bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic basis of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) resistance to the chitin synthesis inhibitor lufenuron
Authors: Nascimento Antonio Rogério Bezerra do , Farias Juliano Ricardo , Bernardi Daniel , Horikoshi Renato Jun , Omoto Celso
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND

An understanding of the genetic basis of insect resistance to insecticides is important for the establishment of insect resistance management (IRM) strategies. In this study we evaluated the inheritance pattern of resistance to the chitin synthesis inhibitor lufenuron in Spodoptera frugiperda.

RESULTS

The LC50 values (95% CI) were 0.23 µg lufenuron mL−1 water (ppm) (0.18–0.28) for the susceptible strain (SUS) and 210.6 µg mL−1 (175.90–258.10) for the lufenuron‐resistant strain (LUF‐R), based on diet‐overlay bioassay. The resistance ratio was ≈ 915‐fold. The LC50 values for reciprocal crosses were 4.89 µg mL−1 (3.79–5.97) for female LUF‐R and male SUS and 5.74 µg mL−1 (4.70–6.91) for female SUS and male LUF‐R, indicating that the inheritance of S. frugiperda resistance to lufenuron is an autosomal, incompletely recessive trait. Backcrosses of the progeny of reciprocal crosses with the parental LUF‐R showed a polygenic effect. The estimated minimum number of independent segregations was in the 11.02 range, indicating that resistance to lufenuron is associated with multiple genes in S. frugiperda.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on genetic crosses, the inheritance pattern of lufenuron resistance in S. frugiperda was autosomal, incompletely recessive and polygenic. Implications of this finding to IRM are discussed in this paper. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Uneven Hedging of Economic Risks for a Skilled Workforce: Are Immigrants Disadvantaged?
Authors: Hao Lingxin , Warkentien Siri
Published: June 2015

Skilled immigration to the US has been multi‐channelled via legislation on permanent and temporary visa programmes. This paper argues that skilled immigrants were not disadvantaged during the Great Recession because of a new hedging mechanism, which starts with the federal legislation that admits skilled non‐immigrants, proceeds to vest authority in employers who perform rigorous screening and selection of temporary workers for future permanency, and ends with greater protection of those selected. To test this mechanism, this paper examines skilled immigrants' spatial mobility out of the country and their domestic labour market outcomes. The paper presents evidence from analysing repeated, nationally representative survey data of college graduates in the US using demographic techniques of intra‐cohort and inter‐cohort analyses. The major findings about the substantial cross‐border mobility and high levels of labour force participation among at‐entry temporary visa holders who later gained permanent residency provide strong evidence to support our proposed new hedging mechanism. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diagnostic study of a high‐precipitation event in the Western Mediterranean: adequacy of current operational networks
Authors: Khodayar S. , Raff F. , Kalthoff N. , Bock O.
Published: June 2015

To investigate whether the spatial and temporal resolution of current operational observing systems in the Western Mediterranean (WMed) region suffice to adequately represent the atmospheric processes responsible for the initiation and intensification of convection, a diagnostic study of the HyMex Intensive Observation Period 8 (IOP8) is performed. During the IOP8, heavy rainfall with intense lightning and consequent devastating flash floods occurred in the WMed region. The synergy of operational networks in the northern WMed, including Global Positioning System (GPS) stations, rain gauges, weather stations, lightning sensors and radiosondes, was used to document in detail the evolution of the heavy precipitation event. In general, the resolution of the aforementioned networks adequately sampled the temporal and spatial variability of the atmospheric water vapour, as well as the position of mesoscale convergence zones which played a key role in the initiation and evolution of convective systems in this case. Nevertheless, high uncertainty was associated with the existence and location of moisture convergence zones and wind convergence lines over the sea, reflecting the need for model analysis and remote‐sensing observations to complete the documentation of the event.
An instrumental index of the West African Monsoon back to the nineteenth century
Authors: Gallego David , Ordóñez Paulina , Ribera Pedro , Peña‐Ortiz Cristina , García‐Herrera Ricardo
Published: June 2015

A new index, namely the African Southwesterly Index (ASWI), based on the persistence of the low‐level southwesterly winds in the region (29°–17°W; 7–13°N) is developed to characterise the strength of the West African Monsoon. The ASWI is significantly correlated with the monsoonal precipitation in the Sahel in the 1900–2013 period (r = + 0.57, r = + 0.66 and r = + 0.53 for July, August and September respectively). By using historical wind direction measurements it has been possible to compute the ASWI back to 1790 for July and to 1839 for August and September, thus providing the first instrumental record of the West African Monsoon strength for a large portion of the nineteenth century.

Since the 1970s, the Sahel has experienced a strong and persistent drought. During this period the West African Monsoon has been weaker than normal and its correlation with different climatic patterns such as the ENSO has changed. The analysis of our new series indicates that this anomalous behaviour of the West African Monsoon has no precedent in the last 170 years.

Our results also show that the period 1839–1890 was characterised by a stronger than average monsoon, resulting in relatively wet conditions in the Sahel. Notwithstanding, two of the few dry years within this period were concurrent with large volcanic eruptions in the Northern Hemisphere. This latter result supports the recently described relationship between major volcanic eruptions and the occurrence of isolated drought episodes in the Sahel.
Assessing Groundwater Contribution to Streamflow of a Large Alpine River with Heat Tracer Methods and Hydrological Modelling
Authors: Ravazzani G. , Curti D. , Gattinoni P. , Della Valentina S. , Fiorucci A. , Rosso R.
Published: June 2015

The contribution of groundwater to streamflow in Alpine catchments is still poorly understood, despite the fact that it may heavily impact hydrological balance and stream habitats. This paper presents the results of a field campaign based on experiments with heat tracer methods to assess the hyporheic flow during the low‐flow period of a large Alpine river in Italy. These measurements were employed to validate a distributed hydrological model that can be used to asses river–groundwater interaction in both low‐flow and high‐flow conditions. The results show that groundwater may have a relevant role during low‐flow periods, by increasing river discharge and during floods, by subtracting direct run‐off that is stored in river banks. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contingent value of director identification: The role of government directors in monitoring and resource provision in an emerging economy
Authors: Zhu Hongjin , Yoshikawa Toru
Published: June 2015

Research summary: Although previous studies have explored the value of government directors, less attention has been directed at the antecedents of government directors' engagement in value‐adding activities, such as managerial monitoring and resource provision. Drawing on social identity theory, we offer a novel model that specifies how a government director's dual identifications with the focal firm, and with the government individually and interactively affect his or her governance behavior. An investigation of government directors in China shows that their identification with the focal firm enhances monitoring and resource provision, while their identification with the government affects monitoring and resource provision differently. depending on the dominance of state ownership. The synergistic/substitutable effects between the two types of identification are contingent on state ownership and governance roles.

Managerial summary: This study examines how a government director's dual identities—as a government official and as a board member of a focal firm affect his or her engagement in managerial monitoring and resource provision. Using data of Chinese listed firms, we find that government directors who strongly identify with the focal firm or with the government are highly motivated to fulfill their fiduciary obligations. However, the positive effects of their identification with the government differ between state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) and non‐SOEs. The combination of the two identifications offers a further boost to monitoring in non‐SOEs, and to resource provision in both SOEs and non‐SOEs, but it acts as a disincentive to monitoring in SOEs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coupling Solar Energy into Reactions: Materials Design for Surface Plasmon‐Mediated Catalysis
Authors: Long Ran , Li Yu , Song Li , Xiong Yujie
Published: June 2015

Enabled by surface plasmons, noble metal nanostructures can interact with and harvest incident light. As such, they may serve as unique media to generate heat, supply energetic electrons, and provide strong local electromagnetic fields for chemical reactions through different mechanisms. This solar‐to‐chemical pathway provides a new approach to solar energy utilization, alternative to conventional semiconductor‐based photocatalysis. To provide readers with a clear picture of this newly recognized process, this review presents coupling solar energy into chemical reactions through plasmonic nanostructures. It starts with a brief introduction of surface plasmons in metallic nanostructures, followed by a demonstration of tuning plasmonic features by tailoring their physical parameters. Owing to their tunable plasmonic properties, metallic materials offer a platform to trigger and drive chemical reactions at the nanoscale, as systematically overviewed in this article. The design rules for plasmonic materials for catalytic applications are further outlined based on existing examples. At the end of this article, the challenges and opportunities for further development of plasmonic‐mediated catalysis toward energy and environmental applications are discussed.
The Sequence‐Specific Cellular Uptake of Spherical Nucleic Acid Nanoparticle Conjugates
Authors: Narayan Suguna P. , Choi Chung Hang J. , Hao Liangliang , Calabrese Colin M. , Auyeung Evelyn , Zhang Chuan , Goor Olga J. G. M. , Mirkin Chad A.
Published: June 2015

The sequence‐dependent cellular uptake of spherical nucleic acid nanoparticle conjugates (SNAs) is investigated. This process occurs by interaction with class A scavenger receptors (SR‐A) and caveolae‐mediated endocytosis. It is known that linear poly(guanine) (poly G) is a natural ligand for SR‐A, and it has been proposed that interaction of poly G with SR‐A is dependent on the formation of G‐quadruplexes. Since G‐rich oligonucleotides are known to interact strongly with SR‐A, it is hypothesized that SNAs with higher G contents would be able to enter cells in larger amounts than SNAs composed of other nucleotides, and as such, cellular internalization of SNAs is measured as a function of constituent oligonucleotide sequence. Indeed, SNAs with enriched G content show the highest cellular uptake. Using this hypothesis, a small molecule (camptothecin) is chemically conjugated with SNAs to create drug‐SNA conjugates and it is observed that poly G SNAs deliver the most camptothecin to cells and have the highest cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Our data elucidate important design considerations for enhancing the intracellular delivery of spherical nucleic acids.
Material and rheological properties of native, acetylated, and pregelatinized forms of corn, cassava, and sweet potato starches
Authors: Lawal Mariam V. , Odeniyi Michael A. , Itiola Oludele A.
Published: June 2015

The effects of acetylation and pregelatinization on the material and rheological properties of selected botanical starches as pharmaceutical excipients were evaluated. Pregelatinized and acetylated forms of starches of cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz (Euphorbiaceae) and sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas L. Lam (Convolvulaceae) were prepared and corn starch BP was the standard. The starches were evaluated using physicochemical, microscopic, rheological, FTIR, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analytical techniques.

Microscopic analysis indicated definitive alteration in the granular character of the modified starches. The native starches were susceptible to retrogradation, which was alleviated by acetylation and pregelatinization. Flowability of the starches improved with modification while FTIR and XRD analysis confirmed characteristic functional groups and crystalline morphology of the modified starches. The water absorption and swelling properties of the starches were related to amylose content. Acetylation and pregelatinization of cassava and sweet potato starches significantly altered their granular morphology, rheology, and structure resulting in their improved functionality as potential pharmaceutical excipients.
Experimental investigation of soil‐structure interaction for the transition slabs of integral bridges
Authors: Burdet Olivier , Einpaul Jürgen , Muttoni Aurelio
Published: June 2015

This paper presents the results of an experimental test series carried out to investigate the soil‐structure‐pavement interaction in the vicinity of the transition slab at the end of an integral bridge. The main function of transition slabs is to ease the transition between the bridge deck and the embankment in the case of differential settlement. Additionally, in the case of integral bridges, transition slabs can solve the problem of moderate imposed longitudinal deformations at the bridge ends. In this case the displacements imposed on the transition slab can lead to vertical and longitudinal surface displacements and to cracking of the pavement. Based on the observed behaviour, some recommendations are proposed for the geometry and surface conditions in order to optimize the behaviour of transition slabs.
Single deepest vertical pocket or amniotic fluid index as evaluation test for predicting adverse pregnancy outcome (SAFE trial): a multicenter, open‐label, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kehl S. , Schelkle A. , Thomas A. , Puhl A. , Meqdad K. , Tuschy B. , Berlit S. , Weiss C. , Bayer C. , Heimrich J. , Dammer U. , Raabe E. , Winkler M. , Faschingbauer F. , Beckmann M. W. , Sütterlin M.
Published: June 2015

Objective

To determine whether the amniotic fluid index (AFI) or the single deepest vertical pocket (SDP) technique for estimating amniotic fluid volume is superior for predicting adverse pregnancy outcome.

Methods

This was a multicenter randomized controlled trial including 1052 pregnant women with a term singleton pregnancy across four hospitals in Germany. Women were assigned randomly, according to a computer‐generated allocation sequence, to AFI or SDP measurement for estimation of amniotic fluid volume. Oligohydramnios was defined as AFI ≤ 5 cm or the absence of a pocket measuring at least 2 × 1 cm. The diagnosis of oligohydramnios was followed by labor induction. The primary outcome measure was postpartum admission to a neonatal intensive care unit. Further outcome parameters were the rates of diagnosis of oligohydramnios and induction of labor (for oligohydramnios or without specific indication), and mode of delivery.

Results

Postpartum admission to a neonatal intensive care unit was similar between groups (4.2% (n = 21) vs 5.0% (n = 25); relative risk (RR), 0.85 (95% CI, 0.48–1.50); P = 0.57). In the AFI group, there were more cases of oligohydramnios (9.8% (n = 49) vs 2.2% (n = 11); RR, 4.51 (95% CI, 2.2–8.57); P < 0.01) and more cases of labor induction for oligohydramnios (12.7% (n = 33) vs 3.6% (n = 10); RR, 3.50 (95% CI, 1.76–6.96); P < 0.01) than in the SDP group. Moreover, an abnormal cardiotocography was seen more often in the AFI group than in the SDP group (32.3% (n = 161) vs 26.2% (n = 132); RR, 1.23 (95% CI, 1.02–1.50); P = 0.03). The other outcome measures were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusions

Use of the AFI method increased the rate of diagnosis of oligohydramnios and labor induction for oligohydramnios without improving perinatal outcome. The SDP method is therefore the favorable method to estimate amniotic fluid volume, especially in a population with many low‐risk pregnancies. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Ethylene vinyl acetate as compatibilizer on cure characteristics and mechanical properties of (natural rubber)/(Recycled acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber) blends
Authors: Ahmad Hazwani Syaza , Ismail Hanafi , A. Rashid Azura
Published: June 2015

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) has been used as a compatibilizer for (natural rubber)/(recycled acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber) (NR/NBRr) blends, vulcanized by sulfur. EVA offers excellent heat, ozone, and weather resistance, whereas the vinyl acetate groups provide oil resistance to the blend. It exhibits good tear resistance and may be crosslinked. However, EVA exhibits poor low‐temperature flexibility. NBR gloves have excellent resistance to punctures, tears, and many types of chemicals, while NR has good physical and mechanical properties. NR/NBRr blends were prepared with various compositions with the EVA content fixed. Tensile properties, hardness, and swelling behavior tests were performed to determine the compatibility of NR/NBRr blends in the presence of EVA. Results indicated that incorporation of EVA into NR/NBRr blends improved tensile strength, modulus, and elongation at break compared with NR/NBRr blends without EVA. The improvement in hardness and reduction in resilience on compatibilization are due to an increase in crosslink density, which gives NR/NBRr blends better swelling resistance. Scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surfaces indicates that, with the addition of EVA in NR/NBRr blends, better adhesion between NR and NBRr was obtained, thus improving the compatibility of NR/NBRr blends. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:135–141, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
The application of organophosphorus flame‐retardants in epoxy resin
Authors: Bereska Agnieszka , Kafarski Paweł , Bereska Bartłomiej , Tkacz Bogusław , Iłowska Jolanta , Lenża Joanna
Published: June 2015

The influence of two novel aryl phosphate mixtures on fire retardancy and the thermal stability of epoxy resin were studied. Combustion behavior, decomposition pathway, and thermal and thermo‐oxidative degradation of the epoxy resin were examined by using the limiting oxygen index, vertical burning test (UL‐94), cone calorimeter test, thermogravimetric analysis, and thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphology of the residues from the degradation of flame‐retarded epoxy resins was investigated by using scanning electron microscopy. Data from the cone calorimeter test demonstrated that the total heat evolved, heat release rate, and peak heat release rate decreased significantly when the epoxy resin contained these retardants. Moreover, a 20 wt% of both phosphate mixtures in the epoxy resin allowed for a satisfactory oxygen index (30–33%) and for UL‐94 V2 to be achieved. The condensed‐phase and gas‐phase actions of these aryl phosphate flame‐retardants are proposed as the mode of flame‐retardancy in epoxy resins. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:142–151, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Wild salmon recovery and inconvenient reality along the west coast of North America: indulgences atoning for guilt?
Authors: Lackey Robert T.
Published: June 2015

The history of efforts to reverse the long‐term decline of Pacific salmon in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia provides instructive policy lessons for their recovery. From California to southern British Columbia, wild runs of Pacific salmon have declined over the long‐term and many have disappeared. Billions have been spent in so‐far failed attempts to reverse the decline. The annual expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars continues, but a sustainable future for wild salmon in this region remains elusive. Despite documented public support for restoring wild salmon, the long‐term prognosis for a sustainable future appears problematic. Fisheries scientists and others continue to craft restoration plans, but an effective, politically viable approach has yet to emerge, which will actually restore and sustain most runs of wild salmon in the region. For wild salmon, restoration options exist that offer both ecological viability and appreciably lower social disruption, but these options also tend to have more modest restoration objectives. Perhaps these billions of dollars being spent to recover wild salmon should be considered ‘guilt money’—modern‐day indulgences—a tax that society and individuals willingly endure to alleviate collective and individual remorse. It is money spent on activities unlikely to achieve the recovery of wild salmon, but perhaps it helps many feel better as we continue the behaviors and choices that essentially preclude their recovery. WIREs Water 2015, 2:433–437. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1093

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness
Mechanisms of olfactory receptor neuron specification in Drosophila
Authors: Barish Scott , Volkan Pelin Cayirlioglu
Published: June 2015

Detection of a broad range of chemosensory signals is necessary for the survival of multicellular organisms. Chemical signals are the main facilitators of foraging, escape, and social behaviors. To increase detection coverage, animal sensory systems have evolved to create a large number of neurons with highly specific functions. The olfactory system, much like the nervous system as a whole, is astonishingly diverse.1‐3 The mouse olfactory system has millions of neurons with over a thousand classes, whereas the more compact Drosophila genome has approximately 80 odorant receptor genes that give rise to 50 neuronal classes and 1300 neurons in the adult.4 Understanding how neuronal diversity is generated remains one of the central questions in developmental neurobiology. Here, we review the current knowledge on the development of the adult Drosophila olfactory system and the progress that has been made toward answering this central question. WIREs Dev Biol 2015, 4:609–621. doi: 10.1002/wdev.197

This article is categorized under:

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Cellular Differentiation

Nervous System Development > Flies
An investigation on wind turbine resonant vibrations
Authors: Tibaldi C. , Kim T. , Larsen T. J. , Rasmussen F. , Rocca Serra R. de , Sanz F.
Published: June 2015

Wind turbine resonant vibrations are investigated based on aeroelastic simulations both in frequency and time domain. The investigation focuses on three different aspects: the need of a precise modeling when a wind turbine is operating close to resonant conditions; the importance of estimating wind turbine loads also at low turbulence intensity wind conditions to identify the presence of resonances; and the wind turbine response because of external excitations. In the first analysis, three different wind turbine models are analysed with respect to the frequency and damping of the aeroelastic modes. Fatigue loads on the same models are then investigated with two different turbulence intensities to analyse the wind turbine response. In the second analysis, a wind turbine model is excited with an external force. This analysis helps in identifying the modes that might be excited, and therefore, the frequencies at which minimal excitation should be present during operations. The study shows that significant edgewise blade vibrations can occur on modern wind turbines even if the aeroelastic damping of the edgewise modes is positive. When operating close to resonant conditions, small differences in the modeling can have a large influence on the vibration level. The edgewise vibrations are less visible in high turbulent conditions. Using simulations with low‐level turbulence intensity will ease this identification and could avoid a redesign. Furthermore, depending on the external excitation, different aeroelastic modes can be excited. The investigation is performed using aeroelastic models corresponding to a 1.5 MW class wind turbine with slight variations in blade properties. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prolonged use of foot abduction brace reduces the rate of surgery in Ponseti-treated idiopathic club feet
Authors: Shabtai L. , Segev E. , Yavor A. , Wientroub S. , Hemo Y.
Published: June 2015

Purpose

There is conflicting evidence related to factors affecting the rates of recurrence of idiopathic club feet using the Ponseti method. We attempt to evaluate the predictors of success and failure in our physiotherapy-led Ponseti club foot clinic.

Methods

We evaluated 189 children with 279 club feet with a mean follow-up of 6.3 years for the following: Pirani score at presentation, number of casts for correction, indication for Achilles tenotomy, and the duration of foot abduction brace (FAB) use, in relation to outcome. Outcome measures were the need for additional surgery and functional scores. Based on the pattern and rate of ossification of the tarsal bones in idiopathic club foot, a much longer FAB weaning protocol was designed and practiced since 2000. The objective of this study was to answer the question of whether a prolonged period of FAB use reduces the need for surgery in Ponseti-treated idiopathic club foot.

Results

Thirty-six feet (12.9 %) underwent additional surgery. The Pirani score and the number of cast changes had no influence on the rate of surgery. The duration of FAB use had a significant effect on the outcome, i.e., the rate of surgery and functional scoring. Operated children used the FAB for 28 months versus 33 months in the non-operated group ( p < 0.05). Only a minor delay in the attainment of walking age was noted (average 15 months).

Conclusions

The duration of FAB treatment was found to be the most influential on the functional results and on rate of surgery. Close follow-up and longer FAB weaning program reduced the rates of recurrence.
The road for survival improvement of cystic fibrosis patients in Arab countries
Authors: Banjar Hanaa , Angyalosi Gerhild
Published: June 2015

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal, monogenic disorder that affects multiple organ sys-tems of the body. The incidence has been described before in the Middle East to be 1 in 2000 to 1 in 5800 live births, and the median survival was estimated to be from 10 to 20 years of age.

The present article attempts to revisit various facets of this disease and specifically high-lights the most important lacunae that exist in treating CF. In addition, it also tries to empha-size the steps in improving the median survival of patients with CF, in these countries.
Data visualization for truth maintenance in clinical decision support systems
Authors: Liu Gilbert Chien , Odell Jere D. , Whipple Elizabeth C. , Ralston Rick , Carroll Aaron E. , Downs Stephen M.
Published: June 2015

Background and objectives:

The goal is to inform proactive initiatives to expand the knowledge base of clinical decision support systems.

Design and setting:

We describe an initiative in which research informationists and health ser-vices researchers employ visualization tools to map logic models for clinical decision support within an electronic health record.

Materials and methods:

We mapped relationships using software for social network analysis: NodeXL and CMAP. We defined relationships by shared observations, such as two Arden rules within medical logic modules that consider the same clinical observation, or by the presence of common keywords that were used to label rules according to standardized vocabularies.

Results:

We studied the Child Health Improvement through Computer Automation (CHICA) sys-tem, an electronic medical record that contains 170 unique variables representing discrete clinical observations. These variables were used in 300 medical logic modules (MLM’s) that prompted health care providers to deliver preventive counseling or otherwise served as clinical decision support. Using data visualization tools, we generated maps that illustrate connec-tions, or lack thereof, between clinical topics within CHICA’s MLMs.

Conclusions:

The development of such maps may allow multiple disciplines commonly inter-acting over EMR platforms, and various perspectives (clinicians, programmers, informationists) to work more effectively as teams to refine the EMR by programming logic routines to address co-morbidities or other instances where domains of medical knowledge should be connected.
A Chemical Heat Pack–Based Method For Consistent Heating of Intravenous Fluids
Authors: DeClerck Matthieu P. , Lipman Grant S. , Grahn Dennis A. , Cao Vinh , Wieland Mark , Troxel Tom , Craig Heller H.
Published: June 2015

Background

Transfusion of cold intravenous fluids (IVF) can exacerbate hypothermia. Civilian and military guidelines recommend heated IVF for hypothermic patients; however, there is currently no ideal IVF heating system for use in resource-limited settings.

Objective

Development of a system that uses flameless ration heaters (FRH) and an insulated sleeve for the consistent delivery of IVF at physiologically appropriate temperatures (40°–42°C) over the range of ambient conditions typical of the prehospital and wilderness environments.

Methods

The temperatures of 0.9% normal saline (NS) 1-L bags were measured under 3 ambient conditions: 3°C, 10°C, and 20°C. The IVF was placed in an insulated pouch along with a predetermined number of activated FRH (5 FRH for 3°C, 4 FRH for 10°C, and 3 FRH for 20°C) for 10 minutes before removing the FRHs. The insulated IVF bag was drained through 280 cm of intravenous tubing at a flow rate of 77 mL/min. Raw temperature data for internal and delivery temperatures were collected and analyzed.

Results

The temperature of the IVF throughout the delivery of 1 L of NS under the 3 ambient conditions was as follows (mean ± SD): at 3°C ambient, 47° ± 2.1°C internal and 42.6°C ± 1.4°C at delivery; at 10°C ambient, 52.3° ± 2.7°C and 45.2° ± 1.6°C; and at 20°C ambient, 45.5° ± 1°C and 39.7° ± 0.7°C.

Conclusions

The IVF heating system described here reliably delivered physiologically appropriate temperature intravenous fluids in 2 of the 3 ambient treatment conditions. With the appropriate number of FRH for the ambient conditions, this system enables the delivery of warmed IVF to provide active warming, which may be clinically beneficial in the prevention and treatment of hypothermia.
Is Consciousness a Spandrel?
Authors: ROBINSON ZACK , MALEY COREY J. , PICCININI GUALTIERO
Published: June 2015

Determining the biological function of phenomenal consciousness appears necessary to explain its origin: evolution by natural selection operates on organisms’ traits based on the biological functions they fulfill. But identifying the function of phenomenal consciousness has proven difficult. Some have proposed that the function of phenomenal consciousness is to facilitate mental processes such as reasoning or learning. But mental processes such as reasoning and learning seem to be possible in the absence of phenomenal consciousness. It is difficult to pinpoint in what way phenomenal consciousness enhances these processes or others like them. In this paper, we explore a possibility that has been neglected to date. Perhaps phenomenal consciousness has no function of its own because it is either a by-product of other traits or a (functionless) accident. If so, then phenomenal consciousness has an evolutionary explanation even though it fulfills no biological function.
Williams, Smith, and the Peculiarity of Piacularity
Authors: BLACKBURN SIMON
Published: June 2015

This article reflects on some of the complexities in Williams' discussion of moral luck. It compares this discussion with previous work, especially by Adam Smith, and argues that Williams' fear that the phenomenon of moral luck threatens the coherence of our moral concepts is unfounded.
Naturalism, Realism, and Normativity
Authors: PUTNAM HILARY
Published: June 2015

This essay describes three commitments that have become central to the author's philosophical outlook, namely, to liberal naturalism, to metaphysical realism, and to the epistemic and ontological objectivity of normative judgments.Liberal naturalismis contrasted with familiar scientistic versions of naturalism and their project of forcing explanations in every field into models derived from one or another particular science. The form ofmetaphysical realismthat the author endorses rejects every form of verificationism, including the author's one-time ‘internal realism’, and insists that our claims about the world are true or false and not just epistemically successful or unsuccessful and that the terms they contain typically refer to real entities. ‘Representationalism is no sin’. The central part of the essay is an account oftruthbased on a detailed analysis of Tarski's theory of truth and of the insights we can get from it as well as of the respects in which Tarski is misleading. (This part goes beyond what the author has previously published on the subject.) The account ofthe objectivity of the normativein this essay draws on insights from Dewey as well as Scanlon.
Unified Foundations for Essence and Ground
Authors: FINE KIT
Published: June 2015

I argue in favor of a distinctive generic form of essence and ground and show how the two notions thereby complement one another as forms of necessary and sufficient condition.
What Is Love? An Incomplete Map of the Metaphysics
Authors: JENKINS C.S.I.
Published: June 2015

The paper begins by surveying a range of possible views on the metaphysics of romantic love, organizing them as responses to a single question. It then outlines a position, constructionist functionalism, according to which romantic love is characterized by a functional role that is at least partly constituted by social matters (social institutions, traditions, and practices), although this role may be realized by states that are not socially constructed.
MODELLING INSURANCE DATA WITH THE PARETO ARCTAN DISTRIBUTION
Authors: Gómez-Déniz Emilio , Calderín-Ojeda Enrique
Published: June 2015

In this paper, a new methodology based on the use of the inverse of the circular tangent function that allows us to add a scale parameter (say α) to an initial survival function is presented. The latter survival function is determined as limiting case when α tends to zero. By choosing as parent the classical Pareto survival function, the Pareto ArcTan (PAT) distribution is obtained. After providing a comprehensive analysis of its statistical properties, theoretical results with reference to insurance are illustrated. Its performance is compared, by means of the well-known Norwegian fire insurance data, with other existing heavy-tailed distributions in the literature such as Pareto, Stoppa, Shifted Lognormal, Inverse Gamma and Fréchet distributions.
Tranexamic Acid for Epistaxis–A Promising Treatment That Deserves Further Study
Authors: Clinkard David , Barbic David
Published: June 2015

Clinical Question

Does the application of topical tranexamic acid reduce bleeding as compared to anterior packing?

Article Chosen

Zahed R, Moharamzadeh P, Alizadeharasi S, et al. A new and rapid method for epistaxis treatment using injectable form of tranexamic acid topically: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Emerg Med 2013;31(9):1389-92.

Objectives

To determine if topically applied tranexamic acid reduces bleeding time in epistaxis.
Optimal morphokinematics for undulatory swimmers at intermediate Reynolds numbers
Authors: van Rees Wim M. , Gazzola Mattia , Koumoutsakos Petros
Published: June 2015

Undulatory locomotion is an archetypal mode of propulsion for natural swimmers across scales. Undulatory swimmers convert transverse body oscillations into forward velocity by a complex interplay between their flexural movements, morphological features and the fluid environment. Natural evolution has produced a wide range of morphokinematic examples of undulatory swimmers that often serve as inspiration for engineering devices. It is, however, unknown to what extent natural swimmers are optimized for hydrodynamic performance. In this work, we reverse-engineer the morphology and gait for fast and efficient swimmers by coupling an evolution strategy to three-dimensional direct numerical simulations of flows at intermediate Reynolds numbers. The fastest swimmer is slender with a narrow tail fin and performs a sequence of C-starts to maximize its average velocity. The most efficient swimmer combines moderate transverse movements with a voluminous head, tapering into a streamlined profile via a pronounced inflection point. These optimal solutions outperform anguilliform swimming zebrafish in both efficiency and speed. We investigate the transition between morphokinematic solutions in the speed–energy space, laying the foundations for the design of high-performance artificial swimming devices.
Skill, Judgement and Conduct for the First Generation of Neurosurgeons, 1900–1930
Authors: Gavrus Delia
Published: June 2015

Historical contingency complicates a reading of skill as a self-explanatory and always positive attribute. By focusing on the attempts of the first generation of neurosurgeons to build a community and fashion a collective neurosurgical self, this article highlights the extent to which the relationship between surgical skill and professional judgement is reflected in broader concerns that shape the landscape of medicine at a given time. Some early twentieth-century surgeons expressed concern about the spectacularisation of surgery and the skilful but problematic work of ‘brilliant operators’. The neurosurgeons’ policies of inclusion and exclusion show that in the process of fashioning a neurosurgical persona, this first generation sanctioned specific norms of conduct underwritten by similar moral imperatives, such as self-control. These norms governed the doctors’ work both in the operating room and on the public stage (in their engagement with the press). The meetings of the first neurosurgical society staged a critical encounter between the host neurosurgeon and the members who watched him perform surgery. These technical performances in the operating theatre, followed by discussions, were designed to encourage particular norms, to negotiate surgical knowledge, and to demonstrate the skills and character of the neurosurgeon. The performances acted as a technology of the self that aligned the operator to a community and helped that community refine its norms of surgical conduct. The awkward surgeon with inferior technical ability was preferable to the brilliant but vain operator who lacked the capacity to judge when he should not deploy his spectacular skills.
‘The Days of Brilliancy are Past’: Skill, Styles and the Changing Rules of Surgical Performance, ca. 1820–1920
Authors: Schlich Thomas
Published: June 2015

This paper examines how, over the course of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the appreciation of skill in surgery shifted in characteristic ways. Skill is a problematic category in surgery. Its evaluation is embedded into wider cultural expectations and evaluations, which changed over time. The paper examines the discussions about surgical skill in a variety of contexts: the highly competitive environment of celebrity practitioners in the amphitheatres of early nineteenth-century Britain; the science-oriented, technocratic German-language university hospitals later in the century; and the elitist surgeons of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century United States with their concerns about distancing themselves from commercialism and cheap showmanship. For analysing the interaction of surgical practices with their various contexts the paper makes use of the concept of ‘performance’ and examines how the rules of surgical performance varied according to the prevailing technical, social, and moral conditions. Over the course of the century, surgical performance looked more and more recognisably modern, increasingly following the ideals of replicability, universality and standardisation. The changing ideals of surgical skill are a crucial element of the complex history of the emergence of modern surgery, but also an illuminating example of the history of skill in modern medicine.
Surgical Skills Beyond Scientific Management
Authors: Whitfield Nicholas
Published: June 2015

During the Great War, the French surgeon Alexis Carrel, in collaboration with the English chemist Henry Dakin, devised an antiseptic treatment for infected wounds. This paper focuses on Carrel’s attempt to standardise knowledge of infected wounds and their treatment, and looks closely at the vision of surgical skill he espoused and its difference from those associated with the doctrines of scientific management. Examining contemporary claims that the Carrel–Dakin method increased rather than diminished demands on surgical work, this paper further shows how debates about antiseptic wound treatment opened up a critical space for considering the nature of skill as a vital dynamic in surgical innovation and practice.
Tinnitus and its relationship with muscle tenderness in patients with headache and facial pain
Authors: Pezzoli M , Ugolini A , Rota E , Ferrero L , Milani C , Pezzoli L , Pecorari G , Mongini F
Published: June 2015

Objective:

This study aimed to examine tinnitus prevalence in patients with different types of headache and the relationship between tinnitus and the pericranial muscle tenderness and cervical muscle tenderness scores.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted of 1251 patients with migraine and/or myogenous pain, arthrogenous temporomandibular joint disorders and tension-type headache. Standardised palpation of the pericranial and cervical muscles was carried out and univariable and multivariable analysis was used to measure the odds ratio of suffering tinnitus by the different diagnoses and muscular tenderness grade.

Results:

A univariable analysis showed that myogenous pain, pericranial muscle tenderness and cervical muscle tenderness scores, sex, and age were associated with tinnitus. When a multivariable model including only age, sex and a headache diagnosis was used, myogenous pain, migraine and age were found to be associated with tinnitus. When muscle tenderness scores were also included, only the cervical muscle tenderness and pericranial muscle tenderness scores were found to be significantly associated with tinnitus.

Conclusion:

In a population of patients with headache and craniofacial pain, tinnitus was related to increased cervical muscle tenderness and pericranial muscle tenderness scores, rather than to any particular form of headache.
The effectiveness of nutritional interventions in malnutrition and cachexia
Authors: Baldwin Christine
Published: June 2015

Cancer is a common diagnosis and leading cause of death worldwide. Amounts of weight loss vary but it is associated with considerable morbidity, poorer quality of life and reduced survival. Nutritional intervention has the potential to maximise response to treatment and improve functioning and quality of life. The aim of this paper was to review the evidence for oral nutritional interventions in the management of weight loss in patients with cancer. Comparison of studies of nutritional support interventions in people with cancer is complicated by variations in understanding of what constitutes a compromised nutritional status. There are similarities and differences between definitions of both malnutrition and cachexia and studies of oral nutritional interventions have failed to use standard criteria at study inclusion contributing to heterogeneity amongst studies. Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials has suggested limited evidence of benefit to nutritional and clinical outcomes but some improvements to aspects of quality of life. The presence of cachexia in patients with cancer might explain the limited efficacy of simple oral nutritional interventions, which lack a component designed to address metabolic abnormalities associated with cachexia. Novel strategies combining nutritional support with therapeutic agents designed to down-regulate the metabolic aberrations have failed to demonstrate consistent benefits and the results of multimodal treatments combining several interventions are awaited. There is a need for intervention studies recruiting patients early in the disease course, which underlines the need for definitions which predict poor outcome and hence allow early recognition of vulnerable patients.
Structural alterations in white-matter tracts connecting (para-)limbic and prefrontal brain regions in borderline personality disorder
Authors: Lischke A. , Domin M. , Freyberger H. J. , Grabe H. J. , Mentel R. , Bernheim D. , Lotze M.
Published: June 2015

Background

A dysfunctional network of prefrontal and (para-)limbic brain region has been suggested to underlie emotional dysregulation in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Abnormal activity in this network may be due to structural alterations in white-matter tracts connecting prefrontal and (para-)limbic brain regions. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the structural integrity of major white-matter tracts connecting these regions in BPD.

Method

Using diffusion tensor imaging, we investigated fractional anisotropy (FA), axonal anisotropy (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) in the uncinate fasciculus, the major white-matter tract connecting (para-)limbic and prefrontal brain regions, in 26 healthy controls (HC) and 26 BPD participants. To clarify the specificity of possible white-matter alterations among HC and BPD participants, FA, AD and RD were also investigated in the cingulum.

Results

We found distinct structural alterations in the uncinate fasciculus but not in the cingulum of BPD participants. Compared to HC participants, BPD participants showed lower FA and higher RD in the uncinate fasciculus. By contrast, AD did not differ in the uncinate fasciculus of HC and BPD participants.

Conclusions

Our finding of abnormal FA and RD in the uncinate fasciculus indicates distinct white-matter alterations in BPD, presumably due to stress-induced myelin degeneration in the aftermath of stressful life events. Although these alterations may account for abnormal activity in brain regions implicated in emotion dysregulation, such as the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex, it remains to be determined whether these alterations are specific for BPD.