bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of SM‐1 in a transient insomnia model
Authors: Dahl Thomas , Chen Lan Bo , Zammit Gary , Ahmad Maha , Roth Thomas
Published: December 2019

Objectives

The objectives of this study were primarily to assess the efficacy and safety of SM‐1 in a circadian challenge model of transient insomnia and secondarily, to assess the contribution of diphenhydramine to the combination.

Methods

Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled three‐way cross‐over study with a 5‐hr phase advance. Subjects were 39 healthy adults reporting a history of transient insomnia. All treatments (SM‐1, SM‐1 without diphenhydramine, or placebo) were administered to all subjects in a randomly assigned sequence, with at least 1 week between treatments. The primary endpoint was total sleep time (TST) determined by polysomnography. Secondary endpoints included wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO), latency to persistent sleep, number of awakenings (NAW), subjective TST (sTST) and sleep latency (sSL), TST, and NAW by quarters of the night and sleep quality. Safety endpoints included adverse events, Karolinska Sleepiness Scale digit symbol substitution test, and subject‐reported alertness level.

Results

SM‐1 provided an increase of 126.7 min in TST over placebo (p < .001). WASO, sTST, sleep quality, and sSL also showed significant improvement. Diphenhydramine demonstrated a significant (p = .014) contribution of 43.7 min to TST. SM‐1 was well‐tolerated with type and frequency of adverse events comparable with placebo, and no residual sleepiness upon awakening after 8 hr.

Conclusions

SM‐1 provided a robust and statistically significant increase in TST compared with placebo in a circadian model of transient insomnia, without evidence of next‐day impairment. Diphenhydramine contributed to the effect.
Channel impulse response‐based source localization in a diffusion‐based molecular communication system
Authors: Baidoo‐Williams Henry E. , Rahman Muhammad Mahboob Ur , Abbasi Qammer H.
Published: December 2019

Molecular source localization finds its applications in future healthcare systems, including proactive diagnostics. This work localizes a molecular source in a diffusion based molecular communication (DbMC) system via a minimal set of passive anchor nodes and a fusion center. Two methods are presented which both utilize (the peak of) the channel impulse response measurements to uniquely localize the source, under the assumption that the molecular source of interest lies within the open convex‐hull of the sensor/anchor nodes. The first method is a one‐shot, triangulation‐based approach which estimates the unknown location of the molecular source using least‐squares method. The second method is an iterative approach, which utilizes the gradient‐descent control law to minimize a non‐convex cost function. The corresponding Cramer‐Rao bound (CRB) is also derived. Simulation results reveal that: (a) the gradient‐descent method outperforms the triangulation method (in terms of mean squared error performance) for a wide range of values of signal‐to‐noise ratio; (b) the gradient‐descent method converges to the true source location uniformly (in less than 100 iterations).
The implication of LncRNA MALAT1 in promoting chemo‐resistance of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells
Authors: Jiang Qining , Liu Shiying , Hou Linna , Guan Yanfei , Yang Shenggang , Luo Zhengyong
Published: December 2019

Background

This study was aimed to evaluate the involvement of lncRNA MALAT1 in modifying chemo‐sensitivity of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) cell lines.

Methods

Totally 108 pairs of tumor tissues and matched para‐tumor normal tissues were gathered from patients who were pathologically confirmed as LSCC. Meanwhile, LSCC cell lines, including TU686, TU177, AMC‐HN‐8, and LSC‐1, were purchased to evaluate their tolerance to cisplatin, 5‐fluorouracil, paclitaxel, and vincristine. Additionally, CCK‐8 assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay, and wound healing assay were implemented to assess the part of MALAT1 in modulating viability, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of LSCC cell lines.

Results

MALAT1 expression was higher in LSCC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues (P < .05), and LSCC patients who carried highly expressed MALAT1 demonstrated poorer 5‐year survival than ones with low MALAT1 expression (P < .05). For another, expression of MALAT1 was also unusually elevated within TU686, TU177, AMC‐HN‐8, and LSC‐1 cell lines as relative to NHBEC cell line (P < .05). The TU686 cell line therein excelled in resisting the growth‐curbing effects of 5‐fluorouracil (IC50 = 20.44 μmol/L), paclitaxel (IC50 = 35.86 μg/L), and vincristine (IC50 = 0.12 μmol/L), when compared with TU177, AMC‐HN‐8, and LSC‐1 cell line (P < .05). Moreover, there seemed great potential for over‐expressed MALAT1 to enhance the chemo‐resistance of both TU686 and LSC‐1 cell lines (P < .05). Not only that, silencing of MALAT1 tended to undermine the proliferative and metastatic power of TU686 and LSC‐1 cell lines (P < .05).

Conclusion

LncRNA MALAT1 counted in triggering tolerance of LSCC against chemo‐drugs by boosting metastasis and depressing apoptosis of tumor cells.
Blood screening for heavy metals and organic pollutants in cancer patients exposed to toxic waste in southern Italy: A pilot study
Authors: Forte Iris Maria , Indovina Paola , Costa Aurora , Iannuzzi Carmelina Antonella , Costanzo Luigi , Marfella Antonio , Montagnaro Serena , Botti Gerardo , Bucci Enrico , Giordano Antonio
Published: December 2019

In Italy, in the eastern area of the Campania region, the illegal dumping and burning of waste have been documented, which could potentially affect the local population's health. In particular, toxic waste exposure has been suggested to associate with increased cancer development/mortality in these areas, although a causal link has not yet been established. In this pilot study, we evaluated blood levels of toxic heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in 95 patients with different cancer types residing in this area and in 27 healthy individuals. While we did not find any significant correlation between the blood levels of POPs and the provenance of the patients, we did observe high blood concentrations of heavy metals in some municipalities, including Giugliano, where many illegal waste disposal sites have previously been documented. Our results showed that patients with different cancer types from Giugliano had higher blood levels of heavy metals than healthy controls. Despite the obvious limitations of this exploratory study, our preliminary observations encourage further research assessing the possible association between exposure to hazardous waste, increased blood metals, and increased risk of cancer.
Use of Cine Loops and Structural Landmarks in Ultrasound Image Processing Improves Reliability and Reduces Error in the Assessment of Foot and Leg Muscles
Authors: Johnson A. Wayne , Stoneman Paul , McClung Matthew S. , Van Wagoner Natalie , Corey Taryn E. , Bruening Dustin A. , Hunter Tiffany D. , Myrer J. William , Ridge Sarah T.
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Foot and leg muscle strength and size are crucial to proper function. It is important to assess these characteristics reliably. Our primary objective was to compare the measurement of still images to cine loops. The secondary purpose was to determine interoperator and intraoperator reliability between operators of different experience levels using video clips and internal and external landmarks.

Methods

Twelve healthy volunteers participated in our study. Internal (navicular tuberosity) and external (lateral leg length at 30% and 50% from the knee joint line) landmarks were used. Two operators each captured and later measured still and cine loop images of selected foot and leg muscles.

Results

The 12 participants included 8 male and 4 female volunteers (mean age ± SD, 23.5 ± 1.9 years). Good to excellent intraoperator and interoperator reliability was seen (intraclass correlation coefficient range of 0.946–0.998). The use of cine loops improved the intraclass correlation coefficients for both intraoperator and interoperator reliability (0.5%–4% increases). The use of cine loops decreased the intraoperator standard error of the measurement and limits of agreement of the novice operator (decreases of 45%–73% and 24%–51%, respectively), and these became comparable to those of experienced operators using still images. The interoperator standard errors of the measurement dropped by 42% to 53%, whereas the limits of agreement dropped by 27% to 40%. No substantial changes were noted in the tibialis anterior across reliability metrics.

Conclusions

Improved protocols that take advantage of using internal bony landmarks and cine loops during both the image‐gathering and measurement processes improve the reliability of research examining muscle size changes in the lower leg or foot associated with muscle changes due to exercise, injury, disuse, or disease.
The submental flap for head and neck reconstruction: Comparison of outcomes to the radial forearm free flap
Authors: Patel Urjeet A.
Published: December 2019

Objectives

To compare intraoperative, postoperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes of the submental island pedicled flap (SIPF) to the radial forearm free flap (RFFF).

Study Design

Retrospective review; comparison with statistical analysis.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed on patients at two tertiary care academic hospitals by a single surgeon. Consecutive patients who underwent cancer resection and reconstruction with SIPF or RFFF between 2004 and 2016 were included. Cancer staging, surgical procedure, hospital stay, complications, and functional and oncologic results were extracted.

Results

The study included 146 patients (57 SIPF; 89 RFFF). The most prevalent primary site was oral cavity, with a minority in the oropharynx, paranasal sinuses, or external face. Mean area of the SIPF was smaller at 28 cm2 compared to 48 cm2 for the RFFF. Operative time for SIPF was shorter at 6.5 hours compared to 9 hours for RFFF. Hospital stay was 8.0 days for SIPF patients and 10.0 days for RFFF patients. Multivariate analysis confirmed these differences were significant. Functional outcomes of speech quality and gastrostomy feeding tube dependence were similar between the SIPF and RFFF groups. There was no difference in local recurrence rate for SIPF (16%) and RFFF (19%), and there was no difference in overall recurrence. Kaplan‐Meier curves showed no difference in recurrence between both groups, and multivariate logistic regression demonstrated no association between SIPF and local recurrence.

Conclusion

Operative time and hospital stay are both significantly reduced with the SIPF. Functional and oncologic results are similar with no contraindication to the SIPF. The SIPF is a good first‐line choice for head and neck reconstruction.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 130:S1–S10, 2020
Acute Exacerbations in Recurrent Acute Rhinosinusitis: Differences in Quality of Life and Endoscopy
Authors: Beswick Daniel M. , Ayoub Noel F. , Mace Jess C. , Mowery Alia , Hwang Peter H. , Smith Timothy L.
Published: December 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

Research surrounding outcome differences for patients with recurrent acute rhinosinusitis (RARS) is scarce. This investigation explored quality of life (QOL) and sinonasal attributes in patients during acute episodes (AEs) and in‐between AEs of RARS.

Study Design

Retrospective outcomes research.

Methods

Data from patients with RARS were collected from two academic institutions between 2009 and 2017 using prospective and retrospective methodology. During clinical presentation, subjects were classified as with or without an AEs using guideline definitions of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS). Between‐group differences in 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) survey and Lund‐Kennedy (LK) endoscopy scores were assessed.

Results

Four hundred twenty‐three clinical visits from 202 patients were included. Visits during an AE (168/423, 40%) were associated with significantly worse SNOT‐22 total scores compared to between AEs (255/423, 60%; median = 53.0 [interquartile range (IQR) = 24.0] vs. 34.0 [IQR = 29.5]) and all SNOT‐22 subdomain scores (all P < .001). LK scores were available for 167 visits, with 56 (34%) completed during an AE. Compared to visits without an AE, endoscopy findings associated with an AE were less frequently normal (LK score = 0, 45% vs. 62%, P = .031) with worse median LK scores (2.0 [IQR = 4.0] vs. 0.0 [IQR = 2.0], P = .005).

Conclusions

AEs are associated with significantly worse QOL and mildly worse endoscopic findings. Almost half of visits during AEs had negative endoscopy, identifying a disparity between patient symptoms and objective findings and calling into question alternative or concomitant diagnoses. Diagnostic criteria for ABRS or AEs in RARS do not require objective confirmation of inflammation, presenting a conundrum for clinicians. The potential for overdiagnosis of ABRS and AEs should be considered when determining the risk/benefit ratio of treatments for RARS.

Level of Evidence

2c Laryngoscope, 2019
Faciobrachial Dystonic Seizures: The Borderland Between Epilepsy and Movement Disorders
Authors: Morano Alessandra , Fanella Martina , Giallonardo Anna Teresa , Di Bonaventura Carlo
Published: December 2019

View Supplementary Video 1
Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Neurogranin in Parkinsonian Disorders
Authors: Hall Sara , Janelidze Shorena , Zetterberg Henrik , Brix Britta , Mattsson Niklas , Surova Yulia , Blennow Kaj , Hansson Oskar
Published: December 2019

Background

CSF concentration of neurogranin has been suggested as a biomarker for synapse dysfunction.

Objectives

To investigate CSF neurogranin in parkinsonian disorders compared to controls and Alzheimer's disease and the possible correlations between neurogranin and cognitive and motor impairment.

Methods

We included 157 patients with PD, 29 with PD with dementia, 11 with dementia with Lewy bodies, 26 with MSA, 21 with PSP, 6 with corticobasal syndrome, 47 controls, and 124 with Alzheimer's disease. CSF neurogranin was measured using two enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays; from EUROIMMUN and the University of Gothenburg.

Results

We found a strong correlation between CSF neurogranin‐EI and CSF neurogranin–University of Gothenburg (Rs = 0.890; P < 0.001). Neurogranin was decreased in PD, PD with dementia, MSA, and PSP compared to controls and Alzheimer's disease. Neurogranin did not correlate with motor or cognitive impairment, longitudinal decline, or progression to dementia in PD.

Conclusions

CSF neurogranin is decreased in parkinsonian disorders compared to controls, emphasizing the importance of synaptic dysfunction in these disorders. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Odd periodic waves and stability results for the defocusing mass‐critical Korteweg‐de Vries equation
Authors: Natali Fábio , Amaral Sabrina
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we present results of existence and stability of odd periodic traveling wave solutions for the defocusing mass‐critical Korteweg‐de Vries equation. The existence of periodic wave trains is obtained by solving a constrained minimization problem. Concerning the stability, we use the Floquet theory to determine the behavior of the first three eigenvalues of the linearized operator around the wave, as well as the positiveness of the associated Hessian matrix.
Neuroprotective Effects of Apple‐Derived Drinks in a Mice Model of Inflammation
Authors: Alvariño Rebeca , Alonso Eva , Alfonso Amparo , Botana Luis M.
Published: December 2019

Scope

Fruit‐derived drinks consumption is considered beneficial due to the antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of polyphenols separately, but studies including their total constituents are scarce. In this work, the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory neuroprotective effects of apple‐derived beverages are determined in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inflammation.

Methods and results

Preliminary antioxidant and neuroinflammatory experiments are carried out with 15 drink polyphenolic extracts in SH‐SY5Y and BV2 cells, using H2O2 as pro‐oxidant and LPS as pro‐inflammatory stimulus, respectively. Extracts improve antioxidant systems functioning and present neuroprotective mitochondrial‐related effects. In microglia, extracts reduce reactive oxygen species and modulate cytokine release. To better mimic human consumption, four concentrated dealcoholized apple‐derived drinks (three ciders and apple juice) are supplied to mice for 7 days in substitution of drinking water. Mice treated with beverages present reduced brain oxidative stress and inflammatory markers after LPS injection. Interestingly, genetic expression of antioxidant enzymes and glutathione levels are also greatly augmented after drink intake.

Conclusion

The results confirm the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory‐mediated neuroprotective properties of apple‐derived drinks, suggesting that their consumption could be a good approach for prevention of neurodegenerative disorders. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first description of cider neuroprotective effects.
Experimental investigation of neural network estimator and transfer learning techniques for K‐edge spectral CT imaging
Authors: Zimmerman Kevin C. , Sharma Gayatri , Parchur Abdul Kareem , Joshi Amit , Schmidt Taly Gilat
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Spectral computed tomography (CT) material decomposition algorithms require accurate physics‐based models or empirically derived models. This study investigates a machine learning algorithm and transfer learning techniques for Spectral CT imaging of K‐edge contrast agents using simulated and experimental measurements.

Methods

A feed forward multilayer perceptron was implemented and trained on data acquired using a step wedge phantom containing acrylic, aluminum, and gadolinium materials. The neural network estimator was evaluated by scanning a rod phantom with varying dilutions of gadolinium oxide nanoparticles and by scanning a rat leg specimen with injected nanoparticles on a bench‐top photon‐counting computed tomography system. The algorithm decomposed each spectral projection measurement into path lengths of acrylic and aluminum and mass lengths of gadolinium. Each basis material sinogram was reconstructed into basis material images using filtered backprojection. Machine learning techniques of data standardization, transfer learning from aggregated pixel data, and transfer learning from simulations were investigated to improve image quality. The algorithm was compared to a previously published empirical method based on a linear approximation and calibration error look‐up tables.

Results

The combined transfer learning techniques did not improve quantification in the rod phantom and provided only a small qualitative improvement in ring artifacts. Transfer learning from aggregated pixel data and from simulations improved the qualitative image quality of the rat specimen, for which the calibration data were limited. Transfer learning from aggregated pixel data and simulations estimated 3.26, 6.26, and 12.45 mg/mL Gd concentrations compared to true 2.72, 5.44, and 10.88 mg/mL concentrations in the rod phantom. Additionally, the neural networks were able to separate the soft tissue, bone, and gadolinium nanoparticles of the ex vivo rat leg specimen into the different basis images.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that empirical K‐edge imaging from calibration measurements using machine learning and transfer learning is possible without explicit models of material attenuations, incident spectra, or the detector response.
Automated 3D geometry segmentation of the healthy and diseased carotid artery in free‐hand, probe tracked ultrasound images
Authors: de Ruijter Joerik , van Sambeek Marc , van de Vosse Frans , Lopata Richard
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Rupture of an arterosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery is a major cause of stroke. Biomechanical analysis of plaques is under development aiming to aid the clinician in the assessment of plaque vulnerability. Patient‐specific three‐dimensional (3D) geometry assessment of the carotid artery, including the bifurcation, is required as input for these biomechanical models. This requires a high‐resolution, 3D, noninvasive imaging modality such as ultrasound (US). In this study, a high‐resolution two‐dimensional (2D) linear array in combination with a magnetic probe tracking device and automatic segmentation method was used to assess the geometry of the carotid artery. The advantages of using this system over a 3D ultrasound probe are its higher resolution (spatial and temporal) and its larger field of view.

Methods

A slow sweep (v = ± 5 mm/s) was made over the subject’s neck so that the full geometry of the bifurcated geometry of the carotid artery is captured. An automated segmentation pipeline was developed. First, the Star‐Kalman method was used to approximate the center and size of the vessels for every frame. Images were filtered with a Gaussian high‐pass filter before conversion into the 2D monogenic signals, and multiscale asymmetry features were extracted from these data, enhancing low lateral wall‐lumen contrast. These images, in combination with the initial ellipse contours, were used for an active deformable contour model to segment the vessel lumen. To segment the lumen–plaque boundary, Otsu’s automatic thresholding method was used. Distension of the wall due to the change in blood pressure was removed using a filter approach. Finally, the contours were converted into a 3D hexahedral mesh for a patient‐specific solid mechanics model of the complete arterial wall.

Results

The method was tested on 19 healthy volunteers and on 3 patients. The results were compared to manual segmentation performed by three experienced observers. Results showed an average Hausdorff distance of 0.86 mm and an average similarity index of 0.91 for the common carotid artery (CCA) and 0.88 for the internal and external carotid artery. For the total algorithm, the success rate was 89%, in 4 out of 38 datasets the ICA and ECA were not sufficient visible in the US images. Accurate 3D hexahedral meshes were successfully generated from the segmented images .

Conclusions

With this method, a subject‐specific biomechanical model can be constructed directly from a hand‐held 2D US measurement, within 10 min, with a minimal user input. The performance of the proposed segmentation algorithm is comparable to or better than algorithms previously described in literature. Moreover, the algorithm is able to segment the CCA, ICA, and ECA including the carotid bifurcation in transverse B‐mode images in both healthy and diseased arteries.
Evaluation of a pixelated large format CMOS sensor for x‐ray microbeam radiotherapy
Authors: Flynn Samuel , Price Tony , Allport Philip P. , Silvestre Patallo Ileana , Thomas Russell , Subiel Anna , Bartzsch Stefan , Treibel Franziska , Ahmed Mabroor , Jacobs‐Headspith Jon , Edwards Tim , Jones Isaac , Cathie Dan , Guerrini Nicola , Sedgwick Iain
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Current techniques and procedures for dosimetry in microbeams typically rely on radiochromic film or small volume ionization chambers for validation and quality assurance in 2D and 1D, respectively. Whilst well characterized for clinical and preclinical radiotherapy, these methods are noninstantaneous and do not provide real time profile information. The objective of this work is to determine the suitability of the newly developed vM1212 detector, a pixelated CMOS (complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor) imaging sensor, for in situ and in vivo verification of x‐ray microbeams.

Methods

Experiments were carried out on the vM1212 detector using a 220 kVp small animal radiation research platform (SARRP) at the Helmholtz Centre Munich. A 3 x 3 cm2 square piece of EBT3 film was placed on top of a marked nonfibrous card overlaying the sensitive silicon of the sensor. One centimeter of water equivalent bolus material was placed on top of the film for build‐up. The response of the detector was compared to an Epson Expression 10000XL flatbed scanner using FilmQA Pro with triple channel dosimetry. This was also compared to a separate exposure using 450 µm of silicon as a surrogate for the detector and a Zeiss Axio Imager 2 microscope using an optical microscopy method of dosimetry. Microbeam collimator slits with range of nominal widths of 25, 50, 75, and 100 µm were used to compare beam profiles and determine sensitivity of the detector and both film measurements to different microbeams.

Results

The detector was able to measure peak and valley profiles in real‐time, a significant reduction from the 24 hr self‐development required by the EBT3 film. Observed full width at half maximum (FWHM) values were larger than the nominal slit widths, ranging from 130 to 190 µm due to divergence. Agreement between the methods was found for peak‐to‐valley dose ratio (PVDR), peak to peak separation and FWHM, but a difference in relative intensity of the microbeams was observed between the detectors.

Conclusions

The investigation demonstrated that pixelated CMOS sensors could be applied to microbeam radiotherapy for real‐time dosimetry in the future, however the relatively large pixel pitch of the vM1212 detector limit the immediate application of the results.
Do comorbidities predict pain and function in knee osteoarthritis following an exercise intervention, and do they moderate the effect of exercise? Analyses of data from three randomized controlled trials
Authors: Legha Amardeep , Burke Danielle L. , Foster Nadine E. , van der Windt Danielle A. , Quicke Jonathan G. , Healey Emma L. , Runhaar Jos , Holden Melanie A.
Published: December 2019

Background

Although exercise is a core treatment for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), it is currently unknown whether those with additional comorbidities respond differently to exercise than those without. We explored whether comorbidities predict pain and function following an exercise intervention in people with knee OA, and whether they moderate response to: exercise versus no exercise; and enhanced exercise versus usual exercise‐based care.

Methods

We undertook analyses of existing data from three randomized controlled trials (RCTs): TOPIK (n = 217), APEX (n = 352) and Benefits of Effective Exercise for knee Pain (BEEP) (n = 514). All three RCTs included: adults with knee pain attributable to OA; physiotherapy‐led exercise; data on six comorbidities (overweight/obesity, pain elsewhere, anxiety/depression, cardiac problems, diabetes mellitus and respiratory conditions); the outcomes of interest (six‐month Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index knee pain and function). Adjusted mixed models were fitted where data was available; otherwise linear regression models were used.

Results

Obesity compared with underweight/normal body mass index was significantly associated with knee pain following exercise, as was the presence compared with absence of anxiety/depression. The presence of cardiac problems was significantly associated with the effect of enhanced versus usual exercise‐based care for knee function, indicating that enhanced exercise may be less effective for improving knee function in people with cardiac problems. Associations for all other potential prognostic factors and moderators were weak and not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Obesity and anxiety/depression predicted pain and function outcomes in people offered an exercise intervention, but only the presence of cardiac problems might moderate the effect of exercise for knee OA. Further confirmatory investigations are required.
Large‐step explicit time integration via mass matrix tailoring
Authors: González José A. , Park K. C.
Published: December 2019

A method for tailoring mass matrices that allows large time‐step explicit transient analysis is presented. It is shown that the accuracy of the present tailored mass matrix preserves the low‐frequency contents while effectively replacing the unwanted higher mesh frequencies by a user‐desired cutoff frequency. The proposed mass tailoring methods are applicable to elemental, substructural as well as global systems, requiring no modifications of finite element generation routines. It becomes most computationally attractive when used in conjunction with partitioned formulation as the number of higher (or lower) modes to be filtered out (or retained) are significantly reduced. Numerical experiments with the proposed method demonstrate that they are effective in filtering out higher modes in bars, beams, plain stress, and plate bending problems while preserving the dominant low‐frequency contents.
Locking‐free interface failure modeling by a cohesive discontinuous Galerkin method for matching and nonmatching meshes
Authors: Bayat Hamid Reza , Rezaei Shahed , Brepols Tim , Reese Stefanie
Published: December 2019

In this work, modeling of brittle failure of the interface for a linear elastic material is presented. The idea is to integrate a novel extrinsic cohesive zone model into the incomplete interior penalty Galerkin variant of the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method. As a result, the initial stiffness in the prefailure regime is omitted without having to remesh the crack path during the crack propagation. The interface model is used in combination with different discretization techniques, including matching and nonmatching meshes. This is possible due to the DG method's weak continuity constraint. Moreover, the locking problem in the bulk is cured by the application of a reduced Gaussian integration scheme on the boundary terms. The performance of the new cohesive discontinuous Galerkin elements with different integration schemes is compared with one of the standard intrinsic cohesive models. Due to the elimination of locking, crack initiation at the interface can be realistically displayed.
Noninvasive multilevel geometric regularization of mesh‐based three‐dimensional shape measurement
Authors: Colantonio G. , Chapelier M. , Bouclier R. , Passieux J.‐C. , Marenić E.
Published: December 2019

Finite element stereo digital image correlation (FE‐SDIC) requires a crucial
calibration phase in which the initial CAD needs to be updated to fit the actual shape of the specimen. On the one hand, the use of a FE mesh facilitates the coupling of measurements with simulation tools, while on the other hand, it provides a unique, fine description of both the geometry and the displacement, which often makes the shape measurement problem highly ill‐posed. As a remedy, we propose a hybrid isogeometric‐FE strategy that can measure a shape in terms of spline functions while considering as an input and output the analysis‐suitable FE mesh. Making use of the appealing spline refinement procedures and of Bézier‐based operators, multilevel smooth spline discretizations are built concurrently with the initial FE subspace and related to the multiscale images used for the initialization of the shape measurement. It results in a geometrically sound regularization which provides a spline parametrization of the optimal shape along with its FE twin. A noninvasive implementation from an existing FE‐SDIC code is also detailed. The performance of the proposed method is assessed on real images and comparisons are made with other published techniques to prove its efficiency.
Statically admissible finite element solution of the thin plate bending problem with a posteriori error estimation
Authors: Świątkiewicz Paulina , Więckowski Zdzisław
Published: December 2019

Two triangular elements of class C0 developed on the basis of the principle of complementary work are applied in the static analysis of a thin plate. Some techniques to widen the versatility of the equilibrium approach for the finite element method are presented. Plates of various shapes subjected to diverse types of loading are considered. The results are compared with outcomes obtained by use of the displacement‐based finite element method. By use of these two dual types of solutions, the error of the approximate solution is calculated. The lower and upper bounds for the strain energy are found.
Quantitative evaluation of fillers dispersion state in CaCO3/polypropylene composites through visualization and fractal analysis
Authors: Lv Xiangmeng , Kang Ming , Yuan Lu , Shen Simin , Sun Rong , Song Lixian , Zeng Shangjun , Yin Meng
Published: December 2019

The dispersion state of fillers in the polymer matrix is an important factor to determine the properties of the polymer composites. Here, a new method for the accurate quantitative evaluation dispersion state of fillers through three‐dimensional (3D) visualization and fractal analysis is reported. First of all, the data model of the dispersed state of the fillers is obtained through 3D visualization techniques. Then the fractal dimensions of different samples are obtained by software based on the fractal theory. As the filler increases, the fractal dimension is firstly decreases to a minimum and then increases. Under this extreme point condition, the theoretical dispersion state of the fillers is uniform. The accurate quantitative description of the dispersion state provides a new basis for establishing the relationship between the dispersion state and the mechanical properties of the fillers in various composites.
Additional effect of para‐hydroxyl on the reduction potentials of theN‐benzylidenebenzenamines
Authors: Cao Chao‐Tun , Zhou Wei , Cao Chenzhong
Published: December 2019

The reduction potentialERedof disubstitutedN‐benzylidenebenzenamines XArCHNArY (abbreviated as XBAY) is a measure of the electron acceptance ability of the Lowest‐energy Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) in molecule, which is closely related to the electronic effects of substituents X and Y in molecule. Previous studies on theERedof XBAY reported by Luo, Wang, and Yuan all did not involve these molecules containing hydroxyl. In this work, 28 samples of disubstitutedN‐benzylidenebenzenamines containing para‐hydroxyl, (abbreviated as 4‐OHBAY or XBAOH‐4′) were synthesized, and theirERedvalues were measured. Then, 127 compounds were taken as a complicatedEReddata set, which involved 28 compounds (4‐OHBAY and XBAOH‐4′) of this work and 99 compounds XBAY reported by Luo. Based on these dataERedset, through a quantitative regression analysis method and comparison of the factors affecting theERed, the following results are obtained: (a) Because the phenolic hydroxyl OH can dissociate H+to form phenolic oxygen anion, the change regularity ofERedof compounds 4‐OHBAY and XBAOH‐4′ is somewhat different from that ofERedof XBAY compounds without hydroxyl OH. That is, hydroxyl OH has an additional effect on theERed, which decreases theERedvalue. (b) The additional effects of 4‐OH on theERedis different from that of 4′‐OH. The effect of hydroxyl OH attached to the aldehyde aromatic ring on theERedis more than that of OH attached to the amine aromatic ring.
External Electric Field—Phenyl interaction boosts hydrosilylation of substituted alkynes to α‐vinylsilane
Authors: Zhang Ming‐Xia , Xu Hong‐Liang , Su Zhong‐Min
Published: December 2019

The hydrosilylation of terminal alkyne is the most straightforward and atom‐economy method to generate α‐vinylsilane. In the present paper, the acetylene and phenylacetylene hydrosilylation reactions were firstly studied by imposing external electric field (EEF) as a catalyst at the level of ωB97XD/TZVP. The results demonstrated that the oriented negative FY direction is the optimal direction, which mostly reduced the reaction barriers. Further computations indicated that the larger the EEF, the lower the barrier. When the EEF was increased to 180 (10−4) au, the barrier height of acetylene hydrosilylation (path Q) reduced almost 20 kcal/mol. To be surprised, as the phenyl substitute used, the hydrosilylation reaction (path FQ) was largely accelerated with the barrier height lowered to 13.2 kcal/mol, which decreased about 37 kcal/mol. Hopefully, this theoretical study would provide a guide for the experiment of the hydrosilylation of alkyne as much as possible.
A simultaneous study of dark matter and phase transition: two-scalar scenario
Authors: Ghorbani Karim , Ghorbani Parsa Hossein
Published: December 2019

Abstract

The simplest extension of the Standard Model by only one real singlet scalar can explain the observed dark matter relic density while giving simultaneously a strongly first-order electroweak phase transition in the early universe. However, after imposing the invisible Higgs decay constraint from the LHC, the parameter space of the single scalar model shrinks to regions with only a few percentage of the DM relic abundance and when adding the direct detection bound, e.g. from XENON100, it gets excluded completely. In this paper, we extend the Standard Model with two real gauge singlet scalars, here s and s

′
, and show that the electroweak symmetry breaking may occur via different channels. Despite very restrictive first-order phase transition conditions for the two-scalar model in comparison to the single scalar model, there is a viable space of parameters in different phase transition channels that simultaneously explains a fraction or the whole dark matter relic density, a strongly first-order electroweak phase transition and still evading the direct detection bounds from the latest LUX/XENON experiments while respecting the invisible Higgs decay width constraint from the LHC.
Rényi mutual information inequalities from Rindler positivity
Authors: Blanco David , Lanosa Leandro , Leston Mauricio , Pérez-Nadal Guillem
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Rindler positivity is a property that holds in any relativistic Quantum Field Theory and implies an infinite set of inequalities involving the exponential of the Rényi mutual information I

n
(A

i

,

$$ \overline{A} $$

A
¯

j
) between A

i
and

$$ \overline{A} $$

A
¯

j
, where A

i
is a spacelike region in the right Rindler wedge and

$$ \overline{A} $$

A
¯

j
is the wedge reflection of A

j
. We explore these inequalities in order to get local inequalities for I

n
(A,

$$ \overline{A} $$

A
¯

) as a function of the distance between A and its mirror region

$$ \overline{A} $$

A
¯

. We show that the assumption, based on the cluster property of the vacuum, that I

n
goes to zero when the distance goes to infinity, implies the more stringent and simple condition that F

n

≡ e
(n−1)I

n
should be a completely monotonic function of the distance, meaning that all the even (odd) derivatives are non-negative (non-positive). In the case of a CFT, we show that conformal invariance implies stronger conditions, including a sort of monotonicity of the Rényi mutual information for pairs of balls. An application of these inequalities to obtain constraints for the OPE coefficients of the 4-point function of certain twist operators is also discussed.
𝜖-regular basis for non-polylogarithmic multiloop integrals and total cross section of the process e+e−→ 2(Q$$ \overline{Q} $$)
Authors: Lee R.N. , Onishchenko A.I.
Published: December 2019

Abstract

We argue that in many physical calculations where the “elliptic” sectors are involved, one can express the results via iterated integrals with almost all weights being rational. Our method is based on the existence of 𝜖-regular basis, which is akin to the 𝜖-finite basis defined in ref. [1]. As a demonstration of our technique, we calculate the photon contribution to the total cross section of the production of twoQ$$ \overline{Q} $$Q¯electron-positron collisions.
Limiting shifted homotopy in higher-spin theory and spin-locality
Authors: Didenko V.E. , Gelfond O.A. , Korybut A.V. , Vasiliev M.A.
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Higher-spin vertices containing up to quintic interactions at the LagTangian level are explicitly calculated in the one-form sector of the non-linear unfolded higher-spin equations using a 𝛽 →-∞-shifted contracting homotopy introduced in the paper. The problem is solved in a background independent way and for any value of the complex parameter 𝜂 in the higher-spin equations. All obtained vertices are shown to be spin-local containing a finite number of derivatives in the spinor space for any given set of spins. The vertices proportional to 𝜂2 and

$$ {\overline{\eta}}^2 $$

η
¯

2

are in addition ultra-local, i.e., zero-forms that enter into the vertex in question are free from the dependence on at least one of the spinor variables y or

$$ \overline{y} $$

y
¯

. Also the 𝜂2 and

$$ {\overline{\eta}}^2 $$

η
¯

2

vertices are shown to vanish on any purely gravitational background hence not contributing to the higher-spin current interactions on AdS
4
. This implies in particular that the gravitational constant in front of the stress tensor is positive being proportional to

$$ \eta \overline{\eta} $$

η

η
¯

. It is shown that the 𝛽-shifted homotopy technique developed in this paper can be reinterpreted as the conventional one but in the 𝛽-dependent deformed star product.
Coupling constant corrections in a holographic model of heavy ion collisions with nonzero baryon number density
Authors: Folkestad Asmund , Grozdanov Sašo , Rajagopal Krishna , van der Schee Wilke
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Sufficiently energetic collisions of heavy ions result in the formation of a droplet of a strongly coupled liquid state of QCD matter known as quark-gluon plasma. By using gauge-gravity duality (holography), a model of a rapidly hydrodynamizing and thermal- izing process like this can be constructed by colliding sheets of energy density moving at the speed of light and tracking the subsequent evolution. In this work, we consider the dual gravitational description of such collisions in the most general bulk theory with a four-derivative gravitational action containing a dynamical metric and a gauge field in five dimensions. Introducing the bulk gauge field enables the analysis of collisions of sheets which carry nonzero “baryon” number density in addition to energy density. Introducing the four-derivative terms enables consideration of such collisions in a gauge theory with finite gauge coupling, working perturbatively in the inverse coupling. While the dynamics of energy and momentum in the presence of perturbative inverse-coupling corrections has been analyzed previously, here we are able to determine the effect of such finite coupling corrections on the dynamics of the density of a conserved global charge, which we take as a model for the dynamics of nonzero baryon number density. In accordance with expec- tations, as the coupling is reduced we observe that after the collisions less baryon density ends up stopped at mid-rapidity and more of it ends up moving near the lightcone.
Implications of the LHCb discovery of CP violation in charm decays
Authors: Dery Avital , Nir Yosef
Published: December 2019

Abstract

The recent measurement of ∆A
CP by the LHCb collaboration requires an 𝒪 (10) enhancement coming from hadronic physics in order to be explained within the SM. We examine to what extent can NP models explain ∆A
CP without such enhancements. We discuss the implications in terms of a low energy effective theory as well as in the context of several explicit NP models.
Use of proton pump inhibitors in adults in France: a nationwide drug utilization study
Authors: Lassalle Marion , Le Tri Thien , Bardou Marc , Biour Michel , Kirchgesner Julien , Rouby Frank , Dumarcet Nathalie , Zureik Mahmoud , Dray-Spira Rosemary
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs are approved for the management of gastric acid–related diseases, mainly treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, treatment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)–related gastrointestinal complications and prevention in at-risk patients, Helicobacter pylori eradication, and treatment of ulcers. PPIs are one of the most commonly prescribed drug class worldwide, and off-label use is widespread. The aim of this study was to describe outpatient PPI use of the whole adult population in France, based on the French National Health Data System (SNDS).

Methods

All individuals aged 18 years or older, with at least one dispensing for PPI between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015, were identified as PPI users. PPI users were considered as new users if they received no dispensing for PPI in the prior year. New users were followed until treatment discontinuation or up to 1 year, whichever occurred first. Characteristics of new users and of their PPI treatment were described, overall and separately by treatment indication.

Results

In total, 15,388,419 PPI users were identified in 2015 (57.0% women; mean age 57.0 years), accounting for 29.8% of the French adult population. Of them, 7,399,303 were new PPI users; mean treatment duration was 40.9 days, and 4.1% received a continuous PPI therapy lasting more than 6 months (10.2% among new users > 65 years versus 2.4% among those 18–65 years). For 53.5% of new users, indication for PPI therapy was a co-prescription with NSAID; in this indication, the large majority of patients (79.7%) had no measurable risk factor supporting a systematic prophylactic co-prescription of PPI. A proportion of 32.4% of new users did not have any identified comedication or inpatient diagnosis supporting an indication for PPI therapy; among them, only a small proportion (7.3% overall, and 8.4% of patients aged > 65 years) underwent a procedure investigating the digestive tract at the time of PPI initiation.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest PPI overuse in France, not always in line with the French guidelines. In particular, inappropriate co-prescription with NSAID was frequent. Efforts should be made to limit PPI treatment to appropriate indications and durations.
The importance of and satisfaction with sex life among breast cancer survivors in comparison with healthy female controls and women with mental depression or arterial hypertension: results from the Finnish nationwide HeSSup cohort study
Authors: Salakari Minna , Nurminen Raija , Sillanmäki Lauri , Pylkkänen Liisa , Suominen Sakari
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Breast cancer (BC) and its treatment is associated with several physical and psychosocial changes that may influence sexuality for years after treatment. Women with BC show significantly greater rates of sexual dysfunction than do healthy women. The purpose of the study was to evaluate how a BC diagnosis associates with women’s perceived sexuality and sexual satisfaction.

Material and methods

The data of the ongoing prospective Health and Social Support (HeSSup) survey was linked with national health registries. Respondents with registry data confirmed BC (n = 66), mental depression (n = 612), arterial hypertension (n = 873), and healthy women (n = 9731) formed the study population. The importance of and satisfaction with sex life were measured by a self-report questionnaire modified from the Schover’s and colleagues’ Sexual History Form.

Results

Women with BC considered sex life less important than did healthy women (p < 0.001). They were significantly less satisfied with their sex life than healthy women (p = 0.01) and women with arterial hypertension (p = 0.04). Living single or educational level did not explain the differences between the groups.

Conclusions

BC survivors depreciate their sex life and experience dissatisfaction with it. Sexuality can be a critical issue for the quality of life of women surviving from BC, and hence, the area deserves major attention in BC survivorship care. Health care professionals should regularly include sexual functions in the assessment of BC survivors’ wellbeing.