bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spectral decomposition for resolving partial volume effects in MRSI
Authors: Goryawala Mohammed Z. , Sheriff Sulaiman , Stoyanova Radka , Maudsley Andrew A.
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Estimation of brain metabolite concentrations by MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) is complicated by partial volume contributions from different tissues. This study evaluates a method for increasing tissue specificity that incorporates prior knowledge of tissue distributions.

Methods

A spectral decomposition (sDec) technique was evaluated for separation of spectra from white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM), and for measurements in small brain regions using whole‐brain MRSI. Simulation and in vivo studies compare results of metabolite quantifications obtained with the sDec technique to those obtained by spectral fitting of individual voxels using mean values and linear regression against tissue fractions and spectral fitting of regionally integrated spectra.

Results

Simulation studies showed that, for GM and the putamen, the sDec method offers < 2% and 3.5% error, respectively, in metabolite estimates. These errors are considerably reduced in comparison to methods that do not account for partial volume effects or use regressions against tissue fractions. In an analysis of data from 197 studies, significant differences in mean metabolite values and changes with age were found. Spectral decomposition resulted in significantly better linewidth, signal‐to‐noise ratio, and spectral fitting quality as compared to individual spectral analysis. Moreover, significant partial volume effects were seen on correlations of neurometabolite estimates with age.

Conclusion

The sDec analysis approach is of considerable value in studies of pathologies that may preferentially affect WM or GM, as well as smaller brain regions significantly affected by partial volume effects. Magn Reson Med 79:2886–2895, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Velocity reconstruction with nonconvex optimization for low‐velocity‐encoding phase‐contrast MRI
Authors: Loecher Michael , Ennis Daniel B.
Published: November 2017

Purpose

To introduce and demonstrate a nonconvex optimization method for reconstructing velocity data from low‐velocity‐encoding (Venc) phase‐contrast MRI data.

Theory and Methods

Solving for velocity values from phase‐contrast MRI data was formulated as a nonconvex optimization problem. Weighting was added to account for intravoxel dephasing, and a Laplacian‐based regularization was used to account for residual velocity aliasing. The reconstruction was tested with two low‐Venc schemes: dual‐Venc and a multidirectional high‐moment encoding. The reconstruction method was tested in a digital simulation, in flow phantoms, and in healthy volunteers (N = 5).

Results

The nonconvex‐optimization reconstruction velocity error was lower than the conventional reconstruction in simulations (4.6 versus 3.0 cm/s for multidirectional high moment, 8.3 versus 3.8 cm/s for dual‐Venc) and in flow phantoms (23.9 versus 5.9 cm/s for multidirectional high moment, 15.2 versus 6.4 cm/s for dual‐Venc). Qualitative assessment of velocity fields in all experiments, including healthy volunteers, showed decreased apparent noise in the velocity fields and fewer phase wraps. No additional velocity bias in measured velocities was seen in volunteers with the proposed method.

Conclusions

The proposed nonconvex‐optimization reconstruction method incorporates additional information to solve for velocities when using any type of low‐Venc (high‐moment) acquisition. The method reduces the amount of residual phase aliasing, and decreases velocity errors that result from intravoxel dephasing. These improvements allow for more robust acquisitions, and for Venc to be lowered 2 to 4 times relative to conventional acquisitions, thereby increasing the velocity‐to‐noise ratio. Magn Reson Med, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Magn Reson Med 80:42–52, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Neurofascin‐155 IGG4 Neuropathy: Pathophysiological Insights, Spectrum of Clinical Severity and Response To treatment
Authors: Garg Nidhi , Park Susanna B. , Yiannikas Con , Vucic Steve , Howells James , Noto Yu‐Ichi , Mathey Emily K. , Pollard John D. , Kiernan Matthew C.
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Sensorimotor neuropathy associated with IgG4 antibodies to neurofascin‐155 (NF155) was recently described. The clinical phenotype is typically associated with young onset, distal weakness, and in some cases, tremor.

Methods

From a consecutive cohort of 55 patients diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, screening for anti‐NF155 antibodies was undertaken. Patients underwent clinical assessment, diagnostic neurophysiology, including peripheral axonal excitability studies and nerve ultrasound.

Results

Three of 55 chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy patients (5%) tested positive for anti‐NF155 IgG4. Patients presenting with more severe disease had higher antibody titers. Ultrasound demonstrated diffuse nerve enlargement. Axonal excitability studies were markedly abnormal, with subsequent mathematical modeling of the results supporting disruption of the paranodal seal.

Discussion

A broad spectrum of disease severity and treatment response may be observed in anti‐NF155 neuropathy. Excitability studies support the pathogenic role of anti‐NF155 IgG4 antibodies targeting the paranodal region. Muscle Nerve 57: 848–851, 2018
Muscle membrane properties in A pig sepsis model: Effect of norepinephrine
Authors: Boërio Delphine , Corrêa Thiago D. , Jakob Stephan M. , Ackermann Karin A. , Bostock Hugh , Z’Graggen Werner J.
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Sepsis‐induced myopathy and critical illness myopathy are common causes of muscle weakness in intensive care patients. This study investigated the effect of different mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) levels on muscle membrane properties following experimental sepsis.

Methods

Sepsis was induced with fecal peritonitis in 12 of 18 anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs. Seven were treated with a high (75–85 mmHg) and 5 were treated with a low (≥60 mmHg) MAP target for resuscitation. In septic animals, resuscitation was started 12 h after peritonitis induction, and muscle velocity recovery cycles were recorded 30 h later.

Results

Muscles in the sepsis/high MAP group showed an increased relative refractory period and reduced early supernormality compared with the remaining septic animals and the control group, indicating membrane depolarization and/or sodium channel inactivation. The membrane abnormalities correlated positively with norepinephrine dose.

Discussion

Norepinephrine may contribute to sepsis‐induced abnormalities in muscle by impairing microcirculation. Muscle Nerve 57: 808–813, 2018
Falls and hip fractures associated with urinary incontinence among older men and women with complex needs: A national population study
Authors: Schluter Philip J. , Arnold Edwin P. , Jamieson Hamish A.
Published: November 2017

Aims

To determine if urinary incontinence (UI) was an independent risk factor for falls and hip fractures in community‐dwelling older men and women with complex needs, after controlling for confounders.

Methods

Since 2012, all community care recipients in New Zealand have undergone standardized needs assessments using the Home Care International Residential Assessment Instrument (interRAI‐HC). The interRAI‐HC elicits information over multiple domains, including UI frequency and falls. Those aged 65+ years with assessment between July 1, 2012 and May 31, 2014 without collection devices or indwelling catheters were matched to hospital, mortality, and pharmaceutical databases, and apposite regression models applied.

Results

Overall, 25 257 (37.5%) men and 42 032 (62.5%) women were eligible, with average age of 82.7 years (range: 65, 106 years). Incontinence was reported by 34.3% of men and 42.6% of women, falls within 90 days by 42.7% of men and 39.1% of women; and fractures recorded for 2.5% of men and 3.7% of women. In multivariable analysis, UI was significantly associated with falls (P < 0.001), and differentially related by sex (P < 0.001). Compared to continent participants, the odds of increasing falls risk was 1.69 (95% CI: 1.57, 1.82) for men with frequent incontinence and 1.53 (95% CI: 1.43, 1.64) for men with occasional continence; higher than the 1.39 (95% CI: 1.32, 1.46) and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.26, 1.39), respectively, for women. UI was not associated with hip fractures.

Conclusion

UI is a common independent risk factor for falls but not hip fractures. Patterns are different between men and women with complex needs.
Psychometric properties and validation of two global impression questionnaires (PGI‐S, PGI‐I) for stress incontinence in a German‐speaking female population
Authors: Bjelic‐Radisic Vesna , Ulrich Daniela , Hinterholzer Susanne , Reinstadler Evi , Geiss Ingrid , Aigmueller Thomas , Tamussino Karl , Greimel Elfriede , Trutnovsky Gerda ,   for the Austrian Urogynecology Working Group
Published: November 2017

Aims

The Patient Global Index of Severity (PGI‐S) and the Patient Global Index of Improvement (PGI‐I) are global impression questionnaires developed in English and validated in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This validation study tested the psychometric properties of German‐language versions of the two questionnaires in German‐speaking women with SUI.

Methods

The German‐language PGI‐S and PGI‐I were psychometrically tested and validated using the SF‐12 questionnaire, the Kinǵs Health Questionnaire (KHQ), clinical parameters, incontinence episode frequency and pad use in 311 patients before and 3 months after receiving a TVT‐O or TVT tape for SUI.

Results

At baseline and 3 months postoperatively there was a positive correlation between PGI‐S response categories and clinical parameters, IEF and pad use, and nearly all KHQ subscales. There were no correlations between response categories of PGI‐S at baseline and PGI‐I at 3 months and the SF‐12 scales PCS‐12 and MCS‐12.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated good psychometric properties of the German‐language PGI‐S and PGI in German‐speaking women with SUI.
Prevalence of key care indicators of pressure injuries, incontinence, malnutrition, and falls among older adults living in nursing homes in New Zealand
Authors: Carryer Jenny , Weststrate Jan , Yeung Polly , Rodgers Vivien , Towers Andy , Jones Mark
Published: November 2017

Pressure injuries, incontinence, malnutrition, and falls are important indicators of the quality of care in healthcare settings, particularly among older people, but there is limited information on their prevalence in New Zealand (NZ). The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of these four problems among older people in nursing home facilities. The cross‐sectional study was an analysis of data collected on a single day for the 2016 National Care Indicators Programme—New Zealand (NCIP‐NZ). The sample included 276 people ages 65 and older who were residents in 13 nursing home facilities in a geographically diverse area of central NZ. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Prevalence rates in these nursing home settings was pressure injuries 8%; urinary incontinence 57%; fecal incontinence 26%; malnutrition 20%, and falls 13%, of which half resulted in injuries. As people age, complex health issues can lead to increasing care dependency and more debilitating and costly health problems. Measuring the prevalence of basic care problems in NZ healthcare organizations and contributing to a NZ database can enable monitoring of the effectiveness of national and international guidelines.
Using SMART design to improve symptom management among cancer patients: A study protocol
Authors: Sikorskii Alla , Wyatt Gwen , Lehto Rebecca , Victorson David , Badger Terry , Pace Thaddeus
Published: November 2017

In this in‐progress sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART), dyads of solid tumor cancer patients and their caregivers are initially randomized to 4 weeks of reflexology or meditative (mindfulness) practices provided by/with their caregiver in the patient's home or to a control group. After 4 weeks, intervention group dyads in which patients do not show improvement in fatigue (non‐responders) are re‐randomized to either receive additional time with the same therapy during weeks 5–8 or to add the other therapy. The aims are (1) to compare reflexology and meditative practices groups during weeks 1–4 on patients’ fatigue severity, summed symptom inventory score, depressive symptoms, and anxiety, so as to determine the relative effectiveness of these therapies and the characteristics of responders and non‐responders to each therapy. (2) Among reflexology non‐responders based on fatigue score at week 4, to determine patient symptom outcomes when meditative practices are added during weeks 5–8, versus continuing with reflexology alone. (3) Among meditative practices non‐responders based on fatigue score at week 4, to determine patient symptom outcomes when reflexology is added during weeks 5–8, versus continuing with meditative practices alone. (4) To compare improvements in patient symptom outcomes among the three groups created by the first randomization. (5) To explore which dyadic characteristics are associated with optimal patient symptom outcomes, to determine tailoring variables for decision rules of future interventions. The trial has a target of 331 dyads post‐attrition and has 150 dyads enrolled. We are overcoming challenges with dyadic recruitment and retention while maintaining fidelity.
Reliability and validity of the Arabic PTSD Checklist Civilian Version (PCL‐C) in women survivors of intimate partner violence
Authors: Alhalal Eman , Ford‐Gilboe Marilyn , Wong Carol , AlBuhairan Fadia
Published: November 2017

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors are at high risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), PTSD has been considered a disorder specific to Western culture. There is a lack of reliable and valid measures of PTSD symptomology available in the Arab world, and there is still no clear evidence about the underlying factor structure of PTSD symptomology in the context of IPV. Thus, in the present study we investigated the construct validity (factor structure), internal consistency, and concurrent validity of a translated version of the PTSD Checklist Civilian Version (PCL‐C) in a sample of 299 Saudi women who had experienced IPV. Four competing models (DSM‐IV, Emotional Numbing, Dysphoria, and Dysphoric Arousal) were specified and estimated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The five‐factor Dysphoric Arousal model provided superior fit with the data compared to the alternative models, supporting construct validity of the Arabic PCL‐C. The factor loadings for the five‐factor Dysphoric Arousal model ranged from .31 to .83. A relatively high correlation between the Arabic PCL‐C and Arabic Center for Epidemiologic Studies‐Depression (CES‐D) Scale (r = .78, p < .05) provided evidence of concurrent validity. The total scale also demonstrated internal consistency reliability (α = .89). Overall, the study supports the Dysphoric Arousal model in representing PTSD symptoms among IPV survivors, the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of PCL‐C, and the cross‐cultural applicability of PTSD symptoms.
Concerted millisecond timescale dynamics in the intrinsically disordered carboxyl terminus of γ‐tubulin induced by mutation of a conserved tyrosine residue
Authors: Harris Jason , Shadrina Maria , Oliver Carlos , Vogel Jackie , Mittermaier Anthony
Published: November 2017

Tubulins are an ancient family of eukaryotic proteins characterized by an amino‐terminal globular domain and disordered carboxyl terminus. These carboxyl termini play important roles in modulating the behavior of microtubules in living cells. However, the atomic‐level basis of their function is not well understood. These regions contain multiple acidic residues and their overall charges are modulated in vivo by post‐translational modifications, for example, phosphorylation. In this study, we describe an application of NMR and computer Monte Carlo simulations to investigate how the modification of local charge alters the conformational sampling of the γ‐tubulin carboxyl terminus. We compared the dynamics of two 39‐residue polypeptides corresponding to the carboxyl‐terminus of yeast γ‐tubulin. One polypeptide comprised the wild‐type amino acid sequence while the second contained a Y > D mutation at Y11 in the polypeptide (Y445 in the full protein). This mutation introduces additional negative charge at a site that is phosphorylated in vivo and produces a phenotype with perturbed microtubule function. NMR relaxation measurements show that the Y11D mutation produces dramatic changes in the millisecond‐timescale motions of the entire polypeptide. This observation is supported by Monte Carlo simulations that—similar to NMR—predict the WT γ‐CT is largely unstructured and that the substitution of Tyr 11 with Asp causes the sampling of extended conformations that are unique to the Y11D polypeptide.
Diversity in peptide recognition by the SH2 domain of SH2B1
Authors: McKercher Marissa A. , Guan Xiaoyang , Tan Zhongping , Wuttke Deborah S.
Published: November 2017

SH2B1 is a multidomain protein that serves as a key adaptor to regulate numerous cellular events, such as insulin, leptin, and growth hormone signaling pathways. Many of these protein‐protein interactions are mediated by the SH2 domain of SH2B1, which recognizes ligands containing a phosphorylated tyrosine (pY), including peptides derived from janus kinase 2, insulin receptor, and insulin receptor substrate‐1 and −2. Specificity for the SH2 domain of SH2B1 is conferred in these ligands either by a hydrophobic or an acidic side chain at the +3 position C‐terminal to the pY. This specificity for chemically disparate species suggests that SH2B1 relies on distinct thermodynamic or structural mechanisms to bind to peptides. Using binding and structural strategies, we have identified unique thermodynamic signatures for each peptide binding mode, and several SH2B1 residues, including K575 and R578, that play distinct roles in peptide binding. The high‐resolution structure of the SH2 domain of SH2B1 further reveals conformationally plastic protein loops that may contribute to the ability of the protein to recognize dissimilar ligands. Together, numerous hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, in addition to backbone conformational flexibility, permit the recognition of diverse peptides by SH2B1. An understanding of this expanded peptide recognition will allow for the identification of novel physiologically relevant SH2B1/peptide interactions, which can contribute to the design of obesity and diabetes pharmaceuticals to target the ligand‐binding interface of SH2B1 with high specificity.
Potential Barrier Formed Around Dislocations in InGaN Quantum Well Structures by Spot Cathodoluminescence Measurements
Authors: Kurai Satoshi , Higaki Shota , Imura Nobuto , Okawa Kohei , Makio Ryoga , Okada Narihito , Tadatomo Kazuyuki , Yamada Yoichi
Published: November 2017

We carried out spot cathodoluminescence (CL) with scanning electron microscopy (SEM‐CL) of InGaN multiple quantum well (MQW) structures with an In molar fraction of 18% grown on c‐plane sapphire at room temperature, in which formation of a potential barrier around threading dislocations was confirmed in previous spatially resolved photoluminescence measurements with scanning near‐field optical microscopy (SNOM‐PL). We confirmed the suitability of CL measurements for evaluating the local potential barriers near the dislocations. Local emissions around the V‐pits were observed in monochromatic CL mapping images acquired at the higher‐energy side of InGaN emissions at RT and 78 K. The density of the higher‐energy emission regions was smaller than the V‐pit density, indicating the effect of nonradiative recombination. Spot CL spectra around the V‐pits showed shoulders on the higher‐energy side of the InGaN peaks. These observations agree with the SNOM‐PL results acquired from the same samples, indicating that SEM‐CL can be used to evaluate potential barriers. The emission energy difference between the InGaN and higher‐energy emissions estimated by spot CL spectra was compared with that estimated by SNOM‐PL spectra. The energy difference as a function of pit diameter showed a similar trend for both measurement methods, but was slightly smaller for the SEM‐CL results, suggesting that the potential barrier height evaluation is not necessarily quantitative.
Beyond cold and warm: an objective classification for maritime midlatitude fronts
Authors: Spensberger C. , Sprenger M.
Published: November 2017

This study introduces a detailed and objective classification for midlatitude maritime fronts. The classification is based on a principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the dominant patterns of variability between fronts. Here, fronts are defined as three‐dimensional frontal volumes, which are detected in the ERA‐Interim dataset for a large number of locations in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans during both winter and summer. In addition to the well‐established distinction between warm and cold fronts, the PCA exposes several new dimensions of variability: (i) front intensity, (ii) surface fluxes and (iii) along‐front transports, linked to the intensity of the associated conveyor belts. These new dimensions of variability are regionally and seasonally robust and a lagged composite analysis demonstrates that each of the new front types evolves in a dynamically characteristic way. Further, the new front types can be related to established ones like katafronts and anafronts. The new front types are finally redefined based on simple parameter thresholds to simplify their application in future studies.
Electronic structure of octagonal boron nitride nanotubes
Authors: Takahashi Lauren , Nakagawa Tessui , Takahashi Keisuke
Published: November 2017

The effect of an octagonal lattice configuration on a boron nitride nanotube is explored using first principle calculations. Calculations show that the formational energy of an octagonal boron nitride nanotube (o‐BNNT) is an exothermic reaction. Boron and nitrogen atoms within an o‐BNNT have an average of 2.88 electrons and 9.09 electrons, respectively, indicating ionic‐like bonding. In addition, the electronic structure of the octagonal boron nitride nanotube shows semiconductive properties, while h‐BNNT is reported to be an insulator. Additional o‐BNNTs with varying diameters are calculated where the results suggest that the diameter has an effect on the binding energy and bandgap of the o‐BNNT. The defect sites of the o‐BNNT are reactive against hydrogen where a boron defect is particularly reactive. Thus, this work suggests that physical and chemical properties of a boron nitride nanotube can be tailored and tuned by controlling the lattice configuration of the nanotube.
Glucose Conversion to Furans in Alcohols Catalyzed by Lewis Acidic Beta Zeolites and Brønsted Acidic Resins
Authors: Mahmoud Eyas
Published: November 2017

Glucose was converted to 5‐(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) and the potential biodiesel additives 5‐(ethoxymethyl)furfural (EMF) and 5‐(isopropoxymethyl)furfural (IMF) by Lewis acidic zeolites and Brønsted acidic resins. The conversion occured by sequential isomerization and dehydration reactions in semiaqueous mixtures containing ethanol or isopropanol. Sn‐beta and Amberlyst® 15 catalyzed the conversion of glucose to HMF and IMF in 53% yield in isopropanol containing 7.5 weight % water. The yield of undetected byproducts including humins was 7%. The moderate yield is attributed to the increased selectivity of the isomerization reaction and the suppression of further reactions of HMF to byproducts such as levullinic acid, formic acid, and humins in the alcohols.
Teachers' learning to facilitate high‐level student thinking: Impact of a video‐based professional development
Authors: Tekkumru‐Kisa Miray , Stein Mary Kay , Coker Ryan
Published: November 2017

Attaining the vision for science teaching and learning emphasized in the Framework for K‐12 Science Education and the next generation science standards (NGSS) will require major shifts in teaching practices in many science classrooms. As NGSS‐inspired cognitively demanding tasks begin to appear in more and more science classrooms, facilitating students' engagement in high‐level thinking as they work on these tasks will become an increasingly important instructional challenge to address. This study reports findings from a video‐based professional development effort (i.e., professional development [PD] that use video‐clips of instruction as the main artifact of practice to support teacher learning) to support teachers' learning to select cognitively demanding tasks and to support students' learning during the enactment of these tasks in ways that are aligned with the NGSS vision. Particularly, we focused on the NGSS's charge to get students to make sense of and deeply think about scientific ideas as students try to explain phenomena. Analyses of teachers' pre‐ and post‐PD instruction indicate that PD‐participants began to adopt instructional practices associated with facilitating these kinds of student thinking in their own classrooms. The study has implications for the design of video‐based professional development for science teachers who are learning to facilitate the NGSS vision in science classrooms.
Rethinking Sight Words
Authors: Miles Katharine Pace , Rubin Gregory B. , Gonzalez‐Frey Selenid
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this article is to rethink how sight words are categorized in early childhood classrooms. Three categories of words (regularly spelled, temporarily irregularly spelled, and permanently irregularly spelled) are presented as a way to think about the orthographic representations of words and how these representations interact with students’ grapheme–phoneme knowledge. Five kindergarten students were trained on explicit grapheme–phoneme mapping of 10 regularly spelled sight words during eight sessions lasting approximately 10 minutes each. Results demonstrated significant improvement from pretest to posttest on reading target words (p = 0.013, Cohen's d = 1.93) and nontarget words (p = 0.005, Cohen's d = 1.93). These preliminary findings indicate that the use of the categorization scheme based on student knowledge coupled with direct and explicit instruction of words that were previously taught as whole units may be an efficient and effective instructional method for securing regularly spelled sight words in memory.
Comparative Study of Potentially Jeff = 0 Ground State Iridium(V) in SrLaNiIrO6, SrLaMgIrO6, and SrLaZnIrO6
Authors: Wolff Klaus K. , Agrestini Stefano , Tanaka Arata , Jansen Martin , Tjeng Liu Hao
Published: November 2017

A series of polycrystalline double perovskites SrLaBIrO6 (B = Ni, Mg, Zn) containing Ir5+ (5d4) was synthesized by solid state reactions, and structural, magnetic and electronic properties were investigated. The isotypic fully ordered double perovskites crystallize in space group P21/n and show semiconducting behavior with estimated bandgaps of approximately 0.2 eV for SrLaNiIrO6 and SrLaZnIrO6, and 0.4 eV for SrLaMgIrO6. SrLaNiIrO6 is an antiferromagnet with a Néel temperature of 74 K (μeff = 3.3 μB, θW = –90 K), whereas SrLaMgIrO6 and SrLaZnIrO6 are weakly paramagnetic. All title compounds exhibit a temperature‐independent contribution to the measured magnetic susceptibility, which supports the notion for a van‐Vleck‐type response originating from the Ir5+ (5d4, Jeff = 0) ions.
Nineteenth-Century Britain
Authors: Black Jeremy , MacRaild Donald
Published: November 2017

The nineetenth century was a period of striking developments, and subject to a great pressure of change. This process of change is the primary focus of the book. Organised into a series of thematic chapters, Black and MacRaild’s wide-ranging text offers the reader an analysis of numerous spheres of human history: politics, empire and warfare; economy, society and population; religion and culture. The book also offers considered treatment of Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with a truly British (as opposed to English) perspective maintained throughout. With numerous illustrations, helpful explanatory tables, boxes and textual inserts, as well as a list of further reading with each chapter, Ninteetenth Century Britain is an excellent introductory text book for students of this most vital period in British history.
Positive geometries and canonical forms
Authors: Arkani-Hamed Nima , Bai Yuntao , Lam Thomas
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Recent years have seen a surprising connection between the physics of scattering amplitudes and a class of mathematical objects — the positive Grassmannian, positive loop Grassmannians, tree and loop Amplituhedra — which have been loosely referred to as “positive geometries”. The connection between the geometry and physics is provided by a unique differential form canonically determined by the property of having logarithmic singularities (only) on all the boundaries of the space, with residues on each boundary given by the canonical form on that boundary. The structures seen in the physical setting of the Amplituhedron are both rigid and rich enough to motivate an investigation of the notions of “positive geometries” and their associated “canonical forms” as objects of study in their own right, in a more general mathematical setting. In this paper we take the first steps in this direction. We begin by giving a precise definition of positive geometries and canonical forms, and introduce two general methods for finding forms for more complicated positive geometries from simpler ones — via “triangulation” on the one hand, and “push-forward” maps between geometries on the other. We present numerous examples of positive geometries in projective spaces, Grassmannians, and toric, cluster and flag varieties, both for the simplest “simplex-like” geometries and the richer “polytope-like” ones. We also illustrate a number of strategies for computing canonical forms for large classes of positive geometries, ranging from a direct determination exploiting knowledge of zeros and poles, to the use of the general triangulation and push-forward methods, to the representation of the form as volume integrals over dual geometries and contour integrals over auxiliary spaces. These methods yield interesting representations for the canonical forms of wide classes of positive geometries, ranging from the simplest Amplituhedra to new expressions for the volume of arbitrary convex polytopes.
Ambitwistor formulations of R2 gravity and (DF)2 gauge theories
Authors: Azevedo Thales , Engelund Oluf Tang
Published: November 2017

Abstract

We consider D-dimensional amplitudes in R
2 gravities (conformal gravity in D = 4) and in the recently introduced (DF)2 gauge theory, from the perspective of the CHY formulae and ambitwistor string theory. These theories are related through the BCJ double-copy construction, and the (DF)2 gauge theory obeys color-kinematics duality. We work out the worldsheet details of these theories and show that they admit a formulation as integrals on the support of the scattering equations, or alternatively, as ambitwistor string theories. For gravity, this generalizes the work done by Berkovits and Witten on conformal gravity to D dimensions. The ambitwistor is also interpreted as a D-dimensional generalization of Witten’s twistor string (SYM + conformal supergravity). As part of our ambitwistor investigation, we discover another (DF)2 gauge theory containing a photon that couples to Einstein gravity. This theory can provide an alternative KLT description of Einstein gravity compared to the usual Yang-Mills squared.
Transmutation of a trans-series: the Gross-Witten-Wadia phase transition
Authors: Ahmed Anees , Dunne Gerald V.
Published: November 2017

Abstract

We study the change in the resurgent asymptotic properties of a trans-series in two parameters, a coupling g
2 and a gauge index N, as a system passes through a large N phase transition, using the universal example of the Gross-Witten-Wadia third-order phase transition in the unitary matrix model. This transition is well-studied in the immediate vicinity of the transition point, where it is characterized by a double-scaling limit Painlevé II equation, and also away from the transition point using the pre-string difference equation. Here we present a complementary analysis of the transition at all coupling and all finite N, in terms of a differential equation, using the explicit Tracy-Widom mapping of the Gross-Witten-Wadia partition function to a solution of a Painlevé III equation. This mapping provides a simple method to generate trans-series expansions in all parameter regimes, and to study their transmutation as the parameters are varied. For example, at any finite N the weak coupling expansion is divergent, with a non-perturbative trans-series completion; on the other hand, the strong coupling expansion is convergent, and yet there is still a non-perturbative trans-series completion. We show how the different instanton terms ‘condense’ at the transition point to match with the double-scaling limit trans-series. We also define a uniform large N strong-coupling expansion (a non-linear analogue of uniform WKB), which is much more precise than the conventional large N expansion through the transition region, and apply it to the evaluation of Wilson loops.
Expanding the Bethe/Gauge dictionary
Authors: Bullimore Mathew , Kim Hee-Cheol , Lukowski Tomasz
Published: November 2017

Abstract

We expand the Bethe/Gauge dictionary between the XXX Heisenberg spin chain and 2d

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (2, 2) supersymmetric gauge theories to include aspects of the algebraic Bethe ansatz. We construct the wave functions of off-shell Bethe states as orbifold defects in the A-twisted supersymmetric gauge theory and study their correlation functions. We also present an alternative description of off-shell Bethe states as boundary conditions in an effective

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Finally, we interpret spin chain R-matrices as correlation functions of Janus interfaces for mass parameters in the supersymmetric quantum mechanics.
Appendicitis: Rural Patient Status is Associated with Increased Duration of Prehospital Symptoms and Worse Outcomes in High‐ and Low‐Middle‐Income Countries
Authors: Hernandez Matthew C. , Finnesgaard Eric , Aho Johnathon M. , Kong Victor Y. , Bruce John L. , Polites Stephanie F. , Laing Grant L. , Clarke Damian L. , Zielinski Martin D.
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Appendicitis is a significant economic and healthcare burden in low‐, middle‐, and high‐income countries. We aimed to determine whether urban and rural patient status would affect outcomes in appendicitis in a combined population regardless of country of economic status. We hypothesize that patients from rural areas and both high‐ and low‐middle‐income countries would have disproportionate outcomes and duration of symptoms compared to their urban counterparts.

Methods

Adults (≥18 years) with appendicitis during 2010–2016 in South Africa and USA were reviewed using multi‐institutional data. Baseline demographic, operative details, durations of stay, and complications (Clavien–Dindo index) were collected. AAST grades were assigned by two independent reviewers based on operative findings. Summary, univariate, and multivariable analyses of rural and urban patients in both countries were performed.

Results

There were 2602 patients with a median interquartile range [IQR] of 26 [18–40] years; 45% were female. Initial management included McBurney incisions (n = 458, 18%), laparotomy (n = 915, 35%), laparoscopic appendectomy (n = 1185, 45%), and laparoscopy converted to laparotomy (n = 44, 2%). Comparing rural versus urban patient status, there were increased overall median [IQR] AAST grades (3 [1–5] vs. 2 [1–3], p = 0.001), prehospital duration of symptoms (2 [1–5] vs. 2 [1–3], p = 0.001), complications (44.3 vs. 23%, p = 0.001), and need for temporary abdominal closure (20.3 vs. 6.9%, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Despite socioeconomic status and country of origin, patients from more rural environments demonstrate poorer outcomes notwithstanding significant differences in overall disease severity. The AAST grading system may serve a potential benchmark to recognize areas with disparate disease burdens. This information could be used for strategic improvements for surgeon placement and availability.
Beauty alone is insufficient: female mate choice in the barn swallow
Authors: Hasegawa Masaru
Published: November 2017

The barn swallow,Hirundo rustica, is a model species for studying sexual selection, particularly female mate choice. Although there have already been several reviews of female mate choice and its geographic variation in this species, all of them have focused on secondary sexual characteristics. Here, for better understanding of the general pattern of female mate choice and their influence on male phenotype, I review all of the female mate choice criteria ever reported in the barn swallow, emphasizing the importance of relatively inconspicuous male traits. These include resources defended or provided by males, such as territory and paternal investment. In addition, females prefer a nestling‐like vocalization, enticement call, which is particularly noteworthy because females prefer immature calls. This pattern contrasts with female choice based on secondary sexual characteristics, in which more mature, elaborate male traits are almost always favored. Nestling‐like male traits are widespread, and thus female avoidance of, rather than preference for, mature forms might be common. In addition to selection on the target trait itself, these resources and nestling‐like male traits would also matter in understanding the evolution of the overall male phenotype and its geographic variation, due to the interrelationships among male target traits and those among female mate preferences. Female preferences for inconspicuous traits are highly dependent on ecological factors such as nest predation pressure, and thus overall male phenotype including secondary sexual characteristics might be more predictable than previously thought. Future studies should focus on not only conspicuous secondary sexual characteristics but inconspicuous male traits.
Continuous measurement of object location memory is sensitive to effects of age and mild cognitive impairment and related to medial temporal lobe volume
Authors: Hampstead Benjamin M. , Towler Stephen , Stringer Anthony Y. , Sathian Krishnankutty
Published: November 2017

Introduction

We present findings of a novel and ecologically relevant associative memory test, the Object Location Touchscreen Test (OLTT), which was posited as sensitive to early medial temporal lobe compromise associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods

A total of 114 participants, including healthy young and older controls and patients with MCI, completed the OLTT and standard neuropsychological testing. The OLTT required participants to recall the location of objects under free and cued recall conditions, with accuracy evaluated using distance measures (i.e., a continuous error score), and a standard recognition format. Correlations between performance and volumetric data were evaluated from a subset of 77 participants.

Results

Significant age effects were dwarfed by MCI effects across all test conditions. OLTT Cued Recall was strongly and specifically related to the volume of disease‐relevant medial temporal lobe regions, generally more than traditional memory tests.

Discussion

The OLTT may be sensitive to early structural compromise in regions affected by Alzheimer's disease.
Effects of an Oral-Pharyngeal Motor Training Programme on Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Hong Kong: A Retrospective Pilot Study
Authors: Cheng S.Y. , Kwong S.H.W. , Pang W.M. , Wan L.Y.
Published: November 2017

Background

This study aimed to investigate the effects of an oropharyngeal motor training programme on children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) in Hong Kong.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we reviewed the outcomes of 10 children with OSAS who had received an oropharyngeal motor training programme in Occupational Therapy Department of an acute hospital in Hong Kong over a 1-year programme. Each participant attended an individual oropharyngeal motor training programme plus a follow-up session after 2 months. The training programme consisted of 10 individual mobilization exercises involving the orofacial and pharyngeal area for 45 minutes. Each exercise had to be repeated for 10 times. Three outcome measures were chosen to study the effectiveness of the training programme including tongue strength, tongue endurance level and orofacial function. Tongue strength and tongue endurance level were assessed using the Iowa Oral Pressure Instrument (IOPI). The Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S) Assessment was used to assess the orofacial function. Seven out of 10 participants completed the training programme and attended the follow-up session after two months.

Results

The tongue strength and the scores of NOT-S of the 7 participants were found to have significant improvement after training. However, there was no significant difference in tongue endurance level.

Conclusion

The findings of this study support the role of occupational therapist in oromotor training modalities to improve the respiratory function for children with OSAS in Hong Kong. Copyright © 2017, Hong Kong Occupational Therapy Association. Published by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).
Opposition multiple objective symbiotic organisms search (OMOSOS) for time, cost, quality and work continuity tradeoff in repetitive projects
Authors: Tran Duc-Hoc , Luong-Duc Long , Duong Minh-Tin , Le Trong-Nhan , Pham Anh-Duc
Published: November 2017

Construction managers often face with projects containing multiple units wherein activities repeat from unit to unit. Therefore effective resource management is crucial in terms of project duration, cost and quality. Accordingly, researchers have developed several models to aid planners in developing practical and near-optimal schedules for repetitive projects. Despite their undeniable benefits, such models lack the ability of pure simultaneous optimization because existing methodologies optimize the schedule with respect to a single factor, to achieve minimum duration, total cost, resource work breaks or various combinations, respectively. This study introduces a novel approach called “opposition multiple objective symbiotic organisms search” (OMOSOS) for scheduling repetitive projects. The proposed algorithm used an opposition-based learning technique for population initialization and for generation jumping. Further, this study integrated a scheduling module (M1) to determine all project objectives including time, cost, quality and interruption. The proposed algorithm was implemented on two application examples in order to demonstrate its capabilities in optimizing the scheduling of repetitive construction projects. The results indicate that the OMOSOS approach is a powerful optimization technique and can assist project managers in selecting appropriate plan for project.

Highlights This study presents an advanced multiple optimization algorithm OMOSOS. Opposition technique is utilized to spreading the initial population and generation jumping. OMOSOS is applied to solve time, cost, quality and work continuity tradeoff problem. The model performance is demonstrated in the experimental results.
A Novel Protocol for Contact Isolation for Multidrug‐Resistant Organisms in Children on Inpatient Rehabilitation and Effects on Functional Outcomes: A Noninferiority Study
Authors: Pham Kelly L.D. , Bjornson Kristie F. , Osorio Marisa , Whitlock Kathryn B. , Massagli Teresa L.
Published: November 2017

Background

The incidence of contact isolation for multidrug‐resistant organisms is increasing in acute hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation units alike. There is limited evidence on the effect of contact isolation on functional outcomes during inpatient rehabilitation.

Objective

To determine whether the use of a modified contact isolation protocol (MCI) resulted in noninferior functional outcomes compared with children without contact isolation (NCI) on inpatient rehabilitation.

Design

This is a retrospective noninferiority study.

Setting

One academically affiliated pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit located in a children's hospital.

Patients

All children with any diagnosis admitted to inpatient rehabilitation from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2014.

Methods or Interventions

We compared functional outcomes for 2 groups of children.

Main Outcome Measurements

Primary outcome measures included the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) efficiency and the change in the Developmental Functional Quotient (DFQ) for the WeeFIM. Noninferiority margins of 0.63 for the WeeFIM efficiency and 0.092 for the change in DFQ for the WeeFIM were used.

Results

There were a total of 949 patients of whom 899 were NCI, 48 MCI, and 2 excluded due to missing information. Patients with MCI had functional outcomes that were noninferior to those with NCI including the WeeFIM efficiency (mean difference 0.002, 95% CI –0.38 to 0.404) and the change in DFQ for the WeeFIM (mean difference –0.05, 95% CI –0.058 to 0.003).

Conclusions

The modified contact isolation protocol, having resulted in noninferior functional outcomes in inpatient rehabilitation may provide adequate contact isolation while allowing for noninferior functional outcomes. This may be a guide in the face of an ever‐increasing need for contact isolation.

Level of Evidence

III
Drug discovery and development: Role of basic biological research
Authors: Mohs Richard C. , Greig Nigel H.
Published: November 2017

This article provides a brief overview of the processes of drug discovery and development. Our aim is to help scientists whose research may be relevant to drug discovery and/or development to frame their research report in a way that appropriately places their findings within the drug discovery and development process and thereby support effective translation of preclinical research to humans. One overall theme of our article is that the process is sufficiently long, complex, and expensive so that many biological targets must be considered for every new medicine eventually approved for clinical use and new research tools may be needed to investigate each new target. Studies that contribute to solving any of the many scientific and operational issues involved in the development process can improve the efficiency of the process. An awareness of these issues allows the early implementation of measures to increase the opportunity for success. As editors of the journal, we encourage submission of research reports that provide data relevant to the issues presented.
Tracing Water’s Path Through the Santa Clara Valley Aquifer
Authors: Witman Sarah
Published: November 2017

In an increasingly drought prone climate, scientists study the impacts of drought on aquifer systems.
Manning and Marty Receive 2017 Norman L. Bowen Award
Authors:   AGU
Published: November 2017

Craig Manning and Bernard Marty will receive the 2017 Norman L. Bowen Award at the 2017 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, to be held 11–15 December in New Orleans, La. The award recognizes “outstanding contributions to volcanology, geochemistry, or petrology.”
Sounding the Black Smoker Plumes
Authors: Xu Guangyu , Bemis Karen , Jackson Darrell
Published: November 2017

Imaging sonar, an emerging technique for monitoring heat from seafloor hydrothermal vents, gives scientists a new look at interacting systems off the coast of Canada.