bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elective repeat cesarean delivery in women eligible for trial of labor in Brazil
Authors: Nakamura‐Pereira Marcos , Esteves‐Pereira Ana Paula , Gama Silvana G. N. , Leal Maria
Published: September 2018

Objective

To assess the hospital, maternal, and obstetric characteristics associated with elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) among women eligible for trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) delivery in Brazil.

Methods

The present data were retrieved from the Birth in Brazil study, a national hospital‐based cohort study conducted during 2011–2012. Data were collected from medical records and by interview. Univariate and hierarchical multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze factors associated with ERCD among women with a previous cesarean delivery who were eligible for TOLAC.

Results

Among 2295 women considered eligible for TOLAC, 1516 (66.1%) had an ERCD; the overall cesarean delivery rate was 79.4%. In the private sector, almost all deliveries (95.3%) were performed by ERCD. In the public sector, ERCD was associated with socioeconomic (more years of schooling), obstetric (women's preference, no previous vaginal delivery, macrosomia), and hospital (mixed hospital, location in noncapital city, fewer than 1500 deliveries per year) characteristics.

Conclusion

The ERCD rate in Brazil was high even in a low‐risk group, indicating that nonclinical factors may be driving the decision for cesarean delivery. Efforts aiming to reduce cesarean deliveries in Brazil should target women with a previous cesarean delivery.
Adhesion Improvements of Nanocellulose Composite Interfaces
Authors: Wolf Rory A. , Girouard Natalie , Xu Shanhong , Meredith J. Carson , Shofner Meisha L. , Cross Lionel , Mintz Eric , Schueneman Gregory T.
Published: September 2018

Attention has recently become focused on the performance advantages of nanocomposites, and particularly polymerbased nanocomposites with respect to incumbent “neat” polymers or metallic materials for lightweighting initiatives. In the interest of sustainability, the specific use of bioreinforced nanocomposite parts and nanostructured coatings within automotive, aerospace, construction, medical, and packaging applications is accelerating. These “green” nanocomposites can provide high mechanical strength at low density, low weight, and potentially low cost. However, there are interfacial surface adhesion challenges with these and other nanocomposites, in addition to particle distribution and stability issues, which can inhibit full realization of their mechanical performance advantages. This paper will profile polymeric nanocomposites and nanocoatings, as well as define surface modification protocols using atmospheric pressure plasma technologies to optimize interfacial adhesion to similar and dissimilar materials.
Integrative Approaches for Mechanical Mold Design in Injection Molding
Authors: Hopmann Christian , Erler Ivo
Published: September 2018

The injection mold faces a number of different loads during the injection molding process for plastic parts. The effect on the mechanical behavior of the mold, inserts, and adjacent processes can be complex and may cause bad final parts. By using an integrative simulation approach it is possible to take the process influence into account when calculating the solid body behavior of the mold in a structural simulation. A newly developed approach at IKV uses the advantages of the integrative approach and extends it by an automatic back coupling of deformation results during the filling simulation. This way the interaction of the melt flow and the deformation of inserts or mold components can be considered during the filling phase.
Steady‐state modeling and macroeconomic forecasting quality
Authors: Louzis Dimitrios P.
Published: September 2018

Vector autoregressions (VARs) with informative steady‐state priors are standard forecasting tools in empirical macroeconomics. This study proposes (i) an adaptive hierarchical normal‐gamma prior on steady states, (ii) a time‐varying steady‐state specification which accounts for structural breaks in the unconditional mean, and (iii) a generalization of steady‐state VARs with fat‐tailed and heteroskedastic error terms. Empirical analysis, based on a real‐time dataset of 14 macroeconomic variables, shows that, overall, the hierarchical steady‐state specifications materially improve out‐of‐sample forecasting for forecasting horizons longer than 1 year, while the time‐varying specifications generate superior forecasts for variables with significant changes in their unconditional mean.
A test method to assess the contribution of fluid shear stress to the cleaning of reusable device surfaces
Authors: Hariharan Prasanna , Paruchuri Sai Sameer , Topoleski L. D. Timmie , Rinaldi Jean E. , Casamento Jon P. , Myers Matthew R. , Vesnovsky Oleg
Published: September 2018

Adequate cleaning of reusable medical devices is critical for preventing cross‐infection among patients. For reusable medical devices, cleaning using mechanical brushes and detergent may not be sufficient to completely remove the infectious contaminants from the surfaces. This study evaluates the role of fluid flow‐induced shear stress in the detachment and removal of contaminants from device surfaces. A stainless‐steel test coupon, acting as a surrogate for a device surface, was coated with artificial clot of varying mass. The test coupon was exposed to fluid shear stress both with and without an enzymatic detergent. The relationship between clot removal quantity and the applied shear stress was obtained for multiple clot masses. Our results showed that fluid shear increased the effectiveness of the cleaning process. In the absence of flow, soaking the clot surface in the enzymatic detergent removed 67%, 77%, and 95% of the clot for 16 mg, 6.8 mg, and 1 mg initial masses, respectively. In the presence of fluid shear (0.3 Pa for 5 min), approximately 85%, 97%, and 99% of the clot was removed from the surface. The clot mass removed followed a linear relationship (R2 = 0.98) versus the applied fluid shear stress. This study showed that different cleaning processes such as fluid shear and detergent action contribute to the soil removal process. This method could be used to evaluate cleaning protocols for minimizing contaminant residue after the reprocessing of medical devices. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1132–1140, 2019.
Clinically Relevant Doses of Sclerostin Antibody Do Not Induce Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) in Rats with Experimental Periodontitis
Authors: Hadaya Danny , Gkouveris Ioannis , Soundia Akrivoula , Bezouglaia Olga , Boyce Rogely W , Stolina Marina , Dwyer Denise , Dry Sarah M , Pirih Flavia Q , Aghaloo Tara L , Tetradis Sotirios
Published: September 2018

Antiresorptive agents, such as bisphosphonates and denosumab, are frequently used for the management of osteoporosis. Indeed, both medications decrease the risk of osteoporotic fractures; however, these medications are associated with rare but potentially severe side effects, such as osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). ONJ, defined as an area of exposed bone in the maxillofacial region that lasts for 8 weeks, often presents with significant pain and infection and can lead to serious complications. Interestingly, other treatments for osteoporosis have been developed, such as antibodies against the osteocyte-secreted protein, sclerostin. Sclerostin functions to inhibit the Wnt signaling cascade, leading to inhibition of bone formation. In clinical trials, a sclerostin antibody (romosozumab, Amgen Inc., UCB Brussels) increases bone formation and lowers the risk of osteoporotic fractures. However, in conjunction with increased osteoblastic activity, a reduction in bone resorption markers is observed. This antiresorptive effect raises the concern of possible ONJ development in patients treated with sclerostin antibodies. Here, utilizing ligature-induced experimental periodontitis (EP), we evaluated the effects of sclerostin inhibition on the development of ONJ-like lesions in ovariectomized rats. Beginning 8 weeks post-ovariectomy, rats were treated for 22 weeks with weekly injections of vehicle (Veh), 200 μg/kg zoledronic acid (ZA), a potent bisphosphonate at 100-fold the osteoporosis dose, or 5 mg/kg sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) at the osteoporotic dose. EP was initiated at week 12 and maintained for the remainder of the study. Scl-Ab treatment transiently increased serum P1NP, a bone formation marker, increased BV/TV, and decreased eroded surfaces in lumbar vertebrae. ZA-treated rats developed histologic features of ONJ, whereas Veh-treated controls did not. Scl-Ab animals lost less periodontal bone in sites with EP. However, these animals presented with no histologic signs of ONJ. In conclusion, sclerostin inhibition enhanced structural bone parameters, without inducing ONJ-like lesions, in ovariectomized rats with EP. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
A theoretical study on the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer mechanism of 4′‐dimethylaminoflavonol chemosensor
Authors: Lv Jian , Yang Guang , Jia Min , Zhao Jinfeng , Song Xiaoyan , Zhang Qiaoli
Published: September 2018

In this work, density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods are used to explore the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism of a novel system 4′‐dimethylaminoflavonol (DAF). By analyzing the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface, we verify that the intramolecular hydrogen bond in DAF exists in both the S0 and S1 states. We calculate the absorption and emission spectra of DAF in two solvents, which reproduce the experimental results. By comparing the bond lengths, bond angles, and relative infrared (IR) vibrational spectra involved in the hydrogen bonding of DAF, we confirm the hydrogen‐bond strengthening in the S1 state. For further exploring the photoexcitation, we use frontier molecular orbitals to analyze the charge redistribution properties, which indicate that the charge transfer in the hydrogen‐bond moiety may be facilitating the ESIPT process. The constructed potential energy curves in acetonitrile and methylcyclohexane solvents with shortened hydrogen bond distances demonstrate that proton transfer is more likely to occur in the S1 state due to the lower potential barrier. Comparing the results in the two solvents, we find that aprotic polar and nonpolar solvents seem to play similar roles. This work not only clarifies the excited‐state behaviors of the DAF system but also successfully explains its spectral characteristics.
Romantic Crushes Promote Variety‐Seeking Behavior
Authors: Huang Xun (Irene) , Dong Ping
Published: September 2018

Consumers making repeat consumption choices often need to decide whether to stick to their favorite option or to select something different. Understanding the situational factors that influence their willingness to seek more or less variety in consumption is of both theoretical and practical importance. The current research proposes that a salient relationship state—romantic crush—can increase consumers' variety‐seeking tendency in unrelated consumption situations. Building on the compensatory consumption literature, we suggest that the lack of reciprocal response in the romantic crush experience may lower consumers' sense of control in the romantic relationship. Therefore, they are motivated to restore their sense of control by making more varied choices in consumption domains. Five studies provide support for this hypothesis. In line with our control‐restoration account, the effect disappears when consumers' sense of control is boosted via other means. Moreover, the effect is specific to the experience of a romantic crush and cannot be generalized to other types of romantic relationship (e.g., initial stage of love).
A comparative analysis of the precipitation extremes obtained from tropical rainfall‐measuring mission satellite and rain gauges datasets over a semiarid region
Authors: Mahbod Mehdi , Shirvani Amin , Veronesi Fabio
Published: September 2018

The objectives of this research were to compare precipitation extremes obtained from Tropical Rainfall‐Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite and those of rain gauges over a semiarid area in Iran. Extreme precipitation indices (EPIs) (i.e., the number of days with a precipitation value over 10 mm, the maximum duration of wet and dry days, the number of days with precipitation over the 95th percentile, total precipitation higher than the 95th percentile, and maximum daily precipitation) were calculated across Fars province, Iran, 2000–2014 on seasonal time scales. The gauges data were interpolated at a spatial resolution of 0.25 × 0.25° to match the 3B42 data using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW). Then, EPIs from the two datasets were compared with each other. The findings showed that mean values computed from gauges and satellite data did not present any significant differences among all of the extreme indices. Furthermore, their variances presented a good level of congruence. Finally, the majority of indices presented a satisfactory correlation between the two dataset. To evaluate the prediction of extreme events in different temporal and tolerated distances, a fuzzy method was used. The results showed that the percentage of grid cells with useful predictions tripled with spatial tolerance extending by just one pixel. To evaluate methods of eliminating the uncertainty of probable missing rainfall data and the seasonal changes in rainfall averages, probabilistic methods based on Weibull distribution and truncated geometric distribution (TGD) were employed to eliminate uncertainties in estimation of extreme precipitation amounts and extreme wet periods (WPs). The results showed that as to extreme precipitation amounts, a satisfactory method could not be drawn for arid southern regions of Fars, Iran. Similarly, as to extreme WPs, the consistency between gauges and satellite data could not be improved significantly.
Tricuspid annular plane of systolic excursion to prognosticate acute pulmonary symptomatic embolism (TAPSEPAPSE study)
Authors: Lahham Shadi , Fox John C. , Thompson Maxwell , Nakornchai Tanyaporn , Alruwaili Badriah , Doman Ghadeer , May Lee Shannon , Shafi Amal , Shniter Inna , Valdes Victoria , Zhang Lishi
Published: September 2018

Introduction

The imaging standard for evaluation of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) includes a computed tomography pulmonary angiogram. Ultrasonography has shown promise in obtaining the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) measurements, which may be of clinical importance in patients with acute PE. The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic capability of TAPSE measurements for patients with suspicion for acute PE.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled patients who came to the emergency department with suspicion of acute PE. Each patient underwent a point‐of‐care sonogram where a TAPSE measurement was obtained, followed by computed tomography pulmonary angiogram. Based on the computed tomography pulmonary angiogram findings, patients were grouped into 3 categories: no acute PE, clinically insignificant acute PE, or clinically significant acute PE.

Results

We enrolled 87 patients in this study. Twenty‐three (26.4%) of these patients were diagnosed with PE. Of patients with PE, 15 (65%) were found to have a clinically significant acute PE. Analysis of mean TAPSE measurements between patients with clinically significant acute PE and those with insignificant or no PE was 15.2 mm and 22.7 mm, respectively (P ≤ .0001). Following receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, optimum TAPSE measurement to identify clinically significant acute PE is 18.2 mm. A cutoff TAPSE measurement of 15.2 mm shows a sensitivity of 53.3% (95% confidence interval, 26.7%–80%) and a specificity of 100% (95% confidence interval, 100%–100%) for the diagnosis of a clinically significant PE.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that TAPSE measurements less than 15.2 mm have a high specificity for identifying clinically significant acute PE.
Effect of morphology of activated carbon supports for cobalt boride catalysts on the hydrolysis reaction of sodium borohydride
Authors: Kibar Murat Efgan , Engintepe Emel , Özdemir Emel , Kaplan Özgür , Çelik Cenk , Akın Ayşe Nilgün
Published: September 2018

In this study, cobalt boride (Co‐B) catalysts were prepared on different carbon supports for hydrogen generation from alkaline sodium borohydride (NaBH4). As carbon support, four different types of activated carbon, namely IRH3, Acticarbone3S, GAC250, and AC35, were used. Including 10%, 15%, and 20% weight loadings of Co‐B catalysts, they were synthesized with the mentioned activated carbon supports. A variety of techniques, namely inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer, X‐ray diffraction, and N2 adsorpsion–desorption (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method) analysis were applied for detecting the particles’ morphology as well as textural, structural, and other physical properties of materials. The study revealed that crystallinity, porous characteristics, and pore size distribution of activated carbons had very strong effects on Co‐B formation on the surface. The hydrogen generation rate increased by increasing Co‐B loading. AC35 and GAC250 types of activated carbon supports were more effective than IRH3 and Acticarbone3S counterparts in hydrogen generation from NaBH4, which was associated with their morphological structures.
A remark on relative geometric invariant theory for quasi‐projective varieties
Authors: Schmitt Alexander H. W.
Published: September 2018

Relative geometric invariant theory studies the behavior of semistable points under equivariant morphisms. More precisely, suppose G is a reductive linear algebraic group over an algebraically closed field k, X and Y are quasi‐projective varieties endowed with G‐actions, is a G‐equivariant projective morphism, the G‐action on Y is linearized in the ample line bundle M, and the G‐action on X is linearized in the φ‐ample line bundle L. For any positive integer n, there is an induced linearization of the G‐action on X in the line bundle . If Y is projective and , the set of points in X that are semistable with respect to this linearization is contained in the preimage under φ of the set of points in Y that are semistable with respect to the given linearization in M. The same statement is trivially also true, if Y is affine and . In this note, we show by means of an example that the statement does not hold for arbitrary quasi‐projective varieties Y. This shows that a claim by Hu of the contrary is not true. Relative geometric invariant theory plays a role in the construction and study of degenerations of moduli spaces.
Integrative functional genomics identifies regulatory genetic variant modulating RAB31 expression and altering susceptibility to breast cancer
Authors: Zhang Yi , Yang Beifang , Cheng Xiang , Liu Li , Zhu Ying , Gong Yajie , Yang Yang , Tian Jianbo , Peng Xiating , Zou Danyi , Yang Lan , Mei Shufang , Wang Xiaoyang , Lou Jiao , Ke Juntao , Li Jiaoyuan , Gong Jing , Chang Jiang , Yuan Peng , Zhong Rong
Published: September 2018

Despite the successes of genome‐wide association study (GWAS) in identifying breast cancer (BC) risk‐associated variants, only a small fraction of the heritability can be explained. The greatest challenge in the post‐GWAS is to identify causal variants and underlying mechanisms responsible for BC susceptibility. In this study, we integrated functional genomic data from ENCODE ChIP‐seq, ANNOVAR, and the TRANSFAC matrix to identify potentially regulatory variants with modulating FOXA1‐binding affinity across the whole genome, and then conducted a two‐stage case‐control study including 2164 cases and 2382 controls to investigate the associations between candidate SNPs and BC susceptibility. We identified a BC susceptibility SNP, rs6506689 G>T, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.23 (95% confidence interval = 1.07‐1.40, P = 0.003) under a dominant model in the combined study. Biological assays indicated that the germline G>T variation at rs6506689 creates a FOXA1‐binding site and up‐regulates the expression of RAB31, thus playing an important role in the development of BC. Our results highlight the importance of regulatory genetic variants in the development of BC by influencing TF‐DNA interaction and provide critical insights to pinpoint causal genetic variants.
Targeting the overexpressed USP7 inhibits esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell growth by inducing NOXA‐mediated apoptosis
Authors: Hu Tao , Zhang Jingyang , Sha Beibei , Li Miaomiao , Wang Longhao , Zhang Yi , Liu Xingge , Dong Ziming , Liu Zhenzhen , Li Pei , Chen Ping
Published: September 2018

Increasing evidence suggests that deubiquitinase USP7 participates in tumor progression by various mechanisms and serves as a potential therapeutic target. However, its expression and role in esophageal cancer remains elusive; the anti‐cancer effect by targeting USP7 still needs to be investigated. Here, we reported that USP7 was overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues compared with adjacent tissues, implying that USP7 was an attractive anticancer target of ESCC. Pharmaceutical or genetic inactivation of USP7 inhibited esophageal cancer cells growth in vitro and in vivo and induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, inhibition of USP7 accumulated poly‐ubiquitinated proteins, activated endoplasmic reticulum stress, and increased expression of ATF4, which transcriptionally upregulated expression of NOXA and induced NOXA‐mediated apoptosis. These results provide an evidence for clinical investigation of USP7 inhibitors for the treatment of ESCC.
Synthesis and Molecular Modeling Studies of Coumarin‐ and 1‐Aza‐Coumarin‐Linked Miconazole Analogues and Their Antifungal Activity
Authors: Savanur Hemantkumar M. , Pawashe Geeta M. , Kim Kang Min , Kalkhambkar Rajesh G.
Published: September 2018

A series of new coumarin and 1‐aza coumarin analogues of miconazole (6 a‐j) were synthesized from 3‐bromoacetyl coumarins. Further diversification was achieved by synthesizing coumarin‐benzimidazole hybrids of miconazole (7 a‐j) and evaluated for in‐vitro anti‐microbial activities. Amongst the tested compounds, 7 d was found to be particularly effective as anti‐fungal agents against C. albicans and C. krusei, with activity comparable to that of the standard. Comparative Docking studies with mevalonate‐5‐diphosphatedecarboxylase shows better binding affinity than imidazole counterparts which is primarily attributed to extended π‐alkyl interactions facilitated by benzimidazole.
Stand der Theorie zur Bemessung von Trapezblechscheiben
Authors: Schardt R. , Strehl C.
Published: September 2018

Faksimile aus „Der Stahlbau 49 (1980), H. 11, S. 325–334”
Effect of Glutaraldehyde Crosslinking on Degree of Substitution, Thermal, Structural, and Physicochemical Properties of Corn Starch
Authors: Gonenc Ilknur , Us Ferhunde
Published: September 2018

Native corn starch (NCS) is chemically modified by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde (GLU) at different concentrations of GLU (at constant reaction time) and different reaction times (at constant GLU concentration). Crosslinked corn starches with varying degree of substitution (DS) are produced in acidic (pH = 1.43 ± 0.01) and alkaline (11.04 ± 0.02) reaction mediums and DS values are determined. Thermal, structural, swelling, and solubility properties of the crosslinked starches are also investigated. The increase in DS become greater as the reaction pH increases to alkaline. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicate that hydroxyl band frequency values of crosslinked starches prepared in acidic medium shift to a higher frequency value as a result of the decrease in the number of hydrogen bonds in starch. However, no change in the frequency value of the hydroxyl band is observed in the FTIR spectrum of the crosslinked starch prepared in alkaline medium. Gelatinization temperatures of crosslinked starches produced in the acidic medium increase while gelatinization enthalpy, swelling power, and solubility considerably decrease. When the reaction medium is alkaline, crosslinked starches display slightly lower gelatinization temperatures and dramatically reduce gelatinization enthalpy values, although solubility does not change significantly compared to NCS. Swelling power decreases considerably when the starch is treated with 20% GLU in the alkaline medium. As a result, glutaraldehyde with different functional properties based on the pH of the reaction medium can be an effective crosslinking reagent for starch.
An Area‐Efficient Resistor‐less On‐Chip Frequency Reference for Ultra‐Low Power Real‐Time Clock Application
Authors: Asano Hiroki , Hirose Tetsuya , Ozaki Toshihiro , Kuroki Nobutaka , Numa Masahiro
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we propose a fully integrated and area‐efficient resistor‐less relaxation oscillator (ROSC) for ultra‐low power real‐time clock (RTC) applications. The proposed ROSC is based on a conventional current‐mode ROSC and is modified to be an area‐efficient circuit configuration without using resistors. The proposed ROSC consists of a temperature‐compensated bias current generator (BCG), proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) voltage source, current‐mode ROSC, shunt regulator, and output logic circuit. The BCG, PTAT voltage source, and shunt regulator are used to compensate for the temperature characteristics of the ROSC. The area of our proposed ROSC was extremely small, 0.022 mm2. Simulated results demonstrated that our proposed ROSC generates a 32.5 kHz clock frequency and achieves ultra‐low power dissipation of 271 nW. The temperature and voltage dependence of the oscillation frequency were 138 ppm/°C and 13.9 ppm/mV, respectively. Monte Carlo statistical simulations showed that the mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation are 32.3, 0.6 kHz, and 1.9%, respectively. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Sustainable deployment of solar irrigation pumps: Key determinants and strategies
Authors: Agrawal Shalu , Jain Abhishek
Published: September 2018

Irrigation access is deemed critical to sustainable agricultural growth, which underpins the global food and livelihood security. Solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) have emerged as a promising technology to expand irrigation access and are being deployed rapidly across several developing countries. Even as the interest in SIPs is rising, the understanding about their sustainable deployment and use remains limited. Based on a detailed literature review and semi‐structured interviews of key stakeholders, we identify and discuss 14 determinants of economically viability, socially acceptability, and environmental sustainability of SIPs, under any given context. These include crop water requirement, depth of water source, solar irradiance, scale of farming, utilization factor, cost of alternatives, system quality, after‐sales service, water use efficiency, and technology awareness, among others. Drawing from the best practices and experiences in South Asia and Sub‐Saharan Africa, we also put forward key recommendations on ways to incorporate sustainability concerns in the policies and programs for SIPs deployment. The study emphasizes that policies and programs for SIPs should focus on building awareness and trust, providing need sensitive support, priortizing areas for SIPs deployment, and ensuring long‐term sustainability.

This article is categorized under:

Energy and Development > Science and Materials

Energy and Development > Economics and Policy

Energy and Development > Systems and Infrastructure
Computational model of gastric motility with active‐strain electromechanics
Authors: Brandstaeter Sebastian , Gizzi Alessio , Fuchs Sebastian L. , Gebauer Amadeus M. , Aydin Roland C. , Cyron Christian J.
Published: September 2018

We present an electro‐mechanical constitutive framework for the modeling of gastric motility, including pacemaker electrophysiology and smooth muscle contractility. In this framework, we adopt a phenomenological description of the gastric tissue. Tissue electrophysiology is represented by a set of two minimal two‐variable models and tissue electromechanics by an active‐strain finite elasticity approach. We numerically investigate the implication of the spatial distribution of pacemaker cells on the entrainment and synchronization of the slow waves characterizing gastric motility in health and disease. On simple schematic model geometries, we demonstrate that the proposed computational framework is amenable to large scale in‐silico analyses of the complex gastric motility including the underlying electro‐mechanical coupling.
The type IIA flux potential, 4-forms and Freed-Witten anomalies
Authors: Herráez Alvaro , Ibáñez Luis E. , Marchesano Fernando , Zoccarato Gianluca
Published: September 2018

Abstract

We compute the full classical 4d scalar potential of type IIA Calabi-Yau orientifolds in the presence of fluxes and D6-branes. We show that it can be written as a bilinear formV=ZABρAρB, where theρAare in one-to-one correspondence with the 4-form fluxes of the 4d effective theory. TheρAonly depend on the internal fluxes, the axions and the topological data of the compactification, and are fully determined by the Freed-Witten anomalies of branes that appear as 4d string defects. The quadratic formZABonly depends on the saxionic partners of these axions. In general, theρAcan be seen as the basic invariants under the discrete shift symmetries of the 4d effective theory, and therefore the building blocks of any flux-dependent quantity. All these polynomials may be obtained by derivation from one of them, associated to a universal 4-form. The standard$$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$N=1supergravity flux superpotential is uniquely determined from thismaster polynomial, and vice versa.
Effect of the EM Bokashi® Multimicrobial Probiotic Preparation on the Non-specific Immune Response in Pigs
Authors: Laskowska Ewa , Jarosz Łukasz Sebastian , Grądzki Zbigniew
Published: September 2018

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of EM Bokashi® on the phagocytic activity of monocytes and granulocytes, oxidative burst, SWC3, and CD11b + CD18+ expression on monocytes and granulocytes, and the serum concentration of cytokine and lysozyme in pig. 60 Sixty female piglets were divided into two groups: I – control and II – experimental. For the experimental group, a probiotic in the form of the preparation EM Bokashi® was added to the basal feed. Flow cytometry was used to determine selected non-specific immune response parameters, intracellular production of hydrogen peroxide by peripheral granulocytes and monocytes, and surface particles in peripheral blood. The EM Bokashi® preparation used in the study was found to increase phagocytic activity mainly in monocytes, with an increased percentage of phagocytic cells in the experimental group. The highest serum lysozyme concentration in the piglets in the experimental group (2.89 mg/dl), was noted on day 42 of the study. In the group of pigs receiving EM Bokashi®, the percentage of phagocytic cells with SWC3 (monocyte/granulocyte) expression was statistically significantly higher than in the control. The increase in the number of cells with SWC3 (monocyte/granulocyte) expression in the peripheral circulation in combination with the greater capacity of the cells for phagocytosis and respiratory burst confirms that the non-specific immune response was modulated in the pigs supplemented with EM Bokashi®.
Treacher Collins Syndrome: Before and After Antenatal Diagnosis by Ultrasonography
Authors: Kaur Anupriya , Kaur Ladbans , Anne Rajendra Prasad
Published: September 2018

Fetal 3D USG image showing receded jaw and small ears at 31 weeks gestation. In the family history, elder sibling had a clinical diagnosis of Treacher Collins syndrome. Parents were apparently normal; however mother’s radiograph of skull was suggestive of mild hypoplasia of zygomatic arch. As the pregnancy was more than 20 weeks it was continued till term. Second image showed the post natal correlation of the USG finding. The severe micrognathia and microtia are clearly seen. The newborn suffered severe respiratory distress and expired at 36 h of life. Around 40% of the cases of autosomal dominant Treacher Collins syndrome have an affected parent. Family history may appear to be negative because of failure to recognize the mild expression of the disorder in family members. Careful examination and investigation of parents is warranted.
C. Y. A.: frequency and causes of defensive decisions in public administration
Authors: Artinger Florian M. , Artinger Sabrina , Gigerenzer Gerd
Published: September 2018

Defensive decision making occurs when a manager ranks an option as the best for the organization yet deliberately chooses a second-best option that protects him or herself against negative consequences. We study 950 managers in a public administration to analyze the frequency and causes of defensive decisions. We find that at each hierarchy level defensive decisions are widespread. On average, 2.5 out of the 10 most important decisions respondents made within the last 12 months were defensive. Overall, 80% of managers indicated that they made at least one defensive decision and 17% even stated that at least half of their decisions were defensive. We identify as a major cause a team’s approach to failure, that is, whether the reaction to failure is to seek someone to blame as opposed to identifying the underlying causes in order to learn how to prevent similar failures in the future. Given that managers are often confronted with an uncertain environment where a positive outcome cannot be ascertained, such an approach to failure can lead to a severe decline in the performance of the organization.
Civil–Military Relations in Southeast Asia
Authors: Croissant Aurel
Published: September 2018

Civil–Military Relations in Southeast Asia reviews the historical origins, contemporary patterns, and emerging changes in civil–military relations in Southeast Asia from colonial times until today. It analyzes what types of military organizations emerged in the late colonial period and the impact of colonial legacies and the Japanese occupation in World War II on the formation of national armies and their role in processes of achieving independence. It analyzes the long term trajectories and recent changes of professional, revolutionary, praetorian and neo-patrimonial civil–military relations in the region. Finally, it analyzes military roles in state- and nation-building; political domination; revolutions and regime transitions; and military entrepreneurship.
Nikephoros III Botaneiates, the Phokades, and the Fabii: embellished genealogies and contested kinship in eleventh-century Byzantium
Authors: Leidholm Nathan
Published: September 2018

This article examines the genealogical claims of Nikephoros III Botaneiates, namely his supposed descent from the Phokades and the ancient Roman Fabii, and aims to situate Botaneiates’ case within a broader context of exaggerated and contested claims of kinship in medieval Byzantium. While exploring the uses of fictionalized or exaggerated kinship and their reception in contemporary society, it addresses issues of authenticity, proof, and credibility. It argues that Byzantine authors were widely sceptical of audacious genealogical claims and may have been exposed to false claims of kinship more often than previously acknowledged.
The court of women in early Palaiologan Byzantium (ca.1260-1350)
Authors: Schrijver Frouke
Published: September 2018

This article serves as a contribution to the discussion of gender segregation at the imperial court of Byzantium. Evidence from the Palaiologan period shows that many of the elements of a women's court, as it was known from earlier centuries, were still present in the last centuries of the empire.
The Parthenon, Pericles and King Solomon: a case study of Ottoman archaeological imagination in Greece
Authors: Fowden Elizabeth Key
Published: September 2018

What made Athens different from other multi-layered cities absorbed into the Ottoman Empire was the strength of its ancient reputation for learning that echoed across the Arabic and Ottoman worlds. But not only sages were remembered and Islamized in Athens; sometimes political figures were too. In the early eighteenth century a mufti of Athens, Mahmud Efendi, wrote a rarely studiedHistory of the City of Sages (Tarih-i Medinetü’l-Hukema)in which he transformed Pericles into a wise leader on a par with the Qur'anic King Solomon and linked the Parthenon mosque to Solomon's temple in Jerusalem.
Transnational Labour Law and the Environment: Beyond the Bounded Autonomous Worker
Authors: Seck Sara L.
Published: September 2018

Labour and environmental law operate in silos. This is equally true in the transnational sphere, despite the 2011 endorsement of UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Labour rights as human rights appear easier to grasp than environmental human rights, and the UNGPs specifically highlight the work of the ILO. Due to egregious events such as the Bangladesh Rana Plaza factory collapse, transnational governance regimes have emerged to better ensure building safety and respect for labour rights. Yet the process of production of “fast fashion” is not only a problem for workers whose health and safety are put at risk, but also for children and families who live in the vicinity of polluting factories and experience “slow death” as a result of contaminated air and water. This paper will explore how a reconceptualization of the worker as a relational being and corporeal citizen might bridge the silos.
New age controls on the tephrochronology of the southernmost Andean Southern Volcanic Zone, Chile
Authors: Weller DJ , de Porras ME , Maldonado A , Méndez C , Stern CR
Published: September 2018

The chronology of over 50 tephra layers preserved in a lake sediment core from Laguna La Trapananda (LLT) in the southern portion of the Andean Southern Volcanic Zone (SSVZ), Chile, is constrained by new radiocarbon age determinations, which span the period from late Pleistocene glacial retreat to the late Holocene. The tephra are correlative with tephra previously described from other lake cores in the region and are attributed to explosive eruptions of the SSVZ volcanoes Mentolat, Hudson, Macá, and potentially Cay. The new age determinations are used to estimate the ages of the >50 tephra in the LLT core, as well as those from the other previously described lake cores in the area, by a Bayesian statistical method. The results constrain the frequency of explosive eruptions of the volcanic centers in the southernmost SSVZ. They indicate that there was essentially no increase in the rate of eruptions from late-glacial to recent times due to deglaciation. They also provide isochrones used to constrain the depositional histories of the small lacustrine systems within which they were deposited and they provide a tephrochronologic tool for other paleoclimatic, paleoecologic, archaeologic and tephrochronologic studies in central Patagonia.
TRADE, MOBILITY, AND THE SEA
Authors: Limbert Mandana E.
Published: September 2018

Trade, mobility, and the sea—as concepts and practices—have, in the last several years, been the focus of superb and fascinating scholarly work. This essay explores some of the themes and arguments linking, and dividing, a body of work that has reinvigorated and shifted conversations about the Middle East toward a recognition of the significance of the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean for our understanding of colonial and economic history. As with any review, this one cannot be comprehensive; these texts are far too rich for these limited pages. Nevertheless, I aim to trace some of the main lines of inquiry of each monograph as well as to note some of the overlaps of and differences between their arguments and approaches.
Evaluation of retroauricular skin mobility for bone-anchored solutions
Authors: Wróbel M , Sobolewski P , Greczka G , Gawęcki W
Published: September 2018

Background

A subset of patients with bone-anchored hearing aids develop skin reactions that may be related to excess skin mobility around the skin-penetrating abutments. However, there is a lack of reports on the extent of skin mobility within the retroauricular space, typical for the implant location.

Methods

This study was based on photographic analysis of the relative shifts between the skull and soft tissue of the head in the retroauricular region, detected under the physiological conditions of head support and facial muscle contraction.

Results

The mean calculated value for skin shifts at the implant site was 5.1 mm. In 84 per cent of cases, the extent of skin shift was greater with the head at rest, by an average of 3.1 mm. The extent of skin movement during facial muscle contraction ranged between 0 mm and 8.9 mm. No direct correlations were detected between the extent and direction of skin shifts and patients’ age, gender or body mass index.

Conclusion

There are no objective data that can predict individual skin movement at the osseointegrated implant site. The study confirmed high variability in terms of the direction and extent of skin shift, which should be discussed when managing related skin problems.
Depression and cause-specific mortality in an ethnically diverse cohort from the UK: 8-year prospective study
Authors: Das-Munshi Jayati , Chang Chin-Kuo , Schofield Peter , Stewart Robert , Prince Martin J.
Published: September 2018

Background

Depression is associated with increased mortality, however, little is known about its variation by ethnicity.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study of individuals with ICD-10 unipolar depression from secondary mental healthcare, from an ethnically diverse location in southeast London, followed for 8 years (2007–2014) linked to death certificates. Age- and sex- standardised mortality ratios (SMRs), with the population of England and Wales as a standard population were derived. Hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality were derived through multivariable regression procedures.

Results

Data from 20 320 individuals contributing 91 635 person-years at risk with 2366 deaths were used for analyses. SMR for all-cause mortality in depression was 2.55(95% CI 2.45–2.65), with similar trends by ethnicity. Within the cohort with unipolar depression, adjusted HR (aHRs) for all-cause mortality in ethnic minority groups relative to the White British group were 0.62(95% CI 0.53–0.74) (Black Caribbean), 0.53(95% CI 0.39–0.72) (Black African) and 0.69(95% CI 0.52–0.90) (South Asian). Male sex and alcohol/substance misuse were associated with an increased all-cause mortality risk [aHR:1.94 (95% CI 1.68–2.24) and aHR:1.18 (95% CI 1.01–1.37) respectively], whereas comorbid anxiety was associated with a decreased risk [aHR: 0.72(95% CI 0.58–0.89)]. Similar associations were noted for natural-cause mortality. Alcohol/substance misuse and male sex were associated with a near-doubling in unnatural-cause mortality risk, whereas Black Caribbean individuals with depression had a reduced unnatural-cause mortality risk, relative to White British people with depression.

Conclusions

Although individuals with depression experience an increased mortality risk, marked heterogeneity exists by ethnicity. Research and practice should focus on addressing tractable causes underlying increased mortality in depression.
Massive Ocean Waves May Play a Role in Nuisance Flooding
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: September 2018

When huge planetary waves that spawn in the open ocean reach land, they can raise local sea levels along the coast. Could tracking these waves help scientists predict flooding months in advance?
Long‐Term Trends of Persistent Synoptic Circulation Events in Planetary Boundary Layer and Their Relationships With Haze Pollution in Winter Half Year Over Eastern China
Authors: Yang Yuanjian , Zheng Xiaoyi , Gao Zhiqiu , Wang Hong , Wang Tijian , Li Yubin , Lau Gabriel N. C. , Yim Steve H. L.
Published: September 2018

Air quality in China has been gradually improving because of recent emission control policies, but synoptic circulations in the planetary boundary layer have become increasingly conducive to haze formation. The effect of persistent synoptic circulation (PSC) on long‐term variation in haze episodes remains to be fully elucidated. This study identified and analyzed PSC similarity and its influence on haze during the winter half year from 1961 to 2013. We analyzed sea level pressure and geopotential heights at the 850‐hPa level by using correlation coefficients and mean Hamming distance to quantify PSC similarity. A total of 1,754 PSC events were identified, of which 236 and 167 PSC events of 868 and 625 days, respectively, were associated with six polluted types and three clean types, respectively. The variations in occurrence frequencies of polluted PSC events exhibited different trends in the past decades over eastern China: an increase in 1961–1979, no obvious change in 1980–1999, and a rapid increase since 2000. The durations of polluted and clean PSC events in the planetary boundary layer over eastern China have tended to become longer and shorter, respectively, over the past decades. Our analyses suggest that the reduction in Arctic sea ice in autumn may be favorable for less cold activities and more polluted PSC events with longer durations in eastern China, positively contributing to the formation and maintenance of persistent haze pollution. This work provides convincing evidence that the occurrence frequencies and durations of haze episodes increased because of the increase in pollution‐related PSC events.
Adenylate kinase potentiates the capsular polysaccharide by modulating Cps2D in Streptococcus pneumoniae D39
Authors: Ghosh Prachetash , Luong Truc Thanh , Shah Masaud , Thach Trung Thanh , Choi Sangdun , Lee Sangho , Rhee Dong-Kwon
Published: September 2018

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a polysaccharide-encapsulated bacterium. The capsule thickens during blood invasion compared with the thinner capsules observed in asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonization. However, the underlying mechanism regulating differential CPS expression remains unclear. CPS synthesis requires energy that is supplied by ATP. Previously, we demonstrated a correlation between ATP levels and adenylate kinase in S. pneumoniae (SpAdK). A dose-dependent induction of SpAdK in serum was also reported. To meet medical needs, this study aimed to elucidate the role of SpAdK in the regulation of CPS production. CPS levels in S. pneumoniae type 2 (D39) increased proportionally with SpAdK levels, but they were not related to pneumococcal autolysis. Moreover, increased SpAdK levels resulted in increased total tyrosine kinase Cps2D levels and phosphorylated Cps2D, which is a regulator of CPS synthesis in the D39 strain. Our results also indicated that the SpAdK and Cps2D proteins interact in the presence of Mg-ATP. In addition, in silico analysis uncovered the mechanism behind this protein–protein interaction, suggesting that SpAdK binds with the Cps2D dimer. This established the importance of the ATP-binding domain of Cps2D. Taken together, the biophysical interaction between SpAdK and Cps2D plays an important role in enhancing Cps2D phosphorylation, which results in increased CPS synthesis.