bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of parental weight status on children’s body mass index in early life: evidence from a Chinese cohort
Authors: Mei Hong , Guo Siyu , Lu Hongyan , Pan Yunhong , Mei Wenhua , Zhang Bin , Zhang Jianduan
Published: June 2018

Objectives

To understand whether parents’ weight status before conception predicts body mass index (BMI) of their offspring in early life and the differences between the mother–child and father–child associations.

Design

A birth cohort study.

Setting

Conducted at the Community Health Service Centre in Shenyang, Wuhan and Guangzhou.

Participants

A total of 2220 live birth newborns were recruited randomly after consent of their parents, and 1178 were followed up until 2 years old.

Methods

Parental demographics, maternal characteristics during pregnancy, children’s anthropometric data and feeding patterns at 1 month old were collected. BMI was calculated and BMI Z-scores (BMI_Z) were generated by referring to WHO growth standard. Parental weight status was categorised into underweight, normal weight, and overweight and obese according to the Working Group of Obesity in China. General linear models and generalised linear models were used to assess the associations between parents and offspring.

Outcome measures

The primary outcomes were descriptive data on child’s sex-specific anthropometric variables. The secondary outcomes were BMI_Z and weight status of children at each time point.

Results

No gender difference was observed in BMI_Z or overweight or obesity rates from birth to 24 months old, although boys were significantly heavier and had a greater length/height than girls (P<0.05). The overweight and obesity rates of children peaked at 12 months old. Maternal BMI/weight status had a significant but small effect on BMI_Z at birth, but not on the paternal side. The impact of parental BMI on child’s BMI_Z after birth was similar at each follow-up. Offspring with underweight mothers tend to have reduced BMI_Z after birth while overweight/obese fathers had children with a greater BMI_Z.

Conclusions

Maternal weight status had small effect on both fetal and child growth after birth. Significant but mild paternal influence was only detected after birth.
Association of total homocysteine with blood pressure in a general population of Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study in Jiangsu province, China
Authors: Wu Hongxu , Wang Binyan , Ban Qianyun , Chen Lulu , Yan Dong , Yu Yaren , Song Yun , Liu Chengzhang , Cao Jingjing , Zhang Jingping , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhang Tao , Zhang Hao , Guo Huiyuan , Tang Genfu , Zhang Yan , Li Jianping , Huo Yong , Zang Tonghua , Qin Xianhui , Xu Xiping
Published: June 2018

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the relation of total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels, and examine the possible modifiers in the association among a general population of Chinese adults.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

The study was conducted within 21 communities in Lianyungang of Jiangsu province, China.

Participants

A total of 26 648 participants aged ≥35 years and with no antihypertensive drug use were included in the final analysis.

Results

Overall, there was a positive association between tHcy concentrations and SBP (per 5 μmol/L tHcy increase: adjusted β=0.45 mm Hg; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.61) or DBP levels (per 5 μmol/L tHcy increase: adjusted β=0.47 mm Hg; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.59). Compared with participants with tHcy <10 μmol/L, significantly higher SBP levels were found in those with tHcy concentrations of 10 to <15 (adjusted β=0.80 mm Hg; 95% CI 0.32 to 1.28) and ≥15 µmol/L (adjusted β=1.79 mm Hg; 95% CI 1.20 to 2.37; p for trend <0.001). Consistently, significantly higher DBP levels were found in participants with tHcy concentrations of 10 to <15 (adjusted β=0.86 mm Hg; 95% CI 0.49 to 1.22) and ≥15 µmol/L (adjusted β=2.01 mm Hg; 95% CI 1.57 to 2.46; p for trend <0.001), respectively as compared with those with <10 μmol/L. Furthermore, a stronger association between tHcy and SBP (p for interaction=0.009) or DBP (p for interaction=0.067) was found in current alcohol drinkers.

Conclusion

Serum tHcy concentrations were positively associated with both SBP and DBP levels in a general Chinese adult population. The association was stronger in current alcohol drinkers.
Prevalence of high screen time and associated factors among students: a cross-sectional study in Zhejiang, China
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhong Jieming , Hu Ruying , Fiona Bragg , Yu Min , Du Huaidong
Published: June 2018

Objective

To investigate the prevalence and correlates of high screen time (ST) among students in Zhejiang, China.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

School-based adolescent health survey in Zhejiang Province, China.

Participants

23 543 students in grades 7–12 from 442 different schools.

Outcome

High ST.

Results

The mean age of the students was 15.6 years and 49.7% of them were girls. The prevalence of high ST (screen viewing ≥2 hours per day) was 42.4% (95% CI 40.2% to 44.5%), higher in boys than in girls (45.4%(95% CI 42.8% to 48.0%) vs 39.1% (95% CI 36.6% to 41.7%)). No statistically significant difference was found between urban and rural areas (43.0% (95% CI 37.2% to 48.7%) vs 42.1% (95% CI 39.6% to 44.6%)). The prevalence of high ST among middle school, academic high school and vocational high school students was 35.3%, 30.0% and 73.5%, respectively. Multivariable logistic analysis showed that older age, attendance at vocational high school, non-intact family, poor academic performance, bad self-reported health status, loneliness and drinking carbonated beverages ≥3 times every day were positively associated with high ST. Attendance at academic high school, higher parental education and being physically active were negatively associated with high ST.

Conclusions

High ST was prevalent among students and associated with a cluster of sociodemographic and behavioural risk factors in Zhejiang, China.
Diagnostic yield of an ambulatory patch monitor in patients with unexplained syncope after initial evaluation in the emergency department: the PATCH-ED study
Authors: Reed Matthew J , Grubb Neil R , Lang Christopher C , Gray Alasdair J , Simpson Kirsty , MacRaild Allan , Weir Christopher J
Published: June 2018

Objectives

Diagnosing underlying arrhythmia in ED syncope patients remains problematic. This study investigates diagnostic yield, event prevalence, patient satisfaction and compliance, and influence on resource utilisation of an ambulatory patch monitor in unexplained ED syncope patients.

Methods

Prospective pilot study conducted in a single tertiary ED in Scotland between 17 November 2015 and 16 June 2017 with a historical unmatched comparator group. Patients 16 years or over presenting within 6 hours of unexplained syncope were fitted in the ED with an ambulatory patch ECG recorder (Zio XT monitor), which continuously records a single-lead ECG for up to 14 days. Patients with an obvious underlying cause were excluded. An unmatched historical group of 603 syncope patients with no obvious diagnosis in ED, recruited to a prior cohort study (2007–2008), were used as a comparator. Primary endpoint was symptomatic significant arrhythmia at 90-day follow-up.

Results

During the prospective study period, 86 patients were recruited. 90-day diagnostic yield for symptomatic significant arrhythmia was 10.5% (95% CI 4.0 to 16.9; 9 of 86) versus 2.0% (95% CI 0.9 to 3.1; 12 of 603) in the comparator group. 24 patients (27.9%) had a significant arrhythmia (five serious); 26 patients (30.2%) had serious outcomes (major adverse cardiac event and/or death). Blinded patch report review suggested the patch would significantly reduce requirement for standard outpatient ambulatory ECG monitoring. 56 of 76 returned patches had a diagnostic finding within±45 s of a triggered/diary event (73.7% diagnostic utility; 95% CI 63.7 to 83.6); 34 of 56 (61%) for sinus rhythm or ectopic beats only.

Conclusions

Routine, early ambulatory ECG monitoring in ED patients with unexplained syncope is probably warranted. A large-scale trial comparing this approach to standard care with cost-effectiveness and safety analysis is now required.

Trial registration

NCT02683174.
Attitudes to out-of-programme experiences, research and academic training of gastroenterology trainees between 2007 and 2016
Authors: McFarlane Michael , Bhala Neeraj , China Louise , Alrubaiy Laith , Chedgy Fergus , Disney Benjamin R , Farmer Adam D , Fogden Edward , Sadler Gareth , Hull Mark A , McLaughlin John , Ellison Howard , Solomon Julie , Brookes Matthew James
Published: June 2018

Objective

Academic medical training was overhauled in 2005 after the Walport report and Modernising Medical Careers to create a more attractive and transparent training pathway. In 2007 and 2016, national web-based surveys of gastroenterology trainees were undertaken to determine experiences, perceptions of and perceived barriers to out-of-programme research experience (OOP-R).

Design, setting and patients

Prospective, national web-based surveys of UK gastroenterology trainees in 2007 and 2016.

Main outcome measure

Attitudes to OOP-R of two cohorts of gastroenterology trainees.

Results

Response rates were lower in 2016 (25.8% vs 56.7%) (p<0.0001), although female trainees’ response rates increased (from 28.8% to 37.6%) (p=0.17), along with higher numbers of academic trainees. Over 80% of trainees planned to undertake OOP-R in both surveys, with >50% having already undertaken it. Doctor of Philosophy/medical doctorate remained the most popular OOP-R in both cohorts. Successful fellowship applications increased in 2016, and evidence of gender inequality in 2007 was no longer evident in 2016. In the 2016 cohort, 91.1% (n=144) felt the development of trainee-led research networks was important, with 74.7% (n=118) keen to get involved.

Conclusions

The majority of gastroenterology trainees who responded expressed a desire to undertake OOP-R, and participation rates in OOP-R remain high. Despite smaller absolute numbers responding than in 2007, 2016 trainees achieved higher successful fellowship application rates. Reassuringly more trainees in 2016 felt that OOP-R would be important in the future. Efforts are needed to tackle potential barriers to OOP-R and support trainees to pursue research-active careers.
Effects of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies on employment measures using patient-reported data
Authors: Chen Jing , Taylor Bruce V , Blizzard Leigh , Simpson Jr Steve , Palmer Andrew J , van der Mei Ingrid A F
Published: June 2018

Background

The direct comparative evidence on treatment effects of available multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) is limited, and few studies have examined the benefits of DMTs on employment outcomes. We compared the effects of DMTs used in the previous 5 years on improving the work attendance, amount of work and work productivity of people with MS.

Methods

The Australian MS Longitudinal Study collected data from participants on DMTs usage from 2010 to 2015 and whether DMTs contributed to changes in employment outcomes. We classified 11 DMTs into three categories based on their clinical efficacy (β-interferons and glatiramer acetate as category 1; teriflunomide and dimethyl fumarate as category 2; fingolimod, natalizumab, alemtuzumab and mitoxantrone as category 3). Each DMT used by a participant was treated as one observation and analysed by log-multinomial regression.

Results

Of the 874 participants included, 1384 observations were generated. Those who used category 3 (higher efficacy) DMTs were 2–3 times more likely to report improvements in amount of work, work attendance and work productivity compared with those who used category 1 (classical injectable) DMTs. Natalizumab was associated with superior beneficial effects on patient-reported employment outcomes than fingolimod (RR=1.76, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.03 for increased work attendance and RR=1.46, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.10 for increased work productivity).

Conclusions

Those using the higher efficacy (category 3) DMTs, particularly fingolimod and natalizumab, reported significant increases in amount of work, work attendance and work productivity, suggesting they have important beneficial effects on work life in people with MS.
Retinal ganglion cell loss in neuromyelitis optica: a longitudinal study
Authors: Oertel Frederike C , Havla Joachim , Roca-Fernández Adriana , Lizak Nathaniel , Zimmermann Hanna , Motamedi Seyedamirhosein , Borisow Nadja , White Owen B , Bellmann-Strobl Judith , Albrecht Philipp , Ruprecht Klemens , Jarius Sven , Palace Jacqueline , Leite Maria Isabel , Kuempfel Tania , Paul Friedemann , Brandt Alexander U
Published: June 2018

Objectives

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are inflammatory conditions of the central nervous system and an important differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Unlike MS, the course is usually relapsing, and it is unclear, if progressive neurodegeneration contributes to disability. Therefore, we aimed to investigate if progressive retinal neuroaxonal damage occurs in aquaporin4-antibody-seropositive NMOSD.

Methods

Out of 157 patients with NMOSD screened, 94 eyes of 51 patients without optic neuritis (ON) during follow-up (F/U) and 56 eyes of 28 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) were included (median F/U 2.3 years). The NMOSD cohort included 60 eyes without (EyeON−) and 34 eyes with a history of ON prior to enrolment (EyeON+). Peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (pRNFL), fovea thickness (FT), volumes of the combined ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIP) and the inner nuclear layer (INL) and total macular volume (TMV) were acquired by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Results

At baseline, GCIP, FT and TMV were reduced in EyeON+ (GCIP p<2e−16; FT p=3.7e−4; TMV p=3.7e−12) and in EyeON− (GCIP p=0.002; FT p=0.040; TMV p=6.1e−6) compared with HC. Longitudinally, we observed GCIP thinning in EyeON− (p=0.044) but not in EyeON+. Seven patients had attacks during F/U; they presented pRNFL thickening compared with patients without attacks (p=0.003).

Conclusion

This study clearly shows GCIP loss independent of ON attacks in aquaporin4-antibody-seropositive NMOSD. Potential explanations for progressive GCIP thinning include primary retinopathy, drug-induced neurodegeneration and retrograde neuroaxonal degeneration from lesions or optic neuropathy. pRNFL thickening in the patients presenting with attacks during F/U might be indicative of pRNFL susceptibility to inflammation.
Ethics of dead participants: policy recommendations for biobank research
Authors: Ursin Lars , Stuifbergen Maria
Published: June 2018

Respecting people’s consent choices for use of their material and data is a cornerstone of biobank ethics. Participation in biobanks is characteristically based on broad consent that presupposes an ongoing possibility of informing and interacting with participants over time. The death of a participant means the end of any interaction, but usually not the end of participation. Research on causes of death makes biobank material from deceased participants extremely valuable. But as new research questions and methods develop over time, the question arises whether stored biobank material from deceased persons still can be used on the basis of their broad consent. In this paper, we discuss policies for postmortem use of biobank material, including consent options, proxy consent and criteria for limitation of types of use and duration of storage. We conclude that the interests of participants in biobank research are best served by asking at enrolment if and how the biobank material may be used after death. We state that the use of biobank material from deceased participants should be delimited both by their consent and by the prevailing broad consent choices of living participants.

Biobanks also need to inform participants at enrolment about the duration of storage of biobank material or at minimum have procedures for deciding how long material will be stored for and for which purpose. For older collections, in the absence of such information or consent options, relevant authorities should decide.
Organismal death, the dead-donor rule and the ethics of vital organ procurement
Authors: Symons Xavier , Chua Reginald Mary
Published: June 2018

Several bioethicists have recently discussed the complexity of defining human death, and considered in particular how our definition of death affects our understanding of the ethics of vital organ procurement. In this brief paper, we challenge the mainstream medical definition of human death—namely, that death is equivalent to total brain failure—and argue with Nair-Collins and Miller that integrated biological functions can continue even after total brain failure has occurred. We discuss the implications of Nair-Collins and Miller’s argument and suggest that it may be necessary to look for alternative biological markers that reliably indicate the death of a human being. We reject the suggestion that we should abandon the dead-donor criteria for organ donation. Rather than weaken the ethical standards for vital organ procurement, it may be necessary to make them more demanding. The aim of this paper is not to justify the dead donor rule. Rather, we aim to explore the perspective of those who agree with critiques of the whole brain and cardiopulmonary definitions of death but yet disagree with the proposal that we should abandon the dead-donor rule. We will consider what those who want to retain the dead-donor rule must argue in light of Nair-Collins and Miller’s critique.
Night work and prostate cancer risk: results from the EPICAP Study
Authors: Wendeu-Foyet Méyomo Gaelle , Bayon Virginie , Cénée Sylvie , Trétarre Brigitte , Rébillard Xavier , Cancel-Tassin Géraldine , Cussenot Olivier , Lamy Pierre-Jean , Faraut Brice , Ben Khedher Soumaya , Léger Damien , Menegaux Florence
Published: June 2018

Objective

To investigate the role of night work in prostate cancer based on data from the EPICAP Study.

Methods

EPICAP is a French population-based case-control study including 818 incident prostate cancer cases and 875 frequency-matched controls that have been interviewed face to face on several potential risk factors including lifetime occupational history. Detailed information on work schedules for each job (permanent or rotating night work, duration, total number of nights, length of the shift, number of consecutive nights) as well as sleep duration and chronotype, was gathered. Prostate cancer aggressiveness was assessed by Gleason Score.

Results

Night work was not associated with prostate cancer, whatever the aggressiveness of prostate cancer, while we observed an overall increased risk among men with an evening chronotype (OR=1.83, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.19). A long duration of at least 20 years of permanent night work was associated with aggressive prostate cancer (OR=1.76, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.75), even more pronounced in combination with a shift length >10 hours or ≥ 6 consecutive nights (OR=4.64, 95% CI 1.78 to 12.13; OR=2.43, 95% CI 1.32 to 4.47, respectively).

Conclusion

Overall, ever night work, either permanent or rotating, was not associated to prostate cancer. Nevertheless, our results suggest that a long duration of permanent night work in combination with a long shift length or at least six consecutive nights may be associated with prostate cancer, particularly with aggressive prostate cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm those findings.
Receipt of tobacco direct mail/email discount coupons and trajectories of cigarette smoking behaviours in a nationally representative longitudinal cohort of US adults
Authors: Choi Kelvin , Chen Julia Cen , Tan Andy S L , Soneji Samir , Moran Meghan B
Published: June 2018

Background

We assessed whether receipt of coupons—via direct mail or e-mail—was prospectively related to trajectories of smoking behaviours.

Methods

Data were from a cohort of US adults (n=26 447) who participated in wave 1 (2013–2014) and wave 2 (2014–2015) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Participants reported receipt of tobacco direct mail/email coupons in the past 6 months in wave 1 and their smoking status in both waves. Weighted multiple logistic regressions were used to examine demographic correlates of receiving tobacco direct mail/email coupons at wave 1 and to examine the prospective effect of receiving tobacco coupons on trajectories of smoking behaviours.

Findings

At wave 1, 10.7% of never smokers, 13.9% of experimental smokers, 37.1% of current smokers and 16.5% of former smokers reported receiving tobacco direct mail/email coupons. Lower education and higher poverty adults and non-Hispanic white current smokers were more likely to have received these coupons (p<0.05). Receiving tobacco direct mail/email coupons at wave 1 was associated with increased odds of smoking initiation among never smokers (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.28, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.83), becoming established smokers among experimenters (AOR=1.62, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.04), becoming daily smokers among non-daily smokers (AOR=1.56, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.99) and smoking relapse among former smokers between waves (AOR=1.91, 95% CI 1.39 to 2.65). Receiving these coupons at wave 1 was associated with reduced odds of smoking cessation ≥6 months among current smokers (AOR=0.71, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.88).

Conclusions

Tobacco direct mail/email coupons encourage and sustain smoking and disproportionately affect lower socioeconomic populations.
The combination of single nucleotide polymorphisms rs6720173 (ABCG5), rs3808607 (CYP7A1), and rs760241 (DHCR7) is associated with differing serum cholesterol responses to dairy consumption
Authors: Abdullah Mohammad M.H. , Eck Peter K. , Couture Patrick , Lamarche Benoît , Jones Peter J.H.
Published: June 2018

Existing evidence on the influence of genetic architecture on serum cholesterol responsiveness to dietary interventions focuses on individual single nucleotide polymorphisms and single nutrients. We associated the combination of ABCG5 rs6720173-C, CYP7A1 rs3808607-TT, and DHCR7 rs760241-GG genotypes with lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations relative to the combination of rs6720173-GG, rs3808607-G, and rs760241-A genotypes (–0.37 ± 0.12 (n = 9) vs. +0.38 ± 0.14 mmol/L (n = 7), p = 0.0016) following a blended dairy (3 servings/day for 4 weeks) intervention.
Estimation of air permeability function from soil-water characteristic curve
Authors: Zhai Qian , Rahardjo Harianto , Satyanaga Alfrendo
Published: June 2018

The multiphase flow (including liquid flow and air flow) in unsaturated soil is related to many engineering problems such as contaminant transport, rainwater infiltration, and soil-water evaporation. It is proven that water flow in unsaturated soil can be estimated using the concept of the pore-size distribution function. Many models have been proposed to estimate the water flow or water permeability function, kw, from the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC). On the other hand, a limited model has been proposed to estimate the air flow or air permeability function, ka, from the SWCC. Most of the models used for the estimation of the air permeability functions are empirical, and they are dependent on the empirical parameters. In this paper, the relative air coefficient of permeability was estimated using the concept of the pore-size distribution function. In the method proposed in this paper, no empirical parameters were adopted, and the estimation results purely depended on the soil-water characteristic curve. The proposed method was verified against experimental data from published literature.
Effects of rice (Oryza sativaL.) cultivation and soil type on potassium mobilization and transformation behavior
Authors: Zhu D.D. , Zhan L.P. , Cong R.H. , Li X.K.
Published: June 2018

To understand the chemical behavior of potassium (K) in soil, rhizobox experiments were conducted to study the effects of K uptake by cultivated rice and soil type on K migration and transformation in soils. The aim of this study was to guide reasonable application of K fertilizer in different soil types. The results showed that at the maximum tillering stage, the migration distances of water-soluble K (Sol-K) were 6 and 5 cm, the depletion of exchangeable K (Ex-K) was 7 and 4 cm, and depletion of nonexchangeable K (Nonex-K) was 1 and 5 cm, respectively, in yellow cinnamon soil (YCS) and fluvo-aquic soil (FS). With the growth of rice, the migration distances of Sol-K showed little difference between YCS and FS. Throughout the season, the contributions of Sol-K, Ex-K, and Nonex-K to K uptake in YCS were 12.0%, 40.0%, and 48.0%, respectively, whereas their contributions in FS were 25.7%, 25.8%, and 48.5%, respectively. K uptake by rice was linearly related to the concentration of different forms of K in soils (R2 = 0.687*). In conclusion, soil type significantly affected K mobilization and transformation behavior. This indicated that the location of K fertilizer addition in the root zone should differ with soil type.
DNA barcoding reveals CITES-listed species among Taiwanese government-seized chelonian specimens
Authors: Chang Chia-Hao , Dai Wei-Yu , Chen Ting-Yu , Lee An-Hsin , Hou Hsuan-Yi , Liu Shih-Hui , Jang-Liaw Nian-Hong
Published: June 2018

Compared to traditional morphological identification, DNA barcoding—molecular identification based on sequencing of a segment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI)—provides a shortcut to authenticating chelonian identifications. Here, we selected 63 government-seized chelonian specimens deposited at Taipei Zoo for DNA barcoding analysis. DNA barcoding and subsequent phylogenetic analysis successfully authenticated 36 chelonian species, including five that are listed in CITES Appendix I. Approximately 90% (57/63) of the specimens were successfully authenticated by our molecular approach, but lack or error of BOLD reference sequences, biological processes such as hybridization, and uncertain species delimitation all reduced the accuracy of DNA barcoding. To increase the accuracy of DNA barcoding, Taipei Zoo will continue to enrich the BOLD database and also establish a genetic database, to include additional genetic markers, by using government-seized chelonian specimens. A fast and accurate method to authenticate seized samples could assist law enforcement agencies to prosecute criminals and restrict illegal exploitation of wild chelonian resources.
Corticomotoneuronal Model for Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring During Direct Brain Stimulation
Authors: Gomez-Tames Jose , Hirata Akimasa , Tamura Manabu , Muragaki Yoshihiro
Published: June 2018

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring during brain surgery uses direct cortical stimulation to map the motor cortex by recording muscle activity induced by the excitation of alpha motor neurons (MNs). Computational models have been used to understand local brain stimulation. However, a computational model revealing the stimulation process from the cortex to MNs has not yet been proposed. Thus, the aim of the current study was to develop a corticomotoneuronal (CMN) model to investigate intraoperative stimulation during surgery. The CMN combined the following three processes into one system for the first time: (1) induction of an electric field in the brain based on a volume conductor model; (2) activation of pyramidal neuron (PNs) with a compartment model; and (3) formation of presynaptic connections of the PNs to MNs using a conductance-based synaptic model coupled with a spiking model. The implemented volume conductor model coupled with the axon model agreed with experimental strength-duration curves. Additionally, temporal/spatial and facilitation effects of CMN synapses were implemented and verified. Finally, the integrated CMN model was verified with experimental data. The results demonstrated that our model was necessary to describe the interaction between frequency and pulses to assess the difference between low-frequency and multi-pulse high-frequency stimulation in cortical stimulation. The proposed model can be used to investigate the effect of stimulation parameters on the cortex to optimize intraoperative monitoring.
Abelian S-matrix elements of D-brane and T-duality
Authors: Velni Komeil Babaei , Jalali Ali
Published: June 2018

Recently, it has been suggested that the elements of the S-matrix on the worldvolume of an Abelian D-brane might be in accordance with the Ward identity associated with the T-duality. This shows that by applying linear T-duality, a group of S-matrix elements could be found invariant under such transformations. In this work, we apply the T-duality transformations on the S-matrix elements of one B-field and three NS Abelian gauge fields and find some other Abelian S-matrix elements of one closed and three open string states. Also, we will show that the predicted S-matrix elements are reproduced exactly by explicit calculations.
π±, K±, protons and antiprotons production in proton–carbon interactions at 31 GeV/c using hadron production models
Authors: Ullah S. , Ali Y. , Ajaz M. , Tabassam U. , Ali Q.
Published: June 2018

Projects proposed for the long baseline neutrino and cosmic rays’ experiments require high precision hadron production measurements, using proton beam on different targets, to achieve their physics goals. The predictions of neutrino beam depend on the modeling of protons interacting within the targets. Thus, different hadronic models are being used for this purpose with different precisions, which depend on the projectile protons energy and material of the target used. The comparison of different hadron production models predictions, in proton–carbon interactions at 31 GeV/c, is reported in this paper. Double differential yield of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] mesons, protons and antiprotons in several polar angle ranges is presented as a function of laboratory momentum. EPOS1.99, EPOS-LHC and QGSJETII-04 models are used to perform simulations. The results of the simulated data are compared with hadron production measurements in proton–carbon interactions at 31 GeV/c performed by the NA61/SHINE experiment at the SPS CERN [Eur. Phys. J. C 76, 84 (2016)]. None of the models completely describes all the distributions. In most of the cases, EPOS1.99 describes the experimental data very well. EPOS-LHC results are also similar in some cases, but QGSJETII-04 predictions failed to reproduce the experimental data.
The effect of modified dispersion relation on dumb holes
Authors: Dutta Abhijit , Gangopadhyay Sunandan , Bahamonde Sebastian , Faizal Mir
Published: June 2018

In this paper, we will deform the usual energy–momentum dispersion relation of a photon gas at an intermediate scale between the Planck and electroweak scales. We will demonstrate that such a deformation can have nontrivial effects on the physics of dumb holes. So, motivated by the physics of dumb holes, we will first analyze the effect of such a deformation on thermodynamics. Then, we observe that the velocity of sound also gets modified due to such a modification of the thermodynamics. This changes the position of the horizon of dumb holes, and the analogous Hawking radiation from a dumb hole. Therefore, dumb holes can be used to measure the deformation of the usual energy–momentum dispersion relation.
COMPARISON OF A DUAL STRATEGY FOR T-CELL ACTIVATION UNDER INHIBITION OF THE CD4 RECEPTOR
Authors: WEDAGEDERA JANAK R. , BURROUGHS N. J.
Published: June 2018

We consider a stochastic model for T-cell activation proposed in Refs. [1] and [2] to compare the specificity and sensitivity of two different strategies for T-cell activation that utilize the history of phosphorylation of T-cell receptor (TCR). We compare these two strategies when the temporal signals/events that are essential for progressive T-cell activation are suppressed by blockade of CD4 receptor that may have caused by disease or therapeutic effects.3–6 We show that under these conditions, a threshold-strategy which is capable of maintaining a threshold (for total number of phosphorylated TCRs by time [Formula: see text]) for a further duration [Formula: see text] performs better in discriminating agonist peptides than a single-threshold strategy (reached by time [Formula: see text]) leading to T-cell activation using the Wentzell-Friedlin theory for large deviations for stochastic processes.7,8
CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER PERFORMANCE OF THE FRACTAL TUBE BANK UNDER CROSS FLOW
Authors: ZHANG DONGHUI , SHEN YANLIN , ZHOU ZHIPING , QU JIAN , XU HAIYANG , CAO WEI , SONG DAN , ZHANG FENGMEI
Published: June 2018

Convective heat transfer process between fractal tube bank and coolant water was simulated by using the finite element method. Both rectangular and circular tube banks were investigated in detail. For the relationship between Nusselt number and Reynolds number, the fractal circular tube bank shows the same trend as the rectangular tube one. Based on simulation results, the empirical heat transfer correlations for different stage fractals were regressed. The exponents of correlations increase with the fractal stage. Almost linear correlations between Nu and Re for fourth stage fractal were obtained, indicating a good heat transfer enhancement with the increase in fractal stages. Compared to the uniform tube bank, the fractal tube banks show better overall performance in enhanced heat transfer effect. This research would be helpful to understand the heat exchange mechanism of the multi-scale structure.
ITERATED FUNCTION SYSTEMS WITH PLACE-DEPENDENT PROBABILITIES AND THE INVERSE PROBLEM OF MEASURE APPROXIMATION USING MOMENTS
Authors: LA TORRE D. , MAKI E. , MENDIVIL F. , VRSCAY E. R.
Published: June 2018

We are concerned with the approximation of probability measures on a compact metric space [Formula: see text] by invariant measures of iterated function systems with place-dependent probabilities (IFSPDPs). The approximation is performed by moment matching. Associated with an IFSPDP is a linear operator [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] denotes the set of all infinite moment vectors of probability measures on [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] be a probability measure that we desire to approximate, with moment vector [Formula: see text]. We then look for an IFSPDP which maps [Formula: see text] as close to itself as possible in terms of an appropriate metric on [Formula: see text]. Some computational results are presented.
HALL–PETCH EFFECT AND INVERSE HALL–PETCH EFFECT: A FRACTAL UNIFICATION
Authors: TIAN DAN , ZHOU CHAN-JUAN , HE JI-HUAN
Published: June 2018

Hall–Petch strengthening has been widely used in materials science, but its mechanism is not very clear yet, some inverse phenomena were observed. This paper gives a fractal approach to explanation of the Hall–Petch effect, revealing the value of the fractal dimensions is the key factor: when it is larger than one, the Hall–Petch effect is predicted; while when it is smaller than one, an inverse Hall–Petch relationship is obtained. The fractal theory can also explain the nano-effort (size effort) in nanotechnology and spider silk’s strength.
Theoretical 3D Model of Thermoelastic Damping in Laminated Rectangular Plate Resonators
Authors: Liu Shoubin , Ma Jingxuan , Yang Xianfeng , Sun Yuxin , Yang Jialing , Wang Xin
Published: June 2018

Thermoelastic damping (TED) can lead to energy loss in microscale resonators, which is an intrinsic mechanism. To minimize the energy loss, it is required to determine the TED of resonators. Laminated plate resonators are commonly used in practice. However, existing researches on TED of the laminated resonators use mainly the one-dimensional (1D) heat conduction model, as the 3D governing equation is complicated, which cannot show the influences of boundary conditions along the supporting edges. In this paper, the governing equation of thermoelastic problems with 3D heat conduction was established for the out-of-plane vibration of the laminated rectangular plate. The analytical expression of the TED was derived using its physical meaning, namely, the ratio of the energy dissipated to the total elastic strain energy stored per cycle of vibration. It was found that the size and shape of the plate affect crucially the TED. The values of TED for higher-order vibration modes were also evaluated. Most importantly, the influences of supporting conditions and heat conduction conditions along the four edges were studied, which is the first report for laminated plates. The present approach can provide guidance for the design of high-quality bilayered resonators.
DISPOSABLE SYSTEM FOR IN-VIVO MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SOFT TISSUES BASED ON VOLUME MEASUREMENT
Authors: ELAHI SEYED ALI , CONNESSON NATHANAEL , PAYAN YOHAN
Published: June 2018

In-vivo characterization of soft tissues is a key step toward biomechanical simulation and planning of intra-operative assisted surgery. To achieve this, aspiration method is a standard technique: tissue is aspirated through a hole while measuring the pressure and associated apex height. An inverse problem is then solved to identify the material mechanical properties. In the literature, the apex height is usually measured using a camera, which induces design difficulties, in particular in regards on the required sterilization process for in-vivo measurements. In this paper, the idea is to replace the apex height optical measurement by the measurement of the aspirated tissue volume. The proposed method enables to reduce the system head to a simple tube: sterilizations becomes easy and the system is disposable after use. The proposed system is thus the simplest, lightest and cheapest one could achieve. It is also to the authors knowledge the first time ever in aspiration method that the aspired volume is the extracted data. As the data signal-to-noise ratio is the main factor impacting any applied inverse method when extracting the mechanical properties, the aim of this work is to assess and compare the experimental signal-to-noise ratio in the raw volume measurements obtained either optically or with the method proposed. Explicit results of inverse methods using volumes as input data are not presented in this paper for concision purpose. The effects on accuracy of various experimental parameters has been investigated and quantified: the volume measurement has proved to present a same order or even better signal-to-noise ratio compared to optical measurements.
TRAUMATIC INJURY OF ASTROCYTES: AN IN VITRO STUDY
Authors: HUA YI , WILSON CHRISTINA L. , LIN SHENGMAO , DUTTA DIGANTA , KIDAMBI SRIVATSAN , GU LINXIA
Published: June 2018

The objective of this work is to determine the injury criterion for primary rat cortical astrocytes through an in vitro traumatic injury model. The compressed air pressure was used to reproduce typical blast pressure profile, which could induce biaxial strain up to 100% in millisecond for cells cultured on flexible membrane utilizing a controlled cellular injury (CCI) device. The nominal pressure and time settings could be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of membrane strain and strain rate, which was estimated from finite element models. The relationship between the peak membrane displacement/strain and the nominal settings of the CCI device was then established. The model was calibrated using both high-speed imaging system and a theoretical model. The viability and morphology of the astrocytes were characterized and correlated with the strain level. Three different regimes were identified in the stretch-induced dose-response curves of the primary cortical astrocytes, with a sharp decline from live to dead in a narrow range of membrane strain (18%–35%). The level of actin organization of the astrocytes decreased as the membrane strain increased. This work could facilitate the understanding of cellar behaviors subjected to mild blast loadings and the potential tissue engineering therapeutics.
COMPREHENSIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF GAIT VARIABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS FOR ALTERED VELOCITIES
Authors: MATINAZAD NARGESS , ESTEKI ALI , GHOMASHCHI HAMED
Published: June 2018

This study focuses on quantifying the alterations in human gait variability in individuals with knee Osteoarthritis (OA). To assess the stride-to-stride variation, estimating the dynamical stability discloses the encrypted behavior of the locomotion system, at times facing perturbations, and for that the Largest Lyapunov Exponent is extracted for both Short ([Formula: see text]) and Long ([Formula: see text]) term. Information about the complexity of movement further bolsters the variation-driven conclusions which are calculated for Correlation Index and Kolmogorov–Sinai (K-S) entropy. Using gait analysis, knee angular displacement is the considered data tested for different walking speeds. In the result, [Formula: see text] revealed significant differences between the groups and their walking velocities while [Formula: see text] failed to represent any distinguishable differences. In contrast to the control group, increases in the walking velocity did not affect the amount of locomotion variability for the patients. The stride features also verified the vicissitudes in the gait pattern of knee OA suffering individuals.
SIMPLIFIED VERSUS REAL GEOMETRY FINGERTIP MODELS: A FINITE ELEMENT STUDY TO PREDICT FORCE–DISPLACEMENT RESPONSE UNDER FLAT CONTACT COMPRESSION
Authors: DALLARD JEREMY , DUPREY SONIA , MERLHIOT XAVIER
Published: June 2018

Finite element fingertip models are useful tools to assess product ergonomics. While “real geometry” approaches provide accurate results, developing models requires medical images. “Simpified geometry” approaches have to date not been tested to see whether they can provide equally accurate results in terms of mechanical response, i.e. force-displacement response and dimensions of fingertip contact area. Four fingertip models were built either from medical images (Visible Human project) or from simplified geometries. Simulations of fingertip flat contact compression at 20[Formula: see text] were performed. A 2nd order hyperelastic material property was used to effectively reproduce the mechanical behavior of the fingertip. Models based on simplified geometries such as conics proved as accurate as models reconstructed from medical images. However, accurate positioning of the bony phalanx is paramount if a biofidelic mechanical response is to be reproduced.
FIXATION STUDY OF SINGLE AND DOUBLE STENT GRAFTS FOR ENDOVASCULAR AORTIC REPAIR
Authors: CHIANG CHENG-HSIEN , HUNG TIN-KAN , YEH MING-LONG , CHEN WEI-LING , KAN CHUNG-DANN
Published: June 2018

Application of double-barreled cannon stent grafts aortic repair (DoBAR) was reported in 2011 for extremely large aortic aneurysms of patients when there was no proper size of grafts for the emergent treatment. Fixation characteristics of the double stent grafts are obtained in a laboratory setting, and are incorporated with those of single Zenith TX2 grafts of sizes from 34 to 42[Formula: see text]mm. Radial stress and shear increase linearly with the oversizing parameter but decrease with increasing stent diameter. The slope of the linear relationship is practically the same for this group of grafts. When the original circular stent grafts of diameter 36 and 38[Formula: see text]mm are deformed to form DoBAR of diameter 44 or 46.4[Formula: see text]mm, the formation could provide higher radial stress and shear to secure fixation for endo-aortic repair. The experimental results of single and DoBAR grafts can be incorporated for clinical application of DoBAR for emergent treatment.
EVOLUTION OF INFLUENZA A NUCLEOTIDE SEGMENTS THROUGH THE LENS OF DIFFERENT COMPLEXITY MEASURES
Authors: BALAZ IGOR , HARUNA TAICHI
Published: June 2018

Evolution of influenza viruses is a highly complex process that is still poorly understood. Multiyear persistence of similar variants and accumulating evidences of existence of multigenic traits indicates that influenza viruses operate as integrated units and not only as sets of distinct genes. However, there is still no consensus on whether it is the case, and to what extent. One of the main problems is the lack of framework for analyzing and interpreting large body of available high dimensional genomic, clinical and epidemiological data. By reducing dimensionality of data we intend to show whether in addition to gene-centric selective pressure, the evolution of influenza RNA segments is also shaped by their mutual interactions. Therefore, we will analyze how different complexity/entropy measures (Shannon entropy, topological entropy and Lempel–Ziv complexity) can be used to study evolution of nucleotide segments of different influenza subtypes, while reducing data dimensionality. We show that, at the nucleotide level, multiyear clusters of genome-wide entropy/complexity correlations emerged during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. Our data are the first empirical results that indirectly support the suggestion that a component of influenza evolutionary dynamics involves correlation between RNA segments. Of all used complexity/entropy measures, Shannon entropy shows the best correlation with epidemiological data.
Analytical and Experimental Investigation on Sound Transmission of Double Thin Plates with Magnetic Negative Stiffness
Authors: Oyelade Akintoye Olumide , Chen Yi , Zhang Ruojun , Hu Gengkai
Published: June 2018

Transmission loss of acoustic metamaterials (AM) made of double thin plates with magnetic (negative) stiffness was analyzed using theory, finite element analysis and experimental techniques. The theoretical formulation was done using a rectangular duct below the first cut off frequency, the model is then validated against finite element method and experiment. Two cubic magnets were used, their interaction force and the resulted magnetic stiffness were calculated. The sound transmission loss (STL) of the structure is calculated for plane wave condition, the addition of magnetic mass shifts STL peaks to the lower frequency compared to a structure without mass. The slight increase in STL for small negative stiffness in experiment is not enough to cancel the effect of air compressibility. However, a significant enhancement could be expected if negative stiffness can be made large enough in the double thin plates. The developed AM can be employed as a prospective sound engineering control at low frequency.
Effect of Dynamic Soft Elasticity on Vibration of Embedded Nematic Elastomer Timoshenko Beams
Authors: Zhao Dong , Liu Ying
Published: June 2018

This paper addresses the transverse vibration of a nematic elastomer (NE) beam embedded in soft viscoelastic surroundings with the aim to clarify a new dissipation mechanism caused by dynamic soft elasticity of this soft material. Based on the viscoelasticity theory of NEs in low-frequency limit and the Timoshenko beam theory, the governing equation of motion is derived by using the Hamilton principle and energy method, and is solved by the complex modal analysis method. The dependence of vibration property on the intrinsic parameters of NEs (director rotation time, rubber relaxation time, anisotropic parameter) and foundation (spring, shear and damping constants) are discussed in detail. The results show that dynamic soft elasticity leads to anomalous anisotropy of energy transfer and attenuation. The relative stiffer foundation would restraint the rubber dissipation of viscoelastic beams, but has less influence on the director rotation dissipation, which is particular for NE beams. This study would provide a useful guidance in the dynamic design of NE apparatus embedded in soft viscous media.