bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of a Novel 3D‐Printed Patient‐Specific Intramedullary Guide to Control Femoral Component Rotation in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Sun Mao‐lin , Zhang Ying , Peng Yang , Fu De‐jie , Fan Hua‐quan , He Rui
Published: February 2020

Objective

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most universal and effective means for treating terminal stage osteoarthritis (OA) of knee. Accurate intramedullary guide of femur is the basis for the distal femoral cuts. Determining the surgical transepicondylar axis (sTEA) is the key to reconstruction of the femoral rotational alignment, because the correct rotational alignment can place the femoral component in the right position, balance the flexion gap so that the inner and outer tension is equal, get stability during the flexion process of the knee, and enhance the quality of life of patients. With the development of three‐dimensional printing (3DP) technology in the medical domain, the application of patient‐specific instrumentation (PSI) in arthroplasty has become more common. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a novel 3D‐printed patient‐specific intramedullary guide to control femoral component rotation in TKA.

Methods

Eighty patients (65 females and 15 males) with knee OA were included in this prospective randomized study. The patients were divided into two groups by random number table method, 40 in each group. TKA assisted by PSI (PSI group) and conventional TKA (conventional group) was performed respectively. Clinical outcomes [operation time, postoperative drainage volume, duration of drainage, Hospital for Special Surgery knee score (HSS), American Knee Society knee score (AKS)] and radiological outcomes [hip‐knee‐ankle angle (HKA), posterior condylar angle (PCA), patella transverse axis‐femoral transepicondylar axis angle (PFA), depth of intramedullary guide] were compared between and within the two groups.

Results

PSI group had less postoperative drainage volume but longer operation time than the conventional group (P < 0.05). The AKS and HSS scores after surgery were improved compared with those before surgery in each group (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the duration of drainage and range of motion (ROM) after surgery between the two groups. For the radiological results, the HKA and PFA were improved after surgery in both groups (P < 0.05).The postoperative PFA and PCA of the PSI group were closer to 0°, which was better than that of the conventional group (P < 0.05). The depth of intramedullary guide in the PSI group was less than the conventional group (P < 0.05). But there was no significant difference in HKA before and after surgery between the two groups as well as the preoperative PFA.

Conclusion

The short‐term clinical efficacy of TKA assisted by PSI was similar to the conventional TKA. Although TKA assisted by PSI spent more time during operation, it could assist in intramedullary guide and align femoral rotation more accurately.
Chemical cardioversion of atrial flutter and fibrillation in the pediatric population with Ibutilide
Authors: Dasgupta Soham , Dave Ishaan , Whitehill Robert , Fischbach Peter
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Atrial flutter (AFL) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are common in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease and structurally normal hearts as well. Chemical cardioversion is attractive for patients with AFL/AF for a short period of time because of the ability to avoid sedation. We review a single center's experience with Ibutilide in pediatric patients in an effort to report on its safety and efficacy.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients (0‐21 years) who underwent chemical cardioversion for AFL/AF with Ibutilide (January 2011‐February 2019). Patients on another antiarrhythmic medication or attempted chemical cardioversion with another drug were excluded.

Results

There were 21 patients who met inclusion criteria. Thirteen of the 21 (62%) patients were successfully cardioverted with Ibutilide (10 out of 13 had AF and four out of 13 required a second dose). There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between those who were successfully cardioverted compared to those who were not. Administration of magnesium prior to administration did not appear to have an effect on the success rate. There was a significant increase in rate corrected QT interval (QTc) post Ibutilide administration, which returned to baseline prior to discharge. One patient had symptomatic bradycardia needing intravenous fluids and another had torsades requiring electrical cardioversion during Ibutilide administration.

Conclusions

The success rate of chemical cardioversion with Ibutilide was similar in our experience as compared to studies in the adult population and the other lone pediatric study. Although adverse events were uncommon, Ibutilide administration warrants close monitoring and fully defining its efficacy warrants further pediatric experience.
Hypergammaglobulinemic purpura of Waldenström in children
Authors: Theisen Erin , Lee Dylan E. , Pei Susan , Schauder David M. , Chiu Yvonne E. , Brandling‐Bennett Heather , Curran Megan L. , Klein‐Gitelman Marisa , Co Dominic O. , Arkin Lisa M.
Published: February 2020

Background

Hypergammaglobulinemic purpura of Waldenström (HGPW), a rare cutaneous eruption characterized by the triad of recurrent episodes of lower extremity petechiae, symptoms of stinging and burning, and lower extremity edema, is poorly described in children. Some children have been reported to follow a benign course, while others are eventually diagnosed with fulminant rheumatologic disease.

Objectives

To determine the distinguishing features of HGPW including the spectrum of disease manifestations and clinical outcomes.

Methods

This is a multicenter, retrospective case series of six children with HGPW combined with a literature review of 45 previously published pediatric cases.

Results

Most children were eventually diagnosed with systemic disease (63%) or developed autoantibody accumulation suggestive of evolving disease (71%). The most common diagnoses were Sjogren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. The mean duration between onset of cutaneous eruption and diagnosis of systemic disease was 5.6 years, underscoring that HPGW patients often present with a rash that precedes the development of systemic symptoms.

Conclusions

Diagnosis of HGPW should prompt initial screening for rheumatologic disease with long‐term rheumatology follow‐up, as the majority of patients present with evolving manifestations of systemic disease.
Menstrual bleeding, cycle length, and follicular and luteal phase lengths in women without known subfertility: A pooled analysis of three cohorts
Authors: Najmabadi Shahpar , Schliep Karen C. , Simonsen Sara E. , Porucznik Christina A. , Egger Marlene J. , Stanford Joseph B.
Published: February 2020

Background

There is variability between women for days of menstrual bleeding, cycle lengths, follicular phase lengths, and luteal phase lengths, related to age and parity.

Objective

To describe total cycle length; anovulatory cycles; follicular and luteal phase lengths; and days and intensity of menstrual and non‐menstrual bleeding in women without known subfertility over the course of 1 year.

Methods

581 women (3,324 cycles) with no known subfertility (18‐40 years of age) were followed for up to 1 year. Women recorded vaginal bleeding and mucus discharge daily. We used the peak day of cervical mucus as the estimated day of ovulation and the last day of the follicular phase. We used generalised linear mixed models stratified by age and parity to describe menstrual cycle parameters.

Results

The majority of women were <30 years of age (74.5%), non‐Hispanic White (88.6%), and nulliparous (70.4%). The mean menses length was 6.2 (1.5) days, median 6; cycle length 30.3 (6.7) days, median 29; follicular phase length 18.5 (6.5) days, median 17; and luteal phase length 11.7 (2.8) days, median 12. Nulliparous women aged ≥30 years vs nulliparous women aged <30 had shorter cycles (29.2 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) 27.8, 30.7 vs 31.5 days, 95% CI 30.8, 32.2) and shorter follicular phases (17.6 days, 95% CI 16.2, 18.9 vs 19.6 days, 95% CI 18.9, 20.2). Among all women, within‐woman differences between the longest and shortest menses length >3 days, total cycle length >7 days, follicular phase >7 days, and luteal phase >3 days were found in 11.6%, 43.0%, 41.7%, and 58.8% of women, respectively.

Conclusions

Our findings confirm variability between women of menstrual cycle parameters related to age and parity, and also highlight within‐woman variability in the follicular and luteal phases.
The relationship between acrosome reaction and polyunsaturated fatty acid composition in boar sperm
Authors: Lee Sang‐Hee , Kim Yu‐Jin , Kang Byeong Ho , Yun Yong Sik , Park Choon‐Keun
Published: February 2020

This study investigated the relationship between acrosome reactions and fatty acid composition with respect to fertility in boar sperm. The acrosome reaction was induced more than 85% by 60 mM methyl‐beta‐cyclodextrin (MBCD), and plasma membrane integrity was significantly reduced dependent on the MBCD level in boar sperm (p < .05). The acrosome‐reacted sperm exhibited significantly higher saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and lower polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) composition compared to the non‐acrosome reaction group (p < .0001). In addition, the PUFAs, C22:5n‐6 (docosapentaenoic acid [DPA]; p < .01) and C22:6n‐3 (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]; p < .0001) were significantly decreased, and cleavage and blastocyst formation of oocytes were significantly (p < .0001) decreased in acrosome‐reacted sperm relative to non‐acrosome‐reacted sperm. Moreover, acrosome reaction was positively correlated with SFAs, whereas negatively correlated with PUFAs, of the PUFAs, the DPA (p = .0005) and DHA (p = <.0001) were negatively correlated with the acrosome reaction. Therefore, these results suggest that the PUFAs composition of sperm is closely involved in acrosome reaction in pigs.
Emotional autonomy and adjustment among emerging adults: The moderating role of family relationships
Authors: García‐Mendoza María Del Carmen , Parra Águeda , Sánchez‐Queija Inmaculada , Arranz Freijo Enrique Bernardino
Published: February 2020

Emerging adults build their personal maturity within the family context; however, few studies focus on the role of emotional autonomy during this stage. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between emotional autonomy and adjustment during emerging adulthood, bearing in mind the possible moderating role of parental support in this relationship. Data were collected from 1,502 Spanish undergraduate students (903 women) aged between 18 and 29. Participants completed measures of emotional autonomy (EAS, Steinberg & Silverberg, 1986), family social support (MSPSS; Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet & Farley, 1988), psychological well‐being (PWBS; Ryff, Lee, Essex & Schmutte, 1995) and psychological distress (DASS‐21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). The results indicate that emotional autonomy correlates negatively with family support and psychological well‐being and positively with psychological distress. However, only when young people perceive a family context with low social support is gaining emotional distance from their parents associated with an increase in their psychological well‐being. Our findings highlight the crucial role that the family environment plays in well‐being during young adulthood, and reveal that the effect of emotional distancing from parents on adjustment depends on the quality of the family climate. Future research should seek to gain greater insight into emotional autonomy during emerging adulthood, taking into account cross‐cultural diversity.
What worries first‐year students? Psychometric properties of the Student Worry Scale
Authors: Fam Jia Yuin , Murugan Sri Bala , Yap Caroline Y. L.
Published: February 2020

The transition to university can be stressful for first‐year university students. Despite the fact where the feeling of worry is a shared symptom by various mental health issues, there is a lack of studies that investigate into this matter. As worry is a domain‐specific construct, there is a need for a valid and reliable measure of worry specifically for university students. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Student Worry Scale (SWS), particularly in terms of its validity and reliability. For this purpose, the current study recruited a sample of 295 first‐year students to evaluate the psychometric properties of SWS. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a five‐factor structure of SWS, which explained 55.7% of the total variance. The yielded five factors were general worries, financial‐related concerns, significant other’s well‐being, academic concerns, and social adequacy concerns. Inter‐correlations between the five factors were all significant (r ranged between 0.395 and 0.625). The SWS demonstrated good internal consistency in this study (Cronbach’s alpha ranged between 0.786 and 0.941). Overall, the SWS is psychometrically evidenced to be a reliable and valid content‐based worry measure specifically for university students.
What’s India’s Beef with Meat? Hindu Orthopraxis and Food Transition in India Since the 1980s
Authors: Ferry Mathieu
Published: February 2020

Does development affect food practices? The nutrition transition model correlates positively meat consumption levels with gross domestic product per capita, except in India. In this article, I analyze food diets in this country since the 1980s by mapping out households’ practices in animal product consumption depending on their social positions. Applying multiple factor analysis on the Consumer Expenditures data of the National Sample Survey Office, I produce a relational model of food diet segmentation to overcome the dead ends of the nutrition transition model. Two structural dimensions are highlighted. The first one differentiates beef and nonbeef meat diets and relates to the symbolic capital of caste and religion. The second one opposes diets including animal products and without, depending on the amount of economic capital. The concept of temporal homology is introduced to show that the social structure remains stable over time. This denotes the importance of sociocultural norms in food practices rather than their weakening due to “modernization” and shows how these norms are key to understand food transitions beyond linear expectations drawn from economic development.
Well, I feel differently: The importance of considering affective patterns in groups
Authors: Emich Kyle J.
Published: February 2020

While it is widely recognized that groups represent strong contexts that influence the affective states of their members, this convergent framing has resulted in the neglect of the systematic study of what occurs when group members' affective states differ. This is an unfortunate oversight. The study of how group members' qualitatively different affective states influence their mindsets and behaviors and interact to drive collective group processes and has the potential to greatly inform broader theory on affective and social influence in groups. To address group affective divergence in the context of established convergence processes, I reframe the consideration of group affect aroundgroup affective patterns. Then, I draw on the broader group's literature to set a research agenda for the study of group affective patterns. This agenda allows for the more nuanced examination of how multiple discrete affective states influence each other and align with other group member attributes (e.g., personality, attitudes) to impact group processes and outcomes.
Expansionism and Mereological Universalism
Authors: Lando Giorgio
Published: February 2020

Mereological universalists, according to whom every plurality of entities has a fusion, usually claim that most quantifications are restricted to ordinary entities. However, there is no evidence that our usual quantifications over ordinary objects are restricted. In this article I explore an alternative way of reconciling Mereological Universalism with our usual quantifications. I resort to a modest form of ontological expansionism and to the so‐called interpretational modalities. Quantifications over ordinary objects are the initial stages of the expansion. From these initial stages, expansions can proceed upwards (fusions of entities in the domain of quantification are added), downwards (parts of entities in the domain are added), and sidewards (entities which are mereologically disjoint from the entities in the domain are added). These expansions are driven by a variety of epistemic and pragmatic reasons and raise different kinds of problems. At each stage, a modalized version of Mereological Universalism is true. By contrast, only at some especially rich stages, standard, non‐modalized Mereological Universalism is true as well. Among these especially rich stages, there is a final, metaphysically pre‐eminent stage of mereological plenitude. In the last part of the article I discuss some problems and limitations of expansionism.
Ultrastructural insights into pathogen clearance by autophagy
Authors: Kishi‐Itakura Chieko , Ktistakis Nicholas T. , Buss Folma
Published: February 2020

Autophagy defends cells against proliferation of bacteria such as Salmonella in the cytosol. After escape from a damaged Salmonella‐containing vacuole (SCV) exposing luminal glycans that bind to Galectin‐8, the host cell ubiquitination machinery deposits a dense layer of ubiquitin around the cytosolic bacteria. The nature and spatial distribution of this ubiquitin coat in relation to other autophagy‐related membranes are unknown. Using transmission electron microscopy, we determined the exact localisation of ubiquitin, the ruptured SCV membrane and phagophores around cytosolic Salmonella. Ubiquitin was not predominantly present on the Salmonella surface, but enriched on the fragmented SCV. Cytosolic bacteria without SCVs were less efficiently targeted by phagophores. Single bacteria were contained in single phagophores but multiple bacteria could be within large autophagic vacuoles reaching 30 μm in circumference. These large phagophores followed the contour of the engulfed bacteria, they were frequently in close association with endoplasmic reticulum membranes and, within them, remnants of the SCV were seen associated with each engulfed particle. Our data suggest that the Salmonella SCV has a major role in the formation of autophagic phagophores and highlight evolutionary conserved parallel mechanisms between xenophagy and mitophagy with the fragmented SCV and the damaged outer mitochondrial membrane serving similar functions.
Slowing decline in blood collection and transfusion in the United States – 2017
Authors: Jones Jefferson M. , Sapiano Mathew R. P. , Savinkina Alexandra A. , Haass Kathryn A. , Baker Misha L. , Henry Richard A. , Berger James J. , Basavaraju Sridhar V.
Published: February 2020

INTRODUCTION

The National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) has demonstrated declines in blood collection and transfusion in the United States since 2008, including declines of 11.6% in red blood cell (RBC) collections and 13.9% in RBC transfusions during 2013‐2015. This study described the 2017 NBCUS results.

METHODS

The 2017 NBCUS was distributed to all US blood collection centers, all hospitals performing at least 1000 surgeries annually, and a 40% random sample of hospitals performing 100 to 999 surgeries annually. Weighting and imputation were used to generate national estimates for units of blood and components collected, deferred, distributed, transfused, and outdated.

RESULTS

Response rates for the 2017 NBCUS were 88% for blood collection centers and 86% for transfusing hospitals. Compared with 2015, the number of RBC units collected during 2017 (12,211,000; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11,680,000‐12,742,000) declined by 3.0%, and transfused RBC units (10,654,000, 95% CI, 10,314,000‐10,995,000) declined by 6.1%. Distributed platelet (PLT) units (2,560,000; 95% CI, 2,391,000‐2,730,000 units) increased by 5.1%, and transfused PLT units (1,937,000, 95% CI, 1,794,000‐2,079,000) declined by 2.3%. Distributed plasma units (3,209,000; 95% CI, 2,879,000‐3,539,000) declined by 13.6%, and transfused plasma units (2,374,000; 95% CI, 2,262,000‐2,487,000) declined by 12.9%.

CONCLUSION

The 2017 NBCUS suggests a continued but slowing decline in demand for RBCs. The decline in blood collection and use will likely continue. Despite decreasing demand and increasing manufacturing costs of blood products, the US blood industry has met the regular and emergent needs of the country.
Zika virus infection studies with CD34+ hematopoietic and megakaryocyte‐erythroid progenitors, red blood cells and platelets
Authors: Roth Hanna , Schneider Lucas , Eberle Regina , Lausen Jörn , Modlich Ute , Blümel Johannes , Baylis Sally A.
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

To date, several cases of transfusion‐transmitted ZIKV infections have been confirmed. Multiple studies detected prolonged occurrence of ZIKV viral RNA in whole blood as compared to plasma samples indicating potential ZIKV interaction with hematopoietic cells. Also, infection of cells from the granulocyte/macrophage lineage has been demonstrated. Patients may develop severe thrombocytopenia, microcytic anemia, and a fatal course of disease occurred in a patient with sickle cell anemia suggesting additional interference of ZIKV with erythroid and megakaryocytic cells. Therefore, we analyzed whether ZIKV propagates in or compartmentalizes with hematopoietic progenitor, erythroid, and megakaryocytic cells.

METHODS

ZIKV RNA replication, protein translation and infectious particle formation in hematopoietic cell lines as well as primary CD34+ HSPCs and ex vivo differentiated erythroid and megakaryocytic cells was monitored using qRT‐PCR, FACS, immunofluorescence analysis and infectivity assays. Distribution of ZIKV RNA and infectious particles in spiked red blood cell (RBC) units or platelet concentrates (PCs) was evaluated.

RESULTS

While subsets of K562 and KU812Ep6EPO cells supported ZIKV propagation, primary CD34+ HSPCs, MEP cells, RBCs, and platelets were non‐permissive for ZIKV infection. In spiking studies, ZIKV RNA was detectable for 7 days in all fractions of RBC units and PCs, however, ZIKV infectious particles were not associated with erythrocytes or platelets.

CONCLUSION

Viral particles from plasma or contaminating leukocytes, rather than purified CD34+ HSPCs or the cellular component of RBC units or PCs, present the greatest risk for transfusion‐transmitted ZIKV infections.
In canine bacterial pneumonia circulating granulocyte counts determine outcome from donor cells
Authors: Applefeld Willard N. , Wang Jeffrey , Sun Junfeng , Solomon Steven B. , Feng Jing , Risoleo Thomas , Cortés‐Puch Irene , Gouél‐Cheron Aurélie , Klein Harvey G. , Natanson Charles
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

In experimental canine septic shock, depressed circulating granulocyte counts were associated with a poor outcome and increasing counts with prophylactic granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) improved outcome. Therapeutic G‐CSF, in contrast, did not improve circulating counts or outcome, and therefore investigation was undertaken to determine whether transfusing granulocytes therapeutically would improve outcome.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Twenty‐eight purpose‐bred beagles underwent an intrabronchial Staphylococcus aureus challenge and 4 hours later were randomly assigned to granulocyte (40‐100 × 109 cells) or plasma transfusion.

RESULTS

Granulocyte transfusion significantly expanded the low circulating counts for hours compared to septic controls but was not associated with significant mortality benefit (1/14, 7% vs. 2/14, 14%, respectively; p = 0.29). Septic animals with higher granulocyte count at 4 hours (median [interquartile range] of 3.81 3.39‐5.05] vs. 1.77 [1.25‐2.50]) had significantly increased survival independent of whether they were transfused with granulocytes. In a subgroup analysis, animals with higher circulating granulocyte counts receiving donor granulocytes had worsened lung injury compared to septic controls. Conversely, donor granulocytes decreased lung injury in septic animals with lower counts.

CONCLUSION

During bacterial pneumonia, circulating counts predict the outcome of transfusing granulocytes. With low but normal counts, transfusing granulocytes does not improve survival and injures the lung, whereas for animals with very low counts, but not absolute neutropenia, granulocyte transfusion improves lung function.
Ensuring HLA‐matched platelet support requires an ethnic diverse donor population
Authors: Kreuger Aukje L. , Haasnoot Geert W. , Somers Judith A.E. , Tomson Bert , van der Bon Johanna G. , van Kraaij Marian G.J. , Weller Claudia M.
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Patients refractory for platelet transfusions benefit from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐matched platelet transfusions. Differences in ethnic background of patients and donors could hamper the availability of sufficient numbers of HLA‐matched donors for all patients. We evaluated our HLA‐matched donor program and explored the role of ethnic background of patients related to the number of available donors.

METHODS

We performed a cohort study among consecutive patients who received HLA‐matched platelet concentrates in the Netherlands between 1994 and 2017. The number of available matched donors was determined per patient. Haplotypes were constructed from genotypes with computer software (PyPop). Based on haplotypes, HaploStats, an algorithm from the National Marrow Donor Program, was used to assess the most likely ethnic background for patients with 5 or fewer and 30 or more donors.

RESULTS

HLA typing was available for 19,478 donors in September 2017. A total of 1206 patients received 12,350 HLA‐matched transfusions. A median of 83 (interquartile range, 18‐266) donors were available per patient. For 95 (10.3%) patients, 5 or fewer donors were available. These patients were more likely to have an African American background, whereas patients with 30 or more donors were more often from Caucasian origin, compared with Caucasian origin for patients with 30 donors.

CONCLUSION

Adequate transfusion support could be guaranteed for most but not all refractory patients. More non‐Caucasian donors are required to ensure the availability of HLA‐matched donors for all patients in the Netherlands.
Hypoxic storage of red blood cells improves metabolism and post‐transfusion recovery
Authors: DʼAlessandro Angelo , Yoshida Tatsuro , Nestheide Shawnagay , Nemkov Travis , Stocker Sarah , Stefanoni Davide , Mohmoud Fatima , Rugg Neeta , Dunham Andrew , Cancelas Jose A.
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Blood transfusion is a lifesaving intervention for millions of recipients worldwide every year. Storing blood makes this possible but also promotes a series of alterations to the metabolism of the stored erythrocyte. It is unclear whether the metabolic storage lesion is correlated with clinically relevant outcomes and whether strategies aimed at improving the metabolic quality of stored units, such as hypoxic storage, ultimately improve performance in the transfused recipient.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Twelve healthy donor volunteers were recruited in a two‐arm cross‐sectional study, in which each subject donated 2 units to be stored under standard (normoxic) or hypoxic conditions (Hemanext technology). End‐of‐storage measurements of hemolysis and autologous posttransfusion recovery (PTR) were correlated to metabolomics measurements at Days 0, 21, and 42.

RESULTS

Hypoxic red blood cells (RBCs) showed superior PTR and comparable hemolysis to donor‐paired standard units. Hypoxic storage improved energy and redox metabolism (glycolysis and 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate), improved glutathione and methionine homeostasis, decreased purine oxidation and membrane lipid remodeling (free fatty acid levels, unsaturation and hydroxylation, acyl‐carnitines). Intra‐ and extracellular metabolites in these pathways (including some dietary purines) showed significant correlations with PTR and hemolysis, though the degree of correlation was influenced by sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels.

CONCLUSION

Hypoxic storage improves energy and redox metabolism of stored RBCs, which results in improved posttransfusion recoveries in healthy autologous recipients—a Food and Drug Administration gold standard of stored blood quality. In addition, we identified candidate metabolic predictors of PTR for RBCs stored under standard and hypoxic conditions.
Multilingual English users’ linguistic innovation
Authors: Wei Li
Published: February 2020

Can ‘non‐native’ speakers of English innovate in English? This seemly simple question bothers sociolinguists and sociolinguistic research because we feel uncertain whether the ‘inventive’ productions by ‘non‐native’ speakers should be treated as evidence of creativity or mistakes. This article aims to tackle this question from a translanguaging perspective, using data from social media communication amongst multilingual English users in the Sinophone world. Examples include a range of creative expressions that mix elements of English with those from other languages and semiotic means. A translanguaging perspective raises questions about the very notion of named languages and offers a radically different way of analysing these expressions as socio‐politically meaningful linguistic innovations. The theoretical and methodological implications of the translanguaging approach for the study of linguistic innovation by multilingual language users and for the study of world Englishes are discussed.
Long non‐coding RNA PRRT3‐AS1 silencing inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis and autophagy
Authors: Fan Li , Li Hai , Wang Weihua
Published: February 2020

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

What is the role of lncRNA PRRT3‐AS1 in the regulation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) gene‐mediated mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathway in proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy of prostate cancer cells?

What is the main finding and its importance?

The targeting relation between lncRNA PRRT3‐AS1 and PPARγ was verified, and it was demonstrated that silencing of lncRNA PRRT3‐AS1 can upregulate apoptosis and autophagy yet downregulate proliferation, migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells through the mTOR signalling pathway. Further work is needed to consolidate the therapeutic value of lncRNA PRRT3‐AS1 in clinical trials and treatment of prostate cancer.

Although long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are correlated with multiple cancers, their molecular mechanisms in prostate cancer (PC) remain inadequately understood. This study investigated the effects of lncRNA PRRT3‐AS1 on the progression of prostate cancer (PC) with involvement of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Microarray analysis was used to identify the differentially expressed genes and lncRNAs associated with PC. RT‐qPCR and western blot analysis were employed to test the expression of lncRNA PRRT3‐AS1, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathway‐, apoptosis‐ and autophagy‐related genes. A scratch test, Transwell assay, CCK‐8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry and monodansylcadaverine staining were employed to identify the migration, invasion, proliferation activity, cell cycle and apoptosis and autophagy of PC3 cells, respectively. Tumorigenicity assays in nude mice were used to detect the tumorigenic ability. GSE55945 and GSE46602 datasets indicated that lncRNA PRRT3‐AS1 was highly expressed in PC. PPARγ was predicted as a target gene of lncRNA PRRT3‐AS1. Ectopic overexpression of PPARγ or lncRNA PRRT3‐AS1 silencing led to inhibited cell viability, migration and invasion, and accelerated apoptosis. Furthermore, the delivery of si‐PRRT3‐AS1 or PPARγ vector to PC3 cells resulted in the regression of xenografts in nude mice. Based on the in vitro and in vivo experiments, silencing of lncRNA PRRT3‐AS1 was observed to activate the PPARγ gene, which in turn could inhibit PC cell proliferation and promote apoptosis and autophagy by blocking the mTOR signalling pathway.
Bionic women and men ‐ Part 1: Cardiovascular lessons from heart failure patients implanted with left ventricular assist devices
Authors: Stöhr Eric J. , Cornwell William K. , Kanwar Manreet , Cockcroft John R. , McDonnell Barry J.
Published: February 2020

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

Patients with advanced heart failure who are implanted with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) present an opportunity to understand the human circulation under extreme conditions.

What advances does it highlight?

LVAD patients have a unique circulation that is characterized by a reduced or even absent arterial pulse. The remarkable survival of these patients is accompanied by circulatory complications, including stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding and right‐heart failure. Understanding the mechanisms related to the complications in LVAD patients will help the patients and also advance our fundamental understanding of the human circulation in general.

Some humans with chronic, advanced heart failure are surgically implanted with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Because the LVAD produces a continuous flow, a palpable pulse is often absent in these patients. This allows for a unique investigation of the human circulation and has created a controversy around the ‘need’ for a pulse. The medical debate has also generated a more generic, fundamental discussion into what is ‘normal’ arterial physiology and health. The comprehensive study and understanding of the arterial responses to drastically altered haemodynamics due to continuous‐flow LVADs, at rest and during activity, presents an opportunity to significantly increase our current understanding of the fundamental components of arterial regulation (flow, blood pressure, sympathetic activity, endothelial function, pulsatility) in a way that could never have been studied previously. In a series of four articles, we summarize the talks presented at the symposium entitled ‘Bionic women and men – Physiology lessons from implantable cardiac devices’ presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of The Physiological Society in Aberdeen, UK. The articles highlight the novel questions generated by physiological phenomena observed in LVAD patients and propose future areas of interest within the field of cardiovascular physiology.
Bionic women and men ‐ Part 3: Right ventricular dysfunction in patients implanted with left ventricular assist devices
Authors: Kanwar Manreet , McDonnell Barry J. , Rosenblum Hannah , Cockcroft John R. , Stöhr Eric J. , Cornwell William K.
Published: February 2020

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

Right heart dysfunction remains a major adverse event in patients with end stage heart failure undergoing left ventricular assist device placement. This article reviews the pathophysiology and clinical considerations of right heart failure in this patient population.

What advances does it highlight?

This review highlights the anatomic and physiological peculiarities of the interplay between left and right heart function in patients undergoing LVAD therapy. These would allow us to further advance our understanding of right ventricular function.

The adaptation of the right ventricular (RV) output to a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) often determines the fate of patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to left heart failure. Pre‐existing right heart dysfunction in patients with advanced left heart failure is the consequence of increased (arterial) afterload and not simply the consequence of myocardial disease. If unaccounted for, it has the potential of accelerating into clinical right heart failure after LVAD, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. After LVAD implantation, the RV has to face increased flow generated by the LVAD, cardiac arrhythmias and exaggerated functional interactions between both ventricles. Understanding the key physiological mechanisms of RV dysfunction in patients with end‐stage heart failure will allow us to predict and therefore prevent RV failure after LVAD implantation.
Separate and Combined Effects of Surface Roughness and Thermal Barrier Coating on Vane Cooling Performance
Authors: Prapamonthon Prasert , Yin Bo , Yang Guowei , Zhang Mohan
Published: February 2020

This work investigates separate and combined effects of the vane surface roughness and thermal barrier coating (TBC) on the cooling performance of a film-cooled high-pressure turbine vane using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with conjugate heat transfer (CHT) analysis. The cooling effectiveness and heat transfer coefficient, where are predicted within an investigated range of the roughness height from 5 to 20 µm, are compared with those of the smooth vane. Results show that the roughness height increases local heat transfer coefficients in general in the suction side (SS) and the rear-half portion of the pressure side (PS), thereby reducing the cooling effectiveness. The results are different from those in the suction-side vicinity of the leading edge (LE) to further downstream of the pressure side due to uncertain local heat transfer coefficients. In addition, thermal sensitivity to the roughness height and TBC is investigated based on the volume basis in the roughness height range which is extended to 120 µm. Results show that without TBC, a 120 µm increase in the roughness height causes 24 K and 20 K rises of the average and maximum vane temperatures, respectively. With TBC, the average and maximum vane temperatures are reduced as much as 18 K and 27.8 K, respectively.
Decentralized Multisubsystem Co-Design Optimization Using Direct Collocation and Decomposition-Based Methods
Authors: Liu Tianchen , Azarm Shapour , Chopra Nikhil
Published: February 2020

Multisubsystem co-design refers to the simultaneous optimization of physical plant and controller of a system decomposed into multiple interconnected subsystems. In this paper, two decentralized (multilevel and bilevel) approaches are formulated to solve multisubsystem co-design problems, which are based on the direct collocation and decomposition-based optimization methods. In the multilevel approach, the problem is decomposed into two bilevel optimization problems, one for the physical plant and the other for the control part. In the bilevel approach, the problem is decomposed into subsystem optimization subproblems, with each subproblem having the optimization model for physical plant and control parts together. In both cases, the entire time horizon is discretized to convert the continuous optimal control problem into a finite-dimensional nonlinear program. The optimality condition decomposition method is employed to solve the converted problem in a decentralized manner. Using the proposed approaches, it is possible to obtain an optimal solution for more generalized multisubsystem co-design problems than was previously possible, including those with nonlinear dynamic constraints. The proposed approaches are applied to a numerical and engineering example. For both examples, the solutions obtained by the decentralized approaches are compared with a centralized (all-at-once) approach. Finally, a scalable version of the engineering example is solved to demonstrate that using a simulated parallelization with and without communication delays, the computational time of the proposed decentralized approaches can outperform a centralized approach as the size of the problem increases.
Motion–Force Interaction Performance Analyses of Redundantly Actuated and Overconstrained Parallel Robots With Closed-Loop Subchains
Authors: Meng Qizhi , Xie Fugui , Liu Xin-Jun
Published: February 2020

Motion–force interaction performance analyses of redundantly actuated and overconstrained parallel robots with closed-loop subchains are an open problem considering two challenges: (a) how to take all the internal wrenches into account at the same level when the mobile platform suffers uncertain loads and (b) how to disclose the influence of the structural parameters inside the closed-loop subchains on the robot’s performance. To tackle this problem, based on the blocking-and-acting strategy, this paper proposes a new screw-based method to analyze the motion–force interaction performance of such parallel robots. Two aspects of performance are focused, i.e., the distal and proximal motion–force interactability. The two proposed indices focus on reflecting the load-carrying capacity and the motion-transmission capacity, respectively. To evaluate the comprehensive performance of the parallel robot at a certain pose, a local interaction index (LII) is defined as the minimum value of indices of the minimized distal and proximal interaction performance. The feasibility and validity of the proposed indices are illustrated by the motion–force interaction analysis of some redundantly actuated and overconstrained parallel robots with closed-loop subchains.
Regulative Characteristic of Methanol–Copper Heat Pipes for Asteroid Lander “MASCOT”
Authors: Baturkin Volodymyr , Feidelheimer Vitali , Sasaki Kaname , Mikulz Eugen , Ho Tra-Mi
Published: February 2020

Variable conductance heat pipes (VCHPs) are the main part of the MASCOT (mobile asteroid surface SCOuT) lander thermal control system (TCS). They provide variable conductivity by utilizing the heat transfer limitations. This allows the heat pipes to act as thermal switches without additional constructive elements, thus leveraging the simple and compact design of conventional heat pipes. Two cylindrical methanol–copper heat pipes with shell length of 0.482 m and 0.438 m and external diameter of 0.006 m, having copper discrete metal fiber wick and copper shell were constructed and verified in the temperature range between −75 and +60 °C. The purpose is to apply this design into the MASCOT TCS and to investigate the heat pipes' regulative characteristics and heat transfer limitations. VCHPs show a change of thermal resistivity from 70 K/W at a heat sink temperature of −60 °C, to 0.8 K/W at a heat sink temperature of +60 °C; with an obtained maximal heat transfer rate of 5 W and 16 W, respectively. It is found that the switching effect of the heat pipes is governed by the sonic velocity limitation, the saturation vapor pressure of the working fluid, and the maximal capillary pressure of the wick. The operation of the heat pipes as the part of the TCS has confirmed their variable thermal properties.
Combining Freehand Ultrasound-Based Indentation and Inverse Finite Element Modeling for the Identification of Hyperelastic Material Properties of Thigh Soft Tissues
Authors: Fougeron Nolwenn , Rohan Pierre-Yves , Haering Diane , Rose Jean-Loïc , Bonnet Xavier , Pillet Hélène
Published: February 2020

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a numerical modeling tool vastly employed in research facilities to analyze and predict load transmission between the human body and a medical device, such as a prosthesis or an exoskeleton. Yet, the use of finite element modeling (FEM) in a framework compatible with clinical constraints is hindered by, among others, heavy and time-consuming assessments of material properties. Ultrasound (U.S.) imaging opens new and unique opportunities for the assessment of in vivo material properties of soft tissues. Confident of these advances, a method combining a freehand U.S. probe and a force sensor was developed in order to compute the hyperelastic constitutive parameters of the soft tissues of the thigh in both relaxed (R) and contracted (C) muscles' configurations. Seven asymptomatic subjects were included for the experiment. Two operators in each configuration performed the acquisitions. Inverse FEM allowed for the optimization of an Ogden's hyperelastic constitutive model of soft tissues of the thigh in large displacement. The mean shear modulus identified for configurations R and C was, respectively, 3.2 ± 1.3 kPa and 13.7 ± 6.5 kPa. The mean alpha parameter identified for configurations R and C was, respectively, 10 ± 1 and 9 ± 4. An analysis of variance showed that the configuration had an effect on constitutive parameters but not on the operator.
Design Fixation From Initial Examples: Provided Versus Self-Generated Ideas
Authors: Leahy Keelin , Daly Shanna R. , McKilligan Seda , Seifert Colleen M.
Published: February 2020

Jansson and Smith (1991, “Design Fixation,” Des. Stud., 12(1), pp. 3–11) demonstrated that design fixation occurs when an example solution is provided along with a design problem. After seeing an example concept—even with its flaws pointed out—new designs often share its features. In Jansson and Smith’s studies, a control group saw no example and showed less fixation to the example provided only in the other group. However, another source of fixation from an initial example may arise in the control group from the designer’s own first-generated concept. We conducted a large-scale experiment with beginning engineers to investigate whether design fixation occurs even without seeing a provided example. Half of the participants saw an example solution and half were given no example; instead, they generated their own initial design. Next, all students were individually brainstormed ideas for 30 min. We analyzed both groups’ concepts for fixation on the first solution they saw—either the example provided or their own initial concept. The results showed that the students provided with an example concept experienced less fixation on the initial example than those in the control group, whose concepts were evaluated for similarity to their own initial concept. To consider whether fixation on initial examples (provided or self-generated) might be mitigated, we asked these students to complete a second (30 min) idea generation phase using Design Heuristics for idea inspiration. The results showed that both groups experienced less fixation during the second-generation phase. These findings suggest that fixation on first solutions occurs in individual idea generation arising from both provided examples and self-generated concepts. However, more divergent idea generation can be facilitated through the use of design tools, such as Design Heuristics, to mitigate the consequences of design fixation.