bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hearing Impairment, Household Composition, Marital Status, and Mortality Among U.S. Adults
Authors: Denney Justin T , Boardman Jason D 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectivesThis study investigates associations between hearing impairment, household composition, marital status, and all-cause mortality for a representative sample of United States adults aged 40 and older (N = 198,902).MethodsWe use data from 11 waves of the National Health Interview Survey (2004–2014) linked to prospective mortality status through 2015. The risk of mortality over the follow-up period is estimated using Cox proportional hazard models.ResultsCompared to those with good to excellent hearing, adults with moderate to severe hearing impairments and deaf adults had 11% and 21% higher risk of death from any cause over the follow-up period, respectively. Household composition and marital status, as indicators of household social support systems, associated independently with the risk of mortality but did not substantively change the association between hearing impairment and mortality.DiscussionHearing impairment represents an important contributor to the length of life for adults age 40 and older, independent of other important and established determinants of mortality.
Mantle convection interacting with magma oceans
Authors: Agrusta R , Morison A , Labrosse S , Deguen R , Alboussiére T , Tackley P J , Dubuffet F 
Published: December 2019

SUMMARY
The presence of a magma ocean may have characterized the beginning of terrestrial planets and, depending on how the solidification has proceeded, the solid mantle may have been in contact with a magma ocean at its upper boundary, its lower boundary, or both, for some period of time. At the interface where the solid is in contact with the liquid the matter can flow through by changing phase, and this affects convection in the solid during magma ocean crystallization. Linear and weakly non-linear analyses have shown that Rayleigh–Bénard flow subject to two liquid–solid phase change boundary conditions is characterized by a non-deforming translation or weakly deforming long wavelength mode at relatively low Rayleigh number. Both modes are expected to transfer heat very efficiently, at least in the range of applicability of weakly non-linear results for the deforming mode. When only one boundary is a phase change, the critical Rayleigh number is also reduced, by a factor of about 4, and the heat transfer is also greatly increased. In this study we use direct numerical simulations in 2-D Cartesian geometry to explore how the solid convection may be affected by these boundary conditions for values of the Rayleigh number extending beyond the range of validity of the weakly non-linear results, up to 103 times the critical value. Our results suggest that solid-state convection during magma ocean crystallization may have been characterized by a very efficient mass and heat transfer, with a heat flow and velocity at the least twice the value previously thought when only one magma ocean is present, above or below. In the situation with a magma ocean above and below, we show that the convective heat flow through the solid layer could reach values of the same order as that of the black-body radiation at the surface of the magma ocean.
A simple and general macroscopic model for local-deformation effects in fluid-saturated porous rock
Authors: Deng Wubing , Morozov Igor B 
Published: December 2019

SUMMARYWave-induced fluid flows (WIFF) can be viewed as cases of broader local-deformation (LD) phenomena and represent the principal causes of seismic-wave attenuation in fluid-saturated porous rock. Most existing WIFF models refer to greatly simplified microstructures and specific flow patterns, such as planar divergent flows within thin cracks (squirt flows, SF) or flows within patchy-saturation zones. However, such microstructures represent only idealized mathematical models that may be impossible to consistently identify within a given rock. At the same time, most details of such microstructures are insignificant for seismic waves, which are only sensitive to averaged properties of the medium. To perform microstructure-independent modelling of LD effects, we develop a simple yet general approach based entirely on a macroscopic local-deformation variable. This variable is broadly analogous to Biot's fluid content and is illustrated for two specific microstructural models. The macroscopic model is Biot-consistent and uses only time- and frequency-independent material properties. Both local and global (Biot's) pore flows and all types of waves and deformations are explained in a rigorous and consistent manner. The model allows constraining a minimal set of material properties responsible for all observed elastic and anelastic effects in porous rock. Because of making no assumptions about the microstructures and their spatial scales, this approach should comprise at least some of the existing WIFF models. In particular, this model accurately reproduces all attenuation and velocity dispersion spectra predicted by a broadly used SF model. The model also contains effects not considered previously, such as bulk viscosity of pore fluid and viscous coupling between the rock frame and fluid-filled pores. The model offers straightforward extensions to multiple porosities and cases of viscous fluids in primary pores. Based on the resulting differential equations, physically consistent schemes for numerical modelling of seismic wavefields can be developed for porous rock with arbitrary LD effects.
Patient eligibility for application of a two-filter cerebral embolic protection device during transcatheter aortic valve implantation: does one size fit all?
Authors: Voss Stephanie , Schechtl Johanna , Nöbauer Christian , Bleiziffer Sabine , Lange Rüdiger 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study sought to determine the percentage of patients potentially eligible for implantation of the Sentinel™ Cerebral Protection System (Sentinel-CPS) during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and to identify the reasons for treatment exclusion.

METHODS
We retrospectively performed an analysis of pre-TAVI multislice computed tomography (MSCT) aortograms and data review of all patients undergoing a TAVI procedure in 2017 (n = 317). MSCT evaluation included the assessment of aortic arch anatomy and the vascular dimensions of the brachiocephalic and left common carotid artery. Data analysis focused on comorbid conditions, precluding 6-Fr sheath radial access and filter deployment due to history of previous artery interventions.

RESULTS
MSCT and data analysis showed Sentinel-CPS compatibility in 61.5% of patients (n = 195). Sentinel-CPS would have been contraindicated in 38.5% (n = 122) due to one or more of the following: (i) measured diameters of the filter-landing zones &lt;9 or &gt;15 mm in the brachiocephalic artery and &lt;6.5 or &gt;10 mm in the left common carotid artery (n = 116; 88 with carotid dimensions too small); (ii) significant subclavian artery stenosis (n = 4) or an aberrant subclavian artery (n = 3) precluding Sentinel-CPS implantation and (iii) clinical characteristics including hypersensitivity to nickel–titanium (n = 1), radial artery occlusion (n = 1) or previous left common carotid artery interventions (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONS
MSCT and clinical data supported Sentinel-CPS compatibility in 61.5% of patients. The most common reason for treatment exclusion was inappropriate diameter within the target landing zone of the left carotid artery. Future device development should address this limitation.
Declining regional disparities in mortality in the context of persisting large inequalities in economic conditions: the case of Germany
Authors: van Raalte Alyson A , Klüsener Sebastian , Oksuzyan Anna , Grigoriev Pavel 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
Subnational regional mortality inequalities are large and appear to be mostly increasing within industrialized countries, although comparative studies across high-income countries are scarce. Germany is an important country to examine because it continues to experience considerable economic disparities between its federal states, in part resulting from its former division.

Methods
We analyse state-level mortality in Germany utilizing data from a newly constructed regional database based on the methodology of the Human Mortality Database. We compare time trends (1991–2015) in the German state-level standard deviation in life expectancy to that of other large, wealthy countries and examine the association between mortality and economic inequalities at the regional level. Finally, using contour-decomposition methods, we investigate the degree to which age patterns of mortality are converging across German federal states.

Results
Regional inequalities in life expectancy in Germany are comparatively low internationally, particularly among women, despite high state-level inequalities in economic conditions. These low regional mortality inequalities emerged 5–10 years after reunification. Mortality is converging over most ages between the longest- and shortest-living German state populations and across the former East–West political border, with the exception of an emerging East–West divergence in mortality among working-aged men.

Conclusions
The German example shows that large regional economic inequalities are not necessarily paralleled with large regional mortality disparities. Future research should investigate the factors that fostered the emergence of this unusual pattern in Germany.
Existence and Density of General Components of the Noether–Lefschetz Locus on Normal Threefolds
Authors: Bruzzo Ugo , Grassi Antonella , Lopez Angelo Felice 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
We consider the Noether–Lefschetz problem for surfaces in ${\mathbb Q}$-factorial normal 3-folds with rational singularities. We show the existence of components of the Noether–Lefschetz locus of maximal codimension, and that there are indeed infinitely many of them. Moreover, we show that their union is dense in the natural topology.
Rural–urban differences in home-based care willingness among older adults: A cross-sectional study in Shandong, China
Authors: Xia Yu , Xu Lingzhong , Sun Long , Li Jiajia , Qin Wenzhe , Zhang Jiao , Wang Yali , Jing Xiang , Lu Lu , Li Yaozu , Jiao Anan 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Objective
To examine the rural–urban disparities of home-based care willingness among older adults and identify the influencing factors.

Design
A cross-sectional study.

Setting
The data used in this cross-sectional study were conducted in Shandong province.

Study participants
7070 older adults (60 years and older) with complete data were included in this analysis from the 2017 Survey of the Shandong Elderly Family Health Service.

Intervention
N/A.

Main outcome measure
The data were analyzed using logistic regression models to examine whether socio-demographic characteristic, physical health, loneliness score and other factors were associated with home-based care willingness in rural and urban older adults. After exploring the factors, we compared the difference.

Results
Of 7070 participants, 66.9% were rural older adults and 33.1% were urban. The urban older adults less likely chose home-based care than the rural (OR = 0.667; P &lt; 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age (P &lt; 0.05), income (P &lt; 0.05), current employment (P &lt; 0.05) and loneliness (P &lt; 0.05) were significantly associated with the home-based care willingness both in rural and urban residence. Besides, the number of family members (P = 0.010), education years (P = 0.026) and financial support from children (P = 0.017) were associated factors of rural respondents’ home-based care willingness. The bad self-reported-health-status-urban-older adults (P = 0.026) were more willing for home-based care.

Conclusions
The research we have done suggests that there is a residence difference toward home-based care willingness among older adults. Targeted policies and an age-friendly environment should be made for different subgroups of older adults.
Metallo-β-lactamase resistance in Enterobacteriaceae is an artefact of currently utilized antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods
Authors: Asempa Tomefa E , Abdelraouf Kamilia , Nicolau David P 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundMBLs are a major contributor to β-lactam resistance when tested using CAMHB. Despite in vitro resistance, positive outcomes have been reported in MBL-infected patients following carbapenem treatment. The impact of physiological zinc concentrations on this in vitro–in vivo MBL discordance warrants investigation.ObjectivesTo evaluate meropenem in vitro activity against MBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in zinc-depleted broth (Chelex-CAMHB, EDTA-CAMHB) and assess meropenem efficacy in murine infection models.MethodsNeutropenic mice received a meropenem human-simulated regimen of 2 g q8h or levofloxacin 750 mg q24h (for model validation). Zinc concentrations were determined in conventional CAMHB, zinc-depleted CAMHB and epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of lung-infected mice.ResultsAll MBL-producing isolates (NDM, n = 25; VIM, n = 3; IMP, n = 2) examined were meropenem resistant in CAMHB and susceptible in zinc-depleted CAMHB (5- to 11-fold reduction), with zinc depletion having no impact on levofloxacin MICs. Zinc concentrations (mean ± SD) in CAMHB were 0.959 ± 0.038 mg/L and in both zinc-depleted CAMHB and ELF were &lt;0.002 mg/L. In vivo, levofloxacin displayed predictable efficacy consistent with its phenotypic profile, while meropenem produced &gt;1 log unit bacterial killing despite in vitro resistance in conventional CAMHB.ConclusionsResults indicate that meropenem in vivo efficacy is best represented by the pharmacodynamic profile generated using MICs determined in zinc-depleted media for MBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. These translational data suggest that the use of conventional CAMHB for MBL susceptibility testing is inappropriate in distinguishing meaningful in vivo resistance given that zinc concentrations are supraphysiological in conventional CAMHB and negligible at infection sites.
Apoptotic Markers in the Midbrain of the Human Neonate After Perinatal Hypoxic/Ischemic Injury
Authors: Pagida Marianna A , Konstantinidou Anastasia E , Chrysanthou-Piterou Margarita A , Patsouris Efstratios S , Panayotacopoulou Maria T 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Our previous postmortem studies on neonates with neuropathological injury of perinatal hypoxia/ischemia (PHI) showed a dramatic reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase expression (dopamine synthesis enzyme) in substantia nigra (SN) neurons, with reduction of their cellular size. In order to investigate if the above observations represent an early stage of SN degeneration, we immunohistochemically studied the expression of cleaved caspase-3 (CCP3), apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), and DNA fragmentation by using terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin 3′-end-labeling (TUNEL) technique in the SN of 22 autopsied neonates (corrected age ranging from 34 to 46.5 gestational weeks), in relation to the severity/duration of PHI injury, as estimated by neuropathological criteria. No CCP3-immunoreactive neurons and a limited number of apoptotic TUNEL-positive neurons with pyknotic characteristics were found in the SN. Nuclear AIF staining was revealed only in few SN neurons, indicating the presence of early signs of AIF-mediated degeneration. By contrast, motor neurons of the oculomotor nucleus showed higher cytoplasmic AIF expression and nuclear translocation, possibly attributed to the combined effect of developmental processes and increased oxidative stress induced by antemortem and postmortem factors. Our study indicates the activation of AIF, but not CCP3, in the SN and oculomotor nucleus of the human neonate in the developmentally critical perinatal period.
The environmental stress sensitivities of pathogenic Candida species, including Candida auris, and implications for their spread in the hospital setting
Authors: Heaney Helen , Laing Juliette , Paterson Linda , Walker Alan W , Gow Neil A R , Johnson Elizabeth M , MacCallum Donna M , Brown Alistair J P 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging pathogenic yeast of significant clinical concern because of its frequent intrinsic resistance to fluconazole and often other antifungal drugs and the high mortality rates associated with systemic infections. Furthermore, C. auris has a propensity for persistence and transmission in health care environments. The reasons for this efficient transmission are not well understood, and therefore we tested whether enhanced resistance to environmental stresses might contribute to the ability of C. auris to spread in health care environments. We compared C. auris to other pathogenic Candida species with respect to their resistance to individual stresses and combinations of stresses. Stress resistance was examined using in vitro assays on laboratory media and also on hospital linen. In general, the 17 C. auris isolates examined displayed similar degrees of resistance to oxidative, nitrosative, cationic and cell wall stresses as clinical isolates of C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, C. guilliermondii, C. lusitaniae and C. kefyr. All of the C. auris isolates examined were more sensitive to low pH (pH 2, but not pH 4) compared to C. albicans, but were more resistant to high pH (pH 13). C. auris was also sensitive to low pH, when tested on contaminated hospital linen. Most C. auris isolates were relatively thermotolerant, displaying significant growth at 47°C. Furthermore, C. auris was relatively resistant to certain combinations of combinatorial stress (e.g., pH 13 plus 47°C). Significantly, C. auris was sensitive to the stress combinations imposed by hospital laundering protocol (pH &gt; 12 plus heat shock at &gt;80°C), suggesting that current laundering procedures are sufficient to limit the transmission of this fungal pathogen via hospital linen.
The impact of (n,γ) reaction rate uncertainties on the predicted abundances of i-process elements with 32 ≤ Z ≤ 48 in the metal-poor star HD94028
Authors: McKay John E , Denissenkov Pavel A , Herwig Falk , Perdikakis Georgios , Schatz Hendrik 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
Several anomalous elemental abundance ratios have been observed in the metal-poor star HD94028. We assume that its high [As/Ge] ratio is a product of a weak intermediate (i) neutron-capture process. Given that observational errors are usually smaller than predicted nuclear physics uncertainties, we have first set-up a benchmark one-zone i-process nucleosynthesis simulation results of which provide the best fit to the observed abundances. We have then performed Monte Carlo simulations in which 113 relevant (n,γ) reaction rates of unstable species were randomly varied within Hauser–Feshbach model uncertainty ranges for each reaction to estimate the impact on the predicted stellar abundances. One of the interesting results of these simulations is a double-peaked distribution of the As abundance, which is caused by the variation of the 75Ga (n,γ) cross-section. This variation strongly anticorrelates with the predicted As abundance, confirming the necessity for improved theoretical or experimental bounds on this cross-section. The 66Ni (n,γ) reaction is found to behave as a major bottleneck for the i-process nucleosynthesis. Our analysis finds the Pearson product–moment correlation coefficient rP &gt; 0.2 for all of the i-process elements with 32 ≤ Z ≤ 42, with significant changes in their predicted abundances showing up when the rate of this reaction is reduced to its theoretically constrained lower bound. Our results are applicable to any other stellar nucleosynthesis site with the similar i-process conditions, such as Sakurai’s object (V4334 Sagittarii) or rapidly accreting white dwarfs.
Fundamental physics with blazar spectra: a critical appraisal
Authors: Galanti Giorgio , Tavecchio Fabrizio , Landoni Marco 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
Very-high-energy (VHE) BL Lacertae (BL Lac) spectra extending above $10 \, \rm TeV$ provide a unique opportunity for testing physics beyond the standard model of elementary particle and alternative blazar emission models. We consider the hadron beam scenario, the conversion of photons to axion-like particles (ALPs) and the Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) by analysing their consequences and induced modifications to BL Lac spectra. In particular, we consider how different processes can provide similar spectral features (e.g. hard tails) and we discuss the ways they can be disentangled. We use data from High-Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy (HEGRA) of a high state of Markarian 501 and the High-Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) spectrum of the extreme BL Lac (EHBL) 1ES 0229+200. In addition, we consider two hypothetical EHBLs similar to 1ES 0229+200 located at redshifts z = 0.3 and z = 0.5. We observe that both the hadron beam and the photon–ALP oscillations predict a hard tail extending to energies larger than those possible in the standard scenario. Photon–ALP interaction predicts a peak in the spectra of distant BL Lacs at about $20\rm {-}30 \, \rm TeV$, while LIV produces a strong peak in all BL Lac spectra around $\sim 100 \, \rm TeV$. The peculiar feature of the photon–ALP conversion model is the production of oscillations in the spectral energy distribution, so that its detection/absence can be exploited to distinguish between the considered models. The above-mentioned features of the three models might be detected by the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array. Thus, future observations of BL Lac spectra could eventually shed light on new physics and alternative blazar emission models, driving fundamental research towards a specific direction.
Baryons in the Cosmic Web of IllustrisTNG – II. The connection among galaxies, haloes, their formation time, and their location in the Cosmic Web
Authors: Martizzi Davide , Vogelsberger Mark , Torrey Paul , Pillepich Annalisa , Hansen Steen H , Marinacci Federico , Hernquist Lars 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
The connections among galaxies, the dark matter haloes where they form and the properties of the large-scale Cosmic Web still need to be completely disentangled. We use the cosmological hydrodynamical simulation TNG100 of the IllustrisTNG suite to quantify the effects played by the large-scale density field and the Cosmic Web morphology on the relation between halo mass and galaxy stellar mass. We select objects with total dynamical mass in the range ${\ge}6.3\times 10^{10} \,h ^{-1}\, \mathrm{ M}_{\odot }$ up to a few $10^{14}\, h^{-1} \, \mathrm{ M}_{\odot }$ between redshift z = 4 and redshift z = 0. A Cosmic Web class (knot, filament, sheet, void) is assigned to each region of the volume using a density field deformation tensor-based method. We find that galaxy stellar mass strongly correlates with total dynamical mass and formation time, and more weakly with large-scale overdensity and Cosmic Web class. The latter two quantities correlate with each other, but are not entirely degenerate. Furthermore, we find that at fixed halo mass, galaxies with stellar mass lower than the median value are more likely to be found in voids and sheets, whereas galaxies with stellar mass higher than the median are more likely to be found in filaments and knots. Finally, we find that the dependence on environment is stronger for satellites than for centrals, and discuss the physical implications of these results.