bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low intrinsic c-axis thermal conductivity in PVD grown epitaxial Sb2Te3 films
Authors: Rieger F. , Kaiser K. , Bendt G. , Roddatis V. , Thiessen P. , Schulz S. , Jooss C.
Published: May 2018

Accurate determination and comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic c-axis thermal conductivity κc of thermoelectric layered Sb2Te3 is of high importance for the development of strategies to optimize the figure of merit in thin film devices via heterostructures and defect engineering. We present here high precision measurements of κc of epitaxial Sb2Te3 thin films on Al2O3 substrates grown by physical vapor deposition in the temperature range of 100 K to 300 K. The Kapitza resistances of the involved interfaces have been determined and subtracted from the film data, allowing access to the intrinsic thermal conductivity of single crystalline Sb2Te3. At room temperature, we obtain κc = 1.9 W/m K, being much smaller than the in-plane thermal conductivity of κab = 5 W/m K and even lower than the thermal conductivity of nano crystalline films of κnc ≈ 2.0–2.6 W/m K published by Park et al. [Nanoscale Res. Lett. 9, 96 (2014)]. High crystallinity and very low defect concentration of the films were confirmed by x-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Our data reveal that the phonon mean free path lmfpT is not limited by defect scattering and is of intrinsic nature, i.e., due to phonon-phonon scattering similar to other soft van der Waals type bonded layered systems.
Study of buckling behavior at the nanoscale through capillary adhesion force
Authors: Lorenzoni Matteo , Llobet Jordi , Perez-Murano Francesc
Published: May 2018

This paper presents mechanical actuation experiments performed on ultrathin suspended nanoscale silicon devices presenting Euler buckling. The devices are fabricated by a combination of focused ion beam implantation and selective wet etching. By loading the center of curved nanobeams with an atomic force microscope tip, the beams can be switched from an up-buckled position to the opposite down-buckled configuration. It is possible to describe the entire snap-through process, thanks to the presence of strong capillary forces that act as a physical constraint between the tip and the device. The experiments conducted recall the same behavior of macro- and microscale devices with similar geometry. Curved nanobeams present a bistable behavior, i.e., they are stable in both configurations, up or down-buckled. In addition to that, by the method presented, it is possible to observe the dynamic of a mechanical switch at the nanoscale.
Dynamic mode decomposition for plasma diagnostics and validation
Authors: Taylor Roy , Kutz J. Nathan , Morgan Kyle , Nelson Brian A.
Published: May 2018

We demonstrate the application of the Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) for the diagnostic analysis of the nonlinear dynamics of a magnetized plasma in resistive magnetohydrodynamics. The DMD method is an ideal spatio-temporal matrix decomposition that correlates spatial features of computational or experimental data while simultaneously associating the spatial activity with periodic temporal behavior. DMD can produce low-rank, reduced order surrogate models that can be used to reconstruct the state of the system with high fidelity. This allows for a reduction in the computational cost and, at the same time, accurate approximations of the problem, even if the data are sparsely sampled. We demonstrate the use of the method on both numerical and experimental data, showing that it is a successful mathematical architecture for characterizing the helicity injected torus with steady inductive (HIT-SI) magnetohydrodynamics. Importantly, the DMD produces interpretable, dominant mode structures, including a stationary mode consistent with our understanding of a HIT-SI spheromak accompanied by a pair of injector-driven modes. In combination, the 3-mode DMD model produces excellent dynamic reconstructions across the domain of analyzed data.
Epitaxial Fe16N2 thin film on nonmagnetic seed layer
Authors: Hang Xudong , Zhang Xiaowei , Ma Bin , Lauter Valeria , Wang Jian-Ping
Published: May 2018

Metastable α″-Fe16N2 has attracted much interest as a candidate for rare-earth-free hard magnetic materials. We demonstrate that Fe16N2 thin films were grown epitaxially on Cr seed layers with MgO (001) substrates by facing-target sputtering. Good crystallinity with the epitaxial relation MgO (001)[110] ∥ Cr (001)[100] ∥ Fe16N2 (001)[100] was obtained. The chemical order parameter, which quantifies the degree of N ordering in the Fe16N2 (the N-disordered phase is α′-Fe8N martensite), reaches 0.75 for Cr-seeded samples. Cr has a perfect lattice constant match with Fe16N2, and no noticeable strain can be assigned to Fe16N2. The intrinsic saturation magnetization of this non-strained Fe16N2 thin film at room temperature is determined to be 2.31 T by polarized neutron reflectometry and confirmed with vibrating sample magnetometry. Our work provides a platform to directly study the magnetic properties of high purity Fe16N2 films with a high order parameter.
Ewe culling and retention strategies to increase reproductive rates in Merino sheep
Authors: Hatcher S. , Dominik S. , Richards J. S. , Young J. , Smith J. , Tearle R. , Brien F. D. , Hermann N.
Published: May 2018

The present empirical study of data from three Merino resource flocks of varying genetic backgrounds run in different environments investigated the impact of various selection strategies aimed at culling poor performers (‘passengers’) or retaining good doers (‘performers’) longer, or both, on the flock reproductive performance. Four strategies were investigated and applied either individually or in combination, to quantify their impact on the litter size, rearing type and breeding efficiency (number of lambs weaned per ewe per year) of the whole flock. The main benefit from implementing any of the strategies was a decrease in the proportion of dry ewes in each flock (1–7%). There was little difference between the single strategies of culling twice-dry ewes or culling ewes that twice lambed and lost their lambs. When retaining a cohort of older ewes, it was more efficient to select these on the basis of their lifetime reproductive performance. There was only a marginal benefit gained by combining strategies and, in some cases, a single strategy was still better in terms of breeding efficiency. Commercial producers can improve the reproductive rate of these flocks by culling twice-dry ewes on the basis of their pregnancy scan data.
Fish community of a small karstic Neotropical drainage and its relationship with the physical habitat
Authors: Ratton Pedro , Ferreira Rodrigo Lopes , Pompeu Paulo Santos
Published: May 2018

In the present study we examined surface and subterranean sites in order to compare the fish fauna composition and characteristics of the physical habitat in a stream located in a Neotropical karst landscape at the São Francisco River basin, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. We investigated the effects of physical habitat characteristics related to river morphology, substrate composition, wood and canopy cover on the fish community and investigated whether subterranean habitats have additional effects responsible for shaping the fish community structure. During the sampling period (dry season; July 2012), 28 species distributed in 3 orders and 9 families were collected (773 individuals in total). Characiformes was the most diverse group in the studied area, with 16 registered species (57% of the sampled fauna). We did not find cave-adapted fish species during the study, although four non-troglomorphic species (two Characiformes and two Siluriformes) were sampled exclusively in the cave. The species composition was possibly affected by environmental differences, showing distinct patterns between the five sites studied. Canopy cover and the percentage of organic matter on the streambed accounted for most of the variation observed in the fish fauna composition (distance-based linear matrix: adjusted R2=0.56; P=0.02). In the system studied, Siluriformes have a greater chance of occupying subterranean habitats, with higher relative abundance and richness inside the cave sites. We believe that number, size and position of subterranean spaces within a karst watershed have additional effects on fish community composition through their selective pressure on species traits.
Cytogeography and morphological characterisation of a taxonomic, polyploid complex of Mimosa (Leguminosae) from subtropical South America
Authors: Morales M. , Fradkin M. , Bessega C. , Poggio L. , Fortunato R. H.
Published: May 2018

Mimosa subseries Dolentes Barneby and Brevipedes Barneby are ecologically and morphologically high-diversified infrageneric taxa of this genus in southern South America. We performed a cytogenetical and morphological analysis of both subseries. Chromosome numbers from accessions throughout the area of distribution were studied. The chromosome numbers 2n=8x=104 for M. dolens subsp. callosa (Benth.) Barneby, M. dolens subsp. acerba varieties acerba (Benth.) Barneby, latifolia (Benth.) Barneby and rudis (Benth.) Barneby, M. dolens subsp. rigida var. rigescens (Benth.) Barneby, var. anisitsii (Lindm.) Barneby and var. foliolosa (Benth.) Barneby; and 2n=4x=52 for M. sceptrum Barneby, M. aff. custodis Barneby and M. dolens var. pangloea Barneby are presented for the first time. Their karyotypes were symmetric, with small chromosomes. There were several areas with taxa growing in sympatry, occasionally with intermediate forms. No diploids were found, which suggests the presence of either a declining polyploid complex or ancient polyploidy in the clade of southernmost representatives of M. series Mimosa, the most derived of the genus. Some vegetative, inflorescence and carpological characters seem to be associated with chromosome duplication. The distribution pattern of the cytotypes suggests events of chromosome duplication in centres of diversity and expansion of octoploids to the southernmost areas of distribution. Our findings support the importance of polyploidy in the morphological diversity, distribution and speciation of this complex.
Human-related ignitions concurrent with high winds promote large wildfires across the USA
Authors: Abatzoglou John T. , Balch Jennifer K. , Bradley Bethany A. , Kolden Crystal A.
Published: May 2018

Large wildfires (>40 ha) account for the majority of burned area across the contiguous United States (US) and appropriate substantial suppression resources. A variety of environmental and social factors influence wildfire growth and whether a fire overcomes initial attack efforts and becomes a large wildfire. However, little is known about how these factors differ between lightning-caused and human-caused wildfires. This study examines differences in temperature, vapour pressure deficit, fuel moisture and wind speed for large and small lightning- and human-caused wildfires during the initial days of fire activity at ecoregion scales across the US. Large fires of both human and lightning origin occurred coincident with above-normal temperature and vapour pressure deficit and below-normal 100-hour dead fuel moisture compared with small fires. Large human-caused wildfires occurred, on average, coincident with higher wind speeds than small human-caused wildfires and large lightning-caused wildfires. These results suggest the importance of winds in driving rapid fire growth that can allow fires to overcome many of the factors that typically inhibit large human-caused fires. Additionally, such findings highlight the interplay between human activity and meteorological conditions and the importance of incorporating winds in modelling large-fire risk in human-dominated landscapes.
Real-time observation of DNA target interrogation and product release by the RNA-guided endonuclease CRISPR Cpf1 (Cas12a)
Authors: Singh Digvijay , Mallon John , Poddar Anustup , Wang Yanbo , Tippana Ramreddy , Yang Olivia , Bailey Scott , Ha Taekjip
Published: May 2018

Significance

Adaptive immunity against foreign DNA elements in microbes, conferred by their CRISPR systems, has been repurposed for wide-ranging genome-engineering applications. The CRISPR-Cas9 system has been the most widely used system. But to overcome some of its major limitations, the search for novel CRISPR enzymes has been a significant area of interest. One such search led to the discovery of CRISPR-Cpf1 systems. We used single-molecule fluorescence analysis and biochemical assays to characterize the kinetics, specificity, and mechanism of Cpf1’s DNA interrogation, cleavage, and cleavage-product release. Some major differences from Cas9 were observed which will help the use of Cpf1 in areas outside the realm of Cas9 and effectively broaden the scope of CRISPR-based applications.
Activation of intestinal tuft cell-expressed Sucnr1 triggers type 2 immunity in the mouse small intestine
Authors: Lei Weiwei , Ren Wenwen , Ohmoto Makoto , Urban Joseph F. , Matsumoto Ichiro , Margolskee Robert F. , Jiang Peihua
Published: May 2018

Significance

Tuft cells in the intestine are known to act as sentinels for infectious agents [e.g., helminths (worms) and bacterial microbiota] and express taste-signaling elements. In this work, the G protein-coupled receptor Sucnr1 was shown to be expressed specifically in tuft cells but not in other intestinal epithelial cells. Dietary succinate and perturbations in the microbiota activate tuft cells, and subsequently type 2 immunity, via tuft cell-expressed Sucnr1. Modulating this pathway using dietary succinate or specific Sucnr1 agonists may be a strategy for fighting bacterial and parasitic infections or other type 2 immune-related metabolic disorders such as obesity.
Acquisition of virulence genes by a carrier strain gave rise to the ongoing epidemics of meningococcal disease in West Africa
Authors: Brynildsrud Ola Brønstad , Eldholm Vegard , Bohlin Jon , Uadiale Kennedy , Obaro Stephen , Caugant Dominique A.
Published: May 2018

Significance

Historically,
Neisseria meningitidis
serogroup A strains have caused large epidemics of meningitis across sub-Saharan Africa. Following mass vaccination from 2010, serogroup A outbreaks have been mostly eliminated. Starting in 2013 however, yearly epidemics of a previously unknown serogroup C strain have led to tens of thousands of cases in Nigeria and Niger. We show how this new strain evolved from a benign ancestor through the acquisition of virulence genes encoding the serogroup C capsule and a phage linked to invasiveness, illustrating that minor genetic changes in a microbe can have major public health consequences. Our reconstruction of the spatiotemporal outbreak dynamics in the Niger–Nigeria border region suggests direct epidemiological consequences of contrasting outbreak responses in the two countries.
Genos, sex, gender and genre
Authors: Sandford Stella
Published: May 2018

This chapter discusses translators’ efforts to render the grammatical gender of Plato’s Greek in passages of the Republic, and to translate his terms noting differences between men and women with terms associated with the identity-defining concepts of sex and gender. It argues that the translation of genos as “sex” reveals less about the source text than about the role of the concept of sex in the translating culture. A discussion of a similar controversy in contemporary translation shows how debates over the French translation of “gender” as genre are embroiled in issues of national identity. The chapter demonstrates how translation and its analysis may simultaneously express and contest cultural assumptions about sex and gender.
Lithuanian literature in English
Authors: Vaičenonienė Jurgita
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this article is to compare two translations into English of the Lithuanian short story “The Bread Eaters” (1975) written by Romualdas Granauskas. Corpus-based methods are used in order to detect the stylistically and culturally important lexical features of the source text and to evaluate their translations. Specifically, global statistics, keywords, and parallel concordances of the selected lexical items of the original and translations are compared. I argue that a corpus-based analysis of the original and translated texts, used alongside their manual assessment, may help to objectively identify specific features of the Key Cultural Texts, evaluate their retention in translations, and guarantee more accurate target representation of the encoded cultural concepts and ideas of the source text.
The image of H. C. Andersen’s tales in China (1909–1925)
Authors: Li Wenjie
Published: May 2018

Using early translations and interpretations (1909–1925) of H. C. Andersen’s tales in China as an example of Key Cultural Texts in translation, this study will examine the major elements that influenced the Andersen translations and interpretations in the period from 1909, when Andersen’s tales were introduced to the Chinese readership, to 1925, when the first surge of translation occurred on the occasion of H. C. Andersen’s 150th birthday. I discuss the socio-historical environment, the purposes of introducing and translating this oeuvre, the human elements involved. I introduce and explain the concept of the “translated image” and discuss why certain translated images have been key to the Chinese understanding of Andersen’s works and Andersen the writer until the present day.
The immigration of key cultural icons
Authors: Pan Hanting
Published: May 2018

The Church is a key icon of Christianity. Journeying to disseminate Christianity eastward, many European missionaries chose Macao as their first stop in China, and built churches for religious practice. To have the new religion recognised by local people, the foreign church names were translated into Chinese. This article surveys church name translation in Macao from the 16th to the 20th century, identifying and comparing the linguistic patterns of original and translated names and the associated translation strategies. I argue that translation plays a crucial role in integrating the immigrated culture into the host culture. In addition, translations of church names reflect social changes and social relationships within the host society.
Evaluating grammaticalization and constructional accounts
Authors: Enghels Renata , Comer Marie
Published: May 2018

This article explores the historical development of the inchoative construction in Spanish with the put verbs poner and meter filling the auxiliary verb slot. Previous studies have focused mainly on the syntactic and semantic processes through which full lexical put verbs come to fulfil an auxiliary role in the inchoative periphrasis. The analysis presented in this article aims at going beyond this traditional, grammaticalization account, and examines whether a constructional approach offers a more nuanced account of the empirical data. The main objective is to verify the extent to which different structural patterns of the inchoative construction have given rise to a general constructional schema.
A new technique for analyzing narrative prosodic effects in sign languages using motion capture technology
Authors: Wilbur Ronnie B. , Malaia Evie
Published: May 2018

The present paper addresses prosody at a sentence level analysis within short narratives, developing a novel method based on a combination of data. Our first objective, then, is to establish the validity of our new method by confirming the findings of previous reports on Phrase Final Lengthening. Our second objective is to further extend the validity of the new method by confirming a prior claim regarding the role of increased velocity for signs that are stressed in sentences. Finally, we report new results in the form of patterns across signs within sentences using our new method.
A centering theoretic account for the changing usage of anaphoric expressions in the history of German
Authors: Speyer Augustin
Published: May 2018

The Centering status of a referent and the coherence relation of the discourse unit in which the referent is used are potential factors for anaphor resolution. In Old High German, as exemplified with Otfrid’s Evangelienbuch, there is a strong tendency for this generalisation – Backward looking centers in Continue relations tend to be realised by personal pronouns, in Retain and Shift relations, they tend to be realised by demonstrative pronouns – but it is far from categorical. There are even blatant violations of generalizations that hold for Modern German, so the importance of Centering as a factor is higher today than in Old High German. In Early New High German of the 14th century, anaphora resolution was sensitive to Centering. The hierarchical structure of a text played a bigger role, as adjacency was defined not strictly linearly, but with respect to discourse units on the same hierarchical level.
What is a Narration – and why does it matter?
Authors: Zeman Sonja
Published: May 2018

Despite the increasing interest in textual structure and the specific use of linguistic means in narratives, the concept of Narration has so far not been an issue of theoretical concern within linguistics but has rather been used than defined or problematized. In this respect, the chapter takes a closer look at the concept of Narration itself. The starting point is the basic assumption that the analysis of Free Indirect Discourse (FID) – a phenomenon which seems to be restricted to Narration only – will offer crucial insights with respect to characteristics of the underlying narrative structure when read “against the grain”. In this regard, the alignment of formal approaches of context shift and cognitive approaches of perspectivization leads to the conclusion that the narratological differentiation between narrator and character can be seen as a projection of the grammatical differentiation between speaker vs. observer, which is reflected on the different linguistic levels in a recursive manner. Consequently, I argue that the complex unfolding of different layers of discourse allows for poly-perspectival resp. metarepresentational effects on the textual macro-structure and hence constitutes a core characteristic of Narration. Against this background, the proposed model is not only able to align micro- and macro-structural accounts of Narration but also allows for a new perspective on the specific use of grammatical means in narrative discourse. In this respect, the paper argues that Narration does indeed matter for linguistics.
Pragmatic development in the instructed context
Authors: Nguyen Thi Thuy Minh
Published: May 2018

This article reports an eight-month investigation into the long-term impact of explicit instruction on the learnability of different aspects of email requests by a group of Vietnamese university students. Two intact classes were randomly assigned to the treatment (N = 13) and control conditions (N = 19). Over a four-week period, the treatment group received six hours of instruction which comprised consciousness-raising, meta-pragmatic explanation, repeated output practice and teacher feedback. The control group, on the other hand, only followed the usual syllabus. Results of the study indicate that the treatment group obtained significantly greater pre-to-posttest gains than the control group, and that their improvement was retained by the time of the eight-month delayed post-test. Despite the learners’ overall progress, however, it was also found that different aspects of their performance appeared to respond differently to instruction. The article supports the need for instruction of email politeness and discusses implications for future pedagogy and research.
Wide temperature lubrication of LST/PEO/Ag/MoS2 multilayer coating
Authors: Qin Yongkun , Li Yan , Xiong Dangsheng , Li Jianliang , Li Zhuwen , Zhu Xichang , Ge Yan , Zhang Rongchu
Published: May 2018

The Ag film and MoS2 film were successively deposited onto the LST/PEO duplex-treated titanium alloy substrate. The friction tests were conducted at 25°C, 350°C and 600°C, respectively. The worn morphologies were analysed by optical microscopy and Raman spectrum. The results showed that the LST/PEO/Ag/MoS2 coating exhibited more excellent friction behaviour in comparison to the LST/PEO coating at 25–600°C. The combined lubrication of Ag diffused from surface micro-pores and Ag2MoO4 formed on the surface is responsible for the decrease of friction coefficient at 600°C. It also revealed that the friction heat can promote the formation of Ag2MoO4 in comparison to the high test temperature.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar welds between 16Mn and 304L in underwater wet welding
Authors: Li Hongliang , Liu Duo , Ma Qiang , Guo Ning , Song Xiaoguo , Feng Jicai
Published: May 2018

Dissimilar joint between 304L austenitic stainless steel and low-alloy steel 16Mn was underwater wet welded using self-shielded nickel-based tubular wire. Microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of dissimilar welded joints were discussed. Ni-based weld metal was fully austenitic with well-developed columnar sub-grains. Type II boundary existed between Ni-based weld metal and ferritic base metal in underwater welds similar to that in air welds. Major alloying elements distributed non-uniformly across the austenitic weld metal/16Mn interface. Maximum hardness values in wet welding appeared in a coarse-grained heat-affected zone at the 16Mn side, which possessed very low impact toughness. Underwater Ni-based welded joints fractured at Ni-based weld metal under tensile test. Ni-based weld metal had favourable corrosion resistance similar to 304L base metal.
Banking on the church: thoughts on re-infusing virtues into church culture and leadership in response to clergy sexual abuse
Authors: Driscoll Cathy , Kenny Nuala , Murray Robert , Deane David
Published: May 2018

We provide a cross-disciplinary and cross-contextual analysis to explore comparisons between the church and big banks regarding leader power structures, response to moral failure, relationships with members/stakeholders, and resistance to structural change. Although we largely focus
on the context of clergy sexual abuse, we show how perceived uniqueness of individuals and institutions (whether in banks or churches) has been used to thwart the potential for improved understanding of moral failures across organizations and institutions. We provide a discussion and implications
for church leaders in the context of a virtues-infused organizational culture. We also discuss what non-religious organizations, such as banks, and their leaders can learn about these issues from what we believe is distinct about the church as a spirit-infused and virtues-infused entity. We
conclude with some key areas for future reflection and research.
Metabolic alterations in urine extracellular vesicles are associated to prostate cancer pathogenesis and progression
Authors: Clos‐Garcia Marc , Loizaga‐Iriarte Ana , Zuñiga‐Garcia Patricia , Sánchez‐Mosquera Pilar , Rosa Cortazar Ana , González Esperanza , Torrano Verónica , Alonso Cristina , Pérez‐Cormenzana Miriam , Ugalde‐Olano Aitziber , Lacasa‐Viscasillas Isabel , Castro Azucena , Royo Felix , Unda Miguel , Carracedo Arkaitz , Falcón‐Pérez Juan M.
Published: May 2018

Urine contains extracellular vesicles (EVs) that concentrate molecules and protect them from degradation. Thus, isolation and characterisation of urinary EVs could increase the efficiency of biomarker discovery. We have previously identified proteins and RNAs with differential abundance in urinary EVs from prostate cancer (PCa) patients compared to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Here, we focused on the analysis of the metabolites contained in urinary EVs collected from patients with PCa and BPH. Targeted metabolomics analysis of EVs was performed by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The correlation between metabolites and clinical parameters was studied, and metabolites with differential abundance in PCa urinary EVs were detected and mapped into cellular pathways. We detected 248 metabolites belonging to different chemical families including amino acids and various lipid species. Among these metabolites, 76 exhibited significant differential abundance between PCa and BPH. Interestingly, urine EVs recapitulated many of the metabolic alterations reported in PCa, including phosphathidylcholines, acyl carnitines, citrate and kynurenine. Importantly, we found elevated levels of the steroid hormone, 3beta‐hydroxyandros‐5‐en‐17‐one‐3‐sulphate (dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate) in PCa urinary EVs, in line with the potential elevation of androgen synthesis in this type of cancer. This work supports urinary EVs as a non‐invasive source to infer metabolic changes in PCa.
A rising workfare state? Unemployment benefit conditionality in 21 OECD countries, 1980–2012
Authors: Knotz Carlo Michael
Published: May 2018

Over the last decades, governments in the advanced democracies have put greater pressure on the unemployed to seek and accept employment. This development has been pointed out in much prior research, yet relatively little is known about the exact changes that have been introduced. This paper fills this gap. It draws on a novel time-series cross-section dataset on the strictness of unemployment benefit conditions and sanctions in 21 democracies between 1980 and 2012, and shows in which aspects these rules have become stricter – and in which not. The paper confirms that there has been a general trend toward tighter conditions and sanctions, but adds some important qualifications: Many rules and provisions have also been adapted in response to the emergence of new social risks and there is also a noticeable trend toward more clearly defined and precise rules. Based on these findings, new causal hypotheses are suggested.
The Impacts of Tax Reform on Agricultural Households
Authors: Beckman Jayson , Gopinath Munisamy , Tsigas Marinos
Published: May 2018

Estimates of tax reform's impacts usually concentrate on macroeconomic impacts, but attention at the industry or sectoral level is often limited. Our study uses a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to estimate the disaggregated impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2018, which lowered personal and corporate tax rates. Focusing on agriculture, we use survey data to calculate how the TCJA would change the tax rates faced by farmers at the sector level. We use Internal Revenue Service data to calculate tax rates for all other producers. We then simulate the economy‐wide and sectoral effects of TCJA. We find that the TCJA would cause a reduction in agricultural output as resources would be reallocated to other sectors. Using our survey data, we extend the CGE results to measure the impacts to farm households—from changes in on‐ and off‐farm income. We find that most farm households would have income gains from tax reform. Our tax reform scenario highlights the fact that investment weighs heavily on model results. That is, firms that are attractive to domestic and foreign investment have gains in demand for their products, while other sectors, such as primary agriculture, experience decreases in production. A sensitivity analysis that reduces the attractiveness of the United States in foreign investment shows smaller impacts of TCJA, especially for macroeconomic variables.
ACBD3 is required for FAPP2 transferring glucosylceramide through maintaining the Golgi integrity
Authors: Liao Jing , Guan Yuxiang , Chen Wei , Shi Can , Yao Dongdong , Wang Fengsong , Lam Sin Man , Shui Guanghou , Cao Xinwang
Published: May 2018

Glycosphingolipid (GSL) metabolism is involved in various physiological processes, including all major cell signaling pathways, and its dysregulation is linked to some diseases. The four-phosphate adaptor protein FAPP2-mediated glucosylceramide (GlcCer) transport for complex GSL synthesis has been studied extensively. However, the molecular machinery of FAPP2 as a GlcCer-transferring protein remains poorly defined. Here, we identify a Golgi-resident protein, acyl-coenzyme A binding domain containing 3 (ACBD3), as an interacting partner of FAPP2. We find that ACBD3 knockdown leads to dramatic Golgi fragmentation, which subsequently causes FAPP2 dispersal throughout the cytoplasm and a decreased localization at trans-Golgi network. The further quantitative lipidomic analysis indicates that ACBD3 knockdown triggers abnormal sphingolipid metabolism. Interestingly, the expression of siRNA-resistant full-length ACBD3 can rescue these defects caused by ACBD3 knockdown. These data reveal critical roles for ACBD3 in maintaining the integrity of Golgi morphology and cellular sphingolipid homeostasis and establish the importance of the integrated Golgi complex for the transfer of GlcCer and complex GSL synthesis.
Illicit Cigarette Trade in Five South American Countries: A Gap Analysis for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru
Authors: Paraje Guillermo
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Because of its nature, it is very hard to measure illicit tobacco trade in any product. In the case of Latin American countries, there is scant information on the magnitude and characteristics of this cigarette trade. The goal of this article is to provide estimates on the evolution of the illicit cigarette trade in five South American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.

Methods

Gap analysis estimates for cigarette tax evasion/avoidance (a comparison on the evolution of the difference between registered cigarette sales and measured population consumption) are developed for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Nationally representative surveys, conducted regularly, are used to measure population consumption. Confidence intervals constructed by bootstrapping sample estimates are generated to statistically evaluate the evolution of the gap.

Results

Illicit cigarette trade has increased as a percentage of total sales in Brazil in recent years. In the case of Argentina, after a relative decrease between 2005 and 2009, it seems to have stabilized. There is no statistical evidence to argue that there has been an increase of illicit cigarette trade in Chile, Colombia, and Peru, despite substantial price increases in Chile and tax increase in both Colombia and Peru.

Conclusions

Using simple statistical methods, it is possible to assess the trend in illicit tobacco trade over time to better inform policy makers. Getting reliable and regular population consumption surveys can also help to track illicit tobacco trade. Claims by tobacco industry of a positive association between price/tax changes and illicit trade are unsubstantiated.

Implications

Evolution of illicit cigarette trade in five Latin American countries shows different trajectories, not in line with tobacco industry estimates, which highlight the importance of producing solid, independent estimates. There are inexpensive methodologies that can provide estimates of the evolution of the relative importance of illicit trade and can be used to inform policy makers.
General Anesthetic Use in Fragile X Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Ligsay Andrew , El-Deeb Marwa , Salcedo-Arellano Maria J. , Schloemerkemper Nina , Grayson Jeremy S. , Hagerman Randi
Published: May 2018

The fragile X premutation is characterized by a repeat expansion mutation (between 55 to 200 CGG repeats) in the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene, which leads to RNA toxicity at the cellular level. This may cause patients with the premutation to be particularly susceptible to environmental toxins, which could manifest clinically as new or worsening ataxia and memory loss. Multiple published case reports have also suggested general anesthetics as a potential toxin leading to negative side effects when used in patients with fragile X-associated disorders. However, at this time, there have been no formal research studies regarding cellular changes or long-term clinical manifestations after general anesthetic use in this population. This review aims to highlight previous case reports regarding sequelae related to general anesthetic use in fragile X-associated disorders. New case reports related to this phenomenon are also included.
Functional outcomes of internal fixation and arthroplasty in the treatment of intertrochanteric femoral fractures: a systematic review
Authors: Saeed Younis Ahmed , Mahmoud Shady , Salem Eid Ahmed , Khairy Mahmoud Amr
Published: May 2018

Background:

Hip fractures are a common cause of morbidity, especially in the elderly. Treatment of extracapsular hip fractures is highly controversial. Fixation is the main treatment for this type of fracture including extramedullary and intramedullary fixation. The problem of fixation failure remains the main drawback. Many trials have shown that arthroplasty as an alternative option would have better functional results, especially in the early postoperative period. The aim of this review was to compare the functional outcomes of internal fixation versus arthroplasty in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures.

Methods:

Two reviewers searched the following databases: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Ovid, and Science Direct for randomized control trials (RCTs) and quasi-random trials comparing the outcomes of internal fixation and arthroplasty in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures. We assessed the quality of the studies meeting the eligibility criteria by using the Cochrane assessment tool. For measuring the outcomes, we used the mean difference with 95% confidence interval for continuous data and risk difference, with 95% confidence interval for dichotomous data.

Results:

The electronic search revealed 3402 citations. After removing duplicate articles, 3397 citations were screened for possible inclusion in the review. Of those 3273 citations were excluded by title or abstract. One hundred and twenty-four full text articles were assessed for eligibility. Six studies compared the results of fixation versus arthroplasty. A meta-analysis of the studies showed no difference in mean Harris Hip Score between groups (mean difference −7.51 [−12.28, −2.74). There was also no difference in the independence of ambulation at 1 yr (risk difference 0.01 [−0.17, 0.19]). The cost of treatment was higher in the arthroplasty group (mean difference 5898.00 [5364.00, 6432.00]). There was no difference in reoperation (risk difference −0.09 [−0.15, −0.03]) and mortality risks (risk difference −0.10 [−0.32, 0.12]).

Conclusions:

Although most patients with intertrochanteric fracture are treated successfully with internal fixation, arthroplasty could be useful in certain types of fractures. However, there is a lack of high-quality evidence to assist surgeons in deciding when to use this option.
Noninvasive Measures of Pulsatility and Blood Pressure During Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Support
Authors: Rangasamy Sabarivinoth , Madan Shivank , Saeed Omar , Goldstein Daniel J. , Jorde Ulrich P. , Negassa Abdissa , Patel Snehal R.
Published: May 2018

The reliability and validity of a palpable pulse and other noninvasive measures of pulsatility in patients on continuous-flow (CF) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support have not been rigorously evaluated. We prospectively enrolled 23 patients who had CF-LVAD and an arterial catheter for blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Pulse pressure (PP) via the arterial line was compared with three noninvasive measures of pulsatility: presence of a palpable pulse, pulsatility index (PI), and aortic valve opening (AVO). In addition, the relationship between Doppler BP (DopBP) and arterial line pressures was evaluated. The study group comprised 30% females, 73% nonischemic cardiomyopathy, 87% axial flow device (HeartMate II [HMII]), and 13% centrifugal flow device (HeartWare ventricular assist device [HVAD]) support. Among four practitioners, the interobserver agreement for the presence of a palpable pulse was moderate (k = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.28–0.60). If the PP was ≥15 mm Hg, a radial pulse was palpated 82% of the time, whereas when the PP was <15 mm Hg, a radial pulse was palpated only 35% of the time. In subjects with a palpable pulse, there was a strong correlation between DopBP and systolic BP (SBP) (r = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.82–0.99), whereas the correlation between DopBP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was much weaker (r = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.19–0.96). In subjects without a palpable pulse, there was a strong correlation between both the DopBP and SBP (r = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.80–1.0) and DopBP and MAP (r = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77–1.00). Finally, PP was significantly associated with PI (odds ratio [OR], 0.3; 95% CI, 0.14–0.45; p = 0.0002) but not AVO (OR, 1.41: 95% CI, 0.70–2.83; p = 0.33). The presence of a palpable pulse has good interobserver agreement and allows for dichotomization of the DopBP to reflect the SBP in its presence and the MAP in its absence. This simple measure should be incorporated into BP management algorithms for CF-LVADs. The PI shows a modest correlation to PP.
Impact of a Vitamin D Replacement Algorithm in Children and Young Adults With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Young Jennifer , Welin Elizabeth , Braeutigam Carina , Gilger Elizabeth , Lane Adam , Salloum Ralph
Published: May 2018

Background:

Pediatric cancer patients have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. Children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are at high risk for associated poor bone outcomes due to contributing effects of chemotherapy and supportive care. Evidence-based vitamin D guidelines are lacking in this population.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective study following the implementation of an institutional guideline for standardized monitoring and supplementing vitamin D based on 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and patient age. Goal 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was defined as ≥30 ng/mL and levels were checked every 3 months.

Results:

Over a period of 22 months, 69 patients (median age, 6.7 y) were included. At diagnosis, 42 patients (60.8%) were insufficient. Among insufficient patients at diagnosis, 83.3% became sufficient at first repeat level following supplementation. At completion of the study 95.6% of patients were sufficient. Insufficiency was more common in winter than summer at baseline (74.3% vs. 47.1%, P=0.03), though the impact of seasonality was overcome following the algorithm. Throughout the study 4 patients had supratherapeutic but nontoxic levels.

Conclusions:

Vitamin D replacement guidelines implemented in the pediatric and young adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia population markedly increased the percentage of vitamin D sufficient patients in a short period of time.
MYD88, CARD11, and CD79B Oncogenic Mutations are Rare Events in the Indian Cohort of De Novo Nodal Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Aggarwal Vaishali , Das Ashim , Bal Amanjit , Srinivasan Radhika , Das Reena , Prakash Gaurav , Malhotra Pankaj , Varma Subhash
Published: May 2018

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has a heterogenous biological behavior, and the western literature has reported activating oncogenic mutations in myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MYD88), in conjunction with B-cell receptor signaling pathway genes, CARD11 and CD79B as the driving force for activating the NF-κB pathway implicated in the pathogenesis of DLBCL. The mutation profile of MYD88 genes was evaluated by Sanger sequencing in a cohort of 97 patients [DLBCL (N=55), non-DLBCL lymphomas (N=30), reactive lymphadenopathy (N=10), and 2 cases of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (positive control)]. The mutation profile of CARD11 and CD79B were evaluated in 70 patients [DLBCL (N=30), non-DLBCL lymphomas (N=30), and reactive lymphadenopathy (N=10). MYD88 and NF-κB mRNA expression was also evaluated by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. These 55 cases of DLBCL were classified into germinal center B-cell and activated B-cell phenotypes using Hans algorithm, of which 58% were of activated B-cell phenotype and 42% were of germinal center B-cell phenotype. MYD88 mutation was seen in 3.6% (2/55) of DLBCL cases, indicating a lower frequency in Indian de novo DLBCL. The mutations detected were novel 33 bp deletion g.7735_7767del (p.V294_S305del) and a splice-acceptor site mutation in exon 5 of MYD88, different from the reported hotspot mutation MYD88 L265P. CARD11 and CD79B mutations were absent in DLBCL and other lymphoma subtypes. MYD88 transcript expression did not correlate with mutational status. NF-κB showed significant overexpression in MYD88 mutation–negative (P=0.004) DLBCL cases indicating that its regulation is independent of MYD88, CARD11, and CD79B mutations, implying the existence of alternative activating pathways. In silico analysis of 2 novel mutations predicted disruptive structural changes in the B-B loop of the translated protein whose biological significance needs further evaluation.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor With Multiple Primary Tyrosine Kinase Mutations—Clinicopathologic and Molecular Characterization
Authors: Wong Newton A.C.S. , Taniere Philippe , Walsh Shaun , Wallace Andrew , Nonaka Daisuke , Jones Thomas , Gonzalez David
Published: May 2018

A unique cohort of chemo-naive gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with double-primary tyrosine kinase mutations was characterized particularly to determine whether coexistent mutations represent a single mutational event. Up to 2013, 4 UK centers reported 9 GISTs with 2 primary tyrosine kinase mutations. In each of 8 cases validated by next generation sequencing, both mutations were present in the same allele of the same exon (KIT exon 11 or 17, or PDGFRA exon 18). One case showed the second mutation only on some of the mutant alleles. Seven cases showed both mutations in all the reads, but in 2 cases, additional variants were found only in some reads. Clinicopathologic features of the 8 cases were similar to GISTs with single-primary mutations. When GIST genotyping rarely uncovers multiple tyrosine kinase variants in an exon, they occur in the same allele but are likely to represent separate mutational events and lack clinical significance.
Endoglin is Highly Expressed in Human Mast Cells
Authors: Trentin Brum Suéllen , Demasi Ana Paula , Fantelli Stelini Rafael , Cintra Maria Letícia , Cavalcanti de Araujo Vera , Borges Soares Andresa
Published: May 2018

Endoglin, known to be expressed in proliferating vessels, is of worth when evaluating microvessel density as a prognostic factor in many types of malignancies, including some subtypes of leukemia cells. In childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, endoglin is associated with adverse outcome. In bone marrow, endoglin identifies the repopulating hematopoietic stem cells. Mast cells are a component of normal tissue and play an important role in the regulation of several processes, including inflammation and neoplasia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of endoglin as a biological marker of mast cells compared with the gold standard stains. We studied 15 specimens of neurofibroma, 9 of mastocytosis, and 6 of fibrous scar tissue through immunohistochemistry (for endoglin and mast cell tryptase) and histochemical staining using toluidine blue. Quantitative analysis of the cells was performed by counting 5 hotspots. The validity of endoglin as a mast cell marker was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare mast cell count for each marker. A strong endoglin expression was found in the cytoplasmic granules of mast cells within the 3 groups. Similar results were observed with mast cell tryptase as well as toluidine blue. The intraclass correlation coefficient revealed that endoglin is a highly reliable biomarker of mast cells when compared with mast cell tryptase and toluidine blue. In conclusion, endoglin may assist in the diagnosis and pathogenesis study of various processes associated with mast cells. An endoglin-neutralizing treatment for solid cancers and leukemia could also affect mastocytes and the immunologic system.