bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a motion‐robust 2D chemical shift‐encoded technique for R2* and field map quantification in ferumoxytol‐enhanced MRI of the placenta in pregnant rhesus macaques
Authors: Zhu Ante , Reeder Scott B. , Johnson Kevin M. , Nguyen Sydney M. , Golos Thaddeus G. , Shimakawa Ann , Muehler Matthias R. , Francois Christopher J. , Bird Ian M. , Fain Sean B. , Shah Dinesh M. , Wieben Oliver , Hernando Diego
Published: July 2019

Background

3D chemical shift‐encoded (CSE)‐MRI techniques enable assessment of ferumoxytol concentration but are unreliable in the presence of motion.

Purpose

To evaluate a motion‐robust 2D‐sequential CSE‐MRI for R2* and B0 mapping in ferumoxytol‐enhanced MRI of the placenta.

Study Type

Prospective.

Animal Model

Pregnant rhesus macaques.

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0T/CSE‐MRI.

Assessment

2D‐sequential CSE‐MRI was compared with 3D respiratory‐gated CSE‐MRI in placental imaging of 11 anesthetized animals at multiple timepoints before and after ferumoxytol administration, and in ferumoxytol phantoms (0 μg/mL–440 μg/mL). Motion artifacts of CSE‐MRI in 10 pregnant women without ferumoxytol administration were assessed retrospectively by three blinded readers (4‐point Likert scale). The repeatability of CSE‐MRI in seven pregnant women was also prospectively studied.

Statistical Tests

Placental R2* and boundary B0 field measurements (ΔB0) were compared between 2D‐sequential and 3D respiratory‐gated CSE‐MRI using linear regression and Bland–Altman analysis.

Results

In phantoms, a slope of 0.94 (r2 = 0.99, concordance correlation coefficient ρ = 0.99), and bias of –4.8 s‐1 (limit of agreement [LOA], –41.4 s‐1, +31.8 s‐1) in R2*, and a slope of 1.07 (r2 = 1.00, ρ = 0.99) and bias of 11.4 Hz (LOA –12.0 Hz, +34.8 Hz) in ΔB0 were obtained in 2D CSE‐MRI compared with 3D CSE‐MRI for reference R2* ≤390 s‐1. In animals, a slope of 0.92 (r2 = 0.97, ρ = 0.98) and bias of –2.2 s‐1 (LOA –55.6 s‐1, +51.3 s‐1) in R2*, and a slope of 1.05 (r2 = 0.95, ρ = 0.97) and bias of 0.4 Hz (LOA –9.0 Hz, +9.7 Hz) in ΔB0 were obtained. In humans, motion‐impaired R2* maps in 3D CSE‐MRI (Reader 1: 1.8 ± 0.6, Reader 2: 1.3 ± 0.7, Reader 3: 1.9 ± 0.6), while 2D CSE‐MRI was motion‐free (Reader 1: 2.9 ± 0.3, Reader 2: 3.0 ± 0, Reader 3: 3.0 ± 0). A mean difference of 0.66 s‐1 and coefficient of repeatability of 9.48 s‐1 for placental R2* were observed in the repeated 2D CSE‐MRI.

Data Conclusion

2D‐sequential CSE‐MRI provides accurate R2* and B0 measurements in ferumoxytol‐enhanced placental MRI of animals in the presence of respiratory motion, and motion‐robustness in human placental imaging.

Level of Evidence: 1

Technical Efficacy: Stage 1

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:580–592.
Rapid quantitative susceptibility mapping of intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: De Ashmita , Sun Hongfu , Emery Derek J. , Butcher Kenneth S. , Wilman Alan H.
Published: July 2019

Background

Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) offers a means to track iron evolution in hemorrhage. However, standard QSM sequences have long acquisition times and are prone to motion artifact in hemorrhagic patients.

Purpose

To minimize motion artifact and acquisition time by performing rapid QSM in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) using single‐shot echo planar imaging (EPI).

Study Type

Prospective method evaluation.

Population/Subjects

Forty‐five hemorrhages were analyzed from 35 MRI exams obtained between February 2016 and March 2019 from 27 patients (14 male / 13 female, age: 71 ± 12 years) with confirmed primary ICH.

Field Strength/Sequence

3T; susceptibility‐weighted imaging (SWI) with 4.54‐minute acquisition and 2D single‐shot gradient EPI with 0.45‐minute acquisition.

Assessment

Susceptibility maps were constructed from both methods. Measurement of ICH area and mean magnetic susceptibility were made manually by three independent observers. Motion artifacts were quantified using the magnitude signal ratio of artifact‐to‐brain tissue to classify into three categories: mild or no artifact, moderate artifact, or severe artifact. The cutoff for each category was determined by four observers.

Statistical Tests

Pearson's correlation coefficient and paired t‐test using α = 0.05 were used to compare results. Inter‐ and intraclass correlation was used to assess observer variability.

Results

Using 45 hemorrhages, the ICH regions measured on susceptibility maps obtained from EPI and SWI sequences had high correlation coefficients for area (R2 ≥ 0.97) and mean magnetic susceptibility (R2 ≥ 0.93) for all observers. The artifact‐to‐tissue ratio was significantly higher (P < 0.01) for SWI vs. EPI, and the standard deviation for the SWI method (SD = 0.05) was much larger than EPI (SD = 0.01). All observers' measurements showed high agreement.

Data Conclusion

Single‐shot EPI‐QSM enabled rapid measurement of ICH area and mean magnetic susceptibility, with reduced motion as compared with more standard SWI. EPI‐QSM requires minimal additional acquisition time and could be incorporated into iron tracking studies in ICH.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy Stage: 1

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:712–718.
Cosmopolitan A1 lineage of dengue virus serotype 2 is circulating in Pakistan: A study from 2017 dengue viral outbreak
Authors: Ali Amjad , Fatima Zareen , Wahid Braira , Rafique Shazia , Idrees Muhammad
Published: July 2019

Dengue viral infection has become a challenge in tropical and subtropical countries where dengue virus is endemic. Its epidemics are occurring at higher rates amid its circulation throughout the year. Since the first documented outbreak in Pakistan in 1994, this region has reported many sporadic cases and epidemics. There is availability of small scale demographic and epidemiological studies on dengue viral infection in Pakistan. The year 2017 witnessed a huge dengue outbreak in Peshawar city of Pakistan with 69 deaths and 24 807 laboratory‐confirmed cases. We suspect that the circulation of a different lineage or genotype could be responsible for the enhanced number of infected patients in Pakistan's 2017 outbreak since previous studies have already described this phenomenon in other countries. For this, we collected 1447 suspected blood samples and their epidemiological data. After serotyping through polymerase chain reaction nine samples of Dengue virus2 (DENV2) were randomly selected and were subjected to Sanger's sequencing for genotyping analysis. The mean distance, genetic diversity, and phylogenetic analysis were carried out using K2 model. The phylogenetic analysis split Pakistani isolates into two lineages, the sequences from 2017 outbreak in Peshawar grouped within A1 lineage of cosmopolitan genotype (IV) of DENV2. The difference in distance, genetic diversity, and amino acids composition strongly back the results that the new lineage is circulating in the region. This is significant as Pakistan is struggling to control dengue epidemics which have caused much loss in both monetary and health sectors.
Intra‐abdominal chylovenous bypass treats retroperitoneal lymphangiomatosis
Authors: Chen Courtney , Chu Sung‐Yu , Lin Chieh , Liu Ken‐Hao , Cheng Ming‐Huei
Published: July 2019

Background

Retroperitoneal lymphangiomatosis (RL) is a rare form of primary lymphedema featuring aberrant retroperitoneal lymphatic proliferation. It causes recurrent cellulitis, repeated interventions, and poor life quality. This study aimed to investigate proper diagnositc criteria and surgical outcomes for RL with extremity lymphedema.

Methods

Between 2012 and 2018, 44 primary lower‐extremity lymphedema cases received lymphoscintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, and single‐photon electron computed tomography to detect RL. RL patients underwent vascularized lymph node transfers (VLNT) for extremity lymphedema and intra‐abdominal side‐to‐end chylovenous bypasses (CVB) for chylous ascites. Complications, CVB patency, and quality of life were evaluated postoperatively.

Results

Six RL patients (mean age of 30.3 years) had chylous ascites with five had lower‐extremity lymphedema. All CVBs remained patent, though one required re‐anastomosis, giving a 100% patency rate. Four unilateral and one bilateral extremity lymphedema underwent six VLNTs with 100% flap survival. Patients reported improved quality of life (P = 0.023), decreased cellulitis incidence (P = 0.041), and improved mean lymphedema circumference (P = 0.043). All patients resumed a normal diet and activity.

Conclusions

Evaluating primary lower‐extremity lymphedema patients with MRI and SPECT could reveal a 13.6% prevalence of RL and guide treatment of refractory extremity lymphedema. Intra‐abdominal CVB with VLNT effectively treated RL with chylous ascites and extremity lymphedema.
Cross‐modality (CT‐MRI) prior augmented deep learning for robust lung tumor segmentation from small MR datasets
Authors: Jiang Jue , Hu Yu‐Chi , Tyagi Neelam , Zhang Pengpeng , Rimner Andreas , Deasy Joseph O. , Veeraraghavan Harini
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Accurate tumor segmentation is a requirement for magnetic resonance (MR)‐based radiotherapy. Lack of large expert annotated MR datasets makes training deep learning models difficult. Therefore, a cross‐modality (MR‐CT) deep learning segmentation approach that augments training data using pseudo MR images produced by transforming expert‐segmented CT images was developed.

Methods

Eighty‐one T2‐weighted MRI scans from 28 patients with non‐small cell lung cancers (nine with pretreatment and weekly MRI and the remainder with pre‐treatment MRI scans) were analyzed. Cross‐modality model encoding the transformation of CT to pseudo MR images resembling T2w MRI was learned as a generative adversarial deep learning network. This model was used to translate 377 expert segmented non‐small cell lung cancer CT scans from the Cancer Imaging Archive into pseudo MRI that served as additional training set. This method was benchmarked against shallow learning using random forest, standard data augmentation, and three state‐of‐the art adversarial learning‐based cross‐modality data (pseudo MR) augmentation methods. Segmentation accuracy was computed using Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), Hausdorff distance metrics, and volume ratio.

Results

The proposed approach produced the lowest statistical variability in the intensity distribution between pseudo and T2w MR images measured as Kullback–Leibler divergence of 0.069. This method produced the highest segmentation accuracy with a DSC of (0.75 ± 0.12) and the lowest Hausdorff distance of (9.36 mm ± 6.00 mm) on the test dataset using a U‐Net structure. This approach produced highly similar estimations of tumor growth as an expert (P = 0.37).

Conclusions

A novel deep learning MR segmentation was developed that overcomes the limitation of learning robust models from small datasets by leveraging learned cross‐modality information using a model that explicitly incorporates knowledge of tumors in modality translation to augment segmentation training. The results show the feasibility of the approach and the corresponding improvement over the state‐of‐the‐art methods.
DNA methylation regulated by ascorbic acids in yak preimplantation embryo helps to improve blastocyst quality
Authors: Li Qin , Pan Yangyang , He Honghong , Hu Xuequan , Zhao Tian , Jiang Jiaying , Cui Yan , Xu Gengquan , Wang Libin , He Junfeng , Fan Jiangfeng , Yu Sijiu
Published: July 2019

DNA methylation as an important, essential epigenetic modification is critical for the successful development of mammalian embryos. In recent years, the important role of ascorbic acid (AA) as an irreplaceable cofactor for epigenetic regulation has been confirmed. However, the effect of AA on DNA methylation in preimplantation embryo development of plateau yak remains unknown. In this study, we explored whether AA can help regulates DNA methylation in yak preimplantation embryos to improve the blastocyst quality. First, our results indicate that the preimplantation of the yak still follows the classical pattern of DNA demethylation and remethylation, however, remethylation occurs in the blastocyst stage. Second, the unique expression pattern of the ten‐eleven translocation enzyme (TET3) in the cytoplasm plays a key role in the demethylation mechanism. Third, in the blastocyst stage, the pluripotency gene CDX2 promoter region was in a hypomethylated state, and the POU5F1, SOX2, and NANOG promoter regions were in moderate methylation states. In addition, treatment with 50 μg/ml AA mainly improved the expression levels of DNMT1, DNMT3a, and TET3, ensured the establishment, maintenance and transition of 5‐methylcytosine. After AA treatment, the methylation level of the pluripotency genes NANOG promoter regions was significantly reduced, and the mRNA transcript abundance of the pluripotency genes NANOG, POU5F1, and CDX2 was upregulated. In conclusion, our findings suggest that AA could increase blastocyst cell numbers by regulating DNA methylation of yak preimplantation embryos
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β‐Amyloid aggregation and heterogeneous nucleation
Authors: Srivastava Atul K. , Pittman Jay M. , Zerweck Jonathan , Venkata Bharat S. , Moore Patrick C. , Sachleben Joseph R. , Meredith Stephen C.
Published: July 2019

In this article, we consider the role of heterogeneous nucleation in β‐amyloid aggregation. Heterogeneous nucleation is more common and occurs at lower levels of supersaturation than homogeneous nucleation. The nucleation period is also the stage at which most of the polymorphism of amyloids arises, this being one of the defining features of amyloids. We focus on several well‐known heterogeneous nucleators of β‐amyloid, including lipid surfaces, especially those enriched in gangliosides and cholesterol, and divalent metal ions. These two broad classes of nucleators affect β‐amyloid particularly in light of the amphiphilicity of these peptides: the N‐terminal region, which is largely polar and charged, contains the metal binding site, whereas the C‐terminal region is aliphatic and is important in lipid binding. Notably, these two classes of nucleators can interact cooperatively, aggregation begetting greater aggregation.
Impact of In Situ Annealing on the Deep Levels in Ni‐Au/AlN/Si Metal–Insulator–Semiconductor Capacitors
Authors: Wang Chong , Zhao Ming , Li Wei , Simoen Eddy
Published: July 2019

The impact of in situ annealing on the electrical properties of AlN/(111) p‐type silicon metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) capacitors is studied by capacitance–voltage (C–V) and deep‐level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). It is demonstrated that the in‐diffusion of Al leads to an enhanced free hole concentration close to the interface, which becomes more pronounced for the in situ annealed capacitors. This excess doping in the near‐surface region yields a strong capacitance freeze‐out above 200 K. At the same time, a higher density of near mid‐gap hole traps is found in the p‐type Si substrate. The fact that the deep‐level parameters (activation energy ET and hole capture cross section σp) change after annealing indicates that different types of Al‐related complexes or clusters are formed before and after in situ annealing. This is supported by the different trap filling kinetics observed in both cases: while for the as‐deposited samples exponential filling is found, typical for point defects, there is a tendency for logarithmic slow filling for the deep hole traps in the annealed capacitor.
P‐158: Research on the Influence of LCD Dummy Design on around Mura
Authors: Yu Yun , Chen Jing , Zhang Pangling , Wang Zui , Chen Zhongtian , Yang Yifeng , Zhao Guo , Hsieh Chung-Ching , Ray
Published: July 2019

The around Mura is a common defect of TFT_LCD. In this paper, the analysis of around Mura on the black and low gray level shows that the around display unevenness caused by the difference between the Transmittance and color coordinates of the Cell gap anomaly. Due to the poor design and process of the Dummy area, the AA edge glass Bending caused the unevenness of the around Cellgap. Through optimization of design and process, this paper effectively improves the issue; and gives the Dummy area related design optimization suggestions and process choices, which fundamentally solves around mura
Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics and Bandgap Renormalization in Layered PtSe2
Authors: Wang Gaozhong , Wang Kangpeng , McEvoy Niall , Bai Zhengyuan , Cullen Conor P. , Murphy Conor N. , McManus John B. , Magan John J. , Smith Christopher M. , Duesberg Georg S. , Kaminer Ido , Wang Jun , Blau Werner J.
Published: July 2019

Carrier interactions in 2D nanostructures are of central importance not only in condensed‐matter physics but also for a wide range of optoelectronic and photonic applications. Here, new insights into the behavior of photoinduced carriers in layered platinum diselenide (PtSe2) through ultrafast time‐resolved pump–probe and nonlinear optical measurements are presented. The measurements reveal the temporal evolution of carrier relaxation, chemical potential and bandgap renormalization in PtSe2. These results imply that few‐layer PtSe2 has a semiconductor‐like carrier relaxation instead of a metal‐like one. The relaxation follows a triple‐exponential decay process and exhibits thickness‐dependent relaxation times. This occurs along with a band‐filling effect, which can be controlled based on the number of layers and may be applied in saturable absorption for generating ultrafast laser pulses. The findings may provide means to study many‐body physics in 2D materials as well as potentially leading to applications in the field of optoelectronics and ultrafast photonics.
Influence of shear‐axial force interaction on the seismic performance of a piloti building subjected to the 2017 earthquake in Pohang Korea
Authors: Dang‐Vu Hoang , Lee Do H. , Shin Jiuk , Lee Kihak
Published: July 2019

This study aims to investigate the influence of shear‐axial force interaction on the seismic performance of a piloti‐type building subjected to the Pohang earthquake. For this purpose, a four‐story piloti‐type building in Pohang, Korea whose columns were brutally damaged by the 2017 Pohang earthquake, one of this country's strongest earthquakes in modern history, was chosen as the object of the study. Columns of this piloti‐type building were designed with insufficient transverse reinforcement, resulting in an increased potential for shear‐axial failure. The piloti‐type building was simulated using Zeus‐NL, an efficient analysis and simulation platform developed for earthquake engineering applications to perform nonlinear time history analysis. A hysteretic shear model in Zeus‐NL capable of accounting for the variation in column axial force was adopted to capture the effect of the shear‐axial force interaction, caused by a combination of horizontal and vertical ground motions. The shear model was validated by comparing the simulated and experimental results. The seismic performance of the piloti‐type building under the effect of the shear‐axial force interaction was compared with that under the shear effect only. Results have indicated that shear effect and shear‐axial force interaction effect significantly reduce column maximum shear force and increase column drift demand. The influence is more intense considering shear‐axial interaction. The seismic response in terms of hysteretic behavior, energy dissipation, and stiffness degradation is presented and discussed.
Changes in design driving load cases: Operating an upwind turbine with a downwind rotor configuration
Authors: Wanke Gesine , Bergami Leonardo , Larsen Torben J. , Hansen Morten H.
Published: July 2019

This work considers the design driving load cases from a full design load basis analysis on an upwind turbine changed into a downwind configuration. The upwind turbine is a commercial class IIIA 2.1‐MW turbine, manufactured by Suzlon. The downwind turbine shows an increase in the normalized tower clearance by 6%, compared with the upwind concept. Removing the blade prebend increases the normalized minimum tower clearance by 17% in the downwind configuration compared with the upwind configuration. The extreme loads on the longitudinal tower bottom bending moment are seen to generally increase by 17% because of the overhanging gravity moment of the rotor‐nacelle assembly. The extreme blade root bending moments are reduced by 10% flapwise, because of the coning of the rotor in downwind direction. The fatigue loads suffer from the tower shadow, leading to an overall increase of the fatigue loads in the blades with up to 5% in flapwise direction in the downwind configuration. Because of blade deflection and coning direction, the downwind configuration shows a 0.75% lower annual energy production. Removing the prebend increases the annual energy production loss to 1.66%.
Approximation Schemes for Mixed Optimal Stopping and Control Problems with Nonlinear Expectations and Jumps
Authors: Dumitrescu Roxana , Reisinger Christoph , Zhang Yufei
Published: July 2019

We propose a class of numerical schemes for mixed optimal stopping and control of processes with infinite activity jumps and where the objective is evaluated by a nonlinear expectation. Exploiting an approximation by switching systems, piecewise constant policy timestepping reduces the problem to nonlocal semi-linear equations with different control parameters, uncoupled over individual time steps, which we solve by fully implicit monotone approximations to the controlled diffusion and the nonlocal term, and specifically the Lax–Friedrichs scheme for the nonlinearity in the gradient. We establish a comparison principle for the switching system and demonstrate the convergence of the schemes, which subsequently gives a constructive proof for the existence of a solution to the switching system. Numerical experiments are presented for a recursive utility maximization problem to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new schemes.
Long-term Paleolithic diet is associated with lower resistant starch intake, different gut microbiota composition and increased serum TMAO concentrations
Authors: Genoni Angela , Christophersen Claus T. , Lo Johnny , Coghlan Megan , Boyce Mary C. , Bird Anthony R. , Lyons-Wall Philippa , Devine Amanda
Published: July 2019

Background

The Paleolithic diet is promoted worldwide for improved gut health. However, there is little evidence available to support these claims, with existing literature examining anthropometric and cardiometabolic outcomes.

Objective

To determine the association between dietary intake, markers of colonic health, microbiota, and serum trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a gut-derived metabolite associated with cardiovascular disease.

Design

In a cross-sectional design, long-term (n = 44, > 1 year) self-reported followers of a Paleolithic diet (PD) and controls (n = 47) consuming a diet typical of national recommendations were recruited. Diets were assessed via 3-day weighed diet records; 48-h stool for short chain fatty acids using GC/MS, microbial composition via 16S rRNA sequencing of the V4 region using Illumina MiSeq. TMAO was quantified using LC–MS/MS.

Results

Participants were grouped according to PD adherence; namely excluding grains and dairy products. Strict Paleolithic (SP) (n = 22) and Pseudo-Paleolithic (PP) (n = 22) groups were formed. General linear modelling with age, gender, energy intake and body fat percentage as covariates assessed differences between groups. Intake of resistant starch was lower in both Paleolithic groups, compared to controls [2.62, 1.26 vs 4.48 g/day (P < 0.05)]; PERMANOVA analysis showed differences in microbiota composition (P < 0.05), with higher abundance of TMA-producer Hungatella in both Paleolithic groups (P < 0.001). TMAO was higher in SP compared to PP and control (P < 0.01), and inversely associated with whole grain intake (r = − 0.34, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Although the PD is promoted for improved gut health, results indicate long-term adherence is associated with different gut microbiota and increased TMAO. A variety of fiber components, including whole grain sources may be required to maintain gut and cardiovascular health.

Clinical trial registrations

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ANZCTRN12616001703493).
Steam balloon concept for lifting rockets to launch altitude
Authors: Janhunen P. , Toivanen P. , Ruosteenoja K.
Published: July 2019

Launching orbital and suborbital rockets from a high altitude is beneficial because of e.g. nozzle optimisation and reduced drag. Aircraft and gas balloons have been used for the purpose. Here we present a concept where a balloon is filled with pure water vapour on ground so that it rises to the launch altitude. The system resembles a gas balloon because no onboard energy source is carried, and no hard objects fall down. We simulate the ascent behaviour of the balloon. In the baseline simulation, we consider a 10 tonne rocket lifted to an altitude of 18 km.We model the trajectory of the balloon by taking into account steam adiabatic cooling, surface cooling, water condensation and balloon aerodynamic drag. The required steam mass proves to be only 1.4 times the mass of the rocket stage, and the ascent time is around 10 minutes. For small payloads, surface cooling increases the relative amount of steam needed, unless insulation is applied to the balloon skin. The ground-filled steam balloon seems to be an attractive and sustainable method of lifting payloads such as rockets into high altitude.
Numerical study of the rotational direction effect on aerodynamic loading characteristics of shipborne helicopter rotor
Authors: Su D.C. , Shi Y.J. , Xu G.H.
Published: July 2019

Numerical simulations of ship/rotor-coupled flowfield have been performed to investigate the rotational direction effects on a shipborne single-rotor helicopter in different deck landing trajectories (i.e., lateral and longitudinal translation) based on Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver. Both the momentum source model and moving overset mesh model are employed to simulate the effect of the rotor on the ship airwake for different levels of fidelity requirement. The aerodynamic loading characteristics in terms of time-averaged and root-mean-square (RMS) thrust and pitch and roll moments are compared for two helicopter rotors with opposite rotation directions in a starboard 30 degrees wind condition. The time-averaged results show that the mean thrust of a counterclockwise rotor is greater than that of a clockwise rotor, particularly in the lateral translation phase. This suggests that a helicopter with a counterclockwise rotor could provide more collective control margin under this condition. Furthermore, a more significant reduction in pitch moment is experienced by the counterclockwise rotor during the two landing trajectories, and thus the effect of the aircraft being pulled towards the hangar tends to be more severe on the helicopter with the counterclockwise rotor. RMS loading results indicate that the unsteady loading levels on the clockwise rotor are much higher than that of the counterclockwise rotor in all three axes for most of the lateral and longitudinal translation phases. As a result, the pilot is likely to experience a higher workload when operating a helicopter with a clockwise rotor in the case of a deck landing in this wind condition.
The relative importance of CEOS and non-CEOS over firm performance
Authors: Bolinger Alex , Brookman Jeff , Thistle Paul
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine the relative contributions of the CEO and other (non-CEO) top management team members to firm performance. Using data from ExecuComp, we analyze 2,687 CEOs and 11,501 other top management team (TMT) members, by industry, during the period 2004–2017 using variance decomposition methods. We find that other TMT member effects are important but are smaller than CEO effects. We also find that the effect of new TMT members appointed by the CEO on firm performance is larger than the effect of continuing TMT members and that this differential effect on performance increases with CEO tenure.
A Tour of the Virtual Stacks
Authors: Blevins Cameron
Published: July 2019

Rows upon rows of “virtual stacks” now stretch as far as the eye can see. From JSTOR to the Library of Congress to Ancestry.com, unprecedented quantities of historical material are being added to the digital ether. In fact, you are probably reading these words on a screen right now. Search-box interfaces allow historians to instantly query vast quantities of historical material in order to pull out information about individuals, events, institutions, and locations. With just a few strokes of a keyboard, a historian can sift through millions of digitized pages of newspapers, government documents, or books. A process that would have once taken a lifetime of flipping through microfilm or archival folders can be conducted in just a few minutes. As historian Lara Putnam notes, this now “feels as revolutionary as oatmeal.” But, she argues, the “mass digitized turn” has nevertheless had a profound impact on the practice of history in ways that the discipline is only beginning to understand. This is especially true for a field like modern American history, where an abundance of easily scannable English-language sources has generated a wealth of online material.
Characterization and phylogenomics of the complete mitochondrial genome of the polyzoic cestode Gangesia oligonchis (Platyhelminthes: Onchoproteocephalidea)
Authors: Li W.X. , Zhang D. , Fu P.P. , Song R. , Zou H. , Li M. , Wu S.G. , Wang G.T.
Published: July 2019

The order Onchoproteocephalidea (Eucestoda) was recently erected to accommodate the hook-bearing tetraphyllideans and the proteocephalideans, which are characterized by internal proglottization and a tetra-acetabulate scolex. The recognized subfamilies in the Proteocephalidae appeared to be non-monophyletic based on 28S recombinant DNA (rDNA) sequence data. Other molecular markers with higher phylogenetic resolution, such as large mitochondrial DNA fragments and multiple genes, are obviously needed. Thus the mitochondrial genome of Gangesia oligonchis, belonging to the putative earliest diverging group of the Proteocephalidae, was sequenced. The circular mitogenome of G. oligonchis was 13,958 bp in size, and contained the standard 36 genes: 22 transfer RNA genes, two rRNA genes and 12 protein-coding genes, as well as two major non-coding regions. A short NCR and a large NCR (lNCR) region were 216 bp and 419 bp in size, respectively. Highly repetitive regions in the lNCR region were detected with that of 11 repeat units. The mitogenome of G. oligonchis shared 71.1% nucleotide identity with Testudotaenia sp. WL-2016. Phylogenetic analyses of the complete mitochondrial genomes with Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods indicated that G. oligonchis formed a sister clade with Testudotaenia sp. WL-2016 with maximum support. The ordinal topology is (Caryophyllidea, (Diphyllobothriidea, (Bothriocephalidea, (Onchoproteocephalidea, Cyclophyllidea)))). The mitogenomic gene arrangement of G. oligonchis was identical to that of Testudotaenia sp. WL-2016. Both mitogenomic and nuclear sequence data for many more taxa are required to effectively explore the inter-relationships among the Onchoproteocephalidea.
Impairment in the goal-directed corticostriatal learning system as a biomarker for obsessive–compulsive disorder
Authors: Dong Chenjie , Yang Qiong , Liang Jingjing , Seger Carol A. , Han Hongying , Ning Yuping , Chen Qi , Peng ZiWen
Published: July 2019

Background

Compulsive behaviors in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have been related to impairment within the associative cortical-striatal system connecting the caudate and prefrontal cortex that underlies consciously-controlled goal-directed learning and behavior. However, little is known whether this impairment may serve as a biomarker for vulnerability to OCD.

Methods

Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we employed Granger causality analysis (GCA) to measure effective connectivity (EC) in previously validated striatal sub-regions, including the caudate, putamen, and the nucleus accumbens, in 35 OCD patients, 35 unaffected first-degree relatives and 35 matched healthy controls.

Results

Both OCD patients and their first-degree relatives showed greater EC than controls between the left caudate and the orbital frontal cortex (OFC). Both OCD patients and their first-degree relatives showed lower EC than controls between the left caudate and lateral prefrontal cortex. These results are consistent with findings from task-related fMRI studies which found impairment in the goal-directed system in OCD patients.

Conclusions

The same changes in EC were present in both OCD patients and their unaffected first-degree relatives suggest that impairment in the goal-directed learning system may be a biomarker for OCD.
Labor Laid Waste: An Introduction to the Special Issue on Waste Work
Authors: Doherty Jacob , Brown Kate
Published: July 2019

Waste studies brings to labor history a suite of conceptual tools to think about precarious labor, human capital, migration, the material quality of labor in urban and rural infrastructures, and the porosity and interchangeability of workers’ bodies in the toxic environments in which they labor. In this introduction, we explore the conceptual insights that the study of waste offers for the field of labor history, and what, in turn, a focus on labor history affords to social science research on waste. We examine the relationship between surplus populations and surplus materials, the location of waste work at the ambiguous fulcrum of trash and value, and the significance of labor for the understanding of infrastructure.
Do infants with transposition of the great arteries born outside a specialist centre have different outcomes?
Authors: Veal Colin , Hunt Richard , Tume Lyvonne N.
Published: July 2019

Background:

Infants born with undiagnosed transposition of the great arteries continue to be born in district general hospitals despite the improvements made in antenatal scanning. Evidence indicates improved outcomes with early definitive treatment after birth, hence the recommendation of delivery in a tertiary centre. The role of specialist paediatric and neonatal transport teams, to advise, stabilise, and transport the infants to a tertiary centre in a timely manner, is critical for those infants born in a district general hospital. This pilot study aims to compare outcomes between infants born in district general hospitals and those who were born in a tertiary maternity unit in South West England and South Wales.

Methods:

This was a secondary data analysis of data collected from the local Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network and the local transport database. Infants born with a confirmed diagnosis of transposition of the great arteries, that required an arterial switch operation as the definitive procedure between April, 2012 and March 2018 were included.

Results:

Forty-five infants with a confirmed diagnosis of transposition of the great arteries were included. Statistical analysis demonstrated there were no significant differences in the time to balloon atrial septostomy (p = 0.095), time to arterial switch operation (p = 0.461), length of paediatric ICU stay (p = 0.353), and hospital stay (p = 0.095) or mortality between the two groups.

Conclusions:

We found no significant differences in outcomes between infants delivered outside the specialist centre, who were transferred in by a specialist team.
Effect of routine iron–folic acid supplementation among rural pregnant women living in low- and high-groundwater-iron areas in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed Faruk , Khan Moududur Rahman , Chowdhury Ireen Akhtar , Raqib Rubhana , Roy Anjan Kumar , Chowdhury Raﬁqul
Published: July 2019

Objective:

The present study investigated the risks and benefits of routine Fe–folic acid (IFA) supplementation in pregnant women living in low- and high-groundwater-Fe areas in Bangladesh.

Design:

A case-controlled prospective longitudinal study design was used to compare the effect of daily Fe (60 mg) and folic acid (400 μg) supplementation for 3·5 months.

Setting:

A rural community in Bangladesh.

Participants:

Pregnant women living in low-groundwater-Fe areas (n 260) and high-groundwater-Fe areas (n 262).

Results:

Mean Hb and serum ferritin concentrations at baseline were significantly higher in pregnant women in the high-groundwater-Fe areas. After supplementation, the mean change in Hb concentration in the women in the low-groundwater-Fe areas (0·10 mg/dl) was higher than that in the pregnant women in the high-groundwater-Fe areas (–0·08 mg/dl; P = 0·052). No significant changes in the prevalence of anaemia or Fe deficiency (ID) in either group were observed after IFA supplementation; however, the prevalence of Fe-deficiency anaemia (IDA) decreased significantly in the women in the low-groundwater-Fe areas. The risk of anaemia, ID and IDA after supplementation did not differ significantly between the groups. None of the participants had Fe overload. However, a significant proportion of the women in the high- and low-groundwater-Fe areas remained anaemic and Fe-deficient after supplementation.

Conclusion:

IFA supplementation significantly increased the Hb concentration in pregnant women living in the low-groundwater-Fe areas. Routine supplementation with 60 mg Fe and 400 μg folic acid does not pose any significant risk of haemoconcentration or Fe overload. Further research to identify other nutritional and non-nutritional contributors to anaemia is warranted to prevent and treat anaemia.
Homeland Violence and Diaspora Insecurity: An Analysis of Israel and American Jewry
Authors: Feinberg Ayal K.
Published: July 2019

Jews and Jewish institutions have suffered the majority of reported religion-motivated hate crimes in the United States for nearly two decades. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in 2014 the 609 reported anti-Semitic incidents made up 59% of all religious bias hate crimes alone. Rates of reported anti-Semitic hate crimes vary considerably over the course of a year. Yet, little scholarly attention has been given to what factors cause reported anti-Semitic hate crimes to fluctuate so substantially in the United States. This paper hypothesizes that violent Israeli military engagements are critical in explaining weekly surges of reported anti-Semitic hate crimes. Utilizing FBI hate crime data from 2001 to 2014 and fixed effects negative binomial regression models, consistent findings underscore that violent Israeli military engagements significantly increase the likelihood of a state reporting anti-Semitic hate crime. Most dramatically, their occurrence increases the likelihood of reported hate crime intimidating individuals or characterized as violent by nearly 35%. This paper underscores that homeland perpetrated violence can directly impact the security of diaspora communities.
Pn Tomography and Anisotropy Study of the Central United States
Authors: Basu Urbi , Powell Christine
Published: July 2019

Detailed P wave velocity and anisotropy structure of the uppermost mantle below the central United States is presented based on a tomographic inversion of Pn traveltimes for earthquakes in the range 2 to 14°. Dense raypath coverage throughout the northern Mississippi Embayment is obtained using the Northern Embayment Lithosphere Experiment and U.S. Transportable Array data sets. A detailed analysis of the trade‐off between velocity and anisotropy variations demonstrates that both are well resolved over most of the study area. Anomalously fast Pn velocities are identified below the northern Mississippi Embayment, centered on the New Madrid seismic zone. A prominent region of low velocity coincides with the southwestern margin of the Illinois basin. Pn anisotropy displays complex patterns and differs from absolute plate motion directions and SKS splitting directions. A circular pattern of fast anisotropy directions is centered on the New Madrid seismic zone and may be related to the presence of the mafic “rift pillow.”
Six years of ecosystem-atmosphere greenhouse gas fluxes measured in a sub-boreal forest
Authors: Richardson Andrew D. , Hollinger David Y. , Shoemaker Julie K. , Hughes Holly , Savage Kathleen , Davidson Eric A.
Published: July 2019

Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) are the greenhouse gases largely responsible for anthropogenic climate change. Natural plant and microbial metabolic processes play a major role in the global atmospheric budget of each. We have been studying ecosystem-atmosphere trace gas exchange at a sub-boreal forest in the northeastern United States for over two decades. Historically our emphasis was on turbulent fluxes of CO2 and water vapor. In 2012 we embarked on an expanded campaign to also measure CH4 and N2O. Here we present continuous tower-based measurements of the ecosystem-atmosphere exchange of CO2 and CH4, recorded over the period 2012–2018 and reported at a 30-minute time step. Additionally, we describe a five-year (2012–2016) dataset of chamber-based measurements of soil fluxes of CO2, CH4, and N2O (2013–2016 only), conducted each year from May to November. These data can be used for process studies, for biogeochemical and land surface model validation and benchmarking, and for regional-to-global upscaling and budgeting analyses.
EIT monitors valid and robust regional ventilation distribution in pathologic ventilation states in porcine study using differential DualEnergy-CT (ΔDECT)
Authors: Reinartz Sebastian D. , Imhoff Michael , Tolba René , Fischer Felix , Fischer Eike G. , Teschner Eckhard , Koch Sabine , Gärber Yvo , Isfort Peter , Gremse Felix
Published: July 2019

It is crucial to precisely monitor ventilation and correctly diagnose ventilation-related pathological states for averting lung collapse and lung failure in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. Although Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) may deliver this information continuously and non-invasively at bedside, to date there are no studies that systematically compare EIT and Dual Energy CT (DECT) during inspiration and expiration (ΔDECT) regarding varying physiological and ICU-typical pathological conditions such as atelectasis. This study aims to prove the accuracy of EIT through quantitative identification and monitoring of pathological ventilation conditions on a four-quadrant basis using ΔDECT. In a cohort of 13 pigs, this study investigated systematic changes in tidal volume (TV) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) under physiological ventilation conditions. Pathological ventilation conditions were established experimentally by single-lung ventilation and pulmonary saline lavage. Spirometric data were compared to voxel-based entire lung ΔDECT, and EIT intensities were compared to ΔDECT of a 12-cm slab of the lung around the EIT belt, the so called ΔDECTBelt. To validate ΔDECT data with spirometry, a Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.92 was found for 234 ventilation conditions. Comparing EIT intensity with ΔDECT(Belt), the correlation r = 0.84 was found. Normalized cross-correlation function (NCCF) between scaled global impedance (EIT) waveforms and global volume ventilator curves was r = 0.99 ± 0.003. The EIT technique correctly identified the ventilated lung in all cases of single-lung ventilation. In the four-quadrant based evaluation, which assesses the difference between end-expiratory lung volume (ΔEELV) and the corresponding parameter in EIT, i.e. the end-expiratory lung impedance (ΔEELI), the Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.94 was found. The respective Pearson’s correlation coefficients implies good to excellent concurrence between global and regional EIT ventilation data validated by ventilator spirometry and DECT imaging. By providing real-time images of the lung, EIT is a promising, EIT is a promising, clinically robust tool for bedside assessment of regional ventilation distribution and changes of end-expiratory lung volume.
The UKB envirome of depression: from interactions to synergistic effects
Authors: Hullam Gabor , Antal Peter , Petschner Peter , Gonda Xenia , Bagdy Gyorgy , Deakin Bill , Juhasz Gabriella
Published: July 2019

Major depressive disorder is a result of the complex interplay between a large number of environmental and genetic factors but the comprehensive analysis of contributing environmental factors is still an open challenge. The primary aim of this work was to create a Bayesian dependency map of environmental factors of depression, including life stress, social and lifestyle factors, using the UK Biobank data to determine direct dependencies and to characterize mediating or interacting effects of other mental health, metabolic or pain conditions. As a complementary approach, we also investigated the non-linear, synergistic multi-factorial risk of the UKB envirome on depression using deep neural network architectures. Our results showed that a surprisingly small number of core factors mediate the effects of the envirome on lifetime depression: neuroticism, current depressive symptoms, parental depression, body fat, while life stress and household income have weak direct effects. Current depressive symptom showed strong or moderate direct relationships with life stress, pain conditions, falls, age, insomnia, weight change, satisfaction, confiding in someone, exercise, sports and Townsend index. In conclusion, the majority of envirome exerts their effects in a dynamic network via transitive, interactive and synergistic relationships explaining why environmental effects may be obscured in studies which consider them individually.
Anatomical stability of human fungiform papillae and relationship with oral perception measured by salivary response and intensity rating
Authors: Gardner Alexander , Carpenter Guy H.
Published: July 2019

Fungiform papillae house taste buds on the anterior dorsal tongue. Literature is inconclusive as to whether taste perception correlates with fungiform papillae density (FPD). Gustatory reflexes modulate the amount and composition of saliva subsequently produced, and thus may be a more physiologically objective measure of tastant-receptor interactions. Taste perception fluctuates with time but the stability of individual fungiform papillae is unclear. This study followed ten healthy volunteers longitudinally at baseline, one and six months. FPD, diameter and position were measured and participants rated intensity perception of sucrose, caffeine, menthol and capsaicin solutions. Salivary flow rate, protein concentration and relative changes in protein composition were measured following each tastant. FPD, diameter and position were unchanged at six months. FPD did not correlate with intensity rating for any taste. FPD did correlate with changes in salivary protein output following sucrose (ρ = 0.72, p = 0.02) and changes in levels of proline-rich protein and mucin 7 following capsaicin (ρ = 0.71, p = 0.02, ρ = 0.68, p = 0.04, respectively). These results suggest that over six months fungiform papillae are anatomically stable, playing a greater role in mediating the physiological salivary response to stimuli rather than determining the perceived intensity of taste.