bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypothalamic Obesity: 4 Years of the International Registry of Hypothalamic Obesity Disorders
Authors: Rose Susan R. , Horne Vincent E. , Bingham Nathan , Jenkins Todd , Black Jennifer , Inge Thomas
Published: October 2018

Objective

Hypothalamic obesity (HyOb) is a rare cause of rapid weight gain and early metabolic comorbidities. Effective treatment strategies are limited. The registry collected participant data and compared treatment approaches.

Methods

The International Registry of Hypothalamic Obesity Disorders (IRHOD) was created as a registry portal to provide education. Data collected from the initial 4 years were evaluated.

Results

Eighty‐seven participants were included for analysis (median age: 27 years, range: 3‐71 years). A total of 96.5% had obesity, and 3.5% had overweight at maximal weight. Seventy‐five had brain tumors (86%)—the majority were craniopharyngiomas (72% of those with tumors). Nontumor etiologies included congenital brain malformation (4.6%), traumatic brain injury (3.4%), and genetic anomaly (2.3%). Ninety percent received obesity treatments including nutritional counseling (82%), pharmacotherapy (59%), bariatric surgery (8%), and vagal nerve stimulation (1%). Forty‐six percent reported follow‐up BMI results after obesity treatment. Surgery was most effective (median BMI decrease: −8.2 kg/m2, median interval: 2.6 years), with lifestyle intervention (BMI: −3.4 kg/m2, interval: 1.2 years) and pharmacological therapy (BMI: −2.3 kg/m2, interval: 0.8 years) being less effective. Eighty percent of participants reporting follow‐up weight remained in the obesity range.

Conclusions

IRHOD identified a large cohort with self‐reported HyOb. Surgical therapy was most effective at weight reduction. Nutritional counseling and pharmacotherapy modestly improved BMI. Stepwise treatment strategy for HyOb (including nutritional, pharmacological, and surgical therapies in an experienced center) may be most valuable.
Direct Observation of Bacterial Growth in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles: A Novel Tool for Bacterial Cultures
Authors: Morita Masamune , Katoh Kaoru , Noda Naohiro
Published: October 2018

Invited for this month's cover picture are Dr. Masamune Morita, Dr. Kaoru Katoh and Dr. Naohiro Noda from the Biomedical Research Institute at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST, Japan). The cover picture shows direct monitoring of real‐time activity of bacterial growth at the single‐cell level inside giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs); entrapped single bacterial cells are actively increasing to a great number of cells inside GUVs. This study shows new applications for GUVs, and can offer a novel tool for culturing bacteria in bacterial studies. Read the full text of their Communication at 10.1002/open.201800126.
A role for surgery in the treatment of relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Fahy A.S. , Kong I. , Weitzman S. , Dix D. , Baruchel S. , Gerstle J.T.
Published: October 2018

Treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has advanced over time, rendering a fatal disease now largely curable. Multiagent chemotherapy regimens, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and radiotherapy are the mainstays of care. Surgical intervention is rarely indicated other than for biopsy at diagnosis. However, for patients with recurrent relapsed HL isolated to one anatomical location, refractory to all other therapy, there may be a beneficial role for surgical excision. Herein, we report the surgical management of three relapsed patients with stage IVB HL who were refractory to multiple other therapeutic approaches, who all achieved good event‐free survival after operative management.
Hydroxypropyl starch‐based films reinforced by incorporation of alkalized microcrystalline cellulose
Authors: Chen Jie , Chen Fushan , Long Zhu , Dai Lei , Wang Shuangfei , Zhang Dan
Published: October 2018

Environment friendly and biodegradable composite films comprised of alkalized microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and hydroxypropyl starch (HPS) have been developed by a solution casting method. The particle sizes and crystal structure of alkalized MCC have been investigated by Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer and X‐ray diffraction. The surface morphology of MCC/HPS films have been observed by scanning electron microscopy. Meanwhile, the enhanced thermal stability has been confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis and Differential scanning calorimetry. Incorporating alkalized MCC into HPS, composite films show raised glass transition temperature (increased by 13.31%), strengthened mechanical properties (increased by 13.72%), and reduced water vapor permeation (reduced by 75.27%). As‐prepared alkalized MCC/HPS composite films could not only be employed as an most promising candidate for developing green food packaging materials, but also endow themselves with substitute for petroleum plastic products while concomitantly promoting the development of sustainable materials. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E856–E864, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Preparation of Proton Conductive Crystallized Tin Phosphate Glasses by Hydrothermal Treatments
Authors: Segawa Hiroyo , Aihara Masaya , Akamatsu Masaya , Yasumori Atsuo , Ohashi Naoki
Published: October 2018

Phosphate glasses are known to show proton conductivity, because they contain a significant amount of non‐bridging oxygen and can contain water molecules. However, glasses prepared by the melting method have low‐water content, resulting in very low‐electrical conductivity (10−9–10−11 S cm). Hydrothermal treatment using an autoclave is useful to increase the proton content in glass obtained by the melting method and improve electrical conductivity. In this work, tin phosphate glasses are treated by hydrothermal conditions, and their electrical conductivity is investigated. After the hydrothermal treatment, the glasses change from transparent to white. The glasses are shown to be crystallized SnHPO4, Sn2(OH)PO4, and Sn2P2O7 by XRD. The formation of the crystals is occurred when the samples treated at 75 °C for 60 min, and the crystals are grown with increase of treatment time. The formation of these crystals causes the conductivity of the glasses to increase to 10−4 S cm when the glass is treated at 75 °C for 90 min.
Self‐Assembled Silica Nanoparticles for Diamond Nano‐Structuration
Authors: Mehmel Lahcene , Issaoui Riadh , Tallaire Alexandre , Mille Vianney , Brinza Ovidiu , Nicolas Louis , Hétet Gabriel , Achard Jocelyn
Published: October 2018

Diamond with engineered nanostructures such as holes or nanopillars networks provides an useful platform for optical or photonic devices in which light can be extracted or confined. Moreover improvement of the structural properties of the material is expected after overgrowth of specific nanopatterns that can act as dislocation filters or stress release layers. Usually nanostructures are realized using multiple lithographic procedures that are costly and time consuming to implement. In this work another approach is used in which nanopillars of different diameters (200, 100 nm) are fabricated on nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films and single crystal diamond (SCD), using self‐assembled silica nanospheres as shadow mask for inductively coupled plasma‐reactive ion etching (ICP‐RIE). The particles assembly and etching steps are optimized in order to obtain a uniform distribution of pillars having a high aspect ratio. Following the patterning of SCD the authors performed an overgrowth of a diamond film by CVD on the nanostructures in order to study their evolution and the final crystal quality. It is found that impurities such as SiV preferentially incorporate into the nanopillars. These structures could find useful applications to harness light extraction or control the dislocation propagation in CVD diamond.
Theoretical developments and applications of polarization propagators
Authors: Aucar Gustavo A. , Maldonado Alejandro F. , Montero Marcos D. A. , Santa Cruz Teresita
Published: October 2018

The Argentinian studies of response properties by applying polarization propagators started more than 35 years ago. It began when the research group led by Professor Ruben Contreras in Buenos Aires started to apply it to the study of NMR spectroscopic parameters on top of semiempirical methods. Novel theoretical developments and its successful early applications make that this group quickly grew up with students from different regions of Argentina. In this review, we shall expose some Argentinian developments of that formalism, including its extension to the relativistic regime and also its latest formal development, which shows how can it be derived from the more fundamental path integral formalism. The interpretative power and the analysis of different electronic effects, that influence the NMR spectroscopic parameters, will be shown with few selected examples. They include molecules with light and heavy atoms, and also hydrogen‐bonded systems. Novel results and analysis of earlier and latest developments will also be given. One of the main advantages of the formalism of polarization propagators is its flexibility for being applied in both regimes, relativistic and nonrelativistic in the same manner. One can go from one to the other framework, by only scaling the velocity of light.
Quantum Paramagnet Near Spin‐State Transition
Authors: Tomiyasu Keisuke , Ito Naoko , Okazaki Ryuji , Takahashi Yuki , Onodera Mitsugi , Iwasa Kazuaki , Nojima Tsutomu , Aoyama Takuya , Ohgushi Kenya , Ishikawa Yoshihisa , Kamiyama Takashi , Ohira‐Kawamura Seiko , Kofu Maiko , Ishihara Sumio
Published: October 2018

Spin‐state transition, also known as spin crossover, plays a key role in diverse systems, including minerals and biological materials. In theory, the boundary range between the low‐ and high‐spin states is expected to enrich the transition and give rise to unusual physical states. However, no compound that realizes a nearly degenerate critical range as the ground state without requiring special external conditions has yet been experimentally identified. This study reports that, by comprehensive measurements of macroscopic physical properties, X‐ray diffractometry, and neutron spectroscopy, the Sc substitution in LaCoO3 destabilizes its nonmagnetic low‐spin state and generates an anomalous paramagnetic state accompanied by the enhancement of transport gap and magneto‐lattice‐expansion as well as the contraction of Co─O distance with the increase of electron site transfer. These phenomena are not well described by the mixture of conventional low‐ and high‐spin states, but by their quantum superposition occurring on the verge of a spin‐state transition. The present study enables us to significantly accelerate the design of new advanced materials without requiring special equipment, based on the concept of quantum spin‐state criticality.
Wasted paradise? Policies for Small Island States to manage tourism‐driven growth while controlling waste generation: the case of the Maldives
Authors: Kapmeier Florian , Gonçalves Paulo
Published: October 2018

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face tension between economic growth and environmental impact. Tourism fuels growth, but the resulting solid waste and other pollutants threaten the SIDS’ natural beauty, quality of life for residents, attractiveness to tourists, and economic success. We assess the tension between tourism‐driven economic growth and environmental degradation from a limits‐to‐growth perspective, developing a generic system dynamics model of the problem using 38 years of data from the Maldives to estimate parameters and Monte‐Carlo methods to assess the sensitivity of results to uncertainty. We contrast development paths for the next three decades under three sets of policies focusing on promoting growth, managing tourism demand–supply balance, and improving waste management. Findings are counterintuitive; policies focused on better waste management alone are self‐defeating, because they increase tourism, growth and waste generation, undermining attractiveness and growth later. Policies that limit tourism demand improve economic and environmental health.

© 2018 System Dynamics Society
Optical Temperature Sensors Based On Europium(III) Beta‐Diketonate Complexes Chemically Bonded To Functionalized Polydimethylsiloxane
Authors: Gaspar Rafael D. L. , Fortes Paula R. , Mazali Italo O. , Sigoli Fernando A. , Raimundo Ivo M.
Published: October 2018

New luminescent temperature probes were synthesized based on the dispersion of the europium(III) [Eu(tta)3(H2O)2] complex (tta=thenoyltrifluoroacetonate), and the covalent bond of europium(III) [Eu(tta)3(adppo)(H2O)] and [Eu(tta)3(adppo)2] (adppo=allyldiphenylphosphine oxide) complexes by the hydroslylilation reaction between the allyl group and the hydride terminal polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Phosphine oxide coordination to the europium(III) ion increases the lifetime values and changes the emission profile to a more symmetrical europium(III) chemical environment. The membranes shows a decrease in lifetime values with the increase of temperature, and the dynamic range of the luminescent membranes shifts to higher temperatures by successive substitution of water molecules for the phosphine oxide ligand. Sensitivities of 6.76, 7.80 and 8.35 μS C−1 were obtained for the membranes containing the [Eu(tta)3(H2O)2], [Eu(tta)3(adppo)(H2O)] and [Eu(tta)3(adppo)2] complexes, respectively. Low oxygen cross sensitivity are observable in the membranes containing the coordinated adppo molecule, allowing their use in multiparametric sensors.
The Use of Rutile‐ and Anatase‐Titania Layers towards Back Light Scattering in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Muhammad Niaz , Zanoni Kassio Papi Silva , Iha Neyde Yukie Murakami , Ahmed Safeer
Published: October 2018

Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with nanocrystalline TiO2 (NCT) particles (ca. 20 nm) as foundation layer and mesoporous anatase phase microspheres (AMT) or rutile phase microspheres (RMT), as the back light‐scattering layer, were fabricated. The phase‐pure AMT, 0.42 μm or RMT particles, 0.50 μm were obtained at 500 oC and 900 oC, respectively. The DSCs employing NCT/AMT and NCT/RMT bi‐layered films depicted power conversion efficiencies of 5.9% and 6.3%, respectively, compared to 4.0% of DSCs with only NCT films. The efficiencies were improved up to 9.0% after depositing compact nano‐TiO2 layers beneath the NCT film. The optical and electrochemical investigations of the DSCs quantitatively elucidated, through longer electron life time and enhanced back light scattering, the substantial improvement in power conversion efficiency to the texture tuning of titania films, in particular by the rutile phase.
One‐Pot Preparation of Ni2P/γ‐Al2O3 Catalyst for Dehydrogenation of Propane to Propylene
Authors: Yao Yue , Zuo Miaoguo , Zhou Hualan , Li Jianyong , Shao Huaiqi , Jiang Tao , Liao Xiaoyuan , Lu Shuxiang
Published: October 2018

The γ‐Al2O3 supported Ni2P catalysts for propane dehydrogenation were prepared by one‐pot method and evaluated to study the platinum‐like behaviour of Ni2P. The catalysts were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy‐dispersive X‐ray Spectrometer (EDS), N2 adsorption at −196 oC and temperature‐programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3‐TPD). Results show that Ni2P is beneficial to the catalytic stability. It exhibits higher conversion for PDH of 23.8% and propylene selectivity of 74.4%.
Supramolecular Binding of bis‐naphthalene Cleft based Molecular Tubes
Authors: Lande Dipali N. , Gejji Shridhar P.
Published: October 2018

The endo‐functionalized bis‐urea molecular tubes having the rigid bis‐naphthalene cleft aligned parallel or antiparallel to each other yield syn (SBU) and anti (ABU) configurational isomers which exhibit remarkable selectivity toward guest binding. In the present work the noncovalent binding from SBU and ABU receptors with heterocyclic guests viz., pyridine (py) and pyrazine (pz) is unveiled through the density functional theory. The complexation is spontaneous, thermodynamically favorable and facilitated via N−H⋅⋅⋅N hydrogen bonding, C−H⋅⋅⋅π and other non‐covalent interactions. The coexistence of multiple intermolecular interactions reflects in the infrared and 1H NMR spectra. The ‘frequency shift’ of the characteristic vibrations accompanying the complexation is rationalized. Encapsulation of py or pz within π‐electron rich cavity of the ABU led to shielding of the guest protons while hydrogen bonded protons engender downfield signals in the calculated 1H NMR spectra.
Electrochemical and Dip‐Coating Synthesis of Dendritic Cu/CuI Nanowire Films and Their Application in Dye Degradation Under UV Irradiation
Authors: Berhe Abrha , Ujihara Masaki
Published: October 2018

Films of dendritic Cu/CuI nanowires were prepared on indium‐doped tin oxide substrates through the electrochemical deposition of Cu nanowires followed by the layer formation of CuI on the nanowires by a dip‐coating technique. The morphology and crystallinity of the dendritic Cu nanowires and Cu/CuI nanowires were characterized by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The photocatalysis of the Cu/CuI nanowires was monitored by the degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution under UV‐light irradiation (λ ≈ 365 nm). The as‐prepared Cu/CuI nanowires exhibited a photocatalytic activity 5.3 times greater than that of a simple CuI film, and the photocatalytic activity showed a bell‐shaped dependence on the dip‐coating time. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Cu/CuI nanowires was attributed to their high adsorption capacity and enhanced electron transport. These results are useful for designing metal/semiconductor nanocomposites for high‐efficiency photocatalytic applications.
Possibility of Dielectric Material: Magnetic Resonance Study of Oxo‐Bridged Dinuclear Ruthenium Mixed‐Valence Complex
Authors: Nakamura Toshikazu , Asada Mizue , Yoshida Masaki , Kondo Mio , Masaoka Shigeyuki
Published: October 2018

Solid‐state broad line 1H‐NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and ESR (electron spin resonance) were performed for an oxo‐bridged dinuclear ruthenium [RuORu]5+ (Ru3.5+ORu3.5+) mixed‐valence complex. The 1H‐NMR spin‐lattice relaxation rate T1−1 was significantly enhanced, to below 100 K with a peak at approximately 33 K. The T1−1 peak temperature was frequency‐independent, indicating that this anomaly is a possible phase transition. Below approximately 40 K, an abrupt decrease of 1H‐NMR spin‐spin relaxation time T2 provides evidence of the appearance of inequivalent 1H‐sites (sudden decrease in symmetry). ESR spectra suddenly disappeared above 35 K. The electronic properties and possible charge ordering (Ru3+ORu4+) states in this mixed‐valence compound are discussed from a microscopic point of view.
Multifunctional, Superelastic, and Lightweight MXene/Polyimide Aerogels
Authors: Liu Ji , Zhang Hao‐Bin , Xie Xi , Yang Rui , Liu Zhangshuo , Liu Yafeng , Yu Zhong‐Zhen
Published: October 2018

2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) have gained extensive attention recently due to their versatile surface chemistry, layered structure, and intriguing properties. The assembly of MXene sheets into macroscopic architectures is an important approach to harness their extraordinary properties. However, it is difficult to construct a freestanding, mechanically flexible, and 3D framework of MXene sheets owing to their weak intersheet interactions. Herein, an interfacial enhancement strategy to construct multifunctional, superelastic, and lightweight 3D MXene architectures by bridging individual MXene sheets with polyimide macromolecules is developed. The resulting lightweight aerogel exhibits superelasticity with large reversible compressibility, excellent fatigue resistance (1000 cycles at 50% strain), 20% reversible stretchability, and high electrical conductivity of ≈4.0 S m−1. The outstanding mechanical flexibility and electrical conductivity make the aerogel promising for damping, microwave absorption coating, and flexible strain sensor. More interestingly, an exceptional microwave absorption performance with a maximum reflection loss of −45.4 dB at 9.59 GHz and a wide effective absorption bandwidth of 5.1 GHz are achieved.
A comparative study between ASTM C1567 and ASTM C227 to mitigate alkali‐silica reaction
Authors: Saha Ashish K.
Published: October 2018

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the two different widely adopted test methods such as american society for testing and materials (ASTM) C1567 “accelerated mortar bar method” and ASTM C227 “mortar bar method” to identify the alkali‐silica reaction (ASR) of ferronickel slag fine aggregates. The ASR mitigation measure was assessed by the application of supplementary cementing material such as fly ash. During the experimental investigation visual inspection, mortar bar expansion and tensile strength measurements were evaluated. The test results point out that mortar bar method was unsuccessful to identify the ASR due to significant alkali leaching during the experiment. On the other hand, accelerated mortar bar method was successful to identify ASR and able to determine the safe dosage of fly ash to mitigate this deleterious expansion.
Impact of the Exchange of the Coordinating Solvent Shell in [Bi38O45(OMc)24(dmso)9] by Alcohols: Crystal Structure, Gas Phase Stability, and Thermoanalysis
Authors: Weber Marcus , Thiele Günther , Dornsiepen Eike , Weimann Dominik P. , Schalley Christoph A. , Dehnen Stefanie , Mehring Michael
Published: October 2018

Recrystallization of the bismuth oxido cluster [Bi38O45(OMc)24(dmso)9]·2dmso·7H2O (A) (OMc = O2C4H5) from alcohols such as EtOH and iPrOH gave single crystals of the bismuth oxido clusters [Bi38O45(OMc)24(ROH)x(H2O)y] [R = Et, x = 13, y = 0 (1); R = iPr, x = 10, y = 2 (2)]. Both compounds crystallize in the triclinic space group P1 and exhibit minor deviations in their cell parameters [1: a = 17.0156(5) Å, b = 19.0048(5) Å, c = 20.2100(5) Å, α = 111.182(2) °, β = 111.475(2) °, γ = 100.716(2) °, V = 5275.7(3) Å3; 2: a = 17.2512(7) Å, b = 19.3712(7) Å, c = 19.6248(8) Å, α = 112.803(3) °, β = 105.969(3) °, γ = 100.183(3) °, V = 5507.08(40) Å3]. ESI‐MS studies show that the bismuth oxido clusters 1 and 2 are more easily desolvated as reported for the dmso adduct A. Collision‐induced dissociation (CID) experiments on the solvent free cluster ions reveal a new fragmentation path for the methacrylate ligands. They split into C3H4 fragments as the leaving group and a formate remains bound at the cluster core. Bismuth particles are formed after annealing of 1 at 300 °C, whereas a composite consisting of Bi/β‐Bi2O3/C was formed in the temperature range of 400 °C to 600 °C. Calcination of 1 at 300 °C and 400 °C provided the formation of an amorphous material containing bismuth and a composite composed of β‐Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3/Bi/C, respectively. At higher calcination temperatures, α‐Bi2O3 was obtained. The decomposition products do not show any sulfate incorporation as observed for A.
Healthcare Leaders Develop Strategies for Expanding National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anaesthesia Plans in WHO AFRO and EMRO Regions
Authors: Albutt Katherine , Sonderman Kristin , Citron Isabelle , Nthele Mzaza , Bekele Abebe , Makasa Emmanuel , Maongezi Sarah , Rwamasirabo Emile , Ameh Emmanuel , Andriamanjato Hery Harimanitra , ElSayed Ahmed SA , Smalle Isaac , Tumusiime Prosper , Monono Martin Ekeke , Meara John G. , Johnson Walter
Published: October 2018

Background

Worldwide, five billion people lack access to safe, affordable surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia (SOA) care when needed. In many countries, a growing commitment to SOA care is culminating in the development of national surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia plans (NSOAPs) that are fully embedded in the National Health Strategic Plan. This manuscript highlights the content and outputs from a World Health Organization (WHO) lead workshop that supported country‐led plans for improving SOA care as a component of health system strengthening.

Methods

In March 2018, a group of 79 high‐level global SOA stakeholders from 25 countries in the WHO AFRO and EMRO regions gathered in Dubai to provide technical and strategic guidance for the creation and expansion of NSOAPs.

Results

Drawing on the experience and expertise of represented countries that are at different stages of the NSOAP process, topics covered included (1) the global burden of surgical, obstetric, and anaesthetic conditions; (2) the key principles and components of NSOAP development; (3) the critical evaluation and feasibility of different models of NSOAP implementation; and (4) innovative financing mechanisms to fund NSOAPs.

Conclusions

Lessons learned include: (1) there is unmet need for the establishment of an NSOAP community in order to provide technical support, expertise, and mentorship at a regional level; (2) data should be used to inform future priorities, for monitoring and evaluation and to showcase advances in care following NSOAP implementation; and (3) SOA health system strengthening must be uniquely prioritized and not hidden within other health strategies.
Interstate Migration and Employer-to-Employer Transitions in the United States: New Evidence From Administrative Records Data
Authors: Hyatt Henry , McEntarfer Erika , Ueda Ken , Zhang Alexandria
Published: October 2018

Declines in migration across labor markets have prompted concerns that the U.S. economy is becoming less dynamic. In this study, we examine the relationship between residential migration and employer-to-employer transitions in the United States, using both survey and administrative records data. We first note strong disagreement between the Current Population Survey (CPS) and other migration statistics on the timing and severity of any decline in U.S. interstate migration. Despite these divergent patterns for overall residential migration, we find consistent evidence of a substantial decline in economic migration between 2000 and 2010. We find that composition and the returns to migration have limited ability to explain recent changes in interstate migration.
How clinicians integrate humanism in their clinical workplace—‘Just trying to put myself in their human being shoes’
Authors: Des Ordons Amanda Lee Roze , De Groot Janet Margaret , Rosenal Tom , Viceer Nazia , Nixon Lara
Published: October 2018

Introduction Humanism has been identified as an important contributor to patient care and physician wellness; however, what humanism means in the context of medicine has been limited by opinion and a focus on personal characteristics. Our aim was to describe attitudes and behaviours that enable clinicians to integrate humanism within the clinical setting.
Methods We conducted semi-structured individual interviews with ten clinical faculty to explore how they enact and experience humanism in patient care and clinical teaching. Interpretive description was used to analyze the data qualitatively.
Results Humanism in medicine was described through five themes representing core attitudes and behaviours: whole person care, valuing, perspective-taking, recognizing universality, and relational focus. Whole person care involved recognizing the multiple dimensions of personhood and sensitivity to others’ needs; valuing involved respecting and appreciating others; perspective-taking consisted of considering others’ perspectives, suspending judgment, and listening; recognizing universality involved acknowledging the shared human condition, finding common ground, transcending roles, and humility; and relational focus was described through multiple relationships between patients, families, clinicians and learners, becoming part of another’s story, reciprocal influence, and accompaniment.
Conclusions Whereas previous descriptions of humanism have focused on clinicians’ personal qualities, our research describes a number of attitudinal and behavioural foundations of humanistic care and teaching, grounded in the experiences of clinical faculty. In drawing attention to the holistic and relational elements of humanism, our work highlights how these foundational elements can be more explicitly integrated into patient care, workplace culture, and clinical education.
Age, Gender and Mechanism of Injury Interactions in Post-Concussion Syndrome
Authors: Varriano Brenda , Tomlinson George , Tarazi Apameh , Wennberg Richard , Tator Charles , Tartaglia Maria Carmela
Published: October 2018

Background

Certain factors such as age and gender seem to affect the risk of developing post-concussion syndrome (PCS). We assessed the interactions between age, gender, concussion history and mechanism of injury in PCS patients so that a better understanding could guide the development of targeted prevention strategies.

Methods

Demographic data including age, gender, concussion mechanism of injury and concussion history were collected from (1) a prospective study evaluating PCS biomarkers and (2) a retrospective chart review of PCS patients. A total of 437 PCS patients who were assessed at the Canadian Concussion Centre or Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON, were included.

Results

Overall, there were more men with PCS; however, a greater percentage of women had PCS after a single concussion. The results showed that age, gender and concussion history are conditionally dependent on the mechanism of injury, and independent of one another. The relative frequency of having PCS was greater in the following instances: (1) being a woman and having had concussion from a fall or motor vehicle collision (MVC), (2) being older and having had concussion from a fall or MVC or (3) having a single concussion with cause being MVC or fall.

Conclusion

In patients with PCS, age and gender interact with the mechanism of injury to influence the risk of concussion. Targeted prevention strategies may be essential to prevent injuries leading to PCS.
MATHEMATICAL ASPECTS OF EARTH-MOVING LINKED TO HYDRAULIC WORKS IN UR III UMMA
Authors: Alivernini Sergio
Published: October 2018

This paper studies mathematical aspects of earthwork projects in the Ur III city of Umma, c.2053–2032 b.c. The main purpose of this paper is to describe the practical procedures involved in moving earth for hydraulic works around Umma. It also shows how Old Babylonian pedagogical “mathematical texts” about earthworks, from the early second millennium b.c., are indebted to the practical procedures adopted by Ur III officials.
The Ins and Outs: How Principals Can Smooth Transitions Between School and Juvenile Justice Centres
Authors: O'Neill Sue C. , Cumming Therese M.
Published: October 2018

Researchers note that the transitions of secondary students with disability in and out of the juvenile justice system are problematic for both the young person and leadership teams of their sending and receiving schools. Much of the literature focuses on barriers to successful transitions; however, there are some accounts of positive transition practices. In this article, we identify these positive practices and outline the steps school principals and executives involved in transitioning secondary school students with disability in and out of juvenile justice settings can take to smooth the way and improve student outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Reassessing Community Cemeteries: Cremation Burials in Britain during the Middle Bronze Age (c.1600–1150 calbc)
Authors: Caswell Edward , Roberts Benjamin W.
Published: October 2018

The Middle Bronze Age (c. 1600–1150 calbc) in Britain is traditionally understood to represent a major funerary transition. This is a transformation from a heterogeneous funerary rite, largely encompassing inhumations and cremations in burial mounds and often accompanied by grave goods, to a homogeneous and unadorned cremation-based practice. Despite a huge expansion in the number of well excavated, radiocarbon dated, and osteologically analysed sites in the last three decades, current interpretations of Middle Bronze Age cremation burials still rely upon a seminal paper by Ellison (1980), which proposed that they comprise and represent an entire community. This paper analyses 378 cremation sites containing at least 3133 burials which represent all those that can be confidently dated to the Middle Bronze Age in Britain. The new analysis demonstrates that relatively few sites can be characterised as community cemeteries and that there are substantially more contemporary settlement sites, though few contemporary settlements are in close proximity to the cemeteries. The identifiable characteristics of cremation-based funerary practices are consistent across Britain with little evidence for social differentiation at the point of burial. It is also evident that only a minority of the population received a cremation burial. There is a substantial decrease in archaeologically visible funerary activity from the preceding Early Bronze Age (c. 2200–1600 calbc) and a further decrease in the proceeding Late Bronze Age (c. 1150–800 calbc) in Britain. This is comparable in form, and partially in sequence, to Bronze Age funerary practices in Ireland and several regions in North-west Europe.
THE CANTERBURY GROUP OF ARCADED GOTHIC EARLY MEDIEVAL CHESTS: A DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL AND COMPARATIVE STUDY
Authors: Pickvance Christopher G
Published: October 2018

This paper draws attention to an unrecognised group of six pin-hinged, clamped, early medieval chests with gothic arcading in East Kent, England. It provides dendrochronological dates for four of the chests and systematic evidence concerning their construction, decoration and ironwork, including the specific type of lock originally fitted. Comparisons are made with pin-hinged, clamped chests made in some other counties and abroad at roughly the same time. The carved façades contrast with the plain façades of the thirteenth-century chests in Westminster Abbey. The group has the earliest dendro-dated examples thus far of gothic arcading on English clamped chests as well as other distinctive features, suggesting that the chests are the product of a workshop that developed with a degree of independence from other workshops. Their likely origin in Canterbury and a hypothesis about their use are discussed, and topics are identified for future research. This paper aims to provide a solid one-county base for the comparative study of pin-hinged, clamped chests elsewhere in England.
CHARACTERIZING n-ISOCLINIC CLASSES OF CROSSED MODULES
Authors: RAVANBOD HAJAR , SALEMKAR ALI REZA , TALEBTASH SAJEDEH
Published: October 2018

In this paper, we introduce the notion of the equivalence relation, calledn-isoclinism, between crossed modules of groups, and give some basic properties of this notion. In particular, we obtain some criteria under which crossed modules aren-isoclinic. Also, we present the notion ofn-stem crossed module and, under some conditions, determine them within ann-isoclinism class.
Global Political Risk and Currency Momentum
Authors: Filippou Ilias , Gozluklu Arie E. , Taylor Mark P.
Published: October 2018

Using a measure of political risk, relative to the United States, that captures unexpected political conditions, we show that political risk is priced in the cross section of currency momentum and contains information beyond other risk factors. Our results are robust after controlling for transaction costs, reversals, and alternative limits to arbitrage. The global political environment affects the profitability of the momentum strategy in the foreign exchange market; investors following such strategies are compensated for the exposure to the global political risk of those currencies they hold, that is, the past winners, and exploit the lower returns of loser portfolios. The risk compensation is mainly justified by the different exposures of foreign currencies in the momentum portfolio to U.S. political shocks, which is the main component of global political risk.
Attention to Market Information and Underreaction to Earnings on Market Moving Days
Authors: Kottimukkalur Badrinath
Published: October 2018

Post-earnings announcement drift (PEAD) is stronger in firms that release earnings on days when market returns are higher in magnitude. This drift remains robust after controlling for previously documented factors such as Friday releases, the number of simultaneous releases, and price delay measure. Negative earnings surprises drive this drift, and the drift is more pronounced among small stocks, value stocks, and stocks that have low analyst following. Slower analyst response to earnings contributes to the drift. These findings are consistent with investors paying more attention to market information and less attention to firm-specific information due to attention constraints.
Observations on the tubicolous annelidMagelona alleni(Magelonidae), with discussions on the relationship between morphology and behaviour of European magelonids
Authors: Mills Kimberley , Mortimer Kate
Published: October 2018

Feeding, defecation, palp behaviour and motility of the tubicolous annelid,Magelona alleniwere observed in a laboratory environment. Both surface deposit, and to a lesser extent, suspension feeding were exhibited, with the ingestion of sand grains, and of smaller amounts of foraminiferans and administered commercially available suspension. Predominantly sand could be seen moving through the gut, resulting in conspicuous defecation, not previously observed in other magelonid species. During this ‘sand expulsion’ behaviour, individuals turned around in a network of branched burrows. The posterior was extended from the burrow and substantial amounts of sand were expelled in a string-like formation, involving mucus. The posterior morphology ofM. allenidiffers greatly compared with other European magelonid species, in possessing a large terminal anus, likely related to its diet. In contrast to what has been recorded for other magelonids,M. alleniappears predominately non-selective. The current paper adds credence to the idea that multiple feeding modes exist within the family. Tube-lined burrows were observed to be primarily permanent, and motility of the species reduced in comparison to other magelonids. The differences noted betweenM. alleniand other species is most likely linked to its tubicolous lifestyle. The effect of environmental parameters on observed behaviours is discussed.
The limitations of equivalence and non-inferiority trials
Authors: Rief Winfried , Hofmann Stefan G.
Published: October 2018

Equivalence and non-inferiority trials are becoming more and more popular. Typically, they compare the effects of a treatment of interest with the current gold-standard treatment as the comparator. However, for this approach, the definition of equivalence or non-inferiority margins (NIM) is crucial, and no clear rules for their definition exist. We criticized the practice of these trials of being over-inflationary in favor of (erroneous) equivalence, and we outlined our critique with some study examples comparing psychodynamic treatments with current first-line treatments for mental disorders. Here we answer to a commentary of Leichsenring et al. to our paper. Although focusing on our commentary, these authors are less arguing against our conclusions, but they address issues of study conduct, and lack of appreciation of our examples. However, the crucial question is: What is the risk of erroneous equivalence conclusions that we want to accept as responsible clinicians and scientists? We conclude that the scientific community has to define better and clearer criteria for NIMs. We do not believe that it is ethically justifiable to recommend a treatment that is 10 or 20% less effective than the current gold standard interventions.
German children’s processing of morphosyntactic cues inwh-questions
Authors: SCHOUWENAARS ATTY , HENDRIKS PETRA , RUIGENDIJK ESTHER
Published: October 2018

Two experiments investigated the effects of case and verb agreement cues on the comprehension and production ofwhich-questions in typically developing German children (aged 7–10) and adults. Our aims were to determine (a) whether they make use of morphosyntactic cues (case marking and verb agreement) for the comprehension ofwhich-questions, (b) how these questions are processed, and (c) whether the presence and position of morphosyntactic cues available for the listener influence the speaker’s production ofwhich-questions. Performance on a picture selection task with eye tracking shows that children with low working memory make less use of morphosyntactic cues than children with high working memory and adults when interpreting object questions. Gaze data of both groups reveal garden-path effects and revisions for object and passive questions, which can be explained by a constraint-based account. Furthermore, children’s difficulties with object questions are related to the type of disambiguation cue. In a question elicitation task with patient-initial items, children overall prefer production of passives, whereas adults’ productions depend on the availability of disambiguation cues for the listener.
The emergence and utilisation of frailty in the United Kingdom: a contemporary biopolitical practice
Authors: Tomkow Louise
Published: October 2018

Frailty has recently emerged as a dominant concept against a backdrop of media and governmental narratives that frame the growing ageing population as an economic threat to the current configuration of health care in the United Kingdom (UK). Despite frailty's popularity amongst geriatricians and policy makers, the concept faces resistance from other health-care professionals and older people themselves. This paper draws on the Foucauldian idea of biopower; by suggesting that the contemporary emergence and utilisation of frailty represents a biopolitical practice a number or critical observations are made. First, despite biomedical experts acknowledging ambiguities in the definition of frailty, the concept is presented as a truth discourse. This is driven by the ability of frailty measurements to predict risk of costly adverse outcomes; the capability of frailty scores to enumerate complex needs; and the scientific legitimacy frailty affords to geriatric medicine. Consequently, frailty has become pervasive, knowable and measurable. Second, the routine delineation between frail and robust objectifies older people, and can be said to benefit those making the diagnosis over those being labelled frail, with the latter becoming disempowered. Last, studies show that frailty is associated with increasing wealth inequalities in the UK; however, experts’ suggested management of frailty shifts the focus of responsibility away from ideologically driven structural inequalities towards the frail older person, attempting to encourage individuals to modify lifestyle choices. This neglects the association between lifestyle opportunities and socio-economic deprivation, and the impact of long-term poverty on health. These observations, set against the contemporary political climate of economic austerity, cuts to public services and rationalisation of health resources, bring the urgency of a critical consideration of frailty to the fore.
WAS THERE A 17THCENTURY CRISIS IN SPANISH AMERICA?
Authors: Klein Herbert S. , Serrano Hernández Sergio T.
Published: October 2018

Traditional historical literature has stressed a generalised crisis throughout the world in the 17thcentury. First proposed for Europe with its numerous dynastic, religious and state conflicts, it has now been expanded to include Asia and the Middle East as well. It was also assumed that there was a significant crisis in the Americas, a theme which until recently has dominated the traditional literature. The claim that there was such a crisis was based on a series of classic studies by Earl J. Hamilton, Chaunu and Borah, among others. But new research has challenged this hypothesis and we will examine both these new studies as well as offering our own research findings on this subject.
From the Western Front to the East Coast: Barker's The Trojan Women in the USA
Authors: Burt Philippa
Published: October 2018

When Harley Granville Barker was invited to stage a theatre season in New York following the outbreak of the First World War, senior figures within British politics seized on it as an opportunity to promote the British war effort in the United States. It was, however, Barker's impromptu decision to extend his stay and tour Euripides’ The Trojan Women to major colleges on the East Coast that saw him come close to realizing this goal. Through an examination of the production, the discourse that surrounded it, and the changing diplomatic relations between Britain and the USA, Philippa Burt explores in this article the extent to which Barker used Euripides as a propaganda tool through which to engage and educate the largely isolationist North American public. At the same time, she argues that Barker challenged the propaganda machine by refusing to perpetuate the dominant nationalistic and xenophobic narratives and, instead, intended a condemnation of all war. Philippa Burt is a lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Performance at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her previous publications include numerous articles and a chapter on Barker's work with choruses in the forthcoming The Great European Stage Directors, Vol. 4: Reinhardt, Jessner, Barker (Bloomsbury Methuen).
Temporal dynamics of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in the Arabian Peninsula, 2012–2017
Authors: Alkhamis M. A. , Fernández-Fontelo A. , VanderWaal K. , Abuhadida S. , Puig P. , Alba-Casals A.
Published: October 2018

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) remains a notable disease and poses a significant threat to global public health. The Arabian Peninsula is considered a major global epicentre for the disease and the virus has crossed regional and continental boundaries since 2012. In this study, we focused on exploring the temporal dynamics of MERS-CoV in human populations in the Arabian Peninsula between 2012 and 2017, using publicly available data on case counts and combining two analytical methods. Disease progression was assessed by quantifying the time-dependent reproductive number (TD-Rs), while case series temporal pattern was modelled using the AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA). We accounted for geographical variability between three major affected regions in Saudi Arabia including Eastern Province, Riyadh and Makkah. In Saudi Arabia, the epidemic size was large with TD-Rs >1, indicating significant spread until 2017. In both Makkah and Riyadh regions, the epidemic progression reached its peak in April 2014 (TD-Rs > 7), during the highest incidence period of MERS-CoV cases. In Eastern Province, one unique super-spreading event (TD-R > 10) was identified in May 2013, which comprised of the most notable cases of human-to-human transmission. Best-fitting ARIMA model inferred statistically significant biannual seasonality in Riyadh region, a region characterised by heavy seasonal camel-related activities. However, no statistical evidence of seasonality was identified in Eastern Province and Makkah. Instead, both areas were marked by an endemic pattern of cases with sporadic outbreaks. Our study suggested new insights into the epidemiology of the virus, including inferences about epidemic progression and evidence for seasonality. Despite the inherent limitations of the available data, our conclusions provide further guidance to currently implement risk-based surveillance in high-risk populations and, subsequently, improve related interventions strategies against the epidemic at country and regional levels.