bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The economic and financial viability of sheltered employment centres
Authors: Gelashvili Vera , Aguilar Pastor Eva María , Segovia-Vargas María-Jesús , Camacho-Miñano Maria-del-Mar
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether sheltered employment centers (CEEs) which have a higher rate of professionalization of their managers have better economic returns than those that have a lower one.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire has been drawn up for their managers. After collecting the answers, an index of professionalization classifies the CEEs with managers of high, medium and low levels of professionalism. This index is then correlated with the main financial ratios of companies.

Findings

The results show that companies with the highest level of managers’ professionalization, on average, have higher economic returns than companies with medium and low rates, although the difference is not very high. This study is an important contribution to academic literature, as it is the first to examine the professionalization of CEE managers.

Research limitations/implications

Finally, this paper is not short of limitations. The number of responses is small but there are similar studies with similar response rates. Additionally, the scarcity of responses may suggest that there is a lack of interest about the utility of professionalization by some CEEs managers because, perhaps, they do not have the necessary competences to understand its importance in management.

Practical implications

This study has some main implications for stakeholders: first, CEEs must pay more attention to the professionalization of their management team, because professionalization can lead to meeting its goals and guaranteeing the firm’s growth. Second, training programs in skills and attitudes should be designed to strengthen these competencies. Moreover, managers of social firms should know that the establishment of strategic plans will be useful to identify new opportunities in the market.

Social implications

Given the important role of these social firms for the employment of people with disabilities, training programs should be promoted by government in order to ensure the professionalization of these companies.

Originality/value

This research is an important contribution to the literature on this subject because there are no studies about the level of professionalization of CEEs, companies that represent an important value for the economy of a country.
Fundamental solution of the system of equations of pseudo oscillations in the theory of thermoelastic diffusion materials with double porosity
Authors: Kansal Tarun
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper to construct the fundamental solution of partial differential equations in the generalized theory of thermoelastic diffusion materials with double porosity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper deals with the study of pseudo oscillations in the generalized theory of thermoelastic diffusion materials with double porosity.

Findings

The paper finds the fundamental solution of partial differential equations in terms of elementary functions.

Originality/value

Assuming the displacement vector, volume fraction fields, temperature change and chemical potential functions in terms of oscillation frequency in the governing equations, pseudo oscillations have been studied and finally the fundamental solution of partial differential equations in case of pseudo oscillations in terms of elementary functions has been constructed.
Approximate static aeroelastic analysis of composite wings
Authors: Kobelev Vladimir
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider divergence of composite plate wings as well as slender wings with thin-walled cross-section of small-size airplanes. The main attention is paid to establishing of closed-form mathematical solutions for models of wings with coupling effects. Simplified solutions for calculating the divergence speed of wings with different geometry are established.

Design/methodology/approach

The wings are modeled as anisotropic plate elements and thin-walled beams with closed cross-section. Two-dimensional plate-like models are applied to analysis and design problems for wings of large aspect ratio.

Findings

At first, the equations of elastic deformation for anisotropic slender, plate-like wing with the large aspect ratio are studied. The principal consideration is delivered to the coupled torsion-bending effects. The influence of anisotropic tailoring on the critical divergence speed of the wing is examined in closed form. At second, the method is extended to study the behavior of the large aspect ratio, anisotropic wing with box-like wings. The static equations of the wing with box-like profile are derived using the theory of anisotropic thin-walled beams with closed cross-section. The solutions for forward-swept wing with box-like profiles are given in analytical formulas. The formulas for critical divergence speed demonstrate the dependency upon cross-sectional shape characteristics and anisotropic properties of the wing.

Research limitations/implications

The following simplifications are used: the simplified aerodynamic theory for the wings of large aspect ratio was applied; the static aeroelastic instability is considered (divergence); according to standard component methodology, only the component of wing was modeled, but not the whole aircraft; the simplified theories (plate-lime model for flat section or thin-walled beam of closed-section) were applied; and a single parameter that defines the rotation of a stack of single layers over the face of the wing.

Practical implications

The simple, closed-form formulas for an estimation of critical static divergence are derived. The formulas are intended for use in designing of sport aircraft, gliders and small unmanned aircraft (drones). No complex analysis of airflow and advanced structural and aerodynamic models is necessary. The expression for chord length over the span of the wing allows for accounting a board class of wing shapes.

Social implications

The derived theory facilitates the use of composite materials for popular small-size aircraft, and particularly, for drones and gliders.

Originality/value

The closed-form solutions for thin-walled beams in steady gas flow are delivered in closed form. The explicit formulas for slender wings with variable chord and stiffness along the wing span are derived.
Spectral quasi-linearization method for Casson fluid with homogeneous heterogeneous reaction in presence of nonlinear thermal radiation over an exponential stretching sheet
Authors: Das Subrata , Mondal Hiranmoy , Kundu Prabir Kumar , Sibanda Precious
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The focus of the paper is only on the contributions toward the use of entropy generation of non-Newtonian Casson fluid over an exponential stretching sheet. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the entropy generation and homogeneous–heterogeneous reaction. Velocity and thermal slips are considered instead of no-slip conditions at the boundary.

Design/methodology/approach

Basic equations in form of partial differential equations are converted into a system of ordinary differential equations and then solved using the spectral quasi-linearization method (SQLM).

Findings

The validity of the model is established using error analysis. Variation of the velocity, temperature, concentration profiles and entropy generation against some of the governing parameters are presented graphically. It is to be noted that the increase in entropy generation due to increase in heterogeneous reaction parameter is due to the increase in heat transfer irreversibility. It is further noted that the Bejan number decreases with Brinkman number because increase in Brinkman number reduces the total entropy generation.

Originality/value

This paper acquires realistic numerical explanations for rapidly convergent temperature and concentration profiles using the SQLM. Convergence of the numerical solutions was monitored using the residual error of the PDEs. The resulting equations are then integrated using the SQLM. The influence of emergent flow, heat and mass transfer parameters effects are shown graphically.
Board-level vapor phase soldering (VPS) with different temperature and vacuum conditions
Authors: Huang Lijuan , Zhu Zhenghu , Wu Hiarui , Long Xu
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Vapor phase soldering (VPS), also known as condense soldering, is capable of improving the mechanical reliability of solder joints in electronic packaging structures. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present study, VPS is utilized to assemble two typical packaging types (i.e. ceramic column grid array (CCGA) and BGA) for electronic devices with lead-containing and lead-free solders. By applying the peak soldering temperatures of 215°C and 235°C with and without vacuum condition, the void formation and intermetallic compound (IMC) thickness are compared for different packaging structures with lead-containing and lead-free solder alloys.

Findings

It is found that at the soldering temperature of 215°C, CCGA under a vacuum condition has fewer voids but BGA without vacuum environment has fewer voids despite of the existence of lead in solder alloy. In light of contradictory phenomenon about void formation at 215°C, a similar CCGA device is soldered via VPS at the temperature of 235°C. Compared with the size of voids formed at 215°C, no obvious void is found for CCGA with vacuum at the soldering temperature of 235°C. No matter what soldering temperature and vacuum condition are applied, the IMC thickness of CCGA and BGA can satisfy the requirement of 1.0–3.0 µm. Therefore, it can be concluded that the soldering temperature of 235°C in vacuum is the optimal VPS condition for void elimination. In addition, shear tests at the rate of 10 mm/min are performed to examine the load resistance and potential failure mode. In terms of failure mode observed in shear tests, interfacial shear failure occurs between PCB and bulk solder and also within bulk solder for CCGA soldered at temperatures of 215°C and 235°C. This means that an acceptable thicker IMC thickness between CCGA solder and device provides greater interfacial strength between CCGA and device.

Originality/value

Due to its high I/O capacity and satisfactory reliability in electrical and thermal performance, CCGA electronic devices have been widely adopted in the military and aerospace fields. In the present study, the authors utilized VPS to assemble a typical type of CCGA with the control package of conventional BGA to investigate the relation between essential condition (i.e. soldering temperature and vacuum) to void formation.
Cover crops in arable lands increase functional complementarity and redundancy of bacterial communities
Authors: Alahmad Abdelrahman , Decocq Guillaume , Spicher Fabien , Kheirbeik Louay , Kobaissi Ahmad , Tetu Thierry , Dubois Frédéric , Duclercq Jérôme
Published: November 2018

Reducing the deleterious effects of intensive tillage and fertilization on ecosystem integrity and human health is challenging for sustainable agriculture. The use of cover crops has been advocated as a suitable technique for this purpose, but scientific evidence to support this has been scarce.

After four years and a complete rotation, including wheat, maize, and green pea as main crops in a ploughing system, we investigated the respective and combined effects of cover crops and nitrogen fertilization on soil chemical and biological properties using a controlled experiment combining soil chemical analyses, high‐throughput sequencing and community level physiological profiles.

Cover crops impeded the soil carbon and nitrogen depletion induced by intensive tillage, not only in the topsoil but also within deeper soil horizons, where more specialized bacterial communities established.

Cover crops induced a significant shift in soil bacterial community diversity and composition, which was associated with changes in soil chemical features and bacterial metabolic activities along the entire soil profile.

Cover crops enhanced soil resilience to nitrogen fertilization by increasing functional redundancy and complementarity within soil bacterial communities and across soil horizons.

Synthesis and applications. In the ploughing systems commonly used for intensive agriculture in Western Europe, the use of cover crops fosters a high functional diversity among soil bacteria and thus can help to achieve a more sustainable agriculture by reducing nitrogen fertilization while maintaining yields.
Corporate power in Australian policy making: The case of unfair contract laws
Authors: Edwards Lindy
Published: November 2018

There is increasing concern about the impact of corporate power on Australian policy making. This article examines the dynamics of corporate influence by examining the battle between big business and small business over “unfair contract” laws. It explores whether big business exerted disproportionate power, and if it did whether it was structural, ideational, or instrumental power. It finds that while recent scholarship has been focused on structural and ideational sources of power, there is strong evidence of a narrowly conceived instrumental power exerting considerable influence within both of the major parties. Further, it concludes this form of instrumental power presents the most serious threat to democratic policy making.
Baicalin, Baicalein, and Lactobacillus Rhamnosus JB3 Alleviated Helicobacter pylori Infections in Vitro and in Vivo
Authors: Chen Mu‐En , Su Chiu‐Hsian , Yang Jai‐Sing , Lu Chi‐Cheng , Hou Yu‐Chi , Wu Jin‐Bin , Hsu Yuan‐Man
Published: November 2018

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. The flavonoid compounds baicalin and baicalein found in many medicinal plants exhibit an anti‐inflammatory effect. The administration of Lactobacillus strains reducing the risk of H. pylori infection is well accepted. In this study, the therapeutic effects against H. pylori infection of baicalin, baicalein, and L. rhamnosus JB3 (LR‐JB3), isolated from a dairy product, were investigated. Compared to baicalin, baicalein exhibited stronger anti‐H. pylori activity and cytotoxicity on human gastric cancer epithelial AGS cells. Baicalin and baicalein both suppressed the vacA gene expression of H. pylori and interfered with the adhesion and invasion ability of H. pylori to AGS cells, as well as decreased H. pylori‐induced interleukin (IL)‐8 expression. In the mice infection model, high dosages of baicalin and baicalein inhibited H. pylori growth in the mice stomachs. Serum IL‐1β levels and H. pylori‐specific serum IgM and IgA levels in mice treated with baicalin and baicalein were decreased. Moreover, a synergistic therapeutic effect of baicalein and LR‐JB3 on eradicating H. pylori infections was observed. Thus, administrating baicalin, baicalein, or LR‐JB3 for an H. pylori infection could offer similar therapeutic effects to administering antibiotics while not disturbing the balance of gut microbiota. This study revealed the effects of baicalin, baicalein, and LR‐JB3 on attenuating the virulence of H. pylori. The synergistic effect with baicalein and LR‐JB3 provides the experimental rationale for testing the reliability, safety, and efficacy of this approach in higher animals and perhaps ultimately in humans to eradicate H. pylori infections.

Practical Application

Baicalin and baicalein exert health promotion and avoidance of H. pylori infections by interfering with H. pylori growth and virulence. Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB3 was used to reduce the gastric inflammation caused by H. pylori infection.
Thymic inflammatory pseudotumor with multilocular thymic cyst caused by immunoglobulin G4‐related disease
Authors: Oda Risa , Okuda Katsuhiro , Murase Takayuki , Watanabe Takuya , Sakane Tadashi , Tatematsu Tsutomu , Yokota Keisuke , Haneda Hiroshi , Nakanishi Ryoichi
Published: November 2018

A 44‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital after an anterior mediastinal tumor was noted on computed tomography during follow‐up observation after left testicular seminoma resection. Chest computed tomography revealed an enhanced mass measuring 33 x 16 x 15 mm at the anterior mediastinum. Chest magnetic resonance imaging revealed high signal intensity on T2‐weighted imaging, and F18 fluorodeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography showed a maximum standardized uptake of 12.45. Laboratory tests revealed no elevated tumor markers, except for mildly elevated interleukin‐2. Based on these results, complete resection was performed under suspicion of a malignant tumor, mediastinal metastasis of seminoma, or malignant lymphoma. An extended thymectomy with partial merger pericardial resection was performed using a subxiphoid approach. Small nodules and multiple thymic cysts were observed the thymus in addition to the main mass. Microscopic examination of the tumor revealed fibrosis, lymphocyte infiltration with lymphoid follicular hyperplasia, and hyperplasia of the thymus. Numerous immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)‐positive plasma cells were found on immunohistochemical staining. The ratio of IgG4 to total IgG was approximately 60%. We ultimately diagnosed the patient with a thymic inflammatory pseudotumor with multilocular cyst caused by IgG4‐related disease.
Shifts in the functional topography of frontal cortex‐striatum connectivity in alcohol use disorder
Authors: Gerchen Martin Fungisai , Rentsch Alena , Kirsch Martina , Kiefer Falk , Kirsch Peter
Published: November 2018

Frontostriatal circuits are centrally involved in the selection of behavioral programs and play a prominent role in alcohol use disorder (AUD) as well as other mental disorders. However, how frontal regions change their striatal connectivity to implement adaptive cognitive control is still not fully understood. Here, we developed an approach for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) connectivity analysis in which we change the focus from connectivity to individual voxels towards spatial information about the location of strongest functional connectivity. In resting state data of n = 66 participants with AUD and n = 40 healthy controls (HC) we used the approach to estimate frontostriatal connectivity gradients consistent with nonhuman primate tract‐tracing studies, characterized for each frontal voxel the striatal peak connectivity location on this gradient (PeaCoG), and tested for group differences and associations with clinical variables. We identified a cluster in the right orbitofrontal cortex (rOFC) with a peak connectivity shift towards ventral striatal regions in AUD. Reduced variability of rOFC striatal peak connectivity in the AUD group suggests a “clamping” to the ventral striatum as the underlying effect. Within the AUD group striatal peak connectivity in the superior frontal gyrus was associated with self‐efficacy to abstain from alcohol, in the medial frontal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with alcohol dependency, and in the right inferior frontal gyrus with the urge to consume alcohol. Our results demonstrate that the functional topography of frontostriatal circuits exhibits interindividual variability, which provides insight into frontostriatal network adaptations in AUD and potentially other mental disorders.
Zonal and azonal vegetation revisited: How is wetland vegetation distributed across different zonobiomes
Authors: Sieben Erwin J.J.
Published: November 2018

In ‘zonal’ vegetation, climatic factors are the main influence on growth and performance and the climate determines the vegetation type completely, which makes this vegetation dominant in the landscape. If vegetation is ‘azonal’ however, local stresses are assumed to have an overwhelming influence on plant performance and climatic influences will be minimal; typically, this vegetation occurs only in small patches in the landscape. In this study I ask whether wetland plant communities, as they are described for South Africa, are evenly distributed among different terrestrial vegetation types, to test whether they are zonal or azonal. Three contingency tables were construed based on the counts of wetland vegetation records, defined on three hierarchical levels (Main Clusters, Community Groups and Community) and their occurrence in the country (at the level of Biome, Bioregion and terrestrial vegetation type). An ‘azonality index’ was calculated as the sum of all Chi‐square values for each wetland vegetation type divided by the total number of records. The overall correlation between hydroperiod and the azonality index was very weak. At the finest level, terrestrial vegetation types were clustered on the basis of having similar combinations of wetland community types. Eighteen different ‘wetland ecoregions’ have been defined, on the basis of wetland vegetation types occurring within them. Instead of regarding wetland vegetation as azonal, it should rather be regarded as ‘intrazonal’, meaning that climate does have an impact but many vegetation types are widespread across climatic regions. The reason why community types in wetlands are widespread is due to the monodominance of a single widespread, often clonal, species. The different wetland ecoregions do not correspond to terrestrial biomes, so it is expected that wetland vegetation responds differently to climate than terrestrial vegetation.
Fibreoptic‐guided tracheal intubation through i‐gel® and LMA® ProtectorTM supraglottic airway devices ‐ a randomised comparison
Authors: Mendonca C. , Tourville C. C. , Jefferson H. , Nowicka A. , Patteril M. , Athanassoglou V.
Published: November 2018

Fibreoptic‐guided tracheal intubation using a supraglottic airway device as a conduit is a technique that can be used in anticipated and unanticipated difficult airway management. Although the i‐gel® supraglottic airway device has been examined for this purpose, the LMA® ProtectorTM, a recently introduced second‐generation supraglottic airway device, has not been evaluated for this use in clinical trials. This prospective, randomised clinical trial compared fibreoptic‐guided tracheal intubation via i‐gel and LMA Protector supraglottic airway devices in two UK hospitals. Patients who were ASA physical status 1 or 2 and undergoing elective surgery requiring tracheal intubation were recruited to the study. A block randomisation list was generated for each study site. The primary outcome measure was time to successful tracheal intubation and secondary outcomes were tracheal intubation success rate, glottic view through flexible fibrescope, ease of tracheal intubation using operator visual analogue score, supraglottic airway device insertion time and insertion success rate. Ninety patients were randomly allocated to each device, and final data analysis was carried out for 92 patients in the i‐gel group and 86 patients in the LMA Protector group. Mean (SD) tracheal intubation time in the i‐gel and LMA Protector groups were 54.3 (13.8) s and 52.0 (13.0) s, respectively (p = 0.240). There were no significant differences in tracheal intubation success rate, glottic view and ease of tracheal intubation between the two groups. This study demonstrates that the LMA Protector supraglottic airway device is comparable to the i‐gel supraglottic airway device as a conduit for fibreoptic‐guided tracheal intubation.
Fibrinogen concentrate vs. fresh frozen plasma for the management of coagulopathy during thoraco‐abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery: a pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: Morrison G. A. , Koch J. , Royds M. , McGee D. , Chalmers R. T. A. , Anderson J. , Nimmo A. F.
Published: November 2018

Major vascular surgery is frequently associated with significant blood loss and coagulopathy. Existing evidence suggests hypofibrinogenaemia develops earlier than other haemostatic deficiencies during major blood loss. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the use of an infusion of fibrinogen concentrate to prevent and treat hypofibrinogenaemia during surgery resulted in satisfactory haemostasis, removing or reducing the need for blood component transfusion. Twenty patients undergoing elective extent‐4 thoraco‐abdominal aortic aneurysm repair were randomly allocated to receive either fresh frozen plasma or fibrinogen concentrate to treat hypofibrinogenaemia during surgery. Coagulation was assessed during and after surgery by point‐of‐care and laboratory testing, respectively, and treatment was guided by pre‐defined transfusion triggers. Despite blood losses of up to 11,800 ml in the patients who received the fibrinogen concentrate, none required fresh frozen plasma during surgery, and only two required platelet transfusions. The median (IQR [range]) allogeneic blood component administration during surgery and in the first 24 h postoperatively was 22.5 (14–28 [2–41]) units in patients allocated to fresh frozen plasma vs. 4.5 (3–11[0–17]) in patients allocated to fibrinogen concentrate (p = 0.011). All patients in both groups were assessed by the surgeon to have satisfactory haemostasis at the end of surgery. Mean (SD) postoperative fibrinogen concentrations were similar in patients allocated to fresh frozen plasma and fibrinogen concentrate (1.6 (0.3) g.l−1 vs. 1.6 (0.2) g.l−1; p = 0.36) but the mean (SD) international normalised ratio and activated partial thromboplastin time ratio were lower in patients allocated to fresh frozen plasma (1.1 (0.1) vs. 1.8 (0.3); p < 0.0001 and 1.1 (0.2) vs. 1.7 (0.5); p = 0.032, respectively). Fibrinogen concentrate may be used as an alternative to fresh frozen plasma in the treatment of coagulopathy during thoraco‐abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
Sustained virologic response rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 6 treated with ledipasvir+sofosbuvir or sofosbuvir+velpatasvir
Authors: Nguyen Emily , Trinh Sam , Trinh Huy , Nguyen Huy , Nguyen Khanh , Do Aivien , Levitt Brian , Do Son , Nguyen My , Purohit Treta , Shieh Eugenie , Nguyen Mindie H.
Published: November 2018

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6 (GT 6) is the predominant genotype among certain Asian populations. The availability of newer DAA options is limited in many parts of Asia.

Aim

To compare sustained virologic response (SVR‐12) rates between ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (LDV+SOF) and velpatasvir+SOF (SOF+VEL) for patients with HCVGT6 infection.

Method

Retrospective study of consecutive adult HCVGT6 patients identified via ICD 9 code: 070.5 from United States treatment centers. Treatment was LDV+SOF or SOF+VEL for 8‐24 weeks. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) on HCV RNA, cirrhosis, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, platelets, and fibrosis score was conducted among the treatment‐naïve HCVGT6 patients to balance groups and isolate treatment effects.

Results

After exclusion criteria, 149 patients remained (n = 135 treatment‐naïve; n = 14 treatment‐experienced). The mean age was 63.8 ± 10.2 years, 66.9% male, and 93.9% Vietnamese. In treatment‐naïve arm, 52.2% LDV+SOF cohort were cirrhotic compared to 11.6% SOF+VEL cohort (P < 0.0001). SVR‐12 for LDV+SOF was 96.4% and 100% for the SOF+VEL cohort (P = 0.22). SVR‐12 for cirrhotic patients was 95.4% (n = 41/43) for LDV+SOF and 100.0% (n = 5/5) for SOF+VEL (P = 0.62). After PSM (n = 33 per group), LDV+SOF SVR‐12 rate was 97.0% compared to SOF+VEL SVR‐12 of 100% (P = 0.31). The treatment‐experienced group (n = 14), were all treated with LDV+SOF with an SVR‐12 of 92.3%.

Conclusion

Whether treatment‐naïve, treatment‐experienced, or cirrhotic patients with HCV GT 6 residing in the US had excellent outcomes when treated with SOF+VEL or LDV+SOF. Since LDV+SOF is more readily available globally, our results may provide clinicians with a treatment option when cost and availability limit the treatment choice.
Review article: the pharmacological causes of colon ischaemia
Authors: Vodusek Ziga , Feuerstadt Paul , Brandt Lawrence J.
Published: November 2018

Background

Colon ischaemia is the most common ischaemic disorder of the gastrointestinal system, can affect any segment of the colon, and may present with a range of symptoms. Diagnosis can be challenging due to symptom overlap with other conditions, varied aetiology, and often rapid and self‐resolving course.

Aim

To review comprehensively the literature regarding the pharmacological aetiologies of colonic ischaemia to enhance the understanding of the various mechanisms of disease, presentations, distribution, and outcomes.

Methods

A PubMed search for “colon ischaemia” and “ischaemic colitis” alone as well as in combination with various known pharmacologic causes was performed. Only the highest quality and relevant literature was included in this review. The quality of the literature for each association was rated by the authors and a consensus was made when discrepancies were encountered. Only associations that were deemed “moderate” or “strong” were included.

Results

The literature considering pharmacologically associated colonic ischaemia is diverse, lacks codification and is characterised by numerous case reports and case series. Constipation‐inducing drugs, digoxin, hormonal therapies, illicit drugs, immunomodulators, laxatives, and NSAIDs were strongly associated with colonic ischaemia. Antimicrobials, appetite suppressants, chemotherapies, decongestants, diuretics, ergot alkaloids, serotonin agents, statins, and vasopressor agents were moderately associated.

Conclusions

Patients presenting with abdominal pain, diarrhoea, or bloody stool need to be evaluated for the possibility of this condition and treated accordingly. Timely diagnosis is necessary to improve patient outcomes. This review aims to increase awareness among clinicians regarding the presentation of pharmacologically induced colonic ischaemia.
Impact of graft‐versus‐lymphoma effect on outcomes after reduced intensity conditioned‐alemtuzumab allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with mature lymphoid malignancies
Authors: Brierley Charlotte K. , Jones Francesca M. , Hanlon Katharine , Peniket Andy J. , Hatton Chris , Collins Graham P. , Schuh Anna , Medd Patrick , Clark Andrew , Ward Janice , Chaganti Sridar , Malladi Ram , Parker Anne , Craddock Charles , Danby Robert , Rocha Vanderson
Published: November 2018

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo‐HSCT) offers potentially curative therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoid malignancies. Reduced‐intensity conditioning (RIC) with Alemtuzumab reduces transplant‐related mortality and graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD), but may be associated with increased risk of relapse. With the aim of studying the effect of GVHD and donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) on relapse, we performed a retrospective study of 288 patients (57% non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, 24% Hodgkin lymphoma and 19% chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; 58% were relapsed/refractory) who underwent RIC‐Alemtuzumab‐HSCT between 2000 and 2012. Median follow‐up time for survivors was 64 months. Five‐year overall survival, relapse incidence, GvHD/relapse‐free survival and non‐relapse mortality were 47%, 33%, 37% and 28% respectively. Cumulative incidence of grade II‐IV acute and extensive chronic GvHD was 22% and 21% at 100 days and 5 years respectively. On multivariate analysis, presence of GvHD (P = 0·03) and unrelated donor type (P = 0·03) were protective of relapse. 62/288 patients received DLI for either mixed donor chimerism (prophylactic DLI, n = 37) or clinical relapse (therapeutic DLI, n = 25). Prophylactic and therapeutic DLI successfully converted the patient to full or stable mixed donor chimerism in 78% and 56% of patients respectively. These data demonstrate good long‐term outcomes and support the concept of the graft‐vs‐lymphoma effect as a key protective factor against relapse following RIC‐Alemtuzumab allo‐HSCT for patients with mature lymphoid malignancies.
Cancer specific survival in patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Brunson Ann , Keegan Theresa H. M. , Mahajan Anjlee , Paulukonis Susan , Wun Ted
Published: November 2018

Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients have a higher incidence of certain cancers, but no studies have determined the impact of cancer on survival among SCD patients. SCD patients (n = 6423), identified from state‐wide hospitalisation data, were linked to the California Cancer Registry (1988–2014). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine survival. Among SCD patients, a cancer diagnosis was associated with a 3‐fold increased hazard of death. Compared to matched cancer patients without SCD, SCD was associated with worse overall survival, but not cancer‐specific survival, suggesting that SCD cancer patients should be treated with similar therapeutic intent.
Prophylactic donor lymphocyte infusion after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in acute leukaemia – a matched pair analysis by the Acute Leukaemia Working Party of EBMT
Authors: Schmid Christoph , Labopin Myriam , Schaap Nicolaas , Veelken Hendrik , Schleuning Michael , Stadler Michael , Finke Juergen , Hurst Erin , Baron Frederic , Ringden Olle , Bug Gesine , Blaise Didier , Tischer Johanna , Bloor Adrian , Esteve Jordi , Giebel Sebastian , Savani Bipin , Gorin Norbert‐Claude , Ciceri Fabio , Mohty Mohamad , Nagler Arnon ,   on behalf of the EBMT Acute Leukaemia Working Party
Published: November 2018

Strategies for relapse prevention after allogeneic transplantation in acute leukaemia are warranted. A registry‐based matched‐pair analysis evaluated the efficacy of prophylactic donor lymphocyte infusion (proDLI). Adults receiving proDLI in complete remission (CR) and controls were pair‐matched for age, diagnosis, cytogenetics, stage, donor, gender, conditioning and T‐cell depletion. Eighty‐nine pairs were identified (median follow‐up: 6.9 years). Within the entire cohort, no difference was observed. However, among patients with high‐risk acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) (unfavourable cytogenetics and/or transplanted beyond first CR), proDLI recipients had improved overall survival (69.8% vs. 40.2% in controls, P = 0.027). ProDLI has moderate efficacy, but can contribute to improved outcome in high‐risk AML.
High‐resolution proglacial lake records of pre‐Little Ice Age glacier advance, northeast Greenland
Authors: Adamson Kathryn , Lane Timothy , Carney Matthew , Bishop Thomas , Delaney Cathy
Published: November 2018

Understanding Arctic glacier sensitivity is key to predicting future response to air temperature rise. Previous studies have used proglacial lake sediment records to reconstruct Holocene glacier advance–retreat patterns in South and West Greenland, but high‐resolution glacier records from High Arctic Greenland are scarce, despite the sensitivity of this region to future climate change. Detailed geochemical analysis of proglacial lake sediments close to Zackenberg, northeast Greenland, provides the first high‐resolution record of Late Holocene High Arctic glacier behaviour. Three phases of glacier advance have occurred in the last 2000 years. The first two phases (c. 1320–800 cal. a BP) occurred prior to the Little Ice Age (LIA), and correspond to the Dark Ages Cold Period and the Medieval Climate Anomaly. The third phase (c. 700 cal. a BP), representing a smaller scale glacier oscillation, is associated with the onset of the LIA. Our results are consistent with recent evidence of pre‐LIA glacier advance in other parts of the Arctic, including South and West Greenland, Svalbard, and Canada. The sub‐millennial glacier fluctuations identified in the Madsen Lake succession are not preserved in the moraine record. Importantly, coupled XRF and XRD analysis has effectively identified a phase of ice advance that is not visible by sedimentology alone. This highlights the value of high‐resolution geochemical analysis of lake sediments to establish rapid glacier advance–retreat patterns in regions where chronological and morphostratigraphical control is limited.
Emerging threats and persistent conservation challenges for freshwater biodiversity
Authors: Reid Andrea J. , Carlson Andrew K. , Creed Irena F. , Eliason Erika J. , Gell Peter A. , Johnson Pieter T. J. , Kidd Karen A. , MacCormack Tyson J. , Olden Julian D. , Ormerod Steve J. , Smol John P. , Taylor William W. , Tockner Klement , Vermaire Jesse C. , Dudgeon David , Cooke Steven J.
Published: November 2018

In the 12 years since Dudgeon et al. (2006) reviewed major pressures on freshwater ecosystems, the biodiversity crisis in the world's lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams and wetlands has deepened. While lakes, reservoirs and rivers cover only 2.3% of the Earth's surface, these ecosystems host at least 9.5% of the Earth's described animal species. Furthermore, using the World Wide Fund for Nature's Living Planet Index, freshwater population declines (83% between 1970 and 2014) continue to outpace contemporaneous declines in marine or terrestrial systems. The Anthropocene has brought multiple new and varied threats that disproportionately impact freshwater systems. We document 12 emerging threats to freshwater biodiversity that are either entirely new since 2006 or have since intensified: (i) changing climates; (ii) e‐commerce and invasions; (iii) infectious diseases; (iv) harmful algal blooms; (v) expanding hydropower; (vi) emerging contaminants; (vii) engineered nanomaterials; (viii) microplastic pollution; (ix) light and noise; (x) freshwater salinisation; (xi) declining calcium; and (xii) cumulative stressors. Effects are evidenced for amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, microbes, plants, turtles and waterbirds, with potential for ecosystem‐level changes through bottom‐up and top‐down processes. In our highly uncertain future, the net effects of these threats raise serious concerns for freshwater ecosystems. However, we also highlight opportunities for conservation gains as a result of novel management tools (e.g. environmental flows, environmental DNA) and specific conservation‐oriented actions (e.g. dam removal, habitat protection policies, managed relocation of species) that have been met with varying levels of success. Moving forward, we advocate hybrid approaches that manage fresh waters as crucial ecosystems for human life support as well as essential hotspots of biodiversity and ecological function. Efforts to reverse global trends in freshwater degradation now depend on bridging an immense gap between the aspirations of conservation biologists and the accelerating rate of species endangerment.
Clinical outcomes of carbon‐ion radiotherapy for locally advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Hayashi Kazuhiko , Yamamoto Naoyoshi , Nakajima Mio , Nomoto Akihiro , Tsuji Hiroshi , Ogawa Kazuhiko , Kamada Tadashi
Published: November 2018

The efficacy and safety of carbon‐ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for locally advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer (LA‐NSCLC) remain unclear. We reported the clinical outcomes of CIRT for LA‐NSCLC. Data for 141 eligible patients who received CIRT between 1995 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Local control (LC), locoregional control (LRC), progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan‐Meier method. The median age was 75.0 years. Overall, 21 (14.9%), 57 (40.4%), 43 (30.5%) and 20 (14.2%) patients had T1, T2, T3 and T4 disease, respectively. Moreover, 51 (36.2%), 45 (31.9%), 40 (28.4%) and 5 (3.5%) patients had N0, N1, N2 and N3 disease, respectively. Furthermore, 34 (24.1%), 42 (29.8%), 45 (31.9%) and 20 (14.2%) patients had stages IIA, IIB, IIIA and ΙΙΙB disease, respectively. Overall, 62 (44.0%), 60 (42.6%), 8 (5.7%) and 11 (7.8%) patients had adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and others, respectively. The median dose was 72.0 Gy (relative biological effectiveness). No patient received concurrent chemotherapy. Median follow‐up periods were 29.3 (1.6‐207.7) and 40.0 (10.7‐207.7) months for all patients and survivors, respectively. Two‐year LC, PFS and OS rates were 80.3%, 40.2% and 58.7%, respectively. Overall, 1 (0.7%), 5 (3.5%) and 1 (0.7%) patient developed Grades 4 (mediastinal hemorrhage), 3 (radiation pneumonitis) and 3 (bronchial fistula) toxicities, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed adenocarcinoma and N2/3 classification as significant poor prognosticators of PFS. CIRT is an effective treatment with acceptable toxicity for LA‐NSCLC, especially for elderly patients or patients with severe comorbidities who cannot be treated with surgery or chemoradiotherapy.
Suitability of MMGBSA for the selection of correct ligand binding modes from docking results
Authors: Ahinko Mira , Niinivehmas Sanna , Jokinen Elmeri , Pentikäinen Olli T.
Published: November 2018

The estimation of the correct binding mode and affinity of a ligand into a target protein using computational methods is challenging. However, docking can introduce poses from which the correct binding mode could be identified using other methods. Here, we analyzed the reliability of binding energy estimation using the molecular mechanics‐generalized Born surface area (MMGBSA) method without and with energy minimization to identify the likely ligand binding modes within docking results. MMGBSA workflow (a) outperformed docking in recognizing the correct binding modes of androgen receptor ligands and (b) improved the correlation coefficient of computational and experimental results of rescored docking poses to phosphodiesterase 4B. Combined with stability and atomic distance analysis, MMGBSA helped to (c) identify the binding modes and sites of metabolism of cytochrome P450 2A6 substrates. The standard deviation of estimated binding energy within one simulation was lowered by minimization in all three example cases. Minimization improved the identification of the correct binding modes of androgen receptor ligands. Although only three case studies are shown, the results are analogous and indicate that these behaviors could be generalized. Such identified binding modes could be further used, for example, with free energy perturbation methods to understand binding energetics more accurately.
Disseminated trichosporonosis with atypical histologic findings in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Galligan Eloise R. , Fix Lindsey , Husain Sameera , Zachariah Philip , Yamashiro Darrell J. , Lauren Christine T.
Published: November 2018

We report a case of disseminated Trichosporon asahii in a patient on systemic antifungal therapy who presented with multiple cutaneous nodules suggestive of fungal infection. Histologic features resembled neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis but staining with periodic acid‐Schiff and Gomori methenamine silver confirmed the clinical diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of maintaining suspicion for trichosporonosis and contextualizing histologic findings within the underlying clinical picture.
Juvenile hormone as a physiological regulator mediating phenotypic plasticity in pancrustaceans
Authors: Miura Toru
Published: November 2018

Phenotypic plasticity and polyphenism, in which phenotypes can be changed depending on environmental conditions, are common in insects. Several studies focusing on physiological, developmental, and molecular processes underlying the plastic responses have revealed that similar endocrine mechanisms using juvenile hormone (JH) are used to coordinate the flexible developmental processes. This review discusses accumulated knowledge on the caste polyphenism in social insects (especially termites), the wing and the reproductive polyphenisms in aphids, and the nutritional polyphenism and sexual dimorphism in stag beetles. For the comparison with non‐insect arthropods, extensive studies on the inducible defense (and reproductive polyphenism) in daphnids (crustacean) are also addressed. In all the cases, JH (and methyl farnesoate in daphnids) plays a central role in mediating environmental stimuli with morphogenetic processes. Since the synthetic pathways for juvenoids, i.e., the mevalonate pathway and downstream pathways to sesquiterpenoids, are conserved across pancrustacean lineages (crustaceans and hexapods including insects), the evolution of developmental regulation by juvenoids that control molting (ecdysis) and metamorphosis is suggested to have occurred in the ancestral arthropods. The discontinuous postembryonic development (i.e., molting) and the regulatory physiological factors (juvenoids) would have enabled plastic developmental systems observed in many arthropod lineages.
Photoperiod–temperature phase lag: A universal environmental context of seasonal developmental plasticity
Authors: Kudoh Hiroshi
Published: November 2018

Seasonal developmental plasticity, which consists of season‐dependent alternations of developmental processes, has evolved to produce optimal phenotypes depending on specific periods in a year. For example, many phenological events in plants, such as flowering, fruiting, bud blast, bud formation, and growth cessation, are often controlled seasonally. Although temperature and photoperiod are the two major seasonal cues for such responses, the importance of phase lag between annual oscillations of the two signals has been unexplored, despite its universal nature in the context of seasonal environments. In this article, the phase‐lag calendar hypothesis (New Phytologist, 210, 2016, 399), especially the one between temperature and photoperiod, is explained using meteorological data obtained from central Japan as an example. We set forth to show how, for a narrow window in time of a couple of weeks in a year, simple threshold responses to these two signals that differ in annual oscillation phases are enough to make developmental plasticity to be expressed as phenological events. The properties of the underlying mechanisms of the events in different seasons are further predicted, and the responses are compared with reported empirical examples. Because many organisms have evolved under the phase lag between photoperiod and temperature, the developmental plasticity in response to the phase lag should be evaluated for diverse organisms.
Effect of root density of wheat and okra on hydraulic properties of an unsaturated compacted loam
Authors: Chen Rui , Huang Jun Wen , Chen Zhong Kui , Xu Ying , Liu Jian , Ge Yun Hui
Published: November 2018

Root‐induced changes of soil hydraulic properties, that is soil water retention curve (SWRC) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K(ψ)), depend on plant species and root density. This study aimed to investigate the effects of wheat roots and okra roots on both SWRC andK(ψ) of soil within an extended range of matric potential (−300 ~ 0 kPa) and to investigate the effects of root density of wheat (i.e. grass species) and okra (i.e. shrub species) on SWRC andK(ψ) of a loamy soil. The SWRC andK(ψ) of soil planted with wheat and okra were measured by the simplified evaporation method. Soil matric potential was measured directly by high‐capacity tensiometers. Different root densities were obtained by establishing different seeding densities in the soil. Meanwhile, root characteristics in planted soil were obtained using image analysis. The results showed that wheat‐ and okra‐planted soil had significantly larger volumetric water content (VWC) within the range of matric potential from −90 to 0 kPa than that of unplanted soil. Within the range of matric potential from around −300 to −90 kPa, the effects of wheat and okra roots on SWRC were not significant. The effects of wheat and okra roots onK(ψ) were not significant within the range of matric potential from around −300 to −10 kPa. Wheat‐planted soil with a root length density (RLD) of 10.04 cm cm−3had larger values of VWC (ψ = 0, −33, −50 kPa) than those of wheat‐planted soil with RLD of 2.69 cm cm−3. The difference in hydraulic properties between okra‐planted soil and the two RLDs, 0.89 and 2.96 cm cm−3, was not significant. Okra roots were more effective in increasing saturated water content (θs) and field capacity (θfc) than wheat roots. This might be because okra roots are relatively coarser than wheat roots.

Highlights

Effect of root density of wheat and okra on SWRC andK(ψ) was investigated.

TheK(ψ) of soil planted with wheat and okra was measured at matric potentials less than −100 kPa.

Okra roots were more effective in increasingθsandθfcthan wheat roots.

Effect of wheat and okra roots onK(ψ) was not significant at matric potentials from −300 to −10 kPa.