bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supplemental Material: Macro- and microstructural analysis of the Zhujiafang ductile shear zone, Hengshan Complex: Tectonic nature and geodynamic implications of the evolution of Trans–North China orogen
Authors: He Lingchao , Zhang Jian , al. et
Published: September 2020

Table S1: Checked mineral content and grain size of EBSD samples; Table S2: Representative compositional analyses of minerals; Table S3: Zircon U-Pb isoplot data obtained by laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry for samples 17HS06-1 and 14630-1 from Zhujiafang; Table S4: Summary of isotopic ages for the high-pressure granulite of the Trans–North China orogen and Zhujiafang ductile shear zone.
Unilateral peripheral slow flow phenomenon without significant stenosis in lower extremity artery: can primary peripheral slow flow be a new phenomenon?
Authors: Akşit Ercan , Gazi Emine , Toprak Canan Akgün , Bozkurt Hasan
Published: September 2020

Peripheral artery disease affects nearly a quarter billion of the world’s population, and it is one of the most important causes of decreased quality of life. Primary peripheral slow flow without significant stenosis in peripheral arteries has not been previously reported in the literature. In this case report, we present a slow flow phenomenon that extended from the right external iliac artery to the distal peripheral bed observed during peripheral angiography in a patient who exhibited pain and claudication in the right lower extremity after walking 50 m. Medical treatment provided symptomatic improvement in coronary slow flow and led to a decrease in claudication. Future randomised controlled studies conducted on patients with suspected peripheral slow flow phenomenon would increase our knowledge on both the aetiology and treatment of this condition.
Atypical case of COVID-19 in a critically unwell 5-week old infant
Authors: Namasivayam Abirami , Soe Than , Palman Jason
Published: September 2020

The effect of COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 on the paediatric population remains an evolving mystery. Early reports from China stated that children seem to be unharmed by its dangerous effects, yet more recently there has been evidence of a systemic inflammatory response in a small number of children who are affected. We discuss a 5-week-old male infant who presented atypically with severe COVID-19 infection. To our knowledge, he is the youngest reported case in the UK to require mechanical ventilation and intensive care treatment as a direct result of COVID-19 following horizontal transmission. This case has generated several learning points with regard to atypical presentations of COVID-19 and identifying a potential cohort of ‘at risk’ infants. We also highlight a number of new challenges that have arisen for paediatricians and anaesthetists providing airway management for infants with SARS-CoV-2.
Asymptomatic man with an incidental finding of a massive empyema
Authors: Gupta Kashvi , Stuewe Elena , Barry Marianne
Published: September 2020

We describe the case of a 67-year-old asymptomatic man who was referred to our hospital for abnormal laboratory results. He was incidentally found to have a massive empyema without underlying bronchopulmonary pneumonia. Following thoracentesis, he was diagnosed with chronicStreptococcus anginosusempyema. Therapeutic thoracentesis and treatment with tissue plasminogen activator and deoxyribonuclease failed to resolve the empyema, and there was residual loculated pleural fluid that was surrounded by a thick rind. The patient was referred to thoracic surgery for decortication of the pleural space via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. At 2-month follow-up, the patient had complete re-expansion of the lung tissue.
Diagnostic value of lymphopaenia and elevated serum ACE in patients with uveitis
Authors: Cotte Philippine , Pradat Pierre , Kodjikian Laurent , Jamilloux Yvan , Seve Pascal
Published: September 2020

Aim

To evaluate the diagnostic worth of elevated serum ACE (sACE) and lymphopaenia, singly or combined, in diagnosing sarcoid uveitis.

Methods

Monocentric retrospective study, on a cohort of 996 adult patients referred to our department between March 2001 and December 2018 for a diagnostic work-up of uveitis. The sensitivity (SE), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the two biomarkers were calculated in different contexts.

Results

Eight hundred and sixty-eight patient cases were reviewed. The mean age at uveitis onset was 49.4 (±18.6) years. Of them, 144 patients had a diagnosis of sarcoid uveitis. An elevated sACE had SE of 45.8%, Sp of 88.8%, PPV of 44.9% and NPV of 89.2% in diagnosing sarcoid uveitis. For lymphopaenia, SE was 15.3%, Sp was 96.7%, PPV was 47.8% and NPV was 85.2%. For the combination of elevated sACE and lymphopaenia, SE was 18.9%, Sp was 99.0%, PPV was 73.9% and NPV was 89.5%. The value of this combination varied according to patient age at diagnosis plus anatomoclinical entities: for patients aged ≤50 years, SE was 31.3%, Sp was 99.7%, PPV was 90.9% and NPV was 94.3%. For granulomatous uveitis, SE was 26.2%, Sp was 97.3%, PPV was 73.3% and NPV was 82.5%.

Conclusion

A combination of elevated serum ACE and lymphopaenia more convincingly suggests sarcoid uveitis than these investigational tests used alone, especially in patients with granulomatous uveitis, while a lack of these markers corresponds to a high NPV.

Trial registration number

NCT03863782.
An intervention to optimise coach-created motivational climates and reduce athlete willingness to dope (CoachMADE): a three-country cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Ntoumanis Nikos , Quested Eleanor , Patterson Laurie , Kaffe Stella , Backhouse Susan H , Pavlidis George , Whitaker Lisa , Barkoukis Vassilis , Smith Brendan J , Staff Helen R , Gucciardi Daniel F
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Coach-centred antidoping education is scarce. We tested the efficacy of a motivationally informed antidoping intervention for coaches, with their athletes’ willingness to dope as the primary outcome.

Methods

We delivered a cluster randomised controlled trial in Australia, the UK and Greece. This study was a parallel group, two-condition, superiority trial. Participants were 130 coaches and 919 athletes. Coaches in the intervention group attended two workshops and received supplementary information to support them in adopting a motivationally supportive communication style when discussing doping-related issues with their athletes. Coaches in the control condition attended a standard antidoping workshop that provided up-to-date information on antidoping issues yet excluded any motivation-related content. Assessments of willingness to dope (primary outcome) and other secondary outcomes were taken at baseline, postintervention (3 months) and at a 2-month follow up.

Results

Compared with athletes in the control group, athletes in the intervention group reported greater reductions in willingness to take prohibited substances (effect size g=0.17) and psychological need frustration (g=0.23) at postintervention, and greater increases in antidoping knowledge (g=0.27) at follow-up. Coaches in the intervention group reported at postintervention greater increases in efficacy to create an antidoping culture (g=0.40) and in perceived effectiveness of need supporting behaviours (g=0.45) to deal with doping-related situations. They also reported greater decreases in doping attitudes (g=0.24) and perceived effectiveness of need thwarting behaviours (g=0.35).

Conclusions

Antidoping education programmes should consider incorporating principles of motivation, as these could be beneficial to coaches and their athletes. We offer suggestions to strengthen these programmes, as most of the effects we observed were not sustained at follow-up.

Trial registration number

This trial has been registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=371465&isReview=true).
Successful awake proning is associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19: single-centre high-dependency unit experience
Authors: Hallifax Rob J , Porter Benedict ML , Elder Patrick JD , Evans Sarah B , Turnbull Chris D , Hynes Gareth , Lardner Rachel , Archer Kirsty , Bettinson Henry V , Nickol Annabel H , Flight William G , Chapman Stephen J , Hardinge Maxine , Hoyles Rachel K , Saunders Peter , Sykes Anny , Wrightson John M , Moore Alastair , Ho Ling-Pei , Fraser Emily , Pavord Ian D , Talbot Nicholas P , Bafadhel Mona , Petousi Nayia , Rahman Najib M
Published: September 2020

The SARS-CoV-2 can lead to severe illness with COVID-19. Outcomes of patients requiring mechanical ventilation are poor. Awake proning in COVID-19 improves oxygenation, but on data clinical outcomes is limited. This single-centre retrospective study aimed to assess whether successful awake proning of patients with COVID-19, requiring respiratory support (continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) or high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO)) on a respiratory high-dependency unit (HDU), is associated with improved outcomes. HDU care included awake proning by respiratory physiotherapists. Of 565 patients admitted with COVID-19, 71 (12.6%) were managed on the respiratory HDU, with 48 of these (67.6%) requiring respiratory support. Patients managed with CPAP alone 22/48 (45.8%) were significantly less likely to die than patients who required transfer onto HFNO 26/48 (54.2%): CPAP mortality 36.4%; HFNO mortality 69.2%, (p=0.023); however, multivariate analysis demonstrated that increasing age and the inability to awake prone were the only independent predictors of COVID-19 mortality. The mortality of patients with COVID-19 requiring respiratory support is considerable. Data from our cohort managed on HDU show that CPAP and awake proning are possible in a selected population of COVID-19, and may be useful. Further prospective studies are required.
Mucus barrier, mucins and gut microbiota: the expected slimy partners?
Authors: Paone Paola , Cani Patrice D
Published: September 2020

The gastrointestinal tract is often considered as a key organ involved in the digestion of food and providing nutrients to the body for proper maintenance. However, this system is composed of organs that are extremely complex. Among the different parts, the intestine is viewed as an incredible surface of contact with the environment and is colonised by hundreds of trillions of gut microbes. The role of the gut barrier has been studied for decades, but the exact mechanisms involved in the protection of the gut barrier are various and complementary. Among them, the integrity of the mucus barrier is one of the first lines of protection of the gastrointestinal tract. In the past, this ‘slimy’ partner was mostly considered a simple lubricant for facilitating the progression of the food bolus and the stools in the gut. Since then, different researchers have made important progress, and currently, the regulation of this mucus barrier is gaining increasing attention from the scientific community. Among the factors influencing the mucus barrier, the microbiome plays a major role in driving mucus changes. Additionally, our dietary habits (ie, high-fat diet, low-fibre/high-fibre diet, food additives, pre- probiotics) influence the mucus at different levels. Given that the mucus layer has been linked with the appearance of diseases, proper knowledge is highly warranted. Here, we debate different aspects of the mucus layer by focusing on its chemical composition, regulation of synthesis and degradation by the microbiota as well as some characteristics of the mucus layer in both physiological and pathological situations.
Overcoming the limitations of ‘accident’ as a manner of death for drug overdose mortality: case for a death certificate checkbox
Authors: Rockett Ian R H , Caine Eric D , Connery Hilary S , Nolte Kurt B
Published: September 2020

Collectively, the epidemic increases in the United States of opioid-related deaths and suicides during the first two decades of the 21st century have exposed shortcomings in current forensic and epidemiological approaches for determining and codifying manner of death—a vital function fulfilled by medical examiners, coroners and nosologists—the foundation for the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), an incident-based surveillance system providing individual-level information on decedent characteristics, manner, cause and circumstances of suicide, homicide and other violent injury deaths. Drug intoxication deaths are generally classified as ‘accidents’ or unintentional, a fundamental mischaracterisation; most arose from repetitive self-harm behaviours related to substance acquisition and misuse. Moreover, given the burden of affirmative evidence required to determine suicide, many of these ‘accidents’ likely reflected unrecognised intentional acts—that is, suicides. Addition of a simple checkbox for self-injury mortality on the death certificate would enrich the National Death Index and NVDRS, and in turn, inform prevention and clinical research, and enhance the evaluation of prevention programmes and therapeutic regimens.
Systematic evaluation of olfaction in patients with hereditary cystic kidney diseases/renal ciliopathies
Authors: Dahmer-Heath Mareike , Schriever Valentin , Kollmann Sabine , Schleithoff Carolin , Titieni Andrea , Cetiner Metin , Patzer Ludwig , Tönshoff Burkhard , Hansen Matthias , Pennekamp Petra , Gerß Joachim , Konrad Martin , König Jens
Published: September 2020

Background

Hereditary cystic kidney diseases such as nephronophthisis, polycystic kidney disease and Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) are caused by a dysfunction of primary cilia. Cilia are involved in a variety of cellular functions and perceptions, with one of them being the sense of smell. Hyposmia is a typical feature found in patients with BBS. However, reports of olfactory dysfunction in other cystic kidney diseases are sparse. Here we provide a systematic survey on olfaction in a large cohort of patients displaying genetically determined renal ciliopathies.

Methods

We performed a match-controlled systematic olfactory evaluation in a group of 75 patients with a defined genetic background using age adapted and validated odour identification tests.

Results

Test results revealed a significant olfactory deficit in patients carrying TMEM67 variants (n=4), while all other genetic disorders causing nephronophthisis (n=25) or polycystic kidney disease (n=18) were not associated with an impaired sense of smell. Also in patients with BBS, olfactory performance was depending on the underlying molecular defect. While defects in the BBS1 gene (n=9) had no impact on the sense of smell, all other BBS gene disorders (n=19) were associated with significant hyposmia. Noteworthy, there was no correlation of the olfactory deficit with the level of renal impairment.

Conclusion

Hyposmia is a part of the clinical spectrum of BBS and of other renal ciliopathies. Depending on the genetic background, clinicians should be aware of this subtle and so far underappreciated symptom when clinically assessing patients with BBS or TMEM67 gene variants.
Assessment of mismatch repair deficiency in ovarian cancer
Authors: Crosbie Emma J , Ryan Neil A J , McVey Rhona J , Lalloo Fiona , Bowers Naomi , Green Kate , Woodward Emma R , Clancy Tara , Bolton James , Wallace Andrew J , McMahon Raymond F , Evans D Gareth
Published: September 2020

Background

Hereditary causes of ovarian cancer include Lynch syndrome, which is due to inherited pathogenic variants affecting one of the four mismatch repair genes involved in DNA repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate tumour mismatch repair deficiency and prevalence of Lynch syndrome in high-risk women referred to the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine with ovarian cancer over the past 20 years.

Methods

Women with ovarian cancer diagnosed before the age of 35 years and/or with a suggestive personal or family history of Lynch syndrome cancers underwent tumour testing with immunohistochemistry for mismatch repair deficiency and, where indicated, MLH1 promoter methylation testing followed by constitutional testing for Lynch syndrome.

Results

In total, 261 ovarian cancers were tested and 27 (10.3%; 95% CI 6.9% to 14.7%) showed mismatch repair deficiency by immunohistochemistry. Three of 7 with MLH1 loss showed MLH1 promoter hypermethylation, and 18 of the remaining 24 underwent constitutional testing for Lynch syndrome. A further 15 women with mismatch repair proficient tumours underwent constitutional testing because of a strong family history of Lynch syndrome cancers. Pathogenic variants were identified in 9/33 (27%) women who underwent constitutional testing, aged 33–59 years (median 48 years), including one whose tumour was mismatch repair proficient. Most Lynch syndrome tumours were of endometrioid histological subtype.

Conclusions

Tumour mismatch repair deficiency identified by immunohistochemistry is a useful prescreen for constitutional testing in women with ovarian cancer with personal or family histories suggestive of Lynch syndrome.
Chronic inflammatory axonal polyneuropathy
Authors: Oh Shin J , Lu Liang , Alsharabati Mohammad , Morgan Marla B , King Peter
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Chronic inflammatory axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP) is defined on the basis of the clinical, electrophysiological and nerve biopsy findings and therapeutic responses of ‘immunotherapy responding chronic axonal polyneuropathy (IR-CAP)’.

Methods

The diagnosis of IR-CAP was made when all of three of the following mandatory criterion were met: (1) acquired, chronic progressive or relapsing symmetrical or asymmetrical polyneuropathy with duration of progression >2 months; (2) electrophysiological evidence of axonal neuropathy in at least two nerves without any evidence of ‘strict criteria of demyelination’; and (3) definite responsiveness to immunotherapy.

Results

Thirty-three patients with IR-CAP showed similar clinical features of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) except ‘motor neuropathy subtype’. High spinal fluid protein was found in 27/32 (78%) cases. ‘Inflammatory axonal neuropathy’ was proven in 14 (45%) of 31 sural nerve biopsies.

Discussions

IR-CAP could well be ‘axonal CIDP’ in view of clinical similarity, but not proven as yet. Thus, IR-CAP is best described as CIAP, a distinct entity that deserves its recognition in view of responsiveness to immunotherapy.

Conclusion

Diagnosis of CIAP can be made by additional documentation of ‘inflammation’ by high spinal fluid protein or nerve biopsy in addition to the first two diagnostic criteria of IR-CAP.
In vivo neuroinflammation and cerebral small vessel disease in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Low Audrey , Mak Elijah , Malpetti Maura , Passamonti Luca , Nicastro Nicolas , Stefaniak James D , Savulich George , Chouliaras Leonidas , Su Li , Rowe James B , Markus Hugh S , O'Brien John T
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Associations between cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and inflammation have been largely examined using peripheral blood markers of inflammation, with few studies measuring inflammation within the brain. We investigated the cross-sectional relationship between SVD and in vivo neuroinflammation using [11C]PK11195 positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.

Methods

Forty-two participants were recruited (according to NIA-AA guidelines, 14 healthy controls, 14 mild Alzheimer’s disease, 14 amyloid-positive mild cognitive impairment). Neuroinflammation was assessed using [11C]PK11195 PET imaging, a marker of microglial activation. To quantify SVD, we assessed white matter hyperintensities (WMH), enlarged perivascular spaces, cerebral microbleeds and lacunes. Composite scores were calculated for global SVD burden, and SVD subtypes of hypertensive arteriopathy and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). General linear models examined associations between SVD and [11C]PK11195, adjusting for sex, age, education, cognition, scan interval, and corrected for multiple comparisons via false discovery rate (FDR). Dominance analysis directly compared the relative importance of hypertensive arteriopathy and CAA scores as predictors of [11C]PK11195.

Results

Global [11C]PK11195 binding was associated with SVD markers, particularly in regions typical of hypertensive arteriopathy: deep microbleeds (β=0.63, F(1,35)=35.24, p<0.001), deep WMH (β=0.59, t=4.91, p<0.001). In dominance analysis, hypertensive arteriopathy score outperformed CAA in predicting [11C]PK11195 binding globally and in 28 out of 37 regions of interest, especially the medial temporal lobe (β=0.66–0.76, t=3.90–5.58, FDR-corrected p (pFDR)=<0.001–0.002) and orbitofrontal cortex (β=0.51–0.57, t=3.53–4.30, pFDR=0.001–0.004).

Conclusion

Microglial activation is associated with SVD, particularly with the hypertensive arteriopathy subtype of SVD. Although further research is needed to determine causality, our study suggests that targeting neuroinflammation might represent a novel therapeutic strategy for SVD.
Effect of age and baseline ASPECTS on outcomes in large-vessel occlusion stroke: results from the HERMES collaboration
Authors: Ospel Johanna Maria , Kappelhof Manon , Kashani Nima , Menon Bijoy K , Campbell Bruce C V , San Roman Luis , Demchuk Andrew M , Dippel Diederik W J , Saver Jeffrey L , Jovin Tudor G , Mitchell Peter , Bracard Serge , Muir Keith , White Phil , Guillemin Francis , Majoie Charles B L M , Hill Michael D , Brown Scott , Goyal Mayank
Published: September 2020

Background

Patient age and baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (ASPECTS) are both independent predictors of outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with endovascular therapy (EVT). We assessed the combined effect of age and ASEPCTS on clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients with LVO with and without EVT, and EVT treatment effect in different age/ASPECTS subgroups.

Methods

The HERMES collaboration pooled data of seven randomized controlled trials that tested the efficacy of EVT. Adjusted logistic regression was performed to test for multiplicative interaction of age and ASPECTS with the primary outcome (ordinal mRS) and secondary outcomes (mRS 0–2/0–1/0–3) in the EVT and control arms. Patients were then stratified by age (<75 vs ≥ 75 years) and ASPECTS (0–5/6–7/8–10), and adjusted effect-size estimates for the association of EVT were derived for the six age/ASPECTS subgroups.

Results

1735 patients were included in the analysis. There was no multiplicative interaction between age and ASPECTS on clinical outcomes. In the exploratory subgroup analysis, we found a nominally negative point estimate for the association of EVT with clinical outcome in the ASPECTS 0–5/age ≥75, subgroup (acOR 0.36, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.89). The point estimate for moderate outcome (mRS0-3) nominally favored EVT (aOR 1.24, 95% CI 0.16 to 9.84). In all other subgroups, effect size-estimates consistently favored EVT.

Conclusion

There was no multiplicative interaction of age and ASPECTS on clinical outcomes in EVT or control arm patients. Outcomes in patients ≥75 years with ASPECTS 0–5 were poor, irrespective of treatment. Further investigation to define the role of EVT and range of acceptable outcomes in this subgroup is warranted.
How does job dissatisfaction interact with self-rated health in determining the risk of health-related job loss? Prospective findings from the Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) study
Authors: D'Angelo Stefania , Syddall Holly , Ntani Georgia , Harris E Clare , Linaker Cathy , Cooper Cyrus , Stevens Martin , Walker-Bone Karen
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Health and job satisfaction are key independent determinants of ability to work to older ages. We investigated the interaction of these two important factors on health-related job loss (HRJL) over 2 years of follow-up comparing male and female older workers.

Methods

A population sample of adults aged 50–64 years, recruited from 24 English general practices in the Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) study, completed questionnaires at baseline with follow-ups at 12 and 24 months. Multiple-record Cox proportional hazards models were performed to explore the main effects of, and potential interactions between, job satisfaction and self-rated health (SRH) as predictors of time to first HRJL.

Results

Of the initial 8134 participants, 5143 were ever in work in the study period. Among men, 5.7% and 14.3% reported job dissatisfaction (those in good and poor SRH, respectively), while among women these percentages were 4.6 and 12.9. HRJL was reported by 106 men and 176 women. Men in good health dissatisfied with their job had a sixfold (HR=6.4; 95% CI 3.3 to 12.4) increased risk of HRJL compared with men satisfied with their job (significant multiplicative interaction). Women dissatisfied with their job were more likely to have an HRJL within 2 years of follow-up irrespective of their SRH.

Conclusions

SRH and job dissatisfaction have important individual effects on the risk of stopping work for health among older workers. These findings point to the importance of job satisfaction in reducing health-related exit from paid work among older workers.
Prognostic nomogram for patients with minor stroke and transient ischaemic attack
Authors: Lei Zhihao , Li Shuanglin , Feng Hongye , Lai Yupeng , Zhou Yanxia , Li Chao , Ren Lijie
Published: September 2020

Background

Ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) share a common cause. We aim to develop and validate a concise prognostic nomogram for patients with minor stroke and TIA.

Methods

A total of 994 patients with minor stroke and TIA were included. They were split into a derivation (n=746) and validation (n=248) cohort. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores 3 months after onset were used to assess the prognosis as unfavourable outcome (mRS≥2) or favourable outcome (mRS<2).

Result

The final model included seven independent predictors: gender, age, baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, white blood cell and serum uric acid. The Harrell’s concordance index (C-index) of the nomogram for predicting the outcome was 0.775 (95% CI 0.735 to 0.814), which was confirmed by the validation cohort (C-index=0.787 (95% CI 0.722 to 0.853)). The calibration curve showed that the nomogram-based predictions were consistent with actual observation in both derivation cohort and validation cohort.

Conclusion

The proposed nomogram showed favourable predictive accuracy for minor stroke and TIA. This has the potential to contribute to clinical decision-making.
SZ alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and pulmonary disease: more like MZ, not like ZZ
Authors: Franciosi Alessandro N , Carroll Tomás P , McElvaney Noel G
Published: September 2020

The ZZ genotype of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is associated with COPD regardless of smoking. Heterozygous MZ-AATD is recognised as a moderate deficiency state, increasing the risk of COPD only among smokers. The risk attributable to SZ-AATD remains debated. We compared 486 AATD-registry participants, to determine whether SZ-AATD was associated with pulmonary outcomes more comparable to MZ-AATD or ZZ-AATD. We found no significant differences between MZ and SZ individuals regardless of never-smoking/ever-smoking (p>0.05 for all). ZZ-AATD was associated with lower FEV1ppthan SZ, regardless of never-smoking/ever-smoking, as well as an increased OR of lung-index status and visually defined emphysema on CT (p≤0.002 for all). In our registry cohort SZ-AATD is associated with a risk of lung disease comparable to MZ, not ZZ-AATD.
Warmer–wetter climate drives shift in δD–δ18O composition of precipitation across the Queen Elizabeth Islands, Arctic Canada
Authors: Copland Luke , Lacelle Denis , Fisher David , Delaney Frances , Thomson Laura , Main Brittany , Burgess David
Published: September 2020

We examine how recent increases in air temperature and precipitation, together with reductions in sea ice extent, may have affected the regional δD–δ18O composition of precipitation. In spring 2014, 80 snow samples were collected from six glaciers and ice caps across the Queen Elizabeth Islands, and in 2009 and 2014, two shallow ice cores were collected from Agassiz Ice Cap and White Glacier, respectively. The snow samples showed average δ18O values from 2013 to 2014 to be approximately 2‰–3‰ higher than those recorded in 1973–1974 in nearby locations, with the ice cores showing similar trends in δ18O values. A zonal average water isotope model was used to help understand the causes of the increased δ18O values, using inputs calibrated for observed changes in temperature, vapour flux, and sea ice extent. Model results indicate that atmospheric temperature changes account for <1‰ of the observed change in δ18O values, and that changes in local water input and precipitation driven by changes in sea ice extent only have an effect in coastal regions. Enhanced meridional vapour flux to the Queen Elizabeth Islands is, therefore, also required to explain the observed increases in δ18O values, with fluxes ∼7% higher today than in the 1970s, consistent with the change in precipitation.
Generalized additive models reveal among-stand variation in live tree biomass equations
Authors: Levine Jacob , de Valpine Perry , Battles John
Published: September 2020

Accurate estimation of forest biomass is important for scientists and policymakers interested in carbon accounting, nutrient cycling, and forest resilience. Estimates often rely on the allometry of trees; however, limited datasets, uncertainty in model form, and unaccounted-for sources of variation warrant a reexamination of allometric relationships using modern statistical techniques. We asked the following questions: (i) Is there among-stand variation in allometric relationships? (ii) Is there nonlinearity in allometric relationships? (iii) Can among-stand variation or nonlinearities in allometric equations be attributed to differences in stand age? (iv) What are the implications for biomass estimation? To answer these questions, we synthesized a dataset of small trees from six different studies in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We compared the performance of generalized additive models (GAMs) and linear models and found that GAMs consistently outperform linear models. The best-fitting model indicates that allometries vary among both stands and species and contain subtle nonlinearities that are themselves variable by species. Using a planned contrasts analysis, we were able to attribute some of the observed among-stand heterogeneity to differences in stand age. However, variability in these results points to additional sources of stand-level heterogeneity, which if identified could improve the accuracy of live tree biomass estimation.
An improved Gaussian laser beam probability distribution simulation based on Monte Carlo method
Authors: Gao Di , Li Yanhui
Published: September 2020

Research on target recognition in random media by Monte Carlo method has made rapid progress. However, the commonly used probability sampling function of the emitted photons’ directions is not suitable for simulating the radial cross-sectional distribution of a beam. This sampling has little effect on the simulated laser transmission in clouds, but if the laser range profile (LRP) of a target is simulated, it will cause serious distortion because the common sampling method cannot well represent the radial two-dimensional intensity distribution of the beam. In this paper, the traditional sampling method is improved through rigorous derivation, and the superiority of the method is illustrated by simulation data. The simulation results show that the Monte Carlo model of LRP based on the improved sampling method plays well in profile shape of ideal targets identification. This research can bring more reference and significance to target recognition application.
Gaussian null coordinates, near-horizon geometry and conserved charges on the horizon of extremal nondilatonic black p-branes
Authors: Cvetič Mirjam , Porfírio Paulo J. , Satz Alejandro
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we examine the emergence of conserved charges on the horizon of a particular class of extremal nondilatonic black [Formula: see text]-branes (which reduce to extremal dilatonic black holes in [Formula: see text] dimensions upon toroidal compactification) in the presence of a probe massless scalar field in the bulk. This result is achieved by writing the black [Formula: see text]-brane geometry in a Gaussian null coordinate system which allows us to get a nonsingular near-horizon geometry description. We find that the near-horizon geometry is [Formula: see text] and that the [Formula: see text] section has an internal structure which can be seen as a warped product of [Formula: see text] in Gaussian null coordinates. We show that the bulk scalar field satisfying the field equations is expanded in terms of nonnormalizable and normalizable modes, which for certain suitable quantization conditions are well-behaved at the boundary of [Formula: see text] space. Furthermore, we show that picking the normalizable modes results in the existence of conserved quantities on the horizon. We discuss the impact of these conserved quantities in the late-time regime.
A STUDY ON SOMATOSENSORY EVOKED POTENTIAL PATTERNS ACCORDING TO VARIOUS VIBROTACTILE STIMULATION: FREQUENCIES AND INTENSITIES
Authors: CHOI MI-HYUN , JUNG JIN-JU , LEE JE-HYEOP , KIM HYUNG-SIK , KIM HYUN-JUN , CHUNG SOON-CHEOL
Published: September 2020

This study investigates somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) patterns in the C3 somatosensory area with varying frequency and intensity of vibrotactile stimuli. The study subjects included 13 men ([Formula: see text] years) and seven women ([Formula: see text] years) who were right-handed and had normal cognitive function. The participants were subjected to three intensity levels (0.25, 0.38 and 1.3[Formula: see text]g) and eight frequencies (10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 225, 250 and 300[Formula: see text]Hz) of vibrotactile stimuli on the distal phalanx of their right index finger. The peak values of SEP patterns generated in response to high-frequency vibrotactile stimuli were greater than those generated because of low-frequency flutter. Moreover, the peak values increased as the stimulus intensity increased from 1[Formula: see text]g to 3[Formula: see text]g. In these results, the maximum and minimum peak, and peak to peak values of SEP pattern in the C3 somatosensory area increased with an increase in the stimulation intensity and frequency of the vibrotactile stimuli. Data on the SEP patterns generated in response to various frequencies and intensities of somatosensory stimuli and the development of relevant databases will elucidate the various clinical applications and applicable domains where SEP assessment can be beneficial.
DIFFERENCES IN GAIT PATTERNS BETWEEN PATIENTS WITH SWEDD AND NORMAL SUBJECTS
Authors: KWON DO-YOUNG , KWON YU-RI , CHOI YOON-HYEOK , HA JIN-YOUNG , KIM SANG-HYUK , EOM GWANG-MOON , KIM JI-WON
Published: September 2020

Whether gait assessment can distinguish patients with scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficit (SWEDD) from normal individuals remains unclear. In the present study, the gait patterns in SWEDD patients and normal individuals were investigated. 10 patients with SWEDD and 10 healthy normal subjects were recruited. A GaitRite linear walkway was used to quantitatively assess level walking. Eight spatiotemporal variables were selected for comparison between two groups. For statistical analysis, independent sample [Formula: see text]-tests were performed to compare between normal individuals and SWEDD patients. Compared with normal individuals, SWEDD patients exhibited a shorter step length ([Formula: see text]). In addition, SWEDD patients showed a wider distribution of heel-to-heel (HH) base of support compared with normal individuals ([Formula: see text]). SWEDD patients had a tendency to deteriorated gait speed ([Formula: see text]) and double-limb support cycle ([Formula: see text]). These results indicate that SWEDD patients adopted a walking strategy that utilized increased step length and width to compensate for deteriorated dynamic balance. These results indicate that quantitative gait assessment could be useful for more accurate diagnosis of SWEDD patients. In addition, understanding clinical features of SWEDD patients might contribute to efficient interventions.
Pushing the Limits of Transmission Concurrency for Low Power Wireless Networks
Authors: Liu Daibo , Cao Zhichao , Hou Mengshu , Rong Huigui , Jiang Hongbo
Published: September 2020

Concurrent transmission (CT) has been widely adopted to optimize the throughput of various data transmissions in wireless networks, such as bulk data dissemination and high-rate data collection. In CT, besides the possible data frame collision at receivers, we observe that acknowledgment frame (ACK) collision at senders can also significantly diminish concurrency opportunities.

In this article, to avoid the potential ACK collision in CT, we propose ALIGNER which develops a new transmission pattern to coordinate concurrent senders in a distributed manner. The key idea is to align the silent periods of concurrent transmitters. To achieve this goal, we align the end of data frames concurrently transmitted by several senders. Therefore, the potentially arriving ACKs can avoid a collision with ongoing data transmissions because the concurrent senders are in a listening state to wait for receivers’ ACKs for a short and fixed period. ALIGNER can be applied for both deterministic and opportunistic forwarding protocols. It optionally uses a random back-off and slotted ACK mechanism to avoid a potential collision among simultaneously arrived ACKs in opportunistic forwarding. In addition, ALIGNER adopts a tailor-made metrics to analyze the throughput benefit of concurrent transmission for both deterministic and opportunistic data collection protocols. We have implemented ALIGNER in TinyOS and conducted extensive experiments on a real testbed. Experimental results show that ALIGNER can significantly increase the concurrency opportunities in both deterministic (up to 105%) and opportunistic (up to 89.7%) forwarding compared with the state-of-the-art CT methods.
DeepMag
Authors: Chen Weixuan , McDuff Daniel
Published: September 2020

Many important physical phenomena involve subtle signals that are difficult to observe with the unaided eye, yet visualizing them can be very informative. Current motion magnification techniques can reveal these small temporal variations in video, but require precise prior knowledge about the target signal, and cannot deal with interference motions at a similar frequency. We present DeepMag, an end-to-end deep neural video-processing framework based on gradient ascent that enables automated magnification of subtle color and motion signals from a specific source, even in the presence of large motions of various velocities. The advantages of DeepMag are highlighted via the task of video-based physiological visualization. Through systematic quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the approach on videos with different levels of head motion, we compare the magnification of pulse and respiration to existing state-of-the-art methods. Our method produces magnified videos with substantially fewer artifacts and blurring whilst magnifying the physiological changes by a similar degree.
The answer is out there
Authors: Andersen Espen
Published: September 2020

Distributed problem solving on the cheap
Review of 'On the Internet: Thinking in Action,' by Hubert Dreyfus, Routledge Press, 2001
Authors: Tripathi Arun Kumar
Published: September 2020

Life and learning on the Net through the eyes of a philosopher.
Are you a technical guru or an enlightened friend?
Authors: Ubiquity staff
Published: September 2020

In order to get the information security budget you need, you must be able to communicate comfortably with non-technies, says security expert Thomas J. Parenty.
Mosaicism in Human Health and Disease
Authors: Thorpe Jeremy , Osei-Owusu Ikeoluwa A. , Avigdor Bracha Erlanger , Tupler Rossella , Pevsner Jonathan
Published: September 2020

Mosaicism refers to the occurrence of two or more genomes in an individual derived from a single zygote. Germline mosaicism is a mutation that is limited to the gonads and can be transmitted to offspring. Somatic mosaicism is a postzygotic mutation that occurs in the soma, and it may occur at any developmental stage or in adult tissues. Mosaic variation may be classified in six ways: ( a) germline or somatic origin, ( b) class of DNA mutation (ranging in scale from single base pairs to multiple chromosomes), ( c) developmental context, ( d) body location(s), ( e) functional consequence (including deleterious, neutral, or advantageous), and ( f) additional sources of mosaicism, including mitochondrial heteroplasmy, exogenous DNA sources such as vectors, and epigenetic changes such as imprinting and X-chromosome inactivation. Technological advances, including single-cell and other next-generation sequencing, have facilitated improved sensitivity and specificity to detect mosaicism in a variety of biological contexts.
Communication—Electrodeposited Co–Mo–P–TiO2 Composites Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Wang Cheng , Podlaha Elizabeth J.
Published: September 2020

A Co–Mo–P–TiO2 composite electrocatalyst is electrodeposited for the first time and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was characterized. The HER Tafel slope and exchange current density on the Co–Mo–P–TiO2 surface were compared with Co–Mo, Co–Mo–TiO2 and Co–Mo–P electrodeposits similarly prepared with comparable Co/Mo composition ratio. The Co–Mo–P–TiO2 exhibited a very low overpotential at −10 mA cm−2 of 31 mV in a 1 M NaOH electrolyte. The electrochemical active surface area was characterized, to show that the improvement is not merely due to surface roughness but is an intrinsic effect. The role of TiO2 and P differed in the Co–Mo electrodeposit.
Effects of the Different Solid Deposits on the Corrosion Behavior of Pure Fe in Water Vapor at 500°C
Authors: Tang Yanbing , Shen Xinwang , Liu Zhihong , Li Ying
Published: September 2020

A comprehensive corrosion investigation of pure Fe in an environment of solid sodium salt deposit (i.e., NaCl or Na2SO4) with mixtures of H2O and O2 at 500°C was conducted by mass gain measurement, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that corrosion rates were accelerated with solid NaCl or Na2SO4 deposit due to their reaction with the formed protective scale of Fe2O3 and subsequently resulted in its breakdown. The corrosion rate of pure Fe with solid NaCl is higher than that with solid Na2SO4 because of the lower activation energy (Ea) for chemical reaction of Fe in solid NaCl+H2O+O2 (i.e., 140.5 kJ/mol) than that in solid Na2SO4+H2O+O2 (i.e., 200.9 kJ/mol). Notably, the electrochemical corrosion rate of pure Fe with solid NaCl deposit, 1.16×10−4 A/cm2, was a little lower than that with solid Na2SO4 deposit.
Synchronous Behavior for Memristive Synapse-Connected Chay Twin-Neuron Network and Hardware Implementation
Authors: Xu Quan , Tan Xiao , Zhu Dong , Chen Mo , Zhou Jie , Wu Huagan
Published: September 2020

Synchronous behavior can be responsible for the function or dysfunction of a neural network. To employ a memristor with threshold memductance as a bidirectional synapse, a memristive synapse-connected Chay twin-neuron network is constructed. This paper numerically presents the synchronous behavior for four representative firing activities in the memristive twin-neuron network by utilizing time-domain waveforms, synchronized transition states (STSs), and mean synchronization errors (MSEs). Indeed, the synchronous behaviors are truly related to the coupling strength and initial condition of the memristor. Besides, utilizing the powerful XC7Z020 FPGA, a digitally circuit-implemented electro-neuron and the memristive synapse-connected Chay twin-neuron network are made. Thereafter, the four representative firing activities and their STSs are experimentally captured to further confirm the numerical simulations.
The Effect of Prophylactic Anticoagulation with Heparin on the Brain Cells of Sprague‐Dawley Rats in a Cardiopulmonary‐Cerebral Resuscitation Model
Authors: Liu Wenxun , Wang Yun , Zhou Xiaohong , Hai Kerong , Jia Danting , Ye Qingshan
Published: September 2020

After a cardiac arrest (CA) of 5 to 10 min, a marked activation of blood coagulation occurs and microthrombi are found in the cerebral vessels. These microcirculatory disturbances directly affect the outcome on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of prophylactic anticoagulation on rat brain cells after cerebral CPR. After setting up an asphyxial CA model, we monitored the basic parameters such as the vitals and survival rate of the rats and assessed the respective neurological deficit (ND) and histological damage (HD) scores of their brain tissues. We, furthermore, investigated the influence of heparin on the expressions of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, CD40, NF‐κB, and HIF‐1α after asphyxial CA. The results showed that anticoagulation with heparin could obviously improve the outcome and prognosis of brain ischemia, including improvement of neurological function recovery and prevention of morphological and immunohistochemical injury on the brain, while significantly increasing the success rate of CPR. Treatment with heparin significantly inhibited the upregulation of CD40, NF‐κB, and HIF‐1α induced by asphyxial CA. Thrombolysis treatment may improve the outcome and prognosis of CPR, and future clinical studies need to evaluate the efficacy of early heparin therapy after CA.
Study on Propagation Behaviors of Hydraulic Fracture Network in Tight Sandstone Formation with Closed Cemented Natural Fractures
Authors: Zhang Jun , Li Yu-Wei , Li Wei , Chen Zi-Jie , Zhao Yuan , Yu Fa-Hao , Zheng Yan
Published: September 2020

Natural fractures in tight sandstone formation play a significant role in fracture network generation during hydraulic fracturing. This work presents an experimental model of tight sandstone with closed cemented preexisting fractures. The influence of closed cemented fractures’ (CCF) directions on the propagation behavior of hydraulic fracture (HF) is studied based on the hydraulic fracturing experiment. A field-scaled numerical model used to simulate the propagation of HF is established based on the flow-stress-damage (FSD) coupled method. This model contains the discrete fracture network (DFN) generated by the Monte-Carlo method and is used to investigate the effects of CCFs’ distribution, CCFs’ strength, and in-situ stress anisotropy, injection rate, and fluid viscosity on the propagation behavior of fracture network. The results show that the distribution direction of CCFs is critical for the formation of complex HFs. When the angle between the horizontal maximum principal stress direction and the CCFs is in the range of 30° to 60°, the HF network is the most complex. There are many kinds of compound fracture propagation patterns, such as crossing, branching, and deflection. The increase of CCFs’ strength is not conducive to the generation of branched and deflected fractures. When the in-situ stress difference ranges from 3 MPa to 6 MPa, the HF network’s complexity and propagation range can be guaranteed simultaneously. The increase in the injection rate will promote the formation of the complex HF network. The proper increase of fracturing fluid viscosity can promote HF’s propagation. However, when the viscosity is too high, the complex HFs only appear around the wellbore. The research results can provide new insights for the hydraulic fracturing optimization design of naturally fractured tight sandstone formation.