bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shade avoidance responses become more aggressive in warm environments
Authors: Romero‐Montepaone Sofía , Poodts Sofía , Fischbach Patrick , Sellaro Romina , Zurbriggen Matias D. , Casal Jorge J.
Published: January 2020

When exposed to neighbour cues, competitive plants increase stem growth to reduce the degree of current or future shade. The aim of this work is to investigate the impact of weather conditions on the magnitude of shade avoidance responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. We first generated a growth rate database under controlled conditions and elaborated a model that predicts daytime hypocotyl growth as a function of the activity of the main photosensory receptors (phytochromes A and B, cryptochromes 1 and 2) in combination with light and temperature inputs. We then incorporated the action of thermal amplitude to account for its effect on selected genotypes, which correlates with the dynamics of the growth‐promoting transcription factor PHYTOCHROME‐INTERACTING FACTOR 4. The model predicted growth rate in the field with reasonable accuracy. Thus, we used the model in combination with a worldwide data set of current and future whether conditions. The analysis predicted enhanced shade avoidance responses as a result of higher temperatures due to the geographical location or global warming. Irradiance and thermal amplitude had no effects. These trends were also observed for our local growth rate measurements. We conclude that, if water and nutrients do not become limiting, warm environments enhance the shade avoidance response.
Father Knows Best: “Protecting” Women through State Surveillance and Social Control in Anti‐Abortion Policy
Authors: Doan Alesha E. , Schwarz Corinne
Published: January 2020

Drawing on a feminist surveillance and social control framework, we conduct a manifest and latent content analysis of anti‐abortion policies passed in the United States in either a state's House or Senate from 2010 to 2015 to systematically assess the scope, content, and implicit meaning of 282 anti‐abortion bills. We find that out of the 727 anti‐abortion measures contained in this legislation, 622 incorporate surveillance, and social control mechanisms that operate together to socially construct women as a dependent population in need of government protection on two fronts: protection for women and their “unborn,” and protection from abortion providers. Fusing together womanhood and motherhood, these policies essentialize motherhood, depicting women as an uninformed group in need of protection from their own ignorance and the practices of abortion providers who are constructed as an unethical group of health‐care practitioners.

Related Articles

Hussey, Laura S. 2013. “Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Poverty, and the Expanding Frontiers of American Abortion Politics.”Politics & Policy41 (6): 985‐1011.https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12054

Medoff, Marshall H. 2010. “State Abortion Policy and the Long‐Term Impact of Parental Involvement Laws.”Politics & Policy38 (2): 193‐221.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2010.00235.x

Wolff, Kristina B. 2011. “Panic in the ER: Maternal Drug Use, the Right to Bodily Integrity, Privacy, and Informed Consent.”Politics & Policy39 (5): 679‐714.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00313.x
Who Owns What, and Why? The Origins of Issue Ownership Beliefs
Authors: Craig Stephen C. , Cossette Paulina S.
Published: January 2020

Most research on issue ownership examines the topic as an independent variable that may shape campaign strategy or voter behavior. In contrast, our study looks at ownership as a dependent variable. Specifically, we employ a national Internet survey of registered U.S. voters to gauge the extent to which such judgments are influenced by individual‐level factors other than partisan identity. We find that while partisanship shapes ownership beliefs to a considerable degree, policy preferences and performance evaluations have significant effects across a range of valence and position issues. While feelings of ambivalence toward the in‐ or out‐party do not have a consistent effect on ownership beliefs, higher out‐party ambivalence reduces the probability that citizens will identify their own party as owning most issues. It is therefore premature, and probably incorrect, to assume that perceived ownership is little more than an expression of a person's partisan attachment or intended vote.

Related Articles

Bernick, Ethan M., and Nathan Myers. 2012. “Issue Salience, Party Strength, and the Adoption of Health‐Care Expansion Efforts.” Politics & Policy 40 (1): 131‐159. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00340.x

Grossmann, Matt. 2014. “The Varied Effects of Policy Cues on Partisan Opinions.” Politics & Policy 42 (6): 881‐904. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12102

Kim, Eun Kyung. 2019. “Issue Ownership and Strategic Policy Choice in Multiparty Africa.” Politics & Policy 47 (5): 956‐983. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12327

Related Media

Brenan, Megan. 2019. “Democrats Maintain Favorability Edge over Republicans.” September 30. https://news.gallup.com/poll/267122/democrats-maintain-favorability-edge-republicans.aspx

Hook, Janet. 2018. “Tax Overhaul Remains Unpopular, Poll Shows.” April 16. https://www.wsj.com/articles/tax-overhaul-remains-unpopular-poll-shows-1523912555

Pew Research Center. 2015. “GOP’s Favorability Rating Takes a Negative Turn.” July 23. https://www.people-press.org/2015/07/23/gops-favorability-rating-takes-a-negative-turn/
Diversifying Conspiracy Beliefs and Populist Ideologies in the Chinese Context
Authors: Guan Tianru , Yang Yilu
Published: January 2020

While previous research suggests that conspiratorial reasoning and populist ideology often walk hand‐in‐hand, this study explores their correlations by considering their internal heterogeneity in the sociopolitical context of China. Through an online survey (N = 807), the present investigation identifies two subtypes of populism (right‐ vs. responsibility‐oriented), alongside two subtypes of conspiracy beliefs (pro‐system vs. anti‐system), and examines the associations between them. The results demonstrate that while China's right‐oriented populism is positively correlated with anti‐system conspiratorial beliefs, it has no significant correlations with pro‐system conspiracy thinking. Responsibility‐driven populism, however, is positively correlated with pro‐system conspiratorial mindsets, and negatively correlated with anti‐system conspiratorial beliefs. This study moves away from viewing populism and conspiracy belief as homogeneous concepts, providing an often‐neglected Chinese context for these political–psychological ideations.
A new iterative linearization approach for solving nonlinear equations systems
Authors: Temelcan Gizem , Sivri Mustafa , Albayrak Inci
Published: January 2020

Nonlinear equations arise frequently while modeling chemistry, physics, economy and engineering problems. In this paper, a new iterative approach for finding a solution of a nonlinear equations system (NLES) is presented by applying a linearization technique. The proposed approach is based on computational method that converts NLES into a linear equations system by using Taylor series expansion at the chosen arbitrary nonnegative initial point. Using the obtained solution of the linear equations system, a linear programming (LP) problem is constructed by considering the equations as constraints and minimizing the objective function constructed as the summation of balancing variables. At the end of the presented algorithm, the exact solution of the NLES is obtained. The performance of the proposed approach has been demonstrated by considering different numerical examples from literature.
Different coding strategy of sound information between GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons in the auditory midbrain
Authors: Ito Tetsufumi
Published: January 2020

Key points

In the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICC), which acts as the hub of the auditory pathways, how the sound is coded by distinct cell types is largely unknown.

Large GABAergic cells are tuned broadly to pure tones and respond more strongly to frequency‐modulated sweeps than small GABAergic and glutamatergic (GLU) cells.

Neurons, especially GLU cells, which share sharpness of tuning and sweep sensitivity, were spatially clustered inside the ICC.

The difference in responsiveness between cell types was partially explained by the morphology of dendritic trees and the spatial distributions of excitatory and inhibitory inputs.

The results suggest that each ICC cell type has a particular sound‐encoding strategy, which is partially determined by the morphological characteristics and location of cells, and contributes information coding in higher centres in different ways.

The rules governing the encoding of sound information in the higher auditory centres are largely unknown. In the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICC), which acts as the hub of the auditory pathways, the presence of functional maps other than tonotopicity has been suggested but not established, due to significant heterogeneity in the response properties of single microdomains. Since each ICC cell type has distinct neuronal circuitry, each cell type might encode sound information differently. Here, juxtacellular recording from rat ICC of both sexes revealed that large GABAergic (LG), small GABAergic (SG) and glutamatergic (GLU) cells encode sound information differently. LG cells are broadly tuned and respond more strongly to frequency‐modulated sweeps than SG and GLU cells. At a population level, responsiveness to sweeps is location dependent: the responsiveness to sweeps is shared in local clusters of GLU cells, whereas that to directional selectivity of sweeps is shared in local clusters of LG cells. The difference in responsiveness between cell types was partially explained by the morphology of dendritic trees and the spatial distributions of excitatory and inhibitory inputs. LG neurons had a dense local axonal plexus with projection fibres to multiple distant targets, whereas GLU projection neurons mainly aimed at a single, distant target and had less dense local collaterals. These results suggest that each ICC cell type has a particular sound‐encoding strategy, which is partially determined by the morphological characteristics and location of the cell, and the different cell types contribute information coding in higher centres in different ways.
Ultrafast Laser Applications in Manufacturing Processes: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Lei Shuting , Zhao Xin , Yu Xiaoming , Hu Anming , Vukelic Sinisa , Jun Martin B. G. , Joe Hang-Eun , Yao Y. Lawrence , Shin Yung C.
Published: January 2020

With the invention of chirped pulse amplification for lasers in the mid-1980s, high power ultrafast lasers entered into the world as a disruptive tool, with potential impact on a broad range of application areas. Since then, ultrafast lasers have revolutionized laser–matter interaction and unleashed their potential applications in manufacturing processes. With unprecedented short pulse duration and high laser intensity, focused optical energy can be delivered to precisely define material locations on a time scale much faster than thermal diffusion to the surrounding area. This unique characteristic has fundamentally changed the way laser interacts with matter and enabled numerous manufacturing innovations over the past few decades. In this paper, an overview of ultrafast laser technology with an emphasis on femtosecond laser is provided first, including its development, type, working principle, and characteristics. Then, ultrafast laser applications in manufacturing processes are reviewed, with a focus on micro/nanomachining, surface structuring, thin film scribing, machining in bulk of materials, additive manufacturing, bio manufacturing, super high resolution machining, and numerical simulation. Both fundamental studies and process development are covered in this review. Insights gained on ultrafast laser interaction with matter through both theoretical and numerical researches are summarized. Manufacturing process innovations targeting various application areas are described. Industrial applications of ultrafast laser-based manufacturing processes are illustrated. Finally, future research directions in ultrafast laser-based manufacturing processes are discussed.
A Translational Three-Degrees-of-Freedom Parallel Mechanism With Partial Motion Decoupling and Analytic Direct Kinematics
Authors: Shen Huiping , Chablat Damien , Zeng Boxiong , Li Ju , Wu Guanglei , Yang Ting-Li
Published: January 2020

According to the topological design theory and the method of parallel mechanism (PM) based on position and orientation characteristic (POC) equations, this paper studied a three-degrees-of-freedom (3-DOF) translational PM that has three advantages, i.e., (i) it consists of three fixed actuated prismatic joints, (ii) the PM has analytic solutions to the direct and inverse kinematic problems, and (iii) the PM is of partial motion decoupling property. First, the main topological characteristics, such as the POC, degree-of-freedom, and coupling degree, were calculated for kinematic modeling. Thanks to these properties, the direct and inverse kinematic problems can be readily solved. Further, the conditions of the singular configurations of the PM were analyzed, which corresponds to its partial motion decoupling property.
Low-temperature growth of gallium oxide thin films by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition
Authors: Mahmoodinezhad Ali , Janowitz Christoph , Naumann Franziska , Plate Paul , Gargouri Hassan , Henkel Karsten , Schmeißer Dieter , Flege Jan Ingo
Published: January 2020

Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) thin films were deposited by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) applying a capacitively coupled plasma source where trimethylgallium (TMGa) as the gallium precursor and oxygen (O2) plasma were used in a substrate temperature (Ts) in range of 80–200 °C. TMGa exhibits high vapor pressure and therefore facilitates deposition at lower substrate temperatures. The Ga2O3 films were characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. The SE data show linear thickness evolution with a growth rate of ∼0.66 Å per cycle and inhomogeneity of ≤2% for all samples. The refractive index of the Ga2O3 thin films is 1.86 ± 0.01 (at 632.8 nm) and independent of temperature, whereas the bandgap slightly decreases from 4.68 eV at Ts of 80 °C to 4.57 eV at 200 °C. XPS analysis revealed ideal stoichiometric gallium to oxygen ratios of 2:3 for the Ga2O3 layers with the lowest carbon contribution of ∼10% for the sample prepared at 150 °C. The permittivity of the layers is 9.7 ± 0.2 (at 10 kHz). In addition, fixed and mobile oxide charge densities of 2–4 × 1012 and 1–2 × 1012 cm−2, respectively, were observed in the C-V characteristics. Moreover, the Ga2O3 films show breakdown fields in the range of 2.2–2.7 MV/cm. Excellent optical and electrical material properties are maintained even at low substrate temperatures as low as 80 °C. Hence, the TMGa/O2 PEALD process is suitable for electronic and optoelectronic applications where low-temperature growth is required.
Carbon-boron clathrates as a new class of sp
3
-bonded framework materials
Authors: Zhu Li , Borstad Gustav M. , Liu Hanyu , Guńka Piotr A. , Guerette Michael , Dolyniuk Juli-Anna , Meng Yue , Greenberg Eran , Prakapenka Vitali B. , Chaloux Brian L. , Epshteyn Albert , Cohen Ronald E. , Strobel Timothy A.
Published: January 2020

The realization of a novel guest/host carbon-boron sp
3
framework opens the door for a new class of 3D carbon-based materials.
A Negative Regulator of Carotenogenesis in
Blakeslea trispora
Authors: Luo Wei , Gong Zunyang , Li Na , Zhao Yuzheng , Zhang Huili , Yang Xue , Liu Yuantao , Rao Zhiming , Yu Xiaobin
Published: January 2020

The zygomycete
Blakeslea trispora
is an important strain for the production of carotenoids on a large scale. However, the regulation mechanism of carotenoid biosynthesis is still not well understood in this filamentous fungus. In the present study, we sought to investigate how
crgA
influences the expression of structural genes for carotenoids, carotenoid biosynthesis, and other anabolic phenotypes. This will lead to a better understanding of the global regulation mechanism of carotenoid biosynthesis and facilitate engineering this strain in the future for enhanced production of carotenoids.
Binding of the von Willebrand Factor A Domain of Capillary Morphogenesis Protein 2 to Anthrax Protective Antigen Vaccine Reduces Immunogenicity in Mice
Authors: de Oliveira Fabiana Freire Mendes , Mamillapalli Sireesha , Gonti Srinivas , Brey Robert N. , Li Han , Schiffer Jarad , Casadevall Arturo , Bann James G.
Published: January 2020

The anthrax toxin PA is the major immunogen in the current anthrax vaccine (anthrax vaccine adsorbed). Improving the anthrax vaccine for avoidance of a cold chain necessitates improvements in the thermodynamic stability of PA. We address how stabilizing PA using sCMG2 affects PA immunogenicity in BALB/c mice. Although the stability of PA is increased by binding to sCMG2, PA immunogenicity is decreased. This study emphasizes that, while binding of a ligand retains or improves conformational stability without affecting the native sequence, epitope recognition or processing may be affected, abrogating an effective immune response.
Campylobacter
Abundance in Breastfed Infants and Identification of a New Species in the Global Enterics Multicenter Study
Authors: Bian Xiaoming , Garber Jolene M. , Cooper Kerry K. , Huynh Steven , Jones Jennifer , Mills Michael K. , Rafala Daniel , Nasrin Dilruba , Kotloff Karen L. , Parker Craig T. , Tennant Sharon M. , Miller William G. , Szymanski Christine M.
Published: January 2020

Campylobacter
is the primary cause of bacterial diarrhea in the United States and can lead to the development of the postinfectious autoimmune neuropathy known as Guillain-Barré syndrome. Also, drug-resistant campylobacters are becoming a serious concern both locally and abroad. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), infection with
Campylobacter
is linked to high rates of morbidity, growth stunting, and mortality in children, and breastfeeding is important for infant nutrition, development, and protection against infectious diseases. In this study, we examined the relationship between breastfeeding and
Campylobacter
infection and demonstrate the increased selection for
C. jejuni
and
C. coli
strains unable to metabolize fucose. We also identify a new
Campylobacter
species coinfecting these infants with a high prevalence in five of the seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia examined. These findings indicate that more detailed studies are needed in LMICs to understand the
Campylobacter
infection process in order to devise a strategy for eliminating this pathogenic microbe.
Multifocal cryptococcal disease in an HIV-infected patient: from diagnostic pursuit to management peculiarities
Authors: Eira Isabel M , Pinho Filipa S , Tribuna Cindy , Ângela Cristina
Published: January 2020

Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening fungal infection that affects immunocompromised patients, causing predominantly meningoencephalitis and pneumonia. Lymph node involvement is rare and its identification may not be obvious. We report the case of a patient recently diagnosed with AIDS and previously treated for cryptococcal meningitis who developed multifocal cryptococcal disease despite antifungal treatment, expressed as cervical and mediastinal lymphadenitis and constitutional symptoms. The difficulty of the diagnosis was based on the fact that cryptococcal meningitis was resolved after treatment, and the new manifestations were more typical of other conditions such as tuberculosis and malignancy. Final diagnosis was established after fine-needle aspiration cytology of a lymph node withCryptococcusidentification. Such cases may be difficult to manage, and the possibility of clinical relapse versus cryptococcal immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is discussed. Induction therapy was restarted and maintained for a longer period, and the total duration was based on clinical response.
Preseason shoulder range of motion screening and in-season risk of shoulder and elbow injuries in overhead athletes: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pozzi Federico , Plummer Hillary A , Shanley Ellen , Thigpen Charles A , Bauer Chase , Wilson Melissa L , Michener Lori A
Published: January 2020

Objective

To characterise whether preseason screening of shoulder range of motion (ROM) is associated with the risk of shoulder and elbow injuries in overhead athletes.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

Six electronic databases up to 22 September 2018.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria were (1) overhead athletes from Olympic or college sports, (2) preseason measures of shoulder ROM, (3) tracked in-season injuries at the shoulder and elbow, and (4) prospective cohort design. Exclusion criteria were (1) included contact injuries, (2) lower extremity, spine and hand injuries, and (3) full report not published in English.

Results

Fifteen studies were identified, and they included 3314 overhead athletes (baseball (74.6%), softball (3.1%), handball (16.1%), tennis (2.0%), volleyball (2.0%) and swimming (2.2%)). Female athletes are unrepresented (12% of the overall sample). Study quality ranged from 11 to 18 points on a modified Downs and Black checklist (maximum score 21, better quality). In one study, swimmers with low (<93°) or high (>100°) shoulder external rotation were at higher risk of injuries. Using data pooled from three studies of professional baseball pitchers, we showed in the meta-analysis that shoulder external rotation insufficiency (throwing arm <5° greater than the non-throwing arm) was associated with injury (odds ratio=1.90, 95% confidence interval 1.24 to 2.92, p<0.01).

Conclusion

Preseason screening of shoulder external rotation ROM may identify professional baseball pitchers and swimmers at risk of injury. Shoulder ROM screening may not be effective to identify handball, softball, volleyball and tennis players at risk of injuries. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of studies and their high degree of heterogeneity.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017072895.
Mouthguard use in youth ice hockey and the risk of concussion: nested case–control study of 315 cases
Authors: Chisholm Dirk A , Black Amanda Marie , Palacios-Derflingher Luz , Eliason Paul H , Schneider Kathryn J , Emery Carolyn A , Hagel Brent E
Published: January 2020

Background

Concussion is the most common injury in youth ice hockey. Whether mouthguard use lowers the odds of concussion remains an unanswered question.

Objective

To determine the association between concussion and mouthguard use in youth ice hockey.

Methods

Nested case–control design. Cases and controls were identified from two prospective cohort studies using valid injury surveillance methods. Cases were players concussed during a game or practice; controls were players who sustained a non-concussion injury during a game or practice. The primary exposure was mouthguard use at time of injury; mouthguard type (dental custom fit or off the shelf) was a secondary exposure. Physician-diagnosed or therapist-suspected concussion was the primary outcome. Dental injury was a secondary outcome. Multilevel logistic regression with random effect at a team level was used to obtain ORs for the mouthguard effect, adjusted for level of play, age group, position, concussion history, mechanism of injury, cohort, session type and body checking policy.

Results

Among cases, 236/315 (75%) were wearing a mouthguard at time of injury, while 224/270 (83%) controls were wearing a mouthguard at time of injury. Any mouthguard use was associated with an adjusted OR for concussion of 0.36 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.73). Off-the-shelf mouthguards were associated with a 69% lower odds of concussion (adjusted OR: 0.31; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.65). Dental custom-fit mouthguards were associated with a non-significant 49% lower odds of concussion (adjusted OR: 0.51; 95% CI 0.22 to 1.10). No dental injuries were identified in either cohort.

Conclusion

Mouthguard use was associated with lower odds of concussion. Players should be required to wear mouthguards in youth ice hockey.
Adherence to lipid-lowering therapy and risk for cardiovascular disease and death in type 1 diabetes mellitus: a population-based study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register
Authors: Hero Christel , Karlsson Sofia Axia , Franzén Stefan , Svensson Ann-Marie , Miftaraj Mervete , Gudbjörnsdottir Soffia , Andersson Sundell Karolina , Eliasson Björn , Eeg-Olofsson Katarina
Published: January 2020

Aims/hypothesis

Dyslipidemia is an important modifiable risk factor and lipid-lowering treatment (LLT) is essential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies in type 2 diabetes indicate that low adherence to statin therapy is a barrier to reach full protective potential, and less is known in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim was to assess risk of CVD by adherence and nonpersistence to LLT in T1D. 

Method

A population-based study with a retrospective longitudinal design was conducted between 2006 and 2010, with follow-up until December 2013. In total, 6192 adult individuals with T1D, initiating LLT between 2006 and 2010, were included. Information on LLT, socioeconomic characteristics, comorbidities and cardiovascular events were collected. After 18 months, refill adherence was estimated by calculating medication possession ratio (MPR). Nonpersistence was defined as being without medicines on hand for at least 180 days. Individuals were thereafter followed until CVD, death or end of follow-up in December 2013. Cox regression analyses were performed to assess adherence level and nonpersistence of LLT as predictor of CVD. Analyses were adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and socioeconomic status.  

Results

Mean MPR was 72%, 52% of the participants had an MPR above 80% and 27% discontinued LLT. There were 637 nonfatal and 58 fatal CVD events, mean follow-up 3.6 and 3.9 years, respectively. MPR above 80% was associated with reduced risk for nonfatal CVD compared with lower MPR, HR 0.78 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.93)). For fatal CVD, results indicated a negative effect of high adherence but the association did not reach statistical significance, HR 1.96 (0.96 to 4.01). Individuals discontinuing LLT had higher risk of nonfatal CVD, HR 1.43 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.73). 

Conclusions/Interpretation

In T1D, the risk for nonfatal CVD was lower among individuals with high adherence and higher among those discontinuing LLT within 18 months. It is important to evaluate and emphasize adherence to prescribed LLT at clinical visits to achieve treatment goals and reduce the risk of CVD.
Frailty predicts a higher risk of incident urolithiasis in 525 368 patients with diabetes mellitus: a population-based study
Authors: Chao Chia-Ter , Wang Jui , Huang Jenq-Wen , Hung Kuan-Yu , Chien Kuo-Liong
Published: January 2020

Objective

Patients with diabetes have an increased risk for urolithiasis, but the associated risk factors remain an active area of research. We investigated whether frailty influenced the probability of patients with diabetes developing urolithiasis.

Research design and methods

Using data from the Longitudinal Cohort of Diabetic Patients from 2004 to 2010, we identified those without and with frailty based on a validated, modified FRAIL scale. Patients were followed until they developed urolithiasis, and we used Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses to examine the relationship between frailty, its severity, and the risk of urolithiasis, accounting for demographic profiles, comorbidities, frailty status changes over follow-up, and medications, with risk competition by mortality.

Results

Among 525 368 patients with diabetes, 64.4% were not frail, while 28.5%, 6.6%, and 0.6% had 1, 2, and ≥3 FRAIL items at baseline. After 4.2 years of follow-up, 13.4% experienced incident urolithiasis. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that patients with diabetes having at least one FRAIL criterion exhibited a significantly higher risk for urolithiasis compared with non-frail patients (for 1, 2, and ≥3 items, hazard ratio (HR)s: 1.04, 1.23, and 1.46; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 0.99 to 1.09, 1.12 to 1.35, and 1.12 to 1.91, respectively). This increase in urolithiasis risk remained significant if we restricted analyses to renal stones or recurrent urolithiasis as the study outcomes.

Conclusions

Frailty may pose a risk for incident urolithiasis in patients with diabetes. Treating frailty may potentially reduce their risk for urolithiasis.
Global health, global surgery and mass casualties: II. Mass casualty centre resources, equipment and implementation
Authors: Aguilera Sergio , Quintana Leonidas , Khan Tariq , Garcia Roxanna , Shoman Haitham , Caddell Luke , Latifi Rifat , Park Kee B , Garcia Patricia , Dempsey Robert , Rosenfeld Jeffrey V , Scurlock Corey , Crisp Nigel , Samad Lubna , Smith Montray , Lippa Laura , Jooma Rashid , Andrews Russell J
Published: January 2020

Trauma/stroke centres optimise acute 24/7/365 surgical/critical care in high-income countries (HICs). Concepts from low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) offer additional cost-effective healthcare strategies for limited-resource settings when combined with the trauma/stroke centre concept. Mass casualty centres (MCCs) integrate resources for both routine and emergency care—from prevention to acute care to rehabilitation. Integration of the various healthcare systems—governmental, non-governmental and military—is key to avoid both duplication and gaps. With input from LMIC and HIC personnel of various backgrounds—trauma and subspecialty surgery, nursing, information technology and telemedicine, and healthcare administration—creative solutions to the challenges of expanding care (both daily and disaster) are developed. MCCs are evolving initially in Chile and Pakistan. Technologies for cost-effective healthcare in LMICs include smartphone apps (enhance prehospital care) to electronic data collection and analysis (quality improvement) to telemedicine and drones/robots (support of remote regions and resource optimisation during both daily care and disasters) to resilient, mobile medical/surgical facilities (eg, battery-operated CT scanners). The co-ordination of personnel (within LMICs, and between LMICs and HICs) and the integration of cost-effective advanced technology are features of MCCs. Providing quality, cost-effective care 24/7/365 to the 5 billion who lack it presently makes MCCs an appealing means to achieve the healthcare-related United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
Attitudes towards digital health tools for outpatient cirrhosis management in patients with decompensated cirrhosis
Authors: Bloom Patricia Pringle , Marx Madeline , Wang Thomas J , Green Bradley , Ha Jasmine , Bay Camden , Chung Raymond T , Richter James M
Published: January 2020

Background

Technology represents a promising tool to improve healthcare delivery for patients with cirrhosis. We sought to assess utilisation of technology and preferred features of a digital health management tool, in patients with an early readmission for decompensated cirrhosis.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients readmitted within 90 days for decompensated cirrhosis. A semistructured interview obtained quantitative and qualitative data through open-ended questions.

Results

Of the 50 participants, mean age was 57.6 years and mean (range) model for end stage liver disease was 22.7 (10–46). Thirty-eight (76%) patients own a Smartphone and 62% have regular access to a computer with internet. Thirty-nine (78%) patients would consider using a Smartphone application to manage their cirrhosis. Forty-six (92%) patients report having a principal caregiver, of which 80% own a Smartphone. Patients were interested in a Smartphone application that could communicate with their physician (85%), send medication notifications to the patient (65%) and caregiver (64%), transmit diagnostic results and appointment reminders (82%), educate about liver disease (79%), regularly transmit weight data to the doctor (85% with ascites) and play a game to detect cognitive decline (67% with encephalopathy). Common themes from qualitative data include a desire to learn about liver disease and communicate with providers via digital tools.

Conclusion

Among patients with cirrhosis with an early readmission for decompensation, most have Smartphones and would be willing to use a Smartphone to manage their disease. Future digital health management tools should be tailored to the use patterns and preferences of the patients with cirrhosis and their caregivers.
Simulating a self-inflicted facial gunshot wound with moulage to improve perceived realism, immersion, and learning in simulation-based airway management training
Authors: Santomauro Chiara , Host Daniel , Arthur Davin , Alexander Marissa , King Colin
Published: January 2020

Moulage is used to create mock wounds and injuries for clinical education and training. We developed a moulage technique to simulate a facial gunshot wound for use in simulation-based training. We removed sections of a manikin’s face and used moulage materials to mock various aspects of the wound. The manikin was used in a simulated scenario that teaches clinicians how to manage a complicated airway. The moulage was evaluated with a self-report questionnaire that assessed participants’ perceptions of the realism of the wound, the degree to which the wound contributed to their scenario immersion, and the degree to which the wound enhanced their learning experience on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’. Participants’ average response to each item was significantly higher than the neutral midpoint, and the median response was ‘strongly agree’. Our work suggests that the simulated facial gunshot wound contributed to perceived scenario immersion and enhancement of the learning experience, supporting existing literature that suggests moulage is a valuable tool in healthcare simulation. Future work could investigate the effect of moulage using objective measures and explore the potential to use extended reality technology in conjunction with moulage to improve immersion even further.
NF-κB p50-deficient immature myeloid cell (p50-IMC) adoptive transfer slows the growth of murine prostate and pancreatic ductal carcinoma
Authors: Suresh Rahul , Barakat David J , Barberi Theresa , Zheng Lei , Jaffee Elizabeth , Pienta Kenneth J , Friedman Alan D
Published: January 2020

Background

Macrophages and dendritic cells lacking the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B p50 are skewed toward a proinflammatory phenotype, with increased cytokine expression and enhanced T cell activation; additionally, murine melanoma, fibrosarcoma, colon carcinoma, and glioblastoma grow slower in p50−/−mice. We therefore evaluated the efficacy of p50-negative immature myeloid cells (p50-IMCs) adoptively transferred into tumor-bearing hosts. Immature cells were used to maximize tumor localization, and pretreatment with 5-fluorouracil (5FU) was examined due to its potential to impair marrow production of myeloid cells, to target tumor myeloid cells and to release tumor neoantigens.

Methods

Wild-type (WT)-IMC or p50-IMC were generated by culturing lineage-negative marrow cells from WT or p50−/−mice in media containing thrombopoietin, stem cell factor and Flt3 ligand for 6 days followed by monocyte colony-stimulating factor for 1 day on ultralow attachment plates. Mice inoculated with Hi-Myc prostate cancer (PCa) cells or K-RasG12Dpancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDC)-luciferase cells received 5FU followed 5 days later by three doses of 107immature myeloid cells (IMC) every 3–4 days.

Results

PCa cells grew slower in p50−/−mice, and absence of host p50 prolonged the survival of mice inoculated orthotopically with PDC cells. IMC from Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-luciferase mice localized to tumor, nodes, spleen, marrow, and lung. 5FU followed by p50-IMC slowed PCa and PDC tumor growth, ~3-fold on average, in contrast to 5FU followed by WT-IMC, 5FU alone or p50-IMC alone. Slowed tumor growth was evident for 93% of PCa but only 53% of PDC tumors; we therefore focused on PCa for additional IMC analyses. In PCa, p50-IMC matured into F4/80+macrophages, as well as CD11b+F4/80−CD11c+conventional dendritic cells (cDCs). In both tumor and draining lymph nodes, p50-IMC generated more macrophages and cDCs than WT-IMC. Activated tumor CD8+T cells were increased fivefold by p50-IMC compared with WT-IMC, and antibody-mediated CD8+T cell depletion obviated slower tumor growth induced by 5FU followed by p50-IMC.

Conclusions

5FU followed by p50-IMC slows the growth of murine prostate and pancreatic carcinoma and depends on CD8+T cell activation. Deletion of p50 in patient-derived marrow CD34+cells and subsequent production of IMC for adoptive transfer may contribute to the therapy of these and additional cancers.
POT1 mutation spectrum in tumour types commonly diagnosed among POT1-associated hereditary cancer syndrome families
Authors: Shen Erica , Xiu Joanne , Lopez Giselle Y , Bentley Rex , Jalali Ali , Heimberger Amy B , Bainbridge Matthew N , Bondy Melissa L , Walsh Kyle M
Published: January 2020

Background

The shelterin complex is composed of six proteins that protect and regulate telomere length, including protection of telomeres 1 (POT1). Germline POT1 mutations are associated with an autosomal dominant familial cancer syndrome presenting with diverse malignancies, including glioma, angiosarcoma, colorectal cancer and melanoma. Although somatic POT1 mutations promote telomere elongation and genome instability in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, the contribution of POT1 mutations to development of other sporadic cancers is largely unexplored.

Methods

We performed logistic regression, adjusted for tumour mutational burden, to identify associations between POT1 mutation frequency and tumour type in 62 368 tumours undergoing next-generation sequencing.

Results

A total of 1834 tumours harboured a non-benign mutation of POT1 (2.94%), of which 128 harboured a mutation previously reported to confer familial cancer risk in the setting of germline POT1 deficiency. Angiosarcoma was 11 times more likely than other tumours to harbour a POT1 mutation (p=1.4×10−20), and 65% of POT1-mutated angiosarcoma had >1 mutations in POT1. Malignant gliomas were 1.7 times less likely to harbour a POT1 mutation (p=1.2×10−3) than other tumour types. Colorectal cancer was 1.2 times less likely to harbour a POT1 mutation (p=0.012), while melanoma showed no differences in POT1 mutation frequency versus other tumours (p=0.67).

Conclusions

These results confirm a role for shelterin dysfunction in angiosarcoma development but suggest that gliomas arising in the context of germline POT1 deficiency activate a telomere-lengthening mechanism that is uncommon in gliomagenesis.
Comparison of small-strain shear modulus and Young’s modulus of dry sand measured by resonant column and bender–extender element
Authors: Xu Kai , Gu Xiaoqiang , Hu Chao , Lu Lutong
Published: January 2020

The small-strain shear modulus and Young’s modulus of dry sand are simultaneously measured by resonant column and bender–extender element tests. Two different methods are adopted to calibrate the resonant column and the results indicate that the conventional calibration method may significantly underestimate the Young’s modulus obtained in flexural excitation, while it only slightly underestimates the shear modulus obtained in torsional excitation. A new calibration method that establishes a calibration curve based on the resonant frequency is used to overcome the error. With this new calibration method, the shear modulus and Young’s modulus from the resonant column agree well with those from the bender–extender element. It convincingly explains the reason why a very small Poisson’s ratio was observed in previous resonant column tests and suggests that the effect of resonant frequency on the calibration results must be considered in flexural excitation.
Finite-size effects in heavy halo nuclei from effective field theory
Authors: Ryberg E. , Forssén C. , Phillips D. R. , van Kolck U.
Published: January 2020

Halo/Cluster Effective Field Theory describes halo/cluster nuclei in an expansion in the small ratio of the size of the core(s) to the size of the system. Even in the point-particle limit, neutron-halo nuclei have a finite charge radius, because their center of mass does not coincide with their center of charge. This point-particle contribution decreases as $$1/A_\mathrm {c}$$1/Ac, where $$A_\mathrm {c}$$Ac is the mass number of the core, and diminishes in importance compared to other effects, e.g., the size of the core to which the neutrons are bound. Here we propose that for heavy cores the EFT expansion should account for the small factors of $$1/A_\mathrm {c}$$1/Ac. As a specific example, we discuss the implications of this organizational scheme for the inclusion of finite-size effects in expressions for the charge radii of halo nuclei. We show in particular that a short-range operator could be the dominant effect in the charge radius of one-neutron halos bound by a P-wave interaction. The point-particle contribution remains the leading piece of the charge radius for one-proton halos, and so Halo EFT has more predictive power in that case.
Dynamical behavior of nonlinear wave solutions of the generalized Newell–Whitehead–Segel equation
Authors: Saha Asit , Das Amiya
Published: January 2020

Dynamical behavior of nonlinear wave solutions of the perturbed and unperturbed generalized Newell–Whitehead–Segel (GNWS) equation is studied via analytical and computational approaches for the first time in the literature. Bifurcation of phase portraits of the unperturbed GNWS equation is dispensed using phase plane analysis through symbolic computation and it shows stable oscillation of the traveling waves. Chaotic behavior of the perturbed GNWS equation is obtained by applying different computational tools, like phase plot, time series plot, Poincare section, bifurcation diagram and Lyapunov exponent. A period-doubling bifurcation behavior to chaotic behavior is shown for the perturbed GNWS equation and again it shows chaotic to periodic motion through inverse period-doubling bifurcation. The perturbed GNWS equation also shows chaotic motion through a sequence of periodic motions (period-1, period-3 and period-5) depending on the variation of the parameter of linear coefficient. Thus, the parameter of linear coefficient plays the role of a controlling parameter in the chaotic dynamics of the perturbed GNWS equation.
Koumine Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in IPEC-J2 Cells by Regulating Nrf2/NF-κB Pathway
Authors: Wu Jing , Yang Cheng-Lin , Sha Yuan-Kun , Wu Yong , Liu Zhao-Ying , Yuan Zhi-Hang , Sun Zhi-Liang
Published: January 2020

Gelsemium elegans Benth. (G. elegans), a traditional Chinese medicine, has great potential as an effective growth promoter in animals, however, the mechanism of its actin remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the protective effects of koumine extract from G. elegans against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in IPEC-J2 cells through alleviation of inflammation and oxidative stress. MTT and LDH assays revealed that koumine significantly reduced LPS cytotoxicity. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and cell monolayer permeability assays showed that koumine treatment attenuated the LPS-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction with no particularly different effects in tight junction proteins such as ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin. LPS-triggered inflammatory response was also suppressed by koumine, as evidenced by the downregulated inflammatory factors, including TNF-[Formula: see text], IL-6, IL-1[Formula: see text], NO, iNOS, and COX-2, which was closely connected with the inhibition of NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway for the decrease of phosphorylation of I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text] and NF-[Formula: see text]B and nuclear translocation of p-p65. Amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA induced by LPS was also reduced by koumine through activation of Nrf2 pathway, and increased in the levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 degradation of keap-1 to promote anti-oxidants, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). To summarize, koumine-reduced the oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction triggered by LPS through regulation of the Nrf2/NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway and preventing intestinal barrier dysfunction.
NUMERICAL STUDY OF PORE STRUCTURE EFFECTS ON ACOUSTIC LOGGING DATA IN THE BOREHOLE ENVIRONMENT
Authors: LI TIANYANG , WANG ZIZHEN , YU NIAN , WANG RUIHE , WANG YUZHONG
Published: January 2020

Existing methods of well-logging interpretation often contain errors in the exploration and evaluation of carbonate reservoirs due to the complex pore structures. The differences in frequency ranges and measurement methods deviated between the acoustic well logs and indoor ultrasonic tests cause inconsistent results. Based on the elastic wave equation and the principle of the control variable method, a 2D axisymmetric borehole model with complex pore structures was developed, and the numerical simulation method for acoustic log was constructed. The modeling results show that the power function can well describe the effects of pore structure on the acoustic waves, while the velocity of the Stoneley wave is not sensitive to the pore structure. Crack-like pores with pore aspect ratio (AR) less than 0.1 significantly affect the velocities of P- and S-waves, whereas “spherical” pores have fewer effects. The models with larger pore sizes have high velocities of P- and S-waves. The velocities calculated by the equivalent medium theory are always higher than the numerical simulation results. The velocity deviation caused by the difference in frequency is much smaller than the pore structure. A fractal approach to quantify the effects of pore structures is applied in the acoustic logging data. The fractal dimension increases with the pore AR or size when the porosity is constant, which can be described by a simple power function. This gives us new ideas and methods for pore structure evaluation in the lower frequency range than the conventional petrophysical model.
HAUSDORFF DIMENSION OF UNIVOQUE SETS OF SELF-SIMILAR SETS WITH COMPLETE OVERLAPS
Authors: GAREEB MOHAMMAD , LI WENXIA
Published: January 2020

Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] an integer. We consider the collection [Formula: see text] of homogeneous self-similar sets on the line such that every two of copies [Formula: see text] of the self-similar set [Formula: see text] are either separated or overlapped with rank [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text]. For [Formula: see text] generated by [Formula: see text] similitudes, we denote by [Formula: see text] the number of overlaps with rank [Formula: see text]. The set of points in the self-similar set having a unique coding is called the univoque set and denoted by [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we investigate a uniform method to calculate the Hausdorff dimension of the set [Formula: see text].
THE EFFECTS OF THE RIEMANN–LIOUVILLE FRACTIONAL INTEGRAL ON THE BOX DIMENSION OF FRACTAL GRAPHS OF HÖLDER CONTINUOUS FUNCTIONS
Authors: WU JUNRU
Published: January 2020

In this paper, the linearity of the dimensional-decrease effect of the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral is mainly explored. It is proved that if the Box dimension of the graph of an [Formula: see text]-Hölder continuous function is greater than one and the positive order [Formula: see text] of the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral satisfies [Formula: see text], the upper Box dimension of the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral of the graph of this function will not be greater than [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, it is proved that the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral of a Lipschitz continuous function defined on a closed interval is continuously differentiable on the corresponding open interval.