bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CD8+ cytotoxic mycosis fungoides: a retrospective analysis of clinical features and follow‐up results of 29 patients
Authors: Kalay Yildizhan Incilay , Sanli Hatice , Akay Bengu N. , Sürgün Ece , Heper Aylin
Published: October 2019

Background and objective

Less than 5% of cases of mycosis fungoides (MF) present with a cytotoxic/suppressor CD8+ phenotype. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and clinical course in CD8+ MF patients.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis of 353 MF patients in a referral center at Ankara University, Turkey, 29 patients that were diagnosed with CD8+ MF were included in the study.

Results

CD8+ MF cases constituted 8.2% of all MF patients. The age at the time of diagnosis ranged between 6 and 81 years with a median value of 46 years. The female‐to‐male ratio was 1.41. Patients presented with erythematous scaly (69%), hyperpigmented (58.6%), poikilodermic (17.2%), and hypopigmented (17.2 %) patches/plaques. The most common sites of involvement were the trunk and lower extremities. The most common comorbidity was hypertension (24.1%, n: 7) with 13 patients (44.8%) having a history of at least one autoimmune disease. At the time of diagnosis, 93.2% of the patients had early‐stage disease, and 6.8% of the patients had advanced stage. The mean follow‐up period was 6.68 ± 6.04 years (range 1–28 years). Most of the patients were treated with skin‐directed therapies. Complete remission was achieved in 17 (58.6%) patients, eight (27.6%) patients had partial remission, and four (13.8%) patients had stable disease.

Conclusions

We concluded that CD8+ MF is associated with an indolent course and in most patients, skin‐directed therapies were found to be efficient to control the disease.
Protection of Batf3‐deficient mice from experimental cerebral malaria correlates with impaired cytotoxic T‐cell responses and immune regulation
Authors: Kuehlwein Janina M. , Borsche Max , Korir Patricia J. , Risch Frederic , Mueller Ann‐Kristin , Hübner Marc P. , Hildner Kai , Hoerauf Achim , Dunay Ildiko Rita , Schumak Beatrix
Published: October 2019

Summary

Excessive inflammatory immune responses during infections with Plasmodium parasites are responsible for severe complications such as cerebral malaria (CM) that can be studied experimentally in mice. Dendritic cells (DCs) activate cytotoxic CD8+ T‐cells and initiate immune responses against the parasites. Batf3−/− mice lack a DC subset, which efficiently induces strong CD8 T‐cell responses by cross‐presentation of exogenous antigens. Here we show that Batf3−/− mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) were protected from experimental CM (ECM), characterized by a stable blood−brain barrier (BBB) and significantly less infiltrated peripheral immune cells in the brain. Importantly, the absence of ECM in Batf3−/− mice correlated with attenuated responses of cytotoxic T‐cells, as their parasite‐specific lytic activity as well as the production of interferon gamma and granzyme B were significantly decreased. Remarkably, spleens of ECM‐protected Batf3−/− mice had elevated levels of regulatory immune cells and interleukin 10. Thus, protection from ECM in PbA‐infected Batf3−/− mice was associated with the absence of strong CD8+ T‐cell activity and induction of immunoregulatory mediators and cells.
Expression of VEGFA‐regulating miRNAs and mortality in wet AMD
Authors: Blasiak Janusz , Watala Cezary , Tuuminen Raimo , Kivinen Niko , Koskela Ali , Uusitalo‐Järvinen Hannele , Tuulonen Anja , Winiarczyk Mateusz , Mackiewicz Jerzy , Zmorzyński Szymon , Filip Agata , Kaarniranta Kai
Published: October 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression; many of them act in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and RPE degeneration is known to be a critical factor in age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Repeated injections with anti‐VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A) are the only effective therapy in wet AMD. We investigated the correlation between the expression of 18 miRNAs involved in the regulation of the VEGFA gene in serum of 76 wet AMD patients and 70 controls. Efficacy of anti‐VEGFA treatment was evaluated by counting the number of injections delivered up to 12 years. In addition, we compared the relative numbers of deaths in patient with AMD and control groups. We observed a decreased expression of miR‐34‐5p, miR‐126‐3p, miR‐145‐5p and miR‐205‐5p in wet AMD patients as compared with controls. These miRNAs are involved in the regulation of angiogenesis, cytoprotection and protein clearance. No miRNA was significantly correlated with the treatment outcome. Wet AMD patients had greater mortality than controls, and their survival was inversely associated with the number of anti‐VEGFA injections per year. No association was observed between miRNA expression and mortality. Our study emphasizes the need to clarify the role of miRNA regulation in AMD pathogenesis.
Influence of surface treatment on the fluorescence of composite resins subjected to in situ bleaching
Authors: García Lourdes M G , de Godoi Ana Paula T , Serra Osvaldo A , de Lima Juliana F , de P A Almeida Leonardo , Dotta Tatiane C , Corona Silmara A M , dos Reis Andréa C , Catirse Alma B C E B
Published: October 2019

Objective

Use fluorescence analysis to evaluate the effect of polishing and surface sealant on the color of composite resin bleached with carbamide peroxide and subjected to staining.

Materials and methods

Forty‐eight composite resin specimens (Z250/Z350XT) were fabricated. After 24 hours stored in distilled water, all specimens were submitted to in situ bleaching with 16% home peroxide for 8 hours daily for a period of 14 days. Subsequently specimens were separated in three groups according to surface treatment proposed (group 1—polishing Sof‐Lex; group 2—BisCover; group 3—control). After this, all the specimens were stained with red wine. A spectrofluorometer was used to evaluate the fluorescence in two readouts (L0—after surface treatment and L1—after staining).Data were analyzed by applying ANOVA using a statistical software program.

Results

No differences were shown for the factor treatment and other interactions. The lowest mean fluorescence value was found for Z350XT resin (1759.18 ± 0.13) when compared with Z250 (6863.92 ± 0.13). There was significant difference in the mean fluorescence values for all surface treatments between the two different readouts L0 (4820.93 ± 0.05) and L1 (3802.17 ± 0.05).

Conclusion

The results suggested that all surface treatments proposed did not influenced the results of wine staining of bleached resins when compared with the control evaluated by the fluorescence method.

Clinical significance

The purposes of this research was to find solutions, by means of surfaces treatment, to achieve restorations with a satisfactory and similar final aspect in relation to the teeth, and avoid discrepancies related to the esthetics and longevity of the restoration.
Effects of freezing on length and mass measurements of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua in the Baltic Sea
Authors: McQueen Kate , Mion Monica , Hilvarsson Annelie , Casini Michele , Olesen Hans J. , Hüssy Karin , Radtke Krzysztof , Krumme Uwe
Published: October 2019

An aggregated sample of 925 Atlantic cod Gadus morhua collected by four countries in different regions of the Baltic Sea during different seasons were measured (total length, LT = 161–890 mm and weighed (mass, M = 45–6900 g) both before freezing and after defrosting. The cod were found to decrease significantly in both LT and M following death and frozen storage. There was an average (±SD) change in LT of −2.91% (±0.05%) following freezing, independent of starting LT. Total M changed by −2.65% (±0.14%), independent of starting mass. Shrinkage of LT and M did not differ significantly between 1 and 4 months frozen storage, though LT shrinkage was significantly greater after 1 or 4 months in the freezer compared with after 5 days. There was significant variation in LT and M shrinkage between regions of capture. A significant negative relationship between condition of cod and LT or M change was also observed. Equations to back‐calculate fresh LT and M from thawed LT, M and standard length (LS), gutted LT, gutted LS and gutted M are provided.
Comparison of the quality of Chinese ginger juice powders prepared by different drying methods
Authors: Guo Fengqian , Yang Chunyu , Zang Chen , Shang Yue , Zhang Baoxian , Yu Hailan , Li Cui , Duan Shaofeng
Published: October 2019

In this study, ginger juice powders (GJPs) were obtained from ginger juice using vacuum drying, spray drying, vacuum microwave drying (VMD), and freeze‐drying (FD). The physical properties (water content, dissolving time, and color), chemical compositions (total volatiles, gingerols and shogaol, total phenolic content [TPC]), antioxidant activity, and aerobic bacteria content of the GJPs/redissolved ginger juice were determined and the effect of the drying processes on ginger juice was evaluated. The result showed that FD was optimal at retaining the color, gingerols, shogaol, and total volatiles of the ginger juice, while both VMD and FD could retain a high yield of TPC and the antioxidant activity of the ginger juice. It was also found that all the drying methods were effective in reducing the total aerobic bacteria of the ginger juice. This study proved that the four drying methods had very different effects on the quality of the ginger juice, among which FD was optimal for processing ginger juice.

Practical applications

In this study, four processing methods of ginger juice were compared by investigating the physical properties (water content, dissolving time, and color), chemical compositions (total volatiles, gingerols and shogaol, total phenolic content), antioxidant activity, and aerobic bacteria content of the different ginger juice powers prepared. The results will provide new reference for processing ginger.
Use of alcoholic–alkaline treated starch citrates and lactates as fat and protein replacer in imitation Mozzarella cheese
Authors: Butt Natasha A. , Ali Tahira M. , Arif Saqib , Hasnain Abid
Published: October 2019

The present study substituted (a) casein (CR) and (b) casein and fat (CR + FR) simultaneously with cold water‐soluble (CWS) rice starch citrates and lactates to control functional characteristics of imitation cheese (IC). Rheological analysis for cheese confirmed the dominancy of elastic component (G′ > G″) and pseudoplastic behavior with flow behavior index less than 1. Lactic acid‐modified CWS displayed better structural alignment with progressive rise in frequency as evident by rise in G′. Meltability of CR cheese samples containing modified starches showed no significant difference with respect to control. Cohesiveness significantly increased, whereas adhesiveness showed no difference for CR cheese samples when compared with control. These distinctive properties provide a scientific approach to control stretching, rheological/textural properties, and meltability of imitation cheese (IC) by using precise ratio of casein and fat along with modified starches.

Practical applications

Starches modified by safe chemicals were used to partially replace fat and casein simultaneously in IC. Therefore, the present study will lead to development of low‐cost cheese, which will ultimately generate higher revenues for industry. Also it will reduce load of calories while improving/retaining quality of cheese.
Agrarian class struggle and state formation in post‐colonial Pakistan, 1959–1974: Contingencies of Mazdoor Kisan Raj
Authors: Ali Noaman G.
Published: October 2019

State formation in post‐colonial societies is often explained with reference to the roles of elites. In Pakistan, landed elites continue to dominate the rural political economy through informal and formal institutions, but the history of its largest peasant movement shows how agrarian class struggle can change the institutional forms and functions of power. The Hashtnagar peasant movement achieved lasting de facto land and tenancy reforms in north‐western Pakistan in the 1970s through forcible land occupations that were regularized by state intervention. I argue that although divisions among elites were important, the state intervened in favour of peasants due to the rising organizational power of tenants and landless labourers under the centralized leadership of the radical Mazdoor Kisan Party. Agrarian class struggle weakened the informal power of landed elites and gave rise to institutions of peasant power. However, other fractions of the ruling class sought to undermine their landed opponents while co‐opting the militancy of the peasant movement by strengthening state institutions to intervene in favour of upwardly mobile tenants. The latter were separated from poorer peasants and the landless, thus demobilizing the movement.
Robust Inference for Consumption‐Based Asset Pricing
Authors: KLEIBERGEN FRANK , ZHAN ZHAOGUO
Published: October 2019

The reliability of traditional asset pricing tests depends on: (i) the correlations between asset returns and factors; (ii) the time series sample size T compared to the number of assets N. For macro‐risk factors, like consumption growth, (i) and (ii) are often such that traditional tests cannot be trusted. We extend the Gibbons‐Ross‐Shanken statistic to test identification of risk premia and construct their 95% confidence sets. These sets are wide or unbounded when T and N are close, but show that average returns are not fully spanned by betas when T exceeds N considerably. Our findings indicate when meaningful empirical inference is feasible.
Whose Best Practices? The Significance of Context in and for Transnational Criminal Justice Indicators
Authors: Nelken David
Published: October 2019

To what extent is it possible to identify transnational good or best practice and what are the difficulties and challenges in doing so validly? The claim made in this article is that it may be helpful to examine the spread of global social indicators as a series of projects that themselves reproduce ideas of what counts as ‘good’ practice. This will help identify the ‘politics of comparison’ in each case. Taking as an example recent calls for criminologists to engage with the global targets for change set by the United Nations, the article discusses the aims of comparison, the uses of indicators, and the way that commensuration misrepresents contexts in the drive to evaluate local conditions in terms of overarching standards. It then revisits the debate concerning the so‐called knowledge and governance ‘effects’ of global social indicators.
In a World of Their Own: Security‐cleared Counsel, Best Practice, and Procedural Tradition
Authors: Jackson John D.
Published: October 2019

This article charts how security‐cleared counsel have been constructed as a mechanism for managing the tension between security and fairness in secret trials and transferred across national boundaries as an example of ‘best practice', before going on to evaluate recent cross‐cultural and transnational research on this ‘best practice'. Particular attention is paid to the central role played by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in promoting the role of ‘special advocates’ and a contrast is made between the methodologies deployed by the Court and those used in recent research to identify and problematize ‘best practice’ within the closed world of security‐cleared counsel. The article then goes on to explore the relationship between ‘best practice’ and procedural tradition and argues that normative solutions advancing ‘best practice’ need to pay careful attention to the procedural contexts and cultures in which they are embedded.
The effect of acute exposure to morphine on breathing variability and cardiopulmonary coupling in men with obstructive sleep apnea: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wu Justin G.‐A. , Wang David , Rowsell Luke , Wong Keith K. , Yee Brendon J. , Nguyen Chinh D. , Han Fang , Hilmisson Hugi , Thomas Robert J. , Grunstein Ronald R.
Published: October 2019

Opioid‐related deaths from respiratory depression are increasing but there is only limited information on the effect of morphine on breathing during sleep. This study aimed to detect and quantify opioid‐induced cardiorespiratory pattern changes during sleep in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients using novel automated methods and correlate these with conventional polysomnography (PSG) measures. Under a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled crossover design, 60 male OSA patients attended two one‐night visits to the sleep laboratory, at least a week apart. Either a 40‐mg controlled‐release oral morphine dose or placebo was administered. Breathing during sleep was measured by standard in‐laboratory PSG. We analysed the inter‐breath interval (IBI) from the PSG flow channel to quantify breathing irregularity. Cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) was analysed using the PSG electrocardiogram (ECG) channel. Following the consumption of morphine, the 60 OSA patients had fewer breaths (p = .0006), a longer inter‐breath interval (p < .0001) and more irregular breathing with increased IBI coefficient of variation (CV) (p = .0015) compared to the placebo night. A higher CPC sleep quality index was found with morphine use. The change of key IBI and CPC parameters was significantly correlated with the change of key PSG sleep‐disordered breathing parameters. In conclusion, 40 mg controlled‐release morphine resulted in a longer breathing cycle and increased breathing irregularity but generally more stable sleep in OSA patients. The significant links between the IBI and CPC techniques and a range of PSG sleep‐disordered breathing parameters may suggest a practical value as surrogate overnight cardiorespiratory measurements, because both respiratory flow and ECG can be detected by small portable devices.
Retracted: Is bigger better? Apidae (Xylocopinae), megachilidae and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) pollination
Authors: Wousla Everlyne N. , Andargie Mebeaselassie , Pasquet Remy S. , Mondon Marjolaine , Menez Veronique , Cochin Caroline , Paul Lenaic , Pardon Lenaic , Roubaud Marc
Published: October 2019

Cowpea is an important grain legume crop in Africa. Cowpea flowers are capable of self‐fertilization, which might be the most frequent type of reproduction. Nevertheless, the rate of cross‐pollination could vary between 1% and 10%, depending on the populations of bumblebees or domestic bees that are present, the climate and the cultivar. The aim of this study was to identify and assess the efficiency rate of the pollinators of the wild cowpea, Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata var. spontanea, the progenitor of the domesticated cowpea Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata. Pollination study was conducted by observing patches of flowers (average 10–20/m2) from dawn to midday, approximately 05:00–12:30 hr for three years. All insects visiting the flowers were noted and identified to species level, where possible, and their foraging behaviour was monitored. Pollen grain deposit and pod set were estimated using single bee visits on plants with strictly outcrossing flowers. Major flower visitors were large bees of the family Megachilidae and the genus Xylocopa (Apidae, Xylocopinae). Xylocopa caffra (Linnaeus) was the most abundant bee species, accounting for 59% of total bees observed and 58% of total flower visited. Pod set was higher in visits by megachilid bees compared to Xylocopa bees. Within Xylocopa, there is a good correlation between size and efficiency (r = .95, p = .0477), the larger insects being more efficient. Honeybees, small bees (Ceratina and Nomia species) and Lepidopterans also visited flowers but without any effect on pollination. Cowpea pollination system is specialized, and pollinators are restricted to Megachilidae and Xylocopa species. Variation in pollen load deposit and pod set reveals that pollination success depends on the insect species involved and their size. Megachilids are the most efficient pollinators, especially since they are able to promote outcrossing more efficiently than Xylocopa species.
Knowing our Reasons: Distinctive Self‐Knowledge of Why We Hold Our Attitudes and Perform Actions
Authors: Keeling Sophie
Published: October 2019

This paper argues that subjects at least sometimes learn why they hold an attitude or perform an action in a distinctive first‐personal way, i.e., they learn of those facts in a manner that mere observers cannot. Subjects have this first‐personal self‐knowledge in virtue of first‐personal self‐knowledge of the reasons for which they hold an attitude or perform an action—their motivating reasons. This paper focusses on one’s reasons for holding an attitude. So, it is not just that subjects have distinctive access to the fact that they, say, believe that q; they also have distinctive access to the fact that they believe that p for the reason that p. I argue for this position contra the prevailing orthodoxy. Philosophers and psychologists often deny that subjects have distinctive access to why they hold their attitudes. Indeed, even many of those who claim that subjects can use a special method to learn that they have a given attitude deny that this method provides knowledge of why one holds that attitude.
A first Japanese case of neuroendocrine prostate cancer accompanied by lung and brain metastasis with somatic and germline BRCA2 mutation
Authors: Kosaka Takeo , Hongo Hiroshi , Aimono Eriko , Matsumoto Kazuhiro , Hayashida Tetsu , Mikami Shuji , Nishihara Hiroshi , Oya Mototsugu
Published: October 2019

Germline mutations and copy number changes in DNA damage repair (DDR) genes such asBRCA2are associated with aggressive forms of prostate cancer (PCa). Although the prevalence of BRCA2 variants in PCa is increasing in Japan, the genomic and biological implications in Japanese patients are unclear. An 81‐year‐old male presented with prostatic adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation accompanied by metastatic lung nodule and brain metastases. Platinum‐based doublet chemotherapy combined with etoposide resulted in partial and complete remissions of brain and lung metastases, respectively. Next‐generation sequencing of biopsy and peripheral blood samples demonstrated a somatic BRCA2 mutation at c.7008‐2A>C and a germline mutation at p.E2877*. The patient's son had been diagnosed with breast cancer 2.5 years ago and was found to have the same germline BRCA2 mutation. BRCA2 mutation increases the risks of aggressive PCa and other cancer types in Japanese males. These forms may be highly responsive to platinum‐based chemotherapy.
The Democratic Crisis and the Knowledge Problem
Authors: Facchini François , Melki Mickael
Published: October 2019

This article provides a new explanation for the current democratic crisis by focusing on the growing opposition of citizens to political elites. Modern democracies are basically representative democracies in the sense that citizens are represented by a governing political elite. We argue that democracies are in crisis because this political elite cannot possess the knowledge necessary to manage the complexity of the social order and implement rational choices. They fail in dealing with knowledge and thus cast doubt among citizens on the very legitimacy of democracy. This produces generalized distrust toward elites, who were thought to be able to deal with social complexity. As a result, democracy is considered to be responsible for societal problems while they actually stem from elites' overestimation of their ability to deal with societal complexity.

Related Articles

Considine, Mark. 2012. “Applying Design Theory to Public Policy.” Politics & Policy 40 (4): 704‐724. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00372.x

Norman, Emma R., and Rafael Delfin. 2012. “Wizards under Uncertainty: Cognitive Biases, Threat Assessment, and Misjudgments in Policy Making.” Politics & Policy 40 (3): 369‐402. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00356.x/abstract

Raile, Eric D., Amber N. Raile, Charles T. Salmon, and Lori Ann Post. 2014. “Defining Public Will.” Politics & Policy 42 (1): 103‐130. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12063

Related Media

A summary of the article will be made in French for readers of the PHEBE site (LE POInt, https://www.lepoint.fr/phebe/) and on the counterpoint site (https://www.contrepoints.org/)
PTH determination in hemodialyzed patients—A laboratory perspective
Authors: Cavalier Etienne , Souberbielle Jean‐Claude , Delanaye Pierre
Published: October 2019

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a key player of bone remodelling in patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease‐Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD‐MBD). Serum PTH concentrations are thus frequently measured in CKD patients. Nevertheless, this determination is far from simple. PTH stability can be an issue and degradation of the peptide can be important if storage is not properly done. Biologically active PTH circulates together with fragments, which can be detected by some immunoassays. There is, up to now, no standardization of the assays available on the market, which can lead to some confusion when patients are followed with different methods. The upper end of the reference ranges provided by some manufacturers have not been properly established and are sometimes far too high. Finally, PTH can be oxidized in vivo and thus become inactive, while still quantified by immunoassays. In this Editorial, we will try to highlight some of these issues on PTH measurement.
Active commuting in Swedish workers between 1998 and 2015—Trends, characteristics, and cardiovascular disease risk
Authors: Eriksson Jane Salier , Ekblom Björn , Kallings Lena V. , Hemmingsson Erik , Andersson Gunnar , Wallin Peter , Ekblom Örjan , Ekblom‐Bak Elin
Published: October 2019

Background

Trend analyses of active commuting and potential variations in trends and association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk within subgroups are unknown.

Objectives

To (a) describe trends in active commuting between 1998 and 2015 and (b) to study the association between different amounts of active commuting and the incidence risk of CVD in a large sample of Swedish workers, and analyses of potential variations across subgroups of socio‐demographics, physical activity, and BMI.

Methods

A total of 318 309 participants (47% women, 18‐74 years) who participated in a nationwide occupational health service screening between 1998 and 2015 were included. Commuting habits were self‐reported, and data on first‐time CVD events were derived from national registers.

Results

Self‐reported passive commuters decreased between 1998 and 2015 (64% to 56%), transferring to an increase in mainly moderate/high‐dose active commuters (12% to 19%). Changes were seen in all subgroups. The characteristics and lifestyle habits of the typical passive and active commuter changed little over the study period. Low‐ and moderate/high‐dose active commuters had significantly decreased risks for a first time CVD during follow‐up. This was accentuated in men, middle‐aged, and in participants with light physical work situations, irregular exercise habits, being overweight/obese, and with low fitness.

Conclusion

Increases in active commuting were observed between 1998 and 2015, however still leaving a majority who do not actively commute. As active commuting, regardless dose, is associated with a lower CVD risk, encouraging more people to actively commute may provide an easily accessible and time‐efficient possibility to increase physical activity and health in the general population.
Accounting for length of hospital stay in regression models in clinical epidemiology
Authors: Weber Susanne , Wolkewitz Martin ,   on behalf of COMBACTE‐MAGNET Consortium
Published: October 2019

In hospital epidemiology, logistic regression is a popular model to study risk factors of hospital‐acquired infections. One key issue in this analysis is how to incorporate the time dependency of acquiring an infection during the hospital stay. In the applied literature, researchers often simply adjust for the entire length of hospital stay, which also includes the time after infection. A further issue is that discharge and death are competing events for hospital‐acquired infections. After discussing the limitations of logistic regression adjusted for length of stay in this setting, we compare this approach with appropriate analyses incorporating competing risks and with an illness–death model with hospital‐acquired infection as an intermediate event. The cumulative incidence function, cause‐specific hazard ratios, and subdistribution hazard ratios are considered as reference measures. Real‐life and simulated data are used to demonstrate biases and limitations associated with logistic regression adjusted for length of stay. We conclude that logistic regression adjusted for length of stay should not be used when investigating hospital‐acquired infections and that appropriate methods involving the use of multistate models should be used to capture the time dependency in time‐to‐event settings, especially in the presence of competing events.
Effect of continuous strain path changes on forming limit strains of DP600
Authors: Song Xiao , Leotoing Lionel , Guines Dominique , Ragneau Eric
Published: October 2019

The strain path may change in actual sheet metal‐forming processes, so the determination of formability of sheet metal should consider the nonlinear strain path. For identifying the forming limit (FL) strains under nonlinear strain path, a conventional two‐step procedure with unloading is classically used to produce the strain path change, which results in no continuous measure of strain. The in‐plane biaxial tensile test with a cruciform specimen is an interesting alternative to overcome the drawbacks of conventional method. The strain path change can be made without unloading during a single test. In this work, the experimental FL strains of DP600 sheets under two types of nonlinear strain path are investigated and then compared with those under linear strain paths. The Oyane ductile fracture criterion is used in the finite element simulation to predict the experimental results.
Compatible systems and ramification
Authors: Lu Qing , Zheng Weizhe
Published: October 2019

We show that compatible systems of$\ell$-adic sheaves on a scheme of finite type over the ring of integers of a local field are compatible along the boundary up to stratification. This extends a theorem of Deligne on curves over a finite field. As an application, we deduce the equicharacteristic case of classical conjectures on$\ell$-independence for proper smooth varieties over complete discrete valuation fields. Moreover, we show that compatible systems have compatible ramification. We also prove an analogue for integrality along the boundary.
Reliability-Based Design Optimization of a Cemented Prosthesis in a Femur Undergoing Bone Remodeling
Authors: Corso Leandro Luis , Gomes Herbert Martins , Spinelli Leandro de Freitas , Zanrosso Crisley Dossin , Marczak Rogério José , Falavigna Asdrubal
Published: October 2019

This study proposes a numerical methodology to minimize the bone mass loss in a femur with a total hip arthroplasty procedure, considering uncertainties in the material parameters and using a reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) procedure. A genetic algorithm (GA) is applied for optimization, and a three-dimensional finite element (FE) model associated with the bone remodeling procedure is proposed and described to account for the internal and external femoral bone behavior. An example of a femoral prosthesis design is presented as a basis for discussion of the proposed methodologies, and the corresponding reliability level is evaluated. Constraints on the strength of all materials and target reliability levels are inputs to the optimization model. The main prosthesis dimensions and Young modulus are the design variables. The proposed methodology is compared with a well-known deterministic optimization (DO) procedure and the results show that it is important to consider the uncertainties in this kind of problem since in this case, the a posteriori reliability may be low.
Automated Quantification of Diseased Thoracic Aortic Longitudinal Centerline and Surface Curvatures
Authors: Bondesson Johan , Suh Ga-Young , Lundh Torbjörn , Lee Jason T. , Dake Michael D. , Cheng Christopher P.
Published: October 2019

Precise description of vascular morphometry is crucial to support medical device manufacturers and clinicians for improving device development and interventional outcomes. A compact and intuitive method is presented to automatically characterize the surface geometry of tubular anatomic structures and quantify surface curvatures starting from generic stereolithographic (STL) surfaces. The method was validated with software phantoms and used to quantify the longitudinal surface curvatures of 37 human thoracic aortas with aneurysm or dissection. The quantification of surface curvatures showed good agreement with analytic solutions from the software phantoms, and demonstrated better agreement as compared to estimation methods using only centerline geometry and cross-sectional radii. For the human thoracic aortas, longitudinal inner surface curvature was significantly higher than centerline curvature (0.33 ± 0.06 versus 0.16 ± 0.02 cm−1 for mean; 1.38 ± 0.48 versus 0.45 ± 0.11 cm−1 for peak; both p < 0.001). These findings show the importance of quantifying surface curvatures in order to better describe the geometry and biomechanical behavior of the thoracic aorta, which can assist in treatment planning and supplying device manufactures with more precise boundary conditions for mechanical evaluation.
Modeling Potential Energy of the Gaussian Gun
Authors: Elliott Leslie Atkins , Bolliou André , Irving Hanna , Jackson Douglas
Published: October 2019

The Gaussian gun is an arrangement of magnets and ball bearings (pictured in Fig. 1) such that—when the leftmost ball is released—the rightmost ball is ejected at high speeds. The device has been described in several articles on energy education. The sudden appearance of kinetic energy offers a productive context for considering a range of challenging ideas: the often-counterintuitive relationship between force and potential energy, the escape velocity for attractive forces, why energy is required to break bonds, and why energy is released when bonds form. Beyond these ideas, it is also useful for motivating the representation of a potential well and bound states for both quantum mechanics and chemistry.
3D Printable Quark Puzzle: A Model to Build Your Own Particle Systems
Authors: McGinness Lachlan , Dührkoop Susanne , Woithe Julia , Jansky Alexandra
Published: October 2019

There is an increasing emphasis on fundamental particles, including quarks, in the high school physics classroom. However, many teachers might not feel comfortable teaching particle physics because it is a highly abstract and complex topic, and there are few hands-on activities to help teachers bring it into the classroom. In 2010, Gettrust presented a two-dimensional quark puzzle, a physical manipulative that allowed students to discover the rules of the Standard Model of particle physics through inquiry. In the paper Gettrust states: “An ideal set of pieces representing quarks would consist of three-dimensional objects that fit nicely together into some basic shape, such as a sphere or some platonic solid, but only for quark combinations allowed by Standard Model rules.” Here we report on our development of such a set of 3D manipulatives.
Visualizing Viscous Flow and Diffusion in the Circulatory System
Authors: Spitznagel Benjamin , Weigal Justin , Rodriguez Juan
Published: October 2019

For many life science students, introductory physics is a requirement that bears little relevance to their future career goals. This perception is particularly striking in pharmacy programs, where only 12.6% of students identify physics as being very important toward their profession. To combat this perception, and to provide a more effective learning environment for our students, our institution is making an effort to infuse medically oriented applications into its introductory physics courses. Here, we share three computer simulations we developed for visualizing and exploring the physics of substance transport through vascular circulation and into tissue compartments. The transport is based on a simple model where molecules obey Newton’s second law as they are acted upon by a pressure gradient, viscous forces, and diffusion. These simulations can be used as class demonstrations, active learning activities, or virtual labs.
On a Common Mistake in the Description of the Photoelectric Effect
Authors: Martinez-Perdiguero Josu
Published: October 2019

The photoelectric effect is one of the key experiments taught during first- or second-year university and high school modern physics courses. It is usually the first experiment to introduce light quantization and the concept of photons as “packets of energy.” Here, we want to point out a widespread mistake concerning the interpretation of the saturation current at constant light intensity that is found even in some classic hardback literature. Although this is usually overlooked, it can weaken the conclusions a student can draw from the correct understanding of the experiment.
Teaching Modeling Using Super Mario Maker
Authors: Geske Matthew
Published: October 2019

Many introductory physics courses begin with the teaching of motion and kinematics. This naturally leads to the use of constant acceleration equations to solve various problems involving common motions (free fall being a notable example). Students can sometimes get the impression that these equations are the only thing they need to remember in order to determine the motion of an object. Indeed students often have trouble understanding what the equations presented to them represent. It can also be difficult to impress upon the students the source of these mathematical tools, and how to distinguish the tools from the science behind them. Often students have difficulty connecting physics concepts to mathematical equations, and instead treat the math as a separate entity. It has been suggested that teaching computational tools and modeling in physics yields better student understanding of these ideas. It has also been suggested that exploring the link between the mathematical equations and the physics concepts behind them can improve students’ problem solving capabilities. The following activity was developed to attempt to introduce modeling concepts to students early on in an introductory course, and in a way that is simple to implement in any course structure.
Squashing Method for Moment of Inertia Calculations
Authors: Wang Jinhui , Ricardo Bernard
Published: October 2019

Moments of inertia (MOIs) are usually derived via substantial integration and may intimidate undergraduates without prior backgrounds in calculus. This paper presents an intuitive geometric operation, termed “squashing,” that transforms an object into an equivalent one with a reduced dimension, whose MOI is simpler to determine. The combination of squashing and other methods (e.g., scaling arguments, the perpendicular-axis and parallel-axis theorems) enables the computation of complex MOIs with minimal integration.
Multiple Source Interference with Sound
Authors: Trantham Kenneth W. , Janssen L.
Published: October 2019

The construction of a linear speaker array, which emits coherent sound radiation from multiple sources, is described. The device is an improvement over the two-speaker systems for demonstrating wave interference effects. The operation of the array is demonstrated with example data.
The Physics of limθ→(sinθ)/θ=1
Authors: Lovatt Ian
Published: October 2019

Students in first-year calculus meet limθ→0(sinθ)/θ=1, perhaps as a step toward finding the derivative of sin θ. If they see a proof, it involves a version of the so-called squeeze theorem, resulting in cos θ ≤(sin θ)/ θ ≤ 1/(cos θ). All very nice, rigorous, elegant even, but…
An Image Analysis Method for Calculating the Moon’s Orbital Eccentricity
Authors: Treff Vitoria , Bertuola Alberto C. , Filho Victo S.
Published: October 2019

In this work we describe a teaching proposal to calculate the eccentricity of the Moon’s trajectory by applying a geometrical technique. The values of the ratios between the Earth-Moon distance and the diameter of the Moon at apogee and at perigee were calculated from a kinematic model associated with a geometrical technique of image analysis. The experimental data were collected from two videos of the Moon’s movement in positions close to the apogee and perigee. We chose two frames of both videos, and by means of image analysis we obtained a geometrical parameter for each video and by means of a kinematic model we defined a physical parameter. Then, by combining both parameters we calculated the maximal and minimum apparent diameters, which were used to calculate the eccentricity. Finally, we compared our results with values of literature.
Five fresh Lorentz force demos
Authors: Lincoln James , Moore Nick
Published: October 2019

Teaching the Lorentz force, that magnetic fields apply perpendicular forces on moving charges, is often the first lesson of electromagnetism. It is a joy to share this unexpected behavior of magnets. Yet the students do not usually get to handle the apparatus, let alone build it. Typical demonstrations are cathode ray tubes, jumping wires, and possibly a lab using an e/m apparatus. In this article we discuss several other methods by which to provide hands-on demonstrations of the Lorentz force, most with simple equipment, and all that are intriguing and effective.
Predicting the effects of periodicity on the intelligibility of masked speech: An evaluation of different modelling approaches and their limitations
Authors: Steinmetzger Kurt , Zaar Johannes , Relaño-Iborra Helia , Rosen Stuart , Dau Torsten
Published: October 2019

Four existing speech intelligibility models with different theoretical assumptions were used to predict previously published behavioural data. Those data showed that complex tones with pitch-related periodicity are far less effective maskers of speech than aperiodic noise. This so-called masker-periodicity benefit (MPB) far exceeded the fluctuating-masker benefit (FMB) obtained from slow masker envelope fluctuations. In contrast, the normal-hearing listeners hardly benefitted from periodicity in the target speech. All tested models consistently underestimated MPB and FMB, while most of them also overestimated the intelligibility of vocoded speech. To understand these shortcomings, the internal signal representations of the models were analysed in detail. The best-performing model, the correlation-based version of the speech-based envelope power spectrum model (sEPSMcorr), combined an auditory processing front end with a modulation filterbank and a correlation-based back end. This model was then modified to further improve the predictions. The resulting second version of the sEPSMcorr outperformed the original model with all tested maskers and accounted for about half the MPB, which can be attributed to reduced modulation masking caused by the periodic maskers. However, as the sEPSMcorr2 failed to account for the other half of the MPB, the results also indicate that future models should consider the contribution of pitch-related effects, such as enhanced stream segregation, to further improve their predictive power.
Three-dimensional acoustic propagation effects induced by the sea ice canopy
Authors: Ballard Megan S.
Published: October 2019

This work examines three-dimensional (3D) propagation caused by interaction with the sea ice canopy using an approximate normal mode/parabolic equation hybrid model. The effects of horizontal refraction are assessed through comparison of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D solutions for the modal amplitudes and depth-averaged transmission loss. The following 3D effects are described: diffraction of sound into shadow zones behind ice keels, horizontal defocusing of sound behind ice keels, and horizontal focusing of sound that has propagated between ice keels. A statistical analysis shows that the 3D solution is characterized by 20% greater variance in the depth-averaged transmission loss than the 2D solution.
In Vitro
Efficacies, ADME, and Pharmacokinetic Properties of Phenoxazine Derivatives Active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Tanner Lloyd , Evans Joanna C. , Seldon Ronnett , Jordaan Audrey , Warner Digby F. , Haynes Richard K. , Parkinson Christopher J. , Wiesner Lubbe
Published: October 2019

Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, the causative agent of tuberculosis, remains a leading infectious killer globally, demanding the urgent development of faster-acting drugs with novel mechanisms of action. Riminophenazines such as clofazimine are clinically efficacious against both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant strains of
M. tuberculosis
.
Oseltamivir Is Effective against 1918 Influenza Virus Infection of Macaques but Vulnerable to Escape
Authors: Feldmann Friederike , Kobasa Darwyn , Embury-Hyatt Carissa , Grolla Allen , Taylor Tracy , Kiso Maki , Kakugawa Satoshi , Gren Jason , Jones Steven M. , Kawaoka Yoshihiro , Feldmann Heinz
Published: October 2019

Oseltamivir phosphate is used as a first line of defense in the event of an influenza pandemic prior to vaccine administration. Treatment failure through selection and replication of drug-resistant viruses is a known complication in the field and was also demonstrated in our study with spread of resistant 1918 influenza virus in multiple respiratory tissues. This emphasizes the importance of early treatment and the possibility that noncompliance may exacerbate treatment effectiveness. It also demonstrates the importance of implementing combination therapy and vaccination strategies as soon as possible in a pandemic situation.
Vaginal Biomarkers That Predict Cervical Length and Dominant Bacteria in the Vaginal Microbiomes of Pregnant Women
Authors: Witkin Steven S. , Moron Antonio F. , Ridenhour Benjamin J. , Minis Evelyn , Hatanaka Alan , Sarmento Stephanno G. P. , Franca Marcelo S. , Carvalho Francisco H. C. , Hamamoto Tatiana K. , Mattar Rosiane , Sabino Ester , Linhares Iara M. , Rudge Marilza V. C. , Forney Larry J.
Published: October 2019

Premature birth and its complications are the largest contributors to infant death in the United States and globally. A short cervical length and the depletion of
Lactobacillus
species are known risk factors for preterm birth. However, in many resource-poor areas of the world, the technology to test for their occurrence is unavailable, and pregnant women with these risk factors are neither identified nor treated. In this study, we used path analysis to gain an unprecedented understanding of interactions between vaginal microbiome composition, the concentrations of various compounds in vaginal secretions, and cervical length. We identified low-cost point-of-care measures that might be used to identify pregnant women at risk for preterm birth. The use of these measures coupled with appropriate preventative or treatment strategies could reduce the incidence of preterm births in poor areas of the world that lack access to more sophisticated diagnostic methods.