bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and outcomes in type B aortic dissection in China: a retrospective multicentre study
Authors: Luo Changjun , Zhou Jianwei , Xiong Si , Kang Zhongqiang , Zhang Jing , Sun Yifan , Qin Biyun , Fang Kuaifa
Published: September 2019

Objectives

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) is an unfavourable factor responsible for poor outcomes in the cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the prognostic role of NT-pro-BNP in type B aortic dissection (TBAD) remains unclear. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between NT-pro-BNP levels and in-hospital and long-term adverse prognosis in patients with TBAD.

Design

A retrospective multicentre study.

Setting

Liutie Central Hospital, Nanfang Hospital and Huiyang Hospital in China.

Participants

A total of 657 consecutive patients with TBAD were enrolled in the study. NT-pro-BNP was measured at admission and included patients were divided into three groups according to the tertiles of NT-pro-BNP (pg/mL): <95 (n=220), 95–312 (n=218) and >312 (n=219).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Long-term mortality and in-hospital major adverse clinical events.

Results

Overall, in-hospital death occurred in 27 patients (4.1%), which was significantly higher in upper tertiles of NT-pro-BNP (0.5% vs 4.1% vs 7.8%, p<0.001). The incident of in-hospital major adverse clinical events increased along with higher NT-pro-BNP (1.4% vs 11.5% vs 15.5%, p<0.001). NT-pro-BNP >210 pg/mL had 81.5% sensitivity and 58.6% specificity for predicting in-hospital death (area under the curve= 0.774, 95% CI 0.692 to 0.855; p<0.001). After a median of 3.1 years of follow-up, 97 (14.8%) patients died. The Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the long-term cumulative mortality was higher in patients with NT-pro-BNP >210 pg/mL compared with patients with NT-pro-BNP ≤210 pg/mL (log-rank=26.92, p<0.001). In multivariable Cox survival modelling, NT-pro-BNP >210 pg/mL was independently associated with long-term death (adjusted HR 2.47, 95% CI 1.45 to 4.22, p=0.001).

Conclusions

NT-pro-BNP resulted as an independent predictor of adverse prognosis in patients with TBAD, thus could be used as a potential risk-stratification tool.
Selective reporting bias in randomised controlled trials from two network meta-analyses: comparison of clinical trial registrations and their respective publications
Authors: Wong Eric KC , Lachance Chantelle C , Page Matthew J , Watt Jennifer , Veroniki Areti , Straus Sharon E , Tricco Andrea C
Published: September 2019

Objective

To determine (i) the difference in the frequency of serious adverse events (SAEs) reported in trial registrations and their respective primary publications and (ii) the effect of adding SAE data from registries to a network meta-analysis (NMA) in changing the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curve values of interventions.

Design

Secondary analysis of primary publications from two NMAs.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

We included randomised trials published in English after 2005 that were included in two NMAs of pharmacological interventions for Alzheimer’s disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Data extraction

Two reviewers independently searched multiple international trial registries for registration status and abstracted data from the included study publications and ClinicalTrials.gov.

Results

Of the 203 randomised trials included, 140 (69.0%) were registered with a trial registry and 72 (35.5%) posted results in the registry. The proportion of registered trials increased over time (38.5% in 2005 vs 78.6% in 2014). Of the publications with results posted in a trial registry, 14 (19.4%) had inconsistent reporting of overall SAEs; 7 (10.4%) studies did not report SAEs in the publication but did in the registry. In the 134 randomised trials with a prespecified primary outcome in the registry, 19 studies (9.4%) had a change in the primary outcome in the publication. Adding SAEs reported in registries to the NMAs did not affect the ranking of interventions.

Conclusion

We identified inconsistent reporting of SAEs in randomised trials that were included in two NMAs. Findings highlight the importance of including trial registries in the grey literature search and verifying safety data before incorporating it into NMAs.

Study registration

osf.io/mk6dr.
How do early-life factors explain social inequalities in adolescent mental health? Findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study
Authors: Straatmann Viviane S , Lai Eric , Lange Theis , Campbell Melisa Claire , Wickham Sophie , Andersen Anne-Marie Nybo , Strandberg-Larsen Katrine , Taylor-Robinson David
Published: September 2019

Background

Reducing inequalities in adolescent mental health is a public health priority, yet the pathways that link social conditions to mental health outcomes in the early years are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the extent to which early years risk factors explain social inequalities in adolescent mental health in the UK.

Methods

We analysed data from 6509 children captured in the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Mental health was assessed through the socioemotional behavioural problems at age 14 (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire). The main exposure was maternal education at birth, used as a measure of childhood socioeconomic conditions (SECs), and used to calculate the relative index of inequality. Using causal mediation analysis, we assessed how perinatal, individual child, family, peer relation and neighbourhood-level factors measured up to age 3-mediated the total effect (TE) of SECs on adolescent socioemotional behavioural problems, estimating the proportion mediated and natural indirect effect (NIE) via each block of mediators, and all mediators together.

Results

Children of mothers with no qualification were almost four times as likely to have socioemotional behavioural problems compared with degree plus level (relative risk (RR) 3.82, 95% CI 2.48 to 5.88). Overall, 63.9% (95% CI 50.2% to 77.6%) (NIE RR 1.97, 95% CI 1.63 to 2.37) of the TE (RR 4.40, 95% CI 3.18 to 6.07) of social inequalities on risk of adolescent socioemotional behavioural problems was mediated by early-life factors.

Conclusions

About two-thirds of the social inequality in adolescent mental health was explained by early risk factors measured by age 3, highlighting the importance of public health interventions in this period.
Improving engineering properties of mature fine tailings using Tubifex
Authors: Yang Xiaojuan , de Lucas Pardo Miguel , Ibanez Maria , Deng Lijun , Sittoni Luca , Ulrich Ania , Chen Qun
Published: September 2019

The present study investigated the effects of Tubifex (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae) treatment on the dewatering process of mature fine tailings (MFT). Experiments testing the survival rate showed that Tubifex can survive at 20 °C and 4 °C. MFT with initial solids content (Sc) of 30% of total mass were treated in 11 settling columns by three Tubifex densities, 1400, 2000 and 4200 individuals·m−2. Test results showed that the mean survival rate at 20 °C and 4 °C on the 28th day stayed around 85%. Tubifex enhanced MFT dewatering by providing compacted tailings with 11.6% and 66.7% higher Sc and undrained shear strength compared with nontreated tailings. Tubifex accelerated pore water pressure dissipation. Tubifex did not affect the chemical composition of tailings except for a decrease in sulfate content. The Sc of tailings treated by Tubifex increased by 67.4% within nine months, which was 129% greater than the Sc increase of the nontreated tailings after 11 months.
Recent advances in management strategy evaluation: introduction to the special issue “Under pressure: addressing fisheries challenges with Management Strategy Evaluation”
Authors: Goethel Daniel R. , Lucey Sean M. , Berger Aaron M. , Gaichas Sarah K. , Karp Melissa A. , Lynch Patrick D. , Walter John F.
Published: September 2019

Management strategy evaluation (MSE) is an increasingly popular tool for developing, testing, and implementing fisheries management regimes, oftentimes utilizing participatory modeling. This special issue, “Under pressure: addressing fisheries challenges with Management Strategy Evaluation”, includes eleven articles highlighting cutting edge MSE approaches and perspectives on improving stakeholder engagement. The special issue is the culmination of a two-session MSE symposium held during the 147th American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida. We summarize the themes from the symposium and special issue articles. Contributions demonstrated that important strides have been made in quantifying and exploring risk (by including more sophisticated multispecies and socioeconomic components), developing and testing data-limited harvest control rules, acknowledging and diagnosing limitations of MSE (e.g., identifying exceptional circumstances), and dealing with issues of stakeholder engagement and dimensionality (e.g., determining appropriate representation, communication techniques, and participation levels). Although MSE is a not a panacea for marine policy and resource utilization issues, it is a useful tool for implementing co-management regimes that should become increasingly robust as the multidisciplinary nature of MSE processes continues to expand.
Evaluation of virus-induced gene silencing methods for forage legumes including alfalfa, sainfoin, and fenugreek
Authors: Wijekoon Champa , Singer Stacy D. , Weselake Randall J. , Subedi Udaya , Acharya Surya N.
Published: September 2019

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a rapid reverse genetics tool that has been developed in a wide variety of plant species for assessing gene functions. However, while VIGS has been utilized successfully in the diploid model leguminous species Medicago truncatula (Gaertn.) (barrel medic), such a platform has yet to be established in forage legume crop species. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of this method in forage legumes using a previously developed PEBV (pea early browning virus) system whereby a fragment of the pea (Pisum sativum L.) PHYTOENE DESATURASE (PDS) gene was transferred into a range of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) cultivars using leaf infiltration and apical meristem injection. Barrel medic was used as a positive control. Gene silencing was observed after 10–15 d through the presence of a leaf bleaching phenotype, and was confirmed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Silencing of PDS was achieved in a selection of cultivars in all species assessed, with the highest silencing efficiency apparent in fenugreek. The introduction of a highly homologous gene fragment from a heterologous plant species to target endogenous genes for transient VIGS-based silencing in a range of species of interest represents a potentially useful strategy for the rapid functional characterization of candidate genes in forages.
Molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistance plasmids using publicly available sequences
Authors: Card Galen E. , Pickett Brandon D. , Ridge Perry G. , Robison Richard A.
Published: September 2019

Carbapenem-resistant bacteria have quickly become a worldwide concern in nosocomial infections. Of the seven known carbapenemases, four have been shown to be particularly problematic: KPC, NDM, IMP, and VIM. To date, many local and species- or carbapenemase-specific epidemiological studies have been performed, which often focus on the organism itself. This report attempts to perform an inclusive (encompass both species and carbapenemase) epidemiologic study using publicly available plasmid sequences from NCBI. In this report, the gene content of these various plasmids has been characterized, replicon types of the plasmids identified, and the global spread and species promiscuity of the plasmids analyzed. Additionally, support to several groups targeting plasmid maintenance and transfer mechanisms to slow the spread of resistance plasmids is given.
Induction of Autophagic Death of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Armillaridin from Armillaria mellea
Authors: Leu Yi-Shing , Chen Yu-Jen , Chen Chien-Chih , Huang Huey-Lan
Published: September 2019

The honey mushroom, Armillaria mellea, is known to have medicinal qualities and has been used in recent years as a health food and dietary supplement worldwide. In Asia, it is commonly consumed as an herbal medicine, being a key component of the Chinese preparation “Tien-ma”. Here, we examined the antitumor effects of armillaridin, a bioactive compound isolated from A. mellea, on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Armillaridin inhibited the growth of human Huh7, HepG2, and HA22T HCC cells, and its cytotoxicity was confirmed by observations of its induction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential collapse. However, armillaridin treatment did not result in large numbers of cells with fragmented chromosomal DNA, suggesting that apoptosis was not responsible for these effects. We therefore tested for signs of autophagic cell death following armillaridin administration. Armillaridin induced LC3 aggregation in green fluorescent protein-LC3-overexpressing cells. Moreover, flow cytometry and immunoblotting revealed that it increased the number of acridine orange-positive cells and upregulated autophagy-related proteins, respectively. Furthermore, armillaridin cytotoxicity was suppressed by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine. In summary, our results indicated that armillaridin induces HCC cell death by autophagy, and demonstrated the potential of armillaridin as an antihepatoma agent.
Baicalein Induces Autophagy and Apoptosis through AMPK Pathway in Human Glioma Cells
Authors: Liu Bingyan , Ding Lingling , Zhang Li , Wang Shuang , Wang Yu , Wang Bin , Li Ling
Published: September 2019

Baicalein (BAI) is a natural flavonoid. It has been shown that BAI has anticancer effects, but the molecular mechanism is still unclear. The aim of the current study was to confirm whether or not BAI triggers autophagy and induces AMPK activation in glioma U251 cells. The Ad-mcherry-GFP-LC3B adenovirus experiments indicated that BAI induces glioma cell autophagy. Western blotting showed that the level of LC3II expression increased with the time and concentration of BAI. Following treatment with chloroquine, the expression of LC3 was enhanced Immunofluorescence also confirmed this result. At the same time, cleaved caspase-3, DAPI staining, and JC-1 staining revealed that apoptosis was also induced in the induction of autophagy. In addition, we found that BAI activates phosphorylation of AMPK, which is further confirmed using compound C in this process. When the phosphorylation of AMPK was inhibited, autophagy, and apoptosis were also inhibited. In conclusion, BAI induces autophagy and apoptosis through AMPK pathway. Surprisingly, our research provides new insight with the function of anticancer of BAI, and the potential of the promotion in glioma cell apoptosis might be related to autophagy activation. These results demonstrate the anticancer activity of BAI, which can be used as potential therapeutic agents for cancer therapy.
Deep Learning Classification on Optical Coherence Tomography Retina Images
Authors: Shih Frank Y. , Patel Himanshu
Published: September 2019

This paper presents a novel deep learning classification technique applied on optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal images. We propose the deep neural networks based on Vgg16 pre-trained network model. The OCT retinal image dataset consists of four classes, including three most common retina diseases and one normal retina scan. Because the scale of training data is not sufficiently large, we use the transfer learning technique. Since the convolutional neural networks are sensitive to a little data change, we use data augmentation to analyze the classified results on retinal images. The input grayscale OCT scan images are converted to RGB images using colormaps. We have evaluated different types of classifiers with variant parameters in training the network architecture. Experimental results show that testing accuracy of 99.48% can be obtained as combined on all the classes.
Acquisition and its Basic Processing Technology of Multimedia Vocal Signal
Authors: Han Xiuqin
Published: September 2019

This paper briefly studies the method of collecting audio signals and the method of adding noise to audio signals. It comprehensively applies various basic knowledge of digital signal processing, and then performs spectrum analysis on noise-free frequency signals and spectral analysis of noise-added frequency signals, and filtering processing. Through theoretical derivation, the corresponding conclusions are drawn, and then MATLAB is used as a programming tool to carry out computer implementation to verify the conclusions derived. In the research process, the filter processing was completed by designing the IIR digital filter and the FIR digital filter, and MATLAB was used to draw the graphics and calculate and simulate some data in the whole design.
Two Subpopulations Cuckoo Search Algorithm Based on Mean Evaluation Method for Function Optimization Problems
Authors: Liu Jingsen , Liu Xiaozhen , Li Yu
Published: September 2019

In order to better apply the cuckoo search (CS) algorithm in solving the problem of function extremum optimization, and further improve the phenomenon of low precision and slow convergence in the optimization process of algorithm, the two subpopulations CS algorithm based on mean value evaluation is proposed. On the one hand, the algorithm introduces dynamic inertia weight to adjust the lévy flight mechanism, thus dynamically constraining the moving step-size of each generation of population, so that the algorithm has certain self-adaptability. On the other hand, the algorithm changes the way of mutation in the preference random walk. First, the average fitness evaluation mechanism is used to divide the current population into two subpopulations: good and bad. Then, it adopts a directional mutation strategy for the better population, so that the individual can search purposefully. The worse population uses differential mutation mechanism of the disturbance items with the [Formula: see text]-distribution characteristics, and makes the individual to search in the best orientation of current, so as to enhance the local search performance and accelerate the convergence rate of the algorithm. Theoretical analysis proves the convergence and time complexity of the algorithm in this paper. The simulation results show that the improved algorithm has good applicability in solving the function optimization problem, and the optimization results and convergence speed have been significantly improved in the algorithm.
Recognition of Mobile Robot Navigation Path Based on K-Means Algorithm
Authors: Du Qifei , Wang Dahu , Sha Lin
Published: September 2019

With the rapid development of computer technology and electronics industry, computer processing capability and image processing technology have been greatly improved, making robots based on computer processing and image processing have entered a new development in the field of navigation path recognition research. As an indispensable carrier for intelligent manufacturing and industrial development, robots are expanding their applications. The key to the successful execution of the mobile robot is to move according to the planned path and to avoid obstacles autonomously. These two points depend on the validity and accuracy of navigation path identification. At present, research on mobile robot navigation path recognition mainly uses visual navigation as the main method, which uses visual sensors to simulate human eye functions, obtains relevant information from external environment images, and processes them to realize related functions that the system needs to complete. The two major problems in visual navigation are poor recognition ability and insufficient ability to resist light source interference. The main purpose of this paper is to improve the recognition ability of mobile robot navigation path and the ability to resist light source interference. It mainly uses the [Formula: see text]-means algorithm for visual navigation research. By simulating the acquired image and the selected color space, the results show that the average time taken to complete a path identification method is 152[Formula: see text]ms. Under different illumination environments, the information extraction rate of mobile robot navigation path can reach 90%, and the effect of strong light on navigation path recognition is effectively reduced under strong illumination environment. The results show that the recognition of the visual navigation path of a mobile robot using the [Formula: see text]-means algorithm is more precise than the conventional method, and it takes less time to better meet the timeliness requirements of mobile robots.
APPROXIMATE SOLUTION TO FRACTIONAL RICCATI DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: GOHAR MADIHA
Published: September 2019

In this paper, quadratic Riccati differential equation of fractional order has been solved by employing the optimal homotopy asymptotic method (Optimal HAM) with application to random processes, optimal control and diffusion problems. Optimal HAM uses simple computations with quite acceptable approximate solutions which have close agreement with exact solutions as compared to other techniques. To illustrate the efficiency and reliability of the method, some examples are provided and the results are discussed with tables.
Design and synthesis of benzimidazole phenol-porphyrin dyads for the study of bioinspired photoinduced proton-coupled electron transfer
Authors: Mora S. Jimena , Heredia Daniel A. , Odella Emmanuel , Vrudhula Uma , Gust Devens , Moore Thomas A. , Moore Ana L.
Published: September 2019

Benzimidazole phenol-porphyrin dyads have been synthesized to study proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions induced by photoexcitation. High-potential porphyrins have been chosen to model P680, the photoactive chlorophyll cluster of photosynthetic photosystem II (PSII). They have either two or three pentafluorophenyl groups at the meso positions to impart the high redox potential. The benzimidazole phenol (BIP) moiety models the Tyr[Formula: see text]-His190 pair of PSII, which is a redox mediator that shuttles electrons from the water oxidation catalyst to P680[Formula: see text]. The dyads consisting of a porphyrin and an unsubstituted BIP are designed to study one-electron one-proton transfer (E1PT) processes upon excitation of the porphyrin. When the BIP moiety is substituted with proton-accepting groups such as imines, one-electron two-proton transfer (E2PT) processes are expected to take place upon oxidation of the phenol by the excited state of the porphyrin. The bis-pentafluorophenyl porphyrins linked to BIPs provide platforms for introducing a variety of electron-accepting moieties and/or anchoring groups to attach semiconductor nanoparticles to the macrocycle. The triads thus formed will serve to study the PCET process involving the BIPs when the oxidation of the phenol is achieved by the photochemically produced radical cation of the porphyrin.
Measure of Operators Associated with Fuzzy Automata
Authors: Pal Priyanka , Tiwari S. P. , Kavikumar J.
Published: September 2019

This paper is toward the study of measure of different operators in fuzzy automata theory, which determine the amount of preciseness of given [Formula: see text]-valued subset endowed with an [Formula: see text]-valued preorder induced by [Formula: see text]-valued transition function of an [Formula: see text]-valued automaton. Further, we study the algebraic and topological study of [Formula: see text]-valued automata via different [Formula: see text]-valued operators and on the basis of homomorphism we examine the behavior of operators associated with an [Formula: see text]-valued automaton.
𝒢Θτi⋆τj-Fuzzy Closure Operator
Authors: Alsharari Fahad , Saber Yaser. M.
Published: September 2019

In this paper, a new class of fuzzy ideal sets, namely the [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-generalized fuzzy ideal closed sets, is introduced for fuzzy bitopological spaces in Šostak sense. This class falls strictly in between the class of [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-fuzzy ideal closed sets and the class of [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-generalized fuzzy ideal closed sets. Furthermore, by using the class of [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-generalized fuzzy ideal closed sets we establish a new fuzzy closure operator which generates fuzzy bitopological spaces in Šostak sense. Finally, the [Formula: see text] strongly-[Formula: see text]-fuzzy ideal continuous, [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-generalized fuzzy ideal continuous and [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-generalized fuzzy ideal irresolute mappings are introduced, and we show the [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-generalized fuzzy ideal continuous properly fuzzy ideal bitopological spaces in Šostak sense (for short, fibtss) in between [Formula: see text] strongly-[Formula: see text]-fuzzy ideal continuous and [Formula: see text]-generalized fuzzy continuous mappings.
Fuzzy Expert System for Prediction of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Mahanta Juthika , Panda Subhasis
Published: September 2019

A fuzzy expert system (FES) for the prediction of prostate cancer (PC) is prescribed in this paper. Age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostate volume (PV) and [Formula: see text] Free PSA ([Formula: see text]FPSA) are fed as inputs into the FES and prostate cancer risk (PCR) is obtained as the output. Using knowledge-based rules in Mamdani type inference method the output is calculated. If PCR [Formula: see text], then the patient shall be advised to go for a biopsy test for confirmation. The efficacy of the designed FES is tested against a clinical dataset. The true prediction for all the patients turns out to be [Formula: see text] whereas only for positive biopsy cases it rises to [Formula: see text]. This simple yet effective FES can be used as supportive tool for decision-making in medical diagnosis.
How Do Social Media Users Link Different Types of Extreme Events to Climate Change? A Study of Twitter During 2008–2017
Authors: Al-Saqaf Walid , Berglez Peter
Published: September 2019

This study examines how three types of extreme events (heat waves, droughts, floods) are mentioned together with climate change on social media. English-language Twitter use during 2008–2017 is analyzed, based on 1,127,996 tweets (including retweets). Frequencies and spikes of activity are compared and theoretically interpreted as reflecting complex relations between the extreme event factor (the occurrence of an extreme event); the media ecology factor (climate-change oriented statements/actions in the overall media landscape) and the digital action factor (activities on Twitter). Flooding was found to be by far the most tweeted of the three in connection to climate change, followed by droughts and heat waves. It also led when comparing spikes of activity. The dominance of floods is highly prevalent from 2014 onwards, triggered by flooding events (extreme event factor), the climate science controversy in US politics (media ecology factor) and the viral power of celebrities’ tweets (digital action factor).
Continental rifting at magmatic centres: structural implications from the Late Quaternary Menengai Caldera, central Kenya Rift
Authors: Riedl Simon , Melnick Daniel , Mibei Geoffrey K. , Njue Lucy , Strecker Manfred R.
Published: September 2019

The structural evolution of calderas in rifts helps to characterize the spatiotemporal relationships between magmatism, long wavelength crustal deformation and the formation of tectonic deformation zones along the rift axis. We document the structural characteristics of the
c.
36 ka old Menengai Caldera located within a young zone of extension in the central Kenya Rift. Field mapping and high-resolution digital surface models show that NNE-striking Holocene normal faults perpendicular to the regional ESE–WNW extension direction dominate the interior sectors of the rift. Inside the caldera, these structures are overprinted by post-collapse doming and faulting of the magmatic centre, resulting in obliquely slipping normal faults bounding a resurgence horst. Radiocarbon dating of faulted units as young as 5 ka cal BP and the palaeo-shorelines of a lake formed during the African Humid Period in the Nakuru Basin indicate that volcanism and fault activity inside and in the vicinity of Menengai must have been sustained during the Holocene. Our analysis confirms that the caldera is located at the centre of an extending rift segment and suggests that other magmatic centres and young zones of faulting along the volcano-tectonic axis of the Kenya Rift may constitute nucleation points of faulting that ultimately foster future continental break-up.

Supplementary material:
40
Ar/
39
Ar radiometric dating data table is available at:
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4647818
Multiscale fracture length analysis in carbonate reservoir units, Kurdistan, NE Iraq
Authors: Long Jonathan J. , Jones Richard R. , Oxlade David M. , Daniels Susie E. , Gilment Sébastien R.
Published: September 2019

Fracture scaling parameters are an important input for modelling of naturally fractured reservoirs, but are very difficult to derive from subsurface data. Extensive areas of exposure in the northern Kurdistan Region of Iraq provide useful outcrop analogues for nearby producing and potential hydrocarbon fields. A variety of data acquisition methods are used to analyse fracture systems in carbonates of the Upper Cretaceous Aqra–Bekhme Formation across a wide range of scales. When plotted on length–intensity graphs, the collated data lie below an upper envelope that follows a power-law distribution over five orders of magnitude between 0.1 and 3000 m, and which defines the maximum likely intensity of background fracturing across the region. Contouring the length–intensity data shows the distribution of intensities below the upper envelope, and allows modal and minimum likely intensities to be estimated. Likely causes for the observed variation in fracture intensities include the domainal nature of deformation, the proximity to high strain zones including faults, second-order effects such as ladder fractures, and variations in the thickness of mechanical layering.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Naturally Fractured Reservoirs collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/naturally-fractured-reservoirs
Is Photorealism Important for Perception of Expressive Virtual Humans in Virtual Reality?
Authors: Zibrek Katja , Martin Sean , McDonnell Rachel
Published: September 2019

In recent years, the quality of real-time rendering has reached new heights—realistic reflections, physically based materials, and photometric lighting are all becoming commonplace in modern game engines and even interactive virtual environments, such as virtual reality (VR). As the strive for realism continues, there is a need to investigate the effect of photorealism on users’ perception, particularly for interactive, emotional scenarios in VR. In this article, we explored three main topics, where we predicted photorealism will make a difference: the illusion of being present with the virtual person and in an environment, altered emotional response toward the character, and a subtler response—comfort of being in close proximity to the character. We present a perceptual experiment, with an interactive expressive virtual character in VR, which was designed to induce particular social responses in people. Our participant pool was large (N = 797) and diverse in terms of demographics. We designed a between-group experiment, where each group saw either the realistic rendering or one of our stylized conditions (simple and sketch style), expressing one of three attitudes: Friendly, Unfriendly, or Sad. While the render style did not particularly effect the level of comfort with the character or increase the illusion of presence with it, our main finding shows that the photorealistic character changed the emotional responses of participants, compared to the stylized versions. We also found a preference for realism in VR, reflected in the affinity and higher place illusion in the scenario, rendered in the realistic render style.
Long Noncoding RNA SChLAP1 Forms a Growth-Promoting Complex with HNRNPL in Human Glioblastoma through Stabilization of ACTN4 and Activation of NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Ji Jianxiong , Xu Ran , Ding Kaikai , Bao Guoqing , Zhang Xin , Huang Bin , Wang Xinyu , Martinez Aurora , Wang Xiuying , Li Gang , Miletic Hrvoje , Thorsen Frits , Bjerkvig Rolf , Xiang Lei , Han Bo , Chen Anjing , Li Xingang , Wang Jian
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) have essential roles in diverse cellular processes, both in normal and diseased cell types, and thus have emerged as potential therapeutic targets. A specific member of this family, the SWI/SNF complex antagonist associated with prostate cancer 1 (SChLAP1), has been shown to promote aggressive prostate cancer growth by antagonizing the SWI/SNF complex and therefore serves as a biomarker for poor prognosis. Here, we investigated whether SChLAP1 plays a potential role in the development of human glioblastoma (GBM).

Experimental Design:

RNA-ISH and IHC were performed on a tissue microarray to assess expression of SChLAP1 and associated proteins in human gliomas. Proteins complexed with SChLAP1 were identified using RNA pull-down and mass spectrometry. Lentiviral constructs were used for functional analysis in vitro and in vivo.

Results:

SChLAP1 was increased in primary GBM samples and cell lines, and knockdown of the lncRNA suppressed growth. SChLAP1 was found to bind heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (HNRNPL), which stabilized the lncRNA and led to an enhanced interaction with the protein actinin alpha 4 (ACTN4). ACTN4 was also highly expressed in primary GBM samples and was associated with poorer overall survival in glioma patients. The SChLAP1–HNRNPL complex led to stabilization of ACTN4 through suppression of proteasomal degradation, which resulted in increased nuclear localization of the p65 subunit of NF-κB and activation of NF-κB signaling, a pathway associated with cancer development.

Conclusions:

Our results implicated SChLAP1 as a driver of GBM growth as well as a potential therapeutic target in treatment of the disease.
Prediction and Treatment of Radiation Enteropathy: Can Intestinal Bugs Lead the Way?
Authors: Lam Suk Yee , Peppelenbosch Maikel P. , Fuhler Gwenny M.
Published: September 2019

Radiation-induced gastrointestinal toxicity is a significant comorbidity affecting many patients with cancer. Intestinal microbial changes are observed in patients suffering from radiation enteropathy, although a causal relationship with disease activity has yet to be proven. Implementation of bacterial profiling in clinical care could improve recognition and management of this debilitating disease.

See related article by Reis Ferreira et al., p. 6487
Popular cultures and new performance contexts in contemporary Brazil the case of Folklore Festival of Olímpia
Authors: Reis Estêvão Amaro dos
Published: September 2019

This paper reflects on the role of folklore festivals in the contemporary world. Based on ethnographic research carried out in the context of the Folklore Festival of Olímpia – FEFOL – (São Paulo/Brazil) and with Pastoril Dona Joaquina de São Gonçalo do Amarante (Rio Grande do Norte/Brazil), folklore festivals will be understood as new contexts of performance for the practices of the performative groups of Brazilian popular cultures. The reflection is based on Wenger (2012) and Turino (2008).
O musicar como trilha para a etnomusicologia
Authors: Villela Alice , Toni Flávia Camargo , Muniagurria Lorena Avellar de , Grunvald Vitor
Published: September 2019

Apresentação do dossiê: O musicar como trilha para a etnomusicologia
O retrato de Anna de La Grange como Norma, de Louis-Auguste Moreaux
Authors: Dias Elaine
Published: September 2019

Este artigo analisa a pintura de Louis-Auguste Moreaux intitulada O retrato da atriz Lagrange (Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de Janeiro), exposta em 1860 em homenagem à atriz e cantora francesa Anna de La Grange em seu papel como Norma, personagem da ópera de Vincenzo Bellini. O artigo analisa a crítica do período, a carreira de Anna de La Grange, os modelos internacionais acerca da retratística teatral e sua circulação no Brasil, além da renovação da retratística na coleção de pinturas da Academia Imperial de Belas Artes.
O que é isso, companheiro? 40 anos
Authors: Pereira Rogério Silva , Cury Maria Zilda
Published: September 2019

Em O que é isso, companheiro?, Fernando Gabeira, seu autor, tenta configurar para si uma persona nova. Em função disso, lança mão de gêneros e dispositivos discursivos (a autobiografia, o testemunho, a entrevista e a confissão) flexibilizando-os para a obtenção dessa referida persona. Na esteira de uma reflexão sobre os gêneros e os dispositivos referidos, lançando mão da fortuna crítica sobre o livro, o artigo intenta entrever os movimentos feitos pela narrativa para lograr seu objetivo, que é despir seu autor do figurino colado a ele pelos anos de vida nas hostes de oposição ao regime militar.
Uma economia política da poesia drummondiana
Authors: Barbosa Alexandre de Freitas
Published: September 2019

O texto procura ressaltar a contribuição de José Miguel Wisnik em seu livro recente. Nessa obra, o autor realiza uma fusão entre a história do desenvolvimento e da mineração no Brasil, que teve como marco a criação da Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD), e a invenção poética drummondiana, profundamente afetada pelo destino de Itabira, sua cidade natal. Tempo e espaço são aniquilados durante o processo de desenvolvimento econômico, mas também ressignificados criativamente pelo poeta, que vê o território onde se deu o seu processo de sociabilidade ser literalmente soterrado pela atuação da empresa. A Vale S.A., tal como renomeada em 2007, apenas depois das catástrofes de Mariana e Sobradinho parece ecoar o grito de dor do poeta, cuja inteligibilidade não era acessível aos seus contemporâneos.
Trocando ideias musicais
Authors: Garland Shannon
Published: September 2019

Este artigo descreve a formação de uma escuta local que emergiu no Rio de Janeiro nos anos 1990 entre participantes da música indie a partir do  fazer musical, que englobava a produção e a circulação de mídias através das quais o indie adquiriu sentido social.  Podemos chamar de sociabilidade da circulação o modo pelo qual formas materiais específicas, como revistas e fitas cassete, impactam os tipos de prática social que tanto facilitam a troca de materiais musicais quanto emergem dessa troca. O artigo liga as mídias da música à interação social e, através dela, à formação de uma escuta local. Argumenta-se que o som em si participa da formação de sociabilidades e de abordagens às mídias e, portanto, tem um papel na construção do significado e do valor da música ao longo do tempo.
Benditos da Ladeira do Horto
Authors: Rocha Ewelter
Published: September 2019

Fruto de quinze anos de imersão no sertão do Cariri, apresentamos neste artigo um estudo sobre os antigos cânticos de penitência entoados em Juazeiro do Norte (CE). Delimitamos o nosso espaço geográfico à Ladeira Do Horto, região que para muitos devotos, sobretudo para os mais velhos, carrega a presunção de ser um local sagrado, escolhido para a manifestação da Providência. Investigamos as relações sutis que os devotos idosos moradores da “Ladeira” estabelecem com esse repertório musical, verdadeiro estandarte de sua confissão religiosa, mas que por razões bastante delicadas deixou de ser entoado publicamente, mesmo por quem mais o cultua.
Hospital-Based Quality Improvement Interventions for Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Bahiru Ehete , Agarwal Anubha , Berendsen Mark A. , Baldridge Abigail S. , Temu Tecla , Rogers Amy , Farquhar Carey , Bukachi Frederick , Huffman Mark D.
Published: September 2019

Background:

Quality improvement initiatives have been developed to improve acute coronary syndrome care largely in high-income country settings. We sought to synthesize the effect size and quality of evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized studies for hospital-based acute coronary syndrome quality improvement interventions on clinical outcomes and process of care measures for their potential implementation in low- and middle-income country settings.

Methods and Results:

We conducted a bibliometric search of databases and trial registers and a hand search in 2016 and performed an updated search in May 2018 and May 2019. We performed data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and quality of evidence assessments in duplicate. We assessed differences in outcomes by study design comparing RCTs to nonrandomized quasi-experimental studies and by country income status. A meta-analysis was not feasible due to substantial, unexplained heterogeneity among the included studies, and thus, we present a qualitative synthesis. We screened 5858 records and included 32 studies (14 RCTs [n=109 763] and 18 nonrandomized quasi-experimental studies [n=54–423]). In-hospital mortality ranged from 2.1% to 4.8% in the intervention groups versus 3.3% to 5.1% in the control groups in 5 RCTs (n=55 942). Five RCTs (n=64 313) reported 3.0% to 31.0% higher rates of reperfusion for patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction in the intervention groups. The effect sizes for in-hospital and discharge medical therapies in a majority of RCTs were 3.0% to 10.0% higher in the intervention groups. There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality evaluated by 4 RCTs (n=42 384), which reported 2.5% to 15.0% versus 5.9% to 22% 30-day mortality rates in the intervention versus control groups. In contrast, nonrandomized quasi-experimental studies reported larger effect sizes compared to RCTs. There were no significant consistent differences in outcomes between high-income and middle-income countries. Low-income countries were not represented in any of the included studies.

Conclusions:

Hospital-based acute coronary syndrome quality improvement interventions have a modest effect on process of care measures but not on clinical outcomes with expected differences by study design. Although quality improvement programs have an ongoing and important role for acute coronary syndrome quality of care in high-income country settings, further research will help to identify key components for contextualizing and implementing such interventions to new settings to achieve their desired effects.

Systematic Review Registration:

URL:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/
. Unique identifier: CRD42016047604.
Long‐Term Corticosteroid‐Sparing Immunosuppression for Cardiac Sarcoidosis
Authors: Rosenthal David G. , Parwani Purvi , Murray Tyler O. , Petek Bradley J. , Benn Bryan S. , De Marco Teresa , Gerstenfeld Edward P. , Janmohamed Munir , Klein Liviu , Lee Byron K. , Moss Joshua D. , Scheinman Melvin M. , Hsia Henry H. , Selby Van , Koth Laura L. , Pampaloni Miguel H. , Zikherman Julie , Vedantham Vasanth
Published: September 2019

Background

Long‐term corticosteroid therapy is the standard of care for treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis (
CS
). The efficacy of long‐term corticosteroid‐sparing immunosuppression in
CS
is unknown. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of methotrexate with or without adalimumab for long‐term disease suppression in
CS
, and to assess recurrence and adverse event rates after immunosuppression discontinuation.

Methods and Results

Retrospective chart review identified treatment‐naive
CS
patients at a single academic medical center who received corticosteroid‐sparing maintenance therapy. Demographics, cardiac uptake of 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose, and adverse cardiac events were compared before and during treatment and between those with persistent or interrupted immunosuppression. Twenty‐eight
CS
patients were followed for a mean 4.1 (
SD
1.5) years. Twenty‐five patients received 4 to 8 weeks of high‐dose prednisone (>30 mg/day), followed by taper and maintenance therapy with methotrexate±low‐dose prednisone (low‐dose prednisone, <10 mg/day). Adalimumab was added in 19 patients with persistently active
CS
or in those with intolerance to methotrexate. Methotrexate±low‐dose prednisone resulted in initial reduction (88%) or elimination (60%) of 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose uptake, and patients receiving adalimumab‐containing regimens experienced improved (84%) or resolved (63%) 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose uptake. Radiologic relapse occurred in 8 of 9 patients after immunosuppression cessation, 4 patients on methotrexate‐containing regimens, and in no patients on adalimumab‐containing regimens.

Conclusions

Corticosteroid‐sparing regimens containing methotrexate with or without adalimumab is an effective maintenance therapy in patients after an initial response is confirmed. Disease recurrence in patients on and off immunosuppression support need for ongoing radiologic surveillance regardless of immunosuppression regimen.
Atmospheric River Families: Definition and Associated Synoptic Conditions
Authors: Fish Meredith A. , Wilson Anna M. , Ralph F. Martin
Published: September 2019

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) can cause flooding when they are strong and stall over an already wet watershed. While earlier studies emphasized the role of individual, long-duration ARs in triggering floods, it is not uncommon for floods to be associated with a series of ARs that strike in close succession. This study uses measurements from an atmospheric river observatory at Bodega Bay (BBY), in Northern California, to identify periods when multiple AR events occurred in rapid succession. Here, an AR “event” is the period when AR conditions are present continuously at BBY. An objective method is developed to identify such periods, and the concept of “AR families” is introduced. During the period studied there were 228 AR events. Using the AR family identification method, a range of aggregation periods (the length of time allowed for ARs to be considered part of a family) was tested. For example, for an aggregation period of 5 days, there were 109 AR families, with an average of 2.7 ARs per family. Over a range of possible aggregation periods, typically there were 2–6 ARs per family. Compared to single AR events, the synoptic environment of AR families is characterized by lower geopotential heights throughout the midlatitude North Pacific, an enhanced subtropical high, and a stronger zonal North Pacific jet. Analysis of water year 2017 demonstrated a persistent geopotential height dipole throughout the North Pacific and a positive anomaly of integrated water vapor extending toward California. AR families were favored when synoptic features were semistationary.