bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing middle atmosphere weather models using infrasound detections from microbaroms
Authors: Hupe Patrick , Ceranna Lars , Pilger Christoph , de Carlo Marine , Le Pichon Alexis , Kaifler Bernd , Rapp Markus 
Published: December 2018

SUMMARYThe nonlinear interaction of ocean surface waves produces coherent infrasound noise—microbaroms—between 0.1 and 0.5 Hz. Microbaroms propagate through the atmosphere over thousands of kilometres due to low absorption and efficient ducting between the ground and the stratopause. These signals are globally and permanently detected by the International Monitoring System (IMS) infrasound network, which has been established to monitor compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. At the International Data Centre (IDC) in Vienna, where IMS data are routinely processed, microbarom detections appear in overlapping frequency bands, and are treated as false alarms. Therefore, understanding the variability in microbarom detections is essential to support the IDC in the reduction of the false alarm rate. In this study, microbarom amplitudes and the direction of arrivals at the German infrasound station IS26 were modelled. For the simulations, the source was described by an operational ocean wave interaction model, and the signal amplitude was modelled using a semi-empirical attenuation relation. This relation strongly depends on middle atmosphere (MA; i.e. 15–90 km altitude) dynamics; however, vertical temperature and wind profiles, provided by numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, exhibit significant biases and differences when compared with high-resolution light detection and ranging instrument (lidar) soundings in altitudes where infrasound signals propagate. To estimate uncertainties in the modelled amplitude, a fully autonomous lidar for MA temperature measurements was installed at IS26. Temperature and wind perturbations, considering observed biases and deviations, were added to the operational high-resolution atmospheric model analysis produced by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Such uncertainties in horizontal winds and temperature strongly impact propagation conditions, explaining almost 97 per cent of the actual detections, compared to 77 per cent when using the direct output of the NWP model only. Incorporating realistic wind and temperature uncertainties in NWP models can thus significantly improve the understanding of microbarom detections as well as the detection capability of a single station throughout the year.
The contribution of drug-related deaths to the US disadvantage in mortality
Authors: Barbieri Magali 
Published: December 2018

Abstract

Background
The USA ranks last in life expectancy among high-income countries. Since 2000, excess US mortality has been particularly concentrated in the working ages, which are also the ages hardest hit by the increase in drug deaths. This study measures the effect of drug-related mortality on the gap in life expectancy between the USA and other countries.

Methods
Data from the Human Mortality Database and the World Health Organization were combined to construct age-standardized mortality rates for 2000–14 in 12 high-income countries and the USA for seven broad causes of death, including drug use. The contribution of each cause to the difference in life expectancy between the USA and the other 12 countries was estimated.

Results
In 2014, the increase in drug-related deaths accounted for 10–15% of the US disadvantage in mortality, but with marked differences by age group. For working-age men, the increase in drug-related deaths accounted for up to 38% of the difference. Overall, American mortality is higher than the comparison countries across a wide range of causes.

Conclusions
The severity of the drug epidemic appears to be specific to the USA, but it only partly contributes to the American shortfall in mortality.
Stability and Hopf bifurcation analysis of lac Operon model with distributed delay and nonlinear degradation rate
Authors: Alrikaby Zenab 
Published: December 2018

AbstractWe propose a simple model of lac operon that describes the expression of B-galactosidase from lac Z gene in Escherichia coli, through the interaction among several identical mRNA. Our goal is to explore the complex dynamics (i.e. the oscillation phenomenon) of this architecture mediated by this interaction. This model was theoretically and numerically investigated using distributed time delay. We considered the average delay as a bifurcation parameter and the nonlinear degradation rate as a control parameter. Sufficient conditions for local stability were gained by using the Routh–Hurwitz criterion in the case of a weak delay kernel. Then we proved that Hopf bifurcation happened and the direction of the periodic solution was determined using multiple time scale technique. Our results suggest that the interaction among several identical mRNA plays the main role in gene regulation.
Game-theoretic semantics for non-distributive logics
Authors: Hartonas Chrysafis 
Published: December 2018

AbstractWe introduce game-theoretic semantics for systems without the conveniences of either a De Morgan negation, or of distribution of conjunction over disjunction and conversely. Much of game playing rests on challenges issued by one player to the other to satisfy, or refute, a sentence, while forcing him/her to move to some other place in the game’s chessboard-like configuration. Correctness of the game-theoretic semantics is proven for both a training game, corresponding to Positive Lattice Logic and for more advanced games for the logics of lattices with weak negation and modal operators (Modal Lattice Logic).
AFF3-DNA methylation interplay in maintaining the mono-allelic expression pattern of XIST in terminally differentiated cells
Authors: Zhang Yue , Wang Chao , Liu Xiaoxu , Yang Qian , Ji Hongliang , Yang Mengjun , Xu Manman , Zhou Yunyan , Xie Wei , Luo Zhuojuan , Lin Chengqi 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
X chromosome inactivation and genomic imprinting are two classic epigenetic regulatory processes that cause mono-allelic gene expression. In female mammals, mono-allelic expression of the long non-coding RNA gene X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) is essential for initiation of X chromosome inactivation upon differentiation. We have previously demonstrated that the central factor of super elongation complex-like 3 (SEC-L3), AFF3, is enriched at gamete differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of the imprinted loci and regulates the imprinted gene expression. Here, we found that AFF3 can also bind to the DMR downstream of the XIST promoter. Knockdown of AFF3 leads to de-repression of the inactive allele of XIST in terminally differentiated cells. In addition, the binding of AFF3 to the XIST DMR relies on DNA methylation and also regulates DNA methylation level at DMR region. However, the KAP1-H3K9 methylation machineries, which regulate the imprinted loci, might not play major roles in maintaining the mono-allelic expression pattern of XIST in these cells. Thus, our results suggest that the differential mechanisms involved in the XIST DMR and gDMR regulation, which both require AFF3 and DNA methylation.
A role for 3′ exonucleases at the final stages of chromosome duplication in Escherichia coli
Authors: Midgley-Smith Sarah L , Dimude Juachi U , Rudolph Christian J 
Published: December 2018

AbstractChromosome duplication initiates via the assembly of replication fork complexes at defined origins, from where they proceed in opposite directions until they fuse with a converging fork. Recent work highlights that the completion of DNA replication is highly complex in both pro- and eukaryotic cells. In this study we have investigated how 3′ and 5′ exonucleases contribute towards the successful termination of chromosome duplication in Escherichia coli. We show that the absence of 3′ exonucleases can trigger levels of over-replication in the termination area robust enough to allow successful chromosome duplication in the absence of oriC firing. Over-replication is completely abolished if replication fork complexes are prevented from fusing by chromosome linearization. Our data strongly support the idea that 3′ flaps are generated as replication fork complexes fuse. In the absence of 3′ exonucleases, such as ExoI, these 3′ flaps can be converted into 5′ flaps, which are degraded by 5′ exonucleases, such as ExoVII and RecJ. Our data support the idea that multiple protein activities are required to process fork fusion intermediates. They highlight the complexity of fork fusions and further support the idea that the termination area evolved to contain fork fusion-mediated pathologies.
Heterogeneous Impacts of Concentrated Poverty During Adolescence on College Outcomes
Authors: Levy Brian L 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThis research analyzes how living in concentrated poverty during adolescence affects future college outcomes. Using Add Health data and propensity score methods to explore effect heterogeneity, I find that concentrated poverty has little direct impact on college matriculation. It does, however, strongly reduce the odds of graduating from college for adolescents least likely to reside in concentrated poverty. This indicates an advantage-leveling model in which individuals with prior advantages have the most to lose from neighborhood disadvantage during adolescence. I assess neighborhood socialization, school effects, and peer effects as potential explanations for the neighborhood effect. Supporting collective socialization theory, neighborhood economic opportunity and resource deprivation are key aspects of poverty-saturated neighborhoods that influence college graduation odds. Schools also play an important role in the relationship between neighborhoods and college outcomes. Main effects are likely to be causal as they are highly robust to unobserved confounding.
Assessors assemble: the need for harmonised external quality assessment schemes for emerging diagnostic methodologies in the field of parasitology
Authors: Shrivastava Jaya 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
Global travel and migration trends have meant a huge increase in the numbers of people exposed to tropical parasitic diseases. Thus, there is an increasing need for robust, reproducible and reliable diagnostic techniques in the field.
Advanced molecular and lateral flow techniques have pushed the boundaries of clinical parasite diagnostics with their enhanced sensitivities and specificities. These emerging technologies are, however, not without their challenges, and recently there has been multiple evidence of a lack of consensus among protocols and results obtained by quality assessment of these novel technologies.
This commentary discusses findings from some recent quality assessment studies in the field of blood and faecal parasitology. The article also makes recommendations for a unified and harmonised approach towards delivering high-quality clinical parasitology diagnoses, especially through the use of proficiency testing.
The Language of First-Trimester Nonviable Pregnancy
Authors: Clement Elizabeth G. , Horvath Sarah , McAllister Arden , Koelper Nathanael C. , Sammel Mary D. , Schreiber Courtney A. 
Published: December 2018

OBJECTIVE:
To document the terminology patients hear during the treatment course for a nonviable pregnancy and to ask patients their perceived clarity and preference of terminology to identify a patient-centered lexicon.

METHODS:
We performed a preplanned substudy survey of English-speaking participants in New York, Pennsylvania, and California at the time of enrollment in a randomized multisite trial of medical management of first-trimester early pregnancy loss. The six-item survey, administered on paper or an electronic tablet, was developed and piloted for internal and external validity. We used a visual analog scale and quantified tests of associations between participant characteristics and survey responses using risk ratios.

RESULTS:
We approached 155 English-speaking participants in the parent study, of whom 145 (93.5%) participated. In the process of receiving their diagnosis from a clinician, participants reported hearing the terms “miscarriage” (n=109 [75.2%]) and “early pregnancy loss” (n=73 [50.3%]) more than “early pregnancy failure” (n=31 [21.3%]) and “spontaneous abortion” (n=21 [14.4%]). The majority selected “miscarriage” (n=79 [54.5%]) followed by “early pregnancy loss” (n=49 [33.8%]) as their preferred term. In multivariable models controlling for study site, ethnicity, race, history of induced abortion, and whether the current pregnancy was planned, women indicated that “spontaneous abortion” and “early pregnancy failure” were significantly less clear than “early pregnancy loss” (53/145, adjusted risk ratio 0.12, 95% CI 0.07–0.19 and 92/145, adjusted risk ratio 0.38, 95% CI 0.24–0.61, respectively, as compared with 118/145 for “early pregnancy loss”). “Miscarriage” scored similarly to “early pregnancy loss” in clarity (119/145, adjusted risk ratio 1.05, 95% CI 0.62–1.77).

CONCLUSION:
The terminology used to communicate “nonviable pregnancy in the first trimester” is highly variable. In this cohort of women, most preferred the term “miscarriage” and classified both “miscarriage” and “early pregnancy loss” as clear labels for a nonviable pregnancy. Health care providers can use these terms to enhance patient–clinician communication.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02012491.
Reasons why the diagnosis of serrated polyposis syndrome is missed
Authors: van Herwaarden Yasmijn J. , Pape Simon , Vink-Börger Elisa , Dura Polat , Nagengast Fokko M. , Epping Ludger S.M. , Bisseling Tanya M. , Nagtegaal Iris D. 
Published: December 2018

Objectives
Serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is a relatively new and under-recognized colorectal cancer (CRC) predisposition syndrome. Previous studies have reported miss-rates of SPS diagnosis varying from 40 to 82%. As SPS patients and their first-degree relatives have an increased risk of CRC, early recognition is important. We aimed to determine the miss-rate of SPS and to determine the reasons for missed diagnosis.

Patients and methods
We retrospectively identified all patients diagnosed with at least one colorectal polyp or carcinoma detected at our tertiary referral center between January 1986 and July 2013 using the nationwide pathology registry. On the basis of cumulative polyp count with size and location, SPS patients were identified. We checked whether the SPS diagnosis was made in the medical files and, if not, what might have been the reason for missing the diagnosis.

Results
We randomly assessed 5000 patients, of whom 25 patients fulfilled the WHO criteria for SPS. In six patients, no previous SPS diagnosis had been made, leading to a miss-rate of 24.0% (95% confidence interval: 7.3–40.7). The reasons for missed diagnosis were polyps removed before establishment of the WHO criteria, unavailable pathology reports, and failure to apply the criteria by the clinician.

Conclusion
The miss-rate for the diagnosis of SPS is considerable, even during longer follow-up with repeated colonoscopies. A preventable reason for missing SPS cases is failure to apply the WHO criteria. Awareness of this CRC predisposition syndrome needs to be raised to decrease the miss-rate of SPS.
Intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in patients with minor or rapidly improving neurological deficits
Authors: Ferrari Julia , Krebs Stefan , Sykora Marek 
Published: December 2018

Purpose of review
A substantial proportion of patients with ischemic stroke present with mild neurological deficits ('Stroke with mild symptoms,’ SMS). Treating these patients with thrombolysis or with thrombectomy is controversial and clinical practice is different. We will highlight the importance of these treatment decisions by reviewing the recent advances in this area.

Recent findings
Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in patients with SMS showed a significant reduction in functional disability after 3 months. Treatment with tenecteplase seems to be a pharmacologically superior and possibly safer thrombolytic agent making it ideal for use in this patient group. Imaging criteria to select the profiting patients are evolving. Thrombectomy in patients with a large vessel occlusion and minor deficits are showing promising results in cohort studies so far, however, randomized controlled trials are lacking.

Summary
Patients with acute ischemic stroke and minor or rapidly improving symptoms should be carefully treated the same way as more severe strokes are treated as neurological deterioration is not infrequent. Nevertheless, treatment decisions should be individualized dependent on clinical and radiological features.
Monitoring Neural Activity During Exposure to Drugs of Abuse With In Vivo Fiber Photometry
Authors: Rinker Jennifer A. , Gioia Dominic , Braunscheidel Kevin M. , Wayman Wesley N. , Hoffman Michaela , Passarella Linsey , Calipari Erin S. , Mulholland Patrick J. , Woodward John J. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractDrugs of abuse are known to alter activity in areas of brain associated with reward, cognition and decision making. Changes in neural activity in these regions that follow repeated exposures to abused substances may underlie the development of addictive behaviors and contribute to the high rates of relapse associated with drug use. Measuring real-time changes in neural activity during drug seeking and taking is important for correlating changes in behavior with alterations in neuronal signaling typically measured using ex vivo electrophysiological recordings. In this study, C57BL/6J mice or Sprague-Dawley rats were injected in different brain areas with adeno-associated viruses (AAV) encoding the calcium sensor GCaMP6f along with an optical fiber. Calcium-dependent fluorescence was monitored in the nucleus accumbens core or mPFC during and following exposure to toluene vapor and in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) during ethanol drinking. Toluene vapor, at concentrations previously shown to induce conditioned place preference, produced a rapid decrease in the frequency of calcium transients in the NAc core of rats that recovered following washout of the toluene vapor. In a probabilistic risk task, GCaMP6 signals in rat mPFC increased just prior to lever pressing and showed decreases during the reward phase that were proportional to reward size. Toluene pretreatment elevated the signal during the decision-making period while post-lever responses were independent of reward size. Using the drinking in the dark (DID) protocol in mice, we observed a consistent increase in GCaMP6 fluorescence during the period leading up to an ethanol drinking bout, a decrease during consumption and a rebound increase following the bout. The initial increase in signal prior to consumption was greater for ethanol and sucrose than water. GCaMP6 signals in the lateral OFC also decreased during ethanol consumption and increased following bout completion while no increase in activity was noted prior to bout initiation. Following repeated cycles of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure that enhanced ethanol consumption, OFC calcium signals during and after ethanol drinking were similar to those in air-treated animals. Addition of quinine to the ethanol solution augmented the decrease in signal during consumption in both air and CIE mice while having no effect on the magnitude of the rebound in activity. Conversely, when sucrose was added to the ethanol solution, air exposed mice showed blunted changes in GCaMP6 signals while those in CIE mice were enhanced. Overall, the results from these experiments complement and extend data from prior behavioral and electrophysiological studies and support the use of in vivo fiber photometry in the study of effects of abused substances on brain function.
Error processing in the adolescent brain: Age-related differences in electrophysiology, behavioral adaptation, and brain morphology
Authors: Overbye Knut , Walhovd Kristine B. , Paus Tomáš , Fjell Anders M. , Huster Rene J. , Tamnes Christian K. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractDetecting errors and adjusting behaviour appropriately are fundamental cognitive abilities that are known to improve through adolescence. The cognitive and neural processes underlying this development, however, are still poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a thorough investigation of error processing in a Flanker task in a cross-sectional sample of participants 8 to 19 years of age (n = 98). We examined age-related differences in event-related potentials known to be associated with error processing, namely the error-related negativity (ERN) and the error positivity (Pe), as well as their relationships with task performance, post-error adjustments and regional cingulate cortex thickness and surface area. We found that ERN amplitude increased with age, while Pe amplitude remained constant. A more negative ERN was associated with higher task accuracy and faster reaction times, while a more positive Pe was associated with higher accuracy, independently of age. When estimating post-error adjustments from trials following both incongruent and congruent trials, post-error slowing and post-error improvement in accuracy both increased with age, but this was only found for post-error slowing when analysing trials following incongruent trials. There were no age-independent associations between either ERN or Pe amplitude and cingulate cortex thickness or area measures.
Differences in accounting students’ perceptions of their development of professional skills
Authors: Kirstein Marina , Coetzee Stephen , Schmulian Astrid 
Published: December 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore differences in South African accounting students’ perceptions of professional skills developed in an undergraduate accounting program. South Africa has a history of socio-economic inequality and racial injustice, leading to factors outside the classroom impacting educational outcomes. In particular, South African classes are heterogeneous, reflecting a diversity of race and language groups and students from differing schooling backgrounds. These differences necessitate differentiated instruction.Design/methodology/approachTo explore for differences in perceptions, data were collected via questionnaires and differences between demographic variables such as school, race and language were considered, while controlling for gender. A focus group was also hosted to further explore findings.FindingsStudents from better quality schools agreed less strongly than those from poorer quality schools that the education program developed their professional skills. Students from better quality schools may have developed some of the professional skills during their schooling, requiring less to be developed at university. African students, though, agreed less strongly than white students from similar quality schools that they had developed professional skills. A focus group suggested that African students place less emphasis on professional skills development than on technical skills, given their lack of exposure to professional skills through mentors (parents, teachers, etc.) who never developed professional skills during their own compromised education under Apartheid.Originality/valueUnderstanding the differences in the perceptions of professional skill development in a heterogeneous classroom can assist instructors in adopting differentiated instruction approaches to enable all students to develop professional skills. It could also assist future employers of these graduates to differentiate their development strategies during workplace training.