bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monoclinic-to-orthorhombic phase transition of the hexamethylenetetramine–2-methylbenzoic acid (1/2) cocrystal with temperature-dependent dynamic molecular disorder
Authors: Chia Tze Shyang , Quah Ching Kheng
Published: November 2016

As a function of temperature, the hexamethylenetetramine–2-methylbenzoic acid (1/2) cocrystal, C6H12N4·2C8H8O2, undergoes a reversible structural phase transition. The orthorhombic high-temperature phase in the space groupPccnhas been studied in the temperature range between 165 and 300 K. At 164 K, at2phase transition to the monoclinic subgroupP21/cspace group occurs; the resulting twinned low-temperature phase was investigated in the temperature range between 164 and 100 K. The domains in the pseudomerohedral twin are related by a twofold rotation corresponding to the matrix (100/0-10/00-1. Systematic absence violations represent a sensitive criterium for the decision about the correct space-group assignment at each temperature. The fractional volume contributions of the minor twin domain in the low-temperature phase increases in the order 0.259 (2) → 0.318 (2) → 0.336 (2) → 0.341 (3) as the temperature increases in the order 150 → 160 → 163 → 164 K. The transformation occurs between the nonpolar point groupmmmand the nonpolar point group 2/m, and corresponds to a ferroelastic transition or to at2structural phase transition. The asymmetric unit of the low-temperature phase consists of two hexamethylenetetramine molecules and four molecules of 2-methylbenzoic acid; it is smaller by a factor of 2 in the high-temperature phase and contains two half molecules of hexamethylenetetramine, which sit across twofold axes, and two molecules of the organic acid. In both phases, the hexamethylenetetramine residue and two benzoic acid molecules form a three-molecule aggregate; the low-temperature phase contains two of these aggregates in general positions, whereas they are situated on a crystallographic twofold axis in the high-temperature phase. In both phases, one of these three-molecule aggregates is disordered. For this disordered unit, the ratio between the major and minor conformer increases upon cooling from 0.567 (7):0.433 (7) at 170 Kvia0.674 (6):0.326 (6) and 0.808 (5):0.192 (5) at 160 K to 0.803 (6):0.197 (6) and 0.900 (4):0.100 (4) at 150 K, indicating temperature-dependent dynamic molecular disorder. Even upon further cooling to 100 K, the disorder is retained in principle, albeit with very low site occupancies for the minor conformer.
2-Periodic self-dual tilings
Authors: Delgado-Friedrichs Olaf , O'Keeffe Michael
Published: November 2016

2-Periodic self-dual tilings are important in fields ranging from crystal chemistry to mathematical physics. They have been systematically enumerated using combinatorial tiling theory, and 1, 5 and 62 uninodal, binodal and trinodal self-dual tilings have been found. This paper illustrates all uninodal and binodal self-dual tilings and selected trinodal self-dual tilings. Most of these structures are described for the first time.
One‐year safety and efficacy study of bilastine treatment in Japanese patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria or pruritus associated with skin diseases
Authors: Yagami Akiko , Furue Masutaka , Togawa Michinori , Saito Akihiro , Hide Michihiro
Published: November 2016

A number of second‐generation non‐sedating antihistamines are used in clinical practices over the world. However, long‐term safety and efficacy have not been proved high level evidence based medicine. We have performed an open‐label, multicenter, phase III study to evaluate the long‐term safety and efficacy of bilastine, a novel non‐sedating H1‐antihistamine for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) or pruritus associated with skin diseases (trial registration no. JapicCTI‐142528). Patients aged 18–74 years were treated with bilastine 20 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks. Safety and tolerability were assessed on the basis of adverse events (AE), bilastine‐related AE, laboratory tests and vital signs. Efficacy was assessed based on rash score, itch score, overall improvement and quality of life. One hundred and ninety‐eight patients enrolled, 122 of whom (61.6%) completed the 52‐week treatment period. AE were reported in 64.5% and bilastine‐related AE in 2.5% of patients throughout the 52‐week treatment period. All AE were mild to moderate in severity. AE associated with the nervous system occurred in 10 patients (5.1%) including seven patients (3.6%) with headache. Somnolence reported in two of these patients (1.0%) was related to bilastine. All efficacy variables improved during treatment with bilastine. In conclusion, long‐term treatment with bilastine 20 mg once daily for 52 weeks is safe and well tolerated in Japanese patients with CSU or pruritus associated with skin diseases. Bilastine improved disease symptoms of both conditions early in treatment, and the efficacy was maintained throughout the treatment.
Lizards paid a greater opportunity cost to thermoregulate in a less heterogeneous environment
Authors: Basson Christine H. , Levy Ofir , Angilletta Michael J. , Clusella‐Trullas Susana
Published: November 2016

The theory of thermoregulation has developed slowly, hampering efforts to predict how individuals can buffer climate change through behaviour. Mixed results of field and laboratory experiments underscore the need to test hypotheses about thermoregulation explicitly, while measuring costs and benefits in different thermal landscapes.

We simulated body temperature and energy expenditure of a virtual lizard that either thermoregulates optimally or thermoconforms in a landscape of either low or high quality (one or four basking sites, respectively). We then compare the predicted values in each landscape with the observed values for real lizards in experimental arenas.

Lizards thermoregulated more accurately in the high‐quality landscape than they did on the low‐quality landscape, albeit only slightly so, but spent similar amounts of energy in these landscapes. Basking, rather than shuttling between heat sources, accounted for the majority of the energy consumed in both landscapes.

These results did not support the predictions of our model. In the low‐quality landscape, real lizards thermoregulated intensely despite the potential to save energy by thermoconforming. In the high‐quality landscape, lizards moved more than expected, suggesting that lizards explored their surroundings despite being able to thermoregulate without doing so.

Our results suggest that non‐energetic benefits drive thermoregulatory behaviour in costly environments, despite the missed opportunities arising from thermoregulation. We propose that energetic costs associated with thermoregulatory movement will become substantial in homogeneous environments such as flat plains and dense forests. The theory of thermoregulation should incorporate these aspects if biologists wish to predict responses of ectotherms to changing climates and habitats.

A lay summary is available for this article.
The effect of colour‐producing mechanisms on plumage sexual dichromatism in passerines and parrots
Authors: Delhey Kaspar , Peters Anne
Published: November 2016

Sexual dichromatism (SD) often reflects intense sexual selection on males. It has been hypothesized that sexual selection should favour the elaboration of those male colours that honestly signal quality and that such colours should therefore show higher SD. Costliness of colours is expected to vary according to their production mechanism (pigment type, feather microstructure and combinations thereof). Carotenoid‐based colours, due to their dietary origin and competing functions of carotenoid pigments, are the best documented costly colours, while endogenous pigments and structural colours are expected to be less costly. However, how SD varies with colour‐producing mechanism has not been systematically addressed.

Here, we test the link between SD and mechanisms of colour production across nearly all Australian passerines (n = 302) and parrots (n = 48), using reflectance spectrometry and visual models. We quantified SD [chromatic (hue and saturation) and achromatic (light to dark)] for individual plumage patches as well as for the whole plumage. We then compared whether these SD estimates vary for plumage produced by different mechanisms of colour production.

Not unexpectedly, individual plumage patches were most sexually dichromatic when males and females have different mechanisms of colour production. In most cases however, both sexes share the same mechanism. Among these, red carotenoid‐based plumage in passerines showed the highest SD, while in passerines as well as in parrots, melanin‐based plumage and white plumage have the lowest levels of SD.

Average SD within species is weakly predicted by the proportion of the plumage produced by different mechanisms. This effect is strongest for red carotenoids, but equally so for males and females. In contrast, effects of structural and pheomelanin‐based colours are different between sexes, highlighting the links between high SD and the evolution of different mechanisms of colour production in males and females.

While our analysis showed that colours based on red carotenoids have higher levels of SD, the differences were small, and most mechanisms of colour production were able to produce a similar range of SD. These results do not support the hypothesis that sexual selection should preferentially lead to the elaboration of some types of colours over others.

A lay summary is available for this article.
Functional traits of marine macrophytes predict primary production
Authors: Jänes Holger , Kotta Jonne , Pärnoja Merli , Crowe Tasman P. , Rindi Fabio , Orav‐Kotta Helen
Published: November 2016

The relationship between community structure and the functioning of ecosystems is the subject of ongoing debate. Biological or functional trait‐based approaches that capture life strategy, morphology and behavioural characteristics have received far less attention than taxonomic diversity in this context, despite their more intuitive link to ecosystem functioning.

Macrophyte primary production underpins aquatic food webs, regulates benthic and pelagic ecosystems and is a key aspect of the global carbon cycle. This study spans a range of aquatic biomes across Europe and aims to examine potential for predicting primary production of macrophyte communities based on the functional traits of species and identify the traits that are the most informative indicators of macrophyte production.

Macrophyte primary production was assessed based on the oxygen production of the whole community, linked to biomasses of selected biological traits derived of its component species and analysed using the novel boosted regression trees modelling technique.

Results showed that functional traits derived from macrophyte community data explained most of the variation in primary production of macrophyte communities without the need to incorporate environmental data on the habitats. Macrophyte primary production was influenced by a combination of tolerance, morphology and life habit traits; however tolerance traits contributed most of variability in macrophyte primary production when all traits were analysed jointly.

This study also showed the existence of trait clustering as the studied trait categories were not fully independent; strong interlinkages between and within trait categories emerged.

Our study suggests that functional trait analysis captures different aspects of ecosystem functioning and thereby enables assessing primary production of macrophyte communities over geographically distinct areas without extensive taxonomic and environmental data. This could result in a novel framework through which a simplification of the general procedure of production estimations and comparisons across environmental gradients can be achieved.

Alay summaryis available for this article.
Climatic conditions cause spatially dynamic polygyny thresholds in a large mammal
Authors: Manning Jeffrey A. , McLoughlin Philip D.
Published: November 2016

The polygyny threshold (PT) is a critical transition point in the sexual selection process for many organisms in natural populations, characterizing when females choose to mate with an already mated male over an unmated one to improve fitness. Understanding its causes and consequences is therefore of high interest. While both theoretical and empirical work suggest that the degree of polygyny within a species is plastic and a function of male inequality, the functional relationship between underlying availability of resources occupied by breeding males under variable climatic conditions and the dynamics of PTs across space and time has received less attention.

Here, we use a standardized measure of male mating inequality as the culmination of female mate choices to analyse how spatially dynamic PTs in a naturally regulated feral horse (Equus ferus caballus) population emerge along a geographic gradient in a known, limiting resource (freshwater) each year from variable climatic conditions. Polygyny threshold distance from permanent freshwater increased with increasing precipitation during the breeding season of each year, suggesting a relationship between annual resource availability and female mate choice.

The mechanism by which climatic conditions underpin the spatial dynamics of PTs was likely through precipitation providing ephemeral freshwater sources across the study area that effectively weakened the gradient in availability of permanent freshwater, thereby providing mating males that occupied home ranges far from permanent water with access to this limiting resource and enabling them to attract and retain females. Increased precipitation also coincided with a decreased proportion of males in the population that experienced sexual selection pressure attributed to female mate choice in relation to the acquisition and/or defence of freshwater sources.

Climatic conditions caused spatial shifts in PTs annually along the geographic gradient in resource availability. Our findings reveal that such environmental gradients may either buffer or amplify impacts of climatic variation on selection pressure operating in natural populations, and emphasize the importance of integrating spatially explicit PTs with atmospheric fluctuations when predicting the effect of climatic change on selection processes within populations that occupy environmental gradients.
Genetic erosion and escalating extinction risk in frogs with increasing wildfire frequency
Authors: Potvin Dominique A. , Parris Kirsten M. , Smith Date Katie L. , Keely Claire C. , Bray Rebecca D. , Hale Joshua , Hunjan Sumitha , Austin Jeremy J. , Melville Jane
Published: November 2016

Wildfires are increasing in both frequency and intensity in many ecosystems, with climate change models predicting further escalations in fire‐prone environments. Set against this background is the global decline of amphibians, with up to 40% of species facing extinction from multiple additive threats. Despite these disturbing figures, it is currently unclear how increasing fire frequency may impact the long‐term persistence of frog populations.

Following a severe wildfire in south‐eastern Australia in 2009, field surveys indicated healthy tree frog populations. However, the 2009 fire had significant impacts on genetic diversity, including increased levels of inbreeding and declines in effective population size.

Using stochastic population modelling under a range of fire‐frequency scenarios, we demonstrate that amphibian populations in fire‐prone environments may be increasingly vulnerable to extinction, particularly where rates of immigration are low.

Synthesis and applications. This study of amphibian population genetics before and after a major wildfire emphasizes the importance of integrating both ecological and genetic data into population models. This will help managers make more appropriate conservation decisions regarding fire management of natural environments, especially those containing threatened populations. Priorities for agencies involved in planning controlled burns should consider carefully the timing of controlled burns, along with maintaining habitat connectivity.
The influence of spatially structured soil properties on tree community assemblages at a landscape scale in the tropical forests of southern Cameroon
Authors: Vleminckx Jason , Doucet Jean‐Louis , Morin‐Rivat Julie , Biwolé Achille B. , Bauman David , Hardy Olivier J. , Fayolle Adeline , Gillet Jean‐François , Daïnou Kasso , Gorel Anaïs , Drouet Thomas
Published: November 2016

Species distribution within plant communities results from both the influence of deterministic processes, related to environmental conditions, and neutral processes related to dispersal limitation and stochastic events, the relative importance of each factor depending on the observation scale.

Assessing the relative contribution of environment necessitates controlling for spatial dependences among data points. Recent methods, combining multiple regression and Moran's eigenvectors maps (MEM), have been proved successful in disentangling the influence of pure spatial processes related to dispersal limitation, pure environmental variables (not spatially structured) and spatially structured environmental properties. However, the latter influence is usually not testable when using advanced spatial models like MEM.

To overcome this issue, we propose an original approach, based on torus‐translations and Moran spectral randomizations, to test the fraction of species abundance variation that is jointly explained by space and seven soil variables, using three environmental and tree species abundance data sets (consisting of 120, 52 and 34 plots of 0·2 ha each, located along 101‐, 66‐ and 35‐km‐long transect‐like inventories, respectively) collected in tropical moist forests in southern Cameroon.

The overall abundance of species represented by ≥30 individuals, and 27% of these species taken individually, were significantly explained by fine‐scale (<5 km) and/or broad‐scale (5–100 km) spatially structured variations in soil nutrient concentrations (essentially the concentration of available Mn, Mg and Ca) along the 120‐plots area. The number of significant tests considerably decreased when investigating the two smaller data sets, which mostly resulted from low statistical power rather than weaker floristic and/or edaphic variation captured among plots.

Synthesis. Our results provide evidence that tree species turnovers are partly controlled by spatially structured concentrations in soil nutrients at scales ranging from few hundreds of metres to c. 100 km, a poorly documented subject in Central African forests. We also highlight the usefulness of our testing procedure to correctly interpret the space‐soil fraction of variation partitioning analyses (which always accounted here for the most important part of the soil contribution), as this fraction was sometimes relatively high (R2 values up to c. 0·3) but nearly or not significant.
Decreased percentage of NKG2D+NK cells in patients with incident onset of Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Zhang Yupan , Wang Haifeng , Lou Xiaoqian , Qu Xiaozhang , Gao Lichao , Liu Xiaolei , Li Man , Guo Hui , Jiang Yanfang
Published: November 2016

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by absolute insulin deficiency owing to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic β cells. A significant decrease in natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood has been observed in patients with untreated T1DM. In the present study, we aimed to explore the role of NK cells and their subsets in young T1DM patients. A total of 30 children and adolescents with untreated T1DM and 27 healthy controls (HC) were recruited in this study. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that the percentage of peripheral blood CD3‐CD56+ NK cells and NK cells subsets (CD56bright, CD56dim and CD56neg), were significantly decreased in the T1DM patients compared to healthy controls. In addition, the percentage of inducible CD107a+ and IFN‐γ‐secreting NK cells was significantly decreased compared to HC. Interestingly, the percentage of NKG2D+ NK cells negatively correlated with the level of serum TCHOL and TG in T1DM patients. Our data indicate that decreased number and impaired function of NK cells may have a role in the pathogenesis of T1DM.
Microbial processes of the carbon and sulfur cycles in an ice‐covered, iron‐rich meromictic lake Svetloe (Arkhangelsk region, Russia)
Authors: Savvichev Alexander S. , Kokryatskaya Natalia M. , Zabelina Svetlana A. , Rusanov Igor I. , Zakharova Elena E. , Veslopolova Elena F. , Lunina Olga N. , Patutina Ekaterina O. , Bumazhkin Boris K. , Gruzdev Denis S. , Sigalevich Pavel A. , Pimenov Nikolay V. , Kuznetsov Boris B. , Gorlenko Vladimir M.
Published: November 2016

Biogeochemical, isotope geochemical and microbiological investigation of Lake Svetloe (White Sea basin), a meromictic freshwater was carried out in April 2014, when ice thickness was ∼0.5 m, and the ice‐covered water column contained oxygen to 23 m depth. Below, the anoxic water column contained ferrous iron (up to 240 μμM), manganese (60 μM), sulfide (up to 2 μM) and dissolved methane (960 μM). The highest abundance of microbial cells revealed by epifluorescence microscopy was found in the chemocline (redox zone) at 23–24.5 m. Oxygenic photosynthesis exhibited two peaks: the major one (0.43 μmol C L−1 day−1) below the ice and the minor one in the chemocline zone, where cyanobacteria related to Synechococcus rubescens were detected. The maximum of anoxygenic photosynthesis (0.69 μmol C L−1 day−1) at the oxic/anoxic interface, for which green sulfur bacteria Chlorobium phaeoclathratiforme were probably responsible, exceeded the value for oxygenic photosynthesis. Bacterial sulfate reduction peaked (1.5 μmol S L−1 day−1) below the chemocline zone. The rates of methane oxidation were as high as 1.8 μmol CH4 L−1 day−1 at the oxi/anoxic interface and much lower in the oxic zone. Small phycoerythrin‐containing Synechococcus‐related cyanobacteria were probably involved in accumulation of metal oxides in the redox zone.
Ending in Failure? The Performance of ‘Takeover’ Prime Ministers 1916–2016
Authors: Worthy Ben
Published: November 2016

When Theresa May became Prime Minister in July 2016, she joined a list of eleven previous UK takeover leaders in the past 100 years. While the popular image is of Prime Ministers arriving in power after a general election victory, more than half of the Prime Ministers who governed since 1916 have acceded as ‘takeover leaders’ through an internal party process. This article analyses how such takeover leaders perform, concluding that May is likely to face greater obstacles and enjoy fewer advantages than if she had been popularly elected. Takeover leaders have less time in power and less chance of winning subsequent elections, and are generally rated as worse‐performing.
The thermal denaturation of the total whey protein in reconstituted whole milk
Authors: Anema Skelte G
Published: November 2016

The kinetic parameters for thermal denaturation of the total whey proteins in whole milk were determined. Denaturation was a second‐order reaction, and an Arrhenius plot showed a change in slope at ~85 °C. At 70–85 °C, the activation energy, enthalpy and entropy were in the range expected for denaturation processes, whereas at 85–115 °C, these parameters were typical for chemical reactions such as aggregation. Equations to predict the denaturation after heating were developed and tested on a range of independently prepared milk samples. There was a good agreement between the predicted and the experimentally determined denaturation levels.
The effect of isomaltooligosaccharide as a fat replacer on the quality of nonfat kefir manufacture
Authors: Mei Jun , Feng Fei , Li Yunfei
Published: November 2016

The influence of different levels of isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) on the quality of kefir manufacture was investigated. Addition of IMO caused the kefir samples to decrease in whey separation and positively affected the texture of the kefir samples so that they had higher firmness values than the control. With respect to the organoleptic quality of the kefir samples, IMO addition caused a decrease in organoleptic scores: the control had the highest score, and the lowest score was observed in kefir samples containing 3 g/100 mL IMO. Overall, kefir containing 1% of IMO was similar in quality characteristics to control kefir made with whole milk.
Reduction in sodium content of fresh, semihard Tzfat cheese using salt replacer mixtures: taste, texture and shelf life evaluation
Authors: Carmi Ifat Koren , Benjamin Ofir
Published: November 2016

Tzfat cheese is a semihard, fresh cheese commonly produced in Israel, with an average sodium content of 1000 mg/100 g cheese. Reduction in sodium levels by 30% and 50% (w/w) with and without salt replacer mixtures was assessed in terms of cheese physicochemical, microbiological and sensory properties. Cheese, containing 30% KCl and 70% NaCl had the closest taste profile to the control cheese, according to electronic tongue analysis. All cheeses underwent a similar increase in extent of proteolysis and microbial growth during shelf life. This study demonstrates the possibility of reducing the sodium content in fresh, semihard cheeses like Tzfat cheese by more than 30% using salt replacer mixtures, without significantly affecting quality.
Contraceptive method preferences and provision after termination of pregnancy: a population‐based analysis of women obtaining care with the British Pregnancy Advisory Service
Authors: Aiken ARA , Lohr PA , Aiken CE , Forsyth T , Trussell J
Published: November 2016

Objective

To examine contraceptive choices among women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) and the provision of the chosen methods.

Design

Population‐based study.

Setting

British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) clinics in England and Wales.

Population

Between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2014, 211 215 women had a TOP at BPAS, were offered contraceptive counselling, and were eligible to obtain contraception at no cost.

Methods

We examined electronic records from BPAS and assessed the proportions of women who accepted contraceptive counselling and chose a contraceptive method, as well as the distributions of methods chosen, analysed by provider and by TOP type. We calculated the proportions receiving their chosen method and the methods chosen by women using no method at conception. We used logistic regression to examine the factors associated with choice of an intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) or implant.

Main outcome measures

Post‐TOP contraceptive method choice. Receipt of chosen method post‐TOP.

Results

Eighty‐five per cent of women accepted contraceptive counselling and 51% chose to obtain a method from BPAS rather than from a GP or contraception and sexual health clinic post‐TOP. [correction added on 25 November 2016 after first online publication: 51% has been inserted in the preceding sentence.] Among those who wanted to receive contraception from BPAS, 51% chose an IUC or implant and 19% chose oral contraceptives. Ninety‐one per cent of women who obtained contraception from BPAS received their chosen method. Women were more likely to choose an IUC or implant if they obtained contraception from BPAS, had a surgical TOP, were parous, young, white, or had one or more previous TOPs.

Conclusions

The standards set for patient‐centred TOP care should emphasise the need for a full range of contraceptive options to be offered and provided post‐TOP.

Tweetable abstract

Uptake targets for long‐acting reversible methods do not reflect women's post‐TOP contraceptive preferences.
Effect of oxytocin infusion on reducing the blood loss during abdominal myomectomy: a double‐blind randomised controlled trial
Authors: Atashkhoei S , Fakhari S , Pourfathi H , Bilehjani E , Garabaghi PM , Asiaei A
Published: November 2016

Objective

To assess the effectiveness and safety of oxytocin to reduce blood loss during abdominal myomectomy.

Design

Double‐blind randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Obstetrics and Gynecologic University Medical Centre.

Population

Eighty healthy women candidates for abdominal myomectomy.

Methods

Women were randomly assigned to two groups. In the study group (n = 40) oxytocin 30 IU in 500 ml normal saline; and in the placebo group (n = 40) pure normal saline was administered during myomectomy. The main outcome measures were peri‐operative blood loss and rates of blood transfusion.

Main outcome measure

Estimated intra‐operative blood loss.

Results

Estimated intra‐operative blood loss in the study group (189.5 ± 16.72 ml) was significantly lower than the placebo group (692.25 ± 89.93 ml) (95% CI 672.54–711.96; P < 0.0001).The need for blood transfusion was significantly lower in the study group. Blood transfusions were required for three (7.5%) women in the study group and 10 (25%) women in the placebo group (95% CI 15.5–34.5; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Intra‐operative oxytocin infusion appears to be safe and effective in decreasing blood loss during abdominal myomectomy.

Tweetable abstract

Intra‐operative oxytocin is effective in decreasing blood loss during abdominal myomectomy
Automated Delineation of Hospital Service Areas and Hospital Referral Regions by Modularity Optimization
Authors: Hu Yujie , Wang Fahui , Xierali Imam M.
Published: November 2016

Objective

To develop an automated, data‐driven, and scale‐flexible method to delineate hospital service areas (HSAs) and hospital referral regions (HRRs) that are up‐to‐date, representative of all patients, and have the optimal localization of hospital visits.

Data Sources

The 2011 state inpatient database in Florida from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project.

Study Design

A network optimization method was used to redefine HSAs and HRRs by maximizing patient‐to‐hospital flows within each HSA/HRR while minimizing flows between them. We first constructed as many HSAs/HRRs as existing Dartmouth units in Florida, and then compared the two by various metrics. Next, we sought to derive the optimal numbers and configurations of HSAs/HRRs that best reflect the modularity of hospitalization patterns in Florida.

Principal Findings

The HSAs/HRRs by our method are favored over the Dartmouth units in balance of region size and market structure, shape, and most important, local hospitalization.

Conclusions

The new method is automated, scale‐flexible, and effective in capturing the natural structure of the health care system. It has great potential for applications in delineating other health care service areas or in larger geographic regions.
Classification of Porcine Cranial Fracture Patterns Using a Fracture Printing Interface,,
Authors: Wei Feng , Bucak Serhat Selçuk , Vollner Jennifer M. , Fenton Todd W. , Jain Anil K. , Haut Roger C.
Published: November 2016

Distinguishing between accidental and abusive head trauma in children can be difficult, as there is a lack of baseline data for pediatric cranial fracture patterns. A porcine head model has recently been developed and utilized in a series of studies to investigate the effects of impact energy level, surface type, and constraint condition on cranial fracture patterns. In the current study, an automated pattern recognition method, or a fracture printing interface (FPI), was developed to classify cranial fracture patterns that were associated with different impact scenarios documented in previous experiments. The FPI accurately predicted the energy level when the impact surface type was rigid. Additionally, the FPI was exceedingly successful in determining fractures caused by skulls being dropped with a high‐level energy (97% accuracy). The FPI, currently developed on the porcine data, may in the future be transformed to the task of cranial fracture pattern classification for human infant skulls.
Development of a Mobile Toolmark Characterization/Comparison System
Authors: Chumbley Scott , Zhang Song , Morris Max , Spotts Ryan , Macziewski Chad
Published: November 2016

Since the development of the striagraph, various attempts have been made to enhance forensic investigation through the use of measuring and imaging equipment. This study describes the development of a prototype system employing an easy‐to‐use software interface designed to provide forensic examiners with the ability to measure topography of a toolmarked surface and then conduct various comparisons using a statistical algorithm. Acquisition of the data is carried out using a portable 3D optical profilometer, and comparison of the resulting data files is made using software named “MANTIS” (Mark and Tool Inspection Suite). The system has been tested on laboratory‐produced markings that include fully striated marks (e.g., screwdriver markings), quasistriated markings produced by shear‐cut pliers, impression marks left by chisels, rifling marks on bullets, and cut marks produced by knives. Using the system, an examiner has the potential to (i) visually compare two toolmarked surfaces in a manner similar to a comparison microscope and (ii) use the quantitative information embedded within the acquired data to obtain an objective statistical comparison of the data files. This study shows that, based on the results from laboratory samples, the system has great potential for aiding examiners in conducting comparisons of toolmarks.
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Trachea Resulting in Fatal Asphyxia
Authors: Huston Butch , Froloff Victor , Mills Kelly , McGee Michael
Published: November 2016

Primary malignant tumors of the trachea are uncommon. The authors report a case of a 72‐year‐old female who died from asphyxia due to an undiagnosed obstructing adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea. The decedent became unresponsive while eating cereal and was pronounced upon arrival at the local hospital. The autopsy revealed a near occlusive tumor mass just superior to the bifurcation of the distal trachea. There was no evidence of aspiration. The death was the result of asphyxia due to obstruction of the trachea by an adenoid cystic carcinoma. This case demonstrates that an obstructive tumor mass may remain undiagnosed until an obstructive episode results in a sudden death.
Recovery of Trace DNA on Clothing: A Comparison of Mini‐tape Lifting and Three Other Forensic Evidence Collection Techniques
Authors: Hess Sabine , Haas Cordula
Published: November 2016

Trace DNA is often found in forensic science investigations. Experience has shown that it is difficult to retrieve a DNA profile when trace DNA is collected from clothing. The aim of this study was to compare four different DNA collection techniques on six different types of clothing in order to determine the best trace DNA recovery method. The classical stain recovery technique using a wet cotton swab was tested against dry swabbing, scraping and a new method, referred to as the mini‐tape lifting technique. Physical contact was simulated with three different “perpetrators” on 18 machine‐washed garments. DNA was collected with the four different DNA recovery methods and subjected to standard PCR‐based DNA profiling. The comparison of STR results showed best results for the mini‐tape lifting and scraping methods independent of the type of clothing. The new mini‐tape lifting technique proved to be an easy and reliable DNA collection method for textiles.
Measuring the Frequency Occurrence of Handwriting and Handprinting Characteristics,
Authors: Johnson Mark E. , Vastrick Thomas W. , Boulanger Michèle , Schuetzner Ellen
Published: November 2016

The premise of this study was to take a valid population sampling of handwriting and handprinting and assess how many times each of the predetermined characteristic is found in the samples. Approximately 1500 handwriting specimens were collected from across the United States and pared to obtain a representative sample of the U.S. adult population according to selected demographics based on age, sex, ethnicity, handedness, education level, and location of lower‐grade school education. This study has been able to support a quantitative assessment of extrinsic and intrinsic effects in handwriting and handprinting for the six subgroups. Additional results include analyses of the interdependence of characteristics. This study found that 98.55% of handprinted characteristics and 97.39% of cursive characteristics had an independence correlation of under 0.2. The conclusions support use of the product rule in general, but with noted caveats. Finally, this study provides frequency occurrence proportions for 776 handwriting and handprinting characteristics.
Deaths in Unlicensed Alcohol Rehabilitation Facilities,
Authors: Su Keng‐Chih , Nguyen Lawrence , Rogers Christopher
Published: November 2016

Non‐English‐speaking people do not always seek medical care through established institutions. This paper reports a series of deaths in unlicensed alcohol rehabilitation facilities serving Spanish‐speaking men. These facilities are informal groups of alcohol abusing men who live together. New members receive various treatments, including administration of ethanol or isopropanol, restraint, and seclusion. We reviewed 42 deaths in unlicensed alcohol rehabilitation facilities in Los Angeles County during the years 2003–2014. Data gathered included age, length of time spent in the facility, blood alcohol and drugs at autopsy, and cause and manner of death. Causes of death included acute alcohol poisoning, alcohol withdrawal, and a variety of other causes. Three cases were considered homicides from restraint asphyxia. The Department of Medical Examiner‐Coroner has worked with the police, district attorney, and State Department of Health Services to try to prevent additional deaths in unlicensed alcohol rehabilitation facilities. Nevertheless, prevention has been difficult.
An Examination of the Transition of Fracture Characteristics in Long Bones from Fresh to Dry in Central Florida: Evaluating the Timing of Injury
Authors: Green Ashley E. , Schultz John J.
Published: November 2016

It is important to conduct timing of injury research analyzing fracture characteristics at known postmortem intervals (PMI) because bone can retain fresh characteristics throughout the PMI. Defleshed pig (Sus scrofa) long bones were fractured weekly in two environments (full sun and shade) over 14 weeks in Central Florida and fracture characteristics were categorized (N = 136) for analysis. Results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) using time in weeks (PMI) as a dependent variable indicate significant relationships between PMI and Fracture Angle (p < 0.001), Fracture Surface (p < 0.001), and Fracture Outline (p < 0.001). Fracture characteristics associated with perimortem trauma (smooth Fracture Surfaces and curved or V‐shaped Fracture Outlines) were commonly observed. Analysis of fracture characteristics for each environment demonstrated similar patterns. Overall, the loss of only fresh fracture characteristics for each bone was noted earlier in the PMI for the Central Florida region than previously reported.
Sexual Dimorphism of Maxillary Sinus Dimensions Using Cone‐Beam Computed Tomography
Authors: Paknahad Maryam , Shahidi Shoaleh , Zarei Zahra
Published: November 2016

Sex determination of unknown persons plays an important role in forensic medicine. Cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) is an excellent imaging modality for accurate measurement of maxillary sinus dimensions. This study aimed to evaluate whether maxillary sinus measurements on CBCT scans can be applied for sex determination. The width, length, and height of maxillary sinuses in CBCT images of 100 patients (50 males and 50 females) were measured. Student's t‐test and discriminant function analysis were used to compare differences in the measured parameters between males and females. The correct predictive accuracy rate of sex determination was 78% in females and 74% in males with overall accuracy of 76%. Based on discriminant analysis, the most pronounced variable in differentiation of sex groups was maxillary sinus height. This study suggests that maxillary sinus measurements can be valuable for sex determination in forensic investigation, especially for cases in which other traditional methods are not applicable.
A Morphological and Morphometric Study of Bite Marks Caused by Mice (Mus Musculus) on Different Baits for Forensic Purposes
Authors: Toledo Víctor A. , Fonseca Gabriel M. , González Paula A. , Ibarra Luis , Torres Francisco J. , Sáez Pedro L.
Published: November 2016

In animal bites, the dental attributes can be fundamental in identifying the marks made by various species on different matrices. Although rodent bite marks have been studied in the context of postmortem interference, little research has used different baits to analyze these marks linking not only specific behavior patterns but also the possibility of structural damage. Twenty mice (Mus musculus) were exposed to different baits to study their bite marks in a controlled model. The known pattern of parallel and multiple grooves has been seen in all baits, but polyvinyl chloride and fiber‐optic cable were significantly different between each other and the other baits. Some baits showed patterns of anchorage of the upper incisors and space between the lower incisors when gnawing. This technical note represents a novel model of analysis where veterinarians and/or dentists may be asked to give an opinion on alleged animal bite marks.
Sudden Infant and Early Childhood Death and Sinus of Valsalva Pseudoaneurysms
Authors: Gilbert John , Sheppard Mary N. , Byard Roger W.
Published: November 2016

Two cases of occult pseudoaneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva (SoV) are reported to demonstrate different etiologies and lethal mechanisms. A previously well 9‐month‐old boy who suffered an unexpected fatal cardiorespiratory arrest was found at autopsy to have a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the left SoV resulting in lethal hemopericardium. A 13.5‐month‐old boy died soon after presenting with a 24‐h history of poor feeding and reduced urine output. At autopsy, destruction of the noncoronary cusp of the aortic valve by bacterial endocarditis was found with extension of the inflammation into a pseudoaneurysm of the SoV with surrounding abscess formation involving the atrioventricular node. Death was most likely due to an arrhythmia. Pseudoaneurysms of the SoV are exceedingly rare but may result in sudden/unexpected death in infancy and early childhood from rupture or involvement of the conduction system or myocardium. Detailed cardiac examination is essential in all unexpected deaths in early life.
Hemithyroidectomy using local or general anaesthesia: Results of a local regional hospital
Authors: Tsui Kwan‐Pok , Kwan Wai‐Yin , Choi Chi‐Yee , Chow Tam‐Lin
Published: November 2016

Aim

Thyroidectomy is commonly performed for benign and malignant diseases of the thyroid gland. We report our results of performing hemithyroidectomy under local anaesthesia (LA) or general anaesthesia (GA) in a local tertiary hospital.

Patients and Methods

Patients’ demographic data, operative time, length of hospital stay and complications were recorded. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess the risk‐adjusted endpoints. The mean follow up was 12.6 months.

Results

From January 2010 to December 2014, 279 patients underwent hemithyroidectomy, of which 229 (82 per cent) were under GA. The mean age was 50.0 ± 14.6 years, and 238 (85 per cent) patients were female. In the univariate analysis, GA was associated with a longer operative time (99.3 vs 75.4 min, P = 0.011) and a longer hospital day (2.3 vs 1.4 days, P < 0.001). After adjusting for other covariates with multiple regression analyses, GA was still associated with a longer operative time by 16.1 min (P = 0.006) and a longer hospital stay by 1.15 days (P < 0.001). It had a higher complication rate (odds ratio = 3.26, P = 0.181), albeit not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Hemithyroidectomy under LA is associated with a shorter operative time and hospital stay, and is a safe and viable alternative to GA in selected patients.
Decide Your Time
Authors: O'Connell Daniel J. , Brent John J. , Visher Christy A.
Published: November 2016

Research Summary

This study used a randomized controlled trial approach with a sample of 400 high‐risk probationers to test the hypothesis that a program incorporating principles of deterrence, graduated sanctions, and coerced abstinence would reduce recidivism rates among drug‐using offenders. Bivariate and multilevel modeling strategies were implemented. Findings revealed no discernable difference across multiple drug use, probationary, and recidivism measures between those randomized into the treatment condition and those receiving standard probation. In multivariate models, probationer age, employment status, and treatment participation improved some recidivism outcomes. Programmatic and sample characteristics are discussed regarding the lack of experimental effect.

Policy Implications

These findings suggest that in designing and implementing deterrence‐informed community supervision approaches, policy makers and practitioners should consider offender attributes, the addition of employment and treatment‐based programs and supports, and local justice system structures. The findings of this study fit well with other emerging models of offender supervision, in particular, those that match services and programs based on offender risks and needs and those that recognize and address the heterogeneity of the offender population in developing supervision and service plans. Swift, certain, and fair supervision approaches for individuals under community supervision do not seem to be a “one‐size‐fits‐all” strategy. Understanding for whom they work and under what conditions has not yet been determined. In the meantime, policy makers and practitioners should endeavor to understand the risks and needs of their local offender population and the community supports that are available to improve offender outcomes and increase public safety.
Using Single Free Sorting and Multivariate Exploratory Methods to Design a New Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel
Authors: Spencer Molly , Sage Emma , Velez Martin , Guinard Jean‐Xavier
Published: November 2016

The original Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel was developed by the Specialty Coffee Assn. of America over 20 y ago, and needed an innovative revision. This study used a novel application of traditional sensory and statistical methods in order to reorganize the new coffee Sensory Lexicon developed by World Coffee Research and Kansas State Univ. into scientifically valid clusters and levels to prepare a new, updated flavor wheel. Seventy‐two experts participated in a modified online rapid free sorting activity (no tasting) to sort flavor attributes of the lexicon. The data from all participants were compiled and agglomeration hierarchical clustering was used to determine the clusters and levels of the flavor attributes, while multidimensional scaling was used to determine the positioning of the clusters around the Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel. This resulted in a new flavor wheel for the coffee industry.