bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using deep autoencoders to identify abnormal brain structural patterns in neuropsychiatric disorders: A large‐scale multi‐sample study
Authors: Pinaya Walter H. L. , Mechelli Andrea , Sato João R.
Published: October 2018

Machine learning is becoming an increasingly popular approach for investigating spatially distributed and subtle neuroanatomical alterations in brain‐based disorders. However, some machine learning models have been criticized for requiring a large number of cases in each experimental group, and for resembling a “black box” that provides little or no insight into the nature of the data. In this article, we propose an alternative conceptual and practical approach for investigating brain‐based disorders which aim to overcome these limitations. We used an artificial neural network known as “deep autoencoder” to create a normative model using structural magnetic resonance imaging data from 1,113 healthy people. We then used this model to estimate total and regional neuroanatomical deviation in individual patients with schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder using two independent data sets (n = 263). We report that the model was able to generate different values of total neuroanatomical deviation for each disease under investigation relative to their control group (p < .005). Furthermore, the model revealed distinct patterns of neuroanatomical deviations for the two diseases, consistent with the existing neuroimaging literature. We conclude that the deep autoencoder provides a flexible and promising framework for assessing total and regional neuroanatomical deviations in neuropsychiatric populations.
The neuroanatomical basis of the Gambler's fallacy: A univariate and multivariate morphometric study
Authors: Huang Xiaolu , Zhang Hanqi , Chen Chuansheng , Xue Gui , He Qinghua
Published: October 2018

Human decision‐making can be irrational, as in the case of the gambler's fallacy (GF). Converging evidence from behavioral and functional neuroimaging studies has suggested that a hyperactive cognitive system and a hypo‐active affective system contribute to the false world model that generates the GF. However, the neuroanatomical basis underlying the GF remains unclear. The current study addressed this issue by collecting high‐resolution magnetic resonance anatomical images from a large sample of 350 healthy Chinese adults. Univariate voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) analysis suggested that the gray matter volume (GMV) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and medial temporal lobe (MTL) (two regions of the cognitive system) showed negative correlations with the degree of GF, while the GMV in the striatum and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; two regions of the affective system) showed positive correlations. Further multivariate VBM analysis showed that the GMV in these regions could potentially predict the degree of GF. Moreover, a mediation analysis suggested that the GMV in MTL, ACC, and OFC mediated the relationships between the cognitive abilities or affective decision‐making performance and the GF. Results of our study help us to understand the potential neural bases of the cognitive system's constructive role and the affective system's destructive role in decision making.
Extreme male developmental trajectories of homotopic brain connectivity in autism
Authors: Kozhemiako Nataliia , Vakorin Vasily , Nunes Adonay S. , Iarocci Grace , Ribary Urs , Doesburg Sam M.
Published: October 2018

It has been proposed that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be characterized by an extreme male brain (EMB) pattern of brain development. Here, we performed the first investigation of how age‐related changes in functional brain connectivity may be expressed differently in females and males with ASD. We analyzed resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 107 typically developing (TD) females, 114 TD males, 104 females, and 115 males with ASD (6–26 years) from the autism brain imaging data exchange repository. We explored how interhemispheric homotopic connectivity and its maturational curvatures change across groups. Differences between ASD and TD and between females and males with ASD were observed for the rate of changes in connectivity in the absence of overall differences in connectivity. The largest portion of variance in age‐related changes in connectivity was described through similarities between TD males, ASD males, and ASD females, in contrast to TD females. We found that shape of developmental curvature is associated with symptomatology in both males and females with ASD. We demonstrated that females and males with ASD tended to follow the male pattern of developmental changes in interhemispheric connectivity, supporting the EMB theory of ASD.
Effect of antithrombic therapy on bleeding complications in patients receiving emergency cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis
Authors: Kawamoto Yusuke , Fujikawa Takahisa , Sakamoto Yusuke , Emoto Norio , Takahashi Ryo , Kawamura Yuichiro , Tanaka Akira
Published: October 2018

Background

The risk of developing hemorrhagic complications during or after emergency cholecystectomy in patients with antithrombic therapy (ATT) remains uncertain. In this study, we evaluate outcomes in patients with ATT undergoing emergency cholecystectomy and assess the relevance between ATT and perioperative complications including bleeding complications.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 296 patients who were diagnosed as acute cholecystitis and underwent emergency cholecystectomy between 2005 and 2017. One hundred and thirty‐three of them (45%) were on ATT. The primary outcome measures were intraoperative blood loss over 500 ml and postoperative complications including bleeding complications. This study was approved by our institutional review board (#13072904).

Results

There were 23 patients (8%) who experienced intraoperative blood loss over 500 ml and nine postoperative bleeding complications (3%). Multivariable analyses showed that male sex (P = 0.027), Performance Status 2–4 (P = 0.031) and grade II or III acute cholecystitis (P = 0.033) were independent risk factors for intraoperative bleeding over 500 ml, whereas not single antiplatelet therapy (APT) use but multiple APT (P = 0.034) and anticoagulation therapy (ACT) (P = 0.032) were independently associated with postoperative bleeding complications. Additionally, laparoscopic surgery, but not ATT, was a significant prognostic factor for severe postoperative complications.

Conclusions

Single APT was not remained as an independently associated factor of intraoperative excessive bleeding or severe postoperative complications including bleeding complications. However, patients treated with multiple APT or ACT still represent a challenging group and must be carefully managed to avoid postoperative bleeding complications.
Trehalose powder for subgingival air‐polishing during periodontal maintenance therapy: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kruse Anne B. , Akakpo Dodji L. , Maamar Rabie , Woelber Johan P. , Al‐Ahmad Ali , Vach Kirstin , Ratka‐Krueger Petra
Published: October 2018

Background

Air‐polishing appears to be a promising procedure for subgingival biofilm removal in periodontal treatment. The aim of this study was to compare trehalose powder for subgingival air‐polishing with sonic debridement in residual periodontal pockets during maintenance therapy.

Methods

In this blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted over 6 months with a split‐mouth design, single‐rooted teeth in 44 participants with residual pocket depths of 5 mm and bleeding or >5 mm with and without bleeding were included in this study. Subgingival debridement was carried out using either trehalose powder with an air‐polishing device (test) or a sonic device (control). The reduction in the probing depths after 3 and 6 months was defined as the primary endpoint. A visual analog scale was used to evaluate the discomfort of both procedures.

Results

Both procedures showed statistically significant intragroup reductions in probing depths (test baseline [BL] 5.52 ± 0.93, 6 months 3.66 ± 0.81, control BL 5.55 ± 0.9, 6 months 3.68 ± 0.86, P < 0.001), clinical attachment level (test BL 6.93 ± 1.5, 6 months 5.3 ± 1.52, control BL 7.27 ± 1.8, 6 months 5.84 ± 1.71, P < 0.001), and bleeding on probing (test BL 86%, 6 months 41%, control BL 89%, 6 months 34%, P < 0.001) after 6 months with no significant intergroup differences (P > 0.05, respectively). The visual analog scale showed a significantly lower incidence of discomfort for air‐polishing compared with sonic scaling (test 2.33 ± 2.14, control 4.91 ± 2.65, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Subgingival air‐polishing with trehalose powder showed comparable clinical outcomes to sonic scaling. Sonic scaling evoked more discomfort compared with air‐polishing.
Proinflammatory cytokine levels and peri‐implant parameters among cigarette smokers, individuals vaping electronic cigarettes, and non‐smokers
Authors: ArRejaie Aws S. , Al‐Aali Khulud Abdulrahman , Alrabiah Mohammed , Vohra Fahim , Mokeem Sameer A. , Basunbul Ghadeer , Alrahlah Ali , Abduljabbar Tariq
Published: October 2018

Background

Tobacco smoking compromises the prognosis of dental implant treatment and is associated with increased risk of peri‐implant bone loss and increased implant failure rate. There is a dearth of studies that have compared clinical, radiographic, and immunological peri‐implant parameters among cigarette smokers (CS), individuals vaping e‐cigarettes (e‐cigs), and non‐smokers (NS). This study aimed to compare clinical and radiographic peri‐implant parameters and levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9 and interleukin (IL)‐1β levels among CS, individuals’ vaping e‐cigs, and NS.

Methods

Thirty‐two CS (group 1), 31 individuals vaping e‐cigs (group 2), and 32 NS (group 3) were included. Demographic‐ and implant‐related data were collected using a structured baseline questionnaire. Peri‐implant plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and probing depth (PD) were recorded and marginal bone loss (MBL) were assessed using standardized digital radiographs. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to assess levels of MMP‐9 and IL‐1β in peri‐implant sulcular fluid. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze for correlations of MMP‐9 and IL‐1β levels with peri‐implant parameters.

Results

BOP showed significantly higher values in group 3 as compared with groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.01). PI (P < 0.01), PD ≥ 4 mm (P < 0.01), and mean concentrations of MMP‐9 (P < 0.001) and IL‐1β (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than group 3. MBL was significantly higher in group 1 as compared with group 2 and group 3 (P < 0.01). Significant positive correlations were found between MMP‐9 (P = 0.0198) and IL‐1β (P = 0.0047) levels and MBL in group 1; and a significant positive correlation between IL‐1β and MBL in group 2 (P = 0.0031).

Conclusions

Peri‐implant health was compromised among CS than vaping individuals and NS. Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines in CS and vaping individuals may suggest greater peri‐implant inflammatory response.
Surface Activity, Aggregation, and Wetting Behavior of Sodium P‐Perfluorononenyloxy Benzene Sulfonate
Authors: Zhang Dianlong , Qu Wenshan
Published: October 2018

The physicochemical properties of sodium p‐perfluorononenyloxy benzene sulfonate (OBS) in aqueous solution were investigated. Compared to linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), OBS has a lower critical micelle concentration (CMC) and a low surface tension at the CMC. At the same concentration, OBS shows lower dynamic surface tension than LAS indicating faster wetting kinetics. In aqueous solution, OBS forms large spherical vesicles above the CMC. OBS shows excellent dynamic wetting properties on low‐energy surfaces. The superior properties of OBS make it ideal for use in many industry fields.
Novel MRI hyper‐realistic head‐up display system for patient comfort
Authors: Sasaki Takashi , Hotta Aira , Murata Takahiro , Ueda Yu , Okumura Haruhiko
Published: October 2018

Virtual reality technologies are significant for medical applications. Canon's magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, “Vantage Galan 3T,” focused on patient comfort. The MRI head‐up display (MRI‐HUD) system was also provided as “MR Theater” for this purpose. MRI‐HUD is based on Head Dome Projector (HDP). HDP is a head‐mounted display consisting of a dome‐shaped screen and a mobile LED projector with an ultra‐wide projection lens. HDP was created to demonstrate that non‐flat plane images provide a superior hyper‐realistic impression. In the development process of HDP, we carried out subjective evaluation to confirm the effects of elimination of the flat plane for a hyper‐realistic impression. And we confirmed that the images on the dome screen provide a better impression than the images on a cylindrical screen or a flat screen. MRI‐HUD is a head‐up display system that uses HDP as a real image source. A dome screen and a reflection mirror composed of non‐magnetic materials are constructed beside the patient's bed in the MRI gantry. MRI‐HUD creates wide field‐of‐view images that eliminate the feeling of limited space of the MRI gantry from the beginning to end of the examination.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Aortopulmonary Window by 2‐Dimensional Echocardiography: Summary of 8 Cases
Authors: Li Wenxiu , Bin Geng , Jiang Wu , Shuang Yang
Published: October 2018

Aortopulmonary window (APW) is a rare congenital heart anomaly. A total of 8 cases with APW confirmed by echocardiography and surgery were retrospectively reviewed and the echocardiographic features analyzed. Among the 8 APW cases, 5 were type II and 3 were type III, the latter of which includes 2 cases complicated with Berry syndrome. Prenatal echocardiography can provide accurate information for the diagnosis of fetal APW. The prognosis depends on the timing of surgery and the nature of the associated cardiac anomalies.
Taxonogenomics description of Parabacteroides timonensis sp. nov. isolated from a human stool sample
Authors: Bilen Melhem , Mbogning Fonkou Maxime Descartes , Khelaifia Saber , Tomei Enora , Cadoret Frédéric , Daoud Ziad , Armstrong Nicholas , Bittar Fadi , Fournier Pierre‐Edouard , Raoult Didier , Dubourg Gregory
Published: October 2018

Intensive efforts have been made to describe the human microbiome and its involvement in health and disease. Culturomics has been recently adapted to target formerly uncultured bacteria and other unclassified bacterial species. This approach enabled us to isolate in the current study a new bacterial species, Parabacteroides timonensis strain Marseille‐P3236T, from a stool sample of a healthy 39‐year‐old pygmy male. This strain, is an anaerobic, gram‐negative, nonspore‐forming motile rod. Its genome is made up of 6,483,434 bp with 43.41% G+C content, 5046 protein‐encoding genes, and 84 RNA genes. We herein provide the full description of Parabacteroides timonensis strain Marseille‐P3236T through the taxonogenomic approach.
Yeast transformation efficiency is enhanced by TORC1‐ and eisosome‐dependent signaling
Authors: Yu Sheng‐Chun , Kuemmel Florian , Skoufou‐Papoutsaki Maria‐Nefeli , Spanu Pietro D.
Published: October 2018

Transformation of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) plays a key role in several experimental techniques, yet the molecular mechanisms underpinning transformation are still unclear. The addition of amino acids to the growth and transformation medium increases transformation efficiency. Here, we show that target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) activated by amino acids enhances transformation via ubiquitin‐mediated endocytosis. We created mutants of the TORC1 pathway, alpha‐arrestins, and eisosome‐related genes. Our results demonstrate that the TORC1‐Npr1‐Art1/Rsp5 pathway regulates yeast transformation. Based on our previous study, activation of this pathway results in up to a 200‐fold increase in transformation efficiency, or greater. Additionally, we suggest DNA may be taken up by domains at the membrane compartment of Can1 (MCC) in the plasma membrane formed by eisosomes. Yeast studies on transformation could be used as a platform to understand the mechanism of DNA uptake in mammalian systems, which is clinically relevant to optimize gene therapy.
Comparison of intestinal microbes in female and male Chinese concave‐eared frogs (Odorrana tormota) and effect of nematode infection on gut bacterial communities
Authors: Shu Yilin , Hong Pei , Tang Dong , Qing Hui , Omondi Donde Oscar , Wang Huan , Xiao Bangding , Wu Hailong
Published: October 2018

The Chinese concave‐eared frog (Odorrana tormota) is a rare and threatened species with remarkable sexual dimorphism. Intestinal microbes are understood to play important roles in animal physiology, growth, ecology, and evolution. However, little is known about the intestinal microbes in female and male frogs, as well as the contributing effect by gut infesting nematodes to the co‐habiting bacteria and their function in degradation food rich in chitin. Here, this study analyzed the microbiota of the intestinal tract of both female and male, healthy as well as nematode‐infested concave‐eared frogs using high throughput 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomic techniques. The results showed that the bacterial composition of the microbiota at the phylum level was dominated by Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria. The study also revealed that the community composition below the class level could be represent sex differences, particularly with regard to Enterobacteriales, Enterobacteriaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, and Rikenellaceae, among others. Carbohydrate‐active enzyme‐encoding genes and modules were identified in related gut bacteria by metagenomic analysis, with Bacteroidia, Clostridia, and gammaproteobacteria predicted to be the main classes of chitin‐decomposing bacteria in the frog intestine. In addition, the abundance of some bacteria significantly increased or decreased in nematode‐infected hosts compared with healthy individuals, including Verrucomicrobia, Verrucomicrobiae, Negativicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacilli, among others. This indicates that nematode infection may affect the richness and composition of some gut bacteria.
β2‐adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists and risk of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Gronich Naomi , Abernethy Darrell R. , Auriel Eitan , Lavi Idit , Rennert Gad , Saliba Walid
Published: October 2018

Background: β2‐adrenoreceptors have recently been identified as regulators of the α‐synuclein gene, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to assess the association between use of β2‐agonists and β‐antagonists and the risk of developing PD.

Methods: We conducted a nested case‐control study in a cohort of 1,762,164 adults without a diagnosis of PD. They were identified on January, 1, 2004, from the electronic medical records of the largest health care provider in Israel. Participants were followed up until June 30, 2017, for the occurrence of PD. Ten randomly selected controls were matched to each case of PD on age, sex, ethnic group, and duration of follow‐up.

Results: During follow‐up 11,314 patients were newly diagnosed with PD and were matched with 113,140 controls. An increased risk of PD was seen with the use of nonselective β‐antagonists (RR, 2.04 [1.90‐2.20]) but not with the use of selective β1‐antagonists (RR, 1.00 [0.95‐1.05]). Use of β2‐agonists was associated with reduced risk of PD (RR, 0.89 [0.82‐0.96] for short‐acting; RR, 0.84 [0.76‐0.93] for long‐acting; and RR, 0.49 [0.25‐0.92] for ultra‐long‐acting β2‐agonists). In an analysis of individual drugs, propranolol and salbutamol were significantly associated with PD risk, even when these drugs were ascertained 5 years prior to the index date, compared with nonusers (RR, 1.31 [1.08‐1.58] and 1.89 {1.53‐2.33]) in patients who filled <6 and ≥6 propranolol prescriptions, respectively; the corresponding RRs for salbutamol were 0.95 (0.83‐1.08) and 0.65 (0.45‐0.94), respectively.

Conclusions: Use of propranolol appears to be associated with an increased risk of PD, whereas use of β2‐agonists is associated with a decreased risk of PD. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Fully convolutional networks for automated segmentation of abdominal adipose tissue depots in multicenter water–fat MRI
Authors: Langner Taro , Hedström Anders , Mörwald Katharina , Weghuber Daniel , Forslund Anders , Bergsten Peter , Ahlström Håkan , Kullberg Joel
Published: October 2018

Purpose

An approach for the automated segmentation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in multicenter water–fat MRI scans of the abdomen was investigated, using 2 different neural network architectures.

Methods

The 2 fully convolutional network architectures U‐Net and V‐Net were trained, evaluated, and compared using the water–fat MRI data. Data of the study Tellus with 90 scans from a single center was used for a 10‐fold cross‐validation in which the most successful configuration for both networks was determined. These configurations were then tested on 20 scans of the multicenter study beta‐cell function in JUvenile Diabetes and Obesity (BetaJudo), which involved a different study population and scanning device.

Results

The U‐Net outperformed the used implementation of the V‐Net in both cross‐validation and testing. In cross‐validation, the U‐Net reached average dice scores of 0.988 (VAT) and 0.992 (SAT). The average of the absolute quantification errors amount to 0.67% (VAT) and 0.39% (SAT). On the multicenter test data, the U‐Net performs only slightly worse, with average dice scores of 0.970 (VAT) and 0.987 (SAT) and quantification errors of 2.80% (VAT) and 1.65% (SAT).

Conclusion

The segmentations generated by the U‐Net allow for reliable quantification and could therefore be viable for high‐quality automated measurements of VAT and SAT in large‐scale studies with minimal need for human intervention. The high performance on the multicenter test data furthermore shows the robustness of this approach for data of different patient demographics and imaging centers, as long as a consistent imaging protocol is used.
Shortening of apparent transverse relaxation time of inorganic phosphate as a breast cancer biomarker
Authors: van der Kemp Wybe J.M. , van der Velden Tijl A. , Schmitz Alexander M. , Gilhuijs Kenneth G. , Luijten Peter R. , Klomp Dennis W.J. , Wijnen Jannie P.
Published: October 2018

Phosphorus MRS offers a non‐invasive tool for monitoring cell energy and phospholipid metabolism and can be of additional value in diagnosing cancer and monitoring cancer therapy. In this study, we determined the transverse relaxation times of a number of phosphorous metabolites in a group of breast cancer patients by adiabatic multi‐echo spectroscopic imaging at 7 T. The transverse relaxation times of phosphoethanolamine, phosphocholine, inorganic phosphate (Pi), glycerophosphocholine and glycerophosphatidylcholine were 184 ± 8 ms, 203 ± 17 ms, 87 ± 8 ms, 240 ± 56 ms and 20 ± 10 ms, respectively. The transverse relaxation time of Pi in breast cancer tissue was less than half that of healthy fibroglandular tissue. This effect is most likely caused by an up‐regulation of glycolysis in breast cancer tissue that leads to interaction of Pi with the GAPDH enzyme, which forms part of the reversible pathway of exchange of Pi with gamma‐adenosine tri‐phosphate, thus shortening its apparent transverse relaxation time. As healthy breast tissue shows very little glycolytic activity, the apparent T2 shortening of Pi due to malignant transformation could possibly be used as a biomarker for cancer.
A mesh objective method for modeling crack propagation using the smeared crack approach
Authors: Burnett D. J. , Schreyer H. L.
Published: October 2018

This paper presents a mesh objective method for modeling crack propagation in brittle materials using a conventional finite element formulation. The primary shortcoming of the smeared crack approach is its pathological sensitivity to the mesh orientation, which is manifested by shear locking and stress field misalignment around the crack tip. Such undesirable characteristics preclude the ability to model arbitrary crack propagation at an angle through the mesh. Several techniques are developed to address these shortcomings. First, to preclude shear locking, a modified failure constitutive model is developed, which projects out the spurious stress increments as the crack opens. If a crack exists in an element, a crack tracking algorithm is used to identify the neighboring elements most likely to show crack continuation. This algorithm also identifies a crossover element when a crack passes through adjacent sides of an element. Then, the characteristic element length used in the constitutive equation is changed with the objective of providing the correct failure energy per unit crack length, a procedure called crossover scaling. The examples provided demonstrate that the developed methods work collectively to provide a simple and efficient method for modeling failure in brittle materials without mesh bias.
Preparation and Reactivation of Heterogeneous Palladium Catalysts and Applications in Sonogashira, Suzuki, and Heck Reactions in Aqueous Media
Authors: Zhang Sheng‐Yan , Yu Kai , Guo Yu‐Shuang , Mou Rui‐Qi , Lu Xiao‐Fan , Guo Dian‐Shun
Published: October 2018

A new type of heterogeneous palladium catalyst, PdMgAl‐LDH, was facilely prepared by the immobilization of Pd2+ species in the layers of a Mg‐Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) with co‐precipitation, and then fully characterized by using powder XRD, thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis, TEM, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. These catalysts can efficiently catalyze copper‐free Sonogashira, Suzuki and Heck coupling reactions of various aryl iodides, bromides, and chlorides in aqueous media under phosphine‐ligand‐ and organic‐base‐free conditions. These catalysts feature easy recovery through simple filtration and could be reused at least six times without a marked loss in activity. Notably, they can be facilely reactivated by a combination of nitrolysis with co‐precipitation. The basic LDH skeletons could effectively stabilize the Pd0 species created in situ and donate electron density to the Pd0 center to facilitate the oxidative addition of aryl halides, thus the PdMgAl‐LDH catalysts are stable during catalysis.
Experimental Analysis on Carbon Residuum Transformed Epoxy Resin: Chicken Feather Fiber Hybrid Composite
Authors: Verma Akarsh , Negi Pratibha , Singh Vinay K.
Published: October 2018

In this research article, the mechanical analysis and microstructure investigation of chicken feather fiber with carbon residuum (CR) (obtained from crumb rubber) fused with epoxy resin hybrid composite has been done. The fibers surface was alkali treated with caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to improve the interfacial bonding with matrix and reinforcement. Herein, the composites were fabricated using the hand lay‐up technique. Chicken feathers in form of reinforcing fibers were taken in various weight percentages of 1, 3, 5, and 7. Various mechanical tests were performed in accordance with the ASTM standards, and it was perceived that the 5 weight percentage of chicken feathers recorded the optimum impact test results. Finally, the hybrid composites were fabricated with this weight percentage of feathers and varying weight percentages (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5) of CR. Mechanical testing was then conducted on these hybrid composites and determined that the tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength showed a substantial enhancement. The justification of this enhancement was provided through the microstructural tests that includes the scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Best results were forecasted for 5 wt% chicken feather and 1 wt% of CR hybrid composites amongst various combinations tried. Thus, noteworthy improvement in case of hybrid composite was seen as compared with neat epoxy. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2690–2699, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Modeling and interpreting large deformation behavior of rubber nanocomposites containing carbon nanotubes and nanoplatelets
Authors: Paran Seyed Mohammad Reza , Das Amit , Khonakdar Hossein Ali , Naderpour Navid , Heinrich Gert , Saeb Mohammad Reza
Published: October 2018

The principles of large deformation rubber viscoelasticity are not new, but there is a need to make explicit certain theories or modify the available models for deeper understanding of behavior of rubber nanocomposites. The difficulties are chiefly due to the assumptions under which a given theoretical model fails to predict large deformation behavior of elastomer nanocomposites, as models are basically proposed for neat rubbers, and more critically they can hardly be supposed to remain valid for systems in which two or more nanofillers having different nature, shape, and size are used. This work attempts to apply nonlinear hyperelastic theoretical models proposed for hyperelastic behavior of rubbers for nanocomposites containing multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs), and to explore the interplay between morphology, viscoelastic properties, and large deformation behavior of typical hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR)‐based rubber nanocomposites. Morphological observations used for knowing the localization of nanofillers, where dynamic mechanical and uniaxial tensile strength analyses exhibited a rise in both Young's modulus and tensile strength of composites by MWCNTs and GNPs content up to 200 and 160%, respectively. We applied Arruda‐Boyce model and appropriately predicted nonlinear hyperelastic behavior of HNBR model nanocomposites and interfacial interactions between phases, as recognized by comparing model parameters for nanocomposites containing only MWCNTs, or only GNPs, and their combinations varying filler content. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1548–E1558, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Development and validation of the McGill body image concerns scale for use in head and neck oncology (MBIS‐HNC): A mixed‐methods approach
Authors: Rodriguez Ana Maria , Frenkiel Saul , Desroches Justin , De Simone Avina , Chiocchio Francois , MacDonald Christina , Black Martin , Zeitouni Anthony , Hier Michael , Kost Karen , Mlynarek Alex , Bolster‐Foucault Clara , Rosberger Zeev , Henry Melissa
Published: October 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a patient‐reported outcome measure to evaluate body image concerns in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

Methods

Items were created using a combination of deductive (eg, US Food and Drug Administration Qualification of Clinical Outcome Assessments, literature review) and inductive approaches (eg, subject matter experts, HNC patients). Items were translated for use in both Canadian English and Canadian French using back‐translation. A two‐step empirical validation process using the Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT) was conducted with 224 and 258 HNC patients, respectively, having undergone disfiguring surgery within the past 3 years.

Results

Analyses suggest two subscales for MBIS‐HNC: social discomfort (10 items) and negative self‐image (11 items). The McGill Body Image Concerns Scale–Head and Neck Cancer (MBIS‐HNC) is reliable with high internal consistency (0.98), high test‐retest reliability over a two‐week period (ICC = 0.88), moderate to high convergent validity (range r = 0.43‐0.81), and divergent validity (range r = 0.12‐0.15). RMT was used in addition to CTT. Disordered thresholds led to the modification of the number of response options, and items were deleted based on differential item functioning and high local dependency. Unidimensionality of both subscales and supporting a total score was confirmed. The measure was however characterized by the presence of an important floor effect, confirmed with poor targeting as demonstrated by the person‐item threshold distribution.

Conclusion

Evidence gathered from our theory‐driven validation study using CTT and RMT provides practitioners and researchers with a useful and easy to use self‐report measure.
A Novel PBPK Modeling Approach to Assess Cytochrome P450 Mediated Drug‐Drug Interaction Potential of the Cytotoxic Prodrug Evofosfamide
Authors: Lüpfert Christian , Dyroff Martin , von Richter Oliver , Gallemann Dieter , El Bawab Samer , Dolgos Hugues , Jung Don , Hecht Stefan , Johne Andreas
Published: October 2018

Evofosfamide is a cytotoxic small‐molecule prodrug preferentially activated under hypoxic conditions. The cytotoxicity of evofosfamide impacted the generation of in vitro drug‐drug interaction (DDI) data, especially in vitro induction results. Therefore, a novel physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) approach was used, which involved available in vitro and clinical data of evofosfamide and combined it with induction data from the prototypical cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A inducer rifampicin. The area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC) ratios of midazolam were above 0.80, indicating that induction of CYP3A by evofosfamide administered weekly is unlikely to occur in humans. Moreover, static and PBPK modeling showed no clinically relevant inhibition via CYP2B6, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4. In conclusion, PBPK models were used to supplement in vitro information of a cytotoxic compound. This approach may set a precedent for future studies of cytotoxic drugs, potentially reducing the need for clinical DDI studies and providing more confidence in the clinical use of approved cytotoxic compounds for which DDI information is sparse.
Bayesian modeling and test planning for multiphase reliability assessment
Authors: Gilman James F. , Fronczyk Kassandra M. , Wilson Alyson G.
Published: October 2018

We propose a Bayesian hierarchical model to assess the reliability of a family of vehicles, based on the development of the joint light tactical vehicle (JLTV). The proposed model effectively combines information across three phases of testing and across common vehicle components. The analysis yields estimates of failure rates for specific failure modes and vehicles as well as an overall estimate of the failure rate for the family of vehicles. We are also able to obtain estimates of how well vehicle modifications between test phases improve failure rates. In addition to using all data to improve on current assessments of reliability and reliability growth, we illustrate how to leverage the information learned from the three phases to determine appropriate specifications for subsequent testing that will demonstrate if the reliability meets a given reliability threshold.
Footprint of knowledge acquisition improvement in failure diagnosis analysis
Authors: Yazdi Mohammad
Published: October 2018

Fault tree analysis (FTA) as an effective and efficient risk assessment tool are widely used to analyze the reliability of a complex system. In this context, FTA can properly improve the safety performance of the system by preventing an event which may lead to occurrence of a catastrophic accident. However, traditional FTA is still suffering from dynamic structure demonstration and importantly epistemic uncertainty processing. In this study, a novel methodology is introduced using Bayesian updating mechanism to deal with dynamic structure and 2‐tuple fuzzy set named as intuitionistic fuzzy numbers are employed to cope with subjectivity of uncertainty processing. Accordingly, the most critical system components which affect the system reliability are recognized by using an appropriate sensitivity analysis method. The proposed methodology is then applied on a real case study application (a brake fluid filling system) in order to examine the effectiveness and feasibility of the approach. The results illustrated that the new methodology can have enough benefits for diagnosing the systems' faults compared with listing approaches of safety and reliability analysis. In terms of empirical case study, “electromotor failure” was evaluated as the second most critical basic event in conventional‐based approaches, whereas in the novel methodology “high pressure liquefied material” was recognized as the second one.
Human chorionic gonadotropin value and its change prior to methotrexate treatment can predict the prognosis in ectopic tubal pregnancies
Authors: Watanabe Koichi , Chigusa Yoshitsugu , Kondoh Eiji , Mogami Haruta , Horie Akihito , Baba Tsukasa , Mandai Masaki
Published: October 2018

Purpose

To investigate the role of beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level and its change prior to methotrexate (MTX) treatment as predictors of treatment success and to access the posttreatment observation period for ectopic tubal pregnancy.

Methods

Clinical data of 41 females treated with MTX for tubal pregnancies were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively.

Results

Among 41 patients, 34 achieved complete resolution without surgery. No statistically significant difference was observed in the presence of hemorrhagic ascites, serum progesterone levels, or diameters of adnexal mass between the MTX success and failure groups. Serum HCG levels on the day of MTX administration (day 1) were significantly lower in the MTX success group. Moreover, % HCG change per day, which represents the increment ratio of HCG prior to MTX treatment, was significantly lower in the MTX success group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated that the treatment success was predicted by % HCG change per day less than +12.6% per day with a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 71%. The duration from treatment to complete recovery was strongly correlated with day 1 HCG levels.

Conclusions

Pretreatment HCG change is a significant predictor of therapeutic success of MTX treatment, and the treatment period may be predicted from initial HCG levels.
Anisotropically Aligned Cell‐Laden Nanofibrous Bundle Fabricated via Cell Electrospinning to Regenerate Skeletal Muscle Tissue
Authors: Yeo Miji , Kim Geun Hyung
Published: October 2018

For muscle regeneration, a uniaxially arranged micropattern is important to mimic the structure of the natural extracellular matrix. Recently, cell electrospinning (CE) has been tested to fabricate cell‐laden fibrous structures by embedding cells directly into micro/nanofibers. Although homogenous cell distribution and a reasonable cell viability of the cell‐laden fibrous structure fabricated using the CE process are achieved, unique topographical cues formed by an aligned fibrous structure have not been applied. In this study, a CE process to achieve not only homogeneous cell distribution with a high cell viability, but also highly aligned cells, which are guided by aligned alginate fibers is employed. To attain the aligned cell‐laden fibrous structure, various processing conditions are examined. The selected condition is applied using C2C12 myoblast cells to ensure the biocompatibility and guidance of cell elongation and alignment. As a control, a cell‐printed scaffold using a 3D bioprinter is used to compare the efficiency of cell alignment and differentiation of myoblasts. Highly arranged, multinucleated cell morphology is confirmed in the CE scaffold, which successively facilitates myogenic differentiation. It is believed that this study will be a new platform for obtaining cell alignment and will significantly benefit the efforts on muscle regeneration.
Open Borders for Business? Causes and Consequences of the Regulation of Foreign Entry
Authors: Davis Lewis , Williamson Claudia R.
Published: October 2018

While an extensive literature examines the regulation of entry by domestic firms, the causes and consequences of the regulation of entry by foreign firms have not been previously considered. First, we analyze the roles of culture, legal origin, democracy, and geographic openness as determinants of regulation of foreign entry. Strong evidence illustrates that more individualist cultures and geographically open countries regulate foreign entry less. Our findings also show that cultural values matter more in countries with common law traditions. In contrast, the association between democracy and the regulation of foreign entry is fragile. Next, we examine the consequences from foreign entry regulation. Evidence suggests a strong, negative, and economically significant association between the regulation of foreign entry and inward foreign direct investment (FDI). The regulation of domestic entry, however, is positively associated with FDI inflows. This result is robust to controlling for a variety of economic, cultural, and institutional variables.
Time evolution after double trace deformation
Authors: Miyaji Masamichi
Published: October 2018

Abstract

In this paper, we consider double trace deformation to single CFT2, and study time evolution after the deformation. The double trace deformation we consider is nonlocal: composed of two local operators placed at separate points. We study two types of local operators: one is usual local operator in CFT, and the other is HKLL bulk local operator, which is still operator in CFT but has properties as bulk local operator. We compute null energy and averaged null energy in the bulk in both types of deformations. We confirmed that, with the suitable choice of couplings, averaged null energies are negative. This implies causal structure is modified in the bulk, from classical background. We then calculate time evolution of entanglement entropy and entanglement Rényi entropy after double trace deformation. We find both quantities are found to show peculiar shockwave-like time evolution.
APOE genotypes as a risk factor for age‐dependent accumulation of cerebrovascular disease in older adults
Authors: Lamar Melissa , Yu Lei , Rubin Leah H. , James Bryan D. , Barnes Lisa L. , Farfel Jose Marcelo , Gaiteri Chris , Buchman Aron S. , Bennett David A. , Schneider Julie A.
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a susceptibility gene for late‐onset Alzheimer's disease neuropathology; less is known about the relationship between APOE and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) neuropathology.

Methods

We investigated associations of APOE status with arteriolosclerosis, macroinfarcts and microinfarcts, and atherosclerosis in 1383 adults (65.9–108.2 years at death) with and without dementia. Excluding ε2/ε4 carriers, multivariable regressions for each CVD‐related neuropathology compared ε4 and ε2 carriers to ε3/ε3 carriers adjusting for confounders including age and Alzheimer's neuropathology.

Results

Three hundred forty‐two individuals (24.7%; ∼87.7 years at death; 39.9% nondemented) were ε3/ε4 or ε4/ε4, and 180 (13.0%; ∼89.9 years at death; 66.6% nondemented) were ε2/ε3 or ε2/ε2. ε4 carriers had higher odds of macroinfarcts (odds ratio = 1.41, 95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.94, P = .03), whereas ε2 carriers had higher odds of moderate‐to‐severe arteriolosclerosis (odds ratio = 1.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.15–2.45, P = .006) compared to ε3/ε3 carriers. Age‐stratified analyses suggested that these relationships were driven by ε4 carriers <90 years at death and ε2 carriers ≥90 years at death, respectively.

Discussion

APOE differentially affects type and timing of CVD‐related neuropathology.
CDT2‐controlled cell cycle reentry regulates the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Huang Fang , Wang Minghui , Liu Rong , Wang Jian‐Zhi , Schadt Eric , Haroutunian Vahram , Katsel Pavel , Zhang Bin , Wang Xiaochuan
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Altered cell cycle reentry has been observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Denticleless (DTL) was predicted as the top driver of a cell cycle subnetwork associated with AD.

Methods

We systematically investigated DTL expression in AD and studied the molecular, cellular, and behavioral endophenotypes triggered by DTL overexpression.

Results

We experimentally validated that CDT2, the protein encoded by DTL, activated cyclin‐dependent kinases through downregulating P21, which induced tau hyperphosphorylation and Aβ toxicity, two hallmarks of AD. We demonstrated that cyclin‐dependent kinases inhibition by roscovitine not only rescued CDT2‐induced cognitive defects but also reversed expression changes induced by DTL overexpression. RNA‐seq data from the DTL overexpression experiments revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying CDT2 controlled cell cycle reentry in AD.

Discussion

These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of AD pathogenesis and thus pave a way for developing novel therapeutics for AD by targeting AD specific cell cycle networks and drivers.
Smaller medial temporal lobe volumes in individuals with subjective cognitive decline and biomarker evidence of Alzheimer's disease—Data from three memory clinic studies
Authors: Hu Xiaochen , Teunissen Charlotte E. , Spottke Annika , Heneka Michael T. , Düzel Emrah , Peters Oliver , Li Siyao , Priller Josef , Buerger Katharina , Teipel Stefan , Laske Christoph , Verfaillie Sander C.J. , Barkhof Frederik , Coll‐Padrós Nina , Rami Lorena , Molinuevo Jose Luis , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Jessen Frank
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Previous studies showed associations of brain volume differences and biomarker evidence for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The consistency of this finding across SCD studies has not been investigated.

Methods

We studied gray matter volume differences between SCD subjects with and without cerebrospinal fluid biomarker evidence for AD across three European memory clinic samples (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia study, Amsterdam, Barcelona). Analysis of covariance models with samples and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers as between‐subject factors were calculated.

Results

A significant main effect for AD biomarker (Aβ42− > Aβ42+) in the left medial temporal lobe (MTL) was found, with the absence of main effects for sample or interaction effects between AD biomarker and sample. This indicates consistent lower left MTL volume across three samples in SCD subjects with abnormal Aβ42 levels.

Discussion

Our results support the model that in the presence of AD pathology, SCD corresponds to the late preclinical stage (stage 2 of AD) with smaller MTL volumes.
Picture-Book Professors
Authors: Terras Melissa M.
Published: October 2018

How is academia portrayed in children's literature? This Element ambitiously surveys fictional professors in texts marketed towards children. Professors are overwhelmingly white and male, tending to be elderly scientists who fall into three stereotypes: the vehicle to explain scientific facts, the baffled genius, and the evil madman. By the late twentieth century, the stereotype of the male, mad, muddlehead, called Professor SomethingDumb, is formed in humorous yet pejorative fashion. This Element provides a publishing history of the role of academics in children's literature, questioning the book culture which promotes the enforcement of stereotypes regarding intellectual expertise in children's media. The Element is also available, with additional material, as Open Access.
The Economics of Tropical Farm Management
Authors: Makeham J. P. , Malcolm L. R.
Published: October 2018

Farmers all over the world have to decide what to produce and how to go about it. In the tropics, small farmers have to work with a limited resource-base which usually does not lead itself to highly productive systems of consistent crop and animal production. Yet those people who live in developing tropical countries should be concerned that their farmers do produce more from the limited resources with which they have to work. The principles of farm management economics and the applications of the tools and techniques of farm management analysis and planning can help small farmers in tropics to produce 'a bit more' from their lot. For the benefit of teachers and students of agriculture, farm extension advisors and agricultural planners and managers, this book sets out the principles and practices of farm management economics on small holdings in the tropics in a clear, simple, useful and usable way.