bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic classification of tumour habitats in soft tissue sarcoma
Authors: Xing Shu , Freeman Carolyn R. , Jung Sungmi , Turcotte Robert , Levesque Ives R.
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this work is to propose a method to characterize tumour heterogeneity on MRI, using probabilistic classification based on a reference tissue. The method uses maps of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), T2 relaxation, and a calculated map representing high‐b‐value diffusion‐weighted MRI (denoted simDWI) to identify up to five habitats (i.e. sub‐regions) of tumours.

In this classification method, the parameter values (ADC, T2, and simDWI) from each tumour voxel are compared against the corresponding parameter probability distributions in a reference tissue. The probability that a tumour voxel belongs to a specific habitat is the joint probability for all parameters. The classification can be visualized using a custom colour scheme.

The proposed method was applied to data from seven patients with biopsy‐confirmed soft tissue sarcoma, at three time‐points over the course of pre‐operative radiotherapy. Fast‐spin‐echo images with two different echo times and diffusion MRI with three b‐values were obtained and used as inputs to the method. Imaging findings were compared with pathology reports from pre‐radiotherapy biopsy and post‐surgical resection.

Regions of hypercellularity, high‐T2 proteinaceous fluid, necrosis, collagenous stroma, and fibrosis were identified within soft tissue sarcoma. The classifications were qualitatively consistent with pathological observations. The percentage of necrosis on imaging correlated strongly with necrosis estimated from FDG‐PET before radiotherapy (R2 = 0.97) and after radiotherapy (R2 = 0.96).

The probabilistic classification method identifies realistic habitats and reflects the complex microenvironment of tumours, as demonstrated in soft tissue sarcoma.
Set your students up for success with mandatory, integrated first‐year experience
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: August 2018

PHOENIX — Students want a formal introduction to your campus, and research shows that orientation and first‐year experience programs help lead to successful retention of students across all types of institutions, said Alicia Moore, dean of student and enrollment services at Central Oregon Community College. Moore recently implemented a mandatory first‐year experience program that requires new students to participate in orientation, advising, and a college success course.
Personalize online learning for a high‐quality learning experience
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: August 2018

“We have a stong belief that online learning can be impactful,” said Paul Krause, chief executive officer of eCornell and associate vice provost of online learning at Cornell University. He was describing eCornell's focus on providing personalized, high‐touch online education.
Heritability estimates of spatial working memory and set‐shifting in a healthy Chinese twin sample: A preliminary study
Authors: Zhou Han‐yu , Li Zhi , Xie Dong‐jie , Xu Ting , Cheung Eric E. F. , Li Huanhuan , Chan Raymond C. K.
Published: August 2018

Impairments in spatial working memory (SWM) and set‐shifting abilities have both been consistently observed in individuals with schizophrenia and are considered to be potential endophenotypes of this illness. However, an endophenotype needs to fulfill a set of stringent criteria, including heritability. This study examined the heritability of these two functions in a healthy Chinese twin sample. Forty‐five pairs of monozygotic (MZ) twins and 35 pairs of dizygotic (DZ) twins completed the SWM task and the Intra‐Extra Dimensional Set‐Shifting (IED) task of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). We found a moderate heritability for SWM, of which the familial/genetic factors accounted for 33% of the total variance. However, we failed to find any significant heritability for set‐shifting ability, of which the specific environmental factor explained most of the variance (85%). The preliminary findings from this small healthy Chinese twin sample suggest that SWM is heritable, whereas the set‐shifting ability may reflect “extra‐genetic” influences.
Facile Synthesis of Morphology Controllable CoFe2O4 Particles as High‐Performance Electrode Materials
Authors: Fan Shan , Wang Wen , Ke Hua , Zhou Yu
Published: August 2018

Different morphology CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (nano random particles, nanospheres, solid nanocubes) are successfully synthesized via a facile one‐step method, by controlling the amount of the surfactant. The solid nanocube morphology CoFe2O4 is annealed at 350 °C to form porous and hollow structure. The interesting porous hollow nanostructural CoFe2O4 has excellent electrochemical properties.
Elaborating a coiled‐coil‐assembled octahedral protein cage with additional protein domains
Authors: Cristie‐David Ajitha S. , Koldewey Philipp , Meinen Ben A. , Bardwell James C. A. , Marsh E. Neil G.
Published: August 2018

De novo design of protein nano‐cages has potential applications in medicine, synthetic biology, and materials science. We recently developed a modular, symmetry‐based strategy for protein assembly in which short, coiled‐coil sequences mediate the assembly of a protein building block into a cage. The geometry of the cage is specified by the combination of rotational symmetries associated with the coiled‐coil and protein building block. We have used this approach to design well‐defined octahedral and tetrahedral cages. Here, we show that the cages can be further elaborated and functionalized by the addition of another protein domain to the free end of the coiled‐coil: in this case by fusing maltose‐binding protein to an octahedral protein cage to produce a structure with a designed molecular weight of ~1.8 MDa. Importantly, the addition of the maltose binding protein domain dramatically improved the efficiency of assembly, resulting in ~ 60‐fold greater yield of purified protein compared to the original cage design. This study shows the potential of using small, coiled‐coil motifs as off‐the‐shelf components to design MDa‐sized protein cages to which additional structural or functional elements can be added in a modular manner.
Removing Heat from Si with a “Thermal Circuit”: An Ab‐Initio Study
Authors: Estreicher Stefan K. , Vincent Trey M. , Stanley Christopher M.
Published: August 2018

Electronic devices generate unwanted heat. The removal of this heat often involves a layer of a high‐thermal‐conductivity material X deposited at a strategic location on the Si chip. The layer is then cooled using a mechanical fan or more sophisticated means. The authors present here the results of ab‐initio molecular‐dynamics simulations which examine the thermal interactions between heat generated in Si and three materials X: Ge, C, and Si itself. The geometry is a very thin wire of atoms X located within a Si slab. Heat is periodically removed from the wire as if it were connected to a heat sink. The wire then absorbs heat from the warmer Si slab, thus cooling it. The rate at which the Si temperature drops depends on how efficiently heat crosses the Si|X boundary and then is absorbed by the wire. The interactions involve the coupling of Si‐Si vibrational modes with Si‐X (interface) and then X‐X (layer) modes. The worst performance occurs for XC as lower‐frequency Si‐Si modes must decay into higher‐frequency Si‐C then CC modes. This involves slow two‐ (or more) phonon processes. The fastest cooling rate occurs when the wire is made of Si itself: there is no Si|Si interface and the vibrational interactions involve only Si bulk modes which couple to each other resonantly. The Ge wire performs quite well, as the Si‐Si modes easily decay into lower‐frequency Si‐Ge and Ge‐Ge modes.
Effect of a statistical outlier in potency bioassays
Authors: Sondag Perceval , Zeng Lingmin , Yu Binbing , Rousseau Réjane , Boulanger Bruno , Yang Harry , Novick Steven
Published: August 2018

The USP<1032> guidelines recommend the screening of bioassay data for outliers prior to performing a relative potency (RP) analysis. The guidelines, however, do not offer advice on the size or type of outlier that should be removed prior to model fitting and calculation of RP. Computer simulation was used to investigate the consequences of ignoring the USP<1032> guidance to remove outliers. For biotherapeutics and vaccines, outliers in potency data may result in the false acceptance/rejection of a bad/good lot of drug product. Biological activity, measured through a potency bioassay, is considered a critical quality attribute in manufacturing. If the concentration‐response potency curve of a test sample is deemed to be similar in shape to that of the reference standard, the curves are said to exhibit constant RP, an essential criterion for the interpretation of a RP. One or more outliers in the concentration‐response data, however, may result in a failure to declare similarity or may yield a biased RP estimate. Concentration‐response curves for test and reference were computer generated with constant RP from four‐parameter logistic curves. Single outlier, multiple outlier, and whole‐curve outlier scenarios were explored for their effects on the similarity testing and on the RP estimation. Though the simulations point to situations for which outlier removal is unnecessary, the results generally support the USP<1032> recommendation and illustrate the impact on the RP calculation when application of outlier removal procedures are discounted.
Single arm two‐stage studies: Improved designs for molecularly targeted agents
Authors: Dutton P. , Holmes J.
Published: August 2018

Mechanistic understanding of cancers and their potential interactions with molecularly targeted agents is driving the need for stratified medicine to ensure each participant receives the best possible care. This understanding, backed by scientific research, should be used to guide the design of clinical trials for these agents. The mechanism of action of a molecularly targeted agent often suggests that a biomarker can be used as a predictor of activity of the agent on the targeted disease. A biomarker driven trial is needed to confirm that the molecularly targeted agent stratifies the participant population with disease into high and low responder groups. We assume that the biomarker of interest can be dichotomised and propose a balanced parallel two‐stage single‐arm phase II trial that builds on existing two‐stage single‐arm designs. A single‐arm trial cannot distinguish between a marker being predictive in the population as a whole and the agent causing an increased response in the marker positive group, but it is a first step. We compare this approach to the existing single‐arm approaches, sequential enrichment, tandem two‐stage, and parallel two‐stage designs, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each design. We show that our design compares favourably to existing designs in the Bayesian framework, making a more efficient use of collected data. We recommend using the parallel two‐stage balanced or sequential enrichment designs when randomisation is not practical in a phase II trial.
Cancer driver mutations in endometriosis: Variations on the major theme of fibrogenesis
Authors: Guo Sun‐Wei
Published: August 2018

Background

One recent study reports cancer driver mutations in deep endometriosis, but its biological/clinical significance remains unclear. Since the natural history of endometriosis is essentially gradual progression toward fibrosis, it is thus hypothesized that the six driver genes reported to be mutated in endometriosis (the RP set) may play important roles in fibrogenesis but not necessarily malignant transformation.

Methods

Extensive PubMed search to see whether RP and another set of driver genes not yet reported (NR) to be mutated in endometriosis have any roles in fibrogenesis. All studies reporting on the role of fibrogenesis of the genes in both RP and NR sets were retrieved and evaluated in this review.

Results

All six RP genes were involved in various aspects of fibrogenesis as compared with only three NR genes. These nine genes can be anchored in networks linking with their upstream and downstream genes that are known to be aberrantly expressed in endometriosis, piecing together seemingly unrelated findings.

Conclusions

Given that somatic driver mutations can and do occur frequently in physiologically normal tissues, it is argued that these mutations in endometriosis are not necessarily synonymous with malignancy or premalignancy, but the result of enormous pressure for fibrogenesis.
Exploratory factor analysis of large data matrices
Authors: Trendafilov Nickolay T. , Fontanella Sara
Published: August 2018

Nowadays, the most interesting applications have data with many more variables than observations and require dimension reduction. With such data, standard exploratory factor analysis (EFA) cannot be applied. Recently, a generalized EFA (GEFA) model was proposed to deal with any type of data: both vertical data (fewer variables than observations) and horizontal data (more variables than observations). The associated algorithm, GEFALS, is very efficient, but still cannot handle data with thousands of variables. The present work modifies GEFALS and proposes a new very fast version, GEFAN. This is achieved by aligning the dimensions of the parameter matrices to their ranks, thus, avoiding redundant calculations. The GEFALS and GEFAN algorithms are compared numerically with well‐known data.
Discover effective strategies for redesigning student services
Authors: Griff Adam
Published: August 2018

Student needs are increasingly complex and cut across the typical siloes of student services. Consider students who want to study abroad and the questions they might have: How will this contribute to my degree requirements? Will my credits transfer? Which program best positions me for a future job? How do I pay for this? How do I obtain the right visas and the necessary vaccinations? Embarking on a study‐abroad program can involve enrollment, career services, financial aid, student accounts, and the health center. For students, study abroad is a singular coherent experience and process, but from the perspective of colleges and universities it involves multiple workflows and providers.
Boost your department's success by cracking the communication code
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: August 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Some people communicate from the heart, while others communicate from the head, and this causes a disconnect in their communication and relationships at work and beyond, according to Kevin DeShazo, a partner with Culture Wins, a division of GiANT Worldwide.
Were campus police covered by public records law?
Authors: Gelpi Aileen
Published: August 2018

ESPN reporter Paula Lavigne sought incident reports in 2014 from the University of Notre Dame campus police involving 275 student‐athletes. When that request was denied, ESPN filed a lawsuit claiming a violation of Indiana's Access to Public Records Act.
Argon cluster cleaning of Ga+ FIB‐milled sections of organic and hybrid materials
Authors: Tiddia Mariavitalia , Seah Martin P. , Shard Alex G. , Mula Guido , Havelund Rasmus , Gilmore Ian S.
Published: August 2018

Secondary ion mass spectrometry studies have been made of the removal of the degraded layer formed on polymeric materials when cleaning focused ion beam (FIB)‐sectioned samples comprising both organic and inorganic materials with a 30‐keV Ga+ FIB. The degraded layer requires a higher‐than‐expected Ar gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) dose for its removal, and it is shown that this arises from a significant reduction in the layer sputtering yield compared with that for the undamaged polymer. Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter calculations for many FIB angles of incidence on flat polymer surfaces show the depth of the damage and of the implantation of the Ga+ ions, and these are compared with the measured depth profiles for Ga+‐implanted flat polymer surfaces at several angles of incidence using an Ar+ GCIB. The Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter depth and the measured dose give the sputtering yield volume for this damaged and Ga+‐implanted layer. These, and literature yield values for Ga+ damaged layers, are combined on a plot showing how the changing sputtering yield is related to the implanted Ga density for several polymer materials. This plot contains data from both the model flat poly(styrene) surfaces and FIB‐milled sections showing that these 2 surfaces have the same yield reduction. The results show that the damaged and Ga+‐implanted layer's sputtering rate, after FIB sectioning, is 50 to 100 times lower than for undamaged polymers and that it is this reduction in sputtering rate, rather than any development of microtopography, that causes the high Ar+ GCIB dose required for cleaning these organic surfaces.
Vibrational Signatures of Calcium Oxalate Polyhydrates
Authors: Petit Ivan , Belletti Gustavo D. , Debroise Théau , Llansola‐Portoles Manuel J. , Lucas Ivan T. , Leroy César , Bonhomme Christian , Bonhomme‐Coury Laure , Bazin Dominique , Daudon Michel , Letavernier Emmanuel , Haymann Jean Philippe , Frochot Vincent , Babonneau Florence , Quaino Paola , Tielens Frederik
Published: August 2018

The vibrational signatures of the calcium oxalate polyhydrates are investigated using a combination of Density Functional Theory‐Dispersion corrected, Fourier Transform‐ Raman and ‐Infrared (IR) spectroscopies. Most vibrational bands were assigned and the theoretical predictions were compared with in‐house and other experimental data, for both, IR and Raman spectroscopies. Such an approach allowed a more accurate analysis of vibrational spectra helping in the completion of the band assignments of the vibrational bands of the mono, di, and tri hydrate calcium oxalate (COM, COD, and COT). Particular attention has been paid to the degree of hydration of COD, the low Raman wavenumbers, and the presence of oxalic acid in natural calcium oxalate polyhydrates. The obtained results are expected to be supportive in the detection of the different polyhydrates in natural samples, such as in kidney stones.
Evolutionary mutation testing for IoT with recorded and generated events
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Madroñal Lorena , García‐Domínguez Antonio , Medina‐Bulo Inmaculada
Published: August 2018

Mutation testing is a testing technique that has been applied successfully to several programming languages. Despite its benefits for software testing, the high computational cost of mutation testing has kept it from being widely used. Several refinements have been proposed to reduce its cost by reducing the number of generated mutants; one of those is evolutionary mutation testing (EMT). Evolutionary mutation testing aims at generating a reduced set of mutants with an evolutionary algorithm, which searches for potentially equivalent and difficult to kill mutants that help improve the test suite. Evolutionary mutation testing has been evaluated in two contexts so far, ie, web service compositions and object‐oriented C++ programmes. This study explores its performance when applied to event processing language queries of various domains. This study also considers the impact of the test data, since a lack of events or the need to have specific values in them can hinder testing. The effectiveness of evolutionary mutation testing with the original test data generators and the new internet of things test event generator tool is compared in multiple case studies.
Variational message passing for skew t regression
Authors: Maestrini Luca , Wand Matt P.
Published: August 2018

We extend recent work concerning variational approximations via message passing to accommodate approximate fitting and inference for skew t regression models. Derivation of variational message passing is challenging owing to the presence of non‐standard exponential families and numerical integration being needed. Nevertheless, the factor graph fragment approach means that algorithm updates only need to be derived once for a particular response model, which can be integrated in an arbitrarily complex model. Another advantage of our work is that all skew t parameters are inferred, rather than being held fixed. Furthermore, we show that posterior dependence arising in an auxiliary variable representation of a skew t model may lead to poor performances in terms of variational message passing approximation when using simple auxiliary variable representations of the likelihood fragment and convenient factorizations of the approximating densities. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cover Image, Volume 8, Issue 5
Authors: Tabassum Shazia , Pereira Fabiola S. F. , Fernandes Sofia , Gama João
Published: August 2018

The cover image, by Shazia Tabassum et al., is based on the Overview Social network analysis: An overview, DOI: 10.1002/widm.1256.

image
Inverse seesaw and dark matter in a gauged B − L extension with flavour symmetry
Authors: Biswas Anirban , Choubey Sandhya , Khan Sarif
Published: August 2018

Abstract

We propose a model which generates neutrino masses by the inverse seesaw mechanism, provides a viable dark matter candidate and explains the muon (g−2) anomaly. The Standard Model (SM) gauge group is extended with a gauged U(1)B−L as well as a gauged

$$ \mathrm{U}{(1)}_{{\mathrm{L}}_{\mu }-{\mathrm{L}}_{\tau }} $$

U

1

L
μ

−

L
τ

. While

$$ \mathrm{U}{(1)}_{{\mathrm{L}}_{\mu }-{\mathrm{L}}_{\tau }} $$

U

1

L
μ

−

L
τ

is anomaly free, the anomaly introduced by U(1)B−L is cancelled between the six SM singlet fermions introduced for the inverse seesaw mechanism and four additional chiral fermions introduced in this model. After spontaneous symmetry breaking the four chiral fermionic degrees of freedom combine to give two Dirac states. The lightest Dirac fermion becomes stable and hence the dark matter candidate. We focus on the region of the parameter space where the dark matter annihilates to the right-handed neutrinos, relating the dark matter sector with the neutrino sector. The

$$ \mathrm{U}{(1)}_{{\mathrm{L}}_{\mu }-{\mathrm{L}}_{\tau }} $$

U

1

L
μ

−

L
τ

gauge symmetry provides a flavour structure to the inverse seesaw framework, successfully explaining the observed neutrino masses and mixings. We study the model parameters in the light of neutrino oscillation data and find correlation between them. Values of some of the model parameters are shown to be mutually exclusive between normal and inverted ordering of the neutrino mass eigenstates. Moreover, the muon (g − 2) anomaly can be explained by the additional contribution arising from

$$ \mathrm{U}{(1)}_{{\mathrm{L}}_{\mu }-{\mathrm{L}}_{\tau }} $$

U

1

L
μ

−

L
τ

gauge boson.
Renormalization and ultraviolet sensitivity of gauge vertices in universal extra dimensions
Authors: Freitas Ayres , Wiegand Daniel
Published: August 2018

Abstract

When computing radiative corrections in models with compactified extra dimensions, one has to sum over the entire tower of Kaluza-Klein excitations inside the loops. The loop corrections generate a difference between the coupling strength of a zero-mode gauge boson and the coupling strength of its Kaluza-Klein excitation, although both originate from the same higher-dimensional gauge interaction. Furthermore, this discrepancy will in general depend on the cutoff scale and assumptions about the UV completion of the extra-dimensional theory. In this article, these effects are studied in detail within the context of the minimal universal extra dimension model (MUED). The broad features of the cutoff scale dependence can be captured through the solution of the functional flow equation in five-dimensional space. However, an explicit diagrammatic calculation reveals some modifications due to the compactification of the extra dimension. Nevertheless, when imposing a physical renormalization condition, one finds that the UV sensitivity of the effective Kaluza-Klein gauge-boson vertex is relatively small and not very important for most phenomenological purposes. Similar conclusions should hold in a larger class of extra-dimensional models besides MUED.
The Reporting on ERAS Compliance, Outcomes, and Elements Research (RECOvER) Checklist: A Joint Statement by the ERAS® and ERAS® USA Societies
Authors: Elias Kevin M. , Stone Alexander B. , McGinigle Katharine , Tankou Jo’An I. , Scott Michael J. , Fawcett William J. , Demartines Nicolas , Lobo Dileep N. , Ljungqvist Olle , Urman Richard D. ,   the ERAS® Society and ERAS® USA, Elias Kevin , Adamian Maria , Bushnell Frederic , Dagal Arman , Engan Chad , Marcotte Joseph , McGinigle Katharine , Pauksta Nicollete , Pillarisetty Venu , Tankou Jo’An
Published: August 2018

Background

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are multimodal care pathways designed to minimize the physiological and psychological impact of surgery for patients. Increased compliance with ERAS guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes across surgical types. As ERAS programs have proliferated, an unintentional effect has been significant variation in how ERAS‐related studies are reported in the literature.

Methods

To improve the quality of ERAS reporting, ERAS® USA and the ERAS® Society launched an effort to create an instrument to assist authors in manuscript preparation. Criteria to include were selected by a combination of literature review and expert opinion. The final checklist was refined by group consensus.

Results

The Societies present the Reporting on ERAS Compliance, Outcomes, and Elements Research (RECOvER) Checklist. The tool contains 20 items including best practices for reporting clinical pathways, compliance auditing, and formatting guidelines.

Conclusions

The RECOvER Checklist is intended to provide a standardized framework for the reporting of ERAS‐related studies. The checklist can also assist reviewers in evaluating the quality of ERAS‐related manuscripts. Authors are encouraged to include the RECOvER Checklist when submitting ERAS‐related studies to peer‐reviewed journals.
Assessment of Avoidable Readmissions in a Visceral Surgery Department with an Algorithm: Methodology, Analysis and Measures for Improvement
Authors: Agri Fabio , Griesser Anne‐Claude , Lécureux Estelle , Allemann Pierre , Schäfer Markus , Eggli Yves , Demartines Nicolas
Published: August 2018

Background

Standardized quality indicators assessing avoidable readmission become increasingly important in health care. They can identify improvements area and contribute to enhance the care delivered. However, the way of using them in practice was rarely described.

Methods

Retrospective study uses prospective inpatients’ information. Thirty‐day readmissions were deemed potentially avoidable or non‐avoidable by a computerized algorithm, and annual rate was reported between 2010 and 2014. Observed rate was compared to expected rate, and medical record review of potentially avoidable readmissions was conducted on data between January and June 2014.

Results

During a period of ten semesters, 11,011 stays were screened by the algorithm and a potentially avoidable readmission rate (PAR) of 7% was measured. Despite stable expected rate of 5 ± 0.5%, an increase was noted concerning the observed rate since 2012, with a highest value of 9.4% during the first semester 2014. Medical chart review assessed the 109 patients screened positive for PAR during this period and measured a real rate of 7.8%. The delta was in part due to an underestimated case mix owing to sub‐coded comorbidities and not to health care issue.

Conclusions

The present study suggests a methodology for practical use of data, allowing a validated quality of care indicator. The trend of the observed PAR rate showed a clear increase, while the expected PAR rate was stable. The analysis emphasized the importance of adequate “coding chain” when such an algorithm is applied. Moreover, additional medical chart review is needed when results deviate from the norm.
Intelligent action guidance and the use of mixed representational formats
Authors: Shepherd Joshua
Published: August 2018

My topic is the intelligent guidance of action. In this paper I offer an empirically grounded case for four ideas: that [a] cognitive processes of practical reasoning play a key role in the intelligent guidance of action, [b] these processes could not do so without significant enabling work done by both perception and the motor system, [c] the work done by perceptual and motor systems can be characterized as the generation of information (often conceptually structured information) specialized for action guidance, which in turn suggests that [d] the cognitive processes of practical reasoning that play a key role in the guidance of intelligent action are not the abstract, syllogistic ones philosophers often treat as the paradigm of practical reasoning. Rather, these cognitive processes are constrained by, and work well with, the specialized concepts outputted by perception and the feedback outputted by sensorimotor processes.
Foetal Cardiac Anomalies: Experience in a Primary Referral Centre
Authors: Chaudhary Yogeshkumar S. , Patil Sachin Shridhar
Published: August 2018

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common congenital anomalies reported. Incidence of CHD is 8–9 per 1000 live births in data published from the west. There is very little published data on the incidence of foetal cardiac anomalies in India. We tried to find out incidence and spectrum of foetal cardiac anomalies in second and third trimester during routine ultrasound examination in a primary referral centre. Of 11,760 fetuses in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, 104 were found to have cardiac anomalies with incidence of 8.8 per 1000. Ventricular septal defect was the most common lesion, followed by chamber asymmetries and outlet abnormalities.
Analyzing Congestion Propagation on Urban Rail Transit Oversaturated Conditions: A Framework Based on SIR Epidemic Model
Authors: Zeng Ziling , Li Taixun
Published: August 2018

Simulating the congestion propagation of urban rail transit system is challenging, especially under oversaturated conditions. This paper presents a congestion propagation model based on SIR (susceptible, infected, recovered) epidemic model for capturing the congestion prorogation process through formalizing the propagation by a congestion susceptibility recovery process. In addition, as congestion propagation is the key parameter in the congestion propagation model, a model for calculating congestion propagation rate is constructed. A gray system model is also introduced to quantify the propagation rate under the joint effect of six influential factors: passenger flow, train headway, passenger transfer convenience, time of congestion occurring, initial congested station and station capacity. A numerical example is used to illustrate the congestion propagation process and to demonstrate the improvements after taking corresponding measures.
Nativism and Economic Integration Across the Developing World
Authors: Bhavnani Rikhil R. , Lacina Bethany
Published: August 2018

Migration and nativism are explosive issues in Europe and North America. Less well-known is the tumult that soaring migration is creating in the politics of developing countries. The key difference between anti-migrant politics in developed and developing countries is that domestic migration - not international migration - is the likely focus of nativist politics in poorer countries. Nativists take up the cause of sub-national groups, vilifying other regions and groups within the country as sources of migration. Since the 1970s, the majority of less-developed countries have adopted policies that aim to limit internal migration. This Element marshals evidence from around the world to explore the colliding trends of internal migration and nativism. Subnational migration is associated with a boom in nativist politics. Pro-native public policy and anti-migrant riots are both more likely when internal migration surges. Political decentralization strengthens subnational politicians' incentives and ability to define and cater to nativists.
Measuring language attitudes using the Personalized Implicit Association Test: A case study on regional varieties of Dutch in Belgium
Authors: Rosseel Laura , Speelman Dirk , Geeraerts Dirk
Published: August 2018

This paper introduces the Personalized Implicit Association Test (P-IAT, Olson & Fazio, 2004) as a novel measure for language attitudes. Tying in with sociolinguists’ renewed interest in social psychological attitude measures (e.g., Campbell-Kibler, 2012; Pantos & Perkins, 2012; Speelman, Spruyt, Impe & Geeraerts, 2013), the study uses the P-IAT to measure associations with regional varieties of Belgian Dutch and compares the results to an explicit measurement, as well as the results from an experiment using auditory affective priming, another reaction time based attitude measure developed in social psychology, reported in Speelman et al. (2013). Results from both implicit measures show a strong preference for the standard variety of Belgian Dutch over out-group regional varieties, as well as in-group preferences for participants’ own variety over other regional varieties. However, results do not entirely coincide. The paper concludes by discussing the benefits and potential demerits of the P-IAT as a measure of language attitudes.
Perception of speaker age and speaker origin in a sound change in progress: The case of /s/-aspiration in Andalusian Spanish
Authors: Ruch Hanna
Published: August 2018

This paper addresses the question whether listeners possess sociolinguistic knowledge of regional variation in a sound change affecting /s/ + voiceless stop sequences in Andalusian Spanish. We tested whether speakers from Seville and Granada were perceived as more Sevillian-sounding and as younger when a stimulus contained the novel phonetic variant, a post-aspirated stop. Word-medial syllable-final /s/ was manipulated in such a way that two stimuli of the same speaker differed only in whether they contained pre-aspiration ([eh.ˈtaŋ.ko]) or post-aspiration ([e.ˈthaŋ.ko]). Andalusian listeners rated the same speaker as younger and as more Sevillian-sounding when the stimulus contained a post-aspirated stop. The recognition of a speaker’s actual dialect was particularly high when the innovative variant was embedded in a Seville speaker’s speech, confirming earlier work that indexicality is context-specific. The results suggest that Andalusian listeners possess knowledge of the regional variation and the sound change and use this variation in social perception.
Probabilistic corpus-based dialectometry
Authors: Wolk Christoph , Szmrecsanyi Benedikt
Published: August 2018

Researchers in dialectometry have begun to explore measurements based on fundamentally quantitative metrics, often sourced from dialect corpora, as an alternative to the traditional signals derived from dialect atlases. This change of data type amplifies an existing issue in the classical paradigm, namely that locations may vary in coverage and that this affects the distance measurements: pairs involving a location with lower coverage suffer from greater noise and therefore imprecision. We propose a method for increasing robustness using generalized additive modeling, a statistical technique that allows leveraging the spatial arrangement of the data. The technique is applied to data from the British English dialect corpus FRED; the results are evaluated regarding their interpretability and according to several quantitative metrics. We conclude that data availability is an influential covariate in corpus-based dialectometry and beyond, and recommend that researchers be aware of this issue and of methods to alleviate it.
A comparative study of woolly mammoths from the Gravettian site Kraków Spadzista (Poland), based on estimated shoulder heights, demography, and life conditions
Authors: Haynes Gary , Klimowicz Janis , Wojtal Piotr
Published: August 2018

This article interprets the life conditions of woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius) from the Upper Paleolithic archaeological site Kraków Spadzista in Poland. We propose that the mammoths’ irregular mortality profile (also known as age profile) was shaped over several decades by major death events, which serially depleted the youngest cohorts. Taphonomic data and comparisons with other Eurasian archaeological and nonarchaeological sites provide context for hypothesizing that the mammoth-bone assemblage was accumulated at least partly through opportunistic human hunting of the most vulnerable animals in mixed herds. Humans exploited heightened mammoth vulnerability during climatic stress periods, killing and butchering most of the animals, although some mammoths in the assemblage may have died from natural causes. The evidence for environmental stress affecting the mammoths includes paleoecological data about local climatic conditions, the abundant signs of mammoth-bone abnormalities in the assemblage, the relatively smaller size of adult female mammoths compared with those from the similarly dated archaeological site Milovice I (Czech Republic), and the unusually high proportion of juvenile mammoths in the assemblage.
THE EASTERN PARTS OF THE ANGLO-SAXON CHURCH OF ST WYSTAN AT REPTON: FUNCTION AND CHRONOLOGY
Authors: Fernie Eric
Published: August 2018

St Wystan’s at Repton is one of the most important churches of the Anglo-Saxon period because of its royal connections, the extent and character of its surviving Anglo-Saxon fabric and the historical puzzles it presents. Our understanding of the building has been transformed by the investigations undertaken by Harold Taylor, Martin Biddle and Birthe Kjølbye-Biddle. The paper begins with a brief summary of the evidence discovered and the conclusions reached by the three scholars, and then analyses what in those conclusions can be debated concerning the function and date of the columns and vaults inserted into the crypt.
Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies againstBesnoitia besnoititachyzoites
Authors: García-Lunar P. , Schares G. , Sanz-Fernández A. , Jiménez-Meléndez A. , García-Soto I. , Regidor-Cerrillo J. , Pastor-Fernández I. , Hemphill A. , Fernández-Álvarez M. , Ortega-Mora L. M. , Álvarez-García G.
Published: August 2018

This is the first report on the development and characterization of eight monoclonal antibodies (MABs) generated against whole- and membrane-enriched tachyzoite extracts of the apicomplexan parasiteBesnoitia besnoiti. Confocal laser scanning immunofluorescence microscopy was used to localize respective epitopes inB. besnoititachyzoites along the lytic cycle. A pattern compatible with dense granule staining was observed with MABs 2.A.12, 2.F.3 and 2.G.4, which could be confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy for MABs 2.A.12 and 2.F.3. In particular, MABs 2.F.3 and 2.G.4 were secreted during early invasion, proliferation and egress phases. MABs 3.10.8 and 5.5.11 labelled the tachyzoite surface, whilst MABs 1.17.8, 8.9.2 and 2.G.A recognized the apical tip, which is reminiscent for microneme localization. Besides, the epitopes recognized by the latter two (MABs 8.9.2 and 2.G.A) exhibited a redistribution from the anterior part across the parasite surface towards the posterior end during invasion. Most MABs developed were genus-specific. Indeed, the MABs cross-reacted neither withT. gondiinor withN. caninumtachyzoites. In summary, we have generated MABs that will be useful to study the key processes in the lytic cycle of the parasite and with additional promising diagnostic value. However, the molecular identity of the antigens recognized remains to be elucidated.
An evaluation and exploration of Irish food-service businesses’ uptake of and attitudes towards a voluntary government-led menu energy (calorie) labelling initiative
Authors: Fitzgerald Sarah , Gilgan Lauri , McCarthy Mary , Perry Ivan J , Geaney Fiona
Published: August 2018

Objective

To investigate the uptake of and attitudes towards a voluntary government-led energy (calorie) menu labelling initiative in Ireland among a representative sample of food-service businesses and to inform further actions that may need to be undertaken to facilitate successful implementation.

Design

A mixed-methods approach, incorporating a national telephone survey, structured observation visits and semi-structured interviews.

Setting

Twenty-six counties in the Republic of Ireland.

Subjects

A random selection of food-service businesses (n 604) participated in the telephone survey. Businesses which indicated that they did display calories were selected to participate in structured observation visits (n 42), along with a random sample (n 38) of businesses that did not display calories. A purposive sample of thirteen food-service business owners who participated in the telephone survey participated in semi-structured interviews.

Results

In the telephone survey, 7 % (n 42) of food businesses reported displaying calories and the observation visits revealed that of these businesses, 10 % (n 4) were not displaying calorie information. Three major themes emerged from the semi-structured interviews: uncertainty, impact on business and consumer nutrition knowledge. Participants expressed concerns regarding inaccuracies in the calorie information, cost and time implications, mistrust in the food-service industry and poor nutritional knowledge among consumers. These concerns impeded the implementing of calorie menu labelling.

Conclusions

A multifactorial approach that incorporates guidance and support (training/tax incentives), practical assistance (user-friendly calorie calculation software), a reasonable legislative structure and a standardised monitoring system is needed to facilitate the successful implementation of calorie menu labelling.
Skin dose assessment with treatment planning system (TPS) and skin reaction evaluation of early breast cancer patients treated via an intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) device
Authors: Baziar Omid , Gholamhosseinian Hamid , Forghani Mohammad Naser
Published: August 2018

Purpose

To assess skin dose and incidence of skin reactions in early breast cancer patients treated via Intrabeam™ intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) device.

Materials and methods

In total, 250 breast cancer patients treated with a single fraction of 20 Gy using 50 kV photon were recruited. The applicator to skin distance (ASD) was measured before the initiation of the radiation and the skin dose in each patient was accordingly calculated based on the treatment planning system (TPS).

Results

The average skin doses calculated were equal to 7·91, 5·83, 3·96 and 2·14 Gy for 6–10, 10–15, 15–20 and 20–30 mm ASD values, respectively. It is noticeable that the skin doses could be lower than the TPS measurements up to 45%, mostly due to lack of backscatter radiation in breast tissue compared with the full scatter condition in the Zeiss water phantom. Finally, only three patients showed low-grade skin reactions 1 week after IORT. A review of the related literature also revealed the incidence of lower skin complications among patients treated via Intrabeam™ compared with MammoSite™ machine.

Conclusions

The Intrabeam™ TPS did not seem to be very reliable for accurate skin dosimetry. However, breast cancer treatment using Intrabeam™ could result in fewer incidences of skin reactions than MammoSite™ machine.
Maternal and neonatal characteristics of a Canadian urban cohort receiving treatment for opioid use disorder during pregnancy
Authors: Miller C. , Grynspan D. , Gaudet L. , Ferretti E. , Lawrence S. , Moretti F. , Lafreniere A. , McGee A. , Lattuca S. , Black A.
Published: August 2018

The epidemic of prescription and non-prescription opioid misuse is of particular importance in pregnancy. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada currently recommends opioid replacement therapy with methadone or buprenorphine for opioid-dependent women during pregnancy. This vulnerable segment of the population has been shown to be at increased risk of blood-borne infectious diseases, nutritional insecurity and stress. The objective of this study was to describe an urban cohort of pregnant women on opioid replacement therapy and to evaluate potential effects on the fetus. A retrospective chart review of all women on opioid replacement therapy and their infants who delivered at The Ottawa Hospital General and Civic campuses between January 1, 2013 and March 24, 2017 was conducted. Data were collected on maternal characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, neonatal outcomes and corresponding placental pathology. Maternal comorbidities identified included high rates of infection, tobacco use and illicit substance use, as well as increased rates of placental abruption compared with national averages. Compared with national baseline averages, the mean neonatal birth weight was low, and the incidence of small for gestational age infants and congenital anomalies was high. The incidence of NAS was comparable with estimates from other studies of similar cohorts. Findings support existing literature that calls for a comprehensive interdisciplinary risk reduction approach including dietary, social, domestic, psychological and other supports to care for opioid-dependent women in pregnancy.
Facing the State: Everyday Interactions throughout Regime Change: Chile’s State Milk 1954–2010
Authors: Goldsmith Weil Jael
Published: August 2018

This article uses Chile’s state milk program as a prism to map the trajectory of Chile’s social state through three combinations of political, economic, and welfare regimes. It traces the informal strategies deployed by citizens and local service providers and presents a historical typology of these encounters between 1954 and 2010, examining what commodification and decommodification mean to families in their everyday lives and discussing the implications of these findings to the literature on welfare regimes. The most important finding of this article is that regime type shapes but does not determine levels of provision. Welfare provision occurs in everyday interactions between state workers and citizens, and changes in regime type are filtered through and resisted through practices and strategies deployed in face-to-face encounters between local state representatives and citizens. There is often a large gap between central policy and these informal institutions that are created in everyday on-the-ground encounters between local state workers and citizens. Therefore, a second main conclusion of this article is that the informal institutions created at the local provision level coexist, compete, and clash with formal rules. A third conclusion of this article is that, to some extent, people who are regulated by the state also have some capacity to regulate their exchanges with the state, and, at the same time, state workers who organize and are organized by the state to distribute resources exercise discretionary power when implementing social programs.