bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is laparoscopy still of value in managing the patient with abdominal trauma?
Authors: Penn Charles , Khan Mansoor
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Stabbings are an increasing international problem and the UK is not exempt. Although the incidence and costs of negative laparotomy are well known, and laparoscopy has been available for over 100 years, it is only in the last three decades that has seen its effective utilization in trauma both as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality.

Methods

A retrospective two-year study of all patients undergoing laparoscopy for suspicion of diaphragmatic injury or breach of the peritoneum who were haemodynamically stable from non-ballistic penetrating torso trauma at St Mary’s Hospital (Imperial Healthcare Trust).

Results

Three groups of patients were identified: diagnostic laparoscopy without injury (n = 31), laparoscopy with injury ± laparoscopic treatment (n = 41) and diagnostic laparoscopy converted to laparotomy (n = 10). The patients who had laparoscopic intervention had a shorter hospital stay (2 vs. 5 days, p = 0.004), decreased intensive treatment unit admission (p = 0.007) and decreased intensive treatment unit stay (p = 0.007) compared to those who had conversion to laparotomy.

Conclusion

Trauma laparoscopy is a useful modality in managing selected trauma patient with suspected intra-abdominal injuries and can avoid unnecessary laparotomy. It is associated with a shorter hospital stay.
Existence and control of weighted pseudo almost periodic solutions for abstract nonlinear vibration systems
Authors: Guo Yingxin , Wang Fei , Xin Luyao
Published: December 2018

In many vibration problems, it is very important to know precisely the bounds of the stability/instability frequencies and the associated amplitude ranges. This paper investigates the solvability and control of some weighted pseudo almost periodic solutions of abstract nonlinear vibration differential systems. Some sufficient conditions for the solvability and exponential stability of these systems are obtained. Moreover, the precise bound of Lyapunov exponents is estimated.
Active vibration control of the flexible high-speed rotor with magnetic bearings via phase compensation to pass critical speed
Authors: Ran Shaolin , Hu Yefa , Wu Huachun , Cheng Xin
Published: December 2018

In modern industries, high-speed motors and generators have received great attention, and they are widely used in micro turbine, centrifugal compressor, blower, etc. However, the resonance vibration of flexible rotor will become a challenging issue when the rotor has to operate above the first bending critical speed. In this paper, a phase compensation method is proposed to improve the damping level of the flexible rotor around the first bending critical speed. The dynamic characteristics of the flexible rotor are analyzed, and the modal frequency is obtained. The rotor finite element model is verified by the modal test. Based on Proportion-Integration-Differentiation (PID) controller, the phase of the control system is shaped with different general filters to improve the damping level of the flexible rotor around the first bending critical speed. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the first bending mode damping of rotor is obviously enhanced by phase compensation. The phase compensation method can effectively suppress the resonance vibration of the rotor and make the rotor smoothly pass the first bending critical speed, achieving supercritical operation.
The good, the bad, and the ugly: A corpus linguistics analysis of US newspaper coverage of Latinx, 1996–2016
Authors: Bleich Erik , Callison James P , Edwards Georgia Grace , Fichman Mia , Hoynes Erin , Jabari Razan , van der Veen A Maurits
Published: December 2018

We examine how the US print media portray Latinos and Hispanics, drawing on computer-assisted coding of 185,244 articles in 17 American newspapers between 1996 and 2016. We explore the prevalence of themes of criminality, immigration, illegal immigration, and economic threats. Among these themes, we find that criminality and illegal immigration are associated with the greatest degree of negativity. Yet, the overall tone of articles is neutral rather than negative. Using collocation analysis, we examine the topics associated with positivity within Latinx articles. Stories relating to Latinx achievement and culture have the strongest positive associations with the tone of newspaper coverage. Our research thus identifies the themes associated with both negativity and positivity, and shows that coverage of Latinx has been relatively neutral rather than predominantly negative.
Probability distribution of decay rate: a statistical time-domain damping parameter for structural damage identification
Authors: Ay Ali M , Khoo Suiyang , Wang Ying
Published: December 2018

This article proposes a novel vibration-based damage identification method, named the probability distribution of decay rate. By introducing a statistical framework, the probability distribution of decay rate method estimates the damage-induced changes in overall damping behaviour of a free-vibration dynamic system. Utilising free-vibration impulse response data, a one-dimensional data set of local maxima–minima points is constructed. A statistical analysis of this data set is then performed to derive damage-sensitive parameters. It is demonstrated that through the use of a statistical analysis framework, a number of enhancements are attained in terms of both robustness and leniency in estimating the significantly nonlinear property of overall damping. An impact hammer test is conducted in the laboratory to verify the efficacy of the proposed probability distribution of decay rate method. The test was performed on a scale-model steel Warren-truss bridge structure, subjected to bolt-connection failures. The comparison results between the probability distribution of decay rate method and the standard experimental modal analysis method confirm that the former is effective for damage identification of complex structures, particularly with real experimental data and steel-frame structure assemblies.
Disability Studies and the Support of Individuals with Significant Disabilities and their Families: An Introduction to the Issues
Authors: Cosier Meghan , Ferguson Philip M.
Published: December 2018

This article introduces a set of four articles with a shared focus on the emerging field of disability studies and its relevance to individuals with significant disabilities and their families. The purpose of this introduction is to summarize the common themes that run through the following articles. Points of agreement and disagreement are discussed.
Literate Lungs: One Autist's Journey as A Reader
Authors: Savarese Emily Thornton , Savarese Ralph James
Published: December 2018

This article underscores the importance of coupling a practical orientation to the many challenges of autism with a philosophical and political orientation that refuses merely to make room for disability in the classroom or to accommodate its specific needs. It uses a case study approach to illustrate the ways in which subject matter and narrative convention were problematic for a nonspeaking, autistic boy who had been abused in foster care. The article focuses on his elementary and middle school years to illustrate the way in which an understanding of disability studies must inform our reading pedagogy if marginalized children are to find a safe place in our classrooms and our communities
Future Directions for Tash: Combining Values and Science
Authors: Horner Robert H. , Dunlap Glen
Published: December 2018

The impact of TASH over the next decade will be affected by decisions about the precision and consistency of the organization's messages to the field. TASH has long been the premier organization extending the voice of individuals with significant developmental disabilities. As TASH examines the themes that will be prominent in the coming years, we advocate a consistent focus on (a) qualify of life and (b) evidence-based practices.
Energy response analysis of adjacent structures with polymer bumpers under seismic loadings
Authors: He Jian , Jiang Yu , Xue Qichao , Zhang Chunwei , Zhang Jingcai
Published: December 2018

Insufficient gap between adjacent buildings may lead serious poundings under seismic loadings. Installing polymer bumpers may decrease the pounding forces between colliding buildings, which can prevent column yielding from overlarge shearing forces. This article focuses on the analysis on energy responses of adjacent structures equipped with polymer bumpers. Based on a novel pounding analysis method, systematic comparisons of structural pounding performance are conducted and specific results are obtained and discussed. First, time history responses for pounding force, displacements, and yielding shearing forces in selected floors are calculated. Then, energy response analysis considering viscoelasticity of bumpers is investigated. Afterward, under different seismic waves, input energy response, pounding force procedures, and story displacements are studied and discussed. And finally, parametric studies on energy responses, including gaps, sizes, and viscoelasticity parameters, are carried out to investigate influence sensitiveness of bumper parameters. The results show that the novel viscoelastic pounding force model is effective in simulating and calculating adjacent structural pounding with polymer bumpers. Although, in many cases, viscoelasticity has little effect on pounding forces and energy response time histories, it still has certain influences on maximum values. And, equipping with polymer bumpers on adjacent buildings can decrease maximum pounding forces under all types of seismic waves, but pounding times and maximum displacements of stories increase after being equipped with bumpers. By comparing cases under different seismic waves, energy responses show sensitive characteristics to different earthquake waves. Besides, gaps, sizes of bumpers also have significant influence on energy performance. They affect peak yielding energy and peak damping energy significantly.
Coupling minimization with obstacles avoidance of free-floating space robots based on hybrid map in configuration space
Authors: Hu Xiaodong , Huang Xuexiang , Hu Tianjian , Shi Zhong , Li Hongkun
Published: December 2018

To avoid the saturation of momentum wheels and the harm due to the thruster plume during the on-orbital manipulation, space robots usually stay in a free-floating state which follows the linear and angular momentum conservation leading to a kinematic coupling effect of the satellite base and the space manipulator. Emphasizing the stability of satellite base and execution safety, it is significant to minimize the kinematic coupling effect as well as avoid obstacles in the environment. Nevertheless, coupling minimization and obstacles avoidance are considered separately in previous work. By applying a hybrid map in the Configuration space, this article proposes a unified method dealing with the above two problems together. First, coupling factors are defined to evaluate the kinematic coupled effect which can be described by a coupling map; second, an obstruction map is generated by transforming obstacles in the Cartesian space to the Configuration space; the proposed hybrid map is finally generated from an overlay of a coupling map and an obstruction map. Numerical simulations verify the effectiveness of the method on a two degree-of-freedom planar space robot.
The interaction of journalism and public relations in Russia: A self-perception
Authors: Simons Greg , Strovsky Dmitry
Published: December 2018

There is an increasing amount written on the decline of professional journalism around the world. One of the factors that are used to illustrate the decline of journalism is the interaction and collaboration between journalists and public relations (PR) practitioners in the production of mass media news content. On a theoretical and conceptual level, the aims and goals of the two professions are quite different, even though there are a number of superficial similarities between these forms of mass communication. Studies of the interaction between journalism and PR in the United States reveal a certain underlying tension, yet simultaneous mutual dependency. An indicative survey was conducted across different cities in the Russian Federation to understand the perception of professional journalists and PR practitioners on the current level of interaction between their professions. The answers were remarkably similar and reveal a deep concern for the direction of journalism, which many viewed as being subordinated to PR.
Practitioner perceptions: Critical junctures and the global emergence and challenges of fact-checking
Authors: Amazeen Michelle A
Published: December 2018

Since 2003 and the emergence of FactCheck.org in the United States, fact-checking has expanded both domestically and internationally. As of February 2018, the Duke Reporter's Lab identified nearly 150 active initiatives around the world. Seen as a professional reform movement in the journalistic community, this research explores fact-checker perceptions of why the practice is spreading globally at this point in time. Using a phenomenological approach, two focus groups were conducted among fact-checkers during the 2015 Global Fact-checking Summit in London, England. Participants shared rich experiences about conditions and contexts surrounding the emergence and challenges facing their organizations including perceived public disempowerment, declines in journalism, technological changes, and socio-political strife. Ultimately, as the purpose of this research is to help future fact-checkers around the world become aware of the circumstances under which fact-checking is most likely to emerge and thrive (or fail), recommendations from current global practitioners are offered.
Nudge the judge? Theorizing the interaction between heuristics, sentencing guidelines and sentence clustering
Authors: Marder Ian D. , Pina-Sánchez Jose
Published: December 2018

Although it has long been acknowledged that heuristics influence judicial decision making, researchers have yet to explore how sentencing guidelines might interact with heuristics to shape sentencing decisions. This article contributes to addressing this gap in the literature in three ways: first, by considering how heuristics might help produce the phenomenon of sentence clustering, in which a significant proportion of sentences are concentrated around a small number of outcomes; second, by reflecting on the role of sentencing guidelines as a feature of the environment within which sentencing decisions are made; and third, by analysing the guidelines from Minnesota and from England and Wales, theorizing how their content might interact with heuristics to make clustering more or less likely. Ultimately, we argue that sentencing guidelines likely affect the role played by heuristics in shaping sentencing decisions and, consequently, that their design should be informed by research evidence from the decision sciences.
Detection and early intervention for psychosis
Authors: Pradhan Anup , Joshi Hena
Published: December 2018

Psychosis is an example of severe mental illness; 80% of first psychotic episodes occur in patients between 16 and 30 years in age. The use of an early intervention in psychosis (EIP) team aims to improve outcomes and provide evidence-based treatment for young patients in the community. GPs are often the first clinicians consulted by patients with early features of psychosis, the symptoms of which are often non-specific. Change in patient behaviour and social isolation may be indicators of psychosis. These patients will need prompt referral to the EIP services. This article will outline the early clinical features of psychosis and the GP’s role in management.
Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke
Authors: Renati Swetha , Stone David K. , Almeida Leonardo , Wilson Christina A.
Published: December 2018

Background and Purpose:

Many patients diagnosed with cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic attack are subsequently found to have atrial fibrillation (AF) on outpatient cardiac telemetry monitoring. Identification of predictive factors for the detection of AF could assist with patient selection to increase the yield of telemetry and hasten initiation of appropriate secondary stroke prevention.

Methods:

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with cryptogenic stroke at a comprehensive stroke center and referred for at least 21 days of prolonged outpatient telemetry. Telemetry reports and data from the patient’s stroke hospitalization, including imaging studies, electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, vital signs, and laboratory data, were reviewed.

Results:

Ten percent of the 121 patients included in the study were diagnosed with AF based on outpatient telemetry. There was a strong association between presence of premature atrial contractions (PACs) on admission EKG and subsequent detection of AF ( P = .004). Large left atrial diameter on echocardiogram was correlated with AF detection in males ( P = .024). However, there was no association between AF and other echocardiographic measurements. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly higher in patients with cryptogenic stroke having AF ( P = .008), with a TSH greater than 4.20 mIU/L predictive of detection of AF ( P < .001).

Conclusions:

Atrial fibrillation was found by outpatient monitoring in a notable percentage of patients with cryptogenic stroke. Predictors of occult AF in our study population included PACs and higher TSH levels. Although an association between low TSH and AF has been well established, our results suggest that high TSH may be a predictive factor as well.
Protective effects of Panax notoginseng saponins in a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis occur through regulation of inflammatory pathway signaling by upregulation of miR-181b
Authors: Liu Ming-wei , Huang Yun-qiao , Qu Ya-ping , Wang Dong-mei , Tang Deng-yun , Fang Tian-wen , Su Mei-xian , Wang Yan-qiong
Published: December 2018

Panax notoginseng saponins are extracted from Chinese ginseng— Panax notoginseng Ledeb—and are known to have therapeutic anti-inflammatory effects. However, the precise mechanism behind their anti-inflammatory effects remains relatively unknown. To better understand how Panax notoginseng saponins exert their therapeutic benefit, we tested them in a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Rats received a tail vein injection of Panax notoginseng saponins and were administered 5% sodium taurocholate 2 h later. Pancreatic tissue was then harvested and levels of miR-181b, FSTL1, TREM1, TLR4, TRAF6, IRAK1, p-Akt, p-p38MAPK, NF-κBp65, and p-IκB-α were determined using Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to determine serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TREM1, interleukin (IL)-6, ACAM-1, IL-8, and IL-12 and DNA-bound levels of NF-KB65 and TLR4 in pancreatic and ileum tissue. Serum levels of lipase and amylase, pancreatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and pancreatic water content were also measured. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for all histological analyses. Results indicated upregulation of miR-181b, but negligible levels of FSTL1, p-p38MAPK, TLR4, TRAF6, p-Akt, IRAK1, TREM1, p-NF-κBp65, and p-IκB-α, as well as negligible DNA-bound levels of NF-KB65 and TLR4. We also observed lower levels of IL-8, IL-6, ACAM-1, TNF-α, MPO, and IL-12 in the Panax notoginseng saponin–treated group when compared with controls. In addition, Panax notoginseng saponin–treated rats had significantly reduced serum levels of lipase and amylase. Histological analyses confirmed that Panax notoginseng saponin treatment significantly reduced taurocholate-induced pancreatic inflammation. Collectively, our results suggest that Panax notoginseng saponin treatment attenuated acute pancreatitis and pancreatic inflammation by increasing miR-181b signaling. These findings suggest that Panax notoginseng saponins have therapeutic potential in the treatment of taurocholate-induced SAP.
The medium-term results of acromioclavicular joint arthroscopy with chondral and meniscal debridement
Authors: Bell Simon , Old Jason , Lewis Emma , Coghlan Jennifer
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

Surgical management of a young patient with a stable but painful acromioclavicular (AC) joint but normal imagining is a challenging problem. A standard arthroscopic excision of distal clavicle seems too aggressive. An alternative procedure is arthroscopic debridement of the joint, particularly the often torn meniscus, and chondroplasty. This study demonstrates in younger patients the medium-term result of arthroscopic debridement of a painful AC joint.

Methods:

Fifty-three young adult patients with a stable but painful AC joint, and virtually normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, had arthroscopic debridement of the AC joint. Follow-up was with questionnaire and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Score (ASES).

Results:

Mean age was 29 years (18–39), 41 male, 31 dominant arm. Twenty-two patients demonstrated additional shoulder pathology. Two patients had a later distal clavicle excision. Five patients had later surgery to other areas of the shoulder but had an asymptomatic AC joint. Thirty-eight patients completed the ASES questionnaire at mean 44 months (24–86) post-operation. The mean ASES score was 82.8 (52–100). There was no association between ASES score and AC joint disease severity found at operation ( p = 0.25). Seven patients had ongoing shoulder symptoms, although none were severe enough to warrant any treatment.

Conclusion:

In this young group of patients with arthroscopic AC joint debridement, most had good relief of the AC joint related symptoms. This is a worthwhile procedure in the young patient, with quick recovery, and does not preclude further AC joint surgery later.
Artificial Intelligence in Business Communication: A Snapshot
Authors: Naidoo Jefrey , Dulek Ronald E.
Published: December 2018

Despite artificial intelligence’s far-reaching influence in the financial reporting and other business domains, there is a surprising dearth of accessible descriptions about the assumptions underlying the software’s development along with an absence of empirical evidence assessing the viability and usefulness of this communication tool. With these observations in mind, the purposes of this study are to explain how automated text summarization applications work from an overarching, semitechnical, modestly theoretical perspective and, using ROUGE-1 (Recall-Oriented Understudy for Gisting Evaluation–1) evaluation metrics, assess how effective the summarization software is when summarizing complex business reports. The results of this study show that the extraction-based summarization system produced moderately satisfactory results in terms of extracting relevant instances of the text from the business reports. Much work still needs to be accomplished in the area of precision and recall in extraction-based systems before the software can match a human’s ability to capture the gist of a body of text.
Pope Francis’s Missiology of Attraction
Authors: Bevans Stephen
Published: December 2018

In some contrast to the “New Evangelization” approach of his predecessors, Pope Francis’s approach to mission might be characterized as a “missiology of attraction.” This article explains how a missiology of attraction is rooted in an “attractive message” of God’s mercy and tenderness. Such an understanding of God is embodied in an “attractive community” of an inclusive church, a church that offers an “attractive teaching” that is attentive to culture and context.
Depletion of murine fetal hematopoietic stem cells with c-Kit receptor and CD47 blockade improves neonatal engraftment
Authors: Witt Russell G. , Wang Bowen , Nguyen Quoc-Hung , Eikani Carlo , Mattis Aras N. , MacKenzie Tippi C.
Published: December 2018

Key Points

Fetal injection of antibodies against the c-Kit receptor and CD47 effectively depletes host HSCs in immunocompetent mice. In utero depletion of host HSCs increases long-term engraftment after neonatal hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Towards the use of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for real-time in vivo detection of breast cancer during surgery
Authors: de Boer Lisanne L. , Bydlon Torre M. , van Duijnhoven Frederieke , Vranken Peeters Marie-Jeanne T. F. D. , Loo Claudette E. , Winter-Warnars Gonneke A. O. , Sanders Joyce , Sterenborg Henricus J. C. M. , Hendriks Benno H. W. , Ruers Theo J. M.
Published: December 2018

Background

Breast cancer surgeons struggle with differentiating healthy tissue from cancer at the resection margin during surgery. We report on the feasibility of using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) for real-time in vivo tissue characterization.

Methods

Evaluating feasibility of the technology requires a setting in which measurements, imaging and pathology have the best possible correlation. For this purpose an optical biopsy needle was used that had integrated optical fibers at the tip of the needle. This approach enabled the best possible correlation between optical measurement volume and tissue histology. With this optical biopsy needle we acquired real-time DRS data of normal tissue and tumor tissue in 27 patients that underwent an ultrasound guided breast biopsy procedure. Five additional patients were measured in continuous mode in which we obtained DRS measurements along the entire biopsy needle trajectory. We developed and compared three different support vector machine based classification models to classify the DRS measurements.

Results

With DRS malignant tissue could be discriminated from healthy tissue. The classification model that was based on eight selected wavelengths had the highest accuracy and Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 0.93 and 0.87, respectively. In three patients that were measured in continuous mode and had malignant tissue in their biopsy specimen, a clear transition was seen in the classified DRS measurements going from healthy tissue to tumor tissue. This transition was not seen in the other two continuously measured patients that had benign tissue in their biopsy specimen.

Conclusions

It was concluded that DRS is feasible for integration in a surgical tool that could assist the breast surgeon in detecting positive resection margins during breast surgery.

Trail registration NIH US National Library of Medicine–clinicaltrails.gov, NCT01730365. Registered: 10/04/2012 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01730365
Causal Associations in Type 2 Diabetes Development
Authors: Marott Sarah C W , Nordestgaard Børge G , Tybjærg-Hansen Anne , Benn Marianne
Published: December 2018

Context

Obesity, glucose, insulin resistance [homeostatic model assessment, version 2, for insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR)], and insulin secretion (HOMA2-β) have been associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) observationally. However, the causal, genetic contribution of each parameter to this risk is largely unknown and important to study because observational data are prone to confounding but genetic, causal data are free of confounding and reverse causation.

Objective

We examined the causal, genetic contribution of body mass index (BMI), glucose level, C-peptide level, HOMA2-IR, and HOMA2-β to the risk of T2D in 95,540 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study and estimated the absolute 10-year risks.

Methods

Cox regression analysis, instrumental variable analysis, and Poisson regression analysis were performed to estimate the observational hazard ratios, causal, genetic ORs, and absolute 10-year risks of T2D.

Results

For 1-SD greater level, BMI was associated with an observational 66% (95% CI, 62% to 72%) and causal, genetic 121% (95% CI, 25% to 291%) greater risk of T2D; glucose with an observational 44% (95% CI, 41% to 46%) and causal, genetic 183% (95% CI, 56% to 416%) greater risk of T2D; and HOMA2-IR with an observational 30% (95% CI, 18% to 44%) and causal, genetic 12% (95% CI, 2% to 22%) greater risk of T2D. In contrast, for 1-SD greater level, HOMA2-β was associated with an observational 14% (95% CI, 11% to 16%) and causal, genetic 21% (95% CI, 8% to 32%) lower risk of T2D. The upper tertiles of HOMA2-IR were associated with absolute 10-year diabetes risks of 31% and 37% in obese women and men, age >60 years, and a glucose level of 6.1 to 11.0 mmol/L.

Conclusions

BMI, glucose level, HOMA2-IR, and HOMA2-β are causally associated with T2D.
Concept of Excitation-Driven Boron Complexes and Their Applications for Functional Luminescent Materials
Authors: Gon Masayuki , Tanaka Kazuo , Chujo Yoshiki
Published: December 2018

It is commonly known that flexible structures and movable substituents are unfavorable for realizing intense luminescence with organic dyes. On the other hand, we show in this short review that excitation-driven boron complexes are promising platforms for obtaining stimuli-responsive luminescent materials with high sensitivity. Initially, we explained transformation of the valence of boron in heterofluorene from four to three-coordinate state through excitation-driven bond cleavage at the boron dative bond. The mechanism and stimuli-responsive luminescence with high sensitivity are illustrated. The next topic regards rational design of aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active molecules, which are able to provide enhanced emission by aggregation. By employing theoretical calculations, it was possible to find a series of novel AIE-active skeletons from scratch. Stimuli-responsive luminescent chromism was also observed from the resulting molecules. The final topic is concerned with aryl–o-carborane dyads. It was recently found that rotation of the o-carborane unit proceeds triggered by photo-excitation. By regulating rotation behaviors, not only solid-state luminescence but also dual emission were obtained. The concept and several examples to offer applications of this new class of boron complexes are reviewed.
Factors influencing malignant mesothelioma survival: a retrospective review of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank cohort
Authors: Amin Waqas , Linkov Faina , Landsittel Douglas P. , Silverstein Jonathan C. , Becich Michael J.
Published: December 2018

Background: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare but deadly malignancy with about 3,000 new cases being diagnosed each year in the US.  Very few studies have been performed to analyze factors associated with mesothelioma survival, especially for peritoneal presentation. The overarching aim of this study is to examine survival of the cohort of patients with malignant mesothelioma enrolled in the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB).  

Methods: 888 cases of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma cases were selected from the NMVB database, which houses over 1400 cases that were diagnosed from 1990 to 2017. Kaplan Meier’s method was performed for survival analysis. The association between prognostic factors and survival was estimated using Cox Hazard Regression method and using R software for analysis.

Results:The median overall survival (OS) rate of all MM patients, including pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma cases is 15 months (14 months for pleural and 31 months for peritoneal).  Significant prognostic factors associated with improved survival of malignant mesothelioma cases in this NMVB cohort were below the age of 45, female gender, epithelioid histological subtype, stage I, peritoneal occurrence, and had treatment that consisted of combining surgical therapy with chemotherapy. Combined surgical and chemotherapy treatment was associated with improved survival of 23 months in comparison to single line therapies.

Conclusions:There has not been improvement in the overall survival for patients with malignant mesothelioma over many years with current available treatment options. Our findings show that combined surgical and chemotherapy treatment in peritoneal mesothelioma is associated with improved survival compared to local therapy alone.
What’s new in dry eye disease diagnosis? Current advances and challenges
Authors: Aggarwal Shruti , Galor Anat
Published: December 2018

Dry eye disease (DED) is a commonly encountered condition in general ophthalmology practice and imparts a significant socioeconomic burden. Despite its prevalence, there remain challenges regarding its diagnosis and management. A major reason behind these challenges is the fact that DED represents an umbrella term that encompasses many different underlying conditions and pathophysiological mechanisms. The purpose of this article is to highlight aspects of DED pathophysiology and focus on targeted diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to this multifactorial, chronic condition.
Do age and mating status affect olfactory response of the parasitoid, Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to host-related plant odors?
Authors: Burrows Matthew , Morawo Tolulope , Fadamiro Henry
Published: December 2018

Background: Parasitic wasps (parasitoids) use volatile organic compounds released by herbivore-infested plants to locate their hosts. Response of parasitoids to plant odors may be plastic and dependent on their physiological state. Using Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a relatively specialized larval endoparasitoid of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), we asked whether age and mating status of parasitoids affect their olfactory response to host-related odors.

Methods: Four odor stimuli of varying complexity were selected based on previous reports of parasitoid response to cotton volatiles: cis-3-hexenol (a green leaf volatile), α-pinene (a constitutive monoterpene), a 50/50 v/v binary mixture (cis-3-hexenol + α-pinene), and H. virescens-infested cotton odors. Female M. croceipes used in Y-tube olfactometer bioassays were either mated or unmated, and grouped 1–3, 4–6, and 7–9 d-old. Female parasitoids used in electroantennogram (EAG) recording were mated and grouped 1–3, 4–6, 7–9 and 10–12 d-old.

Results: In Y-tube olfactometer bioassays, neither age nor mating status played a major role in the attraction of parasitoids to test odor stimuli, with two exceptions: 4–6 d-old mated parasitoids showed attraction to the binary mixture, and 1–3 d-old mated parasitoids showed attraction to H. virescens-infested cotton. Age did not affect EAG response of parasitoids to test stimuli.

Conclusions: The present results suggest that age and mating status do not play a major role in modulating olfactory responses of M. croceipes to host-related plant odors. Instead, plasticity of olfactory response may be limited in M. croceipes due to strong innate sensitivity to host-related odor cues.
Correction of gene model annotations improves isoform abundance estimates: the example of ketohexokinase (Khk)
Authors: Chabbert Christophe D. , Eberhart Tanja , Guccini Ilaria , Krek Wilhelm , Kovacs Werner J.
Published: December 2018

Next generation sequencing protocols such as RNA-seq have made the genome wide characterization of the transcriptome a crucial part of many research projects in biology. Analyses of the resulting data provide key information on gene expression and in certain cases on exon or isoform usage. The emergence of transcript quantification software such as Salmon has enabled researchers to efficiently estimate isoform and gene expressions across the genome while tremendously reducing the necessary computational power. Although overall gene expression estimations were shown to be accurate, isoform expression quantifications appear to be a more challenging task. Low expression levels and uneven or insufficient coverage were reported as potential explanations for inconsistent estimates. Here, through the example of the ketohexokinase (Khk) gene in mouse, we demonstrate that the use of an incorrect gene annotation can also result in erroneous isoform quantification results. Manual correction of the input Khk gene model provided a much more accurate estimation of relative Khk isoform expression when compared to quantitative PCR (qPCR measurements). In particular, removal of an unexpressed retained intron and a proper adjustment of the 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions both had a strong impact on the correction of erroneous estimates. Finally, we observed a better concordance in isoform quantification between datasets and sequencing strategies when relying on the newly generated Khk annotations. These results highlight the importance of accurate gene models and annotations for correct isoform quantification and reassert the need for orthogonal methods of estimation of isoform expression to confirm important findings.
What Makes a Decision Strategic?
Authors: Leiblein Michael J. , Reuer Jeffrey J. , Zenger Todd
Published: December 2018

The growth and diversity of strategic management research raise important questions about the field’s identity. In response to the increasing breadth of topics addressed in the field, scholars have suggested the need for a more topical focus, improved theoretical and empirical rigor, or additional integrative reviews. We suggest an alternative approach, one that emphasizes the distinctive contributions of strategic management. We highlight three unique characteristics of strategic decisions: interdependence across contemporaneous decisions, across the decisions of other economic actors, and across time. We suggest that this threefold characterization of strategic decisions improves on existing definitions that rely on the perceived importance of decisions or the trade-offs presented by a decision. Our definition of strategic decisions highlights patterns of interdependent choices that are complementary or superadditive to value creation. Moreover, this characterization of strategic decisions offers a ready way for scholars with multiple disciplinary or topical interests to connect with the field’s core. These characteristics of strategic decisions also relate to theories of resource allocation and strategic investment, competitive advantage, and firm boundaries that suggest opportunities to better connect these streams of research.
SOLAR PV POWER PLANT LOCATION SELECTION USING A Z- FUZZY NUMBER BASED AHP
Authors: Kahraman Cengiz , Otay Irem
Published: December 2018

One of the most used renewable energy systems to produce clean and sustainable energy are solar energy photovoltaic (PV) plants. The selection among solar energy PV plant location alternatives requires a multi-criteria decision making approach with several conflicting and linguistic criteria. The assessment process is generally done in a vague and imprecise environment. Fuzzy set theory is often very beneficial for evaluating the subjective judgments of decision makers. The Analytic Hierarchy Process is the most used multi-criteria decision making method in the world because of its simplicity and efficiency. In this paper, we select a location for a solar energy PV plant using a 4-level hierarchy. We consider several criteria and sub-criteria including initial cost, maintenance cost, slope and distance to highways. A Z-fuzzy number is a relatively new concept in fuzzy set theory that enables one to circumvent the limitations of ordinary fuzzy numbers. Z-fuzzy numbers can be viewed as a combination of crisp numbers, intervals, fuzzy numbers and random numbers because of their generality. They give a better representation than ordinary fuzzy numbers. This study solves the multi-criteria solar PV power plant location selection problem with a Z-fuzzy based AHP method. To check the applicability of the method proposed here, a real-life case study from Turkey is presented and solved.
PRIORITIZATION OF ALTERNATIVES BASED ON ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS USING INTERVAL TYPE-2 FUZZY SETS AND PROBABILITY-THEORETICAL INTERVAL COMPARISON
Authors: Degtiarev Konstantin Yury , Borisov Mikhail Yury
Published: December 2018

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) enables decision-makers to prioritize alternatives. However, when an expert expresses judgments using natural language statements (e.g. words or phrases) inherent vagueness of language constructs can cause the interpretation to be imprecise. The fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) can be viewed in the context of the classical AHP expansion. While performing pairwise comparisons domain experts are accustomed to operating with verbal terms in their judgments. Most existing FAHP approaches do not consider a human’s confidence in the estimates provided. This paper presents a model that gives weight to the constraints on domains of expert assessments as they are almost always supplied with certain degrees of confidence. Interval type-2 membership functions (IT2MF) along with the probability-theoretical procedure for comparison of intervals can be applied here as suitable modeling options. Empirical comparison of FAHP that makes use of triangular fuzzy numbers and IT2MF-based FAHP is also presented.
Highlights of the INFORMS 2018 meeting
Authors: Ferretti Valentina
Published: December 2018

The article provides an overview on the AHP/ANP talks presented at the INFORMS 2018 annual meeting.
Special Topic Articles on Fuzzy AHP Part-2
Authors: Kahraman Cengiz
Published: December 2018

In the special topic articles of this issue, three papers on the theoretical development and/or practical usage of Fuzzy AHP are presented…I hope this section will provide a useful resource of ideas, techniques and methods for research on fuzzy AHP. I am grateful to the referees whose valuable and highly appreciated work contributed to the selection of the papers published in this section.
OCORRÊNCIA E MENSURAÇÃO DOS CUSTOS DA QUALIDADE NO APL DE CONFECÇÕES
Authors: Pavão Juliane Andressa , Camacho Reinaldo Rodrigues , Espejo Márcia Maria dos Santos Bortolocci , Marques Kelly Cristina Mucio
Published: December 2018

Este estudo tem como objetivo verificar a ocorrência e mensuração dos CQ em empresas pertencentes ao Arranjo Produtivo Local (APL) de confecções de Maringá e Cianorte, no Estado do Paraná. Foi realizado um levantamento por meio de questionário, sendo um estudo descritivo e quantitativo. Os achados revelam que as empresas investigadas preocupam-se com a qualidade, pois possuem um departamento específico ou um responsável pela qualidade, sendo que a tentativa de responder às exigências dos clientes é o principal motivo pela busca da qualidade. Foi possível perceber que a maior ocorrência é de custos para a prevenção e avaliação da qualidade. A maioria das empresas mensura os CQ, porém estes custos são discriminados apenas pelo valor total. Já as empresas que não mensuram, afirmam que se deve ao fato de a mensuração financeira ser útil, mas existirem outras prioridades.
DIVERGÊNCIA GENÉTICA ENTRE PROGÊNIES DE MILHO NA REGIÃO CENTRO-SUL DO ESTADO DO TOCANTINS
Authors: Dias Marilene Alves Ramos , Melo Aurélio Vaz de , Santos Valdere Martins dos , Santos Diogo Pereira da Silva , Nunes Helber Veras
Published: December 2018

Na maioria das áreas cultivadas com milho, a ocorrência de seca ou períodos de estresse hídrico são fatores abióticos causadores de substanciais reduções na produtividade e mesmo em anos regulares de precipitação pluvial observam-se, normalmente, perdas na produção em virtude de períodos de estiagem denominados veranicos. Assim, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho quantificar a variabilidade genética de progênies de meio-irmãos de milho; promover o agrupamento das progênies em função da dissimilaridade genética; identificar as combinações promissoras à recombinação e/ou seleção de progênies e/ou extrações de linhagens promissoras ao melhoramento genético de milho nas condições edafoclimáticas do Tocantins. Foram consideradas as características altura de plantas; altura de espiga; plantas quebradas; plantas acamadas; peso de espiga sem palha; peso de espiga com palha; comprimento de espiga; diâmetro de espiga; número de fileiras; número de grãos por fileira e produtividade. Os resultados indicaram a presença de variabilidade genética em todas as características, bem como alta correlação entre as mesmas. A produtividade de grãos é a característica que mais contribui na dissimilaridade genética entre as 132 progênies.
DEMANDA ENERGÉTICA NA PRODUÇÃO DE SORGO SILAGEIRO NA REGIÃO METROPOLITANA DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIROO DE JANEIRO
Authors: Duarte Camila Madureira , Cunha João Paulo Barreto , De Oliveira Marcus Vinicius Morais , Honorato Livan Pereira
Published: December 2018

O balanço energético permite identificar as possíveis entradas e saídas de energia no processo de produção, resultando no saldo energético final do processo produtivo. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar os fluxos de energia e a demanda energética de dois sistemas de manejo do solo para a produção de sorgo silageiro na região metropolitana do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Foram realizados o estudo da eficiência energética e o balanço energético, quantificando o coeficiente energético de cada componente envolvido no processo de produção e determinando as matrizes de consumo energético nas formas de insumos, mão-de-obra, equipamentos, produção de silagem e restos culturais. Utilizou-se delineamento de blocos casualizados com cinco repetições, onde os tratamentos foram constituídos por sistema de preparo convencional do solo (SC) e sistema de preparo convencional com gradagem pré-plantio (SCG). Para os dados das entradas e saídas de energia, do balanço energético e da eficiência, os mesmos, quando significativos, foram submetidos ao teste de comparação de média Scot-Knott a 5 % de probabilidade. Os resultados indicaram que a contribuição do dispêndio energético dos fertilizantes e combustíveis foi determinante para o elevado consumo energético dos sistemas de cultivo estudados, sendo o efeito contrário para as energias referentes às fontes de origem biológica. Para as condições do presente experimento, sob o ponto de vista energético, o sistema com gradagem adicional (SCG) apresentou-se energeticamente mais viável, apresentando maior produtividade e eficiência na conversão de energia.
RETENÇÃO DE ÁGUA E DESENVOLVIMENTO DO FEIJÃO CAUPI EM FUNÇÃO DO USO DE POLÍMERO HIDRORRETENTOR NO SOLO
Authors: Pereira Janielle Souza , Olszevski Nelci , Da Silva Jeisa Cruz
Published: December 2018

O feijão caupi ou feijão de corda é uma das principais culturas da atividade econômica no nordeste brasileiro e apresenta boa tolerância à seca e às altas temperaturas, tendo sua produtividade condicionada pelo estresse hídrico advindo dos longos períodos de seca na região. Assim, objetivo do trabalho foi a avaliação do potencial do polímero hidrorretentor na melhoria da retenção de água, das características biométricas e da produtividade da cultura do feijão caupi em solo de textura arenosa. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos inteiramente casualizados, com sete tratamentos e quatro repetições. Cada parcela foi composta por um vaso com capacidade de 7L, com solo e a devida quantidade de polímero hidrorretentor ou ausência do mesmo (testemunha). Foram semeadas quatro sementes por vaso e, após a germinação, realizou-se o desbaste, mantendo-se duas plântulas. Durante e ao final do ciclo da cultura, foram avaliados parâmetros biométricos e de produtividade, e determinadas a umidade e a curva de retenção de água no solo. A utilização do polímero hidrorretentor aumentou a retenção de água e melhorou grande parte das propriedades morfológicas e produtivas da cultura. Dentre as dosagens avaliadas, as proporções de 1,50; 2,00 e 4,00 g L-1 se apresentaram como as que mais favoreceram ao desenvolvimento vegetal.