bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recurrent homozygous damaging mutation in TMX2, encoding a protein disulfide isomerase, in four families with microlissencephaly
Authors: Ghosh Shereen Georges , Wang Lu , Breuss Martin W , Green Joshua D , Stanley Valentina , Yang Xiaoxu , Ross Danica , Traynor Bryan J , Alhashem Amal M , Azam Matloob , Selim Laila , Bastaki Laila , Elbastawisy Hanan I , Temtamy Samia , Zaki Maha , Gleeson Joseph G
Published: October 2019

Background

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) proteins are part of the thioredoxin protein superfamily. PDIs are involved in the formation and rearrangement of disulfide bonds between cysteine residues during protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum and are implicated in stress response pathways.

Methods

Eight children from four consanguineous families residing in distinct geographies within the Middle East and Central Asia were recruited for study. All probands showed structurally similar microcephaly with lissencephaly (microlissencephaly) brain malformations. DNA samples from each family underwent whole exome sequencing, assessment for repeat expansions and confirmatory segregation analysis.

Results

An identical homozygous variant in TMX2 (c.500G>A), encoding thioredoxin-related transmembrane protein 2, segregated with disease in all four families. This variant changed the last coding base of exon 6, and impacted mRNA stability. All patients presented with microlissencephaly, global developmental delay, intellectual disability and epilepsy. While TMX2 is an activator of cellular C9ORF72 repeat expansion toxicity, patients showed no evidence of C9ORF72 repeat expansions.

Conclusion

The TMX2 c.500G>A allele associates with recessive microlissencephaly, and patients show no evidence of C9ORF72 expansions. TMX2 is the first PDI implicated in a recessive disease, suggesting a protein isomerisation defect in microlissencephaly.
Feasibility of repeat transradial access for neuroendovascular procedures
Authors: Chen Stephanie H , Brunet Marie-Christine , Sur Samir , Yavagal Dileep R , Starke Robert M , Peterson Eric C
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Transradial artery access (TRA) for cerebrovascular angiography is increasing due to decreased access site complications and overwhelming patient preference. While interventional cardiologists have reported up to 10 successive TRA procedures via the same radial access site, this is the first study examining successive use of the same artery for repeat procedures in neurointerventional procedures.1

Methods

We reviewed our prospective institutional database for all patients who underwent a transradial neurointerventional procedure between 2015 and 2019. Index procedures were defined as procedures performed via TRA after which there was a second TRA procedure attempted. Reasons for conversion to a transfemoral approach (TFA) for subsequent procedures were identified.

Results

104 patients underwent 237 procedures (230 TRA, 7 TFA). 97 patients underwent ≥2 TRA procedures, 20 patients >3, four patients >4, three patients >5, and two patients >6 TRA procedures. The success rate was 94.7% (126/133) with 52% (66/126) of successive procedures performed via the same radial access site (snuffbox vs antebrachial) while the alternate radial artery segment was used for access in 48% (60/126) of subsequent procedures. There were seven (5.3%) cases requiring crossover to TFA, six cases for radial artery occlusion (RAO) and one for radial artery narrowing.

Conclusion

Successive TRA is both technically feasible and safe for neuroendovascular procedures in up to six procedures. The low failure rate (5.3%) was primarily due to RAO. Thus, even without clinical consequences, strategies to minimize RAO should be optimized for patients to continue to benefit from TRA in future procedures.
Impact of depressive symptoms on worklife expectancy: a longitudinal study on Danish employees
Authors: Pedersen Jacob , Thorsen Sannie Vester , Andersen Malene Friis , Hanvold Therese N , Schlünssen Vivi , Bültmann Ute
Published: October 2019

Objective

Depressive symptoms are associated with sickness absence, work disability and unemployment, but little is known about worklife expectancy (WLE). This study investigates the impact of depressive symptoms on the WLE of a large sample of Danish employees.

Methods

We used occupational health survey data of 11 967 Danish employees from 2010 and linked them with register data on salary and transfer payments from 2010 to 2015. Depressive symptoms were self-reported using the Major Depression Inventory. We used multistate data and a life table approach with Cox proportional hazard modelling to estimate the WLE of employees, expressed by time in work, unemployment and sickness absence. Separate analyses were conducted for sex and employees with a voluntary early retirement pension scheme. Using age as time axis, we used inverse probability weights to account for differences in educational level, sector, body mass index, smoking habits and loss of employment during sickness absence.

Results

The WLE of employees reporting depressive symptoms was shorter compared with those not reporting depressive symptoms; that is, the expected time in unemployment and sickness absence was longer, while the expected time in work was shorter. The shorter WLE was most pronounced in women; for example, a 40-year-old woman with depressive symptoms can expect 3.3 years less in work, 0.8 years more in unemployment and 0.7 years more in sickness absence. Employees with a voluntary early retirement pension scheme showed an even lower WLE.

Conclusions

Our study showed a meaningful impact of depressive symptoms on the WLE of Danish employees using a multistate framework.
Rise and fall of the new variant ofChlamydia trachomatisin Sweden: mathematical modelling study
Authors: Smid Joost H , Althaus Christian L , Low Nicola , Unemo Magnus , Herrmann Bjőrn
Published: October 2019

Objectives

A new variant ofChlamydia trachomatis(nvCT) was discovered in Sweden in 2006. The nvCT has a plasmid deletion, which escaped detection by two nucleic acid amplification tests (Abbott-Roche, AR), which were used in 14 of 21 Swedish counties. The objectives of this study were to assess when and where nvCT emerged in Sweden, the proportion of nvCT in each county and the role of a potential fitness difference between nvCT and co-circulating wild-type strains (wtCT).

Methods

We used a compartmental mathematical model describing the spatial and temporal spread of nvCT and wtCT. We parameterised the model using sexual behaviour data and Swedish spatial and demographic data. We used Bayesian inference to fit the model to surveillance data about reported diagnoses of chlamydia infection in each county and data from four counties that assessed the proportion of nvCT in multiple years.

Results

Model results indicated that nvCT emerged in central Sweden (Dalarna, Gävleborg, Västernorrland), reaching a proportion of 1% of prevalent CT infections in late 2002 or early 2003. The diagnostic selective advantage enabled rapid spread of nvCT in the presence of high treatment rates. After detection, the proportion of nvCT decreased from 30%–70% in AR counties and 5%–20% in counties that Becton Dickinson tests, to around 5% in 2015 in all counties. The decrease in nvCT was consistent with an estimated fitness cost of around 5% in transmissibility or 17% reduction in infectious duration.

Conclusions

We reconstructed the course of a natural experiment in which a mutant strain ofC. trachomatisspread across Sweden. Our modelling study provides support, for the first time, of a reduced transmissibility or infectious duration of nvCT. This mathematical model improved our understanding of the first nvCT epidemic in Sweden and can be adapted to investigate the impact of future diagnostic escape mutants.
Multifocal abdominal abscessation in a three‐month‐old puppy due toEscherichia coli
Authors: Gonzalez Sarmiento Oliver , Walker Joshua James Allen , Watson Natalie
Published: October 2019

A 12‐week‐old, crossbreed, male entire dog was evaluated for a three‐week history of lethargy, nausea, anorexia, haemorrhagic diarrhoea and free abdominal fluid. Abdominal ultrasound revealed multiple cavitated hepatic masses, abdominal lymphadenopathy and marked abdominal effusion. Fine needle aspiration and culture of the hepatic lesions and lymph nodes identified hepatic abscessation and pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis, with a heavy growth ofEscherichia coli. Intravenous fluid therapy and antimicrobial therapy were initiated. Persistent hypotension and hypoglycaemia during hospitalisation, despite intensive treatment, were suggestive of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Due to patient morbidity and poor response to treatment, euthanasia was performed.
Getting a grip: cats respond negatively to scruffing and clips
Authors: Moody Carly M , Mason Georgia J , Dewey Cate E , Niel Lee
Published: October 2019

Use of scruffing and scruffing tools (eg, clipnosis clips) to immobilise cats is contentious, and cat handling guidelines vary in recommendations regarding these techniques. The current study examined whether cats show negative responses to the following restraint methods: (1) scruff (n=17), (2) clip application to the dorsal neck skin (n=16) and (3) full body (a known negative; n=19). Each cat was also handled with passive restraint (control) for comparison. During handling, cats were examined for behavioural (side/back ear positions, vocalisations, lip licking) and physiological (pupil dilation ratio, respiratory rate) responses. Full‐body restrained cats showed more negative responses than passively restrained cats (respiratory rate: p=0.006, F3,37=4.31, p=0.01; ear p=0.002, F3,49=6.70, p=0.0007; pupil: p=0.007, F3,95=14.24, p=0.004; vocalisations: p=0.009, F3,49=4.85, p=0.005) and scruff‐restrained cats (pupil: p=0.009; vocalisations: p=0.04). Clip restraint resulted in more negative responses than passive (pupil: p=0.01; vocalisations: p=0.007, ear p=0.02) and scruff restraint (pupil p=0.01; vocalisations: p=0.02). No differences were detected between full‐body restraint, known to be aversive, and clip restraint. Full‐body restraint and clip restraint resulted in the greatest number of negative responses, scruffing resulted in fewer negative responses and passive restraint showed the least number of responses. We therefore recommend against the use of full‐body and clip restraint, and suggest that scruff restraint should be avoided when possible.
Genome and transcriptome analysis of the latent pathogen Lasiodiplodia theobromae, an emerging threat to the cacao industry
Authors: Ali Shahin S. , Asman Asman , Shao Jonathan , Balidion Johnny F. , Strem Mary D. , Puig Alina S. , Meinhardt Lyndel W. , Bailey Bryan A.
Published: October 2019

Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon & Maubl., a member of the family Botryosphaeriaceae, is becoming a significant threat to crops and woody plants in many parts of the world, including the major cacao growing areas. While attempting to isolate Ceratobasidium theobromae, a causal agent of vascular streak dieback (VSD), from symptomatic cacao stems, 74% of isolated fungi were Lasiodiplodia spp. Sequence-based identification of 52 putative isolates of L. theobromae indicated that diverse species of Lasiodiplodia were associated with cacao in the studied areas, and the isolates showed variation in aggressiveness when assayed using cacao leaf discs. The present study reports a 43.75 Mb de novo assembled genome of an isolate of L. theobromae from cacao. Ab initio gene prediction generated 13 061 protein-coding genes, of which 2862 are unique to L. theobromae, when compared with other closely related Botryosphaeriaceae. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 11 860 predicted genes were transcriptionally active and 1255 were more highly expressed in planta compared with cultured mycelia. The predicted genes differentially expressed during infection were mainly those involved in carbohydrate, pectin, and lignin catabolism, cytochrome P450, necrosis-inducing proteins, and putative effectors. These findings significantly expand our knowledge of the genome of L. theobromae and the genes involved in virulence and pathogenicity.
Holographic principle, cosmological constant and cyclic cosmology
Authors: Corianò Claudio , Frampton Paul H.
Published: October 2019

The holographic principle provides a deep insight into quantum gravity and resolves the fine-tuning crisis concerning the cosmological constant. Holographic dark energy introduces new ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) cutoffs into quantum gravity which are necessarily strongly related. The equation of state for dark energy [Formula: see text] is discussed from the holographic point of view. The phantom option of [Formula: see text] is resurrected, as in an earlier cyclic cosmology. Such a cyclic model can, however, equally use the cosmological constant with [Formula: see text].
MV-Net
Authors: Tang Yibin , Wang Ying , Li Huawei , Li Xiaowei
Published: October 2019

Recently the development of deep learning has been propelling the sheer growth of vision and speech applications on lightweight embedded and mobile systems. However, the limitation of computation resource and power delivery capability in embedded platforms is recognized as a significant bottleneck that prevents the systems from providing real-time deep learning ability, since the inference of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs) involves large quantities of weights and operations. Particularly, how to provide quality-of-services (QoS)-guaranteed neural network inference ability in the multitask execution environment of multicore SoCs is even more complicated due to the existence of resource contention. In this article, we present a novel deep neural network architecture, MV-Net, which provides performance elasticity and contention-aware self-scheduling ability for QoS enhancement in mobile computing systems. When the constraints of QoS, output accuracy, and resource contention status of the system change, MV-Net can dynamically reconfigure the corresponding neural network propagation paths and thus achieves an effective tradeoff between neural network computational complexity and prediction accuracy via approximate computing. The experimental results show that (1) MV-Net significantly improves the performance flexibility of current CNN models and makes it possible to provide always-guaranteed QoS in a multitask environment, and (2) it satisfies the quality-of-results (QoR) requirement, outperforming the baseline implementation significantly, and improves the system energy efficiency at the same time.
The Insect Circulatory System: Structure, Function, and Evolution
Authors: Hillyer Julián F. , Pass Günther
Published: October 2019

Although the insect circulatory system is involved in a multitude of vital physiological processes, it has gone grossly understudied. This review highlights this critical physiological system by detailing the structure and function of the circulatory organs, including the dorsal heart and the accessory pulsatile organs that supply hemolymph to the appendages. It also emphasizes how the circulatory system develops and ages and how, by means of reflex bleeding and functional integration with the immune system, it supports mechanisms for defense against predators and microbial invaders, respectively. Beyond that, this review details evolutionary trends and novelties associated with this system, as well as the ways in which this system also plays critical roles in thermoregulation and tracheal ventilation in high-performance fliers. Finally, this review highlights how novel discoveries could be harnessed for the control of vector-borne diseases and for translational medicine, and it details principal knowledge gaps that necessitate further investigation.
Discharges, Poor-Performer Quits, and Layoffs as Valued Exits: Is It Really Addition by Subtraction?
Authors: Trevor Charlie O. , Piyanontalee Rakoon
Published: October 2019

We contend that a variety of types of employee exits from the firm are presumed to be a net positive and are thus valued by management, resulting in a potentially important new way to think about these leavers. For each of three valued exit (VE) types (discharges, poor-performer quits, and layoffs) we examine incidence, construct similarities and differences, and antecedents. We also summarize and critique the literature on VE consequences for the organization. In doing so we discuss how an underlying tension must accompany the analysis of VEs. Specifically, the intuitive notion of addition by subtraction must be considered relative to important contextual considerations and to evidence that the operational disruption created by VE departures may at times mitigate or even outweigh the VE benefits. Underlying our analysis is the stipulation that the formal consideration of VEs is in its infancy and is thus laden with conceptual and methodological challenges that scholars must address if we are to benefit from this new approach to employee exits from the firm.
Bayesian Additive Regression Trees: A Review and Look Forward
Authors: Hill Jennifer , Linero Antonio , Murray Jared
Published: October 2019

Bayesian additive regression trees (BART) provides a flexible approach to fitting a variety of regression models while avoiding strong parametric assumptions. The sum-of-trees model is embedded in a Bayesian inferential framework to support uncertainty quantification and provide a principled approach to regularization through prior specification. This article presents the basic approach and discusses further development of the original algorithm that supports a variety of data structures and assumptions. We describe augmentations of the prior specification to accommodate higher dimensional data and smoother functions. Recent theoretical developments provide justifications for the performance observed in simulations and other settings. Use of BART in causal inference provides an additional avenue for extensions and applications. We discuss software options as well as challenges and future directions.
Association between Eating Away from Home and Hyperuricemia: A Population-Based Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in China
Authors: Liu Zifeng , Su Xiaoting , Xiao Mianli , Zhou Peien , Guo Jianwei , Huang Yixiang , Zhan Yiqiang
Published: October 2019

Hyperuricemia (HU) is a risk factor for different kinds of chronic noncommunicable diseases, and eating away from home (EAFH) may play an important role in their development, which has been ignored greatly so far. This study aimed to investigate the association between EAFH and HU in different models. A cross-sectional study involving 8,322 participants of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) was conducted. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. We found that participants who consumed more away-from-home food had a higher risk for HU, and the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) (for each increment in grades of EAFH) were 1.11 (1.02, 1.20) in a multiadjusted model (adjusted for age, gender, province, net individual income, body mass index, smoking, leisure-time physical activities, energy intake, and sleep duration). As for stratified analyses, the aOR (95% CI) of EAFH was 1.12 (1.01, 1.24) for men and 1.06 (0.92, 1.21) for women. Similar results can be found in the middle-aged and obese population, with aOR (95% CI) of EAFH as 1.17 (1.05, 1.30) and 1.15 (1.03, 1.29), respectively. In conclusion, EAFH is positively associated with the prevalence of HU.
Preliminary Study on the Effect ofBacillus amyloliquefaciensTL on Cecal Bacterial Community Structure of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Hong Yuxuan , Cheng Yingxian , Li Yanjuan , Li Xiaowen , Zhou Zutao , Shi Deshi , Li Zili , Xiao Yuncai
Published: October 2019

Probiotics can promote the health and growth performance of animals through modulation of intestinal microbiota. When used as a feed additive, they have the potential to minimize or abolish the use of antibiotics. In this study, we investigated the effect of the probiotic strainBacillus amyloliquefaciensTL on the growth performance and cecum microflora composition in Cobb 500 broiler chickens. In total, 180 broilers were randomly divided into three groups—each group comprised 4 pens, and each pen contained 15 chickens. The three groups were fed either a control diet, or a diet supplemented with either the antibiotic chlortetracycline orB. amyloliquefaciensTL. Broilers were weighed, and cecum contents were collected on days 7, 14, 21, and 35, respectively. The broilers in both the antibiotic and probiotic groups exhibited significant weight gain compared with controls, exhibiting increases of 16.02% and 13.40%, respectively, after 35 days (P<0.01). Similarly, the feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1–35 days) of broilers in the chlortetracycline andB. amyloliquefaciensTL groups was lower than that of the controls. HiSeq high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA of the cecal microbiota was performed on days 7, 14, 21, and 35, respectively. TheFirmicutes/Bacteroidetesratio was higher in the chlortetracycline andB. amyloliquefaciensTL groups than in the control group on days 14, 21, and 35, and especially on day 21. The prevalence of generaOscillospira,Ruminococcus,Butyricicoccus, andFaecalibacterium(Firmicutes) was higher in the antibiotic and probiotic groups, while that ofBacteroides,Parabacteroides(Bacteroidetes), andLactobacilluswas higher in the control group. In this study, the changes in the microbiota of the probiotic group were similar to those in the antibiotic group. These results suggest that the probiotic strainB. amyloliquefaciensTL can modulate the cecal microbiota of broilers similar to chlortetracycline.
Effect of Climatic Factors on Stem Biomass and Carbon Stock of Larix gmelinii and Betula platyphylla in Daxing’anling Mountain of Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Khan Dilawar , Muneer Muhammad Atif , Nisa Zaib-Un- , Shah Sher , Amir Muhammad , Saeed Sajjad , Uddin Saleem , Munir Muhammad Zeeshan , Lushuang Gao , Huang Huaguo
Published: October 2019

Climate change has become a global concern for scientists as it is affecting almost every ecosystem. Larix gmelinii and Betula platyphylla are native and dominant forest species in the Daxing’anling Mountains of Inner Mongolia, playing a major role in carbon sequestration of this region. This study was carried out to assess the effect of climate variables including precipitation and temperature on the biomass of Larix gmelinii and Betula platyphylla forests. For this purpose, we used the climate-sensitive stem biomass allometric model for both species separately to find out accurate stem biomass along with climatic factors from 1950 to 2016. A total of 66 random plots were taken to attain the data from this study area. Larix gmelinii and Betula platyphylla stem biomass have a strong correlation with annual precipitation (R2 = 0.86, R2 = 0.71, R2 = 0.79, and R2 = 0.59) and maximum temperature (R2 = 0.76, R2 = 0.64, R2 = 0.67, and R2 = 0.52). However, annual minimum temperature (R2 = 0.58, R2 = 0.43, R2 = 0.55, and R2 = 0.46) and annual mean temperature (R2 = 0.40, R2 = 0.22, R2 = 0.36, and R2 = 0.19) have a relatively negative impact on tree biomass. Therefore, we suggest that both species have a very strong adaptive nature with climatic variation and hence can survive under drought and high-temperature stress climatic conditions.
Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of School Buildings in Seismic Zone 4 of Pakistan
Authors: Zain Muhammad , Usman Muhammad , Farooq Syed Hassan , Mehmood Tahir
Published: October 2019

Thick population density and its escalation propensity in seismically active regions of Pakistan has raised sincere concerns about the performance of building stock whose suboptimal performance and complete collapses led to a colossal number of casualties during the past earthquakes. The current research is inspired by the Kashmir earthquake of 2005 which consumed more than 80,000 lives, out of which, approximately 19,000 were children due to wide spread collapse of school buildings. A new database for existing reinforced concrete (RC) school buildings in seismic zone 4 of Pakistan has been developed using the surveyed information and presented briefly. The paper presents the statistics of the data collected through field surveys and professional interviews. It was found that the infrastructural authorities in the considered region developed some specific designs for school buildings, with varying architectural and structural configurations, which were eventually replicated throughout the area. In the current study, almost 2500 schools were surveyed for identifying versatile architectural and structural configurations, and subsequently, 19 different types had been identified, which were eventually used as representative stock for the schools in seismic zone 4 of Pakistan, Muzaffarabad district. The results of the study yield the brief of the collected data from the field and a consolidated methodology for establishing the analytical fragility relationships for one of the 19 structural configurations of the school buildings. A sample building from the collected data has been selected by considering the maximum number of students, and afterwards, the vulnerability is assessed by employing incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) which constitutes the presented methodology. Finally, the fragility curves are developed and presented for the said building type. The derived analytical fragility curves for the considered building type indicate its structural vulnerability and as a whole represent its satisfactory behavior. The vulnerability assessment process and the fragility development are described in an easy manner so that the domestic practicing engineers can readily become able to extend the application towards other school buildings in the region. The developed relationships can be employed for rational decision making so that essential disaster preparedness can be carried out by identifying any need for structural strengthening and interventions.
A Numerical Investigation on Scaling Rolling Friction Effects in Shaking Table Model Tests
Authors: Li Shanshan , Wei Biao , Zuo Chengjun , He Xuhui
Published: October 2019

Friction action is a damping mechanism used in civil structures. It often works together with traditional viscous damping. The rolling friction action is nonlinear, and its scaling process in shaking table model tests is suspect, especially in cases of working in combination with traditional viscous dampers. To solve the problem, a numerical model of simplified viscous damper‐Coulomb friction base isolation system was scaled. The comparison between the scaled and the prototype model results showed two important factors that influence the scaling of rolling friction action. One factor is the unscaled gravity acceleration, which results in an adverse friction force and seismic responses of scaled models. These adverse seismic responses can be improved by changing the friction coefficient to correct for the abovementioned adverse friction force in the dynamic equation. Another factor is the friction variation in space, causing adverse scaled seismic responses. These adverse seismic responses can be improved by moving the variable friction positions along the scaled size of contact surface. The influence of the above two factors can be weakened by increasing the traditional viscous damping component and the earthquake intensity.
Infinite Paths of Minimal Length on Suborbital Graphs for Some Fuchsian Groups
Authors: Chaichana Khuanchanok , Jaipong Pradthana
Published: October 2019

In this study, we work on the Fuchsian group Hm where m is a prime number acting on mℚ^ transitively. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for two vertices to be adjacent in suborbital graphs induced by these groups. Moreover, we investigate infinite paths of minimal length in graphs and give the recursive representation of continued fraction of such vertex.
Die prognostische Bedeutung von malignen Pleuraergüssen erkennen
Authors: Keymel Stefanie
Published: October 2019

Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is commonly seen in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. However, the prevalence of MPE at presentation in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is not reported and the clinical impact of MPE at presentation on patients with SCLC remains largely unknown. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the occurrence rate of MPE and its prognostic implications at presentation in patients with SCLC. Method: We used the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry to extract data from patients with SCLC diagnosed between 2004 and 2014. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the overall survival and the Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate whether MPE was an independent risk for outcome. Results: Among the 68,443 patients with SCLC, MPE was present in 7,639 (11.16%). The probability of MPE was higher in older patients with larger tumors and mediastinal lymph node involvement at presentation. Median overall survival (3 vs. 7 months), estimated 1-year survival (17 vs. 30%), and 2-year survival (6 vs. 14%) were significantly lower in patients with MPE than without MPE, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41-1.50, p < 0.001). MPE was also an independent factor for worse survival in multivariate analysis (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.32-1.41, p < 0.001). Conclusions: MPE is common at presentation (11%) in patients with SCLC and may be associated with decreased survival. Additional studies are required to assess the treatment-adjusted survival rate in the setting of MPE.
Arte, poder e tradição
Authors: Libório Douglas De Souza
Published: October 2019

Inaugurado como sede do Congresso Nacional em 1926, o Palácio Tiradentes tornou-se um símbolo político nacional na cidade do Rio de Janeiro e se consolidou como um dos edifícios mais representativos do ecletismo na década de 1920. Este artigo tem por finalidade analisar a construção de uma representação histórica por meio da tradição clássica presente na decoração do palácio. Em específico, busca-se compreender o papel da arte como meio de inserção do palácio em determinada narrativa política e o papel da visualidade para a difusão de imaginários sociais.
História e Discurso: considerações entre linguagem e gestos de leitura para uma História da Ciência
Authors: Rodrigues Morais Wanderson , Pereira Monteiro de Almeida Maria José
Published: October 2019

A História da Ciência se constituiu em um campo de tensões ocasionando uma dicotomia em sua abordagem metodológica por diferentes grupos, como as ciências sociais e as ciências naturais, tratando-se de uma discussão ainda atual e sem consenso entre os envolvidos. Alguns historiadores como Keith Jenkins e Régine Robin dedicaram-se a refletir sobre a natureza da História, a historiografia e possíveis contribuições de outros campos, voltando-se para prática dos gestos de leitura e relações entre linguagem e discurso. Assim, temos como objetivo deste trabalho compreender a natureza dos discursos históricos empregados pela prática da História da Ciência que podem sinalizar perspectivas de uso e finalidade para outros campos, como o Ensino de Ciências, sobretudo com as possíveis interfaces ao campo de estudos da Linguagem referente aos processos de leitura (ou gestos). Partimos de um discurso histórico em Ecologia para considerações acerca das suas condições de produção e implicações no ensino, em que aspectos políticos e sociais formam uma malha de raízes não visíveis, como apontado por Antonio Videira.
Copyright, Art and Originality: Comparative and Policy Issues
Authors: Tréguier Lucie , van Caenegem William
Published: October 2019

This article reviews the laws of France and of Australia in relation to artistic works copyright for useful articles. Australian law applies a different subsistence test to ‘applied art’ than to fine art, whereas French law makes no such distinction, applying the principle of ‘Unité de l’art’. The decision of the High Court of Australia in IceTV Pty Limited v Nine Network Australia Pty Limited [2009] 239 clr 458, which aligns the standard of originality more closely with that applied in European copyright law, invites reconsideration of the Australian approach in favour of a universal standard for all artistic works. A more contemporary understanding of what constitutes ‘art’ points in the same direction. In the result, there is no longer any need to apply a restrictive ‘artistic quality’ standard to works of applied art in Australia. Such an approach better aligns the tests of artistic copyright subsistence in different jurisdictions.
The Right to Political Participation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Heyns Christof , Fombad Charles , Tlakula Pansy , Kainja Jimmy
Published: October 2019

The effective realisation of the right to political participation is essential for the legitimacy of political systems and for enabling the people to shape, and assume responsibility for, their lives. Although the right to political participation is recognised in article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as in other international treaties, its realisation in practice is often partial, it depends on the extent to which numerous interrelated rights, such as those to freedom of expression, access to information and peaceful protest, have been secured. Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, this article examines the right to political participation as set out in national constitutions and in the instruments of the United Nations, the African Union and sub-regional bodies. It also considers the role of social media in this context. The article concludes by suggesting how this crucial right could be implemented more effectively in Africa.
Revealing Vertical Distribution of Precipitation in the Glacierized Upper Indus Basin Based on Multiple Datasets
Authors: Shafeeque Muhammad , Luo Yi , Wang Xiaolei , Sun Lin
Published: October 2019

The quality and vertical distribution of precipitation are of utmost importance in hydrological modeling studies in glacierized catchments, which have been facing known challenges in the quality, distribution, and magnitude of observed as well as gridded precipitation due to complex topography. The purpose of the study is to reveal the vertical distribution of precipitation based on multiple datasets and evaluate the suitability of these datasets for hydrological applications and in the upper Indus basin (UIB). The performance of five gridded precipitation datasets, that is, APHRODITE, CFSR, Princeton Global Meteorological Forcing Dataset for Land Surface Modeling (PGMFD), TRMM, and High Asia Refined analysis (HAR), was evaluated against the observed precipitation (OBS) during 2001–07. A corrected reference precipitation dataset was constructed based on the water and mass balance using inverse modeling methods. TRMM was identified as the best dataset to represent the spatial and temporal distribution of OBS precipitation. The runoff coefficients for OBS, APHRODITE, TRMM, and PGMFD were greater than 1, indicating that these datasets were underestimated and unable to close the water balance in UIB. The mean annual corrected precipitation was estimated as 593 mm yr−1, while the main water-producing elevation zone was located between 3900 and 6600 m. CFSR had the highest correlation and lowest bias with corrected precipitation along the vertical profile. It is concluded that the OBS and most of the gridded precipitation are insufficient to sustain the water and mass balance in UIB. It is recommended to correct the precipitation based on mass balance at high altitudes (especially along the main water-producing zone) in glacierized catchments before its application in hydrological modeling studies.
Direct Numerical Simulation Guidance for Thorpe Analysis to Obtain Quantitatively Reliable Turbulence Parameters
Authors: Wang Ling , Geller Marvin A. , Fritts David C.
Published: October 2019

Thorpe analysis has been used to study turbulence in the atmosphere and ocean. It is clear that Thorpe analysis applied to individual soundings cannot be expected to give quantitatively reliable measurements of turbulence parameters because of the instantaneous nature of the measurement. A critical aspect of this analysis is the assumption of the linear relationship C = LO/LT between the Thorpe scale LT, derived from the sounding measurements, and the Ozmidov scale LO. It is the determination of LO that enables determination of the dissipation rate of turbulence kinetic energy ε. Single atmospheric and oceanic soundings cannot indicate either the source of turbulence or the stage of its evolution; different values of C are expected for different turbulence sources and stages of the turbulence evolution and thus cannot be expected to yield quantitatively reliable turbulence parameters from individual profiles. The variation of C with the stage of turbulence evolution is illustrated for direct numerical simulation (DNS) results for gravity wave breaking. Results from a DNS model of multiscale initiation and evolution of turbulence with a Reynolds number Re (which is defined using the vertical wavelength of the primary gravity wave and background buoyancy period as length and time scales, respectively) of 100 000 are sampled as in sounding of the atmosphere and ocean, and various averaging of the sounding results indicates a convergence to a well-defined value of C, indicating that applying Thorpe analysis to atmospheric or oceanic soundings and averaging over a number of profiles gives more reliable turbulence determinations. The same averaging study is also carried out when the DNS-modeled turbulence is dominated by turbulence growing from the initial instabilities, when the turbulence is fully developed, when the modeled turbulence is decaying, and when the turbulence is in a still-later decaying stage. These individual cases converge to well defined values of C, but these values of C show a large variation resulting from the different stages of turbulence evolution. This study gives guidance as to the accuracy of Thorpe analysis of turbulence as a function of the number of profiles being averaged. It also suggests that the values of C in different environments likely depend on the dominant turbulence initiation mechanisms and on the Reynolds number of the environment.
On the Joint Calibration of Multivariate Seasonal Climate Forecasts from GCMs
Authors: Schepen Andrew , Everingham Yvette , Wang Quan J.
Published: October 2019

Multivariate seasonal climate forecasts are increasingly required for quantitative modeling in support of natural resources management and agriculture. GCM forecasts typically require postprocessing to reduce biases and improve reliability; however, current seasonal postprocessing methods often ignore multivariate dependence. In low-dimensional settings, fully parametric methods may sufficiently model intervariable covariance. On the other hand, empirical ensemble reordering techniques can inject desired multivariate dependence in ensembles from template data after univariate postprocessing. To investigate the best approach for seasonal forecasting, this study develops and tests several strategies for calibrating seasonal GCM forecasts of rainfall, minimum temperature, and maximum temperature with intervariable dependence: 1) simultaneous calibration of multiple climate variables using the Bayesian joint probability modeling approach; 2) univariate BJP calibration coupled with an ensemble reordering method (the Schaake shuffle); and 3) transformation-based quantile mapping, which borrows intervariable dependence from the raw forecasts. Applied to Australian seasonal forecasts from the ECMWF System4 model, univariate calibration paired with empirical ensemble reordering performs best in terms of univariate and multivariate forecast verification metrics, including the energy and variogram scores. However, the performance of empirical ensemble reordering using the Schaake shuffle is influenced by the selection of historical data in constructing a dependence template. Direct multivariate calibration is the second-best method, with its far superior performance in in-sample testing vanishing in cross validation, likely because of insufficient data relative to the number of parameters. The continued development of multivariate forecast calibration methods will support the uptake of seasonal climate forecasts in complex application domains such as agriculture and hydrology.
Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems (OWLeS): Bulk Characteristics and Kinematic Evolution of Misovortices in Long-Lake-Axis-Parallel Snowbands
Authors: Kosiba Karen A. , Wurman Joshua , Knupp Kevin , Pennington Kyle , Robinson Paul
Published: October 2019

During the Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems (OWLeS) field campaign, 12 long-lake-axis-parallel (LLAP) snowband events were sampled. Misovortices occurred in 11 of these events, with characteristic diameters of ~800 m, differential velocities of ~11 m s−1, and spacing between vortices of ~3 km. A detailed observational analysis of one such snowband provided further insight on the processes governing misovortex genesis and evolution, adding to the growing body of knowledge of these intense snowband features. On 15–16 December 2013, a misovortex-producing snowband was exceptionally well sampled by ground-based OWLeS instrumentation, which allowed for integrated finescale dual-Doppler and surface thermodynamic analyses. Similar to other studies, horizontal shearing instability (HSI), coupled with stretching, was shown to be the primary genesis mechanism. The HSI location was influenced by snowband-generated boundaries and location of the Arctic front relative to the band. Surface temperature observations, available for the first time, indicated that the misovortices formed along a baroclinic zone. Enhanced mixing, higher radar reflectivity, and increased precipitation rate accompanied the vortices. As the snowband came ashore, OWLeS participants indicated an increase in snowfall and white out conditions with the passage of the snowband. A sharp, small-scale pressure drop, coupled with winds of ~16 m s−1, marked the passage of a misovortex and may be typical of snowband misovortices.
Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Autoimmune Disorders: Findings From the RIETE Registry
Authors: Sada Pablo Ruiz , López-Núñez Juan J. , Samperiz Angel , Soto María José , Pedrajas José María , Porras José Antonio , Peris María Luisa , Olivé Alejandro , Debourdeau Philippe , Pace Federica , Monreal Manuel ,   the RIETE Investigators
Published: October 2019

Patients with autoimmune disorders are at an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but this association has not been consistently evaluated. We used the RIETE (Registro Informatizado Enfermedad Trombo Embólica) database to compare the rates of VTE recurrences, major bleeding, and death during the course of anticoagulation, according to the presence or absence of autoimmune disorders. Of 71 625 patients with VTE recruited in February 2018, 1800 (2.5%) had autoimmune disorders. Median duration of anticoagulant therapy was slightly longer in patients with autoimmune disorders (median, 190 vs 182 days; P = .001). On multivariable analysis, patients with autoimmune disorders had a similar risk of VTE recurrences (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68-1.27) or major bleeding (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.82-1.40) and a lower risk to die (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.54-0.81) than those without autoimmune disorders. Patients with giant cell arteritis had the highest rates of major bleeding (8.6 events per 100 patient-years) and the lowest rate of recurrences (zero). In other subgroups, the rates of both events were more balanced. During anticoagulation, patients with or without autoimmune disorders had similar rates of VTE recurrences or major bleeding. However, there were some differences between subgroups of patients with autoimmune disorders.
A school-based programme promoting healthy eating
Authors: Chan Kara , Siu Judy Yuen-Man , Lee Albert
Published: October 2019

Objective:

Many school-based health education programmes adopt a one-way, top-down communication approach that students tend to consider boring and ineffective. In contrast, this study tested a pilot school-based health education programme designed to engage students through the creation and production of health-related advertising.

Design:

Participatory action research.

Setting:

A secondary school located in the most deprived district in Hong Kong.

Method:

A 10-month health education programme was implemented which included health talks and a parent–child cooking workshop. The highlight of the programme was a contest to design a healthy eating public service announcement with professional production of the winning advertisement. A convenience sample of 67 secondary school students participated. Self-administered food diaries and focus group interviews were administered before and after the programme for evaluation.

Results:

Among all the health education activities conducted during the programme, the participating students found the advertisement design contest the most interesting. They appreciated the opportunity to see their creative ideas consolidated in a professional manner. Dietary patterns reported in food diaries did not show any significant change, but the post-programme focus group interviews reported a remarkable increase in healthy eating knowledge. There were some self-reported changes in dietary behaviours.

Conclusion:

In the digital age, engaging students in content creation is a possible way to interest them in adopting healthy eating behaviours.
Impact of the Health Transformation Plan on the Number of Surgical Operations and Their Cancelation
Authors: Miri Bonjar MahmoodReza , Khammarnia Mohammad , Bakhshi Mahdie , Ansari-Moghaddam Alireza , Okati–Aliabad Hassan , Mohammadi Mehdi
Published: October 2019

Operation cancelations are a serious problem with undesirable consequences. The Health Transformation Plan was launched in the health system of Iran on May 5, 2014, to enhance the efficiency and quality of services in public hospitals. Comprehensive coverage of patients’ basic treatment needs and reduction of patients’ out-of-pocket expenditures through insurance for all are other objectives of Health Transformation Plan as well. Then, the present study aimed to determine the impact of the Health Transformation Plan on the number of surgical operations and the cancelation of elective surgeries within public hospitals of Iran. This retrospective comparative study was conducted in 2017 within 2 tertiary public hospitals in the South-East of Iran. Using systematic random sampling method and census, 8138 scheduled surgical files and all canceled operations files were reviewed from April 2012 to March 2017, respectively. A standard checklist was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using χ2 test and a logistic regression model in SPSS, version 21. The study population was 8138 patients with mean age of 33 ± 19 years. Female patients comprised about 51% of the study population (n = 4115), and nearly two-third of them were married (n = 5192 [63.79%]). Coverage by Iranian health insurance was reported in more than half of patients (n = 4415 [54.79%]). The common reason for surgeries was injury and poisoning (n = 2814 [34.52%]) followed by delivery (n = 1747 [21.46%]). The number of operations increased from 26 677 before Health Transformation Plan (cancelation rate = 1.5%) to 33 190 after Health Transformation Plan (cancelation rate = 2.0%). The cancelation rate had a significant relationship with age (odds ratio = 1.009; confidence interval: 1.00-1.01), health insurance status (odds ratio = 2.12; confidence interval: 1.33-3.38), outpatient service referrals (odds ratio = 0.5; confidence interval: 0.43-0.62), inpatient service referrals (odds ratio = 1.5; confidence interval: 1.36-1.77), and surgical types ( P < .05). In general, the Health Transformation Plan was markedly associated with a rise in the number of surgeries and cancelation rate in the public hospitals. The information obtained in the present study concerning the causes of operation cancelations can be used to decrease the number of future cancelations.