bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytological-energy analysis of pleural effusions
Authors: Kelbich Petr , Malý Vilém , Matuchová Inka , Čegan Martin , Staněk Ivan , Král Jiří , Karpjuk Ondřej , Moudrá-Wünschová Irena , Kubalík Jan , Hanuljaková Eva , Krejsek Jan
Published: April 2019

Background

Simultaneous cytological and metabolic investigation of the pleural effusion provides clinically relevant information about the type and intensity of immune response in the pleural cavity.

Methods

We investigated 1329 pleural effusions from patients with different pathological changes in the pleural cavity. Evaluated parameters were differential cell count of neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes, and values of the coefficient of energy balance.

Results

We found the lowest numbers of cells and the highest coefficient of energy balance values in patients with heart failure and sepsis; relatively high frequency of eosinophils and slightly decreased coefficient of energy balance values in patients with pneumothorax and haemothorax; the predominance of lymphocytes and low coefficient of energy balance values in patients with tuberculous pleuritis; the predominance of neutrophils and variable coefficient of energy balance values in patients after chest surgery; the highest presence of neutrophils and very low coefficient of energy balance values in patients with chest empyema and the predominance of lymphocytes and normal to low coefficient of energy balance values in patients with pleural malignancy.

Conclusions

Our findings in patients with heart failure and sepsis suggest the absence of inflammation in the pleural cavity. We observed the manifestation of tissue repair in patients with pneumothorax and haemothorax. Patients with tuberculous pleuritis were predominantly characterized by T cell-driven immune response and oxidative burst of macrophages. We found different intensities of immune responses to the chest surgery. The typical finding in patients with empyema was oxidative burst of neutrophils. In patients with pleural malignancy, weak cytotoxic inflammation predominates together with the intensive inflammation characterized by oxidative burst of macrophages.
A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay for the profiling of classical and 11-oxygenated androgens in saliva
Authors: Schiffer Lina , Adaway Joanne E , Arlt Wiebke , Keevil Brian G
Published: April 2019

Background

Classical and 11-oxygenated androgens both contribute to the androgen pool. Regular monitoring of the androgen status is required in disorders of steroidogenesis, and multiplexing of androgens improves the diagnostic ability of an assay. Due to the cheap non-invasive collection, saliva is advantageous when multiple samples are required. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) offers sensitive, simultaneous quantification of steroids with short run times. Here, we have developed an LC-MS/MS assay for the simultaneous measurement of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione and 11-ketotestosterone in saliva.

Methods

Samples (300 μL unstimulated whole saliva) were prepared by supported liquid extraction with dichloromethane and were reconstituted in 40% methanol. After online solid phase extraction with C18 cartridges, liquid chromatography was performed on a C8 column using a water/methanol gradient containing 0.1% formic acid and 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate. A Waters TQ-S mass spectrometer was used for quantification.

Results

Total run time was 6.4 min. For all analytes, recovery was between 89% and 109%, ion suppression between 86% and 105%. Intra- and inter-assay comparisons showed a coefficient of variation <10% and the bias between measured and nominal concentration varied between –8% and 10%. Interference with a large set of natural and synthetic steroids was excluded. The assay was applied for the measurement of the androgen profile in healthy men ( n = 17) and women ( n = 10) which confirmed the sensitivity of the assay to be appropriate.

Conclusion

We present a novel LC-MS/MS assay for the comprehensive profiling of classical and 11-oxygenated androgens with potential for routine clinical application.
Characterization of galactosyl and lactosyl sulfatide species in human serum by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry
Authors: Hori Atsushi , Yamaura Makoto , Morita Sunao , Uehara Takeshi , Honda Takayuki , Hidaka Hiroya
Published: April 2019

Background

Sulfatides are found in a variety of tissues and serum lipoproteins. Sulfatide is a molecular species composed of various sphingoid bases, fatty acids and sugar chains; therefore, rapid analysis of the qualitative structure is important in clinical assessment.

Methods

In this study, sulfatide-rich fractions were isolated from serum lipids, and the sulfatide species were analysed by negative ion mode using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

Results

Sulfatide species identified in human serum included two different sugar chains, eight sphingoid molecules and various fatty acid side chains including hydroxy fatty acids. In total, 64 galactosyl sulfatides (SM4s) and 49 lactosyl sulfatides (SM3) were identified. Quantitatively, the amount of SM3 was less than 1% of the amount of SM4s. The fatty acids of SM4s of healthy serum ( n = 8) were predominantly C16:0 and a hydroxylation C16:0 (C16:0h), followed by very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) predominant species, and SM3 was a major component of VLCFAs.

Conclusion

This present study described a simple method of human serum sulfatide analysis using MALDI-TOF MS. This method is suitable for clinical laboratories and is likely to increase the understanding of the roles of sulfatide species in both physiological and disease states.
Externalizing and internalizing symptoms in childhood and adolescence and the risk of alcohol use disorders in young adulthood: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies
Authors: Meque Ivete , Dachew Berihun Assefa , Maravilla Joemer C , Salom Caroline , Alati Rosa
Published: April 2019

Background:

Evidence suggests that externalizing and internalizing symptoms are expressed early in life and are associated with problematic drinking in young adulthood. However, few studies have examined their role during childhood and adolescence in predicting alcohol problems later in life.

Objectives:

To examine the role of childhood and adolescent externalizing and internalizing symptoms in predicting alcohol use disorders in young adulthood.

Methods:

We searched five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Sciences and Embase) for studies which diagnosed alcohol use disorders through either the International Classification of Diseases or American Psychiatric Association – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria and followed up children or adolescents into the transition to young adulthood. We performed a meta-analysis and obtained pooled odds ratio estimates with 95% confidence intervals using random-effects models.

Results:

A total of 12 longitudinal studies met eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. All measured the outcome using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria. The majority were of good quality and were conducted in the United States. A total of 19,407 participants (50% female) were included in this meta-analysis. Of these, n = 2337 (12%) had diagnoses of alcohol use disorders/alcohol dependence. Participant ages ranged from birth to 36 years. Internalizing symptoms increased the risk of young adult alcohol use disorders by 21% (odds ratio = 1.21; 95% confidence interval = [1.05, 1.39]), with no strong evidence of publication bias. Subgroup analysis suggested significantly lower heterogeneity than for externalizing studies. Externalizing symptoms increased the risk of alcohol use disorders by 62% (odds ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval = [1.39, 1.90]). We found some evidence of publication bias and significant heterogeneity in the studies.

Conclusion:

Our findings highlight the contribution of early behavioural problems to the development of alcohol use disorders in young adulthood and the need for timely scrutiny of and intervention on early behavioural problems.
Transforming Veteran Identity Through Community Engagement: A Chaplain–Psychologist Collaboration to Address Moral Injury
Authors: Antal Chris J. , Yeomans Peter D. , East Rotunda , Hickey Douglas W. , Kalkstein Solomon , Brown Kimberly M. , Kaminstein Dana S.
Published: April 2019

Moral injury (MI) is gaining traction within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as an essential construct for understanding an important dimension of suffering experienced by U.S. combat-deployed Veterans. A VA chaplain and a psychologist at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia co-facilitate a 12-week Moral Injury Group (MIG) to provide education about MI, the collective responsibility for the consequences of warfare, and related topics. A Community Ceremony in the VA chapel, immediately following Week 10, brings together VA staff, family, and friends of MIG Veterans as well as the wider society. MIG Veterans define MI and deliver a personal testimony about their MI and its effects. As Veterans’ burdens are shared by a community made more conscious of the realities of warfare, Veterans and civilians reconcile and Veteran identity shifts from that of a disabled patient to that of an adaptive leader and “prophet.” Data on the MIG has thus far been collected for purposes of quality improvement and measurement-based care. We report outcomes, through a case study of a MIG Veteran who shows decreases in suicidality, religious struggles, and depression, along with increases in posttraumatic growth, self-compassion, and life functioning. We also discuss plans for future research and development.
Research on stress alternation effects and fracture reorientation for refracturing treatment
Authors: Lu Mingjing , Su Yuliang , Wen Zhehao , Zhan Yaohua , Almrabat Abdulhadi
Published: April 2019

Trying to induce fracture reorientation in refracturing is important because it means stimulating areas with more residual oil and intersecting less depleted pressure. To verify the possibility of reorientation during refracturing, a hydraulic–mechanic coupling model is built and solved using COMSOL Multiphysics based on poroelastic and seepage theory; pore porosity and strain change of formation are analyzed and verified to alter the stress around the fracture; then the dynamic stress field of depleting development is obtained; factors that cause the alternation of stress are analyzed by comparing the altered minimum and maximum horizontal stress; and the area of stress reversal region is calculated. To further evaluate the oil recovery of different angles of reoriented fractures, geological and numerical models are simulated using data of an actual reservoir with a rhombus inverted nine spots well pattern. The results show that producing underground liquid leads to a change of the pore pressure and the change of direction perpendicular to the fracture is less than that parallel to the fracture, which will cause heterogeneous distribution of the stress field. It is shown that as stress change induced by the producing well parallel to the fracture alters more than that perpendicular to the fracture around the drainage area, the stress alternation can even reach the extent to which the initial minimum horizontal stress exceeds the initial maximum horizontal stress in an ellipse around the fracture. Calculation of the stress reversal region area shows that this area expands significantly in the early developing term and then slows down in natural depletion reservoirs, which indicates the possibility of fracture reorientation during refracturing. In addition, with optimal angles that exist for reoriented fractures during refracturing design and with the proper induced reoriented fractures, more oil will be recovered for field restimulation treatments. This research offers a method to determine the area of the stress reversal region and helps to select candidate wells for refracturing treatment.
The moral aporia of race in international relations
Authors: Lynch Cecelia
Published: April 2019

Drawing on recent scholarship on race, post-colonialism, and ethics in the field of international relations, I return to the ‘first debate’ in the field regarding realism versus liberalism to highlight how racialized international political practices a century ago shaped theoretical assumptions, deferrals, and absences in ways that continued to resonate throughout the century. In reviewing several prominent periods of the past 100 years, I argue that (a) a powerful, ongoing moral aporia regarding race has marked the practice of international politics and the study of international relations over the century, despite important challenges and (b) it is critically important for the field as a whole to confront both the aporia and these challenges to understand its own moral precarity and to dent ongoing racialized injustices.
Beasts of Prey or Rational Animals? Private Governance in Brazil’s Jogo do Bicho
Authors: Freire Danilo
Published: April 2019

A rational-choice account of Brazil’s jogo do bicho (animal game), possibly the largest illegal lottery game in the world, examines the mechanisms that have fostered the lottery’s notable growth outside the boundaries of Brazilian law and reveals how animal-game financiers combine costly signals and selective incentives to induce cooperation from members of the community and exploit the fragmentation of Brazil’s political system to advance their long-term interests.

Uma abordagem da teoria da escolha racional do jogo do bicho, possivelmente o maior jogo de loteria ilegal do mundo, examina os mecanismos que fomentaram o crescimento notável da loteria fora dos limites da lei brasileira e revela como os financiadores de jogos de animais combinam caros sinais e incentivos seletivos para induzir a cooperação de membros da comunidade e explorar a fragmentação do sistema político brasileiro para promover seus interesses de longo prazo.
The Effect of Nitrous Oxide on the Outcomes of Underlay Tympanoplasty: A Prospective Study
Authors: Düzenli Ufuk , Bozan Nazım , Turan Mahfuz , Ağırbaş Semra , Tekeli Arzu Esen , Kıroğlu Ahmet Faruk
Published: April 2019

The main aims of tympanoplasty are eradication of chronic middle ear disease, repair of the tympanic membrane, and restoration of hearing. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is not a commonly preferred anesthetic agent for tympanoplasty because this agent may increase middle ear pressure and displace the graft. In this study, we researched the surgical outcomes of the underlay tympanoplasty performed with N2O anesthesia. Patients who underwent tympanoplasty were included in this prospective study. A type 1 tympanoplasty was performed in all patients using the underlay technique. Patients were randomized to groups that did and did not receive N2O. Preoperative and postoperative hearing thresholds were evaluated, postoperative pain scores were recorded, and the differences between the groups were statistically evaluated. There were 44 patients who received N2O and 44 who did not. The graft success rate was 93.2% in the N2O-receiving group and 84.1% in the nonreceiving group ( P > .05). Hearing levels improved significantly after surgery in each group ( P < .05), but the difference between the groups was not significant ( P > .05). The postoperative pain score was 3.72 ± 1.3 in the N2O-receiving group and 4.45 ± 2.3 in the nonreceiving group ( P > .05). Nitrous oxide is a cheap, safe, and readily available anesthetic agent that provides acceptable success rates in patients undergoing tympanoplasty.
Factors Influencing Poor Outcomes in Synthetic Tissue‐Engineered Tracheal Replacement
Authors: Pepper Victoria , Best Cameron A. , Buckley Kaila , Schwartz Cynthia , Onwuka Ekene , King Nakesha , White Audrey , Dharmadhikari Sayali , Reynolds Susan D. , Johnson Jed , Grischkan Jonathan , Breuer Christopher K. , Chiang Tendy
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Humans receiving tissue‐engineered tracheal grafts have experienced poor outcomes ultimately resulting in death or the need for graft explantation. We assessed the performance of the synthetic scaffolds used in humans with an ovine model of orthotopic tracheal replacement, applying standard postsurgical surveillance and interventions to define the factors that contributed to the complications seen at the bedside.

Study Design

Large animal model.

Setting

Pediatric academic research institute.

Subjects and Methods

Human scaffolds were manufactured with an electrospun blend of polyethylene terephthalate and polyurethane reinforced with polycarbonate rings. They were seeded with autologous bone marrow–derived mononuclear cells and implanted in sheep. Animals were evaluated with routine bronchoscopy and fluoroscopy. Endoscopic dilation and stenting were performed to manage graft stenosis for up to a 4‐month time point. Grafts and adjacent native airway were sectioned and evaluated with histology and immunohistochemistry.

Results

All animals had signs of graft stenosis. Three of 5 animals (60%) designated for long‐term surveillance survived until the 4‐month time point. Graft dilation and stent placement resolved respiratory symptoms and prolonged survival. Necropsy demonstrated evidence of infection and graft encapsulation. Granulation tissue with signs of neovascularization was seen at the anastomoses, but epithelialization was never observed. Acute and chronic inflammation of the native airway epithelium was observed at all time points. Architectural changes of the scaffold included posterior wall infolding and scaffold delamination.

Conclusions

In our ovine model, clinically applied synthetic tissue‐engineered tracheas demonstrated infectious, inflammatory, and mechanical failures with a lack of epithelialization and neovascularization.
Information as an asset – Today’s Board Agenda: The value of rediscovering gold
Authors: Ward Sandra , Carter Denise
Published: April 2019

In today’s fast moving environment, organizations either thrive or fail depending on how they manage information. Information is a critical and strategic organizational asset and must be harnessed as a business asset. This requires action and leadership at Board level. In 1995, a pivotal report, the Hawley report, argued this case forcibly and presented an agenda for Board action developed through discussion among 30 UK private and public sector organizations working within a KPMG IMPACT programme. Actions to ensure that Board operation was underpinned by sufficient and valid information were accompanied by recommended measures to ensure information assets were well and legally managed and deployed to advantage at every level of operations. A successor report has just been published by the Chartered Institute of Information Professionals, KPMG, CIO Connect and IK SpringBoard supported by the Network for Information and Knowledge Exchange. It reinforces the responsibilities of Boards in leading their organization’s information vision, policy, strategy and governance. This article explains why senior leadership is so vital as the fourth industrial age is followed by the fifth and the power of information is transformed through artificial intelligence and Interconnection.
Metabolites of the ring-substituted stimulants MDMA, methylone and MDPV differentially affect human monoaminergic systems
Authors: Luethi Dino , Kolaczynska Karolina E , Walter Melanie , Suzuki Masaki , Rice Kenner C , Blough Bruce E , Hoener Marius C , Baumann Michael H , Liechti Matthias E
Published: April 2019

Background:

Amphetamine analogs with a 3,4-methylenedioxy ring-substitution are among the most popular illicit drugs of abuse, exerting stimulant and entactogenic effects. Enzymatic N-demethylation or opening of the 3,4-methylenedioxy ring via O-demethylenation gives rise to metabolites that may be pharmacologically active. Indeed, previous studies in rats show that specific metabolites of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone (methylone) and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) can interact with monoaminergic systems.

Aim:

Interactions of metabolites of MDMA, methylone and MDPV with human monoaminergic systems were assessed.

Methods:

The ability of parent drugs and their metabolites to inhibit uptake of tritiated norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin (5-HT) was assessed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells transfected with human monoamine transporters. Binding affinities and functional activity at monoamine transporters and various receptor subtypes were also determined.

Results:

MDMA and methylone displayed greater potency to inhibit norepinephrine uptake as compared to their effects on dopamine and 5-HT uptake. N-demethylation of MDMA failed to alter uptake inhibition profiles, whereas N-demethylation of methylone decreased overall transporter inhibition potencies. O-demethylenation of MDMA, methylone and MDPV resulted in catechol metabolites that maintained norepinephrine and dopamine uptake inhibition potencies, but markedly reduced activity at 5-HT uptake. O-methylation of the catechol metabolites significantly decreased norepinephrine uptake inhibition, resulting in metabolites lacking significant stimulant properties.

Conclusions:

Several metabolites of MDMA, methylone and MDPV interact with human transporters and receptors at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. In particular, N-demethylated metabolites of MDMA and methylone circulate in unconjugated form and could contribute to the in vivo activity of the parent compounds in human users.
Mountain plant communities: Uncertain sentinels?
Authors: Malanson George P , Resler Lynn M , Butler David R , Fagre Daniel B
Published: April 2019

Mountain plant communities are thought to be sensitive to climate change and, thus, able to reveal its effects sooner than others. The status as sentinels of two plant communities are reviewed. Alpine treeline ecotones and alpine vegetation have been observed to respond to climate change in recent decades. The treeline has moved upslope and alpine communities have had some species increase and others decrease. The response for both, however, has been inconsistent if taken as a whole. Problematic factors for this response are outlined for both: abiotic and biotic interactions partially decouple the plant communities from climate. Differences across spatial and temporal scales complicate interpretation. Partial decoupling leads to nonlinear responses and difficulties for prediction and for planning mitigation.
Stress concentration and optimal design of pinned connections
Authors: Pedersen Niels Leergaard
Published: April 2019

A pinned connection or lug joint is a common connection type used both in civil engineering and mechanical engineering. In civil engineering, this connection is used for assembling truss members, and in mechanical engineering, this connection type is widely used in machine elements. The standard design is with a circular pin. The stress concentration factor size depends on the tolerances between pin and assembled parts and also by the three-dimensional design. Relatively different maximum stress values are seen depending on the modelling being done in two dimension (with assumptions) or in full three dimension. The focus in the present article is on the two-dimensional design and minimizing the maximum stress. It is shown that not only the contact geometry is important for reducing the stress, the external design is equally important. By finite element analysis including contact modelling, it is shown that reduction in the stress concentration factor of up to 18% is possible.
Ensemble Model to Estimate Incident Clearance Durations using Sequential Partitioning Process and Robust Regression
Authors: Won Minsu , Chang Gang-Len
Published: April 2019

Most agencies, in response to and management of non-recurrent highway congestion, are requested by the general public to provide the estimated delay and impacts of incidents; this information also allows the agencies to take appropriate control strategies. However, to do so in real time the responsible agencies would need to have a reliable estimate of the incident duration, which although valuable information, is either not available or not acceptably reliable for use in practice. Considering the nature of incident response operations, the difficulty in developing a reliable model may be attributed to both the data quality and, most importantly, the many continuous and discrete variables associated with the incident duration; these include resources and staff level of the incident response team, the nature, onset time, and location of the incident, and other related environmental issues. This study therefore proposes an estimation methodology to circumvent these limitations and take advantage of unique characteristics revealed in incident databases for yielding a robust estimate of incident duration. With well-designed partitioning, clustering, and sequential tests to divide all incidents into several distinct groups, the proposed methodology will yield one primary model using all available data and supplemental models for incidents in each group that are calibrated to best fit their unique characteristics and statistical properties. By using incident data from Maryland-CHART, the evaluation results confirm that the proposed methodology can indeed improve the estimation accuracy if properly integrated in the primary model with each supplemental model.
Driver Back-Tracing Based on Automated Vehicle Identification Data
Authors: Yuan Jian , Yu Chunhui , Wang Ling , Ma Wanjing
Published: April 2019

Traffic congestion causes traveler delay, environmental deterioration, and economic loss. Most studies on congestion mitigation focus on attracting travelers to public transportation and expanding road capacity. Few studies have been found to analyze the contribution of different traffic flows to the congestion on roads of interest. This study proposes an approach to driver back-tracing on the basis of automated vehicle identification (AVI) data for congestion mitigation. Driver back-tracing (DBT) aims to estimate the sources of the vehicles on roads of interest in both spatial and temporal dimensions. The spatial DBT model identifies the origins of vehicles on the roads and the temporal DBT model estimates the travel time from the origins to the roads. The difficulty lies in that vehicle trajectories are incomplete because of the low coverage of AVI detectors. Deep neural network classification and regression are applied to the spatial and temporal DBT models, respectively. Simulation data from VISSIM are collected as the dataset because of the lack of field data. Numerical studies validate the promising application and advantages of deep neural networks for the DBT problems. Sensitivity analyses show that the proposed models are robust to traffic volumes. However, turning ratios, and the number and layout of AVI detectors may have noticeable impacts on the model performance.
Return to Play After the Latarjet Procedure for Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hurley Eoghan T. , Montgomery Connor , Jamal M. Shazil , Shimozono Yoshiharu , Ali Zakariya , Pauzenberger Leo , Mullett Hannan
Published: April 2019

Background:

Traumatic anterior shoulder instability is a common clinical problem among athletic populations. The Latarjet procedure is a widely used treatment option to address shoulder instability in high-demand athletes at high risk of recurrence. However, rates and timing of full return to sports have not been systematically analyzed.

Purpose:

To systematically review the evidence in the literature to ascertain the rate and timing of return to play and the availability of specific criteria for safe return to play after the Latarjet procedure.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

A systematic literature search was conducted based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, using the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases. Eligible for inclusion were clinical studies reporting on return to play after the Latarjet procedure. Statistical analysis was performed by use of SPSS.

Results:

Our review found 36 studies including 2134 cases meeting our inclusion criteria. The majority of patients were male (86.9%), with a mean age of 25.4 years (range, 15-59 years) and a mean follow-up of 83.5 months. The overall rate of return to play was 88.8%, with 72.6% returning to the same level of play. Among collision athletes, the overall rate of return to play was 88.2%, with 69.5% returning to the same level of play. In overhead athletes, the overall rate of return to play was 90.3%, with 80.6% returning to the same level of play. The mean time to return to play was 5.8 months (range, 3.2-8 months). Specific return to play criteria were reported in the majority of the studies (69.4%); time to return to sport was the most commonly reported item (66.7%).

Conclusion:

The overall rate of return to play was reportedly high after the Latarjet procedure. However, almost a fifth of athletes returning to sports were not able to return at the same level. Further development of validated criteria for safe return to sports could potentially improve clinical outcomes and reduce recurrence rates.
Investigations of the humidity sensing properties of side-chain-type sulfonated poly (arylene ether ketone)s
Authors: Meng Fanting , Zhuang Zhuang , Zhang Yurong , Na Hui
Published: April 2019

Side-chain-type sulfonated poly (arylene ether ketone)s containing naphthalene moieties with a degree of sulfonation (Ds) from 0.2 to 1.9 were synthesized. Humidity sensors were fabricated by cast coating on silver–palladium interdigital microelectrodes. The properties of this series of materials in terms of water absorption, glass transition temperature, and humidity sensing were characterized in detail. The investigations on the humidity sensing performance showed that with the increase in the Ds, the hysteresis of our materials exhibits an increasing trend first, followed by a decrease. This special phenomenon has not been reported before and caught our attention. From the results of humidity sensing properties, among the materials, the one with 0.2 Ds is promising for applications in humidity sensing due to its small hysteresis and fast response to varied relative humidity (RH). For a better understanding of the humidity sensing behavior of the sensor, complex impedance spectra were also measured. In the long-term stability measurement, the deviation of the measured impedance of the sensor at 97% RH is not obvious, proving good stability in a humid environment.
Trajectory planning and combined control design for critical high-speed lane change manoeuvres
Authors: Sazgar Hadi , Azadi Shahram , Kazemi Reza
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this research is to develop an advanced driver assistance system for the integrated longitudinal and lateral guidance of vehicles in critical high-speed lane change manoeuvres. The system consists of two parts: trajectory planning and combined control. At the first, by considering the TV position and the available range of longitudinal acceleration, several trajectories with different accelerations are generated. Then, by taking into account the vehicle and tyre dynamics, the most appropriate trajectory is selected. Therefore, the chosen trajectory is collision free and dynamically feasible. Because the trajectory planning is carried out algebraically, it has low computational cost. This is especially valuable in the experimental implementations. At the second part of the study, using a robust combined longitudinal-lateral controller, the control inputs are determined and transmitted to the brake/throttle and steering actuators. Both in the trajectory planning and combined control design, the nonlinear tyre dynamics and the dynamics of throttle and brake actuators are considered. To evaluate the performance of the proposed guidance algorithm, a full CarSim dynamic model is utilized. The simulation results for critical high-speed lane change manoeuvres confirm that the proposed trajectory planning method works effectively. The tracking error is also very small and the yaw stability is guaranteed.
Upregulation of MicroRNA-128 in the Peripheral Blood of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients is Correlated with Stroke Severity Partially through Inhibition of Neuronal Cell Cycle Reentry
Authors: Liu Ping , Han Ziping , Ma Qingfeng , Liu Tao , Wang Rongliang , Tao Zhen , Li Guangwen , Li Fangfang , Zhang Sijia , Li Lingzhi , Ji Xuming , Zhao Haiping , Luo Yumin
Published: April 2019

MiR-128, one of the most enriched miRNAs in the human brain, has been reported to protect MCAO mice via inhibiting P38α MAPK. Whether it is involved in pathogenesis in acute ischemic stroke patients remains to be determined. The present study focused on the clinical importance of miR-128 and its underlying mechanisms. We detected miR-128 levels in the circulating lymphocytes, neutrophils, and plasma of acute ischemic stroke patients by using RT-PCR. miR-128 levels were significantly elevated in circulating lymphocytes, neutrophils, and plasma of patients with acute ischemic stroke. In addition, miR-128 levels in circulating lymphocytes correlated positively with the infarction volume, NIHSS scores at 7 days and mRS at 90 days after ischemic stroke onset. Subsequent KEGG pathway analysis showed that the MAPK signaling pathway and cell cycle are among the pathways targeted by miR-128. Although no correlation was found between miR-128 in plasma and peripheral inflammatory cell numbers, miR-128 decreased in the penumbra and increased in the infarction core of ipsilateral brain tissues in MCAO mice. Moreover, an in vitro study demonstrated that miR-128 antagomir aggravated primary neuronal damage and exacerbated cell cycle reactivation induced by OGD/R stimulation; the underlying mechanism involved increasing cyclin A2, PTEN, and ERK expression and promoting phosphorylation of PTEN and ERK. From the above results, we concluded that the upregulation of miR-128 in circulating lymphocytes of acute ischemic stroke patients was correlated with stroke severity and miR-128 antagomir exacerbated ischemia-reperfusion induced neuronal injury via promoting neuronal cell cycle reentry.
Cost and Scalability Analysis of Porcine Islet Isolation for Islet Transplantation: Comparison of Juvenile, Neonatal and Adult Pigs
Authors: Vanderschelden Rachel , Sathialingam Mayilone , Alexander Michael , Lakey Jonathan R. T.
Published: April 2019

The limited availability of human islets has led to the examination of porcine islets as a source of clinically suitable tissue for transplantation in patients with diabetes mellitus. Islets from porcine donors are commonly used in both in vitro and in vivo experiments studying diabetes mellitus. However, there are significant differences in quality and quantity of islet yield depending on donor pig age, as well as substantial differences in the costs of pancreas procurement in adult versus neonatal and juvenile pigs. In this study, we compared the total cost per islet of juvenile pig pancreata with that of neonatal and adult pigs. Although adult porcine pancreata yield, on average, more than five times the amount of islets than do juvenile and neonatal pancreata, we found that the high price of adult pigs led to the cost per islet being more than twice that of juvenile and neonatal islets (US $0.09 vs $0.04 and $0.02, respectively). In addition, neonatal and juvenile islets are advantageous in their scalability and retention of viability after culture. Our findings indicate that isolating neonatal and juvenile porcine islets is more cost-effective and scalable than isolating adult porcine islets.
Song lyrics and the disruption of pragmatic processing: An analysis of linguistic negation in 10CC’s ‘I’m Not in Love’
Authors: Nahajec Lisa
Published: April 2019

The lyrics of 10CC’s ‘I’m Not in Love’ revolve around a musical persona asserting that he is not in love and directing his addressee not to mistake his behaviour as indicating that he is in love with her. However, despite the negative assertions and imperatives, the feel of the song is that the musical persona is in fact in love. This article examines how the complex multimodal context of a song interacts with the prototypical pragmatic processing of negation to allow listeners to reach an interpretation of the song that contradicts the assertions made by the musical persona. The article outlines the nature of negation and examines the language and musical features that create a context of mixed messages that interferes with pragmatic processing.
Multidimensional Deprivation Spectrum: A Step Forward from Alkire–Foster Methodology
Authors: Salahuddin Taseer , Ahmed Alia
Published: April 2019

Income-based poverty and multidimensional poverty are two major paradigms currently in use to define and measure poverty. Both these paradigms, however, take individuals as units of analysis and classify them on the basis of certain poverty lines and cut-offs as poor and non-poor. Social stigma and labelling theory suggest that the label of poverty negatively impacts the self-esteem of people or contributes to the tendencies of paternalistic dependency among them. This article suggests that poverty should be measured using dimensions of life as units of analysis. In this direction, it offers a variant of the Alkire and Foster (Counting and multidimensional poverty measures, OPHI Working Paper No. 7, Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative, 2007) multidimensional poverty index in the form of a multidimensional deprivation spectrum. Along with using different dimensions as units of analysis, the current article presents a whole spectrum of indices built to measure inequality for a more nuanced picture.
Tracking Financial Inclusion in India: A Study of SHG Initiatives
Authors: Mukherjee Shrabani , Mallik Subhadri Sankar , Thakur Debdulal
Published: April 2019

The objective of this study is to scrutinize the status, impact and constraints associated with the process of “inclusion” in rural financial sector in India and to identify key bottlenecks that constrain the effectiveness of the policy. This study attempts to construct a comprehensive measure of financial inclusion with special focus on SHGs for 20 major states in India from year 2008 to 2012 using principal component analysis. It also aims to examine causal relationship between financial inclusion and other development processes such as agricultural and industrial growth and access to elementary and secondary education across states. A previous study on panel data claims that financial inclusion improves agricultural growth and improvement in elementary education. This article through an empirical analysis, however, contests such a two-way causality.
A tunable triboelectric wideband energy harvester
Authors: Nelson Daniel , Ibrahim Alwathiqbellah , Towfighian Shahrzad
Published: April 2019

The ability to efficiently convert mechanical energy into electrical energy has become an important topic of discussion and research in the last decade. Triboelectric generators have recently been popular for vibration energy harvesting, but despite plenty of research on its material aspect, research on combining mechanical characteristics and voltage generation output has been sparse. Many energy harvesters suffer from low operating bandwidths and are usually restricted to operating at a specific frequency. We propose a tunable triboelectric energy harvester that has a large response over a wide frequency bandwidth at low frequencies. The tunability is implemented by axially preloading a beam that reduces the system stiffness. This stiffness reduction strengthens the collisions that naturally occur in the triboelectric generators, resulting in larger voltage outputs. As the system stiffness decreases, the impacts occur over a broader frequency range, widening the frequency bandwidth. To describe the dynamic and voltage responses, a continuous electromechanical model is derived. The presented mathematical model sheds light on the coupled characteristics of mechanical vibration and triboelectric voltage generation, and can be used as a design tool for high-efficiency energy harvesters to operate wireless sensor networks.
Enteral Tranexamic Acid Decreases Proteolytic Activity in the Heart in Acute Experimental Hemorrhagic Shock
Authors: Aletti Federico , Santamaria Marco , Chin Kevin , Mazor Rafi , Kistler Erik B.
Published: April 2019

The mechanisms for cardiac injury after hemorrhagic shock (HS) are unresolved. We hypothesize that remote organ damage can be caused by uncontrolled pancreatic proteolytic activity, as enteral protease inhibition improves outcomes in experimental HS. Uncontrolled proteolysis in the heart may disrupt cardiac metabolism and adrenergic control with subsequent deleterious outcomes. To test this hypothesis, the heart rate–pressure product (RPP) as an index of myocardial oxygen consumption and the levels of fatty acid transporter proteins CD36 and FATP6 as surrogates for metabolic activity in the heart were measured in rats subjected to experimental HS (n = 6/group) with and without the enteral protease inhibitor tranexamic acid (TXA). Plasma troponin I and heart fatty acid-binding protein (HFABP) concentrations were measured as indices of myocardial damage. Expression of the adrenergic receptors β1, α1D, and β2 was also measured in the heart to determine the possible effects of shock with and without enteral TXA on the adrenergic control of heart function. Hemorrhagic shock was induced by reduction in mean arterial blood pressure to 35 mm Hg for 2 hours before reperfusion of shed blood. The RPP was maintained in shocked animals treated enterally with TXA but not in those subjected to HS alone; this group also demonstrated decreased HFABP and plasma troponin I levels. Serine protease (trypsin, chymotrypsin, and elastase) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activity was elevated in cardiac tissue and plasma after HS and abrogated by enteral TXA. Levels of CD36, FATP6, β1, α1D, and β2 were also increased after HS in cardiac tissue, and the increases were mitigated by TXA treatment. These results suggest that increased proteolytic activity may contribute to cardiac injury after HS. Enteral TXA prevents these changes, indicating a potential therapeutic option in the management of shock with resultant cardiac injury.
Ticagrelor Does Not Improve Endothelial Dysfunction in Stable Survivors of Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Lim Sungmin , Choo Eun Ho , Kim Chan Joon , Choi Ik Jun , Lee Kwan Yong , Hwang Byung-Hee , Lee Jong-Min , Chung Wook Sung , Chang Kiyuk
Published: April 2019

Background:

Ticagrelor is an intriguing antiplatelet agent with a potentially beneficial impact on endothelial dysfunction and confers a mortality benefit beyond 1 month after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, little data exist on whether ticagrelor improves endothelial dysfunction in stable patients who survive the acute period and receive guideline-directed medical therapy.

Methods and Results:

This study is a prospective, randomized, parallel, open-labeled study that enrolled 30-day survivors of non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). Forty patients with NSTE-ACS were randomly assigned to ticagrelor or clopidogrel groups. The primary end point was the change in the percentage brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (baFMD) from baseline. Baseline characteristics were not different between the 2 groups. The median time from the stent implantation to screening was 269 days. After 30 days of study medication administration, the change in the percentage baFMD value was similar between the ticagrelor and clopidogrel groups (−0.08 [1.42] vs 0.30 [1.69], P = .66). There was no difference in the change in high-sensitive C-reactive protein (−0.61 [1.48] vs −0.01 [0.57], P = .28); however, the change in platelet inhibition significantly differed (P2Y12 reaction units, −140.5 [49.5] vs −3.9 [51.4], P < .001).

Conclusions:

This dual time point baFMD study demonstrated that treatment with ticagrelor was not superior to clopidogrel for improving endothelial dysfunction in stabilized patients with NSTE-ACS.
Evaluation of zero-dimensional stochastic reactor modelling for a Diesel engine application
Authors: Korsunovs Aleksandrs , Campean Felician , Pant Gaurav , Garcia-Afonso Oscar , Tunc Efe
Published: April 2019

Prediction of engine-out emissions with high fidelity from in-cylinder combustion simulations is still a significant challenge early in the engine development process. This article contributes to this fast evolving body of knowledge by focusing on the evaluation of NO x emission prediction capability of a probability density function–based stochastic reactor engine models for a Diesel engine. The research implements a systematic approach to the study of the stochastic reactor engine model performance, underpinned by a detailed space-filling design of experiments (DoE)-based sensitivity analysis of both external and internal parameters, evaluating their effects on the accuracy in matching physical measurements of both in-cylinder conditions and NO x output. The approach proposed in this article introduces an automatic stochastic reactor engine model calibration methodology across the engine operating envelope, based on a multi-objective optimization approach. This aims to exploit opportunities for internal stochastic reactor engine model parameters tuning to achieve good overall modelling performance as a trade-off between physical in-cylinder measurements accuracy and the output NO x emission predictions error. The results from the case study provide a valuable insight into the effectiveness of the stochastic reactor engine model, showing good capability for NO x emissions prediction and trends, while pointing out the critical sensitivity to the external input parameters and modelling conditions.
The Differentiation of Soft Tissue Infiltration and Surrounding Edema in an Animal Model of Malignant Bone Tumor: Evaluation by Dual-Energy CT
Authors: Chen Haisong , Zhang Yuan , Pang Jing , Wu Zengjie , Jia Meng , Dong Qian , Xu Wenjian
Published: April 2019

To study the value of dual energy computed tomography in distinguishing soft tissue infiltration from surrounding soft tissue edema in rabbit malignant bone tumor, a malignant bone tumor model was established through implantation of VX2 tumor fragments into the tibiae of rabbits. Tumor adjacent soft tissues were divided into 3 areas according to pathology and computed tomography images. Computed tomography spectral curve slopes and iodine and water concentrations were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and t test. The spectral curve of the soft tissue infiltration areas has a slope (1.30 ± 0.41) higher than that of the soft tissue edema areas (0.71 ± 0.23; P < .001). The iodine concentration in the soft tissue infiltration areas (8.56 ± 2.15) was higher than that in the in soft tissue edema areas (6.09 ± 1.02; P < .001). Water concentration was similar in the soft tissue infiltration areas (1033.86 ± 10.50) to that of the edema areas (1031.45 ± 12.83; P < .05). Spectral curve analysis and iodine–water concentration are helpful in the differentiation of bone tumor soft tissue infiltration and soft tissue edema.
Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Mimicking Cellulitis: A Case Report
Authors: Park Jong Hyun , Bae Tae Hui , Kim Woo Seob , Kim Han Koo
Published: April 2019

Cellulitis is one of the most misdiagnosed disease, which could be lethal when misdiagnosed. There are a lot of diseases to consider in differential diagnosis of cellulitis. Especially when conventional treatment with antibiotics does not seem to work, other radiological examinations and biopsy should be considered to find out what is causing the symptoms. Our case presents a patient with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, who was first thought to have had cellulitis but was later found to have malignancy. We aim to highlight the significance of differential diagnosis in common symptoms.