bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between red blood cell distribution width, bilirubin, and clinical characteristics of patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Wei T.‐T. , Wang L.‐L. , Yin J.‐R. , Liu Y.‐T. , Qin B.‐D. , Li J.‐Y. , Yin X. , Zhou L. , Zhong R.‐Q.
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and bilirubin have been proved to be prognostic factors for various types of cancer. However, their prognostic value in patients with gastric cancer (GC) remains largely unknown.

Methods

To verify whether RDW and bilirubin are prognostic factors for patients with GC, we performed a cross‐sectional study to analyze the relationship between RDW, bilirubin, and the clinical characteristics of patients with GC. Medical records of all newly diagnosed and pathologically proved patients with GC admitted to Changzheng Hospital between January 2016 and July 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The relationship between RDW, bilirubin, and the clinical characteristics of patients with GC was analyzed.

Results

A total of 144 patients with GC were enrolled. Patients with GC had significantly higher RDW than healthy controls, even after adjusting for hemoglobin, while total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL) and indirect bilirubin (IBIL) were significantly decreased. Furthermore, RDW and bilirubin were significantly correlated with tumor stage, as well as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 (CA19‐9).

Conclusion

Our study indicated that RDW and bilirubin could be potential prognostic factors for patients of GC.
The evaluation of the relevance of thrombin generation and procoagulant activity in thrombotic risk assessment in BCR‐ABL‐negative myeloproliferative neoplasm patients
Authors: Baccouche H. , Ben Jemaa M. , Chakroun A. , Chadi S. , Mahjoub S. , Sfar I. , Gorgi Y. , Ben Romdhane N.
Published: May 2017

Introduction

It has been recently suggested that microparticles (MP) play a role in the pathogenesis of thrombotic complications. This study aimed to assess the contribution of procoagulant activity expressed by circulating MP in thrombotic events in MPN patients.

Methods

Seventy‐four MPN patients were enrolled in a trans‐sectional study. The MP procoagulant activity was measured using two assays: (i) the thrombin generation (TG) assay used in different conditions with the addition of both tissue factor (TF) and phospholipids (PL) and with the addition of TF or PL alone and (ii) the PROCOAG‐PPL assay.

Results

The mean age was 62 (26 men and 48 women). The prevalence of thrombotic events was 28%. When comparing patients with thrombosis to those without, age, sex, MPN type, cardiovascular risk factors, and history of thrombosis were not significantly associated with thrombosis. The JAK2 V617F mutation was significantly associated with thrombotic events (90% vs 67%; P=.04). Results from the TG assay and the PROCOAG‐PPL assays did not demonstrate a significant association between the MP procoagulant activity and thrombotic events.

Conclusion

The MP procoagulant activity did not predict thrombosis in MPN patients. The contribution of TG assay in the assessment of the thrombotic risk is still in debate.
Co‐inheritance of α0‐thalassemia elevates Hb A2 level in homozygous Hb E: Diagnostic implications
Authors: Singha K. , Srivorakun H. , Fucharoen G. , Fucharoen S.
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Differentiation of homozygous hemoglobin (Hb) E with and without α0‐thalassemia is subtle on routine hematological ground. We examined in a large cohort of homozygous Hb E if the level of Hb A2 is helpful.

Methods

A total of 592 subjects with homozygous Hb E were recruited from ongoing thalassemia screening program. Additionally, five couples at risk of having fetuses with Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis who were homozygous Hb E were also investigated. Hb analysis was performed using capillary electrophoresis system. Globin genotypes were defined by DNA analysis.

Results

Subjects were classified into four groups including pure homozygous Hb E (n=532), homozygous Hb E/α0‐thalassemia (n=48), Hb Constant Spring EE Bart's disease (n=8), and Hb EE Bart's disease (n=4). The levels of Hb A2 were found, respectively, to be 4.97±0.69, 6.64±1.02, 4.86±0.87, and 7.60±1.04%. Among five couples at risk, α0‐thalassemia was identified in three subjects with Hb A2>6.0%.

Conclusions

Increased Hb A2 level is a useful marker for differentiation of homozygous Hb E with and without α0‐thalassemia. This should lead to a significant reduction in number of referral cases of homozygous Hb E for molecular testing of α0‐thalassemia in routine practice.
Critical values in hematology of 862 institutions in China
Authors: Ye Y.Y. , Zhao H.J. , Fei Y. , Wang W. , He F.L. , Zhong K. , Yuan S. , Wang Z.G.
Published: May 2017

Introduction

A national survey on critical values in hematology of China laboratories was conducted to determine the current practice and assess the quality indicators so as to obtain a quality improvement.

Methods

Laboratories participating were asked to submit the general information, the practice of critical value reporting, and the status of timeliness of critical value reporting.

Results

A total of 862 laboratories submitted the results. The majority of participants have included white blood cell count, blood platelet count, hemoglobin, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time in their critical value lists. Many sources are used for establishing a critical value policy, and some of the laboratories consult with clinicians. The unreported critical value rate, late critical value reporting rate, and clinically unacknowledged rate in China are relatively low, and the median of critical value reporting time is 8‐9 minutes.

Conclusion

There exists a wide variety for critical value reporting in hematology in China. Laboratories should establish a policy of critical value reporting suited for their own situations and consult with clinicians to set critical value lists. Critical values are generally reported in a timely manner in China, but some measures should be taken to further improve the timeliness of critical value reporting.
Frequency of polycythemia in individuals with normal complete blood cell counts according to the new 2016 WHO classification of myeloid neoplasms
Authors: Sandes A. F. , Gonçalves M. V. , Chauffaille M. de L.
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a disorder characterized by clonal proliferation of myeloid cells and increased red blood cell mass. Recently, the revised 2016 WHO classification of myeloid neoplasms decreased the threshold levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit for the diagnosis of PV. However, the new proposed cutoffs have remarkable overlap with the normal reference values reported and the clinical impact of these new cutoffs has not been widely assessed in the general population.

Methods

We retrospectively examined 248 839 patients with presumptively normal complete blood cell results, consecutively obtained in an outpatient setting.

Results

The proportion of men with Hb >165 g/L was 5.99%, Hct>49% was 2.4%, and Hb >165 g/dL or Hct>49% was 6.48%, while the proportion of women with Hb >160 g/L was 0.22%, Hct>48% was 0.11%, and Hb >160 g/L or Hct>48% was 0.28%.

Conclusion

The isolated use of the proposed Hb/Hct levels as a definer of polycythemia may lead to a substantial increase in unnecessary diagnostic tests. In cases with borderline levels of hemoglobin, the diagnostic workup of PV should only be indicated in the presence of clinical and/or laboratorial features associated with MPN.
Creating chronicity
Authors: Kirkengen Anna Luise
Published: May 2017

An authentic sickness history is the vantage point for juxtaposing a biomedical and a biographical‐phenomenological reading. What, in a biomedical framework, appears to be a longstanding state of comorbidity of different and unrelated types of diseases is rendered transparent in a biographical reading.

This particular reading, evidencing the shortcomings of a biomedical framework regarding identifying the social sources of an increasingly complex burden of disease, is reflected upon in light of recent research in the neurosciences. Thus, the biomedical contribution to a sickness history is demonstrated, with its resultant multimorbidity, chronification, and complete incapacitation of a woman despite the continuing and nearly excessive involvement of the health care system.
Single Cell Analysis Linking Ribosomal (r)DNA and rRNA Copy Numbers to Cell Size and Growth Rate Provides Insights into Molecular Protistan Ecology
Authors: Fu Rao , Gong Jun
Published: May 2017

Ribosomal (r)RNA and rDNA have been golden molecular markers in microbial ecology. However, it remains poorly understood how ribotype copy number (CN)‐based characteristics are linked with diversity, abundance, and activity of protist populations and communities observed at organismal levels. Here, we applied a single‐cell approach to quantify ribotype CNs in two ciliate species reared at different temperatures. We found that in actively growing cells, the per‐cell rDNA and rRNA CNs scaled with cell volume (CV) to 0.44 and 0.58 powers, respectively. The modeled rDNA and rRNA concentrations thus appear to be much higher in smaller than in larger cells. The observed rRNA:rDNA ratio scaled with CV0.14. The maximum growth rate could be well predicted by a combination of per‐cell ribotype CN and temperature. Our empirical data and modeling on single‐cell ribotype scaling are in agreement with both the metabolic theory of ecology and the growth rate hypothesis, providing a quantitative framework for linking cellular rDNA and rRNA CNs with body size, growth (activity), and biomass stoichiometry. This study also demonstrates that the expression rate of rRNA genes is constrained by cell size, and favors biomass rather than abundance‐based interpretation of quantitative ribotype data in population and community ecology of protists.
The role of failure mode and effects analysis in improving the quality performance of dairy laboratories
Authors: Abou El Hassan Dina S. , Elsherpieny Elsayed A. , Kholif Abdelkader M. , Khorshid Mohamed A.
Published: May 2017

Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is a proactive procedure for risk management and quality improvement in laboratories. The FMEA was carried out on pre‐analytical stage of ultra‐high‐temperature milk samples. It was applied at two different stages; in the first phase, the potential failure mode was chosen and the probable risks for failure mode were assessed and analyzed. Risk priority numbers (RPNs) were calculated to evaluate and organize reasons for potential failure and their impacts and identify the risk level. As for the second phase, it encompassed establishing and implementing the proposed action plans and measuring their effects. The uppermost RPN was human errors (504), followed by training (432), incorrect samples handling and transport (336), and insufficient sterilizing of tools (192). Employing the effective improvement action plan significantly decreased the RPN. The FMEA should be utilized as a regular tool to improve processes in laboratories.

Practical applications

The failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) method is used mainly to minimize errors, improve the quality of pre analytical stage of milk samples in the laboratory, identify potential failures, and develop and prioritize improvement strategies. Corrective actions significantly lower the risk priority numbers values. Besides, FMEA is a preventive tool and it is helpful in risk assessment of processes in dairy laboratories. The FMEA is a frequently‐used technique for quality assurance in food industry and numerous manufacturing industries addressing purchasers, governmental requirements, quality control, and safety. Nowadays, the FMEA is being applied in healthcare laboratories, and to attain all‐inclusive and fast improvement in safety in non‐healthcare industries.
Recognition of Delirium in Postoperative Elderly Patients: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Numan Tianne , van den Boogaard Mark , Kamper Adriaan M. , Rood Paul J. T. , Peelen Linda M. , Slooter Arjen J. C. ,   the Dutch Delirium Detection Study Group
Published: May 2017

Objectives

To evaluate to what extent delirium experts agree on the diagnosis of delirium when independently assessing exactly the same information and to evaluate the sensitivity of delirium screening tools in routine daily practice of clinical nurses.

Design

Prospective observational longitudinal study.

Setting

Three medical centers in the Netherlands.

Participants

Elderly postoperative adults (n = 167).

Measurements

A researcher examined participants daily (Postoperative Day 1–3) for delirium using a standardized cognitive assessment and interview including the Delirium Rating Scale Revised‐98 as global impression without any cut‐off values that was recorded on video. Two delirium experts independently evaluated the videos and clinical information from the last 24 hours in the participants’ record and classified each assessment as delirious, possibly delirious, or not delirious. Interrater agreement between the delirium experts was determined using weighted Cohen's kappa. When there was no consensus, a third expert was consulted. Final classification was based on median score and compared with the results of the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit and Delirium Observation Scale that clinical nurses administered.

Results

Four hundred twenty‐four postoperative assessments of 167 participants were included. The overall kappa was 0.61 (95% confidence interval = 0.53–0.68). There was no agreement between the experts for 89 (21.0%) assessments and a third delirium expert was needed for the final classification. Delirium screening that nurses performed detected 32% of the assessments that the experts diagnosed as (possibly) delirious.

Conclusion

There was considerable disagreement in classification of delirium by experts who independently assessed exactly the same information, showing the difficulty of delirium diagnosis. Furthermore, the sensitivity of daily delirium screening by clinical nurses was poor. Future research should focus on development of objective instruments to diagnose delirium.
The Religious Ethics of Labor
Authors: Glennon Fred , Lloyd Vincent
Published: May 2017

While unionization rates have steadily declined in the United States, there has been a renewal of grassroots labor organizing—in many cases connected in some way with religious communities. Attending to such organizing efforts holds the potential to deepen religious‐ethical reflection on questions of labor, and these religious‐ethical reflections hold the potential to enrich on‐the‐ground organizing efforts. These opportunities have largely been overlooked. On the one hand, while scholars have recently explored connections between religious ideas and economic ideas, they have often neglected questions of labor. On the other hand, labor studies scholars have often ignored the role of religion, although this is beginning to change. In this introduction we limn the resources available for religious‐ethical reflection on questions of labor and we propose a direction that the field could take, bringing together engagement with religious traditions and attunement to grassroots organizing.
Advocating Worker Justice
Authors: Beyer Gerald J.
Published: May 2017

Catholic moral theology possesses a number of tools that can be employed to promote worker justice. Some of these tools, such as Catholic social teaching on solidarity and workers’ rights, have been used to this end before. However, advocates of workers’ rights have seldom utilized other concepts, such as cooperation in evil, scandal, and evangelization. This essay provides a theoretical introduction to several tools in the “toolkit” of Catholic ethicists, engaging contemporary scholarship on them. It then applies the concepts to two cases in order to demonstrate their usefulness in the struggle for worker justice. Both cases involve Catholic universities, which means the ethical concepts introduced from the Catholic moral tradition should have normative status for these institutions. The first case entails a divestment campaign at the University of Notre Dame. The second case confronts the unjust treatment of adjunct faculty members at Catholic colleges and universities.
Rac(e)ing from Death
Authors: Winters Joseph
Published: May 2017

In response to recent events that demonstrate the persistence of racial trauma, this essay revisits James Baldwin's claim that racism is a symptom of fundamental human tendencies and constraints. For Baldwin, we cannot understand the legacy of racism if we do not take seriously all too human attempts to evade, and deflect, death and its intimations. To flesh out this component of Baldwin's thought, I engage with the thought of Georges Bataille, an author who thinks generally about the fraught relationship between the preservation of life and our responsiveness to suffering. To test the insights that Baldwin provides on racial matters, this essay engages recent discussions in black studies and queer theory around futurity, racial difference, and the category of the human. I maintain that we must think “the human” and racial difference together, as a tension‐filled relationship, in order to understand the limits and possibilities regarding our efforts to change the order of things.
The Politics of Religious Heritage: Framing Claims to Religion as Culture in Spain
Authors: Astor Avi , Burchardt Marian , Griera Mar
Published: May 2017

This article contributes to sociological theorizations of religion as heritage through analyzing the politics of religious heritage in Spain since its transition to democracy during the late 1970s. Our analysis is organized around three historical sequences of critical importance for understanding the political and legal significance of discourses that frame religion as cultural heritage in Spain: (1) negotiations that took place during Spain's democratic transition between 1977 and 1980; (2) discussions that surfaced in the context of the state's decision to recognize Islam, Protestantism, and Judaism in 1992; and (3) more recent debates regarding the incorporation of religious minorities in the context of increasing religious diversity, especially concerning places of worship. We show how framing “religion” using the language of cultural heritage has provided religious actors with a means of defending the connection between religion and national identity—and of protecting the privileges of majoritarian religious institutions without violating core tenets of secularism or pluralism. This scenario has created space for certain religious minorities to claim a place within Spain's evolving socioreligious landscape by invoking alternative heritages from Spain's multicultural past.
Spatial semantics: Modeling the meaning of prepositions
Authors: Zwarts Joost
Published: May 2017

Reference to space, especially with prepositions, plays a central role in natural language and is receiving more and more attention over the past decades. One line of research uses formal semantic modeling, using topological and other geometrical concepts such as regions, vectors, and paths. Another line of research has drawn attention to the role of function, force‐dynamics, polysemy, prototypes, and crosslinguistic variation in this domain. This paper gives an overview of both lines of research and argues that a synthesis is possible, based on a proper division of labor between semantics and pragmatics, richer ontologies, and a perspective on categorization that uses conceptual spaces and semantic maps.
Endomyocardial and pericardial aspergillosis in critically ill patients
Authors: Dimopoulos George , Frantzeskaki Frantzeska , Kosmopoulos Marinos , Taccone Fabio Sylvio , Van den Abeele Anne‐Marie , Bulpa Pierre , Forêt Frederic , Vogelaers Dirk , Blot Stijn ,   AspICU investigators
Published: May 2017

Invasive aspergillosis(IA) is a potentially lethal complication of Aspergillus infection affecting mainly immunocompromised hosts; however, during the last two decades its incidence was increasingly observed in critically ill immunocompetent patients. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics of histologically proven endomyocardial and pericardial invasion, in the context of IA, in critically ill patients. Eight critically ill patients with histopathological confirmation of endomyocardial/pericardial aspergillosis were evaluated. Risk factors, clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment, histopathological characteristics and mortality were recorded. Signs and symptoms of cardiac dysfunction were not observed in any of the patients. Therapy was administered to six of them shortly after the first positive culture. The observed histopathological lesions included haemorrhagic lesions, small vessels with central thrombosis and surrounding consolidated tissue with necrosis. Voriconazole, caspofungin, lipid amphotericin B and itraconazole were the used antifungals. The mortality rate was high (87.5%). Endomyocardial and pericardial aspergillosis are devastating complications of invasive aspergillosis. Clinical suspicion is low making the diagnosis difficult, therefore histopathological examination of tissues are required. The mortality is high.
Single and multiple sevoflurane exposures during pregnancy and offspring behavior in mice
Authors: Lee Soomin , Chung Woosuk , Park Haram , Park Hanwool , Yoon Seunghwan , Park Sangil , Park Jiho , Heo Jun Young , Ju Xianshu , Yoon Seok‐hwa , Kim Yoon Hee , Ko Youngkwon
Published: May 2017

Background

The second trimester is a period of neurogenesis and neuronal migration, which can be affected by exposure to anesthetics. Studies also suggest that multiple exposures may have a greater impact on neurodevelopment.

Aim

We investigated whether in utero single or multiple exposures to anesthetics caused long‐term behavior changes.

Methods

Pregnant mice were randomly divided into four groups on gestational day 14 (GD 14). Mice in the Control × 1 group were exposed to 100% oxygen for 150 min. Mice in the Sevo × 1 group were also exposed to 100% oxygen for 150 min, except that 2.5% sevoflurane was added during the first 120 min. Mice in the Control × 3 and Sevo × 3 group were identically treated as Control × 1 and Sevo × 1 group for three consecutive days, respectively (GD 14–16). Behavioral tests were performed only with the male offspring at the age of 2–4 months. Synaptic plasticity was also compared by inducing long‐term potentiation in acute hippocampal slices.

Results

Single or multiple sevoflurane exposures in pregnant mice during the second trimester did not cause long‐lasting behavioral consequences or changes in long‐term synaptic plasticity of their offspring.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that neither single nor multiple exposures of mice to sevoflurane during the fetal developmental period induces long‐term behavioral dysfunctions or affects long‐term synaptic plasticity. Additional studies focusing on early stages of neurodevelopment are necessary to confirm the effects of sevoflurane exposure during pregnancy.
Echoes of others: A path analytic examination of an interpersonal–cognitive model of voice‐related distress
Authors: Cole Esther R. , Strauss Clara , Fife‐Schaw Chris , McCarthy‐Jones Simon
Published: May 2017

Objectives

Cognitive models propose that levels of distress associated with auditory verbal hallucinations (‘voices’) are influenced by the hearers' beliefs about their voices (perceived malevolence and omnipotence), their negative beliefs about themselves and others and their attachment style. This study aims to test a comprehensive model of the relationship between these variables in order to identify distal and proximal interpersonal and cognitive factors contributing to voice‐related distress. This interpersonal–cognitive model of voices proposes that attachment anxiety/avoidance drive negative beliefs about self and others, which in turn lead to persecutory (malevolent/omnipotent) beliefs about voices, which in turn increase levels of voice‐related distress.

Design/Methods

Path analysis was used to test the interpersonal–cognitive model in a sample of 180 people currently hearing voices (57% self‐reported schizophrenia‐spectrum diagnoses; 90% some form of self‐reported mental health diagnosis).

Results

Path analysis provided support for a model in which there were direct pathways from attachment anxiety and avoidance to negative beliefs about self and others; direct pathways from negative beliefs about self and others to persecutory beliefs about voices; and a direct path from persecutory beliefs about voices, and negative beliefs about self, to voice distress.

Conclusions

Findings add support to the suggestion that voice‐related distress occurs in the context of an insecure attachment style and negative core beliefs about self/others. A therapeutic focus on beliefs about voices, attachment style and core beliefs about self/others may be important to minimize voice‐related distress. Further tests of this model that can establish causal relationships between variables are now needed.

Practitioner points

Distress associated with auditory verbal hallucinations (‘voices’) is highly variable. This study tests a comprehensive interpersonal–cognitive model of voice distress using path analysis with 180 participants.

The model tested in the current paper shows that attachment style predicts negative beliefs about self and others, which in turn predicts negative beliefs about voices, which in turn predicts voice‐related distress.

Findings support the suggestion that voice‐related distress occurs in the context of an insecure attachment style and negative core beliefs about self and others.

In addition to focusing on beliefs about voices, a therapeutic focus on attachment style and core beliefs about self and others may be important in order to minimize voice‐related distress.
Enhancing auxin accumulation in maize root tips improves root growth and dwarfs plant height
Authors: Li Zhaoxia , Zhang Xinrui , Zhao Yajie , Li Yujie , Zhang Guangfeng , Peng Zhenghua , Zhang Juren
Published: May 2017

Maize is a globally important food, feed crop and raw material for the food and energy industry. Plant architecture optimization plays important roles in maize yield improvement. PIN‐FORMED (PIN) proteins are important for regulating auxin spatiotemporal asymmetric distribution in multiple plant developmental processes. In this study, ZmPIN1a overexpression in maize increased the number of lateral roots and inhibited their elongation, forming a developed root system with longer seminal roots and denser lateral roots. ZmPIN1a overexpression reduced plant height, internode length and ear height. This modification of the maize phenotype increased the yield under high‐density cultivation conditions, and the developed root system improved plant resistance to drought, lodging and a low‐phosphate environment. IAA concentration, transport capacity determination and application of external IAA indicated that ZmPIN1a overexpression led to increased IAA transport from shoot to root. The increase in auxin in the root enabled the plant to allocate more carbohydrates to the roots, enhanced the growth of the root and improved plant resistance to environmental stress. These findings demonstrate that maize plant architecture can be improved by root breeding to create an ideal phenotype for further yield increases.
Resisting revenge: An investigation of reasons for foregoing revenge in romantic relationships
Authors: BOON SUSAN D. , RASMUSSEN KYLER R. , DEVEAU VICKI L. , ALIBHAI ALISHIA M.
Published: May 2017

The reasons people offered to explain why they resisted the desire to retaliate when provoked by a romantic partner were investigated in two studies. Undergraduates recalled an instance when they wanted to get even with a romantic partner but chose not to and either explained their reasons for foregoing revenge (Study 1, N = 27) or selected reasons from a checklist (Study 2, N = 91). Results suggest people succumb to the temptation to take revenge when they (a) do not stop to question the morality of responding vengefully, (b) do not consider the costs of retaliating (or perceive its benefits to outweigh its costs), or (c) weigh the harm that vengeance might cause their avengee/relationship less heavily than its benefits.
Intrahepatic cholangiojejunostomy for complex biliary stenosis after pediatric living‐donor liver transplantation
Authors: Alvarez Fernando A. , Sanchez Claria Rodrigo , Glinka Juan , de Santibañes Martin , Pekolj Juan , de Santibañes Eduardo , Ciardullo Miguel A.
Published: May 2017

The treatment of biliary stenosis after pediatric LDLT is challenging. We describe an innovative technique of peripheral IHCJ for the treatment of patients with complex biliary stenosis after pediatric LDLT in whom percutaneous treatment failed. During surgery, the percutaneous biliary drainage is removed and a flexible metal stylet is introduced trough the tract. Subsequently, the most superficial aspect of the biliary tree is recognized by palpation of the stylet's round tip in the liver surface. The liver parenchyma is then transected until the bile duct is reached. A side‐to‐side anastomosis to the previous Roux‐en‐Y limb is performed over a silicone stent. Among 328 pediatric liver transplants performed between 1988 and 2015, 26 patients developed biliary stenosis. From nine patients requiring surgery, three patients who had received left lateral grafts from living‐related donors due to biliary atresia were successfully treated with IHCJ. After a mean of 45.6 months, all patients are alive with normal liver morphological and function tests. The presented technique was a feasible and safe surgical option to treat selected pediatric recipients with complex biliary stenosis in whom percutaneous procedures or rehepaticojejunostomy were not possible, allowing complete resolution of cholestasis and thus avoiding liver retransplantation.
An online education approach to population health in a global society
Authors: Utley‐Smith Queen
Published: May 2017

Background

Health professions education content must keep pace with the ever‐evolving and changing health care system. Population‐based health care is advocated as a way to improve health outcomes, particularly in a technologically advanced health system like the United States. At the same time, global health knowledge is increasingly valued in health professions education, including nursing.

Aims

This article describes the design and implementation of an online population health course with a global viewpoint intended to accommodate the need for improved knowledge and skill application for graduate nurses. Attention was also given to faculty efficiency during the process of design and implementation.

Materials and Methods

This population‐global health course was piloted in a renovated master's curriculum for two semesters. Administering a Course Improvement Survey after initial course offerings assisted faculty to assess and target essential course changes. Data were collected from 106 registered nurse graduate students.

Results

Population and global health course objectives were met and students identified areas for course enhancement. Students (90%–94%) reported achieving increased knowledge of population health and global health.

Discussion

Like other creative works, the first rendition of a course requires pedagogical adjustments and editing. Formal student input, when built into the design and implementation of a course can assist faculty to be efficient when crafting essential course changes for subsequent semesters. Data from the survey showed that major population and global subject matter was being grasped by students, the data also revealed that tweaking specific online strategies like making all course content mobile would enhance the course.

Conclusion

The course development process and course improvement evaluation for this Population Health in a Global Society course proved valuable in the education of nurses, and helped maintain faculty work efficiency.
Estimating the bilateral impact of nontariff measures on trade
Authors: Bratt Michael
Published: May 2017

This paper seeks to estimate how the impact of nontariff measures (NTMs) on trade can vary across exporter–importer pairs. Covering data for the early 2000s, regressions are run at a disaggregate tariff line level and the estimated results are converted into ad valorem equivalents (AVEs). The results underline the importance of conditioning conclusions on trading partners and products and demonstrate that the same NTM can have different—even opposite—effects across exporting countries. One general pattern that emerges is that low‐income importers impose more restrictive NTMs, but that the capacity for exporting countries to address NTMs increases with GDP per capita.
A fractional equation to approximate wave dispersion relation in elastic rods
Authors: Othman Ramzi
Published: May 2017

The Kolsky‐Hopkinson bar technique is widely used to test materials at high strain rates. When large‐diameter bars have to be used, the processing of experimental signals needs to take into account wave dispersion effects. Such effects are either characterised experimentally, mostly using spectral techniques, or modelled analytically, using the Pochhammer‐Chree equation. In this paper, a phenomenological fractional approximation is proposed to model the wave dispersion relation in elastic bars. It involves the Poisson's ratio as a parameter. The proposed new equation approximates well the wave dispersion relation obtained by the Pochhammer‐Chree equation for Poisson's ratio ranging from 0.25 to 0.4 and for wavelengths 4 times higher than the radius of the bar. This roughly corresponds to frequencies up to 75 kHz. Thus, the proposed fractional equation is useful for processing signals obtained in Kolsky‐Hopkinson bar experiments. The approximate fractional equation is as simple as Love's equation; however, the former outperforms the latter equation.
Soil protection for a sustainable future: options for a soil monitoring network for Ireland
Authors: O'Sullivan L. , Bampa F. , Knights K. , Creamer R. E.
Published: May 2017

The increased recognition of the importance of soil is reflected in the UN Post‐2015 Development Agenda with sustainable development goals that directly and indirectly relate to soil quality and protection. Despite a lack of legally binding legislation for soil protection, the European Commission remains committed to the objective of soil protection. However, the achievement of a legally binding framework for soil protection relies on the implementation of a soil monitoring network (SMN) that can detect changes to soil quality over time. As beneficiaries do not pay for the provision of soil information, the options for soil monitoring are limited. The use of existing data sets should be considered first. Using Ireland as an example, this research explored the opportunities for a SMN for Ireland considering three existing national data sets. The options for a SMN are considered in terms of their spatial and stratified distribution, the parameters to be measured and an economic analysis of the options proposed. This research finds that for Ireland, either a 10 or a 16 km2 grid interval stratified by land use and drainage class offers the best potential in relation to the spatial distribution of existing data sets to reflect local data at a national level. With existing data, the stratified SIS data using the 16 km2 grid offers the best value for money, with baseline costs for analysis, excluding field costs, of between €706 481 and €2.8 million. Acknowledging the impossibility of measuring all parameters with ideal frequency, this study proposes a two‐tier system for optimized monitoring frequency. Parameters must anticipate future policy requirements. Finally, the implementation of a SMN must be accompanied by standardized methods, defined thresholds and action mandates to maintain soil quality within allowable limits.
The spin -function on for Siegel modular forms
Authors: Pollack Aaron
Published: May 2017

We give a Rankin–Selberg integral representation for the Spin (degree eight)$L$-function on$\operatorname{PGSp}_{6}$that applies to the cuspidal automorphic representations associated to Siegel modular forms. If$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}$corresponds to a level-one Siegel modular form$f$of even weight, and if$f$has a nonvanishingmaximalFourier coefficient (defined below), then we deduce the functional equation and finiteness of poles of the completed Spin$L$-function$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B},\text{Spin},s)$of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}$.
Stochastic Analysis of a Nonlocal Fractional Viscoelastic Bar Forced by Gaussian White Noise
Authors: Alotta G. , Failla G. , Pinnola F. P.
Published: May 2017

Recently, a displacement-based nonlocal bar model has been developed. The model is based on the assumption that nonlocal forces can be modeled as viscoelastic (VE) long-range interactions mutually exerted by nonadjacent bar segments due to their relative motion; the classical local stress resultants are also present in the model. A finite element (FE) formulation with closed-form expressions of the elastic and viscoelastic matrices has also been obtained. Specifically, Caputo's fractional derivative has been used in order to model viscoelastic long-range interaction. The static and quasi-static response has been already investigated. This work investigates the stochastic response of the nonlocal fractional viscoelastic bar introduced in previous papers, discretized with the finite element method (FEM), forced by a Gaussian white noise. Since the bar is forced by a Gaussian white noise, dynamical effects cannot be neglected. The system of coupled fractional differential equations ruling the bar motion can be decoupled only by means of the fractional order state variable expansion. It is shown that following this approach Monte Carlo simulation can be performed very efficiently. For simplicity, here the work is limited to the axial response, but can be easily extended to transverse motion.
Path Integral Method for Nonlinear Systems Under Levy White Noise
Authors: Di Matteo Alberto , Pirrotta Antonina
Published: May 2017

In this paper, the probabilistic response of nonlinear systems driven by alpha-stable Lévy white noises is considered. The path integral solution is adopted for determining the evolution of the probability density function of nonlinear oscillators. Specifically, based on the properties of alpha-stable random variables and processes, the path integral solution is extended to deal with Lévy white noises input with any value of the stability index alpha. It is shown that at the limit when the time increments tend to zero, the Einstein–Smoluchowsky equation, governing the evolution of the response probability density function, is fully restored. Application to linear and nonlinear systems under different values of alpha is reported. Comparisons with pertinent Monte Carlo simulation data and analytical solutions (when available) demonstrate the accuracy of the results.
A Fractional Derivative Model for Rubber Spring of Primary Suspension in Railway Vehicle Dynamics
Authors: Zhang Dawei , Zhu Shengyang
Published: May 2017

This paper presents a nonlinear rubber spring model for the primary suspension of the railway vehicle, which can effectively describe the amplitude dependency and the frequency dependency of the rubber spring, by taking the elastic force, the fractional derivative viscous force, and nonlinear friction force into account. An improved two-dimensional vehicle–track coupled system is developed based on the nonlinear rubber spring model of the primary suspension. Nonlinear Hertz theory is used to couple the vehicle and track subsystems. The railway vehicle subsystem is regarded as a multibody system with ten degrees-of-freedom, and the track subsystem is treated as finite Euler–Bernoulli beams supported on a discrete–elastic foundation. Mechanical characteristic of the rubber spring due to harmonic excitations is analyzed to clarify the stiffness and damping dependencies on the excitation frequency and the displacement amplitude. Dynamic responses of the vehicle–track coupled dynamics system induced by the welded joint irregularity and random track irregularity have been performed to illustrate the difference between the Kelvin–Voigt model and the proposed model in the time and frequency domain.
Modeling and Experimental Studies on the Absorption of Entrained Gas and the Influence on Fluid Compressibility
Authors: Tian Hao , Van de Ven James D.
Published: May 2017

The bulk modulus of hydraulic fluid is dependent on the quantity of entrained gas in the fluid. In this paper, an effective fluid bulk modulus model that captures dynamic gas absorption during pressure transients is derived from the overall mass transfer theory. Optical measurement of a microgas bubble volume is used to determine the interfacial mass transport. Compared to traditional models, the proposed model is able to capture the 10% gap in the pressure profile between the first and second cycles, when simulating multiple compression cycles of an oil sample with 0.65% entrained gas by volume at 8 MPa.
Evaluating Mechanical Properties and Failure Mechanisms of Fused Deposition Modeling Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Parts
Authors: Uddin M. S. , Sidek M. F. R. , Faizal M. A. , Ghomashchi Reza , Pramanik A.
Published: May 2017

This paper presents a comprehensive experimental study in exploring the influence of key printing parameters on mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material. Three parameters with three levels—layer thickness (0.09 mm, 0.19 mm, and 0.39 mm), printing plane (XY, YZ, and ZX), and printing orientation (horizontal, diagonal, and vertical)—are considered, which form an L27 experimental design. Following L27, tensile and compressive specimens are fabricated and tested. Young's modulus, yield strength, failure strength, and strain of specimens are measured, evaluated, and compared with their injection-molded counterparts. Experimental results indicate that tensile specimens with a layer thickness of 0.09 mm and printing plane orientation of YZ-H reveal the highest stiffness and failure strength. While injection-molded specimen shows the highest yield strength, ductility of printed specimens is 1.45 times larger than that of injection-molded part. YZ along with XY specimens shows a neat and clean standard fracture failure at 45 deg, where the layers reorient themselves followed by stretching before fracture failure, thus providing sufficient ductility as opposed to ZX specimens, which fail along the direction perpendicular to the loading. Compressive XY-H and XY-D specimens have the highest stiffness and yield strength, and failure mechanisms involve initial compression followed by squeezing of layers leading to compactness followed by breakage due to tearing off or fracture of layers. The findings imply that anisotropy of fused deposition modeling (FDM) parts cannot be avoided and hence the appropriate parameters must be chosen, which satisfy the intended properties of the material subject to specific loading scenario.
The Maximum Skin Friction and Flow Field of a Planar Impinging Gas Jet
Authors: Ritcey Adam , McDermid Joseph R. , Ziada Samir
Published: May 2017

The maximum skin friction and flow field are experimentally measured on a planar impinging gas jet using oil film interferometry (OFI) and particle image velocimetry (PIV), respectively. A jet nozzle width of W = 15 mm, impingement ratios H/W = 4, 6, 8, 10, and a range of jet Reynolds numbers Rejet = 11,000–40,000 are tested to provide a parametric map of the maximum skin friction. The maximum skin friction predictions of Phares et al. (2000, “The Wall Shear Stress Produced by the Normal Impingement of a Jet on a Flat Surface,” J. Fluid Mech., 418, pp. 351–375) for plane jets agree within 5% of the current OFI results for H/W = 6, but deviates upward of 28% for other impingement ratios. The maximum skin friction is found to be less sensitive to changes in the impingement ratio when the jet standoff distance is roughly within the potential core length of the jet. PIV measurements show turbulence transition locations moving toward the nozzle exit with increasing Reynolds number, saturation in the downstream evolution of the maximum axial turbulence intensity before reaching a maximum peak upon impingement, followed by sudden damping at the plate surface. As the flow is redirected, there is an orthogonal redistribution of the fluctuating velocity components, and local peaks in both the axial and transverse turbulence intensity distributions at the plate locations of the maximum skin friction.
Optimized process for fabrication of free-standing silicon nanophotonic devices
Authors: Seidler Paul
Published: May 2017

A detailed procedure is presented for fabrication of free-standing silicon photonic devices that accurately reproduces design dimensions while minimizing surface roughness. By reducing charging effects during inductively coupled-plasma reactive ion etching, undercutting in small, high-aspect ratio openings is reduced. Slot structures with a width as small as 40 nm and an aspect ratio of 5.5:1 can be produced with a nearly straight, vertical sidewall profile. Subsequent removal of an underlying sacrificial silicon dioxide layer by wet-etching to create free-standing devices is performed under conditions which suppress attack of the silicon. Slotted one-dimensional photonic crystal cavities are used as sensitive test structures to demonstrate that performance specifications can be reached without iteratively adapting design dimensions; optical resonance frequencies are within 1% of the simulated values and quality factors on the order of 105 are routinely attained.
Review Article: Flow battery systems with solid electroactive materials
Authors: Qi Zhaoxiang , Koenig Gary M.
Published: May 2017

Energy storage is increasingly important for a diversity of applications. Batteries can be used to store solar or wind energy providing power when the Sun is not shining or wind speed is insufficient to meet power demands. For large scale energy storage, solutions that are both economically and environmentally friendly are limited. Flow batteries are a type of battery technology which is not as well-known as the types of batteries used for consumer electronics, but they provide potential opportunities for large scale energy storage. These batteries have electrochemical recharging capabilities without emissions as is the case for other rechargeable battery technologies; however, with flow batteries, the power and energy are decoupled which is more similar to the operation of fuel cells. This decoupling provides the flexibility of independently designing the power output unit and energy storage unit, which can provide cost and time advantages and simplify future upgrades to the battery systems. One major challenge of the existing commercial flow battery technologies is their limited energy density due to the solubility limits of the electroactive species. Improvements to the energy density of flow batteries would reduce their installed footprint, transportation costs, and installation costs and may open up new applications. This review will discuss the background, current progress, and future directions of one unique class of flow batteries that attempt to improve on the energy density of flow batteries by switching to solid electroactive materials, rather than dissolved redox compounds, to provide the electrochemical energy storage.