bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optogenetic recruitment of spinal reflex pathways from large‐diameter primary afferents in non‐transgenic rats transduced with AAV9/Channelrhodopsin 2
Authors: Kubota Shinji , Sidikejiang Wupuer , Kudo Moeko , Inoue Ken‐ichi , Umeda Tatsuya , Takada Masahiko , Seki Kazuhiko
Published: August 2019

Key points

We demonstrated optical activation of primary somatosensory afferents with high selectivity to fast‐conducting fibres by means of adeno‐associated virus 9 (AAV9)‐mediated gene transduction in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.

AVV9 expressing green fluorescent protein showed high selectivity and transduction efficiency for fast‐conducting, large‐sized DRG neurons.

Compared with conventional electrical stimulation, optically elicited volleys in primary afferents had higher sensitivity with stimulus amplitude, but lower sensitivity with stimulus frequency.

Optically elicited dorsal root volleys activated postsynaptic neurons in the segmental spinal pathway.

This proposed technique will help establish the causal relationships between somatosensory afferent inputs and neural responses in the CNS as well as behavioural outcomes in higher mammals where transgenic animals are not available.

Previously, fundamental structures and their mode of action in the spinal reflex circuit were determined by confirming their input–output relationship using electrophysiological techniques. In those experiments, the electrical stimulation of afferent fibres was used as a core element to identify different types of reflex pathways; however, a major disadvantage of this technique is its non‐selectivity. In this study, we investigated the selective activation of large‐diameter afferents by optogenetics combined with a virus vector transduction technique (injection via the sciatic nerve) in non‐transgenic male Jcl:Wistar rats. We found that green fluorescent protein gene transduction of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons with a preference for medium‐to‐large‐sized cells was achieved using the adeno‐associated virus 9 (AAV9) vector compared with the AAV6 vector (P = 0.021). Furthermore, the optical stimulation of Channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2)‐expressing DRG neurons (transduced by AAV9) produced compound action potentials in afferent nerves originating from fast‐conducting nerve fibres. We also confirmed that physiological responses to different stimulus amplitudes were comparable between optogenetic and electrophysiological activation. However, compared with electrically elicited responses, the optically elicited responses had lower sensitivity with stimulus frequency. Finally, we showed that afferent volleys evoked by optical stimulation were sufficient to activate postsynaptic neurons in the spinal reflex arc. These results provide new ways for understanding the role of sensory afferent input to the central nervous system regarding behavioural control, especially when genetically manipulated animals are not available, such as higher mammals including non‐human primates.
Non-reciprocal scattering in shear flow
Authors: Saverna Charlotte , Aurégan Yves , Pagneux Vincent
Published: August 2019

This work presents a study of scattering phenomena in shear flows and its application to impedance walls. These flows are described by a dimensionless shear layer thickness and a mean Mach number. Both transmission through a given shear layer and reflection on an acoustic treatment are studied. This paper shows that the dimensionless thickness of the shear layer may be an interesting tool to reach perfect absorption or large lateral displacement of a Gaussian beam.
Exceptional oxygen evolution reactivities on CaCoO
3
and SrCoO
3
Authors: Li Xiang , Wang Hao , Cui Zhiming , Li Yutao , Xin Sen , Zhou Jianshi , Long Youwen , Jin Changqing , Goodenough John B.
Published: August 2019

Small separation of surface oxygen enhances surface peroxide formation for greater oxygen evolution activity.
Effects of microbiota-directed foods in gnotobiotic animals and undernourished children
Authors: Gehrig Jeanette L. , Venkatesh Siddarth , Chang Hao-Wei , Hibberd Matthew C. , Kung Vanderlene L. , Cheng Jiye , Chen Robert Y. , Subramanian Sathish , Cowardin Carrie A. , Meier Martin F. , O’Donnell David , Talcott Michael , Spears Larry D. , Semenkovich Clay F. , Henrissat Bernard , Giannone Richard J. , Hettich Robert L. , Ilkayeva Olga , Muehlbauer Michael , Newgard Christopher B. , Sawyer Christopher , Head Richard D. , Rodionov Dmitry A. , Arzamasov Aleksandr A. , Leyn Semen A. , Osterman Andrei L. , Hossain Md Iqbal , Islam Munirul , Choudhury Nuzhat , Sarker Shafiqul Alam , Huq Sayeeda , Mahmud Imteaz , Mostafa Ishita , Mahfuz Mustafa , Barratt Michael J. , Ahmed Tahmeed , Gordon Jeffrey I.
Published: August 2019

Malnutrition and dietary repair

Childhood malnutrition is accompanied by growth stunting and immaturity of the gut microbiota. Even after therapeutic intervention with standard commercial complementary foods, children may fail to thrive. Gehrig
et al.
and Raman
et al.
monitored metabolic parameters in healthy Bangladeshi children and those recovering from severe acute malnutrition. The authors investigated the interactions between therapeutic diet, microbiota development, and growth recovery. Diets were then designed using pig and mouse models to nudge the microbiota into a mature post-weaning state that might be expected to support the growth of a child. These were first tested in mice inoculated with age-characteristic gut microbiota. The designed diets entrained maturation of the children's microbiota and put their metabolic and growth profiles on a healthier trajectory.

Science
, this issue p.
eaau4732
, p.
eaau4735
A sparse covarying unit that describes healthy and impaired human gut microbiota development
Authors: Raman Arjun S. , Gehrig Jeanette L. , Venkatesh Siddarth , Chang Hao-Wei , Hibberd Matthew C. , Subramanian Sathish , Kang Gagandeep , Bessong Pascal O. , Lima Aldo A.M. , Kosek Margaret N. , Petri William A. , Rodionov Dmitry A. , Arzamasov Aleksandr A. , Leyn Semen A. , Osterman Andrei L. , Huq Sayeeda , Mostafa Ishita , Islam Munirul , Mahfuz Mustafa , Haque Rashidul , Ahmed Tahmeed , Barratt Michael J. , Gordon Jeffrey I.
Published: August 2019

Malnutrition and dietary repair

Childhood malnutrition is accompanied by growth stunting and immaturity of the gut microbiota. Even after therapeutic intervention with standard commercial complementary foods, children may fail to thrive. Gehrig
et al.
and Raman
et al.
monitored metabolic parameters in healthy Bangladeshi children and those recovering from severe acute malnutrition. The authors investigated the interactions between therapeutic diet, microbiota development, and growth recovery. Diets were then designed using pig and mouse models to nudge the microbiota into a mature post-weaning state that might be expected to support the growth of a child. These were first tested in mice inoculated with age-characteristic gut microbiota. The designed diets entrained maturation of the children's microbiota and put their metabolic and growth profiles on a healthier trajectory.

Science
, this issue p.
eaau4732
, p.
eaau4735
Using an Endogenous CRISPR-Cas System for Genome Editing in the Human Pathogen Clostridium difficile
Authors: Maikova Anna , Kreis Victor , Boutserin Anaïs , Severinov Konstantin , Soutourina Olga
Published: August 2019

Clostridium difficile
represents today a real danger for human and animal health. It is the leading cause of diarrhea associated with health care in adults in industrialized countries. The incidence of these infections continues to increase, and this trend is accentuated by the general aging of the population. Many questions about the mechanisms contributing to
C. difficile
's success inside the host remain unanswered. The set of genetic tools available for this pathogen is limited, and new developments are badly needed.
C. difficile
has developed efficient defense systems that are directed against foreign DNA and that could contribute to its survival in phage-rich gut communities. We show how one such defense system, named CRISPR-Cas, can be hijacked for
C. difficile
genome editing. Our results also show a great potential for the use of the CRISPR-Cas system for the development of new therapeutic strategies against
C. difficile
infections.
Antimalarial Activity of Human Group IIA Secreted Phospholipase A2in Relation to Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Oxidized Lipoproteins
Authors: Dacheux Mélanie , Sinou Véronique , Payré Christine , Jeammet Louise , Parzy Daniel , Grellier Philippe , Deregnaucourt Christiane , Lambeau Gérard
Published: August 2019

The level of human group IIA secreted phospholipase A2(hGIIA sPLA2) is increased in the plasma of malaria patients, but its role is unknown. In parasite culture with normal plasma, hGIIA is inactive againstPlasmodium falciparum, contrasting with hGIIF, hGV, and hGX sPLA2s, which readily hydrolyze plasma lipoproteins, release nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and inhibit parasite growth.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Colonic Spirochetosis in Humans
Authors: Norris Steven J.
Published: August 2019

In 1967, Harland and Lee made a startling discovery: in some humans, the colonic epithelium is covered with a “forest” of spirochetes (W. A. Harlan, and F. D. Lee, Br Med J 3:718–719, 1967,
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.3.5567.718
).
Letting the cat out of the bag: athletes, coaches and physiotherapists share their perspectives on injury prevention in elite sports
Authors: Bolling Caroline , Delfino Barboza Saulo , van Mechelen Willem , Pasman H Roeline
Published: August 2019

Objectives

To explore how sports injury prevention takes place in elite sport practice and to describe the perspectives of athletes, coaches and physiotherapists regarding the most critical factors that help prevent injury in the elite sports context.

Methods

Qualitative study. Semistructured interviews with 19 international level athletes, coaches and physiotherapists, from different Olympic sports. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using comparative data analysis based on Grounded Theory.

Results

The participants perceived injury risk as an inherent part of elite sports, because athletes try to enhance performance by pushing their limits. Participants described injury prevention as a learning process that changed over time, based on their sports experience and the injuries that they had sustained along their career. Communication among the athletes, coaches and physiotherapists was described as a key component of the injury prevention process. Study participants emphasised the relevance of teamwork and shared responsibility. Performance was presented as the core of the athlete’s daily practice, indicating that injury prevention can be a means to that end but is not a goal in itself for this community.

Conclusion

Participants perceive injury prevention as part of elite sports and thus embrace the need for injury prevention. Injury prevention strategies in elite sports were described as a learning process, following the dynamic nature of training for maximal performance. Performance is the participants’ main goal.
Owner requirements in as-built BIM deliverables and a system architecture for FM-specific BIM representation
Authors: Dias Priscila Daher Russo , Ergan Semiha
Published: August 2019

Construction models received by owners typically include the details of components required for construction activities; yet at the same time, they might not be in the right geometric representation for facilities management (FM) tasks. There is a need to customize BIMs for each FM task and eliminate unnecessary data in models for that task. The objective of this work is to identify information items that should be included in BIMs to support specific FM tasks and the level of geometric details of components to be represented in BIMs. The research focuses on supporting four major FM tasks as corrective and preventive maintenance management, asset management on HVAC systems, and space management tasks. This paper also provides a system architecture to enable reducing content of BIMs for FM tasks. Contributions will help practitioners to use facility data from a life cycle perspective through BIM.
Determining Timing Parameters for the Code Generation from Platform-Independent Timed Models
Authors: Kim Baekgyu , Feng Lu , Sokolsky Oleg , Lee Insup
Published: August 2019

Safety-critical embedded systems often need to meet dependability requirements such as strict input/output timing constraints. To meet the timing requirements, the code generation (e.g., C code) from timed models needs to determine the timing parameters that indicate when the code has to perform I/O with its platform. We propose a novel framework to determine such timing parameters from platform-independent timed models. Our framework involves two transformations. The first transformation systematically extends the platform-independent model by explicitly modeling input/output processing (e.g., sampling or interrupt-based) and the code invocation (e.g., periodic or aperiodic) mechanisms. Then, we verify if the resulting platform-specific model meets the timing requirements. In the case that the resulting model does not satisfy the timing requirements, we apply the second transformation to compensate the platform delay via adjusting the timing parameters at the code level. We formulate the adjustment mechanism using integer linear programming. If such an adjustment is feasible, generating the code with the new timing parameters guarantees the implemented system to meet the timing requirements. We validate our framework with case studies running on Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) infusion pump platforms.
FourEyes
Authors: Song Jean Y. , Fok Raymond , Kim Juho , Lasecki Walter S.
Published: August 2019

Crowdsourcing is a common means of collecting image segmentation training data for use in a variety of computer vision applications. However, designing accurate crowd-powered image segmentation systems is challenging, because defining object boundaries in an image requires significant fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which makes these tasks error-prone. Typically, special segmentation tools are created and then answers from multiple workers are aggregated to generate more accurate results. However, individual tool designs can bias how and where people make mistakes, resulting in shared errors that remain even after aggregation. In this article, we introduce a novel crowdsourcing approach that leverages
tool diversity
as a means of improving aggregate crowd performance. Our idea is that given a diverse set of tools, answer aggregation done
across
tools can help improve the collective performance by offsetting systematic biases induced by the individual tools themselves. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, we design four different tools and present FourEyes, a crowd-powered image segmentation system that uses aggregation across different tools. We then conduct a series of studies that evaluate different aggregation conditions and show that using multiple tools can significantly improve aggregate accuracy. Furthermore, we investigate the idea of applying post-processing for multi-tool aggregation in terms of correction mechanism. We introduce a novel region-based method for synthesizing more accurate bounds for image segmentation tasks through averaging surrounding annotations. In addition, we explore the effect of adjusting the threshold parameter of an EM-based aggregation method. Our results suggest that not only the individual tool’s design, but also the correction mechanism, can affect the performance of multi-tool aggregation. This article extends a work presented at ACM IUI 2018 [46] by providing a novel region-based error-correction method and additional in-depth evaluation of the proposed approach.
Unobtrusive Activity Recognition and Position Estimation for Work Surfaces Using RF-Radar Sensing
Authors: Avrahami Daniel , Patel Mitesh , Yamaura Yusuke , Kratz Sven , Cooper Matthew
Published: August 2019

Activity recognition is a core component of many intelligent and context-aware systems. We present a solution for discreetly and unobtrusively recognizing common work activities above a work surface without using cameras. We demonstrate our approach, which utilizes an RF-radar sensor mounted under the work surface, in three domains: recognizing work activities at a convenience-store counter, recognizing common office deskwork activities, and estimating the position of customers in a showroom environment. Our examples illustrate potential benefits for both post-hoc business analytics and for real-time applications. Our solution was able to classify seven clerk activities with 94.9% accuracy using data collected in a lab environment and able to recognize six common deskwork activities collected in real offices with 95.3% accuracy. Using two sensors simultaneously, we demonstrate coarse position estimation around a large surface with 95.4% accuracy. We show that using multiple projections of RF signal leads to improved recognition accuracy. Finally, we show how smartwatches worn by users can be used to attribute an activity, recognized with the RF sensor, to a particular user in multi-user scenarios. We believe our solution can mitigate some of users’ privacy concerns associated with cameras and is useful for a wide range of intelligent systems.
Accurate Detection of Road Network Anomaly by Understanding Crowd's Driving Strategies from Human Mobility
Authors: Wang Haiquan , Li Yilin , Liu Guoping , Wen Xiang , Qie Xiaohu
Published: August 2019

There are thousands of road closures and changed traffic rules that impact vehicle routing every day. Detecting the road closures and traffic rule changes is essential for dynamic route planning and navigation serving. In this article, we propose a driving-behavior modeling-based method for accurately and effectively detecting the road anomalies. In the first step, we detect the areas of anomalies by using the deviation between drivers’ actual and expected behaviors. To discover the cause of anomalies, we explore the drivers’ short-term destination and find the crucial link pairs in anomalous areas through a novel optimized link entanglement search algorithm, namely, the Select Link Entanglements (SELES) algorithm. Finally, we analyze the crowd's driving patterns to explain the road network anomalies further. Experiments on a very large GPS dataset demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms the existing methods in terms of both accuracy and effectiveness.
Bridging Multilevel Time Scales in HRI
Authors: Asselborn Thibault , Sharma Kshitij , Johal Wafa , Dillenbourg Pierre
Published: August 2019

In this article, we present a multi-level time scales framework for the analysis of human-robot interaction (HRI). Such a framework allows HRI scientists to model the inter-relation between measures and factors of an experiment. Our final goal with the introduction of this framework is to unify scientific practice in the HRI community for better reproducibility. Our new approach transposes Newell’s framework of human actions to model human-robot interaction. Measures from the interaction are sorted into categories (time scales) corresponding to the temporal constraints proposed by Newell. According to this sorting, a bottom-up or top-down analysis can then be performed to correlate variables which allows a better understanding and explanation of the interaction. The utilization of our method within two experimental use cases is then presented. The first one, a child-robot interaction, involves two robots and one child playing a memory game. The second is based on an analysis of the PInSoRo dataset, involving 30 child-robot pairs in a freeplay interaction. Finally, we introduce clear guidelines to re-use the framework.
Racial disparities in cardiovascular disease risk: mechanisms of vascular dysfunction
Authors: Brothers R. Matthew , Fadel Paul J. , Keller David M.
Published: August 2019

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for a third of all deaths in the United States making it the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Although CVD affects individuals of all races/ethnicities, the prevalence of CVD is highest in non-Hispanic black (BL) individuals relative to other populations. The mechanism(s) responsible for elevated CVD risk in the BL population remains incompletely understood. However, impaired vascular vasodilator capacity and exaggerated vascular vasoconstrictor responsiveness are likely contributing factors, both of which are present even in young, otherwise healthy BL individuals. Within this review, we highlight some historical and recent data, collected from our laboratories, of impaired vascular function, in terms of reduced vasodilator capacity and heightened vasoconstrictor responsiveness, in the peripheral and cerebral circulations in BL individuals. We provide data that such impairments may be related to elevated oxidative stress and subsequent reduction in nitric oxide bioavailability. In addition, divergent mechanisms of impaired vasodilatory capacity between BL men and women are discussed. Finally, we propose several directions where future research is needed to fill in knowledge gaps, which will allow for better understanding of the mechanisms contributing to impaired vascular function in this population. Ultimately, this information will allow for better lifestyle and therapeutic approaches to be implemented in an effort to minimize the increased CVD burden in the BL population.
Do Açougue à Academia
Authors: Domingues Izabela
Published: August 2019

Este artigo visa a compreender como a publicidade contemporânea vem se utilizando de campanhas híbridas e articulando recursos como o mobile marketing, o branded content, as mídias sociais e a captura de dados pessoais para melhor promover as marcas e envolver os neoconsumidores multicanais, digitais e globais. Busca perceber como essas mídias e linguagens são articuladas com estratégias e táticas cada vez mais estetizadas num contexto de ampliação da estetização do mundo e neotribalização. Para tanto, utiliza a metodologia qualitativa e a técnica de estudo de caso, tendo como objeto a plataforma Academia da Carne da Friboi. Além de apontar para a estetização de um setor historicamente comoditizado, o caso analisado nos permite pensar como a publicidade, cada vez mais hibridizada com o entretenimento e os conteúdos facilmente acessáveis nas mídias digitais, vem favorecendo a vigilância exercida sobre os dados e rastros digitais dos consumidores num “mercado de dados pessoais” fortemente ampliado na última década.
Pensando o fã e o consumo
Authors: Figueiredo Diego , Souza Ana Carolina Almeida , Cabral Fernanda Alves Ramos
Published: August 2019

Este trabalho pretende tratar da cultura fã e a sua relação com franquias transmidiáticas contemporâneas, passando pela noção de consumo imersivo. Para tal, visitamos as ideias de Henry Jenkins, Carlos Alberto Scolari, Frank Rose, Arnoud e Thompson. Nossa pretensão, então, é propor uma possível categoria advinda da cultura fã, bem como um modelo de análise da dinâmica do fã, dentro de franquias transmidiáticas.
Conhece Tapacurá?
Authors: Lencastre Paulo De , Andrade Paulo , Lencastre Leonor De
Published: August 2019

O objetivo deste artigo é mostrar que é possível gerir uma marca (branding) com recursos escassos, usando práticas simples mas teoricamente fundamentadas. Os autores – uma gestora de comunicação, um professor arquiteto e um professor de marketing – viram-se envolvidos na escolha de uma identidade – nome e logo – para uma reserva ecológica. Os recursos de dinheiro, tempo e meios técnicos eram escassos. Com base numa rápida abordagem semiótica, envolveram os públicos da marca na cocriação da sua identidade e conseguiram assim evitar uma escolha meramente estética que poderia ser difícil de implementar.
Interindividual Variations in the Adenosine‐Induced Hemodynamics During Fractional Flow Reserve Evaluation: Implications for the Use of Quantitative Flow Ratio in Assessing Intermediate Coronary Stenoses
Authors: Mejía‐Rentería Hernán , Lauri Francesco María , Lee Joo Myung , McInerney Angela , van der Hoeven Nina W. , de Waard Guus A. , Fernández‐Ortiz Antonio , Macaya Carlos , Knaapen Paul , van Royen Niels , Koo Bon‐Kwon , Escaned Javier
Published: August 2019

Background

Quantitative flow ratio (
QFR
), a novel functional angiography technique, computes fractional flow reserve (
FFR
) without pressure wires or adenosine. We investigated interindividual variations in the adenosine‐induced hemodynamics during
FFR
assessment and their influence on
QFR
diagnostic performance.

Methods and Results

Patients with coronary stenoses who underwent intracoronary pressure and flow assessment were analyzed. Adenosine‐induced hemodynamics during
FFR
measurement were determined by the percentage change in mean aortic pressure (%ΔPa) and the resistive reserve ratio (
RRR
). The diagnostic performance of
QFR
was evaluated and compared in each tertile of %ΔPa and
RRR
using
FFR
as reference. A total of 294 vessels (245 patients) were analyzed. Mean
FFR
was 0.80±0.11. Individuals showed a wide variation in the adenosine response in terms of %ΔPa (ranging from −75% to 43%; median, −9% [interquartile range, −3% to −17%]) and the
RRR
(ranging from 0.45 to 20.15; median, 3.1 [interquartile range, 2.1–4.9]). No significant differences for diagnostic efficiency of
QFR
were found between tertiles of %ΔPa (area under the curve for the receiver‐operating characteristic analysis, 0.950 in tertile 1, 0.929 in tertile 2, and 0.910 in tertile 3;
P
=0.270) or between tertiles of the
RRR
(area under the curve for the receiver‐operating characteristic analysis, 0.909 in tertile 1, 0.923 in tertile 2, and 0.959 in tertile 3;
P
=0.167). The classification agreement between
QFR
and
FFR
was not significantly modified by %ΔPa (tertile 1, 89%; tertile 2, 87%; and tertile 3, 86%;
P
=0.827) or by the
RRR
(tertile 1, 86%; tertile 2, 85%; and tertile 3, 91%;
P
=0.398).

Conclusions

Patients undergoing
FFR
assessment show large interindividual variations in the magnitude of adenosine‐induced hemodynamics. However, such variations do not affect the diagnostic performance of
QFR
in assessing the functional relevance of observed stenoses.
Early Fibrinogen Depletion and Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage After Reperfusion Therapy
Authors: Yan Shenqiang , Zhang Xuting , Zhang Ruoxia , Xu Jinjin , Lou Min
Published: August 2019

Background and Purpose—

We aimed to thoroughly investigate the relationship between early fibrinogen depletion and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) in patients receiving reperfusion therapy including intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with or without endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).

Methods—

This study included 1135 stroke patients with baseline and follow-up fibrinogen levels at 2 hours after the beginning of alteplase infusion for those with IVT only or immediately after the end of EVT for those with combined IVT and EVT. Patients received alteplase up to 9 hours after the onset or on awakening based on automated perfusion imaging. sICH was ascertained using ECASS II (The Second European-Australasian Acute Stroke Study) criteria. Δfibrinogen was calculated as follow-up fibrinogen minus baseline fibrinogen.

Results—

In patients with IVT only, baseline fibrinogen level was 3.36±0.94 g/L and decreased to 2.47±0.80 g/L at 2 hours after the beginning of alteplase infusion. In patients with IVT followed by EVT, baseline fibrinogen level was 3.35±0.82 g/L and decreased to 2.52±0.83 g/L immediately after the end of EVT. sICH was observed in 44 (3.9%) patients. The extent of Δfibrinogen was associated with sICH in patients with IVT only (odds ratio, 1.929; 95% CI, 1.402–2.654;
P
<0.001) and in those with IVT followed by EVT (odds ratio, 1.765; 95% CI, 1.135–2.743;
P
=0.012).

Conclusions—

An early decrease in fibrinogen levels was related to sICH after reperfusion therapy with alteplase. More fibrin-specific thrombolytic agents are warranted to be tested in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT03367286.
Exploring Bipedal Hopping through Computational Evolution
Authors: Moore Jared M. , Shine Catherine L. , McGowan Craig P. , McKinley Philip K.
Published: August 2019

Bipedal hopping is an efficient form of locomotion, yet it remains relatively rare in the natural world. Previous research has suggested that the tail balances the angular momentum of the legs to produce steady state bipedal hopping. In this study, we employ a 3D physics simulation engine to optimize gaits for an animat whose control and morphological characteristics are subject to computational evolution, which emulates properties of natural evolution. Results indicate that the order of gene fixation during the evolutionary process influences whether a bipedal hopping or quadrupedal bounding gait emerges. Furthermore, we found that in the most effective bipedal hoppers the tail balances the angular momentum of the torso, rather than the legs as previously thought. Finally, there appears to be a specific range of tail masses, as a proportion of total body mass, wherein the most effective bipedal hoppers evolve.
Mapping the Peaks: Fitness Landscapes of the Fittest and the Flattest
Authors: Franklin Joshua , LaBar Thomas , Adami Christoph
Published: August 2019

Populations exposed to a high mutation rate harbor abundant deleterious genetic variation, leading to depressed mean fitness. This reduction in mean fitness presents an opportunity for selection to restore fitness through the evolution of mutational robustness. In extreme cases, selection for mutational robustness can lead to flat genotypes (with low fitness but high robustness) outcompeting fit genotypes (with high fitness but low robustness)—a phenomenon known as survival of the flattest. While this effect was previously explored using the digital evolution system Avida, a complete analysis of the local fitness landscapes of fit and flat genotypes has been lacking, leading to uncertainty about the genetic basis of the survival-of-the-flattest effect. Here, we repeated the survival-of-the-flattest study and analyzed the mutational neighborhoods of fit and flat genotypes. We found that the flat genotypes, compared to the fit genotypes, had a reduced likelihood of deleterious mutations as well as an increased likelihood of neutral and, surprisingly, of lethal mutations. This trend holds for mutants one to four substitutions away from the wild-type sequence. We also found that flat genotypes have, on average, no epistasis between mutations, while fit genotypes have, on average, positive epistasis. Our results demonstrate that the genetic causes of mutational robustness on complex fitness landscapes are multifaceted. While the traditional idea of the survival of the flattest emphasized the evolution of increased neutrality, others have argued for increased mutational sensitivity in response to strong mutational loads. Our results show that both increased neutrality and increased lethality can lead to the evolution of mutational robustness. Furthermore, strong negative epistasis is not required for mutational sensitivity to lead to mutational robustness. Overall, these results suggest that mutational robustness is achieved by minimizing heritable deleterious variation.
The Use of Glossaries by the Translators of the Septuagint
Authors: Yardney Sarah
Published: August 2019

This article proposes that the Septuagint translators made and used limited Hebrew-Greek glossaries. While these documents are not extant, this proposal explains the perplexing inconsistency of lexemic knowledge in the Septuagint of Samuel, and suggests a possible resolution to the scholarly debate regarding the translators’ use of the Pentateuch as a lexicon. Evidence of bilingual word lists from the ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world supports the plausibility of the Septuagint translators having such tools as well.
Sensitivity of Lake-Effect Cloud Microphysical Processes to Ice Crystal Habit and Nucleation during OWLeS IOP4
Authors: Gaudet Lauriana C. , Sulia Kara J. , Yu Fangqun , Luo Gan
Published: August 2019

Ice crystal habit significantly impacts ice crystal processes such as growth by vapor deposition. Despite this, most bulk microphysical models disregard this natural shape effect and assume ice to grow spherically. This paper focuses on how the evolution of ice crystal shape and choice of ice nucleation parameterization in the adaptive habit microphysics model (AHM) influence the lake-effect storm that occurred during intensive observing period 4 (IOP4) of the Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems (OWLeS) field campaign. This localized snowstorm produced total accumulated liquid-equivalent precipitation amounts up to 17.92 mm during a 16-h time period, providing a natural laboratory to investigate the ice–liquid partitioning within the cloud, various microphysical process rates, the accumulated precipitation magnitude, and its associated spatial distribution. Two nucleation parameterizations were implemented, and aerosol data from a size-resolved advanced particle microphysics (APM) model were ingested into the AHM for use in parameterizing ice and cloud condensation nuclei. Simulations allowing ice crystals to grow nonspherically produced 1.6%–2.3% greater precipitation while altering the nucleation parameterization changed the type of accumulating hydrometeors. In addition, all simulations were highly sensitive to the domain resolution and the source of initial and boundary conditions. These findings form the foundational understanding of relationships among ice crystal habit, nucleation parameterizations, and resultant cold-season mesoscale precipitation within detailed bulk microphysical models allowing adaptive habit.
Validation of the Maxillary Sinus Roof as a Landmark for Navigating the Pediatric Skull Base
Authors: Evans Sean S. , Banks Catherine , Richman Joshua , Woolley Audie , Cho Do Yeon , Woodworth Bradford
Published: August 2019

Objective:

To define a new anatomic relationship in pediatric sinus surgery, assessing the maxillary roof as a constant safe landmark to avoid skull base injury in the pediatric population.

Study Design:

Retrospective analysis.

Setting:

Tertiary care children hospital.

Subjects and Methods:

A retrospective analysis was performed of all computed tomography scans of the sinuses and facial bones at the emergency department of a tertiary children’s hospital over the course of a year. Radiographic measurements included the lowest cribriform plate and planum sphenoidale (PS) heights, or posterior skull base when not yet pneumatized, as well as the highest maxillary roof height. The nasal floor was used for reference. Statistics were performed via Shapiro-Wilks test with a P-value of .05 indicating statistical significance.

Results:

Three hundred and seven unique scans were reviewed (38.9% female; n = 122; P = .58). Age stratification was based on previously described sinus growth patterns. In all patients, the maximum maxillary height was inferior to the lowest measured cribriform lamella and PS ( P < .001; CI, 98.5%-99%). Inter- and intrarater reliability and accuracy were verified through blinded review and re-review (ρ = .99 and .98 respectively, P ≤ .001). The validity of sole coronal measurements due to incomplete sagittal reformatting was also confirmed (ρ = 1.00, P ≤ .001).

Conclusion:

Despite variation in sinus growth and development in children, the current study demonstrated the validity of the maxillary sinus roof as a constant safe landmark in the pediatric population, offering a novel anatomic relationship for teaching safety in performing pediatric sinus surgery.

Level of Evidence:

4
Analysis of Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in Nigeria: Application of Spatial Econometrics and Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS)
Authors: Olofin Olabode Philip , Aiyegbusi Oluwole Oladipo , Adebayo Abayomi Ayinla
Published: August 2019

Based on the controversy surrounding the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow from one country to another and the suggestion that inflow of FDI might be a result of countries’ locations, this study therefore revisits the determinants of FDI and economic growth by testing for the roles of country’s location in the determination of the inflow of FDI to Nigeria. Unlike other studies, this study finds that countries’ locations do not play any significant role in determining FDI inflow to Nigeria. The study, therefore, employs fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) to examine the determinants of FDI in Nigeria. The FMOLS results show that FDI, manufacturing sector, tax revenue, financial development, health expenditure, net trade and human capital have a positive relationship with income growth. These results were statistically significant except for tax revenue, net trade and human capital. These results support the argument that these variables are important determinants of economic growth. The article also finds a negative and statistically significant relationship among FDI, income growth, import and capital formation. These results are in conformity with economic theory in the sense that import of goods and services constitutes a leakage in the economy. Negative impact of capital formation and security could be associated with the prevailing high level of corruption, sharing of security votes and misappropriation of funds among the public officials in Nigeria.

JEL Codes: F23, F26, F21, H24
Core services of intensive case management for people with mental illness: A network analysis
Authors: Suzuki Kota , Yamaguchi Sosei , Kawasoe Yasunari , Nayuki Kazumi , Aoki Tsutomu , Hasegawa Naomi , Fujii Chiyo
Published: August 2019

Background:

In intensive case management (ICM), users receive a wide variety of services of varying content, which makes it difficult to understand the global features of ICM programs.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to examine the features of ICM programs using network analysis.

Methods:

A total of 233 ICM users in two Japanese medical institutions were recruited to participate. All received services were recorded for 2 months. In the network analysis, nodes represented types of ICM services and edges between two nodes depicted when over 5% of participants received both types of services.

Results:

We found high centrality values for ‘H5. Hospital-based counseling’, ‘O13. Outreach support for mental health medications’, ‘H13. Hospital-based support for mental health medication’, ‘T5. Counseling via telecommunication’, ‘H3. Hospital-based coordination of services in the medical institution’ and ‘T2. Coordination of services with other institutions via telecommunication’. These results indicated that these services were associated with various other types of services. Social functioning was related to ‘O13. Outreach support for mental health medication’, whereas need for ICM was related to ‘H13. Hospital-based support for mental health medications’, ‘T5. Counseling via telecommunication’ and ‘T2. Coordination of services with other institutions via telecommunication’

Conclusion:

Based on these findings, we speculated that there are at least five types of core services in ICM: regular face-to-face contact, outreach services, hospital-based services, easy contacts and coordination. These findings clarified the features of ICM programs, which may help improve the understanding of case managers’ practice.
Alberta’s Strategic Clinical Networks: A roadmap for the future
Authors: Manns Braden J. , Strilchuk Allison , Mork Mikie , Wasylak Tracy
Published: August 2019

Clinical networks are groups of clinicians, patients, operational leaders, and other stakeholders who work together to solve health challenges, translate evidence into practice, and improve health outcomes and clinical care. Networks enable health, community, and academic partners to align their efforts, address priority issues, and advance quality improvements, health innovation, and transformational change on a local and system-wide scale. Clinical networks have existed in some countries for nearly 20 years. Alberta first implemented clinical networks in 2012 in specific areas of health. There are now 16 Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) in Alberta, embedded within a province-wide health system. The SCNs have developed an action plan that builds on their experience and identifies common areas of focus. This article describes the SCNs, their impact to date, and the objectives, areas of focus, and processes Alberta’s SCNs will use to improve health outcomes and health system performance over the next 5 years.
The Policy Consequences of Health Bias in Political Voice
Authors: Pacheco Julianna
Published: August 2019

Although research on the link between health and political behavior at the individual level has flourished, there have been no systematic analyses regarding the policy consequences of health inequalities in political voice. Using a unique dataset that measures the health bias in voter turnout across the fifty states from 1996 to 2012, I find that state electorates that are disproportionately more representative of healthy citizens spend less on health and have less generous Medicaid programs. The negative relationship between the degree of health bias in state electorates and these outcomes remain after controlling for the degree of class bias in voter turnout. These findings have important implications for democratic theory and policy responsiveness, as well as our understanding of variations in population health and health policy across the American states.
New therapeutic insights into radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis
Authors: Ma Cheng-Xu , Zhao Xin-Ke , Li Ying-Dong
Published: August 2019

Radiation therapy (RT) for the treatment of thoracic tumors causes radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD). Radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis (RIMF) is both an acute and chronic stage of RIHD, depending on the specific pathology, and is thought to be a major risk factor for adverse myocardial remodeling and vascular changes. With the use of more three-dimensional conformal radiation regimens and early screenings and diagnoses for RIMF, the incidence of RIHD is declining, but it still must be carefully investigated to minimize the mortality and morbidity of patients with thoracic malignancies after RT treatment. Effective methods for preventing RIMF involve a decrease in the direct radiation dose in the heart, and early screening and diagnosis. Medications remain as a useful adjunct for preventing or treating RIMF. This review mainly discusses the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying RIMF, and new therapeutic drugs that can potentially be developed from this knowledge.
Mouse placental scaffolds: a three-dimensional environment model for recellularization
Authors: Barreto Rodrigo SN , Romagnolli Patricia , Fratini Paula , Mess Andrea Maria , Miglino Maria Angelica
Published: August 2019

The rich extracellular matrix (ECM) and availability make placenta eligible as alternative biomaterial source. Herein we produced placental mouse scaffolds by decellularization, and structure, composition, and cytocompatibility were evaluated to be considered as a biomaterial. We obtained a cell-free scaffold containing 9.42 ± 5.2 ng dsDNA per mg of ECM, presenting well-preserved structure and composition. Proteoglycans were widespread throughout ECM without cell nuclei and cell remnants. Collagen I, weak in native placenta, clearly appears in the scaffold after recellularization, opposite distribution was observed for collagen III. Fibronectin was well-observed in placental scaffolds whereas laminin and collagen IV were strong expressed. Placental scaffolds recellularization potential was confirmed after mouse embryonic fibroblasts 3D dynamic culture, resulting in massive scaffold repopulation with cell–cell interactions, cell-matrix adhesion, and maintenance of natural morphology. Our small size scaffolds provide a useful tool for tissue engineering to produce grafts and organ fragments, as well as for cellular biology purposes for tridimensional culture substrate.
Voluntary medical male circumcision and HIV infection among men who have sex with men: Implications from a systematic review
Authors: Zhang Chen , Qian Han-Zhu , Liu Yu , Vermund Sten H
Published: August 2019

Background:

With the rapidly-increased HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men worldwide, the effectiveness of voluntary medical male circumcision as the tool of HIV prevention still remains undetermined.

Purpose:

In the current study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between voluntary medical male circumcision and HIV risk among men who have sex with men.

Methods and Conclusion:

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline, we conducted a comprehensive literature search through multiple databases. A total of 37 articles/abstracts were included in the analysis. We employed random-effects models and subgroup analyses based upon key study characteristics derived from empirical studies. A total of 117,293 men who have sex with men were included in the meta-analysis, and no randomized control trials have been identified. The odds of being HIV positive were 7% lower among men who have sex with men who were circumcised than among men who have sex with men who were uncircumcised (adjusted odds ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.88–0.99). The evidence for the potential protective effect of voluntary medical male circumcision was stronger among men who have sex with men in Asia and Africa (adjusted odds ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.53–0.73). Our meta-analyses may suggest a protective effect of voluntary medical male circumcision against HIV infection among men who have sex with men, especially in settings like Asia/Africa.
Realities of conducting digital health research: Challenges to consider
Authors: de Redon Emily , Centi Amanda
Published: August 2019

The health sector has been slow to adopt and integrate new technological advances into antiquated workflows and processes. The onset of smart health applications and devices has initiated a push for healthcare systems as well as physicians to incorporate and utilize such technology and the big data it collects. However, without considering the challenges experienced in large-scale trials, physicians and their clinics will run into similar barriers to implementation and uptake. Thoughtful implementation and preparation will make the use of such technological advances possible, palatable and effective in improving clinical care.
The α-emitter astatine-211 targeted to CD38 can eradicate multiple myeloma in a disseminated disease model
Authors: O’Steen Shyril , Comstock Melissa L. , Orozco Johnnie J. , Hamlin Donald K. , Wilbur D. Scott , Jones Jon C. , Kenoyer Aimee , Nartea Margaret E. , Lin Yukang , Miller Brian W. , Gooley Theodore A. , Tuazon Sherilyn A. , Till Brian G. , Gopal Ajay K. , Sandmaier Brenda M. , Press Oliver W. , Green Damian J.
Published: August 2019

Key Points

211At targeted to CD38 eliminates MM cell clones in murine models of low-burden disease. 211At deposits ≥500 times more energy than β-emitters and provides a mechanism of uniform cell kill unique among MM therapeutics.