bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender Differences in Veterans Referred for Neuropsychological Evaluation in an Outpatient Neuropsychology Consultation Service
Authors: Sullivan-Baca Erin , Naylon Kara , Zartman Andrea , Ardolf Barry , Westhafer J Gregory
Published: January 2020

Objective

The number of women veterans seeking Veterans Health Administration services has substantially increased over the past decade. Neuropsychology remains an understudied area in the examination of gender differences. The present study sought to delineate similarities and differences in men and women veterans presenting for neuropsychological evaluation in terms of demographics, referral, medical conditions, effort, and outcome diagnosis.

Method

A database collected from an outpatient VA neuropsychology clinic from 2013 to 2019 was analyzed (n = 232 women, 2642 men). Additional analyses examined younger (n = 836 men, 155 women) and older (n = 1805 men, 77 women) age cohorts.

Results

Women veterans were younger and more educated than men, whereas men had higher prevalence of vascular risk factors. Both groups were most often referred from mental health clinics and memory was the most common referral question. Although men performed worse on performance validity measures, clinicians rated women as evidencing poorer effort on a cumulative rating based on formal and embedded performance validity measures, behavioral observations, and inconsistent test patterns. Older women reported more depressive symptoms than older men and were more commonly diagnosed with depression.

Conclusions

This exploratory study fills a gap in the understanding of gender differences in veterans presenting for neuropsychological evaluations. Findings emphasize consideration for the intersection of gender with demographics, medical factors, effort, and psychological symptoms by VA neuropsychologists. A better understanding of relationships between gender and these factors may inform neuropsychologists’ test selection, interpretation of behavioral observations, and diagnostic considerations to best treat women veterans.
Network cross-validation by edge sampling
Authors: Li Tianxi , Levina Elizaveta , Zhu Ji
Published: January 2020

While many statistical models and methods are now available for network analysis, resampling of network data remains a challenging problem. Cross-validation is a useful general tool for model selection and parameter tuning, but it is not directly applicable to networks since splitting network nodes into groups requires deleting edges and destroys some of the network structure. In this paper we propose a new network resampling strategy, based on splitting node pairs rather than nodes, that is applicable to cross-validation for a wide range of network model selection tasks. We provide theoretical justification for our method in a general setting and examples of how the method can be used in specific network model selection and parameter tuning tasks. Numerical results on simulated networks and on a statisticians’ citation network show that the proposed cross-validation approach works well for model selection.
Recurrent acute interstitial nephritis: what lies beneath
Authors: Caravaca-Fontán Fernando , Shabaka Amir , Sánchez-Álamo Beatriz , de Lorenzo Alberto , Díaz Martha , Blasco Miquel , Rodríguez Eva , Sierra-Carpio Milagros , Malek Marín Tamara , Urrestarazú Andrés , Corona Cases Clara , Praga Manuel , Fernández-Juárez Gema ,   the Spanish Group for the Study of Glomerular Diseases (GLOSEN)
Published: January 2020

Background

Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is an emerging cause of acute kidney disease. While this disease usually follows an acute course, it may occasionally recur, representing a major challenge for the clinician.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, observational cohort study in 13 nephrology departments belonging to the Spanish Group for the Study of Glomerular Diseases. Patients with biopsy-proven AIN between 1996 and 2018 were included.

Results

The study group consisted of 205 patients with AIN, 22 of which developed recurrent AIN (RAIN) after a median of 111 days from diagnosis. RAIN was due to a surreptitious reintroduction of a previously known implicated drug or toxic in six patients (27%), sarcoidosis in two (9%), Sjögren’s syndrome in three (14%), light-chain-mediated AIN in two (9%) and tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome in two (9%), while in the rest of cases (32%), no precise cause could be identified. Microscopic haematuria was more frequent in patients with underlying systemic diseases. The first RAIN episode was treated with a repeated course of corticosteroids in 21 patients (95%). In six cases (27%), azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil were added as corticosteroid-sparing agents. During a median follow-up of 30 months, 50 patients (27%) with no recurrences and 12 patients (55%) with RAIN reached Stages 4 and 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD). By multivariable logistic regression analysis, RAIN was independently associated with the risk of reaching Stages 4 and 5 CKD, even after adjusting for potential covariables.

Conclusions

RAIN is infrequent but is associated with poor kidney survival. RAIN should prompt clinicians to search for an underlying aetiology other than drug induced. However, in a large percentage of cases, no precise cause can be identified.
An Approach for Image Search and Retrieval by Cluster-Based Indexing of Binary MKSIFT Codes
Authors: Mathan Kumar B , PushpaLakshmi R
Published: January 2020

Image search is an information retrieval approach that gained remarkable attention in the areas like multimedia and computer vision. The first work presented a cross-indexing-based approach for image retrieval using multiple kernel scale-invariant feature transform (MKSIFT), where the key point descriptor was calculated using two kernel functions. Previous work had complexity issues while dealing with the large databases, and hence, to avoid this, cluster-based indexing of binary MKSIFT codes is presented. The proposed cluster-based indexing scheme uses the MKSIFT feature extraction and the Particle Swarm-Fractional Bacterial foraging optimization algorithm for extracting the useful features from the images. Also, the Bayesian fuzzy clustering scheme is employed for grouping the images in the database into several clusters. The search index is constructed for the user query, and Bhattacharya distance between the cluster centroids and the search index is calculated to identify the optimal cluster. Then, finally, the images present in the optimal centroid are retrieved. The experimentation of the proposed cluster-based indexing scheme is analysed for the various query from the users. From the analysis, it is evident that the proposed cluster-based indexing scheme has achieved improved performance with the mean values of 0.9656, 0.9489 and 0.9049, for precision, recall and F measure, respectively.
Influence of a Neonicotinoid Seed Treatment on a Nontarget Herbivore of Soybean (Twospotted Spider Mite) and Diet Switching by a Co-occurring Omnivore (Western Flower Thrips)
Authors: Brenner Robert , Prischmann-Voldseth Deirdre A
Published: January 2020

Insecticidal neonicotinoid seed treatments are a common agricultural insect pest management strategy; however, effects on nontarget pests and omnivorous arthropods are understudied. We used a series of experiments to evaluate impacts of the neonicotinoid seed treatment thiamethoxam on densities of herbivorous twospotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch [Acari: Tetranychidae]) and feeding behavior of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande [Thysanoptera: Thripidae]), an omnivore that feeds on spider mite eggs but is also a significant plant pest. Spider mite densities were higher on neonicotinoid-treated soybeans, but only when mites were not spatially confined. We then examined how availability of thiamethoxam-treated food items (i.e., eggs from spider mites reared on treated soybeans, soybean leaf discs, or a combination of the two), and previous exposure to thiamethoxam-treated soybean impacted thrips feeding. Regardless of the presence of leaf tissue, thrips consumed fewer spider mite eggs laid by females reared on treated soybeans, suggesting spider mite eggs can serve as poisoned prey. Overall, thrips consumed less treated soybean leaf tissue, and thrips on treated leaf discs had a lower percentage of herbivorous feeding events and consumed more nontreated spider mite eggs, indicating a dietary shift from herbivory to predation. The neonicotinoid status of spider mite eggs and prior exposure of thrips also caused shifts in the number and size of leaf scars, likely as a result of altered foraging behavior and/or movement. Shifts between herbivory and predation have implications for thrips damage, virus transmission, and pest management, especially in systems with mixtures of nontreated and neonicotinoid-treated plants.
Heterogeneous Consumers, Segmented Asset Markets and the Real Effects of Monetary Policy
Authors: Enders Zeno
Published: January 2020

This article proposes a novel mechanism by which changes in the distribution of money holdings have real aggregate effects. I develop a flexible-price model of segmented asset markets in which monetary policy influences the aggregate demand elasticity via heterogenous money holdings. Because varieties of consumption bundles are purchased sequentially, newly injected money disseminates slowly throughout the economy via second-round effects. The model predicts a short-term inflation-output trade-off, a liquidity effect, countercyclical markups, and pro-cyclical wages after monetary shocks. Among other correlations of financial variables, it also reproduces the empirical, negative relationship between changes in the money supply and markups.
Norwood procedure with right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit: a single-centre 20-year experience
Authors: Kobayashi Yasuyuki , Kotani Yasuhiro , Kuroko Yosuke , Kawabata Takuya , Sano Shunji , Kasahara Shingo
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of the Norwood procedure with right ventricle–pulmonary artery (RV–PA) conduit for hypoplastic left heart complex.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was performed in 136 patients with hypoplastic left heart complex who underwent a Norwood procedure with RV–PA conduit between 1998 and 2017. The probabilities of survival, reintervention and Fontan completion were analysed.

RESULTS

Stage 1 survival was 91.9% (125/136). Reintervention for PA stenosis was needed for 22% and 30% at stages 2 and 3, respectively, while 15% underwent reintervention for aortic arch recoarctation. Among 106 bidirectional Glenn survivors, 93 (68% of the total number of patients) had a Fontan completion, while 4 were not considered to be Fontan candidates. Risk factors for overall mortality included weighing <2.5 kg at the time of the Norwood procedure, intact atrium septum, total anomalous pulmonary vein connection and more than mild atrioventricular regurgitation at the time of the Norwood procedure. Overall survival was 80.9%, 72.3% and 62.8% at 1, 5 and 20 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Probabilities of survival and Fontan completion were acceptable under the current surgical strategy incorporating RV–PA Norwood procedure as the first palliation. Incorporating a strategy to maintain PA growth and ventricular function through the staged repair is of prime importance. Further studies are necessary to observe changes in atrioventricular regurgitation as well as in right ventricular function, in patients who require atrioventricular valve interventions during the staged Fontan completion.
Nudge Goes International
Authors: Teichman Doron , Zamir Eyal
Published: January 2020

This article introduces the concept of nudge – low-cost behaviourally informed modes of regulation that influence people’s decisions without limiting their choice set – into the behavioural analysis of international law. It sketches out the pathways through which nudges might influence the behaviour of countries, and highlights the normative implications associated with utilizing these regulatory tools in the international arena. That done, the article presents numerous case studies that demonstrate how nudges such as defaults, goals and rankings are integrated into the international legal terrain.
Nursing Home Staff Turnover and Perceived Patient Safety Culture: Results from a National Survey
Authors: Temkin-Greener Helena , Cen Xi , Li Yue
Published: January 2020

Background and Objectives

We examined the association between turnover of registered nurses (RNs) and certified nurse assistants (CNAs) and perceived patient safety culture (PSC) in nursing homes (NHs).

Research Design and Methods

In 2017, we conducted PSC survey using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality- developed and -validated instrument for NHs. A random sample of 2,254 U.S. NHs was identified. Administrators, directors of nursing (DONs), and nurse unit leaders served as respondents. Responses were obtained for 818 facilities from 1,447 individuals. The instrument contained 42 items relating to 12 PSC domains and turnover rates. PSC domains were based on five-point Likert scale items. A positive response was defined as “agree” or “strongly agree” (4–5 on the Likert scale). For CNAs low turnover was defined as <35%, and for RNs <15%. Facility-level and market-competition characteristics were included. Bivariate comparisons employed analysis of variance and chi-square tests. In multivariable models, we fit separate linear regressions for the average positive PSC score and for each of the 12 PSC domains, including turnover rates, NH, and market factors.

Results

In NHs with low turnover, the overall PSC scores were 4.04% (RNs) and 6.28% (CNAs) higher than in NHs with high turnover. Teamwork, staffing, and training/skills were associated with CNA but not RN turnover.

Discussion and Implications

The effect of turnover on PSC depends on who leaves and to a lesser extent on the organizational characteristics. In NHs, improvements in PSC may depend on the ability to retain a well-trained and skilled nursing staff.
Galectin-3 as a modifier of anti-microbial immunity: Unraveling the unknowns
Authors: Sehrawat Sharvan , Kaur Manpreet
Published: January 2020

Galectins play diverse roles in pathophysiology of infectious diseases and cancers. Galectin-3 is one of the most studied family member and the only chimeric type lectin. Many aspects of its biogenesis, range of activities, and the disease-modifying potential particularly during microbial infections are yet to be known. We review our current understanding of these issues and also highlight gaps in better defining the immune modulatory potential of galectin-3 during different stages of host responsiveness when an infection sets in. Additionally, we discuss commonly used strategies to disrupt galectin-3 functions both extracellulalry and intracellularly. Existing and improved novel strategies could help fine-tune immune responses to achieve better prognosis of infectious diseases.
Surgical treatment of pleural recurrence of thymoma: is hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy worthwhile?
Authors: Aprile Vittorio , Bacchin Diana , Korasidis Stylianos , Nesti Agnese , Marrama Elena , Ricciardi Roberta , Petrini Iacopo , Ambrogi Marcello Carlo , Paladini Piero , Lucchi Marco
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES

Recurrence of thymoma is described in 10–30% of cases after surgical resection. Iterative surgery for thymoma pleural relapses (TPRs) is often part of a multimodal treatment. Hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITHOC) following macroscopic radical surgery is an option that combines the effects of mild hyperthermia with those of chemotherapeutic agents. We evaluated the effectiveness of surgery + HITHOC, compared with surgery alone, in the treatment of TPR.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected data of all patients who underwent surgery for TPR in our centre from 2005 to 2017. Relapses were treated by partial pleurectomy with radical intent, followed by HITHOC when not contraindicated. Patients were divided into 2 groups: surgery + HITHOC and surgery alone. We collected demographic and clinical data and analysed postoperative results together with oncological outcomes.

RESULTS

Forty patients (27: surgery + HITHOC, 13: surgery alone), mean age 49.8 (±13.7) years, were included in this study. There were no perioperative deaths. We experienced 33.3% perioperative morbidity in the surgery + HITHOC group compared with 23.1% in the surgery alone group (P = 0.71). The overall survival rate was comparable between the 2 groups (P = 0.139), whereas the local disease-free interval was 88.0 ± 15 months in the surgery + HITHOC group and 57 ± 19.5 months in the surgery alone group (P = 0.046). The analysis of factors affecting the outcomes revealed that radical surgery is related with a better survival rate whereas the local disease-free interval was significantly influenced by HITHOC.

CONCLUSIONS

The safety and feasibility of HITHOC in the treatment of TPR are already known, even if it should be reserved for selected patients. Surgery + HITHOC seems to be associated with a longer local disease-free time compared to surgery alone.
A Good Life for Laboratory Rodents?
Authors: Makowska I Joanna , Weary Daniel M
Published: January 2020

Most would agree that animals in research should be spared “unnecessary” harm, pain, or distress, and there is also growing interest in providing animals with some form of environmental enrichment. But is this the standard of care that we should aspire to? We argue that we need to work towards a higher standard—specifically, that providing research animals with a “good life” should be a prerequisite for their use. The aims of this paper are to illustrate our vision of a “good life” for laboratory rats and mice and to provide a roadmap for achieving this vision. We recognize that several research procedures are clearly incompatible with a good life but describe here what we consider to be the minimum day-to-day living conditions to be met when using rodents in research. A good life requires that animals can express a rich behavioral repertoire, use their abilities, and fulfill their potential through active engagement with their environment. In the first section, we describe how animals could be housed for these requirements to be fulfilled, from simple modifications to standard housing through to better cage designs and free-ranging options. In the second section, we review the types of interactions with laboratory rodents that are compatible with a good life. In the third section, we address the potential for the animals to have a life outside of research, including the use of pets in clinical trials (the animal-as-patient model) and the adoption of research animals to new homes when they are no longer needed in research. We conclude with a few suggestions for achieving our vision.
Fractional phase-field crystal modelling: analysis, approximation and pattern formation
Authors: Ainsworth Mark , Mao Zhiping
Published: January 2020

We consider a fractional phase-field crystal (FPFC) model in which the classical Swift–Hohenberg equation (SHE) is replaced by a fractional order Swift–Hohenberg equation (FSHE) that reduces to the classical case when the fractional order $\beta =1$. It is found that choosing the value of $\beta $ appropriately leads to FSHE giving a markedly superior fit to experimental measurements of the structure factor than obtained using the SHE ($\beta =1$) for a number of crystalline materials. The improved fit to the data provided by the fractional partial differential equation prompts our investigation of a FPFC model based on the fractional free energy functional. It is shown that the FSHE is well-posed and exhibits the same type of pattern formation behaviour as the SHE, which is crucial for the success of the PFC model, independently of the fractional exponent $\beta $. This means that the FPFC model inherits the early successes of the FPC model such as physically realistic predictions of the phase diagram etc. and, therefore, provides a viable alternative to the classical PFC model. While the salient features of PFC and FPFC are identical, we expect more subtle features to differ. The prediction of grain boundary energy arising from a mismatch in orientation across a material interface is another notable success of the PFC model. The grain boundary energy can be evaluated numerically from the PFC model and compared with experimental measurements. The grain boundary energy is a derived quantity and is more sensitive to the nuances of the model. We compare the predictions obtained using the PFC and FPFC models with experimental observations of the grain boundary energy for several materials. It is observed that the FPFC model gives superior agreement with the experimental observation than those obtained using the classical PFC model, especially when the mismatch in orientation becomes larger.
Prescribing Morse Scalar Curvatures: Blow-Up Analysis
Authors: Malchiodi Andrea , Mayer Martin
Published: January 2020

We study finite-energy blow-ups for prescribed Morse scalar curvatures in both the subcritical and the critical regime. After general considerations on Palais–Smale sequences, we determine precise blow-up rates for subcritical solutions: in particular the possibility of tower bubbles is excluded in all dimensions. In subsequent papers, we aim to establish the sharpness of this result, proving a converse existence statement, together with a one-to-one correspondence of blowing-up subcritical solutions and critical points at infinity. This analysis will be then applied to deduce new existence results for the geometric problem.
Pharmacodynamic Correlates of Linezolid Activity and Toxicity in Murine Models of Tuberculosis
Authors: Bigelow Kristina M , Deitchman Amelia N , Li Si-Yang , Barnes-Boyle Kala , Tyagi Sandeep , Soni Heena , Dooley Kelly E , Savic Rada M , Nuermberger Eric L
Published: January 2020

Background

Linezolid (LZD) is bactericidal against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but it has treatment-limiting toxicities. A better understanding of exposure-response relationships governing LZD efficacy and toxicity will inform dosing strategies. Because in vitro monotherapy studies yielded conflicting results, we explored LZD pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationships in vivo against actively and nonactively multiplying bacteria, including in combination with pretomanid.

Methods

Linezolid multidose pharmacokinetics were modeled in mice. Dose-fractionation studies were performed in acute (net bacterial growth) and chronic (no net growth) infection models. In acute models, LZD was administered alone or with bacteriostatic or bactericidal pretomanid doses. Correlations between PK/PD parameters and lung colony-forming units (CFUs) and complete blood counts were assessed.

Results

Overall, time above minimum inhibitory concentration (T>MIC) correlated best with CFU decline. However, in growth-constrained models (ie, chronic infection, coadministration with pretomanid 50 mg/kg per day), area under the concentration-time curve over MIC (AUC/MIC) had similar explanatory power. Red blood cell counts correlated strongly with LZD minimum concentration (Cmin).

Conclusions

Although T>MIC was the most consistent correlate of efficacy, AUC/MIC was equally predictive when bacterial multiplication was constrained by host immunity or pretomanid. In effective combination regimens, administering the same total LZD dose less frequently may be equally effective and cause less Cmin-dependent toxicity.
Candida Species-Dependent Release of IL-12 by Dendritic Cells Induces Different Levels of NK Cell Stimulation
Authors: Marolda Alessandra , Hünniger Kerstin , Böttcher Sarah , Vivas Wolfgang , Löffler Jürgen , Figge Marc Thilo , Kurzai Oliver
Published: January 2020

Background

Candida albicans and Candida glabrata are the 2 most prevalent Candida species causing bloodstream infections. Patterns of innate immune activation triggered by the 2 fungi differ considerably.

Methods

To analyze human natural killer (NK) cell activation by both species, we performed ex vivo whole-blood infection assays and confrontation assays with primary human NK cells.

Results

C. albicans was a stronger activator for isolated human NK cells than C. glabrata. In contrast, activation of blood NK cells, characterized by an upregulated surface exposure of early activation antigen CD69 and death receptor ligand TRAIL, as well as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion, was more pronounced during C. glabrata infection. NK cell activation in blood is mediated by humoral mediators released by other immune cells and does not depend on direct activation by fungal cells. Cross-talk between Candida-confronted monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC) and NK cells resulted in the same NK activation phenotype as NK cells in human blood. Blocking experiments and cytokine substitution identified interleukin-12 as a critical mediator in regulation of primary NK cells by moDC.

Conclusions

Activation of human NK cells in response to Candida in human blood mainly occurs indirectly by mediators released from monocytic cells.
Dynamics of PfEMP1 Antibody Profile From Birth to 12 Months of Age in Beninese Infants
Authors: Moussiliou A , Turner L , Cottrell G , Doritchamou J , Gbédandé K , Fievet N , Luty A J F , Massougbodji A , Theander T G , Deloron P , Lavstsen T , Tuikue Ndam N
Published: January 2020

Background

Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes bind to specific endothelial cell receptors via members of the PfEMP1 family exported onto the erythrocyte surface. These interactions are mediated by different types of cysteine-rich interdomain region (CIDR) domains found in the N-terminal region of all PfEMP1. CIDRα1 domains bind endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR), CIDRα2–6 domains bind CD36, whereas the receptor specificity of CIDRβ/γ/δ domains is unknown.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the level of immunoglobulin (Ig)G targeting the different types of PfEMP1 CIDR during the first year of life. We used plasma collected longitudinally from children of pregnant women who had been followed closely through pregnancy.

Results

Antibodies to CIDRα1 domains were more frequent in cord blood compared with antibodies to CIDRα2–6 domains. Higher IgG levels to EPCR-binding CIDRα1 variants positively correlated with the timing of first infections. Antibodies to all PfEMP1 types declined at similar rates to the point of disappearance over the first 6 months of life. At 12 months, children had acquired antibody to all types of CIDR domains, mostly in children with documented P falciparum infections.

Conclusions

These observations agree with the notion that the timing and phenotype of first P falciparum infections in life are influenced by the immune status of the mother.
Regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor expression and morphology of lung epithelial cells by interleukin-1β
Authors: Nakayama Izumi , Higa-Nakamine Sayomi , Uehara Ayako , Sugahara Kazuhiro , Kakinohana Manabu , Yamamoto Hideyuki
Published: January 2020

Accumulating evidences suggested that the overactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was involved in the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary fibrosis. Elucidation of the mechanisms that regulate EGFR residence on the plasma membrane during inflammatory lung conditions is important for identifying potential therapies. We have demonstrated that flagellin phosphorylated EGFR at Ser1047 and induced transient EGFR internalization. In this study, we examined the molecular pathway and effect of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) on EGFR in alveolar epithelial cells. Treatment of A549 cells with IL-1β induced the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) and MAP kinase-activated protein kinase-2 (MAPKAPK-2), as well as EGFR phosphorylation at serine 1047. Both MAPKAPK-2 activation and EGFR phosphorylation were inhibited by SB203580, a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor. In addition, MK2a inhibitor (a MAPKAPK-2 inhibitor) suppressed EGFR phosphorylation. Assessment of the biotinylation of cell surface proteins indicated that IL-1β induced EGFR internalization. Furthermore, long-term treatment of A549 cells with IL-1β caused morphological changes and loss of cell–cell contact. Moreover, IL-1β augmented the effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 on the epithelial–mesenchymal transition. These results suggested that IL-1β regulates EGFR functions and induces morphological changes of alveolar epithelial cells.
Clinical significance of primary debulking surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy-interval debulking surgery in advanced ovarian cancer
Authors: Nishio Shin , Ushijima Kimio
Published: January 2020

Primary debulking surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy remains the standard treatment of patients with stage III–IV epithelial ovarian cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an alternative treatment regimen that can be considered in selected patients. Complete cytoreduction, both through primary debulking surgery and interval debulking surgery, has a major positive effect on survival and should be the goal, even if this requires extensive surgery. When thorough assessment of tumor spread and performance status of the patient indicates that complete primary cytoreduction is not feasible without unacceptable morbidity, then alternative therapeutic strategies, such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, must be considered. Such patients can be offered the option of interval debulking surgery after checking their response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and resolution of the initial obstacles for primary debulking surgery (i.e. complete response of irresectable disease and improvement of the performance status). Current evidence suggests that a selected group of patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III–IV ovarian cancer will benefit from NAC-IDS. Research is ongoing to identify patients who might derive the greatest benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery, instead of primary debulking surgery, on the basis of radiological, genetic, pathological, and immunological variables. In this review, we discuss current knowledge about the clinical significance of primary debulking surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer and discuss unanswered questions in the field.
A 15-year mystery resolved: a large bone-boring glomus tumor mistaken as dermatitis
Authors: Bouayyad Sarah , Abdelaty Mohamed , Mishra Anuj
Published: January 2020

Glomus tumor (GT) is a rare, benign neoplasm of the glomus apparatus. Being most common in the subungual region, it often misdiagnosed with dermatological conditions. Severe tenderness, paroxysmal pain and cold intolerance symptomatically denote GT. Clinical tests such as Love’s pin test and Hildreth’s test assist in diagnosing the disease. X-ray, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging can confirm the severity of the lesion. Complete surgical excision is the only treatment available for these subcutaneous nodules. A middle-aged male with a hand pain, who misdiagnosed for dermatitis over 15-year period, has identified as having a large bone-boring GT. Awareness of GT among healthcare professionals is a must to increase the quality of life of patients.
Adhesive small bowel obstruction in pregnancy and the use of oral contrast media: a case report
Authors: Robertson Rachel , Wu Linus
Published: January 2020

Bowel obstruction in pregnancy is a high risk situation for both the mother and baby. We present a case of a 30-week-pregnant woman who presented with abdominal pain and vomiting and was diagnosed with adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO). Oral contrast media was successfully used as a treatment. The patient was discharged home and 10 weeks later delivered a healthy baby girl. We were unable to find any cases in the literature describing oral contrast media to treat adhesive SBO in pregnancy. From our experience and research, we consider oral contrast media as a method of treating adhesive SBO in pregnancy under the proviso that there are no signs that indicate urgent surgical intervention.
Victory, Defeat, Gender, and Disability: Blind War Veterans in Interwar Czechoslovakia
Authors: Luptak Adam , Newman John Paul
Published: January 2020

This article examines the intersection between disability, gender, victory, and defeat in interwar Czechoslovakia. We look at a small but prominent group of disabled veterans: men who lost their sight fighting in the Austro-Hungarian army in the First World War. These veterans, unlike men who had fought in the pro-Entente Legionary divisions, were not celebrated in official and patriotic discourse in the First Republic. They had to find alternative outlets to express their place in society as disabled men. Through analysis of the most important associations for blind veterans, interwoven with a series of case studies, we consider how disability weakened, but did not completely remove, the social and cultural barriers that existed in interwar Czechoslovakia between “victorious” and “defeated” war veterans. We also analyze a series of literary and professional responses to blindness that show how blind veterans’ masculinity was renegotiated in the wake of their disability. Blind war veterans were considered throughout Czechoslovak society as the embodiment and the epitome of the disabled subject; their experiences thus speak more generally to the manner in which disability was experienced as a socially enforced category in Czechoslovakia.
Reconsidering the Relationship Between (Pseudo-)Didymus’s De Trinitate and Cyril of Alexandria’s Contra Julianum
Authors: Crawford Matthew R
Published: January 2020

Cyril of Alexandria’s apologetic treatise Contra Julianum drew upon a wide range of earlier Christian literature, including works by Clement of Alexandria, Eusebius of Caesarea, Pseudo-Justin Martyr, and others. The literary relationship between Contra Julianum and the De Trinitate attributed to Didymus the Blind is, however, contested. In this article I re-examine the parallel passages between these two works and argue that Cyril drew directly upon the De Trinitate as he composed Contra Julianum, using that prior work in three different ways. In the light of this finding, I argue that this literary dependency sheds some light on the intellectual and perhaps also social milieu out of which Contra Julianum arose, namely the long tradition of Christian authors who appropriated non-Christian sources for apologetic purposes, including such figures as Origen and Didymus.
From element to development: the power of the essential micronutrient boron to shape morphological processes in plants
Authors: Matthes Michaela S , Robil Janlo M , McSteen Paula
Published: January 2020

Deficiency of the essential nutrient boron (B) in the soil is one of the most widespread micronutrient deficiencies worldwide, leading to developmental defects in root and shoot tissues of plants, and severe yield reductions in many crops. Despite this agricultural importance, the underlying mechanisms of how B shapes plant developmental and morphological processes are still not unequivocally understood in detail. This review evaluates experimental approaches that address our current understanding of how B influences plant morphological processes by focusing on developmental defects observed under B deficiency. We assess what is known about mechanisms that control B homeostasis and specifically highlight: (i) limitations in the methodology that is used to induce B deficiency; (ii) differences between mutant phenotypes and normal plants grown under B deficiency; and (iii) recent research on analyzing interactions between B and phytohormones. Our analysis highlights the need for standardized methodology to evaluate the roles of B in the cell wall versus other parts of the cell.
ZmIBH1-1 regulates plant architecture in maize
Authors: Cao Yingying , Zeng Haixia , Ku Lixia , Ren Zhenzhen , Han Yun , Su Huihui , Dou Dandan , Liu Huafeng , Dong Yahui , Zhu Fangfang , Li Tianyi , Zhao Qiannan , Chen Yanhui
Published: January 2020

Leaf angle (LA) is a critical agronomic trait in maize, with more upright leaves allowing higher planting density, leading to more efficient light capture and higher yields. A few genes responsible for variation in LA have been identified by map-based cloning. In this study, we cloned maize ZmIBH1-1, which encodes a bHLH transcription factor with both a basic binding region and a helix-loop-helix domain, and the results of qRT-PCR showed that it is a negative regulator of LA. Histological analysis indicated that changes in LA were mainly caused by differential cell wall lignification and cell elongation in the ligular region. To determine the regulatory framework of ZmIBH1-1, we conducted RNA-seq and DNA affinity purification (DAP)-seq analyses. The combined results revealed 59 ZmIBH1-1-modulated target genes with annotations, and they were mainly related to the cell wall, cell development, and hormones. Based on the data, we propose a regulatory model for the control of plant architecture by ZmIBH1-1 in maize.
NbCycB2 represses Nbwo activity via a negative feedback loop in tobacco trichome development
Authors: Wu Min-Liang , Cui Yu-Chao , Ge Li , Cui Li-Peng , Xu Zhi-Chao , Zhang Hong-Ying , Wang Zhao-Jun , Zhou Dan , Wu Shuang , Chen Liang , Cui Hong
Published: January 2020

The transcription factor Woolly (Wo) and its downstream gene CycB2 have been shown to regulate trichome development in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). It has been demonstrated that only the gain-of-function allele of Slwo (SlWoV, the Slwo woolly motif mutant allele) can increase the trichome density; however, it remains unclear why the two alleles function differently in trichome development. In this study, we used Nicotiana benthamiana as a model and cloned the homologues of Slwo and SlCycB2 (named Nbwo and NbCycB2). We also constructed a Nbwo gain-of-function allele with the same mutation site as SlWoV (named NbWoV). We found that both Nbwo and NbWoV directly regulate NbCycB2 and their own expression by binding to the promoter of NbCycB2 and their own genomic sequences. As form of a feedback regulation, NbCycB2 negatively regulates trichome formation by repressing Nbwo activity at the protein level. We also found that mutations in the Nbwo woolly motif can prevent repression of NbWoV by NbCycB2, which results in a significant increase in the amount of active Nbwo proteins and in increases in trichome density and the number of branches. Our results reveal a novel reciprocal regulation mechanism between NbCycB2 and Nbwo during trichome formation in N. benthamiana.
Pulsars detection by machine learning with very few features
Authors: Lin Haitao , Li Xiangru , Luo Ziying
Published: January 2020

It is an active topic to investigate the schemes based on machine learning (ML) methods for detecting pulsars as the data volume growing exponentially in modern surveys. To improve the detection performance, input features into an ML model should be investigated specifically. In the existing pulsar detection researches based on ML methods, there are mainly two kinds of feature designs: the empirical features and statistical features. Due to the combinational effects from multiple features, however, there exist some redundancies and even irrelevant components in the available features, which can reduce the accuracy of a pulsar detection model. Therefore, it is essential to select a subset of relevant features from a set of available candidate features and known as feature selection. In this work, two feature selection algorithms –Grid Search (GS) and Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) – are proposed to improve the detection performance by removing the redundant and irrelevant features. The algorithms were evaluated on the Southern High Time Resolution University survey (HTRU-S) with five pulsar detection models. The experimental results verify the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed feature selection algorithms. By the GS, a model with only two features reach a recall rate as high as 99 per cent and a false positive rate (FPR) as low as 0.65 per cent; by the RFE, another model with only three features achieves a recall rate of 99 per cent and an FPR of 0.16 per cent in pulsar candidates classification. Furthermore, this work investigated the number of features required as well as the misclassified pulsars by our models.
The radial acceleration relation in galaxy clusters
Authors: Chan Man Ho , Del Popolo Antonino
Published: January 2020

Recently, the discovery of the radial acceleration relation (RAR) in galaxies has been regarded as an indirect support of alternative theories of gravity such as modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) and modified gravity. This relation indicates a tight correlation between dynamical mass and baryonic mass in galaxies with different sizes and morphology. However, if the RAR relation is scale independent and could be explained by alternative theories of gravity, this relation should be universal and true for galaxy clusters as well. In this article, by using the X-ray data of a sample of galaxy clusters, we investigate if there exists any tight correlation between dynamical mass and baryonic mass in galaxy clusters, assuming hot gas mass distribution almost representing baryonic distribution and that the galaxy clusters are virialized. We show that the resulting RAR of 52 non-cool-core galaxy clusters scatters in a large parameter space, possibly due to our simplifying assumptions and unclear matter content in galaxy clusters. This might indicate that the RAR is unlikely to be universal and scale independent.
CO line and radio continuum study of elephant trunks: the Pillars of Creation in M16
Authors: Sofue Yoshiaki
Published: January 2020

Molecular line and radio continuum properties of the elephant trunks (ET, Pillars of Creation) in M16 are investigated by analysing 12CO(J = 1−0) , 13CO(J = 1−0) and C18O(J = 1−0) line survey data from the Nobeyama 45-m telescope and the Galactic plane radio survey at 20 and 90 cm with the Very Large Array. The head clump of Pillar West I is found to be the brightest radio source in M16, showing a thermal spectrum and the properties of a compact H ii region, with the nearest O5 star in NGC 6611 being the heating source. The radio pillars have a cometary structure concave to the molecular trunk head, and the surface brightness distribution obeys a simple illumination law from a remote excitation source. The molecular density in the pillar head is estimated to be several 104 H2 cm−3 and the molecular mass is $\sim 13\!-\!40 \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$. CO-line kinematics reveals random rotation of the clumps in the pillar tail at ∼1–2 km s−1, comparable with the velocity dispersion and estimated Alfvén velocity. It is suggested that the random directions of the velocity gradients would manifest as torsional magnetic oscillation of the clumps around the pillar axis.
A large catalogue of molecular clouds with accurate distances within 4 kpc of the Galactic disc
Authors: Chen B-Q , Li G-X , Yuan H-B , Huang Y , Tian Z-J , Wang H-F , Zhang H-W , Wang C , Liu X-W
Published: January 2020

We present a large, homogeneous catalogue of molecular clouds within 4 kpc from the Sun at low Galactic latitudes (|b| < 10°) with unprecedented accurate distance determinations. Based on the 3D dust reddening map and estimates of colour excesses and distances of over 32 million stars presented in Chen et al., we have identified 567 dust/molecular clouds with a hierarchical structure identification method and obtained their distance estimates by a dust model fitting algorithm. The typical distance uncertainty is less than 5 per cent. As far as we know, this is the first large catalogue of molecular clouds in the Galactic plane with distances derived in a direct manner. The clouds are seen to lie along the Sagittarius, Local and Perseus Arms. In addition to the known structures, we propose the existence of a possible spur, with a pitch angle of about 34°, connecting the Local and the Sagittarius Arms in the fourth quadrant. We have also derived the physical properties of those molecular clouds. The distribution of cloud properties in different parameter spaces agrees grossly with the previous results. Our cloud sample is an ideal starting point to study the concentration of dust and gas in the solar vicinity and their star formation activities.
Left Vertebral Artery to Common Carotid Artery Transposition in a Patient With Bilateral Vertebral Insufficiency: 3-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Gandhi Sirin , Cavallo Claudio , Mascitelli Justin R , Nanaszko Michael J , Zhao Xiaochun , Lawton Michael T
Published: January 2020

Extracranial vertebral artery (VA) atherosclerosis is responsible for 14% to 32% of posterior circulation infarctions.
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In the posterior circulation, narrowing of the VA > 30% is significantly associated with strokes. Subclavian artery (SCA) atherosclerosis can produce subclavian steal. Retrograde VA flow around an occluded SCA decreases blood flow to the posterior circulation and causes vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI). Flow augmentation to the posterior circulation can be achieved by VA endarterectomy, arterial stenting, VA-common carotid artery (CCA) transposition, or bypass using an interposition graft.
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This video illustrates microsurgical revascularization of the proximal VA with VA-CCA transposition. A 58-yr-old man with a prior stroke and chronic right VA occlusion presented with dysarthria and gait instability. Angiographic evaluation confirmed complete midcervical right VA occlusion and left SCA occlusion proximal to VA origin, with subclavian steal. After obtaining patient consent and a failed attempt at endovascular recanalization of the left SCA, a left VA-CCA end-to-side transposition was performed. Neck dissection exposed the left CCA. The thyrocervical trunk served as a landmark to identify the SCA, which was traced proximally to the VA origin. After proximal occlusion, the VA was transected and “fish-mouthed” for end-to-side anastomosis to CCA. An intraluminal, continuous suture technique was used to sew the back walls of this anastomosis. Postoperative computed tomography angiography confirmed bypass patency. Collateral circulation through the thyrocervical and costocervical trunks likely supplied the left arm, and no cerebral, or limb, ischemic symptoms were noted on follow-up. VA-CCA transposition is an uncommon technique for safe and effective revascularization of symptomatic, medically refractory VBI caused by VA occlusion or, as in this case, SCA occlusion with secondary subclavian steal. Used with permission from Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.
Hip Hop Music and (Reading) the Narrative Soundtracks of New Black Realist Cinema
Authors: Millea James
Published: January 2020

Hip hop is noise. It is a composite binding of contemporary, postmodern technologies and orally based ideologies that disrupts the normative and traditional characteristics of mainstream media and culture in order to create a space for subcultural revolt and resistance. Nowhere is this more fascinating than in the soundtracks of New Black Realism, African American independent cinema of the 1990s. Drawing on case studies from some of the earliest work of Spike Lee, as the foremost proponent of the genre, this chapter reads the sound and music of these narrative films through fundamental characteristics in hip hop as a postliterate orality, arguing that such an approach allows us to explore the rebellious possibilities of the music as, not just on, the cinematic soundtrack.