bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Superb Microvascular Imaging in the Evaluation of Pediatric Graves Disease and Hashimoto Thyroiditis
Authors: Bayramoglu Zuhal , Kandemirli Sedat Giray , Akyol Sarı Zeynep Nur , Kardelen Aslı Derya , Poyrazoglu Sukran , Bas Firdevs , Darendeliler Feyza , Adaletli Ibrahim
Published: November 2019

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the differences between spectral Doppler and Superb Microvascular Imaging (SMI; Canon Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan) findings in children with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and Graves disease (GD) compared to healthy control participants.

Methods

The study included 34 patients with GD, 37 patients with HT, and 22 healthy volunteers. All patients with HT and 11 patients with GD were euthyroid; 23 patients with GD had symptoms of hyperthyroidism and had thyrotropin values of less than 0.5 mIU/L. Thyroid volumes, mean resistive indices, and peak systolic velocities along with vascularity indices (VIs) on Superb Microvascular Imaging were measured.

Results

Patients with GD had a significantly higher mean thyroid volume (P < .001; right lobe, 11.80 mL; left lobe, 9.10 mL) and peak systolic velocity (right, 32.5 cm/s; left, 30 cm/s) with a lower resistive index (right, 0.48%; left, 0.48%) compared to patients with HT (right, 8.78 mL, 20 cm/s, 0.55%; left, 7.41 mL, 20 cm/s, 0.55%, respectively) and also control participants (right, 4.59 mL, 15 cm/s, 0.56%; left, 3.52 mL, 15 cm/s, 0.54%). Patients with GD had a significantly higher median VI (right, 25%; left, 26%) compared to patients with HT (right, 11%; left, 13%) and control participants (right, 8%; left, 8%). When patients with GD were categorized as euthyroid and hyperthyroid based on thyrotropin levels and clinical symptoms, both euthyroid and hyperthyroid patients with GD had significantly higher thyroid volumes compared to patients with HT (P < .001). Hyperthyroid patients with GD had higher thyroid volumes compared to euthyroid patients with GD; however, the difference failed to reach statistical significance. A significant strong positive correlation with the VI and thyrotropin receptor autoantibody levels (r = 0.696) was found. The highest area under the curve was obtained for the right lobe VI (0.885), followed by the left lobe VI (0.872), right lobe volume (0.828), and peak systolic velocity (0.810). The optimal cutoff VI value for distinguishing between HT and GD was 17.35% with sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of 85.3%, 78.4%, and 81.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

Superb Microvascular Imaging is a new method that can detect subtle vascularity changes with higher accuracy compared to spectral Doppler parameters in distinguishing between HT and GD.
Miniaturized low‐pass filter based on defected ground structure and compensated microstrip line
Authors: Shi Ling‐Feng , Fan Ze‐Yuan , Xin Dong‐jin
Published: November 2019

This article presents a low‐pass filter combining asymmetric π‐type defect structure and microstrip line filter. Traditional single‐form defected ground structure filters often require cascading to have good suppression, which can result in increasing board size and cost. The top layer of the proposed filter is in the form of a stepped impedance microstrip line, and the bottom layer uses a defective structure. Simulation and experimental results show that the filter combining the new defect structure and the microstrip line has a very sharp transition zone and deeper suppression depth than the existing symmetrical or asymmetric defect structure. The proposed structure has an ultracompact size of 356 mm2, and the results show an insertion loss from 0 to 2.2 GHz as low as 0.8 dB and a wide stop band of more than 30 dB from 3.3 to 9.8 GHz.
Counterintuitive deshielding on the 13C NMR chemical shift for the trifluoromethyl anion
Authors: Viesser Renan V. , Tormena Cláudio F.
Published: November 2019

The trifluoromethyl anion (CF3−) displays 13C NMR chemical shift (175.0 ppm) surprisingly larger than neutral (CHF3, 122.2 ppm) and cation (CF3+, 150.7 ppm) compounds. This unexpected deshielding effect for a carbanion is investigated by density functional theory calculations and decomposition analyses of the 13C shielding tensor into localized molecular orbital contributions. The present work determines the shielding mechanisms involved in the observed behaviour of the fluorinated anion species, shedding light on the experimental NMR data and demystify the classical correlation between electron density and NMR chemical shift. The presence of fluorine atoms induces the carbon lone pair to create a paramagnetic shielding on the carbon nucleus.
Trepanation and (ritual?) perimortem actions in the Neolithic period at Grotta Patrizi (Lazio, Italy)
Authors: Zemour Aurélie
Published: November 2019

Grotta Patrizi (Cerveteri, Roma, Lazio) discovered by Patrizi in 1933 is a vast karst network. Excavation by Radmilli revealed an individual burial reliably attributed to the Ceramica a Linee Incise group that contributed to the Neolithization of central and Tyrrhenian Italy around 5000 cal BC. The remains of the individual bore signs of numerous pathological conditions and of trepanation. Expanding on previous studies, a stereomicroscopic examination of the trepanation site suggests new interpretations of the bone changes. This latest analysis confirms the hypothesis that the individual survived an initial complete trepanation, and it specifies the nature and form of the operator's hand movements. A repeat intervention was apparently made during the perimortem period. It can be hypothesized that this intervention was performed after the death of the individual and possibly on the severed head of the deceased, as an integral part of the funerary treatment. If so, this would be the earliest evidence of the practice of ritual trepanation in this chrono‐cultural context.
Characterization and Mobility Analysis of Normally off Hydrogen‐Terminated Diamond Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Zhang Jin-Feng , Chen Wan-Jiao , Ren Ze-Yang , Su Kai , Yang Peng-Zhi , Hu Zhuang-Zhuang , Zhang Jin-Cheng , Hao Yue
Published: November 2019

Hydrogen‐terminated diamond (H‐diamond) metal–oxide–semiconductor field‐effect transistors (MOSFETs) are fabricated, and a partial C–O channel is formed by UV‐ozone treatment of the H‐diamond surface to help realize normally off devices. The first parameterization of the vertical‐field (Feff)‐dependent effective hole mobility (μeff) in a normally off diamond FET is conducted using the fabricated MOSFETs with a gate length of 40 μm fat field‐effect transistors (FATFET). The FATFET with a threshold voltage of −0.69 V shows a low on‐resistance of 475.1 Ω mm and a record high drain current of −3.8 mA mm−1 for normally off H‐diamond MOSFETs with gate lengths over 20 μm. The extracted μeff ranges from 127 cm2(V s)−1 (at VGS = −4.5 V) to 276 cm2(V s)−1 (at VGS = −1.5 V). Both μeff versus Feff and μeff versus VGS relations can be well fitted by the semiempirical formulas used for silicon counterparts. The resulting low‐field mobility without vertical‐field degradation for the two relations is 376 cm2(V s)−1 and 418 cm2(V s)−1, respectively. The origin of this difference is also given.
Regional Bandgap Tailoring of 1550 nm‐Band InAs Quantum Dot Intermixing by Controlling Ion Implantation Depth
Authors: Isawa Shohei , Akashi Yota , Morita Ryosuke , Kaneko Runa , Okada Hirokazu , Matsumoto Atsushi , Akahane Koichi , Matsushima Yuichi , Ishikawa Hiroshi , Utaka Katsuyuki
Published: November 2019

The regional control of the bandgap energies using the highly stacked quantum dot (QD) on InP(311)B substrate changing ion implantation depths in the process of the quantum dot intermixing (QDI) technique is investigated. The QDI process involves B+ implantation and rapid thermal annealing (RTA) around 600 °C, in which the ion implantation depths are controlled regionally with a combination of SiO2 and polymer (AZ) films. Controlled blue shifts of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra verify the effectiveness of the regionally controlled QDI process for application to semiconductor photonic integrated circuits using 1550 nm‐band QD such as integrated wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) light sources.
Magnetically Controllable Piezotronic Responses in a Composite Semiconductor Fiber with Multiferroic Coupling Effects
Authors: Cheng Ruoran , Zhang Chunli , Zhang Chuanzeng , Chen Weiqiu
Published: November 2019

Herein, a multiferroic composite semiconductor (MCS) fiber, in which the carriers transport behaviors can be effectively controlled by applying a magnetic field, is proposed. The fiber consists of two outer piezomagnetic (PM) layers, two piezoelectric (PE) layers, and a semiconducting core, and hence exhibits the comprehensive magneto–electro–semiconductive (MES) coupling effects. Based on the basic equations of multiferroic composites and the drift‐diffusion model of currents in semiconductor physics, a 1D theoretical model for the laminated MCS fiber with the MES coupling effects is presented, and an analysis of the extensional deformation induced by a magnetic field is conducted. The electrons move toward one end of the fiber under the PE field resulting from the MES coupling mechanism. As a result, this leads to the redistribution of electrons in the fiber. Theoretical results show that the magnetic field as well as the initial concentration of carriers and the volume fraction of the PM or PE layer have obvious effects on the carriers transport properties and mechanical behaviors of the MCS fiber. Compared with the mechanical tuning method of piezotronics, such a magnetic field based tuning method via the MES coupling effects has some advantages because it is remote and contactless.
Ferroelectric Polarization Switching Behavior of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 Gate Dielectrics on Gallium Nitride High‐Electron‐Mobility‐Transistor Heterostructures
Authors: Wu Chunlei , Ye Hansheng , Grisafe Benjamin , Datta Suman , Fay Patrick
Published: November 2019

Ferroelectric (FE) materials have strong polarization effects and are switchable by the applied electric field, making them attractive candidates for polarization engineering in GaN‐based devices. Herein, the FE response of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on AlGaN/GaN high‐electron‐mobility transistor (HEMT) heterostructures is characterized and analyzed in both metal–ferroelectric–semiconductor (MFS) and metal–ferroelectric–oxide–semiconductor (MFOS) configurations. Strong 2D‐electron gas (2DEG) channel modulation from FE polarization switching is observed. Significant FE polarization switching as well as distinct polarization recovery behavior is observed for the first time in GaN transistor structures. The polarization recovery appears to be related to the presence of significant coupling between the FE layer and the 2DEG channel at the AlGaN/GaN heterointerface. These results have significant implications for the design of devices exploiting FE effects in GaN and related materials.
Caffeine consumption during development alters spine density and recovery from repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in young adult rats
Authors: Christensen Jennaya , Yamakawa Glenn R. , Salberg Sabrina , Wang Melinda , Kolb Bryan , Mychasiuk Richelle
Published: November 2019

Caffeine is the most commonly used psychostimulant throughout the world, with its consumption being especially prevalent among adolescents and young adults, as over 75% of this group consumes caffeine daily. Similarly, the adolescent and young adult age group exhibit the highest incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Given that both caffeine consumption and mild TBI (mTBI) are more prevalent among the late adolescent/young adult age group and that changes in dendritic spine morphology during this developmental period are poorly understood, this study sought to examine the effects of caffeine consumption during late adolescence/early adulthood on recovery from repetitive mTBI (RmTBI). The study specifically focused on changes to neuronal dendritic morphology as synaptic changes likely underlie long‐term behavioral outcomes. The results demonstrate that during young adulthood caffeine consumption differentially affects the RmTBI outcomes of males and females, where the effects of caffeine and RmTBI were often additive in males while being equally detrimental, but rarely additive, in females. In general, caffeine and RmTBI induced the greatest impairments in males on cognitive and motor tasks whereas in females the most significant detriments were on pain‐related tasks. Both caffeine and RmTBI increased spine density in the Cg3 (medial prefrontal cortex [mPFC]), AID (orbitofrontal cortex [OFC]), and nucleus accumbens (NAc), which is proposed to reflect an impairment in the normal pruning processes. Overall, despite caffeine's neuroprotective abilities among other age groups, this study offers concerning results regarding the detrimental effects of caffeine and RmTBI, in isolation, and especially in combination, in this susceptible population.
Comparison of SB‐SDS and other decellularization methods for the acellular nerve graft: Biological evaluation and nerve repair in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Han Li‐Wei , Xu Gang , Guo Mei‐Yu , Chang Yv‐Ang , Zhang Yu , Zhao Yan‐Tao , Li Zhong‐Hai
Published: November 2019

We aimed to compare the performance of acellular nerves prepared by different decellularization methods, screening out the optimal decellularization protocol, repairing the sciatic nerve defects in rats by the allogeneic transplantation, and evaluating the effect of regenerative nerve on the function reconstruction. The Sondell, SB‐SDS, TnBP, and the high/low permeation methods were used to decellularize donor nerves. Nerves without any treatment were as the control group. The histological results were evaluated by HE staining and toluidine blue (TB) staining. The proliferation activity of L929 cells was detected by CCK‐8 assay. The adhesion of Schwann cells was observed and quantified by SEM. Balb/c mice were used to evaluate the cellular and humoral immunogenicity of the nerve scaffolds. The rat sciatic nerve defect model was applied to observe the repair effect of acellular nerve scaffold in vivo. To SB‐SDS group, it remained the original state of the nerves, with no observed nucleus and axons, the neurotoxicity grade detected by CCK‐8 being almost 0, and it kept the largest number of Schwann cells adhered to the acellular nerve and the better morphology. Further, it showed that the selected SB‐SDS rats acellular nerve scaffold could promote the nerve repair of the rats by HE staining and TB staining. We could conclude that the acellular nerve matrix prepared by the SB‐SDS method effectively removes the cellular components in the nerve tissue and retains the main components of the extracellular matrix of the nerve tissue, whose rats decellularized nerve scaffold could promote the sciatic nerve repair better.
On the nomenclature of the fossil‐genera Acitheca, Bifariusotheca, Polymorphopteris and Strephopteris (fossil Pteridophyta, Marattiopsida)
Authors: Doweld Alexander B.
Published: November 2019

The complicated nomenclatural history of the extinct fossil‐genera Acitheca and Strephopteris (fertile foliage) and Polymorphopteris (sterile foliage), established for fossil ferns (Marattiopsida), is reviewed and corrected with new bibliographic and historical data. Strephopteris as a generic name established for fertile foliage of Acitheca‐type has priority, but due to the long and widespread use of Acitheca it was recently proposed to reject it in favour of the established name Acitheca. Since Acitheca as a fossil‐genus was established for distinctive fertile foliage, but its currently accepted type, A. polymorpha (≡ Pecopteris polymorpha), was founded on sterile foliage, it is proposed to reject this type and return to the earlier concept of Sterzel who thought that Acitheca was typified by the fossil‐species Scolecopteris conspicua, based on fertile foliage. This procedure requires official conservation of the type. Correction of the type allows continuing the current use of another fossil‐genus, Polymorphopteris, which was inadvertently validated on the same type as Acitheca. The legitimization of the fossil‐genus Polymorphopteris, based on sterile foliage only, will stabilize the current established systematics of fossil marattiopsid remains, for which no fertile organs are known. Since Scolecopteris conspicua, when established as a fertile counterpart of sterile foliage known as Pecopteris polymorpha, originally included two unrelated archetypes of fertile foliage, known as compressions and petrifactions, the typification of the fossil‐species by fossil specimens known as compressions allows continued use of Acitheca as a distinct fossil‐genus for fertile foliage as compressions. The petrifactions formerly attributed to A. polymorpha from younger sediments (Lower Permian) of France are re‐considered as a distinct fossil‐species, Scolecopteris renaultii sp. nov. The formerly not validly published fossil‐genus Bifariusotheca for Acitheca‐like fossils from the Permian of China is validated. Kamatheca is validated for the aberrant Angaridan fossil‐species, Acitheca gigantea. Nine not validly published fossil‐species of Polymorphopteris are validated to follow modern circumscription of the fossil‐genus: Polymorphopteris cistii comb. nov., P. gothanii comb. nov., P. integra comb. nov., P. magdalenae sp. nov., P. multifurcata comb. nov., P. oblongifolia comb. nov., P. pseudobucklandii comb. nov., P. pseudointegra comb. nov., and P. wagneri sp. nov. Callipteridium subelegans and Scolecopteris conspicua are neotypified; Acitheca isomorpha and Pecopteris cistii are lectotypified. As an addition to Taxonomic literature II records, the precise dates of publication of the taxonomic works of Germar's Versteinerungen (1844–1853) and Schimper & Schenk's Palaeophytologie (1879–1890) are established for the first time.
Feasibility test of autotrophic denitrification of industrial wastewater in sequencing batch and static granular bed reactors
Authors: Tan Yuan , Park Jaeyoung , Ikuma Kaoru , Evans Eric A. , Flamming James J. , Ellis Timothy G.
Published: November 2019

In order to evaluate the efficacy of using reduced sulfur species in lieu of conventional substrates, a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was used to develop an autotrophic denitrifying culture which in turn was used to seed a static granular bed reactor (SGBR) for continuous flow treatment. Both bioreactors were able to quickly acclimate to the anoxic environment and achieve stable autotrophic denitrification within several weeks of being placed in operation. The seed for the SBR was obtained from operating basins at the Cedar Rapids plant. MiSeq analysis showed the presence of the autotrophic denitrifier Thiobacillus in the seed from the sulfur oxidation basin; however, Shinella and Sulfurovum became the dominant autotrophic denitrifiers in the SBR. Both the SBR and SGBR achieved excellent nitrate removal (i.e., >95%) with stoichiometric amounts of thiosulfate added to the synthetic influent. The results of this feasibility study suggest that anaerobic granules from the UASB at the plant serve as good seed biomass for autotrophic denitrification when augmented by sulfur oxidation basin and sulfide scrubber biomass, and that reduced sulfur species at the plant (or augmented with an external sulfur source) can serve as electron donors for nearly complete denitrification.

Practitioner points

Autotrophic denitrification of industrial wastewater was investigated to evaluate reduced sulfur species as electron donor for nitrogen removal.

An autotrophic denitrifying culture was cultivated in an SBR, and continuous autotrophic denitrification was accomplished in an SGBR.

No increase in head loss was observed in the SGBR, and it was able to operate without the need for backwashing in more than 200 days of operation.

Reduced sulfur was demonstrated to be a sufficient electron donor for nearly complete denitrification.

MiSeq analysis resolved primary species responsible for autotrophic denitrification in this study.
Asymptotic structure of Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory and its five dimensional origin
Authors: Lü H. , Mao Pujian , Wu Jun-Bao
Published: November 2019

Abstract

We consider Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory in four dimensions including the Kaluza-Klein theory and obtain the general asymptotic solutions in Bondi gauge. We find that there are three different types of news functions representing gravitational, electromagnetic, and scalar radiations. The mass density at any angle of the system can only decrease whenever there is any type of news function. The solution space of the Kaluza-Klein theory is also lifted to five dimensions. We also compute the asymptotic symmetries in both four dimensional Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory and five dimensional pure Einstein theory. We find that the symmetry algebras of the two theories are the same.
Nested coordinate Bethe wavefunctions from the Bethe/Gauge correspondence
Authors: Foda Omar , Manabe Masahide
Published: November 2019

Abstract

In [1, 2], Nekrasov applied the Bethe/Gauge correspondence to derive the $$ \mathfrak{su} $$
su
(2) XXX spin-chain coordinate Bethe wavefunction from the IR limit of a 20 $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (2, 2) supersymmetric A1 quiver gauge theory with an orbifold-type codimension-2 defect. Later, Bullimore, Kim and Lukowski implemented Nekrasov’s construction at the level of the UV A1 quiver gauge theory, recovered his result, and obtained further extensions of the Bethe/Gauge correspondence [3]. In this work, we extend the construction of the defect to AM quiver gauge theories to obtain the $$ \mathfrak{su} $$
su
(M + 1) XXX spin-chain nested coordinate Bethe wavefunctions. The extension to XXZ spin-chain is straightforward. Further, we apply a Higgsing procedure to obtain more general AM quivers and the corresponding wavefunctions, and interpret this procedure (and the Hanany-Witten moves that it involves) on the spin-chain side in terms of Izergin-Korepin-type specializations (and re-assignments) of the parameters of the coordinate Bethe wavefunctions.
Simple perturbatively traversable wormholes from bulk fermions
Authors: Marolf Donald , McBride Sean
Published: November 2019

Abstract

A new class of traversable wormholes was recently constructed which relies only on local bulk dynamics rather than an explicit coupling between distinct boundaries. Here we begin with a four-dimensional Weyl fermion field of any mass m propagating on a classical background defined by a Z2 quotient of (rotating) BTZ × S1. This setup allows one to compute the fermion stress-energy tensor exactly. For appropriate boundary conditions around a non-contractible curve, perturbative back-reaction at any m renders the associated wormhole traversable and suggests it can become eternally traversable at the limit where the background becomes extremal. A key technical step is the proper formulation of the method of images for fermions in curved spacetime. We find the stress- energy of spinor fields to have important kinematic differences from that of scalar fields, typically causing the sign of the integrated null stress-energy (and thus in many cases the sign of the time delay/advance) to vary around the throat of the wormhole. Similar effects may arise for higher-spin fields.
The fate of instability of de Sitter black holes at large D
Authors: Li Peng-Cheng , Zhang Cheng-Yong , Chen Bin
Published: November 2019

Abstract

We study non-linearly the gravitational instabilities of the Reissner- Nordstrom-de Sitter and the Gauss-Bonnet-de Sitter black holes by using the large D expansion method. In both cases, the thresholds of the instability are found to be con- sistent with the linear analysis, and on the thresholds the evolutions of the black holes under the perturbations settle down to stationary lumpy solutions. However, the solutions in the unstable region are highly time-dependent, and resemble the fully localized black spots and black ring with SD−2 and S1× SD−3 topologies, respectively. Our study indi- cates the possible transition between the lumpy black holes and the localized black holes in higher dimensions.
Investigating spatial concentration of sustainable restaurants: It is all about good food!
Authors: Enthoven Margo P. M. , Brouwer Aleid E.
Published: November 2019

This research addresses the role of sustainable demand and psychological and cultural factors in the spatial concentration of sustainable SMEs. We analyze the spatial concentration of sustainable SMEs in the restaurant sector in the Netherlands. We argue that traditional agglomeration theories can partially explain spatial concentration of sustainable SMEs, but are not sufficient in explaining the sub-sector concentration of sustainable entrepreneurs. Demand, psychological and cultural factors could explain sub-sector concentration of sustainable restaurants. We use sustainable entrepreneurship theory to explain this difference. We analyze spatial concentration of sustainable SMEs in three ways. First, we investigate spatial concentration based on all individual locations of sustainable restaurants with an average nearest neighbor analysis. Second, we analyze spatial autocorrelation with use of the Moran’s I statistic. Finally, we map the clustering of sustainable restaurants with a Getis–Ord Gi* analysis. We use sustainable restaurants as a percentage of conventional restaurants in a region in the Netherlands. While controlling for conventional clustering, we find a single large cluster of sustainable restaurants. Arguably, this clustering is caused by a spatial variation of demand and individual psychological traits of sustainable entrepreneurs, which together represent a regional culture of sustainable entrepreneurship.
GRACE gravity field recovery with background model uncertainties
Authors: Kvas Andreas , Mayer-Gürr Torsten
Published: November 2019

In this article, we present a computationally efficient method to incorporate background model uncertainties into the gravity field recovery process. While the geophysical models typically used during the processing of GRACE data, such as the atmosphere and ocean dealiasing product, have been greatly improved over the last years, they are still a limiting factor of the overall solution quality. Our idea is to use information about the uncertainty of these models to find a more appropriate stochastic model for the GRACE observations within the least squares adjustment, thus potentially improving the gravity field estimates. We used the ESA Earth System Model to derive uncertainty estimates for the atmosphere and ocean dealiasing product in the form of an autoregressive model. To assess our approach, we computed time series of monthly GRACE solutions from L1B data in the time span of 2005 to 2010 with and without the derived error model. Intercomparisons between these time series show that noise is reduced on all spatial scales, with up to 25% RMS reduction for Gaussian filter radii from 250 to 300 km, while preserving the monthly signal. We further observe a better agreement between formal and empirical errors, which supports our conclusion that used uncertainty information does improve the stochastic description of the GRACE observables.
[89Zr]Zr-cetuximab PET/CT as biomarker for cetuximab monotherapy in patients with RAS wild-type advanced colorectal cancer
Authors: van Helden E. J. , Elias S. G. , Gerritse S. L. , van Es S. C. , Boon E. , Huisman M. C. , van Grieken N. C. T. , Dekker H. , van Dongen G. A. M. S. , Vugts D. J. , Boellaard R. , van Herpen C. M. L. , de Vries E. G. E. , Oyen W. J. G. , Brouwers A. H. , Verheul H. M. W. , Hoekstra O. S. , Menke-van der Houven van Oordt C. W.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

One-third of patients with RAS wild-type mCRC do not benefit from anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. This might be a result of variable pharmacokinetics and insufficient tumor targeting. We evaluated cetuximab tumor accumulation on [89Zr]Zr-cetuximab PET/CT as a potential predictive biomarker and determinant for an escalating dosing strategy.

Patients and methods

PET/CT imaging of [89Zr]Zr-cetuximab (37 MBq/10 mg) after a therapeutic pre-dose (500 mg/m2 ≤ 2 h) cetuximab was performed at the start of treatment. Patients without visual tumor uptake underwent dose escalation and a subsequent [89Zr]Zr-cetuximab PET/CT. Treatment benefit was defined as stable disease or response on CT scan evaluation after 8 weeks.

Results

Visual tumor uptake on [89Zr]Zr-cetuximab PET/CT was observed in 66% of 35 patients. There was no relationship between PET positivity and treatment benefit (52% versus 80% for PET-negative, P = 0.16), progression-free survival (3.6 versus 5.7 months, P = 0.15), or overall survival (7.1 versus 9.4 months, P = 0.29). However, in 67% of PET-negative patients, cetuximab dose escalation (750–1250 mg/m2) was applied, potentially influencing outcome in this group. None of the second [89Zr]Zr-cetuximab PET/CT was positive. Eighty percent of patients without visual tumor uptake had treatment benefit, making [89Zr]Zr-cetuximab PET/CT unsuitable as a predictive biomarker. Tumor SUVpeak did not correlate to changes in tumor size on CT (P = 0.23), treatment benefit, nor progression-free survival. Cetuximab pharmacokinetics were not related to treatment benefit. BRAF mutations, right-sidedness, and low sEGFR were correlated with intrinsic resistance to cetuximab.

Conclusion

Tumor uptake on [89Zr]Zr-cetuximab PET/CT failed to predict treatment benefit in patients with RAS wild-type mCRC receiving cetuximab monotherapy. BRAF mutations, right-sidedness, and low sEGFR correlated with intrinsic resistance to cetuximab.
Clonal relationship of marginal zone lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in Sjogren's syndrome patients: case series study and review of the literature
Authors: Gorodetskiy Vadim Romanovich , Probatova Natalya Alexandrovna , Radenska-Lopovok Stefka Gospodinova , Ryzhikova Natalya Valerievna , Sidorova Yulia Vladimirovna , Sudarikov Andrey Borisovich
Published: November 2019

The occurrence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the course of Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is considered to be equally related either to the development of DLBCL de novo or to the transformation from marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). However, the question of possible clonal relationship between MZL and DLBCL in the group of SS patients remains open. Here we present the data concerning 194 patients with lymphoma complicated SS followed up at Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology during the last 22 years. Molecular analysis of tumor cells was performed for 6 SS patients who had developed both MZL and DLBCL. To assess clonal relationship between each of the tumor pairs immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) gene rearrangements were identified according BIOMED-2 protocol by means of multiplex polymerase chain reaction followed by GeneScan fragment analysis. Despite different localization MZL and DLBCL were clonally related in five tumor pairs. The median time to transformation was 11 months (range 0–78 months). MZL and DLBCL were clonally related in most cases from our cohort of SS patients. No statistically significant difference in survival between patients with DLBCL transformed from MZL and patients with de novo DLBCL was found in the cohort of SS patients investigated.
Effect of mountain ultra-marathon running on plasma angiopoietin-like protein 4 and lipid profile in healthy trained men
Authors: Górecka Monika , Krzemiński Krzysztof , Buraczewska Monika , Kozacz Agnieszka , Dąbrowski Jan , Ziemba Andrzej Wojciech
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) regulates lipid metabolism by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase activity and stimulating lipolysis in adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to find out whether the mountain ultra-marathon running influences plasma ANGPTL4 and whether it is related to plasma lipid changes.

Methods

Ten healthy men (age 31 ± 1.1 years) completed a 100-km ultra-marathon running. Plasma ANGPTL4, free fatty acids (FFA), triacylglycerols (TG), glycerol (Gly), total cholesterol (TC), low (LDL-C) and high (HDL-C) density lipoprotein-cholesterol were determined before, immediately after the run and after 90 min of recovery.

Results

Plasma ANGPTL4 increased during exercise from 68.0 ± 16.5 to 101.2 ± 18.1 ng/ml (p < 0.001). This was accompanied by significant increases in plasma FFA, Gly, HDL-C and decreases in plasma TG concentrations (p < 0.01). After 90 min of recovery, plasma ANGPTL4 and TG did not differ significantly from the exercise values, while plasma FFA, Gly, TC and HDL-C were significantly lower than immediately after the run.

TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C molar ratios were significantly reduced. The exercise-induced changes in plasma ANGPTL4 correlated positively with those of FFA (r = 0.73; p < 0.02), and HDL-C (r = 0.69; p < 0.05). Positive correlation was found also between plasma ANGPTL4 and FFA concentrations after 90 min of recovery (r = 0.77; p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The present data suggest that increase in plasma FFA during mountain ultra-marathon run may be involved in plasma ANGPTL4 release and that increase in ANGPTL4 secretion may be a compensatory mechanism against fatty acid-induced oxidative stress. Increase in plasma HDL-C observed immediately after the run may be due to the protective effect of ANGPTL4 on HDL.
Hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia promote glucose utilization and storage during low- and high-intensity exercise
Authors: Mohebbi Hamid , Campbell Iain T. , Keegan Marie A. , Malone James J. , Hulton Andrew T. , MacLaren Don P. M.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The effect of hyperglycaemia with and without additional insulin was explored at a low and high intensity of exercise (40% vs 70% VO2peak) on glucose utilization (GUR), carbohydrate oxidation, non-oxidative glucose disposal (NOGD), and muscle glycogen.

Methods

Eight healthy trained males were exercised for 120 min in four trials, twice at 40% VO2peak and twice at 70% VO2peak, while glucose was infused intravenously (40%G; 70%G) at rates to “clamp” blood glucose at 10 mM. On one occasion at each exercise intensity, insulin was also infused at 40 mU/m2/per min (i.e. 40%GI and 70%GI). The glucose and insulin infusion began 30 min prior to exercise and throughout exercise. A muscle biopsy was taken at the end of exercise for glycogen analysis.

Results

Hyperglycaemia significantly elevated plasma insulin concentration (p < 0.001), although no difference was observed between the exercise intensities. Insulin infusion during both mild and severe exercise resulted in increased insulin concentrations (p < 0.01) and GUR (p < 0.01) compared with glucose (40%GI by 25.2%; 70%GI by 26.2%), but failed to significantly affect carbohydrate, fat and protein oxidation. NOGD was significantly higher for GI trials at both intensities (p < 0.05) with storage occurring during both lower intensities (62.7 ± 19.6 g 40%GI; 127 ± 20.7 g 40%GI) and 70%GI (29.0 ± 20.0 g). Muscle glycogen concentrations were significantly depleted from rest (p < 0.01) after all four trials.

Conclusion

Hyperinsulinaemia in the presence of hyperglycaemia during both low- and high-intensity exercise promotes GUR and NOGD, but does not significantly affect substrate oxidation.
The Swallowing Characteristics of Thickeners, Jellies and Yoghurt Observed Using an In Vitro Model
Authors: Patel Simmi , McAuley William J. , Cook Michael T. , Sun Yi , Hamdy Shaheen , Liu Fang
Published: November 2019

Drinks and foods may be thickened to improve swallowing safety for dysphagia patients, but the resultant consistencies are not always palatable. Characterising alternative appetising foods is an important task. The study aims to characterise the in vitro swallowing behaviour of specifically formulated thickened dysphagia fluids containing xanthan gum and/or starch with standard jellies and yoghurt using a validated mechanical model, the “Cambridge Throat”. Observing from the side, the model throat can follow an experimental oral transit time (in vitro-OTT) and a bolus length (BL) at the juncture of the pharynx and larynx, to assess the velocity and cohesion of bolus flow. Our results showed that higher thickener concentration produced longer in vitro-OTT and shorter BL. At high concentration (spoon-thick), fluids thickened with starch-based thickener showed significantly longer in vitro-OTT than when xanthan gum-based thickener was used (84.5 s ± 34.5 s and 5.5 s ± 1.6 s, respectively, p < 0.05). In contrast, at low concentration (nectar-like), fluids containing xanthan gum-based thickener demonstrated shorter BL than those of starch-based thickener (6.4 mm ± 0.5 mm and 8.2 mm ± 0.8 mm, respectively, p < 0.05). The jellies and yoghurt had comparable in vitro-OTT and BL to thickeners at high concentrations (honey-like and spoon-thick), indicating similar swallowing characteristics. The in vitro results showed correlation with published in vivo data though the limitations of applying the in vitro swallowing test for dysphagia studies were noted. These findings contribute useful information for designing new thickening agents and selecting alternative and palatable safe-to-swallow foods.
Non-renormalized solutions to the continuity equation
Authors: Modena Stefano , Székelyhidi László
Published: November 2019

We show that there are continuous,$$W^{1,p}$$W1,p($$p<d-1$$p<d-1), incompressible vector fields for which uniqueness of solutions to the continuity equation fails.
Landslide response to the 27 October 2012 earthquake (MW 7.8), southern Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Barth Sophia , Geertsema Marten , Bevington Alexandre R. , Bird Alison L. , Clague John J. , Millard Tom , Bobrowsky Peter T. , Hasler Andreas , Liu Hongjiang
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we examine the influence of the 27 October 2012, Mw7.8 earthquake on landslide occurrence in the southern half of Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia, Canada. Our 1350 km2study area is undisturbed, primarily forested terrain that has not experienced road building or timber harvesting. Our inventory of landslide polygons is based on optical airborne and spaceborne images acquired between 2007 and 2018, from which we extracted and mapped 446 individual landslides (an average of 33 landslides per 100 km2). The landslide rate in years without major earthquakes averages 19.4 per year, or 1.4/100 km2/year, and the annual average area covered by non-seismically triggered landslides is 35 ha/year. The number of landslides identified in imagery closely following the 2012 earthquake, and probably triggered by it, is 244 or an average of about 18 landslides per 100 km2. These landslides cover a total area of 461 ha. In the following years—2013–2016 and 2016–2018—the number of landslides fell, respectively, to 26 and 13.5 landslides per year. In non-earthquake years, most landslides happen on south-facing slopes, facing the prevailing winds. In contrast, during or immediately after the earthquake, up to 32% of the landslides occurred on north and northwest-facing slopes. Although we could not find imagery from the day after the earthquake, overview reconnaissance flights 10 and 16 days later showed that most of the landslides were recent, suggesting they were co-seismic.
The application of a neural network-based ragweed pollen forecast by the Ragweed Pollen Alarm System in the Pannonian biogeographical region
Authors: Csépe Z. , Leelőssy Á. , Mányoki G. , Kajtor-Apatini D. , Udvardy O. , Péter B. , Páldy A. , Gelybó G. , Szigeti T. , Pándics T. , Kofol-Seliger A. , Simčič A. , Leru P. M. , Eftimie A.-M. , Šikoparija B. , Radišić P. , Stjepanović B. , Hrga I. , Večenaj A. , Vucić A. , Peroš-Pucar D. , Škorić T. , Ščevková J. , Bastl M. , Berger U. , Magyar D.
Published: November 2019

Ragweed Pollen Alarm System (R-PAS) has been running since 2014 to provide pollen information for countries in the Pannonian biogeographical region (PBR). The aim of this study was to develop forecast models of the representative aerobiological monitoring stations, identified by analysis based on a neural network computation. Monitoring stations with 7-day Hirst-type pollen trap having 10-year long validated data set of ragweed pollen were selected for the study from the PBR. Variables including forecasted meteorological data, pollen data of the previous days and nearby monitoring stations were used as input of the model. We used the multilayer perceptron model to forecast the pollen concentration. The multilayer perceptron (MLP) is a feedforward artificial neural network. MLP is a data-driven method to forecast the behaviour of complex systems. In our case, it has three layers, one of which is hidden. MLP utilizes a supervised learning technique called backpropagation for training to get better performance. By testing the neural network, we selected different sets of variables to predict pollen levels for the next 3 days in each of the monitoring stations. The predicted pollen level categories (low–medium–high–very high) are shown on isarithmic map. We used the mean square error, mean absolute error and correlation coefficient metrics to show the forecasting system’s performance. The average of the Pearson correlations is around 0.6 but shows big variability (0.13–0.88) among different locations. Model uncertainty is mainly caused by the limitation of the available input data and the variability in ragweed season patterns. Visualization of the results of the neural network forecast on isarithmic maps is a good tool to communicate pollen information to general public in the PBR.
Two Models of the Subject–Properties Structure
Authors: Piwowarczyk Marek
Published: November 2019

In the paper I discuss the problem of the nature of the relationship between objects and their properties. There are three contexts of the problem: of comparison, of change and of interaction. Philosophical explanations of facts indicated in the three contexts need reference to properties and to a proper understanding of a relationship between them and their bearers. My aim is to get closer to this understanding with the use of some models but previously I present the substantialist theory of object and shortly argue for its main theses. The two models enabling us the understanding of the subject–properties structure are: the plastic stuff model and the functional model. On the ground of the first a subject is compared to a piece of plastic stuff which is informed by different shapes. Properties are ways how a subject is, they “give” some “figure” to a subject. The core idea of the second model is that essences (performing the role of subjects) are immanent functional laws governing correlations of properties. As such they are similar to mathematical functions which are saturated by values. The relationship between a subject and properties can be grasped by analogy to such a saturation.
Anthropogenic disturbances alter the conservation value of karst dolines
Authors: Bátori Zoltán , Vojtkó András , Keppel Gunnar , Tölgyesi Csaba , Čarni Andraž , Zorn Matija , Farkas Tünde , Erdős László , Kiss Péter János , Módra Gábor , Breg Valjavec Mateja
Published: November 2019

Dolines are depressions in karst landscapes that are of high value for conservation, providing habitats and supporting species not found in the surrounding landscape. This is due to their high microhabitat diversity and ability to decouple microclimate from regional climate changes, making them potential refugia for biodiversity. Nevertheless, local anthropogenic disturbances have had considerable impact on the species composition and vegetation structure of many dolines. Here we investigate the conservation value of dolines in three European karst areas, where different levels and types of anthropogenic disturbances have been shaping the vegetation for centuries, using the number of plant species that are cool-adapted, moist-adapted and of high conservation importance (i.e. vulnerable species) as indicators. We found that anthropogenic disturbances generally have a negative impact, reducing the number of vulnerable species supported by dolines. However, more cool-adapted and moist-adapted species were found in some dolines planted with non-nativePicea abiesthan in less disturbed dolines, indicating that anthropogenic disturbances can also have positive consequences for biodiversity. We conclude that anthropogenic disturbances alter the capacity of dolines to support vulnerable species, and that this will impact survival of species in landscapes under global warming. In this context, the effects of various disturbances on species composition and diversity need to carefully considered to determine the best conservation and/or management options.
Seasonal assessment of drinking water sources in Rwanda using GIS, contamination degree (Cd), and metal index (MI)
Authors: Mukanyandwi Valentine , Kurban Alishir , Hakorimana Egide , Nahayo Lamek , Habiyaremye Gabriel , Gasirabo Aboubakar , Sindikubwabo Theoneste
Published: November 2019

The quality of drinking water source remains as a major concern in areas of developing and underdeveloped countries worldwide. The treatment and supply of drinking water in Rwanda are carried out by Water and Sanitation Corporation, a state-owned public company. However, it is not able to supply water to all households. Consequently, the non-serviced households depend on natural water sources, like springs, to meet their water requirements. Nevertheless, the water quality in these springs is scarcely known. Therefore, this study assessed and compared metal elements in drinking water sources in the dry and rainy seasons in 2017 using the contamination degree, metal index, and geographic information systems to reveal the spatial distribution of water quality within the considered water sources of springs in Rwanda. The samples were collected monthly from nine water sources of springs and the measured elements are aluminium, calcium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. The metal index indicated that during the dry season and rainy season, the sites of Kibungo (1.10 and 1.26) and Kinigi (1.01 and 1.54) have assessed a metal index which is higher than 1. Thus, the water quality of those sites was getting the threshold of warning. The analysis indicated that pollutants are easily transported into water bodies during the rainy season in urban and rural areas to a greater extent than during the dry season .
Various aspects of inflammation in heart failure
Authors: Dutka Mieczysław , Bobiński Rafał , Ulman-Włodarz Izabela , Hajduga Maciej , Bujok Jan , Pająk Celina , Ćwiertnia Michał
Published: November 2019

Despite significant advances in the prevention and treatment of heart failure (HF), the prognosis in patients who have been hospitalised on at least one occasion due to exacerbation of HF is still poor. Therefore, a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of HF is crucial in order to achieve better results in the treatment of this clinical syndrome. One of the areas that, for years, has aroused the interest of researchers is the activation of the immune system and the elevated levels of biomarkers of inflammation in patients with both ischaemic and non-ischaemic HF. Additionally, it is intriguing that the level of circulating pro-inflammatory biomarkers correlates with the severity of the disease and prognosis in this group of patients. Unfortunately, clinical trials aimed at assessing interventions to modulate the inflammatory response in HF have been disappointing, and the modulation of the inflammatory response has had either no effect or even a negative effect on the HF prognosis. The article presents a summary of current knowledge on the role of immune system activation and inflammation in the pathogenesis of HF. Understanding the immunological mechanisms pathogenetically associated with left ventricular remodelling and progression of HF may open up new therapeutic possibilities for HF.