bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Human Gut Microbiome’s Influence on Arsenic Toxicity
Authors: Coryell Michael , Roggenbeck Barbara A. , Walk Seth T. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPurpose of ReviewArsenic exposure is a public health concern of global proportions with a high degree of interindividual variability in pathologic outcomes. Arsenic metabolism is a key factor underlying toxicity, and the primary purpose of this review is to summarize recent discoveries concerning the influence of the human gut microbiome on the metabolism, bioavailability, and toxicity of ingested arsenic. We review and discuss the current state of knowledge along with relevant methodologies for studying these phenomena.Recent FindingsBacteria in the human gut can biochemically transform arsenic-containing compounds (arsenicals). Recent publications utilizing culture-based approaches combined with analytical biochemistry and molecular genetics have helped identify several arsenical transformations by bacteria that are at least possible in the human gut and are likely to mediate arsenic toxicity to the host. Other studies that directly incubate stool samples in vitro also demonstrate the gut microbiome’s potential to alter arsenic speciation and bioavailability. In vivo disruption or elimination of the microbiome has been shown to influence toxicity and body burden of arsenic through altered excretion and biotransformation of arsenicals. Currently, few clinical or epidemiological studies have investigated relationships between the gut microbiome and arsenic-related health outcomes in humans, although current evidence provides strong rationale for this research in the future.SummaryThe human gut microbiome can metabolize arsenic and influence arsenical oxidation state, methylation status, thiolation status, bioavailability, and excretion. We discuss the strength of current evidence and propose that the microbiome be considered in future epidemiologic and toxicologic studies of human arsenic exposure.
Fluid–structure interaction of flexible submerged vegetation stems and kinetic turbine blades
Authors: Wang Mingyang , Avital Eldad J. , Bai Xin , Ji Chunning , Xu Dong , Williams John J. R. , Munjiza Antonio 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA fluid–structure interaction (FSI) methodology is presented for simulating elastic bodies embedded and/or encapsulating viscous incompressible fluid. The fluid solver is based on finite volume and the large eddy simulation approach to account for turbulent flow. The structural dynamic solver is based on the combined finite element method–discrete element method (FEM-DEM). The two solvers are tied up using an immersed boundary method (IBM) iterative algorithm to improve information transfer between the two solvers. The FSI solver is applied to submerged vegetation stems and blades of small-scale horizontal axis kinetic turbines. Both bodies are slender and of cylinder-like shape. While the stem mostly experiences a dominant drag force, the blade experiences a dominant lift force. Following verification cases of a single-stem deformation and a spinning Magnus blade in laminar flows, vegetation flexible stems and flexible rotor blades are analysed, while they are embedded in turbulent flow. It is shown that the single stem’s flexibility has higher effect on the flow as compared to the rigid stem than when in a dense vegetation patch. Making a marine kinetic turbine rotor flexible has the potential of significantly reducing the power production due to undesired twisting and bending of the blades. These studies point to the importance of FSI in flow problems where there is a noticeable deflection of a cylinder-shaped body and the capability of coupling FEM-DEM with flow solver through IBM.
Micronutrients in support to the one carbon cycle for the modulation of blood fasting homocysteine in PCOS women
Authors: Schiuma N. , Costantino A. , Bartolotti T. , Dattilo M. , Bini V. , Aglietti M. C. , Renga M. , Favilli A. , Falorni A. , Gerli S. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Purpose
Fasting blood homocysteine is increased in PCOS women and is involved in several of its co-morbidities including cardiovascular disease and infertility. Corrective interventions based on the administration of supra-physiologic doses of folic acid work to a low extent. We aimed to test an alternative approach.

Methods
This was a prospective, randomized, parallel group, open label, controlled versus no treatment clinical study. PCOS women aged > 18, free from systemic diseases and from pharmacological treatments were randomized with a 2:1 ratio for treatment with activated micronutrients in support to the carbon cycle (Impryl, Parthenogen, Switzerland—n = 22) or no treatment (n = 10) and followed-up for 3 months. Fasting blood homocysteine, AMH, testosterone, SHBGs, and the resulting FTI were tested before and at the end of the follow-up.

Results
The mean baseline fasting blood homocysteine was above the normal limit of 12 μMol/L and inversely correlated with SHBG. AMH was also increased, whereas testosterone, SHBG, and FTI were within the normal limit. The treatment achieved a significant reduction of homocysteine, that did not change in the control group, independently of the starting value. The treatment also caused an increase of AMH and a decrease of SHBGs only in the subgroup with a normal homocysteine at baseline.

Conclusions
In PCOS ladies, blood homocysteine is increased and inversely correlated with the SHBGs. Physiologic amounts of activated micronutrients in support to the carbon cycle achieve a reduction virtually in all exposed patients. Whether this is of clinical benefit remains to be established.
The Role of Parent Phase Compliance on the Fatigue Lifetime of Ni–Ti
Authors: Bonsignore Craig , Shamini Ali , Duerig Tom 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIt has been previously suggested that the fatigue lifetime of superelastic Ni–Ti might be improved if the R-phase were the parent to martensite rather than austenite. This body of work tests that hypothesis in two separate side-by-side fatigue tests both carefully constructed to match the superelastic properties in the two study arms. Both experiments show the R-phase parent to be more durable than the more commonly considered austenitic parent phase. The first experiment considers straight wire specimens fabricated from standard purity material, in a tension–tension fatigue test to 107 cycles, at mean strain ranging of 0.5–5.8% and strain amplitudes of 0.15–0.45%. The second experiment considers formed wire specimens in bending fatigue, more representative of realistic medical components, with a maximum mean strain of 1.2%, and maximum strain amplitudes ranging from 0.72 to 1.64%. Compared with the austenitic parent material, the R-phase material tolerated 0.1–0.3% higher strain amplitudes.
Kilonovae
Authors: Metzger Brian D. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe coalescence of double neutron star (NS–NS) and black hole (BH)–NS binaries are prime sources of gravitational waves (GW) for Advanced LIGO/Virgo and future ground-based detectors. Neutron-rich matter released from such events undergoes rapid neutron capture (r-process) nucleosynthesis as it decompresses into space, enriching our universe with rare heavy elements like gold and platinum. Radioactive decay of these unstable nuclei powers a rapidly evolving, approximately isotropic thermal transient known as a “kilonova”, which probes the physical conditions during the merger and its aftermath. Here I review the history and physics of kilonovae, leading to the current paradigm of day-timescale emission at optical wavelengths from lanthanide-free components of the ejecta, followed by week-long emission with a spectral peak in the near-infrared (NIR). These theoretical predictions, as compiled in the original version of this review, were largely confirmed by the transient optical/NIR counterpart discovered to the first NS–NS merger, GW170817, discovered by LIGO/Virgo. Using a simple light curve model to illustrate the essential physical processes and their application to GW170817, I then introduce important variations about the standard picture which may be observable in future mergers. These include $$\sim $$
∼
hour-long UV precursor emission, powered by the decay of free neutrons in the outermost ejecta layers or shock-heating of the ejecta by a delayed ultra-relativistic outflow; and enhancement of the luminosity from a long-lived central engine, such as an accreting BH or millisecond magnetar. Joint GW and kilonova observations of GW170817 and future events provide a new avenue to constrain the astrophysical origin of the r-process elements and the equation of state of dense nuclear matter.
‘We Are Not As Bad as you Think we Are’: Dealing with Diversity and Self-Exclusion in a Youth Football Club
Authors: Awuh Harrison Esam , Spijkers Floor 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFew studies have considered the capacity of place to facilitate or inhibit supportive responses to diversity. In this paper, we explore this capacity of place through an ethnographic case study of responses to diversity in a football club based in Antwerp, Belgium. Over a three year period we assessed the effects of three separate placed-based initiatives by the football club to promote inclusion of native Belgians in a football club that has become predominantly composed of people with migrant backgrounds. This paper demonstrates that initiatives which were based in places with normative values which promote diversity, acceptance and mutual respect delivered more positive outcomes for inclusion of native Belgians than in places without such norms and values.
Comprehensive Analysis and Optimization of Dynamic Vibration-Absorbing Structures for Electric Vehicles Driven by In-Wheel Motors
Authors: Qin Yechen , Wang Zhenfeng , Yuan Kang , Zhang Yubiao 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDistributed-drive electric vehicles (EVs) replace internal combustion engine with multiple motors, and the novel configuration results in new dynamic-related issues. This paper studies the coupling effects between the parameters and responses of dynamic vibration-absorbing structures (DVAS) for EVs driven by in-wheel motors (IWM). Firstly, a DVAS-based quarter suspension model is developed for distributed-drive EVs, from which nine parameters and five responses are selected for the coupling effect analysis. A two-stage global sensitivity analysis is then utilized to investigate the effect of each parameter on the responses. The control of the system is then converted into a multiobjective optimization problem with the defined system parameters being the optimization variables, and three dynamic limitations regarding both motor and suspension subsystems are taken as the constraints. A particle swarm optimization approach is then used to either improve ride comfort or mitigate IWM vibration, and two optimized parameter sets for these two objects are provided at last. Simulation results provide in-depth conclusions for the coupling effects between parameters and responses, as well as a guideline on how to design system parameters for contradictory objectives. It can be concluded that either passenger comfort or motor lifespan can be reduced up to 36% and 15% by properly changing the IWM suspension system parameters.
How Is the Sexual Function of Premenopausal Chinese Women Without Hyperlipidemia?
Authors: Xiang Yali , Tang Yuxin , Li Jiaqun , Li Dongjie 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Introduction
Most premenopausal women in China have normal lipid profiles while the sexual function among them was scarcely demonstrated.

Aim
To find out the characteristics of the sexual function in premenopausal Chinese women without hyperlipidemia using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS).

Methods
This cross-sectional study was performed to find out the characteristics of sexual function in premenopausal Chinese women without hyperlipidemia. Between January 2019 and March 2019, we recruited 216 women, 25–49 years of age. Data from questionnaires and health checkups were collected and analyzed.

Main Outcome Measure
We report the prevalence of and factors related to female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in premenopausal Chinese women without hyperlipidemia in accordance with the FSFI and the GRISS.

Results
The prevalence of FSD in our study was 46.2%. The mean age was 38.07 ± 6.94 years. More highly educated women suffered from FSD than those in the control group (61.1% vs 35.2%, P &lt; .05). Binge eating was significantly different between the groups (P = .023). Multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated that total cholesterol level was positively associated with low desire (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.10–4.13; P = .025) and so was the low-density lipoprotein level (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.03–4.62; P = .0.041). The high-density lipoprotein level was inversely associated with infrequency (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.06–0.59; P = .004). More women with FSD had orgasm disorder than those in the control group, for 83.3% vs 35.2% in the FSFI (P &lt; .001), 88.9% vs 54.3% in the GRISS (P &lt; .001), respectively. Dissatisfaction remained the most common issue for the control group in both the FSFI and the GRISS (90.50% and 58.10%, respectively).

Conclusions
FSD is frequent in premenopausal Chinese women without hyperlipidemia. Dissatisfaction as the common problem influenced over half of them and orgasm disorder is a severe sexual issue for women with FSD.
Xiang Y, Tang Y, Li J, et al. How Is the Sexual Function of Premenopausal Chinese Women Without Hyperlipidemia. J Sex Med 2019;8:65–75.
The Symbol of the Motherland in the Legitimation and Delegitimation of Power in Contemporary Russia
Authors: Riabov Oleg 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe article dwells upon the use of the symbol of the “Motherland” in the legitimation and delegitimation of power. The Motherland symbolizes the matters that are essential for legitimacy-seeking: the unity of Russia, its territory and sacredness of its borders, the most important events of its history, the “authentic Russianness,” and multi-ethnic peace in the country. The author argues that the Motherland serves as an important factor of the legitimation of power in contemporary Russia, which allows the authorities to have high popularity both in domestic and foreign policies. This symbol is also actively exploited by the opposition; one mode of the delegitimation of power through using the symbol of Motherland (the “populist” mode) implies the symbolic struggle for possessing this symbol, or for the right to speak on behalf of the Motherland, while another one (the “liberal” mode) implies the desacralization of the “Motherland” and deconstruction of the practices of employing the symbol by the authorities.
Simultaneity and the refusal to choose: The semiotics of Serbian youth identity on Facebook
Authors: George Rachel 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAlthough the importance of linguistic simultaneity has long been recognized (Woolard 1998), the concept is underexamined in recent analyses of language use in globalized, digital contexts such as social media. Drawing from an analysis of everyday Facebook posts from youth in Belgrade, Serbia, the article proposes that recognizing four types of simultaneity—of linguistic features, indexical operations, effects, and scale—is key for making sense of social media utterances in political and historical context. On Facebook, Serbian youth mix languages and writing systems in complex ways, adhering to dominant ideologies of language and identity in some ways and flouting them in others. Using the Serbian case as a springboard, along with the four types of simultaneity proposed, I suggest a framework for analyzing language and identity on social media. (Serbia, indexicality, simultaneity, social media, superdiversity, bivalency, youth)*
Dynamics and sources of response variability and its coordination in visual cortex
Authors: Hoseini Mahmood S. , Wright Nathaniel C. , Xia Ji , Clawson Wesley , Shew Woodrow , Wessel Ralf 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The trial-to-trial response variability in sensory cortices and the extent to which this variability can be coordinated among cortical units have strong implications for cortical signal processing. Yet, little is known about the relative contributions and dynamics of defined sources to the cortical response variability and their correlations across cortical units. To fill this knowledge gap, here we obtained and analyzed multisite local field potential (LFP) recordings from visual cortex of turtles in response to repeated naturalistic movie clips and decomposed cortical across-trial LFP response variability into three defined sources, namely, input, network, and local fluctuations. We found that input fluctuations dominate cortical response variability immediately following stimulus onset, whereas network fluctuations dominate the response variability in the steady state during continued visual stimulation. Concurrently, we found that the network fluctuations dominate the correlations of the variability during the ongoing and steady-state epochs, but not immediately following stimulus onset. Furthermore, simulations of various model networks indicated that (i) synaptic time constants, leading to oscillatory activity, and (ii) synaptic clustering and synaptic depression, leading to spatially constrained pockets of coherent activity, are both essential features of cortical circuits to mediate the observed relative contributions and dynamics of input, network, and local fluctuations to the cortical LFP response variability and their correlations across recording sites. In conclusion, these results show how a mélange of multiscale thalamocortical circuit features mediate a complex stimulus-modulated cortical activity that, when naively related to the visual stimulus alone, appears disguised as high and coordinated across-trial response variability.
Anomalous origin of left pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta: echocardiography assessment
Authors: Atmani Samir , Bendris Imane 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAnomalous origin of one pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta is a rare cardiac anomaly in which the pulmonary artery abnormally arises from the ascending aorta. Physiologically, most patients develop signs of cardiac failure due to high flow to both lungs. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate, with this rare anomaly, the accurate place of the echocardiography to establish diagnosis especially in the systemic or supra-systemic pulmonary hypertension.
Spontaneous closure of muscular ventricular septal defect by growth of right ventricular muscle bundles: a rare mechanism
Authors: Charaf Eddine Ahmad , Kadiu Gilda , Sanil Yamuna 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe present a case of an 18-year-old male with large anterior muscular ventricular septal defect. Assessment by echocardiography showed that the defect has completely closed by the growth of muscle bundles that formed a pouch-like structure on the right ventricular side. This unusual mechanism of closure has been reported in one prior case report. In our report, we present images obtained by three-dimensional echocardiography.
Food democracy, health disparities and the New York City trans fat policy
Authors: Johnson Kimberly E 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjective:To investigate food democracy and health disparities in the New York City (NYC) trans fat policy process.Design:Texts from semi-structured interviews, public testimony and comments on the policy were analysed using categorization and thematic coding. A priori content analysis for themes of food democracy was followed by open, axial and selective coding for sub-themes on health disparities. Data and method triangulation and respondent validation were used to establish data dependability, trustworthiness and representativeness.Setting:NYC.Participants:Interviews from a purposive, snowballed sample of thirty-three participants included restaurateurs, scientists, health and consumer advocates, consumers and policy makers. Additionally, 261 pages of transcript from public testimony of fifty-three participants and a purposive sample of public comments on the policy from a pool of 2157 were analysed.Results:Principles of food democracy involving inclusive citizenship, access to information, collaborative participation and focus on collective good were well represented in the data. Additionally, sub-themes linked to health disparities included: government responsibility for fairer access to healthier foods; recognition that people made choices based on circumstances; concern for vulnerable groups; and outrage with a food industry viewed as unconcerned for public health.Conclusions:Principles of food democracy present in the successful process of adoption of the 2006 NYC trans fat policy addressed nutrition-related health. Food democracy is a contemporary food system and policy approach with potential for public health benefits in reducing nutrition-related health disparities.
Childhood adversity and clinical and psychosocial outcomes in psychosis
Authors: Turner S. , Harvey C. , Hayes L. , Castle D. , Galletly C. , Sweeney S. , Shah S. , Keogh L. , Spittal M. J. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAimsAssociations between childhood abuse and various psychotic illnesses in adulthood are commonly reported. We aim to examine associations between several reported childhood adverse events (sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and interpersonal loss) among adults with diagnosed psychotic disorders and clinical and psychosocial outcomes.MethodsWithin a large epidemiological study, the 2010 Australian National Survey of Psychosis (Survey of High Impact Psychosis, SHIP), we used logistic regression to model childhood adverse events (any and specific types) on 18 clinical and psychosocial outcomes.ResultsEighty percent of SHIP participants (1466/1825) reported experiencing adverse events in childhood (sexual abuse, other types of abuse and interpersonal loss). Participants reporting any form of childhood adversity had higher odds for 12/18 outcomes we examined. Significant associations were observed with all psychosocial outcomes (social dysfunction, victimisation, offending and homelessness within the previous 12 months, and definite psychosocial stressor within 12 months of illness onset), with the strongest association for homelessness (odds ratio (OR) = 2.82). Common across all adverse event types was an association with lifetime depression, anxiety and a definite psychosocial stressor within 12 months of illness onset. When adverse event types were non-hierarchically coded, sexual abuse was associated with 11/18 outcomes, other types of abuse 13/18 and, interpersonal loss occurring in the absence of other forms of abuse was associated with fewer of the clinical and psychosocial outcomes, 4/18. When adverse events types were coded hierarchically (to isolate the effect of interpersonal loss in the absence of abuse), interpersonal loss was associated with lower odds of self-reproach (OR = 0.70), negative syndrome (OR = 0.75) and victimisation (OR = 0.82).ConclusionsAdverse childhood experiences among people with psychosis are common, as are subsequent psychosocial stressors. Mental health professionals should routinely enquire about all types of adversities in this group and provide effective service responses. Childhood abuse, including sexual abuse, may contribute to subsequent adversity, poor psychosocial functioning and complex needs among people with psychosis. Longitudinal research to better understand these relationships is needed, as are studies which evaluate the effectiveness of preventative interventions in high-risk groups.