bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High responsivity tin gallium oxide Schottky ultraviolet photodetectors
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Partha , Schoenfeld Winston V.
Published: December 2019

The authors report on high spectral responsivity (SnxGa1 − x)2O3 Schottky UV photodetectors grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on β-Ga2O3 substrates. Schottky devices exhibited peak responsivities ranging from 49 to 194 A/W, with peak responsivity and wavelength position increasing systematically for higher Sn concentration from x = 0.01 to 0.18. Dark currents for the devices ranged from <1 nA to 3 μA with rise and fall times in the 0.21–3 s time range, with slower response times likely due to photoconductive gain caused by trapped holes. Incorporation of up to 18% Sn into the tin gallium oxide (TGO) devices resulted in a redshift in the peak responsivity position, ranging from 5.19 to 4.86 eV, demonstrating tunability within the UV-C spectral region through Sn concentration adjustment. The authors believe this to be the highest reported responsivity for a planar Ga2O3-based Schottky photodetector to date, suggesting that TGO based UV-C Schottky detectors are an attractive approach toward deep-UV sensing applications.
Fabrication of hollow coaxial Al2O3/ZnAl2O4 high aspect ratio freestanding nanotubes based on the Kirkendall effect
Authors: Shkondin Evgeniy , Alimadadi Hossein , Takayama Osamu , Jensen Flemming , Lavrinenko Andrei V.
Published: December 2019

In this communication, fabrication of high aspect ratio Al2O3/ZnO/Al2O3 nanotubes is reported and morphological changes at elevated temperatures are investigated. The structures were made by implementing several fabrication methods, such as deep-UV lithography, atomic layer deposition (ALD), and plasma etch methods. During the fabrication, the ALD deposited Al2O3 and ZnO conformally passivated the prepared Si-holes template, resulting in the complex coaxial Al2O3/ZnO/Al2O3 pillars. By utilizing several scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques, it is experimentally shown that at elevated temperatures, internal voids form in the nanotube due to diffusion of ZnO into surrounding Al2O3 and also ZnAl2O4 spinel structure forms. Finally, the porous tubes have been isolated from the surrounding silicon core using a conventional isotropic selective Si plasma etch process. The presented approach opens the opportunity to build complex optical metamaterial compositions, for example, for a new generation of sensors for gas and biomarker detection.
A propagation matrix method for the solution of the parabolic equation in ocean acoustics
Authors: Xu Chuanxiu , Tang Jun
Published: December 2019

A propagation matrix method for the solution of the parabolic equation in ocean acoustics is presented, where the sound fields at an arbitrary distance are expressed as a product of the initial fields and a sequential multiplication of the propagation matrices. The method contains two main calculation steps, i.e., producing and multiplying the propagation matrices. The first step allows a two-level parallel algorithm. In the second step an eigenvalue decomposition technique is developed to improve the efficiency in the case of a range-independent waveguide. The efficiency of the parallelized algorithm shall be tested in the future.
An active detection method for an underwater intruder using the alternating direction method of multipliers
Authors: Liu Bing , Yin Jingwei , Zhu Guangping
Published: December 2019

The underwater surveillance of harbors is challenging, as the reverberation-limited environment means that intruders with a weak target strength, such as autonomous underwater vehicles and frogmen, may be overlapped or even overwhelmed by reverberations. In recent years, developments in low-rank and sparsity theory have presented an innovative idea for intruder detection. This paper describes a method in which multi-frame data containing echoes of an intruder and reverberations are arranged in a matrix, and then the data matrix is decomposed to achieve detection. Based on this idea, the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is applied to the problem of intruder detection. The key parameters of ADMM are discussed and recommended values are given. The proposed method is validated and evaluated through a series of experiments.
100 Years of Suramin
Authors: Wiedemar Natalie , Hauser Dennis A. , Mäser Pascal
Published: December 2019

Suramin is 100 years old and is still being used to treat the first stage of acute human sleeping sickness, caused by
Trypanosoma brucei
rhodesiense
. Suramin is a multifunctional molecule with a wide array of potential applications, from parasitic and viral diseases to cancer, snakebite, and autism.
Model-Informed Drug Development, Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Cutoff Value Determination, and Antibacterial Efficacy of Benapenem against
Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Ji Xi-wei , Xue Feng , Kang Zi-sheng , Zhong Wei , Kuan Isabelle Hui-san , Yang Xi-ping , Zhu Xiao , Li Yun , Lv Yuan
Published: December 2019

Benapenem is a novel carbapenem. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) cutoff values and evaluate the optimal administration regimens of benapenem for the treatment of bacterial infections via PK/PD modeling and simulation. Ertapenem was used as a control. Infected mice received an intravenous (i.v.) injection of benapenem or ertapenem of 14.6, 58.4, or 233.6 mg/kg of body weight, and the PK/PD profiles were evaluated.
Genetic Factors Associated with Enhanced
bla
KPC
Expression in Tn
3
/Tn
4401
Chimeras
Authors: Huang Jiansheng , Hu Xiaolei , Zhao Yunan , Shi Yang , Ding Hui , Xv Jianfen , Ren Jianmin , Wu Rongzhen , Zhao Zhigang
Published: December 2019

The expression of the
bla
KPC
gene plays a key role in carbapenem resistance in
Enterobacteriaceae
. However, the genetic regulators of the
bla
KPC
gene have not been completely elucidated, especially the genes in Tn
3
-Tn
4401
chimeras.
A Novel Mouse Model of Enteric Vibrio parahaemolyticus Infection Reveals that the Type III Secretion System 2 Effector VopC Plays a Key Role in Tissue Invasion and Gastroenteritis
Authors: Yang Hyungjun , de Souza Santos Marcela , Lee Julia , Law Hong T. , Chimalapati Suneeta , Verdu Elena F. , Orth Kim , Vallance Bruce A.
Published: December 2019

Vibrio parahaemolyticuscauses severe gastroenteritis following consumption of contaminated seafood. Global warming has allowed this pathogen to spread worldwide, contributing to recent outbreaks. Clinical isolates are known to harbor an array of virulence factors, including T3SS1 and T3SS2; however, the precise role these systems play in intestinal disease remains unclear. There is an urgent need to improve our understanding of howV. parahaemolyticusinfects hosts and causes disease. We present a novel mouse model for this facultative intracellular pathogen and observe that the T3SS2 is essential to pathogenicity. Moreover, we show that the T3SS2 effector VopC, previously shown to be a Rac and Cdc42 deamidase that facilitates bacterial uptake by nonphagocytic cells, also plays a key role in the ability ofV. parahaemolyticusto invade the intestinal mucosa and cause gastroenteritis. This experimental model thus provides a valuable tool for future elucidation of virulence mechanisms used by this facultative intracellular pathogen duringin vivoinfection.
Quantitative Visualization of Gene Expression in Mucoid and Nonmucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa Aggregates Reveals Localized Peak Expression of Alginate in the Hypoxic Zone
Authors: Jorth Peter , Spero Melanie A. , Livingston J. , Newman Dianne K.
Published: December 2019

A goal for microbial ecophysiological research is to reveal microbial activities in natural environments, including sediments, soils, or infected human tissues. Here, we report the application of the hybridization chain reaction (HCR) v3.0 to quantitatively measure microbial gene expression
in situ
at single-cell resolution in bacterial aggregates. Using quantitative image analysis of thousands of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
cells, we validated new
P. aeruginosa
HCR probes. Within
in vitro
P. aeruginosa
aggregates, we found that bacteria just below the aggregate surface are the primary cells expressing genes that protect the population against antibiotics and the immune system. This observation suggests that therapies targeting bacteria growing with small amounts of oxygen may be most effective against these hard-to-treat infections. More generally, this proof-of-concept study demonstrates that HCR v3.0 has the potential to identify microbial activities
in situ
at small spatial scales in diverse contexts.
Time after Time: Temporal Variation in the Effects of Grass and Forb Species on Soil Bacterial and Fungal Communities
Authors: Hannula S. Emilia , Kielak Anna M. , Steinauer Katja , Huberty Martine , Jongen Renske , De Long Jonathan R. , Heinen Robin , Bezemer T. Martijn
Published: December 2019

Our findings highlight how soil fungal and bacterial communities respond to time, season, and plant species identity. We found that succession shapes the soil bacterial community, while plant species and the type of plant species that grows in the soil drive the assembly of soil fungal communities. Future research on the effects of plants on soil microbes should take into consideration the relative roles of both time and plant growth on creating soil legacies that impact future plants growing in the soil. Understanding the temporal (in)stability of microbial communities in soils will be crucial for predicting soil microbial composition and functioning, especially as plant species compositions will shift with global climatic changes and land-use alterations. As fungal and bacterial communities respond to different environmental cues, our study also highlights that the selection of study organisms to answer specific ecological questions is not trivial and that the timing of sampling can greatly affect the conclusions made from these studies.
Unbiased Metagenomic Sequencing for Pediatric Meningitis in Bangladesh Reveals Neuroinvasive Chikungunya Virus Outbreak and Other Unrealized Pathogens
Authors: Saha Senjuti , Ramesh Akshaya , Kalantar Katrina , Malaker Roly , Hasanuzzaman Md , Khan Lillian M. , Mayday Madeline Y. , Sajib M. S. I. , Li Lucy M. , Langelier Charles , Rahman Hafizur , Crawford Emily D. , Tato Cristina M. , Islam Maksuda , Juan Yun-Fang , de Bourcy Charles , Dimitrov Boris , Wang James , Tang Jennifer , Sheu Jonathan , Egger Rebecca , De Carvalho Tiago Rodrigues , Wilson Michael R. , Saha Samir K. , DeRisi Joseph L.
Published: December 2019

Globally, there are an estimated 10.6 million cases of meningitis and 288,000 deaths every year, with the vast majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, many survivors suffer from long-term neurological sequelae. Most laboratories assay only for common bacterial etiologies using culture and directed PCR, and the majority of meningitis cases lack microbiological diagnoses, impeding institution of evidence-based treatment and prevention strategies. We report here the results of a validation and application study of using unbiased metagenomic sequencing to determine etiologies of idiopathic (of unknown cause) cases. This included CSF from patients with known neurologic infections, with idiopathic meningitis, and without infection admitted in the largest children’s hospital of Bangladesh and environmental samples. Using mNGS and machine learning, we identified and confirmed an etiology (viral or bacterial) in 40% of idiopathic cases. We detected three instances of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) that were >99% identical to each other and to a strain previously recognized to cause systemic illness only in 2017. CHIKV qPCR of all remaining stored 472 CSF samples from children who presented with idiopathic meningitis in 2017 at the same hospital uncovered an unrecognized CHIKV meningitis outbreak. CSF mNGS can complement conventional diagnostic methods to identify etiologies of meningitis, and the improved patient- and population-level data can inform better policy decisions.
Alanyl-tRNA Synthetase Quality Control Prevents Global Dysregulation of the Escherichia coli Proteome
Authors: Kelly Paul , Backes Nicholas , Mohler Kyle , Buser Christopher , Kavoor Arundhati , Rinehart Jesse , Phillips Gregory , Ibba Michael
Published: December 2019

Errors in protein synthesis have historically been assumed to be detrimental to the cell. While there are many reports that translational errors are consequential, there is a growing body of evidence that some mistranslation events may be tolerated or even beneficial. Using two models of mistranslation, we compare the direct phenotypic effects of these events in
Escherichia coli
. This work provides insight into the threshold for tolerance of specific mistranslation events that were previously predicted to be broadly neutral to proteome integrity. Furthermore, these data reveal the effects of mistranslation beyond the general unfolded stress response, leading to global translational reprogramming.
Vaccine Protection against Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Severe Lower Respiratory Tract Infection
Authors: Malachowa Natalia , Kobayashi Scott D. , Porter Adeline R. , Freedman Brett , Hanley Patrick W. , Lovaglio Jamie , Saturday Greg A. , Gardner Donald J. , Scott Dana P. , Griffin Amanda , Cordova Kathleen , Long Dan , Rosenke Rebecca , Sturdevant Daniel E. , Bruno Daniel , Martens Craig , Kreiswirth Barry N. , DeLeo Frank R.
Published: December 2019

Multidrug-resistant bacteria continue to be a major problem worldwide, especially among individuals with significant comorbidities and other risk factors for infection.
K. pneumoniae
is among the leading causes of health care-associated infections, and the organism is often resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. A carbapenem-resistant
K. pneumoniae
strain known as multilocus sequence type 258 (ST258) is the predominant carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
in the health care setting in the United States. Infections caused by ST258 are often difficult to treat and new prophylactic measures and therapeutic approaches are needed. To that end, we developed a lower respiratory tract infection model in cynomolgus macaques in which to test the ability of ST258 CPS to protect against severe ST258 infection.
Fecal Components Modulate Human Astrovirus Infectivity in Cells and Reconstituted Intestinal Tissues
Authors: Pérez-Rodriguez Francisco J. , Vieille Gael , Turin Lara , Yildiz Soner , Tapparel Caroline , Kaiser Laurent
Published: December 2019

To ensure transmission, enteric viruses must maintain their infectivity during the various environmental challenges that they face in transit within and between hosts. Increased knowledge of the factors affecting enteric virus survival may help to control their transmission. This study reveals that specific fecal bacterial components preserve classic human astrovirus infectivity by stabilizing viral particles. However, the outcomes of stool-virus interactions are very variable, ranging from protection to a reduction of viral infectivity, depending on the viral genotype and the individual from whom the stool has been collected. We show that the transmissibility of enteric viruses is dependent on the intestinal contents of the infected individual and highlight the complex multiple interactions that could explain the stochastic nature of enteric virus transmission in humans.
Rapid and Concomitant Gut Microbiota and Endocannabinoidome Response to Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice
Authors: Lacroix Sébastien , Pechereau Florent , Leblanc Nadine , Boubertakh Besma , Houde Alain , Martin Cyril , Flamand Nicolas , Silvestri Cristoforo , Raymond Frédéric , Di Marzo Vincenzo , Veilleux Alain
Published: December 2019

The intestinal microbiota and the expanded endocannabinoid system, or endocannabinoidome, have both been implicated in diet-induced obesity and dysmetabolism. This study aims at identifying the potential interactions between these two fundamental systems—which form the gut microbiota-endocannabinoidome axis—and their involvement in the establishment of diet-induced obesity and related metabolic complications. We report here time- and segment-specific microbiome disturbances as well as modifications of intestinal and circulating endocannabinoidome mediators during high-fat, high-sucrose diet-induced glucose intolerance and subsequent obesity and hyperinsulinemia. This highlights the involvement of, and the interaction between, the gut microbiota and the endocannabinoidome during metabolic adaptation to high-fat and high-sucrose feeding. These results will help identifying actionable gut microbiome members and/or endocannabinoidome mediators to improve metabolic health.
Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis Is Associated with Altered Bile Acid Metabolism in Infantile Cholestasis
Authors: Wang Yizhong , Gao Xuefeng , Zhang Xinyue , Xiao Yongmei , Huang Jiandong , Yu Dongbao , Li Xiaolu , Hu Hui , Ge Ting , Li Dan , Zhang Ting
Published: December 2019

Liver health, fecal bile acid (BA) concentrations, and gut microbiota composition are closely connected. BAs and the microbiome influence each other in the gut, where bacteria modify the BA profile, while intestinal BAs regulate the growth of commensal bacteria, maintain the barrier integrity, and modulate the immune system. Previous studies have found that the co-occurrence of gut microbiota dysbiosis and BA metabolism alteration is present in many human liver diseases. Our study is the first to assess the gut microbiota composition in infantile cholestatic jaundice (CJ) and elucidate the linkage between gut bacterial changes and alterations of BA metabolism. We observed reduced levels of primary BAs and most secondary BAs in infants with CJ. The reduced concentration of fecal BAs in infantile CJ was associated with the overgrowth of gut bacteria with a pathogenic potential and the depletion of those with a potential benefit. The altered gut microbiota of infants with CJ likely upregulates the conversion from primary to secondary BAs. Our study provides a new perspective on potential targets for gut microbiota intervention directed at the management of infantile CJ.
Recent density decline in wild-collected subarctic crustose coralline algae reveals climate change signature
Authors: Chan P.T.W. , Halfar J. , Adey W.H. , Lebednik P.A. , Steneck R. , Norley C.J.D. , Holdsworth D.W.
Published: December 2019

Warming surface ocean temperatures combined with the continued diffusion of atmospheric CO2 into seawater have been shown to have detrimental impacts on calcareous marine organisms in tropical and temperate localities. However, greater oceanic CO2 uptake in higher latitudes may present a higher oceanic acidification risk to carbonate organisms residing in Arctic and subarctic habitats. This is especially true for crustose coralline algae that build their skeletons using high-Mg calcite, which is among the least stable and most soluble of the carbonate minerals. Here we present a century-long annually resolved growth, density, and calcification rate record from the crustose coralline alga Clathromorphum nereostratum, a dominant calcifier in Pacific Arctic and subarctic benthic communities. Specimens were collected from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska (USA), a region that has undergone a long-term decline of 0.08 ± 0.01 pH units since the late 19th century. Growth and calcification rates remain relatively stable throughout the record, but skeletal densities have declined substantially since A.D. 1983. Strong correlations to warming sea-surface temperatures indicate that temperature stress may play a significant role in influencing the ability of corallines to calcify. Decreasing algal skeletal density may offset the benefits of continued growth and calcification due to a weakening in structural integrity, which could have detrimental consequences for the diverse reef-like communities associated with algal structures in mid-to-high latitudes.
Atmospheric dust stimulated marine primary productivity during Earth’s penultimate icehouse
Authors: Sardar Abadi Mehrdad , Owens Jeremy D. , Liu Xiaolei , Them Theodore R. , Cui Xingqian , Heavens Nicholas G. , Soreghan Gerilyn S.
Published: December 2019

The importance of dust as a source of iron (Fe) for primary production in modern oceans is well studied but remains poorly explored for deep time. Vast dust deposits are well recognized from the late Paleozoic and provisionally implicated in primary production through Fe fertilization. Here, we document dust impacts on marine primary productivity in Moscovian (Pennsylvanian, ca. 307 Ma) and Asselian (Permian, ca. 295 Ma) carbonate strata from peri-Gondwanan terranes of Iran. Autotrophic contents of samples, detected by both point-count and lipid-biomarker analyses, track concentrations of highly reactive Fe, consistent with the hypothesis that dust stimulated primary productivity, also promoting carbonate precipitation. Additionally, highly reactive Fe tracks the fine-dust fraction. Dust-borne Fe fertilization increased organic and inorganic carbon cycling in low- and mid-latitude regions of Pangaea, maintaining low pCO2.
Triple oxygen isotope variations in magnetite from iron-oxide deposits, central Iran, record magmatic fluid interaction with evaporite and carbonate host rocks
Authors: Peters Stefan T.M. , Alibabaie Narges , Pack Andreas , McKibbin Seann J. , Raeisi Davood , Nayebi Niloofar , Torab Farhad , Ireland Trevor , Lehmann Bernd
Published: December 2019

Oxygen isotope ratios in magnetite can be used to study the origin of iron-oxide ore deposits. In previous studies, only 18O/16O ratios of magnetite were determined. Here, we report triple O isotope data (17O/16O and 18O/16O ratios) of magnetite from the iron-oxide–apatite (IOA) deposits of the Yazd and Sirjan areas in central Iran. In contrast to previous interpretations of magnetite from similar deposits, the triple O isotope data show that only a few of the magnetite samples potentially record isotopic equilibrium with magma or with pristine magmatic water (H2O). Instead, the data can be explained if magnetite had exchanged O isotopes with fluids that had a mass-independently fractionated O isotope composition (i.e., MIF-O), and with fluids that had exchanged O isotopes with marine sedimentary carbonate rocks. The MIF-O signature of the fluids was likely obtained by isotope exchange with evaporite rocks of early Cambrian age that are associated with the IOA deposits in central Iran. In order to explain the triple O isotope composition of the magnetite samples in conjunction with available iron isotope data for magnetite from the deposits, we propose that magnetite formed from magmatic fluids that had interacted with evaporite and carbonate rocks at high temperatures and at variable water/rock ratios; e.g., magmatic fluids that had been released into the country rocks of a magma reservoir. Additionally, the magnetite could have formed from magmatic fluids that had exchanged O isotopes with SO2 and CO2 that, in turn, had been derived by the magmatic assimilation and/or metamorphic breakdown of evaporite and carbonate rocks.
Blue rubber bleb nevus: a rare cause of GI bleeding—review of management
Authors: Ur Rashid Mamoon , Muhammad Khan Muzammil , Ullah Waqas , Hussain Ishtiaq , Hurairah Abu
Published: December 2019

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly syndrome characterised by multifocal venous vascular malformations. It involves skin, central nervous systems, liver, muscles and gastrointestinal (GI) tract resulting in intestinal haemorrhage and anaemia. Patients with BRBNS experience severe chronic anaemia without any diagnosis requiring multiple transfusions and hospitalisations. BRBNS has a propensity for severe life-threatening bleeding. Skin and GI tract are the most commonly affected organs.
Chylothorax: complication attributed to dasatinib use
Authors: Al-abcha Abdullah , Iftikhar Mian Harris , Abu Rous Fawzi , Laird-Fick Heather
Published: December 2019

A 63-year-old woman with a medical history of chronic myelogenous leukaemia treated with dasatinib, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction presented with difficulty in breathing. Chest X-ray showed large right-sided pleural effusion, which was confirmed on a CT angiogram of the chest. Echocardiogram showed an ejection fraction of 61% with moderate to severely dilated right ventricle and right ventricular systolic pressure of 60 mm Hg. Diagnostic and therapeutic thoracentesis was performed, and 2.2 L of pleural fluid was removed. Pleural fluid analysis was consistent with chylothorax. Significant symptomatic improvement was noted after thoracentesis. In the absence of an alternate explanation, chylothorax was attributed to dasatinib, which was switched to nilotinib. This resulted in resolution of her pleural effusions.
Higher aqueous levels of matrix metalloproteinases indicated visual impairment in patients with retina vein occlusion after anti-VEGF therapy
Authors: Luo Yong , Wan Jianbo , Luo Chang , Liu HengWei , Zhou YuFan , Xu Heping , Chen Zhongping
Published: December 2019

Purpose

To investigate the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in aqueous humour of patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and the relationship between intraocular MMP levels and retinal lesion and visual prognosis.

Materials and methods

52 RVO patients, including 23 with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and 29 with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and 20 participants with senile cataract were enrolled in this study. Retinal lesions were examined by fundus colour photography, fluorescein fundus angiography and optical coherence tomographic angiography. Sixty microliters of aqueous humour were collected during intravitreal anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) injection or cataract surgery. The aqueous levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9 and MMP-10 were measured using the Luminex xMAP multiplex assay. The relationship between MMP levels and clinical presentations was analysed by Pearson correlation test.

Results

The aqueous humour levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9, but not MMP10 in RVO patients were significantly higher than those in people with cataract after adjusting for age. Further analysis of RVO subgroups showed that the aqueous humour level of MMP2 in CRVO was significantly higher than that in BRVO. The aqueous humour levels of MMP-1 and MMP-2 were positively correlated with superficial capillary plexus vessel density (SVD), whereas the aqueous humour levels of MMP-1 and MMP-7 were negatively correlated with visual improvement following treatment. No correlation between aqueous humour levels of MMP and disease duration and central retinal thickness was observed.

Conclusions

RVO eyes had significantly higher intraocular levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9 than cataract eyes and the level of MMP2 appears to be related to the area of occlusion. Intraocular levels of MMP may positively affect SVD and negatively impact visual function in RVO.
Routine induction in late-term pregnancies: follow-up of a Danish induction of labour paradigm
Authors: Rydahl Eva , Declercq Eugene , Juhl Mette , Maimburg Rikke Damkjær
Published: December 2019

Objectives

For many years, routine elective induction of labour at gestational week (GW) 42+0 has been recommended in Denmark. In 2011, a more proactive protocol was introduced aimed at reducing stillbirths, and practice changed into earlier routine induction, i.e. between 41+3 and 41+5 GW. The present study evaluates a national change in induction of labour regime. The trend of maternal and neonatal consequences are monitored in the preintervention period (2000–2010) compared with the postintervention period (2012–2016).

Design

A national retrospective register-based cohort study.

Setting

Denmark.

Participants

All births in Denmark 41+3 to 45+0 GWs between 2000 and 2016 (N = 152 887).

Outcome measures

Primary outcomes: stillbirths, perinatal death, and low Apgar scores. Additional outcomes: birth interventions and maternal outcomes.

Results

For the primary outcomes, no differences in stillbirths, perinatal death, and low Apgar scores were found comparing the preintervention and postintervention period. Of additional outcomes, the trend changed significantly postintervention concerning use of augmentation of labour, epidural analgesia, induction of labour and uterine rupture (all p<0.05). There was no significant change in the trend for caesarean section and instrumental birth. Most notable for clinical practice was the increase in induction of labour from 41% to 65% (p<0.01) at 41+3 weeks during 2011 as well as the rare occurrence of uterine ruptures (from 2.6 to 4.2 per thousand, p<0.02).

Conclusions

Evaluation of a more proactive regimen recommending induction of labour from GW 41+3 compared with 42+0 using national register data found no differences in neonatal outcomes including stillbirth. The number of women with induced labour increased significantly.
Tobacco industry access to policy elites and the implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Authors: Willemsen Marc C , Fooks Gary
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Article 5.3 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) aims to prevent tobacco industry interference with public health policy. The degree of protection depends on several factors: the interpretation of Article 5.3 by governments; the presence of codes of practice; and the effectiveness of industry lobbying versus public health advocacy. We examine these factors with reference to the Dutch government’s interpretation of Article 5.3.

Methods

We searched the Dutch Tobacco Industry Special Collection, part of the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents archive, containing more than 1100 Dutch government documents.

Results

Between 2007 and 2012, under consistent pressure from the industry, an initial strict view of Article 5.3 gave way to increased contact with the industry. The industry tried to shift the governance of tobacco policy back to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Around 2010, Dutch public health advocates began to use Article 5.3. Efforts included naming and shaming government contact with the industry, parliamentary questions about industry–government contact, a report outlining how Article 5.3 should be observed and, most importantly, a court case. In response to this, the government produced a formal code of practice, which was used to prevent industry involvement in the development of a new National Prevention Accord.

Discussion

The Dutch government’s initial decision not to codify Article 5.3 created an administrative environment in which health ministers’ interpretation of Article 5.3 was able to shift according to their political beliefs. The findings support the recommendation that Parties to the FCTC take a strict approach and formally codify Article 5.3 to ensure effective implementation.
Rhein attenuates lipopolysaccharide-primed inflammation through NF-κB inhibition in RAW264.7 cells: targeting the PPAR-γ signal pathway
Authors: Wen Quan , Miao Jifei , Lau Ngaikeung , Zhang Chaoying , Ye Peng , Du Shaohui , Mei Liyan , Weng Huandi , Xu Qin , Liu Xia , Chen Dongfeng , Zhang Fengxue , Li Chun , Li Hui
Published: December 2019

Inflammation is a common inducer of numerous severe diseases such as sepsis. The NF-κB signaling pathway plays a key role in the inflammatory process. Its activation promotes the release of pro-inflammatory mediators like inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) inactivates nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and subsequently attenuates inflammation. Rhein, an agent isolated from rhubarb, has been known to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, its influence on PPAR-γ remains largely unknown. In this study, an inflammation model was constructed by stimulating RAW264.7 cells with lipopolysaccharide. Rhein was used as a therapeutic agent, while rosiglitazone (PPAR-γ activator) and GW9662 (PPAR-γ inhibitor) were used as disrupters for in depth studies. The results demonstrated that rhein inhibits NF-κB activation and inflammatory factor release. However, GW9662 significantly reduced this effect, indicating that PPAR-γ is a critical mediator in the rhein-mediated anti-inflammatory process. Additionally, positive modulation of PPAR-γ expression and activity by rosiglitazone correspondingly influenced the effects of rhein on inflammatory factors and NF-κB expression. We also found that rhein could enhance PPAR-γ, NF-κB, and histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) binding. These results indicate that rhein exerts its anti-inflammation function by regulating the PPAR-γ–NF-κB–HDAC3 axis.
Weak and strong deflection gravitational lensing by a renormalization group improved Schwarzschild black hole
Authors: Lu Xu , Xie Yi
Published: December 2019

Weak and strong deflection gravitational lensing by a renormalization group improved Schwarzschild black hole is investigated and its observables are found. By taking the supermassive black holes Sgr A* and M87* respectively in the Galactic Center and at the center of M87 as lenses, we estimate these observables and analyse possibility of detecting this quantum improvement. It is not feasible to distinguish such a black hole by most observables in the near future except for the apparent size of the shadow. We also note that directly using measured shadow of M87* to constrain this quantum effect requires great care.
BRANCHING PARTICLE PRICERS WITH HESTON EXAMPLES
Authors: KOURITZIN MICHAEL A. , MACKAY ANNE
Published: December 2019

The use of sequential Monte Carlo within simulation for path-dependent option pricing is proposed and evaluated. Recently, it was shown that explicit solutions and importance sampling are valuable for efficient simulation of spot price and volatility, especially for purposes of path-dependent option pricing. The resulting simulation algorithm is an analog to the weighted particle filtering algorithm that might be improved by resampling or branching. Indeed, some branching algorithms are shown herein to improve pricing performance substantially while some resampling algorithms are shown to be less suitable in certain cases. A historical property is given and explained as the distinguishing feature between the sequential Monte Carlo algorithms that work on path-dependent option pricing and those that do not. In particular, it is recommended to use the so-called effective particle branching algorithm within importance-sampling Monte Carlo methods for path-dependent option pricing. All recommendations are based upon numeric comparison of option pricing problems in the Heston model.
Liquid Sloshing in a Rigid Cylindrical Tank Equipped with a Rigid Annular Baffle and on Soil Foundation
Authors: Sun Ying , Zhou Ding , Amabili Marco , Wang Jiadong , Han Huixuan
Published: December 2019

Fluid sloshing in a rigid circular cylindrical tank is investigated; the tank is resting on soil foundation and is excited by horizontal seismic accelerations. A rigid annular baffle is connected to the inner wall of the storage tank to reduce liquid sloshing. By using the fluid subdomain method, the convective velocity potential is derived. An equivalent model with mass-spring oscillators is proposed to describe the sloshing motions of the contained liquid. Then, by means of the least square method, a complex polynomial fraction is employed to fit the dynamic impedance of the soil. A nested lumped parameter model is established to model the effect of the soil foundation. The substructure method allows to obtain the soil–tank–liquid coupled model. The equation of motion of the coupled system is solved by the Newmark-[Formula: see text] method. A comparison between the present sloshing results and those published in the literature shows an excellent agreement. The effects of the soil parameters, the baffle position and its size on the dynamic behavior of the soil–tank–liquid system are discussed in detail. The results demonstrate that the soil properties and the baffle parameters can have a remarkable influence on liquid sloshing. The novelty of this research is that an analytical model for the soil–tank–liquid–baffle coupled system is derived for the first time and it allows to study the dynamics and sloshing response of the system with accuracy and low computational cost.
OPTIMIZING THE MINIMUM DETECTABLE DIFFERENCE OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCANNED IMAGES VIA THE TAGUCHI ANALYSIS: A FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH AN INDIGENOUS HEPATIC PHANTOM AND A LINE GROUP GAUGE
Authors: PENG BING-RU , KITTIPAYAK SAMRIT , PAN LUNG-FA , PAN LUNG-KWANG
Published: December 2019

Objective: The minimum detectable difference (MDD) of computed tomography (CT) scanned images was quantified and optimized according to an indigenous hepatic phantom, line group gauge and Taguchi [Formula: see text] optimization analysis in this work. Methods: Optimal combinations of CT scan factors in every group with the level organization were judged using the Taguchi analysis, in which every factor was organized into only 18 groups, creating evaluated outcomes with the same confidence as if every factor was analyzed independently. The five practical factors of the CT scan were (1) kVp, (2) mAs, (3) pitch increment, (4) field of view (FOV) and (5) rotation time for one loop of CT scan. Insofar as each factor had two or three levels, the total number of 162 (i.e., [Formula: see text]) combinations was considered. Results: The optimal setting was 120[Formula: see text]kVp, 300[Formula: see text]mAs, 0.641 pitch, 320[Formula: see text]mm FOV and 1.0[Formula: see text]s of rotation time of CT scan. The minimal MDD was 2.65[Formula: see text]mm under 0.39[Formula: see text]mm of the slit depth from the revised Student’s [Formula: see text]-test with a 95% confidence level. In contrast, the MDD of conventional and the best one (no. 7) among all original 18 groups were 3.27[Formula: see text]mm and 2.93[Formula: see text]mm for 0.43[Formula: see text]mm and 0.41[Formula: see text]mm slit depths, respectively. Conclusion: The Taguchi analysis was found very lucrative for the design of imaging analysis in practical diagnosis. The indigenous line group gauge and hepatic phantom also proved to be suitable in simulating the human body in real hepatic carcinoma examination.
CLASSIFICATION OF SPINAL POSTURES DURING CROSS-LEGGED SITTING ON THE FLOOR
Authors: KWON YURI , KIM JI-WON , HEO JAE-HOON , JEON HYEONG-MIN , CHOI EUI-BUM , EOM GWANG-MOON
Published: December 2019

One of the most frequent sitting styles of Asians in everyday life is a cross-legged sitting. The cross-legged sitting results in higher compression load in spine than sitting on a chair, so a proper sitting posture is more needed. The purpose of this study was to classify the spinal posture during cross-legged sitting from the seat pressure pattern for future usage in the posture monitoring system. Twenty young men participated in this study. The seat pressure was measured for three spinal postures of flat, slump, and lordosis when subjects were instructed to pose a certain posture while seated on the floor with legs crossed. The contact area was divided into feet and buttocks by using a filter with a pressure threshold ([Formula: see text]). A decision tree was developed for the classification of three postures, with a decision variable of feet to buttocks pressure ratio. The three spinal postures were classified by comparison of feet-buttocks ratio ([Formula: see text] and thresholds ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]): a slump posture with a greater [Formula: see text] than [Formula: see text], a lordosis posture with a smaller [Formula: see text] than [Formula: see text]. Each threshold was calculated by adding or subtracting a certain percentage ([Formula: see text]) to or from the [Formula: see text] of flat posture and the classification accuracy was investigated with a range of thresholds. The accuracy of classification achieved 99.38% for certain ranges of thresholds. The developed algorithm showed the best performance when [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] were in the range of 2.85–5.67% and 1.58–2.20%, respectively. The feet-buttocks pressure ratio showed significant correlation with lumbar angle ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). Anterior and posterior tilts of upper body in the slump and lordosis postures would result in more pressure concentration in the feet and buttocks, respectively, which was incorporated in the classification algorithm of this study. The result of this study could be extended to the real-time or offline monitoring of the sitting posture.
EFFECT OF MOTOR IMAGERY TRAINING IN COMBINATION WITH ELECTROMYOGRAPHY-TRIGGERED ELECTRICAL STIMULATION IN STROKE WITH HEMIPLEGIA PATIENTS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY
Authors: PARK JI-SU , CHOI JONG-BAE , LEE GIHYOUN , LEE SANG-HOON , JUNG YOUNGJIN
Published: December 2019

Recently, motor imagery training combined with electromyography-triggered electrical stimulation (MIT EMG-ES) has been reported as a remedial treatment for stroke patients. However, the clinical evidence of the effect is still lacking. To investigate the effect of MIT EMG-ES on lower extremities and activities of daily of living (ADL) in patients with stroke, the participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group ([Formula: see text]) or control group ([Formula: see text]). The experimental group underwent MIT EMG-ES, whereas the control group performed underwent motor imagery training. In addition, both groups received the same conventional rehabilitation therapy. All participants underwent treatment for 30[Formula: see text]min a day, 5 sessions per week, for 4 weeks. Lower extremities function was measured by the Fugl–Meyer Assessment Lower Extremity (FMA-LE), Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test and 10 m Walk (10[Formula: see text]MW) test. ADL were measured by the Korea version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). The experimental group except for the FMA-LE group showed more improvement in TUG and 10[Formula: see text]MW test scores than the control group ([Formula: see text]). The effect size showed FMA-LE, TUG, and 10[Formula: see text]MW test (0.7, 1.0, 0.7, respectively). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in K-MBI ([Formula: see text]). Our findings suggest that MIT EMG-ES may be a novel treatment for lower extremities function in patients with stroke better than MIT alone.
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF FULL-LAYER REPAIR BASED ON IMPROVED ARTICULAR CARTILAGE MODEL
Authors: WANG MONAN , JI YUANXIN , WANG JIAN , JING JUNTONG
Published: December 2019

In this paper, the tangential zone of cartilage is introduced into the fiber-reinforced model of articular cartilage. Considering the distribution content of the main fiber and the secondary fiber in the tangential layer of cartilage, the permeability and fiber stiffness of the layer are set in parallel and perpendicular directions, respectively, to more accurately reflect the mechanical behavior of cartilage. The parameters are set to reflect the mechanical behavior of the cartilage more realistically. We use a modified articular cartilage model to simulate the mechanical properties of implanted cartilage with different elastic modulus. The simulation results show that the selection of implants with different elastic modulus will affect the repair of cartilage. Appropriately increasing the elastic modulus of implanted cartilage, can increase the bearing capacity of the repaired area and reduce the stress concentration at the junction. The elastic modulus of the implant should be moderate, not too large or too small, and the damage of stress concentration on the repair surface should be considered. Through simulation, the mechanical state of the repaired cartilage under pressure can be obtained comprehensively, which provides a theoretical basis for clinical pathology.
Image/Video Restoration via Multiplanar Autoregressive Model and Low-Rank Optimization
Authors: Li Mading , Liu Jiaying , Sun Xiaoyan , Xiong Zhiwei
Published: December 2019

In this article, we introduce an image/video restoration approach by utilizing the high-dimensional similarity in images/videos. After grouping similar patches from neighboring frames, we propose to build a multiplanar autoregressive (AR) model to exploit the correlation in cross-dimensional planes of the patch group, which has long been neglected by previous AR models. To further utilize the nonlocal self-similarity in images/videos, a joint multiplanar AR and low-rank based approach is proposed (MARLow) to reconstruct patch groups more effectively. Moreover, for video restoration, the temporal smoothness of the restored video is constrained by the Markov random field (MRF), where MRF encodes
a priori
knowledge about consistency of patches from neighboring frames. Specifically, we treat different restoration results (from different patch groups) of a certain patch as labels of an MRF, and temporal consistency among these restored patches is imposed. The proposed method is also suitable for other restoration applications such as interpolation and text removal. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach obtains encouraging performance comparing with state-of-the-art methods.
Adaptive Chunklets and AQM for Higher-Performance Content Streaming
Authors: Kua Jonathan , Armitage Grenville , Branch Philip , But Jason
Published: December 2019

Commercial streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube use proprietary HTTP-based adaptive streaming (HAS) techniques to deliver content to consumers worldwide. MPEG recently developed Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) as a unifying standard for HAS-based streaming. In DASH systems, streaming clients employ adaptive bitrate (ABR) algorithms to maximise user Quality of Experience (QoE) under variable network conditions. In a typical Internet-enabled home, video streams have to compete with diverse application flows for the last-mile Internet Service Provider (ISP) bottleneck capacity. Under such circumstances, ABR algorithms will only act upon the fraction of the network capacity that is available, leading to possible QoE degradation. We have previously explored
chunklets
as an approach orthogonal to ABR algorithms, which uses parallel connections for intra-video chunk retrieval. Chunklets effectively make more bandwidth available for ABR algorithms in the presence of cross-traffic, especially in environments where Active Queue Management (AQM) schemes such as Proportional Integral controller Enhanced (PIE) and FlowQueue-Controlled Delay (FQ-CoDel) are deployed. However, chunklets consume valuable server/middlebox resources which typically handle hundreds of thousands of requests/connections per second. In this article, we propose
‘adaptive chunklets’
-- a novel chunklet enhancement that dynamically tunes the number of concurrent connections. We demonstrate that the combination of adaptive chunklets and FQ-CoDel is the most effective strategy. Our experiments show that adaptive chunklets can reduce the number of connections by almost 30% and consume almost 8% less bandwidth than fixed chunklets while providing the same QoE.