bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self‐reported cognitive scales in a US National Survey: reliability, validity, and preliminary evidence for associations with alcohol and drug use
Authors: Aharonovich Efrat , Shmulewitz Dvora , Wall Melanie M. , Grant Bridget F. , Hasin Deborah S.
Published: June 2017

Aims

To evaluate relationships between measures of cognitive functioning and alcohol or drug use among adults (≥ 18 years) in the US general population.

Design

Two cognitive scales were created based on dimensionality and reliability of self‐reported Executive Function Index items. Relationships between the two scales and validators were evaluated. Associations between the cognitive scales and past‐year frequency of alcohol or drug use were estimated with adjusted odds ratios (aOR).

Setting

United States, using the 2012–13 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions–III, a nationally representative adult sample selected by multi‐stage probability sampling.

Participants

36 085 respondents.

Measurements

Past‐year substance use outcome variables categorized binge drinking, marijuana, cocaine, opioid, sedative/tranquilizer and stimulant use as frequent (at least weekly to daily), infrequent (any to two to three times/month) or no use, assessed by the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule–5. Key predictors were the two cognitive scales. Construct validators included education and functional impairment. Covariates included age, gender, income and race/ethnicity.

Findings

Nine cognitive items fitted a two‐factor model (comparative fit index = 0.973): attention (five items) and executive functioning (four items). Both scales were associated positively with higher education (Ps < 0.001) and negatively with functional impairment (Ps < 0.001), demonstrating construct validity. Poorer attention was associated with frequent and infrequent binge drinking and use of drugs [aOR range = 1.07 (binge drinking) to 1.72 (stimulants), Ps ≤ 0.01]. Poorer executive functioning was associated with frequent binge drinking and use of drugs [aOR range = 1.22 (binge drinking) to 2.03 (cocaine), Ps < 0.001] and infrequent use of all drugs [aOR range = 1.19 (marijuana) to 1.63 (cocaine), Ps < 0.001].

Conclusions

Impairments in attention and executive functioning are positively associated with substance use in the US general population.
Child shyness and peer likeability: The moderating role of pragmatics and vocabulary
Authors: Cheung Hoi Shan , Elliott John M.
Published: June 2017

The association between shyness and children's likeability by peers was examined, with pragmatic difficulty and receptive and expressive vocabularies as moderators. Participants were 164 preschoolers (72 boys, 92 girls) between 52 and 79 months old in Singapore. A cross‐informant methodology was used, with peers and teachers contributing to separate peer likeability ratings. The findings highlighted a conceptual distinction between peer‐ and teacher‐rated likeability by peers. For the latter only, a 3‐way interaction involving shyness, vocabulary, and pragmatic difficulty was found, indicating that for shy children with low vocabulary scores, those who experienced less pragmatic difficulty tended to be seen by teachers as more well‐liked by peers than those with more pragmatic difficulty. This suggests that pragmatic skills may serve a protective function especially for shy children with poor vocabulary skills.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Child shyness is related to poorer peer acceptance and social competence

Expressive vocabulary and pragmatic competence each has a buffering effect for shy children

What the present study adds?

Shyness is related to poorer peer likeability as assessed by teachers

Shyness is unrelated to peer likeability as assessed by same‐ or different‐sex peers

Pragmatic skills buffer the effects of teacher‐rated shyness only for children with poor receptive and expressive vocabularies

The buffering effect of language ability is shown in a multilingual educational context
Global sourcing and credit constraints
Authors: Shen Leilei
Published: June 2017

This paper incorporates credit constraints into a model of global sourcing and heterogeneous firms. Following Antràs and Helpman, heterogeneous firms decide whether to outsource or integrate input suppliers. Financing of fixed organizational costs requires borrowing with credit constraints and collateral based on tangible assets. The party that controls intermediate inputs is responsible for these financing costs. Sectors differ in their reliance on external finance and countries vary in their financial development. The model predicts that increased financial development decreases the share of integration relative to outsourcing in a country. The effect is more pronounced in sectors with a high reliance on external finance. However, this effect is mitigated by higher productivity (TFP) and headquarter intensity. Empirical examination confirms the predictions of the model. An improvement in financial development from the 25th to the 75th percentile in industries at the 75th percentile in finance dependence relative to those at the 25th percentile is associated with a 16.8% decrease in the median share of US intra‐firm imports. An increase in TFP from the 25th to the 75th percentile in the TFP triple interactions increase the share of US intra‐firm imports at the median by 3.2%. An increase in headquarter intensity from the 25th to the 75th percentile in the headquarter intensity triple interactions increase the share of US intra‐firm imports at the median by 21%.
Improving the histologic characterization of burn depth
Authors: Gibson Angela L. F. , Bennett Daniel D. , Taylor Lauren J.
Published: June 2017

Background

Visual assessment of burn wound appearance is the standard of care to determine the depth of thermal injury but often incorrectly predicts wound healing potential. Histologic evaluation of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained burn tissue is prone to subjectivity and is challenging for the novice. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) staining may offer a simplified and consistent technique to identify burn tissue viability.

Methods

Thirty tissue samples were obtained from 6 patients undergoing surgical excision for clinically determined deep partial thickness or full thickness burns. Tissues were stained with H&E or LDH. Each specimen was scored by 3 individuals with varying levels of skill in histologic interpretation using a standardized checklist at 2 distinct time points.

Results

Agreement within raters was highest for the expert rater and lowest for the novice; however, the LDH stained tissue method had improved agreement for an experienced burn surgeon and novice. Agreement between raters was greater for the LDH stained samples which were determined to have greater viability than the corresponding H&E section in 100% of samples scored by the expert and in 80% for the novice clinician.

Conclusion

LDH staining offers a more consistent measure of tissue viability that can be used by experienced and novice clinicians.
Reduced‐intensity conditioning allogeneic transplantation after salvage treatment with DT‐PACE in myeloma patients relapsing early after autologous transplant
Authors: Randall Kate , Kaparou Maria , Xenou Evgenia , Paneesha Shankara , Kishore Bhuvan , Kanellopoulos Alexandros , Lovell Richard , Holder Kathy , Suhr Julie , Baker Lynda , Ryan Lynn , Nikolousis Emmanouil
Published: June 2017

Objective

In this retrospective single‐centre study, we have looked into the transplant outcomes(overall survival OS, progression‐free survival PFS, GvHD) and the role of chimerism, DLI and pretransplant characteristics in patients who had a suboptimal response (<12 months) to an autologous stem cell transplant for myeloma and underwent an alemtuzumab T‐cell depleted reduced‐intensity allograft(RIC).

Methods

Twenty‐four patients were salvaged with two cycles of DT‐PACE and received a RIC transplant with fludarabine, melphalan and alemtuzumab. All the patients received PBSC grafts, eight patients had a sibling donor, and 16 had a graft from a fully matched unrelated donor. The median follow‐up was 65.3 months (6‐132 months).

Results

The median overall survival was 55.4 months. DLI administration was associated with a trend towards better overall survival (P=.05). Disease status at allo‐HCT, PR or VGPR, ISS score and CMV serostatus was not significant predictors of OS and PFS. Full donor whole blood chimerism (≥98%) at 3 months post‐transplant was associated with PFS (P=.04) but did not have a significant impact on OS(P=.45).

Conclusion

Reduced‐intensity alemtuzumab‐conditioned allograft for myeloma after DT‐PACE salvage chemotherapy is an efficient and low toxicity treatment for those who had a suboptimal response postautologous stem cell transplant for myeloma.
Estimation of cumulative fluxes of nitrous oxide: uncertainty in temporal upscaling and emission factors
Authors: Levy P. E. , Cowan N. , van Oijen M. , Famulari D. , Drewer J. , Skiba U.
Published: June 2017

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas produced mainly by the microbial breakdown of agricultural fertilizer. ‘Emission factors’ (EFs, the fraction of nitrogen added that is released as N2O) are based on flux chamber measurements following the application of fertilizer. These measurements are very variable in space and time so that EFs are often uncertain, but this is rarely quantified. We developed a method that simplifies the calculation of EFs, incorporates prior knowledge and quantifies the uncertainty with a Bayesian approach to fit the parameters of a lognormal model. We compared this with the standard method for interpolating, extrapolating and integrating fluxes of N2O (trapezoidal integration). We verified both methods against process‐based model output where the true integral was known and against eddy covariance data where the integral was estimated more accurately because of the greater spatial and temporal coverage. We used the process‐based model to simulate flux chamber data and added a lognormal spatial distribution to the model output. The lognormal model performed better than the standard method, in terms of estimating the true underlying cumulative flux more accurately. Estimates based on chamber and eddy covariance data were sometimes substantially different, but with no clear systematic bias. The Bayesian approach with the lognormal model enabled us to combine both chamber and eddy covariance data to constrain cumulative fluxes. The standard trapezoidal method typically underestimates emission factors to some extent if fluxes are lognormally distributed in space. The Bayesian approach with the lognormal model is a robust method for quantifying the uncertainty in cumulative fluxes of N2O.

Highlights

Emission factors for N2O are based on sparse and variable measurements, and so are uncertain.

We use a Bayesian approach to simplify the calculation and quantify the uncertainty.

No observed systematic difference between eddy covariance and chamber measurement methods.

The standard trapezoidal method will typically underestimate emission factors.
Moving forward in circles: challenges and opportunities in modelling population cycles
Authors: Barraquand Frédéric , Louca Stilianos , Abbott Karen C. , Cobbold Christina A. , Cordoleani Flora , DeAngelis Donald L. , Elderd Bret D. , Fox Jeremy W. , Greenwood Priscilla , Hilker Frank M. , Murray Dennis L. , Stieha Christopher R. , Taylor Rachel A. , Vitense Kelsey , Wolkowicz Gail S.K. , Tyson Rebecca C.
Published: June 2017

Population cycling is a widespread phenomenon, observed across a multitude of taxa in both laboratory and natural conditions. Historically, the theory associated with population cycles was tightly linked to pairwise consumer–resource interactions and studied via deterministic models, but current empirical and theoretical research reveals a much richer basis for ecological cycles. Stochasticity and seasonality can modulate or create cyclic behaviour in non‐intuitive ways, the high‐dimensionality in ecological systems can profoundly influence cycling, and so can demographic structure and eco‐evolutionary dynamics. An inclusive theory for population cycles, ranging from ecosystem‐level to demographic modelling, grounded in observational or experimental data, is therefore necessary to better understand observed cyclical patterns. In turn, by gaining better insight into the drivers of population cycles, we can begin to understand the causes of cycle gain and loss, how biodiversity interacts with population cycling, and how to effectively manage wildly fluctuating populations, all of which are growing domains of ecological research.
Learning and time‐dependent cue choice in the desert ant, Melophorus bagoti
Authors: Freas Cody A. , Cheng Ken
Published: June 2017

Foraging ants are known to use multiple sources of information to return to the nest. These cue sets are employed by independent navigational systems including path integration in the case of celestial cues and vision‐based learning in the case of terrestrial landmarks and the panorama. When cue sets are presented in conflict, the Australian desert ant species, Melophorus bagoti, will choose a compromise heading between the directions dictated by the cues or, when navigating on well‐known routes, foragers choose the direction indicated by the terrestrial cues of the panorama against the dictates of celestial cues. Here, we explore the roles of learning terrestrial cues and delays since cue exposure in these navigational decisions by testing restricted foragers with differing levels of terrestrial cue experience with the maximum (180°) cue conflict. Restricted foragers appear unable to extrapolate landmark information from the nest to a displacement site 8 m away. Given only one homeward experience, foragers can successfully orient using terrestrial cues, but this experience is not sufficient to override a conflicting vector. Terrestrial cue strength increases with multiple experiences and eventually overrides the celestial cues. This appears to be a dynamic choice as foragers discount the reliability of the terrestrial cues over time, reverting back to preferring the celestial vector when the forager has an immediate vector, but the forager's last exposure to the terrestrial cues was 24 hr in the past. Foragers may be employing navigational decision making that can be predicted by the temporal weighting rule.
What Are They Thinking? A National Study of Stability and Change in Divorce Ideation
Authors: Hawkins Alan J. , Galovan Adam M. , Harris Steven M. , Allen Sage E. , Allen Sarah M. , Roberts Kelly M. , Schramm David G.
Published: June 2017

This study reports on a nationally representative sample of married individuals ages 25–50 (N = 3,000) surveyed twice (1 year apart) to investigate the phenomenon of divorce ideation, or what people are thinking when they are thinking about divorce. Twenty‐eight percent of respondents had thought their marriage was in serious trouble in the past but not recently. Another 25% had thoughts about divorce in the last 6 months. Latent Class Analysis revealed three distinct groups among those thinking about divorce at Time 1: soft thinkers (49%), long‐term‐serious thinkers (45%), and conflicted thinkers (6%). Yet, divorce ideation was not static; 31% of Time 1 thinkers were not thinking about it 1 year later (and 36% of nonthinkers at Time 1 were thinking about it 1 year later). Also, Latent Transition Analysis revealed 49% of Time 1 long‐term‐serious thinkers, 56% of soft thinkers, and 51% of conflicted thinkers had shifted groups at Time 2, mostly in the direction of less and softer thinking about divorce. Overall, divorce ideation is common but dynamic, and it is not necessarily an indication of imminent marital dissolution.
Landscape variables influence taxonomic and trait composition of insect assemblages in Neotropical savanna streams
Authors: de Castro Diego M. P. , Dolédec Sylvain , Callisto Marcos
Published: June 2017

Stream invertebrate assemblages are structured by environmental factors acting at multiple spatial scales. Identifying the spatial scale that most influences the species–environment relationships is a major goal of community ecology.

We evaluated the importance of catchment and site scales and associated environmental variables in shaping Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) assemblages in Neotropical savanna headwater streams.

Sampling sites were associated with 20 catchment‐scale variables that depicted land cover and land use as well as natural geophysical variables such as altitude and climate. Site‐scale habitat was characterised by 55 variables that described habitat hydromorphology, substrate, flow, canopy, in‐stream cover and water quality. EPT traits were assessed using 28 categories of 7 biological traits, which represented the best available current knowledge for EPT in Neotropical savanna streams.

We analysed the relationships between the catchment‐ and site‐scale habitat variables and the taxonomic and trait composition of insect assemblages using 1,760 samples collected in 160 stream sites.

Catchment‐ and site‐scale variables both explained significant variation in EPT taxon and trait composition. Substrate, habitat hydromorphology and land use most influenced variation in taxonomic composition, whereas trait composition was mainly affected by land use. Catchment geographic position explained less assemblage variation.

To our knowledge, this study is the first assessment of the impact of catchment‐ and site‐scale variables on the trait and taxon composition of stream insect assemblages in Neotropical savanna streams. It highlights the need for better regional biological knowledge of invertebrates to generate more general trait‐based approaches in freshwater ecosystem conservation.
Hydrologic and water quality impacts of biofuel feedstock production in the Ohio River Basin
Authors: Demissie Yonas , Yan Eugene , Wu May
Published: June 2017

This study addresses the uncertainties related to potential changes in land use and management and associated impacts on hydrology and water quality resulting from increased production of biofuel from the conventional and cellulosic feedstock. The Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to assess the impacts on regional and field scale evapotranspiration, soil moisture content, stream flow, sediment, and nutrient loadings in the Ohio River Basin. The model incorporates spatially and temporally detailed hydrologic, climate and agricultural practice data that are pertinent to simulate biofuel feedstock production, watershed hydrology and water quality. Three future biofuel production scenarios in the region were considered, including a feedstock projection from the DOE Billion‐Ton (BT2) Study, a change in corn rotations to continuous corn, and harvest of 50% corn stover. The impacts were evaluated on the basis of relative changes in hydrology and water quality from historical baseline and future business‐as‐usual conditions of the basin. The overall impact on water quality is an order of magnitude higher than the impact on hydrology. For all the three future scenarios, the sub‐basin results indicated an overall increase in annual evapotranspiration of up to 6%, a decrease in runoff up to 10% and minimal change in soil moisture. The sediment and phosphorous loading at both regional and field levels increased considerably (up to 40–90%) for all the biofuel feedstock scenario considered, while the nitrogen loading increased up to 45% in some regions under the BT2 Study scenario, decreased up to 10% when corn are grown continuously instead of in rotations, and changed minimally when 50% of the stover are harvested. Field level analyses revealed significant variability in hydrology and water quality impacts that can further be used to identify suitable locations for the feedstock productions without causing major impacts on water quantity and quality.
On the Performance of the Subtour Elimination Constraints Approach for the p‐Regions Problem: A Computational Study
Authors: Duque Juan Carlos , Vélez‐Gallego Mario C. , Echeverri Laura Catalina
Published: June 2017

The p‐regions is a mixed integer programming (MIP) model for the exhaustive clustering of a set of n geographic areas into p spatially contiguous regions while minimizing measures of intraregional heterogeneity. This is an NP‐hard problem that requires a constant research of strategies to increase the size of instances that can be solved using exact optimization techniques. In this article, we explore the benefits of an iterative process that begins by solving the relaxed version of the p‐regions that removes the constraints that guarantee the spatial contiguity of the regions. Then, additional constraints are incorporated iteratively to solve spatial discontinuities in the regions. In particular we explore the relationship between the level of spatial autocorrelation of the aggregation variable and the benefits obtained from this iterative process. The results show that high levels of spatial autocorrelation reduce computational times because the spatial patterns tend to create spatially contiguous regions. However, we found that the greatest benefits are obtained in two situations: (1) when
; and (2) when the parameter p is close to the number of clusters in the spatial pattern of the aggregation variable.
No detectable human herpesvirus‐8 oral shedding in seronegative‐healthy, immunocompetent individuals from non‐endemic regions for Kaposi's sarcoma: A pilot study
Authors: Tozetto‐Mendoza Tânia R. , Sumita Laura M. , Palmieri Michelle , Ornaghi Mariana , do Canto Alan M. , Braz‐Silva Paulo H.
Published: June 2017

Aim

Saliva can play an important role in human herpesvirus‐8 (HHV‐8) transmission in endemic regions for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Little is known about HHV‐8 oral shedding in immunocompetent individuals from non‐endemic regions for KS.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study of HHV‐8 salivary excretion among 59 healthy, immunocompetent individuals from São Paulo, Brazil, followed up weekly for 4 months, resulting in 16 saliva samples from each participant. Antibodies to HHV‐8 latency‐associated nuclear antigen (LANA) and lytic‐phase antigens were investigated with immunofluorescence assays (IFA). HHV‐8 DNA detection was performed using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

All 59 individuals were seronegative to LANA and lytic antibodies. HHV‐8 DNA was undetectable in saliva samples in 100% of the participants, totaling 944 samples and being consistently negative during the different periods of sampling, which lasted approximately 120 days. No sequences of HHV‐8 DNA were detected in the saliva samples of healthy, immunocompetent adults by using real‐time PCR, with the resulting data being consistent with IFA‐based serological tests.

Conclusions

Unlike other herpesviruses, HHV‐8 is not excreted in the saliva of healthy individuals from non‐endemic regions for KS.
Genome mining reveals high incidence of putative lipopeptide biosynthesis NRPS/PKS clusters containing fatty acyl‐AMP ligase genes in biofilm‐forming cyanobacteria
Authors: Galica Tomáš , Hrouzek Pavel , Mareš Jan
Published: June 2017

Cyanobacterial lipopeptides have antimicrobial and antifungal bioactivities with potential for use in pharmaceutical research. However, due to their hemolytic activity and cytotoxic effects on human cells, they may pose a health issue if produced in substantial amounts in the environment. In bacteria, lipopeptides can be synthesized via several well‐evidenced mechanisms. In one of them, fatty acyl‐AMP ligase (FAAL) initiates biosynthesis by activation of a fatty acyl residue. We have performed a bioinformatic survey of the cyanobacterial genomic information available in the public databases for the presence of FAAL‐containing non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase/polyketide synthetase (NRPS/PKS) biosynthetic clusters, as a genetic basis for lipopeptide biosynthesis. We have identified 79 FAAL genes associated with various NRPS/PKS clusters in 16% of 376 cyanobacterial genomic assemblies available, suggesting that FAAL is frequently incorporated in NRPS/PKS biosynthetases. FAAL was present either as a stand‐alone protein or fused either to NRPS or PKS. Such clusters were more frequent in derived phylogenetic lineages with larger genome sizes, which is consistent with the general pattern of NRPS/PKS pathways distribution. The putative lipopeptide clusters were more frequently found in genomes of cyanobacteria that live attached to surfaces and are capable of forming microbial biofilms. While lipopeptides are known in other bacterial groups to play a role in biofilm formation, motility, and colony expansion, their functions in cyanobacterial biofilms need to be tested experimentally. According to our data, benthic and terrestrial cyanobacteria should be the focus of a search for novel candidates for lipopeptide drug synthesis and the monitoring of toxic lipopeptide production.
Nurses' attitudes and knowledge regarding organ and tissue donation and transplantation in a provincial hospital: A descriptive and multivariate analysis
Authors: Lomero Maria del Mar , Jiménez‐Herrera María F. , Rasero Maria José , Sandiumenge Alberto
Published: June 2017

The attitudes and knowledge of nursing personnel regarding organ and tissue donation can influence the decision to donate. This study aimed to determine these two factors among nurses at a district hospital in Barcelona, Spain. A survey was carried out using a 35 item questionnaire. Results were subjected to descriptive and comparative statistical analyses using bivariate and multivariate analyses to examine the relation between demographic data and attitudes toward donation. The completion rate was 68.2%, with 98.6% of those responding stating that they were in favor of organ donation. The respondents were unsure as to whether the criteria for inclusion in transplant waiting lists were appropriate (57.5%), whereas 72.2% agreed that brain death is equivalent to death. The bivariate analysis revealed a significant association between a positive attitude toward donation and working on permanent night shift no religious beliefs. Attitudes toward donation among nurses were generally positive; a negative attitude, although attitudes towards donation among the nurses participating in the study were generally positive, it should be pointed out that when a negative attitude does exist this affects significant aspects such as belief in the diagnosis of brain death or the criteria for inclusion on the waiting list, amongst others, which reflects that specific training in donation focused on nurses continues to be needed.
Delving within: the new science of the unconscious
Authors: Paulson Steve , Berlin Heather A. , Ginot Efrat , Makari George
Published: June 2017

What exactly is the relationship between conscious awareness and the unconscious mind? How, for example, does the brain classify and sort its different functions into conscious or unconscious processes? How has the history of human conceptualizations about the unconscious influenced current theories? Steve Paulson, executive producer of To the Best of Our Knowledge, moderated a discussion among neuroscientist Heather Berlin, psychologist Efrat Ginot, and psychiatrist George Makari to shed light on the history of the mind and the latest insights into the still emerging science of the unconscious.
Whether larval amphibians school does not affect the parasite aggregation rule: testing the effects of host spatial heterogeneity in field and experimental studies
Authors: Koprivnikar Janet , Riepe Tawni B. , Calhoun Dana M. , Johnson Pieter T. J.
Published: June 2017

Almost all macroparasites show over‐dispersed infections within natural host populations such that most parasites are distributed among a few heavily‐infected individuals. Despite the importance of parasite aggregation for understanding system stability, the potential for population regulation, and super‐spreading events, many questions persist about its underlying drivers. Theoretically, aggregation results from heterogeneity in host exposure, resistance, and tolerance. However, few studies have examined how host spatial arrangement – which likely affects both parasite encounter and density‐dependent interactions – influences infection and dispersion, representing a critical gap in our current knowledge regarding the possible drivers of parasite aggregation. Using field data from over 165 ponds and 8000 hosts, we evaluated how the spatial clustering of amphibian larvae within ponds 1) varied among different amphibian species, and 2), affected the distribution of parasites within the host population using Taylor's power law. A complementary mesocosm experiment used field‐guided manipulations of the spatial arrangement of larval amphibians to create a gradient in host clustering while controlling host density, thereby testing for spatial effects on both infection success and aggregation by three different trematode species. Our field data indicated that larval amphibians exhibited significant spatial clustering that was well captured by Taylor's power law (R2 0.92 to 0.97 for different host species), but the residual variation only weakly correlated with observed patterns of trematode parasite over‐dispersion. Correspondingly, experimental manipulation of host clustering had no effects on parasite infection success or the degree of parasite aggregation among cages or mesocosms. Given the importance of parasite over‐dispersion for host populations and disease dynamics, we advocate for further investigations of host and parasite spatial aggregation, particularly studies that incorporate and/or control for heterogeneity in exposure and susceptibility.
Increased beta power in the bereaved families of the Sewol ferry disaster: A paradoxical compensatory phenomenon? A two‐channel electroencephalography study
Authors: Jang Kuk‐In , Shim Miseon , Lee Sang Min , Huh Hyu Jung , Huh Seung , Joo Ji‐Young , Lee Seung‐Hwan , Chae Jeong‐Ho
Published: June 2017

Aim

The Sewol ferry capsizing accident on South Korea's southern coast resulted in the death of 304 people, and serious bereavement problems for their families. Electroencephalography (EEG) beta frequency is associated with psychiatric symptoms, such as insomnia. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between frontal beta power, psychological symptoms, and insomnia in the bereaved families.

Methods

Eighty‐four family members of the Sewol ferry victims (32 men and 52 women) were recruited and their EEG was compared with that of 25 (13 men and 12 women) healthy controls. A two‐channel EEG device was used to measure cortical activity in the frontal lobe. Symptom severity of insomnia, post‐traumatic stress disorder, complicated grief, and anxiety were evaluated.

Results

The bereaved families showed a higher frontal beta power than healthy controls. Subgroup analysis showed that frontal beta power was lower in the individuals with severe insomnia than in those with normal sleep. There was a significant inverse correlation between frontal beta power and insomnia symptom in the bereaved families.

Conclusion

This study suggests that increased beta power, reflecting the psychopathology in the bereaved families of the Sewol ferry disaster, may be a compensatory mechanism that follows complex trauma. Frontal beta power could be a potential marker indicating the severity of sleep disturbances. Our results suggest that sleep disturbance is an important symptom in family members of the Sewol ferry disaster's victims, which may be screened by EEG beta power.
The process of family member marginalization: Turning points experienced by “black sheep”
Authors: DORRANCE HALL ELIZABETH
Published: June 2017

Family member marginalization, or feeling different, not included, or not approved of by family, is a chronically stressful interpersonal process with negative mental and physical health consequences. Framed by hurtful communication, this study took an interpretive approach to understanding the process of marginalization in families. Across 30 marginalized family members, 184 turning points were reported, which were organized into 22 event categories and 4 supracategories. Communication events included disclosures, ceasing contact, and deception, among others. The most commonly reported turning points were “normative” life events such as weddings and having children. Five trajectories captured the process of marginalization. Ambivalent events and a new way of understanding the underlying motivations behind turning points are forwarded, with implications for interpersonal process scholars.
Resistance status of cultivated potatoes to early blight (Alternaria solani) in Denmark
Authors: Abuley I. K. , Nielsen B. J. , Labouriau R.
Published: June 2017

Field experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2016 to classify the resistance level to early blight of the main potato cultivars in Denmark. A total of 38 cultivars were used. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. The potatoes were inoculated by spreading barley (Hordeum vulgare) kernels infested with Alternaria solani and A. alternata. Disease assessment was done at weekly intervals starting from the onset of the first symptoms. The disease progress curves (DPC) of early blight on the cultivars were compared to that of Bintje. A multivariate analysis was performed with the apparent infection rate, the relative area under the disease progress curve, the time to reach 50% severity, the daily defoliation, the disease severity in the middle of the epidemic and the duration of the epidemic to classify the resistance level of the cultivars. The analysis of the DPC of the cultivars showed that none of the cultivars was completely resistant to early blight. However, the epidemic development differed between the different cultivars. The resistance levels of the cultivars were thus classified into classes I, II, III and IV interpreted as ‘very susceptible’, ‘susceptible’, ‘moderately slow blighting’ and ‘slow blighting’, respectively. All the late maturity cultivars were classified as class IV, and the earlier maturing cultivars were either class I or class II.
Effectiveness of self-administered decision aids for people invited to participate in colorectal cancer screening: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Larsen Mette Bach , Gabel Pernille , Andersen Berit
Published: June 2017

Review question/objective:

: The objective is to assess the effectiveness of self-administered decision aids for people invited to participate in colorectal cancer screening. We will evaluate effects on informed choice, decisional conflict, knowledge, and participation in colorectal cancer screening.
Comparative efficacy of lifestyle intervention strategies on weight outcomes in people with psychosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Mucheru Doreen W. , Hanlon Mary-Claire , McEvoy Mark , MacDonald-Wicks Lesley
Published: June 2017

Review question/objective:

(i) To systematically review and rank the efficacy of different types of lifestyle intervention strategies on weight outcomes (weight, body mass index [BMI], waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio) in people with psychosis. (The efficacy of different types of lifestyle intervention strategies will be ranked by comparing the effect size on weight outcomes in people with psychotic disorders.) (ii) To stratify lifestyle interventions that target weight outcomes (weight, BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio) in people with psychosis, according to their inclusion of dietary information that adheres with Australian Dietary Guidelines (National Health and Medical Research Council. Eat for Health, Australian Dietary Guidelines Canberra National Health and Medical Research Council; 2013).

Specifically, the review question is: What lifestyle intervention strategies targeting weight outcomes (weight, BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio) in people with psychosis compared to no treatment or various control conditions have the best efficacy?
Identifying predictors of change in the severity of untreated lower urinary tract symptoms in men: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Harley Simon J.D. , Wittert Gary , Brook Nicholas R. , Secombe Paul , Campbell Jared , Lockwood Craig
Published: June 2017

Review objective:

The objective of this systematic review is to synthesize the best available evidence on the predictors of change in the severity of untreated lower urinary tract symptoms in men in a non-hospital setting.
Effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation on work participation in adults with musculoskeletal disorders: an umbrella review protocol
Authors: Alexander Lyndsay , Cooper Kay , Mitchell Dawn , MacLean Colin
Published: June 2017

Review question/objective:

: The objective of this umbrella review is to determine the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation on work participation in working age adults with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). More specifically the review will address the following questions:

Is vocational rehabilitation effective in improving work participation and reducing sickness absence and disability due to MSDs in working age adults?

Which types/modes of vocational rehabilitation are the most effective in improving work participation and reducing sickness absence and disability due to MSDs in working age adults?

For which MSD is vocational rehabilitation most beneficial?
Experiences of stigma among family members of persons living with schizophrenia: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Maiocco Susan , Shelley Ellen , Salmond Susan , Jewell Sarah T. , Caldwell Barbara , Lieggi Michelle
Published: June 2017

Review question/objective:

: The aim of this qualitative systematic review is to explicate the experiences of stigma among family members of persons living with schizophrenia in any setting where they receive care. More specifically, the review will: (i) describe the experiences of stigma among family members of persons living with schizophrenia, (ii) describe the factors that influence the experiences of stigma, and (iii) describe the strategies and approaches used to cope with the stigma.
Rural restructuring and gendered micro-dynamics of the agricultural labour market
Authors: Hedlund Martin , Lundmark Linda , Stjernström Olof
Published: June 2017

Based on a comparison of the employment trajectories of two cohorts of men and women in the agricultural sector in Sweden, this article gives an account of the past 50 years’ decline in employment in agriculture. The findings show that the decline of employment in agriculture was the result of fewer entries into the sector and more exits out of the sector. The findings also suggest that the restructuring of the agricultural sector has had greater effects on women than men, with women exiting the sector to a greater degree or never entering it to begin with.
Optimal Design of Self-Adaptive Fingers for Proprioceptive Tactile Sensing
Authors: Belzile Bruno , Birglen Lionel
Published: June 2017

The sense of touch has always been challenging to replicate in robotics, but it can provide critical information when grasping objects. Nowadays, tactile sensing in artificial hands is usually limited to using external sensors which are typically costly, sensitive to disturbances, and impractical in certain applications. Alternative methods based on proprioceptive measurements exist to circumvent these issues but they are designed for fully actuated systems. Investigating this issue, the authors previously proposed a tactile sensing technique dedicated to underactuated, also known as self-adaptive, fingers based on measuring the stiffness of the mechanism as seen from the actuator. In this paper, a procedure to optimize the design of underactuated fingers in order to obtain the most accurate proprioceptive tactile data is presented. Since this tactile sensing algorithm is based on a one-to-one relationship between the contact location and the stiffness measured at the actuator, the accuracy of the former is optimized by maximizing the range of values of the latter, thereby minimizing the effect of an error on the stiffness estimation. The theoretical framework of the analysis is first presented, followed by the tactile sensing algorithm, and the optimization procedure itself. Finally, a novel design is proposed which includes a hidden proximal phalanx to overcome shortcomings in the sensing capabilities of the proposed method. This paper demonstrates that relatively simple modifications in the design of underactuated fingers allow to perform accurate tactile sensing without conventional external sensors.
Characterization of Thermal Striping in Liquid Sodium With Optical Fiber Sensors
Authors: Weathered Matthew , Rein Jordan , Anderson Mark , Brooks Paul , Coddington Bryan
Published: June 2017

This study characterized the magnitude, spatial profile, and frequency spectrum of thermal striping at a junction using a novel sodium-deployable optical fiber temperature sensor. Additionally, this study revealed for the first time the capability of performing cross correlation velocimetry (CCV) with an optical fiber to acquire fluid flow rates in a pipe. Optical fibers were encapsulated in stainless steel capillary tubes with an inert cover gas for high-temperature sodium deployment. Plots of temperature oscillation range as a function of two-dimensional space highlighted locations prone to mechanical failure for particular flow momentum ratios. The effect of inlet sodium temperature differential and bulk flow rate on thermal striping behavior was also explored. The power spectral density (PSD) revealed that the striping temperature oscillations occurred at frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 6 Hz. Finally, the bulk flow rate of liquid sodium was calculated from thermal striping's periodic temperature oscillations using cross correlation velocimetry for flow rates of 0.25–5.74 L/min.
Burnable Poison Design for Supercritical Water Cooled Reactor With Annular Fuel
Authors: Chuanqi Zhao , Kunpeng Wang , Liangzhi Cao , Youqi Zheng
Published: June 2017

Burnable poison (BP) is used to control excess reactivity in supercritical water cooled reactor (SCWR). It helps reduce the number of control rods. Over all BP designs, the design in which rare-earth oxide mixes with fuel is widely used in SCWR. BP has influence on fuel assembly neutronics performance. After comparing four kinds of rare-earth oxide, Er2O3 is chosen as BP for the annular fuel assembly. The effect of different BP loading patterns on assembly power distribution is analyzed. The safety of annular fuel assembly is estimated with different BP contents. Core performance with and without BP is compared. The results had shown that the core radial power peaking factor decreased after introducing BP. It was also shown that the core axial power peaking factor increased, and the power peak moved toward the top of the core. The reason of this effect was studied. Two optimizations were given based on this study: decreasing the temperature of lower plenum and increasing the gradients of axial enrichments. By applying these optimizations, core axial power peaking factor and maximum cladding surface temperature decreased.
The Effects of the Material's Exact Yield Point and Its Plastic Properties on the Safe Maximum Pressure of Gun Barrels
Authors: Perry J. , Perl M.
Published: June 2017

The design of a gun barrel aims at maximizing its firing power, determined by its safe maximum pressure (SMP)—the maximal allowed firing pressure—which is considerably enhanced by inducing a favorable residual stress field through the barrel's wall commonly by the autofrettage process. Presently, there are two distinct processes: hydrostatic and swage autofrettage. In both processes, the barrel's material is fully or partially plastically deformed. Recently, a 3D computer code has been developed, which finally enables a realistic simulation of both swage and hydraulic autofrettage processes, using the experimentally measured stress–strain curve and incorporating the Bauschinger effect. This code enables a detailed analysis of all the factors relating to the final SMP of a barrel and can be used to establish the optimal process for any gun-barrel design. A major outcome of this analysis was the fact that the SMP of an autofrettaged barrel is dictated by the detailed plastic characteristics on the barrel's material. The main five plastic parameters of the material that have been identified are: the exact (zero offset) value of the yield stress, the universal plastic curve in both tension and compression, the Bauschinger effect factor (BEF) curve, and the elastic–plastic transition range (EPTR). A detailed comparison between three similar barrel materials points to the fact that the major parameter determining the barrel's SMP is the yield stress of the material and that the best way to determine it is by the newly developed “zero offset” method. All other four parameters are found to have a greater influence on the SMP of a hydraulically autofrettaged barrel than on a swaged one. The simplicity of determining the zero offset yield stress will enable its use in any common elastic and elastoplastic problem instead of the present 0.1% or 0.2% yield stress methods.
Echocardiography as the first diagnostic clue to rapidly progressive systemic AL amyloidosis associated with multiple site thrombosis. A case report
Authors: Caloian Bogdan , Zdrenghea Dumitru , Man Sorin Claudiu , Costea Simona , Zdrenghea Mihnea , Pop Dana
Published: June 2017

AL-amyloidosis is a rare, but complex disease, with a severe prognosis, cardiac involvement being found in half of the patients. The rapid increase of the LV wall thickness predicts an unfavorable evolution. We report the case of a 63-year-old man diagnosed with AL-amyloidosis, with cardiac involvement, associated with multiple site thrombosis.  Specific echocardiographic methods like tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking provided crucial diagnostic and prognostic information.
In Vitro
Activity of the Siderophore Cephalosporin, Cefiderocol, against a Recent Collection of Clinically Relevant Gram-Negative Bacilli from North America and Europe, Including Carbapenem-Nonsusceptible Isolates (SIDERO-WT-2014 Study)
Authors: Hackel Meredith A. , Tsuji Masakatsu , Yamano Yoshinori , Echols Roger , Karlowsky James A. , Sahm Daniel F.
Published: June 2017

Cefiderocol (formerly S-649266) is an investigational siderophore cephalosporin. Iron-depleted cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth (ID-CAMHB) was prepared according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocol and used to perform broth microdilution testing of cefiderocol against a 2014-2015 collection of clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacilli from North America (
n
= 4,239) and Europe (
n
= 4,966). The concentrations of cefiderocol inhibiting 90% of isolates tested (MIC
90
s) were 0.5 μg/ml (North America;
n
= 3,007) and 1 μg/ml (Europe;
n
= 3,080) for all isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
; 1 μg/ml (North America;
n
= 30) and 4 μg/ml (Europe;
n
= 139) for meropenem-nonsusceptible (MIC ≥ 2 μg/ml) isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
; 0.5 μg/ml for both North American (
n
= 765) and European (
n
= 765) isolates of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
; 0.5 μg/ml (North America;
n
= 151) and 1 μg/ml (Europe;
n
= 202) for meropenem-nonsusceptible (MIC ≥ 4 μg/ml) isolates of
P. aeruginosa
; 1 μg/ml for both North American (
n
= 309) and European (
n
= 839) isolates of all
Acinetobacter baumannii
strains as well as for both North American (
n
= 173) and European (
n
= 595) isolates of meropenem-nonsusceptible
A. baumannii
; and 0.5μg/ml (North America;
n
= 152) and 0.25 μg/ml (Europe;
n
= 276) for isolates of
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
. MICs of cefiderocol were ≤4 μg/ml for 99.9% (6,078/6,087) of all
Enterobacteriaceae
, 97.0% (164/169) of meropenem-nonsusceptible
Enterobacteriaceae
, 99.9% (1,529/1,530) of all
P. aeruginosa
isolates, 100% (353/353) of meropenem-nonsusceptible
P. aeruginosa
isolates, 97.6% (1,120/1,148) of all
A. baumannii
isolates, 96.9% (744/768) of meropenem-nonsusceptible
A. baumannii
isolates, 100% of isolates of
S. maltophilia
(428/428) and 93.8% of isolates of
Burkholderia cepecia
(11/12). We conclude that cefiderocol demonstrated potent
in vitro
activity against a recent collection of clinical isolates of commonly encountered Gram-negative bacilli, including carbapenem-nonsusceptible isolates.