bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concurrent Treatment of 1,4‐Dioxane and Chlorinated Aliphatics in a Groundwater Recirculation System Via Aerobic Cometabolism
Authors: Chu Min‐Ying Jacob , Bennett Peter J. , Dolan Mark E. , Hyman Michael R. , Peacock Aaron D. , Bodour Adria , Anderson Richard Hunter , Mackay Douglas M. , Goltz Mark N.
Published: May 2018

This research demonstrates that groundwater contaminated by a relatively dilute but persistent concentration of 1,4‐dioxane (1,4‐D), approximately 60 μg/L, and chlorinated aliphatic co‐contaminants (1.4 to 10 μg/L) can be efficiently and reliably treated by in situ aerobic cometabolic biodegradation (ACB). A field trial lasting 265 days was conducted at Operable Unit D at the former McClellan Air Force Base and involved establishing an in situ ACB reactor through amending recirculated groundwater with propane and oxygen. The stimulated indigenous microbial population was able to consistently degrade 1,4‐D to below 3 μg/L while the co‐contaminants trichloroethene (TCE) and 1,2‐dichloroethane (1,2‐DCA) were decreased to below 1 μg/L and 0.18 μg/L, respectively. A stable treatment efficiency of more than 95% removal for 1,4‐D and 1,2‐DCA and of more than 90% removal for TCE was achieved. High treatment efficiencies for 1,4‐D and all co‐contaminants were sustained even without propane and oxygen addition for a 2‐week period.
Root surface alterations following manual and mechanical scaling: A comparative study
Authors: Maritato M , Orazi L , Laurito D , Formisano G , Serra E , Lollobrigida M , Molinari A , De Biase A
Published: May 2018

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological and surface roughness changes in dental root samples following periodontal scaling by hand curette, piezoelectric ultrasonic devices or a combination of these.

Methods

Twenty‐four monoradicular teeth extracted as a result of periodontal disease were divided into 4 groups: Group A was treated by piezoelectric ultrasonic scaler Piezon® Master 400; Group P by piezoelectric ultrasonic scaler PiezoSmart®; Group C using Gracey curette 7/8; Group AC by a combined technique of piezoelectric ultrasonic scaler Piezon® Master 400 and Gracey curette 7/8. The treated samples were then analysed using a white light interferometer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Results

Roughness analysis revealed major surface alterations in Group C (Sa = 24.98 μm); the samples treated using the combined technique (Group AC) showed reduced but still significant alteration (Sa = 14.48 μm), while samples treated with the piezoelectric ultrasonic devices (Group A and Group P) presented the lowest roughness values (Sa = 8.99 and Sa = 4.45 μm, respectively). A significant difference was found between groups C and P (P = 0.036). SEM analysis confirmed the roughness analysis revealing non‐homogeneous surfaces in Group C, while a less morphological alteration was noted in the other groups.

Conclusion

All periodontal devices used in this in vitro study produced a certain degree of surface alteration. Hand curettes appear to have a major impact on surface integrity compared with piezoelectric ultrasonic devices.
Glucose transporter‐1 (GLUT‐1) expression in psoriasis: correlation with disease severity
Authors: Hodeib Abeer A.‐H. , Neinaa Yomna M.E.‐H. , Zakaria Soha S. , Alshenawy Hanan A.‐S.
Published: May 2018

Background

Epidermal hyperproliferation with abnormal differentiation, inflammation, and angiogenesis are the key features of psoriasis. Glucose transporter‐1 (GLUT‐1) is a member of facilitative sugar transporters that are integral membrane glycoproteins moving sugar across cell membrane.

Objective

The objective of this study was to study the GLUT‐1 expression in psoriasis.

Patients and methods

Forty patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 20 healthy individuals were included in the study. Skin biopsies were taken from lesional and nonlesional skin of psoriasis patients as well as normal skin of control subjects. All were examined for GLUT‐1 antibody expression by immunohistochemistry and GLUT‐1 mRNA expression by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). In addition, specimens of psoriasis lesions were stained by hematoxylin and eosin and CD31 for morphometric analysis of histopathological parameters.

Results

The intensity of GLUT‐1 immunohistochemical expression and the relative levels of GLUT‐1 mRNA expression in psoriasis lesions were upregulated in lesional skin of psoriasis patients in comparison with their nonlesional skin as well as normal control skin. GLUT‐1 expression in psoriasis lesions showed significant positive correlations with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, mean of epidermal thickness, inflammatory cell density, and microvessel density.

Conclusion

Glucose transporter‐1 could play a role not only in the onset of psoriasis but also in the progression and severity of the disease. It may participate in the pathogenesis of psoriasis through the facilitation of epidermal hyperproliferation, inflammation, and angiogenesis.
Mixed coordination mechanisms for scheduling games on hierarchical machines
Authors: Chen Qianqian , Tan Zhiyi
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we study scheduling games under mixed coordination mechanisms on hierarchical machines. The two scheduling policies involved are ‐ and ‐, where ‐ (resp., ‐) policy sequences jobs in nondecreasing order of their hierarchies, and jobs of the same hierarchy in nonincreasing (resp., nondecreasing) order of their processing times. We first show the existence of a Nash equilibrium. Then we present the price of anarchy and the price of stability for the games with social costs of minimizing the makespan and maximizing the minimum machine load. All the bounds given in this paper are tight.
Using kernel density estimation to model surgical procedure duration
Authors: Taaffe Kevin , Pearce Bryan , Ritchie Gilbert
Published: May 2018

Estimating the length of surgical cases is an important research topic due to its significant effect on the accuracy of the surgical schedule and operating room (OR) efficiency. Several factors can be considered in the estimation, for example, surgeon, surgeon experience, case type, case start time, etc. Some of these factors are correlated, and this correlation needs to be considered in the prediction model in order to have an accurate estimation. Extensive research exists that identifies the preferred estimation methods for cases that occur frequently. However, in practice, there are many procedure types with limited historical data, which makes it hard to use common statistical methods (such as regression) that rely on a large number of data points. Moreover, only point estimates are typically provided. In this research, kernel density estimation (KDE) is implemented as an estimator for the probability distribution of surgery duration, and a comparison against lognormal and Gaussian mixture models is reported, showing the efficiency of the KDE. In addition, an improvement procedure for the KDE that further enables the algorithm to outperform other methods is proposed. Based on the analysis, KDE can be recommended as an alternative estimator of surgical duration for cases with low volume (or limited historical data).
Effect of particle size on the optical properties of lead zirconate titanate nanopowders
Authors: Pakizeh Esmaeil , Moradi Mahmood
Published: May 2018

Nanopowder samples of lead zirconate titanate (Pb1.1Zr0.52Ti0.48O3 or PZT) were prepared by the sol‐gel method with controlled pH values. The samples were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, FE‐SEM, and TEM techniques. Most of the peaks in the XRD pattern were related to the coexistence of tetragonal‐rhombohedral phases and confirmed the formation of PZT with a perovskite structure. Also, the crystallite size of PZT nanopowders was in a range of 17‐28 nm. FTIR spectroscopy revealed a longitudinal optical (LO) and transverse optical (TO) phonon modes corresponding to the stretching vibration of Ti‐O and Zr‐O bonds. The influence of pH values on the LO and TO phonon modes, LO‐TO splitting, refractive index n(ω), extinction coefficient k(ω), and the real ɛ1(ω) and imaginary ɛ2(ω) parts of dielectric function was discussed. These properties were investigated in the mid‐infrared region (450‐750 cm−1). The energy loss function Im[−1/(ɛ)] of PZT nanopowders was obtained by Kramers‐Kronig dispersion relations. The TO phonon frequency decreases with increasing crystallite size of the PZT samples. This effect does not happen at pH 8 to pH 9. As the crystallite size increased from 17.26 nm (at pH 5) to 27.25 nm (at pH 7), the LO‐TO splitting increased as well. This result showed that the optimum pH for absorption of IR radiation and optical application was at pH 7.
Emerging role of exosome signalling in maintaining cancer stem cell dynamic equilibrium
Authors: Sun Zhen , Wang Li , Dong Lihua , Wang Xiujie
Published: May 2018

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subset of heterogeneous cells existed in tumour tissues or cancer cell lines with self‐renewal and differentiation potentials. CSCs were considered to be responsible for the failure of conventional therapy and tumour recurrence. However, CSCs are not a static cell population, CSCs and non‐CSCs are maintained in dynamic interconversion state by their self‐differentiation and dedifferentiation. Therefore, targeting CSCs for cancer therapy is still not enough,exploring the mechanism of dynamic interconversion between CSCs and non‐CSCs and blocking the interconversion seems to be imperative. Exosomes are 30‐100 nm size in diameter extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by multiple living cells into the extracellular space. They contain cell‐state‐specific bioactive materials, including DNA, mRNA, ncRNA, proteins, lipids, etc. with their specific surface markers, such as, CD63, CD81, Alix, Tsg101, etc. Exosomes have been considered as information carriers in cell communication between cancer cells and non‐cancer cells, which affect gene expressions and cellular signalling pathways of recipient cells by delivering their contents. Now that exosomes acted as information carriers, whether they played role in maintaining dynamic equilibrium state between CSCs and non‐CSCs and their mechanism of activity are unknown. This review summarized the current research advance of exosomes’ role in maintaining CSC dynamic interconversion state and their possible mechanism of action, which will provide a better understanding the contribution of exosomes to dedifferentiation and stemness acquisition of non‐CSCs, and highlight that exosomes might be taken as the attractive target approaches for cancer therapeutics.
The correlation between intensive care unit attending physician continuity of care with financial and clinical outcomes
Authors: Selvam Pooja V. , Furqan Muhammad M. , York Sarah , Vaidya Dhananjay , Hoang Etter , Trost Jeffrey C. , Williams Marlene S. , Chandra‐Strobos Nisha , Zakaria Sammy
Published: May 2018

Purpose

“Attending rotations” on intensive care unit (ICU) services have been in place in most teaching hospitals for decades. However, the ideal frequency of patient care handoffs is unknown. Frequent attending physician handoffs could result in delays in care and other complications, while too few handoffs can lead to provider burnout and exhaustion. Therefore, we sought to determine the correlation between frequency of attending shifts with ICU charges, 30‐day readmission rates, and mortality rates.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study at a large, urban, academic community hospital in Baltimore, MD. We included patients admitted into the cardiac or medical ICUs between September 1, 2012, and December 10, 2015. We tracked the number of attending shifts for each patient and correlated shifts with financial outcomes as a primary measure.

Results

For any given ICU length of stay, we found no distinct association between handoff frequency and charges, 30‐day readmission rates, or mortality rates.

Conclusions

Despite frequent handoffs in care, there was no objective evidence of care compromise or differences in cost. Further validation of these observations in a larger cohort is justified.
On Quality and Variety Bias in Aggregate Prices
Authors: HAMANO MASASHIGE , ZANETTI FRANCESCO
Published: May 2018

How do product variety and quality affect the aggregate price bias? We develop a general equilibrium model that accounts for the joint interaction of product quality and variety. Our findings show that the aggregate price bias is procyclical and the contribution of product variety is persistent whereas the contribution of product quality becomes countercyclical in the medium to long run. We show that accounting for product quality and variety has critical implications on the measure of cyclical fluctuations. Measurements of cyclical fluctuations derived using the consumption deflator, which abstracts from changes in product quality and variety, underestimate the variables' true volatility.
Kidney symptom questionnaire: Development, content validation and relationship with quality of life
Authors: Brown Stephanie A. , Tyrer Freya , Clarke Amy L. , Lloyd‐Davies Laetitia H. , Niyi‐Odumosu Faatihah A. , Nah Ryan Guo Quan , Stein Andrew G. , Tarrant Carolyn , Smith Alice C.
Published: May 2018

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a range of symptoms, even at early stages. The importance of patient symptom experience is increasingly recognised, but validated symptom scores are lacking.

Objectives

This study aimed to refine an existing symptom questionnaire for use with patients not requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT), carry out content validity testing and explore convergent validity by comparing symptom scores with quality of life (QoL).

Design

A mixed‐methods approach involving questionnaires, semi‐structured interviews and a focus group.

Participants

Patients with CKD not undergoing RRT and expert health professionals.

Approach

Two hundred and nineteen patients completed an existing symptom questionnaire. The most commonly reported symptoms were identified, and descriptions refined in 11 semi‐structured interviews. The questionnaire design was reviewed by a focus group. Content validity was established by a panel of expert health professionals. Seventy patients completed both the symptom questionnaire and a health‐related QoL questionnaire (EQ‐5D‐5L).

Results

Thirteen common symptoms were identified. During the content validity phase, 13/16 experts responded (81%); 10/13 symptoms had ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ evaluation scores, and the content validity index of the whole questionnaire was 0.81, falling within the recommended threshold. Total symptom frequency scores, number of symptoms and the frequencies of 10/13 individual symptoms were all strongly associated with health‐related QoL (EQ‐5D‐5L index score; p < 0.002 for all).

Conclusion

This work has provided a new, validated symptom score for patients with CKD not requiring RRT for clinical management and research purposes.
The impact of stress on sleep: Pathogenic sleep reactivity as a vulnerability to insomnia and circadian disorders
Authors: Kalmbach David A. , Anderson Jason R. , Drake Christopher L.
Published: May 2018

Sleep reactivity is the trait‐like degree to which stress exposure disrupts sleep, resulting in difficulty falling and staying asleep. Individuals with highly reactive sleep systems experience drastic deterioration of sleep when stressed, whereas those with low sleep reactivity proceed largely unperturbed during stress. Research shows that genetics, familial history of insomnia, female gender and environmental stress influence how the sleep system responds to stress. Further work has identified neurobiological underpinnings for sleep reactivity involving disrupted cortical networks and dysregulation in the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis. Sleep reactivity is most pathologically and clinically pertinent when in excess, such that high sleep reactivity predicts risk for future insomnia disorder, with early evidence suggesting high sleep reactivity corresponds to severe insomnia phenotypes (sleep onset insomnia and short sleep insomnia). High sleep reactivity is also linked to risk of shift‐work disorder, depression and anxiety. Importantly, stress‐related worry and rumination may exploit sensitive sleep systems, thereby augmenting the pathogenicity of sleep reactivity. With the development of cost‐effective assessment of sleep reactivity, we can now identify individuals at risk of future insomnia, shift‐work disorder and mental illness, thus identifying a target population for preventive intervention. Given that insomniacs with high sleep reactivity tend to present with severe insomnia phenotypes, patient sleep reactivity may inform triaging to different levels of treatment. Future research on sleep reactivity is needed to clarify its neurobiology, characterize its long‐term prospective associations with insomnia and shift‐work disorder phenotypes, and establish its prognostic value for mental illness and other non‐sleep disorders.
Miscarriage, Religious Participation, and Mental Health
Authors: Petts Richard J.
Published: May 2018

Approximately 15–20 percent of pregnancies result in miscarriage, yet pregnancy loss remains a socially taboo topic and one that has received limited attention in the literature. Utilizing nationally representative longitudinal data from the NLSY97, this study examines the influence of miscarriage on mental health and whether this relationship is moderated by religious participation. Results from this study suggest that miscarriage is associated with lower mental health among women who also experience a live birth. Results also suggest that religious participation moderates the relationship between miscarriage and mental health; religion is more likely to lead to increases in mental health among women who experience a miscarriage than among women who do not experience a miscarriage. Overall, evidence suggests that religion may be an important coping mechanism for women who deal with pregnancy loss.
Histopathologic features of an autopsied patient with cerebral small vessel disease and a heterozygous HTRA1 mutation
Authors: Ito Junko , Nozaki Hiroaki , Toyoshima Yasuko , Abe Takashi , Sato Aki , Hashidate Hideki , Igarashi Shuichi , Onodera Osamu , Takahashi Hitoshi , Kakita Akiyoshi
Published: May 2018

Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) is a hereditary cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations of the high temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 gene (HTRA1). Affected patients suffer from cognitive impairment, recurrent strokes, lumbago and alopecia. Recently, clinical studies have indicated that some patients with heterozygous mutations in HTRA1 may also suffer CSVD. Here, we report the histopathologic features of an autopsied 55‐year‐old male patient who had shown cognitive impairment and multiple cerebral infarcts, and was found to have a heterozygous missense mutation (p.R302Q) in the HTRA1 gene. Histologically, small vessels in the brain and spinal cord showed intimal proliferation, splitting of the internal elastic lamina, and degeneration of smooth muscle cells in the tunica media. Thus, although less severe, the features were quite similar to those of patients with CARASIL, indicating that patients with heterozygous mutations develop CSVD through underlying pathomechanisms similar to those of CARASIL.
Assignment of cytomegalovirus infection status in infants awaiting solid organ transplant: Viral detection methods as adjuncts to serology
Authors: Burton Catherine E. , Dragan Tatiana , Mabilangan Curtis A. , O’Brien Sheila F. , Fearon Margaret , Scalia Vito , Preiksaitis Jutta K.
Published: May 2018

Assignment of CMV infection status in infants awaiting SOT is challenging as passive maternal antibody can lead to false‐positive serology. Since 2000, our protocol has recommended sending throat and urine samples for CMV viral detection, culture, or NAAT, for CMV‐seropositive infants <18 months awaiting SOT. We reviewed pretransplant CMV serology for 152 infants and, for CMV seropositives, examined relationships between CMV IgG OD values, age, and CMV viral detection to explore time to clearance of maternal CMV IgG and evaluate viral detection in assignment of pretransplant CMV infection status. The proportion of CMV‐seropositive infants decreased from 52% in infants 0‐6 months of age to 28% in those 12‐18 months. Among CMV‐seropositive infants, median OD was significantly higher in the 6‐ to 12‐ and 12‐ to 18‐month groups compared to the 0‐ to 6‐month group. Distribution of OD by age group suggested that maternal antibody cleared before 12 months. Of 59 eligible CMV‐seropositive infants, 49 (83%) had CMV viral detection studies and 18 of 49 (36.7%) had detectable CMV: 9 of 30 (30.0%) infants 0‐6 months, 7 of 15 (46.7%) infants 6‐12 months, and 2 of 4 (50.0%) infants 12‐18 months. CMV viral detection studies are useful to confirm positive CMV infection status in CMV‐seropositive infants awaiting SOT. Maternal CMV IgG likely clears before 12 months.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Zambia: Socio-demographic Determinants and Association with Use of Maternal Health Care
Authors: Simona Simona , Muchindu Mazuba , Ntalasha Harriet
Published: May 2018

This study used the 2013-2014 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) data to examine, on one hand, the socio-demographic characteristics associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) and, on the other hand, the relationship between IPV and maternal health care (place of delivery and ANC visits) utilization. The findings indicate that women’s characteristics including marital status, household wealth, witnessing parental violence and attitudes justifying wife beating were significantly associated with reporting experience of IPV. Partner characteristics significantly associated with IPV were alcohol consumption and jealous behaviour. In this study, IPV was not found to be strongly associated with use of maternal health care. The study indicates that gender inequality and problematic cultural norms that privilege men with power over women still exist in Zambia, and thus IPV preventive strategies should incorporate means of toning down such norms to enhance the welfare of women.
Effects of Peer Education on Attitudes of Secondary School Students Towards the Course of Physical Education and Sports
Authors: Karadağ Mustafa , Ağirtaş Resul , Pulur Atilla
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this study is to determine the changes in student attitudes towards the course of Physical Education and Sports as well as in students' development of skill as a result of using Peer Education in the course of Physical Education and Sports in secondary schools.The study was conducted with a total of 120 students, who studied in the 7th grade at Atatürk Secondary School located in the Province of Elazığ, District of Maden and at Cumhuriyet Secondary School located in the District of Sivrice, in the second term of 2015-2016 school year. The students in the sample group were divided into two 30-person groups, namely the control group and the experimental group. For heterogeneous selection of the students, the student selection was conducted by applying the Peer Educator Observation Form and the "Who is this?" Test in the classroom. The process was explained to the designated peer educators and their voluntary consent forms were obtained. "The Course of Physical Education Attitude Scale" was applied to all students before starting the process. After providing the students comprising the experimental group with the necessary information about peer education, the lessons were taught through the method of peer education. And in the control group, the course of physical education and sports was conducted through the traditional teaching methods. At the end of 4 weeks of application, "The Course of Physical Education Attitude Scale" was reapplied to both the experimental group and the control group.The attitude scale was applied twice, before and after the education. The qualitative data were obtained from the diaries of the physical education teachers and students. In the analysis of the data, for qualitative dimension, descriptive analysis, for quantitative data, %, frequency, for repetitive measurements, t test and one-way variance analysis were used. The SPSS (22) package program was used for the analysis of the quantitative data. The quantitative data were explained through tabulation. Again, the data obtained from observation forms were presented in the form of tables with their frequency and percentage values. Themes were obtained by coding the qualitative data.At the end of the research, the education received by the students in the experimental and control groups led to a significant difference in pre- and post-program attitude level in favor of the end-test. However, it was determined that being in different groups did not lead to a significant difference in students' attitude scores.
Using Classroom Observation Scores Instead of Test Scores as Criterion in the Estimation of Discrimination Index
Authors: Büyükturan Esin Bağcan , Şireci Ayşe
Published: May 2018

Item discrimination index, which indicates the ability of the item to distinguish whether or not the individuals have acquired the qualities that are evaluated, is basically a validity measure and it is estimated by examining the fit between item score and the test score. Based on the definition of item discrimination index, classroom observation scores were used in this study instead of test scores as the indication of having the tested quality.In the framework of the study, a 25-item multiple-choice test prepared in the context of 8th grade Mathematics Unit "Multipliers and Multiples" was administered to a total of 109 8th graders (44 females, 65 males) studying in 4 separate classrooms of Ömer Nasuhi Bilmen Secondary School in Şanlıurfa Province. Furthermore, these students’ Mathematics teachers were asked to observe and score students during the unit and the obtained observation scores were used as external criterion in estimating the discrimination index. By using this criterion, fit values estimated with the help of upper and lower groups consisting of 27% from the extremes of the criterion score distribution and biserial correlation were compared with the traditional conditions where test scores were utilized. It was found that item discrimination indices based on classroom observations were higher than those based on test scores in both of the discrimination indices estimated via upper-lower 27% groups and biserial correlation. This finding was discussed to be related to the fact that while classroom observation scores were an external validity criterion, test scores were composed of items whose discrimination values were calculated. The finding also demonstrated that classroom observation scores were more rigid and eliminative than test scores in terms of discrimination.
Head Impact Kinematics Estimation With Network of Inertial Measurement Units
Authors: Kuo Calvin , Sganga Jake , Fanton Michael , Camarillo David B.
Published: May 2018

Wearable sensors embedded with inertial measurement units have become commonplace for the measurement of head impact biomechanics, but individual systems often suffer from a lack of measurement fidelity. While some researchers have focused on developing highly accurate, single sensor systems, we have taken a parallel approach in investigating optimal estimation techniques with multiple noisy sensors. In this work, we present a sensor network methodology that utilizes multiple skin patch sensors arranged on the head and combines their data to obtain a more accurate estimate than any individual sensor in the network. Our methodology visually localizes subject-specific sensor transformations, and based on rigid body assumptions, applies estimation algorithms to obtain a minimum mean squared error estimate. During mild soccer headers, individual skin patch sensors had over 100% error in peak angular velocity magnitude, angular acceleration magnitude, and linear acceleration magnitude. However, when properly networked using our visual localization and estimation methodology, we obtained kinematic estimates with median errors below 20%. While we demonstrate this methodology with skin patch sensors in mild soccer head impacts, the formulation can be generally applied to any dynamic scenario, such as measurement of cadaver head impact dynamics using arbitrarily placed sensors.
Methods for Post Hoc Quantitative Computed Tomography Bone Density Calibration: Phantom-Only and Regression
Authors: Reeves Jacob M. , Knowles Nikolas K. , Athwal George S. , Johnson James A.
Published: May 2018

Quantitative computed tomography (qCT) relies on calibrated bone mineral density data. If a calibration phantom is absent from the CT scan, post hoc calibration becomes necessary. Scanning a calibration phantom after-the-fact and applying that calibration to uncalibrated scans has been used previously. Alternatively, the estimated density is known to vary with CT settings, suggesting that it may be possible to predict the calibration terms using CT settings. This study compares a novel CT setting regression method for post hoc calibration to standard and post hoc phantom-only calibrations. Five cadaveric upper limbs were scanned at 11 combinations of peak tube voltage and current (80–140 kV and 100–300 mA) with two calibration phantoms. Density calibrations were performed for the cadaver scans, and scans of the phantoms alone. Stepwise linear regression determined if the calibration equation terms were predictable using peak tube voltage and current. Peak tube voltage, but not current, was significantly correlated with regression calibration terms. Calibration equation slope was significantly related to the type of phantom (p < 0.001), calibration method (p = 0.026), and peak tube voltage (p < 0.001), but not current (p = 1.000). The calibration equation vertical intercept was significantly related to the type of phantom (p < 0.001), and peak tube voltage (p = 0.006), but not calibration method (p = 0.682), or current (p = 0.822). Accordingly, regression can correlate peak tube voltage with density calibration terms. Suggesting that, while standard qCT calibration is preferable, regression calibration may be an acceptable post hoc method when necessary.
Interaction of Microcracks and Tissue Compositional Heterogeneity in Determining Fracture Resistance of Human Cortical Bone
Authors: Demirtas Ahmet , Ural Ani
Published: May 2018

Recent studies demonstrated an association between atypical femoral fracture (AFF) and long-term bisphosphonate (BP) use for osteoporosis treatment. Due to BP treatment, bone undergoes alterations including increased microcrack density and reduced tissue compositional heterogeneity. However, the effect of these changes on the fracture response of bone is not well understood. As a result, the goal of the current study is to evaluate the individual and combined effects of microcracks and tissue compositional heterogeneity on fracture resistance of cortical bone using finite element modeling (FEM) of compact tension (CT) specimen tests with varying microcrack density, location, and clustering, and material heterogeneity in three different bone samples. The simulation results showed that an increase in microcrack density improved the fracture resistance irrespective of the local material property heterogeneity and microcrack distribution. A reduction in material property heterogeneity adversely affected the fracture resistance in models both with and without microcracks. When the combined changes in microcrack density and tissue material property heterogeneity representing BP treatment were evaluated, the models corresponding to BP-treated bone demonstrated reduced fracture resistance. The simulation results also showed that although microcrack location and clustering, and microstructure significantly influenced fracture resistance, the trends observed on the effect of microcrack density and tissue material property heterogeneity did not change. In summary, these results provide new information on the interaction of microcracks, tissue material property heterogeneity, and fracture resistance and may improve the understanding of the influence of mechanical changes due to prolonged BP use on the fracture behavior of cortical bone.
Prediction of tortuosity, permeability, and pore radius of water-saturated unconsolidated glass beads and sands
Authors: Kimura Masao
Published: May 2018

Tortuosity, permeability, and pore radius, which are parameters in the Biot model, are important for analyzing the elastic wave propagation in water-saturated unconsolidated marine sands. In this study, the formation factor and permeability are measured for 34 kinds of water-saturated glass beads and sands with uniformly sized grains and 73 kinds of water-saturated sands with distributed sized grains. Using these measured data, the empirical equations for the formation factor, cementation exponent, and tortuosity are obtained. The pore shape factor, k0, in the Kozeny–Carman model and pore shape factor, a, in the Revil–Cathles (RC) model are derived. The Hazen, Kozeny–Carman, and RC models are compared for the measured permeability results. Furthermore, the relationship between the tortuosity and permeability is shown. Finally, the ratio of the effective pore radius to effective mean grain diameter is derived.
Two distinct superconducting pairing states divided by the nematic end point in FeSe

1−
x

S

x
Authors: Hanaguri Tetsuo , Iwaya Katsuya , Kohsaka Yuhki , Machida Tadashi , Watashige Tatsuya , Kasahara Shigeru , Shibauchi Takasada , Matsuda Yuji
Published: May 2018

Scanning tunneling microscopy reveals the relationship between nematicity and superconductivity in an iron-based superconductor.
Regulatory T cells induce activation rather than suppression of human basophils
Authors: Sharma Meenu , Das Mrinmoy , Stephen-Victor Emmanuel , Galeotti Caroline , Karnam Anupama , Maddur Mohan S. , Bruneval Patrick , Kaveri Srini V. , Bayry Jagadeesh
Published: May 2018

Human basophils are refractory to suppression by T
regs
and undergo activation by an IL-3– and STAT5-dependent mechanism.
Clofazimine for the Treatment of Mycobacterium kansasii
Authors: Srivastava Shashikant , Gumbo Tawanda
Published: May 2018

Mycobacterium kansasii
pulmonary infection is a global problem. Standard combination therapy consists of isoniazid at 300 mg/day, rifampin at 600 mg/day, and ethambutol at 15 mg/kg of body weight/day for 18 months.
Qualitative analysis of serious case reviews into unexpected infant deaths
Authors: Garstang Joanna J , Sidebotham Peter
Published: May 2018

Objective

To develop a detailed understanding of the circumstances of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) cases subject to serious case review (SCR).

Design

This was a thematic analysis of SCRs relating to cases of SUDI in England. SCRs were obtained for SUDI cases dying between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2014. These were cases (aged 0–2 years) that presented as a SUDI and for which no clear medical or forensic cause of death was found.

Results

SCRs were held for 30 SUDI cases, published reports were available for 27/30. The median (range) age at death was 2 (0–19) months. Background risk factors in families included: alcohol or drug dependency in 18/27, parental mental health problems in 14/27, domestic abuse in 9/27 and parental criminal records in 13/27. Nineteen infants had received support from social care, 10/19 were subject to child protection plans. Neglect was a feature in 15/27 cases. Parents did not engage with professionals in 18/27 cases, involving social care in 14/18, health care in 13/18 and drug and substance misuse services in 5/18. Eighteen of 27 deaths occurred in highly hazardous sleep environments, 16/18 involved cosleeping and 13/16 cosleeping deaths occurred with parents who were intoxicated with alcohol or impaired by drugs.

Conclusion

Most SUDI cases occurred in hazardous sleep environments and are potentially preventable. They occurred in families well known to services with concerns about neglect, substance misuse and poor engagement. More consideration is needed on how best to support such vulnerable families.
Effect of Huaier granule on recurrence after curative resection of HCC: a multicentre, randomised clinical trial
Authors: Chen Qian , Shu Chang , Laurence Arian D , Chen Yan , Peng Bao-Gang , Zhen Zuo-Jun , Cai Jian-Qiang , Ding Yi-Tao , Li Le-Qun , Zhang Yu-Bao , Zheng Qi-Chang , Xu Ge-Liang , Li Bo , Zhou Wei-Ping , Cai Shou-Wang , Wang Xi-Yan , Wen Hao , Peng Xin-Yu , Zhang Xue-Wen , Dai Chao-Liu , Bie Ping , Xing Bao-Cai , Fu Zhi-Ren , Liu Lian-Xin , Mu Yi , Zhang Ling , Zhang Qi-Shun , Jiang Bin , Qian Hai-Xin , Wang Yi-Jun , Liu Jing-Feng , Qin Xi-Hu , Li Qiang , Yin Ping , Zhang Zhi-Wei , Chen Xiao-Ping
Published: May 2018

Objective

There is little evidence that adjuvant therapy after radical surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) improves recurrence-free survival (RFS) or overall survival (OS). We conducted a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase IV trial evaluating the benefit of an aqueous extract of Trametes robinophila Murr (Huaier granule) to address this unmet need.

Design and results

A total of 1044 patients were randomised in 2:1 ratio to receive either Huaier or no further treatment (controls) for a maximum of 96 weeks. The primary endpoint was RFS. Secondary endpoints included OS and tumour extrahepatic recurrence rate (ERR). The Huaier (n=686) and control groups (n=316) had a mean RFS of 75.5 weeks and 68.5 weeks, respectively (HR 0.67; 95% CI 0.55 to 0.81). The difference in the RFS rate between Huaier and control groups was 62.39% and 49.05% (95% CI 6.74 to 19.94; p=0.0001); this led to an OS rate in the Huaier and control groups of 95.19% and 91.46%, respectively (95% CI 0.26 to 7.21; p=0.0207). The tumour ERR between Huaier and control groups was 8.60% and 13.61% (95% CI −12.59 to −2.50; p=0.0018), respectively.

Conclusions

This is the first nationwide multicentre study, involving 39 centres and 1044 patients, to prove the effectiveness of Huaier granule as adjuvant therapy for HCC after curative liver resection. It demonstrated a significant prolongation of RFS and reduced extrahepatic recurrence in Huaier group.

Trial registration

NCT01770431; Post-results.
‘No’ to lesbian motherhood using human nuclear genome transfer
Authors: Baylis Françoise
Published: May 2018

Giulia Cavaliere and César Palacios-González argue that lesbian couples should have access to human nuclear genome transfer (so-called mitochondrial replacement) so that both members of the couple can have a genetic link to the child they intend to parent. Their argument is grounded in an appeal to reproductive freedom. In this Response, I address a number of concerns with their argument. These concerns relate to nomenclature, treating like cases alike, genetic-relatedness and the limits of reproductive rights. On this last point, I insist that we should not mistake ‘wants’ for ‘needs’ or ‘rights’. I maintain that there is no right to biological parenthood, there is no compelling need for human nuclear genome transfer to satisfy a so-called need for genetically-related children, and we ought not to pander to an acquired desire (ie, want) for genetic filiation.
Performance of pre-1970s squat reinforced concrete shear walls
Authors: Cortés-Puentes W.L. , Palermo D.
Published: May 2018

The seismic performance of pre-1970s squat reinforced concrete shear walls is assessed with the capacity spectrum method to expose structural deficiencies that arise due to current estimates of seismic demands. The walls are 1/3 scale models of a prototype building, designed and detailed in accordance with the 1965 edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC-1965) for four locations, two in high seismic zones in western Canada and two in moderate seismic zones in eastern Canada. Seismic demands for different drifts are evaluated against the spectral capacities of the walls to determine the performance. The seismic demands are based on uniform hazard spectra specified by the NBCC-2015. The calculated effective damping and the spectral capacity of the walls are determined from the force–displacement envelopes of the reverse cyclic responses of the shear walls. In addition, spectral capacities based on experimental and numerical results are used to study the effect of axial load and low-strength reinforcing steel on the performance of the shear walls.
Measuring statistical evidence and multiple testing
Authors: Evans Michael , Tomal Jabed
Published: May 2018

The measurement of statistical evidence is of considerable current interest in fields where statistical criteria are used to determine knowledge. The most commonly used approach to measuring such evidence is through the use of p-values, even though these are known to possess a number of properties that lead to doubts concerning their validity as measures of evidence. It is less well known that there are alternatives with the desired properties of a measure of statistical evidence. The measure of evidence given by the relative belief ratio is employed in this paper. A relative belief multiple testing algorithm was developed to control for false positives and false negatives through bounds on the evidence determined by measures of bias. The relative belief multiple testing algorithm was shown to be consistent and to possess an optimal property when considering the testing of a hypothesis randomly chosen from the collection of considered hypotheses. The relative belief multiple testing algorithm was applied to the problem of inducing sparsity. Priors were chosen via elicitation, and sparsity was induced only when justified by the evidence and there was no dependence on any particular form of a prior for this purpose.
Quantum information measures of infinite spherical well
Authors: Shi Ye-Jiao , Sun Guo-Hua , Tahir Farida , Ahmadov A. I. , He Bing , Dong Shi-Hai
Published: May 2018

In this work, we study the Shannon information entropies [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of an infinite spherical well. The Shannon entropy [Formula: see text] is calculated numerically in terms of the analytical result of the wave function in momentum space. Some typical features of the position and momentum probability densities [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] as well as the information entropy densities [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are demonstrated. We find that the position entropy [Formula: see text] increases with the radius a of the spherical well for given quantum numbers l, m and n. It is interesting to note that the position entropy [Formula: see text] decreases with the quantum numbers l and n for a fixed radius a and quantum number m. The position entropy [Formula: see text] is almost independent of the quantum numbers l, m and n. The momentum entropy [Formula: see text] first increases and then decreases with respect to the radius a. We also note that the [Formula: see text] increases with the radius a and finally arrives at a constant. In addition, the Bialynicki–Birula–Mycielski (BBM) inequality is verified and also hold for this confined system.
Impact of heating temperature and time on the morphology of synthetic zinc oxide nanowires
Authors: Zou Qiang , Mo Shentong , Dang Mengjiao , Wang Yanan , Fu Xing , Wang Hui , Tao Xue , Qin Guoxuan
Published: May 2018

In this study, in order to obtain the optimal fabricating condition, the influences of heating temperature and time on the fabrication of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires are clarified. During this process, the synthesis and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of ZnO nanostructures, produced by direct heating of metallic zinc, are presented. Besides, the SEM images and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of products under different conditions are compared to analyze the surface morphology and composition of products. In the final observation, the best diameters of ZnO nanowires are achieved as 60–70 nm, which can be successfully applied as a substrate in Raman measurement. The optimal temperature is 450[Formula: see text]C, as well as the optimal time is 40–50 min.
Community detection in complex networks using deep auto-encoded extreme learning machine
Authors: Wang Feifan , Zhang Baihai , Chai Senchun , Xia Yuanqing
Published: May 2018

Community detection has long been a fascinating topic in complex networks since the community structure usually unveils valuable information of interest. The prevalence and evolution of deep learning and neural networks have been pushing forward the advancement in various research fields and also provide us numerous useful and off the shelf techniques. In this paper, we put the cascaded stacked autoencoders and the unsupervised extreme learning machine (ELM) together in a two-level embedding process and propose a novel community detection algorithm. Extensive comparison experiments in circumstances of both synthetic and real-world networks manifest the advantages of the proposed algorithm. On one hand, it outperforms the k-means clustering in terms of the accuracy and stability thus benefiting from the determinate dimensions of the ELM block and the integration of sparsity restrictions. On the other hand, it endures smaller complexity than the spectral clustering method on account of the shrinkage in time spent on the eigenvalue decomposition procedure.
First-principles study on the mechanism of lithium intercalation in cubic CoN
Authors: Wang Haibo , Song Xiaolan , Xu Yue , Yang Zhenhua
Published: May 2018

Intercalation mechanism of Li into cubic Co4N4has been investigated by the first-principles calculations. Lattice constants, ratio of volume expansion, and formation energies of Li[Formula: see text]Co4N4(x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) were calculated. Results indicate that Li prefers to fill the octahedral interstitial site [Formula: see text] rather than the tetrahedral interstitial site [Formula: see text]. With the increase in intercalation Li, the ratio of volume expansion increases from 8.29% (x = 1) to 31.58% (x = 4). Ternary phase Li4Co4N4has the most stability with the negative intercalation energy, and the corresponding theoretical specific capacity reaches 367 mA/g. Furthermore, the analysis of density of states, valence electron density distribution maps, and electron localization function (ELF) of Co4N4and Li4Co4N4indicates that Li intercalation enhances the electrical conductivity of Co4N4and weakens the bonding of Co and N. Finally, Li-ion migration dynamics in the Co4N4bulk were investigated with nudged elastic band (NEB) methods. Results show that the migration path of Li-ion is along [Formula: see text] with the energy barrier of 0.44 eV.
Investigation on high-frequency performance of spiral-shaped trapezoidal piezoelectric cantilever
Authors: Huang Fang Sheng , Feng Zhi Hua , Ma Yu Ting , Pan Qiao Sheng
Published: May 2018

Trapezoidal structure has been proposed for construction of piezoelectric cantilever to increase inherent frequency. To further break through the limitation on frequency value, trapezoidal piezoelectric cantilever is rolled into spiral-shaped piezoelectric cantilever with identical effective length in this study, which is verified in COMSOL simulations and experiments. A prototype shows that after rolling the straight shape into a spiral shape for the trapezoidal piezoelectric cantilever, the first inherent frequency promotes 4.5 times from 98100 Hz to 441,900 Hz, which is consistent with theoretic analysis. The spiral-shaped trapezoidal piezoelectric cantilever is suitable for working as an actuator in micro flapping-wing aircraft.