bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking biomedicine in the age of translational research: Organisational, professional, and epistemic encounters
Authors: Crabu Stefano
Published: August 2018

In the most recent decade, translational research (TR) has played a pivotal role in the production and circulation of medical knowledge and technologies, thus redefining biomedicine's moral force, its cultural authority, and its status in society. As a major component of contemporary life sciences, TR—or more commonly, translational biomedicine—aims to transfer more quickly and effectively the findings of basic science into therapeutic interventions for patients by means of innovative organisational arrangements, research methodologies, protocols, and professional roles. This article brings together sociological research examining translational biomedicine from different perspectives to accomplish two goals. First, it offers a comprehensive introduction to the social science debate concerning the growing adoption of a TR framework in biomedicine, with a special focus on the organisational, professional, and epistemological issues. Second, the article has an operational purpose to raise questions about the main methodological repercussions for social scientists facing the investigation of TR as a complex and multi‐sited phenomenon that challenges traditional qualitative/quantitative research approaches.
Children’s narrative story stem responses: Contributions of executive functioning and language proficiency to relationship representations
Authors: Dealy Jennifer , Mudrick Hannah , Robinson JoAnn
Published: August 2018

Story stem narrative tasks provide insight into young children's inner experiences. Little research has investigated how developmental capacities impact narrative content and process. This study evaluates the influence of executive functioning (EF) and language ability on children's narratives. Data were gathered from 210 low‐income children. EF and language ability were assessed at age 4 and EF was assessed at age 6 via direct examination, cognitive‐motor tasks, and examiner ratings. Children's responses to eight story stems were gathered at age 6; three latent narrative variables were constructed (Prosocial, Aggressive/Conflict, and Avoidance/Danger), and Narrative Coherence was rated. Results of longitudinal path analyses in structural equation modeling demonstrated age 4 EF significantly predicted all narrative outcomes. Language ability independently predicted Prosocial and Narrative Coherence, and had an influence on Aggression/Conflict when modeled with EF. Age 6 EF mediated the relationship between age 4 EF and narrative outcomes. Findings provide insight into developmental abilities that influence on children's narrative responses to challenging interpersonal scenarios. Future research should study parent–child relations, EF, and language abilities simultaneously.
Pink‐awned weedy rice (Oryza sativa): a potential conduit for gene exchange in rice agro‐ecosystems
Authors: Vigueira C C , Burgos N R , Lawton‐Rauh A L
Published: August 2018

Hybridisation between genetically distinct lineages results in increases in overall genetic diversity and is a potential mechanism for the origin and spread of adaptive alleles. Weed and crop hybridisation may result in weedy ecotypes, which have, in addition to classic weedy traits such as seed shattering and long seed dormancy, crop traits that enhance weediness, such as adaptation to field cultivation and harvest strategies. Weedy rice (Oryza sativa) hybridises with cultivated rice and, in the process, may produce new (pink‐awned) weedy rice varieties. Pink‐awned (PA) weedy rice plants have been observed in rice fields in Arkansas. We explored the genetic relationships between PA weedy rice, crop rice, global rice accessions and other weedy rice ecotypes present in the southern United States. Gene sequencing of 48 sequence‐tagged sites (STS loci) revealed a pattern of hybridisation and gene flow between blackhull weedy rice and tropical japonica rice (O. sativa subsp. japonica) cultivars. Our data suggest that PA rice originates from hybridisation between blackhull weedy rice and tropical japonica rice. PA rice offspring segregate phenotypic traits associated with weediness in rice. This segregation could lead to adaptive allele combinations in PA rice, which could potentially move into other weedy rice types through subsequent hybridisation events.
Pulmonary vascular dysfunction in metabolic syndrome
Authors: Willson Conor , Watanabe Makiko , Tsuji‐Hosokawa Atsumi , Makino Ayako
Published: August 2018

Metabolic syndrome is a critically important precursor to the onset of many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. The primary risk factors of metabolic syndrome include hyperglycaemia, abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, and high blood pressure. It has been well documented that metabolic syndrome alters vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell functions in the heart, brain, kidney and peripheral vessels. However, there is less information available regarding how metabolic syndrome can affect pulmonary vascular function and ultimately increase an individual's risk of developing various pulmonary vascular diseases, such as pulmonary hypertension. Here, we review in detail how metabolic syndrome affects pulmonary vascular function.

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Design of an Isotropic Metamaterial With Constant Stiffness and Zero Poisson's Ratio Over Large Deformations
Authors: Delissen A. , Radaelli G. , Shaw L. A. , Hopkins J. B. , Herder J. L.
Published: August 2018

A great deal of engineering effort is focused on changing mechanical material properties by creating microstructural architectures instead of modifying chemical composition. This results in meta-materials, which can exhibit properties not found in natural materials and can be tuned to the needs of the user. To change Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus, many current designs exploit mechanisms and hinges to obtain the desired behavior. However, this can lead to nonlinear material properties and anisotropy, especially for large strains. In this work, we propose a new material design that makes use of curved leaf springs in a planar lattice. First, analytical ideal springs are employed to establish sufficient conditions for linear elasticity, isotropy, and a zero Poisson's ratio. Additionally, Young's modulus is directly related to the spring stiffness. Second, a design method from the literature is employed to obtain a spring, closely matching the desired properties. Next, numerical simulations of larger lattices show that the expectations hold, and a feasible material design is presented with an in-plane Young's modulus error of only 2% and Poisson's ratio of 2.78×10−3. These properties are isotropic and linear up to compressive and tensile strains of 0.12. The manufacturability and validity of the numerical model is shown by a prototype.
A Model for Multi-Input Mechanical Advantage in Origami-Based Mechanisms
Authors: Butler Jared , Bowen Landen , Wilcox Eric , Shrager Adam , Frecker Mary I. , von Lockette Paris , Simpson Timothy W. , Lang Robert J. , Howell Larry L. , Magleby Spencer P.
Published: August 2018

Mechanical advantage is traditionally defined for single-input and single-output rigid-body mechanisms. A generalized approach for identifying single-output mechanical advantage for a multiple-input compliant mechanism, such as many origami-based mechanisms, would prove useful in predicting complex mechanism behavior. While origami-based mechanisms are capable of offering unique solutions to engineering problems, the design process of such mechanisms is complicated by the interaction of motion and forces. This paper presents a model of the mechanical advantage for multi-input compliant mechanisms and explores how modifying the parameters of a model affects their behavior. The model is used to predict the force-deflection behavior of an origami-based mechanism (Oriceps) and is verified with experimental data from magnetic actuation of the mechanism.
Volumetric Velocimetry Measurements of Film Cooling Jets
Authors: Figueiredo Artur Joao Carvalho , Jones Robin , Pountney Oliver J. , Scobie James A. , Lock Gary D. , Sangan Carl M. , Cleaver David J.
Published: August 2018

This paper presents volumetric velocimetry (VV) measurements for a jet in crossflow that is representative of film cooling. VV employs particle tracking to nonintrusively extract all three components of velocity in a three-dimensional volume. This is its first use in a film-cooling context. The primary research objective was to develop this novel measurement technique for turbomachinery applications, while collecting a high-quality data set that can improve the understanding of the flow structure of the cooling jet. A new facility was designed and manufactured for this study with emphasis on optical access and controlled boundary conditions. For a range of momentum flux ratios from 0.65 to 6.5, the measurements clearly show the penetration of the cooling jet into the freestream, the formation of kidney-shaped vortices, and entrainment of main flow into the jet. The results are compared to published studies using different experimental techniques, with good agreement. Further quantitative analysis of the location of the kidney vortices demonstrates their lift off from the wall and increasing lateral separation with increasing momentum flux ratio. The lateral divergence correlates very well with the self-induced velocity created by the wall–vortex interaction. Circulation measurements quantify the initial roll up and decay of the kidney vortices and show that the point of maximum circulation moves downstream with increasing momentum flux ratio. The potential for nonintrusive VV measurements in turbomachinery flow has been clearly demonstrated.
Reduction of Sticking in a Linear-Guideway Type Recirculating Ball Bearing
Authors: Ohta Hiroyuki , Guajardo Dueñas Guillermo Andres , Ueki Yusuke
Published: August 2018

This paper deals with the reduction of sticking in a linear-guideway type recirculating ball bearing (linear bearing), which is the significant increase in the required driving force for a linear bearing in a back-and-forth short stroke operation. First, the driving force of a linear bearing with five carriage-body types (A–E, having different dimensions and shapes) under rolling moment load was measured. Simultaneously, the ball's position in the load zone was observed. The experimental results showed that regardless of the carriage-body types, the increasing rate of the driving force and the interspace (space between balls around the center of the load zone on the raised side) decreases and sticking tends to hardly occur as the maximum linear velocity and the stroke length increase. Also, the occurrence of sticking was affected by the carriage-body types. Finally, to examine the relationship of carriage-body types, carriage-body deformation, and the occurrence of sticking, the carriage-body deformation (caused by preloading and tightening torque of bolts) was calculated by finite element method (FEM). The FEM results showed that carriage-body type, which is more deformable, had a tendency to reduce sticking.
Improving Model Parameters in Vibrating Systems Using Neumann Series
Authors: Liem Alyssa T. , Gregory McDaniel J. , Wixom Andrew S.
Published: August 2018

A method is presented to improve the estimates of material properties, dimensions, and other model parameters for linear vibrating systems. The method improves the estimates of a single model parameter of interest by finding parameter values that bring model predictions into agreement with experimental measurements. A truncated Neumann series is used to approximate the inverse of the dynamic stiffness matrix. This approximation avoids the need to directly solve the equations of motion for each parameter variation. The Neumman series is shown to be equivalent to a Taylor series expansion about nominal parameter values. A recursive scheme is presented for computing the associated derivatives, which are interpreted as sensitivities of displacements to parameter variations. The convergence of the Neumman series is studied in the context of vibrating systems, and it is found that the spectral radius is strongly dependent on system resonances. A homogeneous viscoelastic bar in longitudinal vibration is chosen as a test specimen, and the complex-valued Young's modulus is chosen as an uncertain parameter. The method is demonstrated on simulated experimental measurements computed from the model. These demonstrations show that parameter values estimated by the method agree with those used to simulate the experiment when enough terms are included in the Neumann series. Similar results are obtained for the case of an elastic plate with clamped boundary conditions. The method is also demonstrated on experimental data, where it produces improved parameter estimates that bring the model predictions into agreement with the measured response to within 1% at a point on the bar across a frequency range that includes three resonance frequencies.
A Simple Way to Teach Single Slit Diffraction Based on Edge Diffraction
Authors: Teng Bettina , Teng Peter , Hennekens Charles H.
Published: August 2018

Young’s experiment is hailed as a milestone in ushering a new understanding of the wave nature of light and is even taught at the high school level. Unfortunately, even the most cursory presentation of the subject of diffraction becomes confusing. The theory and equations based on Fresnel’s work appear arcane and incomprehensible to a high school student. In addition, students are not taught the significance of a phenomenon that has been observed since the time of Thomas Young: the bright band of light at the center of every single slit diffraction pattern. This paper presents a simple way to introduce the subject of diffraction based on Thomas Young’s original work and explains how the interplay of different components of diffracted waves from a single slit creates the broad central maximum.
The Conical Pendulum Driven with a LEGO® Stepper Motor
Authors: Lynch John J.
Published: August 2018

This work describes a way to study uniform circular motion (UCM) using a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robotics Invention System (RIS) stepper motor with a steel ball attached to a string. The equipment is inexpensive and the resulting motion takes place on a human scale. Times and lengths can be measured with a stopwatch and a meterstick, respectively. In addition, students get a brief introduction to robotics.
The Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Men With and Without Prostate Cancer: A Retrospective, Comparative Cohort Study
Authors: Bonsignore Alis , Field David , Speare Rebecca , Dolan Lianne , Oh Paul , Santa Mina Daniel
Published: August 2018

Background: Men with prostate cancer (PCa) may be referred to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) following a significant cardiac event, but it is unknown if these men have different effects of CR from men without a history of PCa. Purpose: To compare the effect of CR on cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak), body fat percentage, and body mass index in men with and without a history of PCa. Methods: CR participants with PCa were retrospectively compared with a cohort matched on age, clinical indication for CR, and date of referral to the CR program. Participants completed the standardized CR program at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, including 1 weekly supervised group session and 4 additional weekly home sessions including aerobic and resistance training for 26 weeks. Results: Twenty-seven (n = 27) men with PCa were identified and matched 1∶1 with controls. VO2peak increased in the PCa group (16.9 [5.1]–19.6 [6.2] mL·kg−1·min−1; Δ 2.7 mL·kg−1·min−1, P < .05) and in the control group (16.4 [4.2]–20.2 [5.8] mL·kg−1·min−1; Δ 3.8 mL·kg−1·min−1, P < .05) as a result of engaging in CR. There were no significant between-group differences in the postintervention outcomes (P > .05). Conclusions: Men with and without PCa experience comparable benefits following CR completion.
The Role of Ego Networks in Compulsive Exercise Behavior Among a Sample of College Sorority Women
Authors: Patterson Megan S. , Goodson Patricia
Published: August 2018

Background: Compulsive exercise (CE) is a harmful form of exercise that elevates the risk of developing/sustaining clinical eating disorders. College-aged sorority women are especially prone to CE. Due to the pronounced impact social relationships have on college students’ behavior, this study aims to examine personal networks and CE among a sample of sorority women through an egocentric network analysis. Methods: A total of 204 women in a sorority from a large, private university in the southeastern United States completed a cross-sectional survey in spring 2015. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted on demographic, attribute, and ego network data. Results: Relationships with siblings, significant others, and roommates were protective against CE in this sample. Conversely, body dissatisfaction and exercise frequency predicted CE. Conclusions: Findings suggest that social relationships can impact CE behaviors in this sample. Along with promoting body satisfaction and healthy exercise, public health efforts should focus on facilitating close interpersonal relationships, especially between sorority women and siblings, significant others, and roommates.
AI takes on video games in quest for common sense
Authors: Hutson Matthew
Published: August 2018

Bots seek to hone strategy skills in matchup with top
Dota 2
players.
Twistable electronics with dynamically rotatable heterostructures
Authors: Ribeiro-Palau Rebeca , Zhang Changjian , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Hone James , Dean Cory R.
Published: August 2018

Controlling two-dimensional twist

In heterostructures assembled from two-dimensional materials such as graphene, electron tunneling between layers varies strongly with the rotation angle between the crystal lattices. Usually, the twist angle between layers is fixed after assembly. Ribeiro-Palau
et al.
encapsulated graphene with boron nitride, but the top boron nitride flake was shaped so that an atomic force microscope tip could push on it to vary the twist angle by as little as 0.2°. They observed variations with twist angle in properties such as the charge neutrality point, which would be difficult to observe in static rotated structures.

Science
, this issue p.
690
Phase separation focuses DNA sensing
Authors: Ablasser Andrea
Published: August 2018

Liquid droplets form upon recognition of DNA to stimulate innate immune responses
Metabolic Capability and Phylogenetic Diversity of Mono Lake during a Bloom of the Eukaryotic Phototroph Picocystis sp. Strain ML
Authors: Stamps Blake W. , Nunn Heather S. , Petryshyn Victoria A. , Oremland Ronald S. , Miller Laurence G. , Rosen Michael R. , Bauer Kohen W. , Thompson Katharine J. , Tookmanian Elise M. , Waldeck Anna R. , Loyd Sean J. , Johnson Hope A. , Stevenson Bradley S. , Berelson William M. , Corsetti Frank A. , Spear John R.
Published: August 2018

Mono Lake, California, provides a habitat to a unique ecological community that is heavily stressed due to recent human water diversions and a period of extended drought. To date, no baseline information exists from Mono Lake to understand how the microbial community responds to human-influenced drought or algal bloom or what metabolisms are lost in the water column as a consequence of such environmental pressures. While previously identified anaerobic members of the microbial community disappear from the water column during drought and bloom, sediment samples suggest that these microorganisms survive at the lake bottom or in the subsurface. Thus, the sediments may represent a type of seed bank that could restore the microbial community as a bloom subsides. Our work sheds light on the potential photosynthetic activity of the halotolerant alga
Picocystis
sp. strain ML and how the function and activity of the remainder of the microbial community responds during a bloom at Mono Lake.
Systematic Dissection of the Evolutionarily Conserved WetA Developmental Regulator across a Genus of Filamentous Fungi
Authors: Wu Ming-Yueh , Mead Matthew E. , Lee Mi-Kyung , Ostrem Loss Erin M. , Kim Sun-Chang , Rokas Antonis , Yu Jae-Hyuk
Published: August 2018

Asexual sporulation is fundamental to the ecology and lifestyle of filamentous fungi and can facilitate both plant and human infection. In
Aspergillus
, the production of asexual spores is primarily governed by the BrlA→AbaA→WetA regulatory cascade. The final step in this cascade is controlled by the WetA protein and governs not only the morphological differentiation of spores but also the production and deposition of diverse metabolites into spores. While WetA is conserved across the genus
Aspergillus
, the structure and degree of conservation of the
wetA
gene regulatory network (GRN) remain largely unknown. We carried out comparative transcriptome analyses of comparisons between
wetA
null mutant and wild-type asexual spores in three representative species spanning the diversity of the genus
Aspergillus
:
A. nidulans
,
A. flavus
, and
A. fumigatus
. We discovered that WetA regulates asexual sporulation in all three species via a negative-feedback loop that represses BrlA, the cascade’s first step. Furthermore, data from chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) experiments in
A. nidulans
asexual spores suggest that WetA is a DNA-binding protein that interacts with a novel regulatory motif. Several global regulators known to bridge spore production and the production of secondary metabolites show species-specific regulatory patterns in our data. These results suggest that the BrlA→AbaA→WetA cascade’s regulatory role in cellular and chemical asexual spore development is functionally conserved but that the
wetA
-associated GRN has diverged during
Aspergillus
evolution.

IMPORTANCE
The formation of resilient spores is a key factor contributing to the survival and fitness of many microorganisms, including fungi. In the fungal genus
Aspergillus
, spore formation is controlled by a complex gene regulatory network that also impacts a variety of other processes, including secondary metabolism. To gain mechanistic insights into how fungal spore formation is controlled across
Aspergillus
, we dissected the gene regulatory network downstream of a major regulator of spore maturation (WetA) in three species that span the diversity of the genus: the genetic model
A. nidulans
, the human pathogen
A. fumigatus
, and the aflatoxin producer
A. flavus
. Our data show that WetA regulates asexual sporulation in all three species via a negative-feedback loop and likely binds a novel regulatory element that we term the WetA response element (WRE). These results shed light on how gene regulatory networks in microorganisms control important biological processes and evolve across diverse species.
Spleen Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor TAK-659 Prevents Splenomegaly and Tumor Development in a Murine Model of Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Lymphoma
Authors: Cen Osman , Kannan Karuppiah , Huck Sappal Jessica , Yu Jie , Zhang Mengkun , Arikan Muzaffer , Ucur Ali , Ustek Duran , Cen Yeter , Gordon Leo , Longnecker Richard
Published: August 2018

The novel SYK and FLT3 inhibitor TAK-659 prevents the enlargement of spleen and tumor development in a mouse model of EBV-associated lymphoma by counteracting the activation of cellular kinase SYK through the viral LMP2A gene by inducing cell death in tumor cells but not in nontumor cells. These findings indicate that TAK-659 may be a very effective nontoxic therapeutic molecule especially for EBV-positive hematologic malignancies.
Head and neck cancer risk factors in India: protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Poddar Aayush , Aranha Ritchlynn Ronald , K Muthukaliannan Gothandam , Nachimuthu Ramesh , Jayaraj Rama
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Demographic, behavioural and environmental factors have been associated with increased risk of head and neck cancer (HNC). We will review published reports and explore connections between risk factors and HNC incidence. This protocol aims to provide strategies for a systematic review and meta-analysis of HNC risk factor analysis in India. It also provides guidelines in order to visualise obtained HNC risk factor data in the form of a heat-map highlighting variations across gender, age and geographical location.

Methods and analysis

We will identify well-established HNC risk factors and perform a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify each risk factor’s impact on HNC incidence. A systematic search will be performed to identify the studies and published reports of HNC risk factors in India. Meta-analysis will be conducted to estimate the proportional contribution of the most prevalent risk factor in HNC on a city-wide basis in Indian states and territories.

Ethics and dissemination

The review protocol draws on publicly available anonymised data without directly involving human participants and therefore requires neither formal human ethical review nor approval by a human research ethics committee. We published an outline of the protocol in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) in 2017. The results will provide an updated analysis of HNC risk factor prevalence in India, and we will discuss the applicability of rehabilitation care. We plan to disseminate the findings of this systematic review through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at relevant conference proceedings.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017077758.
Feasibility and impact of data-driven learning within the suicide prevention action network of thirteen specialist mental healthcare institutions (SUPRANET Care) in the Netherlands: a study protocol
Authors: Setkowski Kim , Mokkenstorm Jan , van Balkom Anton JLM , Franx Gerdien , Verbeek- van Noord Inge , Dongelmans Dave A , Eikelenboom Merijn , Gilissen Renske
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Improvement of the quality and safety of care is associated with lower suicide rates among mental healthcare patients. In The Netherlands, about 40% of all people that die by suicide is in specialist mental healthcare. Unfortunately, the degree of implementation of suicide prevention policies and best practices within Dutch mental healthcare services is variable. Sharing and comparing outcome and performance data in confidential networks of professionals working in different organisations can be effective in reducing practice variability within and across organisations and improving quality of care.

Methods and analysis

Using formats of professional networks to improve surgical care (Dutch Initiative for Clinical Auditing) and somatic intensive care (National Intensive Care Evaluation), 113 Suicide Prevention has taken the lead in the formation of a Suicide Prevention Action Network (SUPRANET Care), with at present 13 large Dutch specialist mental health institutions. Data on suicide, suicide attempts and their determinants as well as consumer care policies and practices are collected biannually, after consensus rounds in which key professionals define what data are relevant to collect, how it is operationalised, retrieved and will be analysed. To evaluate the impact of SUPRANET Care, standardised suicide rates will be calculated adjusted for confounding factors. Second, the extent to which suicide attempts are being registered will be analysed with the suicide attempt data. Finally, professionals’ knowledge, attitude and adherence to suicide prevention guidelines will be measured with an extended version of the Professionals In Training to STOP suicide survey.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects, The Netherlands. This study does not fall under the scope of the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO) or the General Data Protection Regulation as stated by the Dutch Data Protection Authority because data are collected on an aggregated level.
Effects of a multifaceted medication reconciliation quality improvement intervention on patient safety: final results of the MARQUIS study
Authors: Schnipper Jeffrey L , Mixon Amanda , Stein Jason , Wetterneck Tosha B , Kaboli Peter J , Mueller Stephanie , Labonville Stephanie , Minahan Jacquelyn A , Burdick Elisabeth , Orav Endel John , Goldstein Jenna , Nolido Nyryan V , Kripalani Sunil
Published: August 2018

Background

Unintentional discrepancies across care settings are a common form of medication error and can contribute to patient harm. Medication reconciliation can reduce discrepancies; however, effective implementation in real-world settings is challenging.

Methods

We conducted a pragmatic quality improvement (QI) study at five US hospitals, two of which included concurrent controls. The intervention consisted of local implementation of medication reconciliation best practices, utilising an evidence-based toolkit with 11 intervention components. Trained QI mentors conducted monthly site phone calls and two site visits during the intervention, which lasted from December 2011 through June 2014. The primary outcome was number of potentially harmful unintentional medication discrepancies per patient; secondary outcome was total discrepancies regardless of potential for harm. Time series analysis used multivariable Poisson regression.

Results

Across five sites, 1648 patients were sampled: 613 during baseline and 1035 during the implementation period. Overall, potentially harmful discrepancies did not decrease over time beyond baseline temporal trends, adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.97 per month (95% CI 0.86 to 1.08), p=0.53. The intervention was associated with a reduction in total medication discrepancies, IRR 0.92 per month (95% CI 0.87 to 0.97), p=0.002. Of the four sites that implemented interventions, three had reductions in potentially harmful discrepancies. The fourth site, which implemented interventions and installed a new electronic health record (EHR), saw an increase in discrepancies, as did the fifth site, which did not implement any interventions but also installed a new EHR.

Conclusions

Mentored implementation of a multifaceted medication reconciliation QI initiative was associated with a reduction in total, but not potentially harmful, medication discrepancies. The effect of EHR implementation on medication discrepancies warrants further study.

Trial registration number

NCT01337063.
Should we prioritise victims over terrorists in medical triage?
Authors: Lederman Zohar , Voo T C
Published: August 2018

Whether injured terrorists should receive equal consideration in medical triage as their victims is a morally and emotionally challenging issue for healthcare providers. Against the conventional approach, some commentators have argued for a‘victims-first’principle in which severely injured victims should always be prioritised over an injured terrorist even if the terrorist is worse off based on justice ideas. This paper argues that supporters of‘victims-first’fail to sufficiently justify the subversion of the equal rights of terrorists to treatment and the role and professional ethics of healthcare providers in the allocation of scarce medical resources. Accordingly, they fail to substantiate an exceptional approach for emergency medical triage during terror or terror-like attack situations.
Club drug users had higher odds of reporting a bacterial STI compared with non-club drug users: results from a cross-sectional analysis of gay and bisexual men on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis
Authors: John Steven A , Parsons Jeffrey T , Rendina H Jonathon , Grov Christian
Published: August 2018

Objectives

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce HIV transmission risk for many gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. However, bacterial STI (BSTI) associated with decreasing condom use among HIV PrEP users is a growing concern. Determining the characteristics of current PrEP users at highest BSTI risk fills a critical gap in the literature.

Methods

Gay and bisexual men (GBM) in New York City on HIV PrEP for 6 or more months (n=65) were asked about chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses in the past 6 months. By design, half (51%) of the sample were club drug users. We examined the associations of length of time on PrEP, type of PrEP care provider, PrEP adherence, number of sexual partners, number of condomless anal sex acts and club drug use on self-reported BSTI using multivariable, binary logistic regressions, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, education and income.

Results

Twenty-six per cent of GBM on HIV PrEP reported a diagnosis of BSTI in the past 6 months. Men who reported club drug use (adjusted OR (AOR)=6.60, p<0.05) and more frequent condomless anal sex in the past 30 days (AOR=1.13, p<0.05) had higher odds of reporting a BSTI. No other variables were significantly associated with self-reported BSTI in the multivariable models.

Conclusions

Club drug users could be at a unique BSTI risk, perhaps because of higher risk sexual networks. Findings should be considered preliminary, but suggest the importance of ongoing BSTI screening and risk-reduction counselling for GBM on HIV PrEP.
Ruthenium-catalyzed Bis-Homo-Diels-Alder reaction: searching for commercially available catalysts and expanding the scope of reaction
Authors: Petko Dina , Stratton Matthew , Tam William
Published: August 2018

Commercially available ruthenium catalyst, Cp*RuCl(COD), was found to be active in catalyzing Bis-Homo-Diels-Alder [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions between 1,5-cyclooctadiene and various alkynes giving moderate to good yields (35%–92%). The presence of electron donating groups, especially hydroxyl groups, greatly enhanced the reactivity of the alkyne moiety in the cycloaddition. The reaction was also found to be successful even in the presence of bulky substituents on the alkynes.
An Efficient Clock Generation Algorithm for System-on-Chip Based on Least Common Multiple
Authors: Toubaline Nesrine , Ali Mahdoum , Bennouar Djamel
Published: August 2018

Current networks-on-chip (NoCs) may include many Intellectual Properties (IPs). As those IPs do not necessarily operate at the same clock frequency, a significant number of Phase Locked Loops (PLLs) are required. Since a PLL is very power consuming ([Formula: see text], a PLL delivering a 6 GHz frequency consumes 11 mW), one needs to reduce the number of PLLs. To the best of our knowledge, only one work in literature tackled this problem. Since the interested problem is not polynomial in time, we developed heuristic-based methods and found that our work outperforms that which is described in the literature both in terms of number 30% and power consumption 25% of PLLs with less CPU time.
Cosmological singularities in interacting dark energy models with an ω(q) parametrization
Authors: Elizalde Emilio , Khurshudyan Martiros , Nojiri Shin’ichi
Published: August 2018

Future singularities arising in a family of models for the expanding universe, characterized by sharing a convenient parametrization of the energy budget in terms of the deceleration parameter, are classified. Finite-time future singularities are known to appear in many cosmological scenarios, in particular, in the presence of viscosity or nongravitational interactions, the last being known to be able to suppress or just change in some cases the type of the cosmological singularity. Here, a family of models with a parametrization of the energy budget in terms of the deceleration parameter are studied in the light of Gaussian processes using reconstructed data from [Formula: see text]-value [Formula: see text] datasets. Eventually, the form of the possible nongravitational interaction between dark energy and dark matter is constructed from these smoothed [Formula: see text] data. Using phase space analysis, it is shown that a noninteracting model with dark energy [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] being the deceleration parameter) may evolve, after starting from a matter-dominated unstable state, into a de Sitter universe (the solution being in fact a stable node). Moreover, for a model with interaction term [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] is a parameter and [Formula: see text], the Hubble constant) three stable critical points are obtained, which may have important astrophysical implications. In addition, part of the paper is devoted to a general discussion of the finite-time future singularities obtained from direct numerical integration of the field equations, since they appear in many cosmological scenarios and could be useful for future extended studies of the models here introduced. Numerical solutions for the new models, produce finite-time future singularities of Type I or Type III, or an [Formula: see text]-singularity, provided general relativity describes the background dynamics.
KANSA METHOD BASED ON THE HAUSDORFF FRACTAL DISTANCE FOR HAUSDORFF DERIVATIVE POISSON EQUATIONS
Authors: WANG FAJIE , CHEN WEN , ZHANG CHUANZENG , HUA QINGSONG
Published: August 2018

This study proposes the radial basis function (RBF) based on the Hausdorff fractal distance and then applies it to develop the Kansa method for the solution of the Hausdorff derivative Poisson equations. The Kansa method is a meshless global technique promising for high-dimensional irregular domain problems. It is, however, noted that the shape parameter of the RBFs can have a significant influence on the accuracy and robustness of the numerical solution. Based on the leave-one-out cross-validation algorithm proposed by Rippa, this study presents a new technique to choose the optimal shape parameter of the RBFs with the Hausdorff fractal distance. Numerical experiments show that the Kansa method based on the Hausdorff fractal distance is highly accurate and computationally efficient for the Hausdorff derivative Poisson equations.
Ramanujan’s convolution sum twisted by Dirichlet characters
Authors: Aygin Zafer Selcuk , Hong Nankun
Published: August 2018

We find formulas for convolutions of sum of divisor functions twisted by the Dirichlet character [Formula: see text], which are analogous to Ramanujan’s formula for convolution of usual sum of divisor functions. We use the theory of modular forms to prove our results.
The absolute trace of totally positive algebraic integers
Authors: Flammang V.
Published: August 2018

Thanks to our recursive algorithm developed in [Trace of totally positive algebraic integers and integer transfinite diameter, Math. Comp. 78(266) (2009) 1119–1125], we prove that, if [Formula: see text] is a totally positive algebraic integer of degree [Formula: see text] with minimum conjugate [Formula: see text] then, with a finite number of explicit exceptions, [Formula: see text]
Differential equations satisfied by modular forms of level 5
Authors: Matsuda Kazuhide
Published: August 2018

This paper describes the derivation of the level 5 versions of Ramanujan’s system of ordinary differential equations satisfied by the Eisenstein series, [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]
Vector-valued Eisenstein series of small weight
Authors: Williams Brandon
Published: August 2018

We study the (mock) Eisenstein series [Formula: see text] of weight [Formula: see text] for the Weil representation on an even lattice, defined as the result of Bruinier and Kuss’s coefficient formula for the Eisenstein series naively evaluated at [Formula: see text]. We describe the transformation law of [Formula: see text] in general. Most of this paper is dedicated to collecting examples where the coefficients of [Formula: see text] contain interesting arithmetic information. Finally, we make a few remarks about the case [Formula: see text].
Brauer–Manin obstruction and families of generalised Châtelet surfaces over number fields
Authors: Balestrieri Francesca
Published: August 2018

Over infinitely many number fields [Formula: see text] (including all finite Galois extensions [Formula: see text] of odd degree unramified at 2), we give general sufficient conditions in order for the generalised Châtelet surfaces [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text] associated to the normic equation [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] has a specific form and [Formula: see text] is even and arbitrarily large, to have the property that [Formula: see text] but [Formula: see text]. We also give general sufficient conditions in order for the generalised Châtelet surfaces [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text] of the same form as above to have the property that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. As an application, we prove that, for a certain family of generalised Châtelet surfaces over [Formula: see text], a positive proportion (but not 100[Formula: see text]) of its members exhibits a violation of the Hasse principle explained by the Brauer–Manin obstruction.
HPHT synthesis and enhanced TE performance of Te and Sn/Se elements binary-doped CoSb3
Authors: Sun Hairui , Lv Pin , Wang Chao , Liu Yunxian , Jia Xiaopeng , Ma Hongan
Published: August 2018

A series of binary-doped CoSb3 with Te and Se/Sn bulk compounds Co4Sb[Formula: see text]TexSny/Sey ([Formula: see text] and 0.6, [Formula: see text] and 0.3), have been successfully prepared via a simple high pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) method. And, the influence of the doping elements on the microstructure of the samples synthesized under diverse pressures and the corresponding TE performance were studied in detail. Comparing with other preparation methods, the synthesis time of HPHT was acutely shortened. The obtained samples contain more grain boundaries, lattice disorder, dislocations and the possible “nanodot”, which have positive effect on reducing thermal conductivity. The experimental data indicate that the absolute values of Seebeck coefficient increases with pressure. What’s more, the thermal conductivities show a monotone decreasing trend as the synthesis pressure rises. The minimum value obtained is 1.93[Formula: see text]Wm[Formula: see text]K[Formula: see text] at normal temperature for Co4Sb[Formula: see text]Te[Formula: see text]Se[Formula: see text] prepared under 3[Formula: see text]GPa.
Modification of structural and dielectric properties of polycrystalline Gd-doped BFO–PZO
Authors: Ray Ambika , Behera Banarji , Basu Tanmoy , Vajandar Saumitra , Satpathy Santosh Kumar , Nayak Pratibindhya
Published: August 2018

[Formula: see text](BiFe[Formula: see text]GdxO3)–y(PbZrO3) composites [Formula: see text], having four different Gd concentrations ([Formula: see text], 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2), were synthesized and their structural, dielectric, and ferroelectric properties have been studied using different characterization techniques. In addition, to investigate the effect of ion implantation on the microstructure and dielectric properties, these composites were exposed to 2[Formula: see text]MeV He[Formula: see text]-ions. Modifications of the structure, surface morphology and electrical properties of the samples before and after ion exposure were demonstrated using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique, and LCR meter. The compositional analysis was carried out using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). XRD results demonstrated a decrease in the intensity profile of the dominant peak by a factor of 6 showing a degradation of the crystallinity. Willliamson–Hall (WH) plots reveal reduction in the grain size after irradiation along with an increase in strain and dislocation density. A decrease in the dielectric constant and loss has been recorded after ion beam exposure with reduction in ac conductivity value. The contribution of grain and grain boundary effect in conduction mechanism has been addressed using Nyquist plots. All the samples demonstrate a lossy ferroelectric loop which shows a clear modification upon irradiation. The role of structural defects modifying the physical properties of the composite materials is discussed in this work.
Kenya and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road: Implications for China-Africa Relations
Authors: Farooq Muhammad Sabil , Yuan Tongkai , Zhu Jiangang , Feroze Nazia
Published: August 2018

China remains Africa’s largest financier of infrastructure, and the Belt and Road Forum held in May 2017 estimated pledge of funds of about US$40 billion. Reportedly, projects worth much more than the pledged funds are in the planning or have been underway, making the “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)” the biggest development initiative in history. China and Africa need each other in development, and the Asian giant continues to make inroads into Africa, home to minerals, oil, and other resources that help feed China’s phenomenal economic growth. This article intends to discuss the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR)” under the BRI and its socioeconomic and cultural impact on China-Africa relations, with an emphasis on China’s relationship with Kenya, a founding member of the East Africa community (EAC) that has enjoyed lasting friendship with China. It is concluded that despite the generally positive impact of Chinese economic presence in Africa over the past decades, both China and African countries have much to do to consolidate their mutually beneficial relationship and to achieve the MSR’s target of common prosperity in the long run.
Developmental Adaptation to Stress: An Evolutionary Perspective
Authors: Ellis Bruce J. , Del Giudice Marco
Published: August 2018

The assumption that early stress leads to dysregulation and impairment is widespread in developmental science and informs prevailing models (e.g., toxic stress). An alternative evolutionary–developmental approach, which complements the standard emphasis on dysregulation, proposes that early stress may prompt the development of costly but adaptive strategies that promote survival and reproduction under adverse conditions. In this review, we survey this growing theoretical and empirical literature, highlighting recent developments and outstanding questions. We review concepts of adaptive plasticity and conditional adaptation, introduce the life history framework and the adaptive calibration model, and consider how physiological stress response systems and related neuroendocrine processes may function as plasticity mechanisms. We then address the evolution of individual differences in susceptibility to the environment, which engenders systematic person–environment interactions in the effects of stress on development. Finally, we discuss stress-mediated regulation of pubertal development as a case study of how an evolutionary–developmental approach can foster theoretical integration.
The Sex Chromosome Hypothesis of Schizophrenia: Alive, Dead, or Forgotten? A Commentary and Review
Authors: Bache William K. , DeLisi Lynn E.
Published: August 2018

The X chromosome has long been an intriguing site for harboring genes that have importance in brain development and function. It has received the most attention for having specific genes underlying the X-linked inherited intellectual disabilities, but has also been associated with schizophrenia in a number of early studies. An X chromosome hypothesis for a genetic predisposition for schizophrenia initially came from the X chromosome anomaly population data showing an excess of schizophrenia in Klinefelter’s (XXY) males and triple X (XXX) females. Crow and colleagues later expanded the X chromosome hypothesis to include the possibility of a locus on the Y chromosome and, specifically, genes on X that escaped inactivation and are X-Y homologous loci. Some new information about possible risk loci on these chromosomes has come from the current large genetic consortia genome-wide association studies, suggesting that perhaps this hypothesis needs to be revisited for some schizophrenias. The following commentary reviews the early and more recent literature supporting or refuting this dormant hypothesis and emphasizes the possible candidate genes still of interest that could be explored in further studies.