bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical sliding mode control for a two-dimensional ball segway that is a class of a second-order underactuated system
Authors: Pham Dinh Ba , Lee Soon-Geul
Published: April 2018

Ball segway, a ballbot-type personal carrier robot, is an actual under-actuated system with second-order nonholonomic velocity constraints and input coupling case. The two-dimensional ball segway system has two outputs consisting of ball position and body tilt angle, which needs to be controlled but has only one torque driving the ball. Actuators directly drive the ball and the body has no direct control. The main objective of this study is to design a robust controller for the ball segway so that the ball is transferred in a point-to-point motion while the body is maintained in the vertical position. The proposed controller is designed on the basis of hierarchical sliding mode control technique. Both simulations and experiments were conducted to verify the quality and stability of the control system.
Selling Painful Yet Pleasurable Service Offerings
Authors: Liu Stephanie Q. , Mattila Anna S. , Bolton Lisa E.
Published: April 2018

People consume service experiences that combine pleasure and pain (e.g., roller-coaster rides and massage therapy)—but the question of how to market such experiences is not well understood. To address this gap, the present research investigates consumer response to such service offerings as a function of (i) hedonic framing that emphasizes pain versus pleasure, (ii) promotion versus prevention concerns either chronically or situationally salient to consumers, and (iii) the presence versus absence of a service guarantee. Consumers with a prevention (vs. promotion) focus react more favorably to hedonic framing that emphasizes pleasure, whereas consumers with a promotion (vs. prevention) focus react more positively to hedonic framing that emphasizes pain due to differences in processing discomfort. In addition, a service guarantee is shown to bolster the reactions of prevention-focused consumers but undermine the reactions of promotion-focused consumers to a pain-framed (but not pleasure-framed) service offering. Together, these findings provide guidelines to service providers regarding how to fine-tune marketing strategies when promoting painful yet pleasurable experiences. For example, advertising should align hedonic framing with the consumer’s situationally salient regulatory concerns.
Relationship between femoral anteversion and tibial torsion: CT evaluation of 38 unilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip patients
Authors: Cho Kyu-Jin , Park Kyung-Soon , Shin Young-Rok , Yang Hong-Yeol , Yoon Taek-Rim
Published: April 2018

Introduction:

Patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) present with a wide spectrum of deformities. Few studies have assessed the relationship between femoral anteversion (FA) and rotational profile. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of FA on the lower extremity rotational profile by comparing tibial torsion (TT) between the extremities on both sides in patients with unilateral DDH, using computed tomography (CT).

Patients and methods:

Thirty eight patients with unilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip, who underwent a preoperative rotational profile CT scan at our institution, were evaluated. 3D rotational profile CT was performed, and FA and TT of the extremities on both sides were measured.

Results:

On individual comparison of the rotational profile, mean FA of the affected extremity showed a significantly higher value ( p = 0.006). But, there was no significant difference in mean TT between the 2 extremities. On group analysis, the excessive FA group (group B) showed significantly higher values of tibial torsion and tibial torsion side-to-side difference compared to the normal FA group (group A) ( p = 0.000, p = 0.011, respectively).

Conclusions:

Our study suggests that patients with DDH can present with excessive FA. Therefore, while treating patients who show excessive FA, surgeons must consider the possibility of a higher rotational profile of the affected extremity, before performing surgical treatments for DDH.
The United Kingdom and Ireland experience of the Haemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft for vascular access
Authors: Hunter James P , Knight Simon R , Inston N , Ridway D , Tavakoli A , Suttie S , Kingsmore D , Brown T , Sultan S , Gilbert J
Published: April 2018

Objectives:

To describe the UK and Ireland experience of the Haemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft in complex vascular access.

Design:

Observational, multi-centre case series.

Methods:

Data from any patient undergoing Haemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft were collected from eight UK and one Irish centre. Any Haemodialysis Reliable Outflow procedure between July 2013 and May 2016 was included. Demographics, primary and secondary patency rates, and complications were analysed.

Results:

A total of 52 patients underwent Haemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft insertion. Median age was 55 (20–86) years, 24 (46%) were male and 66% were Caucasian. Median follow-up was 290 (10–966) days and patient survival was 41/52 (79%). In total, 48 procedures were in the upper limb with 39 using the brachial artery as inflow (75%). The internal jugular vein and subclavian vein were most frequently used as access for outflow insertion. Primary patency rates at 6, 12, and 24 months were 51.2% (95% confidence interval, 38.8%–67.4%), 40.9% (95% confidence interval, 28.7%–58.2%), and 33.4% (95% confidence interval, 21.3%–52.5%), respectively. Secondary patency rates at 6, 12, and 24 months were 84.8% (95% confidence interval, 75%–95.9%), 76.5% (95% confidence interval, 64.5%–90.6%), and 70.6% (95% confidence interval, 56%–88.9%), respectively. There were 65 surgical and 49 radiological interventions resulting in 2.30 interventions per year to retain patency. Complications included four infections and two episodes of steal syndrome.

Conclusion:

The Haemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft provides acceptable 12-month secondary patency rates and acceptable complication rates in a UK and Ireland multi-centre series of complex access patients. Haemodialysis Reliable Outflow should be considered in patients with central pathology as a potential alternative to lower limb grafts and long-term central venous catheters.
Hydroxyurea-Induced Pneumopathy in a Patient With Myeloproliferative Syndrome
Authors: Galván Oriol Plans , Moltó Hipólito Pérez , Fabià-Mayans Ariadna , Xicoy Blanca , Mate José Luis , Martí Pilar Ricart
Published: April 2018

Hydroxyurea (HU) is a drug frequently used in the treatment of chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms. The most common side effects of this drug are pancytopenia, digestive and skin disorders. Respiratory complications are rare and there are less than 20 cases described, only 5 of which underwent an anatomopathological study. We present the case of a patient with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm who developed interstitial pneumonitis probably due to HU according to histological study.
‘Do it Forever’: Discursive representations of older adults and sexualities in vacation marketing
Authors: Blichfeldt Bodil Stilling , Smed Karina M
Published: April 2018

In advertising, sex has been ascribed a major role, but mostly in a one-dimensional, uniform, and ageist manner framing sexuality as the privilege of younger people. This has traditionally strengthened stereotyping discourses of older adults as ‘asexual’. However, in recent years, counter narratives emphasizing sex as an integral part of active, healthy, and successful aging have gained momentum. Using the promotional video ‘Do it Forever’ as a relevant case, this article analyzes representations of older adults’ sexualities in vacation marketing and points to how advertising is not ‘innocent’, but discursively positions older adults’ sexualities within an antiaging culture which positions older adults as ‘sexy olders’ in sharp opposition to the discourse of ‘asexsual old age’, potentially leaving older adults with little room to construct (a)sexual identities in-between the two strong and oppositional discourses.
Exploratory experimental study on flexural behavior of CFRP-reinforced concrete beams subjected to acidic loading effect
Authors: Luan Hai-Yang , Fan Ying-Fang , Chen An , Zhang Shi-Yi
Published: April 2018

This article presents an exploratory study on the flexural behavior of carbon fiber–reinforced polymer–reinforced concrete beams subjected to acidic loading effect. To this end, an artificial acid rain with a pH level of 1.5 was prepared by mixing sulfate and nitric acid solutions. Eight reinforced concrete beams with/without carbon fiber–reinforced polymer applications were constructed and conditioned using the artificial acid rain. During conditioning, bending loads were applied to the top surfaces of the beams to simulate the acidic loading action. Three carbon fiber–reinforced polymer reinforcement schemes (corrosion reinforcement, reinforcement corrosion, and cracking reinforcement) were considered. After conditioning, the length and quantity of initial cracks in the beams were recorded. A combined ultrasonic–rebound method was then adopted to measure the strength and corrosion depth of the concrete and evaluate the beams’ integrity. Next, four-point bending tests were conducted to study the beams’ flexural behavior. It can be concluded that all beams deteriorated with the increase of the corrosion time. Carbon fiber–reinforced polymer–reinforced concrete beams performed better than normal reinforced concrete beams under the acidic loading effect. The initial cracks can influence the flexural behavior of carbon fiber–reinforced polymer–reinforced concrete beams.
Wireless controlling of a toy robot using silver nanowire coated spandex yarns
Authors: Gurarslan Alper
Published: April 2018

In this work silver nanowires were synthesized and drop casted on a commercial spandex yarn to create an electrically conductive spandex. These yarns are used in a wearable electronic application as touched-based capacitive sensor to wirelessly control a toy robot, BB8. Touching the conductive yarns triggers a control mechanism that is integrated with touch recognition system which communicates wirelessly accompanying with electronic systems to run the B88 robot mechanism. This study demonstrates a wearable electronic application that is on the human–machine interface. Similar systems can be used in many other wearable electronic applications and can be turned to marketable products.
Characterization of flexible radar-absorbing materials based on ferromagnetic nickel micron-fibers
Authors: Wei Sainan , Yan Ruosi , Shi Bao , Chen Xiaogang
Published: April 2018

Flexible radar-absorbing materials have great application significance in stealth technology. In this paper, a novel radar-absorbing material based on ferromagnetic nickel micron-fibers with 38–40 mm length and 10–12 µm diameter was successfully prepared through bundle-fiber drawing and electrochemical treatment. The characterization of morphology, chemical composition, magnetic and mechanical properties, including tensile strength, bending rigidity and friction, of the prepared ferromagnetic nickel micron-fiber is investigated. The results showed that compared with conventional radar absorbers, ferromagnetic nickel micron-fibers have many advantages in their appearance and magnetic performance. The total ferromagnetic metal fraction of Ni and Fe was above 90%. Irregular cross-section and large aspect ratio of 3800 of the fiber enabled the magnetic hysteresis loss and absorbing performance to be increased obviously. Its saturation magnetization Ms was 116 emu/g with coercivity Hc of 5.8 × 103A/m, initial permeability of 2036 H/m and Curie temperature of 996 K, confirming the fiber performed a relatively strong magnetic absorbing effect and high temperature stability. The tensile and friction properties of ferromagnetic nickel micron-fiber were also analyzed to evaluate the spinnability.
Ex Vivo Repair of a Renal Artery Saccular Aneurysm in a Living-Nonrelated Donor and Subsequent Successful Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Muñoz-Vigna Rogerio A. , Anaya-Ayala Javier E. , Ramirez-Robles Juan N. , Nuño-Diaz Daniel , Olivares-Cruz Sandra
Published: April 2018

The use of kidney grafts with aneurysmal disease involving the renal arteries for transplantation is very uncommon and relatively controversial. We herein present the case of a 52-year-old woman who volunteered to become a living-nonrelated donor; during the preoperative imaging workup, a computed tomography angiography revealed a 1.5-cm saccular aneurysm in the left kidney, while the contralateral renal artery was normal. We decided to utilize the left kidney for a 25-year-old male patient with end-stage renal disease, and following the ex vivo repair using the recipient epigastric vessels and saphenous veins, we completed the transplantation in the right pelvic fossa. The postoperative period was uneventful, and at 8 months from the surgery, the graft remains functional. The surgical repair of renal artery aneurysms followed by immediate kidney transplantation is a safe technique and an effective replacement therapy for recipients. The incidental finding of isolated aneurysmal disease in renal arteries should not exclude graft potential availability for transplantation following repair.
The Impact of Decline in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) of Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) After Endovascular Treatment
Authors: Tokuda Takahiro , Hirano Keisuke , Yamawaki Masahiro , Araki Motoharu , Kobayashi Norihiro , Sakamoto Yasunari , Mori Shisuke , Tsutsumi Masakazu , Honda Yosuke , Ito Yoshiaki
Published: April 2018

Background:

Certain patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) experience significant decline in activities of daily living (ADL) during hospitalization. The prognosis of decline in ADL during hospitalization remains unknown.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was performed on collected data of patients with CLI treated by endovascular treatment between April 2007 and December 2015. We evaluated CLI in patients ADL at the time of hospitalization and after discharge using the Barthel index. We classified all patients into patients with decline in ADL and stable in ADL and compared clinical outcomes (cumulative incidence of wound healing, amputation-free survival at 1 year) between the 2 groups.

Results:

Two hundred and fifty-five consecutive patients with CLI (221 limbs), who underwent successful endovascular intervention, were enrolled in this study. Of all patients, 22 patients were classified into the decline group. The prevalence of wound, Ischemia, foot infection (WIfI) classification high grade was higher in the decline group (30.7% vs 63.6%; P < .01). The wound healing rates were worse in the decline group than in the stable group (40% vs 78% at 1 year; P < .01). The same trends were observed in the amputation-free survival (37% vs 78%; P < .01). After multivariate analysis, decline in ADL was an independent predictor of wound healing and amputation-free survival (odds ratio [OR]: 2.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.61-3.35, P < .01; OR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.26-4.53, P = .01).

Conclusions:

Patients with CLI with decline in ADL during hospitalization were found to have a poor prognosis suggesting that a decline in ADL may affect the clinical outcomes.
A Geoprivacy by Design Guideline for Research Campaigns That Use Participatory Sensing Data
Authors: Kounadi Ourania , Resch Bernd
Published: April 2018

Participatory sensing applications collect personal data of monitored subjects along with their spatial or spatiotemporal stamps. The attributes of a monitored subject can be private, sensitive, or confidential information. Also, the spatial or spatiotemporal attributes are prone to inferential disclosure of private information. Although there is extensive problem-oriented literature on geoinformation disclosure, our work provides a clear guideline with practical relevance, containing the steps that a research campaign should follow to preserve the participants’ privacy. We first examine the technical aspects of geoprivacy in the context of participatory sensing data. Then, we propose privacy-preserving steps in four categories, namely, ensuring secure and safe settings, actions prior to the start of a research survey, processing and analysis of collected data, and safe disclosure of datasets and research deliverables.
Plasma long non-coding RNA HOTAIR as a potential biomarker for gastric cancer
Authors: Elsayed Eman T. , Salem Perihan E. , Darwish Azaa M. , Fayed Haytham M.
Published: April 2018

Background:

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) Hox transcript antisense intergenic RNA ( HOTAIR) has been suggested to be implicated in gastric cancer tumorigenesis and progression; however, little is known about the role of the plasma HOTAIR in gastric cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Objective:

The current study was aimed at investigating the clinical relevance of plasma long non-coding HOTAIR as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker in gastric cancer.

Methods:

Plasma HOTAIR expression was measured in 50 patients with newly diagnosed gastric cancer and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

Plasma level of HOTAIR was significantly higher in gastric cancer patients compared with healthy controls ( P < 0.001). By using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, it was found that plasma HOTAIR could diagnose gastric cancer with 88% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Furthermore, increased HOTAIR expression was associated with advanced tumor stages, higher grades, and metastasis.

Conclusion:

Plasma HOTAIR might serve as a potential non-invasive biomarker for diagnosis of gastric cancer.
Lysine-specific demethylase 2A expression is associated with cell growth and cyclin D1 expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cao Lin-Lin , Du Changzheng , Liu Hangqi , Pei Lin , Qin Li , Jia Mei , Wang Hui
Published: April 2018

Objective:

Lysine-specific demethylase 2A (KDM2A), a specific H3K36me1/2 demethylase, has been reported to be closely associated with several types of cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression and function of KDM2A in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Methods:

A total of 215 colorectal adenocarcinoma specimens were collected, and then subjected to immunohistochemistry assay to evaluate the expression levels of KDM2A, cyclin D1 and other proteins in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and other molecular biology methods were used to explore the role of KDM2A in colorectal adenocarcinoma cells.

Results:

In this study, we report that the expression level of KDM2A is high in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues, and this high expression promotes the proliferation and colony formation of colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, as demonstrated by KDM2A knockdown experiments. In addition, the expression of KDM2A is closely associated with cyclin D1 expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues and cell lines.

Conclusions:

Our study reveals a novel role for high-expressed KDM2A in colorectal adenocarcinoma cell growth, and that the expression of KDM2A is associated with that of cyclin D1 in colorectal adenocarcinoma.
Biological maturation, training experience, body size and functional capacity of adolescent female basketball players: A Bayesian analysis
Authors: Leonardi Thiago J , Paes Roberto R , Breder Larissa , Foster Carl , Gonçalves Carlos E , Carvalho Humberto M
Published: April 2018

In the present study we examined the age- and maturity-associated variation on body size and functional capacities in 47 adolescent female basketball players. Also, we examined the relative contribution of growth and maturity status to functional capacity between player variation. Data included chronological age, age at menarche, years of training experience; body dimensions; countermovement jump, Line drill test and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test – level 1. Bayesian multilevel modelling was used to estimate the independent effects of age, maturity status, years of training experience and body size on functional capacity indicators. Players were, on average, advanced in maturity status, with a mean age at menarche of 11.20 years (1.32 years). Age-associated variation in age at menarche, body size and functional performance was present. No substantial maturity-associated variation was observed for stature and functional capacities, but late maturing players appeared to be less experienced in the sport. Variance partition coefficients ranged between 38% and 45% for the three indicators of functional capacities. Body mass and adiposity were the predictors identified for all indicators of performance. Maturity status and years of experience were predictors of performance in the countermovement jump while age and years of experience were predictors of performance for the Line drill. Stature was only identified as a predictor of the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery – level 1. Coaches should interpret functional performance in adolescent female basketball players considering their different ages (chronological, biological and accumulated training) and their influence on body dimensions.
Postherpes simplex encephalitis: a case series of viral-triggered autoimmunity, synaptic autoantibodies and response to therapy
Authors: Alexopoulos Harry , Akrivou Sofia , Mastroyanni Sotiria , Antonopoulou Maria , Dinopoulos Argirios , Giorgi Melpo , Konstantinou Kostas , Kouremenos Evangelos , Lariou Maria , Naoumis Dimitrios , Pavlidou Efterpi , Pavlou Evaggelos , Voudris Konstantinos , Vlachoyiannopoulos Panayotis , Dalakas Marinos C.
Published: April 2018

Background:

Recent evidence suggests that patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis may relapse because of autoimmunity against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). We present a case series of post-HSV relapsing encephalopathy associated with antibodies to central nervous system (CNS) synaptic antigens.

Patient/Methods:

Sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from five patients with HSV encephalitis who relapsed after antiviral therapy were tested for anti-NMDAR, gamma-aminobutyric acid b receptor (GABAbR), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR), Leucine-rich, glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1), anti -contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) and dipeptidyl-peptidase-like protein-6 (DDPX) antibodies using cell-based assays.

Results:

Five patients (two infants, one child and two adults) developed post-HSV autoimmune encephalitis. The infants, aged 9 months and 10 months, after prompt and seemingly successful anti-HSV therapy, were readmitted with typical signs of NMDAR-encephalitis evolving within days, with NMDAR antibodies detected in both serum and CSF. Although they were promptly treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and with IVIg followed by rituximab, respectively, they were both left with psychomotor deficits. A 14-year-old girl with seizures due to HSV encephalitis improved with anti-HSV therapy. Later, she manifested intractable seizures and she was found positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies which persist. The two adults were women, aged 58 and 33 years. The first recovered after anti-HSV therapy and remained asymptomatic for 6 months, until she developed generalized seizures with persisting CSF anti-NMDAR antibodies; the second, who continued to be encephalopathic after 2 weeks of anti-HSV therapy, tested positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies in the serum and anti-GABAbR antibodies in the serum and CSF. She recovered fully following IVIg therapy but her serum anti-GABAbR antibodies persist 34 months later.

Discussion:

Infection of the CNS with HSV can trigger CNS autoimmunity associated not only with anti-NMDAR but also with anti-GABAbR antibodies. These antibodies can persist in the serum, even without associated symptoms, but their presence in the CSF is firmly associated with disease development. In contrast to children and adults who responded well to therapies, the infants had an incomplete recovery with severe psychomotor deficits probably due to the interference of anti-NMDAR antibodies with neuro-developmental processes.
Does the 5-HT1A rs6295 polymorphism influence the safety and efficacy of citalopram therapy in the oldest old?
Authors: Scutt Greg , Overall Andrew , Scott Railton , Patel Bhavik , Hachoumi Lamia , Yeoman Mark , Wright Juliet
Published: April 2018

Major depressive disorder (MDD) in older people is a relatively common, yet hard to treat problem. In this study, we aimed to establish if a single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5-HT1A receptor gene (rs6295) determines antidepressant response in patients aged > 80 years (the oldest old) with MDD.

Nineteen patients aged at least 80 years with a new diagnosis of MDD were monitored for response to citalopram 20 mg daily over 4 weeks and genotyped for the rs6295 allele. Both a frequentist and Bayesian analysis was performed on the data. Bayesian analysis answered the clinically relevant question: ‘What is the probability that an older patient would enter remission after commencing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment, conditional on their rs6295 genotype?’

Individuals with a CC (cytosine–cytosine) genotype showed a significant improvement in their Geriatric Depression Score ( p = 0.020) and cognition ( p = 0.035) compared with other genotypes. From a Bayesian perspective, we updated reports of antidepressant efficacy in older people with our data and calculated that the 4-week relative risk of entering remission, given a CC genotype, is 1.9 [95% highest-density interval (HDI) 0.7–3.5], compared with 0.52 (95% HDI 0.1–1.0) for the CG (cytosine–guanine) genotype. The sample size of n = 19 is too small to draw any firm conclusions, however, the data suggest a trend indicative of a relationship between the rs6295 genotype and response to citalopram in older patients, which requires further investigation.
The NFL’s Chop-Block Rule Change: Does It Prevent Knee Injuries in Defensive Players?
Authors: Baker Hayden P. , Varelas Antonios , Shi Kevin , Terry Michael A. , Tjong Vehniah K.
Published: April 2018

Background:

The chop block, a football maneuver in which an offensive player blocks an opponent around the thigh while another offensive player engages the same opponent above the waist, was declared illegal by the National Football League (NFL) before the 2016-2017 season. Chop blocks have been hypothesized to be associated with medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament injury, especially in offensive/defensive linemen.

Purpose:

To quantify the impact that the chop-block rule change had on the incidence of knee injuries to defensive players in the NFL over 4 seasons (2014-2018).

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

NFL injury data for all defensive players from regular-season games played from 2014 through 2018 were collected. For this study, all knee injuries were attributed to competitive game play. Injury rates were reported as the number of injuries per 1000 athletic exposures (with 95% CIs).

Results:

A total of 256 games were played during the 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 NFL regular seasons, and all were included in this study. Among defensive players, the relative risk for a knee injury per 1000 athletic exposures was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.75-0.96) for the 2 seasons after the chop-block rule change (2016-2017 and 2017-2018) versus the 2 seasons before (2014-2015 and 2015-2016) ( P = .009). Thus, the relative risk reduction was 16%. The relative risk for a defensive player to be placed on injured reserve per season was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.72-1.13) for the 2 seasons after the rule change versus the 2 seasons before ( P = .39).

Conclusion:

The NFL’s recent ruling against in-game chop blocks may have reduced the incidence of knee injuries among defensive players.
Outcomes of Medicare-age eligible NHL patients receiving RIC allogeneic transplantation: a CIBMTR analysis
Authors: Shah Nirav N. , Ahn Kwang Woo , Litovich Carlos , Fenske Timothy S. , Ahmed Sairah , Battiwalla Minoo , Bejanyan Nelli , Dahi Parastoo B. , Bolaños-Meade Javier , Chen Andy I. , Ciurea Stefan O. , Bachanova Veronika , DeFilipp Zachariah , Epperla Narendranath , Farhadfar Nosha , Herrera Alex F. , Haverkos Bradley M. , Holmberg Leona , Hossain Nasheed M. , Kharfan-Dabaja Mohamed A. , Kenkre Vaishalee P. , Lazarus Hillard M. , Murthy Hemant S. , Nishihori Taiga , Rezvani Andrew R. , D’Souza Anita , Savani Bipin N. , Ulrickson Matthew L. , Waller Edmund K. , Sureda Anna , Smith Sonali M. , Hamadani Mehdi
Published: April 2018

Key Points

There was no difference in overall survival after allogeneic transplant between patients aged 55-64 years and patients ≥65 years. Age alone should not be a determinant for allogeneic transplant eligibility among older non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients.
Folate promotes S-adenosyl methionine reactions and the microbial methylation cycle and boosts ruminants production and reproduction
Authors: Abbasi Imtiaz Hussain Raja , Abbasi Farzana , Wang Lamei , Abd El Hack Mohamed E. , Swelum Ayman A. , Hao Ren , Yao Junhu , Cao Yangchun
Published: April 2018

Folate has gained significant attention due to its vital role in biological methylation and epigenetic machinery. Folate, or vitamin (B9), is only produced through a de novo mechanism by plants and micro-organisms in the rumen of mature animals. Although limited research has been conducted on folate in ruminants, it has been noted that ruminal synthesis could not maintain folate levels in high yielding dairy animals. Folate has an essential role in one-carbon metabolism and is a strong antiproliferative agent. Folate increases DNA stability, being crucial for DNA synthesis and repair, the methylation cycle, and preventing oxidation of DNA by free radicals. Folate is also critical for cell division, metabolism of proteins, synthesis of purine and pyrimidine, and increasing the de novo delivery of methyl groups and S-adenosylmethionine. However, in ruminants, metabolism of B12 and B9 vitamins are closely connected and utilization of folate by cells is significantly affected by B12 vitamin concentration. Supplementation of folate through diet, particularly in early lactation, enhanced metabolic efficiency, lactational performance, and nutritional quality of milk. Impaired absorption, oxidative degradation, or deficient supply of folate in ruminants affects DNA stability, cell division, homocysteine remethylation to methionine, de novo synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine, and increases DNA hypomethylation, uracil misincorporation into DNA, chromosomal damage, abnormal cell growth, oxidative species, premature birth, low calf weight, placental tube defects, and decreases production and reproduction of ruminant animals. However, more studies are needed to overcome these problems and reduce enormous dietary supplement waste and impaired absorption of folate in ruminants. This review was aimed to highlight the vital role of folic acid in ruminants performance.
Health shocks and child time allocation decisions by households: evidence from Ethiopia
Authors: Dinku Yonatan , Fielding David , Genç Murat
Published: April 2018

Little is currently known about the effects of shocks to parental health on the allocation of children’s time between alternative activities. Using longitudinal data from the Ethiopian Young Lives surveys of 2006 and 2009, we analyse the effect of health shocks on the amount of children’s time spent in work, leisure and education. One key contribution of the paper is that we distinguish between child labour as defined by organisations such as the International Labour Organisation and other types of child work, such as light domestic chores. We find that paternal illness increases the time spent in income-generating work but maternal illness increases the time spent in domestic work. Moreover, maternal illness has a relatively large effect on daughters while paternal illness has a relatively large effect on sons. Overall, parental illness leads to large and significant increases in the amount of child labour.

JEL Classification: D13, I12, I21, O15
An investigation on quilled nozzle-less electrospinning in comparison with conventional methods for producing PAN nanofibers
Authors: Rezazadeh Tehrani Sayed Pedram , Hadjianfar Mehdi , Afrashi Mehran , Semnani Dariush
Published: April 2018

Over the last decades by appearing nanotechnology electrospinning has been reconsidered as a significant method. However, electrospinning production rate is limited by the rate at which the polymer solution or melt is fed to a single jet. Feeding rate can be increased through implementing a wide range of methods such as multiple nozzle electrospinning. In the present work, an innovative “quilled” drum with a peculiar design was rotated in a PAN polymer solution in an electrical field to optimize energy consumption, uniform nanofiber distribution on the collector, and increase production rate. The produced nanofibers were compared with those produced from modified multi-nozzle and single-nozzle electrospinning methods. The mean diameters of nanofibers produced from the quilled drum was 32% greater than that of single-nozzle and 28% less than multi-nozzle electrospinning. The CV% of thickness of the webs were 7.9, 11.2, and 12.5% for the quilled, single nozzle and multi-nozzle methods, respectively which showed the presented method produced more uniform webs. The production rate of this electrospinning was 60 and 17 times more than single and multi-nozzle methods, respectively.
Understanding curvatures of the equipotential surface in gravity gradiometry
Authors: Li Yaoguo
Published: April 2018

The concept of curvatures of equipotential surfaces is of theoretical and practical importance in gravity gradiometry because curvatures describe the shape of equipotential surfaces, which can yield information about the shape of the source. Although the fundamentals of curvatures are well-established, their connection to modern gravity gradiometry and the associated applications in exploration geophysics remain areas of active research. In particular, there is a misunderstanding in the calculation of the said curvatures directly from measured gravity gradient data that are now widely used in exploration geophysics. The error stems from the incorrect use of the formulas in a fixed user coordinate system that are only valid in a rotated coordinate system. We demonstrate that the gravity gradient tensor must be rotated to a local coordinate system whose vertical axis is aligned with the local anomalous gravity field direction so that the curvatures of the anomalous equipotential surface can be calculated correctly using these classic formulas. To facilitate practical application, we present theoretical and practical aspects related to coordinate systems and rotations of the gravity gradient tensor. We have also developed an approach for estimating local gravity for use in the curvature calculation by wavenumber-domain conversion from gradient tensors. The procedure may form a basis for developing new interpretation techniques in gravity gradient gradiometry based on curvatures.
Direct-SV radiation produced by land-based P-sources — Part 2: Buried explosives
Authors: Hardage Bob A. , Wagner Donald
Published: April 2018

A common view of buried-explosive seismic sources is that a buried explosion is a pure-P source because it is an expanding volume of high-pressure gas. This assumption leads to a popular conclusion that if shear-mode reflections are observed in explosive-source data, those reflections have to be produced by a downgoing SV wavefield that is generated by P-to-SV conversion at an interface above the depth of the buried explosive. This paper challenges this traditional view that a buried chemical explosive is a pure-P source. In our finite-difference modeling, a buried explosion is a pure-P volume of expanding gas for only that fraction of a microsecond that it takes for its expanding gas to reach the wall of the tube that contains the explosive material. As soon as this accelerating high-pressure gas contacts any surrounding elastic media, a chemical explosion ceases to be a pure-P-source, and shearing is initiated. We chose a finite-difference style of numerical modeling so that we could introduce realistic conditions, such as a physical container for explosive material, a shot hole, small zones of Taylor instabilities in the expanding gases, and local sedimentary interfaces, into numerical calculations. This finite-difference modeling verified that buried explosives not only generate direct-P wavefields, but that they also produce direct-SV wavefields. We believe that our work provides important information that seismic interpreters should consider. Namely, our research indicates that seismic reflection data acquired with buried explosives can be processed to generate direct-SV images in addition to traditional direct-P images. This direct-SV imaging option applies not only to new seismic data acquired with buried-explosives, but also to legacy P data that were acquired with buried-explosive sources many years in the past and now sit dormant in digital seismic-data libraries.
Community treatment orders in England: review of usage from national data
Authors: Gupta Susham , Akyuz Elvan U. , Baldwin Toby , Curtis David
Published: April 2018

Aims and method

Community treatment orders (CTOs) have been in used in England and Wales since November 2008; however, their effectiveness has been debated widely, as has the question of which methodology is appropriate to investigate them. This paper uses national data to explore the use of CTOs in England.

Results

About 5500 patients are subject to CTOs at any one time. Each year, ~4500 patients are made subject to a CTO each year and ~2500 are fully discharged, usually by the responsible clinician; fewer than half of CTO patients are recalled, and two-thirds of recalls end in revocation. The low rate of CTO discharges by mental health tribunals (below 5%) suggests that they are not used inappropriately.

Clinical implications

The introduction of CTOs in England has coincided with a reduction in psychiatric service provision due to the economic downturn. Pressures on services might be even more severe if patients currently subject to CTOs instead needed to be detained as in-patients.

Declaration of interest

None.
Comparison of Structure/Function Correlational Property of Three Kinds of Gemini-Type Thixotropic Surfactants Capable of Forming Crystalline Nanofiber Based on Hydrogen Bonding — Solid-State Structure, Two-Dimensional Molecular Film Forming, and Epitaxial Growth Behavior —
Authors: Iizuka Manami , Nakagawa Yuto , Moriya Yuma , Satou Eiichi , Fujimori Atsuhiro
Published: April 2018

In this study, we compare and investigate both microscopic molecular packing and mesoscopic morphogenetic behavior in two-dimensional (2D) organized films/three-dimensional (3D) solids of three kinds of Gemini-type diamide surfactants that systematically differ in terms of their chemical structure. The gelation of the surrounding medium is promoted by growing crystalline nanofibers of these surfactants, and the disappearance of these nanofibers and solvent reflow are caused by the application of a force on the corresponding gel because these surfactant molecules are considered potential thixotropic agents. The layer structure and sub-cell in the 3D crystals of surfactants are formed by the association of van der Waals force and hydrogen bonding because the mechanism responsible for crystalline nanofiber formation is intermolecular hydrogen bonding. In the monolayer on the water surface, only surfactant molecules having a hydroxyl group in the hydrophobic chain formed crystalline nanofibers. The introduction of hydroxyl groups into the hydrophobic chains also promoted a single-phase molecular conformation in 3D crystals. However, the absence of hydroxyl groups in the hydrophobic chain promoted the growth of the nanofibers in the cast film, whereas the introduction of hydroxyl groups in the hydrocarbons improves the thixotropic property itself. In addition, the epitaxial growth of nanofibers upon the addition of a growth aid was promoted by the absence of hydroxyl groups.
A Review of Accelerometer-based Activity Monitoring in Cancer Survivorship Research
Authors: PEDDLE-MCINTYRE CAROLYN J. , CAVALHERI VINICIUS , BOYLE TERRY , MCVEIGH JOANNE A. , JEFFERY EMILY , LYNCH BRIGID M. , VALLANCE JEFF K.
Published: April 2018

Background

In the cancer survivorship context, physical activity and sedentary behavior have been measured using different methods.

Purpose

To conduct a narrative review of published research in cancer survivor populations to summarize the quality and identify gaps in reporting on accelerometer data collection, data processing, and outcome measures in cancer survivors.

Methods

An initial PubMed® search of articles published in English was conducted in January 2017, and a final search was conducted in May 2017. Variables extracted included study characteristics, methods for accelerometry data collection (e.g., device used), data processing (e.g., cut points used), and data reporting (e.g., time spent in different activity intensities).

Results

A total of 46 articles were eligible for inclusion in the review. The majority of studies (34 of 46) targeted a single cancer group and 18 of these 34 studies were in survivors of breast cancer. Half (54%) of the studies used an ActiGraph® accelerometer. Methods of accelerometer data processing varied across studies. Definitions of non–wear time, vectors used during processing, and filters applied during processing were reported by 51%, 60%, and 8% of studies, respectively. Most studies reported moderate and vigorous physical activity (78%), 50% reported sedentary time, and 43% reported light-intensity activity. Cut points to categorize these activities varied between studies.

Conclusions

This narrative review highlights inconsistency in the methods used to collect, process, and report accelerometry data across cancer survivor studies. Accelerometry has potential to add detailed knowledge of the levels and patterns of physical activities and sedentary behaviors across the cancer spectrum. Recommendations are made to improve data processing and reporting methods to maximize the scientific validity of future accelerometer research in this field.
Análise do nicho trófico e da influência das precipitações no forrageamento de Melipona eburnea Friese (Apidae: Meliponina) criadas no Acre, Brasil
Authors: Da Silva Correia Francisco Cildomar , Peruquetti Rui Carlos , Ferreira Marcos Gonçalves
Published: April 2018

Resumo. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo identificar plantas utilizadas por Melipona eburnea Friese para coleta de pólen e verificar a influência das precipitações no forrageamento dessa espécie. Para isso, realizou-se duas coletas semanais, de outubro de 2015 a junho de 2016, em três colônias de M. eburnea. Abelhas operárias transportando cargas de pólen foram capturadas na entrada de suas colônias, utilizando-se rede entomológica. As cargas de pólen foram retiradas das corbículas das operárias com o auxílio de pinça e, posteriormente, levadas ao Laboratório para serem analisadas. Os grãos de pólen foram fotomicrografados e identificados através da comparação com o pólen das plantas em floração na área estudada. Os dados foram obtidos a partir do número de grãos de pólen nas amostras com a média de precipitação para cada mês. Identificou-se 44 espécies botânicas, distribuídas em 18 famílias, as principais foram: Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Euphorbiaceae e Arecaceae. Foi observado que a maior quantidade de pólen fornecido para M. eburnea ocorreu no período de menor volume pluviométrico. M. eburnea apresenta comportamento generalista na coleta de recursos polínicos, alterando seu nicho trófico, de acordo com a intensidade de floração. Plantas nativas representam a principal fonte de pólen para M. eburnea.Analysis of the trophic niche and the influence of the precipitations on the foraging of Melipona eburnea Friese (Apidae: Meliponina) created in Acre, Brazil Abstract. The present work had as objective to identify plants used to collect pollen per Melipona eburnea Friese and to verify the influence of the precipitations in the foraging of this specie. For tath, two weekly collections were carried out, from October 2015 to June 2016, in three colonies of M. eburnea. Worker bees carrying pollen loads were captured at the entrance of their colonies, using an entomological net. The pollen loads were removed from the workers' corbulas with the aid of forceps and then taken to the laboratory for analysis. The pollen grains were photomicrographs and identified by comparison with the pollen of the flowering plants in the studied area. The data were obtained from the number of pollen grains in the samples with the average precipitation for each month. It was identified 44 pollen types distributed in 18 families, the main ones being: Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Arecaceae. It was observed that the highest amount of pollen supplied to M. eburnea occurred in the period of lower rainfall volume. M. eburnea presents general behavior in the collection of pollinic resources. Native plants represent the main source of pollen for M. eburnea.
Parasitoides de moscas no Parque Municipal Natural de Nova Iguaçu, RJ - Brasil
Authors: Paiva Horácio Antônio de Souza , Guimarães Roney Rodrigues , Barbosa Júlio Vianna , Pinto Zeneida Teixeira
Published: April 2018

Resumo. Os microhimenópteros representam uma alternativa para o controle de dípteros muscoides carreadores potenciais de patógenos tais como bactérias, vírus, protozoários e ovos de helmintos. São considerados o principal inimigo natural desses dípteros. Este trabalho tem como objetivo relatar a ocorrência de parasitoides associados a pupas de dípteros da família Calliphoridae (Diptera) no Parque Municipal Natural de Nova Iguaçu - RJ, Brasil. As coletas foram realizadas semanalmente no período de abril a outubro de 2006. O estudo demonstrou uma grande variedade de espécies de parasitoide pertencentes as famílias Braconidae, Chalcididae and Encyrtidae.Parasitoids from flies in Natural Park of Nova Iguaçu, RJ - BrazilAbstract. Microhimenopterous represent an alternative control of muscoid dipterous which that can carriers pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminth eggs. They are considered the main natural enemy of these Diptera. This work aims to report the occurrence of microhimenopterous associated with dipterous pupae of family Calliphoridae (Diptera) in Parque Municipal Natural de Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil. The collections were made weekly in the period from April to October 2006. The main species of parasitoids identified belong to the family Braconidae, Chalcididae and Encyrtidae.
Nonconvex Lagrangian-Based Optimization: Monitoring Schemes and Global Convergence
Authors: Bolte Jérôme , Sabach Shoham , Teboulle Marc
Published: April 2018

We introduce a novel approach addressing global analysis of a difficult class of nonconvex-nonsmooth optimization problems within the important framework of Lagrangian-based methods. This genuine nonlinear class captures many problems in modern disparate fields of applications. It features complex geometries, qualification conditions, and other regularity properties do not hold everywhere. To address these issues, we work along several research lines to develop an original general Lagrangian methodology, which can deal, all at once, with the above obstacles. A first innovative feature of our approach is to introduce the concept of Lagrangian sequences for a broad class of algorithms. Central to this methodology is the idea of turning an arbitrary descent method into a multiplier method. Secondly, we provide these methods with a transitional regime allowing us to identify in finitely many steps a zone where we can tune the step-sizes of the algorithm for the final converging regime. Then, despite the min-max nature of Lagrangian methods, using an original Lyapunov method we prove that each bounded sequence generated by the resulting monitoring schemes are globally convergent to a critical point for some fundamental Lagrangian-based methods in the broad semialgebraic setting, which to the best of our knowledge, are the first of this kind.