bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical Loading of the Femoral Neck in Human Locomotion
Authors: Kersh Mariana E , Martelli Saulo , Zebaze Roger , Seeman Ego , Pandy Marcus G
Published: June 2018

Advancing age and reduced loading are associated with a reduction in bone formation. Conversely, loading increases periosteal apposition and may reduce remodeling imbalance and slow age-related bone loss, an important outcome for the proximal femur, which is a common site of fracture. The ability to take advantage of bone's adaptive response to increase bone strength has been hampered by a lack of knowledge of which exercises and specific leg muscles load the superior femoral neck: a common region of microcrack initiation and progression following a sideways fall. We used an in vivo method of quantifying focal strains within the femoral neck in postmenopausal women during walking, stair ambulation, and jumping. Relative to walking, stair ambulation and jumping induced significantly higher strains in the anterior and superior aspects of the femoral neck, common regions of microcrack initiation and progression following a fall. The gluteus maximus, a hip extensor muscle, induced strains in the femoral neck during stair ambulation and jumping, in contrast to walking which induced strains via the iliopsoas, a hip flexor. The ground reaction force was closely associated with the level of strain during each task, providing a surrogate indicator of the potential for a given exercise to load the femoral neck. The gluteal muscles combined with an increased ground reaction force relative to walking induce high focal strains within the anterosuperior region of the femoral neck and therefore provide a target for exercise regimens designed to slow bone loss and maintain or improve microstructural strength. Model files used for calculating femoral neck strains are available at uitbl.mechse.illinois.edu/downloads © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Abstract

In vivo gait and computed tomography data were used to develop subject specific models (n = 20) of femoral strain during locomotive tasks. Stair usage increased strain, compared to walking, within the superior aspect of the femoral neck via use of the gluteal and vasti muscles.
Tsc1 Regulates the Balance Between Osteoblast and Adipocyte Differentiation Through Autophagy/Notch1/β-Catenin Cascade
Authors: Choi Han Kyoung , Yuan Hebao , Fang Fang , Wei Xiaoxi , Liu Lu , Li Qing , Guan Jun-Lin , Liu Fei
Published: June 2018

A reduction in trabecular bone mass is often associated with an increase in marrow fat in osteoporotic bones. The molecular mechanisms underlying this inverse correlation are incompletely understood. Here, we report that mice lacking tuberous sclerosis 1 (Tsc1) in Osterix-expressing cells had a significant decrease in trabecular bone mass characterized by decreased osteoblastogenesis, increased osteoclastogenesis, and increased bone marrow adiposity in vivo. In vitro study showed that Tsc1-deficient bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) had decreased proliferation, decreased osteogenic differentiation, and increased adipogenic differentiation in association with the downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Mechanistically, TSC1 deficiency led to autophagy suppression and consequent Notch1 protein increase, which mediated the GSK3β-independent β-catenin degradation. Together, our results indicate that Tsc1 controls the balance between osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation of BMSCs. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Orchestrating a biomarker panel with lncRNAs and mRNAs for predicting survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wu Yingcheng , Wei Jinhuan , Ming Yue , Chen Zhanghao , Yu Jinzhong , Mao Renfang , Chen Hao , Zhou Guoxiong , Fan Yihui
Published: June 2018

The low survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) makes the treatment of this disease one of the most challenging task in modern medicine. Here, by mining a large‐scale cancer genome atlas data set of pancreatic cancer tissues, we identified 21 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that significantly associated with overall survival in patients with PDAC (P < .01). Further analysis revealed that 8 lncRNAs turned out to be independently correlated with patients’ overall survival, and the risk score could be calculated based on their expression. To obtain a better predicting power, we integrated lncRNA data with a total of 410 differently expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs) screened from PDAC and normal tissues in gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. The integration resulted in a much better panel including 8 lncRNAs (RP3.470B24.5, CTA.941F9.9, RP11.557H15.3, LINC00960, AP000479.1, LINC00635, LINC00636, and AC073133.1) and 8 mRNAs (DHRS9, ONECUT1, OR8D4, MT1M, TCN1, MMP9, DPYSL3, and TTN) to predict prognosis. A functional evaluation showed that these lncRNAs might play roles in pancreatic secretion, cell adhesion, and proteolysis. Using normal and pancreatic cancer cell lines, we confirmed that a majority of identified lncRNAs and mRNAs showed altered expressions in pancreatic cancer cells. Especially, LINC01589, LINC00960, TCN1, and MT1M showed a profoundly increased expression in pancreatic cancer cells, which suggests their potentially important role in pancreatic cancer. The results of our work indicate that lncRNAs have vital roles in PADC and provide new insights to integrate multiple kinds of markers in clinical practices.
Character tables and the problem of existence of finite projective planes
Authors: Matolcsi Máté , Weiner Mihály
Published: June 2018

We use the connection between positive definite functions and the character table of the symmetric group S6 to give a short new proof of the nonexistence of a finite projective plane of order 6. For higher orders, like 10 and 12, the method seems to be inconclusive as of now, but could be a basis of further research.
Enhance 4′‐epidaunorubicin production of engineering Streptomyces coeruleorubidus strains via both knockout of daunorubicin‐consuming enzymes dnrX and dnrU, and multiple copies of rate‐limiting enzyme aveBIV
Authors: Shao Lei , Chen Ji‐Ye , Zi Jia‐Chen , Chen Dai‐Jie
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Many natural anthracycline glycoside antibiotics (AGAs), e.g. daunorubicin, are widely used as anticancer drugs in clinical practice, and their biosynthesis have been extensively studied. Epirubicin is a semi‐synthesized derivative of daunorubicin, and more widely used in clinics due to its higher effectiveness and weaker toxicity than natural AGAs. However, the overall conversion rate of epirubicin from daunorubicin is only 15%. 4′‐Epidaunorubin is a crucial intermediate in semi‐synthesis of epirubicin from daunorubicin. Much effort has been made to establish combinatorial biosynthesis approaches for production of 4′‐epidaunorubin, and 93 mg L−1 is the highest titer so far achieved.

RESULTS

Daunorubicin‐producing Streptomyces coeruleorubidus SL‐7 were switched to 4′‐epidaunorubicin producer MSL201 by replacing dnmV with aveBIV. Then, continued to genetically modify MSL201 to increase production of 4′‐epidaunorubicin by in‐frame knockout of dnrU and dnrX which catalyze conversion of daunorubicin to (13s)‐13‐dihydrodaunorubicin and baumycin‐like compounds, respectively. The resulting strain MSL 203 was transformed by pSL206 containing a double aveBIV gene expression cassette to afford MSL 204, the 4′‐epidaunorubicin yield of which is 124.1 mg L−1, the highest yield of 4′‐epidaunorubicin ever obtained by fermentation methods.

CONCLUSION

Knockout of the genes involved in consuming daunorubicin and increase of copy numbers of aveBIV gene can significantly improve the yield of 4′‐epidaunorubicin, giving the hitherto highest yield by a fermentation method. This result paves the way for commercial production of 4′‐epidaunorubicin via metabolic engineering approaches. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Nonlinear effects induced in the normalized ion density in a linear trap system for a large ion cloud
Authors: Pedrosa‐Rodriguez Laura , Outerelo D.A. , Diaz‐Otero Francisco J.
Published: June 2018

In this work, we design, by means of a non‐neutral plasma method, a linear trapping model for large ion clouds, which will become the core of an atomic clock. We first obtain the geometry and electromagnetic characteristics of the ion trap. We then perform a systematic analysis describing the main parameters of the ion cloud such as size, secular frequency, and ion number per unit length of temperature. The most appropriate operation point of the ion trap in a set of these specific parameters is evaluated, and a thorough discussion is performed about how minor perturbations introduced in these parameters affect, in a nonlinear response, the performance of the trapping system in sensibility, heating, and radiofrequency potential.
Primed N2O emission from native soil nitrogen: A 15N‐tracing laboratory experiment
Authors: Schleusner Philipp , Lammirato Carlo , Tierling Jens , Lebender Ulrike , Rütting Tobias
Published: June 2018

Soils can naturally be a source of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). By contrast, the largest anthropogenic source of N2O is the application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on agricultural soil, but it is unclear if fertilizer‐supported N2O emission only originates from the fertilizer N directly or through additionally stimulated N2O production from native soil N. Even though native soil N also includes mineral N already in soil before fertilizer application, organic N is the principal native N pool and thereby provides for mineral N cycling and N2O emission. Here, we tested (1) the contribution of native soil N to N2O emission after mineral N fertilizer application and (2) whether it is affected by different soil organic matter (SOM) contents by conducting a laboratory 15N‐tracing experiment with agricultural soil from a long‐term field trial with two treatments. Both field treatments are fertilized with mineral N, whereas only one of the two receives liquid manure causing higher SOM content. Soil sampling was conducted in March 2016 shortly before fertilizer application in the field. The application of 15N‐labeled fertilizer more than doubled the N2O production from native N sources compared to the non‐fertilized control incubations. This primed N2O production contributed by 5–8% to the fertilizer‐induced N2O emission after one week of incubation and was similar for both field treatments regardless of liquid manure application. Therefore, further research is needed to link N2O priming to its potential production pathways and sources. While the observed effect may be important in soils, the amount of applied N fertilizer remains the largest concern being responsible for the majority of N2O emission.
Exploring the Interactions of Oxygen with Defective ZnO
Authors: Wang Xuan , Lu Bin , Li Ling , Qiu Hengshan
Published: June 2018

Exploring the interactions of oxygen with defective oxide is of importance to understand the microscopic process and performance of ZnO‐based oxygen sensors. The interactions of environmental oxygen with vacuum‐annealed defective ZnO have been studied by electrical methods, vacuum Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and in situ adsorption experiments. It was found that the vacuum‐annealed defective ZnO exhibits varied electrical response at different temperatures, which, by vacuum IR investigation, was ascribed to the subtle balance between formation of oxygen vacancies and their interactions with environmental oxygen. Further studies showed that two microscopic steps including surface adsorption and bulk diffusion were dominating the interactions between defective ZnO and environmental oxygen, and the corresponding apparent activation energies were estimated to be 0.093 and 0.67 eV through in situ adsorption experiments. The quite low activation barrier of oxygen adsorption on the defective ZnO was proposed to be responsible for the extreme high sensitivity of ZnO‐based oxygen sensors.
Trends and Variation in Oral Anticoagulant Choice in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation, 2010–2017
Authors: Zhu Junya , Alexander G. Caleb , Nazarian Saman , Segal Jodi B. , Wu Albert W.
Published: June 2018

Objective

Since 2010, several non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been brought to the U.S. market, yet little is known regarding their evolving adoption for prophylaxis of atrial fibrillation (AF)‐related stroke. We examined temporal trends in choice of oral anticoagulants (OACs) among incident OAC users with AF and its association with patient demographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods

We conducted a serial cross‐sectional analysis of medical and pharmacy claims for commercial and Medicare Advantage enrollees in a large, private, U.S. health plan. We identified 112,187 adults with nonvalvular AF starting OACs between October 2010 and March 2017. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the associations of patient characteristics with prescription of NOACs versus warfarin. Multinomial logistic regression was used to test the associations of patient characteristics with choice among NOACs.

Results

The prescription of NOACs has increased dramatically since their introduction in October 2010. In the first quarter of 2017 (2017Q1), 7502 patients started OACs, of whom 78.9% used NOACs and 21.1% warfarin. For NOACs, 3.8% used dabigatran, 25.0% rivaroxaban, and 50.1% apixaban. In multivariable analyses, factors associated with choice of NOACs versus warfarin included younger age, lower stroke or bleeding risk, fewer comorbidities, higher education level or household net worth, and prescription by cardiologists (all p<0.001). There was no sex difference in likelihood of filling NOACs versus warfarin in 2010Q4–2012, but women had higher odds of starting NOACs (odds ratio = 1.19; 95% confidence interval = 1.14–1.25) in 2015–2017Q1. Among NOAC users, the odds of apixaban prescription increased with age, female sex, stroke or bleeding risk, and comorbidities (all p<0.05).

Conclusion

NOAC prescriptions have increased substantially among incident OAC users with nonvalvular AF, predominantly driven by increased prescription of apixaban. Warfarin and apixaban were generally preferred for elderly patients, patients with higher stroke or bleeding risk, and patients with more comorbidities.
Management of Pediatric Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis, Part I: Antimicrobial Stewardship Approach and Review of Therapies for Methicillin‐Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Kingella kingae
Authors: DeRonde Kailynn J. , Girotto Jennifer E. , Nicolau David P.
Published: June 2018

Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO), often occurring in young children, is the most frequently diagnosed type of osteomyelitis in pediatric patients. Optimizing antibiotics is essential as delays to receipt of appropriate therapy can lead to chronic osteomyelitis, as well as impairments in bone growth and development. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are in a key position to help improve the care of patients with AHO as they contain a pharmacist with expertise in antibiotic drug selection, optimization of dosing, and microbiologic test review. A literature search of the MEDLINE database was conducted from initiation through January 2018. Articles selected for the review focus on pathogen identification, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, efficacy and safety in children, transition from intravenous to oral therapy, duration of treatment, and antimicrobial stewardship interventions. This review will highlight the potential roles ASPs can have in improving the management of AHO in pediatric patients. These roles include the creation of clinical pathways, improving testing algorithms, antibiotic choice and dosing, intravenous to oral transitions, duration of treatment, and therapy monitoring. Overall, patients are most effectively treated by focusing treatments on age, presentation, local sensitivities, and directed therapy with pathogen identification.
Transcriptome assembly and annotation of johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) rhizomes identify candidate rhizome‐specific genes
Authors: Ryder Nathan , Dorn Kevin M. , Huitsing Mark , Adams Micah , Ploegstra Jeff , DeHaan Lee , Larson Steve , Tintle Nathan L.
Published: June 2018

Rhizomes facilitate the wintering and vegetative propagation of many perennial grasses. Sorghum halepense (johnsongrass) is an aggressive perennial grass that relies on a robust rhizome system to persist through winters and reproduce asexually from its rootstock nodes. This study aimed to sequence and assemble expressed transcripts within the johnsongrass rhizome. A de novo transcriptome assembly was generated from a single johnsongrass rhizome meristem tissue sample. A total of 141,176 probable protein‐coding sequences from the assembly were identified and assigned gene ontology terms using Blast2GO. Estimated expression analysis and BLAST results were used to reduce the assembly to 64,447 high‐confidence sequences. The johnsongrass assembly was compared to Sorghum bicolor, a related nonrhizomatous species, along with an assembly of similar rhizome tissue from the perennial grain crop Thinopyrum intermedium. The presence/absence analysis yielded a set of 98 expressed johnsongrass contigs that are likely associated with rhizome development.
Assessing the influence of air speed and liquid flow rate on the droplet size and homogeneity in pneumatic spraying
Authors: Balsari Paolo , Grella Marco , Marucco Paolo , Matta Fabio , Miranda‐Fuentes Antonio
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of treatments in vineyards largely depends on the necessary balance between leaf coverage and spray drift and, therefore, knowledge about droplet size is of major importance, but scarce scientific information is available on pneumatic spraying, often adopted in this crop. The objective of this work was to obtain the relationships between the droplet size spectra characterization parameters and the main affecting factors in pneumatic nozzles.

RESULTS

Three liquid flow rates (LFR) and four air speeds (AS) were combined in laboratory conditions to assess their influence on the droplet size spectra (D10, D50 and D90), homogeneity (Relative Span Factor, RSF) and driftability (V100) in two different air shear nozzles (cannon‐type and hand‐type nozzles). The droplet size parameters were significantly affected by LFR and AS, and a model was fitted to predict droplet size in every spout type. The droplet V100 was also affected by both factors. The RSF was similar in both cases but did not follow regular trends.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings obtained can help vineyard farmers and technicians to effectively increase the efficiency and, therefore, the efficacy of the pesticide treatments reducing at the same time the spray drift risk by selecting appropriately the optimal values of the main operational parameters: LFR and AS. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
The Primary Demonstration of Exciton Coupling Effects on Optical Limiting Properties of Blue Double‐Decker Lanthanide Phthalocyanine Salts
Authors: Sekhosana Kutloano E. , Nkhahle Reitumetse , Nyokong Tebello
Published: June 2018

In this manuscript, novel green and blue sandwich‐type rare‐earth phthalocyanines (LnPc2) are presented. This parent green LnPc2 complex is named bis‐{2(3),9(10),16(17),23(24)‐tetra(4‐tert‐buylphenoxy) phthalocyaninato} neodymium (III) (2) and modified into blue LnPc2 complexes (3), (4) and (5) based on hexadecyltrimethylammonium ion, mononeodymium(III) diacetate and monodysprosium(III) diacetate as counter ions, respectively. These stable blue lanthanide Pc salts are highly soluble in many organic and inorganic solvents. All complexes 2, 3, 4 and 5 were studied for optical limiting for the first time using Z‐scan at nanosecond regime in the visible absorption spectral wavelength (532 nm). Our studies reveal the advantage of exciton coupling in blue sandwich‐type rare‐earth phthalocyanines over the π‐radicals (characterized by blue valence at 485 nm) in the green counterpart which are in resonance with the 532 nm wavelength for optical limiting application. Large singlet ground state to excited state absorption cross section ratios were found, particularly for complex 5 in comparison to that of complex 2.
Design and Synthesis of Polycycles, Heterocycles, and Macrocycles via Strategic Utilization of Ring‐Closing Metathesis
Authors: Kotha Sambasivarao , Meshram Milind , Dommaraju Yuvaraj
Published: June 2018

In this perspective, we summarize new synthetic approaches for the construction of various polycyclic compounds involving ring‐closing metathesis as a key step. In this regard, we used ring‐closing metathesis in combination with other popular reactions like Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling, Claisen rearrangement, Fischer indolization, Grignard addition, Diels‐Alder reaction, and [2+2] cycloaddition reaction etc. To this end, a variety of functional molecules such as α‐amino acids, cyclophanes, heterocycles, propellanes, spirocycles, and macrocycles have been prepared. The strategies developed and the molecules prepared here play a key role in designing new materials and also act as lead compounds in drug design. The strategies and tactics developed here are useful to design polycycles, macrocycles, and heterocycles of diverse ring systems.
Organochlorine pesticide residues in human breast tissue and their relationships with clinical and pathological characteristics of breast cancer
Authors: Ellsworth Rachel E. , Kostyniak Paul J. , Chi Lai‐Har , Shriver Craig D. , Costantino Nicholas S. , Ellsworth Darrell L.
Published: June 2018

Agricultural pesticides are abundant environmental contaminants worldwide, prompting interest in studying their possible detrimental health effects. We examined organochlorine residues by quadrant (n = 245) in breast adipose tissues from 51 women with various stages of breast health to determine patterns of bioaccumulation within the breast and to assess relationships with patient clinical characteristics. Three organochlorine residues—2,2‐bis(p‐chlorophenyl)‐1,1‐dichloroethylene (p,p′‐DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and mirex—assayed by high resolution gas chromatography were abundant in breast tissue. p,p′‐DDE (745 ± 1054 ng/g lipid) was the most prevalent residue, comprising 97.5% of the total chemical burden. Mean levels of p,p′‐DDE and HCB were significantly correlated (P < .001) with patient age at mastectomy, and levels of p,p′‐DDE were correlated (P < .05) with BMI. Pesticide concentrations did not differ significantly by breast quadrant and were not different in the quadrant(s) where the primary tumor was located compared to other cancer‐free quadrants. In invasive cancer patients, organochlorine levels differed significantly based on clinical characteristics of the primary carcinoma, including stage, grade, ER status, and HER2 status, indicating that body burden of organochlorines may influence the development of specific subtypes of breast cancer. Potentially carcinogenic organochlorines were present at high levels within the human breast warranting further research to determine the impact of organochlorines in the etiology of breast cancer.
Effects of tebuconazole on cytochrome P450 enzymes, oxidative stress, and endocrine disruption in male rats
Authors: Yang Jr‐Di , Liu Shing‐Hwa , Liao Mei‐Hsiu , Chen Ruei‐Ming , Liu Pei‐Yu , Ueng Tzuu‐Huei
Published: June 2018

The major objective of the present study was to determine the ability of a triazole fungicide tebuconazole to induce cytochrome P450‐dependent monooxygenases, oxidative stress, and endocrine‐disrupting activity using male rats treated with tebuconazole at 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg p.o. once daily for 28 days. In liver, tebuconazole dose‐dependently increased microsomal contents of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5 and the activities of NADPH‐cytochrome P450 reductase, 7‐ethoxyresorufin O‐deethylase, methoxyresorufin O‐demethylase, pentoxyresorufin O‐dealkylase, 7‐ethoxycoumarin O‐deethylase, aniline hydroxylase, and erythromycin N‐demethylase. In kidney, tebuconazole increased 7‐ethoxycoumarin O‐deethylase activity without affecting other monooxygenase activities. In marked contrast to liver and kidney, tebuconazole decreased testicular 7‐ethoxyresorufin O‐deethylase, methoxyresorufin O‐demethylase, 7‐ethoxycoumarin O‐deethylase, aniline hydroxylase, and erythromycin N‐demethylase activities. The results of immunoblot analysis of liver microsomes of controls and tebuconazole‐treated rats revealed that tebuconazole induced CYP1A1/2, CYP2B1/2, CYP2E1, and CYP3A proteins in liver. Additions of tebuconazole to liver microsomes inhibited microsomal 7‐ethoxycoumarin O‐deethylase activity in vitro (IC50 = 1.50–1.69 µM). Treatment of rats with tebuconazole decreased glutathione content and increased glutathione S‐transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in liver; increased superoxide dismutase activities in kidney and testis; but decreased glutathione S‐transferase activity in testis. Treatments with tebuconazole decreased serum testosterone concentration and cauda epididymal sperm count. The present study demonstrates that tebuconazole induces a multiplicity of CYPs and oxidative stress in liver; inhibits testicular P450 and glutathione S‐transferase activities; and produces anti‐androgenic effects in male rats.
Positive youth development: An experimental trial with unattached adolescents
Authors: Hull Darrell M. , Saxon Terrill F. , Fagan Marcus A. , Williams Lincoln O. , Verdisco Aimee E.
Published: June 2018

Adolescents who are unemployed and do not attend school or other education face a variety of short‐ and long‐term challenges ranging from economic instability to increased drug and alcohol abuse to loss of quality adjusted life years. Intervention programs that reinforce positive youth behaviors may provide more effective solutions to adolescent challenges than programs that attempt to curb maladaptive behaviors. We conducted a longitudinal randomized trial of a residential positive youth development program including a six‐month job internship with youth in Jamaica (N = 785, 59.3% Female, Mean Age = 18.3, SD = 1.7), which revealed significant main effects on the acquisition of workplace skills and career self‐efficacy. Smaller effects were noted for youth assets in unattached Jamaican adolescents based on follow‐up six months post treatment.
Energy identity for a class of approximate Dirac-harmonic maps from surfaces with boundary
Authors: Jost Jürgen , Liu Lei , Zhu Miaomiao
Published: June 2018

For a sequence of coupled fields

\{(\phi _{n},\psi _{n})\}

from a compact Riemann surface
M
with smooth boundary to a general compact Riemannian manifold with uniformly bounded energy and satisfying the Dirac-harmonic system up to some uniformly controlled error terms, we show that the energy identity holds during a blow-up process near the boundary. As an application to the heat flow of Dirac-harmonic maps from surfaces with boundary, when such a flow blows up at infinite time, we obtain an energy identity.
Predicting Purchase Intention of Electric Vehicles in Hong Kong
Authors: Ng Mark , Law Monica , Zhang Serene
Published: June 2018

What makes consumers adopt energy-sustainable innovations? Drawing from psychological research on environmental behaviors, we propose a model integrating attitudinal factors, normative factors and self-control to explain the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) by consumers. Specifically, we utilized structural equation modeling to develop a model to identify relationships between perceived values, green attitudes, normative factors, and self-expressive benefits and purchase intention of EVs. An empirical study was carried out to test the conceptual framework and 11 hypotheses were developed based on literature. The model was tested with survey data from 205 Hong Kong respondents from the automobile community. SEM analyses confirmed that perceived value, trust in EV, responsive efficacy, and willingness to pay had significant and positive influence on purchase intention of EVs. This study offers insights into the development of marketing program for EV in Hong Kong. The findings will help EV manufacturers to facilitate EV purchases. Future research opportunities are discussed.
Correlation of Measurements of the Prearthritic Hip Between Plain Radiography and Computed Tomography
Authors: Air Mary E. , Harrison Julian R. , Nguyen Joseph T. , Kelly Bryan T. , Bogner Eric A. , Moley Peter J.
Published: June 2018

Background

Previous studies have compared radiographic and computed tomography (CT) imaging for the evaluation of prearthritic hip pain. However, the intermodality, interrater, and intrarater consistencies of those parameters have not been investigated.

Objective

To determine whether radiographs with an anteroposterior pelvis view and 45°‐Dunn lateral view reliably correlate with CT in the context of lateral center edge (LCE), Tonnis, alpha, and beta angle measurements for femoroacetabular impingement or hip dysplasia diagnosis.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Academic orthopedic institution.

Patients

Fifty consecutive participants with hip pain in the institutional hip registry with radiographs and CT imaging on file were evaluated between 2013 and 2014.

Materials and Methods

Radiologic data (50 CTs and 50 radiographs) were evaluated by 3 physicians. LCE, Tonnis, alpha, and beta angles were measured on radiographs and CTs in 2 rounds of readings. In round 1, the center of rotation on CT imaging was standardized by 1 rater. In round 2, individual raters chose CT images using a quadrant method, and reproducibility was assessed. Reliability statistics were operationalized with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).

Main Outcome Measurements

Intermodality, intrarater, and interrater reliability of CT vs radiographic measurements.

Results

The intermodality reliability for all raters was excellent (ICC [95% CI]: 0.84 [0.76‐0.90] to 0.97 [0.96‐0.98]). Intrarater reliability for both modalities showed excellent reliability (ICC = 0.75‐0.96). Interrater reliability of CT measures of LCE, Tonnis, and alpha angles demonstrated excellent agreement (ICC ≥ 0.88). Beta angle measures demonstrated good agreement (ICC [95% CI] = 0.68 [0.49‐0.81]). Interrater reliability of radiographic measures showed excellent agreement (ICC = 0.82‐0.94).

Conclusion

Equivalent angle measurement readings on CT and radiographs were consistent among physicians. CT measurements correlated well with radiographic measurements. This suggests that if a standardized procedure is used to find the center of the femoral head, a positive correlation among LCE, alpha, beta, and Tonnis angles measured on CT can be obtained between multiple readers.

Level of Evidence

III
Metabolic Demand of Hiking in Wildland Firefighting
Authors: Sol Joseph A. , Ruby Brent C. , Gaskill Steven E. , Dumke Charles L. , Domitrovich Joseph W.
Published: June 2018

Introduction

The objective of this study was to document characteristics of hiking during wildland firefighter (WLFF) training and wildfire suppression. For the first time, the overall physical demands during wildland firefighting were evaluated in the field using global positioning systems coupled with wireless physiological monitoring and load carriage prediction models.

Methods

Male (n=116) and female (n=15) interagency hotshot crew and type II WLFFs on wildfires volunteered for this direct observation study. Participants’ heart rate, internal temperature, speed, and elevation gain were monitored throughout training and during wildfire suppression. The Pandolf and Santee equations were used to predict metabolic rate to estimate oxygen consumption of uphill and downhill hiking.

Results

Equipment weight varied by crew type (type II: 24±9 kg and interagency hotshot crew: 28±6 kg; P<0.05). Grade of terrain was steepest during training hikes, and ingress hikes were statistically different from egress and training hikes (ingress: 4±9%, shift: 4±9%, egress: 1±8%, training hikes: 10±9%; P<0.01). Estimated oxygen consumption was highest during ingress hikes and was significantly different from all other hike types on fire assignments (ingress: 22±12, shift: 19±12, egress: 19±12 mL·kg-1·min-1; P=0.01). Oxygen consumption was higher during training hikes (34±14 mL·kg-1·min-1) than during job-related hikes ( P<0.01).

Conclusions

The greatest metabolic demand during wildfire assignments occurred during ingress hikes. On average, this was close to the estimated metabolic demand of the job qualification arduous pack test. However, greater metabolic demand occurred for periods during both shift (on the job) and training hikes. These data quantify the demands associated with actual wildland performance of WLFFs and can help define future work capacity testing and training procedures.
GROWTH OF A VILLAGE: USING FLUORIDE ANALYSIS AND ARTIFACT FREQUENCIES TO EXAMINE EARLY FORT ANCIENT/MISSISSIPPIAN HOUSEHOLD AND SITE FORMATION
Authors: Cook Robert A. , Schurr Mark R.
Published: June 2018

Examining the formation histories of single-component prehistoric villages is difficult using only radiocarbon dating. This study investigates such a case with the added considerations of two relative dating techniques, artifact accumulation and fluoride dating, at the Guard site (12D29), an early (ca. AD 1000–1300) Fort Ancient/Mississippian village located in southeast Indiana. The goal was to assess the depositional history of the individual house basins and, if possible, to determine a relative sequence of construction within the village. The observed relationship between relative artifact frequencies and fluoride levels was statistically examined with the expected result being that fluoride concentrations and artifact frequencies are significantly correlated. Houses built initially contained lower relative artifact frequencies, whereas houses built more recently contained higher relative artifact frequencies. This pattern is further explored with artifact and fluoride distinctions in vertical stratigraphy, which show that some structures were slowly filled with midden trash, whereas others were more likely rapidly filled during the latter part of the village occupation, perhaps at the time of site abandonment. Overall, the results are very promising and consistent with the SunWatch site, the only other Fort Ancient culture site with a defined construction sequence, establishing a general pattern of village development in the study region.
Stockholm Syndrome in Athletics: A Paradox
Authors: Bachand Charles , Djak Nikki
Published: June 2018

While it may, at first, appear absurd to associate Stockholm syndrome with situations other than those involving kidnapping or hostage relationships, it is quite tenable to do so. In fact, research has shown that a variety of different psychological issues and forms of captivity are best explained as instances of Stockholm syndrome. Originally, Stockholm syndrome was typified as a disorder resulting from situations involving negative face-to-face contact between captors and captives. The resulting environment is one of extreme fright or terror to victims, rendering them helpless and, over time, totally subservient to their perpetrators. Typification helps to shed light on the connection between abusive athletic coaches and consequential victimisation of young athletes, which can lead to Stockholm syndrome. This correlation supports the view that Stockholm syndrome relates to victimisation of young athletes in a paradoxical, but very real way. This concept paper addresses the potential for domain expansion of Stockholm syndrome into the area of youth athletics. It develops the theory that once youth begin to rationalise the actions of abusive athletic coaches, they begin to sympathise and defend the actions of the abusive coach leading to a pattern of events which can be labelled as indications of Stockholm syndrome.
Bridging Individual and Social-Structural Perspectives
Authors: Lavigne Kristi , Rauvola Rachel
Published: June 2018

A paradigm shift toward a social-structural perspective may provide a better understanding of the gender inequity in STEM fields than its predecessor, but this perspective falls prey to the focal article authors’ (Miner et al., 2018) own criticisms: It offers an incomplete account of the phenomenon of interest. We argue that a multilevel systems perspective is the most appropriate approach when trying to understand any issue, especially an issue as dense as gender inequity in STEM. A deliberate effort to understand this phenomenon dynamically across levels and time can expand the scope of industrial and organizational (I-O) psychologists’ influence and can better protect us against interventions that result in unintended, adverse outcomes. Below, we discuss the importance of looking across multiple levels simultaneously to understand the temporal and interactional nature of individual and social-structural constructs. Without this depth of understanding, a disruption of the current structure may lead to an unstable, or unanticipated, new structure.
Addressing the STEM Problem in Ways That Work
Authors: Saggi Karan
Published: June 2018

Let's look at two solutions that should be effective in addressing the gender issue in STEM. First, early intervention works. Scientific and mathematical learning can, and should, be integrated into early childhood learning and development. Miner et al. (2018) mention the potential of nurturing a child's interest in STEM through early education. The challenge is that it is segregated by gender biases (“early schooling differences, parental choices in encouraging child interests and hobbies, and other early reinforcement differences that are societally based”; Miner et al., 2018, p. 270). According to Gunderson, Ramirez, Levine, and Beilock (2012) parents tend to expect that their boys are more gifted in STEM than their girls, even when their achievement levels do not differ objectively. The focus needs to shift from moving along with this gender bias to constructively using the gender difference.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): progress and controversy in diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Foreman D. M. , Timimi S.
Published: June 2018

Knowledge about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is rapidly accumulating. Recent advances in diagnosis, genetics, neuroimaging, drug and non-drug treatments are considered, and the results are related to the critical attack on the ADHD diagnosis, which argues it a medicalising social construct, unhelpfully sustaining power relationships. The advances reviewed suggest that, while this attack can be conclusively dismissed as wrong and misleading, the phenomenological definition of ADHD is no longer sufficient for construct validity, though continues to be valuable as a guide for clinicians. The humanising and individualising concerns underlying the attack on the diagnosis could usefully be redirected to improving effective measurement of patient outcomes.
Direct numerical simulation of a turbulent core-annular flow with water-lubricated high viscosity oil in a vertical pipe
Authors: Kim Kiyoung , Choi Haecheon
Published: June 2018

The characteristics of a turbulent core-annular flow with water-lubricated high viscosity oil in a vertical pipe are investigated using direct numerical simulation, in conjunction with a level-set method to track the phase interface between oil and water. At a given mean wall friction ($Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}=u_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}R/\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}_{w}=720$, where$u_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}$is the friction velocity,$R$is the pipe radius and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}_{w}$is the kinematic viscosity of water), the total volume flow rate of a core-annular flow is similar to that of a turbulent single-phase pipe flow of water, indicating that water lubrication is an effective tool to transport high viscosity oil in a pipe. The high viscosity oil flow in the core region is almost a plug flow due to its high viscosity, and the water flow in the annular region is turbulent except for the case of large oil volume fraction (e.g. 0.91 in the present study). With decreasing oil volume fraction, the mean velocity profile in the annulus becomes more like that of turbulent pipe flow, but the streamwise evolution of vortical structures is obstructed by the phase interface wave. In a reference frame moving with the core velocity, water is observed to be trapped inside the wave valley in the annulus, and only a small amount of water runs through the wave crest. The phase interface of the core-annular flow consists of different streamwise and azimuthal wavenumber components for different oil holdups. The azimuthal wavenumber spectra of the phase interface amplitude have largest power at the smallest wavenumber whose corresponding wavelength is the pipe circumference, while the streamwise wavenumber having the largest power decreases with decreasing oil volume fraction. The overall convection velocity of the phase interface is slightly lower than the core velocity. Finally, we suggest a predictive oil holdup model by defining the displacement thickness in the annulus and considering the boundary layer characteristics of water flow. This model predicts the variation of the oil holdup with the superficial velocity ratio very well.
Balancing legal, operations and community conflict: A tale of two SME’s
Authors: Quilty Terry , Murphy Lyn
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the performance of two similar small businesses in seeking resource consent to expand their operations. The proposed developments are examples of locally unwanted land use. Why did one project proceed as planned, and the other project experience expensive delays? The different outcomes are examined from three perspectives: stakeholder theory, the NIMBY phenomena and the legislative framework. The paper then suggests approaches to address the growing problem of community resistance that can threaten small business development. The paper contributes to the literature by providing new insights into the complex relationship between stakeholder theory, the NIMBY phenomena and the legislative framework.
FOURIER-TYPE TRANSFORMS ON REARRANGEMENT-INVARIANT QUASI-BANACH FUNCTION SPACES
Authors: HO KWOK-PUN
Published: June 2018

We establish the mapping properties of Fourier-type transforms on rearrangement-invariant quasi-Banach function spaces. In particular, we have the mapping properties of the Laplace transform, the Hankel transforms, the Kontorovich-Lebedev transform and some oscillatory integral operators. We achieve these mapping properties by using an interpolation functor that can explicitly generate a given rearrangement-invariant quasi-Banach function space via Lebesgue spaces.
Effects of tributyrin supplementation on short-chain fatty acid concentration, fibrolytic enzyme activity, nutrient digestibility and methanogenesis in adult Small Tail ewes
Authors: Ren Q. C. , Xuan J. J. , Hu Z. Z. , Wang L. K. , Zhan Q. W. , Dai S. F. , Li S. H. , Yang H. J. , Zhang W. , Jiang L. S.
Published: June 2018

In vivo and in vitro trials were conducted to assess the effects of tributyrin (TB) supplementation on short-chain fatty acid (SFCA) concentrations, fibrolytic enzyme activity, nutrient digestibility and methanogenesis in adult sheep. Nine 12-month-old ruminally cannulated Small Tail ewes (initial body weight 55 ± 5.0 kg) without pregnancy were used for the in vitro trial. In vitro substrate made to offer TB at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg on a dry matter (DM) basis was incubated by ruminal microbes for 72 h at 39°C. Forty-five adult Small Tail ewes used for the in vivo trial were randomly assigned to five treatments with nine animals each for an 18-d period according to body weight (55 ± 5.0 kg). Total mixed ration fed to ewes was also used to offer TB at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg on a DM basis. The in vitro trial showed that TB supplementation linearly increased apparent digestibility of DM, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre, and enhanced gas production and methane emissions. The in vivo trial showed that TB supplementation decreased DM intake, but enhanced ruminal fermentation efficiency. Both in vitro and in vivo trials showed that TB supplementation enhanced total SFCA concentrations and carboxymethyl cellulase activity. The results indicate that TB supplementation might exert advantage effects on rumen microbial metabolism, despite having an enhancing effect on methanogenesis.
Are solo infections of the diphyllobothriidean cestodeSchistocephalus solidusmore virulent than multiple infections?
Authors: Heins David C. , Moody Kristine N. , Miller Sophia
Published: June 2018

We performed a long-term natural experiment investigating the impact of the diphyllobotriidean cestodeSchistocephalus soliduson the body condition and clutch size (CS) of threespine sticklebackGasterosteus aculeatus, its second intermediate host, and the growth of larval parasites in host fish. We tested the hypothesis that singleS. solidusinfections were more virulent than multiple infections. We also asked whether the metrics of mean and total parasite mass (proxies for individual and total volume, respectively) were consistent with predictions of the resource constraints or the life history strategy (LHS) hypothesis for the growth of, hence exploitation by, larval helminths in intermediate hosts. The samples were drawn from Walby Lake, Alaska in eight of 11 years. Host body condition and CS (egg number per spawning bout) decreased significantly with intensity after adjustments for host size and parasite index. Thus, infections have an increasingly negative impact on measures of host fitness with greater intensity, in contrast to the hypothesis that single infections are more harmful than multiple infections. We also found that mean parasite mass decreased with intensity while total parasite mass increased with intensity as predicted by the LHS hypothesis.
Leishmania, microbiota and sand fly immunity
Authors: Telleria Erich Loza , Martins-da-Silva Andrea , Tempone Antonio Jorge , Traub-Csekö Yara Maria
Published: June 2018

In this review, we explore the state-of-the-art of sand fly relationships with microbiota, viruses andLeishmania, with particular emphasis on the vector immune responses. Insect-borne diseases are a major public health problem in the world. Phlebotomine sand flies are proven vectors of several aetiological agents including viruses, bacteria and the trypanosomatidLeishmania, which are responsible for diseases such as viral encephalitis, bartonellosis and leishmaniasis, respectively. All metazoans in nature coexist intimately with a community of commensal microorganisms known as microbiota. The microbiota has a fundamental role in the induction, maturation and function of the host immune system, which can modulate host protection from pathogens and infectious diseases. We briefly review viruses of public health importance present in sand flies and revisit studies done on bacterial and fungal gut contents of these vectors. We bring this information into the context of sand fly development and immune responses. We highlight the immunity mechanisms that the insect utilizes to survive the potential threats involved in these interactions and discuss the recently discovered complex interactions among microbiota, sand fly,Leishmaniaand virus. Additionally, some of the alternative control strategies that could benefit from the current knowledge are considered.