bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation and enhanced microwave absorption properties of Ni-Co attached single-walled carbon nanotubes and CoFe2O4 nanocomposites
Authors: Fang Y. H. , Tang X. T. , Sun X. , Zhang Y. F. , Zhao J. W. , Yu L. M. , Liu Y. , Zhao X. L.
Published: June 2017

The electromagnetism and microwave absorption properties were investigated in the frequency range of 2–18 GHz for the nanocomposites NiCo-SWCNTs/CoFe2O4 consisting of Ni-Co attached single-walled carbon nanotubes (NiCo-SWCNTs) and CoFe2O4 nanocrystals with different ingredient weight ratios. NiCo-SWCNTs were mass-produced by a direct current arc discharge in helium and CoFe2O4 was synthesized by a sol-gel method. Premium microwave absorption properties (mainly in Ku-band, i.e., 12–18 GHz) were obtained due to the appropriate combination of the complex permeability and permittivity resulting from the magnetic nanocrystals and high-crystalline NiCo-SWCNTs. The NiCo-SWCNTs/CoFe2O4 nanocomposites with 15 wt. % NiCo-SWCNTs exhibited the best microwave absorption property, whose reflection loss (RL) value reached −47.9 dB at 14.7 GHz and the absorption bandwidth (RL<−10 dB) was up to 7.1 GHz (from 10.5 to 17.6 GHz) with a matching thickness of only 1.8 mm. Our results indicate that the studied nanocomposite could be used as a promising candidate for lightweight microwave absorption materials.
Head-on collision between two dust acoustic solitary waves and study of rogue waves in multicomponent dusty plasma
Authors: Singh Kuldeep , Kaur Nimardeep , Saini N. S.
Published: June 2017

In this investigation, the study of head-on collision between two dust acoustic solitary waves (DASWs) and characteristics of rogue waves in a dusty plasma composed of dust fluid, kappa distributed ions, electrons, and positrons has been presented. Two Korteweg-de Vries equations are derived by employing the extended Poincaré–Lighthill–Kuo reductive perturbation method. The analytical phase shifts and trajectories after head-on collision of two DA solitary waves have been studied numerically. It is found that the presence of superthermal ions, electrons, as well as positrons; concentrations of electrons and positrons; and temperature of electrons and dust have an emphatic influence on the phase shifts after the head-on collision of two rarefactive DA solitary waves. The time evolution of two rarefactive DASWs has also been presented. Further, the generation of dust acoustic rogue waves (DARWs) has been studied in the framework of rational solution of nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The dependence of the rogue wave profile on the relevant physical parameters has been discussed in detail. It is emphasized that the real implementation of our present results may be of great importance in different regions of space and astrophysical environments, especially in the interstellar medium and Jupiter rings.
Adaptive pseudo-color enhancement method of weld radiographic images based on HSI color space and self-transformation of pixels
Authors: Jiang Hongquan , Zhao Yalin , Gao Jianmin , Gao Zhiyong
Published: June 2017

The radiographic testing (RT) image of a steam turbine manufacturing enterprise has the characteristics of low gray level, low contrast, and blurriness, which lead to a substandard image quality. Moreover, it is not conducive for human eyes to detect and evaluate defects. This study proposes an adaptive pseudo-color enhancement method for weld radiographic images based on the hue, saturation, and intensity (HSI) color space and the self-transformation of pixels to solve these problems. First, the pixel’s self-transformation is performed to the pixel value of the original RT image. The function value after the pixel’s self-transformation is assigned to the HSI components in the HSI color space. Thereafter, the average intensity of the enhanced image is adaptively adjusted to 0.5 according to the intensity of the original image. Moreover, the hue range and interval can be adjusted according to personal habits. Finally, the HSI components after the adaptive adjustment can be transformed to display in the red, green, and blue color space. Numerous weld radiographic images from a steam turbine manufacturing enterprise are used to validate the proposed method. The experimental results show that the proposed pseudo-color enhancement method can improve image definition and make the target and background areas distinct in weld radiographic images. The enhanced images will be more conducive for defect recognition. Moreover, the image enhanced using the proposed method conforms to the human eye visual properties, and the effectiveness of defect recognition and evaluation can be ensured.
Electron heating mechanism in radio-frequency microhollow cathode discharge in nitrogen
Authors: Han Qing , Gao Shu-Xia , Wang Jing , Shu Wei-Peng , Zhang Lian-Zhu
Published: June 2017

A two-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte-Carlo code has been developed to study the electron heating mechanism in radio-frequency microhollow cathode discharge (rf-MHCD) operated in nitrogen at 100 Torr. The influence of secondary electron emission coefficient (γ) on the electron density and total ionization rate, the occurrence of α ionization rate and γ ionization rate, and the electron heating rate are calculated. The results show that compared with the condition of γ = 0, the maximum electron density at γ = 0.1 shows an increase of 60% and the maximum total ionization rate increases by nearly one order of magnitude, which indicates secondary electron heating in rf-MHCD plays an important role. Through the detailed distribution of γ ionization rate and α ionization rate by two-electron model, it is found that γ ionization rate is about 90% of the total ionization rate and the spatial distribution of γ ionization rate presents the same characteristics of the total ionization rate. Therefore, we can further confirm secondary electron heating is the main heating mechanism in rf-MHCD. From the distribution of electron heating rate, it also shows the decisive role of secondary electron heating. With the increase of γ coefficient, α ionization rate increases. This means the electrons which are from fast electron group transferred into slow electron group in the plasma are heated again by sheath oscillation and do contribute to the occurrence of α ionization collision.
Note: Smooth torsional potentials for degenerate dihedral angles
Authors: Howard Michael P. , Statt Antonia , Panagiotopoulos Athanassios Z.
Published: June 2017

A general method is proposed for smoothing torsional potentials when the dihedral angle becomes undefined.
Does water depth influence size composition of estuary-associated fish? Distributions revealed using mobile acoustic-camera transects along the channel of a small shallow estuary
Authors: Becker Alistair , Whitfield Alan K. , Cowley Paul D. , Cole Victoria J.
Published: June 2017

Quantifying the abundance and distribution of fish is fundamental to gaining an understanding of how habitat type, water depth or abiotic conditions influence fish assemblages throughout estuarine systems. Such investigations are inherently difficult because estuaries typically contain a range of habitats across varying depth strata, and data usually consist of replicate samples that cover only a small portion of an entire estuary. We used replicate acoustic-camera (DIDSON) transects along the entire length of a small South African estuary to determine the distributions of different size cohorts of fish. Each size cohort was distributed heterogeneously along the estuary, with abundances peaking in discreet sections of the system. By comparing the abundance of fish to the bathymetry, we found correlations between depth and abundance for two of three size classes. Large fish (>401mm) were more abundant in deep holes (<3m), whereas there were more small fish (100–250mm) in shallow (>1.5m) upper reaches of the estuary. This investigation demonstrated the usefulness of extended DIDSON transects to rapidly collect data on the distributional abundance of estuarine fish from the estuary mouth to the head, showing that bathymetry of a system may be an important factor in determining these patterns.
Temperature gradients in vivo influence maturing male and female gametes in mammals: evidence from the cow
Authors: Hunter R. H. F. , López-Gatius F. , López-Albors O.
Published: June 2017

Since 1980 several reports have indicated that temperatures vary between preovulatory follicles and other ovarian tissues in rabbit, cow, pig and human. However, these observations did not achieve prominence; they were regarded as artefacts due to the use of anaesthetics and open surgery (laparotomy). Recently, without resorting to anaesthesia or surgery, direct measurements of temperature in preovulatory follicles have been performed in the cow by means of a thermistor probe introduced into the antrum under ultrasonic guidance. Such follicles revealed a mean antral (follicular fluid) temperature 0.74°C and 1.54°C cooler than uterine surface and rectal temperatures respectively in ovulating cows, whereas no such temperature differences were detected in non-ovulating cows. Cows are predominantly monovular and preovulatory follicles attain a diameter of 15–22 mm or more. These features and the timescale of response to the preovulatory gonadotrophin surge make them a valuable model for the human preovulatory follicle. Temperature gradients are interpreted primarily in a context of final maturation of gametes immediately before the onset of fertilisation. Preovulatory follicular temperature in women could be assessed by a comparable approach and might become a valuable selection guide for oocyte viability.
Applying Task-Based Learning to translator education
Authors: Inoue Izumi , Candlin Christopher N.
Published: June 2017

This paper reports and discusses the outcomes of an innovative pilot training program using Task-Based Learning (TBL) in the context of translator education. The objectives were twofold: to investigate the extent to which the use of TBL helped novice participants develop their problem-solving skills, and to examine learner perceptions of the usefulness of TBL. The training program incorporates key characteristics of TBL, including tasks consisting of pedagogically sequenced stages, guided by the overall objective of achieving learner autonomy. In this study, six postgraduate students majoring in translation and interpreting in Australian universities participated in the program. The process and product of five tasks were evaluated by two professional translators using a set of rubrics. A series of interviews was conducted to identify learner perceptions of the usefulness of TBL. Overall, learners showed progress in recognizing differences between novices and professionals and in solving key problems. In terms of the second research objective, the learners perceived TBL to be a useful learning methodology, facilitating awareness of novice-professional differences, appreciation of the critical consequences derived from risks and problems, and development of interpersonal skills, including the discovery of new approaches to resolving translation challenges through peer interaction.
Locative DPs and deictic adverbs/pronouns in subject position in Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: Pilati Eloisa Silva Nascimento , Naves Rozana Reigota , Lima-Salles Heloisa Maria M.
Published: June 2017

The paper investigates the licensing of locative DPs and deictic adverbs in subject position in Brazilian Portuguese (henceforth, BP), taking into consideration specifically the grammatical status of third person verb inflection in this language. We develop a unified analysis for related phenomena, which allow to identifying Brazilian Portuguese (BP) as a partial null subject language (cf. Holmberg 2010). In particular, we examine (i) sentences with a locative preverbal adverb/pronoun, which can be either overt or null (further allowing a locative adverb in postverbal position), in which the verb bears third person inflection and the subject has an arbitrary reading; (ii) VS word order sentences with an overt locative adverb, giving rise to a locative inversion configuration; (iii) sentences with weather verbs and a preverbal locative DP licensing agreement on the verb; (iv) the so-called topic-subject constructions, with a (selected) DP raised from an internal VP position. We assume that third person inflection on the verb, unlike first and second person inflection, is unable to license referential definite null subjects (cf. Rabelo 2010). We claim that the possibility of filling the subject position with a locative pronoun/adverb or a locative DP is due to the fact that the third person inflection in BP is no longer referential. In turn, null or overt locative adverbs/pronouns in preverbal position can check the EPP feature in these constructions, yielding arbitrary interpretation of the external argument as a consequence of the absence of a referential feature on (third person) T. We further claim that the (null) adverb/pronoun bears a locative feature in locative inversion constructions, existential predicates, and (internal) locative/part-whole arguments.
Adverbial elatives in Caribbean Spanish
Authors: Gutiérrez-Rexach Javier , González-Rivera Melvin
Published: June 2017

This paper is a study of the adverbial modifier bien and its use as an elative or operator of extreme degree in a Caribbean Spanish variety, Puerto Rican Spanish. It is argued that there are several properties setting the elative interpretation of bien apart from other well-known uses in other varieties and from the intensifier muy. The modifier bien is also argued to be exclamative and modal in nature, related to the high degree of commitment of the speaker with the truth of a proposition.
Applying a potential difference to minimise damage to carbon fibres
during carbon nanotube grafting by chemical vapour deposition
Authors: Anthony David B , Qian Hui , Clancy Adam J , Greenhalgh Emile S , Bismarck Alexander , Shaffer Milo S P
Published: June 2017

The application of an in situ potential difference between
carbon fibres and a graphite foil counter electrode (300 V, generating an
electric field ca 0.3–0.7 V μm−1),
during the chemical vapour deposition synthesis of carbon nanotube (CNT) grafted
carbon fibres, significantly improves the uniformity of growth without reducing
the tensile properties of the underlying carbon fibres. Grafted CNTs with
diameters 55 nm ± 36 nm and lengths around 10 μm
were well attached to the carbon fibre surface, and were grown without the
requirement for protective barrier coatings. The grafted CNTs increased the
surface area to 185 m2 g−1 compared to the
as-received sized carbon fibre 0.24 m2 g−1. The
approach is not restricted to batch systems and has the potential to improve CNT
grafted carbon fibre production for continuous processing.
Distortion of embeddings of binary trees into diamond graphs
Authors: Leung Siu Lam , Nelson Sarah , Ostrovska Sofiya , Ostrovskii Mikhail
Published: June 2017

Diamond graphs and binary trees are important examples in the theory of metric embeddings and also in the theory of metric characterizations of Banach spaces. Some results for these families of graphs are parallel to each other; for example superreflexivity of Banach spaces can be characterized both in terms of binary trees (Bourgain, 1986) and diamond graphs (Johnson-Schechtman, 2009). In this connection, it is natural to ask whether one of these families admits uniformly bilipschitz embeddings into the other. This question was answered in the negative by Ostrovskii (2014), who left it open to determine the order of growth of the distortions. The main purpose of this paper is to get a sharp up-to-a-logarithmic-factor estimate for the distortions of embeddings of binary trees into diamond graphs and, more generally, into diamond graphs of any finite branching

k
≥
2

k\ge 2

. Estimates for distortions of embeddings of diamonds into infinitely branching diamonds are also obtained.
Reflection groups, reflection arrangements, and invariant real varieties
Authors: Friedl Tobias , Riener Cordian , Sanyal Raman
Published: June 2017

Let

X
X

be a nonempty real variety that is invariant under the action of a reflection group

G
G

. We conjecture that if

X
X

is defined in terms of the first

k
k

basic invariants of

G
G

(ordered by degree), then

X
X

meets a

k
k

-dimensional flat of the associated reflection arrangement. We prove this conjecture for the infinite types, reflection groups of rank at most

3
3

, and

F
4

F_4

and we give computational evidence for

H
4

H_4

. This is a generalization of Timofte’s degree principle to reflection groups. For general reflection groups, we compute nontrivial upper bounds on the minimal dimension of flats of the reflection arrangement meeting

X
X

from the combinatorics of parabolic subgroups. We also give generalizations to real varieties invariant under Lie groups.
Classification of Harish-Chandra Modules for Current Algebras
Authors: Lau Michael
Published: June 2017

For any reductive Lie algebra

g

\mathfrak {g}

and commutative, associative, unital algebra

S
S

, we give a complete classification of the simple weight modules of

g

⊗
S

\mathfrak {g}\otimes S

with finite weight multiplicities. In particular, any such module is parabolically induced from a simple admissible module for a Levi subalgebra. Conversely, all modules obtained in this way have finite weight multiplicities. These modules are isomorphic to tensor products of evaluation modules at distinct maximal ideals of

S
S

. Our results also classify simple Harish-Chandra modules up to isomorphism for all central extensions of current algebras.
Borel canonization of analytic sets with Borel sections
Authors: Drucker Ohad
Published: June 2017

Kanovei, Sabok and Zapletal asked whether every proper

σ
\sigma

-ideal satisfies the following property: given

E
E

an analytic equivalence relation with Borel classes, there exists a set

B
B

which is Borel and

I
I

-positive such that

E

↾

B

E\restriction _{B}

is Borel. We propose a related problem – does every proper

σ
\sigma

-ideal satisfy: given

A
A

an analytic subset of the plane with Borel sections, there exists a set

B
B

which is Borel and

I
I

-positive such that

A
∩
(
B
×

ω

ω

)

A\cap (B\times \omega ^{\omega })

is Borel. We answer positively when a measurable cardinal exists, and negatively in

L
L

, where no proper

σ
\sigma

ideal has that property. We show that a positive answer for all ccc

σ
\sigma

-ideals implies that

ω

1

\omega _{1}

is inaccessible to the reals and Mahlo in

L
L

.
Patterns of Opioid Prescription and Use After Cesarean Delivery
Authors: Bateman Brian T. , Cole Naida M. , Maeda Ayumi , Burns Sara M. , Houle Timothy T. , Huybrechts Krista F. , Clancy Caitlin R. , Hopp Stephanie B. , Ecker Jeffrey L. , Ende Holly , Grewe Kasey , Raposo Corradini Beatriz , Schoenfeld Robert E. , Sankar Keerthana , Day Lori J. , Harris Lynnette , Booth Jessica L. , Flood Pamela , Bauer Melissa E. , Tsen Lawrence C. , Landau Ruth , Leffert Lisa R.
Published: June 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To define the amount of opioid analgesics prescribed and consumed after discharge after cesarean delivery.

METHODS:

We conducted a survey at six academic medical centers in the United States from September 2014 to March 2016. Women who had undergone a cesarean delivery were contacted by phone 2 weeks after discharge and participated in a structured interview about the opioid prescription they received on discharge and their oral opioid intake while at home.

RESULTS:

A total of 720 women were enrolled; of these, 615 (85.4%) filled an opioid prescription. The median number of dispensed opioid tablets was 40 (interquartile range 30–40), the median number consumed was 20 (interquartile range 8–30), and leftover was 15 (interquartile range 3–26). Of those with leftover opioids, 95.3% had not disposed of the excess medication at the time of the interview. There was an association between a larger number of tablets dispensed and the number consumed independent of patient characteristics. The amount of opioids dispensed did not correlate with patient satisfaction, pain control, or the need to refill the opioid prescription.

CONCLUSION:

The amount of opioid prescribed after cesarean delivery generally exceeds the amount consumed by a significant margin, leading to substantial amounts of leftover opioid medication. Lower opioid prescription correlates with lower consumption without a concomitant increase in pain scores or satisfaction.
A Shared Decision-Making Intervention to Guide Opioid Prescribing After Cesarean Delivery
Authors: Prabhu Malavika , McQuaid-Hanson Emily , Hopp Stephanie , Burns Sara M. , Leffert Lisa R. , Landau Ruth , Lauffenburger Julie C. , Choudhry Niteesh K. , Kaimal Anjali , Bateman Brian T.
Published: June 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To assess whether a shared decision-making intervention decreases the quantity of oxycodone tablets prescribed after cesarean delivery.

TECHNIQUE:

A tablet computer-based decision aid formed the basis of a shared decision-making session to guide opioid prescribing after cesarean delivery. Women first received information on typical trajectories of pain resolution and expected opioid use after cesarean delivery and then chose the number of tablets of 5 mg oxycodone they would be prescribed up to the institutional standard prescription of 40 tablets.

EXPERIENCE:

From April 11, 2016, to June 10, 2016, 105 women were screened, 75 were eligible, and 51 consented to participate; one patient was excluded after enrollment as a result of prolonged hospitalization. The median number of tablets (5 mg oxycodone) women chose for their prescription was 20.0 (interquartile range 15.0–25.0), which was less than the standard 40-tablet prescription (P<.001).

CONCLUSION:

A shared decision-making approach to opioid prescribing after cesarean delivery was associated with approximately a 50% decrease in the number of opioids prescribed postoperatively in this cohort compared with our institutional standard prescription. This approach is a promising strategy to reduce the amount of leftover opioid medication after treatment of acute postcesarean pain.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02770612.
Bowel Dysfunction After Low Anterior Resection With Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy or Chemotherapy Alone for Rectal Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study from China
Authors: Qin Qiyuan , Huang Binjie , Cao Wuteng , Zhou Jie , Ma Tenghui , Zhou Zhiyang , Wang Jianping , Wang Lei
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND:

Neoadjuvant therapy plays a vital role in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer but impairs bowel function after restorative surgery. Optimal decision making requires adequate information of functional outcomes.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to assess postoperative bowel function and to identify predictors for severe dysfunction.

DESIGN:

The study included a cross-sectional cohort and retrospective assessments of pelvic anatomic features.

SETTINGS:

The study was conducted at a tertiary GI hospital in China.

PATIENTS:

Included patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy without radiation and curative low anterior resection for rectal cancer between 2012 and 2014.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Bowel function was assessed using the validated low anterior resection syndrome score. The thicknesses of the rectal wall, obturator internus, and levator ani were measured by preoperative MRI.

RESULTS:

A total of 151 eligible patients were identified, and 142 patients (94.0%) participated after a median of 19 months from surgery. Bowel dysfunction was observed in 71.1% (101/142) of patients, with 44.4% (63/142) reporting severe dysfunction. Symptoms of urgency and clustering were found to be major disturbances. Regression analysis identified preoperative long-course radiotherapy (p< 0.001) and a lower-third tumor (p= 0.002) independently associated with severe bowel dysfunction. Irradiated patients with a lower-third tumor (OR = 14.06;p< 0.001) or thickening of the rectal wall (OR = 11.09;p< 0.001) had a markedly increased risk of developing severe dysfunction.

LIMITATIONS:

The study was based on a limited cohort of patients and moderate follow-up after the primary surgery.

CONCLUSIONS:

Bowel function deteriorates frequently after low anterior resection for rectal cancer. Severe bowel dysfunction is significantly associated with preoperative long-course radiotherapy and a lower-third tumor, and the thickening of rectal wall after radiation is a strong predictor. Treatment decisions and patient consent should be implemented with raising awareness of bowel symptom burdens. SeeVideo Abstractat http://links.lww.com/DCR/A317.
Long-term Outcomes of Single-Site Laparoscopic Colectomy With Complete Mesocolic Excision for Colon Cancer: Comparison With Conventional Multiport Laparoscopic Colectomy Using Propensity Score Matching
Authors: Miyo Masaaki , Takemasa Ichiro , Ishihara Hiroyuki , Hata Taishi , Mizushima Tsunekazu , Ohno Yuko , Doki Yuichiro , Mori Masaki
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND:

Complete mesocolic excision has been suggested to improve oncological outcomes for patients with colon cancer. However, the long-term outcomes of single-site laparoscopic colectomy with complete mesocolic excision remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE:

We evaluated the long-term outcomes of single-site laparoscopic colectomy with complete mesocolic excision compared with conventional multiport laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer, as well as the short-term outcomes.

DESIGN:

This is a single-center, retrospective study.

SETTINGS:

The study was conducted at Osaka University Hospital in Japan.

PATIENTS:

A total of 971 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer between 2008 and 2014 were included. Of these patients, 517 were analyzed using propensity score matching (231 with single-site laparoscopic colectomy and 286 with conventional multiport laparoscopic colectomy).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Recurrence, survival, intraoperative morbidity, and postoperative complications were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Before propensity score matching, the single-site laparoscopic colectomy group had greater proportions of women and of patients with right-sided and early stage tumors compared with the conventional multiport laparoscopic colectomy group. After matching, the 2 groups each included 200 patients and did not significantly differ in any patient characteristics. The median follow-up period was 41.4 months. The 2 groups showed similar rates of intraoperative morbidity (p = 0.22) and postoperative complications (p = 0.87). Rates of 3-year disease-free and overall survival in single-site laparoscopic colectomy and conventional, multiport, laparoscopic colectomy groups were 95.5% and 91.3% (p = 0.44) and 100.0% and 98.7% (p = 0.24). The 3-year disease-free and overall survival rates in each stage did not significantly differ between the 2 groups.

LIMITATIONS:

This study was limited by its retrospective nature.

CONCLUSIONS:

Single-site laparoscopic colectomy with complete mesocolic excision for colon cancer provided acceptable perioperative outcomes and oncological outcomes, similar to those achieved with conventional multiport laparoscopic colectomy. Evidence accumulation from randomized controlled trials will be necessary to promote the wide acceptance of single-site laparoscopic colectomy. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A326.
Tailored Treatment Strategy for Locally Advanced Rectal Carcinoma Based on the Tumor Response to Induction Chemotherapy: Preliminary Results of the French Phase II Multicenter GRECCAR4 Trial
Authors: Rouanet Philippe , Rullier Eric , Lelong Bernard , Maingon Philippe , Tuech Jean-Jacques , Pezet Denis , Castan Florence , Nougaret Stéphanie
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND:

Preoperative radiochemotherapy and total mesorectal excision are the standard-of-care for locally advanced rectal carcinoma, but some patients could be over- or undertreated.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of radiochemotherapy tailored based on the tumor response to induction chemotherapy (FOLFIRINOX) to obtain a minimum R0 resection rate of 90% in the 4 arms of the study.

DESIGN:

This study is a multicenter randomized trial (NCT01333709).

SETTING:

This study was conducted at 16 French cancer specialty centers.

PATIENTS:

Two hundred six patients with locally advanced rectal carcinoma were enrolled between 2011 and 2014.

INTERVENTIONS:

Good responders (≥75% tumor volume reduction) were randomly assigned to immediate surgery (arm A) or standard radiochemotherapy (Cap 50: 50 Gy irradiation and 1600 mg/m2 oral capecitabine daily) plus surgery (arm B). Poor responders were randomly assigned to Cap 50 (arm C) or intensive radiochemotherapy (Cap 60, 60 Gy irradiation, arm D) before surgery.

OUTCOME MEASURES:

The primary end point was a R0 resection rate (circumferential resection margin >1 mm).

STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The experimental strategies were to be considered effective if at least 28 successes (R0 resection) among 31 patients in each arm of stratum I and 34 successes among 40 patients in each arm of stratum II were reported (Simon 2-stage design).

RESULTS:

After induction treatment (good compliance), 194 patients were classified as good (n = 30, 15%) or poor (n = 164, 85%) responders who were included in arms A and B (16 and 14 patients) and arms C and D (113 and 51 patients). The trial was prematurely stopped because of low accrual in arms A and B and recruitment completion in arms C and D. Data from 133 randomly assigned patients were analyzed: 11, 19, 52, and 51 patients in arms A, B, C, and D. Good responders had smaller tumors than poor responders (23 cm3 vs 45 cm3; p < 0.001). The surgical procedure was similar among groups. The R0 resection rates [90% CI] were 100% [70–100], 100% [85–100], 83% [72–91], and 88% [77–95]. Among the first 40 patients, 34 successes were reported in arms C and D (85% R0 resection rate). The circumferential resection margin ≤1 rates were 0%, 0%, 12%, and 5% in arms A, B, C, and D. The rate of transformation from positive to negative circumferential resection margin was 93%.

LIMITATIONS:

There was low accrual in arms A and B.

CONCLUSION:

Tailoring preoperative radiochemotherapy based on the induction treatment response appears safe for poor responders and promising for good responders. Long-term clinical results are needed to confirm its efficacy. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A359.
The Effect of the Timing of Radiotherapy on Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Latissimus Dorsi Breast Reconstruction: A 10-Year Study
Authors: Peiris Lashan J. , Dawson Nicola C. , Laws Siobhan A. M. , Rainsbury Richard M.
Published: June 2017

Background:

Breast reconstruction (BR) is considered to be adversely affected by radiotherapy (RT), particularly when an implant is used. The aim of this study was to compare clinical and patient-reported outcomes after expander-assisted latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction depending on the timing of RT.

Methods:

Patients undergoing BR over a 10-year period (follow-up mean, 56 [14–134] months) were divided into 3 groups. Group 1, RT after mastectomy and BR, Group 2, RT before mastectomy and BR, and Group 3, RT after mastectomy but before BR. The primary endpoints were early and late surgical interventions. Validated questionnaires were circulated to all study patients and matched controls.

Results:

Three hundred thirteen patients underwent 389 BRs. One hundred eighteen patients received RT, of which 65 had undergone expander-assisted latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction. Both use and timing of RT influenced clinical outcomes. Overall, use of RT resulted in a 3-fold increase in complications (P = 0.003). Postreconstruction RT resulted in more than double the number of complications compared with prereconstruction RT (P = 0.008) and delaying BR until after mastectomy and RT reduced complications to levels observed in control patients (P = nonsignificant). Complications were halved in patients undergoing autologous LD reconstruction (P = 0.0001). Patient-reported outcomes were similar for emotional well-being, satisfaction, and shoulder symptoms, although a nonsignificant increase in chronic breast symptoms was reported by the RT group.

Conclusion:

The timing and type of LD reconstruction chosen by patients receiving RT has a significant impact on the risk of subsequent complications and unplanned interventions but has little impact on longer term patient well-being or satisfaction.
RESIDUAL VITREOUS CORTEX AT THE FOVEA DURING VITRECTOMY FOR PRIMARY RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT REPAIR
Authors: Cho Eun Hyung , Ku Hee Chan , Il Won , Lee Eun Koo
Published: June 2017

Purpose:

To investigate the frequency of residual cortex and the effectiveness of removal of residual cortex in the fovea during vitrectomy for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed the charts and the operative videos of the 80 patients (80 eyes) who underwent vitrectomy for repair and who were observed for more than 6 months. After triamcinolone acetonide injection, we observed residual cortex on the surface of the retina. Residual cortex was removed with a diamond-dusted scraper. After surgery, we watched for the occurrence of epiretinal membrane (ERM) for at least 6 months. We graded ERM according to the postoperative visual acuity (thin membranes that did not affect vision vs. thick membranes that reduced vision).

Results:

Of the 80 eyes, 60 eyes (75%) showed macular residual cortex, which we removed with a scraper, and 20 eyes (25%) did not have visible cortical remnants. Postoperative ERM occurred in 30% of eyes (24/80). The rate of postoperative ERM was 35% (21/60) in eyes with residual cortex and 15% (3/20) in eyes without residual cortex (P = 0.091). In the 60 eyes with residual cortex during vitrectomy, a thin membrane occurred in 18 eyes (30%) and a thick membrane occurred in 3 eyes (5%). In the 20 eyes without residual cortex, however, a thin membrane occurred in 3 eyes (15%) and no thick membrane was found.

Conclusion:

Eyes with residual cortex have a higher rate of ERM than eyes with no residual cortex after vitrectomy for primary repair. It is uncertain whether removing the cortex reduces the rate of postoperative ERM. The residual cortex may have already started the pathogenesis of ERM, or surgical trauma may have played a role.
Ab Interno Trabeculectomy With a Dual Blade: Surgical Technique for Childhood Glaucoma
Authors: Khouri Albert S. , Wong Sze H.
Published: June 2017

Purpose:

To introduce a technique using the Kahook Dual Blade for treatment of childhood glaucoma.

Patient and Method:

An infant developed glaucoma after cataract extraction and anterior vitrectomy. Ab interno trabeculectomy was performed in both eyes using a dual-blade device.

Results:

Description of technique to treat childhood glaucoma. Intraocular pressure reduced from 35 to 17 mm Hg in the right eye and from 52 to 18 mm Hg in the left eye after 7 to 10 weeks. There were no complications.

Conclusions:

This was a successful, minimally invasive procedure for treatment of childhood glaucoma.
Effect of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising on Statin Use in the United States
Authors: Chang Hsien-Yen , Murimi Irene , Daubresse Matthew , Qato Dima M. , Emery Sherry L. , Alexander G. Caleb
Published: June 2017

Importance:

The value of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs is widely debated, as is the effect of DTCA on prescription sales and health care utilization.

Objective:

We examined the association between DTCA intensity for statin medications and prescription sales and cholesterol-related health care utilization.

Design, Setting, and Participants:

We conducted an ecological study for 75 designated market areas from 2005 to 2009 in the United States using linked data regarding televised DTCA volume, non-DTCA marketing and promotion, retail, mail order and long-term care prescription drug sales, prescription drug and ambulatory care health care utilization, and contextual factors such as health care density and socioeconomic status. Main outcomes and measures were volume of sales, number of dispensed prescriptions, and high cholesterol-related outpatient visits. Analyses were conducted in 2016.

Results:

The intensity of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin ad exposures per household varied substantially across designated market areas. After adjustment for socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical characteristics, each 100-unit increase in advertisement viewership was associated with a 2.22% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.30%–4.19%] increase in statin sales. Similar patterns were observed between DTCA and statin dispensing among the commercially insured. DTCA was associated with increases in high cholesterol-related outpatient visits among adults 18–45 years of age (3.15% increase in visits per 100-unit increase in viewership, 95% CI, 0.98%–5.37%) but not among those 46–65 years of age (0.51%, 95% CI, −1.49% to 2.55%).

Conclusion:

DTCA for statins is associated with increases in statin utilization and hyperlipidemia-related outpatient visits, especially for young adults.
The Experiences of Specialist Nurses Working Within the Uro-oncology Multidisciplinary Team in the United Kingdom
Authors: Punshon Geoffrey , Endacott Ruth , Aslett Phillippa , Brocksom Jane , Fleure Louisa , Howdle Felicity , Masterton Morven , O’Connor Anita , Swift Adrian , Trevatt Paul , Leary Alison
Published: June 2017

Purpose:

United Kingdom prostate cancer nursing care is provided by a variety of urology and uro-oncology nurses. The experience of working in multidisciplinary teams (MDT) was investigated in a national study.

Design:

The study consisted of a national survey with descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

Methods:

A secondary analysis of a data subset from a UK whole population survey was undertaken (n = 285) of the specialist nursing workforce and the services they provide. Data were collected on the experience of working in the MDT.

Results:

Forty-five percent of the respondents felt that they worked in a functional MDT, 12% felt that they worked in a dysfunctional MDT, and 3.5% found the MDT meeting intimidating. Furthermore, 34% of the nurses felt that they could constructively challenge all members of the MDT in meetings. Themes emerging from open-ended questions were lack of interest in nonmedical concerns by other team members, ability to constructively challenge decisions or views within the meeting, and little opportunity for patients’ wishes to be expressed.

Conclusions:

Despite expertise and experience, nurses had a variable, often negative, experience of the MDT. It is necessary to ensure that all participants can contribute and are heard and valued. More emphasis should be given to patients’ nonmedical needs.
Facilitators and Barriers for Interprofessional Rounding
Authors: Hendricks Susan , LaMothe Virginia Julie , Kara Areeba , Miller Joan
Published: June 2017

Purpose:

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the barriers and facilitators for interprofessional patient-centered rounding across 4 acute care units in a large urban hospital.

Design:

A qualitative descriptive method that included data gathered over an 18-month period was used.

Methods:

Three data sources were included: participant observation of rounding activities, focused meetings related to interprofessional practice, and exit interviews with key informants representing multiple professions and roles. The data were analyzed, and the findings were developed through an extensive transcription, coding, and discussion process.

Results:

The facilitators and barriers related to the team included high versus low turnover of team membership, structured versus unstructured rounding, valuing versus skepticism about interprofessional practice, and confidence versus hesitancy about skills. Facilitator/barrier pairs related to the environment included rounding aligned versus mismatched with hospital’s mission, time for rounding versus competing demands, geographically cohorted versus distributed teams, and readiness for change and innovation versus saturation.

Conclusion:

Factors associated with the members of the interprofessional team were important in successful implementation of interprofessional rounding. The organizational context and structure were also important. Leaders who anticipate implementing interprofessional rounding may incorporate knowledge of these facilitators and barriers into their planning process.
Transcriptome and histone epigenome ofPlasmodium vivaxsalivary-gland sporozoites point to tight regulatory control and potential mechanisms for liver-stage differentiation
Authors:   Vivax Sporozoite Consortium, Muller Ivo , Jex Aaron R. , I. Kappe Stefan H. , Mikolajczak Sebastian A. , Sattabongkot Jetsumon , Patrapuvich Rapatbhorn , Lindner Scott , Flannery Erika L. , Koepfli Cristian , Ansell Brendan , Lerch Anita , Emery-Corbin Samantha J , Charnaud Sarah , Smith Jeffrey , Merrienne Nicolas , Swearingen Kristian E. , Moritz Robert L. , Petter Michaela , Duffy Michael , Chuenchob Vorada
Published: June 2017

Plasmodium vivaxis the key obstacle to malaria elimination in Asia and Latin America, largely attributed to its ability to form resilient hypnozoites (sleeper-cells) in the host liver that escape treatment and cause relapsing infections. The decision to form hypnozoites is made early in the liver infection and may already be set in sporozoites prior to invasion. To better understand these early stages of infection, we undertook a comprehensive transcriptomic and histone epigenetic characterization ofP. vivaxsporozoites. The salivary-gland sporozoite transcriptome is heavily composed of transcripts associated with functions needed for early infection of the vertebrate host and development within hepatocytes. Through comparisons to recently published proteome data for theP. vivaxsporozoite, our study finds that although highly transcribed, these transcripts are not detectable as proteins and may be regulated through translational repression; a finding we test for a small subset of transcripts and proteins through immunofluorescent microscopy of sporozoites and liver stages in humanized mice. We identify differential transcription between the sporozoite and published transcriptomes of asexual blood-stages and mixed versus hypnozoite-enriched liver stages. These comparisons point to multiple layers of transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational control that appear active in sporozoites and to a lesser extent hypnozoites, but largely absent in replicating liver schizonts or mixed blood-stages. Common transcripts up-regulated in sporozoites and hypnozoites compared to mixed (i.e., schizont) liver-stages identify genes linked to dormancy/persistence in bacteria, amoebae and plants. We also characterise histone epigenetic modifications in theP. vivaxsporozoite and explore their role in regulating transcription. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that the sporozoite as a tightly programmed stage primed to infect the human host and identifies potential mechanisms for hypnozoite-formation that may be further explored in liver stage models.
Global biogeography since Pangaea
Authors: McIntyre Sarah R. N. , Lineweaver Charles H. , Groves Colin P. , Chopra Aditya
Published: June 2017

The breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea over the past ~ 180 million years has left its imprint on the global distribution of species and resulted in vicariance-driven allopatric speciation. Here we test the idea that the molecular clock dates for the divergences of species whose geographic ranges were divided, should agree with the palaeomagnetic dates for the continental separations. Our analysis of recently available phylogenetic divergence dates of 42 pairs of vertebrate taxa, selected for their reduced ability to have undergone dispersal-driven speciation, demonstrates that the divergence dates in phylogenetic trees of continent-bound terrestrial and freshwater vertebrates are consistent with the palaeomagnetic dates of continental separation.
Genome-wide quantification of the effects of DNA methylation on human gene regulation
Authors: Lea Amanda J. , Vockley Christopher M. , Johnston Rachel A. , Del Carpio Christina A. , Barreiro Luis B. , Reddy Timothy E. , Tung Jenny
Published: June 2017

Changes in DNA methylation are important in development and disease, but not all regulatory elements act in a methylation-dependent (MD) manner. Here, we developed mSTARR-seq, a high-throughput approach to quantify the effects of DNA methylation on regulatory element function. We assay MD activity in 14% of the euchromatic human genome, identify 2,143 MD regulatory elements, and predict MD activity using sequence and chromatin state information. We identify transcription factors associated with higher activity in unmethylated or methylated states, including an association between pioneer transcription factors and methylated DNA. Finally, we use mSTARR-seq to predict DNA methylation-gene expression correlations in primary cells. Our findings provide a map of MD regulatory activity across the human genome, facilitating interpretation of the many emerging associations between methylation and trait variation.
Theoretical analysis of the distribution of isolated particles in the TASEP: Application to mRNA translation rate estimation
Authors: Dao Duc Khanh , Saleem Zain H. , Song Yun S.
Published: June 2017

The Totally Asymmetric Exclusion Process (TASEP) is a classical stochastic model for describing the transport of interacting particles, such as ribosomes moving along the mRNA during translation. Although this model has been widely studied in the past, the extent of collision between particles and the average distance between a particle to its nearest neighbor have not been quantified explicitly. We provide here a theoretical analysis of such quantities via the distribution of isolated particles. In the classical form of the model in which each particle occupies only a single site, we obtain an exact analytic solution using the Matrix Ansatz. We then employ a refined mean field approach to extend the analysis to a generalized TASEP with particles of an arbitrary size. Our theoretical study has direct applications in mRNA translation and the interpretation of experimental ribosome profiling data. In particular, our analysis of data fromS. cerevisiaesuggests a potential bias against the detection of nearby ribosomes with gap distance less than ~ 3 codons, which leads to some ambiguity in estimating the initiation rate and protein production flux for a substantial fraction of genes. Despite such ambiguity, however, we demonstrate theoretically that the interference rate associated with collisions can be robustly estimated, and show that approximately 1% of the translating ribosomes get obstructed.