bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leven Medal and Jewel
Authors: Melville W Leslie
Published: February 2019

The Hon. W. Leslie Melville, a Fellow of the Society, exhibited a medal and a jewel that belonged to his family, both dating to the period when Sir Alexander Leslie was created Earl of Leven. The medal commemorates Sir Alexander Leslie's service to Gustave Adolphus in helping to lift the siege of Stralsund. The Jewel has a miniature depicting John, Duke of Rothes, from whose sister the families of Leven and Melville, of Buccleuch, and of Wemyss were all descended.
Primitive Hand-Bells
Authors: Bell John
Published: February 2019

The article begins with a disquisition by John Bell on the superstitions that surrounded religious hand-bells in Ireland and Scotland, which survived into modern times. Bell's notice introduces John Guthrie's exhibition of The Guthrie Bell, which is illustrated in a plate. What follows is a history of the parish of Guthrie, which led them to the possession of such an important and sumptuously decorated bell, and a description of the decorations, which accrued in several stages.
Roman Antiquities, Fifeshire
Authors: Wilson Daniel
Published: February 2019

Dr. Daniel Wilson shared news of a remarkable Roman coin hoard in Portmoak, in a farm field that was once a deep bog. The coins were found just below the surface by a farm hand as he reaped that year's crop. The hoard comprised coins that covered an unbroken century-plus of emporers from Nero to Severus. Dr. Wilson remarks that this shows that dating inferences on the basis of coins is a rather dubious practice. He proceeds to give a numismatic description of a number of the coins. 

 

Following this are the meeting minutes of March 30, 1852, when the third conversazione of the season was held.
The Dunvegan Cup
Authors: Wilson Daniel
Published: February 2019

Dr. Daniel Wilson exhibited a famous medieval cup, which had mistakenly been attributed to Hebridean origin and dated to the tenth century by Sir Walter Scott. Dr. Wilson on obtaining access to the object was able to ascertain that it was of Irish origin. Further investigation of the names mentioned in the inscription revealed the identity of it's fifteenth century owners, although Dr. Wilson believed the cup to be older than that. Following this is a list of acquisitions made over that summer.
Shetland Ballad
Authors: Thomas F W L
Published: February 2019

Lieutenant F.W.L. Thomas, a hydrographer for the Royal Navy, communicated an unpublished ballad hailing from Shetland. He took down the dictation of the story from an old lady who lived in the district of Snarra Voe. The ballad concerns the story of a selkie, and Lieut. Thomas takes great care in elucidating the kinds of beliefs locals told about such creatures. He also provides a very detailed description of the various places mentioned in the ballad.
The Leahber Dearg, or Red Book of Clanranald
Authors: Skene William Forbes
Published: February 2019

W.F. Skene discussed a number of manuscripts which had been associated with the legend of the Red Book of Clanranald. One was the manuscript given to James MacPherson, who later went on to publish what he called fragments of poetry by Ossian, allegedly ancient Gaelic in origin. By analyzing the history of the various manuscripts that he had collected, Mr. Skene cast doubt on MacPherson's claims. Skene gives notice of his intent to deposit the various manuscripts in the Advocates' Library.
P(N‐phenylmaleimide‐alt‐styrene) as a heat‐resistant agent in the application of nylon 6
Authors: Liu Yufei , He Min , Yan Wei , Zhang Daohai , Zhao Qian , Qin Shuhao , Yu Jie
Published: February 2019

P(N‐phenylmaleimide‐alt‐styrene) (PNS) was synthesized, and nylon 6 (PA6)/PNS blends were prepared by melt blending. The heat resistant and crystallographic properties of PA6/PNS blends with different contents were investigated and analyzed. The results showed that the heat deflection temperature (HDT), relative crystallinity (Xn), and dynamic viscosity (η) increased with increasing PNS. The results of differential scanning calorimetry proved that PNS had played a positive role in nucleating PA6. Scanning electron microscosopy showed that the PNS domains were between 0.2 and 4 μm in diameter. The experimental results indicated that the addition of PNS improved the rigidity of PA6/PNS blends, thereby improving the heat‐resistant properties of these blends. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47689.
State‐Level Perspectives on Kindergarten Readiness
Authors: Slutzky Carly , DeBruin‐Parecki Andrea
Published: February 2019

Kindergarten readiness has received significant attention in recent years in response to concerns regarding preparing young children for school and beyond and mitigating persistent achievement gaps. Currently, there is little consensus around what factors drive and define kindergarten readiness. In this study, we sought to expand understanding of perspectives on how kindergarten readiness is defined, the role of early learning standards for defining kindergarten readiness, views about the implications of defining kindergarten readiness, and the utility of state definitions for guiding kindergarten readiness practices. Data sources included surveys, focus groups and interviews with individuals representing state early childhood education agencies, and existing state kindergarten readiness definitions. Collective study findings indicated that there is evidence of persisting variation in perspectives on how to define kindergarten readiness, reflecting continuing tension about the construct's meaning. Although state policy makers tend to view kindergarten readiness through a developmental lens rather than as a ready‐or‐not statement, they also emphasize the role of child attributes such as age or skills and knowledge outlined in early learning standards. Additionally, participants reported both positive views and apprehension around adopting a common definition to guide efforts to promote readiness. This investigation underscores the need for further consideration of adopting a universal, multifaceted kindergarten readiness definition that calls attention to the role of child and environmental inputs as a starting point for preparing all young children for school.
Label‐free differentiation of human immunodeficiency virus‐1 infected from uninfected cells using transmission measurement
Authors: Ombinda‐Lemboumba Saturnin , Malabi Rudzani , Lugongolo Masixole Y. , Thobakgale Lebogang , Manoto Sello L. , Mthunzi‐Kufa Patience
Published: February 2019

Transmission measurement has been perceived as a potential candidate for label‐free investigation of biological material. It is a real‐time, label‐free and non‐invasive optical detection technique that has found wide applications in pharmaceutical industry as well as the biological and medical fields. Combining transmission measurement with optical trapping has emerged as a powerful tool allowing stable sample trapping, while also facilitating transmittance data analysis. In this study, a near‐infrared laser beam emitting at a wavelength of 1064 nm was used for both optical trapping and transmission measurement investigation of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV‐1) infected and uninfected TZM‐bl cells. The measurements of the transmittance intensity of individual cells in solution were carried out using a home built optical trapping system combined with laser transmission setup using a single beam gradient trap. Transmittance spectral intensity patterns revealed significant differences between the HIV‐1 infected and uninfected cells. This result suggests that the transmittance data analysis technique used in this study has the potential to differentiate between infected and uninfected TZM‐bl cells without the use of labels. The results obtained in this study could pave a way into developing an HIV‐1 label‐free diagnostic tool with possible applications at the point of care

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The A/A Genotype of XPO1 rs4430924 Is Associated With Higher Risk of Antituberculosis Drug‐Induced Hepatotoxicity in Chinese Patients
Authors: He Xiaomin , Zhang Haiping , Tao Bilin , Yang Miaomiao , Chen Hongbo , Lu Lihuan , Yi Honggang , Pan Hongqiu , Tang Shaowen
Published: February 2019

Antituberculosis (anti‐TB) drug‐induced hepatotoxicity may be related to the excessive reactive oxygen species induced by hepatotoxic metabolites. Antioxidant activity involves the nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. The BTB domain and CNC homologue 1 (Bach1) may compete with Nrf2 for binding to transcriptional enhancers. Elimination of Bach1‐mediated transcriptional repression depends on nuclear exporter exportin 1 (Xpo1). Thus, Xpo1 may indirectly affect antioxidant activity. The present study aimed to examine the role of tag single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in XPO1 in Chinese anti‐TB treatment patients. A 1:2 matched case‐control study was conducted using 314 anti‐TB drug‐induced hepatotoxicity cases and 628 controls. After correcting for weight and hepatoprotectant use, conditional logistic regression analysis showed that patients carrying the AA genotype of rs4430924 in XPO1 were at higher risk of anti‐TB drug‐induced hepatotoxicity than those carrying the GG genotype based on the subgroup of probable cases (adjusted OR, 1.938; 95%CI, 1.035‐3.628; P = .039), and marginally significant differences were also found under the recessive model (P = .048) and the additive model (P = .047). Based on this 1:2 matched case‐control study, the AA genotype of rs4430924 in XPO1 may be associated with higher risk of anti‐TB drug‐induced hepatotoxicity in Chinese anti‐TB treatment patients. Further studies in larger and more varied populations are required to validate this relationship.
Movement disorders and nonmotor neuropsychological symptoms in children and adults with classical galactosemia
Authors: Kuiper Anouk , Grünewald Stephanie , Murphy Elaine , Coenen Maraike A. , Eggink Hendriekje , Zutt Rodi , Rubio‐Gozalbo Maria E. , Bosch Annet M. , Williams Monique , Derks Terry G. J. , Lachmann Robin H. L. , Brouwers Martijn C. G. J. , Janssen Mirian C. H. , Tijssen Marina A. , de Koning Tom J.
Published: February 2019

Although movement disorders (MDs) are known complications, the exact frequency and severity remains uncertain in patients with classical galactosemia, especially in children. We determined the frequency, classification and severity of MDs in a cohort of pediatric and adult galactosemia patients, and assessed the association with nonmotor neuropsychological symptoms and daily functioning. Patients from seven centers in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands with a confirmed galactosemia diagnosis were invited to participate. A videotaped neurological examination was performed and an expert panel scored the presence, classification and severity of MDs. Disease characteristics, nonmotor neuropsychological symptoms, and daily functioning were evaluated with structured interviews and validated questionnaires (Achenbach, Vineland, Health Assessment Questionnaire, SIP68). We recruited 37 patients; 19 adults (mean age 32.6 years) and 18 children (mean age 10.7 years). Subjective self‐reports revealed motor symptoms in 19/37 (51.4%), similar to the objective (video) assessment, with MDs in 18/37 patients (48.6%). The objective severity scores were moderate to severe in one third (6/37). Dystonia was the overall major feature, with additional tremor in adults, and myoclonus in children. Behavioral or psychiatric problems were present in 47.2%, mostly internalizing problems, and associated with MDs. Daily functioning was significantly impaired in the majority of patients. Only one patient received symptomatic treatment for MDs. We show that MDs and nonmotor neuropsychological symptoms are frequent in both children and adults with classical galactosemia.
­Book‐shaped decellularized tendon matrix scaffold combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells‐sheets for repair of achilles tendon defect in rabbit
Authors: Xie Shanshan , Zhou Yongchun , Tang Yifu , Chen Can , Li Shengcan , Zhao Chunfeng , Hu Jianzhong , Lu Hongbin
Published: February 2019

Tissue‐engineering approaches have great potential to improve the treatment of tendon injuries which are major musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to assess the tissue engineering potential of a novel multilayered decellularized tendon “book” scaffold with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) sheets for repair of an Achilles tendon defect in a rabbit model. In this study, we developed a novel book‐shaped decellularized scaffold derived from the extracellular matrix of tendon tissues from New Zealand white rabbits. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, 4′, 6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI) staining, DNA quantitation, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the efficiency of decellularization. After culturing BMSCs on decellularized scaffolds, 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2, 5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, SEM, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), and immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that decellularized scaffolds have the capacity to yield homogeneous distribution and alignment of BMSCs, as well as support their differentiation into tendon. Tenomodulin and Alpha‐1 collagen type I are important indicators for evaluating tenogenic differentiation of BMSCs. When decellularized “book” scaffolds with BMSCs sheets were used to repair a 1 mm Achilles tendon defect, histomorphological analysis, immunohistochemical assessment, and biomechanical testing showed that the book‐shaped decellularized tendon matrix scaffold and BMSCs sheets could promote the regeneration of type I collagen at the wound site during healing, and improve the mechanical properties of the repaired tendon. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that the novel decellularized “book” tendon scaffolds combined with BMSCs sheets have therapeutic effects on improving the healing quality of the Achilles tendon. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 9999:1–11, 2019.
Quality assessment ofPinus radiataproduction under sustainable nursery management based on compost tea
Authors: Otero Marta , Salcedo Isabel , Txarterina Kepa , González-Murua Carmen , Duñabeitia Miren K.
Published: February 2019

Pinus radiatais a highly valued conifer because of its timber production and its value as a reforestation plant. To increase production, nurseries currently use a nutritional method based on mineral fertilizers high in macronutrients. This produces individual trees which are unbalanced in size and more likely to suffer infections from phytopathogenic fungi. In this paper, the effect on plant and soil of applying an aerated compost tea (ACT) is compared to a conventional fertilizer. Biometric measures of pines, their nutrient and pigment concentrations, soil physical‐chemical parameters and microbial composition of the rhizosphere along with its enzymatic activity were analyzed. The results reveal that the physical‐chemical parameters of the soil are suitable for plant growth in all the treatments (pH 8, maximum EC of 0.07 dS m−1and +239 mV of Eh), and high phosphatase activity was detected in the peat fertilized with aerated compost tea. In addition, the microorganisms developed in peat with ACT showed greaterPseudomonasspp. and fungal diversity. Pines fertilized with compost tea showed greater radicular development, proportionate distribution, higher photosynthetic pigment and total potassium concentrations, a higher yield of PSII and a greater photosynthetic assimilation rate than conventionally fertilized and unfertilized pine plants. Therefore, ACT could be used in the production of forest plants without compromising their productivity.
Dietary supplementation of 11 different plant extracts on the antioxidant capacity of blood and selected tissues in lightweight lambs
Authors: Leal Leonel N , Jordán María J , Bello José M , Otal Julio , den Hartog Leo A , Hendriks Wouter H , Martín‐Tereso Javier
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND

Due to the growing public concern regarding the addition of chemical antioxidants to foods, focus has shifted towards natural alternatives. Because of their antioxidant potential, culinary herbs and spices have long been used to extend the shelf‐life of foods. However, a better understanding of the fate of these products following intake is required to assess their use in lamb diets.

RESULTS

Two hundred and eighty‐eight Rasa Aragonesa male lambs (70 days old) were supplemented (5.0 g kg−1 compound feed) with bay, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, cumin, caraway, dill, cinnamon and nutmeg extracts for 14 days before slaughter. Dietary supplementation with plant extracts had no effect on intake, growth performance or antioxidant activity in blood (TEAC values). In muscle, nutmeg supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the radical‐scavenging capacity (TEAC), whereas a decrease in the radical‐scavenging capacity was found for lambs supplemented with oregano, dill, cinnamon and nutmeg (ORAC values). In liver, nutmeg supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the antioxidant capacity (TEAC), whereas bay (ORAC), turmeric, cinnamon and nutmeg (DPPH• values) decreased (P < 0.05) the radical‐scavenging capacity of the tissue. In kidney, a lower (P < 0.05) radical‐scavenging capacity (TEAC values) was found in lambs supplemented with oregano, cumin and caraway, whereas, turmeric, cumin, caraway, cinnamon and nutmeg increased (P < 0.05) the antioxidant capacity (ORAC values) in kidney.

CONCLUSION

Supplementation of lamb diets with plant extracts affected radical‐scavenging activity in muscle, liver and kidney. However, due to the divergent results of the different assays for the same tissue, it is not advisable to discriminate plant extracts using this approach. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Dual band transparent antenna for wireless MIMO system applications
Authors: Desai Arpan , Upadhyaya Trushit , Palandoken Merih , Gocen Cem
Published: February 2019

A dual‐band optically transparent antenna based on a slotted interconnected ring resonator as an efficient radiating element is proposed. The compact radiating element and partial ground plane are structured on a plexiglass substrate with Silver Tin Oxide as transparent conducting material. The radiation disadvantage of OTAs due to the low conductivity of conductive oxides has been overcome with the gain improvement technique of 2 × 1 antenna array design. The overall sizes of the proposed single element and 2 × 1 two element array antennas are λ/2.5 × λ/2.5 and λ/1.19 × λ/2.08 at the lower resonance frequency of 2.4 GHz, respectively. The operation bands of both OTA prototypes cover WLAN and WiMAX frequency bands with permissible bandwidth and sufficient gain therefore the 2 × 1 antenna array is utilized as one of two dual‐band antennas of a 2 × 2 MIMO transceiver system for WLAN and WiMAX band operations.
Accurate and rapid CT image segmentation of the eyes and surrounding organs for precise radiotherapy
Authors: Sun Yao , Shi Huabei , Zhang Shuo , Wang Pei , Zhao Weiling , Zhou Xiaobo , Yuan Kehong
Published: February 2019

Objective

The precise segmentation of organs at risk (OARs) is of importance for improving therapeutic outcomes and reducing injuries of patients undergoing radiotherapy. In this study, we developed a new approach for accurate computed tomography (CT) image segmentation of the eyes and surrounding organs, which is first locating then segmentation (FLTS).

Methods

The FLTS approach was composed of two steps: (a) classification of CT images using convolutional neural networks (CNN), and (b) segmentation of the eyes and surrounding organs using modified U‐shape networks. In order to obtain optimal performance, we enhanced our training datasets by random jitter and rotation.

Results

This model was trained and verified using the clinical datasets that were delineated by experienced physicians. The dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was employed to evaluate the performance of our segmentation method. The average DSCs for the segmentation of the pituitary, left eye, right eye, left eye lens, right eye lens, left optic nerve, and right optic nerve were 90%, 94%, 93.5%, 84.5%, 84.3%, 80.3%, and 82.2%, respectively.

Conclusion

We developed a new network‐based approach for rapid and accurate CT image segmentation of the eyes and surrounding organs. This method is accurate and efficient, and is suitable for clinical use.
An unsupervised Bayesian hierarchical method for medical fraud assessment
Authors: Ekin Tahir , Lakomski Greg , Musal Rasim Muzaffer
Published: February 2019

The increasing size and complexity of health care industry makes it attractive for fraudsters, therefore medical fraud assessment has gained more importance. Statistical methods can help medical auditors reveal fraud patterns within medical claims data. This paper proposes an unsupervised Bayesian hierarchical method as a prescreening tool to aid in medical fraud assessment. The proposed hierarchical model helps the investigators group medical procedures and identifies the hidden patterns among providers and medical procedures. Outlier detection and similarity assessment are conducted to analyze the billing differences among providers. We illustrate the utilization of the proposed method using U.S. Medicare Part B data and discuss the potential insights for medical audit decision‐making.
Performance comparison of 1X versus 4X HTS tapes toward the design a 10‐MW direct drive HTS generator for wind turbine applications
Authors: Nyanteh Yaw D. , Masoudi Ali , Masson Philippe
Published: February 2019

With current developments underway at the University of Houston, 4× high‐temperature superconducting (HTS) yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) tapes are expected to reach a fourfold critical current density improvement at 30 K and 3 T as part of an Advanced Research Projects Agency‐Energy (ARPA‐E)‐sponsored project. The impetus for this project is to develop and deploy cost‐effective direct drive HTS generators for large offshore wind turbine generators. The improved conductor performance of 4× tapes over 1× tapes is projected to allow for a significant reduction in the amount of HTS tapes required to generate the excitation field and, thus, lead to a reduction of the overall generator cost. It was, however, deduced from simulation results that conventional methods of rotor field enhancement using rotor iron makes 1× conductor competitive enough compared with 4× conductors; hence, commercially available YBCO tapes can provide all the energy density requirements to make wind turbines a competitive energy resource based on energy forecasts. This paper is a presentation of design and optimization work to find the best generator topology from the point of view of both machine design and electricity supply. The generators are numerically modeled and simulated using 1× and 4× YBCO HTS conductors on either or of both the rotor and stator side of the generators.
Elemental characterization and source identification of the near‐road PM2.5 using EDXRF in Chengdu, China
Authors: Qu Yufan , Gao Tai , Yang Chaowen
Published: February 2019

To characterize the elemental composition and source apportionment of aerosols in roadside area, particulate matters with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) were collected in close proximity to a road from September 2017 to February 2018 in downtown Chengdu, China. An energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer was used to quantify elemental constituents (Al, Si, S, K, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb) of PM2.5 and was calibrated by in‐house standards instead of commercial standards. The constructed calibration curves exhibited good linearity with all correlation coefficients greater than 0.98. The proposed calibration method proved to be reliable for the subsequent elemental analyses due to the satisfactory performance of u‐score and precision that were validated by the certified reference materials (#2783). The results revealed that average PM2.5 concentrations of 92.2 ± 45.6 and 113.2 ± 60.3 μg/m3 were respectively observed in autumn and in winter. The major trace elements identified were K, S, and Fe and the minor contributions were from Cu and As. Most crustal elements showed decline in winter except for K, and most anthropogenic elements showed increase in winter except for Ni. Using rotation factor analysis and cluster analysis based on the elemental dataset, four potential sources were identified: road dust, vehicular emissions, coal and biomass burning, and industrial emissions. This research will provide a better understanding of traffic‐related PM2.5 composition, and this can be used in the mitigation and prevention programs.
Partitioned Off‐Fault Deformation in the 2016 Norcia Earthquake Captured by Differential Terrestrial Laser Scanning
Authors: Wedmore L. N. J. , Gregory L. C. , McCaffrey K. J. W. , Goodall H. , Walters R. J.
Published: February 2019

Field measurements of coseismic fault slip often differ from surface slip models derived from satellite geodesy. Quantifying these differences is challenging as many geodetic techniques inadequately image near‐fault deformation. We use an iterative closest point algorithm to difference preearthquake and postearthquake terrestrial laser scanning point clouds to reveal centimeter‐scale patterns of surface deformation caused by shallow fault slip in the 2016 Mw 6.6 Norcia (Central Italy) earthquake. Terrestrial laser scanning offsets are constant along the fault and match average field measurements. Eighty‐four percent of vertical displacement occurs on a discrete fault zone, with 16% of deformation distributed across a narrow zone <4 m wide. In contrast, horizontal deformation is distributed over an 8‐m‐wide zone with approximately 50% of extension accommodated as off‐fault deformation (OFD). The centimeter‐scale observation of deformation shows that horizontal and vertical coseismic OFD is partitioned—in this case, OFD is dominated by horizontal deformation.
Possible Role of the Diurnal Cycle in Land Convection in the Barrier Effect on the MJO by the Maritime Continent
Authors: Ling Jian , Zhang Chidong , Joyce Robert , Xie Ping‐ping , Chen Guiwan
Published: February 2019

Possible effects of the diurnal cycle in land convection on propagation of the Madden–Julian Oscillation over the Indo‐Pacific Maritime Continent (MC) were investigated using satellite observations. Four features distinguishable from their respective climatology are uniquely associated with MJO events that cross the MC: strong precipitation over land as their convection centers approach the MC, subsequent increased soil moisture, reduced diurnal amplitude of land convection, and the dominance of precipitation over water by nondiurnal convection as their convection centers move over the MC. These results provide observational evidence for a proposed MAritime Continent Convective diurnal Cycle mechanism in which the diurnal cycle in land convection acts as an intrinsic barrier effect on MJO propagation over the MC.
Significant Multi Tesla Fields Within a Solenoid Encircled by Nanostructure Windings
Authors: James C. R. , Long John E. , Manning Dwight E.
Published: February 2019

This theoretical investigation develops analytical concepts on how to realize magnetic fields for the Multi to Mega Tesla realm within the range from milli to nano volumes and periods. The fields are anticipated to be realized using solenoids with multi-walled carbon (MWCNT) nanostructure composite metal windings. The study presented here opens up the issue of the miniaturization of large magnetic field systems. Concern has been raised that for such large magnetic fields and associated energies that the solenoidal structure may be highly reconfigured. Consequently, an investigation is undertaken of the tensile strength resulting from the azimuthal current. Also, the azimuthal power per turn will be addressed along with its limitations in generating the magnetic field. Further, the study finds the allowable eigenvalue frequencies of the electric field. Tables are provided for given values of Bz0(0) from 2T to 2(10)6T for a number of important parameters for consideration in designing solenoidal systems.
Efficacy of Ologen matrix implant in Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation
Authors: Sastre-Ibáñez Marina , Cabarga Carmen , Canut María Isabel , Pérez-Bartolomé Francisco , Urcelay-Segura J. L. , Cordero-Ros R. , García-Feijóo Julián , Martínez-de-la-Casa Jose María
Published: February 2019

To determine the efficacy and safety of the Ologen collagen matrix adjunctive to Ahmed valve surgery. A randomized prospective multicentre clinical trial involving 58 patients that were followed for one year. Conventional surgery with Ahmed valve was performed in 31 eyes (Control group/CG) and in 27 Ologen (Ologen group/OG) was placed over the valve’s plate. Baseline data: age, corneal thickness, intraocular pressure(IOP) and antiglaucoma medications.Postoperative data (days 1, 7 and months 1, 3, 6 and 12): IOP, antiglaucoma medications, visual acuity and complications were recorded. Frequency of hypertensive phase, complete and qualified success and survival rate were studied. No differences were found between CG and OG in the baseline data. The only difference between groups was a significantly lower IOP at day 1. No other differences were found in the follow-up between groups. Hypertensive phase (56%CG and 55%OG, p = 0,947), complete success 28,6%CG and 30,4%OG (p = 0,88) and qualified success 96,4% and 95,9%(p = 0,794). Survival rates at 1 year were 76,7%(CG) and 69,2%(OG)(p = 0,531). 38,7% of patients in the CG suffered some complication during follow-up and 61,5% in OG(p = 0,086). Ologen does not increase safety or efficacy in Ahmed valve surgery at one-year follow-up. This is the first study that shows no benefit of Ologen adjunctive to this surgery.
Comparison of Viremia, Cloacal Virus Shedding, Antibody Responses and Pathological Lesions in Adult Chickens, Quails, and Pigeons Infected with ALV-A
Authors: Zhang Zhongsheng , Hu Weiguo , Li Baoquan , Chen Ru , Shen Weixing , Guo Huiling , Guo Huijun , Li Hongmei
Published: February 2019

Subgroup A of the avian leukosis virus (ALV-A) can cause severe pathological lesions and death in infected chickens, and its reported hosts have increased recently. To assess the susceptibility of adult chickens, quails, and pigeons to ALV-A, three sets of 250-day-old birds were intraperitoneally inoculated with ALV-A. Viremia and cloacal virus shedding were dynamically detected using an immunofluorescence assay (IFA), ALV-P27 antigen ELISA or RT-PCR; pathological lesions were assessed using tissue sections; ALV-A in tissues was detected by IFA; and ALV-A antibody responses were detected using antibody ELISA kits and an immune diffusion test. The results indicated that persistent viremia occurred in 80% (8/10) of infected chickens, and transient viremia occurred in 17% (2/12) of infected quails, but no viremia occurred in infected pigeons. Cloacal virus shedding occurred intermittently in 80% (8/10) of infected chickens and in 8% (1/12) of infected quails but did not occur in infected pigeons. Severe inflammatory pathological lesions occurred in the visceral tissues of most infected chickens, and mild lesions occurred in a few of the infected quails, but no pathological lesions occurred in the infected pigeons. The ALV-A virus was detected in the visceral tissues of most infected chickens but not in the infected quails and pigeons. Obviously different ALV-A antibody responses occurred in the infected chickens, quails and pigeons. It can be concluded that adult chickens, quails and pigeons have dramatically different susceptibilities to ALV-A. This is the first report on artificial infection by ALV-A in different birds.
The Effect of Nonlinear Amplitude Growth on the Speech Perception Benefits Provided by a Single-Sided Vocoder
Authors: Wess Jessica M. , Bernstein Joshua G. W.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

For listeners with single-sided deafness, a cochlear implant (CI) can improve speech understanding by giving the listener access to the ear with the better target-to-masker ratio (TMR; head shadow) or by providing interaural difference cues to facilitate the perceptual separation of concurrent talkers (squelch). CI simulations presented to listeners with normal hearing examined how these benefits could be affected by interaural differences in loudness growth in a speech-on-speech masking task.

Method

Experiment 1 examined a target–masker spatial configuration where the vocoded ear had a poorer TMR than the nonvocoded ear. Experiment 2 examined the reverse configuration. Generic head-related transfer functions simulated free-field listening. Compression or expansion was applied independently to each vocoder channel (power-law exponents: 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, or 2).

Results

Compression reduced the benefit provided by the vocoder ear in both experiments. There was some evidence that expansion increased squelch in Experiment 1 but reduced the benefit in Experiment 2 where the vocoder ear provided a combination of head-shadow and squelch benefits.

Conclusions

The effects of compression and expansion are interpreted in terms of envelope distortion and changes in the vocoded-ear TMR (for head shadow) or changes in perceived target–masker spatial separation (for squelch). The compression parameter is a candidate for clinical optimization to improve single-sided deafness CI outcomes.
An Investigation of the Clinical Use of a Single-Word Procedure to Assess Intelligibility (Swedish Test of Intelligibility for Children) and an Evaluation of the Validity and Reliability of the Intelligibility in Context Scale
Authors: Lagerberg Tove B. , Hellström August , Lundberg Erik , Hartelius Lena
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Intelligibility is a core concept of speech-language pathology, central both to the assessment of speech disorders and to intervention in such disorders. One purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and usability of a single-word assessment procedure, the Swedish Test of Intelligibility for Children (STI-CH), in a clinical setting. Another purpose was to investigate the validity and reliability of an assessment method designed to assess functional intelligibility: the Intelligibility in Context Scale (ICS).

Method

Thirty children aged 4;1–10;1 years;months were recruited from speech-language pathology clinics in Western Sweden. Each child's treating speech-language pathologist served as listener in the STI-CH assessment while the ICS was completed by each child's parents. External listeners (2 last-year speech-language pathology students) were used to assess the validity of the speech-language pathology.

Results

The mean duration of the test procedure for the STI-CH was about 19 min, and 57% of the test sessions were reported as difficult. There was a weak but statistically significant correlation between the results from the STI-CH and the ICS (r= .40,p< .05), and both methods showed high reliability in terms of interlistener reliability (intraclass correlation exceeding .97) and internal consistency, respectively.

Conclusions

The STI-CH had high reliability and was time efficient but had some procedural problems. The ICS had moderate validity but high reliability. The STI-CH is promising for clinical use but needs to be developed further. The validity of the ICS can be discussed and needs to be further investigated.
The Uranie platform: an open-source software for optimisation, meta-modelling and uncertainty analysis
Authors: Blanchard Jean-Baptiste , Damblin Guillaume , Martinez Jean-Marc , Arnaud Gilles , Gaudier Fabrice
Published: February 2019

The high-performance computing resources and the constant improvement of both numerical simulation accuracy and the experimental measurements with which they are confronted bring a new compulsory step to strengthen the credence given to the simulation results: uncertainty quantification. This can have different meanings, according to the requested goals (rank uncertainty sources, reduce them, estimate precisely a critical threshold or an optimal working point), and it could request mathematical methods with greater or lesser complexity. This paper introduces the Uranie platform, an open-source framework developed at the Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), in the nuclear energy division, in order to deal with uncertainty propagation, surrogate models, optimisation issues, code calibration, etc. This platform benefits from both its dependencies and from personal developments, to offer an efficient data handling model, a C++ and Python interface, advanced graphi graphical tools, several parallelisation solutions, etc. These methods can then be applied to many kinds of code (considered as black boxes by Uranie) so to many fields of physics as well. In this paper, the example of thermal exchange between a plate-sheet and a fluid is introduced to show how Uranie can be used to perform a large range of analysis.
Whole-Body [18F]-FDG-PET/MRI for Oncology: A Consensus
Recommendation
Authors: Umutlu Lale , Beyer Thomas , Grueneisen Johannes Stefan , Rischpler Christoph , Quick Harald H. , Veit-Haibach Patrick , Eiber Matthias , Purz Sandra , Antoch Gerald , Gatidis Sergios , Nikolaou Konstantin , Schaefer Jürgen F. , Rausch Ivo , Herrmann Ken ,   Vorstand der Interdisziplinären AG für Hybride Bildgebung in
                        alphabetischer Reihenfolge:,   Vorstand der Deutschen Röntgengesellschaft (DRG) und der Deutschen
                        Gesellschaft für Nuklearmedizin (DGN) in alphabetischer
                        Reihenfolge:
Published: February 2019

Combined PET/MR imaging (PET/MRI) was proposed for patient management in 2006
with first commercial versions of integrated whole-body systems becoming
available as of 2010. PET/MRI followed the prior evolution of hybrid imaging as
attested by the successful adoption of combined PET/CT and SPECT/CT since the
early 2000 s. Today, around 150 whole-body PET/MRI systems have become
operational worldwide. One of the main application fields of PET/MRI is
oncologic imaging. Despite the increasing use of PET/MRI, little governance
regarding standardized PET/MRI protocols has been provided to date.
Standardization and harmonization of imaging protocols is, however, mandatory
for efficient on-site patient management and multi-center studies. This document
summarizes consensus recommendations on key aspects of patient referral and
preparation, PET/MRI workflow and imaging protocols, as well as reporting
strategies for whole-body [18F]-FDG-PET/MRI. These recommendations were created
by early adopters and key experts in the field of PET, MRI and PET/MRI. This
document is intended to provide guidance for the harmonization and
standardization of PET/ MRI today and to support wider clinical adoption of this
imaging modality for the benefit of patients.

Citation Format:

Umutlu L, Beyer T, Grueneisen JS et al. Whole-Body [18F]-FDG-PET/MRI for
Oncology: A Consensus Recommendation. Nuklearmedizin 2019, 58: 1–9
Wertewandel und Umstrukturierungen im Gesundheitswesen zum Wohl der Patienten erforderlich
Authors: Corinna Spirgat
Published: February 2019

Ökonomische Ziele dürfen medizinische Entscheidungen nicht unangemessen beeinflussen. Die Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e. V. (AWMF) forderte im Rahmen ihres „Berliner Forums“ am 28. November 2018, die Bedürfnisse der Patienten stärker in den Mittelpunkt zu rücken. Eine gute Arzt-Patienten-Beziehung sei für eine erfolgreiche Versorgung unverzichtbar und daher zu stärken. Darüber hinaus sei es notwendig, Strukturen zu verändern. In einer Stellungnahme zu „Medizin und Ökonomie“ nennt die AWMF verschiedene Ansatzpunkte wie die Stärkung der ärztlichen Kompetenz im Rahmen der Krankenhausführung, eine bedarfsorientierte Krankenhausplanung mit Abbau von Überkapazitäten und die patientenzentrierte Anpassung des DRG-basierten Vergütungssystems.
Thermocapillary migration and interaction dynamics of droplets in a constricted domain
Authors: Kalichetty Srinivasa Sagar , Sundararajan T. , Pattamatta Arvind
Published: February 2019

Migration of confined droplets in a stationary fluid medium due to thermocapillary forces is considered. An in-house solver with isosurface based interface reconstruction developed in OpenFOAM has been employed to carry out numerical simulations. Thermocapillary migration of a single droplet in a constricted domain with constriction comparable to the droplet size shows that the migration velocity has non-monotonic dependence on the droplet radius. In the case of two droplets migrating in a constricted domain, the relative slowdown of a larger droplet when a smaller droplet is trailing behind reveals the possibility of interaction which is not observed in larger domains. The effects of the constricted domain size, the initial distance of separation, the radius of the trailing droplet, and the Marangoni number are analysed for this configuration. It is observed that the constriction size and Marangoni number have more influence on the interaction and dictate whether the droplets may coalesce or move with a constant separation distance. The final steady state separation distance between the droplets does not depend on the initial separation distance, but it varies with the radius of the trailing droplet. The results from the present study reveal the physical mechanisms influencing the thermocapillary migration of droplets in constricted domains and interactions between the migrating droplets.
Disentangling the net: concomitant xylem and over-bark size measurements reveal the phloem-generated turgor signal behind daytime stem swelling in the mangrove Avicennia marina
Authors: Donnellan Barraclough Alicia , Zweifel Roman , Cusens Jarrod , Leuzinger Sebastian
Published: February 2019

Daytime stem shrinking is a well recorded phenomenon: trees dip into their internal water stores to meet imbalances between water supply and demand. Uncertainty surrounds the mechanisms behind the unusual pattern of daytime stem swelling, presented by species like the mangrove Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh., and which is thought to originate in the osmotic adjustment of storage tissues. We performed on-xylem radius change (XRC) and whole-stem radius change (SRC) measurements with point dendrometers to ascertain if the swelling of the stem is due to an increase in the thickness of the phloem and inner-bark (BRC). We measured leaf water potential (ψleaf), sap flow, leaf turgor and microclimate to understand the coupling between BRC and transpiration-driven changes in XRC. Our results present direct evidence of the type of mechanism responsible for daytime stem swelling. Inner-bark thickness increase concurrent with XRC decrease, sap-flow increase and leaf turgor loss, reveals a phloem-generated turgor signal behind daytime stem swelling of tree stems. On-xylem measurements were highly heterogeneous due to the variability in the three dimensional fish-net wood structure of the stem of A. marina. As daytime decreases in XRC were compensated by BRC and correlated with conditions of high water demand, we suggest a potential role of daytime stem swelling in the hydraulic safety of A. marina.
Factors driving temporospatial heterogeneity of fish community health in Jinan City, China
Authors: Zhao C. S. , Yang Y. , Yang S. , Gai Y. , Zhang C. , Zhang H. , Xu T. , Yin X. , Zhang Z.
Published: February 2019

Jinan City is the first pilot city for the construction of a hydroecological civilisation in China. Fifty-eight representative river sampling stations were selected through field trips and surveys, and fish were sampled in the spring, summer, and autumn of 2015. An index of fish biological integrity in Jinan City was constructed and to evaluate the hydroecological health of rivers. Canonical correlation analysis was used to select key driving factors that affect the health of the fish community. The results show that the key physical factor affecting water quality was turbidity, the key chemical factor affecting water quality was chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the key hydrological factor affecting water quality was discharge. Of all the driving factors, COD had the greatest effect on the health of the fish community, followed by discharge and turbidity. Macropodus chinensis Bloch was sensitive to changes in COD; Saurogobio dumerili Bleeker and Pseudolaubuca engraulis Nichols were sensitive to the hydrological factors of discharge and flow velocity; and Saurogobio gymnocheilus Lo and Squaliobarbus ourriculus Richardson were sensitive only to discharge. COD and discharge had a strong effect on fish survival, whereas turbidity affected fish survival but was not a major factor affecting the spatial distribution of river health. The findings can provide a reference for aquatic ecological rehabilitation in developing countries.
Achieving forest conservation in Fiji through payment for ecosystem services schemes
Authors: Mangubhai Sangeeta , Lumelume Ruci
Published: February 2019

Most forests in Fiji are on native land owned by communities with tenure rights that are held largely with clans. Although there are examples in Fiji of local communities setting up conservation areas to protect their valuable forest resources, many are under pressure to issue leases to logging or mining companies for much-needed income. With inadequate legislation and government resources to secure the long-term protection of natural forests, conservation practitioners are looking at alternative models for establishing forest conservation areas in Fiji. One such model is the application of a forest payment for ecosystem services (PES) scheme to deliver both ecological and socioeconomic outcomes for local communities. A case study from Kilaka village, Fiji, is presented where the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has worked with traditional land owners to secure a 99-year conservation lease for 402ha of pristine native forest in Vanua Levu. The lease, which was brokered through the government iTaukei Land Trust Board, provides an alternative source of income to logging and mining. The management plan which is nested within a larger ecosystem-based management plan for the district, sets out the comanagement arrangements between the community and WCS, with the day-to-day management of the forest, enforcement, monitoring and evaluation led by the traditional landowning clan. This PES model and co-management arrangement has potential for replication to other priority forest areas to meet Fiji’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity, but at an estimated financial cost ranging from US$69.0–287.8 million.