bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantification of Soluble or Insoluble Fractions ofLeishmaniaParasite Proteins in Microvolume Applications: A Simplification to Standard Lowry Assay
Authors: Deepachandi Bhagya , Weerasinghe Sudath , Andrahennadi Thisira Priyantha , Karunaweera Nadira D. , Wickramarachchi Nadeeja , Soysa Preethi , Siriwardana Yamuna
Published: March 2020

Protein quantification is often an essential step in any research field that involves proteins. Although the standard Lowry assay and its modifications are most abundantly used in protein quantification, the existing methods are rigid or often demonstrate nonlinearity between protein concentration and color intensity. A method for fast and accurate qualitative and/or quantitative determination of total soluble/insoluble proteins or micro-well plate immobilized proteins isolated fromLeishmaniaparasites in microvolumes was described in the current study. Improvements in cost-effective techniques are necessary to increase the research outputs in resource-limited settings. This method is a modification to the established Lowry assay for protein quantification. Concentrations of unknown samples were calculated using a standard curve prepared using a standard series of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The optimized reagents were 2 N NaOH (sodium hydroxide), 2% Na2CO3(sodium carbonate), 1% CuSO4(copper sulfate), 2% KNaC4H4O6(potassium sodium tartrate), and 2 N Folin and Ciocalteu’s phenol. This modified protein assay was sensitive for quantifyingLeishmaniaproteins in a total crude extract or in a soluble fraction within the approximate range of 10–500 μg/ml (1–50 μg/assay) and showed a linearity between color intensity and concentration of the protein. This is an easier, fast, and accurate method for quantifying proteins with microvolumes in a cost-effective manner for routine use in research laboratories in resource-limited settings.
Investigation of the Implications of “Haze Special Law” on Air Quality in South Korea
Authors: Wang Jian , Kim Junseok , Shao Wei
Published: March 2020

In this work, the air pollution index in three cities (Seoul, Busan, and Daegu) in South Korea was studied using multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA). Hurst, Renyi, and Holder exponents were used to analyze the characteristics of the concentration time series of PM2.5 and NO2. The results showed that multifractality exists in each season interval and the multifractal degree of PM2.5 is stronger than that of NO2. To investigate the effects of the implementation of the “haze special law” on February 15, 2019, we analyzed the time series of PM2.5 during the time periods from February 15, 2018, to December 16, 2018, and February 15, 2019, to December 16, 2019. We found that the multifractal spectrum width after the implementation of the law was narrower than that before the law for all the cities, which shows that the enactment of the law has played a role in improving the efficiency of air pollution control in South Korea. We also conclude that the major effects of the law will be particularly visible in larger cities. To study the main causes of multifractality, the shuffled and phase-randomized series were analyzed using MF-DFA, and the results demonstrated that the fat-tailed distribution resulted in the multifractality of the time series before and after the implementation of the “haze special law” in Seoul and Daegu, whereas long-range correlation resulted in multifractality of the series before and after the implementation of the law in Busan.
Finite Element Simulation and Performance Test of Loading and Mixing Characteristics of Self-Propelled Total Mixed Ration Mixer
Authors: Tian Fuyang , Chen Yuhua , Song Zhanhua , Yan Yinfa , Fade Li , Wang Zhonghua , Xiong Benhai
Published: March 2020

Simulation analysis and parameter optimization are performed for the loading and mixing devices of a self-propelled total mixed ration mixer. To reveal the three-dimensional movement of silage material under the action of the loading cutter roller, the latter is modeled using SolidWorks software. ANSYS/LS-DYNA software is used to simulate the process of silage cutting, which is modeled using smoothed particle hydrodynamics coupled with the finite element method. The cutting force and power consumption are simulated, and the behavior of the equivalent strain of the silage is determined. The results showed that silage was broken up mainly by extrusion and shear force due to the loading cutter roller. The power consumption according to the simulation is consistent with the value from an empirical formula, confirming the validity of the proposed modeling method. To study the mixing performance and obtain the optimum parameters of the mixing device, the Hertz–Mindlin model is used for the interaction between material particles and mixing device. A three-factor, five-level method is used to optimize the mixing performance. Material-mixing time, loading rate, and auger speed are chosen as experimental factors and mixed uniformity as an evaluation index. It is found that auger speed and material mixing time have significant effects on mixing uniformity. These results provide reference values allowing the analysis of the crushing of silage and selection of the optimum parameters for mixing performance.
Refined Vehicle‐Bridge Interaction Analysis Using Incompatible Solid Finite Element for Evaluating Stresses and Impact Factors
Authors: Xie Qing , Han Wanshui , Yuan Yangguang
Published: March 2020

The vehicle‐bridge interaction can induce bridge vibration and consequently fatigue, durability deterioration, local damage, and even collapse of bridge structure. In this paper, a solid vehicle‐bridge interaction (VBI) analysis method is developed to provide refined analysis on the bridge responses including displacement and local stress under vehicle loads. The incompatible solid finite element (FE) is introduced to model the bridge, where the element shear locking is alleviated by incompatible displacement modes without sacrificing the computational efficiency. Benchmark example shows the incompatible solid element has superior computational efficiency compared to the conventional solid element. By virtue of the mass‐spring‐damper vehicle model, the interaction between vehicle and bridge is simulated with point‐to‐point contact assumption and the coupled dynamic equations are solved via nonlinear iteration. A case study on a simply supported T‐girder bridge is conducted to validate the developed solid VBI analysis method and then the dynamic impact factor (DIF) of the bridge is evaluated based on the computed stress results and compared to code values. Results show that the solid VBI analysis method yields more accurate time‐history bridge responses including displacement and stress under moving vehicles than the grillage method despite higher computational cost. Particularly, it can simulate realistic stress distribution and concentration along any concerned sections as well as in local components, which can provide detail information on the bridge behavior under dynamic loads. On the other hand, the DIF based on the computed stress result generally agrees well with the code values except for heavy vehicles where the stress‐based DIF is slightly higher than the value in Chinese code while lower than that of AASHTO, suggesting the value specified by Chinese code may underestimate the DIF of heavy vehicles in certain circumstances to which more attention should be paid.
Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Alopecia Areata at a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshahrani Aysha A. , Al-Tuwaijri Rawan , Abuoliat Zainah A. , Alyabsi Mesnad , AlJasser Mohammed I. , Alkhodair Rayan
Published: March 2020

Introduction. Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune disorder of hair follicles characterized by patches on nonscarring hair loss. Reports of prevalence and clinical characteristic of AA in Saudi Arabia are limited. The aim of our study is to describe the prevalence and clinical characteristics of Saudi patients with AA. Materials and Methods. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All patients diagnosed with AA between January 2016 and December 2017 were included. Data included patient demographics, type of AA, disease duration, family history of AA, and comorbid autoimmune diseases. Results. A total of 216 patients with AA were included. The overall prevalence of AA was approximately 2.3%. The mean disease duration at the time of presentation was 2 months while the mean age of onset was 25.61 years. The most common type of AA in both adult and pediatric groups was the patchy type involving the scalp. Comorbid diseases were found in 32.41% of patients. Common associated conditions included hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and atopic diseases. Conclusion. The overall prevalence of AA among a population of Saudi patients is 2.3%. AA prevalence is higher in pediatrics than adults. Common comorbid conditions include hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and atopic diseases.
The Study on Vibration Reduction of Nonlinear Time-Delay Dynamic Absorber under External Excitation
Authors: Yan Tinghao , Ren Chuanbo , Zhou Jilei , Shao Sujuan
Published: March 2020

The nonlinear time-delay dynamic absorber has a good control effect on the main system under harmonic excitation, but the control effect on the main system under complicated excitation is not obvious. In the previous study, they do not have an effective method to obtain the time-delay control parameters under different external excitations. Because of the above problems, this paper proposed an innovative method to obtain the control parameters of time-delay dynamic absorbers. For the vibration system including the nonlinear time-delay dynamic absorber, the transient time-integration method was used to solve the nonlinear delay dynamic differential equation of the system under the specific excitation. Then, the quantitative relationship was established between the time-domain responses of the vibration system, the external excitation, and time-delay control parameters. The time-delay control parameters would be obtained when the time-domain response of the main system is minimized under specific excitation using an algorithm that continuously compares the objective function that is related to the time-domain response of the main system. This paper took the two-degree-of-freedom vibration system with a nonlinear time-delay dynamic absorber as the target system to simulate the time-domain response of the main system. The simulation results show that the time-delay control parameters calculated by the new method can obtain significant vibration reduction effects for both harmonic excitation and multiharmonic excitation. The suppression performance of the nonlinear time-delay dynamic absorber is significantly improved.
Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors among the First-Cycle Primary Schoolchildren in Sasiga District, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Sitotaw Baye , Shiferaw Wakgari
Published: March 2020

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) have been major public health burdens in low-income countries like Ethiopia. Studies in different areas of Ethiopia have shown a high prevalence of IPIs in poor families. A similar study has not been conducted in Sasiga District given that the area is possibly at high-risk of IPIs due to the prevailing risk factors. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Sasiga District, southwest Ethiopia. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2018 to March 2019 to estimate the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among the study participants. A total of 383 children were selected using resident-type and grade-level stratified systematic random sampling technique. Stool samples were examined microscopically using direct wet mount and formal-ether concentration techniques. A structured questionnaire was used to get information on the associated risk factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 andpvalue of ≤0.05 was taken as statistically significant. The overall prevalence of IPIs among the children was 62.4% (239/383). Single, double, and triple infections were 49.9%, 10.7%, and 1.83%, respectively. Residence, family income, place of defecation, source of drinking water, shoe-wearing habit, handwashing habit after toilet use, ways of waste disposal, and cleanliness of fingernail were the most important predictors of IPIs (p<0.05).Ascaris lumbricoides(22.7% (87/383)) and hookworms (20.6% (79/383)) were the most prevalent parasites, followed byEntamoeba histolytica(8.1%),Trichuris trichiura(7.6%),Giardia intestinalis(6.5%),Hymenolepis nana(5.7%), andSchistosoma mansoni(4.4%), in that order. Sasiga District primary schoolchildren are likely at a high burden of IPIs. Intensive health education on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation is needed.
The Potential Regulatory Roles of lncRNAs in DNA Damage Response in Human Lymphocytes Exposed to UVC Irradiation
Authors: Xu Dan , Wang Yue , Wang Jia , Qi Fei , Sun Yeqing
Published: March 2020

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs that modulate gene expression, thereby participating in the regulation of various cellular processes. However, it is not clear about the expression and underlying mechanism of lncRNAs in irradiation‐induced DNA damage response. In the present study, we performed integrative analysis of lncRNA‐mRNA expression profile in human lymphocytes irradiated with ultraviolet‐C (UVC). The results showed that exposure to UVC irradiation dose‐dependently increased the fluorescence intensity of γ‐H2AX and induced cell death. Microarray analysis revealed that up‐regulated lncRNAs were more common than down‐regulated lncRNAs with the increase of radiation dose in UVC‐radiated cells. Stem analysis demonstrated the relationship between lncRNA expression level and radiation dose. qPCR results confirmed that LOC338799 and its coexpressed genes such as LCE1F and ISCU showed the increase in expression levels with the increase of UVC radiation dose. We utilized Cytoscape to screen out 5 lncRNAs and 13 coexpressed genes linking to p53, which might participate in the regulation of DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and cell death. These findings suggest that lncRNAs might play a role in UVC‐induced DNA damage response through regulating expression of genes in p53 signaling pathway.
Metabolite Imaging at the Margin: Visualizing Metabolic Tumor Gradients Using Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Tan Ai Wen , Weljie Aalim M.
Published: March 2020

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumors are highly metabolic and vascularized, yet little has been reported regarding the spatial localization of metabolic activity within these tumors. A mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) study by Randall and colleagues in this issue provides provocative observations of metabolic gradients in xenograft GBM models. The intensity of acylcarnitines is dramatically increased at tumor margins, which interface with normal tissue, but not in tumor margins at the edge of the brain. A secondary examination of drug metabolites suggests that the observed metabolic gradients are pharmacologically relevant. These findings underscore previously undescribed spatial metabolic heterogeneity in GBM biology and opportunities for MSI investigations.

See related article by Randall et al., p. 1258
Birth Order, Sibship Size, Childhood Environment and Immune-Related Disorders, and Risk of Lymphoma in Lymphoid Cancer Families
Authors: Jones Samantha J. , Stroshein Sumara , Williams Amy M. , Liu Dongmeng , Spinelli John J. , Connors Joseph M. , Brooks-Wilson Angela R.
Published: March 2020

Background:

Familial aggregation of lymphoid cancers and immune-related disorders suggests a role for genetic susceptibility; however, few studies examine environmental factors. According to the hygiene hypothesis, adult-onset immune-related diseases may be a consequence of reduced childhood infectious exposures and aberrant immune development. In a cohort of 196 multiple-case lymphoid cancer families, we analyzed environmental factors related to the hygiene hypothesis.

Methods:

Family structure, childhood environment, and immune-related disorders were examined among 196 lymphoid cancer families, in relation to risk of lymphoid cancer. We report on 450 lymphoid cancer cases and 1,018 unaffected siblings using logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations to estimate ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for association.

Results:

The risk of lymphoma tended to decrease with later birth order (OR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.78–0.89) and larger sibship size (OR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.79–0.85). High maternal education, above average family income during childhood, allergies (OR = 2.25; 95% CI, 1.44–3.51), and tonsillectomy (OR = 1.78; 95% CI, 1.14–2.78) were independent risk factors for lymphoma. Familial lymphoid cancer cases were more likely to report environment (OR = 1.90; 95% CI, 1.21–2.98) and drug (OR = 2.30; 95% CI, 1.41–3.73) allergies.

Conclusions:

These associations underscore the complex etiology of familial lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is the largest multiple-case family-based study that supports the hygiene hypothesis contributing to lymphoid cancer risk.

Impact:

Understanding the mechanism by which environmental and lifestyle factors affect lymphoid cancer risk may advance cancer prevention, even in the familial context.
Soy Food Intake and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: The Japan Public Health Center–based Prospective Study
Authors: Yamagiwa Yoko , Sawada Norie , Shimazu Taichi , Yamaji Taiki , Goto Atsushi , Takachi Ribeka , Ishihara Junko , Iwasaki Motoki , Inoue Manami , Tsugane Shoichiro
Published: March 2020

Background:

Although the poor prognosis and increasing incidence of pancreatic cancer highlight the need for prevention strategies, few lifestyle risk factors for pancreatic cancer have yet been identified. Soybeans contain various bioactive compounds. However, the association between soy food intake and pancreatic cancer risk remains unknown.

Methods:

The Japan Public Health Center–based Prospective Study is a cohort study conducted in a general Japanese population. To determine the association of soy food intake and pancreatic cancer incidence, we analyzed 90,185 participants who responded to a questionnaire on medical history and lifestyle factors, including dietary factors based on a food frequency questionnaire in 1995–1998, using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results:

During a median follow-up of 16.9 years, 577 cases of pancreatic cancer were identified. In the multivariate-adjusted model, total soy food intake was statistically significantly associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer [HR for the highest vs. lowest intake quartile: 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15–1.92; Ptrend = 0.007]. Among soy foods, nonfermented soy food intake showed a statistically significant positive association with pancreatic cancer (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.09–1.81; Ptrend = 0.008), whereas fermented soy food intake showed no association (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.73–1.26; Ptrend = 0.982).

Conclusions:

Higher intake of soy foods, particularly nonfermented soy foods, might increase pancreatic cancer risk.

Impact:

This study is the first to report an association between the intake of various soy foods and pancreatic cancer risk. Further studies are required to confirm our findings.
Sensitive Detection of Minimal Residual Disease in Patients Treated for Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Authors: Parsons Heather A. , Rhoades Justin , Reed Sarah C. , Gydush Gregory , Ram Priyanka , Exman Pedro , Xiong Kan , Lo Christopher C. , Li Tianyu , Fleharty Mark , Kirkner Gregory J. , Rotem Denisse , Cohen Ofir , Yu Fangyan , Fitarelli-Kiehl Mariana , Leong Ka Wai , Hughes Melissa E. , Rosenberg Shoshana M. , Collins Laura C. , Miller Kathy D. , Blumenstiel Brendan , Trippa Lorenzo , Cibulskis Carrie , Neuberg Donna S. , DeFelice Matthew , Freeman Samuel S. , Lennon Niall J. , Wagle Nikhil , Ha Gavin , Stover Daniel G. , Choudhury Atish D. , Getz Gad , Winer Eric P. , Meyerson Matthew , Lin Nancy U. , Krop Ian , Love J. Christopher , Makrigiorgos G. Mike , Partridge Ann H. , Mayer Erica L. , Golub Todd R. , Adalsteinsson Viktor A.
Published: March 2020

Purpose:

Existing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methods lack the sensitivity needed for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) following therapy. We developed a test for tracking hundreds of patient-specific mutations to detect MRD with a 1,000-fold lower error rate than conventional sequencing.

Experimental Design:

We compared the sensitivity of our approach to digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) in a dilution series, then retrospectively identified two cohorts of patients who had undergone prospective plasma sampling and clinical data collection: 16 patients with ER+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer (MBC) sampled within 6 months following metastatic diagnosis and 142 patients with stage 0 to III breast cancer who received curative-intent treatment with most sampled at surgery and 1 year postoperative. We performed whole-exome sequencing of tumors and designed individualized MRD tests, which we applied to serial cfDNA samples.

Results:

Our approach was 100-fold more sensitive than ddPCR when tracking 488 mutations, but most patients had fewer identifiable tumor mutations to track in cfDNA (median = 57; range = 2–346). Clinical sensitivity was 81% (n = 13/16) in newly diagnosed MBC, 23% (n = 7/30) at postoperative and 19% (n = 6/32) at 1 year in early-stage disease, and highest in patients with the most tumor mutations available to track. MRD detection at 1 year was strongly associated with distant recurrence [HR = 20.8; 95% confidence interval, 7.3–58.9]. Median lead time from first positive sample to recurrence was 18.9 months (range = 3.4–39.2 months).

Conclusions:

Tracking large numbers of individualized tumor mutations in cfDNA can improve MRD detection, but its sensitivity is driven by the number of tumor mutations available to track.
PTPN3 Inhibits the Growth and Metastasis of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma via Inhibition of PI3K/AKT Signaling
Authors: Peng Xing-Si , Yang Jun-Ping , Qiang Yuan-Yuan , Sun Rui , Cao Yun , Zheng Li-Sheng , Peng Li-Xia , Lang Yan-Hong , Mei Yan , Li Chang-Zhi , Meng Dong-Fang , Liu Zhi-Jie , Wang Ming-Dian , Zhou Fang-Jian , Huang Bi-Jun , Qian Chao-Nan
Published: March 2020

The underlying molecular mechanism driving clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) progression is still to be explored. The significant downregulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 3 (PTPN3) expression in the tumor tissues suggested its protective role in ccRCC progression. IHC analysis of PTPN3 protein in 172 ccRCC tissue revealed that PTPN3 was an independently favorable prognostic factor for progression-free survival (P = 0.0166) and overall survival (P = 0.0343) of patients. The ccRCC cell lines SN12C, 1932, ACHN, and Caki-1 were used to evaluate, both in vitro and in vivo, the biological roles of PTPN3. We observed that overexpression of PTPN3 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ccRCC cells. In contrast, the knocking down of PTPN3 elicited opposite effects. Overexpressing PTPN3 inhibited xenograft tumor growth and lung metastasis displayed by the in vivo mice models. PTPN3 inhibited tumor cell motility by suppressing the phosphorylation of AKT, and subsequently inactivating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway of renal cell carcinoma cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of phospho-AKTThr308 and phospho-AKTSer473 reversed PTPN3-induced silencing in tumor cell migration. Our work revealed that the overexpression of PTPN3 could suppress kidney cancer progression by negatively regulating the AKT signaling pathway, and served as a favorable prognostic factor in patients with ccRCC. Our findings provided insight that PTPN3 could be a potential target for therapy aiming to inhibit the malignant behaviors of ccRCC.

Implications:

PTPN3 is an independent favorable prognostic factor for patients with ccRCC and could be a potential target for therapy aiming to inhibit the malignant behaviors of ccRCC.
Dietary Advanced Glycation End-products (AGE) and Risk of Breast Cancer in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO)
Authors: Omofuma Omonefe O. , Turner David P. , Peterson Lindsay L. , Merchant Anwar T. , Zhang Jiajia , Steck Susan E.
Published: March 2020

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases including cancer. AGEs are produced endogenously but can also be consumed from foods. AGE formation in food is accelerated during cooking at high temperatures. Certain high fat or highly processed foods have high AGE values. The objective of the study was to assign and quantify Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML)-AGE content in food and investigate the association between dietary AGE intake and breast cancer risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. The study included women enrolled in the intervention arm who were cancer-free at baseline and completed a baseline questionnaire and food frequency questionnaire (DQX). CML-AGE values were assigned and quantified to foods in the DQX using a published AGE database. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of breast cancer among all women, and stratified by race/ethnicity, invasiveness of disease, and hormone receptor status. After a median 11.5 years of follow-up, 1,592 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Higher CML-AGE intake was associated with increased risk of breast cancer among all women (HRQ5VSQ1, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.04–1.62; Ptrend = 0.04) and in non-Hispanic white women (HRT3VST1, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02–1.44). Increased CML-AGE intake was associated with increased risk of in situ (HRT3VST1, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.11–2.01) and hormone receptor–positive (HRT3VST1, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.01–1.53) breast cancers. In conclusion, high intake of dietary AGE may contribute to increased breast cancer.
Overcoming Workplace Disability in IBD Patients: An Observational Study
Authors: Paulides Emma , Daker Charlotte , Frampton Chris , Gearry Richard B. , Eglinton Tim , de Boer Nanne K.H. , Bernstein Charles N. , McCombie Andrew M.
Published: March 2020

Background: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can have considerable effects on employment outcomes because of its disabling character. Goals: We aimed to investigate the impact of IBD in the workplace and to better understand the need for accommodations and adaptations. Study: Between November 2017 and March 2018, IBD patients were recruited from outpatient clinics in Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand. The survey assessed employment, the need for workplace accommodations and the difficulty arranging it, insurance, and disability using the item-reduced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index for self-report (IBD-DI-SR). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression modeling. Results: One hundred twenty-three patients were included (response rate 64%), 112 of whom reported that they experienced symptoms while working (60% female, 71% Crohn’s disease, mean age 41.9 years). Ninety-one percent needed at least 1 workplace accommodation when symptoms were most severe. Almost half of the patients who needed an accommodation had difficulty arranging it. The most needed accommodations were time to go to medical appointments (71%) and easy access to a suitable toilet (71%). Being female, having less effective medication, and being distressed were associated with the need for 2 or more accommodations, difficulty in arranging accommodations, and not asking for needed accommodation. Conclusions: Many IBD patients need accommodations at work while symptomatic in order to overcome workplace disability, which can be difficult to arrange. Improved resources are needed to inform employees and employers about the disease, the possibilities for workplace accommodations, and practical strategies to request them.
Long-Term Survival of Patients With Advanced Heart Failure Receiving an Left Ventricular Assist Device Intended as a Bridge to Transplantation
Authors: Zimpfer Daniel , Fiane Arnt E. , Larbalestier Robert , Tsui Steven , Jansz Paul , Simon Andre , Schueler Stephan , Strueber Martin , Schmitto Jan D.
Published: March 2020

Background:

The paucity of available hearts for transplantation means that more patients remain on durable left ventricular support for longer periods of time. The Registry to Evaluate the HeartWare Left Ventricular Assist System was an investigator-initiated multicenter, prospective, single-arm database established to collect post-Conformité Européene mark clinical information on patients receiving the HeartWare ventricular assist device system as a bridge to transplantation. This registry represents the longest multicenter follow-up of primary left ventricular assist device outcomes.

Methods:

Data were collected on 254 commercial implants performed between February 2009 and March 2012 from 9 centers in Europe (7) and Australia (2). Patients were followed to device explant, heart transplantation, or death. The outcomes of patients through July/August 2018 were analyzed. Summary statistics were used to describe patient demographics, adverse events, length of support, and outcomes for this extended-term cohort.

Results:

A total of 122 patients were on support for >2 years, and 34 patients were on support for >5 years. Twenty nine patients are still alive on support (support ranging from 1213 to 3396 days), and 23 of those are on their original HeartWare ventricular assist device system. Kaplan–Meier survival through 7 years was 51%. Through 6 years, freedom from any stroke was 82%, while freedom from severely disabling stroke was 89%.

Conclusions:

Low rates of heart transplant now require longer periods of left ventricular assist device support in patients. This analysis demonstrates that long-term support using a HeartWare ventricular assist device system offers survival of 51% through 7 years.
Comparative mitochondrial phylogeography of two legless lizards (Pygopodidae) from Queensland’s fragmented woodlands
Authors: Wilmer Jessica Worthington , Amey Andrew P. , McDougall Carmel , Venz Melanie , Peck Stephen , Oliver Paul M.
Published: March 2020

Sclerophyll woodlands and open forests once covered vast areas of eastern Australia, but have been greatly fragmented and reduced in extent since European settlement. The biogeographic and evolutionary history of the biota of eastern Australia’s woodlands also remains poorly known, especially when compared to rainforests to the east, or the arid biome to the west. Here we present an analysis of patterns of mitochondrial genetic diversity in two species of Pygopodid geckos with distributions centred on the Brigalow Belt Bioregion of eastern Queensland. One moderately large and semi-arboreal species, Paradelma orientalis, shows low genetic diversity and no clear geographic structuring across its wide range. In contrast a small and semi-fossorial species, Delma torquata, consists of two moderately divergent clades, one from the ranges and upland of coastal areas of south-east Queensland, and other centred in upland areas further inland. These data point to varying histories of geneflow and refugial persistance in eastern Australia’s vast but now fragmented open woodlands. The Carnarvon Ranges of central Queensland are also highlighted as a zone of persistence for cool and/or wet-adapted taxa, however the evolutionary history and divergence of most outlying populations in these mountains remains unstudied.
The Dangerous Myth of Populism as a Thin Ideology
Authors: Schroeder Ralph
Published: March 2020

The idea that populism is a ‘thin ideology’—unlike other full-bodied ‘thick’ ideologies like conservatism or socialism—has come close to being an orthodoxy among populism scholars. This paper challenges that view and argues that it is at best an open question whether populism meets the criteria of a thick ideology, which should be whether it offers a comprehensive program of political change and whether it has staying power. This argument will be made by reference to three countries, the United States, Sweden and India, all of which have recently seen a populist turn. The paper first summarizes debates about populism, ideology and social change. Then it provides a brief account of populism in the three country cases and argues that their populist turns may be a coherent and lasting new departure. The paper concludes with reflections about the broader ramifications of populism as ‘thick’ versus ‘thin’.
Combining Digital Signature with Local Binary Pattern-Least Significant Bit Steganography Techniques for Securing Medical Images
Authors: Madhusudhan K. N. , Sakthivel P.
Published: March 2020

The image authentication is generally based on two different types of techniques: watermarking and digital signature. In watermarking methods, embedded watermarking is often imperceptible and it contains either a specific ID of producer or codes related to content that are used for
authentication. Normally a separate file is stored, digital signature is a non-repudiation and encrypted version of the information extracted from the data. A digital signature can be attached to the data to prove the originality and integrity. The proposed work presents a new approach to
steganography of medical images that uses modified Least Significant Bit (LSB) based on the Local Binary Pattern (LBP) pattern. As a first step, cover image has been divided as blocks of 3×3 non overlapping masks. Then, the pixel embedding position (clock wise or anti-clock wise) has
to be identified using LBP operator. The value of the LBP operator determines how and where to embed secret image pixel. Later, using LSB method, pixel values will be embedded in the cover image pixel. In order to provide the integrity of the data, the proposed work also presents Reversible
Watermarking (RW), a Digital Signature (DS) technique. The proposed algorithm of steganography experimented on few medical images and achieved better efficiency with respect to MSE and PSNR values and same is reported in this paper.
The Effects of Intensity of Physical Activity on Mental Health
Authors: Jeong Tchae-Won , Lee Jun-Woo , Kim Ok-Ju , Choi Jae-Il , Kim Hyung-Woo , Choi Yoon-Dong
Published: March 2020

Modern, complicated society has brought various stressors, and consequentially, more and more people are suffering from mental health problems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of physical activity at different intensities (high, moderate and low) on mental health-related
factors (self-rated health, stress, sleep time, and depression). The raw data of the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were utilized. Data of 1,622 samples were extracted for analysis regarding self-rated health, stress, sleep time, and depression in adults
aged over 20 years who participated in physical activity. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. The differences between the groups were verified through the analysis of variance and post-hoc analysis. All statistical significance levels were set at .05. There were statistically
significant differences in self-rated health status, sleep time, and depression between intensities of physical activity (p < .05). Specifically, the self-rated health status and depressive moods present the lowest score in the high-intensity physical activity group among 3 groups.
The moderate-intensity of physical activity group showed the longest sleep time. In conclusion, it is necessary to pay attention to the selecting appropriate intensity of physical activity to manage mental health.
Insole System-Based Neural Network Model to Evaluate Force Risk in Cube Method: Application to Pepper Farming Tasks
Authors: Jung Hyunwoo , Choi Ahnryul , Moon Jose , Chae Seung Heon , Lee Kyungsuk , Kim Kyungran , Mun Joung Hwan
Published: March 2020

Most agricultural workers are exposed to musculoskeletal disorders due to the characteristics of agricultural work performed manually. As observational methods to prevent musculoskeletal disorders, a cube method has been proposed that considers the risk factors of posture, time and
force workload simultaneously. However, force workload could evaluate using the weight of an object or qualitative measurement to prevent interfering with a worker’s occupation. The purpose of this study is to propose a novel method for evaluating quantitatively the risk factor of force
in agricultural field using insole system and artificial neural network model. Agricultural simulated experiments were performed on ten healthy adult males and six observers were recruited to evaluate the risk factors of force for the experiments. The model was constructed using the signals
measured in the insole system and the consensus among observers about evaluation results. To verify the performance of the model, the performance measurement was calculated using 10-fold cross-validation. The results of the proposed method are compared with those of the observers to verify
reproducibility and usefulness. The model showed more than 97% prediction accuracy in all risk levels, and the proposed method showed 1.59%, 0.99 and 0.98 in the coefficient of variation, proportion agreement index, Cohen’s kappa coefficient, and high reproducibility and usefulness when
compared with the observers’ evaluation. The method of quantitatively evaluating the risk factor of force proposed in this study is possible to be applied to various agricultural works using observational methods.
Energetics of Seamount Wakes. Part II: Wave Fluxes
Authors: Perfect B. , Kumar N. , Riley J. J.
Published: March 2020

Seamounts are thought to facilitate ocean mixing through unsteady wake processes, and through the generation of internal waves, which propagate away from the seamount and later break. The relative importance of these processes is examined for idealized, isolated seamounts (with characteristic width D and height H) in uniform barotropic flow U. A range of Coriolis parameters f and buoyancy frequencies N are used such that a broad parameter space of low Froude numbers (U/NH) and low Rossby numbers (U/fD) is considered. Results indicate that eddy processes energetically dominate the internal wave energy flux in this range of parameter space. The internal wave field is specifically examined and partitioned into steady lee waves and unsteady, wake-generated waves. It is found that the lee wave energy flux cannot be explained by existing analytical theories. A lee wave model by Smith is then extended into the low-Froude-number regime and the effect of rotation is included. While strongly stratified experiments have previously indicated that only the top U/N of an obstacle generates internal waves, the effect of rotation appears to modify this wavemaking height. Once the U/N height is revised to account for rotation, the lee wave energy flux can be reasonably accurately reproduced by the extended Smith model.
On the Formation Dynamics of the North Equatorial Undercurrent
Authors: Li Junlu , Gan Jianping
Published: March 2020

Based on a physics-oriented modeling study, we investigate the underlying forcing processes of the North Equatorial Undercurrent (NEUC). Made up of large-scale (~90%) and mesoscale (~10%) components, the NEUC weakens eastward with a longitude-independent seasonality. The large-scale component reflects the effect of the meridional baroclinic pressure gradient force (PGF_BC). The vertical velocity shear forms the eastward NEUC, when the PGF_BC exceeds the meridional barotropic pressure gradient force (PGF_BT). The mesoscale variability with alternating jets is linked to the wind stress curl in different regions of the tropical North Pacific. Spatially, the NEUC has a northern (NEUC_N) and a southern branch (NEUC_S), which are mainly attributed to the transports from Luzon Undercurrent (LUC) and Mindanao Undercurrent (MUC), respectively. The LUC of ~3 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) feeds the NEUC_N in summer, while the MUC of ~4 Sv fuels the NEUC_S in autumn and the two branches do not coexist. The total NEUC transport peaks in August/September, and there exist three distinct periods in a 1-yr cycle: the non-NEUC period in winter, the LUC-driven period in summer, and the MUC-driven period in autumn. Based on the layer-integrated vorticity equation, we diagnose quantitatively that the variation of the NEUC is dominated by the lateral planetary vorticity influx from the LUC and the MUC. These external influxes interact with the internal dynamics of pressure torques and stress curls in the NEUC layer, to jointly govern the NEUC and its variability. Meanwhile, the nonlinearity due to relative vorticity advection near the coast modulates the strength of the NEUC.
On the Vertical Velocity and Nutrient Delivery in Warm Core Rings
Authors: Chen Ke , Gaube Peter , Pallàs-Sanz Enric
Published: March 2020

We examine various contributions to the vertical velocity field within large mesoscale eddies by analyzing multiple solutions to an idealized numerical model of a representative anticyclonic warm core Gulf Stream ring. Initial conditions are constructed to reproduce the observed density and nutrient profiles collected during the Warm Core Rings Program. The contributions to vertical fluxes diagnosed from the numerical simulations are compared against a divergence-based, semidiagnostic equation and a generalized omega equation to better understand the dynamics of the vertical velocity field. Frictional decay alone is found to be ineffective in raising isopycnals and transporting nutrients to the upper ocean. With representative wind forcing, the magnitude of vorticity gradient–induced Ekman pumping is not necessarily larger than the current-induced counterpart on a time scale relevant to ecosystem response. Under realistic forcing conditions, strain deformation can perturb the ring to be noncircular and induce vertical velocities much larger than the Ekman vertical velocities. Nutrient budget diagnosis, together with analysis of the relative magnitudes of the various types of vertical fluxes, allows us to describe the time-scale dependence of nutrient delivery. At time scales that are relevant to individual phytoplankton (from hours to days), the magnitudes of nutrient flux by Ekman velocities and deformation-induced velocities are comparable. Over the life span of a typical warm core ring, which can span multiple seasons, surface current–induced Ekman pumping is the most effective mechanism in upper-ocean nutrient enrichment because of its persistence in the center of anticyclones regardless of the direction of the wind forcing.
Prevalence and Mortality of Venous Leg Diseases of the Deep Veins: An Observational Cohort Study Based on German Health Claims Data
Authors: Kreft Daniel , Keiler Jonas , Grambow Eberhard , Kischkel Sabine , Wree Andreas , Doblhammer Gabriele
Published: March 2020

This study estimates the prevalence and mortality of diseases of the deep veins of the legs such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), postthrombotic syndrome (PTS), and venous leg ulceration (VLU). We used a random sample of 250 000 patients at age 50+ years of the register of the Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse from 2004 to 2015. Selected manifestations of venous diseases assumed as risk factors for mortality were analyzed using Cox models while adjusting for various basic demographic and health characteristics. The prevalence in 2004 was 0.05% for DVT of the femoral veins, 0.50% for DVT of any deep veins, 0.86% for PTS, and 0.91% for VLU. The mortality rate in 2004 to 2015 was 20.40 deaths/100 person-years for DVT of the femoral veins, 10.69 for DVT of any deep veins, 4.34 for PTS, and 7.02 for VLU. The model revealed a 35% higher risk ( p < .001) in patients with any DVT, an 88% higher mortality ( p < .001) for femoral DVT, a 23% higher risk ( p < .001) for VLU, and no health disadvantage in persons with PTS. Our study revealed an increased mortality for patients with VLU and DVT. Even after adjustment for embolic events and infections of the venous ulcers mortality remained significantly higher.
Signal Enhancement Evaluation of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy of Extracted Animal Fats Using Principal Component Analysis Approach
Authors: Hanasil Nur Syaida , Raja Ibrahim Raja Kamarulzaman , Duralim Maisarah , Sapingi Husni Hani Jameela , Mahdi Mohd Adzir
Published: March 2020

In this work, principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized to analyze laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) signals of the extracted chicken fat, lamb fat, beef fat, and lard froze using two different freezing methods. The frozen samples were ablated using a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm, 170 mJ pulse energy, and 6 ns pulse duration to produce plasma on target surfaces. The samples were ablated using 30–60 shots of the laser beam at different spots. Stronger LIBS signals from the extracted chicken fat and lamb fat were obtained with liquid nitrogen (LN2) method. However, LIBS signals obtained from the freezer freezing method were found to be stronger for extracted beef fat and lard. The PCA was then used to visualize the LIBS spectra of extracted animal fats into a score plot. Data points of each extracted animal fat were divided into three groups representing LIBS spectra collected at the early, middle, and end part of the ablation process. The score plot revealed that the data points of the three groups of frozen extracted animal fats using the LN2 method were more closely clustered than those frozen in the freezer. Good discrimination with 97% of the variance was achieved between the extracted chicken fat, lamb fat, beef fat, and lard using the LN2 method in the three-dimensional score plot. LIBS signals of the extracted animal fats produced from the LN2 method were found to be more stable than those from the freezer method.
Tip Recycling for Atomic Force Microscopy-Based Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Bartolomeo Giovanni Luca , Goubert Guillaume , Zenobi Renato
Published: March 2020

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is a powerful tool for the characterization of surfaces and two-dimensional materials, delivering both topographical and chemical information with nanometer-scale spatial resolution. Atomic force microscopy (AFM)–TERS combines AFM with a Raman spectrometer and is a very versatile technique, capable of working in vacuum, air, and liquid, and on a variety of different samples. A metalized AFM tip is necessary in order to take advantage of the plasmonic enhancement. The most commonly used metal is Ag, thanks to its high plasmonic activity in the visible range. Unfortunately, though, the tip metallization process is still challenging and not fully reliable, yielding inconsistent enhancement factors even within the same batch of tips; as a consequence, many tips are usually prepared at once (for a single experiment), to ensure that at least one of them is sufficiently active. As the lifetime of an unprotected, Ag-coated plasmonic probe is only a few hours, the procedure is inefficient and results in a substantial waste of materials and money. In this work, we establish a cleaning routine to effectively re-use Ag-coated AFM–TERS probes, drastically reducing costs without compromising the quality of the experimental results.