bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceived Body Distortion Rather Than Actual Body Distortion Is Associated With Chronic Low Back Pain in Adults With Cerebral Palsy: A Preliminary Investigation
Authors: Yamashita Hirofumi , Nishigami Tomohiko , Mibu Akira , Tanaka Katsuyoshi , Manfuku Masahiro , Fukuhara Hikaru , Yoshino Koichi , Seto Yoichi , Wand Benedict M.
Published: July 2019

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether distorted body perception is a feature of the low back pain (LBP) experience in people with cerebral palsy (CP) and whether any distortions noted are confounded by the presence of motor and postural impairments commonly seen in CP.

Methods

Forty‐five individuals participated in this study: 15 adults with CP with LBP (CP_Pain group), 15 adults with CP without LBP (CP_noPain group), and 15 age‐matched adults with LBP but no CP (Pain group). Body perception was evaluated using the Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire (FreBAQ) and by assessing 2‐point discrimination thresholds over the low back. A comprehensive assessment of motor function was also undertaken in the CP population, and postural function was assessed in all 3 groups.

Results

Significant differences between the 3 groups were found for FreBAQ scores (P < 0.0001). The TPD threshold in the low back of the CP_Pain group was significantly larger than that of the CP_noPain group (P = 0.01), though we found no difference between the CP_noPain group and the Pain group (P = 0.21). We found no difference in motor or postural function between the 2 CP groups.

Discussion

The present results suggest that body image is disrupted in people with CP who experience LBP. The disruptions in perception were similar to those seen in people with LBP and no CP, suggesting that the distortions may be more related to the presence of pain than the presence of CP.
Clinical presentation and outcome in congenital pulmonary malformation: 25 year retrospective study in Thailand
Authors: Maneenil Gunlawadee , Ruangnapa Kanokpan , Thatrimontrichai Anucha , Janjindamai Waricha , Dissaneevate Supaporn , Anantaseree Wanaporn , Suntornlohanakul Somchai
Published: July 2019

Background

Congenital pulmonary malformations (CPM) are a group of rare abnormal lung development lesions that can have various presentations. The aim of this study was to define the differences in the clinical presentations of CPM in neonates, infants, and children, and to review the outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in southern Thailand between 1992 and 2016.

Results

Fifty‐four patients were diagnosed with CPM, and the median age at onset was 1.7 months (IQR, 0.03–10 months). There were 33 cases (61.1%) of congenital pulmonary airway malformations, two (3.7%) of bronchogenic cyst, eight of (14.8%) congenital lobar emphysema, seven of (13.0%) pulmonary sequestrations, and four of (7.4%) congenital lung cysts. Twenty patients under 1 month old and 16 patients who were 1–12 months old had symptoms of respiratory distress. In contrast, 13 patients >1 year old had symptoms of pulmonary infection. There were significant differences in the numbers of patients who had cyanosis (P = 0.006), cough (P < 0.001), and fever (P < 0.001) between the three age groups. Thirty‐eight patients (70%) required surgical treatment involving lobectomy (78.9%). Median follow‐up duration was 28.1 months (IQR, 3.7–9.4 months). Nine of 10 patients had abnormal lung function tests, and 80.6% of patients had no subsequent limitations in physical activities.

Conclusions

Respiratory distress is the important clinical feature in neonates and infants, whereas the signs of pulmonary infection usually occur in children >1 year old. Good outcomes usually occur after surgery but need long‐term follow up including lung function assessment.
Interactions of age of acquisition and lexical frequency effects with phonological regularity: An ERP study
Authors: Yum Yen Na , Law Sam‐Po
Published: July 2019

Across languages, lexical frequency and age of acquisition (AoA) are important predictors of word reading that are naturally correlated, and both variables have been shown to interact with phonological regularity. Previous behavioral findings in Chinese have shown stronger regularity effects in low frequency relative to high frequency characters. Meanwhile, the arbitrary mapping hypothesis predicts stronger interference effects in late‐acquired irregular words. This study examined the neural bases of these phenomena in Chinese using a delayed naming task with 480 single characters. Single‐trial ERP analyses were conducted to contrast the interactions of frequency or AoA effects with phonological regularity, while controlling for the other factor. Results showed differential and significant effects of AoA and frequency at the N400 and late positive component (LPC), respectively, indicating their independence. ERP interaction patterns of frequency and regularity in Chinese were observed for the first time in the LPC time window and suggested semantic interference from sublexical units during character reading. Interaction of AoA and regularity at the N400 could be explained by the semantic hypothesis but appeared inconsistent with the arbitrary mapping hypothesis.
Dirty hands on troubled waters: Sanitation, access to water and child health in Ethiopia
Authors: Manalew Wondimu S. , Tennekoon Vidhura S.
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we investigate the impact of access to drinking water sources and sanitation facilities on the incidence of diarrheal diseases among children below 5 years of age in Ethiopia using the propensity score matching technique with a polychotomous treatment variable. We find that among the water sources traditionally considered as improved, only water piped into dwelling, yard or plot leads to a large percentage point reduction in diarrhea incidence. The other water sources, generally believed as clean, are not effective in reducing diarrhea even compared with some of the unimproved water sources. We also find that some unimproved water sources and sanitation facilities are less inferior than they are believed to be. These results suggest that the traditional way of categorizing different types of improved and unimproved water sources and sanitation facilities into a dichotomous variable, “improved” or “unimproved”, could be misleading as it masks the heterogeneous effects of the water sources and the sanitation facilities.
Adjusting Trial Results for Biases in Meta-Analysis: Combining Data-Based Evidence on Bias With Detailed Trial Assessment
Authors: Rhodes K. M. , Savović J. , Elbers R. , Jones H. E. , Higgins J. P. T. , Sterne J. A. C. , Welton N. J. , Turner R. M.
Published: July 2019

Flaws in the conduct of randomized trials can lead to biased estimation of the intervention effect. Methods for adjustment of within-trial biases in meta-analysis include the use of empirical evidence from an external collection of meta-analyses, and the use of expert opinion informed by the assessment of detailed trial information. Our aim is to present methods to combine these two approaches to gain the advantages of both. We make use of the risk of bias information that is routinely available in Cochrane reviews, by obtaining empirical distributions for the bias associated with particular bias profiles (combinations of risk of bias judgements). We propose three methods: a formal combination of empirical evidence and opinion in a Bayesian analysis; asking experts to give an opinion on bias informed by both summary trial information and a bias distribution from the empirical evidence, either numerically or by selecting areas of the empirical distribution. The methods are demonstrated through application to two example binary outcome meta-analyses. Bias distributions based on opinion informed by trial information alone were most dispersed on average, and those based on opinions obtained by selecting areas of the empirical distribution were narrowest. Although the three methods for combining empirical evidence with opinion vary in ease and speed of implementation, they yielded similar results in the two examples.
Practising post‐humanism in geographical research
Authors: Williams Nina , Patchett Merle , Lapworth Andrew , Roberts Tom , Keating Thomas
Published: July 2019

Post‐humanist theories shaping contemporary geographic research have unsettled the privileged position of the “human” as a common reference to apprehend social life. This decentring of the human demands that we rethink our expectations of, and approaches to, methodological practice and the traditional distinctions made between the theoretical and the empirical. In this introduction and the following interventions, we explore how a material situatedness and attention to nonhuman agencies within post‐humanist thought complement and extend existing methodological innovations within human geography. We do so with reference to a series of Masters workshops – a somewhat overlooked space of research‐creation – each of which explored the implications of post‐humanism on methodological practice. The introduction concludes with three key tenets that were followed in each of the individual workshops, and which set out an ethos for practising post‐humanism more broadly.
Imaging
Authors: Keating Thomas P.
Published: July 2019

This piece intervenes by developing an understanding of the nonhuman power of images. It does so by attending to a different style of thought for approaching images and imaging practices: that is, as something composed of and open to a much wider ecology of experience. Engaging with a recent geographical concern with the affective power of images, it argues for the need to affirm in imaging a specific intensive power to defamiliarise human‐centred frames of thought used to think about the active powers of images.
Lipidating a ubiquitin ligase
Authors: Williams Erin R.
Published: July 2019

A previously undescribed enzyme promotes lipidation of a ubiquitin ligase that regulates PI3K and Ca
2+
signaling.
In Vitro
Activity of Imipenem-Relebactam Alone or in Combination with Amikacin or Colistin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Asempa Tomefa E. , Nicolau David P. , Kuti Joseph L.
Published: July 2019

Relebactam is a novel class A/C β-lactamase inhibitor that restores imipenem
in vitro
activity against multidrug-resistant and carbapenem-nonsusceptible
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Time-kill analyses were performed to evaluate the potential role of imipenem-relebactam in combination with amikacin or colistin against
P. aeruginosa
. Ten clinical
P. aeruginosa
isolates (9 imipenem nonsusceptible) with imipenem-relebactam MICs ranging from 1/4 to 8/4 μg/ml were included.
Complete Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus aureus Siphophage Lorac
Authors: Marc Antoine , Cater Katie , Kongari Rohit , Hatoum-Aslan Asma , Young Ryland F. , Liu Mei
Published: July 2019

Staphylococcus aureusis a leading cause of a wide range of clinical infections. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence ofS. aureussiphophage Lorac, a phiETA-like temperate phage that is similar at the nucleotide level to the previously describedS. aureusprophage phiNM2.
Draft Genome Sequences of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Strains Recovered from a Major Production Region for Leafy Greens in California
Authors: Quiñones Beatriz , Yambao Jaszemyn C. , Silva Christopher J. , Lee Bertram G.
Published: July 2019

Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen and is responsible for outbreaks of human gastroenteritis. This report documents the draft genome sequences of nine O157:H7 cattle strains, which were identified to be PCR positive for a Shiga toxin gene but displayed different levels of functional toxin activity.
Complete Genome Sequence of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Siphophage LL5
Authors: Piya Denish , Lessor Lauren , Liu Mei , Gill Jason J.
Published: July 2019

Here, we describe the complete genome sequence of siphophage LL5. LL5 is a T1-like phage isolated against enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
, which causes traveler’s diarrhea. LL5 is included as a component phage in the commercial prebiotic product PreforPro.
Identification of Mutations in the
mrdA
Gene Encoding PBP2 That Reduce Carbapenem and Diazabicyclooctane Susceptibility of Escherichia coli Clinical Isolates with Mutations in
ftsI
(PBP3) and Which Carry
bla
NDM-1
Authors: Ranjitkar Srijan , Reck Folkert , Ke Xiaobo , Zhu Qingming , McEnroe Glenn , Lopez Sara L. , Dean Charles R.
Published: July 2019

Emerging antibacterial resistance is a consequence of the continued use of our current antibacterial therapies, and it is limiting their utility, especially for infections caused by multidrug-resistant isolates. β-Lactams have enjoyed extensive clinical success, but their broad usage is linked to perhaps the most extensive and progressive example of resistance development for any antibacterial scaffold. In Gram-negative pathogens, this largely involves constant evolution of new β-lactamases able to degrade successive generations of this scaffold. In addition, more recently, alterations in the targets of these compounds, penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), are being described in clinical isolates, which often also have multiple β-lactamases. This study underscores the multifactorial nature of β-lactam resistance by uncovering alterations of PBP2 that reduce susceptibility to carbapenems in
E. coli
clinical isolates that also have alterations of PBP3 and express the NDM-1 β-lactamase. The changes in PBP2 also reduced susceptibility to the intrinsic antibacterial activity of some diazabicyclooctane (DBO) compounds that can target PBP2. This may have implications for the development and use of the members of this relatively newer scaffold that are inhibitors of PBP2 in addition to their inhibition of serine-β-lactamases.
Metastatic plasmacytoid bladder cancer causing malignant priapism
Authors: Pereira Ryan , Perera Marlon , Rhee Handoo
Published: July 2019

An 81-year-old man presented to medical services with pelvic pain and evolving urinary retention over 3 months. The patient was found to have a tense glans and penile shaft with surrounding induration consistent with malignant priapism. The extent of the induration included the suprapubic region, scrotum, left iliac region and left flank. A CT scan demonstrated an enhancing, pedunculated lesion arising from the anterior bladder wall measuring 30×31×20 mm. There were multiple enlarged left inguinal lymph nodes. Core biopsies of the subcutaneous tissue on the anterior abdominal wall demonstrated plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma. The majority of patients with plasmacytoid variant of transitional cell carcinoma will present with>stage 3 bladder disease
Multiple xanthogranulomas in an adult patient: clinical, dermoscopic, reflectance confocal microscopy and histopathological features
Authors: Lacarrubba Francesco , Verzì Anna Elisa , Barresi Sebastiano , Micali Giuseppe
Published: July 2019

A case of multiple xanthogranulomas located bilaterally on arms, armpits, legs, trunk, abdomen, scalp, neck and plantar surfaces in a 25-year-old man is reported. The patient was evaluated by polarised light dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) that showed peculiar aspects. In particular, dermoscopy showed a homogeneous orange-yellowish hue that is related to the histopathological presence of foamy histiocytes and Touton giant cells; the last typically appeared at RCM as peculiar giant cells surrounded by highly refractive ring due to the cytoplasm rich of lipids. Laboratory investigations, including routine haematological examination, liver and renal function tests, serum lipid and sugar levels were normal. The patient started isotretinoin 20 mg once daily. After 6 months, some lesions flattened, leading to yellowish or hyperpigmented macules, but new lesions raised up.
Renal stone composed of ritonavir
Authors: Zhao Anna M , Angoff Nancy R
Published: July 2019

Nephrolithiasis is a well-known side effect of many HIV protease inhibitors. However, there have not been reports of stones associated with ritonavir use. Here, we report the case of a 33-year-old woman with HIV on antiretroviral therapy who presented with sharp left flank pain and passed a stone that was later found to contain only ritonavir. Of note, the patient’s treatment regimen had not included ritonavir for 2 years prior to this incidence. This case is notable both for the novel finding of a renal calculus composed entirely of ritonavir and the development of nephrolithiasis years after cessation of the aggravating drug. This finding suggests that patients on ritonavir should be more closely monitored and for longer periods of time for potential lithiasis formation.
Characterisation of microvascular abnormalities using OCT angiography in patients with biallelic variants in USH2A and MYO7A
Authors: Hagag Ahmed M , Mitsios Andreas , Gill Jasdeep S , Nunez Do Rio Joan M , Theofylaktopoulos Vasileios , Houston Sarah , Webster Andrew R , Dubis Adam M , Moosajee Mariya
Published: July 2019

Aims

Using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to characterise microvascular changes in the retinal plexuses and choriocapillaris (CC) of patients with MYO7A and USH2A mutations and correlate with genotype, retinal structure and function.

Methods

Twenty-seven patients with molecularly confirmed USH2A (n=21) and MYO7A (n=6) mutations underwent macular 6×6 mm OCTA using the AngioVue. Heidelberg spectral-domain OCT scans and MAIA microperimetry were also performed, the preserved ellipsoid zone (EZ) band width and mean macular sensitivity (MS) were recorded. OCTA of the inner retina, superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and CC were analysed. Vessel density (VD) was calculated from the en face OCT angiograms of retinal circulation.

Results

Forty-eight eyes with either USH2A (n=37, mean age: 34.4±12.2 years) or MYO7A (n=11, mean age: 37.1±12.4 years), and 35 eyes from 18 age-matched healthy participants were included. VD was significantly decreased in the retinal circulation of patients with USH2A and MYO7A mutations compared with controls (p<0.001). Changes were observed in both the SCP and DCP, but no differences in retinal perfusion were detected between USH2A and MYO7A groups. No vascular defects were detected in CC of the USH2A group, but peripheral defects were detected in older MYO7A patients from the fourth decade of life. VD in the DCP showed strong association with MS and EZ width (Spearman’s rho =0.64 and 0.59, respectively, p<0.001).

Conclusion

OCTA was able to detect similar retinal microvascular changes in patients with USH2A and MYO7A mutations. The CC was generally affected in MYO7A mutations. OCT angiography may further enhance our understanding of inherited eye diseases and their phenotype-genotype associations.
Is enrolment in the national health insurance scheme in Ghana pro-poor? Evidence from the Ghana Living Standards Survey
Authors: Nsiah-Boateng Eric , Prah Ruger Jennifer , Nonvignon Justice
Published: July 2019

Objectives

This article examines equity in enrolment in the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to inform policy decisions on progress towards realisation of universal health coverage (UHC).

Design

Secondary analysis of data from the sixth round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 6).

Setting

Household based.

Participants

A total of 16 774 household heads participated in the GLSS 6 which was conducted between 18 October 2012 and 17 October 2013.

Analysis

Equity in enrolment was assessed using concentration curves and bivariate and multivariate analyses to determine associated factors.

Main outcome measure

Equity in NHIS enrolment.

Results

Survey participants had a mean age of 46 years and mean household size of four persons. About 71% of households interviewed had at least one person enrolled in the NHIS. Households in the poorest wealth quintile (73%) had enrolled significantly (p<0.001) more than those in the richest quintile (67%). The concentration curves further showed that enrolment was slightly disproportionally concentrated among poor households, particularly those headed by males. However, multivariate logistic analyses showed that the likelihood of NHIS enrolment increased from poorer to richest quintile, low to high level of education and young adults to older adults. Other factors including sex, household size, household setting and geographic region were significantly associated with enrolment.

Conclusions

From 2012 to 2013, enrolment in the NHIS was higher among poor households, particularly male-headed households, although multivariate analyses demonstrated that the likelihood of NHIS enrolment increased from poorer to richest quintile and from low to high level of education. Policy-makers need to ensure equity within and across gender as they strive to achieve UHC.
Monitoring epidemiological trends in back to school asthma among preschool and school-aged children using real-time syndromic surveillance in England, 2012–2016
Authors: Bundle Nick , Verlander Neville Q , Morbey Roger , Edeghere Obaghe , Balasegaram Sooria , de Lusignan Simon , Smith Gillian , Elliot Alex J
Published: July 2019

Background 

Back to school (BTS) asthma has been previously reported in children; however, its epidemiology and associated healthcare burden are unclear. We aimed to describe the timing and magnitude of BTS asthma using surveillance data from different health services in England.

Methods 

Asthma morbidity data from emergency department attendances and general practitioner (GP) consultations between April 2012 and December 2016 were used from national syndromic surveillance systems in England. Age-specific and sex-specific rates and time series of asthma peaks relative to school term dates were described. The timing of a BTS excess period and adjusted rates of asthma relative to a baseline period were estimated using cumulative sum control chart plots and negative binomial regression.

Results 

BTS asthma among children aged below 15 years was most pronounced at the start of the school year in September. This effect was not present among those aged 15 years and above. After controlling for sex and study year, the adjusted daily rate of childhood GP in-hours asthma consultations was 2.5–3 times higher in the BTS excess period, with a significantly higher effect among children aged 0–4 years. A distinct age-specific pattern of sex differences in asthma presentations was present, with a higher burden among males in children and among females aged over 15 years.

Conclusion

We found evidence of a BTS asthma peak in children using surveillance data across a range of healthcare systems, supporting the need for further preventative work to reduce the impact of BTS asthma in children.
Opioid-related diagnoses and HIV, HCV and mental disorders: using Pennsylvania hospitalisation data to assess community-level relationships over space and time
Authors: Sumetsky Natalie , Burke Jessica G , Mair Christina
Published: July 2019

Background

We assessed the community-level spatiotemporal connexions between hospitalisations for common opioid comorbidities (HIV, hepatitis C (HCV) and mental disorders) and opioid-related hospitalisations in the current and previous year.

Methods

We used Bayesian hierarchical spatiotemporal Poisson regression with conditionally autoregressive spatial effects to assess counts of HCV-related, HIV-related and mental disorder–related hospitalisations at the ZIP code level from 2004 to 2014 in Pennsylvania. Models included rates of current-year and previous-year opioid-related hospitalisations as well as covariates measuring demographic and environmental characteristics.

Results

After adjusting for measures of demographic and environmental characteristics, current-year and previous-year opioid-related hospitalisations were associated with higher risk of HCV, HIV and mental disorders. The relative risks and 95% credible intervals for previous-year opioid-related hospitalisations were 1.092 (1.078 to 1.106) for HCV, 1.098 (1.068 to 1.126) for HIV and 1.020 (1.013 to 1.027) for mental disorders.

Conclusion

Previous-year opioid-related hospitalisations are connected to common comorbid conditions such as HCV, HIV and mental disorders, illustrating some of the broader health-related impacts of the opioid epidemic. Public health interventions focused on the opioid epidemic must consider individual community needs and comorbid diagnoses.
Development and evaluation of a Lewis acid–base tutorial for use in postsecondary organic chemistry courses
Authors: Dood Amber J. , Fields Kimberly B. , Cruz-Ramírez de Arellano Daniel , Raker Jeffrey R.
Published: July 2019

A well-developed understanding of the Lewis acid–base model is highly important for the understanding of organic chemistry. As such, students should receive instruction and be assessed on use of the model. Online tutorials and constructed-response items provide a means for confirming that students have a well-developed conceptualization of the Lewis acid–base model. In a prior study, a predictive logistic regression model was presented that can be used with constructed-response assessment items to determine use of a Lewis acid–base model in written responses. In this study, we use that predictive model to evaluate the effectiveness of a tutorial designed to promote meaningful understanding of the Lewis acid–base model in three different instructional contexts: first-semester organic chemistry students before summative assessment, first-semester organic chemistry students after summative assessment, and second-semester organic chemistry students. Additionally, we evaluated the learning gains of one set of first-semester students after a 3-week time delay. McNemar’s test results suggest that the tutorial had a net positive impact in all three instructional contexts, with the most significant impact observed with the second-semester students. This work has implications for further development of literature-based tutorials to promote meaningful understanding of organic chemistry reaction mechanisms assessed by constructed-response items.
Recursive functions and existentially closed structures
Authors: Jeřábek Emil
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between various conditions implying essential undecidability: our main result is that there exists a theory [Formula: see text] in which all partially recursive functions are representable, yet [Formula: see text] does not interpret Robinson’s theory [Formula: see text]. To this end, we borrow tools from model theory — specifically, we investigate model-theoretic properties of the model completion of the empty theory in a language with function symbols. We obtain a certain characterization of [Formula: see text] theories interpretable in existential theories in the process.
Synthesis and properties of 5-aza-15-thiaporphyrins
Authors: Yamashita Daisuke , Omori Hiroto , Fukui Norihito , Shinokubo Hiroshi
Published: July 2019

We have successfully prepared 5-aza-15-thiaporphyrin through nucleophilic sulfination of nitrogen-bridged dibromobisdipyrrin with sodium sulfide. X-ray diffraction analysis elucidated its structure in the solid state: two dipyrrin subunits were roughly coplanar around the sp2-hybridized meso-nitrogen. In contrast, they adopted a folded conformation around the meso-sulfur atom. Due to its relatively distorted structure, 5-aza-15-thiaporphyrin shows weak antiaromaticity in the magnetic criteria. The sulfur atom was oxidized with [Formula: see text]-chloroperbenzoic acid to provide 5-aza-15-thiaporphyrin [Formula: see text]-dioxide in good yield. While 5-aza-15-thiaporphyrin was non-emissive, its [Formula: see text]-dioxide exhibited fluorescence in solution.
Global stability analysis of fractional-order gene regulatory networks with time delay
Authors: Wu Zhaohua , Wang Zhiming , Zhou Tiejun
Published: July 2019

Fractional-order gene regulatory networks with time delay (DFGRNs) have proven that they are more suitable to model gene regulation mechanism than integer-order. In this paper, a novel DFGRN is proposed. The existence and uniqueness of the equilibrium point for the DFGRN are proved under certain conditions. On this basis, the conditions on the global asymptotic stability are established by using the Lyapunov method and comparison theorem for the DFGRN, and the stability conditions are dependent on the fractional-order [Formula: see text]. Finally, numerical simulations show that the obtained results are reasonable.
Recent advances in fluorescence-based in vivo flow cytometry
Authors: Pang Kai , Gu Bobo , Liu Feng , Dong Mingli , Zhu Lianqing , Wei Xunbin
Published: July 2019

The fluorescence-based in vivo flow cytometry (IVFC) is an emerging tool to monitor circulating cells in vivo. As a noninvasive and real-time diagnostic technology, the fluorescence-based IVFC allows long-term monitoring of circulating cells without changing their native biological environment. It has been applied for various biological applications (e.g., monitoring circulating tumor cells). In this work, we will review our recent works on fluorescence-based IVFC. The operation principle and typical biological applications will be introduced. In addition, the recent advances in IVFC flow cytometry based on photoacoustic effects and other label-free detection methods such as imaging-based methods, diffuse-light methods, hybrid multimodality methods and multispectral methods are also summarized.
TiO2nanoparticles and CQDs co-decorated mesoporous g-C3N4and their photocatalytic properties for gaseous benzene degradation
Authors: Zhao Chunxia , Jia Heng , Jin Wei , Li Feng , Li Hang , Chen Wen
Published: July 2019

Mesoporous g-C3N4is prepared by a hard template method and is then decorated by carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and TiO2nanoparticles through an impregnation route followed by a hydrothermal method. The synthesized hybrids possess higher specific surface area up to 131[Formula: see text]cm2/g and show effective absorption of visible light range and improved instantaneous photocurrent response, which reveals the enhanced photo-generated carrier separation efficiency. The first-order kinetic reaction rate constant of photocatalytic degradation of gaseous benzene by TCPCN-2 is 5.5 times of the bulk g-C3N4. Its degradation rate is up to 96.08% with good photocatalytic stability. Thus, the TiO2nanoparticles and CQDs co-decorated g-C3N4hybrids are promising photocatalysts.
On the determinantal structure of conditional overlaps for the complex Ginibre ensemble
Authors: Akemann Gernot , Tribe Roger , Tsareas Athanasios , Zaboronski Oleg
Published: July 2019

We continue the study of joint statistics of eigenvectors and eigenvalues initiated in the seminal papers of Chalker and Mehlig. The principal object of our investigation is the expectation of the matrix of overlaps between the left and the right eigenvectors for the complex [Formula: see text] Ginibre ensemble, conditional on an arbitrary number [Formula: see text] of complex eigenvalues. These objects provide the simplest generalization of the expectations of the diagonal overlap ([Formula: see text]) and the off-diagonal overlap ([Formula: see text]) considered originally by Chalker and Mehlig. They also appear naturally in the problem of joint evolution of eigenvectors and eigenvalues for Brownian motions with values in complex matrices studied by the Krakow school. We find that these expectations possess a determinantal structure, where the relevant kernels can be expressed in terms of certain orthogonal polynomials in the complex plane. Moreover, the kernels admit a rather tractable expression for all [Formula: see text]. This result enables a fairly straightforward calculation of the conditional expectation of the overlap matrix in the local bulk and edge scaling limits as well as the proof of the exact algebraic decay and asymptotic factorization of these expectations in the bulk.
A Task Failure Rate Aware Dual-Channel Solar Power System for Nonvolatile Sensor Nodes
Authors: Su Fang , Liu Yongpan , Sheng Xiao , Lee Hyung Gyu , Chang Naehyuck , Yang Huazhong
Published: July 2019

In line with the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT), the maintenance of on-board batteries for a trillion sensor nodes has become prohibitive both in time and costs. Energy harvesting is a promising solution to this problem. However, conventional energy-harvesting systems with storage suffer from low efficiency because of conversion loss and storage leakage. Direct supply systems without energy buffer provide higher efficiency, but fail to satisfy quality of service (QoS) due to mismatches between input power and workloads. Recently, a novel dual-channel photovoltaic power system has paved the way to achieve both high energy efficiency and QoS guarantee. This article focuses on the design-time and run-time co-optimization of the dual-channel solar power system. At the design stage, we develop a task failure rate estimation framework to balance design costs and failure rate. At run-time, we propose a task failure rate aware QoS tuning algorithm to further enhance energy efficiency. Through the experiments on both a simulation platform and a prototype board, this study demonstrates a 27% task failure rate reduction compared with conventional architectures with identical design costs. And the proposed online QoS tuning algorithm brings up to 30% improvement in energy efficiency with nearly zero failure rate penalty.
Photoelectrochemical Properties of (K, Na)NbO3 (KNN) Thin Film Prepared by RF Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Kurohagi Masayuki , Mukouyama Yoshiharu , Yoshinaka Daisuke , Yoshinaka Daisuke
Published: July 2019

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photocatalytic (PC) processes are promising candidates to address environmental and energy issues. Previous studies have shown that Nb-related perovskite oxides such as KNbO3 and NaNbO3 have excellent PC activities. However, as for (K, Na)NbO3 (KNN), nothing has been studied on its PEC and PC behaviour. This work studies PEC properties of a KNN thin film prepared by a radio-frequency magnetron sputtering method. The properties, namely, the PEC activity, flat-band potential, and band gap of the KNN film, are examined by measuring cyclic voltammograms with and without UV-vis light irradiation, Mott-Schottky method, and Tauc method. This work also studies PEC properties of a KNN thin film prepared by a chemical solution deposition method. The KNN films exhibit a PEC activity similar to a n-type semiconductor photoanode. We thus conclude that KNN is an active material for PEC water splitting.
Whole Genome Analysis and Prognostic Model Construction Based on Alternative Splicing Events in Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Wang Caixia , Zheng Mingjun , Wang Shuang , Nie Xin , Guo Qian , Gao Lingling , Li Xiao , Qi Yue , Liu Juanjuan , Lin Bei
Published: July 2019

Objectives. A growing body of evidence has shown that aberrant alternative splicing (AS) is closely related to the occurrence and development of cancer. However, prior studies mainly have concentrated on a few genes that exhibit aberrant AS. This study aimed to determine AS events through whole genome analysis and construct a prognostic model of endometrial cancer (EC). Methods. We downloaded gene expression RNAseq data from UCSC Xena, and seven types of AS events from TCGA SpliceSeq. Univariate Cox regression was employed to analyze the prognostic-related alternative splicing events (PASEs) and splicing factors; multivariate Cox regression was conducted to analyze the effect of risk score (All) and clinicopathological parameters on EC prognosis. An underlying interaction network of PASEs of EC was constructed by Cytoscape Reactome FI, GO, and KEGG pathway enrichment was performed by DAVID. ROC curves and Kaplan-Meir analysis were used to assess the diagnostic value of prognostic model. The correlation between PASEs and splicing factors was analyzed by GraphPad Prism; then a network was constructed using Cytoscape. Results. In total, 28,281 AS events in EC were identified, which consisted of 1166 PASEs. RNPS1, NEK2, and CTNNB1 were the hub genes in the network of the top 600 PASEs. The area under the curve (AUC) of risk score (All) reached 0.819. Risk score (All) together with FIGO stage, cancer status, and primary therapy outcome success was risk factors of the prognosis of EC patients. Splicing factors YBX1, HNRNPDL, and HNRNPA1 were significantly related to the overall survival (OS). The splicing network indicated that the expression of splicing factors was significantly correlated with percent-splice-in (PSI) value of PASEs. Conclusion. We constructed a model for predicting the prognosis of EC patients based on PASEs using whole genome analysis of AS events and thereby provided a reliable theoretical basis for EC clinical prognosis evaluation.
A Numerical Model to Predict the Anisotropy of Polymer Composites Reinforced with High-Aspect-Ratio Short Aramid Fibers
Authors: Gao Jianhong , Yang Xiaoxiang , Huang Lihong
Published: July 2019

Some fiber types have a high aspect ratio and it is very difficult to predict their composites using traditional finite element (FE) modeling. In this study, an FE model was developed to predict the anisotropy of composites reinforced by short aramid fibers. Three fiber distribution types were studied as follows: perfectly aligned, normally distributed, and randomly distributed fibers. The elastic constants were obtained, and, for different alignment angles and parameters in the fiber orientation distribution function, their numerical results were compared to those of the Mori–Tanaka model. Good agreement was obtained; thus, the employed FE model is an excellent and simple method to predict the isotropy and anisotropy of a composite with high-aspect-ratio fibers. Therefore, the FE model was employed to predict the orientation distribution of a composite fiber with a nonlinear matrix. The predicted and experimental results agree well.
Association between Blood Potassium Level and Recovery of Postoperative Gastrointestinal Motility during Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in Patient Undergoing Open Abdominal Surgery
Authors: Yang Yi , Yang Jingjuan , Yao Xiner , Cui Yu , Lang Xiabing , Wu Binbin , Zhang Ping , Chen Jianghua
Published: July 2019

Background. The aim of this study was to identify the blood potassium level beneficial to the postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal motility during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in patient undergoing open abdominal surgery. Materials and Methods. 538 critically ill patients after open abdominal surgery and receiving CRRT were retrospectively recruited as the study cohort. Demographic and clinical data were recorded along with an evaluation of the postoperative gastrointestinal motility. Results. Correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation coefficient, and then the variables with correlation coefficient value less than 0.5 were included in the binary logistic regression model. Binary logistic regression model indicated that the postoperative blood potassium level was independently associated with the recovery of gastrointestinal motility (OR=0.109, 95% CI= 0.063 to 0.190, p<0.001). Based on the normal range of blood potassium level, we selected the cut-off point of blood potassium level via Weight of Evidence analysis, which was 4.00 mmol/L. Compared with the patients with insufficient blood potassium levels (plasma potassium concentration < 4.00 mmol/L), those with sufficient blood potassium levels (plasma potassium concentration≥ 4.00 mmol/L) conferred an increase in the rate of 4-day postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal motility (OR= 4.425, 95% CI = 2.933 to 6.667, p<0.001). Conclusions. Maintaining the blood potassium concentrations at a relatively high level of the normal blood potassium range during CRRT would be beneficial to postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal motility.
The Nonlinear Single Controller of DGEN380 Aero Engine Design
Authors: Bai Jie , Liu Shuai , Wei Wang
Published: July 2019

The advanced nonlinear sliding mode control method of DGEN380 aero engine is presented in this paper. This aero engine is a small high bypass ratio turbofan engine by which the nonlinear control approach of the aero engine is invested. And this paper focuses on the power management function of the aero engine control system which includes steady control and transient control. The mathematical model of DGEN380 aero engine is built by a set of nonlinear dynamic equation that is validated by experimental data. The single controller based on sliding mode approach is designed that can keep some certain thrust levels during steady state and maintain repeatable performance during transient operation from one requested thrust level to another. The single controller can offset the impact of the signal noise and harmonic disturbance at a certain power point. And the dynamic performance of the single controller is satisfactory at the transient process. The experiment is conducted by aero engine test bench for the single control.
Ultrasound Guided Continuous Sciatic Nerve Block for Acute Herpetic Neuralgia
Authors: Bagaphou Thierry C. , Santonastaso Domenico , Gargaglia Eleonora , Norgiolini Lucia , Tiburzi Cinzia , Cristallini Stefano , Cerotto Vittorio , Gori Fabio
Published: July 2019

Herpes Zoster (HZ) is the reactivation of a well-known viral disease which manifests itself with painful skin lesions. An effective analgesic method during the acute phase of HZ can contribute to decrease the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) by reducing neural sensitization. Sciatic nerve block (SNB) is useful in the management of distal lower extremity pain sustained by the sciatic nerve. We describe our experience with a continuous ultrasound guided subgluteus sciatic nerve block in a patient with herpetic neuralgia- (HN-) related refractory acute left leg pain.
Fractal Assessment of the Disturbances of Phosphate Series Using Lacunarity and Succolarity Analysis on Geoelectrical Images (Sidi Chennane, Morocco)
Authors: Ayad Abderrahim , Bakkali Saad
Published: July 2019

In Sidi Chennane phosphate deposit, the disturbances cause serious challenges for the OCP mining engineers during both exploration and the exploitation stages. They are qualified as worst rocky hard to be quantified since they interfere with phosphates series. In this paper, we propose the fractal analysis as a simple efficient tool to quantify the rate of the disturbances by two different methods, namely, the Lacunarity and the Succolarity. The analysis was carried out on eight geoelectrical images of a disturbed area of 50 hectares located in the northern part of Sidi Chennane. The results proved that there is a strong correlation between the disturbances rate and the corresponding fractal value indexes. It appears that the distinction between two disturbed areas is the difference between their corresponding fractal values. This has an important implication to discriminate between the phosphate deposit at high risk of disturbances and the deposit at low risk. The fractal analysis can be thus used as a crucial concept in ranking the prospective zones of phosphate as well as improving the phosphate reserve estimation.
Effectiveness of Parameters in Quantifying Root Canal Morphology Change after Instrumentation with the Aid of a Microcomputed Tomography
Authors: Juhasz Alexander , Hegedus Csaba , Marton Ildiko , Benyo Balazs , Orhan Kaan , Dobó-Nagy Csaba
Published: July 2019

The objective of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of some parameters which characterise the change in morphology in human root canals subjected to ProTaper rotary enlargement with the help of an X-ray microfocus computed tomography (MCT) and to introduce a novel parameter that is effective in quantifying changes in root canal morphology. Ten each straight and curved root canals with mature apices chosen from extracted human upper incisor and canine teeth were scanned with MCT before and after canal shaping using ProTaper rotary instruments in order to facilitate three-dimensional digital reconstruction and quantitative gauging of relevant instrumental parameters and changes therein (surface area and volume). Root canal geometry change and the effectiveness of shaping were quantified with Structure Model Index change (ΔSMI) and surface area change to volume change ratio (ΔSA/ΔV). These two parameters were also tested on simulated canals. Postinstrumentation cross-sectional changes were also analysed, but only on the plastic blocks. Statistical analysis of parameters was carried out to verify the significance of results. Analysis of cross-sectional shape of postinstrumented resin simulated canals showed statistically significant decrease in Form Factor (p<0.05) and statistically significant increase in Eccentricity (p<0.005). ΔSMI did not show significant difference between straight and curved canals. SMI values showed bidirectional change during root enlargement which questions the reliability of this metric in analysing instrumentation. Statistically significant (p<0.005) deviations in ΔSA/ΔV were quantified as 1.92 and 3.22 for straight and curved human canals, respectively. Instrumentation-induced canal geometry change was determined to be more pronounced in curved canals using the novel parameter ΔSA/ΔV. This has been proven as being a statistically accurate and reproducible parameter for quantitative characterisation of root canal geometry change and differentiation of preparational efficacy for both straight and curved root canals.
Serum Uric Acid and Triglycerides in Chinese Patients with Newly Diagnosed Moyamoya Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ma Wenyuan , Cui Changmeng , Feng Song , Li Genhua , Han Guangkui , Hu Yawei , Li Xiang , Lv Jianwei , Liu Chen , Jin Feng
Published: July 2019

Background. Evidence regarding the relationship between serum uric acid and triglycerides is limited. Therefore, the specific objective of this study was to investigate whether serum uric acid was independently related to triglycerides in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed moyamoya disease after adjusting for other covariates. Methods. The present study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 261 Chinese patients with newly diagnosed moyamoya disease were recruited from a hospital in China from 24 March 2013 to 24 December 2018. The independent variable and the dependent variable were serum uric acid measured at baseline and triglycerides, respectively. The covariates involved in this study included age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. Results. The average age of the 227 selected participants was 47.5 ± 12.6 years old, and approximately 48.5% of them were male. The results of the fully adjusted linear regression showed that serum uric acid (10 μmol/L) was positively associated with triglycerides (mmol/L) after adjusting for confounders (β 0.048, 95% CI 0.032, 0.064). Conclusions. In patients with moyamoya disease, there seemed to be a positive association between serum uric acid and triglycerides.