bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardamonin induces immune responses and enhances survival rate in WEHI‐3 cell–generated mouse leukemia in vivo
Authors: Liao Nien‐Chieh , Shih Yung‐Luen , Ho Ming‐Tak , Lu Tai‐Jung , Lee Ching‐Hsiao , Peng Shu‐Fen , Leu Sy‐Jye , Chung Jing‐Gung
Published: December 2019

Cardamonin, a monomeric alkaloid, is isolated from Alpinia conchigera Griff and other natural plants. Recently, it has been focused on its anticancer activities, and no information showing its immune effects on leukemia mice was reported. In this study, we investigated the immune effects of cardamonin on WEHI‐3 cell–generated leukemia mice. Forty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: Group I mice were normal animals and groups II‐IV were leukemia. Group II mice, as a positive control, were administered with normal diet, and group III and IV mice were treated with 1 and 5 mg/kg of cardamonin, respectively, by intraperitoneal injection every 2 days for 14 days. The population of white blood cells, macrophage phagocytosis, and the proliferations of T and B cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Another forty mice were also separated randomly into four groups for the determination of survival rate. Results showed that cardamonin did not affect body weight. Cardamonin decreased CD3, CD11b, and Mac‐3 cell populations but increased CD19 number. Cardamonin enhanced phagocytic abilities of macrophages from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of leukemia mice. Furthermore, cardamonin at 1 mg/kg treatment improved the survival rate of leukemia mice in vivo. Therefore, cardamonin could be applied for a leukemia therapeutic reagent at a defined dose.
Tea polyphenols alleviate tri‐ortho‐cresyl phosphate‐induced autophagy of mouse ovarian granulosa cells
Authors: Yang Si , Shao Shuxin , Huang Boshu , Yang Dan , Zeng Lin , Gan Yu , Long Dingxin , Chen Jiaxiang , Wang Jinglei
Published: December 2019

Tri‐ortho‐cresyl phosphate (TOCP), a widely used plasticizer in industry, can cause female reproductive damage. Tea polyphenols (TPs) have multiple health effects via inhibiting oxidative stress. However, the reproductive protection of TPs in TOCP‐induced female reproductive system damage is yet to be elucidated. In the study, TOCP inhibited cell viability and induced autophagy of mouse ovarian granulosa cells; while TPs could rescue the inhibition of viability and induction of autophagy. 3‐MA, an autophagy inhibitor, could also rescue the inhibition of cell viability. These results indicated that TPs played a protective role in TOCP‐induced autophagy. Furthermore, TPs could inhibit the induction of oxidative stress of the cells by TOCP, which implying that TPs might alleviate TOCP‐induced autophagy via inhibiting oxidative stress. Furthermore, TPs could rescue TOCP‐induced autophagy and oxidative stress in the mouse ovarian tissues. Taken together, these results indicated that TPs could protect TOCP‐induced ovarian damage via inhibiting oxidative stress.
Responsible Innovation in Business
Authors: Jarmai Katharina , Tharani Adele , Nwafor Caroline
Published: December 2019

This chapter introduces responsible innovation in a business context. The first part explains the basic terms that constitute responsible innovation from a business perspective. The second part presents tangible business practices that operationalise responsible innovation and introduces two good practice examples that hint at the variety of ways in which responsible innovation can be implemented in companies.
Investigating the patient acceptable symptom state cut-offs: longitudinal data from a community cohort using the shoulder pain and disability index
Authors: Tran Gui , Dube Bright , Kingsbury Sarah R. , Tennant Alan , Conaghan Philip G. , Hensor Elizabeth M. A.
Published: December 2019

This prospective study aimed to determine the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) cut-off for the patient reported outcome measure shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), and evaluate predictors of PASS achievement following standard shoulder care. Patients with shoulder pain, referred for shoulder ultrasound were recruited from a community cohort. Patients completed both SPADI (scored 0–130) and a question on symptom state and followed-up at 6 months. PASS was calculated from Rasch-transformed scores using 2 methods: the 75th percentile of the cumulative response curve and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with PASS. 304 participants (169 females, mean age 57.2 years) were included. At 6 months, 193 (63%) reported PASS. The association between SPADI at 6 months and PASS depended on baseline SPADI (interaction p = 0.036). Those with higher baseline scores had higher 6 months PASS cut-offs. Using the 75th percentile method, the 6 months total SPADI cut-off was 49.2 in those starting in the highest tertile at baseline compared to 39.4 in the lowest tertile: 46.4 vs. 36.7 for pain, 46.8 vs. 25.1 for disability. The ROC method yielded similar results. We have shown for the first time that the PASS cut-off for SPADI is dependent on baseline severity scores. Understanding the SPADI PASS threshold is important for clinical research to allow standardised reporting of shoulder intervention success at the patient level.
Large-scale volumetric flow visualization of the unsteady wake of a flapping-wing micro air vehicle
Authors: Martínez Gallar B. , van Oudheusden B. W. , Sciacchitano A. , Karásek M.
Published: December 2019

The objective of this experimental investigation is the volumetric visualization of the near wake topology of the vortex structures generated by a flapping-wing micro air vehicle. To achieve the required visualization domain (which in the present experiments amounts to a size of 60,000 cm3), use is made of robotic particle image velocimetry, which implements coaxial illumination and imaging in combination with the use of helium-filled soap bubbles as tracer particles. Particle trajectories are determined via Lagrangian particle tracking and information of different phases throughout the flapping cycle is obtained by means of a phase-averaging procedure applied to the particle tracks. Experiments have been performed at different settings (flow speed, flapping frequency, and body angle) that are representative of actual flight conditions, and the effect of reduced frequency on the wake topology is investigated. Furthermore, experiments have been carried out in both tethered and free-flight conditions, allowing an unprecedented comparison between the aerodynamics of the two conditions.

Graphic abstract
Diagnostic accuracy of fetal MRI to detect cleft palate: a meta-analysis
Authors: van der Hoek-Snieders Hanneke E. M. , van den Heuvel Antonius J. M. L. , van Os-Medendorp Harmieke , Kamalski Digna M. A.
Published: December 2019

This systematic review aims to determine the diagnostic accuracy of fetal MRI for detecting cleft palate in fetuses at risk for orofacial clefts. Pubmed, Embase, and CINAHL were searched systematically. A diagnostic study was included if it performed MRI (index test) and postnatal examination (reference test) in fetuses at risk for orofacial clefts. Methodological quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2. A meta-analysis was performed with a random-effects model, calculating the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve. The search resulted in eight studies (334 fetuses) to be included: four prospective and four retrospective studies. The applicability concern was low. There was, however, a risk of selection and information bias. All studies showed that MRI well predicted the chance of cleft palate. The sensitivity results were homogeneous, but heterogeneity was assumed regarding the specificity estimate (Cochrane’s Q test: p = 0.00). The pooled sensitivity was 0.97 (95% CI 0.93–0.99); the pooled specificity was 0.94 (0.89–0.97). The area under the curve was 0.98 (95% CI 0.98–0.99).

Conclusion: This meta-analysis shows that MRI has an excellent sensitivity and good to excellent specificity for diagnosing cleft palate in fetuses at risk for orofacial clefts. Future research should assess applicability for clinical care.What is Known:• Using ultrasound for prenatal detection of cleft palate leads to misdiagnosis frequently.• MRI could potentially improve the prenatal detection rate of cleft palate.What is New:• Eight studies describe the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for detecting cleft palate.• Combined results show excellent sensitivity and good to excellent specificity.
Binomial nomenclature for virus species: a consultation
Authors: Siddell Stuart G. , Walker Peter J. , Lefkowitz Elliot J. , Mushegian Arcady R. , Dutilh Bas E. , Harrach Balázs , Harrison Robert L. , Junglen Sandra , Knowles Nick J. , Kropinski Andrew M. , Krupovic Mart , Kuhn Jens H. , Nibert Max L. , Rubino Luisa , Sabanadzovic Sead , Simmonds Peter , Varsani Arvind , Zerbini Francisco Murilo , Davison Andrew J.
Published: December 2019

The Executive Committee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) recognizes the need for a standardized nomenclature for virus species. This article sets out the case for establishing a binomial nomenclature and presents the advantages and disadvantages of different naming formats. The Executive Committee understands that adopting a binomial system would have major practical consequences, and invites comments from the virology community before making any decisions to change the existing nomenclature. The Executive Committee will take account of these comments in deciding whether to approve a standardized binomial system at its next meeting in October 2020. Note that this system would relate only to the formal names of virus species and not to the names of viruses.
A Novel 2D Standard Cartesian Representation for the Human Sensorimotor Cortex
Authors: Bruurmijn Mark L.C.M. , Schellekens Wouter , Raemaekers Mathijs A.H. , Ramsey Nick F.
Published: December 2019

For some experimental approaches in brain imaging, the existing normalization techniques are not always sufficient. This may be the case if the anatomical shape of the region of interest varies substantially across subjects, or if one needs to compare the left and right hemisphere in the same subject. Here we propose a new standard representation, building upon existing normalization methods: Cgrid (Cartesian geometric representation with isometric dimensions). Cgrid is based on imposing a Cartesian grid over a cortical region of interest that is bounded by anatomical (atlas-based) landmarks. We applied this new representation to the sensorimotor cortex and we evaluated its performance by studying the similarity of activation patterns for hand, foot and tongue movements between subjects, and similarity between hemispheres within subjects. The Cgrid similarities were benchmarked against the similarities of activation patterns when transformed into standard MNI space using SPM, and to similarities from FreeSurfer’s surface-based normalization. For both between-subject and between-hemisphere comparisons, similarity scores in Cgrid were high, similar to those from FreeSurfer normalization and higher than similarity scores from SPM’s MNI normalization. This indicates that Cgrid allows for a straightforward way of representing and comparing sensorimotor activity patterns across subjects and between hemispheres of the same subjects.
Common set of weights and efficiency improvement on the basis of separation vector in two-stage network data envelopment analysis
Authors: Kiaei Hamid , Kazemi Matin Reza
Published: December 2019

Common set of weights (CSWs) method is one of the popular ranking methods in DEA which can rank efficient and inefficient units. Based on an identical criterion, the method selects the most favorable weight set for all units. An important issue is that in most common DEA models, the internal structure of the production units is ignored and the units are often considered as black boxes. In this paper, in order to evaluate the units and subunits in the two-stage NDEA based on an identical criterion, it is suggested to use CSWs method on the basis of separation vector. Our research contribution in this paper includes: (1) CSWs method is formulated in two-stage NDEA as a multiple objective fractional programming (MOFP) problem. (2) A method is suggested based on separation vector to change MOFP problem into single objective linear programming (SOLP) problem in two-stage NDEA. In the theorem, it is shown that the obtained solutions from MOFP and SOLP in two-stage NDEA are identical. (3) In the framework of the new models of two-stage NDEA, a process is introduced to improve efficiency evaluation by CSWs on the basis of separation vector which is based on the radial improvement of inputs and final outputs. Finally, an enlightening application is presented.
Photo-assisted Catalytic Removal of NOx Over La1–xPrxCoO3/Palygorskite Nanocomposites: Role of Pr Doping
Authors: Wei Kenian , Yan Xiangyu , Zuo Shixiang , Zhu Wei , Wu Fengqin , Li Xiazhang , Yao Chao , Liu Xiaoheng
Published: December 2019

Photo-assisted selective catalytic reduction (photo-SCR) has been considered as a promising strategy for NOx removal in recent decades. The purpose of the present work was to test the effectiveness of La1–xPrxCoO3, supported on the surface of natural palygorskite (Pal) by a facile sol-gel method, as a photo-SCR for the removal of NOx from wastewaters. The structure, acidity, and the redox property of the prepared La1–xPrxCoO3/Pal nanocomposite were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to determine the valence bands. The La1–xPrxCoO3/Pal catalysts were then tested for SCR removal of NOx with the assistance of photo-irradiation. The photo-SCR results revealed that the NOx conversion and the N2-selectivity were greatly improved by this method and reached >95% when carried out at the relatively low temperature of 200°C and with the Pr doping at x = 0.5. The improvements were attributed to the co-precipitation of a PrCoO3 phase as in a solid solution forming a coherent heterojunction of PrCoO3/La0.5Pr0.5CoO3 on the Pal surface.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with transit loop bi-partition: A novel bariatric procedure
Authors: Mohamed Abdulla Ismaeel , Bucheeri Marwan Mohamed , Abulsel Abdulmenem Yahya , Jose Beta
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Obesity is a major health problem facing the Kingdom of Bahrain. Surgical interventions have proven to be the most effective modalities for the management of morbid obesity. Sleeve gastrectomy with transit loop bipartition is a novel bariatric procedure proposed to manage this condition.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted amongst the patients who underwent bariatric surgery in our institute. Patients who underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG), One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) and Sleeve Gastrectomy with Transit Loop Bipartition (SG + TB) were compared to each other in intervals over a period of 1 year.

Results:

177 patients were included in this study. 104 patients had a SG, 34 patients had SG + TB and 39 patients had OAGB. The SG + TB group showed the largest reduction in average BMI with a drop of 24.5 kg/m2 over a period of a year compared to 18 and 15.4 kg/m2 in the OAGB and SG groups respectively. The OAGB group had the highest rate of resolution of diabetes mellitus (83.3%) and hypertension (81.2%) over a year. The SG + TB group had the highest rate of resolution in dyslipidemia (76.9%) & sleep apnea (96.9%). The highest rate of complications was encountered with the SG + TB group at 26.5% mostly attributed to malnutrition & hypoalbuminema.

Conclusion:

SG + TB are a novel bariatric procedure with good results in achieving weight loss and resolving comorbidities. More studies are required to fine tune the surgical techniques, limb lengths and establish the procedure's safety profile and effectiveness.

Highlights:
A pilot study of a stepped-care brief intervention to help psychologically-distressed women displaced by conflict in Bogotá, Colombia
Authors: Shultz J.M. , Verdeli H. , Gómez Ceballos Á. , Hernandez L.J. , Espinel Z. , Helpman L. , Neria Y. , Araya R.
Published: December 2019

Background

Colombia's 6.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been exposed to trauma, loss, and hardships. Common mental disorders (CMDs) are prevalent in this group, yet there are few evidence-based psychosocial interventions for this population. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a stepped-care intervention for women IDPs in Bogota, Colombia.

Methods

Feasibility to recruit participants for an intervention trial, to screen for CMDs and displacement-related traumas, to refer high-risk cases to professional consultation, to implement evidence-based interpersonal counseling (IPC) for women with diagnosed CMDs, to retain participants in the intervention, and to conduct follow-up assessments was assessed. Assessment instruments were validated. The intervention was delivered by trained outreach personnel. Intervention acceptability was assessed by monitoring session attendance, dropout rates, and satisfaction. Potential efficacy was evaluated with pre- and post-intervention measures of CMDs.

Results

We recruited 279 women IDPs into the intervention. On screening, 177 (63.4%) had symptom levels suggesting a CMD. Participants endorsed a wide range of displacement-related exposures. Most participants receiving IPC decreased their symptom levels at follow-up. Many participants did not complete the recommended number of IPC sessions; loss to follow-up was 30%. The performance of the outreach personnel improved after the initial intervention team was replaced with community members trained to deliver the intervention. The Bogotá health system was unable to reliably accommodate emergency psychiatric referrals.

Conclusions

The IPC intervention shows promise, but significant challenges remain for improving reach, adherence, and participant retention. We identified strategies and partnerships to redress some of the main study limitations.
Toward terawatt few-cycle pulses via optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification with oxide crystals
Authors: Liu Jinsheng , Ma Jingui , Wang Jing , Yuan Peng , Xie Guoqiang , Qian Liejia
Published: December 2019

High-power femtosecond lasers beyond

$5~\unicode[STIX]{x03BC}\text{m}$

are attractive for strong-field physics with mid-infrared (IR) fields but are difficult to scale up. In optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) at mid-IR wavelengths, a nonlinear crystal is vital, and its transmittance, dispersion, nonlinear coefficient and size determine the achievable power and wavelength. OPCPA beyond

$5~\unicode[STIX]{x03BC}\text{m}$

routinely relies on semiconductor crystals because common oxide crystals are not transparent in this spectral range. However, the small size and low damage threshold of semiconductor crystals fundamentally limit the peak power to gigawatts. In this paper, we design a terawatt-class OPCPA system at

$5.2~\unicode[STIX]{x03BC}\text{m}$

based on a new kind of oxide crystal of

$\text{La}_{3}\text{Ga}_{5.5}\text{Nb}_{0.5}\text{O}_{14}$

(LGN). The extended transparent range, high damage threshold, superior phase-matching characteristics and large size of LGN enable the generation of 0.13 TW seven-cycle pulses at

$5.2~\unicode[STIX]{x03BC}\text{m}$

. This design fully relies on the state-of-the-art OPCPA technology of an octave-spanning ultrafast Ti:sapphire laser and a thin-disk Yb:YAG laser, offering the performance characteristics of high power, a high repetition rate and a stable carrier–envelope phase.
Optimization of a Spherical Decoupled Mechanism for Neuro-Endoscopy Based on Experimental Kinematic Data
Authors: Essomba T. , Nguyen Vu L. , Wu C.-T
Published: December 2019

The neuro-endoscopy is a surgical technique that allows the neurosurgeon to maintain a visual contact while operating inside the brain of a patient. A special instrument called the neuro-endoscope is inserted in the brain until the neurosurgeon reaches his/her target. Its manipulation requires a high level of training for neurosurgeons. To enforce both quality and safety of neuro-endoscopy, we propose a robotic manipulator based on a Spherical Decoupled Mechanism. This mechanical architecture has been modified from a 5-Bar Spherical Linkages and adapted to this medical application. It is able to generate a Remote Center of Motion of 2 Degrees of Freedom. It merges the advantages of parallel mechanisms with the kinematic and control simplicity of decoupled mechanisms, while having a very simple architecture. Motion capture experiments using a brain simulation model have been performed with a team of neurosurgeons to obtain the kinematic data of the neuro-endoscope during brain exploration. Based on the identified workspace, the mechanism has been optimized using kinematic performance and architectural compactness as criteria. An optimum mechanism has been selected, showing better kinematic performances than the original 5-bar spherical linkage mechanism.
Neuroimmunological antibody-mediated encephalitis and implications for diagnosis and therapy in neuropsychiatry
Authors: Marinas Joseph E. , Matveychuk Dmitriy , Dursun Serdar M. , Baker Glen B.
Published: December 2019

The past decade has seen a surge of reports and investigations into cases of autoimmune-mediated encephalitis. The increasing recognition of these disorders is especially of relevance to the fields of neurology and psychiatry. Autoimmune encephalitis involves antibodies against synaptic receptors, neuronal cell surface proteins and intracellular targets. These disorders feature prominent symptoms of cognitive impairment and behavioural changes, often associated with the presence of seizures. Early in the clinical course, autoimmune encephalitis may manifest as psychiatric symptoms of psychosis and involve psychiatry as an initial point of contact. Although commonly associated with malignancy, these disorders can present in the absence of an inciting neoplasm. The identification of autoimmune encephalitis is of clinical importance as a large proportion of individuals experience a response to immunotherapy. This review focuses on the current state of knowledge onn-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-associated encephalitis and limbic encephalitis, the latter predominantly involving antibodies against the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor, the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)Breceptor and leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) protein. In addition, we briefly describe anti-dopamine D2 receptor encephalitis. A summary of the literature will focus on common clinical presentations and course, diagnostic approaches and response to treatment. Since a substantial proportion of patients with autoimmune encephalitis exhibit symptoms of psychosis, the relevance of this disorder to theories of psychosis and schizophrenia will also be discussed.
Introduction
Authors: Sheridan Susan
Published: December 2019

Introduction
Double trouble
Authors: Cantrell Kate , Hawkes Lesley
Published: December 2019

Over a fifty-year period, from 1944 to 1994, Thea Astley published a number of critical writings, including essays, newspaper articles and reviews, and short reflections and meditations on her craft. Despite a renewed interest in Astley’s work, however, most critical interrogations of her oeuvre focus on her novels, and more recently her poetry. As a result, Astley’s critical writing has not been afforded the same breadth and depth of investigation as her fiction. This lacuna is troubling, since Astley’s critical works are important not only for their insight, but for what they reveal about Astley’s self-representation, and in particular the dual identity that she embodied as both a teacher and a satirist. This article argues that these dual roles emerge clearly in Astley’s essays and in fact are inextricable from many of her works. Further, the tensions between these two personae — Astley as teacher and Astley as satirist — reveal natural overlaps with her imaginative writing, and reflect her changing ideas about fiction writing, literature, and education.
Kerry-Anne Walsh, 'Hoodwinked' and Bligh Grant, Tod Moore and Tony Lynch (eds), The Rise of Right-Populism
Authors: Gehrmann Richard
Published: December 2019

Kerry-Anne Walsh, Hoodwinked: How Pauline Hanson Fooled a Nation, Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 2018, 304 pp., ISBN 9 7817 6011 2288, A$29.99.

Bligh Grant, Tod Moore and Tony Lynch (eds), The Rise of Right-Populism: Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and Australian Politics, Singapore: Springer, 2019, 241 pp., ISBN 9 7898 1132 6691, €34.99.
Thea Astley, 'Selected Poems', edited by Cheryl Taylor, Brisbane: University of Queensland Press, 2017, 167 pp., ISBN 9 7807 0225 9791, A$24.95.
Authors: Van Luyn Ariella
Published: December 2019

Thea Astley, Selected Poems, edited by Cheryl Taylor, Brisbane: University of Queensland Press, 2017, 167 pp., ISBN 9 7807 0225 9791, A$24.95.
Urinary flavanone concentrations as biomarkers of dietary flavanone intakes in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study
Authors: Tahiri Iasim , Garro-Aguilar Yaiza , Cayssials Valerie , Achaintre David , Mancini Francesca Romana , Mahamat-Saleh Yahya , Boutron-Ruault Marie-Christine , Kühn Tilman , Katzke Verena , Boeing Heiner , Trichopoulou Antonia , Karakatsani Anna , Valanou Elisavet , Palli Domenico , Sieri Sabina , Santucci de Magistris Maria , Tumino Rosario , Macciotta Alessandra , Huybrechts Inge , Agudo Antonio , Scalbert Augustin , Zamora-Ros Raul
Published: December 2019

In the present study, the aim was to investigate the correlation between the acute and habitual dietary intake of flavanones, their main food sources and the concentrations of aglycones naringenin and hesperetin in 24 h urine in a European population. A 24-h dietary recall (24-HDR) and a 24-h urine sample were collected the same day from a subsample of 475 people from four different countries of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. Acute and habitual dietary data were captured through a standardised 24-HDR and a country/centre-specific validated dietary questionnaire (DQ). The intake of dietary flavanones was estimated using the Phenol-Explorer database. Urinary flavanones (naringenin and hesperetin) were analysed using tandem MS with a previous enzymatic hydrolysis. Weak partial correlation coefficients were found between urinary flavanone concentrations and both acute and habitual dietary flavanone intakes (Rpartial= 0·14–0·17). Partial correlations were stronger between urinary excretions and acute intakes of citrus fruit and juices (Rpartial∼ 0·6) than with habitual intakes of citrus fruit and juices (Rpartial∼ 0·24). In conclusion, according to our results, urinary excretion of flavanones can be considered a good biomarker of acute citrus intake. However, low associations between habitual flavanone intake and urinary excretion suggest a possible inaccurate estimation of their intake or a too sporadic intake. For assessing habitual exposures, multiple urinary collections may be needed. These results show that none of the approaches tested is ideal, and the use of both DQ and biomarkers can be recommended.
Outcomes of definitive radiotherapy for early laryngeal cancer in terms of survival and patterns of failure
Authors: Adeel M , Faisal M , Rashid A , Rasheed S , Hussain R , Malik K I , Hameed M Y , Jamshed A
Published: December 2019

Background

Early laryngeal cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy or surgery has a high cure rate. This study evaluated the patterns of treatment failure and long-term results of early laryngeal cancers treated with definitive radiotherapy.

Method

From January 2002 to December 2014, a total of 242 patients with early-stage laryngeal cancers were treated with radical radiotherapy.

Results

All patients had squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (92 per cent male and 8 per cent female). Median follow-up was 4.5 years. The majority of patients were smokers (57.4 per cent). Local failure was seen in 12.5 per cent of stage I patients and 22.8 per cent of stage II patients. The 5-year overall survival and disease specific survival were 84 per cent and 91 per cent, respectively.

Conclusion

In summary, radiotherapy is a suitable treatment modality for patients with early-stage laryngeal cancer, with an overall locoregional control rate of 84 per cent. Patients who fail radiotherapy may still undergo salvage laryngectomy.
Comprehensive Drug-Class Review Framework for improved evidence-based drug policy and formulary modernization
Authors: Tadrous Mina , Knowles Sandra , Ruddock Brent , Oh Paul , Mamdani Muhammad M. , Juurlink David N. , Gomes Tara
Published: December 2019

Formularies are used by payers to optimize access and ensure the appropriate use of medications. Lack of follow-up and re-evaluation can lead to outdated formularies that are not reflective of current evidence. Formulary modernization, an approach to re-align formularies with current evidence has proven successful. The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) launched a framework for conducting comprehensive drug-class reviews. This commentary describes the individual components of this framework and lessons learned through completion of 12 reviews between 2013 and 2016. We present the ODPRN drug-class review of treatments for chronic hepatitis B as a case example to illustrate the components and impact. The incorporation of foundational health technology assessment components such as economic evaluations and knowledge synthesis with contextualizing evidence such as patient and clinician perspectives (through qualitative studies), real-world evidence (through data analytics), and cross-jurisdictional comparisons (through environmental scans and data analytics), successfully developed jurisdictionally specific policy recommendations grounded in up-to-date evidence. The ODPRN framework for conducting comprehensive drug-class reviews is a robust and feasible approach to conduct formulary modernization. This framework allows for actionable and specific policies which are likely to be considered by decision makers. Adoption of similar frameworks in other jurisdictions may improve uptake of evidence-informed policy recommendations.
Wretched girls, wretched boys and the European Marriage Pattern in England (c. 1250–1350)
Authors: Bennett Judith M.
Published: December 2019

Following on from ‘Married and not: Weston's grown children in 1268–1269’, this article places the Lincolnshire village of Weston within a realm-wide context to demonstrate that, as the rural economy stumbled after c. 1250, many young women and men either delayed marriage or could not marry at all. The European Marriage Pattern (late marriage for some and no marriage for others) can be discerned in England long before the socio-economic adjustments that followed the Black Death, and it grew mainly from poverty, not prosperity.
Pitch properties of infant-directed speech specific to word-learning contexts: a cross-linguistic investigation of Mandarin Chinese and Dutch
Authors: HAN Mengru , DE JONG Nivja H. , KAGER René
Published: December 2019

This study investigates the pitch properties of infant-directed speech (IDS) specific to word-learning contexts in which mothers introduce unfamiliar words to children. Using a semi-spontaneous story-book telling task, we examined (1) whether mothers made distinctions between unfamiliar and familiar words with pitch in IDS compared to adult-directed speech (ADS); (2) whether pitch properties change when mothers address children from 18 to 24 months; and (3) how Mandarin Chinese and Dutch IDS differ in their pitch properties in word-learning contexts. Results show that the mean pitch of Mandarin Chinese IDS was already ADS-like when children were 24 months, but Dutch IDS remained exaggerated in pitch at the same age. Crucially, Mandarin Chinese mothers used a higher pitch and a larger pitch range in IDS when introducing unfamiliar words, while Dutch mothers used a higher pitch specifically for familiar words. These findings contribute to the language-specificity of prosodic input in early lexical development.
Removing competitive foodsv. nudging and marketing school meals: a pilot study in high-school cafeterias
Authors: Boehm Rebecca , Read Margaret , Henderson Kathryn E , Schwartz Marlene B
Published: December 2019

Objective:

To compare federally reimbursable school meals served when competitive foods are removed and when marketing and nudging strategies are used in school cafeterias operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The second objective was to determine how marketing and nudging strategies influence competitive food sales.

Design:

In the Healthy Choices School, all competitive foods were removed; the Healthy Nudging School retained competitive foods and promoted the school meal programme using marketing and nudging strategies; a third school made no changes. Cafeteria register data were collected from the beginning of the 2013–2014 school year through the four-week intervention. Outcome measures included daily entrées served; share of entrées served with vegetables, fruit and milk; and total competitive food sales. Difference-in-difference models were used to examine outcome measure changes.

Setting:

Three high schools in a diverse, Northeast US urban district with universally free meals.

Participants:

High-school students participating in the NSLP.

Results:

During the intervention weeks, the average number of entrées served daily was significantly higher in the Healthy Choices School (82·1 (se33·9)) and the Healthy Nudging School (107·4 (se28·2)) compared with the control school. The only significant change in meal component selection was a 6 % (se0·02) higher rate of vegetable servings in the Healthy Choices School compared with the control school. Healthy Nudging School competitive food sales did not change.

Conclusions:

Both strategies – removing competitive foods and marketing and nudging – may increase school meal participation. There was no evidence that promoting school meals decreased competitive food sales.
Will recent advances in AI result in a paradigm shift in Astrobiology and SETI?
Authors: Gale Joe , Wandel Amri , Hill Hugh
Published: December 2019

The steady advances in computer performance and in programming raise the concern that the ability of computers would overtake that of the human brain, an occurrence termed ‘the Singularity’. While comparing the size of the human brain and the advance in computer capacity, the Singularity has been estimated to occur within a few decades although the capacity of conventional computers may reach its limits in the near future. However, in the last few years, there have been rapid advances in artificial intelligence. There are already programs that carry out pattern recognition and self-learning which, at least in limited fields such as chess and other games, are superior to the best human players. Furthermore, the quantum computing revolution, which is expected to vastly increase computer capacities, is already on our doorstep. It now seems inevitable that the Singularity will arrive within the foreseeable future. Biological life, on Earth and on extraterrestrial planets and their satellites, may continue as before, but humanity could be ‘replaced’ by computers. Older and more advanced intelligent life forms, possibly evolved elsewhere in the Universe, may have passed their Singularity a long time ago. Post Singularity life would probably be based not on biochemical reactions but on electronics. Their communication may use effects such as quantum entanglement and be undetectable to us. This may explain the Fermi paradox or at least the ‘Big Silence’ problem in SETI.
Attachment Picture Story (APS)
Authors: Ballús Elisabeth , Urrutia Edurne , Casas Mar , Loizaga Felix
Published: December 2019

Abstract. The Attachment Pictures Story (APS) is an adaptation of the Patte Noire thematic projective test to evaluate internal representations of attachment in adolescents. It consists in analyzing the responses to the stories in seven selected pictures, which elicit attachment experiences. The purpose of this study is to describe the development and verification of the reliability and validity parameters of the APS based on a sample of 77 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years ( M = 14.71; SD = 2.07) who were enrolled in schools in Spain. The results show evidence of the instrument’s psychometric properties. Satisfactory content validity through inter-rater agreement of four experts for pictures and items as well as suitable reliability indexes were found. The exploratory factory analysis confirms the five pre-established categories based on theory (secure/insecure avoidant, insecure fearful, insecure resistant, and unresolved). The APS appears to be a psychometrically suitable instrument for evaluating attachment patterns in adolescents in a quantitative and qualitative way. Having a specific projective test that helps us understand adolescents may be useful in facilitating the expression of early and sometimes adverse attachment relationships, which are difficult to externalize.
Performance-Based Assessment of Social Cognition in Borderline Versus	Psychotic Psychopathology
Authors: Ridenour Jeremy M. , Lewis Katie C. , Poston John M. , Ciecalone Destiny N.
Published: December 2019

Abstract. Individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are known to display deficits in social cognition (SC). Our sample comprised 81 patients enrolled in residential treatment for complex psychopathology. We used performance-based assessments to test the hypothesis that individuals with SSD would display decrements on the cognitive/perceptual facets of SC, whereas individuals with BPD would evidence greater dysfunction on the affective/interpersonal facets of SC, with consideration taken for how gender may interact with diagnosis to influence results. Our findings suggested that women with SSD displayed more impaired understanding of social causality compared with their female BPD counterparts, while female patients with BPD evidenced greater expectation for aggression in their SC compared with women with SSD. These findings provide partial support for our hypotheses while highlighting the importance of accounting for the influence of gender on SC functional disparities between these two groups.
The Impacts of the Dust Radiative Effect on Vegetation Growth in the Sahel
Authors: Evans Stuart , Malyshev Sergey , Ginoux Paul , Shevliakova Elena
Published: December 2019

Many studies have been conducted on the effects of dust on rainfall in the Sahel and generally show that African dust weakens the West African Monsoon, drying the region. This drying is often assumed to produce a positive dust‐precipitation feedback by reducing vegetation cover for the region. We directly test this relationship for the first time by using a model that explicitly simulates vegetation growth and its impact on dust emission. There are several competing effects of dust that affect plant growth: changes to rainfall, downwelling solar radiation, surface temperature, and resultant changes in surface fluxes. Our model finds that the combined effect of these processes decreases vegetation cover and productivity of the Sahel and West Africa. We determine this by comparing experiments with radiatively active dust to experiments with radiatively invisible dust. In modern conditions, the dust radiative effect decreases leaf area by 12%, productivity by 14%, and increases bare soil area by 3% across the Sahel, and by much higher amounts locally. Experiments where the vegetation experiences preindustrial rather than modern CO2 levels show that without stomatal closure, the reductions would be approximately 20–40% stronger. In preindustrial conditions the vegetation response is weaker, despite the dust‐induced rainfall and temperature anomalies being similar. We interpret this as the vegetation being less susceptible to drought in a less evaporative climate. These vegetation responses to dust are evidence of a dust‐vegetation feedback loop whose strength varies with the mean state of the climate and which may grow stronger in the future.
Nitrogen Exsolution and Bubble Formation in Titan's Lakes
Authors: Farnsworth Kendra K. , Chevrier Vincent F. , Steckloff Jordan K. , Laxton Dustin , Singh Sandeep , Soto Alejandro , Soderblom Jason M.
Published: December 2019

Titan's surface liquids are composed primarily of methane, ethane, and dissolved atmospheric nitrogen. The nitrogen content depends on the alkane composition and temperature, and exsolves as bubbles when these parameters are sufficiently perturbed. Herein, we present an experimental study of nitrogen bubbles in methane–ethane liquids, and propose that both methane and ethane are required for bubbles to form under Titan conditions. Bubbles occur when methane composes 40–95 mol% of the alkanes within the liquid. We identify two mechanisms that produce bubbles: ethane mediated titration and temperature‐induced stratification. Both of these mechanisms produce a metastable nitrogen supersaturation within the liquid; equilibration triggers rapid nitrogen exsolution in the form of bubbles. Such equilibration could cause bubble events in Titan's lakes, possibly explaining the transient “Magic Island” features seen by Cassini RADAR (bubbles within the liquid column), and the presence of deltas in Ontario Lacus.
An Extremely Shallow Mw4.1 Thrust Earthquake in the Eastern Sichuan Basin (China) Likely Triggered by Unloading During Infrastructure Construction
Authors: Qian Yunyi , Chen Xiaofei , Luo Heng , Wei Shengji , Wang Teng , Zhang Zhenguo , Luo Xinyu
Published: December 2019

Triggered or induced earthquakes have been widely reported as resulting from various human activities, yet seismicity triggered by small‐scale infrastructure construction is rare. Here, we report on an investigation of an extremely shallow Mw4.1 earthquake which occurred on 11 August 2016 in the Sichuan Basin (China), a region with historically low seismicity. Our seismic waveform analyses indicate an almost pure thrust focal mechanism at a centroid depth of ~1 km. Furthermore, 18 Sentinel‐1 synthetic aperture radar interferograms, stacked to obtain subcentimeter accuracy, reveal up to 3 cm line‐of‐sight deformation which overlaps with an automotive testing site constructed in 2014. Removal of 10 m of a surface rock layer during the construction may have produced an unloading effect and resulted in up to 0.11 MPa Coulomb stress changes on a blind fault, larger than the 0.01 MPa threshold typically invoked in studies of tectonic earthquakes. However, the delayed triggering still requires further investigation.
Genetic risk for major depressive disorder and loneliness in sex-specific associations with coronary artery disease
Authors: Dennis Jessica , Sealock Julia , Levinson Rebecca T. , Farber-Eger Eric , Franco Jacob , Fong Sarah , Straub Peter , Hucks Donald , Song Wen-Liang , Linton MacRae F. , Fontanillas Pierre , Elson Sarah L. , Ruderfer Douglas , Abdellaoui Abdel , Sanchez-Roige Sandra , Palmer Abraham A. , Boomsma Dorret I. , Cox Nancy J. , Chen Guanhua , Mosley Jonathan D. , Wells Quinn S. , Davis Lea K.
Published: December 2019

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and loneliness are phenotypically and genetically correlated with coronary artery disease (CAD), but whether these associations are explained by pleiotropic genetic variants or shared comorbidities is unclear. To tease apart these scenarios, we first assessed the medical morbidity pattern associated with genetic risk factors for MDD and loneliness by conducting a phenome-wide association study in 18,385 European-ancestry individuals in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center biobank, BioVU. Polygenic scores for MDD and loneliness were developed for each person using previously published meta-GWAS summary statistics, and were tested for association with 882 clinical diagnoses ascertained via billing codes in electronic health records. We discovered strong associations with heart disease diagnoses, and next embarked on targeted analyses of CAD in 3893 cases and 4197 controls. We found odds ratios of 1.11 (95% CI, 1.04–1.18; P 8.43 × 10−4) and 1.13 (95% CI, 1.07–1.20; P 4.51 × 10−6) per 1-SD increase in the polygenic scores for MDD and loneliness, respectively. Results were similar in patients without psychiatric symptoms, and the increased risk persisted in females even after adjusting for multiple conventional risk factors and a polygenic score for CAD. In a final sensitivity analysis, we statistically adjusted for the genetic correlation between MDD and loneliness and re-computed polygenic scores. The polygenic score unique to loneliness remained associated with CAD (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.15; P 0.002), while the polygenic score unique to MDD did not (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.95–1.06; P 0.97). Our replication sample was the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort of 7197 European-ancestry participants (1598 incident CAD cases). In ARIC, polygenic scores for MDD and loneliness were associated with hazard ratios of 1.07 (95% CI, 0.99–1.14; P = 0.07) and 1.07 (1.01–1.15; P = 0.03), respectively, and we replicated findings from the BioVU sensitivity analyses. We conclude that genetic risk factors for MDD and loneliness act pleiotropically to increase CAD risk in females.
Game theoretical inference of human behavior in social networks
Authors: Pagan Nicolò , Dörfler Florian
Published: December 2019

Social networks emerge as a result of actors’ linking decisions. We propose a game-theoretical model of socio-strategic network formation on directed weighted graphs, in which every actors’ benefit is a parametric trade-off between centrality measure, brokerage opportunities, clustering coefficient, and sociological network patterns. We use two different stability definitions to infer individual behavior of homogeneous, rational agents from network structure, and to quantify the impact of cooperation. Our theoretical analysis confirms results known for specific network motifs studied previously in isolation, yet enables us to precisely quantify the trade-offs in the space of user preferences. To deal with complex networks of heterogeneous and irrational actors, we construct a statistical behavior estimation method using Nash equilibrium conditions. We provide evidence that our results are consistent with empirical, historical, and sociological observations on real-world data-sets. Furthermore, our method offers sociological and strategic interpretations of random networks models, such as preferential attachment and small-world networks.