bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Symmetry reduction and numerical solution of a nonlinear boundary value problem in fluid mechanics
Authors: Bilige Sudao , Han Yanqing
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the applications of Lie symmetry method on the boundary value problem (BVP) for nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) in fluid mechanics.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors solved a BVP for nonlinear PDEs in fluid mechanics based on the effective combination of the symmetry, homotopy perturbation and Runge–Kutta methods.

Findings

First, the multi-parameter symmetry of the given BVP for nonlinear PDEs is determined based on differential characteristic set algorithm. Second, BVP for nonlinear PDEs is reduced to an initial value problem of the original differential equation by using the symmetry method. Finally, the approximate and numerical solutions of the initial value problem of the original differential equations are obtained using the homotopy perturbation and Runge–Kutta methods, respectively. By comparing the numerical solutions with the approximate solutions, the study verified that the approximate solutions converge to the numerical solutions.

Originality/value

The application of the Lie symmetry method in the BVP for nonlinear PDEs in fluid mechanics is an excellent and new topic for further research. In this paper, the authors solved BVP for nonlinear PDEs by using the Lie symmetry method. The study considered that the boundary conditions are the arbitrary functions Bi(x)(i = 1,2,3,4), which are determined according to the invariance of the boundary conditions under a multi-parameter Lie group of transformations. It is different from others’ research. In addition, this investigation will also effectively popularize the range of application and advance the efficiency of the Lie symmetry method.
Police use of technology: insights from the literature
Authors: Rogers Colin , Scally Emily Jayne
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the existing literature surrounding the use of technology in today’s society to inform future developments across emergency services. Reference to the Police Service in particular will have a resonance for many other public agencies who are utilising more and more technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature from a policing background will be reviewed to discover the positive impacts and benefits attached to its use, the potential obstacles to its implantation, and how lessons from one agency may be of benefit to others.

Findings

The findings suggest that there appears to be attention required in the application of technology by public agencies, namely, workforce culture, training and budgets, and legislation which need to be addressed if the use of technology by public agencies is to be successful.

Originality/value

This paper seeks to learn lessons for the implementation technology by a public agency, namely, the police, in an attempt to inform other public bodies. By doing so, it is believed the lessons learned will make the application of such technologies more effective.
Flood victims’ evacuation decisions: a semi-nonparametric estimation
Authors: Soon Jan-Jan , Kamaruddin Roslina , Anuar Abdul Rahim
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the determinants of actual evacuation decisions of victims of the unprecedented 2014 year-end flood disaster which wreaked havoc across two east-coast states in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The target population of this study is the group of victims affected by the December 2014 flood in the Malaysian east-coast states of Kelantan and Pahang. Sampling frames of the flood victims were obtained from the National Security Council offices of the two states. The empirical analysis of this paper is based on a unique data set obtained from a questionnaire survey of the flood victims. The final working sample consists of 372 respondents.

Findings

Important findings from this study are: victims who were given evacuation notices were five times more likely to evacuate, victims who participated in flood awareness programmes were less likely to move to evacuation centres, the further away victims’ homes were from the evacuation centres the more likely they were to evacuate, older victims were less likely to evacuate, larger households were more likely to evacuate, and victims with tertiary education were also less likely to evacuate.

Originality/value

This paper is unique because previous studies of Malaysian flood-related disasters are confined to floods of regular magnitude. This paper is also unique because it uses a semi-parametric estimation approach to obtain the marginal effects of the explanatory variables on evacuation decisions.
Learner ownership of technology-enhanced learning
Authors: Dommett Eleanor J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the different ways in which learners may have ownership over technology-enhanced learning by reflecting on technical, legal and psychological ownership.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a variety of examples of technology-enhanced learning ranging from open-source software to cloud storage to discuss the three types of ownership.

Findings

It is suggested that learners do not yet own technology-enhanced learning and that, at present, there are different degrees of learner ownership depending on whether technical, legal or psychological ownership are considered.

Originality/value

The discussion presented here is the first to consider all three types of ownership of technology-enhanced learning and demonstrates the complexity of the issue when this broad view is considered.
New technology in health education
Authors: Buabeng-Andoh Charles
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate undergraduate nursing students’ use of mobile learning (m-learning) and the factors contributing to their use of m-learning.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 586 nursing students from three universities in Ghana participated in this study. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, samplet-test and multiple regression were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The research found that most students owned smartphones. Mobile technology was mainly used for doing homework. The result indicates that gender differences exist in terms of perceived usefulness of m-learning. In addition, age differences exist with regard to the perceived ease of use of m-learning. Furthermore, students showed positive attitudes toward the use of technology. Finally, perceived usefulness and attitudes toward the use of technology predicted students’ intention to use m-learning.

Originality/value

Despite the abundance of research on nursing education in other countries, there is a lack of research on nursing students’ use of m-learning and factors influencing their implementation of m-learning in higher learning institutions in Ghana. This study is important because it provides a clear description of nursing students’ use of m-learning and factors affecting their use in schools. Also, the author suggests that information from this study assists school administrators and nursing educators to understand students’ positions regarding m-learning in classroom.
To tell or not to tell? The impact of communicating consumer participation in new product development
Authors: Costa Claudia , Coelho do Vale Rita
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the implications of communicating customer involvement in the ideation and concept stage of new product development (NPD). This paper assesses the extent to which the awareness that a product was co-created jointly by company professional designers and consumers affects observer consumers’ attitudes toward the product and the company. While earlier research has mainly emphasized the positive and desirable consequences of consumer participation in NPD, the present set of studies shows that labeling products as having been co-created is not always valuable; rather, it is dependent on the level of perceived complexity of the products.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested in four experimental studies using several categories of product complexity (low, medium and high). The data have been collected on young adult samples, measuring the participants’ perceptions of a firm’s innovation ability and product purchase intentions.

Findings

The results suggest that there are benefits at the corporate level (higher perceptions of innovation ability) to inform the market about consumer involvement, particularly when consumers and company professionals work together. The findings also indicate that product complexity plays a critical role in translating the perceptions of greater corporate abilities (innovation) in purchase intention, and it is particularly beneficial for low-complexity products.

Originality/value

The previous research has mainly focused on the impact of involving consumers in firms and participating consumers; however, it has neglected the role of observer consumers. This study adds to the innovation literature by showing that the value of learning about other consumers’ involvement in firm NPD is not universally beneficial and that product complexity is a critical boundary condition.
How to solve the dilemma of balancing between efficiency and flexibility in project-oriented organizations
Authors: Sun Xiuxia , Zhu Fangwei , Sun Mouxuan
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the ways to solve the dilemma of balancing between efficiency and flexibility in project-oriented organizations (POOs). It investigates the characteristic of the relationship between efficiency and flexibility in the context of POOs. Based on the framework of organizational design, this study tries to open the “black box” of how POOs make a balance between efficiency and flexibility, and examines the influence of organizational design in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a comparative multiple case study based on four project-oriented enterprises, whose relationships between efficiency and flexibility are diverse from one another. It follows the process of building theory from case study, applying within-case and cross-case analysis and replication logic in shaping hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that the relationship between efficiency and flexibility in POOs can be divided into four different situations. The contradictory factors are identified as functional structure and project structure, standardized process and temporary plan, as well as strategic-level centralization and project-level decentralization. It is found that the key to achieve a balance between efficiency and flexibility is to coordinate the relationship of contradictory factors through the effective integration of organizational level and project level.

Originality/value

This study introduces the framework of organizational design in solving the dilemma of balancing between efficiency and flexibility, responding to the call for developing the project management theory from a strategic perspective. It provides theoretical support for POOs to achieve balancing between efficiency and flexibility, and suggests an effective synergy of organizational design in both organizational and project level.
Large shareholder participation behaviors, managers’ risk-taking and firm innovation performance
Authors: Zhang Feng , Yang Jianjun , Xu Zhi , Zhu Guilong
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Focusing on internal corporate governance, the purpose of this paper is to apply the shareholder activism perspective to consider how large shareholder participation behaviors might influence firm innovation performance. Specifically, “confrontationally strategic intervention” and “cooperatively strategic consensus” participation behaviors are examined and hypothesized to have different effects on managers’ risk-taking and firm innovation performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on 182 Chinese firm samples, this paper applies hierarchical ordinary least-squares regression analysis to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that strategic intervention was negatively associated with managers’ risk-taking and firm innovation performance, while strategic consensus positively affected managers’ risk-taking and firm innovation performance. Moreover, managers’ risk-taking fully mediated the influence of strategic intervention on firm innovation performance, whereas it partially mediated the influence of strategic consensus on firm innovation performance.

Originality/value

The study extends research on shareholder participation by construing that large shareholders’ participation behaviors can significantly influence managers’ risk-taking and corporate innovation performance, further deepening the understanding of the influences of large shareholders on the firm-level outcomes. The theoretical and practical implications of this finding are also discussed.
Optimizing ensembles of small models for predicting the distribution of species with few occurrences
Authors: Breiner Frank T. , Nobis Michael P. , Bergamini Ariel , Guisan Antoine
Published: January 2018

Ensembles of Small Models (ESM) represent a novel strategy for species distribution modelling with few observations.ESMs are built by calibrating many small models and then averaging them into an ensemble model where the small models are weighted by their cross‐validated scores of predictive performance. In a previous paper (Breiner, Guisan, Bergamini, & Nobis,Methods in Ecology and Evolution,6, 1210–1218, 2015), we reported two major findings. First,ESMs proved largely superior to standard models in terms of model performance and transferability. Second,ESMs including different modelling techniques did not clearly improve model performance compared to single‐techniqueESMs. However,ESMs often require a large computation effort, which can become problematic when modelling large numbers of species. Given the appealing new perspectives offered byESMs, it is especially important to investigate if some techniques yield increased performance while saving computation time and thus could be predominantly used for buildingESMs.

Here, we present results from a reanalysis of a subset of the data used in Breiner et al. (2015). More specifically, we ranESMs: (1) fitted with 10 modelling techniques separately (in Breiner et al., 2015 we used only three techniques); and (2) using various parameter options for each modelling technique (i.e., model tuning).

We show thatESMs vary in model performance and computation time across techniques, and some techniques are advantageous in terms of optimizing model performance and computation time (i.e.,GLM,CTAandANN). Including one of these modelling techniques could thus optimize computation time compared to using more computing‐intensive techniques likeGBM. Next, we show that parameter tuning can improve performance and transferability ofESMs, but often at the cost of computation time. Parameter tuning could therefore be used when computing resources are not a limiting factor.

These findings help improve the applicability and performance ofESMs when applied to large numbers of species.
The levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system is associated with a reduction in dysmenorrhoea and dyspareunia, a decrease in CA 125 levels, and an increase in quality of life in women with suspected endometriosis
Authors: Yucel Nese , Baskent Erdem , Karamustafaoglu Balci Burcin , Goynumer Gokhan
Published: January 2018

Background and aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine device (LNG‐IUS) in the symptomatic relief of pain in women with endometriosis and additionally, to assess the changes in women's life quality and serum cancer antigen (CA) 125 levels.

Materials and methods

All women who had an LNG‐IUS inserted for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain or both for more than six months over a two‐year period were included in the study. Each woman was asked to complete questionnaires of the Short Form‐36 and visual analogue scales (VAS) in the first visit and the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth months after the LNG‐IUS insertion. CA 125 levels were measured at each visit.

Results

Forty‐five women were included in the study. At the end of 12 months, mean dysmenorrhoea VAS score decreased from 6.13 to 2.88, mean dsyspareunia VAS score from 6.04 to 2.61 and CA 125 level from 50.67 to 22.45. Endometriomas reduced in size in six women (mean size decreased from 31 to 20 mm) and disappeared in three.

Conclusions

Several favourable outcomes were found following LNG‐IUS insertion: (i) dyspareunia and dysmenorrhoea were clearly reduced; (ii) the size of endometriomas were decreased; (iii) CA 125 levels significantly decreased; (iv) a few women experienced the typical systemic adverse effects of progestogens; however, LNG‐IUS‐related adverse events were generally tolerable and the discontinuation rate was as low as 6.66% (3/45).
Vascular characteristics in young women—Effect of extensive endurance training or a sedentary lifestyle
Authors: Bjarnegård N. , Länne T. , Cinthio M. , Ekstrand J. , Hedman K. , Nylander E. , Henriksson J.
Published: January 2018

Aim

To explore whether high‐level endurance training in early age has an influence on the arterial wall properties in young women.

Methods

Forty‐seven athletes (ATH) and 52 controls (CTR), all 17‐25 years of age, were further divided into runners (RUN), whole‐body endurance athletes (WBA), sedentary controls (SC) and normally active controls (AC). Two‐dimensional ultrasound scanning of the carotid arteries was conducted to determine local common carotid artery (CCA) geometry and wall distensibility. Pulse waves were recorded with a tonometer to determine regional pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse pressure waveform.

Results

Carotid‐radial PWV was lower in WBA than in RUN (P < .05), indicating higher arterial distensibility along the arm. Mean arterial pressure was lower in ATH than in CTR and in RUN than in WBA (P < .05). Synthesized aortic augmentation index (AI@75) was lower among ATH than among CTR (−12.8 ± 1.6 vs −2.6 ± 1.2%, P < .001) and in WBA than in RUN (−16.4 ± 2.5 vs −10.7 ± 2.0%, P < .05), suggesting a diminished return of reflection waves to the aorta during systole. Carotid‐femoral PWV and intima‐media thickness (IMT), lumen diameter and radial distensibility of the CCA were similar in ATH and CTR.

Conclusion

Elastic artery distensibility and carotid artery IMT are not different in young women with extensive endurance training over several years and in those with sedentary lifestyle. On the other hand, our data suggest that long‐term endurance training is associated with potentially favourable peripheral artery adaptation, especially in sports where upper body work is added. This adaptation, if persisting later in life, could contribute to lower cardiovascular risk.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: de novo non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in liver‐transplanted patients
Authors: Losurdo G. , Castellaneta A. , Rendina M. , Carparelli S. , Leandro G. , Di Leo A.
Published: January 2018

Background

De novo non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in liver‐transplanted patients for cirrhosis not due to non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is becoming a growing phenomenon.

Aims

We performed a systematic review and evaluated the prevalence of this event and possible associated factors.

Methods

A literature search in medical databases (PubMed, MEDLINE/OVIDSP, Science Direct and EMBASE) was performed in March 2017. Relevant publications were identified in most important databases. We estimated the pooled prevalence of NAFLD and NASH in patients with liver transplant. The data have been expressed as proportions/percentages, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, using the inverse variance method. Odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated.

Results

Twelve studies were selected, enrolling 2166 subjects overall undergoing post‐liver transplant biopsy. The pooled weighted prevalence of de novo NAFLD was 26% (95% CI 20%‐31%). The pooled weighted prevalence of NASH was 2% (95% CI 0%‐3%). The highest prevalences of de novo NAFLD were found for patients transplanted for alcoholic cirrhosis (37%) and cryptogenic cirrhosis (35%) and for patients taking tacrolimus (26%). Tacrolimus showed a risk of NAFLD similar to ciclosporin (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.3‐3.51).

Conclusions

Patients undergoing liver transplant are more prone to experience diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidaemia, and NAFLD may be an important element in this context. In this study, we show how the prevalence of NASH tends to remain significant and similar to the general population. Moreover, this study suggests a possible association with specific transplant indications. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.
A Multi-Source Adaptive Platform Design for Testing Sequential Combinatorial Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Kaizer Alexander M. , Hobbs Brian P. , Koopmeiners Joseph S.
Published: January 2018

Traditional paradigms for clinical translation are challenged in settings where multiple contemporaneous therapeutic strategies have been identified as potentially beneficial. Platform trials have emerged as an approach for sequentially comparing multiple trials using a single protocol. The Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa represents one recent example which utilized a platform design. Specifically, the PREVAIL II master protocol sequentially tested new combinations of therapies against the concurrent, optimal standard of care (oSOC) strategy. Once a treatment demonstrated sufficient evidence of benefit, the treatment was added to the oSOC for all future comparisons (denoted as segments throughout the manuscript). In the interest of avoiding bias stemming from population drift, PREVAIL II considered only within-segment comparisons between the oSOC and novel treatments and failed to leverage data from oSOC patients in prior segments. This article describes adaptive design methodology aimed at boosting statistical power through Bayesian modeling and adaptive randomization. Specifically, the design uses multi-source exchangeability models to combine data from multiple segments and adaptive randomization to achieve information balance within a segment. When compared to the PREVAIL II design, we demonstrate that our proposed adaptive platform design improves power by as much as 51% with limited type-I error inflation. Further, the adaptive platform effectuates more balance with respect to the distribution of acquired information among study arms, with more patients randomized to experimental regimens.
Subtype Classification and Heterogeneous Prognosis Model Construction in Precision Medicine
Authors: You Na , He Shun , Wang Xueqin , Zhu Junxian , Zhang Heping
Published: January 2018

Common diseases including cancer are heterogeneous. It is important to discover disease subtypes and identify both shared and unique risk factors for different disease subtypes. The advent of high-throughput technologies enriches the data to achieve this goal, if necessary statistical methods are developed. Existing methods can accommodate both heterogeneity identification and variable selection under parametric models, but for survival analysis, the commonly used Cox model is semiparametric. Although finite-mixture Cox model has been proposed to address heterogeneity in survival analysis, variable selection has not been incorporated into such semiparametric models. Using regularization regression, we propose a variable selection method for the finite-mixture Cox model and select important, subtype-specific risk factors from high-dimensional predictors. Our estimators have oracle properties with proper choices of penalty parameters under the regularization regression. An expectation–maximization algorithm is developed for numerical calculation. Simulations demonstrate that our proposed method performs well in revealing the heterogeneity and selecting important risk factors for each subtype, and its performance is compared to alternatives with other regularizers. Finally, we apply our method to analyze a gene expression dataset for ovarian cancer DNA repair pathways. Based on our selected risk factors, the prognosis model accounting for heterogeneity consistently improves the prediction for the survival probability in both training and test datasets.
Sexual Difference and Decolonization: Oyĕwùmí and Irigaray in Dialogue about Western Culture
Authors: Coetzee Azille , Halsema Annemie
Published: January 2018

In this article we aim to show the potential of cross‐continental dialogues for a decolonizing feminism. We relate the work of one of the major critics of the Western metaphysical patriarchal order, Luce Irigaray, to the critique of the colonial/modern gender system by the Nigerian feminist scholar Oyĕrónké Oyĕwùmí. Oyĕwùmí's work is often rejected based on the argument that it is empirically wrong. We start by problematizing this line of thinking by providing an epistemological interpretation of Oyĕwùmí's claims. We then draw Irigaray and Oyĕwùmí into conversation, and show how this bolsters and helps to further illuminate and contextualize Oyĕwùmí's critique of gender. But the dialogue between these thinkers also reveals significant limitations of Irigaray's philosophy, namely her presumption of the priority of sexual difference, its rigid duality, and her failure to take into account the inextricable intertwinement of gender and race in the Western patriarchal order. Relating Irigaray's critique of Western culture's forgetting of sexual difference to Oyĕwùmí's critique hence demonstrates to what extent Irigaray's philosophy remains typically Western and how she therefore fails to escape the paradigm that she is so critical of.
A new low‐firing and high‐Q microwave dielectric ceramic Li9Zr3NbO13
Authors: Yang Han , Tang Bin , Fang Zixuan , Luo Jun , Zhang Shuren
Published: January 2018

The microwave dielectric ceramic Li9Zr3NbO13 was found and investigated. Prepared via the solid‐state reaction method, the Li9Zr3NbO13 formed as a Li2ZrO3‐type solid solution at 880‐900°C, with monoclinic structure in C2/c space group and Z = 4. Typically, the Li9Zr3NbO13 sintered at 900°C exhibited the excellent microwave dielectric properties of εr = 21.3, Q×f = 43 600 GHz (at 7.4 GHz), τf = 7.3 ppm/°C.
A LITERATURE REVIEW OF CLUSTER THEORY: ARE RELATIONS AMONG CLUSTERS IMPORTANT?
Authors: Lu Ren , Reve Torger , Huang Jing , Jian Ze , Chen Mei
Published: January 2018

Having reviewed 1259 papers on cluster theory, we find that current cluster studies primarily discussed cluster phenomena from either a microlevel or mesolevel. We argue that studying relations among clusters would increase our understanding of clusters, and such a research topic is worth becoming a new research orientation for cluster theory.
Trade, environment, and income inequality: An optimal taxation approach
Authors: Bontems Philippe , Gozlan Estelle
Published: January 2018

In a small open economy, how should a government pursuing both environmental and redistributive objectives design domestic taxes when redistribution is costly? And how does trade liberalization affect the economy's levels of pollution and inequalities, when taxes are optimally and endogenously adjusted? Using a general equilibrium model under asymmetric information with two goods, two factors (skilled and unskilled labor), and pollution, this paper characterizes the optimal mixed tax system (nonlinear income tax and linear commodity and production taxes/subsidies) with both production and consumption externalities. While optimal income taxes are not directly affected by environmental externalities, conditions are derived under which under‐ or over‐internalization of social marginal damage is optimal for redistributive considerations. Assuming that redistribution operates in favor of the unskilled workers and that the dirty sector is intensive in unskilled labor, simulations suggest that trade liberalization involves a clear trade‐off between the reduction of inequalities and the control of pollution when the source of externality is only production; this is not necessarily true with a consumption externality. Finally, an increase in the willingness to redistribute income toward the unskilled results paradoxically in less pollution and more income inequalities.
Dynamic Labour Supply of Married Australian Women
Authors: Cai Lixin
Published: January 2018

Using the first 13 waves of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey, this study investigates the determinants of labour supply of married Australian women, with a focus on whether and to what extent there is state dependence in their labour supply. It is found that both observed and unobserved individual heterogeneity contribute to the observed inter‐temporal persistence of married Australian women's labour supply, but the persistence remains even after controlling for these factors. It is also found that non‐labour income, age, education, health and the number and age of young dependent children have significant effects on married Australian women's labour supply.
Hepatitis C virus direct‐acting antivirals therapy impacts on extracellular vesicles microRNAs content and on their immunomodulating properties
Authors: Santangelo Laura , Bordoni Veronica , Montaldo Claudia , Cimini Eleonora , Zingoni Alessandra , Battistelli Cecilia , D'Offizi Gianpiero , Capobianchi Maria R. , Santoni Angela , Tripodi Marco , Agrati Chiara
Published: January 2018

Background & Aims

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is known to cause major alterations in the cross‐talk between hepatic and immune cells thus contributing to the liver disease pathogenesis. Extracellular vesicles have been proved to act as major players in cell‐cell communication, and their cargo changes in relation to pathophysiological states. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic HCV infection and direct‐acting antivirals (DAA) on exosome‐delivered microRNAs and on their ability to modulate the innate immune response.

Methods

Exosomes isolated from the plasma of healthy donors and naïve, viremic HCV patients before and after DAA treatment have been compared for their microRNAs cargo by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Functional assays with peripheral blood cells from healthy donors were performed to assess exosome‐mediated immune responses.

Results

MicroRNAs associated with HCV‐related immunopathogenesis which were found to be enriched in exosomes of HCV viremic patients (in particular, miR‐122‐5p, miR‐222‐3p, miR‐146a, miR‐150‐5p, miR‐30c, miR‐378a‐3p and miR‐20a‐5p) were markedly reduced by DAA therapy. This exosome‐microRNA cargo modulation parallels changes in their immunomodulatory properties in ex vivo experiments. Exosomes from HCV patients inhibit NK degranulation activity and this effect correlates with miR‐122‐5p or miR‐222‐3p levels.

Conclusions

Enrichment of immunomodulatory microRNAs in exosomes of HCV patients was correlated with their inhibitory activity on innate immune cells function. Direct‐acting antivirals (DAA) treatment was observed to revert both microRNA content and functional profiles of systemic exosomes towards those of healthy donors. Exosome‐associated microRNAs may provide valuable biomarkers to monitor immune response recovery.
Spectral properties and geology of bright and dark material on dwarf planet Ceres
Authors: Thangjam G. , Nathues A. , Platz T. , Hoffmann M. , Cloutis E. A. , Mengel K. , Izawa M. R. M. , Applin D. M.
Published: January 2018

Variations and spatial distributions of bright and dark material on dwarf planet Ceres play a key role in understanding the processes that have led to its present surface composition. We define limits for “bright” and “dark” material in order to distinguish them consistently, based on the reflectance of the average surface using Dawn Framing Camera data. A systematic classification of four types of bright material is presented based on their spectral properties, composition, spatial distribution, and association with specific geomorphological features. We found obvious correlations of reflectance with spectral shape (slopes) and age; however, this is not unique throughout the bright spots. Although impact features show generally more extreme reflectance variations, several areas can only be understood in terms of inhomogeneous distribution of composition as inferred from Dawn Visible and Infrared Spectrometer data. Additional material with anomalous composition and spectral properties are rare. The identification of the composition and origin of the dark, particularly the darkest material, remains to be explored. The spectral properties and the morphology of the dark sites suggest an endogenic origin, but it is not clear whether they are more or less primitive surficial exposures or excavated subsurface but localized material. The reflectance, spectral properties, inferred composition, and geologic context collectively suggest that the bright and dark material tends to gradually change toward the average surface over time. This could be because of multiple processes, i.e., impact gardening/space weathering, and lateral mixing, including thermal and aqueous alteration, accompanied by changes in composition and physical properties such as grain size, surface temperature, and porosity (compaction).
Mother and child nutrition among the Chakhesang tribe in the state of Nagaland, North‐East India
Authors: Longvah Thingnganing , Khutsoh Bewe , Meshram Indrapal Ishwarji , Krishna Sreerama , Kodali Venkaiah , Roy Phrang , Kuhnlein Harriet V.
Published: January 2018

Despite the importance of the nutritional status and food systems of Indigenous Peoples, the subject has received very little attention, especially in North‐East India. Therefore, a community‐based cross‐sectional descriptive study was carried out among Chakhesang mothers with children under 5 years of age to evaluate their nutritional status and prevalence of chronic diseases in the context of their dietary habits. From 558 households (HHs), 661 children and 540 mothers were covered using standard anthropometric measurements as well as blood collection for haemoglobin and vitamin A. Data were collected from mothers on HH socio‐demographic particulars and infant and young child feeding practices. The results showed that the prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting among children <5 years of age was 14%, 22%, and 7%, respectively. The prevalence of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency was 26% and 33% among children <5 years, whereas it was 33% and 26%, respectively, among mothers. Hypertension was observed in 16% of women, whereas diabetes was seen in 0.8%. Approximately 35% and 24% of HHs suffered mild or moderate food insecurity, respectively, which was associated with literacy of the parents, per capita income, and family size. Utilization of the rich agrobiodiversity and wild foods by the Chakhesangs appears to be a strong reason for their better nutritional and health status as compared to the rest of India. Therefore, this Indigenous knowledge and food system must be documented and kept vital, especially in policies and intervention programmes addressing food and nutrition security among the Chakhesangs.
First demographic insights on historically harvested and poorly known male sperm whale populations off the Crozet and Kerguelen Islands (Southern Ocean)
Authors: Labadie Guillemette , Tixier Paul , Barbraud Christophe , Fay Rémi , Gasco Nicolas , Duhamel Guy , Guinet Christophe
Published: January 2018

Age and sex dependent spatial segregation has resulted in limited knowledge of the ecology and demography of sperm whale adult males feeding seasonally in high latitudes. This study focused on adult males interacting with the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) fishery operating off the Kerguelen and Crozet Archipelagos. Demographic parameters were estimated using a 10‐yr‐long photo‐identification data set paired with multistate closed robust design capture‐mark‐recapture models. The examination of a set of 29,078 photographs taken from fishing vessels during sperm whale depredation events resulted in identification of 295 individuals with nine visiting both study areas. Dispersal between both study regions was estimated to be 1% per year. The mean annual number of interacting sperm whales was estimated to n = 82 (95% CI 58–141) in Crozet and n = 106 (95% CI 76–174) in Kerguelen. Transient proportions were 13% in Crozet and 26% in Kerguelen. Corrected for transience, apparent survival estimates were 0.953 (95% CI 0.890–0.993) in Crozet, and 0.911 (95% CI 0.804–0.986) in Kerguelen. These survival and population size estimates are the first for depredating adult males in high latitudes, and can be used in evaluating the current conservation status of this historically harvested stock and to investigate depredation trends in 35 both Crozet and Kerguelen Islands.
Ward nurses' experiences of the discharge process between intensive care unit and general ward
Authors: Kauppi Wivica , Proos Matilda , Olausson Sepideh
Published: January 2018

Background

Intensive care unit (ICU) discharges are challenging practices that carry risks for patients. Despite the existing body of knowledge, there are still difficulties in clinical practice concerning unplanned ICU discharges, specifically where there is no step‐down unit.

Aims and objectives

The aim of this study was to explore general ward nurses' experiences of caring for patients being discharged from an ICU.

Design and methods

Data were collected from focus groups and in‐depth interviews with a total of 16 nurses from three different hospitals in Sweden. An inductive qualitative design was chosen.

Findings

The analysis revealed three themes that reflect the challenges in nursing former ICU patients: a vulnerable patient, nurses' powerlessness and organizational structure. The nurses described the challenge of nursing a fragile patient based on several aspects. They expressed feeling unrealistic demands when caring for a fragile former ICU patient. The demands were related to their own profession and knowledge regarding how to care for this group of patients. The organizational structure had an impact on how the nurses' caring practice could be realized. This evoked ethical concerns that the nurses had to cope with as the organization's care guidelines did not always favour the patients.

Conclusions

The structure of the organization and its leadership appear to have a significant impact on the nurses' ability to offer patients the care they need.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study sheds light on the need for extended outreach services and intermediate care in order to meet the needs of patients after the intensive care period.
Ultrasound‐guided lumbar plexus block in children and adolescents using a transverse lumbar paravertebral sonogram: Initial experience
Authors: Boretsky Karen , Hernandez Maria A. , Eastburn Elizabeth , Sullivan Cornelius
Published: January 2018

Background

The clinical reliability and reproducibility of ultrasound‐guided lumbar plexus blocks is not established in pediatric populations. We present the results of a combined nerve stimulation ultrasound‐guided lumbar plexus block using the vertebral body, transverse process, and psoas muscle as landmarks on a transverse lumbar paravertebral sonogram with mid‐axillary transducer placement, “shamrock method,” in children and adolescents.

Aims

Our primary objective was to determine the rate of achieving sensory changes in the lumbar plexus distribution. Secondary outcomes were performance time, reliability of echo‐landmarks, measures of patient comfort, and complications.

Methods

We reviewed prospectively collected quality assurance data and electronic medical records of 21 patients having major orthopedic surgery with lumbar plexus block catheter for postoperative analgesia.

Results

Twenty‐one patients were studied with mean age and weight (SD, range) of 13.6 years (3.8, 6‐18) and 49.3 kg (18.6, 19.2‐87.6). Surgical procedures included periacetabular osteotomy, pelvic osteotomy, and proximal femoral osteotomy. Mean volume of 0.5 mL/kg (0.05) 0.2% ropivacaine produced thermal sensory changes to femoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves in 20/21 (95% CI 0.76 to >0.99) and 19/21 (95% CI 0.70‐0.99) patients. Identification of transverse process (TP), vertebral body (VB), and psoas muscle (PM): 21/21 (95% CI 0.86‐1.0). Average block performance time was 9:08 minutes (2:09, 2‐13). Average opioid consumption (SD) in operating room, postanesthesia care unit, 0‐12 and 12‐24‐hour periods were 0.17 mg/kg (0.08), 0.08 mg/kg (0.06), 0.06 mg/kg (0.06), and 0.06 mg/kg (0.05). Median pain score by severity category in postanesthesia care unit: (0‐3) 66.7%, (4‐6) 28.5%, (>7) 4.8%; 0‐12 hours: (0‐3) 76.2%, (4‐6) 19.0%, (>7) 4.8%; 12‐24 hours: (0‐3) 57.2%, (4‐6) 42.8%, (>7) 0%. No complications were recorded.

Conclusion

Ultrasound guidance using lateral imaging of transverse process, vertebral body, and psoas muscle allows practitioners to reach the nerves of the lumbar plexus and achieve sensory block in pediatric patients with a high success rate.
Previous exposure to chronic intermittent hypoxia blunts the development of one‐kidney, one‐clip hypertension in rats
Authors: Perim Raphael R. , Amorim Mateus R. , Bonagamba The Late Leni G. H. , Machado Benedito H.
Published: January 2018

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) and one‐kidney, one‐clip experimental models lead to sympathetic overactivity and hypertension. The present study explored the impact of previous exposure to CIH on one‐kidney, one‐clip renal hypertension; we hypothesized that CIH potentiates its development.

What is the main finding and its importance?

The development of one‐kidney, one‐clip renal hypertension was attenuated by previous exposure to CIH, and this protective effect was eliminated by carotid body denervation. These findings indicate that inputs from peripheral chemoreceptors in CIH‐preconditioned rats play a role in preventing the increase in sympathetic activity and arterial pressure induced by one‐kidney, one‐clip renal hypertension.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) and one‐kidney, one‐clip (1K, 1C) experimental models lead to sympathetic overactivity and hypertension. We hypothesized that previous exposure to CIH potentiates the development of 1K, 1C renal hypertension. Male rats were divided into the following four groups: Control‐1K, 1C, maintained under normoxia followed by 1K, 1C surgery (n = 19); Control‐Sham, maintained under normoxia, followed by sham surgery (n = 19); CIH‐1K, 1C, exposed to CIH (10 days) and 1K, 1C surgery (n = 19); and CIH‐Sham, exposed to CIH and sham surgery (n = 18). Animals were catheterized 8 days after 1K, 1C or Sham surgeries and cardiovascular and respiratory parameters recorded on the following day. Baseline mean arterial pressure was higher in Control‐1K, 1C than in Control‐Sham rats (P < 0.05) and was higher in CIH‐1K, 1C than in CIH‐Sham rats (P < 0.05). However, the increase in mean arterial pressure in CIH‐1K, 1C animals was significantly blunted in comparison to Con‐1K, 1C rats (P < 0.05), indicating that previous exposure to CIH attenuates the development of renal hypertension. Systemic administration of hexamethonium, a ganglionic blocker, promoted a larger hypotensive response in Con‐1K, 1C compared with CIH‐1K, 1C rats (P < 0.05), suggesting that sympathetic activity was attenuated in rats previously exposed to the CIH protocol. In addition, removal of the carotid bodies before 1K, 1C renal hypertension eliminated the protective effect of CIH preconditioning on the development of the 1K, 1C hypertension. We conclude that previous exposure to CIH attenuates the development of renal hypertension via a carotid body‐dependent mechanism.
Two new genera and three new species of eriophyoid mites from Chiang Mai province, Thailand
Authors: Konvipasruang Ploychompoo , Chandrapatya Angsumarn
Published: January 2018

Two new genera and three new species of the Eriophyidae from Chiang Mai province, Thailand were described. They are Kanphra dichotomae gen. nov., sp. nov. on Schumannianthus dichotomus (Roxb.) Gagnep., Ekaphyes daengii sp. nov. and Daengarus xylocarpus gen. nov., sp. nov. on Xylia xylocarpa (Roxb.) Taub.
Atomic layer deposition of carbon doped silicon oxide by precursor design and process tuning
Authors: Wang Meiliang , Chandra Haripin , Lei Xinjian , Mallikarjunan Anupama , Cuthill Kirk , Xiao Manchao
Published: January 2018

Different precursors for atomic layer deposition of carbon doped silicon oxide have been investigated. The impact of precursor reactivity, the number of silicon-carbon bonds in the precursor, oxidant concentration and dosing time, and deposition temperature on deposited film's carbon content are discussed. It is found that substituting the Si-H by Si-CH3 reduces precursor reactivity and decreases film growth per cycle (GPC). At temperatures higher than 225 °C, all the precursors could deposit a silicon oxide films with reasonable GPC but with very little carbon in the film (<1 at. % by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). At temperatures, lower than 150 °C, precursors with two or three Si-CH3 groups, e.g., dimethylaminotrimethylsilane and dimethylaminodimethylsilane, and bis(dimethylamino)dimethylsilane have almost no deposition of silicon oxide film (GPC < 0.1 Å/cycle), while the monoaminosilane precursor with only one Si-CH3, e.g., di-iso-propylaminomethylsilane, could deposit silicon oxide film with relatively high GPC and high carbon content (1–8 at. %). The bisaminosilane precursor with one Si-CH3 bis(dimethylamino)methylsilane (BDMAMS) shows decreased carbon doping compare to DIPAMS. In addition, the ozone concentration affects the film deposition. The lower ozone concentration and shorter ozone dosing time result in lower GPC, higher carbon doping and lower film wet etch rate.
An Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Spot Assay Measuring Borrelia burgdorferi B31-Specific Interferon Gamma-Secreting T Cells Cannot Discriminate Active Lyme Neuroborreliosis from Past Lyme Borreliosis: a Prospective Study in the Netherlands
Authors: van Gorkom T. , Sankatsing S. U. C. , Voet W. , Ismail D. M. , Muilwijk R. H. , Salomons M. , Vlaminckx B. J. M. , Bossink A. W. J. , Notermans D. W. , Bouwman J. J. M. , Kremer K. , Thijsen S. F. T.
Published: January 2018

Two-tier serology testing is most frequently used for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis (LB); however, a positive result is no proof of active disease. To establish a diagnosis of active LB, better diagnostics are needed. Tests investigating the cellular immune system are available, but studies evaluating the utility of these tests on well-defined patient populations are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the utility of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assay to diagnose active Lyme neuroborreliosis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of various study groups were stimulated by usingBorrelia burgdorferistrain B31 and various recombinant antigens, and subsequently, the number ofBorrelia-specific interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-secreting T cells was measured. We included 33 active and 37 treated Lyme neuroborreliosis patients, 28 healthy individuals treated for an early manifestation of LB in the past, and 145 untreated healthy individuals. The median numbers ofB. burgdorferiB31-specific IFN-γ-secreting T cells/2.5 × 105PBMCs did not differ between active Lyme neuroborreliosis patients (6.0; interquartile range [IQR], 0.5 to 14.0), treated Lyme neuroborreliosis patients (4.5; IQR, 2.0 to 18.6), and treated healthy individuals (7.4; IQR, 2.3 to 14.9) (P= 1.000); however, the median number ofB. burgdorferiB31-specific IFN-γ-secreting T cells/2.5 × 105PBMCs among untreated healthy individuals was lower (2.0; IQR, 0.5 to 3.9) (P≤ 0.016). We conclude that theBorreliaELISpot assay, measuring the number ofB. burgdorferiB31-specific IFN-γ-secreting T cells/2.5 × 105PBMCs, correlates with exposure to theBorreliabacterium but cannot be used for the diagnosis of active Lyme neuroborreliosis.