bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychological treatment for family members of children with cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sánchez‐Egea Rocío , Rubio‐Aparicio María , Sánchez‐Meca Julio , Rosa‐Alcázar Ana I.
Published: March 2019

Objective

This meta‐analytical study examined the effects of psychological treatments applied to family members of children and adolescents with cancer, as well as the characteristics of the studies that can be associated with their effects.

Methods

Four databases were searched between January 1980 and January 2017; the references of the located studies were reviewed, and emails were sent to experts in this topic. Forty articles fulfilled the selection criteria. The standardized mean pretest‐posttest (or pretest–follow‐up) change was used as the effect‐size index for the treatment and control groups.

Results

The 40 articles included 40 treatment groups and 21 control groups. When treatment and control pretest‐posttest mean effects were compared, psychological interventions revealed positive, statistically significant results for anxiety (dadj = 0.339) and problem‐solving skills (dadj = 0.385) and, to a lesser extent, for posttraumatic stress (dadj = 0.224). No statistically significant differences were found for mood (dadj = 0.147), acute stress (dadj = −0.010), coping skills (dadj = 0.123), social support (dadj = 0.245), or quality of life (dadj = 0.538).

Conclusions

Positive effects of mild to moderate magnitude were found in the posttests for some outcome measures. Behavioral interventions seem to be the most promising. Interventions achieved the best results when they were long in duration and low in intensity and when they were applied to family members with young children who were undergoing medical treatment. At follow‐up, the intervention benefits were diminished. The application of psychological interventions is recommended to mitigate the negative psychological repercussions in this population.
Grass blindness
Authors: Thomas Howard
Published: March 2019

Societal Impact Statement

Lolium temulentum (darnel) is an almost‐forgotten species that combines the characteristics of a weed, a pasture grass, a cereal, a medicinal herb, a hallucinogen, a religious symbol, and a literary trope. The way in which darnel has disappeared from common experience and memory, particularly in the developed world, has lessons to teach about how passive and active influences can conspire to render people blind to the cultural significance of historically important plants.

Summary

Grasses, even those that feed the world, are easily overlooked. Lolium temulentum (darnel) is a grass species with a long history of human association; but, particularly in those countries with highly mechanised agriculture, it has physically and culturally faded from common experience. Archaeobotanical studies of Neolithic and early agricultural sites consistently find L. temulentum grains alongside remains of cereals. L. temulentum seeds are sources of potent psychotoxins, the products of endophytic fungi, and continued to enter the diet until modern farming methods and food hygiene regulations rendered the species effectively extinct in technologically advanced countries. L. temulentum, alone or in combination with other bioactive sources, was widely used in traditional medicines, often in ritualistic or religious contexts. Its status as a poisonous mimic weed of cereals made darnel a resonant literary trope for malignant subversion with which people would have been completely familiar in the pre‐industrial era. The biblical parable about separating the wheat from the tares (tares was, possibly deliberately, an ambiguous alternative name for darnel) exerted profound religious and political force in the same period, and the Graeco‐Roman belief that stress was able to transform wheat or barley into darnel persisted and justified some fundamental customs and laws of Judaeo‐Christian culture. In the modern era, the not uncommon family or given name “Darnel,” or some variant thereof, faintly reflects the rich history of L. temulentum; though it is likely that most possessors of such names will have long been rendered blind to the plant connection.
Aggregation behavior and non‐covalent functionalization of borofullerenes B28, B38, and B40: A density functional theory investigation
Authors: Yang Le , Li Ying , Hao Debo , Li Lanlan , Peng Huifen , Jin Peng
Published: March 2019

Fullerene‐like boron clusters (borofullerenes) are rising stars in the field of cluster chemistry. In this work, density functional theory calculations revealed that the recently reported small borofullerenes Bn (n = 28, 38, and 40) are all highly reactive and tend to form dimers and even trimers spontaneously. In addition, the non‐covalent modification of these borofullerenes by various cycloparaphenylene nanorings can form stable host‐guest systems with substantial intermolecular charge transfer at both ground and excited states. Our results demonstrate that the borofullerenes are versatile platform for exohedral functionalization, and are very promising candidates for the design of novel nanomaterials with desirable properties.
Adjusting for unmeasured confounding using validation data: Simplified two‐stage calibration for survival and dichotomous outcomes
Authors: Hjellvik Vidar , De Bruin Marie L. , Samuelsen Sven O. , Karlstad Øystein , Andersen Morten , Haukka Jari , Vestergaard Peter , de Vries Frank , Furu Kari
Published: March 2019

In epidemiology, one typically wants to estimate the risk of an outcome associated with an exposure after adjusting for confounders. Sometimes, outcome and exposure and maybe some confounders are available in a large data set, whereas some important confounders are only available in a validation data set that is typically a subset of the main data set. A generally applicable method in this situation is the two‐stage calibration (TSC) method. We present a simplified easy‐to‐implement version of the TSC for the case where the validation data are a subset of the main data. We compared the simplified version to the standard TSC version for incidence rate ratios, odds ratios, relative risks, and hazard ratios using simulated data, and the simplified version performed better than our implementation of the standard version. The simplified version was also tested on real data and performed well.
3D Fabrication of Fully Iron Magnetic Microrobots
Authors: Alcântara Carlos C. J. , Kim Sangwon , Lee Sunkey , Jang Bumjin , Thakolkaran Prakash , Kim Jin‐Young , Choi Hongsoo , Nelson Bradley J. , Pané Salvador
Published: March 2019

Biocompatibility and high responsiveness to magnetic fields are fundamental requisites to translate magnetic small‐scale robots into clinical applications. The magnetic element iron exhibits the highest saturation magnetization and magnetic susceptibility while exhibiting excellent biocompatibility characteristics. Here, a process to reliably fabricate iron microrobots by means of template‐assisted electrodeposition in 3D‐printed micromolds is presented. The 3D molds are fabricated using a modified two‐photon absorption configuration, which overcomes previous limitations such as the use of transparent substrates, low writing speeds, and limited depth of field. By optimizing the geometrical parameters of the 3D molds, metallic structures with complex features can be fabricated. Fe microrollers and microswimmers are realized that demonstrate motion at ≈20 body lengths per second, perform 3D motion in viscous environments, and overcome higher flow velocities than those of “conventional 3D printed helical microswimmers.” The cytotoxicity of these microrobots is assessed by culturing them with human colorectal cancer (HCT116) cells for four days, demonstrating their good biocompatibility characteristics. Finally, preliminary results regarding the degradation of iron structures in simulated gastric acid liquid are provided.
Granzyme B Functionalized Nanoparticles Targeting Membrane Hsp70‐Positive Tumors for Multimodal Cancer Theranostics
Authors: Shevtsov Maxim , Stangl Stefan , Nikolaev Boris , Yakovleva Ludmila , Marchenko Yaroslav , Tagaeva Ruslana , Sievert Wolfgang , Pitkin Emil , Mazur Anton , Tolstoy Peter , Galibin Oleg , Ryzhov Vyacheslav , Steiger Katja , Smirnov Oleg , Khachatryan William , Chester Kerry , Multhoff Gabriele
Published: March 2019

Functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have emerged as potential clinical tools for cancer theranostics. Membrane‐bound 70 kDa heat shock protein (mHsp70) is ubiquitously expressed on the cell membrane of various tumor types but not normal cells and therefore provides a tumor‐specific target. The serine protease granzyme B (GrB) that is produced as an effector molecule by activated T and NK cells has been shown to specifically target mHsp70 on tumor cells. Following binding to Hsp70, GrB is rapidly internalized into tumor cells. Herein, it is demonstrated that GrB functionalized SPIONs act as a contrast enhancement agent for magnetic resonance imaging and induce specific tumor cell apoptosis. Combinatorial regimens employing stereotactic radiotherapy and/or magnetic targeting are found to further enhance the therapeutic efficacy of GrB‐SPIONs in different tumor mouse models.
Review on Computational Modeling and Visualization of the Ironmaking Blast Furnace at Purdue University Northwest
Authors: Okosun Tyamo , Silaen Armin K. , Zhou Chenn Q.
Published: March 2019

Despite the age of the process, the blast furnace remains critical to industrial ironmaking. With advances in analysis technologies and control systems, and economic pressure from competitive new ironmaking techniques, modern blast furnace operation has become more efficient. However, room still exists for improvement, particularly in the blast furnace raceway region. Further development requires better understanding of phenomena within the blast furnace, including heat transfer, mass transfer, chemical reactions, and multiphase flow. To that end, computational simulation and visualization, in multiple approaches, are increasingly used to explore blast furnace phenomena. Current computational approaches range from simplified tools designed for rapid turn‐around times to complex solvers intended to capture the movement of discrete particles within the furnace. This paper reviews recent current state‐of‐the‐art techniques for simulation and visualization of the blast furnace developed by the Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS) at Purdue University Northwest (PNW), as well as an overview of other advanced techniques in the field.
Qualitative Evaluierung der Effizienz von Konstruktionstypen im Verbundbrückenbau
Authors: Reintjes Karl‐Heinz , Wagner Peter
Published: March 2019

Für Balkenbrücken in Verbundbauweise wurden bis zum heutigen Tage im Wesentlichen vier unterschiedliche Konstruktionsformen ausgeführt, ohne dass für den einzelnen Entwurfsfall systematische Untersuchungen zur Wirtschaftlichkeit, zur technischen Qualität und zur Nachhaltigkeit dieser Bauweisen angestellt wurden. In diesem Beitrag wird daher der Versuch unternommen, eine allgemein gültige Bewertung der Effizienz der am häufigsten eingesetzten Konstruktionstypen im Verbundbrückenbau vorzunehmen. Als wichtigstes Kriterium für die Effizienz einer bestimmten Bauweise wird hierbei der Einheitspreis für die Lieferung und Montage der Stahlkonstruktion definiert und dessen Struktur genauer untersucht. Die durchschnittliche Relation dieses Einheitspreises wird hierbei für die beiden bisher bevorzugten Bauweisen, nämlich die des einzelligen Großkastens auf der einen Seite und der dualen Kleinkastenbauweise auf der anderen Seite, am Beispiel einer durchschnittlichen Balkenbrücke konkret untersucht.

Unter Berücksichtigung der verfügbaren Erfahrungswerte bezüglich des Stahlgewichts bei ausgeführten Verbundbrücken wird im zweiten Schritt die Gesamtrelation des Preises der Stahlkonstruktion für diese beiden Konstruktionstypen ermittelt. Nicht in der gleichen Tiefe, jedoch in ausreichender Genauigkeit erfolgt dann die Ausdehnung dieser Untersuchung auf die weiteren bekannten Verbundbauweisen, sodass als erstes Hauptergebnis eine Evaluierung der Effizienz der Stahlkonstruktion aller wichtigen Verbundbauweisen vorgenommen werden kann. Da mit dieser Bewertung jedoch noch keine Aussage über die Gesamteffizienz einer Verbundbauweise getroffen werden kann, folgt abschließend noch die Evaluierung der restlichen wichtigen Kosten‐ und Leistungsbereiche wie der Ausführung der Betonfahrbahn, des Gesamtkomplexes Korrosionsschutz, Innenbegehung und Brückenunterhaltung sowie des Redundanzverhaltens. Mit diesen weiteren Kriterien kann als Gesamtergebnis eine Evaluierungsmatrix aller untersuchten Bauweisen erstellt werden.
Climate change litigation: A review of research on courts and litigants in climate governance
Authors: Setzer Joana , Vanhala Lisa C.
Published: March 2019

Studies of climate change litigation have proliferated over the past two decades, as lawsuits across the world increasingly bring policy debates about climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as climate change‐related loss and damage to the attention of courts. We systematically identify 130 articles on climate change litigation published in English in the law and social sciences between 2000 and 2018 to identify research trajectories. In addition to a budding interdisciplinarity in scholarly interest in climate change litigation we also document a growing understanding of the full spectrum of actors involved and implicated in climate lawsuits and the range of motivations and/or strategic imperatives underpinning their engagement with the law. Situating this within the broader academic literature on the topic we then highlight a number of cutting edge trends and opportunities for future research. Four emerging themes are explored in detail: the relationship between litigation and governance; how time and scale feature in climate litigation; the role of science; and what has been coined the “human rights turn” in climate change litigation. We highlight the limits of existing work and the need for future research—not limited to legal scholarship—to evaluate the impact of both regulatory and anti‐regulatory climate‐related lawsuits, and to explore a wider set of jurisdictions, actors and themes. Addressing these issues and questions will help to develop a deeper understanding of the conditions under which litigation will strengthen or undermine climate governance.

This article is categorized under:

Policy and Governance > Multilevel and Transnational Climate Change Governance
Parametric optimization and process capability analysis for machining of nickel-based superalloy
Authors: Gupta Munish Kumar , Mia Mozammel , Pruncu Catalin I. , Kapłonek Wojciech , Nadolny Krzysztof , Patra Karali , Mikolajczyk Tadeusz , Pimenov Daniil Yu. , Sarikaya Murat , Sharma Vishal S.
Published: March 2019

The manufacturing of parts from nickel-based superalloy, such as Inconel-800 alloy, represents a challenging task for industrial sites. Their performances can be enhanced by using a smart cutting fluid approach considered a sustainable alternative. Further, to innovate the cooling strategy, the researchers proposed an improved strategy based on the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). It has an advantage over flood cooling because it allows better control of its parameters (i.e., compressed air, cutting fluid). In this study, the machinability of superalloy Inconel-800 has been investigated by performing different turning tests under MQL conditions, where no previous data are available. To reduce the numerous numbers of tests, a target objective was applied. This was used in combination with the response surface methodology (RSM) while assuming the cutting force input (Fc), potential of tool wear (VBmax), surface roughness (Ra), and the length of tool–chip contact (L) as responses. Thereafter, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) strategy was embedded to detect the significance of the proposed model and to understand the influence of each process parameter. To optimize other input parameters (i.e., cutting speed of machining, feed rate, and the side cutting edge angle (cutting tool angle)), two advanced optimization algorithms were introduced (i.e., particle swarm optimization (PSO) along with the teaching learning-based optimization (TLBO) approach). Both algorithms proved to be highly effective for predicting the machining responses, with the PSO being concluded as the best amongst the two. Also, a comparison amongst the cooling methods was made, and MQL was found to be a better cooling technique when compared to the dry and the flood cooling.
The effects of seawater on the hydration, microstructure and strength development of Portland cement pastes incorporating colloidal silica
Authors: Sikora Pawel , Cendrowski Krzysztof , Abd Elrahman Mohamed , Chung Sang-Yeop , Mijowska Ewa , Stephan Dietmar
Published: March 2019

This contribution investigates the effects of seawater and colloidal silica (NS) in the amounts of 1, 3 and 5 wt%, respectively, on the hydration, strength development and microstructural properties of Portland cement pastes. The data reveal that seawater has an accelerating effect on cement hydration and thus a significant contribution to early strength development was observed. The beneficial effect of seawater was reflected in an improvement in compressive strength for up to 14 days of hydration, while in the 28 days compressive strength values were comparable to that of cement pastes produced with demineralized water. The combination of seawater and NS significantly promotes cement hydration kinetics due to a synergistic effect, resulting in higher calcium hydroxide (CH) production. NS can thus react with the available CH through the pozzolanic reaction and produce more calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel. A noticeable improvement of strength development, as the result of the synergistic effect of NS and seawater, was therefore observed. In addition, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests confirmed significant improvements in microstructure when NS and seawater were combined, resulting in the production of a more compact and dense hardened paste structure. The optimal amount of NS to be mixed with seawater, was found to be 3 wt% of cement.
Emerging cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Schindler Suzanne E. , Li Yan , Todd Kaitlin W. , Herries Elizabeth M. , Henson Rachel L. , Gray Julia D. , Wang Guoqiao , Graham Danielle L. , Shaw Leslie M. , Trojanowski John Q. , Hassenstab Jason J. , Benzinger Tammie L.S. , Cruchaga Carlos , Jucker Mathias , Levin Johannes , Chhatwal Jasmeer P. , Noble James M. , Ringman John M. , Graff‐Radford Neill R. , Holtzman David M. , Ladenson Jack H. , Morris John C. , Bateman Randall J. , Xiong Chengjie , Fagan Anne M. ,   Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Four less well‐studied but promising “emerging” cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are elevated in late‐onset Alzheimer disease (AD): neurogranin, synaptosomal‐associated protein‐25 (SNAP‐25), visinin‐like protein 1 (VILIP‐1), and chitinase‐3‐like protein 1 (YKL‐40).

Methods

CSF neurogranin, SNAP‐25, VILIP‐1, and YKL‐40 were measured in families carrying autosomal‐dominant AD mutations.

Results

The four emerging CSF biomarkers were significantly elevated in the mutation carriers (n = 235) versus noncarriers (n = 145). CSF SNAP‐25, VILIP‐1, and YKL‐40 were altered very early in the AD time course, approximately 15–19 years before estimated symptom onset. All CSF biomarkers predicted important AD‐related outcomes including performance on a cognitive composite, brain amyloid burden as measured by amyloid positron emission tomography, and the estimated years from symptom onset.

Discussion

Early abnormalities in CSF tTau, pTau, SNAP‐25, VILIP‐1, and YKL‐40 suggest that synaptic damage, neuronal injury, and neuroinflammation begin shortly after the commencement of brain amyloid accumulation.
Inhibition of proNGF and p75NTR Pathway Restores Erectile Function Through Dual Angiogenic and Neurotrophic Effects in the Diabetic Mouse
Authors: Nguyen Nhat Minh , Song Kang-Moon , Choi Min-Ji , Ghatak Kalyan , Kwon Mi-Hye , Ock Jiyeon , Yin Guo Nan , Ryu Ji-Kan , Suh Jun-Kyu
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Penile neurovascular dysfunction is a major cause of erectile dysfunction (ED) in diabetic patients, which causes poor response to oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Nerve growth factor precursor (proNGF) and its p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) have been known to be involved in microvascular complications and neurodegeneration.

Aim

To examine the role of proNGF and its receptor p75NTR signaling pathway in diabetic ED, and to determine the effectiveness of proNGF neutralizing antibody (proNGF-Ab) in restoring erectile function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice.

Methods

Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50 mg/kg) into 8-week-old C57BL/6 male mice for 5 consecutive days. At 8 weeks after the induction of diabetes mellitus, the animals were distributed into 3 groups: controls and STZ-induced diabetic mice receiving 2 intracavernous injections of either saline (days −3 and 0; 20 μL) or proNGF-Ab (days −3 and 0; 20 μg in 20 μL of saline). We also examined the effect of proNGF-Ab or p75NTR small interfering RNA in primary cultured mouse cavernous endothelial cells, pericytes, and major pelvic ganglion.

Main Outcome Measures

Erectile function was measured by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve at 2 weeks after treatment, and the penis was then harvested for histologic and biochemical studies.

Results

The cavernous expression of proNGF and p75NTR was upregulated under diabetic conditions. Intracavernous injection of proNGF-Ab successfully restored erectile function in diabetic mice, which reach 93–96% of control values. ProNGF-Ab significantly restored cavernous endothelial cell, pericyte, and neuronal cell content, and increased endothelial cell-to-cell junction proteins in the diabetic mice. Under the high-glucose condition, proNGF-Ab or p75NTR small interfering RNA promoted tube formation in mouse cavernous endothelial cells and pericytes, decreased apoptosis of endothelial cells and pericytes, and enhanced neurite sprouting from major pelvic ganglion.

Clinical Implications

The ProNGF/p75NTR pathway will be a new therapeutic target for diabetic ED.

Strength & Limitations

This is the first study demonstrating the efficacy of the inhibition of proNGF/p75NTR pathway in diabetic ED. Further studies are needed to test whether a different dosing of proNGF-Ab would induce more durable erectile function recovery.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that inhibition of the proNGF/p75NTR signaling pathway is a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetic ED.
Digital Modeling for Bioarchaeologists
Authors: Wrobel Gabriel D. , Biggs Jack A. , Hair Amy L.
Published: March 2019

The creation of digital repositories of human skeletal remains offers bioarchaeologists a variety of potential means of aiding efforts related to curation and analysis. We present a discussion of how issues of preservation and access can affect research and argue that digital repositories not only maintain a record of objects but that the digital format allows researchers to expand their studies to include otherwise inaccessible collections. Digital models can be utilized by bioarchaeologists to collect and analyze a wide variety of quantitative and qualitative data. We review several digital capture methods employed by bioarchaeologists, including CT scanning, laser scanning, and photogrammetry. While photogrammetry is underutilized by bioarchaeologists, we point out its many advantages over other methods.
Considering Conservation of Human Skeletal Remains in Archaeological Contexts
Authors: Freiwald Carolyn , Miller Wolf Katherine A.
Published: March 2019

The articles in this issue present bioarchaeological case studies from across the globe, including North and Central America, East Asia, Europe, and the Near East. Some bioarchaeology projects are new and others are decades old, but common challenges emerge as researchers apply conservation standards to real situations in the field: a lack of training or resources for long-term curation of human remains, the lag between excavation and analysis of remains, and environmental challenges that include melting permafrost, tropical storms, and a variety of pests such as molds, fungi, bats, snakes, and insects. The studies also address ethical considerations about the use of digital images of human remains, molecular and isotopic methods that require the destruction of human tissue samples, the ability of fast-paced cultural resource management (CRM) projects to address the needs of descendant communities, and the responsibility that we have to the people we study. Techniques for addressing these challenges include new computer programs, more advanced photographic software, and research on the effects of conservation techniques that provide new “standards” for bioarchaeologists. We highlight the importance of each contribution and discuss the future of conservation in bioarchaeology.
Mapping the experiences and needs of deep brain stimulation for people with Parkinson’s disease and their family members
Authors: Liddle Jacki , Beazley Gregory , Gustafsson Louise , Silburn Peter
Published: March 2019

Background

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The lived experience of people with PD suggests a process of adjustment follows. This study aimed to explore the adjustment and associated education and support needs of people with PD undergoing DBS and their family members across the continuum of the DBS experience.

Method

A structured qualitative description study including semi-structured interviews with people with PD (n= 14), family members (n= 10) and clinicians (n= 11) was conducted to explore lived experiences, needs, perspectives and clinical considerations. Inductive analysis indicated common temporal stages related to undergoing DBS, and the related experiences and needs were mapped.

Findings

Four stages, each with unique needs, emerged:Considering DBSinvolved needs for peer-based education and realistic, meaningful goal setting;Surgery and Supportshifted to clinical support related to the surgery and support for the person and their family around immediate changes experienced;Seeking Stabilityfocused on timely clinical and practical support for the person and family around new changes and challenges to symptoms, behaviours and roles; andNext Stepsinvolved direction and support for reengagement in the self-management of the condition, and current and future changes related to PD.

All participants with PD and their family members in this study indicated that overall their experiences with DBS had led to positive changes in their symptoms and lives. Consideration of different needs at different times in the process may be applied within clinical practice to support adjustment.
A CONJECTURAL CLASSIFICATION OF STRONGLY DEPENDENT FIELDS
Authors: HALEVI YATIR , HASSON ASSAF , JAHNKE FRANZISKA
Published: March 2019

We survey the history of Shelah’s conjecture on strongly dependent fields, give an equivalent formulation in terms of a classification of strongly dependent fields and prove that the conjecture implies that every strongly dependent field has finite dp-rank.
Nonlinear spectral model for rotating sheared turbulence
Authors: Zhu Ying , Cambon C. , Godeferd F. S. , Salhi A.
Published: March 2019

We propose a statistical model for homogeneous turbulence undergoing distortions, which improves and extends the MCS model by Mons, Cambon & Sagaut (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 788, 2016, 147–182). The spectral tensor of two-point second-order velocity correlations is predicted in the presence of arbitrary mean-velocity gradients and in a rotating frame. For this, we numerically solve coupled equations for the angle-dependent energy spectrum${\mathcal{E}}(\boldsymbol{k},t)$that includes directional anisotropy, and for the deviatoric pseudo-scalar $Z(\boldsymbol{k},t)$, that underlies polarization anisotropy ($\boldsymbol{k}$ is the wavevector,$t$the time). These equations include two parts: (i) exact linear terms representing the viscous spectral linear theory (SLT) when considered alone; (ii) generalized transfer terms mediated by two-point third-order correlations. In contrast with MCS, our model retains the complete angular dependence of the linear terms, whereas the nonlinear transfer terms are closed by a reduced anisotropic eddy damped quasi-normal Markovian (EDQNM) technique similar to MCS, based on truncated angular harmonics expansions. And in contrast with most spectral approaches based on characteristic methods to represent mean-velocity gradient terms, we use high-order finite-difference schemes (FDSs). The resulting model is applied to homogeneous rotating turbulent shear flow with several Coriolis parameters and constant mean shear rate. First, we assess the validity of the model in the linear limit. We observe satisfactory agreement with existing numerical SLT results and with theoretical results for flows without rotation. Second, fully nonlinear results are obtained, which compare well to existing direct numerical simulation (DNS) results. In both regimes, the new model improves significantly the MCS model predictions. However, in the non-rotating shear case, the expected exponential growth of turbulent kinetic energy is found only with a hybrid model for nonlinear terms combining the anisotropic EDQNM closure and Weinstock’s return-to-isotropy model.
Gδ Sets IN σ-IDEALS GENERATED BY COMPACT SETS
Authors: SARAN MAYA
Published: March 2019

Given a compact Polish spaceEand the hyperspace of its compact subsets${\cal K}\left( E \right)$, we considerGδσ-ideals of compact subsets ofE. Solecki has shown that anyσ-ideal in a broad natural class ofGδideals can be represented via a compact subset of${\cal K}\left( E \right)$; in this article we examine the behaviour ofGδsubsets ofEwith respect to the representing set. Given an idealIin this class, we construct a representing set that recognises a compact subset ofEas being “small” precisely when it is inI, and recognises aGδsubset ofEas being “small” precisely when it is covered by countably many compact sets fromI.
The Izapa Kingdom's Capital: Formative Period Settlement Patterns, Population, and Dating Low-Relief Stelae
Authors: Rosenswig Robert M.
Published: March 2019

This article presents new settlement survey data from the Izapa center of southern Mesoamerica, a site long known for its corpus of low-relief stelae. These data, which track the changing distribution of population from 1000 BC–AD 100, indicate that the city's population peaked at 5,725 inhabitants. Izapa was the capital of a regional kingdom with more than 40 lower-order monumental centers and a territory that covered at least 450 sq. km. Recent AMS dates confirm the apogee of the kingdom at 300–100 BC, and volcanological reconstruction suggests that a Tacaná volcano eruption corresponds with archaeological evidence of political and demographic disruptions to the kingdom. Patterns at Izapa are contextualized in terms of Inomata and colleagues’ (2014) call for redating Kaminaljuyu, placing the erection of stelae there to after 100 BC, as well as Love's (2018) and Mendelsohn's (2018) responses in this journal. Izapa was an integrated kingdom from 700–100 BC, and “Izapa-style” sculptures were a novel medium of political communication introduced after the polity had been functioning without them for centuries. If Inomata and colleagues' (2014) proposal is correct that low-relief stelae were erected only after 100 BC at other centers in southern Mesoamerica, this was centuries after the practice was established at Izapa.
How Do Immigrants Respond to Discrimination? The Case of Germans in the US During World War I
Authors: FOUKA VASILIKI
Published: March 2019

I study the effect of taste-based discrimination on the assimilation decisions of immigrant minorities. Do discriminated minority groups increase their assimilation efforts in order to avoid discrimination and public harassment or do they become alienated and retreat in their own communities? I exploit an exogenous shock to native attitudes, anti-Germanism in the United States during World War I, to empirically identify the reactions of German immigrants to increased native hostility. I use two measures of assimilation efforts: naming patterns and petitions for naturalization. In the face of increased discrimination, Germans increase their assimilation investments by Americanizing their own and their children’s names and filing more petitions for US citizenship. These responses are stronger in states that registered higher levels of anti-German hostility, as measured by voting patterns and incidents of violence against Germans.
Discrepant molecular and clinical diagnoses in Beckwith-Wiedemann and Silver-Russell syndromes
Authors: Mackay Deborah J.G. , Bliek Jet , Lombardi Maria Paola , Russo Silvia , Calzari Luciano , Guzzetti Sara , Izzi Claudia , Selicorni Angelo , Melis Daniela , Temple Karen , Maher Eamonn , Brioude Frédéric , Netchine Irène , Eggermann Thomas
Published: March 2019

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) are two imprinting disorders associated with opposite molecular alterations in the 11p15.5 imprinting centres. Their clinical diagnosis is confirmed by molecular testing in 50–70% of patients. The authors from different reference centres for BWS and SRS have identified single patients with unexpected and even contradictory molecular findings in respect to the clinical diagnosis. These patients clinically do not fit the characteristic phenotypes of SRS or BWS, but illustrate their clinical heterogeneity. Thus, comprehensive molecular testing is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management, to avoid premature clinical diagnosis and anxiety for the families.
Heritability of reflexive social attention triggered by eye gaze and walking direction: common and unique genetic underpinnings
Authors: Wang Li , Wang Ying , Xu Qian , Liu Dong , Ji Haoyue , Yu Yiwen , Hu Zhaoqi , Yuan Peijun , Jiang Yi
Published: March 2019

Background

Social attention ability is crucial for human adaptive social behaviors and interpersonal communications, and the malfunction of which has been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a highly genetic neurodevelopmental disorder marked by striking social deficits.

Methods

Using a classical twin design, the current study investigated the genetic contribution to individual variation in social and non-social attention abilities, and further probed their potential genetic linkage. Moreover, individual autistic traits were further measured in an independent group of non-twin participants to examine the hypothetical link between the core social attention ability and ASD.

Results

We found reliable genetic influences on the social attentional effects induced by two distinct cues (eye gaze and walking direction), with 91% of their covariance accounted for by common genetic effects. However, no evidence of heritability or shared genetic effects was observed for the attentional effect directed by a non-social cue (i.e. arrow direction) and its correlation with the social attention ability. Remarkably, one's autistic traits could well predict his/her heritable core social attention ability extracted from the conventional social attentional effect.

Conclusions

These findings together suggest that human social attention ability is supported by unique genetic mechanisms that can be shared across different social, but not non-social, processing. Moreover, they also encourage the identification of ‘social attention genes’ and highlight the critical role of the core human social attention ability in seeking the endophenotypes of social cognitive disorders including ASD.
Dynamic Window with Virtual Goal (DW-VG): a New Reactive Obstacle Avoidance Approach Based on Motion Prediction
Authors: Xinyi Yu , Yichen Zhu , Liang Lu , Linlin Ou
Published: March 2019

This paper proposes a dynamic window with virtual goal (DW-VG) method for local collision avoidance in dynamic environments. Firstly, the debounce filter and polynomial curve-fitting algorithm are combined to predict the trajectory of the obstacles with timestamps. Based on the motion prediction of the obstacles, the virtual goal is proposed to replace the real goal, so that the robot can escape from the concave trap and avoid the dynamic obstacles. According to the timestamps and virtual goal, the optimal linear and angular velocities are selected from the dynamic window, which drive the robot toward its real goal. The simulation and experimental results show that the DW-VG method can not only escape the local minima and avoid dynamic obstacles but also is applicable to the dense environment. Furthermore, the simulation results also verify that the DW-VG method drives the robot to reach its goal faster and safer than other reactive obstacle avoidance methods.
Is stratification testing for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations cost-effective in primary care? an early cost-utility analysis
Authors: Abel Lucy , Dakin Helen A. , Roberts Nia , Ashdown Helen F. , Butler Chris C. , Hayward Gail , Van den Bruel Ann , Turner Philip J. , Yang Yaling
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who experience acute exacerbations usually require treatment with oral steroids or antibiotics, depending on the etiology of the exacerbation. Current management is based on clinician's assessment and judgement, which lacks diagnostic accuracy and results in overtreatment. A test to guide these decisions in primary care is in development. We developed an early decision model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this treatment stratification test in the primary care setting in the United Kingdom.

Methods

A combined decision tree and Markov model was developed of COPD progression and the exacerbation care pathway. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to guide technology development and inform evidence generation requirements.

Results

The base case test strategy cost GBP 423 (USD 542) less and resulted in a health gain of 0.15 quality-adjusted life-years per patient compared with not testing. Testing reduced antibiotic prescriptions by 30 percent, potentially lowering the risk of antimicrobial resistance developing. In sensitivity analysis, the result depended on the clinical effects of treating patients according to the test result, as opposed to treating according to clinical judgement alone, for which there is limited evidence. The results were less sensitive to the accuracy of the test.

Conclusions

Testing may be cost-saving in primary care, but this requires robust evidence on whether test-guided treatment is effective. High quality evidence on the clinical utility of testing is required for early modeling of diagnostic tests generally.
Hospital-based Health Technology Assessment in Kazakhstan: 3 years’ experience of one unit
Authors: Avdeyev Andrey , Tabarov Adlet , Akhetov Amir , Shanazarov Nasrulla , Hailey David , Kaptagayeva Aygul , Zhanabekova Liazzat , Gizatullina Aliya , Makalkina Larissa
Published: March 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to describe the development and activities of the Hospital-Based Health Technology Assessment (HB-HTA) Unit in the Hospital of the President's Affairs Administration, one of the first examples of the implementation of HB-HTA into the practice of Kazakhstani hospitals.

Methods

Details of the development of the Unit were obtained from the hospital's administrative records. The Unit's own records were used to describe the reports prepared and the clinical areas that were covered. Responses to recommendations in the Unit's reports were obtained from hospital administration and individual departments. Estimates of savings and payback periods were based on data from the hospital information system, and data submitted by manufacturers and distributors of medical equipment.

Results

Fifty-one rapid- and mini-HTA reports were prepared by the Unit from 2015 to 2017. Seventeen health technologies (33 percent) were not recommended for implementation in hospital practice. Refusal to implement sixteen of these technologies saved approximately 1,053,500 USD. Of the thirty-four recommended health technologies, twenty-four were implemented to treat or diagnose 1,376 patients, and eight others were included in plans for 2018–20. Of the twenty-four implemented health technologies, twelve did not require additional investments. The payback period of investments for the other twelve implemented technologies is not more than 3 years for six, less than 5 years for four, and more than 10 years for two technologies.

Conclusions

Establishment of the HB-HTA Unit in the hospital created the basis for making informed managerial decisions; identifying key directions for strategic development; and improving hospital management.
Mechanism of salt-inhibited early seed germination analysed by transcriptomic sequencing
Authors: Xia Kaiwen , Liu Aili , Wang Yizhong , Yang Wannian , Jin Ye
Published: March 2019

Seed germination, the first and critical step of the plant's life cycle, is affected by salt stress. However, the underlying mechanism of salt tolerance during early seed germination remains elusive. Here, a comparative RNA-seq analysis was performed using early germinating seeds either under normal conditions or in 100 and 150 mM sodium chloride. A total of 575 genes were up-regulated and 913 genes were down-regulated in the presence of 100 mM NaCl. Under the 150 mM NaCl treatment 1921 genes were up-regulated and 3501 genes were down-regulated. A total of 379 or 863 genes were up-regulated or down-regulated in both 100 and 150mM NaCl. These co-regulated genes were further analysed by GO enrichment. Genes in the categoriesabscisic acid signaling and synthesisandnutrient reservoir activitywere significantly enriched in the up-regulated genes. Transcription factors responsive to gibberellin and auxin were significantly down-regulated by salinity stress. Genes related toanti-oxidant activitywere significantly enriched in the down-regulated gene clusters by NaCl treatment. Our results suggest that salt stress inhibits seed germination by activating ABA synthesis and signalling, and depressing GA and auxin signalling, while preserving nutrition and down-regulated anti-oxidant activity. Our study provides more insight into the molecular mechanism of salt tolerance during early seed germination.
How effective is food industry self-substantiation of food–health relationships underpinning health claims on food labels in Australia?
Authors: Wellard-Cole Lyndal , Watson Wendy L , Hughes Clare , Chapman Kathy
Published: March 2019

Objective

The Food Standards Code regulates health claims on Australian food labels. General-level health claims highlight food–health relationships, e.g. ‘contains calcium for strong bones’. Food companies making claims must notify Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and certify that a systematic literature review (SLR) substantiating the food–health relationship has been conducted. There is no pre- or post-notification assessment of the SLR, potentially enabling the food industry to make claims based on poor-quality research. The present study assessed the rigour of self-substantiation.

Design

Food–health relationships notified to FSANZ were monitored monthly between 2013 and 2017. These relationships were assessed by scoping published literature. Where evidence was equivocal/insufficient, the relevant government food regulatory agency was asked to investigate. If not investigated, or the response was unsatisfactory, the project team conducted an independent SLR which was provided to the government agency.

Setting

Australia.

Participants

Self-substantiated food–health relationships.

Results

There were sixty-seven relationships notified by thirty-eight food companies. Of these, thirty-three relationships (52 %) from twenty companies were deemed to have sufficient published evidence. Four were excluded as they originated in New Zealand. Three relationships were removed before investigations were initiated. The project initiated twenty-seven food–health relationship investigations. Another six relationships were withdrawn, and three relationships were awaiting government assessment.

Conclusions

To ensure that SLR underpinning food–health relationships are rigorous and reduce regulatory enforcement burden, pre-market approval of food–health relationships should be introduced. This will increase consumer and public health confidence in the regulatory process and prevent potentially misleading general-level health claims on food labels.
Analysis of elliptical structures with constant axial ratio by Body-of-Revolution Finite Element Method and Transformation Optics
Authors: Gentili G. G. , Khosronejad M. , Pelosi G. , Selleri S.
Published: March 2019

This paper describes a method to analyze open or closed elliptical structures with constant axial ratio by a Body-of-Revolution (BoR) Finite Element Method (FEM). The method is based on Transformation Optics, a coordinate transformation that maps the elliptical shape to a circular shape, for which BoR-FEM represents a greatly efficient tool for the analysis.
The Myth of the Post-Communist Citizen: Communist Legacies and Political Trust
Authors: Epperly Brad
Published: March 2019

In assessing legacy-based explanations for the “trust deficit” observed in the post-communist region, I argue that one need first specify what kind of legacy is being considered: either between post-communist countries and another region, or among the post-communist states. I further contend that the most valid reference for legacies is Western Europe, not the globe. Using data from the European Social Survey (2002–10), I examine the association between sociodemographic factors and political trust in Eastern and Western Europe, and communist legacy effects among post-communist states. Results answer the question of legacies with a strong negative: no evidence is found that communist legacies account for the trust deficit, and I examine four empirical implications instead suggesting this deficit is the result of poor institutional performance.
MicroRNA-184 promotes apoptosis of trophoblast cells via targeting WIG1 and induces early spontaneous abortion
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Zhou Ji , Li Ming-qing , Xu Jie , Zhang Jin-ping , Jin Li-ping
Published: March 2019

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) refers to the unintentional termination of two or more consecutive pregnancies that severely threatens human reproductive health. Our previous study has shown that miR-184 is expressed more highly in RSA than in normal pregnancy, whether in the villus or decidua. In this study, compared with normal pregnant women, the expression of miR-184 in decidual stromal cells (DSCs) and decidual immune cells (DICs), as well as in peripheral blood, from RSA patients was enhanced similarly. Moreover, we found miR-184 could promote the apoptosis and repress the proliferation of trophoblast cells. Further exploration indicated that miR-184 upregulated the expression of Fas by targeting WIG1 thus inducing cell apoptosis. Finally, after miR-184 overexpression in vivo, the embryo resorption rate in pregnant mice was increased significantly. Therefore, our study outlines the pivotal role of miR-184 in maintaining successful pregnancy, providing a new diagnostic and therapeutic target for RSA.