bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers to Uptake of Postpartum Long‐Acting Reversible Contraception: Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Ugandan Health Workers and Potential Clients
Authors: Willcox Merlin , King Emma , Fall Emma , Mubangizi Vincent , Nkalubo Julius , Natukunda Silvia , Nahabwe Haeven , Goodhart Clare , Graffy Jonathan
Published: April 2019

Health workers have received training on delivering postpartum long‐acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) through several projects in Uganda, yet uptake still remains poor. To understand the reasons, and to gather suggestions for improving uptake, we conducted individual semi‐structured interviews with a total of 80 postpartum parents, antenatal parents, health workers, and village health teams in rural south‐west Uganda. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Specific barriers to uptake of immediate postpartum contraception for women included: the need to discuss this option with their husband, the belief that time is needed to recover before insertion of a LARC, and fear that the baby might not survive. Furthermore, social consequences of side‐effects are more serious in low‐income settings. Suggestions for improving uptake of postpartum contraception included health education by “expert users,” couples counseling during antenatal care, and improved management of side‐effects.
The Effect of Economic Vulnerability on Protest Participation in the National Football League
Authors: Niven David
Published: April 2019

Objectives

What distinguishes between National Football League (NFL) players who participated in protests during the National Anthem and those who did not? Does the finding of a personal vulnerability constraint in high‐risk activism apply to this relatively elite population?

Methods

Protest participation during 2017 was determined for every NFL player, along with several variables pertaining to their performance, compensation, and the political atmosphere of their team.

Results

Bivariate and multivariate tests both reveal that protest participation was far greater among players with large guaranteed contracts and among players who were well regarded for their performance.

Conclusions

Economic vulnerability ranges widely within the NFL such that players hold contracts offering guaranteed payments of anywhere between $92 million and nothing at all. The data here suggest that the personal vulnerability constraint documented in protest participation research also applies to this unique population of high‐profile people engaged in a most high‐profile protest. Documenting the existence of these constraints helps offer a more systematic foundation to our understanding of political activism behavior among athletes.
Non‐subduction origin for 3.2 Ga high‐pressure metamorphic rocks in the Barberton granitoid‐greenstone terrane, South Africa
Authors: Wang Hao , Yang Jin‐Hui , Kröner Alfred , Zhu Yu‐Sheng , Li Rui
Published: April 2019

The occurrence of high‐pressure (HP) garnet‐bearing metamorphic rocks in the southern Barberton granitoid–greenstone terrane (BGGT), South Africa, has been proposed as a key indicator of the onset of modern plate tectonics at ca. 3.2 Ga. Here, we report new zircon/titanite U–Pb ages of garnet‐bearing HP metamorphic rocks and associated granitoids in the BGGT that argue against such an interpretation. The results show that HP metamorphism occurred synchronously with granitoid magmatism in the Stolzburg domain, the supposed subducted plate, during two episodes at 3.4 and 3.2 Ga, and that these two episodes of magmatism occurred on both sides of the assumed suture zone, a feature that cannot easily be explained by the subduction model. In contrast, the coupled magmatism and metamorphism probably resulted from partial convective overturn (PCO), another viable mechanism for production and differentiation of continental crust during early Archean.
Standing myotomy to treat fibrotic myopathy: 22 cases (2004–2016)
Authors: Noll Charlene V. , Kilcoyne Isabelle , Vaughan Betsy , Galuppo Larry D.
Published: April 2019

Objective

To report the clinical and diagnostic findings associated with fibrotic myopathy, describe the surgical procedure for standing fibrotic myotomy and report postoperative outcomes.

Study design

Retrospective study.

Sample population

Twenty‐two horses.

Methods

Records were included if a clinical diagnosis of fibrotic myopathy was based on clinical and/or ultrasonographic examination and the horse was treated with myotomy of the affected muscle. Records were reviewed for signalment, preoperative findings, perioperative complications, and outcomes. Follow‐up also included a phone survey of owners.

Results

Quarter horses represented 14 of 22 horses in this study. Ultrasonographic examination was performed in 14 of 22 horses. The semitendinosus muscle was affected in 17 of 22 horses. Other muscles affected included the semimembranosus, gracilis, and biceps femoris. Four of the 22 horses had a diagnosis of incisional postoperative complications. Eight of 12 formerly athletic horses returned to their intended athletic use. Ten of 16 owners were satisfied with the procedure.

Conclusion

Prognosis for long‐term comfort after standing fibrotic myotomy was fair with appropriate rehabilitation. Ultrasonographic examination was helpful in identifying the muscles affected and aided in surgical planning.

Clinical impact

Standing fibrotic myotomy is a technically straightforward procedure that yields a fair outcome in horses with minimal intraoperative and/or postoperative complications.
Rotational culture and integration with amniotic stem cells reduce porcine islet immunoreactivity in vitro and slow xeno‐rejection in a murine model of islet transplantation
Authors: Zafar Ali , Lee Jou , Yesmin Shameema , Paget Michelle B. , Bailey Clifford J. , Murray Hilary E. , Downing Richard
Published: April 2019

Background

Pre‐transplant modification of porcine islets may improve their suitability for clinical use in diabetes management by supporting graft function and reducing the potential for xeno‐rejection. The present study investigates intra‐graft incorporation of stem cells that secrete beta (β)‐cell trophic and immunomodulatory factors to preserve function and alter immune cell responsiveness to porcine islets.

Methods

Isolated porcine islets were maintained in a three‐dimensional rotational cell culture system (RCCS) to facilitate aggregation with human amniotic epithelial cells (AECs). Assembled islet constructs were assessed for functional integrity and ability to avoid xeno‐recognition by CD4+ T‐cells using mixed islet:lymphocyte reaction assays. To determine whether stem cell‐mediated modification of porcine islets provided a survival advantage over native islets, structural integrity was examined in a pig‐to‐mouse islet transplant model.

Results

Rotational cell culture system supported the formation of porcine islet:AEC aggregates with improved insulin‐secretory capacity compared to unmodified islets, whilst the xeno‐response of purified CD4+ T‐cells to AEC‐bearing grafts was significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated. Transplanted AEC‐bearing grafts demonstrated slower rejection in immune‐competent recipients compared to unmodified islets.

Conclusions/interpretation

Rotational culture enables pre‐transplant modification of porcine islets by integration with immunomodulatory stem cells capable of subduing xeno‐reactivity to CD4+ T‐cells. This reduces islet rejection and offers translational potential to widen availability and improve the clinical effectiveness of islet transplantation.
Political Economy Analysis of the Macroeconomic Impact of National Elections in Ghana During the Fourth Republican Era, 1992 to 2016
Authors: Anaman Kwabena Asomanin , Bukari Gbensuglo Alidu
Published: April 2019

The study dealt with the analysis of macroeconomic impact of national presidential elections in Ghana during the Fourth Republican period from 1992 to 2016 based on effects of these elections on economic growth, government budget deficits, inflation and interest rates. Using annual data covering the period, 1992 to 2016, the analysis indicated that national elections did not lead to significant increase in annual economic growth as measured by the changes in real gross domestic product (GDP). However, the increase in government budget deficits during election years was established. Further, based on quarterly data covering 100 periods from 1992 to 2016, we showed that elections produced significantly higher levels of inflation and interest rates. Our study confirmed anecdotal evidence of worsening macroeconomic performance of the economy of Ghana as a result of national presidential elections which hurt ordinary Ghanaians especially those living on fixed incomes such as pensioners due to higher inflation, and also adversely affected small and medium scale businessmen as a result of increased borrowing costs from higher interest rates.
Second Nature
Authors: Goudarzi Sara
Published: April 2019

Animals are the key to discovering new, physical ways of dealing with the world—to learning how to accomplish difficult tasks that many life forms undertake very efficiently like moving around, eating, drinking, storing and releasing waste, and keeping things clean. In this study, David Hu, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and biology, who runs a biolocomotion laboratory at the Georgia Tech, delves deeper into how to turn animal abilities into elegant engineering solutions.
Numerical Simulation of Natural Gas Pipeline Transients
Authors: Alghlam Abdoalmonaim S. M. , Stevanovic Vladimir D. , Elgazdori Elmukhtar A. , Banjac Milos
Published: April 2019

Simulations of natural gas pipeline transients provide an insight into a pipeline capacity to deliver gas to consumers or to accumulate gas from source wells during various abnormal conditions and under variable consumption rates. This information is used for the control of gas pressure and for planning repairs in a timely manner. Therefore, a numerical model and a computer code have been developed for the simulation of natural gas transients in pipelines. The developed approach is validated by simulations of test cases from the open literature. Detailed analyses of both slow and fast gas flow transients are presented. Afterward, the code is applied to the simulation of transients in a long natural gas transmission pipeline. The simulated scenarios cover common operating conditions and abrupt disturbances. The simulations of the abnormal conditions show a significant accumulation capacity and inertia of the gas within the pipeline, which enables gas packing and consumers supply during the day time period. Since the numerical results are obtained under isothermal gas transient conditions, an analytical method for the evaluation of the difference between isothermal and nonisothermal predictions is derived. It is concluded that the nonisothermal transient effects can be neglected in engineering predictions of natural gas packing in long pipelines during several hours. The prescribed isothermal temperature should be a few degrees higher than the soil temperature due to the heat generation by friction on the pipelines wall and heat transfer from the gas to the surrounding soil.
Investigation of A Low Emission Liquid Fueled Reverse-Cross-Flow Combustor
Authors: Sharma Preetam , Jain Naman , Arghode Vaibhav Kumar
Published: April 2019

The investigated combustor employs injection of liquid fuel (ethanol) into the strong cross-flow of air using a round tube to achieve effective fuel atomization in non-premixed mode of operation. The reverse-flow configuration (air injection from the exit end) allows effective internal product gas recirculation and stabilization of the reaction zone. This apparently suppresses near-stoichiometric reactions and hot spot regions resulting in low pollutant (NOx and CO) emissions in the non-premixed mode. The combustor was tested at thermal intensity variation from 19 to 39 MW/m3 atm with direct injection (DI) of liquid fuel in cross-flow of air injection with two fuel injection diameters of 0.5 mm (D1) and 0.8 mm (D2). The combustion process was found to be stable with NOx emissions of 8 ppm (for D1) and 9 ppm (for D2), the CO emissions were 90 ppm for D1 and 120 ppm for D2, at an equivalence ratio (ϕ) of 0.7. Macroscopic spray properties of the fuel jet in cross-flow were investigated using high-speed imaging techniques in unconfined and nonreacting conditions. It was found that the fuel jet in smaller fuel injection diameter (D1) case penetrated farther than that in D2 case due to higher fuel injection momentum, thus possibly resulting in a finer spray and better fuel-oxidizer mixing, and in turn leading to lower CO and NOx emissions in the D1 case as compared with the D2 case.
Heliostat Attitude Control Strategy in the Solar Energy Research Facility of Valparaiso University
Authors: Nudehi Shahin S. , Duncan G. Scott , Venstrom Luke J.
Published: April 2019

In this paper, a continuous tracking strategy for the heliostat in the James S. Markiewicz Concentrated Solar Energy Research Facility at Valparaiso University is developed. A model of the nonlinear dynamics of the heliostat motion is developed and the open-loop control strategy is presented. Asymptotic stability of the heliostat control using the Lyapunov and LaSalle’s theorems was proven. Simulations using the nonlinear dynamic model are presented and interpreted to identify the feedback gain that maximizes the time response of the heliostat without introducing oscillations in its motion. Finally, the control strategy is put to the test during summertime operation. The data presented show that the tracking strategy has an root mean square (RMS) tracking error of 0.058 mrad, where the error is defined as the difference between the desired and actual heliostat positions. Images of the aperture of a high-temperature solar receiver over 8 h of testing are also presented to qualitatively demonstrate the success of the tracking strategy.
Characterization of arsenic plasma doping and postimplant processing of silicon using medium energy ion scattering
Authors: van den Berg Jaap , Rossall Andrew , England Jonathan
Published: April 2019

Plasma doping (PLAD) is increasingly applied in microelectronic device manufacture to produce high throughput, high fluence implants. In this medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) study of the PLAD process, Si(100) wafers were exposed to an As containing plasma while pulse biased negatively to 7 kV to cause (recoil) implantation and deposition of As. Quantitative MEIS depth profiling analysis in conjunction with energy spectrum simulation was applied to characterize the near-surface layer changes of the Si wafer following (i) the PLAD process, (ii) two types of chemical wet clean (oxidizing and nonoxidizing), and (iii) spike annealing in an N2 atmosphere. MEIS analysis showed that the PLAD process produced an intermixed As/Si layer, with a near-surface As content of ∼40% that decayed almost linearly to near-zero at a depth of ∼17 nm. This mixed As/Si layer was unstable in air and the initially recorded 1.2 nm thick oxide cap layer grew over a period of four months to 3.5 nm with a concurrent 25% As loss by sublimation. The application of the industry standard, oxidizing wet chemical clean removed the top As and concurrently produced a ∼14 nm thick Si oxide above the remaining implanted As profile, which matched the tail of original As implant profile. As depth profiles measured for the 7 kV PLAD process after a wet clean and spike annealing showed solid phase epitaxial regrowth of the disordered layer. A detailed comparison of the random and aligned MEIS spectra yielded depth profiles of substitutional As with a concentration in excess of 1 × 1021 As cm−3 over a depth greater than 10 nm. The retained dose of 1.35 × 1015 cm−2 represents a ∼70% increase in substitutional As compared to that recorded after a nonoxidizing clean. Such an alternative wet chemical clean, in which Si reoxidation did not occur, was applied to determine the depth of the mixed As/Si layer removed. Found to be 7 nm, the analysis indicated that the etching process ceased when the Si concentration reached 4 × 1022 cm−3. After spike annealing, part of the remaining As had segregated in a thin layer under a 1.6 nm thick surface oxide. The retained As dose in this case was 8 × 1014 cm−2, equivalent to a 1% As substitutional dopant concentration to a depth of ∼14 nm. Different substitutional As doses measured with MEIS were found to correlate closely with sheet resistance measurements, confirming that equating the substitutional As with the active As dose remains correct for these ultrashallow profiles, typically 10 nm deep.
Study of Ge-rich GeSbTe etching process with different halogen plasmas
Authors: Canvel Yann , Lagrasta Sébastien , Boixaderas Christelle , Barnola Sébastien , Mazel Yann , Martinez Eugénie
Published: April 2019

Chalcogenide materials based on GeSbTe (GST) ternary alloys are patterned using inductively coupled plasma in the manufacturing of phase change memories. The current process challenge is to maintain the GST composition and surface morphology to guarantee the memory performances. In this paper, the authors investigate the etching effects of different halogen plasmas (HBr, CF4, and Cl2) on an optimized Ge-rich GST alloy. Using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and plasma profiling time-of-flight mass spectrometry as complementary techniques, the authors noticed that the etched GST surface shows a stronger Te-rich damaged layer in the sequence of CF4 > Cl2 > HBr. It is closely related to the higher affinity between halogen and GST elements in the sequence of Ge > Sb > Te. By comparing the etch rates with and without rf bias voltage, HBr etching is shown to be mainly related to the physical ion bombardment. On the contrary, Cl2 plasma is mostly chemical and generates the roughest surface. The presence of a C-F passivation layer with CF4 plasma shows that both chemical reactivity and physical bombardment are necessary to etch efficiently the GST film. The oxidation of the HBr-etched GST surface was monitored by XPS as a function of several air exposure times. As a conclusion, the GST oxidation becomes critical after 24 h of air exposure.
Chromatin serotonylation limits differentiation
Authors: Williams Erin R.
Published: April 2019

Modification of histone H3 with the neurotransmitter serotonin impairs neuronal development.
Stepping out of the shadow: STIM2 promotes IL-3–induced cytokine release
Authors: Alansary Dalia , Niemeyer Barbara A.
Published: April 2019

Basophils require the calcium sensor STIM2 to respond to the cytokine IL-3 (Yoshikawa
et al
., in 9 April 2019 issue).
Carbapenem-Susceptible OXA-23-Producing Proteus mirabilis in the French Community
Authors: Potron Anaïs , Hocquet Didier , Triponney Pauline , Plésiat Patrick , Bertrand Xavier , Valot Benoit
Published: April 2019

Nineteen
Proteus mirabilis
isolates producing the carbapenemase OXA-23 were recovered over a 2-year period in 19 French hospitalized patients, of whom 12 had community onset infections. The isolates exhibited a slightly reduced susceptibility to carbapenems.
Lysocins: Bioengineered Antimicrobials That Deliver Lysins across the Outer Membrane of Gram-Negative Bacteria
Authors: Heselpoth Ryan D. , Euler Chad W. , Schuch Raymond , Fischetti Vincent A.
Published: April 2019

The prevalence of multidrug-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
has stimulated development of alternative therapeutics. Bacteriophage peptidoglycan hydrolases, termed lysins, represent an emerging antimicrobial option for targeting Gram-positive bacteria.
Daptomycin Dose-Ranging Evaluation with Single-Dose versus Multidose Ceftriaxone Combinations against Streptococcus mitis
/oralis
in an
Ex Vivo
Simulated Endocarditis Vegetation Model
Authors: Kebriaei Razieh , Rice Seth A. , Stamper Kyle C. , Seepersaud Ravin , Garcia-de-la-Maria Cristina , Mishra Nagendra N. , Miro Jose M. , Arias Cesar A. , Tran Truc T. , Sullam Paul M. , Bayer Arnold S. , Rybak Michael J.
Published: April 2019

The viridans group streptococci (VGS) are a heterogeneous group of organisms which are important components of the normal human oral flora. Among the VGS, the
Streptococcus mitis
/oralis
subgroup is one of the most common causes of infective endocarditis (IE).
Changes in Fungal Communities across a Forest Disturbance Gradient
Authors: Shi Lingling , Dossa Gbadamassi G. O. , Paudel Ekananda , Zang Huadong , Xu Jianchu , Harrison Rhett D.
Published: April 2019

The soil fungal functional group changes in response to forest disturbance and indicates a close interaction between the aboveground plant community and the belowground soil biological community. Soil saprotrophic fungi declined in relative abundance with increasing forest disturbance. At the same time, the relative abundance of facultative pathogenic fungi increased. The loss of saprotrophic fungal richness and abundance may have been a direct result of forest disturbance or an indirect result of changes in soil pH and soil P. Furthermore, the dominant P-solubilizing saprotrophic fungi were replaced by diverse facultative pathogenic fungi, which have weaker C decomposition ability. These changes potentially indicate a shift from soil phosphate limitation to carbon limitation following deforestation. This study suggests that changes in fungal functional group composition can be used as an indicator of the effects of forest disturbance on soil carbon and nutrients.
Following the Evolutionary Track of a Highly Specific
l
-Arginine Oxidase by Reconstruction and Biochemical Analysis of Ancestral and Native Enzymes
Authors: Nakano Shogo , Niwa Masazumi , Asano Yasuhisa , Ito Sohei
Published: April 2019

In this study, we attempted to infer the molecular evolution of a recently isolated FAD-dependent
l
-arginine oxidase (AROD) that oxidizes
l
-arginine to 2-ketoarginine. Utilizing 10 candidate AROD sequences, we obtained a total of three ancestral ARODs. In addition, one native AROD was obtained by cloning one of the candidate ARODs. The candidate sequences were selected utilizing a curation method defined in this study. All the ARODs were successfully expressed in
Escherichia coli
for analysis of their biochemical functions. The catalytic activity of our bacterially expressed ancestral ARODs suggests that our ASR was successful. The ancestral AROD that is phylogenetically most remote from a native AROD has the highest thermal stability and substrate promiscuity. Our findings led us to infer that AROD evolved from a highly thermostable and promiscuous LAAO. As an application, we can design artificial ARODs with improved functions compared with those of native ones.
Evaluation of the ELITe InGenius PCR Platform for Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Authors: Totten Arthur H. , Leal Sixto M. , Ratliff Amy E. , Xiao Li , Crabb Donna M. , Waites Ken B.
Published: April 2019

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
is the leading cause of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia in persons of all ages. Due to the fastidious nature of this bacterium and the necessary specialized growth media, nucleic acid amplification testing is currently the most reliable means for patient diagnostics.
Societal Implications of the Internet of Pathogens
Authors: Greninger Alexander L.
Published: April 2019

The growth of pathogen genomics shows no signs of abating. Whole-genome sequencing of clinical viral and bacterial isolates continues to grow in nearly exponential bounds.
Off-label drug prescriptions in French general practice: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Drogou François , Netboute Allison , Giai Joris , Dode Xavier , Darmon David , Kassai Behrouz , Letrilliart Laurent
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Off-label drug prescribing is a public health and economic issue. The aim of this study was to describe off-label prescription in general practice in France, in terms of frequency and nature, and to identify its main determining factors.

Design

Multicentre cross-sectional study

Setting

Twenty-three training general practice offices

Participants

All the voluntary patients coming for a medical consultation or visited at home over a cumulative period of 5 days per office between November 2015 and January 2016.

Methods

Eleven interns, acting as observers, collected data. Two reviewers analysed the drugs prescribed by the trainers, in order to identify those prescribed off-label in terms of their indication or the age of the patient. We used a univariate, then a multivariate model, based on hierarchical mixed-effects logistic regression.

Results

Among the 4932 drug prescriptions registered, 911 (18.5%[95% CI17.4% to 19.6%]) were off-label, of which 865 (17.6%) due to the indication of the drug and 58 (1.2%) due to the age of the patient. The prescription never mentioned the off-label use, neither was the patient informed of it, as required by the French law. With the multivariate analysis, variables contributing to off-label prescription were the number of drugs (OR=1.05 for each additional drug), the initiation of new drug therapy (OR=1.26) and the non-specific goal of the prescription (OR=1.43); the age of the patient ≤14 years (OR=1.42); the rural location of the physician’s practice (OR=1.38) and the low frequency of the visits of national health insurance representatives (OR=0.93).

Conclusion

Almost one out of five drugs prescribed in French general practice was off-label. It seems necessary to better train physicians in clinical pharmacology, to provide them with more effective drug prescription software, to reinforce postmarketing surveillance and to clearly define off-label use by consensus.
Population attributable fraction of leading non-communicable cardiovascular diseases due to leisure-time physical inactivity: a systematic review
Authors: Al Tunaiji Hashel , Davis Jennifer C , Mansournia Mohammad Ali , Khan Karim M
Published: April 2019

Objective

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the methods used for estimating the population attributable fraction (PAF) to leisure-time physical inactivity (PI) of coronary artery diseases, hypertension and stroke in order to provide the best available estimate for PAF.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

Four electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) were searched from inception to August 2018.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

This review included prospective cohort studies, with men and women aged ≥18 years old, investigating the PAF attributable to leisure-time PI related to coronary artery diseases, hypertension and stroke.

Results

The PAF estimates of the three studies included were 13% (3%–22%) for ‘stage-1 hypertension’ subtype incidence due to ‘non-regular exercise’; 25% (10.4%–35.8%) for ‘stage-2 hypertension’ subtype incidence due to ‘activity of daily living’ and ‘vigorous-intensity sports’; and 8.5% (1.7%–16.7%) for ‘total: fatal and non-fatal’ cardiovascular events of ‘incidence and mortality’ endpoints due to non-accumulation of 550 kcal/week (subsets not specified).

Conclusions

The PAF estimate exhibited a protective dose–response relationship between hypertension and an increased amount of energy expenditure of leisure-time PI. In order to enhance accuracy of PAF estimates, the following steps are recommended: (1) to clearly define and state the working definition of leisure-time PI and dose using a reliable and valid objective measurement tool; (2) use a clear definition of outcome subtypes and endpoints using reliable and valid objective measures; and (3) estimate PAF using modelling techniques based on prospective data and ensuring to report 95% CI.
Moderating effect of the neighbourhood physical activity environment on the relation between psychosocial factors and physical activity in children: a longitudinal study
Authors: Colabianchi Natalie , Clennin Morgan N , Dowda Marsha , McIver Kerry L , Dishman Rod K , Porter Dwayne E , Pate Russell R
Published: April 2019

Background

Few studies have examined the moderating role of neighbourhood environments on the relation between psychosocial factors and physical activity, and results of these studies are mixed. This study examined this relationship in 636 fifth to seventh graders from South Carolina, USA.

Methods

From 2010 to 2013, children and their parent/guardian completed annual self-reported surveys assessing psychosocial factors, and children wore accelerometers for 1 week each year. Neighbourhood environments were classified as supportive or non-supportive for physical activity (PA) based on in-person audits of facilities near children’s homes and windshield surveys of children’s streets. Growth curve analyses were completed to assess the moderating effect of the neighbourhood physical activity environment (NPAE) on the relation between psychosocial factors and total physical activity (TPA) over time.

Results

Significant interactions on TPA were found for (1) time, NPAE and parent-reported parent support for PA; (2) time, NPAE and child-reported equipment in the home; (3) child-reported parental support for PA and time; (4) child-reported parental support for PA and NPAE; (5) PA self-schema and time and (6) child-reported parental encouragement and time. Parental support and a supportive NPAE were important for TPA, especially as children transitioned to middle school, whereas home equipment and a supportive NPAE were important for fifth graders’ TPA.

Conclusion

Consistent with the socioecological model, PA behaviour was dependent on interacting effects across levels of influence. Generally, both a supportive NPAE and positive psychosocial factors were needed to support TPA. Factors influencing PA across multiple levels should be addressed in PA interventions.
Patterns of breathlessness and associated consulting behaviour: results of an online survey
Authors: Elbehairy Amany F , Quint Jennifer K , Rogers Judith , Laffan Michael , Polkey Michael I , Hopkinson Nicholas S
Published: April 2019

The online British Lung Foundation Breath Test provides an opportunity to study the relationship between breathlessness, common sociobehavioural risk factors and interaction with healthcare. We analysed data from 356 799 responders: 71% were ≥50 years old and 18% were smokers. 20% reported limiting breathlessness (Medical Research Council breathlessness score ≥3), and the majority of these (85%) worried about their breathing; of these, 29% had not sought medical advice. Of those who had, 58% reported that the advice received had not helped their breathlessness. Limiting breathlessness was associated with being older, physically inactive, smoking and a higher body mass index. These data suggest a considerable unmet need associated with breathlessness as well as possibilities for intervention.
Impact of double-stranded RNA characteristics on the activation of human 2′–5′-oligoadenylate synthetase 2 (OAS2)
Authors: Koul Amit , Deo Soumya , Booy Evan P. , Orriss George L. , Genung Matthew , McKenna Sean A.
Published: April 2019

Human 2′–5′ oligoadenylate synthetases (OAS) are a family of interferon-inducible proteins that, upon activation by double-stranded RNA, polymerize ATP into 2′–5′ linked oligoadenylates. In this study, we probed the RNA cofactor specificity of the two smallest isozymes, OAS1 and OAS2. First, we developed a strategy for the expression and purification of recombinant human OAS2 from eukaryotic cells and quantified the activity of the enzyme relative to OAS1 in vitro. We then confirmed that both OAS2 domains, as opposed to only the domain containing the canonical catalytic aspartic acid triad, are required for enzymatic activity. Enzyme kinetics of both OAS1 and OAS2 in the presence of a variety of RNA binding partners enabled characterization of the maximum reaction velocity and apparent RNA-protein affinity of activating RNAs. While in this study OAS1 can be catalytically activated by dsRNA of any length greater than 19 bp, OAS2 showed a marked increase in activity with increasing dsRNA length with a minimum requirement of 35 bp. Interestingly, activation of OAS2 was also more efficient when the dsRNA contained 3′-overhangs, despite no significant impact on binding affinity. Highly structured viral RNAs that are established OAS1 activators were not able to activate OAS2 enzymatic activity based on the lack of extended stretches of dsRNA of greater than 35 bp. Together these results may highlight distinct subsets of biological RNAs to which different human OAS isozymes respond.
Multi-dimensional optimization model for schedule fast-tracking without over-stressing construction workers
Authors: Abuwarda Zinab , Hegazy Tarek
Published: April 2019

Fast-tracking is an important process to speed the delivery of construction projects. To support optimum fast-tracking decisions, this paper introduces a generic schedule optimization framework that integrates four schedule acceleration dimensions: linear activity crashing; discrete activity modes of execution; alternative network paths; and flexible activity overlapping. Because excessive schedule compression can lead to space congestion and overstressed workers, the optimization formulation uses specific variables and constraints to prevent simultaneous use of overlapping and crashing at the same activity segment. To handle complex projects with a variety of milestones, resource limits, and constraints, the framework has been implemented using the constraint programming (CP) technique. Comparison with a literature case study and further experimentation demonstrated the flexibility and superior performance of the proposed model. The novelty of the model stems from its integrated multi-dimensional formulation, its CP engine, and its ability to provide alternative fast-track schedules to strictly constrained projects without overstressing the construction workers.
Multichannel systems in an ancient river-dominated delta: case study of the lower Yanchang Formation, southwest Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Xu Qinghai , Shi Wanzhong , Xie Xiangyang , Zhang Changmin , Manger Walter L. , Wang Jian , Rao Song
Published: April 2019

Distributary channels in large deltas can form a channel pattern similar to braided fluvial system or anastomosed fluvial system that have multichannel systems. Although both systems are of generally comparable platforms, their geometry, sedimentology, and facies associations may exhibit unique characteristics. Many ancient multichannel systems have been interpreted as braided patterns, but some are certainly anastomosed patterns. A reevaluation of ancient multichannel architectures and sedimentology patterns is needed to improve discrimination of braided and anastomosed patterns of multichannel systems. This study examines the characteristics of two modern anastomosed pattern channel systems. Those modern systems are compared to ancient examples in the lower Yanchang Formation, southwest Ordos Basin. This comparison indicates that the multichannel systems of the delta, southwest Ordos Basin, exhibit greater similarity to modern anastomosed channel systems of shallow-water deltas. Systems of low-sinuosity distributary channels and interdistributary bays or swamp islands are developed mainly between the channels, and there are no mouth bar deposits. Both modern and ancient multichannel systems suggest that low gradient slope is a significant controlling factor in the formation of anastomosed pattern channels in river-dominated deltas. The identification of anastomosed patterns plays a significant role in reservoir characterization and hydrocarbon exploration and production in delta systems.
Spatial variation in oak (Quercus spp.) radial growth responses to drought stress in eastern North America
Authors: LeBlanc David C. , Berland Adam M.
Published: April 2019

Dendroecology provides a means to evaluate how mature trees have responded to climate stresses in the recent past and provides one approach for projecting how existing forests will respond to future climate change. This study documented spatial variation in the strength of growth–climate associations for six oak (Quercus) species at 284 sites in eastern North America that span substantial gradients of temperature and site water balance. Radial growth of oaks was more strongly related to growing-season precipitation and the ratio of precipitation to potential evapotranspiration at sites in the western part of the study region where drought conditions occur more frequently. Growth was more strongly related to growing-season mean maximum temperature in the warmer, southern part of the study region. Growth of oaks was not strongly related to site water balance or temperature in the northeastern part of the study region. These results indicate that if climate change results in increased growing-season drought stress, this will adversely affect mature oak trees growing in the southern and western parts of eastern North America, but oaks growing in northeastern North America have more safe space for change before they will suffer reduced growth and vigor.
Video Extrapolation Using Neighboring Frames
Authors: Lee Sangwoo , Lee Jungjin , Kim Bumki , Kim Kyehyun , Noh Junyong
Published: April 2019

With the popularity of immersive display systems that fill the viewer’s field of view (FOV) entirely, demand for wide FOV content has increased. A video extrapolation technique based on reuse of existing videos is one of the most efficient ways to produce wide FOV content. Extrapolating a video poses a great challenge, however, due to the insufficient amount of cues and information that can be leveraged for the estimation of the extended region. This article introduces a novel framework that allows the extrapolation of an input video and consequently converts a conventional content into one with wide FOV. The key idea of the proposed approach is to integrate the information from all frames in the input video into each frame. Utilizing the information from all frames is crucial because it is very difficult to achieve the goal with a two-dimensional transformation based approach when parallax caused by camera motion is apparent. Warping guided by three-dimensnional scene points matches the viewpoints between the different frames. The matched frames are blended to create extended views. Various experiments demonstrate that the results of the proposed method are more visually plausible than those produced using state-of-the-art techniques.
Computational and Informatic Advances for Reproducible Data Analysis in Neuroimaging
Authors: Poldrack Russell A. , Gorgolewski Krzysztof J. , Varoquaux Gaël
Published: April 2019

The reproducibility of scientific research has become a point of critical concern. We argue that openness and transparency are critical for reproducibility, and we outline an ecosystem for open and transparent science that has emerged within the human neuroimaging community. We discuss the range of open data-sharing resources that have been developed for neuroimaging data, as well as the role of data standards (particularly the brain imaging data structure) in enabling the automated sharing, processing, and reuse of large neuroimaging data sets. We outline how the open source Python language has provided the basis for a data science platform that enables reproducible data analysis and visualization. We also discuss how new advances in software engineering, such as containerization, provide the basis for greater reproducibility in data analysis. The emergence of this new ecosystem provides an example for many areas of science that are currently struggling with reproducibility.
The Role of Natural Disaster Insurance in Recovery and Risk Reduction
Authors: Kousky Carolyn
Published: April 2019

Natural disaster losses have been increasing worldwide. Insurance is thought to play a critical role in improving resilience to these events by both promoting recovery and providing incentives for investments in hazard mitigation. This review first examines the functioning of disaster insurance markets broadly and then turns to reviewing empirical studies on the role of natural disaster insurance in recovery and the impacts of disaster insurance on incentives for ex ante hazard mitigation and land use. Rigorous empirical work on these topics is limited. The work that has been done suggests that insurance coverage does improve recovery outcomes, but impacts on risk reduction may be modest. More studies comparing outcomes across insured and uninsured properties are needed, particularly for better understanding the role of insurance in climate adaptation.
Aging impairs mouse skeletal muscle macrophage polarization and muscle-specific abundance during recovery from disuse
Authors: Reidy Paul T. , McKenzie Alec I. , Mahmassani Ziad S. , Petrocelli Jonathan J. , Nelson Daniel B. , Lindsay Catherine C. , Gardner James E. , Morrow Vincent R. , Keefe Alexandra C. , Huffaker Thomas B. , Stoddard Greg J. , Kardon Gabrielle , O’Connell Ryan M. , Drummond Micah J.
Published: April 2019

Impaired recovery of aged muscle following a disuse event is an unresolved issue facing the older adult population. Although investigations in young animals have suggested that rapid regrowth of skeletal muscle following a disuse event entails a coordinated involvement of skeletal muscle macrophages, this phenomenon has not yet been thoroughly tested as an explanation for impaired muscle recovery in aging. To examine this hypothesis, young (4–5 mo) and old (24–26 mo) male mice were examined as controls following 2 wk of hindlimb unloading (HU) and following 4 (RL4) and 7 (RL7) days of reloading after HU. Muscles were harvested to assess muscle weight, myofiber-specifc cross-sectional area, and skeletal muscle macrophages via immunofluorescence. Flow cytometry was used on gastrocnemius and soleus muscle (at RL4) single-cell suspensions to immunophenotype skeletal muscle macrophages. Our data demonstrated impaired muscle regrowth in aged compared with young mice following disuse, which was characterized by divergent muscle macrophage polarization patterns and muscle-specifc macrophage abundance. During reloading, young mice exhibited the classical increase in M1-like (MHC II+CD206−) macrophages that preceeded the increase in percentage of M2-like macrophages (MHC II−CD206+); however, old mice did not demonstrate this pattern. Also, at RL4, the soleus demonstrated reduced macrophage abundance with aging. Together, these data suggest that dysregulated macrophage phenotype patterns in aged muscle during recovery from disuse may be related to impaired muscle growth. Further investigation is needed to determine whether the dysregulated macrophage response in the old during regrowth from disuse is related to a reduced ability to recruit or activate specific immune cells.
Effect of PPARγ agonist on aerobic exercise capacity in relation to body fat distribution in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease: a 1-yr randomized study
Authors: Bastien Marjorie , Poirier Paul , Brassard Patrice , Arsenault Benoit J. , Bertrand Olivier F. , Després Jean-Pierre , Costerousse Olivier , Piché Marie-Eve
Published: April 2019

Targeting metabolic determinants of exercise performance with pharmacological agents that would mimic/potentiate the effects of exercise represents an attractive clinical alternative to counterbalance the poor exercise capacity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We examined the effect of 1-yr treatment with the insulin sensitizer peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ agonist rosiglitazone on aerobic exercise capacity and body fat composition/distribution in men with T2DM and stable coronary artery disease (CAD). One-hundred four men (age: 64 ± 7 yr; body mass index: 30.0 ± 4.4 kg/m2) with T2DM and CAD were randomized to receive rosiglitazone or placebo for 1 yr. Aerobic exercise capacity (exercise duration) was assessed with a maximal treadmill test, and body composition/distribution were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry/computed tomography scans. At 1 yr, patients with T2DM under PPARγ agonist treatment showed a reduction in aerobic exercise capacity compared with the control group (exercise duration change, −31 ± 8 versus 7 ± 11 s, P = 0.009). Significant increases in body fat mass (3.1 ± 0.4 kg, 12%), abdominal and mid-thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) levels, and mid-thigh skeletal muscle fat were found (all P < 0.01), whereas no effect on visceral AT levels was observed ( P > 0.05) under treatment. Subcutaneous fat mass gained under PPARγ agonist was the strongest predictor of the worsening in aerobic exercise capacity ( P > 0.0001); no association was found with skeletal muscle fat infiltration nor visceral AT. Treatment with the insulin sensitizer PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone in patients with T2DM and CAD is associated with a worsening in aerobic exercise capacity, which seems to be mainly attributable to weight gain and subcutaneous fat mass expansion.
A Method of Differentiating the Early-Time and Late-Time Behavior in Pressure-Pulse Decay Permeametry
Authors: Zhao Yu , Wang Chaolin , Zhang Yongfa , Liu Qiang
Published: April 2019

The pressure-pulse decay is a preferred technique for determining permeability of unconventional gas reservoir rocks. The pressure-pulse decay often shows quite different characteristics during the early time and the later time. Most approaches for estimating the permeability proposed in the literature are required to use the later-time pressure-pulse decay measurements. However, the later-time data are often selected subjectively, lacking a universal criterion. In this paper, a method of differentiating the early-time and late-time behavior for pressure-pulse decay test is proposed. The analytical results show that the critical time (dimensionless time) of early-/late-time decay characteristics mainly depends on the volume ratios, and it increases first and then decreases with the volume ratios. The critical time for cases with same chamber sizes is much less than that for cases with unequal chamber sizes. Applicability of the proposed methods is examined using a numerical simulator, TOUGH+REALGASBRINE. The numerical results show that the pressure gradient along the sample varies nonlinearly at the early time and becomes a constant at the late time. Then, the proposed method is applied to real data for permeability estimation. It is found that the early-time behavior is negligible as the volume ratio takes on small values. As the volume ratios increase, the deviation becomes significant and considerable permeability errors will be produced if these early-time data are used.
pDC Activation by TLR7/8 Ligand CL097 Compared to TLR7 Ligand IMQ or TLR9 Ligand CpG
Authors: Wu Jing , Li Shuang , Li Tete , Lv Xinping , Zhang Mingyou , Zang Guoxia , Qi Chong , Liu Yong-Jun , Xu Liang , Chen Jingtao
Published: April 2019

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) express high levels of the toll-like receptors (TLRs) TLR7 and TLR9. In response to TLR7 and TLR9 ligands, pDCs are primary producers of type I interferons. Our previous study demonstrated that pDCs activated by the TLR7 ligand imiquimod (IMQ) and the TLR9 ligand CpG A can kill breast cancer cells in vitro and inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, we observed a distinctive morphological, phenotypic change in pDCs after activation by IMQ and CpG A. However, the effect of other TLR7 and TLR9 ligands on pDCs remains less understood. In this study, we treat pDCs with the TLR7 ligand IMQ, TLR7/8 ligands (CL097 and CL075), and three TLR9 ligands (different types of CpGs). The size of pDCs increased significantly after activation by TLR7, or TLR7/8 ligands. TLR7, TLR7/8, and TLR9 ligands similarly modulated cytokine release, as well as protein expression of pDC markers, costimulatory molecules, and cytotoxic molecules. Interestingly, TLR7/8 ligands, especially CL097, induced stronger responses. These results are relevant to the further study of the role and mechanism of pDC-induced antitumor effects and may aid in the development of a new strategy for future tumor immunotherapy.