bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilizing Performance Counters for Compromising Public Key Ciphers
Authors: Bhattacharya Sarani , Mukhopadhyay Debdeep
Published: January 2018

Hardware performance counters (HPCs) are useful artifacts for evaluating the performance of software implementations. Recently, HPCs have been made more convenient to use without requiring explicit kernel patches or superuser privileges. However, in this article, we highlight that the information revealed by HPCs can be also exploited to attack standard implementations of public key algorithms. In particular, we analyze the vulnerability due to the event branch miss leaked via the HPCs during execution of the target ciphers. We present an iterative attack that targets the key bits of 1,024-bit RSA and 256-bit ECC, whereas in the offline phase, the system’s underlying branch predictor is approximated by a theoretical predictor in the literature. Subsimulations are performed corresponding to each bit guess to classify the message space into distinct partitions based on the event branch misprediction and the target key bit value. In the online phase, branch mispredictions obtained from the hardware performance monitors on the target system reveal the secret key bits. We also theoretically prove that the probability of success of the attack is equivalent to the accurate modeling of the theoretical predictor to the underlying system predictor. In addition, we propose an improved version of the attack that requires fewer branch misprediction traces from the HPCs to recover the secret. Experimentations using both attack strategies have been provided on Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, and Core i5 platforms for 1,024-bit implementation of RSA and 256-bit scalar multiplication over the
secp
256
r
1 curve followed by results on the effect of change of parameters on the success rate. The attack can successfully reveal the exponent bits and thus seeks attention to model secure branch predictors such that it inherently prevents information leakage.
Lesion Bypass and the Reactivation of Stalled Replication Forks
Authors: Marians Kenneth J.
Published: January 2018

Accurate transmission of the genetic information requires complete duplication of the chromosomal DNA each cell division cycle. However, the idea that replication forks would form at origins of DNA replication and proceed without impairment to copy the chromosomes has proven naive. It is now clear that replication forks stall frequently as a result of encounters between the replication machinery and template damage, slow-moving or paused transcription complexes, unrelieved positive superhelical tension, covalent protein–DNA complexes, and as a result of cellular stress responses. These stalled forks are a major source of genome instability. The cell has developed many strategies for ensuring that these obstructions to DNA replication do not result in loss of genetic information, including DNA damage tolerance mechanisms such as lesion skipping, whereby the replisome jumps the lesion and continues downstream; template switching both behind template damage and at the stalled fork; and the error-prone pathway of translesion synthesis.
Radio-Frequency Applications for Food Processing and Safety
Authors: Jiao Yang , Tang Juming , Wang Yifen , Koral Tony L.
Published: January 2018

Radio-frequency (RF) heating, as a thermal-processing technology, has been extending its applications in the food industry. Although RF has shown some unique advantages over conventional methods in industrial drying and frozen food thawing, more research is needed to make it applicable for food safety applications because of its complex heating mechanism. This review provides comprehensive information regarding RF-heating history, mechanism, fundamentals, and applications that have already been fully developed or are still under research. The application of mathematical modeling as a useful tool in RF food processing is also reviewed in detail. At the end of the review, we summarize the active research groups in the RF food thermal-processing field, and address the current problems that still need to be overcome.
A Biogeochemical Oceanographer at Sea: My Life with Nitrogen and a Nod to Silica
Authors: Dugdale Richard C.
Published: January 2018

My evolution from electrical engineering student to limnologist and then to oceanographer was a consequence of generous mentoring, which led to my use of the15N tracer technique to measure nitrogen fixation in aquatic systems. The concept of new and regenerated production arose when I applied this method to measure nitrate and ammonium uptake in marine ecosystems. I then showed that enzyme kinetics could be applied to algal nitrogen uptake and used a silicate pump to explain silicate limitation of diatoms in coastal and equatorial upwelling systems. These concepts are now recognized as modern nutrient paradigms in biogeochemical oceanography. My interest in nutrients required field studies and led to my passion for the study of upwelling ecosystems and the establishment of two major international programs, with numerous advisors, collaborators, and students helping along the way.
Ethanol Extract from Ulva prolifera Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation Response in Mice
Authors: Song Wei , Wang Zongling , Zhang Xuelei , Li Yan
Published: January 2018

Ulva prolifera is the major causative species in the green tide, a serious marine ecological disaster, which bloomed in the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea of China. However, it is also a popular edible seaweed and its extracts exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The present study investigated the effects of ethanol extract of U. prolifera (EUP) on insulin sensitivity, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in high-fat-diet- (HFD-) treated mice. HFD-treated mice obtained drinking water containing 2% or 5% EUP. The results showed that EUP supplementation significantly prevented HFD-induced weight gain of liver and fat. EUP supplementation also improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in HFD-treated mice. Moreover, EUP supplementation prevented the increased expression of genes involved in triglyceride synthesis and proinflammatory genes and the decreased expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation in liver of HFD-treated mice. Furthermore, EUP supplementation decreased reactive oxygen species content, while increasing glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase activity in HFD-treated mice. In conclusion, our results showed that EUP improved insulin resistance and had antilipid accumulation and anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects on HFD-treated mice. We suggested that U. prolifera extracts may be regarded as potential candidate for the prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Low-Frequency Noise Reduction by Earmuffs with Flax Fibre-Reinforced Polypropylene Ear Cups
Authors: Ang Linus Yinn Leng , Tran Le Quan Ngoc , Phillips Steve , Koh Yong Khiang , Lee Heow Pueh
Published: January 2018

Soldiers and supporting engineers are frequently exposed to high low-frequency (<500 Hz) cabin noise in military vehicles. Despite the use of commercial hearing protection devices, the risk of auditory damage is still imminent because the devices may not be optimally customised for such applications. This study considers flax fibre-reinforced polypropylene (Flax-PP) as an alternative to the material selection for the ear cups of commercial earmuffs, which are typically made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Different weaving configurations (woven and nonwoven) and various noise environments (pink noise, cabin booming noise, and firing noise) were considered to investigate the feasibility of the proposed composite earmuffs for low-frequency noise reduction. The remaining assembly components of the earmuff were kept consistent with those of a commercial earmuff, which served as a benchmark for results comparison. In contrast to the commercial earmuff, the composite earmuffs were shown to be better in mitigating low-frequency noise by up to 16.6 dB, while compromising midfrequency acoustical performance. Consequently, the proposed composite earmuffs may be an alternative for low-frequency noise reduction in vehicle cabins, at airports, and at construction sites involving heavy machineries.
Numerical Investigation of Turbulence Models for a Superlaminar Journal Bearing
Authors: Ding Aoshuang , Ren Xiaodong , Li Xuesong , Gu Chunwei
Published: January 2018

With rotating machineries working at high speeds, oil flow in bearings becomes superlaminar. Under superlaminar conditions, flow exhibits between laminar and fully developed turbulence. In this study, superlaminar oil flow in an oil-lubricated tilting-pad journal bearing is analyzed through computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A three-dimensional bearing model is established. CFD results from the laminar model and 14 turbulence models are compared with experimental findings. The laminar simulation results of pad-side pressure are inconsistent with the experimental data. Thus, the turbulence effects on superlaminar flow should be considered. The simulated temperature and pressure distributions from the classical fully developed turbulence models cannot correctly fit the experimental data. As such, turbulence models should be corrected for superlaminar flow. However, several corrections, such as transition correction, are unsuitable. Among all the flow models, the SST model with low-Re correction exhibits the best pressure distribution and turbulence viscosity ratio. Velocity profile analysis confirms that a buffer layer plays an important role in the superlaminar boundary layer. Classical fully developed turbulence models cannot accurately predict the buffer layer, but this problem can be resolved by initiating an appropriate low-Re correction. Therefore, the SST model with low-Re correction yields suitable results for superlaminar flows in bearings.
The Effect of Muscle Direction on the Predictions of Finite Element Model of Human Lumbar Spine
Authors: Zhu Rui , Niu Wen-xin , Wang Zhi-peng , Pei Xiao-long , He Bin , Zeng Zhi-li , Cheng Li-ming
Published: January 2018

The normal physiological loads from muscles experienced by the spine are largely unknown due to a lack of data. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of varying muscle directions on the outcomes predicted from finite element models of human lumbar spine. A nonlinear finite element model of L3–L5 was employed. The force of the erector spinae muscle, the force of the rectus abdominis muscle, follower loads, and upper body weight were applied. The model was fixed in a neural standing position and the direction of the force of the erector spinae muscle and rectus abdominis muscle was varied in three directions. The intradiscal pressure, reaction moments, and intervertebral rotations were calculated. The intradiscal pressure of L4-L5 was 0.56–0.57 MPa, which agrees with the in vivo pressure of 0.5 MPa from the literatures. The models with the erector spinae muscle loaded in anterior-oblique direction showed the smallest reaction moments (less than 0.6 Nm) and intervertebral rotations of L3-L4 and L4-L5 (less than 0.2 degrees). In comparison with loading in the vertical direction and posterior-oblique direction, the erector spinae muscle loaded in the anterior-oblique direction required lower external force or moment to keep the lumbar spine in the neutral position.
The Effect of New Modified Fatty Acid (CY-23) Collector on Chlorite/Hematite Separation
Authors: Jiang Wenli , Zhou Yulin , Zhang Yimin
Published: January 2018

The flotation separation on chlorite and hematite with the new modified fatty acid collector CY-23 was studied. The investigation included both flotation and reagent adsorption tests. And all the characteristics of chlorite surface before and after the adsorption of new collector CY-23 have been studied with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The flotation results showed that caustic starch (CS) could depress the flotation of hematite and chlorite and CaCl2 could activate chlorite flotation but failed on hematite when using CY-23 as collector. The adsorption rate of CY-23 on the surface of chlorite after being inhibited by CS was relatively smaller, but the amount of CY-23 adsorbed on the inhibited chlorite was greatly increased after adding activator CaCl2. The results of XPS analysis showed that the photoelectron spectroscopy peaks of Mg2p and Al2p moved towards low energy after collector CY-23 was absorbed on chlorite surface, which indicated that chemical bonding through electron cloud transfer occurred between collector CY-23 and Mg, Al ions of chlorite surface. The chemical reaction promoted the adsorption of CY-23 on chlorite surface and eventually improved the ability of CY-23 to float and collect chlorite.
Oncogenic N-Ras Stimulates SRF-Mediated Transactivation via H3 Acetylation at Lysine 9
Authors: Yi Sun-Ju , Hwang Seong Yun , Oh Myung-Ju , Kim Yang-Hoon , Ryu Hojin , Rhee Sung-Keun , Jhun Byung H. , Kim Kyunghwan
Published: January 2018

Signal transduction pathways regulate the gene expression by altering chromatin dynamics in response to mitogens. Ras proteins are key regulators linking extracellular stimuli to a diverse range of biological responses associated with gene regulation. In mammals, the three ras genes encode four Ras protein isoforms: H-Ras, K-Ras4A, K-Ras4B, and N-Ras. Although emerging evidence suggests that Ras isoforms differentially regulate gene expressions and are functionally nonredundant, the mechanisms underlying Ras specificity and Ras signaling effects on gene expression remain unclear. Here, we show that oncogenic N-Ras acts as the most potent regulator of SRF-, NF-κB-, and AP-1-dependent transcription. N-Ras-RGL2 axis is a distinct signaling pathway for SRF target gene expression such as Egr1 and JunB, as RGL2 Ras binding domain (RBD) significantly impaired oncogenic N-Ras-induced SRE activation. By monitoring the effect of Ras isoforms upon the change of global histone modifications in oncogenic Ras-overexpressed cells, we discovered that oncogenic N-Ras elevates H3K9ac/H3K23ac levels globally in the chromatin context. Importantly, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that H3K9ac is significantly enriched at the promoter and coding regions of Egr1 and JunB. Collectively, our findings define an undocumented role of N-Ras in modulating of H3 acetylation and in gene regulation.
Hybrid Monolith of Graphene/TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose Nanofiber as Mechanically Robust, Highly Functional, and Recyclable Adsorbent of Methylene Blue Dye
Authors: Hussain Asif , Li Jiebing , Wang Jun , Xue Fei , Chen Yundan , Bin Aftab Tallal , Li Dengxin
Published: January 2018

Herein we demonstrate first report on fabrication, characterization, and adsorptive appraisal of graphene/cellulose nanofibers (GO/CNFs) monolith for methylene blue (MB) dye. Series of hybrid monolith (GO/CNFs) were assembled via urea assisted self-assembly method. Hybrid materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns, Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric curve analysis, specific surface area, surface charge density measurement, and compressional mechanical analysis. It was proposed that strong chemical interaction (mainly hydrogen bonding) was responsible for the formation of hybrid assembly. GO/CNFs monolith showed mechanically robust architecture with tunable pore structure and surface properties. GO/CNFs adsorbent could completely remove trace to moderate concentrations of MB dye and follow pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Adsorption isotherm behaviors were found in the following order: Langmuir isotherm > Freundlich isotherm > Temkin isotherm model. Maximum adsorption capacity of 227.27 mg g−1 was achieved which is much higher than reported graphene based monoliths and magnetic adsorbent. Incorporation of nanocellulose follows exponential relationship with dye uptake capacities. High surface charge density and specific surface area were main dye adsorptive mechanism. Regeneration and recycling efficiency was achieved up to four consecutive cycles with cost-effective recollection and zero recontamination of treated water.
A Numerical Method Based on the Parametric Variational Principle for Simulating the Dynamic Behavior of the Pantograph‐Catenary System
Authors: He Dongdong , Gao Qiang , Zhong Wanxie
Published: January 2018

Based on the finite element method (FEM), the parametric variational principle (PVP) is combined with a numerical time‐domain integral method to simulate the dynamic behavior of the pantograph‐catenary system. Based on PVP, formulations for the nonlinear droppers in the catenary and for the contact between the pantograph and the contact wire are proposed. The formulations can accurately determine the tension state or compression state of the nonlinear droppers and the contact state between the pantograph and the contact wire. Based on the periodicity of the catenary and the precise integration method (PIM), a numerical time‐integration method is developed for the dynamic responses of the catenary. For this method, the matrix exponential of only one unit cell of the catenary is computed, which greatly improves the computational efficiency. Moreover, the validation shows that the formulations can compute the contact force accurately and represent the nonlinearity of the droppers, which demonstrates the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method. Finally, the dynamic behaviors of the pantograph‐catenary system with different types of catenaries are simulated.
Haptic Decorating on the Surface of Virtual Clay Model
Authors: Lei Huang , Zeng-xuan Hou , Chao Guo , Wei Zhang , Jun Xu
Published: January 2018

A novel haptic decorating method on the surface of virtual clay model is proposed. The relationship between brush deformation and endured force is researched for the first time by applying the spring-mass model to construct the 3D brush model. Then, the collision detection between virtual hairy brush and virtual clay model is researched based on collision algorithm of weighted average distance. When the hairy brush initially collides with 3D exterior, the tactility is simulated and the interactive virtual painting on the 3D exterior is carried out practically. The 3D brush stroke is formed by superimposing 3D brush footprints along the painting direction and controlling the stress of the brush. The ink quantity in the brush footprint is determined according to the proposed positive correlation between the exerted pressure on brush and outflow ink quantity of the brush. A painting storage method is also presented for storing and displaying 3D stroke painting results. The proposed method has been successfully applied in the 3D virtual painting system based on real-time force feedback technology. With this system, the 3D brush strokes with 3D half-dry and ink diffusion results can be painted with a Phantom Desktop haptic device, which effectively enhance reality to users.
Acceleration of Gas Reservoir Simulation Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition
Authors: Wang Yi , Yu Bo , Wang Ye
Published: January 2018

High-precision and high-speed reservoir simulation is important in engineering. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is introduced to accelerate the reservoir simulation of gas flow in single-continuum porous media via establishing a reduced-order model by POD combined with Galerkin projection. Determination of the optimal mode number in the reduced-order model is discussed to ensure high-precision reconstruction with large acceleration. The typical POD model can achieve high precision for both ideal gas and real gas using only 10 POD modes. However, acceleration of computation can only be achieved for ideal gas. The obstacle of POD acceleration for real gas is that the computational time is mainly occupied by the equation of state (EOS). An approximation method is proposed to largely promote the computational speed of the POD model for real gas flow without decreasing the precision. The improved POD model shows much higher acceleration of computation with high precision for different reservoirs and different pressures. It is confirmed that the acceleration of the real gas reservoir simulation should use the approximation method instead of the computation of EOS.
Update of ALDH as a Potential Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for AML
Authors: Yang Xiangchou , Yao Rongxin , Wang Hong
Published: January 2018

Studies employing mouse transplantation have illustrated the role of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) defining hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and leukemia stem cells (LSCs). Besides being a molecular marker, ALDH mediates drug resistance in AML, which induces poor prognosis of the patients. In AML patients, either CD34+ALDHbrpopulation or CD34+CD38−ALDHintpopulation was found to denote LSCs and minimal residual disease (MRD). A bunch of reagents targeting ALDH directly or indirectly have been evaluated. ATRA, disulfiram, and dimethyl ampal thiolester (DIMATE) are all shown to be potential candidates to open new perspective for AML treatment. However, inconsistent results have been shown for markers of LSCs, which makes it even more difficult to differentiate LSCs and HSCs. In this review, we elevated the role of ALDH to be a potential marker to define and distinguish HSCs and LSCs and its importance in prognosis and target therapy in AML patients. In addition to immunophenotypical markers, ALDH is also functionally active in defining and distinguishing HSCs and LSCs and offers intracellular protections against cytotoxic drugs. Targeting ALDH may be a potential strategy to improve AML treatment. Additional studies concerning specific targeting ALDH and mechanisms of its roles in LSCs are warranted.
Eryptosis: An Erythrocyte’s Suicidal Type of Cell Death
Authors: Repsold Lisa , Joubert Anna Margaretha
Published: January 2018

Erythrocytes play an important role in oxygen and carbon dioxide transport. Although erythrocytes possess no nucleus or mitochondria, they fulfil several metabolic activities namely, the Embden-Meyerhof pathway, as well as the hexose monophosphate shunt. Metabolic processes within the erythrocyte contribute to the morphology/shape of the cell and important constituents are being kept in an active, reduced form. Erythrocytes undergo a form of suicidal cell death called eryptosis. Eryptosis results from a wide variety of contributors including hyperosmolarity, oxidative stress, and exposure to xenobiotics. Eryptosis occurs before the erythrocyte has had a chance to be naturally removed from the circulation after its 120-day lifespan and is characterised by the presence of membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, and phosphatidylserine exposure that correspond to nucleated cell apoptotic characteristics. After eryptosis is triggered there is an increase in cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) ion levels. This increase causes activation of Ca2+-sensitive potassium (K+) channels which leads to a decrease in intracellular potassium chloride (KCl) and shrinkage of the erythrocyte. Ceramide, produced by sphingomyelinase from the cell membrane’s sphingomyelin, contributes to the occurrence of eryptosis. Eryptosis ensures healthy erythrocyte quantity in circulation whereas excessive eryptosis may set an environment for the clinical presence of pathophysiological conditions including anaemia.
Comparative Evaluation of the Antioxidant Capacities, Organic Acids, and Volatiles of Papaya Juices Fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum
Authors: Chen Ronghao , Chen Wenxue , Chen Haiming , Zhang Guanfei , Chen Weijun
Published: January 2018

Fermentation of foods by lactic acid bacteria is a useful way to improve the nutritional value of foods. In this study, the health-promoting effects of fermented papaya juices by two species, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum, were determined. Changes in pH, reducing sugar, organic acids, and volatile compounds were determined, and the vitamin C, total phenolic content, and flavonoid and antioxidant capacities during the fermentation process were investigated. Juices fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum had similar changes in pH and reducing sugar content during the 48 h fermentation period. Large amounts of aroma-associated compounds and organic acids were produced, especially lactic acid, which increased significantly (p<0.05) (543.18 mg/100 mL and 571.29 mg/100 mL, resp.), improving the quality of the beverage. In contrast, the production of four antioxidant capacities in the fermented papaya juices showed different trends after 48 hours’ fermentation by two bacteria. Lactobacillus plantarum generated better antioxidant activities compared to Lactobacillus acidophilus after 48 h of fermentation. These results indicate that fermentation of papaya juice can improve its utilization and nutritional effect.
Relojes Circadianos y Premio Nobel: hora de tomarse unos minutos para hablar de ritmos biológicos
Authors: Larrondo Castro Luis Fernando
Published: January 2018

El Nobel 2017 en Fisiología o Medicina recayó en la descripción molecular de los relojes circadianos. A pocas semanas de haberse hecho el anuncio, uno de los recipientes de esta distinción, Michael Rosbash, visitó Chile. En estas breves páginas comentamos parte de su charla y destacamos la importancia que tienen los ritmos circadianos en la biología de los organismos, así como su impacto en salud y enfermedad.
Phase I Trial of M7824 (MSB0011359C), a Bifunctional Fusion Protein Targeting PD-L1 and TGFβ, in Advanced Solid Tumors
Authors: Strauss Julius , Heery Christopher R. , Schlom Jeffrey , Madan Ravi A. , Cao Liang , Kang Zhigang , Lamping Elizabeth , Marté Jennifer L. , Donahue Renee N. , Grenga Italia , Cordes Lisa , Christensen Olaf , Mahnke Lisa , Helwig Christoph , Gulley James L.
Published: January 2018

Purpose: M7824 (MSB0011359C) is an innovative first-in-class bifunctional fusion protein composed of a mAb against programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) fused to a TGFβ “trap.”

Experimental Design: In the 3+3 dose-escalation component of this phase I study (NCT02517398), eligible patients with advanced solid tumors received M7824 at 1, 3, 10, or 20 mg/kg once every 2 weeks until confirmed progression, unacceptable toxicity, or trial withdrawal; in addition, a cohort received an initial 0.3 mg/kg dose to evaluate pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, followed by 10 mg/kg dosing. The primary objective is to determine the safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD); secondary objectives include pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and best overall response.

Results: Nineteen heavily pretreated patients with ECOG 0–1 have received M7824. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in four patients (skin infection secondary to localized bullous pemphigoid, asymptomatic lipase increase, colitis with associated anemia, and gastroparesis with hypokalemia). The MTD was not reached. M7824 saturated peripheral PD-L1 and sequestered any released plasma TGFβ1, -β2, and -β3 throughout the dosing period at >1 mg/kg. There were signs of efficacy across all dose levels, including one ongoing confirmed complete response (cervical cancer), two durable confirmed partial responses (PR; pancreatic cancer; anal cancer), one near-PR (cervical cancer), and two cases of prolonged stable disease in patients with growing disease at study entry (pancreatic cancer; carcinoid).

Conclusions: M7824 has a manageable safety profile in patients with heavily pretreated advanced solid tumors. Early signs of efficacy are encouraging, and multiple expansion cohorts are ongoing in a range of tumors. Clin Cancer Res; 24(6); 1287–95. ©2018 AACR.
Tips, Tricks, and Advantages of 27-G Vitrectomy
Authors: Anastasilakis Konstantinos , Mourgela Anna , Kaniouras Dhmos , Moschou Konstantinos
Published: January 2018

Purpose: We present the advantages and technique variations of 27-G vitrectomy in a variety of surgical retina cases. Methods: Patients with epiretinal membrane, retinal detachment, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy with vitreous hemorrhage and tractional detachments underwent 27-G vitrectomy. We present technique tricks, solutions to various problems and pitfalls, and the advantages of 27-G vitrectomy. Results: Postoperative visual acuity improved significantly in all patients. Anatomical restoration was achieved in all cases. Conclusions: 27-G vitrectomy offers satisfactory outcomes in a wide variety of surgical retina cases and shows significant advantages in the postoperative course.
Building Good (Enough) Governance in Postconflict Societies & Areas of Limited Statehood: The European Union & the Western Balkans
Authors: Börzel Tanja A. , Grimm Sonja
Published: January 2018

In this essay, we assess how the European Union supports the development of postconflict Western Balkan societies toward stable peace, economic prosperity, and consolidated democracy, moving them along the path to Denmark. Our analysis reveals that the EU has contributed to effective and democratic governance in its southeastern neighborhood. At the same time, its effectiveness as an external good governance–builder varies. Structural postconflict conditions that are not conducive to democratization, conflicting policy objectives, the dynamic interplay between the EU and Western Balkan governments, and the involvement of domestic third-party actors in the reform process explain this variation. To make EU good governance–building more effective, we recommend acknowledging conflicting objectives and using governance-building instruments consistently and credibly to reconceptualize external good governance–building as a dynamic process between external and domestic actors and to take domestic actors and their preferences seriously.
In Defense of Ambition: Building Peaceful & Inclusive Societies in a World on Fire
Authors: Lindborg Nancy E. , Hewitt J. Joseph
Published: January 2018

Fragility creates the conditions for violent intrastate conflict. Its consequences contribute to global disorder and mounting threats to U.S. national security. Significant impediments to effective action in fragile states persist today, even with many years of policy attention and an emerging consensus about its centrality in causing armed conflict. Policy-makers across the U.S. interagency have yet to arrive at a shared consciousness about the challenge of fragility, a shared understanding of the nature of the problem, and the types of capacities that can be comprehensively deployed to address it effectively. This essay describes recent advances in the development sector with regard to fragile states that suggest a way forward for stronger results. The steep challenges of tackling the complex causes of fragility tell us to be measured in our actions, but the experiences of recent progress and the urgency to alleviate human suffering tell us the time is right for greater ambition.
Spomenik: Resurrecting Voices in the Woods
Authors: Kirk David , Durrant Abigail C. , Kosem Jim , Reeves Stuart
Published: January 2018

Spomenik (“monument”) was a digital memorial architecture that transposes in time otherwise hidden cultural memories of atrocity. Spomenik, was designed as a simple digital audio guide, embedded in a remote rural location (Kočevski Rog, Slovenia) to work without the infrastructure normally present at national memorial sites. By resurrecting voices and cultural narratives of the deceased and placing them back into the landscape through digital means, Spomenik opens a dialogue about the events of the past and their relation to networks of the living; it explored the role of voice and agency, as serviced through design, in the act of memorialization. This article presents a detailed case study of a design-led inquiry about digital memorialization and digital preservation of cultural heritage. It offers a reflective account of the nature of legacy and the extent to which it is (and perhaps should be) necessarily bound to networks of collective memory, mediated through designed cultural tools.
Mortality as Framed by Ongoingness in Digital Design
Authors: Wallace Jayne , Thomas James , Anderson Derek , Olivier Patrick
Published: January 2018

This article presents a number of perspectives on mortality in light of both Victorian mourning and memento mori jewelry and bereavement therapy and grieving. Both help to reveal valuable qualities for digital design. The article then illustrates how these qualities influenced the design of four digital lockets, examining how both Victorian and modern practices relate to mortality, mourning, grief, and death, and exploring possibilities for digital design. Finally, ongoingness—by reference to the work of artist Moira Ricci—is explained as both a theoretical construct and a resource for design practice. Central in the proposal is the notion that, rather than being distanced or detached from the deceased (as has been the predominant grieving therapy approach of modernity), the bereaved can continue to have an active and growing relationship with them.
When Church and Cinema Combine: Blurring Boundaries through Media-savvy Evangelicalism
Authors: Justice Deborah
Published: January 2018

The use of social media presents new religious groups with opportunities to assert themselves in contrast to established religious institutions. Intersections of church and cinema form a central part of this phenomenon. On one hand, many churches embrace digital media, from Hollywood clips in sermons to sermons delivered entirely via video feed. Similarly and overlapping with this use of media, churches in cinemas have emerged around the world as a new form of Sunday morning worship.

This paper investigates intersections of church and cinema through case studies of two representative congregations. CityChurch, in Würzburg, Germany, is a free evangelical faith community that meets in a downtown Cineplex for Sunday worship. LCBC (Lives Changed by Christ) is one of the largest multi-sited megachurches on the American East Coast. While LCBC’s main campus offers live preaching, sermons are digitally streamed to the rest. Both CityChurch and LCBC exemplify growing numbers of faith communities that rely on popular musical and social media to 1) redefine local and global religious relationships and 2) claim identity as both culturally alternative and spiritually authentic.

By engaging with international flows of worship music, films, and viral internet sensations, new media-centered faith communities like CityChurch and LCBC reconfigure established sacred soundscapes. CityChurch’s use of music and media strategically differentiates the congregation from neighboring traditional forms of German Christianity while strengthening connections to the imagined global evangelical community. LCBC creates what cultural geographer Justin Wilford dubs a “postsuburban sacrality” that carves out meaning from the banality of strip-mall-studded suburban existence. Analyzing the dynamics of music and media in these new worship spaces assumes growing importance as transnational music and media choices play an increasingly a central role in locally differentiating emergent worship communities from historically hegemonic religious neighbors.
Using Software to Analyse Patterns of Recurrence in the Poetry of the Psalms
Authors: MacDonald Bob
Published: January 2018

This article shows that automated analysis of Hebrew poetry can reveal structural aspects of the thought of an ancient poet which are clear in the aural nature of the text but are not obvious through regular reading techniques of the modern world especially in translation.
Pharmacists on the Emergency Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Team: Their Responsibilities, Training, and Attitudes
Authors: Machado Caridad , Barlows Theodore G. , Marsh Wallace A. , Coto-Depani Yamile , Dalin Gary
Published: January 2018

Pharmacist involvement on the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) team is associated with lower mortality rates. Despite this finding, pharmacists respond to cardiopulmonary emergencies in only 32% of institutions. The objective of this study was to determine the responsibilities and training of pharmacists as CPR team members and to assess their attitudes toward this role. A total of 1290 adult, acute-care hospitals were randomly surveyed nationwide. A total of 1108 questionnaires were received from 40% (517/1290) of institutions surveyed. Thirty-seven percent (189/517) of the institutions indicated that pharmacists participate on their CPR teams. Pharmacists' responsibilities at cardiopulmonary emergencies included recording medications administered (73.7%), medication preparation (96.6%), providing drug information (97.7%), and calculating doses (98.2%). The most common training methods were BLS certification (79%), the buddy system (59.4%), and continuing education programs (53.6%). Training methods that positively affected perceived qualification in the primary responsibilities were BLS/ACLS certification (P < 0.001) and training programs provided by the institution (P < 0.05). Positive attitudes toward participation on the CPR team were associated with the following factors: years of experience, BLS/ACLS certification, and the pharmacist's perception that he or she was adequately trained (P < 0.001). The results indicate that CPR team pharmacists should be proficient in providing drug information, preparing medications, recording medications administered, and calculating doses. Furthermore, because adequate training positively influenced pharmacists' attitudes toward participation and their perceived qualifications, we recommend that all pharmacists on CPR teams be required to obtain BLS/ACLS certification and participate in educational programs provided by their institution.
Ezetimibe
Authors: Cada Dennis J. , Levien Terri , Baker Danial E.
Published: January 2018

Each month, subscribers to The Formulary Monograph Service receive five to six well-documented monographs on drugs that are newly released or are in late Phase III trials. The monographs are targeted to your Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. Subscribers also receive monthly one-page summary monographs on the agents that are useful for agendas and pharmacy/nursing in-services. A comprehensive target drug utilization evaluation (DUE) is also provided each month. The monographs are published in printed form and on diskettes that allow customization. Subscribers to the The Formulary Monograph Service also receive access to a pharmacy bulletin board, The Formulary Information Exchange (The F.I.X.). All topics pertinent to clinical and hospital pharmacy are discussed on The F.I.X.

Through the cooperation of The Formulary, Hospital Pharmacy publishes selected reviews in this column. If you would like information about The Formulary Monograph Service or The F.I.X., call The Formulary at 800–322–4349. The March 2003 monograph topics are adalimumab, eletriptan, cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion, montelukast for allergic rhinitis, and icodextrin peritoneal dialysis solution. The DUE is on adalimumab.
Aprepitant
Authors: Cada Dennis J. , Levien Terri , Baker Danial E.
Published: January 2018

Each month, subscribers to The Formulary Monograph Service receive five to six well-documented monographs on drugs that are newly released or are in late Phase III trials. The monographs are targeted to your Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. Subscribers also receive monthly one-page summary monographs on the agents that are useful for agendas and pharmacy/nursing in-services. A comprehensive target drug utilization evaluation (DUE) is also provided each month. The monographs are published in printed form and on diskettes that allow customization. Subscribers to the The Formulary Monograph Service also receive access to a pharmacy bulletin board, The Formulary Information Exchange (The F.I.X.). All topics pertinent to clinical and hospital pharmacy are discussed on The F.I.X.

Through the cooperation of The Formulary, Hospital Pharmacy publishes selected reviews in this column. If you would like information about The Formulary Monograph Service or The F.I.X., call The Formulary at 800–322–4349. The June 2003 monograph topics are aprepitant, gemifloxacin, desirudin for injection, gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution, and pegvisomant. The DUE is on aprepitant.
Considerations for PDA-Based Intervention Documentation
Authors: Fox Brent I. , Felkey Bill G.
Published: January 2018

Today's health care environments often require pharmacists to measure the impact of the services they provide. One of the pharmacist's most important activities has become documentation — to demonstrate what has been done and how it results in outcome improvement and financial containment. This process began in the 1960s and 1970s using paper-based forms and manual tabulation. Over the years, various electronic media have been used to aid the documentation process. This article discusses advances in intervention documentation made possible by the PDA.
FDA Requirements for Manufacturer Labeling of Oral Iron Products Need Upgrading Intrathecal Injection of Ionic Contrast Media may be Fatal
Authors: Cohen Michael R.
Published: January 2018

These medication errors have occurred in health care facilities at least once. They will happen again—perhaps where you work. Through education and alertness of personnel and procedural safeguards, they can be avoided. You should consider publishing accounts of errors in your newsletters and/or presenting them in your inservice training programs.

Your assistance is required to continue this feature. The reports described here were received through the USP Medication Errors Reporting Program, which is presented in cooperation with the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. If you have encountered medication errors and would like to report them, you may call USP toll-free, 24 hours a day, at 800-233-7767 (800-23-ERROR).

Any reports published by ISMP will be anonymous. Comments are also invited; the writers’ names will be published if desired. ISMP may be contacted at the address shown below.
A Standardized Approach to Pediatric Parenteral Medication Delivery
Authors: Mitchell Amy , Sommo Patrick , Mocerine Thomas , Lesar Timothy
Published: January 2018

Delivering medications safely to hospitalized pediatric patients presents a significant challenge. Current JCAHO standards require safe medication practices, including the standardization of parenteral medications and solutions. Our institution convened a pediatric process improvement team (consisting of pharmacists, nurses, physicians, and administrators) to address deficiencies in our medication use process. This article describes the standardized parenteral medication processes that this committee ultimately endorsed. The new system was designed to control, simplify, and standardize each major step in the medication use process, from prescribing through administration. The system involved defining and standardizing prescribing practices, which then allowed for reduced variability and the preplanning of drug preparation and administration processes. To ease transition and simplify implementation, three phases of the process were introduced in a step-by-step manner: phase 1, continuous infusions; phase 2, intermittent IV doses; and phase 3, bulk IV fluids. Time to implementation included 6 months of preparation prior to phases 1 and 2 and approximately another year to phase 3. The standardized pediatric parenteral medication process has resulted in improved patient safety and operational efficiency. It has also eliminated the “Rule of six” method of drug preparation and administration.
Montelukast-Induced Urticaria; Acute Ischemic Colitis Caused by Anaphylactic Reaction; Pulmonary Edema Associated with a COX-2 Inhibitor; Hepatotoxicity with Citalopram; CNS Disturbances with Alendronate; Long QT Syndrome and QT Prolongation with Famotidine; Two Recommended Reviews
Authors: Shuster Joel
Published: January 2018

The purpose of this feature is to heighten awareness of specific adverse drug reactions (ADRs), to discuss methods of prevention, and to promote reporting of ADRs to the FDA's MEDWATCH program (800-FDA-1088). If you have reported an interesting preventable ADR to MEDWATCH, please consider sharing the account with our readers.

In 2004, ISMP is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its incorporation as a nonprofit organization. The Institute represents more than 20 years of experience in helping health care practitioners keep patients safe, and continues to lead efforts to improve the medication use process.
Zonisamide: Binge Eating Disorder
Authors: Generali Joyce , Cada Dennis J.
Published: January 2018

Off-Label Drug Uses

This Hospital Pharmacy feature is extracted from Off-Label DrugFacts, a quarterly publication available from Facts and Comparisons. Off-Label DrugFacts is a practitioner-oriented resource for information about specific FDA-unapproved drug uses. This new guide to the literature will enable the health care professional/clinician to quickly identify published studies on off-label uses and to determine if a specific use is rational in a patient care scenario. The most relevant data are provided in tabular form so that the reader can easily identify the scope of information available. A summary of the data—including background, study design, patient population, dosage information, therapy duration, results, safety, and therapeutic considerations—precedes each table of published studies. References direct the reader to the full literature for more comprehensive information prior to patient care decisions. Direct questions or comments on “Off-Label Drug Uses” to hospitalpharmacy@drugfacts.com .
A conflicted drug policy – the normalisation of the drug problem in Finland
Authors: Hakkarainen Pekka , Tigerstedt Christoffer
Published: January 2018

Drug use and its attendant problems in Finland are still far removed from the top levels in Europe. Nonetheless, a considerably more conflicted drug political situation than the earlier prevailing consensus around a restrictive policy has quickly emerged. In less than a decade, drugs have become a recognised social fact and problem that must be addressed, though probably never entirely eradicated.

The article tests the thesis of the normalisation of drug use that is often brought up in the international debate. The British debate can be summarized in two main points: the significant increase of supply and demand (‘normal’ as “widespread”) as well as the increased social and cultural acceptance of drug use (‘normal’ as “accepted”). The article shows that there can be no talk of normalisation in Finland in terms of these two issues. However, in many ways drug problems have become a commonplace in the country and have thus forced the authorities, political decision-makers and other actors to re-evaluate thoroughly the drug issue. In this sense there are grounds for the normalisation of drugs (‘normal’ as “a social fact”).

The article reviews the reports, official documents and new statutes drawn up on drugs during the past decade. In addition, drug political reforms that have caused controversy are also covered. It is thus concluded that drug policy has retreated from a unified policy based on a penal conception towards a more varied and conflicted policy model.