bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential benefits of olanzapine on executive function in schizophrenia patients: Preliminary findings
Authors: Mehta Neeti D. , Won Michelle J. , Babin Shelly L. , Patel Saumil S. , Wassef Adel A. , Chuang Alice Z. , Sereno Anne B.
Published: December 2019

Objective

Schizophrenia patients show executive function (EF) impairments in voluntary orienting as measured by eye‐movements. We tested 14 inpatients to investigate the effects of the antipsychotic olanzapine on EF, as measured by antisaccade eye‐movement performance.

Methods

Patients were tested at baseline (before olanzapine), 3–5 days post‐medication, and 12–14 days post‐medication. Patients were also assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) to measure the severity of schizophrenia‐related symptoms, and administered the Stroop task, a test of EF. Nine matched controls were also tested on the antisaccade and Stroop.

Results

Both groups showed improvement on Stroop and antisaccade; however, the schizophrenia group improved significantly more on antisaccade, indicating an additional benefit of olanzapine on EF performance. Patients with poorer baseline antisaccade performance (High‐Deficit) showed significantly greater improvement on the antisaccade task than patients with better baseline performance (Low‐Deficit), suggesting that baseline EF impairment predicts the magnitude of cognitive improvement with olanzapine. These subgroups showed significant and equivalent improvement on PANSS scores, indicating that improvement on the antisaccade task with olanzapine was not a result of differences in magnitude of clinical improvement.

Conclusions

This preliminary study provides evidence that olanzapine may be most advantageous for patients with greater baseline EF deficits.
Tobacco smoking, chewing habits, alcohol drinking and the risk of head and neck cancer in Nepal
Authors: Chang Chun‐Pin , Siwakoti Bhola , Sapkota Amir , Gautam Dej K. , Lee Yuan‐Chin Amy , Monroe Marcus , Hashibe Mia
Published: December 2019

Although tobacco smoking, pan chewing and alcohol drinking are important risk factors for head and neck cancer (HNC), the HNC risks conferred by products available in Nepal for these habits are unknown. We assessed the associations of tobacco smoking, chewing habits, and alcohol drinking with HNC risk in Nepal. A case–control study was conducted in Nepal with 549 incident HNC cases and 601 controls. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders. We observed increased HNC risk for tobacco smoking (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.06), chewing habits (OR: 2.39; 95% CI: 1.77, 3.23), and alcohol drinking (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.18). The population attributable fraction (PAF) was 24.3% for tobacco smoking, 39.9% for chewing habits and 23.0% for alcohol drinking. Tobacco smoking, chewing habits, and alcohol drinking might be responsible for 85.3% of HNC cases. Individuals who smoked tobacco, chewed products and drank alcohol had a 13‐fold increase in HNC risk (OR: 12.83; 95% CI: 6.91, 23.81) compared to individuals who did not have any of these habits. Both high frequency and long duration of these habits were strong risk factors for HNC among the Nepalese with clear dose–response trends. Preventive strategies against starting these habits and support for quitting these habits are necessary to decrease the incidence of HNC in Nepal.
State‐of‐the‐art computations of dipole moments using analytic gradients of high‐level density‐fitted coupled‐cluster methods with focal‐point approximations
Authors: Bozkaya Uğur , Soydaş Emine , Filiz Bahar
Published: December 2019

Using the analytic derivatives approach, dipole moments of high‐level density‐fitted coupled‐cluster (CC) methods, such as coupled‐cluster singles and doubles (CCSD), and coupled‐cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples [CCSD(T)], are presented. To obtain the high accuracy results, the computed dipole moments are extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limits applying focal‐point approximations. Dipole moments of the CC methods considered are compared with the experimental gas‐phase values, as well as with the common DFT functionals, such as B3LYP, BP86, M06‐2X, and BLYP. For all test sets considered, the CCSD(T) method provides substantial improvements over Hartree–Fock (HF), by 0.076–0.213 D, and its mean absolute errors are lower than 0.06 D. Furthermore, our results indicate that even though the performances of the common DFT functionals considered are significantly better than that of HF, their results are not comparable with the CC methods. Our results demonstrate that the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory provides highly‐accurate dipole moments, and its quality approaching the experimental results. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A dispersion‐corrected density functional theory study of the noncovalent interactions between nucleobases and carbon nanotube models containing stone–wales defects
Authors: Contreras‐Torres Flavio F. , Basiuk Elena V. , Basiuk Vladimir A.
Published: December 2019

The noncovalent bonding between nucleobases (NBs) and Stone–Wales (SW) defect‐containing closed‐end single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was theoretically studied in the framework of density function theory using a dispersion‐corrected functional PBE‐G06/DNP. The models employed in this study were armchair nanotube (ANT) (5,5) and zigzag nanotube (ZNT) (10,0), which incorporated SW defects in different orientations. In one of them, the (7,7) junction is tilted with respect to SWNT axis (ANT‐t and ZNT‐t), whereas in ANT‐p and ZNT‐p models the (7,7) junction is parallel and perpendicular to the axis, respectively. The binding energies for uracil, thymine, cytosine, 5‐methylcytosine, adenine, and guanine interacting with the defect‐containing nanotube models were compared to the values previously obtained with the same calculation technique for the case of defect‐free SWNTs, both in the gas phase (vacuum) and in aqueous medium. For most models, the interaction strength tends to be higher for purine than for pyrimidine complexes, with a clear exception of the systems including ZNT‐p, both in vacuum and in aqueous medium. As it could be expected, the binding strength in the latter case is lower as compared to that in vacuum, roughly by 2–4 kcal/mol, due to the implicit inclusion of a medium (i.e., water) via the conductor‐like screening model model. The closest contacts between NBs and SWNT models, frontier orbital distribution, and highest‐occupied molecular orbital–lowest‐unoccupied molecular orbital gap energies are analyzed as well. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identifying the learning objectives of clinical clerkship in community health in Japan: Focus group
Authors: Kato Daisuke , Wakabayashi Hideki , Takamura Akiteru , Takemura Yousuke C.
Published: December 2019

Background

The value of medical education in the community has been increasingly and globally recognized. In 2015, the World Federation for Medical Education emphasized the importance of medical education in various settings in their standard. Similarly, in Japan, the Model Core Curriculum for Medical Education in Japan (MCCMEJ) is revised in 2016. However, both the learning objectives of such clerkships and their concrete strategies in Japan are not clearly established. In this study, the authors identified the learning objectives of clinical clerkship in community health reflecting the perspectives of medical professionals and community inhabitants.

Methods

They held six focus groups that included physicians, other medical professionals, and inhabitants (n = 35) who were involved in a clinical clerkship in community health at three prefectures in Japan from 2017 to 2018. Further, they recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed the discussion using MCCMEJ as conceptual frameworks.

Results

The learning objectives comprised of 13 domains. The following four domains were not found in “Basic Qualities and Capacities for Physicians” in MCCMEJ: “future‐oriented systematic view,” “organic integration of knowledge/skill,” “understanding of the community,” and “awareness as an individual physician.”

Conclusion

With the community inhabitants' participation, the study results reflect the community needs in Japan. The authors hope that the outcome of this study will be useful to further improve clinical clerkship in community health.
A case of maternal varicella: Expected role of primary care physicians in confirming immune status for varicella in women at childbearing age
Authors: Nishihara Yuji , Hase Ryota
Published: December 2019

At 19‐week gestation, a 32‐year‐old Japanese woman presented with a 3‐day history of fever and vesicular rashes on the skin and was diagnosed with varicella, which resolved after antiviral therapy. In the primary clinic, her immunity to rubella and measles, but not to varicella, was confirmed at preconception counseling. Maternal varicella infection can cause congenital varicella syndrome characterized by congenital malformations and neurological deficits. This case recommends that all women of childbearing age should be assessed for immunity to varicella before pregnancy and that primary care physicians should take initiatives for preventing maternal varicella.
Lemierre's syndrome complicating influenza A virus infection
Authors: Yanagi Hidetaka , Ozawa Hideki
Published: December 2019

We report a 24‐year‐old previously healthy woman with Lemierre's syndrome following influenza A virus infection. One week after influenza A was diagnosed by rapid antigen test and treated by oseltamivir, she developed multiple cavitary lung lesions, and a left internal jugular vein thrombosis. The blood culture grew Fusobacterium necrophorum. We administered ampicillin‐sulbactam and unfractionated heparin to which she responded very well. Although viral infections have been related to Lemierre's syndrome, influenza virus rarely implicated. Lemierre's syndrome should be included in the differential diagnoses of rare complications of influenza virus infection.
Cardiac T2* mapping: Techniques and clinical applications
Authors: Triadyaksa Pandji , Oudkerk Matthijs , Sijens Paul E.
Published: December 2019

Cardiac T2* mapping is a noninvasive MRI method that is used to identify myocardial iron accumulation in several iron storage diseases such as hereditary hemochromatosis, sickle cell disease, and β‐thalassemia major. The method has improved over the years in terms of MR acquisition, focus on relative artifact‐free myocardium regions, and T2* quantification. Several improvement factors involved include blood pool signal suppression, the reproducibility of T2* measurement as affected by scanner hardware, and acquisition software. Regarding the T2* quantification, improvement factors include the applied curve‐fitting method with or without truncation of the signals acquired at longer echo times and whether or not T2* measurement focuses on multiple segmental regions or the midventricular septum only. Although already widely applied in clinical practice, data processing still differs between centers, contributing to measurement outcome variations. State of the art T2* measurement involves pixelwise quantification providing better spatial iron loading information than region of interest‐based quantification. Improvements have been proposed, such as on MR acquisition for free‐breathing mapping, the generation of fast mapping, noise reduction, automatic myocardial contour delineation, and different T2* quantification methods. This review deals with the pro and cons of different methods used to quantify T2* and generate T2* maps. The purpose is to recommend a combination of MR acquisition and T2* mapping quantification techniques for reliable outcomes in measuring and follow‐up of myocardial iron overload. The clinical application of cardiac T2* mapping for iron overload's early detection, monitoring, and treatment is addressed. The prospects of T2* mapping combined with different MR acquisition methods, such as cardiac T1 mapping, are also described.

Level of Evidence: 4

Technical Efficacy Stage: 5

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019.
Evaluation of corrected APHRODITE estimates for hydrological simulation in the Yarlung Tsangpo–Brahmaputra River Basin
Authors: Luo Xian , Fan Xuemei , Ji Xuan , Li Yungang
Published: December 2019

Precipitation is one of the most important inputs for hydrological simulation because it controls water balance, and accurate representation of rainfall distribution is essential for hydrological simulation. In the Yarlung Tsangpo–Brahmaputra River Basin (YBRB), gauge‐based gridded datasets have difficulties in representing complex orographic precipitation as the rainfall stations are too sparse to capture accurate precipitation patterns. This study used Asian Precipitation Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation of Water Resources (APHRODITE) estimates to drive the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in the YBRB. Bias correction on APHRODITE estimates was achieved through linear scaling based on a denser network of gauges. In addition, the elevation bands method was implemented in SWAT to reproduce spatial precipitation by considering orographic effects. The results showed that original APHRODITE data tended to systematically underestimate rainy season precipitation with considerable underestimation on windward slopes of the Himalayas. Corrected APHRODITE data increased precipitation estimates and were able to better represent the spatial patterns of precipitation. During the calibration and validation periods, the mean monthly Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of the corrected APHRODITE‐simulation were 0.86 and 0.82, respectively, which were much higher than those of the original APHRODITE‐simulation (0.79 and 0.72), indicating the reliability of corrected APHRODITE estimates in driving hydrological model. In addition, although the elevation bands method has some limitations induced by the constant precipitation lapse rate, it was also found that this method could improve the accuracy of hydrological simulation. In large transboundary sparsely gauged river basins, implementation of bias correction and elevation bands can improve the representation of spatial precipitation of gridded gauge‐based rainfall products, which may be beneficial for hydrological simulation and water resources management.
Improvement of off‐axis color shift on hybrid viewing‐angle device using dual γ‐voltage method
Authors: Liu Shih‐Bin , Qiao Yanbing , Zou Zhongfei , Yu Chia‐Min , Guo Xiaojun , Chung Te‐Chen
Published: December 2019

We have mass production on one kind of liquid crystal display (LCD) device with hybrid viewing‐angle (HVA), which can be switched between the wide viewing‐angle (WVA) and narrow viewing‐angle (NVA) by one button. This device adopts the single cell design that with lower cost, and utilizes the optical properties of electrically tilted LC to achieve the function of NVA display. An issue has received less attention in the past and been indeed found in the production process. It is that the off‐axis color shift will appear in NVA mode. We put forward one method to improve this issue here, which is combined with the concepts of Gray Frame Insertion (GFI) and Impulse‐type driving. By switching the voltage between two different γ values, the color shift will be perfected on the produce.
A rapid and simple ultra high performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of methoxyphenol derivatives involved in the eugenol catabolic pathway
Authors: Singh Archana , Ghosh Sachan Shashwati , Mukhopadhyay Kunal , Kumar Manish , Sachan Ashish
Published: December 2019

An efficient ultra high performance liquid chromatography method of separation was developed for the analysis of six important methoxyphenol derivatives involved in the eugenol catabolic pathway. In the present study, an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column was used for the chromatographic separation of the industrially important phenolic compounds such as vanillin, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, coniferyl alcohol, and coniferyl aldehyde obtained during microbial transformation of eugenol. Eluted components were identified using the dual wavelength (254 and 310 nm) UV detector. A gradient method of elution using mobile phase of aqueous 1 mM trifluoroacetic acid (Solvent A) and methanol (Solvent B) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min separated all the five intermediate methoxyphenol derivatives along with their precursor eugenol within 15 min with stable baseline resolution. Method validation was performed for the accurate quantification of vanillin, coniferyl aldehyde, and eugenol using the parameters of linearity, specificity, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and robustness. The developed method would be helpful for clear separation and identification of the five most important intermediate metabolites of the eugenol catabolism pathway.
Thermo‐sensitive surface molecularly imprinted magnetic microspheres based on bio‐macromolecules and their specific recognition of bovine serum albumin
Authors: Wang Yufei , Ma Yong , Zhou Jingjing , Su Kehe , Zhang Baoliang , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: December 2019

Bovine serum albumin imprinted magnetic microspheres, with functional monomers of modified chitosan, N‐isopropylacrylamide and sulfobetaine methacrylate, were successfully prepared and characterized in detail. Computational analyses showed that during the preparation process, modified chitosan can effortlessly form multiple non‐covalent bonds with protein molecules. Temperature‐sensitive N‐isopropylacrylamide improves the elution efficiency by abating the mass transfer resistance. Meanwhile, the zwitterionic sulfobetaine methacrylate strongly interacts with H2O molecules, remarkably reducing the non‐specific adsorption. The specific bovine serum albumin adsorption performances of the prepared imprinted material were then determined. The adsorption amount reached 86.87 mg/g and the imprinting factor was 6.49. These excellent specific adsorption properties are attributed to the synergetic effects of the different monomers. The fabricated imprinted material not only exhibits great prospects as a biosensor or separation material for protein molecules, but also provides a collaborative strategy for preparing multi‐functional imprinted materials.
Three‐dimensional analysis of the human pharyngoesophageal sphincter
Authors: Randall Derrick R. , Cates Daniel J. , Strong E. Brandon , Belafsky Peter C.
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Dysfunction of the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) is a common cause of oropharyngeal dysphagia. Surgical dilation of the PES uses cylindrical dilators that expand radially in a circular shape. Animal studies, however, suggest that the PES is kidney‐shaped. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the 3D shape of the human PES with a novel casting method.

Methods

A platinum‐cured liquid silicone polymer was infused under pressure into the upper aerodigestive tract of nine fresh human cadavers to construct 3D casts of the maximally distended PES. Cross‐sectional and volumetric analysis were performed using computed tomography and serial sectioning of the models. Canonical variate analysis was used to identify the shape features that best distinguishes the PES from the cervical esophagus.

Results

The mean age of the cadavers was 77.9 (SD ± 10.6) years, with 67% women. Analysis of the casts confirms that the human PES possesses a kidney‐shaped structure at maximal distention, which is discretely different from the adjacent esophagus (P < 0.001). The posterior body of the cricoid cartilage formed the anterior wall of the PES, which provided a rigid structure responsible for preservation of the kidney shape during distention. The diameter of the maximally distended PES at the cricopharyngeus was highly variable (range = 0.86–4.68 cm2; SD = 1.33 cm2).

Conclusion

The data suggest that the human PES is not round and that targeted expansion at the level of the cricopharyngeus with an eccentrically shaped dilator may provide improved distention.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 2019
How to measure the collective intelligence of primary healthcare teams?
Authors: Jean Emmanuelle , Perroux Mélanie , Pepin Jacinthe , Duhoux Arnaud
Published: December 2019

Introduction

The capacity for teams and organizations to evolve and to thrive in ever‐shifting environments is attributed to their collective intelligence. Collectively, intelligent team could prevent repetition of past mistakes and can help organizations and people work more efficiently. Researchers aimed to find a framework or a tool that could help explain collective intelligence in primary healthcare organizations.

Methods

The framework was developed iteratively following a three‐step process based on the Pragmatic utility concept analysis, each step fetching data from both literature and the team's expertise: (i) finding an existing framework, (ii) developing an initial framework, (iii) testing and refining the framework.

Results

A broad literature search led researchers to focus more specifically on two interrelated frameworks, both concepts were created within the educational field. We first adapted these concepts to healthcare teams, then to the increasing interdisciplinarity of primary healthcare teams. We also subdivided the framework into clinical or organizational domain. Finally, we performed a secondary analysis from existing data of a larger project that aimed to evaluate seven primary care teams in Quebec.

Conclusions

This first attempt to conceptualize collective intelligence in a way that is specific to primary healthcare teams helps identify strengths and areas in which teams could potentially improve. From a theoretical perspective, the framework facilitates understanding of the concept of collective intelligence in primary healthcare teams. Our current results show a strong potential for this tool, but other tests and systematic validations are to be expected in order to better link collective intelligence and team performance.
Optimal advance selling discount strategy with future‐oriented consumers
Authors: Zhang Wen , He Yi
Published: December 2019

This paper examines the advance selling decisions over two periods and considers future‐oriented consumers who are more concerned about the product quality than price discounts. We find that the advance selling strategy is not always best, and its merits are contingent on parameters of the market and consumers. Moreover, there is no need to set a deep advance selling discount for the retailer if consumers are highly risk averse. Next, we analyze the feasible advance selling pricing strategies for the retailer. Finally, we observe that the retailer can announce a higher advance selling price if consumers are moderately risk averse.
Solutions of abstract integro‐differential equations via Poisson transformation
Authors: Lizama Carlos , Ponce Rodrigo
Published: December 2019

We study the initial value problem

where A is closed linear operator defined on a Banach space X, x belongs to the domain of A, and the kernel a is a particular discretization of an integrable kernel
Assuming that A generates a resolvent family, we find an explicit representation of the solution to the initial value problem (*) as well as for its inhomogeneous version, and then we study the stability of such solutions. We also prove that for a special class of kernels a, it suffices to assume that A generates an immediately norm continuous C0‐semigroup. We employ a new computational method based on the Poisson transformation.
Symmetries and solutions for a Fisher equation with a proliferation term involving tumor development
Authors: Chulián Salvador , Rosa María , Gandarias María Luz
Published: December 2019

We consider a generalized Fisher equation involving tumor development from the point of view of the theory of symmetry reductions in partial differential equations. The study of this equation is relevant as it includes generalizations within the proliferation rate, being interpreted in terms of the total mass of the tumor. Classical Lie point symmetries admitted by the equation are determined. Finally, we obtain some biologically meaningful solutions in terms of a hyperbolic tangent function, which describes the tumor dynamics.
Affine Weyl group symmetries of Frobenius Painlevé equations
Authors: Wang Haifeng , Li Chuanzhong
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we introduce a Frobenius Painlevé IV equation and the corresponding Hamilton system, and we give the symmetric form of the Frobenius Painlevé IV equation. Then, we construct the Lax pair of the Frobenius Painlevé IV equation. Furthermore, we recall the Frobenius modified KP hierarchy and the Frobenius KP hierarchy by bilinear equations, then we show how to get Frobenius Painlevé IV equation from the Frobenius modified KP hierarchy. In order to study the different aspects of the Frobenius Painlevé IV equation, we give the similarity reduction and affine Weyl group symmetry of the equation. Similarly, we introduce a Frobenius Painlevé II equation and show the connection between the Frobenius modified KP hierarchy and the Frobenius Painlevé II equation.
The effect of detuned wavelength in the dynamic performance of distributed feedback lasers operating at O band and C band
Authors: Cantú Horacio I. , McKee Andrew , Ivanov Pavlo , Watson Scott , Kelly Anthony E.
Published: December 2019

A comparison is presented between the experimental dynamic behavior of detuned AlInGaAs ridge waveguide distributed feedback lasers operating at O band and C band at two different temperatures. The nominal center wavelengths at 25°C for the set of devices studied were 1270, 1310, and 1550 nm. Preliminary static characterization of the samples showed consistent trends between wavelength detuning, characteristic temperature, and power output. For all set of samples, the characteristic temperature was substantially higher for the samples detuned to longer wavelengths (red) at room temperature. At the temperature of 85°C, a higher power efficiency was observed for those samples that thermally shifted nearer the peak optical gain. Resonance frequencies were extracted at 25°C and 85°C by means of electro‐optical transmission measurements and relative intensity noise measurements. The extracted values confirmed that at room temperature the samples detuned to shorter wavelengths (blue) showed the highest modulation efficiencies. At the temperature of 85°C, however, the wavelength and optical gain thermal shift makes those same samples to have the lowest resonant frequencies. The dynamic trends over temperature were clearer for the O band set of samples, while the detuning had a less pronounced effect at C band. The range of maximum resonance frequencies studied was from 12 to 14 GHz, which makes the devices suitable for uncooled communication applications at multi‐gigabit data rates.
Failure mode and effects analysis of linac‐based liver stereotactic body radiotherapy
Authors: Rusu Iris , Thomas Tarita O. , Roeske John C. , Mescioglu Ibrahim , Melian Edward , Surucu Murat
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Although stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an attractive noninvasive approach for liver irradiation, it presents specific challenges associated with respiration‐induced liver motion, daily tumor localization due to liver deformation, and poor visualization of target with respect to adjacent normal liver in computed tomography (CT). We aim to identify potential hazards and develop a set of mitigation strategies to improve the safety of our liver SBRT program, using failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA).

Materials and methods

A multidisciplinary group consisting of two physicians, three physicists, two dosimetrists, and two therapists was formed. A process map covering ten major stages of the liver SBRT program from the initial diagnosis to posttreatment follow‐up was generated. A total of 102 failure modes (FM), together with their causes and effects, were identified. The occurrence (O), severity (S), and lack of detectability (D) were independently scored using a scale from 1 (lowest risk) to 10 (largest risk). The ranking was done using the risk probability number (RPN) defined as the product of average O, S, and D numbers for each mode. Two fault tree analyses were performed. The failure modes with the highest RPN values as well as highest severity score were considered for investigation and a set of mitigation strategies was developed to address these.

Results

The median RPN (RPNmed) values for all modes ranged from of 9 to 105 and the highest median S score (Smed) was 8. Fourteen FMs were identified to be significant by both RPNmed and Smed (top ten RPNmed ranked and highest Smed FMs) and 12 of them were considered for risk mitigation efforts. The remaining two were omitted due to either sufficient checks already in place, or lack of practical mitigation strategies. Implemented measures consisted of five physics tasks, two physician tasks, and three workflow changes.

Conclusions

The application of FMEA to our liver SBRT program led to the identification of potential FMs and allowed improvement measures to enhance the safety of our clinical practice.
Cross‐sectional area reference values for sonography of nerves in the upper extremities
Authors: Niu Jingwen , Li Yi , Zhang Lei , Ding Qingyun , Cui Liying , Liu Mingsheng
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Detailed morphological features of the peripheral nerves could improve the diagnostic sensitivity in some polyneuropathies. In this study we aimed to establish multiple‐site, cross‐sectional area (CSA) reference values for peripheral nerves of upper extremities in a healthy Chinese population.

Methods

One hundred eleven healthy subjects, 15 to 70 years of age, were prospectively recruited. CSA at predetermined sites of the median, ulnar, radial nerves, and brachial plexus was measured bilaterally. Ten consecutive sites were studied along the median/ulnar nerves.

Results

The CSA at ten sites of the median nerve ranged from 5.59 ± 0.89 to 8.43 ± 1.30 mm2, and for the ulnar nerve from 2.94 ± 0.57 to 5.63 ± 1.08 mm2. Both age and gender correlated with nerve CSA at most sites.

Discussion

CSA was not uniform along the length of the median and ulnar nerves. The multiple‐site reference values could be helpful for investigating polyneuropathies in the Asian population.
On a volume averaged measure of macroscopic reinforcement slip in two‐scale modeling of reinforced concrete
Authors: Sciegaj Adam , Larsson Fredrik , Lundgren Karin , Runesson Kenneth
Published: December 2019

A two‐scale model for reinforced concrete, in which the large‐scale problem formulation is enriched by an effective reinforcement slip variable, is derived from the single‐scale model describing the response of plain concrete, reinforcement steel, and the bond between them. The subscale problem on the representative volume element (RVE) is correspondingly defined as finding the response of the RVE subjected to effective variables (strain, slip, and slip gradient) imposed from the large scale. A novel volumetric definition of effective reinforcement slip and its gradient is devised, and the corresponding subscale problem is formulated. The newly defined effective variables are imposed on the RVE in a weak sense using Lagrange multipliers. The response of the RVEs of different sizes was investigated by means of pull‐through tests, and the novel boundary condition type was used in FE2 analyses of a deep beam. Locally, prescribing the macroscopic reinforcement slip and its gradient in the proposed manner resulted in reduced RVE‐size dependency of effective work conjugates, which allows for more objective description of reinforcement slip in two‐scale modeling of reinforced concrete. Globally, this formulation produced more consistent amplitudes of effective slip fluctuations and more consistent maximum crack width predictions.
Improved numerical solutions of nonlinear oscillatory systems
Authors: Kaunda Modify A. E.
Published: December 2019

We consider numerical solutions of nonlinear oscillatory systems where closed‐form solutions do not exist. Such systems occur in buckling of columns, electrical oscillations of circuits containing inductance with an iron core, and vibration of mechanical systems with nonlinear restoring forces. We have improved the accuracy, stability, and speed of the generalized Newmark scheme of Zienkiewicz and Taylor using one‐step multiple‐value algorithms. Previously, a Laplace transform‐based method was developed to determine initial conditions of higher order derivatives of predictor algorithms together with the corrector algorithms cast in form of higher order Newton‐Raphson schemes, which are considered as consistent tangent operators that preserve quadratic rate of asymptotic convergence characteristics. For convenience, algorithms are applied to the solution of the van der Pol and Duffing's equations to show the concepts, but the procedures can also be applied to other systems such as the Bouc's, Coulomb's, and Mathieu equations. Comparisons are carried out regarding speed, accuracy, and stability, of results from the Runge‐Kutta and one‐step multiple‐value methods with remainder (truncation error) terms, previously not considered. Results compare favorably. A system of two‐degrees of freedom is also covered to illustrate how to extend the methods to deal with multiple‐degree of freedom systems.
Applying multivariate methods to dental development sequences for subadults from archaeological samples
Authors: Brachetta‐Aporta Natalia , D'Addona Lucas Andrés
Published: December 2019

Dentition has been traditionally used to estimate the age of subadults from archaeological samples. However, age estimations face some difficulties related to the factors that affect tooth preservation and the lack of standards with adequate references for past populations. Moreover, the differences within and among populations associated with the origin of the population, the sex of the individuals, and other factors make it difficult to develop standards in samples with no adequate references. The aim of this work was to explore a procedure that allows sequencing individuals according to their degree of dental development by employing simultaneously the information available of the target individual and the rest of the sample. The information of dental development as well as post‐mortem tooth loss was recorded in computed tomography images and by macroscopic examination in subadults from two archaeological samples from South America. Then, we performed a multiple imputation to estimate the degree of development of missing teeth and carried out a principal component analysis for summarizing the information of the formation of permanent teeth. The first principal component was used to obtain a dental development score and to establish a continuous sequence of the individuals on the basis of their degree of dental maturation. Our results show that multivariate analysis can be applied for ordering individuals according a sequence of maturation in archaeological studies, even in the presence of post‐mortem tooth loss. Furthermore, multivariate methods allow to evaluate the contribution of each tooth to maturation sequences. As a whole, the procedure proposed here is a promissory tool for cases where the use of chronological age sequences built from nonpopulation‐specific standard can lead to misrepresentations of data.
Upregulation of Cisd2 attenuates Alzheimer's‐related neuronal loss in mice
Authors: Chen Yi‐Fan , Chou Tzu‐Yu , Lin I‐Hsuan , Chen Chung‐Guang , Kao Cheng‐Heng , Huang Guo‐Jen , Chen Liang‐Kung , Wang Pei‐Ning , Lin Ching‐Po , Tsai Ting‐Fen
Published: December 2019

CDGSH iron–sulfur domain‐containing protein 2 (Cisd2), a protein that declines in an age‐dependent manner, mediates lifespan in mammals. Cisd2 deficiency causes accelerated aging and shortened lifespan, whereas persistent expression of Cisd2 promotes longevity in mice. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of senile dementia and is without an effective therapeutic strategy. We investigated whether Cisd2 upregulation is able to ameliorate amyloid β (Aβ) toxicity and prevent neuronal loss using an AD mouse model. Our study makes three major discoveries. First, using the AD mouse model (APP/PS1 double transgenic mice), the dosage of Cisd2 appears to modulate the severity of AD phenotypes. Cisd2 overexpression (∼two‐fold) significantly promoted survival and alleviated the pathological defects associated with AD. Conversely, Cisd2 deficiency accelerated AD pathogenesis. Secondly, Cisd2 overexpression protected against Aβ‐mediated mitochondrial damage and attenuated loss of neurons and neuronal progenitor cells. Finally, an increase in Cisd2 shifted the expression profiles of a panel of genes that are dysregulated by AD toward the patterns observed in wild‐type mice. These findings highlight Cisd2‐based therapies as a potential disease‐modifying strategy for AD. © 2019 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
A study on efficient microbial biodegradation of cellulose based jute composite
Authors: Dey Aparna , Jali Pallavi , Behera Ajaya K. , Das Anath B. , Pradhan Chinmay
Published: December 2019

Nonbiodegradability and land pollution are the prime factor for choosing biodegradable composite over thermoplastic based composite. As most of the synthetic polymers are nonbiodegradable in nature, hence, their derived composites are losing interest in composite market. In this work, we developed jute fortified bio‐composite utilizing soy milk as the framework material and glutaraldehyde as cross linking component. Mechanical strength of the composites was measured through elasticity (tensile) and transverse rupture (flexural) strength. Characterization of optimized composites by FTIR and FE‐SEM were carried out. Microbial culture system and soil burry methods were used to study biodegradation of the developed composites. Effect of different environmental condition on degradation of composites was evaluated and reported. The most worthwhile significance of these composites is the biodegradation property of its constituents, and can be a superior swap for nonbiodegradable polymer resin based fiber composite. The feasible utilization of this composite is in automobile division, indoor furnishings, cutlery, packaging units, electronic sectors, and so on.
Effect of conductivity transportation from carbon nanotubes (CNT) to polymer matrix surrounding CNT on the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites
Authors: Zare Yasser , Rhee Kyong Y. , Park Soo‐J.
Published: December 2019

In this article, the interphase thickness in polymer carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites (PCNT) is correlated to CNT radius and the extent of conductivity transportation from CNT to polymer matrix surrounding the CNT (K). In addition, CNT properties and “K” are applied to suggest the simple equations for percolation threshold and the fraction of networked CNT. A simple model is developed to predict the conductivity of PCNT assuming CNT size, “K” and tunneling resistance. The impacts of different parameters on the interphase thickness, percolation threshold, the fraction of networked CNT, and the conductivity of nanocomposites are studied and many experimental results are used to confirm the predictions. Thin and large CNT as well as high “K” cause low percolation threshold, large conductive networks and desirable conductivity in nanocomposites. Moreover, high tunneling resistivity and large tunneling distance negatively affect the conductivity, but the exceptional CNT conductivity is ineffective. The reasonable roles of all parameters in the predicted conductivity and the fine agreement between predictions and experimental results confirm the developed model.
Photovoltaic defect classification through thermal infrared imaging using a machine learning approach
Authors: Dunderdale Christopher , Brettenny Warren , Clohessy Chantelle , van Dyk E. Ernest
Published: December 2019

This study examines a deep learning and feature‐based approach for the purpose of detecting and classifying defective photovoltaic modules using thermal infrared images in a South African setting. The VGG‐16 and MobileNet models are shown to provide good performance for the classification of defects. The scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) descriptor, combined with a random forest classifier, is used to identify defective photovoltaic modules. The implementation of this approach has potential for cost reduction in defect classification over current methods.
Evaluate Fixed Charge and Oxide‐Trapped Charge on SiO2/GaN Metal‐Oxide‐Semiconductor Structure Before and After Postannealing
Authors: Furukawa Masaaki , Uenuma Mutsunori , Ishikawa Yasuaki , Uraoka Yukiharu
Published: December 2019

The electrical properties of SiO2/GaN metal‐oxide‐semiconductor capacitors with different SiO2 thicknesses are evaluated before and after postmetallization annealing (PMA). The distribution of charges in bulk SiO2 and the SiO2/GaN interface is estimated by analyzing the electrical properties. It is revealed that the net effective charges (Nf) tend to increase with decreasing SiO2 thickness before PMA. This indicates that the negative bulk charges are present uniformly, and the positive interface charges exist locally near the interface. In the sample after PMA, Nf tends to decrease with decreasing SiO2 thickness at the thin SiO2 region (<25 nm). This indicates that the distribution width of positive charges becomes larger by applying PMA. Therefore, PMA widens the distribution of interface positive charges, although it is effective in reducing the amount of Nf.
Mitigation pathways toward sustainable development: Is there any trade‐off between environmental regulation and carbon emissions reduction?
Authors: Danish  , Ulucak Recep , Khan Salah Ud‐Din , Baloch Muhammad Awais , Li Nan
Published: December 2019

The income and pollution relationship is widely debated in the literature, but income alone cannot control emissions, and that requires environmental regulation measures. Even though weak environmental regulations may offset market failures caused by negative externality of pollution, investigation of their role in the control of environmental pollution is of prime importance. To better understand the role of environmental regulations in carbon emissions mitigation, this study takes a step to offers a new perspective on the role of environmental regulations in pollution reduction for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. To this end, the study employs panel data econometric tools for data spanning from 1995 to 2016. Besides, the study conducts fully modified ordinary least squares estimator to get country‐wise results. Empirical results confirm the positive role of environmental regulations in carbon emission mitigation, and the current environmental control measures are successful in achieving pollution reduction targets in the sample countries. Environmental regulations help in establishing the inverted U‐shaped relationship between income and pollution. Climate change mitigation in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries is not associated with economic development only but driven by effective environmental regulations as well.
Entrepreneurship as legacy building: Reimagining the economy in post‐apartheid South Africa
Authors: Beresford Melissa
Published: December 2019

Twenty‐five years after democratic transition, the political liberation of Black South Africans has yet to translate into socioeconomic transformation. As protesters highlight the nation's failed economic transformation, a group of residents in Khayelitsha—Cape Town's largest township—are attempting to bring about economic transformation by becoming entrepreneurs. While informal entrepreneurship has been a mainstay of South African townships for decades, in this article, I examine the motivations of this new generation of Khayelitsha entrepreneurs, who are starting formal businesses with the goal of gaining a foothold in the power center of South Africa's economy. I demonstrate that while many scholars view entrepreneurship as a symptom of neoliberal ideology, Khayelitsha entrepreneurs view entrepreneurship in less individualistic and more communally oriented ways: as a path to establish greater wealth and opportunity for future generations of Black South Africans. I argue that these understandings of entrepreneurship are indicative of alternative economic imaginations that could have the potential to dislodge dominant capitalist ideas of economy.
Stem cell-directed therapies for osteoarthritis: The promise and the practice
Authors: Ng Jia , Little Christopher B. , Woods Susan , Whittle Samuel , Lee Francis Y. , Gronthos Stan , Mukherjee Siddhartha , Hunter David J. , Worthley Daniel L.
Published: December 2019

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of an entire synovial joint characterized by clinical symptoms and distortion of joint tissues, including cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and bone. Although OA is a disease of all joint tissues, it is a defined accessible compartment and is thus amenable to topical surgical and regenerative therapies, including stem cells. All tissues arise from stem progenitor cells, and the relative capacity of different cellular compartments, and different individuals, to renew tissues into adulthood may be important in the onset of many different degenerative diseases. OA is driven by both mechanical and inflammatory factors, but how these factors affect the proliferation and differentiation of cells into cartilage in vivo is largely unknown. Indeed, our very basic understanding of the physiological cellular kinetics and biology of the stem-progenitor cell unit of the articular cartilage, and how this is influenced by mechano-inflammatory injury, is largely unknown. OA seems, rather deceptively, to be the low-hanging fruit for stem cell therapy. Without the basic understanding of the stem cell and progenitor unit that generate and maintain articular cartilage in vivo, we will continue to waste opportunities to both prevent and manage this disease. In this review, we discuss the biology of chondrogenesis, the stem cell populations that support articular cartilage in health and disease, and future opportunities afforded through the translation of basic articular chondrocyte stem cell biology into new clinical therapies.
Nutrient and heavy metal removal from piggery wastewater and CH4 enrichment in biogas based on microalgae cultivation technology under different initial inoculum concentration
Authors: Guo Guangyong , Guan Jian , Sun Shiqing , Liu Juan , Zhao Yongjun
Published: December 2019

Three microalgae‐based treatment technologies were applied for removing nutrients in piggery wastewater and CO2 in biogas simultaneously. Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris), Scenedesmus obliquus (S. obliquus), and Neochloris oleoabundans (N. oleoabundans) were selected for mono‐cultivation or co‐cultivation with fungi or activated sludge. The effects of initial inoculum concentration (low of 62.06 ± 6.23 mg/L, medium of 121 ± 9.34 mg/L, and high of 180 ± 12.78 mg/L) of microalgae/algal symbiont on the pollutant removal efficiency were evaluated. The results showed that cultivation of S. obliquus with activated sludge had a relatively high CO2 and nutrients removal efficiency at a medium concentration of initial inoculum. The highest removal efficiency of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus in piggery wastewater was 87.29%, 87.26%, and 90.17% by co‐cultivation of S. obliquus with activated sludge. The highest CO2 removal of 64.28% could be achieved under co‐cultivation of S. obliquus and fungi at medium initial inoculum concentrations. This work will be helpful to promote the study of microalgae‐based biogas upgrading and piggery wastewater purification.

Practitioner points

Nutrient and CO2 were efficiently removed in moderate microalgal initial inoculum.

Scenedesmus obliquus‐activated sludge cultivation achieved the highest nutrient removal.

Co‐cultivation of S. obliquus and fungi showed the highest CO2 removal.

Zinc was removed efficiently in high microalgal initial inoculum.

Chlorella vulgaris/S. obliquus‐activated sludge performed economically.