bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mortality inequalities by occupational class among men in Japan, South Korea and eight European countries: a national register-based study, 1990–2015
Authors: Tanaka Hirokazu , Nusselder Wilma J , Bopp Matthias , Brønnum-Hansen Henrik , Kalediene Ramune , Lee Jung Su , Leinsalu Mall , Martikainen Pekka , Menvielle Gwenn , Kobayashi Yasuki , Mackenbach Johan P
Published: May 2019

Background

We compared mortality inequalities by occupational class in Japan and South Korea with those in European countries, in order to determine whether patterns are similar.

Methods

National register-based data from Japan, South Korea and eight European countries (Finland, Denmark, England/Wales, France, Switzerland, Italy (Turin), Estonia, Lithuania) covering the period between 1990 and 2015 were collected and harmonised. We calculated age-standardised all-cause and cause-specific mortality among men aged 35–64 by occupational class and measured the magnitude of inequality with rate differences, rate ratios and the average inter-group difference.

Results

Clear gradients in mortality were found in all European countries throughout the study period: manual workers had 1.6–2.5 times higher mortality than upper non-manual workers. However, in the most recent time-period, upper non-manual workers had higher mortality than manual workers in Japan and South Korea. This pattern emerged as a result of a rise in mortality among the upper non-manual group in Japan during the late 1990s, and in South Korea during the late 2000s, due to rising mortality from cancer and external causes (including suicide), in addition to strong mortality declines among lower non-manual and manual workers.

Conclusion

Patterns of mortality by occupational class are remarkably different between European countries and Japan and South Korea. The recently observed patterns in the latter two countries may be related to a larger impact on the higher occupational classes of the economic crisis of the late 1990s and the late 2000s, respectively, and show that a high socioeconomic position does not guarantee better health.
Orthostatic hypotension and REM sleep behaviour disorder: impact on clinical outcomes in α-synucleinopathies
Authors: Pilotto Andrea , Romagnolo Alberto , Tuazon Jasmine A , Vizcarra Joaquin A , Marsili Luca , Zibetti Maurizio , Rosso Michela , Rodriguez-Porcel Federico , Borroni Barbara , Rizzetti Maria Cristina , Rossi Carlo , Vizcarra-Escobar Darwin , Molano Jennifer R , Lopiano Leonardo , Ceravolo Roberto , Masellis Mario , Espay Alberto J , Padovani Alessandro , Merola Aristide
Published: May 2019

Objective

Review the effect of orthostatic hypotension (OH) and rapid-eye-movement sleep behavioural disorder (RBD) on survival, cognitive impairment and postural stability, and discuss pathogenic mechanisms involved in the association of these two common non-motor features with relevant clinical outcomes in α-synucleinopathies.

Methods

We searched PubMed (January 2007–February 2019) for human studies of OH and RBD evaluating cognitive impairment, postural instability, and survival in Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), multiple system atrophy (MSA) and pure autonomic failure (PAF). Included studies were analysed for design, key results and limitations as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Results

OH and RBD showed a positive association with cognitive impairment in PD and DLB, conflicting association in PAF, and no association in MSA. OH was correlated with incident falls and postural instability in PD and DLB but not in MSA. The association between RBD and postural instability was inconclusive; positive in five studies, negative in seven. OH, but not RBD, correlated with reduced survival in PD, DLB and MSA. The combination of OH and RBD was associated with cognitive impairment and more rapid progression of postural instability.

Conclusions

OH and RBD yielded individual and combined negative effects on disability in α-synucleinopathies, reflecting a ‘malignant’ phenotype of PD with early cognitive impairment and postural instability. Underlying mechanisms may include involvement of selected brainstem cholinergic and noradrenergic nuclei.
Using okara in diets for growing broilers
Authors: Diaz-Vargas M. , Murakami A.E. , Zanetti L.H. , Matumoto-Pintro P.T. , Massuda E.M. , Picoli K.P.
Published: May 2019

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of okara inclusion in diet for growing broilers on performance, carcass yield, blood and bone variables, quality and lipid oxidation of meat, and economic viability. For that, 575 Cobb 21-d-old male broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design with four levels of okara inclusion (25, 50, 75, and 100 g of okara kg−1diet) and a control group with five replicates and 23 birds each. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) of okara levels on the performance variables, carcass yield, bone variables, and serum triglycerides, calcium and phosphorus at 42-d-old. Serum cholesterol levels showed a quadratic response (P < 0.05), in which the lowest value estimated was 65.3 g of okara kg−1of diet. Okara can be included in diets for broilers up to the level of 100 g kg−1without affecting the performance, carcass yield, bone variables, and lipid oxidation of meat. However, the best economic results were observed up to 50 g of okara kg−1of diet.
Development of an equation to estimate the enteric methane emissions from Holstein dairy cows in Canada
Authors: Velarde-Guillén J. , Pellerin D. , Benchaar C. , Wattiaux M.A. , Charbonneau É.
Published: May 2019

The aim of this study was to use dietary factors, including the type of fats, and animal characteristics, to predict enteric methane (CH4) emissions from dairy cows under Canadian conditions. For this purpose, 193 individual observations from six different trials assessing the impact of dietary modification on enteric CH4 production were analyzed. Animal [milk yield (MY), milk fat content, milk protein content, days in milk, body weight (BW), and dry matter intake (DMI)] and dietary variables [organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), starch, ether extract (EE), rumen-inert fat, and unprotected fat (EE – rumen-inert fat)] were tested. A 5-fold cross validation was used to obtain the following equation: CH4 (g d−1) = −1260.4 + 1.9 × MY (kg d−1) + 62.8 × milk fat (%) –18.4 × milk protein (%) + 11.0 × DMI (kg d−1) + 0.3 × BW (kg) + 58.3 × NDF (% of DM) − 0.8 × NDF2 (% of DM) + 1.9 × starch (% of DM) − 2.5 × EE – rumen-inert fat (% of DM). The mean estimate from the proposed equation (474 g CH4 cow−1 d−1; r = 0.83, RMSE = 40.0) was close to the observed mean emission (476 g CH4 cow−1 d−1). The proposed model has a higher precision to predict CH4 emission from cows fed typical Canadian diets than other models, and it can be used to evaluate CH4 mitigation strategies.
Simulating anisotropic flows with isotropic lattice models via coordinate and velocity transformation
Authors: Wang Zimeng , Zhang Junfeng
Published: May 2019

We propose a rectangular lattice Boltzmann model for anisotropic flows based on coordinate and velocity transformation. Unlike other existing rectangular models which tuned the lattice Boltzmann algorithm to fit the rectangular or cuboid lattice grids, here we apply the general lattice Boltzmann method to solve the transformed system over regular square lattice grids. The method is tested with simulations of representative anisotropic flows, including flows in narrow straight and wavy channels, the Taylor–Green vortex flow, and the flow through an elliptical particle array. These simulations show that in general our method produces satisfactory results; however, the aspect ratio [Formula: see text] is limited to relatively large values ([Formula: see text]). The effects of [Formula: see text] on simulation accuracy and stability have been carefully examined, and a possible remedy to improve these concerns has been proposed. The method and analysis could be useful for future development of more robust and practical anisotropic lattice Boltzmann models for realistic simulations.
Dynamically asymmetric and bicontinuous morphologies in active emulsions
Authors: Carenza Livio Nicola , Gonnella Giuseppe , Lamura Antonio , Negro Giuseppe
Published: May 2019

The morphology of a mixture made of a polar active gel immersed in an isotropic passive fluid is studied numerically. Lattice Boltzmann method is adopted to solve the Navier–Stokes equation and coupled to a finite-difference scheme used to integrate the dynamic equations of the concentration and of the polarization of the active component. By varying the relative amounts of the mixture phases, different structures can be observed. In the contractile case, at moderate values of activity, elongated structures are formed when the active component is less abundant, while a dynamic emulsion of passive droplets in an active matrix is obtained for symmetric composition. When the active component is extensile, aster-like rotating droplets and a phase-separated pattern appear for asymmetric and symmetric mixtures, respectively. The relevance of space dimensions in the overall morphology is shown by studying the system in three dimensions in the case of extensile asymmetric mixtures where interconnected tube-like structures span the whole system.
Landau levels in wrinkled and rippled graphene sheets
Authors: Flouris Kyriakos , Jimenez Miller Mendoza , Herrmann Hans J.
Published: May 2019

We study the discrete energy spectrum of curved graphene sheets in the presence of a magnetic field. The shifting of the Landau levels is determined for complex and realistic geometries of curved graphene sheets. The energy levels follow a similar square root dependence on the energy quantum number as for rippled and flat graphene sheets. The Landau levels are shifted towards lower energies proportionally to the average deformation and the effect is larger compared to a simple uni-axially rippled geometry. Furthermore, the resistivity of wrinkled graphene sheets is calculated for different average space curvatures and shown to obey a linear relation. The study is carried out with a quantum lattice Boltzmann method, solving the Dirac equation on curved manifolds.
Simulation of queuing time in crowd evacuation by discrete time loss queuing method
Authors: Hu Jun , Li Zhongwen , You Lei , Zhang Hong , Wei Juan , Li Mei
Published: May 2019

We have proposed a new evacuation model based on discrete time loss queuing method in order to effectively depict the queuing of pedestrians in an indoor space and its effect over evacuation performance. In this model, the calculation formula of pedestrian movement probability is given first based on field value and average queuing time; the average queuing time is depicted with the discrete time loss queuing method and the adopted evacuation strategy is set forth through defining cellular evolution process. Moreover, with the use of the established simulation platform for experiment, we have made a deep study of relations of parameters such as evacuation time, pedestrian density, exit number and average queuing time to obtain the pedestrian flow characteristic more in line with the reality. The result has shown that there is a great change in the evacuated population in the change of crowded state at the exit, and in the background of high population density, it is beneficial for reducing queuing time to prefer faraway exit to overcrowded exit for evacuation.
Unsteady state fluid structure of two-sided nonfacing lid-driven cavity induced by a semicircle at different radii sizes and velocity ratios
Authors: Souayeh Basma , Hammami Fayçal , Hdhiri Najib , Alfannakh Huda
Published: May 2019

This paper aims in analyzing the effect of velocity ratio [Formula: see text] and Radius size of an inner semicircle inserted at the bottom wall of two-sided nonfacing lid-driven cavity on the bifurcation occurrence phenomena. The study has been performed by using finite volume method (FVM) and multigrid acceleration for certain pertinent parameters; Reynolds number, velocity ratios ([Formula: see text]) by step of 0.25 and Radius size of the inner semicircle ([Formula: see text]) by step of 0.05. An analysis of the flow evolution shows that, when increasing Re beyond a certain critical value, the flow becomes unstable then bifurcates for various velocity ratios and radius size of the semicircle. Therefore, critical Reynolds numbers are determined for each case. It is worth to mention that the transition to unsteadiness follows the classical scheme of a Hopf bifurcation. Results show also that in the standard case of a single lid-driven cavity ([Formula: see text]), the highest critical Reynolds number corresponds to the lowest radius of the semicircle and the same for ([Formula: see text]). Conversely, from ([Formula: see text]) where the left moving lid take effect, the opposite phenomenon occurs. In harmony with this, it has been found that elongating the cylinder radius accelerates the appearance of the unsteady regime and delays it in the opposite case. Flow periodicity has been verified through time history plots for the velocity component and phase-space trajectories as a function of Reynolds number. The numerical results are correlated in a sophisticated correlation of the critical Reynolds number with other parameters.
Mid-Price Estimation for European Corporate Bonds: A Particle Filtering Approach
Authors: Guéant Olivier , Pu Jiang
Published: May 2019

In most illiquid markets, there is no obvious proxy for the market price of an asset. The European corporate bond market is an archetypal example of such an illiquid market where mid-prices can only be estimated with a statistical model. In this OTC market, dealers/market makers only have access, indeed, to partial information about the market. In real time, they know the price associated with their trades on the dealer-to-dealer (D2D) and dealer-to-client (D2C) markets, they know the result of the requests for quotes (RFQ) they answered, and they have access to composite prices (e.g., Bloomberg CBBT). This paper presents a Bayesian method for estimating the mid-price of corporate bonds by using the real-time information available to a dealer. This method relies on recent ideas coming from the particle filtering/sequential Monte Carlo literature.
Effect of depositional water content on the collapsibility of a reconstituted loess
Authors: Wong Ling Xin , Shire Tom , Standing Jamie
Published: May 2019

Loess, a wind-blown silty soil, can be deposited under a variety of moisture conditions, including dry deposition, wet deposition and gravitational settling of aggregations formed in moist air by capillary forces at grain contacts. This experimental study uses single and double oedometer tests to assess the effect of depositional water content on the collapse potential of reconstituted samples of the Langley Silt Member, known as Brickearth, a natural loessic soil. A freefall sample preparation technique was used to mimic loess formation and environmental scanning electron microscopy was used to relate the observed behaviour to sample fabric. The results show that loess deposited at higher water contents has a greater collapse potential, which is shown to be related to its looser, more granular fabric.
The South Kintyre Basin: its role in the stratigraphical and structural evolution of the Firth of Clyde region during the Devonian–Carboniferous transition
Authors: Young G. M. , Caldwell W. G. E.
Published: May 2019

Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous rocks at the southern end of the Kintyre Peninsula closely resemble those of the Kinnesswood and Clyde Sandstone formations in more easterly portions of the Firth of Clyde. For example, a previously unrecognized thick marlstone with pedogenic calcretes is present in the Kinnesswood Formation at the south tip of the peninsula and, on the west coast, south of Machrihanish, a striking cliffed exposure includes massive phreatic calcretes developed from cross-bedded sandstones and red mudstones closely resembling those of the Clyde Sandstone on Great Cumbrae. A similar phreatic calcrete unit is present in the lower part of the Ballagan Formation in south Bute. The presence of vadose and phreatic calcrete provides valuable information concerning palaeoclimatic conditions in southwestern Scotland during the Devonian–Carboniferous transition. Overlying thick volcanic rocks are correlative with the Clyde Plateau Volcanic Formation. The sediments accumulated in the South Kintyre Basin on the west side of the Highland Boundary Fault (HBF). Formation of this basin, and the North East Arran and Cumbraes basins in the northeastern part of the Firth of Clyde, is interpreted as a response to development of a ‘locked zone’ in the HBF during an episode of sinistral faulting.
David J. Benney: Nonlinear Wave and Instability Processes in Fluid Flows
Authors: Akylas T.R.
Published: May 2019

David J. Benney (1930–2015) was an applied mathematician and fluid dynamicist whose highly original work has shaped our understanding of nonlinear wave and instability processes in fluid flows. This article discusses the new paradigm he pioneered in the study of nonlinear phenomena, which transcends fluid mechanics, and it highlights the common threads of his research contributions, namely, resonant nonlinear wave interactions; the derivation of nonlinear evolution equations, including the celebrated nonlinear Schrödinger equation for modulated wave trains; and the significance of three-dimensional disturbances in shear flow instability and transition.
MR Imaging-Histology Correlation by Tailored 3D-Printed Slicer in Oncological Assessment
Authors: Baldi D. , Aiello M. , Duggento A. , Salvatore M. , Cavaliere C.
Published: May 2019

3D printing and reverse engineering are innovative technologies that are revolutionizing scientific research in the health sciences and related clinical practice. Such technologies are able to improve the development of various custom-made medical devices while also lowering design and production costs. Recent advances allow the printing of particularly complex prototypes whose geometry is drawn from precise computer models designed on in vivo imaging data. This review summarizes a new method for histological sample processing (applicable to e.g., the brain, prostate, liver, and renal mass) which employs a personalized mold developed from diagnostic images through computer-aided design software and 3D printing. Through positioning the custom mold in a coherent manner with respect to the organ of interest (as delineated by in vivo imaging data), the cutting instrument can be precisely guided in order to obtain blocks of tissue which correspond with high accuracy to the slices imaged. This approach appeared crucial for validation of new quantitative imaging tools, for an accurate imaging-histopathological correlation and for the assessment of radiogenomic features extracted from oncological lesions. The aim of this review is to define and describe 3D printing technologies which are applicable to oncological assessment and slicer design, highlighting the radiological and pathological perspective as well as recent applications of this approach for the histological validation of and correlation with MR images.
Experimental Study on the Complex Contact Frictional Property of an Ultralong Distance Large-Section Concrete Pipe Jacking and Prediction of Pipe String Stuck
Authors: He Ziyong , Chen Jiangong
Published: May 2019

Line 2 of the Guanjingkou Pipe Jacking Project in Chongqing encountered a pipe sticking problem, whose occurrence was inevitably attributed to the higher total frictional resistance of pipe strings rather than the maximum jacking force. Line 1, which is about to start construction, has basically the same construction environment as Line 2 using the same microshield and pipe string sizes. To avoid repeating the pipe sticking problem of Line 2, the mutual friction characteristics between the surrounding rocks and jacked pipe strings are studied for Line 1 by adopting the same test method under seven complex contact conditions (the presence or various combinations of three substances, i.e., extrapipe string field debris, bentonite slurry, and sand-laden waste slurry, on the jacked pipe string-surrounding rock contact surface are mainly considered). The results show that sufficient bentonite slurry can effectively reduce the frictional resistance, and when the amount of bentonite is insufficient, the average friction coefficient (AFC) of the later contact surface increases by 50%∼70%. The comparison of the monitored versus predicted jacking forces indicates that the value predicted by the test is slightly higher than the monitored force and the variation trends of the two match well, thus proving the correctness of the test results. It is possible to continue predicting the variation trends of the jacking force and frictional resistance based on the contact situation outside the pipe string wall, which greatly lowers the probability of re-encountering pipe sticking. The test results not only explain the important role of bentonite slurry in reducing the pipe string wall frictional resistance but also suggest that an increase in the pipe string wall frictional resistance resulting from the complex contact inflow into the overexcavation gap is the root cause of pipe sticking; moreover, the number of jacked pipe strings matching a single IJS is the second cause of pipe string sticking. The methodology of this study can provide a reference for other studies concerning the jacking force of long-distance rock microshield tunnelling.
Use of Secondary Crystallization and Fly Ash in Waterproofing Materials to Increase Concrete Resistance to Aggressive Gases and Liquids
Authors: Drochytka Rostislav , Ledl Matej , Bydzovsky Jiri , Zizkova Nikol , Bester Johannes
Published: May 2019

This paper describes the use of cement‐based waterproofing screed and waterproofing coating, in which 10% of the original amount of cement was replaced by fly ash and 2% of the crystallization admixture was added by weight of cement, as a mean of protection of concrete against aggressive environments. The modified materials were applied to the underlying concrete and subjected to testing of physical and mechanical properties after exposure to effects of aggressive environments for up to 18 months. The results of the analysis have shown that after the application of waterproofing materials, there is a sufficient development of the crystals in the underlying concrete to enhance its durability. Thus, it is possible to use fly ash functionally and efficiently in polymer cement systems as a substitute for the cement together with the crystallization admixture.
Evaluation of Myelin Radiotracers in the Lysolecithin Rat Model of Focal Demyelination: Beware of Pitfalls!
Authors: Zhang Min , Hugon Gaëlle , Bouillot Caroline , Bolbos Radu , Langlois Jean-Baptiste , Billard Thierry , Bonnefoi Frédéric , Li Biao , Zimmer Luc , Chauveau Fabien
Published: May 2019

The observation that amyloid radiotracers developed for Alzheimer’s disease bind to cerebral white matter paved the road to nuclear imaging of myelin in multiple sclerosis. The lysolecithin (lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)) rat model of demyelination proved useful in evaluating and comparing candidate radiotracers to target myelin. Focal demyelination following stereotaxic LPC injection is larger than lesions observed in experimental autoimmune encephalitis models and is followed by spontaneous progressive remyelination. Moreover, the contralateral hemisphere may serve as an internal control in a given animal. However, demyelination can be accompanied by concurrent focal necrosis and/or adjacent ventricle dilation. The influence of these side effects on imaging findings has never been carefully assessed. The present study describes an optimization of the LPC model and highlights the use of MRI for controlling the variability and pitfalls of the model. The prototypical amyloid radiotracer [11C]PIB was used to show thatin vivoPET does not provide sufficient sensitivity to reliably track myelin changes and may be sensitive to LPC side effects instead of demyelination as such.Ex vivoautoradiography with a fluorine radiotracer should be preferred, to adequately evaluate and compare radiotracers for the assessment of myelin content.
A Phase Ib/II Study of Oprozomib in Patients with Advanced Multiple Myeloma and Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
Authors: Ghobrial Irene M. , Vij Ravi , Siegel David , Badros Ashraf , Kaufman Jonathan , Raje Noopur , Jakubowiak Andrzej , Savona Michael R. , Obreja Mihaela , Berdeja Jesus G.
Published: May 2019

Purpose:

The oral proteasome inhibitor oprozomib has shown preclinical antitumor activity. Here, we report phase Ib/II study results investigating single-agent oprozomib in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma and Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

Patients and Methods:

The primary objectives were to determine the MTD, safety, and tolerability of oprozomib (phase Ib) as well as overall response rate (ORR; phase II). Oprozomib was administered once daily on days 1, 2, 8, and 9 (2/7 schedule) or days 1 to 5 (5/14 schedule) of a 14-day cycle.

Results:

In patients with multiple myeloma or Waldenström macroglobulinemia (n = 71), the determined MTDs were 300 mg/day (2/7 schedule) and 240 mg/day (5/14 schedule). Median oprozomib treatment duration for patients with multiple myeloma was 11.4 weeks (2/7 schedule, 240/300 mg/day), 5.4 weeks (5/14, 240 mg/day), and 10.1 weeks (5/14, 150/180 mg/day). For patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia, these values were 34.6 weeks (2/7 schedule, 240/300 mg/day) and 8.1 weeks (5/14 schedule, 240 mg/day). The most common grade ≥3 adverse events (AE) in phase Ib included gastrointestinal and hematologic AEs. Three AE-related deaths in phase II prompted enrollment into 2/7 and 5/14 step-up dosing schedules (240/300 mg/day and 150/180 mg/day, respectively). In phase II, ORRs in 95 response-eligible multiple myeloma patients were 41.0%, 28.1%, and 25.0% in the 2/7, 240/300-mg/day; 5/14, 150/180-mg/day; and 5/14, 240-mg/day cohorts, respectively. ORRs in 31 response-eligible Waldenström macroglobulinemia patients were 71.4% and 47.1% for the 2/7 and 5/14 cohorts, respectively.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated promising efficacy of single-agent oprozomib in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma and Waldenström macroglobulinemia.
Circulating Tumor DNA as a Clinical Test in Resected Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Groot Vincent P. , Mosier Stacy , Javed Ammar A. , Teinor Jonathan A. , Gemenetzis Georgios , Ding Ding , Haley Lisa M. , Yu Jun , Burkhart Richard A. , Hasanain Alina , Debeljak Marija , Kamiyama Hirohiko , Narang Amol , Laheru Daniel A. , Zheng Lei , Lin Ming-Tseh , Gocke Christopher D. , Fishman Elliot K. , Hruban Ralph H. , Goggins Michael G. , Molenaar I. Quintus , Cameron John L. , Weiss Matthew J. , Velculescu Victor E. , He Jin , Wolfgang Christopher L. , Eshleman James R.
Published: May 2019

Purpose:

In research settings, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) shows promise as a tumor-specific biomarker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study aims to perform analytical and clinical validation of a KRAS ctDNA assay in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and College of American Pathology–certified clinical laboratory.

Experimental Design:

Digital-droplet PCR was used to detect the major PDAC-associated somatic KRAS mutations (G12D, G12V, G12R, and Q61H) in liquid biopsies. For clinical validation, 290 preoperative and longitudinal postoperative plasma samples were collected from 59 patients with PDAC. The utility of ctDNA status to predict PDAC recurrence during follow-up was assessed.

Results:

ctDNA was detected preoperatively in 29 (49%) patients and was an independent predictor of decreased recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients who had neoadjuvant chemotherapy were less likely to have preoperative ctDNA than were chemo-naïve patients (21% vs. 69%; P < 0.001). ctDNA levels dropped significantly after tumor resection. Persistence of ctDNA in the immediate postoperative period was associated with a high rate of recurrence and poor median RFS (5 months). ctDNA detected during follow-up predicted clinical recurrence [sensitivity 90% (95% confidence interval (CI), 74%–98%), specificity 88% (95% CI, 62%–98%)] with a median lead time of 84 days (interquartile range, 25–146). Detection of ctDNA during postpancreatectomy follow-up was associated with a median OS of 17 months, while median OS was not yet reached at 30 months for patients without ctDNA (P = 0.011).

Conclusions:

Measurement of KRAS ctDNA in a CLIA laboratory setting can be used to predict recurrence and survival in patients with PDAC.
The Bonebridge in Adults with Mixed and Conductive Hearing Loss: Audiological and Quality of Life Outcomes
Authors: Skarżyński Piotr H. , Ratuszniak Anna , Król Bartłomiej , Kozieł Magdalena , Osińska Kamila , Cywka Katarzyna B. , Sztabnicka Anna , Skarżyński Henryk
Published: May 2019

Background: Considering that hearing loss has a significant impact on social functioning, everyday activity and a person’s emotional state, one of the most important goals of hearing rehabilitation with bone conduction devices is improvement in a patient’s quality of life. Objectives: To measure self-assessed quality of life in patients implanted with the Bonebridge, a bone conduction device. Method: Prospective, observational, longitudinal study with one treatment group. Twenty-one patients with mixed or conductive hearing loss were included, and each individual served as its own control. The Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) was used to measure patient-reported quality of life before intervention and at 3 and 6 months after activation of the device. At the same time frames, pure-tone audiometry and speech understanding in quiet and in noise were tested. Results: Hearing-specific quality of life increased significantly after intervention and remained stable up to 6 months. Both word recognition in quiet and speech reception threshold in noise were significantly better after 6 months compared to before surgery. Outcomes of aided speech understanding were independent of initial bone conduction thresholds and equally high (word recognition score >75%) across the device’s indication range. Conclusions: The Bonebridge provides not only significant audiological benefit in both speech understanding in quiet and in noise, but also increases self-perceived quality of life in patients suffering from mixed and conductive hearing loss. Together with a very low rate and minor nature of adverse events, it is the state-of-the-art solution for hearing rehabilitation in patients with mixed or conductive hearing loss up to a bone conduction threshold of 45 dB HL.
Phenomenology in Psychoanalysis: Still an Open Debate?
Authors: D’Agostino Alessandra , Mancini Milena , Rossi Monti Mario
Published: May 2019

In a recent book Cristopher Bollas, one of the greatest contemporary psychoanalysts, tells about how he began to bring together phenomenology and psychoanalysis in the clinical setting at the beginning of his career. Working with psychotic patients, he realized that it was first necessary to “absorb” their view of reality before being able to reflect on the mad scenarios of psychosis. In what world did they live? How did they perceive it? Only by “mirroring” this back to the patients was it possible to offer them the experience of being in front of someone trying to understand their world view. Today, phenomenology has been spreading over psychoanalysis more than one can think it did in the past. The aim of this paper is to review and discuss the most relevant theoretical-clinical areas characterizing contemporary psychoanalysis in which phenomenology can claim a legitimate (or still illegitimate for someone) position. The main areas that will be discussed are: (a) the larger relational system or field in which human experience is continually shaped, i.e., the intersubjective matrix in which we are embedded; (b) the capacity to think about the “what” of the patients’ experience, rather than the “why” (especially with the most severely disturbed ones); and (c) the crisis of the primacy of interpretation in the analytical technique. Obviously, this review does not have the ambition to be exhaustive. Rather, it just wants to (re)open the discussion on a still controversial but very current topic.
A Common Genetic Variation in Langerin (CD207) Compromises Cellular Uptake of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: van Dalen Rob , Fuchsberger Felix F. , Rademacher Christoph , van Strijp Jos A.G. , van Sorge Nina M.
Published: May 2019

Langerhans cells are key sentinel cells of the skin and mucosal lining. They sense microorganisms through their repertoire of pattern-recognition receptors to mount and direct appropriate immune responses. We recently demonstrated that human Langerhans cells interact with the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus through the Langerhans cell-specific receptor langerin (CD207). It was previously hypothesized that two linked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; N288D and K313I) in the carbohydrate recognition domain of langerin would affect interaction with microorganisms. We show that recognition of S. aureus by recombinant langerin molecules is abrogated in the co-inheriting SNP variant, which is mainly explained by the N288D SNP and further enhanced by K313I. Moreover, introduction of SNP N288D in ectopically-expressed langerin affected cellular distribution of the receptor such that langerin displayed enhanced plasma membraneexpression. Despite this increased binding of S. aureus by the langerin double SNP variant, uptake of bacteria by this langerin variant was compromised. Our findings indicate that in a proportion of the human population, the recognition and uptake of S. aureus by Langerhans cells may be affected, which could have important consequences for proper immune activation and S. aureus-associated disease.
hsCRP Level and the Risk of Death or Recurrent Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Myocardial Infarction: a Healthcare‐Based Study
Authors: Carrero Juan Jesus , Andersson Franko Mikael , Obergfell Achim , Gabrielsen Anders , Jernberg Tomas
Published: May 2019

Background

Beyond the controlled setting of trials, scarce information exists on the burden, predictors, and outcomes associated with elevated hs
CRP
(high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein) in “real‐world” patients with myocardial infarction (
MI
).

Methods and Results

We included all‐coming
MI
survivors undergoing hs
CRP
testing >30 days after an
MI
during routine health care in Stockholm, Sweden (2006–2011). hs
CRP
tests measured during hospitalization/emergency department visits, followed by antibiotics or indicative of acute illness, were excluded, together with patients with ongoing/recent cancer, chronic infections, or immunosuppression. Inflammation was defined over a 3‐month baseline window and associated with subsequent death and major adverse cardiovascular events (composite of MI, ischemic stroke, or cardiovascular death). Included were 17 464 patients (63% men; mean age, 72.6 years) with a median hs
CRP
level of 2.2 (interquartile range, 1.0–6.0) mg/L and a median of 2.2 (interquartile range, 0.8–4.9) years since their
MI
. Most (66%) had hs
CRP
≥2 mg/L, and 40% had hs
CRP
>3 mg/L. Lower hemoglobin, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, and comorbidities (eg, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid diseases) were associated with higher odds of hs
CRP
≥2 mg/L. Conversely, previous percutaneous coronary intervention, ongoing renin‐angiotensin blockade, and statins were associated with lower hs
CRP
≥2 mg/L odds. Patients with hs
CRP
≥2 mg/L were at higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (n=3900; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.28; 95%
CI,
1.18–1.38) and death (n=4138; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.31–1.53). Results were robust across subgroups of patients and after exclusion of events occurring during the first 6 to 12 months. On a continuous scale, the association between hs
CRP
and outcomes was linear until hs
CRP
>5 mg/L, plateauing thereafter.

Conclusions

Most patients with
MI
exhibit elevated hs
CRP
levels. Besides identifying populations at high‐inflammatory risk, this study extends the prognostic validity of this biomarker from trial evidence to real‐world healthcare settings.
Platelet-Rich Emboli in Cerebral Large Vessel Occlusion Are Associated With a Large Artery Atherosclerosis Source
Authors: Fitzgerald Seán , Dai Daying , Wang Shunli , Douglas Andrew , Kadirvel Ramanathan , Layton Kennith F. , Thacker Ike C. , Gounis Matthew J. , Chueh Ju-Yu , Puri Ajit S. , Almekhlafi Mohammed , Demchuk Andrew M. , Hanel Ricardo A. , Sauvageau Eric , Aghaebrahim Amin , Yoo Albert J. , Kvamme Peter , M. Pereira Vitor , Kayan Yasha , Delgado Almandoz Josser E. , Nogueira Raul G. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Kallmes David F. , Doyle Karen M. , Brinjikji Waleed
Published: May 2019

Background and Purpose—

Nearly 30% of large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke clots are from an unknown source. We assessed histological clot composition in a series of patients with large vessel occlusion and investigated correlations between clot composition and stroke pathogenesis.

Methods—

As part of the multi-institutional STRIP registry (Stroke Thromboembolism Registry of Imaging and Pathology), consecutive emboli retrieved during mechanical thrombectomy were stained using Martius Scarlett Blue and analyzed using machine learning software. We assessed proportions of red blood cells, fibrin, platelets, and white blood cells. Correlations between clot components and stroke pathogenesis (large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, and stroke of undetermined pathogenesis) were assessed using SPSS22.

Results—

One hundred five patients were included. The proportion of platelet-rich clots (55.0% versus 21.2%;
P
=0.005) and percentage of platelet content (22.1±4.2% versus 13.9±14.2%;
P
=0.03) was significantly higher in the large artery atherosclerosis group compared with the cardioembolic group. The proportion of platelet-rich clots (50.0% versus 21.2%;
P
=0.024) was also significantly higher in the cryptogenic group compared with cardioembolic cases. Large artery atherosclerosis and cryptogenic cases had a similar proportion of platelet-rich clots (55.0% versus 50.0%;
P
=0.636). There was no significant difference between stroke pathogenesis and the other major clot components.

Conclusions—

High platelet content of emboli is associated with a large artery atherosclerosis etiology of large vessel occlusion.
The Babalon Working 1946: L. Ron Hubbard, John Whiteside Parsons, and the Practice of Enochian Magic
Authors: Bogdan Henrik
Published: May 2019

In the spring of 1946 L. Ron Hubbard and John W. Parsons performed a series of magical rituals with the aim of incarnating the Thelemic goddess Babalon in a human being. Hubbard’s cooperation with Parsons, known as the Babalon Working, remains one of the most controversial events in Hubbard’s pre-Scientology days. This article sets out to describe the content of the magical rituals, as well as their purpose. It is argued that in order to fully understand these events, it is necessary to approach the Babalon Working from the study of Western esotericism in general, and the study of Enochian magic in particular.
The Significance of Rituals in Scientology: A Brief Overview and a Few Examples
Authors: Rothstein Mikael
Published: May 2019

Scientology’s rituals may be divided into four categories, which are all mentioned in this article: 1) rituals aimed at the spiritual transformation of the individual, most profoundly the auditing procedure; 2) collective, very often calendrical ceremonies, usually termed “Events,” where the community of Scientologists, the organization itself, and its exalted founder are celebrated; 3) rites of passage such as weddings, namings, and funerals; and 4) services that to some extent (and probably strategically) emulate their Christian counterparts. In this article the focus is on the auditing procedure and “Events,” with a special emphasis on L. Ron Hubbard’s obsequies in 1986. On the basis of ritual analysis, it is argued that Scientology, apart from the proclaimed ambition of liberating the entrapped soul (thetan), is best understood as a devotional cult aimed at revering the mythologized founder of the organization.1
Anthropology and Historiography: A Deconstructive Analysis of K. C. Chang’s Shamanic Approach in Chinese Archaeology
Authors: Qu Feng
Published: May 2019

The hypothesis of ancient Chinese shamanism popularized by K. C. Chang in the 1980s has long been one of the central problems in the study of Chinese archaeology. By examining the structures that constitute Chang’s shamanic framework, this article argues that the problem centers around two major issues. The first is that Chang follows a tradition in Chinese academic historiography of using late historical texts to interpret Neolithic and Bronze Age materials. The second is that, in order to explore the dynamics of the formation of Chinese civilization, he employs Western theories in his construction of the history of shamanism. This article discusses the problems associated with using textual materials for interpretations of archaeological finds. It also discusses “substratum theory,” the way in which it influenced Chang’s understanding of shamanic civilization, and the manner in which Western anthropological theory was incorporated into Chang’s historiographical model. Accordingly, the author concludes that this shamanism problem in Chinese archaeology actually stems from a mixture of the Chinese historiographical tradition and Western anthropological theories, which together make Chang’s writing develop a meta-narrative that leads directly to two characteristics: generalization and polymorphism.
Translating Rāma as a Proto-Muḥammadan Prophet: Masīḥ’s Mas̱navī-i Rām va Sītā
Authors: Keshavmurthy Prashant
Published: May 2019

How have religious communities imagined the scriptures of other communities? In answering this question, this article aims to nuance our understanding of pre-colonial and self-consciously Islamic translations into Persian of Indic language texts understood to be Hindu by considering Masīḥ’s early 17th-century Mas̱navī-i Rām va Sītā, a Persian translation of Vālmīki’s Sanskrit epic, the Rāmāyaṇa (circa 2nd century bce). It opens by remarking on a shift in the study of the relations between poetics and politics in Persian translations of Indic texts. Then, attempting to refine our understanding of this relation, it takes issue with prior studies of this poem before answering the following questions these studies fail to pose: how does the prophetological metaphysics of the prefatory chapters relate to the poetics of emotion in the main body of the tale? And what does this relation let us infer of Masīḥ’s theological conception of translation?
What Game Are We Playing?: A New Look at the Identity and Beginning of the Study of Religion
Authors: Peedu Indrek
Published: May 2019

This article aims to analyze how scholars of religions have studied the history of the discipline itself, with particular emphasis on the question of its beginning. Although situating the beginning of the discipline in the late 19th century is prevalent, there are dissenting voices in this debate. Interestingly, a similar discussion exists in the history of science. There, Andrew Cunningham has argued in favor of understanding scientific practice as a human activity and thus writing histories of science as histories of an activity. The latter part of this article explains how implementing Cunningham’s approach can be useful for the study of the history of religious studies, making it possible to study the intellectual and institutional aspects as parts of one whole. I will draw attention to how this approach can help us analyze the question of the beginnings of the discipline.
Religious Resources and Terrorism
Authors: Gregg Heather S.
Published: May 2019

This article draws upon resource mobilization theory (rmt) to propose five ways in which religious resources can contribute to groups that use violence to challenge the social or political status quo: by shaping the group’s ideology; through religious authority; as a code of conduct that binds members of the group together; by providing social and material resources; and as a form of identity. In these cases, religion is one of several key factors that motivates groups that use violence, including terrorism. Considering different ways in which religion can contribute to terrorism, as opposed to an all-or-nothing debate, allows for a more nuanced discussion of religion’s roles in perpetrating violence and possible paths to mitigating its influence.
Prosperous Buddhism, Prosperity Buddhism, and Religious Capital
Authors: Borup Jørn
Published: May 2019

In the West, Buddhism as a “world rejecting” religion based on ascetic renunciation and non-economic spirituality is often invoked as a default narrative, and in many Buddhist cultures, immateriality is indeed promoted as a symbolic ideal of authenticity. Economy and materiality, however, are inherently part of Buddhism. This is notably the case in Japan, where monasteries, temples, and associations throughout history have been wealthy organizations. Contemporary temple Buddhism, however, faces economic threats from secularization, non-Buddhist ritual business, and new religious movements (nrms). This article analyzes the economy in and of contemporary Japanese Buddhism and systems of value transactions. The concept of “prosperity Buddhism” and religious capital is explored by comparing temple Buddhism with two new religious movements: Soka Gakkai and Happy Science. It is argued that the transaction models of these two groups are different from those of temple Buddhism by being differently adjusted to the market through teachings, practices, and organizational structures legitimating more openly this worldliness and materiality. It is also argued that especially Soka Gakkai has transformed its value-exchange model by converting ideals of economic transactions into other kinds of non-material forms of capital. Finally, it is suggested that a capital perspective on (Japanese) Buddhism reveals both structural differences within kinds of Buddhism, and that “Prosperity Buddhism” can be a useful analytical concept with which to illustrate one such type.
A Battle Against Pain? Aristotle, Theophrastus and the Physiologoi in Aspasius, On Nicomachean Ethics 156.14-20
Authors: Cheng Wei
Published: May 2019

Aspasius, In en 156.14-22, commenting on en 7.14, 1154b7-9, reports that Theophrastus joins Aristotle’s battle against the so-called physiologoi in trying to disprove their belief in the ubiquity of pain. I argue that there are theoretical and exegetical difficulties in Aspasius’ comment which have not been noticed by scholars and cannot be fixed by textual emendation. In fact, In en 156.14-22 can be regarded neither as a reliable interpretation of Aristotle, nor as an authentic source for Theophrastus’ thought.
Does the Soul Weave? Reconsidering De Anima 1.4, 408a29-b18
Authors: Carter Jason W.
Published: May 2019

In De Anima 1.4, Aristotle asks whether the soul can be moved by its own affections. His conclusion—that to say the soul grows angry is like saying that it weaves and builds—has traditionally been read on the assumption that it is false to credit the soul with weaving and building; I argue that Aristotle’s analysis of psychological motions implies his belief that the soul does in fact weave and build.