bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Analysis and Phenomenological Model for Liquid Jet Breakup in Swirling Flow of Air
Authors: Sikroria Tushar , Kushari Abhijit
Published: June 2019

This paper presents detailed analysis of an experimental investigation of the impact of swirl number of subsonic cross-flowing air stream on liquid jet breakup at an airflow Mach number of 0.12, which is typical in gas turbine conditions. Experiments are performed for four different swirl numbers (0, 0.2, 0.42, and 0.73) using swirl vanes at air inlet having angles of 0 deg, 15 deg, 30 deg, and 45 deg, respectively. Liquid to air momentum flux ratios (q) have been varied from 1 to 25. High-speed images of the interaction of liquid and air streams are captured and processed to estimate the jet penetration height as well as the breakup location for various flow conditions. The results show unique behavior for each swirl number, which departs from the straight flow correlations available in the literature. Based on the results, an attempt has been made to understand the physics of the phenomena and come up with a simplified physical model for prediction of jet penetration. Furthermore, the high-speed images show a dominant influence of liquid column fluttering on fracture mechanism (column or shear breakup mechanism).
Determinants of the irrelevant speech effect: Changes in spectrum and envelope
Authors: Schlittenlacher Josef , Staab Katharina , Çelebi Özlem , Samel Alisa , Ellermeier Wolfgang
Published: June 2019

The irrelevant sound effect (ISE) denotes the fact that short-term memory is disrupted while being exposed to sound. The ISE is largest for speech. The presented study investigated the underlying acoustic properties that cause the ISE. Stimuli contained changes in either the spectral content only, the envelope only, or both. For this purpose two experiments were conducted and two vocoding strategies were developed to degrade the spectral content of speech and the envelope independently. The first strategy employed a noise vocoder that was based on perceptual dimensions, analyzing the original utterance into 1, 2, 4, 8, or 24 channels (critical bands) and independently manipulating loudness. The second strategy involved a temporal segmentation of the signal, freezing either spectrum or level for durations ranging from 50 ms to 14 s. In both experiments, changes in envelope alone did not have measurable effects on performance, but the ISE was significantly increased when both the spectral content and the envelope varied. Furthermore, when the envelope changes were uncorrelated with the spectral changes, the effect size was the same as with a constant-loudness envelope. This suggests that the ISE is primarily caused by spectral changes, but concurrent changes in level tend to amplify it.
Humpback whale calls detected in tropical ocean basin between known Mexico and Hawaii breeding assemblies
Authors: Darling James D. , Goodwin Beth , Goodoni Maya K. , Taufmann Adam J. , Taylor Murray G.
Published: June 2019

Humpback whales migrate in winter from northern feeding grounds to geographically separate breeding assemblies in near-shore waters of Mexico and Hawaii. Currently assessed as distinct populations warranting separate management, their shared song composition and interchange of photo-identified whales question this paradigm. To investigate a potential connection an autonomous Wave Glider performed a 6965.5 km, 100-day (round trip) acoustic survey from Hawaii toward Mexico circa 20° N, from January 15 to April 25, 2018. The 2272 h of recordings included humpback whale calls to approximately midway from Hawaii to Mexico. Explanations include an undocumented migration route, offshore assembly, or mid-season travel between assemblies.
NIH prepares to toughen harassment rules
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: June 2019

Advisory group urges mandatory reporting of #MeTooSTEM investigations to agency.
Exercising empathy
The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World
Jamil Zaki
Crown, 2019. 268 pp.
Authors: Konrath Sara
Published: June 2019

Compassion can be cultivated, argues a psychologist
Effective Surveillance Using Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis and Whole-Genome Sequencing for Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157
Authors: Lee Kenichi , Izumiya Hidemasa , Iyoda Sunao , Ohnishi Makoto
Published: June 2019

Intensive surveillance for enterohemorrhagicEscherichia coli(EHEC) serogroup O157 is important to detect outbreaks and to prevent the spread of the bacterium. Recent advances in sequencing technology made molecular surveillance using whole-genome sequence (WGS) realistic. To develop rapid, high-throughput, and cost-effective typing methods for real-time surveillance, typing resolution of WGS and a conventional typing method, multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA), was evaluated. Nation-level systematic comparison of MLVA, core genome single nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP), and core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) indicated that a combination of WGS and MLVA is a realistic approach to improve EHEC O157 surveillance.
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Is a Superior Diagnostic Tool for the Identification and Differentiation of Mycoplasmas Isolated from Animals
Authors: Spergser Joachim , Hess Claudia , Loncaric Igor , Ramírez Ana S.
Published: June 2019

In veterinary diagnostic laboratories, identification of mycoplasmas is achieved by demanding, cost-intensive, and time-consuming methods that rely on antigenic or genetic identification.
Childhood haemorrhagic stroke: a 7-year single-centre experience
Authors: Gerstl Lucia , Badura Katharina , Heinen Florian , Weinberger Raphael , Peraud Aurelia , Dorn Franziska , Bonfert Michaela V , Berweck Steffen , O’Callaghan Finbar J
Published: June 2019

Background

In recent years, there has been increasing research interest in improving diagnostic and management protocols in childhood arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS). However, childhood stroke comprises, in approximately equal parts, both arterial ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke (HS).

Objective

The aim of this study was to focus on the aetiology, clinical presentation, treatment and short-term outcome of children with spontaneous intracranial bleeding in a university hospital and elucidate differences to childhood AIS.

Design

We performed a retrospective analysis of electronic medical records of children (28 days–18 years) diagnosed with HS between 2010 and 2016.

Results

We included 25 children (male child, n=11) with a median age of 8 years 1 month. The most common clinical presentations were vomiting (48%), headache (40%) and altered level of consciousness (32%). In more than half of the patients, HS was caused by vascular malformations. Other risk factors were brain tumour, coagulopathy and miscellaneous severe underlying diseases. Aetiology remained unclear in one child. Therapy was neurosurgical in most children (68%). Two patients died, 5 patients needed further (rehabilitation) treatment and 18 children could be discharged home.

Conclusions

HS differs from AIS in aetiology (vascular malformations as number one risk factor), number of risk factors (‘mono-risk’ disease), clinical presentation (vomiting, headache and altered level of consciousness) and (emergency) therapy.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin in patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C: an analysis with real world outcomes from a multicentre cohort in Japan
Authors: Igarashi Ataru , Furusyo Norihiro , Ogawa Eiichi , Nomura Hideyuki , Dohmen Kazufumi , Higashi Nobuhiko , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Kawano Akira , Azuma Koichi , Satoh Takeaki , Nakamuta Makoto , Koyanagi Toshimasa , Kato Masaki , Shimoda Shinji , Kajiwara Eiji , Hayashi Jun
Published: June 2019

Objectives

A number of publications have demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin (SOF+RBV) compared with the former standard therapy with interferon (IFN)-containing regimens. Unlike these cost-effective analyses, where efficacy parameters were obtained from registration trials for drug approval, this analysis is a cost-effectiveness analysis of SOF+RBV for genotype (GT) 2 non-cirrhosis (NC) and compensated cirrhosis (CC) patients using efficacy parameters obtained from a multicentre cohort study (Kyushu University Liver Disease Study; KULDS) in Kyushu area in Japan in order to reflect real-world clinical practice in Japan.

Method

A Markov model followed 10 000 patients (62 years old) over their lifetime. Four populations were followed: treatment-naïve (TN)-NC, treatment-experienced (TE)-NC, TN-CC and TE-CC. Comparators were Peg-IFNα2b+RBV for TN-NC and CC patients and telaprevir (TVR)+Peg-IFNα2b+RBV for TE-NC patients. The sustained virological response (SVR) rates of SOF+RBV were taken from KULDS and those of comparators were obtained from systematic literature reviews. There were nine states (NC, CC, decompensated cirrhosis [DC], hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], SVR [NC], SVR [CC], liver transplantation [LT], post-LT and death) in this model, and an increase in the progression rate to HCC due to ageing was also considered. The analysis was conducted from the perspective of a public healthcare payer, and a discount rate of 2% was set for both cost and effectiveness.

Results

Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of SOF+RBV versus Peg-IFNα2b+RBV were ¥323 928 /quality-adjusted life year (QALY) for TN-NC patients, ¥92 256/QALY for TN-CC patients and ¥1 519 202/QALY for TE-CC patients. The ICER of SOF+RBV versus TVR+Peg-IFNα2b+RBV was ¥849 138/QALY for TE-NC patients. The robustness of the results was determined by sensitivity analysis.

Conclusions

The results of this analysis strongly demonstrate the robustness of our previous findings that SOF+RBV regimens are cost-effective in the real world and clinical trial settings for Japanese GT2 NC and CC patients.
Effects of global and domestic tobacco control policies on cigarette consumption per capita: an evaluation using monthly data in China
Authors: Xu Xiaoxin , Zhang Xiulan , Hu Teh Wei , Miller Leonard S , Xu Mengnan
Published: June 2019

Introduction

China consumes 44% of the world’s cigarettes. Robust tobacco control measures are needed to contain the trend of increasing cigarette consumption. This paper examines the effectiveness of policy interventions introduced in China on reducing the country’s tobacco use.

Methods

The paper uses data on China’s monthly cigarette consumption per capita from January 2000 to June 2017 to estimate the impact of specific policies on China’s tobacco consumption. Tobacco consumption is calculated from monthly sales data from the China National Tobacco Corporation and demographic data from the China National Bureau of Statistics. The policies studied include the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), national tobacco-related policy changes and two tobacco tax increases implemented in China during the study period. Segmented regression analysis is used to estimate the immediate effects of the policies studied and changes in the time trends resulted from these policy changes.

Findings

The impact of national policy changes in China is almost 20 times greater than the impact of the WHO FCTC treaty itself, and national policy changes in tobacco control are a determining factor in reversing the trend of increasing tobacco consumption in China. The 2015 tax increase, which raised retail cigarette prices, produced both immediate and trend effects, with a total incremental effect 7.8 times that of the 2009 tax increase, which did not result in higher cigarette prices for the consumer.

Interpretations

Translating global tobacco control policies into domestic policies will generate a much greater impact on reducing average cigarette consumption, and tobacco taxes that are reflected in the retail prices of cigarettes will be more effective in reducing cigarette consumption.
Impact of the implementation of a fast-track on emergency department length of stay and quality of care indicators in the Champagne-Ardenne region: a before–after study
Authors: Chrusciel Jan , Fontaine Xavier , Devillard Arnaud , Cordonnier Aurélien , Kanagaratnam Lukshe , Laplanche David , Sanchez Stéphane
Published: June 2019

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the effect of the implementation of a fast-track on emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) and quality of care indicators.

Design

Adjusted before–after analysis.

Setting

A large hospital in the Champagne-Ardenne region, France.

Participants

Patients admitted to the ED between 13 January 2015 and 13 January 2017.

Intervention

Implementation of a fast-track for patients with small injuries or benign medical conditions (13 January 2016).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Proportion of patients with LOS ≥4 hours and proportion of access block situations (when patients cannot access an appropriate hospital bed within 8 hours). 7-day readmissions and 30-day readmissions.

Results

The ED of the intervention hospital registered 53 768 stays in 2016 and 57 965 in 2017 (+7.8%). In the intervention hospital, the median LOS was 215 min before the intervention and 186 min after the intervention. The exponentiated before–after estimator for ED LOS ≥4 hours was 0.79; 95% CI 0.77 to 0.81. The exponentiated before–after estimator for access block was 1.19; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.25. There was an increase in the proportion of 30 day readmissions in the intervention hospital (from 11.4% to 12.3%). After the intervention, the proportion of patients leaving without being seen by a physician decreased from 10.0% to 5.4%.

Conclusions

The implementation of a fast-track was associated with a decrease in stays lasting ≥4 hours without a decrease in access block. Further studies are needed to evaluate the causes of variability in ED LOS and their connections to quality of care indicators.
Registry of Older South Australians (ROSA): framework and plan
Authors: Inacio Maria C , Bray Sarah Catherine Elizabeth , Whitehead Craig , Corlis Megan , Visvanathan Renuka , Evans Keith , Griffith Elizabeth C , Wesselingh Steve L
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Australia’s ageing population puts significant demands on the aged care and healthcare sectors. To monitor the provision of aged care and healthcare services to older people, each government body has an individual data collection system. Together these systems can be the basis for creating the evidence necessary to support future allocation of resources for our ageing community. The Registry of Older South Australians (ROSA) is a cross-sector multidisciplinary (ie, aged care and healthcare) platform built to address the challenges of monitoring people in aged care settings. This protocol describes the ROSA’s framework and plans.

Methods and analysis

A registry to capture 16 000 South Australians/year undergoing an aged care eligibility assessment was designed. ROSA will contain information captured by the Commonwealth and South Australian state Health Authority, linked by two data integrating authorities, and housed on a secured data platform. ROSA will contain information on the sociodemographic, health, function, psychological, social, home and safety assessment and concerns characteristics, aged care services, general health services, and mortality of people receiving aged care services. Registered participants will be prospectively monitored until their death and yearly updates of their aged care and healthcare services information will be added to the registry.

Ethics and dissemination

ROSA will longitudinally monitor the services provided to a population that puts costly demands on the state healthcare and aged care systems, identify unwanted variation, and underpin future research. ROSA’s expected outputs include an annual report, a research agenda that focuses on high burden conditions and potentially economically impactful questions, educational materials, and risk profiling tools. ROSA was approved by the South Australian Department for Health and Ageing HREC (HREC/17/SAH/125) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare HREC (EO2018/2/429).
The impact of maternal health care utilisation on routine immunisation coverage of children in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Anichukwu Onyekachi Ibenelo , Asamoah Benedict Oppong
Published: June 2019

Objective

To examine the impact of maternal healthcare (MHC) utilisation on routine immunisation coverage of children in Nigeria.

Design

Individual level cross-sectional study using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine the association between MHC utilisation and routine immunisation coverage of children.

Setting

Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013.

Participants

5506 women aged 15–49 years with children aged 12–23 months born in the 5 years preceding the survey.

Primary outcome measures

Fully immunised children and not fully immunised children.

Results

The percentage of children fully immunised with basic routine childhood vaccines by the age of 12 months was 25.8%. Antenatal care (ANC) attendance irrespective of the number of visits (adjusted OR (AOR)1–3 visits2.4, 95% CI 1.79 to 3.27; AOR4–7 visits3.2, 95% CI 2.52 to 4.13; AOR≥ 8 visits3.5, 95% CI 2.64 to 4.50), skilled birth attendance (SBA) (AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.65 to 2.35); and maternal postnatal care (PNC) (AOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.46 to 2.06) had positive effects on the child being fully immunised after adjusting for covariates (except for each other, ie, ANC, SBA and PNC). Further analyses (adjusting stepwise for each MHC service) showed a mediation effect that led to the effect of PNC not being significant.

Conclusions

The percentage of fully immunised children in Nigeria was very low. ANC attendance, SBA and maternal PNC attendance had positive impact on the child being fully immunised. The findings suggest that strategies aimed at maximising MHC utilisation in Nigeria could be effective in achieving the national coverage target of at least 80% for routine immunisation of children.
How do we evaluate the cost of nosocomial infection? The ECONI protocol: an incidence study with nested case-control evaluating cost and quality of life
Authors: Stewart Sally , Robertson Chris , Manoukian Sarkis , Haahr Lynne , Mason Helen , McFarland Agi , Dancer Stephanie , Cook Brian , Graves Nicholas , Reilly Jacqui
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Healthcare-associated or nosocomial infection (HAI) is distressing to patients and costly for the National Health Service (NHS). With increasing pressure to demonstrate cost-effectiveness of interventions to control HAI and notwithstanding the risk from antimicrobial-resistant infections, there is a need to understand the incidence rates of HAI and costs incurred by the health system and for patients themselves.

Methods and analysis

The Evaluation of Cost of Nosocomial Infection study (ECONI) is an observational incidence survey with record linkage and a nested case-control study that will include postdischarge longitudinal follow-up and qualitative interviews. ECONI will be conducted in one large teaching hospital and one district general hospital in NHS Scotland. The case mix of these hospitals reflects the majority of overnight admissions within Scotland. An incidence survey will record all HAI cases using standard case definitions. Subsequent linkage to routine data sets will provide information on an admission cohort which will be grouped into HAI and non-HAI cases. The case-control study will recruit eligible patients who develop HAI and twice that number without HAI as controls. Patients will be asked to complete five questionnaires: the first during their stay, and four others during the year following discharge from their recruitment admission (1, 3, 6 and 12 months). Multiple data collection methods will include clinical case note review; patient-reported outcome; linkage to electronic health records and qualitative interviews. Outcomes collected encompass infection types; morbidity and mortality; length of stay; quality of life; healthcare utilisation; repeat admissions and postdischarge prescribing.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received a favourable ethical opinion from the Scotland A Research Ethics Committee (reference 16/SS/0199). All publications arising from this study will be published in open-access peer-reviewed journal. Lay-person summaries will be published on the ECONI website.

Trial registration number

NCT03253640; Pre-results.
Outcomes following feeding gastrostomy (FG) insertion in patients with learning disability: a retrospective cohort study using the health improvement network (THIN) database
Authors: Harvey Philip R , Thomas Tom , Chandan Joht Singh , Bhala Neeraj , Nirantharakumar Krishnarajah , Trudgill Nigel J
Published: June 2019

Objectives

To measure the rates of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and mortality following feeding gastrostomy (FG) placement in patients with learning disability (LD). Following this to compare these rates between those having LRTI prior to FG placement and those with no recent LRTI.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

The study population included patients with LD undergoing FG placement in the ‘The Health Improvement Network’ database. Patients with LRTI in the year prior (LYP) to their FG placement were compared with patients without a history of LRTI in the year prior (non-LYP) to FG placement. FG placement and LD were identified using Read codes previously developed by an expert panel.

Main outcome measures

Incidence rate ratio (IRR) of developing LRTI and mortality following FG, comparing patients with LRTI in the year prior to FG placement to patients without a history of LRTI.

Results

214 patients with LD had a FG inserted including 743.4 person years follow-up. 53.7% were males and the median age was 27.6 (IQR 19.6 to 38.6) years. 27.1% were in the LYP patients. 18.7% had a LRTI in the year following FG, with an estimated incidence rate of 254 per 1000-person years. Over the study period the incidence rate of LRTI in LYP patients was 369 per 1000-person years, in non-LYP patients this was 91 per 1000-person years (adjusted IRR 4.21 (95% CI 2.68 to 6.63) p<0.001). 27.1% of patients died during study follow-up. Incidence rate of death was 80 and 45 per 1000-person year for LYP and non-LYP patients, respectively (adjusted IRR 1.80 (1.00 to 3.23) p=0.05).

Conclusion

In LD patients, no clinically meaningful reduction in LRTI incidence was observed following FG placement. Mortality and LRTI were higher in patients with at least one LRTI in the year preceding FG placement, compared with those without a preceding LRTI.
A prospective study of consecutive emergency medical admissions to compare a novel automated computer-aided mortality risk score and clinical judgement of patient mortality risk
Authors: Faisal Muhammad , Khatoon Binish , Scally Andy , Richardson Donald , Irwin Sally , Davidson Rachel , Heseltine David , Corlett Alison , Ali Javed , Hampson Rebecca , Kesavan Sandeep , McGonigal Gerry , Goodman Karen , Harkness Michael , Mohammed Mohammed
Published: June 2019

Objectives

To compare the performance of a validated automatic computer-aided risk of mortality (CARM) score versus medical judgement in predicting the risk of in-hospital mortality for patients following emergency medical admission.

Design

A prospective study.

Setting

Consecutive emergency medical admissions in York hospital.

Participants

Elderly medical admissions in one ward were assigned a risk of death at the first post-take ward round by consultant staff over a 2-week period. The consultant medical staff used the same variables to assign a risk of death to the patient as the CARM (age, sex, National Early Warning Score and blood test results) but also had access to the clinical history, examination findings and any immediately available investigations such as ECGs. The performance of the CARM versus consultant medical judgement was compared using the c-statistic and the positive predictive value (PPV).

Results

The in-hospital mortality was 31.8% (130/409). For patients with complete blood test results, the c-statistic for CARM was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.69 to 0.81) versus 0.72 (95% CI: 0.66 to 0.78) for medical judgements (p=0.28). For patients with at least one missing blood test result, the c-statistics were similar (medical judgements 0.70 (95% CI: 0.60 to 0.81) vs CARM 0.70 (95% CI: 0.59 to 0.80)). At a 10% mortality risk, the PPV for CARM was higher than medical judgements in patients with complete blood test results, 62.0% (95% CI: 51.2 to 71.9) versus 49.2% (95% CI: 39.8 to 58.5) but not when blood test results were missing, 50.0% (95% CI: 24.7 to 75.3) versus 53.3% (95% CI: 34.3 to 71.7).

Conclusions

CARM is comparable with medical judgements in discriminating in-hospital mortality following emergency admission to an elderly care ward. CARM may have a promising role in supporting medical judgements in determining the patient’s risk of death in hospital. Further evaluation of CARM in routine practice is required.
Effects of heat stroke on surface ECG: a study on clinical outcomes
Authors: Paul Amal , Alex Reginald , Jacob John Roshan , Yadav Bijesh
Published: June 2019

Aims

Classic heat stroke is associated with high in-hospital mortality and morbidity. The relation between the ECG findings in heat stroke and the clinical outcomes of these patients has not been studied. The aim of this study was to describe the electrocardiographic features in patients with classic heat stroke and to determine if there is any correlation of ECG findings with in-hospital outcomes.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study on 50 patients with classic heat stroke during summer months of 2016–2018. All 12-lead electrocardiographic recordings obtained from these patients were subjected to in-depth analysis. Statistical analysis was done to determine the correlation of electrocardiographic findings with in-hospital outcomes.

Results

37 patients were in sinus rhythm, while supraventricular arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation (n=6), ectopic atrial tachycardia (n=4) and atrial flutter (n=2) were observed in the rest. There was a high prevalence of QTc prolongation, low voltage P waves, conduction defects like incomplete right bundle branch block and repolarisation abnormalities. The ratio of QRS voltage in the limb leads to that in precordial leads was ≤0.5 in nearly three-fourths of the patients. Among the observed electrocardiographic features, low P-wave voltage (<0.01 mV) in lead II was found to have statistically significant correlation with adverse in-hospital outcome (OR 8.93, p=0.04), after adjustment for clinical covariates.

Conclusion

There was high incidence of atrial arrhythmias in patients with classic heat stroke. A low P-wave voltage (<0.01 mV) in lead II was predictive of adverse in-hospital outcome in this cohort of patients.
Two Tragedies Argument: Two Mistakes
Authors: Simkulet William
Published: June 2019

Most opposition to abortion turns on the claim that human fetuses are full moral agents from conception (or soon afterwards). Critics argue that antiabortion theorists act hypocritically when they neglect spontaneous abortions—valuing some fetal lives and not others. Many philosophers draw a distinction between killing and letting die, with the former being morally impermissible and latter acceptable. Henrick Friberg-Fernros appeals to this distinction with his Two Tragedies Argument, contending that anti-abortion theorists are justified in prioritising preventing induced abortions over spontaneous ones, as the former involves two tragedies—a death and a killing. However, induced abortion can involve either killing or letting die, and thus this view is incompatible with the traditional anti-abortion view. Furthermore, Friberg-Fernros appears to value preventing killing attempts more than preventing actual deaths.
Incidence, possible risk factors and therapies for pseudopregnancy on Dutch dairy goat farms: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Van den Brom René , Klerx Rianne , Vellema Piet , Lievaart‐Peterson Karianne , Hesselink Jan Willem , Moll Lammert , Vos Peter , Santman‐Berends Inge
Published: June 2019

Pseudopregnancy is a frequently diagnosed reproductive disorder in (dairy) goats. This cross‐sectional study evaluates the incidence, possible risk factors and therapies for pseudopregnancy on Dutch dairy goat farms. Two questionnaires, one for farmers and one for veterinarians, were designed and included questions about general farm demographics, breeding management, hormonal oestrous induction, treatment, measures for reduction and stress moments in dairy goats in the period June 1, 2016–May 31, 2017. In total, 43 farmers (21.5 per cent response rate) and 27 veterinarians (22.5 per cent response rate) completed the questionnaire. The annual incidence of pseudopregnancy varied between 1 and 54 per cent per farm, with a mean annual incidence of 17 per cent (95 per cent CI 0.14 to 0.21). In this study, we found a significant association between incidence of pseudopregnancy and a higher percentage of goats with an extended lactation (p<0.0001) and between incidence of pseudopregnancy and the number of ultrasound examinations per year (p<0.0001). The recommended therapy in literature consists of two administrations of prostaglandins. This was only correctly applied by 10 per cent of the farms. On 52 per cent of the farms, an overdose was used comparing to the recommended dose in literature.
Area and entropy quantization of quantum-corrected Schwarzschild black hole surrounded by quintessence
Authors: Shahjalal Md.
Published: June 2019

In this paper, the minimal change in the area and the entropy of quantum-corrected Schwarzschild black hole immersed in the quintessence matter is investigated. Utilizing two different approaches, namely, the periodicity of the outgoing wave and the black hole adiabatic property, the area spectrum is derived, which is independent of both the length scale coming from quantum deformation of the Schwarzschild black hole, and the quintessential state parameter, and which is in agreement with the uniform area spacing originally found by Bekenstein.
Provenance, tectonic setting and mineralization significance in the Linxi Formation, eastern Inner Mongolia, NE China
Authors: Wang Xi , Ren Yun-Sheng , Bo Jun-Wei , Zhao Dong-Sheng
Published: June 2019

The strata of the Linxi Formation (LXF) occupy an extensive area of eastern Inner Mongolia, NE China and have close spatial and genetic relationships with important Mesozoic Sn–Cu–Pb–Zn–Ag veins and porphyry polymetallic deposits (ores). The rock types of the LXF include sandstone, siltstone and shale. Major and trace element (including rare earth element) data for rocks from the LXF in the Hanmiao area indicate that these rocks have a greywacke protolith derived from intermediate to acidic arc igneous rocks and were deposited during intensive tectonic activity. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from sandstones in the LXF yields ages of 985 ± 10 to 242 ± 2 Ma. The youngest population of ages shows a peak at
c.
258 Ma, suggesting that the main period of deposition of the LXF was in the late Permian. These ages, together with the youngest zircon age (
c.
242 Ma), suggest that the deposition of the LXF mainly occurred during the late Permian and extended to the early Triassic. According to the results of the analysis of 44 sandstone and siltstone samples, ore elements (e.g. W, Sn, Ag and Mo) are significantly enriched in the LXF in this region. Combined with the fact that increasing numbers of polymetallic deposits have been discovered within the LXF strata in the southern Great Xing'an Range, we conclude that the strata of the LXF may be the source bed of the ore and there is potential for ore prospecting in the polymetallic deposits of the LXF in the Great Xing'an Range.
Monitoring of ground displacements using borehole-embedded distributed fibre optic sensors
Authors: Puzrin A.M. , Iten M. , Fischli F.
Published: June 2019

Monitoring of ground displacements is critical for reliable geohazard risk assessment, construction and exploration. Recent advances in distributed fibre optic sensing allow for instrumenting boreholes in a wide range of geotechnical applications, such as monitoring of ground settlements caused by structures, dam integrity and displacements of creeping landslides. In contrast to conventional methods, such as extensometer, geodetical or radar measurements, the distributed sensors offer gapless monitoring over the entire depth of the borehole. The paper offers interpretation techniques, shares experiences from settlement- and displacement-monitoring projects, evaluates the results and discusses the limitations of the proposed measurement technology.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Measurement and monitoring collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/measurement-and-monitoring
Content-Aware Trust Propagation Toward Online Review Spam Detection
Authors: Xue Hao , Wang Qiaozhi , Luo Bo , Seo Hyunjin , Li Fengjun
Published: June 2019

With the increasing popularity of online review systems, a large volume of user-generated content becomes available to help people make reasonable judgments about the quality of services and products from unknown providers. However, these platforms are frequently abused since fraudulent information can be freely inserted by potentially malicious users without validation. Consequently, online review systems become targets of individual and professional spammers, who insert deceptive reviews by manipulating the rating and/or the content of the reviews.

In this work, we propose a review spamming detection scheme based on the deviation between the aspect-specific opinions extracted from individual reviews and the aggregated opinions on the corresponding aspects. In particular, we model the influence on the trustworthiness of the user due to his opinion deviations from the majority in the form of a deviation-based penalty, and integrate this penalty into a three-layer trust propagation framework to iteratively compute the trust scores for users, reviews, and review targets, respectively. The trust scores are effective indicators of spammers, since they reflect the overall deviation of a user from the aggregated aspect-specific opinions across all targets and all aspects. Experiments on the dataset collected from Yelp.com show that the proposed detection scheme based on aspect-specific content-aware trust propagation is able to measure users’ trustworthiness based on opinions expressed in reviews.
Copyright & Online Resources: It Doesn't Have To Be Complicated
Authors: Snyder Dettmar Nicole
Published: June 2019

Copyright is a challenging subject area for instructors to ensure compliance with, and discerning it in the fair use of online instruction materials can be daunting. A clear definition of fair use under the Copyright Act and a helpful mnemonic to determine the four factors of it are discussed as well as open educational practices. These contribute to a thought process for instructors to make informed decisions about the use of copyrighted or open education online instruction materials with practical strategies and additional recommended technology tools to help.
Reduced exercise ventilatory efficiency in adults with cystic fibrosis and normal to moderately impaired lung function
Authors: Di Paolo Marcello , Teopompi Elisabetta , Savi Daniela , Crisafulli Ernesto , Longo Chiara , Tzani Panagiota , Longo Francesco , Ielpo Antonella , Pisi Giovanna , Cimino Giuseppe , Simmonds Nicholas J. , Neder J. Alberto , Chetta Alfredo , Palange Paolo
Published: June 2019

Despite being a hallmark and an independent prognostic factor in several cardiopulmonary diseases, ventilatory efficiency—i.e., minute ventilation/carbon dioxide output relationship (V̇e/V̇co2)—has never been systematically explored in cystic fibrosis (CF). To provide a comprehensive frame of reference regarding measures of ventilatory efficiency in CF adults with normal to moderately impaired lung function and to confirm the hypothesis that V̇e/V̇co2is a sensitive marker of early lung disease. CF patients were divided into three groups, according to their spirometry: normal (G1), mild impairment (G2), and moderate impairment (G3) in lung function. All participants underwent incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a cycle ergometer. Lowest V̇e/V̇co2ratio (nadir) and the slope and the intercept of the linear region of the V̇e/V̇co2relationship were contrasted in a two-center retrospective analysis, involving 72 CF patients and 36 healthy controls (HC). Compared with HC, CF patients had significantly higher V̇e/V̇co2nadir, slope, and intercept ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.049, respectively). Subgroup analysis revealed significant differences in nadir ( P = 0.001) and slope ( P = 0.012) values even between HC and G1. Dynamic hyperinflation related negatively with slope ( P = 0.045) and positively with intercept ( P = 0.001), while no impact on nadir was observed. Ventilatory inefficiency is a clear feature of adults with CF, even among patients with normal spirometry. V̇e/V̇co2nadir seems to be the most reliable metric to describe ventilatory efficiency in CF adults. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify whether V̇e/V̇co2could represent a useful marker in the evaluation of early lung disease in CF.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to investigate ventilatory efficiency in a cohort of adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with nonsevere lung disease. The finding of impaired ventilatory efficiency in patients with normal lung function confirms the higher sensitivity of exercise testing in detecting early lung disease compared with spirometry. Dynamic hyperinflation plays a significant role in determining the behavior of V̇e/V̇co2slope and intercept values with increasing lung function impairment. Apparently free from interference from mechanical constraints, V̇e/V̇co2nadir seems the most reliable parameter to evaluate ventilatory efficiency in CF adults.
Differential activation of the calpain system involved in individualized adaptation of different fast-twitch muscles in hibernating Daurian ground squirrels
Authors: Ma Xiufeng , Chang Hui , Wang Zhe , Xu Shenhui , Peng Xin , Zhang Jie , Yan Xia , Lei Tingyun , Wang Huiping , Gao Yunfang
Published: June 2019

We examined the lateral gastrocnemius (LG), plantaris (PL), and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles to determine whether differential activation of the calpain system is related to the degree of atrophy in these fast-twitch skeletal muscles during hibernation in Daurian ground squirrels ( Spermophilus dauricus). Results from morphological indices showed various degrees of atrophy in the order LG > PL > EDL. Furthermore, all three muscles underwent fast-to-slow fiber-type conversion in hibernation. In regard to the calpain system in the LG muscle, cytosolic Ca2+ increased significantly in hibernation, followed by recovery in posthibernation. Furthermore, calpastatin expression significantly decreased, and calpain 1 and 2 expression significantly increased, which may be responsible for the increased degradation of desmin during hibernation compared with that during summer activity. In the EDL muscle, Ca2+ overload was observed during interbout arousal, and calpastatin showed an increase during hibernation and interbout arousal, which could explain the increased levels of troponin T during both periods compared with levels during summer activity. These findings suggest that cytosolic Ca2+ overload and subsequent calpain 1 and 2 activation may be an important mechanism of LG muscle atrophy during hibernation. Cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis and high expression of calpain inhibitor calpastatin during hibernation may also be an important mechanism for the EDL muscle to maintain muscle mass. Thus, the differential activation of the calpain system and selective degradation of downstream substrates may be involved in muscle atrophy of different fast-twitch muscles during hibernation.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We found that the extent of both muscle atrophy and calpain system activation differed in fast-twitch lateral gastrocnemius (LG), plantaris (PL), and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) skeletal muscles in hibernating Daurian ground squirrels, but similar hierarchies in the order of LG > PL > EDL. The differential activation of the calpain system and selective degradation of downstream substrates may be involved in muscle atrophy in different fast-twitch muscles during hibernation.
An improved method to evaluate heart rate variability based on time-variant cardiorespiratory relation
Authors: Liu Binbin , Yan Saisai , Wang Xiaoni , Xie Lin , Tong Jie , Zhao Fadong , Di Xiaohui , Yan Xiangguo , Zhang Jianbao
Published: June 2019

Frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive method to evaluate the autonomic nervous system (ANS), but the traditional parameters of HRV, i.e., the power spectra of the high-frequency (HF) and low-frequency bands (LF), cannot estimate the activity of the parasympathetic (PNS) and sympathetic nervous systems (SNS) well. The aim of our study was to provide a corrected method to better distinguish the contributions of the PNS and SNS in the HRV spectrum. Respiration has a gating effect on cardiac vagal efferent activity, which induces respiration-locked heart rate (HR) changes because of the fast effect of the PNS. So the respiration-related heart rate (HRr) is closely related to PNS activity. In this study, HR was decomposed into HRr and the respiration-unrelated component (HRru) based on empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and the relationship between HR and respiration. Time-frequency analysis of HRr and HRru was defined as HFr and LFru, respectively, with specific adaptive bands for every signal. Two experimental data sets, representing SNS and PNS activation, respectively, were used for efficiency analysis of our method. Our results show that the corrected HRV predicted ANS activity well. HFr could be an index of PNS activity, LFru mainly reflected SNS activity, and LFru/HFr could be more accurate in representing the sympathovagal balance.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study includes the time-varying relationship between respiration and heart rate in the analysis of heart rate variability. Correction for low-frequency and high-frequency components based on respiration significantly improved evaluation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
A Paratesticular Angiolipoma: A Case Report of a Rare Benign Scrotal Mass and Review of Literature
Authors: Nouioui Mohamed Ali , Taktak Tarek , Mokadem Seif , Gargouri Faten , Mediouni Houssem , Khiari Ramzi , Ghozzi Samir
Published: June 2019

We report a rare case of paratesticular angiolipoma in a young male. The patient is a 21-year-old male who presented with a palpable firm right intrascrotal mass of 21 mm. Ultrasound findings demonstrated that it is a solid mass. Under the diagnosis of an intrascrotal solid mass, a right inguinal radical orchiectomy was performed. Histopathological examination concluded to a paratesticular angiolipoma. Angiolipoma is a rare benign form of paratesticular tumour and its diagnosis is based on histological findings of the surgical specimen with no recurrence risk. This mesenchymal tumour should be distinguished from liposarcoma, which has malignant or aggressive clinical course.
Review on the Pseudocomplex General Relativity and Dark Energy
Authors: Hess Peter O.
Published: June 2019

A review will be presented on the algebraic extension of the standard Theory of Relativity (GR) to the pseudocomplex formulation (pc-GR). The pc-GR predicts the existence of a dark energy outside and inside the mass distribution, corresponding to a modification of the GR-metric. The structure of the emission profile of an accretion disc changes also inside a star. Discussed are the consequences of the dark energy for cosmological models, permitting different outcomes on the evolution of the universe.
Aldose Reductase Inhibitors of Plant Origin in the Prevention and Treatment of Alcoholic Liver Disease: A Minireview
Authors: Qiu Longxin , Guo Chang , Hua Baoyu
Published: June 2019

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is caused by heavy alcohol consumption over a long period. Acetaldehyde-mediated toxicity, oxidative stress, and imbalance of lipid metabolism are generally considered involved in the initiation of ALD. There is an increasing requirement for alternative and natural medicine to treat ALD. Recently, aldose reductase (AR) has been reported to be involved in the development of ALD by affecting inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism. Here, we review the effect of plant-derived AR inhibitors on ALD in rodents. And we conclude that AR inhibitors of plant origin may enhance antioxidant capacity, inhibit lipid peroxidation and inflammatory cytokines expression, and activate AMP-activated protein kinase thereby subsequently suppressing alcohol-induced lipid synthesis in liver to achieve ALD protection. This review reveals that natural AR inhibitor may be potential therapeutic agent for ALD.
Bilateral Trichotillomania of Eyelashes Triggered by Anxiety due to Nocturnal Enuresis: A Case Report
Authors: Ubukata Shoko , Mimura Tatsuya , Watanabe Emiko , Matsumoto Koichi , Kawashima Makoto , Kitsu Kazuma , Nishio Mai , Mizota Atsushi
Published: June 2019

Purpose. Trichotillomania is a behavioral and mental disorder and is characterized by a recurring habit of pulling out one’s hair. The differential diagnosis between trichotillomania and other hair loss conditions such as alopecia areata is difficult for ophthalmologists. We report a rare case of bilateral trichotillomania of the eyelashes that was triggered by anxiety about nocturnal enuresis. Case Report. A healthy 9-year-old Japanese boy presented with a bilateral loss of his eyelashes. His parents had believed that his loss of eyelashes was due to alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that results in hair loss, of the eyelashes. Our initial examination revealed that he had suffered from nightly nocturnal enuresis from childhood and was scheduled to go on a school trip the following month. He feared that his school mates might find out about his enuresis, and he said that the anxiety was the cause of the eyelash trichotillomania. The trichotillomania was resolved by discussion among the student, his family, teacher, and school counselor. Conclusion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of eyelash trichotillomania caused by anxiety about nocturnal enuresis. Ophthalmologists should be aware that a patient without eyelashes may not be due to alopecia but some anxiety-producing events. In addition, discussion of the anxiety-producing factor among the parents, teacher, and school counselors can resolve the trichotillomania.