bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complex Endovascular Aortic Repair With a Branched Endograft to Revascularize 5 Renovisceral Vessels and an Intercostal Artery in a Marfan Patient
Authors: Eleshra Ahmed S. , Panuccio Giuseppe , Rohlffs Fiona , Scheerbaum Martin , Tsilimparis Nikolaos , Kölbel Tilo
Published: June 2019

Purpose: To report a case of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair treated with a multibranched stent-graft including a prophylactic branch for a large intercostal artery in a Marfan patient at risk for spinal cord ischemia (SCI). Case Report: A 43-year-old man with Marfan syndrome presented with a type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) and history of multiple previous cardiac and aortic operations over the past 28 years. The maximum diameter of the aneurysm was 60 mm. The patient had 2 right renal arteries and 2 reimplanted segmental arteries (1 occluded). With the goal of preserving both right renal arteries and the large intercostal artery, a 6-branch, custom-made stent-graft was planned and manufactured. Bilateral femoral and right brachial artery access was used. The intercostal artery was catheterized and connected to the retrograde branch from a femoral access. Final angiography and predischarge computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed unimpeded flow to all 6 target vessels. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 10 without clinical signs of SCI. Six-month follow-up CTA demonstrated exclusion of the TAAA and patency of all 6 branches. Conclusion: Multibranched endovascular aortic repair with a branch to a large intercostal artery was technically feasible and clinically successful.
Early Screening for Decoding- and Language-Related Reading Difficulties in First and Third Grades
Authors: Silverman Rebecca D. , McNeish Daniel , Speece Deborah L. , Ritchey Kristin D.
Published: June 2019

The present study investigated the identification of end of first grade ( n = 125) and end of third grade ( n = 77) reading comprehension difficulties using beginning of first grade decoding-related and language-related predictors. Reading comprehension was defined using a composite of three standardized reading comprehension measures. Students at or below the 25th percentile on the reading comprehension composite were considered to have difficulty with reading comprehension. Sight word reading efficiency and sentence repetition predicted end of first grade reading comprehension difficulties. Sight word reading efficiency, sentence repetition, and oral discourse predicted end of third grade reading comprehension difficulties. Both screening batteries yielded high classification accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 94.7% in Grade 1 and AUC = 90.5% in Grade 3). Results are discussed in light of the research base on early screening for reading comprehension difficulties.
Multi-targets device-free localization based on sparse coding in smart city
Authors: Zhao Min , Qin Danyang , Guo Ruolin , Xu Guangchao
Published: June 2019

With the continuous expansion of the market of device-free localization in smart cities, the requirements of device-free localization technology are becoming higher and higher. The large amount of high-dimensional data generated by the existing device-free localization technology will improve the positioning accuracy as well as increase the positioning time and complexity. The positions required from single target to multi-targets become a further increasing difficulty for device-free localization. In order to satisfy the practical localizing application in smart city, an efficient multi-target device-free localization method is proposed based on a sparse coding model. To accelerate the positioning as well as improve the localization accuracy, a sparse coding-based iterative shrinkage threshold algorithm (SC-IA) is proposed and a subspace sparse coding-based iterative shrinkage threshold algorithm (SSC-IA) is presented for different practical application requirements. Experiments with practical dataset are performed for single-target and multi-targets localization, respectively. Compared with three typical machine learning algorithms: deep learning based on auto encoder, K-nearest neighbor, and orthogonal matching pursuit, experimental results show that the proposed sparse coding-based iterative shrinkage threshold algorithm and subspace sparse coding-based iterative shrinkage threshold algorithm can achieve high localization accuracy and low time cost simultaneously, so as to be more practical and applicable for the development of smart city.
Abortion and adoption as two poles of reproductive decision-making in the United States during the 1980s
Authors: Heinemann Isabel
Published: June 2019

The 1980s were characterized not only by Ronald Reagan’s rhetoric of ‘traditional family values’ but also by a fierce anti-abortion movement that challenged the legalization of abortion. While the women’s movement fought to preserve abortion rights and reproductive choice, an organization that originated with the 1970s women’s rights and self-help movements conceived ‘adoption’ as a moral alternative to abortion. The self-help organization Concerned United Birthparents, founded in 1976 sought the opening of records and moral recognition for ‘birthmothers’ (and later ‘birth-parents’ in general). While their emphasis on adoption as an alternative to abortion seemed to meet with President Reagan’s pro-adoption campaign and the Christian Right’s support for adoption, Concerned United Birthparents nonetheless pursued an agenda of its own, demanding respect and legitimacy for unmarried women’s reproductive decision-making. This article draws primarily on the records of Concerned United Birthparents to develop a new perspective on single women’s changing perception of their reproductive rights and choices in the 1980s. Transforming an originally conservative claim (‘adoption instead of abortion’) into individual ‘adoption rights’ and an inclusive concept of ‘choice’, Concerned United Birthparents drew on the social movements of the period. Moreover, it provided a case for liberal reproductive decision-making within an ultra-conservative political climate that challenges the assumption of an all-encompassing conservative revolution.
No backlash for Swedish women? The right to abortion on demand, 1975–2000
Authors: Lennerhed Lena
Published: June 2019

Abortion on demand was introduced in Sweden in 1975. In this article, I will discuss abortion policies and debates in the 1980s and the 1990s. The National Board of Health and Welfare was given the task to spread information on abortion and contraceptives. State-sponsored publications stated that abortion on demand was an important right for women, but—probably for strategic reasons—they also described abortions as being difficult. The anti-abortion organization ‘Yes to Life’ was founded in 1991. Anti-abortion activists demanded (unsuccessfully) for a conscience clause and mandatory counselling, while also opposing the abortion pill Mifegyne or RU 486. In the abortion debate, the psychological impact of abortion and, in particular, possible mental effects after abortion, emerged as a new theme. Attempts by abortion opponents to establish the so-called Post-Abortion Syndrome as a diagnosis in Sweden, however, were unsuccessful. A new moral perspective to abortion emerged, focusing on the ethics of care and on women as moral actors. In the article, I will discuss the (relative) consensus and strong support for abortion on demand in the 1980s and the 1990s, as well as the proactive role that the Swedish state has been playing (since the 1930s) on abortion policy.
Use of cell free DNA as a prognostic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer patients with bone metastasis
Authors: Ye Yongjian , Luo Zhihang , Shi Dejun
Published: June 2019

Background:

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is difficult to treat when metastasis has occurred. This study explores the use of cell-free DNA in the clinical management of NSCLC patients who have Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS)-positive mutations and as a marker for prognosis.

Methods:

Peripheral blood collected from advanced NSCLC patients was examined with digital droplet polymerase chain reaction and ultraviolet spectrometry. KRAS mutations were analyzed and quantitated. The specificity and sensitivity of the proposed assay was computed by associating the results with tumor tissue specimens. Comparison against different sub-groups of patients with different metastatic sites and healthy volunteers were made. Patients were subsequently followed up and survival analysis was conducted.

Results:

Among the 186 patients recruited, 150 had concordant KRAS mutational profiles using cell-free DNA with tumor tissues. The assay sensitivity and specificity were 80.6% and 100%, respectively. For the 150 patients with concordant results, the range of cell-free DNA quantities in peripheral blood was 5.3 to 115 ng. Among the patient groups with different metastatic sites, we observed that patients with bone metastasis had higher concentrations of cell-free DNA. Survival analysis showed that these patients had worse survival outcome. Patients with higher KRAS counts in peripheral blood also had worse outcome.

Conclusion:

The use of cell-free DNA presents opportunities for risk stratification of patients and possibly aids in the clinical management of the disease. In the current study for NSCLC, patients with bone metastases showed higher cell-free DNA concentrations. Quantitating the concentrations of cell-free DNA presents a noninvasive biomarker capable of prognostic utility.
Synthesis of nano-carbon by in-liquid plasma method and its application to a support material of Pt catalyst for fuel cell
Authors: Alsaeedi Abdulrahman , Show Yoshiyuki
Published: June 2019

One of the applications of nano-carbon is a support material of platinum (Pt) catalyst for fuel cells. In this study, the nano-carbon was successfully synthesized by in-liquid plasma in ethanol. The synthesized nano-carbon was characterized by the transmission electron microscope and the Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, the nano-carbon was applied to a support material of Pt catalyst for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The formation of the Pt particles on the nano-carbon was also carried out using the in-liquid plasma. The formed Pt/nano-carbon worked as a catalyst of the fuel cell. The fuel cell, fabricated with the Pt/nano-carbon catalyst, generated the maximum output power of 580 mW.
Investigation on tensile properties of epoxy/graphene nano-platelets/carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber ternary nanocomposites using response surface methodology
Authors: Saberian Mohammadhossein , Ghasemi Faramarz Ashenai , Ghasemi Ismail , Daneshpayeh Sajjad
Published: June 2019

In this study, the response surface methodology was used to investigate the tensile properties of epoxy/graphene nano-platelets/carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber ternary nanocomposites. Box–Benhken method was used to design experiments for four factors consisting of graphene nano-platelets (at 0, 0.75, and 1.5 wt%), carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (0, 5, and 10 wt%), hardener contents (80, 90, and 100 phr), and also different post curing temperature (130, 140, and 150°C). After the samples were prepared, a tensile test was performed to obtain the tensile strength, tensile modulus, and elongation at break of nanocomposites. Moreover, field-emission scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the state of graphene nano-platelets dispersion. The results obtained from the tensile tests showed that increasing the graphene nano-platelets, carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber, and hardener contents and high post curing temperature reduced the tensile strength. The optimum value of tensile modulus was achieved at low concentration of carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber and high contents of graphene nano-platelets, whereas maximum elongation at break occurred at high content of carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber and low concentration of graphene nano-platelets and hardener. In addition, a second-order polynomial model was used to correlate the tensile properties of ternary nanocomposites to the desired factors. Finally, contour plots were used to determine optimum values of the desired factors. It was seen that the presence of 10 wt% of carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber in the epoxy matrix increased the elongation at break by the considerable amount of ∼49%.
Benefits and Limitations of MARD as a Performance Parameter for Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Interstitial Space
Authors: Heinemann Lutz , Schoemaker Michael , Schmelzeisen-Redecker Günther , Hinzmann Rolf , Kassab Adham , Freckmann Guido , Reiterer Florian , Del Re Luigi
Published: June 2019

High-quality performance of medical devices for glucose monitoring is important for a safe and efficient usage of this diagnostic option by patients with diabetes. The mean absolute relative difference (MARD) parameter is used most often to characterize the measurement performance of systems for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Calculation of this parameter is relatively easy and comparison of the MARD numbers between different CGM systems appears to be straightforward on the first glance. However, a closer look reveals that a number of complex aspects make interpretation of the MARD numbers provided by the manufacturer for their CGM systems difficult. In this review, these aspects are discussed and considerations are made for a systematic and appropriate evaluation of the MARD in clinical trials. The MARD should not be used as the sole parameter to characterize CGM systems, especially when it comes to nonadjunctive usage of such systems.
Do Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Have a Deleterious Effect on Cartilage Repair? A Systematic Review
Authors: Merkely Gergo , Chisari Emanuele , Lola Rosso Claudia , Lattermann Christian
Published: June 2019

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the available evidence regarding any plausible deleterious effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on chondrocytes, chondrocyte differentiation, and allograft or autograft incorporation after cartilage repair procedures.

Design

Three databases (PubMed, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library) were screened for eligible studies: investigating the effects of NSAIDs on chondrocytes, chondrogenic differentiation, or allograft/autograft incorporation. This evaluation included studies of any level of evidence, written in English, reporting clinical or preclinical results, published in peer review journals and dealing with our topic. All articles evaluating the effects of NSAIDs on either osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocyte samples or OA chondrocyte models were excluded. Moreover, articles about bone healing in which allograft or autograft incorporation was not investigated were also excluded. Methodologic quality assessment was performed for in vivo animal studies according to ARRIVE guidelines, and risk of bias of each included study was identified using the ROBINS-I tool.

Results

Eighteen studies were included in the review: 4 in vitro studies, 13 animal studies, and 1 human study. According to these studies NSAIDs have no detrimental effect on healthy mature chondrocytes; however, these drugs influence chondrocyte differentiation and graft incorporation and therefore may interfere with chondrogenesis and incorporation after transplantation of chondrocytes or osteochondral grafts.

Conclusion

The use of NSAIDs, systemic or local, after cartilage repair procedures should be avoided unless a substantial clinical benefit would otherwise be withheld from the patient. More human studies are needed to analyze the effect of NSAIDs on cartilage repair.
Effect of ERK inhibitor on corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn in mice and its mechanism
Authors: Xu Manhua , Li Kaiming , Wang Yanxi , Wang Jie , Bai Mengtian , Kang Gangjing
Published: June 2019

The objective of this study is to explore the effect of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitors on corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn in mice and its mechanism. A total of 30 standard diet (SD) healthy mice were divided into normal group, alkali burn group, and inhibitor group. Normal group was not treated. Alkali burn group and inhibitor group were used to establish corneal neovascularization model induced by alkali burn. After successful modeling, ERK inhibitor was used to intervene in inhibitor group, and saline of equal volume was used in normal group and alkali burn group. The area of corneal neovascularization was calculated and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), c-Fos, c-Jun, ERK1/2, and p-ERK1/2 protein in cornea tissue of three groups of mice was detected. The relative expression of vascular area, length, VEGF, c-Fos, c-Jun, ERK1/2, and p-ERK1/2 protein in cornea tissue of mice in alkali burn group was significantly higher than that in normal group and inhibitor group. The relative expression of vascular area, length, VEGF, c-Fos, c-Jun, ERK1/2, and p-ERK1/2 protein in cornea tissue of mice in inhibitor group was higher than that in normal group, and the expression level of PEDF was lower than that in normal group ( P < 0.05). ERK inhibitors inhibit the formation of corneal neovascularization by inhibiting the expression of VEGF, c-Fos, and c-Jun proteins through the action of ERK signaling pathway.
Bone Grafts, Bone Substitutes and Regenerative Medicine Acceptance for the Management of Bone Defects Among French Population: Issues about Ethics, Religion or Fear?
Authors: Offner Damien , de Grado Gabriel Fernandez , Meisels Inès , Pijnenburg Luc , Fioretti Florence , Benkirane-Jessel Nadia , Musset Anne-Marie
Published: June 2019

Several techniques exist to manage bone defects in patients: bone grafts (autograft, allograft, xenograft), use of synthetic bone substitutes, or use of the products of bone regenerative medicine. Studies generally focus on their efficacy, but few focus on their acceptance. Our objectives were to assess their theoretical acceptance among the French general population, and to identify issues justifying refusals, by mean of an open e-questionnaire. The questionnaire was submitted to a general French population, and explained these techniques in an understandable way. Participants were asked to say whether they would accept or refuse these techniques, specifying why in case of refusal (fear of the technique, ethical reasons, religious reasons). In total, 562 persons participated. Autograft and use of the products of bone regenerative medicine were the most accepted techniques (93.4% and 94.1%, respectively). Xenograft was the least accepted technique (58.2%). Most refusals were due to fear such as failure, pain, infection (autograft 8%, allograft 14.9%, xenograft 25.3%, synthetic bone substitutes 14.6%, and products of bone regenerative medicine 6.8%). Ethical reasons were mostly mentioned for allograft (6.4%) and xenograft (18.3%). Religious reasons were scarcely mentioned, only for xenograft (1.2%). Thus, acceptance of techniques does not seem to be greatly linked to sociodemographic characteristics in France. However, other countries with their own cultural, religious, and population patterns may show different levels of acceptance. This study shows that bone regenerative medicine is a promising research direction, reaching biological and also humanist quality standards, expected to improve the health of patients. Information is still the cornerstone to defuse issues about fear.
My Bleeding Nephrons!
Authors: Li Jiemin , Padala Sandeep Anand , Hinnant George , Vakiti Anusha , Mohammed Azeem
Published: June 2019

Anticoagulation-related nephropathy (ARN) is an uncommon diagnosis that should be considered in patients presenting with unexplained acute kidney injury (AKI) and coagulopathy. In this article, we present the case of a 70-year-old male with a history of cirrhosis and portal vein thrombosis on Coumadin who presented to the hospital with gross hematuria. The patient was diagnosed with AKI on chronic kidney disease (CKD) secondary to ARN superimposed on sclerosing IgA nephropathy. ARN, also known as warfarin-associated nephropathy, is an uncommon condition in which AKI from glomerular hemorrhage develops in a patient with an international normalized ratio greater than 3. The most common risk factor for development of ARN is CKD. AKI in our patient unearthed preexisting CKD due to IgA nephropathy as evidenced by the biopsy.
Ineffective Absorption? Failure of Direct-Acting Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C in Cirrhotic Patients With Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Authors: Tow Clara Y. , Reinus John F.
Published: June 2019

In this era of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, treated patients have extremely high rates of sustained virologic response to short courses of therapy regardless of stage of fibrosis. Treatment failure is uncommon and often attributed to medication noncompliance or viral resistance to drug. This report describes 2 Child-Pugh-A cirrhotic patients who failed to clear HCV in response to therapy with DAAs. Each patient had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery preceding DAA therapy. RYGB may create multiple barriers to adequate DAA absorption as a result of changes in gastrointestinal physiology. Treatment monitoring and duration should be carefully considered in this unique patient population.
China National Medical Products Administration approval summary: anlotinib for the treatment of advanced non‐small cell lung cancer after two lines of chemotherapy
Authors: Zhou Ming , Chen Xiaoyuan , Zhang Hong , Xia Lin , Tong Xin , Zou Limin , Hao Ruimin , Pan Jianhong , Zhao Xiao , Chen Dongmei , Song Yuanyuan , Qi Yueli , Tang Ling , Liu Zhifang , Gao Rong , Shi Yuankai , Yang Zhimin
Published: June 2019

Background

On May 8, 2018, the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved anlotinib, an orally administered anti‐angiogenesis inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed after treatment with two or more lines of prior systemic chemotherapy.

Main body of the abstract

China NMPA reviewed and inspected a regional double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled, Phase III trial comparing the overall survival (OS) of NSCLC patients between the anlotinib and placebo arms. A total of 437 patients were randomized (2:1) to receive either anlotinib (n = 294) or placebo (n = 143) once daily on a 2‐week on and 1‐week off schedule. Patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or activating anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on NMPA‐approved therapy. Anlotinib is the first NMPA‐approved drug for patients with advanced NSCLC who have progressed on at least two lines of prior systemic chemotherapies in China. The approval was based on a statistically and clinically significant improvement in median OS with anlotinib (9.46 months) compared with placebo [6.37 months; hazard ratio (HR]) = 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.55–0.89; two‐sided log‐rank P = 0.002]. The confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 9.2% in the anlotinib arm and 0.7% in the placebo arm. The median duration of response (DoR) was 4.83 months, with a 95% CI of 3.31–6.97 months. The toxicity profile of anlotinib was consistent with that of known anti‐angiogenesis inhibitors. Common adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in anlotinib‐treated patients included hypertension (67.4%), hand–foot syndrome (43.9%), hemoptysis (14.0%), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) elevation (46.6%), and corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation (26.2%).

Short conclusion

Anlotinib demonstrated a clinically significant OS prolongation as a novel therapeutic option for advanced or metastatic NSCLC following at least two lines of chemotherapy.
Kinematics of common-image gathers — Part 1: Theory
Authors: Montel Jean-Philippe , Lambaré Gilles
Published: June 2019

Common-image gathers are a useful output of the migration process. Their kinematic behavior (i.e., the way they curve up or down) is an indicator of the quality of the velocity model used for migration. Traditionally, when used for migration velocity analysis, we pick structural dips in the common attribute panels (offset, angle, etc.) and residual moveout (RMO) in the gathers. The measured RMO will then tell us how much we need to update the velocity model to improve the gather’s flatness. Understanding the kinematics of the picked events is the key to an accurate model update. This point has been widely underestimated in many cases. For example, when dealing with angle gathers, there is a general assumption that the associated tomographic rays are fully defined by the picked structural dips and the gather opening and azimuth angle, and that if the velocity model is correctly updated down to a given horizon, it is not necessary to shoot the tomographic rays upward through this horizon. We find through an original theoretical analysis that both of these assumptions have to be modified when the gathers exhibit RMO. Using a kinematic analysis, we determine that knowledge of the RMO slopes is necessary to compute the tomographic rays.
Trauma-related mortality of patients with severe psychiatric disorders: population-based study from the French national hospital database
Authors: Fond Guillaume , Pauly Vanessa , Bege Thierry , Orleans Veronica , Braunstein David , Leone Marc , Boyer Laurent
Published: June 2019

Background

Most research on mortality in people with severe psychiatric disorders has focused on natural causes of death. Little is known about trauma-related mortality, although bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have been associated with increased risk of self-administered injury and road accidents.

Aims

To determine if 30-day in-patient mortality from traumatic injury was increased in people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia compared with those without psychiatric disorders.

Method

A French national 2016 database of 144 058 hospital admissions for trauma was explored. Patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia were selected and matched with mentally healthy controls in a 1:3 ratio according to age, gender, social deprivation and region of residence. We collected the following data: sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, trauma severity characteristics and trauma circumstances. Study outcome was 30-day in-patient mortality.

Results

The study included 1059 people with bipolar disorder, 1575 people with schizophrenia and their respective controls (n = 3177 and n = 4725). The 30-day mortality was 5.7% in bipolar disorder, 5.1% in schizophrenia and 3.3 and 3.8% in the controls, respectively. Only bipolar disorder was associated with increased mortality in univariate analyses. This association remained significant after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidities but not after adjustment for trauma severity. Self-administered injuries were associated with increased mortality independent of the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis.

Conclusions

Patients with bipolar disorder are at higher risk of 30-day mortality, probably through increased trauma severity. A self-administered injury is predictive of a poor survival prognosis regardless of psychiatric diagnosis.
Response of Mid-Rise Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings to the 2017 Puebla Earthquake
Authors: Arteta Carlos A. , Carrillo Julian , Archbold Jorge , Gaspar Daniel , Pajaro Cesar , Araujo Gustavo , Torregroza Andres , Bonett Ricardo , Blandon Carlos , Fernandez-Sola Luciano R. , Correal Juan F. , Mosalam Khalid M.
Published: June 2019

The response of mid-rise reinforced concrete (RC) buildings in Mexico City after the 2017 Puebla Earthquake is assessed through combined field and computational investigation. The Mw 7.1 earthquake damaged more than 500 buildings where most of them are classified as mid-rise RC frames with infill walls. A multinational team from Colombia, Mexico, and the United States was rapidly deployed within a week of the occurrence of the event to investigate the structural and nonstructural damage levels of over 60 RC buildings with 2–12 stories. The results of the study confirmed that older mid-rise structures with limited ductility capacity may have been shaken past their capacity. To elucidate the widespread damage in mid-rise RC framed structures, the post-earthquake reconnaissance effort is complemented with inelastic modeling and simulation of several representative RC framing systems with and without masonry infill walls. It was confirmed that the addition of non-isolated masonry infills significantly impacts the ductility capacity and increases the potential for a soft-story mechanism formation in RC frames originally analyzed and designed to be bare systems.
Anterior-enriched filopodia create the appearance of asymmetric membrane microdomains in polarizing C. elegans zygotes
Authors: Hirani Nisha , Illukkumbura Rukshala , Bland Tom , Mathonnet Grégoire , Suhner Delphine , Reymann Anne-Cecile , Goehring Nathan W.
Published: June 2019

The association of molecules within membrane microdomains is critical for the intracellular organization of cells. During polarization of the C. elegans zygote, both polarity proteins and actomyosin regulators associate within dynamic membrane-associated foci. Recently, a novel class of asymmetric membrane-associated structures was described that appeared to be enriched in phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), suggesting that PIP2 domains could constitute signaling hubs to promote cell polarization and actin nucleation. Here, we probe the nature of these domains using a variety of membrane- and actin cortex-associated probes. These data demonstrate that these domains are filopodia, which are stimulated transiently during polarity establishment and accumulate in the zygote anterior. The resulting membrane protrusions create local membrane topology that quantitatively accounts for observed local increases in the fluorescence signal of membrane-associated molecules, suggesting molecules are not selectively enriched in these domains relative to bulk membrane and that the PIP2 pool as revealed by PHPLCδ1 simply reflects plasma membrane localization. Given the ubiquity of 3D membrane structures in cells, including filopodia, microvilli and membrane folds, similar caveats are likely to apply to analysis of membrane-associated molecules in a broad range of systems.
Energy turnover in mammalian skeletal muscle in contractions mimicking locomotion: effects of stimulus pattern on work, impulse and energetic cost and efficiency
Authors: Curtin Nancy A. , Woledge Roger C. , West Timothy G. , Goodwin David , Piercy Richard J. , Wilson Alan M.
Published: June 2019

Active muscle performs various mechanical functions during locomotion: work output during shortening, work absorption when resisting (but not preventing) lengthening, and impulse (force-time integral) whenever there is active force. The energetic costs of these functions are important components in the energy budget during locomotion.

We investigated how the pattern of stimulation and movement affected the mechanics and energetics of muscle fibre bundles isolated from wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus, Linnaeus). The fibres were from muscles consisting of mainly fast-twitch, type-2 fibres. Fibre length was either held constant (isometric) or a sinusoidal pattern of movement was imposed at a frequency similar to the stride frequency of running wild rabbits. Duty cycle (=stimulation duration x movement frequency) and phase (timing of stimulation relative to movement) were varied. Work and impulse were measured as well as energy produced as heat. The sum of net work (work output - work input) and heat was taken as a measure of energetic cost.

Maximum work output was produced with a long duty cycle and stimulation starting slightly before shortening and was produced quite efficiently. However, efficiency was even higher with other stimulation patterns that produced less work. The highest impulse (considerably higher than isometric impulse) was produced when stimulation started while the muscle fibres were being lengthened. High impulse was produced very economically due to the low cost of producing force during lengthening.

Thus, locomotion demanding high work, high impulse or economical work output or impulse, each require a distinct and different pattern of stimulation and movement.
Sexually dimorphic swim bladder extensions enhance the auditory sensitivity of female plainfin midshipman fish,Porichthys notatus
Authors: Colleye Orphal , Vetter Brooke J. , Mohr Robert A. , Seeley Lane H. , Sisneros Joseph A.
Published: June 2019

The plainfin midshipman fish, Porichthys notatus, is a seasonally breeding, nocturnal marine teleost fish that produces acoustic signals for intraspecific social communication. Females rely on audition to detect and locate “singing” males that produce multiharmonic advertisement calls in the shallow-water, intertidal breeding environments. Previous work showed that females possess sexually-dimorphic, horn-like rostral swim bladder extensions that extend toward the primary auditory end organs, the saccule and lagena. Here, we test the hypothesis that the rostral swim bladder extensions in females increase auditory sensitivity to sound pressure and higher frequencies, which potentially could enhance mate detection and localization in shallow water habitats. We recorded the auditory evoked potentials that originated from hair cell receptors in the saccule of control females with intact swim bladders and compared them with that from treated females (swim bladders removed) and type I males (intact swim bladders lacking rostral extensions). Saccular potentials were recorded from hair cell populations in vivo while behaviorally relevant pure tone stimuli (75-1005 Hz) were presented by an underwater speaker. Results indicate that control females were approximately 5-11 dB (re: 1 µPa) more sensitive to sound pressure than treated females and type I males at the frequencies tested. A higher percentage of the evoked saccular potentials were recorded from control females at frequencies >305 Hz than from treated females and type I males. This enhanced sensitivity in females to sound pressure and higher frequencies may facilitate the acquisition of auditory information needed for conspecific localization and mate choice decisions during the breeding season.
Machine learning for differentiating metastatic and completely responded sclerotic bone lesion in prostate cancer: a retrospective radiomics study
Authors: Acar Emine , Leblebici Asım , Ellidokuz Berat Ender , Başbınar Yasemin , Kaya Gamze Çapa
Published: June 2019

Objective:

Using CT texture analysis and machine learning methods, this study aims to distinguish the lesions imaged via 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT as metastatic and completely responded in patients with known bone metastasis and who were previously treated.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed the 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT images of 75 patients after treatment, who were previously diagnosed with prostate cancer and had known bone metastasis. A texture analysis was performed on the metastatic lesions showing PSMA expression and completely responded sclerotic lesions without PSMA expression through CT images. Textural features were compared in two groups. Thus, the distinction of metastasis/completely responded lesions and the most effective parameters in this issue were determined by using various methods [decision tree, discriminant analysis, support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), ensemble classifier] in machine learning.

Results:

In 28 of the 35 texture analysis findings, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups. The Weighted KNN method had the highest accuracy and area under the curve, has been chosen as the best model. The weighted KNN algorithm was succeeded to differentiate sclerotic lesion from metastasis or completely responded lesions with 0.76 area under the curve. GLZLM_SZHGE and histogram-based kurtosis were found to be the most important parameters in differentiating metastatic and completely responded sclerotic lesions.

Conclusions:

Metastatic lesions and completely responded sclerosis areas in CT images, as determined by 68Ga-PSMA PET, could be distinguished with good accuracy using texture analysis and machine learning (Weighted KNN algorithm) in prostate cancer.

Advances in knowledge:

Our findings suggest that, with the use of newly emerging software, CT imaging can contribute to identifying the metastatic lesions in prostate cancer.
Finance, money circulation and credit
Authors: Колпакова Галина , Kolpakova Galina , Евдокимова Юлия , Evdokimova Yuliya
Published: June 2019

The textbook deals with the main segments of the Russian financial market: the money market, the securities market, the loan capital market and the insurance market. The characteristic of the current state and prospects of development of the financial, credit and banking systems of the Russian Federation is given. The essence of modern financial and monetary policy of Russia is revealed. The fifth edition reflects the changes associated with the modernization of the management of Federal, regional and local finances.
Meets the requirements of the Federal state educational standard of higher education.
For undergraduate students studying in economic areas, students of business schools, managers and practitioners.
Concise Bid Optimization Strategies with Multiple Budget Constraints
Authors: Asadpour Arash , Bateni MohammadHossein , Bhawalkar Kshipra , Mirrokni Vahab
Published: June 2019

A major challenge faced by marketers attempting to optimize their advertising campaigns is to deal with budget constraints. The problem is even harder in the face of multidimensional budget constraints, particularly in the presence of many decision variables involved and the interplay among the decision variables through such constraints. Concise bidding strategies help advertisers deal with this challenge by introducing fewer variables upon which to act. In this paper, we study the problem of finding optimal concise bidding strategies for advertising campaigns with multiple budget constraints. Given bid landscapes—that is, the predicted value (e.g., number of clicks) and the cost per click for any bid—that are typically provided by ad-serving systems, we optimize the value of an advertising campaign given its budget constraints. In particular, we consider bidding strategies that consist of no more than k different bids for all keywords. For constant k, we provide a polynomial-time approximation scheme to optimize the profit, whereas for arbitrary k we show how a constant-factor approximation algorithm can be obtained via a combination of solution enumeration and dependent LP rounding techniques, which can be of independent interest. In addition to being able to deal with multidimensional budget constraints, our results do not assume any specific payment scheme and can be applied on pay-per-click, pay-per-impression, or pay-per-conversion models. Also, no assumption about the concavity of value or cost functions is made. Finally, we evaluate the performance of our algorithms on real data sets in regimes with up to six-dimensional budget constraints. In the case of a single budget constraint, in which uniform bidding (currently used in practice) has a provable performance guarantee, our algorithm beats the state of the art by an increase of 1%–6% in the expected number of clicks. This is achieved by only two or three clusters in contrast with the single cluster permitted in uniform bidding. With multiple budget constraints, the gap between the performance of our algorithm and an enhanced version of uniform bidding grows to an average of 5%–6% (and as high as 35% in higher dimensions).

This paper was accepted by Yinyu Ye, optimization.
Novel technique using tensor fascia lata graft to reconstruct a floor of mouth postablative defect from invasive ectopic papillary carcinoma of the thyroglossal duct tract
Authors: Izadi D , Al-Zahid S , Smith J , Wallace CG
Published: June 2019

We describe a rare case of ectopic papillary thyroid cancer in the thyroglossal duct tract invading the floor-of-mouth musculature. The postablative defect was reconstructed with a bone-anchored tensor fascia lata graft to resuspend the floor of mouth to the mandible as a neogeniohyoid sling, enabling maintenance of a functional tongue position for normal speech and swallowing. This reconstruction should be considered when suprahyoid musculature is resected without breaching the oral lining.
Angioleiomyoma of the inferior turbinate: a rare cause of isolated facial pain
Authors: Heyman JNS , Jones LM , Hilton JM , Cooke JS , Viswanathan H , Hayes SM
Published: June 2019

We present the case of a 33-year-old man with right-sided facial pain. Clinical examination revealed an isolated mass attached to the right inferior turbinate. This was confirmed with computed tomography. Excision was achieved endoscopically and histology revealed an angioleiomyoma. Full symptomatic relief was achieved after surgical excision. Less than 1% of angioleiomyoma lesions are found within the sinonasal cavity. We describe the first documented presentation of angioleiomyoma as a cause of isolated, unilateral facial pain; a very common presentation to the otorhinolaryngology clinic. We promote consideration of angioleiomyoma as a different diagnosis in the presence of facial pain and a unilateral sinonasal lesion. Endoscopic resection provides complete symptomatic resolution.
Intraoperative nerve monitoring during thyroidectomy: evaluation of signal loss, prognostic value and surgical strategy
Authors: Gür EO , Haciyanli M , Karaisli S , Haciyanli S , Kamer E , Acar T , Kumkumoglu Y
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Intraoperative neural monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve has been widely used to avoid nerve injury during thyroidectomy. We discuss the results of the change in surgical strategy after unilateral signal loss surgeries using intermittent intraoperative neural monitoring in a high-volume referral centre.

Materials and methods

Details of consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomy with intermittent intraoperative neural monitoring between January 2014 and December 2017 were prospectively recorded and retrospectively reviewed. Loss of signal was defined as recurrent laryngeal nerve amplitude level lower than 100 μV during surgery. The rate of loss of signal and change in surgical strategy during the operation were evaluated.

Results

Loss of signal was detected in 25 (5.4%) of 456 patients for whom intermittent intraoperative neural monitoring was performed. Four patients had anatomic nerve disruption and surgery was completed by an experienced endocrine surgeon making use of intraoperative neural monitoring with continuous vagal stimulation. Staged thyroidectomy was performed on 16 patients with unilateral loss of signal in whom the nerves were intact visually. Postoperative vocal cord paralysis was encountered in 18 of 21 (85.7%) patients with loss of signal, and 16 of 18 (88.8%) were improved during the follow-up period. Patients’ voices were subjectively normal to the surgeon postoperatively in 9 of 21 (42.8%) patients who were found to have loss of signal with intact nerves.

Conclusions

Intraoperative neural monitoring can be used safely in thyroid surgery to avoid recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. It enables the surgeon to diagnose recurrent laryngeal nerve injury intraoperatively to estimate the postoperative nerve function and to modify the surgical strategy to avoid bilateral vocal cord paralysis.
CRM 2.0 within E-Health Systems: Towards Achieving Health Literacy & Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Anshari Muhammad , Almunawar Mohammad Nabil , Low Patrick Kim Cheng
Published: June 2019

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) within healthcare organization can be viewed as a strategy to attract new customers and retaining them throughout their entire lifetime of relationships. At the same time, the advancement of Web technology known as Web 2.0 plays a significant part in the CRM transition which drives social change that impacts all institutions including business and healthcare organizations. This new paradigm has been named as Social CRM or CRM 2.0 because it is based on Web 2.0. We conducted survey to examine the features of CRM 2.0 in healthcare scenario to the customer in Brunei Darussalam. We draw the conclusion that the CRM 2.0 in healthcare technologies has brought a possibility to extend the services of e-health by enabling patients, patients families, and community at large to participate more actively in the process of health education; it helps improve health literacy through empowerment, social networking process, and online health educator. This paper is based on our works presented at ICID 2011.
A Counterfeit Paper Currency Recognition System Using LVQ based on UV Light
Authors: Harjunowibowo Dewanto , Hartati Sri , Budianto Aris
Published: June 2019

This research is aimed to test a paper currency counterfeit detection system based on Linear Vector Quantization (LVQ) Neural Network. The input image of the system is the dancer object image of paper currency Rp. 50.000,- fluorescent by ultraviolet light. The image of paper currency data was taken from conventional banks. The LVQ method is used to recognize whether the paper currency being tested is counterfeit or not. The coding was carried out using visual programming language. The feature size of the dancer tested object is 114x90 px and the RGBHSI was extracted as the input for LVQ. The experimental results show that the system has an accuracy 100% of detecting 20 real test case data, and 96% of detecting 22 simulated test case data. The simulated case data was generated by varying the brightness of the image data. The real test case data contains of 10 counterfeit paper currency and 10 original paper currency. The simulated case data contains of 11 original paper currency and 11 counterfeit paper currency. The best setting for the system is Learning Rate = 0.01 and MaxEpoh = 10.
Development of Task Implementation Evaluation System Online Classroom Guardians with Extreme Programming Methods at The Noble Foundation Consortium
Authors: Wahid Abdul , Mulyanto Agus
Published: June 2019

Evaluating the performance of employees in an organization is a necessity if the organization seeks improvement of their service quality. Konsorsium Yayasan Mulia working in the field of education is very concerned with evaluating their employee performance. One of the evaluations which have been routinely carried out is evaluation of homeroom teacher performance. This evaluation is done as a form of Konsorsium Yayasan Mulia attention on the student character building. The evaluation has been made manually spend a lot of time and effort, it is necessary for a system that can be the solution of the problem. The system will be built is the first system, that means it requires development method that flexible to changes.System development method used in this research is eXtreme Programming. This method is part of Agile Programming that emphasizes intense communication with customers to determine their needs. The steps of this method are planning, design, coding and testing.The homeroom task evaluation system is a bridge between the homeroom teacher, the principal and Konsorsium Yayasan Mulia. General overview of the system, the system has three user level, admin, principal and homeroom teacher. Admin can post an evaluation sheet and manage principal. Principal can manage homeroom teacher and homeroom theacher can report their task performance.The result of this research is a system that provides convenience to Konsorsium Yayasan Mulia to evaluate the task performance of homeroom teacher.