bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes Following Single and Recurrent In-Hospital Cardiac Arrests in Children With Heart Disease: A Report From American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines Registry–Resuscitation
Authors: Gupta Punkaj , Pasquali Sara K. , Jacobs Jeffrey P. , Jacobs Marshall L. , Tang Xinyu , Gossett Jeffrey M. , Gaynor J. William , Praestgaard Amy H. , Schexnayder Stephen M. , Berg Robert A. , Nadkarni Vinay M.
Published: February 2016

Objectives:

Little is known regarding patient characteristics and outcomes associated with cardiac arrest in hospitalized children with underlying heart disease. We described clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes in cardiac patients with both single and recurrent cardiac arrests.

Design:

Retrospective analysis evaluating characteristics and outcomes in single versus recurrent arrest groups in unadjusted and adjusted analyses.

Setting:

American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines–Resuscitation registry (2000–2010).

Patients:

Children younger than 18 years, identified with medical or surgical cardiac disease and one or more in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Interventions:

None.

Measurement and Main Results:

One thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine patients with 2,387 cardiac arrests from 157 centers met inclusion criteria: 1,546 (82%) with a single arrest and 343 (18%) with a recurrent arrest. More than two thirds of recurrent cardiac arrests occurred in ICUs, and those with recurrent arrest had a higher prevalence of baseline comorbidities (e.g., more likely to be mechanically ventilated and receiving vasoactive infusions). Overall survival to hospital discharge was 51%, and was lower in the recurrent versus single arrest group (41% vs 53%; p < 0.001). In analysis adjusted for baseline comorbidities, there was no longer a statistically significant association between recurrent arrest and survival (odds ratio, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.33–1.63; p = 0.45). In stratified analysis, the relationship between recurrent arrest and lower survival was more prominent in the surgical-cardiac (odds ratio, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.14–1.11; p = 0.09) versus medical-cardiac (odds ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.28–3.30; p = 0.95) group.

Conclusions:

In this large multicenter study, half of pediatric cardiac patients who suffered a cardiac arrest survived to hospital discharge. Lower survival in the group with recurrent arrest may be explained in part by the higher prevalence of baseline comorbidities in these patients, and surgical cardiac patients appeared to be at greatest risk. Further study is necessary to develop strategies to reduce subsequent mortality in these high-risk patients.
Cyberoperations and international humanitarian law
Authors: Pipyros Kosmas , Mitrou Lilian , Gritzalis Dimitris , Apostolopoulos Theodoros
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The increasing number of cyber attacks has transformed the “cyberspace” into a “battlefield”, bringing out “cyber warfare” as the “fifth dimension of war” and emphasizing the States’ need to effectively protect themselves against these attacks. The existing legal framework seem inadequate to deal effectively with cyber operations and, from a strictly legal standpoint, it indicates that addressing cyber attacks does not fall within the jurisdiction of just one legal branch. This is mainly because of the fact that the concept of cyber warfare itself is open to many different interpretations, ranging from cyber operations performed by the States within the context of armed conflict, under International Humanitarian Law, to illicit activities of all kinds performed by non-State actors including cybercriminals and terrorist groups. The paper initially presents major cyber-attack incidents and their impact on the States. On this basis, it examines the existing legal framework at the European and international levels. Furthermore, it approaches “cyber warfare” from the perspective of international law and focuses on two major issues relating to cyber operations, i.e. “jurisdiction” and “attribution”. The multi-layered process of attribution in combination with a variety of jurisdictional bases in international law makes the successful tackling of cyber attacks difficult. The paper aims to identify technical, legal and, last but not least, political difficulties and emphasize the complexity in applying international law rules in cyber operations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper focuses on the globalization of the “cyber warfare phenomenon” by observing its evolutionary process from the early stages of its appearance until today. It examines the scope, duration and intensity of major cyber-attacks throughout the years in relation to the reactions of the States that were the victims. Having this as the base of discussion, it expands further by exemplifying “cyber warfare” from the perspective of the existing European and International legal framework. The main aim of this part is to identify and analyze major obstacles that arise, for instance in terms of “jurisdiction” and “attribution” in applying international law rules to “cyber warfare”.

Findings

– The absence of a widely accepted legal framework to regulate jurisdictional issues of cyber warfare and the technical difficulties in identifying, with absolute certainty, the perpetrators of an attack, make the successful tackling of cyber attacks difficult.

Originality/value

– The paper fulfills the need to identify difficulties in applying international law rules in cyber warfare and constitutes the basis for the creation of a method that will attempt to categorize and rank cyber operations in terms of their intensity and seriousness.
From “great expectations” to “hard times”
Authors: Hanage Richard , Scott Jonathan M , Davies Mark A.P.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how digital creative graduates develop new businesses on graduating from university, and how their creative, business and personal lives interact until their nascent ventures fail financially.

Design/methodology/approach

– Seven digital creative nascent graduate entrepreneurs were followed for up to five years. Although independently assessed as having promise of business success, they were young and lacked business experience. They were followed through six-monthly semi-structured interviews which investigated their business, creative and personal development. The interviews were transcribed and key statements manually coded and extracted for analysis to identify issues, tipping points and outcomes.

Findings

– The primary contribution is the finding that, despite a promising beginning and very generous start-up support, all seven nascent ventures failed financially and most were closed down in favour of employment, particularly when personal issues such as parenthood sharpened the need for stable levels of income. The graduates demonstrated weaknesses in their commercial skills, especially selling (human capital) and insufficient utilization of networks (social capital) so that in the mainly mature low entry-barrier markets they were entering they were at a disadvantage from the outset. The research has also demonstrated the value of a real-time longitudinal qualitative approach to investigating businesses from business start-up to eventual exit.

Practical implications

– The insights gained have practical implications for start-up and survival support for creative graduate businesses, as well as raising issues about the effectiveness of postgraduate entrepreneurship education and cultural policy relating to this economically important sub-sector.

Originality/value

– The longitudinal approach has brought new insights and indicates several areas where more research would be valuable, especially in dealing with the consequences of unsuccessful nascent business ventures.
Entrepreneurs’ optimism, cognitive style and persistence
Authors: Adomako Samuel , Danso Albert , Uddin Moshfique , Damoah John Ofori
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating effects of cognitive style dimensions on the relationship between entrepreneurs’ optimism and persistence.

Design/methodology/approach

– This theoretically derived research model is empirically validated using survey data from 198 small and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana.

Findings

– The study’s empirical findings are that the relationship between entrepreneurs’ optimism and entrepreneurial persistence is enhanced at higher levels of cognitive planning and creating styles. Somewhat interestingly, cognitive knowing style negatively moderates the relationship between optimism and entrepreneurial persistence.

Research limitations/implications

– The cross-sectional design of the study does not permit causal inferences to be made regarding the variables examined. Future studies may use longitudinal design to examine the causal links of the variables.

Practical implications

– The results of this paper can assist entrepreneurs and policy-makers in understanding the dynamics and processes involved in entrepreneurial decision making. The understanding of this issue can promote the development and maintenance of entrepreneurial ventures.

Originality/value

– The paper has a strong theoretical value as it relies on cognitive explanations of human behaviour, and seeks to advance the theoretical field by demonstrating the value of cognitive style within the domain of entrepreneurship.
Information and consumer willingness to pay for biofortified yellow cassava: evidence from experimental auctions in Nigeria
Authors: Oparinde Adewale , Banerji Abhijit , Birol Ekin , Ilona Paul
Published: February 2016

In this article, we use the Becker‐DeGroot‐Marschak mechanism to estimate consumer demand for biofortified yellow cassava varieties in two states of Nigeria: Imo in the southeast and Oyo in the southwest. These two states exhibit distinct habitual product color preferences for staple food made with cassava. We estimate the effect of nutrition information campaigns and nature of planting material delivery institutions on consumer demand. Willingness to pay estimations account for the effect of product endowment, censoring in bids and nonpayment. In Oyo, consumers are willing to pay a premium for light yellow cassava variety even in the absence of nutrition information. The article finds that nutrition information results in a large and significant price premium for biofortified cassava in both states, and the nature of delivery institution has no significant effect.
Swallow: Resource and Tag Recommender System Based on Heat Diffusion Algorithm in Social Annotation Systems
Authors: Mahboob Vahideh Amel , Jalali Mehrdad , Jahan Majid Vafaei , Barekati Pegah
Published: February 2016

Social annotation systems (SAS) allow users to annotate different online resources with keywords (tags). These systems help users in finding, organizing, and retrieving online resources to significantly provide collaborative semantic data to be potentially applied by recommender systems. Previous studies on SAS had been worked on tag recommendation. Recently, SAS‐based resource recommendation has received more attention by scholars. In the most of such systems, with respect to annotated tags, searched resources are recommended to user, and their recent behavior and click‐through is not taken into account. In the current study, to be able to design and implement a more precise recommender system, because of previous users' tagging data and users' current click‐through, it was attempted to work on the both resource (such as web pages, research papers, etc.) and tag recommendation problem. Moreover, by applying heat diffusion algorithm during the recommendation process, more diverse options would present to the user. After extracting data, such as users, tags, resources, and relations between them, the recommender system so called “Swallow” creates a graph‐based pattern from system log files. Eventually, following the active user path and observing heat conduction on the created pattern, user further goals are anticipated and recommended to him. Test results on SAS data set demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has improved the accuracy of former recommendation algorithms.
Age at adiposity rebound and body mass index trajectory from early childhood to adolescence; differences by breastfeeding and maternal immigration background
Authors: Besharat Pour M. , Bergström A. , Bottai M. , Magnusson J. , Kull I. , Moradi T.
Published: February 2016

Objective

This paper aims to assess association between breastfeeding and maternal immigration background and body mass index development trajectories from age 2 to 16 years.

Methods

A cohort of children born in Stockholm during 1994 to 1996 was followed from age 2 to 16 years with repeated measurement of height and weight at eight time points (n = 2278). Children were categorized into groups by breastfeeding status during the first 6 months of life and maternal immigration background. Body mass index (BMI) trajectories and age at adiposity rebound were estimated using mixed‐effects linear models.

Results

Body mass index trajectories were different by breastfeeding and maternal immigration status (P‐value < 0.0001). Compared with exclusively breastfed counterparts, never/short breastfed children of Swedish mothers had a higher BMI trajectory, whereas never/short breastfed children of immigrant mothers followed a lower BMI trajectory. Ages at adiposity rebound were earlier for higher BMI trajectories regardless of maternal immigration background.

Conclusion

Differences in BMI trajectories between offspring of immigrant and of Swedish mothers suggest a lack of beneficial association between breastfeeding and long‐term BMI development among children of immigrant mothers. Given the relation between long‐term BMI development and risk of overweight/obesity, these differences challenge the notion that exclusive breastfeeding is always beneficial for children's BMI development and subsequent risk of overweight/obesity.
A methodological review of qualitative case study methodology in midwifery research
Authors: Atchan Marjorie , Davis Deborah , Foureur Maralyn
Published: February 2016

Aim

To explore the use and application of case study research in midwifery.

Background

Case study research provides rich data for the analysis of complex issues and interventions in the healthcare disciplines; however, a gap in the midwifery research literature was identified.

Design

A methodological review of midwifery case study research using recognized templates, frameworks and reporting guidelines facilitated comprehensive analysis.

Data Sources

An electronic database search using the date range January 2005–December 2014: Maternal and Infant Care, CINAHL Plus, Academic Search Complete, Web of Knowledge, SCOPUS, Medline, Health Collection (Informit), Cochrane Library Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Wiley online and ProQuest Central.

Review Methods

Narrative evaluation was undertaken. Clearly worded questions reflected the problem and purpose. The application, strengths and limitations of case study methods were identified through a quality appraisal process.

Results

The review identified both case study research's applicability to midwifery and its low uptake, especially in clinical studies. Many papers included the necessary criteria to achieve rigour. The included measures of authenticity and methodology were varied. A high standard of authenticity was observed, suggesting authors considered these elements to be routine inclusions. Technical aspects were lacking in many papers, namely a lack of reflexivity and incomplete transparency of processes.

Conclusion

This review raises the profile of case study research in midwifery. Midwives will be encouraged to explore if case study research is suitable for their investigation. The raised profile will demonstrate further applicability; encourage support and wider adoption in the midwifery setting.
Creative Death Penalty Reform in China: The Case of Drug Transportation
Authors: Trevaskes Susan
Published: February 2016

China's criminal justice system has, for decades, been consistently notorious as one of the world's most punitive. Recent reform of the nation's decades‐long harsh criminal justice policy to instead balance severity with greater leniency has given reformist‐minded judges and legal experts some cause for optimism. However, it has also created a judicial dilemma in determining how to apply this more lenient ethos in sentencing some capital crimes. This is particularly the case for the capital crime of transporting drugs, which is the focus of this article. This article reveals how reform can be achieved through skillful legal maneuvering for a crime category that is caught between two contesting views of the social benefits of punishment.
Electrophysiological and morphological changes in colonic myenteric neurons from chemotherapy‐treated patients: a pilot study
Authors: Carbone S. E. , Jovanovska V. , Brookes S. J. H. , Nurgali K.
Published: February 2016

Background

Patients receiving anticancer chemotherapy experience a multitude of gastrointestinal side‐effects. However, the causes of these symptoms are uncertain and whether these therapeutics directly affect the enteric nervous system is unknown. Our aim was to determine whether the function and morphology of myenteric neurons are altered in specimens of the colon from chemotherapy‐treated patients.

Methods

Colon specimens were compared from chemotherapy‐treated and non‐treated patients following colorectal resections for removal of carcinoma. Intracellular electrophysiological recordings from myenteric neurons and immunohistochemistry were performed in whole mount preparations.

Key Results

Myenteric S neurons from chemotherapy‐treated patients were hyperexcitable; more action potentials (11.4 ± 9.4, p < 0.05) were fired in response to depolarising current pulses than in non‐treated patients (1.4 ± 0.5). The rheobase and the threshold to evoke action potentials were significantly lower for neurons from chemotherapy‐treated patients compared to neurons from non‐treated patients (p < 0.01). Fast excitatory postsynaptic potential reversal potential was more positive in neurons from chemotherapy‐treated patients (p < 0.05). An increase in the number of neurons with translocation of Hu protein from the cytoplasm to the nucleus was observed in specimens from chemotherapy‐treated patients (103 ± 25 neurons/mm2, 37.2 ± 7.0%, n = 8) compared to non‐treated (26 ± 5 neurons/mm2, 11.9 ± 2.7%, n = 12, p < 0.01). An increase in the soma size of neuronal nitric oxide synthase‐immunoreactive neurons was also observed in these specimens.

Conclusions & Inferences

This is the first study suggesting functional and structural changes in human myenteric neurons in specimens of colon from patients receiving anticancer chemotherapy. These changes may contribute to the causation of gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by chemotherapy‐treated patients.
Canine Stifle Biomechanics Associated With a Novel Extracapsular Articulating Implant Predicted Using a Computer Model
Authors: Bertocci Gina E. , Brown Nathan P. , Embleton Neil A. , Barkowski Veronica J.
Published: February 2016

Objective

To evaluate the influence of the Simitri Stable in Stride™ extracapsular articulating implant (EAI) on canine stifle biomechanics in the cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL)‐deficient stifle using a 3‐dimensional (3D) quasi‐static rigid body canine pelvic limb computer model simulating the stance phase of gait.

Study Design

Computer simulations.

Animals

Five‐year‐old neutered male golden retriever (33 kg).

Methods

The EAI was implemented in a previously developed 3D CrCL‐deficient canine pelvic limb computer simulation model. Ligament loads, relative tibial translation, and relative tibial rotation were determined and compared to the CrCL‐intact and CrCL‐deficient stifle.

Results

The EAI significantly increased peak caudal cruciate and medial collateral ligament loads, significantly changed when peak lateral collateral ligament load occurred, and did not significantly affect peak patellar ligament load compared to the CrCL‐intact stifle. Compared to the CrCL‐deficient stifle, peak caudal cruciate, lateral collateral, and medial collateral ligament loads significantly decreased in the EAI‐managed stifle. Despite decreased peak caudal cruciate ligament loading, the EAI‐managed stifle generated local maxima that exceeded those of the CrCL‐deficient stifle at various intervals of stance. Peak relative tibial translation and rotation significantly decreased in the EAI‐managed stifle compared to the CrCL‐deficient stifle.

Conclusion

Model‐predicted stifle biomechanics differed after EAI system application in the CrCL‐deficient stifle, but were not restored to that of the CrCL‐intact stifle.
Evaluation of a Permanent Synthetic Osteochondral Implant in the Equine Medial Femoral Condyle
Authors: Husby Kirsty A. , Reed Shannon K. , Wilson David A. , Kuroki Keiichi , Middleton John R. , Hoepp Natalie C. , Charles Elizabeth M. , Cook James L.
Published: February 2016

Objective

To evaluate bone ingrowth, integration, and tolerance of a synthetic osteochondral implant in the medial femoral condyle (MFC) of normal horses.

Study Design

Experimental study.

Animals

Adult horses (n = 6).

Methods

Horses were anesthetized and bilateral femorotibial arthrotomies were performed for placement of 1 implant consisting of polycarbonate urethane with a titanium base in 1 MFC. The contralateral MFC served as a sham‐operated control without reaming of cartilage or subchondral bone. Lameness evaluations and radiographs were performed pre‐operatively with subsequent monthly lameness exams and radiographs at 6 months. Synovial fluid was collected for analysis from the adjacent femoropatellar joints pre‐operatively and at several intervals post‐operatively. Horses were euthanatized 6 months post‐operatively. Stifles were harvested for gross and histologic evaluations.

Results

Two horses were never lame, 2 were mildly lame, and 1 exhibited moderate lameness. Synovial fluid inflammatory parameters of the adjacent femoropatellar joints were not significantly different. No significant changes occurred radiographically over time in either stifle. Histologic assessment of synovium from the medial femorotibial joint revealed no differences in inflammatory changes between implant and sham stifles. Integration and osteoconductivity of the implant were graded as good in 4 and 3 of 5 specimens, respectively. Complications included joint sepsis resulting in euthanasia (1 horse), persistent lameness (1 horse), incisional seromas (4 horses), and incisional dehiscence (2 horses).

Conclusion

Results of this pilot study indicate that the implant was compatible with placement in the MFC of normal horses. Implant design allowed bone ingrowth within the titanium base and provision of a synthetic articular surface.
Design and Experimental Verification of Position-Dependent Passive Electromagnetic Damping
Authors: Arif Aksekili Asil , Topaloglu Nezih
Published: February 2016

A linear dashpot is a common equipment used in shock and vibration isolation. It has been shown theoretically that the vibration isolation performance can be significantly improved by a damping profile that depends on the piston relative position. In this study, a position-dependent damping profile is realized by using electromagnetic principles. The idea is to have multiple coil windings on the outer cylinder and to use a magnet as a piston. The damping profile is tuned by changing the number of turns at each coil. As a result of the magnet-coil arrangement, the architecture also has the capability of being regenerative. A unique experimental setup is constructed that measures damping electrically in a multiple coil arrangement. Least-squares optimization method is used to tune the number of turns. It is shown that the coil turns can be successfully tailored to realize a desired damping profile. The position-dependent damping architecture has the potential to be used in future regenerative dampers.
Robust Distributed Model Predictive Control of Constrained Continuous-Time Nonlinear Systems Using Two-Layer Invariant Sets
Authors: Liu Xiaotao , Shi Yang , Constantinescu Daniela
Published: February 2016

This paper introduces a robust distributed model predictive control (DMPC) strategy for constrained continuous-time nonlinear systems coupled through their cost functions. In the proposed technique, all the subsystems receive the assumed control trajectories of their neighbors and compute their controls by optimizing local cost functions with coupling terms. Provided that the initial state is feasible and the disturbances are bounded, a two-layer invariant sets-based controller design ensures robustness while appropriate tuning of the design parameters guarantees recursive feasibility. This paper first derives sufficient conditions for the convergence of all the subsystem states to a robust positive invariant set. Then, it exploits the κ ∘ δ controllability set to propose a less conservative robust model predictive control (MPC) strategy that permits the adoption of a shorter prediction horizon and tolerates larger disturbances. A numerical example illustrates that the designed algorithm leads to stronger cooperation among subsystems compared to an existing robust DMPC technique.
The Effect of Spatially Nonuniform Internal Heating on the Onset of Convection in a Horizontal Fluid Layer
Authors: Kuznetsov A. V. , Nield D. A.
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we investigated the onset of natural convection in a horizontal fluid layer due to nonuniform internal heat generation, which is relevant to a number of geophysical situations. We investigated a number of special cases, which we believe are paradigmatic. Those include linear, quadratic, concentrated, and exponential source strength distributions. Our results show that those situations that lead to a reduction/increase in the size of the region in which the basic temperature gradient is destabilizing lead to an increase/decrease in stability.
Fight over author pseudonyms could flare again
Authors: Bohannon John
Published: February 2016

Editor balks at authors using screen names from RNA folding game.
AAAS President seeks increasing support for curiosity-driven research
Authors: Lane Earl
Published: February 2016

Studies of plant evolution can yield practical benefits, says Barbara Schaal
Synchronous
Drosophila
circadian pacemakers display nonsynchronous Ca
2+
rhythms in vivo
Authors: Liang Xitong , Holy Timothy E. , Taghert Paul H.
Published: February 2016

Layered versatility atop circadian clocks

The circadian clock evolved to allow cells or organisms to anticipate changes in physiological requirements associated with Earth's 24-hour light/dark cycle. Some activities, however, need to occur out of phase with the core clock. Liang
et al.
imaged changes in intracellular concentration of Ca
2+
in populations of neurons in the fruit fly brain. Although the underlying clock was synchronous, the rhythms of Ca
2+
changes corresponded with distinct timing of activities associated with activity of the particular neuronal populations. Proper coordination of these distinct phases required expression of the neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor and its receptor.

Science
, this issue p.
976
Poor Correlation between Pneumococcal IgG and IgM Titers and Opsonophagocytic Activity in Vaccinated Patients with Multiple Myeloma and Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
Authors: Karlsson Johanna , Roalfe Lucy , Hogevik Harriet , Zancolli Marta , Andréasson Björn , Goldblatt David , Wennerås Christine
Published: February 2016

Patients with multiple myeloma and other B cell disorders respond poorly to pneumococcal vaccination. Vaccine responsiveness is commonly determined by measuring pneumococcal serotype-specific antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), by a functional opsonophagocytosis assay (OPA), or by both assays. We compared the two methods in vaccinated elderly patients with multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Postvaccination sera from 45 patients (
n
= 15 from each patient group) and 15 control subjects were analyzed by multiplexed OPA for pneumococcal serotypes 4, 6B, 14, and 23F, and the results were compared to IgG and IgM antibody titers measured by ELISA. While there were significant correlations between pneumococcal OPA and IgG titers for all serotypes among the control subjects (correlation coefficients [
r
] between 0.51 and 0.85), no significant correlations were seen for any of the investigated serotypes in the myeloma group (
r
= −0.18 to 0.21) or in the group with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (borderline significant correlations for 2 of 4 serotypes). The MGUS group resembled the control group by having good agreement between the two test methods for 3 of 4 serotypes (
r
= 0.53 to 0.80). Pneumococcal postvaccination IgM titers were very low in the myeloma patients compared to the other groups and did not correlate with the OPA results. To summarize, our data indicate that ELISA measurements may overestimate antipneumococcal immunity in elderly subjects with B cell malignancies and that a functional antibody test should be used specifically for myeloma and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia patients.
A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Bruker Biotyper MS and Vitek MS Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Systems for Identification of Yeasts, Part of the National China Hospital Invasive Fungal Surveillance Net (CHIF-NET) Study, 2012 to 2013
Authors: Wang He , Fan Yan-Yan , Kudinha Timothy , Xu Zhi-Peng , Xiao Meng , Zhang Li , Fan Xin , Kong Fanrong , Xu Ying-Chun
Published: February 2016

Among the 2,683 yeast isolates representing 41 different species (25
Candida
and
Candida
-related species and 16 non-
Candida
yeast species) collected in the National China Hospital Invasive Fungal Surveillance Net (CHIF-NET) program (2012 to 2013), the Bruker Biotyper MS matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) system exhibited significantly higher accuracy rates than the Vitek MS system for identification of all yeast isolates (98.8% versus 95.4%,
P
<0.001 by Pearson's chi-square test) and for all
Candida
and
Candida
-related species isolates (99.4% versus 95.5%,
P
< 0.001).
Infections Acquired via Fresh Water: From Lakes to Hot Tubs
Authors: Ayi Bertha
Published: February 2016

This chapter is unique in its focus on infections that are acquired in water. For those who like to swim and spend time in water parks and pools, the exposure to water and therefore the risk of infection is higher. Recreational water illnesses are illnesses related to recreation in water. Of these recreational water illnesses, infections are the most common because water laden with microorganisms or contaminated by human activity gains access to healthy tissue through the skin and body orifices. Infection occurs by inhalation, ingestion, or direct invasion of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal infections are the most common. This chapter discusses skin and soft tissue infections, ocular infections, urinary tract infections, pulmonary infections, central nervous system infections, and disseminated infections that can occur as people come into contact with natural nonmarine water bodies as well as manmade aquatic environments. Most of these infections are mild but can occasionally be life threatening. There is a focus on the latest methods to treat these infections.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a very common pathogen in water. The chapter discusses
P. aeruginosa
dermatitis at length and also looks at keratitis and pneumonia caused by this organism. The chapter also discusses the latest treatments for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a severe life-threatening illness with a high mortality, caused by
Naegleria fowleri
. Finally, there is an in-depth discussion of the notorious gastrointestinal illnesses such as norovirus and
Cryptosporidium parvum
that can affect large numbers of people at a time.
Same day arterial embolisation followed by hepatic resection for treatment of giant haemangioma
Authors: Bailey James , Di Carlo Sara , Blackwell James , Gomez Dhanny
Published: February 2016

Cavernous haemangiomas are the most common tumour of the liver; they are benign in nature and have an incidence of up to 7.3% at autopsy. Occasionally, they may cause symptoms necessitating intervention. We report the case of a woman who presented with non-specific abdominal pain and evidence of a giant hepatic haemangioma on abdominal imaging. She underwent selective hepatic arteriography with transcatheter arterial embolisation followed by same-day left hemi-hepatectomy, making an uneventful recovery. We discuss the management of giant hepatic haemangiomas and present same day transcatheter arterial embolisation prior to hepatic resection as a safe and viable treatment strategy in selected cases.
Prevalent diabetes mellitus in patients with heart failure and disease determinants in sub-Saharan Africans having diabetes with heart failure: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Aminde Leopold Ndemnge , Dzudie Anastase , Kengne Andre Pascal
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Heart failure (HF) is the final common pathway for most cardiovascular disease (CVDs). Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major contributor to CVD burden and an independent predictor of mortality in patients with HF. However, the epidemiology of DM in African patients with HF is less well described. The current proposal is for a systematic review to assess the prevalence of DM in HF and the determinants of disease in patients with diabetes and HF in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods and analysis

A systematic search of published literature will be conducted for observational studies on the prevalence of DM in HF and risk factors of HF in these patients in SSA. Databases including MEDLINE, Google Scholar, SCOPUS and Africa Wide Information will be searched from January 1995 to February 2016. Screening of identified articles and data extraction will be conducted independently by two investigators. Risk of bias and methodological quality of the included studies will be assessed using a Risk of Bias tool and STROBE checklist. Appropriate meta-analytic techniques will be used to pool prevalence estimates from studies with similar features, overall and by major subgroups. Heterogeneity of the estimates across studies will be assessed and quantified and publication bias investigated. This protocol is reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 guidelines.

Ethics and dissemination

The proposed study will utilise published data; as such there is no requirement for ethical approval. The resulting manuscript will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. This review will identify the knowledge gaps as well as inform policymakers in the region on the contemporary burden of DM in patients with HF.

Trial registration number

CRD42015026410.
Secular trends for age at spermarche among Chinese boys from 11 ethnic minorities, 1995–2010: a multiple cross-sectional study
Authors: Song Yi , Ma Jun , Li Liu-Bai , Dong Bin , Wang Zhiqiang , Agardh Anette
Published: February 2016

Objectives

We compared the differences in median age at spermarche among 11 ethnic minorities in 2010, estimated the trends regarding age at spermarche in different ethnic minorities from 1995 to 2010, and explored the association of spermarche with body mass index (BMI).

Methods

We used four cross-sectional Chinese National Surveys on Students’ Constitution and Health (CNSSCH, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010), and the total sample size was 40 113 children aged 11–18 years. The median age at spermarche of each ethnic minority was determined by using probit analysis. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of spermarche with BMI.

Results

In 2010, the ethnic minorities with earliest age at spermarche were Qiang (12.03 years), Zhuang (12.91 years) and Kirghiz (13.17 years); the three ethnic minorities with latest age at spermarche were Dong (14.73 years), Yao (14.60 years), and Naxi (14.36 years). From 1995 to 2010, age at spermarche showed a decline in almost each minority group except Yao and Dong. A higher BMI was associated with an increased likelihood of having reached spermarche after adjusting for age, regions or ethnic minorities.

Conclusions

A large variation in age at spermarche was observed among different ethnic minorities. The age at spermarche showed a downward shift in almost each of the 11 ethnic minorities with different patterns over time, and the children with higher BMI are more likely to enter puberty early.
Absolute and relative content of carbon and nitrogen differ by sex inCeratopteris richardiigametophytes
Authors: Goodnoe Taylor T. , Hill Jeffrey P.
Published: February 2016

When habitats are heterogeneous regarding key abiotic factors, and individual organisms have no control over the environment in which they develop, labile sex expression can allow individuals to adjust their sex based on local environmental conditions, resulting in increased individual fitness. Sexual lability is found extensively in homosporous ferns, where sex expression is often regulated via the pheromone antheridiogen. Nutrient availability may provide additional signals for sex determination in fern gametophytes, particularly if nutrient demands required for sexual development differ by sex. The model fern Ceratopteris richardii Brongn. has a well-characterized antheridiogen response and short time to sexual maturity. Although tests for nutrient effects on sex determination have been conducted in this fern, tests for differences in nutrient demands by sex have not. Elemental analysis demonstrated that 14-day-old ameristic male and meristic female or hermaphrodite gametophytes of C. richardii differ significantly in their relative carbon and nitrogen masses, resulting in significantly dissimilar C:N ratios between the sexes. Average gametophyte dry mass in ameristic males was approximately half that of meristic plants of the same age, and contained less N than meristic gametophytes in both relative and absolute terms. Those characteristic differences in elemental composition imply that variation in nutrient availability could potentially influence sex expression in C. richardii gametophyte populations, rather than regulation of sex determination by the antheridiogen system alone.
Improving salinity resilience inSwertia chirayitaclonal line withLactobacillus plantarum
Authors: Phoboo Susanna , Sarkar Dipayan , Bhowmik Prasanta C. , Jha Pramod Kumar , Shetty Kalidas
Published: February 2016

Plants defense responses to abiotic stresses, including salinity stress, involve stimulation of defense related pathways such as biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and induction of endogenous antioxidant enzyme responses. In the present study, a single seed origin clonal line of Swertia chirayita inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) was grown under different salinity levels. Control had no LP inoculation. S. chirayita inoculated with LP showed higher accumulation of proline, low proline dehydrogenase activity, up-regulation of pentose phosphate pathway, down-regulation of succinate dehydrogenase activity (Krebs cycle) and low total phenolic content with increased salt concentrations. In comparison, S. chirayita without LP adopted a different biochemical mechanism to counter salt stress (NaCl) by up-regulating both pentose phosphate pathway and Krebs cycle along with stimulation of phenolic biosynthesis. Guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity increased with and without LP treatment in response to increasing concentrations of salt. These results indicate that S. chirayita inoculated with LP exhibits a greater salinity stress tolerance than S. chirayita without LP by adopting a more energy efficient defense responses and potentially efficiently partitioning carbon flux between primary and secondary metabolism to counter salt induced oxidative stress.
Optimal Remanufacturing and Pricing Strategies Under Name-Your-Own-Price Auctions and Stochastic Demand
Authors: Li Jianbin , Wang Qifei , Yan Hong , Zhu Stuart X.
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we study recycling, remanufacturing, and pricing strategies of a manufacturer in a closed-loop supply chain. Different from traditional list-price transaction, a name-your-own-price auction is introduced into the recycling process where consumers offer a bid for their own used items and the manufacturer decides whether to accept the bid. We first analyze the consumers’ behavior and find that their bids increase with the dealing cost. Next, we build a newsvendor framework to investigate the manufacturer’s optimal manufacturing with pricing strategies and find that the stocking factor influences the recycling quantity and manufacturing policy. Moreover, we find that a larger salvage value motivates the manufacturer to set a higher stocking factor and thus recycle more as well as manufacture new products. We further investigate the effect of the demand uncertain level and the dealing cost on the system.
Cooperative Fuzzy Games with Convex Combination Form
Authors: Meng Fanyong , Chen Xiaohong
Published: February 2016

In this paper, a new class of cooperative fuzzy games named fuzzy games with convex combination form is introduced. This kind of fuzzy games considers two aspects of information. One is the contribution of the players to the associated crisp coalitions; the other is their participation levels. The explicit expression of the Shapley function is given, which is equal to the production of the Shapley function on crisp games and the player participation levels. Meanwhile, the relationship between the fuzzy core and the Shapley function is studied. Surprisingly, the relationship between them does coincide as in crisp case. Furthermore, some desirable properties are researched. Finally, an example is provided to illustrate the difference in fuzzy coalition values and the player Shapley values for four types of fuzzy games.
Observational challenges for the standard FLRW model
Authors: Buchert Thomas , Coley Alan A. , Kleinert Hagen , Roukema Boudewijn F. , Wiltshire David L.
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we summarize some of the main observational challenges for the standard Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) cosmological model and describe how results recently presented in the parallel session “Large-scale Structure and Statistics” (DE3) at the “Fourteenth Marcel Grossman Meeting on General Relativity” are related to these challenges.
An Integrated Repainting System for Digital Restoration of Vijayanagara Murals
Authors: Aswatha Shashaank M. , Mukherjee Jayanta , Bhowmick Partha
Published: February 2016

An integrated repainting system is proposed in this paper for digital restoration of images of heritage murals, which have historical significance in their painting styles and ritualistic contents. The repainting system uses an ensemble of conventional image processing tools, in tandem with some state-of-the-art image rendition techniques, such as scaled bilateral filtering, source-constrained inpainting, tonal processing, and texture mapping based on gradient fusion. Murals that are old by nearly four centuries, have been imaged in situ from the walls of temples under a controlled environment, and then they have been fed to our repainting system. As the work of mural art is highly subjective, and so is its interpretation, a battery of tests for subjective evaluation has been performed to compare the different stages of restoration. Three different tournament strategies have been followed to make the test result devoid of any subjective bias as far as possible. The overall evaluation result is quite encouraging, as the restored images exhibit a gradually improving quality through the different stages of restoration.
The Complex Relationship of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Acute Kidney Injury: Causation or Association?
Authors: Kilburn Daniel J. , Shekar Kiran , Fraser John F.
Published: February 2016

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a modified cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit capable of providing prolonged cardiorespiratory support. Recent advancement in ECMO technology has resulted in increased utilisation and clinical application. It can be used as a bridge-to-recovery, bridge-to-bridge, bridge-to-transplant, or bridge-to-decision. ECMO can restitute physiology in critically ill patients, which may minimise the risk of progressive multiorgan dysfunction. Alternatively, iatrogenic complications of ECMO clearly contribute to worse outcomes. These factors affect the risk : benefit ratio of ECMO which ultimately influence commencement/timing of ECMO. The complex interplay of pre-ECMO, ECMO, and post-ECMO pathophysiological processes are responsible for the substantial increased incidence of ECMO-associated acute kidney injury (EAKI). The development of EAKI significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality; however, there is a lack of evidence defining a potential benefit or causative link between ECMO and AKI. This area warrants investigation as further research will delineate the mechanisms involved and subsequent strategies to minimise the risk of EAKI. This review summarizes the current literature of ECMO and AKI, considers the possible benefits and risks of ECMO on renal function, outlines the related pathophysiology, highlights relevant investigative tools, and ultimately suggests an approach for future research into this under investigated area of critical care.
Polydatin Protecting Kidneys against Hemorrhagic Shock‐Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction via SIRT1 Activation and p53 Deacetylation
Authors: Zeng Zhenhua , Chen Zhongqing , Xu Siqi , Zhang Qin , Wang Xingmin , Gao Youguang , Zhao Ke-seng
Published: February 2016

Objectives. To ascertain if mitochondrial dysfunction (MD) of kidney cells is present in severe hemorrhagic shock and to investigate whether polydatin (PD) can attenuate MD and its protective mechanisms. Research Design and Methods. Renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) from rat kidneys experiencing HS and a cell line (HK‐2) under hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) treatment were used. Morphology and function of mitochondria in isolated RTECs or cultured HK‐2 cells were evaluated, accompanied by mitochondrial apoptosis pathway‐related proteins. Result. Severe MD was found in rat kidneys, especially in RTECs, as evidenced by swollen mitochondria and poorly defined cristae, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and reduced ATP content. PD treatment attenuated MD partially and inhibited expression of proapoptotic proteins. PD treatment increased SIRT1 activity and decreased acetylated‐p53 levels. Beneficial effect of PD was abolished partially when the SIRT1 inhibitor Ex527 was added. Similar phenomena were shown in the H/R cell model; when pifithrin‐α (p53 inhibitor) was added to the PD/Ex527 group, considerable therapeutic effects were regained compared with the PD group apart from increased SIRT1 activity. Conclusions. MD is present in severe HS, and PD can attenuate MD of RTECs via the SIRT1‐p53 pathway. PD might be a promising therapeutic drug for acute renal injury.