bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global stability and control of the confined turbulent flow past a thick flat plate
Authors: Carini M. , Airiau C. , Debien A. , Léon O. , Pralits J. O.
Published: February 2017

This article investigates the structural stability and sensitivity properties of the confined turbulent wake behind an elongated D-shaped cylinder of aspect-ratio 10 at Re = 32 000. The stability analysis is performed by linearising the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations around the numerically computed and the experimentally measured mean flows. We found that the vortex-shedding frequency is very well captured by the leading unstable global mode, especially when the additional turbulent diffusion is modelled in the stability equations by means of a frozen eddy-viscosity approach. The sensitivity maps derived from the computed and the measured mean flows are then compared, showing a good qualitative agreement. The careful inspection of their spatial structure highlights that the highest sensitivity is attained not only across the recirculation bubble but also at the body blunt-edge, where tiny pockets of maximum receptivity are found. The impact of the turbulent diffusion on the obtained results is investigated. Finally, we show how the knowledge of the unstable adjoint global mode of the linearised mean-flow dynamics can be exploited to design an active feedback control of the unsteady turbulent wake, which leads, under the adopted numerical framework, to completely suppress its low-frequency oscillation.
An upper diameter bound for compact Ricci solitons with application to the Hitchin–Thorpe inequality
Authors: Tadano Homare
Published: February 2017

In this article, stimulated by Fernández-López and García-Río, we shall give an upper diameter bound for compact shrinking Ricci solitons in terms of the range of the scalar curvature, as well as in terms of the range of the potential function. As an application, we shall provide some new sufficient conditions for compact four-dimensional shrinking Ricci solitons to satisfy the Hitchin–Thorpe inequality.
Design of a novel 5-DOF flexure-based compound alignment stage for Roll-to-Roll Printed Electronics
Authors: Chen Weihai , Yang Shang , Liu Jingmeng , Chen Wenjie , Jin Yan
Published: February 2017

Alignment stage is a pivotal component for Roll-to-Roll Printed Electronic (R2RPE), especially for Roll-to-Roll inkjet printing. This paper presents the design, modeling, and testing of a new flexure-based compound alignment stage for R2RPE. In this design, the alignment stage has 5-DOF (Degree of Freedom) motions for compensating the alignment errors and only the rotation motion about the y-axis is redundant. The stage is constructed in series by four key parts and adopts a compounded flexure structure to achieve a great performance. Each part is driven by a piezoelectric actuator or voice coil motor actuator to obtain one or two DOF motion. In order to enlarge the travel range of the alignment stage, a Scott-Russell mechanism and a lever mechanism are arranged in series for forming a two-grade displacement amplifier to overcome the small displacement of the actuator. Based on the pseudo-rigid-body simplification method, alignment models are developed. Kinematic and static analyses are conducted to evaluate the performance of the stage in terms of travel range and input stiffness. Finite element simulation is carried out to examine the mechanical performance and the theoretical models. A prototype is fabricated and experiments are conducted. Results show that the proposed alignment stage possesses an error compensation workspace of 148.11μm×149.73μm×813.61μm×1.558mrad×3.501mrad with output coupling errors of 0.693% and 0.637% between the x- and y-axis, which meets the requirements of Roll-to-Roll inkjet printing.
Quantification of mixing in vesicle suspensions using numerical simulations in two dimensions
Authors: Kabacaoğlu G. , Quaife B. , Biros G.
Published: February 2017

We study mixing in Stokesian vesicle suspensions in two dimensions on a cylindrical Couette apparatus using numerical simulations. The vesicle flow simulation is done using a boundary integral method, and the advection-diffusion equation for the mixing of the solute is solved using a pseudo-spectral scheme. We study the effect of the area fraction, the viscosity contrast between the inside (the vesicles) and the outside (the bulk) fluid, the initial condition of the solute, and the mixing metric. We compare mixing in the suspension with mixing in the Couette apparatus without vesicles. On the one hand, the presence of vesicles in most cases slightly suppresses mixing. This is because the solute can be only diffused across the vesicle interface and not advected. On the other hand, there exist spatial distributions of the solute for which the unperturbed Couette flow completely fails to mix whereas the presence of vesicles enables mixing. We derive a simple condition that relates the velocity and solute and can be used to characterize the cases in which the presence of vesicles promotes mixing.
Local glass transition temperature Tg(z) of polystyrene next to different polymers: Hard vs. soft confinement
Authors: Baglay Roman R. , Roth Connie B.
Published: February 2017

The depth to which the local glass transition temperature Tg and alpha-relaxations are perturbed near a boundary is believed to be related to the characteristic length scales associated with cooperative dynamics in dynamically heterogeneous glasses. Following our recent work [R. R. Baglay and C. R. Roth, J. Chem. Phys. 143, 111101 (2015)] that measured a very broad 350-400 nm local Tg(z) profile across a glassy-rubbery interface of polystyrene (PS)/poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PnBMA), we compare here how the Tg(z) profile in PS varies when changing the neighboring polymer from a lower Tg material to a higher Tg material. Here we report local Tg(z) profiles for PS when in contact with polysulfone (PSF), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PiBMA). We find that the distance from the interface before bulk Tg of PS (Tgbulk=101 °C) is recovered depends on whether PS forms the high-Tg glassy component experiencing so-called soft confinement, z ≈ 225-250 nm for PS next to PiBMA (Tgbulk=62 °C) and PnBMA (Tgbulk=21 °C), or PS forms the low-Tg rubbery component experiencing hard confinement, z ≈ 100-125 nm for PS next to PSF (Tgbulk=186 °C) and PMMA (Tgbulk=120 °C). The depth to which these Tg(z) perturbations persist and the magnitude of the local Tg perturbation at the interface are independent of the difference in Tgbulk between the two polymers, the interaction parameter, and the chemical structure. We demonstrate that these broad, extended Tg(z) length scales appear to be universal across these different systems but show that the strong dynamical coupling across the dissimilar polymer-polymer interface only occurs when this interface has been annealed to equilibrium. We consider why dissimilar polymer-polymer interfaces exhibit continuous local dynamics across the interface in contrast to polymer-free surface, polymer-substrate, or polymer-liquid interfaces that show discontinuous local dynamics.
An electromagnetic induced transparency-like scheme for wireless power transfer using dielectric resonators
Authors: Elnaggar Sameh Y.
Published: February 2017

Similar to the hybridization of three atoms, three coupled resonators interact to form bonding, anti-bonding, and non-bonding modes. The non-bonding mode enables an electromagnetic induced transparency like transfer of energy. Here, the non-bonding mode, resulting from the strong electric coupling of two dielectric resonators and an enclosure, is exploited to show that it is feasible to transfer power over a distance comparable to the operating wavelength. In this scheme, the enclosure acts as a mediator. The strong coupling permits the excitation of the non-bonding mode with high purity. This approach is different from resonant inductive coupling, which works in the sub-wavelength regime. Optimal loads and the corresponding maximum efficiency are determined using two independent methods: Coupled Mode Theory and Circuit modelling. It is shown that, unlike resonant inductive coupling, the figure of merit depends on the enclosure quality and not on the load, which emphasizes the role of the enclosure as a mediator. Briefly after the input excitation is turned on, the energy in the receiver builds up via all coupled and spurious modes. As time elapses, all modes except the non-bonding cease to sustain. Due to the strong coupling between the dielectrics and the enclosure, such systems have unique properties such as high and uniform efficiency over large distances and minimal fringing fields. These properties suggest that electromagnetic induced transparency like schemes that rely on the use of dielectric resonators can be used to power autonomous systems inside an enclosure or find applications when exposure to the fields needs to be minimal. Finite Element computations are used to verify the theoretical predictions by determining the transfer efficiency, field profile, and coupling coefficients for two different systems. It is shown that the three resonators must be present for efficient power transfer; if one or more are removed, the transfer efficiency reduces significantly.
Dependence of electrical transport properties of CaO(CaMnO3)m (m = 1, 2, 3, ∞) thermoelectric oxides on lattice periodicity
Authors: Baranovskiy Andrei , Amouyal Yaron
Published: February 2017

The electrical transport properties of CaO(CaMnO3)m (m = 1, 2, 3, ∞) compounds are studied applying the density functional theory (DFT) in terms of band structure at the vicinity of the Fermi level (EF). It is shown that the total density of states (DOS) values at EF increase with increase in the m-values, which implies an increase in the electrical conductivity, σ, with increasing m-values, in full accordance with experimental results. Additionally, the calculated values of the relative slopes of the DOS at EF correlate with the experimentally measured Seebeck coefficients. The electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficients were calculated in the framework of the Boltzmann transport theory applying the constant relaxation time approximation. By the analysis of experimental and calculated σ(Τ) dependences, the electronic relaxation time and mean free path values were estimated. It is shown that the electrical transport is dominated by electron scattering on the boundaries between perovskite (CaMnO3) and Ca oxide (CaO) layers inside the crystal lattice.
Giant enhancement of the controllable in-plane anisotropy of biased isotropic noncentrosymmetric materials with epsilon-negative multilayers
Authors: Valagiannopoulos C. A. , Tsitsas N. L. , Lakhtakia A.
Published: February 2017

Giant in-plane anisotropy can be exhibited by a finitely thick periodic multilayer comprising bilayers of an isotropic noncentrosymmetric material and a non-dissipative isotropic medium of negative permittivity, when a dc electric field is applied in the thickness direction. Compared to a homogeneous layer of the noncentrosymmetric material with the same thickness as the periodic multilayer, the latter exhibits an effective in-plane anisotropy that can be three orders larger in magnitude. This enhancement gets more substantial at higher frequencies and is electrically controllable. The incorporation of dissipation reduces the enhancement of the effective in-plane anisotropy, which nevertheless remains significant. We expect the finitely thick periodic multilayer to be useful as a polarization transformer or a modulator in the terahertz regime fully controllable via external dc bias.
Study of growth time and post annealing effect on the performance of ZnO nanorods ultraviolet photodetector
Authors: Shasti M. , Dariani R. S.
Published: February 2017

In this paper, Zinc Oxide nanorods with different thicknesses are grown on a glass substrate by a hydrothermal method to fabricate an ultraviolet photodetector. The sample is post annealed in an argon environment as an annealing process can have a positive effect on the photodetector performance. The morphology, crystalline structure, and optical properties of ZnO nanorods (NRs) are investigated by SEM, XRD, UV-Visible spectrometer, and PL spectra. The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of both growth time and post annealing on enhancement of photoresponse of the ZnO NR photodetector. Measurements indicate that the sample with higher thickness exhibits a higher photocurrent and photoresponsivity. Also, with post annealing, an increase in photocurrent and photoresponsivity is observed due to decreasing defect levels.
Growth of HfO2/TiO2 nanolaminates by atomic layer deposition and HfO2-TiO2 by atomic partial layer deposition
Authors: Hernández-Arriaga H. , López-Luna E. , Martínez-Guerra E. , Turrubiartes M. M. , Rodríguez A. G. , Vidal M. A.
Published: February 2017

A novel growth technique, called atomic partial layer deposition (APLD), has been proposed to expand the applications of, and the research in, atomic layer deposition (ALD). This technique allows the possibility for the fabrication of well-controlled alloys on a single atomic layer scale. To demonstrate the capabilities of this technique, samples of HfO2 and TiO2 were prepared as conventional ALD nanolaminates through the repeated exposure of the separated metal-precursor and reactant. Subsequently, HfO2-TiO2 APLD growth mode samples were obtained by varying the precursor doses and exposure times to obtain a fractional coverage in the monolayer of Hf and Ti. The thickness and structure of the samples were studied by X-ray reflectivity. The surface topography was studied using atomic force microscopy along with Kelvin probe force microscopy for surface potential mapping. Clear differences on the surface, compared with the conventional HfO2/TiO2 ALD nanolaminates, were observed, which confirmed the HfO2-TiO2 APLD growth. The films were analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profile scans and angle resolved XPS, where well-defined HfO2 and TiO2 contributions were found for both the conventional and APLD mode samples, and an additional contribution, assigned to a ternary phase Hf-Ti-O, in the APLD grown films was observed. This result confirms that Hf and Ti form an alloy in a monolayer by APLD mode growth.
Leakage current characteristics and Sm/Ti doping effect in BiFeO3 thin films on silicon wafers
Authors: Sun Wei , Zhou Zhen , Luo Jin , Wang Ke , Li Jing-Feng
Published: February 2017

The leakage current of BiFeO3 thin films can be reduced by Sm or Ti doping, and their codoping effect is significant. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the reduction in the leakage current can be ascribed to decreased Fe2+ ions and oxygen vacancies. The leakage mechanisms of pristine and doped BiFeO3 films were studied by analyzing their leakage current characteristics through curve fitting. It was found that Ti could stabilize the trapped carriers, while Sm might decrease the trap energy and contrarily benefit the excitation of the trapped carriers, which explains the greater effect of Ti in reducing the leakage current than that of Sm. The piezoelectric properties of Sm/Ti-codoped BiFe0.9Ti0.1O3 (BFO) films were comparable to those of pristine BFO owing to the enhanced electric breakdown despite their reduced remanent polarization.
Elemental evolution of the SiOxFy self-masking layer of plasma textured silicon and its modification during air exposure
Authors: Gaudig Maria , Hirsch Jens , Naumann Volker , Werner Martina , Großer Stephan , Hagendorf Christian , Bernhard Norbert , Lausch Dominik
Published: February 2017

The influence of the SiOxFy selfmasking process on the formation of black-Silicon (b-Si) textures by maskless SF6/O2 plasma etching is of great interest with regard to the optimization of the texturing process for highly antireflective silicon. For that reason, the elemental composition of plasma textured silicon surfaces is analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The chemical composition of a fluorine containing oxide layer on top of the surface was confirmed and determined quantitatively. A strongly reduced F content was found after ambient air exposure. A qualitative model of the chemical and physical processes caused by maskless plasma texturing was developed to explain the observed experimental results. The decrease in the F content is assumed to be caused by hydrolysis of F by air moisture, resulting in a successive desorption of HF and transformation of SiOxFy to silicon oxide.
Menangle virus: one of the first of the novel viruses from fruit bats
Authors: Kirkland Peter D
Published: February 2017

‘Brainless pig disease swoops on Sydney.' This was a media headline that threatened to emerge during the early stages of a disease outbreak in pigs in NSW. However, identification of the viral cause and epidemiological studies that supported a sound management program minimised the impact of this outbreak on animal and human health.
Virus discovery in bats
Authors: Johnson Rebecca I , Smith Ina L
Published: February 2017

Comprising approximately 20% of known mammalian species, bats are abundant throughout the world1. In recent years, bats have been shown to be the reservoir host for many highly pathogenic viruses, leading to increased attempts to identify other zoonotic bat-borne viruses. These efforts have led to the discovery of over 200 viruses in bats and many more viral nucleic acid sequences from 27 different viral families2,3 (Table 1). Over half of the world’s recently emerged infectious diseases originated in wildlife15, with the genetic diversity of viruses greater in bats than in any other animal16. As humans continue to encroach on the habitat of bats, the risk of spillover of potentially zoonotic viruses is also continuing to increase. Therefore, the surveillance of bats and discovery of novel pathogens is necessary to prepare for these spillover events17.
Architected cellular ceramics with tailored stiffness via direct foam writing
Authors: Muth Joseph T. , Dixon Patrick G. , Woish Logan , Gibson Lorna J. , Lewis Jennifer A.
Published: February 2017

Significance

Direct foam writing enables the construction of architected cellular ceramics with tailored microstructure, geometry, and mechanical properties. These bioinspired, hierarchical structures exhibit different modes of deformation as well as exceptional specific stiffness. This work represents an important step toward the scalable fabrication of architected porous materials, which may find potential application as lightweight structures, thermal insulation, tissue scaffolds, catalyst supports, and electrodes.
Kinetics, subcellular localization, and contribution to parasite virulence of a
Trypanosoma cruzi
hybrid type A heme peroxidase (
Tc
APx-CcP)
Authors: Hugo Martín , Martínez Alejandra , Trujillo Madia , Estrada Damián , Mastrogiovanni Mauricio , Linares Edlaine , Augusto Ohara , Issoglio Federico , Zeida Ari , Estrín Darío A. , Heijnen Harry F. G. , Piacenza Lucía , Radi Rafael
Published: February 2017

Significance

Trypanosoma cruzi
, the causative agent of Chagas disease, affects 8–10 million people in Latin America. Parasite antioxidant systems are essential for parasite survival and infectivity in the vertebrate host. Herein, we characterized the enzymic properties, subcellular localization, and contribution to parasite virulence of a
T. cruzi
hybrid type A member of class I heme peroxidases. The enzyme reacts fast with hydrogen peroxide and utilizes both ferrocytochrome
c
and ascorbate as reducing substrates [
T. cruzi
ascorbate peroxidase (
Tc
APx)-cytochrome
c
peroxidase (CcP)]. A unique subcellular distribution of
Tc
APx-CcP in the infective stages suggests a role during parasite–host interactions. Infection of macrophages and cardiomyocytes, as well as in mice, confirmed the involvement of
Tc
APx-CcP in pathogen virulence as part of the parasite antioxidant armamentarium.
Spectrin βV adaptive mutations and changes in subcellular location correlate with emergence of hair cell electromotility in mammalians
Authors: Cortese Matteo , Papal Samantha , Pisciottano Francisco , Elgoyhen Ana Belén , Hardelin Jean-Pierre , Petit Christine , Franchini Lucia Florencia , El-Amraoui Aziz
Published: February 2017

Significance

The mammalian auditory organ harbors a subpopulation of sensory hair cells that alternately shorten and elongate in response to sound stimuli. This singular feature, called somatic electromotility, is associated with the presence of a flexible cortical network of F-actin and spectrin βV, a large unconventional β-spectrin. We show that adaptive mutations of spectrin-βV occurred in the mammalian lineage and were accompanied with substantial changes in the protein distribution within inner ear hair cells. This study illustrates how a comparison of the subcellular locations of a protein between nonmammalian and mammalian vertebrates in a given cell type, combined with branch-site model analysis of the protein family in silico, can shed light on a major mammalian structural/functional innovation.
Mill’s act-utilitarian interpreters on Utilitarianism chapter V paragraph 14
Authors: Miller Dale E.
Published: February 2017

In the fourteenth paragraph of the fifth chapter of Utilitarianism, J. S. Mill writes that ‘We do not call anything wrong, unless we mean to imply that a person ought to be punished in some way or other for doing it; if not by law, by the opinion of his fellow-creatures; if not by opinion, by the reproaches of his own conscience.’ I criticize the attempts of three commentators who have recently presented act-utilitarian readings of Mill – Roger Crisp, David Brink, and Piers Norris Turner – to accommodate this passage.
Social actors and social ties in multiple modernity: Familism and social change in the South of Italy
Authors: Costabile Antonio , Coco Antonella
Published: February 2017

This paper focuses on relationships between community ties and social change, highlighting family bonds in the South of Italy. We interrogate major results of contemporary research on political familism and its interconnections with political clientelism. The category of political familism highlights the presence of family chains within political parties, hence in the selection of the political class and within the bureaucratic sector. We argue that, in some contexts, the crisis of political parties in Italy and specific forms of personalisation of power are accompanied by the strengthening of political familism, since family ties still constitute a strategic resource for electoral and political success. Furthermore, we highlight firstly those factors which have favoured the persistence of familism, both in the private and in the public spheres, and subsequently some factors indicating crisis or change in the familistic model, in addition to its multiple ambivalences.
Neuronal CTGF/CCN2 negatively regulates myelination in a mouse model of tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Ercan Ebru , Han Juliette M. , Di Nardo Alessia , Winden Kellen , Han Min-Joon , Hoyo Leonie , Saffari Afshin , Leask Andrew , Geschwind Daniel H. , Sahin Mustafa
Published: February 2017

Disruption of myelination during development has been implicated in a range of neurodevelopmental disorders including tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). TSC patients with autism display impairments in white matter integrity. Similarly, mice lacking neuronal Tsc1 have a hypomyelination phenotype. However, the mechanisms that underlie these phenotypes remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that neuronal TSC1/2 orchestrates a program of oligodendrocyte maturation through the regulated secretion of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). We characterize oligodendrocyte maturation both in vitro and in vivo. We find that neuron-specific Tsc1 deletion results in an increase in CTGF secretion that non–cell autonomously stunts oligodendrocyte development and decreases the total number of oligodendrocytes. Genetic deletion of CTGF from neurons, in turn, mitigates the TSC-dependent hypomyelination phenotype. These results show that the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in neurons regulates CTGF production and secretion, revealing a paracrine mechanism by which neuronal signaling regulates oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination in TSC. This study highlights the role of mTOR-dependent signaling between neuronal and nonneuronal cells in the regulation of myelin and identifies an additional therapeutic avenue for this disease.
International Criminal Law and Its Paradoxes
Authors: Carlson Kerstin Bree
Published: February 2017

This article challenges international criminal tribunals’ (ICTs) capacity to perform the socially constitutive work of transitional justice. Highlighting paradigmatic ICT jurisprudence, I show that both the “progress” and “justice” constructs central to the work and legitimacy of international criminal law are unrealizable under current ICT practice. This is due to international criminal law’s foundational, legitimizing basis in natural law rather than political liberalism. I call for a revision of ICT institutional accountability structures.
Being Part of the “Home Team”
Authors: Collins Todd A. , Dumas Tao L. , Moyer Laura P.
Published: February 2017

Understanding how attorneys’ perceptions of “insider” and “outsider” status affect negotiations is of both theoretical and practical importance for understanding the judicial system. We utilize a comprehensive survey of attorneys from one state to explore views of trustworthiness and negotiations. Overall, as attorneys become more embedded in their in-group, they increasingly report lower trust levels and less effective negotiations with outsiders. These relationships do vary somewhat by the scope and location of the attorney’s practice. Our findings provide insight into one possible causal mechanism underlying the “repeat player” advantage; they also suggest new directions for research on case outcomes.
The Moral Character of Nursing
Authors: Lazenby Mark
Published: February 2017

Ethics in nursing is in the profession’s moral character, not in a set of bioethical principles. This moral character lies in the profession’s nature as a caring profession. It lies in the profession’s caring about and for a better world for patients and their communities. Individual nurses can develop this moral character in themselves by practicing five ethical habits, or the habits of a good nurse; these are the habits of trustworthiness, imagination, beauty, space, and presence. When nurses practice the habits of a good nurse, they embody the moral character of the profession in their everyday acts of nursing care.
Beauty
Authors: Lazenby Mark
Published: February 2017

Being alive is beautiful. The habit of beauty is seeing patients’ aliveness and seeking to restore or promote it, even as patients are dying. Injury, not ugliness, is the opposite of beauty, as Elaine Scarry points out. An injury is an injustice, or something that is not right about a person’s life. It is in this sense that an injury—that which threatens aliveness—is a moral wrong. Nurses seek to redress injustices by seeking to restore or promote patients’ aliveness, even as they are dying. That is, by seeking to promote or restore aliveness, nurses restore and distribute justice to patients’ lives.
The Challenge of Unreasonable Demands
Authors: Lazenby Mark
Published: February 2017

The work of nursing places on nurses demands that sometimes are unreasonable. Low nurse-to-patient ratios, demanding patients, busy clinics—all of these put pressure on nurses. This pressure can lead to mistakes. The habit of trustworthiness, however, is a personal habit nurses can cultivate in themselves to meet these demands and still be a good nurse. It is also a habit the community of nurses goes to. In this way, the trustworthiness of the community of nurses, amid the demands of the work, empowers the profession of nursing.
The Threat of Becoming Automatons
Authors: Lazenby Mark
Published: February 2017

Technology presents a perpetual threat of making the user of the technology into an automaton, someone who is in the service of the technology rather than a human with full emotion and decisional capacity. Although technology can help to keep nurses’ practice safe and up to date, it lacks imagination. The habit of imagination keeps nurses’ practice human. For it is by the habit of imagination that nurses understand their patients’ lives. By understanding patients’ lives—including what they would do for themselves to gain independence—nurses can apply technology in a way that is in the service of the goals of nursing. In this way, the habit of imagination preserves both patients’ and nurses’ humanity in the world of automation and technology.
Toward a Better World
Authors: Lazenby Mark
Published: February 2017

When nurses practice the habits of a good nurse, they are the presence of a better world for their patients and their patients’ communities. When nurses practice the habits of a good nurse, they produce in the here and now a world that is better than disease and disorder, a world in which vulnerability and uncertainty are lessened. When nurses cultivate in themselves the habits of a good nurse, they bring that which is good into the places of care. Nursing presence is the presence of a better world for patients and their communities. Ultimately, nursing presence brings into the present the promise of a better world. The moral character of the profession of nursing is bound up in this promise—and the work of nurses to bring it about.
Epidemic! Opioid overdose in America
Authors: Contreras George W. , Bellomo Tamara L. , Cichminski Lucille
Published: February 2017

We give you an overview of this growing public health crisis and the strategies you need to address it.
Segmental Neurofibromatosis
Authors: Alexander Tiffany , Tran Bao Anh Patrick , Chen Wen , Maiberger Mary
Published: February 2017

Segmental neurofibromatosis is a rare condition that most commonly affects women and presents as neurofibromas, café au lait spots, and freckling. The neurofibromas usually occur in a dermatomal pattern, whereas the café au lait spots may follow Blaschko’s lines. There is often no family history. The etiology is due to a postzygotic mutation in the gene encoding neurofibromin. Histopathology reveals a tumor with haphazardly arranged spindle cells and a pale myxoid stroma from mucin deposition and fibroplasia. There have been few reported cases of segmental neurofibromatosis. In this case report, we will discuss the clinical features, histopathology, differential diagnosis, and management of segmental neurofibromatosis.
Flat-Topped Grouped Papules on the Fingers
Authors: Jacob Sharon E. , Juhasz Margit
Published: February 2017

Teledermatology is a term to describe the provision of dermatologic medical services through telecommunication technology. This is a case of flat-topped grouped papules on the fingers.
Covered Balloon-Expanding Stents in Airway Stenosis
Authors: Majid Adnan , Kheir Fayez , Chung Jey , Alape Daniel , Husta Bryan , Oh Scott , Folch Erik
Published: February 2017

Background:

The balloon-expanding stents are widely available but rarely described for use within the tracheobronchial tree. This report describes our experience with these stents in airway stenosis particularly as a lobar salvage therapy.

Methods:

This was a retrospective review of all records in which the balloon-expanding stents were used at a tertiary medical center. Ages, sex, location of stenosis, etiology of stenosis, stent size, duration of stent placement and associated interventions for airway stenosis were recorded. Patient’s self-reported respiratory symptoms, dyspnea scale, and radiographic imaging at baseline and after stent placement were also reported.

Results:

Twenty-one Atrium iCAST stents were inserted in 18 patients with malignant and benign airway disease. The median age was 69.5 years (interquartile range, 53.5 to 74). Most stents (n=20, 95%) were deployed in the lobar airways. There was a significant improvement in the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale from median of 3 to 2 (P<0.05). Self-reported respiratory symptoms improved in 14 patients (78%, P<0.05). Radiographic improvement post Atrium iCAST stent placement was achieved in 15 patients (83%). No deaths were related to airway stenting complications. Adverse events related to stents included migration (n=2, 9.5%), granulation tissue formation (n=2, 9.5%) and mucus plugging (n=1, 4.8%).

Conclusions:

Lobar stenting with balloon-expanding metallic stents appears feasible, safe and improves symptoms as well as radiographic atelectasis in patients with lobar airway stenosis in this small case series. Larger studies are needed to confirm this observation and to address long-term safety.
Radial Probe Ultrasound-Guided Cryobiopsy
Authors: Berim Ilya G. , Saeed Ali I. , Awab Ahmed , Highley Adam , Colanta Agnes , Chaudry Fawad
Published: February 2017

Fluoroscopy-guided transbronchial forceps biopsy has a low diagnostic yield in patients with radiographic suspicion of interstitial lung disease. Cryobiopsy has a higher diagnostic yield likely due to preserved lung architecture and larger biopsies; however, there is an increased risk of major airway bleeding and pneumothorax. Simultaneous use of endobronchial balloon blocker allows for containment of bleeding after cryobiopsy to the affected lobe. In the current article we describe use of radial ultrasound in identification of a target lung parenchyma without a major blood vessel adjacent to distal bronchi. After fluoroscopic marking of the selected airway a 3 second cryobiopsy was performed after localization of cryoprobe. Simultaneous use of radial ultrasound and fluoroscopy can possibly decrease bleeding complication associated with cryobiopsy in patients with suspected interstitial lung disease.
The Explosion of Virtual Nursing Care
Authors: Boston-Fleischhauer Carol
Published: February 2017

The call for care model innovation is clear, spearheaded by rising healthcare costs, changing payer expectations, overall fiscal and workforce shortages, and an increasingly comorbid patient population requiring significant, long-term support. As part of care model innovation, the leveraging of technology is key.
Hardwiring Bedside Shift Report
Authors: Scheidenhelm Sandra , Reitz O. Ed
Published: February 2017

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this project was to increase nurse compliance with bedside report and increase patient satisfaction scores.

BACKGROUND

Bedside report is an evidence-based practice used to increase patient involvement in their care and improve patient satisfaction. A change management strategy and standardized approach to bedside report can help increase nurse compliance with the process.

METHODS

This study used a quasi-experimental, between-group, preimplementation and postimplementation comparison of patient satisfaction scores from returned surveys on 2 units in a 149-bed community hospital. We also compared nurse compliance with bedside report preimplementation and postimplementation.

RESULTS

Five months after using a change management strategy to “hardwire” (ingrain systems and tools) bedside report, nurse compliance with bedside report and patient satisfaction scores improved in both intervention units.

CONCLUSIONS

A change management strategy and standardized approach to bedside report helped increase nurse compliance with the process, leading to improved patient satisfaction.
MEACA: efficient gene-set interpretation of expression data using mixed models
Authors: Zhuo Bin , Jiang Duo
Published: February 2017

Competitive gene-set analysis, or enrichment analysis, is widely used for functional interpretation of gene expression data. It tests a known category (e.g. pathway) of genes for enriched differential expression signals. Current methods do not properly capture inter-gene correlations and heterogeneity, resulting in mis-calibration and power loss. We propose MEACA, a new gene-set method based on mixed-effects models. MEACA flexibly incorporates unknown heterogeneity and correlations across genes, and does not need time-consuming permutations. Compared to existing methods, MEACA substantially improves type 1 error control and power in widely ranging scenarios. Real data applications demonstrate MEACA’s ability to recover biologically meaningful relationships.
Collective effects of common SNPs and improved risk prediction in lung cancer
Authors: Lei Xiaoyun , Yuan Dejian , Zhu Zuobin , Huang Shi
Published: February 2017

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the US. While most sporadic lung cancer cases are related to environmental factors such as smoking, genetic susceptibility may also play an important role and a number of lung cancer associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified although many remain to be found. The collective effects of genome wide minor alleles of common SNPs, or the minor allele content (MAC) in an individual, have been linked with quantitative variations of complex traits and diseases. Here we studied MAC in lung cancer using previously published SNP datasets and found higher MAC in cases relative to matched controls. A set of 25883 SNPs with MA (MAF < 0.5) more common in cases (P< 0.1) was found to have the best predictive accuracy. A weighted risk score calculated by using this set can predict 2.6% of lung cancer cases (100% specificity). These results identify a novel genetic risk element or higher MAC in lung cancer susceptibility and provide a useful genetic method to identify a small fraction of lung cancer cases.
Genes Affecting Vocal and Facial Anatomy Went Through Extensive Regulatory Divergence in Modern Humans
Authors: Gokhman David , Nissim-Rafinia Malka , Agranat-Tamir Lily , Housman Genevieve , García-Pérez Raquel , Lizano Esther , Cheronet Olivia , Mallick Swapan , Nieves-Colón Maria A. , Li Heng , Alpaslan-Roodenberg Songül , Novak Mario , Gu Hongcang , Osinski Jason M. , Ferrando-Bernal Manuel , Gelabert Pere , Lipende Iddi , Mjungu Deus , Kondova Ivanela , Bontrop Ronald , Kullmer Ottmar , Weber Gerhard , Shahar Tal , Dvir-Ginzberg Mona , Faerman Marina , Quillen Ellen E. , Meissner Alexander , Lahav Yonatan , Kandel Leonid , Liebergall Meir , Prada María E. , Vidal Julio M. , Gronostajski Richard M. , Stone Anne C. , Yakir Benjamin , Lalueza-Fox Carles , Pinhasi Ron , Reich David , Marques-Bonet Tomas , Meshorer Eran , Carmel Liran
Published: February 2017

Regulatory changes are broadly accepted as key drivers of phenotypic divergence. However, identifying regulatory changes that underlie human-specific traits has proven very challenging. Here, we use 63 DNA methylation maps of ancient and present-day humans, as well as of six chimpanzees, to detect differentially methylated regions that emerged in modern humans after the split from Neanderthals and Denisovans. We show that genes affecting the face and vocal tract went through particularly extensive methylation changes. Specifically, we identify widespread hypermethylation in a network of face- and voice-affecting genes (SOX9,ACAN,COL2A1,NFIXandXYLT1). We propose that these repression patterns appeared after the split from Neanderthals and Denisovans, and that they might have played a key role in shaping the modern human face and vocal tract.
Cigarette smoking increases coffee consumption: findings from a Mendelian randomisation analysis
Authors: Bjørngaard Johan H , Nordestgaard Ask Tybjærg , Taylor Amy E , Treur Jorien L , Gabrielsen Maiken E. , Munafò Marcus R , Nordestgaard Børge Grønne , Åsvold Bjørn Olav , Romundstad Pål , Smith George Davey
Published: February 2017

Background

Smokers tend to consume more coffee than non-smokers and there is evidence for a positive relationship between cigarette and coffee consumption in smokers. Cigarette smoke increases the metabolism of caffeine, so this association may represent a causal effect of smoking on caffeine intake.

Methods

We performed a Mendelian randomisation analysis in 114,029 individuals from the UK Biobank, 56,664 from the Norwegian HUNT study and 78,650 from the Copenhagen General Population Study. We used a genetic variant in theCHRNA5nicotinic receptor (rs16969968) as a proxy for smoking heaviness. Coffee and tea consumption were self-reported. Analyses were conducted using linear regression and meta-analysed across studies.

Results

Each additional cigarette per day consumed by current smokers was associated with higher coffee consumption (0.10 cups per day, 95% CI:0.03,0.17). There was weak evidence for an increase in tea consumption per additional cigarette smoked per day (0.04 cups per day, 95% CI:-0.002,0.07). There was strong evidence that each additional copy of the minor allele of rs16969968 (which increases daily cigarette consumption) in current smokers was associated with higher coffee consumption (0.15 cups per day, 95% CI:0.11,0.20), but only weak evidence for an association with tea consumption (0.04 cups per day, 95% CI:- 0.01,0.09). There was no clear evidence that rs16969968 was associated with coffee or tea consumption in never or former smokers.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that higher cigarette consumption causally increases coffee intake. This is consistent with faster metabolism of caffeine by smokers, but may also reflect behavioural links between smoking and coffee.
Oropharyngeal mucosal transmission of Zika virus in rhesus macaques
Authors: Newman Christina M. , Dudley Dawn M. , Aliota Matthew T. , Weiler Andrea M. , Barry Gabrielle L. , Mohns Mariel S. , Breitbach Meghan E. , Stewart Laurel M. , Buechler Connor R. , Graham Michael E. , Post Jennifer , Schultz-Darken Nancy , Peterson Eric , Newton Wendy , Mohr Emma L. , Capuano Saverio , O’Connor David H. , Friedrich Thomas C.
Published: February 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV) is present in urine, saliva, tears, and breast milk, but the transmission risk associated with these body fluids is currently unknown. We evaluated the risk of ZIKV transmission through mucosal contact in rhesus macaques. Application of high-dose ZIKV directly to the tonsils of 3 rhesus macaques resulted in detectable plasma viremia in all animals by 2 days post-exposure; virus replication kinetics were similar to those observed in animals infected subcutaneously. Three additional macaques inoculated subcutaneously with ZIKV served as saliva donors to assess the transmission risk from contact with oral secretions from an infected individual. Seven naive animals repeatedly exposed to donor saliva via the conjunctivae, tonsils, or nostrils did not become infected. Our results suggest that there is a risk of ZIKV transmission via the mucosal route, but that the risk posed by oral secretions from individuals with a typical course of ZIKV infection is low.
Genome-wide chemical mutagenesis screens allow unbiased saturation of the cancer genome and identification of drug resistance mutations
Authors: Brammeld Jonathan S. , Petljak Mia , Martincorena Inigo , Williams Steven P. , Alonso Luz Garcia , Dalmases Alba , Bellosillo Beatriz , Robles-Espinoza Carla Daniela , Price Stacey , Barthorpe Syd , Tarpey Patrick , Alifrangis Constantine , Bignell Graham , Vidal Joana , Young Jamie , Stebbings Lucy , Beal Kathryn , Stratton Michael R. , Saez-Rodriguez Julio , Garnett Mathew , Montagut Clara , Iorio Francesco , McDermott Ultan
Published: February 2017

Drug resistance is an almost inevitable consequence of cancer therapy and ultimately proves fatal for the majority of patients. In many cases, this is the consequence of specific gene mutations that have the potential to be targeted to resensitize the tumor. The ability to uniformly saturate the genome with point mutations without chromosome or nucleotide sequence context bias would open the door to identify all putative drug resistance mutations in cancer models. Here, we describe such a method for elucidating drug resistance mechanisms using genome-wide chemical mutagenesis allied to next-generation sequencing. We show that chemically mutagenizing the genome of cancer cells dramatically increases the number of drug-resistant clones and allows the detection of both known and novel drug resistance mutations. We used an efficient computational process that allows for the rapid identification of involved pathways and druggable targets. Such a priori knowledge would greatly empower serial monitoring strategies for drug resistance in the clinic as well as the development of trials for drug-resistant patients.
Social closure, micro‐class immobility and the intergenerational reproduction of the upper class: a comparative study
Authors: Ruggera Lucia , Barone Carlo
Published: February 2017

This article assesses how processes of social closure enhance intergenerational immobility in the regulated professions and thus promote persistence at the top of the occupational hierarchy. We compare four European countries (GB, Germany, Denmark and Sweden) that differ considerably in their degree of professional regulation and in their broader institutional arrangements. We run log‐linear and logistic regression models on a cumulative dataset based on three large‐scale surveys with detailed and highly comparable information at the level of unit occupations. Our analyses indicate that children of licensed professionals are far more likely to inherit the occupation of their parents and that this stronger micro‐class immobility translates into higher chances of persistence in the upper class. These results support social closure theory and confirm the relevance of a micro‐class approach for the explanation of social fluidity and of its cross‐national variations. Moreover, we find that, when children of professionals do not reproduce the micro‐class of their parents, they still display disproportionate chances of persistence in professional employment. Hence, on the one hand, processes of social closure erect barriers between professions and fuel micro‐class immobility at the top. On the other hand, the cultural proximity of different professional groups drives intense intergenerational exchanges between them. Our analyses indicate that these micro‐ and meso‐class rigidities work as complementary routes to immobility at the top.
Physical Properties and Volatile Composition Changes of Cooked Sausages Stuffed in a New Casing Formulation Based in Surfactants and Lactic Acid During Long‐Term Storage
Authors: Feng Chao‐Hui , Li Cheng , García‐Martín Juan Francisco , Malakar Pradeep Kumar , Yan Yue , Liu Yao‐Wen , Wang Wei , Liu Yun‐Tao , Yang Yong
Published: February 2017

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of different modified casings and storage time on the quality attributes of cooked sausages using principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis. The effects of modifying different casing treatments on sausages’ color (L*, a*, b*), pH, and texture (hardness, springiness, cohesion, gumminess, chewiness) after 36‐d storage were estimated by PCA. According to the PCA, lightness at day 36 was correlated to sample stuffed in casing with treatment 2 (T2; soy lecithin concentration: 1:27.5, soy oil concentration: 1.25%, lactic acid concentration: 19.5 mL/kg NaCl [solid], residence time: 75 min). T2 sample can be distinguished from control sample at days 1, 8, 15, and 36 according to electronic nose system. DA was performed to determine possible different sample groups according to selected variables. Results showed that chewiness was the best discriminator for differentiating sausages stored for 15 d from other days. Chewiness and gumminess were able to discriminate sausages stuffed in casing with T2 from control sample. The relationships between modified concentrations and quality attributes of cooked sausages after 36‐d storage were also established.