bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia changes chemotaxis behaviour of mesenchymal stem cells via HIF‐1α signalling
Authors: Xu Wei , Xu Ruijun , Li Zhikun , Wang Yi , Hu Ruixi
Published: January 2019

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have drawn great attention because of their therapeutic potential. It has been suggested that intra‐venous infused MSCs could migrate the site of injury to help repair the damaged tissue. However, the mechanism for MSC migration is still not clear so far. In this study, we reported that hypoxia increased chemotaxis migration of MSCs. At 4 and 6 hours after culturing in hypoxic (1% oxygen) conditions, the number of migrated MSCs was significantly increased. Meanwhile, hypoxia also increased the expression of HIF‐1α and SDF‐1. Using small interference RNA, we knocked down the expression of HIF‐1α in MSCs to study the role of HIF‐1α in hypoxia induced migration. Our data indicated that knocking down the expression of HIF‐1α not only abolished the migration of MSCs, but also reduced the expression of SDF‐1. Combining the results of migration assay and expression at RNA and protein level, we demonstrated a novel mechanism that controls the increase of MSCs migration. This mechanism involved HIF‐1α mediated SDF‐1 expression. These findings provide new insight into the role of HIF‐1α in the hypoxia induced MSC migration and can be a benefit for the development of MSC‐based therapeutics for wound healing.
Biologic modelling of periodontal disease progression
Authors: Nagarajan Radhakrishnan , Miller Craig S. , Dawson Dolph , Ebersole Jeffrey L.
Published: January 2019

Aim

To investigate the synergistic role of biologic markers from saliva, serum and plaque in modelling periodontitis disease progression.

Material and Methods

This longitudinal study evaluated characteristics of disease progression in 114 patients with generalized moderate to severe periodontitis. The primary outcome was detection of sites with progressing attachment loss sites over 6 months in patients who received scaling and root planing or oral hygiene only. The predictive potential of 27 biomarkers in serum, whole saliva and subgingival plaque was evaluated using three classification algorithms (Support Vector Machines; Naïve Bayes Classifier; and Linear Discriminant Analysis) within an ensemble predictive modelling framework.

Results

Disease progression occurred in 24.6% of subjects (28/114). Predictive modelling using Naïve Bayes Classifier identified progressors best with sensitivity of ~89%. The use of the three classification algorithms revealed the concerted role of salivary matrix metalloproteinase‐8, serum biomarkers (serum amyloid P, matrix metalloproteinase 1, bactericidal permeability‐increasing protein, isoprostane) along with levels of Porphryomonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia in plaque in predicting progressors.

Conclusions

Synergistic utility of baseline bacterial and inflammatory biomarkers from saliva, serum and plaque predicted disease progression.
Towards a theory of platform dynamics
Authors: Cabral Luís
Published: January 2019

I introduce a dynamic framework to analyze platforms. The (single) platform owner sets prices at the beginning of each period. Agents (buyers, sellers, readers, consumers, merchants, etc.) make platform membership decisions occasionally. I show that an optimal platform pricing addresses two externalities: across sides and across time periods. This results in optimal prices which depend on platform size in a nontrivial way. By means of numerical simulations, I examine the determinants of equilibrium platform size, showing that the stationary distribution of platform size may be bimodal, that is, with some probability the platform remains very low or takes very long to increase in size. I also contrast the dynamics of proprietary versus nonproprietary (i.e., zero‐priced) platforms, and consider the specific case of asymmetric platforms (one side cares about the other but not vice versa).
Persistent development of adomavirus and aquareovirus in a novel cell line from marbled eel with petechial skin haemorrhage
Authors: Pao Hui‐Yu , Wu Cheng‐Yu , Wen Chiu Ming
Published: January 2019

In Taiwan, a petechial haemorrhage disease associated with mortality has affected marbled eels (Anguilla marmorata). The eels were revealed to be infected with adomavirus (MEAdoV, previously recognized as a polyoma‐like virus). In this study, cell line DMEPF‐5 was established from the pectoral fin of a diseased eel. DMEPF‐5 was passaged >70 times and thoroughly proliferated in L‐15 medium containing 2%–15% foetal bovine serum at 20–30°C. Transcripts of neural cell adhesion molecule 1 and nestin genes, and nucleic acids of MEAdoV and a novel reovirus (MERV) in the cells were demonstrated by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the AdoV LO8 proteins mostly relate to adenovirus adenain, whereas MERV is close to American grass carp reovirus in Aquareovirus G, based on a partial VP2 nucleotide sequence. DMEPF‐5 cells are susceptible to additional viral infection. Taken together, the marbled eels with the haemorrhagic disease have coinfection with MEAdoV and MERV, and the pathogenic role of MEAdoV and MERV warrants research. DMEPF‐5 has gene expression associated with mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells and is the first cell line persistently infected with adomavirus and aquareovirus. DMEPF‐5 can facilitate studies of such viruses and haemorrhagic disease.
Prejudices towards people with intellectual disabilities: reliability and validity of the Italian Modern and Classical Prejudices Scale
Authors: Marcone R. , Caputo A. , Esposito S. , Senese V. P.
Published: January 2019

Background

Prejudices and negative attitudes towards intellectual disabilities (IDs) may hinder social inclusion of ID individuals, limiting their well‐being. This study investigated the psychometric characteristics of the Italian Modern and Classical Prejudices Scale (MCPS‐IT) towards people with ID and the effects of gender, age and socio‐economic status (SES) on prejudices.

Method

The MCPS‐IT was administered to 474 adults (69% women, age range 18–70 years, M = 33.13) in conjunction with a questionnaire evaluating socio‐demographic information (SES), the contact and the education about ID people and the social dominance orientation.

Results

Results confirmed that Italian MCPS has a two‐factor structure that measures in a reliable and valid way prejudice towards people with ID. Multivariate analyses of variance confirmed a weak gender difference in both scales and age differences in modern scale. No SES differences were found.

Conclusion

The Italian MCPS represents a valid scale that can be used to monitor the social context of people with ID.
Design of experiment with sensory data: A pragmatic data analysis approach
Authors: Pineau Nicolas , Moser Mireille , Rawyler Fabien , Lepage Mélissa , Antille Nicolas , Rytz Andreas
Published: January 2019

In the context of product development, the use of designs of experiments is a powerful approach to assess the impact of multiple parameters at a time while minimizing the number of trials and samples to be tested.

When outcome measures are sensory profiles (samples × panelists × attibutes), it is proposed to analyze the data according to a two‐steps approach building on the use of Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) as an intuitive and easy‐to‐interpret descriptive tool. The approach quantifies the impacts of the investigated parameters on the multivariate sensory profiles and compares these impacts with a relevant LSD.

To illustrate the approach, a fractional factorial design with 32 experiments—instead of 36′864 for a full factorial—has been used to assess the potential of 11 parameters of a vending machine to modulate sensory properties for various coffee types and dosages. With minimal effort, this study shows that machine parameters influence appearance, modulate specific odor and flavor attributes, but only marginally impact taste/aftertaste. This study illustrates the high actionability of a two‐step data analysis approach, which has actually proven to be efficient to drive product innovation and renovation in hundreds of cases covering multiple food and beverage categories.

Practical applications

This approach has been applied for many years for past studies in which a design of experiment has been used with monadic sensory profiling as an outcome. It has been used with various product categories, with various levels of design complexity (2–15 parameters, with 2–8 levels each) and has proven to be very efficient to drive product innovation and renovation while optimizing the use of limited resources. Other types of data than sensory could be analyzed similarly as long as it is possible to get a relevant estimate of the measurement variability and that this variability is consided important in comparison with the production (pilot/kitchen) variability. Estimate of the variability can for instance come through replicates of (some of) the samples or through external data (e.g., a method validation procedure could provide information about the measurement variability of a given instrument).
Do body‐related sensations make feel us better? Subjective well‐being is associated only with the subjective aspect of interoception
Authors: Ferentzi Eszter , Horváth Áron , Köteles Ferenc
Published: January 2019

According to the proposition of several theoretical accounts, the perception of the bodily cues, interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive sensibility, has a significant positive impact on subjective well‐being. Others assume a negative association; however, empirical evidence is scarce. In this study, 142 young adults completed questionnaires assessing subjective well‐being, interoceptive sensibility, and subjective somatic symptoms and participated in measurements of proprioceptive accuracy (reproduction of the angle of the elbow joint), gastric sensitivity (water load test), and heartbeat tracking ability (Schandry task). Subjective well‐being showed weak to medium positive associations with interoceptive sensibility and weak negative associations with symptom reports. No associations with measures of interoceptive accuracy were found. Gastric sensitivity as opposed to heartbeat perception and proprioceptive accuracy moderated the association between interoceptive sensibility and well‐being. Thus, subjective well‐being is associated only with the self‐reported (perceived) aspect of interoception but not related to the sensory measures of interoceptive accuracy.
How women experience and cope with daily hassles after sexual abuse – a retrospective qualitative study
Authors: Stensvehagen Marianne Torp , Bronken Berit Arnesveen , Lien Lars , Larsson Gerry
Published: January 2019

The impact of stress on health can depend on factors such as frequency, heightening of stress during a given period or the presence of one or a few repeated hassles of psychological importance. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how adult women experience and cope with daily hassles after sexual abuse. Ten interviews were analysed using the grounded theory method. The theoretical model of ‘protecting armor in daily life’ emerged. The aftermath of sexual abuse related coping with daily stress can be understood as a three‐phase process: (1) avoiding and escaping—coping after experiencing sexual abuse; (2) accepting and disclosing—starting a process of recovery; and (3) reconciling and repossessing—living with the experience in the present. The model contributes to a deeper understanding of the everyday life of women who have experienced sexual abuse. Increased knowledge of coping behaviours that can be used to deal with daily hassles may also serve as a tool for health professionals, other helpers and family to help these women rebuild a good life.
Impact of a multicomponent physical activity intervention on cognitive performance: The MOVI‐KIDS study
Authors: Sánchez‐López Mairena , Cavero‐Redondo Iván , Álvarez‐Bueno Celia , Ruiz‐Hermosa Abel , Pozuelo‐Carrascosa Diana P. , Díez‐Fernández Ana , Gutierrez‐Díaz del Campo David , Pardo‐Guijarro María Jesús , Martínez‐Vizcaíno Vicente
Published: January 2019

Introduction

This study examined the impact of a multicomponent physical activity (PA) intervention (MOVI‐KIDS) on improving cognition in schoolchildren. This paper also analyzed the mediator role of motor fitness between MOVI‐KIDS and cognition.

Methods

Propensity score analysis of data from a cluster randomized controlled trial (MOVI‐KIDS study). This analysis including 240 5‐7 years old children from nine schools in the provinces of Cuenca and Ciudad Real, Spain. MOVI‐KIDS program consisted of: (a) three weekly after‐school sessions of recreational non‐competitive PA lasting 60 minutes during one academic year, (b) educational materials for parents and teachers, and (c) school playground modifications. Changes in cognition (logical reasoning, verbal factor, numerical factor, spatial factor, and general intelligence) were measured. A propensity score cross‐cluster matching procedure and mediation analysis (Hayes's PROCESS macro) were conducted.

Results

All cognitive variables pre‐post mean changes were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in children from intervention schools than those from control schools (effect size ranged from 0.33 to 1.48). The effect of the intervention on the spatial factor and general intelligence was partially mediated by motor fitness (indirect effect = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.36; 1.65; and indirect effect = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.06; 2.62, respectively).

Conclusions

This study shows that a one‐school‐year multicomponent intervention consisting of a recreational non‐competitive PA program, educational materials for parents and teachers, and school playground modifications improved the cognition of first‐grade children. Further, our results suggest that the effect of the intervention on cognition was mediated by changes in motor fitness.
Risk and punishment: The recent history and uncertain future of actuarial, algorithmic, and “evidence‐based” penal techniques
Authors: Werth Robert
Published: January 2019

In recent decades, risk prediction has proliferated in the penal realm. Risk instruments currently guide an array of correctional decisions—such as participation in diversion programs, the provision of correctional services, and probation and parole supervision levels—and are being increasingly utilized or considered in pretrial detention and criminal sentencing. This article reviews empirical and theoretical accounts of the proliferation and effects of risk in the penal realm and also reflects on ongoing debates about the promises and perils of risk. Risk techniques have impacted the practices, discourses, and logics of punishment. Yet they have not triggered the abandonment of rehabilitative approaches (or retributive ones), nor have they replaced human judgment with a rationalized utopia or iron cage. This article also offers several interventions that complicate and further our understandings of risk. First, it highlights the complex entanglements between, on the one hand, actuarial and algorithmic risk instruments and, on the other, subjective, moral, and affective methods of evaluation. Second, it calls for increased attention to the performative effects of risk technologies: to the ways in which assessments not only report on but also create and alter the social world. The article concludes by reflecting on emerging topics and directions for future research.
Portuguese healthcare reforms in the context of crisis: External pressure or domestic choice?
Authors: Asensio Maria , Popic Tamara
Published: January 2019

As a result of the recent economic crisis, in 2011, Portugal signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Central Bank, the European Commission, and the International Monetary Fund (the “Troika”). In exchange for Troika's financial assistance, the Memorandum required the implementation of a specific set of reforms targeted at the healthcare sector. The literature on policy reforms in the context of crisis and conditionality argues that governments have restricted room to manoeuver in responding to external pressure. We challenge this view, finding that even in cases of conditionality and strong external pressures, crisis can be used as a window of opportunity for reforms substantially shaped by domestic policy choices. In the case of Portuguese health reforms, these choices were based on pre‐existing reform plans aimed on resolving country‐specific deficiencies of the healthcare system and were enabled by the two main political parties' strategies of tacit cooperation and blame avoidance. The article emphasizes the need for more fine‐grained analysis of welfare reforms in the crisis that pays equal attention to the institutional characteristics and the political context of the affected countries.
Mapping the face of young population in China: Influence of anatomical sites and gender on biophysical properties of facial skin
Authors: Song Yanqing , Pan Yao , Wang Huan , Liu Qi , Zhao Hua
Published: January 2019

Background

Facial skin exhibits unique biophysical properties, which are influenced by anatomical regions and genders. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the regional and gender differences in facial skin biophysical parameters among Chinese population.

Materials and Methods

The 12 skin biophysical parameters at four distinct facial skin sites (forehead, cheek, canthus and chin) were measured in a normal population (n = 212) with 42 males and 141 females aged 18‐29 years living in Beijing. These parameters consisted of skin hydration, transepidermal water loss, sebum content, erythema/melanin indices, L*a*b* color, skin gloss and elasticity, all quantifying with non‐invasive instruments.

Results

The results demonstrated that the characteristics of the facial skin were significantly different between the regions and genders. The forehead had weaker skin barrier function but secreted the most sebum content, while the cheek was the driest and brightest region on the face. The canthus was the most hydrated area and the chin displayed higher sebum secretion, darker skin color and less elastic. The females showed more hydrated, less oil, lighter and more elastic facial skin compared with males.

Conclusion

This study indicates that the young Chinese facial skin significantly varies with face anatomical regions and differs between genders.
Evaluation of power extraction circuits on piezo‐transducers operating under low‐frequency vibration‐induced strains in bridges
Authors: Balguvhar Sumit , Bhalla Suresh
Published: January 2019

The concept of piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH) provides a promising solution for perpetually running low‐power electronic devices such as wireless sensor networks by harvesting ambient vibrations generated from civil structures such as long span bridges, city flyovers, elevated metro corridors, which are constantly under dynamic loads. However, its successful industrial‐scale deployment on civil structures is still not realised because of the low‐frequency of vibrations (typically <5 Hz) encountered there, coupled with the low levels of voltage generation. The vast majority of PEH‐related studies have only focused on PEH configurations and geometries, Often entailing secondary structures. d31 mode, which is the most natural mode of excitation, has not been investigated in depth for piezo‐patches directly bonded on the main structure. Studies, which have focused on electronic conditioning circuitry, have been restricted to typically high‐voltage and high‐frequency scenarios only. This paper focuses on systematically studying the issues inflicting energy harvesting from the ambient vibrations induced flexural strains civil structures, such as city flyovers, using piezo elements in d31 mode. Vibration measurements are first undertaken from a typical city flyover consisting of steel girders supporting a reinforced concrete (RC) deck. The basic site measurements are employed to perform a laboratory‐based parametric study to investigate the influence of parameters such as vibration frequency, voltage, and circuit components like diodes on PEH. On the basis of the experimental results, it can be concluded that power in microwatts range can be typically harvested from these civil structures through directly bonded piezo patches in d31 mode. However, there are still issues associated with electronic circuitry accompanying harvesters, such as diodes and storage elements. The same are summarised and future directions envisioned.
Investigation of Distress Tolerance Levels of University Students According to Different Variables
Authors: Gülbahçe Öner , Gülbahçe Arzu
Published: January 2019

The main aim of this research was to reveal relationship between distress tolerance levels of university students according to different variables. The study sample consisted of 600 students in 2017-2018 academic years at Ataturk University in Erzurum, Turkey. In the study the “Distress Tolerance” Scale was conducted. It was developed by Simons et al. (2005) and its verification and validation in Turkish was conducted by Sargın et al (2012). SPSS 21 package program was used to analyze the data. In the analysis of data; frequency distribution was used in determination of demographic characteristics, the Independent Samples T test was used in examination of relationship between two independent variables and distress tolerance level, the one way ANOVA analysis test was used in examination of relationship between more than two variables and the distress tolerance levels. All these tests were analyzed in SPSS 21 package program and the significance was evaluated at p <0.05 level.According to the findings, it was determined that there was a significant difference between the students' distress tolerance levels and sports activity. It was observed that the students who were doing sports activities have higher distress tolerance level than those were not doing sportive activities. No significant difference was found between the distress tolerance level and gender, grade level and family structure.As a result of the fact that sports activities have a positive effect on the distress tolerance level, it is recommended that students be given opportunity to make different sports activities, by raising their awareness about the sports activity in order to increase the distress tolerance in learning process or the course of life However, it is also recommended to carry out studies to identify different variables that may have an impact on distress tolerance.
Revisiting human cerebral blood flow responses to augmented blood pressure oscillations
Authors: Hamner J. W. , Ishibashi Keita , Tan Can Ozan
Published: January 2019

Key points

Cerebral autoregulation is most effective in buffering against pressure fluctuations slower than 0.03 Hz (∼30 s). This suggests that frequency bands for characterizing cerebral autoregulation should be redefined

Low cross‐spectral coherence below 0.03 Hz highlights the limitations of transfer function approaches

Haemodynamic changes induced by lower body pressure could not fully explain the differences in autoregulation estimated from spontaneous vs. augmented fluctuations, and thus, observations of spontaneous fluctuations should not be relied on whenever possible.

There is currently little empirical basis for time scales that are considered to be most significant in cerebrovascular counter‐regulation of changes in arterial pressure. Although it is well established that cerebral autoregulation behaves as a ‘high‐pass’ filter, recommended frequency bands have been largely arbitrarily determined. To test effectiveness of cerebral autoregulation, we refined oscillatory lower body pressure (LBP) to augment resting pressure fluctuations below 0.1 Hz by a factor of two in 13 young male volunteers, and thoroughly characterized the time and frequency responses of cerebral autoregulation. We observed that despite a threefold increase in arterial pressure power <0.03 Hz with oscillatory LBP, there was no change in cerebral blood flow power, indicating near perfect counter‐regulation. By contrast, in the range 0.03–0.10 Hz, both cerebral blood flow and arterial pressure power more than doubled. Our data demonstrate that cerebral autoregulation is most effective in buffering against pressure fluctuations slower than 0.03 Hz (∼30 s). This suggests that frequency bands of interest should be redefined and recording length should be increased considerably to account for this. Furthermore, low cross‐spectral coherence below 0.03 Hz, even when pressure fluctuations were augmented, highlights the uncertainty in transfer function approaches and the need to either report precision or use non‐linear approaches. Finally, haemodynamic changes induced by LBP could not fully explain the differences in autoregulation estimated from spontaneous vs. augmented fluctuations, and thus, observations of spontaneous fluctuations should not be relied on whenever possible.
Torsion of a uterine leiomyoma – a rare cause of hemoperitoneum; a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Levai Antonia Mihaela , Rotar Ioana Cristina , Muresan Daniel
Published: January 2019

Uterine leiomyomas are common benign uterine tumors but by contrast, their acute complications are very rare. We present an unusual case of 38-year-old woman that came to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain. The ultrasound revealed hemoperitoneum, a uterus with two intramural fibroids and a tender inhomogeneous pelvic mass that seems to connect with the uterus. Computer tomographic (CT) examination raised the suspicion of a degenerated fibroid and hemoperitoneum. Emergency laparotomy was performed: the hemoperitoneum was determined by a degenerated fundal subserosalfibroid. Myomectomy was subsequently carried out. Even though this condition is extremely rare, every clinician has to bear in mind that acute fibroid complications can be a potential cause of acute abdominal pain that requires immediate surgery. The imagistic tools, ultrasound and CT are extremely helpful for the diagnosis.Due to its relative rarity in the second part of the article we have performed a review of the existing literature regarding the acute complications of fibroid torsion.
Fatty acid and lipid reference spectra
Authors: Taylor Michael J. , Zhang Katherine Y. , Graham Daniel J. , Gamble Lara J.
Published: January 2019

The number of publications reporting lipid and fatty acid time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) analysis has increased as ToF-SIMS is increasingly applied toward the analysis of biological systems. Tissue and cell analysis through ToF-SIMS typically involves collecting mass spectrometry images that are used to characterize the local distribution of lipids and fatty acids throughout the analyzed area. Complete and reliable sets of reference spectra are required for fatty acids and lipids in order to aid in the interpretation of ToF-SIMS data from tissues and cells. Here, we present the reference spectra for eight fatty acids and one lipid. This database contains positive and negative polarity spectra using a Bi3+ primary ion species.

At the request of the authors, this article is being retracted effective 26 October 2021.
A self-illuminating nanoparticle for inflammation imaging and cancer therapy
Authors: Xu Xiaoqiu , An Huijie , Zhang Dinglin , Tao Hui , Dou Yin , Li Xiaohui , Huang Jun , Zhang Jianxiang
Published: January 2019

A self-illuminating nanoparticle can function as an effective nanomedicine for inflammation imaging and cancer therapy.
Inversion of a large-scale circuit model reveals a cortical hierarchy in the dynamic resting human brain
Authors: Wang Peng , Kong Ru , Kong Xiaolu , Liégeois Raphaël , Orban Csaba , Deco Gustavo , van den Heuvel Martijn P. , Thomas Yeo B.T.
Published: January 2019

Converging evidence from biophysical modeling, magnetic resonance imaging, and histology reveals a large-scale cortical gradient.
Structure and function of an ectopic Polycomb chromatin domain
Authors: De Sandip , Cheng Yuzhong , Sun Ming-an , Gehred Natalie D. , Kassis Judith A.
Published: January 2019

Chromatin context influences Polycomb domain structure and function.
Iron is neurotoxic in retinal detachment and transferrin confers neuroprotection
Authors: Daruich Alejandra , Le Rouzic Quentin , Jonet Laurent , Naud Marie-Christine , Kowalczuk Laura , Pournaras Jean-Antoine , Boatright Jeffrey H. , Thomas Aurélien , Turck Natacha , Moulin Alexandre , Behar-Cohen Francine , Picard Emilie
Published: January 2019

Ocular fluids from patients with retinal detachment show iron accumulation, and transferrin can be used as a therapeutic adjuvant.
Response to Comment on “Tropical forests are a net carbon source based on aboveground measurements of gain and loss”
Authors: Baccini A. , Walker W. , Carvalho L. , Farina M. , Houghton R. A.
Published: January 2019

The Hansen
et al
. critique centers on the lack of spatial agreement between two very different datasets. Nonetheless, properly constructed comparisons designed to reconcile the two datasets yield up to 90% agreement (e.g., in South America).
Opioid overdose detection using smartphones
Authors: Nandakumar Rajalakshmi , Gollakota Shyamnath , Sunshine Jacob E.
Published: January 2019

A commodity smartphone is converted into a contactless monitor that uses active sonar to detect opioid overdose and its precursors.
Equine Herpesvirus 1 Bridles T Lymphocytes To Reach Its Target Organs
Authors: Poelaert Katrien C. K. , Van Cleemput Jolien , Laval Kathlyn , Favoreel Herman W. , Couck Liesbeth , Van den Broeck Wim , Azab Walid , Nauwynck Hans J.
Published: January 2019

Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1) is an ancestral alphaherpesvirus that is related to herpes simplex virus 1 and causes respiratory, reproductive, and neurological disorders in Equidae. EHV1 is indisputably a master at exploiting leukocytes to reach its target organs, accordingly evading the host immunity. However, the role of T lymphocytes in cell-associated viremia remains poorly understood. Here we show that activated T lymphocytes efficiently become infected and support viral replication despite the presence of protective immunity. We demonstrate a restricted expression of viral proteins on the surfaces of infected T cells, which prevents immune recognition. In addition, we indicate a hampered release of progeny, which results in the accumulation of nucleocapsids in the T cell nucleus. Upon engagement with the target endothelium, late viral proteins orchestrate viral synapse formation and viral transfer to the contact cell. Our findings have significant implications for the understanding of EHV1 pathogenesis, which is essential for developing innovative therapies to prevent the devastating clinical symptoms of infection.
Adiposity and risk of decline in glomerular filtration rate: meta-analysis of individual participant data in a global consortium
Authors: Chang Alex R , Grams Morgan E , Ballew Shoshana H , Bilo Henk , Correa Adolfo , Evans Marie , Gutierrez Orlando M , Hosseinpanah Farhad , Iseki Kunitoshi , Kenealy Timothy , Klein Barbara , Kronenberg Florian , Lee Brian J , Li Yuanying , Miura Katsuyuki , Navaneethan Sankar D , Roderick Paul J , Valdivielso Jose M , Visseren Frank L J , Zhang Luxia , Gansevoort Ron T , Hallan Stein I , Levey Andrew S , Matsushita Kunihiro , Shalev Varda , Woodward Mark
Published: January 2019

Objective

To evaluate the associations between adiposity measures (body mass index,
waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio) with decline in glomerular
filtration rate (GFR) and with all cause mortality.

Design

Individual participant data meta-analysis.

Setting

Cohorts from 40 countries with data collected between 1970 and 2017.

Participants

Adults in 39 general population cohorts (n=5 459 014), of which 21
(n=594 496) had data on waist circumference; six cohorts with high
cardiovascular risk (n=84 417); and 18 cohorts with chronic kidney disease
(n=91 607).

Main outcome measures

GFR decline (estimated GFR decline ≥40%, initiation of kidney replacement
therapy or estimated GFR <10 mL/min/1.73 m2) and all cause
mortality.

Results

Over a mean follow-up of eight years, 246 607 (5.6%) individuals in the
general population cohorts had GFR decline (18 118 (0.4%) end stage kidney
disease events) and 782 329 (14.7%) died. Adjusting for age, sex, race, and
current smoking, the hazard ratios for GFR decline comparing body mass
indices 30, 35, and 40 with body mass index 25 were 1.18 (95% confidence
interval 1.09 to 1.27), 1.69 (1.51 to 1.89), and 2.02 (1.80 to 2.27),
respectively. Results were similar in all subgroups of estimated GFR.
Associations weakened after adjustment for additional comorbidities, with
respective hazard ratios of 1.03 (0.95 to 1.11), 1.28 (1.14 to 1.44), and
1.46 (1.28 to 1.67). The association between body mass index and death was J
shaped, with the lowest risk at body mass index of 25. In the cohorts with
high cardiovascular risk and chronic kidney disease (mean follow-up of six
and four years, respectively), risk associations between higher body mass
index and GFR decline were weaker than in the general population, and the
association between body mass index and death was also J shaped, with the
lowest risk between body mass index 25 and 30. In all cohort types,
associations between higher waist circumference and higher waist-to-height
ratio with GFR decline were similar to that of body mass index; however,
increased risk of death was not associated with lower waist circumference or
waist-to-height ratio, as was seen with body mass index.

Conclusions

Elevated body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio are
independent risk factors for GFR decline and death in individuals who have
normal or reduced levels of estimated GFR.
Understanding the quality, effectiveness and attributes of top-rated smartphone health apps
Authors: Wisniewski Hannah , Liu Gang , Henson Philip , Vaidyam Aditya , Hajratalli Narissa Karima , Onnela Jukka-Pekka , Torous John
Published: January 2019

Objective

This study aimed to understand the attributes of popular apps for mental health and comorbid medical conditions, and how these qualities relate to consumer ratings, app quality and classification by the WHO health app classification framework.

Methods

We selected the 10 apps from the Apple iTunes store and the US Android Google Play store on 20 July 2018 from six disease states: depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, addiction, diabetes and hypertension. Each app was downloaded by two authors who provided information on the apps’ attributes, functionality, interventions, popularity, scientific backing and WHO app classification rating.

Results

A total of 120 apps were examined. Although none of these apps had Food and Drug Administration marketing approval, nearly 50% made claims that appeared medical. Most apps offered a similar type of services with 87.5% assigned WHO classification 1.4.2 ‘self-monitoring of health or diagnostic data by a client’ or 1.6.1 ‘client look-up of health information’. The ‘last updated’ attribute was highly correlated with a quality rating of the app although no apps features (eg, uses Global Positioning System, reminders and so on) were.

Conclusion

Due to the heterogeneity of the apps, we were unable to define a core set of features that would accurately assess app quality. The number of apps making unsupported claims combined with the number of apps offering questionable content warrants a cautious approach by both patients and clinicians in selecting safe and effective ones.

Clinical Implications

‘Days since last updated’ offers a useful and easy clinical screening test for health apps, regardless of the condition being examined.
Reliability of triage systems for paediatric emergency care: a systematic review
Authors: Magalhães-Barbosa Maria Clara , Robaina Jaqueline Rodrigues , Prata-Barbosa Arnaldo , Lopes Claudia de Souza
Published: January 2019

Objective

To present a systematic review on the reliability of triage systems for paediatric emergency care.

Methods

A search of MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Nursing Database Index and Spanish Health Sciences Bibliographic Index for articles in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish was conducted to identify reliability studies of five-level triage systems for patients aged 0–18 years published up to April 2018. Two reviewers performed study selection, data extraction and quality assessment as recommended by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement.

Results

Twenty studies on nine triage systems were selected: the National Triage System (n=1); the Australasian Triage Scale (n=3); the paediatric Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (PedCTAS) (n=5); the Manchester Triage System (MTS) (n=1); the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) (n=5); an adaptation of the South African Triage Scale for the Princess Marina Hospital in Botswana (n=1); the Soterion Rapid Triage System (n=1); the Rapid Emergency Triage and Treatment System-paediatric version (n=2); the Paediatric Risk Classification Protocol (n=1). Ten studies were performed with actual patients, while the others used hypothetical scenarios. The studies were rated low (n=14) or moderate (n=6) quality. Kappa was the most used statistic, although many studies did not specify the weighting. PedCTAS, MTS and ESI V.4 exhibited substantial to almost perfect agreement in moderate quality studies.

Conclusions

There is some evidence on the reliability of the PedCTAS, MTS and ESI V.4, but most studies are limited to the countries where they were developed. Efforts are needed to improve the quality of the studies, and cross-cultural adaptation of those tools is recommended in countries with different professional qualification and sociocultural contexts.
No going back? Reversibility and why it matters for deep brain stimulation
Authors: Pugh Jonathan
Published: January 2019

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is frequently described as a ‘reversible’ medical treatment, and the reversibility of DBS is often cited as an important reason for preferring it to brain lesioning procedures as a last resort treatment modality for patients suffering from treatment-refractory conditions. Despite its widespread acceptance, the claim that DBS is reversible has recently come under attack. Critics have pointed out that data are beginning to suggest that there can be non-stimulation-dependent effects of DBS. Furthermore, we lack long-term data about other potential irreversible effects of neuromodulation. This has considerable normative implications for comparisons of DBS and brain lesioning procedures. Indeed, Devan Stahl and colleagues have recently argued that psychiatric DBS should be subject to the same legal safeguards as other forms of psychosurgery, supporting their position by forcibly criticising the claim that DBS is reversible. In this paper, I respond to these criticisms by first clarifying the descriptive and evaluative elements of the reversibility claim that supporters of DBS might invoke, and the different senses of ‘reversibility’ that we might employ in discussing the effects of medical procedures. I go on to suggest that it is possible to defend a nuanced version of the reversibility claim. To do so, I explain how DBS has some effects that are stimulation dependent in the short term, and argue that these effects can have significant normative implications for patient well-being and autonomy. I conclude that we should not abandon a nuanced version of the reversibility claim in the DBS debate.
UK survey of non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMURx) as a valuable source of general population illicit drug use data
Authors: Ng Fu Liang , Rockhill Karilynn , Black Joshua , May Kevin Patrick , Whittington Melanie D , Wood David M , Dargan Paul I , Green Jody L
Published: January 2019

Purpose of study

The aim of the study is to describe the prevalence of illicit drug use in England and Wales using data from the UK Survey of Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs (NMURx) programme and to compare against the well-established Crime Survey England and Wales (CSEW). The rationale is that recreational and illicit drug use is common, but the prevalence is difficult to estimate with personal interviewing methods.

Study design

We compared two cross-sectional population surveys (NMURx, n=8903 and CSEW, n=20 685) with data regarding self-reported recreational drug use and demographics. NMURx is an online survey using non-probability sampling methodology with preset demographical quotas based on census data. CSEW surveys drug use via computer-assisted self-interviewing as part of a computer-assisted personal-interviewing crime survey.

Results

Cannabis was the most frequently used drug regardless of demographics. Prevalence of drug use for specific substances was generally higher for males, younger ages and students. The relationship between income and drug misuse is less clear. Self-reported prevalence of drug use in the NMURx survey is consistently higher than CSEW (absolute difference 1%–3 % across substances and timescales) and persists after stratification for gender, age, student status and household income.

Conclusions

The NMURx survey has a broad reach of participants, and a sampling scheme that achieves external validity, compared with general population demographics. NMURx’s online format allows flexibility in items surveyed and in response to emerging trends. The self-reported drug use in the NMURx cohort is comparable, although slightly higher, than the CSEW estimates.
Open science precision medicine in Canada: Points to consider
Authors: Granados Moreno Palmira , Ali-Khan Sarah E. , Capps Benjamin , Caulfield Timothy , Chalaud Damien , Edwards Aled , Gold E. Richard , Rahimzadeh Vasiliki , Thorogood Adrian , Auld Daniel , Bertier Gabrielle , Breden Felix , Caron Roxanne , César Priscilla M.D.G. , Cook-Deegan Robert , Doerr Megan , Duncan Ross , Issa Amalia M. , Reichman Jerome , Simard Jacques , So Derek , Vanamala Sandeep , Joly Yann
Published: January 2019

Open science can significantly influence the development and translational process of precision medicine in Canada. Precision medicine presents a unique opportunity to improve disease prevention and healthcare, as well as to reduce health-related expenditures. However, the development of precision medicine also brings about economic challenges, such as costly development, high failure rates, and reduced market size in comparison with the traditional blockbuster drug development model. Open science, characterized by principles of open data sharing, fast dissemination of knowledge, cumulative research, and cooperation, presents a unique opportunity to address these economic challenges while also promoting the public good.

The Centre of Genomics and Policy at McGill University organized a stakeholders’ workshop in Montreal in March 2018. The workshop entitled “Could Open be the Yellow Brick Road to Precision Medicine?” provided a forum for stakeholders to share experiences and identify common objectives, challenges, and needs to be addressed to promote open science initiatives in precision medicine. The rich presentations and exchanges that took place during the meeting resulted in this consensus paper containing key considerations for open science precision medicine in Canada. Stakeholders would benefit from addressing these considerations as to promote a more coherent and dynamic open science ecosystem for precision medicine.
Effects of Cu, Zn, W and Mo on the compression properties of in-situ nano-Ti5Si3/TiAl composite
Authors: Yang Hongyu , Ji Peijie , Zhan Chenghua , Jin Yunxue , Shu Shili
Published: January 2019

The low ductility and insufficient strength of the TiAl alloy are still two major obstacles for its applications. It was demonstrated that Ti5Si3 could improve the ductility of TiAl alloy, while it can’t obviously improve the strength. In order to further improve the strength of Ti5Si3/TiAl composite to obtain TiAl materials with excellent strength and ductility, the effects of alloying elements (Cu, Zn, W and Mo) on the compression strength of the in-situ nano-Ti5Si3/TiAl composite were investigated in this work. With the addition of 2 at.% Me (Me [Formula: see text] Cu, Zn and W, respectively), the compression true yield strength ([Formula: see text]) of the composite increases from 613 MPa to 840, 660 and 706 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the addition of Zn results in the increase of the [Formula: see text] with no obvious sacrifice of ductility. Finally, the 4 vol.% nano-Ti5Si3/TiAl-2Zn composite obtained the best comprehensive properties. Compared with the TiAl alloy, the [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of the Ti5Si3/TiAl-2Zn composite increases by 195, 140 MPa and 2.6%, respectively.
Formation of copper hydroxyl sulfates in CuSO4 solution by NaOH titration
Authors: Ding Mali , Ariyanti Dessy , Gao Wei
Published: January 2019

Nanostructured copper hydroxyl salts have raised researchers’ attention due to its potential application in photocatalysis. In this paper, copper hydroxyl sulfates were synthesized by titrating NaOH solution to CuSO4 solution with the suggested pH from modeling software Visual MINTEQ. Brochantite nanostructures was produced at the end point pH 5 and 6, meanwhile the mixture of brochantite and posnjakite was obtained at pH 10. These results show the usability of Visual MINTEQ in determining the operating parameter (pH) range for the particular crystal synthetizations. In addition, these crystals show a good visible light absorption, which extends its function to wider applications.
A Review on Dimensionality Reduction Techniques
Authors: Huang Xuan , Wu Lei , Ye Yinsong
Published: January 2019

High-dimensional data is ubiquitous in scientific research and industrial production fields. It brings a lot of information to people, at the same time, because of its sparse and redundancy, it also brings great challenges to data mining and pattern recognition. Dimensionality reduction can reduce redundancy and noise, reduce the complexity of learning algorithms, and improve the accuracy of classification, it is an important and key step in pattern recognition system. In this paper, we overview the classical techniques for dimensionality reduction and review their properties, and categorize these techniques according to their implementation process. We deduce each algorithm in detail and intuitively show their underlying mathematical principles. Thereby, the focus is to uncover the optimization process for each technique. We compare the characteristics and limitations of each technique and summarize the scope of application, discussing a number of open problems and a perspective of research trend in future.
A CMOS Self-Bias CTAT Current Generator with Improved Supply Sensitivity
Authors: Nagulapalli R.
Published: January 2019

The role of complimentary to absolute temperature (CTAT) circuit in current mode bandgap has been described. Loop-gain problems with the existing self-bias MOS-based CTAT generator were discussed. A simple modification to the existing circuit was proposed to enhance the loop-gain by [Formula: see text]20[Formula: see text]dB without adding additional circuitry leading to zero additional power consumption. Power Supply Rejection and sensitivity to [Formula: see text] will be improved due to the higher loop-gain. A prototype has been developed to demonstrate the proposal robustness across PVT corners. Simulation results show 20.5[Formula: see text]dB PSRR improvement and 7.5% improvement in sensitivity to [Formula: see text]. The proposed solution consumes 180[Formula: see text]nW power from 1[Formula: see text]V power supply voltage and occupies 3300[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m2 silicon area.