bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methods of Valuing Construction Variation in Lump Sum Contract from the Public Client’s Perspective
Authors: Zainordin Zainab Mohmad , Rahman Nurul Asra Abd , Sahamir Shaza Rina , Khalid Zul Khafiz Mohd
Published: February 2019

A valuation of variation orders has become a daily task on large construction contracts. It is a norm where one of the contracting parties disagrees about the valuation of work done. Therefore, the valuation of variation orders has become one of the main causes of conflicts and disputes in construction management. The aims of study to determine the best practicing method in valuing a variation order for lump sum contract and identify the main related causes of variation project. The mixed method (interview and case study) of research was adopted in the collection of necessary data. Interview was conducted from 6 construction expert (clients) were analyzed. 6 case study building projects were selected by targeting sampling technique and used as the source of data for this study. The data were analysed with frequencies, sums and percentages. The study found that the client needs, lack of coordination during design and omission in design are the main causes of variation. An analysis of data indicated that used schedule of rate, fair market rate, daywork rate and negotiation are the four most famous method practicing in valuing a variation order in lump sum contract but its rely on the circumstances and the character of works.
Parametric study of corn cob biochar (CCBc) yield via microwave pyrolysis
Authors: Lawas Kristine Iannah , Doliente Stephen , Carpio Rowena , Migo Veronica , Alfafara Catalino
Published: February 2019

In the long-run, microwave pyrolysis can be a simpler and low energy-requiring alternative to conventional pyrolysis for the thermochemical conversion of biomass to useful products. However, there are still research gaps in its mechanism. Thus, this study investigated the various factors affecting the biochar yield using a half resolution (2k-1) factorial design on the microwave pyrolysis of corn cob wastes. A viable biochar product was produced within minutes of the reaction; wherein, the statistical analysis confirmed the exposure time, microwave output power and their interaction as significant in the CCBc yield. The highest yield obtained was 52.87% when exposure time and output power were set to 5 min and 450W, respectively. A general decreasing effect on the yield was observed from increasing exposure time and output power. This was due to the rapid heating experienced by the corn cob wastes causing the hydrocarbons to react and transform into permanent gases at higher temperatures. To confirm the carbon content of the CCBc, elemental analysis showed an average of 67.11% C at low time-low power (LTLP) of 450 W for 5 min and 81.32% C for the samples operated at high time-high power (HTHP) of 700 W for 10 min.
Die Ösophagusatresie – von der Herausforderung in der Pränatalmedizin bis zur chirurgischen Versorgung
Authors: Jurk Stanisław , Lacher Martin , Springer Carsten
Published: February 2019

Bei der Ösophagusatresie kommt es zu einer Hemmungsfehlbildung der Speiseröhre mit oder ohne Verbindung zur angrenzenden Trachea. Eine pränatale Diagnostik mittels Ultraschalluntersuchungen ist durch die indirekten Hinweiszeichen relativ unspezifisch und nur als eine Verdachtsdiagnose möglich. Neben dem gleichzeitigen Vorliegen eines Polyhydramnions sowie der wiederholt nicht möglichen Darstellung einer Magenblase, bzw. zu kleiner Magenblase, bestärkt das Vorliegen eines sog. „Pouch-sign“ die Verdachtsdiagnose. Eine MRT erhöht die pränatale Detektionsrate. Aufgrund der fehlenden sicheren sonografischen Marker, neben der möglichen direkten Darstellung des Ösophagus, sollten Ultraschallkontrollen in der Schwangerschaft durchgeführt werden. Insbesondere sollten kategorisch weitere mögliche Ursachen eine Polyhydramnions ausgeschlossen werden. Postnatal fallen die Kinder mit der klassischen Symptomatik auf. Die operative Versorgung ermöglicht den Betroffenen eine sehr gute Lebensqualität und Prognose. Eine lebenslange Observation und Begleitung ist notwendig.
Hypotensive Effect of Heated Water-based Exercise in Older Individuals with Hypertension
Authors: Ngomane Awassi , Fernandes Bianca , Guimarães Guilherme , Ciolac Emmanuel
Published: February 2019

Blood pressure (BP) and hemodynamic response to heated water-based (HEx) vs. land-based exercise (LEx) were assessed in 15 (6 men) older hypertensives (age 66.4±4.9 yr) under pharmacological treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to perform 30 min of moderate-intensity HEx (walking inside the pool), LEx (walking on a treadmill) and non-exercise control (CON) intervention. Resting BP, arterial stiffness, endothelial reactivity and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured before, immediately after, and 45 min after interventions. 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring was performed after interventions. Resting systolic (but not diastolic) BP reduced 9.9±3.1 mmHg (P<0.01) 45 min after HEx only. 24-h systolic and diastolic, daytime diastolic and nightime systolic BP were lower (P<0.05) after HEx than both LEx and CON. Daytime systolic BP was also lower (P<0.05) after HEx than CON. Nighttime diastolic was not different between interventions. HEx-induced ambulatory BP reduction ranged 4.5±1.3 mmHg (24-h diastolic BP) to 9.5±3.0 mmHg (nighttime systolic BP), and persisted for 18/11 h in systolic/diastolic BP, when compared with CON. No significant changes in arterial stiffness, endothelial reactivity and HRV were found during any intervention. These results suggest that HEx may have important implications for managing BP in older hypertensive under pharmacological treatment.
Neuroprotective Effects of Dammarane-Type Saponins from Panax notoginseng on Glutamate-Induced Cell Damage in PC12 Cells
Authors: Zhang Bao-Bao , Hu Xiao-Long , Wang Yu-Yan , Li Jun-Yan , Pham Thi-Anh , Wang Hao
Published: February 2019

Dammarane-type saponins, the main active ingredients of Panax notoginseng, have substantial neuroprotective effects in different animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, because these compounds have different structures, the level of protection provided by individual compounds varies, and highly active compounds can be selected based on structure-activity relationships. Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter that plays an important role in synaptic response development. However, excessive extracellular glutamate levels lead to neuronal dysfunctions in the central nervous system. Herein, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of nine saponins (compounds 1 – 9) on glutamate-treated PC12 cells in the concentration range of 0.1 – 10 µM. The MTT assay revealed that these compounds increased cell viability to 65.6, 69.8, 76.9, 91.7, 74.4, 63.3, 59.9, 64.7, and 59.9%, respectively, compared with the glutamate-treated cells (44.6%). Protopanaxatriol (compound 4) was the most neuroprotective compound, and subsequent experiments revealed that pretreatment with compound 4 significantly reverses mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, increases superoxide dismutase activity, and decreases lactate dehydrogenase leakage, malondiadehyde levels, reactive oxygen species generation, and cell apoptosis. Compound 4 also decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cleaved caspase-3, N-methyl-D-aspartic receptor 1, and Ca2+-/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II expression, and inhibited glutamate-induced cytochrome C release and phosphorylation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38. Overall, the results indicate that protopanaxatriol has significant neuroprotective effects, and might be a promising neuroprotective agent for preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Rigidez en cirugía de reconstrucción del ligamento cruzado anterior
Authors: Figueroa David , Espinoza Jaime , Yañez Claudio , Bernal Nazira
Published: February 2019

La rigidez de rodilla en cirugía de Reconstrucción del Ligamento Cruzado Anterior (R-LCA) es una complicación devastadora, alcanzando una incidencia variable entre el 4% y el 38%. La definición de artrofibrosis es aún poco clara, lo que ha llevado a distintos esquemas terapéuticos. Conocer la etiopatogenia es clave para entender los procesos y las posibles alternativas de tratamiento. Distintas clasificaciones han sido descritas, siendo la de Shelbourne la más usada, debido a su valor pronóstico asociado. El objetivo del tratamiento en una rodilla estable es mejorar la movilidad articular, la satisfacción del paciente, y disminuir el riesgo de artrosis a largo plazo. El tratamiento se puede dividir en quirúrgico y conservador. Ese último, se enfoca principalmente en buscar la causa y lograr una prevención e intervención temprana, siendo el manejo que con mayor frecuencia se realiza. El tratamiento quirúrgico es una opción cuando el tratamiento conservador falla. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura y de 150 pacientes sometidos a R-LCA, de los cuales 4 presentaron artrofibrosis a un seguimiento de 2 años. Además, presentamos nuestro algoritmo de manejo terapéutico.
A Nationwide Analysis of Preoperative Planning on Operative Times and Postoperative Complications in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Sodhi Nipun , Anis Hiba K. , Coste Marine , Ehiorobo Joseph O. , Chee Alexander , Freund Benjamin , Sultan Assem A. , Moskal Joseph T. , Scuderi Giles R. , Mont Michael A.
Published: February 2019

Compared with nonelective total knee arthroplasties (TKAs), elective procedures have more time for preoperative planning, which allows for potentially improved patient optimization, risk factor modification, and patient education. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine nationwide trends in operative times and (2) evaluate associations between surgery type, elective or nonelective, with respect to (a) operative times, (b) length of stay (LOS), (c) discharge dispositions, (d) 30-day postoperative complications, (e) reoperations, and (f) readmissions. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried for all primary TKAs performed between 2011 and 2016. This yielded 209,178 cases which were stratified into elective and nonelective cases. Elective cases were those in which patients were brought from their normal living environment for scheduled procedures. One-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) was used to evaluate associations between operative times and year of surgery. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models adjusted for surgery year and patient factors (age, sex, BMI [body mass index], and ASA [American Society of Anesthesiologists] score) were used to evaluate associations of surgery type with peri- and postoperative outcomes. A significant inverse correlation between operative times and operative year was observed (p < 0.001). Mean operative times and LOS were significantly shorter in elective cases compared with nonelective cases (93 vs. 112 minutes, p < 0.005; 3 vs. 5 days, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed these associations remained significant even after adjusting for potential confounders (p < 0.001). Compared with the nonelective cohort, patients in the elective cohort were more likely to be discharged home (74 vs. 69%, p < 0.001). Nonelective patients had higher rates of pneumonia (0.7 vs. 0.3%, p = 0.005), organ-space surgical site infections (SSI; 0.4 vs. 0.2%, p = 0.004), transfusions (10.9 vs. 6.5%, p < 0.001), sepsis (0.6 vs. 0.2%, p = 0.001), and septic shock (0.2 vs. 0.1%, p = 0.005) compared with elective patients. These associations remained significant with multivariate logistic regression. This study demonstrated that preoperative planning can help shorten operative times and LOS as well as reduce complication and reoperation rates. Alongside the direct advantages identified in this study, potential greater effects include superior patient outcomes and reduced health care costs.
Flap Reconstruction of Gastrointestinal-to-Genitourinary Fistulas: A 20-Year Experience
Authors: Oliver Jeremie D. , Hammoudeh Ziyad S. , Akhavan Arya A. , Tran Nho V.
Published: February 2019

Background Gastrointestinal-to-genitourinary fistulas may occur secondary to obstetric complications, radiation therapy, cancer without radiation, inflammatory bowel disease, or previous surgery. Flap reconstruction is useful for complex cases refractory to standard techniques, separating the fistula tracts to aid healing. The purpose of this study was to investigate outcomes and risk factors for complications in flap reconstruction of fistulas from several different etiologies performed over a 20-year period.

Methods All patients who underwent flap reconstruction between January 1995 and December 2014 were reviewed. Patient demographics, prior treatment failures, surgical indications, and comorbidities were obtained. Operative and postoperative data were collected, including flap type, length of stay, early and late complications, recurrences, and follow-up time. Operative success was defined as definitive treatment of the fistula without recurrence within 6 months.

Results There were 59 patients who underwent 66 reconstructions. The overall complication rate was 59.1%. Complications included infection (21%), dehiscence (17%), and partial flap loss (1.5%). Operative success rate was 51.5%. Smoking history (p = 0.021) and body mass index (BMI) > 35 (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with increased likelihood of postoperative complications following flap reconstruction in these patients. Additionally, fistulas due to cancer resections had a higher likelihood of postoperative complications compared with fistulas due to bowel disease or obstetric complications (p = 0.04).

Conclusion Flap reconstruction can be successfully used for complex or refractory gastrointestinal-to-genitourinary fistulas. However, considerable complication and recurrence rates were found in this population. Patients with a BMI > 35 and a history of smoking were at greatest risk in this cohort of experiencing postoperative complications.
Cerebellar Agenesis: A Case to Remember
Authors: Dennison John V. , Tailor Dharmesh R.
Published: February 2019

There is a wide range of congenital anomalies of the posterior fossa. Of these, absence of cerebellar components seems to exist on a spectrum, much like anomalies seen with the more frequently encountered Dandy–Walker malformation. Here, we present a rare case of cerebellar agenesis, as seen at our institution, which falls on the extreme side of the spectrum. We also discuss normal and aberrant posterior fossa development, established or hypothesized genetic causes of such development, and implications on cerebellar function.
Spin-orbit coupling and electron correlation effects on phonon anharmonicity of KOs2O6
Authors: Wang Wei , Sun Jiafa , He Junqi
Published: February 2019

Spin-orbit coupling and electron correlation effects from Os 5d electrons on phonon anharmonicity of β−pyrochlore superconductor KOs2O6 are systematically studied by first-principles frozen-phonon calculations. Spin-orbit coupling eliminates double-well potential, weakens imaginary frequency and enhances lattice stability. However, the gotten T2g and A1g asymmetrical modes show that the lattice is still instable. Then, the on-site Coulomb interaction as an important factor is considered, which completes with the spin-orbit coupling and makes greater influence on the anharmonicity. Therefore, KOs2O6 is a strong spin-orbit coupling and electronic correlation superconductor, and the multiple interactions have great effects on the anharmonicity, which may play an important role to the superconductivity of KOs2O6.
Misjudging negative ions for electrons in intense laser plasma diagnostics
Authors: Mondal Angana , Rahul S. V. , Gopal R. , Rajak Debobrata , Anand M. , Jha Jagannath , Tata Sheroy , Dharmadhikari A. K. , Gupta A. K. , Krishnamurthy M.
Published: February 2019

Intense laser produced plasmas are known to be novel compact sources of high energy electrons. Electrons deflected by magnetic fields and imaged on phosphorescent plates is a well used diagnostic for electron spectrum measurements. As only negatively charged particles are filtered by the magnetic field, it is a common practise to interpret the measured scintillation entirely as a signal due to the electrons. We show here that such an interpretation can be erroneous. Low energy H− ions arrive concurrently at the same position as high energy electrons and can lead to a wrong assessment of the maximum electron energy measured, which is often used in understanding the underlying physics. Conventional accelerator based experiments prove that the H− ions are indeed detected even when the image plate is covered with a metal foil.
Pressure-induced reentrant structural transition and equation of state of indium
Authors: Akahama Y. , Takahashi K. , Kamiue K. , Sugimoto T. , Hirao N. , Ohishi Y.
Published: February 2019

The structural stability of indium was investigated under high pressures up to 247 GPa using synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques. A reentrant structural transition from a face-centered tetragonal (fct-I with c/a > 1) to a face-centered orthorhombic (fco) and further to an fct-I structure was revealed. The first transition (from fct-I to fco) and the second transition (from fco to fct-I) were observed at approximately 50 GPa and 150 GPa, respectively. The second transition was of the second order despite the first transition being of the first order. The theoretically predicted fct-II (c/a < 1) phase was not observed at pressures up to 247 GPa. The equation of state of indium is discussed compared to that of other period 5 elements.
Improved device performance of Si-based heterojunction solar cells by using phosphorus doped Si nanocrystals embedded in SiC host matrix
Authors: Liu Xiaolong , Shan Dan , Ji Yang , Li Dongke , Li Wei , Xu Jun , Chen Kunji
Published: February 2019

Phosphorus-doped Si nanocrystals embedded in amorphous SiC (Si NCs:SiC) films were fabricated by annealing phosphorus-doped Si-rich amorphous SiC materials at 900°C to get n-type Si NCs/p-Si heterojunction for photovoltaic device applications. The film compositions and the microstructure were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectra and Raman scattering technique. After phosphorus doping, the dark conductivity can reach to be as high as 48 S/cm which is increased by six orders of magnitude compared with the un-doped one, while the bandgap keeps almost unchanged around 2.14 eV. The improved device performance was confirmed with the fill factor of 58% and the power conversion efficiency of 6.11%, which can be attributed to the good conductivity of phosphorus-doped Si NCs and the improved rectification characteristics of heterojunction structures.
Time budget of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in subtropical Australia
Authors: Sharpe David J. , Goldingay Ross L.
Published: February 2019

Exudivorous mammals exploit food items of high quality and high rates of renewal, offset by wide dispersion and variable availability. How this influences foraging effort and size-related foraging efficiency remains poorly described. We examined the time budget of 5–6 male and 5–6 female squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) during 6–8 nights in each of three seasons that were stratified by moon phase. Radio-collared gliders were observed during a series of 1-h focal observations from dusk until dawn. Feeding dominated the time budget, accounting for 78% of observation time, or 85% of time when combined with behaviours associated with foraging. Females appear to maximise feeding rates before entering the energetically demanding phase of late lactation. Little time was spent resting while outside the den. Longer nights and the full moon were associated with later emergence and earlier retirement times. Animals re-entered their tree-hollow dens during the night, representing 2% of activity in late spring, 18% in winter and 9% in autumn (10% overall). This behaviour may relate to predation risk and lactation demands. We reviewed the percentage of the time budget that petaurid gliders devoted to feeding and found no clear relationship with body size.
Mouse and human urothelial cancer organoids: A tool for bladder cancer research
Authors: Mullenders Jasper , de Jongh Evelien , Brousali Anneta , Roosen Mieke , Blom Jan P. A. , Begthel Harry , Korving Jeroen , Jonges Trudy , Kranenburg Onno , Meijer Richard , Clevers Hans C.
Published: February 2019

Significance

Bladder cancer poses a big clinical challenge, particularly in advanced cases. Here we present a culture system for bladder cancer based on organoid culture technology. We have created a living biobank containing organoids grown from over 50 patient samples, which reflects many aspects of bladder cancer pathogenesis. Organoids of human bladder cancer cells can be maintained for prolonged periods of time, and closely resemble the tumor histology. Bladder organoids can be used for drug screening, and therefore provide a platform for development of new drugs for the treatment of bladder cancer and personalized medicine.
Chronic participation in externally paced, but not self‐paced sports is associated with the modulation of domain‐general cognition
Authors: Ballester Rafael , Huertas Florentino , Pablos‐Abella Carlos , Llorens Francesc , Pesce Caterina
Published: February 2019

The present study investigated the role of chronic sport participation in the modulation of vigilance and inhibitory control. We also aimed to disentangle the relative contribution of different types of sport expertise and sport‐related fitness to the exercise‐cognition relationship. Three groups of young adults differing in their chronic sport expertise (externally‐paced sports, n = 22, self‐paced sports, n = 22, non‐athletes, n = 22) took part in the study. Participants completed a cardiovascular fitness test, a hand‐eye coordination test and two different types of vigilance tasks: (1) Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) and (2) Oddball Task, which were designed to gain insight into the cognitive processes involved in sustaining attention over time and allocating selective attention by exerting inhibitory control, respectively. No differences were found in PVT performance between the two athlete groups and between self‐paced sports athletes and non‐athletes, whereas athletes from externally‐paced sports outperformed non‐athletes. Crucially, athletes from externally‐paced sports also differed from those of self‐paced sports and non‐athletes in the Oddball task, showing less omission and commission errors. The sport expertise effect was independent of participant's cardiovascular fitness while hand‐eye coordination modulated vigilance and inhibitory control performance. Our findings add novel empirical evidence to the role of expertise in cognitively demanding sports as an important factor in the relationship between exercise and cognition.
4. City Laureate
Authors: Hartley Jenny
Published: February 2019

‘City Laureate’ describes Charles Dickens as our first and best novelist of the city. London in the mid-19th century was the supreme modern urban space and Dickens its chronicler. Dickens took the city for his first subject, and was instantly recognized for his skill in skewering what everyone had seen, but nobody else had consciously noted. Dickens saw himself as the presiding spirit of the city. The first to celebrate the experiences of metropolitan living, he was also first to explore its horrors. To redress some of these evils, Dickens looked to practical solutions. He campaigned for sanitary reforms, which would cleanse the city, and supported ragged schools for the poorest children.
5. Styles of film noir
Authors: Naremore James
Published: February 2019

Contrary to what has sometimes been said, there never was a single narrative or visual style of film noir, even in the 1940s. The major directors played the movie game in slightly different ways and each of the studios also had something of their own style because of the photographers, designers, and musical composers they employed. ‘Styles of film noir’ explains that classic film noirs were as stylistically heterogeneous as any other kind of picture, but they were governed by a generally agreed upon ‘mysterious’ look. Film noir has persisted, but it doesn’t look the same in different periods. The shift from black and white to color is discussed along with parody, pastiche, and postmodern noir.
3. Given or constructed? Identity in cultural anthropology
Authors: Coulmas Florian
Published: February 2019

‘Who are we?’ is just as tricky a question as ‘Who am I?’ Humanity is one, but at the same time divided into multiple groups. Humans exhibit many variations, notably race, language, and religion. These features constitute ‘ethnicity’, marking what seem to be clear distinctions; yet their usefulness for a coherent classification is limited. They are contingent, and hence subject to perpetual change, and they are vague, allowing for partial and shifting attachment. What is more, how we see ourselves often does not match how others see us. ‘Given or constructed? Identity in cultural anthropology’ considers the issues of ethnographic imagination, administrative classifications, ascription and assertion, voluntary attachment, stereotypes, and ethnocentrism.
The Islamic garden
Authors: Campbell Gordon
Published: February 2019

The origins of the Islamic garden are a subject of considerable debate, focusing on the relative importance of two earlier traditions: ancient Rome and ancient Persia. Some argue that the linear axis and peristyle courtyard of the Roman garden is the only significant influence on the great Islamic gardens of Spain. Others champion the influence of ancient Persia, where the walled palace garden was a rectangle divided into quadrants by intersecting irrigation channels—a design known as chahar bagh (‘four gardens’). ‘The Islamic garden’ describes the Mughal gardens of the Indian subcontinent and moves westwards to the gardens of Spain and Portugal, explaining how Islamic gardens were (and are) centred on water.
The East Asian garden
Authors: Campbell Gordon
Published: February 2019

‘The East Asian garden’ considers the garden history of China and Japan, where the design emphasis is often on rocks and water. The Chinese see the garden through the prism of a set of philosophical assumptions and values that differ from those through which Westerners view gardens. The three contending worldviews pertinent to Chinese garden history are Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, and all of these religions affect the design and the use of gardens in China. The origins of the spiritualized landscapes of Japanese gardens lie in Shinto, the native religion of Japan, but the arrival of Buddhism and Daoism in Japan had an important impact on later designs.
Preliminary outcomes of preemptive warfarin pharmacogenetic testing at a large rural healthcare center
Authors: Leary Emili , Brilliant Murray , Peissig Peggy , Griesbach Sara
Published: February 2019

Purpose

As a preliminary evaluation of the outcomes of implementing pharmacogenetic testing within a large rural healthcare system, patients who received pre-emptive pharmacogenetic testing and warfarin dosing were monitored until June 2017.

Over a 20-month period, 749 patients were genotyped for VKORC1 and CYP2C9 as part of the electronic Medical Records and Genomics Pharmacogenetics (eMERGE PGx) study. Of these, 27 were prescribed warfarin and received an alert for pharmacogenetic testing pertinent to warfarin; 20 patients achieved their target international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0–3.0, and 65% of these patients achieved target dosing within the recommended pharmacogenetic alert dose (± 0.5 mg/day). Of these, 10 patients had never been on warfarin prior to the alert and were further evaluated with regard to time to first stable target INR, bleeds and thromboembolic events, hospitalizations, and mortality. There was a general trend of faster time to first stable target INR when the patient was initiated at a warfarin dose within the alert recommendation versus a dose outside of the alert recommendation with a mean (± SD) of 34 (± 28) days versus 129 (± 117) days, respectively. No trends regarding bleeds, thromboembolic events, hospitalization, or mortality were identified with respect to the pharmacogenetic alert. The pharmacogenetic alert provided pharmacogenetic dosing information to prescribing clinicians and appeared to deploy appropriately with the correct recommendation based upon patient genotype.

Conclusion

Implementing pharmacogenetic testing as a standard of care service in anticoagulation monitoring programs may improve dosage regimens for patients on anticoagulation therapy.
Dose–Response Relative Risk of Injury From Acute Alcohol Consumption in 22 Countries: Are Women at Higher Risk Than Men?
Authors: Cherpitel Cheryl J , Ye Yu , Monteiro Maristela G
Published: February 2019

Aims

The risk of injury from alcohol consumption was analyzed by gender, controlling for frequency of heavy drinking occasions, and by cause of injury (traffic, violence, fall, other).

Methods

Case-crossover analysis was conducted on 18,627 injured patients arriving at the emergency department (ED) within six hours of the event.

Findings

Risk of injury was similar for females and males at ≤3 drinks prior to injury (OR = 2.74 vs. 2.76, respectively). At higher volume levels females were at greater risk than males, and significantly so at 3.1–6 drinks and 6.1–10 drinks (gender by volume interaction: OR = 0.60, CI = 0.39–0.93 and OR = 0.50, CI = 0.27–0.93, respectively). For those reporting 5+ ≥ monthly, females were at higher risk than males at all volume levels, and the gender by volume interaction was stronger than for those consuming 5+ <monthly at ≤3 drinks (OR = 0.51, CI = 0.28–0.92) and 6.1–10 drinks (OR = 0.39, CI = 0.18–0.82). Females were at higher risk of injury than males for all causes of injury except those related to traffic at lower levels of consumption (<6 drinks), although the gender by volume interaction was significant only for injury from other causes at 3.1–6 drinks (OR = 0.23, CI = 0.09–0.87).

Conclusions

Females are at higher risk of injury than males, regardless of frequency of heavy drinking and for all causes other than those related to traffic.
Fictionalism, the Safety Result and counterpossibles
Authors: Skiba Lukas
Published: February 2019

Fictionalists maintain that possible worlds, numbers or composite objects exist only according to theories which are useful but false. Hale, Divers and Woodward have provided arguments which threaten to show that fictionalists must be prepared to regard the theories in question as contingently, rather than necessarily, false. If warranted, this conclusion would significantly limit the appeal of the fictionalist strategy rendering it unavailable to anyone antecedently convinced that mathematics and metaphysics concern non-contingent matters. I try to show that their arguments can be resisted by developing and defending a strategy suggested by Rosen, Nolan and Dorr, according to which the fiction-operator is to be analysed in terms of a counterfactual that admits of non-trival truth-values even when the antecedent is impossible.
Conservation Criminology: Modelling Offender Target Selection for Illegal Fishing in Marine Protected Areas
Authors: Weekers Damian P , Zahnow Renee , Mazerolle Lorraine
Published: February 2019

The emergence of conservation criminology over the past decade provides a unique insight into patterns of wildlife crime. Wildlife crime has a dramatic impact on many vulnerable species and represents a significant challenge to the management of protected areas around the world. This paper contributes to the field of conservation criminology by examining the travel patterns of fishing poachers in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia. The results demonstrate that distance is a key feature of offender target selection, reflecting the established environmental criminology concept of distance decay. The analysis also reveals a significant relationship between individual no-take zones and regional population areas. The applicability of a nodal-oriented approach to wildlife crime prevention is discussed.
Parameter-free Community Detection through Distance Dynamic Synchronization
Authors: Huang Jianbin , Bian Qingquan , Sun Heli , Yang Yaming , Zhou Yu
Published: February 2019

Community detection plays a significant role in understanding the essence of a network. A recently proposed algorithm Attractor, which is based on distance dynamics, can spot communities effectively, but it depends on a cohesion parameter. Moreover, no efficient way is provided to find an optimal cohesion parameter setting. In this paper, we propose a parameter-free community detection algorithm by synchronizing distances iteratively. In each iteration, the distance of each edge will change dynamically according to the effect generated by its related neighbours. Several iterations later, distances between vertices belonging to the same community will synchronize to 0, while distances between vertices not in the same community will synchronize to 1. Besides, merging and division strategies are built up in the process of community detection. Experiments on both real-world and synthetic networks demonstrate benefits of our method compared to the baseline methods.
Postpartum hormones oxytocin and prolactin cause pro-arrhythmic prolongation of cardiac repolarization in long QT syndrome type 2
Authors: Bodi Ilona , Sorge Jonathan , Castiglione Alessandro , Glatz Sylva M , Wuelfers Eike M , Franke Gerlind , Perez-Feliz Stefanie , Koren Gideon , Zehender Manfred , Bugger Heiko , Seemann Gunnar , Brunner Michael , Bode Christoph , Odening Katja E
Published: February 2019

Aims

Women with long QT syndrome 2 (LQT2) have a particularly high postpartal risk for lethal arrhythmias. We aimed at investigating whether oxytocin and prolactin contribute to this risk by affecting repolarization.

Methods and results

In female transgenic LQT2 rabbits (HERG-G628S, loss of IKr), hormone effects on QT/action potential duration (APD) were assessed (0.2–200 ng/L). Hormone effects (200 ng/L) on ion currents and cellular APD were determined in transfected cells and LQT2 cardiomyocytes. Hormone effects on ion channels were assessed with qPCR and western blot. Experimental data were incorporated into in silico models to determine the pro-arrhythmic potential. Oxytocin prolonged QTc and steepened QT/RR-slope in vivo and prolonged ex vivo APD75 in LQT2 hearts. Prolactin prolonged APD75 at high concentrations. As underlying mechanisms, we identified an oxytocin- and prolactin-induced acute reduction of IKs-tail and IKs-steady (−25.5%, oxytocin; −13.3%, prolactin, P < 0.05) in CHO-cells and LQT2-cardiomyocytes. IKr currents were not altered. This oxytocin-/prolactin-induced IKs reduction caused APD90 prolongation (+11.9%/+13%, P < 0.05) in the context of reduced/absent IKr in LQT2 cardiomyocytes. Hormones had no effect on IK1 and ICa,L in cardiomyocytes. Protein and mRNA levels of CACNA1C/Cav1.2 and RyR2 were enhanced by oxytocin and prolactin. Incorporating these hormone effects into computational models resulted in reduced repolarization reserve and increased propensity to pro-arrhythmic permanent depolarization, lack of capture and early afterdepolarizations formation.

Conclusions

Postpartum hormones oxytocin and prolactin prolong QT/APD in LQT2 by reducing IKs and by increasing Cav1.2 and RyR2 expression/transcription, thereby contributing to the increased postpartal arrhythmic risk in LQT2.
Annual Greenhouse-Gas Emissions from Forest Soil of a Peri-Urban Conifer Forest in Greece under Different Thinning Intensities and Their Climate-Change Mitigation Potential
Authors: Doukalianou F , Radoglou K , Agnelli A E , Kitikidou K , Milios E , Orfanoudakis M , Lagomarsino A
Published: February 2019

Knowledge of the response of thinning implementation on forest soil–atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) (CO2, CH4, N2O) fluxes exchange system in Mediterranean region is limited because of the high heterogeneity of both soil properties and forest biomass. The novelty of this study is grounded predominantly in evaluating for the first time the response of annual GHG fluxes to thinning in a coniferous peri-urban forest soil in Greece, thus contributing significantly to the enrichment of the GHG fluxes database from the Mediterranean forest ecosystem. Results suggest that CH4 uptake increased with increasing thinning intensity. The reduction in CO2 emissions in both thinning treatments was possibly related to an indirect effect of soil heterotrophic and autotrophic respiration. Coniferous peri-urban forests in Greece can act temporally as sinks of atmospheric N2O in the coldest months and a weak source of N2O fluxes in summer. The GHG variation depended largely on soil environmental factors with soil temperature representing the dominant factor for CO2 and CH4, whereas soil moisture correlated, albeit weakly, with N2O variability. Reduction in global warming potential was observed in both thinning treatments, markedly in selective treatment, giving an initial indication that high-intensity thinning in coniferous peri-urban forests in Greece presents a high potential for global change mitigation.
Connecting Content and Logical Words
Authors: Chemla Emmanuel , Buccola Brian , Dautriche Isabelle
Published: February 2019

Content words (e.g. nouns and adjectives) are generally connected: there are no gaps in their denotations; no noun means ‘table or shoe’ or ‘animal or house’. We explore a formulation of connectedness which is applicable to content and logical words alike, and which compares well with the classic notion of monotonicity for quantifiers. On a first inspection, logical words satisfy this generalized version of the connectedness property at least as well as content words do — that is, both in terms of what may be observed in the lexicons of natural languages (although our investigations remain modest in that respect) and in terms of acquisition biases (with an artificial rule learning experiment). This reduces the putative differences between content and logical words, as well as the associated challenges that these differences would pose, e.g., for learners.
US Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Practitioners’ Recommendations Regarding Condomless Sex in the Era of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Treatment as Prevention
Authors: Schreier Travis , Sherer Renslow , Sayles Harlan , Jacobsen Donna M , Swindells Susan , Bares Sara H
Published: February 2019

Background

We sought to characterize human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) practitioners’ recommendations to patients regarding treatment as prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and condom use among persons with HIV (PWH) with viral suppression and individuals receiving PrEP.

Methods

A brief survey about counseling practices was distributed electronically to previous attendees of an International Antiviral Society–USA continuing medical education activity. Descriptive analyses were performed for all questions. Pearson χ2 tests were used to identify potential differences in counseling practices based on sex, degree/license, years in practice, number of PWH cared for in the past year, and practice location.

Results

Of the 3238 persons surveyed, 478 (15%) responded. 65% were female, 47% were physicians, 78% had been in practice ≥6 years, and 52% had cared for >100 PWH in the last year. Of the respondents, 51% (95% confidence interval, 46.8%–56.0%) agreed that the evidence “supports, strongly supports or proves” that condomless sex with a PWH with viral suppression does not lead to HIV transmission, and 76% (72.2%–80.0%) commonly or always recommend condoms for such patients. Although 42% (95% confidence interval, 37.0%–46.0%) of respondents said the evidence “supports, strongly supports or proves” that condomless sex involving a person at risk for HIV infection receiving PrEP does not lead to HIV transmission, 81% (77.3%–84.5%) commonly or always recommend condom use for such patients. Responses differed significantly by practitioner experience, region, sex and degree.

Conclusions

Although many practitioners caring for individuals with and at risk for HIV infection acknowledge that successful treatment or PrEP prevents transmission, the majority of practitioners commonly or always recommend condom use.
Learning without Widespread Policy Adoption: Early Childhood Education in the American States
Authors: Smith Kelly B
Published: February 2019

Do states learn from other states through venues other than the legislative enactment of new policies? This article demonstrates that two-way learning can occur through alternative venues: (1) legislators can adjust the budget of similar state policies to mirror other states’ policies and (2) bureaucrats can learn from other states’ policies and incorporate that learning through non-legislative state action, such as standards. Using an original forty-three state, thirteen-year dataset, I find that elected officials can learn from nearby states’ policies and adjust other policies to mirror those states through the budget process. Using an additional and original forty-three state, nineteen-year dataset, I also find the bureaucrats can learn from other states’ policies and incorporate that learning into the development of their own standards. This article assesses how states learn from other states through venues other than legislative enactment of new, diffusing legislation.
State of the art review: oral and nasal vitamin B12 therapy in the elderly
Authors: Andrès E , Zulfiqar A -A , Vogel T
Published: February 2019

The objective of this narrative review was to provide an update on oral and nasal vitamin B12 (cobalamin) therapy in elderly patients. Relevant articles were identified by ‘PubMed’ and ‘Scholar Google’ search from January 2010 to July 2018 and through hand search of relevant reference articles. Additional studies were obtained from references of identified studies, the ‘Cochrane Library’ and the ‘ISI Web of Knowledge’. Data retrieved from international meetings were also used, as was information retrieved from commercial sites on the web and data from ‘CARE B12’ research group. For oral vitamin B12 therapy, four prospective randomized controlled trials, eight prospective studies, one systematic and four reviews fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The studies included mainly or exclusively elderly patients (≥65-year-olds). In all of the studies, the mean age of the patients was at least 70 years except for two. The present review documents that oral vitamin B12 replacement at 1000 μg daily proved adequate to cure vitamin B12 deficiency, with a good safety profile. The efficacy was particularly marked when considering the noticeable improvement in serum vitamin B12 levels and haematological parameters, such as haemoglobin level, mean erythrocyte cell volume and reticulocyte count. The effect of oral cobalamin treatment in patients presenting with severe neurological manifestations has not yet been adequately documented. For nasal vitamin B12, only a few preliminary studies were available. We conclude that oral vitamin B12 is an effective alternative to intramuscular vitamin B12 injections in elderly patients. Oral vitamin B12 treatment avoids the discomfort, inconvenience and cost of monthly injections.
Toxic stress in children
Authors: Perkins Amanda
Published: February 2019

Healthy development can be impeded by stressful or traumatic events, known as adverse childhood experiences.
Depression and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Vallerand Isabelle A. , Patten Scott B. , Barnabe Cheryl
Published: February 2019

Purpose of review

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with negative changes in mental health. This is generally attributed to symptoms of inflammation and the adverse impact of RA on quality of life and functioning. Until recently, causal pathways in the opposite direction have not been fully appreciated. This review examines the recent literature on the risk of RA associated with depression.

Recent findings

Current literature links depression with an increased risk of RA and with a more detrimental disease course. These effects are likely to be partially mediated by negative effects of depression on coping with RA and on factors such as medication adherence, both of which lead to poorer disease outcomes. Growing evidence also suggests that inflammation is central both to depression and RA and may account for some of the complex interplay between these conditions.

Awareness of a bidirectional relationship between depression and RA through a biopsychosocial framework may assist clinicians in maintaining an appropriate index of suspicion about the co-occurrence of these conditions. This review also suggests an important need for integration of rheumatologic and mental health services and generates hypotheses for future research towards a better understanding of both depression and RA.
The effect of femoral orientation on the measurement of the head shaft angle: an ex-vivo study
Authors: Wordie Sarah J. , Gaston Mark S. , Hägglund Gunnar , Czuba Tomasz , Robb James E.
Published: February 2019

This laboratory study evaluates head shaft angle (HSA) reliability using ranges of simulated femoral orientation often seen in children with cerebral palsy. A dry femur was mounted in a jig that enabled the bone to be positioned in a range of internal and external rotation (−40° to + 40°) and flexion (0°–60°), alone or in combination. A metal wire was placed as a surrogate physis to give two HSA angles of 140° and 160°. Radiographs were taken of the femur in differing combinations of rotation, flexion and the two HSA angles. The HSA was measured by four independent observers on two separate occasions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess interobserver and intraobserver reliability. The HSA was accurately measured within ± 5° when the femur was positioned between 20° internal rotation and 40° external rotation. Flexion up to 60° did not affect the accuracy of the measurement. The interobserver reliability for the HSA was excellent with an ICC of 0.9970 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9995–0.9983] for the first measurement and 0.9988 for the second (95% CI: 0.9979–0.9993, all P < 0.01). The intraobserver reliability was also excellent with an ICC of not less than 0.990 for all four observers (95% CI: 0.9806–0.9986, all P < 0.01). There was excellent interobserver and intraobserver reliability when measuring the HSA in an experimental model provided femoral rotation lay within 20° internal and 40° external rotation and less than 60° of flexion.