bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the relationships between DSM‐5 dysfunctional personality traits and social cognition deficits: A study in a sample of consecutively admitted Italian psychotherapy patients
Authors: Fossati Andrea , Somma Antonella , Krueger Robert F. , Markon Kristian E. , Borroni Serena
Published: May 2017

This study aims at testing the hypothesis that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM‐5) alternative model of personality disorder (AMPD) traits may be significantly associated with deficits on 2 different social cognition tasks, namely, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test and the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition, in a sample of consecutively admitted inpatients and outpatients. The sample was composed of 181 consecutively admitted participants (57.5% women; mean age = 38.58 years). Correlation coefficients and partial correlation coefficients were computed in order to assess the associations among social cognition tasks, DSM‐5 AMPD traits, and dimensionally assessed DSM‐5 Section II personality disorders. Specific maladaptive traits listed in the DSM‐5 AMPD were significantly associated with Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test scores and Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition scores, even when the effect of selected DSM‐5 Section II personality disorders was controlled for. Our results support the relevance of studying social cognitive functioning in subjects suffering from personality disorders.
Managing a Company Crisis through Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: A Practice‐Based Analysis
Authors: Vallaster Christine
Published: May 2017

A growing number of companies focus not just on generating economic value but on expanding their perspective, including social, human, and environmental aspects. Historically, companies mainly included corporate social responsibility (CSR) in their activities in economically promising times. But can CSR be applied in economically difficult times, too, as a potential strategic mechanism to recover from a company crisis? This study aims to advance understanding of strategic CSR and crisis recovery, and their possible relationship. The case study's findings suggest that strategic CSR can have a positive impact on crisis recovery and promote the revision of established practices required to manage a company crisis. The findings have relevance to companies seeking to innovate in the CSR space, to social entrepreneurs, and to researchers and practitioners interested in these topics. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Body shape differences in a pair of closely related Malawi cichlids and their hybrids: Effects of genetic variation, phenotypic plasticity, and transgressive segregation
Authors: Husemann Martin , Tobler Michael , McCauley Cagney , Ding Baoqing , Danley Patrick D.
Published: May 2017

Phenotypic differences may have genetic and plastic components. Here, we investigated the contributions of both for differences in body shape in two species of Lake Malawi cichlids using wild‐caught specimens and a common garden experiment. We further hybridized the two species to investigate the mode of gene action influencing body shape differences and to examine the potential for transgressive segregation. We found that body shape differences between the two species observed in the field are maintained after more than 10 generations in a standardized environment. Nonetheless, both species experienced similar changes in the laboratory environment. Our hybrid cross experiment confirmed that substantial variation in body shape appears to be genetically determined. The data further suggest that the underlying mode of gene action is complex and cannot be explained by simple additive or additive‐dominance models. Transgressive phenotypes were found in the hybrid generations, as hybrids occupied significantly more morphospace than both parentals combined. Further, the body shapes of transgressive individuals resemble the body shapes observed in other Lake Malawi rock‐dwelling genera. Our findings indicate that body shape can respond to selection immediately, through plasticity, and over longer timescales through adaptation. In addition, our results suggest that hybridization may have played an important role in the diversification of Lake Malawi cichlids through creating new phenotypic variation.
No evidence for adaptation to local rhizobial mutualists in the legume Medicago lupulina
Authors: Harrison Tia L. , Wood Corlett W. , Borges Isabela L. , Stinchcombe John R.
Published: May 2017

Local adaptation is a common but not ubiquitous feature of species interactions, and understanding the circumstances under which it evolves illuminates the factors that influence adaptive population divergence. Antagonistic species interactions dominate the local adaptation literature relative to mutualistic ones, preventing an overall assessment of adaptation within interspecific interactions. Here, we tested whether the legume Medicago lupulina is adapted to the locally abundant species of mutualistic nitrogen‐fixing rhizobial bacteria that vary in frequency across its eastern North American range. We reciprocally inoculated northern and southern M. lupulina genotypes with the northern (Ensifer medicae) or southern bacterium (E. meliloti) in a greenhouse experiment. Despite producing different numbers of root nodules (the structures in which the plants house the bacteria), neither northern nor southern plants produced more seeds, flowered earlier, or were more likely to flower when inoculated with their local rhizobia. We then used a pre‐existing dataset to perform a genome scan for loci that showed elevated differentiation between field‐collected plants that hosted different bacteria. None of the loci we identified belonged to the well‐characterized suite of legume–rhizobia symbiosis genes, suggesting that the rhizobia do not drive genetic divergence between M. lupulina populations. Our results demonstrate that symbiont local adaptation has not evolved in this mutualism despite large‐scale geographic variation in the identity of the interacting species.
Anion···π Interactions and Metastability: Structural Transformations in a Silver–Pyrazine Network
Authors: Gee William J. , Robertson Karen , Skelton Jonathan M.
Published: May 2017

Structural evidence of anion···π interactions influencing single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SCSC) transformations is demonstrated herein with a metastable silver–pyrazine system. A cascade of SCSC transformations driven by changes to anion···π stabilisation sees two metastable species convert to a ground‐state form. This constitutes one of the most dramatic chemical effects yet attributed to anion···π interactions. Metastable networks [Ag(µ‐NO2)(pyz)] (1, 2) are composed of dimerised (1) and delaminated (2) AgNO2/pyrazine, which convert to the ground‐state [Ag(κ2‐NO2)(pyz)] form 3 with 3D connectivity. The metastable phases show responsiveness to solvent vapour and temperature. This work shows how anion···π interactions influence solid‐state structure with support from computational modelling and highlights how metastable materials may harness anion···π interactions to deliver large structural and property changes.
Non‐enzymatic Electrochemical Sensor for the Simultaneous Determination of Xanthine, its Methyl Derivatives Theophylline and Caffeine as well as its Metabolite Uric Acid
Authors: Jesny S. , Girish Kumar K.
Published: May 2017

Xanthine and its methyl derivatives, theophylline and caffeine are purines which find important roles in biological systems. The simultaneous voltammetric behaviour of these purines has been studied on a glassy carbon electrode modified with an electropolymerised film of para amino benzene sulfonic acid. Well defined and well separated peaks were obtained for the oxidation of xanthine, theophylline and caffeine on the polymer modified electrode in the square wave mode. The experimental requirements to obtain the best results for individual as well as simultaneous determination were optimised. The signal for the electro‐oxidation was found to be free of interferences from each other in the range 0.9 – 100 μM in the case of xanthine and from 10–100 μM in the case of theophylline and caffeine with detection limits 0.35 μM, 7.02 μM and 11.95 μM respectively. The simultaneous determination of uric acid, the final metabolic product of xanthine oxidation in biological systems could also be accomplished along with xanthine, theophylline and caffeine atphysiological pH. The mechanistic aspects of the electro‐oxidation on the polymer modified electrode was also studied using linear sweep voltammetry. Chronoamperometry was employed to determine the diffusion coefficient of these xanthines. The developed sensor has been successfully demonstrated to be suitable for the determination of these compounds in real samples without much pre‐treatment.
Square‐wave Voltammetric Determination of Propyphenazone, Paracetamol, and Caffeine: Comparative Study between Batch Injection Analysis and Conventional Electrochemical Systems
Authors: Silva Weberson P. , Silva Luiz A. J. , França Clarice H. , Sousa Raquel M. F. , Muñoz Rodrigo A. A. , Richter Eduardo M.
Published: May 2017

In this work, the performance of two methods for simultaneous determination of propyphenazone (PRO), paracetamol (PAR), and caffeine (CAF) were compared. One is based on the use of a conventional electrochemical cell (steady‐state condition) and the other on the use of a batch injection analysis (BIA) cell; both systems were associated with square‐wave voltammetric detection (SWV). Three well separated (▵E ≥ 0.25 V) oxidation peaks were obtained for PRO, PAR, and CAF using 0.1 mol L−1 H2SO4 as electrolyte and a boron‐doped diamond (BDD) as working electrode. In addition, the electrochemical oxidation mechanism of PRO is being proposed for the first time. The average relative standard deviations of CB and BIA methods were 4.1 % and 3.1 %, respectively. The conventional system presented better limits of detection and the BIA system a significantly greater throughput (four times faster). Statistical comparison between the results obtained with both proposed methods and those obtained by chromatography was carried out and no significant differences were observed (95 % confidence level).
Determination of effective charges and ionic mobilities of polycationic antimicrobial peptides by capillary isotachophoresis and capillary zone electrophoresis
Authors: Tůmová Tereza , Monincová Lenka , Nešuta Ondřej , Čeřovský Václav , Kašička Václav
Published: May 2017

Capillary ITP (CITP) and CZE were applied to the determination of effective charges and ionic mobilities of polycationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Twelve AMPs (deca‐ to hexadecapeptides) containing three to seven basic amino acid residues (His, Lys, Arg) at variable positions of peptide chain were investigated. Effective charges of the AMPs were determined from the lengths of their ITP zones, ionic mobilities, and molar concentrations, and from the same parameters of the reference compounds. Lengths of the ITP zones of AMPs and reference compounds were obtained from their CITP analyses in cationic mode using leading electrolyte (LE) composed of 10 mM NH4OH, 40 mM AcOH (acetic acid), pH 4.1, and terminating electrolyte (TE) containing 40 mM AcOH, pH 3.2. Ionic mobilities of AMPs and singly charged reference compounds (ammediol or arginine) were determined by their CZE analyses in the BGE of the same composition as the LE. The effective charges numbers of AMPs were found to be in the range 1.65–5.04, i.e. significantly reduced as compared to the theoretical charge numbers (2.86–6.99) calculated from the acidity constants of the analyzed AMPs. This reduction of effective charge due to tightly bound acetate counterions (counterion condensation) was in the range 17–47% depending on the number and type of the basic amino acid residues in the AMPs molecules. Ionic mobilities of AMPs achieved values (26.5‐38.6) × 10−9 m2V−1s−1 and in most cases were in a good agreement with the ratio of their effective charges and relative molecular masses.
Comparison of risk of malignancy in a subgroup with atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Ahn Soon‐Hyun , Kim Seong Dong , Jeong Woo‐Jin
Published: May 2017

Background

As heterogeneous findings are included in the atypia of undetermined significance (AUS)/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (FLUS) category, differing risks of malignancy in subgroups have been reported in several articles.

Methods

We performed a meta‐analysis of full‐text publications written in English found in the Embase and PubMed databases.

Results

The 4‐tiered subgroup proportion meta‐analysis showed that the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the risk of malignancy in the cellular atypia group did not overlap with the other 3 subgroups and demonstrated a significant difference. Two‐tiered analysis using the cytologic and architectural atypia groups showed that cytologic atypia group had a 2.64‐fold increase in the risk of malignancy compared with the architectural atypia group.

Conclusion

The cytologic atypia had a significantly higher risk of malignancy than the architectural atypia group, and it should be considered as a separate category.
Evaluation of indicated non‐cosmetic panniculectomy at time of gynecologic surgery
Authors: Rasmussen Ryan W. , Patibandla Jay R. , Hopkins Michael P.
Published: May 2017

Objective

To report postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing indicated non‐cosmetic panniculectomy at the time of gynecologic surgery.

Methods

Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent panniculectomy coupled with gynecologic surgery at a university‐affiliated hospital in the USA in 1990–2014. The data reviewed included age, body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters), surgical procedure, estimated blood loss, pathology, wound complication, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and readmission rate. One‐way analysis of variance and logistic regression were used to evaluate the data.

Results

In total, 300 patients underwent panniculectomy; the mean age was 51 years and the mean BMI was 46. Overall, there were 94 (31.3%) complications, including 85 (28.3%) cases of superficial cellulitis and 9 (3.0%) cases of surgical‐site infection. In logistic regression, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking were significant predictors of wound complications, identifying 78% of women who subsequently developed wound complications.

Conclusion

Panniculectomy combined with gynecologic surgery was found to be safe and effective for obese patients, with an acceptable incidence of wound infection. History of diabetes, hypertension, and smoking increased the risk of postoperative wound complications. These factors will help to predict patients at risk of wound complication.
Extended axial imaging range, widefield swept source optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Liu Gangjun , Yang Jianlong , Wang Jie , Li Yan , Zang Pengxiao , Jia Yali , Huang David
Published: May 2017

We developed a high‐speed, swept source OCT system for widefield OCT angiography (OCTA) imaging. The system has an extended axial imaging range of 6.6 mm. An electrical lens is used for fast, automatic focusing. The recently developed split‐spectrum amplitude and phase‐gradient angiography allow high‐resolution OCTA imaging with only two B‐scan repetitions. An improved post‐processing algorithm effectively removed trigger jitter artifacts and reduced noise in the flow signal. We demonstrated high contrast 3 mm×3 mm OCTA image with 400×400 pixels acquired in 3 seconds and high‐definition 8 mm×6 mm and 12 mm×6 mm OCTA images with 850×400 pixels obtained in 4 seconds. A widefield 8 mm×11 mm OCTA image is produced by montaging two 8 mm×6 mm scans. An ultra‐widefield (with a maximum of 22 mm along both vertical and horizontal directions) capillary‐resolution OCTA image is obtained by montaging six 12 mm×6 mm scans.
National survey on turnaround time of clinical biochemistry tests in 738 laboratories in China
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyan , Fei Yang , Wang Wei , Zhao Haijian , Wang Minqi , Chen Bingquan , Zhou Jie , Wang Zhiguo
Published: May 2017

Background

This survey was initiated to estimate the current status of turnaround time (TAT) monitoring of clinical biochemistry in China, provide baseline data for establishment of quality specifications and analyze the impact factors of TAT.

Methods

738 laboratories were included. Questionnaires involved general information and data of related indicators of TAT during 1 week were provided to participating laboratories. Nine quality indicators were covered, which were medians, 90th and outlier rates of pre‐examination, examination, and post‐examination TAT. The 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile of TATs were calculated as optimum, desirable, and minimum quality specifications. Percentages and sigma values were used to describe the outlier rates. Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to identify the potential impacts of TAT.

Results

Response rate of this survey was 46.44%. More than 50% of the laboratories indicated they had set up target TATs in three time intervals and monitored TATs generally. The post‐examination TAT of most laboratories was 0min, while the pre‐examination and examination TAT varied. Sigma values of outlier rates for 45%~60% of laboratories were above 4, while 15%~20% of labs whose sigma values were below 3. Group comparisons suggested nurse or mechanical pipeline transportation, link laboratory information system with hospital information system, and using computer reporting instead of printing report were related to shorter TATs.

Conclusions

Despite of the remarkable progresses of TATs in China, there was also room to improve. Laboratories should strengthen the construction of information systems, identify reasons for TAT delay to improve the service quality continuously.
Couples Coping Through Deployment: Findings From a Sample of National Guard Families
Authors: Blow Adrian J. , Bowles Ryan P. , Farero Adam , Subramaniam Sailaja , Lappan Sara , Nichols Emily , Gorman Lisa , Kees Michelle , Guty Danielle
Published: May 2017

Objective

Military families face numerous changes and stresses as they negotiate deployments and other life transitions. How they cope with these events is an important part of their overall well‐being and resilience. This longitudinal study on coping in a sample of National Guard couples examined the association between the predeployment coping (active vs. avoidant) of each in the relationship, and their own and their significant others’ mental health (anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) and family well‐being (dyadic adjustment and parenting stress) postdeployment.

Method

A total of 238 matched couples completed the predeployment survey, 143 matched couples completed the post, with 122 matched couples completing both pre‐ and postdeployment surveys.

Results

While active coping was not significantly associated with any outcomes, predeployment avoidant coping in both soldiers and significant others was associated with increased anxiety, PTSD, and depression post deployment (actor effects). Additionally, soldier avoidant coping predeployment was associated with increased parenting stress for soldiers, while significant other avoidant coping predeployment was associated with increased relationship distress for significant others (actor effects). Finally, significant other avoidant coping predeployment was associated with higher parenting distress for soldiers postdeployment (partner effect).

Conclusion

Findings suggest that interventions are needed to combat avoidant coping (behavioral disengagement, denial, substance abuse) predeployment because this way of coping is strongly related to negative outcomes. In addition, those who work clinically with these families should work to reduce avoidant coping strategies and any familial dynamics exacerbated by this way of coping.
Parental Secondary Stress: The Often Hidden Consequences of Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury in Youth
Authors: Whitlock Janis , Lloyd‐Richardson Elizabeth , Fisseha Feven , Bates Thaddeus
Published: May 2017

Objective

This study aims to deepen understanding of the effects on parents of having a self‐injuring child by (a) analyzing differences in dimensions of caregiver strain between caregivers of youth with nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI+) and parents of youth with no known mental health history (MH−); (b) identifying factors that contribute to caregiver strain; and (c) examining parent outcome expectancies.

Method

Participants were 196 NSSI+ parents and 57 MH− parents. Quantitative measures of psychosocial variables, parent mental health and support variables, and child self‐injury characteristics were assessed in relation to caregiver strain, and NSSI+ parental expectancies were assessed via mixed methods.

Results

Parents with a NSSI+ youth were more likely to exhibit all forms of objective and subjective strain than parents of youth with no mental health challenges. Despite this, many parents expressed beliefs that their child would experience personal growth as a result of their NSSI experience.

Conclusion

Findings reveal the important role of mindful parenting practices and informal social support.
Muscle mass and association to quality of life in non‐small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Bye Asta , Sjøblom Bjørg , Wentzel‐Larsen Tore , Grønberg Bjørn H. , Baracos Vickie E. , Hjermstad Marianne J. , Aass Nina , Bremnes Roy M. , Fløtten Øystein , Jordhøy Marit
Published: May 2017

Background

Cancer wasting is characterized by muscle loss and may contribute to fatigue and poor quality of life (QoL). Our aim was to investigate associations between skeletal muscle index (SMI) and skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMD) and selected QoL outcomes in advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at diagnosis.

Methods

Baseline data from patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC and performance status 0–2 enrolled in three randomized trials of first‐line chemotherapy (n = 1305) were analysed. Associations between SMI (cm2/m2) and SMD (Hounsfield units) based on computed tomography‐images at the third lumbar level and self‐reported physical function (PF), role function (RF), global QoL, fatigue, and dyspnoea were investigated by linear regression using flexible non‐linear modelling.

Results

Complete data were available for 734 patients, mean age 65 years. Mean SMI was 47.7 cm2/m2 in men (n = 420) and 39.6 cm2/m2 in women (n = 314). Low SMI values were non‐linearly associated with low PF and RF (men P = 0.016/0.020, women P = 0.004/0.012) and with low global QoL (P = 0.001) in men. Low SMI was significantly associated with high fatigue (P = 0.002) and more pain (P = 0.015), in both genders, but not with dyspnoea. All regression analyses showed poorer physical outcomes below an SMI breakpoint of about 42–45 cm2/m2 for men and 37–40 cm2/m2 for women. In both genders, poor PF and more dyspnoea were significantly associated with low SMD.

Conclusions

Low muscle mass in NSCLC negatively affects the patients' PF, RF, and global QoL, possibly more so in men than in women. However, muscle mass must be below a threshold value before this effect can be detected.
The Future Problem Solving Program International: An Intervention to Promote Creative Skills in Portuguese Adolescents
Authors: Azevedo Ivete , de Fátima Morais Maria , Martins Fernanda
Published: May 2017

The Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) is an internationally applied educational program that involves young people. Its theoretical foundation is both the Creative Problem Solving Model and the Futurist Thinking. It aims to promote creative and critical thinking through a futurist approach to problems. This study intended to analyze the effects of the program on creative skills evaluated by the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (Figural Version). The participants’ perceptions of the efficacy of the program were also assessed. This intervention was carried out with 131 adolescents over a period of 7 months in an extra‐curricular context. The evaluation of the program takes into account periods both before and after interventions, using similar experimental and control groups. The results showed significant statistical differences for the all skills studied and very positive perceptions of the efficacy of FPSPI. Two significant gender differences in creative performance were also found. The results are described and discussed in order to promote awareness for future research concerning this program.
Effects of Group Training in Problem‐Solving Style on Future Problem‐Solving Performance
Authors: Main Laura F. , Delcourt Marcia A. B. , Treffinger Donald J.
Published: May 2017

Seventy‐five participants from one suburban high school formed 21 teams with 3–4 members each for the Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI). Students were selected to participate in either the regular FPSPI or an enhanced FPSPI, where multiple group training activities grounded in problem‐solving style were incorporated into a 9‐week treatment period. An ANCOVA procedure was used to examine the difference in team responses to a creative problem‐solving scenario for members of each group, after accounting for initial differences in creative problem‐solving performance, years of experience in FPSPI, and creative thinking related to fluency, flexibility, and originality. The ANCOVA resulted in a significant difference in problem‐solving performance in favor of students in the treatment group (F(1, 57) = 8.21, p = .006, partial eta squared = .126, medium), while there were no significant differences in years of experience or creativity scores. This result led researchers to conclude that students in both groups had equivalent creative ability and that participation in the group activities emphasizing problem‐solving style significantly contributed to creative performance.
Consumers’ perspectives of Malaysian community pharmacists as health educators: a qualitative insight
Authors: Ooi Guat See , Hassali Mohamed Azmi , Shafie Asrul Akmal , Kong David C. M. , Mak Vivienne S. L. , Chua Gin Nie
Published: May 2017

Background

Around the globe, community pharmacy has always been a health care hub made accessible to the public.

Aim

This study was conducted to evaluate consumers’ perceptions towards the role of the pharmacist as health educator (HE) and hence to identify the barriers toward consumers’ acceptance of the role.

Method

This qualitative study was conducted in four states of Malaysia where participants (>18 years old) were recruited using a convenience sampling method until saturation of themes. A semi‐structured interview guide was used and face‐to‐face interviews with consenting participants were conducted for approximately 20 min by trained interviewers. All interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim and evaluated using a thematic content analysis approach.

Results

In all, 21 consumers were interviewed. Analysis of interview transcripts identified four major themes: understanding of the term ‘HE’, facilitators and barriers for consumers accepting pharmacists as HE, and strategies to overcome the barriers. Most respondents acknowledged and recognised the roles of community pharmacists in terms of giving clear advice and explanations about healthcare issues and medications, and the ability to educate the public. The major barriers included the experience of the pharmacist, consumers’ preferences for general practitioners as their HEs, the unavailability of pharmacists on the premises and personal encounters with pharmacists with bad attitudes.

Conclusion

Consumers generally accept pharmacists as HEs. However, some barriers do exist. The pharmacy stakeholders in the country need to address these barriers in order to improve future utilisation of community pharmacists as HEs in the existing healthcare system.
A large‐scale assessment of temporal trends in meta‐analyses using systematic review reports from the Cochrane Library
Authors: Fanshawe Thomas R. , Shaw Luke F. , Spence Graeme T.
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Previous studies suggest that many systematic reviews contain meta‐analyses that display temporal trends, such as the first study's result being more extreme than later studies' or a drift in the pooled estimate. We assessed the extent and characteristics of temporal trends using all Cochrane intervention reports published 2008‐2012.

Methods

We selected the largest meta‐analysis within each report and analysed trends using methods including a Z‐test (first versus subsequent estimates); generalised least squares; and cumulative sum charts. Predictors considered include meta‐analysis size and review group.

Results

Of 1288 meta‐analyses containing at least 4 studies, the point estimate from the first study was more extreme and in the same direction as the pooled estimate in 738 (57%), with a statistically significant difference (first versus subsequent) in 165 (13%). Generalised least squares indicated trends in 717 (56%); 18% of fixed effects analyses had at least one violation of cumulative sum limits. For some methods, meta‐analysis size was associated with temporal patterns and use of a random effects model, but there was no consistent association with review group.

Conclusions

All results suggest that more meta‐analyses demonstrate temporal patterns than would be expected by chance. Hence, assuming the standard meta‐analysis model without temporal trend is sometimes inappropriate. Factors associated with trends are likely to be context specific.
Recurrence patterns following irreversible electroporation for hepatic malignancies
Authors: Langan Russell C. , Goldman Debra A. , D'Angelica Michael I. , DeMatteo Ronald P. , Allen Peter J. , Balachandran Vinod P. , Jarnagin William R. , Kingham T. Peter
Published: May 2017

Background

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) has emerged as a novel, safe ablative therapy for peri‐vascular lesions. However, there remains a paucity of data on long‐term outcomes.

Methods

We identified patients who underwent open IRE (1/2011‐6/2015) for primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. Local ablation‐zone recurrence (LR) was determined by cross‐sectional imaging. Cumulative incidence (CumI) of LR was calculated and a competing risks regression assessed factors associated with LR.

Results

Forty patients had 77 lesions treated. The majority of lesions were of colorectal origin (74%). Median tumor size was 1.3 cm (range 0.5‐6). Most patients (86%) had prior systemic therapy and 29% received systemic therapy following IRE. With a median follow‐up of 25.7 months (range 4.5‐58.8 months), 10 lesions in 9 patients recurred locally (CumI: 13.4%, 95%CI: 7.8‐22.2%). Median estimated time to LR was not reached and no LR occurred after 19 months. Factors significantly associated with LR included ablation zone size (HR 1.58; 95%CI 1.12‐2.23; P = 0.0093) and body mass index (HR 1.21 95%CI 1.10‐1.34; P = 0.0001).

Conclusion

IRE LR rates were low after the treatment of well selected, small tumors. This technique is useful for lesions in anatomic locations precluding resection or thermal ablation.
Adult acute supraglottitis: Analysis of 358 patients for predictors of airway intervention
Authors: Shapira Galitz Yael , Shoffel‐Havakuk Hagit , Cohen Oded , Halperin Doron , Lahav Yonatan
Published: May 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

Acute supraglottitis is a potentially life‐threatening condition due to rapid onset upper airway obstruction. The study aimed to characterize adult acute supraglottitis patients and to recognize factors associated with an aggressive disease course.

Study Design

Retrospective chart review.

Methods

All adult acute supraglottitis patients admitted to a single academic medical center between 2000 and 2014 were included and their medical charts reviewed. The main outcome measures were airway intervention and mortality.

Results

Three hundred fifty‐eight patients were enrolled. Mean age was 53 years (range, 16–92 years), with 62.8% males. Sore throat (79%) and dysphagia (70.9%) were the most common symptoms. Stridor (3.6%), tachypnea (5.7%), and dyspnea (6.4%) were uncommon but significantly associated with airway intervention. The epiglottis was most commonly involved (67%). Involvement of the epiglottis and aryepiglottic folds showed a trend of correlation to airway intervention. Blood glucose levels, C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels, and relative neutrophilia were significantly higher in patients admitted to the intensive care unit or requiring airway intervention. Thirty‐four patients (9.5%) required intensive care unit admission. Sixteen patients (4.4%) required airway intervention. Recurrent episodes of supraglottitis, seen in 19 patients, were more common in males (P = .048), and tended to have a more severe clinical course, requiring more airway interventions (P = .005) and intensive care unit admissions (P = .016).

Conclusions

The typical high risk patient—a male, with dyspnea and stridor, presenting with edema of the epiglottis and aryepiglottic folds, elevated CRP, hyperglycemia, and a history of recurrent episodes—should warrant more aggressive treatment and closer observation.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 127:2106–2112, 2017
Subtle blood‐brain barrier leakage rate and spatial extent: Considerations for dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI
Authors: van de Haar Harm J. , Jansen Jacobus F.A. , Jeukens Cécile R.L.P.N. , Burgmans Saartje , van Buchem Mark A. , Muller Majon , Hofman Paul A.M. , Verhey Frans R.J. , van Osch Matthias J.P. , Backes Walter H.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) MRI can be used to measure blood‐brain barrier (BBB) leakage. In neurodegenerative disorders such as small vessel disease and dementia, the leakage can be very subtle and the corresponding signal can be rather noisy. For these reasons, an optimized DCE‐MRI measurement and study design is required. To this end, a new measure indicative of the spatial extent of leakage is introduced and the effects of scan time and sample size are explored.

Methods

Dual‐time resolution DCE‐MRI was performed in 16 patients with early Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 17 healthy controls. The leakage rate (Ki) and volume fraction of detectable leaking tissue (vL) to quantify the spatial extent of BBB leakage were calculated in cortical gray matter and white matter using noise‐corrected histogram analysis of leakage maps. Computer simulations utilizing realistic Ki histograms, mimicking the strong effect of noise and variation in Ki values, were performed to understand the influence of scan time on the estimated leakage.

Results

The mean Ki was very low (order of 10−4 min−1) and highly influenced by noise, causing the Ki to be increasingly overestimated at shorter scan times. In the white matter, the Ki was not different between patients with early AD and controls, but was higher in the cortex for patients, reaching significance after 14.5 min of scan time. To detect group differences, vL proved more suitable, showing significantly higher values for patients compared with controls in the cortex after 8 minutes of scan time, and in white matter after 15.5 min.

Conclusions

Several ways to improve the sensitivity of a DCE‐MRI experiment to subtle BBB leakage were presented. We have provided vL as an attractive and potentially more time‐efficient alternative to detect group differences in subtle and widespread blood‐brain barrier leakage compared with leakage rate Ki. Recommendations on group size and scan time are made based on statistical power calculations to aid future research.
Computerized detection of lung nodules through radiomics
Authors: Ma Jingchen , Zhou Zien , Ren Yacheng , Xiong Junfeng , Fu Ling , Wang Qian , Zhao Jun
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer deaths, and the 5‐year survival rate of stage IV lung cancer patients is only 2%. However, the 5‐year survival rate of stage I lung cancer patients significantly increases to 50%. As such, spiral computed tomography (CT) scans are necessary to diagnose high‐risk lung cancer patients in early stages. In this study, a computer‐aided detection (CAD) system with radiomics was proposed. This system could automatically detect pulmonary nodules and reduce radiologists’ workloads and human errors.

Methods

In the proposed scheme, a nodular enhancement filter was used to segment nodule candidates and extract radiomic features. A synthetic minority over‐sampling technique was also applied to balance the samples, and a random forest method was utilized to distinguish between real nodules and false positive detections. The radiomics approach quantified intratumor heterogeneity and multifrequency information, which are highly correlated with lung nodules.

Results

The proposed method was used to evaluate 1004 CT cases from the well‐known Lung Image Database Consortium, and 88.9% sensitivity with four false positive detections per CT scan was obtained by randomly selecting 502 cases for training and 502 other cases for testing.

Conclusions

The proposed scheme yielded a high performance on the LIDC database. Therefore, the proposed scheme is possibly effective for various CT configurations used in routine diagnosis and lung cancer screening.
Closed‐loop control of compression paddle motion to reduce blurring in mammograms
Authors: Ma Wang Kei , Howard David , Hogg Peter
Published: May 2017

Background

Since the introduction of full field digital mammography (FFDM) a large number of UK breast cancer screening centers have reported blurred images, which can be caused by movement at the compression paddle during image acquisition.

Purpose

To propose and investigate the use of position feedback from the breast side of the compression paddle to reduce the settling time of breast side motion.

Method

Movement at the breast side of the paddle was measured using two calibrated linear potentiometers. A mathematical model for the compression paddle, machine drive, and breast was developed using the paddle movement data. Simulation software was used to optimize the position feedback controller parameters for different machine drive time constants and simulate the potential performance of the proposed system.

Results

The results obtained are based on simulation alone and indicate that closed‐loop control of breast side paddle position dramatically reduced the settling time from over 90 s to less than 4 s. The effect of different machine drive time constants on the open‐loop response is insignificant. With closed‐loop control, the larger the time constant the longer the time required for the breast side motion to settle.

Conclusions

Paddle motion induced blur could be significantly reduced by implementing the proposed closed‐loop control.
Harassment and Mental Distress Among Adolescent Female Students by Sexual Identity and BMI or Perceived Weight Status
Authors: Johns Michelle Marie , Lowry Richard , Demissie Zewditu , Robin Leah
Published: May 2017

Objective

Sexual minority girls (lesbian/bisexual) and girls with overweight/obesity experience high rates of discrimination and mental distress. This study explored whether BMI or perceived weight status might compound sexual minority girls’ risk for harassment and mental distress.

Methods

Data on female students from the national 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 7,006) were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to examine differences in bullying, harassment, and mental distress across sexual identity/BMI groups: heterosexual/normal‐weight, heterosexual/overweight, sexual minority/normal‐weight, and sexual minority/overweight. Procedures were repeated with four analogous groups created from sexual identity and perceived weight.

Results

Across sexual identity/BMI groups, being overweight increased heterosexual females’ odds of being bullied or experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Regardless of weight status, sexual minority females had greater odds for each outcome than heterosexual females. Sexual minority females who perceived themselves as overweight had greater odds of suicidality than all other sexual minority/perceived weight groups.

Conclusions

Double jeopardy may exist for sexual minority female students who perceive themselves as overweight. Professional development with school staff on how to create a positive climate for sexual minorities and those with overweight/obesity and addressing positive identity and body image within school‐based suicide prevention efforts may be important to the well‐being of adolescent girls.
Ring‐opening polymerization and copolymerization of cyclic esters catalyzed by amidinate aluminum complexes
Authors: Osorio Meléndez Danay , Castro‐Osma José A. , Lara‐Sánchez Agustín , Rojas René S. , Otero Antonio
Published: May 2017

A series of new alkyl mono‐ and bimetallic aluminum complexes supported by novel amidinate ligands has been prepared in very high yields. These complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods. Alkyl aluminum complexes 1–6 were investigated as catalysts for the ring‐opening polymerization and copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone and L‐lactide. Under the optimal reaction conditions, complex 5 acts as an efficient single‐component initiator for the ring‐opening polymerization and copolymerization of cyclic esters to yield biodegradable polyester materials with narrow polydispersities. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 2397–2407
Identification of extracellular matrix protein 1 as a potential plasma biomarker of ESCC by proteomic analysis using iTRAQ and 2D‐LC‐MS/MS
Authors: Wang Xianghu , Peng Yuan , Xie Ming , Gao Zhikui , Yin Lihong , Pu Yuepu , Liu Ran
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This study was aimed to conduct a proteomics profiling analysis on plasma obtained from ESCC patients with the goal of identifying appropriate plasma protein biomarkers in the progression of ESCC.

Experimental design

Plasma from 28 ESCC patients and 28 healthy controls (HC) were analyzed by iTRAQ combined with 2D‐LC‐MS/MS. ProteinPilot software was used to identify the differentially expressed plasma proteins in ESCC compared to HC. Western blot was performed to verify the expression of selected proteins in 37 independent ESCC patients and 37 HC. Transwell and MTT assays were used to detect the biological function of ECM1 protein in vitro.

Results

Nineteen (four upregulated and fifteen downregulated) proteins were identified as differentially expressed between ESCC and HC (p <0.05). Biological functions of these proteins are involved in cell adhesion, cell apoptosis and metabolic processes, visual perception and immune response. Of these, extracellular matrix 1 (ECM1) and lumican (LUM) were selected further confirmation by Western blot (p <0.05), which were consistent with the iTRAQ results. Furthermore, the migration ability of EC9706 cell line after overexpressing ECM1 was increased significantly (p <0.05). The proliferation ability of HUVEC cell was enhanced when treated with the culture supernatants of EC9706 overexpressed ECM1(p <0.05).

Conclusion and clinical relevance

This proteome analysis indicate that ECM1 is a potential novel plasma protein biomarker for the detection of primary ESCC and evaluation of neoplasms progression.
Insight into the success of whitefly biological control using parasitoids: evidence from theEretmocerus warrae−Trialeurodes vaporariorumsystem
Authors: Hanan Abdul , He Xiong Z , Wang Qiao
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUND

Mechanisms behind the success and failure of whitefly biological control using parasitoids are largely unknown. Here we use theEretmocerus warrae−greenhouse whitefly system to investigate how the fluctuating density of the parasitoid and its host affects three key parasitoid fitness parameters, host searching, host feeding and parasitization, providing critical knowledge for evaluation and development of whitefly biological control programmes. This is the first such study in a parasitoid−whitefly system.

RESULTS

Models used and developed here show that (1) both host feeding and parasitism fit a type II functional response; (2) overall parasitoid‐caused whitefly mortality significantly increases with growing density of both organisms and the parasitoid density has a significantly more positive effect; (3) with a pro‐synovigenic nature,E. warraeallocate significantly more resources to parasitization than to host feeding activity in low whitefly density and high parasitoid density; and (4) low mutual interference among searching parasitoids encourages parasitoid aggregation on host patches of high density.

CONCLUSION

Regardless of greenhouse whitefly density, the pest can be effectively controlled by release ofE. warrae.Our study provides insight into the success of whitefly biological control programmes using the parasitoid augmentation approach. Models used and developed here can also be employed to evaluate biological control programmes for other parasitoid−whitefly systems. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Measuring the ROI of Technology in Research
Authors: Omiyale Wale
Published: May 2017

Show me the money
Beyond the Horizon
Authors: Bowman Jo
Published: May 2017

Research in 2027
How to meet the four key challenges to turn Big Data into smart data‐driven solutions
Authors: Wirth Norbert , Wirth Ralph
Published: May 2017

Leveraging the gold of the 21st century to address your needs
The Next Big Thing
Authors: Buckley Andy , Schofield Karen
Published: May 2017

Tools for humanising research: a call for curiosity, creativity and empathy
Coupling Mechanism of Control on Strip Profile and Flatness in Single Stand Universal Crown Reversible Rolling Mill
Authors: Ma Xiaobao , Wang Dongcheng , Liu Hongmin
Published: May 2017

Taper roll contours are widely applied in the single stand universal crown mill (UCM) to control the edge‐drop of silicon steel, but bilateral symmetrical quarter buckles always happen in the last pass. It shows that the control on the strip profile and flatness has strong coupling nature. In this paper, the strip profile and the rolling parameters are obtained by simulations, and influences of the rolling parameters on the strip profile and flatness are revealed. The authors put forward a cantilever end model of the work roll influenced by the bending force, and analyze the rule of the influence the work roll taper curve on the additional pressure on the strip. Moreover, the rolling process characteristics of the UCM reversible rolling are expounded. One of the reasons for the coupling nature of the control on the strip profile and flatness is that, the roll taper curve increases the concentration and peak value of the additional pressure on the strip, and another is that the roll taper curve limits the lateral displacement of metal, increasing the longitudinal prolongation of metal. The optimization principle of the roll contour is determined based on the above influence mechanism.