproduct, we prove a weak version of the pointwise ratio ergodic theorem for nonsingular actions of

G
G

.
On a class of singular measures satisfying a strong annular decay condition
Authors: Arroyo Ángel , Llorente José
Published: February 2019

A metric measure space

(
X
,
d
,
μ
)

(X, d, \mu )

is said to satisfy the strong annular decay condition if there is a constant

C
>
0

C>0

such that
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="mu left-parenthesis upper B left-parenthesis x comma upper R right-parenthesis minus upper B left-parenthesis x comma r right-parenthesis right-parenthesis less-than-or-equal-to upper C StartFraction upper R minus r Over upper R EndFraction mu left-parenthesis upper B left-parenthesis x comma upper R right-parenthesis right-parenthesis">

μ

(

B
(
x
,
R
)
∖
B
(
x
,
r
)

)

≤
C

R
−
r

R

μ
(
B
(
x
,
R
)
)

\begin{equation*} \mu \big ( B(x, R) \setminus B(x,r) \big ) \leq C\, \frac {R-r}{R}\, \mu (B(x,R)) \end{equation*}

for each

x
∈
X

x\in X

and all

0
>
r
≤
R

0>r \leq R

. If

d

∞

d_{\infty }

is the distance induced by the

∞
\infty

-norm in

R

N

\mathbb {R}^N

, we construct examples of singular measures

μ
\mu

on

R

N

\mathbb {R}^N

such that

(

R

N

,

d

∞

,
μ
)

(\mathbb {R}^N, d_{\infty }, \mu )

satisfies the strong annular decay condition.
Numerical range, dilation, and completely positive maps
Authors: Li Chi-Kwong , Poon Yiu-Tung
Published: February 2019

A proof using the theory of completely positive maps is given to the fact that if

A
∈

M
2

A \in M_2

or

A
∈

M
3

A \in M_3

has a reducing eigenvalue, then every bounded linear operator

B
B

with

W
(
B
)
⊆
W
(
A
)

W(B) \subseteq W(A)

has a dilation of the form

I
⊗
A

I \otimes A

. This gives a unified treatment for the different cases of the result obtained by researchers using different techniques.
The Urysohn Lemma is independent of ZF + Countable Choice
Authors: Tachtsis Eleftherios
Published: February 2019

We prove that it is relatively consistent with

Z
F

\mathsf {ZF}

(i.e., Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory without the Axiom of Choice (

A
C

\mathsf {AC}

)) that the Axiom of Countable Choice (

A
C

ℵ

0

\mathsf {AC}^{\aleph _{0}}

) is true, but the Urysohn Lemma (

U
L

\mathsf {UL}

), and hence the Tietze Extension Theorem (

T
E
T

\mathsf {TET}

), is false. This settles the corresponding open problem in P. Howard and J. E. Rubin [Consequences of the Axiom of Choice, Mathematical Surveys and Monographs, Vol. 59, American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI, 1998].

We also prove that in Läuchli’s permutation model of

Z
F
A

\mathsf {ZFA}

+
+

¬

U
L

\neg \mathsf {UL}

,

A
C

ℵ

0

\mathsf {AC}^{\aleph _{0}}

is false. This fills the gap in information in the above monograph of Howard and Rubin.
Inventory Credit as a Commitment Device to Save Grain Until the Hunger Season
Authors: Le Cotty T , Maître d'Hôtel E , Soubeyran R , Subervie J
Published: February 2019

In January 2013, we collected data from 653 farmers in Burkina Faso, who were asked hypothetical questions about risk aversion and time discounting. Ten months later, these farmers were offered the opportunity to participate in an inventory credit system, also called warrantage, in which they receive a loan in exchange for storing a portion of their harvest as a physical guarantee in one of the newly‐built warehouses of the program. We found that a significant number of farmers chose to store grain in the warehouse without taking the maximum amount allowed for a loan in return, and that farmers who exhibit a stronger present bias were significantly more likely to participate in the warrantage system than other, otherwise similar, farmers. We interpret these results as evidence that farmers use warrantage as a means to commit to saving a portion of their crop until the lean season. These results are in line with the main predictions of our theoretical model, which explicitly takes the hyperbolic nature of farmers' time preferences into account.
Antisense strategies and therapeutic applications
Authors: David A. Putnam
Published: February 2019

The concepts underlying the antisense approach to disease therapy are discussed, and potential applications are examined.

Antisense therapeutic agents bind to DNA or RNA sequences, biocking the synthesis of cellular proteins with unparalleled specificity. Transcription and translation are the two processes with which the agents interfere. There are three major classes of antisense agents: antisense sequences, commonly called antisense oligonucleotides; antigene sequences; and ribozymes. Antisense sequences are derivatives of nucleic acids that hybridize cytosolic messenger RNA (mRNA) sense strands through hydrogen bonding to complementary nucleic acid bases.

Antigene sequences hybridize double-stranded DNA in the nucleus, forming triple helixes. Ribozymes, rather than inhibiting protein synthesis simply by binding to a single targeted mRNA. combine enzymatic processes with the specificity of antisense Iwse pairing, creating a molecule that can incapacitate multiple targeted niRNAs. Anti-sense therapeutic agents are being investigated in vitro and in vivo for use in treating human immunodeficiency virus infection, hepatitis B virus infection, herpes simplex virus infection, papillomavirus infection, cancer, restenosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and allergic disorders. Although many results are preliminary, some are promising and has e led to clinical trials. A major goal in developing methods of delivering antisense agents is to reduce their susceptibility to nucleases while retaining their ability to bind to targeted sites. Modification of the phosphodiester linkages in oligonucleotides can lend the sequences enzymatic stability without affecting their binding capacities. Carrier systems designed to protect the antisense structure and improve passage through the cell membrane include liposomes, water-soluble polyrners, and nanoparticles. The pharmacokinetics of anti-sense agents are under investigation.

Antisense therapeutic agents have the potential to become an integral part of medicinal regimens.
Comparing enrichment analysis and machine learning for identifying gene properties that discriminate between gene classes
Authors: Fabris Fabio , Palmer Daniel , de Magalhães João Pedro , Freitas Alex A
Published: February 2019

Biologists very often use enrichment methods based on statistical hypothesis tests to identify gene properties that are significantly over-represented in a given set of genes of interest, by comparison with a ‘background’ set of genes. These enrichment methods, although based on rigorous statistical foundations, are not always the best single option to identify patterns in biological data. In many cases, one can also use classification algorithms from the machine-learning field. Unlike enrichment methods, classification algorithms are designed to maximize measures of predictive performance and are capable of analysing combinations of gene properties, instead of one property at a time. In practice, however, the majority of studies use either enrichment or classification methods (rather than both), and there is a lack of literature discussing the pros and cons of both types of method. The goal of this paper is to compare and contrast enrichment and classification methods, offering two contributions. First, we discuss the (to some extent complementary) advantages and disadvantages of both types of methods for identifying gene properties that discriminate between gene classes. Second, we provide a set of high-level recommendations for using enrichment and classification methods. Overall, by highlighting the strengths and the weaknesses of both types of methods we argue that both should be used in bioinformatics analyses.
Thalamic Inputs to Posterior Parietal Cortical Areas Involved in Skilled Forelimb Movement and Tool Use in the Capuchin Monkey
Authors: Mayer Andrei , Lewenfus Gabriela , Bittencourt-Navarrete Ruben Ernesto , Clasca Francisco , Franca João Guedes da
Published: February 2019

The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is a central hub for the primate forebrain networks that control skilled manual behavior, including tool use. Here, we quantified and compared the sources of thalamic input to electrophysiologically-identified hand/forearm-related regions of several PPC areas, namely areas 5v, AIP, PFG, and PF, of the capuchin monkey (Sapajus sp). We found that these areas receive most of their thalamic connections from the Anterior Pulvinar (PuA), Lateral Posterior (LP) and Medial Pulvinar (PuM) nuclei. Each PPC area receives a specific combination of projections from these nuclei, and fewer additional projections from other nuclei. Moreover, retrograde labeling of the cells innervating different PPC areas revealed substantial intermingling of these cells within the thalamus. Differences in thalamic input may contribute to the different functional properties displayed by the PPC areas. Furthermore, the observed innervation of functionally-related PPC domains from partly intermingled thalamic cell populations accords with the notion that higher-order thalamic inputs may dynamically regulate functional connectivity between cortical areas.
Close Patient Follow-up Among Patients Receiving Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy
Authors: Palms Danielle L , Jacob Jesse T
Published: February 2019

Background

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) programs allow patients to receive intravenous treatment in the outpatient setting. We developed a predictive model of 30-day readmission among hospitalized patients discharged on OPAT from 2 academic medical centers with a dedicated OPAT clinic for management.

Methods

A retrospective medical records review was performed and logistic regression was used to assess OPAT and other outpatient clinic follow-up in conjunction with age, sex, pathogen, diagnosis, discharge medication, planned length of therapy, and Charlson comorbidity score. We hypothesized that at least 1 follow-up visit at the Emory OPAT clinic would reduce the risk for hospital readmission within 30 days.

Results

Among 755 patients, 137 (18%) were readmitted within 30 days. Most patients (73%) received outpatient follow-up care at Emory Healthcare within 30 days of discharge or prior to readmission, including 52% of patients visiting the OPAT clinic. The multivariate logistic regression model indicated that a follow-up OPAT clinic visit was associated with lower readmission compared to those who had no follow-up visit (odds ratio, 0.10 [95% confidence interval, .06–.17]) after adjusting for infection with enterococci, Charlson score, discharge location, and county of residence.

Conclusions

These results can inform potential interventions to prevent readmissions through OPAT clinic follow-up and to further assess factors associated with successful care transitions from the inpatient to outpatient setting.
Lincoln’s well-considered political economy (the ‘American System’) trumped the Free Trade British System
Authors: Phillips Emir
Published: February 2019

The Whigs could legitimately emphasise what Hamilton’s Report had not touched upon: urban labourers made unemployed by import competition could not shift to ‘collateral employments’ with the presumptive ease asserted by Free Trader Democrats. More than anything, it was the structural cyclical instability (Minsky moments) that engendered a new party (Republican) to exert political pressures for government involvement in the management of the economy (mercantilism). Economic beliefs played the most fundamental role in Lincoln’s career, and his mercantilist views, in conformity with Hamilton, Clay and the economist Carey, were key determinants in effectuating the Industrial Revolution within the United States through tariffs, government-supported macro-projects and structurally stimulating aggregate demand through a national currency. Permeating Lincoln's political economy was a fierce non-neutral view of money wherein banks created the funds to ignite the American System. Henry Clay, Henry Carey and Abraham Lincoln were seeking to supplant the Ricardo–Malthus long-term model of economic growth (emphasising distribution within a relatively stagnant economy) with one of expanding productive powers and rising wage levels. These interventionist issues are still quite relevant since US economics students are taught modernised versions of the doctrines of Ricardo and Malthus which were controverted more than a century ago by the American School, and more specifically by Abraham Lincoln.
Short-term effects of sevelamer-carbonate on fibroblast growth factor 23 and pulse wave velocity in patients with normophosphataemic chronic kidney disease Stage 3
Authors: Bouma-de Krijger Annet , van Ittersum Frans J , Hoekstra Tiny , ter Wee Pieter M , Vervloet Marc G
Published: February 2019

Background

High concentrations of both phosphate and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) observed in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a surrogate marker for cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. It is not known whether a reduction of FGF23 or phosphate alters cardiovascular risk. Sevelamer has shown to have the ability to reduce both phosphate and FGF23 concentrations. Furthermore, reduction of PWV is reported with sevelamer use as well, but it is unclear if this is mediated by decline of phosphate or FGF23. We investigated if sevelamer induced a decline in PWV and if this was associated with a reduction in FGF23.

Methods

In all, 24 normophosphataemic CKD Stage 3 patients started treatment with a fixed dose of sevelamer-carbonate (Renvela®) 2.4 g twice daily, with their usual diet for 8 weeks in a single-arm study. PWV was measured and blood samples were obtained before, during and after washout of treatment with sevelamer. Vascular calcification was quantified using the Kauppila Index (KI). The primary outcome was the change of PWV from baseline to 8 weeks of treatment and the secondary endpoint was the difference of FGF23 following treatment with sevelamer. One of the linear mixed models was used to analyse the association between treatment and outcome. Mediation analysis was performed as a sensitivity analysis. The study was registered in the Dutch trial register (http://www.trialregister.nl: NTR2383).

Results

A total of 18 patients completed 8 weeks of treatment with sevelamer and were analysed. Overall, treatment with sevelamer did not induce a significant reduction of PWV (β = −0.36, P = 0.12). However, in patients with less vascular calcification (lower KI score), there was a statistically significant reduction of PWV, adjusted for mean arterial pressure, after treatment (β = 0.63, P = 0.02). Addition of FGF23 to the model did not alter this association. Mediation analysis yielded similar results. FGF23 did not decrease during treatment with sevelamer.

Conclusion

In this short-term pilot study in normophosphataemic CKD patients, treatment with sevelamer did not improve PWV. In subgroup analysis, however, PWV improved in patients with no or limited abdominal aorta calcifications. This was not associated with a decline of FGF23.
An Improved Seed Point Selection-Based Unsupervised Color Clustering for Content-Based Image Retrieval Application
Authors: Pavithra L K , Sree Sharmila T
Published: February 2019

The images involved in the content-based image retrieval (CBIR) applications are collectively represented by features such as color, texture and shape. The precision of the CBIR application relies on the key features used in image representation and its similarity measure. In CBIR, dominant color feature extraction is affected by the predefined intervals used in color quantization. The proposed work mainly concentrates on extracting the dominant color information of the image using the clustering process. The clustering process is initiated by the proposed seed point’s selection approach. This approach derives the number of seed points using the first order statistical measure and maximum range of the distributed pixel values. Moreover, this work gives equal priority to dominant color and its occurrence information in calculating the similarity between query and database images. Finally, the standard databases such as SIMPLIcity, Corel-10k, OT-scene, Oxford flower and GHIM are taken to investigate the performance of the proposed dominant color based image retrieval application.
BigFeel—A Distributed Processing Environment for the Integration of Sentiment Analysis Methods
Authors: Ferreira Roger Santos , Pereira Denilson Alves
Published: February 2019

Sentiment analysis has been the main focus of plenty of research efforts, particularly justified by its commercial significance, both for consumers and businesses. Thus, many methods have been proposed so far, and the most prominent have been compared in terms of effectiveness. Nonetheless, the literature is deficient when it comes to assessing the efficiency of these methods for processing large volumes of data. In this study, we performed an experimental assessment of the efficiency of 22 methods in total, whose implementations were available. We also proposed and assessed an environment for distributed processing methods for sentiment analysis, using the Apache Spark platform, named BigFeel. In this environment, the existing methods, outlined to run in a non-distributed way, can be adapted, without altering their source code, to run in a distributed manner. The experimental results reveal that (i) few methods are efficient in their native form, (ii) the methods improve their efficiency after having been integrated into BigFeel, (iii) some of them, which were unfeasible to process a large dataset, became viable when deployed in a computer cluster and (iv) some methods can only handle small datasets, even in a distributed manner.
Five-year Safety Data From OPUS, a European Observational Safety Registry for Adults With Ulcerative Colitis Treated With Originator Infliximab [Remicade®] or Conventional Therapy
Authors: Panés Julián , Lindsay James O , Teich Niels , Lindgren Stefan , Colombel Jean-Frédéric , Cornillie Freddy , Flynn Heather Ann , Huyck Susan , Stryszak Paul , Yao Ruji , Philip George , Reinisch Walter
Published: February 2019

Background and Aims

The Observational Postmarketing Ulcerative colitis Study [OPUS] was conducted to obtain the first long-term [5 years] safety data assessing treatment with originator infliximab versus conventional therapies in patients with ulcerative colitis [UC] in real-world clinical practice.

Methods

The OPUS registry was a prospective, non-randomised, observational study that measured adverse events in nine prespecified categories of interest in UC patients whose treatment with either originator infliximab or conventional therapy [defined as initiation or dose-increase of corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants] was determined by their treating physician.

Results

Data for 2239 patients were available: N = 1180 enrolled to conventional therapy [including N = 296 who switched to originator infliximab during follow-up] and N = 1059 enrolled to originator infliximab. Patients in the originator infliximab group, compared with the conventional therapy group, had more severe disease at baseline, based on partial Mayo score [PMS]: 46.0% of patients in the originator infliximab group had severe disease (PMS of 7–9 [out of 9]), compared with 30.5% in the conventional therapy group. In adjusted time-to-event analyses, enrolment into the originator infliximab group was associated with a higher risk of serious infection (hazard ratio = 1.98 [95% confidence interval: 1.34, 2.91; p <0.001]) compared with enrolment into the conventional therapy group. No notable risk differences between groups were identified for haematological disorder, autoimmune disorder, malignancy/lymphoproliferative disorder, hepatobiliary disorder or fatality.

Conclusions

UC patients treated with infliximab had higher risk for serious infection, compared with conventional therapies. No new safety concerns were observed with originator infliximab in the OPUS registry. [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00705484.]
Gray Matter Volume Covariance Networks, Social Support, and Cognition in Older Adults
Authors: Cotton Kelly , Verghese Joe , Blumen Helena M
Published: February 2019

Objective

We examined the neural substrates of social support in older adults. Social support is associated with better outcomes in many facets of aging—including cognitive and functional health—but the underlying neural substrates remain largely unexplored.

Methods

Voxel-based morphometry and multivariate statistics were used to identify gray matter volume covariance networks associated with social support in 112 older adults without dementia (M age = 74.6 years, 50% female), using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey.

Results

A gray matter network associated with overall social support was identified and included prefrontal, hippocampal, amygdala, cingulate, and thalamic regions. A gray matter network specifically associated with tangible social support (e.g., someone to help you if you were confined to bed) was also identified, included prefrontal, hippocampal, cingulate, insular, and thalamic regions, and correlated with memory and executive function.

Discussion

Gray matter networks associated with overall and tangible social support in this study were composed of regions previously associated with memory, executive function, aging, and dementia. Longitudinal research of the interrelationships between social support, brain structure, and cognition is needed, but strengthening social support may represent a new path toward improving cognition in aging that should be explored.
Person–Environment Fit Approach to Trajectories of Cognitive Function Among Older Adults Who Live Alone: Intersection of Life-Course SES Disadvantage and Senior Housing
Authors: Park Sojung , Kwon Eunsun , Kim BoRin , Han Yoonsun
Published: February 2019

Objectives

Drawing from life course and environmental perspectives, we examined the trajectory of cognitive function and how senior housing moderates the effects of life-course socioeconomic status (SES) disadvantage among older people living alone over time.

Method

Six waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were used with multilevel growth modeling to analyze developmental patterns of cognitive function over time and how various forms of life-course SES disadvantage affect cognitive function depending on senior housing residency status.

Results

At baseline, we found a positive role of senior housing in four subgroups: SES disadvantage in childhood only, unstable mobility pattern (disadvantage in childhood and old age only), downward mobility (no disadvantage in childhood, but in later two life stages), and cumulative disadvantage (all three life stages). Over time, the positive role of senior housing for the unstable and the most vulnerable group persisted.

Discussion

Our findings provide a much-needed practical and theoretical underpinning for environmental policy-making efforts regarding vulnerable elders who live alone.
Endometriosis and nuclear receptors
Authors: Yilmaz Bahar D , Bulun Serdar E
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis is recognized as a steroid-dependent disorder; however, the precise roles of nuclear receptors (NRs) in steroid responsiveness and other signaling pathways are not well understood.

OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE

Over the past several years, a number of paradigm-shifting breakthroughs have occurred in the area of NRs in endometriosis. We review and clarify new information regarding the mechanisms responsible for: (i) excessive estrogen biosynthesis, (ii) estrogen-dependent inflammation, (iii) defective differentiation due to progesterone resistance and (iv) enhanced survival due to deficient retinoid production and action in endometriosis. We emphasize the roles of the relevant NRs critical for these pathological processes in endometriosis.

SEARCH METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search using PubMed for human, animal and cellular studies published until 2018 in the following areas: endometriosis; the steroid and orphan NRs, estrogen receptors alpha (ESR1) and beta (ESR2), progesterone receptor (PGR), steroidogenic factor-1 (NR5A1) and chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II (NR2F2); and retinoids.

OUTCOMES

Four distinct abnormalities in the intracavitary endometrium and extra-uterine endometriotic tissue underlie endometriosis progression: dysregulated differentiation of endometrial mesenchymal cells, abnormal epigenetic marks, inflammation activated by excess estrogen and the development of progesterone resistance. Endometriotic stromal cells compose the bulk of the lesions and demonstrate widespread epigenetic abnormalities. Endometriotic stromal cells also display a wide range of abnormal NR expression. The orphan NRs NR5A1 and NR2F2 compete to regulate steroid-synthesizing genes in endometriotic stromal cells; NR5A1 dominance gives rise to excessive estrogen formation. Endometriotic stromal cells show an abnormally low ESR1:ESR2 ratio due to excessive levels of ESR2, which mediates an estrogen-driven inflammatory process and prostaglandin formation. These cells are also deficient in PGR, leading to progesterone resistance and defective retinoid synthesis. The pattern of NR expression, involving low ESR1 and PGR and high ESR2, is reminiscent of uterine leiomyoma stem cells. This led us to speculate that endometriotic stromal cells may display stem cell characteristics found in other uterine tissues. The biologic consequences of these abnormalities in endometriotic tissue include intense inflammation, defective differentiation and enhanced survival.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS

Steroid- and other NR-related abnormalities exert genome-wide biologic effects via interaction with defective epigenetic programming and enhance inflammation in endometriotic stromal cells. New synthetic ligands, targeting PGR, retinoic acid receptors and ESR2, may offer novel treatment options.
The Applicability of Human Rights Law in International Investment Disputes
Authors: Santacroce Fabio Giuseppe
Published: February 2019

Human rights are becoming increasingly relevant in international investment disputes. A question therefore arises as to whether the application of human rights law to those disputes is justified. This article answers that question in the affirmative. In particular, it suggests that there are at least four legal grounds (which may operate separately or cumulatively) warranting the application of human rights norms in the context of international investment disputes: (i) the fact that international human rights law is part of international law, which in turn governs the merits of investment disputes; (ii) the presence of express references to human rights in the investment treaty; (iii) the presence of implied references to human rights in the investment treaty; and (iv) the principle of systemic integration. Each of these grounds can be the basis for applying international human rights law as an interpretative tool. Some of them, however, can play a more substantive role and justify the direct application of international human rights norms to the merits of the dispute. This may lead to normative conflicts. The article thus also provides a framework to determine, in case of clashes between international investment law and international human rights norms, which norm should apply in concreto.
Providing oxygen to children and newborns: a multi-faceted technical and clinical assessment of oxygen access and oxygen use in secondary-level hospitals in southwest Nigeria
Authors: Bakare Ayobami A , Graham Hamish , Ayede Adejumoke I , Peel David , Olatinwo Olatayo , Oyewole Oladapo B , Fowobaje Kayode R , Qazi Shamim , Izadnegahdar Rasa , Duke Trevor , Falade Adegoke G
Published: February 2019

Background

Oxygen is an essential medical therapy that is poorly available globally. We evaluated the quality of oxygen therapy in 12 secondary-level Nigerian hospitals, including access to oxygen equipment, equipment functionality, healthcare worker knowledge and appropriateness of use.

Methods

We conducted a three-part evaluation of oxygen access and use involving: (1) facility assessment (including technical evaluation of oxygen equipment), (2) clinical audit (children and neonates admitted January 2014–December 2015) and (3) survey of healthcare worker training and experience on the clinical use of oxygen (November 2015).

Results

Oxygen access for children and newborns is compromised by faulty equipment, lack of pulse oximetry and inadequate care practices. One hospital used pulse oximetry for paediatric care. Eleven hospitals had some access to oxygen supplies. Testing of 57 oxygen concentrators revealed two (3.5%) that were ‘fit for use’. Overall, 14.4% (3708/25 677) of children and neonates received oxygen some time during their admission; 19.4% (1944/10 000) of hypoxaemic children received oxygen; 38.5% (1217/3161) of children who received oxygen therapy were not hypoxaemic.

Conclusions

Oxygen access for children in Nigerian hospitals is poor, and likely results in substantial excess mortality. To improve oxygen access for children globally we must focus on actual provision of oxygen to patients—not simply the presence of oxygen equipment at the facility level. This requires a systematic approach to improve both oxygen (access [including equipment, maintenance and affordability]) and oxygen use (including pulse oximetry, guidelines and continuing education).