bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient synthesis of novel pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridone derivatives using the Ugi four-component reaction followed by condensation reaction
Authors: VenkataPrasad Jalli , Krishnamurthy Suvratha , Moriguchi Tetsuji , Tsuge Akihiko
Published: November 2016

An efficient, cost effective and multicomponent method for the synthesis of new pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridone derivatives.
Organocatalyzed enantioselective Michael addition/cyclization cascade reaction of 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles with arylidene malonates
Authors: Chowdhury Raghunath , Kumar Mukesh , Ghosh Sunil K.
Published: November 2016

Both enantiomers of functionalized 3,2′-pyrrolidinyl spirooxindoles were obtainedviaa Michael-cyclization cascade reaction using pseudoenantiomeric cinchona alkaloid derived thiourea based bifunctional catalysts.
Determination of biodiesel properties based on a fatty acid profile of eight Amazon cyanobacterial strains grown in two different culture media
Authors: Aboim Joseline Barbosa , Oliveira Deborah , Ferreira John Eric , Siqueira Andrei Santos , Dall'Agnol Leonardo Teixeira , Rocha Filho Geraldo Narciso , Gonçalves Evonnildo Costa , Nascimento Luis Adriano
Published: November 2016

The biotechnological potential of 8 Amazon cyanobacteria was studied and some species shown to be promising biodiesel source.
Efficient hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate to ethylene glycol via nickel stabilized copper catalysts
Authors: Zhu Junhua , Ye Yingchun , Tang Yi , Chen Liangfeng , Tang Kangjian
Published: November 2016

Ni played a key role in stabilizing Cu against deactivation. The optimal CuNi/SiO2 nanocatalyst was tested under continuous reaction for over 2000 hours. The dimethyl oxalate conversion and ethylene glycol selectivity maintained at 99% and above 95%, respectively.
Antidiabetic effect of ligustilide-rich total lactones derived from Shunaoxin dropping pills on mice with type 2 diabetes induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin
Authors: Zhou Hong , Qu Zhuo , Zhang Jingze , Liu Yuanxue , Yang Honggai , Chen Hong , Li Yuming , Liu Changxiao , Gao Wenyuan
Published: November 2016

Shunaoxin dropping pill, a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine formula, has been used to treat cerebrovascular diseases in China since 2005.
The influence of acceptor nucleophilicity on the glycosylation reaction mechanism
Authors: van der Vorm S. , Hansen T. , Overkleeft H. S. , van der Marel G. A. , Codée J. D. C.
Published: November 2016

The acceptor dependence on the glycosylation stereoselectivity is revealed by a systematic study employing model acceptors of gradually changing nucleophilicity.
Nanoporous (Pt1−xFex)3Al intermetallic compounds for greatly enhanced oxygen electroreduction catalysis
Authors: Cheng Tuo , Lang Xing-You , Han Gao-Feng , Yao Rui-Qi , Wen Zi , Jiang Qing
Published: November 2016

Here we report a nanoporous (Pt1−xFex)3Al intermetallic compound exhibiting impressive electroreduction catalytic activity and durability for the oxygen reduction reaction.
Improved hepatic physiology in hepatic cytochrome P450 reductase null (HRN™) mice dosed orally with fenclozic acid
Authors: Akingbasote James A. , Foster Alison J. , Jones Huw B. , David Rhiannon , Gooderham Nigel J. , Wilson Ian D. , Kenna J. Gerry
Published: November 2016

HRN™ mice are valuable for P450-related hepatic drug biotransformation assessment, but not drug toxicity due to underlying liver histopathology.
Versatile wetting measurement of microplate wells
Authors: Ng Enoch Ming Wei , Cheong Brandon Huey-Ping , Yu Yang , Liew Oi Wah , Ng Tuck Wah
Published: November 2016

A method to measure the contact angle, which is indicative of wetting, using small liquid volumes dispensed directly on microplate wells is described and demonstrated. Experiments with enhanced green protein samples of volumes 4.4–6 μl showed no measured variance in the contact angle. Experiments with phosphate buffer solution with varied concentrations of a non-ionic detergent (Tween 20) dissolved, however, revealed smaller contact angles with increased detergent concentration. It is experimentally shown that drops can be located up to 7° from the lowest position of the well without affecting the accuracy of contact angle measurements. Numerical simulations confirm the ability of the drops to manifest the correct contact angle despite the lack of axis-symmetry in their shape while residing on a circular surface. This method offers a convenient means to determine the wetting characteristics of different liquid samples in different microplates.
Experimental investigation of corn cob pyrolysis
Authors: Ceranic M. , Kosanic T. , Djuranovic D. , Kaludjerovic Z. , Djuric S. , Gojkovic P. , Bozickovic R.
Published: November 2016

This paper presents experimental investigation of pyrolysis process of corn cob from Vojvodina (Republic of Serbia). The influence of temperature, reaction time, particle size, and heating rate on pyrolysis products yields was investigated. Studying of biomass pyrolysis kinetics led to the conclusion that thermogravimetry is an appropriate method for explaining decomposition of different biomass types. Experimental research showed that temperature increase leads to decrease in char yield and volatile yield. Mass yield of pyrolysis oil increased with higher heating rate. Methane volume fraction in pyrolysis gas increased with temperature increase, while the volume fraction of carbon dioxide decreased. Particle size affected the methane yield. It was shown that with the increase in particle size, the volume fraction of methane in pyrolysis gas decreased. Based on the char composition obtained after corn cob pyrolysis process, it was determined that char is rich in carbon (74.80%). Lower heating value of char was 26182.09 kJ/kg. High heating value of char contributes to economic justification for applying corn cob pyrolysis.
The work function for Li+-ion emission from spodumene: A complete characterization of thermionic emission
Authors: Schuld Stephan , Diekmann Mira , Schäfer Martin , Weitzel Karl-Michael
Published: November 2016

The thermionic emission of Li+ from synthetic spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) has been investigated as a function of temperature and electric field. The data presented cover the entire range from the space charge limited Child-Langmuir regime, to the Richardson-Dushman regime, and finally the field assisted Schottky regime. From a self-consistent analysis of all data measured, the work function for Li+ emission from synthetic spodumene is determined as (2.47 ± 0.015) eV. The thermionic currents exhibit a voltage offset of (1.7 ± 0.1) eV, which can be traced to a combination of the ionic work function of the emitter, the recombination energy Li+ + electron, the electronic work function of the detector, and the contact potential between the detector and filament.
Ultrathin IBAD MgO films for epitaxial growth on amorphous substrates and sub-50 nm membranes
Authors: Wang Siming , Antonakos C. , Bordel C. , Bouma D. S. , Fischer P. , Hellman F.
Published: November 2016

A fabrication process has been developed for high energy ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) biaxial texturing of ultrathin (∼1 nm) MgO films, using a high ion-to-atom ratio and post-deposition annealing instead of a homoepitaxial MgO layer. These films serve as the seed layer for epitaxial growth of materials on amorphous substrates such as electron/X-ray transparent membranes or nanocalorimetry devices. Stress measurements and atomic force microscopy of the MgO films reveal decreased stress and surface roughness, while X-ray diffraction of epitaxial overlayers demonstrates the improved crystal quality of films grown epitaxially on IBAD MgO. The process simplifies the synthesis of IBAD MgO, fundamentally solves the “wrinkle” issue induced by the homoepitaxial layer on sub-50 nm membranes, and enables studies of epitaxial materials in electron/X-ray transmission and nanocalorimetry.
A reactant-coordinate-based approach to state-to-state differential cross sections for tetratomic reactions
Authors: Zhao Bin , Sun Zhigang , Guo Hua
Published: November 2016

A new algorithm is proposed to compute quantum mechanically state-to-state differential cross sections for reactions involving four atoms in full dimensionality. This algorithm, which is based on the propagation of an initial state specific wave packet exclusively in reactant coordinates, extracts the S-matrix elements in the product channel by first interpolating the time-dependent wave packet using a collocation method at selected time intervals on the product coordinate grid and then projecting out the contributions of all final product states. This approach is efficient and accurate, particularly for reactions that are dominated by a product well or long-range interactions. Validation of this approach is demonstrated for the H2 + OH → H + H2O reaction.
Effect on measurement accuracy of transillumination using sawtooth-shaped-function optical signal
Authors: Yang Xue , Hu Yajia , Li Gang , Lin Ling
Published: November 2016

There exist lots of difficulties in optical transillumination of biological tissues, especially, low-level-light detection and low gray-scale resolution could reduce recognition accuracy of differences in tissue. Aiming at the problems, this paper proposes a method for optical transillumination using sawtooth-shaped-function optical signal and frame accumulation technology to explore the spatial information of heterogeneity in the tissue. Sawtooth-shaped-function optical signal combined with frame accumulation technology is applied to realize the low-level-light image detection, where frame accumulation technology improves the signal-to-noise ratio and detection sensitivity, and sawtooth-shaped-function signal improves gray-scale resolution. The results of the experiment applied on the flat-shaped phantom demonstrated that, compared with the constant intensity optical signal, the application of the sawtooth-shaped-function optical signal effectively improved the gray-scale resolution, thus improved the extraction accuracy on positional feature pixels of heterogeneity. In addition, the sawtooth-shaped-function optical signal reduces the light radiation per unit time and per unit area. Therefore, the proposed illuminated way is more suitable for the imaging of biological tissue.
Photothermal characterization of MoS2 emission coupled to a microdisk cavity
Authors: Reed Jason C , Malek Stephanie C. , Yi Fei , Naylor Carl H. , Charlie Johnson A. T. , Cubukcu Ertugrul
Published: November 2016

Integration of emerging two-dimensional direct bandgap semiconductors onto optical microcavities is important for nanophotonic light sources. In most cases, to achieve high quality factors, such microcavity designs require thermally isolated structures leading to pronounced photothermal effects. Here, we report experimental results on spectroscopic and time-domain characterization of photothermal response from MoS2 monolayers coupled to microdisk resonators. We find that judicious utilization of pulsed laser excitation can circumvent irreversible photoabsorption induced material damage. Our results agree well with finite element method based thermal simulations.
Site-selection of Si1−xGex quantum dots on patterned Si(001) substrates
Authors: Amatya J. M. , Floro J. A.
Published: November 2016

We investigate the heteroepitaxial Si0.5Ge0.5 quantum dot site-selection on a patterned Si(001) substrate by continuously varying the underlying substrate pattern morphology from pit-in-terrace to quasi-sinusoidal. The pit-in-terrace morphology leads to well-ordered quantum dots centered in the pits over a wide range of pattern wavelengths. However, for quasi-sinusoidal morphology, when the pattern wavelength is twice the intrinsic lengthscale, quantum dots suddenly bifurcate and shift to form in every saddle point, with high uniformity in size and site occupancy. We compare our results with existing models of quantum dot formation on patterned surfaces.
Particle size selection in post-spark dusty plasma in non-uniform electric field
Authors: Kim Woongsik , Pikhitsa Peter V. , Choi Mansoo
Published: November 2016

We report a strong size-selective effect of the non-uniform external electric field on unitary charged nanoparticles in a residual dusty plasma generated by spark discharge. It has been found that the field influences the outcome particle size distribution function considerably by expelling smaller particles out of the residual plasma cloud so that they cannot neutralize or agglomerate. Meantime, larger particles being dragged by the plasma cloud neutralize and disappear at walls; therefore, the particle size distribution function shifts to small sizes. We give a simple theory explaining the field effect and suggest its application for a patterning technique.
Entropy shaping by shock decay
Authors: Piriz A. R. , Sun Y. B. , Tahir N. A.
Published: November 2016

A previous model [Piriz et al., Phys. Plasmas 23, 032704 (2016)] developed for describing the evolution of a shock wave driven by an arbitrary pressure pulse, is shown to be suitable for calculating the entropy shaping induced by a shock of decaying intensity. It is also shown that by allowing a causal connection between the shock and the piston, the model results to be complementary to the well-known self-similar solution for the impulsive loading problem, which is valid in the asymptotic regime when both fronts become decoupled. As a consequence, the entropy distribution depends on the details of the driving pressure pulse. A comparison with the available numerical simulations is presented.
Engineering quantum spin Hall insulators by strained-layer heterostructures
Authors: Akiho T. , Couëdo F. , Irie H. , Suzuki K. , Onomitsu K. , Muraki K.
Published: November 2016

Quantum spin Hall insulators (QSHIs), also known as two-dimensional topological insulators, have emerged as an unconventional class of quantum states with insulating bulk and conducting edges originating from nontrivial inverted band structures and have been proposed as a platform for exploring spintronics applications and exotic quasiparticles related to the spin-helical edge modes. Despite theoretical proposals for various materials, however, experimental demonstrations of QSHIs have so far been limited to two systems—HgTe/CdTe and InAs/GaSb—both of which are lattice-matched semiconductor heterostructures. Here, we report transport measurements in yet another realization of a band-inverted heterostructure as a QSHI candidate—InAs/InxGa1−xSb with lattice mismatch. We show that the compressive strain in the InxGa1−xSb layer enhances the band overlap and energy gap. Consequently, high bulk resistivity, two orders of magnitude higher than for InAs/GaSb, is obtained deep in the band-inverted regime. The strain also enhances bulk Rashba spin-orbit splitting, leading to an unusual situation where the Fermi level crosses only one spin branch for electronlike and holelike bands over a wide density range. These properties make this system a promising platform for robust QSHIs with unique spin properties and demonstrate the strain to be an important ingredient for tuning spin-orbit interaction.
Generation and detection of thermoelastic waves in metals by a photothermal mirror method
Authors: Capeloto O. A. , Zanuto V. S. , Lukasievicz G. V. B. , Malacarne L. C. , Bialkowski S. E. , Požar T. , Astrath N. G. C.
Published: November 2016

We investigate the thermoelastic waves launched by a localized heat deposition. Pulsed laser excitation is used to generate mechanical perturbations in metals that are detected using the photothermal mirror method. This method detects the wavefront distortion of the probe beam reflected from the perturbed sample surface. Nanometer scale expansion of the material is induced just under the irradiated surface releasing transient thermoelastic waves of much smaller amplitudes on the surface. Numerical predictions and the experimental results are in a good agreement and represent both the thermal diffusion of the large amplitude, long-lasting outward bulge, and the released elastic waves.
Design of p-type cladding layers for tunnel-injected UV-A light emitting diodes
Authors: Zhang Yuewei , Krishnamoorthy Sriram , Akyol Fatih , Allerman Andrew A. , Moseley Michael W. , Armstrong Andrew M. , Rajan Siddharth
Published: November 2016

We discuss the engineering of p-AlGaN cladding layers for achieving efficient tunnel-injected III-Nitride ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV LEDs) in the UV-A spectral range. We show that the capacitance-voltage measurements can be used to estimate the compensation and doping in the p-AlGaN layers located between the multi-quantum well region and the tunnel junction layer. By increasing the p-type doping concentration to overcome the background compensation, on-wafer external quantum efficiency and wall-plug efficiency of 3.37% and 1.62%, respectively, were achieved for the tunnel-injected UV LEDs emitting at 325 nm. We also show that interband tunneling hole injection can be used to realize UV LEDs without any acceptor doping. The work discussed here provides new understanding of hole doping and transport in AlGaN-based UV LEDs and demonstrates the excellent performance of tunnel-injected LEDs for the UV-A wavelength range.
The physics of photon induced degradation of perovskite solar cells
Authors: Joshi Pranav H. , Zhang Liang , Hossain Istiaque M. , Abbas Hisham A. , Kottokkaran Ranjith , Nehra Satyapal P. , Dhaka Mahendra , Noack Max , Dalal Vikram L.
Published: November 2016

Lead-trihalide perovskite solar cells are an important photovoltaic technology. We investigate the effect of light induced degradation on perovskite solar cells. During exposure, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the device increases, whereas the short-circuit current (Isc) shows a decrease. The degradation can be completely recovered using thermal annealing in dark. We develop a model based on light induced generation of ions and migration of these ions inside the material to explain the changes in Isc, Voc, capacitance and dark current upon light exposure and post-exposure recovery. There was no change in defect density in the material upon exposure.
Synthetic genome readers target clustered binding sites across diverse chromatin states
Authors: Erwin Graham S. , Grieshop Matthew P. , Bhimsaria Devesh , Do Truman J. , Rodríguez-Martínez José A. , Mehta Charu , Khanna Kanika , Swanson Scott A. , Stewart Ron , Thomson James A. , Ramanathan Parameswaran , Ansari Aseem Z.
Published: November 2016

Significance

Targeting specific genomic loci with synthetic molecules remains a major goal in chemistry, biology, and precision medicine. Identifying how synthetic genome readers bind the chromatinized genome in cells would facilitate their development, but doing so remains a formidable challenge. We map the genome-wide binding patterns for two structurally distinct synthetic molecules. To achieve this goal, we couple our cross-linking of small molecules to isolate chromatin approach to next-generation sequencing. In addition to binding high-affinity sites, these molecules, surprisingly, bind clustered low-affinity sites. The data also show that these genome readers target sites in both open and closed chromatin. Our findings highlight the importance of genome-guided design for molecules that will serve as precision-targeted therapeutics.
Optimal prediction of the number of unseen species
Authors: Orlitsky Alon , Suresh Ananda Theertha , Wu Yihong
Published: November 2016

Significance

Many scientific applications ranging from ecology to genetics use a small sample to estimate the number of distinct elements, known as ”species,” in a population. Classical results have shown thatnsamples can be used to estimate the number of species that would be observed if the sample size were doubled to2n. We obtain a class of simple algorithms that extend the estimate all the way ton log nsamples, and we show that this is also the largest possible estimation range. Therefore, statistically speaking, the proverbial bird in the hand is worth lognin the bush. The proposed estimators outperform existing ones on several synthetic and real datasets collected in various disciplines.
Analysis of membrane proteins localizing to the inner nuclear envelope in living cells
Authors: Smoyer Christine J. , Katta Santharam S. , Gardner Jennifer M. , Stoltz Lynn , McCroskey Scott , Bradford William D. , McClain Melainia , Smith Sarah E. , Slaughter Brian D. , Unruh Jay R. , Jaspersen Sue L.
Published: November 2016

Understanding the protein composition of the inner nuclear membrane (INM) is fundamental to elucidating its role in normal nuclear function and in disease; however, few tools exist to examine the INM in living cells, and the INM-specific proteome remains poorly characterized. Here, we adapted split green fluorescent protein (split-GFP) to systematically localize known and predicted integral membrane proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to the INM as opposed to the outer nuclear membrane. Our data suggest that components of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as well as other organelles are able to access the INM, particularly if they contain a small extraluminal domain. By pairing split-GFP with fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, we compared the composition of complexes at the INM and ER, finding that at least one is unique: Sbh2, but not Sbh1, has access to the INM. Collectively, our work provides a comprehensive analysis of transmembrane protein localization to the INM and paves the way for further research into INM composition and function.
tranSMART-XNAT Connector tranSMART-XNAT connector—image selection based on clinical phenotypes and genetic profiles
Authors: He Sijin , Yong May , Matthews Paul M , Guo Yike
Published: November 2016

Motivation

TranSMART has a wide range of functionalities for translational research and a large user community, but it does not support imaging data. In this context, imaging data typically includes 2D or 3D sets of magnitude data and metadata information. Imaging data may summarise complex feature descriptions in a less biased fashion than user defined plain texts and numeric numbers. Imaging data also is contextualised by other data sets and may be analysed jointly with other data that can explain features or their variation.

Results

Here we describe the tranSMART-XNAT Connector we have developed. This connector consists of components for data capture, organisation and analysis. Data capture is responsible for imaging capture either from PACS system or directly from an MRI scanner, or from raw data files. Data are organised in a similar fashion as tranSMART and are stored in a format that allows direct analysis within tranSMART. The connector enables selection and download of DICOM images and associated resources using subjects’ clinical phenotypic and genotypic criteria.

Availability and Implementation

tranSMART-XNAT connector is written in Java/Groovy/Grails. It is maintained and available for download at https://github.com/sh107/transmart-xnat-connector.git
A novel approach based on KATZ measure to predict associations of human microbiota with non-infectious diseases
Authors: Chen Xing , Huang Yu-An , You Zhu-Hong , Yan Gui-Ying , Wang Xue-Song
Published: November 2016

Motivation

Accumulating clinical observations have indicated that microbes living in the human body are closely associated with a wide range of human noninfectious diseases, which provides promising insights into the complex disease mechanism understanding. Predicting microbe–disease associations could not only boost human disease diagnostic and prognostic, but also improve the new drug development. However, little efforts have been attempted to understand and predict human microbe–disease associations on a large scale until now.

Results

In this work, we constructed a microbe-human disease association network and further developed a novel computational model of KATZ measure for Human Microbe–Disease Association prediction (KATZHMDA) based on the assumption that functionally similar microbes tend to have similar interaction and non-interaction patterns with noninfectious diseases, and vice versa. To our knowledge, KATZHMDA is the first tool for microbe–disease association prediction. The reliable prediction performance could be attributed to the use of KATZ measurement, and the introduction of Gaussian interaction profile kernel similarity for microbes and diseases. LOOCV and k-fold cross validation were implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of this novel computational model based on known microbe–disease associations obtained from HMDAD database. As a result, KATZHMDA achieved reliable performance with average AUCs of 0.8130 ± 0.0054, 0.8301 ± 0.0033 and 0.8382 in 2-fold and 5-fold cross validation and LOOCV framework, respectively. It is anticipated that KATZHMDA could be used to obtain more novel microbes associated with important noninfectious human diseases and therefore benefit drug discovery and human medical improvement.

Availability and Implementation

Matlab codes and dataset explored in this work are available at http://dwz.cn/4oX5mS.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Bringing Rounds Back to the Patient: A One-Year Evaluation of the Chiefs’ Service Model for Inpatient Teaching
Authors: Bennett Nadia L. , Flesch Judd D. , Cronholm Peter , Reilly James B. , Ende Jack
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The Chiefs’ Service (CS), a structured approach to inpatient teaching rounds, focuses on resident education and patient-centered care without disrupting patient census sizes or admitting cycles. It has five key elements: morning huddles; bedside rounds; diagnostic “time-outs”; day-of-discharge rounds; and postdischarge follow-up rounds. The authors hypothesized the CS model would be well received by residents and considered more effective than more-traditional rounds.

Method

The CS was implemented on Penn Presbyterian Medical Center’s general medicine inpatient service using a quasi-experimental design. Its first year (January 2013–January 2014) was evaluated with a mixed-methods approach. Residents completed end-of-rotation evaluation questionnaires; 20 CS and 10 traditional service (TS) residents were interviewed. Measures of resident agreement on questionnaire items were compared across groups using independent sample t testing. A modified grounded theory approach was used to assess CS residents’ perspectives on the CS elements and identify emergent themes.

Results

The questionnaires were completed by 183/188 residents (response rate 97%). Compared with TS residents, CS residents reported significantly greater satisfaction in the domains of resident education and patient care, and they rated the overall value of the rotation significantly higher. The majority of CS residents found the CS elements to be effective. CS residents described the CS as focused on resident education, patient-centered care, and collaboration with an interdisciplinary team.

Conclusions

The CS approach to inpatient rounding is seen by residents as valuable and is associated with positive outcomes in terms of residents’ perceptions of learning, interdisciplinary communication, and patient care.
“Well Digging” Subcraniotomy Strategy with Navigation for Optic Nerve Decompression in Frontoorbital Fibrous Dysplasia: Preliminary Experience
Authors: Lu Yunhe , Yang Junyi , Wu Yingzhi , Pan Sida , Lu Jiawen , Mu Xiongzheng
Published: November 2016

Background:

During the past decades, surgical intervention has been the primary treatment modality for frontoorbital fibrous dysplasia involving optic nerve. However, controversy has surrounded the role of optic nerve decompression in a number of ways. Herein, we describe 3 patients with frontoorbital fibrous dysplasia involving optic nerve, who underwent a “well digging” subcraniotomy strategy with navigation for intraorbital unit optic nerve decompression.

Methods:

From 2013 to 2015, 3 patients with frontoorbital fibrous dysplasia were investigated in a retrospective manner. They underwent unilateral intraorbital optic nerve decompression with the help of “well digging” strategy and navigation. The key procedures comprise preoperative software simulation, frontoorbital subcraniotomy (like digging a well), expanding cone-shaped surgical field, intraorbital unit optic nerve decompression with navigation, correcting frontal-orbital dystopias, and deformities.

Results:

Both at the immediate postoperative period and during the 3–12 months follow-up, 2 cases showed improvement of visual acuity in the affected eye and 1 case showed no deterioration. Other ocular examinations including eye movement were stable. Subsequent reconstruction yielded a satisfactory cosmetic result. No postoperative complications happened.

Conclusions:

In our philosophy, surgical management should be tailored to each patient, which is based on the most possible potential etiology. We consider that the intraorbital optic nerve decompression may be more feasible and safer with the help of “well digging” strategy and navigation, especially for those with exophthalmos, orbital volume decreasing, and nonacute visual loss.
Negative Attribution Bias and Anger After Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Neumann Dawn , Malec James F. , Hammond Flora M.
Published: November 2016

Objectives:

Negative attributions pertain to judgments of intent, hostility, and blame regarding others' behaviors. This study compared negative attributions made by people with and without traumatic brain injury (TBI) and examined the degree to which these negative attributions predicted angry ratings in response to situations.

Setting:

Outpatient rehabilitation hospital.

Participants:

Forty-six adults with moderate to severe TBI and 49 healthy controls.

Design:

Cross-sectional study using a quasi-experimental research design.

Main Measures:

In response to hypothetical scenarios, participants rated how irritated and angry they would be, and how intentional, hostile, and blameworthy they perceived characters' behaviors. There were 3 scenario types differentiated by the portrayal of characters' actions: benign, ambiguous, or hostile. All scenarios theoretically resulted in unpleasant outcomes for participants.

Results:

Participants with TBI had significantly higher ratings for feeling “irritated” and “angry” and attributions of “intent,” “hostility,” and “blame” compared with healthy controls for all scenario types. Negative attribution ratings accounted for 72.4% and 65.3% of the anger rating variance for participants with and without TBI, respectively.

Conclusion:

People with TBI may have negative attribution bias, in which they disproportionately judge the intent, hostility, and blameworthiness of others' behaviors. These attributions contributed to their ratings of feeling angry. This suggests that participants with TBI who have anger problems should be evaluated for this bias, and anger treatments should possibly aim to alter negative attributions. However, before implementing clinical practice changes, there is a need for replication with larger samples, and further investigation of the characteristics associated with negative attribution bias.
INCOMPLETE REPAIR OF RETINAL STRUCTURE AFTER VITRECTOMY WITH INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING
Authors: Hisatomi Toshio , Tachibana Takashi , Notomi Shoji , Nakatake Shunji , Fujiwara Kohta , Murakami Yusuke , Ikeda Yasuhiro , Yoshida Shigeo , Enaida Hiroshi , Murata Toshinori , Sakamoto Taiji , Sonoda Koh-Hei , Ishibashi Tatsuro
Published: November 2016

Purpose:

To examine retinal changes after vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling, we used a cynomolgus monkey model and focused on surgical damages of ILM peeling for long observational period of 3 years.

Methods:

Vitrectomy was performed followed by ILM peeling similar to clinical settings in humans. Ultrastructural changes of the retina were investigated by light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy at 3 months and 3 years after ILM peeling.

Results:

Ultrastructural study showed that the ILM peeled area was still clearly recognized after 3 years. The Müller cell processes covered most of the retina; however, the nerve fiber layer was partly uncovered and exposed to the vitreous space. The arcuate linear nerve fiber bundles were observed as comparable with dissociated optic nerve fiber layer appearance. Small round retinal surface defects were also observed around macula, resembling the dimple sign. Forceps-related retinal thinning was also found on the edge of ILM peeling, where we started peeling with fine forceps.

Conclusion:

The ultrastructural studies showed that most of ILM peeling area was covered with glial cells during wound healing processes. Retinal changes were found comparable with dissociated optic nerve fiber layer appearance or dimple sign, which were clinically observed with optical coherence tomography.
MULTICOLOR SCANNING LASER IMAGING IN LIPEMIA RETINALIS
Authors: Rivera-De La Parra David , Perez-Peralta Liliana , Toldi Jim , Levine Jason , Fikhman Michael , Graue-Hernandez Enrique O.
Published: November 2016

Purpose:

To describe multicolor scanning laser imaging (MSLI) and conventional fundus photography findings in lipemia retinalis (LR).

Methods:

We report two LR cases. The first case is a 47-year-old diabetic woman with LR secondary to familial hypertriglyceridemia examined with MSLI, conventional fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The second case is a 39-year-old diabetic man with hypertriglyceridemia and LR. He was followed over time with conventional fundus photography of his retina until metabolic control was achieved.

Results:

In the first case, MSLI showed retinal arteries with an intense yellow and retinal veins with a pale yellow color. Fundus photography disclosed only mild pale red vessels. Optical coherence tomography detected macular edema and hyperreflective changes of retinal vessels. In the second case, fundus photography showed vessels with a pale red appearance that normalized after metabolic control of triglycerides.

Conclusion:

We described the retinal findings in patients with LR using different image modalities. Specifically, we report the findings with MSLI not previously described. While regular fundus photography may show mild changes in LR, the MSLI modality may show more significant findings assisting in the diagnosis and follow-up of this disease.
Onyx Embolization as Single Rescue Treatment for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm after Evar
Authors: Fujita Satoko , Hörer Tal , Pirouzram Artai , Toivola Asko , Gruber Göran , Larzon Thomas
Published: November 2016

A 76-year-old man who had undergone endovascular repair for an infrarenal aortic aneurysm, presented with a late type Ia endoleak 3 years after his operation. Deployment of an aortic cuff did not achieve a better seal at the proximal neck, and the aneurysm developed a rupture. We successfully treated the ruptured aneurysm using transcatheter Onyx embolization only. At 6-month and 1-year follow-ups with contrast-enhanced duplex scanning, no endoleak was seen and sac shrinkage was observed. Onyx is a relatively new liquid embolic agent that is slowly transformed into a solid state by contact with blood. Owing to this unique characteristic, Onyx embolization can be a useful technique for stopping bleeding from an aneurysm in an emergency situation. This is a unique case of the use of an embolization agent in the treatment of aortic aneurysm rupture.
Aspergilloma of the Lung: Strategy to Prevent Endobronchial Spillage
Authors: Roy Preety Mittal , Khanna Sangeeta , Mehta Yatin , Khan Ali Zamir
Published: November 2016

Aspergilloma of the lung eroding into the airway may lead to perioperative endobronchial spillage and contamination of the normal lung. Our aim in this group of patients who are undergoing robotic- or video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is to protect the contralateral lung and, if possible, uninvolved lobes of ipsilateral lung. Doublelumen endobronchial tubes do provide lung protection to the contralateral lung intraoperatively, but there is no protection to the ipsilateral lung lobes not involved by the disease process. Moreover, there is no lung protection against endobronchial spillage during the period of induction of general anesthesia, when the cough reflex and gag reflex are absent. We have devised a technique to advance from side selection to lobe selection, that is, selective lobar isolation to prevent perioperative contamination of uninvolved lung lobes. This technique has two components viz positioning of the patient and securing the airway. The technique can also be used in other conditions such as hydatid cyst of the lung, lung abscess communicating with the airway and bleeding into the airway.
Practical Considerations for Self-Administration of Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin G Utilizing Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase, an Advanced Method of Subcutaneous Administration
Authors: Miars Linda K. , Tran Michelle , Duff Kimberly
Published: November 2016

An approved subcutaneous infusion of immunoglobulin G using recombinant human hyaluronidase (IGHy) allows adult patients with primary immunodeficiency disease to self-administer every 3 to 4 weeks using 1 to 2 subcutaneous infusion site(s). This article reviews the practical considerations for nurses to simplify patient education and training. Key considerations include pump choice and parameters, ancillary supplies, and technique. Patient education includes infusion log upkeep and management of potential reactions. Educational initiatives should be designed to meet specific patient needs. Successful IGHy self-administration depends on proper patient training and continuing interaction between the health care team and the patient to optimize the patient experience.
Improving Detection of HIV-Associated Cognitive Impairment: Comparison of the International HIV Dementia Scale and a Brief Screening Battery
Authors: de Almeida Monteiro , Kamat Rujvi , Cherner Mariana , Umlauf Anya , Ribeiro Clea E. , de Pereira Ana Paula , Franklin Donald , Heaton Robert K. , Ellis Ronald J.
Published: November 2016

Objectives:

The International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) was developed to screen for HIV-associated dementia, but it has been used more generally for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). This study sought to examine the accuracy of the IHDS in a cohort of Brazilian HIV-infected individuals and compare its performance to an alternative screening battery for detecting HAND.

Methods:

A total of 108 participants (including 60 HIV-infected persons) completed the IHDS and a gold standard neuropsychological (NP) battery of 17 tests. As alternative screening method, all possible 3-test combinations from the NP battery were examined and a superiority index (a marker of specificity and sensitivity) was calculated.

Results:

Sensitivity and specificity to HAND using the standard IHDS cutpoint of 10 were 36% and 75%, respectively. The best balance between sensitivity and specificity was accomplished with a modified cutpoint of 11.5, which yielded sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 58%. The top two most sensitive test combinations, compared with the gold standard NP battery, were Trail Making Test A, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III Digit Symbol and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test—Revised Total Recall (sensitivity 91%, specificity 96%), and Digit Symbol, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test—Revised Total Recall and Grooved Pegboard Test—dominant hand (sensitivity 94%, specificity 91%).

Conclusions:

Both test combinations can be administered in less than 10 minutes and were more accurate than the IHDS in classifying HIV+ participants as NP impaired or unimpaired. These data suggest that demographically corrected T-scores from commonly used NP measures with modest time and material demands can improve identification of patients with HAND who may benefit from a more extensive NP examination.
Brief Report: Elevated Red Cell Distribution Width Identifies Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Patients With HIV Infection
Authors: Al-Kindi Sadeer G. , Kim Chang H. , Morris Stephen R. , Freeman Michael L. , Funderburg Nicholas T. , Rodriguez Benigno , McComsey Grace A. , Dalton Jarrod E. , Simon Daniel I. , Lederman Michael M. , Longenecker Chris T. , Zidar David A.
Published: November 2016

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is linked to cardiovascular risk in the general population, an association that might be driven by inflammation. Whether this relationship holds for patients with HIV infection has not been previously studied. Using a large clinical registry, we show that elevated RDW (>14.5%) is independently associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease {odds ratio [OR] 1.39 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25 to 1.55]}, peripheral vascular disease [OR 1.41 (95% CI: 1.29 to 1.53)], myocardial infarction [1.43 (95% CI: 1.25 to 1.63)], heart failure [OR 2.23 (95% CI: 1.99 to 2.49)], and atrial fibrillation [OR 1.96 (95% CI: 1.64 to 2.33)]. In conclusion, in the context of the inflammatory milieu that accompanies HIV infection, RDW remains a powerful marker of cardiovascular disease.
Anomalous diffusion and transport in heterogeneous systems separated by a membrane
Authors: Lenzi E. K. , Ribeiro H. V. , Tateishi A. A. , Zola R. S. , Evangelista L. R.
Published: November 2016

Diffusion of particles in a heterogeneous system separated by a semipermeable membrane is investigated. The particle dynamics is governed by fractional diffusion equations in the bulk and by kinetic equations on the membrane, which characterizes an interface between two different media. The kinetic equations are solved by incorporating memory effects to account for anomalous diffusion and, consequently, non-Debye relaxations. A rich variety of behaviours for the particle distribution at the interface and in the bulk may be found, depending on the choice of characteristic times in the boundary conditions and on the fractional index of the modelling equations.
Small-on-large geometric anelasticity
Authors: Sadik Souhayl , Yavari Arash
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we are concerned with finding exact solutions for the stress fields of nonlinear solids with non-symmetric distributions of defects (or more generally finite eigenstrains) that are small perturbations of symmetric distributions of defects with known exact solutions. In the language of geometric mechanics, this corresponds to finding a deformation that is a result of a perturbation of the metric of the Riemannian material manifold. We present a general framework that can be used for a systematic analysis of this class of anelasticity problems. This geometric formulation can be thought of as a material analogue of the classical
small-on-large
theory in nonlinear elasticity. We use the present small-on-large anelasticity theory to find exact solutions for the stress fields of some non-symmetric distributions of screw dislocations in incompressible isotropic solids.
Why many Batesian mimics are inaccurate: evidence from hoverfly colour patterns
Authors: Taylor Christopher H. , Reader Tom , Gilbert Francis
Published: November 2016

Mimicry is considered a classic example of the elaborate adaptations that natural selection can produce, yet often similarity between Batesian (harmless) mimics and their unpalatable models is far from perfect. Variation in mimetic accuracy is a puzzle, as natural selection should favour mimics that are hardest to distinguish from their models. Numerous hypotheses exist to explain the persistence of inaccurate mimics, but most have rarely or never been tested against empirical observations from wild populations. One reason for this is the difficulty in measuring pattern similarity, a key aspect of mimicry. Here, we use a recently developed method, based on the distance transform of binary images, to quantify pattern similarity both within and among species for a group of hoverflies and their hymenopteran models. This allowed us to test three key hypotheses regarding inaccurate mimicry. Firstly, we tested the prediction that selection should be more relaxed in less accurate mimics, but found that levels of phenotypic variation are similar across most hoverfly species. Secondly, we found no evidence that mimics have to compromise between accuracy to multiple model species. However, we did find that darker-coloured hoverflies are less accurate mimics, which could lead to a trade-off between mimicry and thermoregulation in temperate regions. Our results shed light on a classic problem concerning the limitations of natural selection.
The global susceptibility of coastal forage fish to competition by large jellyfish
Authors: Schnedler-Meyer Nicolas Azaña , Mariani Patrizio , Kiørboe Thomas
Published: November 2016

Competition between large jellyfish and forage fish for zooplankton prey is both a possible cause of jellyfish increases and a concern for the management of marine ecosystems and fisheries. Identifying principal factors affecting this competition is therefore important for marine management, but the lack of both good quality data and a robust theoretical framework have prevented general global analyses. Here, we present a general mechanistic food web model that considers fundamental differences in feeding modes and predation pressure between fish and jellyfish. The model predicts forage fish dominance at low primary production, and a shift towards jellyfish with increasing productivity, turbidity and fishing. We present an index of global ecosystem susceptibility to shifts in fish–jellyfish dominance that compares well with data on jellyfish distributions and trends. The results are a step towards better understanding the processes that govern jellyfish occurrences globally and highlight the advantage of considering feeding traits in ecosystem models.
Property development and the unresolved housing issue in northern Nigeria
Authors: Madichie Nnamdi , Madichie Okechukwu A.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the challenges of property development and management in northern Nigeria drawing upon the experiences of Bauchi, Gombe and Kaduna states.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a longitudinal evaluation of these trends and challenges, this study draws upon a literature review and practitioner insights on property investment efforts in northern Nigeria. It also benefits from insider accounts related to the author’s 20-years’ experience of work both in both Nigeria and the UK.

Findings

The study highlights the salient factors that have brought about the housing challenges in northern Nigeria. Arguably poor property development and management initiatives have had direct correlations with the weak property management practices in these states and thereby further restricted investments in the real-estate sector in northern Nigeria.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the study are based on those attributable to personal observation and ethnographic studies as adopted in this case. This impacts upon the generalisability of the findings, however, sound the propositions may be. Areas for future research inquiry are also proffered.

Originality/value

The study is a critical reflection of developments in property management taken from the purview of the Nigerian real-estate market. While primarily a viewpoint paper, it does highlight some of the key challenges facing property management in a manner not previously discussed in the literature.