bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tradeoffs in US dairy manure greenhouse gas emissions, productivity, climate, and manure management strategies
Authors: Niles Meredith T , Wiltshire Serge
Published: June 2019

The United States is the largest supplier of dairy products globally, making it an important focus for environmental, economic, and societal outcomes. Increasingly greenhouse gases (GHGs) have become an area of focus for the industry, as industry groups have set their own goals to improve environmental impacts. A significant portion of dairy GHG emissions come from manure management, which can vary considerably by farm and region. Here we explore how the adoption and use of six common manure management strategies (MMS) have changed over a recent 12-year period, and how this relates to milk production, climate, and manure GHGs. Using data from the United States Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration across all fifty states, we find that overall US dairy manure management GHG emission intensity (CO2e per kg of milk produced) has increased 18% between 2003 and 2014, which is associated with an increase in adoption of liquid and anaerobic MMS. However, we also find that these systems are positively associated with higher productivity: nationally, total milk production grew by 21.0%, while the cow herd inventory grew by just 1.9%, an increase of 18.7% in per-cow milk production over the study period. We find clear regional adoption of certain kinds of MMS, which relate in many cases to temperature and rainfall. We discuss why these shifts may have occurred as a result of economic and policy drivers, including the shift towards these MMS for compliance with new water quality policies in the past decade, highlighting the tradeoffs that exist in on-farm decision-making. We provide some potential strategies to reduce GHG emissions in these systems while simultaneously considering water quality and other potential tradeoffs. We suggest that transitioning to some of these strategies requires additional research to better understand farmer decision-making as it relates to MMS, a currently understudied topic.
Status of materials and device modelling for kesterite solar cells
Authors: Hood Samantha N , Walsh Aron , Persson Clas , Iordanidou Konstantina , Huang Dan , Kumar Mukesh , Jehl Zacharie , Courel Maykel , Lauwaert Johan , Lee Sanghyun
Published: June 2019

Kesterite semiconductors, derived from the mineral Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4, adopt superstructures of the zincblende archetype. This family of semiconductors is chemically flexible with the possibility to tune the physical properties over a large range by modifying the chemical composition, while preserving the same structural backbone. In the simplest case, three metals (e.g. Cu, Zn and Sn) occupy the cation sublattice, which gives rise to a range of competing orderings (polymorphs) and the possibility for order–disorder transitions. The rich physics of the sulphide, selenide, and mixed-anion materials make them attractive for computer simulations in order to provide deeper insights and to direct experiments to the most promising material combinations and processing regimes. This topical review assesses the status of first-principles electronic structure calculations, optical modelling, and photovoltaic device simulations of kesterite semiconductors. Recent progress is discussed, and immediate challenges are outlined, in particular towards overcoming the voltage deficit in Cu2ZnSnS4 and Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells.
Normal subgroups of mapping class groups and the metaconjecture of Ivanov
Authors: Brendle Tara , Margalit Dan
Published: June 2019

We prove that if a normal subgroup of the extended mapping class group of a closed surface has an element of sufficiently small support, then its automorphism group and abstract commensurator group are both isomorphic to the extended mapping class group. The proof relies on another theorem we prove, which states that many simplicial complexes associated to a closed surface have automorphism group isomorphic to the extended mapping class group. These results resolve the metaconjecture of N. V. Ivanov, which asserts that any “sufficiently rich” object associated to a surface has automorphism group isomorphic to the extended mapping class group, for a broad class of such objects. As applications, we show: (1) right-angled Artin groups and surface groups cannot be isomorphic to normal subgroups of mapping class groups containing elements of small support, (2) normal subgroups of distinct mapping class groups cannot be isomorphic if they both have elements of small support, and (3) distinct normal subgroups of the mapping class group with elements of small support are not isomorphic. Our results also suggest a new framework for the classification of normal subgroups of the mapping class group.
Cortex cell hydraulic conductivity, endodermal apoplastic barriers and root hydraulics change in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in response to a low supply of N and P
Authors: Armand Thomas , Cullen Michelle , Boiziot Florentin , Li Lingyu , Fricke Wieland
Published: June 2019

Background

Mineral nutrient limitation affects the water flow through plants. We wanted to test on barley whether any change in root-to-shoot ratio in response to low supply of nitrogen and phosphate is accompanied by changes in root and cell hydraulic properties and involves changes in aquaporin (AQP) gene expression and root apoplastic barriers (suberin lamellae, Casparian bands).

Methods

Plants were grown hydroponically on complete nutrient solution or on solution containing only 3.3 % or 2.5 % of the control level of nutrient. Plants were analysed when they were 14–18 d old.

Results

Nutrient-limited plants adjusted water flow to an increased root-to-shoot surface area ratio through a reduction in root hydraulic conductivity (Lp) as determined through exudation analyses. Cortex cell Lp (cell pressure probe analyses) decreased in the immature but not the mature region of the main axis of seminal roots and in primary lateral roots. The aquaporin inhibitor HgCl2 reduced root Lp most in nutrient-sufficient control plants. Exchange of low-nutrient for control media caused a rapid (20–80 min) and partial recovery in Lp, though cortex cell Lp did not increase in any of the root regions analysed. The gene expression level (qPCR analyses) of five plasma membrane-localized AQP isoforms did not change in bulk root extracts, while the formation of apoplastic barriers increased considerably along the main axis of root and lateral roots in low-nutrient treatments.

Conclusions

Decrease in root and cortex cell Lp enables the adjustment of root water uptake to increased root-to-shoot area ratio in nutrient-limited plants. Aquaporins are the prime candidate to play a key role in this response. Modelling of water flow suggests that some of the reduction in root Lp is due to increased formation of apoplastic barriers.
Botulinum Toxin to Treat Horizontal Forehead Lines: A Refined Injection Pattern Accommodating the Lower Frontalis
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Cai Lei , Yang Mingxia , Li Facheng , Han Xuefeng
Published: June 2019

Background

When treating horizontal forehead lines with botulinum toxin type A the traditional approach requires that injection points should stay 1.5 to 2 cm above the orbital rim to avoid brow ptosis. Failure to treat the lower frontalis may potentially cause worse rhytides in the lower forehead.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to present a refined injection pattern accommodating the lower frontalis and evaluate its clinical efficacy and safety.

Methods

Patients were categorized into 4 types according to the patterns of their forehead wrinkles. Moderate and severe wrinkles in the upper forehead were treated by the “safe zone” technique. Mild wrinkles and rhytides in the lower forehead were treated by the Microbotox technique. Standard photographs and measurements were taken before and after treatment. The effect on wrinkle reduction and changes in brow heights were assessed.

Results

In total, 330 treatments were followed up in the clinic, and 246 treatments were followed up by telephone. Among the 330 treatments, 213 were evaluated in our clinic 2 to 4 weeks later, and the patients who received these treatments were recruited for effect evaluation and brow height measurements. The posttreatment severity of forehead wrinkles was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and brow heights remained unchanged (P > 0.05). No severe adverse events were documented. Patient satisfaction was quite high.

Conclusions

The refined injection pattern is an effective and safe technique to treat horizontal forehead lines. The Microbotox technique enables treatment of the lower frontalis without changes in brow position.

Level of Evidence: 3
Ketorolac for Patients Undergoing Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: Impact on Hospital Length of Stay and Postoperative Narcotic Use
Authors: Nguyen Brittany N , Barta Ruth J , Stewart Christine E , Wheelwright Matthew , Heinrich Cherrie A
Published: June 2019

Background

Opioid drugs have been a mainstay medication for the management of postoperative pain for several decades; however, in recent years there has been a push towards investigating alternative treatment options. Although ketorolac has been widely used by other medical and surgical specialties for analgesia, its utilization in plastic surgery has been widely debated.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ketorolac as an adjunct in postoperative pain management.

Methods

The authors performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction after mastectomy between January 2012 and December 2016. Other risk factors, such as chronic anticoagulation, aspirin, or coagulopathies, were documented as well.

Results

There were 198 patients who met the inclusion criteria. The results demonstrated that patients who received ketorolac utilized significantly fewer narcotics than patients who did not: 80 mg vs 108.8 mg (P = 0.002), respectively. The results showed that patients who received ketorolac had a decreased length of hospitalization: 1.9 days vs 2.1 days (P = 0.04), respectively.

Conclusions

Generous narcotic prescribing has received greater scrutiny in recent years. Aside from the risk of increased narcotic availability in the community, the side effects of nausea, puritis, and constipation delay patient recovery. These data show that patients who received ketorolac have a decreased length of hospital stay and lower narcotic use, suggesting ketorolac may be a safe and cost-effective adjustment to a multi-modal pain control regimen postoperatively.

Level of Evidence: 4
CytoGPS: a web-enabled karyotype analysis tool for cytogenetics
Authors: Abrams Zachary B , Zhang Lin , Abruzzo Lynne V , Heerema Nyla A , Li Suli , Dillon Tom , Rodriguez Ricky , Coombes Kevin R , Payne Philip R O
Published: June 2019

Karyotype data are the most common form of genetic data that is regularly used clinically. They are collected as part of the standard of care in many diseases, particularly in pediatric and cancer medicine contexts. Karyotypes are represented in a unique text-based format, with a syntax defined by the International System for human Cytogenetic Nomenclature (ISCN). While human-readable, ISCN is not intrinsically machine-readable. This limitation has prevented the full use of complex karyotype data in discovery science use cases. To enhance the utility and value of karyotype data, we developed a tool named CytoGPS. CytoGPS first parses ISCN karyotypes into a machine-readable format. It then converts the ISCN karyotype into a binary Loss-Gain-Fusion (LGF) model, which represents all cytogenetic abnormalities as combinations of loss, gain, or fusion events, in a format that is analyzable using modern computational methods. Such data is then made available for comprehensive ‘downstream’ analyses that previously were not feasible.

Availability and implementation

Freely available at http://cytogps.org.
The NEW ESID online database network
Authors: Scheible Raphael , Rusch Stephan , Guzman David , Mahlaoui Nizar , Ehl Stephan , Kindle Gerhard
Published: June 2019

Primary Immunodeficiencies (PIDs) belong to the group of rare diseases. The European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) operates an international research database application for continuous long-term documentation of patient data. The system is a web application which runs in a standard browser. Therefore, the system is easy to access from any location. Technically, the system is based on Gails backed by MariaDB with high standard security features to comply with the demands of a modern research platform.

Availability and implementation

The ESID Online Database is accessible via the official website: https://esid.org/Working-Parties/Registry-Working-Party/ESID-Registry. A demo system is available via: https://cci-esid-reg-demo-app.uniklinik-freiburg.de/EERS with user demouser and password Demo-2019.
Benchmarking fold detection by DaliLite v.5
Authors: Holm Liisa
Published: June 2019

Motivation

Protein structure comparison plays a fundamental role in understanding the evolutionary relationships between proteins. Here, we release a new version of the DaliLite standalone software. The novelties are hierarchical search of the structure database organized into sequence based clusters, and remote access to our knowledge base of structural neighbors. The detection of fold, superfamily and family level similarities by DaliLite and state-of-the-art competitors was benchmarked against a manually curated structural classification.

Results

Database search strategies were evaluated using Fmax with query-specific thresholds. DaliLite and DeepAlign outperformed TM-score based methods at all levels of the benchmark, and DaliLite outperformed DeepAlign at fold level. Hierarchical and knowledge-based searches got close to the performance of systematic pairwise comparison. The knowledge-based search was four times as efficient as the hierarchical search. The knowledge-based search dynamically adjusts the depth of the search, enabling a trade-off between speed and recall.

Availability and implementation

http://ekhidna2.biocenter.helsinki.fi/dali/README.v5.html.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
An unusual interventricular septal bounce in a patient with dermatomyositis: a case report
Authors: Parato Vito Maurizio , Corradini Davide , Di Matteo Andrea , Scarano Michele
Published: June 2019

Background

In literature it has been reported in 1998, for the first time, a case of a 54-year-old man who developed constrictive pericarditis (CP) 12 years after diagnosis of dermatomyositis (DM). To our knowledge, this may be the only case reported.

Case summary

A 16-year-old man presented to our institution because of symptoms posing a suspicion for an inflammatory disease; after physical examination, lab tests, and other investigations (electromyography, magnetic resonance, and muscular biopsy) was diagnosed as having DM. Patient also showed hepatomegaly and congested jugular veins: after clinical and imaging investigations (transthoracic echocardiography and transoesophageal echocardiography) he was diagnosed as having a CP. Patient underwent pericardial resection and the final outcome consisted of a completely regression of the symptoms.

Discussion

Cardiac involvement in patients with DM ranges between 6% and 75%, and it can be clinically manifest or, far more frequently, sub-clinic. Pericardial involvement as a complication of DM is widely reported in the literature, but in almost all cases as acute pericarditis, effusive pericarditis or cardiac tamponade and almost never as a CP.
A case report: multiple right ventricular diverticula with constrictive pericarditis and right heart failure
Authors: Iqbal Sohail , Abidin Nik , Irwin Richard Bruce , Schmitt Matthias
Published: June 2019

Background

Right ventricular diverticula (RVD) are very rare congenital anomalies and their association with constrictive pericarditis is even rarer. So far, only one case has been published in literature.

Case summary

We report a case of multiple congenital RVD with constrictive pericarditis and right heart failure which was incidentally identified on surveillance computed tomography (CT) for abdominal lymphangioma. Interval CT, echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) studies were performed and reviewed. Computed tomography abdomen showed hepatic congestion with features of portal hypertension, increasing size of the RVD on review of serial CTs, and eccentric foci of pericardial calcification. Echocardiography performed for breathlessness demonstrated supranormal early diastolic tissue velocities with average of 19.8 cms−1 and a septal bounce phenomenon on m-mode imaging suggesting constrictive physiology, which triggered a CMR referral. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging HASTE and right ventricular (RV) outflow tract imaging showed four outpouchings along RV free wall, the largest measuring 4.5 × 2 cm with a sizeable neck. These outpouchings displayed a trabecular network and/or were contractile aiding the diagnosis of diverticula as opposed to aneurysms. Right ventricular function was moderately compromised, whereas left ventricular function was preserved.

Discussion

Right ventricular diverticula can be associated with, and potentially be causative of, pericardial thickening and calcification eventually leading to constrictive pericarditis and heart failure.
Bias and Negligence with Freedom of Information
Authors: Argenziano Rossella , Weeds Helen
Published: June 2019

We analyse decision-making in the presence of Freedom of Information (FOI) rules. A decision-maker chooses whether to acquire costly information to inform his decision regarding a policy action. If information is not disclosed voluntarily a monitor may open a costly investigation, using FOI to access the information. A finding of biased decision-making or negligence in information acquisition generates a reward to the monitor and a penalty to the decision-maker. We find that strengthening FOI to reduce the cost of investigation may increase negligence without necessarily reducing bias. Moreover, increasing the reward for discovering negligence can paradoxically increase negligence in equilibrium.
A practical composite risk score for the development of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
Authors: Hamilton Douglas , Cullinan John
Published: June 2019

Background

Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) is a serious complication of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection and the key reason why intensive health protection against STEC is required. However, although many potential risk factors have been identified, accurate estimation of risk of HUS from STEC remains challenging. Therefore, we aimed to develop a practical composite score to promptly estimate the risk of developing HUS from STEC.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study where data for all confirmed STEC infections in Ireland during 2013–15 were subjected to statistical analysis with respect to predicting HUS. Multivariable logistic regression was used to develop a composite risk score, segregating risk of HUS into ‘very low risk’ (0–0.4%), ‘low risk’ (0.5–0.9%), ‘medium risk’ (1.0–4.4%), ‘high risk’ (4.5–9.9%) and ‘very high risk’ (10.0% and over).

Results

There were 1397 STEC notifications with complete information regarding HUS, of whom 5.1% developed HUS. Young age, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, Shiga toxin 2, infection during April to November, and infection in Eastern and North-Eastern regions of Ireland, were all statistically significant independent predictors of HUS. Demonstration of a risk gradient provided internal validity to the risk score: 0.2% in the cohort with ‘very low risk’ (1/430), 1.1% with ‘low risk’ (2/182), 2.3% with ‘medium risk’ (8/345), 3.1% with ‘high risk’ (3/98) and 22.2% with ‘very high risk’ (43/194) scores, respectively, developed HUS.

Conclusion

We have developed a composite risk score which may be of practical value, once externally validated, in prompt estimation of risk of HUS from STEC infection.
Scalable biclustering — the future of big data exploration?
Authors: Orzechowski Patryk , Boryczko Krzysztof , Moore Jason H
Published: June 2019

Biclustering is a technique of discovering local similarities within data. For many years the complexity of the methods and parallelization issues limited its application to big data problems. With the development of novel scalable methods, biclustering has finally started to close this gap. In this paper we discuss the caveats of biclustering and present its current challenges and guidelines for practitioners. We also try to explain why biclustering may soon become one of the standards for big data analytics.
Modelling crowd movements in domains with boundaries
Authors: Colombo Rinaldo M , Rossi Elena
Published: June 2019

This paper contributes to the macroscopic modelling of crowd movements. The presented model is ‘non-local’; i.e. it takes into account interactions among pedestrians at different distances. Particular care is given to how non-local interactions are influenced by walls, obstacles and exits. The resulting dynamics captures various well-known patterns of crowd movements, such as the clogging of exits and the spontaneous formation of queues. The careful choice of obstacles near an exit is shown to be able to reduce evacuation times. An ad hoc numerical algorithm is detailed, some of its properties discussed and the convergence of the corresponding approximate solutions is investigated.
C1 Esterase Inhibitor Activity Is Reduced in the Acute Phase Following Burn Injury: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Matsuura Hiroshi , Osuka Akinori , Hirose Tomoya , Ogura Hiroshi , Ueyama Masashi , Shimazu Takeshi
Published: June 2019

Hereditary angioedema has been attributed to an inherited deficiency of C1 esterase inhibitor that increases vascular permeability. The role of C1 esterase inhibitor in burn patients has not been described previously. In this study, we attempted to identify the relationship between serial changes of C1 esterase inhibitor activity and the clinical course in major burn patients. This study was a single-center, prospective, observational study. C1 esterase inhibitor activity values were serially examined in major burn patients admitted into the burn center from April 2014 to December 2016. Inclusion criteria were age ≥16 years old and %TBSA burned ≥20%. This study included 38 patients with major burn. C1 esterase inhibitor activity after burn dropped acutely on days 1 and 2 but increased immediately until days 3 to 5, after which it continued to gradually increase to above the reference value. C1 esterase inhibitor activity on admission showed significant inverse correlation with the volume of infusion per body weight required in the first 24 hours after injury and %TBSA burned (r = −0.405, P = 0.01; r = −0.375, P = 0.02, respectively). C1 esterase inhibitor activity on admission was significantly lower in the nonsurvivors than in the survivors during the 28-day evaluation period (59% vs 90%, P = 0.01). These findings suggest that C1 esterase inhibitor may play a critical role in regulating vascular permeability in the acute phase following the burn injury.
Capturing Commitment in Informal, Soft Law Instruments: A Case Study on the Basel Committee
Authors: Milano Enrico , Zugliani Niccolò
Published: June 2019

The present article investigates the legal nature of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and seeks to identify the legal effects of the acts produced by the committee under public international law. It reassesses the most influential contemporary theories that have endeavoured to describe and capture the increasing trend towards ‘de-formalization’ of international law, of which the Basel Committee, with its peculiar composition and standard-setting activities, is generally considered as one of the most significant examples. The articles comes to the conclusion that the Basel Committee’s normative outputs cannot be qualified as legal acts or legal facts under international law as they are best described as the results of flexible and informal standard-setting activities developed by domestic regulators at the international level, with a view to inducing compliance by national legislators and stakeholders. The lack of a formal ‘pedigree’ under international law has not undermined their effectiveness; on the contrary, it can be considered a peculiar feature of a successful model of transnational cooperation where soft law standards have been translated into domestic legislation.
Targeted Melanoma Screening: Risk Self-Assessment and Skin Self-Examination Education Delivered During Mammography of Women
Authors: Robinson June K , Perez Megan , Abou-el-Seoud Dalya , Kim Kathryn , Brown Zoe , Liko-Hazizi Elona , Friedewald Sarah M , Kwasny Mary , Spring Bonnie
Published: June 2019

Background

Melanoma, which is the sixth most common cancer in women, is visible on the surface of the skin; therefore, self-screening (skin self-examination [SSE]) may be beneficial.

Methods

A convenience sample of women undergoing mammography was sequentially assigned by week into this two-arm targeted melanoma screening intervention. Both groups saw an informational poster and received a brochure promoting risk self-identification and SSE education. One group received an additional 1-week SSE reminder. Participants completed baseline and 1- and 3-month follow-up surveys assessing SSE performance, identifying a concerning mole, scheduling a dermatology appointment, and anxiety due to the program. Performance of SSE between groups was compared using χ2 analysis. The electronic medical record was reviewed for diagnosis of concerning moles.

Results

At 1 month, 384 of 420 (91.4% retention) women completed the survey. Of those, 311 (80.9%) performed SSE. Of those who performed SSE, 54 (14%) found a concerning mole at either 1 or 3 months. At 3 months, 346 (82.4% retention) women completed the survey. The number of women who performed SSE did not differ between groups at 1 month (χ2 = 1.64, P = .17) or 3 months (χ2 = 1.58, P = .12). Seven melanomas were found among 34 women who identified a concerning mole; examination of 4.8 women yielded one melanoma. Anxiety was low with a median score of 9.5 (range = 0–42.9).

Conclusions

Introducing melanoma risks and SSE education during mammography was feasible and did not demonstrate harms; thus, there is an opportunity to reach a large, at-risk population with limited burden for the participant and clinics.
Gross total resection of intracisternal accessory nerve schwannomas using a familiar midline suboccipital subtonsilar approach
Authors: Antoniades Elias , Athanasiou Alkinoos , Sarlis Panagiotis , Magras Ioannis , Patsalas Ioannis
Published: June 2019

Background

Intracisternal Accessory Nerve Schwannomas (ANS) constitute a rare clinical entity with only a few cases reported so far. Their symptoms are usually due to brainstem compression and not manifested until they render of great size. Secondary neuropathy and muscle atrophy are other late signs. The hitherto reported literature advocates a suboccipital craniotomy as a suitable approach. In most of the cases the spinal root was the location tumor arose from. Gross total resection was possible to be carried out in most cases with only sporadic tolerable postoperative deficits reported.

Case description

We hereby present three cases of patients with intracisternal ANS treated in the same fashion. Two patients were male and one female. Two patients complained of mainly chronic headaches and neck pain, whereas in the third patient the lesion was found incidentally. Only one patient suffered post-operatively cerebrospinal fluid leakage and wound healing complication, which was treated with revision surgery and administration of antibiotics. None of the patients had postoperative neurological deficits. Furthermore, we conducted a review of the relevant literature where we noted that there is no consensus yet with regards to the appropriate surgical approach.

Conclusions

Based on relevant anatomical studies, we advocate that suboccipital subtonsilar approach provides a wide corridor to the area of lesion allowing complete and safe resection of intracisternal ANS. We thus support that, in most cases, the neurosurgeon should consider using this familiar approach for treating this rare lesion.
External Beam Therapy
Authors: Hoskin Peter
Published: June 2019

A comprehensive guide to radiotherapy planning and delivery. Initial chapters give detailed insight into the fundamentals of clinical radiotherapy including the physics of photon and electron beams, protons and stereotactic body radiotherapy. This is followed by systematic details for each tumour site commonly treated with radiotherapy. All chapters follow a similar template so that the reader can find information in an ordered and familiar format. The final chapter covers the all-important aspect of quality assurance in radiotherapy delivery.
Urban Mental Health (Oxford Cultural Psychiatry series)
Authors: Bhugra Dinesh , Ventriglio Antonio , Castaldelli-Maia João , McCay Layla
Published: June 2019

The internal migration in countries around the globe as a result of rapid urbanization and related to industrialization as a consequence of globalization has been truly remarkable. The past 50 years have seen a massive rise in the numbers of people moving and creating megapolis in many parts of the world. It is inevitable that with such massive internal migration come stressors such as pollution, lack of space, overcrowding, unemployment, and increased likelihood of infectious diseases, all of which contribute to an increase in psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, such migration can also lead to the splintering of social support and the fraying of social networks, which can further contribute to poor help-seeking and poor therapeutic adherence and poor prognosis. This book highlights challenges in managing mental health and psychiatric disorders in urban areas. The contributors include researchers, clinicians, urban planners, urban designers, and others who are interested in the field. The book will appeal to all mental health professionals, whether they are working in urban areas or rural areas.
Babesiosis: A Retrospective Review of 38 Cases in the Upper Midwest
Authors: Fida Madiha , Challener Douglas , Hamdi Ahmed , O’horo John , Abu Saleh Omar
Published: June 2019

Babesiosis is an emerging health risk, and clinicians need to be aware of its different clinical manifestations. In our cohort of 38 patients, almost half did not recall a tick bite, and diagnosis was delayed due to the nonspecific nature of symptoms. Sixty-eight percent of patients required hospitalization, with 21% requiring intensive care unit stay. Coinfection with Lyme, anaplasma, or both Lyme and anaplasma was seen in 24%, 5%, and 8% of the patients, respectively. None of the patients in our cohort died from their disease.
Type III secretion systems impact Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 compatibility with Robinia pseudoacacia
Authors: Wang Xinye , Huo Haibo , Luo Yantao , Liu Dongying , Zhao Liang , Zong Le , Chou Minxia , Chen Juan , Wei Gehong
Published: June 2019

Rhizobia and legume plants are famous mutualistic symbiosis partners who provide nitrogen nutrition to the natural environment. Rhizobial type III secretion systems (T3SSs) deliver effectors that manipulate the metabolism of eukaryotic host cells. Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 (GS0123) contains two T3SS gene clusters, T3SS-I and T3SS-II. T3SS-I contains all the basal components for an integrated T3SS, and the expression of T3SS-I genes is up-regulated in the presence of flavonoids. In contrast, T3SS-II lacks the primary extracellular elements of T3SSs, and the expression of T3SS-II genes is down-regulated in the presence of flavonoids. Inoculation tests on Robinia pseudoacacia displayed considerable differences in gene expression patterns and levels among roots inoculated with GS0123 and T3SS-deficient mutant (GS0123ΔrhcN1 (GS0123ΔT1), GS0123ΔrhcN2 (GS0123ΔT2) and GS0123ΔrhcN1ΔrhcN2 (GS0123ΔS)). Compared with the GS0123-inoculated plants, GS0123ΔT1-inoculated roots formed very few infection threads and effective nodules, while GS0123ΔT2-inoculated roots formed a little fewer infection threads and effective nodules with increased numbers of bacteroids enclosed in one symbiosome. Moreover, almost no infection threads or effective nodules were observed in GS0123ΔS-inoculated roots. In addition to evaluations of plant immunity signals, we observed that the coexistence of T3SS-I and T3SS-II promoted infection by suppressing host defense response in the reactive oxygen species defense response pathway. Future studies should focus on identifying rhizobial T3SS effectors and their host target proteins.
The stability enigma of hydraulic vulnerability curves: addressing the link between hydraulic conductivity and drought-induced embolism
Authors: De Baerdemaeker Niels J F , Arachchige Keerthika Nirmani Ranathunga , Zinkernagel Jana , Van den Bulcke Jan , Van Acker Joris , Schenk H Jochen , Steppe Kathy
Published: June 2019

Maintaining xylem water transport under drought is vital for plants, but xylem failure does occur when drought-induced embolisms form and progressively spread through the xylem. The hydraulic method is widely considered the gold standard to quantify drought-induced xylem embolism. The method determines hydraulic conductivity (Kh) in cut branch samples, dehydrated to specific drought levels, by pushing water through them. The technique is widely considered for its reliable Kh measurements, but there is some uncertainty in the literature over how to define stable Kh and how that relates to the degree of xylem embolism formation. Therefore, the most common setup for this method was extended to measure four parameters: (i) inlet Kh, (ii) outlet Kh, (iii) radial flow from xylem to surrounding living tissue and (iv) the pressure difference across the sample. From a strictly theoretical viewpoint, hydraulic steady state, where inflow equals outflow and radial flow is zero, will result in stable Kh. Application of the setup to Malus domestica Borkh. branches showed that achieving hydraulic steady state takes considerable time (up to 300 min) and that time to reach steady state increased with declining xylem water potentials. During each experimental run, Kh and xylem water potentials dynamically increased, which was supported by X-ray computed microtomography visualizations of embolism refilling under both high- (8 kPa) and low-pressure (2 kPa) heads. Supplying pressurized water can hence cause artificial refilling of vessels, which makes it difficult to achieve a truly stable Kh in partially embolized xylem.
Quantification of leaf-scale light energy allocation and photoprotection processes in a Mediterranean pine forest under extensive seasonal drought
Authors: Maseyk Kadmiel , Lin Tongbao , Cochavi Amnon , Schwartz Amnon , Yakir Dan
Published: June 2019

Photoprotection strategies in a Pinus halepensis Mill. forest at the dry timberline that shows sustained photosynthetic activity during 6–7 month summer drought were characterized and quantified under field conditions. Measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf-level gas exchange and pigment concentrations were made in both control and summer-irrigated plots, providing the opportunity to separate the effects of atmospheric from soil water stress on the photoprotection responses. The proportion of light energy incident on the leaf surface ultimately being used for carbon assimilation was 18% under stress-free conditions (irrigated, winter), declining to 4% under maximal stress (control, summer). Allocation of absorbed light energy to photochemistry decreased from 25 to 15% (control) and from 50% to 30% (irrigated) between winter and summer, highlighting the important role of pigment-mediated energy dissipation processes. Photorespiration or other non-assimilatory electron flow accounted for 15–20% and ~10% of incident light energy during periods of high and low carbon fixation, respectively, representing a proportional increase in photochemical energy going to photorespiration in summer but a decrease in the absolute amount of photorespiratory CO2 loss. Resilience of the leaf photochemical apparatus was expressed in the complete recovery of photosystem II (PSII) efficiency (ΦPSII) and relaxation of the xanthophyll de-epoxidation state on the diurnal cycle throughout the year, and no seasonal decrease in pre-dawn maximal PSII efficiency (Fv/Fm). The response of CO2 assimilation and photoprotection strategies to stomatal conductance and leaf water potential appeared independent of whether stress was due to atmospheric or soil water deficits across seasons and treatments. The range of protection characteristics identified provides insights into the relatively high carbon economy under these dry conditions, conditions that are predicted for extended areas in the Mediterranean and other regions due to global climate change.
Impaction Bone Grafting and Valgus Osteotomy: A Technical Trick for the Treatment of Femoral Neck Nonunions
Authors: Jayaramaraju Dheenadhayalan , Valleri Durga Prasad , Agraharam Devendra , Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran
Published: June 2019

Femoral neck nonunions in young adults is among the most challenging problems to treat. This is due to their inherent problems, such as neck resorption, increase in fracture gap, sclerosis of fracture margins, and avascular necrosis. Hip salvage in these cases, although challenging, is recommended in the Asian subcontinent where social and religious activities require squatting and sitting cross-legged. Muscle pedicle grafts and other vascularized bone grafting techniques are preferred treatment options, but they are technically demanding and require advanced microsurgical skills. Valgus osteotomy, although successful in certain cases, has a high failure rate in patients with poor bone stock. We present a simple technique of valgus subtrochanteric osteotomy, impaction bone grafting, and stabilization with a sliding hip screw. Here, we describe in detail about the surgical technique and present the clinical outcomes in 44 patients, with a mean follow-up of 3.4 years and a union rate of 95.5%.
Quantitative Electroencephalogram Trends Predict Recovery in Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy*
Authors: Ghassemi Mohammad M. , Amorim Edilberto , Alhanai Tuka , Lee Jong W. , Herman Susan T. , Sivaraju Adithya , Gaspard Nicolas , Hirsch Lawrence J. , Scirica Benjamin M. , Biswal Siddharth , Moura Junior Valdery , Cash Sydney S. , Brown Emery N. , Mark Roger G. , Westover M. Brandon
Published: June 2019

Objectives:

Electroencephalogram features predict neurologic recovery following cardiac arrest. Recent work has shown that prognostic implications of some key electroencephalogram features change over time. We explore whether time dependence exists for an expanded selection of quantitative electroencephalogram features and whether accounting for this time dependence enables better prognostic predictions.

Design:

Retrospective.

Setting:

ICUs at four academic medical centers in the United States.

Patients:

Comatose patients with acute hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

We analyzed 12,397 hours of electroencephalogram from 438 subjects. From the electroencephalogram, we extracted 52 features that quantify signal complexity, category, and connectivity. We modeled associations between dichotomized neurologic outcome (good vs poor) and quantitative electroencephalogram features in 12-hour intervals using sequential logistic regression with Elastic Net regularization. We compared a predictive model using time-varying features to a model using time-invariant features and to models based on two prior published approaches. Models were evaluated for their ability to predict binary outcomes using area under the receiver operator curve, model calibration (how closely the predicted probability of good outcomes matches the observed proportion of good outcomes), and sensitivity at several common specificity thresholds of interest. A model using time-dependent features outperformed (area under the receiver operator curve, 0.83 ± 0.08) one trained with time-invariant features (0.79 ± 0.07;p< 0.05) and a random forest approach (0.74 ± 0.13;p< 0.05). The time-sensitive model was also the best-calibrated.

Conclusions:

The statistical association between quantitative electroencephalogram features and neurologic outcome changed over time, and accounting for these changes improved prognostication performance.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Sunitinib in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors and Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in Adults—A Review
Authors: Demlová Regina , Turjap Miroslav , Peš Ondřej , Kostolanská Katarína , Juřica Jan
Published: June 2019

Background:

Sunitinib is an inhibitor of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases and is a standard-of-care treatment for advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma and a second-line treatment in locally advanced inoperable and metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors. A fixed dose of the drug, however, does not produce a uniform therapeutic outcome in all patients, and many face adverse effects and/or toxicity. One of the possible causes of the interindividual variability in the efficacy and toxicity response is the highly variable systemic exposure to sunitinib and its active metabolite. This review aims to summarize all available clinical evidence of the treatment of adult patients using sunitinib in approved indications, addressing the necessity to introduce proper and robust therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of sunitinib and its major metabolite, N-desethylsunitinib.

Methods:

The authors performed a systematic search of the available scientific literature using the PubMed online database. The search terms were “sunitinib” AND “therapeutic drug monitoring” OR “TDM” OR “plasma levels” OR “concentration” OR “exposure.” The search yielded 520 journal articles. In total, 447 publications were excluded because they lacked sufficient relevance to the reviewed topic. The remaining 73 articles were, together with currently valid guidelines, thoroughly reviewed.

Results:

There is sufficient evidence confirming the concentration–efficacy and concentration–toxicity relationship in the indications of gastrointestinal stromal tumors and metastatic renal clear-cell carcinoma. For optimal therapeutic response, total (sunitinib + N-desethylsunitinib) trough levels of 50–100 ng/mL serve as a reasonable target therapeutic range. To avoid toxicity, the total trough levels should not exceed 100 ng/mL.

Conclusions:

According to the current evidence presented in this review, a TDM-guided dose modification of sunitinib in selected groups of patients could provide a better treatment outcome while simultaneously preventing sunitinib toxicity.
Linezolid Dosing in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis: Standard Dosing Risk Toxicity
Authors: Luque Sonia , Muñoz-Bermudez Rosana , Echeverría-Esnal Daniel , Sorli Luisa , Campillo Nuria , Martínez-Casanova Javier , González-Colominas Elena , Álvarez-Lerma Francisco , Horcajada Juan Pablo , Grau Santiago , Roberts Jason A.
Published: June 2019

Background:

Limited data regarding altered linezolid pharmacokinetics in patients with liver cirrhosis are available. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of linezolid in cirrhotic patients.

Methods:

A case–control 1:1 study of patients undergoing linezolid therapeutic drug monitoring was conducted between January 2015 and June 2017. Cases with liver cirrhosis were matched with controls by age, body weight, comorbidities, renal function, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Results:

Fifty-two patients were included, 26 in each group. Patients with Child–Pugh Scores A, B, and C were 1 (3.8%), 13 (50.0%), and 12 (46.2%), respectively. Cases had higher median linezolid trough plasma concentrations than controls [20.6 (17.4) versus 2.7 (11.3); P < 0.001)] and more frequently achieved an optimal pharmacodynamic index [26 (100%) versus 16 (61.5%); P = 0.002]. In addition, potentially toxic concentrations and treatment discontinuation due to overexposure and hematological toxicity were also more frequently seen in cirrhotic patients. Overall clinical cure rate was high (67.4%), and in-hospital mortality was 28.8%. No differences in clinical outcomes were observed between both groups.

Conclusions:

Linezolid showed a high clinical cure rate. Nevertheless, plasma concentrations and treatment discontinuation due to hematological toxicity were higher in cirrhotic patients. Liver cirrhosis may influence linezolid pharmacokinetics and question the use of standard doses. Therapeutic drug monitoring of linezolid would be valuable in these patients.
Traditional Chinese acupuncture and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tong Ping , Dong Li-Ping , Yang Yang , Shi Yuan-Hong , Sun Ting , Bo Ping
Published: June 2019

Background:

Acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese medicine, is a form of alternative medicine in which thin needles are inserted into the body commonly for pain relief. To date, the role of traditional Chinese acupuncture in mood disorders in the postpartum period is unclear. Thus, this study aimed to review the effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with postpartum depression (PPD).

Methods:

We searched databases such as PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register until September 2018. Meta-analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 2.0 software. The mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to evaluate the results of each comparison.

Results:

A total of 887 PPD patients from 12 randomised controlled trials were included in the quantitative meta-analysis, with 443 patients in the treatment group and 444 patients in the control group. Patients in the acupuncture group had significantly better performances assessed by the Hamilton Depression Scale than those in the control group, and the pooled MD was −1.27 (95% CI: −2.55 to 0.01;p= 0.05, I2= 83%) in the random-effect model. In addition, significantly better performance in the effective rate was observed in the acupuncture group than in the control group, and the pooled RR was 1.20 (95% CI: 1.09 to 1.33;p< 0.0001, I2= 46%). However, in subgroup analysis for the acupuncture therapy alone, only effective rate showed a significantly better performance.

Conclusion:

Traditional Chinese acupuncture seems to be effective in improving some symptoms of PPD, although the evidence is uncertain. Therefore, further studies following standardized guidelines with a low risk of bias are needed to confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of PPD.
The Association Between Olfactory Function and Cognition in Aging African American and Caucasian Men With HIV: A Pilot Study
Authors: Vance David E. , Cody Shameka L. , Nicholson W. Chance , Cheatwood John , Morrison Shannon , Fazeli Pariya L.
Published: June 2019

Older adults and people living with HIV have been shown to experience disproportionately more olfactory dysfunction. Some neurological studies suggest that olfactory dysfunction may be a precursor to cognitive dysfunction. The purpose of our study was to determine whether olfactory dysfunction was predictive of cognition. In our cross-sectional study, 51 African American and Caucasian men living with HIV (ages ≥ 40 years) were administered a cognitive performance battery and two objective olfactory measures (the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and the Smell Threshold Test). The strongest cognitive associations to the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test performance were found in the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, a measure of verbal learning and verbal memory. These findings were consistent with previous research, demonstrating a relationship between decreased olfactory function and poorer cognitive performance. An important clinical implication from these results is the potential use of olfactory dysfunction as a prodromal biomarker for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder.