bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and preliminary validation of an ageism scale for dental students
Authors: Rucker Ryan , Barlow Patrick B. , Hartshorn Jennifer , Kaufman Laura , Smith Becky , Kossioni Anastassia , Marchini Leonardo
Published: January 2018

Purpose/aim

This work presents the preliminary validation of a novel scale assessing ageism attitudes among dental students.

Method and materials

A 27‐question scale was created based on existing ageism scales. The new ageism scale was applied to 144 dental students. Content validity was achieved by experts’ consensus. Questions whose deletion increased the overall α, loading < 0.40, loading on more than one factors, or those unexpectedly grouped in another factor were thoroughly examined. Principal Component Analysis assessed internal structure of the measure.

Results

The final ageism scale included four items in a single factor that explained 58.5% of the overall variance with substantially higher reliability than other factors. The Cronbach's α for this single four‐items factor was 0.75.

Conclusions

This preliminary analysis of a novel ageism scale for dental professionals pointed to four items achieving high reliability, providing guidance for a future definitive validation study with a larger sample.
Oral and craniofacial manifestations in a Hunter syndrome patient with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A case report
Authors: Torres Rafaela de Oliveira , Pintor Andréa Vaz Braga , Guedes Fábio Ribeiro , Freitas‐Fernandes Liana Bastos , Barth Anneliese Lopes , Horovitz Dafne Dain Gandelman , de Souza Ivete Pomarico Ribeiro
Published: January 2018

We described herein the oral and craniofacial features of a 7‐year‐old boy, diagnosed in utero with mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II), who was treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at 70 days of age. The main oral clinical findings were the following: macroglossia, posterior cross‐bite, crowding, pointed cuspid teeth, delayed tooth eruption, retained primary teeth, and enamel hypoplasia. The image examination showed: retention eruption, posterior primary teeth with short roots, absence of some permanent teeth, and stretching of the stylohyoid processes bilaterally. This patient showed the importance of early diagnosis and HSCT therapy in attenuating the clinical and radiographic oral and craniofacial manifestations of the MPS II patient.
Role of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) on anxiety and behavior in children with hearing and speech impairment
Authors: Shetty Raghavendra M. , Pashine Aditi , Jose Nijo A. , Mantha Somasundar
Published: January 2018

Aim

To assess and compare the role of IQ on anxiety and behavior of children with and without hearing and speech impairment.

Material and methods

A total of 120 children of age group 7–14 years were included in the study, of which control group comprised of 60 normal healthy children and 60 hearing and speech impaired children formed the study group. The study was done in two consecutive sessions. First appointment for Culture Fair Intelligence Test and second appointment for RMS pictorial anxiety score (RMS‐PS) and Frankl behavior rating which were assessed during oral prophylaxis.

Results

IQ of children with hearing and speech impairment was lower as compared to normal healthy children. There was a positive correlation between IQ and anxiety in children with hearing and speech impairment while no correlation was found with behavior.

Conclusion

Children with hearing and speech impairment are less anxious and more cooperative compared to normal healthy child in the dental setting and are, therefore, easier to manage.
“Seniors only want respect”: designing an oral health program for older adults
Authors: Estrada Ivette , Kunzel Carol , Schrimshaw Eric W. , Greenblatt Ariel P. , Metcalf Sara S. , Northridge Mary E.
Published: January 2018

Aim

Persistent socioeconomic disparities in the oral disease burden contribute to pain and suffering among vulnerable and underserved populations who face systemic barriers to access oral health care, including older adults living in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. The aim of this study is to gain the views of racial/ethnic minority older adults regarding what they believe would support them and their peers in visiting the dentist regularly.

Methods and results

Focus groups were conducted and digitally audio‐recorded from 2013 to 2015 with 194 racial/ethnic minority women and men aged 50 years and older living in northern Manhattan who participated in one of 24 focus group sessions about improving oral health for older adults. Analysis of the transcripts was conducted using thematic content analysis. The majority of recommendations from racial/ethnic minority older adults to help older adults go to the dentist regularly were centered at the organization and provider level. The preeminence of respectful treatment to racial/ethnic minority older adults may be useful to underscore in oral health programs and settings.

Conclusion

There is a need for greater engagement of and attention to patients and other stakeholders in developing, testing, and disseminating interventions to close the gaps in oral health care disparities.
Role of telehealth in renal replacement therapy education
Authors: Malkina Anna , Tuot Delphine S.
Published: January 2018

The prevalence of end‐stage renal disease is rising in the United States, which bears high financial and public health burden. The most common modality of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the United States is in‐center hemodialysis. Many patients report lack of comprehensive and timely education about their treatment options, which may preclude them from participating in home‐based dialysis therapies and kidney transplantation evaluation. While RRT education has traditionally been provided in‐person, the rise of telehealth has afforded new opportunities to improve upon the status quo. For example, technology‐augmented RRT education has recently been implemented into telehealth nephrology clinics, informational websites and mobile applications maintained by professional organizations, patient‐driven forums on social media, and multimodality programs. The benefits of technology in RRT education are increased access for geographically isolated and/or medically frail patients, versatility of content delivery, information repetition to enhance knowledge retention, and interpersonal connection for educational content and emotional support. Challenges center around privacy and accuracy of information sharing, in addition to differential access to technology due to age and socioeconomic status. A review of available scholarly and social media resources suggests that technology‐aided delivery of education about treatment options for end‐stage renal disease provides an important alternative and/or supplemental resource for patients and families.
Distance to pig farms as risk factor for community‐onset livestock‐associated MRSA CC398 infection in persons without known contact to pig farms—A nationwide study
Authors: Anker J. C. H. , Koch A. , Ethelberg S. , Mølbak K. , Larsen J. , Jepsen M. R.
Published: January 2018

MRSA CC398 is an emerging MRSA strain found in livestock, mainly in pigs. Direct occupational livestock contact is the principal risk factor for human MRSA CC398 infection. Nonetheless, in recent years, an increasing number of MRSA CC398 cases has been observed in persons without known pig contact. Such cases, referred to as MRSA CC398 of unknown origin (MUO CC398), have, like livestock‐onset (LO) MRSA CC398 cases, been found concentrated in rural, livestock‐producing areas. The presence of MUO CC398 cases indicates alternative and unknown MRSA CC398 transmission pathways into the community. We performed a nationwide study in Denmark of the geographic distributions of MRSA cases in general and persons with MUO CC398 or LO MRSA CC398 infections (1 January 2006–11 February 2015), with the Danish population as background population. Place of living of study persons was mapped using the ArcGIS software, and information on pig farms was retrieved from the Central Husbandry Register. The incidence of MUO CC398 infections was clearly higher in rural than in urban areas, and such cases lived on average closer to pig farms than the general population. However, within three pig‐farming‐dense municipalities, patients with MUO CC398 infections did not live closer to pig farms than population controls. This shows that direct environmental spread from neighbouring pig farms of MRSA CC398 is unlikely. Instead, community spread through other means of transmission than direct spread from farms may more likely explain the clustering of MUO CC398 in livestock‐dense areas.
Weaknesses of Financial Market Regulation
Authors: Conrad Christian A.
Published: January 2018

In this paper we examine the extent newer developments affect the economic processes of the market and put financial markets at risk. We also analyze if the financial market regulations are sufficient to limit the systemic risk they cause. The biggest Shortcoming of the recent reforms to the stabilization of the financial system, such as Basel III and the American Dodd Frank Act, is that they increase the capital requirements rather than the causes of the increased risk. It would generally be better to forbid risky and complex financial products than to further increase regulation complexity and the capital requirements as in Basel III and the American Dodd Frank Act.
Detecting reciprocity at a global scale
Authors: Frank Morgan R. , Obradovich Nick , Sun Lijun , Woon Wei Lee , LeVeck Brad L. , Rahwan Iyad
Published: January 2018

Reciprocity is a widespread mechanism for cooperation in international relations.
Genomic correlates of response to immune checkpoint therapies in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Miao Diana , Margolis Claire A. , Gao Wenhua , Voss Martin H. , Li Wei , Martini Dylan J. , Norton Craig , Bossé Dominick , Wankowicz Stephanie M. , Cullen Dana , Horak Christine , Wind-Rotolo Megan , Tracy Adam , Giannakis Marios , Hodi Frank Stephen , Drake Charles G. , Ball Mark W. , Allaf Mohamad E. , Snyder Alexandra , Hellmann Matthew D. , Ho Thai , Motzer Robert J. , Signoretti Sabina , Kaelin William G. , Choueiri Toni K. , Van Allen Eliezer M.
Published: January 2018

SNF'ing out antitumor immunity

Immune checkpoint inhibitors induce durable tumor regressions in some, but not all, cancer patients. Understanding the mechanisms that determine tumor sensitivity to these drugs could potentially expand the number of patients who benefit (see the Perspective by Ghorani and Quezada). Pan
et al.
discovered that tumor cells in which a specific SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex had been experimentally inactivated were more sensitive to T cell–mediated killing. The cells were more responsive to interferon-γ, leading to increased secretion of cytokines that promote antitumor immunity. Miao
et al.
examined the genomic features of tumors from patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who had been treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Tumors harboring inactivating mutations in
PBRM1
, which encodes a subunit of the same SWI/SNF complex, were more likely to respond to the drugs.

Science
, this issue p.
770
, p.
801
; see also p.
745
A major chromatin regulator determines resistance of tumor cells to T cell–mediated killing
Authors: Pan Deng , Kobayashi Aya , Jiang Peng , Ferrari de Andrade Lucas , Tay Rong En , Luoma Adrienne M. , Tsoucas Daphne , Qiu Xintao , Lim Klothilda , Rao Prakash , Long Henry W. , Yuan Guo-Cheng , Doench John , Brown Myles , Liu X. Shirley , Wucherpfennig Kai W.
Published: January 2018

SNF'ing out antitumor immunity

Immune checkpoint inhibitors induce durable tumor regressions in some, but not all, cancer patients. Understanding the mechanisms that determine tumor sensitivity to these drugs could potentially expand the number of patients who benefit (see the Perspective by Ghorani and Quezada). Pan
et al.
discovered that tumor cells in which a specific SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex had been experimentally inactivated were more sensitive to T cell–mediated killing. The cells were more responsive to interferon-γ, leading to increased secretion of cytokines that promote antitumor immunity. Miao
et al.
examined the genomic features of tumors from patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who had been treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Tumors harboring inactivating mutations in
PBRM1
, which encodes a subunit of the same SWI/SNF complex, were more likely to respond to the drugs.

Science
, this issue p.
770
, p.
801
; see also p.
745
Structure of a human catalytic step I spliceosome
Authors: Zhan Xiechao , Yan Chuangye , Zhang Xiaofeng , Lei Jianlin , Shi Yigong
Published: January 2018

Structure of the human spliceosome

Catalyzed by the spliceosome, precursor mRNA splicing proceeds in two steps: branching and exon ligation. Transition from the C (catalytic post-branching spliceosome) to the C* (catalytic pre-exon ligation spliceosome) complex is driven by the adenosine triphosphatase/helicase Prp16. Zhan
et al.
report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the human C complex, showing that two step I splicing factors stabilize the active site and link it to Prp16.

Science
, this issue p.
537
Vitamin C Potentiates the Killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by the First-Line Tuberculosis Drugs Isoniazid and Rifampin in Mice
Authors: Vilchèze Catherine , Kim John , Jacobs William R.
Published: January 2018

The treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis (TB) is long and cumbersome. Mismanagement of TB treatment can lead to the emergence of drug resistance in patients, so shortening the treatment duration could significantly improve TB chemotherapy and prevent the development of drug resistance. We previously discovered that high concentrations of vitamin C sterilize cultures of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. Here, we tested subinhibitory concentration of vitamin C in combination with TB drugs against
M. tuberculosis
in vitro
and in a mouse model of
M. tuberculosis
infection.
In vivo
, we showed that the vitamin C level in mouse serum can be increased by intraperitoneal injection of vitamin C to reach vitamin C levels close to the concentrations required for activity
in vitro
. Although vitamin C had no activity by itself in
M. tuberculosis
-infected mice, the combination of vitamin C with the first-line TB drugs isoniazid and rifampin reduced the bacterial burden in the lungs of
M. tuberculosis
-infected mice faster than isoniazid and rifampin combined in two independent experiments. These experiments suggest that the addition of vitamin C to first-line TB drugs could shorten TB treatment. Vitamin C, an inexpensive and nontoxic compound, could easily be added to the TB pharmacopeia to substantially improve chemotherapy outcome, which would have a significant impact on the worldwide TB community.
Rhomb-dominated crystallographic preferred orientations in incipiently deformed quartz sandstones: A potential paleostress indicator for quartz-rich rocks
Authors: Rahl Jeffrey M. , McGrew Allen J. , Fox Joshua A. , Latham Joshua R. , Gabrielson Tyler
Published: January 2018

We describe quartz crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs) from incipiently deformed quartz sandstones characterized by low-intensity but unambiguous alignment of the poles to positive {r} and/or negative {z} rhombs. These distinctive CPOs appear at minimal strains and in grains with scarcely modified original detrital boundaries. We consider the hypothesis that these patterns reflect Dauphiné twinning (a 180° misorientation about the c-axis) that preferentially affects grains oriented with the elastically stiffer z-rhombs at high angle to the maximum principal stress direction. Twinning facilitates elastic deformation by aligning the more compliant r-rhombs at high angle to the greatest principal stress. Crystallographic maps show that about two-thirds of all grains (by area) are twinned, and untwinned grains are oriented with an r-rhomb perpendicular to the inferred shortening direction. We document this pattern from low-grade quartzite from three locations: the Eureka Quartzite of northeastern Nevada (USA); the Mesón Group of northwestern Argentina; and the Antietam Formation of the Blue Ridge of central Virginia (USA). The widespread presence of these CPOs in minimally deformed quartz rocks suggests that they may be useful in defining paleostress trajectories.
Earth’s oldest mantle peridotites show entire record of late accretion
Authors: van de Löcht J. , Hoffmann J.E. , Li C. , Wang Z. , Becker H. , Rosing M.T. , Kleinschrodt R. , Münker C.
Published: January 2018

An important issue in Earth’s earliest history is the timing and mixing history of the late accreted material that supplied highly siderophile elements to Earth’s mantle after core segregation. Previously, constraints on ancient mantle processes could only be obtained indirectly from mantle-derived magmas such as basalts or komatiites. Relics of Eoarchean (older than 3.8 Ga) mantle were proposed to occur within the Eoarchean terrains of western Greenland. Here we provide geochemical evidence, including combined platinum group element (PGE) and Re-Os isotope data, showing that modern mantle-like peridotites occur at two localities in southwest Greenland. Rhenium-depletion model ages of these peridotites are mostly of Eoarchean age, in accord with U-Pb zircon ages of crosscutting granitoid intrusives. PGE abundances and patterns are similar to those of modern depleted mantle peridotites. For the first time, such patterns provide conclusive evidence for preservation of Eoarchean depleted mantle rocks that are clearly distinguishable from magmatic cumulates or komatiites. Abundances of Os, Ir, and Ru combined with Os isotope compositions in the Greenland peridotites reveal that primitive late accreted material appears to have been efficiently mixed into the sampled mantle domains by Eoarchean time.
Absolute ages of multiple generations of brittle structures by U-Pb dating of calcite
Authors: Hansman Reuben J. , Albert Richard , Gerdes Axel , Ring Uwe
Published: January 2018

Direct dating of brittle structures is challenging, especially absolute dating of diagenesis followed by a series of superimposed brittle deformation events. We report 22 calcite U-Pb ages from tectonites and carbonate host rocks that date 3 diagenetic and 6 brittle deformation events. Results show that U-Pb dating of calcite fibers from these structures is compatible with overprinting relationships. Ages indicate that diagenesis occurred between 147 ± 6 Ma and 103 ± 34 Ma, and was followed by top-to-the-south, layer-parallel shearing due to ophiolite obduction at 84 ± 5 Ma (2σ errors). Sheared top-to-the-northeast, layer-parallel veins were dated as 64 ± 4 Ma and are interpreted to have developed during postobduction exhumation. After this event, a series of strike-slip structures, which crosscut and reactivated older faults due to northwest-southeast horizontal shortening, were dated as 55 ± 22 Ma and 43 ± 6 Ma. Eight ages from strike-slip faults and thrusts resulting from northeast-southwest shortening range from 40.6 ± 0.5 Ma to 16.1 ± 0.2 Ma. The youngest ages are from minor overprinting fibers ranging in age between 7.5 ± 0.9 Ma and 1.6 ± 0.6 Ma. Our results show that U-Pb dating of calcite fibers can be successfully used to constrain a complicated succession of brittle deformation structures that encompasses two orogenies and an intervening extension period.
Recurrent cytomegalovirus colitis: a rare case of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome
Authors: Alukal Joseph , Asif Mohammed , Mundada Rachana , McNamee William B
Published: January 2018

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis usually occurs in patients with advanced immunosuppression when the CD4 count is <50 cells/μL. We reported a case of recurrent CMV colitis in a patient with HIV who presented with profuse lower gastrointestinal bleed. This was a case of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) manifesting as CMV colitis and has been reported only once in the literature previously. This patient had a CD4 count of 157 cells/μL and undetectable viral load after being on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 5 months, which was consistent with IRIS. The diagnosis of CMV was confirmed by a colonoscopy and a biopsy. This case highlights the fact that CMV colitis can manifest despite a moderately preserved CD4 count and the clinicians must have a high index suspicion for IRIS syndrome especially when someone was recently started on ART. Since effective treatment is available, it is important not to miss the diagnosis of CMV colitis.
Preparedness for delivering non-communicable disease services in primary care: access to medicines for diabetes and hypertension in a district in south India
Authors: Elias Maya Annie , Pati Manoj Kumar , Aivalli Praveenkumar , Srinath Bhanuprakash , Munegowda Chikkagollahalli , Shroff Zubin Cyrus , Bigdeli Maryam , Srinivas Prashanth N
Published: January 2018

Introduction

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become a major public health challenge worldwide; they account for 28 million deaths per year in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Like many other LMICs, India is struggling to organise quality care for a large NCD-affected population especially at the primary healthcare level. The aim of this study was to assess local health system preparedness in a south Indian primary healthcare setting for addressing diabetes and hypertension.

Methods

This paper draws on a mixed-methods research study on access to medicines conducted in Tumkur, Karnataka, India. We used quantitative data from household and health facility surveys, and qualitative data from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with health workers and patients. We identified systemic drivers that influence utilisation of services at government primary health centres (PHCs) using thematic analysis of qualitative data and a systems framework on access to medicines to assess supply and demand side factors.

Results

Majority of households depend on private facilities for diabetes and hypertension care because of the lack of laboratory facilities and frequent medicine stockouts at PHCs. Financial and managerial resource allocation for NCDs and prioritisation of care and processes related to NCDs was suboptimal compared to the prominence of this agenda at global and national levels. Primary healthcare has a limited role even in the activities under the national programme that addresses diabetes and hypertension.

Discussion

The study finds critical gaps in the preparedness of PHCs and district health systems in organising and managing care for diabetes and hypertension. Due to the lack of continuous care organised through PHCs, patients depend on expensive and often episodic care in the private sector. There is a need to improve managerial and financial resource allocation towards diabetes and hypertension (and other NCDs) at the district level.

Trial registration number

CTRI/2015/03/005640; Pre-results.
Adverse events in patients in home healthcare: a retrospective record review using trigger tool methodology
Authors: Schildmeijer Kristina Görel Ingegerd , Unbeck Maria , Ekstedt Mirjam , Lindblad Marléne , Nilsson Lena
Published: January 2018

Objective

Home healthcare is an increasingly common part of healthcare. The patients are often aged, frail and have multiple diseases, and multiple caregivers are involved in their treatment. This study explores the origin, incidence, types and preventability of adverse events (AEs) that occur in patients receiving home healthcare.

Design

A study using retrospective record review and trigger tool methodology.

Setting and methods

Ten teams with experience of home healthcare from nine regions across Sweden reviewed home healthcare records in a two-stage procedure using 38 predefined triggers in four modules. A random sample of records from 600 patients (aged 18 years or older) receiving home healthcare during 2015 were reviewed.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The cumulative incidence of AEs found in patients receiving home healthcare; secondary measures were origin, types, severity of harm and preventability of the AEs.

Results

The patients were aged 20–79 years, 280 men and 320 women. The review teams identified 356 AEs in 226 (37.7%; 95% CI 33.0 to 42.8) of the home healthcare records. Of these, 255 (71.6%; 95% CI 63.2 to 80.8) were assessed as being preventable, and most (246, 69.1%; 95% CI 60.9 to 78.2) required extra healthcare visits or led to a prolonged period of healthcare. Most of the AEs (271, 76.1%; 95% CI 67.5 to 85.6) originated in home healthcare; the rest were detected during home healthcare but were related to care outside home healthcare. The most common AEs were healthcare-associated infections, falls and pressure ulcers.

Conclusions

AEs in patients receiving home healthcare are common, mostly preventable and often cause temporary harm requiring extra healthcare resources. The most frequent types of AEs must be addressed and reduced through improvements in interprofessional collaboration. This is an important area for future studies.
Patient journey following lumbar spinal fusion surgery (LSFS): protocol for a multicentre qualitative analysis of the patient rehabilitation experience (FuJourn)
Authors: Rushton Alison , Staal J Bart , Verra Martin , Emms Andrew , Reddington Michael , Soundy Andrew , Cole Ashley , Willems Paul , Benneker Lorin , Masson Annabel , Heneghan Nicola R
Published: January 2018

Introduction

There has been a 65% increase in lumbar spinal fusion surgery (LSFS) worldwide over the last 13 years, with costs of £26 million to the UK National Health Service annually. Patient dissatisfaction with outcome and persistent pain and disability incurs further costs. Three trials provide low-quality evidence for the role of physiotherapy. Our UK surveys investigating physiotherapy/surgeon practice concluded rehabilitation should be tailored to the individual patient owing to considerable clinical heterogeneity. This study will explore the perceptions of patients who undergo LSFS to inform precision rehabilitation.

Methods and analysis

A qualitative study, using interpretive phenomenological analysis, will recruit a purposive sample (n=40) to ensure patterns of similarity and difference in their journeys can be explored. In-depth semistructured interviews will be undertaken following discharge from hospital and at 12 months postsurgery. Patients’ preoperative and postoperative experiences, underlying attitudes and beliefs towards the surgical intervention, facilitators and barriers to recovery, adherence to advice and physiotherapy, experiences of rehabilitation and return to normal function/activity/work will be explored. A 12-month patient diary will provide real time access to patient data, capturing a weekly record of life as lived, including symptoms, medication, experiences of stages of recovery, rehabilitation adherence, healthcare professional appointments, attitudes, their feelings and experiences throughout their journey. Data will be analysed in a number of stages in accordance with interpretive phenomenological analysis, supported using NVivo software. Analysis of the first interviews and patient diaries will afford a rich density of data to build an overall understanding of the patients’ lived experiences, informing the 12-month interview. Strategies (eg, reflexivity) will ensure trustworthiness.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has ethical approval (IRAS 223283). Findings will ensure that patient-driven data inform precision rehabilitation by understanding the patient journey. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
Pre-hospital detection of acute ischemic stroke secondary to emergent large vessel occlusion: lessons learned from electrocardiogram and acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Chartrain Alexander G , Kellner Christopher Paul , Mocco J
Published: January 2018

Currently, there is no device capable of detecting acute ischemic stroke (AIS) secondary to emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) in the pre-hospital setting. The inability to reliably identify patients that would benefit from primary treatment with endovascular thrombectomy remains an important limitation to optimizing emergency medical services (EMS) triage models and time-to-treatment. Several clinical grading scales that rely solely on clinical examination have been proposed and have demonstrated only moderate predictive ability for ELVO. Consequently, a technology capable of detecting ELVO in the pre-hospital setting would be of great benefit. An analogous scenario existed decades ago, in which pre-hospital detection of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was unreliable until the emergence of the 12-lead ECG and its adoption by EMS providers. This review details the implementation of pre-hospital ECG (PHECG) for the detection of AMI and explores how early experience with PHECG may be applied to ELVO detection devices, once they become available.
Fast acquisition cone-beam computed tomography: initial experience with a 10 s protocol
Authors: Srinivasan Visish M , Chintalapani Gouthami , Camstra Kevin Matthew , Effendi Sabih T , Cherian Jacob , Johnson Jeremiah N , Chen Stephen R , Kan Peter
Published: January 2018

Background

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) facilitates the acquisition of cross-sectional imaging in angiography suites using a rotational C-arm and digital flat panel detectors. The applications are numerous, including evaluation of implanted devices and localization of cerebrovascular lesions. We present and validate the clinical utility of an alternative fast CBCT acquisition protocol in the context of neurovascular device imaging.

Methods

Contrast-enhanced (CE)-CBCT images were acquired using a new 10 s protocol in a phantom head model, swine model, and in patients. The acquisition parameters of both the 10 s and 20 s protocols were exactly the same, except for fewer projections (250 projections in 10 s vs 500 projections in 20 s), resulting in reduced scan time. Image quality was measured quantitatively in a controlled phantom study and qualitatively by blinded reviewers. The latter was performed to assess the image quality of the 10 s protocol pertinent to the device visibility and its apposition to the parent artery.

Results

10 s CBCT images were comparable to 20 s CBCT in both phantom and animal studies. Of the 25 patient images, the reviewers agreed that they were able to discern the flow diverter struts and assess the apposition in all images. The overall rating for all 10 s images was 4.28 on a 5-point scale. No images were rated as less than 3, which was the average diagnostic quality. The ratings were concordant across three blinded reviewers (κ=0.411). Additionally, contrast and spatial resolution between 10 s and 20 s images were similar in non-human models.

Conclusions

CBCT images of neurovascular devices can be obtained successfully using a 10 s acquisition protocol. In addition, the 10 s protocol offers faster acquisition, thus allowing its use in awake patients and with an added advantage of lower radiation and contrast dose.
Evaluation of the therapeutic effects of rice husk nanosilica combined with platelet-derived growth factor in hepatic veno-occlusive disease
Authors: AL-Adham Eithar K. , Hassan Amal I. , Shebl Ahmed , Hazem M.M.
Published: January 2018

Veno-occlusive disease is an important pattern of hepatotoxicity associated with antineoplastic drugs. The study investigated the possible therapeutic effects of RHS nanoparticles combined with a PDGF on veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in liver elicited in rats with DAC. In this work, nanosilica (SiO2) was successfully prepared from rice husk, and its physicochemical characteristics were investigated using EDX, XRD, N2adsorption–desorption isotherm, SEM, and TEM. Forty-eight male Sprague–Dawely rats were distributed into 6 groups, with 8 rats in each. The first group served as the control. In the second group, animals were infused with DAC (0.015 mg/kg; 1–3 days) by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.). In the third group, rats were injected i.p. with DAC, and then at 24 h following the last dose of DAC, received nano-RHS incorporated with PDGF twice a week for 4 weeks. In the fourth group, normal animals were injected with RHS. In the fifth group, normal rats received PDGF, and in the sixth group, normal rats received nano-RHS combined with PDGF. The prepared nanosilica showed type II adsorption isotherm characteristic for mesoporous materials with a specific surface area of 236 m2/g. TEM imaging confirmed the production of nanoparticles via the followed preparation procedure. Radical scavenging potential for nano-RHS was determined using two different in-vitro assays: DPPH, and ABTS radicals. The results of this work show that administration of nano-RHS combined with PDGF significantly reversed the oxidative stress effects of DAC as evidenced by a decrease in liver function. It can be concluded that the nano-RHS combined with PDGF is useful in preventing oxidative stress and hepatic VOD induced by chemotherapy such as DAC.
Safety evaluation of freeway acceleration lanes based on crashes and simulated conflicts
Authors: Qin Lei , Persaud Bhagwant , Saleem Taha
Published: January 2018

Crash-based safety performance functions (SPFs) typically cannot account for all design and operational factors that contribute to crash frequency in assessing the safety impacts of these factors. An approach using surrogate safety measures can address this issue, providing these measures can be linked to crashes. This approach was explored by using microsimulation to generate and analyze conflicts for merge areas on Ontario freeways. Crash–conflict integrated SPFs with different time to collision thresholds were then developed and compared. The results of the conflict-based SPFs are in agreement with those from crash-based SPFs developed for the same sample, with logically negative coefficients for acceleration lane length and positive coefficients for traffic volumes. This suggests that the crash–conflict approach is a reasonable substitute for conventional crash prediction models in assessing the safety effects of design changes, especially for those changes that cannot be captured in the conventional models.
Increased Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Macrophages Are Involved inAstragalus membranaceus-Mediated Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Rats
Authors: Chen Chung-Chia , Chang Ling-Chuan , Yao Chun-Hsu , Hsu Yuan-Man , Lin Jia-Horng , Yang Tse-Yen , Chen Yung-Hsiang , Chen Yueh-Sheng
Published: January 2018

Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is one of 50 fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies have shown that AM extract can be a potential nerve growth-promoting factor, being beneficial for the growth of peripheral nerve axons. We further investigated the effects of AM extract on regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve transection model. Rats were divided into three groups ([Formula: see text]): normal saline (intraperitoneal) as the control, and 1.5[Formula: see text]g/kg or 3.0[Formula: see text]g/kg of AM extract (every other day for four weeks), respectively. We evaluated neuronal electrophysiology, neuronal connectivity, macrophage infiltration, expression levels and location of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and expression levels of both nerve growth factors (NGFs) and immunoregulatory factors. In the high-dose AM group, neuronal electrophysiological function (measured by nerve conductive velocity and its latency) was significantly improved ([Formula: see text]). Expression levels of CGRP and macrophage density were also drastically enhanced ([Formula: see text]). Expression levels of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), NGF, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-[Formula: see text], interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interferon (IFN)-[Formula: see text] were reduced in the high-dose AM group ([Formula: see text]), while FGF, NGF, PDGF, IL-1, and IFN-[Formula: see text] were increased in the low-dose AM group ([Formula: see text]). These results suggest that AM can modulate local inflammatory conditions, enhance nerve regeneration, and potentially increase recovery of a severe peripheral nerve injury.
Chrysanthemum indicum Inhibits Adipogenesis and Activates the AMPK Pathway in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice
Authors: Nepali Sarmila , Cha Ji-Yun , Ki Hyeon-Hui , Lee Hoon-Yeon , Kim Young-Ho , Kim Dae-Ki , Song Bong-Joon , Lee Young-Mi
Published: January 2018

Chrysanthemum indicum (CI) is widely distributed in China and many parts of the tropical world, and has been reported to have antibacterial, antiviral, anti-oxidant and immunomodulatory effects, but no information is available on its effects on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. This was undertaken to investigate the mechanism responsible for the effect of ethyl acetate fraction of CI (CIEA) on adipogenesis, in vitro and in vivo models of obesity. In the in vitro study, differentiating 3T3-L1 cells were treated with media to initiate differentiation (MDI) in the presence or absence of CIEA with different concentrations, and in the in vivo study, C57BL/6 mice were fed with HFD and administered CIEA daily for six weeks. Garcinia cambogia (GC) was used as the positive control, and was administered in the same manner as CIEA. Results showed CIEA reduced HFD-induced body weight gain, epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), and liver weight. In addition, CIEA significantly decreased serum lipid profiles, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) levels. Furthermore, CIEA also reduced leptin levels and increased adiponectin levels in serum, and significantly decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor [Formula: see text] (PPAR[Formula: see text]) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EPBs) levels, but increased PPAR[Formula: see text] level and the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in eWATs and in the liver tissues of HFD fed obese mice. Taken together, these results indicate CIEA might be beneficial for preventing obesity.
Rhodiola crenulata Attenuates γ-Ray Induced Cellular Injury via Modulation of Oxidative Stress in Human Skin Cells
Authors: Lin Kuen-Tze , Chang Tsu-Chung , Lai Feng-Yi , Lin Chun-Shu , Chao Hsing-Lung , Lee Shih-Yu
Published: January 2018

Skin injury is a major complication during radiation therapy and is associated with oxidative damage to skin cells. An effective and safe radioprotectant to prevent this skin damage is still unavailable. The Rhodiola crenulata root extract (RCE) has been reported to be a free radical scavenger and a potent anti-oxidant in both in vitro and in vivo models. In the current study, we investigated the effects of RCE on ionizing radiation-induced skin injury and its underlying mechanisms. HaCaT cells — a non-cancerous skin cell line together with HepG2, Caco2, A549, and OECM cancer cell lines — were pre-treated with RCE for 24[Formula: see text]h followed by exposure to 15 Gy using Caesium-137 as a γ-ray source. The cell viability was measured. In HaCaT cells, oxidative stress markers, cellular apoptosis pathways, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression were studied. We found that RCE significantly protected HaCaT cells, but not cancer cells from the loss of viability induced by exposure to ionizing radiation. RCE attenuated radiation-induced oxidative stress markers, cell apoptosis, MMP levels, and expression of cytokine genes. RCE also limited the induction of p53 and p21 by radiation exposure. These findings indicate that RCE may selectively protect the skin cells from ionizing radiation without altering its ability to kill cancer cells. Therefore, we suggest that RCE or its derivatives could serve as a novel radioprotective therapy.
Exact solutions, finite time singularities and non-singular universe models from a variety of Λ(t) cosmologies
Authors: Pan Supriya
Published: January 2018

Cosmological models with time-dependent [Formula: see text] (read as [Formula: see text]) have been investigated widely in the literature. Models that solve background dynamics analytically are of special interest. Additionally, the allowance of past or future singularities at finite cosmic time in a specific model signals for a generic test on its viabilities with the current observations. Following these, in this work we consider a variety of [Formula: see text] models focusing on their evolutions and singular behavior. We found that a series of models in this class can be exactly solved when the background universe is described by a spatially flat Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) line element. The solutions in terms of the scale factor of the FLRW universe offer different universe models, such as power-law expansion, oscillating, and the singularity free universe. However, we also noticed that a large number of the models in this series permit past or future cosmological singularities at finite cosmic time. At last we close the work with a note that the avoidance of future singularities is possible for certain models under some specific restrictions.
Kramers–Kronig method for determination of optical properties of PZT nanotubes fabricated by sol–gel method and porous anodic alumina with high aspect ratio
Authors: Pakizeh Esmaeil , Moradi Mahmood
Published: January 2018

Ferroelectric Pb(ZrTi)O3 (PZT) nanotubes were prepared by sol–gel method and porous anodic alumina (PAA) membrane using spin-coating technique. This method is based on filling-pyrolysis-filling process and the use of one-stage alumina membranes. One of the advantages of this method is its rapidity, which takes only 1 h time before the calcination step. The effect of repeated pores filling was investigated to get the required size of nanotubes. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) images were shown that the PZT nanotubes have inner diameters in the range of 65–90 nm and length of about 50–60 [Formula: see text]m. This means that the samples have a significant aspect ratio (700–800). Also the FE-SEM image confirmed that the highly ordered, hexagonally distributed PAA membranes with the pore diameter about 140–150 nm were formed. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the PZT nanotubes have a tetragonal structure. The metal oxide bands like ZrO6 and TiO6 of the final PZT nanotubes were detected by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis and confirmed the formation of perovskite structure. By using FT-IR spectroscopy and Kramers–Kronig transformation method, the optical constants like real [Formula: see text]([Formula: see text]) and imaginary [Formula: see text]([Formula: see text]) parts of dielectric function, extinction coefficient k([Formula: see text]) and refractive index n([Formula: see text]) were determined. It was shown that the optical constants of PZT nanotubes are different from PZT nanoparticles.
Anab initiostudy on the effect of iron atom junction on transport characteristics of carbon–silicon mixed chain
Authors: Hu Wei , Zhou Qinghua , Liu Wenhua , Liang Yan , Wang Tao , Wan Haiqing
Published: January 2018

The effect of iron atom junction on transport characteristics of carbon–silicon mixed chain has been studied from an ab initio study. At zero bias, the Fe(CSi)[Formula: see text] system appears to be the decrease of the conductance as the number of the Si–C pairs in the chain increases (n changes). When n [Formula: see text] 5, the conductance tends to zero. These changes are independent of the transferring charge of the system, depending on the coupling of the electrodes and the central region. Under bias, the higher the bias voltage, the bigger the transmission coefficient of the system, and the transmission peak moves closer to the Fermi level. The I–V curves of Fe(CSi)2and Fe (CSi)3are linear, showing the behavior of metal resistance.
Effect of heavy Ag doping on the physical properties of ZnO
Authors: Hou Qingyu , Zhao Chunwang , Jia Xiaofang , Xu Zhenchao
Published: January 2018

The band structure, density of state and absorption spectrum of Zn[Formula: see text]Ag[Formula: see text]O (x = 0.02778, 0.04167) were calculated. Results indicated that a higher doping content of Ag led to a higher total energy, lower stability, higher formation energy, narrower bandgap, more significant red shift of the absorption spectrum, higher relative concentration of free hole, smaller hole effective mass, lower mobility and better conductivity. Furthermore, four types of model with the same doping content of double Ag-doped Zn[Formula: see text]Ag[Formula: see text]O (x = 0.125) but different manners of doping were established. Two types of models with different doping contents of double Ag-doped Zn[Formula: see text]Ag[Formula: see text]O (x = 0.0626, 0.0833) but the same manner of doping, were also established. Under the same doping content and different ordering occupations in Ag double doping, the doped system almost caused magnetic quenching upon the nearest neighbor –Ag–O–Ag– bonding at the direction partial to the a- or b-axis. Upon the next-nearest neighbor of –Ag–O–Zn–O–Ag– bonding at the direction partial to the c-axis, the total magnetic moment of the doped system increased, and the doped system reached a Curie temperature above the room-temperature. All these results indicated that the magnetic moments of Ag double-doped ZnO systems decreased with increased Ag doping content. Within the range of the mole number of the doping content of 0.02778–0.04167, a greater Ag doping content led to a narrower bandgap of the doped system and a more significant red shift in the absorption spectrum. The absorption spectrum of the doped ZnO system with interstitial Ag also shows a red shift.
Phase-plane analysis to an “anisotropic” higher-order traffic flow model
Authors: Wu Chun-Xiu
Published: January 2018

The qualitative theory of differential equations is applied to investigate the traveling wave solution to an “anisotropic” higher-order viscous traffic flow model under the Lagrange coordinate system. The types and stabilities of the equilibrium points are discussed in the phase plane. Through the numerical simulation, the overall distribution structures of trajectories are drawn to analyze the relation between the phase diagram and the selected conservative solution variables, and the influences of the parameters on the system are studied. The limit-circle, limit circle-spiral point, saddle-spiral point and saddle-nodal point solutions are obtained. These steady-state solutions provide good explanation for the phenomena of the oscillatory and homogeneous congestions in real-world traffic.