bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vikingism as a Metametaphysical Thesis
Authors: Livanios Vassilis
Published: July 2019

This paper aims to be a contribution to the recent discussion on the science‐metaphysics relationship. After drawing a distinction between two aspects of the relationship, it defends the theoretical importance of the proposed distinction and argues for the interconnectedness of the aspects in question. The paper then focuses on one of those aspects: that is, the methodological strategy of some metaphysicians to appeal to scientific findings and practice in the course of discussing variouspuremetaphysical problems. It discusses the question about the scope of science‐informed metaphysics and its relation to the issue concerning the existence of an autonomous metaphysical possibility. Finally, the paper explores the reasons metaphysicians have for involving science in metaphysical discussions.
Is Global Poverty a Philosophical Problem?
Authors: Berryman Sylvia
Published: July 2019

Peter Singer’s groundbreaking call to action in 1972, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” drew philosophical attention to the topic of famine and the associated suffering or preventable death of many throughout the world. Yet despite the volume of philosophical work Singer’s paper inspired, it would still be easy to suppose that global poverty is not a problem for philosophers to take seriouslyin itselfbut is rather a particularly stark illustration or instance of a more general problem, whether in ethics or in political philosophy. The aim of this paper is to argue that the philosophical landscape of global poverty is both sui generis and sufficiently complex that the topic should be considered not as an instance of a more general philosophical problem but as a distinct area of normative inquiry.
PthA4AT, a 7.5‐repeats transcription activator‐like (TAL) effector fromXanthomonas citrissp.citri, triggers citrus canker resistance
Authors: Roeschlin Roxana Andrea , Uviedo Facundo , García Lucila , Molina María Celeste , Favaro María Alejandra , Chiesa María Amalia , Tasselli Sabrina , Franco‐Zorrilla José Manuel , Forment Javier , Gadea José , Marano María Rosa
Published: July 2019

Transcription activator‐like effectors (TALEs) are important effectors ofXanthomonasspp. that manipulate the transcriptome of the host plant, conferring susceptibility or resistance to bacterial infection.Xanthomonas citrissp.citrivariant AT(X. citriAT) triggers a host‐specific hypersensitive response (HR) that suppresses citrus canker development. However, the bacterial effector that elicits this process is unknown. In this study, we show that a 7.5‐repeat TALE is responsible for triggering the HR. PthA4ATwas identified within thepthArepertoire ofX. citriATfollowed by assay of the effects on different hosts. The mode of action of PthA4ATwas characterized using protein‐binding microarrays and testing the effects of deletion of the nuclear localization signals and activation domain on plant responses. PthA4ATis able to bind DNA and activate transcription in an effector binding element‐dependent manner. Moreover, HR requires PthA4ATnuclear localization, suggesting the activation of executor resistance (R) genes in host and non‐host plants. This is the first case where a TALE of unusually short length performs a biological function by means of its repeat domain, indicating that the action of these effectors to reprogramme the host transcriptome following nuclear localization is not limited to ‘classical’ TALEs.
Shades of gray: Conscientious objection in medical assistance in dying
Authors: Pesut Barbara , Thorne Sally , Greig Madeleine
Published: July 2019

With the advent of legalized medical assistance in dying [MAiD] in Canada in 2016, nursing is facing intriguing new ethical and theoretical challenges. Among them is the concept of conscientious objection, which was built into the legislation as a safeguard to protect the rights of healthcare workers who feel they cannot participate in something that feels morally or ethically wrong. In this paper, we consider the ethical complexity that characterizes nurses' participation in MAiD and propose strategies to support nurses' moral reflection and imagination as they seek to make sense of their decision to participate or not. Deconstructing the multiple and sometimes conflicting ethical and professional obligations inherent in nursing in such a context, we consider ways in which nurses can sustain their role as critically reflective moral agents within a context of a relational practice, serving the diverse needs of patients, families, and communities, as Canadian society continues to evolve within this new way of engaging with matters of living and dying.
Fruit‐dependent epigenetic regulation of flowering in Citrus
Authors: Agustí Manuel , Mesejo Carlos , Muñoz‐Fambuena Natalia , Vera‐Sirera Francisco , de Lucas Miguel , Martínez‐Fuentes Amparo , Reig Carmina , Iglesias Domingo J. , Primo‐Millo Eduardo , Blázquez Miguel A.
Published: July 2019

In many perennial plants, seasonal flowering is primarily controlled by environmental conditions, but in certain polycarpic plants, environmental signals are locally gated by the presence of developing fruits initiated in the previous season through an unknown mechanism.

Polycarpy is defined as the ability of plants to undergo several rounds of reproduction during their lifetime, alternating vegetative and reproductive meristems in the same individual.

To understand how fruits regulate flowering in polycarpic plants, we focused on alternate bearing in Citrus trees that had been experimentally established as fully flowering or nonflowering.

We found that the presence of the fruit causes epigenetic changes correlating with the induction of the CcMADS19 floral repressor, which prevents the activation of the floral promoter CiFT2 even in the presence of the floral inductive signals. By contrast, newly emerging shoots display an opposite epigenetic scenario associated with CcMADS19 repression, thereby allowing the activation of CiFT2 the following cold season.
Part 2: Theoretical equivalence in physics
Authors: Weatherall James Owen
Published: July 2019

I review the philosophical literature on the question of when two physical theories are equivalent. This includes a discussion of empirical equivalence, which is often taken to be necessary, and sometimes taken to be sufficient, for theoretical equivalence; and “interpretational” equivalence, which is the idea that two theories are equivalent just in case they have the same interpretation. It also includes a discussion of several formal notions of equivalence that have been considered in the recent philosophical literature, including (generalized) definitional equivalence and categorical equivalence. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the relationship between equivalence and duality. The article is in two parts; this is Part 2, which addresses categorical equivalence, interpretational equivalence, and duality.
Part 1: Theoretical equivalence in physics
Authors: Weatherall James Owen
Published: July 2019

I review the philosophical literature on the question of when two physical theories are equivalent. This includes a discussion of empirical equivalence, which is often taken to be necessary, and sometimes taken to be sufficient, for theoretical equivalence; and “interpretational” equivalence, which is the idea that two theories are equivalent just in case they have the same interpretation. It also includes a discussion of several formal notions of equivalence that have been considered in the recent philosophical literature, including (generalized) definitional equivalence and categorical equivalence. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the relationship between equivalence and duality. The article is in two parts; this is Part 1, which addresses empirical equivalence and definitional equivalence.
Contrasting water sources and water‐use efficiency in coexisting desert plants in two saline‐sodic soils in northwest China
Authors: Min X.‐J. , Zang Y.‐X. , Sun W. , Ma J.‐Y.
Published: July 2019

Soil degradation resulting from various types of salinity is a major environmental problem, especially in arid and semiarid regions. Exploring the water‐related physiological traits of halophytes is useful for understanding the mechanisms of salt tolerance. This knowledge could be used to rehabilitate degraded arid lands.

To investigate whether different types of salinity influence the water sources and water‐use efficiency of desert plants (Karelinia caspia, Tamarix hohenackeri, Nitraria sibirica, Phragmites australis, Alhagi sparsifolia, Suaeda microphylla, Kalidium foliatum) in natural environments, we measured leaf gas exchange, leaf carbon and xylem oxygen isotope composition and soil oxygen isotope composition at neutral saline‐sodic site (NSS) and alkaline saline‐sodic site (ASS) in northwest China.

The studied plants had different xylem water oxygen isotope compositions (δ18O) and foliar carbon isotope compositions (δ13C), indicating that desert plants coexist through differentiation in water use patterns. Compared to that at the NSS site, the stem water in K. caspia, A. sparsifolia and S. microphylla was depleted in 18O at the ASS site, which indicates that plants can switch to obtain water from deeper soil layers when suffering environmental stress from both salinity and alkalinisation. Alhagi sparsifolia had higher δ13C at the ASS site than at the NSS site, while K. caspia and S. microphylla had lower δ13C, which may have resulted from interspecific differences in plant alkali and salt tolerance ability.

Our results suggest that under severe salinity and alkalinity, plants may exploit deeper soil water to avoid ion toxicity resulting from high concentrations of soluble salts in the superficial soil layer. In managed lands, it is vital to select and cultivate different salt‐tolerant or alkali‐tolerant plant species in light of local conditions.
A Data-Driven Supply-Side Approach for Estimating Cross-Border Internet Purchases Within the European Union
Authors: Meertens Q. A. , Diks C. G. H. , van den Herik H. J. , Takes F. W.
Published: July 2019

The digital economy is a highly relevant item on the European Union’s policy agenda. We focus on cross-border Internet purchases, as part of the digital economy, the total value of which cannot be accurately estimated by using existing consumer survey approaches. In fact, they lead to a serious underestimation. To obtain an accurate estimate, we propose a three-step data-driven approach based on supply-side data. For the first step, we develop a data-driven generic method for firm level probabilistic record linkage of tax data and business registers. In the second step, we use machine learning to identify webshops based on website data. Then, in the third step, we implement recently developed bias correction techniques that have hitherto been overlooked by the machine learning community. Subsequently, we claim that our three-step approach can be applied to any European Union member state, leading to more accurate estimates of cross-border Internet purchases than those obtained by currently existing approaches. To justify the claim, we apply our approach to the Netherlands for the year 2016 and find an estimate that is six times as high as current estimates, having a standard deviation of 8%. Hence, we may conclude that our new approach deserves more investigation and applications.
Effect of 24‐week strength training on unstable surfaces on mobility, balance, and concern about falling in older adults
Authors: Pirauá André Luiz Torres , Cavalcante Bruno Remígio , de Oliveira Valéria Mayaly Alves , Beltrão Natália Barros , de Amorim Batista Gabriel , Pitangui Ana Carolina Rodarti , Behm David , de Araújo Rodrigo Cappato
Published: July 2019

Objective

To evaluate the effects of 24 weeks of strength training on stable (ST) and unstable surfaces (UST) on the functional mobility, balance, and concern about falling in healthy older adults, younger than 70.

Design

A single‐center randomized clinical trial.

Participants

Sixty‐four older adults (58 females and 6 males; 68 years) were randomized into control, ST, or UST groups.

Interventions

Both ST and UST intervention groups received a core muscle, upper, and lower limb moderate‐intensity strength exercises using stable and unstable surfaces. The classes were performed three times per week over a 24‐week period. The control group did not receive any type of active intervention.

Measurements

The primary outcome measures were the dynamic balance (Berg Balance Scale (BBS)) and functional mobility (timed up and go (TUG) test). The secondary outcomes included the sitting and rising test (SRT) and Falls Efficacy Scale—International (FESI) scores.

Results

There was a significant improvement in balance performance (BBS = +4 points) after 24 weeks of both ST (+1.22; 95% CI, −0.19 to 2.63) and UST (+2.26; 95% CI, 0.83‐3.70) compared with the control group. Additionally, compared with the control, only UST experienced functional mobility gains (TUG = −2.44; 95% CI, −4.41 to −0.48; SRT = +1.12; 95% CI, 0.08‐2.17) and decreased concern about falling (FESI = −4.41; 95% CI, −9.30 to −0.27).

Conclusion

Long‐term ST with and without unstable devices was effective to improve dynamic balance in older adults. Furthermore, the effects of UST were extended to functional mobility gains and reduced concern about falling.
Perceived discrimination and health: Paradigms and prospects
Authors: Allen Eric
Published: July 2019

This article reviews recent research on the effects of perceived discrimination on subsequent mental and physical health. I argue that despite legal reforms banning discrimination since the civil rights era, discrimination persists, posing an ongoing health risk and maintaining social health inequalities. Couched within broader health trends, this covers ongoing challenges and new developments, particularly related to measurement, and promising directions. As the most commonly reported location of individual discrimination is at work, this review concludes by arguing for the significance of the workplace as a unique context ripe for further inquiry for scholars interested in health inequality.
The Left Periphery of the German Noun Phrase
Authors: Roehrs Dorian
Published: July 2019

This paper examines prenominalvon‐possessives in German and relates them to Saxon Genitives and Possessor Doublings in that language.Von‐possessives are prepositional possessives that precede determiners and are stressed. Saxon Genitives and Possessor Doublings are nominal possessives that pattern together but have properties different fromvon‐possessives. It is proposed that there are two left peripheral positions in the German noun phrase: Spec,DPand Spec,LPP. Nominal possessives move to Spec,DPchecking the definiteness feature on D. In contrast, prepositional possessives move to the specifier of a higher Left Periphery Phrase checking a discourse feature. Despite these differences, this paper proposes that all possessive constructions have the same basic inner makeup. It is shown that non‐possessive elements can also surface in Spec,LPP. This dichotomy between nominal possessives and preposedPPs provides another argument that the nominal left periphery is more complex than usually assumed. However, it will be shown that in German the nominal left periphery is different from that of the clause.
Is donating blood for the faint of heart? a systematic review of predictors of syncope in whole blood donors
Authors: Donald Scott J. , McIntyre William F. , Dingwall Orvie , Hiebert Brett , Ponnampalam Arjuna , Seifer Colette M.
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND

Adverse events during donation negatively impact the likelihood of subsequent donation. Syncope is a possible complication of blood donation in healthy individuals. This systematic review aims to identify risk factors for syncope in healthy blood donors.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, Web of Science, Transfusion Evidence Library, and PubMed libraries up to November 2016 were searched. Inclusion criteria were observational and interventional trials, case series including more than 10 participants, randomized controlled trials, and clinical trials. Papers required data pertaining to syncopal events separate from presyncope for inclusion. Incomplete text or non–English language versions were excluded. Papers were evaluated using the CHARMS 2014 checklist.

RESULTS

From 3316 papers, 1297 unique citations were identified, and 11 were selected for data extraction. Sex, estimated blood volume, age, donor status, blood pressure, heart rate, weight, previous reaction, caffeine, sleep, and donation site were identified as risk factors for syncope during blood donation.

CONCLUSION

Possible risk factors for syncope in healthy blood donors have been identified that could allow for improved screening prior to donation and potential reduction in donor attrition due to negative experiences.
Evaluation of a tool to score donor vein suitability for blood donation
Authors: Hirani Rena , O’Donovan Justine , Knight Elizabeth , Bell Barbara , Mondy Phillip
Published: July 2019

Background and Objectives

Phlebotomy is a central task for whole blood donation, yet there are no published standards regarding systematic donor vein assessment or the impact of vein quality on successful blood donation. Blood donation failures and related adverse events are highly predictive of donors not returning for future blood donation. A specific blood donation vein scoring tool was assessed to measure donor vein suitability for whole blood collection and investigate the correlation of the donor’s veins with donation outcomes.

Materials and Methods

The vein assessment tool consisted of three questions using a 5‐point Likert‐type scale to measure responses. Two phlebotomists performed blinded assessments of each donor’s veins on each arm using the tool. The individual measures were then aggregated to provide a total vein score out of 12. Inter‐rater reliability of the vein score tool was assessed by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient for absolute agreement.

Results

Fifty‐seven phlebotomists across four fixed blood donation centres performed paired vein assessments on 553 blood donors. The intraclass correlation coefficient indicated moderate inter‐rater reliability was achieved. The median scores for viable donations were 10, for non‐viable donations were 6·5 and for failed phlebotomies were 4. Donation histories of donors with lower vein scores indicated lower success during blood donation.

Conclusion

The vein score tool appears to be predictive of a successful donation outcome, however, since there was not a suitably high correlation between the scores of the two assessors, further refinement of the tool will be required prior to wider use.
Impact of cell saver during cardiac surgery on blood transfusion requirements: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Al Khabori Murtadha , Al Riyami Arwa , Siddiqi Mohammad Salman , Sarfaraz Ziyab Khan , Ziadinov Edem , Al Sabti Hilal
Published: July 2019

Objective

We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials on adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery and compared the rates of red blood cell (RBC), platelet and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion between the cell saver (CS) and the standard of care groups.

Methods

MEDLINE ®, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), American Society of Hematology (ASH) and bibliographies of relevant studies were searched. We used random‐effect model.

Results

Our search strategy returned 624 citations, of which 15 studies were selected. The use of CS did not decrease the rate of RBC transfusion (odds ratio [OR]: 0·69; 95% CI: 0·48–1·00), albeit with a substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 60%). The year of publication explained most of the heterogeneity (P for subgroup effect <0·001). Although the rate of platelet transfusion was lower in the CS group, the difference was not statistically significant (OR: 0·83; 95% CI: 0·57–1·2; I2 = 0%). The rate of FFP transfusion was numerically higher in the CS group; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (OR: 1·26; 95% CI: 0·82–1·94; I2 = 15%). Only two studies scored five on the Jadad score. There was no indication of a publication bias using the funnel plot and Egger test (P = 0·34, 0·87, and 0·62 for RBC, platelet and FFP, respectively).

Conclusion

The use of CS during cardiac surgery does not have an impact on the rates of RBC, platelet and FFP transfusion; however, this should be interpreted in the light of the study limitations.
The LunHab project: Muscle and bone alterations in male participants following a 10 day lunar habitat simulation
Authors: McDonnell Adam C. , Eiken Ola , Frings‐Meuthen Petra , Rittweger Joern , Mekjavic Igor B.
Published: July 2019

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

It is well established that muscle and bone atrophy in conditions of inactivity or unloading, but there is little information regarding the effect of a hypoxic environment on the time course of these deconditioning physiological systems.

What is the main finding and its importance?

The main finding is that a horizontal 10 day bed rest in normoxia results in typical muscle atrophy, which is not aggravated by hypoxia. Changes in bone mineral content or in metabolism were not detected after either normoxic or hypoxic bed rest.

Musculoskeletal atrophy constitutes a typical adaptation to inactivity and unloading of weightbearing bones. The reduced‐gravity environment in future Moon and Mars habitats is likely to be hypobaric hypoxic, and there is an urgent need to understand the effect of hypoxia on the process of inactivity‐induced musculoskeletal atrophy. This was the principal aim of the present study. Eleven males participated in three 10 day interventions: (i) hypoxic ambulatory confinement; (ii) hypoxic bed rest; and (iii) normoxic bed rest. Before and after the interventions, the muscle strength (isometric maximal voluntary contraction), mass (lean mass, by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry), cross‐sectional area and total bone mineral content (determined with peripheral quantitative computed tomography) of the participants were measured. Blood and urine samples were collected before and on the 1st, 4th and 10th day of the intervention and analysed for biomarkers of bone resorption and formation. There was a significant reduction in thigh and lower leg muscle mass and volume after both normoxic and hypoxic bed rests. Muscle strength loss was proportionately greater than the loss in muscle mass for both thigh and lower leg. There was no indication of bone loss. Furthermore, the biomarkers of resorption and formation were not affected by any of the interventions. There was no significant effect of hypoxia on the musculoskeletal variables. Short‐term normoxic (10 day) bed rest resulted in muscular deconditioning, but not in the loss of bone mineral content or changes in bone metabolism. Hypoxia did not modify these results.
Impact of substrates on the electrical properties of thin chromium films [Online First]
Authors: Udachan Shiva L. , Ayachit N. H. , Udachan L. A.
Published: July 2019

Objective: We studied the impact of substrates on the electrical properties of thin chromium films. Substrates may serve many purposes, such as to define orientation, to conduct electrical current in vertical devices, as a gate in transistors, etc. The thickness range of the chromium films grown on both substrates was (3.5-70) nm. Methods and materials: We used Fuchs-Sondheimer(FS) and Mayadas-Shatzkes(MS) theories to analyze electrical resistivity data for chromium(Cr) films grown on both substrates simultaneously by thermal evaporation in vacuum, under identical deposition conditions. Results and discussion: The infinitely thick film resistivity (ρ0), conduction electron mean free path(l), specularity parameter(p), scattering power of the grain boundary(α') and grain boundary reflection coefficient(R') were found to depend upon the nature of the substrate and the binding force between them and evaporated chromium atoms. The growth and microstructure of the chromium films were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Conclusions: Our experimental data exactly fits with the MS theory in the entire thickness range grown for the chromium films deposited on both the substrates. Examination of film structure by SEM indicated that the films consist of grains of relatively pure chromium of different sizes, and depends upon deposition conditions and parameters, which are important factors that dictate the structural properties of the films.
Caecal volvulus following left-side laparoscopic retroperitoneal nephroureterectomy
Authors: Abdoolraheem Mohammad Yusuf , Quraishi Mohammed Kamil , Tonsi Alfredo , Henderson Alastair
Published: July 2019

Caecal volvulus is an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction, with a high associated morbidity and mortality. Caecal volvulus is a very rare complication following retroperitoneal surgery. As such, a high degree of clinical suspicion is warranted post operatively to minimise delay in definitively investigating and managing this condition. We present a case of an 80-year-old Caucasian woman who was admitted for an elective left-sided laparoscopic retroperitoneal nephroureterectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the left upper pole renal calyx. Postoperatively, the patient developed intestinal obstruction, secondary to caecal volvulus. The patient underwent an emergency laparotomy and limited right-sided colonic resection with primary anastomosis.
Recurrent unilateral cellulitis: is it May-Thurner syndrome (MTS)?
Authors: Choy Kay Tai , Bhutia Sherab
Published: July 2019

May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is a differential diagnosis to be considered in a patient with recurrent unilateral cellulitis. A 73-year-old woman initially presented with recurrent unilateral cellulitis of her left lower limb. A CT scan demonstrated a stenosed left common iliac vein (CIV) narrowed at its origin by the proximal right common iliac artery consistent with MTS. The chronicity of the condition at the time of diagnosis made attempts to recanalise the CIV unsuccessful. A diagnosis of MTS should be considered in a patient with chronic unilateral limb oedema/cellulitis as it represents a potentially treatable condition if detected early.
Mixed-methods evaluation comparing the impact of two different mindfulness approaches on stress, anxiety and depression in school teachers
Authors: Todd Charlotte , Cooksey Roxanne , Davies Helen , McRobbie Clare , Brophy Sinead
Published: July 2019

Objectives

This study compared the impact of two different 8-week mindfulness based courses (.b Foundations and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)), delivered to school teachers, on quantitative (stress, anxiety and depression) and qualitative (experience, acceptability and implementation) outcomes.

Design

A mixed-methods design was employed. Matched-paired t-tests were used to examine change from baseline, with imputation conducted to account for those lost to follow-up. Qualitative methods involved 1:1 semistructured interviews (n=10). Thematic analysis was used to explore differences in experience between courses.

Setting

Courses took place in UK primary schools or nearby leisure centres, 1:1 interviews took place via telephone.

Participants

44/69 teachers from schools in the UK were recruited from their attendance at mindfulness courses (.b and MBSR).

Interventions

Participants attended either an MBSR (experiential style learning, 2 hours per week) or .b Foundations (more classroom focused learning, 1.5 hours per week) 8-week mindfulness course.

Outcome measures

Stress (Perceived Stress Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were evaluated in both groups at baseline (n=44), end of intervention (n=32) and 3-month follow-up (n=19).

Results

Both courses were associated with significant reductions in stress (.b 6.38; 95% CI 1.74 to 11.02; MBSR 9.69; 95% CI 4.9 to 14.5) and anxiety (.b 3.36; 95% CI 1.69 to 5.0; MBSR 4.06; 95% CI 2.6 to 5.5). MBSR was associated with improved depression outcomes (4.3; 95% CI 2.5 to 6.11). No differences were found in terms of experience and acceptability. Four main themes were identified including preconceptions, factors influencing delivery, perceived impact and training desires/practical application.

Conclusion

.b Foundations appears as beneficial as MBSR in anxiety and stress reduction but MBSR may be more appropriate for depression. Consideration over implementation factors may largely improve the acceptability of mindfulness courses for teachers. Further research with larger samples is needed.
Systematic review protocol: an assessment of the post-approval challenges of autologous CAR-T therapy delivery
Authors: Lam Ching , Meinert Edward , Halioua-Haubold Celine-Lea , Carter Alison , Yang Aidong , Brindley David , Cui Zhanfeng
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Following recent regulatory approvals of two chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies, the field now faces a number of post-approval challenges. These challenges are in some respects defined and, in others, uncertain due to the nascence of the field. At present, information pertaining to such post-approval challenges are scattered in various previous reviews or raised in singular papers reporting experience in working with the therapy. This systematic review is designed to evaluate and summarise the post-approval challenges for robust delivery of CAR-T therapies to inform future work on the optimisation of CAR-T delivery to patients.

Methods and analysis

We will search Medline, EMBASE (OvidSP), BIOSIS & Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ICER database, NICE Evidence Search, CEA Registry, WHOLIS WHO Library and Scopus for studies published between 2014 and the present. In addition, a Google search for grey literature such as bioprocess blog posts, opinion pieces, press releases and listed companies involved in CAR-T development annual reports will be conducted. Two authors will independently screen the titles and abstracts identified from the search and accept or reject the studies according to the study inclusion criteria and any discrepancies will be discussed and resolved. The quality of the selected literature will be assessed using theCritical Appraisal Skills Programme(CASP) Systematic Review checklist and grey literature will be assessed using the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance (AACODS) checklist. Data from eligible publications will be categorised using a flowchart and extracted using a data abstraction form. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the post-approval challenges of CAR-T therapies will be conducted based on the results attained.

Ethics and dissemination

The executed study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The findings from this review will be used to inform the development of an optimisation model for robust delivery of CAR-T therapies using a systems engineering approach.

Trial registration number

CRD42018109756.
Cross-sectional study on influence of the family environment on the lifetime non-medical use of prescription drugs among Chinese adolescents in Guangdong: an analysis of sex differences
Authors: Wang Wanxin , Luo Min , Xi Chuhao , Lei Yiling , Pan Siyuan , Gao Xue , Xu Yan , Huang Guoliang , Deng Xueqing , Guo Lan , Lu CiYong
Published: July 2019

Objectives

This study aimed to assess if adolescents had used any prescription drugs non-medically, to explore the associations between the family environment and non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) and to investigate whether there are any sex differences in the aforementioned associations.

Design

A population-based cross-sectional study.

Setting

A secondary analysis of the cross-sectional data collected from high school students in Guangdong who were sampled using a multistage, stratified-cluster, random-sampling method in the 2015 School-based Chinese Adolescents Health Survey.

Participants

A total of 21 774 students aged 12–20 years.

Data analysis

Multilevel logistic regression models were used to explore the univariable and multivariable relationship between family environment and NMUPD among adolescents. Adjusted ORs and corresponding 95% CI were calculated.

Outcome measures

Questions regarding to adolescent’ NMUPD (including sedative, opioid and stimulant) were surveyed in the study.

Results

A total of 6.3% students reported lifetime NMUPD in this study. The most commonly used drugs were opioids (3.9%), followed by sedatives (3.2%) and stimulants (2.5%). Multilevel analyses indicated that living arrangements, family economic status, parental relationships, parental education levels, monthly pocket money, parental drinking and drug problems were significantly correlated to the NMUPD among all students. Among boys, living arrangements, family economic status, maternal education levels, monthly pocket money, parental drinking and drug problems were significantly related to different types of NMUPD. The same factors were related to girls’ NMUPD, except for maternal education levels. Parental relationships and paternal education levels were also associated with girls’ NMUPD.

Conclusion

The family environment exerts an important influence on adolescents’ NMUPD. Interventions targeted at families are highly recommended considering the negative effects of NMUPD. In addition, the child’s sex might be taken into consideration when developing and implementing preventive strategies.
Dose–response associations between metabolic indexes and the risk of comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus among rheumatoid arthritis patients from Northern China: a case–control study
Authors: Li Guangxiao , Chi Weijun , Bai Bingqing , Li Ying , Wei Tingting , Fu Lingyu
Published: July 2019

Objective

To investigate whether there were any differences in the patterns of metabolic abnormalities between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and other populations, and to plot the dose–response relationships between metabolic indexes and the risk of comorbid T2DM among patients with RA.

Design and setting

This is a retrospective case–control study using electronic medical records (EMRs). Patients with RA and/or T2DM or controls who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University between April 2008 and December 2016 were retrospectively recruited through the EMR system. After age-matching and sex-matching, 261 controls, 274 patients with T2DM, 276 patients with RA and 151 patients with RA+T2DM were eventually recruited.

Results

Patients with RA+T2DM exhibited higher levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and triglyceride (TG) than the RA only patients. Moreover, the proportions of impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) dyslipidaemia in the RA+T2DM group were higher than those in the RA alone group (for IFG: 28.48% vs 18.84%, p=0.02; for TC: 25.17% vs 15.22%, p=0.01; for LDL-C: 25.83% vs 17.03%; p=0.03). Rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity and IFG were independent risk indicators for comorbid T2DM among patients with RA (for RF positivity: OR=0.45; 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.69; p<0.001; for IFG: OR=1.70; 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.76; p=0.03).

Conclusion

Linear dose–response associations between SBP, TC, TG and the risk of comorbid T2DM among patients with RA were observed, whereas a non-linear dose–response association between FPG and the risk of comorbid T2DM was found. Patients with RA+T2DM were more likely to exhibit metabolic abnormalities than RA only patients. Patients with RA+T2DM with metabolic abnormalities deserve more attention from rheumatologists and endocrinologists.
Efficacy and safety of acupuncture as an adjuvant treatment for acute pancreatitis: a protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Kai , Li Chengyu , Gao Chao , Zhao Chen , Tang Qilin , Zhai Jingbo , Li Yan
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Acupuncture may be effective for acute pancreatitis (AP). This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as an adjuvant treatment for AP.

Methods and analysis

We will search PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Data and Chinese Science Journal Database from inception to 30 June 2019 to identify any eligible study. Only randomised controlled trials will be included. The selection of studies, data extraction and management will be completed by two reviewers independently. The primary outcomes include the overall response rate, mortality during the treatment, the proportion of patients with severe acute pancreatitis transferred to the intensive care unit or scheduled for surgery, gastrointestinal function and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scores. The secondary outcomes include visual analogue scale, the use of analgesics, the recovery time of blood amylase becoming normal, tumour necrosis factor α counts, IL-6 counts, IL-10 counts, length of hospital stay and adverse events related to acupuncture (such as fainting, nausea, haematoma and local infection). Review Manager V.5.3 software will be used for statistical analyses. The risk of bias of included studies will be assessed by the Cochrane ‘risk of bias’ tool.

Ethics and dissemination

This study will not involve personal information. The ethical approval will not be required. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial registration number

CRD42018115099
Duodenal ganglioneuromatosis causing common bile duct obstruction in a dog
Authors: Deprez Pauline , Grand Jean‐Guillaume , Harran Nathaniel
Published: July 2019

A 3‐year‐old intact female labrador retriever dog was presented for anorexia, weight loss and vomiting. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a mass of the descending duodenum involving the major duodenal papilla with loss of the normal intestinal wall layering. The distal part of the common bile duct was circumferentially thickened obliterating its lumen and causing extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Exploratory laparotomy was undertaken, total descending duodenum excision with gastrojejunostomy, cholecystojejunostomy and pancreaticojejunostomy procedures were performed. The dog died 3 days postoperatively. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry examinations of the specimens from the duodenectomy demonstrated multinodular to diffuse intestinal ganglioneuromatosis. This is the first reported case of an intestinal ganglioneuromatosis, a rare hyperplastic proliferation of ganglion cells and nerves of the enteric autonomic nervous system, involving the duodenum and causing extrahepatic biliary obstruction.
Towards consideration of epistemic uncertainty in shear-wave velocity measurements obtained via seismic cone penetration testing (SCPT)
Authors: Stolte Andrew C. , Cox Brady R.
Published: July 2019

Seismic cone penetration testing (SCPT) is a powerful geotechnical site characterization tool, allowing for simultaneous collection of routine cone penetration testing data and rapid downhole-type measurements of shear-wave velocity (VS). However, the uncertainties associated with developing VS profiles from SCPT measurements are rarely considered or communicated to the end-user. One important source of VS uncertainty is related to how the shear wave travel times are interpreted from the recorded waveforms, while another critical source of uncertainty is related to the analysis method used to transform the travel times to velocities. In this study, four common ways of obtaining travel times were considered: (i) first arrival picks, (ii) peaks and troughs picks, (iii) crossover picks, and (iv) the peak response of the cross-correlation function. Using these different travel times, a number of VS profiles were developed using four different velocity analysis methods: (i) pseudo-interval, (ii) true-interval, (iii) corrected vertical travel time slope-based, and (iv) raytracing. Through consideration of multiple wave arrival time and velocity analysis methods, a robust and meaningful quantification of the intramethod, depth-dependent epistemic uncertainty in VS obtained from several example SCPT datasets has been developed. VS uncertainty is further examined through consideration of the intermethod variability and bias between SCPT and direct-push crosshole testing.
Soil phosphorus bioavailability as influenced by long-term management and applied phosphorus source
Authors: Fraser Tandra D. , Lynch Derek H. , O’Halloran Ivan P. , Voroney R. Paul , Entz Martin H. , Dunfield Kari E.
Published: July 2019

Soil phosphorus (P) availability may be impacted by management practices, thereby affecting plant P uptake and plant response to P amendments. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of long-term management on soil P pools and to assess the response of P bioavailability, plant growth, and P uptake to mineral versus manure P treatments. Soils were collected from plots under organic (ORG), organic with composted manure (ORG + M), conventional (CONV), and restored prairie (PRA) management. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) seedlings were grown in the greenhouse for 106 d in soils amended with various rates of manure or mineral P. The ORG soil had lower concentrations of labile P (resin-P and NaHCO3-P) compared with the CONV and PRA soils, as determined by sequential P fractionation prior to planting. Ryegrass biomass (root + shoot) and shoot P uptake from soils receiving no P were significantly lower for the ORG than all other management systems. Although apparent P use efficiency of the whole plant was increased by low P rate in the ORG management system, the source of applied P, manure > mineral, only influenced Olsen test P.
Kernel Fuzzy Clustering with Output Layer Self-Connection Recurrent Neural Networks for Software Cost Estimation
Authors: Resmi V. , Vijayalakshmi S.
Published: July 2019

In the current world, the software cost estimation problem has been resolved using various newly developed methods. Significantly, the software cost estimation problems can be dealt with effectively with the recently grown recurrent neural network (RNN) than the other newly developed methods. In this paper, an improved approach is proposed to software cost estimation using Output layer self-connection recurrent neural networks (OLSRNN) with kernel fuzzy c-means clustering (KFCM). The proposed OLSRNN method follows the basics of traditional RNN models for integrating self-connections to the output layer; thereby, the output temporal dependencies are better captured. Also, the performance of neural networks is improved using the kernel fuzzy clustering algorithm to enhance software estimation results. Ultimately, five publicly available software cost estimation datasets are adapted to verify the efficacy of the proposed KFCM-OLSRNN method using the validation metrics such as MdMRE, PRED (0.25) and MMRE. The experimental results proved the efficiency of the proposed method for solving the software cost estimation problem.
Calculation of Q-value and half-life of alpha-decay chains of superheavy elements using double folding method
Authors: Nandana B. , Rahul R. , Mahadevan S.
Published: July 2019

[Formula: see text]-value and half-life of elements in alpha decay chain of [Formula: see text]117, [Formula: see text]117, [Formula: see text]116 and [Formula: see text]116 were calculated using the Nuclear potential generated by double folding procedure and using the WKB method treating the alpha decay as a tunneling problem. The nuclear potential was parameterized using Woods–Saxon potential. Using this approach, the [Formula: see text]-value and half-life of next heaviest element in the alpha decay chain of element [Formula: see text]116 is predicted. It is proposed to use this to predict the [Formula: see text]-value and half-life of other higher elements in different alpha decay chains.
ELECTROOSMOTIC FLOW IN TREE-LIKE BRANCHING MICROCHANNEL NETWORK
Authors: JING DALEI , YI SHANKAI
Published: July 2019

As a kind of microchannel layout with good transport performance, tree-like branching microchannel network has been widely used for microfluidic systems, however, the optimal analysis of the tree-like branching microchannel network for electroosmotic flow (EOF) to reach a minimized fluidic resistance still needs a deep study. In this work, the EOF in tree-like branching microchannel network is theoretically and numerically studied. It is found that there is an optimal structure of the tree-like branching network for the EOF to achieve a minimum fluidic resistance under the size constraint of constant total channel volume. This work found that the optimal channel radii of the tree-like network for EOF to reach a minimum fluidic resistance satisfy the relationship of [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the radius of the parent channel, [Formula: see text] is the radius of the child channels and [Formula: see text] is the total number of child channels. This formula can be regarded as an extended Murray’s law for EOF and is helpful for the optimization design of tree-like branching microchannel network for EOF to reach maximum transport efficiency under the constant applied driven voltage.
CONJECTURES ABOUT SIMPLE DYNAMICS FOR SOME REAL NEWTON MAPS ON ℝ2
Authors: DE LEO ROBERTO
Published: July 2019

We collect from several sources some of the most important results on the forward and backward limits of points under real and complex rational functions, and in particular real and complex Newton maps, in one variable and we provide numerical evidence that the dynamics of Newton maps [Formula: see text] associated to real polynomial maps [Formula: see text] with no complex roots has a complexity comparable with that of complex Newton maps in one variable. In particular such a map [Formula: see text] has no wandering domain, almost every point under [Formula: see text] is asymptotic to a fixed point and there is some non-empty open set of points whose [Formula: see text]-limit equals the set of non-regular points of the Julia set of [Formula: see text]. The first two points were proved by B. Barna in the real one-dimensional case.
EXPLORING THE VULNERABILITY OF FRACTAL COMPLEX NETWORKS THROUGH CONNECTION PATTERN AND FRACTAL DIMENSION
Authors: LI DONG-YAN , WANG XING-YUAN , HUANG PENG-HE
Published: July 2019

The structure of network has a significant impact on the stability of the network. It is useful to reveal the effect of fractal structure on the vulnerability of complex network since it is a ubiquitous feature in many real-world networks. There have been many studies on the stability of the small world and scale-free models, but little has been down on the quantitative research on fractal models. In this paper, the vulnerability was studied from two perspectives: the connection pattern between hubs and the fractal dimensions of the networks. First, statistics expression of inter-connections between any two hubs was defined and used to represent the connection pattern of the whole network. Our experimental results show that statistic values of inter-connections were obvious differences for each kind of complex model, and the more inter-connections, the more stable the network was. Secondly, the fractal dimension was considered to be a key factor related to vulnerability. Here we found the quantitative power function relationship between vulnerability and fractal dimension and gave the explicit mathematical formula. The results are helpful to build stable artificial network models through the analysis and comparison of the real brain network.