bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations between parent emotional arousal and regulation and adolescents' affective brain response
Authors: Turpyn Caitlin C. , Poon Jennifer A. , Ross Corynne E. , Thompson James C. , Chaplin Tara M.
Published: September 2017

Parents' emotional functioning represents a central mechanism in the caregiving environment's influence on adolescent affective brain function. However, a paucity of research has examined links between parental emotional arousal and regulation and adolescents' affective brain function. Thus, the present study examined associations between parents' self‐rated negative emotion, parent emotion regulation difficulties, and adolescent brain responsivity to negative and positive emotional stimuli. Participants included 64 12–14 year‐old adolescents (31 females) and their female primary caregivers. Adolescents viewed negative, positive, and neutral emotional stimuli during an fMRI scanning session. Region of interest analyses showed that higher parent negative emotion was related to adolescents' greater ACC and vmPFC response to both negatively‐ and positively‐valenced emotional stimuli; whereas, parent negative emotion was related to adolescents' greater amygdala response to negative emotional stimuli only. Furthermore, parent emotion regulation moderated the association between parent negative emotion and adolescents' brain response to negative emotional stimuli, such that parents with high negative emotion and high emotion regulation difficulties had adolescents with the greatest affective brain response. Findings highlight the importance of considering both parent emotional arousal and regulation in understanding the family affective environment and its relation to adolescent emotion‐related brain development.
Influence of preoperative septic peritonitis and anastomotic technique on the dehiscence of enterectomy sites in dogs: A retrospective review of 210 anastomoses
Authors: Davis Daniel J. , Demianiuk Ryan M. , Musser Jon , Podsiedlik Maria , Hauptman Joe
Published: September 2017

Objective

To determine the influence of preoperative septic peritonitis (PSP) and stapled versus hand‐sewn anastomoses on the dehiscence of intestinal resection and anastomosis (IRA). We hypothesized that the incidence of IRA dehiscence would be greater (1) when performed with PSP and (2) for hand‐sewn anastomoses.

Study design

Retrospective.

Animal populations

Client‐owned dogs at Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Methods

Records of dogs surviving 72 hours after IRAs between 2003 and 2013 were reviewed for age, gender, neuter status, weight, presence of PSP, preoperative albumin, IRA indication and location, anastomotic technique, suture type, postoperative dehiscence and timing, duration of hospitalization, last follow‐up, and other complications. Univariate logistic regression and chi‐square analysis were used to screen prognostic factors; factors withP < .3 were included in a multivariate analysis.

Results

Two hundred and ten IRAs in 198 dogs fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Dehiscence was diagnosed in 11.4% cases, 6.6% without PSP, and 21.1% with PSP (P = .01). Indication for IRA did not influence the risk of dehiscence. No association was detected between anastomotic technique and IRA dehiscence in dogs without PSP (stapled 4.2%, hand‐sewn 8.1%); however, stapled anastomoses were less likely to dehisce in dogs with PSP (stapled 9.7%, hand‐sewn 28.9%). Risk factors for dehiscence included PSP (P = .005) and hand‐sewn technique (P = .02).

Conclusion

Our results confirmed that PSP is a risk factor for dehiscence of IRA and suggest that patients with PSP may be a unique surgical population, in which stapling may be preferred over hand‐sewn anastomoses after enterectomies.
La Casa da Flor, experimento, poesía y memoria: una mirada museística
Authors: Chagas Mario
Published: September 2017

La Casa da Flor es una obra de arquitectura espontánea ubicada en São Pedro da Aldeia en el estado de Rio de Janeiro (Brasil). Fue diseñada y construida por Gabriel Joaquim dos Santos entre 1912 y 1985 a partir de materiales reciclados de diversa procedencia. Este artículo propone pensar la Casa da Flor como una casa museo desde la conjunción de diversos campos del conocimiento, como la historia, la memoria, el arte, la antropología, la sociología y la educación. Esta aproximación museística permite, en primer lugar, comprender su singularidad y complejidad desde la presencia simultánea de nociones diversas, como sueño e imaginación, memoria y creación, museo y patrimonio, poesía y política, inspiración e incomodidad. Y, en segundo lugar, comprender la Casa da Flor como la encarnación de la multiplicidad de las relaciones que afectan los campos de construcción, tensión y transformación de la museología contemporánea y de las dinámicas de los procesos museísticos hoy.
Vida, escucha y creación sonora. A partir del sonido ordinario de la respiración y del silencio y su relación con el arte.
Authors: Bejarano López Julia
Published: September 2017

Este escrito plantea una reflexión en torno a la importancia del uso en el ámbito artístico de los sonidos que podríamos considerar como comunes u ordinarios. Se parte de un ejemplo que funciona como eje estructural del texto: el sonido de la respiración. Se describe, en una primera parte, qué podríamos considerar como sonidos ordinarios; cuándo, dónde y porqué los escuchamos; y qué significa escuchar. En una segunda parte se aborda la utilización de estos sonidos en el arte a través de ejemplos de los siglos XIX, XX y XXI, y cuáles han sido las estrategias en el uso y escucha de los sonidos ordinarios y sus posibles consecuencias. De igual manera se reflexiona sobre la noción de silencio en relación a la cotidianidad y espacios donde habita el arte, y cómo a través de su experiencia y gestión somos capaces de escuchar y ser conscientes de los sonidos ordinarios. Participación: Dossier.
Revisión de la producción académica latinoamericana sobre desigualdades en mortalidad 2007-2014
Authors: Rojas-Esguerra Diego Fernando , Zarama-Tobar Iris Lamar , Borrero-Ramírez Yadira Eugenia , Arrivillaga-Quintero Marcela
Published: September 2017

El artículo es una revisión de literatura sobre desigualdades/inequidades en salud en Latinoamérica. Se revisaron Scielo y Lilacs entre 2000 y 2014. Los artículos se clasificaron en tres categorías: mortalidad y artículos teóricos, desigualdades en morbilidad y autopercepción del estado de salud y acceso a servicios de salud. Se realizó análisis crítico de artículos de mortalidad entre 2007 y 2014, periodo con mayor proporción de producción académica. Se encontraron más investigaciones en Brasil, Colombia y México, especialmente en universidades, con redes de colaboración incipientes. Las metodologías más utilizadas fueron revisiones teóricas, estudios ecológicos y transversales, y predominó el modelo de determinantes sociales de la salud de la OMS. Las categorías empleadas fueron: clase social, posición económica, género, etnia/raza y unidad geográfica. Se concluyó que hay brechas entre la discusión teórica y las investigaciones empíricas, concentración de la producción en pocos países, escaso uso de otros enfoques teóricos y necesidad de fortalecer la colaboración entre instituciones.
Influence of Backward- and Forward-Facing Steps on the Flow Through a Turning Mid Turbine Frame
Authors: Bauinger Sabine , Goettlich Emil , Heitmeir Franz , Malzacher Franz
Published: September 2017

For this work, reality effects, more precisely backward-facing steps (BFSs) and forward-facing steps (FFSs), and their influence on the flow through a two-stage two-spool turbine rig under engine-relevant conditions were experimentally investigated. The test rig consists of an high pressure (HP) and an low pressure (LP) stage, with the two rotors rotating in opposite direction with two different rotational speeds. An S-shaped transition duct, which is equipped with turning struts (so-called turning mid turbine frame (TMTF)) and making therefore a LP stator redundant, connects both stages and leads the flow from a smaller to a larger diameter. This test setup allows the investigation of a TMTF deformation, which occurs in a real aero-engine due to non-uniform warming of the duct during operation—especially during run up—and causes BFSs and FFSs in the flow path. This happens for nonsegmented ducts, which are predominantly part of smaller engines. In the case of the test rig, steps were not generated by varying temperature but by shifting the TMTF in horizontal direction while the rotor and its casing were kept in the same position. In this way, both BFSs and FFSs between duct endwalls and rotor casing could be created. In order to avoid steps further downstream of the interface between HP rotor and TMTF, the complete aft rig was moved laterally too. In this case, the aft rig incorporates among others the LP rotor, the LP rotor casing, and the deswirler downstream of the LP stage. In order to catch the influence of the steps on the whole flow field, 360 deg rake traverses were performed downstream of the HP rotor, downstream of the duct, and downstream of the LP rotor with newly designed, laser-sintered combi-rakes for the measurement of total pressure and total temperature. Only the compact design of the rakes, which can be easily realized by additive manufacturing, makes the aforementioned 360 deg traverses in this test rig possible and allows a number of radial measurements positions, which is comparable to those of a five-hole probe. To get a more detailed information about the flow, also five-hole probe measurements were carried out in three measurement planes and compared to the results of the combi-rakes.
Identifying Opportunities for Reducing Nacelle Drag
Authors: Zawislak M. S. , Cerantola D. J. , Birk A. M.
Published: September 2017

The accurate prediction of drag caused by bluff bodies present in aerospace applications, particularly at high angles of attack, was a challenge. An experimental and numerical investigation of a nacelle intended for fuselage-mounted aircraft engines was completed at several angles of attack between 0 deg and 45 deg with a Reynolds number of 6 × 105. Steady-flow simulations were conducted on hybrid grids using ANSYS fluent 15.0 with preference given to the realizable k–ε turbulence model. Both total drag and the pressure-to-viscous drag ratio increased with angle of attack as a consequence of greater flow separation on the suction surface. Near-field and far-field drag predictions had grid uncertainties below 2.5% and were within 10% of experiment, which were less than the uncertainties of the respective force balance and outlet traverse data at all angles of attack. Regions were defined on suction-side x-pressure force plots using the validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data-set that showed where and how much drag could be reduced. At 20 deg angle of attack, there was a potential to reduce up to 20% drag contained within the separated flow region.
ScAlN etch mask for highly selective silicon etching
Authors: David Henry Michael , Young Travis R. , Griffin Ben
Published: September 2017

This work reports the utilization of a recently developed film, ScAlN, as a silicon etch mask offering significant improvements in high etch selectivity to silicon. Utilization of ScAlN as a fluorine chemistry based deep reactive ion etch mask demonstrated etch selectivity at 23 550:1, four times better than AlN, 11 times better than Al2O3, and 148 times better than silicon dioxide with significantly less resputtering at high bias voltage than either Al2O3 or AlN. Ellipsometry film thickness measurements show less than 0.3 nm/min mask erosion rates for ScAlN. Micromasking of resputtered Al for Al2O3, AlN, and ScAlN etch masks is also reported here, utilizing cross-sectional scanning electron microscope and confocal microscope roughness measurements. With lower etch bias, the reduced etch rate can be optimized to achieve a trench bottom surface roughness that is comparable to SiO2 etch masks. Etch mask selectivity enabled by ScAlN is likely to make significant improvements in microelectromechanical systems, wafer level packaging, and plasma dicing of silicon.
Review Article: Tracing the recorded history of thin-film sputter deposition: From the 1800s to 2017
Authors: Greene J. E.
Published: September 2017

Thin films, ubiquitous in today's world, have a documented history of more than 5000 years. However, thin-film growth by sputter deposition, which required the development of vacuum pumps and electrical power in the 1600s and the 1700s, is a much more recent phenomenon. First reported in the early 1800s, sputter deposition already dominated the optical-coating market by 1880. Preferential sputtering of alloys, sputtering of liquids, multitarget sputtering, and optical spectroscopy for process characterization were all described in the 1800s. Measurements of threshold energies and yields were carried out in the late 1800s, and yields in reasonable agreement with modern data were reported in the 1930s. Roll-to-roll sputter coating on flexible substrates was introduced in the mid-1930s, and the initial demonstration of sustained self-sputtering (i.e., sputtering without gas) was performed in 1970. The term magnetron dates to 1921, and the results of the first magnetron sputtering experiments were published in the late 1930s. The earliest descriptions of a parallel-plate magnetron were provided in a patent filed in 1962, rotatable magnetrons appeared in the early 1980s, and tunable “unbalanced” magnetron sputtering was developed in 1992. Two additional forms of magnetron sputtering evolved during the 1990s, both with the goal of efficiently ionizing sputter-ejected metal atoms: ionized-magnetron sputtering and high-power impulse magnetron sputtering, with the latter now being available in several variants. Radio frequency (rf) glow discharges were reported in 1891, with the initial results from rf deposition and etching experiments published in the 1930s. Modern capacitively-coupled rf sputtering systems were developed and modeled in the early 1960s, and a patent was filed in 1975 that led to pulsed-dc and mid-frequency-ac sputtering. The purposeful synthesis of metal-oxide films goes back to at least 1907, leading to early metal-oxide and nitride sputtering experiments in 1933, although the term “reactive sputtering” was not used in the literature until 1953. The effect of target oxidation on secondary-electron yields and sputtering rates was reported in 1940. The first kinetic models of reactive sputtering appeared in the 1960s; high-rate reactive sputtering, based on partial-pressure control, was developed in the early 1980s. While abundant experimental and theoretical evidence already existed in the late 1800s to the early 1900s demonstrating that sputtering is due to momentum transfer via ion-bombardment-induced near-surface collision cascades, the concept of sputtering resulting from local “impact evaporation” continued in the literature into the 1960s. Modern sputtering theory is based upon a linear-transport model published in 1969. No less than eight Nobel Laureates in Physics and Chemistry played major roles in the evolution of modern sputter deposition.
A 9-Week Jaques-Dalcroze Eurhythmics Intervention Improves Single and Dual-Task Gait Speed in Community-Dwelling Older People
Authors: Ferguson-Stegall Lisa , Vang Mandy , Wolfe Anthony S. , Thomsen Kathy M.
Published: September 2017

Background:

Falls are a major public health concern among older adults, and most occur while walking, especially under dualtask conditions. Jaques-Dalcroze eurhythmics (JDE) is a music-based movement training program that emphasizes multitask coordinated movement. A previous 6-mo JDE study in older people demonstrated improved gait and balance; however, the effects of short-term JDE interventions on fall risk-related outcomes are largely unknown. We conducted a preliminary investigation on whether a 9-week JDE intervention improved gait and stability in a community-dwelling older cohort, hypothesizing that improvements would occur in all outcome measures.

Methods:

Nine participants (78.9 ± 12.3 y) completed the supervised JDE intervention (once/week for 60 min). Gait speed was determined by the 6-m timed walk test (6MTW); dual-task gait speed was determined by another 6MTW while counting backward from 50 aloud; and coordinated stability was assessed using a Swaymeter-like device.

Results:

Gait speed (0.92 ± 0.11 vs 1.04 ± 0.12 m/sec, P = .04) and dual-task gait speed (0.77 ± 0.09 vs 0.92 ± 0.11 m/sec, P = .0005) significantly improved.

Conclusions:

This novel intervention is an effective short-term physical activity option for those that plan physical activity or fall-risk reduction programs for the older people.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Cercospora
cf.
sigesbeckiae
, a Causal Agent of Cercospora Leaf Blight on Soybean
Authors: Albu Sebastian , Sharma Sandeep , Bluhm Burton H. , Price Paul P. , Schneider Raymond W. , Doyle Vinson P.
Published: September 2017

Cercospora
cf.
sigesbeckiae
is an ascomycete fungal pathogen that infects various plants, including important agricultural commodities, such as soybean. Here, we report the first draft genome sequence and assembly of this pathogen.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Type Strain Sphingopyxis witflariensis DSM 14551
Authors: Kaminski Michal A. , Furmanczyk Ewa M. , Dziembowski Andrzej , Sobczak Adam , Lipinski Leszek
Published: September 2017

Here, we present the draft genome sequence of
Sphingopyxis witflariensis
strain DSM 14551. The assembly consists of 38 contigs and contains 4,306,761 bp, with a GC content of 63.3%.
Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium mercantei Strain SEMIA 6399
T
, Isolated from Nodules of
Deguelia costata
in Brazil
Authors: Ribeiro Renan Augusto , Helene Luisa Caroline Ferraz , Delamuta Jakeline Renata Marçon , Hungria Mariangela
Published: September 2017

SEMIA 6399
T
is the type strain of
Bradyrhizobium mercantei
, a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of
Deguelia costata
. Its draft genome contains 8,842,857 bp with 8,246 predicted coding sequences (CDS), several related to amino acids and derivatives and to stress tolerance, with an emphasis on oxidative stress, in addition to symbiotic genes.
Genome Sequence of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum Strains with Compatible and Incompatible Interactions with the Major Tomato Resistance Source Hawaii 7996
Authors: Albuquerque Greecy M. R. , Souza Elineide B. , Silva Adriano M. F. , Lopes Carlos A. , Boiteux Leonardo S. , Fonseca Maria Esther de N.
Published: September 2017

We report here the complete genome sequences of two
Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum
strains, isolated from the warm northeast region of Brazil. They display divergent (compatible versus incompatible) interactions with the resistant tomato line Hawaii 7996. Polymorphisms were detected in a subset of effector genes that might be associated with these contrasting phenotypes.
Genome Sequence of Oceanimonas doudoroffii ATCC 27123
T
Authors: Brennan Marc A. , Trachtenberg Ariel M. , McClelland William D. , MacLea Kyle S.
Published: September 2017

Oceanimonas doudoroffii
ATCC 27123
T
is an obligately aerobic Gram-negative rod of the class
Gammaproteobacteria
. It was first isolated from surface seawater off the coast of Oahu, HI, USA, in 1972. The predicted genome size is 3,832,938 bp (G+C content, 60.03%), which contains 3,524 predicted coding sequences.
Complete Genome Sequences of Seven Strains Composing a Model Bacterial Community of Maize Roots
Authors: Niu Ben , Kolter Roberto
Published: September 2017

Previously, we assembled a model bacterial community of maize roots. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of the seven strains composing the community.
Genome Sequence of a Novel Picorna-Like RNA Virus from Feces of the Antarctic Fur Seal (
Arctocephalus gazella
)
Authors: Krumbholz Andi , Groth Marco , Esefeld Jan , Peter Hans-Ulrich , Zell Roland
Published: September 2017

A novel RNA virus was detected in a fecal sample collected from the Antarctic fur seal (
Arctocephalus gazella
) in King George Island, Antarctica. The almost-complete genome sequence reveals two open reading frames and a dicistrovirus-like gene order.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Marine Bacterium Oceanimonas baumannii ATCC 700832
T
Authors: McClelland William D. , Trachtenberg Ariel M. , Brennan Marc A. , MacLea Kyle S.
Published: September 2017

The aerobic phenol-degrading Gram-negative rod
Oceanimonas baumannii
ATCC 700832
T
was first isolated from estuary mud from the River Wear, United Kingdom, in 1983. Information on the draft genome sequence for
O. baumannii
ATCC 700832
T
is included in this announcement. The predicted genome size is 3,809,332 bp, with 55.88% G+C content.
Engagement and outcomes in a digital Diabetes Prevention Program: 3-year update
Authors: Sepah S Cameron , Jiang Luohua , Ellis Robert J , McDermott Kelly , Peters Anne L
Published: September 2017

Objective

Translations of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) have proliferated in recent years, with increasing expansion to digital formats. Although these DPP translations have consistently shown favorable clinical outcomes, long-term data for digital formats are limited. This study’s objective was to examine clinical outcomes up to 3 years post-baseline and the relationship between program engagement and clinical outcomes in a digital DPP.

Research design and methods

In a single-arm, non-randomized trial, 220 patients previously diagnosed with prediabetes were enrolled in the Omada Health Program, a commercially available, 16-week DPP-based weight loss intervention followed by an ongoing weight maintenance intervention. Changes in body weight and A1c were assessed annually. Relationships between program engagement during the first year and clinical outcomes across 3 years were examined.

Results

Participants were socioeconomically diverse (62% women, 50.2% non-Hispanic white, 51.7% college educated or higher). From baseline to 3 years, those participants who completed four or more lessons and nine or more lessons achieved significant sustained weight loss (–3.0% and –2.9%, respectively) and an absolute reduction in A1c (–0.31 and –0.33, respectively) with an average remission from the prediabetes range to the normal glycemic range. Factor analysis of engagement metrics during the first year revealed two underlying dimensions, one comprising lesson completion and health behavior tracking consistency, and the other comprising website logins and group participation. When these two factors were used to predict weight loss, only the logins and group participation factor was a significant predictor of weight loss at 16 weeks and 1 year.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates significant long-term reductions in body weight and A1c in a digital DPP and identifies patterns of program engagement that predict weight loss.
Hospital volume and mortality for 25 types of inpatient treatment in German hospitals: observational study using complete national data from 2009 to 2014
Authors: Nimptsch Ulrike , Mansky Thomas
Published: September 2017

Objectives

To explore the existence and strength of a relationship between hospital volume and mortality, to estimate minimum volume thresholds and to assess the potential benefit of centralisation of services.

Design

Observational population-based study using complete German hospital discharge data (Diagnosis-Related Group Statistics (DRG Statistics)).

Setting

All acute care hospitals in Germany.

Participants

All adult patients hospitalised for 1 out of 25 common or medically important types of inpatient treatment from 2009 to 2014.

Main outcome measure

Risk-adjusted inhospital mortality.

Results

Lower inhospital mortality in association with higher hospital volume was observed in 20 out of the 25 studied types of treatment when volume was categorised in quintiles and persisted in 17 types of treatment when volume was analysed as a continuous variable. Such a relationship was found in some of the studied emergency conditions and low-risk procedures. It was more consistently present regarding complex surgical procedures. For example, about 22 000 patients receiving open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm were analysed. In very high-volume hospitals, risk-adjusted mortality was 4.7% (95% CI 4.1 to 5.4) compared with 7.8% (7.1 to 8.7) in very low volume hospitals. The

minimum volume above which risk of death would fall below the average mortality was estimated as 18 cases per year. If all hospitals providing this service would perform at least 18 cases per year, one death among 104 (76 to 166) patients could potentially be prevented.

Conclusions

Based on complete national hospital discharge data, the results confirmed volume–outcome relationships for many complex surgical procedures, as well as for some emergency conditions and low-risk procedures. Following these findings, the study identified areas where centralisation would provide a benefit for patients undergoing the specific type of treatment in German hospitals and quantified the possible impact of centralisation efforts.
Prevalence and clinical characteristics of apparent therapy-resistant hypertension in patients with cardiovascular disease: a cross-sectional cohort study in secondary care
Authors: de Beus Esther , van der Sande Nicolette G C , Bots Michiel L , Spiering Wilko , Voskuil Michiel , Visseren Frank L J , Blankestijn Peter J
Published: September 2017

Objectives

Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of apparent therapy-resistant hypertension (aTRH) in patients with clinical manifest cardiovascular disease (CVD), and to study clinical characteristics related to aTRH in this population.

Setting

The SMART (Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease) study is a large, single-centre cohort study in secondary care.

Participants

Office blood pressure (BP) at inclusion was used to evaluate BP control in 6191 hypertensive patients with clinical manifest (cardio)vascular disease. Therapy-resistant hypertension was defined as BP ≥140/90 mm Hg despite use of antihypertensive drugs from ≥3 drug classes including a diuretic or use of ≥4 antihypertensive drugs irrespective of BP. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between clinical characteristics measured at baseline and presence of aTRH.

Results

The prevalence of aTRH was 9.1% (95% CI 8.4 to 9.8). Prevalence increased with age and when albuminuria was present and was higher in patients with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Presence of aTRH was related to diabetes, female sex, duration and multiple locations of vascular disease, body mass index and waist circumference. Carotid intima-media thickness was higher (0.99±0.28 vs 0.93±0.28 mm) and ankle-brachial index lower (1.07±0.20 vs 1.10±0.19) in patients with aTRH compared with patients without aTRH.

Conclusion

aTRH is prevalent in patients with clinical manifest CVD and is related to clinical factors known to be related with increased vascular risk, and with lower eGFR.
Artificial stone-associated silicosis: a rapidly emerging occupational lung disease
Authors: Hoy Ryan F , Baird Timothy , Hammerschlag Gary , Hart David , Johnson Anthony R , King Paul , Putt Michael , Yates Deborah H
Published: September 2017

Introduction

Artificial stone is an increasingly popular material used to fabricate kitchen and bathroom benchtops. Cutting and grinding artificial stone is associated with generation of very high levels of respirable crystalline silica, and the frequency of cases of severe silicosis associated with this exposure is rapidly increasing.

Aim

To report the characteristics of a clinical series of Australian workers with artificial stone-associated silicosis.

Methods

Respiratory physicians voluntarily reported cases of artificial stone-associated silicosis identified in their clinical practices. Physicians provided information including occupational histories, respiratory function tests, chest radiology and histopathology reports, when available.

Results

Seven male patients were identified with a median age of 44 years (range 26–61). All were employed in small kitchen and bathroom benchtop fabrication businesses with an average of eight employees (range 2–20). All workplaces primarily used artificial stone, and dust control measures were poor. All patients were involved in dry cutting artificial stone. The median duration of exposure prior to symptoms was 7 years (range 4–10). Six patients demonstrated radiological features of progressive massive fibrosis. These individuals followed up over a median follow-up period of 16 months (IQR 21 months) demonstrated rapid decline in prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 386 mL/year (SD 204 mL) and forced vital capacity of 448 mL/year (SD 312 mL).

Conclusions

This series of silicosis in Australian workers further demonstrates the risk-associated high-silica content artificial stone. Effective dust control and health surveillance measures need to be stringently implemented and enforced in this industry.
Secondary currents induced mixing at channel confluences
Authors: Chen Xue , Zhu David Z. , Steffler Peter M.
Published: September 2017

Channel confluence is a common feature in river systems. The flow dynamics associated with channel confluence are highly three-dimensional with strong flow circulations and secondary currents and can result in enhanced river mixing downstream. In this study, a three-dimensional numerical model was employed to estimate the secondary currents induced streamline curvatures and the resulting mixing rate at channel confluences with different junction angles and discharge ratios. The results show that while twin secondary circulations are found at channel confluence, their contribution to the mixing depends on their local positions with respect to the river streams. With the secondary current growing downstream, the mixing rate is accelerated, in particular for the cases with the side channel perpendicular to the main channel and having a relatively large discharge. Turbulent diffusion can contribute up to about half of the rapid mixing. The mixing rates for different simulation cases are examined.
The challenges of changing teaching assistants’ grading practices: Requiring students to show evidence of understanding
Authors: Marshman Emily , Sayer Ryan , Henderson Charles , Yerushalmi Edit , Singh Chandralekha
Published: September 2017

Teaching assistants (TAs) are often responsible for grading in introductory physics courses at large research universities. Their grading practices can shape students’ approaches to problem solving and learning. Physics education research recommends grading practices that encourage students to provide evidence of understanding via explication of the problem-solving process. However, TAs may not necessarily grade in a manner that encourages students to provide evidence of understanding in their solutions. Within the context of a semester-long TA professional development course, we investigated whether encouraging TAs to use a grading rubric that appropriately weights the problem-solving process and having them reflect upon the benefits of using such a rubric prompts TAs to require evidence of understanding in student solutions. We examined how the TAs graded realistic student solutions to introductory physics problems before they were provided a rubric, whether TAs used the rubric as intended, whether they were consistent in grading similar solutions, and how TAs’ grading criteria changed after discussing the benefits of a well-designed rubric. We find that many TAs typically applied the rubric consistently when grading similar student solutions, but did not require students to provide evidence of understanding. TAs’ written responses, class discussions, and individual interviews suggest that the instructional activities involving the grading rubrics in this study were not sufficient to change their grading practices. Interviews and class discussions suggest that helping TAs value a rubric that appropriately weights the problem-solving process may be challenging partly due to the TAs’ past educational experiences and the departmental context.
Chronic 5-HT2 receptor blockade unmasks the role of 5-HT1F receptors in the inhibition of rat cardioaccelerator sympathetic outflow
Authors: García-Pedraza José Ángel , Hernández-Abreu Oswaldo , García Mónica , Morán Asunción , Villalón Carlos M.
Published: September 2017

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) inhibits the rat cardioaccelerator sympathetic outflow by 5-HT1B/1D/5 receptors. Because chronic blockade of sympatho-excitatory 5-HT2 receptors is beneficial in several cardiovascular pathologies, this study investigated whether sarpogrelate (a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist) alters the pharmacological profile of the above sympatho-inhibition. Rats were pretreated for 2 weeks with sarpogrelate in drinking water (30 mg/kg per day; sarpogrelate-treated group) or equivalent volumes of drinking water (control group). Animals were pithed and prepared for spinal stimulation (C7-T1) of the cardioaccelerator sympathetic outflow or for intravenous (i.v.) bolus injections of noradrenaline. Both procedures produced tachycardic responses remaining unaltered after saline. Continuous i.v. infusions of 5-HT induced a cardiac sympatho-inhibition that was mimicked by the 5-HT receptor agonists 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT; 5-HT1/5A), CP 93,129 (5-HT1B), or PNU 142633 (5-HT1D), but not by indorenate (5-HT1A) in both groups; whereas LY344864 (5-HT1F) mimicked 5-HT only in sarpogrelate-treated rats. In sarpogrelate-treated animals, i.v. GR 127935 (310 μg/kg; 5-HT1B/1D/1F receptor antagonist) attenuated 5-CT-induced sympatho-inhibition and abolished LY344864-induced sympatho-inhibition; while GR 127935 plus SB 699551 (1 mg/kg; 5-HT5A receptor antagonist) abolished 5-CT-induced inhibition. These results confirm the cardiac sympatho-inhibitory role of 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, and 5-HT5A receptors in both groups; nevertheless, sarpogrelate treatment specifically unmasked a cardiac sympatho-inhibition mediated by 5-HT1F receptors.
Addition of dexmedetomidine to QX-314 enhances the onset and duration of sciatic nerve block in rats
Authors: Zhao Wenling , Yin Qinqin , Liu Jin , Zhang Wensheng , Yang Linghui
Published: September 2017

An experimental set-up was designed to observe whether adding dexmedetomidine to QX-314 would enhance the onset and duration of sensory and motor function in a rat sciatic nerve block model. Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats received unilateral sciatic nerve blocks with 0.2 mL of 35 mmol/L QX-314 alone, dexmedetomidine (5.3 μmol/L (1 μg/kg), 26.4 μmol/L (5 μg/kg), 52.8 μmol/L (10 μg/kg)) alone, or a combination of the two. Thermal nociception and motor function were assessed by an investigator blinded to the drug treatment, and sciatic nerves and perineural tissues were harvested at 14 days after injection. In addition, we examined the effects of these solutions on compound action potentials in isolated frog sciatic nerves. Dexmedetomidine added to QX-314 enhanced the onset and duration of thermal nociception block and motor block (P < 0.05) without aggravating histopathological injuries. Furthermore, 52.8 μmol/L dexmedetomidine added to 35 mmol/L QX-314 showed less inflammation than QX-314 alone at 14 days (P = 0.003). Dexmedetomidine plus QX-314 was shown to dose-dependently reduce the compound action potentials relative to QX-314 alone (P < 0.05). It was concluded that co-administration of QX-314 with a clinical dose of dexmedetomidine produced a synergistic anesthetic effect to enhance the effect of sciatic nerve block.
A Novel Semantic Approach for Multi-Ethnic Face Recognition
Authors: Li Zedong , Zhang Qingling , Duan Xiaodong , Wang Yuangang
Published: September 2017

This paper proposes a semantic concept method to recognize multi-ethnic people based on Axiomatic fuzzy set (AFS) theory with application to image analysis. There are two advantages of the proposed approach: (i) It can convert the facial features to semantic concepts and in such a way we bridge the semantic gap between low level pixel features and interpretable concepts. (ii) It can implement the logical operation of semantic concepts in the AFS framework. Technically, we first construct facial features utilizing the facial landmarks such as eyes, nose, mouth, and face contour. Second, we establish some corresponding semantic concepts to describe facial features. Finally, a set of the semantic concept rules are extracted to form a classifier aimed at identifying facial ethnic attributes. The efficacy of the proposed approach is verified on Chinese Multi-ethnic face database (CMFD), FEI and CK[Formula: see text]. Meanwhile, we first demonstrate that the selected features have two obvious advantages: (1) these features can achieve better performance for ethical recognition than the features based on pixel values directly. (2) The selected features can be obtained via facial landmark detector regardless of the image resolutions. Then, we compare the proposed approach with some existing classifiers using the selected features, such as principal component analysis (PCA), C4.5, Decision table, Cart, Fuzzy Decision Tree (FDT) and Repeated Incremental Pruning to Produce Error Reduction (Ripper), extensive experiments show that our method exhibits a similar performance with these methods, which is demonstrated by Friedman test, however, our proposed approach can provide interpretability and comprehension capability.
SWITCHING VACCINATION SCHEMES FOR VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES WITH SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS
Authors: LIU XINZHI , STECHLINSKI PETER
Published: September 2017

Theory is developed for an epidemic model of a seasonally-spreading vector-borne disease using a hybrid system framework. Applicable to diseases spread by mosquitoes (e.g., chikungunya and Zika virus via Aedes albopictus), seasonal variations in transmission are modeled using switching parameters to represent term-time forcing. The vector agent is assumed to exhibit a period of incubation upon infection, modeled using a distribution. Three hybrid control strategies are analyzed in detail: switching cohort immunization, pulse vaccination at pre-specified times, and state-dependent pulse vaccination. Methods from switched systems theory are used to derive threshold disease eradication conditions involving the model parameters; convergence of solutions to a disease-free set or periodic solution is shown. A comprehensive analysis is performed to compare and contrast the different control schemes.
A Method for Ranking Products Through Online Reviews Based on Sentiment Classification and Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy TOPSIS
Authors: Liu Yang , Bi Jian-Wu , Fan Zhi-Ping
Published: September 2017

Studies have shown that online product reviews significantly affect consumer purchase decisions. However, it is difficult for the consumer to read online product reviews one by one because the number of online reviews is very large. Thus, to facilitate consumer purchase decisions, how to rank products through online reviews is a valuable research topic. This paper proposes a method for ranking products through online reviews based on sentiment classification and the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The method consists of two parts: (1) identifying sentiment orientations of the online reviews based on sentiment classification and (2) ranking alternative products based on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS. In the first part, the online reviews of the alternative products concerning multiple attributes are preprocessed, and an algorithm based on support vector machine and one-versus-one strategy is developed for classifying the sentiment orientations of online reviews into three categories: positive, neutral, and negative. In the second part, based on the percentages of the online reviews with different sentiment orientations and the numbers of online reviews of different products crawled from the website, an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy number is constructed to represent the performance of an alternative product with respect to the product attribute. Additionally, the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS method is employed to determine a ranking of the alternative products. Finally, a case analysis is provided to illustrate the application of the proposed method.
Environmental Impact Evaluations on Product Design Alternatives Using the Combined Evidential Reasoning with Fuzzy Set
Authors: Ng C. Y. , Chuah K. B.
Published: September 2017

Owing to the rise of societal awareness and hence governmental quest for environmental conservation worldwide, environmental friendliness in products has become a critical design consideration for all manufacturers during new product development. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive method to quantitatively assess the environmental burdens of products or services. However, such studies are difficult to carry out at the early product development process because of uncertain or limited product information. Also, LCA is a time and resource-consuming methodology. This paper proposes a shortcut approach to support product designers to carry out the environmental impact evaluations especially in the initial product development stage. This paper discusses the key challenges of implementing environmental impact evaluation in new product development. The combined Evidential Reasoning (ER) and Fuzzy Set Theory (FST) approach is applied to handle the uncertain information of the environmental data and deficiency of LCA. The result demonstrates the superiority of the combined ER and FST for evaluating several design alternatives while the uncertain information has been considered.
Rapid bacteria identification using structured illumination microscopy and machine learning
Authors: He Yingchuan , Xu Weize , Zhi Yao , Tyagi Rohit , Hu Zhe , Cao Gang
Published: September 2017

Traditionally, optical microscopy is used to visualize the morphological features of pathogenic bacteria, of which the features are further used for the detection and identification of the bacteria. However, due to the resolution limitation of conventional optical microscopy as well as the lack of standard pattern library for bacteria identification, the effectiveness of this optical microscopy-based method is limited. Here, we reported a pilot study on a combined use of Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) with machine learning for rapid bacteria identification. After applying machine learning to the SIM image datasets from three model bacteria (including Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), we obtained a classification accuracy of up to 98%. This study points out a promising possibility for rapid bacterial identification by morphological features.
Cretaceous sedimentation along the Romanian margin of the Black Sea: inferences from onshore to offshore correlations
Authors: Krezsek C. , Bercea R.-I. , Tari G. , Ionescu G.
Published: September 2017

It is generally believed that the western part of the Black Sea opened during the Early Cretaceous. However, recent data and interpretation from the Turkish margin suggest rifting continued into the Coniacian or Santonian. In this review, the evidence related to the Black Sea rifting on the conjugate Romanian margin is reassessed. Our integrated interpretation of this region, supported by outcrop observations, core and detrital zircon data, suggests that rifting started during the Aptian and continued intermittently until the mid-Turonian in two distinct stages. These stages are bounded by significant unconformities and reflect the progressive widening of the rift system. The first synrift stage started in the Aptian with the deposition of fluvial and lacustrine clastic successions, and locally marine carbonates in semi-isolated depocentres. These sinks began to coalesce during the latest Aptian–Albian with shallow-marine transgression from the east, and deposition of coastal swamp, deltaic and littoral facies. The second phase of rifting during the Cenomanian was marked by transgressive shallow-marine deposits overstepping the earlier Albian depocentres. Continental break-up followed in the mid-Turonian associated with regional uplift and erosion of the basin margin and the local deposition of fluvial conglomerates.
The 4/3 Additive Spanner Exponent Is Tight
Authors: Abboud Amir , Bodwin Greg
Published: September 2017

A spanner is a sparse subgraph that approximately preserves the pairwise distances of the original graph. It is well known that there is a smooth tradeoff between the sparsity of a spanner and the quality of its approximation, so long as distance error is measured
multiplicatively
. A central open question in the field is to prove or disprove whether such a tradeoff exists also in the regime of
additive
error. That is, is it true that for all ε > 0, there is a constant
k
ε
such that every graph has a spanner on
O
(
n
1+ε
) edges that preserves its pairwise distances up to +

k
ε

? Previous lower bounds are consistent with a positive resolution to this question, while previous upper bounds exhibit the beginning of a tradeoff curve: All graphs have +2 spanners on
O
(
n
3/2
) edges, +4 spanners on
Õ
(
n
7/5
) edges, and +6 spanners on
O
(
n
4/3
) edges. However, progress has mysteriously halted at the
n
4/3
bound, and despite significant effort from the community, the question has remained open for all 0 < ε < 1/3.

Our main result is a surprising negative resolution of the open question, even in a highly generalized setting. We show a new information theoretic
incompressibility
bound: There is no function that compresses graphs into
O
(
n
4/3 − ε
) bits so distance information can be recovered within +
n
o(1)
error. As a special case of our theorem, we get a
tight
lower bound on the sparsity of additive spanners: the +6 spanner on
O
(
n
4/3
) edges cannot be improved in the exponent, even if any
subpolynomial
amount of additive error is allowed. Our theorem implies new lower bounds for related objects as well; for example, the 20-year-old +4 emulator on
O
(
n
4/3
) edges also cannot be improved in the exponent unless the error allowance is polynomial.

Central to our construction is a new type of graph product, which we call the
Obstacle Product
. Intuitively, it takes two graphs
G
,
H
and produces a new graph
G
⊗
H
whose shortest paths structure looks locally like
H
but globally like
G
.
The antioxidant glutathione protects against enteric neuron death in situ, but its depletion is protective during colitis
Authors: Brown Isola A. M. , Gulbransen Brian D.
Published: September 2017

Enteric glia play an important neuroprotective role in the enteric nervous system (ENS) by producing neuroprotective compounds such as the antioxidant reduced glutathione (GSH). The specific cellular pathways that regulate glial production of GSH and how these pathways are altered during, or contribute to, neuroinflammation in situ and in vivo are not fully understood. We investigated this issue using immunohistochemistry to localize GSH synthesis enzymes within the myenteric plexus and tested how the inhibition of GSH synthesis with the selective inhibitor l-buthionine sulfoximine impacts neuronal survival and inflammation. Both enteric glia and neurons express the cellular machinery necessary for GSH synthesis. Furthermore, glial GSH synthesis is necessary for neuronal survival in isolated preparations of myenteric plexus. In vivo depletion of GSH does not induce colitis but alters myenteric plexus neuronal phenotype and survival. Importantly, global depletion of glutathione is protective against some macroscopic and microscopic measures of colonic inflammation. Together, our data highlight the heterogeneous roles of GSH in the myenteric plexus of the ENS and during gastrointestinal inflammation.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our results show that both enteric glia and neurons express the cellular machinery necessary for glutathione (GSH) synthesis and that glial GSH synthesis is necessary for neuronal survival in isolated enteric nervous system (ENS) preparations. In vivo depletion of GSH with the selective inhibitor l-buthionine sulfoximine is not sufficient to induce inflammation but does alter neuronal neurochemical composition and survival. Together, our data highlight novel heterogeneous roles for GSH in the ENS and during gastrointestinal inflammation.