bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth in the accuracy of preschool children’s /r/ production: Evidence from a Longitudinal Study
Authors: Logerquist Mara , Kim Hyuna A. , Martell Alisha B. , Munson Benjamin , Edwards Jan
Published: April 2018

The acquisition of American English /r/ is of particular theoretical and clinical interest because it is typologically rare among the world’s languages, because it is one of the latest-acquired sounds by typically developing children, and because it is one of the sounds that is most likely produced in error by children with residual speech sound disorders. In this study, we examined the accuracy productions of /r/ and its most frequent substitute, /w/, by preschool children (n = 120) at two time-points: when they were between 3;3 (years;months) and 4;4 years old and again when they were 4;4 to 5;4 years. Accuracy was determined both by trained phonetic transcriber. Moreover, the accuracy of productions from the first time-point was rated by groups of naive listeners using a perceptual rating experiment similar to that described by Schellinger et al. (2016). Considerable variation in /r/ production was found at both time-points, and there was sizeable variation in the extent to which production improved from the first to the second time-point. Surprisingly, none of the predictor measures at the first time-point (speech perception, expressive and receptive vocabulary size) predicted growth in /r/ in this group.
Acoustic ground truthing of seismic noise in Chatham Rise, New Zealand
Authors: Cheong Sei-Him , Evans Breanna
Published: April 2018

Noise generated by seismic survey is widely recognised as a pervasive pollutant to marine ecosystem. Between the 31st January and 21st March 2016, a geophysical research survey was conducted in Chatham Rise, New Zealand, to collect seismo-acoustic data using a Sercel seismic streamer in order to ground-truth the underwater noise impact assessment, conducted according to the DOC (NZ) Seismic Survey Code of Conduct. Data were analyzed to determine the received sound level at a distance up to 3 km from the source array. This paper establishes the method to predict the impact radii in order to validate the results obtained using Gardline 360M predictive model. The aim was to provide confidence to the capability of predictive modelling for estimating the impact zone of a seismic sound source. Data showed that multipath reflections can fluctuate significantly according to the seafloor topography; however, a very consistent trend can be obtained from direct propagation to confidently establish mitigation radii. Results show that the employment of a seismic streamer for the establishment of effective mitigation radii is technically feasible and may be used as a tool to ground truth predictive modelling as part of mitigation plans to reduce the potential risk of acoustic trauma.
The noise of rock n’roll: Incidental noise characterization of underwater rock placement
Authors: Portugal Rute , Cheong Sei-Him , Evans Breanna , Brocklehurst James
Published: April 2018

Underwater noise is a growing concern to conservation and stock management efforts to which supra-national organizations (e.g., OSPAR or the European Union) and governments (e.g., USA) are beginning to respond by building catalogs of the noise introduced in the marine environment by human activity. Rock placement is a construction activity for which there is scarcely any data available. In order to fill the knowledge gap, opportunistic recordings were taken while the Gardline Mk 3 hydrophone array was deployed for Passive Acoustic Monitoring and mitigation for marine mammals. The recordings were analyzed for their spectral and temporal characteristics, a correlation analysis between the amount of rock placed and the intensity of sound produced was made and the suitability of the hydrophone array for the collection of this type of data was assessed.
Study on single raindrop noise and energy conversion
Authors: Shang Dajing , Li Qi , Tang Rui , Deng Fangzhou , Liu Shu
Published: April 2018

The measurement of rainfall in the ocean is more difficult than in land, but the noise signals produced by rainfall can be used for measuring the rainfall in the ocean. In this paper, a single raindrop measurement system was set up to measure the noise of the raindrop, the bubble sound are classified by the radius of the raindrop which was measured by the splash method. The mechanism of the initial impact and the bubble sound are analyzed, and the kinetic energy threshold and acoustic energy conversion efficiency of the single raindrops are also investigated. The results show that the bubble noise is the main noise compared with initial impact noise, the initial impact noise will become larger with the radius of raindrop, the acoustic energy of great and large raindrop is much larger than that of small one, but the tiny and medium raindrop have no acoustic energy. The kinetic energy threshold is not a constant, but it is proportional to the raindrop size.The acoustic energy conversion rate is about 1.04×10-3% for small raindrops, 10-5% for heavy rains and great raindrops, there are almost no acoustic energy for tiny raindrops and medium-sized raindrops.
Integrating the Biot-Stoll model with contact squirt flow and shear drag (BICSQS) in the Biot viscosity extended framework
Authors: Chandrasekaran Sri Nivas , Evensen Karen Brastad , Ramsdal Elisabeth Grønn , Holm Sverre
Published: April 2018

The viscosity extended Biot theory [Sahay, Geophysics (2008)] incorporates pore fluid viscosity in the constitutive relation of the classical Biot theory. The strain rate term due to pore fluid viscosity turns the zero velocity slow S wave mode into a diffusive process. In this framework, it is claimed that fast P and S waves bleed energy when the slow S wave is generated at an interface or at a discontinuity. On the other hand, the Biot-Stoll model with contact squirt flow and shear drag (BICSQS) [Chotiros and Isakson, JASA (2004)] models the grain to grain contact as compression and shear relaxation processes and obtains a causal poro-elastic frame response. In this work, we incorporated the grain to grain contact physics in the constitutive relation of the Biot theory and integrated it into the viscosity extended Biot framework. With realistic parameters, the fast S wave phase velocity and attenuation in the integrated model show a significant difference over a range of frequencies when compared to BICSQS. Additionally, this integrated model may provide a more accurate match for the measured reflection coefficient.
Sound propagation effects of near-seabed internal waves in shallow water
Authors: Duda Timothy F. , Lavery Andone C. , Lin Ying-Tsong , Zhang Weifeng G.
Published: April 2018

Computational modeling is used to examine effects of near-seabed nonlinear internal waves. Waves of this type have been observed many times on the South New-England Shelf and elsewhere. The waves appear to be common when the dominant vertical density gradient zone is near the seabed. Many observations have been with profilers that alias the waves, or with instruments fixed to the seafloor that provide snapshots of passing waves. We have recently observed these features in greater detail using acoustic remote sensing from a ship, and we are now in a position to model their effects on sound propagation. Results are presented for many frequencies and many source/receiver/wave geometries. An important question remains about along-crest coherence of the waves, which would govern ducting and other anisotropic propagation effects. These waves are not as well studied as waves linked to a near-surface pycnocline, which can be studied remotely with EM via surface signature. The strong density gradients found in many shallow water areas allow the internal waves to have high frequencies, creating rapidly changing acoustics thereby shortening acoustic coherence time. The related strong sound-speed gradients, found both near the surface and near the seabed, are responsible for the important acoustic effects of the waves.
Impact of salinity on predicted transmission loss
Authors: Cooper Jennifer , Mandelberg Michael
Published: April 2018

Often ocean sound speed profiles are estimated using a temperature profile measured, for example, with an expendable bathythermograph (XBT) combined with a database value for salinity. The prevalence of this approach is due to the added expense and limited availability of sensors that can simultaneously measure both temperature and salinity profiles, for example conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) probes. When predicting acoustic performance of a sonar system, using the sound speed profile based only on measured temperature is not always sufficient. This study examines when and where the use of temperature-only profiles is adequate as well as potential improvements to typical sound speed profiles that can be made using limited conductivity measurements (i.e. measurement at a single depth or a small segment of the profile) or with database values based on oceanographic models or chosen based on matching the temperature profile rather than the geographically nearest value. The assessment of a profile's adequacy is based on how well modeled transmission loss (TL) matches the TL modeled using the measured temperature and salinity profile from CTD.
Numerical study on radiation impedance of underwater sound sources in non-anechoic tank
Authors: Zhang Yiming , Tang Rui , Li Qi , Feng Xin
Published: April 2018

The radiation impedance is an important index to evaluate the characteristics of underwater sound sources. In this study, a numerical method for calculating the radiation impedance of underwater sound sources using ACTRAN is proposed. The radiation impedance is calculated by extracting the sound pressure and velocity on the surface of the sound sources. To verify the accuracy of the numerical method, the radiation impedance of a pulsating sphere source is calculated and the results are in good agreement with the analytical results. The radiation impedance of an elastic spherical shell in air, anechoic tanks, and non-anechoic tanks is calculated and analyzed. The results show that when the frequency is lower than the lowest normal frequency, the radiation impedance of the elastic spherical shell in anechoic tanks and non-anechoic tanks is consistent. When there are normal modes in non-anechoic tank, the radiation impedance of the elastic spherical shell varies with the normal frequencies. The proposed method can be used to calculate and analyze the radiation impedance of complex structures in different environments.
Interleukin-2 shapes the cytotoxic T cell proteome and immune environment–sensing programs
Authors: Rollings Christina M. , Sinclair Linda V. , Brady Hugh J. M. , Cantrell Doreen A. , Ross Sarah H.
Published: April 2018

Proteomic analysis reveals how the cytokine IL-2 enables cytotoxic T cells to function and respond to their environment.
In Vitro
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates of Borrelia miyamotoi
Authors: Koetsveld Joris , Manger Annemijn , Hoornstra Dieuwertje , Draga Ronald O. , Oei Anneke , Kolyasnikova Nadezhda M. , Toporkova Marina G. , Sarksyan Denis S. , Wagemakers Alex , Platonov Alexander E. , Hovius Joppe W.
Published: April 2018

Borrelia miyamotoi
is an emerging relapsing fever (RF)
Borrelia
species that is reported to cause human disease in regions in which Lyme borreliosis is endemic. We recently showed that
B. miyamotoi
tick isolates are resistant to amoxicillin
in vitro
; however, clinical isolates have not been studied. Therefore, our aim was to show the antimicrobial susceptibility of recently obtained clinical isolates of
B. miyamotoi
. A dilution series of various antibiotics was made in modified Kelly-Pettenkofer medium with 10% fetal calf serum. The susceptibilities of different
B. miyamotoi
clinical,
B. miyamotoi
tick, RF
Borrelia
, and
Borrelia burgdorferi
sensu lato
isolates were tested by measuring MICs through colorimetric changes and by counting motile spirochetes by dark-field microscopy after 72 h of incubation. The ceftriaxone and azithromycin MIC ranges of the six
B. miyamotoi
clinical isolates tested were 0.03 to 0.06 mg/liter and 0.0016 to 0.0032 mg/liter, respectively. These values are similar to MICs for RF
Borrelia
strains and
B. miyamotoi
tick isolates. All tested RF
Borrelia
strains were susceptible to doxycycline (microscopic MIC range, 0.0625 to 0.25 mg/liter). In contrast to the MICs of the tested
B. burgdorferi sensu lato
strains and in line with our previous findings, the amoxicillin MICs (range, 8 to 32 mg/liter) of all RF
Borrelia
strains, including
B. miyamotoi
clinical isolates, were above the clinical breakpoint for resistance (≤4 mg/liter). Clinical isolates of
B. miyamotoi
are highly susceptible to doxycycline, azithromycin, and ceftriaxone
in vitro
. Interestingly, as described previously for tick isolates, amoxicillin shows poor
in vitro
activity against
B. miyamotoi
clinical isolates.
Food Spoilage-Associated Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, and Lactobacillus Species Display Different Survival Strategies in Response to Competition
Authors: Andreevskaya Margarita , Jääskeläinen Elina , Johansson Per , Ylinen Anne , Paulin Lars , Björkroth Johanna , Auvinen Petri
Published: April 2018

Psychrotrophic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the prevailing spoilage organisms in packaged cold-stored meat products. Species composition and metabolic activities of such LAB spoilage communities are determined by the nature of the meat product, storage conditions, and interspecies interactions. Our knowledge of system level responses of LAB during such interactions is very limited. To expand it, we studied interactions between three common psychrotrophic spoilage LAB (
Leuconostoc gelidum
,
Lactococcus piscium
, and
Lactobacillus oligofermentans
) by comparing their time course transcriptome profiles obtained during their growth in individual, pairwise, and triple cultures. The study revealed how these LAB employed different strategies to cope with the consequences of interspecies competition. The fastest-growing bacterium,
Le. gelidum
, attempted to enhance its nutrient-scavenging and growth capabilities in the presence of other LAB through upregulation of carbohydrate catabolic pathways, pyruvate fermentation enzymes, and ribosomal proteins, whereas the slower-growing
Lc. piscium
and
Lb. oligofermentans
downregulated these functions. These findings may explain the competitive success and predominance of
Le. gelidum
in a variety of spoiled foods. Peculiarly, interspecies interactions induced overexpression of prophage genes and restriction modification systems (mechanisms of DNA exchange and protection against it) in
Lc. piscium
and
Lb. oligofermentans
but not in
Le. gelidum
. Cocultivation induced also overexpression of the numerous putative adhesins in
Lb. oligofermentans
. These adhesins might contribute to the survival of this slowly growing bacterium in actively growing meat spoilage communities.

IMPORTANCE
Despite the apparent relevance of LAB for biotechnology and human health, interactions between members of LAB communities are not well known. Knowledge of such interactions is crucial for understanding how these communities function and, consequently, whether there is any possibility to develop new strategies to interfere with their growth and to postpone spoilage of packaged and refrigerated foods. With the help of controlled experiments, detailed regulation events can be observed. This study gives an insight into the system level interactions and the different competition-induced survival strategies related to enhanced uptake and catabolism of carbon sources, overexpression of adhesins and putative bacteriocins, and the induction of exchange of genetic material. Even though this experiment dealt with only three LAB strains
in vitro
, these findings agreed well with the relative abundance patterns typically reported for these species in natural food microbial communities.
Evolution-Guided Structural and Functional Analyses of the HERC Family Reveal an Ancient Marine Origin and Determinants of Antiviral Activity
Authors: Paparisto Ermela , Woods Matthew W. , Coleman Macon D. , Moghadasi Seyed A. , Kochar Divjyot S. , Tom Sean K. , Kohio Hinissan P. , Gibson Richard M. , Rohringer Taryn J. , Hunt Nina R. , Di Gravio Eric J. , Zhang Jonathan Y. , Tian Meijuan , Gao Yong , Arts Eric J. , Barr Stephen D.
Published: April 2018

In humans, homologous to the E6-AP carboxyl terminus (HECT) and regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1)-like domain-containing protein 5 (HERC5) is an interferon-induced protein that inhibits replication of evolutionarily diverse viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). To better understand the origin, evolution, and function of HERC5, we performed phylogenetic, structural, and functional analyses of the entire human small-HERC family, which includes HERC3, HERC4, HERC5, and HERC6. We demonstrated that the
HERC
family emerged >595 million years ago and has undergone gene duplication and gene loss events throughout its evolution. The structural topology of the RCC1-like domain and HECT domains from all HERC paralogs is highly conserved among evolutionarily diverse vertebrates despite low sequence homology. Functional analyses showed that the human small HERCs exhibit different degrees of antiviral activity toward HIV-1 and that HERC5 provides the strongest inhibition. Notably, coelacanth HERC5 inhibited simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), but not HIV-1, particle production, suggesting that the antiviral activity of HERC5 emerged over 413 million years ago and exhibits species- and virus-specific restriction. In addition, we showed that both HERC5 and HERC6 are evolving under strong positive selection, particularly blade 1 of the RCC1-like domain, which we showed is a key determinant of antiviral activity. These studies provide insight into the origin, evolution, and biological importance of the human restriction factor HERC5 and the other HERC family members.

IMPORTANCE
Intrinsic immunity plays an important role as the first line of defense against viruses. Studying the origins, evolution, and functions of proteins responsible for effecting this defense will provide key information about virus-host relationships that can be exploited for future drug development. We showed that HERC5 is one such antiviral protein that belongs to an evolutionarily conserved family of HERCs with an ancient marine origin. Not all vertebrates possess all HERC members, suggesting that different HERCs emerged at different times during evolution to provide the host with a survival advantage. Consistent with this, two of the more recently emerged HERC members, HERC5 and HERC6, displayed strong signatures of having been involved in an ancient evolutionary battle with viruses. Our findings provide new insights into the evolutionary origin and function of the HERC family in vertebrate evolution, identifying HERC5 and possibly HERC6 as important effectors of intrinsic immunity in vertebrates.
Modified everting sutures: an alternative treatment for mild to moderate epiblepharon
Authors: Young Stephanie M , Kim Yoon-Duck , Woo Kyung In
Published: April 2018

Purpose

To describe a modified everting suture procedure which can be used in patients with mild to moderate epiblepharon who are undergoing general anaesthesia for surgical correction of coexisting ophthalmic conditions.

Methods

A prospective, interventional, non-comparative case series on patients with mild to moderate epiblepharon who underwent the modified everting suture procedure using permanent nylon sutures while under general anaesthesia for other ophthalmic surgery, from May 2014 to May 2016, in a single tertiary institution. Main outcome measures were correction of epiblepharon, recurrence rate and complications.

Results

There were a total of 29 patients. Mean age was 5.7±4.1 years (range 1.5–20 years). Twenty (69.0%) were male, 31.0% were female. All had concomitant surgery under general anaesthesia for levator resection (75.9%), frontalis sling (17.2%), strabismus surgery (3.4%) and coloboma correction (3.4%). Mean follow-up was 18.1±9.1 months. All patients were well corrected at 1 and 6 months postoperative follow-up. At 1 year after surgery, 28 (96.6%) were well corrected while one patient (3.4%) was undercorrected. At last follow-up, the overall recurrence rate was 6.9%, with a mean time from surgery to recurrence of 20.5 months. There were no complications encountered.

Conclusions

The modified everting suture procedure is a safe, effective, quick and relatively easy procedure for selected patients with mild to moderate epiblepharon, who are undergoing general anaesthesia for surgical correction of their coexisting ophthalmic conditions.
Clinical features and visual outcomes of 111 patients with new-onset acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease treated with pulse intravenous corticosteroids
Authors: Nakayama Makiko , Keino Hiroshi , Watanabe Takayo , Okada Annabelle A
Published: April 2018

Purpose

To describe the clinical features, treatment and visual outcomes of Japanese patients with new-onset acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

Methods

Clinical records of 111 patients who presented between 1999 and 2015 to the Ocular Inflammation Service of the Kyorin Eye Center, Tokyo, were reviewed.

Results

Of the 111 patients (68 women, 43 men), 16 had complete, 90 had incomplete and 5 had probable VKH disease. The median follow-up period was 36 months (4–175 months). The mean age at presentation was 41 years (19–74 years). Serous retinal detachment (202 eyes) and optic disc hyperaemia (89 eyes) were observed at presentation. Of the patients tested, 45/48 (93.8%) were human leucocyte antigen-DR4 positive and 63/77 (81.8%) had cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Initial corticosteroid treatment consisted of pulse intravenous therapy in all patients. Sunset glow fundus was observed in 49.5% of eyes, and anterior and/or posterior segment recurrence of inflammation was observed in 25 patients (22.5%). Treatment was transitioned to cyclosporine in 17 patients (15.3%) for steroid sparing (6 patients) or recurrent inflammation (11 patients), with good subsequent control. Ocular complications were observed in 47 of 222 eyes (21.2%) (mostly cataract), and systemic complications were observed in 8.1% of patients (mostly hypertension and diabetes mellitus). Ninety-three percent of eyes (167 of 178 eyes) had a visual acuity of ≥1.0 at 1 year after presentation.

Conclusions

An aggressive corticosteroid treatment strategy in a large number of patients with new-onset acute VKH disease, with transitioning to cyclosporine in selected cases, resulted in excellent visual outcomes and low rates of recurrence.
Doctors on the move: a European case study on the key characteristics of national recertification systems
Authors: Sehlbach Carolin , Govaerts Marjan J , Mitchell Sharon , Rohde Gernot G U , Smeenk Frank W J M , Driessen Erik W
Published: April 2018

Objectives

With increased cross-border movement, ensuring safe and high-quality healthcare has gained primacy. The purpose of recertification is to ensure quality of care through periodically attesting doctors’ professional proficiency in their field. Professional migration and facilitated cross-border recognition of qualifications, however, make us question the fitness of national policies for safeguarding patient care and the international accountability of doctors.

Design and setting

We performed document analyses and conducted 19 semistructured interviews to identify and describe key characteristics and effective components of 10 different European recertification systems, each representing one case (collective case study). We subsequently compared these systems to explore similarities and differences in terms of assessment criteria used to determine process quality.

Results

Great variety existed between countries in terms and assessment formats used, targeting cognition, competence and performance (Miller’s assessment pyramid). Recertification procedures and requirements also varied significantly, ranging from voluntary participation in professional development modules to the mandatory collection of multiple performance data in a competency-based portfolio. Knowledge assessment was fundamental to recertification in most countries. Another difference concerned the stakeholders involved in the recertification process: while some systems exclusively relied on doctors’ self-assessment, others involved multiple stakeholders but rarely included patients in assessment of doctors’ professional competence. Differences between systems partly reflected different goals and primary purposes of recertification.

Conclusion

Recertification systems differ substantially internationally with regard to the criteria they apply to assess doctors’ competence, their aims, requirements, assessment formats and patient involvement. In the light of professional mobility and associated demands for accountability, we recommend that competence assessment includes patients’ perspectives, and recertification practices be shared internationally to enhance transparency. This can help facilitate cross-border movement, while guaranteeing high-quality patient care.
Development of sustainable community paramedicine programmes: a case study in Pennsylvania
Authors: Huang Yuan-Han , Ma Linlin , Sabljak Luke A , Puhala Zachary A
Published: April 2018

Background

Community paramedicine (CP) models have been applied across rural and urban communities in support of healthcare delivery systems for nearly two decades. However, there is still insufficient information regarding the development of sustainable CP programmes. This study explores the strategies used by active CP programmes and investigates their operational statuses, community demographics, financial models and challenges for programme development.

Methods

A series of interviews was conducted with four CP programmes in Pennsylvania, USA, which are affiliated with a local government, a health system, an ambulance service and an emergency medical service, respectively. Each CP programme uses its own model with unique goals, as well as providing corresponding services/care based on the demands from their communities.

Results

Three CP programmes in the study were mainly aimed at reducing healthcare resource utilisation (ie, reduce readmissions or ED utilisation), but one of the programmes developed a sustainable model aiding newborn care in the community. Establishing a solid reimbursement mechanism and working closely with collaborators are two major strategies for developing sustainable CP programmes. Complete data collection and a programme evaluation process will also be important to demonstrate the value of its CP models to potential collaborators and policy-makers. However, the cost-effectiveness of a CP model is still not easy to identify due to the separate programmes being developed without uniform goals.

Conclusion

The challenges and solutions from the four programmes under study can provide a road map for the development of CP programmes for other communities.
Causes of death in a contemporary adult congenital heart disease cohort
Authors: Yu Christopher , Moore Benjamin M , Kotchetkova Irina , Cordina Rachael L , Celermajer David S
Published: April 2018

Objective

The life expectancy of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) has significantly improved with advances in their paediatric medical care. Mortality patterns are changing as a result. Our study aims to describe survival and causes of death in a contemporary cohort of adult patients with CHD.

Methods

We reviewed 3068 patients in our adult CHD database (age ≥16 years, seen at least once in our centre between 2000 and 2015), and documented the number and causes of death, via Australia’s National Death Index. Survival and mortality patterns were analysed by complexity of CHD and by underlying congenital diagnosis.

Results

Our cohort comprised 3068 adult patients (53% male). The distribution of patients (per the Bethesda classification) was 47% simple, 34% moderate and 18% complex (1% not classifiable). Over a median follow-up of 6.2 years (IQR 3.5–10.4), 341 patients (11%) died with an incidence of 0.4 deaths/100 patient years (py). Survival was significantly worse with increasing complexity of CHD (p<0.001); mortality rate in the simple group was 0.3 deaths/100 py with a median age of death 70 years, and in the complex group was 1.0 death/100 py with a median age of death 34 years. Overall, non-cardiac causes of death outnumbered cardiac causes, at 54% and 46%, respectively. The leading single cause of death was heart failure (17%), followed by malignancy (13%). Simple adult CHD patients mostly died due to non-cardiac causes such as malignancy. Perioperative mortality only accounted for 5% of deaths.

Conclusions

Premature death is common in adults with CHD. Although heart failure remains the most common cause of death, in the contemporary era in a specialist CHD centre, non-cardiac related deaths outnumber cardiac deaths, particularly in those with simple CHD lesions.
Causal associations between body mass index and mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: van den Broek Nina , Treur Jorien L , Larsen Junilla K , Verhagen Maaike , Verweij Karin J H , Vink Jacqueline M
Published: April 2018

Background

Body mass index (BMI) is correlated negatively with subjective well-being and positively with depressive symptoms. Whether these associations reflect causal effects is unclear.

Methods

We examined bidirectional, causal effects between BMI and mental health with Mendelian randomisation using summary-level data from published genome-wide association studies (BMI: n=339 224; subjective well-being: n=204 966; depressive symptoms: n=161 460). Genetic variants robustly related to the exposure variable acted as instrumental variable to estimate causal effects. We combined estimates of individual genetic variants with inverse-variance weighted meta-analysis, weighted median regression and MR-Egger regression.

Results

There was evidence for a causal, increasing effect of BMI on depressive symptoms and suggestive evidence for a decreasing effect of BMI on subjective well-being. We found no evidence for causality in the other direction.

Conclusion

This study provides support for a higher BMI causing poorer mental health. Further research should corroborate these findings and explore mechanisms underlying this potential causality.
Split hand muscle echo intensity index as a reliable imaging marker for differential diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Seok Hung Youl , Park Jinseok , Kim Yoo Hwan , Oh Ki-Wook , Kim Seung Hyun , Kim Byung-Jo
Published: April 2018

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of muscle ultrasound in evaluating dissociated small hand muscle atrophy, termed ‘split hand’, and its feasibility in the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods

Forty-four patients with ALS, 18 normal subjects and 9 patients with other neuromuscular disorders were included in this study. The hand muscles were divided into three regions, the median-innervated lateral hand muscle group (ML), the ulnar-innervated lateral hand muscle (UL) and the ulnar-innervated medial hand muscle (UM), and the muscle echo intensity (EI) and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) were measured. We calculated the split hand index (SHI) using muscle EI (SHImEI) and CMAP (SHICMAP) for comparison among groups. The SHI was derived by dividing muscle EI (or CMAP) measured at the ML and UL by that measured at the UM.

Results

The SHImEI was significantly higher in patients with ALS (51.7±28.3) than in normal controls (29.7±9.9) and disease controls with other neuromuscular disorders (36.5±7.3; P<0.001), particularly in upper limb-onset ALS (66.5±34.0; P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the SHImEI had significantly better diagnostic accuracy than the SHICMAP.

Conclusions

The SHImEI was more sensitive in evaluating dissociated small hand muscle atrophy compared with the SHICMAP and may be a reliable diagnostic marker for differentiating ALS from other neuromuscular disorders and healthy controls.
‘We have a rich heritage and, we believe, a bright future’: how transnational tobacco companies are using Twitter to oppose policy and shape their public identity
Authors: Watts Christina , Hefler Marita , Freeman Becky
Published: April 2018

Background

The tobacco industry has a long history of opposing tobacco control policy and promoting socially responsible business practices. With the rise of social media platforms, like Twitter, the tobacco industry is enabled to readily and easily communicate these messages.

Methods

All tweets published by the primary corporate Twitter accounts of British American Tobacco (BAT), Imperial Brands PLC (Imperial), Philip Morris International (PMI) and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) were downloaded in May 2017 and manually coded under 30 topic categories.

Results

A total of 3301 tweets across the four accounts were analysed. Overall, the most prominent categories of tweets were topics that opposed or critiqued tobacco control policies (36.3% of BAT’s tweets, 35.1% of Imperial’s tweets, 34.0% of JTI’s tweets and 9.6% of PMI’s tweets). All companies consistently tweeted to promote an image of being socially and environmentally responsible. Tweets of this nature comprised 29.1% of PMI’s tweets, 20.9% of JTI’s tweets, 18.4% of Imperial’s tweets and 18.4% of BAT’s tweets. BAT, Imperial, JTI and PMI also frequently used Twitter to advertise career opportunities, highlight employee benefits, promote positive working environments and bring attention to awards and certifications that the company had received (11.6%, 11.1%, 19.3% and 45.7% of the total tweets published by each account, respectively).

Conclusions

Transnational tobacco companies are using Twitter to oppose tobacco control policy and shape their public identity by promoting corporate social responsibility initiatives in violation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Regulation of the tobacco industry’s global online activities is required.
Characterization of western spruce budworm outbreak regions in the British Columbia Interior
Authors: Maclauchlan Lorraine E. , Daniels Lori D. , Hodge Janice C. , Brooks Julie E.
Published: April 2018

The western spruce budworm (WSB; Choristoneura freemani Razowski) shapes Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) forests throughout western North America with periodic, severe landscape-level defoliation events. The largest and most continuous recorded defoliation occurred in the 2000s, largely centered in the Williams Lake and 100 Mile House WSB outbreak regions, peaking in 2007 at 847 000 ha defoliated in British Columbia (B.C.). Unique WSB outbreak regions in south-central B.C. are described using biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification, geography, 106 years of documented defoliation, and 46 stand-level Douglas-fir host tree-ring chronologies. Since the 1980s, recorded defoliation in B.C. has shifted from coastal ecosystems and become a dominant disturbance in drier, colder, interior Douglas-fir ecosystems. Defoliation records demarcate four outbreaks from 1950–2012 and up to three growth suppression events from 1937–2012. Outbreak duration was shorter in the north and far south of B.C., with recovery periods (no trees showing growth suppression) shorter over all WSB outbreak regions in the 2000s, suggesting that trees may be increasingly susceptible to each successive defoliation event. Knowing the regional outbreak periodicity may facilitate early detection of incipient WSB populations, which is critical for management as many of our low-elevation Douglas-fir forests become more stressed with changing and unpredictable climate regimes.
Concircular vector fields on Lorentzian manifold of Bianchi type-I spacetimes
Authors: Mahmood Amjad , Ali Ahmad T. , Khan Suhail
Published: April 2018

Our aim in this paper is to obtain concircular vector fields (CVFs) on the Lorentzian manifold of Bianchi type-I spacetimes. For this purpose, two different sets of coupled partial differential equations comprising ten equations each are obtained. The first ten equations, known as conformal Killing equations are solved completely and components of conformal Killing vector fields (CKVFs) are obtained in different possible cases. These CKVFs are then substituted into second set of ten differential equations to obtain CVFs. It comes out that Bianchi type-I spacetimes admit four-, five-, six-, seven- or 15-dimensional CVFs for particular choices of the metric functions. In many cases, the CKVFs of a particular metric are same as CVFs while there exists few cases where proper CKVFs are not CVFs.
Higher-dimensional gravitational collapse of perfect fluid spherically symmetric spacetime in f(R, T) gravity
Authors: Khan Suhail , Khan Muhammad Shoaib , Ali Amjad
Published: April 2018

In this paper, our aim is to study (n + 2)-dimensional collapse of perfect fluid spherically symmetric spacetime in the context of f(R, T) gravity. The matching conditions are acquired by considering a spherically symmetric non-static (n + 2)-dimensional metric in the inner region and Schwarzschild (n + 2)-dimensional metric in the outer region of the star. To solve the field equations for above settings in f(R, T) gravity, we choose the stress–energy tensor trace and the Ricci scalar as constants. It is observed that two physical horizons, namely, cosmological and black hole horizons appear as a consequence of this collapse. A singularity is also formed after the birth of both the horizons. It is also observed that the term f(R0, T0) slows down the collapsing process.
Stochastic partial differential equations driven by space-time fractional noises
Authors: Hu Ying , Jiang Yiming , Qian Zhongmin
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we study a class of stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) driven by space-time fractional noises. Our method consists in studying at first the non-local SPDEs and thereafter showing the convergence of the family of these equations. The limit gives the solution of the SPDE.
Lower Triassic reservoir development in the northern Dutch offshore
Authors: Kortekaas M. , Böker U. , van der Kooij C. , Jaarsma B.
Published: April 2018

Sandstones of the Main Buntsandstein Subgroup represent a key element of the well-established Lower Triassic hydrocarbon play in the southern North Sea area. Mixed aeolian and fluvial sediments of the Lower Volpriehausen and Detfurth Sandstone members form the main reservoir rock, sealed by the Solling Claystone and/or Röt Salt. It is generally perceived that reservoir presence and quality decrease towards the north and that the prospectivity of the Main Buntsandstein play in the northern Dutch offshore is therefore limited. Lack of access to hydrocarbon charge from the underlying Carboniferous sediments as a result of the thick Zechstein salt is often identified as an additional risk for this play. Consequently, only a few wells have tested Triassic reservoir and therefore this part of the basin remains under-explored. Seismic interpretation of the Lower Volpriehausen Sandstone Member was conducted and several untested Triassic structures are identified. A comprehensive, regional well analysis suggests the presence of reservoir sands north of the main fairway. The lithologic character and stratigraphic extent of these northern Triassic deposits may suggest an alternative reservoir provenance in the marginal Step Graben system. Fluvial sands with (local) northern provenance may have been preserved in the NW area of the Step Graben system, as seismic interpretation indicates the development of a local depocentre during the Early Triassic. These insights help to improve the chance of finding Lower Buntsandstein reservoir rocks in the northern Dutch offshore.
The impact of heterogeneity on waterflood developments in clastic inner shelf reservoirs: an example from the Holland Greensand Member, Rotterdam Field, The Netherlands
Authors: Porter Richard J. , Rojas Alberto Muñoz , Schlüter Malte
Published: April 2018

A geological understanding of the way fluids flow through a reservoir is crucial when considering waterflood developments in heterogeneous reservoirs. Recent integrated production geoscience and reservoir engineering studies on the Holland Greensand oil reservoir (Aptian) of the Rotterdam Field in the West Netherlands Basin, are used to illustrate the geological controls on fluid flow through rocks deposited in a clastic inner shelf depositional setting. An integrated understanding of the subsurface has been gained through core, log and production data analysis. Analogous Early Cretaceous Upper Greensand Formation coastal exposures in SW England have been used to gauge the scale of lateral and vertical heterogeneity, and its impact on hydrocarbon and water flow paths. Argillaceous sandstones deposited at the distal margins of a subtidal sand-sheet provide internal reservoir baffles, while fluids are believed to preferentially follow flow paths through associated laterally extensive tempestites. Cemented layers observable in wells are interpreted to be laterally restricted and are not considered as major baffles. These observations have been used to steer static reservoir model construction and subsequent simulation. Results from field testing by production logging tool analysis support the geological concepts developed and the modelling approach used. This work has important implications for defining the approach for future reservoir management and redevelopment in the Rotterdam Field, in particular the well type and configuration and completion strategies post-reservoir flooding. The application of methodologies employed in this study is recommended for similar waterflood developments.
Influence of inherited Indian basement faults on the evolution of the Himalayan Orogen
Authors: Godin Laurent , Soucy La Roche Renaud , Waffle Lindsay , Harris Lyal B.
Published: April 2018

Indian basement faults, which bound three orogen-perpendicular palaeotopographic ridges of Precambrian Indian basement south of the Himalaya, extend to the base of the Indian lithosphere and to the northern extent of the Indian lithosphere underneath Tibet. In the eastern Himalaya, the active orogen-perpendicular Yadong–Gulu graben is aligned with an earthquake-generating strike-slip fault in the high Himalaya. We argue that the graben results from crustal necking during reactivation of the underplated basement fault. In the central Himalaya, along-strike diachronous deformation and metamorphism within the Himalayan metamorphic core, as well as lateral ramps in the foreland thrust belt, spatially correspond to the Lucknow and Pokhara lineaments that bound the subsurface Faizabad Ridge in the Indian basement. Analogue centrifuge modelling confirms that offset along such deep-seated basement faults can affect the location, orientation and type of structures developed at various stages of orogenesis and suggests that it is mechanically feasible for strain to propagate through a melt-weakened mid-crust. We suggest that inherited Indian basement faults affect the ramp-flat geometry of the basal Main Himalayan Thrust, partition the Himalayan range into distinct zones, localize east–west extension resulting in the Tibetan graben and, ultimately, contribute to lateral variability in tectonic evolution along the orogen's strike.
Correlation between Traditional Chinese Medicine Symptom Patterns and the Renal Function, Immunologic Function Index, and Blood Coagulation Index in Patients with Henoch‐Schönlein Purpura Nephritis
Authors: Dang Wanyu , Yan Huimin , Wu Xiaoming , Zhen Xiaofang , Hou Linyi
Published: April 2018

Objective. We investigate the correlation between the patterns of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes and the damage of renal function, immunologic function index, and blood coagulation index in patients with Henoch‐Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) and thus provide the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbs decoction on HSPN. Methods. We studied 262 hospitalized patients diagnosed with HSPN between 1 February 2016 and 1 January 2017. Indexes like renal function, immunologic function, and blood coagulation were measured. The patients were classified into four different patterns of TCM symptoms. Results. In a total of 262 patients with HSPN, dampness‐heat accumulation accounted for 59.5%, which is the highest proportion of TCM symptom patterns, liver‐kidney yin deficiency accounted for 17.6%, qi and yin deficiency ratio reached 12.6%, and blood‐heat bleeding accounted for 9.9%. 24‐hour proteinuria was heavier in the dampness‐heat accumulation patients who had immune disorders and were in hypercoagulative state and hyperfibrinolysis conditions. Conclusion. We analyzed and summarized the clinical characteristics of patients with HSPN and found that dampness‐heat accumulation was dominant in patients and was always accompanied by immune disorders and coagulation disorders. These results provided the largest therapeutic effects of Chinese herbs decoction for clinical treatment.
Simulation Analysis and Experimental Study on Strength Optimization of a Plug‐In Oil Hose Joint
Authors: Chen Chang , Guo Jikun , Zhang Shifu , Zhang Qixin , Zhang Dongmei , Niu Yongjie , Sun Hao
Published: April 2018

A plug‐in oil hose joint is used as the research object in this study. Aimed at the problem of pipeline breakage due to insufficient strength of the joint during the process of oil transportation on the sea, a three‐dimensional geometric model of the joint is constructed according to the structural characteristics of the plug‐in joint. The mechanical properties of the plug‐in hose joint were studied by numerical simulations and field experiments. The strength of the joint was optimized by applying materials with different properties and adjusting the circular angle of the joint. The tensile strength test results of the plug‐in oil hose joint are consistent with the theoretical analysis, which shows that the method proposed in this paper can effectively improve the tensile strength of the oil hose joint. It is of great significance to expand the scope of the plug‐in connector and ensure the safe and stable use of the hose system.
Large-Scale Analysis of Remote Code Injection Attacks in Android Apps
Authors: Choi Hyunwoo , Kim Yongdae
Published: April 2018

It is pretty well known that insecure code updating procedures for Android allow remote code injection attack. However, other than codes, there are many resources in Android that have to be updated, such as temporary files, images, databases, and configurations (XML and JSON). Security of update procedures for these resources is largely unknown. This paper investigates general conditions for remote code injection attacks on these resources. Using this, we design and implement a static detection tool that automatically identifies apps that meet these conditions. We apply the detection tool to a large dataset comprising 9,054 apps, from three different types of datasets: official market, third-party market, and preinstalled apps. As a result, 97 apps were found to be potentially vulnerable, with 53 confirmed as vulnerable to remote code injection attacks.