bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isotopic Reconstruction of the Late Longshan Period (ca. 4200–3900 BP) Dietary Complexity before the Onset of State‐Level Societies at the Wadian Site in the Ying River Valley, Central Plains, China
Authors: Chen X‐L. , Fang Y‐M. , Hu Y‐W. , Hou Y‐F. , Lü P. , Yuan J. , Song G‐D. , Fuller B. T. , Richards M. P.
Published: July 2015

During the late Longshan period (ca. 4200–3900 BP) settlements on the Central Plains of China underwent a diversification in food production technologies, which set the stage for rapid economic and social development. The introduction of novel domesticates such as rice, wheat, cattle, and sheep not only provided more food choices, but also changed ideas concerning land use, farming techniques, and the use and mobilization of large scale labor forces. To better understand the contribution that these new dietary items and practices made to shaping the late Longshan period societies, a stable isotope ratio study of humans (n = 12) and animals (n = 42) was conducted at the late Longshan period site of Wadian. The human δ13C and δ15N values are clustered into two distinct groups. One group of nine individuals (δ13C = −9.9 ± 0.7‰; δ15N = 7.5 ± 0.5‰) had a predominately C4 diet based on millet grains with little protein input from the domestic animals. The other group of three individuals (δ13C = −14.3 ± 0.8‰; δ15N = 10.2 ± 0.3‰) had a mixed C3/C4 diet of millets and rice and were consuming sheep and cattle. The animals also displayed dietary diversity with the pigs (δ13C = −11.3 ± 2.5‰; δ15N = 6.9 ± 1.0‰, n = 10) and dogs (δ13C = −10.1 ± 1.0‰; δ15N = 7.2 ± 1.1‰, n = 7) having mostly a C4 plant based diet (millets). In contrast, the cattle (δ13C = −12.8 ± 2.1‰; δ15N = 7.6 ± 0.7‰, n = 9), sheep (δ13C = −16.7 ± 0.9‰; δ15N = 7.6 ± 0.1‰, n = 2), and cervids (δ13C = −20.8 ± 0.9‰; δ15N = 5.0 ± 1.2‰, n = 10) had diets with a greater contribution from C3 sources such as rice and wild plants. The discovery that humans and animals had different subsistence patterns indicates dietary complexity at Wadian and that rice agriculture, and cattle and sheep husbandry practices were already an important part of the local economy by the late Longshan period in the southern region of the Central Plains of China. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brewarrina: An Australian Story
Authors: Austin‐Broos Diane
Published: July 2015

This short paper discusses Barry Morris's account of the ‘riot’ at Brewarrina, New South Wales, in 1987 and its legal aftermath, which continued for some years. An iconic event in Australian race relations, much can be learnt from its various dimensions, a fact that Morris amply demonstrates. Notwithstanding, this discussion questions a related narrative in his book, which interprets capitalism's impact on self‐determination simply in terms of neoliberalism's ‘political effects’. The paper seeks to broaden the discussion of the relations between the state and self‐determination, and between capitalism and race.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of a Dual‐Action Ligand Targeting αvβ3 Integrin and VEGF Receptors
Authors: Zanella Simone , Mingozzi Michele , Dal Corso Alberto , Fanelli Roberto , Arosio Daniela , Cosentino Marco , Schembri Laura , Marino Franca , De Zotti Marta , Formaggio Fernando , Pignataro Luca , Belvisi Laura , Piarulli Umberto , Gennari Cesare
Published: July 2015

A dual‐action ligand targeting both integrin αVβ3 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs), was synthesized via conjugation of a cyclic peptidomimetic αVβ3 Arg‐Gly‐Asp (RGD) ligand with a decapentapeptide. The latter was obtained from a known VEGFR antagonist by acetylation at the Lys13 side chain. Functionalization of the precursor ligands was carried out in solution and in the solid phase, affording two fragments: an alkyne VEGFR ligand and the azide integrin αVβ3 ligand, which were conjugated by click chemistry. Circular dichroism studies confirmed that both the RGD and VEGFR ligand portions of the dual‐action compound substantially adopt the biologically active conformation. In vitro binding assays on isolated integrin αVβ3 and VEGFR‐1 showed that the dual‐action conjugate retains a good level of affinity for both its target receptors, although with one order of magnitude (10/20 times) decrease in potency. The dual‐action ligand strongly inhibited the VEGF‐induced morphogenesis in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs). Remarkably, its efficiency in preventing the formation of new blood vessels was similar to that of the original individual ligands, despite the worse affinity towards integrin αVβ3 and VEGFR‐1.
2‐(Alkylamino)‐3‐aryl‐6,7‐dihydrobenzofuran‐4(5H)‐ones: Improved Synthesis and their Photophysical Properties
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Kumawat Lokesh Kumar , Gupta Vinod Kumar , Sharma Anuj
Published: July 2015

Furans are an important class of compounds and exhibit a diverse range of activities and properties. As such, improved synthetic access to furans is an important research goal. In the present report, a solvent‐ and catalyst‐free reaction between 5,5‐dimethyl‐1,3‐cyclohexanedione (dimedone), an aryl aldehyde and an isocyanide under microwave irradiation is presented. This method is significantly improved from previously described protocols in terms of applicability of wide ranging aryl aldehydes, better yields, shorter reaction times, facile work up and essentially no need of column chromatography. The photophysical properties of this series of compounds were studied for their possible applicability in the field of metal ion sensors. In solution, two compounds, 2‐(cyclohexylamino)‐3‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐6,6‐dimethyl‐6,7‐dihydrobenzofuran‐4(5H)‐one (1 i) and 2‐(tert‐butylamino)‐3‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐6,6‐dimethyl‐6,7‐dihydrobenzofuran‐4(5H)‐one (1 j), underwent an observable color change from yellow to colorless in the presence of aluminum(III) ions. Further studies to investigate the UV absorption and luminescence behavior of these compounds revealed their utility as “naked‐eye sensors” for aluminum detection.
Use of supercritical CO2 as a dispersing agent in the preparation of a polymer‐layered silicate nanocomposite
Authors: Liu Jinling , Rodgers William R. , Thompson Michael R.
Published: July 2015

The usefulness of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) in the processing of thermoplastic olefin (TPO) nanocomposites was investigated using a simple extensional flow mixing device. An organoclay (Cloisite® 20A), a maleated polypropylene (Polybond® 3200), and a TPO polymer were selected for this study. The three components were combined in different manners to evaluate how scCO2 influenced the microstructure of a final nanocomposite prepared by different mixing orders of the formulation components. The organoclay was examined in its as‐supplied state as well as after being conditioned under scCO2. Analyses of the nanocomposites by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and parallel plate rheology techniques showed that inclusion of scCO2 during melt compounding significantly contributed to disrupting the crystalline order in the structure of the original organoclay. However, the order by which the formulation components are combined under scCO2 was important to clay dispersion. It was shown that making use of the proper combination order led to an improvement in the modulus of the resulting nanocomposites as measured by rheology. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:987–995, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Persistent Sexual Dysfunction and Suicidal Ideation in Young Men Treated with Low‐Dose Finasteride: A Pharmacovigilance Study
Authors: Ali Ayad K. , Heran Balraj S. , Etminan Mahyar
Published: July 2015

Study Objective

Finasteride, a 5α‐reductase inhibitor, is marketed in a low dose (1 mg) as a popular therapy for androgenic alopecia in young men. As case reports and small surveys have suggested a link between persistent sexual dysfunction (SD) and suicidal ideation (SI) with low‐dose finasteride, the aim of this study was to detect signals of SD and SI secondary to low‐dose finasteride use in young men.

Design

Retrospective pharmacovigilance disproportionality analysis.

Data Source

United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

Measurements and Main Results

Low‐dose finasteride‐related adverse event reports for men aged 18–45 years that were submitted to the FAERS between 1998 and 2013 were retrieved. Multi‐item Gamma Poisson Shrinker disproportionality analysis was applied to calculate the empirical Bayes geometric mean (EBGM) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) as an association metric between low‐dose finasteride and the events of interest. Signals were defined as associations with thresholds of a CI lower limit of 2.0 or greater. Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities Preferred Terms denoting to SD and SI were identified to reflect the outcome of interest. In total, of 4910 reports, 577 persistent SD and 39 SI adverse event reports (11.8% and 7.9%, respectively) were identified for young men using low‐dose finasteride; 34 (87.2%) of the 39 men with SI also experienced SD. The majority of these events were serious (e.g., contributed to the patient's death, hospitalization, or disability). Low‐dose finasteride was associated with more than expected reporting of SD in young men compared with reporting of these events with all other drugs within the database (EBGM 28.0, 95% CI 26.1–30.0). Disproportional reporting in SI events was noted, although it did not reach signal threshold (EBGM 1.72; 95% CI 1.31–2.23). Among serious SD events, 43% led to disability; 28% required medical intervention, including hospitalization; and 5% were life‐threatening. Six fatal SD reports were identified.

Conclusion

Persistent SD might be a potential risk of low‐dose finasteride for androgenic alopecia therapy in young men, and this risk might contribute to SI. Our findings provide a strong hypothesis for pharmacoepidemiologic studies to further examine this association.
Health behavior theory constructs and smoking and cessation‐related behavior among survivors of ten cancers nine years after diagnosis: A report from the American Cancer Society's Study of Cancer Survivors‐I
Authors: Lee Westmaas J. , Berg Carla J. , Alcaraz Kassandra I. , Stein Kevin
Published: July 2015

Objective

Quitting smoking is important for cancer prognosis, but some cancer survivors continue to smoke. This study examined psychological correlates of smoking status and patterns, likelihood of quitting, and intentions to quit among long‐term survivors.

Methods

Cross‐sectional relationships between psychological constructs from health behavior theories (e.g., perceived risk, quitting barriers) and smoking and cessation‐related behavior were examined among survivors of 10 cancers. Survivors were recruited by stratified random sampling from cancer registries in a nationwide, longitudinal, quality‐of‐life study (n=2938).

Results

Approximately 9 years post‐diagnosis, survivors who currently smoke (compared with those who quit before or after diagnosis) perceived health problems caused by smoking as less severe, perceived fewer benefits of quitting for cancer survivors, greater barriers to quitting, and reported more daily exposure to others’ smoking. Survivors intending to quit (vs. those not intending or unsure) perceived greater risks of smoking for cancer prognosis, more severe health effects from smoking, fewer benefits of smoking, and greater social pressure to quit. Nondaily smokers had higher levels of self‐efficacy and less exposure to others’ smoking compared to daily smokers.

Conclusions

Long‐term cancer survivors’ perceptions of the risks of smoking for cancer prognosis, the severity of health problems from smoking, cessation barriers, and the benefits of quitting are appropriate targets for interventions for continuing smokers. Nondaily smokers may be especially amenable to intervention. Survivors’ daily exposure to others’ smoking should also be addressed in treatment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of a Pediatric Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model for Sirolimus: Applying Principles of Growth and Maturation in Neonates and Infants
Authors: Emoto C , Fukuda T , Johnson TN , Adams DM , Vinks AA
Published: July 2015

This study describes the maturation of sirolimus clearance in a cohort of very young pediatric patients with vascular anomalies. The relationship between allometrically scaled in vivo clearance and age was described by the Emax model in patients aged 1 month to 2 years. Consistent with the observed increase, in vitro intrinsic clearance of sirolimus using pediatric liver microsomes showed a similar age‐dependent increase. In children older than 2 years, allometrically scaled sirolimus clearance did not show further maturation. Simulated clearance estimates with a sirolimus physiologically based pharmacokinetic model that included CYP3A4/5/7 and CYP2C8 maturation profiles were in close agreement with observed in vivo clearance values. In addition, physiologically based pharmacokinetic model‐simulated sirolimus pharmacokinetic profiles predicted the actual observations well. These results demonstrate the utility of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling approach for the prediction of the developmental trajectory of sirolimus metabolic activity and its effects on total body clearance in neonates and infants.

CPT Pharmacometrics Syst. Pharmacol. (2015) 4, 127–134; doi:10.1038/psp4.17; published online on 4 February 2015.
Use of Longitudinal Dose–Response Modeling to Support the Efficacy and Tolerability of Alitretinoin in Severe Refractory Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE)
Authors: Schmith GD , Singh R , Gomeni R , Graff O , Hamedani AG , Troughton JS , Learned SM
Published: July 2015

Longitudinal dose–response analyses of alitretinoin (an investigational agent in the US) were conducted to supplement results from phase III studies in severe, refractory chronic hand eczema, with objectives to address several outstanding development issues (e.g., optimal dose, possible factors affecting efficacy and/or tolerability). Models were fitted to the physicians' global assessment score and triglycerides over time. Five hundred trials were simulated to evaluate the relevance of findings. Analyses clarified that the optimal dose of alitretinoin was 30 mg once daily, where response rates were ∼10% over placebo at 12 weeks and increased by 5–7% over placebo for every 4 weeks thereafter, for up to 24 weeks. Elderly subjects had higher magnitudes of efficacy and an increased probability of high triglycerides. Results from analyses sufficiently addressed the development issues, thereby adding to the weight of evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of alitretinoin in the treatment of severe, refractory chronic hand eczema.
Physiologically Based Models in Regulatory Submissions: Output From the ABPI/MHRA Forum on Physiologically Based Modeling and Simulation
Authors: Shepard T , Scott G , Cole S , Nordmark A , Bouzom F
Published: July 2015

Under the remit of the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group (MISG), the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) hosted a meeting to explore physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation, focusing on the clinical component of regulatory applications. The meeting took place on 30 June 2014 with international representatives from industry, academia, and regulatory agencies. Discussion topics were selected to be complementary to those discussed at an earlier US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) meeting. This report summarizes the meeting outcomes, focusing on the European regulatory perspective.
Stability of inverted organic solar cells with low‐temperature ZnO buffer layer processed from aqueous solution
Authors: Chen Dazheng , Zhang Chunfu , Wei Wei , Wang Zhizhe , Heng Ting , Tang Shi , Han Genquan , Zhang Jincheng , Hao Yue
Published: July 2015

In this work, the long‐term stability for inverted organic solar cells (OSCs) using a poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2, 5‐diyl):[6, 6]‐phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester blend and a low‐temperature ZnO buffer layer processed from aqueous solution is investigated. The same devices with ZnO buffer layers annealed at different temperatures have been sequentially stored in an air‐N2–air environment and tested during 4320 h. It is found that the devices with ZnO annealed at 80 and 100 °C show good stability in three periods of air, N2, and air conditions, the degradation of power conversion efficiency (PCE) shows similar tendency to that of short circuit current density with relatively steady open circuit voltage and fill factor. For devices with 70 °C annealed ZnO buffer layer, their PCE climbs up and then declines in the first period. Interestingly, at the beginning of third period, an improvement of photovoltaic parameters for most devices is observed from statistical results, which may be related to the change of oxygen concentration in devices and oxygen desorption in light soaking. In short, all devices show a relatively good stability and the simple ZnO deposition method is a promising technique in fabricating inverted OSCs and flexible devices with long lifetime.

Degradation of PCE for inverted OSCs in 4320 h.
The study of fluid flow and heat transfer of a viscous incompressible fluid between a rotating solid disk and a stationary permeable disk using the Brinkman‐Darcy model
Authors: Jogie Dayle C. , Bhatt Balswaroop
Published: July 2015

The study of momentum and heat transfer has been carried out for the case of a viscous incompressible fluid between a rotating solid and a stationary permeable disk, whose depth is equal to that of the free fluid. Navier‐Stokes equations govern the flow in the free fluid, while the flow in the porous region is governed by a combination of Brinkman and Darcy equations, respectively. Energy equations in the free fluid region and the porous region have been considered. A two step numerical process is employed; series expansions are first created to give analytical approximations of momentum and energy equations in MAPLE, while a Runge‐Kutta algorithm bvp4c is then employed in MATLAB to numerically evaluate the velocity and temperature distributions in the flow fields. Velocity profiles, temperature profiles and relevant streamlines are sketched for various models involving variations in parameters such as Reynolds number, Brinkman number, and Prandtl number. It is observed that various parameters have differing effects on associated profiles which are subsequently discussed in the paper.
Breast Cancer Outcomes as Defined by the Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor, and Human Growth Factor Receptor‐2 in a Multi‐ethnic Asian Country
Authors: Subramaniam S. , Bhoo‐Pathy N. , Taib N. A. , Tan G. H. , See M. H. , Jamaris S. , Ho G. F. , Looi L. M. , Yip C. H.
Published: July 2015

Introduction

Breast cancer can be divided into four subtypes based on the expressions of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor‐2 (HER2). Each subtype has different clinicopathological features and outcomes.

Objective

To compare the clinicopathological features and survival of ER and/or PR positive HER2 negative (ER+PR+HER2−, ER+PR−HER2− or ER−PR+HER2−), ER and/or PR positive HER2 positive (ER+PR+HER2+, ER+PR−HER2+ or ER−PR+HER2+), ER negative PR negative HER2 positive (ER−PR−HER2+), and ER negative PR negative HER2 negative (ER−PR−HER2−) subtypes.

Methods

1957 patients with Stage 1–3 breast carcinoma diagnosed between Jan 2005 and Dec 2011 were categorized into the four subtypes. The clinicopathological features between the subtypes were compared using χ2 test. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to estimate 5‐year overall survival. Multivariate Cox regression was used to determine the association between subtypes and mortality adjusted for age, ethnicity, stage, pathological features, and treatment.

Results

ER−PR−HER2+ and ER−PR−HER2− subtypes were associated with younger age, larger tumors, and higher grade. There was no difference in the 5‐year survival of the ER−PR−HER2+ and ER−PR−HER2− subtypes (75.1 and 74.4 %, respectively) and survival was poorer than in the ER and/or PR positive HER2 negative and ER and/or PR positive HER2 positive subtypes (87.1 and 83.1 %, respectively). Only 9.5 % of women with HER2 positive breast cancer had access to trastuzumab.

Conclusion

In a low resource setting with limited access to trastuzumab, there is no difference in survival between the ER−PR−HER2+ and ER−PR−HER2− subtypes of breast cancer.
Central Venous Catheter‐Related Infection in Severe Trauma Patients
Authors: Youn Seok Hwa , Lee John Cook‐Jong , Kim Younghwan , Moon Jonghwan , Choi Younghwa , Jung Kyoungwon
Published: July 2015

Aim

To evaluate the CVC‐related infection rate according to catheter insertion site and to analyze the risk factors for catheter‐related local infections (CRLI) and bloodstream infections (CRBSI) among severe trauma patients.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of 736 severe trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score of >15. Poisson regression was used to compare the infection rates according to the catheter insertion sites. Univariate analysis of the groups with and without CVC‐related infection was used to identify confounding variables for inclusion in multivariate models that were used to identify the risk factors for CRLI and CRBSI.

Results

We evaluated 1646 catheter insertions and their duration of insertion and found 1241 subclavian (18,461 days), 251 internal jugular (3454 days), and 154 femoral catheters (1526 days). The CRLI infection rate per 1000 catheter days was significantly lower for subclavian, compared to that for internal jugular (4.83 vs. 9.55, respectively; P < 0.001) and femoral catheters (4.83 vs. 7.93, respectively; P = 0.013). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that catheter insertion duration [odds ratio (95 % confidence interval): 1.035 (1.021–1.050), P < 0.001] and subclavian access [0.532 (0.366–0.775), P < 0.001] were significantly associated with CRLI, while catheter insertion duration [1.024 (1.002–1.046), P = 0.032] was significantly associated with CRBSI.

Conclusions

To reduce the rate of CVC‐related infections in severe trauma patients, we suggest that catheters be shifted from the internal jugular or femoral veins to the subclavian vein as soon as possible and that the duration of catheter insertion should be minimized.
Density and distribution of soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in response to UV radiation
Authors: Burdick S. C. , Prischmann‐Voldseth D. A. , Harmon J. P.
Published: July 2015

Increasing ultraviolet radiation (UV) has led to greater interest in its current and potential effects on organisms, including herbivorous insects. Here we report the short‐term effects of UV on soybean aphids (Aphis glycines Matsumura), a common phytophagous pest of soybeans. We used two complementary approaches to examine how modifying UV radiation affects this phloem‐feeding herbivore via changes to soybean aphid densities and their within plant distribution. We found that artificially adding UV in a lab setting decreased soybean aphid population size compared to a low UV control; however, blocking UV radiation in the field had minimal effects on aphid density. Further observations suggest that soybean aphid location could mediate UV effects; feeding on the underside of leaves may shield aphids from some harmful effects of UV. Our results demonstrate the potential importance of UV to insect herbivores and how behavior may influence such effects.
Nutrient variations in the Sava River Basin
Authors: Vrzel Janja , Ogrinc Nives
Published: July 2015

Purpose

The first comprehensive evaluation and trend analysis of long-term nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) data was performed for the Sava River Basin (SRB) at locations in Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia.

Materials and methods

Data on long-term water quality at eight selected locations were evaluated statistically based on the period of reporting, availability of flow data, and the experience from our previous investigations. Trends in NO3− and PO43− concentrations at locations were identified using simple linear regressions on log-transformed data.

Results and discussion

Analysis indicated spatial and seasonal variability between locations. The highest long-term annual mean NO3− and PO43− concentrations were observed in Croatia and Serbia at locations that are susceptible to anthropogenic nutrient loading arising from high human population densities and intensive agricultural land use. Temporal variations indicate that river flow plays an important role in the distribution of NO3− and PO43− concentrations. Low flow during the summer months promotes reductive conditions leading to a minimum in annual mean NO3− concentrations and a maximum in annual mean PO43− concentrations resulting from the release of inorganic P from sediments. The highest annual mean NO3− concentrations were observed in winter/autumn under higher flow conditions that leach NO3− from soil and banks into the river. The results of trend analysis show a reduction of nutrients at the majority of locations ranging from 8 to 58 %.

Conclusions

Although trends in NO3− and PO43− concentrations indicate a decrease at the majority of selected locations, it is still necessary to apply appropriate removal technologies in order to reduce the nutrient loads into the Sava River Basin and thereby improve water quality.
Derivation of integration‐free iPSCs from a Klinefelter syndrome patient
Authors: Shimizu T. , Shiohara M. , Tai T. , Nagao K. , Nakajima K. , Kobayashi H.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) (47, XXY) is the most common sex chromosome abnormality in humans. KS is characterized by gynecomastia, tall stature, small testes, low testosterone levels, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. KS is also associated with infertility due to non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA). The mechanism underlying NOA is still poorly understood, and although there is no current treatment, the use of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro‐TESE) followed by in vitro fertilization can result in successful conception. The generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from KS patients may be useful for studying the disease mechanism and identifying novel therapies.

Methods

Cells from a KS patient were transduced with Sendai viral vectors encoding four transcription factors, OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and C‐MYC, and the transduced cells were analyzed for in vitro and in vivo pluripotency.

Results

KS patient‐derived iPS cells were successfully generated and shown to produce teratomas in the testes of SCID mice. In vitro differentiation of the iPS cells into cardiomyocyte‐like cells was confirmed by the presence of clusters of beating cells.

Conclusions

KS patient‐derived iPS cells that could differentiate into cardiomyocyte‐like cells were established.
Application of derm dotting in oral and maxillofacial surgery
Authors: Van Hevele J. , Hauben E. , Haspeslagh M. , Agbaje O. , Salem A. , Schoenaers J. , Politis C.
Published: July 2015

Purpose: Derm dotting is a new method of marking skin biopsies, and it is used by dermatopathologists to identify most diagnostic tissues on a microscopic slide. This method uses nail varnish to mark specific lesions and suspected section planes, or to orient skin resections. The nail varnish is resistant to different tissue processes, discernible while cutting the tissue block, and easily recognizable under the microscope. We examined the effectiveness of derm dotting on intraoral tissues.

Methods: We used the derm‐dotting technique on the intraoral tissues of nine patients who underwent resection of a squamous carcinoma. We also tested this method on frozen sections.

Results: In all cases of resected tissue, the nail varnish was visible under gross examination, traceable while cutting the tissue block, and clearly visible in the definitive sections. The dots were preserved in the frozen sections, but they were lost in half of the decalcified tissues.

Conclusions: Derm dotting is an inexpensive, simple method that can replace the stitching technique used by surgeons to orient specimens. The stitches have to be removed by the pathologist, therefore possibly creating an artifact in the biopsy. The varnish dots or lines can be used to orient the specimen. In addition, the dots can easily mark suspect borders or areas of interest to be examined by the pathologist, using different colors, if desired. With derm dotting, the pathologist receives a more representative slide enabling a more accurate clinicopathological correlation.
Outcomes of emergency department thoracotomy in a tertiary care Canadian trauma centre
Authors: Owen Julian J , Sne Niv , Coates Angela , Channan Peter K
Published: July 2015

Objective

Emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) is a rare and potentially life-saving intervention performed for trauma patients in extremis. EDT is rare at Canadian trauma centres because of our infrequent occurrence of penetrating trauma. This study was undertaken to evaluate outcomes at a Canadian level 1 trauma facility and compare survival to large published datasets. Also, we evaluated the appropriateness of an EDT performed at our centre based on published national guidelines.

Methods

Retrospective medical record review of all patients undergoing an EDT during their resuscitation in the emergency department. Records were identified using our trauma registry, and all charts were manually reviewed. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge.

Results

Over a 20-year period, 58 EDTs were performed with 6 (10.3%) survivors. Patients undergoing an EDT secondary to penetrating trauma had the highest survival (5 of 24 patients or 20.8% survival) compared to patients undergoing an EDT for blunt trauma (1 of 34 patients or 2.9% survival). Patients undergoing an EDT who had not suffered cardiac arrest represented the group with the highest survival rate (3 of 6 patients or 50% survival). The majority of EDTs (79.3%) were indicated, and no patient undergoing an EDT survived if it was performed outside of published guidelines.

Conclusions

Survival following an EDT in our small, regional trauma centre is consistent with survival rates from larger published datasets. An EDT should continue to be performed under accepted clinical indications.
Public Risk Perceptions and Preventive Behaviors During the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic
Authors: Kim Yushim , Zhong Wei , Jehn Megan , Walsh Lauren
Published: July 2015

Objective

This study examines the public perception of the 2009 H1N1 influenza risk and its association with flu-related knowledge, social contexts, and preventive behaviors during the second wave of the influenza outbreak in Arizona.

Methods

Statistical analyses were conducted on survey data, which were collected from a random-digit telephone survey of the general public in Arizona in October 2009.

Results

The public perceived different levels of risk regarding the likelihood and their concern about contracting the 2009 H1N1 flu. These measures of risk perception were primarily correlated with people of Hispanic ethnicity, having children in the household, and recent seasonal flu experience in the previous year. The perceived likelihood was not strongly associated with preventive behaviors, whereas the perceived concern was significantly associated with precautionary and preparatory behaviors. The association between perceived concern and precautionary behavior persisted after controlling for demographic characteristics.

Conclusions

Pandemic preparedness and response efforts need to incorporate these findings to help develop effective risk communication strategies that properly induce preventive behaviors among the public. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:145-154)
Do Shared Barriers When Reporting to Work During an Influenza Pandemic Influence Hospital Workers’ Willingness to Work? A Multilevel Framework
Authors: Park Yoon Soo , Behrouz-Ghayebi Laudan , Sury Jonathan J.
Published: July 2015

Objective

Characteristics associated with interventions and barriers that influence health care workers’ willingness to report for duty during an influenza pandemic were identified. Additionally, this study examined whether workers who live in proximal geographic regions shared the same barriers and would respond to the same interventions.

Methods

Hospital employees (n=2965) recorded changes in willingness to work during an influenza pandemic on the basis of interventions aimed at mitigating barriers. Distance from work, hospital type, job role, and family composition were examined by clustering the effects of barriers from reporting for duty and region of residence.

Results

Across all workers, providing protection for the family was the greatest motivator for willingness to work during a pandemic. Respondents who expressed the same barriers and lived nearby shared common responses in their willingness to work. Younger employees and clinical support staff were more receptive to interventions. Increasing distance from home to work was significantly associated with a greater likelihood to report to work for employees who received time off.

Conclusions

Hospital administrators should consider the implications of barriers and areas of residence on the disaster response capacity of their workforce. Our findings underscore communication and development of preparedness plans to improve the resilience of hospital workers to mitigate absenteeism (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:175-185).
Private Debt and the Anglo-Liberal Growth Model
Authors: Barnes Lucy
Published: July 2015

Was there really a debt-fuelled ‘liberal growth model’ that preceded the 2008 financial crisis? The accepted narrative about the pre-crisis boom is that some liberal countries relied on domestic consumption to fuel economic growth, and on household debt to fuel this consumption. In this, they contrasted with coordinated economies. While eventually unsustainable, the growth strategy was politically necessary to maintain middle-class living standards in the context of increasing income inequality. In this article, I take these contentions to the data. Economic evidence from 1995–2007 and political data from the Comparative Manifesto Project Database undermine this received wisdom: while household debt increased in the liberal countries, it does not differentiate this particular growth model. Further, there is no evidence that politicians in liberal countries advocate different economic policies, including those concerning borrowing, to claim credit and stay in power. Differences in the importance of finance between countries, however, suggest a more elite-driven divergence.
Severity of Disease Estimation and Risk-Adjustment for Comparison of Outcomes in Mechanically Ventilated Patients Using Electronic Routine Care Data
Authors: van Mourik Maaike S. M. , Moons Karel G. M. ,   MICU Registry, Murphy Michael V. , Bonten Marc J. M. , Klompas Michael
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUND

Valid comparison between hospitals for benchmarking or pay-for-performance incentives requires accurate correction for underlying disease severity (case-mix). However, existing models are either very simplistic or require extensive manual data collection.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a disease severity prediction model based solely on data routinely available in electronic health records for risk-adjustment in mechanically ventilated patients.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Mechanically ventilated patients from a single tertiary medical center (2006–2012).

METHODS

Predictors were extracted from electronic data repositories (demographic characteristics, laboratory tests, medications, microbiology results, procedure codes, and comorbidities) and assessed for feasibility and generalizability of data collection. Models for in-hospital mortality of increasing complexity were built using logistic regression. Estimated disease severity from these models was linked to rates of ventilator-associated events.

RESULTS

A total of 20,028 patients were initiated on mechanical ventilation, of whom 3,027 deceased in hospital. For models of incremental complexity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranged from 0.83 to 0.88. A simple model including demographic characteristics, type of intensive care unit, time to intubation, blood culture sampling, 8 common laboratory tests, and surgical status achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.86–0.88) with adequate calibration. The estimated disease severity was associated with occurrence of ventilator-associated events.

CONCLUSIONS

Accurate estimation of disease severity in ventilated patients using electronic, routine care data was feasible using simple models. These estimates may be useful for risk-adjustment in ventilated patients. Additional research is necessary to validate and refine these models.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(7):807–815
Perceptions of Intercultural Social Challenges: Towards Culturally Competent Counselling Practice
Authors: Mak Anita S. , Shaw Tamara L.
Published: July 2015

Increasing ethnic and cultural diversity worldwide and especially in Australia requires that psychologists and counsellors cultivate the knowhow to interact and work effectively with clients and stakeholders in cross-cultural contexts. This study aimed to identify and compare themes regarding challenging intercultural social scenarios experienced by supervising, practising and intern psychologists. Transcripts from five focus groups were open-coded on four occasions and the final themes compared with the EXCELL (Excellence in Cultural Experiential Learning and Leadership) program's six key sociocultural competencies (Mak, Westwood, Barker, & Ishiyama, 1998). We found that many challenges reported by psychologists (regardless of their qualifications) were related to difficulties — for psychologists and clients — in executing one or more of key sociocultural competencies: seeking help or information, participating in a group, making social contact, giving feedback, refusing a request, and expressing disagreement. We also identified barriers to cultural competence in therapeutic relationships, including cultural identity issues, needing to address difficulties in intimate relationships, cultural variation in values/beliefs/social norms, mismatched expectations, psychologists’ perceived deficit in intercultural training, and challenges in self-reflection. Based on our findings, we propose a model of culturally competent counselling practice and discuss implications for counsellor and psychologist training, and for future research.
Trepostomate bryozoans from the upper Katian (Upper Ordovician) of Morocco: gigantism in high latitude Gondwana platforms
Authors: Jiménez-Sánchez Andrea , Vennin Enmanuelle , Villas Enrique
Published: July 2015

A study of the Upper Ordovician trepostomate bryozoans belonging to the families Amplexoporidae and Monticuliporidae, from the eastern Anti-Atlas of Morocco, is presented here. They occur in the marly to fine-grained limestone, intermediate unit of the Khabt-el-Hajar Formation, late Katian in age, representing outer-ramp depositional environments. They inhabited the highest paleolatitude known for a bryozoan fauna during the Ordovician, estimated at more than 65–70ºS. A total of 11 species of the generaAnaphragma,Atactoporella,Homotrypa,Monotrypa,Monticulipora, andPrasoporaare described. Three species are already known from the equatorial-tropical paleocontinents of Baltica, Laurentia, and Siberia:Anaphragma mirabile,Monotrypa jewensis, andPrasopora falesi. Four new taxa are described:Anaphragma undulata,Atactoporella moroccoensis,Monticulipora globulata, andMonticulipora irregularis.

The two species ofAnaphragmaand the one ofAtactoporelladisplay significantly larger zoarial sizes than congeneric species, representing gigantism among bryozoans. Polar gigantism is rejected for the two species ofAnaphragmaas is gigantism related to photosynthetic endosymbionts. An alternative proposal for their giant size is their long zoarial life span due to their well-balanced, robust branching form, with a relatively wide basal supporting surface, adapted to unconsolidated substrates in environments below wave base. Their great stability in outer-ramp environments, with infrequent storms, would allow the zoaria to grow for an extended time and reach large sizes before being overturned and buried.Atactoporella moroccoensis, has both zoaria and zooecia gigantic, suggesting a hypothesis of polar gigantism.
New Ediacaran fossils from the uppermost Blueflower Formation, northwest Canada: disentangling biostratigraphy and paleoecology
Authors: Carbone Calla A. , Narbonne Guy M. , Macdonald Francis A. , Boag Thomas H.
Published: July 2015

New Ediacaran fossil finds at Sekwi Brook occur in lower shoreface to offshore transition beds at the top of the Blueflower Formation, which are the most shallow-water facies and the youngest strata in which Ediacara-type fossils have been described from the Mackenzie Mountains of NW Canada. Newly discovered Ediacaran body fossils include two new tubular genera: Sekwitubulus annulatus new genus new species was a mm-diameter rigid annulated tube that was rooted to the sea bottom by a holdfast; Annulatubus flexuosus n. gen. n. sp. was a cm-diameter, flexible annulated tube. In conjunction with previously described large attachment discs representing the form-genus Aspidella and a single specimen of the dickinsonid Windermeria, these fossils define an assemblage that differs markedly from the rangeomorph-dominated deeper-water and older assemblages lower in the same section at Sekwi Brook. In contrast, trace fossils show little change upwards through the Blueflower Formation, at least in part reflecting their origin by microbial grazers on mats that formed during low-energy periods in both deep- and shallow-water environments. This implies that the stratigraphic succession of Ediacaran fossils in NW Canada and probably globally represents both evolutionary changes with age and the paleoecology of specific depositional settings.
Distinguishing Earth’s oldest known bryozoan (Pywackia, late Cambrian) from pennatulacean octocorals (Mesozoic–Recent)
Authors: Landing Ed , Antcliffe Jonathan B. , Brasier Martin D. , English Adam B.
Published: July 2015

Bryozoans and all biomineralized metazoan phyla extend back into the Cambrian.PywackiaLanding, 2010 is confirmed as a secondarily phosphatized, late Cambrian stenolaemate bryozoan with colonial habit; mineralized zooarium (originally calcareous); granular/rarely granular-prismatic histology of its trilamellar walls; and polymorphism shown by deep autozooecia with diaphragms and hemiphragms, axial zooecia with diaphragms, and probable nanozooecia. The irregular form ofPywackiareflects growth as a 14-hedron that could not branch and a lack of structures such as thickened walls or styles that maintain regular autozooecial spacing in later stenolaemates.Pywackiais a stem group stenolaemate with a stolon modified into a budding axial zooid and autozooid budding. It is morphologically simpler than the highly evolved late Tremadocian bryozoans of South China with features such as styles, cystiphragms, thickened zooecial walls, and massive or branching colonies. As with some bryozoans,Pywackialacks holdfasts but has lineated living chambers and variably sized autozooecia. The late Cambrian origin of bryozoans, euconodonts, polyplacophorans, and cephalopods set the stage for the Ordovician Radiation’s complex communities.Pywackiais not a pennatulacean octocoral. It lacks both a pennatulacean axial rod histology and a budding zooid that remains confluent with daughter autozooids. Indeed,Pywackiawalled off its axial zooid. Similarity of the 6- and 12-sidedPywackiazooarium with circular to 4-sided pennatulacean axes only includes calcareous composition and the general shapes ofPywackiazooaria and someLituariaaxial rods. The pennatulacean record does not extend from the Mesozoic into the Cambrian, and early cnidarians were not phosphatic. The diagnosis ofPywackiais modified.
Early Jurassic Trochotomidae (Vetigastropoda, Pleurotomarioidea) from the Neuquén Basin, Argentina
Authors: Ferrari S. Mariel , Damborenea Susana E. , Manceñido Miguel O. , Griffin Miguel
Published: July 2015

Trochotomidae is a small but distinctive extinct family of pleurotomarioidean gastropods characterized by trochiform shells with an elliptical trema. Two new species of trochotomids are described from Pliensbachian deposits in the Neuquén Basin, Argentina. The new genus-group namePlacotomais proposed to replace the pre-occupied nameDiscotomaHaber non Mulsant. The record ofTrochotoma(Trochotoma)protonotialisnew species andTrochotoma(Placotoma)neuquensisnew species in the early Jurassic of Argentina extends the paleobiogeographical distribution of the genus (and the family) to the Southern Hemisphere. The new taxa reported here represent a component of the pleurotomarioidean adaptive radiation that took place in the Tethyan region during the earliest Jurassic. They are related to local patch coral reefs of shallow, open-marine paleoenvironments, agreeing with the known habitat of most species of this family. The group was well represented in the Tethyan region during the Mesozoic, especially during the Jurassic, and the new species represent its southernmost occurrence.
Gomphothere proboscidean (Gomphotherium) from the late Neogene of Panama
Authors: MacFadden Bruce J. , Morgan Gary S. , Jones Douglas S. , Rincon Aldo F.
Published: July 2015

The proboscideanGomphotheriumis reported here from the Alajuela Formation of Panama.Gomphotheriumwas widespread throughout Holarctica during the Miocene, and the Panama fossil represents the extreme southernmost occurrence of this genus in the New World. Allocation of the PanamaGomphotheriumto a valid species is impossible given both the fragmentary material represented and the taxonomic complexity of species assigned to this genus. In North America,Gomphotheriumhas a relatively long biochronological range from the middle Miocene (~15 Ma) to early Pliocene (~5 Ma). Based on morphological comparisons, the PanamaGomphotheriumis either middle Miocene, thus representing the earliest-known entry of this genus into Central America, or late Miocene/early Pliocene, which challenges the currently accepted middle Miocene age of the Alajuela Formation as it has been previously reported from Panama.
DECIDABILITY FOR THEORIES OF MODULES OVER VALUATION DOMAINS
Authors: GREGORY LORNA
Published: July 2015

Extending work of Puninski, Puninskaya and Toffalori in [5], we show that if V is an effectively given valuation domain then the theory of all V-modules is decidable if and only if there exists an algorithm which, given a, b ε V, answers whether a ε rad(bV). This was conjectured in [5] for valuation domains with dense value group, where it was proved for valuation domains with dense archimedean value group. The only ingredient missing from [5] to extend the result to valuation domains with dense value group or infinite residue field is an algorithm which decides inclusion for finite unions of Ziegler open sets. We go on to give an example of a valuation domain with infinite Krull dimension, which has decidable theory of modules with respect to one effective presentation and undecidable theory of modules with respect to another. We show that for this to occur infinite Krull dimension is necessary.
HARRINGTON’S PRINCIPLE IN HIGHER ORDER ARITHMETIC
Authors: CHENG YONG , SCHINDLER RALF
Published: July 2015

LetZ2,Z3, andZ4denote 2nd, 3rd, and 4thorder arithmetic, respectively. We let Harrington’s Principle, HP, denote the statement that there is a realxsuch that everyx-admissible ordinal is a cardinal inL. The known proofs of Harrington’s theorem “$Det\left( {{\rm{\Sigma }}_1^1} \right)$implies 0♯exists” are done in two steps: first show that$Det\left( {{\rm{\Sigma }}_1^1} \right)$implies HP, and then show that HP implies 0♯exists. The first step is provable inZ2. In this paper we show thatZ2+ HP is equiconsistent with ZFC and thatZ3+ HP is equiconsistent with ZFC + there exists a remarkable cardinal. As a corollary,Z3+ HP does not imply 0♯exists, whereas Z4+ HP does. We also study strengthenings of Harrington’s Principle over 2ndand 3rdorder arithmetic.