bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment: Is It Suitable for Identifying Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease?
Authors: Rosenblum Sara , Meyer Sonya , Gemerman Netta , Mentzer Lilya , Richardson Ariella , Israeli‐Korn Simon , Livneh Vered , Karmon Tsvia Fay , Nevo Tal , Yahalom Gilad , Hassin‐Baer Sharon
Published: May 2020

Background

Administering an abbreviated global cognitive test, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), is necessary for the recommended first‐level diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson's disease (PD). Level II requires administering cognitive functioning neuropsychological tests. The MoCA's suitability for identifying PD‐MCI is questionable and, despite the importance of cognitive deficits reflected through daily functioning in identifying PD‐MCI, knowledge about it is scarce.

Objectives

To explore neuropsychological test scores of patients with PD who were categorized based on their MoCA scores and to analyze correlations between this categorization and patients’ self‐reports about daily functional‐related cognitive abilities.

Methods

A total of 78 patients aged 42 to 78 years participated: 46 with low MoCA scores (22–25) and 32 with high MoCA scores (26–30). Medical assessments and level II neuropsychological assessment tools were administered along with standardized self‐report questionnaires about daily functioning that reflects patients’ cognitive abilities.

Results

A high percentage of the low MoCA group obtained neuropsychological test scores within the normal range; a notable number in the high MoCA group were identified with MCI‐level scores on various neuropsychological tests. Suspected PD‐MCI according to the level I criteria did not correspond well with the level II criteria. Positive correlations were found among the 3 self‐report questionnaires.

Conclusions

These results support the ongoing discussion of the complexity of capturing PD‐MCI. Considering the neuropsychological tests results, assessments that reflect cognitive encounters in real life daily confrontations are warranted among people diagnosed with PD who are at risk for cognitive decline.
Signal interference‐based selectivity‐enhancement technique for omnidirectional monopole antenna
Authors: Li Daotong , Chen Zhen , Liu Ying , Wang Ju‐An , Wu Haowei
Published: May 2020

A compact monopole antenna with enhanced selectivity is designed based on circular disk monopole antenna and signal interference technique (SIT). It is composed of a circular disk monopole and a SIT‐based filtering structure consisting of two pairs of short‐circuited edge coupled stubs loaded on the feeding line. When the filtering structure is just loaded the feeding line, a filtering monopole antenna is obtained. A prototype is constructed, assembled, and tested. The measured results agree well with simulated one.
Roman Tunisian dietary patterns as a feature ofRomanitas: An archaeozoological approach
Authors: Azaza Mohamed , Colominas Lídia
Published: May 2020

It has been said that the Roman Empire was one of the greatest empires of antiquity. At its height, it spanned the entire Mediterranean basin, from the Iberian Peninsula to the Near East, each territory contributing with its customs and specificities. In this melting pot, dietary preferences were modified, diversified and, sometimes, replaced. With this paper, we aim to study Roman dietary patterns in Tunisia, an area that has been the object of little academic scrutiny and for which only a few studies are available. We investigate this topic with an archaeozoological approach. The relative frequency of taxa, body part representation and kill‐off patterns of faunal remains from 16 pre‐Roman and Roman Tunisian sites shows that, in Tunisia, dietary patterns were modified as a result of the Roman conquest.
Sensitive Energetics from the N‐Amination of 4‐Nitro‐1,2,3‐Triazole
Authors: Wozniak Dominique R. , Salfer Benjamin , Zeller Matthias , Byrd Edward F. C. , Piercey Davin G.
Published: May 2020

Energetic N‐amino‐C‐nitro compounds 1‐amino‐4‐nitro‐1,2,3‐triazole and 2‐amino‐4‐nitro‐1,2,3‐triazole are characterized for the first time as energetic materials. These compounds were characterized chemically by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. Compounds were also characterized energetically by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), impact, and friction and found to possess sensitivities and performances classifying them as primary explosives with PETN‐like performance.
Oligodendrocyte pathology exceeds axonal pathology in white matter in human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Lorente Pons Alejandro , Higginbottom Adrian , Cooper‐Knock Johnathan , Alrafiah Aziza , Alofi Ebtisam , Kirby Janine , Shaw Pamela J , Wood Jonathan D , Highley J Robin
Published: May 2020

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease. The majority of cases are sporadic (sALS), while the most common inherited form is due to C9orf72 mutation (C9ALS). A high burden of inclusion pathology is seen in glia (including oligodendrocytes) in ALS, especially in C9ALS. Myelin basic protein (MBP) messenger RNA (mRNA) must be transported to oligodendrocyte processes for myelination, a possible vulnerability for normal function. TDP43 is found in pathological inclusions in ALS and is a component of mRNA transport granules. Thus, TDP43 aggregation could lead to MBP loss. Additionally, the hexanucleotide expansion of mutant C9ALS binds hnRNPA2/B1, a protein essential for mRNA transport, causing potential further impairment of hnRNPA2/B1 function, and thus myelination. Using immunohistochemistry for p62 and TDP43 in human post‐mortem tissue, we found a high burden of glial inclusions in the prefrontal cortex, precentral gyrus, and spinal cord in ALS, which was greater in C9ALS than in sALS cases. Double staining demonstrated that the majority of these inclusions were in oligodendrocytes. Using immunoblotting, we demonstrated reduced MBP protein levels relative to PLP (a myelin component that relies on protein not mRNA transport) and neurofilament protein (an axonal marker) in the spinal cord. This MBP loss was disproportionate to the level of PLP and axonal loss, suggesting that impaired mRNA transport may be partly responsible. Finally, we show that in C9ALS cases, the level of oligodendroglial inclusions correlates inversely with levels of hnRNPA2/B1 and the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells. We conclude that there is considerable oligodendrocyte pathology in ALS, which at least partially reflects impairment of mRNA transport. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Outpatient fluoroquinolone prescribing patterns before and after US FDA boxed warning
Authors: Bratsman Andrew , Mathias Kristen , Laubscher Rory , Grigoryan Larissa , Rose Stacey
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Fluoroquinolones are routinely overprescribed for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI), acute sinusitis, and acute bronchitis. In 2016, the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the boxed warning on fluoroquinolones, recommending against their use as first‐line agents for the routine pharmacologic management of uUTI, acute sinusitis, and acute bronchitis in patients who have other treatment options. The primary objective of this study was to determine if the 2016 expanded boxed warning was associated with decreased fluoroquinolone prescription rates for these three diagnoses.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed antibiotics prescribed at a single, large, academic outpatient center for these three diagnoses between January 2013 and May 2018. Interrupted time series analysis was used to compare the rate of fluoroquinolone prescriptions before and after the May 2016 FDA boxed warning.

Results

A total of 10 087 antibiotic prescriptions for these three diagnoses were examined. There was no significant change in fluoroquinolone prescription rates after the FDA boxed warning. The majority of inappropriate fluoroquinolone prescriptions were given for the management of uUTI.

Conclusion

The 2016 US FDA boxed warning against fluoroquinolone use for uUTI, acute sinusitis, and acute bronchitis was not associated with a statistically significant reduction in the rate of fluoroquinolone prescriptions for these diagnoses. Additional research is needed to define how US FDA boxed warnings may be incorporated into broader antibiotic stewardship programs to decrease overuse of fluoroquinolones and avoid adverse effects of the drug class, including Clostridioides difficile infections and emergence of resistant organisms.
Phase I Single‐Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Balance and Aerobic Training in Degenerative Cerebellar Disease
Authors: Barbuto Scott , Martelli Dario , Isirame Omofuma , Lee Nancy , Bishop Laurie , Kuo Sheng‐Han , Agrawal Sunil , Lee Seonjoo , O'Dell Michael , Stein Joel
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Primary deficits in individuals with cerebellar degeneration include ataxia, unstable gait, and incoordination. Balance training is routinely recommended to improve function whereas little is known regarding aerobic training.

Objective

To determine the feasibility of conducting a randomized trial comparing balance and aerobic training in individuals with cerebellar degeneration.

Design

Assessor blinded randomized control phase I trial.

Setting

Assessments in medical center, home training.

Participants

Twenty participants with cerebellar degeneration were randomized to home balance or aerobic training.

Intervention

Aerobic training consisted of 4 weeks of stationary bicycle training, five times per week for 30‐minute sessions. Home balance training consisted of performing the same duration of easy, moderate, and/or hard exercises.

Outcome Measures

Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), Dynamic Gait Index, Timed Up and Go, gait speed.

Results

All 20 participants completed assigned training with no major adverse events. Seven of each group attained target training duration, frequency, and intensity. Although both groups had significant improvements in ataxia severity, balance, and gait measures, there were greater improvements in individuals who performed aerobic training in ataxia severity and maximal oxygen consumption when compared to balance training. The effect size for these outcome measures was determined to be large, indicating a phase II trial comparing the benefits of aerobic and balance training was feasible and required 26 participants per group. Improvements in SARA score and VO2max remained in the aerobic training group at 3 months posttraining, but these improvements were trending back to baseline. In contrast, all balance group measures for pretraining and 3 months posttraining were statistically similar.

Conclusions

A phase II trial comparing balance and aerobic training in individuals with cerebellar degeneration is feasible. Benefits trended back toward baseline after training stopped, although benefits of longer duration exercise programs still need to be determined.
Effects of Solvent Ratio on the Morphology, Growth, and Photoluminescence of Hexagonal Pyramidal β‐NaYF4:Eu3+ Microrods
Authors: Zhao Tianxiang , Xu Zihui , Chen Nan , Liu Jinpeng , Du Guoping
Published: May 2020

Hexagonal pyramidal β‐NaYF4:Eu3+ are synthesized with a facile solvothermal method using the mixture of ethylene glycol and deionized water (DIW) as the reaction solvents. The solvent ratio has a strong effect on the morphology, growth, and photoluminescence (PL) properties of β‐NaYF4:Eu3+. Both the particle size and the aspect ratio of length/diameter of the β‐NaYF4:Eu3+ increase with the proportion of DIW in the reaction solvents, and their crystallinity is also enhanced. The growth behavior of the β‐NaYF4:Eu3+ has been analyzed and explained based on the intrinsic crystal structures, the surface free energy, and the interactions between the reacting ions. The PL of the β‐NaYF4:Eu3+ greatly increases with the proportion of DIW in the reaction solvents, and this is attributed to their enhanced crystallinity with lower density of nonradiative defects. Herein, a useful basis for preparation of luminescent materials with adjustable morphology and strong PL is provided.
Unconditional performance of the X¯ chart: Comparison among five standard deviation estimators
Authors: Faria Sobue Cassio Eduardo , Jardim Felipe Schoemer , Camargo Victor Claudio Bento , Lizarelli Fabiane Leticia , Oprime Pedro Carlos
Published: May 2020

To design the
control chart, the in‐control process mean and standard deviation must be estimated from historical samples, negatively affecting the chart's performance. The grand mean of a sample is the well‐established estimator for the process mean. However, regarding the standard deviation, the chart's user has at least five different estimators available in the literature to choose from. In this paper, using intensive simulations, we study and compare the performance of the
chart (under normality assumption and three‐sigma limits) among the most five used standard deviation estimators. The unconditional in‐control run length (RL0) is the most commonly used performance measure of a control chart, and many authors base their comparisons on the expectation of the RL0 or on the mean square error of the estimators. In contrast, we based our comparison on the proportions of the RL0 concentrated at some intervals that are usually considered undesired by the practitioner due to the high incidence of false alarms during the process monitoring (e.g., RL0 between 1 and 200), occurring earlier than expected when compared with known parameter situations. From our results, all the studied standard deviation estimators generate similar performances. However, even with this similarity, we showed that one of the most recommended standard deviation estimators in the literature in control charts with estimated parameters may be the most inappropriate choice based on the undesired RL0 proportions.
Plug&Play Fiber‐Coupled 73 kHz Single‐Photon Source Operating in the Telecom O‐Band
Authors: Musiał Anna , Żołnacz Kinga , Srocka Nicole , Kravets Oleh , Große Jan , Olszewski Jacek , Poturaj Krzysztof , Wójcik Grzegorz , Mergo Paweł , Dybka Kamil , Dyrkacz Mariusz , Dłubek Michał , Lauritsen Kristian , Bülter Andreas , Schneider Philipp‐Immanuel , Zschiedrich Lin , Burger Sven , Rodt Sven , Urbańczyk Wacław , Sęk Grzegorz , Reitzenstein Stephan
Published: May 2020

A user‐friendly, fiber‐coupled, single‐photon source operating at telecom wavelengths is a key component of photonic quantum networks providing long‐haul, ultra‐secure data exchange. To take full advantage of quantum‐mechanical data protection and to maximize the transmission rate and distance, a true quantum source providing single photons on demand is highly desirable. This great challenge is tackled by developing a ready‐to‐use semiconductor quantum‐dot‐based device that launches single photons at a wavelength of 1.3 µm directly into a single‐mode optical fiber. In the proposed approach, the quantum dot is deterministically integrated into a nanophotonic structure to ensure efficient on‐chip coupling into a fiber. The whole arrangement is integrated into a 19ʺ compatible housing to enable stand‐alone operation by cooling via a compact Stirling cryocooler. The realized source delivers single photons with a multiphoton events probability as low as 0.15 and a single‐photon emission rate of up to 73 kHz into a standard telecom single‐mode fiber.
Confidence intervals of the difference between areas under two ROC curves in matched‐pair experiments
Authors: Zhang Yunqi , Tang Niansheng
Published: May 2020

In a matched‐pair study, when outcomes of two diagnostic tests are ordinal/continuous, the difference between two correlated areas under ROC curves (AUCs) is usually used to compare the overall discriminatory ability of two diagnostic tests. This article considers confidence interval (CI) construction problems of difference between two correlated AUCs in a matched‐pair experiment, and proposes 13 hybrid CIs based on variance estimates recovery with the maximum likelihood estimation, Delong's statistic, Wilson score statistic (WS) and WS with continuity correction, the modified Wald statistic (MW) and MW with continuity correction and Agresti‐Coull statistic, and three Bootstrap‐resampling‐based CIs. For comparison, we present traditional parametric and nonparametric CIs. Simulation studies are conducted to assess the performance of the proposed CIs in terms of empirical coverage probabilities, empirical interval widths, and ratios of the mesial noncoverage probabilities to the noncoverage probabilities. Two examples from clinical studies are illustrated by the proposed methodologies. Empirical results evidence that the hybrid Agresti‐Coull CI with the empirical estimation (EAC) behaved most satisfactorily because its coverage probability was quite close to the prespecified confidence level with short interval width. Hence, we recommend the usage of the EAC CI in applications.
Random cancers as supported by registry data
Authors: Stare Janez , Henderson Robin , Gorenjec Nina Ružić
Published: May 2020

There has been considerable interest in recent years in quantifying the rate of unavoidable or so‐called random cancers, as opposed to cancers linked to environmental, genetic or other factors. We propose a data‐based approach to estimate an upper limit to this probability, based on an analysis of multiple registry data. The argument is that the cumulative hazards for random cancers cannot exceed the minimum reliable cumulative hazard observed across the registries. We propose a Monte Carlo method to identify this upper limit and apply the method to data on nine different cancers recorded by 423 registries. We compare our values with estimates obtained from a random mutations argument.
Two decades of live coding and debugging of virtual machines through simulation
Authors: Ingalls Daniel , Miranda Eliot , Béra Clément , Gonzalez Boix Elisa
Published: May 2020

OpenSmalltalk‐VM is a virtual machine (VM) for languages in the Smalltalk family (eg, Squeak and Pharo), which is itself written in a subset of Smalltalk that can easily be translated to C. VM development is done in Smalltalk, an activity we call “simulation.” The production VM is then derived by translating the core VM code to C. As a result, two execution models coexist: simulation, where the Smalltalk code is executed on top of a Smalltalk VM, and production, where the same code is compiled to an executable through a C compiler. The whole VM execution can be simulated: the heap is represented as a huge byte array, the VM code is executed as Smalltalk, and the native code generated by the just‐in‐time (JIT) compiler is executed by a processor simulator. All the Smalltalk development tools, such as the debugger, are then available while simulating. In addition, in simulation, it is also possible to use debugging features such as single stepping in the machine code generated by the JIT compiler. The Smalltalk development tools combined with the simulation debugging features provide developers with a productive environment in which to extend and debug the VM. In this article, we detail the VM simulation infrastructure and report our experiences developing and debugging VM features within it such as the garbage collector and the JIT compiler.
A semisupervised classifier based on piecewise linear regression model using gated linear network
Authors: Ren Yanni , Li Weite , Hu Jinglu
Published: May 2020

Semisupervised classification aims to construct a classifier by making use of both labeled data and unlabeled data. This paper proposes a semisupervised classifier based on a piecewise linear regression model implemented by using a gated linear network. The semisupervised classifier is constructed in two steps. In the first step, instead of estimating the break points of a piecewise linear model directly, a label‐guided autoencoder‐based semisupervised gating mechanism is designed to generate binary gate control signals to realize the partitioning. In the second step, the piecewise linear model is first transformed into linear regression form, and the linear parameters are then optimized globally by a Laplacian regularized least squares (LapRLS) algorithm using a kernel function comprising the gate control signals obtained in the first step. Moreover, the composed kernel function is used as a better similarity function for the graph construction. As a result, we capture data manifold from both labeled and unlabeled data, and the data manifold is ingeniously incorporated into both the kernel and the graph Laplacian in LapRLS. Numerical experiments on various real‐world datasets exhibit the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Regulation of size and scale in vertebrate spinal cord development
Authors: Kuzmicz‐Kowalska Katarzyna , Kicheva Anna
Published: May 2020

All vertebrates have a spinal cord with dimensions and shape specific to their species. Yet how species‐specific organ size and shape are achieved is a fundamental unresolved question in biology. The formation and sculpting of organs begins during embryonic development. As it develops, the spinal cord extends in anterior–posterior direction in synchrony with the overall growth of the body. The dorsoventral (DV) and apicobasal lengths of the spinal cord neuroepithelium also change, while at the same time a characteristic pattern of neural progenitor subtypes along the DV axis is established and elaborated. At the basis of these changes in tissue size and shape are biophysical determinants, such as the change in cell number, cell size and shape, and anisotropic tissue growth. These processes are controlled by global tissue‐scale regulators, such as morphogen signaling gradients as well as mechanical forces. Current challenges in the field are to uncover how these tissue‐scale regulatory mechanisms are translated to the cellular and molecular level, and how regulation of distinct cellular processes gives rise to an overall defined size. Addressing these questions will help not only to achieve a better understanding of how size is controlled, but also of how tissue size is coordinated with the specification of pattern.

This article is categorized under:

Establishment of Spatial and Temporal Patterns > Regulation of Size, Proportion, and Timing

Signaling Pathways > Global Signaling Mechanisms

Nervous System Development > Vertebrates: General Principles
T-duality of non-relativistic string in torsional Newton-Cartan background
Authors: Klusoň J.
Published: May 2020

Abstract

In this short note we analyse T-duality properties of non-relativistic string in torsional Newton-Cartan background. We also determine condition that ensures that non-relativistic string maps to non-relativistic string under T-duality.
Emotion and Gender Typicality Cue Sexual Orientation Differently in Women and Men
Authors: Bjornsdottir R. Thora , Rule Nicholas O.
Published: May 2020

Heterosexual individuals tend to look and act more typical for their gender compared to gay and lesbian individuals, and people use this information to infer sexual orientation. Consistent with stereotypes associating happy expressions with femininity, previous work found that gay men displayed more happiness than straight men—a difference that perceivers used, independent of gender typicality, to judge sexual orientation. Here, we extended this to judgments of women’s sexual orientation. Like the gender-inversion stereotypes applied to men, participants perceived women’s faces manipulated to look angry as more likely to be lesbians; however, emotional expressions largely did not distinguish the faces of actual lesbian and straight women. Compared to men’s faces, women’s faces varied less in their emotional expression (appearing invariably positive) but varied more in gender typicality. These differences align with gender role expectations requiring the expression of positive emotion by women and prohibiting the expression of femininity by men. More important, greater variance within gender typicality and emotion facilitates their respective utility for distinguishing sexual orientation from facial appearance. These findings thus provide the first evidence for contrasting cues to women’s and men’s sexual orientation and suggest that gender norms may uniquely shape how men and women reveal their sexual orientation.
Student Characteristics in the Eyes of Teachers: Differences Between Novice and Expert Teachers in Judgment Accuracy, Observed Behavioral Cues, and Gaze
Authors: Seidel Tina , Schnitzler Katharina , Kosel Christian , Stürmer Kathleen , Holzberger Doris
Published: May 2020

The present study investigates teacher diagnostic skills when observing student engagement and inferring to underlying student characteristic profiles. Five student profiles as empirically determined in previous studies are selected: three incoherent (overestimating, uninterested, and underestimating) and two coherent (strong and struggling) profiles. Teacher professional vision and underlying assumptions about processes of noticing and reasoning about the chosen diagnostic situation serve as a conceptual basis. In the empirical study (N = 41 participants), it is investigated to what extent expert and novice teachers differ with regard to judgment accuracy of underlying student profiles, observed student cues used for judgment, and teacher gaze as perceptual indicator. The study task involved observing a video clip and diagnosing five marked students based on their underlying profiles. First, findings of the study suggest that expert teachers are more accurate in judging incoherent profiles compared to novices. Second, both novices as well as experts state valid behavioral cues when inferring from student engagement to underlying student profile. Third, experts spend more teacher gaze on student profiles which might need adaptive pedagogical action (struggling, underestimating, uninterested student). The study provides first evidence on teacher gaze during the professional task of diagnosing individual students in the process of teaching. Regarding the conceptual model of teacher professional vision teacher gaze can serve as an additional operationalization of the noticing component of teacher professional vision.
An Assessment of the Relationship Between Daylight Saving Time, Disruptions in Sleep Patterns and Dwelling Fires
Authors: Kountouris Yiannis
Published: May 2020

Residential fires pose threats to living environments, generating costs to health and property. Understanding the roles of human behavior and social organization in determining fire occurrence is important for developing strategies to manage fire risk. This paper tests the impact of daylight saving time (DST) transitions on dwelling fire occurrence. DST transitions affect sleep patterns, impairing human cognitive and motor performance, potentially influencing the incidence of dwelling fires. Employing a regression discontinuity design with time as the running variable and using data from over 260,000 primary dwelling fires that took place in the U.K. over 8 years we do not find evidence suggesting that DST transitions impact on dwelling fire occurrence. For both the start of DST and end of DST transitions, estimated effects is quantitatively small and statistically insignificant. Results suggest that disruptions in sleep patterns induced by DST are not a driver of dwelling fires in the U.K.
A 5* Destination: the Creation of New Transnational Moral Spaces of Remembrance on TripAdvisor
Authors: Buckley-Zistel Susanne , Williams Timothy
Published: May 2020

In this article, we demonstrate how the digital sphere and individual contributions within it add to a process of worldmaking by creating a new transnational moral order that reinforces notions of a transnational humanity and shared values. Specifically, tourists’ interactions in the digital sphere create a new moral space—in our analysis on the internet platform TripAdvisor.com—where they comment on their particular experience when visiting memorial sites of atrocities such as mass violence or genocide. This article contributes to approaches that see dark tourism not in terms of voyeurism or amorality but instead as a constituent part of moral meaning-making in individuals’ experiences of post-genocide spaces, expanding these arguments from the material visits of the tourists to their discussions in the digital sphere. This is affected by—yet at the same time contributes to and thus perpetuates—the transnationalisation of memory by which the way we remember and commemorate is increasingly becoming similar on a global scale. This transnationalisation is both forwarded by and constitutive of the digital sphere in which we study it. Empirically, this article draws on visitor reviews that were posted on the travel website TripAdvisor regarding the dark tourism sites Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda, expanding our understanding of responses to these memorial sites into the digital sphere.
Real-world safety of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation with contact force or cryoballoon ablation
Authors: Natale Andrea , Mohanty Sanghamitra , Goldstein Laura , Gomez Tara , Hunter Tina D.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Real-world data can help medical administrators, physicians, and payers make evidence-based decisions regarding treatment choices. The objective of this study was to compare real-world safety outcomes with the latest catheter technologies used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

The Vizient Health Systems database, a large US hospital database, was used to compare acute complications in AF ablation with the contact force sensing THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH® Catheter or the THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH® SF Catheter (ST) versus the second-generation Arctic Front Advance™ Cryoablation Catheter (CB2) between September 2015 and June 2017. The primary outcome was a composite safety endpoint of acute ablation-related complications defined via ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes, including tamponade and other pericardial events, respiratory complications, stroke, cerebral or pre-cerebral occlusion/stenosis without infarction, vascular access complications, hemorrhage, phrenic nerve injury, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism.

Results

In total, 1473 ablations met all inclusion criteria (407 ST, 1066 CB2). Ablations for paroxysmal AF (PAF) had a lower complication rate than ablations for persistent AF (PsAF) (6.1% vs. 7.3%), as did ablations with ST compared with CB2 within each AF type (PAF 6.0% vs. 6.1%, PsAF 6.3% vs. 7.8%). Neither ablation catheter nor AF type was statistically significant after controlling for site volume, patient age, and comorbid conditions (ST vs. CB2: OR 0.86, p = 0.5544; PsAF vs. PAF: OR 1.08, p = 0.7376).

Conclusion

Acute ablation-related complication rates were low and were not significantly associated with catheter technology. Increased risk of complication was attributable to low-volume sites and baseline patient characteristics.
Assessing healthcare service quality using routinely collected data: Linking information systems in emergency care
Authors: Dormann Harald , Eder Patrick Andreas , Gimpel Henner , Meindl Oliver , Rashid Asarnusch , Regal Christian
Published: May 2020

Emergency departments need to continuously calculate quality indicators in order to perform structural improvements, improvements in the daily routine, and ad-hoc improvements in everyday life. However, many different actors across multiple disciplines collaborate to provide emergency care. Hence, patient-related data is stored in several information systems, which in turn makes the calculation of quality indicators more difficult. To address this issue, we aim to link and use routinely collected data of the different actors within the emergency care continuum. In order to assess the feasibility of linking and using routinely collected data for quality indicators and whether this approach adds value to the assessment of emergency care quality, we conducted a single case study in a German academic teaching hospital. We analyzed the available data of the existing information systems in the emergency continuum and linked and pre-processed the data. Based on this, we then calculated four quality indicators (Left Without Been Seen, Unplanned Reattendance, Diagnostic Efficiency, and Overload Closure). Lessons learned from the calculation and results of the discussions with staff members that had multiple years of work experience in the emergency department provide a better understanding of the quality of the emergency department, the related challenges during the calculation, and the added value of linking routinely collected data.
Textural Quantification and Classification of Drill Cores for Geometallurgy: Moving Toward 3D with X-ray Microcomputed Tomography (µCT)
Authors: Guntoro Pratama Istiadi , Ghorbani Yousef , Butcher Alan R. , Kuva Jukka , Rosenkranz Jan
Published: May 2020

Texture is one of the critical parameters that affect the process behavior of ore minerals. Traditionally, texture has been described qualitatively, but recent works have shown the possibility to quantify mineral textures with the help of computer vision and digital image analysis. Most of these studies utilized 2D computer vision to evaluate mineral textures, which is limited by stereological error. On the other hand, the rapid development of X-ray microcomputed tomography (µCT) has opened up new possibilities for 3D texture analysis of ore samples. This study extends some of the 2D texture analysis methods, such as association indicator matrix (AIM) and local binary pattern (LBP) into 3D to get quantitative textural descriptors of drill core samples. The sensitivity of the methods to textural differences between drill cores is evaluated by classifying the drill cores into three textural classes using methods of machine learning classification, such as support vector machines and random forest. The study suggested that both AIM and LBP textural descriptors could be used for drill core classification with overall classification accuracy of 84–88%.
Psychometric Validation of the Bangla Fear of COVID-19 Scale: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Rasch Analysis
Authors: Sakib Najmuj , Bhuiyan A. K. M. Israfil , Hossain Sahadat , Al Mamun Firoj , Hosen Ismail , Abdullah Abu Hasnat , Sarker Md. Abedin , Mohiuddin Mohammad Sarif , Rayhan Istihak , Hossain Moazzem , Sikder Md. Tajuddin , Gozal David , Muhit Mohammad , Islam S. M. Shariful , Griffiths Mark D. , Pakpour Amir H. , Mamun Mohammed A.
Published: May 2020

The recently developed Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) is a seven-item uni-dimensional scale that assesses the severity of fears of COVID-19. Given the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh, we aimed to translate and validate the FCV-19S in Bangla. The forward-backward translation method was used to translate the English version of the questionnaire into Bangla. The reliability and validity properties of the Bangla FCV-19S were rigorously psychometrically evaluated (utilizing both confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis) in relation to socio-demographic variables, national lockdown variables, and response to the Bangla Health Patient Questionnaire. The sample comprised 8550 Bangladeshi participants. The Cronbach α value for the Bangla FCV-19S was 0.871 indicating very good internal reliability. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the uni-dimensional factor structure of the FCV-19S fitted well with the data. The FCV-19S was significantly correlated with the nine-item Bangla Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-90) (r = 0.406, p < 0.001). FCV-19S scores were significantly associated with higher worries concerning lockdown. Measurement invariance of the FCV-19S showed no differences with respect to age or gender. The Bangla version of FCV-19S is a valid and reliable tool with robust psychometric properties which will be useful for researchers carrying out studies among the Bangla speaking population in assessing the psychological impact of fear from COVID-19 infection during this pandemic.
Drainage Model of Multi-taphole Blast Furnaces
Authors: Roche Mauricio , Helle Mikko , van der Stel Jan , Louwerse Gerard , Storm Joost , Saxén Henrik
Published: May 2020

A drainage model of a multi-taphole hearth of a (large) blast furnace operated by alternate tappings has been developed. The model, which is based on a simplified treatment of the pressure losses in the dead man, taphole entrance and taphole, can estimate the liquid levels and outflow rates of the two liquid phases in quasi-stationary and dynamic states. The sensitivity of the results to changes in the conditions, such as taphole length and diameter, dead-man porosity, as well as in the model parameters is illustrated. The effect of asymmetric conditions at the two tapholes, and dynamic responses of particular interest are also illustrated and discussed. The results of the model are finally compared with findings from a reference blast furnace where the outflows rates of iron and slag are routinely estimated, demonstrating that several of the typical outflow patterns observed in the furnace can be at least quantitatively reproduced. This demonstrates the feasibility of the model as a tool for gaining deeper insight into the complex drainage with alternating tappings and the evolution of the liquid levels in the hearth of large blast furnaces.
Studies of neutralization reaction induced by rotating magnetic field
Authors: Sołoducha Dawid , Borowski Tomasz , Kordas Marian , Konopacki Maciej , Rakoczy Rafał
Published: May 2020

This study reports on research results in the field of the neutralization process (weak acid–strong base) under the action of a rotating magnetic field. The main objective of this paper is to present the possibilities of this process application to obtain the mixing time. The results show that the applied magnetic field had a strong influence on the analyzed process. Enhancement of the mixing process under the action of the rotating magnetic field may be obtained using particles with magnetic properties. It is shown that the time, after which the equivalence point of the neutralization process is reached, may be considered a parameter to describe the mixing process. Based on the proposed definition of the mixing time, the dimensionless correlation for the relationship between the mixing number and the Reynolds number is presented. Furthermore, results for the realization of the neutralization process with the application of the rotating magnetic field and magnetic particles are also discussed.
Thermoelectrically Based Approaches to Reduce Adhesive Wear During Blanking
Authors: Welm Markus , Tröber Philipp , Weiss Hannes Alois , Demmel Peter , Golle Roland , Volk Wolfram
Published: May 2020

Almost every metal mass product goes through a blanking process.
Especially when processing aluminum, adhesive wear is the main determinant of cost efficiency. Many investigations on wear-influencing factors have been conducted so far, but one major determinant is almost unnoticed, thermoelectric phenomena. Due to the Seebeck effect, thermoelectricity arises in every blanking tool. Recently published investigations show that the combination of tool and workpiece materials has a strong influence on occurring thermoelectric currents and thus on adhesive wear development. This can be traced back to dependence of the current strength and direction on the material-specific Seebeck coefficient.
This article addresses the same phenomenon for a new parameter spectrum. Blanking experiments with aluminum EN AW 5083 were performed, investigating both thermoelectric currents and the amount of adhesive wear. Furthermore, the impact of external currents influencing the naturally occurring thermoelectricity on wear is shown. Improved measurements with a laser confocal microscope reveal a close correlation between the thermoelectric current profiles and adhesive wear pattern on the lateral surface of the punch. Together with a variation of tool material among high-speed steel 1.3343, stainless steel 1.4301 and cemented carbide CF-H40S, a strong relation between the Seebeck coefficients, electrical currents and tool wear could be found. Therefore, the actual findings confirm, deepen and extend previous results concerning thermoelectricity and adhesive wear.
Annual report of the Japanese Breast Cancer Society registry for 2016
Authors: Kubo Makoto , Kumamaru Hiraku , Isozumi Urara , Miyashita Minoru , Nagahashi Masayuki , Kadoya Takayuki , Kojima Yasuyuki , Aogi Kenjiro , Hayashi Naoki , Tamura Kenji , Asaga Sota , Niikura Naoki , Ogo Etsuyo , Iijima Kotaro , Tanakura Kenta , Yoshida Masayuki , Miyata Hiroaki , Yamamoto Yutaka , Imoto Shigeru , Jinno Hiromitsu
Published: May 2020

The Japanese Breast Cancer Society (JBCS) registry began data collection in 1975, and it was integrated into National Clinical Database in 2012. As of 2016, the JBCS registry contains records of 656,896 breast cancer patients from more than 1400 hospitals throughout Japan. In the 2016 registration, the number of institutes involved was 1422, and the total number of patients was 95,870. We herein present the summary of the annual data of the JBCS registry collected in 2016. We analyzed the demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics of registered breast cancer patients from various angles. Especially, we examined the registrations on family history, menstruation, onset age, body mass index according to age, nodal status based on tumor size and subtype, and proportion based on ER, PgR, and HER2 status. This report based on the JBCS registry would support clinical management for breast cancer patients and clinical study in the near future.
Feasibility of miscible CO2 flooding in hydrocarbon reservoirs with different crude oil compositions
Authors: Khan Mudassir , Raza Arshad , Zahoor Muhammad Khurram , Gholami Raoof
Published: May 2020

Miscible CO2-based enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) flooding has been used, on many occasions, to maximize the recovery by mobilizing the residual oil. The success of this method, however, depends highly on the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP), the compatibility of CO2 with the reservoir rock and fluids. Although there have been several studies on the application of CO2-EOR, the impact of oil compositions associated with MMP on the feasibility of this technique has not been addressed elsewhere. In this study, a simulation study was carried out to investigate the effect of three different oil compositions on the miscibility and ultimate oil recovery of miscible CO2-EOR method. The results obtained indicated the oil type does not pose a significant impact on the success of miscible CO2-EOR. It was also found that the ultimate recovery of oil increases in a short period of time by injecting CO2 at the miscible conditions at the early stage of natural production. Comparatively, the reservoir with the fluid sample S2 seems to be a suitable choice for the miscible CO2 flooding once the recovery factor was considered together with the total amount of the fluid injected and produced.
Dietary implications in acetylsalicylic acid intolerance
Authors: Dölle-Bierke Sabine , Plank-Habibi Sibylle , Schäfer Christiane , Ahrens Birgit , Ballmer-Weber Barbara , Beyer Kirsten , Blümchen Katharina , Huttegger Isidor , Jappe Uta , Kleine-Tebbe Jörg , Lange Lars , Lau Susanne , Lepp Ute , Mahler Vera , Müller Sabine , Saloga Joachim , Schnadt Sabine , Szepfalusi Zsolt , Treudler Regina , Wassmann-Otto Anja , Werfel Thomas , Zuberbier Torsten , Reese Imke , Worm Margitta
Published: May 2020

Background

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) may cause difficult-to-treat symptoms of the airways, skin, or gastrointestinal tract in hypersensitive patients. Due to the chemical relationship between salicylic acid and ASA, a role of a low-salicylate diet has been discussed.

Methods

This review evaluates whether low salicylate diets are meaningful from an allergological or nutritional–physiological perspective.

Results

The body’s arachidonic acid metabolism plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ASA intolerance. Despite their chemical affinity, ASA and salicylic acid affect the arachidonic pathway differently. The intake of salicylic acid with food is low compared to therapeutic doses of ASA. There is increasing evidence that protective effects of a high fruit and vegetables diet is related in part to the intake of salicylates. In salicylate-low diets, fruit and vegetables are reduced, harboring the risk of an insufficient diet and malnutrition.

Conclusion

Dietary therapy in ASA-intolerant patients is not recommended.
Use of Geosocial Networking Applications is Associated with Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder in an Online Sample
Authors: Turban Jack L. , Passell Eliza , Scheuer Luke , Germine Laura
Published: May 2020

Background

Geosocial networking applications (GNAs) are relatively new outlets through which individuals may find partners for sexual encounters. There has been a paucity of research on the associations between use of these platforms and measures of mental health and compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD).

Aim

To examine associations between use of GNA, anxiety, and CSBD.

Methods

Using data from a large nontargeted Web-based sample (N = 4,203), we examined demographics associated with the use of GNAs. Using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for demographic differences between users and non-users, we examined associations between GNA use, anxiety, and CSBD.

Outcomes

The outcomes are Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and a modified Hypersexual Behavior Inventory-19.

Results

The percentage of participants that reported they used GNAs was 12.3%. Those who reported using the applications compared with those who did not were more likely to be young, male, and nonheterosexual. After adjusting for demographic variables, GNAs use was associated with CSBD (adjusted odds ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.09–2.37, P = .015) but not anxiety.

Clinical Implications

This study is an initial foray into the relationships between GNA and mental health, establishing a relationship between GNA use and CSBD. Future research is needed to better understand the relationships between GNA use, psychopathology, and CSBD.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths of the study include its large sample size and nontargeted recruitment design, which minimizes confirmation bias. Limitations include the cross-sectional nature of this study, which precludes determination of the direction of causation.

Conclusion

Use of GNAs was prevalent among our sample and associated with CSBD. GNA use may represent an important platform through which CSBD manifests. Conversely, GNA use may drive CSBD.