bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of compact multi‐band meander‐line antenna for global positioning system/wireless local area network/worldwide interoperability for microwave access band applications in laptops/tablets
Authors: Bartwal Pallavi , Gautam Anil Kumar , Singh Anil Kumar , Kanaujia Binod Kumar , Rambabu Karumudi
Published: June 2016

In this study, a compact (15 mm × 12 mm) uniplanar multi‐band antenna is proposed for laptops and tablets application with a near omni‐directional coverage. The main structure of the antenna implements meander design for compactness and multi‐band operation. A staircase‐type arm and an F‐shaped arm are added for achieving resonances at exact frequencies and for good impedance matching, respectively. The antenna is designed such that it operates in all the global positioning system/wireless local area network/worldwide interoperability for microwave access bands and is easy to fabricate and integrate inside laptops/tablets. A prototype of the proposed antenna is fabricated, and its performance is validated for multi‐band operation and omni‐directional radiation.
Broadband multiple‐input–multiple‐output antenna using castor leaf‐shaped quasi‐self‐complementary elements
Authors: Patre Situ Rani , Singh Surya P.
Published: June 2016

In this study, the simulation and experimental studies of a single‐sided broadband multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna with and without dual band‐rejection characteristics are discussed. The proposed antenna consists of two castor leaf‐shaped quasi‐self‐complementary elements, which are arranged side‐by‐side in mirror‐image configuration. The antenna provides good isolation between its ports without using any isolation technique. The simulated and experimental impedance bandwidths of optimally designed antenna are 142.5% (2.2–13.1 GHz) and 133.3% (2.6–13.0 GHz), respectively. The overlapping communication bands, worldwide interoperability for microwave access and wireless local area network are rejected using two resonators: a slit and a hexagonal‐split‐ring slot loaded on radiating patches. For both the antennas, mutual coupling (S21) between ports and envelope correlation coefficient are <−15 dB and 0.02, respectively, over the operating frequency band. The antenna elements radiate in opposite directions due to their mirror‐image configuration, when excited individually through the source while the non‐excited antenna port is match‐terminating. The antenna exhibits good peak realised gain and total efficiency over its operating bandwidth, and when loaded with two resonators, it shows a decrease of gain as well as efficiency around the rejected frequency bands. The proposed antenna can be utilised for devices requiring ultra wideband along with Bluetooth frequency spectrum.
Scaled correlation analysis of electroencephalography: a new measure of signal influence
Authors: Ahirwal Mitul K. , Kumar Anil , Singh Girish K. , Londhe Narendra D. , Suri Jasjit S.
Published: June 2016

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals recording are the mixture of electrical potentials generated from different sources. These signals are influenced by different potentials. Currently, there exists no measure that can evaluate the measure influence among the signals. A new measure of influence has been proposed based on the distribution of correlation (DCOR) that quantifies the relative influence of constituent sub‐band signals over full band signal. To estimate the inter‐influence, scaled correlation analysis of signal sub‐components is investigated. Results so obtained demonstrate that the signal influence of highest‐frequency components present in the signal is more in case of linear/stationary signals, compared with non‐linear/non‐stationary (EEG/event related potential) signals. These findings are concluded with two types of analysis: (i) mixed influence analysis and (ii) mutual influence analysis. It is demonstrated that for separation of negative and positive correlations (CORs) using the proposed novel measure of signal influence (DCOR) is 14.24% better than other conventional COR method.
Internal stirring: an approach to approximate evaluation of shielding effectiveness of small slotted enclosures
Authors: Rusiecki Andrzej , Aniserowicz Karol , Duffy Alistair P. , Orlandi Antonio
Published: June 2016

A new technique for approximate evaluation of a small slotted enclosure shielding effectiveness (SE) is proposed. The enclosure under test is equipped with a built‐in, rotating, conductive stirrer, and the SE is determined for discrete angles of the stirrer position. The SE characteristics computed in the frequency domain for the enclosure with the stirrer are compared to those of the enclosure containing different arrangements of printed circuit boards. This study concludes that the inclusion of an internal stirrer is a potentially beneficial approach to SE testing.
Comparative atomic-scale hydration of the ceramide and phosphocholine headgroup in solution and bilayer environments
Authors: Gillams Richard J. , Lorenz Christian D. , McLain Sylvia E.
Published: June 2016

Previous studies have used neutron diffraction to elucidate the hydration of the ceramide and the phosphatidylcholine headgroup in solution. These solution studies provide bond-length resolution information on the system, but are limited to liquid samples. The work presented here investigates how the hydration of ceramide and phosphatidylcholine headgroups in a solution compares with that found in a lipid bilayer. This work shows that the hydration patterns seen in the solution samples provide valuable insight into the preferential location of hydrating water molecules in the bilayer. There are certain subtle differences in the distribution, which result from a combination of the lipid conformation and the lipid-lipid interactions within the bilayer environment. The lipid-lipid interactions in the bilayer will be dependent on the composition of the bilayer, whereas the restricted exploration of conformational space is likely to be applicable in all membrane environments. The generalized description of hydration gathered from the neutron diffraction studies thus provides good initial estimation for the hydration pattern, but this can be further refined for specific systems.
Optical properties of InAsBi and optimal designs of lattice-matched and strain-balanced III-V semiconductor superlattices
Authors: Webster P. T. , Shalindar A. J. , Riordan N. A. , Gogineni C. , Liang H. , Sharma A. R. , Johnson S. R.
Published: June 2016

The optical properties of bulk InAs0.936Bi0.064 grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a (100)-oriented GaSb substrate are measured using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The index of refraction and absorption coefficient are measured over photon energies ranging from 44 meV to 4.4 eV and are used to identify the room temperature bandgap energy of bulk InAs0.936Bi0.064 as 60.6 meV. The bandgap of InAsBi is expressed as a function of Bi mole fraction using the band anticrossing model and a characteristic coupling strength of 1.529 eV between the Bi impurity state and the InAs valence band. These results are programmed into a software tool that calculates the miniband structure of semiconductor superlattices and identifies optimal designs in terms of maximizing the electron-hole wavefunction overlap as a function of transition energy. These functionalities are demonstrated by mapping the design spaces of lattice-matched GaSb/InAs0.911Sb0.089 and GaSb/InAs0.932Bi0.068 and strain-balanced InAs/InAsSb, InAs/GaInSb, and InAs/InAsBi superlattices on GaSb. The absorption properties of each of these material systems are directly compared by relating the wavefunction overlap square to the absorption coefficient of each optimized design. Optimal design criteria are provided for key detector wavelengths for each superlattice system. The optimal design mid-wave infrared InAs/InAsSb superlattice is grown using molecular beam epitaxy, and its optical properties are evaluated using spectroscopic ellipsometry and photoluminescence spectroscopy.
Perspective: Fundamental aspects of time-dependent density functional theory
Authors: Maitra Neepa T.
Published: June 2016

In the thirty-two years since the birth of the foundational theorems, time-dependent density functional theory has had a tremendous impact on calculations of electronic spectra and dynamics in chemistry, biology, solid-state physics, and materials science. Alongside the wide-ranging applications, there has been much progress in understanding fundamental aspects of the functionals and the theory itself. This Perspective looks back to some of these developments, reports on some recent progress and current challenges for functionals, and speculates on future directions to improve the accuracy of approximations used in this relatively young theory.
Modeling of inelastic collisions in a multifluid plasma: Ionization and recombination
Authors: Le Hai P. , Cambier Jean-Luc
Published: June 2016

A model for ionization and recombination collisions in a multifluid plasma is formulated using the framework introduced in previous work [H. P. Le and J.-L. Cambier, Phys. Plasmas 22, 093512 (2015)]. The exchange source terms for density, momentum, and energy are detailed for the case of electron induced ionization and three body recombination collisions with isotropic scattering. The principle of detailed balance is enforced at the microscopic level. We describe how to incorporate the standard collisional-radiative model into the multifluid equations using the current formulation. Numerical solutions of the collisional-radiative rate equations for atomic hydrogen are presented to highlight the impact of the multifluid effect on the kinetics.
Brownian relaxation of an inelastic sphere in air
Authors: Bird G. A.
Published: June 2016

The procedures that are used to calculate the forces and moments on an aerodynamic body in the rarefied gas of the upper atmosphere are applied to a small sphere of the size of an aerosol particle at sea level. While the gas-surface interaction model that provides accurate results for macroscopic bodies may not be appropriate for bodies that are comprised of only about a thousand atoms, it provides a limiting case that is more realistic than the elastic model. The paper concentrates on the transfer of energy from the air to an initially stationary sphere as it acquires Brownian motion. Individual particle trajectories vary wildly, but a clear relaxation process emerges from an ensemble average over tens of thousands of trajectories. The translational and rotational energies in equilibrium Brownian motion are determined. Empirical relationships are obtained for the mean translational and rotational relaxation times, the mean initial power input to the particle, the mean rates of energy transfer between the particle and air, and the diffusivity. These relationships are functions of the ratio of the particle mass to an average air molecule mass and the Knudsen number, which is the ratio of the mean free path in the air to the particle diameter. The ratio of the molecular radius to the particle radius also enters as a correction factor. The implications of Brownian relaxation for the second law of thermodynamics are discussed.
Modelling for three dimensional coalescence of two bubbles
Authors: Han R. , Li S. , Zhang A. M. , Wang Q. X.
Published: June 2016

This paper is concerned with the three dimensional (3D) interaction and coalescence of two bubbles subject to buoyancy and the dynamics of the subsequent joined bubble using the boundary integral method (BIM). An improved density potential method is implemented to control the mesh quality. It helps to avoid the numerical instabilities, which occur after coalescence. Numerical convergence tests are conducted in terms of mesh sizes and time steps. The 3D numerical model agrees well with an axisymmetric BIM model for axisymmetric cases as well as experimental results captured by high-speed camera. The bubble jetting, interaction, and coalescence of the two bubbles depend on the maximum bubble radii, the centre distance between two bubbles at inception, and the angle β between the centre line and the direction of buoyancy. We investigate coalescence of two bubbles for β = 0, π/4, and π/2, respectively, and at various centre distances at inception. Numerical results presented include the bubble and jet shapes, the velocity, and pressure fields surrounding the bubbles, as well as the time histories of bubble volumes, jet velocities, and positions of centroid of the bubble system.
Comment on “Size-efficient metamaterial absorber at low frequencies: Design, fabrication, and characterization” [J. Appl. Phys. 117, 243105 (2015)]
Authors: Liu Lulu , Liu Shaobin , Zhang HaiFeng , Kong Xiangkun , Yang Hua , Ding Guowen , Xu Ce , Wang Lingling , Shi Wei
Published: June 2016

In a recent article, Khuyen et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 117, 243105 (2015)] proposed a metamaterial perfect absorber (MPA) with a self-asymmetric structure and claimed that it could produce dual-band “perfect absorption.” In this report, we demonstrate that the self-asymmetric structure is not a true MPA. The cross-polarization reflection, which is induced by coupling between the induced magnetic field and the incident electric field, is ignored in calculation of absorptivity of that structure. The real absorption rate of this structure is below 60%, which indicates that the structure cannot be called a perfect absorber.
Shape-dependent conversion efficiency of Si nanowire solar cells with polygonal cross-sections
Authors: He Yan , Yu Wangbing , Ouyang Gang
Published: June 2016

A deeper insight into shape-dependent power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Si nanowire (SiNW) solar cells with polygonal cross-sectional shapes, including trigon, tetragon, hexagon, and circle, has been explored based on the atomic-bond-relaxation approach and detailed balance principle. It has been found that the surface effect induced by the loss-coordination atoms located at edges and surfaces, as well as the thermal effect, plays the dominant roles for the band shift and PCE of SiNWs due to the lattice strain occurrence at the self-equilibrium state. Our predictions are consistent with the available evidences, providing an important advance in the development of Si-based nanostructures for the desirable applications.
Influence of compressive stress and electric field on the stability of [011] poled and [1¯1] oriented 31-mode PZN-0.055PT single crystals
Authors: Heitmann Adam A. , Stace Joseph A. , Lim Leong-Chew , Amin Ahmed H.
Published: June 2016

The effect of compressive stress, in the presence of an electrical field along the [011] direction, on the phase transition stability of [01¯1] oriented and [011] poled relaxor (1−x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (PZN-PT) single crystals in the transverse length extensional 31-mode geometry is investigated. The thermal, electrical, and mechanical stability range for operation lacking elastic instabilities is identified and compared with conventional 33 and 32-mode geometries with the near morphotropic composition of x ∼ 0.055. It is found that the 31-mode geometry retains the stable, room temperature ferroelectric rhombohedral (R) symmetry up to and exceeding compressive stresses, along the [01¯1] direction, of 90 MPa under zero field conditions. Under zero stress conditions, a phase transformation from the stable rhombohedral symmetry to the low symmetry ferroelectric orthorhombic (O) phase occurs in the presence of an electric field of 0.85 MV/m. Stabilization of the R-O phase transformation against electric field drive occurs as a function of compressive prestress, similar to the 33-mode geometry. And, under sufficiently large compressive stress, an R-T (or R-MA-T) transformation is identified and discussed.
First-principles based calculation of the macroscopic α/β interface in titanium
Authors: Li Dongdong , Zhu Lvqi , Shao Shouqi , Jiang Yong
Published: June 2016

The macroscopic α/β interface in titanium and titanium alloys consists of a ledge interface (112)β/(01-10)α and a side interface (11-1)β/(2-1-10)α in a zig-zag arrangement. Here, we report a first-principles study for predicting the atomic structure and the formation energy of the α/β-Ti interface. Both component interfaces were calculated using supercell models within a restrictive relaxation approach, with various staking sequences and high-symmetry parallel translations being considered. The ledge interface energy was predicted as 0.098 J/m2 and the side interface energy as 0.811 J/m2. By projecting the zig-zag interface area onto the macroscopic broad face, the macroscopic α/β interface energy was estimated to be as low as ∼0.12 J/m2, which, however, is almost double the ad hoc value used in previous phase-field simulations.
Tuning carrier density at complex oxide interface with metallic overlayer
Authors: Zhou Y. , Shi Y. J. , Jiang S. W. , Yue F. J. , Wang P. , Ding H. F. , Wu D.
Published: June 2016

We have systematically investigated the electronic transport properties of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces with several different metal capping layers. The sheet carrier density can be tuned in a wide range by the metallic overlayer without changing the carrier mobility. The sheet carrier density variation is found to be linearly dependent on the size of metal work function. This behavior is explained by the mechanism of the charge transfer between the oxide interface and the metal overlayer across the LaAlO3 layer. Our results confirm the existence of a built-in electric field in LaAlO3 film with an estimated value of 67.7 eV/Å. Since the metallic overlayer is essential for devices, the present phenomena must be considered for future applications.
Lock-in camera based heterodyne holography for ultrasound-modulated optical tomography inside dynamic scattering media
Authors: Liu Yan , Shen Yuecheng , Ma Cheng , Shi Junhui , Wang Lihong V.
Published: June 2016

Ultrasound-modulated optical tomography (UOT) images optical contrast deep inside scattering media. Heterodyne holography based UOT is a promising technique that uses a camera for parallel speckle detection. In previous works, the speed of data acquisition was limited by the low frame rates of conventional cameras. In addition, when the signal-to-background ratio was low, these cameras wasted most of their bits representing an informationless background, resulting in extremely low efficiencies in the use of bits. Here, using a lock-in camera, we increase the bit efficiency and reduce the data transfer load by digitizing only the signal after rejecting the background. Moreover, compared with the conventional four-frame based amplitude measurement method, our single-frame method is more immune to speckle decorrelation. Using lock-in camera based UOT with an integration time of 286 μs, we imaged an absorptive object buried inside a dynamic scattering medium exhibiting a speckle correlation time (τc) as short as 26 μs. Since our method can tolerate speckle decorrelation faster than that found in living biological tissue (τc ∼ 100–1000 μs), it is promising for in vivo deep tissue non-invasive imaging.
A new data processing technique for Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth experiments
Authors: Yuan Yongteng , Tu Shaoyong , Miao Wenyong , Wu Junfeng , Wang Lifeng , Yin Chuansheng , Hao Yidan , Ye Wenhua , Ding Yongkun , Jiang Shaoen
Published: June 2016

Typical face-on experiments for Rayleigh-Taylor instability study involve the time-resolved radiography of an accelerated foil with line-of-sight of the radiography along the direction of motion. The usual method which derives perturbation amplitudes from the face-on images reverses the actual image transmission procedure, so the obtained results will have a large error in the case of large optical depth. In order to improve the accuracy of data processing, a new data processing technique has been developed to process the face-on images. This technique based on convolution theorem, refined solutions of optical depth can be achieved by solving equations. Furthermore, we discuss both techniques for image processing, including the influence of modulation transfer function of imaging system and the backlighter spatial profile. Besides, we use the two methods to the process the experimental results in Shenguang-II laser facility and the comparison shows that the new method effectively improve the accuracy of data processing.
Cysteamine: a human health dietary additive with potential to improve livestock growth rate and efficiency
Authors: Barnett M. C. , Hegarty R. S.
Published: June 2016

Cysteamine is a biological compound produced in the gastrointestinal tract and hypothalamus of all animals that acts on the somatotrophic axis. Cysteamine is finding increasing application in human medicine and also as a natural, in-feed growth promotant for monogastric and ruminant livestock that increases feed conversion efficiency, growth rate and leanness. It improves nutrient digestion and absorption by increasing portal-drained viscera blood flow and net portal absorption, while also reducing gastroenteropancreatic, plasma and hypothalamus concentrations of the inhibitory hormone, somatostatin (SRIF). Dietary inclusion rates required to achieve growth responses are typically about 10 times higher in ruminants than those required for pigs, but it is unclear whether ruminal breakdown of cysteamine is contributing to this difference. While short-term stimulation of growth, milk production and improved feed use efficiency are apparent, studies over longer periods are required, especially in breeding animals, due to the process of SRIF depletion being reversible. This review provides an overview of cysteamine’s mode of action in improving nutrient utilisation and its application in human nutrition and health, as well as its potential use as a growth promotant in the livestock industries.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Theoretical Calculations of Two Cobalt, Nickel Coordination Polymers with 5-Nitroisophthalic Acid and Bis(imidazol) Ligands
Authors: Pan Ya-Ru , Li Xiu-Mei , Ji Jian-Ye , Wang Qing-Wei
Published: June 2016

Two new complexes [Co(NIPH)(bimb)(H2O)]n (1) and [Ni(NIPH)(mbix)]n (2) (H2NIPH = 5-nitroisophthalic acid, bimb = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)butane, mbix = 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene) have been hydrothermally synthesised and structurally characterised by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, UV spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 exhibits a two-dimensional (2D) network, which was stabilised through O–H···O and C–H···O hydrogen-bonding interactions. Complex 2 shows a two-dimensional (2D) network structure, which was further extended into a three-dimensional supramolecular structure through C–H···O hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions. Moreover, we analysed the natural bond orbital (NBO) using the PBE0/LANL2DZ method in the Gaussian 03 program. The calculation results indicated the obvious covalent interactions between the coordinated atoms and the CoII or NiII ion.
Zandra Rhodes’ ‘Works of Art’ (1979–1988): From Feminine Frills to Goddess Saris
Authors: Gramstadt Marie-Therese
Published: June 2016

By 1979 the British fashion designer Zandra Rhodes (b. 1940) was well established and internationally renowned for her colourful hand screen-printed silk chiffon crinoline dresses. The femininity of her chiffon dresses ensured their continuation as best–sellers beyond 1979, but little has been written about her other dress designs during the 1980s. During this period Rhodes introduced new styles including her heavily beaded ‘exotic tunics’ and designer saris worn over hip panniers. Zandra Rhodes’ designs were perceived as feminine when worn by the designer herself, her models and her clientele; and represented as feminine in their portrayal in magazines and newspapers at the time. Using original records held in the Zandra Rhodes Archives, London, as well as material gathered during the Zandra Rhodes Digital Study Collection project (Jisc, 2011–2013), this article examines the period 1979–1988 within a framework of feminine representation and also considers Rhodes’ proposition that her designs are ‘works of art’.
The Great Leap from Earth to Heaven: The Evolution of Ballet and Costume in England and France in the Eighteenth Century
Authors: Collins Mary , Jarvis Joanna
Published: June 2016

The evolution of classical ballet from its accepted origins as one method of displaying status and aristocratic power in Renaissance Italy to its Romantic form, featuring professional ballerinas in white costumes dancing en pointe, took place largely during the long eighteenth century. This article discusses this transformation from the dual perspectives of choreography and costume by using the premise that these two vital elements in the presentation of ballet were co-dependent, each prompting the other to develop and evolve. Concentrating on Paris and London, it examines the relationship between court dress, fashion and theatre costume, and how this affected both the choreography and the style of dance throughout the long eighteenth century.
Fashioning Modernity: Elite Dressmaking in Barcelonac.1870–1919
Authors: Casal-Valls Laura
Published: June 2016

Late nineteenth-century fashion in Barcelona is examined through the development of the dressmaker’s craft, taking account of the historical context and changes in society at the turn of the century. Analysis of the production process, surviving garments and archival evidence demonstrates that a substantial change took place in the organization of the dressmaking industry in Barcelona in the late nineteenth century. This included the insertion of dressmakers’ labels in the most technically and stylistically sophisticated garments, signalling an increasing recognition of leading dressmakers — a process similar to that found in French couture. Juana Valls has been identified as a key designer who, although almost unknown today, was highly successful and prominent at the turn of the twentieth century; a brief biography of Valls is developed. Finally, following this evolutionary period, the year 1919 is proposed as a turning point for Catalan and Spanish couture.
HDTD: analyzing multi-tissue gene expression data
Authors: Touloumis Anestis , Marioni John C. , Tavaré Simon
Published: June 2016

Motivation: By collecting multiple samples per subject, researchers can characterize intra-subject variation using physiologically relevant measurements such as gene expression profiling. This can yield important insights into fundamental biological questions ranging from cell type identity to tumour development. For each subject, the data measurements can be written as a matrix with the different subsamples (e.g. multiple tissues) indexing the columns and the genes indexing the rows. In this context, neither the genes nor the tissues are expected to be independent and straightforward application of traditional statistical methods that ignore this two-way dependence might lead to erroneous conclusions. Herein, we present a suite of tools embedded within the R/Bioconductor package HDTD for robustly estimating and performing hypothesis tests about the mean relationship and the covariance structure within the rows and columns. We illustrate the utility of HDTD by applying it to analyze data generated by the Genotype-Tissue Expression consortium.

Availability and Implementation: The R package HDTD is part of Bioconductor. The source code and a comprehensive user’s guide are available at http://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/HDTD.html.

Contact: A.Touloumis@brighton.ac.uk

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Impact of standard care on elderly glioblastoma patients
Authors: Lapointe Sarah , Florescu Marie , Simonyan David , Michaud Karine
Published: June 2016

Background.

Uncertainty persists about the survival advantage of concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) plus radiotherapy (RT) in elderly patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM). We compared the clinical outcome of unselected elderly GBM patients treated with 4 adjuvant treatment modalities, including the Stupp protocol.

Methods.

From 2010 to 2014, retrospective chart review was performed on 171 GBM patients aged ≥55 who received either concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) with standard 60 Gy/30 (SRT); CCRT with hypofractionated 40 Gy/15 (HRT); HRT alone; or TMZ alone. Stratification is by age (55–69, ≥70), KPS (<70, ≥70), and resection status (biopsy, resection).

Results.

Out of 171 patients identified, 128(75%) had surgical resection, median age was 66(55–83), and median overall survival (mOS) 11.4mo. Majority (109/171) were treated according to the Stupp protocol (CCRT-SRT), and 106/171 received post-CCRT adjuvant TMZ (median of 3 cycles). In our population, age <70yo was a significant prognostic factor (mOS of patients aged 55–69 vs ≥70 yo = 13.3 vs 6.6 mo; P = .001). However, among the population receiving the Stupp regimen, there was no difference in survival between patients aged 55–69 and those ≥70 (respectively, 14.4 vs 13.2 mo; P = .798). Patients ≥70 yo had similar survival when treated with CCRT-HRT and CCRT-SRT (P = .248), although numbers were small.

Conclusions.

Our data suggests that, despite having a worse global prognostic than their younger counterparts, GBM patients ≥70yo with a good performance status could be treated according to the Stupp protocol with similar survival. Theses results need prospective confirmation.
Dexamethasone-suppressed Salivary Cortisol and Pain Sensitivity in Female Twins
Authors: Godfrey Kathryn M. , Herbert Matthew , Strachan Eric , Mostoufi Sheeva , Crofford Leslie J. , Buchwald Dedra , Poeschla Brian , Succop Annemarie , Afari Niloofar
Published: June 2016

Objectives:

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation is associated with chronic pain. Studying pain sensitivity and the HPA axis could elucidate the role of stress in chronic pain development, which might be influenced by familial factors, including genes.

Methods:

Associations between pain sensitivity and salivary cortisol and familial confounding in these associations were examined in 88 female, community-based twin pairs (75% monozygotic, mean age 29 y). Cortisol was assessed after 0.25 mg dexamethasone (DEX), recovery from 0.25 mg DEX, and after 0.5 mg DEX. Cold pressor task (CPT) pain ratings were obtained at threshold and at tolerance. Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) was examined using thermal heat as the testing stimulus and hot water as the conditioning stimulus. Generalized estimating equation models were used and adjusted for baseline pain rating, age, and other relevant covariates.

Results:

After controlling for baseline cortisol, greater cortisol suppression following DEX administration and lower recovery cortisol levels were associated with higher pain ratings at tolerance during the CPT (Bs=−2.42 to −17.82; Ps=0.031 to<0.001) as well as with reduced CPM (Bs=−0.92 to −1.68; Ps=0.003 to 0.046). Interestingly, familial confounding was evident in the CPT and CPM during recovery from DEX administration, but not immediately following DEX administration.

Discussion:

These findings contribute to understanding possible mechanisms underlying chronic pain by demonstrating that HPA axis response to negative feedback is related to pain sensitivity.
Ulna Growth Patterns After Soft Tissue Release With Bilobed Flap in Radial Longitudinal Deficiency
Authors: Vuillermin Carley , Butler Lesley , Ezaki Marybeth , Oishi Scott
Published: June 2016

Background:

Centralization is commonly utilized for treating the severely deviated wrist in radial longitudinal deficiency (RLD). Individuals with RLD have congenital shortening of the ulna and previous studies have shown that traditional centralization, in particular with notching of the carpus, results in additional ulnar growth retardation. At our institution, we use a technique of soft tissue release with bilobed flap. We examined if this technique preserves the growth potential of the distal ulna, therefore, avoiding an additionally shortened forearm.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed serial radiographs of 16 patients with 18 wrists who had at least 3 years of follow-up after a soft tissue release with bilobed flap. Radiographic lengths were measured using the method described by Heikel. Percentage of normal growth was calculated using normative data published by Maresh. Comparisons were made with preoperative, postoperative, and final follow-up studies.

Results:

The average length of follow-up was 9.2 years (range, 3 to 16.3 y) with an average age of 11.6 years (range, 5.2 to 17.5 y). The average age at the time of surgery was 27 months (range, 14 to 48 mo). A minimum of 3 radiographic studies were available for each subject. The average ulna length preoperatively was 63.9% of age-matched normal length (51.4% to 75.3%). The average ulna length at final follow-up was 61.9% of age-matched normal length (48.5% to 70.3%). The difference was not statistically significant. In addition, there were no distal ulnar physeal arrests.

Conclusions:

Soft tissue release with bilobed flap does not affect ulna growth like traditional centralization procedures can. This procedure has previously been shown to retain motion and have similar recurrence rates to formal centralizations. Therefore, we advocate that it be considered more widely for use in patients with RLD and significant wrist deviation to maximize growth and improve hand position. Soft tissue release with bilobed flap can be safely used on young children and preserve ulnar growth.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—therapeutic.
Botulinum Toxin Injection for Internal Rotation Contractures in Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy. A Minimum 5-Year Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Duijnisveld Bouke J. , van Wijlen-Hempel Marie S. , Hogendoorn Simone , de Boer Kees S. , Malessy Martijn J.A. , Keurentjes J. Christiaan , Nagels Jochem , Nelissen Rob G.H.H.
Published: June 2016

Background:

Brachial plexus birth palsy is frequently associated with internal rotation contractures of the shoulder as a result of muscle imbalance. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection in the subscapular (SC) muscle on external rotation and the need for tendon transfer for external rotation of the shoulder.

Methods:

A prospective comparative study was performed including 15 consecutive patients treated with BTX-A and a historic control group of 67 patients with mean age 30 months (SD 10). The BTX-A injection (2 IU/kg body weight) was performed immediately following MRI under general anesthesia in the SC muscle. Passive external rotation, the need for tendon transfer surgery, glenohumeral deformity, and muscle degeneration were evaluated. The hazard ratio for no relapse of internal rotation contracture after BTX-A injection compared with no BTX-A injection was calculated.

Results:

In the BTX-A group, the passive external rotation in adduction increased from −1 degree (95% CI, −10 to 8) to 32 degrees (95% CI, 17-46) at 3 months and 6 patients were indicated for surgery compared with a decline from −2 degrees (95% CI, −7 to 3) to −11 degrees (95% CI, −17 to −6) in the control group with 66 indications for surgery. At 5 years of follow-up, 10 patients in the BTX-A group were indicated for surgery with a hazard ratio of 4.0 (95% CI, 1.9 to 8.4).

Conclusions:

BTX-A injection in the SC muscle of brachial plexus birth palsy patients can reduce internal rotation contractures and subsequently the need for tendon transfer surgery. At 5 years of follow-up a relapse was seen in 67% of the patients treated with BTX-A. Because at MRI less SC degeneration was found in the good responders on BTX-A treatment, this group seems to be the best target group. Further research is needed on patient selection for BTX-A injection including glenohumeral deformity, SC degeneration, as well as doses of BTX-A to be used.

Level of Evidence:

Level II—prospective comparative study.
Patient-Induced Reaction Forces and Moments Are Influenced by Variations in Spinal Manipulative Technique
Authors: D’Angelo Kevin , Triano John J. , Kawchuk Gregory N. , Howarth Samuel J.
Published: June 2016

Study Design.

An in vivo biomechanical study.

Objective.

The aim of the present study was to quantify and compare the reaction loads for two spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) procedures commonly used for low back pain using a biomechanical computer model.

Summary of Background Data.

Contemporary computer-driven rigid linked-segment models (LSMs) have made it feasible to analyze low back kinetics and kinematics during various activities including SMT procedures. Currently, a comprehensive biomechanical model analyzing actual differences in loading effects between different SMT procedures is lacking.

Methods.

Twenty-four healthy/asymptomatic participants received a total of six SMT applications, representing all combinations of two similar SMT procedures within three patient hip flexion angles. All contact forces, patient torso kinematics, and inertial properties were entered into a dynamic three-dimensional LSM to calculate lumbar reaction forces and moments. Peak net applied force along with the maximums, minimums, and ranges for each component of the three-dimensional reaction force and moment vectors during each SMT procedure was analyzed.

Results.

One specific SMT technique (lumbar spinous pull) produced greater maximum anterior-posterior reaction force and both lateral bending and axial twisting reaction moments compared to the other technique (lumbar push procedure [all P ≤ 0.034]). SMT trials without hip flexion had lower maximum medial-lateral reaction force and range compared to those with 45 and 90 degrees of hip flexion (all P ≤ 0.041). There were no interactions between procedure and hip angle for any of the dependent measurements.

Conclusion.

The technique used to apply SMT and the participant's initial hip orientation induced significantly different actions on the low back. These findings and future research can improve patient outcomes and safety by informing clinicians on how to best use SMT given specific types of low back pain.

Level of Evidence: 2
A rare case of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in a patient with uveal melanoma: case report and review of literature
Authors: Fedorenko Inna V. , Evernden Brittany , Kenchappa Rajappa S. , Sahebjam Solmaz , Ryzhova Elena , Puskas John , McIntosh Linda , Caceres Gisela , Magliocco Anthony , Etame Arnold , Harbour J. William , Smalley Keiran S.M. , Forsyth Peter A.
Published: June 2016

Uveal melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma, accounting for only 3–5% of all melanoma cases in the USA. Although fewer than 4% of uveal melanoma patients present with metastasis at diagnosis, approximately half will develop metastasis, more than 90% of which disseminate to the liver. Infrequently, a number of malignancies can lead to leptomeningeal metastases, a devastating and terminal complication. In this case report, we present an exceedingly rare case of a patient with uveal melanoma who developed leptomeningeal carcinomatosis as the sole site of metastasis. After conventional methods to diagnose leptomeningeal carcinomatosis fell short, a diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of identification and genomic analysis of melanoma circulating tumor cells in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Perioperative Mortality in Nonelderly Adult Patients With Cancer
Authors: Amini Arya , Yeh Norman , Jones Bernard L. , Bedrick Edward , Vinogradskiy Yevgeniy , Rusthoven Chad G. , Amini Ava , Purcell William T. , Karam Sana D. , Kavanagh Brian D. , Guntupalli Saketh R. , Fisher Christine M.
Published: June 2016

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether insurance status predicts for perioperative mortality (death within 30 d of cancer-directed surgery) for the 20 most common surgically treated cancers.

Methods:

The SEER database was examined for the 20 most common surgically resected cancers and included nonelderly adults, aged 18 to 64 years. The database was queried from 2007 to 2011, with a total of 506,722 patients included in the analysis.

Results:

Insurance status for all patients were the following: non-Medicaid insurance (83%), any Medicaid (10%), uninsured (4%), and unknown (3%). In univariate analyses, predictors for perioperative mortality included insurance status (P<0.001), age (P=0.015), race (P<0.001), marital status (P<0.001), residence (P=0.002), percent of county below the federal poverty level (P<0.001), and median county-level income (P<0.001). Perioperative mortality was also associated with advanced disease (P<0.001). Under multivariate analysis, patients with either Medicaid (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio [CMH OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.29; P<0.001) or uninsured status (CMH OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.44-1.70; P<0.001) were more likely to die within 30 days of surgery compared with patients with non-Medicaid insurance. When comparing Medicaid with the uninsured, Medicaid patients had significantly lower rates of perioperative mortality when compared with the uninsured (CMH OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.73-0.89, P<0.001).

Conclusions and Relevance:

In the largest reported analysis of perioperative mortality evaluating the 20 most common surgically treated malignancies, patients with Medicaid coverage or without health insurance were more likely to die within 30 days of surgery, with the uninsured having the worst outcomes.
Peri- and postoperative cognitive and consecutive functional problems of elderly patients
Authors: Müller Anika , Lachmann Gunnar , Wolf Alissa , Mörgeli Rudolf , Weiss Björn , Spies Claudia
Published: June 2016

Purpose of review

From an elderly patient's perspective, acute and chronic cognitive disturbances are among the most harmful complications that can occur following surgery. For elderly patients, these complications often mean the end of an independent life. This article focuses on this serious aspect, which is increasingly prevalent in our aging society. Cognitive disturbances are associated with severe outcome impairments and increased mortality. This article aims to provide a current overview regarding the diagnosis, pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of this severe social problem.

Recent findings

The current knowledge of risk factors, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of postoperative delirium and postoperative cognitive dysfunction should help to raise awareness and improve the outcome of delirious patients, particularly in the elderly population.

Especially in elderly patients, postoperative delirium constitutes a common, severe complication. Early diagnosis and supportive treatment are essential to improve outcome. To date, no pharmacological treatment strategy was effective, so that further research about the underlying pathophysiology and the development of treatment strategies are urgently required.
Interventions that Enhance Breastfeeding Initiation, Duration, and Exclusivity
Authors: Wood Natsuko K. , Woods Nancy F. , Blackburn Susan T. , Sanders Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2016

Objective:

The purpose of this review was to evaluate breastfeeding interventions trialed to date and recommend directions for future needs in breastfeeding research.

Methods:

A literature review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL Plus, and PsycINFO databases to identify studies that evaluated efficacy or effectiveness of breastfeeding interventions on breastfeeding initiation, duration, or exclusivity as a primary, secondary, or tertiary outcome. Combinations of search terms included breastfeeding, feeding behavior, prenatal/patient education, health promotion, social support, perinatal/prenatal/intrapartum/postnatal care, and postpartum period.

Results:

Six studies were included in this review, using PRISMA guidelines. Acquisition of knowledge and skills, emotional support by healthcare providers, and self-efficacy over maternal confidence in her ability to breastfeed were factors the intervention studies relied on to affect breastfeeding practices. Although these factors were addressed in the studies, breastfeeding mothers had difficulty transferring what they gained from interventions into their real-life breastfeeding practices as evidenced by the highest drop-off rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the early postpartum.

Conclusions:

There were conceptual limitations to the reviewed studies: (1) lack of understanding of maternal perception of infant behavior and (2) perceived insufficient milk as a remaining primary reason for breastfeeding discontinuation. There were methodological limitations: (1) lack of theory-based interventions and (2) lack of intervention fidelity. Future studies involving breastfeeding should focus on the causes of the problems driven by theory-based interventions integrated with intervention fidelity.
The potential for sexual transmission to compromise control of Ebola virus outbreaks
Authors: Vinson John E. , Drake John M. , Rohani Pejman , Park Andrew W.
Published: June 2016

Recent evidence suggests that sexual contact may give rise to transmission of Ebola virus long after infection has been cleared from blood. We develop a simple mathematical model that incorporates contact transmission and sexual transmission parametrized from data relating to the 2013–2015 West African Ebola epidemic. The model explores scenarios where contact transmission is reduced following infection events, capturing behaviour change, and quantifies how these actions reducing transmission may be compromised by sexual transmission in terms of increasing likelihood, size and duration of outbreaks. We characterize the extent to which sexual transmission operates in terms of the probability of initial infection resolving to sexual infectiousness and the sexual transmission rate, and relate these parameters to the overall case burden. We find that sexual transmission can have large effects on epidemic dynamics (increasing attack ratios from 25% in scenarios without sexual transmission but with contact-transmission-reducing behaviour, up to 80% in equivalent scenarios with sexual transmission).
On the prior distribution of extinction time
Authors: Solow Andrew R.
Published: June 2016

Bayesian inference about the extinction of a species based on a record of its sightings requires the specification of a prior distribution for extinction time. Here, I critically review some specifications in the context of a specific model of the sighting record. The practical implication of the choice of prior distribution is illustrated through an application to the sighting record of the Caribbean monk seal.
Decision-making without a brain: how an amoeboid organism solves the two-armed bandit
Authors: Reid Chris R. , MacDonald Hannelore , Mann Richard P. , Marshall James A. R. , Latty Tanya , Garnier Simon
Published: June 2016

Several recent studies hint at shared patterns in decision-making between taxonomically distant organisms, yet few studies demonstrate and dissect mechanisms of decision-making in simpler organisms. We examine decision-making in the unicellular slime mouldPhysarum polycephalumusing a classical decision problem adapted from human and animal decision-making studies: the two-armed bandit problem. This problem has previously only been used to study organisms with brains, yet here we demonstrate that a brainless unicellular organism compares the relative qualities of multiple options, integrates over repeated samplings to perform well in random environments, and combines information on reward frequency and magnitude in order to make correct and adaptive decisions. We extend our inquiry by using Bayesian model selection to determine the most likely algorithm used by the cell when making decisions. We deduce that this algorithm centres around a tendency to exploit environments in proportion to their reward experienced through past sampling. The algorithm is intermediate in computational complexity between simple, reactionary heuristics and calculation-intensive optimal performance algorithms, yet it has very good relative performance. Our study provides insight into ancestral mechanisms of decision-making and suggests that fundamental principles of decision-making, information processing and even cognition are shared among diverse biological systems.