bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homological vanishing for the Steinberg representation
Authors: Ash Avner , Putman Andrew , Sam Steven V
Published: April 2018

For a field$\text{k}$, we prove that the$i$th homology of the groups$\operatorname{GL}_{n}(\text{k})$,$\operatorname{SL}_{n}(\text{k})$,$\operatorname{Sp}_{2n}(\text{k})$,$\operatorname{SO}_{n,n}(\text{k})$, and$\operatorname{SO}_{n,n+1}(\text{k})$with coefficients in their Steinberg representations vanish for$n\geqslant 2i+2$.
The volume of singular Kähler–Einstein Fano varieties
Authors: Liu Yuchen
Published: April 2018

We show that the anti-canonical volume of an$n$-dimensional Kähler–Einstein$\mathbb{Q}$-Fano variety is bounded from above by certain invariants of the local singularities, namely$\operatorname{lct}^{n}\cdot \operatorname{mult}$for ideals and the normalized volume function for real valuations. This refines a recent result by Fujita. As an application, we get sharp volume upper bounds for Kähler–Einstein Fano varieties with quotient singularities. Based on very recent results by Li and the author, we show that a Fano manifold is K-semistable if and only if a de Fernex–Ein–Mustaţă type inequality holds on its affine cone.
Ultrasonographic and Imaging Appearance of Peripheral Intraneural Vascular Anomalies: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature.
Authors: Rusu Georgeta Mihaela , Ciuce Constantin , Fodor Lucian , Manole Simona , Dudea Sorin Marian
Published: May 2018

The purpose of the paper is to present the ultrasonographic and imaging appearance of two cases of peripheral nerve intraneural vascular anomalies and provide a comprehensive review of the publications on this subject.The clinical presentation, ultrasonographic appearance, corresponding imaging and outcome of a case of ulnar nerve venous malformation and a case of median nerve arteriovenous malformation are presented.Literature search revealed 35 papers presenting 52 cases of vascular anomalies involving the peripheral nerves. The ultrasonographic appearance was described only in ten cases. Our review suggests that peripheral intraneural vascular anomalies are twice more frequent in women. About three quarters of them are located in the upper limb, with the median nerve involved in one third and the ulnar nerved involved in a quarter of all cases. Most of the cases are hemangiomas. Peripheral neural compartment syndromes in patients with coexisting vascular anomalies may prompt for vascular neural involvement, requiring diagnostic imaging studies. Gray-scale and Doppler ultrasound are the methods of first choice, as they provide not only direct visual proof of neural involvement but also contribute to the differential diagnosis between hemangiomas and vascular malformations.
Ixodes nipponensis Kitaoka and Saito and Amblyomma testudinarium Koch (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) Collected from Reptiles (lizards, skinks, and snakes) in the Republic of Korea, 2016
Authors: KIM HEUNG-CHUL , CHONG SUNG-TAE , SUH JAE-HWA , YUN SEOK-MIN , LEE WON-JA , KIM JIN-HAN , PARK CHANG-DEUK , KIM DAE-HO , KIM HYUN-TAE , KIM HYUN , ROBBINS RICHARD G.
Published: April 2018

A survey of reptile-associated ticks was conducted from March–October 2016 to determine their relative abundance, stage of development, and geographic and host distributions among lizards, skinks, and snakes in the Republic of Korea. A total of 30 lizards (3 species), 5 skinks (1 species), and 63 snakes (10 species) were collected. A total of 66 ixodid ticks belonging to two species (Ixodes nipponensis and Amblyomma testudinarium) were collected from 11/30 (36.7%) lizards, 2/5 skinks (40.0%), and 6/63 snakes (9.5%). Ixodes nipponensis was collected only from lizards and skinks, while A. testudinarium was collected only from snakes. The Amur Grass lizard, Takydromus amurensis, had the highest tick index (3.0) (total number ticks/total number hosts) among lizards and skinks, while the Short-tailed Mamushi (Viperidae), Gloydius brevicaudus, had the highest tick index (0.57) among snakes. Ixodes nipponensis larvae and nymphs accounted for 46.4% and 53.6% of all ticks collected from lizards and skinks, respectively, while only A. testudinarium nymphs were collected from snakes. Nymphs of both species of ticks were collected from lizards, skinks, and snakes from March-September, while I. nipponensis larvae were collected only from June-September. Ixodes nipponensis larvae and nymphs were preferentially attached on the foreleg axillae (66.1%), followed by lateral trunk (23.2%) and head and near the eye (10.7%) of lizards and skinks. None of the ticks collected from lizards, skinks or snakes were positive for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV).
Contribution to the knowledge of the oribatid mite genus Ocesobates (Acari, Oribatida, Chamobatidae)
Authors: Ermilov Sergey G. , Liao Jhih-Rong
Published: April 2018

Ocesobates (Oribatida, Chamobatidae) is recorded in the Oriental region for the first time; a new species of this genus is described from soil, ferns, lichens and gramineous weeds of Taiwan. Ocesobates ziweiensis sp. nov. differs from other Ocesobates-species by the presence of translamella (versus translamella absent). A revised generic diagnosis and an identification key to known species of Ocesobates are presented. Ocesobates bregetovae Shaldybina, 1974 is proposed as a junior subjective synonym of Ocesobates boedvarssoni (Sellnick, 1974). Ocesobates galaicus Subías & Shtanchaeva, 2012 is moved to the genus Globozetes Sellnick, 1928.
Development, survival and reproduction of Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Acari: Laelapidae) on four diets
Authors: Xie Lixia , Yan Yi , Zhang Zhi-Qiang
Published: April 2018

.The development, survival and reproduction of Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Acari: Laelapidae) were determined on four diets (Ephestia kuehniella eggs, Artemia sp. cysts, Typha orientalis pollen, and Tyrophagus curvipenis) in the laboratory at 25 ± 1°C, 80 ± 5% RH, 24 h D: 0 h L. E. kuehniella eggs and T. curvipenis were very suitable for the overall development of S. scimitus to adulthood, with over 90% survival rates. Shrimp cysts were not suitable, with 11.1% survival to adults, and T. orientalis pollen were intermediate, with 50% survival to adults.  S. scimitus immature development was the fastest on T. curvipenis (9.67 ± 0.18 days), and it was also very fast on E. kuehniella eggs, but relatively slow on T. orientalis pollen  (18.26 ± 0.68 days) and the slowest on Artemia cysts (21.36 ± 1.23 days). The female pre-ovipositional period (APOP) averaged less than 3 days on E. kuehniella eggs but over 3 days on T. curvipenis, but mated and unmated females had a similar APOP, regardless of diet. Neither diet nor mating had significant effects on the total pre-ovipositional period from birth to oviposition (around 13 days). The oviposition period averaged 1 to 2 days longer for mated females than unmated ones, regardless of diet, which had no significant effects. Mated females produced 50% more eggs than unmated females when feeding on E. kuehniella eggs, but 69% more than unmated females when feeding on T. curvipenis; the effects of mating were significant, and the effects of diet were different depending on mating status of the predators: fecundity was higher on E. kuehniella eggs (20.21 ± 1.16) than on T. curvipenis (17.07 ± 0.49) only for unmated females.  Most life table parameters (intrinsic rate of population increase r, finite rate of population increase λ, and net reproductive rate R0) were not significantly affected by diet and mating. However, the mean generation time T was shorter in unmated females than in mated ones, and more so when feeding on T. curvipenis. T. curvipenis is easy to rear, so it is considered a very promising diet for S. scimitus as it does not damage plants nor cause allergenic reactions in workers or users. Since T. curvipenis is common on plants, future studies should explore the combined use of foliar predators (e.g. Phytoseiidae) and soil predators for the biocontrol of greenhouse pests (e.g. thrips) using a shared non-pest prey such as T. curvipenis.
Broad and diverse mechanisms used by deubiquitinase family members in regulating the type I interferon signaling pathway during antiviral responses
Authors: Liu Qingxiang , Wu Yaoxing , Qin Yunfei , Hu Jiajia , Xie Weihong , Qin F. Xiao-Feng , Cui Jun
Published: May 2018

Deubiquitinase family proteins are broadly involved in modulating antiviral response through dynamic and diverse mechanisms.
Complete Genome Sequence of
Lelliottia nimipressuralis
Type Strain SGAir0187, Isolated from Tropical Air Collected in Singapore
Authors: Heinle Cassie E. , Junqueira Ana Carolina M. , Uchida Akira , Purbojati Rikky W. , Houghton James N. I. , Chénard Caroline , Drautz-Moses Daniela I. , Wong Anthony , Kolundžija Sandra , Clare Megan E. , Kushwaha Kavita K. , Panicker Deepa , Putra Alexander , Gaultier Nicolas E. , Premkrishnan Balakrishnan N. V. , Vettath Vineeth Kodengil , Schuster Stephan C.
Published: May 2018

Lelliottia nimipressuralis
type strain SGAir0187 was isolated from tropical air samples collected in Singapore. The genome was assembled with an average coverage of 180-fold using Pacific Biosciences long reads and Illumina MiSeq paired-end reads. The genome measures 4.8 Mb and contains 4,424 protein-coding genes, 83 tRNAs, and 25 rRNAs.
Draft Genome Sequences of Nine New Carnobacterium maltaromaticum Strains Isolated from Diseased Sharks
Authors: Martinez-Steele Laura , Lowe Chris G. , Okihiro Mark S. , Berlemont Renaud
Published: May 2018

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of 9 strains of
Carnobacterium maltaromaticum
(SK_LD1 to SK_LD3 and SK_AV1 to SK_AV6), a member of the
Carnobacteriaceae
family (phylum
Firmicutes
). These strains were isolated from the brain and the inner ear of three diseased thresher sharks and two diseased salmon sharks. The genome assembly resulted in an average of 3,306,205.9 ± 29,143.9 bp and 3,085 ± 32.67 coding DNA sequences (CDS).
Melatonin for the management of sleep problems in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Abdelgadir Ibtihal Siddiq , Gordon Morris A , Akobeng Anthony K
Published: May 2018

Importance

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders have a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances. Currently there is variation in the use of melatonin; hence, an up-to-date systematic review is indicated to summarise the current available evidence.

Objective

To determine the efficacy and safety of melatonin as therapy for sleep problems in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Data sources and study selections

PubMed, Embase, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception up to January 2018. Two reviewers performed data assessment and extraction. We assessed randomised controlled trials that compared melatonin with placebo or other intervention for the management of sleep disorders in children (<18 years) with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Data extraction and synthesis

We identified 3262 citations and included 13 studies in this meta-analysis.

Main outcomes

Main outcomes included total sleep time, sleep onset latency, frequency of nocturnal awakenings and adverse events.

Results

Thirteen randomised controlled trials (n=682) met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis of nine studies (n=541) showed that melatonin significantly improved total sleep time compared with placebo (mean difference (MD)=48.26 min, 95% CI 36.78 to 59.73, I2=31%). In 11 studies (n=581), sleep onset latency improved significantly with melatonin use (MD=−28.97, 95% CI −39.78 to −18.17). No difference was noted in the frequency of nocturnal awakenings (MD=−0.49, 95% CI −1.71 to 0.73). No medication-related serious adverse event was reported.

Conclusion

Melatonin appeared safe and effective in improving sleep in the studied children. The overall quality of the evidence is limited due to heterogeneity and inconsistency. Further research is needed.
Retrospective cohort study exploring whether an association exists between spatial distribution of cystoid spaces in cystoid macular oedema secondary to retinitis pigmentosa and response to treatment with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Authors: Strong Stacey A , Hirji Nashila , Quartilho Ana , Kalitzeos Angelos , Michaelides Michel
Published: April 2018

Background

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) are frequently used as an initial step to treat retinitis pigmentosa-associated cystoid macular oedema (RP-CMO). Interestingly, it has been postulated that CAIs might reduce outer nuclear layer (ONL) fluid more effectively than inner nuclear layer (INL) fluid due to better access to retinal pigment epithelium basolateral membrane than neurosensory retina. This retrospective cohort study explores if an association between spatial distribution of cystoid spaces in RP-CMO and CAI response exists.

Methods

Two independent graders reviewed pretreatment and post-treatment optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of 25 patients (43 eyes) initiated on topical and/or oral CAIs between January 2013 and December 2014. Documentation included the presence/absence of fluid (and layer(s) involved), external limiting membrane, epiretinal membrane (ERM), vitreomacular adhesion/traction, lamellar/full-thickness macular hole and central macular thickness (CMT)/volume.

Results

INL fluid was found in all study eyes. All 13 ‘responders’ (at least 11% reduction of CMT after treatment) demonstrated pretreatment ONL fluid. In seven patients (four responders and three non-responders), complete clearance of ONL fluid was achieved despite persistence of INL fluid. ERM presence was similar in responders and non-responders.

Conclusion

In this study, INL fluid was found to be the most common spatial distribution of RP-CMO. However, patients who were classed as a ‘responder’ to CAI treatment all demonstrated coexisting ONL fluid on their pretreatment OCT scans. This may be explained by CAIs having better access to retinal pigment epithelium basolateral membrane than neurosensory retina. Our study also suggests a minimal impact on response to CAIs by ERM.
Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of natural killer/T-cell lymphoma involving the ocular adnexa
Authors: Lee Ga-In , Kim Yoon-Duck , Young Stephanie Ming , Shin Seonae , Woo Kyung In
Published: April 2018

Aims

To evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) involving the ocular adnexa.

Methods

Retrospective, comparative, observational case series. A total of 350 patients with NKTL, including 27 patients with NKTL involving the ocular adnexa from 1999 to 2016. The patients were grouped into two groups: group 1 comprised patients presenting with ophthalmic symptoms, and group 2 comprised patients presenting with symptoms from other organs but subsequently developed ophthalmic involvement.

Results

Group 1 comprised 12 patients (44.4%) and group 2 comprised 15 (55.6%). Mean duration of symptoms in group 1 was 1.8±1.2 months, while the time from diagnosis of NKTL to development of ophthalmic symptoms in group 2 was 45.3±65.6 months. Periorbital swelling was the most common presenting symptom in both groups (83.3% in group 1 and 73.3% in group 2). Symptoms mimicking cellulitis and pseudotumor were present in 50.0% and 16.7% of cases, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate was 18.5% in group 1 and 26.4% in group 2, while the 5-year progression-free survival rate was 0% and 13.3%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our series is to our knowledge the largest cohort study on NKTL reported to date and demonstrates that ocular adnexal NKTL is a rare but seriously fatal disease. It is characterised by acute inflammatory signs as present in as many as two-thirds of our patients in this series. It should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with rapidly progressing proptosis and diagnosed promptly for optimal management.
Impact of drusen and drusenoid retinal pigment epithelium elevation size and structure on the integrity of the retinal pigment epithelium layer
Authors: Schlanitz Ferdinand , Baumann Bernhard , Sacu Stefan , Baumann Lukas , Pircher Michael , Hitzenberger Christoph K , Schmidt-Erfurth Ursula Margarethe
Published: April 2018

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of drusen size and structure on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor layers in eyes with early to intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using polarisation-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Design

Retrospective investigation of an observational cross-sectional study.

Participants

Patients with early to intermediate AMD.

Methods

Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients with drusen were imaged with polarisation-sensitive OCT using macular volume scans. Each scan was manually graded for six distinct drusen characteristics and the integrity of both the overlying RPE and photoreceptor layer. The central scan of each single druse, as well as its diameter and location, were selected for statistical calculations.

Results

A total number of 5933 individual drusen including their adjacent RPE and photoreceptor layer were evaluated. 41.3% of all drusen demonstrated an intact overlying RPE; in 28.1% the RPE layer was irregular, but continuous. In 30.6%, the RPE layer signal was discontinuous above the area of drusen. The level of RPE alteration was significantly related to shape (p<0.001), internal reflectivity (p<0.001) and homogeneity (p<0.001) of the drusen and their diameter, with a higher probability for larger drusen to have a discontinuous RPE (OR 3.2, p<0.001). The number of drusen showing overlying foci or an altered photoreceptor layer was too small to be conclusive, but showed a trend towards an altered RPE if present.

Conclusions

Polarisation-sensitive OCT reveals a correlation between specific drusen characteristics and the integrity of the overlying RPE layer. Drusen diameter and configuration were significantly associated with RPE loss.
Association between HLA-B*44:03-HLA-C*07:01 haplotype and cold medicine-related Stevens-Johnson syndrome with severe ocular complications in Thailand
Authors: Jongkhajornpong Passara , Lekhanont Kaevalin , Pisuchpen Phattrawan , Chantaren Patchima , Puangsricharern Vilavun , Prabhasawat Pinnita , Suphapeetiporn Kanya , Kinoshita Shigeru , Ueta Mayumi
Published: April 2018

Background

Polymorphisms in human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I genes have been found to be associated with cold medicine (CM)-related Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) with severe ocular complications (SOC). Because ethnic differences in genetic predisposition to SJS/TEN among different populations have been proposed, we focused on Thai patients and investigated the association between HLA class I genotypes and CM-SJS/TEN with SOC.

Methods

This multicentre case–control study was conducted between September 2014 and August 2017. Seventy-one Thai patients with SJS/TEN with SOC and 159 healthy Thai controls were enrolled. HLA typing was performed. Genetic relationships were analysed using Fisher’s exact test.

Results

Of 71 patients with SJS/TEN with SOC (28 male, 43 female), 49 (69%) had a history of taking cold medications prior to SJS/TEN onset. The mean age of onset was 26.7±17.1 years (range, 2–77 years). HLA-B*44:03 (OR, 7.2, p=5.5×10-6, pc=1.1×10-4) and HLA-C*07:01 (OR, 6.1, p=7.1×10-6, pc=1.1×10-4) showed significant positive associations with Thai patients with CM-SJS/TEN with SOC. Additionally, 17 of 49 patients with CM-SJS/TEN with SOC (34.7%) significantly harboured the HLA-B*44:03 and HLA-C*07:01 haplotype compared with only 11 of 159 healthy controls (6.9%) (OR=7.1, p=5.5×10-6).

Conclusions

HLA-B*44:03-HLA-C*07:01 haplotype is a potential risk factor for CM-SJS/TEN with SOC in the Thai population. This study supports that HLA-B*44:03 might be a common marker for CM-SJS/TEN with SOC in Eurasia populations, including European, Indian, Japanese and Thai.
Quantifying vascular density and morphology using different swept-source optical coherence tomography angiographic scan patterns in diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Hirano Takao , Kitahara Jyunya , Toriyama Yuichi , Kasamatsu Hirotsugu , Murata Toshinori , Sadda Srinivas
Published: April 2018

Aims

To evaluate quantitative metrics of the retinal microvasculature in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR) using various en face swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) image sizes.

Methods

Non-segmented and segmented images were acquired using an SS-OCTA device (PLEX Elite 9000; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, California, USA). The scanning protocols included the 3×3 mm, 6×6 mm and 12×12 mm fields of view. Quantitative analysis of the perfusion density (PD), vessel length density (VLD) and fractal dimension (FD) was performed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was estimated to assess the ability of each image size to predict DR.

Results

This prospective, cross-sectional study included 60 eyes, (non-DR, 13 eyes; non-proliferative DR (NPDR), 24 eyes; proliferative DR (PDR), 23 eyes) of 46 patients with diabetes and 21 eyes of 16 healthy individuals. In the 12×12 mm images, the PD of healthy individuals was significantly greater than that of patients with NPDR or PDR for all layers (NPDR, p<0.05; PDR, p<0.001 0.001; FD, p<0.001) or PDR (VLD, p<0.001; FD, p<0.001 for all layers). The results were similar for the 3×3 mm and 6×6 mm images. Overall, PD, VLD and FD progressively decreased with worsening DR severity in segmented and non-segmented layers for all SS-OCTA scan sizes. For detecting DR, 3×3 mm images best predicted DR for all evaluated quantitative parameters.

Conclusions

Vascular changes in DR can be monitored in detail through quantitative evaluations that combine different SS-OCTA scan sizes and parameters.
Variations in outcomes by residential location for women with breast cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Dasgupta Paramita , Baade Peter D , Youlden Danny R , Garvey Gail , Aitken Joanne F , Wallington Isabella , Chynoweth Jennifer , Zorbas Helen , Youl Philippa H
Published: April 2018

Objectives

To systematically assess the evidence for variations in outcomes at each step along the breast cancer continuum of care for Australian women by residential location.

Design

Systematic review.

Methods

Systematic searches of peer-reviewed articles in English published from 1 January 1990 to 24 November 2017 using PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Informit databases. Inclusion criteria were: population was adult female patients with breast cancer; Australian setting; outcome measure was survival, patient or tumour characteristics, screening rates or frequencies, clinical management, patterns of initial care or post-treatment follow-up with analysis by residential location or studies involving non-metropolitan women only. Included studies were critically appraised using a modified Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.

Results

Seventy-four quantitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Around 59% were considered high quality, 34% moderate and 7% low. No eligible studies examining treatment choices or post-treatment follow-up were identified. Non-metropolitan women consistently had poorer survival, with most of this differential being attributed to more advanced disease at diagnosis, treatment-related factors and socioeconomic disadvantage. Compared with metropolitan women, non-metropolitan women were more likely to live in disadvantaged areas and had differing clinical management and patterns of care. However, findings regarding geographical variations in tumour characteristics or diagnostic outcomes were inconsistent.

Conclusions

A general pattern of poorer survival and variations in clinical management for Australian female patients with breast cancer from non-metropolitan areas was evident. However, the wide variability in data sources, measures, study quality, time periods and geographical classification made direct comparisons across studies challenging. The review highlighted the need to promote standardisation of geographical classifications and increased comparability of data systems. It also identified key gaps in the existing literature including a lack of studies on advanced breast cancer, geographical variations in treatment choices from the perspective of patients and post-treatment follow-up.
Patients’ perspectives on how to decrease the burden of treatment: a qualitative study of HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Tran Viet-Thi , Messou Eugene , Mama Djima Mariam , Ravaud Philippe , Ekouevi Didier K
Published: April 2018

Objective

Patients living with HIV infection (PLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa face an important burden of treatment related to everything they do to take care of their health: doctor visits, tests, regular refills, travels, and so on. In this study, we involved PLWH in proposing ideas on how to decrease their burden of treatment and assessed to what extent these propositions could be implemented in care.

Methods

Adult PLWH recruited in three HIV care centres in Côte d’Ivoire participated in qualitative interviews starting with ‘What do you believe are the most important things to change in your care to improve your burden of treatment?’ Two independent investigators conducted a thematic analysis to identify and classify patients' propositions to decrease their burden of treatment. A group of experts involving patients, health professionals, hospital leaders and policymakers evaluated each patient proposition to assess its feasibility.

Results

Between February and April 2017, 326 participants shared 748 ideas to decrease their burden of treatment. These ideas were grouped into 59 unique patient propositions to improve their personal care and the organisation of their hospital or clinic and/or the health system. Experts considered that 27 (46%), 19 (32%) and 13 (22%) of patients' propositions were easy, moderate and difficult, respectively, to implement. A total of 118 (36%) participants offered at least one proposition considered easily implementable by our experts.

Conclusion

Asking PLWH in sub-Saharan Africa about how their care could be improved led to identifying meaningful propositions. According to experts, half of the ideas identified could be implemented easily at low cost for minimally disruptive HIV care.
Faecal microbiota transplantation as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: a national survey of adult and paediatric gastroenterologists in the UK
Authors: Mcilroy James Roger , Nalagatla Niharika , Hansen Richard , Hart Ailsa , Hold Georgina Louise
Published: April 2018

Background

Interest in the use of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased following outcomes in patients withClostridioides difficileinfection (CDI). While research exploring clinician awareness and attitude towards the use of FMT in CDI has been carried out, data for IBD are currently lacking.

Objective

To assess the perceptions of gastroenterologists and current practice relating to FMT as a treatment for IBD in the UK.

Design

A web-based survey (Snap Survey software) was distributed through the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition e-newsletters, and at the BSG Conference in June 2017.

Results

61 respondents completed the survey including presubspecialty trainees, gastroenterology specialists, associate specialists and consultants. Most (95%; n=58) respondents stated that they had heard of FMT being used as a treatment for IBD prior to participating in the survey. Based on current evidence, 34% (n=21) of respondents would consider using FMT in patients with IBD, 26% (n=16) would not and 39% (n=24) were undecided. When asked to rank routes of delivery in terms of preference, nasogastric tube was the least preferred route (39%; n=24) and oral capsule was the most preferred route (34%; n=21).

Conclusions

A clear majority of UK gastroenterologists recognise FMT as a potential treatment for IBD; however, uptake is limited. A proportion of clinicians would consider FMT in IBD and the majority would consider entering patients into clinical trials. Future work should explore the utility and efficacy of oral FMT capsules in IBD.
Primary repair versus surgical and transcatheter palliation in infants with tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Dorobantu Dan M , Mahani Alireza S , Sharabiani Mansour T A , Pandey Ragini , Angelini Gianni D , Parry Andrew J , Tulloh Robert M R , Martin Robin P , Stoica Serban C
Published: May 2018

Objectives

Treatment of infants with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) has evolved in the last two decades with increasing use of primary surgical repair (PrR) and transcatheter right ventricular outflow tract palliation (RVOTd), and fewer systemic-to-pulmonary shunts (SPS). We aim to report contemporary results using these treatment options in a comparative study.

Methods

This a retrospective study using data from the UK National Congenital Heart Disease Audit. All infants (n=1662, median age 181 days) with ToF and no other complex defects undergoing repair or palliation between 2000 and 2013 were considered. Matching algorithms were used to minimise confounding due to lower age and weight in those palliated.

Results

Patients underwent PrR (n=1244), SPS (n=311) or RVOTd (n=107). Mortality at 12 years was higher when repair or palliation was performed before the age of 60 days rather than after, most significantly for primary repair (18.7% vs 2.2%, P<0.001), less so for RVOTd (10.8% vs 0%, P=0.06) or SPS (12.4% vs 8.3%, P=0.2). In the matched groups of patients, RVOTd was associated with more right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reinterventions (HR=2.3, P=0.05 vs PrR, HR=7.2, P=0.001 vs SPS) and fewer pulmonary valve replacements (PVR) (HR=0.3 vs PrR, P=0.05) at 12 years, with lower mortality after complete repair (HR=0.2 versus PrR, P=0.09).

Conclusions

We found that RVOTd was associated with more RVOT reinterventions, fewer PVR and fewer deaths when compared with PrR in comparable, young infants, especially so in those under 60 days at the time of the first procedure.
Diagnostic potential of stored dried blood spots for inborn errors of metabolism: a metabolic autopsy of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
Authors: Kaku Noriyuki , Ihara Kenji , Hirata Yuichiro , Yamada Kenji , Lee Sooyoung , Kanemasa Hikaru , Motomura Yoshitomo , Baba Haruhisa , Tanaka Tamami , Sakai Yasunari , Maehara Yoshihiko , Ohga Shouichi
Published: May 2018

Aim

It is estimated that 1–5% of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases might be caused by undiagnosed inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs); however, the postmortem identification of IEMs remains difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of dried blood spots (DBSs) stored after newborn screening tests as a metabolic autopsy to determine the causes of death in infants and children who died suddenly and unexpectedly.

Methods

Infants or toddlers who had suddenly died without a definite diagnosis between July 2008 and December 2012 at Kyushu University Hospital in Japan were enrolled in this study. Their Guthrie cards, which had been stored for several years at 4–8°C, were used for an acylcarnitine analysis by tandem mass spectrometry to identify inborn errors of metabolism.

Results

Fifteen infants and children who died at less than 2 years of age and for whom the cause of death was unknown were enrolled for the study. After correcting the C0 and C8 values assuming the hydrolysation of acylcarnitine in the stored DBSs, the corrected C8 value of one case just exceeded the cut-off level for medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency screening. Genetic and biochemical analyses confirmed this patient to have MCAD deficiency.

Conclusion

DBSs stored after newborn screening tests are a promising tool for metabolic autopsy. The appropriate compensation of acylcarnitine data and subsequent genetic and biochemical analyses are essential for the postmortem diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism.
Mental health challenges and experiences in displaced populations following Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Harvey: the need for more comprehensive interventions in temporary shelters
Authors: Taioli Emanuela , Tuminello Stephanie , Lieberman-Cribbin Wil , Bevilacqua Kristin , Schneider Samantha , Guzman Maria , Kerath Samantha , Schwartz Rebecca M
Published: April 2018

Hurricane exposure can have a profound impact on mental health, leading to increased symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder that are still present years after the storm. Those displaced following a hurricane are particularly vulnerable to adverse mental health outcomes, especially if displaced to temporary shelters. The current work highlights the experiences and mental health challenges of displaced populations following Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Harvey, as well as describing barriers to conducting research in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and the need for more comprehensive interventions in these vulnerable populations.
Work history and radioprotection practices in relation to cancer incidence and mortality in US radiologic technologists performing nuclear medicine procedures
Authors: Bernier Marie Odile , Doody Michele M , Van Dyke Miriam E , Villoing Daphné , Alexander Bruce H , Linet Martha S , Kitahara Cari M
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Technologists working in nuclear medicine (NM) are exposed to higher radiation doses than most other occupationally exposed populations. The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of cancer in NM technologists in relation to work history, procedures performed and radioprotection practices.

Methods

From the US Radiologic Technologists cohort study, 72 755 radiologic technologists who completed a 2003–2005 questionnaire were followed for cancer mortality through 31 December 2012 and for cancer incidence through completion of a questionnaire in 2012–2013. Multivariable-adjusted models were used to estimate HRs for total cancer incidence and mortality by history of ever performing NM procedures and frequency of performing specific diagnostic or therapeutic NM procedures and associated radiation protection measures by decade.

Results

During follow-up (mean=7.5 years), 960 incident cancers and 425 cancer deaths were reported among the 22 360 technologists who worked with NM procedures. We observed no increased risk of cancer incidence (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.04) or death (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.19) among workers who ever performed NM procedures. HRs for cancer incidence but not mortality were higher for technologists who began performing therapeutic procedures in 1960 and later compared with the 1950s. Frequency of performing diagnostic or therapeutic NM procedures and use of radioprotection measures were not consistently associated with cancer risk. No clear associations were observed for specific cancers, but results were based on small numbers.

Conclusion

Cancer incidence and mortality were not associated with NM work history practices, including greater frequency of procedures performed.
Airway responsiveness to methacholine and incidence of COPD: an international prospective cohort study
Authors: Marcon Alessandro , Locatelli Francesca , Keidel Dirk , Beckmeyer-Borowko Anna B , Cerveri Isa , Dharmage Shyamali C , Fuertes Elaine , Garcia-Aymerich Judith , Heinrich Joachim , Imboden Medea , Janson Christer , Johannessen Ane , Leynaert Bénédicte , Pascual Erquicia Silvia , Pesce Giancarlo , Schaffner Emmanuel , Svanes Cecilie , Urrutia Isabel , Jarvis Deborah , Probst-Hensch Nicole M , Accordini Simone
Published: May 2018

Background

It has been debated, but not yet established, whether increased airway responsiveness can predict COPD. Recognising this link may help in identifying subjects at risk.

Objective

We studied prospectively whether airway responsiveness is associated with the risk of developing COPD.

Methods

We pooled data from two multicentre cohort studies that collected data from three time points using similar methods (European Community Respiratory Health Survey and Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults). We classified subjects (median age 37 years, 1st–3rd quartiles: 29–44) by their level of airway responsiveness using quintiles of methacholine dose–response slope at the first examination (1991–1994). Then, we excluded subjects with airflow obstruction at the second examination (1999–2003) and analysed incidence of COPD (postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC below the lower limit of normal) at the third examination (2010–2014) as a function of responsiveness, adjusting for sex, age, education, body mass index, history of asthma, smoking, occupational exposures and indicators of airway calibre.

Results

We observed 108 new cases of COPD among 4205 subjects during a median time of 9 years. Compared with the least responsive group (incidence rate 0.6 per 1000/year), adjusted incidence rate ratios for COPD ranged from 1.79 (95% CI 0.52 to 6.13) to 8.91 (95% CI 3.67 to 21.66) for increasing airway responsiveness. Similar dose–response associations were observed between smokers and non-smokers, and stronger associations were found among subjects without a history of asthma or asthma-like symptoms.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that increased airway responsiveness is an independent risk factor for COPD. Further research should clarify whether early treatment in patients with high responsiveness can slow down disease progression.
Effects of fermented corn gluten meal on growth performance, serum parameters, intestinal morphology, and immunity performance of three-yellow broilers
Authors: Wang Yan , Liu Xiaolan , Jin Long , Wen Qinan , Zhang Yonggen , Narasimha Kumar , Yan Eryun , Wang Changping , Zheng Yanbin
Published: May 2018

A study was conducted to determine the effects of a diet containing solid-state fermented corn gluten meal (FCGM) with Bacillus natto and Lactobacillus on the growth performance, serum parameters, immune indices, and intestinal morphology of three-yellow broilers. A total of 450 one-d-old three-yellow male broilers were randomly allocated into three dietary treatment groups: control (without FCGM), T1, and T2 [5% and 10% replacement with corn gluten meal (CGM) and FCGM, respectively]. Ten replications per treatment and 15 birds per repeat were utilized. The results showed that the FCGM had a lower neutral detergent fiber content and higher small peptide content than the CGM. The average daily gain values, globulin content, the thymus and spleen indices of three-yellow broilers fed 5% and 10% FCGM were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of the control group, and the three-yellow broilers that were fed 10% FCGM increased more than those that were fed 5% FCGM (P < 0.05). The villus lengths and the ratios of the villus height to crypt depth (V:C) of the duodenum of three-yellow broilers fed 5% and 10% FCGM were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). From this study, it can be concluded that the productivity performances of three-yellow broilers fed with 5% FCGM and 10% FCGM increased, and with the additive level increase in the diet, increases of the productivity performance were observed.
Radiological impact assessment approaches for Life Cycle Assessment: a review and possible ways forward
Authors: Paulillo Andrea , Clift Roland , Dodds Jonathan , Milliken Andrew , Palethorpe Stephen J. , Lettieri Paola
Published: May 2018

Many industrial processes routinely release radionuclides into the environment. Such emissions may be recognised in the inventory phase of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), but they are rarely carried forward to the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) phase because a standard approach for assessing their impact is still lacking. The aim of this article is to collect and critically analyse radiological impact assessment methodologies to establish a basis for developing a standard approach. Seven methodologies are reviewed. Amongst these, the human health damages approach is the only methodology to date to be included in LCIA methodologies. Furthermore, five of the reviewed methodologies are concerned with impacts on humans, whilst the remaining two address effects on the environment. The article concludes that even though a number of methodologies are currently available, none is suitable as the basis for a standard procedure in LCIA. Two main features have been identified as crucial: the ability to treat all types of waste forms by which radionuclides can be released and the use of a fate analysis that returns average (rather than worst case) estimates of impacts. In light of the findings of this review, a novel framework for radiological impact assessment on humans has been devised; its development is being pursued by the authors.
Category Theoretic Analysis of Photon-Based Decision Making
Authors: Naruse Makoto , Kim Song-Ju , Aono Masashi , Berthel Martin , Drezet Aurélien , Huant Serge , Hori Hirokazu
Published: April 2018

Decision making is a vital function in the age of machine learning and artificial intelligence; however, its physical realization and theoretical fundamentals are not yet well understood. In our former study, we demonstrated that single photons can be used to make decisions in uncertain, dynamically changing environments. The two-armed bandit problem was successfully solved using the dual probabilistic and particle attributes of single photons. In this study, we present a category theoretic modeling and analysis of single-photon-based decision making, including a quantitative analysis that agrees well with the experimental results. The category theoretic model unveils complex interdependencies of the entities of the subject matter in the most simplified manner, including a dynamically changing environment. In particular, the octahedral structure and the braid structure in triangulated categories provide better understandings and quantitative metrics of the underlying mechanisms for the single-photon decision maker. This study provides insight and a foundation for analyzing more complex and uncertain problems for machine learning and artificial intelligence.
A Hybrid Method to Measure the Operational Performance of Fast Food Chain Stores
Authors: Chang Tien-Hsiang , Kao Ling-Jing , Ou Tsung-Yin , Fu Hsin-Pin
Published: April 2018

It is known that Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) does not perform full ranking because DEA only classifies all of the efficient units as one in the Pareto sense. In this research, a hybrid approach, VFAD, that integrates the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) methodology with Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and DEA is proposed to overcome this problem. Data collected from 50 fast food chain stores in Taipei City was used to verify the performance of the proposed VFAD approach. The result shows that the rank order of overall efficiency (OE) estimated by the DEA method alone and by VFAD approach are strongly and positively correlated. Moreover, the proposed VFAD method can fully rank the alternatives with multiple inputs and outputs. Thus, our empirical results conclude that some chain stores with equal efficiency in the Pareto sense can be more successfully ranked by our new ranking mechanism. Our proposed VFAD approach results in better performance in full ranking than the DEA method alone.
A time-varying deceleration parameter for unified description of cosmological evolution
Authors: Singh Vijay , Beesham Aroonkumar
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we propose a new time-varying deceleration parameter for the description of a unified cosmological evolution (early inflation, deceleration and present acceleration) using Padé approximation. Within the background of Einstein’s general relativity and for a spatially flat homogeneous and isotropic model, the proposed deceleration parameter leads to a variable equation of state of effective matter that serves all matter within EoS [Formula: see text] (quintessence, relativistic and non-relativistic baryonic matter, stiff matter and cosmological constant), exactly in the same order as it required for various evolutionary phases of the universe. We consider a minimally coupled scalar field with self-interacting potential as the only matter source in the universe. The adopted scheme allows us to determine the potential for the scalar field that drives the cosmological evolution proposed by the deceleration parameter. We perform an explicit numerical computation where analytical solutions are not possible. We examine the validity of the model by depicting the statefinder parameters and comparing them with the recent observational outcomes of cosmography.
Electrical and mechanical studies on ferroelectric lithium rubidium sulphate crystals
Authors: Najar F. A. , Vakil G. B. , Want B.
Published: April 2018

Slow evaporation method was used to grow single crystals of lithium rubidium sulphate with high transparency. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that at room temperature, the crystal belongs to a monoclinic system with the space group [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]. Some physical parameters like plasma energy, Penn gap, Fermi energy and electronic polarizability have been evaluated for the grown crystal. The relation between electronic polarizability and diamagnetic susceptibility for the crystal has been established on the basis of Kirkwood’s semiempirical equation. The ac conductivity and dielectric behavior of the grown crystal were systemically investigated as a function of frequency and temperature. The title compound obeys Jonscher’s power law relations: [Formula: see text], with exponent [Formula: see text]. From the conduction study, it is observed that both small and large polarons take part in conduction process, and at low temperature, both the band and hopping mechanisms are responsible for conduction. From impedance and modulus studies, it is observed that only one conduction relaxation is observed in the crystal at low frequency. The activation energy of the dielectric relaxation (0.41[Formula: see text]eV) and that of the conduction ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]eV) are in agreement, as a result, there is no difference among the conduction and relaxation species at high temperature. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis of the crystal shows three endothermic peaks at 166[Formula: see text]C, 185[Formula: see text]C, and 202[Formula: see text]C, from which various thermodynamic parameters such as [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] have been calculated. From Vickers hardness test, we have determined the mechanical strength, and other parameters which include fracture toughness, brittleness index, yield strength, and stiffness constant for the crystal.
On the Tradeoff between Performance and Programmability for Software Defined WiFi Networks
Authors: Zahid Tausif , Hei Xiaojun , Cheng Wenqing , Ahmad Adeel , Maruf Pasha
Published: April 2018

WiFi has become one of the major network access networks due to its simple technical implementation and high‐bandwidth provisioning. In this paper, we studied software defined WiFi networks (SDWN) against traditional WiFi networks to understand the potential benefits, such as the ability of SDWN to effectively hide the handover delay between access points (AP) of the adoption of the SDWN architecture on WiFi networks and identify representative application scenarios where such SDWN approach could bring additional benefits. This study delineated the performance bottlenecks such as the throughput degradation by around 50% compared with the conventional WiFi networks. In addition, our study also shed some insights into performance optimization issues. All of the performance measurements were conducted on a network testbed consisting of a single basic service set (BSS) and an extended service set (ESS) managed by a single SDN controller deployed with various laboratory settings. Our evaluation included the throughput performance under different traffic loads with different number of nodes and packet sizes for both TCP and UDP traffic flows. Handover delays were measured during the roaming phase between different APs against the traditional WiFi networks. Our results have demonstrated the tradeoff between performance and programmability of software defined APs.