bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship Survey: Fellows Selection Criteria for Training Programs
Authors: Singh Jasleen , Lovelace Kimberly , Patnaik Jennifer , Enzenauer Robert
Published: September 2018

Purpose This article investigates the characteristics that trainees look for in a pediatric ophthalmology fellowship program.

Methods A 14-question anonymous survey was created and sent out via the United States Postal Service to all physicians of American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. The survey addressed demographics, the interview process, and the qualities of fellowship training programs that were important factors in ranking fellowship training programs. A Likert scale was used to rate different qualities (1: not important, 9: very important) and summary statistics were reported as overall means and standard deviations.

Results In total, 1,061 were mailed out with 413 returned amounting to a 38.9% response rate. The qualities with the highest mean were diversity of surgical procedures, volume of procedures/surgeries, reputation of the fellowship director, advice from mentor, emphasis on type of surgery performed, program association with an academic institution, and national reputation of program. The characteristics that ranked the lowest were presence of a Veteran's Administration hospital and presence of a county hospital. Females rated proximity to family significantly higher than males. Among responders who ranked volume of procedures/surgeries as very important, strabismus surgery was the most important.

Conclusion Pediatric ophthalmologists chose fellowship training programs based on the diversity and surgical volume of procedures and the reputation of the program director.
Ahead of the Curve: Tracking Progress in Novice Microsurgeons
Authors: Brosious John , Kleban Shawna , Goldman Joshua , Mohsin Adnan , Williams Shelly , Wang Wei , Menezes John , Baynosa Richard
Published: September 2018

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate learning curves for an existing microsurgical training model. We compared efficiency and amount of training needed to achieve proficiency between novice microsurgeons without operative experience versus those who had completed a surgical internship.

Methods Ten novice microsurgeons anastomosed a silastic tube model. Time to perform each anastomosis, luminal diameter, and number of errors were recorded.

Results First year residents improved up to a brief plateau at 10 repetitions, followed by continued improvement. Second year residents improved up to a plateau at 10 repetitions with no further improvement thereafter. There was no significant difference in luminal area or errors between groups.

Conclusion Residents with no operative experience can benefit from early exposure to microsurgical training. These interns continue to improve with additional repetitions while second year residents achieve proficiency with fewer repetitions.
Die Fragilitätsfraktur des Beckens ist eine Indikatorfraktur der Osteoporose
Authors: Drees P. , Thomczyk S. , Betz U. , Wagner D. , Hofmann A. , Rommens P. M.
Published: September 2018

Die Inzidenz der Fragilitätsfraktur des Beckens nimmt erheblich zu. Die Fraktur ist Folge eines niedrigenergetischen Traumas. Risikofaktoren sind das Alter, das weibliche Geschlecht und die Osteoporose. Die Patienten leiden an immobilisierenden Schmerzen im Bereich der Schamregion, der Leiste oder des tiefen Rückens. Die Diagnostik beruht auf der konventionellen Bildgebung und der Computertomographie. Die Morphologie dieser Frakturen unterscheidet sich von denen eines hochenergetischen Traumas. Die neue FFPKlassifikation differenziert vier Kategorien des Stabilitätsverlusts unterschiedlichen Ausmaßes. Die Subtypen unterscheiden verschiedene Lokalisationen der Frakturen im posterioren Beckenring. Die Behandlung beinhaltet Schmerztherapie, Physiotherapie, aktivierende Pflege und eine spezifische Osteoporose-Therapie. Bei Fragilitätsfrakturen mit Beteiligung des posterioren Beckenrings sollte eine operative Stabilisierung in Betracht gezogen werden. Die chirurgische Behandlung sollte möglichst wenig invasiv sein. Die Wiederherstellung der Stabilität ist entscheidender als die Wiederherstellung der Anatomie. Verschiedene minimalinvasive Verfahren für den posterioren und anterioren Beckenring werden vorgestellt.
Delay Cournot duopoly models revisited
Authors: Guerrini Luca , Matsumoto Akio , Szidarovszky Ferenc
Published: September 2018

In considering economic dynamics, it has been known that time delays are inherent in economic phenomena and could be crucial sources for oscillatory behavior. The main aim of this study is to shed light on what effects the delays can generate. To this end, different models of Cournot duopoly with different delays are built in a continuous time framework and their local and global dynamics are analytically and numerically examined. Three major findings are obtained. First, the stability switching conditions are analytically constructed. Second, it is numerically demonstrated that different lengths of the delays are sources for the birth of simple and complicated dynamics. Third, the delay for collecting information on the competitors’ output alone does not affect stability.
Impurity band conduction in group-IV ferromagnetic semiconductor Ge1-xFex with nanoscale fluctuations in Fe concentration
Authors: Ban Yoshisuke , Wakabayashi Yuki K. , Nakane Ryosho , Tanaka Masaaki
Published: September 2018

We study the carrier transport and magnetic properties of group-IV-based ferromagnetic semiconductor Ge1-xFex thin films (Fe concentration x = 2.3%–14%) with and without boron (B) doping, by measuring their transport characteristics: the temperature dependence of resistivity, hole concentration, mobility, and the relation between the anomalous Hall conductivity versus conductivity. At relatively low x (=2.3%), the transport in the undoped Ge1-xFex film is dominated by hole hopping between Fe-rich hopping sites in the Fe impurity levels, whereas that in the B-doped Ge1-xFex film is dominated by the holes in the valence band in the degenerated Fe-poor regions. As x increases (x = 2.3%–14%), the transport in the both undoped and B-doped Ge1-xFex films is dominated by hole hopping between the Fe-rich hopping sites of the impurity band. The magnetic properties of the Ge1-xFex films are studied by various methods including magnetic circular dichroism, magnetization, and anomalous Hall resistance and are not influenced by B-doping. We show band profile models of both undoped and B-doped Ge1-xFex films, which can explain the transport and the magnetic properties of the Ge1-xFex films.
Next-generation diamond cell and applications to single-crystal neutron diffraction
Authors: Haberl Bianca , Dissanayake Sachith , Wu Yan , Myles Dean A. A. , dos Santos Antonio M. , Loguillo Mark , Rucker Gerald M. , Armitage Douglas P. , Cochran Malcolm , Andrews Katie M. , Hoffmann Christina , Cao Huibo , Matsuda Masaaki , Meilleur Flora , Ye Feng , Molaison Jamie J. , Boehler Reinhard
Published: September 2018

A diamond cell optimized for single-crystal neutron diffraction is described. It is adapted for work at several of the single-crystal diffractometers of the Spallation Neutron Source and the High Flux Isotope Reactor at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). A simple spring design improves portability across the facilities and affords load maintenance from offline pressurization and during temperature cycling. Compared to earlier prototypes, pressure stability of polycrystalline diamond (Versimax®) has been increased through double-conical designs and ease of use has been improved through changes to seat and piston setups. These anvils allow ∼30%-40% taller samples than possible with comparable single-crystal anvils. Hydrostaticity and the important absence of shear pressure gradients have been established with the use of glycerin as a pressure medium. Large single-crystal synthetic diamonds have also been used for the first time with such a clamp-diamond anvil cell for pressures close to 20 GPa. The cell is made from a copper beryllium alloy and sized to fit into ORNL’s magnets for future ultra-low temperature and high-field studies. We show examples from the Spallation Neutron Source’s SNAP and CORELLI beamlines and the High Flux Isotope Reactor’s HB-3A and IMAGINE beamlines.
Interaction of two walkers: Perturbed vertical dynamics as a source of chaos
Authors: Tadrist Loïc , Sampara Naresh , Schlagheck Peter , Gilet Tristan
Published: September 2018

Walkers are dual objects comprising a bouncing droplet dynamically coupled to an underlying Faraday wave at the surface of a vibrated bath. In this paper, we study the wave-mediated interaction of two walkers launched at one another, both experimentally and theoretically. Different outcomes are observed in which either the walkers scatter or they bind to each other in orbits or promenade-like motions. The outcome is highly sensitive to initial conditions, which is a signature of chaos, though the time during which perturbations are amplified is finite. The vertical bouncing dynamics, periodic for a single walker, is also strongly perturbed during the interaction, owing to the superposition of the wave contributions of each droplet. Thanks to a model based on inelastic balls coupled to the Faraday waves, we show that this perturbed vertical dynamics is the source of horizontal chaos in such a system.
Pilot-wave dynamics of two identical, in-phase bouncing droplets
Authors: Valani Rahil N. , Slim Anja C.
Published: September 2018

A droplet bouncing on the surface of a vibrating liquid bath can move horizontally guided by the wave it produces on impacting the bath. The wave itself is modified by the environment, and thus, the interactions of the moving droplet with the surroundings are mediated through the wave. This forms an example of a pilot-wave system. Taking the Oza–Rosales–Bush description for walking droplets as a theoretical pilot-wave model, we investigate the dynamics of two interacting identical, in-phase bouncing droplets theoretically and numerically. A remarkably rich range of behaviors is encountered as a function of the two system parameters, the ratio of inertia to drag, κ, and the ratio of wave forcing to drag, β. The droplets typically travel together in a tightly bound pair, although they unbind when the wave forcing is large and inertia is small or inertia is moderately large and wave forcing is moderately small. Bound pairs can exhibit a range of trajectories depending on parameter values, including straight lines, sub-diffusive random walks, and closed loops. The droplets themselves may maintain their relative positions, oscillate toward and away from one another, or interchange positions regularly or chaotically as they travel. We explore these regimes and others and the bifurcations between them through analytic and numerical linear stability analyses and through fully nonlinear numerical simulation.
Antiquantization, isomonodromy, and integrability
Authors: Babich Mikhail , Slavyanov Sergey
Published: September 2018

An extended analysis of links between linear differential equations and the nonlinear Painlevé equation PV I is given. For linear equations, second-order equations in different forms, as well as various first-order systems, are chosen. The role of an accessory parameter is explained. The relationship to the Schlesinger system is made clear.
A rotary and reciprocating scintillator based fast-ion loss detector for the MAST-U tokamak
Authors: Rivero-Rodriguez J. F. , Garcia-Munoz M. , Martin R. , Galdon-Quiroga J. , Ayllon-Guerola J. , Akers R. J. , Buchanan J. , Croft D. , Garcia-Vallejo D. , Gonzalez-Martin J. , Harvey D. , McClements K. G. , Rodriguez-Ramos M. , Sanchis L.
Published: September 2018

The design and unique feature of the first fast-ion loss detector (FILD) for the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak - Upgrade (MAST-U) is presented here. The MAST-U FILD head is mounted on an axially and angularly actuated mechanism that makes it possible to independently adapt the orientation [0°, 90°] and radial position [1.40 m, 1.60 m] of the FILD head, i.e., its collimator, thus maximizing the detector velocity-space coverage in a broad range of plasma scenarios with different q95. The 3D geometry of the detector has been optimized to detect fast-ion losses from the neutral beam injectors. Orbit simulations are used to calculate the strike map and predict the expected signals. The results show a velocity-space range of [4 cm, 13 cm] in gyroradius and [30°, 85°] in pitch angle, covering the entire neutral beam ion energy range. The optical system will provide direct sight of the scintillator and simultaneous detection with two cameras, giving high spatial and temporal resolution. The MAST-U FILD will shed light on the dominant fast-ion transport mechanisms in one of the world’s two largest spherical tokamaks through absolute measurements of fast-ion losses.
Photometrics of ultrafast and fast broadband electronic transient absorption spectroscopy: State of the art
Authors: Lang Bernhard
Published: September 2018

The physical limits of the photometric resolution in broadband electronic transient absorption spectroscopy are discussed together with solutions for how to reach these limits in practice. In the first part, quantitative expressions for the noise contributions to the transient absorption signal are derived and experimentally tested. Experimental approaches described in the literature are discussed and compared on this basis. Guide-lines for designing a setup are established. In the second part, a method for obtaining nearly shot-noise limited kinetics with photometric resolution of the order of 100 μOD in overall measurement times of a few minutes from femtosecond to microsecond time scale is presented. The results are discussed in view of other experiments of step-scan type which are subject to a background or to correlated noise. Finally, detailed information is provided on how to obtain transient absorption spectra where counting statistics are the sole source of noise. A method for how to suppress outliers without introducing bias is discussed. An application example is given to demonstrate the achievable signal-to-noise level and the fast acquisition time.
High-precision and fast-response laser power stabilization system for cold atom experiments
Authors: Li Qi-Xue , Yan Shu-Hua , Wang Enlong , Zhang Xu , Zhang Huankai
Published: September 2018

An innovative and practical scheme of building laser power stabilization system is proposed by using external-control method. A high-speed Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is used as real-time controller, which makes the closed-loop control period of only 4.175μs and response time for stabilizing process less than 90μs. The typical noises affecting the laser power is analyzed. Experimental results show that the system has a high stability improvement with stability of output laser keeps around 2‰ whether the input laser is free running or frequency scanning, which proves the competent performance to satisfy high request of laser power stability in cold atom experiments. What’s more, the laser power stabilization system can be embedded as a functional module into the FPGA based timing sequence system in cold atom interferometry, which makes the laser power be controllable accurately by the way of time sequence.
Highly efficient power extraction in terahertz quantum cascade laser via a grating coupler
Authors: Yu Chenren , Zhu Huan , Wang Fangfang , Chang Gaolei , Zhu Haiqing , Chen Jianxin , Chen Pingping , Tang Zhou , Lu Wei , Shen Changle , Jiang Tao , Wang Xuemin , Wu Weidong , Xu Gangyi , He Li
Published: September 2018

We demonstrate the highly efficient power extraction from terahertz quantum cascade laser (THz-QCL) via a grating coupler (GC). The GC, formed in the top metallization of a Fabry-Perot (FP) THz-QCL with a metal-metal (MM) waveguide, diffracts the THz wave into the free space when it oscillates between the two cleaved facets. The radiation loss can be tailored in a wide range by changing the structure of the GC. The asymmetric positioning of the GC enables near-unidirectional emission, the enlarged emission surface reduces the beam divergence, and the MM waveguide keeps the optical confinement factor near unity. Experimental results confirm that, when the operating frequency is near 2.7 THz, the laser with a GC shows superior performances than the conventional FP lasers in terms of output power and operation temperature.
Energy-efficient generation of controlled vortices on low-voltage digital microfluidic platform
Authors: Kunti Golak , Dhar Jayabrata , Bandyopadhyay Saumyadwip , Bhattacharya Anandaroop , Chakraborty Suman
Published: September 2018

Generating controlled vortices in a sessile surface droplet configuration in an energy efficient manner is an outstanding research problem of interdisciplinary relevance, having implications in widely varying areas ranging from biomedical diagnostics, thermal management to digital microfluidic technology. Here, we experimentally and theoretically demonstrate a simple yet energy efficient strategy for generating controlled vortices inside a surface droplet, by deploying interacting electrical and thermal fields over inter-digitated electrodes on an electrically wetted platform. Unlike the traditional electrically driven mechanisms, this strategy involves significantly low voltage (≤10 V) to induce rotational structures inside the droplet, by exploiting the strong spatial gradient of electrical properties on account of the prevailing thermal field as attributable to intrinsically induced Joule heating effects. Our experiments demonstrate that fluid velocities typically of the order of mm/s can be generated inside the droplet within the standard regimes of operating parameters, bearing far-reaching consequences towards enhancing internal mixing in multifarious droplet based microfluidic applications. An inherent integrability with the existing electrowetting on dielectric platforms renders the process ideal to be used in conjunction with digital microfluidic technology.
Large field homogeneous illumination in microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography based on a quasi-conical spiral antenna
Authors: Yan An , Lin Li , Na Shuai , Liu Changjun , Wang Lihong V.
Published: September 2018

Conventional helical and horn antennas based on frequency selective surfaces have been used to provide microwave illumination in microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography (TAT). However, the electromagnetic waves radiated from the conventional antennas are not circularly polarized and thus impair image quality. In addition, conventional antennas can provide uniform radiations only within a relatively small area and thus limit their clinical applications (e.g., breast imaging). To address these problems, we propose a quasi-conical log-spiral antenna for homogenous illumination over a large field. We theoretically and experimentally validated this approach. Tissue-mimicking phantoms were imaged. The antenna produced not only an electric field with a circular polarization but also a homogeneous illumination area with a 10 cm diameter. Accordingly, our method has advanced TAT by improving microwave illumination.
An ultrahigh vacuum apparatus for H atom scattering from surfaces
Authors: Bünermann Oliver , Jiang Hongyan , Dorenkamp Yvonne , Auerbach Daniel J. , Wodtke Alec M.
Published: September 2018

We present an apparatus to study inelastic H or D atom scattering from surfaces under ultra-high vacuum conditions. The apparatus provides high resolution information on scattering energy and angular distributions by combining a photolysis-based atom source with Rydberg atom tagging time-of-flight. Using hydrogen halides as precursors, H and D atom beams can be formed with energies from 500 meV up to 7 eV, with an energy spread of down to 2 meV and an intensity of up to 108 atoms per pulse. A six-axis manipulator holds the sample and allows variation of both polar and azimuthal incidence angles. Surface temperature can be varied from 45 K up to 1500 K. The apparatus’ energy resolution (E/ΔE) can be as high as 1000 and its angular resolution can be adjusted between 0.3° and 3°.
Charging and motion characteristics of dielectric particles in the ion flow of AC transmission lines
Authors: Huang Shilong , Liu Yunpeng , Chen Shaoshuai , Chen Sijia
Published: September 2018

The charging and motion characteristics of dielectric particles in the ion flow induced by corona discharge from AC transmission lines are the key parameters for investigating the corona effect and establishing the calculation model for corona characteristics. In this paper, a mathematical physical model for investigating the charging and motion characteristics of dielectric particles in the AC ion flow was established. On this basis, the influence of different roughness coefficients of conductors, voltages applied to conductors, different types of conductors, initial position of particles, multiple voltage periods, particle property on charging, and motion characteristics of dielectric particles were acquired. The research results can provide a reference for establishing the model for calculating the corona characteristics.
Influence of vortex-excited acoustic resonance on flow dynamics in channel with coaxial side-branches
Authors: Wang Peng , Ma Hongyu , Deng Yifan , Liu Yingzheng
Published: September 2018

The influence of vortex-excited acoustic resonance on flow dynamics in a straight channel with coaxial side branches was experimentally determined. The energetic vortex structures superimposed in the shear layer, formed at the intersection between the straight channel and the side-branches, are closely coupled with the natural acoustic modes of the side-branches, resulting in significantly intensified acoustic standing waves in the side-branches. Two configurations with symmetric (length-to-diameter ratio: L1/D = L2/D = 10) and asymmetric (L1/D = 10, L2/D = 5) arrangements of the side-branches were used to investigate the clearly different flow dynamics with and without acoustic resonance. In the experiments, wall pressure measurements and acoustic modal analyses were first conducted to determine the frequency lock-on range of the vortex-excited acoustic resonance. Subsequently, the flow fields in two configurations were measured with planar particle image velocimetry. The results indicated that the vortex-excited acoustic resonance resulted in significant flow fluctuations inside the branches together with expanded shear layers and the enlarged vortex structures. Vorticity fluctuations and Reynolds shear stresses were also increased significantly when subjected to acoustic modulation. In terms of the proper orthogonal decomposition analysis, two different motions of the energetic flow structures were identified as interacting with the acoustic resonance: the vertical synchronous oscillation mode and the streamwise vortex-shedding mode. Correspondingly, the phase-averaged low-order flow fields, determined by the mode coefficients of these two correlative modes, clearly indicated the flapping motion of the mainstream and the periodic oscillation of the shear layer.
Mineral supplements improve the calcium status of pregnant ewes grazing vegetative cereals
Authors: Masters David G. , Hancock Serina , Refshauge Gordon , Robertson Susan M. , McGrath Shawn , Bhanugopan Marie , Friend Michael A. , Thompson Andrew N.
Published: September 2018

Grazing vegetative wheat, barley and oats (both dual-purpose and traditional spring varieties) is becoming an important strategic and tactical grazing option on farms where crops and livestock coexist. However, metabolic disorders have been reported and many producers avoid grazing these crops with reproducing ewes because of the risk. A recent survey of 18 farms grazing crops with pregnant ewes indicated a high proportion of grazed crops had forage calcium (Ca), sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg) below published requirements and potassium (K) above the published maximum tolerable level. Many ewes grazing these crops had concentrations of Ca in plasma and urine indicative of a low or marginal Ca status. The aims of the present study were to further investigate the changes in mineral status that occur in ewes grazing vegetative crops during late pregnancy and to measure the effectiveness of mineral supplements for improving Ca and Mg status. On each of six farms, a paddock growing cereals in the vegetative stage was subdivided into three plots. Three groups of 30 pregnant ewes were selected and each group allocated to one plot. Forage was provided as wheat on four farms, barley on one farm and oats on one farm. Ewes were mature (3–7 years), in the last third of pregnancy (between 108 and 129 days after the start of mating) and were mostly twin-bearing. They grazed the crops for 21 days. One group of ewes was given no supplement (Control), a second was provided with an industry standard supplement (Standard) [Causmag (MgO):limestone (CaCO3):salt (NaCl), 40:40:20] at 30 g/day, whereas the third group was provided with a low dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) supplement (New) (MgCl2.6H2O:CaSO4.2H2O:NaCl, 12.5:32.5:55.0) also at 30 g/day. Both Ca supplements improved Ca and, to a lesser extent, Mg status. The supplemented ewes showed significant increases in Ca concentration in urine, plasma and Ca fractional excretion on all but one of the six farms. There were no consistent differences between the two supplemented groups of ewes. It is concluded that the Ca status of ewes grazing vegetative cereal crops in late pregnancy can be improved by providing supplements containing Ca, Mg and Na. As the literature indicates the relationship between Ca status and susceptibility to hypocalcaemia is still inconclusive, additional research on a commercial scale is required to determine if supplements decrease the incidence of metabolic disorders when pregnant ewes graze cereal crops.
Incidence and predictors of HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea among men who have sex with men attending a peer-based clinic
Authors: Selvey Linda A. , Slimings Claudia , Adams Emma , Manuel Justin
Published: September 2018

Introduction Despite a range of interventions, annual numbers of new diagnoses of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Australia have not declined in recent years. Peer-based sexual health clinics targeting MSM, such as the M Clinic in Perth (WA, Australia), have been put in place to provide safe sex counselling and to increase testing rates among MSM and who are at high risk of HIV infection. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea among men attending the M Clinic. Methods: This was a historical cohort study of repeated M Clinic clients from January 2011 to June 2015 inclusive. Testing and risk factor data from M Clinic client software were used to estimate the incidence of HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea and associated factors. Results: The incidence of HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea was 1.87, 13.58 and 6.48 per 100 person-years respectively. Older men had a higher incidence of HIV infection but a lower incidence of chlamydia and gonorrhoea than younger men. Conclusions: The HIV incidence was higher than found in similar studies in other Australian sexual health clinics, but the incidence of chlamydia and gonorrhoea was similar. The high HIV incidence among clients of the M Clinic points to the importance of making pre-exposure HIV prophylaxis available to clients of the M Clinic and similar services.
First-principles–based reaction kinetics from reactive molecular dynamics simulations: Application to hydrogen peroxide decomposition
Authors: Ilyin Daniil V. , Goddard William A. , Oppenheim Julius J. , Cheng Tao
Published: September 2018

This paper presents our vision of how to use in silico approaches to extract the reaction mechanisms and kinetic parameters for complex condensed-phase chemical processes that underlie important technologies ranging from combustion to chemical vapor deposition. The goal is to provide an analytic description of the detailed evolution of a complex chemical system from reactants through various intermediates to products, so that one could optimize the efficiency of the reactive processes to produce the desired products and avoid unwanted side products. We could start with quantum mechanics (QM) to ensure an accurate description; however, to obtain useful kinetics we need to average over ∼10-nm spatial scales for ∼1 ns, which is prohibitively impractical with QM. Instead, we use the reactive force field (ReaxFF) trained to fit QM to carry out the reactive molecular dynamics (RMD). We focus here on showing that it is practical to extract from such RMD the reaction mechanisms and kinetics information needed to describe the reactions analytically. This analytic description can then be used to incorporate the correct reaction chemistry from the QM/ReaxFF atomistic description into larger-scale simulations of ∼10 nm to micrometers to millimeters to meters using analytic approaches of computational fluid dynamics and/or continuum chemical dynamics. In the paper we lay out the strategy to extract the mechanisms and rate parameters automatically without the necessity of knowing any details of the chemistry. We consider this to be a proof of concept. We refer to the process as RMD2Kin (reactive molecular dynamics to kinetics) for the general approach and as ReaxMD2Kin (ReaxFF molecular dynamics to kinetics) for QM-ReaxFF–based reaction kinetics.
On the use of group performance and rights for environmental protection and resource management
Authors: Kotchen Matthew J. , Segerson Kathleen
Published: September 2018

Environmental and natural resource (ENR) policies that focus on group outcomes are common but have received relatively less attention from economists than policies based on individual behavior. Existing research tends to focus on particular contexts, such as water or air quality, fisheries, or land use. This paper discusses unifying themes of group performance policies, along with their advantages and disadvantages. We discuss a range of specific policy instruments, including group-based taxes, subsidies, and fixed penalties. We show how, in principle, group-based policies can be designed to achieve efficient provision of group-level environmental performance; however, in some cases, group policies can lead to suboptimal outcomes. We discuss the incentives for collaboration that can arise when regulators impose group performance policies, and the role that it can play in promoting efficient outcomes. We argue that the success of group-based policies will depend both on how the policy is designed (i.e., the external rewards and penalties) and on how the group operates. This implies potential complementarities between “top-down” regulatory interventions based on group performance and “bottom-up” within-group incentives for self-governance. Our discussion suggests that group performance policies should play a more prominent role in the suite of policy instruments considered by scholars and policymakers concerned with ENR management.
ASTN2 modulates synaptic strength by trafficking and degradation of surface proteins
Authors: Behesti Hourinaz , Fore Taylor R. , Wu Peter , Horn Zachi , Leppert Mary , Hull Court , Hatten Mary E.
Published: September 2018

Significance

Neurogenetic studies demonstrate that copy number variations (CNVs) in the
ASTN2
gene occur in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum. Here, we show that ASTN2 associates with recycling and degradative vesicles in cerebellar neurons, and binds to and promotes the endocytic trafficking and degradation of synaptic proteins. Overexpression of ASTN2 in neurons increases synaptic activity and reduces the levels of ASTN2 binding partners, an effect dependent on its FNIII domain, which is recurrently perturbed by CNVs in patients with NDDs. These findings suggest that ASTN2 is a key regulator of dynamic trafficking of synaptic proteins and lend support to the idea that aberrant regulation of protein homeostasis in neurons is a contributing cause of complex NDDs.
Choosing the right breed and strain.
Authors: Blair R.
Published: September 2018

In this chapter the factors affecting the choice of genotypes for organic poultry farming were discussed focusing on consumer attitudes, types of poultry (egg producers and meat producers) and breed and strains of the poultry animals.
Non-arthropod pests of date palm and their management.
Authors: El-Shafie H. A. F. , Abdel-Banat B. M. A.
Published: September 2018

In addition to the arthropod pests, the date palm
Phoenix dactylifera
L is attacked by numerous non-arthropod pests, which include birds, rodents, bats, nematodes and snails. This review lists 57 species of birds reported in the agro-ecosystem of date palm. Of these, three species are major pests, 35 species are minor pests, 15 species are neutral and four species are birds of prey (raptors). The major bird pest species are the bulbuls,
Pycnonotus
spp., the rose-ringed parakeet
Psittacula krameri
and the house sparrow
Passer domesticus
. Rodents comprise 13 species, of which 12 are rats and mice and one species of porcupine. The major rodents are the roof rat
Rattus rattus
, the Norway rat
Rattus norvegicus
, the house mouse
Mus musculus
, the Nile rat
Arvicanthis niloticus
and the mole rat
Nesokia indica
. The Egyptian fruit bat,
Rousettus aegyptiacus
, is reported to be an important pest of date palm fruits. The review also lists 24 species of nematodes belonging to the following genera:
Meloidogyne
,
Pratylenchus
,
Helicotylenchus
and
Tylenchorhynchus
. Additionally, four species of land snails associated with date palm are listed. The article gives comprehensive information on the major non-arthropod pests of date palm regarding their distribution, biology, behaviour, nature of damage and possible management measures. Non-arthropod pests of minor importance are mentioned as checklists.
Broadcast News Handbook
Authors: William Davie R.
Published: September 2018

C. A. Tuggle, Forrest Carr, and Suzanne Huffman. Broadcast News Handbook (3rd Ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2007, 291 pp., Appendix, CD-ROM, ISBN-13: 978-0-07-352609-6, $50.
Being here and there: a case study of Muslim Meskhetians’ identity and belonging, formation and reconstruction in the United States
Authors: Pirtskhalava Ekaterine
Published: September 2018

This study examines how relocation to the US influenced the identity maintenance of the Muslim Meskhetians. In 1944, as a result of Stalin’s social policy to clean the southern border of the Soviet Union of “undesirable peoples”, a Muslim population, primordially comprised of Turkish-speaking Meskhetians, was deported from Georgia to Central Asian republics. After ethnic conflict in Uzbekistan in 1989, a part of this population and the informants for this research, relocated to Russia and from there to the US. Guided by previous studies on cultural adaptation and identity maintenance among migrants, the given study was conducted to identify how this group has reshaped its identity after the resettlement to the US. Based on 30 in-depth qualitative interviews with Meskhetian Muslims living in the states of Pennsylvania and Illinois, the study demonstrates the effects of the relocation on the maintenance of Muslim Meskhetian identity and belonging. Using theoretical concepts of identity, place identity and imagined communities, this work illustrates how American cultural influence reflects on Muslim Meskhetians’ perceptions of culture and ethnic identity in the US.
Scratch Modeling of Paint Coated Sheet Metal for Multi-Stage Deep Drawing Process
Authors: Kim J , Yoon J W , Lee B , Kim J , Park J
Published: September 2018

The scratch phenomenon of paint coated sheet metal in multi-stage deep drawing has been investigated. The tensile tests at a quasi-static strain rate of sheet metals coated with two different types of paint were conducted along the rolling, diagonal, and transverse directions of the sheet metal in order to consider strain hardening and anisotropy. It has been found that the types of paint are negligible for plasticity behavior. Finite element simulations of the multi-stage deep drawing process was performed using the obtained material properties and the simulation results were compared with the actual testing. Through the simulation results, three approaches, which include the contact pressure, the accumulated slip distance, and the accumulated friction work were implemented to investigate the scratch phenomenon and they were compared for the scratched and non-scratched regions. It was found that the accumulated slip distance at the scratched region was larger than that of the non-scratched region with a good correlation from experimental observation, whereas either the contact pressure or accumulated friction work approach did not predict the experiments. Therefore, it is concluded that the accumulated slip distance is a good method to identify the scratch on the paint coated sheet metal during deep drawing process.
Safe Gluteal Fat Graft Avoiding a Vascular or Nervous Injury: An Anatomical Study in Cadavers
Authors: Alvarez-Alvarez Filiberto Alejandro , González-Gutiérrez Hiram O , Ploneda-Valencia César Felipe
Published: September 2018

Background

Fat grafting for gluteal augmentation is one of the most popular aesthetic surgery procedures. It has an associated mortality to fat embolism of 0.2%.

Objectives

The authors of this study sought to describe which technique for synthetic graft application was least likely to cause a fat embolism.

Methods

Ten fresh bodies were obtained and 4 groups arranged with 5 buttocks each randomly assigned. Group 1 was infiltrated through the upper medial intergluteal sulcus (upper medial intergluteal sulcus) with an angulation of −30°, −10°, and 0°. Group 2 was infiltrated through the middle lower gluteal sulcus with an angulation of −30°, 0°, and +15°. Group 3 was infiltrated through a peritrochanteric (PT) access at the level of the femur head at 0° and +10° and in the middle of the buttock at the level of the posterior superior iliac crest at −30° toward the trochanter (lateral direction). Group 4 was infiltrated in the same manner as group 1 without −30°. A complication occurred when the graft was in contact with the vascular or nervous bundle, within the gluteus medius muscle, or both.

Results

Group 1 had 3 buttocks with a complication (UMIGS −30°). Group 2 had complications in all the injection techniques. Group 3 had 5 buttocks with a complication (PT at 0°). Group 4 had no complications.

Conclusions

The injection of the fat graft through the UMIGS at 0° and 10° angles, and through the middle of the buttock at the level of posterior superior iliac crest a −30° angle, reaches the surface needed for gluteal augmentation. The group 2 techniques should be avoided because they have a high risk of complication.
Dietary Patterns and Self-reported Incident Disability in Older Adults
Authors: Agarwal Puja , Wang Yamin , Buchman Aron S , Bennett David A , Morris Martha C
Published: September 2018

Background or Objectives

Disability in older adults is associated with low quality of life and higher mortality. Diet may be a potentially important public health strategy for disability prevention in aging. We examined the relations of the Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets to functional disability in the Rush Memory and Aging Project.

Methods

A total of 809 participants (mean age = 80.7 ± 7.2 years, 74% female) without functional disability at baseline were followed for an average of 5.3 years. Standardized measures for self-reported disability including, activities of daily living ADL), instrumental ADL, and mobility disability were assessed annually. The diet scores were computed based on a validated food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline.

Results

In Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, physical activity, and total calories, the second (hazard ratio = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.60–0.95) and third tertiles (hazard ratio = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.53–0.86) of MIND diet scores had lower rates of ADL disability compared to the lowest tertile (p for trend = .001), whereas only the third tertiles of the Mediterranean (hazard ratio = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57–0.94) and DASH (hazard ratio = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.59–0.95) diets were significantly associated with ADL disability. Instrumental ADL disability was inversely and linearly associated with the MIND diet score only (p for trend = .04). Mobility disability was associated with the MIND (p for trend = .02), Mediterranean (p for trend = .05) and DASH (p for trend = .02) diet scores.

Conclusion

These findings are encouraging that diet may be an effective strategy for the prevention of functional disability in older adults.
Mismatch Repair Protein Loss as a Prognostic and Predictive Biomarker in Breast Cancers Regardless of Microsatellite Instability
Authors: Fusco Nicola , Lopez Gianluca , Corti Chiara , Pesenti Chiara , Colapietro Patrizia , Ercoli Giulia , Gaudioso Gabriella , Faversani Alice , Gambini Donatella , Michelotti Anna , Despini Luca , Blundo Concetta , Vaira Valentina , Miozzo Monica , Ferrero Stefano , Bosari Silvano
Published: September 2018

Background

Breast cancers that harbor mismatch-repair (MMR) deficiency and/or microsatellite instability (MSI) might be sensitive to immune checkpoint blockade, but there are currently no specific guidelines for assessing MMR status in breast cancer. Here, we sought to define the clinical value of MMR immunohistochemistry (IHC) and MSI analysis in breast cancers.

Methods

We subjected 444 breast cancers to MMR IHC and MSI analysis. Cases were classified as MMR-proficient (pMMR), MMR-deficient (dMMR), and MMR-heterogeneous (hMMR) based on the loss of immunoreactivity; MSI was defined by instability in the five indicators recommended by the National Cancer Institute for endometrial and colorectal cancers. Correlation of MMR status with patients’ survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier estimator. Statistical tests were two-sided.

Results

Loss of MMR proteins was homogeneous (dMMR) in 75 patients (17%) and heterogeneous (hMMR) in 55 (12%). Among luminal breast cancers, there were similar frequencies of dMMR and hMMR tumors. Overall, the rate of discrepancy between IHC and MSI analysis was high (91%). Women with Luminal B-like dMMR carcinomas (n = 44) showed shorter overall survival (median = 77 months, range = 0–115 months) than those with pMMR (n = 205) or hMMR (n = 35) tumors (median = 84 months, range = 0–127 months) (P = .008). On the contrary, patients with estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers treated with chemotherapy lived longer in cases of dMMR (n = 9) than pMMR (n = 33) or hMMR (n = 7) tumors, with 87 months of median survival (range = 73–123 months) for the former compared with 79 months (range = 8–113 months) for the latter two categories (P < .001).

Conclusions

Immunohistochemistry and MSI are not interchangeable tests in breast carcinomas. MMR protein loss is a more common event than MSI and shows intra-tumor heterogeneity. MMR IHC allows the identification of clinically relevant subclasses of breast cancer patients, provided that multiple areas of the tumor are analyzed.
Carbapenem-Nonsusceptible Gram-Negative Pathogens in ICU and Non-ICU Settings in US Hospitals in 2017: A Multicenter Study
Authors: McCann Eilish , Srinivasan Arjun , DeRyke C Andrew , Ye Gang , DePestel Daryl D , Murray John , Gupta Vikas
Published: September 2018

Background

Infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens resistant to carbapenems have limited treatment options and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the rates, infection sources, and pathogen types associated with carbapenem-nonsusceptible (Carb-NS) Gram-negative isolates in intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU settings in a large US hospital database.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of carbapenem susceptibility of all nonduplicate isolates of Gram-negative pathogens collected from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017, at 358 US hospitals in the BD Insights Research Database. Carb-NS isolates included all pathogens reported at the institutional level as intermediate or resistant.

Results

Of 312 075 nonduplicate Gram-negative isolates, 10 698 (3.4%) were Carb-NS. Respiratory samples were the most frequent source of Carb-NS isolates (35.2%); skin/wound accounted for 23.6%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common Carb-NS pathogen (58.5% of isolates), and about 30% were Enterobacteriaceae. The highest rates of Carb-NS were found in Acinetobacter spp. (35.6%) and P. aeruginosa (14.6%). The rate of Carb-NS was significantly higher in ICU (5.4%) vs non-ICU settings (2.7%; P < .0001 in univariate analysis). This difference remained significant in multivariable analysis after adjusting for infection and hospital characteristics (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–1.56; P < .0001).

Conclusions

Infections caused by Carb-NS isolates pose a significant clinical problem across different sources of infection, species of pathogen, and hospital settings. Widespread infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, in combination with new treatment options, may be required to reduce the burden of carbapenem resistance in health care settings.
Combined Keratoplasty, Pars Plana Vitrectomy, and Flanged Intrascleral Intraocular Lens Fixation to Restore Vision in Complex Eyes With Coexisting Anterior and Posterior Segment Problems
Authors: Yokogawa Hideaki , Kobayashi Akira , Okuda Tetsuhiko , Mori Natsuko , Masaki Toshinori , Sugiyama Kazuhisa
Published: September 2018

Purpose:

To restore vision in complex eyes with coexisting anterior and posterior segment problems, combined corneal transplantation (penetrating keratoplasty [PK] or Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty [DSAEK]), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), and/or flanged intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation, designated vitreocorneal surgery are performed. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of vitreocorneal surgery for eyes with complex comorbidities.

Methods:

Thirteen consecutive eyes in 13 patients with coexisting corneal pathology (ie, corneal scarring, bullous keratoplasty, corneal laceration) and posterior segment pathology (ie, aphakia without capsular support, retinal detachment, intravitreal foreign body) underwent vitreocorneal surgery. Visual outcomes, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and additional surgery were retrospectively evaluated.

Results:

Vitreocorneal surgery included PK + PPV + intrascleral IOL fixation (n = 5), PK + PPV (n = 3), PK + intrascleral IOL fixation (n = 1), DSAEK + intrascleral IOL fixation (n = 1), and DSAEK + PPV + intrascleral IOL fixation (n = 3). An intraoperative Eckardt temporary keratoprosthesis use enabled safe PPV. No vitreoretinal/IOL complications occurred. One eye required repeat DSAEK to repair endothelial graft detachment and inversion. In 3 eyes, secondary glaucoma was subsequently treated by glaucoma drainage device implantation through the pars plana. Mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (logMAR) improved from 1.8 ± 0.9 preoperatively to 1.1 ± 0.6 at 11.2 ± 14.6 months postoperatively (P = 0.002). Postoperative refraction was −0.68 ± 2.56 D (spherical equivalent).

Conclusions:

PK or DSAEK with PPV and/or flanged intrascleral IOL fixation is useful for complex eyes with coexisting anterior and posterior segment problems.