bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding Secure Messaging in the Inpatient Environment: A New Avenue for Communication and Patient Engagement
Authors: Sieck Cynthia , Walker Daniel , Hefner Jennifer , Volney Jaclyn , Huerta Timothy , McAlearney Ann
Published: December 2018

Background Patient portals, and the secure messaging feature in particular, have been studied in the outpatient setting, but research in the inpatient setting is relatively less mature.

Objective To understand the topics discussed in secure messaging in the inpatient environment, we analyzed and categorized messages sent within an inpatient portal.

Materials and Methods This observational study examined the content of all secure messages sent from December 2013 to June 2017 within an inpatient portal at a large Midwestern academic medical center (AMC). We analyzed a total of 2,598 messages, categorizing them by sender (patient, family, or care team member), type, and topic, and conducted a descriptive analysis of categories and an examination of code co-occurrence.

Results Patients were the most frequent message senders (63%); family members sent the fewest messages (10%). We identified five types of messages: Alert/Request; Thanks; Response; Question; and Other (typo/test message). Patient messages included Alerts/Requests (38%), Questions (31%), Statements of Thanks (24%), Response (1.2%), and Other (5%). We also identified 14 nonmutually exclusive message topics: Medication; Procedure/Treatment Plan; Schedule; Pain; Results; Diet; Discharge; Non-Medication Questions; Provider Requests; Symptoms; Custodial; Technical Issues; Potential Error; and Contact Information. Patient message topics most commonly discussed Symptoms (18%), Procedure/Treatment Plan (14%), or Pain (12%).

Conclusion Our analysis of secure message content suggests certain message types and topics such as Alerts/Requests and Questions about symptoms and treatment plans are particularly important to patients. These findings demonstrate that both patients and family members utilize the secure messaging function to engage in the care process by posing questions, making requests, and alerting staff to problems. As this technology is implemented in additional facilities, future work should examine how use of secure messaging may be influenced by factors including patients' demographics, reasons for hospitalization, and length of stay.
Hearing Outcomes Reporting in Lateral Skull Base Surgery
Authors: Casazza Geoffrey , Bowers Christian , Gurgel Richard
Published: December 2018

Hearing outcomes reporting has evolved significantly and new standards for reporting now enable a more precise and comprehensive representation of hearing outcomes. Hearing is one of the critical sensory domains contained within the lateral skull base and temporal bone. For those patients with serviceable hearing, hearing preservation is a key treatment goal. Pre- and postoperative hearing assessment is fundamental to the diagnostic evaluation of patients preparing to undergo lateral skull base surgery. Standardization in reporting these hearing outcomes is critical to compare the efficacy of different treatment options for lateral skull base lesions. Over the time, reporting of hearing outcomes has evolved from broadly categorizing patients into large groups to comparing individual patients which requires more specific datasets to compare pre- and posttreatment hearing outcomes. Future research in lateral skull base surgery will benefit from precise, accurate, and easily understood reporting outcomes, all of which will allow for more efficient comparability between studies and pooling of data for meta-analysis.
Using global modeling to unveil hidden couplings in small network motifs
Authors: Mangiarotti Sylvain , Sendiña-Nadal Irene , Letellier Christophe
Published: December 2018

One of the main tasks in network theory is to infer relations among interacting elements. We propose global modeling as a tool to detect links between nodes and their nature. Various situations using small network motifs are investigated under the assumption that the variable to be measured at each node provides full observability when isolated. Such a choice ensures no intrinsic difficulties for getting a global model in the coupled situation. As a first step toward unveiling the coupling function in larger network motifs, we consider three different scenarios involving Rössler systems diffusively coupled, in a couple or embedded in a network, or parametrically forced. We show that the global modeling is able to determine not only the existence of an interaction but also its functional form, to retrieve the dynamics of the whole system, and to extract the equations governing the single node dynamics as if it was isolated.
Linear and nonlinear spin-wave dynamics in ultralow-damping microstructured Co2FeAl Heusler waveguide
Authors: Wang Sheng , Ding Junjia , Guan Xiawei , Jungfleisch Matthias B. , Zhang Zhizhi , Wang Xiaojie , Gu Wei , Zhu Yunlai , Pearson John E. , Cheng Xiaomin , Hoffmann Axel , Miao Xiangshui
Published: December 2018

We report on the investigation of linear and nonlinear spin-wave dynamics of a microstructured Co2FeAl Heusler waveguide using the microfocus Brillouin light scattering technique. A significantly increased decay length of 19.55 μm owing to decreased Gilbert damping has been observed for waves propagating in the linear regime. Furthermore, the localized edge mode caused by the demagnetizing field leads to the nonlinear generation of high-order harmonics at double and triple excitation frequencies at high powers. The obtained results provide valuable insights into the linear and nonlinear spin wave dynamics of the Heusler waveguide and could potentially be applied in the implementation of spin wave frequency multipliers for magnonic applications.
Note: Variational encoding of protein dynamics benefits from maximizing latent autocorrelation
Authors: Wayment-Steele Hannah K. , Pande Vijay S.
Published: December 2018

As deep Variational Auto-Encoder (VAE) frameworks become more widely used for modeling biomolecular simulation data, we emphasize the capability of the VAE architecture to concurrently maximize the time scale of the latent space while inferring a reduced coordinate, which assists in finding slow processes as according to the variational approach to conformational dynamics. We provide evidence that the VDE framework [Hernández et al., Phys. Rev. E 97, 062412 (2018)], which uses this autocorrelation loss along with a time-lagged reconstruction loss, obtains a variationally optimized latent coordinate in comparison with related loss functions. We thus recommend leveraging the autocorrelation of the latent space while training neural network models of biomolecular simulation data to better represent slow processes.
Note: Real-time wavelength matching system designed for the motional Stark effect polarimeter on HL-2A tokamak
Authors: Chen W. J. , Yu D. L. , Yan L. W. , Yuan B. S. , He X. X. , Liu L. , Wei Y. L. , Wang J. , Shi Z. B. , Liu Y. , Yang Q. W.
Published: December 2018

A 7-channel motional Stark effect diagnostic based on dual photo-elastic modulators is installed and operated routinely for rather low beam energy and magnetic field on the HL-2A tokamak, with a spatial resolution of ∼3 cm and a temporal resolution of 10 ms. The instrument observes the σ component of the full energy Dα from the first or the fourth ion source of a neutral beam injector. However, the change in beam energy during a discharge causes variation of the Doppler shift with the maximum of 1 Å, which leads to the polarization fraction drop from 30%–40% to 10% and then makes the signal-to-noise ratio of the system become very poor. Therefore, a real-time wavelength matching system is designed to promote polarization fraction. The beam emission spectra are filtered by using a monochrometer in real time. And a narrowband filter is tilted by using an absolutely calibrated rotator through beam energy in order to make sure that the deviation of wavelength matching is less than 0.1 Å.
Critical fractional p-Kirchhoff type problem with a generalized Choquard nonlinearity
Authors: Chen Wenjing
Published: December 2018

In this article, based on the concentration compactness principle and the mountain pass theorem, we establish the existence of positive solutions to the fractional p-Kirchhoff type problem with a generalized Choquard nonlinearity and a critical Hardy-Sobolev term.
Collisional dissipation of the laser-induced alignment of ethane gas: Energy corrected sudden quantum model
Authors: Hartmann J.-M. , Boulet C. , Zhang H. , Billard F. , Faucher O. , Lavorel B.
Published: December 2018

We present the first quantum mechanical model of the collisional dissipation of the alignment of a gas of symmetric-top molecules (ethane) impulsively induced by a linearly polarized non-resonant laser field. The approach is based on use of the Bloch model and of the Markov and secular approximations in which the effects of collisions are taken into account through the state-to-state rates associated with exchanges among the various rotational states. These rates are constructed using the Energy Corrected Sudden (ECS) approximation with (a few) input parameters obtained independently from fits of the pressure-broadening coefficients of ethane absorption lines. Based on knowledge of the laser pulse characteristics and on these rates, the time-dependent equation driving the evolution of the density matrix during and after the laser pulse is solved and the time dependence of the so-called “alignment factor” is computed. Comparisons with measurements, free of any adjusted parameter, show that the proposed approach leads to good agreement with measurements. The analysis of the ECS state-to-state collisional rates demonstrates that, as in the case of linear molecules, collision-induced changes of the rotational angular momentum orientation are slower than those of its magnitude. This explains why the collisional decay of the permanent component of the alignment is significantly slower than that of the amplitudes of the transient revivals in both experimental and computed results. It is also shown that, since intermolecular forces within C2H6 colliding pairs weakly depend on rotations of the molecules around their C–C bond, the dissipation mechanism of the alignment in pure ethane is close to that involved in linear molecules.
Area-efficient all-digital pulse-shrinking smart temperature sensor with improved accuracy and resolution
Authors: Chen Chun-Chi , Hwang Chorng-Sii , Chu Che-Shun
Published: December 2018

An all-digital CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) pulse-shrinking smart temperature sensor (PSSTS) is proposed to deliver the merits of area efficiency, improved accuracy, and high resolution. First, an inverter-based temperature-sensing delay line generates a pulse with a width proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT). Then, a pulse-shrinking delay line (PSDL) with a pulse-mixing scheme (PMS) measures the PTAT pulse through pulse shrinking. The two delay lines become area efficient when the channel length of transistors is long. Conventionally, the area-efficient PSDL decreases the time resolution. Thus, the all-digital PMS considerably enhances the time resolution and achieves an excellent sensor resolution. Finally, a time subtractor improves sensor accuracy by effectively eliminating the offset error effects. The proposed sensor was implemented in a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company 0.35-μm CMOS process and occupied an area of 0.0247 mm2, which is the best area among related studies. The PSSTS exhibited an improved inaccuracy from a maximal inaccuracy of 1.95 °C to 1.5 °C and an excellent resolution of approximately 0.05 °C/LSB. Experimental results prove that this study is area-efficient and achieves improved accuracy and high resolution.
High-Q-factor nanobeam photonic crystal cavities in bulk silicon carbide
Authors: Song Bong-Shik , Jeon Seungwoo , Kim Heungjoon , Kang Dongyeon Daniel , Asano Takashi , Noda Susumu
Published: December 2018

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a promising optical material for stable and broadband nanophotonics. To date, thin crystalline SiC layers for nanophotonic platforms have been created by ion implantation or growth on other materials, which may cause optical absorption in the SiC layer. We fabricated SiC nanobeam photonic crystal cavities directly from a crystalline (4H) SiC bulk wafer using oblique plasma etching to avoid material-based optical absorptions. The measured quality (Q) factor of the nanobeam photonic crystal cavity reaches 4 × 104, which is the highest recorded Q factor in crystalline SiC cavities. Furthermore, we investigated theoretical Q factors by taking into account structural imperfections unique to this fabrication process and compared them with the experimental results.
Rubber elasticity of realizable ideal networks
Authors: Toda Masatoshi , Morita Hiroshi
Published: December 2018

The rubber elasticity of four types of defectless crystalline-like networks has been investigated by coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to test the validity of Kuhn’s affine network theory of rubber elasticity. The shear moduli of the realizable ideal networks are obtained through their uniaxial deformation. The relation between the shear modulus and the partial chain density reveals that the elasticity of the phantom ideal networks with no excluded volume interactions can be explained by a generalized Kuhn’s theory. In addition, the shear moduli of the real networks with excluded volume interactions are usually lower than those of the corresponding phantom networks, which is because of a decrease in the conformational entropy of each partial chain. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of phantom networks is a promising approach to deeply understand cross-linked rubbers.
Predicting the dielectric properties based on micromechanical modeling for asphalt mastics
Authors: Zhai Yingying , Zhong Yanhui , Zhang Bei , Wang Fuming , Li Xiaolong
Published: December 2018

Investigating the dielectric properties of asphalt mastics is crucial for understanding the overall dielectric responses of asphalt mixtures. Analyses of the test results for asphalt mastics and evaluation of the existing models reveal that the classical models are inadequate for predicting the dielectric properties of asphalt mastics. This shortcoming is considered to originate from the inability of these models to account for the physical and chemical interactions that occur at the material interface. Therefore, in this study, a particle polarization mechanism with an electrically independent interface is explored, which takes into account the interface of composites and the size effect is intrinsically inherited. A micromechanical model for multi-phase matrix–particle composites that includes the interface effect is developed based on the proposed particle polarization theory, allowing calculation of the effective dielectric constant for multi-phase composites over a wide range of particle sizes. Compared with the overprediction of the classical models, the proposed model yields smaller predicted results that better match the actual measurement results. This is because the proposed model takes into account the influence of the interface effect on the overall dielectric responses of the asphalt mastic, and the interface effect weakens the polarization of the entire asphalt mastic.
Optimization of 3D shell electrode detectors—A type of honeycomb shell electrode detector
Authors: Zhang Ya , Liao Chuan , Liu Manwen , Lu Shunmao , Li Zheng
Published: December 2018

In order to reduce dead zone of Closed Shell-Electrode Silicon Detector (CSESD), this paper introduces an optimal scheme of 3D shell electrode type detector– a novel type of Honeycomb Shell Electrode Detector– HSED (Chinese patent #zl 201710 676008.3). In this paper, we first study dead zone of the new structure and find dead zone of non-elongated HSED cell is smaller than that of CSESD. An array arrangement method of CSESD is also proposed, which makes virtually no dead zone in the array comprised by elongated detector cells. Detector electrical simulations with SILVACO TCAD, including I-V and C-V characteristic, will be given. Then, the structure with different nesting depth and dbot is simulated with SILVACO TCAD. It has been found that the closer nesting position is to the surface, the smaller dead zone is, and the deeper the nesting is, the larger the dead zone is. However, through the simulation of the weighting field, it is found that the deeper the nesting depth, the smaller the influence of the weighting field by neighboring cell.
Corrigendum to: Clinical activity profile of preregistration physiotherapy students during clinical placements
Authors: Stoikov Susan , Shardlow Kassie , Gooding Mark , Kuys Suzanne
Published: December 2018

Objective
The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical activity profile of preregistration physiotherapy students during clinical placements and their clinical activity contribution to health service delivery.Methods
Clinical activity data for 2014 were obtained from five Queensland public sector hospitals providing preregistration physiotherapy students clinical education in three key clinical areas (cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological) over four 5-week placement blocks. Data regarding the number of student occasions of service (OOS) and the length of the OOS (LOOS) were collected to determine the average OOS and LOOS per student in each clinical area.Results
Twenty weeks of student data were collected from each hospital in each clinical area, representing 29.1% of cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurorehabilitation student placements. Students completed 19051 OOS. The average OOS per student per block for cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurorehabilitation placements was 98.3, 74.0 and 72.4 respectively. Two-way ANOVA revealed a main effect of weeks (F=402.1, PF =1331.5, PF=8.4, PConclusions
Student clinical activity data are useful for understanding the student contribution to health services. Student contribution appears to increase throughout the clinical placement and consideration should be given to the clinical educator:student ratio to enhance overall student contribution.What is known about the topic?
Quantitative data describing physiotherapy student clinical care activity during placements are limited.What does this paper add?
This paper profiles physiotherapy student clinical care activity and the changes occurring over 5-week placements.What are the implications for practitioners?
Physiotherapy students provide clinical activity for health services that changes over their 5-week placement. Student clinical activity should be considered when responding to placement demand and planning service delivery.
Work-related injury and illness in the Victorian healthcare sector: a retrospective analysis of workers' compensation claim records
Authors: Xia Ting , Collie Alex
Published: December 2018

Objective
Health and social care workers have a significantly higher rate of work-related injury and illness than workers in other industries. The objective of this study was to examine the rate and distribution of work-related injury and illness in the Victorian health and social care sector by demographic, occupation and injury characteristics.

Methods
A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted of population-level workers’ compensation claim records, including 43910 claims from the Victorian health and social care over a 10-year period from 2006 to 2015. Negative binomial regression was used to compare claim rates between occupation categories.

Results
The 55–64 year age group had the highest injury rate compared with the 15–24 year age group (rate ratio 2.26; 95% confidence interval 1.91–2.68). Ambulance officers had the highest overall injury claim rates and had a fluctuating trend of musculoskeletal, psychological and neurological injury claims during the study period. Social workers had the second highest rate of psychological injury and up to threefold the risk of psychological injury compared with nurse professionals.

Conclusions
Although the greatest volume of claims was observed in nurses, ambulance officers and paramedics were at higher risk for injury, followed by social workers. The differential patterns of injury and illness among occupation groups suggests a need for primary and secondary prevention responses tailored by occupation.

What is known about the topic?
The health and social care industry is a large and diverse industry. Health and social care workers encounter unique occupational health risks, with exposure varying by occupation.

What does this paper add?
This study provides evidence of a high rate of work-related injury and illness among health and social care workers, with ambulance officers and social workers at highest risk. Notably, there are also high rates of psychological injury claims among these two occupations.

What are the implications for policy makers?
This study compares rates of compensable injury and illness in the Victorian health and social care sector by occupation. The study provides guidance on which occupations and which health conditions require greatest attention.
Effects of changing omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratios in corn–soybean meal-based diet on performance, serum lipid profile and colostrum and milk composition of sows and performance of piglets
Authors: Upadhaya Santi Devi , Yang Jiao , Lee Kwang Yong , Kim In Ho
Published: December 2018

This study aimed to test the effects of changing omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid (FA) ratios in corn–soybean meal-based diet on performance, serum lipid profile and colostrum and milk nutrient contents of lactating sows as well as performance of suckling piglets. In total, 32 multiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly allocated into one of four dietary treatments with eight replicates per treatment. The treatment diets were fed 7 days before farrowing until weaning. The omega-3 FA used in the experiment was from linseed oil and was coated using a spray-drying method. The dietary treatments consisted of control (CON, corn–soybean meal-based basal diet with omega-6:omega-3 FA ratios of 25:1), and basal diets (CON) containing omega-6: omega-3 FA ratios at 20:1, 15:1 and 10:1 levels. Inclusion of omega-6 and omega-3 FA at different ratios in the feed did not affect (P > 0.05) the performance, nutrient digestibility and milk nutrient composition of sows. The concentrations of high-density lipid cholesterol (HDL-C) increased (P < 0.05) and the low-density lipid cholesterol (LDL-C) tended to be reduced (P = 0.08) at weaning for sows fed 10:1 omega 6:omega-3 ratio diet. The bodyweights (BW) and average daily gains (ADG) of piglets born from sows fed 10:1 omega-6:omega-3 FA diet were greater (P < 0.05) at Week 3 and overall respectively. The BW of piglets raised from sows fed all treatment diets were heavier (P < 0.05) at Week 4 (weaning) than those in the CON. Positive correlations between dietary omega-6:omega-3 FA ratio and serum HDL-C concentrations and a negative correlations between dietary omega-6:omega-3 FA ratio and serum LDL-C concentrations for sows at weaning were observed. In addition, a positive correlation between omega-6:omega-3 FA in the diet and ADG in piglets was also observed. In conclusion, inclusion of omega-6:omega-3 FA at different ratios in different proportions did not affect sow performance, while increasing HDL-C and tending to reduce LDL-C in serum lipids. However, the piglets born to sows fed 10:1 diets benefitted, with increased BW and ADG.
Promoting Australian industry: CSIRO 1949–79
Authors: Upstill Garrett
Published: December 2018

This paper addresses the manner in which the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) transferred its technology to Australian industry during the period 1949 to 1979. The analysis is framed within the changing economic and political scene in Australia and the changing expectations for public research organisations such as CSIRO. During the 1950s and 1960s CSIRO gave little direct attention to the processes of technology transfer but instead, following the prevailing wisdom, focused on high quality science and relied on existing extension services and patenting to capture the benefits from its research. This ‘science-push’ approach proved successful for Australia’s rural industries but, with a few exceptions, less so for the country’s secondary industries. By the early 1970s CSIRO faced pressures for change, induced by a tougher economic climate and changing views on the role of public research institutions. A shift toward greater customer relevance in its research would also need to be matched by new thinking about technology transfer.
Robert (Robin) Harold Stokes 1918–2016
Authors: Spurling Thomas H. , Noller Barry N.
Published: December 2018

Robin Stokes was born in the village of Southsea, on Portsea Island, UK, on 24 December 1918 and died in Armidale, NSW, Australia, on 15 November 2016. He came from a long line of distinguished scientists and mathematicians. Robin was educated at Auckland Grammar School, Auckland University College and the University of Cambridge. He commenced his academic career at the University of Western Australia in 1945 during the post-war reconstruction period, left there to pursue his PhD at Cambridge in 1947 and returned as a senior lecturer in 1950. He took the chair of chemistry at the University of New England in 1955 and remained there for the rest of his career. He made outstanding contributions to our understanding of electrolyte solutions. His book with R. A. Robinson has more than 12,000 citations.
The contest for the tall forests of south-western Australia and the discourses of advocates
Authors: Wardell-Johnson Grant , Wardell-Johnson Angela , Schultz Beth , Dortch Joe , Robinson Todd , Collard Len , Calver Michael
Published: December 2018

After over 50000 years of interaction between Aboriginal people and changing climates, south-western Australia’s tall forests were first logged less than 200 years ago, initiating persistent conflict. Recent conservation advocacy has resulted in the protection of 49% of these tall forests in statutory reserves, providing an opportunity to implement and benefit from a growing moral consensus on the valuing of these globally significant, tall forest ecosystems. We analysed a cross-section of literature (63 papers, 118 statements) published on these forests over 187 years to identify values framing advocacy. We differentiated four resource-oriented discourses and three discourses giving primacy to social and environmental values over seven eras. Invasion sparked initial uncontrolled exploitation, with the Forests Act 1918 managing competing agricultural and timber advocacy. Following the Colonial and Country Life eras, industrial-scale exploitation of the karri forest region resulted in reaction by increasingly broad sectors of society. Warming and drying in the 21st Century emphasises the importance of intact tall forest and the Indigenous Renaissance discourse. Vesting for a more comprehensive set of values would acknowledge a new moral consensus.
Forecasting the spatiotemporal pattern of the cane toad invasion into north-western Australia
Authors: Doody J. Sean , McHenry Colin , Letnic Mike , Everitt Corinne , Sawyer Graeme , Clulow Simon
Published: December 2018

Context
The toxic cane toad (Rhinella marina) has invaded over 50 countries and is a serious conservation issue in Australia. Because the cane toad has taken several decades to colonise northern Australia, due to the large size of the continent and the east–west invasion axis, there is scope for making testable predictions about how toads will invade new areas. The western toad invasion front is far from linear, providing clear evidence for heterogeneity in invasion speed.

Aims
Several ad hoc hypotheses have been offered to explain this heterogeneity, including the evolution of traits that could facilitate dispersal, and spatial heterogeneity in climate patterns. Here an alternative hypothesis is offered, and a prediction generated for the spatiotemporal pattern of invasion into the Kimberley Region – the next frontier for the invading toads in Australia.

Methods
Using observations of spatiotemporal patterns of cane toad colonisation in northern Australia over the last 15 years, a conceptual model is offered, based on the orientation of wet season river flows relative to the invasion axis, as well as toad rafting and floating behaviour during the wet season.

Key results
Our model predicts that toads will invade southern areas before northern areas; an alternative model based on rainfall amounts makes the opposite prediction. The models can now be tested by monitoring the spread of invasion front over the next 5–10 years.

Conclusions
Our conceptual models present a pleuralistic approach to understanding the spatiotemporal invasion dynamics of toads; such an approach and evaluation of the models could prove useful for managing other invasive species.

Implications
Although control of cane toads has largely proved ineffective, knowledge of the spatiotemporal pattern of the toad invasion in the Kimberley could: (1) facilitate potential management tools for slowing the spread of toads; (2) inform stakeholders in the local planning for the invasion; (3) provide researchers with a temporal context for quantifying toad impacts on animal communities; and (4) reveal the mechanism(s) causing the heterogeneity in invasion speed.
Intermetallic phase formation during brazing of a nickel alloy using a Ni–Cr–Si–Fe–B quinary filler alloy
Authors: Ghasemi Ali , Pouranvari Majid
Published: December 2018

Fundamental understanding of the intermetallic phase formation is the key for enhancing the robustness and reliability of the brazed joints. The paper addresses the phase transformations during brazing of the Hastelloy X nickel-base superalloy using the quinary Ni–13Cr–4.5Si–4.2Fe–2.8B (wt-%) braze alloy. The mechanisms of intermetallic formation via solidification and solid-state precipitation are discussed. The athermal solidification zone (ASZ) is featured by the formation of brittle and hard borides and boro-silicides that are formed via eutectic reactions. However, in contrast to other commercial B-bearing Ni-based filler alloys, it was identified that the presence of a high-volume fraction of eutectic gamma solid solution between boride phases within the joint centreline can alleviate the deleterious effect of the intermetallic phases on the joint toughness.
Femtolensing by dark matter revisited
Authors: Katz Andrey , Kopp Joachim , Sibiryakov Sergey , Xue Wei
Published: December 2018

Femtolensing of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) has been put forward as an exciting possibility to probe exotic astrophysical objects with masses below 10−13solar masses such as small primordial black holes or ultra-compact dark matter minihalos, made up for instance of QCD axions. In this paper we critically review this idea, properly taking into account the extended nature of the source as well as wave optics effects. We demonstrate that most GRBs are inappropriate for femtolensing searches due to their large sizes. This removes the previous femtolensing bounds on primordial black holes, implying that vast regions of parameter space for primordial black hole dark matter are not robustly constrained. Still, we entertain the possibility that a small fraction of GRBs, characterized by fast variability can have smaller sizes and be useful. However, a large number of such bursts would need to be observed to achieve meaningful constraints. We study the sensitivity of future observations as a function of the number of detected GRBs and of the size of the emission region.
SUMOylation of periplakin is critical for efficient reorganization of keratin filament network
Authors: Gujrati Mansi , Mittal Rohit , Ekal Lakhan , Mishra Ram Kumar
Published: December 2018

The architecture of the cytoskeleton and its remodeling are tightly regulated by dynamic reorganization of keratin-rich intermediate filaments. Plakin family proteins associate with the network of intermediate filaments (IFs) and affect its reorganization during migration, differentiation, and response to stress. The smallest plakin, periplakin (PPL), interacts specifically with intermediate filament proteins K8, K18, and vimentin via its C-terminal linker domain. Here, we show that periplakin is SUMOylated at a conserved lysine in its linker domain (K1646) preferentially by small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO1). Our data indicate that PPL SUMOylation is essential for the proper reorganization of the keratin IF network. Stresses perturbing intermediate-filament and cytoskeletal architecture induce hyper-­SUMOylation of periplakin. Okadaic acid induced hyperphosphorylation-dependent collapse of the keratin IF network results in a similar hyper-SUMOylation of PPL. Strikingly, exogenous overexpression of a non-SUMOylatable periplakin mutant (K1646R) induced aberrant bundling and loose network interconnections of the keratin filaments. Time-lapse imaging of cells expressing the K1646R mutant showed the enhanced sensitivity of keratin filament collapse upon okadaic acid treatment. Our data identify an important regulatory role for periplakin SUMOylation in dynamic reorganization and stability of keratin IFs.
Anticoagulant-related nephropathy: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: de Aquino Moura Karolinny Borinelli , Behrens Paula Marques Prates , Pirolli Rafaela , Sauer Aimee , Melamed Dayana , Veronese Francisco Veríssimo , da Silva André Luis Ferreira Azeredo
Published: December 2018

Background

The aim of this study was to report the prevalence and mortality associated with anticoagulant-related nephropathy (ARN) through a systematic review of the literature.

Methods

Electronic searches were conducted in the Medline and EMBASE databases, and manual searches were performed in the reference lists of the identified studies. The studies were selected by two independent researchers, first by evaluating the titles and abstracts and then by reading the complete texts of the identified studies. Case series, cross-sectional studies, cohort studies and case–control studies reporting the prevalence and factors associated with ARN were selected. The methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Meta-analyses of the prevalence of ARN and 5-year mortality using the random effects model were performed when possible. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic.

Results

Five studies were included. Prevalence of ARN ranged from 19% to 63% among the four included cohort studies. Meta-analysis of these resulted in high heterogeneity [I2 96%, summary effect 31%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 22–42%]. Subgroup meta-analysis yielded an ARN prevalence of 20% among studies that included patients with fewer comorbidities (I2 12%; 95% CI 19–22%). In a direct comparison, meta-analysis of the 5-year mortality rate between anticoagulated patients who had experienced ARN and anticoagulated patients without ARN, patients with ARN were 91% more likely to die (risk ratio = 1.91; 95% CI 1.22–3; I2 87%). Risk factors for ARN that were reported in the literature included initial excessive anticoagulation, chronic kidney disease, age, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and heart failure.

Conclusions

ARN studies are scarce and heterogeneous, and present significant methodological limitations. The high prevalence of ARN reported herein suggests that this entity is underdiagnosed in clinical practice. Mortality in patients with ARN seems to be high compared with patients without this condition in observational studies.
A Roadmap for the Development of the ‘SP Machine’ for Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Palade Vasile , Wolff J Gerard
Published: December 2018

This paper describes a roadmap for the development of the SP Machine, based on the SP Theory of Intelligence and its realization in the SP Computer Model. The SP Machine will be developed initially as a software virtual machine with high levels of parallel processing, hosted on a high-performance computer. The system should help users visualize knowledge structures and processing. Research is needed into how the system may discover low-level features in speech and in images. Strengths of the SP System in the processing of natural language may be augmented, in conjunction with the further development of the SP System’s strengths in unsupervised learning. Strengths of the SP System in pattern recognition may be developed for computer vision. Work is needed on the representation of numbers and the performance of arithmetic processes. A computer model is needed of SP-Neural, the version of the SP Theory expressed in terms of neurons and their interconnections. The SP Machine has potential in many areas of application, several of which may be realized on short-to-medium timescales.
Examining the Impact of Child Adversity on Use of Preventive Health Care among Children
Authors: Alcalá Héctor Ernesto , Dellor Elinam
Published: December 2018

Child adversity has a negative impact on child and adult health. The present study aimed to determine whether adverse family experiences (AFEs) were associated with use of preventive health care (PHC) among children and whether insurance status affected this association. This study examined data from the 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health (N = 88,849) and included responses for children ages zero to 17 years. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds of using PHC from AFEs. Results were stratified by insurance status and confounders were accounted for. Among the entire sample and the insured, most AFEs were not associated with use of PHC. Among the uninsured, several AFEs—lived with parents or guardians who were separated, lived with parent or guardian who was incarcerated, witnessing or experiencing violence in the household, and living with anyone who had substance abuse problems—and the sum of AFEs were associated with increased use of PHC. Findings are consistent with newer research showing that some disadvantage or adversity is associated with more optimal use of PHC. In addition, uninsured children with a history of AFEs would benefit from insurance, given their increased use of PHC.
Diffraction by a quarter–plane. Analytical continuation of spectral functions
Authors: Assier R C , Shanin A V
Published: December 2018

The problem of diffraction by a Dirichlet quarter-plane (a flat cone) in a 3D space is studied. The Wiener–Hopf equation for this case is derived and involves two unknown (spectral) functions depending on two complex variables. The aim of the present work is to construct an analytical continuation of these functions onto a well-described Riemann manifold and to study their behaviour and singularities on this manifold. In order to do so, integral formulae for analytical continuation of the spectral functions are derived and used. It is shown that the Wiener–Hopf problem can be reformulated using the concept of additive crossing of branch lines introduced in the article. Both the integral formulae and the additive crossing reformulation are novel and represent the main results of this work.
Deforestation in the Amazon: A Unified Framework for Estimation and Policy Analysis
Authors: Souza-Rodrigues Eduardo
Published: December 2018

Deforestation is a matter of pressing global concern, yet surprisingly little is known about the relative efficacy of various policies designed to combat it. This article sets out a framework for measuring the cost effectiveness of alternative policies—both command-and-control and incentive-based—in the Brazilian Amazon. First, I estimate the demand for deforestation on private properties, exploiting regional variation in transportation costs as a means to recover farmers’ responses to permanent policies. Here, rescaling transportation costs using local yields allows me to express changes in farmers’ valuations in dollars per hectare. I then use the estimated demand to infer farmers’ willingness to deforest under different counterfactual policies, such as payments to avoid deforestation and taxes on land use, along with the corresponding potential farmers’ lost surpluses. The results indicate that payment programmes and land use taxes on agricultural land can be highly effective in preserving the rainforest and also be substantially less expensive than command-and-control policies (approximately 8 times less costly). A carbon tax equal to the social cost of carbon could virtually eliminate all agricultural land in the Amazon, given the low agricultural returns there.
RISK ASSESSMENT FOR RADON EXPOSURE IN VARIOUS INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: Chen Jing
Published: December 2018

Using data from a number of radon surveys, it was assessed that on average, radon progeny concentrations in Canadian homes are about three times higher than in school buildings, 4.7 times higher than in public buildings and indoor workplaces, and 12 times higher than in outdoor air. Canadian statistics show that most Canadians spend ~70% of their time indoors at home, 20% indoors away from home and 10% in outdoors. Due to relatively higher radon concentration in residential homes and longer time spent indoors at home, the exposure at home contributes to 90% of the radon-induced lung-cancer risk.
QTL Mapping Identifies Novel Source of Resistance to Fusarium Wilt Race 1 inCitrullus amarus
Authors: Branham Sandra E. , Levi Amnon , Wechter W. Patrick
Published: December 2018

Fusarium wilt race 1, caused by the soilborne fungus Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtend.: Fr. f. sp. niveum (E.F. Sm.) W.C. Snyder & H.N. Hans (Fon), is a major disease of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in the United States and throughout the world. Although Fusarium wilt race 1 resistance has been incorporated into several watermelon cultivars, identification of additional genetic sources of resistance is crucial if a durable and sustainable level of resistance is to be continued over the years. We conducted a genetic mapping study to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with resistance to Fon race 1 in segregating populations (F2:3and recombinant inbred lines) of Citrullus amarus (citron melon) derived from the Fon race 1 resistant and susceptible parents USVL246-FR2 and USVL114, respectively. A major QTL (qFon1-9) associated with resistance to Fon race 1 was identified on chromosome 9 of USVL246-FR2. This discovery provides a novel genetic source of resistance to Fusarium wilt race 1 in watermelon and, thus, an additional host-resistance option for watermelon breeders to further the effort to mitigate this serious phytopathogen.
Prostaglandin E2 in NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease: protection against cysteinyl leukotrienes and group 2 innate lymphoid cells
Authors: Rusznak Mark , Peebles R. Stokes
Published: December 2018

Purpose of review

The purpose of this review is to describe the recent advances that have been made in understanding the protective role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), known in Europe as NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD).

Recent findings

Decreased PGE2 signaling through the EP2 receptor in patients with AERD leads to an increase in leukotriene synthesis and signaling. Leukotriene signaling not only directly activates group 2 innate lymphoid cells and mast cells, but it also increases production of IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin. These cytokines drive Th2 inflammation in a suspected feed-forward mechanism in patients with AERD.

Recent discoveries concerning the role of PGE2 in leukotriene synthesis and signaling in AERD, as well as downstream effects on group 2 innate lymphoid cells and mast cells, allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease. These discoveries also identify new paths of potential investigation and possible therapeutic targets for AERD.
The Yale Center for Biomedical Innovation and Technology (CBIT): One Model to Accelerate Impact From Academic Health Care Innovation
Authors: Siefert Alyssa L. , Cartiera Malgorzata S. , Khalid Ayesha N. , Nantel Michelle C. , Loose Christopher R. , Schulam Peter G. , Saltzman W. Mark , Dempsey Michael K.
Published: December 2018

The process of translating academic biomedical advances into clinical care improvements is difficult, risky, expensive, and poorly understood. Notably, many clinicians who identify health care problems do not have the time or expertise to solve the problems, and many academic researchers are unaware of important gaps in clinical care to which their expertise may apply.

Recognizing an opportunity to connect people who can identify health care problems with those who can solve them, the Yale Center for Biomedical Innovation and Technology (CBIT) was established in 2014 to educate and enhance the impact of health care innovators. The authors review other health care innovation centers and describe best practices borrowed by Yale CBIT, which tailored its activities and approach to its unique ecosystem.

In four years, Yale CBIT has affected over 3,000 people and established a health care innovation cycle as an efficient strategy to guide translational research. Yale CBIT has created or supported graduate and undergraduate courses, clinical immersion programs for industry partners, and large health care hackathon events. Over 200 projects have been submitted to CBIT for mentorship, and some of those projects have been commercialized and raised millions of dollars of follow-on funding.

The authors present Yale CBIT as one model of accelerating the impact of academic medicine on clinical practice and outcomes. The project advising strategy is intended to be a template to maximize the efficiency of biomedical innovation and ultimately improve the outcomes and experiences of future patients.
T-cell Activating Tribodies as a Novel Approach for Efficient Killing of ErbB2-positive Cancer Cells
Authors: Riccio Gennaro , Ricardo Ana Rita , Passariello Margherita , Saraiva Kathy , Rubino Valentina , Cunnah Philip , Mertens Nico , De Lorenzo Claudia
Published: December 2018

The Tyrosine Kinase Receptor ErbB2 (HER2) when overexpressed in breast cancer (BC) is associated with poor prognosis. The monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab has become a standard treatment of ErbB2+BC. The antibody treatment has limited efficacy, often meets resistance and induces cardiotoxicity. T-cell recruiting bispecific antibody derivatives (TRBA) offer a more effective alternative to standard antibody therapy. We evaluated a panel of TRBAs targeting 3 different epitopes on the ErbB2 receptor either in a bivalent targeting tribody structure or as a monovalent scFv-fusion (BiTE format) for binding, cytotoxicity on Trastuzumab-resistant cell lines, and induction of cardiotoxicity. All three TRBAs bind with high affinity to the ErbB2 extracellular domain and a large panel of ErbB2-positive tumor cells. Tribodies had an increased in vitro cytotoxic potency as compared to BiTEs. It is interesting to note that, Tribodies targeting the epitopes on ErbB2 receptor domains I and II bind and activate lysis of mammary and gastric tumor cells more efficiently than a Tribody targeting the Trastuzumab epitope on domain IV. The first 2 are also active on Trastuzumab-resistant cancer cells lacking or masking the epitope recognized by Trastuzumab. None of the Tribodies studied showed significant toxicity on human cardiomyocytes. Altogether these results make these novel anti-ErbB2 bispecific Tribodies candidates for therapeutic development for treating ErbB2-positive Trastuzumab-resistant cancer patients.