bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Location Diversification and Corporate Governance on Multinational Enterprises' Financial Performance and Risk‐taking: Evidence from Taiwanese Enterprises
Authors: Lu Cheng‐Chang , Kuan Tsung‐Han , Liu Chwen‐Chi
Published: September 2015

This study investigates the location choice performance of foreign direct investment (FDI) originating from small‐ and medium‐sized multinational enterprises established in newly industrialized economies. In this study we integrate location diversification, breadth and corporate governance to examine the performance of Taiwanese enterprises investing in Chinese mainland. Examining Taiwanese manufacturing enterprises from foundational, traditional and high‐technology aspects, our findings demonstrate the following: (i) diversifying the location choice negatively affects the return of assets; (ii) investments in regions with an abundant population positively affect the performance of Taiwanese traditional manufacturing enterprises; and (iii) a higher percentage of insider holdings in Taiwanese enterprises results in better FDI performance. We conclude that the performance of FDI originating from Taiwanese enterprises varies depending on industrial and governance characteristics. We suggest that the location choice for Taiwan FDI in Chinese mainland should be determined by the characteristics of the industry. Chinese mainland should attract multinational enterprises from emerging markets according to the characteristics of regions.
Productivity Gains from Offshore Outsourcing: Evidence from the Chinese Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Zhao Junli , Boasson Vigdis
Published: September 2015

Using the Cobb–Douglas production function and vertical specialization share, the present paper measures the productivity spillover effects of offshore outsourcing in the Chinese manufacturing industry. We examine different production factors and the degree of openness by dividing the Chinese manufacturing industry into five major categories: capital‐intensive business, technological‐intensive business, labor‐intensive business, open business and non‐open business. The results show that offshore outsourcing is positively associated with productivity in the Chinese manufacturing industry as a whole, but less so in labor‐intensive industries and more in capital‐intensive industries. Moreover, the positive impact of outsourcing on productivity is slightly higher in open industries than in non‐open industries. These results shed light on the differential spillover effects of offshore outsourcing on productivity. Our findings suggest that outsourcing structure is important to China's long‐run competitive advantage. China's policy‐makers should encourage further offshore capital‐intensive and technology‐intensive activities and focus more on outward‐oriented offshore businesses.
The cytological diagnosis of a ‘benign thyroid lesion’: is it a real safe diagnosis for the patient?
Authors: Rossi E. D. , Bizzarro T. , Fadda G. , Pontecorvi A. , Bernet V. , Nassar A.
Published: September 2015

Objective

In fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), the category of benign thyroid lesions (BTL), which constitutes 65–70% of all thyroid FNAC, and can be correctly diagnosed by morphology alone, is an important entity. A diagnosis of BTL denotes a lesion managed with follow‐up unless found in conjunction with compressive symptoms. Although this diagnosis can be quite simple, there are cases in which the scant cellular or colloid component may pose diagnostic issues. Herein, we describe the experiences of evaluating BTL at two large academic institutions. We evaluated the clinical importance of a correct diagnosis of BTL to define the exact inherent risk of a false‐negative result (FNR).

Methods

From January 2008 through to June 2013, 506 (3.6%) out of 15 850 patients with BTL underwent surgery. All nodules were sampled under sonographic guidance (US) and processed either with liquid‐based cytology (LBC), Diff‐Quik® smears or alcohol‐Papanicolaou staining methods.

Results

The histological follow‐up of 506 BTL series included 493 benign and 13 malignant lesions. The latter group included four follicular carcinomas (FC), two classic variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), one macrofollicular PTC and six follicular variants of PTC (FVPC). The malignancy rate for the BTL category was 2.5%.

Conclusions

When diagnosed by expert cytopathologists, BTL represents a robust diagnosis and might reduce the number of FNR. Additional diagnostic experience and a large case series could enable cytopathologists to recognise all the morphological entities of BTL. An important additional aid is the extensive sampling of the lesions to reduce issues related to a low cellularity.
Restrictive Physiology of Right Ventricle after Ross Procedure
Authors: Blanchart Katrien , Buklas Dimitrios , Labombarda Fabien
Published: September 2015

Mini‐Abstract

A 48‐year‐old man, lost to medical follow‐up, presented a severe restrictive physiology of the right ventricle caused by pulmonary homograft stenosis after a Ross procedure performed 17 years earlier. Right ventricular outflow reconstruction was performed with replacement of the proximal pulmonary artery and implantation of a bioprosthetic valve. Restrictive physiology of the right ventricle is strongly related to deterioration in right ventricular long‐axis function and decreased exercise tolerance, even after removal of the obstruction.
Race and Racism in the Global European World Before 1800
Authors: Wells Andrew
Published: September 2015

Histories of race and racism for the period before 1800 have been inclined to focus on the Atlantic world, particularly Africa and America. This focus has resulted in a tendency to think of race primarily in terms of slavery and skin colour. In addition, the problems of finding a suitable vocabulary for race and racism – one that is not anachronistic yet recognises the enormity of early modern slavery and genocide – have produced a degree of confusion that obstructs clear understanding of race's early‐modern progenitors. This article argues for a concentration on ‘racism’ rather than on the heavily overdetermined ‘race’, and for the refocusing of studies of race and racism onto the ‘global European world’. This context encompasses the Atlantic as just one part – albeit the most major, in the period before 1800 – of European colonial endeavours and global interactions. As the pre‐eminent maritime and global imperial power after 1763, Britain ought to be firmly in the sights of scholars seeking to understand Europe's most pernicious invention.
Religious Agency and the Limits of Intersectionality
Authors: Singh Jakeet
Published: September 2015

This article probes the relative absence of religion within discussions of intersectionality, and begins to address this absence by bringing intersectionality studies into conversation with another significant field within feminist theory: the study of religious women's agency. Although feminist literatures on intersectionality and religious women's agency have garnered a great deal of scholarly attention, these two bodies of work have rarely been engaged together. After surveying both fields, I argue that research on religious women's agency not only exposes an ambiguity at the heart of intersectionality between identity and oppression, but also challenges several aspects of intersectionality studies, especially as recent theorists increasingly turn away from identity politics in favor of a structural critique of power. These aspects of intersectionality include its often unsituated critique of power, as well as its reliance on a negatively defined consensus on anti‐oppression.
Faithful Witnessing as Practice: Decolonial Readings ofShadows of Your Black MemoryandThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Authors: Figueroa Yomaira C.
Published: September 2015

This article considers María Lugones's concept of faithful witnessing as a point of departure to think about the ethics and possibilities of faithful witnessing in literary contexts. For Lugones, faithful witnessing is an act of aligning oneself with oppressed peoples against the grain of power and recognizing their humanity, oppression, and resistance despite the lack of institutional endorsement. I engage the work of Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Denise Oliver, and other scholars who offer methodologies and discourses on recognition, witnessing, and resistance. I argue that the feminist philosophical concept of faithful witnessing is a critical element of reading decolonial imaginaries. The article undertakes close readings of two novels in the Afro‐Latinx and Afro‐Hispanic tradition: Donato Ndongo'sShadows of Your Black Memoryand Junot Díaz'sThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. In these readings, the concept of faithful witnessing enriches the analysis of religious colonization and the gender violence inherent to coloniality.
Auditing Interactive Complexity: Challenges for the Internal Audit Profession
Authors: Nuijten Arno , van Twist Mark , van der Steen Martijn
Published: September 2015

This paper contributes to the debate on the future of internal auditing in the context of emerging and intensifying societal, technological and organizational complexity. We apply a critical essay approach to combine the theoretical insights from the field of complexity science and the field of internal auditing. We explore how the condition of intensifying interactive complexity relates to the principles and methodologies of the internal audit profession, now and in the near future. After positioning our paper in the internal audit literature, we argue that interactive complexity poses new challenges and dilemmas to the internal audit profession. We argue that it is crucial for the profession to renew its repertoire to deal with interactive complexity, but also to remain true to the core principles of the profession. We indicate several promising routes for research and debate on the future of internal audit that may help the profession to adapt to intensifying interactive complexity.
Physicochemical characteristics of the Spirulina sp. dried in heat pump and conventional tray dryers
Authors: Costa Bruna R. , Rocha Silva F. , Rodrigues Marla C. K. , Pohndorf Ricardo S. , Larrosa Ana P. Q. , Pinto Luiz A. A.
Published: September 2015

A comparative study of Spirulina drying in heat pump dryer (HPD) and in conventional tray dryer (CTD) was performed. The effects of the methods used for the sample were evaluated in relation to the operation kinetics and the characteristics of the dehydrated microalgae. The air temperatures were 50 and 60 °C, and the absolute humidity of HPD was ten times smaller than in CTD. The values of the total drying time of HPD were 40% inferior to the found in CTD, for both air temperatures. The highest preservation of the Spirulina characteristics was found in HPD and air temperature of 50 °C, and in this condition, the values of phycocyanin, total phenolic compounds and total antioxidant activity were 14%, 60% and 10% higher than the values to the found in the same condition for CTD, respectively. These results are showing that the drying method is decisive in the product quality dehydrated.
Classification and recognition of genetically modified organisms by chemometrics methods using terahertz spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Tao , Li Zhi , Yin Xianhua , Hu Fangrong , Hu Cong , Zhang Wentao , Han Jiaguang
Published: September 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of terahertz (THz) spectroscopy to discriminate genetically modified (GM) and non‐GM organisms. In this study, eighty‐four sugar beet samples (thirty‐six GM sugar beets and forty‐eight of their parents, non‐GM ones) were investigated using terahertz time‐domain spectroscopy (THz‐TDS) system between 0.2 and 1.2 THz. Discriminant analysis (DA) based on principal component analysis (PCA) was used to discriminate sugar beet samples into two classes: GM organisms (GMOs) and non‐GMOs. Study results indicate that the DA method leads to an excellent classification. A total of 95.8% of the non‐GM samples were accurately classified, and no GM samples were misclassified, as there was 100% correctness. Results of this study demonstrate that THz spectroscopy combined with chemometrics techniques can provide a fast, nondestructive and reliable method to differentiate GMOs and non‐GMOs, which avoids time‐consuming, laborious and expensive sensory and chemical analyses.
The ABCs of entrustable professional activities: an overview of ‘entrustable professional activities’ in medical education
Authors: El‐Haddad C. , Damodaran A. , McNeil H. P. , Hu W.
Published: September 2015

Consultants regularly need to decide whether a trainee can be entrusted to perform a clinical activity independently. ‘Entrustable professional activities’ (EPA) provide a framework for justifying and better utilising supervisor entrustment decisions for trainee feedback and assessment in the workplace. Since being proposed by Olle ten Cate in 2005, EPA are emerging as an integral part of many international medical curricula, and are being considered by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in the current review of physician training. EPA are defined as tasks or responsibilities that can be entrusted to a trainee once sufficient competence is reached to allow for unsupervised practice. An example might be to entrust a trainee to ‘Initiate and co‐ordinate care of the palliative patient’ with only off‐site or indirect supervision. Rather than attempting to measure directly each of the many separate competencies required to undertake such a complex task, EPA direct the trainee and supervisor's attention to the trainee's performance in a limited number of selected, representative, important day‐to‐day activities. EPA‐based assessment is gaining momentum, amongst significant concerns regarding feasibility of implementation. While the optimal process for designing and implementing EPA remains to be determined, it is an assessment strategy where the over‐arching goal of optimal patient care remains in clear sight. This review explores the central role of trust in medical training, the case for EPA and potential barriers to implementing EPA‐based assessment.
A comparison of prescribing and non‐prescribing nurses in the management of people with diabetes
Authors: Courtenay Molly , Carey Nicola , Gage Heather , Stenner Karen , Williams Peter
Published: September 2015

Aim

The aim of this study were to compare nurse prescribers and non‐prescribers managing people with diabetes in general practice regarding: (a) patient characteristics; (b) activities and processes of care; (c) patient outcomes (self‐management, clinical indicators, satisfaction) and (d) resource implications and costs.

Background

Over 28,000 nurses in the UK can prescribe the same medicines as doctors provided that it is in their level of experience and competence. Over 30%, mostly in general practice, prescribe medicines for patients with diabetes.

Design

A comparative case study.

Method

Nurses managing care of people with Type 2 diabetes were recruited in twelve general practices in England; six could prescribe, six could not. Patients, recruited by nurses, were followed up for 6 months (2011–2012).

Results

The patient sample comprised 131 in prescriber sites, 83 in non‐prescriber sites. Patients of prescribers had been diagnosed and cared for by the nurse longer than those of non‐prescribers. There were no differences in reported self‐care activities or HbA1c test results between the patients of prescribers and non‐prescribers. Mean HbA1c decreased significantly in both groups over 6 months. Patients of prescribers were more satisfied. Consultation duration was longer for prescribers (by average of 7·7 minutes). Non‐prescribing nurses sought support from other healthcare professionals more frequently. Most prescribing nurses were on a higher salary band than non‐prescribers.

Conclusion

Clinical outcomes of patients managed by prescribing and non‐prescribing diabetes nurses are similar. Prescribing nurses had longer relationships with their patients and longer consultations, possibly contributing to higher satisfaction with care. Employment costs of prescribing nurses are potentially higher.
Application of Pulsed Electric Field for Oil Extraction from Sunflower Seeds: Electrical Parameter Effects on Oil Yield
Authors: Shorstkii Ivan , Mirshekarloo Meysam Sharifzadeh , Koshevoi Evgeny
Published: September 2015

The application of pulsed electric field (PEF) as one of the nonthermal intensification methods has been proposed to increase oil yield extraction from sunflower seeds. PEF treatments have been carried out under various electrical parameters such as electric field, pulsed frequency, pulse width, time of treatment and sample conductivity. 55 fractional factorial design has been used for the analysis of the impact of PEF parameters on oil yield, and oil yield square model parameters have been investigated. The oil yield was found to increase by 9.1% after treatment of sunflower seeds by variation of PEF parameters: 30 s under an electric field of 7.0 kV/cm having frequency of 15 Hz, solvent content of 40 wt% and pulse width of 30 μs.

Practical Applications

Here, we study the application of assisted pulsed electric field for oil extraction from sunflower seeds and we find the most effective variation of pulsed electric field parameters for treatment. It is very important in the industrial world as it deals with the time, quality of production and cost, which are usually carried out without preliminary treatment.
Impairment of Dynamic Pressure Autoregulation Precedes Clinical Deterioration after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Fontana Johann , Wenz Holger , Schmieder Kirsten , Barth Martin
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to evaluate the potential of the dynamic autoregulation index (ARI) to serve as an early warning system for an imminent clinical deterioration after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

METHODS

All patients received a baseline digital subtraction angiography and a computed tomography (CT) prior to treatment. The clinical status, the ARI, and the transcranial Doppler (TCD) values were evaluated daily until discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU). A CT scan at least 10 days after the postictal event was used to determine the occurrence of delayed infarcts.

RESULTS

20 patients were prospectively included in the study. 3 refused further participation between days 2 and 3. Patients with no significant deteriorations of the clinical status and no proximal vasospasm (VS) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA)/delayed infarcts showed a significant positive linear regression of the ARI values in both hemispheres from day 1 till 11 (ARI right: 2.7 + .31/day, ARI left: 2.8 + .27/day; P < .01). All patients with angiographic VS of more than one‐third in the MCA showed a corresponding drop of the ARI to values ≤1.7. The ARI drop occurred 2.5 (±1.3) days prior to significant deteriorations of the clinical status, increase of TCD values or the detection of angiographic cerebral VS/delayed infarcts in the corresponding hemispheres.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate the capability of the ARI to serve as a reliable early warning system after SAH. Further trials with larger study populations are needed to validate these promising preliminary data.
A randomized clinical trial of peginterferon alpha‐2b with or without entecavir in patients with HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B: Role of host and viral factors associated with treatment response
Authors: Tangkijvanich P. , Chittmittraprap S. , Poovorawan K. , Limothai U. , Khlaiphuengsin A. , Chuaypen N. , Wisedopas N. , Poovorawan Y.
Published: September 2015

Combining peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) and a potent nucleoside/nucleotide analogue might improve treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aims of this study were to compare the efficacy of PEG‐IFN alpha‐2b with or without entecavir in HBeAg‐negative CHB and to investigate predictors of response. A total of 126 treatment‐naïve patients were randomly assigned to receive monotherapy (n = 63) or combination therapy (n = 63) for 48 weeks. Virological response (VR) was defined as HBV DNA level <2000 IU/mL at week 96. Baseline factors including polymorphisms in the IFNL3 (rs12979860) and HLA‐DPA1 (rs3077) genes and on‐treatment viral kinetics were determined. At week 48, rates of undetectable HBV DNA were lower in the monotherapy than combination groups, but rates of HBsAg clearance and decline were comparable. At week 96, there was no difference between the corresponding groups regarding virological response (41.3% vs 38.1%, P = 0.856), HBsAg clearance (9.5% vs 4.8%, P = 0.491) and HBsAg decline. Baseline HBsAg level [odds ratio (OR): 3.14 (1.34–7.69), P = 0.012] and rs3077 polymorphism [OR: 2.78 (1.27–6.11), P = 0.011] were independent predictors of response. Patients carried GG genotype of rs3077 with low baseline HBV (<1000 IU/mL) had high probability of achieving VR (76.5%) and HBsAg clearance (29.4%). None of the patients without decrease in HBsAg combined with <2 log10 HBV DNA decline at week 12 achieved a virological response. In conclusion, the combination therapy lead to greater on‐treatment HBV DNA suppression but did not improve virological response and HBsAg clearance/decline over monotherapy. Host and viral factors could help optimize decision‐making at baseline and during PEG‐IFN‐based therapy.
Organic and inorganic correlations for Northwest Africa 852 by synchrotron‐based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy
Authors: Yesiltas Mehmet , Peale Robert E. , Unger Miriam , Sedlmair Julia , Hirschmugl Carol J.
Published: September 2015

Relationships between organic molecules and inorganic minerals are investigated in a single 34 μm diameter grain of the CR2 chondrite Northwest Africa 852 (NWA) 852 with submicron spatial resolution using synchrotron‐based imaging micro‐FTIR spectroscopy. Correlations based on absorption strength for the various constituents are determined using statistical correlation analysis. The silicate band is found to be correlated with the hydration band, and the latter is highly correlated with stretching modes of aliphatic hydrocarbons. Spatial distribution maps show that water+organic combination, silicate, OH, and C‐H distributions overlap, suggesting a possible catalytic role of phyllosilicates in the formation of organics. In contrast, the carbonate band is anticorrelated with water+organic combination, however uncorrelated with any other spectral feature. The average ratio of asymmetric CH2 and CH3 band strengths (CH2/CH3 = 2.53) for NWA 852 is similar to the average ratio of interplanetary dust particles (~2.40) and Wild 2 cometary dust particles (2.50), but it significantly exceeds that of interstellar medium objects (~1.00) and several aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites (~1.40). This suggests organics of similar length/branching, and perhaps similar formation regions, for NWA 852, Wild 2 dust particles, and interplanetary dust particles. The heterogeneous spatial distribution of ratio values indicates the presence of a mixture of aliphatic organic material with different length/branching, and thus a wide range of parent body processes, which occurred before the considered grain was formed.
Influence of redox conditions on the intensity of Mars crustal magnetic anomalies
Authors: Brachfeld Stefanie , Shah Deepa , First Emily , Hammer Julia , Bowles Julie
Published: September 2015

We evaluate the relationship between the intensity of remanent magnetization and fO2 in natural and synthetic Mars meteorites. The olivine‐phyric shergottite meteorite Yamato 980459 (Y‐980459) and a sulfur‐free synthetic analog (Y‐98*) of identical major element composition were analyzed to explore the rock magnetic and remanence properties of a basalt crystallized from a primitive melt, and to explore the role of magmatic and alteration environment fO2 on Mars crustal anomalies. The reducing conditions under which Y‐980459 is estimated to have formed (QFM‐2.5; Shearer et al. 2006) were replicated during the synthesis of Y‐98*. Y‐980459 contains pyrrhotite and chromite. Chromite is the only magnetic phase in Y‐98*. The remanence‐carrying capacity of Y‐980459 is comparable to other shergottites that formed in the fO2 range of QFM‐3 to QFM‐1. The remanence‐carrying capacity of these low fO2 basalts is 1–2 orders of magnitude too weak to account for the intense crustal anomalies observed in Mars's southern cratered highlands. Moderately oxidizing conditions of >QFM‐1, which are more commonly observed in nakhlites and Noachian breccias, are key to generating either a primary igneous assemblage or secondary alteration assemblage capable of acquiring an intense remanent magnetization, regardless of the basalt character or thermal history. This suggests that if igneous rocks are responsible for the intensely magnetized crust, these oxidizing conditions must have existed in the magmatic plumbing systems of early Mars or must have existed in the crust during secondary processes that led to acquisition of a chemical remanent magnetization.
Intraspecific variability in the “vowel”‐like sounds of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas): Intra‐ and interpopulation comparisons
Authors: Panova Elena M. , Belikov Roman A. , Agafonov Alexandr V. , Kirillova Olga I. , Chernetsky Anton D. , Bel'kovich Vsevolod M.
Published: September 2015

The beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) has a rich and complicated vocal repertoire. However, different populations use similar and common types of signals. We studied physical features of one of these types, “vowels,” in three Russian populations: the White Sea population (European North), the Chukotka population (the Bering Sea, Chukotka), and the Okhotsk Sea population (Russian Far East) as well as in four summer aggregations of the White Sea belugas over several years in duration. The pulse repetition rate (PRR) at half of the duration of the signal was measured. We found that the PRR of “vowels” collected in the same summer aggregation during different years is stable in time but varies between locations. The degree of variation corresponds with the geographic distance between different locations. Significant differences were discovered between populations separated by thousands of kilometers, and to a lesser extent, between summer aggregations inhabiting different bays of the White Sea. The variation in PRR between the locations can be caused by the divergence of signals owing to the accumulation of random errors during transmission of these signals from generation to generation, which progressed independently in different summer aggregations and populations.
Detecting surface‐feeding behavior by rorqual whales in accelerometer data
Authors: Owen Kylie , Dunlop Rebecca A. , Monty Jason P. , Chung Daniel , Noad Michael J. , Donnelly David , Goldizen Anne W. , Mackenzie Thomas
Published: September 2015

The movement of marine animals feeding at the sea surface is restricted by wave drag and a reduction in propulsive efficiency. Many rorqual whale species lunge feed at the surface, yet existing methodologies for detecting lunges in accelerometer data have not been applied to surface‐feeding behavior. Our study aimed to develop a method to detect surface‐feeding behavior in accelerometer data and in doing so, determine whether wave drag influences the detection of surface‐feeding behavior. A new acceleration parameter is described that considers the forward acceleration of the animal relative to its pitch. The new parameter, along with information on the deceleration and pitch angle, was then used in an automatic lunge detecting algorithm followed by a visual classification method that detected approximately 70% of the lunges observed during focal follow sampling. The forward acceleration of lunges decreased significantly with increasing proximity to the surface. This lower acceleration at the surface may influence the ability to detect lunge feeding behavior close to the surface. Future research should attempt to determine the cause of this relationship, which may be the influence of changes in the forces acting on the whale or behavioral flexibility by the whale.
How many individuals must be screened to reduce oral cancer mortality rate in the Western context? A challenge
Authors: Petti S , Scully C
Published: September 2015

Objective

Controlling oral cancer (OC) through screening is appealing. Advantages of this are as follows: OC is often preceded by visible premalignant lesions, early‐stage survival is threefold greater than late‐stage survival, and visual screening is inexpensive. Disadvantages of this are as follows: high frequency of false positives, undemonstrated cost‐effectiveness, and irregular screening attendance by high‐risk individuals. Screening effectiveness in Western countries has not been proven, because of low OC prevalence, which disproportionally increases the number of individuals needed to screen (NNS) to decrease mortality. This study estimated the NNS to obtain an evident decrease in OC mortality rate in the UK.

Methods

Data gathered from reliable databanks were used. NNS to detect one case (NNScase) was estimated using a Bayesian approach. NNS to prevent one death (NNSdeath) was assessed multiplying NNScase by the number of cases that must be screen‐detected to prevent one death. NNS to decrease mortality rate by 1% (NNSmortality) was assessed multiplying NNSdeath by 1% of annual OC deaths.

Results

NNSmortality was overall 1 125 000 (95% confidence interval – 95CI, 690 000–1 870 000), males 551 000 (95CI, 337 000–916 000), and females 571 000 (95CI, 347 000–942 000).

Conclusions

An OC visual screening campaign capable of producing an evident decrease in mortality rate in the UK requires a large number of adults to be annually and regularly screened.
Plant‐produced candidate countermeasures against emerging and reemerging infections and bioterror agents
Authors: Streatfield Stephen J. , Kushnir Natasha , Yusibov Vidadi
Published: September 2015

Despite progress in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, they continue to present a major threat to public health. The frequency of emerging and reemerging infections and the risk of bioterrorism warrant significant efforts towards the development of prophylactic and therapeutic countermeasures. Vaccines are the mainstay of infectious disease prophylaxis. Traditional vaccines, however, are failing to satisfy the global demand because of limited scalability of production systems, long production timelines and product safety concerns. Subunit vaccines are a highly promising alternative to traditional vaccines. Subunit vaccines, as well as monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic proteins, can be produced in heterologous expression systems based on bacteria, yeast, insect cells or mammalian cells, in shorter times and at higher quantities, and are efficacious and safe. However, current recombinant systems have certain limitations associated with production capacity and cost. Plants are emerging as a promising platform for recombinant protein production due to time and cost efficiency, scalability, lack of harboured mammalian pathogens and possession of the machinery for eukaryotic post‐translational protein modification. So far, a variety of subunit vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and therapeutic proteins (antivirals) have been produced in plants as candidate countermeasures against emerging, reemerging and bioterrorism‐related infections. Many of these have been extensively evaluated in animal models and some have shown safety and immunogenicity in clinical trials. Here, we overview ongoing efforts to producing such plant‐based countermeasures.
Chylothorax associated with child abuse
Authors: Ichikawa Yasuhiro , Sato Atsuo , Sato Kodai , Nakamura Kaori , Kitagawa Norihiko , Tanoue Koji , Shiro Hiroyuki
Published: September 2015

We report a case of right chylothorax associated with physical abuse in a 10‐month‐old boy who presented with respiratory decompensation. Chylothorax was improved by thoracic drainage and nutrition management, such as fasting followed by medium‐chain triglyceride milk. Chest computed tomography on admission showed bilateral old rib fractures. Accordingly, physical abuse was suspected. Chylothorax of unknown cause in infancy, especially in those with coexisting rib fractures, must be scrutinized for child abuse.
A Cross‐National Comparison of Suicide Attempts, Drug Use, and Depressed Mood Among Dominican Youth
Authors: Peña Juan B. , Masyn Katherine E. , Thorpe Lorna E. , Peña Stephanie M. , Caine Eric D.
Published: September 2015

We compared suicide attempts, depressed mood, and drug use of 1,710 Dominican public high school students in New York City (NYC) and 9,573 in the Dominican Republic (DR) in 2009. Compared to DR Dominicans, NYC Dominicans were more likely to have reported lifetime marijuana use (27.6% vs. 1.5%), lifetime inhalant use (11.0% vs. 7.6%), lifetime other drug use (9.9% vs. 3.0%), depressed mood (31.3% vs. 27.2%), and suicide attempt (13.8% vs. 8.8%). The results of this study supported the hypothesis that substantial increases in illicit drug use, especially cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and methamphetamines, among NYC Dominican youth account for their increased risk for suicide attempts compared to their DR Dominican counterparts. It also identified suicide attempts as a public health problem among NYC Dominicans, the largest NYC Latino immigrant population.
Tillage effects on soil aggregation, organic carbon fractions and grain yield in Eum‐Orthic Anthrosol of a winter wheat–maize double‐cropping system, Northwest China
Authors: Ji Q. , Wang Y. , Chen X‐N. , Wang X‐D.
Published: September 2015

Conservation tillage has been applied in vast semi‐arid regions of the Guanzhong Plain, Northwest China. The tillage effects on soil aggregation, organic carbon (OC) stabilization and grain yield on this plain have not been fully elucidated. A 9‐year field experiment was established from 2002 on a silty clay loam soil (Eum‐Orthic Anthrosol) growing winter wheat–maize in a double‐cropping system. Six conservation tillage treatments were applied by different combinations of rotary tillage (RT), subsoiling (SS) and no‐till (NT), with or without finely chopped straw retention. Conventional tillage (CT) acted as the control. Results showed that in the surface (0–10 cm) soil, the proportion of water‐stable aggregates (WSA) <0.05 mm was 18% less while that for WSA >2 mm was 98% more under NT treatments compared with CT. Additionally, the oxidizable OC content in WSA 0.25–2 mm was 27% greater under NT treatments compared with CT. The OC stocks increased under SS by 17%, RT by 16% and NT by 15% relative to CT. Grain yield (wheat + maize) showed similar increasing trends in all the tillage treatments compared with CT. Both OC stocks and grain yield were larger in treatments with than without straw retentions. These results indicate that NT is beneficial for OC accumulation in WSA but is limited in its ability to improve soil structure in this region. SS plus straw retention (fine‐chopped or as a mulch) is an effective practice to improve soil structural stability, OC accumulation and soil productivity of Eum‐Orthic Anthrosols in Northwest China.
Transfusion‐related alloimmune neutropenia with no pulmonary complications: one donor—five cases
Authors: Hauck‐Dlimi Barbara , Ruppel Renate , Zimmermann Robert , Strobel Julian , Reil Angelika , Eckstein Reinhold , Zingsem Juergen
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil alloantibodies are well‐known triggers of transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI) and also cause immune neutropenia. Alloimmune neutropenia due to transfusion is an isolated phenomenon that is only rarely identified. Its incidence is specified in the literature as being less than one in 10,000 transfused plasma‐containing units. We expect that this phenomenon is underreported.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We observed five cases of alloimmune neutropenia with no respiratory complications with only one case initially reported as a suspected transfusion reaction. The other four cases were detected in the course of the subsequent lookback investigation.

RESULTS: The first case was reported as a potential transfusion reaction when a female patient showed a decrease in the white blood cell count after a platelet (PLT) transfusion. Examinations of the donor blood revealed an antibody against the human neutrophil antigen HNA‐1b; the recipient was typed HNA‐1b positive and HNA‐1a negative. After examining the blood counts of other patients who previously received PLT concentrates from the same donor, we identified four other patients with an unreported decrease in the leukocyte and/or granulocyte count of more than approximately 50% after transfusion.

CONCLUSION: HNA antibodies are generally regarded as potential triggers of TRALI. Here we describe an HNA antibody that reproducibly caused transfusion‐related neutropenia only without pulmonary complications. Factors predisposing patients to TRALI development are widely discussed. Our case suggests that antibody characteristics are also relevant in the development of TRALI. Current measures to prevent TRALI should also prevent transfusion‐related alloimmune neutropenia.
Incidence of hypotension and acute hypotensive transfusion reactions following platelet concentrate transfusions
Authors: Du Pont‐Thibodeau G. , Robitaille N. , Gauvin F. , Thibault L. , Rivard G.‐É. , Lacroix J. , Tucci M.
Published: September 2015

Background and objectives

Platelet concentrates (PCs) are associated with transfusion reactions involving hypotension, particularly bradykinin‐mediated acute hypotensive transfusion reactions. This study aims to determine the incidence of hypotensive events and more specifically acute hypotensive transfusion reaction associated with PC transfusions. We also sought to ascertain whether these reactions are associated with elevated bradykinin levels.

Materials and Methods

This is a prospective descriptive study of PCs administered at Sainte‐Justine Hospital over 28 months. All PCs administered during this period were screened for hypotension through review of all transfusion‐associated reaction reports (TARRs) sent to the blood bank. All residual PC bags were returned to the blood bank. TARRs associated with hypotension were reviewed by adjudicators that established the imputability of the PC transfusion to the reaction. Bradykinin levels were sampled in the first 168 PC bags returned to the blood bank. Levels were compared between PCs associated with hypotension and control PCs not associated with hypotension.

Results

A total of 3672 PC bags were returned to the blood bank; 25 PCs were associated with hypotension. Adjudicators ascertained that five hypotensive events were imputable to PCs of which one was an acute hypotensive transfusion reaction (incidence: 0·03%). Bradykinin level in the latter PC was 10 pg/ml, whereas levels were 226·2 ± 1252 pg/ml in the 143 control PCs.

Conclusion

Our results show a low incidence of hypotension after PC transfusion. We identified only one acute hypotensive transfusion reaction. No correlation between bradykinin level and the occurrence of acute hypotensive reactions could be observed given that only one event was identified.
Single muscle fibre contractile properties differ between body‐builders, power athletes and control subjects
Authors: Meijer J. P. , Jaspers R. T. , Rittweger J. , Seynnes O. R. , Kamandulis S. , Brazaitis M. , Skurvydas A. , Pišot R. , Šimunič B. , Narici M. V. , Degens H.
Published: September 2015

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Do the contractile properties of single muscle fibres differ between body‐builders, power athletes and control subjects?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Peak power normalized for muscle fibre volume in power athletes is higher than in control subjects. Compared with control subjects, maximal isometric tension (normalized for muscle fibre cross‐sectional area) is lower in body‐builders. Although this difference may be caused in part by an apparent negative effect of hypertrophy, these results indicate that the training history of power athletes may increase muscle fibre quality, whereas body‐building may be detrimental.

We compared muscle fibre contractile properties of biopsies taken from the vastus lateralis of 12 body‐builders (BBs; low‐ to moderate‐intensity high‐volume resistance training), six power athletes (PAs; high‐intensity, low‐volume combined with aerobic training) and 14 control subjects (Cs). Maximal isotonic contractions were performed in single muscle fibres, typed with SDS‐PAGE. Fibre cross‐sectional area was 67 and 88% (P < 0.01) larger in BBs than in PAs and Cs, respectively, with no significant difference in fibre cross‐sectional area between PAs and Cs. Fibres of BBs and PAs developed a higher maximal isometric tension (32 and 50%, respectively, P < 0.01) than those of Cs. The specific tension of BB fibres was 62 and 41% lower than that of PA and C fibres (P < 0.05), respectively. Irrespective of fibre type, the peak power (PP) of PA fibres was 58% higher than that of BB fibres (P < 0.05), whereas BB fibres, despite considerable hypertrophy, had similar PP to the C fibres. This work suggests that high‐intensity, low‐volume resistance training with aerobic exercise improves PP, while low‐ to moderate‐intensity high‐volume resistance training does not affect PP and results in a reduction in specific tension. We postulate that the decrease in specific tension is caused by differences in myofibrillar density and/or post‐translational modifications of contractile proteins.
Comparison of Static and Dynamic Powder Compaction: Experiment and Simulation
Authors: Braun C. A. , Schumaker M. , Rice J. , Borg J. P.
Published: September 2015

In this work, the static and dynamic compaction response of a six-material mixture, containing both brittle and ductile constituents, is compared. Quasi-static and dynamic compaction experiments were conducted on samples and the results compared to simulations. Optical analyses of compacted samples indicate that dynamically compacting samples to near 300 m/s is not sufficient for complete compaction or localized grain melt. Simulations indicate that a wide distribution of temperature and stress states are achieved in the dynamically compacted samples; compaction speeds should be increased to near 800 m/s at which point copper grains achieve melt temperatures on their surfaces. The experimental data is used to fit a bulk P-α equation of state (EOS) that can be used for simulating large-scale dynamic compaction for industrial applications.
Numerical Integration Method for Stability Analysis of Milling With Variable Spindle Speeds
Authors: Ding Ye , Niu Jinbo , Zhu LiMin , Ding Han
Published: September 2015

A semi-analytical method is presented in this paper for stability analysis of milling with a variable spindle speed (VSS), periodically modulated around a nominal spindle speed. Taking the regenerative effect into account, the dynamics of the VSS milling is governed by a delay-differential equation (DDE) with time-periodic coefficients and a time-varying delay. By reformulating the original DDE in an integral-equation form, one time period is divided into a series of subintervals. With the aid of numerical integrations, the transition matrix over one time period is then obtained to determine the milling stability by using Floquet theory. On this basis, the stability lobes consisting of critical machining parameters can be calculated. Unlike the constant spindle speed (CSS) milling, the time delay for the VSS is determined by an integral transcendental equation which is accurately calculated with an ordinary differential equation (ODE) based method instead of the formerly adopted approximation expressions. The proposed numerical integration method is verified with high computational efficiency and accuracy by comparing with other methods via a two-degree-of-freedom milling example. With the proposed method, this paper details the influence of modulation parameters on stability diagrams for the VSS milling.
Enhancing Low-Temperature Combustion With Biodiesel Blending in a Diesel Engine at a Medium Load Condition
Authors: Lee Sunyoup , Oh Seungmook , Kim Junghwan , Kim Duksang
Published: September 2015

The present study investigated the effects of biodiesel blending under a wide range of intake oxygen concentration levels in a diesel engine. This study attempted to identify the lowest biodiesel blending rate that achieves acceptable levels of nitric oxides (NOx), soot, and coefficient of variation in the indicated mean effective pressure (COVIMEP). Biodiesel blending was to be minimized in order to reduce the fuel penalty associated with the biodiesels lower caloric value (LCV). Engine experiments were performed in a 1 l single-cylinder diesel engine at an engine speed of 1400 rev/min under a medium load condition. The blend rate and intake oxygen concentration were varied independently of each other at a constant intake pressure of 200 kPa. The biodiesel blend rate varied from 0% (B000) to 100% biodiesel (B100) at a 20% increment. The intake oxygen level was adjusted from 8% to 19% by volume (vol. %) in order to embrace both conventional and low-temperature combustion (LTC) operations. A fixed injection duration of 788 ms at a fuel rail pressure of 160 MPa exhibited a gross indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) between 750 kPa and 910 kPa, depending on the intake oxygen concentration. The experimental results indicated that the intake oxygen level had to be below 10 vol. % to achieve the indicated specific NOx (ISNOx) below 0.2 g/kW h with the B000 fuel. However, a substantial soot increase was exhibited at such a low intake oxygen level. Biodiesel blending reduced NOx until the blending rate reached 60% with reduced in-cylinder temperature due to lower total energy release. As a result, 60% biodiesel-blended diesel (B060) achieved NOx, soot, and COVIMEP of 0.2 g/kW h, 0.37 filter smoke number (FSN), and 0.5, respectively, at an intake oxygen concentration of 14 vol. %. The corresponding indicated thermal efficiency was 43.2%.