bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcome Measures in Critical Care Nutrition Interventional Trials: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chapple Lee‐anne S. , Summers Matthew J. , Weinel Luke M. , Deane Adam M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHistorically, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in critical care have used mortality as the primary outcome, yet most show no effect on this outcome. Therefore, there has been a shift in the literature to focus on alternative outcomes. This review aimed to describe primary outcomes selected in RCTs of nutrition interventions in critical illness. Systematic search of the literature identified RCTs of nutrition interventions in critically ill adults published between January 2007 and December 2018. Primary outcomes were documented and categorized as mortality, morbidity, health service/cost‐effectiveness, or nutrition outcome. The direction of effect of the intervention on the primary outcome (positive, neutral, or negative) was extracted. Of 1163 citations identified and assessed for eligibility, 125 articles were included. However, 52 articles (42%) did not provide a sample‐size calculation, leaving 73 articles (58%) for data extraction. The primary outcomes reported were morbidity (n = 24, 32.9%); health service/cost‐effectiveness (n = 21, 28.8%); nutrition outcomes (n = 16, 21.9%); mortality (n = 11, 15.1%); and other (n = 1, 1.4%). No RCTs with mortality as the primary outcome reported a difference between intervention and control. Trials that included other primary outcomes frequently reported a difference (n = 27 of 62; 43.5%). Morbidity was the most frequently reported outcome category in RCTs that evaluated a nutrition intervention in critically ill adults, with mortality least frequent. Power calculations were only reported in 58% of included studies. Trials were more likely to show a significant result when an outcome other than mortality was the primary outcome.
Characterization of Continuous‐Wave Laser Heating Ignition of Ammonium Dinitramide‐Based Ionic Liquids with Carbon Fibers
Authors: Itouyama Noboru , Matsunaga Hiroki , Habu Hiroto 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAmmonium dinitramide–based energetic ionic liquid propellants (ADN‐EILPs) exhibit the advantages of high energy density, low toxicity, and handling safety, and are therefore promising monopropellants. Herein, we characterized the ignition of ADN‐EILPs induced by CW laser heating in the presence of carbon fibers, clarifying the effect of laser power and suggesting that ignition reproducibility is influenced by the difference of ADN‐EILP osmotic state in carbon fibers or carbon fiber configuration. The observed ignition behavior allowed one to conclude that (i) high‐power CW laser heating causes the formation of bubbles on the surface, which disturbs further heating; and (ii) an Arrhenius‐type relationship exists between ignition delay and heating rate, suggesting that the strategy of foreshortening ADN‐EILP ignition delay by increasing CW laser power has certain limits.
Mechanisms of negative membrane curvature sensing and generation by ESCRT III subunit Snf7
Authors: Nepal Binod , Sepehri Aliasghar , Lazaridis Themis 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCertain proteins have the propensity to bind to negatively curved membranes and generate negative membrane curvature. The mechanism of action of these proteins is much less studied and understood than those that sense and generate positive curvature. In this work, we use implicit membrane modeling to explore the mechanism of an important negative curvature sensing and generating protein: the main ESCRT III subunit Snf7. We find that Snf7 monomers alone can sense negative curvature and that curvature sensitivity increases for dimers and trimers. We have observed spontaneous bending of Snf7 oligomers into circular structures with preferred radius of ~20 nm. The preferred curvature of Snf7 filaments is further confirmed by the simulations of preformed spirals on a cylindrical membrane surface. Snf7 filaments cannot bind with the same interface to flat and curved membranes. We find that even when a filament has the preferred radius, it is always less stable on the flat membrane surface than on the interior cylindrical membrane surface. This provides an additional energy for membrane bending which has not been considered in the spiral spring model. Furthermore, the rings on the cylindrical spirals are bridged together by helix 4 and hence are extra stabilized compared to the spirals on the flat membrane surface.
Nonfragile H∞ filtering for discrete multirate time‐delayed systems over sensor networks characterized by Gilbert‐Elliott models
Authors: Shen Yuxuan , Wang Zidong , Shen Bo , Alsaadi Fuad E. 
Published: March 2020

SummaryIn this article, the nonfragile H∞ filtering problem is investigated for a class of discrete multirate time‐delayed systems over sensor networks. The probabilistic packet dropout occurs during the information transmissions among the sensor nodes in the sensor network characterized by the Gilbert‐Elliott model. In order to take the multirate sampling into account, the state updating period of the system and the sampling period of the sensors are allowed to be different. The variation of the filter gain is considered to reflect the physical errors with the filter implementation. The aim of this article is to design a set of nonfragile filters such that, in the presence of multirate sampling, time‐delays, and packet dropouts, the filtering error dynamics is exponentially mean‐square stable and also satisfies the H∞ performance requirement. By using the Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional approach, a sufficient condition is derived, which ensures the exponential mean‐square stability and the H∞ performance requirement of the filtering error dynamics. Then, the filter gains are characterized in terms of the solution to a set of matrix inequalities. Finally, a simulation example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed filtering scheme.
Output feedback tracking control for lower‐triangular nonlinear time‐delay systems with asymmetric input saturation
Authors: Liu Qingrong , Li Hanfeng , Zhang Xianfu 
Published: March 2020

SummaryIn this paper, the problem of output feedback tracking control is investigated for lower‐triangular nonlinear time‐delay systems in the presence of asymmetric input saturation. A novel design program based on a dynamic high gain design approach is proposed to construct an output feedback tracking controller. The innovation here is that the problem of constructing tracking controller can be transformed into the problem of constructing two dynamic equations, with one being utilized to deal with the nonlinear terms and the other one being applied to analyze the influence of asymmetric input saturation. It is proved by an appropriate Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional that the proposed tracking controller subject to saturation can ensure that all the signals of the closed‐loop system are globally bounded and the tracking error is prescribed sufficiently small when time is long enough. A practical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Genome-edited adult stem cells: Next-generation advanced therapy medicinal products
Authors: Benabdellah Karim , Sánchez-Hernández Sabina , Aguilar-González Araceli , Maldonado-Pérez Noelia , Gutierrez-Guerrero Alejandra , Cortijo-Gutierrez Marina , Ramos-Hernández Iris , Tristán-Manzano María , Galindo-Moreno Pablo , Herrera Concha , Martin Francisco 
Published: March 2020

AbstractOver recent decades, gene therapy, which has enabled the treatment of several incurable diseases, has undergone a veritable revolution. Cell therapy has also seen major advances in the treatment of various diseases, particularly through the use of adult stem cells (ASCs). The combination of gene and cell therapy (GCT) has opened up new opportunities to improve advanced therapy medicinal products for the treatment of several diseases. Despite the considerable potential of GCT, the use of retroviral vectors has major limitations with regard to oncogene transactivation and the lack of physiological expression. Recently, gene therapists have focused on genome editing (GE) technologies as an alternative strategy. In this review, we discuss the potential benefits of using GE technologies to improve GCT approaches based on ASCs. We will begin with a brief summary of different GE platforms and techniques and will then focus on key therapeutic approaches that have been successfully used to treat diseases in animal models. Finally, we discuss whether ASC GE could become a real alternative to retroviral vectors in a GCT setting.Significance statement Recent advances in adult stem cells and genome editing techniques have enabled scientists to envisage the generation of efficient and safe advanced therapy medicinal products for the treatment of untreatable diseases. Hematopoietic progenitor stem cells are now clearly regarded as the cell type of reference. Promising results have been achieved in controlling AIDS and hemoglobinopathies, resulting in several clinical trials. Promising results have also been obtained in the treatment of monogenic diseases, including X-SCID, SCID-ADA, X-CGD, and Fanconi anemia, indicating that further clinical trials will be approved in the near future.
Controlled Individual Skyrmion Nucleation at Artificial Defects Formed by Ion Irradiation
Authors: Fallon Kayla , Hughes Sean , Zeissler Katharina , Legrand William , Ajejas Fernando , Maccariello Davide , McFadzean Samuel , Smith William , McGrouther Damien , Collin Sophie , Reyren Nicolas , Cros Vincent , Marrows Christopher H. , McVitie Stephen 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMagnetic skyrmions are particle‐like deformations in a magnetic texture. They have great potential as information carriers in spintronic devices because of their interesting topological properties and favorable motion under spin currents. A new method of nucleating skyrmions at nanoscale defect sites, created in a controlled manner with focused ion beam irradiation, in polycrystalline magnetic multilayer samples with an interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, is reported. This new method has three notable advantages: 1) localization of nucleation; 2) stability over a larger range of external field strengths, including stability at zero field; and 3) existence of skyrmions in material systems where, prior to defect fabrication, skyrmions were not previously obtained by field cycling. Additionally, it is observed that the size of defect nucleated skyrmions is uninfluenced by the defect itself—provided that the artificial defects are controlled to be smaller than the inherent skyrmion size. All of these characteristics are expected to be useful toward the goal of realizing a skyrmion‐based spintronic device. This phenomenon is studied with a range of transmission electron microscopy techniques to probe quantitatively the magnetic behavior at the defects with applied field and correlate this with the structural impact of the defects.
Expression profiles of the MXD3 gene and association of sequence variants with growth traits in Xianan and Qinchuan cattle
Authors: Hao Dan , Thomsen Bo , Bai Jiangsong , Peng Shujun , Lan Xianyong , Huang Yongzhen , Wang Xiao , Chen Hong 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMax dimerization protein 3 (MXD3) belongs to the MYC superfamily of basic helix‐loop‐helix leucine zipper transcription factors, and MXD3‐MAX heterodimers can bind to promoters of target genes to modulate their expression. The aim of this study was to determine the MXD3 mRNA expression levels in various cattle tissues comprising heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, Longissimus dorsi muscle and subcutaneous fat in Chinese Qinchuan and Xianan cattle breeds. The RT‐qPCR data showed that the MXD3 gene was variably expressed between all tissues and at levels that were significantly different between two breeds (p < .05). We used the polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) method to investigate the possible association between single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within the MXD3 gene and five different growth traits in cattle. We found two intronic SNPs (g.2694 C>T and g.3801 T>C) and one SNP in 3′untranslated region (3′UTR) (g.6263 G>A) of MXD3 gene. Association analysis revealed strong associations between pairwise and triple SNP combinations and the growth traits. Based on these results, we suggest that MXD3 polymorphisms could be useful as molecular markers in the Chinese beef cattle breeding program.
Twisted $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 SCFTs and their AdS3 duals
Authors: Couzens Christopher , het Lam Huibert , Mayer Kilian 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
We study compactifications of an infinite family of four-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 SCFTs on a Riemann surface in the presence of arbitrary background fluxes for global symmetries. The four-dimensional parent theories have holographic Sasaki-Einstein duals in type IIB string theory. We compute central charges and R-charges of baryonic operators in the resulting two-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (0, 2) theories in three distinct ways: from the field theory side utilizing c-extremization, its recently discovered geometric dual formulation, and holographically using new AdS3 duals of two-dimensional field theories.
IR dynamics from UV divergences: UV/IR mixing, NCFT, and the hierarchy problem
Authors: Craig Nathaniel , Koren Seth 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
The persistence of the hierarchy problem points to a violation of effective field theory expectations. A compelling possibility is that this results from a physical breakdown of EFT, which may arise from correlations between ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) physics. To this end, we study noncommutative field theory (NCFT) as a toy model of UV/IR mixing which generates an emergent infrared scale from ultraviolet dynamics. We explore the range of such theories where ultraviolet divergences are transmogrified into infrared scales, focusing particularly on the properties of Yukawa theory, where we identify a new infrared pole accessible in the s-channel of the Lorentzian theory. We further investigate the interplay between UV-finiteness and UV/IR mixing by studying properties of the softly-broken noncommutative Wess-Zumino model as soft terms are varied relative to the cutoff. While the Lorentz violation inherent to noncommutative theories may limit their direct application to the hierarchy problem, these toy models provide general lessons to guide the realization of UV/IR mixing in more realistic theories.
Post-metamorphic carry-over effects of altered thyroid hormone level and developmental temperature: physiological plasticity and body condition at two life stages in Rana temporaria
Authors: Ruthsatz Katharina , Dausmann Kathrin H. , Reinhardt Steffen , Robinson Tom , Sabatino Nikita M. , Peck Myron A. , Glos Julian 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEnvironmental stress induced by natural and anthropogenic processes including climate change may threaten the productivity of species and persistence of populations. Ectotherms can potentially cope with stressful conditions such as extremes in temperature by exhibiting physiological plasticity. Amphibian larvae experiencing stressful environments display altered thyroid hormone (TH) status with potential implications for physiological traits and acclimation capacity. We investigated how developmental temperature (Tdev) and altered TH levels (simulating proximate effects of environmental stress) influence the standard metabolic rate (SMR), body condition (BC), and thermal tolerance in metamorphic and post-metamorphic anuran larvae of the common frog (Rana temporaria) reared at five constant temperatures (14–28 °C). At metamorphosis, larvae that developed at higher temperatures had higher maximum thermal limits but narrower ranges in thermal tolerance. Mean CTmaxwas 37.63 °C ± 0.14 (low TH), 36.49 °C ± 0.31 (control), and 36.43 °C ± 0.68 (high TH) in larvae acclimated to different temperatures. Larvae were able to acclimate to higherTdevby adjusting their thermal tolerance, but not their SMR, and this effect was not impaired by altered TH levels. BC was reduced by 80% (metamorphic) and by 85% (post-metamorphic) at highestTdev. The effect of stressful larval conditions (i.e., different developmental temperatures and, to some extent, altered TH levels) on SMR and particularly on BC at the onset of metamorphosis was carried over to froglets at the end of metamorphic climax. This has far reaching consequences, since body condition at metamorphosis is known to determine metamorphic success and, thus, is indirectly linked to individual fitness in later life stages.
Does the use of health technology assessment have an impact on the utilisation of health care resources? Evidence from two European countries
Authors: Corbacho B. , Drummond M. , Santos R. , Jones E. , Borràs J. M. , Mestre-Ferrandiz J. , Espín J. , Henry N. , Prat A. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Objectives
A centralised approach to health technology assessment (HTA) may facilitate optimal use of HTA resources. A regional approach may increase the chances of local implementation of recommendations. This study aimed to compare assessment procedures in England (centralised HTA approach) with Spain (regional HTA approach) discussing key challenges and opportunities from both approaches.

Methods
We compared technology assessments of anticancer medicines in the two jurisdictions from 2008 to 2015. To assess the implementation of HTA recommendations, we assessed trends in medicine usage using regression methods. We used IQVIA data, from 2011 to 2016, for a sample of 11 medicines. We used CatSalut data from Catalonia to assess the implementation of local recommendations.

Results
In England, 66 assessments were undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), using a standardised methodology. In Spain, there were 79 reports undertaken by a range of bodies using a shared process and coordinated through the GENESIS collaboration; the assessment methods used varied substantially. Overall, the recommendations in the two jurisdictions were similar. Regression analyses indicate that where there is a positive recommendation by HTA bodies, the usage of the medicine responds most strongly (p < 0.001) in Catalonia (4.892), followed by England (3.120) and Spain (1.693).

Conclusions
This study suggests that medicine utilisation does respond to the positive recommendations of HTA bodies. However, if HTA capacity is organised primarily regionally, considerable effort may be required in coordination, to ensure consistent and rigorous assessments and adequate implementation of HTA findings.
New developments in the management of achondroplasia
Authors: Högler Wolfgang , Ward Leanne M. 
Published: March 2020

SummaryAchondroplasia is the most common form of disproportionate short stature. A dominantly inherited FGFR3 mutation permanently activates the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and its downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. This inhibits chondrocyte differentiation and puts a break on growth plate function, in addition to causing serious medical complications such as foramen magnum and spinal stenosis and upper airway narrowing. A great deal has been learned about complications and consequences of FGFR3 activation and management guidance is evolving aimed to reduce the increased mortality and morbidity in this condition, particularly deaths from spinal cord compression and sleep apnoea in infants and small children. To date, no drugs are licensed for treatment of achondroplasia. Here, we report on the various substances in the drug development pipeline which target elements in molecular disease mechanism such as FGF (fibroblast growth factor) ligands, FGFR3, MAPK signalling as well as the C‑type natriuretic peptide receptor NPR‑B (natriuretic peptide receptor B).
Self-help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Carers of People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Potter Kristy-Jane , Golijana-Moghaddam Nima , Evangelou Nikos , Mhizha-Murira Jacqueline R. , das Nair Roshan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an established psychological therapy, but its effectiveness for carers of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experiencing carer-related strain has not been established. This study assessed the acceptability and feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial comparing ACT self-help, telephone-supported ACT self-help, and usual care. We describe a mixed-method, parallel three-armed feasibility randomised controlled trial. Participants were carers (i.e. caregivers) of people with MS. The self-help group received an ACT self-help text (covered over 8 weeks), the enhanced self-help group additionally received weekly telephone support. All participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 3-month, and 6-month post-randomisation, assessing carer strain, health-related quality of life, and ACT-related processes. A sample of participants was also interviewed. Twenty-four carers were randomised. Participants found the study procedures to be acceptable, but highlighted difficulties with the self-help text and timing of the intervention. An exploratory, group-level analysis indicated effectiveness for the enhanced self-help group on carer strain (consistent across both follow-ups), with convergent qualitative reports to support this. A full trial of ACT-based, telephone-supported self-help is warranted, including both the self-help and enhanced self-help design, following significant adaptions to the self-help itself. An internal pilot would, therefore, be recommended to further assess the feasibility after changes are incorporated.Trial registration: The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03077971).
Pesticide contamination of the upper Elbe River and an adjacent floodplain area
Authors: Karlsson Anneli S. , Lesch Michael , Weihermüller Lutz , Thiele Björn , Disko Ulrich , Hofmann Diana , Vereecken Harry , Spielvogel Sandra 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Pesticide contamination of river waters is a global problem, and therefore, authorities regularly monitor the water quality status. Especially, flood events might transport large pesticide loads downstream and impact adjacent areas such as sensible floodplain environments by deposing particle bound pesticides or by contaminating the environments by dissolved substances directly. Unfortunately, only little attempts were made to quantify the pesticide pollution of such environments, as the monitoring of soil and sediment contamination is by far more time consuming and complicated compared to the analysis of water samples.

Materials and methods
In the study presented, we therefore used a holistic approach starting with the reconstruction of the inundation characteristics of a floodplain located in the upper part of the river Elbe, Germany, by using nearby gauging data, screened databases for pesticide concentrations and calculated pesticide loads, and finally, sampled the floodplain soils along an elevation (inundation) gradient.

Results
As expected, the reconstructed inundation characteristics showed that the low-lying areas of the backwater inflow of the floodplain were flooded more frequently compared to the areas at higher elevation, whereby even the highest elevations sampled were at least flooded during each decade. Furthermore, pesticide concentrations of the river waters and calculated pesticide loads revealed that 13 pesticides can be found regularly, whereby atrazine, terbuthylazine, metazachlor, metolachlor, isoproturon, and chlorotoluron are the main contaminants.

Conclusion
Concluding, a spatial pattern in the contamination could be detected. High residues of simazine and ethofumesate were associated with areas of less and more frequent inundations, respectively. The transformation products of atrazine and terbuthylazine (2-hydroxy-atrazine and 2-hydroxy-terbuthylazine) were detected, whereby the quantity could be well explained by the inundation characteristics and pesticide loads of the river water.