bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation of microencapsulated phase change materials based on expanded polystyrene foam wastes
Authors: Shao Yifei , Jiang Haifeng , Li Shu , Yang Jiaqi , Zhang Mingyue , Li Junfeng
Published: April 2018

The ‘white pollution’ caused by expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam wastes has become a difficult problem in the world. In this study, the wasted EPS foam material was reused to prepare phase change material (PCM) in order to reduce its pollution to the environment. The phase separation method was adopted to build microencapsulated PCM and the paraffin wax was used as core material in this work. Their results showed that the impurities contained in polystyrene foam wastes almost had no impact on the samples. The particles had continuous surface and regular spherical structure. Compared to other PCMs, the latent heat of the PCM in this study is significantly increased, which is about 72.52 J/g. As mentioned above, the material prepared in this work can be considered as a potential phase change material.
Identification of galaxies that experienced a recent major drop of star formation
Authors: Ciesla L. , Elbaz D. , Schreiber C. , Daddi E. , Wang T.
Published: April 2018

Variations of star formation activity may happen on a large range of timescales and some of them are expected to be short, that is, a few hundred million years. The study of the physical processes linked to these rapid variations requires large statistical samples to pinpoint galaxies undergoing such transformations. Building upon a previous study, we define a method to blindly identify galaxies that have undergone, and may still be undergoing, a fast downfall of their star formation activity, that is, a more than 80% drop in star formation rate (SFR) occurring in less than 500 Myr. Modeling galaxies’ spectral energy distribution (SED) with a delayed-τ star formation history, with and without allowing an instantaneous SFR drop within the last hundred million years, we isolate 102 candidates out of a subsample of 6680 galaxies classified as “star forming” from the UVJ criterion in the ZFOURGE catalogs. These galaxies are mostly located in the lower part of the SFR-M* main sequence (MS) and extend up to a factor 100 below it. They also lie close to the limit between the passive and active regions on the UVJ diagram, indicating that they are in a transition phase. We show that the selected candidates have different physical properties compared to galaxies with similar UVJ colors, namely, lower SFRs and different stellar masses. The morphology of the candidates shows no preference for a particular type. Among the 102 candidates, only 4 show signs of a active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity (from X-ray luminosity or ultraviolet–infrared (UV–IR) SED fitting decomposition). This low fraction of AGNs among the candidates implies that AGN activity may not be the main driver of the recent downfall, although timescale differences and duty cycle must be taken into account. We finally attempt to recover the past position of these galaxies on the SFR-M* plane, before the downfall of their star formation and show that some of them were in the starburst region before, and are now back on the MS. These candidates constitute a promising sample that needs more investigation in order to understand the different mechanisms at the origin of the star formation decrease of the Universe since z ~ 2.
Fractional compound Poisson processes with multiple internal states
Authors: Xu Pengbo , Deng Weihua
Published: April 2018

For the particles undergoing the anomalous diffusion with different waiting time distributions for different internal states, we derive the Fokker-Planck and Feymann-Kac equations, respectively, describing positions of the particles and functional distributions of the trajectories of particles; in particular, the equations governing the functional distribution of internal states are also obtained. The dynamics of the stochastic processes are analyzed and the applications, calculating the distribution of the first passage time and the distribution of the fraction of the occupation time, of the equations are given. For the further application of the newly built models, we make very detailed discussions on the none-immediately-repeated stochastic process,e.g., the random walk of smart animals.
Uniform asymptotic stability of a fractional tuberculosis model
Authors: Wojtak Weronika , Silva Cristiana J. , Torres Delfim F.M.
Published: April 2018

We propose a Caputo type fractional-order mathematical model for the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis (TB). Uniform asymptotic stability of the unique endemic equilibrium of the fractional-order TB model is proved, for anyα∈ (0, 1). Numerical simulations for the stability of the endemic equilibrium are provided.
Advances in deformity correction, limb lengthening and reconstruction
Authors: Elbatrawy Yasser
Published: April 2018

This article summarizes the content of this special issue of the journal about: deformity correction, limb lengthening and reconstruction.
Brain Computer Interface (BCI) – Mit der Kraft der Gedanken
Authors: Stritzinger Björn
Published: April 2018

Ergotherapeut Björn Stritzinger arbeitet mit Gehirn-Computer-Schnittstellen. Mittels EEG, Elektrostimulation und Bildschirm gewinnen seine Patienten auch Jahre nach dem Schlaganfall noch motorische Fähigkeiten zurück.
Kolumne – Hilferuf aus der Selbsthilfegruppe
Authors: Schiewack Michael
Published: April 2018

Psychisch erkrankte Menschen luden Michael Schiewack ein, die ergotherapeutische Arbeit in ihrer Selbsthilfegruppe vorzustellen. Ein Abenteuer.
Proximal versus Distal Recipient Vessels in Lower Extremity Reconstruction: A Retrospective Series and Systematic Review
Authors: Borab Zachary , Rifkin William , Jacoby Adam , Lee Z-Hye , Anzai Lavinia , Ceradini Daniel , Thanik Vishal , Saadeh Pierre , Levine Jamie , Stranix John
Published: April 2018

Background Recipient vessels proximal to the zone of injury have traditionally been preferred for lower extremity reconstruction. However, more recent data have shown mixed outcomes when performing anastomoses distal to the zone of injury. We investigated the impact of recipient vessel location on free flap outcomes.

Methods Retrospective review (1979–2016); 312 soft tissue free flaps for open tibia fractures met inclusion criteria. Flap characteristics and perioperative outcomes were examined. Systematic review identified articles evaluating anastomosis location and flap outcomes; pooled data analysis was performed.

Results More anastomoses were performed proximal to the zone of injury (80.7%) than distal (19.3%). Distal anastomoses were not associated with increased take back rates (19.6%) compared with proximal (23.8%) anastomoses (p = 0.356). Regression analysis comparing proximal and distal anastomoses found no difference in partial flap failures (7.4% vs 11.9%; p = 0.978) or total flap failures (9.3% vs 9.3%; p = 0.815) when controlling for the presence of arterial injury, flap type, and time from injury to coverage. Systematic review yielded 11 articles with 1,245 proximal and 127 distal anastomoses for comparison. Pooled analysis (p = 0.58) and weighted comparative analysis (p = 0.39) found no difference in flap failure rates between proximal and distal groups.

Conclusion Our results are congruent with the current lower extremity literature and demonstrate no difference in perioperative complication rates between anastomoses performed proximal or distal to the zone of injury. These findings suggest that anastomotic location choice should be based primarily on recipient vessel quality/flow and ease of access/exposure rather than orientation relative to the zone of injury.
The da Vinci Xi Robotic Four-Arm Approach for Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy
Authors: Hadzijusufovic Edin , Ruurda Jelle Piet-Hein , Lang Hauke , van Hillegersberg Richard , Grimminger Peter Philipp
Published: April 2018

Robotic surgery is gaining importance in complex thoracoscopic surgery, such as robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE). The RAMIE procedure was designed using the first generation of the robotic system. The latest da Vinci Xi system has substantially increased the dexterity, especially designed for multiquadrant surgery. The original three-arm RAMIE approach was modified including the robotic four-arm use for the thoracoscopic and laparoscopic part of the operation. This extended approach (four-arm RAMIE approach) provides more flexibility and raises the independence of the surgeon.
Anorexie aus Klientensicht – „Ich habe überlebt“
Authors: Sarand Larissa
Published: April 2018

Larissa Sarand erkrankte mit 26 Jahren an Magersucht. Dabei hatte sie nie im Sinn, „mager“ zu werden oder einem vermeintlichen Schönheitsideal nachzueifern. Selbstzweifel und Verlust waren es, die sie dazu trieben und beinahe das Leben kosteten. Sie berichtet über die letzten Jahre und ihr Buch „Friss oder stirb“ – schonungslos, unverblümt und mit schwarzem Humor.
Spontaneous emission and atomic line shift in causal perturbation theory
Authors: Marzlin Karl-Peter , Fitzgerald Bryce
Published: April 2018

We derive a spontaneous emission rate and line shift for two-level atoms coupled to the radiation field using causal perturbation theory. In this approach, employing the theory of distribution splitting prevents the occurrence of divergent integrals. Our method confirms the result for an atomic decay rate but suggests that the cutoff frequency for the atomic line shift is determined by the atomic mass, rather than the Bohr radius or electron mass.
Enhancement of gravimetric forced flow through system to determine sorption, swelling, and mass transfer characteristics of liquid sorbents
Authors: Dresp G. , Petermann M. , Fieback T. M.
Published: April 2018

An existing apparatus for forced flow through of liquid sorbents has been enhanced with an optically accessible system including a transparent crucible, high pressure viewing cell, and camera. With this optical system, the active surface area between gas and liquid can be determined in situ for the first time under industrial process conditions while maintaining the accuracy of a magnetic suspension balance. Additionally, occurring swelling and the resulting buoyancy changes can now be corrected, further improving the quality of the data. Validation measurements focusing on the sorption isotherms, swelling, and bubble geometry of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate with nitrogen at 303 K and up to 17 MPa, as well as with carbon dioxide at 303 K, 323 K, and 373 K at up to 3.5 MPa were completed. Absorption of nitrogen resulted in no observable volume change, whereas absorption of carbon dioxide resulted in temperature independent swelling of up to 9.8%. The gas bubble’s structure and behavior during its ascend through the liquid was optically tracked in situ. Combining these two data sets with the absorption kinetics forms the basis to determine the measuring system independent mass transfer coefficients, which are applicable in other laboratory scale and industrial processes.
Polarized two-photon photoselection in EGFP: Theory and experiment
Authors: Masters T. A. , Marsh R. J. , Blacker T. S. , Armoogum D. A. , Larijani B. , Bain A. J.
Published: April 2018

In this work, we present a complete theoretical description of the excited state order created by two-photon photoselection from an isotropic ground state; this encompasses both the conventionally measured quadrupolar (K = 2) and the “hidden” degree of hexadecapolar (K = 4) transition dipole alignment, their dependence on the two-photon transition tensor and emission transition dipole moment orientation. Linearly and circularly polarized two-photon absorption (TPA) and time-resolved single- and two-photon fluorescence anisotropy measurements are used to determine the structure of the transition tensor in the deprotonated form of enhanced green fluorescent protein. For excitation wavelengths between 800 nm and 900 nm, TPA is best described by a single element, almost completely diagonal, two-dimensional (planar) transition tensor whose principal axis is collinear to that of the single-photon S0 → S1 transition moment. These observations are in accordance with assignments of the near-infrared two-photon absorption band in fluorescent proteins to a vibronically enhanced S0 → S1 transition.
Time-resolved stimulated emission depletion and energy transfer dynamics in two-photon excited EGFP
Authors: Masters T. A. , Robinson N. A. , Marsh R. J. , Blacker T. S. , Armoogum D. A. , Larijani B. , Bain A. J.
Published: April 2018

Time and polarization-resolved stimulated emission depletion (STED) measurements are used to investigate excited state evolution following the two-photon excitation of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). We employ a new approach for the accurate STED measurement of the hitherto unmeasured degree of hexadecapolar transition dipole moment alignment α40 present at a given excitation-depletion (pump-dump) pulse separation. Time-resolved polarized fluorescence measurements as a function of pump-dump delay reveal the time evolution of α40 to be considerably more rapid than predicted for isotropic rotational diffusion in EGFP. Additional depolarization by homo-Förster resonance energy transfer is investigated for both α20 (quadrupolar) and α40 transition dipole alignments. These results point to the utility of higher order dipole correlation measurements in the investigation of resonance energy transfer processes.
Influence of grid resolution in fluid-model simulation of nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator
Authors: Hua Weizhuo , Fukagata Koji
Published: April 2018

Two-dimensional numerical simulation of a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) plasma actuator, driven by a nanosecond voltage pulse, is conducted. A special focus is laid upon the influence of grid resolution on the computational result. It is found that the computational result is not very sensitive to the streamwise grid spacing, whereas the wall-normal grid spacing has a critical influence. In particular, the computed propagation velocity changes discontinuously around the wall-normal grid spacing about 2 μm due to a qualitative change of discharge structure. The present result suggests that a computational grid finer than that was used in most of previous studies is required to correctly capture the structure and dynamics of streamer: when a positive nanosecond voltage pulse is applied to the upper electrode, a streamer forms in the vicinity of upper electrode and propagates along the dielectric surface with a maximum propagation velocity of 2 × 108 cm/s, and a gap with low electron and ion density (i.e., plasma sheath) exists between the streamer and dielectric surface. Difference between the results obtained using the finer and the coarser grid is discussed in detail in terms of the electron transport at a position near the surface. When the finer grid is used, the low electron density near the surface is caused by the absence of ionization avalanche: in that region, the electrons generated by ionization is compensated by drift-diffusion flux. In contrast, when the coarser grid is used, underestimated drift-diffusion flux cannot compensate the electrons generated by ionization, and it leads to an incorrect increase of electron density.
Control of thermal conductivity with species mass in transition-metal dichalcogenides
Authors: Thomas Iorwerth O. , Srivastava G. P.
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we examine how the behaviour of the thermal conductivity of bulk and monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides XY2 in their 2-H form can be controlled with different choices of cation and anion masses. We employ a semi-ab-initio approach, which combines first-principles phonon eigensolutions, the elastic anharmonic Hamiltonian for phonon-phonon interactions, a quasi-harmonic scheme for the temperature-dependent Grüneisen's constant, and a relaxation-time solution of the Boltzmann transport equation. Our results confirm an earlier finding [Gu and Yang, Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, 131903 (2014)] that the thermal conductivity of 2-H MoS2 is lower than that of 2-H WS2 contrary to what would be expected from the relative masses of Mo and W and the relative stiffnesses of both compounds. In addition to confirming this anomaly as a result of the larger acoustic optical gap of WS2 relative to that of MoS2, it is found that where one constituent species is fixed, more profound changes on the thermal conductivity occur for different anion masses than for different cation masses. We explain how these behaviours arise from the dispersion relations of each compound and the anharmonic interactions of phonon modes, and its connection with the relative masses of the constituent species. This finding provides useful insight into which 2-H dichalcogenides might be suitable for which thermal applications.
Effect of PT symmetry on nonlinear waves for three-wave interaction models in the quadratic nonlinear media
Authors: Shen Yujia , Wen Zichao , Yan Zhenya , Hang Chao
Published: April 2018

We study the three-wave interaction that couples an electromagnetic pump wave to two frequency down-converted daughter waves in a quadratic optical crystal and PT-symmetric potentials. PT symmetric potentials are shown to modulate stably nonlinear modes in two kinds of three-wave interaction models. The first one is a spatially extended three-wave interaction system with odd gain-and-loss distribution in the channel. Modulated by the PT-symmetric single-well or multi-well Scarf-II potentials, the system is numerically shown to possess stable soliton solutions. Via adiabatical change of system parameters, numerical simulations for the excitation and evolution of nonlinear modes are also performed. The second one is a combination of PT-symmetric models which are coupled via three-wave interactions. Families of nonlinear modes are found with some particular choices of parameters. Stable and unstable nonlinear modes are shown in distinct families by means of numerical simulations. These results will be useful to further investigate nonlinear modes in three-wave interaction models.
Collective orientational dynamics of pinned chemically-propelled nanorotors
Authors: Robertson Bryan , Stark Holger , Kapral Raymond
Published: April 2018

Collections of chemically propelled nanomotors free to move in solution can form dynamic clusters with diverse properties as a result of interactions through hydrodynamic flow and concentration fields, as well as direct intermolecular interactions between motors. Here, we study the collective rotational behavior of pinned sphere-dimer motors where direct motor-motor interactions play no role. Since the centers of mass of the motors are pinned, they cannot execute directed translational motion, but they can pump fluid and rotate; thus, the rotors remain coupled through hydrodynamic and chemical fields. Using a microscopic simulation method that accounts for coupling through both these fields, we show that different rotor configurations with a high degree of correlation exist and their forms depend on the nature of the fluid-rotor interactions. The correlations are greatly reduced or completely destroyed when the chemical interactions are removed, indicating that hydrodynamic coupling, while present, plays a lesser role in determining the collective rotor dynamics. These conclusions are supported by Langevin dynamics simulations that neglect hydrodynamics and include an approximate form of coupling through chemical fields.
Non-Maxwellian fast particle effects in gyrokinetic GENE simulations
Authors: Di Siena A. , Görler T. , Doerk H. , Bilato R. , Citrin J. , Johnson T. , Schneider M. , Poli E. ,   JET Contributors
Published: April 2018

Fast ions have recently been found to significantly impact and partially suppress plasma turbulence both in experimental and numerical studies in a number of scenarios. Understanding the underlying physics and identifying the range of their beneficial effect is an essential task for future fusion reactors, where highly energetic ions are generated through fusion reactions and external heating schemes. However, in many of the gyrokinetic codes fast ions are, for simplicity, treated as equivalent-Maxwellian-distributed particle species, although it is well known that to rigorously model highly non-thermalised particles, a non-Maxwellian background distribution function is needed. To study the impact of this assumption, the gyrokinetic code GENE has recently been extended to support arbitrary background distribution functions which might be either analytical, e.g., slowing down and bi-Maxwellian, or obtained from numerical fast ion models. A particular JET plasma with strong fast-ion related turbulence suppression is revised with these new code capabilities both with linear and nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations. It appears that the fast ion stabilization tends to be less strong but still substantial with more realistic distributions, and this improves the quantitative power balance agreement with experiments.
A contact-force regulated photoplethysmography (PPG) platform
Authors: Sim Jai Kyoung , Ahn Bongyoung , Doh Il
Published: April 2018

A photoplethysmography (PPG) platform integrated with a miniaturized force-regulator is proposed in this study. Because a thermo-pneumatic type regulator maintains a consistent contact-force between the PPG probe and the measuring site, a consistent and stable PPG signal can be obtained. We designed and fabricated a watch-type PPG platform with an overall size of 35 mm × 19 mm. In the PPG measurement on the radial artery wrist while posture of the wrist is changed to extension, neutral, or flexion, regulation of the contact-force provides consistent PPG measurements for which the variations in the PPG amplitude (PPGA) was 7.2 %. The proposed PPG platform can be applied to biosignal measurements in various fields such as PPG-based ANS monitoring to estimate nociception, sleep apnea syndrome, and psychological stress.
Variation in methane production over time and physiological state in sheep
Authors: Oddy V. H. , Donaldson A. J. , Cameron M. , Bond J. , Dominik S. , Robinson D. L.
Published: April 2018

Livestock produce 10% of the total CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases in Australia, predominantly as methane from rumen fermentation. Genetic selection has the potential to reduce emissions and be adopted in Australian grazing systems. Developing a breeding objective for reduced methane emissions requires information about heritability, genetic relationships, when best to measure the trait and knowledge of the annual production of methane. Among- and within-animal variation in methane production, methane yield and associated traits were investigated, so as to determine the optimal time of measurement and the relationship between that measurement and the total production of methane. The present study measured 96 ewes for methane production, liveweight, feed intake, rumen volume and components, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and composition. Measurements were recorded at three ages and different physiological states, including growing (12 months), dry and pregnant (21 months) and dry (non-pregnant, non-lactating; 28 months of age). The single biggest determinant of methane production was feed intake, but there were additional effects of age, proportion of propionate to (acetate+butyrate) in rumen VFA, total VFA concentration and CO2 flux. Rumen volume and pregnancy status also significantly affected methane production. Methane production, CO2 flux, liveweight, feed intake and rumen volume had high repeatability (>65%), but repeatability of methane yield and VFA traits were low (<20%). There were no interactions between sire and age (or pregnancy status) for methane traits. This suggests that methane could be measured at any time in the production cycle. However, because MY is reduced during pregnancy, it might be best to measure methane traits in dry ewes (neither pregnant nor lactating).
Rafting dispersal in a brooding southern sea star (Asteroidea : Anasterias)
Authors: Waters Jonathan M. , King Tania M. , Fraser Ceridwen I. , Garden Chris
Published: April 2018

Marine biogeographers have long speculated that macroalgal rafting presents a dispersal mechanism for brooding marine invertebrates of the Southern Ocean, but few direct observations of rafting by echinoderm taxa have been documented. Here we report rafting of the brooding benthic sea star Anasterias suteri, along with two mollusc taxa (Onithochiton neglectus – also a brooder – and Cantharidus roseus), on detached bull-kelp Durvillaea antarctica in Foveaux Strait, southern New Zealand. The rafting journey, intercepted at sea, likely lasted for 2–3 weeks and may have covered several hundred kilometres. We use DNA sequences, together with meteorological and prevailing oceanographic data, to infer the likely Fiordland (mainland) origins of the raft and its epifauna. This rafting dispersal mechanism provides an explanation for the broad (circum-subantarctic) but disjunct distribution of brooding Anasterias populations, and for the genetic connectivity observed between their populations.
An expanded molecular phylogeny of metaine spiders (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) with description of new taxa from Taiwan and the Philippines
Authors: Kallal Robert J. , Hormiga Gustavo
Published: April 2018

Despite numerous phylogenetic analyses of the orb-weaving spider family Tetragnathidae, several relationships from the subfamily to species level are tenuous or unclear. One such example regards the validity and composition of the tetragnathid subfamily Metainae, which historically has mixed support and limited taxon sampling. Sequences for six genetic markers – 12S, 16S, 18S, 28S, cytochrome c oxidase I and histone H3 – were analysed for 78 taxa, including 10 that were completely new or with increased markers. Analysed in both maximum likelihood and Bayesian frameworks, we find good support for Metainae for the first time. The subfamily includes three previously described genera – Meta, Metellina and Dolichognatha – in addition to one described herein, Zhinu Kallal & Hormiga, gen. nov., from Taiwan. Also within Metainae, we synonymise Metellina with the monotypic Menosira and reaffirm the synonymy of Dolichognatha with Prolochus. Finally, we describe a new species of leucaugine tetragnathid from the Philippines, Orsinome megaloverpa, sp. nov., the second member of Orsinome to be placed in a phylogenetic context.
Association of health literacy with type 2 diabetes mellitus self-management and clinical outcomes within the primary care setting of Iran
Authors: Niknami Marzieh , Mirbalouchzehi Ali , Zareban Iraj , Kalkalinia Elahibakhsh , Rikhtgarha Gasem , Hosseinzadeh Hassan
Published: April 2018

This study explores the potential association of health literacy with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) self-management and clinical outcomes in the primary care setting of Iran. A total of 347 T2DM patients, mostly female (52.4%), 50 years old or younger (63.1%), unemployed (53.6%) and rural residents (55.6%) participated in this study. Most of the respondents had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for 2–5 years (63.1%) and did not receive any T2DM education (52.2%). Approximately 19.0% were hospitalised due to uncontrolled T2DM. Participants mainly found managing T2DM self-management behaviours difficult. Approximately half of the participants had poor fasting blood sugar (FBS) (47.0%) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (59.4%) control and were overweight or obese (77.6%). The level of health literacy was poor and most of the participants had difficulties reading hospital materials (66.0%), understanding medical materials (62.5%) and engaging in medical conversations (63.7%). Health literacy could predict 22.5% variance in difficulty of T2DM self-management and 3.8–23.3% variance in T2DM clinical outcomes after controlling for sociodemographic factors. Participants with higher health literacy were more likely to find managing T2DM less challenging and their clinical outcomes were within the normal range. This implies that interventions targeting patient’s health literacy can be a promising tool for addressing the burden of T2DM.
Polysaccharide hydrolase of the hadal zone amphipods Hirondellea gigas
Authors: Kobayashi Hideki , Nagahama Takahiko , Arai Wataru , Sasagawa Yohei , Umeda Mana , Hayashi Tetsutaro , Nikaido Itoshi , Watanabe Hiromi , Oguri Kazumasa , Kitazato Hiroshi , Fujioka Kantaro , Kido Yukari , Takami Hideto
Published: April 2018

Hirondellea species are common inhabitants in the hadal region deeper than 7,000 m. We found that Hirondellea gigas thrived in the Challenger Deep possessed polysaccharide hydrolases as digestive enzymes. To obtain various enzymes of other H. gigas, we captured amphipods from the Japan Trench, and Izu-Ogasawara (Bonin) Trench. A phylogenetic analysis based on the cytochrome oxidase I gene showed close relationships among amphipods, despite the geographic distance between the localities. However, several differences in enzymatic properties were observed in these H. gigas specimens. We also carried out RNA sequencing of H. gigas from the Izu-Ogasawara Trench. The cellulase gene of H. gigas was highly homologous to cellobiohydrolase of Glucosyl Hydrolase family 7 (GH7). On the other hand, enzymatic properties of H. gigas’s cellulase were different from those of typical GH7 cellobiohydrolase. Thus, these results indicate that hadal-zone amphipod can be good candidates as the new enzyme resource.
Influence of CuO nanoparticle on palm oil based alkyd resin preparation and its antimicrobial activity
Authors: Ruey Ong Huei , Khan Md. Maksudur Rahman , Ramli Ridzuan , Shein Hong Chi , Mohd Yunus Rosli
Published: April 2018

An alkyd resin has been synthesized from palm oil that reacted with glycerol and phthalic anhydride by alcoholysis-polyesterification process and co-catalyzed by CuO nanoparticle. The CuO nanoparticle was pre-prepared in the glycerol via sol gel method, which creates a new reaction condition for resin preparation. The resins were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), where a new ester linkage bond (C-O-C) was noticed for resin sample. The antimicrobial activity and the curing behaviour of the resin were determined by Kirby-Bauer and differential scanning calorimeter technique. It was found that, the addition of CuO speeded up the reaction rate and played antimicrobial role. Moreover, it shortens the reaction time of alcoholysis and polyesterification process.
Civilizing the political society? Redevelopment regime and Urban Poor’s Rights in Mumbai
Authors: Jha Rishi
Published: April 2018

This article is concerned with informality-state relations, subaltern politics and citizenship in the context of the urban redevelopment regime. Based on an empirical study of an NGO (SPARC)-mediated resettlement of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in Mumbai, it explicates the incomplete ‘civilizing of the political society’ which engenders asymmetrical material and leadership enablement and differential subjectivities at the community levels. The state co-opts SPARC’s institutional framework to mediate resettlement, engender limited traversal from ‘population’ to ‘citizen’, restrict democratic liberation and subject the PAPs to bifold governance against the antagonistic articulations of state-subaltern relations, viz. ‘political society’ and ‘deep democracy’. SPARC’s institutional claims of inclusion and community-centric resettlement, non-confrontational negotiations and politics of patience are materialized through institutional coercion, domesticated confrontations and inadequate compensation, and are augmented by the PAPs’ calculative rationalities, fear of homelessness and anticipation of urban citizenship. Against this backdrop and amid further post-resettlement marginalities that complicate housing-based ‘substantive citizenship’ and ‘political society’-based mediation, this article calls for a re-politicization of the redevelopment discourse to seek alternate possibilities of urban citizenship for the urban subaltern.
Tracking the NGS revolution: managing life science research on shared high-performance computing clusters
Authors: Dahlö Martin , Scofield Douglas G , Schaal Wesley , Spjuth Ola
Published: April 2018

Background

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed the life sciences, and many research groups are newly dependent upon computer clusters to store and analyze large datasets. This creates challenges for e-infrastructures accustomed to hosting computationally mature research in other sciences. Using data gathered from our own clusters at UPPMAX computing center at Uppsala University, Sweden, where core hour usage of ~800 NGS and ~200 non-NGS projects is now similar, we compare and contrast the growth, administrative burden, and cluster usage of NGS projects with projects from other sciences.

Results

The number of NGS projects has grown rapidly since 2010, with growth driven by entry of new research groups. Storage used by NGS projects has grown more rapidly since 2013 and is now limited by disk capacity. NGS users submit nearly twice as many support tickets per user, and 11 more tools are installed each month for NGS projects than for non-NGS projects. We developed usage and efficiency metrics and show that computing jobs for NGS projects use more RAM than non-NGS projects, are more variable in core usage, and rarely span multiple nodes. NGS jobs use booked resources less efficiently for a variety of reasons. Active monitoring can improve this somewhat.

Conclusions

Hosting NGS projects imposes a large administrative burden at UPPMAX due to large numbers of inexperienced users and diverse and rapidly evolving research areas. We provide a set of recommendations for e-infrastructures that host NGS research projects. We provide anonymized versions of our storage, job, and efficiency databases.
Accuracy Assessment of Pedicle and Lateral Mass Screw Insertion Assisted by Customized 3D-Printed Drill Guides: A Human Cadaver Study
Authors: Pijpker Peter A J , Kraeima Joep , Witjes Max J H , Oterdoom D L Marinus , Coppes Maarten H , Groen Rob J M , Kuijlen Jos M A
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Accurate cervical screw insertion is of paramount importance considering the risk of damage to adjacent vital structures. Recent research in 3-dimensional (3D) technology describes the advantage of patient-specific drill guides for accurate screw positioning, but consensus about the optimal guide design and the accuracy is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To find the optimal design and to evaluate the accuracy of individualized 3D-printed drill guides for lateral mass and pedicle screw placement in the cervical and upper thoracic spine.

METHODS

Five Thiel-embalmed human cadavers were used for individualized drill-guide planning of 86 screw trajectories in the cervical and upper thoracic spine. Using 3D bone models reconstructed from acquired computed tomography scans, the drill guides were produced for both pedicle and lateral mass screw trajectories. During the study, the initial minimalistic design was refined, resulting in the advanced guide design. Screw trajectories were drilled and the realized trajectories were compared to the planned trajectories using 3D deviation analysis.

RESULTS

The overall entry point and 3D angular accuracy were 0.76 ± 0.52 mm and 3.22 ± 2.34°, respectively. Average measurements for the minimalistic guides were 1.20 mm for entry points, 5.61° for the 3D angulation, 2.38° for the 2D axial angulation, and 4.80° for the 2D sagittal angulation. For the advanced guides, the respective measurements were 0.66 mm, 2.72°, 1.26°, and 2.12°, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The study ultimately resulted in an advanced guide design including caudally positioned hooks, crosslink support structure, and metal inlays. The novel advanced drill guide design yields excellent drilling accuracy.
The Relationship Between Experiences of Lateral Violence and Career Choice Satisfaction Among Nursing Students
Authors: Furst Cari
Published: April 2018

This article explores associate degree nursing students’ experiences with lateral violence and its impact on career choice satisfaction. Lateral violence has been linked to decreased professional identity, increased errors, and poor self-esteem, leading to a negative culture and attrition. A nonexperimental, quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design was used; 13.4 percent of respondents (n = 32) met the criteria for intermittent bullying. Analysis confirmed a significant negative correlation between experiences of lateral/vertical violence and career choice satisfaction (r = − .140, p < .05) even after controlling for affect and support. Improved efforts are needed to prevent lateral violence.
Is Short Same-Segment Fixation Really Better than Short-Segment Posterior Fixation in the Treatment of Thoracolumbar Fractures?
Authors: Ren Hai-long , Wang Ji-xing , Jiang Jian-ming
Published: April 2018

Study Design.

A retrospective study.

Objective.

This retrospective study assessed whether short same-segment fixation (SSSF) is better than short-segment posterior fixation (SSPF) for reducing thoracolumbar fractures, improving the kyphosis angle, maintaining vertebral height, or reducing the incidence of broken screws.

Summary of Background Data.

In clinical practice, single-segment thoracolumbar fractures were then more likely to be treated with SSPF that included pedicle fixation at the level of the fracture (short same-segment fixation, or SSSF). Whether SSSF could really achieve vertebral height recovery, improve the kyphosis, reduce postoperative kyphosis loss, and reduce the incidence of internal fixation failure better than SSPF.

Methods.

Patients treated with SSPF or SSSF at our institution during 2006 to 2014 were reviewed. Effects of thoracolumbar fracture reduction, improved kyphosis angle, and maintaining vertebral height were compared between groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to instrumentation breakage and correlation analysis to assess possible relations between loss of correction of the kyphosis angle (LAWAC) and other factors.

Results.

Altogether, 130 patients were enrolled (53 SSPF, 77 SSSF). SSPF (22F, 31M) group's mean (range) age was 37.7 (16–60) years, and the follow-up was 26.2 (9–120) months. SSSF (27F, 50M) group's mean (range) age was 39.3 (17–61) years, and the follow-up was 23.2 (9–60) months. All patients underwent either internal fixation or screw repair. Immediately postoperatively, restoration after middle vertebral fractures was better in SSSF patients than in SSPF patients (P = 0.003), with no differences in other fracture-related factors (P > 0.05). Only LAWAC was significantly associated with instrumentation breakage (P < 0.05). Also, immediately postoperatively, the anterior/posterior vertebral heights ratio was negatively related to LAWAC.

Conclusion.

Pedicle fixation of the fracture did not obtain better recovery of anterior or posterior vertebral heights nor did it improve AWA restoration. There was no significant difference in LAWAC between groups or in the incidence of broken screws. LAWAC may increase the incidence of broken screws.

Level of Evidence: 4
Urgent Pelvic Exenteration: Should the Indication Be Extended?
Authors: Thiptanakit Charnjiroj , Chowchankit Irin , Panya Sirinya , Kanjanasilp Prapon , Malakorn Songphol , Pattana-arun Jirawat , Sahakitrungruang Chucheep
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND:

Pelvic exenteration carries significant risks of morbidity and mortality. Preoperative management is therefore crucial, and the exenteration procedure is usually performed in an elective setting. In cases of rectal cancer, however, tumor-related complications may cause a patient’s condition to deteriorate rapidly, despite optimal management. Urgent pelvic exenteration then may be an option for these patients.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aims to compare the outcomes of pelvic exenteration between the urgent and elective settings.

DESIGN:

This is a retrospective study.

SETTING:

This study was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital between February 2006 and June 2012.

PATIENTS:

Fifty-three patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were included.

INTERVENTION:

All patients underwent pelvic exenteration for locally advanced rectal cancer. They were assigned to urgent and elective setting groups according to their preoperative conditions. The urgent setting group included patients who required urgent pelvic exenteration because of intestinal obstruction, bowel perforation, bleeding, or uncontrolled sepsis, despite optimal management preoperatively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Twenty-six patients were classified in the urgent setting group, and 27 were classified in the elective setting group. Three-year overall and disease-free survivals were compared between the 2 groups. Thirty-day postoperative morbidity and mortality were also studied.

RESULTS:

Three-year overall survival was 62.2% and 54.4% in the elective and urgent groups (p = 0.7), whereas three-year disease-free survival was 43% and 63.8% (p = 0.33). The median follow-up time was 33 months. Thirty-day morbidity did not differ between the 2 groups (p = 0.49). A low serum albumin level was a significant risk factor for complications. There was no postoperative mortality in this study.

LIMITATIONS:

This was a retrospective study performed at 1 institution, and it lacked quality-of-life scores.

CONCLUSION:

Pelvic exenteration in an urgent setting is feasible and could offer acceptable outcomes. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A591.
Can Survival Bias Explain the Age Attenuation of Racial Inequalities in Stroke Incidence?
Authors: Mayeda Elizabeth Rose , Banack Hailey R. , Bibbins-Domingo Kirsten , Zeki Al Hazzouri Adina , Marden Jessica R. , Whitmer Rachel A. , Glymour M. Maria
Published: April 2018

Background:

In middle age, stroke incidence is higher among black than white Americans. For unknown reasons, this inequality decreases and reverses with age. We conducted simulations to evaluate whether selective survival could account for observed age patterning of black–white stroke inequalities.

Methods:

We simulated birth cohorts of 20,000 blacks and 20,000 whites with survival distributions based on US life tables for the 1919–1921 birth cohort. We generated stroke incidence rates for ages 45–94 years using Reasons for Geographic and Racial Disparities in Stroke (REGARDS) study rates for whites and setting the effect of black race on stroke to incidence rate difference (IRD) = 20/10,000 person-years at all ages, the inequality observed at younger ages in REGARDS. We compared observed age-specific stroke incidence across scenarios, varying effects ofU, representing unobserved factors influencing mortality and stroke risk.

Results:

Despite a constant adverse effect of black race on stroke risk, the observed black–white inequality in stroke incidence attenuated at older age. When the hazard ratio forUon stroke was 1.5 for both blacks and whites, butUonly directly influenced mortality for blacks (hazard ratio forUon mortality =1.5 for blacks; 1.0 for whites), stroke incidence rates in late life were lower among blacks (average observed IRD = −43/10,000 person-years at ages 85–94 years versus causal IRD = 20/10,000 person-years) and mirrored patterns observed in REGARDS.

Conclusions:

A relatively moderate unmeasured common cause of stroke and survival could fully account for observed age attenuation of racial inequalities in stroke.
DIFFERENCES IN REFRACTIVE OUTCOMES BETWEEN PHACOEMULSIFICATION FOR CATARACT ALONE AND COMBINED PHACOEMULSIFICATION AND VITRECTOMY FOR EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE
Authors: Shi Lynn , Chang Jonathan S. , Suh Leejee H. , Chang Stanley
Published: April 2018

Purpose:

To determine whether preoperative adjustments are required for intraocular lens calculations in combined phacovitrectomy surgery.

Methods:

A single-center, retrospective study of 50 eyes that underwent combined phacovitrectomy and a control group of 50 eyes after cataract surgery over a 3-year period by a single anterior segment surgeon and a single posterior segment surgeon. Main outcome measures were predicted refractive error (RE), as determined by SRK/T and Holladay 1 formulas, change compared with actual RE, surgically induced astigmatism, and the relationships between preoperative central foveal thickness or change in central foveal thickness and final RE.

Results:

The differences in predicted and final RE between groups were not statistically significant between groups when both SRK/T and Holladay 1 formulas were used (P > 0.05). Regardless of the formula used, final RE was neither significantly hyperopic nor myopic as compared to the target. There was no difference in surgically induced astigmatism between the two groups. Increased preoperative central foveal thickness was correlated with greater difference between predicted and actual RE. No relationship was noted between change in central foveal thickness and RE.

Conclusion:

Combined phacovitrectomy for concurrent cataract epiretinal membrane by experienced cataract and vitreoretinal surgeons seems to deliver as predictable refractive results as cataract surgery alone.
EXPERIENCE WITH OCRIPLASMIN IN PATIENTS WITH VITREOMACULAR TRACTION SYNDROME: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 10 PATIENTS
Authors: Bormann Caroline , Apitzsch Bianca C. , Habermann Anke , Hammer Ute , Hammer Thomas
Published: April 2018

Purpose:

To assess the efficacy of ocriplasmin in patients with vitreomacular traction (VMT) syndrome <1,500 μm with or without a full-thickness macular holes of <400 μm.

Methods:

In this study, a retrospective analysis of 10 eyes of 10 patients with VMT who were treated with ocriplasmin between December 2014 and January 2016 was performed. Ocriplasmin 0.125 mg was injected only once in all cases. Outcome measures included the detachment of VMT, best-corrected visual acuity, the evaluation of optical coherence tomography, including the closure of full-thickness macular holes, and the reduction of macular edema (if present) and the decrease of metamorphopsia if present.

Results:

Ten patients (7 women and 3 men) with an average age of 75.1 years (range, 63–84 years) were treated with ocriplasmin with a follow-up period of 8 weeks. All patients were treated for VMT syndrome, and 5 patients (50.0%) showed an additional macular hole. An absolute detachment of VMT was seen in 3 patients (30.0%) and partially in 4 patients (40.0%). In three of the five patients, a complete closure of the full-thickness macular holes was seen. The two other patients needed an additional pars plana vitrectomy as a result of the persistent macular hole. An improvement of visual acuity was seen in 6 out of 10 patients (60.0%), a reduction of macular edema in 8 out of 9 patients (88.9%), and a decrease of metamorphopsia in 6 out of 7 patients (85.7%).

Conclusion:

In this retrospective analysis, the treatment with ocriplasmin showed a resolution of VMT in 7 of 10 patients (70.0%) after a follow-up period of 8 weeks.
Use of Cerebrospinal Fluid (1,3)-β-d-Glucan to Monitor Treatment Response in Candida albicans Meningitis in an HIV-infected Patient
Authors: Moran Caitlin A. , Terry Charles , Nguyen Minh Ly T. , Sheth Anandi N.
Published: April 2018

Candida meningitis is rare in the setting of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and often presents a diagnostic challenge. Its clinical features typically mimic those of cryptococcal or tuberculous meningitis and Candida can be difficult to culture from cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, optimal treatment and monitoring parameters are not well defined. Cerebrospinal fluid levels of (1,3)-β-d-glucan, which is a component of the fungal cell wall, have been used to diagnose and monitor response to therapy in other cases of fungal meningitis, but its utility in the setting of Candida meningitis and HIV infection is less clear. Here, we present a case of spontaneous Candida albicans meningitis in a woman with advanced HIV infection and report on the clinical utility of cerebrospinal fluid (1,3)-β-d-glucan for diagnosis and monitoring of chronic infection.