bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Confirmed Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) in a Male with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Complicated by Febrile Neutropenia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Abdalhadi Ahmed M. , Alshurafa Awni , Alkhatib Mohammed , Abou Kamar Mohamed , Yassin Mohamed A.
Published: May 2020

Coronavirus disease-19 is a respiratory viral disease that commonly presents with mild symptoms. However, it can cause serious complications such as acute respiratory disease, especially in patients with comorbidities. As it is a new disease, the full picture of the disease and its complications are not yet fully understood. Moreover, the patients at risk of complications are not well identified; and the data about the risk in patients with hematological malignancies is limited. Here, we report a 65-year-old male with accelerated phase chronic myeloid leukemia, on dasatinib, tested positive for coronavirus disease-19, then complicated with febrile neutropenia acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Feasibility and Safety of a Coaxial Dual-Wavelength Optical Coherence Tomography Apparatus
Authors: Cedro Luca , Hasler Pascal W. , Meier Christoph , Povazay Boris , Burri Christian , Mooser Matthias , Kaiser Pascal , Rothenbuehler Simon P. , Müller Philipp L. , Zarranz-Ventura Javier , Egan Catherine , Tufail Adnan , Scholl Hendrik P.N. , Maloca Peter M. 
Published: May 2020

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a coaxial dual-wavelength optical coherence tomography (OCT) device (marked as Hydra-OCT). Methods: Healthy participants without ocular pathology underwent retinal imaging using the Hydra-OCT allowing for simultaneous measurement of retinal scanning of 840 and 1,072 nm wavelength. Before and after measurement, best-corrected visual acuity and patients’ comfort were assessed. Representative OCT images from both wavelengths were compared by 5 independent graders using a subjective grading scheme. Results: A total of 30 eyes of 30 participants (8 females and 22 males) with a mean age of 26.5 years (range from 19 to 55 years) were included. Dual-wavelength image acquisition was made possible in each subject. The participant’s effort and comfort assessment using the Hydra-OCT imaging revealed an equivalent value as compared to the commercially available OCT machine. No adverse events were reported, and visual acuity was not altered by the Hydra-OCT. Imaging between the systems was comparable. Conclusions: This study provides evidence for the feasibility and safety of a coaxial dual-wavelength OCT imaging method under real-life conditions. The novel Hydra-OCT imaging device may offer additional insights into the pathology of retinal and choroidal diseases.
STA/LTA trigger algorithm implementation on a seismological dataset using Hadoop MapReduce
Authors: Choubik Youness , Mahmoudi Abdelhak , Majid Himmi Mohammed , El Moudnib Lahcen
Published: May 2020

In this work we implemented STA/LTA trigger algorithm, which is widely used in seismic detection, using Hadoop MapReduce. This
implementation allows to ﬁnd out how effective it is in this type of tasks as well as to accelerate the detection process by reducing the processing time. We tested our implementation on a seismological dataset of 14 broadband seismic stations and compare it with the traditional one. The results show that MapReduce decreased the processing time by 34% compared to the traditional implementation.
A general framework of genetic multi-agent routing protocol for improving the performance of MANET environment
Authors: Hamid Hassan Mustafa , Ahmed Jubair Mohammed , A. Mostafa Salama , Kamaludin Hazalila , Mustapha Aida , Md. Fudzee Mohd Farhan , Mahdin Hairulnizam
Published: May 2020

These days, the fields of Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) have provided increasing prevalence and consequently, MANET is now a subject of considerable significance for the researchers to instigate research activities. MANET is the collaborative commitment of an assemblage of portable (or mobile) hubs (or nodes) without the necessary mediation of any unified (or centralized) gateway (or access point) or existent framework. There exists a growing inclination or course to embrace MANET for business utilization. MANET is a rising domain of research to give different services in communication to end-clients or consumers. However, these communication services of MANET utilize a large amount of transfer speed (or bandwidth) and a huge measure of web speed. Bandwidth optimization is essential in different information interchanges for fruitful acknowledgement and the application of such a technological innovation. This paper integrates the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the Multi-Agent System (MAS) to improve the QoS requirements. The proposed framework called Genetic Multi-Agent Routing Protocol (GMARP). The aims of the proposed framework are to utilize the benefits of both approaches in order to fulfil QoS such as (delay, bandwidth, and the number of hops) in the different types of routing conventions (or protocols) such as being (proactive and reactive). In this paper is a simulation scenario to demonstrate the ability of the proposed framework to be satisfied with QoS requirements.
Evaluation of psoriasis skin disease classification using convolutional neural network
Authors: Binti Roslan Rosniza , Mohd Razly Iman Najwa , Sabri Nurbaity , Ibrahim Zaidah
Published: May 2020

Skin disease has lower impact on mortality compared to others but instead it has greater effect on quality of life because it involves symptoms such as pain, stinging and itchiness.  Psoriasis is one of the ordinary skin diseases which are relapsing, chronic and immune-mediated inflammatory disease.  It is estimated about 125 million people worldwide being infected with various types of skin infection.  Challenges arise when patients only predict the skin type disease they had without being accurately and precisely examined.  This is because as human being, they only observe and look at the diseases on the surface of the skin with their naked eye, where there are some limits, for example, human vision lacks of accuracy, reproducibility and quantification in the collection of image information.  As Plaque and Guttate are the most common Psoriasis skin disease happened among people, this paper presents an evaluation of Psoriasis skin disease classification using Convolutional Neural Network.  A total of 187 images which consist of 82 images for Plaque Psoriasis and 105 images for Guttate Psoriasis has been used which are retrieved from Psoriasis Image Library, International Psoriasis Council (IPC) and DermNet NZ.  Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is applied in extracting features and analysing the classification of Psoriasis skin disease.  This paper showed the promising used of CNN with the accuracy rate of 82.9% and 72.4% for Plaque and Guttate Psoriasis skin disease, respectively.
Rhythm Violation Enhances Auditory-Evoked Responses to the Extent of Overriding Sensory Adaptation in Passive Listening
Authors: Menceloglu Melisa , Grabowecky Marcia , Suzuki Satoru
Published: May 2020

Sensory systems utilize temporal structure in the environment to build expectations about the timing of forthcoming events. We investigated the effects of rhythm-based temporal expectation on auditory responses measured with EEG recorded from the frontocentral sites implicated in auditory processing. By manipulating temporal expectation and the interonset interval (IOI) of tones, we examined how neural responses adapted to auditory rhythm and reacted to stimuli that violated the rhythm. Participants passively listened to the tones while watching a silent nature video. In Experiment 1 (n = 22), in the long-IOI block, tones were frequently presented (80%) with 1.7-sec IOI and infrequently presented (20%) with 1.2-sec IOI, generating unexpectedly early tones that violated temporal expectation. Conversely, in the short-IOI block, tones were frequently presented with 1.2-sec IOI and infrequently presented with 1.7-sec IOI, generating late tones. We analyzed the tone-evoked N1–P2 amplitude of ERPs and intertrial phase clustering in the theta–alpha band. The results provided evidence of strong delay-dependent adaptation effects (short-term, sensitive to IOI), weak cumulative adaptation effects (long-term, driven by tone repetition over time), and robust temporal-expectation violation effects over and above the adaptation effects. Experiment 2 (n = 22) repeated Experiment 1 with shorter IOIs of 1.2 and 0.7 sec. Overall, we found evidence of strong delay-dependent adaptation effects, weak cumulative adaptation effects (which may most efficiently accumulate at the tone presentation rate of ∼1 Hz), and robust temporal-expectation violation effects that substantially boost auditory responses to the extent of overriding the delay-dependent adaptation effects likely through mechanisms involved in exogenous attention.
Florence Henri's Oblique
Authors: Kriebel Sabine
Published: May 2020

This essay considers Florence Henri's interwar photographic project from the standpoint of phenomenology. In doing so, it displaces the disinterested formalist framework that generally straightjackets her work to look askance at the terrain of subject-object relations that was urgently being rethought by Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, and Hellmuth Plessner, among others, in the turbulent decade after World War I. Composed in a cultural context in which the boundaries between self and other and between individuality and collectivity were being renegotiated, Henri's photographs materialize human-object kinships that query the operations of sovereign subjecthood in the postwar world. Ineluctably drawn to the dynamics of isolation and empathy, Henri exploits the paradox of photography's simultaneous objectivity and intimacy, staging subject-object encounters whose apparent technological, material rationality is subtended by volatility, contingency, and groundlessness. Allied with Bauhaus precepts, Henri's photographs amount to a set of investigations about subjecthood in a material world that propose new pathways of Being in modernity.
International Avant-Garde, 1927–1929
Authors: Moholy Lucia
Published: May 2020

Founded by a group of international artists and writers in 1927, the journal i 10 supplied a remarkable selection of historical documents from the late 1920s. Reporting on the occasion of a reedition of the journal, Lucia Moholy, who was a part of the group, discusses the circumstances of its founding and its importance to the interwar European avant-garde.
The Image of the Bauhaus
Authors: Moholy Lucia
Published: May 2020

This text was published as an exhibition review of 50 Years Bauhaus, the first major survey exhibition of the German art school, which traveled across Europe and North America. Her main concern is the “image” of the Bauhaus that is conveyed in this survey, which took a very loose approach to what counted as representative of the school. Moholy was the first to draw attention to the exhibition's unorthodox approaches, which many later criticized as historically inaccurate. She also discusses image-making at the Bauhaus in relation to painting, printmaking, and photography.
Questions of Interpretation
Authors: Moholy Lucia
Published: May 2020

An extension of her exhibition review “Image of the Bauhaus” from two years before, this essay was the first to foreground how the Bauhaus was being historicized, even as that history was still in formation. Her method is aphoristic, as she assembles an arsenal of quotations and phrases culled from the press and various other publications. Through strategic juxtaposition, as well as recourse to an unstated personal involvement in the history that she discusses, she demonstrates the emergence and consolidation of various Bauhaus mythologies.
Shape: A Conversation
Authors: Joselit David , Kuo Michelle , Sillman Amy
Published: May 2020

A wide-ranging conversation between artist Amy Sillman, Museum of Modern Art curator Michelle Kuo, and October editor David Joselit on Sillman's influential Artist's Choice exhibition, The Shape of Shape, presented in the reopening of MoMA's galleries in 2019. Topics range from the re-introduction of intuition into histories of contemporary painting to strategies for expanding the modernist canon.
The Struggle of Conversion
Authors: Bosma David
Published: May 2020

For young New Zealanders who choose to convert to Christianity from secular backgrounds, their conversion is a deeply emotional experience. One factor that has a significant bearing on the emotional state of a young convert is the way in which their parents react to the news. Another is the presence of “crisis” as a common feature within the conversion process. Spiritual experiences can also result in a variety of emotional responses, not all of them positive. For Māori young people who convert to Christianity in New Zealand, there exist pressures from within their own culture, as well as a felt sense of distance and difference from a majority-European Christian church. I interviewed 32 young New Zealanders who converted to Christianity from secular backgrounds, and this paper will seek to chronicle some of the common emotional challenges that they experienced as a part of their conversion journeys. I will then conclude by interacting with Andrew Root’s concept of place sharing in ministry as a suggested way of ministering to young people who are experiencing the struggle of conversion.
Two new species of Tricholoma sect. Genuina (Agaricales) from China

Authors: XU XIN , CUI YANG-YANG , YANG ZHU L.
Published: May 2020

Species of Tricholoma are relatively well-studied in Europe and North America. On the contrary, the study of the genus in East Asia is still limited, particularly in China, although nearly 50 species were reported from the country. In this paper, we describe and illustrate two new species of T. sect. Genuina, namely T. orienticolossus and T. orientifulvum, based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic evidence. Phylogenetically, T. orienticolossus is close to T. colossus, but differs from the latter by its absence of bitter taste, unchanging context, much longer basidia, wider basidiopores, and association with Abies trees. Tricholoma orientifulvum is similar to T. fulvum, but differs from the latter by its soap odor and association with subtropical trees of Lithocarpus, Quercus and Pinus kesiya.
Nomenclatural novelties in Miconieae (Melastomataceae): new synonym and typifications

Authors: VALENTE BEATRIZ DO NASCIMENTO , BAUMGRATZ JOSÉ FERNANDO A. , MAIA VITOR HUGO
Published: May 2020

(Nomenclatural novelties in Miconieae (Melastomataceae): new synonym and typifications). This contribution provides diagnostic morphological characters, geographic distribution data, synonymizations and typifications for three species of Miconieae. We clarify the taxonomic status of Clidemia raddiana as a new synonym for Miconia capilliflora and designate its lectotype. For Miconia capillaris and Miconia leptopus, we provide nomenclatural adjustments, due to the similarity of the epithets and morphological characteristics. We also designate a lectotype and a neotype, respectively, for these two species.
Three new species and new records of Stenichnodes Franz (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae)
Authors: JAŁOSZYŃSKI PAWEŁ
Published: May 2020

Three new species of Stenichnodes Franz are described, all placed in the nominotypical subgenus, and occurring in Ivory Coast: S. cordicollis sp. n., S. spinosus sp. n., and S. bouakensis sp. n. Stenichnodes (s. str.) error Jałoszyński is recorded from a second locality in Kenya, and S. (Parastenichnaphes) ceylonensis (Franz), previously known to occur in Sri Lanka, is recorded from Tamil Nadu, India. Two of the newly described species are unusual in having the aedeagi with parameres; diagnostic value of this character, and the presence or absence of metaventral carinae, are discussed.
Doppler Circulation as a Fairly Range-Insensitive Far-Field Tornado Detection and Precursor Parameter
Authors: Davies-Jones Robert , Wood Vincent T. , Rasmussen Erik N.
Published: May 2020

Formulas are obtained for observed circulation around and contraction rate of a Doppler radar grid cell within a surface of constant launch angle. The cell values near unresolved axisymmetric vortices vary greatly with beam-to-flow angle. To obtain reliable standard measures of vortex strength we bilinearly interpolate data to points on circles of specified radii concentric with circulation centers and compute the Doppler circulations around and the areal contraction rates of these circles from the field of mean Doppler velocities. These parameters are proposed for detection of strong tornadoes and mesocyclonic winds. The circulation and mean convergence around the Union City, Oklahoma, tornado of 24 May 1973 are computed. After doubling to compensate for the unobserved wind component, the circulation (1.1 × 105 m2 s−1) agrees with a previous photogrammetric measurement. The mature tornado was embedded in a region, 6 km in diameter, of nearly uniform strong convergence (~5.5 × 10−3 s−1) without a simultaneous mesocyclone. A model of a convergent vortex inputted to a Doppler radar emulator reproduces these results. Moving the model vortex shows that for a WSR-88D with superresolution, the circulation is relatively insensitive to range and azimuth. WSR-88D data of the 31 May 2013 El Reno storm are also analyzed. The tornado formed in a two-celled mesocyclone with strong inflow 5 km away. In the next 8 min the circulation near the axis doubled and the areal contraction rate at 5 km increased by 50%. This signified a large probability of strong tornadoes embedded in powerful storm-scale winds.
Asymmetries in Transnational Social Protection: Perspectives of Migrants and Nonmigrants
Authors: Bilecen Başak
Published: May 2020

This study investigates the extent to which migrants’ embeddedness in two formal social protection systems (country of origin and host country) influences the resources they exchange in their informal supportive relationships. I analyze the support networks of a matched sample of Turkish migrants in Germany and their significant others in Turkey to illuminate the conditions and meaning of reciprocal resource exchanges, finding that both migrants and nonmigrants perceive formal social protection offered by Germany as superior to that of Turkey. I show that those perceptions have implications for how financial support is exchanged with the family but have less impact on friendships. These implications for family included unequal power relationships, changes in equity among siblings and family, different valuation processes of resources, and thus, (reciprocal) exchanges.
Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease With Exaggerated Pressor Response Have Greater Ambulatory Dysfunction Than Patients With Lower Pressor Response
Authors: Kim Danielle Jin-Kwang , Montgomery Polly S. , Wang Ming , Shen Biyi , Kuroki Marcos , Gardner Andrew W.
Published: May 2020

We determined whether patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) who have either an exaggerated or a negative pressor response during treadmill walking have shorter peak walking time (PWT) and claudication onset time (COT) than patients with a normal pressor response, independent of comorbid conditions. A total of 249 patients were categorized to 1 of 3 groups based on systolic blood pressure (SBP) responses at 2 minutes of treadmill walking (speed = 2 mph, grade = 0%): group 1 (negative pressor response, SBP < 0 mm Hg), group 2 (normal pressor response, SBP 18 mm Hg), and group 3 (exaggerated pressor response, SBP > 18 mm Hg). After adjusting for comorbid conditions, group 3 (exaggerated) had significantly reduced COT ( P = .011) and PWT ( P = .002) compared to group 2 (normal), while group 1 (negative) and group 2 (normal) were not different. Patients with symptomatic PAD with an increase in SBP > 18 mm Hg after 2 minutes of treadmill walking experience claudication earlier and thus have greater ambulatory dysfunction, compared to patients with PAD with a normal pressor response, whereas patients with PAD with negative pressor response had a similar walking performance. The implication is that the magnitude of pressor response to only 2 minutes of treadmill walking can partially explain the degree of ambulatory dysfunction in patients with PAD.
The Psychological Consequences of Disability over the Life Course: Assessing the Mediating Role of Perceived Interpersonal Discrimination
Authors: Namkung Eun Ha , Carr Deborah
Published: May 2020

We examine whether perceived interpersonal discrimination mediates the association between disability and psychological well-being (depression, negative and positive affect) and how these processes differ across the life course. Data are from two waves (2004–2006; 2013–2014) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS; N = 2,503). Perceived discrimination accounts for 5% to 8% of the association between disability and the three mental health outcomes. Moderated mediation analyses reveal significant age differences; perceived discrimination is a stronger explanatory mechanism among midlife (ages 40–64) relative to older (age 65+) adults. Disability stigma takes a heightened psychological toll at midlife, a life stage when adults are expected to be able-bodied and interact with a diverse social network, which may be a source of interpersonal mistreatment. Among older adults, for whom impairment is expected and common, the psychological impact of disability may operate through other pathways. We discuss implications for research and practice.
Problems of Sanitation in India: Does Culture Matter?
Authors: Nagla B. K.
Published: May 2020

Although sanitation is a core element of healthy family and community life and an important indicator of social development, it has not received the sociological attention it deserves. Based on an analysis of both rural and urban areas cutting across diverse social groups, this article shows that the sanitation in India is not only a rural but also an urban problem, particularly in the context of growing industrialisation, coupled with concomitant rapid urbanisation and expansion of cities. The article unveils the link between poor sanitation, especially preference for open defecation among rural folks with peoples’ practices and perceptions, which are deeply rooted in cultural norms. Ultimately, it is argued that it is not the resources but rather the beliefs, practices and customs of people related to health and environment that matter in improving the sanitary conditions in India
Mechanical analysis and numerical simulation of a multivariate principle curve draft device and analysis of its yarn properties
Authors: Quan Jing , Cheng Longdi , Wang Jing , Xue Wenliang , Fang Bin
Published: May 2020

Friction field distribution is a critical factor in the drafting process, as it affects the fiber bundle movement in the main draft zone. In this paper, a modified draft device, named the multivariate principle curve draft device, which extends the friction field and condenses fiber bundles, has been employed to produce colored spun yarns. To analyze the effect of the modified draft device in the spinning process, mechanical analysis and finite element simulation were applied. In the mechanical analysis, the curvature surfaces of the grooved compactor exert friction force on the fiber bundles to restrain the peripheral fibers, and the relation between the friction and angles of the contact surfaces was concluded. In the numerical simulation, the result shows that the friction force distribution in the curved drafting channel is extended and enhanced, which leads to the forward distribution of the fiber accelerated points. Meanwhile, 28.1 tex blended colored yarns (cotton/polyester/viscose 30/30/40) and 19.7 tex pure viscose colored yarns were spun by the modified and conventional draft sets on a ring spinning machine. The comparative results imply that the modified device ensures outstanding yarn properties, such as yarn evenness, hairiness and imperfections, although there is some decrease in the yarn strength.
Neck Disability and Swallowing Function in Posttreatment Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Authors: Harris Alexandria , Lyu Lingyun , Wasserman‐Winko Tamara , George Susan , Johnson Jonas T. , Nilsen Marci Lee
Published: May 2020

Objective

To examine the relationship between symptoms of neck disability and swallowing dysfunction among head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional analysis.

Setting

Single‐center, university‐affiliated HNC survivorship clinic.

Subjects and Methods

Survivors’ patient‐reported symptoms of neck disability and swallowing dysfunction were prospectively collected from March 2017 to May 2018. Neck disability and swallowing dysfunction were measured using the Neck Disability Index and Eating Assessment Tool (EAT‐10), respectively. Linear regression was used to analyze the association between neck disability and swallowing dysfunction.

Results

A total of 179 survivors, predominantly male (n = 130, 72.6%) with an average age of 64.64 ± 9.91 years, were included in the analysis. Primary cancer sites were oropharynx (n = 85, 47.5%), oral cavity (n = 59, 33.0%), and larynx/hypopharynx (n = 35, 19.5%). Mean EAT‐10 score was 10.07 ± 10.89 (range = 0‐40; >2 indicative of swallowing dysfunction). Survivors treated for early stage cancer had lower EAT‐10 scores than those with advanced stage (early = 3.55 ± 7.46; advanced = 11.95 ± 11.02, P <. 001). After controlling for age, time since treatment, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, and treatment modality, the EAT‐10 score for patients with mild neck disability was 6.88 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.71‐10.06; P <. 001) points higher than those without neck disability, and the score for those with moderate‐complete neck disability was 13.65 (95% CI, 9.47‐17.83; P <. 001) points higher than those without neck disability.

Conclusions

Swallowing dysfunction is a commonly recognized effect of HNC treatment. The prevalence and burden of neck disability are shown to be highly correlated with swallowing dysfunction. These results support the need for comprehensive, multidisciplinary rehabilitation interventions for patients with HNC.
Online communication and dating relationships: Effects of decreasing online communication on feelings of closeness and relationship satisfaction
Authors: Sullivan Kieran T. , Riedstra Jessica , Arellano Brenda , Cardillo Bonnie , Kalach Vanessa , Ram Amrita
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of online communication on feelings of closeness and relationship satisfaction using an experimental design and to test whether these effects varied based on participants’ attitudes about online communication. Individuals in dating relationships were randomly assigned to two 48-hr conditions: communication as usual or refraining from online communication. Participants who reported that online communication was important for their dating relationships reported lower satisfaction and closeness after decreasing their online communication; there were no between-group differences among participants who reported relatively low importance. Thus, it appears that online communication has a positive effect on relationship satisfaction and feelings of closeness, but only for those who consider online communication to be important.
Air in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: can never be overemphasized
Authors: Yan Shujie , Lou Song , Zhao Yu , Liu Gang , Ji Bingyang
Published: May 2020

Introduction:

Air in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit may lead to deleterious consequence.

Case report:

Three cases of air in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were presented. Air was introduced from right jugular venous sheath during percutaneous septal repair, pulmonary artery catheter during intensive care unit, and sewing holes on atrial wall during surgery respectively. Accidents in Case 2 and Case 3 were successfully managed, while Case 1 was suspected of cerebral air embolism through transseptal right-to-left shunt.

Discussion:

With extracorporeal membrane oxygenation being widely applied in more clinical settings, especially in catheterization lab, risks of air in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation increase. More attention should be paid to patients with communication between right and left heart system, especially in situations when venous accesses’ exposure to air could not be avoided.

Conclusion:

Air in the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit should never be overemphasized, especially during special procedures.
Glutamate levels and perfusion in pons during migraine attacks: A 3T MRI study using proton spectroscopy and arterial spin labeling
Authors: Younis Samaira , Christensen Casper E , Vestergaard Mark B , Lindberg Ulrich , Tolnai Daniel , Paulson Olaf B , Larsson Henrik BW , Hougaard Anders , Ashina Messoud
Published: May 2020

Migraine is a complex disorder, involving peripheral and central brain structures, where mechanisms and site of attack initiation are an unresolved puzzle. While abnormal pontine neuronal activation during migraine attacks has been reported, exact implication of this finding is unknown. Evidence suggests an important role of glutamate in migraine, implying a possible association of pontine hyperactivity to increased glutamate levels. Migraine without aura patients were scanned during attacks after calcitonin gene-related peptide and sildenafil in a double-blind, randomized, double-dummy, cross-over design, on two separate study days, by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling at 3T. Headache characteristics were recorded until 24 h after drug administrations. Twenty-six patients were scanned during migraine, yielding a total of 41 attacks. Cerebral blood flow increased in dorsolateral pons, ipsilateral to pain side during attacks, compared to outside attacks (13.6%, p = 0.009). Glutamate levels in the same area remained unchanged during attacks (p = 0.873), while total creatine levels increased (3.5%, p = 0.041). In conclusion, dorsolateral pontine activation during migraine was not associated with higher glutamate levels. However, the concurrently increased total creatine levels may suggest an altered energy metabolism, which should be investigated in future studies to elucidate the role of pons in acute migraine.
Collateral status contributes to differences between observed and predicted 24-h infarct volumes in DEFUSE 3
Authors: Rao Vaishnavi L , Mlynash Michael , Christensen Søren , Yennu Amarnath , Kemp Stephanie , Zaharchuk Greg , Heit Jeremy J , Marks Michael P , Lansberg Maarten G , Albers Gregory W
Published: May 2020

We previously demonstrated that in the DEFUSE 3 trial, the union of the baseline core and the 24-h Tmax > 6 s perfusion lesion predicts the infarct volume at 24 h. Presently, we assessed if collateral robustness measured by the hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) index accounts for the variance in these predictions. DEFUSE 3 patients underwent MRI/CT perfusion imaging at baseline and 24 h post-randomization. We compared baseline and follow-up HIR and CBV index across subgroups stratified by differences between predicted and observed 24-h infarct volumes. Of 123 eligible patients, 34 with 24-h infarcts larger than predicted had less favorable collaterals at baseline (HIR 0.43 vs. 0.32, p = 0.006; CBV Index 0.78 vs. 0.85, p = 0.001) and 24 h (HIR 0.56 vs. 0.07, p = 0.004; CBV Index 0.47 vs. 0.73, p = 0.006) compared to 71 patients with more accurate infarct volume prediction. Eighteen patients with 24-h infarcts smaller than predicted had similar baseline collateral scores but more favorable 24-h CBV indices (0.81 vs. 0.73, p = 0.040). Overall, patients with 24-h infarcts larger than predicted had evidence of less favorable baseline collaterals that fail within 24 h, while patients with 24-h infarcts smaller than predicted typically had favorable collaterals that persisted for 24 h.
The Theoretical Relationship between Sample Size and Expected Predictive Precision for EQ-5D Valuation Studies: A Mathematical Exploration and Simulation Study
Authors: Chan Kelvin K. W. , Pullenayegum Eleanor M.
Published: May 2020

Background. Scoring algorithms of multi-attribute utility instruments (MAUI) are developed in valuation studies and are hence estimated subject to uncertainty. Valuation studies need to be designed to achieve reasonable accuracy. We aim to provide the first closed-form mathematical formula for the mean square error (MSE) of an additive MAUI as a function of sample size that acknowledges that the MAUI model for the mean utility is not a perfect fit. Methods. Based on the design of the EQ-5D valuation study, we derived our closed-form formula in terms of sample size and number of directly valued health states overall and per subject. We validated our formula by conducting a simulation study using the US EQ-5D-3L valuation data set and examined the effect of using a random-effects versus an ordinary least-squares model and the effect of heteroscedasticity. We explored the effect of sample size and number of valued health states. Results. The simulation study validated our MSE-based closed-form formula regardless of whether assuming a random-effects model versus an ordinary least squares model or heteroscedasticity versus homoscedasticity. As the sample size approaches infinity, the MSE does not approach zero but levels off asymptotically. The improvement based on increasing sample is more prominent when the sample is small. When the sample size is greater than 300 to 500, further increases do not meaningfully improve the MSE, while increasing the number of health states can further improve the MSE. Conclusion. We have derived a closed-form formula to calculate the MSE of an additive MAUI scoring algorithm based on sample size and number of health states, which will enable the developers of MAUI valuation studies to calculate the required sample size for their desired predictive precision.
Transformational and transactional leadership and knowledge sharing in Nigerian university libraries
Authors: Ugwu C. I. , Onyancha O. B. , Fombard M.
Published: May 2020

This study aims to investigate the influence of transformational and transactional leadership styles on the knowledge-sharing practices of librarians. It adopted a quantitative approach and a questionnaire formed the main instrument of data collection. Data collected from 216 librarians in different private, state and federal university libraries in Nigeria was analysed using multiple regression techniques and Tukey’s post-hoc test of honestly significant difference. The findings revealed that transformational leadership impacted knowledge sharing more than transactional leadership styles. Therefore, this study provides empirical evidence that transformational and transactional leadership behaviours are required to enhance the knowledge-sharing activities of librarians in Nigeria.
Assessment of contact-induced damage mechanisms in thick-walled composite cylinders
Authors: Weerts Ruben AJ , Cousigné Olivier , Kunze Klaas , Geers Marc GD , Remmers Joris JC
Published: May 2020

In order to unravel the damage mechanisms occurring in composite-overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) subjected to crash conditions, a combined experimental-numerical study has been performed. For the purpose of generality and simplicity, quasi-static contacts on filament-wound cylinders are considered in this paper, as a precursor for geometrically complex impacts on COPVs. Rings with different wall thicknesses are tested to assess how failure mechanisms change when transitioning from thin-wall to thick-wall cylinders. The experimental results are used to identify, which mechanisms occur, and the numerical model is subsequently exploited to analyze the corresponding mechanisms. Based on the understanding of the mechanisms, a method to improve the damage tolerance of thick cylinders is presented. The rings are locally pre-delaminated during manufacturing to promote the growth of these pre-delaminations instead of the initiation of fiber failure.
Three-dimensional printing of dual thermoplastic materials with different layer combinations: Tensile, flexural, and fractured surface investigations
Authors: Kumar Sudhir , Singh Rupinder , Singh TP , Batish Ajay , Kumar Akshay
Published: May 2020

The three-dimensional (3-D) printing with deposition of dual/multiple materials on alternative layers has been explored by some researchers for various engineering applications. But, hitherto, little has been reported on failure mechanism of dual/multiple materials 3-D printed parts in tensile and flexural testing. In this work, investigations were made to explore the tensile, flexural, morphological, and thermal properties of dual thermoplastic material (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA))-based 3-D printing of functional prototypes with low-cost fused deposition modeling process. The results of the study suggest that for mechanical properties of 3-D printed parts, the number of conversions, the number of negative conversions for selecting particular layer of thermoplastic material, and the number of layers (while selecting the alternative layer’s material) have significant effect. The maximum peak strength of 55.98 MPa (while tensile testing) was observed for combination of four consecutive layers of PLA and two layers of ABS, which is 15.81% higher than the ABS (48.34 MPa) and at par with the PLA-based 3-D printed functional prototype. Also, it has been ascertained that the deposition of ABS on PLA has better compatibility than PLA deposition on ABS platform. In case of flexural strength, single material-based 3-D printed parts have better properties. From fractured surface analysis, it has been observed that dual material-based 3-D printed prototypes have relatively large number of voids/porosity holes in comparison to single material-based 3-D printed prototypes, thus ultimately resulting in poor mechanical performance.
Aging in an Era of Fake News
Authors: Brashier Nadia M. , Schacter Daniel L.
Published: May 2020

Misinformation causes serious harm, from sowing doubt in modern medicine to inciting violence. Older adults are especially susceptible—they shared the most fake news during the 2016 U.S. election. The most intuitive explanation for this pattern lays the blame on cognitive deficits. Although older adults forget where they learned information, fluency remains intact, and knowledge accumulated across decades helps them evaluate claims. Thus, cognitive declines cannot fully explain older adults’ engagement with fake news. Late adulthood also involves social changes, including greater trust, difficulty detecting lies, and less emphasis on accuracy when communicating. In addition, older adults are relative newcomers to social media and may struggle to spot sponsored content or manipulated images. In a post-truth world, interventions should account for older adults’ shifting social goals and gaps in their digital literacy.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Referred to an Emergency Department-Based End-of-Life Care Service in Hong Kong: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chan Yat Chun , Yang Marc L. C. , Ho Hiu Fai
Published: May 2020

Background:

This study describes the characteristics and outcomes of patients referred to an emergency department (ED)-based end-of-life (EOL) service in a tertiary acute hospital in Hong Kong. We examine how emergency physicians (EPs) perform in recognizing and managing dying patients.

Methods:

From September 2010 to April 2018, patients referred to this EOL service in this hospital were included. A group of 5 EPs assessed whether the referred patient would die within a few days. Dying patients (EOL group) were admitted to ED-based EOL service whereas those not likely dying within few days (non-EOL group) would continue management in respective specialty wards. Baseline characteristics of these 2 groups were compared. The time-to-death and use of opioids and anticholinergics were compared.

Results:

In total, 783 of 830 patients assessed were recognized as being in dying phase, with 688 admitted under ED-based EOL care. Their demographics and characteristics were described. Mean time from assessment to death (time-to-death) was significantly less in EOL group (38.93 hours) than in non-EOL group (250.36 hours; P = .004). Mean time-to-death was not significantly different between those under EP-based EOL service or not. The ED-based EOL care had significantly more patients receiving symptomatic treatment.

Interpretation:

The characteristics of patients under an ED-based EOL service are described. Emergency physicians are capable of recognizing dying patients. Emergency department-based EOL service does not alter the dying process and offers adequate palliation of symptoms. Emergency physician should assume a more active role in providing adequate EOL care to suitable patients.
Follicular Cholecystitis: Reappraisal of Incidence, Definition, and Clinicopathologic Associations in an Analysis of 2550 Cholecystectomies
Authors: Saka Burcu , Memis Bahar , Seven Ipek Erbarut , Pehlivanoglu Burcin , Balci Serdar , Bagci Pelin , Reid Michelle , Dursun Nevra , Escalano Oscar Tapia , Roa Juan Carlos , Araya Juan Carlos , Kong So Yeon , Basturk Olca , Koshiol Jill , Adsay N. Volkan
Published: May 2020

Context.

Follicular cholecystitis (FC) is a poorly characterized entity.

Objective.

To determine its frequency/clinicopathologic associations.

Design.

A total of 2550 cholecystectomy specimens were examined. Two hundred three of these were consecutive routine cholecystectomies submitted entirely for microscopic examination to determine the relative frequency of incidental pathologies in gallbladders (GBs). The remainder had representative sampling. Underlying conditions were nonobstructive pathologies (1270 nonspecific cholecystitis), obstructive (62 distal biliary tract tumors, 35 primary sclerosing cholangitis, and 31 autoimmune pancreatitis), and neoplastic (n = 949). FC was defined as 3 distinct lymphoid follicles (LFs)/centimeter.

Results.

In the GBs totally submitted for microscopic examination, the true frequency of FC was found to be 2.5% (5/203), and in the representatively sampled group, it was 1.9%, with similar frequencies in nonobstructive, obstructive, and neoplastic cases (2.3%, 3.1%, and 1.3%, respectively, P = .77). When the 39 FC in nonneoplastic GBs contrasted with ordinary chronic cholecystitis, they were associated with older age (68 vs 49 years, P < .0001), similar gallstone frequency (68 vs 81%), female/male ratio (2.7 vs 2.6), and wall thickness (4 mm for both). None had lymphoma/parasites/ Salmonella infection. Of 17 cases who had undergone gastric biopsy, 5 had chronic gastritis (2 with Helicobacter pylori). Microscopically, the LFs were the main inflammatory process often with minimal intervening inflammation. IgG4-positive plasma cell density was low (<10/high-power field) in 21/24(87.5%) cases.

Conclusions.

Follicular cholecystitis is seen in 2% of cholecystectomies, typically in significantly older patients, suggesting a deranged immune response. A third of the patients reveal biopsy-proven gastritis. FC does not seem to be associated with autoimmunity, lymphoma, or obstructive pathologies.
Prognostic factors of ado-trastuzumab emtansine treatment in patients with metastatic HER-2 positive breast cancer
Authors: Tataroglu Ozyukseler Deniz , Basak Mustafa , Ay Seval , Koseoglu Aygül , Arıcı Serdar , Oyman Abdilkerim , Sürmeli Heves , Turan Merve , Turan Nedim , Odabaş Hatice , E Yıldırım Mahmut
Published: May 2020

Background

Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines the cytotoxic activity of emtansine with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-targeted antitumor features of trastuzumab.

Objective

We conducted a study of metastatic breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab emtansine. By evaluating progression-free survival, overall survival, and response rates, we aimed to find prognostic factors of trastuzumab emtansine treatment.

Methods

Our study is a single-center, retrospective, observational study. We have clinical data from 78 patients treated with trastuzumab emtansine for metastatic breast cancer, from May 2016 through May 2019, at Kartal Dr Lutfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Medical Oncology Department. Our objective is to assess the survival and response rates in trastuzumab emtansine-treated individuals and the factors associated with survival. The factors we analyzed were cancer antigen 15-3 sensitivity, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status, presence or absence of visceral metastases, presence or absence of cranial metastases, and treatment-associated thrombocytopenia.

Results

Among 78 patients, median progression-free survival was 7.8 months, and overall survival was 21.1 months. Twenty of the patients had an objective tumor response. The results showed that trastuzumab emtansine was tolerable with a manageable safety profile and consistent with the results of the previous literature. Mostly seen adverse events were anemia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, and increased levels of alkaline phosphatase. Patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status = 2 had worse progression-free survival and overall survival compared to ones with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status < 2; progression-free survival and overall survival are worse in cancer antigen 15-3-sensitive breast cancer patients. According to our findings, treatment-associated thrombocytopenia was a significant prognostic factor for survival. Patients with thrombocytopenia had 12 months progression-free survival, whereas patients without thrombocytopenia had only 4.1 months progression-free survival. In like manner, overall survival was much better in the thrombocytopenia-experienced patients as 29.5 versus 11.8 months.

Conclusions

Trastuzumab emtansine prolongs progression-free survival and overall survival with a manageable safety profile. Thrombocytopenia, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status, and cancer antigen 15-3 are correlated with progression-free survival and/or overall survival.
Endovascular versus surgical creation of arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients: Cost-effectiveness and budget impact analyses
Authors: Rognoni Carla , Tozzi Matteo , Tarricone Rosanna
Published: May 2020

Objectives:

The aim of the present study was to perform cost-effectiveness and budget impact analyses comparing endovascular arteriovenous fistula creation to surgical arteriovenous fistula creation in hemodialysis patients from the National Healthcare Service (NHS) perspective in Italy.

Methods:

A systematic literature review has been conducted to retrieve complications’ rates after arteriovenous fistula creation procedures. One study comparing endovascular arteriovenous fistula creation, performed with WavelinQ device, to the surgical approach through propensity score matching was preferred to single-arm investigations to execute the economic evaluations. This study was chosen to populate a Markov model to project, on a time horizon of 1 year, quality adjusted life years and costs associated with endovascular arteriovenous fistula (WavelinQ) and surgical arteriovenous fistula options for both cohorts of incident and prevalent hemodialysis patients.

Results:

For both incident and prevalent hemodialysis patients, endovascular arteriovenous fistula creation, performed with WavelinQ, was the dominant strategy over surgical arteriovenous fistula approach, showing less cost and better patients’ quality of life. Compared to the current scenario, progressively increasing utilization rates of WavelinQ over surgical arteriovenous fistula creation in the next 5 years in incident hemodialysis patients are expected to save globally 30–36 million euros to the NHS.

Conclusion:

Endovascular arteriovenous fistula creation performed with WavelinQ could be a cost-saving strategy in comparison with the surgical approach for patients in hemodialysis. Future studies comparing different devices for endovascular arteriovenous fistula creation versus the surgical option would be needed to confirm or reject the validity of this preliminary evaluation. In the meantime, decision-makers can use these results to take decisions on the diffusion of endovascular procedures in Italy.