bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Auditory Measures for Detecting Hidden Hearing Loss and/or Cochlear Synaptopathy: A Systematic Review
Authors: James Jessica , Park Jin , Smith Emily , Johnson Carole , Clifton Shari , Danhauer Jeffrey , Barbee Christi
Published: June 2018

Standard audiometric evaluations are not sensitive enough to identify hidden hearing loss (HHL) and/or cochlear synaptopathy (CS). Patients with either of these conditions frequently present with difficulty understanding speech in noise or other complaints such as tinnitus. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify articles in peer-reviewed journals that assessed the sensitivity of audiologic measures for detecting HHL and/or CS, and which showed potential for use in a clinical test battery for these disorders. A reference librarian submitted specific boolean terminology to MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. The authors used a consensus approach with specially designed score sheets for the selection of titles, abstracts, and then articles for inclusion in the systematic review and for quality assessment. Fifteen articles were included in the systematic review. Seven articles involved humans; seven involved animals, and one study used both humans and animals. Results showed that pure-tone audiometry to 20 kHz, otoacoustic emissions, electrocochleography, auditory brainstem response (ABR), electrophysiological tests, speech recognition in noise with and without temporal distortion, interviews, and self-report measures have been used to assess HHL and/or CS. For HHL, ultra-high-frequency audiometry may help identify persons with sensory hair cell loss that does not show up on standard audiograms. Promising nonbehavioral measures for CS included ABR wave I amplitude, the summating potential-to-action potential ratio, and speech recognition in noise with and without temporal distortion. Self-report questionnaires also may help identify auditory dysfunction in persons with normal hearing.
Re-centering Central Asia: China’s “New Great Game” in the old Eurasian Heartland
Authors: Chen Xiangming , Fazilov Fakhmiddin
Published: June 2018

China’s President Xi Jinping’s Central Asian tour in fall 2013 marked Beijing’s unprecedented (re)turn to Central Asia as a lynchpin of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” of the globally ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China’s BRI positions Central Asia as the crucial nexus for the cross-regional long-distance loops of trade, investment, and infrastructure development. By revisiting the classical geopolitical theory about the original Eurasian Heartland and its contemporary offshoots, we extract some insights for understanding the new China-Central Asia transboundary regional nexus. In a double-pronged empirical analysis of China’s development strategies regarding Central Asia, we examine: (1) the construction of oil and gas pipelines from Central Asia to transmit energy all the way to China’s east coast, and (2) the launch and expansion of the Eurasian Railroad to transport goods from China’s manufacturing bases in both coastal and inland regions to Europe and Central Asia. In synthesizing the findings from this coupled analysis through classical and contemporary theoretical lenses, we discuss how China’s growing influence in Central Asia via the BRI can reshape the region’s diverse national interests, development opportunities and constraints while fostering closer China-Central Asia bilateral cooperation across multiple national boundaries. In light of the analysis, we also offer an updated view and critique of the classical Heartland/Rimland theories and discuss how a China-centric “New Great Game” differs from its original nineteenth century antecedent while pointing to similar underpinnings.
Relative entanglement entropy for widely separated regions in curved spacetime
Authors: Hollands Stefan , Islam Onirban , Sanders Ko
Published: June 2018

We give an upper bound of the relative entanglement entropy of the ground state of a massive Dirac-Majorana field across two widely separated regions A and B in a static slice of an ultrastatic Lorentzian spacetime. Our bound decays exponentially in dist(A, B) at a rate set by the Compton wavelength and the spatial scalar curvature. The physical interpretation of our result is that, on a manifold with positive spatial scalar curvature, one cannot use the entanglement of the vacuum state to teleport one classical bit from A to B if their distance is of the order of the maximum of the curvature radius and the Compton wavelength or greater.
An enhanced broad-frequency-band apparatus for dynamic measurement of elastic moduli and Poisson’s ratio of rock samples
Authors: Sun Chao , Tang Genyang , Zhao Jianguo , Zhao Liming , Wang Shangxu
Published: June 2018

We built a broad-frequency-band measurement system for rock elastic parameters based on the stress-strain method following Batzle et al., Geophysics 71, N1–N9 (2006). The system gives strain amplitude anomalies at some measurement frequencies. These anomalies put limitations on the range of the measurement frequency and jeopardize the credibility of the measurement results over a broad frequency band. To overcome these limitations, we investigated the cause of these anomalous strains by numerical model simulations with a finite element method based on the experimental apparatus. Through the systematic analysis of the modeling results, we conclude that the resonances caused by non-axial perturbations lead to such anomalous measurement results. Based on the analysis, we give a solution to reduce the effect of the resonances and shift the first resonance frequency beyond the frequency band of 1-2000 Hz. The enhanced measurement system can provide robust and reliable measurements on the elastic parameters of rocks between 1 and 2000 Hz, which is crucial for a quantitative study of the frequency-dependent phenomenon related to fluid effects. This in turn will provide a powerful tool for the experimental characterization of elastic properties of oil/gas reservoir rocks, thus laying a solid foundation for low-frequency rock physics analysis and quantitative seismic interpretation.
Feedback control of local hotspot temperature using resistive on-substrate nanoheater/thermometer
Authors: Jarzembski Amun , Hamian Sina , Yun Jeonghoon , Crossley Jacob , Park Inkyu , Francoeur Mathieu , Park Keunhan
Published: June 2018

This article reports the active control of a local hotspot temperature for accurate nanoscale thermal transport measurement. To this end, we have fabricated resistive on-substrate nanoheater/thermometer (NH/T) devices that have a sensing area of ∼350 nm × 300 nm. Feedback-controlled temporal heating and cooling experiments of the NH/T device confirm that the feedback integral gain plays a dominant role in device’s response time for various setpoint temperatures. To further verify the integration of the feedback controller with the NH/T devices, a local tip-induced cooling experiment is performed by scanning a silicon tip over the hotspot area in an atomic force microscope platform. By carefully optimizing the feedback gain and the tip scan speed, we can control the hotspot temperature with the accuracy of ∼±1 K for a broad range of setpoints from 325 K to 355 K. The obtained tip-substrate thermal conductance, including the effects of solid-solid conduction, water meniscus, air conduction, and near-field thermal radiation, is found to be a slightly increasing function of temperature in the range of 127 ± 25 to 179 ± 16 nW/K. Our work demonstrates the reliable controllability of a local hotspot temperature, which will allow the further improvement of various nanoscale thermal metrologies including scanning thermal microscopy and nanoscale thermometry.
Direct-current electric invisibility through topology optimization
Authors: Fujii Garuda , Akimoto Youhei , Takahashi Masayuki
Published: June 2018

Based on the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES), advanced designs of direct-current (DC) electric cloaks composed of bulk isotropic materials are presented through a topology optimization using a level set method. The designed DC electric cloaks succeed in providing DC electric invisibility of an electrical insulator in DC flow; specifically, an electric potential distribution is found that closely reproduces a distribution when no insulator is present. To produce this invisibility, we minimized the difference between distributions for the DC electric cloak and one without insulating obstacles as the objective function. CMA-ES explores optimal sets of level set functions as design variables that minimize the objective function with a perimeter constraint. In the best case in our simulation, the minimized objective function under cloaking reaches 0.00194% of that in the absence of cloaking. Toward multidirectional DC electric cloaks, a topology optimization subject to four-axial structural symmetries is demonstrated.
Plasmonic nanobump-assembled platform for absorption enhancement of upconversion materials
Authors: Jung Kinam , Joon Kwon S. , Ko Hyungduk
Published: June 2018

We numerically investigate a plasmonic nanobump and upconversion (UC) layer incorporated metal–insulator–metal (MIM) platform as a light absorber. The hemispherical nanobump array situated over a substrate can serve as an optical nanoantenna in a broadband wavelength range. By precisely engineering the design and optical parameters of the insulating spacer layer sandwiched by the top nanobumps and back reflecting metal film, we can manipulate the light absorption inside the upconversion layer. The optical near-field distribution of the nanobump-assembled plasmonic platform is studied using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to probe the origin of enhanced absorption within the thin UC layer. A suggested mathematical model considering plasmonic and quenching effects of the MIM configuration to analyze the near-field maximum as a function of an insulator thickness is in good agreement with the FDTD result. The 30-fold enhanced light absorption within the UC layer is observed for the MIM plasmonic platform compared to the reference sample. Well-established optical field confinement at the nanoscale gap and excitation of surface plasmons near the nanobumps can be attributed to increased light absorption inside the plasmonic MIM platform. The plasmonic nanobump array platform can be an alternative strategy to apply a highly efficient light absorber to an UC device.
Helium segregation and transport behavior near ⟨100⟩ and ⟨110⟩ symmetric tilt grain boundaries in tungsten
Authors: Yang Zhuocen , Hu Lin , Maroudas Dimitrios , Hammond Karl D.
Published: June 2018

We report the results of a systematic atomistic modeling study of small helium cluster behavior near tungsten symmetric tilt grain boundaries. This behavior was studied qualitatively by molecular dynamics simulations and quantitatively by molecular statics simulations combined with elastic inclusion theory. The sink strength is used to describe the magnitude of the clusters' attraction to the grain boundary. We find that small helium clusters show impeded transport behavior relative to the bulk around all types of grain boundaries, including low-angle, high-angle, low-Sigma-value, and high-Sigma-value grain boundaries. Helium clusters tend to become trapped near, but typically not directly on, the grain boundary plane. Both the distance between the helium cluster and the grain boundary when the cluster first becomes immobilized and the sink strength are correlated with helium cluster size, grain boundary formation energy, grain boundary tilt angle, excess volume, and other aspects of grain boundary structure. We expect similar impeded transport behavior for other types of grain boundaries and in other metals, because helium is effectively insoluble in most materials and has a similar interstitial-based diffusion mechanism in most metals.
Advances in enhanced sampling along adaptive paths of collective variables
Authors: Pérez de Alba Ortíz A. , Tiwari A. , Puthenkalathil R. C. , Ensing B.
Published: June 2018

Study of complex activated molecular transitions by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation can be a daunting task, especially when little knowledge is available on the reaction coordinate describing the mechanism of the process. Here, we assess the path-metadynamics enhanced sampling approach in combination with force field and ab initio [density functional theory (DFT)] MD simulations of conformational and chemical transitions that require three or more collective variables (CVs) to describe the processes. We show that the method efficiently localizes the average transition path of each process and simultaneously obtains the free energy profile along the path. The new multiple-walker implementation greatly speeds-up the calculation, with an almost trivial scaling of the number of parallel replicas. Increasing the dimensionality by expanding the set of CVs leads to a less than linear increase in the computational cost, as shown by applying the method to a conformational change in increasingly longer polyproline peptides. Combined with DFT-MD to model acid (de-)protonation in explicit water solvent, the transition path and associated free energy profile were obtained in less than 100 ps of simulation. A final application to hydrogen fuel production catalyzed by a hydrogenase enzyme showcases the unique mechanistic insight and chemical understanding that can be obtained from the average transition path.
Suppressed polarization effect and enhanced carrier confinement in InGaN light-emitting diodes with GaN/InGaN/GaN triangular barriers
Authors: Cheng Liwen , Cao Changrui , Ma Jian , Xu Zuozheng , Lan Tian , Yang Jinpeng , Chen Haitao , Yu Hongyan , Wu Shudong , Yao Shun , Zeng Xianghua
Published: June 2018

In this study, with the objective of lowering the polarization without degrading the carrier confinement in the active region, an InGaN light-emitting diode with GaN/InGaN/GaN triangular (GIGT) quantum barriers (QBs) was proposed and studied systematically. When traditional GaN QBs were replaced by the GIGT QBs, the output power at 150 mA rose from 82.05 to 155.99 mW, and the efficiency droop was decreased from 51.0% to 16.5%. Simulation results indicated that these improvements could result from the effectively suppressed polarization field in the quantum wells and the markedly enhanced carrier confinement in the active region because of the appropriately modified energy band structure.
Probing the propensity of perchlorate anions for surface solvation by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy
Authors: Kelly John T. , Mayer Martin , Kennedy Adam C. , Schemel Christian , Asmis Knut R.
Published: June 2018

We investigate the perchlorate anion, ClO4−, microhydrated with up to eight water molecules using infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectroscopy aided by density functional theory computations. The features observed in the IRPD spectra of D2-tagged ClO4−(H2O)n with n = 0−8 in the O–H stretching (2800–3800 cm−1) and fingerprint (800–1800 cm−1) spectral ranges are assigned to vibrational modes of the solvent, i.e., free and hydrogen-bonded O–H stretching and H2O bending modes, and of the solute, i.e., perchlorate stretching modes. The splitting of the triply degenerate antisymmetric stretching mode in the bare ClO4− (1102 cm−1) upon microhydration directly reports on the symmetry of the local solvation network, while the red-shift of the hydrogen-bonded O–H stretching bands in comparison to those of free O–H oscillators (>3700 cm−1) reflects the strength of the anion-water (3550–3650 cm−1) and water-water (3240–3540 cm−1) hydrogen bonds. The stronger water-water interaction leads to an early onset of water-water hydrogen bond formation (n = 2) and eventually asymmetric solvation of ClO4−, evidenced by the population of the second and third hydration shells at n = 5 and n = 8, respectively, before the first hydration shell is completed. The present study provides a bottom-up view of the initial stages of hydrogen-bond network formation around a high surface propensity anion, and these insights are discussed in the context of recent results obtained for the water-vapor interface of perchlorate solutions.
A generalized unimolecular impulsive model for curved reaction path
Authors: Tsai Po-Yu
Published: June 2018

This work aims to introduce a generalized impulsive model for unimolecular dissociation processes. This model allows us to take into account the curvature of the reaction path explicitly. It is a generalization of the previously developed multi-center impulsive model [P.-Y. Tsai and K.-C. Lin, J. Phys. Chem. A 119, 29 (2015)]. Several limitations of conventional impulsive models are eliminated by this study: (1) Unlike conventional impulsive models, in which a single molecular geometry is responsible for the impulse determination, the gradients on the whole dissociation path are taken into account. The model can treat dissociation pathways with large curvatures and loose saddle points. (2) The method can describe the vibrational excitation of polyatomic fragments due to the bond formation by multi-center impulse. (3) The available energy in conventional impulsive models is separated into uncoupled statistical and impulsive energy reservoirs, while the interplay between these reservoirs is allowed in the new model. (4) The quantum state correlation between fragments can be preserved in analysis. Dissociations of several molecular systems including the roaming pathways of formaldehyde, nitrate radical, acetaldehyde, and glyoxal are chosen as benchmarks. The predicted photofragment energy and vector distributions are consistent with the experimental results reported previously. In these examples, the capability of the new model to treat the curved dissociation path, loose saddle points, polyatomic fragments, and multiple-body dissociation is verified. As a cheaper computational tool with respect to ab initio on-the-fly direct dynamic simulations, this model can provide detailed information on the energy disposal, quantum state correlation, and stereodynamics in unimolecular dissociation processes.
Efficient spin to charge current conversion in the 2D semiconductor MoS2 by spin pumping from yttrium iron garnet
Authors: Mendes J. B. S. , Aparecido-Ferreira A. , Holanda J. , Azevedo A. , Rezende S. M.
Published: June 2018

We report efficient spin to charge current conversion in the 2D transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductor MoS2 at room temperature. The spin current is generated by microwave-driven ferromagnetic resonance spin pumping in a film of the ferrimagnetic insulator yttrium iron garnet (YIG) in atomic contact with the MoS2 layer. The use of insulating YIG allows the observation of a field-symmetric voltage signal without the contamination of asymmetrical lines due to spin rectification effects observed in studies using metallic ferromagnets. The observed voltage is attributed to spin-to-charge current conversion based on the inverse Edelstein effect (IEE) made possible by the spin-momentum locking in the electron Fermi contours due to the Rashba field. The measured IEE coefficient is two orders of magnitude larger than in graphene and is comparable to or larger than the values reported for some metallic interfaces and for several topological insulators.
Transmodal elastic metasurface for broad angle total mode conversion
Authors: Kim Min Soo , Lee Woo Rim , Kim Yoon Young , Oh Joo Hwan
Published: June 2018

It has been long believed that a total mode conversion between longitudinal and shear elastic waves can only be achieved at a certain incidence angle. Here, we show that a total mode conversion can be achieved for a broad range of incidence angles by a specially designed elastic metasurface, namely, transmodal metasurface. From the generalized reflection law, we found that the incident longitudinal wave can be totally converted to a reflected shear wave over a broad range of incidence angles if a sufficiently large phase gradient is introduced at the boundary. Numerical and experimental investigations with a specially engineered transmodal metasurface showed that the total mode conversion can be achieved for wide incidence angles from 19° to 90°, which was impossible to be achieved previously. The proposed idea of the transmodal metasurface can open up an advanced avenue for tailoring elastic wave modes as an outstanding alternative to generating shear waves.
Dual-mode resonant infrared detector based on film bulk acoustic resonator toward ultra-high sensitivity and anti-interference capability
Authors: Chen Cong , Shang Zhengguo , Zhang Feng , Zhou Hong , Yang Jing , Wang Dengpan , Chen Yu , Mu Xiaojing
Published: June 2018

Here, we demonstrate an uncooled, miniaturized, and high resolution infrared (IR) detector based on an aluminum nitride (AlN) film bulk acoustic resonator with dual resonant modes. Due to temperature dependence of the resonance frequency of the resonator and charge carrier generation effect of the AlN piezoelectric material, both the resonant frequency and valley value in reflection coefficient S11 are found responsive to IR irradiation at each resonant mode, thus realizing four IR sensing signal concurrence in a single device. The four sensing signals achieved IR responsivities of 3.32 Hz/nW, 561.21 μdB/nW, 43.17 Hz/nW, and 53.70 μdB/nW, respectively. The second sensing signal even realized a noise equivalent power down to 108 pW/Hz1/2, which is the lowest value among resonant infrared detectors reported in literature studies till now. More importantly, these four sensing signals lie in two separate frequency bands up to GHz, thus enabling the detector to operate normally by the frequency-hopping sensing method when one of the frequency bands suffers from strong electromagnetic interference. The presented device shows a great potential for ultra-sensitive and anti-interference infrared detection in civilian and military fields.
ANITA—An active vibration cancellation system for scanning probe microscopy
Authors: Pabbi L. , Binion A. R. , Banerjee R. , Dusch B. , Shoop C. B. , Hudson E. W.
Published: June 2018

The high sensitivity of scanning probe microscopes poses a barrier to their use in noisy environments. Vibrational noise, whether from structural or acoustic sources, can manifest as relative motion between the probe tip and sample, which then appears in the probe position (“Z”) feedback as it tries to cancel this motion. Here we describe an active cancellation process that nullifies the appearance of this vibration by adding a drive signal into the existing Z-feedback loop. The drive is digitally calculated from accelerometer-based vibration measurements. By transferring the vibration cancellation effort to this drive signal, vibration-created noise is significantly reduced. This inexpensive and easy solution requires no major instrumental modifications and is ideal for those looking to place their microscopes in noisier environments, coupled, for example, to active refrigeration systems (e.g., pulse tube cryocoolers) or other high-vibration instruments.
Perspective: How to understand electronic friction
Authors: Dou Wenjie , Subotnik Joseph E.
Published: June 2018

Electronic friction is a correction to the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, whereby nuclei in motion experience a drag in the presence of a manifold of electronic states. The notion of electronic friction has a long history and has been (re-)discovered in the context of a wide variety of different chemical and physical systems including, but not limited to, surface scattering events, surface reactions or chemisorption, electrochemistry, and conduction through molecular-(or nano-) junctions. Over the years, quite a few different forms of electronic friction have been offered in the literature. In this perspective, we briefly review these developments of electronic friction, highlighting the fact that we can now isolate a single, unifying form for (Markovian) electronic friction. We also focus on the role of electron-electron interactions for understanding frictional effects and offer our thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of using electronic friction to model dynamics in general.
Stationary afterglow apparatus with CRDS for study of processes in plasmas from 300 K down to 30 K
Authors: Plašil R. , Dohnal P. , Kálosi Á. , Roučka Š. , Shapko D. , Rednyk S. , Johnsen R. , Glosík J.
Published: June 2018

A cryogenic stationary afterglow apparatus equipped with a near-infrared cavity-ring-down-spectrometer (Cryo-SA-CRDS) for studies of electron-ion recombination processes in the plasma at temperatures 30-300 K has been designed, constructed, tested, and put into operation. The plasma is generated in a sapphire discharge tube that is contained in a microwave cavity. The cavity and the tube are attached to the second stage of the cold head of the cryocooler system, and they are inserted to an UHV chamber with mirrors for CRDS and vacuum windows on both ends of the tube. The temperature of the discharge tube can be made as low as 25 K. In initial test measurements, the discharge was ignited in He/Ar/H2 or He/H2 gas mixtures and the density of H3+ ions and their kinetic and rotational temperatures were measured during the discharge and afterglow. From the measured decrease in the ion density, during the afterglow, effective recombination rate coefficients were determined. Plasma relaxation was studied in He/Ar gas mixtures by monitoring the presence of highly excited argon atoms. The spectroscopic measurements demonstrated that the kinetic temperature of the ions is equal to the gas temperature and that it can be varied from 300 K down to 30 K.
Can high-Tc superconductivity in cuprates be explained by the conventional BCS theory?
Authors: Božović I. , Bollinger A. T. , Wu J. , He X.
Published: June 2018

For overdoped cuprates, it is believed that the normal state behaves as an ordinary Fermi liquid while the superconducting state conforms to the BCS theory. We have put these beliefs to the test by a comprehensive experiment in which over two thousand cuprate films were synthesized by molecular beam epitaxy and studied in great detail and precision. Here, we compare our key experimental results to various proposed explanations based on BCS theory extended to dirty d-wave superconductors, including the cases of strong (unitary) and weak (Born) scattering on impurities. The discrepancies seem insurmountable, and point to the need to develop the theory further, likely beyond the canonical BCS paradigm.
Using community engagement and biodiversity surveys to inform decisions to control invasive species: a case study of yellow crazy ants in Atafu, Tokelau
Authors: Gruber Monica A. M. , Pierce Raymond J. , Burne Allan R. , Naseri-Sale Luisa , Lester Philip J.
Published: June 2018

For conservation ecologists, the justification for restoration that involves the removal of invasive species is often made on the perception of impacts on biodiversity. However, invasive species control decisions can also be driven by the perceived direct impacts on people. Our case study reports on the ecological and human perspectives that drove the decision to control yellow crazy ants in Atafu, Tokelau. We surveyed the effects of yellow crazy ants at varying abundance on attitudes of people, diversity of ant communities, and white tern nesting behaviour in Atafu. Direct effects of yellow crazy ants on people included complaints that they ‘ruined the garden’, ate the ‘food for pigs that is kept outside’, and residents in areas with high ant infestations ‘can’t sleep outside anymore’. Yellow crazy ant abundance was positively correlated with both negative impacts on common ant species and the concern people expressed over the effects of the ant on their lives, but was not associated with differences in ant species richness or invertebrate diversity. We also found that yellow crazy ant abundance was negatively associated with the reproductive output of white terns. In addition, we found that people and white terns were more sensitive than ant communities to the effects of yellow crazy ants when the ants were at lower abundance. Based on our surveys of impacts on the villagers and biodiversity values on Atafu, the decision was made to embark on a control program, which was predicted to benefit both people and the environment.
A privileged role for neuronal Na+ channels in regulating ventricular [Ca2+] and arrhythmias
Authors: Jones DeAnalisa C. , Gong Jingqi Q.X. , Sobie Eric A.
Published: June 2018

Jones et al. provide commentary on the intricate crosstalk between ion transporters that goes awry in long QT arrhythmia.
ICBdocker: a Docker image for proteome annotation and visualization
Authors: Bordin Nicola , Devos Damien P
Published: June 2018

We introduce ICBdocker, a Docker environment that allows the annotation of functional and structural features of proteomes through a Python/Perl pipeline. DataTables pages make it easy to set up a web-resource for research groups with a focus on the same organisms or datasets. The results are available as tab-separated values files and HTML, allowing data analysis and browsing. The pipeline focuses on modularity and scalability, with capability of integrating with multi-processing and high-performance computing clusters.

Availability and implementation

ICBdocker is freely available on DockerHub at https://hub.docker.com/r/bordin89/icb/ Source code and documentation are available on GitHub at: https://github.com/bordin89/ICB_docker.
Spinal Cord Injury in Pregnancy
Authors: Drennan Kathryn J. , Vanushkina Maria
Published: June 2018

Spinal cord injury is an uncommon complication of pregnancy. But women with spinal cord injuries should be counseled that successful pregnancy is possible. Pregnancies should be planned once the patient has reached optimal functional status. At the outset of pregnancy, complications should be planned for, and an overall functional and routine health maintenance assessment should be evaluated. Providers should pay particular attention to voiding and elimination management, prevention of urinary tract infection, respiratory complications, and autonomic dysreflexia. Urinary complications can be decreased by maintaining a low pressure voiding system as well as addressing urinary tract bacterial colonization. When autonomic dysreflexia is encountered, the source should be identified and eliminated. Proactive management of potential complications leads to successful pregnancies with neonatal outcomes indistinguishable from the general population. The management of acute spinal cord injury should emphasize maternal stabilization. If an acute spinal cord injury occurs in pregnancy, any steps needed to improve the outcome should be undertaken.
ADHD in the twenty-first century
Authors: Hinshaw Stephen P. , Scheffler Richard M.
Published: June 2018

ADHD is a worldwide phenomenon of considerable importance, having generated major controversy throughout its history. In this chapter we emphasize the confluence of biological vulnerabilities and contextual influences essential for its manifestations. We also provide information on the sharp rises in both diagnosed prevalence and rates of medication treatment in recent years, providing a case example from the US pertaining to the influences of educational policies as one trigger of such increases. We conclude with commentary on the need for integrative and integrated perspectives on both the origins of ADHD and evidence-based treatments. Even though ADHD has important heritable and biological roots, its symptoms and impairments are amplified or diminished in homes and schools, and multimodal treatments are optimal for enhancing competence. Moreover, societal context and policy clearly shape diagnostic trends. We emphasize the need for integrative perspectives on ADHD, as reductionistic viewpoints polarize essential dialogue.
Emotional dysregulation and ADHD
Authors: Ryckaert Celine , Kuntsi Jonna , Asherson Philip
Published: June 2018

Symptoms of emotional dysregulation commonly accompany ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults. These include volatile moods, temper tantrums, and irritability. How emotional dysregulation relates to ADHD is currently debated. We approach this by establishing that, while emotional dysregulation is a transdiagnostic construct, it is also seen in ADHD cases independently of comorbidity. Furthermore, it accounts for ADHD-related impairments beyond symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. Aetiological studies suggest shared genetic influences drive the covariation of emotional dysregulation and ADHD symptoms. However, at the cognitive and neural level emotional dysregulation in ADHD seems to emerge as the direct effects of dysfunctions in emotional processing, rather than being secondary to deficits underpinning the symptoms of ADHD. Nevertheless, treatment trials of stimulants and atomoxetine show significant clinical improvement in emotional dysregulation symptoms. Future research needs to investigate the interaction of ADHD with comorbid disorders, and the predictors of response to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment.
Nutritional intervention for ADHD
Authors: Buitelaar Jan K. , Rommelse Nanda , Ly Verena , Rucklidge Julia J.
Published: June 2018

This chapter discusses four dietary interventions (exclusion of artificial colours and preservatives; restrictive elimination diets/oligoantigenic diets; supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids; and supplementation with micronutrients) and their clinical relevance for ADHD. The evidence base for exclusion of artificial colours and preservatives has many gaps. Effectiveness of the elimination phase of elimination diets has been demonstrated in several randomized clinical trials and about one-third of the children with ADHD show an excellent response. Data on maintenance of effect in the longer term, however, are lacking. Supplementation of free fatty acids was associated with a small but reliable reduction of ADHD symptoms, but the clinical relevance is unclear. The trials using a broad spectrum of micronutrients show promise but suffered from small sample sizes, lack of controls, varied sampling procedures and inclusion criteria, and multiple assessment methods, and need confirmation.
Relationship Between Aneurysm Wall Enhancement in Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Rupture Risk of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms
Authors: Lv Nan , Karmonik Christof , Chen Shiyue , Wang Xinrui , Fang Yibin , Huang Qinghai , Liu Jianmin
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

The rupture risk assessment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (IAs) is still challenging. Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) on vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) is suggested as a potential marker for wall inflammation, but its relationship with rupture risk of unruptured IAs has not been well described.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between AWE and conventional rupture risk factor of unruptured IAs.

METHODS

Clinical data and VW-MRI images were retrospectively reviewed in patients with unruptured IAs from January 2015 to December 2016 in our center. One hundred ten patients harboring 140 unruptured IAs were included. The presence of AWE was determined by comparing the postcontrast VW-MRI images with the precontrast ones. The rupture risk based on the PHASES score was calculated for each case. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate the association of AWE with rupture risk and other conventional risk factors.

RESULTS

AWE was present in 82 (58.6%) lesions. Unruptured IAs with AWE had significantly larger size (P < .001), more irregular shape (P = .003), and different distribution of locations (P = .023) comparing with aneurysms without AWE. The rupture risk score of AWE group was significantly higher than non-AWE group (P < .001). Aneurysm size (odds ratio = 1.536; 95% confidential interval 1.312-1.798; P < .001) and location (odds ratio = 1.592; 95% confidential interval 1.237-2.049; P < .001) were independently related with AWE in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

The presence of AWE on VW-MRI was highly associated with conventional rupture-related characteristics, including aneurysmal size and location, and was detected more frequently in unruptured IAs with high rupture risk based on the PHASES score.
Contribution of OxyR Towards Differential Sensitivity to Antioxidants inXanthomonas oryzaepathovarsoryzaeandoryzicola
Authors: Pan Xiayan , Wu Jian , Xu Shu , Duan Tingting , Duan Yabing , Wang Jianxin , Zhang Feng , Zhou Mingguo
Published: June 2018

OxyR and SoxR are two transcriptional regulators in response to oxidative stress in most bacteria, and SoxR has been reported to be activated by the endogenous redox-cycling compound phenazine in phenazine-producing organisms. However, which transcriptional regulator is activated in pathogens treated with the antibiotic phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) has not been determined. In this study, we found that PCA treatment activated OxyR rather than SoxR in the phytopathogenic bacteria Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and X. oryzae pv. oryzicola. We also found that X. oryzae pv. oryzae was much more sensitive to PCA and H2O2and had a defective antioxidant system (i.e., less of total antioxidant capacity and total catalase activity than X. oryzae pv. oryzicola, although X. oryzae pvs. oryzae and oryzicola are very closely related). Based on KEGG sequences, OxyR differs in 10 amino acids in X. oryzae pv. oryzae versus X. oryzae pv. oryzicola. By exchanging OxyR between X. oryzae pvs. oryzae and oryzicola, we elucidated that OxyR contributed to the differences in antioxidant capacity, total catalase activity, and sensitivity to PCA and H2O2. We also found that OxyR affected X. oryzae pvs. oryzae and oryzicola growth in a nutrient-poor medium, virulence on host plants (rice), and the hypersensitive response on nonhost plants (Nicotiana benthamiana). Thus, OxyR is a critical regulator that relates to the differences in antioxidative stress between X. oryzae pvs. oryzae and oryzicola and contributes to the differences in survival of them against oxidative stress.
DNA Template Dilution Impacts Amplicon Sequencing-Based Estimates of Soil Fungal Diversity
Authors: Castle Sarah C. , Song Zewei , Gohl Daryl M. , Gutknecht Jessica L. M. , Rosen Carl J. , Sadowsky Michael J. , Samac Deborah A. , Kinkel Linda L.
Published: June 2018

Next generation sequencing of taxonomically relevant marker genes has enabled researchers to sample the richness, diversity, and composition of environmental microbiomes at previously unattainable depths. However, molecular methods may have unintended downstream consequences and the inadvertent undersampling of microbial communities may be a significant pitfall in microbiome profiling. One such procedure, dilution of the DNA template prior to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), may improve marker gene amplification by reducing chimeric read formation and decreasing PCR inhibitor concentrations. However, dilution unavoidably reduces target DNA template number per sample. We evaluated the effects of pre-PCR DNA template dilution on estimates of soil fungal microbiome diversity, composition, and species abundance distributions across a collection of 144 agricultural soil samples. Fungal DNA templates were serially diluted at 0-, 10-, 100-, and 1,000-fold and sequence data of diluted templates were compared with those of an identical set of undiluted templates. For three prairie soil samples, in addition to evaluating variation among replicates of individual samples, we serially diluted fungal DNA extracts from soil samples in triplicate and sequenced undiluted and diluted samples. DNA template dilution significantly reduced estimates of fungal richness and diversity, as compared with undiluted samples. Dilution of DNA template also resulted in reduced relative abundances of rare operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and increased relative abundances of common OTUs. Collectively, changes in OTU abundance distributions following dilution produced substantial shifts in overall fungal community composition. Our results highlight risks associated with sample dilution and point to the potential utility of quantifying pre-PCR template concentration in the estimation of microbiomes. We urge researchers to thoroughly document methods and to reconsider routine dilution of pre-PCR DNA templates particularly for low abundance microbiome samples. As efforts to profile environmental microbiomes using molecular sequencing approaches accelerate, developing an adequate understanding of potential methodological bottlenecks will increase our ability to accurately characterize and compare datasets.
The gut microbiota metabolite indole alleviates liver inflammation in mice
Authors: Beaumont Martin , Neyrinck Audrey M. , Olivares Marta , Rodriguez Julie , de Rocca Serra Audrey , Roumain Martin , Bindels Laure B. , Cani Patrice D. , Evenepoel Pieter , Muccioli Giulio G. , Demoulin Jean‐Baptiste , Delzenne Nathalie M.
Published: June 2018

The gut microbiota regulates key hepatic functions, notably through the production of bacterial metabolites that are transported via the portal circulation. We evaluated the effects of metabolites produced by the gut microbiota from aromatic amino acids (phenylacetate, benzoate, p‐cresol, and indole) on liver inflammation induced by bacterial endotoxin. Precision‐cut liver slices prepared from control mice, Kupffer cell (KC)‐depleted mice, and obese mice (ob/ob) were treated with or without LPS and bacterial metabolites. We observed beneficial effects of indole that dose‐dependently reduced the LPS‐induced up‐regulation of proinflammatory mediators at both mRNA and protein levels in precision‐cut liver slices prepared from control or ob/ob mice. KC depletion partly prevented the antiinflammatory effects of indole, notably through a reduction of nucleotide‐binding domain and leucine‐rich repeat containing (NLR) family pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) pathway activation. In vivo, the oral administration of indole before an LPS injection reduced the expression of key proteins of the NF‐KB pathway and downstream proinflammatory gene up‐regulation. Indole also prevented LPS‐induced alterations of cholesterol metabolism through a transcriptional regulation associated with increased 4β‐hydroxycholesterol hepatic levels. In summary, indole appears as a bacterial metabolite produced from tryptophan that is able to counteract the detrimental effects of LPS in the liver. Indole could be a new target to develop innovative strategies to decrease hepatic inflammation.—Beaumont, M., Neyrinck, A. M., Olivares, M., Rodriguez, J., de Rocca Serra, A., Roumain, M., Bindels, L. B., Cani, P. D., Evenepoel, P., Muccioli, G. G., Demoulin, J.‐B., Delzenne, N. M. The gut microbiota metabolite indole alleviates liver inflammation in mice. FASEB J. 32, 6681–6693 (2018). www.fasebj.org
Pharmacokinetic Comparison of Two Mycophenolate Mofetil Formulations in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Zhang Jun , Luo YongGang , Zhu ZhenFeng , Feng GuiWen , Sun Zhi , Zhang XiaoJian
Published: June 2018

Background:

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) capsule and MMF dispersible tablet by detecting the active metabolite of mycophenolic acid (MPA) in Chinese kidney transplant recipients.

Methods:

In the prospective, randomized, open-label study, the renal transplant patients were given a multiple dose of either the MMF capsule or MMF dispersible tablet combination with tacrolimus (Tac). For each patient, 11 serial blood samples were collected over 12 hours (h). Parameters including predose concentration (C0), postdose minimum and maximum concentration (Cmin and Cmax), time to Cmax (Tmax), total body clearance (CL), and area under the concentration–time curve for the 12-hour exposure (AUC0–12h) were determined. Patient interviews were conducted to assess the occurrence of adverse events.

Results:

Baseline characteristics were comparable between both groups. The C0, Cmin, Cmax, Tmax, CL, and AUC0–12h values were not significantly different after multiple doses of MMF capsule or MMF dispersible tablet (P > 0.05). The median values of AUC0–12h were 43.98 and 41.95 mcg·h/mL for MMF capsule and MMF dispersible tablet, respectively. Interindividual variability in Cmax, Cmin, and C0 were considerable in both groups. No serious adverse events were reported by patients or found on analysis of laboratory tests.

Conclusions:

PK parameters of the 2 MPA drugs were comparable in early renal transplant patients in this study. The 2 formulations were well tolerated in Chinese kidney transplant patients.
Residual Optically Stimulated Luminescent (OSL) Signals for Al2O3:C and a Readout System With Reproducible Partial Signal Clearance
Authors: Abraham Sara A. , Kearfott Kimberlee J.
Published: June 2018

Optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters are devices that, when stimulated with light, emit light in proportion to the integrated ionizing radiation dose. The stimulation of optically stimulated luminescent material results in the loss of a small fraction of signal stored within the dosimetric traps. Previous studies have investigated the signal loss due to readout stimulation and the optical annealing of optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters. This study builds on former research by examining the behavior of optically stimulated luminescent signals after annealing, exploring the functionality of a previously developed signal loss model, and comparing uncertainties for dosimeters reused with or without annealing. For a completely annealed dosimeter, the minimum signal level was 56 ± 8 counts, and readings followed a Gaussian distribution. For dosimeters above this signal level, the fractional signal loss due to the reading process has a linear relationship with the calculated signal. At low signal levels (below 20,000 counts) in this optically stimulated luminescent dosimeter system, calculated signal percent errors increase significantly but otherwise are on average 0.72 ± 0.27%, 0.40 ± 0.19%, 0.33 ± 0.12%, and 0.24 ± 0.07% for 30, 75, 150, and 300 readings, respectively. Theoretical calculations of uncertainties showed that annealing before reusing dosimeters allows for dose errors below 1% with as few as 30 readings. Reusing dosimeters multiple times increases the dose errors especially with low numbers of readouts, so theoretically around 300 readings would be necessary to achieve errors around 1% or below in most scenarios. Note that these dose errors do not include the error associated with the signal-to-dose conversion factor.
Minimally Invasive Direct Access Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement for Extensive Mitral Annular Calcification after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Lamelas Joseph , Silva Guilherme V. , Chatterjee Subhasis
Published: June 2018

Mitral annular calcification can pose a formidable surgical challenge in the setting of mitral valve replacement for mitral stenosis. Although there are reports of transapical valve-in-valve transcatheter mitral valve replacement in the setting of degenerated bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement, there is less experience with transcatheter mitral valve replacement for mitral annular calcification. This report describes a patient who previously received a transcatheter aortic valve replacement and then subsequently underwent a minimally invasive right thoracotomy for transcatheter mitral valve replacement with a successful result. We discuss technical pearls and operative considerations based on an extensive experience with minimally invasive valve surgery from a right mini-thoracotomy.