bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minimally invasive surgery for laryngopharyngeal cancer: Multicenter feasibility study of a combination strategy involving transoral surgery and real‐time indocyanine green fluorescence‐navigated sentinel node navigation surgery
Authors: Araki Koji , Tomifuji Masayuki , Shiotani Akihiro , Hirano Shigeru , Yokoyama Junkichi , Tsukahara Kiyoaki , Homma Akihiro , Yoshimoto Seichi , Hasegawa Yasuhisa
Published: October 2019

Background

Sentinel node navigation surgery using indocyanine green (ICG‐SNNS) can be performed in the operation room. The combination of minimally invasive transoral surgery (TOS) with ICG‐SNNS can provide functional preservation options for both primary lesions and lymph node (LN) metastasis. This multicenter feasibility study of this strategy was conducted in Japan.

Methods

Patients with clinical T1 or T2, N0 oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, or supraglottic cancer were enrolled. The identification rate of sentinel nodes, delayed cervical LN metastasis in 2 years, and survival rate were assessed.

Results

Twenty‐two patients (10 oropharynx, 8 hypopharynx, 4 supraglottic cancer) were enrolled. The identification rate was 100%. One case had delayed nodal metastasis. The accuracy was 95.5%, sensitivity was 75%, and specificity was 100%. The 5‐year disease‐specific survival was 100%, overall survival was 72.3%, and disease‐free survival was 60.5%.

Conclusions

The combination of TOS with ICG‐SNNS is feasible as a minimally invasive strategy and has favorable oncological outcomes.
Keteniminium Salts as Key Intermediates for the Efficient Synthesis of 3‐Amino‐Indoles and ‐Benzofurans
Authors: Dagoneau Dylan , Kolleth Amandine , Quinodoz Pierre , Tanriver Gamze , Catak Saron , Lumbroso Alexandre , Sulzer‐Mossé Sarah , De Mesmaeker Alain
Published: October 2019

Herein, we describe a high yielding approach towards the synthesis of 3‐amino‐indoles and ‐benzofurans through 6π‐electrocyclization. This was made possible by taking advantage of the high reactivity of keteniminium salts, formed in‐situ by treating with triflic anhydride and 2‐fluoropyridine amides bearing at the α‐position either an aniline or a phenoxy moiety. These mild conditions, on top of furnishing rapidly the 3‐aminobenzoheteroles, allow the tolerance of various functional groups. Control experiments were carried out to highlight that the keteniminium is, indeed, in most cases, the reactive intermediate and conformational preferences of such species were investigated through a DFT study.
Exploring the application of topographic indices in urban areas as indicators of pluvial flooding locations
Authors: Kelleher Christa , McPhillips Lauren
Published: October 2019

In urban areas, the presence of impervious surfaces limits natural drainage and routes water to stormwater infrastructure with finite capacity, making these areas especially prone to flooding. Though large floods are responsible for endangering lives and causing extensive damage, there is growing evidence that more frequent floods with shallow water depths, termed nuisance flooding, can have a high cumulative cost and many direct and indirect damages. To determine whether locations of nuisance flooding may be linked to topography, we took a parsimonious, spatially distributed approach to explore whether high topographic index values co‐occur with citizen‐reported nuisance flooding. We obtained nuisance flood reports from the municipal data service 311 for several watersheds in New York City and Baltimore, USA. Our analysis tested two topographic indices (TI)—topographic wetness index (TWI) and sink depth—both calculated from high‐resolution (~1 m) digital elevation models. Generally, our findings suggest that not all but many locations of reported flooding tend to coincide with deep sinks or large TWI. However, nuisance flooding reports most commonly coincided with deep sinks and high TWI when using a maximum, instead of coincident, TI value extracted around each reported location of flooding, an approach we used due to the uncertainty in location accuracy of flooding reports. Overall, our results show promise for application of topographic indices, typically applied in more natural settings, as indicators of nuisance flooding areas in urbanized environments. Although limitations to this approach exist, the application of TIs and crowd‐sourced reporting in tandem could provide a useful starting point for mapping flood‐prone areas in many cities with technologically adept community members and ample geospatial data.
Quantifying spatiotemporal influences of climate index on seasonal extreme precipitation based on hierarchical Bayesian method
Authors: Xiao Mingzhong
Published: October 2019

Quantifying spatiotemporal influence of climate index on extreme precipitation will help to better understand the variability of extreme precipitation. The extreme precipitation is usually influenced by different climate indices, and mutual offset is unavoidable to occur, thus the rotated empirical orthogonal function was used to identify the different influences of climate indices on extreme precipitation in space and time. The variation of extreme precipitation in data‐scarce region is also concerned, hence, an improved spatiotemporal regional frequency analysis model was further developed, therein the identified spatiotemporal influences of climate indices on extreme precipitation were quantified using Bayesian hierarchical method. In this study, the in situ seasonal maximum one‐day precipitation amount (Rx1day) was used to represent seasonal precipitation extremes from 1957 to 2010 in the Poyang Lake basin, and spatiotemporal influences of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on seasonal Rx1day were quantified. Results indicated that the seasonal Rx1day was influenced by different climate indices in the Poyang Lake basin, ENSO tends to affect spring and autumn Rx1day, IOD tends to affect summer Rx1day, and NAO tends to affect spring and winter Rx1day. The response of extreme precipitation on climate index is varied in different regions, and this was well distinguished and verified, such as negative ENSO (in the same year) events tends to cause spring Rx1day slight decrease in the southern part of the basin while increase about 15% in the northern part with center around the Poyang lake.
Could squalene be an added value to use olive by‐products?
Authors: Martínez‐Beamonte Roberto , Sanclemente Teresa , Surra Joaquín C , Osada Jesús
Published: October 2019

Squalene (SQ) is an intermediate hydrocarbon in the biosynthesis of phytosterols and terpenes in plants. It is widely used for applications such as skin moisturizers, vaccines, or in carriers for active lipophilic molecules. It has commonly been obtained from sharks, but restrictions on their use have created a need to find alternative sources. We present a review of studies concerning SQ in olive groves to characterize its content and to provide new aspects that may increase the circular economy of the olive tree. There is a large variation in SQ content in virgin olive oil due to cultivars and agronomic issues such as region, climate, types of soil, crop practices, and harvest date. Cultivars with the highest SQ content in their virgin olive oil were ‘Nocellara de Belice’, ‘Drobnica’, ‘Souri’, and ‘Oblica’. An interaction between cultivar and aspects such as irrigation practices or agricultural season is frequently observed. Likewise, the production of high SQ content needs precise control of fruit maturation. Leaves represent an interesting source, if its extraction and yield compensate for the expenses of their disposal. Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction from olive oil deodorizer distillates offers an opportunity to obtain high‐purity SQ from this derivative. Exploiting SQ obtained from olive groves for the pharmaceutical or cosmetic industries poses new challenges and opportunities to add value and recycle by‐products. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Concurrent improvement and deterioration of epilimnetic water quality in an oligotrophic lake over 37 years
Authors: Hintz William D. , Schuler Matthew S. , Borrelli Jonathan J. , Eichler Lawrence W. , Stoler Aaron B. , Moriarty Vincent W. , Ahrens Laurie E. , Boylen Charles W. , Nierzwicki‐Bauer Sandra A. , Relyea Rick A.
Published: October 2019

Single‐lake studies offer an opportunity for understanding, predicting, and mitigating local or regional threats to lake ecosystems. Our goal was to understand how concurrent environmental stressors such as climate change, eutrophication, and salinization affect long‐term lake water quality. We report epilimnetic changes in 18 water‐quality parameters collected at seven sites from 1980 to 2016 in Lake George, a large oligotrophic lake in the Adirondack Park, New York, USA. Improvements and deteriorations in water quality occurred over 37 years. We observed a 32% increase in chlorophyll a associated with an increase in orthophosphate, but not total phosphorus or a warming epilimnion (0.05°C/year). Salinization from road deicing salts contributed to the largest deterioration in water quality. However, chloride concentrations and the current rate of increase are low enough that few ecological impacts are likely to occur over the next few decades. Increasing calcium concentrations were not high enough to facilitate the persistence of invasive species in the lake such as zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) but are sufficient for Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) and the spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus). Similar to other lakes, environmental legislation has supported recovery from acidification, indicated by reduced sulfate and nitrate, and increased alkalinity and pH. Declines in water quality were minor relative to other lakes, suggesting that decades of tourism and development occurred without major deterioration in water quality, but management efforts are needed to curb salinization in the Lake George watershed, particularly as it relates to sodium concentrations to prevent a loss of drinking water quality.
Mineral iron dissolution in Trichodesmium colonies: The role of O2 and pH microenvironments
Authors: Eichner Meri , Basu Subhajit , Wang Siyuan , de Beer Dirk , Shaked Yeala
Published: October 2019

Colonies of the N2‐fixing cyanobacterium Trichodesmium can harbor distinct chemical microenvironments that may assist the colonies in acquiring mineral iron from dust. Here, we characterized O2 and pH gradients in and around Trichodesmium colonies by microsensor measurements on > 170 colonies collected in the Gulf of Eilat over ∼ 2 months. O2 concentrations and pH values in the center of single colonies decreased in the dark due to respiration, reaching minimum values of 70 μmol L−1 and 7.7, whereas in the light, O2 and pH increased due to photosynthesis, reaching maximum values of 410 μmol L−1 and 8.6. Addition of dust and bacteria and increasing colony size influenced O2 and pH levels in the colonies, yet values remained within the range observed in single natural colonies. However, lower values down to 60 μmol L−1 O2 and pH 7.5 were recorded in the dark in dense surface accumulations of Trichodesmium. Using radiolabelled ferrihydrite, we examined the effect of these conditions on mineral iron dissolution and availability to Trichodesmium. Dark‐incubated colonies did not acquire iron from ferrihydrite faster than light‐incubated colonies, indicating that the dark‐induced decrease in pH and O2 within single colonies is too small to significantly increase mineral iron bioavailability. Yet, ligand‐promoted dissolution of ferrihydrite, a mechanism likely applied by Trichodesmum for acquiring mineral iron, did increase at the lower pH levels observed in surface accumulations. Thus, Trichodesmium surface blooms in their final stage may harbor chemical conditions that enhance the dissolution and bioavailability of mineral iron to the associated microbial community.
ETV4 overexpression promotes progression of non–small cell lung cancer by upregulating PXN and MMP1 transcriptionally
Authors: Wang Yan , Ding Xiaosong , Liu Bei , Li Minglei , Chang Ying , Shen Haitao , Xie Shelly M. , Xing Lingxiao , Li Yuehong
Published: October 2019

ETS variant 4 (ETV4), together with ETV1 and ETV5, constitute the PEA3 subfamily of ETS transcription factors, which are implicated in the progression of many cancers. However, the clinicopathologic significance and molecular events regulated by ETV4 in lung cancer are still poorly understood, especially in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Here, we aimed to identify functional targets involved in ETV4‐driven lung tumorigenesis. Microarray analysis and validation data revealed that ETV4 was the most preponderant PEA3 factor, which was significantly related to the advanced stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis of non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs; all P < .001). Reduced ETV4 expression suppressed the growth and metastasis of NSCLC both in vivo and in vitro. Microarray, gain, or loss of function and luciferase report assays revealed the direct regulatory effect of ETV4 on the expression of focal adhesion gene PXN and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), and PXN and/or MMP1 inhibition partially abolished cell proliferation and migration induced by ETV4. Kaplan‐Meier analysis indicated that ETV4 and PXN or MMP1 co‐overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in human NSCLCs. In conclusion, the ETV4‐PXN and ETV4‐MMP1 axes are useful biomarkers of tumor progression and worse outcomes in NSCLCs.
On the well‐posedness of periodic problems for the system of hyperbolic equations with finite time delay
Authors: Assanova Anar T. , Iskakova Narkesh B. , Orumbayeva Nurgul T.
Published: October 2019

A periodic problem for the system of hyperbolic equations with finite time delay is investigated. The investigated problem is reduced to an equivalent problem, consisting the family of periodic problems for a system of ordinary differential equations with finite delay and integral equations using the method of a new functions introduction. Relationship of periodic problem for the system of hyperbolic equations with finite time delay and the family of periodic problems for the system of ordinary differential equations with finite delay is established. Algorithms for finding approximate solutions of the equivalent problem are constructed, and their convergence is proved. Criteria of well‐posedness of periodic problem for the system of hyperbolic equations with finite time delay are obtained.
The mean field kinetic equation for interacting particle systems with non‐Lipschitz force
Authors: Yin Qitao , Chen Li , Göttlich Simone
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we prove the global existence of the weak solution to the mean field kinetic equation derived from the N‐particle Newtonian system. For L1∩L∞ initial data, the solvability of the mean field kinetic equation can be obtained by using uniform estimates and compactness arguments while the difficulties arising from the nonlocal nonlinear interaction are tackled appropriately using the Aubin‐Lions compact embedding theorem.
Offer multiple interview formats to find best candidates for programs
Authors: Pavlik Amelia
Published: October 2019

Interviews can play an important role when it comes to helping you decide if students are a fit for your program. But from in‐person to online options for interviewing, how do you choose the one that suits your available resources and needs best?
Use inquiry forms effectively to boost recruitment efforts
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: October 2019

TORONTO — Recruiting students to graduate programs is a challenging business. The Trump administration has made it even more difficult with its travel bans and visa restrictions, said Robert Ruiz, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment at Liaison.
What is mobile‐first design? Why does it matter?
Authors: Talarico Donna
Published: October 2019

I'll go ahead and say it: While I spend too much time on my iPhone, I prefer doing serious research and transactional tasks on a desktop computer. You might, too.
Master the art of marketing your programs to internal audiences
Authors: Pavlik Amelia
Published: October 2019

“What is it?” That's one of the top questions Jennie Harrop receives regarding the degree‐completion program at George Fox University in Oregon.
pH‐Sensitive methacrylic acid–methyl methacrylate copolymer Eudragit L100 and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, and methyl methacrylate tri‐copolymer Eudragit E100
Authors: Sester Coraline , Ofridam Fabrice , Lebaz Noureddine , Gagnière Emilie , Mangin Denis , Elaissari Abdelhamid
Published: October 2019

Poly (methyl methacrylate) derivatives such as Eudragit are largely used for drug encapsulation and in controlled oral drug delivery. With special focusing on those applications, solubilization and precipitation conditions of two pH‐sensitive Eudragit polymers, namely, L100 and E100, were investigated via systematic studies. Effects of various physicochemical parameters such as pH, polymer concentration, salinity, buffer concentration, and incubation time on the solubilization and precipitation of these polymers were investigated. In addition, pH titration of both polymers was reported. Considering both macroscopic and quantitative aspects such as the final mean particle size, size distribution, morphology, and the zeta potential, it was established that the different precited parameters could not be dissociated and exert a synergic action on the solubilization and precipitation of both polymers. Titration curves revealed two equivalences that helped estimating carboxylic content of Eudragit L100 (6 mmol/g) and ammonium content of Eudragit E100 (4 mmol/g). In this study, the solubilization and the precipitation domains were for the first time clearly established by considering the above‐mentioned parameters. Moreover, it was found that Eudragit L100 and E100 cannot be considered as classic polyelectrolytes; in fact, solubilization and precipitation domains were not affected by ionic strength.
How to use noninvasive positive airway pressure device data reports to guide clinical care
Authors: Perrem Lucy , Mehta Kevan , Syed Faiza , Baker Adele , Amin Reshma
Published: October 2019

There has been a significant increase in the past few decades in the number of children receiving noninvasive positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy at home. At present, PAP therapy can be successfully used in children of all ages, for a variety of indications. Data acquired from PAP devices is clinically useful, providing objective information regarding adherence, leak, and efficacy of PAP therapy. However, guidelines outlining a standardized approach to interpretation of PAP device data in pediatrics is currently lacking. Given the rapidly expanding use of PAP therapy in pediatric practice, we aim to provide an overview of the interpretation of data reports, otherwise called “data downloads,” from PAP devices and illustrate how they can be used to guide clinical care.
Do different cross‐project defect prediction methods identify the same defective modules?
Authors: Chen Xiang , Mu Yanzhou , Qu Yubin , Ni Chao , Liu Meng , He Tong , Liu Shangqing
Published: October 2019

Cross‐project defect prediction (CPDP) is needed when the target projects are new projects or the projects have less training data, since these projects do not have sufficient historical data to build high‐quality prediction models. The researchers have proposed many CPDP methods, and previous studies have conducted extensive comparisons on the performance of different CPDP methods. However, to the best of our knowledge, it remains unclear whether different CPDP methods can identify the same defective modules, and this issue has not been thoroughly explored. In this article, we select 12 state‐of‐the‐art CPDP methods, including eight supervised methods and four unsupervised methods. We first compare the performance of these methods in the same experiment settings on five widely used datasets (ie, NASA, SOFTLAB, PROMISE, AEEEM, and ReLink) and rank these methods via the Scott‐Knott test. Final results confirm the competitiveness of unsupervised methods. Then we perform diversity analysis on defective modules for these methods by using the McNemar test. Empirical results verify that different CPDP methods may lead to difference in the modules predicted as defective, especially when the comparison is performed between the supervised methods and unsupervised methods. Finally, we also find there exist a certain number of defective modules, which cannot be correctly identified by any of the CPDP methods or can be correctly identified by only one CPDP method. These findings can be utilized to design more effective methods to further improve the performance of CPDP.
Investigation into the sub‐lethal effects of the triazole fungicide triticonazole in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos/larvae
Authors: Souders Christopher L. , Perez‐Rodriguez Veronica , El Ahmadie Nader , Zhang Xujia , Tischuk Claire , Martyniuk Christopher J.
Published: October 2019

Global use of azole fungicides is expected to increase over the next several years. Triticonazole is a triazole fungicide that is used for turf protection, residential, and other commercial applications. As such, it can enter local rural and urban water systems via run‐off and rain events. Early life stages of aquatic organisms can be susceptible to pesticides that enter the water, but in the case of triticonazole, data on the potential for subacute toxicity are lacking. Here, we determined the effects of triticonazole on development, oxygen consumption rates, and locomotor activity in zebrafish to address this knowledge gap. Wild‐type zebrafish (ABTu strain) embryos and larvae were exposed to triticonazole (1‐100 μM) in early development for different lengths of time depending on the assay conducted. Triticonazole did not affect survival nor induce significant deformity (pericardial edema, skeletal defects) in zebrafish at doses up to 100 μM. Oxygen consumption rate was measured in embryos after 24 and 48 hour exposure to triticonazole beginning at ∼6 hpf using the XFe flux analyzer. Triticonazole did not affect basal respiration, oligomycin‐induced ATP linked respiration, FCCP‐induced maximum respiration, proton leak, spare capacity, nor non‐mitochondrial respiration at doses up to 100 μM for 24 hours, even for exposure up to 250 μM for 48 hours. To determine whether the fungicide affected larval swimming activity, the visual motor response test was conducted following triticonazole exposure for 6 days. Larval zebrafish exposed to triticonazole showed hypoactivity in the dark following a 100 μM treatment, suggesting that the fungicide can affect the locomotor activity of zebrafish, albeit at relatively high levels. Given the fact that sublethal biological responses were absent at lower environmentally relevant concentrations, we conclude that triticonazole, relative to other triazole fungicides and types of pesticides, exhibits a relatively low risk of toxicity to the early life stages of fish.
Effects of extreme environmental conditions on white‐tailed deer antlers
Authors: Peterson Brian C. , Schoenebeck Casey W. , Fryda Nicolas J.
Published: October 2019

Antler size and morphology is the resultant combination of deer age, nutrition, and genetics. Additionally, extreme environmental conditions can affect deer health, which may influence current and future antler metrics. Throughout the antler development season of 2012, the Nebraska, USA, white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herd experienced a combination of extreme environmental conditions including extreme drought and disease, which we hypothesized would negatively affect antler size and morphology. Our objectives were to evaluate whether 1) age‐specific antler metrics differed between deer stressed by an extreme environmental condition year compared with nonextreme condition years, and 2) subsequent age‐specific antler metrics of a cohort born during an extreme environmental condition year differed from those born during nonextreme condition years. We measured antler metrics on harvested white‐tailed deer from central Nebraska for an 8‐year period (2009–2016) that spanned the extreme environmental condition year. Over this same time period, we measured pedicle seal depth on naturally cast antlers. Some trends were apparent for specific antler metrics in particular age groups; but, overall, antler metrics measured from harvested deer were not consistently affected during the extreme environmental condition year. Conversely, pedicle seal depths responded to environmental stressors and were smaller during the extreme environmental condition year compared with nonextreme condition years. We found effects to persist for years following extreme environmental stress—antler metrics of the extreme environmental condition cohort were smaller compared with nonextreme years. These results suggest that stressors caused by extreme environmental conditions can affect deer health and be indexed using sensitive metrics taken on cast antlers. Furthermore, effects on antler metrics can persist, affecting subsequent antler expression for cohorts that experience extreme environmental conditions during their first year of life. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
SrIr9In18 – A Structurally Complex Intermetallic Compound with Sr@Ir4In12, Ir@In8 and Ir@In9 Building Units
Authors: Heying Birgit , Hoffmann Rolf‐Dieter , Kösters Jutta , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: October 2019

Single crystals of SrIr9In18 were obtained by induction melting of the elements in a glassy carbon crucible followed by annealing at 1070 K. SrIr9In18 was structurally characterized by X‐ray powder and single crystal diffraction: P4m2, a = 811.21(5), c = 854.49(5) pm, wR2 = 0.0511, 1223 F2 values, and 46 variables. The structure is of a new type. The basic building units are Ir@In8 (distorted square‐prismatic, square anti‐prismatic and bicapped trigonal prismatic coordination) and Ir@In9 (distorted trigonal prismatic coordination) polyhedra, which condense to a three‐dimensional network, which leaves large cavities for the strontium cations, which are coordinated to four iridium and twelve indium atoms. The [Ir9In18]2– polyanionic network is stabilized through Ir–In (267–290 pm) and In–In (302–354 pm) bonding.
Synthesizing optimally resilient controllers
Authors: Neider Daniel , Weinert Alexander , Zimmermann Martin
Published: October 2019

Recently, Dallal, Neider, and Tabuada studied a generalization of the classical game-theoretic model used in program synthesis, which additionally accounts for unmodeled intermittent disturbances. In this extended framework, one is interested in computing optimally resilient strategies, i.e., strategies that are resilient against as many disturbances as possible. Dallal, Neider, and Tabuada showed how to compute such strategies for safety specifications. In this work, we compute optimally resilient strategies for a much wider range of winning conditions and show that they do not require more memory than winning strategies in the classical model. Our algorithms only have a polynomial overhead in comparison to the ones computing winning strategies. In particular, for parity conditions, optimally resilient strategies are positional and can be computed in quasipolynomial time.
Honeycomb sterna: an unusual case of a developmental abnormality in the sternum
Authors: Hirst Cara Stella , White S. , Siek T. , Gasparik A.
Published: October 2019

This report details an unusual case of a human sternal developmental abnormality of an anatomical specimen part of the skeletal collection curated by University College London, Anthropology Department skeletal collection. This rarely reported developmental abnormality is caused by the non-fusion of lateral ossification centres in the sternebrae, resulting in the mesosternum having a honeycomb-like appearance. Sternal defects are typically underreported in the clinical literature as many cases being asymptomatic that they are typically diagnosed incidentally, as such there is a dearth in our current understanding of the development and anatomical variants of the sternum. Although in recent years, large-scale CT studies have investigated the prevalence of sternal developmental abnormalities, these studies have not reported sternal defects similar to the individual presented in this report. While most sternal defects are clinically uneventful, the lack of awareness of these variants can result in misinterpretation of radiological and pathological findings as such an understanding of anatomical variants even when asymptomatic is vital.
Mice expressing the variant rs1143679 allele of ITGAM (CD11b) show impaired DC-mediated T cell proliferation
Authors: Avery Justin T. , Jimenez Rachel V. , Blake Joseph L. , Wright Tyler T. , Leόn-Ruiz Beatriz , Schoeb Trenton R. , Szalai Alexander J. , Bullard Daniel C.
Published: October 2019

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and functional genomic analyses have implicated severalITGAM(CD11b) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the development of SLE and other disorders.ITGAMencodes the αMchain of the β2integrin Mac-1, a receptor that plays important roles in myeloid cell functions. TheITGAMSNP rs1143679, which results in an arginine to histidine change at amino acid position 77 of the CD11b protein, has been shown to reduce binding to several ligands and to alter Mac-1-mediated cellular response in vitro. Importantly, however, the potential contribution of this SNP variant to the initiation and/or progression of immune and inflammatory processes in vivo remains unexplored. Herein, we describe for the first time the generation and characterization of a mouse line expressing the 77His variant of CD11b. Surprisingly, we found that 77His did not significantly affect Mac-1-mediated leukocyte migration and activation as assessed using thioglycollate-induced peritonitis and LPS/TNF-α-induced dermal inflammation models. In contrast, expression of this variant did alter T cell immunity, as evidenced by significantly reduced proliferation of ovalbumin (OVA)-specific transgenic T cells in 77His mice immunized with OVA. Reduced antigen-specific T cell proliferation was also observed when either 77His splenic dendritic cells (DCs) or bone marrow-derived DCs were used as antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Although more work is necessary to determine how this alteration might influence the development of SLE or other diseases, these in vivo findings suggest that the 77His variant of CD11b can compromise the ability of DCs to induce antigen-driven T cell proliferation.
Analysis of the comprehensive management of sewage sludge in Poland
Authors: Przydatek Grzegorz , Wota Aldona Katarzyna
Published: October 2019

The methods of sewage sludge management in Poland have largely been determined by the legal requirements related to the Poland’s membership in the European Union. Since 1st January 2016, sewage sludge landfilling is prohibited. It must be emphasised that legal changes regarding wastewater management, along with the systematic increase in the volume of produced sludge, entail the necessity to change the existing method of sewage sludge management. This paper contains an analysis of solutions for management of sewage sludge produced in Poland over the period of 8 years. The goal of the work was an assessment of comprehensive management of sewage sludge produced in Poland from 2009 to 2016. Despite the decrease in the agricultural use of sewage sludge, their average share of 32% was the highest among other forms of sewage sludge management in Poland. Another form, related with the final stage of sewage sludge management, concerned its thermal processing. It was treated as a promising method, with a 19% increase over the analysed period. An optimal solution should be found to ensure safe management of sewage sludge.
Surgical Strategies for the Treatment of Lumbar Pseudarthrosis in Degenerative Spine Surgery: A Literature Review and Case Study
Authors: Derman Peter B. , Singh Kern
Published: October 2019

Background

Pseudarthrosis after lumbar fusion can generate pain and disability and often requires revision. However, results of revision procedures have historically been relatively poor.

Questions/Purpose

The aim of this review was to examine the current evidence related to the management of lumbar pseudarthrosis, with a focus on revision after failure of posterolateral fusion or lumbar interbody fusion.

Methods

A review of orthopedic spine literature published before March 2019 was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Studies addressing revision after failed posterolateral fusions and after failed interbody fusion were selected. We also present a case of successful revision after failed transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).

Results

The review revealed that persistent pseudarthrosis after revision posterolateral fusion occurs at rates of 35 to 51%. No significant difference has been demonstrated in rates of successful fusion after anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and ALIF with revision posterolateral fusion for pseudarthroses after failed TLIF procedures (81% versus 88%), although ALIF alone may be appealing because it avoids further disruption of the posterior musculature. No significant differences have been observed in quality-of-life scores among patients undergoing revision after posterolateral fusion, TLIF, ALIF, or ALIF with posterior fusion. Failed TLIF cages may be extracted and replaced through an anterior or lateral approach. If the geometry of the failed cage permits insertion of a second cage, a contralateral approach may be used. Revision retroperitoneal approaches are associated with higher complication rates.

Conclusions

The management of lumbar pseudarthrosis requires careful planning, as well as intra-operative attention to detail, for revision surgery to be successful. Circumferential procedures have shown success in revision posterolateral and interbody fusion failures.
Finet’s Law as a Special Case of the Generalised Murray’s Law
Authors: Zieliński Jakub , Nowosielski Jędrzej M.
Published: October 2019

A thorough knowledge of statistical properties of the coronary artery tree is very important in cardiology. We present generalised form of Murray’s law—the first law that described the relationship between vessel diameters in bifurcation. We show that other frequently used laws: Huo-Kassab and Finet’s rules are the special cases of its generalised form. We show theoretically that the Finet’s law is met with an apparently paradoxical relationship between the lengths and diameters of the vessels. Based on the analysis of CT 3D scans, we show that in the left coronary artery the diameters and lengths of vessels are inversely proportional which explains the applicability of the Finet’s law. We justify theoretically the value of coefficient defining Finet’s law.
Ragweed in Denmark: Should We Prevent Introduction or Mitigate Damages?
Authors: Schou Jesper S. , Jensen Frank
Published: October 2019

In this article, we conduct a number of benefit–cost analyses to clarify whether the establishment of ragweed in Denmark should be prevented (pure prevention) or if the damage from this invasive species should be mitigated (pure mitigation). The main impact of the establishment of ragweed in Denmark would be a substantial increase in the number of allergy cases, which we use as a measure of the physical damage from this species. As valuation methods, we use both the cost-of-illness and benefit transfer methods to quantify the total gross benefits of these two policy actions. Based on the idea of an invasion function, we identify the total and average net benefits under both prevention and mitigation and find that all are significantly positive regardless of the valuation method. Therefore, both prevention and mitigation are beneficial policy actions, but the total and average net benefits under mitigation are larger than those under prevention in all the scenarios we consider. This finding implies that the former policy action is more beneficial. Despite this result, we propose that prevention, not mitigation, may be the proper policy because of information externalities, altruistic preferences, possible catastrophic events, and ethical considerations.
A tribe as an economic actor: The Cihanbeyli tribe and the meat provisioning of İstanbul in the early Tanzimat era
Authors: Köksal Yonca , Polatel Mehmet
Published: October 2019

This article studies how the Cihanbeyli tribe became a crucial economic actor for the meat supply of İstanbul, by focusing on a conflict between the tribe’s leader, Alişan Bey, and the Russian trader David Savalan, which lasted from the 1840s to the 1850s in and around the province of Ankara. Two important processes of the early Tanzimat era had an impact on the Cihanbeyli’s role in animal trade. First, as part of the centralization project of the Tanzimat, the Cihanbeyli tribe was sedentarized in the 1840s and 1850s. Second, although the Ottoman state adopted liberal economic policies during the Tanzimat, the provisioning of meat to the imperial capital continued until 1857. Therefore, the article examines the Cihanbeyli’s role in the animal trade in the light of these administrative and economic changes. Our findings support the argument that tribes were an integral part of the imperial economy, politics, and society. The dependence of the Ottoman state on the supply of meat by the Cihanbeyli increased significantly from the seventeenth to the mid-nineteenth century. This opposes the conventional view that posits tribes as primordial forms hindering economic and social development in the modernization processes of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
How Empathic Concern Fuels Political Polarization
Authors: SIMAS ELIZABETH N. , CLIFFORD SCOTT , KIRKLAND JUSTIN H.
Published: October 2019

Over the past two decades, there has been a marked increase in partisan social polarization, leaving scholars in search of solutions to partisan conflict. The psychology of intergroup relations identifies empathy as one of the key mechanisms that reduces intergroup conflict, and some have suggested that a lack of empathy has contributed to partisan polarization. Yet, empathy may not always live up to this promise. We argue that, in practice, the experience of empathy is biased toward one’s ingroup and can actually exacerbate political polarization. First, using a large, national sample, we demonstrate that higher levels of dispositional empathic concern are associated with higher levels of affective polarization. Second, using an experimental design, we show that individuals high in empathic concern show greater partisan bias in evaluating contentious political events. Taken together, our results suggest that, contrary to popular views, higher levels of dispositional empathy actually facilitate partisan polarization.
Gauging the effectiveness of canal occlusion surgery: how I do it
Authors: Hassannia F , Douglas-Jones P , Rutka J A
Published: October 2019

Background

Transmastoid occlusion of the posterior or superior semicircular canal is an effective and safe management option in patients with refractory benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or symptomatic superior semicircular canal dehiscence. A method of quantifying successful canal occlusion surgery is described.

Methods

This paper presents representative patients with intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or symptomatic superior semicircular canal dehiscence, who underwent transmastoid occlusion of the posterior or superior semicircular canal respectively. Vestibular function was assessed pre- and post-operatively. The video head impulse test was included as a measure of semicircular canal and vestibulo-ocular reflex functions.

Results

Post-operative video head impulse testing showed reduced vestibulo-ocular reflex gain in occluded canals. Gain remained normal in the non-operated canals. Post-operative audiometry demonstrated no change in hearing in the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patient and slight hearing improvement in the superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome patient.

Conclusion

Transmastoid occlusion of the posterior or superior semicircular canal is effective and safe for treating troublesome benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or symptomatic superior semicircular canal dehiscence. Post-operative video head impulse testing demonstrating a reduction in vestibulo-ocular reflex gain can reliably confirm successful occlusion of the canal and is a useful adjunct in post-operative evaluation.
Improving clinical undergraduate experience in otolaryngology: an audit of practice
Authors: Mayer A W , Carrie S
Published: October 2019

Background

Otolaryngology is under-represented in UK medical schools. This presents challenges in terms of exposing students to the diversity of otolaryngology, as well as ‘showcasing’ the specialty as a career option. This study aimed to audit the impact of a change in the delivery of final year tuition on student satisfaction.

Method

Participants were final year medical students completing a 2-day otolaryngology placement. A novel teaching programme was developed in response to feedback from students who completed a baseline teaching programme. The novel programme was evaluated over a 10-week period using questionnaires.

Results

Fifty-eight participants completed the novel programme questionnaire. Overall, there was a positive impact on student satisfaction. Students completing the novel programme expressed a desire for increased otolaryngology placement.

Conclusion

This approach is an effective means of teaching otolaryngology to undergraduates. A mutual desire for greater exposure to otolaryngology in the undergraduate curriculum is held by medical students and otolaryngologists.
Is the atonement necessary or fitting?
Authors: JEFFREY ANNE
Published: October 2019

In her impressive Atonement, Eleonore Stump claims that her novel Marian theory of the atonement meets a desideratum for a successful theory that Aquinas's theory does not, namely, showing that Christ's passion and death are essential to the solution to the problem of human sin. Here I suggest reasons to side with Aquinas, who says that Christ's suffering and death are not necessary, but merely a fitting way of solving the problem. If the fittingness of Christ's passion and death is a good enough justification for it, we lose a motivation for adopting the Marian theory over the Thomistic one.
Atonement: an overview
Authors: STUMP ELEONORE
Published: October 2019

The doctrine of the atonement is the distinctive doctrine of Christianity. Over the course of many centuries of reflection, highly diverse interpretations of the doctrine have been proposed. In the context of this history of interpretation, Eleonore Stump considers the doctrine afresh with philosophical care in her book Atonement. This article is an overview of the book.
Bringing Women on Board: The Social Policy Implications of Gender Diversity in Top Jobs
Authors: KOWALEWSKA HELEN
Published: October 2019

This paper argues that analyses of the gendered character of welfare states should be broadened to include women’s share of board and executive roles, as well as the affirmative-action policies (e.g. gender boardroom quotas) that help to overcome the gender stereotypes (e.g. women are ‘nice’, men are ‘assertive’) and opaque selection procedures at the root of this. Such indicators may seem beyond the remit of social policy analysis, which is concerned foremost with the analysis of ‘social risk’. However, drawing on evidence from across multiple disciplines, this paper argues that achieving a ‘critical mass’ of women in board and executive positions can bring women’s issues onto companies’ agendas and lead to the adoption of female-friendly practices, policies, and cultures at the firm level. Crucially, these practices, policies, and cultures can help to reduce the incidence of gendered social risks (employment/care conflicts, economic dependence on a partner) and sexual harassment among women at lower levels of the labour market. Thus, the paper highlights another dimension to the social-regulatory function of welfare states which has to date been overlooked, namely legislative requirements on companies to achieve gender diversity in their leadership structures.
How Men Valued Women's Work: Labour In and Outside the Home in Post-War Britain
Authors: King Laura
Published: October 2019

This article examines men's valuing of women's work in the post-1945 period. It considers men's perspectives on female labour in and outside the home in the context of women's wartime work, the increase in married women working and the greater involvement of men in family life. I argue that men saw their wives’ and partners’ work as of lesser value than their own, in various ways, even if the money women's paid work brought in could significantly improve living standards. This was true even in the most caring, loving relationships. The article employs a broad definition of value, considering the social and cultural value of work alongside its economic outcomes. It places subjective accounts from interviews within a wider cultural and political context and contributes a new perspective to post-war British historiography by focusing on both paid labour and domestic work, and the negotiation of value between men and women.
Charity, Activism and Social Justice: Revisiting Christian Aid's Role in Public Campaigns for Fair Trade, 1968–1973
Authors: Anderson Matthew
Published: October 2019

The 1960s was the moment when NGOs established their role within the professional world of international development. There were new networks emerging and new approaches to development – but there were also longer-term trends and challenges that resurfaced about the role of charity, activism and social justice. Previous research has shown how Christian networks were instrumental in establishing local fair trade campaigns. This article investigates the extent to which Christian Aid contributed to fair trade campaigns by providing a moral social force in public debates about social justice, international development and global trade.
Labour, Gender and Deindustrialisation: Women Workers at Fiat (Italy, 1970s–1980s)
Authors: Bracke Maud Anne
Published: October 2019

The article presents an in-depth analysis of the struggle for gender equality in hiring, as well as campaigns for parental leave and demands for improved work conditions, by female workers in manufacturing industry in 1970s–80s Italy. The case study is focused on Fiat in Turin, a highly significant site given its economic role in Italy and Europe, and its history of social conflict and radical workforce. Against the backdrop of dramatic changes in gender relations since the 1960s, ongoing industrial unrest since 1968 and the introduction of new gender-equality legislation, fatefully coinciding with the onset of deindustrialisation and the rise of unemployment in manufacturing, trade union feminism presented an original and, viewed in hindsight, highly significant agenda. The events in Fiat demonstrate the extent to which new demands and ideas regarding the value of women's work became acceptable in the workers’ movement and in society at large, but also reveal the obstacles which the feminist politics of work encountered, and the persistence of gender-based prejudice in understandings of the value of work in all its forms. The analysis is based on archive material, press and original interviews.