bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic Sterilization After “Spontaneous” Abortion
Authors: Quan Angel , de Badia Delfina , Edelman David A. , Goldsmith Alfredo
Published: January 2017

One hundred eighty‐nine patients were evaluated to assess the safety of laparoscopic sterilization after completion of a “spontaneous” abortion by curettage. Some of the “spontaneous” abortions had probably been illegally initiated outside the hospital and were septic. The laparoscopic sterilization procedures used tubal rings to achieve tubal occlusion. They were performed 4 to 48 hours after completion of the abortion. Patients were discharged from the hospital on the day the procedure was performed. Surgical difficulties and complications associated with the laparoscopy were infrequent. Undergoing a curettage prior to sterilization with tubal rings by laparoscopy did not appear to result in increased rates of complications.
Difficult Obstetric Vesicovaginal Fistula: A Report on 12 Cases
Authors: Stephen G. M.
Published: January 2017

In each of the 12 cases presented, the fistula was the result of obstructed labor. Common features to each case were: (a) a large retropubic defect involving the anterior vaginal wall, bladder and urethra, (b) total or partial urethral rupture, and (c) marked vaginal wall scarring with vaginal stenosis. Primary repair was performed by the vaginal route, and two patients were cured by the first operation. Six patients required two or more vaginal procedures for successful closure. Following repeated failure of vaginal closure, two patients had a successful transvesical closure and two required ureterosigmoidostomy.
Study of “Spontaneous” Abortion in Thailand
Authors: Koetsawang Suporn , Saha Anjali , Pachauri Saroj
Published: January 2017

This analysis includes data on 3 530 patients with septic or incomplete, inevitable or threatened abortions who were treated at the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok between January 1972 and December 1973. Data on the patients' socio‐demographic characteristics; their reproductive, abortion, and medical histories; their pre‐ and postabortion contraceptive acceptance; and a clinical profile of their abortion treatment, including procedure time, length of hospitalization, and immediate and delayed postoperative complications are analyzed.
Estrogens in Food: The Almond Mystery
Authors: Clemetson C. A. B. , De Carlo S. J. , Burney G. A. , Patel T. J. , Kozhiashvili N. , Taylor R. A.
Published: January 2017

Studies were made of 36 different nuts, grains, fruits and vegetables commonly used as human foods; each of these was fed to a group of ovariectomized rats for 10 days as a sole diet. The estrogenic activities of the foods were estimated by comparing the uterine weights, uterine fluid volumes and the vaginal cornification indices of each group of rats with those of groups fed other foods. Almonds, cashew nuts, peanuts, oats, corn, wheat and apples all showed estrogenic activity. The original sample of almonds showed the greatest estrogenic activity (p<0.01) which was confirmed by repetition of the experiment (p<0.01), but subsequent studies of other samples of almonds showed no estrogenic activity. Possible reasons for the disparity of the results with different lots of almonds are discussed.
Intrapartum Maternal and Fetal Monitoring: The Obstetric Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Young Bruce K. , Weinstein Howard N. , Katz Miriam
Published: January 2017

The Obstetric Intensive Care Unit (OBICU) at Bellevue Hospital in New York City has adapted intensive care and coronary care models to the care of patients in labor. During the past 3 years, 519 of the most serious of 2 250 high‐risk obstetric patients treated at the hospital were monitored in the OBICU. There were two maternal and six perinatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate of the very high risk population of the OBICU was 11.6/1 000, compared to 14.7/1 000 for all deliveries performed at the hospital. Our findings indicate that the OBICU system provides the ideal mechanism for the rapid and continuous control of symptoms in very high risk gravidas which is essential for stabilizing the patient, both for prompt delivery and for optimal maternal and fetal survival.
Rectovaginal Fistula: Management by Intravenous Feeding and Surgical Repair
Authors: Piraka Hadi , Parsa Mohamad H. , Jahanmiri Fatemeh
Published: January 2017

Two patients, each with a large rectovaginal fistula, were managed successfully by intravenous feeding and surgical repair of their fistulae. Intravenous feeding eliminated the need for food from the gastrointestinal tract, thus minimizing the fecal flow. Both fistulae healed following surgical repair. Neither patient required a diverting colostomy.
A Comparative Study of the Tubal Ring Applied via Minilaparotomy and Laparoscopy in Postabortion Cases
Authors: Bhatt R. V. , Pachauri Saroj , Pathak Nisha D. , John Elizabeth
Published: January 2017

Sterilization with tubal rings applied via minilaparotomy or laparoscopy was performed on 300 randomly selected postabortion subjects to evaluate the safety and effectivness of the two surgical methods. One hundred and forty‐nine procedures were performed by minilaparotomy and 151 by laparoscopy. Gas leakage due to equipment problems was the most common technical difficulty during laparoscopy, and difficulty in exteriorizing the tubes was the most common surgical difficulty. Women undergoing laparoscopy experienced significantly less pain during surgery and had significantly lower rates of immediate and early postoperative complications than those women undergoing minilaparotomy. The rates of gynecologic abnormalities at six and 12 months were similar for both procedures. At this writing, no pregnancies have been reported among the study subjects. The results of our study indicate that laparoscopy is superior to minilaparotomy when it is performed in a controlled hospital situation.
Early Identification, Differentiation and Treatment of Ovarian Neoplasia
Authors: Ranney Brooks , Ahmad M. I.
Published: January 2017

Among 3205 patients who needed major gynecologic operations, only 250 (7.8%) had significant ovarian cysts or tumors (170 benign, 38 “low malignant potential,” 42 gross cancers). Contrary to prior reports, this study shows that most patients with ovarian neoplasia had had some symptoms (duration ranged from two weeks to ten years), or a palpable adnexal mass or both. Associated symptoms have been itemized in categories. Procrastination by patients, after occurrence of the first symptoms, resulted in the growth of later‐stage cancers and lower survival rates. It may be inferred from age‐incidence graphs that some benign cystadenomas may be present in ovaries for long intervals of time and then may become malignant. The importance of (a) careful recording of histories, (b) periodic pelvic examinations, (c) the use of preoperative methods of differential diagnosis and (d) the differentiation between gross tumor characteristics during operations are discussed. Earlier diagnosis and treatment of ovarian neoplasia are possible and will yield better long‐term results.
Ectopic Pregnancy: Diagnostic Dilemma and Delay
Authors: Hazekamp Johan T.
Published: January 2017

A retrospective analysis of 111 consecutive ectopic pregnancies was done regarding diagnostic difficulties and delay. Absence of amenorrhea before onset of symptoms was frequent (44.1%), as was a negative two‐minute slide pregnancy test (50.0%). The main factors causing diagnostic delay were the use of therapeutic drug trials and misdiagnosis at curettage. Diagnostic delay can be reduced by early use of more sensitive pregnancy tests in patients predisposed to ectopic pregnancy, more critical use of drug trial therapy in patients with gynecologic diagnostic problems, early resort to laparoscopy and rapid pathologic examination of tissue obtained from curettage done in suspected cases of spontaneous abortion or menorrhagia to detect decidual changes or Arias‐Stella phenomenon.
Spinal Cord Tumors During Pregnancy
Authors: Apuzzio Joseph , Pelosi Marco A. , Ganesh Vijaya V. , Caterini Herik , Iffy Leslie
Published: January 2017

The diagnosis of and therapy for spinal cord tumors occurring during pregnancy are discussed. A case of pilocytic astrocytoma, not reported previously in the literature, is presented.
Clinical Evaluation of Fetal Movements
Authors: Birger Moshe , Homburg Roy , Insler Vaclav
Published: January 2017

Fetal movement was examined in 200 pregnancies to establish normal patterns, influencing factors, possible clinical value and practical application. The mean number of movements per hour was 26 in hospitalized and 40 in ambulatory patients. These values remained fairly steady throughout pregnancy except for a significant decrease in the week preceding labor. Individual variations were large. The number of movements was uninfluenced by parity and fetal sex but was lower for small‐for‐gestational‐age babies, in mothers suffering from both hypertension and diabetes and in mothers treated with diazepam. Fetal movement count may be used as a parameter of fetal well‐being.
Mortality Risk Associated with Female Sterilization
Authors: Aubert Josep M. , Lubell Ira , Schima Marilyn
Published: January 2017

The mortality risk associated with female sterilization in an analysis of 255 812 procedures performed in developing countries from 1973 to 1979 is reviewed. Fifteen sterilization‐related deaths were reported during this period. The overall mortality was 5.86/100 000 procedures. The most common cause of death was the result of anesthetic complications, with infection in second place. The risk of death by procedure was higher with culdoscopy than with minilaparotomy or laparoscopy. The authors believe that low mortality figures are realistic and can be achieved in developing countries when experienced surgical teams are provided with adequate facilities, observe strict medical standards, utilize minilaparotomy and laparoscopy and avoid general and spinal anesthesia.
High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography to Measure Lecithin/Sphingomyelin Ratio
Authors: Ng Heung‐Tat , Chen Cheng‐Yu , Wei Ru‐Dong
Published: January 2017

The amniotic fluid lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio was measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography in 85 pregnant women of varying gestational ages to determine fetal lung maturity. Respiratory distress syndrome occurred in 14 of the 15 infants whose L/S ratio before birth was lower than 3.0. High‐performance liquid chromatography for measurement of the amniotic fluid L/S ratio provides a sensitive index of the functional development of the fetal lung and therefore of the risk of the neonate developing respiratory distress syndrome.
Identification of morphological and biochemical changes in keratin‐8/18 knock‐down cells using Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Singh S. P. , Alam Hunain , Dmello Crismita , Mamgain Hitesh , Vaidya Milind M. , Dasari Ramachandra Rao , Krishna C. Murali
Published: January 2017

Accurate understanding of cellular processes and responses to stimuli is of paramount importance in biomedical research and diagnosis. Raman spectroscopy (RS), a label‐free and nondestructive spectroscopic method has the potential to serve as a novel ’theranostics' tool. Both fiber‐optic and micro‐Raman studies have demonstrated efficacy in diagnostics and therapeutic response monitoring. In the present study, we have evaluated the potential of micro‐Raman spectroscopic maps in identifying changes induced by loss of K8/18 proteins in a tongue cancer cell line. Furthermore, we also evaluated the efficacy of less expensive and commercially available fiber probes to identify K8/18 wild and knock‐down cell pellets, in view of the utility of cell pellet‐based studies. The findings suggest that major differences in the cellular morphology and biochemical composition can be objectively identified and can be utilized for classification using both micro‐Raman and fiber‐probe‐based RS. These findings highlight the potential of fiber‐optic probe‐based RS in noninvasive cellular phenotyping for diagnosis and therapeutic response monitoring, especially in low‐resource settings.

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Fine‐tuning snowflake fractal antennas
Authors: Karaosmanoğlu Barışcan , Küçük Semih , Ergül Özgür
Published: January 2017

We present a simple yet effective approach for fine‐tuning operating frequencies of snowflake fractal antennas. Given a basic design, a set of numerical simulations involving alternative corner angles are carried out to compute their isolated effects on frequency bands. Then, the effects of consecutive modifications are estimated and used to identify possible combinations for shifting the frequencies in the desired ranges. The effects of corner angles are almost independent of each other, leading to accurate estimations that allow for easy tuning of these antennas without time‐consuming optimizations.
A Riesz–Feller space‐fractional backward diffusion problem with a time‐dependent coefficient: regularization and error estimates
Authors: Tuan Nguyen Huy , Trong Dang Duc , Hai Dinh Nguyen Duy , Thanh Duong Dang Xuan
Published: January 2017

In this paper, we consider a Riesz–Feller space‐fractional backward diffusion problem with a time‐dependent coefficient

urn:x-wiley:mma:media:mma4284:mma4284-math-0001
We show that this problem is ill‐posed; therefore, we propose a convolution regularization method to solve it. New error estimates for the regularized solution are given under a priori and a posteriori parameter choice rules, respectively. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel extended precise integration method based on Fourier series expansion for periodic Riccati differential equations
Authors: Tan Shu‐Jun , Zhou Wen‐Ya , Peng Hai‐Jun , Wu Zhi‐Gang
Published: January 2017

A new, reliable algorithm for nonnegative, stabilizing solutions for the periodic Riccati differential equation (PRDE) is proposed based on Fourier series expansion and the precise integration method (PIM). Taking full advantages of periodicity, we expand coefficient matrices of the underlying linear time‐varying periodic Hamiltonian system associated with the PRDE in Fourier series, and a novel extended PIM for the transition matrix of linear time‐varying periodic systems is developed by combining the doubling algorithm with the increment‐storage technique. This method needs to compute the matrix exponential and its related integrals only once for all evenly divided subintervals, which greatly improves the computational efficiency. Further, by introducing the Riccati transformation, a fast recursive formula for the PRDE is derived based on the block form of the transition matrix computed by the extended PIM. Finally, two numerical examples are presented to verify the numerical accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm with compared results.
Global quantitative proteomic analysis profiles host protein expression in response to Sendai virus infection
Authors: Zhu Sheng‐Lin , Chen Xi , Wang Liang‐Jie , Wan Wei‐Wei , Xin Qi‐Lin , Wang Wei , Xiao Gengfu , Zhang Lei‐Ke
Published: January 2017

Sendai virus (SeV) is an enveloped nonsegmented negative‐strand RNA virus that belongs to the genus Respirovirus of the Paramyxoviridae family. As a model pathogen, SeV has been extensively studied to define the basic biochemical and molecular biologic properties of the paramyxoviruses. In addition, SeV‐infected host cells were widely employed to uncover the mechanism of innate immune response. To identify proteins involved in the SeV infection process or the SeV‐induced innate immune response process, system‐wide evaluations of SeV–host interactions have been performed. cDNA microarray, siRNA screening and phosphoproteomic analysis suggested that multiple signaling pathways are involved in SeV infection process. Here, to study SeV–host interaction, a global quantitative proteomic analysis was performed on SeV‐infected HEK 293T cells. A total of 4699 host proteins were quantified, with 742 proteins being differentially regulated. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that regulated proteins were mainly involved in “interferon type I (IFN‐I) signaling pathway” and “defense response to virus,” suggesting that these processes play roles in SeV infection. Further RNAi‐based functional studies indicated that the regulated proteins, tripartite motif (TRIM24) and TRIM27, affect SeV‐induced IFN‐I production. Our data provided a comprehensive view of host cell response to SeV and identified host proteins involved in the SeV infection process or the SeV‐induced innate immune response process.
sTREM‐1 is elevated in cystic fibrosis and correlates with proteases
Authors: Forrester D.L. , Barr H.L. , Fogarty A. , Knox A.
Published: January 2017

Background

sTREM‐1 (soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells‐1) is a novel inflammatory marker that may be of clinical use in cystic fibrosis (CF). Dysregulation of the TREM pathway has been demonstrated in other inflammatory diseases and modulation in animal models has therapeutic benefit. We hypothesised that sTREM‐1 could act as a biomarker of disease in cystic fibrosis.

Methods

Plasma from 17 patients with CF (stable and pre and post pulmonary exacerbation) and eight healthy volunteers was analyzed for sTREM‐1 and proteases (matrix metalloproteinase‐8 (MMP‐8), MMP‐9, and human neutrophil elastase HNE).

Results

sTREM‐1 Levels were elevated in stable CF subjects compared to controls (148 pg/ml (130–160) [median(IQR)] vs. 87 (55–118) (P < 0.01)) but were not further increased during pulmonary exacerbation nor decreased after antibiotic treatment in CF. Protease levels were increased in CF plasma compared to controls: MMP–8 = 3.1 ng/ml (1.5–7.6) vs. 0.3 (0.18–0.53) (P < 0.01) (Wilcoxon); MMP–9 = 170 ng/ml (124–282) vs. 49 (39–90) (P <  0.01); HNE = 30.2 ng/ml (22.7–30.9) vs. 17.5 (11.2–22.2) (P < 0.05). sTREM‐1 correlated positively with protease levels lnMMP‐8 r2 = 0.55 (P = 0.08), lnMMP‐9 r2 =  0.61(P < 0.05), lnHNE r2 = 0.35 (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

sTREM‐1 is constitutively elevated in CF and positively correlates with protease levels. Modulation of this pathway may be of therapeutic benefit to patients with CF. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:467–471. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In vivo and in vitro ivacaftor response in cystic fibrosis patients with residual CFTR function: N‐of‐1 studies
Authors: McGarry Meghan E. , Illek Beate , Ly Ngoc P. , Zlock Lorna , Olshansky Sabrina , Moreno Courtney , Finkbeiner Walter E. , Nielson Dennis W.
Published: January 2017

Rationale

Ivacaftor, a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) potentiator, decreases sweat chloride concentration, and improves pulmonary function in 6% of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with specific CFTR mutations. Ivacaftor increases chloride transport in many other CFTR mutations in non‐human cells, if CFTR is in the epithelium. Some CF patients have CFTR in the epithelium with residual CFTR function. The effect of ivacaftor in these patients is unknown.

Methods

This was a series of randomized, crossover N‐of‐1 trials of ivacaftor and placebo in CF patients ≥8 years old with potential residual CFTR function (intermediate sweat chloride concentration, pancreatic sufficient, or mild bronchiectasis on chest CT). Human nasal epithelium (HNE) was obtained via nasal brushing and cultured. Sweat chloride concentration change was the in vivo outcome. Chloride current change in HNE cultures with ivacaftor was the in vitro outcome.

Results

Three subjects had decreased sweat chloride concentration (−14.8 to −40.8 mmol/L, P < 0.01). Two subjects had unchanged sweat chloride concentration. Two subjects had increased sweat chloride concentration (+23.8 and +27.3 mmol/L, P < 0.001); both were heterozygous for A455E and pancreatic sufficient. Only subjects with decreased sweat chloride concentration had increased chloride current in HNE cultures.

Conclusions

Some CF patients with residual CFTR function have decreased sweat chloride concentration with ivacaftor. Increased chloride current in HNE cultures among subjects with decreased sweat chloride concentrations may predict clinical response to ivacaftor. Ivacaftor can increase sweat chloride concentration in certain mutations with unclear clinical effect. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:472–479. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Numerical simulation of ozone concentration profile and flow characteristics in paddy bulks
Authors: Pandiselvam Ravi , Chandrasekar Veerapandian , Thirupathi Venkatachalam
Published: January 2017

BACKGROUND

Ozone has shown the potential to control stored product insect pests. The high reactivity of ozone leads to special problems when it passes though an organic medium such as stored grains. Thus, there is a need for a simulation study to understand the concentration profile and flow characteristics of ozone in stored paddy bulks as a function of time.

RESULTS

Simulation of ozone concentration through the paddy grain bulks was explained by applying the principle of the law of conservation along with a continuity equation. A higher ozone concentration value was observed at regions near the ozone diffuser whereas a lower concentration value was observed at regions away from the ozone diffuser. The relative error between the experimental and predicted ozone concentration values for the entire bin geometry was less than 42.8%.

CONCLUSION

The simulation model described a non‐linear change of ozone concentration in stored paddy bulks. Results of this study provide a valuable source for estimating the parameters needed for effectively designing a storage bin for fumigation of paddy grains in a commercial scale continuous‐flow ozone fumigation system. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Histidine‐rich designer peptides of the LAH4 family promote cell delivery of a multitude of cargo
Authors: Moulay Gilles , Leborgne Christian , Mason A. James , Aisenbrey Christopher , Kichler Antoine , Bechinger Burkhard
Published: January 2017

The histidine‐rich designer peptides of the LAH4 family exhibit potent antimicrobial, transfection, transduction and cell‐penetrating properties. They form non‐covalent complexes with their cargo, which often carry a negative overall charge at pH 7.4 and include a large range of molecules and structures such as oligonucleotides, including siRNA and DNA, peptides, proteins, nanodots and adeno‐associated viruses. These complexes are thought to enter the cells through an endosomal pathway where the acidification of the organelle is essential for efficient endosomal escape. Biophysical measurements indicate that, upon acidification, almost half the peptides are released from DNA cargo, leading to the suggestion of a self‐promoted uptake mechanism where the liberated peptides lyse the endosomal membranes. LAH4 derivatives also help in cellular transduction using lentiviruses. Here, we compare the DNA transfection activities of LAH4 derivatives, which vary in overall charge and/or the composition in the hydrophobic core region. In addition, LAH4 is shown to mediate the transport of functional β‐galactosidase, a large tetrameric protein of about 0.5 MDa, into the cell interior. Interestingly, the LAH1 peptide efficiently imports this protein, while it is inefficient during DNA transfection assays. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Bayesian Predictive Analysis of Step‐Stress Accelerated Tests in Gamma Degradation‐Based Processes
Authors: Fan Tsai‐Hung , Chen Cian‐Huei
Published: January 2017

Degradation modeling might be an alternative to the conventional life test in reliability assessment for high quality products. This paper develops a Bayesian approach to the step‐stress accelerated degradation test. Reliability inference of the population is made based on the posterior distribution of the underlying parameters with the aid of Markov chain Monte Carlo method. Further sequential reliability inference on individual product under normal condition is also proposed. Simulation study and an illustrative example are presented to show the appropriateness of the proposed method. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient extensible conditional privacy‐preserving authentication scheme supporting batch verification for VANETs
Authors: Wang Yimin , Zhong Hong , Xu Yan , Cui Jie , Guo Funchun
Published: January 2017

By using pseudo‐identity‐based signature, a conditional privacy‐preserving authentication scheme was proposed in this paper, called EECB, to solve the anonymous authentication issue in vehicular ad hoc networks. In this scheme, pseudo‐identities and the corresponding private keys are generated by the private key generator alone, which is credible and independent. So only Adding private key generators can satisfy the increasing pseudo‐identities demand. In other words, it has achieved the extensible of the scheme. However, the malicious vehicle can only be traced by trust authority. Furthermore, the protocol supports batch verification and the operation of a signature verification only needs two bilinear pairings and some point multiplication. The security of the signature scheme in EECB can be proved to be equivalent to the standard computational Diffie–Hellman problem in the random oracle. The experiment and the analysis indicated that, compared with the existing well‐known schemes, EECB has higher authentication efficiency and less communication cost. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An authenticated encryption based grouping proof protocol for RFID systems
Authors: Rostampour Samad , Bagheri Nasour , Hosseinzadeh Mehdi , Khademzadeh Ahmad
Published: January 2017

Radio frequency identification grouping proof authentication protocol is an approach to identify a set of tagged objects simultaneously. Over the past decade, several protocols in this domain have been presented, but each was weak with flawed attributes. It is essential that a grouping proof protocol be both scalable and affordable, considering its use for applications with large quantities of tags and the high level of security. In this paper, we present a secure and scalable grouping proof protocol by utilizing an encryption method that is called authenticated encryption. This encryption method provides both confidentiality and message integrity simultaneously. In addition, it can satisfy the resource limitation of passive tags. The proposed protocol eliminates the dependency among the tags' responses and provides the scalability with minimum message broadcasting. We evaluate the proposed protocol based on formal and informal security methods, and the results prove that it is robust against radio frequency identification attacks and suitable for low‐power and low‐cost devices. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Fast and Efficient Replacement of CTAB with MUA on the Surface of Gold Nanorods Assisted by a Water‐Immiscible Ionic Liquid
Authors: Su Linjia , Hu Song , Zhang Li , Wang Zhuoran , Gao Weiping , Yuan Jing , Liu Minghua
Published: January 2017

The synthesis and surface modification of gold nanorods (GNRs) is one of the most important and basic issues in nanoscience. Most of the widely investigated GNRs are coated with a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB) bilayer. Here, a highly efficient method is proposed to replace CTAB from the surface of GNRs with a bifunctional 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid in order to decrease the possible toxicity caused by CTAB. This ligand exchange is achieved in a biphasic mixture of an aqueous solution and a water‐immiscible ionic liquid (IL), [BMIM][Tf2N]. That is, by mixing IL, mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)/IL (200 × 10−3
m) and a concentrated aqueous solution of GNRs together, followed by vortex stirring for 90 s, CTAB‐capped GNRs with varying aspect ratios can be turned into corresponding MUA‐capped GNRs with the same aspect ratio. Furthermore, the formed MUA‐capped GNRs can be obtained in a large quantity and stored as powders for easy use. The MUA‐capped GNRs with improved biocompatibility and colloidal stability are well suited for further biological functionalization and potential applications. This IL‐assisted ligand exchange can reverse the surface charge, enhance the stability of GNRs, and suppress its cytotoxicity.
Human‐Finger Electronics Based on Opposing Humidity‐Resistance Responses in Carbon Nanofilms
Authors: Tai Yanlong , Lubineau Gilles
Published: January 2017

Carbon nanomaterials have excellent humidity sensing properties. Here, it is demonstrated that multiwalled carbon‐nanotube (MWCNT)‐ and reduced‐graphene‐oxide (rGO)‐based conductive films have opposite humidity/electrical resistance responses: MWCNTs increase their electrical resistance (positive response) and rGOs decrease their electrical resistance (negative response). The authors propose a new phenomenology that describes a “net”‐like model for MWCNT films and a “scale”‐like model for rGO films to explain these behaviors based on contributions from junction resistances (at interparticle junctions) and intrinsic resistances (of the particles). This phenomenology is accordingly validated via a series of experiments, which complement more classical models based on proton conductivity. To explore the practical applications of the converse humidity/resistance responses, a humidity‐insensitive MWCNT/rGO hybrid conductive films is developed, which has the potential to greatly improve the stability of carbon‐based electrical device to humidity. The authors further investigate the application of such films to human‐finger electronics by fabricating transparent flexible devices consisting of a polyethylene terephthalate substrate equipped with an MWCNT/rGO pattern for gesture recognition, and MWCNT/rGO/MWCNT or rGO/MWCNT/rGO patterns for 3D noncontact sensing, which will be complementary to existing 3D touch technology.
The Effects of Task Type on the Quality of Resolving Language‐Related Episodes and Vocabulary Learning
Authors: Kaivanpanah Shiva , Miri Mowla
Published: January 2017

This study examined how task type can affect the ways in which learners resolve lexical language‐related episodes (LREs) and consequently how their vocabulary learning in the LREs is influenced. An intact class of Iranian learners (N = 24) of English as a foreign language were paired up to write a composition and complete a cloze task. The researchers recorded all collaborative dialogues and transcribed and analyzed them to detect lexical LREs. The LREs were divided into cognitive conflict episodes (CCEs) and non‐CCEs on the basis of how they were resolved and engaged the learners. The results indicate a higher number of CCEs, entailing elaborate engagement, in the collaborative dialogues over the composition. The results also reveal that vocabulary gains were greater in composition. The authors suggest that language teachers develop tasks inducing higher cognitive conflicts.
Cost vs. time in stochastic games and Markov automata
Authors: Hatefi Hassan , Wimmer Ralf , Braitling Bettina , Fioriti Luis María Ferrer , Becker Bernd , Hermanns Holger
Published: January 2017

Costs and rewards are important tools for analysing quantitative aspects of models like energy consumption and costs of maintenance and repair. Under the assumption of transient costs, this paper considers the computation of expected cost-bounded rewards and cost-bounded reachability for Markov automata and Markov games. We provide a fixed point characterization of this class of properties under early schedulers. Additionally, we give a transformation to expected time-bounded rewards and time-bounded reachability, which can be computed by available algorithms. We prove the correctness of the transformation and show its effectiveness on a number of Markov automata case studies.
Enhanced xylose fermentation by engineered yeast expressing NADH oxidase through high cell density inoculums
Authors: Zhang Guo-Chang , Turner Timothy L , Jin Yong-Su
Published: January 2017

Accumulation of reduced byproducts such as glycerol and xylitol during xylose fermentation by engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae hampers the economic production of biofuels and chemicals from cellulosic hydrolysates. In particular, engineered S. cerevisiae expressing NADPH-linked xylose reductase (XR) and NAD+-linked xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) produces substantial amounts of the reduced byproducts under anaerobic conditions due to the cofactor difference of XR and XDH. While the additional expression of a water-forming NADH oxidase (NoxE) from Lactococcus lactis in engineered S. cerevisiae with the XR/XDH pathway led to reduced glycerol and xylitol production and increased ethanol yields from xylose, volumetric ethanol productivities by the engineered yeast decreased because of growth defects from the overexpression of noxE. In this study, we introduced noxE into an engineered yeast strain (SR8) exhibiting near-optimal xylose fermentation capacity. To overcome the growth defect caused by the overexpression of noxE, we used a high cell density inoculum for xylose fermentation by the SR8 expressing noxE. The resulting strain, SR8N, not only showed a higher ethanol yield and lower byproduct yields, but also exhibited a high ethanol productivity during xylose fermentation. As noxE overexpression elicits a negligible growth defect on glucose conditions, the beneficial effects of noxE overexpression were substantial when a mixture of glucose and xylose was used. Consumption of glucose led to rapid cell growth and therefore enhanced the subsequent xylose fermentation. As a result, the SR8N strain produced more ethanol and fewer byproducts from a mixture of glucose and xylose than the parental SR8 strain without noxE overexpression. Our results suggest that the growth defects from noxE overexpression can be overcome in the case of fermenting lignocellulose-derived sugars such as glucose and xylose.
Place and Child Health: The Interaction of Population Density and Sanitation in Developing Countries
Authors: Hathi Payal , Haque Sabrina , Pant Lovey , Coffey Diane , Spears Dean
Published: January 2017

A long literature in demography has debated the importance of place for health, especially children’s health. In this study, we assess whether the importance of dense settlement for infant mortality and child height is moderated by exposure to local sanitation behavior. Is open defecation (i.e., without a toilet or latrine) worse for infant mortality and child height where population density is greater? Is poor sanitation is an important mechanism by which population density influences child health outcomes? We present two complementary analyses using newly assembled data sets, which represent two points in a trade-off between external and internal validity. First, we concentrate on external validity by studying infant mortality and child height in a large, international child-level data set of 172 Demographic and Health Surveys, matched to census population density data for 1,800 subnational regions. Second, we concentrate on internal validity by studying child height in Bangladeshi districts, using a new data set constructed with GIS techniques that allows us to control for fixed effects at a high level of geographic resolution. We find a statistically robust and quantitatively comparable interaction between sanitation and population density with both approaches: open defecation externalities are more important for child health outcomes where people live more closely together.
Emergency Preparedness of Persons Over 50 Years Old: Further Results From the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Killian Timothy S. , Moon Zola K. , McNeill Charleen , Garrison Betsy , Moxley Shari
Published: January 2017

Objective

This article conceptualized emergency preparedness as a complex, multidimensional construct and empirically examined an array of sociodemographic, motivation, and barrier variables as predictors of levels of emergency preparedness.

Methods

The authors used the 2010 wave of the Health and Retirement Study’s emergency preparedness module to focus on persons 50 years old and older in the United States by use of logistic regression models and reconsidered a previous analysis.

Results

The models demonstrated 3 key findings: (1) a lack of preparedness is widespread across virtually all sociodemographic variables and regions of the country; (2) an authoritative voice, in the role of health care personnel, was a strong predictor of preparedness; and (3) previous experience in helping others in a disaster predisposes individuals to be better prepared. Analyses also suggest the need for caution in creating simple summative indexes and the need for further research into appropriate measures of preparedness.

Conclusion

This population of older persons was generally not well prepared for emergencies, and this lack of preparedness was widespread across social, demographic, and economic groups in the United States. Findings with implications for policy and outreach include the importance of health care providers discussing preparedness and the use of experienced peers for outreach. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:80–89)
Sensationally Reading Ghana’sJoy-RideMagazine
Authors: de Bruijn Esther
Published: January 2017

This article argues that the 1980s and nineties popular literary magazineJoy-Rideattracted an exceptionally wide and regular readership by transposing the sensational aesthetics of Ghanaian oral narrative performance into the printed text.Joy-Rideretained its circulation in a period of devastating economic and sociopolitical tumult that resulted from an accumulation of natural disasters combined with the forced austerity measures of J. J. Rawling’s military government. Offering a collage of modern media such as serialized comics and photonovels, the magazine created intertextual associations with popular cultural experiences like Concert Party theatre and Ananse storytelling. Comics scholarship and affect and embodiment studies come together to support my position that the rich integration of text and image inJoy-Rideworked mnemonically to produce a sense of cultural vibrancy in the magazine narratives. This vitalism functioned, I argue, to sustain a feeling of cultural continuity for the magazine’s readership.
Morphological changes in the structure and function of the feeding appendages and foregut of the larvae and first juvenile of the freshwater prawnMacrobrachium acanthurus
Authors: Rocha Cristina P. , Quadros Manoel Luciano A. , Maciel Murilo , Maciel Cristiana R. , Abrunhosa Fernando A.
Published: January 2017

The present study describes the morphological changes of the mouthparts and foregut of the freshwater prawnM. acanthurusthat occur during the development of the larvae and first juvenile. The results indicate that the zoeae I have mouthparts with reduced setae and a structureless foregut that indicates obligatory lecithotrophic behaviour. There is an increase in the number of setae in these structures between the zoea II and the juvenile stage, indicating the adaptation of the organism for feeding. More complex structural alterations were observed in the first juvenile, which acquires benthonic habits, which ensure the capture and ingestion of a diversity of feeding resources found in the substrate.
Dissociation in patients with dissociative seizures: relationships with trauma and seizure symptoms
Authors: Pick S. , Mellers J. D. C. , Goldstein L. H.
Published: January 2017

Background

This study aimed to extend the current understanding of dissociative symptoms experienced by patients with dissociative (psychogenic, non-epileptic) seizures (DS), including psychological and somatoform types of symptomatology. An additional aim was to assess possible relationships between dissociation, traumatic experiences, post-traumatic symptoms and seizure manifestations in this group.

Method

A total of 40 patients with DS were compared with a healthy control group (n = 43), matched on relevant demographic characteristics. Participants completed several self-report questionnaires, including the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI), Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-20, Traumatic Experiences Checklist and the Post-Traumatic Diagnostic Scale. Measures of seizure symptoms and current emotional distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were also administered.

Results

The clinical group reported significantly more psychological and somatoform dissociative symptoms, trauma, perceived impact of trauma, and post-traumatic symptoms than controls. Some dissociative symptoms (i.e. MDI disengagement, MDI depersonalization, MDI derealization, MDI memory disturbance, and somatoform dissociation scores) were elevated even after controlling for emotional distress; MDI depersonalization scores correlated positively with trauma scores while seizure symptoms correlated with MDI depersonalization, derealization and identity dissociation scores. Exploratory analyses indicated that somatoform dissociation specifically mediated the relationship between reported sexual abuse and DS diagnosis, along with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

A range of psychological and somatoform dissociative symptoms, traumatic experiences and post-traumatic symptoms are elevated in patients with DS relative to healthy controls, and seem related to seizure manifestations. Further studies are needed to explore peri-ictal dissociative experiences in more detail.
Random spatial patterning of cone bipolar cell mosaics in the mouse retina
Authors: KEELEY PATRICK W. , KIM JASON J. , LEE SAMMY C.S. , HAVERKAMP SILKE , REESE BENJAMIN E.
Published: January 2017

Retinal bipolar cells spread their dendritic arbors to tile the retinal surface, extending them to the tips of the dendritic fields of their homotypic neighbors, minimizing dendritic overlap. Such uniform nonredundant dendritic coverage of these populations would suggest a degree of spatial order in the properties of their somal distributions, yet few studies have examined the patterning in retinal bipolar cell mosaics. The present study examined the organization of two types of cone bipolar cells in the mouse retina, the Type 2 cells and the Type 4 cells, and compared their spatial statistical properties with those of the horizontal cells and the cholinergic amacrine cells, as well as to random simulations of cells matched in density and constrained by soma size. The Delauney tessellation of each field was computed, from which nearest neighbor distances and Voronoi domain areas were extracted, permitting a calculation of their respective regularity indexes (RIs). The spatial autocorrelation of the field was also computed, from which the effective radius and packing factor (PF) were determined. Both cone bipolar cell types were found to be less regular and less efficiently packed than either the horizontal cells or cholinergic amacrine cells. Furthermore, while the latter two cell types had RIs and PFs in excess of those for their matched random simulations, the two types of cone bipolar cells had spatial statistical properties comparable to random distributions. An analysis of single labeled cone bipolar cells revealed dendritic arbors frequently skewed to one side of the soma, as would be expected from a randomly distributed population of cells with dendrites that tile. Taken together, these results suggest that, unlike the horizontal cells or cholinergic amacrine cells which minimize proximity to one another, cone bipolar cell types are constrained only by their physical size.
Testing for errors in estimating bird mortality rates at wind farms and power lines
Authors: FARFÁN MIGUEL ÁNGEL , DUARTE JESÚS , FA JULIA E. , REAL RAIMUNDO , VARGAS JUAN MARIO
Published: January 2017

Wind power, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is increasingly common, and is expanding worldwide. Wind farms cause mortality of flying animals through collision with moving rotor blades, and from electrocution on associated power lines. Avian mortality rates have been estimated from birds collected under turbines over varying time intervals. However, without adequate and frequent monitoring, dead birds may be removed by scavengers and thus cause an underestimation of fatalities. In this paper, we tested experimentally for possible errors arising in avian mortality caused by the removal of carcasses by scavengers. At two different wind farms and associated power lines in southern Spain, we placed pigeon and quail carcasses to determine their disappearance rate. All dead pigeons were radio-tagged to estimate distances taken by scavengers. We found significant differences in carcass disappearance rates of pigeons and quails, and between wind farms and power lines but not between habitats. All quails and 45% of pigeon carcasses had disappeared by the third and fourteenth day, respectively. Less than half (40%) of the carcasses were found < 100 m from where they were deposited. While scavenging losses may vary according to the location of the wind farm or power line, here we propose a method to estimate correctly the number of fatalities at any wind farm and power line. Using this method, we can improve our understanding of the real impact of wind structures on adjacent bird communities, and adopt appropriate measures to ensure their conservation.
Longevity shocks with age-dependent productivity growth
Authors: HEIJDRA BEN J. , REIJNDERS LAURIE S. M.
Published: January 2017

The aim of this paper is to study the long-run effects of a longevity increase on individual decisions about education and retirement, taking macroeconomic repercussions through endogenous factor prices and the pension system into account. We build a model of a closed economy inhabited by overlapping generations of finitely-lived individuals whose labour productivity depends on their age through the build-up of labour market experience and the depreciation of human capital. We make two contributions to the literature on the macroeconomics of population ageing. First, we show that it is important to recognize that a longer life need not imply a more productive life and that this matters for the affordability of an unfunded pension system. Second, we find that factor prices could move in a direction opposite to the one accepted as conventional wisdom following an increase in longevity, if this increase is accompanied by a sufficient decline in the rate of human capital depreciation.
Room-temperature chiral charge pumping in Dirac semimetals
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Zhang Enze , Wang Weiyi , Liu Yanwen , Chen Zhi-Gang , Lu Shiheng , Liang Sihang , Cao Junzhi , Yuan Xiang , Tang Lei , Li Qian , Zhou Chao , Gu Teng , Wu Yizheng , Zou Jin , Xiu Faxian
Published: January 2017

Chiral anomaly, a non-conservation of chiral charge pumped by the topological nontrivial gauge fields, has been predicted to exist in Weyl semimetals. However, until now, the experimental signature of this effect exclusively relies on the observation of negative longitudinal magnetoresistance at low temperatures. Here, we report the field-modulated chiral charge pumping process and valley diffusion in Cd3As2. Apart from the conventional negative magnetoresistance, we observe an unusual nonlocal response with negative field dependence up to room temperature, originating from the diffusion of valley polarization. Furthermore, a large magneto-optic Kerr effect generated by parallel electric and magnetic fields is detected. These new experimental approaches provide a quantitative analysis of the chiral anomaly phenomenon which was inaccessible previously. The ability to manipulate the valley polarization in topological semimetal at room temperature opens up a route towards understanding its fundamental properties and utilizing the chiral fermions.