bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Shemesh theorem to quantum channels
Authors: Białończyk Michał , Jamiołkowski Andrzej , Życzkowski Karol
Published: October 2018

Completely positive maps are useful in modeling the discrete evolution of quantum systems. Spectral properties of operators associated with such maps are relevant for determining the asymptotic dynamics of quantum systems subjected to multiple interactions described by the same quantum channel. We discuss a connection between the properties of the peripheral spectrum of completely positive and trace preserving map and the algebra generated by its Kraus operators A(A1,…,AK). By applying the Shemesh and Amitsur-Levitzki theorems to analyse the structure of the algebra A(A1,…,AK), one can predict the asymptotic dynamics for a class of operations.
Influence of bulk and interfacial properties on shock compression of metal powders. I. Interaction of a pair of particles
Authors: de Brauer Alexia , Udaykumar H. S.
Published: October 2018

This paper studies the physics of shock compaction of metallic powder mixtures by focusing on two particles interacting under conditions of high compressive strain rates. Particle-particle interactions are simulated using a sharp interface Eulerian approach. Specifically, the present work seeks to understand how the disparity in bulk material properties such as yield strength and impedance leads to differences in spreading, heating, and contact area of the materials. In addition, the effects of interfacial phenomena such as friction and interfacial melting are examined using the sharp interface framework. The results show that the extent of interfacial contact between the materials is affected by material deformation and jetting. Of the material properties studied, the impedance mismatch exerts the highest influence on the heating of materials. Material yield strength also plays a significant role; the melting of materials is shown to play a minor role in the spreading and evolution of contact of the materials for the shock strengths tested. By focusing on two particles, this work provides insights elucidating the physics of shock compaction of powder mixtures, specifically the influence of bulk and interfacial properties on the extent of interfacial contact between dissimilar materials.
Initial results and designs of dual-filter and plenoptic imaging for high-temperature plasmas
Authors: Sun Zhen , Baldwin Jon K. , Xu Wei , Wang Zhehui , Hu Jiansheng , Maingi Rajesh , Romero-Talamas Carlos , Oschwald David M.
Published: October 2018

Mass injection has found new applications in magnetic fusion including edge-localized-mode control. Better understanding of injected-mass-plasma interactions requires spatially and temporally resolved diagnostics that can characterize the dynamics of the mass interactions with plasmas. Fast imaging can be used to characterize the ionization dynamics such as the propagation of the ionization front, which moves at the thermal sound or higher speed, and mixing of the neutral atoms with the ambient plasma. Multi-wavelength spectral imaging is promising since different parts of the plasma give different spectral signatures. Here we describe a dual-spectral imaging technique based on a monochromatic camera sensor and filters with two passing optical wavelengths. The method is shown to improve image contrast, and it compares favorably with alternatives such as color cameras and methods using a filter wheel. Further improvements through relative filter area ratios and plenoptic imaging are possible. The initial results from EAST and plenoptic imaging are also included.
Fast ion D-alpha measurements using a bandpass-filtered system on EAST
Authors: Zhang J. , Huang J. , Chang J. F. , Wu C. R. , Heidbrink W. W. , Salewski M. , Madsen B. , Zhu Y. B. , von Hellermann M. G. , Gao W. , Xu Z. , Wan B.
Published: October 2018

Based on the charge exchange reaction between fast ions and a neutral beam, fast ion features can be inferred from the spectrum of Doppler-shifted Balmer-alpha light from energetic hydrogenic atoms. In order to study the interaction between instabilities and fast-ion transport, recently we extended the fast ion D-alpha (FIDA) measurements by using a combination of a bandpass filter and a photomultiplier tube (PMT) (f-FIDA). A bandpass filter selects the desired spectral band from 651 nm to 654 nm before detection by the PMT. Preliminary data from the EAST tokamak show that the active signals have been detected from reneutralized beam ions along the vertical and tangential viewing geometries. The details will be presented in this paper to primarily address the specifications and performance of f-FIDA hardware components and preliminary FIDA measurements.
Reconstruction of radiation profiles near the plasma boundary using an infrared imaging video bolometer in KSTAR
Authors: Jang Juhyeok , Peterson Byron J. , Oh Seungtae , Mukai Kiyofumi , Hong Suk-Ho , Choe Wonho
Published: October 2018

An infrared imaging video bolometer using tomographic inversion can provide the total radiated power and 2-D radiation profiles, which are crucial information for impurity seeding experiments. Because large amounts of impurities exist at the plasma edge, accurate reconstruction of the radiation profiles near the material boundary is an important issue. In this study, two methods of boundary condition treatment are compared. One involves the exclusion of plasma pixels outside the boundary before reconstruction, whereas the other excludes these pixels after reconstruction. Phantom reconstruction tests are performed with D-shaped and divertor radiation profiles, and the second method shows an improvement in the boundary-reconstruction results compared with the first method. Using the second method, the radiation profiles of krypton (Kr) seeded H-mode plasmas in KSTAR are reconstructed. A significant amount of input power is dissipated through the Kr radiation. The 2-D reconstructed radiation profiles show that Kr mostly accumulates at the plasma core rather than at the edge.
In vivo blood viscosity characterization based on frequency-resolved photoacoustic measurement
Authors: Zhao Yue , Yang Shaozhuang , Wang Yating , Yuan Zhen , Qu Junle , Liu Liwei
Published: October 2018

In this letter, we proposed a photoacoustic (PA) method for noninvasively detecting blood viscosity in subcutaneous microvasculature with the frequency-resolved measurement. The influence of viscosity on PA generation was investigated theoretically, and a negative correlation was shown between the viscosity and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the PA frequency spectrum, which can be utilized to reflect the viscosity distribution. To test the feasibility and accuracy of this method, water mixed with different concentrations of glycerol was measured. FWHM of the PA frequency spectrum was also obtained in vivo in the mouse ear to characterize the blood viscosity from different vessel bifurcations, and the metabolism-induced viscosity changes were dynamically monitored in the microvasculature. Experimental results demonstrate that this technique has future potential clinical applications for real-time monitoring the viscosity changes in subcutaneous microvasculature.
Semiclassical transition state theory based on fourth order vibrational perturbation theory: Model system studies beyond symmetric Eckart barrier
Authors: Goel Prateek , Stanton John F.
Published: October 2018

The following one-dimensional model potential barriers are studied to compute the tunneling probabilities using semiclassical transition state theory (SCTST) based on fourth order vibrational perturbation theory (VPT4): (i) Morse barrier, (ii) asymmetric Eckart barrier, (iii) adjacent well barrier, and (iv) first order approximation to the symmetric Eckart barrier. The current investigation extends a previous study performed for the symmetric Eckart barrier. The performance of VPT4-SCTST is investigated for a broad range of energies, including the very deep tunneling regime (approximately 1% of the barrier height), and the results are compared to the exact quantum mechanical treatment, as well as to the popular second order vibrational perturbation theory (VPT2)-SCTST approach. While the VPT4-SCTST results are in excellent agreement with their quantum mechanical counterparts for a wide range of energies above and below the barrier, it is found for systems (ii) and (iv) that higher order terms (in n+12) in energy expansion are important for similarly excellent agreement in the deep tunneling regime. For the asymmetric Eckart barrier, the convergence properties of SCTST are analyzed in terms of its analytically known Siegert eigenvalues. A simple empirical modification of VPT2-SCTST advocated in the aforementioned previous work for the symmetric Eckart barrier is also tested here for the new model systems, and it is shown not to provide a uniformly systematic improvement.
Impact of operating temperature on the electrical and magnetic properties of the bottom-pinned perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions
Authors: Wu Y. C. , Kim W. , Rao S. , Garello K. , Van Beek S. , Couet S. , Liu E. , Swerts J. , Kundu S. , Souriau L. , Yasin F. , Crotti D. , Jochum J. K. , Van Bael M. J. , Van Houdt J. , Groeseneken G. , Kar G. S.
Published: October 2018

Analogous device parameters in both the parallel (P) and anti-parallel (AP) states ensure a symmetric spin-transfer-torque magnetic random-access memory operation scheme. In this study, however, we observe an increasing asymmetry in the performance metrics with operating temperature of the bottom-pinned perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (p-MTJ) devices. A temperature-dependent increase in the contribution of the stray field is observed in the tunneling magnetoresistance loop analysis. The switching current for P-to-AP decreases by 30% in the thermally activated switching regime by increasing the temperature from 300 K to 400 K, while it remains similar for AP-to-P. In addition, with the same temperature range, the thermal stability factor for the P state decreases 20% more than that for the AP state. We attribute those observations to the increase in the overcompensation of the stray field from the synthetic anti-ferromagnet structure. Saturation magnetization (MS) of the [Co/Pt]x-based multilayers is much less affected by temperature [MS(400 K)/MS(300 K) = 97%] compared to that of the CoFeB-based multilayers (88%). Such an impact can be more severe during the electrical switching process due to the Joule heating effect. These results suggest that, to understand and to evaluate the performance in a wide range of temperatures, it is crucial to consider the contribution of the entire magnetic components in the p-MTJ stack.
Passive optomechanical electric field strength sensor with built-in vibration suppression
Authors: Kainz A. , Hortschitz W. , Steiner H. , Stifter M. , Schalko J. , Jachimowicz A. , Keplinger F.
Published: October 2018

Methods for measuring low-frequency and static electric field strength are of great use in many areas ranging from meteorology to high-voltage infrastructure or safety. Nevertheless, all state-of-the-art methods have grave intrinsic drawbacks such as severe inherent field distortions or overpronounced temperature behavior. Recently, a method has been developed which allows for distortion-free and temperature-stable measurement. In this work, a micromechanical sensor based on this method is presented which features suspensions that suppress cross-sensitivities to vibrations. Two such types of suspensions were evaluated and compared in terms of their mechanical modes and susceptibility to electric fields and vibrations. It is shown that these suspensions indeed suppress the cross-sensitivities. The sensors exhibit field strength resolutions down to 737  V/m/Hz with a theoretical limit as low as 59.3 V/m/Hz.
Carbon doping controlled thermoluminescent defect centers in nanoporous alumina for ion beam dosimetry
Authors: Bhowmick S. , Pal S. , Das D. , Singh V. K. , Khan S. A. , Hübner R. , Barman S. R. , Kanjilal D. , Kanjilal A.
Published: October 2018

The flexibility of amorphous anodized alumina (AAO) in developing radiation dosimeter for hadron therapy is reported by controlled carbon ion implantation, followed by thermoluminescence (TL) measurements. The efficacy of amorphous AAO in controlling TL sensitivity is found to be governed by an increase in F+ defect centers as a function of carbon concentration, as revealed from the close resemblance of the trend in photoluminescence intensity. Moreover, its nanoporous structure is demonstrated to be advantageous for defect engineering due to the increase in the surface-to-volume ratio. Detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis suggests the formation of F+ centers by substituting Al3+ ions with C2+ in the vicinity of oxygen vacancies, where depth-dependent study showed the evolution of conducting channels owing to sp2 hybridized C–C bonding, leading to a differential charging effect. This work provides a direction to tune nanoporous AAO in its amorphous form for future ion beam dosimetry.
Communication: First-principles evaluation of alkali ion adsorption and ion exchange in pure silica LTA zeolite
Authors: Kocevski Vancho , Zeidman Benjamin D. , Henager Charles H. , Besmann Theodore M.
Published: October 2018

Using first-principles calculations, we studied the adsorption of alkali ions in pure silica Linde Type A (LTA) zeolite. The probability of adsorbing alkali ions from solution and the driving force for ion exchange between Na+ and other alkali ions at the different adsorption sites were analyzed. From the calculated ion exchange isotherms, we show that it is possible to exchange Na+ with K+ and Rb+ in water, but that is not the case for systems in a vacuum. We also demonstrate that a solvation model should be used for the accurate representation of ion exchange in an LTA and that dispersion interactions should be introduced with care.
Investigation of CHF3 treatment on the energy band at the MoS2/HfZrO4 heterostructure
Authors: Li Kuilong , Li Zhiwen , Hong Yuehua , Hu Cong , Mao Wei , Liu Xinke
Published: October 2018

The energy band engineering at the multilayer MoS2 (5 nm)/HfZrO4 (15 nm) heterojunction and the effects of CHF3 plasma treatment on the band offset were investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For the MoS2/HfZrO4 sample without CHF3 plasma treatment, the valence band offset is about 1.00 eV and 3.20 eV for the conduction band offset. With CHF3 plasma treatment, the conduction band offset was reduced by 0.37 eV. The band alignment difference is believed to be dominated by the up-shift of the Hf 4f core level, which is consistent with the calculation result that F ions have a strong interaction with Hf atoms. This interesting finding encourages the application of HfZrO4 as gate oxide materials in MoS2-based electronic devices.
Attitudes, perceptions and practice patterns of primary care practitioners towards house calls
Authors: Soh Ling Ling , Low Lian Leng
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION
Historically, doctors routinely delivered medical care to sick patients in their homes, with house calls accounting for 40% of all doctor–patient encounters in the 1940s. This proportion has dwindled to less than 1% today. Advantages of house calls include decreased mortality rates, admissions to long-term care in the general elderly population and increased patient appreciation. Therefore, we asked ‘Why do some primary care practitioners do house calls and what are the reasons that others do not?’.

AIM
This review aims to understand the attitudes, perceptions of Primary Care Practitioners (PCPs) towards house calls and their practice patterns.

METHODS
A search of PubMed and Embase was conducted for articles published before 31 December 2017. A total of 531 articles with 44 duplicates was generated. Of these, 13 were shortlisted along with three hand-searched articles for a total of 16 articles included in this review.

RESULTS
Primary care providers were aware of the role of house calls and their advantages in enabling comprehensive care for a patient. They saw making house calls as a responsibility with rewards that enhanced the doctor–patient relationship. However, opportunity cost, time, medical liability and miscellaneous reasons such as the lack of training precluded some PCPs from making more house calls.

DISCUSSION
Primary care practitioners recognise the importance of house calls, especially in the care of elderly patients, but there are many unaddressed issues such as opportunity cost and clinical inadequacy in the home setting that have caused a decline in house calls over the years.
The effect of increasing toroidal magnetic field in the Globus-M spherical tokamak
Authors: Bakharev N.N. , Bulanin V.V. , Chernyshev F.V. , Gusev V.K. , Khromov N.A. , Kiselev E.O. , Kurskiev G.S. , Melnik A.D. , Minaev V.B. , Mironov M.I. , Miroshnikov I.V. , Patrov M.I. , Petrov A.V. , Petrov Yu.V. , Sakharov N.V. , Shchegolev P.B. , Sladkomedova A.D. , Solokha V.V. , Telnova A.Yu. , Tokarev V.A. , Tolstyakov S.Yu. , Yashin A.Yu.
Published: October 2018

In the final Globus-M experimental campaign B
tor and I
p were raised by 25% up to 0.5 T and 250 kA, respectively, expanding available range of experimental parameters. In these experiments an overall improvement in plasma performance was observed, plasma total stored energy and neutron rate increased significantly. The energy confinement time dependence on B
tor and n
e was close to linear. L-H transition threshold was 5–10 times higher than threshold predicted by the scaling. Despite the small plasma-wall distance, the level of radiation losses in the main plasma volume was relatively small and decreased as B
tor rised. An increase in B
tor and I
p led to a decrease in the sawtooth-induced losses. While a rise in the plasma current led to a decrease of fast ion losses per TAE burst at the same amplitude; frequency of bursts and their amplitude increased. Doppler backscattering, applied to study TAE localization for the first time, revealed that TAE fluctuations are localized in the region of normalized minor radii ρ  =  0.5–0.75. A new movable 9-pin head probe provided data, necessary for power decay length scaling investigation. Significant power decay length contraction, stronger than predicted by Eich’s scaling, was observed.
Dispute Settlement on the Belt and Road: Ideas on System, Spirit and Style
Authors: Yee Sienho
Published: October 2018

This comment offers some brief observations on ideas that may promote the settlement of disputes that may arise from the Belt and Road Initiative, such as a possible standing investment court, a unified appellate mechanism or a legal aid mechanism as system components, a “lawyer for the situation” spirit for lawyering, an emphasis on a friendly style of dispute settlement, and a style of directly providing for rules of interpretation as part of the applicable law.
History Education for Transitional Justice? Challenges, Limitations and Possibilities for Settler Colonial Australia
Authors: Keynes Mati
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACT∞

In recent times, a conception of history education as facilitating truth, remembrance and critical thinking has been positioned as useful for transitional justice in divided societies, but this analysis has not been extended to settler states which are also characterized by prolonged division and state-administered violence. To explore this, the article draws on examples from Australia where scholars have been extending the framework of transitional justice in order to better address the structural nature of injustice in settler states. By investigating the uses of temporality and historicization in history education, it concludes that while disciplinary models might contribute to the popular theses of transitional justice by encouraging students to emulate the skills of the historian, these models would likely work to strengthen rather than challenge the legitimacy of the Australian settler state. Therefore, any attempts to align history education with reconciliation in Australia will require a rethinking of current disciplinary models.
Stable Rationality of del Pezzo Fibrations of Low Degree Over Projective Spaces
Authors: Krylov Igor , Okada Takuzo
Published: October 2018

The main aim of this article is to show that a very general three-dimensional del Pezzo fibration of degrees 1, 2, and 3 is not stably rational except for a del Pezzo fibration of degree 3 belonging to explicitly described two families. Higher-dimensional generalizations are also discussed and we prove that a very general del Pezzo fibration of degrees 1, 2, and 3 defined over the projective space is not stably rational provided that the anti-canonical divisor is not ample.
Recruiting for a pragmatic trial using the electronic health record and patient portal: successes and lessons learned
Authors: Pfaff Emily , Lee Adam , Bradford Robert , Pae Jinhee , Potter Clarence , Blue Paul , Knoepp Patricia , Thompson Kristie , Roumie Christianne L , Crenshaw David , Servis Remy , DeWalt Darren A
Published: October 2018

Objective

Querying electronic health records (EHRs) to find patients meeting study criteria is an efficient method of identifying potential study participants. We aimed to measure the effectiveness of EHR-driven recruitment in the context of ADAPTABLE (Aspirin Dosing: A Patient-centric Trial Assessing Benefits and Long-Term Effectiveness)—a pragmatic trial aiming to recruit 15 000 patients.

Materials and Methods

We compared the participant yield of 4 recruitment methods: in-clinic recruitment by a research coordinator, letters, direct email, and patient portal messages. Taken together, the latter 2 methods comprised our EHR-driven electronic recruitment workflow.

Results

The electronic recruitment workflow sent electronic messages to 12 254 recipients; 13.5% of these recipients visited the study website, and 4.2% enrolled in the study. Letters were sent to 427 recipients; 5.6% visited the study website, and 3.3% enrolled in the study. Coordinators recruited 339 participants in clinic; 23.6% visited the study website, and 16.8% enrolled in the study. Five-hundred-nine of the 580 UNC enrollees (87.8%) were recruited using an electronic method.

Discussion

Electronic recruitment reached a wide net of patients, recruited many participants to the study, and resulted in a workflow that can be reused for future studies. In-clinic recruitment saw the highest yield, suggesting that a combination of recruitment methods may be the best approach. Future work should account for demographic skew that may result by recruiting from a pool of patient portal users.

Conclusion

The success of electronic recruitment for ADAPTABLE makes this workflow well worth incorporating into an overall recruitment strategy, particularly for a pragmatic trial.
DDT and Breast Cancer: Prospective Study of Induction Time and Susceptibility Windows
Authors: Cohn Barbara A , Cirillo Piera M , Terry Mary Beth
Published: October 2018

Background

In a previous Child Health and Development Studies report, p, p’-DDT was associated with a fivefold increased risk of premenopausal (before age 50 years) breast cancer for women first exposed before puberty. Here we extend our observation to breast cancer diagnosed during early postmenopause (ages 50–54 years) to determine whether age at diagnosis modifies the interaction of DDT with age at exposure.

Methods

We conducted a second prospective, nested case-control study in the Child Health and Development Studies (153 incident breast cancer cases diagnosed at ages 50–54 years and 432 controls matched to cases on birth year). These were analyzed separately and pooled with our previous study (129 breast cancer cases diagnosed at ages 31–49 years and 129 controls matched on birth year). Blood samples were obtained during pregnancy (median age, 26 years), 1–3 days after delivery from 1959 to 1967 in Oakland, California. Serum was assayed for p, p’-DDT, o, p’-DDT, and p, p’-DDE. Odds ratios (ORs) below are given for doubling of serum p, p’-DDT. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results

For early postmenopausal breast cancer, p, p’-DDT was associated with risk for all women (ORDDT 50–54 = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.48 to 2.67). This association was accounted for by women first exposed to DDT after infancy (ORDDT 50–54 for first exposure after infancy = 2.83, 95% CI = 1.96 to 4.10 vs ORDDT 50–54 for first exposure during infancy = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.26 to 1.19; Pinteraction DDT x age at first exposure = .01). In contrast, for premenopausal breast cancer, p, p’-DDT was associated with risk among women first exposed during infancy through puberty, but not after (ORDDT<50 for first exposure during infancy = 3.70, 95% CI = 1.22 to 11.26, Pinteraction DDT x age at first exposure x age at diagnosis = .03).

Conclusions

p, p’-DDT was associated with breast cancer through age 54 years. Risk depended on timing of first exposure and diagnosis age, suggesting susceptibility windows and an induction period beginning in early life. DDT appears to be an endocrine disruptor with responsive breast targets from in utero to menopause.
Yoga as a Complementary Therapy for Smoking Cessation: Results From BreathEasy, a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Bock Beth C , Dunsiger Shira I , Rosen Rochelle K , Thind Herpreet , Jennings Ernestine , Fava Joseph L , Becker Bruce M , Carmody James , Marcus Bess H
Published: October 2018

Introduction

There is evidence that Yoga may be helpful as an aid for smoking cessation. Yoga has been shown to reduce stress and negative mood and may aid weight control, all of which have proven to be barriers to quitting smoking. This study is the first rigorous, randomized clinical trial of Yoga as a complementary therapy for smokers attempting to quit.

Methods

Adult smokers (N = 227; 55.5% women) were randomized to an 8-week program of cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation and either twice-weekly Iyengar Yoga or general Wellness classes (control). Assessments included cotinine-verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence at week 8, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups.

Results

At baseline, participants’ mean age was 46.2 (SD = 12.0) years and smoking rate was 17.3 (SD = 7.6) cigarettes/day. Longitudinally adjusted models of abstinence outcomes demonstrated significant group effects favoring Yoga. Yoga participants had 37% greater odds of achieving abstinence than Wellness participants at the end of treatment (EOT). Lower baseline smoking rates (≤10 cigarettes/day) were also associated with higher likelihood of quitting if given Yoga versus Wellness (OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.09% to 6.30%) classes at EOT. A significant dose effect was observed for Yoga (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.09% to 1.26%), but not Wellness, such that each Yoga class attended increased quitting odds at EOT by 12%. Latent Class Modeling revealed a 4-class model of distinct quitting patterns among participants.

Conclusions

Yoga appears to increase the odds of successful smoking abstinence, particularly among light smokers. Additional work is needed to identify predictors of quitting patterns and inform adjustments to therapy needed to achieve cessation and prevent relapse.

Implications

This study adds to our knowledge of the types of physical activity that aid smoking cessation. Yoga increases the odds of successful smoking abstinence, and does so in a dose-response manner. This study also revealed four distinct patterns of smoking behavior among participants relevant to quitting smoking. Additional work is needed to determine whether variables that are predictive of these quitting patterns can be identified, which might suggest modifications to therapy for those who are unable to quit.
‘If You’re Gonna Make a Decision, You Should Understand the Rationale’: Are Police Leadership Programs Preparing Canadian Police Leaders for Evidence-Based Policing?
Authors: Huey Laura , Kalyal Hina , Peladeau Hillary , Lindsay Felisha
Published: October 2018

Recently, we have seen a steady growth in the number of police practitioners and agencies adopting evidence-based policing (EBP). At its core, EBP rests on a central tenet: police decision-making should be ‘based on scientific evidence about what works best’ (Sherman, L. W. (1998). Evidence Based Policing. Washington, DC: Police Foundation). While this proposition seems straightforward, it places a responsibility on police leaders for which they may be unprepared. Understanding how best to commission, resource, appreciate the strengths and limitations of and/or make actionable the products of research, requires senior officers to have some level of familiarity with the research process. One potential source of that knowledge is police leader training and education. However, no one has yet explored the question of whether police leadership programs are adequately preparing senior officers for the world of EBP. To examine this issue, the authors present the results of an analysis of 29 in-depth qualitative interviews with senior Canadian police officers.
Psychometric Properties of the Early Feeding Skills Assessment Tool
Authors: Thoyre Suzanne M. , Pados Britt Frisk , Shaker Catherine S. , Fuller Kristy , Park Jinhee
Published: October 2018

Background:

Supporting infants as they develop feeding skills is an essential component of neonatal and pediatric care. Selecting appropriate and supportive interventions begins with a thorough assessment of the infant's skills. The Early Feeding Skills (EFS) tool is a clinician-reported instrument developed to assess the emergence of early feeding skills and identify domains in need of intervention.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to identify the factor structure of the EFS and test its psychometric properties, including internal consistency reliability and construct validity.

Methods:

EFS-trained interprofessional clinicians in 3 settings scored 142 feeding observations of infants 33 to 50 weeks' postmenstrual age. Redundant and rarely endorsed items were removed. Factor analysis methods clustered items into subscales. Construct validity was examined through the association of the EFS with (1) concurrently scored Infant-Driven Feeding Scale-Quality (IDFS-Q), (2) infant birth risk (gestational age), and (3) maturity (postmenstrual age).

Results:

Principal components analysis with varimax rotation supported a 5-factor structure. The total EFS demonstrated good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach α= 0.81). The total EFS score had construct validity with the IDFS-Q (r =−0.73; P < .01), and with gestational age of a subsample of premature infants (r = 0.22; P < .05).

Implications for Practice:

As a valid and reliable tool, the EFS can assist the interprofessional feeding team to organize feeding assessment and plan care.

Implications for Research:

The strong psychometric properties of the EFS support its use in future research.
Golden Hour Protocol for Preterm Infants
Authors: Harriman Tiffany L. , Carter Brigit , Dail Robin B. , Stowell Katherine E. , Zukowsky Ksenia
Published: October 2018

Background:

Preterm infants are a vulnerable patient population, especially during the first hours of life. Hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and early-onset sepsis are common problems related to prematurity. Implementation of a Golden Hour protocol has been shown to improve outcomes for preterm infants.

Purpose:

To evaluate the effectiveness of a Golden Hour protocol for infants born at less than 32 weeks' gestation on improving the admission process in a military care facility. Specific aims focused on temperature, time to initiation of intravenous (IV) fluids, time to administration of antibiotics, and time to close of the incubator top.

Methods:

A pre-/postdesign was used to compare outcomes from preimplementation to postimplementation. Predata were collected using electronic health record chart review and postdata were collected from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admission worksheet.

Results:

Although we did not find statistical significance, we found that more infants had a temperature greater than 36.5°C within 1 hour of birth and decrease in time to initiation of IV fluids and antibiotics from preimplementation to postimplementation, which is clinically significant. Time to close of the incubator top remained greater than 1 hour.

Implications for Practice:

Implementation of a Golden Hour protocol provides a guide to caring for preterm infants during the first hour of life to improve patient outcomes. Involvement of key stakeholders and staff education are key to successful implementation.

Implications for Research:

Researchers should examine long-term outcomes related to implementation of a Golden Hour protocol in future studies. Future quality improvement projects should include the effectiveness of similar protocols and address possible barriers.
Dietary Culture
Authors: Mollohan Elise A.
Published: October 2018

The concept of dietary culture is undefined in the nursing literature. This is problematic due to the significant influence of culture on group eating patterns, which impact cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, globally. The purpose of this concept analysis was to define the concept of dietary culture to increase the understanding of the relationship between diet, culture, and cardiovascular health. Walker and Avant's method was employed. This analysis of dietary culture provides insight into the internal structure of the concept for future theory development and promotes the application of the concept to nursing research and practice.
Electric-Acoustic Stimulation Outcomes in Children
Authors: Park Lisa R. , Teagle Holly F. B. , Gagnon Erika , Woodard Jennifer , Brown Kevin D.
Published: October 2018

Objectives:

This study investigates outcomes in children fit with electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) and addresses three main questions: (1) Are outcomes with EAS superior to outcomes with conventional electric-only stimulation in children? (2) Do children with residual hearing benefit from EAS and conventional electric-only stimulation when compared with the preoperative hearing aid (HA) condition? (3) Can children with residual hearing derive benefit from EAS after several years of listening with conventional electric-only stimulation?

Design:

Sixteen pediatric cochlear implant (CI) recipients between 4 and 16 years of age with an unaided low-frequency pure tone average of 75 dB HL in the implanted ear were included in two study arms. Arm 1 included new recipients, and Arm 2 included children with at least 1 year of CI experience. Using a within-subject design, participants were evaluated unilaterally with the Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) word list in quiet and the Baby Bio at a +5 dB SNR using an EAS program and a conventional full electric (FE) program. Arm 1 participants’ scores were also compared with preoperative scores.

Results:

Speech perception outcomes were statistically higher with the EAS program than the FE program. For new recipients, scores were significantly higher with EAS than preoperative HA scores for both the CNC and Baby Bio in noise; however, after 6 months of device use, results in the FE condition were not significantly better than preoperative scores. Long-term FE users benefited from EAS over their FE programs based on CNC word scores.

Conclusions:

Whether newly implanted or long-term CI users, children with residual hearing after CI surgery can benefit from EAS. Cochlear implantation with EAS fitting is a viable option for children with HAs who have residual hearing but have insufficient access to high-frequency sounds and poor speech perception.
Prosthetic joint infections: is guideline-consistent surgical treatment beneficial?
Authors: Winemaker Mitch , Mertz Dominik , Petruccelli Danielle , Harris David James , Chaudhry Harman , O’Shea Tim , de Beer Justin
Published: October 2018

Background:

The diagnosis and treatment of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains challenging. In 2013, both the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines and an international consensus’ recommendation on PJI were published, providing a consistent approach to PJI management. We undertook a study to compare outcomes of PJI managed in accordance with IDSA versus those managed outside of the same.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study of a consecutive series of patients who had total joint replacement (TJR) with subsequent deep PJI was undertaken to determine historical clinical variation relative to recently established management guidelines. All operations were completed at one arthroplasty center over a 5-year period predating IDSA guideline development.

Results:

Of 8505 patients who had TJR, 267 (3.1%) were diagnosed with subsequent PJI. Of these, 42/8505 (0.5%) had culture positive deep PJI, with 38/42 (90.5%) managed surgically. The odds of treatment failure among cases not managed in accordance with IDSA were 11 times greater as compared to guideline-accordant cases (OR 11, 95%CI 1.84-65.7; P=0.006). This difference was most pronounced among those who had irrigation and debridement. We could not demonstrate any significant difference in treatment success or failure for one-stage or two-stage exchange.

Conclusions:

Surgical management of PJI in accordance with existing guidelines can optimize success of PJI treatment. In particular, aggressive surgical treatment (including prosthesis removal) is likely warranted in patients who had symptoms of PJI for longer than 3 wk. In a patient in whom deviation from existing guidelines is considered, it is important for physicians to weigh the risk of inferior outcome and counsel the patient accordingly.
Treatment options for periarticular knee fractures in geriatric patients
Authors: Ramski David E. , Nwachuku Chinenye O.
Published: October 2018

An expected increase in the volume of geriatric patients mandates a close examination of the treatment options, outcomes, and complications associated with distal femoral and tibial plateau fractures. These fractures can notoriously occur after low-energy trauma and may lead to devastating outcomes. An array of operative treatments for fractures of the distal femur has shown a decrease in morbidity while leading to satisfactory fracture healing. Recent evidence reveals that primary arthroplasty may eventually show promise as a mainstay of treatment options, particularly in patients with significant preexisting degenerative changes. Various external fixation and internal fixation modalities with locking constructs have been shown to be effective in tibial plateau fractures with significant comminution and osteoporotic bone, respectively. Treatment goals should focus on preventing complications while returning the patient to optimal functional status in light of these often-severe injuries. Given the wide variety of treatment options, larger studies of higher-level evidence are required to establish a standard of care for these pathologies in the geriatric population.
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation from unrelated donors in acute leukaemia
Authors: Lozano Cerrada Sara , Altaf Syed Y. , Olavarria Eduardo
Published: October 2018

Purpose of review

To summarize the past and current knowledge of the use of unrelated donors (URDs) in allogeneic stem cell transplantation for patients with acute leukaemia.

Recent findings

The outcome of URD stem cell transplants in terms of treatment-related mortality, relapse rates, disease free survival and overall survival is comparable to sibling donors.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the therapy of choice in many haematological malignant diseases but only one-third of the patients will have an HLA-matched sibling. The possibility of finding a matched URD is more than 70% because of recent advances in HLA typing and continuous expansion of URD registries around the world. The use of URD as a source of stem cells in adult patients are steadily increasing and in the last 8 years, superseded the matched sibling donors and became the most commonly used stem cell source. There is also an increasing trend of using peripheral blood stem cells than bone marrow stem cells. Outcomes following URD transplants depend mainly upon the indication and urgency of transplant, age and comorbidities of recipients, cytomegalovirus matching/mismatching between donor and the recipient and degree of HLA matching.
Anatomy of the Superficial Venous Structures of the Neck: A Cadaveric Study to Guide Superficial Injections
Authors: Lee Hyung-Jin , Ryu Seong-Yong , Cong Liyao , Ahn Hyung-jun , Park Min-Kyu , Kim Hee-Jin , Hu Kyung-Seok
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive aesthetic procedures of the neck are becoming more popular. However, anatomical studies on the venous structures of the neck in relation to these procedures are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to identify the locations and communication patterns of the anterior jugular vein and external jugular vein (AJV and EJV) and the communicating vein (CV) based on superficial anatomical landmarks and to determine dangerous areas for dermal filler injections into the neck.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty sides of the neck from Korean adult cadavers were dissected for this study.

RESULTS

Four anatomical variants were identified. In Type Ia, the CV ran along the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) (33.4%); in Type Ib, a single vein was observed connecting the CV and the EJV at the level of laryngeal prominence (23.3%); in Type Ic, the CV proceeded separately from the medial side of the anterior border of the SCM (13.3%); and in Type II, the CV was absent while the EJV and AJV were observed (30%).

CONCLUSION

Given the 4 anatomical variants identified in this study, the authors recommend exerting caution when performing dermal filler injections approximately 10, 30, and 60 mm lateral to the midsagittal line to avoid iatrogenic side effects.
Updates in vitamin D therapy in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Le Trang N.
Published: October 2018

Purpose of review

To summarize recent developments the role of vitamin D and treatment of vitamin D deficiency in cystic fibrosis.

Recent findings

Although treatment of low vitamin D levels continues to be important for optimizing bone health in cystic fibrosis, increasing data on the extraskeletal effects of vitamin D are becoming available. Exploratory studies of vitamin D in modulation of respiratory and intestinal microbiomes, and the influence of vitamin D on the metabolomic signature of cystic fibrosis, suggest expanded roles for vitamin D in cystic fibrosis disease and treatment.

Emerging developments in cystic fibrosis regarding therapeutics and effects of vitamin D on bone health, inflammation, microbiome, and the metabolome are summarized.
Tympanostomy tube otorrhea in children: prevention and treatment
Authors: van Dongen Thijs M.A. , Damoiseaux Roger A.M.J. , Schilder Anne G.M.
Published: October 2018

Purpose of review

One in two children treated with tympanostomy tubes, experience episodes of otorrhea whilst their tubes are in place. In this review, we present the results of the most recent publications on prevention and treatment of tympanostomy tube otorrhea (TTO).

Recent findings

Recent systematic reviews on water precautions for children with tympanostomy tubes support the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery guideline recommendation against such preventive measures as there is no evidence that it protects against TTO. Studies on tympanostomy tube design and material suggest that silicone tubes have a lower TTO risk and that biofilms appear to be mainly located in the perpendicular junction of the T-tubes and the round rims of the Paparella-type tubes. Another study shows that the biofilm-component DNAB-II protein is present in otorrhea of half of children with TTO. Targeting this protein could lead to a collapse of the biofilm structure and as such a potential new treatment for chronic TTO. New systematic reviews show that antibiotic eardrops are the most effective first-line treatment of acute TTO and suggest that an antibiotic–corticosteroid combination is more effective than antibiotic only. Although in many countries, quinolone eardrops are the preferred choice because of being non-ototoxic, one study found a higher risk of persistent perforation after tube extrusion in children treated with quinolone eardrops as compared with children treated with aminoglycoside eardrops.

Recent evidence confirms that water precautions for children with tympanostomy tubes are not effective in preventing TTO. Antibiotic–corticosteroid eardrops are the most effective treatment of acute TTO.
Adamantinoma-like Ewing Sarcoma of the Salivary Glands
Authors: Rooper Lisa M. , Jo Vickie Y. , Antonescu Cristina R. , Nose Vania , Westra William H. , Seethala Raja R. , Bishop Justin A.
Published: October 2018

Adamantinoma-like Ewing sarcoma (ALES) is a rare tumor that demonstrates the EWSR1-FLI1 translocation characteristic of Ewing sarcoma despite overt epithelial differentiation including diffuse expression of cytokeratins and p40. Most cases of ALES described to date have occurred in the head and neck where they can mimic a wide range of small round blue cell tumors. Because distinguishing ALES from basaloid salivary gland carcinomas can be particularly difficult, we analyzed a series of 10 ALESs that occurred in the salivary glands with the aim of identifying features that allow for better recognition of this entity. The salivary ALESs included 8 parotid gland and 2 submandibular gland tumors in patients ranging from 32 to 77 years (mean: 52 y). Nine were initially misclassified as various epithelial neoplasms. Although these tumors displayed the basaloid cytology, rosette formation, infiltrative growth, and nuclear monotony characteristic of ALES, peripheral palisading and overt keratinization were relatively rare in this site. Salivary ALESs not only displayed positivity for AE1/AE3, p40, and CD99, but also demonstrated a higher proportion of synaptophysin reactivity than has been reported for nonsalivary ALESs. These morphologic and immunohistochemical findings make ALES susceptible to misclassification as various other tumors including basal cell adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, NUT carcinoma, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and myoepithelial carcinoma. Nevertheless, monotonous cytology despite highly infiltrative growth and concomitant positivity for p40 and synaptophysin can provide important clues for consideration of ALES, and identification of the defining EWSR1-FLI1 translocations can confirm the diagnosis.
Thyroid Carcinoma Presenting as a Dural and Calvarial Metastasis Mimicking a Lipoma With Difficult Diagnosis of the Primary Lesion
Authors: Kayalar Ali Erhan , Eyupoglu Eylem Eren , Akyildiz Seda , Hasturk Askin Esen , Bakir Abdurrahman
Published: October 2018

Calvarial and dural metastases of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) are rarely reported in the medical literature. Most frequent calvarial metastases are seen to originate from lung, breast, and prostate cancers. Thyroid cancer metastases are generally well vascularized and cause destruction in the bone tissues. First choice of treatment in distant metastases of PTC is surgery and radioactive iodine treatment for the primary cause. Postsurgical radiotherapy is used in accepted and suitable patients.