bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cancelation of LNA distortions in in‐band full‐duplex systems
Authors: Nasser A. , Mansour A. , Yao K. C. , Abdallah H. , Charara H.
Published: May 2018

In‐band full‐duplex (FD) transceiver has been recently proposed to double the channel efficiency. The main challenge of such FD transceiver consists in achieving an efficient self‐interference cancelation. This fact is prevented by receiver imperfections such as the oscillator phase noise, the analog‐to‐digital converter noise, and the nonlinear distortion (NLD) of the low‐noise amplifier (LNA). This paper deals with the mitigation of the NLD of the receiver's LNA by proposing a new FD transceiver architecture. Based on the fact that the NLD coefficients are changing slowly over time, then the period between two successive estimations of the NLD coefficients may be relatively long. Motivated by this fact, a new wire connection is introduced between the transmitting circuit and the receiving one in order to neglect the wireless channel effects when estimating the NLD coefficients. If the estimation of the NLD coefficients is required, then the transmitter stops the wireless transmission and sends a sequence to the receiver via the wire channel. This procedure does not affect the throughput rate since it is repeated every several frames due to the slow time‐variation of the NLD coefficients. The estimated coefficients are used to attenuate the effects of NLD at the receiver's side, where an auxiliary chain is introduced to act as reference to the receiver's ordinary chain. As a proof of the concept, intensive simulations have been done using realistic data parameters. Our numerical results corroborate the efficiency of the proposed architecture, where the NLD of LNA is highly attenuated leading to an efficient self‐interference cancelation.
Microbiological assessment of maize ogi cofermented with pigeon pea
Authors: Omemu Adebukunola Mobolaji , Okafor Uchechukwu Ifeoma , Obadina Adewale O. , Bankole Mobolaji O. , Adeyeye Samuel Ayofemi Olalekan
Published: May 2018

Maize was cofermented with pigeon pea for ogi production and evaluated for microbiological qualities. White maize and pigeon pea were mixed at ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50, respectively, with 100:0 serving as the control. Mixtures were cofermented for 96 h at 27 ± 2°C, and microbiological and sensory qualities analyzed were carried out using analysis of variance. Values were significant at p ≤ .05. Results showed that there was a gradual decrease in the pH and increase in total titratable acidity (TTA), respectively, during fermentation in all the samples. At the end of fermentation, pH ranged from 3.47 to 4.27 and TTA ranged from 0.47% to 0.54%, respectively. Total heterotrophic count (THPC) ranged from 5.76 to 5.90 log cfu/g; lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from 6.15 to 5.98 log cfu/g; and yeasts from 5.51 to 5.79 log cfu/g. Microorganisms isolated were lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus buchneri, L. casei, L. pentosus, Pediococcus pentosaceus), yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida kefyr, C. krusei, C. tropicalis), molds (Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Penicillium oxalicum, Mucor racemosus and Rhizopus stolonifer) and other aerobic bacteria (Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter amnigenus, Staphylococcus xylosus, Bacillus subtilis, B. firmus, Corynebacterium kutscheri, C. striatum, and C. afermentans). In conclusion, the total heterotrophic plate count (THPC) in fortified maize: pigeon pea products was very high. This could constitute health hazards to infants as weaning foods. However, the microbial loads could be reduced through heat treatment as ogi is usually boiled or treated with boiled water before consumption and it can therefore be concluded that the fortified maize: pigeon pea products could be used as weaning foods.
Setting the research agenda for induced abortion in Africa and Asia
Authors: Scott Rachel H. , Filippi Veronique , Moore Ann M. , Acharya Rajib , Bankole Akinrinola , Calvert Clara , Church Kathryn , Cresswell Jenny A. , Footman Katharine , Gleason Joanne , Machiyama Kazuyo , Marston Cicely , Mbizvo Mike , Musheke Maurice , Owolabi Onikepe , Palmer Jennifer , Smith Christopher , Storeng Katerini , Yeung Felicia
Published: May 2018

Provision of safe abortion is widely recognized as vital to addressing the health and wellbeing of populations. Research on abortion is essential to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Researchers in population health from university, policy, and practitioner contexts working on two multidisciplinary projects on family planning and safe abortion in Africa and Asia were brought together for a workshop to discuss the future research agenda on induced abortion. Research on care‐seeking behavior, supply of abortion care services, and the global and national policy context will help improve access to and experiences of safe abortion services. A number of areas have potential in designing intervention strategies, including clinical innovations, quality improvement mechanisms, community involvement, and task sharing. Research on specific groups, including adolescents and young people, men, populations affected by conflict, marginalized groups, and providers could increase understanding of provision, access to and experiences of induced abortion. Methodological and conceptual advances, for example in the measurement of induced abortion incidence, complications, and client satisfaction, conceptualizations of induced abortion access and care, and methods for follow‐up of patients who have induced abortions, will improve the accuracy of measurements of induced abortion, and add to understanding of women's experiences of induced abortions and abortion care.
The Philippines rolls back advancements in the postabortion care policy
Authors: Upreti Melissa , Jacob Jihan
Published: May 2018

In 2018, the Philippines announced a postabortion care policy that rolls back crucial safeguards aimed at protecting women who seek medical treatment for postabortion complications from discrimination and abuse. It replaces another policy that was introduced in 2016, following years of advocacy by national and international advocates who were concerned about the mistreatment of women seeking postabortion care due to discriminatory practices in the health system and abortion stigma. The new policy is narrower in scope than the previous policy and reinforces abortion stigma by emphasizing the legal prohibition on abortion, failing to clarify that women seeking postabortion care need not be reported to the authorities, and not recognizing the availability of complaint mechanisms for women who are mistreated. These and other crucial gaps put the new policy at risk of being in violation of ethical standards of medical care and guarantees of human rights.
A New Drainpipe‐Envelope Concept for Subsurface Drainage Systems in Irrigated Agriculture
Authors: Bahçeci Idris , Nacar Abdullah Suat , Topalhasan Lui , Tari Ali Fuat , Ritzema Henk P.
Published: May 2018

On irrigated lands, drainpipe performance is often below standard due to clogging, siltation and root growth inside the pipe. To tackle these problems, an innovative pipe–envelope concept was tested on a 50 ha pilot area in Harran, Turkey, in 2015 and 2016. The new concept, HYDROLUIS, consists of a corrugated inner pipe with three rows of perforations at the top and an unperforated outer pipe that covers about 2/3 of the inner pipe leaving only the unperforated bottom part of the inner pipe in contact with the soil. The main advantages of the new concept are that it works for a wide range of soil textures and there is better protection against root growth inside the pipe. The new concept was compared with a geotextile envelope, a gravel envelope and a control with no envelope. The HYDROLUIS and gravel envelopes had a significantly lower entrance resistance compared to the geotextile, the best drain performance and no signs of sedimentation nor of root growth inside the pipe. The production costs of the HYDROLUIS envelope are comparable to those of pre‐wrapped synthetic envelopes and considerably lower than gravel envelopes. It can be concluded that the HYDROLUIS envelope is a promising alternative for sand/gravel or synthetic envelopes in irrigated lands. © 2018 The Authors. Irrigation and Drainage published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage
Back Cover: Prolonged in vivo functional assessment of the mouse oviduct using optical coherence tomography through a dorsal imaging window (J. Biophotonics 5/2018)
Authors: Wang Shang , Syed Riana , Grishina Olga A. , Larina Irina V.
Published: May 2018

Optical coherence tomography through an implanted dorsal imaging window allows for prolonged in vivo structural and functional assessment of the mouse oviduct (Fallopian tube), including threedimensional structural imaging, quantitative measurements of the smooth muscle contraction, and mapping of cilia beat frequency. This method brings new opportunities for live studies and longitudinal analyses of mouse reproductive events in the native context.

Further details can be found in the article by Shang Wang et al. (e201700316).

image
Blocking Nox2 improves mesenchymal stem cells therapy in myocardial infarction via antagonizing oxidant and promoting survival
Authors: Feng Dan , Zhang Lai , Ding Fengzhi , Yang Fan , Ma Wenya , Han Zhenbo , Hua Bingjie , Wang Xiuxiu , Yu Ying , Huang Qi , Lei Lei , Pan Zhenwei , Cai Benzhi
Published: May 2018

An increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a key role in aging and apoptosis in mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow (BMSCs). NADPH oxidase Nox2 serves as an important source of intracellular ROS formation. This study is designed to determine if blocking Nox2 enhances anti‐apoptotic and anti‐aging ability of BMSCs to oxidant stress, and thus improves therapeutic efficacy in myocardial infarction (MI). Nox2 inhibitor (Acetovanillone) and Nox2 siRNA were used to block Nox2 in BMSCs, and the cell viability, apoptosis, senescence and survival of BMSCs were determined by CCK‐8, Edu staining, TUNEL staining, β‐galactosidase (β‐gal) assay and DAPI labeling. Here we found that both Nox2 inhibitor and Nox2 knockdown remarkably countered the decrease of viability, and the increase of aging and apoptosis of BMSCs by H2O2. Whereas, Nox2 overexpression exacerbated the viability reduction, senescence and apoptosis of BMSCs. The ROS accumulation in BMSCs was also suppressed by Nox2 blocking. Further study uncovered that Nox2 inhibitor caused the downregulation of p‐p53, p21, p‐FoxO1 and Bax, and the upregulation of anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐2. In vivo, Nox2 knockdown in grafted BMSCs led to the improvement of EF and FS in infarcted myocardium than BMSCs without Nox2 knockdown. Consistently, more retention and survival of BMSCs were found after Nox2 knockdown. Taken together, Nox2 inhibition enhances anti‐aging and anti‐apoptotic ability of BMSCs, and thus promotes survival and retention of BMSCs, which provides a new strategy for improving BMSCs‐based therapy.
Lack of Impact by SCY‐078, a First‐in‐Class Oral Fungicidal Glucan Synthase Inhibitor, on the Pharmacokinetics of Rosiglitazone, a Substrate for CYP450 2C8, Supports the Low Risk for Clinically Relevant Metabolic Drug‐Drug Interactions
Authors: Wring Stephen , Murphy Gail , Atiee George , Corr Christy , Hyman Michele , Willett Michael , Angulo David
Published: May 2018

SCY‐078, the first in a new class of β 1,3‐glucan synthesis inhibitors, is being developed as an oral and intravenous antifungal treatment for Candida and Aspergillus species fungal infections. In vitro, studies indicated SCY‐078 is an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C8 with markedly lower effect over other CYP isozymes. To examine clinically relevant effects of the potential interaction with SCY‐078, this phase 1, open‐label, 2‐period crossover study evaluated the pharmacokinetic parameters of rosiglitazone, a sensitive substrate of CYP2C8 metabolism, in the absence and presence of SCY‐078 dosed to therapeutically relevant SCY‐078 concentration exposure after repeat dosing. Healthy adult subjects were randomized to 2 treatment sequences: a single oral 4‐mg rosiglitazone dose alone on day 1 or a 1250‐mg SCY‐078 loading dose on day 1 followed by a once‐daily 750‐mg SCY‐078 dose for an additional 7 days (reflecting the clinical regimen evaluated during phase 2 studies for infections by Candida species) and concurrent administration of a single oral 4‐mg rosiglitazone dose on day 3, before alternating following a ≥10‐day washout. The exposure to SCY‐078 observed in this study was in line with the intended exposure for treatment of invasive fungal infections. The 90% confidence intervals for rosiglitazone exposure geometric mean ratios were within the prespecified no effect interval of 0.70‐1.43. Additionally, maximum concentration values for rosiglitazone and its metabolite, N‑desmethylrosiglitazone, were not significantly affected by co‐administration with SCY‐078. Overall, rosiglitazone exposure was not impacted to a clinically meaningful extent with co‐administration of therapeutically relevant SCY‐078 concentration exposure after repeat dosing. The results are indicative of low risk for interaction of SCY‐078 with drugs metabolized via the CYP family of enzymes.
Advanced practice radiation therapists: an Australian context
Authors: Hilder Bronwyn , VanDam Pieter , Doherty Kathleen
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this scoping review is to examine the literature regarding the development, implementation, scope and extent of Advanced Practice Radiation Therapist (APRT) roles in Australia in peer reviewed journals, government reports, conference proceedings and reports. A search was undertaken of PubMed, Web of Science and CINAHL, the ASMIRT website and, and Google Scholar to identify relevant documents. Combinations of keywords with Boolean operators ((advanced practice) OR (advanced practitioner) OR (specialist)) AND ((radiation therapist) OR (radiation therapy)) were used. Online and physical searches were conducted between July 16 and 23 2017. Results were not date limited. The searches retrieved 352 after duplicates were removed with 46 remaining after filtering for eligibility criteria. Items consisted of journal articles, conference abstracts, presentation slides, online presentations, State government and ASMIRT reports. A number of potential and existing APRT roles were found in the identified articles, including image review, stereotactic, treatment review, breast localisation, palliative radiotherapy, brachytherapy, radiation engineering and urology. Despite reports indicating that radiation therapists in Australia have been concerned with professional directions since 2001, there is little evidence of formal progress towards defined APRT roles. Several centres have implemented roles in a number of practice areas. The success of APRT roles lies in the ability to demonstrate that implementation goals have been achieved and that patient care has improved. The literature suggests that this is occurring, however, the presented evidence is not compelling.
Exogenously Added Oxyphytosterols Do Not Affect Macrophage‐Mediated Inflammatory Responses
Authors: Oligschlaeger Yvonne , Houben Tom , Jeurissen Mike L. J. , Bitorina Albert V. , Konings Maurice , Baumgartner Sabine , Plat Jogchum , Shiri‐Sverdlov Ronit
Published: May 2018

Although phytosterols, plant‐derived sterol‐like components, are well known for their cholesterol‐lowering properties, their atherogenic potential is still under debate. Although they are known to share structural similarities with cholesterol, it is unclear whether their oxidized forms (oxyphytosterols) have the capacity to mediate proinflammatory responses in macrophages. In the present study, bone marrow‐derived macrophages were treated with oxidized low‐density lipoproteins, oxyphytosterols (7keto‐sito/campesterol [7keto‐sit/camp] or 7‐beta‐hydroxy‐sito/campesterol [7βOH‐sit/camp]), nonoxidized phytosterol (β‐sitosterol), or carrier‐control (cyclodextrin) in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. Inflammatory cytokine release, activity, and the corresponding mRNA expression levels were analyzed. 7βOH‐sit/camp, rather than 7keto‐sit/camp, induced a modest proinflammatory response in wild‐type cells derived from C57Bl/6 mice. The observed mild inflammatory effects are independent of the low‐density lipoprotein receptor and Cluster of differentiation 36/Scavenger receptor‐a. These data suggest that exogenously added oxyphytosterols do not affect macrophage‐mediated inflammatory responses, at least in vitro.
In vivo bone 31P relaxation times and their implications on mineral quantification
Authors: Zhao Xia , Song Hee Kwon , Wehrli Felix W.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The intersubject variations in bone phosphorus‐31 (31P) T1 and

, as well as the implications on in vivo 31P MRI‐based bone mineral quantification, were investigated at 3T field strength.

Methods

A technique that isolates the bone signal from the composite in vivo 31P spectrum was first evaluated via simulation and experiments ex vivo and subsequently applied to measure the T1 of bone 31P collectively with a spectroscopic saturation recovery sequence in a group of healthy subjects aged 26 to 76 years.

was derived from the bone signal linewidth. The density of bone 31P was derived for all subjects from 31P zero TE images acquired in the same scan session using the measured relaxation times. Test–retest experiments were also performed to evaluate repeatability of this in vivo MRI‐based bone mineral quantification protocol.

Results

The T1 obtained in vivo using the proposed spectral separation method combined with saturation recovery sequence is 38.4 ± 1.5 s for the subjects studied. Average 31P density found was 6.40 ± 0.58 mol/L (corresponding to 1072 ± 98 mg/cm3 mineral density), in good agreement with an earlier study in specimens from donors of similar age range. Neither the relaxation times (P = 0.18 for T1, P = 0.99 for

) nor 31P density (P = 0.55) were found to correlate with subject age. Average coefficients of variation for the repeat study were 1.5%, 2.6%, and 4.4% for bone 31P T1,

, and density, respectively.

Conclusion

Neither 31P T1 nor

varies significantly in healthy adults across a 50‐year age range, therefore obviating the need for subject‐specific measurements.
A multicontrast imaging method using steady‐state free precession with alternating RF flip angles
Authors: Kim Joonsoo , Seo Hyunseok , So Seohee , Park HyunWook
Published: May 2018

Purpose

To obtain multicontrast images including fat‐suppressed contrast image, a novel multicontrast imaging method using an SSFP sequence with alternating RF flip angles is proposed.

Methods

The proposed method uses the balanced SSFP sequence with 2 flip angles. In general, the conventional balanced SSFP sequence has its own unique contrast, which combines both FID signal and echo signal under a steady‐state condition. By using alternating RF flip angles and RF phase cycling, various image contrasts weighted by proton density, T1, and T2 can be obtained. The proposed method offers multicontrast images with fat suppression by using the combination of 2 images obtained just after alternating RF pulses, respectively.

Results

As demonstrated by simulations, phantom and in vivo experiments, the proposed method provides multicontrast knee images including fat‐suppressed contrast images.

Conclusion

The proposed method can be a useful tool for clinical diagnosis, such as the cartilage segmentation and the fast screening of lesions.
Psychometric testing of the mental health inventory in an Arabian context: Cross‐cultural validation study
Authors: Al Mutair Abbas , Al Mohaini Mohammed , Fernandez Ritin , Moxham Lorna , Lapkin Samuel , Ham‐Baloyi Wilma ten
Published: May 2018

Aim

The aim of this study is to establish a valid and reliable culturally adapted instrument which can be used in the Arabian context to measure emotional well‐being.

Design

The Mental Health Inventory tool was used to investigate the emotional well‐being of Saudi nursing students. The instrument was originally developed in English and in a western cultural setting. As such, there was a need to translate and validate the instrument in Arabic for use in the Arabian setting.

Methods

The Arabic version MHI 38 (AV‐MHI‐38) was translated, reviewed and revised, then evaluated with a sample of Arabic‐speaking nursing students from Saudi Arabia using cross‐sectional multicentre survey approach. An iterative forward‐backward‐forward sequence of item translation and review by a bilingual and bicultural expert panel was then completed. The psychometric properties of the AV‐MHI‐38 were examined through an exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation among factors and reliability assessment.

Results

The sample consisted of 252 nursing students from two different universities located in different geographic regions in Saudi Arabia. The mean age was 20.93 years, made up of 230 female and 22 male participants. An a priori two‐factor model showed satisfactory fit with modifications. Results indicated two component AV‐MHI‐38 with 46.09% of the total variance and excellent internal consistency. The AV‐MHI‐38 had good psychometric properties and the two subscales had good internal consistency with Cronbach's and acceptable reliability measures. The AV‐MHI can be used to assess emotional well‐being among Arabic‐speaking populations of nursing students, nurses and other healthcare providers. The instrument can be used to identify the emotional well‐being of students and initiating strategies to support them to decrease their study and work‐related stress, anxiety and depression.
Establishing a model for childhood obesity in adolescent pigs
Authors: Fouhse J. , Yang K. , Li J. , Mills E. , Ju T. , Alvarado C. S. , Chan C. B. , Willing B. P.
Published: May 2018

Objective

Rising worldwide prevalence of obesity and metabolic diseases in children has accentuated the importance of developing prevention and management strategies. The objective of this study was to establish a model for childhood obesity using high‐fat feeding of adolescent pigs, as pigs have a longer developmental period and are physiologically more similar to humans than rodents.

Methods

Crossbred pigs were fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) or low‐fat diet (n = 6/treatment) from postnatal day 49 to 84. On postnatal day 84, an oral glucose tolerance test was performed, jugular blood sampled to determine lipopolysaccharide levels and plasma lipids, intestinal digesta collected to characterize microbial and metabolite composition and back fat and intestinal tissue assayed for gene expression.

Results

Five‐week HFD increased weight gain and back fat thickness, caused dyslipidaemia and impaired glucose tolerance and increased expression of genes in back fat suggesting inflammation. HFD pigs had distinct proximal colon microbiota with 48% reduction (P < 0.05) in Bacteroidetes and increased expression of pro‐inflammatory genes interleukin‐18 and tumour necrosis factor in ileum (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

These findings indicate that adolescent pigs should be considered a suitable model for childhood obesity, because short‐term HFD feeding is sufficient to induce obesity and glucose intolerance, recapitulating disease characteristics in adolescent pigs.
Characterization of adult obesity in Florida using the OneFlorida clinical research consortium
Authors: Filipp S. L. , Cardel M. , Hall J. , Essner R. Z. , Lemas D. J. , Janicke D. M. , Smith S. R. , Nadglowski J. , Troy Donahoo W. , Cooper‐DeHoff R. M. , Nelson D. R. , Hogan W. R. , Shenkman E. A. , Gurka M. J.
Published: May 2018

Introduction

With obesity rates and obesity‐related healthcare costs increasing, policy makers must understand the scope of obesity across populations.

Objective

This study sought to characterize adult obesity using electronic health records (EHRs) available from a statewide clinical data research network, the OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium, which contains claims and EHR data from over 12 million patients in Florida. The primary aim was to compare EHR‐based Florida obesity rates with those rates obtained from the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

Methods

Body mass index from OneFlorida patient data (2012–2016) was used to characterize obesity among adults 20–79 years old. Obesity rates from both OneFlorida and BRFSS (2013) were reported by demographics and by county.

Results

Among the 1,344,015 adults in OneFlorida with EHR data and who met inclusion criteria, the obesity rate was 37.1%. Women had higher obesity rates compared with men. Obesity rates varied within racial/ethnic groups, with the highest rate among African–Americans (45.7%). Obesity rates from OneFlorida were consistently higher than those found in BRFSS (overall 27.8%).

Conclusions

Utilizing clinical big data available through hospital system and health partner collaborations provides an important view of the extent of obesity. Although these data are available only from healthcare users, they are large in scope, directly measured and are available sooner than commonly used national data sources.
Robust control charts for percentiles based on location‐scale family of distributions
Authors: Chiang J.‐Y. , Lio Y.L. , Ng H.K.T. , Tsai T.‐R.
Published: May 2018

In this paper, robust control charts for percentiles based on location‐scale family of distributions are proposed. In the construction of control charts for percentiles, when the underlying distribution of the quality measurement is unknown, we study the problem of discriminating different possible candidate distributions in the location‐scale family of distributions and obtain control charts for percentiles which are insensitive to model mis‐specification. Two approaches, namely, the random data‐driven model selection approach and weighted modeling approach, are used to construct the robust control charts for percentiles in order to effectively monitor the manufacturing process. Monte Carlo simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed robust control charts for various settings with different percentiles, false‐alarm rates, and sample sizes. These proposed procedures are compared in terms of the average run length. The proposed robust control charts are applied to real data sets for the illustration of robustness and usefulness.
Making money in Mesoamerica: Currency production and procurement in the Classic Maya financial system
Authors: Baron Joanne P.
Published: May 2018

The material nature of money has always been at the core of debates about its early development and its role in socioeconomic relationships. Archaeology can contribute to these debates through its attention to the material world, its long‐term perspective, and its examination of diverse contexts in which money has been used. In this article, I examine the early monetization of cacao beans and cotton textiles among the Classic Maya (250–900 CE). I argue that these products, originally valued for their use in status display, took on monetary functions within a context of expanding marketplaces among rival Maya kingdoms. As a result of this monetization, cacao and textiles could be used to finance more state activities and household needs. In response, political regimes and their subjects devoted more labor and resources to the acquisition of these products and circulated new discourses justifying this acquisition. I conclude that money's value in social relationships is not shaped by its materiality alone but by practices and discourses that frame specific material properties as valuable; through historical processes that move these value‐laden materials into new social contexts; and through the reframing of the relationships and motivations of those who produce, circulate, and consume them.
Nationalizing gold: The Vietnamese SJC gold bar and the Indian Gold Coin
Authors: Truitt Allison
Published: May 2018

The popularity of gold in India and Vietnam is attributed to either cultural values or an undeveloped financial sector. Yet gold also serves as an important reserve asset for central banks, more so than ever following the 2008 financial crisis. By way of exploring this juxtaposition, I turn to recent campaigns in each country to promote a national gold form, the SJC bar in Vietnam and the Indian Gold Coin. Although the campaigns have been framed in oppositional terms—the Vietnamese state has sought to demonetize gold, the Indian state to promote its monetization—I reconcile this contradiction by examining the particular histories of gold in each country and why gold served as a particularly potent symbol of economic liberalization. Gold, I argue, ultimately links citizens in the Global South with actors in the heart of the international monetary system; thus the promotion of these two national brands of gold shows state‐led efforts to intervene in processes of value creation.
Scallop‐Inspired Shell Engineering of Microparticles for Stable and High Volumetric Capacity Battery Anodes
Authors: Zhang Xinghao , Guo Ruiying , Li Xianglong , Zhi Linjie
Published: May 2018

Building stable and efficient electron and ion transport pathways are critically important for energy storage electrode materials and systems. Herein, a scallop‐inspired shell engineering strategy is proposed and demonstrated to confine high volume change silicon microparticles toward the construction of stable and high volumetric capacity binder‐free lithium battery anodes. As for each silicon microparticle, the methodology involves an inner sealed but adaptable overlapped graphene shell, and an outer open hollow shell consisting of interconnected reduced graphene oxide, mimicking the scallop structure. The inner closed shell enables simultaneous stabilization of the interfaces of silicon with both carbon and electrolyte, substantially facilitates efficient and rapid transport of both electrons and lithium ions from/to silicon, the outer open hollow shell creates stable and robust transport paths of both electrons and lithium ions throughout the electrode without any sophisticated additives. The resultant self‐supported electrode has achieved stable cycling with rapidly increased coulombic efficiency in the early stage, superior rate capability, and remarkably high volumetric capacity upon a facile pressing process. The rational design and engineering of graphene shells of the silicon microparticles developed can provide guidance for the development of a wide range of other high capacity but large volume change electrochemically active materials.
Macro‐institutional conditions in Ghana and the challenges to HRM program development and implementation
Authors: Ayentimi Desmond Tutu , Burgess John , Dayaram Kantha
Published: May 2018

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) originating from advanced economies with operations in less developed host countries need to have a good understanding of the macro‐institutional conditions of the host country. Given HRM practices are context‐specific and embedded within the institutional and cultural settings of the host country, an exploratory qualitative study approach was employed to ascertain the host country's institutional dimensions (drivers) likely to undermine HRM program implementation in large local companies and in MNEs. Data were drawn from key stakeholder participants, including HR managers from MNE subsidiaries, domestic firms, and officials from key stakeholder institutions. The evidence points to six (6) dimensions of a less‐developed host country's macro institutions that undermine firms' HRM advancement. These include the regulatory system, education and training arrangement, labor market conditions, cultural barriers, political actors' intrusion, and economic uncertainty. The implications thereof are discussed.
On actions for (entangling) surfaces and DCFTs
Authors: Armas Jay , Tarrío Javier
Published: May 2018

Abstract

The dynamics of surfaces and interfaces describe many physical systems, including fluid membranes, entanglement entropy and the coupling of defects to quantum field theories. Based on the formulation of submanifold calculus developed by Carter, we introduce a new variational principle for (entangling) surfaces. This principle captures all diffeomorphism constraints on surface/interface actions and their associated spacetime stress tensor. The different couplings to the geometric tensors appearing in the surface action are interpreted in terms of response coefficients within elasticity theory. An example of a surface action with edges at the two-derivative level is studied, including both the parity-even and parity-odd sectors. Its conformally invariant counterpart restricts the type of conformal anomalies that can appear in two-dimensional submanifolds with boundaries. Analogously to hydrodynamics, it is shown that classification methods can be used to constrain the stress tensor of (entangling) surfaces at a given order in derivatives. This analysis reveals a purely geometric parity-odd contribution to the Young modulus of a thin elastic membrane. Extending this novel variational principle to BCFTs and DCFTs in curved spacetimes allows to obtain the Ward identities for diffeomorphism and Weyl transformations. In this context, we provide a formal derivation of the contact terms in the stress tensor and of the displacement operator for a broad class of actions.
Loop corrections for Kaluza-Klein AdS amplitudes
Authors: Aprile F. , Drummond J. M. , Heslop P. , Paul H.
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Recently we conjectured the four-point amplitude of graviton multiplets in AdS5 × S5 at one loop by exploiting the operator product expansion of

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 super Yang-Mills theory. Here we give the first extension of those results to include Kaluza-Klein modes, obtaining the amplitude for two graviton multiplets and two states of the first KK mode. Our method again relies on resolving the large N degeneracy among a family of long double-trace operators, for which we obtain explicit formulas for the leading anomalous dimensions. Having constructed the one-loop amplitude we are able to obtain a formula for the one-loop corrections to the anomalous dimensions of all twist five double-trace operators.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Programs for Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Zhengyan , Zhao Qingchuan , Bai Bin , Ji Gang , Liu Yezhou
Published: May 2018

Background

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols or laparoscopic technique has been applied in various surgical procedures. However, the clinical efficacy of combination of the two methods still remains unclear. Thus, our aim was to assess the role of ERAS protocols in laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature search in various databases from January 1990 to October 2017. The results were analyzed according to predefined criteria.

Results

In the present meta‐analysis, the outcomes of 34 comparative studies (15 randomized controlled studies and 19 non‐randomized controlled studies) enrolling 3615 patients (1749 in the ERAS group and 1866 in the control group) were pooled. ERAS group was associated with shorter hospital stay (WMD − 2.37 days; 95% CI − 3.00 to − 1.73; P 0.000) and earlier time to first flatus (WMD − 0.63 days; 95% CI − 0.90 to − 0.36; P 0.000). Meanwhile, lower overall postoperative complication rate (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.51–0.76; P 0.000) and less hospital cost (WMD 801.52 US dollar; 95% CI − 918.15 to − 684.89; P 0.000) were observed in ERAS group. Similar readmission rate (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.52–1.03, P 0.070) and perioperative mortality (OR 1.33; 95% CI 0.53–3.34; P 0.549) were found between the two groups.

Conclusions

ERAS protocol for laparoscopic abdominal surgery is safe and effective. ERAS combined with laparoscopic technique is associated with faster postoperative recovery without increasing readmission rate and perioperative mortality.
The Updated AJCC/TNM Staging System for Papillary Thyroid Cancer (8th Edition): From the Perspective of Genomic Analysis
Authors: Kim Kyubo , Kim Jin Hwan , Park Il Seok , Rho Young Soo , Kwon Gee Hwan , Lee Dong Jin
Published: May 2018

Background

Recently, the American Joint Committee on Cancer published the 8th edition of its Cancer Staging Manual with major changes regarding the staging of thyroid cancer, including the raising of the age cutoff from 45 to 55 years. Using the clinical and genetic data of 505 papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) cases, we aimed to compare overall survival (OS) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) with different age cutoff values, and also investigate the efficacy of the new staging system on a genomic level.

Methods

We downloaded gene expression data, somatic mutation profile, copy number alteration data and clinical data of 505 PTC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas data portal. We used multiple statistical analysis and multiplatform genomic analysis to evaluate the efficacy of the 8th edition.

Results

When using 55 years as the cutoff value for analyzing RFS, the Kaplan–Meier plot showed a significant p value but not when using 45 years (p = 0.006 vs. p = 0.493), but both cutoff values were significant when analyzing OS (p = 1.1 × 10−9 with age 55 vs. p = 4.4 × 10−5 with age 45). When looking at stage‐dependent survival, both the 7th and 8th edition had significant p values (p = 0.048 vs. p = 3.1 × 10−9 in RFS and p = 5.9 × 10−10 vs. p = 2.2 × 10−10 in OS). Multiplatform genomic analysis showed patients ≥55 years had 103 differently expressed genes when compared with other age groups. Signaling pathway analysis revealed that patients ≥55 years had altered pathways associated with aggressiveness of thyroid cancer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this is the first study to show clinical and genetic evidence supporting the altered age cutoff point of 55 years in the AJCC 8th edition for PTC patients.
Meckel’s Diverticulum in Children—Parameters Predicting the Presence of Gastric Heterotopia
Authors: Slívová Ivana , Vávrová Zuzana , Tomášková Hana , Okantey Okaikor , Penka Igor , Ihnát Peter
Published: May 2018

Background

The presence of gastric ectopic mucosa in Meckel’s diverticulum is associated with a higher risk of development of complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate which demographic/clinical parameters predict the presence of gastric heterotopia in Meckel’s diverticulum.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a single institution (University Hospital Ostrava, Czech republic). All children who underwent laparoscopic/open resection of Meckel’s diverticulum within a 20‐year study period were included in the study.

Results

In total, 88 pediatric patients underwent analysis. The mean age of the children was 4.6 ± 4.73 years; the male–female ratio was approximately 2:1. There were 50 (56.8%) patients with asymptomatic Meckel’s diverticulum in our study group. Laparoscopic resection was performed in 24 (27.3%) patients; segmental bowel resection through laparotomy was performed in 13 (14.8%) patients. Gastric heterotopia was found in 39 (44.3%) patients; resection margins of all patients were clear of gastric heterotopia. No correlation was found between the presence of gastric heterotopia and the following parameters: age, gender, maternal age, prematurity, low birth weight, perinatal asphyxia, distance from Bauhin’s valve and length of Meckel’s diverticulum. The width of the diverticulum base was significantly higher in patients with gastric heterotopia (2.1 ± 0.57 vs. 1.2 ± 0.41 cm; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

According to the study outcomes, the width of the diverticulum base seems to be a significant predictive factor associated with the presence of gastric heterotopia in Meckel’s diverticulum. The laparoscopic/open resection of asymptomatic MD with a wide base should therefore be recommended.
The role of autophagy in the midgut epithelium of Parachela (Tardigrada)
Authors: Rost-Roszkowska M. M. , Janelt K. , Poprawa I.
Published: May 2018

The process of cell death has been detected in the midgut epithelium of four tardigrade species which belong to Parachela: Macrobiotus diversus, Macrobiotus polonicus, Hypsibius dujardini and Xerobiotus pseudohufelandi. They originated from different environments so they have been affected by different stressors: M. polonicus was extracted from a moss sample collected from a railway embankment; M. diversus was extracted from a moss sample collected from a petrol station; X. pseudohufelandi originated from sandy and dry soil samples collected from a pine forest; H. dujardini was obtained commercially but it lives in a freshwater or even in wet terrestrial environment. Autophagy is caused in the digestive cells of the midgut epithelium by different factors. However, a distinct crosstalk between autophagy and necrosis in tardigrades’ digestive system has been described at the ultrastructural level. Apoptosis has not been detected in the midgut epithelium of analyzed species. We also determined that necrosis is the major process that is responsible for the degeneration of the midgut epithelium of tardigrades, and “apoptosis–necrosis continuum” which is the relationship between these two processes, is disrupted.
Improving conditional random field model for prediction of protein‐RNA residue‐base contacts
Authors: Hayashida Morihiro , Okada Noriyuki , Kamada Mayumi , Koyano Hitoshi
Published: May 2018

Background

For understanding biological cellular systems, it is important to analyze interactions between protein residues and RNA bases. A method based on conditional random fields (CRFs) was developed for predicting contacts between residues and bases, which receives multiple sequence alignments for given protein and RNA sequences, respectively, and learns the model with many parameters involved in relationships between neighboring residue‐base pairs by maximizing the pseudo likelihood function.

Methods

In this paper, we proposed a novel CRF‐based model with more complicated dependency relationships between random variables than the previous model, but which takes less parameters for the sake of avoidance of overfitting to training data.

Results

We performed cross‐validation experiments for evaluating the proposed model, and took the average of AUC (area under receiver operating characteristic curve) scores. The result suggests that the proposed CRF‐based model without using L1‐norm regularization (lasso) outperforms the existing model with and without the lasso under several input observations to CRFs.

Conclusions

We proposed a novel stochastic model for predicting protein‐RNA residue‐base contacts, and improved the prediction accuracy in terms of the AUC score. It implies that more dependency relationships in a CRF could be controlled by less parameters.
Multiobjective optimization for improving machinability of Ti-6Al-4V using RSM and advanced algorithms
Authors: Sahu Neelesh Kumar , Andhare Atul B.
Published: May 2018

This paper explores use of Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO), ‘JAYA’ (Sanskrit word means Victory) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) for the combined minimization of roughness of machined surface and forces generated in cutting in turning of Ti-6Al-4V. Experimentation was carried out with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and the Central Composite Design (CCD). Speed of cutting (m/min), feed rate (mm/min) and depth of cut (mm) were the design variables for optimization. Two responses (roughness of machined surface and force of cutting) were independently minimized. RSM was useful in finding empirical relations and the effect of each parameter and their interactions on the responses considered. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to find out the effective and non-effective factors and correctness of the models. Later on, a multi-objective optimization function was developed for minimizing both – roughness in machined surface and force generated in cutting using weights method and the correctness of weights were confirmed by Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). After formulating the combined objective function, TLBO, ‘JAYA’ and GA methods were used for further parameter optimization of the turning process. Performance of TLBO and ‘JAYA’ algorithm was compared with that of Genetic Algorithm (GA). It is found that TLBO and ‘JAYA’ performed better than GA in the combined minimization of roughness and forces in while turning Ti-6Al-4V. It is also found from the results that higher cutting speed (171.4 m/min) and lower feed rate (55.6 mm/min) can produce better surface roughness and minimum cutting forces in machining of Ti-6Al-4V.

Highlights This paper Presents, implementation of Advanced Algorithms for multi objective optimization of cutting force and surface roughness in machining of difficult to cut Ti-6Al-4V. Two newly developed advanced algorithms such as JAYA and Teaching learning based optimization (TLBO) ‘without algorithm control’ parameters are used for machining response optimization. Objective functions for surface roughness and cutting forces are developed after actual face milling operation performed in sequential manner with response surface methodology. Developed models are verified with statistical test (ANOVA, residual plots) as well as confirmation experiments. It is concluded from the results that machining parameters can be optimize using advanced algorithms. This work can help machinists to select cutting parameters based on desired machining response.
The First Farmers of Europe
Authors: Shennan Stephen
Published: May 2018

Knowledge of the origin and spread of farming has been revolutionised in recent years by the application of new scientific techniques, especially the analysis of ancient DNA from human genomes. In this book, Stephen Shennan presents the latest research on the spread of farming by archaeologists, geneticists and other archaeological scientists. He shows that it resulted from a population expansion from present-day Turkey. Using ideas from the disciplines of human behavioural ecology and cultural evolution, he explains how this process took place. The expansion was not the result of 'population pressure' but of the opportunities for increased fertility by colonising new regions that farming offered. The knowledge and resources for the farming 'niche' were passed on from parents to their children. However, Shennan demonstrates that the demographic patterns associated with the spread of farming resulted in population booms and busts, not continuous expansion.
Cruise missile head shape optimisation using an adaptive sampling surrogate model
Authors: Guo S. Z. , Zheng X. M. , Ang H. S. , Cai H. M.
Published: May 2018

High-precision response of the surrogate model is desired in the process of optimisation. An excessive number of sampling points will increase the cost of the calculation. The appropriate number of sampling points cannot only guarantee the accuracy of the surrogate model but also save the calculation cost. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the eventuality of using an adaptive surrogate model for optimisation problems. The adaptive surrogate model is built on an adaptive sampling approach and an extended radial basis function (ERBF). The adaptive sampling is an approach that new sampling points are placed in the blank area and all the sampling points are uniformly distributed in the design region using Multi-Island GA. The precision of the ERBF surrogate model is checked using standard error measure to determine whether the surrogate model should be updated or not. This adaptive surrogate model is used to optimise a cruise missile head shape. Aerodynamic and stealthy performance of the cruise missile head shape are considered in this research. Different global objective function and different weight factor are used to research the aerodynamic and stealthy performance in this optimisation process. The results show that the drag is reduced with a slender head shape and the radar-cross section (RCS) value is reduced with a short head shape.