bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection Of Experimental Venous Thrombosis With Technetium 99m Sulfur Colloid
Authors: Rand J H , Bardfeld P A , Goldsmith S
Published: July 2018

The efficacy of peripheral venous injection of Technetium 99m Sulfur Colloid (TcSC) as a diagnostic marker for thrombi (T) was studied using a “trauma-stasis” model in rats. T were created in the proximal right femoral veins (RFV) of 39 male Spra ue-Dawley rats. Animals were injected with TcSC into dorsal penile veins 15 minutes prior to sacrifice which was done at intervals of 30 minutes and daily for 7 days after T formation. Portions of RFV with T and control left femoral veins (LFV) were taken for comparative counting along with blood and liver to confirm adequacy of tracer injection. Presence of T was confirmed histologically.

Thus, following peripheral venous injection of TcSC, significant uptake of this gamma emitting tracer by T is seen up to one week post-induction.
The Measurement of Fibrinolysis in the Rat
Authors: Gallimore M. J , Tyler H. M , Shaw J. T. B
Published: July 2018

Methods are described for measuring fibrinolytic activity in the rat. These include dilute blood clot lysis, euglobulin clot lysis, a fibrin plate assay with euglobulin solutions, and an accelerated whole blood clot lysis technique in which limited fibrinolysis is induced with urokinase. In addition, methods have been worked out for the estimation of four plasma components closely involved in fibrinolysis: fibrinogen, factor XIII, plasma inhibitors and fibrin degradation products. The sensitivity and validity of the assays were tested by studying their capacity to detect changes resulting from the administration of eledoisin, Neohydrin and turpentine.
Une Méthode Photométrique Rapide pour le Dosage du Plasminogène Activable et de la Plasmine
Authors: Bouvier C. A , Berthoud S , Roth M
Published: July 2018

Les auteurs présentent une méthode photométrique rapide pour l'estimation enzymatique du plasminogène activable; le substrat employé est l'ester ethylique de Benzoyl-arginine (BAEe), et l'enregistrement continu des variations d 'extinction au cours de la reaction permet une mesure directe des vélocités initiales. Une comparaison entre l'activite d'une préparation de plasmine purifiée et celle des euglobulines sériques activées par la streptokinase a été établie. De même, l'activité des deux préparations a été étudiée sur caseine. Une formule permettant la conversion des vélocités (6E254/min) en unités enzymatiques internationales (U) a été calculée. Enfin, les valeurs obtenues pour le plasminogène sérique chez le sujet normal et au cours d'affections diverses sont rapportées.
Demonstration of a Plasmatic Cofactor Different from Fibrinogen Necessary for Platelet Release by ADP and Adrenaline
Authors: Cronberg S , Kubisz P , Caen J. P
Published: July 2018

Secondary wave production and release of platelet factor 4 were studied in washed platelet suspensions and citrate plasma. Induction of a secondary wave requires the presence of large aggregates and a plasmatic cofactor different from fibrinogen. Acetyl-salicylic acid inhibited the production of a second wave both in plasma and platelet suspensions. Plasma taken after the intake of acetyl-salicylic acid induced a second wave in platelets harvested before the intake. The possible production of thrombin or allied enzyme inside the platelet aggregates due to changed internal milieu is suggested as a possible cause of the release reaction induced by ADP and adrenaline. Fundamental differences existed between the release induced by ADP and adrenaline and that induced by collagen, kaolin and other particles.
Relationship between Electrical Shock and Fibrinolysis
Authors: Tymiński W , Częstochowska Eugenia , Szłabowicz J
Published: July 2018

It has been found that only those kinds of shocks which result in muscular spasms (temporal electric shocks, Cardiazol induced shocks), bring about the activation of the fibrinolytic process.
Prothrombin Level and Activity in the Abnormal Factor X (Factor X Friuli) Hemorrhagic Disorder
Authors: Girolami A , Sticchi A , Brunetti A
Published: July 2018

Prothrombin has been assayed by means of 7 different techniques in the patients so far known to have the abnormal factor X (factor X Friuli) coagulation disorder. The methods were: classical one-stage method, Iowa two-stage method, Oxford two-stage method, a modified Hjort’s method using Stypven-Cephalin, a modified Jobin and Esnouf’s method using Tiger venom, the Staphilocoagulase method and an immunological method with anti-human prothrombin rabbit serum. In all cases a normal prothrombin level was found. In the two-stage procedures a normal thrombin activity was obtained only when normal serum was added to the system.

A good correlation was found between the several methods used.

In subjects known to be heterozygote for the abnormal factor X coagulation disorder, prothrombin level and activity has been found to be normal too. These data suggest that the abnormal factor X (factor X Friuli) coagulation disorder is due to a distinct factor X protein anomaly unaccompanied by detectable changes in the prothrombin level or activity.
Assay of Blood Coagulation Factors in Heparinized Blood*
Authors: Perkins Herbert A , Rolfs Mary R , Torg Barbara
Published: July 2018

Technics have been devised permitting assay of certain coagulation factors in blood despite the presence of heparin in the sample. In the process of developing these methods, heparin and Polybrene were added to whole blood or plasma in varions quantities and a large number of coagulation tests then performed. Considerable differences in the sensitivity of the various assays to the added test substances were evident. It is believed that they were due, at least in part, to the varying dilutions of plasma utilized. The results shed no insight on the mechanisms by which heparin exerts its anticoagulant effects; the inhibitory activity of Polybrene, however, was largely restricted to the stage of thromboplastin generation.

Polybrene had a much weaker inhibitory effect than heparin on all tests, and in many assays it was possible to add a standard amount of Polybrene without altering results. The amount chosen was large enough to neutralize any quantity of heparin likely to be present in a sample obtained from a patient during open heart surgery.

Factor V could be assayed with accuracy only if heparin was neutralized as the sample was collected. Assay of Factor VIII was successful only if the Polybrene was added after, the step of adsorption with aluminum hydroxide. A one-stage prothrombin assay presented no problems, but assays for Factor VII complex provided distinctly different results from those found in a duplicate sample collected in citrate alone.
Induction of Increased Fibrinolytic Activator in Plasma by Various Drugs*)
Authors: Cho M. H , Choy W
Published: July 2018

Autonomic blocking agents failed to block the action of autonomic transmitters’ effect on F.A. increase in plasma. Autonomic blocking agents themselves caused the elevation of F.A. The depletion of catecholamines and serotonin, by reserpine and adrenalectomy, did not impair the ability of animals to produce enhanced F.A.level, nor did the removal of the spleen, kidney or hypophysis.

Many drugs were found to induce the increased F.A. level in plasma of animals, while others failed to do so. One common denominator of those drugs causing F.A. increase appears to be their ability to release histamine. Histamine was found to be an active agent in elevating F.A. and this action can sometimes be blocked by antihistaminics, as shown in a few experiments. The repeated injection of morphine, d-tubocurarine and compound 48/80, all showed the development of acute tolerance toward the hypotensive effect. The concomitant measurement of F.A. in plasma showed a parallel development of acute tolerance toward the F.A. level. There was a concomitant increase of histamine level, F.A. level and hematocrit value, after the single injection, each, of compound 48/80, morphine and d-tubocurarine. These results support our hypothesis that the F.A.in an animal, induced by various drugs, is caused either by histamine or a histamine release mechanism.
Studies on Autoprothrombin C Thrombin Relationship*
Authors: Landaburu R. H , Abdala O , Fulginiti Susana , Curtino J
Published: July 2018

In every prothrombin activation two different enzymatic reactions can be distinguished. The first reaction is the prothrombin disappearance and the second one is the thrombin formation. Autoprothrombin C catalyzes both reactions and thrombin only the first one. The inhibition of thrombin with heparin allows a more complete activation of the thrombin. The two reactions can be independently catalyzed by different substances. Heparin by itself can provide the environment for activation.
Plasmakininogenspiegel und Proteinasenhemmkörper: Beobachtungen während der Substitutionstherapie bei Hämophilie A
Authors: Blümel Von G , Fischer M , Lechner K
Published: July 2018

Das Verhalten des Plasmakininogenspiegels wurde während und nach einer Substitutionstherapie bei Patienten mit Hämophilie A untersucht.

Es zeigten sich deutliche Unterschiede bei der Anwendung von AHP, CohnFraktion I und AHG »500«. Die in allen Fällen beobachtete Abnahme des Plasmakininogenspiegels bei AHP konnte durch Gabe von natürlichen Proteinaseninhibitoren verhindert werden.

Zur Klärung dieses Verhaltens wurden Untersuchungen durchgeführt, welche auf die Möglichkeit einer gesteigerten Plasmakininfreisetzung durch Thrombozyten und Leukozyten hin weisen.
Effects of Thorium Dioxide upon Blood Clotting and Platelets. II. In Vivo Studies in Rabbits
Authors: McGehee W. G , Hjort P. F , Rapaport S. I
Published: July 2018

An intravenous injection of the usual “blocking” dose of thorium dioxide (3 ml/kg) into rabbits damaged platelets, granulocytes and clotting factors :

1. Platelets immediately decreased and took more than 24 hrs to return to normal. Abnormalities of platelet morphology were noted.

2. Granulocytes also decreased immediately but returned to normal or higher than normal levels in 1 hr.

3. The thrombin time immediately increased. Its return to normal paralleled the clearance of thorium dioxide from the blood. Fibrinogen decreased slightly but the fall was not statistically significant.

4. Factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, and X dropped progressively over 8 hrs to levels between 5 and 40%. Low levels of these factors persisted for several hours after the thorium dioxide had disappeared from the blood. Modest decreases were also noted in factors XI and XII.

The clotting factor abnormalities were more marked with unfiltered (TDS) than with filtered (Thorotrast) suspensions of thorium dioxide, and cardiac tamponade after heart puncture occurred more frequently in the TDS-animals. It became evident from these studies that a rabbit prepared for the generalized Shwartzman reaction with thorium dioxide has a severe hemostatic defect when it receives the triggering injection of endotoxin 8 hrs later.
The Activation and Consumption of Factor IX
Authors: Nossel H. L
Published: July 2018

Discussion and Conclusions

The results of these experiments support previous observations that factor IX activity is increased approximately ten fold by incubation with calcium and optimal amounts of product XI a. The finding of a reciprocal relationship between maximal product IX a formation and residual factor IX provides further evidence in favour of the hypothesis that factor IX behaves as a substrate when activated by product XIa. This reciprocal relationship between percentage active product formed and residual percentage of the inactive factor is similar to that shown to occur when factor XI is activated by factor XII and celite (Nossel 1964).
Activity of Synthetic Phospholipids in Blood Coagulation
Authors: Daemen F. J. M , van Arkel C , Hart H Ch. , van der Drift C , van Deenen L. L. M
Published: July 2018

1. An investigation was made into the activity of synthetic phospholipids on blood coagulation in vitro, utilizing synthetic substances including phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl serine containing a poly-unsaturated fatty acid constituent.

2. Applying a one-stage recalcification test, phosphatidyl serine was found to act at high concentrations as anticoagulant. No clot-promoting activity was observed after addition of individual phospholipids. However, several combinations of phospholipids, e.g. phosphatidyl ethanolamine with phosphatidyl serine or certain mixtures of lecithin with phosphatidylserine, shortened the clotting time.

3. In the thromboplastin generation test phosphatidyl ethanolamine exhibited some acceleratory activity without being able, however, to replace crude brain cephalin completely. However, optimal coagulant activity was produced by mixtures of synthetic phospholipids viz, phosphatidyl ethanolamine with phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidic acid or (isolated) cardiolipin and by certain combinations of lecithin and phosphatidyl serine.

4. In both assay systems the maximum activity of each phospholipid combination was found to be related within certain limits to the ratio of both compounds. It is concluded that the coagulant activity of phospholipids in vitro is not to be attributed to a certain type of phospholipid or a defined mixture. The results obtained with the synthetic compounds appear to support the view that a particular negative surface charge of the phospholipid micelles is a prerequisite for maximal clot-promoting activity of phospholipids.
The Influence of Saturated Fats, Cholesterol, Corn Oil and Linseed Oil on Experimental Venous Thrombosis in Rats
Authors: Nordøy Arne
Published: July 2018

1. The effect of different fat diets on the incidence of thrombus formation has been examined in rats using a standardized damage of the jugular vein.

2. An increased incidence of thrombosis was observed in animals given a diet containing 10% hydrogenated coconut fat and 1 per cent cholesterol as the only fat ingredients. The addition of corn oil to the diet did not influence the hyperthrombotic state whereas addition of linseed oil significantly reduced the incidence of thrombosis.

3. An accelerated recalcification time, cephalin time and thromboplastin time, as well as an increase in the levels of fibrinogen, factor V, VII and VIII was observed in animals on the saturated fat diet. This hypercoagulable condition was not influenced by addition either of corn oil or of linseed oil to the diet.

4. A moderate hyperlipemia was present in the animals on a saturated fat and cholesterol diet. This was reduced but not normalized when corn oil or linseed oil was added to the diet.

5. The present study indicates a correlation between a hyperthrombotic, a hypercoagulable and a hyperlipemic condition. However, the antithrombotic effect of linseed oil can neither be correlated with changes in the coagulation mechanism nor with changes in the main blood lipid fractions.
Zur Deutung der Modellretraktion von Fibringerinnseln durch Janusgrün B
Authors: Kuhnke E , Brilla G
Published: July 2018

Durch elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen von Janusgrün B-Gerinnseln wurde die Einwirkungsweise des Farbstoffes auf Fibrinfibrillen geprüft. Es zeigte sich, daß eine von der Oberfläche her einsetzende Anlösung der Fibrillen mit einer starken Steigerung der Verklebungsbereitschaft und darauf folgend eine retraktionsartige Volumenverkleinerung auftritt. Dieser Befund stimmt mit unseren Annahmen vom Mechanismus der Retraktion als einer Fibrillenaggregation überein.
Fibrinolytic and Esterolytic Activity of Human Plasma
Authors: Adamis D. M , Maniatis G. M
Published: July 2018

The fibrinolytic and esterolytic activity of the plasma before and after activation with Streptokinase is studied. The inhibitors of plasmin are neutralized by the acidification of the plasma or by the acetone treatment. The inhibitors of the “trypsin like enzymes” are neutralized only by acetone. The hydrolysis of the BAEE by the acetone treated and activated plasma seems to be a satisfactory method for the simultaneous determination of the total (plasmin-plasminogen) activity and the total activity of the (trypsin like enzymes) with arginine exopeptidase activity.
Preventing or Eradicating Factor VIII Antibody Formation in Patients with Hemophilia A: What Can We Learn from Other Disorders?
Authors: Hassan Shermarke , Fijnvandraat Karin , van der Bom Johanna , Gouw Samantha
Published: July 2018

Eradication of factor VIII (FVIII) specific neutralizing antibodies (also known as inhibitors) by the traditional method of immune tolerance induction (ITI) is costly and unsuccessful in one out of three patients. Furthermore, effective inhibitor prevention strategies are presently lacking. An overview is given in this narrative review of antidrug antibody prevention or eradication strategies that have been used in disorders beyond hemophilia A, with the aim of analyzing what we can learn from these strategies for hemophilia A. Prevention of antidrug antibody formation using rituximab, methotrexate, and intravenous immunoglobulins in patients with Pompe's disease seems effective but carries a high risk of adverse events. Based on studies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, it seems likely that treatment with methotrexate alone would also be able to prevent inhibitor formation in hemophilia A patients. Besides side effects, it is unclear whether immune tolerance to FVIII would persist after cessation of immunomodulatory therapy with methotrexate. A combination of cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids, used to treat antibody-mediated pure red cell aplasia, could be further investigated to eradicate inhibitors in hemophilia A patients who are refractory to ITI. In summary, insights gained from research on antidrug antibody formation in other diseases could be helpful in devising alternative treatment strategies for inhibitor development.
Towards a novel stellar opacity measurement scheme using stability properties of double ablation front structures
Authors: Colaïtis A. , Ducret J.-E. , Le Pennec M. , Ribeyre X. , Turck-Chièze S.
Published: July 2018

A novel method for bringing sample elements to hydrodynamic conditions relevant to the base of the solar convection zone is investigated. The method is designed in the framework of opacity measurements and exploits the temporal and spatial stability of hydrodynamic parameters in counter-propagating Double Ablation Front (DAF) structures. The physics of symmetric DAF structures is first studied in 1D geometries to assess the influence of tracer layers in the target. These results are used to propose an experimental design compatible with the OMEGA [Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133(1-6), 495–506 (1997)] laser. Radiative-hydrodynamic simulations conducted using the Chic code [Breil et al., Comput. Fluids 46, 161–167 (2011).] in 2D-axisymmetric geometries suggest that a Fe sample can be brought to an electron temperature of ∼160 eV and electron number density of ∼1.35 × 1023 cm−3. These parameters are reached during a 500 ps window with temporal variations of the order of 10 eV and 1022 cm−3, respectively. This allows for potential time-integrated spectral measurements. During that time, the sample is almost at local thermal equilibrium and 2D spatial gradients in the sample are less than 5% in a 360 μm diameter cylindrical volume, including the potential effects of Hot Electrons (HE) and typical uncertainties related to target fabrication and laser performances. The effects of HEs are assessed using an inline model in Chic. The HEs are found to deposit most of their energy in the cold and dense ablator between the two fronts, leading to a small efficiency loss on the DAF parameters. The calculations also suggest that negligible amounts of unabsorbed HEs are present in the probed volume, thus not affecting the atomic properties of the sample. Potential extensions of the current design to higher sample temperatures within the OMEGA capabilities are briefly discussed.
Invited Article: Visualizing protein synthesis in mice with in vivo labeling of deuterated amino acids using vibrational imaging
Authors: Shi Lingyan , Shen Yihui , Min Wei
Published: July 2018

Proteins are one of the major components of biological systems, and understanding their metabolism is critical to study various biochemical processes in living systems. Despite extensive efforts to study protein metabolism such as autoradiography, mass spectrometry, and fluorescence microscopy, visualizing the spatial distribution of overall protein metabolism in mammals at subcellular resolution is still challenging. A recent study from our group reported imaging newly synthesized proteins in cultured mammalian cells, tissues, or even in mice using stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy coupled with metabolic labeling of deuterated amino acids (dAA). However, our previous method of dAA administration via drinking water, albeit convenient, is insufficient for in vivo studies. This is due to poor labeling efficiency and limited access to many important organs such as the brain, pancreas, or tumor. In this study, we have significantly improved and optimized the in vivo administration method by intra-carotid arterial injection of dAA in mice and obtained imaging contrast of protein metabolic activity in many more organs and tissues, such as cerebral and cerebellar cortex and hippocampal regions in the mouse brain. We also imaged newly formed proteins in the choroid plexus and pancreas at different time points, illustrating the metabolic dynamics of proteins in these important secretory organs. In addition, we visualized the metabolic heterogeneity of protein synthesis in colon tumor xenografts, which can be used to distinguish tumor and normal tissues. In summary, this combination of a new dAA administration technique and SRS imaging platform demonstrates an effective tool for the in vivo study of complex protein metabolism in mammals, in both physiological and pathological states.
Temperature dependence of interlayer exchange coupling and Gilbert damping in synthetic antiferromagnetic trilayers investigated using broadband ferromagnetic resonance
Authors: Wang Wenqiang , Li Pingping , Cao Cuimei , Liu Fufu , Tang Rujun , Chai Guozhi , Jiang Changjun
Published: July 2018

This work reports a comprehensive investigation of the temperature dependence of the interlayer exchange coupling in the antiferromagnetic coupling of a FeNi/Ru/FeNi trilayer sample using broadband ferromagnetic resonance. The temperature dependence of the interlayer exchange coupling fields is obtained by applying Kittel fitting to the systematic frequency dependence of the resonance field between the acoustic and optic modes and by assuming equal effective magnetization of the two resonance modes. It is found that the value of the exchange coupling field increases with decreasing temperature, showing excellent agreement with the existing theories regarding the spacer and interface and the thermal excitations of the spin wave contributions to the temperature dependence. Additionally, the temperature dependence of the Gilbert damping coefficient was investigated for the acoustic and optic modes, where the optic mode damping coefficient was markedly different from and greater than of the acoustic mode. These results provide important information that will be helpful in the understanding of antiferromagnetic resonance.
Inhomogeneous torsional creep problems in anisotropic Orlicz Sobolev spaces
Authors: Mihăilescu Mihai , Pérez-Llanos Mayte
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we study the asymptotic behavior of the sequence of solutions for a family of torsional creep-type problems, involving inhomogeneous and anisotropic differential operators, on a bounded domain, subject to the homogenous Dirichlet boundary condition. We find out that the sequence of solutions converges uniformly on the domain to a certain distance function defined in accordance with the anisotropy of the problem. In addition, we identify the limit problem via viscosity solution theory.
Between verb and noun
Authors: Schwarz Anne
Published: July 2018

This article describes nonverbal predication in Ecuadorian Secoya, an underdescribed West Tukanoan language. The repertoire includes a particle copula with restricted verbal features, a locative-existential copula verb which fulfills an auxiliary function with verbal and nonverbal predicates, and two derived nominals with special possessive semantics. The latter occur in insubordinate copula constructions or are supported by copula verbs in auxiliary function. Other copula constructions draw on subordination patterns with dependent verbs and nominalizations as well.
Genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screen identifies druggable dependencies in TP53 wild-type Ewing sarcoma
Authors: Stolte Björn , Iniguez Amanda Balboni , Dharia Neekesh V. , Robichaud Amanda L. , Conway Amy Saur , Morgan Ann M. , Alexe Gabriela , Schauer Nathan J. , Liu Xiaoxi , Bird Gregory H. , Tsherniak Aviad , Vazquez Francisca , Buhrlage Sara J. , Walensky Loren D. , Stegmaier Kimberly
Published: July 2018

Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric cancer driven by EWS-ETS transcription factor fusion oncoproteins in an otherwise stable genomic background. The majority of tumors express wild-type TP53, and thus, therapies targeting the p53 pathway would benefit most patients. To discover targets specific for TP53 wild-type Ewing sarcoma, we used a genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening approach and identified and validated MDM2, MDM4, USP7, and PPM1D as druggable dependencies. The stapled peptide inhibitor of MDM2 and MDM4, ATSP-7041, showed anti-tumor efficacy in vitro and in multiple mouse models. The USP7 inhibitor, P5091, and the Wip1/PPM1D inhibitor, GSK2830371, decreased the viability of Ewing sarcoma cells. The combination of ATSP-7041 with P5091, GSK2830371, and chemotherapeutic agents showed synergistic action on the p53 pathway. The effects of the inhibitors, including the specific USP7 inhibitor XL-188, were rescued by concurrent TP53 knockout, highlighting the essentiality of intact p53 for the observed cytotoxic activities.
On rational Eisenstein primes and the rational cuspidal groups of modular Jacobian varieties
Authors: Yoo Hwajong
Published: July 2018

Let

N
N

be a non-squarefree positive integer and let

ℓ
\ell

be an odd prime such that

ℓ
2

\ell ^2

does not divide

N
N

. Consider the Hecke ring

T

(
N
)

\mathbb {T}(N)

of weight

2
2

for

Γ
0

(
N
)

\Gamma _0(N)

and its rational Eisenstein primes of

T

(
N
)

\mathbb {T}(N)

containing

ℓ
\ell

. If

m

\mathfrak {m}

is such a rational Eisenstein prime, then we prove that

m

\mathfrak {m}

is of the form

(
ℓ
,
 

I

M
,
N

D

)

(\ell , ~\mathcal {I}^D_{M, N})

, where we also define the ideal

I

M
,
N

D

\mathcal {I}^D_{M, N}

of

T

(
N
)

\mathbb {T}(N)

. Furthermore, we prove that

C

(
N
)
[

m

]
≠
0

\mathcal {C}(N)[\mathfrak {m}] \neq 0

, where

C

(
N
)

\mathcal {C}(N)

is the rational cuspidal group of

J
0

(
N
)

J_0(N)

. To do this, we compute the precise order of the cuspidal divisor

C

M
,
N

D

\mathcal {C}^D_{M, N}

and the index of

I

M
,
N

D

\mathcal {I}^D_{M, N}

in

T

(
N
)
⊗

Z

ℓ

\mathbb {T}(N)\otimes \mathbb {Z}_\ell

.
The flux distribution of individual blazars as a key to understand the dynamics of particle acceleration
Authors: Sinha Atreyee , Khatoon Rukaiya , Misra Ranjeev , Sahayanathan Sunder , Mandal Soma , Gogoi Rupjyoti , Bhatt Nilay
Published: July 2018

The observed lognormal flux distributions in the high-energy emission from blazars have been interpreted as being due to variability stemming from non-linear multiplicative processes generated dynamically from the accretion disc. On the other hand, rapid minute scale variations in the flux point to a compact emitting region inside the jet, probably disconnected from the disc. In this work, we show that linear Gaussian variations of the intrinsic particle acceleration or escape time-scales can produce distinct non-Gaussian flux distributions, including lognormal ones. Moreover, the spectral index distributions can provide confirming evidence for the origin of the variability. Thus, modelling of the flux and index distributions can lead to quantitative identification of the micro-physical origin of the variability in these sources. As an example, we model the X-ray flux and index distribution of Mkn 421 obtained from ∼9 yr of MAXI observations and show that the variability in the X-ray emission is driven by Gaussian fluctuations of the particle acceleration process rather than that of the escape rate.
Home Price Expectations and Behaviour: Evidence from a Randomized Information Experiment
Authors: Armona Luis , Fuster Andreas , Zafar Basit
Published: July 2018

Home price expectations are believed to play an important role in housing dynamics, yet we have limited understanding of how they are formed and how they affect behaviour. Using a unique “information experiment” embedded in an online survey, this article investigates how consumers’ home price expectations respond to past home price growth, and how they impact investment decisions. After eliciting respondents’ priors about past and future local home price changes, we present a random subset of them with factual information about past (one- or five-year) changes, and then re-elicit expectations. This unique “panel” data allows us to identify causal effects of the information, and provides insights on the expectation formation process. We find that, on average, year-ahead home price expectations are revised in a way consistent with short-term momentum in home price growth, though respondents tend to underpredict the strength of momentum. Revisions of longer-term expectations show that respondents do not expect the empirically-occurring mean reversion in home price growth. These patterns are in line with recent behavioural models of housing cycles. Finally, we show that home price expectations causally affect investment decisions in a portfolio choice experiment embedded in the survey.
The effects of group size and subtherapeutic antibiotic alternatives on growth performance and morbidity of nursery pigs: a model for feed additive evaluation1
Authors: Olsen Kristin M , Gabler Nicholas K , Rademacher Chris J , Schwartz Kent J , Schweer Wesley P , Gourley Gene G , Patience John F
Published: July 2018

The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effects of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP), two group sizes, and their interaction on nursery pig performance to serve as a model for future AGP alternative studies. A 41-d experiment was conducted in a commercial wean-to-finish barn; 1,300 piglets weaned at 21 d of age (weaned 2 or 4 d prior to experiment; 6.14 ± 0.18 kg BW; PIC 1050 sows and multiple sire lines) were blocked by sire, sex, and weaning date, then assigned to eight treatments: four dietary treatments each evaluated across two group sizes. The four dietary treatments were: negative control (NC), positive control (PC; NC + in-feed antibiotics), zinc oxide plus a dietary acidifier (blend of fumaric, citric, lactic, and phosphoric acid) (ZA; NC + ZnO + acid), and a Bacillus-based direct-fed-microbial (DFM) plus resistant potato starch (RS) (DR; NC + DFM + RS). The two group sizes were 31 or 11 pigs/pen; floor space was modified so area/pig was equal between the group sizes (0.42 m2/pig). There were 7 pens/diet with 11 pigs/pen and 8 pens/diet with 31 pigs/pen. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with pen as the experimental unit. Diagnostic assessment of oral fluids, serum, and tissue samples was used to characterize health status. Pigs experienced natural challenges of acute diarrhea and septicemia in week 1 and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in weeks 4–6. There was a significant interaction between diet and group size for ADG (P = 0.012). PC increased ADG in large and small groups (P < 0.05) and ZA increased ADG only in large groups (P < 0.05). Small groups had improved ADG compared to large groups when fed NC or DR diets (P < 0.05). Similarly, PC increased ADFI (P < 0.05). Compared to NC, ZA improved ADFI in large groups only (P < 0.05; diet × group size: P = 0.015). Pigs fed PC had greater G:F than NC (P < 0.05), and small groups had greater G:F than large groups (P < 0.05). There was no effect of ZA or DR on G:F. Pigs fed PC required fewer individual medical treatments than NC and pigs fed ZA were intermediate (P = 0.024). More pigs were removed from large than small groups (P = 0.049), and there was no effect of diet on removals (P > 0.10). In conclusion, careful study design, protocol implementation, sample collection, and recording of important information allowed us to characterize the health status of this group of pigs and determine treatment effects on growth performance and morbidity.
Readmission Rates After Same-Day Discharge Compared With Postoperative Day 1 Discharge After Benign Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Authors: Sheyn David , El-Nashar Sherif , Billow Megan , Mahajan Sangeeta , Duarte Mary , Pollard Robert
Published: July 2018

(Abstracted from J Minim Invasive Gynecol 2018;25(3):484–490)

Minimally invasive approaches to hysterectomy are associated with a number of benefits compared with abdominal hysterectomy. These include decreased infectious morbidity, a shorter recovery time, and reductions in hospital stays.
Caffeine Accelerates Emergence from Isoflurane Anesthesia in Humans
Authors: Fong Robert , Wang Lingzhi , Zacny James P. , Khokhar Suhail , Apfelbaum Jeffrey L. , Fox Aaron P. , Xie Zheng
Published: July 2018

Editor’s Perspective

What We Already Know about This Topic

What This Article Tells Us That Is New

Background

There are currently no drugs clinically available to reverse general anesthesia. We previously reported that caffeine is able to accelerate emergence from anesthesia in rodents. This study was carried out to test the hypothesis that caffeine accelerates emergence from anesthesia in humans.

Methods

We conducted a single-center, randomized, double-blind crossover study with eight healthy males. Each subject was anesthetized twice with 1.2% isoflurane for 1 h. During the final 10 min of each session, participants received an IV infusion of either caffeine citrate (15 mg/kg, equivalent to 7.5 mg/kg of caffeine base) or saline placebo. The primary outcome was the average difference in time to emergence after isoflurane discontinuation between caffeine and saline sessions. Secondary outcomes included the end-tidal isoflurane concentration at emergence, vital signs, and Bispectral Index values measured throughout anesthesia and emergence. Additional endpoints related to data gathered from postanesthesia psychomotor testing.

Results

All randomized participants were included in the analysis. The mean time to emergence with saline was 16.5 ± 3.9 (SD) min compared to 9.6 ± 5.1 (SD) min with caffeine (P = 0.002), a difference of 6.9 min (99% CI, 1.8 to 12), a 42% reduction. Participants emerged at a higher expired isoflurane concentration, manifested more rapid return to baseline Bispectral Index values, and were able to participate in psychomotor testing sooner when receiving caffeine. There were no statistically significant differences in vital signs with caffeine administration and caffeine-related adverse events.

Conclusions

Intravenous caffeine is able to accelerate emergence from isoflurane anesthesia in healthy males without any apparent adverse effects.
A Prospective Study on the Incidence and Outcomes of Neonatal Thrombocytopenia at a Tertiary Care Facility in Central Saudi Arabia
Authors: Eltawel Mohamed , AlHarbi Talal , AlJamaan Khaled , Alsaif Saif , Ali Yosra , Salam Mahmoud
Published: July 2018

Background:

The incidence of neonatal thrombocytopenia is low, yet highly dependent on the populations studied.

Purpose:

To assess the incidence of neonatal thrombocytopenia and identify factors associated with its outcomes, namely time to disease onset, recovery duration, and platelet count.

Methods:

A prospective observational study was conducted between May and October 2013 at a large tertiary care facility in Saudi Arabia. Neonates with a platelet count of fewer than 150,000/μL of blood were followed up until their recovery or death.

Results:

The period incidence of neonatal thrombocytopenia was 84/4379 (1.9%). The mortality rate associated with the condition was 68/100,000 births. The male-female ratio of neonates with thrombocytopenia was 2.4:1. The mean (standard deviation) time to disease onset was 1.83 (1.29) days, whereas that of recovery duration was 15.35 (18.46) days. The mean (standard deviation) platelet count at onset was 109,543 (32,826)/μL of blood, whereas that of the increase in platelet count from onset to recovery was 121,876 (78,218)/μL of blood. Treatment comprised monitoring/spontaneous recovery (n = 52, 64.2%) or platelet transfusion (n = 9, 11.1%), immunoglobulins (n = 8, 9.9%), or a combination of both (n = 12, 14.8%). Neonates with a higher gestational age (β = 8061,t= 2.456) and late disease onset (β = 26,178,t= 3.969) were more likely to have a larger increase in platelet count from onset to recovery than those with a lower gestational age (adjustedP= .017) and earlier disease onset (adjustedP< .001).

Implications:

The high incidence of neonatal thrombocytopenia in this Middle Eastern setting indicates that it may be dependent on the population studied. Special attention should be focused on neonates of lower gestational ages and with an early disease onset, because their platelet count recovery may be slower than that of the countergroup.
The association between organizational cultural competence and teamwork climate in a network of primary care practices
Authors: Kumra Tina , Hsu Yea-Jen , Cheng Tina L. , Marsteller Jill A. , McGuire Maura , Cooper Lisa A.
Published: July 2018

Background:

A health system's commitment to delivering culturally competent care is essential in creating a culture of respect for patients, clinicians, and administrative staff. As the diversity of the health care workforce grows, gaining an understanding of the perspectives among different health care personnel and the value that they place on organizational cultural competence is a first step in developing more effective team environments.

Purpose:

The aim of the study was to determine whether an association exists between perceptions of organizational cultural competence and teamwork climate among employees in a health system.

Methodology/Approach:

One thousand eighty employees in a primary care network consisting of 49 ambulatory practices were surveyed on their perceptions of senior management's efforts in organizational cultural competence and teamwork climate in their own work setting using 5-point Likert scales. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between organizational cultural competence and teamwork climate.

Results:

The overall organizational response rate for the survey was 84%. Higher perception of organizational cultural competence was associated with better teamwork climate (coef. = 0.4, p <0.001) after adjusting for gender, age, years in specialty, race, and position type. The association was stronger in magnitude for support staff compared to administrators and clinicians and stronger for younger compared to older age groups.

Conclusions:

Higher employee perceptions of organizational cultural competence are associated with better self-reported teamwork climate, and this relationship is magnified for support staff and younger employees.

Practice Implications:

Senior leaders of health systems should consider investment in cultural competence as a contributor toward team effectiveness. Specifically, organizations may help support cultural competence by committing resources to the following: developing a comprehensive plan that addresses patients' cultural needs, recruiting and retaining a diverse staff and leadership, collaborating with the community, recognizing and rewarding care that meets patients' cultural needs, and providing adequate diversity training.
Total Ambient Dose Equivalent Buildup Factors for Portland Concrete
Authors: Duckic Paulina , Hayes Robert Bruce
Published: July 2018

In this work, total ambient dose equivalent buildup factors for Portland concrete slabs are calculated using Monte Carlo n-particle software MCNP6™. Buildup factor calculations could approach intractable solutions in general as they depend on a large number of variables. These include geometry, source energy, and the composition of the shield (which itself can be heterogeneous). In this work, 252Cf and americium-beryllium sources are considered, as well as monoenergetic incident neutrons in the energy range from 0.025 eV to 14 MeV at multiple incident angles. The shielding material of interest was taken to be standard Portland concrete. The transmitted neutron and gamma-ray ambient dose rate was calculated first and then used for total buildup factor calculations. Perhaps more telling than the calculated theoretical buildup factor, the credible dispersion in expected resultant buildup factors was also calculated by conducting a very rudimentary sensitivity analysis, varying the water content in the first case and then varying the amount of aggregate. An additional aim of this work is to provide a model based on the machine-learning technique called the support vector regression method in the calculation of concrete buildup factors.
Compliance With Radiation Protection Practices Among Radiologists
Authors: Abdelrahman Mostafa A. , Abu Alfwares Ahmad , Alewaidat Haytham , Alhasan Mustafa , Rawashdeh Mohammad A. , Al Mousa Dana S.
Published: July 2018

Background: Radiologists are at higher risk of adverse health effects due to their occupational radiation exposure; therefore, applying protection techniques is imperative. Studies on radiologists’ compliance in this regard are scarce. We aimed to assess compliance with radiation safety practices among radiologists.

Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to radiologists in tertiary hospitals. The questionnaire was designed to assess compliance in three domains: using personal protective devices, using exposure-reduction techniques during fluoroscopic exposures, and using personal dose-monitoring devices. Descriptive analysis of the compliance was performed.

Results: Sixty-two radiologists were included in the analysis. Use of leaded aprons and thyroid shields was commonplace, whereas only 3.2% ever use leaded eyeglasses. About half of the radiologists always considered reducing the time of exposure and avoided exposure by the primary beam, and the other half did that sometimes. Most of the radiologists (66.1%) always complied with reducing the number of unnecessary exposures, and the rest only complied sometimes. Most of the radiologists (93.5%) always used single personal dose-monitoring devices, most commonly at the neck level over the collar. There was no difference in compliance between different sexes, position descriptions, hospital types, hospital sizes, or years of experience.

Conclusion: Future compliance improvement strategies for radiologists should focus on use of thyroid shields and leaded eyeglasses and use of exposure-reduction techniques during fluoroscopic operations.
Pupil Size in Outdoor Environments
Authors: Harley Stephanie K. , Sliney David H.
Published: July 2018

When addressing the risk of laser-induced retinal injury in daylight, an individual’s pupil size (diameter) is of great importance since the retinal illumination varies as the square of the pupil size. Pupil size was measured under daylight conditions for 87 subjects to fill the data gap in over a century of laboratory pupillometry studies. Photography with a fixed chin/head rest and digital camera platform was employed to measure pupil diameter of subjects viewing a full-field neutral screen. The digital images of the pupils of 87 subjects were measured using computer software. Screen luminance values ranged between 790 cd m−2 to 4,300 cd m−2. The average pupil size for this study was 2.39 mm for an average luminance of 1,473 cd m−2. Pupil size measurements ranged from 1.44 mm to 3.03 mm. The data were stratified over luminance intervals, sex, eye color, and age.
Estimating Thyroid Doses From Modified Barium Swallow Studies
Authors: Bonilha Heather Shaw , Wilmskoetter Janina , Tipnis Sameer V. , Martin-Harris Bonnie , Huda Walter
Published: July 2018

This study sought to obtain factors to convert entrance air kerma into thyroid doses for patients undergoing modified barium swallow studies. A commercial software package (PCXMC 2.0.1) was used to calculate patient thyroid doses from modified barium swallow studies, which were divided by the entrance air kerma to yield f

thyroid
ratios. Exposure in the lateral and posterior-anterior projections were considered where the thyroid was directly irradiated. Calculations were obtained for adult patients as well as children ranging from birth to 10 y old. The average value of f

thyroid
in a normal-sized adult was 0.63 ± 0.11 in the lateral projection and 0.18 ± 0.06 for an upper gastrointestinal posterior-anterior projection. Increasing the beam quality from the lowest (60 kV + 3 mm aluminum) to the highest (110 kV + 3 mm aluminum + 0.2 mm copper) values investigated nearly doubled the value of f

thyroid
from 0.42 to 0.79 in the lateral projection and quadrupled the value from 0.07 to 0.29 in the upper gastrointestinal posterior-anterior projection. Values of f

thyroid
decreased with increasing body mass index. Average values of f

thyroid
in 10 y olds were similar to those of adults but always increased as the age of the exposed child was reduced. The average f

thyroid
for newborns was 0.84, nearly one-third higher than the corresponding ratio for normal-sized adults.
A New Feasible Syncope Risk Score Appropriate for Emergency Department: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Bozorgi Ali , Hosseini Kaveh , Jalali Arash , Tajdini Masih
Published: July 2018

Background:

We aimed to compare current syncope risk stratification scores and propose a new more feasible and easy-to-use one.

Methods:

In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled all patients (≥18 years) with chief complaint of syncope if they were not eligible for admission in terms of high-risk features. San Francisco Syncope Rule, Osservatorio Epidemiologico sulla Sincope nel Lazio, and risk stratification of syncope in the emergency department scores were compared in our population.

Results:

Overall, 356 patients (mean age: 44.5 years, 46.3% male) were followed for 3 months. Serious adverse events occurred in 26 (7.3%) patients including 4 deaths. Odds ratio for adverse events was 6.8 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.8–16.1; P < 0.001; area under the curve (AUC): 66.3], 7.7 (95% CI, 3.2–18; P < 0.001; AUC: 72.8), and 18 (95% CI, 7.1–45.4; P < 0.001; AUC: 70.8) when considering San Francisco Syncope Rule, Osservatorio Epidemiologico sulla Sincope nel Lazio, and risk stratification of syncope in the emergency department scores as the predicting tools, respectively. We proposed a relatively more feasible risk score (presenting symptoms, history of cardiovascular diseases, ejection fraction <50%, and predefined electrocardiography abnormalities). According to this syncope score, odds ratio for occurring adverse events was 20.9 (95% CI, 8.4–52; P < 0.001; AUC: 79.8).

Conclusions:

The 3 syncope risk scores could somehow predict 3-month adverse events. We found more feasible indicators that could predict serious events better. It suits well for emergency department.