bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Hyponatremia Is Associated with Reoperation and Prolonged Length of Hospital Stay following Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Abola Matthew , Tanenbaum Joseph , Bomberger Thomas , Knapik Derrick , Fitzgerald Steven , Wera Glenn
Published: April 2018

Hyponatremia is a risk factor for adverse surgical outcomes, but limited information is available on the prognosis of hyponatremic patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this investigation was to compare the incidence of major morbidity (MM), 30-day readmission, 30-day reoperation, and length of hospital stay (LOS) between normonatremic and hypontremic TKA patients.The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify all primary TKA procedures. Hyponatremia was defined as <135 mEq/L and normonatremia as 135 to 145 mEq/L; hypernatremic patients (>145 mEq/L) were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between hyponatremia and outcomes after adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. An α level of 0.002 was used and calculated using the Bonferroni correction. Our final analysis included 88,103 patients of which 3,763 were hyponatremic and 84,340 were normonatremic preoperatively. In our multivariable models, hyponatremic patients did not have significantly higher odds of experiencing an MM (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05; 99% confidence interval [CI] 0.93–1.19) or readmission (OR: 1.12; 99% CI: 1–1.24). However, patients with hyponatremia did experience significantly greater odds for reoperation (OR: 1.24; 99% CI: 1.05–1.46) and longer hospital stay (OR: 1.15; 99% CI: 1.09–1.21). We found that hyponatremic patients undergoing TKA had increased odds of reoperation and prolonged hospital stay. Preoperative hyponatremia may be a modifiable risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients undergoing TKA, and additional prospective studies are warranted to determine whether preoperative correction of hyponatremia can prevent complications.
Kleinvieh macht auch Mist
Authors: Kämper Siegfried
Published: April 2018

Ein Patient kann die Kosten für bestimmte Heilpraktikerleistungen (teilweise) erstattet bekommen, wenn er beihilfeberechtigt oder entsprechend privat- oder zusatzversichert ist. Die Kostenträger erstatten Kosten für Heilpraktikerleistungen in der Regel entsprechend der Preisspanne, die im Gebührenverzeichnis für Heilpraktiker aufgeführt ist. Das GebüH stammt von 1985 und listet vor allem klassische Naturheilverfahren, weil diese damals bereits als Heilpraktikerleistung etabliert waren.
Thermal characterization of soda lime silicate glass-graphite composites for thermal energy storage
Authors: Macias J. D. , Gutiérrez-Razo R. A. , Garcia-Lara H. D. , Cervantes-Alvarez F. , Bante-Guerra J. , Ares-Muzio O. , Romero-Paredes H. , León Rovira Noel , Arancibia-Bulnes C. A. , Villafan-Vidales H. I. , Ramos-Sánchez V. , Alvarado-Gil J. J.
Published: April 2018

Solar technology operating at elevated temperature conditions demands accurate knowledge of the optical and thermal properties of the materials involved in the construction and operation of solar collectors, reactors, and energy storages, among many others. Thermal energy storage (TES) devices involve successive melting and crystallization processes, which result in high complexity materials where the morphology, composition, and porosity could be highly non-homogeneous. In these cases, contact techniques for determining the thermal properties are highly susceptible and do not provide reliable measurements. It is under these conditions that non-contact photothermal techniques can provide superior performance, because in this case, the heat inducing source is a laser beam and the detector is usually a photodiode or a thermographic camera which are in non-contact with samples. The materials applied as storage medium in a TES unit can be divided into four groups: metals and alloys, ceramics and glasses, polymers and elastomers, and composites that include natural materials. Soda lime silicate glass recyclable waste is a very promising material for storage medium due to its inexpensive and wide availability. In this paper, we examined soda lime silicate glass-graphite composites for use as storage medium in a TES unit. A simple one-dimensional model for thermal conductivity was developed based on equivalent thermal circuits for series-parallel composite walls, and we found that thermal conductivity values depend on the amount of graphite dispersed into the samples, the porous media, and their structure.
Molecular dynamics analysis of the influence of Coulomb and van der Waals interactions on the work of adhesion at the solid-liquid interface
Authors: Surblys Donatas , Leroy Frédéric , Yamaguchi Yasutaka , Müller-Plathe Florian
Published: April 2018

We investigated the solid-liquid work of adhesion of water on a model silica surface by molecular dynamics simulations, where a methodology previously developed to determine the work of adhesion through thermodynamic integration was extended to a system with long-range electrostatic interactions between solid and liquid. In agreement with previous studies, the work of adhesion increased when the magnitude of the surface polarity was increased. On the other hand, we found that when comparing two systems with and without solid-liquid electrostatic interactions, which were set to have approximately the same total solid-liquid interfacial energy, former had a significantly smaller work of adhesion and a broader distribution in the interfacial energies, which has not been previously reported in detail. This was explained by the entropy contribution to the adhesion free energy; i.e., the former with a broader energy distribution had a larger interfacial entropy than the latter. While the entropy contribution to the work of adhesion has already been known, as a work of adhesion itself is free energy, these results indicate that, contrary to common belief, wetting behavior such as the contact angle is not only governed by the interfacial energy but also significantly affected by the interfacial entropy. Finally, a new interpretation of interfacial entropy in the context of solid-liquid energy variance was offered, from which a fast way to qualitatively estimate the work of adhesion was also presented.
Solution processable mixed-solvent exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets for efficient and robust organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Liu Chia-Wei , Wang Chia , Liao Chia-Wei , Golder Jan , Tsai Ming-Chih , Young Hong-Tsu , Chen Chin-Ti , Wu Chih-I
Published: April 2018

We demonstrate the use of solution-processed molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanoparticle-decorated molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets (MoS2/MoO3) as hole injection layer (HIL) in organic lighting diodes (OLEDs). The device performance is shown to be significantly improved by the introduction of such MoS2/MoO3 HIL without any post-ultraviolet-ozone treatment, and is shown to better the performance of devices fabricated using conventional poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and MoO3 nanoparticle HILs. The MoS2/MoO3 nanosheets form a compact film, as smooth as PEDOT:PSS films and smoother than MoO3 nanoparticle films, when simply spin-coated on indium tin oxide substrates. The improvement in device efficiency can be attributed to the smooth surface of the nanostructured MoS2/MoO3 HIL and the excellent conductivity characteristics of the two-dimensional (2D) layered material (MoS2), which facilitate carrier transport in the device and reduce the sheet resistance. Moreover, the long-term stability of OLED devices that use such MoS2/MoO3 layers is shown to be improved dramatically compared with hygroscopic and acidic PEDOT:PSS-based devices.
Structural analysis of LaVO3 thin films under epitaxial strain
Authors: Meley H. , Karandeep  , Oberson L. , de Bruijckere J. , Alexander D. T. L. , Triscone J.-M. , Ghosez Ph. , Gariglio S.
Published: April 2018

Rare earth vanadate perovskites exhibit a phase diagram in which two different types of structural distortions coexist: the strongest, the rotation of the oxygen octahedra, comes from the small tolerance factor of the perovskite cell (t = 0.88 for LaVO3) and the smaller one comes from inter-site d-orbital interactions manifesting as a cooperative Jahn-Teller effect. Epitaxial strain acts on octahedral rotations and crystal field symmetry to alter this complex lattice-orbit coupling. In this study, LaVO3 thin film structures have been investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The analysis shows two different orientations of octahedral tilt patterns, as well as two distinct temperature behaviors, for compressive and tensile film strain states. Ab initio calculations capture the strain effect on the tilt pattern orientation in agreement with experimental data.
Ultrasonically-induced electrical potentials in demineralized bovine cortical bone
Authors: Mori Shunki , Makino Taiki , Koyama Daisuke , Takayanagi Shinji , Yanagitani Takahiko , Matsukawa Mami
Published: April 2018

While the low-intensity pulsed ultrasound technique has proved useful for healing of bone fractures, the ultrasound healing mechanism is not yet understood. To understand the initial physical effects of the ultrasound irradiation process on bone, we have studied the anisotropic piezoelectric properties of bone in the MHz range. Bone is known to be composed of collagen and hydroxyapatite (HAp) and shows strong elastic anisotropy. In this study, the effects of HAp on the piezoelectricity were investigated experimentally. To remove the HAp crystallites from the bovine cortical bone, demineralization was performed using ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) solutions. To investigate the piezoelectricity, we have fabricated ultrasound transducers using the cortical bone or demineralized cortical bone. The induced electrical potentials due to the piezoelectricity were observed as the output of these transducers under pulsed ultrasound irradiation in the MHz range. The cortical bone transducer (before mineralization) showed anisotropic piezoelectric behavior. When the ultrasound irradiation was applied normal to the transducer surface, the observed induced electrical potentials had minimum values. The potential increased under off-axis ultrasound irradiation with changes in polarization. In the demineralized bone transducer case, however, the anisotropic behavior was not observed in the induced electrical potentials. These results therefore indicate that the HAp crystallites affect the piezoelectric characteristics of bone.
Size dependence of the spin-orbit torque induced magnetic reversal in W/CoFeB/MgO nanostructures
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhang Xueying , Wang Mengxing , Wang Zhaohao , Cai Wenlong , Cao Kaihua , Zhu Daoqian , Yang Huaiwen , Zhao Weisheng
Published: April 2018

The spin-orbit torque (SOT) induced magnetic switching in structures such as Hall bars cannot be well explained with the macrospin model. The switching process is affected by the domain wall (DW) dynamics. In previous studies, some observed phenomena, such as intermediate states appearing during the magnetic switching of the Hall bar structure and asymmetric switching currents in two directions, were not well explained. In this letter, by studying the SOT induced magnetic switching in W/CoFeB/MgO nanostructures with different size, these phenomena are demonstrated to be governed by the DW propagations in nanowires and asymmetric DW pinnings at the Hall cross. The size dependence of the switching current is observed and explained with the DW depinning model. These studies provide an approach to detect the properties of the structure, such as the quantification of the spin Hall angle in the heavy metal layer.
Time-resolved light emission of a, c, and r-cut sapphires shock-compressed to 65 GPa
Authors: Liu Q. C. , Zhou X. M.
Published: April 2018

To investigate light emission and dynamic deformation behaviors, sapphire (single crystal Al2O3) samples with three crystallographic orientations (a, c, and r-cut) were shock-compressed by the planar impact method, with final stress ranges from 47 to 65 GPa. Emission radiance and velocity versus time profiles were simultaneously measured with a fast pyrometer and a Doppler pin system in each experiment. Wave profile results show anisotropic elastic-plastic transitions, which confirm the literature observations. Under final shock stress of about 52 GPa, lower emission intensity is observed in the r-cut sample, in agreement with the previous report in the literature. When final shock stress increases to 57 GPa and 65 GPa, spectral radiance histories of the r-cut show two stages of distinct features. In the first stage, the emission intensity of r-cut is lower than those of the other two, which agrees with the previous report in the literature. In the second stage, spectral radiance of r-cut increases with time at much higher rate and it finally peaks over those of the a and c-cut. These observations (conversion of intensified emission in the r-cut) may indicate activation of a second slip system and formation of shear bands which are discussed with the resolved shear stress calculations for the slip systems in each of the three cuts under shock compression.
Quantitative interpretation of images of long-nosed potoroos at baited camera-traps: defining a 'visit'
Authors: Jarman Peter , Driessen Michael
Published: April 2018

We devised a way to distinguish separate visits by animals to a camera station. The probability that an image of a long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) would occur declined with time since the last potoroo image, reaching an asymptote after 5min at a level that may represent the probability of initiation of new visits.
Editorial
Authors: Walker Rae
Published: April 2018

This issue of the Australian Journal of Primary Health features a selection of papers about general practice in Australia. These papers reflect a range of perspectives important in general practice, including disease management in the general practice context, innovative approaches to prevention, consumer perspectives on conditions and services, future development of general practice in the primary health care system, and more. Publication of these papers occurs at a time when development of the National Primary Health Care Strategy is well under way. The focus of the National Primary Health Care Strategy is on related themes of prevention, chronic disease, evidence-based practice and better integration of general practice into the primary health care system.
Trends in Primary Care Presentations at Emergency Departments in New South Wales (1999–2006)
Authors: Siminski Peter , Eagar Kathy , Lago Luise , Bezzina Andrew
Published: April 2018

This paper examines trends in potential 'primary care' presentations at emergency departments (ED), comparing these with other ED presentations and to primary care attendances in the community. The study draws on EDIS data (Emergency Department Information System), which, at December 2005, covered 76% of attendances in New South Wales, and from Medicare Australia MBS data. Annual counts of potential primary care presentations to EDs are compared with those of other ED presentations and to primary care presentations in the community. Changes in the percentage of ED presentations that are potentially for primary care are examined, as are changes in the percentage of total primary care presentations seen in EDs. Trends in age standardised presentation rates are also calculated for each of the three series. Primary care presentations at EDs increased marginally in the period under consideration, as did primary care presentations in the community. There was a substantial increase in other ED presentations. The proportion of ED presentations potentially for primary care decreased over the period. The proportion of primary care presentations seen in EDs and the proportion seen in the community changed little. Decline in the proportion of potential primary care presentations to EDs may have been impacted by new guidelines for the application of triage categories in 2001. However, trends over time do not show acute alterations and they continue to hold for the subsequent period after introduction of new guidelines. Primary care presentations at EDs are not responsible for recent changes to ED overcrowding in New South Wales, at least not for hospitals covered in the EDIS database. Future research might consider more specific trends in rural EDs.
Development of the Diet Habits Questionnaire for Use in Cardiac Rehabilitation
Authors: McKellar S. , Horsley P. , Chambers R. , Bauer J.D , Vendersee P. , Clarke C. , Callum H. , Pullen M.
Published: April 2018

The objective of this study is to design a tool that could be used in the cardiac rehabilitation setting to quickly assess dietary habits and identify individual participants? dietary education requirements. An initial study compared a research diet history of 4 0 participants against the results of the Diet Habits Questionnaire. Concurrent validity has been established as there was a significant difference between mean (95% CI) intake of 5 .7 (0.6 - 10.7) g saturated fat 6.8 (2.9 - 10.8) g fibre and 417 (5 - 838) mg sodium between participants requiring additional dietary advice and those who do not require additional intervention based on the DHQ score. The inter-rater reliability of the DHQ was high with strength of agreement rated as moderate for fat and substantial for fibre and sodium. The Diet Habits Questionnaire was found to be a valid and reliable screening tool for the assessment of dietary habits in cardiac rehabilitation programs. Further research may establish its usefulness not just in cardiac rehabilitation, but in other health centres such as general practice and community health settings.
Moving Towards a More Integrated Approach to Chronic Disease Prevention in Australian General Practice
Authors: Harris Mark F. , Amoroso Cheryl L. , Laws Rachel A.
Published: April 2018

There is increasing evidence that prevention of chronic disease is possible and that primary care can contribute to this. This paper aims to explore the development of policies and programs to improve chronic disease prevention via behavioural risk factor management in Australian general practice and the impact of these between 2001 and the present. This involved a review of policy initiatives and developments in Australian general practice, drawing on published research over this period. Behavioural risk factor management has not been comprehensively implemented in the way in which it was originally envisaged under the SNAP (Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity) framework, with initiatives and programs emerging over time in a much less planned way, including Lifescripts and more recently the 45 - 49 year health check. There has been a gradual development in capacity, especially in relation to workforce, education and training, educational materials, financial and decision support with divisions of general practice emerging to play a key facilitation role. Despite this, important gaps remain especially in relation to the use of team approaches within and outside the practice including access to referral services and programs.
Management of Cannabis and Psychostimulant Use among General Practice Patients
Authors: Frewen A. , Arcuri A. , Britt H. , Copeland J. , Harrison C.
Published: April 2018

While regular and heavy cannabis and psychostimulant use has been associated with significant health and psychological impairments, the extent to which their use is being identified and managed by general practitioners (GPs) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the management of cannabis- and psychostimulant-related problems in Australian general practice. Data from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) study of general practice between April 2000 and March 2007 were analysed. BEACH is an ongoing national study of general practice activity in Australia. It was estimated that during this period GPs in Australia managed illicit drug use about 55,000 times per year and that cannabis and psychostimulants made up 3.2% and 1.6%, respectively, of all encounters at which the illicit drug was specified. The only difference in patient demographics between patients in the two drug groups was that cannabis users were younger than psychostimulant users. Cannabis users were more likely to be managed concurrently for psychotic symptoms but less likely to be treated with antipsychotics. Conversely, patients using psychostimulants were more likely to be prescribed an antipsychotic and/or an anxiolytic for their presenting drug problem. These results suggest that GPs do manage problematic cannabis and psychostimulant use among their patients, and thus should be supported in carrying out appropriate screening, intervention and referral.
Climate variability and crop yields synergies in Tanzania’s semiarid agroecological zone
Authors: Mkonda Msafiri Y. , He Xinhua
Published: April 2018

Introduction:
The consequences of climate change have been considerably high to smallholders in most of Sub-Saharan Africa. These impacts have been more enormous to crop production and other attached livelihoods. However, the comprehensive assessment of these impacts has suffered numerous challenges because crop productivity is also susceptible to other factors involved in the production process. This study aimed to understand how crop yields are affected by climate change in the semiarid zone of Tanzania. The findings would establish a thorough literature within smallholder adaptation in the area. Furthermore, they will intensify strategies to cope with reduced yields attributed by climate-change impacts.

Outcomes:
There has been a dramatic decrease in rainfall (R
2
= 0.21) and increase in temperature (R
2
= 0.30). In addition, we found that rainfall and temperature variability had positive (R
2
~ 0.5) and negative (R
2
~ 0.3) correlations with crop yields, respectively.

Discussion:
The decline in yields at both local and national levels elevated the magnitude of food shortage and poverty. The increasing climate impacts necessitate undertakings of various studies to plan, design, recommend, and implement various useful adaptation measures, especially in the vulnerable communities.

Conclusion:
To limit climate effects, we need to increase investments in adaptation and mitigation measures.
Investigation of the structural, optical and piezoelectric properties of ALD ZnO films on PEN substrates
Authors: Blagoev B S , Aleksandrova M , Terziyska P , Tzvetkov P , Kovacheva D , Kolev G , Mehandzhiev V , Denishev K , Dimitrov D
Published: April 2018

We present the results of studies on the structural, optical and piezoelectric properties of ZnO thin films deposited by ALD on flexible polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrates. Changes were observed in the optical transmission and crystal structures as the deposition temperature was varied. The electromechanical behavior, dielectric losses and voltage generated from ZnO flexible devices were investigated and discussed, in order to estimate their suitability for potential application as microgenerators activated by human motion.
On symmetric linear diffusions
Authors: Li Liping , Ying Jiangang
Published: April 2018

The main purpose of this paper is to explore the structure of local and regular Dirichlet forms associated with symmetric one-dimensional diffusions, which are also called symmetric linear diffusions. Let

(

E

,

F

)

(\mathcal {E},\mathcal {F})

be a regular and local Dirichlet form on

L
2

(
I
,
m
)

L^2(I,m)

, where

I
I

is an interval and

m
m

is a fully supported Radon measure on

I
I

. We shall first present a complete representation for

(

E

,

F

)

(\mathcal {E},\mathcal {F})

, which shows that

(

E

,

F

)

(\mathcal {E},\mathcal {F})

lives on at most countable disjoint “effective" intervals with an “adapted" scale function on each interval, and any point outside these intervals is a trap of the one-dimensional diffusion. Furthermore, we shall give a necessary and sufficient condition for

C
c
∞

(
I
)

C_c^\infty (I)

being a special standard core of

(

E

,

F

)

(\mathcal {E},\mathcal {F})

and shall identify the closure of

C
c
∞

(
I
)

C_c^\infty (I)

in

(

E

,

F

)

(\mathcal {E},\mathcal {F})

when

C
c
∞

(
I
)

C_c^\infty (I)

is contained but not necessarily dense in

F

\mathcal {F}

relative to the

E

1

1

/

2

\mathcal {E}_1^{1/2}

-norm. This paper is partly motivated by a result of Hamza’s that was stated in a theorem of Fukushima, Oshima, and Takeda’s and that provides a different point of view to this theorem. To illustrate our results, many examples are provided.
Presidential Address National Academy of Neuropsychology Conference Boston 2017
Authors: Meyers John E
Published: April 2018

This presidential address attempts to predict the future directions of neuropsychology. Predicting the future is always a difficult thing. By examining population trends such as aging and demographics, a clearer picture becomes visible. The population is getting older and more ethnically diverse. Also, examination of the spending trends in health care indicates that neuropsychology needs to be able to adapt to working with larger population-based patient care as well as individual patient care. Shifts in the demographics of neuropsychology, in that the profession previously was 70% male dominate and now is >70% female dominant are also discussed. Trends in NAN’s speaker and leader demographics are examined as well as the need to stay current in the trends and latest neuropsychological research lest we become dinosaurs in the next 5–10 years. Recommendations for new neuropsychologists and post-doctoral fellows are also presented.
JAMI: fast computation of conditional mutual information for ceRNA network analysis
Authors: Hornakova Andrea , List Markus , Vreeken Jilles , Schulz Marcel H
Published: April 2018

Motivation

Genome-wide measurements of paired miRNA and gene expression data have enabled the prediction of competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). It has been shown that the sponge effect mediated by protein-coding as well as non-coding ceRNAs can play an important regulatory role in the cell in health and disease. Therefore, many computational methods for the computational identification of ceRNAs have been suggested. In particular, methods based on Conditional Mutual Information (CMI) have shown promising results. However, the currently available implementation is slow and cannot be used to perform computations on a large scale.

Results

Here, we present JAMI, a Java tool that uses a non-parametric estimator for CMI values from gene and miRNA expression data. We show that JAMI speeds up the computation of ceRNA networks by a factor of ∼70 compared to currently available implementations. Further, JAMI supports multi-threading to make use of common multi-core architectures for further performance gain.

Requirements

Java 8.

Availability and implementation

JAMI is available as open-source software from https://github.com/SchulzLab/JAMI.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Conserving and recovering vulnerable marine species: a comprehensive evaluation of the US approach for marine mammals
Authors: Punt André E , Moreno Paula , Brandon John R , Mathews Michael A
Published: April 2018

Human-caused mortality due primarily to bycatch in fisheries is considered a major threat to some long-lived, slow-growing, and otherwise vulnerable marine species. Under many jurisdictions these species are designated as “protected”, and fisheries are subject to a management system that includes monitoring and assessment of bycatch impacts relative to management objectives. The US management system for marine mammals is one of the most sophisticated in the world, with a limit on human-caused mortality computed using the potential biological removal (PBR), formula. Fisheries are categorized according to their impact relative to PBR, and take reduction teams established to develop take reduction plans (TRPs) when bycatch exceeds PBR. The default values of the parameters of the PBR formula were selected in the late 1990s using management strategy evaluation (MSE), but the system, in particular the classification of fisheries, has yet to be evaluated in its entirety. A MSE framework is developed that includes the PBR formula, as well as the processes for evaluating whether a stock is “strategic”, assigning fisheries to categories, and implementing TRPs. The level of error associated with fisheries classification was found not to impact the ability to achieve the conservation objective established for a stock under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (i.e. maintain or recover the stock to/at optimum sustainable population). However, this ability is highly dependent on the life history and absolute abundance of the species being managed, as well as on the premise that bycatch is reduced if bycatch is estimated to exceed the PBR. The probability of correctly classifying fisheries depends on both the coefficient of variations (CVs) of the estimates of bycatch and the marine mammal stock’s abundance because classification depends on the ratio of the estimate of bycatch by fishery-type to the stock’s PBR, and the precision of the former depends on the bycatch CV and the latter on the abundance estimate CV. Moreover, the probability of correctly classifying a fishery decreases for smaller populations, particularly when a fishery has low to moderate impact.
High-risk, Expression-Based Prognostic Long Noncoding RNA Signature in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Sahu Divya , Ho Shinn-Ying , Juan Hsueh-Fen , Huang Hsuan-Cheng
Published: April 2018

Background

Current clinical risk factors stratify patients with neuroblastoma (NB) for appropriate treatments, yet patients with similar clinical behaviors evoke variable responses. MYCN amplification is one of the established drivers of NB and, when combined with high-risk displays, worsens outcomes. Growing high-throughput transcriptomics studies suggest long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) dysregulation in cancers, including NB. However, expression-based lncRNA signatures are altered by MYCN amplification, which is associated with high-risk, and patient prognosis remains limited.

Methods

We investigated RNA-seq-based expression profiles of lncRNAs in MYCN status and risk status in a discovery cohort (n = 493) and validated them in three independent cohorts. In the discovery cohort, a prognostic association of lncRNAs was determined by univariate Cox regression and integrated into a signature using the risk score method. A novel risk score threshold selection criterion was developed to stratify patients into risk groups. Outcomes by risk group and clinical subgroup were assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariable Cox regression. The performance of lncRNA signatures was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results

In the discovery cohort, 16 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed (fold change ≥ 2 and adjusted P ≤ 0.01) integrated into a prognostic signature. A high risk score group of lncRNA signature had poor event-free survival (EFS; P < 1E-16). Notably, lncRNA signature was independent of other clinical risk factors when predicting EFS (hazard ratio = 3.21, P = 5.95E–07). The findings were confirmed in independent cohorts (P = 2.86E-02, P = 6.18E-03, P = 9.39E-03, respectively). Finally, the lncRNA signature had higher accuracy for EFS prediction (area under the curve = 0.788, 95% confidence interval = 0.746 to 0.831).

Conclusions

Here, we report the first (to our knowledge) RNA-seq 16-lncRNA prognostic signature for NB that may contribute to precise clinical stratification and EFS prediction.
Non-invasive Dual-Channel Broadband Diffuse Optical Spectroscopy of Massive Hemorrhage and Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) in Swine
Authors: Lam Jesse H , O’Sullivan Thomas D , Park Tim S , Choi Jae H , Warren Robert V , Chen Wen-Pin , McLaren Christine E , Cancio Leopoldo C , Batchinsky Andriy I , Tromberg Bruce J
Published: April 2018

Objective

To quantitatively measure tissue composition and hemodynamics during resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in two tissue compartments using non-invasive two-channel broadband diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS).

Methods

Tissue concentrations of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin (HbO2 and HbR), water, and lipid were measured in a porcine model (n = 10) of massive hemorrhage (65% total blood volume over 1 h) and 30-min REBOA superior and inferior to the aortic balloon.

Results

After hemorrhage, hemoglobin oxygen saturation (StO2 = HbO2/[HbO2 + HbR]) at both sites decreased significantly (−29.9% and −42.3%, respectively). The DOS measurements correlated with mean arterial pressure (MAP) (R2 = 0.79, R2 = 0.88), stroke volume (SV) (R2 = 0.68, R2 = 0.88), and heart rate (HR) (R2 = 0.72, R2 = 0.88). During REBOA, inferior StO2 continued to decline while superior StO2 peaked 12 min after REBOA before decreasing again. Inferior DOS parameters did not associate with MAP, SV, or HR during REBOA.

Conclusions

Dual-channel regional tissue DOS measurements can be used to non-invasively track the formation of hemodynamically distinct tissue compartments during hemorrhage and REBOA. Conventional systemic measures MAP, HR, and SV are uncorrelated with tissue status in inferior (downstream) sites. Multi-compartment DOS may provide a more complete picture of the efficacy of REBOA and similar resuscitation procedures.
Evaluations of Sexual Assault Prevention Programs in Military Settings: A Synthesis of the Research Literature
Authors: Orchowski Lindsay M , Berry-Cabán Cristóbal S , Prisock Kara , Borsari Brian , Kazemi Donna M
Published: April 2018

The prevention of sexual assault (SA) in the U.S. military is a significant priority. This study applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to a literature search that identified research evaluating SA prevention programs conducted within military settings. Only six studies published between 2005 and 2016 met criteria for inclusion in the review. Studies demonstrated high heterogeneity in the: (1) conceptual framework of the prevention approach; (2) target population and timing of administration; (3) study recruitment methods; (4) methodological design; (5) method of delivery, program dosage and theory of change; and (6) outcome administration and efficacy. Scientific rigor according to the Oxford Center for Evidence-based Medicine was also variable. Several gaps in the research base were identified. Specifically, research evaluating SA prevention programs have only been conducted among U.S. Army and U.S. Navy samples. Most studies did not examine whether program participation was associated with reductions in rates of sexual violence. Studies also lacked utilization of a long-term follow-up period. Additionally, studies did not reflect the types of SA prevention programs currently being implemented in military settings. Taken together, further research is needed to enhance the evidence base for SA prevention in the military, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the approaches currently being conducted with service members.
Mechanisms for the elevation structure of a giant telescope
Authors: Hu Shouwei , Song Xiaoli , Zhang Hui
Published: April 2018

This paper describes an innovative mechanism based on hydrostatic pads and linear motors for the elevation structure of next-generation extremely large telescopes. Both hydrostatic pads and linear motors are integrated on the frame that includes a kinematical joint, such that the upper part is properly positioned with respect to the elevation runner tracks, while the lower part is connected to the azimuth structure. Potential deflections of the elevation runner bearings at the radial pad locations are absorbed by this flexible kinematic connection and not transmitted to the linear motors and hydrostatic pads. Extensive simulations using finite-element analysis are carried out to verify that the auxiliary whiffletree hydraulic design of the mechanism is sufficient to satisfy the assigned optical length variation errors.
Spin temperature and density of cold and warm H i in the Galactic disk: Hidden H i
Authors: Sofue Yoshiaki
Published: April 2018

We present a method to determine the spin temperature TS and volume density n of H i gas simultaneously along the tangent-point circle of Galactic rotation in the Milky Way by using the χ2 method. The best-fit TS is shown to range either in TS ∼ 100–120 K or in 1000–3000 K, indicating that the gas is in the cold H i phase with high density and large optical depth, or in warm H i with low density and small optical depth. Averaged values at 3 ≤ R ≤ 8 kpc are obtained to be TS = 106.7 ± 16.0 K and n = 1.53 ± 0.86 H cm−3 for cold H i, and 1720 ± 1060 K and 0.38 ± 0.10 H cm−3 for warm H i, where R = 8 |sinl| kpc is the galacto-centric distance along the tangent-point circle. The cold H i appears in spiral arms and rings, whereas warm H i appears in the inter-arm regions. The cold H i is denser by a factor of ∼4 than warm H i. The present analysis has revealed the hidden H i mass in the cold and optically thick phase in the Galactic disk. The total H i mass inside the solar circle is shown to be greater by a factor of 2–2.5 than the current estimation by the optically thin assumption.
‘I’m not a real boozer’: a qualitative study of primary care patients’ views on drinking and its consequences
Authors: Khadjesari Z , Stevenson F , Toner P , Linke S , Milward J , Murray E
Published: April 2018

Background

The public health message around alcohol is complex, with benefits versus harms, the confusing concept of risk and drinking guidance changing over time. This provides a difficult context for alcohol screening in primary care, with established barriers from the practitioner perspective, but less is known about the patients’ perspective. This study explores patients’ views on drinking.

Methods

Eligible participants were recorded as drinking above low risk levels in primary care. Six practices in North London participated. Interviews were in-depth, semi-structured, transcribed verbatim and underwent detailed thematic analysis.

Findings

Interviews were conducted with 8 women and 12 men, aged 26–83 years, mostly educated to undergraduate level and of ‘White’ ethnicity. UK drinking guidance was viewed as irrelevant for reasons related to life stage, lifestyle and absence of harm. Dependence, loss of functionality and control were perceived as key features of problematic drinking. Healthy lifestyles, in terms of diet, exercise and not smoking, were thought to mitigate potential problems associated with alcohol intake.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that public health messages and brief advice should focus on harm experienced at different life stages, among people with different lifestyles, to challenge the ubiquitous view that ‘I’m not a real boozer’.
Outdoor time and dietary patterns in children around the world
Authors: Chaput Jean-Philippe , Tremblay Mark S , Katzmarzyk Peter T , Fogelholm Mikael , Mikkilä Vera , Hu Gang , Lambert Estelle V , Maher Carol , Maia Jose , Olds Timothy , Onywera Vincent , Sarmiento Olga L , Standage Martyn , Tudor-Locke Catrine , LeBlanc Allana G ,   for the ISCOLE Research Group
Published: April 2018

Background

Whether outdoor time is linked to dietary patterns of children has yet to be empirically tested. The objective of this study was to examine the association between outdoor time and dietary patterns of children from 12 countries around the world.

Methods

This multinational, cross-sectional study included 6229 children 9–11 years of age. Children self-reported the time that they spent outside before school, after school and on weekends. A composite score was calculated to reflect overall daily outdoor time. Dietary patterns were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and two components were used for analysis: healthy and unhealthy dietary pattern scores.

Results

On average, children spent 2.5 h outside per day. After adjusting for age, sex, parental education, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, screen time and body mass index z-score, greater time spent outdoors was associated with healthier dietary pattern scores. No association was found between outdoor time and unhealthy dietary pattern scores. Similar associations between outdoor time and dietary patterns were observed for boys and girls and across study sites.

Conclusions

Greater time spent outside was associated with a healthier dietary pattern in this international sample of children. Future research should aim to elucidate the mechanisms behind this association.
Free Fatty Acid Receptor G-protein–coupled Receptor 40 Mediates Lipid Emulsion-induced Cardioprotection
Authors: Umar Soban , Li Jingyuan , Hannabass Kyle , Vaillancourt Mylene , Cunningham Christine M. , Moazeni Shayan , Mahajan Aman , Eghbali Mansoureh
Published: April 2018

Background

We have previously shown that intralipid (lipid emulsion) protects the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury and bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity. However, the precise underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we explored the hypothesis that free fatty acid receptor-1 or G-protein–coupled receptor 40 is expressed in the heart and that cardioprotective effects of lipid emulsion are mediated through G-protein–coupled receptor 40 in two animal models of ischemia/reperfusion injury and bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity.

Methods

Langendorff-perfused male mouse hearts were subjected to ischemia/reperfusion with lipid emulsion alone (1%) or with G-protein–coupled receptor 40 antagonist (GW1100, 10 µM). Additionally, cardiotoxicity was achieved in male rats with bupivacaine bolus (10 mg/kg, IV) followed by lipid emulsion alone (20%, 5 ml/kg bolus, and 0.5 ml · kg–1 · min–1 maintenance, IV) or with GW1100 pretreatment (2.5 mg/kg, IV).

Results

G-protein–coupled receptor 40 is expressed in rodent hearts. GW1100 abolished lipid emulsion-induced cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion in mice because rate pressure product and left ventricular developed pressure were lower than lipid emulsion alone (rate pressure product: 2,186 ± 1,783 [n = 7] vs. 11,607 ± 4,347 [n = 8]; left ventricular developed pressure: 22.6 ± 10.4 vs. 63.8 ± 20; P < 0.0001). Lipid emulsion + GW1100 also demonstrated reduced LV dP/dtmax and LV dP/dtmin (dP/dtmax = 749 ± 386 vs. 2,098 ± 792, P < 0.001; dP/dtmin = −443 ± 262 vs. −1,447 ± 546, P < 0.001). In bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity rat model, GW1100 pretreatment had no significant effect on heart rate (HR) and ejection fraction after 30 min (HR: 302 ± 17 vs. 312 ± 38; ejection fraction: 69 ± 3% vs. 73 ± 4%). GW1100 pretreatment, however, prevented lipid-rescue, with no recovery after 10 min. In the control group, lipid emulsion improved HR (215 ± 16 at 10 min) and fully rescued left ventricle function at 10 min (ejection fraction = 67 ± 8%, fractional shortening = 38 ± 6%).

Conclusions

G-protein–coupled receptor 40 is expressed in the rodent heart and is involved in cardioprotection mediated by lipid emulsion against ischemia/reperfusion injury and bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity.
Blood Flow Restriction Therapy for Stimulating Skeletal Muscle Growth: Practical Considerations for Maximizing Recovery in Clinical Rehabilitation Settings
Authors: Lambert Bradley S. , Hedt Corbin , Moreno Michael , Harris Joshua D. , McCulloch Patrick
Published: April 2018

Inactivity following injury and surgery due to pain, instability, or immobilization results in loss of muscle mass and function. As a result, both risk of reinjury and overall recovery time are a prime concern for clinicians and therapists trying to minimize these deleterious effects. While resistance exercise has been demonstrated to be highly effective in combating loss of muscle mass and function, it is often not advised for postoperative or injured patients because of elevated risk of injury or exacerbating existing injury sites. Low-intensity resistance exercise (<30% 1 repetition-maximum) performed with mild to moderate blood flow restriction (BFR) has been observed to elicit beneficial anabolic and functional responses in skeletal muscle that are governed by mechanisms that regulate muscle protein metabolism and myogenesis similar to the responses following high-intensity resistance exercise. On the basis of these findings, practical applications of BFR in clinical and sport settings have been developed to mitigate skeletal muscle loss following injury and accelerate rehabilitation. However, many aspects of the physiological effects of BFR therapy in rehabilitation settings remain unclear. This review provides current information regarding skeletal muscle responses to BFR with a focus on skeletal muscle protein metabolism, anabolic signaling, applied outcomes, and applications in the clinical setting.
Variability of Tear Osmolarity Measurements With a Point-of-Care System in Healthy Subjects—Systematic Review
Authors: Baenninger Philipp B. , Voegeli Susanne , Bachmann Lucas M. , Faes Livia , Iselin Katja , Kaufmann Claude , Thiel Michael A.
Published: April 2018

Purpose:

To assess the variability of osmolarity measured by the point-of-care TearLab system in healthy eyes.

Methods:

A systematic review was performed by searching MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Web of Science Databases until November 2016 and checking reference lists of included articles and reviews. The requirements for inclusion were the availability of TearLab results in healthy subjects and a minimum study sample of 20 eyes. Two reviewers assessed articles against the inclusion criteria, extracted relevant data, and examined the methodological quality. We computed the weighted mean osmolarity using the study size as the weighting factor and calculated the rate of subjects with osmolarity values >308 mOsm/L, the Dry Eye Workshop Report 2017 (DEWS) cut-off value for dry eye disease (DED). We repeated the analysis after excluding reports with a possible conflict of interest or missing description of subject selection.

Results:

Searches retrieved 105 nonduplicate articles, and we included 33 studies investigating 1362 eyes of healthy participants who were asymptomatic and showed no clinical signs of DED. Sixty-three percent were female, and mean age was 37.3 years (range: 21.5–69.0 yr). Weighted mean osmolarity was 298 mOsm/L (95% confidence interval, 282–321 mOsm/L). The result of the subgroup analysis was similar. Overall, 386 of 1362 eyes (28.3%) fulfilled the DEWS's definition of DED (>308 mOsm/L).

Conclusions:

There is a high variability of osmolarity measurements with the TearLab system. A substantial number of healthy subjects fulfill the DEWS's definition of DED. We propose interpreting the TearLab osmolarity results cautiously and in the context of other established methods.