bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Legislation governing genetically modified and genome‐edited crops in Europe: the need for change
Authors: Halford Nigel G
Published: June 2018

The European Commission's assessment and approval process for genetically modified (GM) crops has resulted in only two GM crop varieties being licensed for cultivation in the European Union, one of which has been withdrawn. Unable to define GM crops satisfactorily, the European Commission has fallen back on a definition based on process. The shortcomings of this approach are all too clear as the Commission grapples with the advent of genome editing. This has led to a long and damaging delay in the Commission issuing an opinion on how genome‐edited crops should be regulated. At the same time, national bans imposed by member states on GM crops without any evidence of safety concerns have been legalized. The Commission also faces the prospect of assessing an increasing number of GM and genome‐edited crops with deliberately altered composition. In this article, the operation of regulations covering GM crops in the European Union and the effect they have had on the development of plant biotechnology are reviewed, while the issues raised by new technologies are discussed. It is argued that there is an urgent need for the European Union to shift its position on plant biotechnology if agriculture is to meet the challenges of coming decades. © 2018 The Author. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Review on plant protein–polysaccharide complex coacervation, and the functionality and applicability of formed complexes
Authors: Warnakulasuriya Sumudu N , Nickerson Michael T
Published: June 2018

Controlling the interactions between plant proteins and polysaccharides can lead to the development of novel electrostatic complexed structures that can give unique functionality. This in turn can broaden the diversity of applications that they may be suitable for. Overwhelmingly in the literature, work and reviews relating to coacervation have involved the use of animal proteins. However, with the increasing demand for plant‐based protein alternatives by industry and consumers, a greater understanding of how they interact with polysaccharides is essential to control structure, functionality and applicability. This review discusses the factors governing the nature of protein–polysaccharide interactions, their functional attributes and industrial applications, with special attention given to plant proteins. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Impact of surgery in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma: A monocentric retrospective analysis
Authors: Wigge Simone , Heißner Klaus , Steger Volker , Ladurner Ruth , Traub Frank , Sipos Bence , Bösmüller Hans , Kanz Lothar , Mayer Frank , Kopp Hans‐Georg
Published: June 2018

Background and Objectives

The role of local surgical procedures in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma is still undefined. Few retrospective studies have reported survival benefits for patients with pulmonary metastases after complete surgical resection. Treatment decisions are therefore mainly based on personal experiences rather than on reproducible knowledge.

Method

A total of 237 patients with metastatic sarcoma, treated between 1982 and 2015 at the University Hospital Tuebingen, Germany, were eligible for inclusion. Out of the 237 screened patients, 102 patients underwent at least one metastasectomy. Overall survival was defined as the primary endpoint in this study. For association of non‐linear relationship to the endpoint, significant prognostic factors were included into a recursive partitioning model. A subgroup analysis for long‐term survivors was also performed.

Results

The median overall survival was 64 months. The 3‐, 5‐, 10‐, and 20‐years overall survival rates were 70.7%, 50.3%, 24.7%, and 14.8%, respectively. The number of resections and the progression‐free intervals were independent prognostic factors in three statistical models.

Conclusion

Repeated resections of metastases from different localizations are a strong predictor for prolonged survival. We suggest that the progression‐free interval after metastasectomy should be considered as a predictive factor for benefit from further surgery.
Intermittent Catheterization Adherence Scale (ICAS): A new tool for the evaluation of patient adherence with clean intermittent self‐catheterization
Authors: Guinet‐Lacoste Amandine , Charlanes Audrey , Chesnel Camille , Blouet Emilie , Tan Eliane , Le Breton Frédérique , Amarenco Gérard
Published: June 2018

Aim

Patients who have successfully acquired the intermittent self‐catheterization (ISC) technique can be expected to use it on a long‐term basis. The aim of the present study is to present a validated evaluation scale, referred to as the ICAS (Intermittent Catheterization Adherence Scale), which can be used to assess long‐term patient adherence to prescribed ISC treatment.

Methods

The scale was validated in neurologic and non neurologic patients in an experienced French neurourology center, between September 2014 and February 2016. Eight items were chosen, providing a relatively objective insight into the degree to which patients reduce the frequency of their ISC procedures. Various factors, including the patients’ understanding of the procedure, its relevance to their specific condition, as well as their acceptance of its psychological and inherently time‐consuming drawbacks, were evaluated. The ISC construct validity and reproducibility, based on internal test‐retest consistency and test‐retest reliability, were measured using the Intra‐class Correlation Coefficient (ICC).

Results

The ICAS was validated in 222 patients (133 females, 89 males, mean age 53 ± 11 years). The patients’ comprehension of the questions was found to be good, and the questionnaire was well accepted. Cronbach's alpha was 0.73. The ICC test‐retest consistency was also found to be good.

Conclusion

The ICAS is a simple, acceptable, valid and reproducible test, and in some cases it may facilitate the medical follow‐up of ISC patients. In the clinical environment, it is found to be a valuable tool, which can assist medical staff in the prevention of complications related to ISC non‐compliance.
Fabrication of well‐defined shape memory graft polymers derived from biomass: An insight into the effect of side chain architecture on shape memory properties
Authors: Lu Chuanwei , Liu Yupeng , Yu Juan , Wang Chunpeng , Wang Jifu , Chu Fuxiang
Published: June 2018

Fully sustainable shape memory polymers (SMPs) derived from ethyl cellulose (EC, derived from cellulose), tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFMA, derived from furfural), and lauryl methacrylate (LMA, derived from fatty acids) were prepared via “grafting from” atom transfer radical polymer (ATRP). The “grafting from” ATRP strategy allows to fabricate SMPs with EC as a backbone, and LMA and THFMA copolymer as a side chain. By utilizing the one‐pot and sequential monomer addition approach, two types of SMPs with random/semi‐block side chain architectures were obtained, respectively. Random/semi‐block side chain architecture of SMPs was confirmed by DSC, DMA, SAXS, and TEM. The presence of microphase separation in the SMPs with semi‐block side chain architecture provided two distinct thermal transitions, which was needed for triple‐shape memory behavior. Shape memory study showed that SMPs with semi‐block side chain architecture exhibited excellent triple‐shape memory property, and also had higher shape recovery speed and shape recovery ratio than those with random side chain architecture. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 1711–1720
The effects of a windborne pollen‐provisioning cover crop on the phytoseiid community in citrus orchards in Israel
Authors: Warburg Sharon , Inbar Moshe , Gal Shira , Salomon Mor , Palevsky Eric , Sadeh Asaf
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Several phytoseiid species can potentially control the citrus rust mite (CRM). Their effectiveness varies, however, as do their intraguild interactions. Under laboratory conditions, Euseius stipulatus, E. scutalis and Iphiseius degenerans preyed effectively on CRM, whereas Amblyseius swirskii and Typhlodromus athiasae had no effect on CRM. In combination with A. swirskii, Euseius numbers were reduced due to intraguild predation, and consequently CRM suppression was less effective. In the field, predatory mite species can be variably provisioned by windborne pollen released from cover crops such as Rhodes grass (RG). We aimed to determine the effects of RG on the phytoseiid community in two field experiments, on different cultivars (pomelo and Shamouti orange). We also tested these communities for negative interspecific abundance relationships that are expected if their respective laboratory‐observed intraguild interactions are manifested in the field.

RESULTS

Overall, on pomelo, we observed a dominance of A. swirskii, relatively low E. stipulatus and high CRM abundances. Amblyseius swirskii and E. stipulatus abundances were both elevated near RG, despite apparent intraguild predation by A. swirskii. Conversely, T. athiasae abundances were lower near RG, likely due to predation by A. swirskii. On Shamouti, E. stipulatus abundances were much higher than on pomelo and were not negatively related to A. swirskii abundances. There, RG increased E. stipulatus abundance, and CRM was reduced.

CONCLUSION

RG cover cropping can enhance CRM control, depending on variation in intraguild interactions among phytoseiids, particularly between A. swirskii and E. stipulatus. These may be modulated by climatic and/or cultivar effects. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Wafer‐Scale Nanoimprint Lithography Process Towards Complementary Silicon Nanowire Field‐Effect Transistors for Biosensor Applications
Authors: Müller Achim , Vu Xuan T. , Pachauri Vivek , Francis Laurent A. , Flandre Denis , Ingebrandt Sven
Published: June 2018

The authors present a combined, p‐ and n‐type fabrication process for silicon nanowire field‐effect transistor (SiNW FET) biosensors on a 4” wafer format with nanowire widths down to 100 nm and a height of only 42 nm. The full wafer design includes various SiNW FET combinations with metal or electrolyte gate contacts. A top‐down fabrication protocol on high‐quality silicon‐on‐insulator wafers is developed. Down‐thinning of Si is done by a modified CMOS cleaning solution, which gives the possibility to control the resulting thickness with sub‐nm precision. The structuring of SiNW FETs is realized by nanoimprint lithography (NIL) applying a special temperature/pressure profile. The authors fabricate nano‐scale sensor structures and micro‐scale contact lines in the same NIL step. Precise control of the imprinting procedure is important for complete filling of the structures. In this project, the authors aim towards complementary device combinations and therefore they characterize the threshold voltage dependency on the device structures. Back‐gate contacts at the front‐side of the chips enable a control of surface potential shifts. The new SiNW FET sensors can be utilized for biomedical applications, where they are operated in a liquid environment under double‐gate configuration using parallel front gating and back gating.
A Direct Observation of Ordered Structures Induced by Cu Segregation at Grain Boundaries of Al 7075 Alloys
Authors: Parajuli Prakash , Mendoza‐Cruz Rubén , Hurtado‐Macias Abel , Santiago Ulises , Yacamán Miguel José
Published: June 2018

The experimental investigation of the atomic‐scale structure and chemistry of the grain boundaries by resolving the sites and chemical identities of the atoms comprising the interface is crucial to understand the implication of preferential atomic segregation at grain boundaries. Here, the authors report the ordered‐structures induced by substitutional Cu segregation at the Al alloy 7075 coincidence site lattice grain boundaries, namely, ∑13b and ∑7, using Cs‐aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. Unlike the single‐atom interstitial hollow site segregation behavior at the boundary region (predicted in the theoretical studies and considered on analysis of segregation effects), the authors demonstrate segregation of Cu atoms on two columns opposite to each other across the interface forming an ordered parallel array of segregating atoms in substitutional core sites. This is the first time that this type of parallel array segregation behavior is reported. Furthermore, based on intensity profiles and scanning transmission electron microscopy Z‐contrast principle, non‐uniformly (high and low) segregated mixed atomic columns are predicted at the grain boundaries.
A new integral inequality and its applications to robust control problems of uncertain nonlinear systems
Authors: Wu Hansheng
Published: June 2018

In this paper, a new integral inequality is presented. By combining this integral inequality with adaptive approach, new design methods can be developed to synthesize some adaptive robust control schemes for a large class of uncertain nonlinear systems and to deal with well the unknown nonlinearities appearing in uncertain nonlinear control dynamical systems. As an application of the presented integral inequality to control theory, the robust stabilization problem is considered for a class of uncertain strict‐feedback nonlinear systems with both time‐delay and unknown dead‐zone input nonlinearities. It is shown that there are two main merits in the design method based on the integral inequality presented in this paper. The first one is that one need not estimate and know the unknown nonlinearities to synthesize some stabilizing control schemes. The second one is that the resulting feedback control schemes have rather simple structure.
Field investigation on the influence of yaw misalignment on the propagation of wind turbine wakes
Authors: Bromm Marc , Rott Andreas , Beck Hauke , Vollmer Lukas , Steinfeld Gerald , Kühn Martin
Published: June 2018

A comprehensive understanding of the wake development of wind turbines is essential for improving the power yield of wind farms and for reducing the structural loading of the turbines. Reducing the overall negative impact of wake flows on individual turbines in a farm is one goal of wind farm control. We aim to demonstrate the applicability of yaw control for deflecting wind turbine wakes in a full‐scale field experiment. For this purpose, we conducted a measurement campaign at a multimegawatt onshore wind turbine including inflow and wake flow measurements using ground‐ and nacelle‐based long‐range light detection and ranging devices. Yaw misalignments of the turbine with respect to the inflow direction of up to 20° were investigated. We were able to show that under neutral atmospheric conditions, these turbine misalignments cause lateral deflections of its wake. Larger yaw misalignments resulted in greater wake deflection. Because of the inherent struggle in capturing complex and highly dynamic ambient conditions in the field using a limited number of sensors, we particularly focused on providing a comprehensive and comprehensible description of the measurement setup, including the identification of potential uncertainties.
The structure of generic anomalous dimensions and no-π theorem for massless propagators
Authors: Baikov P. A. , Chetyrkin K. G.
Published: June 2018

Abstract

Extending an argument of [1] for the case of 5-loop massless propagators we prove a host of new exact model-independent relations between contributions proportional to odd and even zetas in generic

$$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$

M
S

¯

anomalous dimensions as well as in generic massless correlators. In particular, we find a new remarkable connection between coefficients in front of ζ
3 and ζ
4 in the 4-loop and 5-loop contributions to the QCD β-function respectively. It leads to a natural explanation of a simple mechanics behind mysterious cancellations of the π-dependent terms in one-scale Renormalization Group (RG) invariant Euclidean quantities recently discovered in [2]. We give a proof of this no-π theorem for a general case of (not necessarily scheme-independent) one-scale massless correlators. All π-dependent terms in the six-loop coefficient of an anomalous dimension (or a β-function) are shown to be explicitly expressible in terms of lower order coefficients for a general one-charge theory. For the case of a scalar O(n) ϕ
4 theory all our predictions for π-dependent terms in 6-loop anomalous dimensions are in full agreement with recent results of [3–5].
$$ T\overline{T} $$ -deformations in closed form
Authors: Bonelli Giulio , Doroud Nima , Zhu Mengqi
Published: June 2018

Abstract

We consider the problem of exact integration of the

$$ T\overline{T} $$

T

T
¯

-deformation of two dimensional quantum field theories, as well as some higher dimensional extensions in the form of det T -deformations. When the action can be shown to only depend algebraically on the background metric the solution of the deformation equation on the Lagrangian can be given in closed form in terms of solutions of the (extended) Burgers’ equation. We present such examples in two and higher dimensions.
Large-scale messengers from massive higher spin fields
Authors: Anber Mohamed M.
Published: June 2018

Abstract

We show that nonperturbative production of massive higher spin fields from vacuum will accompany the generation of non-vanishing macroscopic energy-momentum tensor correlators. This argument is based on the general causal field formalism, which gives a manifestly covariant description of higher spin particles without any reference to gauge redundancy. Our findings are direct consequence of the Poincaré covariance and anlayticity of the Green’s functions and independent of any detailed particle physics model. Further, we discuss the idea that any mechanism causing imbalance between the on-shell production of left- and right-handed fields leads to a helical structure in the energy momentum correlators and violation of the macroscopic parity symmetry. We check our method for fields with spin$$ \frac{1}{2} $$12and show that it correctly reproduces previous results. The formalism, however, suffers from pathologies related to non-localities that appear for massless particles with spin ≥ 1 in flat space. We discuss the origin of these pathologies and the relevance of our findings to cosmology.
RG flows with supersymmetry enhancement and geometric engineering
Authors: Giacomelli Simone
Published: June 2018

Abstract

In this paper we study a class of

$$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$

N
=
2

SCFTs with ADE global symmetry defined via Type IIB compactification on a class of hypersurfaces in ℂ3 × ℂ*. These can also be constructed by compactifying the 6d (2,0) theory of type ADE on a sphere with an irregular and a full punctures. When we couple to the ADE moment map a chiral multiplet in the adjoint representation and turn on a (principal) nilpotent vev for it, all the theories in this family display enhancement of supersymmetry in the infrared. We observe that all known examples of theories which flow, upon the same type of deformation, to strongly coupled

$$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$

N
=
2

theories fit naturally in our framework, thus providing a new perspective on this topic. We propose an infrared equivalence between this RG flow and a manifestly

$$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$

N
=
2

preserving one and, as a byproduct, we extract a precise prescription to relate the SW curves describing the UV and IR fixed points for all theories with A or D global symmetry. We also find, for a certain subclass, a simple relation between UV and IR theories at the level of chiral algebras.
Effect of Process Parameters on the Crack Formation in Laser Metal Powder Deposition of Alloy 718
Authors: Segerstark Andreas , Andersson Joel , Svensson Lars-Erik , Ojo Olanrewaju
Published: June 2018

Cracking in Alloy 718 using laser metal powder deposition has been evaluated in this study. It is found that the material is susceptible to cracking when the laser power is high, the scanning speed is high, and the powder-feeding rate is low. Almost all the cracks are located close to the center of the deposited wall and propagate in the normal direction to the substrate. Evidence of liquation are found at the cracked surfaces, and since all cracks reside in regions which are reheated several times, the cracks are determined to most likely be heat-affected zone liquation cracks. The influence of respective process parameter was evaluated using a design of experiment approach. It is shown that, when the powder-feeding rate is incorporated as a variable, the heat input is not a suitable indicator for the hot cracking susceptibility in laser metal powder deposition of Alloy 718. A combinatory model using the power density together with the heat input is therefore proposed.
Perioperative Inpatient Use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Is Associated With a Reduced Risk of THA and TKA Revision
Authors: Yao Jie J. , Maradit Kremers Hilal , Kremers Walter K. , Lewallen David G. , Berry Daniel J.
Published: June 2018

Background

Depression is common in the general population, and so it is likewise common among patients undergoing THA and TKA. Depression is associated with lower perioperative patient-reported outcomes and an increased risk of postoperative complications. Antidepressants are effective in managing symptoms of depression and may potentially contribute to better functional status and better clinical outcomes after THA and TKA.

Questions/purposes

We examined (1) whether perioperative depression is associated with all-cause revisions, revisions for aseptic loosening, revisions without infection, and periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) in patients undergoing THA and TKA; and (2) whether perioperative antidepressant use reduces the risk of all-cause revisions, revisions for aseptic loosening, aseptic revisions, and PJIs in patients undergoing THA and TKA.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of adult patients (≥ 18 years) who underwent 20,112 primary and revision THAs and TKAs from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2009, at a large US tertiary care hospital. Data on patient and surgery characteristics and outcomes (dates and types of revisions, death) were ascertained through the institutional joint registry. Perioperative antidepressant use was assessed by searching the daily medication administration records beginning at admission and ending at discharge. A diagnosis of depression was present in 4466 (22%), and antidepressants were administered at the time of 5077 (25%) surgical procedures. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate associations between antidepressant use and the risk of all-cause revisions, revisions for aseptic loosening, aseptic revisions, and PJIs.

Results

Depression was associated with an increased risk of all-cause revisions (hazard ratio [HR], 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42-2.02; p < 0.001) and PJIs (HR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.53-3.17; p < 0.001). Overall, perioperative antidepressant use was not associated with the risk of revision or PJI, but selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) users had a lower risk of all-cause revisions (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.96; p = 0.001) and aseptic revisions (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.56-0.93; p = 0.013).

Conclusions

The presence of a depression diagnosis confers an increased risk of revision and PJI among patients undergoing THA and TKA, yet the risk is lower within the subset of patients who received SSRIs during the perioperative period. Future longitudinal studies with detailed antidepressant medication histories are warranted to better understand the potential biologic effects of SSRI on the risk of revision in patients undergoing THA and TKA.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.
What Factors Are Associated With Early Mortality in Patients Undergoing Femur Surgery for Metastatic Lung Cancer?
Authors: Kim June Hyuk , Seo Sung Wook , Chung Chae Hoon
Published: June 2018

Background

Pathologic fractures of the femur resulting from metastasis severely increase mortality in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, factors associated with early mortality after surgery have not been elucidated.

Questions/purposes

The purpose of this study was to identify clinical and laboratory factors available to surgeons before surgery for a metastatic femur in patients with metastatic lung cancer that might be associated with mortality at 1 and 3 months.

Methods

Between 2010 and 2014 we treated 126 patients for pathologic fracture of the femur caused by NSCLC. Of those, complete data sets for the parameters of interest (including clinical factors, laboratory factors, and survivorship) were available in 105 (83%). The factors we considered included sex, age, fracture location, surgical procedure, postoperative complications, blood cell counts, serum biomarkers, genetic alterations of primary cancer, chemotherapeutic agents, preoperative radiation therapy, pleural effusion, bone and internal organ metastasis, performance scores, and medical center where the treatment was performed. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with mortality at 1 and 3 months.

Results

Intertrochanteric location was associated with a higher risk of death (odds ratio [OR], 17.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.65-109.5), lower serum albumin level was associated with an increased risk of death (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.028-0.60), and availability of a suitable chemotherapeutic target agent was associated with a lower risk of death (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.08-0.91) within 3 months of surgery. Undergoing reconstruction with an endoprosthesis was associated with a higher risk of death (OR, 48.3; 95% CI, 1.7-1329) and elevated serum leukocyte count (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.4) and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were associated with a higher risk of death (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.2) within 1 month of surgery.

Conclusions

Although the risk factors for early mortality need to be validated by prospective studies, surgical options need to be reconsidered in patients with femoral metastases from NSCLS showing high ALT or leukocytosis on the preoperative blood test.

Level of Evidence

Level III, prognostic study.
Is Climate Associated With Revision for Prosthetic Joint Infection After Primary TKA?
Authors: Parkinson Ben , Armit Drew , McEwen Peter , Lorimer Michelle , Harris Ian A.
Published: June 2018

Background

Climate factors have been shown to be associated with spontaneous musculoskeletal and some surgical site infections with increased rates of infection during warmer periods. To date, little research has been performed to determine if this phenomenon is associated with differences in the risk of revision for prosthetic joint infection (PJI) in primary TKA.

Questions/purposes

(1) Does the rate of revision for early PJI within the first year after primary TKA differ between tropical and nontropical regions? (2) Is there a seasonal variation in the rate of revision for PJI? (3) Is the geographic and seasonal variation (if present) associated with the sex, age, and/or American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade of the patient?

Methods

All 219,983 primary TKAs performed for osteoarthritis over a 5-year period (2011-2015) in the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry were examined based on the month of the primary procedure to determine the rate of revision for PJI within 12 months. The data were analyzed to determine the differences in the risk of revision for PJI based on geographic region and season of the primary procedure adjusting for sex, age, and ASA grade of the patient.

Results

The early revision rate for PJI was higher in the tropical compared with the nontropical region of Australia (0.73% versus 0.37%; odds ratio [OR], 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-2.42; p < 0.001). The tropical region of Australia demonstrated a seasonal variation in the rate of revision for PJI with a higher rate during the warmer monsoon wet season of summer and fall (summer/fall 0.98% versus winter/spring 0.51%; OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.12-3.16; p = 0.02). A seasonal variation was not seen in the nontropical region (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90-1.19; p = 0.64). The regional and seasonal changes were independent of sex, age, and ASA grade.

Conclusions

Climate factors are associated with the risk of early revision for PJI in patients undergoing primary TKA with rates of such revisions approximately double in tropical regions compared with nontropical regions. Additionally, tropical regions demonstrate a seasonal variation with the risk of PJI doubling during the warmer, monsoonal wet season of summer and fall. These findings should be confirmed in further studies that can better control for possible confounding variables. The mechanism for this phenomenon is not clear, and further research into this subject is also indicated.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.
Barriers to Resident Research in Radiology: A Canadian Perspective
Authors: Hames Kate , Patlas Michael , Duszak Richard
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The study sought to identify and characterise barriers to research for Canadian diagnostic radiology residents and suggest potential solutions to enhance future research success.

Methods

Institutional research board approval was obtained. Electronic surveys were solicited from all postgraduate year 2-5 diagnostic radiology residents at all 16 programs across Canada. The survey focused on key factors inhibiting research during training.

Results

Of all 400 Canadian diagnostic radiology residents, 88 (22%) responded. Of respondents, 86% reported research experience before residency, with 19% holding a nonphysician graduate degree. All indicated that research was a requirement for completion of their residency. The most important reported factors limiting resident research were time constraints (67%), personal disinterest (32%), and inadequate mentorship (32%). Although 44% reported dedicated residency program research training, 40% reported no such opportunities. Among the various time constraints, respondents cited studying demands (61%), on-call demands (52%), and daily clinical duties (38%) as strong or significant barriers to research. Most (63%) indicated their program provided at least some protected research time, but 21% were not aware of such protected time availability. When available, protected research time was modest, and ranged from 0.5 days/month to 3 months, with the majority of respondents citing 1 month of protected research time.

Conclusions

Diagnostic radiology residents in Canada report numerous barriers to research. Programs seeking to enhance radiology research should focus on providing appropriate training, protected time, and mentorship.
Bone morphogenetic protein 4 expression in the developing lumbosacral spinal cord of rat embryos with anorectal malformations
Authors: Yang Zhonghua , Jia Huimin , Bai Yuzuo , Wang Weilin
Published: June 2018

Although there are improvements in treatment of anorectal malformations (ARMs), patients can still develop fecal incontinence, constipation, and soiling with loss in quality of life. Recent evidence suggests that malformations in the lumbosacral spinal cord are one of the factors that affect postoperative anorectal function. However, the underlying mechanism that produces these malformations has yet to be elucidated. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) comprise a large group of highly conserved molecules that are involved in multiple processes and play important roles in the formation, development, and differentiation of the spinal cord. This study was designed to investigate the levels of BMP4 expression in the lumbosacral spinal cord in ARMs rat embryos induced by ethylenethiourea (ETU). Specifically, we assessed the association of BMP4 levels with the maldevelopment of the lumbosacral spinal cord and whether BMP4 acted through the canonical intracellular pathway in embryonic rats with ARMs. BMP4 expression was confirmed with immunohistochemical staining, RT‐qPCR and western blot analyses of embryonic day (E) 16, E17, E19 and E21 embryos, moreover Smad1/5 and pSmad1/5 expression were confirmed with western blot analyses at peak time point of BMP4 expression. Our results reveal that BMP4 expression in the lumbosacral spinal cord of ARMs rat embryos is decreased at both the mRNA and protein levels and could decrease the phosphorylation of smad1/5, when compared with their expression levels in normal tissue. These results also suggest that reductions in BMP4 expression were possibly responsible for dysfunction of the lumbosacral spinal cord during late developmental stages in ARMs fetal rats. Taken together, we conclude a role for BMP4 in the pathogenesis of lumbosacral spinal cord maldevelopment in developing ARMs rats.
Immature sleep pattern in newborn rats when dams encountered sleep restriction during pregnancy
Authors: Aswathy B.S. , Kumar Velayudhan M. , Gulia Kamalesh K.
Published: June 2018

There is a growing realization that proper sleep during pregnancy is essential for the health of the mother and the offspring. However, there are no reports on the effects of maternal sleep restriction on the sleep‐wake profiles of newborns. So, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of sleep restriction during the third term of pregnancy on the sleep‐wake profiles of neonates born to them. The female pregnant Wistar rats were sleep restricted for 5 h/day on gestational days 15–20 by gentle handling. Sleep‐wake profiles of the pups born to them and to the control rats were recorded on postnatal days 1–21. Pups of sleep restricted dams had higher active sleep (AS) and lower quiet sleep (QS) as well as wakefulness. Higher ratio of AS to QS, longer duration of sleep cycles, lesser bout frequency and reduced EEG delta power were also observed in these pups, all of which indicated brain immaturity. All these signs of delayed maturation, usually found in premature babies, were observed in the pups of sleep restricted mothers, who had longer gestation period. This report not only shows the importance of sleep during pregnancy, but it also suggests that neonatal sleep monitoring can be used as a tool for early assessment of retarded brain development.
Causes of Death Among Avalanche Fatalities in Colorado: A 21-Year Review
Authors: Sheets Alison , Wang Dale , Logan Spencer , Atkins Dale
Published: June 2018

Introduction

A better understanding of the nature of morbidity and mortality in avalanche accidents helps direct both rescue efforts as well as preventive strategies to reduce fatalities.

Methods

We reviewed all avalanche fatalities from the avalanche years beginning in 1994 to 2015 in the state of Colorado, United States, using the database maintained by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. For each fatality, we obtained the coroner’s official determination of cause of death, and autopsy records if one was performed. We used these records to determine cause of death. Injury severity scores (0–75 scale) were calculated for those victims who underwent autopsy.

Results

Mortality information was available for 110 fatalities occurring during the 21-year study period. Of these, 64 underwent autopsy. Asphyxia was the cause of death in 65% of fatalities (72/110). Trauma was the cause of death in 29% of the fatalities (32/110). Of these, the primary cause was multiple system trauma in 38% (12/32), head trauma in 31% (10/32), and spinal injuries in 19% (6/32). Of the victims who died of asphyxia and had autopsy, only 10% (4/42) also had significant trauma, defined as an injury severity score greater than 15. There were 6 fatalities from other causes, including hypothermia, drowning, and primary cardiac arrest. There was no correlation between trauma and mode of travel, avalanche type, or starting zone elevation.

Conclusions

Asphyxia was the primary cause of death in avalanche fatalities in Colorado during our study period. The incidence of fatal trauma was 29% and did not correlate with user group demographics or avalanche characteristics.
The Atonement
Authors: Craig William Lane
Published: June 2018

How did Christ's death overcome the estrangement and condemnation of sinners before a holy God, so as to reconcile them to Him? A great variety of theories of the atonement have been offered over the centuries to make sense of the fact that Christ by his death has provided the means of reconciliation with God: ransom theories, satisfaction theories, moral influence theories, penal substitution theories, and so on. Competing theories need to be assessed by (i) their accord with biblical data and (ii) their philosophical coherence.
Waiting for (African) Cinema: Jean-Pierre Bekolo’s Quest
Authors: Dima Vlad
Published: June 2018

Throughout his career, Cameroonian director Jean-Pierre Bekolo has been searching for cinema; not African cinema, just Cinema. In order to explain properly this claim, the essay will first consider Bekolo’s work within the context of the ever-ongoing conversation regarding the framing and aesthetics of African and Third Cinemas. Second, for a closer perspective on what will be termed “neurotic cinema,” the essay will key on Bekolo’s latest effort, Naked Reality (2016), a purposely unfinished work that echoes absurdist theater, mimics frantic contemporary thought, and proposes that cinema should not yield finalized products because that may go against its very nature.
The New Era Workplace Relationships: Is Social Exchange Theory Still Relevant?
Authors: Chernyak-Hai Lily , Rabenu Edna
Published: June 2018

In this article, we argue that changes in workplace characteristics over the last few decades may affect work relationships and call for adjustments in the traditional theoretical framework used to understand them. Since the last quarter of the 20th century, there have been theories regarding changes in labor relationships following technological, political, globalization, and economical changes. However, we examine the changes in light of psychological theories rather than labor or industrial approaches. We review four main areas where social exchange theory (SET) has been implemented, address recent changes that challenge the traditional SET perspective, and propose alternative models. We refer to these models as “hybrid” as they integrate traditional SET premises with new-era workplace characteristics. First, we describe several changes in workplace characteristics. Next, we review some of the most conventional applications of SET to work relationships. Finally, we critically examine whether this theory meets the requirements of work relationships in the new world of work and conclude by arguing that SET needs to be adjusted to reflect the assumption that frequent changes in employee and organizational characteristics in the new workplaces require similar frequent adjustments in exchange relationships.
Scaling of square-prism shear layers
Authors: Lander D. C. , Moore D. M. , Letchford C. W. , Amitay M.
Published: June 2018

Scaling characteristics, essential to the mechanisms of transition in square-prism shear layers, were explored experimentally. In particular, the evolution of the dominant instability modes as a function of Reynolds number were reported in the range $1.5\times 10^{4}\lesssim Re_{D}\lesssim 7.5\times 10^{4}$. It was found that the ratio between the shear layer frequency and the shedding frequency obeys a power-law scaling relation. Adherence to the power-law relationship, which was derived from hot-wire measurements, has been supported by two additional and independent scaling considerations, namely, by particle image velocimetry measurements to observe the evolution of length and velocity scales in the shear layer during transition, and by comparison to direct numerical simulations to illuminate the properties of the front-face boundary layer. The nonlinear dependence of the shear layer instability frequency is sustained by the influence of $Re_{D}$ on the thickness of the laminar front-face boundary layer. In corroboration with the original scaling argument for the circular cylinder, the length scale of the shear layer was the only source of nonlinearity in the frequency ratio scaling, within the range of Reynolds numbers reported. The frequency ratio scaling may therefore be understood by the influence of $Re_{D}$ on the appropriate length scale of the shear layer. This length scale was observed to be the momentum thickness evaluated at a transition point, defined where the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability saturates.
Clinical course predicts long-term outcomes in bipolar disorder
Authors: Uher Rudolf , Pallaskorpi Sanna , Suominen Kirsi , Mantere Outi , Pavlova Barbara , Isometsä Erkki
Published: June 2018

Background

The long-term outcomes of bipolar disorder range from lasting remission to chronic course or frequent recurrences requiring admissions. The distinction between bipolar I and II disorders has limited utility in outcome prediction. It is unclear to what extent the clinical course of bipolar disorder predicts long-term outcomes.

Methods

A representative sample of 191 individuals diagnosed with bipolar I or II disorder was recruited and followed for up to 5 years using a life-chart method. We previously described the clinical course over the first 18 months with dimensional course characteristics and latent classes. Now we test if these course characteristics predict long-term outcomes, including time ill (time with any mood symptoms) and hospital admissions over a second non-overlapping follow-up period in 111 individuals with available data from both 18 months and 5 years follow-ups.

Results

Dimensional course characteristics from the first 18 months prospectively predicted outcomes over the following 3.5 years. The proportion of time depressed, the severity of depressive symptoms and the proportion of time manic predicted more time ill. The proportion of time manic, the severity of manic symptoms and depression-to-mania switching predicted a greater likelihood of hospital admissions. All predictions remained significant after controlling for age, sex and bipolar I v. II disorder.

Conclusions

Differential associations with long-term outcomes suggest that course characteristics may facilitate care planning with greater predictive validity than established types of bipolar disorders. A clinical course dominated by depressive symptoms predicts a greater proportion of time ill. A clinical course characterized by manic episodes predicts hospital admissions.
Personae and phonetic detail in sociolinguistic signs
Authors: D'Onofrio Annette
Published: June 2018

Social meaning-based approaches to linguistic variation treat variation as a semiotic system, in which sociolinguistic signs—indexical links between linguistic forms and social meanings—serve as interactional resources that individuals use to project personae. This article explores the perceptual nature of the links between social personae and linguistic forms, examining how information about a speaker's persona can influence a listener's linguistic perceptions of a continuous phonetic feature. Using a phoneme categorization task, this study examines associations between gradient phonetic manifestations on a continuum from /æ/ to /ɑ/ and three social personae. Findings illustrate that the social persona made relevant for a listener influences the ways in which points on this phonetic continuum are categorized phonemically as eithertraporlot. Overall, this shows that the social constructs of personae influence phonetically detailed perceptions of linguistic material. (Sociolinguistic perception, personae, indexicality, sociophonetics, sociolinguistic signs)*
Style, stance, and social meaning in mock white girl
Authors: Slobe Tyanna
Published: June 2018

Mock white girl(MWG) performances parody a linguistic and embodied style associated with contemporary middle class white girls in the United States. The article identifies bundles of semiotic resources in the stylization of the white girl persona—for example, creaky voice, uptalk, blondeness, and Starbucks—in three genres of MWG:Savior,Shit white girls say, andTeenage girl problems. While semiotic variables used to index the white girl persona are consistent across performances, there is significant variation in performers’ ideological stances relative to the mocked figure of personhood: white girls in the US are not ‘heard’ in any one way by all social actors. Contextualizing MWG performances through analysis of stance reveals critical variation in how the white girl is interpreted, evaluated, and produced as a meaningful social entity by diverse segments of the population. (Gender, mock, race, parody, persona, stance, style)*
II The Tchefuncte Period Sites
Authors: Ford James A. , Quimby George I.
Published: June 2018

The first publication dealing with materials which have since come to be included in the Tchefuncte horizon was an article by J. R. Czajkowski, published in the Louisiana Conservation Review for July 1, 1934. This was a brief summary of the first six months' exploration by a Civil Works Administration project of extensive shell deposits near Little Woods, Louisiana, along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, east of New Orleans. All of these middens had been used as sources of shell for paving roads; consequently the center of each had been gutted previous to Czajkowski's work. Through arrangements made by Dr. Fred B. Kniffen, the materials and notes were to be turned over to Louisiana State University. Only a very small part of the collection, however, was received by the University; the remainder could not be located. The few notes obtainable were from the brief field diary of one of the foremen.

What is available of Czajkowski's collection has been used in this paper. It represents only a part of the enormous amount found, and because of the lack of notes and identifying marks it necessarily must be treated as a collection from all the middens which Czajkowski dug (see map, Fig. 2, Sites Or-1, Or-2, Or-3, Or-4 and Or-5). This is a particularly unfortunate situation, for these areas were so thoroughly disturbed that later investigations have succeeded in collecting very little information.
The Peruvian Co-Tradition
Authors: Bennett Wendell C.
Published: June 2018

The culture area concept as developed by Wissler has had only limited applicability to archaeology, since it depends too much on specific elements or traits, is too heavily weighted by subsistence, is not sharply enough defined, is too inclusive, and is too static in time. Although Wissler divided the New World into a number of archaeological culture areas, these have not been very meaningful, since they lump gross elements with total disregard for time, which results more in confusion than in significant classification.
On Absolute Dating and North Coast History
Authors: Rowe John Howland
Published: June 2018

While I have become less, rather than more, certain of the possibility of correlating traditional dynasty lists with archaeological periods since American Antiquity published my paper on the subject, the possibility is still worth exploring in an area where we have so few absolute dates to go on. In this connection, I would like to call the attention of the meeting to a document on Chimu history which, to my shame, I ran across only recently, though it was first published in 1936.

The document in question is a fragment of the first chapter of an anonymous history of Trujillo, written in that city in 1604. The manuscript was found in Lima by Father Vargas Ugarte and published in the Revista Histórica. A translation is submitted which should be of considerable interest.