bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Instabilities triggered in different conducting fluid geometries due to slowly time-dependent magnetic fields
Authors: Cortés-Domínguez I. , Burguete J.
Published: July 2018

The main objective of this work is the study and analysis of non-linearities forced through oscillating magnetic fields in a conducting fluid where the instabilities are triggered due to magnetohydrodynamic forces. Different geometries have been studied and different surface patterns that break the symmetries have been observed. First, an InGaSn drop of fluid where the system breaks the azimuthal and radial symmetries depending on the volume is observed. Second, we extend the study to an InGaSn annular configuration where the presence of patterns opens the door to discuss the possibility to extend these results to other configurations as biological systems, where the conducting fluid is an electrolyte. This configuration has an added interest, as it has been proposed that the vertigoes triggered on patients in an MRI test could be generated by the interaction of the magnetic field with the electrolyte present in the inner ear.
Simulations of grain boundaries between ordered hard sphere monolayer domains: Orientation-dependent stiffness and its correlation with grain coarsening dynamics
Authors: Guo Ziwei , Kindt James T.
Published: July 2018

The properties of grain boundaries (GBs) between ordered 2-d domains of a hard-sphere monolayer have been investigated using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. The capillary fluctuation method was used to determine the GB stiffness over a range of pressures, misorientations, and inclinations. Stiffness was found to be sensitive to misorientation (mismatch in the orientation angle of neighboring grains) but not to depend on inclination (angle between the boundary and the grain orientation). Excess area per GB length was observed to follow the same trend as stiffness with respect to grain misorientation and GB inclination angles. Dynamical studies of the evolution of bicrystalline or multicrystalline monolayers with simple geometries show that the calculated angle-dependent stiffnesses correlate well with the rate at which the evolving grain structure decreases the lengths of various GBs, in agreement with recent experimental results on monolayers of colloidal microspheres.
Stochastic resonance in a non-smooth system under colored noise excitations with a controllable parameter
Authors: Lei Youming , Bi Haohao , Zhang Huiqing
Published: July 2018

Stochastic resonance is studied in a class of non-smooth systems with a controllable parameter causing a change among monostability, bistability, and multistability, driven by colored noise. The system becomes smooth at a bifurcation point. Time scales in the non-smooth well are analyzed and transition rates of the non-smooth potential barriers are obtained. Analytical expressions for the response amplitude depending on the controllable parameter, frequency, noise intensity, and correlation time are derived in the bistable and multistable regions in the adiabatic limit. With the decrease of frequency, the optimal correlation time according to the maximum response is increasing; on the contrary, the optimal noise intensity is on the decline. Multistability of the system enhances the optimal transition rates and optimal response amplitude.
Probing the pathway of an ultrafast structural phase transition to illuminate the transition mechanism in Cu2S
Authors: Li Junjie , Sun Kai , Li Jun , Meng Qingping , Fu Xuewen , Yin Wei-Guo , Lu Deyu , Li Yan , Babzien Marcus , Fedurin Mikhail , Swinson Christina , Malone Robert , Palmer Mark , Mathurin Leanne , Manso Ryan , Chen Jingyi , Konik Robert M. , Cava Robert J. , Zhu Yimei , Tao Jing
Published: July 2018

Disentangling the primary order parameter from secondary order parameters in phase transitions is critical to the interpretation of transition mechanisms in strongly correlated systems and quantum materials. Here, we present a study of structural phase transition pathways in superionic Cu2S nanocrystals that exhibit intriguing properties. Utilizing ultrafast electron diffraction techniques sensitive to both the momentum-space and the time-domain, we distinguish the dynamics of crystal symmetry breaking and lattice expansion in this system. We are able to follow the transient states along the transition pathway, and so observe the dynamics of both the primary and secondary order parameters. Based on these observations, we argue that the mechanism of structural phase transition in Cu2S is dominated by the electron-phonon coupling. This mechanism advances the understanding from previous results, where the focus was solely on dynamic observations of the lattice expansion.
Molecular dynamics investigation of energy transfer during gas-surface collisions
Authors: Andric Nemanja , Jenny Patrick
Published: July 2018

In this work, the energy transfer in gas-surface collisions is investigated using the molecular dynamics method. The numerical setup consists of a nitrogen molecule scattering from a graphite surface. The main focus is put on the energy redistribution between different molecular kinetic modes and the surface for the case of strong thermal non-equilibrium. The thermal non-equilibrium is defined as the state when either translational or rotational temperature of impinging molecules differs significantly from that of the surface. Accordingly, two different scenarios have been examined, including rotational and translational excitation of the initial molecular state. In contrast to the molecular beam method, the initial molecular velocities are sampled from the equilibrium Maxwellian distribution, ensuring isotropic incidence angles and energies. The obtained results are expressed in the form of energy transfer coefficients, which are used to quantify the normalized energy loss or gain in a specific mode. Furthermore, the velocity distributions of reflected molecules are analyzed and compared with some of the available wall kernels, providing further insight into the nature of the energy transfer dynamics and scattering process. Additionally, the numerical setup is tested against the available molecular beam experimental data and the obtained results were used to select a suitable numerical force field.
A heterodyne dispersion interferometer for wide bandwidth density measurements on DIII-D
Authors: Akiyama T. , Van Zeeland M. A. , Boivin R. L. , Carlstrom T. N. , Chavez J. A. , Muscatello C. M. , O’Neill R. , Vasquez J. , Watkins M. , Martin W. , Colio A. , Finkenthal D. K. , Brower D. L. , Chen J. , Ding W. X. , Perry M.
Published: July 2018

In order to improve both the density and particularly the temporal resolution beyond previous dispersion interferometers (DIs), a heterodyne technique based on an acousto-optic (AO) cell has been added to the DI. A 40 MHz drive frequency for the AO cell allows density fluctuation measurements into the MHz range. A CO2 laser-based heterodyne DI (HDI) installed on DIII-D has demonstrated that the HDI is capable of tracking the density evolution throughout DIII-D discharges, including disruption events and other rapid transient phenomena. The data also show good agreement with independent density measurements obtained with the existing DIII-D two-color interferometer. The HDI line-integrated density resolution sampled over a 1 s interval is ∼9 × 1017 m−2. Density fluctuations induced by MHD instabilities are also successfully measured by the HDI.
Work function variation of monolayer MoS2 by nitrogen-doping
Authors: Hu Ce , Yuan Cailei , Hong Aijun , Guo Manman , Yu Ting , Luo Xingfang
Published: July 2018

Monolayer MoS2 films with substantial sulfur vacancies are obtained using the laser molecular beam epitaxy (L-MBE) technique benefitted by high substrate temperature and ultrahigh vacuum growth conditions. The intrinsic sulfur vacancies present an excellent opportunity for varying the work function of monolayer MoS2 films by nitrogen doping. The in-plane doping of nitrogen atoms on L-MBE-synthesized monolayer MoS2 films is realized on the basis of rapid thermal annealing in a nitrogen environment. The as-grown and nitrogen-doped monolayer MoS2 films are evaluated by using Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopies. In accordance with the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results, the ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy investigation shows that the work function of the monolayer MoS2 films increases by 0.29 eV after covalent nitrogen doping. Nitrogen doping on monolayer MoS2 is further treated theoretically using first-principles calculations. Based on theoretical calculations and experimental validations, it is illustrated that nitrogen is a promising in-plane heteroatom dopant for work function variation of monolayer MoS2.
Mitigation of cross-beam energy transfer in ignition-scale polar-direct-drive target designs for the National Ignition Facility
Authors: Collins T. J. B. , Marozas J. A.
Published: July 2018

Two novel target designs are presented for using direct laser ablation (direct drive) at the National Ignition Facility to assemble and ignite cryogenic fuel using the existing indirect-drive beam configuration. These are the first ignition-relevant “polar” direct-drive target designs to include the physical effects of cross-beam energy transfer (CBET) between laser beams and nonlocal electron heat transport. A wavelength-detuning strategy is used to increase absorption and reduce scattered-light losses caused by CBET, allowing for ignition-relevant implosion velocities. Two designs are described: a moderate-adiabat sub-ignition alpha-burning design with a D–T neutron fusion yield of 1.2 × 1017 and a lower-adiabat ignition design with a gain of 27. Both designs have moderate in-flight aspect ratios, indicating acceptable levels of hydrodynamic instability during the implosion.
Trapping of diffusing particles by short absorbing spikes periodically protruding from reflecting base
Authors: Skvortsov Alexei T. , Berezhkovskii Alexander M. , Dagdug Leonardo
Published: July 2018

We study trapping of diffusing particles by a periodic non-uniform boundary formed by absorbing spikes protruding from a reflecting flat base. It is argued that such a boundary can be replaced by a flat uniform partially absorbing boundary with a properly chosen effective trapping rate. Assuming that the spikes are short compared to the inter-spike distance, we propose an approximate expression which gives the trapping rate in terms of geometric parameters of the boundary and the particle diffusivity. To validate this result, we compare some theoretical predictions based on the expression for the effective trapping rate with corresponding quantities obtained from Brownian dynamics simulations.
Consensus-based distributed economic dispatch incorporating storage optimization and generator ramp-rate constraints in microgrids
Authors: Zhou Xiaoqian , Ai Qian , Wang Hao
Published: July 2018

First, an extended fully distributed algorithm (FDA) is proposed, and then, on the basis of the extended FDA, a centralized-distributed algorithm (CDA) is modified to solve multi-step economic dispatch problems in microgrids. The FDA could be realized in fully distributed agents, and by contrast, CDA is presented in both locally centralized and globally distributed ways to reduce the amount of distributed agents for applying it to large-scale microgrids and eliminating the necessity for a central energy management system. Information exchange between agents, such as power mismatch and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker multiplier, is realized by consensus networks, and the optimal solutions can be found through iterative communication between each agent with its neighbours. Besides, different from the most existing single-step solver, this paper deals with multi-step decision-making problems incorporating storage optimization and generator ramp-rate constraints. Moreover, incremental costs of local generators are avoided to participate in global information exchange, and so, local privacy can be protected. Meanwhile, CDA is a robust method against communication failures. Several case studies implemented on a twelve-bus microgrid are tested, and comparison results among CDA, FDA, and the centralized quadratic programming algorithm (CA) are discussed to validate the proposed methods. Simulation results show that CDA is effective to find the global optimum reached by CA and presents a better dynamic response than FDA and can be used to solve multi-step economic dispatch problems in a globally distributed way in microgrids.
The noble and the exalted: a multidisciplinary approach to resolving a taxonomic controversy within Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae)
Authors: Hammer Timothy A. , Macintyre Paul D. , Nge Francis J. , Davis Robert W. , Mucina Ladislav , Thiele Kevin R.
Published: July 2018

A molecular study on Ptilotus nobilis (Lindl.) F.Muell. var. nobilis and P. exaltatus Nees var. exaltatus led to the conclusion that these taxa are conspecific, resulting in the synonymisation of the latter under the former as P. nobilis subsp. nobilis. In this study, we test previous taxonomic concepts in the P. nobilis–P. exaltatus species group by examining (1) the morphology of specimens in the herbarium and field, and (2) ecological and geographic partitioning of two widespread and broadly sympatric taxa in the group, using Maxent and CART models. We provide strong evidence supporting the reinstatement of P. exaltatus as distinct from P. nobilis, on the basis of multiple morphological characters and strong ecological and geographic partitioning, the latter showing how large-scale ecological data can be used to help resolve taxonomic issues. In addition, we raise P. nobilis subsp. angustifolius (Benl) Lally & W.R.Barker to the rank of species as P. angustifolius (Benl) T.Hammer and reinstate P. semilanatus (Lindl.) F.Muell. ex J.M.Black.
Selection of an ASIC1a-blocking combinatorial antibody that protects cells from ischemic death
Authors: Qiang Min , Dong Xue , Zha Zhao , Zuo Xiao-Kun , Song Xing-Lei , Zhao Lixia , Yuan Chao , Huang Chen , Tao Pingdong , Hu Qin , Li Wei-Guang , Hu Wanhui , Li Jie , Nie Yan , Buratto Damiano , Zonta Francesco , Ma Peixiang , Yu Zheng , Liu Lili , Zhang Yi , Yang Bei , Xie Jia , Xu Tian-Le , Qu Zhihu , Yang Guang , Lerner Richard A.
Published: July 2018

Significance

Unfortunately, the need for ideal medical treatment of acute ischemic stroke is still largely unmet. One of the contributing factors to the deleterious neuronal death is the opening of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) at reduced pH, which in turn, activates other calcium-permeable channels that initiate the catastrophic cascade. Here, we report the discovery of an antibody that blocks the ASIC1a with high specificity and potency. Infusion of this antibody reduces the damaged area from brain ischemia in the murine stroke model. We hypothesize that using antibodies to target ASIC1a is a valid approach for future stroke therapy. The antibody that we report here has the potential to be further developed as drug candidate.
DoRes within CellMissy: dose-response analysis on cell migration and related data
Authors: Sergeant Gwendolien , Martens Lennart , Van Troys Marleen , Masuzzo Paola
Published: July 2018

In cancer research, cell-based assays are used to assess cell migration and invasion. The major bottleneck is the lack of automated tools to visualize and analyse the large amounts of biological dose-response data produced. To address this challenge, we have developed an automated and free software package for dose-response analyses, DoRes, which is released as an add-on of the freely available and open-source tool CellMissy, dedicated to the management and analysis of cell migration data. DoRes implements non-linear curve fitting functionality into a robust, user-friendly and flexible software package with the possibility of importing a tabular file or starting from a cell migration experiment. We demonstrate the ability of the software by analysing public dose-response data and a typical cell migration experiment, and show that the extracted dose-response parameters and the calculated statistical values are consistently comparable to those of the widely used, commercial software GraphPad Prism.

Availability and implementation

The software here presented is a new module in CellMissy, an open-source and cross-platform package dedicated to the management, storage and analysis of cell migration data. The new module is written in Java, and inherits the cross-platform support from CellMissy. Source code and binaries are freely available under the Apache2 open-source licence at https://github.com/compomics/cellmissy/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
4mCPred: machine learning methods for DNA N4-methylcytosine sites prediction
Authors: He Wenying , Jia Cangzhi , Zou Quan
Published: July 2018

Motivation

N4-methylcytosine (4mC), an important epigenetic modification formed by the action of specific methyltransferases, plays an essential role in DNA repair, expression and replication. The accurate identification of 4mC sites aids in-depth research to biological functions and mechanisms. Because, experimental identification of 4mC sites is time-consuming and costly, especially given the rapid accumulation of gene sequences. Supplementation with efficient computational methods is urgently needed.

Results

In this study, we developed a new tool, 4mCPred, for predicting 4mC sites in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Arabidopsis thaliana, Escherichia coli, Geoalkalibacter subterraneus and Geobacter pickeringii. 4mCPred consists of two independent models, 4mCPred_I and 4mCPred_II, for each species. The predictive results of independent and cross-species tests demonstrated that the performance of 4mCPred_I is a useful tool. To identify position-specific trinucleotide propensity (PSTNP) and electron-ion interaction potential features, we used the F-score method to construct predictive models and to compare their PSTNP features. Compared with other existing predictors, 4mCPred achieved much higher accuracies in rigorous jackknife and independent tests. We also analyzed the importance of different features in detail.

Availability and implementation

The web-server 4mCPred is accessible at http://server.malab.cn/4mCPred/index.jsp.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Herd Immunity Likely Protected the Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Recent Hepatitis A Outbreak in San Diego, California
Authors: Smith Davey , Huynh Christina , Moore Adam J , Frick Andrew , Anderson Christy , Porrachia Magali , Scott Brianna , Stous Sarah , Schooley Robert , Little Susan , Santos AsherLev T
Published: July 2018

A high seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (81%) among human immunodeficiency virus–negative high-risk men who have sex with men is likely why this community was largely spared from a recent hepatitis A virus outbreak in San Diego, California.
Automated mapping of laboratory tests to LOINC codes using noisy labels in a national electronic health record system database
Authors: Parr Sharidan K , Shotwell Matthew S , Jeffery Alvin D , Lasko Thomas A , Matheny Michael E
Published: July 2018

Objective

Standards such as the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC®) are critical for interoperability and integrating data into common data models, but are inconsistently used. Without consistent mapping to standards, clinical data cannot be harmonized, shared, or interpreted in a meaningful context. We sought to develop an automated machine learning pipeline that leverages noisy labels to map laboratory data to LOINC codes.

Materials and Methods

Across 130 sites in the Department of Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse, we selected the 150 most commonly used laboratory tests with numeric results per site from 2000 through 2016. Using source data text and numeric fields, we developed a machine learning model and manually validated random samples from both labeled and unlabeled datasets.

Results

The raw laboratory data consisted of >6.5 billion test results, with 2215 distinct LOINC codes. The model predicted the correct LOINC code in 85% of the unlabeled data and 96% of the labeled data by test frequency. In the subset of labeled data where the original and model-predicted LOINC codes disagreed, the model-predicted LOINC code was correct in 83% of the data by test frequency.

Conclusion

Using a completely automated process, we are able to assign LOINC codes to unlabeled data with high accuracy. When the model-predicted LOINC code differed from the original LOINC code, the model prediction was correct in the vast majority of cases. This scalable, automated algorithm may improve data quality and interoperability, while substantially reducing the manual effort currently needed to accurately map laboratory data.
Patient and healthcare provider views on a patient-reported outcomes portal
Authors: Cronin Robert M , Conway Douglas , Condon David , Jerome Rebecca N , Byrne Daniel W , Harris Paul A
Published: July 2018

Background

Over the past decade, public interest in managing health-related information for personal understanding and self-improvement has rapidly expanded. This study explored aspects of how patient-provided health information could be obtained through an electronic portal and presented to inform and engage patients while also providing information for healthcare providers.

Methods

We invited participants using ResearchMatch from 2 cohorts: (1) self-reported healthy volunteers (no medical conditions) and (2) individuals with a self-reported diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression. Participants used a secure web application (dashboard) to complete the PROMIS® domain survey(s) and then complete a feedback survey. A community engagement studio with 5 healthcare providers assessed perspectives on the feasibility and features of a portal to collect and display patient provided health information. We used bivariate analyses and regression analyses to determine differences between cohorts.

Results

A total of 480 participants completed the study (239 healthy, 241 anxiety and/or depression). While participants from the tw2o cohorts had significantly different PROMIS scores (p < .05), both cohorts welcomed the concept of a patient-centric dashboard, saw value in sharing results with their healthcare provider, and wanted to view results over time. However, factors needing consideration before widespread use included personalization for the patient and their health issues, integration with existing information (eg electronic health records), and integration into clinician workflow.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated a strong desire among healthy people, patients with chronic diseases, and healthcare providers for a self-assessment portal that can collect patient-reported outcome metrics and deliver personalized feedback.
Strategy for Assessing New Drug Value in Orphan Diseases: An International Case Match Control Analysis of the PROPEL Study
Authors: O’Connor Owen A , Marchi Enrica , Volinn Weining , Shi Jin , Mehrling Thomas , Kim Won Seog
Published: July 2018

Background

Although randomized studies are designed to assess overall survival (OS) benefit, the conduct of regulatory studies in patients with orphan diseases can be timely and costly without offering the same commercial return on the investment. The peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) represent a rare group of heterogeneous lymphoid malignancies with very poor prognosis. PROPEL was a pivotal phase II study that led to the accelerated approval of pralatrexate for patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL.

Methods

An international database of 859 patients was assembled from four institutions with an interest in PTCL, of which 386 were considered eligible for matching against the PROPEL criteria. Using a rigorous propensity score matching algorithm, a unique 1:1 case match of 80 patients was performed.

Results

The analysis demonstrated an OS benefit for the PROPEL population with a median OS of 4.07 and 15.24 months (hazard ratio = 0.432, 95% confidence interval = 0.298 to 0.626), respectively, for the control and PROPEL populations. Highly statistically significant improvements in OS were noted for the PROPEL population about the subtype of PTCL (save anaplastic large cell lymphoma) and all age groups, including the elderly (>65 years of age). For patients on PROPEL, there was a statistically significant prolongation in progression free survival compared with the line of prior therapy, including those with refractory disease.

Conclusion

In the context of this case-match-control study, patients treated on PROPEL experienced an OS advantage compared with an international database of historical controls. This information can help inform critical decision-making regarding clinical studies in PTCL.
Japanese Philosophy
Authors: Asakura Tomomi
Published: July 2018

Japanese philosophy can be viewed, in a very simple way, as consisting of three historical phases: the classical thought, modern philosophy, and contemporary philosophy. In the first and classical phase, theoretical speculation in Japan is usually seen as a variation of East Asian intellectual tradition. Japanese thinkers from the seventh century to the eighteenth century used to work in this cultural sphere, which basically consists of Confucianism and Sinicized Buddhism, using classical Chinese for formal writing; they are by no means blind followers of Chinese thinkers, contributing to the development of philosophical speculation in the East Asian framework. During the Edo period (1603–1868), however, some thinkers started to depart from this framework by drawing either on the indigenous culture or on the knowledge of occidental civilization, which eventually led to the modernization, or Westernization, of Japanese society. The second, or modern, phase of Japanese philosophy began with the full-fledged introduction of Western philosophy during the Meiji period (1868–1912). As a result, there arose a theoretical task to synthesize Eastern and Western frameworks, and many pioneering works were produced in the first half of the twentieth century. The best-known modern Japanese philosopher is Nishida Kitarō (b. 1870–d. 1945). The Kyoto school of philosophy was formed through his influence, which shares the ambition to make “contributions to philosophy” with the Eastern tradition—especially Mahayana Buddhism—in the background. However, the Kyoto school had fallen into disrepute in the mid-twentieth century when Japan underwent a tremendous social and cultural change. The third and contemporary phase of Japanese philosophy spans from the postwar reconstruction of Japan to the present, when eminent researchers gather in the University of Tokyo and lead philosophical studies under the framework either of analytic or continental context, mostly refraining from mentioning the Eastern tradition. Recent philosophical research in Japan is increasingly getting free from such academic frameworks, producing some remarkable results; however, most of these contemporary works remain little known overseas.
Mourning Dove (Syilx Okanagan)
Authors: Lamont Victoria
Published: July 2018

Mourning Dove (Syilx Okanagan, b. c. 1882–1888–d. 1936) was the second Indigenous woman in the United States to publish a novel, and she is a foundational figure in Indigenous American literature. Her novel Cogewea introduced what are now prominent themes in Indigenous writing: the mixed-blood figure poised between Indigenous and white cultures, critique of the trope of the “disappearing Indian,” and affirmation of Indigenous culture in the face of government policies designed to eradicate it. Mourning Dove lived during a period of profound dislocation for her people. At the turn of the twentieth century, the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee was in recent memory, Indigenous tribes were forced from what remained of their traditional territories and confined to reservations, and children were sent to schools designed to assimilate them. Ironically, the very education Mourning Dove received at these schools enabled her to become an important activist and advocate for Indigenous people and their culture. Not surprisingly given colonial conditions, basic biographical details about Mourning Dove are uncertain. Records and family accounts give competing birthdates between 1882 and 1888. Her English name was Christine Quintasket, her Indigenous name was Humishuma, and her pen name was Mourning Dove. She grew up on the Colville reservation in Washington State and identified with the Syilx Okanagan tribe, whose traditional territory spans the US-Canada border. While historical documents suggest she was of wholly Indigenous ancestry, she identified herself as mixed blood. Mourning Dove attended both mission and BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) schools, as well as a clerical college in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where she studied typing and English language. To support herself, she worked primarily as an agricultural laborer. Determined to be a writer, Mourning Dove managed to produce a novel, a collection of traditional Okanagan narratives, and an autobiography despite poverty, chronic health problems, and two difficult marriages. Her first work, the novel Cogewea, was written between 1912 and 1914, and it likely would not have been published without the assistance of Lucullus McWhorter, amateur ethnographer and activist for Indigenous people. The two met in 1914 and became close friends and collaborators. With McWhorter’s help, Cogewea was finally published in 1928, followed by Coyote Stories, a selection of traditional Okanagan narratives, in 1933. Mourning Dove’s autobiography was published posthumously in 1990. In addition to her writing, Mourning Dove was active in tribal politics and advocacy for Indigenous people. She died in 1936.
Cross-Cultural Communication
Authors: Chen Chao C. , Wang Huan
Published: July 2018

Cross-cultural communication is a field of study composed of two streams: (i) cross-cultural comparisons of how individuals from one culture communicate differently than those from another culture and (ii) communication dynamics involving interactions of people from different cultures. The critical difference between the two streams is that the former does not necessarily involve interactions among members from different cultures whereas the latter does. Nevertheless, cross-cultural communication and intercultural communication are often used interchangeably, partly because intercultural communication is fraught with cross-cultural communication differences and assumes such differences as given. Therefore, cultural differences are the dominating frameworks, such as Hofstede’s national culture dimensions (Hofstede 1980, cited under Hofstede’s National Cultural Dimensions and Communication), for studying both cross-cultural communication differences and intercultural communication dynamics. Many references included here adopt the term “intercultural communication,” yet the content is primarily about cross-cultural differences in communication; a few, however, are exclusively devoted to interactions of people from different cultures. The bibliography that we have built therefore centers around how various cultural dimensions affect and account for between culture communication differences and inter-cultural communication dynamics and how cross-cultural or intercultural communication competence affects intercultural-communication effectiveness.
Mass Azithromycin Distribution and Community Microbiome: A Cluster-Randomized Trial
Authors: Doan Thuy , Hinterwirth Armin , Arzika Ahmed M , Cotter Sun Y , Ray Kathryn J , O’Brien Kieran S , Zhong Lina , Chow Eric D , Zhou Zhaoxia , Cummings Milo E , Fry Dionna , Oldenburg Catherine E , Worden Lee , Porco Travis C , Keenan Jeremy D , Lietman Thomas M
Published: July 2018

Background

Mass distributions of oral azithromycin have long been used to eliminate trachoma, and they are now being proposed to reduce childhood mortality. The observed benefit appears to be augmented with each additional treatment, suggesting a possible community-level effect. Here, we assess whether 2 biannual mass treatments of preschool children affect the community’s gut microbiome at 6 months after the last distribution.

Methods

In this cluster-randomized controlled trial, children aged 1–60 months in the Dossa region of Niger were randomized at the village level to receive a single dose of azithromycin or placebo every 6 months. Fecal samples were collected 6 months after the second treatment for metagenomic deep sequencing. The prespecified primary outcome was the Euclidean PERMANOVA of the gut microbiome, or effectively the distance between the genus-level centroid at the community level, with the secondary outcome being the Simpson’s α diversity.

Results

In the azithromycin arm, the gut microbial structures were significantly different than in the placebo arm (Euclidean PERMANOVA, P < .001). Further, the diversity of the gut microbiome in the azithromycin arm was significantly lower than in the placebo arm (inverse Simpson’s index, P = .005).

Conclusions

Two mass azithromycin administrations, 6 months apart, in preschool children led to long-term alterations of the gut microbiome structure and community diversity. Here, long-term microbial alterations in the community did not imply disease but were associated with an improvement in childhood mortality.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT02048007.
The effect of childhood deprivation on weight status and mental health in childhood and adolescence: longitudinal findings from the Millennium Cohort Study
Authors: Noonan Robert J
Published: July 2018

Background

The study aims were to: (i) examine associations between deprivation at age 7 and health outcomes at age 7 and 14, (ii) determine whether a deprivation gradient to health outcomes exists at age 7 and 14, and (iii) assess the extent to which health outcomes at age 7 are associated with health outcomes at age 14.

Methods

Data were from wave four and six of the Millennium Cohort Study. Health outcome measures were weight status, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire measured mental health problems. Deprivation was determined using the 2004 English Indices of Multiple Deprivation. Adjusted logistic and multinomial logistic regressions were conducted.

Results

A total of 6109 children (1890 girls) had complete data. Overweight, obesity and mental health problems were greatest among children in the highest deprivation decile at age 7 and 14 (P < 0.001). Health outcomes at age 7 were significantly associated with health outcomes at age 14 (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

A marked social gradient to weight status and mental health was evident at age 7 and 14, and no evidence of equalization was found. Weight status and mental health in childhood is strongly associated with weight status and mental health in adolescence.
A content analysis of alcohol content in UK television
Authors: Barker Alexander B , Whittamore Kathy , Britton John , Murray Rachael L , Cranwell Jo
Published: July 2018

Background

Exposure to audio-visual alcohol content in media is associated with subsequent alcohol use in young people, but the extent of exposure contained in UK free-to-air prime-time television has not been explored since 2010. We report an analysis of alcohol content in a sample of UK free-to-air prime-time television broadcasts in 2015 and compare this with a similar analysis from 2010.

Methods

Content analysis of all programmes and advertisement/trailer breaks broadcast on the five national UK free-to-air channels in the UK between 6 and 10 pm during three separate weeks in September, October and November 2015.

Results

Alcohol content occurred in over 50% of all programmes broadcast and almost 50% of all advert/trailer periods between programmes. The majority of alcohol content occurred before the 9 pm watershed. Branding occurred in 3% of coded intervals and involved 122 brands, though three brands (Heineken, Corona and Fosters) accounted for almost half of all brand appearances.

Conclusion

Audio-visual alcohol content, including branding, is prevalent in UK television, and is therefore a potential driver of alcohol use in young people. These findings are virtually unchanged from our earlier analysis of programme content from 2010.
Poor sleep is linked to impeded recovery from traumatic brain injury
Authors: Kalmbach David A , Conroy Deirdre A , Falk Hayley , Rao Vani , Roy Durga , Peters Matthew E , Van Meter Timothy E , Korley Frederick K
Published: July 2018

Study Objectives

While disruptions in sleep are common after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), the longitudinal relationships between sleep problems and global functioning after injury are poorly understood. Here, we prospectively investigate risk for functional impairment during the first 6 months of TBI recovery based on sleep onset insomnia symptoms and short sleep.

Methods

Patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) at Johns Hopkins Hospital within 24 hours of head injury and evaluated for TBI were eligible for our study. Demographic and injury-related information were collected in the ED. Patients then completed in-person surveys and phone interviews to provide follow-up data on global functioning, sleep, and depressive symptoms at 1, 3, and 6 months post-injury. A total of 238 patients provided sufficient data for analysis, and hypotheses were tested using mixed effects modeling.

Results

Sleep quality and global functioning improved over the 6 months of TBI recovery, but patients were at increased risk for functional impairment when sleeping poorly (odds ratio [OR] = 7.69, p < .001). Sleep onset insomnia symptoms and short sleep both independently corresponded to poor global functioning. Functional impairment was highest among those with both insomnia and short sleep (43%–79%) compared to good sleepers (15%–25%) and those with short sleep (29%–33%) or insomnia alone (33%–64%). A bidirectional relationship between sleep quality and functioning was observed.

Conclusions

Functionally impaired patients diagnosed predominantly with mild TBI exhibit high rates of insomnia and short sleep, which may impede TBI recovery. Monitoring sleep after head injury may identify patients with poor prognoses and allow for early intervention to improve functional outcomes.
Billing Practices Among US Tobacco Use Treatment Providers
Authors: Bloom Erika Litvin , Burke Michael V. , Kotsen Chris , Goldstein Adam O. , Ripley-Moffitt Carol , Steinberg Michael B. , Dailey Mary , Hunt Laura E. , Bars Matthew P.
Published: July 2018

Objectives:

The US Affordable Care Act (ACA) now requires almost all health insurance plans to cover tobacco use treatment (TUT), but TUT remains underutilized.

Methods:

We conducted an anonymous online survey of US TUT providers in 2016 regarding their billing practices.

Results:

Participants (n = 131) provided services primarily in medical and behavioral health settings and were from a variety of professions. Most provided intensive individual (>15 minutes per session) and/or group counseling. Although most reported that their organization accepted at least 1 form of insurance, only 34% reported that TUT services were billed, with about equal proportions endorsing billing under their own independent tax ID and “incident to” billing under a supervisor. Half of billers (52%) reported using at least 1 Current Procedural Terminology code. The most common codes were 99406 and 99407, but 18 unique codes were specified. Themes of qualitative responses (n = 101) included concern about how to initiate and sustain adequate reimbursement, and experiences with billing not being “worth” the time or effort.

Conclusions:

Overall, results demonstrate a need for providers, administrators, and billing managers to work collaboratively. Even with the ACA mandate, and consistent with prior reports, reimbursement rates may be inadequate for intensive counseling. Areas for advocacy include recognizing that TUT requires similar intensity, expertise, and reimbursement as other substance use disorders and chronic medical conditions; giving Tobacco Treatment Specialists the ability to bill independently; and improving coordination between intensive therapies validated in research and “real-world” logistics.
Drug holidays in women treated for postmenopausal osteoporosis
Authors: McClung Michael R.
Published: July 2018

In this Practice Pearl, the experience with long-term treatment of osteoporosis with bisphosphonates and denosumab will be reviewed as well as the effects of discontinuing therapy, providing the platform for recommendations about “drug holidays” for these medications.
Demands for perimenopausal health care in women aged 40 to 60 years—a hospital-based cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China
Authors: Huang Cheng , Zheng Yanwei , Zhu Liping , Li Yang , Du Li , Tao Minfang , Xu Biao
Published: July 2018

Objectives:

The aim of the study was to describe the major complaints of menopausal symptoms among middle-aged women who initiated healthcare seeking for menopausal symptoms and to understand the factors influencing women's decisions to seek perimenopausal health care in Shanghai, China.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was performed in five hospitals in Shanghai. Women aged 40 to 60 years at their first visit to the perimenopausal outpatient departments/clinics were investigated in person over a 3-month period. Information on sociodemographics, menopausal symptoms, and experiences in seeking perimenopausal health care was collected using a structured questionnaire. Menopausal symptoms were assessed with the modified Kupperman Menopausal Index (mKMI).

Results:

A total of 316 women were enrolled in the study, with an average age of 50.5 years (SD: 5.1 y). The prevalence of menopausal syndrome (mKMI >6 points) was 80%, with 7% of the cases being severe. The top five reported symptoms were hot flushes/sweating (62%), fatigue (54%), sleep disturbance (51%), mood swings (40%), and joint/muscle pain (40%). The median interval between symptom occurrence and seeking perimenopausal health care was 5.0 months (IQR: 2.0-23.3 mo). Cox regression analysis revealed that older age, no health insurance, employment, multiple symptoms, sleep disturbance, urinary incontinence, and visits to nonspecialized departments were significantly associated with a longer delay in seeking perimenopausal health services (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of menopausal syndrome was relatively high among 40- to 60-year-old women who initiated healthcare seeking in Shanghai. Months of delay occurred before they sought perimenopausal health services. The delay was related to age, the nature and number of symptoms, working status, and health insurance. Improvement of the menopausal health knowledge in Chinese middle-aged women may lead to more timely healthcare seeking. Professional and accessible perimenopausal health services are in high demand in Shanghai.
Genomic epidemiology of the commercially important pathogen Renibacterium salmoninarum within the Chilean salmon industry
Authors: Bayliss Sion C. , Verner-Jeffreys David W. , Ryder David , Suarez Rudy , Ramirez Roxana , Romero Jaime , Pascoe Ben , Sheppard Sam K. , Godoy Marcos , Feil Edward J.
Published: July 2018

Renibacterium salmoninarum is the causative agent of bacterial kidney disease (BKD), which is a commercially important disease of farmed salmonids. Typing by conventional methods provides limited information on the evolution and spread of this pathogen, as there is a low level of standing variation within the R. salmoninarum population. Here, we apply whole-genome sequencing to 42 R. salmoninarum isolates from Chile, primarily from salmon farms, in order to understand the epidemiology of BKD in this country. The patterns of genomic variation are consistent with multiple introductions to Chile, followed by rapid dissemination over a 30 year period. The estimated dates of introduction broadly coincide with major events in the development of the Chilean aquaculture industry. We find evidence for significant barriers to transmission of BKD in the Chilean salmon production chain that may also be explained by previously undescribed signals of host tropism in R. salmoninarum. Understanding the genomic epidemiology of BKD can inform disease intervention and improve sustainability of the economically important salmon industry. This article contains data hosted by Microreact.
EFFECTORS OF THE SPINDLE ASSEMBLY CHECKPOINT BUT NOT THE MITOTIC EXIT NETWORK ARE CONFINED WITHIN THE NUCLEUS OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE
Authors: Heasley Lydia R , DeLuca Jennifer G , Markus Steven M
Published: July 2018

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC) prevents erroneous chromosome segregation by delaying mitotic progression when chromosomes are incorrectly attached to the mitotic spindle. This delay is mediated by Mitotic Checkpoint Complexes (MCCs), which assemble at unattached kinetochores and repress the activity of the Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C). The cellular localizations of MCCs are likely critical for proper SAC function, yet remain poorly defined. We recently demonstrated that in mammalian cells, in which the nuclear envelope disassembles during mitosis, MCCs diffuse throughout the spindle region and cytoplasm. Here, we employed binucleate yeast zygotes to examine the localization dynamics of SAC effectors required for MCC assembly and function in budding yeast, in which the nuclear envelope remains intact throughout mitosis. Our findings indicate that in yeast MCCs are confined to the nuclear compartment and excluded from the cytoplasm during mitosis. In contrast, we find that effectors of the Mitotic Exit Network (MEN) - a pathway that initiates disassembly of the anaphase spindle only when it is properly oriented - are in fact freely exchanged between multiple nuclei within a shared cytoplasm. Our study provides insight into how cell cycle checkpoints have evolved to function in diverse cellular contexts.
The day/night difference in the circadian clock’s response to acute lipopolysaccharide and the rhythmic Stat3 expression in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus
Authors: Moravcová Simona , Pačesová Dominika , Melkes Barbora , Kyclerová Hana , Spišská Veronika , Novotný Jiří , Bendová Zdeňka
Published: July 2018

The circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) regulates daily rhythms in physiology and behaviour and is an important part of the mammalian homeostatic system. Previously, we have shown that systemic inflammatory stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced the daytime-dependent phosphorylation of STAT3 in the SCN. Here, we demonstrate the LPS-inducedStat3mRNA expression in the SCN and show also the circadian rhythm inStat3expression in the SCN, with high levels during the day. Moreover, we examined the effects of LPS (1mg/kg), applied either during the day or the night, on the rhythm in locomotor activity of male Wistar rats. We observed that recovery of normal locomotor activity patterns took longer when the animals were injected during the night. The clock genesPer1, Per2andNr1d1, and phosphorylation of kinases ERK1/2 and GSK3β are sensitive to external cues and function as the molecular entry for external signals into the circadian clockwork. We also studied the immediate changes in these clock genes expressions and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and GSK3β in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in response to daytime or night-time inflammatory stimulation. We revealed mild and transient changes with respect to the controls. Our data stress the role of STAT3 in the circadian clock response to the LPS and provide further evidence of the interaction between the circadian clock and immune system.