bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre-Rationalized Parametric Designing of Roof Shells Formed by Repetitive Modules of Catalan Surfaces
Authors: Dzwierzynska Jolanta , Prokopska Aleksandra
Published: April 2018

The aim of the study is to develop an original, methodical, and practical approach to the early stages of parametric design of roof shells formed by repetitive modules of Catalan surfaces. It is presented on the example of designing the roof shells compound of four concrete elements. The designing process proposed by us consists in linking geometric shaping of roofs’ models with their structural analysis and optimization. Contrary to other methods, which use optimization process in order to find free roof forms, we apply it in order to explore and improve design alternatives. It is realized with the application of designing tools working in Rhinoceros 3D software. The flexible scripts elaborated by us, in order to achieve roofs’ models of regular and symmetrical shapes, are converted into simulation models to perform structural analysis. It is mainly focused on how the roof shells perform dependently on their geometric characteristics. The simulation enables one to evaluate various roof shells’ shapes, as well as to select an optimal design solution. The proposed approach to the conceptual design process may drive the designing to achieve geometric and structural forms which not only follow the design intentions but also target better results.
Characterizing Phage Genomes for Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Philipson Casandra , Voegtly Logan , Lueder Matthew , Long Kyle , Rice Gregory , Frey Kenneth , Biswas Biswajit , Cer Regina , Hamilton Theron , Bishop-Lilly Kimberly
Published: April 2018

Multi-drug resistance is increasing at alarming rates. The efficacy of phage therapy, treating bacterial infections with bacteriophages alone or in combination with traditional antibiotics, has been demonstrated in emergency cases in the United States and in other countries, however remains to be approved for wide-spread use in the US. One limiting factor is a lack of guidelines for assessing the genomic safety of phage candidates. We present the phage characterization workflow used by our team to generate data for submitting phages to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for authorized use. Essential analysis checkpoints and warnings are detailed for obtaining high-quality genomes, excluding undesirable candidates, rigorously assessing a phage genome for safety and evaluating sequencing contamination. This workflow has been developed in accordance with community standards for high-throughput sequencing of viral genomes as well as principles for ideal phages used for therapy. The feasibility and utility of the pipeline is demonstrated on two new phage genomes that meet all safety criteria. We propose these guidelines as a minimum standard for phages being submitted to the FDA for review as investigational new drug candidates.
An Alternative Approach to Overcome the Limitation of HRUs in Analyzing Hydrological Processes Based on Land Use/Cover Change
Authors: Meng Fanhao , Liu Tie , Wang Hui , Luo Min , Duan Yongchao , Bao Anming
Published: April 2018

Since the concept of hydrological response units (HRUs) is used widely in hydrological modeling, the land use change scenarios analysis based on HRU may have direct influence on hydrological processes due to its simplified flow routing and HRU spatial distribution. This paper intends to overcome this issue based on a new analysis approach to explain what impacts for the impact of land use/cover change on hydrological processes (LUCCIHP), and compare whether differences exist between the conventional approach and the improved approach. Therefore, we proposed a sub-basin segmentation approach to obtain more reasonable impact assessment of LUCC scenario by re-discretizing the HRUs and prolonging the flow path in which the LUCC occurs. As a scenario study, the SWAT model is used in the Aksu River Basin, China, to simulate the response of hydrological processes to LUCC over ten years. Moreover, the impacts of LUCC on hydrological processes before and after model modification are compared and analyzed at three levels (catchment scale, sub-basin scale and HRU scale). Comparative analysis of Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (NSE), RSR and Pbias, model simulations before and after model improvement shows that NSE increased by up to 2%, RSR decreased from 0.73 to 0.72, and Pbias decreased from 0.13 to 0.05. The major LUCCs affecting hydrological elements in this basin are related to the degradation of grassland and snow/ice and expansion of farmland and bare land. Model simulations before and after model improvement show that the average variation of flow components in typical sub-basins (surface runoff, lateral flow and groundwater flow) are changed by +11.09%, −4.51%, and −6.58%, and +10.53%, −1.55%, and −8.98% from the base period model scenario, respectively. Moreover, the spatial response of surface runoff at the HRU level reveals clear spatial differences between before and after model improvement. This alternative approach illustrates the potential bias caused by the conventional configuration and offers the possible application.
Meteorological Driving Mechanisms and Human Impacts of the February 1979 Extreme Hydro-Geomorphological Event in Western Iberia
Authors: Rebelo Luís , Ramos Alexandre , Pereira Susana , Trigo Ricardo
Published: April 2018

The large number of floods and landslides that occurred on 5–16 February 1979 in Portugal was a major hydro-geomorphologic extreme event according to the DISASTER database in terms of number of displaced people. The February 1979 event is the top ranked episode in terms of the total number of evacuated people (4244), displaced people (14,322) and also on the number of days of event duration (12 days) for the period 1865–2015. In this event, 62 damaging floods and five damaging landslides causing eight fatalities were recorded in Portugal. This event was driven by an unusually intense atmospheric forcing mechanism acting at different time scales. Despite the intense magnitude and the widespread impact on the population, this event has not been studied in detail. In this study, we show that the precipitation period of February 1979 had produced several multi-day accumulated precipitation events over the Portuguese continental territory, ranking among the top 10 events observed between 1950–2008. Additionally, most of the precipitation from this event occured in days in which atmospheric circulation was dominated by “wet” circulation weather types (CWTs), namely, cyclonic (C), west (W) or southwest (SW) types.
Water Recycling via Aquifers for Sustainable Urban Water Quality Management: Current Status, Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Bekele Elise , Page Declan , Vanderzalm Joanne , Kaksonen Anna , Gonzalez Dennis
Published: April 2018

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is used worldwide in urban environments to replenish groundwater to provide a secure and sustainable supply of potable and non-potable water. It relies on natural treatment processes within aquifers (i.e., filtration, sorption, and degradation), and in some cases involves infiltration through the unsaturated zone to polish the given source water, e.g., treated wastewater, stormwater, or rainwater, to the desired quality prior to reuse. Whilst MAR in its early forms has occurred for millennia, large-scale schemes to replenish groundwater with advanced treated reclaimed water have come to the fore in cities such as Perth, Western Australia, Monterey, California, and Changwon, South Korea, as water managers consider provision for projected population growth in a drying climate. An additional bonus for implementing MAR in coastal aquifers is assisting in the prevention of seawater intrusion. This review begins with the rationale for large-scale MAR schemes in an Australian urban context, reflecting on the current status; describes the unique benefits of several common MAR types; and provides examples from around the world. It then explores several scientific challenges, ranging from quantifying aquifer removal for various groundwater contaminants to assessing risks to human health and the environment, and avoiding adverse outcomes from biogeochemical changes induced by aquifer storage. Scientific developments in the areas of water quality assessments, which include molecular detection methods for microbial pathogens and high resolution analytical chemistry methods for detecting trace chemicals, give unprecedented insight into the “polishing” offered by natural treatment. This provides opportunities for setting of compliance targets for mitigating risks to human health and maintaining high performance MAR schemes.
New Analysis Method for Continuous Base-Flow and Availability of Water Resources Based on Parallel Linear Reservoir Models
Authors: Mateo-Lázaro Jesús , Castillo-Mateo Jorge , Sánchez-Navarro José , Fuertes-Rodríguez Víctor , García-Gil Alejandro , Edo-Romero Vanesa
Published: April 2018

Water flows in the hydrosphere through a tangled and tortuous labyrinth of ways that is the hydrological cycle. Flow separation models are an attempt to group such complexity of paths into a few components of flow and storage so as to reflect the overall behaviour of a basin. A new method of analysis and separation of flow components, based on equations of dynamic relations between Linear Reservoirs connected in Parallel (PLR models), is developed in this article. A synthesis of models based on mathematical filter equations is carried out in order to make comparisons with the proposed model. Reference is also made to the methodology of adjustment and calibration of the PLR models based on the recession curves of the real hydrographs. The models are tested with the continuous register of a basin located in the northeast of Spain. The simulations are carried out with two reservoir models (2R models), three reservoirs (3R models) and with a mathematical filter model to compare the results. With the results of the models, flow duration curves (FDCs) and storage duration curves (SDCs) were elaborated, thus allowing assessment of the origin of the water resources of the basin, a guarantee of their regulation and availability, the dynamic storage in the catchment, residence times and other features.
Causal Analysis of Self-tracked Time Series Data Using a Counterfactual Framework for N-of-1 Trials*
Authors: Daza Eric
Published: April 2018

Background: Many of an individual’s historically recorded personal measurements vary over time, thereby forming a time series (e.g., wearable-device data, self-tracked fitness or nutrition measurements, regularly monitored clinical events or chronic conditions). Statistical analyses of such n-of-1 (i.e., single-subject) observational studies (N1OSs) can be used to discover possible cause-effect relationships to then self-test in an n-of-1 randomized trial (N1RT). However, a principled way of determining how and when to interpret an N1OS association as a causal effect (e.g., as if randomization had occurred) is needed.

Objectives: Our goal in this paper is to help bridge the methodological gap between risk-factor discovery and N1RT testing by introducing a basic counterfactual framework for N1OS design and personalized causal analysis.

Methods and Results: We introduce and characterize what we call the average period treatment effect (APTE), i.e., the estimand of interest in an N1RT, and build an analytical framework around it that can accommodate autocorrelation and time trends in the outcome, effect carryover from previous treatment periods, and slow onset or decay of the effect. The APTE is loosely defined as a contrast (e.g., difference, ratio) of averages of potential outcomes the individual can theoretically experience under different treatment levels during a given treatment period. To illustrate the utility of our framework for APTE discovery and estimation, two common causal inference methods are specified within the N1OS context. We then apply the framework and methods to search for estimable and interpretable APTEs using six years of the author’s self-tracked weight and exercise data, and report both the preliminary findings and the challenges we faced in conducting N1OS causal discovery.

Conclusions: Causal analysis of an individual’s time series data can be facilitated by an N1RT counterfactual framework. However, for inference to be valid, the veracity of certain key assumptions must be assessed critically, and the hypothesized causal models must be interpretable and meaningful.
Cosmic-Ray Propagation in Turbulent Spiral Magnetic Fields Associated with Young Stellar Objects
Authors: Fatuzzo Marco , Adams Fred C.
Published: April 2018

External cosmic rays impinging upon circumstellar disks associated with young stellar objects provide an important source of ionization, and, as such, play an important role in disk evolution and planet formation. However, these incoming cosmic rays are affected by a variety of physical processes internal to stellar/disk systems, including modulation by turbulent magnetic fields. Globally, these fields naturally provide both a funneling effect, where cosmic rays from larger volumes are focused into the disk region, and a magnetic mirroring effect, where cosmic rays are repelled due to the increasing field strength. This paper considers cosmic-ray propagation in the presence of a turbulent spiral magnetic field, analogous to that produced by the solar wind. The interaction of this wind with the interstellar medium defines a transition radius, analogous to the heliopause, which provides the outer boundary to this problem. We construct a new coordinate system where one coordinate follows the spiral magnetic field lines and consider magnetic perturbations to the field in the perpendicular directions. The presence of magnetic turbulence replaces the mirroring points with a distribution of values and moves the mean location outward. Our results thus help quantify the degree to which cosmic-ray fluxes are reduced in circumstellar disks by the presence of magnetic field structures that are shaped by stellar winds. The new coordinate system constructed herein should also be useful in other astronomical applications.
The Initial Mass Function of the First Stars Inferred from Extremely Metal-poor Stars
Authors: Ishigaki Miho N. , Tominaga Nozomu , Kobayashi Chiaki , Nomoto Ken’ichi
Published: April 2018

We compare the elemental abundance patterns of ∼200 extremely metal-poor (EMP; [Fe/H] < −3) stars to the supernova yields of metal-free stars, in order to obtain insights into the characteristic masses of the first (Population III or Pop III) stars in the universe. The supernova yields are prepared with nucleosynthesis calculations of metal-free stars with various initial masses (M = 13, 15, 25, 40 and 100 M
⊙) and explosion energies (E
51 = E/1051[erg] = 0.5–60), to include low-energy, normal-energy, and high-energy explosions. We adopt the mixing-fallback model, to take into account possible asymmetry in the supernova explosions, and the yields that best fit the observed abundance patterns of the EMP stars are searched by varying the model parameters. We find that the abundance patterns of the EMP stars are predominantly best-fitted by the supernova yields with initial masses M < 40 M
⊙, and that more than than half of the stars are best-fitted by the M = 25 M
⊙ hypernova (E
51 = 10) models. The results also indicate that the majority of the primordial supernovae have ejected 10−2–10−1
M
⊙ of 56Ni, leaving behind a compact remnant (either a neutron star or a black hole), with a mass in the range of ∼1.5–5 M
⊙. These results suggest that the masses of the first stars responsible for the first metal enrichment are predominantly <40 M
⊙. This implies that the higher-mass first stars were either less abundant, directly collapsed into a black hole without ejecting heavy elements, or a supernova explosion of a higher-mass first star inhibits the formation of the next generation of low-mass stars at [Fe/H] < −3.
Maser Emission from Gravitational States on Isolated Neutron Stars
Authors: Tepliakov Nikita V. , Vovk Tatiana A. , Rukhlenko Ivan D. , Rozhdestvensky Yuri V.
Published: April 2018

Despite years of research on neutron stars, the source of their radio emission is still under debate. Here we propose a new coherent mechanism of pulsar radio emission based on transitions between gravitational states of electrons confined above the pulsar atmosphere. Our mechanism assumes that the coherent radiation is generated upon the electric and magnetic dipole transitions of electrons falling onto the polar caps of the pulsar, and predicts that this radiation occurs at radio frequencies—in full agreement with the observed emission spectra. We show that while the linearly polarized electric dipole radiation propagates parallel to the neutron star surface and has a fan-shape angular spectrum, the magnetic dipole emission comes from the magnetic poles of the pulsar in the form of two narrow beams and is elliptically polarized due to the spin–orbit coupling of electrons confined by the magnetic field. By explaining the main observables of the pulsar radio emission, the proposed mechanism indicates that gravitational quantum confinement plays an essential role in the physics of neutron stars.
From Large-scale to Protostellar Disk Fragmentation into Close Binary Stars
Authors: Sigalotti Leonardo Di G. , Cruz Fidel , Gabbasov Ruslan , Klapp Jaime , Ramírez-Velasquez José
Published: April 2018

Recent observations of young stellar systems with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array are helping to cement the idea that close companion stars form via fragmentation of a gravitationally unstable disk around a protostar early in the star formation process. As the disk grows in mass, it eventually becomes gravitationally unstable and fragments, forming one or more new protostars in orbit with the first at mean separations of 100 au or even less. Here, we report direct numerical calculations down to scales as small as ∼0.1 au, using a consistent Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics code, that show the large-scale fragmentation of a cloud core into two protostars accompanied by small-scale fragmentation of their circumstellar disks. Our results demonstrate the two dominant mechanisms of star formation, where the disk forming around a protostar (which in turn results from the large-scale fragmentation of the cloud core) undergoes eccentric (m = 1) fragmentation to produce a close binary. We generate two-dimensional emission maps and simulated ALMA 1.3 mm continuum images of the structure and fragmentation of the disks that can help explain the dynamical processes occurring within collapsing cloud cores.
“Slow-scanning” in Ground-based Mid-infrared Observations
Authors: Ohsawa Ryou , Sako Shigeyuki , Miyata Takashi , Kamizuka Takafumi , Okada Kazushi , Mori Kiyoshi , Uchiyama Masahito S. , Yamaguchi Junpei , Fujiyoshi Takuya , Morii Mikio , Ikeda Shiro
Published: April 2018

Chopping observations with a tip-tilt secondary mirror have conventionally been used in ground-based mid-infrared observations. However, it is not practical for next generation large telescopes to have a large tip-tilt mirror that moves at a frequency larger than a few hertz. We propose an alternative observing method, a “slow-scanning” observation. Images are continuously captured as movie data, while the field of view is slowly moved. The signal from an astronomical object is extracted from the movie data by a low-rank and sparse matrix decomposition. The performance of the “slow-scanning” observation was tested in an experimental observation with Subaru/COMICS. The quality of a resultant image in the “slow-scanning” observation was as good as in a conventional chopping observation with COMICS, at least for a bright point-source object. The observational efficiency in the “slow-scanning” observation was better than that in the chopping observation. The results suggest that the “slow-scanning” observation can be a competitive method for the Subaru telescope and be of potential interest to other ground-based facilities to avoid chopping.
Renal cell carcinoma drug and cell therapy: today and tomorrow
Authors: Pushkin Anton A. , Burda Yuriy E. , Sevast’yanov Aleksandr A. , Kulikovskiy Vladimir F. , Burda Svetlana Yu. , Golubinskaya Polina A. , Zvyagina Alina K. , Kulyushina Natal’ya V.
Published: April 2018

Today, considerable progress in the renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treatment has been made due to development of targeted and immunotherapeutic approaches to the RCC treatment, especially in metastasising carcinoma. In the early stages of RCC, it is possible to use partial or total surgical nephrectomy, but in metastases development, the range of efficient treatment methods is dramatically limited. Appearance of targeted drugs like PD-1 and CTLA-4 receptors and their ligands’ inhibitors in clinical practice has significantly increased the total survival rate of patients with renal cell carcinoma. Emergence of adoptive cell therapy has opened new possibilities and prospects in RCC treatment. Previously activated in vitro cells are used there, which provides antineoplastic activity. For example, it could be antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL), lymphokine-activated natural killers (LAK-NK-cells) and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). In this review, the authors specified the main molecular markers, associated with RCC; and signalling pathways (VEGFR- and EGFR-signalling pathway), which directly take part in carcinogenesis. The paper also looks at clinically applicable targeted immune drugs and the principle of their effect on tumorous cells. Besides, modern clinical studies of cell drugs have been considered. At the moment, there are a number of variants of targeted and immune drugs for the metastatic RCC treatment. Patients have no opportunity to use all the available agents because of their cost and toxicity level. For the most efficient treatment of patients with diagnosed metastatic RCC, it is necessarily to carry out risk stratification and prognostic factors for the response to treatment.
Melatonin as an effective pharmacocorrector of alimentary obesity resulting from a long-term excessive intake of palm oil
Authors: Bibik Elena Y. , Shipilova Natalia V. , Demenko Andrey V.
Published: April 2018

Introduction: In the modern world, the problem of alimentary obesity is becoming one of the global problems affecting all countries. Desynchronosis of bodily rhythms is another possible cause of development of alimentary obesity and metabolic syndrome. Thus, the purpose of this research was to study the influence of melatonin on the dynamics of body weight in rats.

Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out on 150 white non-pedigree rats (females and males), which were divided into 3 groups (intact, control, experimental) and 3 series (immature, mature and senile rats). The animals of the control group received refined palm oil at a dose of 30 g/kg for a period of 6 weeks in their daily diet. The rats of the experimental group received melatonin at a dose of 1.9 mg/kg per day intragastrically for 35 days, after the 6-week period of excess palm oil intake was over. During the experiment, once every 7 days, the animals’ weight check was done, followed by assessing the dynamics of weight gain in rats in different age groups.

Results and Discussion: It was determined that, in the group of the immature animals, an intake of palm oil resulted in the most obvious significant changes in the body weight over time. An increase in the total cholesterol and triglycerides concentration was observed in the biochemical blood tests of the animals of various age groups.

Conclusion: The use of melatonin at a dose of 1.9 mg/kg per day for 35 days proved highly effective in the animals of all age groups and led to a significant alignment of changes in the biochemical parameters studied in the rats of all ontogenesis periods.
« C’est mon moment. » Le temps pour soi des ouvrières et des employées
Authors: Masclet Olivier
Published: April 2018

Les ouvrières et les employées d’aujourd’hui disposent-elles d’un temps « à elles », affranchi des charges familiales et professionnelles ? Si le temps personnel de ces femmes est fréquemment empreint de dimension familiale, l’analyse ne saurait se limiter au constat de la force du « nous » dans les milieux populaires : à de nombreux moments le « je » prime en effet très clairement. Tout en montrant les inégalités entre les femmes des catégories populaires et les autres femmes face au temps pour soi, cet article repère les activités de temps libre qu’elles investissent d’une dimension personnelle et rend compte de la standardisation du temps pour soi, c’est-à-dire à la fois de l’appropriation et de la banalisation de la norme du temps personnel dans les ménages des classes populaires. Il montre que le temps pour soi est pour ces femmes un moyen de marquer des limites à la condition d’épouse et de mère autant qu’à la position subalterne de leur emploi.
Le conseil en égalité professionnelle : quel genre d’entreprise ?
Authors: Blanchard Soline
Published: April 2018

Les années 2000 ont été le théâtre du développement d’une nouvelle activité de travail en France : le conseil en égalité professionnelle. Elle réunit des prestataires qui vendent des services visant à accompagner les organisations dans leurs démarches internes de promotion de cette thématique. Cet article se propose d’appréhender ces protagonistes au prisme du genre, afin d’explorer un paradoxe déjà observé dans d’autres contextes : pris·es dans un espace social structuré par le genre, les promotrices/promoteurs de l’égalité ont tendance à (re)produire les inégalités qu’elles/ils prétendent pourtant combattre. Se concentrant sur une catégorie particulière de prestataires, les femmes créatrices d’activité, l’analyse met en lumière une articulation complexe entre logiques de subversion et logiques de reproduction du genre.
Une « résistible » féminisation ? Le recrutement des gardiennes de la paix
Authors: Gautier Frédéric
Published: April 2018

La décision d’ouvrir aux femmes l’accès au concours de gardien·ne de la paix puis la suppression officielle des quotas limitant leur recrutement ont contribué, pour une large part, à la féminisation de la police nationale. Toutefois, les femmes restent largement sous-représentées parmi les gardiens de la paix. Si, de ce point de vue, la morphologie de l’institution change peu, c’est d’abord parce que les candidatures féminines sont plus rares que les candidatures masculines : socialement moins probables, elles constituent encore une forme de transgression qui requiert des propriétés et dispositions particulières. C’est également parce que les pratiques des recruteur·trice·s exigent des hommes un droit d’entrée moins élevé que celui dont les femmes doivent s’acquitter, tout en valorisant les candidates qui donnent des signes de leur capacité à jouer le jeu et à se plier aux règles d’un modèle viriliste qui reste dominant dans l’institution.
D-Cycloserine: A Novel Antidepressant to Be Explored?
Authors: Brainch Navjot , Virani Sanya , Bazzi Lama
Published: April 2018

The shortcomings of existing antidepressants used in patients with treatment-resistant depression have evoked much interest in exploring novel yet cost-effective drugs that target N-methyl D-aspartate receptors. In addition to ketamine, evidence for the effectiveness of the antituberculosis drug D-cycloserine (DCS) in this realm has also been steadily accumulating. Systematic searches of the PubMed, Cochrane, and MEDLINE Plus databases were conducted to identify studies on the antidepressant effects of DCS. Results from one case series, four double-blinded trials, and two open-label studies comprising a total of 134 participants who had received DCS are summarized. These studies reported that DCS was safe and well tolerated, and four of them showed a reduction in depressive symptoms without psychomimetic and dissociative effects. We present the limited but convincing evidence to suggest the promising antidepressant properties of DCS when administered independently at high dose or as an adjuvant in controlled settings.

[
Psychiatr Ann.
2018;48(4):193–198.]
Beyond Depression: Ketamine and Glutamatergic Agents for PTSD, OCD, and Other Potential Applications
Authors: Dougherty John W. , Ettensohn Marc F. , Levine Steven P.
Published: April 2018

Ketamine and other glutamatergic drugs have been slowly gaining traction in the psychiatric realm for the treatment of multiple conditions. Although monoamine modulators remain the stalwarts of pharmacologic treatment, glutamatergic agents are becoming options for those patients with treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other disorders that have been associated with dysfunctional glutamatergic pathways. To date, medications such as ketamine, lamotrigine, memantine, and D-cycloserine, among others, have demonstrated some efficacy for PTSD and OCD, although mostly in small studies for conditions not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Other disorders, such as traumatic brain injury, autistic spectrum disorders, and eating disorders, may benefit from glutamate modulators; however, the literature on these applications is currently limited.

[
Psychiatr Ann.
2018;48(4):184–188.]
Ketamine and Its Pharmacologic Profile in Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Dugar Anand , Ettensohn Marc F. , Levine Steven P.
Published: April 2018

Ketamine is used to treat psychiatric conditions at low doses to minimize risks associated with anesthetic sedation. Dissociative phenomena and minimally increased heart rate and blood pressure are among the most common but transient side effects during intravenous ketamine infusion. When used in common medical practice as an anesthetic, analgesic, and antidepressant, there is little evidence to support nonreversible adverse events. Several retrospective studies have demonstrated that daily, illicit use of ketamine at high doses over a period of years is associated with neurocognitive dysfunction and ketamine-induced cystitis. Although ketamine may have use in special populations, screening for active psychosis, illicit ketamine use, a history of cystitis, and severe or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease is critical when determining the appropriateness of ketamine treatment.

[
Psychiatr Ann.
2018;48(4):170–174.]
Using a Health Literacy Analytic Framework to Explore Zika Virus and Reproductive Health
Authors: Thompson Erika L. , Vamos Cheryl A. , Liggett Langdon G. , Griner Stacey B. , Daley Ellen M.
Published: April 2018

Background:

The emergence of Zika virus as sexually transmissible and associated with birth defects may affect reproductive planning and contraception use for people in Florida.

Objective:

This exploratory study employed a health literacy analytic framework to explore knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to reproductive health in the context of Zika among reproductive-age women and men in Florida.

Methods:

Reproductive-age people in Florida (
N
= 40) were interviewed between September and December 2016 about their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding Zika and reproductive health. Thematic analysis using a health literacy framework was employed.

Key Results:

Participants reported they would use reputable online sources to access Zika information. Whereas participants generally understood Zika outcomes, transmission, and symptoms, they reported hearing more prevention messages on mosquito transmission compared to sexual transmission. Overall, participants reported Zika was not concerning given their appraisal of personal circumstances. Participants were confident they could prevent Zika via sexual transmission despite not following the recommended guidelines. Participants discussed how their understanding of Zika changed their behaviors related to mosquito control but not through sexual transmission.

Conclusions:

This study illustrated a disconnect between reproductive-age people's understanding of Zika-related prevention information and their reproductive decision-making behavior. Strategies to promote appraisal of risk for sexual transmission of Zika, infection, and unintended pregnancy are needed.

[
HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice.
2018;2(2):e78–e87.]

Plain Language Summary:

Men and women of reproductive age in Florida may be at risk for Zika virus and related negative health outcomes. This study assessed how Florida men and women find, understand, and evaluate Zika-related health information, and how that applies to their prevention behaviors. This study used health literacy as an analytic framework for an emerging health issue.
CD83 Antibody Inhibits Human B Cell Responses to Antigen as well as Dendritic Cell–Mediated CD4 T Cell Responses
Authors: Wong Kuan Y. , Baron Rebecca , Seldon Therese A. , Jones Martina L. , Rice Alison M. , Munster David J.
Published: April 2018

Anti-CD83 Ab capable of Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity can deplete activated CD83+ human dendritic cells, thereby inhibiting CD4 T cell–mediated acute graft-versus-host disease. As CD83 is also expressed on the surface of activated B lymphocytes, we hypothesized that anti-CD83 would also inhibit B cell responses to stimulation. We found that anti-CD83 inhibited total IgM and IgG production in vitro by allostimulated human PBMC. Also, Ag-specific Ab responses to immunization of SCID mice xenografted with human PBMC were inhibited by anti-CD83 treatment. This inhibition occurred without depletion of all human B cells because anti-CD83 lysed activated CD83+ B cells by Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and spared resting (CD83−) B cells. In cultured human PBMC, anti-CD83 inhibited tetanus toxoid–stimulated B cell proliferation and concomitant dendritic cell–mediated CD4 T cell proliferation and expression of IFN-γ and IL-17A, with minimal losses of B cells (<20%). In contrast, the anti-CD20 mAb rituximab depleted >80% of B cells but had no effect on CD4 T cell proliferation and cytokine expression. By virtue of the ability of anti-CD83 to selectively deplete activated, but not resting, B cells and dendritic cells, with the latter reducing CD4 T cell responses, anti-CD83 may be clinically useful in autoimmunity and transplantation. Advantages might include inhibited expansion of autoantigen- or alloantigen-specific B cells and CD4 T cells, thus preventing further production of pathogenic Abs and inflammatory cytokines while preserving protective memory and regulatory cells.
Cutting Edge: Protection by Antiviral Memory CD8 T Cells Requires Rapidly Produced Antigen in Large Amounts
Authors: Remakus Sanda , Ma Xueying , Tang Lingjuan , Xu Ren-Huan , Knudson Cory , Melo-Silva Carolina R. , Rubio Daniel , Kuo Yin-Ming , Andrews Andrew , Sigal Luis J.
Published: April 2018

Numerous attempts to produce antiviral vaccines by harnessing memory CD8 T cells have failed. A barrier to progress is that we do not know what makes an Ag a viable target of protective CD8 T cell memory. We found that in mice susceptible to lethal mousepox (the mouse homolog of human smallpox), a dendritic cell vaccine that induced memory CD8 T cells fully protected mice when the infecting virus produced Ag in large quantities and with rapid kinetics. Protection did not occur when the Ag was produced in low amounts, even with rapid kinetics, and protection was only partial when the Ag was produced in large quantities but with slow kinetics. Hence, the amount and timing of Ag expression appear to be key determinants of memory CD8 T cell antiviral protective immunity. These findings may have important implications for vaccine design.
Microbiological profile of chicken carcasses: A comparative analysis using shotgun metagenomic sequencing
Authors: De Cesare Alessandra , Palma Federica , Lucchi Alex , Pasquali Frederique , Manfreda Gerardo
Published: April 2018

In the last few years metagenomic and 16S rRNA sequencing have completly changed the microbiological investigations of food products. In this preliminary study, the microbiological profile of chicken carcasses collected from animals fed with different diets were tested by using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. A total of 15 carcasses have been collected at the slaughetrhouse at the end of the refrigeration tunnel from chickens reared for 35 days and fed with a control diet (n=5), a diet supplemented with 1500 FTU/kg of commercial phytase (n=5) and a diet supplemented with 1500 FTU/kg of commercial phytase and 3g/kg of inositol (n=5). Ten grams of neck and breast skin were obtained from each carcass and submited to total DNA extraction by using the DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit (Qiagen). Sequencing libraries have been prepared by using the Nextera XT DNA Library Preparation Kit (Illumina) and sequenced in a HiScanSQ (Illumina) at 100 bp in paired ends. A number of sequences ranging between 5 and 9 million was obtained for each sample. Sequence analysis showed that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes represented more than 98% of whole bacterial populations associated to carcass skin in all groups but their abundances were different between groups. Moraxellaceae and other degradative bacteria showed a significantly higher abundance in the control compared to the treated groups. Furthermore, Clostridium perfringens showed a relative frequency of abundance significantly higher in the group fed with phytase and Salmonella enterica in the group fed with phytase plus inositol. The results of this preliminary study showed that metagenome sequencing is suitable to investigate and monitor carcass microbiota in order to detect specific pathogenic and/or degradative populations.
The Role of Clinical Variables and VKORC1 Polymorphism in Efficacy and Stability of Acenocoumarol in Neurological Patients
Authors: Kumar Surendra , Dubey Ashish Kant , Kalita Jayantee , Misra Usha Kant
Published: April 2018

Objective: To analyze the clinical importance of VKORC1 polymorphism and its correlation with stability of oral anticoagulation. Patients and Methods: In a hospital-based study, the patients on oral anticoagulant (OAC) were included during 2013–2016. The patients received OAC for cardioembolic stroke, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), and prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Demographic, clinical, and neurological findings were recorded. Stability of anticoagulation was determined by percentage of time international normalized ratio (INR) values were in therapeutic range. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) >65% was defined as stable and <65% was defined unstable. VKORC 1 polymorphism was studied by polymerase chain reaction and correlated with daily dose of OAC and stability of INR. Results: A total of 157 patients with a median age of 40 years were included in the study. Ninety-two patients received OAC for secondary stroke prevention, 62 for CVST, and 3 for DVT. Out of 2976 INR reports, 1458 (49%) were in the therapeutic range, 997 (33.1%) were below the therapeutic range, and 521 (17.5%) were above the therapeutic level. Stable INR was obtained in 75 (47.77%) patients which was improved by drug modification in 3 and dietary adjustment in 12 patients. VKORC1 polymorphism revealed GG genotype in 127 (80.9%), GA genotype in 22 (14%), and AA genotype in 8 (5.1%) patients. Therapeutic range of INR was seen in 49%, below therapeutic range was seen in 31.5%, and above in 17.5%. Conclusion: VKORC1 polymorphism was related to mean daily dose of OAC but not to the stability of INR.
Caregiver Burden among Caregivers of Mentally Ill Individuals and Their Coping Mechanisms
Authors: Walke Sujata Chodankar , Chandrasekaran Varalakshmi , Mayya Shreemathi S.
Published: April 2018

Background: During a given year, almost 30% of the people around the world are affected by mentally ill health. In India, it accounts for about 20%. Caregivers face a lot of strain, ill health, and disrupted family life, with literature suggesting an increasing concern about their ability to cope up. The needs of caregivers of the mentally ill are given low priority in the current health-care setting in India. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the burden of caregivers of mentally ill individuals and their coping mechanisms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was employed with a quantitative approach. A convenient sample of 320 caregivers was taken from two private tertiary care centers and one public secondary care center in Udupi taluk. This study was conducted using the Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS) and Brief Cope Scale (BCS). Statistical analysis was done on categorical variables, and they were expressed as frequencies and percentages. Continuous variables were measured using mean and standard deviation. Univariate and multivariate analysis using binomial logistic regression was done. SPSS version 15 was used to analyze the data. Results: According to BAS, severe burden accounted for 40.9% and moderate for 59.1%. The highest amount of burden was seen in the areas of physical and mental health, spouse related, and in areas of external support. The BCS showed that the most frequently used coping styles were practicing religion, active coping, and planning. Conclusion: This study concluded that caregivers of the mentally ill individuals do undergo a lot of burden. Hence, there is a need to develop strategies that can help them such as providing them with a support structure as well as counseling services.
Clinical Profile of Parkinson's Disease: Experience of Niger
Authors: Assadeck Hamid , Daouda Moussa Toudou , Djibo Fatimata Hassane , Maiga Djibo Douma , Omar Eric Adehossi
Published: April 2018

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative pathology with unknown etiology. It is characterized clinically by the classic triad that associated tremors, bradykinesia, and rigidity. In Niger, there are no data on PD. Aims: We aimed to provide the demographic and clinical profile of PD in patients from Niger to create a database on PD in Niger. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at the Neurology Outpatient Clinic of the Hôpital National de Niamey (HNN, Niger) over a period of 4.42 years from February 2009 to July 2013 collecting all cases of PD. The demographic and clinical features of all patients were collected and analyzed. Results: During the period of the study, 1695 patients consulted at the Neurology Outpatient Clinic of the HNN, among which 76 patients (4.48%) had secondary parkinsonism and 25 patients (1.47%) had features compatible with PD. Only patients with PD were included in this study. The mean age at onset of symptoms was 58 years (range: 42–74 years). The male sex was predominant (60%) with a sex ratio of 1.5. The mean time interval from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis of PD was 1.8 years (range: 1–5 years). The tremor was the most common symptom (84%). Bradykinesia represented 64% of the symptoms and rigidity 20%. At the time of the diagnosis of PD, 8 patients (32%) were in Stage I of the classification of Hoehn and Yahr, 16 patients (64%) in Stage II, and 1 patient (4%) in Stage III. The levodopa/carbidopa combination was the most used antiparkinsonian drug in our patients (88%). The mean time of follow-up of the patients was 2.5 years (range: 1–4.42 years). During the course of the disease, 9 patients (36%) were in Stage II of the classification of Hoehn and Yahr, 13 patients (52%) in Stage III, and 3 patients (12%) in Stage IV. Conclusion: Our study provides demographic and clinical data of PD in patients from Niger and shows that the hospital frequency of this disease is low (1.47%). The demographic and clinical features of our patients are similar to those of the patients of the prior studies reported in sub-Saharan Africa.
Repeated Peritoneal Catheter Blockage Caused by Neurocysticercosis Following Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement for Hydrocephalus
Authors: Li Zhi Hua , Wang Zhong Quan , Cui Jing , Guo Fu You
Published: April 2018

Cerebral cysticercosis is common, but the possibility for repeated occurrence of peritoneal catheter blockage caused by neurocysticercosis (NCC) after two revisions following ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for hydrocephalus is unusual. Herein, we describe one rare case in which peritoneal catheter revision was performed two times unsuccessfully. Endoscopic cysternostomy rather than peritoneal catheter adjustment was performed successfully, and histopathological examination of excised cystic samples confirmed NCC in our hospital. The present case highlights the need for awareness of NCC as a possible etiology of hydrocephalus, especially in developing countries. Uncommon findings in both lateral ventricles following low-field magnetic resonance imaging scans as well as the rarity of this infection involved in unusual location play important roles in misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment for hydrocephalus; thus, endoscopic cysternostomy, rather than multiple shunt adjustment of the peritoneal end, is recommended in the selected patient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of hydrocephalus caused by cerebral cysticercosis in China.
Practical consensus recommendaton for adjuvant bone-modifying agents in breast cancer
Authors: Bharatuar A. , Kar M. , Khatri S. , Goswami V. , Sarin R. , Dawood S. , Iyenger R. , Ganvir M. , Parikh Purvish M. , Aggarwal S. , Talwar Vineet
Published: April 2018

Bone-modifying therapy is a primary research interest in breast cancer. Several features contribute to the importance of the bone environment in the management of breast cancer. Firstly, bone metastases represent the most common site of breast cancer metastases and secondly, the emergence of cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL) among breast cancer survivors and patients is of increasing concern. In the adjuvant setting, bisphosphonates can be given to prevent and treat tumor therapy-induced bone loss in premenopausal and postmenopausal women and, owing to their beneficial effect on bone turnover, have also been evaluated for prevention of bone metastases occurrence. Expert oncologists discusses on the update on the approaches of Bone-modifying Agents and its treatment options. This expert group used data from published literature, practical experience and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists to arrive at this practical consensus recommendations for the benefit of community oncologists.
Practical consensus recommendations regarding the management of HER2 neu positive metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Basade M. , Singhal M. , Rathi A. K. , Nandi M. , Minhas S. , Goswami S. , Shinde S. , Parikh P. M. , Aggarwal S.
Published: April 2018

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is cancer that has spread from the breast to another part of the body or has come back in another distant location. Treatment options for MBC depend on several factors, including where the cancer has spread, the patient's overall health, and the levels of hormone receptors and HER2 in the tumour. Over-expression of HER2 is generally considered to be a negative prognostic feature because it accompanies an increase in breast cancer mortality. However, the development of agents that specifically target HER2 has improved the management of patients with these tumours.[7],[8],[9],[10] This expert group used data from published literature, practical experience and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists to arrive at these practical consensus recommendations in regards with the use of these agents and the management of HER2 positive MBC for the benefit of community oncologists.
Practical consensus recommendations for neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Bhattacharyya G. S. , Walia M. , Nandi M. , Murli A. , Salim S. , Rajpurohit S. , Shinde S. , Aggarwal S. , Parikh P. M.
Published: April 2018

This manuscript provides a practical and easy to use consensus recommendation to community oncologists on how to use neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer patients.