bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining risk factors for self-harm and suicide in LGBTQ+ young people: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Williams A Jess , Arcelus Jon , Townsend Ellen , Michail Maria
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Young people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) are at increased risk for self-harm, suicide ideation and behaviours. However, there has yet to be a comprehensive understanding of what risk factors influence these behaviours within LGBTQ+ young people as a whole. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine risk factors associated with self-harm, suicidal ideation and behaviour in LGBTQ+) young people.

Methods and analysis

A systematic review will be conducted, conforming to the reporting guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement recommendations. Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Web of Science) will be systematically searched for cross-sectional, prospective, longitudinal, cohort and case–control designs which examine risk factors for self-harm and/or suicidal ideation and behaviour in LGBTQ+ young people (aged 12–25 years). Only studies published in English will be included. No date restrictions will be applied. Study quality assessment will be conducted using the original and modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scales. Meta-analysis or narrative synthesis will be used, dependent on findings.

Ethics and dissemination

This is a systematic review of published literature and thereby ethical approval was not sought. The review will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal, be publicly disseminated at conferences focusing on mental health, self-harm and suicide prevention. The findings will also be shared through public engagement and involvement, particularly those related to young LGBTQ+ individuals.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42019130037.
Diagnostic accuracy of perinatal post-mortem ultrasound (PMUS): a systematic review
Authors: Shelmerdine Susan , Langan Dean , Sebire Neil J , Arthurs Owen
Published: November 2019

Objective

Ultrasound is ubiquitous in live paediatric imaging; however, its usage in post-mortem setting is less established. This systematic review aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of paediatric post-mortem ultrasound (PMUS).

Design

MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were queried for studies published between 1998 and 2018 assessing PMUS diagnostic accuracy rates in children<18 years old, using autopsy as reference standard. Risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. A bivariate random-effects model was used to obtain combined mean estimates of sensitivity and specificity for different body systems.

Results

Four studies were included, all relating to ultrasound for perinatal deaths. The mean diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for neurological abnormalities were 84.3% (95% CI: 70.8% to 92.2%) and 96.7% (95% CI: 86.5% to 99.3%); for cardiothoracic abnormalities 52.1% (95% CI: 27.6% to 75.5%,) and 96.6% (95% CI: 86.8% to 99.2%); and for abdominal abnormalities 78.4% (95% CI: 61.0% to 89.4%) and 97.3% (95% CI: 88.9% to 99.4%). Combining all body systems, the mean sensitivity and specificity were 73.3% (95% CI: 59.9% to 83.5%) and 96.6% (95% CI: 92.6% to 98.4%).

Conclusions

PMUS demonstrates a reasonable diagnostic accuracy, particularly for abdominal and neurological abnormalities, although cardiac anomalies were less readily identified.

Trial registration number

CRD42018106968.
Inclusion of older patients with cancer in randomised controlled trials with patient-reported outcomes: a systematic review
Authors: Sparano Francesco , Aaronson Neil K , Sprangers Mirjam A G , Fayers Peter , Pusic Andrea , Kieffer Jacobien M , Cottone Francesco , Rees Jonathan , Pezold Mike , Anota Amelie , Charton Emilie , Vignetti Marco , Wan Chonghua , Blazeby Jane , Efficace Fabio
Published: November 2019

Objectives

Inclusion of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in cancer randomised controlled trials (RCTs) may be particularly important for older patients. The objectives of this systematic review were to quantify the frequency with which older patients are included in RCTs with PROs and to evaluate the quality of PRO reporting in those trials.

Methods

All RCTs with PRO endpoints, published between January 2004 and February 2019, which included a patient sample with a mean/median age ≥70 years, were considered for this systematic review. The following cancer malignancies were considered: breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, gynaecological and bladder cancer.

Quality of PRO reporting was evaluated using the International Society for Quality of Life Research–PRO standards. Studies meeting at least two-thirds of these criteria were considered to have high-quality PRO reporting.

Results

Of 649 RCTs identified with a PRO endpoint, only 72 (11.1%) included older patients. Of these, 35 trials (48.6%) were conducted in patients with metastatic/advanced disease. PROs were primary endpoints in 20 RCTs (27.8%). Overall survival was the most frequently reported clinical outcome in studies of patients with metastatic/advanced cancer (n=28, 80%). One-third of the RCTs (n=24, 33.3%) were considered to have high-quality PRO reporting. Overall, the largest prevalence of RCTs with high-quality PRO reporting was observed in prostate and colorectal cancers.

Conclusions

Our review indicates not only that PRO–RCT-based studies in oncology rarely include older patients but also that completeness of PRO reporting of many of them is often suboptimal.
No excess harms from sustained-release morphine: a randomised placebo-controlled trial in chronic breathlessness
Authors: Johnson Miriam J , Sbizzera Illary , Fairhurst Caroline , Fazekas Belinda , Agar Meera , Ekstrom Magnus , Currow David C
Published: November 2019

Objectives

We aimed to identify and evaluate: (1) treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE (worse or new since baseline)) and the subgroup of severe TEAEs in a placebo-controlled 7-day randomised trial of regular, low-dose, sustained-release oral morphine for chronic breathlessness and (2) clinical characteristics associated with TEAE.

Methods

Safety analysis of trial data. Adults with chronic breathlessness (modified Medical Research Council breathlessness score ≥2) due to heart or lung disease, or cancer, not on regular opioids were eligible. Symptoms associated with opioids (TEAE of special interest) were systematically sought using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grading. Other harms could be reported at any time. The relationship between characteristics and presence of ≥1 TEAE of special interest was explored using univariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

1449/5624 (26%) Adverse Events from 279 participants were TEAE of which 150/1449 (10%) were severe (CTCAE grades 3–5). 1086/5624 (75%) were events of special interest of which 41/1086 (4%) were severe. Compared with placebo, morphine was not associated with more TEAE or severe TEAE of special interest (TEAE: OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.38, p=0.20; severe TEAE: OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.27 to 3.41, p=0.95) nor with CTCAE severity grade (χ2=4.39, p=0.50). Among the 26/150 (17%) with severe TEAEs, study withdrawal was more common in the morphine arm (18/26 (69%) morphine arm; 8/26 (30%) placebo arm). None of the severe TEAEs was a respiratory harm.

Conclusions

Severe morphine-associated toxicity was uncommon and not associated with study arm. Clinical consequences were minor and self-limiting.

Trial registration number

ACTRN126000806268.
Factors influencing physician risk estimates for acute cardiac events in emergency patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Greenslade Jaimi H , Sieben Nicolas , Parsonage William A , Knowlman Thomas , Ruane Lorcan , Than Martin , Pickering John W , Hawkins Tracey , Cullen Louise
Published: November 2019

Background

Emergency physicians frequently assess risk of acute cardiac events (ACEs) in patients with undifferentiated chest pain. Such estimates have been shown to have moderate to high sensitivity for ACE but are conservative. Little is known about the factors implicitly used by physicians to determine the pretest probability of risk. This study sought to identify the accuracy of physician risk estimates for ACE in patients presenting to the ED with chest pain and to identify the demographic and clinical information emergency physicians use in their determination of patient risk.

Methods

This study used data from two prospective studies of consenting adult patients presenting to the ED with symptoms of possible acute coronary syndrome. ED physicians estimated the pretest probability of ACE. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of physician risk estimates. Logistic regression was used to determine whether there was a correlation between physicians’ estimated risk and ACE.

Results

Increasing age, male sex, abnormal ECG features, heavy/crushing chest pain and risk factors were correlated with physician risk estimates. Physician risk estimates were consistently found to be higher than the expected proportion of ACE from the sampled population.

Conclusion

Physicians systematically overestimate ACE risk. A range of factors are associated with physician risk estimates. These include factors strongly predictive of ACE, such as age and ECG characteristics. They also include other factors that have been shown to be unreliable predictors of ACE in an ED setting, such as typicality of pain and risk factors.
Why public funding for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) might still be wrong: a response to Bunnik and colleagues
Authors: Schmitz Dagmar
Published: November 2019

Bunnik and colleagues argued that financial barriers do not promote informed decision-making prior to prenatal screening and raise justice concerns. If public funding is provided, however, it would seem to be important to clarify its intentions and avoid any unwarranted appearance of a medical utility of the testing.
Weighted quantum measurements
Authors: Łuczak Andrzej , Wieczorek Rafał
Published: November 2019

In the paper, the Belavkin weighted square root measurement in infinite dimension is investigated. The question of uniqueness of such measurement is analyzed and some estimates for the probability of detection are obtained. Moreover, the asymptotics of the probability of detection and the probability of failure are derived in the situation when the pure states approach an orthonormal basis. The results in the paper generalize those obtained earlier for finite dimension.
Tangent Space Features-Based Transfer Learning Classification Model for Two-Class Motor Imagery Brain–Computer Interface
Authors: Gaur Pramod , McCreadie Karl , Pachori Ram Bilas , Wang Hui , Prasad Girijesh
Published: November 2019

The performance of a brain–computer interface (BCI) will generally improve by increasing the volume of training data on which it is trained. However, a classifier’s generalization ability is often negatively affected when highly non-stationary data are collected across both sessions and subjects. The aim of this work is to reduce the long calibration time in BCI systems by proposing a transfer learning model which can be used for evaluating unseen single trials for a subject without the need for training session data. A method is proposed which combines a generalization of the previously proposed subject-specific “multivariate empirical-mode decomposition” preprocessing technique by taking a fixed band of 8–30[Formula: see text]Hz for all four motor imagery tasks and a novel classification model which exploits the structure of tangent space features drawn from the Riemannian geometry framework, that is shared among the training data of multiple sessions and subjects. Results demonstrate comparable performance improvement across multiple subjects without subject-specific calibration, when compared with other state-of-the-art techniques.
Identification of open quantum system: Via closed feedback control
Authors: Hu Juju , Xue Qin , Ji Yinghua
Published: November 2019

For stochastic quantum systems with given dissipations, the identification method of Hamiltonian is given in this paper. First, the stability of the system is realized through designing a real-time feedback control method. Second, by using Routh–Hurwitz stability criterion, the intervals of the element values of the system Hamiltonians are given. Finally, the identification of Hamiltonian is realized by selecting the equilibrium state of the system equal to the desired target state. For two typical categories of noise: Purely dephasing decoherence and amplitude damping decoherence, we check the validity of the proposed estimation scheme.
Investigation of New Zealand’s natural magnetic minerals for application in inroad charging systems
Authors: Trompetter William J. , Leveneur Jérôme , Kennedy John , Rumsey Ben , McCurdy Murray , Chong Shen , Long Nick
Published: November 2019

There has been a steadily increasing demand for magnetic materials in devices and charging systems over recent decades. The advent of in-road inductive power transfer (IPT) charging systems in the near future will massively increase the demand. Better, nonbrittle and affordable magnetic materials are required so that vehicles can run over charging pads built into the road without destroying them. This will require innovative solutions and new magnetic material sources to meet these needs in an economically viable way. Here, we have scoped New Zealand’s (NZ) natural magnetic materials and their ability to be included as a viable magnetic material for our roads. We have investigated the magnetic permeabilities of NZ natural magnetic mineral deposits for IPT application in roads.
Formation and tribological properties of MoS2 self-lubricating porous anodic alumina thin flims
Authors: Han Dengquan , Wang Yao , Li Yuanxing , Li Xiaoya , Zhu Zongtao , Shi Xin , Qiu Sifu
Published: November 2019

MoS2 self-lubricating films were prepared on long-range ordered porous anodic alumina (PAA) by an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. The PAA was prepared by two-step anodization of aluminum plates. Oxalic-acid-based electrolytes were used in the first step and phosphoric-acid-based electrolytes were used in the second step. This process offers a new approach to preparing PAA with wide adjustable boundary distances (43.5–21 nm) by increasing the voltage from 80 V to 100 V. The boundary distances were decreased from 78 nm to 42.2 nm by increasing the solution concentration, which increased the interpore distance. The coefficient of friction and hard-wearing of the MoS2 lubrication film on the PAA were studied by a ball-on-disk friction and wear tester. The results showed that the nanotubes stored MoS2 particles, which provided continuous lubrication.
Internet of Management Artifacts: Internet of Things Architecture for Business Model Renewal
Authors: Rocha Clarissa , Fernandes Narcizo Clariana , Gianotti Enrico
Published: November 2019

In the information and knowledge era, organizations must find ways to survive and remain up-to-date and competitive to face a dynamic environment. The still dominant paradigm regarding the Internet of Things (IoT) focuses more on tangible things and physical devices and less on management and business environment. There is a lack of studies that clarify how the IoT can help business management to create perceived value for the company. The aim of this study is to propose a framework called the Internet of Management Artifact (IoMA) to understand how the IoT ecosystem can support managerial decision-making. Considering that this field of research lacks the empirical evidence that more transparently narrows the relationship between IoT and organizational management, we opted for a framework based on Design Search Research. The main contribution of this study is the proposition of the IoMA framework, which seeks a paradigm shift, changing from a paradigm centered on “things” and physical devices in the information technology architecture that remains dominant in the literature to a paradigm focused on business management. The study highlights how decision-makers can exploit IoT architecture, which provides them with rich, accurate and relevant information to promote business reconfiguration and thus capitalize on these renewals.
Transition probabilities in generalized quantum search Hamiltonian evolutions
Authors: Gassner Steven , Cafaro Carlo , Capozziello Salvatore
Published: November 2019

A relevant problem in quantum computing concerns how fast a source state can be driven into a target state according to Schrödinger’s quantum mechanical evolution specified by a suitable driving Hamiltonian. In this paper, we study in detail the computational aspects necessary to calculate the transition probability from a source state to a target state in a continuous time quantum search problem defined by a multiparameter generalized time-independent Hamiltonian. In particular, quantifying the performance of a quantum search in terms of speed (minimum search time) and fidelity (maximum success probability), we consider a variety of special cases that emerge from the generalized Hamiltonian. In the context of optimal quantum search, we find it is possible to outperform, in terms of minimum search time, the well-known Farhi–Gutmann analog quantum search algorithm. In the context of nearly optimal quantum search, instead, we show it is possible to identify sub-optimal search algorithms capable of outperforming optimal search algorithms if only a sufficiently high success probability is sought. Finally, we briefly discuss the relevance of a tradeoff between speed and fidelity with emphasis on issues of both theoretical and practical importance to quantum information processing.
Conformal bootstrap in dS/CFT and topological quantum gravity
Authors: Addazi Andrea , Marcianò Antonino
Published: November 2019

We show that the correspondence among [Formula: see text], the 1D Schwarzian Model, Sachdev–Ye–Kitaev model and [Formula: see text] Topological Quantum Gravity can be extended to the case of [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text]-matrix, related to the gravitational scattering amplitude near the horizon of [Formula: see text] black hole, corresponds (on the side of the holographic projection) to a crossing kernel in the Schwarzian Model. The [Formula: see text]-matrix is related to the 6j-symbol of SU[Formula: see text]. We also find that in the Euclidean [Formula: see text] a new Kac–Moody symmetry of instantons emerges out. We dub these new solutions Kac–Moodions. A one-to-one correspondence of Kac–Moodion levels and SU[Formula: see text] spin representations is established. Every instanton then corresponds to spin representations deployed in Topological Quantum Gravity. The instantons are directly connected to the Black Hole entropy as punctures on its horizon. This strongly supports the recent proposal, in arXiv:1707.00347, that a Kac–Moody symmetry of gravitational instantons is related to the black hole information processing. We also comment on a further correspondence that can be established between the Schwarzian Model and noncommutative spacetimes in [Formula: see text]D, passing through the equivalence with Topological Quantum Gravity with cosmological constant, in the limit when the latter vanishes.
Heterogeneous Integration of 2D Materials: Recent Advances in Fabrication and Functional Device Applications
Authors: Sankar Indhana Veera , Jeon Jaeho , Jang Sung Kyu , Cho Jeong Ho , Hwang Euyheon , Lee Sungjoo
Published: November 2019

A comprehensive review of the fabrication process, fundamental properties and functionalities and device applications of heterogeneously integrated two-dimensional (2D) materials is provided. An extensive library of atomic 2D materials with selectable material properties exists and it is rapidly expanding, with which it is possible to construct hybrid or heterostructures that display novel properties with unique functionalities. Such heterostructures adding a degree of freedom to carriers in the third direction provide interesting possibilities for the design of functional novel devices. The subject of 2D heterostructures has now become so vast that no single article can cover the entire topic in any reasonable manner. This review is intended to bridge the gap between the major developments already discovered and current trends in 2D heterostructures.
Deep learning network with Euclidean similarity factor for Brain MR Tumor segmentation and volume estimation
Authors: Anand Kumar G. , Sridevi P. V.
Published: November 2019

The major goal of this paper is to isolate tumor region from nontumor regions and the estimation of tumor volume. Accurate segmentation is not an easy task due to the varying size, shape and location of the tumor. After segmentation, volume estimation is necessary in order to accurately estimate the tumor volume. By exactly estimating the volume of abnormal tissue, physicians can do excellent prognosis, clinical planning and dosage estimation. This paper describes a new Euclidean Similarity factor (ESF) based active contour model with deep learning for segmenting the tumor region into complete, core and enhanced tumor portions. Initially, the ESF considers the spatial distances and intensity differences of the region automatically to detect the tumor region. It preserves the image details but removes the noisy details. Then, the 3D Convolutional Neural Network (3D CNN) segments the tumor by automatically extracting spatiotemporal features. Finally, the extended shoelace method estimates the volume of the tumor accurately for [Formula: see text]-sided polygons. The simulation result achieves a high accuracy of 92% and Jaccard index of 0.912 and computes the tumor volume with effective performance than existing approaches.
Spectral distributions of periodic random matrix ensembles
Authors: Van Peski Roger
Published: November 2019

Koloğlu, Kopp and Miller compute the limiting spectral distribution of a certain class of real random matrix ensembles, known as [Formula: see text]-block circulant ensembles, and discover that it is exactly equal to the eigenvalue distribution of an [Formula: see text] Gaussian unitary ensemble. We give a simpler proof that under very general conditions which subsume the cases studied by Koloğlu–Kopp–Miller, real-symmetric ensembles with periodic diagonals always have limiting spectral distribution equal to the eigenvalue distribution of a finite Hermitian ensemble with Gaussian entries which is a ‘complex version’ of a [Formula: see text] submatrix of the ensemble. We also prove an essentially algebraic relation between certain periodic finite Hermitian ensembles with Gaussian entries, and the previous result may be seen as an asymptotic version of this for real-symmetric ensembles. The proofs show that this general correspondence between periodic random matrix ensembles and finite complex Hermitian ensembles is elementary and combinatorial in nature.
Archaeomagnetic knowledge of the Neolithic in Bulgaria with emphasis on intensity changes
Authors: Kostadinova-Avramova Maria , Kovacheva Mary , Boyadzhiev Yavor , Hervé Gwenaël
Published: November 2019

Several archaeological baked clay structures from Bulgarian Neolithic sites were archaeomagnetically studied. According to the ancient firing conditions, the collected materials are dwelling remains and ovens with different heating histories. The variability of magnetic properties is greater in the burnt dwelling remains compared to the ovens. The prevailing magnetic minerals are magnetite/titanomagnetite and epsilon iron oxide. Less often, the presence of hematite is suggested. For one of the ovens, a well-pronounced evolution in magnetic properties was observed between its successive levels. The collected materials possess stable magnetic mineralogy and the success rate of archaeointensity determination experiment is 84%. The experiment completely failed only for the structure where epsilon iron oxide is not identified and where the lowest median destructive fields are determined.

The obtained archaeomagnetic results are summarized as 10 new reference points. The structures subjected to the same firing event are combined as one feature. Their dating is based on well-established relative Neolithic chronology and stratigraphic constraints. The new data coincide fairly well with the Bulgarian dataset and with the data available for the neighbouring countries, confirming an intensity maximum around 5550 BC and a minimum around 5400 BC. No indications of geomagnetic ‘spikes’ or ‘jerks’ are detected.
Palaeosecular variations of the geomagnetic field in Africa during the Holocene: a review
Authors: Di Chiara Anita
Published: November 2019

The importance of the full understanding of the Holocene geomagnetic field spans from human history and archaeology, to palaeoclimatic changes and engineering, to geomagnetic field modelling and unravelling of the geomagnetic field characteristics and anomalies. Unfortunately, the dearth of data from large under-covered areas such as oceans, the African and South American continents, and the southern hemisphere (only 4–6% of the global datasets) dramatically limits our knowledge of the temporal and spatial evolution of the geomagnetic field and its application. Here, a review of all data from the African continent is presented in order to encourage and motivate a new generation of palaeomagnetic and archaeomagnetic studies. New data will sharpen the palaeomagnetism as a dating tool, improve our knowledge of local/global geomagnetic features, and will help to finally answer some of the fundamental questions in palaeomagnetism, like the temporal and spatial distribution of the palaeointensity peaks described, and the origin and evolution of the South Atlantic Anomaly.
High-Utility Itemset Mining with Effective Pruning Strategies
Authors: Wu Jimmy Ming-Tai , Lin Jerry Chun-Wei , Tamrakar Ashish
Published: November 2019

High-utility itemset mining is a popular data mining problem that considers utility factors, such as quantity and unit profit of items besides frequency measure from the transactional database. It helps to find the most valuable and profitable products/items that are difficult to track by using only the frequent itemsets. An item might have a high-profit value which is rare in the transactional database and has a tremendous importance. While there are many existing algorithms to find high-utility itemsets (HUIs) that generate comparatively large candidate sets, our main focus is on significantly reducing the computation time with the introduction of new pruning strategies. The designed pruning strategies help to reduce the visitation of unnecessary nodes in the search space, which reduces the time required by the algorithm. In this article, two new stricter upper bounds are designed to reduce the computation time by refraining from visiting unnecessary nodes of an itemset. Thus, the search space of the potential HUIs can be greatly reduced, and the mining procedure of the execution time can be improved. The proposed strategies can also significantly minimize the transaction database generated on each node. Experimental results showed that the designed algorithm with two pruning strategies outperform the state-of-the-art algorithms for mining the required HUIs in terms of runtime and number of revised candidates. The memory usage of the designed algorithm also outperforms the state-of-the-art approach. Moreover, a multi-thread concept is also discussed to further handle the problem of big datasets.
The Role of Statistical Evidence in Civil Cases
Authors: Gastwirth Joseph L.
Published: November 2019

Civil cases outnumber criminal cases in federal courts, and statistical evidence has become more important in a wide variety of them. In contrast to science, which is concerned with general phenomena, legal cases concern one plaintiff or a class of plaintiffs and replication of the events that led to the case is not possible. This review describes the legal process, the way statistics are used in several types of cases, and the criteria courts use in evaluating the reliability of statistical testimony. Several examples of courts’ misinterpreting statistical analyses are presented. Commonly occurring issues in the statistical analysis of stratified data, the use of regression analysis, and the use of epidemiologic estimates of relative risk are described. Hopefully, this review will encourage statisticians to engage with the legal system and develop better ways of communicating the results of studies so they receive the evidentiary weight they deserve.
Uncoupling protein 1 and the capacity for nonshivering thermogenesis are components of the glucose homeostatic system
Authors: Maurer Stefanie F. , Fromme Tobias , Mocek Sabine , Zimmermann Anika , Klingenspor Martin
Published: November 2019

Uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) provides nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) fueled by the dissipation of energy from macronutrients in brown and brite adipocytes. The availability of thermogenic fuels is facilitated by the uptake of extracellular glucose. This conjunction renders thermogenic adipocytes in brown and white adipose tissue (WAT) a potential target against obesity and glucose intolerance. We employed wild-type (WT) and Ucp1-ablated mice to elucidate this relationship. In three experiments of similar setup, Ucp1-ablated mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) had either reduced or similar body mass gain, food intake, and metabolic efficiency compared with WT mice, challenging the hypothesized role of this protein in the development of diet-induced obesity. Despite the absence of increased body mass, oral glucose tolerance was robustly impaired in Ucp1-ablated mice in response to HFD. Postprandial glucose uptake was attenuated in brown adipose tissue but enhanced in subcutaneous WAT of Ucp1-ablated mice. These differences were explainable by expression of the insulin-responsive member 4 of the facilitated glucose transporter family and fully in line with the capacity for NST in these very tissues. Thus, the postprandial glucose uptake of adipose tissues serves as a surrogate measure for Ucp1-dependent and independent capacity for NST. Collectively, our findings corroborate Ucp1 as a modulator of adipose tissue glucose uptake and systemic glucose homeostasis but challenge its hypothesized causal effect on the development of obesity.
Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases in diabetes
Authors: Cheng Han , Gang Xiaokun , Liu Yujia , Wang Gang , Zhao Xue , Wang Guixia
Published: November 2019

Mitochondria have an essential function in cell survival due to their role in bioenergetics, reactive oxygen species generation, calcium buffering, and other metabolic activities. Mitochondrial dysfunctions are commonly found in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), and diabetes is a risk factor for NDs. However, the role of mitochondria in diabetic neurodegeneration is still unclear. In the present study, we review the latest evidence on the role of mitochondrial dysfunctions in the development of diabetes-related NDs and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Hypoglycemic agents, especially metformin, have been proven to have neuroprotective effects in the treatment of diabetes, in which mitochondria could act as one of the underlying mechanisms. Other hypoglycemic agents, including thiazolidinediones (TZDs), dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, have gained more attention because of their beneficial effects on NDs, presumably by improving mitochondrial function. Our review highlights the notion that mitochondria could be a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of NDs in patients with diabetes.
Unusual Etiology of Chronic Posterior Leg Pain in a Running Athlete: Could It Be a Schwannoma? A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Elghoul Naoufal , Zaddoug Omar , Tbouda Mohammed , Benchakroun Mohammed , Jaafar Abdeloihab
Published: November 2019

Schwannomas represent only 5% of all soft tissue tumors. As a variant of this tumor, the plexiform schwannoma is rare accounting for less than 5% of all schwannomas. Herein, we report a rare case of a 49-year-old athlete who suffered from a pain in the posterior aspect of the right leg one year before his presentation. Initially, a radiograph of his right leg showed no abnormality, and so, the emergency physician discharged him on analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications, and rest was advised. The persistent pain obliged the patient to consult our orthopedic department. On examination, we found a firm mass in the proximal medial aspect of his right leg. The neurovascular exam was normal. Sonography of the leg was not conclusive. Therefore, magnetic resonance imaging was performed, and a hemangioma or schwannoma was suspected. The patient underwent surgery in which the entire tumor mass was shelled out in one piece with no damage. The histopathological finding was concomitant with a plexiform schwannoma. Follow-up evaluation, sixteen months later, showed no evidence of recurrence, and the patient has regained his previous level of sportive activities. So, given the case described here, despite the rarity of the schwannoma, it should be taken into consideration as a possible diagnosis in such situation to promote early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
A Novel Signal Detection Algorithm for Underwater MIMO-OFDM Systems Based on Generalized MMSE
Authors: Zhao Gaoli , Wang Jianping , Chen Wei , Song Junping
Published: November 2019

The MIMO-OFDM system fully exploits the advantages of MIMO and OFDM, effectively resisting the channel multipath fading and inter-symbol interference while increasing the data transmission rate. Studies show that it is the principal technical mean for building underwater acoustic networks (UANs) of high performance. As the core, a signal detection algorithm determines the performance and complexity of the MIMO-OFDM system. However, low computational complexity and high performance cannot be achieved simultaneously, especially for UANs with a narrow bandwidth and limited data rate. This paper presents a novel signal detection algorithm based on generalized MMSE. First, we propose a model for the underwater MIMO-OFDM system. Second, we design a signal coding method based on STBC (space-time block coding). Third, we realize the detection algorithm namely GMMSE (generalized minimum mean square error). Finally, we perform a comparison of the algorithm with ZF (Zero Forcing), MMSE (minimum mean square error), and ML (Maximum Likelihood) in terms of the BER (bit error rate) and the CC (computational complexity). The simulation results show that the BER of GMMSE is the lowest one and the CC close to that of ZF, which achieves a tradeoff between the complexity and performance. This work provides essential theoretical and technical support for implementing UANs of high performance.
Determination ofSIRT1rs12778366,FGFR2rs2981582,STAT3rs744166, andRAGErs1800625 Single Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Uloza Virgilijus , Tamauskaite Toma , Vilkeviciute Alvita , Pasvenskaite Agne , Liutkevicius Vykintas , Liutkeviciene Rasa
Published: November 2019

Purpose. To determine the frequency of the genotype of signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 3 (STAT3) rs744166, sirtuin (SIRT1) rs12778366, fibroblast growth factor (FGFR2) rs2981582, and advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor (RAGE) rs1800625 gene polymorphisms in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).Methods. A total of 944 subjects were evaluated, which includes 144 patients with LSCC and 800 healthy controls. The genotyping ofSTAT3rs744166,SIRT1rs12778366,FGFR2rs2981582, andRAGErs1800625 was carried out using the RT-PCR.Results. The analysis ofSTAT3rs744166,SIRT1rs12778366, andFGFR2rs2981582 gene polymorphisms did not reveal any differences in genotype distribution between the patients with LSCC and the control subjects. However, statistical analysis revealed that genotypes (AA, AG, and GG) of rs1800625 inRAGEgene were distributed statistically significantly differently between patients and controls (61.1%, 30.6%, and 23.6% vs. 72.5%, 25.8%, and 1.8%, respectively;p<0.001). Additionally, statistical significance was observed in allele distribution between these two groups, i.e., allele G at rs1800625 was more frequently observed in the patient group than in controls (23.6% vs. 14.6%;p<0.001).Conclusion.RAGErs1800625 gene polymorphism may play a significant role in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma development.
Absolute Instantaneous Optimal Control Performance Index for Active Vibration Control of Structures under Seismic Excitation
Authors: Yanik Arcan
Published: November 2019

In this paper, an instantaneous optimal control performance index for active control of structures under seismic excitation is analytically proposed. Absolute velocity and absolute displacement terms are implemented to the conventional state vector terms and eventually to the resulting performance index expression. The seismic response reduction effectiveness of the proposed performance index is compared with the linear quadratic regulator control (LQR). For numerical verification of the performance index, an eight‐story shear building with a fully active tendon controller system under unidirectional earthquake is considered as the first example. For a more complex model, a three‐dimensional tier building under the effect of bidirectional earthquakes is selected as second numerical example. Unidirectional near fault and bidirectional near fault earthquakes are used in the simulations. The control energy demand of each control method is also considered in the comparison. It is obtained from numerical simulations that the proposed performance index is as effective as LQR in attenuating structural vibrations. However, the resulting performance index does not require a priori knowledge of the seismic excitation like the LQR. The nonlinear Riccati matrix equation solution of the LQR is not required in the proposed performance index as well.
Renal Tubular Dysgenesis in a Case of Fetus Acardius Amorphus
Authors: Thoeni C. , Holzer K. , Leichsenring J. , Porcel C. , Straub B. K. , Sinn H. P. , Elsaesser M. , Volckmar A. L. , Schirmacher P. , Waldherr R. , Lasitschka F.
Published: November 2019

Fetus acardius amorphus is a rare congenital malformation characterized by the lack of a functional heart, the presence of a bivascular umbilical cord, as well as a developed and organized skeletal system and partially organized inner organs. Fetus acardii mostly occur in multiple gestations. The pathogenesis of this entity is not clarified yet. It has been hypothesized that, although formation of anastomosing vessels between the co-twin and the anomalous embryo as well as reverse directed blood flow within the umbilical arteries of the weaker twin may allow sufficient blood flow to form rudimentary internal organs, it is insufficient to develop a fully functional heart. We had a case of fetus acardius amorphus, where we performed autopsy as well as routine histology assessment to identify different types of tissues. We showed that our fetus acardius amorphus demonstrated histomorphological features of renal tubular dysgenesis, confirmed by lack of proximal tubules, extramedullary hematopoiesis and increased number of smooth muscle actin positive vessels. This is a novel finding and has not been reported previously.
Study on Initial Disturbance of Airborne Missile’s Horizontal Backward Derailment under Continuous Gust
Authors: Pan Xiao , Jiang Yi , Wei Xinlin , Li Mingjun
Published: November 2019

This paper studies the effect of continuous gusts on the initial disturbance of the airborne missile’s horizontal backward derailment on large transport aircraft. The longitudinal fluctuation of the airborne launching platform under continuous gust was obtained with different calculation methods, and the finite element model of the derailing process was established then verified by experiments. Finally, combined with the longitudinal fluctuation of the launching platform and the finite element model of the missile and launching platform, the influence of platform fluctuation on separation time, missile speed, pitch angle, and descending distance while derailing was studied and analyzed. It is found that the longitudinal fluctuation of the launching platform is similar to that of the gust but lags behind, and the missiles under the fluctuating platform have longer separation time, lower derailing speed, and greater derailing pitch angle and descending distance.
Immunological Aspects of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy
Authors: Łacheta Dominika , Miśkiewicz Piotr , Głuszko Alicja , Nowicka Grażyna , Struga Maria , Kantor Ireneusz , Poślednik Krzysztof B. , Mirza Shafaq , Szczepański Mirosław J.
Published: November 2019

The body’s autoimmune process is involved in the development of Graves’ disease (GD), which is manifested by an overactive thyroid gland. In some patients, autoreactive inflammatory reactions contribute to the development of symptoms such as thyroid ophthalmopathy, and the subsequent signs and symptoms are derived from the expansion of orbital adipose tissue and edema of extraocular muscles within the orbit. The autoimmune process, production of antibodies against self-antigens such as TSH receptor (TSHR) and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), inflammatory infiltration, and accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) lead to edematous-infiltrative changes in periocular tissues. As a consequence, edema exophthalmos develops. Orbital fibroblasts seem to play a crucial role in orbital inflammation, tissue expansion, remodeling, and fibrosis because of their proliferative activity as well as their capacity to differentiate into adipocytes and myofibroblasts and production of GAG. In this paper, based on the available medical literature, the immunological mechanism of GO pathogenesis has been summarized. Particular attention was paid to the role of orbital fibroblasts and putative autoantigens. A deeper understanding of the pathomechanism of the disease and the involvement of immunological processes may give rise to the introduction of new, effective, and safe methods of treatment or monitoring of the disease activity.
MicroRNA-133b Alleviates Hypoxia Injury by Direct Targeting on NOD-Like Receptor Protein 3 in Rat H9c2 Cardiomyocyte
Authors: Zhou Yongmei , Huang Hui , Hou Xiaolin
Published: November 2019

Objective. MiR-133b was dysregulated in myocardial infarction. However, the role and mechanism of miR-133b in myocardial infarction remains unclear. This study was aimed to explore the role of miR-133b in H9c2 cell injury induced by hypoxia and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods. Cell injury was assessed by cell viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis assays. The expression of miR-133b and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) mRNA was determined by qRT-PCR. The levels of apoptosis-related proteins and NLRP3 were detected by western blotting. Results. Results showed that hypoxia significantly reduced cell viability, migration, and invasion, but increased apoptosis of H9c2 cells. Downregulation of miR-133b aggravated the cell injury induced by hypoxia. MiR-133b was directly targeted on NLRP3. Overexpression of NLRP3 significantly inhibited cell viability, migration, and invasion but induced cell apoptosis in H9c2 treated with hypoxia. Conclusions. Thus, miR-133b protects H9c2 against hypoxia injury via downregulation of NLRP3.
Photodynamic Therapy Is an Effective Adjuvant Therapy for Image-Guided Surgery in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Wang Xinning , Ramamurthy Gopolakrishnan , Shirke Aditi A. , Walker Ethan , Mangadlao Joey , Wang Ziying , Wang Yu , Shan Lingpeng , Schluchter Mark D. , Dong Zhipeng , Brady-Kalnay Susann M. , Walker Natalie K. , Gargesha Madhusudhana , MacLennan Gregory , Luo Dong , Sun Rongcan , Scott Bryan , Roy Debashish , Li Jing , Basilion James P.
Published: November 2019

Local and metastatic relapses of prostate cancer often occur following attempted curative resection of the primary tumor, and up to 66% of local recurrences are associated with positive margins. Therefore, technologies that can improve the visualization of tumor margins and adjuvant therapies to ablate remaining tumor tissues are needed during surgical resection of prostate adenocarcinoma. Photodynamic agents have the potential to combine both fluorescence for image-guided surgery (IGS) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) to resect and ablate cancer cells. The objective of this study was to determine the utility of a targeted PDT agent for IGS and adjuvant PDT. Using a previously developed prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)–targeted PDT agent, PSMA-1-Pc413, we showed that PSMA-1-Pc413 selectively highlighted PSMA-expressing tumors, allowing IGS and more complete tumor resection compared with white light surgery. Subsequent PDT further reduced tumor recurrence and extended animal survival significantly. This approach also enabled identification of tumor cells in lymph nodes. In summary, this study presents a potential new treatment option for patients with prostate cancer undergoing surgery, which improves tumor visualization and discrimination during surgery, including identification of cancer in lymph nodes.

Significance:

These findings present a photodynamic agent that can be used for both photodynamic therapy and image-guided surgery, allowing better visualization of tumor margins and elimination of residual tumor tissues.
Penetrance of Different Cancer Types in Families with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome: A Validation Study Using Multicenter Cohorts
Authors: Shin Seung Jun , Dodd-Eaton Elissa B. , Peng Gang , Bojadzieva Jasmina , Chen Jingxiao , Amos Christopher I. , Frone Megan N. , Khincha Payal P. , Mai Phuong L. , Savage Sharon A. , Ballinger Mandy L. , Thomas David M. , Yuan Ying , Strong Louise C. , Wang Wenyi
Published: November 2019

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a rare hereditary cancer syndrome associated with an autosomal-dominant mutation inheritance in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene and a wide spectrum of cancer diagnoses. The previously developed R package, LFSPRO, is capable of estimating the risk of an individual being a TP53 mutation carrier. However, an accurate estimation of the penetrance of different cancer types in LFS is crucial to improve the clinical characterization and management of high-risk individuals. Here, we developed a competing risk-based statistical model that incorporates the pedigree structure efficiently into the penetrance estimation and corrects for ascertainment bias while also increasing the effective sample size of this rare population. This enabled successful estimation of TP53 penetrance for three LFS cancer types: breast (BR), sarcoma (SA), and others (OT), from 186 pediatric sarcoma families collected at MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX). Penetrance validation was performed on a combined dataset of two clinically ascertained family cohorts with cancer to overcome internal bias in each (total number of families = 668). The age-dependent onset probability distributions of specific cancer types were different. For breast cancer, the TP53 penetrance went up at an earlier age than the reported BRCA1/2 penetrance. The prediction performance of the penetrance estimates was validated by the combined independent cohorts (BR = 85, SA = 540, and OT = 158). Area under the ROC curves (AUC) were 0.92 (BR), 0.75 (SA), and 0.81 (OT). The new penetrance estimates have been incorporated into the current LFSPRO R package to provide risk estimates for the diagnosis of breast cancer, sarcoma, or other cancers.

Significance:

These findings provide specific penetrance estimates for LFS-associated cancers, which will likely impact the management of families at high risk of LFS.

See related article by Shin et al., p. 347