bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the impact of global fund withdrawal on needle and syringe provision, cost and use among people who inject drugs in Tijuana, Mexico: a costing analysis
Authors: Cepeda Javier A , Burgos Jose Luis , Kahn James G , Padilla Rosario , Meza Martinez Pedro Emilio , Segovia Luis Alberto , Gaines Tommi , Abramovitz Daniela , Rangel Gudelia , Magis-Rodriguez Carlos , Vickerman Peter , Strathdee Steffanie A , Martin Natasha K
Published: January 2019

Objective

From 2011 to 2013, the Global Fund (GF) supported needle and syringe programmes in Mexico to prevent transmission of HIV among people who inject drugs. It remains unclear how GF withdrawal affected the costs, quality and coverage of needle and syringe programme provision.

Design

Costing study and longitudinal cohort study.

Setting

Tijuana, Mexico.

Participants

Personnel from a local needle and syringe programme (n=6) and people who inject drugs (n=734) participating in a longitudinal study.

Primary outcome measures

Provision of needle and syringe programme services and cost (per contact and per syringe distributed, in 2017 $USD) during GF support (2012) and after withdrawal (2015/16). An additional outcome included needle and syringe programme utilisation from a concurrent cohort of people who inject drugs during and after GF withdrawal.

Results

During the GF period, the needle and syringe programme distributed 55 920 syringes to 932 contacts (60 syringes/contact) across 14 geographical locations. After GF withdrew, the needle and syringe programme distributed 10 700 syringes to 2140 contacts (five syringes/contact) across three geographical locations. During the GF period, the cost per harm reduction contact was approximately 10-fold higher compared with after GF ($44.72 vs $3.81); however, the cost per syringe distributed was nearly equal ($0.75 vs $0.76) due to differences in syringes per contact and reductions in ancillary kit components. The mean log odds of accessing a needle and syringe programme in the post-GF period was significantly lower than during the GF period (p=0.02).

Conclusions

Withdrawal of GF support for needle and syringe programme provision in Mexico was associated with a substantial drop in provision of sterile syringes, geographical coverage and recent clean syringe utilisation among people who inject drugs. Better planning is required to ensure harm reduction programme sustainability is at scale after donor withdrawal.
What is the contribution of physician associates in hospital care in England? A mixed methods, multiple case study
Authors: Drennan Vari M , Halter Mary , Wheeler Carly , Nice Laura , Brearley Sally , Ennis James , Gabe Jonathan , Gage Heather , Levenson Ros , de Lusignan Simon , Begg Phil , Parle James
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To investigate the deployment of physician associates (PAs); the factors supporting and inhibiting their employment and their contribution and impact on patients’ experience and outcomes and the organisation of services.

Design

Mixed methods within a case study design, using interviews, observations, work diaries and documentary analysis.

Setting

Six acute care hospitals in three regions of England in 2016–2017.

Participants

43 PAs, 77 other health professionals, 28 managers, 28 patients and relatives.

Results

A key influencing factor supporting the employment of PAs in all settings was a shortage of doctors. PAs were found to be acceptable, appropriate and safe members of the medical/surgical teams by the majority of doctors, managers and nurses. They were mainly deployed to undertake inpatient ward work in the medical/surgical team during core weekday hours. They were reported to positively contribute to: continuity within their medical/surgical team, patient experience and flow, inducting new junior doctors, supporting the medical/surgical teams’ workload, which released doctors for more complex patients and their training. The lack of regulation and attendant lack of authority to prescribe was seen as a problem in many but not all specialties. The contribution of PAs to productivity and patient outcomes was not quantifiable separately from other members of the team and wider service organisation. Patients and relatives described PAs positively but most did not understand who and what a PA was, often mistaking them for doctors.

Conclusions

This study offers new insights concerning the deployment and contribution of PAs in medical and surgical specialties in English hospitals. PAs provided a flexible addition to the secondary care workforce without drawing from existing professions. Their utility in the hospital setting is unlikely to be completely realised without the appropriate level of regulation and authority to prescribe medicines and order ionising radiation within their scope of practice.
Knowledge of the physical activity guidelines and factors associated with physical activity participation among adults in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Abdeta Chalchisa , Seyoum Berhanu , Teklemariam Zelalem
Published: January 2019

Objectives

We assessed knowledge of the physical activity guidelines and factors associated with physical activity participation among adults in Harar town, eastern Ethiopia.

Design

A cross-sectional study of 590 adults in Harar town with face-to-face interview.

Results

Only 27% of participants had good knowledge of the physical activity guidelines. The extent of physical activity participation was 54% (95% CI 50.0% to 58.4%). Male participants (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.14; 95% CI 1.49 to 3.07), educational status of college diploma and above (AOR 2.06; 95% CI 1.09 to 3.89), sitting less than 2 hours per day (AOR 1.82; 95% CI: 1.17% to 2.83%) and good knowledge of physical activity (AOR 3.03; 95% CI 1.98 to 4.64) were associated with physical activity participation.

Conclusions

There is limited knowledge of physical activity guideline in the study area.
Prognostic value of soluble ST2 in adults with congenital heart disease
Authors: Geenen Laurie W , Baggen Vivan J M , van den Bosch Annemien E , Eindhoven Jannet A , Cuypers Judith A A E , Witsenburg Maarten , Boersma Eric , Roos-Hesselink Jolien W
Published: January 2019

Objective

Soluble suppression of tumourigenicity-2 (sST2) is upregulated as response to myocardial stress and may be a potential biomarker for risk stratification in patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). This study aimed to investigate the release of sST2 and its association with cardiovascular events in ACHD.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, 602 consecutive patients with ACHD visiting the outpatient clinic were included (2011–2013). The association between sST2 and a primary composite endpoint of all-cause mortality, heart failure, hospitalisation, arrhythmia, thromboembolic events or cardiac interventions was investigated using multivariable Cox regression.

Results

sST2 was measured in 590 (98%) patients (median age 33 [25–41] years, 42% women). After a median follow-up of 5.8 [IQR 5.1–6.2) years, 225 (38.5%) reached the primary endpoint. sST2 was significantly associated with the primary endpoint when adjusted for age, sex, creatinine and N  terminal pro-B type brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (HR per twofold higher sST2: 1.28, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.58, p=0.025). This association negated when adjusted for clinical variables and NT-proBNP (HR per twofold higher sST2: 1.19, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.48, p=0.106). Stratified analysis in complex ACHD did show a significant association between sST2 and the primary endpoint when adjusted for clinical variables and NT-proBNP (HR per twofold higher sST2: 1.31, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.69, p=0.043). Sex-specific analysis showed an association between sST2 and the primary endpoint in women (HR per twofold higher sST2 1.80, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.49, p<0.001) but not in men (HR per twofold higher sST2 1.19, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.56, p=0.223).

Conclusions

sST2 is a promising novel biomarker in patients with ACHD, specifically in complex ACHD and women. Future research is warranted to elucidate sex-specific and diagnosis-specific differences.
Inflammation markers and risk of developing hypertension: a meta-analysis of cohort studies
Authors: Jayedi Ahmad , Rahimi Kazem , Bautista Leonelo E , Nazarzadeh Milad , Zargar Mahdieh Sadat , Shab-Bidar Sakineh
Published: January 2019

Objective

To systematically assess the association of circulating inflammation markers with the future risk of hypertension.

Methods

We did a systematic literature search of PubMed and Scopus, from database inception to July 10, 2018. Prospective and retrospective cohort studies evaluating the association of circulating C reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitive CRP (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1β to the risk of developing hypertension in the general population were included. The relative risks (RRs) for the top versus bottom tertiles of circulating biomarkers were calculated using a fixed-effects/random-effects model. A potential non-linear dose-response association was tested.

Results

Fourteen prospective cohort studies, two retrospective cohort studies and five nested case-control studies involving 142 640 participants and 20 676 cases were identified. The RR for the third versus first tertiles of circulating CRP was 1.23 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.35; I2=59%, n=12). The association remained unchanged after adjustment for body mass index. The RRs for other biomarkers were as follows: hs-CRP (RR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.37; I2=74%, n=7), IL-6 (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.71; I2=0%, n=5), and IL-1β (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.51; I2=0%, n=3). A non-linear dose-response meta-analysis demonstrated that the risk of hypertension increased linearly with increasing circulating inflammation markers, even within the low-risk and intermediate-risk categories.

Conclusions

Higher levels of circulating CRP, hs-CRP and IL-6, but not IL-1β, were associated with the risk of developing hypertension. The association persisted in subgroups of studies defined by major sources of heterogeneity.
Dystonic crises in dopa-responsive dystonia induced by energy drinks
Authors: Fung Wilson K W , Bertram Kelly L
Published: January 2019

We present an interesting case of recurrent dystonic crises in dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) likely induced by excessive consumption of aspartame-containing products, in particular sugar-free energy drinks. This has a strong practical value as acute presentations to the emergency department can be avoided in these susceptible individuals. Usual medical and dietary advice in the treatment of DRD would include the avoidance of high-dose phenylalanine-containing products, and to this we would advocate the avoidance of high-dose aspartame-containing products.
Association between vaginal washing and detection ofLactobacillusby culture and quantitative PCR in HIV-seronegative Kenyan women: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Lokken Erica M , Manguro Griffins Odhiambo , Abdallah Amina , Ngacha Caroline , Shafi Juma , Kiarie James , Jaoko Walter , Srinivasan Sujatha , Fiedler Tina L , Munch Matthew M , Fredricks David N , McClelland R Scott , Balkus Jennifer E
Published: January 2019

Objectives

Vaginal washing has been associated with reductions in cultivableLactobacillusand an increased risk of both bacterial vaginosis (BV) and HIV infection. The effect of vaginal washing on the quantity of individualLactobacillusspecies is not well characterised. This analysis tested the hypothesis that vaginal washing would be associated with a lower likelihood ofLactobacillusspp. detected by both culture and quantitative PCR (qPCR).

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 272 HIV-seronegative women enrolled in an open-cohort study in Mombasa, Kenya. Vaginal washing and sexual risk behaviours were assessed using face-to-face interviews. VaginalLactobacillusspp. were detected using cultivation and PCR methods, withL. crispatus,L. jensenii and L. inersconcentrations measured using qPCR assays targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Poisson regression with robust SEs was used to assess associations between vaginal washing andLactobacillusdetection by culture and qPCR.

Results

Eighty percent (n=217) of participants reported vaginal washing in the prior week. One-fifth (n=58) of participants had BV by Nugent score. In unadjusted analysis, vaginal washing was associated with a 45% decreased likelihood ofLactobacillusspp. detection by culture (prevalence ratio (PR): 0.55, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.82). Adjusting for age and condomless sex in the prior week did not change the magnitude of the association (adjusted PR (aPR): 0.56, 95% CI (0.37 to 0.85). Vaginal washing was associated with approximately a 40% reduction inL. crispatusdetection (aPR: 0.57, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.92), but was not significantly associated withL. jensenii(aPR: 0.68, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.09) orL. inersdetection (aPR: 1.03, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.15).

Conclusions

Vaginal washing in the prior week was associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of detecting cultivableLactobacillusandL. crispatusby qPCR. Given associations betweenLactobacillusdetection and improved reproductive health outcomes, these results provide motivation for additional study of vaginal washing cessation interventions to improve vaginal health.
Changing causes of death for patients with chronic respiratory disease in England, 2005-2015
Authors: Gayle Alicia V , Axson Eleanor L , Bloom Chloe I , Navaratnam Vidya , Quint Jennifer K
Published: January 2019

Background

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) are common, are increasing in prevalence, and cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, we have limited knowledge on causes of death of patients with CRD in the general population.

Objective

We evaluated mortality rates and causes of death over time in patients with CRD.

Methods

We used linked primary care and mortality data to determine mortality rates and the most common causes of death in people with CRD (including asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD and interstitial lung diseases (ILD)) during 2005–2015 in England.

Results

We identified 558 888 patients with CRD (451 830 asthma, 137 709 COPD, 19 374 bronchiectasis, 10 745 ILD). The age-standardised mortality rate of patients with CRD was 1607 per 100 000 persons (asthma=856, COPD=1503, ILD=2609, bronchiectasis=1463). CRD mortality was overall 54% higher than the general population. A third of patients with CRD died from respiratory-related causes. Respiratory-related mortality was constant, while cardiovascular-related mortality decreased significantly over time. COPD accounted for the majority of respiratory-related deaths (66% overall) in all patient groups except ILD.

Conclusions

Patients with CRD continue to experience substantial morbidity and mortality due to respiratory diseases. Disease-modifying intervention strategies are needed to improve outcomes for patients with CRD.
Perspectives and outlook from HEP window on the universe
Authors: Hou George Wei-Shu
Published: January 2019

This brief review grew out from the HEP concluding talk of the 25th Anniversary of the Rencontres du Vietnam, held in August 2018, at Quy Nhon. The first two-thirds gives a summary and highlights, or snapshot, of High Energy Physics at the end of Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Run 2. It can be viewed as the combined effort of the program organizers, the invited plenary speakers, and finally filtered into the present mosaic. It certainly should not be viewed as comprehensive. In the second one-third, a more personal perspective and outlook is given, including my take on the flavor anomalies, and why the next three years, the period of Long Shutdown 2 plus first year (or more) of LHC Run 3, would be bright and flavorful, with much hope for uncovering New Physics. We advocate extra Yukawa couplings as the most likely, next, New Physics to be tested, the effect of which is already written in our Matter Universe.
Interfacial reaction, microstructure and hardness between graphene-coated Cu substrate and SAC305 solder doped with minor Ni during isothermal aging
Authors: Li Shengli , Liu Yang , Cai Hongming , Zhang Hao , Sun Fenglian
Published: January 2019

This study investigated the influences of Cu, high temperature-treated Cu (H-Cu) and graphene-coated Cu (G-Cu) substrates on interfacial reaction, microstructure and hardness of Sn-3.0g-0.5Cu (SAC305) solder alloy. Intermetallic compound (IMC) layer evolution and mechanical property of Sn-3.0g-0.5Cu-0.3Ni (SAC305-0.3Ni) solder joints were also studied under different aging duration. A continuous scallop-like IMC layer was observed at SAC305/Cu, SAC305/H-Cu, SAC305/G-Cu interfaces during reflow and isothermal aging. After adding Ni in the SAC305-0.3Ni solder alloy, the roughness of IMC layer on Cu, H-Cu substrates increased. In contrast, the addition of Ni had a limited impact on the roughness of IMC layer on G-Cu substrates. The total thickness of IMC layer grew as aging time increases, proportionated to the square root of aging duration. The addition of Ni in the solder alloy promoted the growth of IMC layer on Cu and H-Cu substrates, but it was restrained on G-Cu substrate. The amount of the IMC phases in SAC305 and SAC305-0.3Ni solder bulks on the three substrates increased significantly as aging time prolonged. Thus, the hardness of SAC305 and SAC305-0.3Ni solder bulks on the three substrates rose. The addition of Ni in the solder bulks on the three substrates sharply enhanced the formation of [Formula: see text]-Sn phases and increased the quantity of the IMCs. Consequently, the hardness of SAC305-0.3Ni solder bulks was higher than that of SAC305 solder bulk on the three substrates under same aging condition. In addition, the graphene-coated layer on G-Cu substrate could improve the hardness of SAC305 and SAC305-0.3Ni solder bulks.
Exact optical solitons of Radhakrishnan–Kundu–Lakshmanan equation with Kerr law nonlinearity
Authors: Ghanbari Behzad , Inc Mustafa , Yusuf Abdullahi , Bayram Mustafa
Published: January 2019

A new generalized exponential rational function method (GERFM) is used to acquire some new optical solitons of Radhakrishnan–Kundu–Lakshmanan (RKL) equation with Kerr nonlinearity. This equation is used to model propagation of solitons through an optical fiber. The well-known exponential rational function method is also a special case of the GERFM. The results reveal that the mentioned method is efficient and simple for solving different nonlinear partial differential equations.
Generation of water window single attosecond pulse from multi-cycle mid-infrared laser field with chirp gating modulation
Authors: Liu Hang , Schafer Henry M. , Feng R. L. Q. , Feng A. Yuanzi
Published: January 2019

A potential scheme to produce the water window single attosecond pulses (SAPs) from the multi-cycle mid-infrared (MIR) laser field has been investigated with the help of the chirp gating modulation. It is found that with the introduction of the laser chirp (i.e. up-chirp or down-chirp modulation), the extension of the harmonic cutoff can be achieved and the single harmonic radiation peak (HRP) can be selected during the harmonic emission process. Moreover, the chirp gating modulation on the high-order harmonic generation (HHG) is sensitive to the few-cycle pulse duration, but it is not very sensitive to the multi-cycle pulse duration. Moreover, a larger extension of the harmonic cutoff covering the whole water window region can be found with the help of the multi-cycle down-chirp modulation. Further, by properly choosing the coherent superposition of the ground state and the high Rydberg state as the initial state, the efficiency of HHG can be enhanced by 5 orders of magnitude. Finally, a series of high-intensity sub-40as pulses covering the water window region can be obtained.
On the hydrodynamics of three in-line square cylinders in a uniform flow
Authors: Huang Qiao-Gao , Pan Guang
Published: January 2019

In this paper, is the hydrodynamics of three in-line square cylinders in a uniform flow, where the gap between two neighboring square cylinders is equivalent is under investigation. The fluid dynamics around those multiple bluff bodies, including time-mean drag coefficients, time-mean lift coefficients and Strouhal numbers, are considered at the Reynolds number [Formula: see text]. Through numerically solving the nonlinear hydrodynamic problem, we show that the drag force acting on the first square cylinder is always larger than that acting on the remaining two square cylinders. From the perspective of wake structures, with keeping the increase of the gap between two neighboring square cylinders, the wake structures become much more complicated, including attachment of shear layer, interaction between shear layer and vortex, interaction between vortex and vortex, etc. Moreover, the Strouhal number of three square cylinders are approximately equaled when the dimensionless gap between two neighboring square cylinders is less than 2.
Finding Similar Documents Using Frequent Pattern Mining Methods
Authors: Sohrabi Mohammad Karim , Azgomi Hossein
Published: January 2019

Various problems are just rising with regard to mining in massive datasets, among which finding similar documents can be pinpointed. The Shingling method converts this problem to a set-based problem. Some of existing methods have used min-hashing to compress the results already driven from the shingling method and then have exploited LSH method to find candidate pairs for similarity search from all pairs of documents. In this paper, an apriori-based method is proposed for finding similar documents based on frequent itemset mining approach. To this end, the apriori algorithm is modified and is customized for similarity search problem. Modeling the similarity search problem as a frequent pattern mining problem, using a modified version of apriori, and dynamic selection the minimum support threshold are the most important advantages of the proposed method, which lead to its appropriate execution time and high quality results. The proposed method finds similar documents in less time than the combined method and MCVM method because it generates fewer candidate pairs for finding similar documents. Furthermore, experimental results show the high quality of the answers of the proposed methods.
Jensen-Tsalli’s Intuitionistic Fuzzy Divergence Measure and Its Applications in Medical Analysis and Pattern Recognition
Authors: Joshi Rajesh , Kumar Satish
Published: January 2019

Vagueness in scientific studies poses a challenge. Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set (IFS) theory has emerged as a powerful and flexible tool to counter such challenge. So, there is a need to develop such measures which can not only measure the vagueness but also quantify the differences in underlying IFSs. The aim of this communication is to introduce one such divergence measure called Intuitionistic Fuzzy Jensen-Tsalli Divergence measure in the settings of IFS theory. The presence of parameters makes the proposed divergence measure flexible and competent for applications. Besides discussing some of its major properties, the findings are applied in pattern recognition problem and in medical diagnosis of some diseases with same set of symptoms. The performance of the proposed measure is genuinely compared with some other existing measures in literature through numerical examples based on medical diagnosis and pattern recognition.
Limiting dynamics for stochastic FitzHugh–Nagumo equations on large domains
Authors: Li Yangrong , Li Fuzhi
Published: January 2019

This paper is devoted to the convergence of bi-spatial random attractors as a family of bounded domains is extended to be unbounded. Some criteria in terms of expansion and restriction are provided to ensure that the unbounded-domain attractor is approximated by the family of bounded-domain attractors in both upper and lower semi-continuity senses. The theoretical results are applied to show that the stochastic FitzHugh–Nagumo coupled equations have an attractor in [Formula: see text]-times Lebesgue space irrespective of whether the domain is bounded or unbounded. Furthermore, we prove that the family of bounded-domain attractors continuously converges to the unbounded-domain attractor, and the latter can be constructed by the metric-limit set of all bounded-domain attractors.
Continuity and Change in Chinese Grassroots Governance: Shanghai’s Local Administrative System
Authors: CHUNG YOUSUN
Published: January 2019

Since the retreat of the workplace system, Chinese cities have been presented with the important challenge of refurbishing local administrative systems at the sub-district level while meeting the emerging needs of new urban spaces. Building on new institutionalism concepts such as conversion and layering, this study examines conditions in Shanghai to ascertain what has made it a strong administrative city. The study discusses the development of Shanghai’s current local governance structure in terms of historical legacy, formal structure, and informal practices (i.e., two-tiered government and three-tiered management). This study also researches the complex state task of strengthening sub-district governance (so-called “community construction”) in urban China. The results of this study offer theoretical implications for institutional change and continuity related to these matters, thereby indicating that increased attention should be given to the agency-side explanation of endogenous institutional changes in the Chinese polity.
A revised position for the rotated Falkland Islands microplate
Authors: Stanca Roxana M. , Paton Douglas A. , Hodgson David M. , McCarthy Dave J. , Mortimer Estelle J.
Published: January 2019

The early stages of transform margin formation are associated with crustal fragmentation and block rotation. The restricted size of the resultant microcontinental blocks precludes palaeogeographical reconstructions and reliable estimations of the amount of rotation they can undergo. An example considered here is the Falkland Plateau. This is located adjacent to the Agulhas–Falkland Fracture Zone and its westernmost province is the Falkland Islands microcontinent. The position of the plateau and the islands prior to Gondwana break-up remains contentious. This study integrates seismic reflection and gravity data to propose a revised position of the Falkland Islands microcontinent constrained by (1) the presence of a mega-décollement, controlling the Gondwanide Orogen, described north of the Falkland Islands and underneath South Africa and the Outeniqua Basin, and (2) the similar architecture of fault networks mapped north of the islands and in the northernmost Outeniqua Basin. This revised position requires a re-evaluation of the timing and rate of rotation of the Falkland Islands microcontinent and affects the expected crustal architecture adjacent to the islands. Our model yields rotation rates between 5.5° and 8° Ma
−1
and two potential times for rotation, and predicts more unstretched crust beneath the basin east of the Falkland Islands than previous models.
How and why the present tectonic setting in the Apennine belt has developed
Authors: Mantovani E. , Viti M. , Babbucci D. , Tamburelli C. , Cenni N.
Published: January 2019

The building of the Apennine belt slowed down or ceased around the Early Pleistocene. Since then, the belt has undergone strong uplift and considerable distortion. This change, from belt-normal to belt-parallel shortening, has been determined by the fact that the continental Adriatic domain (Adria) was almost completely surrounded by buoyant orogenic structures. In that context, the mobility of Adria underwent a considerable reduction, whereas uplift and deformation of its southern part was strongly emphasized as an effect of the convergence of the confining plates. Around the middle Pleistocene, the deformation pattern in the peri-Adriatic zones changed again, in response to acceleration of Adria. The outer (Adriatic) sector of the Apennine belt underwent belt-parallel shortening, accommodated by uplift and outward escape of upper crustal wedges. The separation between the extruding wedges and the almost stable inner belt has generated a series of extensional or transtensional fault systems along the axial part of the Apennines, which now correspond to the main seismogenic sources. The spatio-temporal distribution of major tectonic events in the study area can plausibly be explained as an effect of the least-action principle.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the ‘Apennines and Tyrrhenian system’ collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/the-apennines-tyrrhenian-system
Rheological information determined from cleavage refraction in naturally deformed interlayered quartzites and phyllites
Authors: Czeck Dyanna M. , Traut Jolene T. , Hudleston Peter J.
Published: January 2019

Cleavage refraction angles are used to estimate effective viscosity contrasts between interlayered quartzites and phyllites within the Baraboo Syncline, Wisconsin, USA. Both types of layers contain two major phases, quartz and pyrophyllite, with minor amounts of hematite. Quartz (with minor hematite) behaves as the strong phase and pyrophyllite acts as the weak phase. Cleavage refraction directly relates to mineralogy with a linear relationship between bedding/cleavage angle and strong-phase concentration. Mineralogy exerts first-order control over effective viscosity contrasts, which are generally small, in most cases <10. Effective viscosity contrasts are consistent across the fold, so are likely not to be highly strain dependent and indicate approximate linear viscous rheology. Microstructures suggest deformation was dominated by dislocation creep in layers with high quartz concentrations and diffusive mass transfer in layers with lower quartz concentrations, and that the transition of the deformation mechanism is gradual. Thus, the rheological flow laws at the small scale may not reflect the bulk flow law at the large scale over the span of the deformation. Effective viscosity contrasts allow an evaluation of samples compared to theoretical two-phase mixtures. The analysed samples most closely resemble the Reuss bound of two-phase mixtures, regardless of the mineralogy.
Chronic alcohol exposure alters circulating insulin and ghrelin levels: role of ghrelin in hepatic steatosis
Authors: Rasineni Karuna , Thomes Paul G. , Kubik Jacy L. , Harris Edward N. , Kharbanda Kusum K. , Casey Carol A.
Published: January 2019

Fatty liver is the earliest response of the liver to excessive ethanol consumption. Central in the development of alcoholic steatosis is increased mobilization of nonesterified free fatty acids (NEFAs) to the liver from the adipose tissue. In this study, we hypothesized that ethanol-induced increase in ghrelin by impairing insulin secretion, could be responsible for the altered lipid metabolism observed in adipose and liver tissue. Male Wistar rats were fed for 5–8 wk with control or ethanol Lieber-DeCarli diet, followed by biochemical analyses in serum and liver tissues. In addition, in vitro studies were conducted on pancreatic islets isolated from experimental rats. We found that ethanol increased serum ghrelin and decreased serum insulin levels in both fed and fasting conditions. These results were corroborated by our observations of a significant accumulation of insulin in pancreatic islets of ethanol-fed rats, indicating that its secretion was impaired. Furthermore, ethanol-induced reduction in circulating insulin was associated with lower adipose weight and increased NEFA levels observed in these rats. Additionally, we found that increased concentration of serum ghrelin was due to increased synthesis and maturation in the stomach of the ethanol-fed rats. We also report that in addition to its effect on the pancreas, ghrelin can also directly act on hepatocytes via the ghrelin receptors and promote fat accumulation. In conclusion, alcohol-induced elevation of circulating ghrelin levels impairs insulin secretion. Consequently, reduced circulating insulin levels likely contribute to increased free fatty acid mobilization from adipose tissue to liver, thereby contributing to hepatic steatosis.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our studies are the first to report that ethanol-induced increases in ghrelin contribute to impaired insulin secretion, which results in the altered lipid metabolism observed in adipose and liver tissue in the setting of alcoholic fatty liver disease.
CD36 mediates albumin transcytosis by dermal but not lung microvascular endothelial cells: role in fatty acid delivery
Authors: Raheel Hira , Ghaffari Siavash , Khosraviani Negar , Mintsopoulos Victoria , Auyeung Derek , Wang Changsen , Kim Yun Hye , Mullen Brendan , Sung Hoon-Ki , Ho May , Fairn Gregory , Neculai Dante , Febbraio Maria , Heit Bryan , Lee Warren L.
Published: January 2019

In healthy blood vessels, albumin crosses the endothelium to leave the circulation by transcytosis. However, little is known about the regulation of albumin transcytosis or how it differs in different tissues; its physiological purpose is also unclear. Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we quantified transcytosis of albumin across primary human microvascular endothelial cells from both lung and skin. We then validated our in vitro findings using a tissue-specific knockout mouse model. We observed that albumin transcytosis was saturable in the skin but not the lung microvascular endothelial cells, implicating a receptor-mediated process. We identified the scavenger receptor CD36 as being both necessary and sufficient for albumin transcytosis across dermal microvascular endothelium, in contrast to the lung where macropinocytosis dominated. Mutations in the apical helical bundle of CD36 prevented albumin internalization by cells. Mice deficient in CD36 specifically in endothelial cells exhibited lower basal permeability to albumin and less basal tissue edema in the skin but not in the lung. Finally, these mice also exhibited a smaller subcutaneous fat layer despite having identical total body weights and circulating fatty acid levels as wild-type animals. In conclusion, CD36 mediates albumin transcytosis in the skin but not the lung. Albumin transcytosis may serve to regulate fatty acid delivery from the circulation to tissues.
Mesothelial mobilization in the developing lung and heart differs in timing, quantity, and pathway dependency
Authors: Lüdtke Timo H. , Rudat Carsten , Kurz Jennifer , Häfner Regine , Greulich Franziska , Wojahn Irina , Aydoğdu Nurullah , Mamo Tamrat M. , Kleppa Marc-Jens , Trowe Mark-Oliver , Bohnenpoll Tobias , Taketo Makoto Mark , Kispert Andreas
Published: January 2019

The mesothelial lining of the lung, the visceral pleura, and of the heart, the epicardium, derive from a common multipotent precursor tissue, the mesothelium of the embryonic thoracic cavity that also contributes to organ-specific mesenchymal cell types. Insight into mesothelial mobilization and differentiation has prevailedin the developing heart while the mesenchymal transition and fate of the visceral pleura are poorly understood. Here, we use the fact that the early mesothelium of both the lung and the heart expresses the transcription factor gene Wt1, to comparatively analyze mesothelial mobilization in the two organs by a genetic cre-loxP-based conditional approach. We show that epicardial cells are mobilized in a large number between E12.5 and E14.5, whereas pleural mobilization occurs only sporadically and variably in few regions of the lung in a temporally highly confined manner shortly after E12.5. Mesothelium-specific inactivation of unique pathway components using a Wt1creERT2line excluded a requirement for canonical WNT, NOTCH, HH, TGFB, PDGFRA, and FGFR1/FGFR2 signaling in the mesenchymal transition of the visceral pleura but indicated a deleterious effect of activated WNT, NOTCH, and HH signaling on lung development. Epicardial mobilization was negatively impacted on by loss of HH, PDGFRA, FGFR1/2 signaling. Epicardial overactivation of WNT, NOTCH, and HH disturbed epicardial and myocardial integrity. We conclude that mesothelial mobilization in the developing lung and heart differs in timing, quantity and pathway dependency, indicating the organ specificity of the program.
Seasonal differences in rhythmicity of salivary cortisol in healthy adults
Authors: Kanikowska Dominika , Roszak Magdalena , Rutkowski Rafał , Sato Maki , Sikorska Dorota , Orzechowska Zofia , Bręborowicz Andrzej , Witowski Janusz
Published: January 2019

The existence of seasonal changes in secretion of stress hormones and inflammatory mediators by humans is not certain. Here, we aimed to determine whether concentrations of cortisol and IL-6 displayed seasonal rhythmicity. The study was performed in Poznań, Poland (52°N, 16°E) in 7 healthy female volunteers (age 22.6 ± 0.8 yr). Samples of whole mixed unstimulated saliva were collected in winter (February) and summer (June) at 2-h intervals over a 24-h period and analyzed for cortisol and IL-6 by immunoassays. During each season, the subjects answered questionnaires related to their sleeping habits, food intake, physical activity, and perceived seasonality. It turned out that salivary concentrations of cortisol followed a daily rhythm both in winter and summer, as determined by a cosine analysis. However, compared with the winter season, a midline-estimating statistic of rhythm in the summer was significantly higher. Moreover, the rhythm acrophase occurred ~4 h later in the summer than in the winter, whereas the amplitudes did not differ. These fluctuations did not correspond to sleeping habits, food and fluid intake, physical exercise, and the self-assessed chronotype. However, the individuals with higher scores on the seasonal affective disorder scale showed a tendency toward lower relative cortisol amplitude in the summer. In contrast to cortisol, salivary IL-6 concentration did not display daily rhythmicity, and its concentrations did not differ significantly between the seasons. In conclusion, in the summer, cortisol level in saliva is elevated, and its circadian pattern of secretion is shifted. The causes for these alterations do not seem to be related to lifestyle and thus remain to be established.
Sex differences in the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and brain function in older adulthood
Authors: Dimech Christina J. , Anderson John A. E. , Lockrow Amber W. , Spreng R. Nathan , Turner Gary R.
Published: January 2019

We investigated sex differences in the association between a measure of physical health, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and brain function using resting-state functional connectivity fMRI. We examined these sex differences in the default, frontoparietal control, and cingulo-opercular networks, assemblies of functionally connected brain regions known to be impacted by both age and fitness level. Healthy older adults ( n = 49; 29 women) were scanned to obtain measures of intrinsic connectivity within and across these 3 networks. We calculated global efficiency (a measure of network integration) and local efficiency (a measure of network specialization) using graph theoretical methods. Across all three networks combined, local efficiency was positively associated with CRF, and this was more robust in male versus female older adults. Furthermore, global efficiency was negatively associated with CRF, but only in males. Our findings suggest that in older adults, associations between brain network integrity and physical health are sex-dependent. These results underscore the importance of considering sex differences when examining associations between fitness and brain function in older adulthood.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We examined the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and resting state functional connectivity in several brain networks known to be impacted by age and fitness level. We found significant associations between fitness and measures of network integration and network specialization, but in a sex-dependent manner, highlighting the interplay between sex differences, fitness, and aging brain health. Our findings underscore the importance of considering sex differences when examining associations between fitness and brain function in older adulthood.
Dynamic Modeling and Parameters Optimization of Large Vibrating Screen with Full Degree of Freedom
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , Wu Jida , Jiang Haishen , Qiu Wenqiang , Liu Chusheng
Published: January 2019

Dynamic characteristic and reliability of the vibrating screen are important indicators of large vibrating screen. Considering the influence of coupling motion of each degree of freedom, the dynamic model with six degrees of freedom (6 DOFs) of the vibrating screen is established based on the Lagrange method, and modal parameters (natural frequencies and modes of vibration) of the rigid body are obtained. The finite element modal analysis and harmonic response analysis are carried out to analyze the elastic deformation of the structure. By using the parametric modeling method, beam position is defined as a variable, and an orthogonal experiment on design is performed. The BP neural network is used to model the relationship between beam position and maximal elastic deformation of the lateral plate. Further, the genetic algorithm is used to optimize the established neural network model, and the optimal design parameters are obtained.
A Fatal Case of Life-Threatening Interstitial Pneumonitis Induced by Everolimus for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Comment about the Increased Risk of Interstitial Lung Disease in Japanese
Authors: Murakami Yasukiyo , Fujita Tetsuo , Wakatabe Yoji , Iwamura Masatsugu
Published: January 2019

We describe an 81-year-old woman with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who did not recover from life-threatening interstitial pneumonitis induced by everolimus therapy. She received everolimus due to disease progression after sunitinib, but 2 months after starting everolimus treatment, she visited the emergency department after developing a sudden fever and dyspnea. Chest CT revealed diffuse ground-glass opacities, thickening of the interlobular septa, and consolidation throughout both lung fields. The diagnosis was surmised to be everolimus-induced interstitial pneumonitis. Everolimus administration was stopped and 3 courses of steroid pulse therapy were administered, along with intensive care, but the patient died due to rapid respiratory failure.
Role of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Cancer Prevention and Cancer Promotion
Authors: Wong Rebecca S. Y.
Published: January 2019

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed by medical practitioners in many clinical conditions for the symptomatic treatment of pain and fever. Due to their anti-inflammatory properties, these drugs have been investigated for their anticancer effects in numerous studies. This is because chronic inflammation has long been linked to carcinogenesis. As such, anti-inflammatory drugs are believed to play a role in cancer treatment and prevention. In the past few decades, research has shown that NSAIDs may decrease the risk of certain types of cancer. However, there is also a growing body of research that proves the contrary. Furthermore, NSAIDs are well known for many side effects, including some life-threatening ones. This review will discuss the relationship between chronic inflammation and cancer, the role of NSAIDs in cancer prevention and cancer promotion, and some of the potentially lethal side effects of these drugs.
Unusual Manifestation of Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Ahmed Amna Basheer M. , Alsaleem Badr M. Rasheed
Published: January 2019

The relationship of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is understood as extraintestinal rheumatic manifestations. CRMO is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, noninfectious disorder of the skeletal system of unknown origin. The disease course is not always recurrent. The association of CRMO and ulcerative colitis (UC) is very rarely reported. We report a case of a 10-year-old Saudi female who was diagnosed with CRMO, when she developed fever in association with left foot pain, and ulcerative colitis was confirmed endoscopically and histologically based on a previous settled diarrheal illness and severe iron deficiency anemia which required blood. Both conditions responded well to IBD therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of chronic, multifocal osteomyelitis associated with pediatric UC in Saudi Arabia. This report supports the use of IBD therapy in treating CRMO.
Photovoltaic and Physical Characteristics of Screen-Printed Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Cells with Laser Doping and Electroplated Copper
Authors: Cheng Chin-Lung , Liu Chi-Chung , Yeh Chun-Tin
Published: January 2019

Photovoltaic and physical characteristics of screen-printed monocrystalline silicon solar cells (SPMSCs) were presented with electroplated copper (EPC) as the rear contact. The boron back surface field (B-BSF) formed by spin-on doping and laser doping (LD) was prepared as a seed layer for the EPC. The LD parameters, including the laser focus, laser power, laser speed, and laser line pitch, were investigated. Moreover, the effects of KOH etching on the surface properties after the LD process were explored. Furthermore, to enhance the adhesion between the B-BSF seed layer and EPC contact layer, a laser pinhole process was proposed. Finally, the EPC processes with various electroplating times were addressed. The results revealed that the mechanism of enhancements could be attributed to a continuous B-BSF seed layer and a reduction of series resistance, as well as an increase of open-circuit voltage and adhesion between the B-BSF seed layer and EPC contact layer.
Interaction of Pulses of Different Duration with Chemically Prepared Silver Nanoparticles: Analysis of Optical Nonlinearities
Authors: Zhang Ke , Ganeev Rashid A. , Rao Konda Srinivasa , Maurya Sandeep Kumar , Boltaev Ganjaboy S. , Krishnendu P. S. , Yu Zhi , Yu Weili , Fu Yue , Guo Chunlei
Published: January 2019

The nonlinear optical properties of the aqueous solutions of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) prepared by chemical reduction method are analyzed using femtosecond and picosecond pulses at different wavelengths. In the case of 800 and 400 nm, the growths of nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction with the increase of Ag NP concentration, as well as a change at the signs of nonlinear optical processes, are determined. The nonlinear absorption coefficient and nonlinear refractive index of Ag NP solutions measured using picosecond pulses were a few orders of magnitude larger than those in the case of femtosecond probe pulses. We also demonstrate the optical limiting properties of Ag NPs using 800 nm, 60 fs pulses.
An Introduction of a Robust OMA Method: CoS‐SSI and Its Performance Evaluation through the Simulation and a Case Study
Authors: Liu Fulong , Wu Jigang , Gu Fengshou , Ball Andrew D.
Published: January 2019

Operational modal analysis (OMA) is a powerful vibration analysis tool and widely used for structural health monitoring (SHM) of various system systems such as vehicles and civil structures. Most of the current OMA methods such as pick‐picking, frequency domain decomposition, natural excitation technique, stochastic subspace identification (SSI), and so on are under the assumption of white noise excitation and system linearity. However, this assumption can be desecrated by inherent system nonlinearities and variable operating conditions, which often degrades the performance of these OMA methods in that the modal identification results show high fluctuations. To overcome this deficiency, an improved OMA method based on SSI has been proposed in this paper to make it suitable for systems with strong nonstationary vibration responses and nonlinearity. This novel method is denoted as correlation signal subset‐based SSI (CoS‐SSI) as it divides correlation signals from the system responses into several subsets based on their magnitudes; then, the average correlation signals with respective to each subset are taken into as the inputs of the SSI method. The performance of CoS‐SSI was evaluated by a simulation case and was validated through an experimental study in a further step. The results indicate that CoS‐SSI method is effective in handling nonstationary signals with low signal to noise ratio (SNR) to accurately identify modal parameters from a fairly complex system, which demonstrates the potential of this method to be employed for SHM.