bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maoeriocalysins A–D, four novelent-kaurane diterpenoids fromIsodon eriocalyxand their structure determination utilizing quantum chemical calculation in conjunction with quantitative interproton distance analysis
Authors: Yang Qian , Hu Kun , Yan Bing-Chao , Liu Miao , Li Xiao-Nian , Sun Han-Dong , Puno Pema-Tenzin
Published: November 2018

Maoeriocalysin A, an unprecedented 4,5-seco-3,5-cyclo-7,20-epoxy-ent-kauranoid, together with three rare 9,10-seco-ent-kauranoids, maoeriocalysins B–D, were isolated.
Joint effect of a combination of components from the fruit ofCrataegus pinnatifidaBge. Var.majorN.E. Br. and the root ofSalvia miltiorrhizaBge. with swimming on atherosclerosis in rats
Authors: Gong Leilei , Hao Yangyang , Yin Xiaojie , Wang Lan , Ma Xiaojing , Cao Jun , Liang Rixin , Liao Fulong , Zhang Jianyong
Published: November 2018

It has been recognized that exercise training can attenuate the progression of atherosclerosis (AS).
Cytochrome P450-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) production contributes to Mn3O4 nanoparticle-caused liver injury
Authors: Yue Zongkai , Zhang Xiao , Yu Qilin , Liu Lu , Zhou Xiaomeng
Published: November 2018

Mn3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) are one of the most important nanomaterials, and have a wide range of applications (i.e., catalysis, solar-electron transformation and molecular adsorption).
Hot exciton transition for organic light-emitting diodes: tailoring excited-state properties and electroluminescence performances of donor–spacer–acceptor molecules
Authors: Jayabharathi Jayaraman , Panimozhi Sekar , Thanikachalam Venugopal
Published: November 2018

SPNCN-Cz device exhibits ηex (3.15%), ηc (2.56 cd A−1), ηp (2.45 lm W−1) with CIE (0.15, 0.07).
Effects of the variation of metal substitution and electrolyte on the electrochemical reaction of metal hexacyanoferrates
Authors: Asai Miyuki , Takahashi Akira , Tajima Kazuki , Tanaka Hisashi , Ishizaki Manabu , Kurihara Masato , Kawamoto Tohru
Published: November 2018

The redox potential of metal hexacyanoferrates (MHCFs), also called Prussian blue analogs, is qualitatively understood with the hydration energy of the cations in the supporting electrolyte.
Microwave-assisted facile synthesis of poly(luminol-co-phenylenediamine) copolymers and their potential application in biomedical imaging
Authors: Riaz Ufana , Jadoun Sapana , Kumar Prabhat , Kumar Raj , Yadav Nitin
Published: November 2018

Development of bioimaging agents based on poly(o-phenylendiamine and luminol).
Bio-inspired design: bulk iron–nickel sulfide allows for efficient solvent-dependent CO2 reduction
Authors: Piontek Stefan , junge Puring Kai , Siegmund Daniel , Smialkowski Mathias , Sinev Ilya , Tetzlaff David , Roldan Cuenya Beatriz , Apfel Ulf-Peter
Published: November 2018

The electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) to valuable bulk chemicals is set to become a vital factor in the prevention of environmental pollution and the selective storage of sustainable energy.
Crossover from three- to six-fold symmetry of colloidal aggregates in circular traps
Authors: Geigenfeind T. , Dias C. S. , Telo da Gama M. M. , de las Heras D. , Araújo N. A. M.
Published: November 2018

Structures with either three- or six-fold symmetry emerge from the competition between the particle interactions and the external potential constraints.
Superior Na-storage performance of molten-state-blending-synthesized monoclinic NaVPO4F nanoplates for Na-ion batteries
Authors: Ling Moxiang , Li Fan , Yi Hongming , Li Xianfeng , Hou Guangjin , Zheng Qiong , Zhang Huamin
Published: November 2018

A superior monoclinic NaVPO4F nanoplate for Na-ion batteries has been prepared by a molten-state-blending technique.
2.49–4.91 GHz wideband VCO with optimised 8‐shaped inductor
Authors: Zou Wei , Zou Xuecheng , Ren Daming , Zhang Kefeng , Liu Dongsheng , Ren Zhixiong
Published: November 2018

A wideband low‐phase noise VCO is proposed for multi‐standard wireless communication system. An 8‐shaped high‐Q inductor is employed to enhance the performance of the VCO. The frequency pulling is reduced by using the 8‐shaped coil. Implemented in a 180 nm CMOS process, the VCO can provide a very wide tuning range of 65.4% from 2.49 to 4.91 GHz. A phase noise lower than −121.25 dBc/Hz is obtained at 1 MHz offset over the whole working band while the current consumed varies from 3.5 to 8.7 mA.
Sensor‐based wearable system for the detection and automatic treatment of nocturnal hypoglycaemia
Authors: Sahraoui Somia , Sahraoui Sofiane , Benbousa Oussama , Berkani Ahmed‐Sami , Bilami Azeddine
Published: November 2018

Diabetic patients are prone to daily and severe health‐related risks, namely hyper and hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia phenomenon happens when the glucose level in patient's blood is lower than a well‐determined sill. It may induce serious impacts, such as functional brain failure or even the death. Hypoglycaemia is especially dangerous when it occurs during the night while the patient is asleep because it becomes difficult to be detected by the patient itself or other persons around him. While all existing sensor‐based solutions are detection‐only driven, the proposed solution goes beyond and attempts to treat autonomously, and at low cost, the nocturnal hypoglycaemia. The presented system detects the nocturnal hypoglycaemia phenomenon based on accelerated heart‐rate symptom and a progressive detection algorithm. The system treats then the detected nocturnal hypoglycaemia throughout safe and automatic injection of glucagon.
Assessing cyber‐physical systems to balance maintenance replacement policies and optimise long‐run average costs for aircraft assets
Authors: Andreacchio Marco , Bekrar Abdelghani , Benmansour Rachid , Trentesaux Damien
Published: November 2018

Many aircraft assets are subject to both preventive (scheduled) and corrective (unscheduled) replacement policies to ensure adequate levels of reliability and availability. The problem, particularly for assets that exist in large quantities, is that preventive replacement tasks often involve removing the entire population of assets from the aircraft, regardless of whether any assets were previously replaced on a corrective basis beforehand. To avoid the costs associated with premature asset removal, this study assesses the use of a cyber‐physical systems approach to the management of identified aircraft assets. This approach builds on an industrial architecture that has been implemented and deployed in the aviation maintenance environment. This study outlines how the cyber‐physical based identification of assets can facilitate balancing maintenance replacement policies to optimise long‐run average costs per unit time. A mathematical model is proposed, and the suggested approach is validated using industrial data.
Two‐step MPC for systems with input non‐linearity and norm‐bounded disturbance
Authors: Wang Jun , Ding Baocang , Wang Yong
Published: November 2018

In this study, a novel two‐step model predictive control (MPC) for Hammerstein systems subject to norm‐bounded disturbance is addressed. In the first step, the intermediate control law for the linear part of the system is posed as the solution to the unconstrained MPC problem that minimises a quadratic cost function over a given finite time, for which the solution is determined by a novel Riccati iterative equation. In the second step, the actual control move is obtained by solving non‐linear algebraic equation group and desaturation. The quadratic boundedness technique is used to specify the stability for closed‐loop system with norm‐bounded disturbance, and the sufficient conditions for quadratic convergent of the system state are presented. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach to this class of systems.
Fast approach to detect generator loss of excitation based on reactive power variation
Authors: Noroozi Naser , Alinejad‐Beromi Yousef , Yaghobi Hamid
Published: November 2018

The loss of excitation (LOE) is one of the main faults of the synchronous generator, which may cause serious damages to generator and makes the power system unstable. The main problem to distinguish between LOE and stable power swing (SPS) is a time delay, which is a main part of the detection time in all recent protection methods. This study presents a new method for LOE detection in the synchronous generator, which reduces time delay by half. The proposed method exploits a new index which is based on the variation of the generator output reactive power. It is a combination of the first‐ and second‐order derivative of the generator output reactive power. In this method, after the generator losses its excitation, the proposed index will become and remain negative for a while. To prevent mal‐operating under slowest power swing condition, the time delay of 0.85 s is used. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated under different conditions. The simulation results and experimental tests confirm the accuracy and fast operation of the proposed method.
Robust bidding strategies and scheduling of a price‐maker microgrid aggregator participating in a pool‐based electricity market
Authors: Khajeh Hosna , Akbari Foroud Asghar , Firoozi Hooman
Published: November 2018

This study presents a model for the activities of the price‐maker microgrid aggregator (MGA). In this model, an MGA is considered to aggregate several microgrids (MGs) and be in charge of obtaining an optimal bidding strategy for MGs as well as scheduling their resources and demand. Two price‐maker strategies (the marginal and non‐marginal strategies for players) are proposed and the robust scheduling and optimal transactions of a price‐taker MGA are also obtained in order to analyse different bidding behaviour of MGA. A robust optimisation is used in this model in order to capture uncertainties associated with renewable generation in the worst‐case situation. Accordingly, the robust solution is obtained for the optimal scheduling of an MGA participating in the pool‐based day‐ahead electricity market. The proposed robust bidding strategies and scheduling of a price‐maker MGA are obtained considering a hypothetical test system and the results are compared with the bidding strategy and robust scheduling of a price‐taker MGA. The results show that the robust scheduling and also the market prices are completely changed for different strategies of the MGA. Also, using the proposed model for the price‐maker MGA increases the profits of MGs.
Cost‐effective sizing of an AC mini‐grid hybrid power system for a remote area in South Australia
Authors: Combe Matthew , Mahmoudi Amin , Haque Mohammed H. , Khezri Rahmat
Published: November 2018

This study determines the optimal capacity of various components of an AC mini‐grid hybrid power system in a remote area of South Australia. A range of generation and storage technologies, such as diesel generators, wind turbines, solar photovoltaic arrays, battery banks, and flywheels are considered. A minimum system operating reserve is maintained to ensure a certain degree of reliability. Four different configurations of hybrid power systems are analysed in hourly time‐steps, over a year, using real data for system load, solar insolation, ambient temperature, and wind speed. Particle swarm optimisation approach is used to optimise the capacity of various components of each hybrid system to obtain the minimum net present cost (NPC) over a 20‐year system lifespan. Suitable capital, operating, and maintenance costs in Australian context are considered in evaluating the system. Various simulation results, such as annual energy balances, NPCs, levelised cost of energy and cash flow analysis obtained for each optimised system are carefully analysed and discussed. The modelling and results confirms the feasibility and economical replacement of the diesel power system with those of hybrid power systems which use renewable energy supply.
Investigating the impacts of price‐taking and price‐making energy storage in electricity markets through an equilibrium programming model
Authors: Ye Yujian , Papadaskalopoulos Dimitrios , Moreira Roberto , Strbac Goran
Published: November 2018

The envisaged decarbonisation of electricity systems has attracted significant interest around the role and value of energy storage systems (ESSs). In the deregulated electricity market, there is a need to investigate the complex impacts of ESSs, considering the potential exercise of market power by strategic players. This study aims at comprehensively analysing the impacts of both price‐taking and price‐making storage behaviours on energy market efficiency, corresponding to potential settings with small and large storage players, respectively. In order to achieve this and in contrast to previous papers, this work develops a multi‐period equilibrium programming market model to determine market equilibrium stemming from the interactions of independent strategic producers and ESSs, while capturing the time‐coupling operational constraints of ESSs as well as network constraints. The results of case studies on a test market capturing the general conditions of the GB electricity system demonstrate that the introduction of ESSs mitigates market power exercise and improves market efficiency, with this beneficial impact being higher when ESSs act as price takers. When the electricity network is congested, the location of ESSs also affects the market outcome, with their beneficial impact on market efficiency being higher when they are located in higher‐priced areas.
Opportunistic content dissemination in mobile social networks via adjustment of user selfishness
Authors: Moradi Ashkan , Shah‐Mansouri Vahid
Published: November 2018

By increase in smart phone penetration rate, mobile social networks (MSNs) become more popular. In such networks, users can exchange and share information via peer‐to‐peer opportunistic wireless connections. Wireless connections are prone to failures, devices are battery‐powered, and the buffer space is limited. These lead to uncertainty in connections and selfish behaviours in dissemination processes. Hence, information dissemination in MSNs becomes a challenge. In this study, the authors analyse the information dissemination in MSNs with selfish users from different communities. They develop an analytical model through ordinary differential equations to analyse the dissemination process in MSNs. Then, they propose an optimisation problem to find the optimal forwarding probabilities of users. They employ the branch and bound‐outer approximation algorithm to analytically solve the optimisation problem. The analytical results represent that the optimal forwarding probability of users diminished by increasing the number of relay users, which accelerate the dissemination in the network. Also, these results represent that the proposed algorithm to find the optimal selfishness vector can improve the network performance by decreasing the dissemination delay.
Early results of surgery for femoroacetabular impingement in patients with osteonecrosis of femoral head
Authors: Goyal Tarun
Published: November 2018

Purpose: Femoroacetabular impingement and its surgical treatment have not been described before in osteonecrosis of femoral head. We present here outcomes of 15 patients with femoroacetabular impingement secondary to osteonecrosis of femoral head. This results from partial collapse of femoral head, particularly in the anterosuperior region, secondary to osteonecrosis. With subsequent remodelling, periphery of the femoral head flattens and osteophytes form in this area. All these patients were managed with open/arthroscopic osteochondroplasty of femoral head.

Methods: These patients were symptomatic for hip impingement. Cam deformity was studied using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. In six patients open osteochondroplasty was carried out using surgical hip dislocation. In nine patients arthroscopic femoral head osteochondroplasty was done. All the patients were followed up for hip pain (VAS), Harris hip score (HHS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and hip range of motion.

Results: A statistically significant improvement in the VAS for pain, HHS, and WOMAC score was noted. Average HHS improved from 71.3 (SD, 13) to 89.7 (SD, 14.5), p-value 0.0079. Average WOMAC improved from 73.6 (SD, 15.4) to 92.4 (SD, 16), p-value 0.0154. Impingement test became negative in all the patients. A significant improvement in hip ROM was noted. There was no conversion to total hip arthroplasty. All patients could sit on the floor cross-legged and squat.

Conclusion: Some patients with partial collapse of femoral head due to osteonecrosis present chiefly with symptoms of femoroacetabular impingement. They should be identified as osteochondroplasty gives successful results in these patients.

Level of evidence − IV
Microsurgical Treatment of Posterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm (P2P Segment): Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Meguins Lucas , Spotti Antônio , de Oliveira Jean , Pereira Carlos , Fernandes Ronaldo , Santos Herbert , Valsechi Linoel , Rodrigues Thayanna , de Morais Dionei
Published: November 2018

Introduction Aneurysms of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) represent ∼ 1% of all intracranial aneurysms and usually present with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective The aim of the present study is to describe the case of an adult man presenting a saccular aneurysm of the right PCA at the posterior half of the postcommunicating (P2P) segment, and to discuss the technical nuances of the approach and of the clipping process.

Case Report An investigation of a chronic headache in a 55-year-old man found a saccular aneurysm located just posterior to the most lateral portion of the right cerebral peduncle. A digital subtraction arteriography revealed a 7.8 mm × 5.6 mm × 4.8 mm posterior-medial projecting aneurysm of the right PCA at the P2P segment. A subtemporal approach was performed with partial aspiration of the right parahippocampal gyrus for a better exposure of the vascular structures. A proximal temporary occlusion of the PCA was performed at the anterior half of the postcommunicating P2A segment. The aneurysm was clipped with two semi-curved clips. The patient presented an uneventful recovery and was discharged from the hospital on the third postoperative day without any additional neurological deficits.

Conclusion Aneurysms of the PCA are an uncommon vascular disease that challenges the ability of the neurosurgeons due to their many anatomical nuances, to their vast number of perforators, and to the risk of bleeding. However, the operative management of aneurysms of the PCA is technically feasible, safe and effective when performed respecting microsurgical principles.
A pragmatic framework to note-taking in consecutive interpretation
Authors: Abuarrah Sufyan
Published: November 2018

This study provides a framework that immediately and efficiently guides the selection of the message components
for note-taking to successfully capture implicatures in consecutive interpretation. The framework revisits the Quantity,
Informativeness, and Manner (Q, I and M) heuristics of communication by Levinson (1995,
2000). Three interpretation principles are suggested (I-Q, I-I and I-M) (I for
interpretation). The principles are applied to the main parts of the message (vocabulary, connectives, and marked forms) following
Johns (2014). The I-Q principle advises interpreters to select the words that are most consistent with the speaker’s best
knowledge of the world and to communicate them as such; the I-I principle advises interpreters to simply and systematically notate
the connectives that exemplify a similar connection to the SM; the I-M principle advocates that interpreters should mark any
instances of marked forms such as over-lexicalization, prolixity, and repetition, and relay them with a similar level of
markedness to communicate a similar attitude of the SM speaker in the TL.
La ética del traductor
Authors: Ortiz García Javier
Published: November 2018

This article attempts to illuminate one of the most elusive aspects of the study of translation: the translator’s ethic. With the exception of Lawrence Venuti’s The Scandals of Translation (1998), few scholars have ventured in-depth studies of the subject. The study I propose is two-fold, with individual focuses on the theory and practice of translation, each analysed from three distinct perspectives: the translator’s visibility, culpability and conscience. This dual focus combined with its varying angles of analysis will lead to relatively well-defined conclusions. The theoretical element of this study is based upon scholarly opinion regarding existing constraints on the translator’s task (Lefevere; Bassnett; Lambert), and the direct influence of those constraints upon the literary translator’s process and final result. With the purpose of illustrating these theoretical suppositions, this essay analyses a recent translation (2013) of a political essay originally written in English and later published in translation in a Spanish newspaper. The detailed theoretical and practical analyses of this text will reveal the translator’s performance in the case of study as well as answer the following questions: Is the translator visible? If so, why did she choose to be? Is the translator culpable or innocent in the final results of the translation? Lastly, did the translator make the decisions in question consciously or unconsciously? The ultimate objective of this essay is to provide answers to these questions, thus not only clarifying the translator’s performance in this specific case but also demonstrating a translator’s ethic in more general terms. And, perhaps, it can also begin the elaboration of a much-needed ethical code for translators.
Running speed‐induced changes in foot contact pattern influence impact loading rate
Authors: Breine Bastiaan , Malcolm Philippe , Galle Samuel , Fiers Pieter , Frederick Edward C. , De Clercq Dirk
Published: November 2018

Purpose. We aimed to determine the effect of speed‐induced changes in foot contact patterns on the vertical instantaneous loading rate (VILR). We hypothesized that transition runners, i.e. runners that shift towards a mid‐ (MF) or forefoot contact pattern (FF) when running speed increases, show smaller increases in VILR than non‐transition runners, i.e. runners that remain with a rearfoot contact pattern (RF).

Methods. Fifty‐two male and female runners ran overground at 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.2 m s−1. Ground reaction forces, lower limb sagittal plane knee and ankle kinematics and plantar pressures were recorded. Multi‐level linear regression models were used to assess differences between transition and non‐transition runners.

Results. Non‐transition runners experienced larger speed‐induced increases in VILR (48.6 ± 2.6 BW s−1 per m s−1) than transition runners (–1.4 ± 7.6 BW s−1 per m s−1). Transition runners showed higher VILRs and a more flat foot touch down at the same pre‐transition speed than non‐transition runners.

Conclusion. When running speed increases, some runners transition towards more anterior foot contact patterns. This reduces or even eliminates the speed‐induced increase in VILR. This result is especially the case for those RF runners who already have relatively high VILRs and flat foot positioning at slower running speeds.
Effects of Fruit and Vegetable Feeding Messages on Mothers and Fathers: Interactions Between Emotional State and Health Message Framing
Authors: Persky Susan , Ferrer Rebecca A , Klein William M P , Goldring Megan R , Cohen Rachel W , Kistler William D , Yaremych Haley E , Bouhlal Sofia
Published: November 2018

Background

There is a pressing need to craft optimal public health messages promoting healthy feeding behaviors among parents. How these messages influence such feeding decisions are affected by multiple interactive factors including emotional states, message framing, and gender, but these factors have not been studied in the domain of parents’ feeding of their children.

Purpose

To evaluate the role of message framing, emotional state, and parent gender on feeding choices that parents make for their children.

Methods

In 2016–2017, 190 parents (126 mothers) of 4- to 7-year-old children were randomly assigned to an anger or fear emotion induction and read either a gain- or loss-framed message about the importance of children’s fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption prior to choosing foods for their child from a virtual reality buffet.

Results

Mothers in an angry state who received a gain-framed message chose relatively more FV for their child in the virtual buffet, F(3, 180) = 4.77, p = .027. However, fathers in this group did not feed more FV, but rather reported greater intention to improve future FV feeding, F(3, 180) = 4.91, p = .028.

Conclusions

Providing gain-framed messages to parents, particularly mothers, in an anger state may be most effective for motivating healthy dietary choices for children.

Clinical Trial information

clinicaltrials.gov NCT02622035
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Enables Updating of Established Memories
Authors: Kluen Lisa Marieke , Dandolo Lisa Catherine , Jocham Gerhard , Schwabe Lars
Published: November 2018

Updating established memories in light of new information is fundamental for memory to guide future behavior. However, little is known about the brain mechanisms by which existing memories can be updated. Here, we combined functional magnetic resonance imaging and multivariate representational similarity analysis to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying the updating of consolidated memories. To this end, participants first learned face–city name pairs. Twenty-four hours later, while lying in the MRI scanner, participants were required to update some of these associations, but not others, and to encode entirely new pairs. Updating success was tested again 24 h later. Our results showed increased activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) specifically during the updating of existing associations that was significantly stronger than when simple retrieval or new encoding was required. The updating-related activity of the dlPFC and its functional connectivity with the hippocampus were directly linked to updating success. Furthermore, neural similarity for updated items was markedly higher in the dlPFC and this increase in dlPFC neural similarity distinguished individuals with high updating performance from those with low updating performance. Together, these findings suggest a key role of the dlPFC, presumably in interaction with the hippocampus, in the updating of established memories.
Acute kidney injury among paediatric emergency room admissions in a tertiary hospital in South West Nigeria: a cohort study
Authors: Ademola Adebowale D , Asinobi Adanze O , Ekpe-Adewuyi Esther , Ayede Adejumoke I , Ajayi Samuel O , Raji Yemi R , Salako Babatunde L , James Matthew , Zappitelli Michael , Samuel Susan M
Published: November 2018

Background

Epidemiological data on paediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) in sub-Saharan Africa are limited and largely retrospective. We performed a prospective study of AKI among patients admitted through the emergency room.

Methods

Children admitted to the post-neonatal emergency room of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between February 2016 and January 2017 were studied. AKI was defined by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes serum creatinine criteria. AKI ascertainment relied on serum creatinine measurements carried out in routine care by post-admission Day 1. We compared in-hospital mortality by post-admission Day 7 for patients with and without AKI (no-AKI).

Results

Of the 1344 children admitted to the emergency room, 331 were included in the study. AKI occurred in 112 patients (33.8%) with a median age of 3.1 years [interquartile range (IQR) 0.9–9.4] and was Stage 3 in 50.5% of the cases. The no-AKI group had a median age of 1.8 (IQR 0.7–5.8) years. The underlying diagnoses in patients with AKI were sepsis (33.0%), malaria (12.5%) and primary renal disorders (13.4%). Twenty-four of the patients with AKI underwent dialysis: haemodialysis in 20 and peritoneal dialysis in 4. By Day 7 of admission, 7 of 98 (7.1%) patients in the AKI group had died compared with 5 of 175 (2.9%) patients in the no-AKI group [odds ratio 2.6 (95% confidence interval 0.8–8.5)]. Outcome data were not available for 58 (17.5%) patients.

Conclusions

AKI is common among paediatric emergency room admissions in a tertiary care hospital in sub-Saharan Africa. It is associated with high mortality risk that may be worse in settings without dialysis.
Older Adults’ Lure Discrimination Difficulties on the Mnemonic Similarity Task Are Significantly Correlated With Their Visual Perception
Authors: Davidson Patrick S R , Vidjen Petar , Trincao-Batra Sara , Collin Charles A
Published: November 2018

Objectives

Pattern separation in memory encoding entails creating and storing distinct, detailed representations to facilitate storage and retrieval. The Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST; Stark, S. M., Yassa, M. A., Lacy, J. W., & Stark, C. E. [2013]. A task to assess behavioral pattern separation [BPS] in humans: Data from healthy aging and mild cognitive impairment. Neuropsychologia, 51, 2442–2449) has been used to argue that normal aging leads to pattern separation decline. We sought to replicate previous reports of age-related difficulty on this behavioral pattern separation estimate and to examine its neuropsychological correlates, specifically long-term memory function, executive function, and visual perception.

Methods

We administered an object version of the MST to 31 young adults and 38 older adults. It involved a single-probe recognition memory test in which some of the originally studied objects had been replaced with perceptually similar lures, and participants had to identify each as old, a lure, or new.

Results

Despite their corrected item recognition scores being superior to those of the young adults, the older adults had significantly greater difficulty than the young in discriminating the similar-looking lures from the original items. Interestingly, this lure discrimination difficulty was significantly correlated with visual perception rather than with long-term memory or executive function.

Discussion

These results suggest that although adult age differences on the MST are reliable, care should be taken to separate perceptual from memory discrimination difficulties as the reason.
Addition of mHealth (mobile health) for family planning support in Kenya: disparities in access to mobile phones and associations with contraceptive knowledge and use
Authors: Lee Seohyun , Begley Charles E , Morgan Robert , Chan Wenyaw , Kim Sun-Young
Published: November 2018

Background

Recently mobile health (mHealth) has been implemented in Kenya to support family planning. Our objectives were to investigate disparities in mobile phone ownership and to examine the associations between exposure to family planning messages through mHealth (stand-alone or combined with other channels such as public forums, informational materials, health workers, social media and political/religious/community leaders’ advocacy) and contraceptive knowledge and use.

Methods

Logistic and Poisson regression models were used to analyze the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey.

Results

Among 31 059 women, 86.7% had mobile phones and were more likely to have received higher education, have children ≤5 y of age and tended to be wealthier or married. Among 7397 women who were sexually active, owned a mobile phone and received family planning messages through at least one channel, 89.8% had no exposure to mHealth. mHealth alone was limited in improving contraceptive knowledge and use but led to intended outcomes when used together with four other channels compared with other channels only (knowledge: incidence rate ratio 1.084 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.063–1.106]; use: odds ratio 1.429 [95% CI 1.026–1.989]).

Conclusions

Socio-economic disparities existed in mobile phone ownership, and mHealth alone did not improve contraceptive knowledge and use among Kenyan women. However, mHealth still has potential for family planning when used with existing channels.
Classifying relations in clinical narratives using segment graph convolutional and recurrent neural networks (Seg-GCRNs)
Authors: Li Yifu , Jin Ran , Luo Yuan
Published: November 2018

We propose to use segment graph convolutional and recurrent neural networks (Seg-GCRNs), which use only word embedding and sentence syntactic dependencies, to classify relations from clinical notes without manual feature engineering. In this study, the relations between 2 medical concepts are classified by simultaneously learning representations of text segments in the context of sentence syntactic dependency: preceding, concept1, middle, concept2, and succeeding segments. Seg-GCRN was systematically evaluated on the i2b2/VA relation classification challenge datasets. Experiments show that Seg-GCRN attains state-of-the-art micro-averaged F-measure for all 3 relation categories: 0.692 for classifying medical treatment–problem relations, 0.827 for medical test–problem relations, and 0.741 for medical problem–medical problem relations. Comparison with the previous state-of-the-art segment convolutional neural network (Seg-CNN) suggests that adding syntactic dependency information helps refine medical word embedding and improves concept relation classification without manual feature engineering. Seg-GCRN can be trained efficiently for the i2b2/VA dataset on a GPU platform.
Neuro-Oncology Clinical Debate: PCV or temozolomide in combination with radiation for newly diagnosed high-grade oligodendroglioma
Authors: Ruff Michael W , Buckner Jan C , Johnson Derek R , van den Bent Martin J , Geurts Marjolein
Published: November 2018

The treatment of newly diagnosed oligodendroglioma has been revolutionized in the past decade by multiple studies demonstrating that the addition of chemotherapy to radiation therapy results in a significant survival benefit. While the most direct evidence comes from clinical trials that utilized PCV, a chemotherapy regimen consisting of procarbazine, CCNU (lomustine), and vincristine, there is circumstantial evidence suggesting that the oral agent temozolomide (TMZ), which is both better tolerated and logistically simpler than PCV, may also be effective. The lack of currently available direct comparative data for PCV vs TMZ results in a diversity of practice. In this article, Ruff and Buckner argue for PCV as part of the standard-of-care regimen for newly diagnosed anaplastic oligodendroglioma, while Geurts and van den Bent defend the use of TMZ.
Galactic foreground of gamma-ray bursts from AKARI Far-Infrared Surveyor
Authors: Toth L Viktor , Doi Yasuo , Zahorecz Sarolta , Pinter Sandor , Racz Istvan I , Bagoly Zsolt , Balazs Lajos G , Horvath Istvan , Kiss Csaba , Kovács Tímea , Onishi Toshikazu
Published: November 2018

We demonstrate the use of the AKARI FIS All-Sky Survey maps in the study of extragalactic objects. A quick but reliable estimate of the Galactic foreground is essential for extragalactic research in general. We explored the galactic foreground and calculated hydrogen column densities using AKARI FIS and other recent all-sky survey data, and compared our results to former estimates. Our AKARI-FIS-based foreground values were then used toward gamma-ray burst (GRB) sources as input for X-ray afterglow spectrum fitting. From those fits the intrinsic column densities at the GRB sources were derived. The high-angular-resolution AKARI-FIS-based Galactic foreground hydrogen column densities are statistically very similar, but for most of the tested directions somewhat lower than previous estimates based on low-resolution data. This is due to the low filling factor of high-density enhancements in all galactic latitudes. Accordingly, our AKARI-FIS-based new intrinsic hydrogen column densities are usually higher or similar compared to the values calculated based, e.g., on the low-resolution Leiden/Argentine/Bonn survey data and listed in the Leicester database. The variation, however, is typically smaller than the error of the estimate from the fits of the X-ray afterglow spectra. There are a number of directions where the improvement of the foreground estimates resulted in an overestimate of magnitude or higher increment of the derived intrinsic hydrogen column densities. We concluded that most of the GRBs with formerly extremely low intrinsic hydrogen column densities are in fact normal, but we confirmed that GRB050233 is indeed a non-enveloped long GRB.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain: Does Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Influence Treatment Outcomes?
Authors: Herbert Matthew S , Malaktaris Anne L , Dochat Cara , Thomas Michael L , Wetherell Julie Loebach , Afari Niloofar
Published: November 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine whether post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) moderates treatment outcomes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic pain.

Design

Longitudinal.

Setting

Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System.

Subjects

A total of 126 veterans with chronic pain participating in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention for chronic pain. A structured clinical interview was used at baseline to designate PTSD-positive (N = 43) and -negative groups (N = 83).

Methods

Linear mixed-effects models to determine whether PTSD moderated change in pain interference, pain severity, pain acceptance, depressive symptoms, or pain-related anxiety at post-treatment and six-month follow-up.

Results

Participants with co-occurring PTSD reported greater pain interference, pain severity, depressive symptoms, and pain-related anxiety at baseline. PTSD status did not moderate treatment effects post-treatment. Rather, there were significant improvements on all study measures across groups (P < 0.001). PTSD status moderated change in depressive symptoms at six-month follow-up (P < 0.05). Specifically, participants with chronic pain alone demonstrated improvement in depressive symptoms compared with pretreatment levels, whereas participants with PTSD regressed to pretreatment levels.

Conclusions

PTSD status did not significantly affect treatment outcomes, with the exception of depressive symptoms at six-month follow-up. Overall, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic pain appears helpful for improving outcomes among veterans with co-occurring PTSD; however, veterans with co-occurring PTSD may experience fewer long-term gains compared with those with chronic pain alone.
The geometry of corank 1 surfaces in ℝ4
Authors: Benedini Riul P , Ruas M A S , Oset Sinha R
Published: November 2018

We study the geometry of surfaces in ℝ4 with corank 1 singularities. For such surfaces, the singularities are isolated and, at each point, we define the curvature parabola in the normal space. This curve codifies all the second-order information of the surface. Also, using this curve, we define asymptotic and binormal directions, the umbilic curvature and study the flat geometry of the surface. It is shown that we can associate to this singular surface a regular one in ℝ4 and relate their geometry.
Methotrexate achieves major cDAPSA response, and improvement in dactylitis and functional status in psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Appani Sravan Kumar , Devarasetti Phani Kumar , Irlapati Rajendra Vara Prasad , Rajasekhar Liza
Published: November 2018

Objective

Despite the widespread clinical use of MTX in PsA, data from published randomized controlled studies suggest limited efficacy. The objective of the present study was to document the efficacy of MTX.

Methods

This was an open-label, prospective study of patients satisfying the ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis study (CASPAR) criteria for PsA who received MTX in doses of ⩾15 mg/week throughout the follow-up period of 9 months. Disease activity was assessed across various domains by tender and swollen joint count, physician and patient global assessment, DAS-28 ESR, Clinical Disease Activity Index for PsA (cDAPSA), Leeds Dactylitis Instrument basic, Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Minimal Disease Activity and HAQ (CRD Pune version) at baseline and at 3, 6 and 9 months of follow-up. Response to therapy was assessed by EULAR DAS28 ESR, Disease Activity Index for PsA (cDAPSA) response, HAQ response and PASI75. MTX dose escalation and the use of combination DMARDS were dictated by disease activity.

Results

A total of 73 patients were included, with mean (s.d.) age 44 (9.7) years. The mean (s.d.) dose of MTX used was 17.5 (3.8) mg/week. Seven patients received additional DMARDS (LEF/SSZ). At the end of 9 months, significant improvement (P < 0.05) was noted in the tender joint count, swollen joint count, global activity, DAS-28ESR, cDAPSA, Leeds Dactylitis Index basic, LEI, PASI and HAQ. Major cDAPSA response was achieved in 58.9% of patients. EULAR DAS28 moderate and good response was achieved in 74% and 6.8% of patients, respectively. Minimal Disease Activity was achieved in 63% of patients. A PASI75 response and HAQ response was achieved in 67.9% and 65.8% of patients, respectively.

Conclusion

MTX initiated at ⩾15 mg/week with targeted escalation resulted in significant improvement in the skin, joint, dactylitis, enthesitis and functional domains of PsA.
Factors Associated With Marijuana Use Among Treatment-seeking Adult Cigarette Smokers in the Criminal Justice Population
Authors: Montgomery LaTrice , Schiavon Samantha , Cropsey Karen
Published: November 2018

Objectives:

Due to the elevated rates of cigarette use and marijuana use within the criminal justice system, it is critical to develop a stronger understanding of tobacco and marijuana co-use among this population to inform future interventions.

Methods:

This study is a secondary analysis of baseline data from a smoking cessation randomized clinical trial of adults (n = 500) in a community correction program. Participants were classified as using cigarettes only or both cigarettes and marijuana through either self-report or positive urine drug screening. Demographics and measures regarding legal, drug use, smoking, mental health, and interpersonal histories were assessed. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess factors associated with co-use.

Results:

Among adults who smoked cigarettes, 25% reported current marijuana use. Individuals who used both cigarettes and marijuana were more likely than those who only used cigarettes to be African American (80%), male (73.6%), and younger (M = 32.4 [SD = 11.0]). Increasing difficulties with last quit attempt was associated with a reduction in the likelihood of co-use (odds ratio [OR] 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60–0.94, P < 0.05), and benzodiazepine (OR 9.09, 95% CI 1.25–65.94, P < 0.05) and opioid (OR 8.17, 95% CI 2.03–32.93, P < 0.01) use was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of co-use.

Conclusions:

This study identified several factors that are associated with an increased risk of cigarette and marijuana co-use among a community correction population. These findings will be valuable for informing targeted prevention and treatment interventions.
Quality of Information Available Online for Abortion Self-Referral
Authors: Dodge Laura E. , Phillips Sharon J. , Neo Dayna T. , Nippita Siripanth , Paul Maureen E. , Hacker Michele R.
Published: November 2018

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the quality of information available online for abortion self-referral and to determine whether quality varies by region or distance to an abortion provider.

METHODS:

This was a cross-sectional study. We used a standard protocol to perform internet searches from August 2016 to June 2017 for abortion services in the 25 most populous U.S. cities and the 43 state capitals that were not one of the 25 most populous cities. We classified the first 10 webpage results and the first five map results and advertisements as facilitating abortion referral (local independent abortion provider, local Planned Parenthood facility, national abortion provider or organization, prochoice website, or abortion directory), not facilitating abortion referral (nonproviding physician office, nonmedical website, abortion provider greater than 50 miles from the location, news article, general directory, other), or hindering abortion referral (crisis pregnancy center or antichoice website). We used U.S. Census Bureau subregions to examine geographic differences. We made comparisons using a χ2 test.

RESULTS:

Overall, from 612 searches from 68 cities, 52.9% of webpage results, 67.3% of map results, and 34.4% of advertisements facilitated abortion referral, whereas 12.9%, 21.7%, and 29.9%, respectively, hindered abortion referral. The content of the searches differed significantly based on U.S. Census Bureau subregion (all P≤.001) and distance to an abortion provider (all P≤.02).

CONCLUSION:

Two thirds of map results facilitated abortion self-referral, whereas only half of webpage results did so. Advertisements were the least likely to facilitate and the most likely to hinder self-referral. Quality was lowest in areas that were farthest from abortion providers.
Levels of Maternal Care Verification Pilot
Authors: Zahn Christopher M. , Remick Arlene , Catalano Andrea , Goodman David , Kilpatrick Sarah J. , Menard M. Kathryn
Published: November 2018

Development of systems for perinatal regionalization and for the provision of risk-appropriate maternal care is a key strategy to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality. Regionalized systems pertaining to neonatal care are broadly implemented in many states, but networks for risk-appropriate maternal care are lacking. In response to increases in maternal morbidity and mortality over the past decade, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) developed and published the levels of maternal care guidelines in 2015. The guidelines are designed to promote collaboration among maternal facilities and health care providers with the goal that pregnant women receive care at a facility appropriate for their risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the Levels of Care Assessment Tool in 2013 to assist states and jurisdictions in assessing maternal and neonatal levels of care in alignment with the national guidelines published by ACOG and SMFM and the American Academy of Pediatrics, respectively. With the goal of promoting levels of maternal care, ACOG and SMFM developed and piloted the levels of maternal care verification program. Fourteen facilities across three states (Georgia, Illinois, and Wyoming) participated in the pilot. A multidisciplinary team representing organizations with expertise in maternal risk-appropriate care performed an onsite comprehensive review of the maternal services available in each facility using the results from the CDC Levels of Care Assessment Tool as a previsit screening. A verification program that could be implemented on a local, state, or regional scale is being developed leveraging the lessons learned from the pilot.