bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classification models and municipal bond ratings
Authors: Khan Aman
Published: December 2017

Bond rating studies have received and continue to receive considerable attention in the literature on government finance. This study focuses on two major issues of municipal bond ratings that occupy the center-stage of these discussions: What charac-teristics does a rating institution analyze when assigning rating to a government? How significant are these characteristics in predicting the ratings given by these institutions? Using a combination of economic, financial, and demographic factors, the study reexamines these questions on a select group of cities.
Defense expenditures and budgetary patterns in selected middle eastern and mediterranean countries: an assessment
Authors: Looney Robert E. , Frederiksen Peter C.
Published: December 2017

This paper examines the relationship between defense spending and budgetary allocations to various programs for twelve Middle Eastern and North African/Mediterranean countries in an attempt to see if spending patterns vary systematically with changes (both anticipated and unanticipated) in the budget deficit or defense expenditures. Detailed results are presented for Syria and Oman although general patterns are discussed for all countries. Not surprisingly, we found that budget tradeoffs are complex and reflect different priorities across countries. Increases in deficits can either offset or reinforce changes in defense spending. Defense and socio-economic tradeoffs vary considerably depending on whether the country spends relatively a lot or little on defense. We conclude that there are probably some long-run costs associated with sample countries cutting growth intensive programs to accommodate defense.
Contracting for 21st century infrastructure
Authors: Bowden Margaret C. , Klay William Earle
Published: December 2017

Contracting practice and theory is based upon a legal framework which impedes the attainment of value, defined as quality and cost containment. The manufacture of complex, highly technical infrastructure is especially impeded. Constraints of the legal framework are being overcome through innovative infrastructure contracting practices which maintain competitiveness and accountability, and simultaneously foster collaboration among the participants. Some of these innovations are discussed along with five projects which utilized one or more of them. A management framework for contracting based on a competitive/collaborative model is offered which emphasizes value, cooperation, long-term relationships, accountability and stewardship.
Revenue generation and expenditure implications of municipal non-utility enterprises
Authors: Stumm Theodore J.
Published: December 2017

Although municipal enterprise funds provide several advantages to cities in the provision of goods and services, little is known about how these municipally operated businesses affect other aspects of the fiscal management practices of the cities which use them. This is particularly true of non-utility enterprises. This study uses the concept of net revenue transfers to examine how five commonly used non-utility enterprises impact the tax, expenditure, and revenue generation practices of cities. The results provide a new perspective and counter some commonly held views about non-utility enterprises.
Two accounting standard setters: one industry
Authors: Fischer Mary
Published: December 2017

The ability of investors, taxpayers and researchers to compare financial statements issued by hospitals, universities and other governmental agencies is affected by their understanding of current accounting and reporting rules. Publicly owned not-for-profit organizations report different financial results from those that are privately owned. This study looks at the historical events that brought about the accounting and reporting divergences, discusses the recognition and reporting differences, and explores the implications for statement users.
The intergenerational consequences of retiree healthcare premiums: what is the evidence?
Authors: Sneed Cynthia S. , Sneed John E.
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this research is to examine the association between the unfunded OPEB liability and current expenditures for state governments as a measure of intergenerational equity. The research hypothesizes that states use the money to provide a higher level of current services than would be possible if the retiree healthcare premiums were fully funded. The results indicate that the current generation is receiving services but deferring the burden of paying for a portion of the services to future generations. This study is among the first to investigate the OPEB liability as a source of financing for current-period services for state governments.
Performance budgeting in florida b half way there(1)
Authors: Hendon Claude
Published: December 2017

This paper describes the implementation of performance-based program budgeting in the state of Florida. Obstacles to implementing this budget reform, such as multiple agency program structures, lack of program cost accounting information, and problems in performance measurement and goal setting are described. Recent attempts to overcome these issues and overall conclusions on the future of the budget reform are provided.
Effects of the Medicare Modernization Act on Spending for Outpatient Surgery
Authors: Hollingsworth John M. , Oerline Mary K. , Ellimoottil Chandy , Herrel Lindsey A. , Hollenbeck Brent K.
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To examine the effects of Medicare's revised ambulatory surgery center (ASC) payment schedule on overall payments for outpatient surgery.

Data Sources

Twenty percent sample of national Medicare beneficiaries.

Study Design

We conducted a pre–post study of Medicare beneficiaries who underwent outpatient surgery in a hospital outpatient department (HOPD), ASC, or physician office between 2004 and 2011. Specifically, we used multivariable regression to compare temporal trends in outpatient surgery before and after implementation of Medicare's revised payment schedule in 2008, which reduced ASC facility payments to roughly two‐thirds that of HOPDs. Our outcome measures included overall Medicare payments, utilization rates, per beneficiary spending, and average episode payments for outpatient surgery.

Principal Findings

Between the last quarters of 2007 and 2008, overall Medicare payments for outpatient surgery grew by $334 million—an amount nearly three times higher than would have been expected without the policy change (p < .001 for the difference). While utilization rates of outpatient surgery were attenuated, per beneficiary spending and average surgical episode payments increased by 10.4 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively, over the same period. By the end of 2011, Medicare payments for outpatient surgery reached $5.1 billion. Without the policy change, they would have totaled only $4.1 billion.

Conclusions

Despite lessening demand, reduced ASC facility payments did not curb spending for outpatient surgery. In fact, overall payments actually increased following the policy change, driven by higher average episode payments.
Development and Validation of a Short‐Form Safety Net Medical Home Scale
Authors: Nocon Robert S. , Gunter Kathryn E. , Gao Yue , Lee Sang Mee , Chin Marshall H.
Published: December 2017

Objective

To develop a short‐form Safety Net Medical Home Scale (SNMHS) for assessing patient‐centered medical home (PCMH) capability in safety net clinics.

Data Sources/Study Setting

National surveys of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). Interviews with FQHC directors.

Study Design

We constructed three short‐form SNMHS versions and examined correlations with full SNMHS and related primary care assessments. We tested usability with FQHC directors and reviewed scale development with an advisory group.

Data Collection

Federally qualified health center surveys were administered in 2009 and 2013, by mail and online. Usability testing was conducted through telephone interviews with FQHC directors in 2013.

Principal Findings

Six‐, 12‐, and 18‐question short‐form SNMHS versions had Pearson correlations with full scale of 0.84, 0.92, and 0.96, respectively. All versions showed a level of convergent validity with other primary care assessment scales comparable to the full SNMHS. User testers found short forms to be low‐burden, though missing some PCMH concepts. Advisory group members expressed caution over missing concepts and appropriate use of short‐form self‐assessments.

Conclusions

Short‐form versions of SNMHS showed strong correlations with full scale and may be useful for brief assessment of safety net PCMH capability. Each short‐form SNMHS version may be appropriate for different research, quality improvement, and assessment purposes.
Contribution of Histidine and Lysine to the Generation of Volatile Compounds in Jinhua Ham Exposed to Ripening Conditions Via Maillard Reaction
Authors: Zhu Chao‐Zhi , Zhao Jing‐Li , Tian Wei , Liu Yan‐Xia , Li Miao‐Yun , Zhao Gai‐Ming
Published: December 2017

To evaluate the role of Maillard reactions in the generation of flavor compounds in Jinhua ham, the reactions of glucose and ethanal with histidine and lysine, respectively, were studied by simulating the ripening conditions of Jinhua ham. The volatile products produced were analyzed using solid phase microextraction‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The results showed that 8 volatile compounds were generated by the reaction of glucose and histidine and 10 volatile compounds were generated by the reaction of glucose and lysine. Reactions of ethanal with lysine and with histidine both generated 31 volatile compounds that contributed to the flavor of Jinhua ham. This indicates that histidine and lysine related to Maillard reactions possibly play important roles in the generation of the unique flavor compounds in Jinhua ham. This research demonstrates that free amino acids participate in the generation of volatile compounds from Jinhua ham via the Maillard reaction and provides a basic mechanism to explain flavor formation in Jinhua ham.

Practical Application

Jinhua ham is a well‐known traditional Chinese dry‐cured meat product. However, the formation of the compounds comprising its special flavor is not well understood. Our results indicate that Maillard reactions occur in Jinhua ham under ripening conditions. This work illustrates the contribution of Maillard reactions to the flavor of Jinhua ham.
Rescue excavation of a third‐millennium BC tomb at Al‐Khubayb, Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Döpper Stephanie
Published: December 2017

A third‐millennium BC tomb was subject to a rescue excavation in connection with the construction of a new road near the village of Al‐Khubayb in the Sultanate of Oman. It yielded a small number of finds, especially small metal objects that belonged to a later reuse of the tomb in the Samad period. As all diagnostic finds from the tomb date to the reuse, its architectural elements were the only indicator for the construction date of the tomb. Besides its small size and large wall thickness, which might suggest that the tomb is a transitional type between the Hafit and the Umm an‐Nar periods, its separation into two chambers and its facade made of white, dressed stones, can be seen as a clue for a construction date of the tomb in the Umm an‐Nar period.
The Dynamic Nature of Self‐Assessed Health (SAH) as a Function of Negative and Positive Affects among Cardiac Patients
Authors: Peleg Shira , Drori Erga , Banai Shmuel , Finkelstein Ariel , Shiloh Shoshana
Published: December 2017

Background

Self‐assessed health (SAH) predicts health outcomes above and beyond medical variables. One of the explanations for this robust finding is the sensitivity of SAH to changes in multiple aspects of health, including emotional factors. We assessed the dynamic nature of SAH by longitudinally examining the associations between initial and change levels of SAH and positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA).

Methods

Participants were 138 cardiac patients undergoing coronary angioplasty. Self‐report questionnaires measured SAH, PA, and NA, one day and one month after catheterisation.

Results

Means of SAH and NA did not change between measurement points, but PA decreased. Cross‐lagged analysis indicated that the best model for representing the data included a path from affect at hospitalisation to SAH one month later; that is, lower NA (but not PA) at hospitalisation predicted higher SAH a month later. A latent change model analysis also revealed that NA (but not PA) at hospitalisation predicted changes in SAH (but SAH did not predict changes in negative or positive affect); and that increases in positive affect and decreases in negative affect were linked to increases in SAH.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the importance of NA as an indicator of SAH and SAH change, and provide further insights into the dynamics of SAH in cardiac patients.
Strong but taxon‐specific responses of termites and wood‐nesting ants to forest regeneration in Borneo
Authors: Kimber Annie , Eggleton Paul
Published: December 2017

Land use change is accelerating globally at the expense of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Invertebrates are numerically dominant and functionally important in old growth tropical rain forests but highly susceptible to the adverse effects of forest degradation and fragmentation. Ants (Formicidae) and termites (Blattodea: Termitoidae) perform crucial ecosystem services. Here, the potential effects of anthropogenic disturbance on ant and termite communities in dead wood are investigated. Community composition, generic richness, and occupancy rates of ants and termites were compared among two old growth sites (Danum Valley and Maliau Basin) and one twice‐logged site (the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems’ (SAFE) Project), in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Occupancy was measured as the number of ant or termite encounters (1) per deadwood items, and (2) per deadwood volume, and acts as surrogates for relative abundance (or generic richness). Termites had a lower wood‐occupancy per volume in logged forest. In contrast, there were more ant encounters, and more ant genera, in logged sites and there was a community shift (especially, there were moreCrematogasterencounters). The disruption of soil and canopy structure in logged forest may reduce both termite and fungal decay rates, inducing increased deadwood residence times and therefore favoring ants that nest in dead wood. There is an anthropogenic‐induced shift of dead wood in ants and termites in response to disturbance in tropical rain forests and the nature of that shift is taxon‐specific.
The futures of Canadian governance: Foresight competencies for public administration in the digital era
Authors: Jones Peter
Published: December 2017

Evidence‐based practice has advanced in public administration, with increasing reliance on social research and population sampling in decision making. Yet the evidence‐based turn risks marginalizing the value of strategic foresight and futures competencies in informing policy and planning. Where evidence enables policymakers to select the best near‐term course of action, future outcomes are inferred and projected, and not determined by past evidence. Foresight provides a necessary competency for defining and investing in the right direction of future policy and action, by articulating future problematics with multiple foresight methods. While social and technological futures cannot be precisely predicted, future scenarios and prospectuses can be designed to inform options and trajectories for intervention and new policy. The emerging area of digital‐era governance is examined, where complex scenarios for future policies are based on present evidence (such as trends) and informed speculation to formulate policies and options in dynamically changing societal contexts.
Regional distribution patterns can predict the local habitat specialization of arachnids in heterogeneous landscapes of the Atlantic Forest
Authors: Porto Tiago Jordão , Pinto‐da‐Rocha Ricardo , da Rocha Pedro Luís Bernardo
Published: December 2017

Aim

This study formally evaluates the ability of three models to use geographical data on species distribution to predict the habitat use patterns of species in heterogeneous landscapes.

Location

Species and habitats in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest were investigated.

Methods

Based on empirical data on harvestmen and scorpions, we estimated the strength of species association with preferred habitat and classified them as habitat generalists or habitat specialists. We compared these empirical results with predictions made using data on species range size (model 1), species occurrence in biomes (model 2) and species occurrence in habitats within the biomes (model 3).

Results

We used 1,278 records of eight harvestman and two scorpion species that had specific determination and enough sampling numbers to allow safe identification of habitat specialization. We observed the following: (1) the extension of species occurrence did not influence the strength of species–habitat association (estimated by IndVal), which led us to reject model 1; (2) species habitat specialization derived from occurrences in biomes was 60% coincident with the classification derived from empirical data. This value is not different enough from the value expected by chance for these data, which also led us to reject model 2; and (3) species classification derived from secondary data about the habitats used had a significant coincidence of 80% with the empirical classification, which led us to accept model 3.

Main conclusions

For correct classification of species habitat specialization using secondary distributional data, we recommend that future studies consider using the most accurate information available on the habitats used by species. Especially for megadiverse and understudied groups, information about habitats used is not easy to obtain, so it is important for researchers and institutions to register and disseminate this information, which could support many other studies.
Devonshire marbles: history of the industry and the geology of these classic British ornamental stones
Authors: Walkden Gordon
Published: December 2017

Devonshire ‘marbles’ come from Mid– to Late Devonian limestones of south Devon, UK. They are not true marbles in the geological sense but were nonetheless tectonically buried during the Variscan orogenesis. They retain abundant palaeontological and sedimentological characters, overstamped by limited to extensive veining, deformation and brecciation. Recent work has revealed how these marbles have been used to decorate a wealth of buildings in Britain and overseas. There were two distinct industries, one that produced decorative marble for architectural use, and one that produced portable artefacts such as specimen marble tables and ornaments. The stones used in these two sister industries can be very different, a result of different sourcing of the same Devonshire limestones. A third industry sought to slice and polish local limestone pebbles to reveal their diverse coral, stromatoporoid and other fossil contents, and was aimed at tourists, collectors and museums. The history and early development of the marble industry are explored and the distinct characteristics of the stones used in Devonshire marble inlay are explained. The stones used in the parallel architectural trade are analysed elsewhere.
The role of sclerostin/dickkopf‐1 and receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand/osteoprotegerin signalling pathways in the development of osteoporosis in patients with haemophilia A and B: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Anagnostis P. , Vakalopoulou S. , Christoulas D. , Paschou S. A. , Papatheodorou A. , Garipidou V. , Kokkoris P. , Terpos E.
Published: December 2017

Aim

Haemophilia A and B are associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to assess circulating sclerostin and dickkopf‐1 (Dkk‐1), (inhibitors of osteoblastic differentiation), as well as the receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) system (the major regulator of osteoclastogenesis), in patients with haemophilia (PWH), their possible correlations with clinical risk factors and the effect of ibandronate on these markers.

Methods

Eighty‐nine malePWH(mean age 45.9 ± 15.3 years) and 30 age‐matched healthy male controls participated.BMDwas assessed byDXA. Sclerostin, Dkk‐1,RANKLandOPGwere measured in serum of patients, controls, as well as in ten patients receiving oral ibandronate (150 mg/mo), at baseline and after 12 months.

Results

Patients with haemophilia had lower circulating sclerostin (median ± IQR: 47.4 ± 26.93 vs 250 ± 250 pmol/L,P < .001), Dkk‐1 (21.24 ± 17.18 vs 26.16 ± 15.32pg/mL,P = .04) and higher levels ofRANKL(0.23 ± 0.03 vs 0.04 ± 0.03 pmol/L,P = .001),RANKL/OPGratio (0.063 ± 0.25 vs 0.005 ± 0.11,P = .001) compared with controls. Patients with lowBMDhad higherOPGconcentrations compared to those with normalBMD. Sclerostin andRANKL/OPGcorrelated positively withBMD. Patients with severe haemophilia had lower sclerostin concentrations compared with those with mild or moderate disease. The degree of arthropathy negatively correlated with sclerostin and Dkk‐1 levels.PWHwho received ibandronate showed a decrease in serum Dkk‐1 without any significant effect on sclerostin andRANKL/OPG.

Conclusions

Patients with haemophilia present increased osteoclastic activity coupled with compensatory increased osteoblastic activity. Ibandronate did not affectRANKL/OPGratio, but it decreased Dkk‐1.
A multiobjective approach for maximizing the reach or GRP of different brands in TV advertising
Authors: Evangelista Vivian M. , Regis Rommel G.
Published: December 2017

This paper focuses on a multiobjective optimization problem in TV advertising from an advertising agency's perspective, which involves deciding on which commercial breaks to air the ads of various brands to jointly maximize reach or gross rating point (GRP) for the different brands subject to budget constraints, brand competition constraints, and other scheduling constraints. We present a multiobjective integer programming formulation of this problem and develop and implement algorithms for generating provably Pareto‐optimal solutions. We also develop reduction and visualization procedures to aid a decision maker in choosing suitable subsets of the Pareto‐optimal solutions obtained. Numerical experiments on five TV advertising problems involving 20–40 objective functions and thousands of decision variables and constraints demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed formulation and solution methods in generating Pareto‐optimal objective vectors that reflect brand priorities and that are well distributed along the Pareto front.
Great ape nutrition: low‐sugar and high‐fibre diets can lead to increased natural behaviours, decreased regurgitation and reingestion, and reversal of prediabetes
Authors: Cabana F. , Jasmi R. , Maguire R.
Published: December 2017

Great apes in captivity have been affected by a variety of conditions, including obesity, heart, gastrointestinal and dental diseases, and diabetes, all of which are at least influenced by an inappropriate diet. ‘Regurgitation and reingestion’ is also related to diet in great apes. Diets tend to be high in water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) (e.g. sugars and starches) and low in fibre. This study aimed to reduce the WSC and increase fibre concentrations of great ape diets, most notably for Chimpanzees Pan troglodytes, Bornean orangutans Pongo pygmaeus, Sumatran orangutans Pongo abelii and hybrid orangutans, and Western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla, and evaluate the behavioural and physiological responses of these species to the dietary changes. Wildlife Reserves Singapore had 4.8 Chimpanzees, 10.5 Bornean orangutans, 5.3 Sumatran orangutans and 2.1 P. pygmaeus × P. abelii orangutan hybrids, and Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, UK, had 4.0 Western lowland gorillas. Behaviour was recorded via scan sampling throughout the diet‐change process with a gradual decline in WSC. Five orangutans and two Chimpanzees were conditioned for finger pricking to monitor their blood‐glucose concentrations. The new diets led to changes in WSC from 59·0–64·3% to 47·5–47·7% and in neutral detergent fibre from 11·5–14·4% to 15·7–22·9% on a dry‐matter basis. These dietary changes significantly increased ‘travelling’, ‘foraging’ and ‘social affiliative’ behaviours, and decreased ‘inactivity’ and ‘abnormal behaviour patterns’, such as ‘regurgitation and reingestion’. Fasting blood glucose also decreased and, eventually, all great apes sampled had average blood‐glucose levels. Orangutans had a stronger insulin response compared with Chimpanzees, which may reflect their feeding ecology.
Integrative executive function training in chronic stroke—A case example
Authors: Vas Asha , Abellera Robin , Taylor Sarah , Rich Emily , Burns Jennifer , Woods Alisa
Published: December 2017

Cognitive and functional impairments are common sequelae following stroke, often resulting in significant disabilities that persist years post‐stroke. While the degree of impairments varies with pathology and location of stroke, it is widely understood that executive dysfunction including disturbances of attention, complex information processing, inhibition, reasoning, and flexible thinking underlie a majority of the impairments. Existing rehabilitation approaches predominantly focus on mitigating targeted cognitive deficits (e.g., language disturbance, neglect of one side of the body, memory). Remediation approaches to address executive dysfunction in chronic stages of recovery post‐stroke are limited. The Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (SMART) that teaches strategies to improve higher order reasoning skills has proven to enhance executive functions, strengthen brain networks and improve participation in daily life activities in adults with traumatic brain injury. The current case example, part of an ongoing larger study, discusses post‐SMART performance of a 57‐year‐old female stroke survivor, who sustained a left middle cerebral artery infarct in July 2015. The participant showed gains in executive functions and participation in leisure pursuits following 10 SMART sessions. These preliminary findings prove feasibility of the training approach and offer promise of neuroplasticity during chronic stages of recovery.
Disentangling sex allocation in a viviparous reptile with temperature‐dependent sex determination: a multifactorial approach
Authors: Gruber J. , Cunningham G. D. , While G. M. , Wapstra E.
Published: December 2017

Females are predicted to alter sex allocation when ecological, physiological and behavioural variables have different consequences on the fitness of male and female offspring. Traditionally, tests of sex allocation have examined single causative factors, often ignoring possible interactions between multiple factors. Here, we used a multifactorial approach to examine sex allocation in the viviparous skink,Niveoscincus ocellatus. We integrated a 16‐year observational field study with a manipulative laboratory experiment to explore whether the effects of the maternal thermal environment interact with the resources available to females for reproduction to affect sex allocation decisions. We found strong effects of temperature on sex allocation in the field, with females born in warm conditions and males in cold conditions; however, this was not replicated in the laboratory. In contrast, we found no effect of female resource availability on sex allocation, either independently, or in interaction with temperature. These results corresponded with an overall lack of an effect of resource availability on any of the life history traits that we predicted would mediate the benefits of differential sex allocation in this system, suggesting that selection for sex allocation in response to resource availability may be relatively weak. Combined, these results suggest that temperature may be the predominant factor driving sex allocation in this system.
Nanoemulsion from essential oil of Pterodon emarginatus (Fabaceae) shows in vitro efficacy against monogeneans of Colossoma macropomum (Pisces: Serrasalmidae)
Authors: Valentim D S S , Duarte J L , Oliveira A E M F M , Cruz R A S , Carvalho J C T , Conceição E C , Fernandes C P , Tavares‐Dias M
Published: December 2017

Outbreaks of diseases pose a major threat to sustainable aquaculture development worldwide. Application of herbal products to combat parasitic diseases provides an alternative approach for sustainable aquaculture. This study investigated the in vitro antiparasitic effects of an oil‐in‐water nanoemulsion prepared using the essential oil from Pterodon emarginatus, against monogeneans infesting Colossoma macropomum. Gill arches from C. macropomum (47.6 ± 14.5 g and 13.5 ± 1.4 cm) that were naturally parasitized by Anacanthorus spathulatus, Notozothecium janauachensis and Mymarothecium boegeri were immersed in different dispersions of the P. emarginatus nanoemulsions (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/L). The major compounds presented in the essential oil of P. emarginatus were β‐elemene, β‐caryophyllene and α‐humulene. Characterization of these nanoemulsions showed that they have a small mean droplet size and low polydispersity index, which is concordant with stable systems. In this in vitro trial, the P. emarginatus nanoemulsion concentrations of 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/L presented 100% helminthic efficacy against monogeneans of the gills of C. macropomum. The highest two concentrations used (400 and 600 mg/L) were seen to immobilize the parasites after only 15 min. Therefore, it would be worthwhile testing these concentrations in therapeutic baths against monogeneans of C. macropomum.
Marginal and Internal Fit of CAD/CAM Crowns Fabricated Over Reverse Tapered Preparations
Authors: Carbajal Mejía Jeison B. , Yatani Hirofumi , Wakabayashi Kazumichi , Nakamura Takashi
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Intraoral digital scanning can accurately record single abutment tooth preparations despite their geometry, and the algorithms of the CAD software can be set to manage different abutment forms. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the marginal and internal fit of CAD/CAM zirconia crowns fabricated over conventional and reverse‐tapered preparations.

Materials and Methods

Crown preparations with known total occlusal convergence (TOC) angles (–8°, –4°, 0°, 8°, 12°, 16°, and 22°) were digitally created from a maxillary left central incisor and printed in acrylic resin. Next, casts were scanned with a TRIOS intraoral scanner, and crowns were designed with KaVo multiCAD software using default parameters (50 μm cement space) on abutments with positive TOC angles, whereas reverse‐tapered abutments (negative TOC angles) were digitally blocked out at 0° and had an extra mesiodistal gap set to 50 μm. Then, zirconia crowns were fabricated, and their marginal and internal discrepancies were recorded with the silicone replica technique. All replicas were examined under a stereomicroscope at 50× magnification. Collected data were analyzed with one‐way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test for marginal fit. For the axial and incisal fit, measured values did not follow a normal distribution; therefore, the Kruskal‐Wallis and the Dunn/Bonferroni multiple comparison tests were applied (p = 0.05).

Results

The mean marginal fit of –8° crowns (58.2 ± 6.0 μm) was statistically different (p < 0.0001) from all the remaining crowns (range 42.1‐47.3 μm). Also, the internal fit was statistically significant when comparing crowns fabricated over abutments with positive and negative TOC angles (p < 0.0001). The largest median axial discrepancies were found in the –8° (165.5 μm) and –4° (130.8 μm) groups; however, when evaluating the incisal fit, they showed the smallest discrepancies (67.3 and 81.8 μm, respectively).

Conclusions

Under the conditions of this study, the marginal and internal fit of zirconia crowns fabricated over inverse‐tapered preparations is within clinically accepted values.
Versatile cell surface structures of archaea
Authors: Chaudhury Paushali , Quax Tessa E. F. , Albers Sonja‐Verena
Published: December 2017

Archaea are ubiquitously present in nature and colonize environments with broadly varying growth conditions. Several surface appendages support their colonization of new habitats. A hallmark of archaea seems to be the high abundance of type IV pili (T4P). However, some unique non T4 filaments are present in a number of archaeal species. Archaeal surface structures can mediate different processes such as cellular surface adhesion, DNA exchange, motility and biofilm formation and represent an initial attachment site for infecting viruses. In addition to the functionally characterized archaeal T4P, archaeal genomes encode a large number of T4P components that might form yet undiscovered surface structures with novel functions. In this review, we summarize recent advancement in structural and functional characterizations of known archaeal surface structures and highlight the diverse processes in which they play a role.
Influence of Postoperative Hypertension on the Development of Spinal Epidural Hematoma
Authors: Ohba Tetsuro , Ebata Shigeto , Haro Hirotaka
Published: December 2017

Spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) is a rare postoperative complication but can result in catastrophic neurological deficits requiring immediate surgical evacuation of the hematoma. Knowing the risk factors for postoperative SEH can help surgeons stratify patients. Therefore, to identify possible risk factors for postoperative SEH, we reviewed 6 clinical cases and examined the relation between postoperative hypertension and the risk of developing SEH. A retrospective review was conducted of 1282 consecutive patients who underwent spinal surgery at a single institution between 2010 and 2015. Of this cohort, 6 patients developed symptomatic SEH and underwent emergency hematoma evacuation. The 6 SEH patients were evaluated for previously described risk factors of postoperative hematoma formation. In particular, postoperative blood pressure measurements were reviewed. The incidence of postoperative symptomatic SEH was 0.468%. Two patients developed SEH secondary to a nonfunctional surgical drain in the early postoperative period (5 or 12 h post‐surgery). Preoperative and postoperative hypertension was observed in 4 patients who developed SEH at greater than or equal to 48 h following surgery. Our findings suggest that rigorous postoperative blood pressure control may decrease the risk of SEH.
Prevalence of the AMHR2 mutation in Miniature Schnauzers and genetic investigation of a Belgian Malinois with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome
Authors: Smit MM , Ekenstedt KJ , Minor KM , Lim CK , Leegwater PAJ , Furrow E
Published: December 2017

Contents

Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a sex‐limited disorder in which males develop portions of the female reproductive tract. Important consequences of PMDS are cryptorchidism and its sequelae of infertility and increased risk of testicular cancer. Anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) and its receptor (AMHR2) induce the regression of the Müllerian ducts in male embryos. In Miniature Schnauzer dogs, the genetic basis has been identified as an autosomal recessive nonsense mutation in AMHR2, but the allele frequency of the mutation is unknown. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of the AMHR2 mutation in North American Miniature Schnauzers, in order to ascertain the value of genetic testing in this breed. An additional objective was to determine whether mutations in AMH or AMHR2 were responsible for PMDS in a Belgian Malinois; this would aid development of a genetic test for the Belgian Malinois breed. Genomic DNA from 216 Miniature Schnauzers (including one known PMDS case) was genotyped for the AMHR2 mutation, and DNA from a single PMDS‐affected Belgian Malinois was sequenced for all coding exons of AMH and AMHR2. The Miniature Schnauzer cohort had an AMHR2 mutation allele frequency of 0.16 and a carrier genotypic frequency of 0.27. The genetic basis for PMDS in the Belgian Malinois was not determined, as no coding or splicing mutations were identified in either AMH or AMHR2. These findings support a benefit to AMHR2 mutation testing Miniature Schnauzers used for breeding or with cryptorchidism.
Identity construction and language use in a Singaporean Muslim youth camp
Authors: CHEW PHYLLIS GHIM‐LIAN
Published: December 2017

The paper examines how pre‐teen Muslim boys and girls from the same classroom and the same madrasah are faced with differing curricula when the time comes for their annual camp. The choice of activities and corresponding narratives within each camp foregrounds the processual nature of identity construction. This article undertakes a linguistic and semiotic analysis of discoursal narratives in the two camps, which take place a week apart, so as to uncover ideological frameworks in the construction of religious identities. A comparative survey of organizational, curriculum and linguistic practices then focuses on how boys and girls are socialized.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Johnson Patricia
Published: December 2017

Studies in Media and Communication (SMC) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether SMC publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 5, Number 2Anastasia Stamou, University of Western Macedonia, GreeceAndreas Veglis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GreeceAnn Grand, University of the West of England, UKAntonio García Gómez, University of Alcalá de Henares, SpainAslı Sezgin, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, TurkeyBegoña Montero-Fleta, Universitat Poltècnica de València, SpainBernard Naledzani Rasila, University of Venda, South AfricaCamelia Cmeciu, Danubius University of Galati, RomaniaCarmen Pérez-Sabater, Universitat Politècnica de València, SpainChristian Lamour, The Luxembourg Institute for Socio-Economic Research, LuxembourgDiego Santos Vieira de Jesus, International Relations, BrazilDorina Ticu, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, RomaniaJenny-Ann Danell, Umea University, SwedenJoerg Tropp, Pforzheim University, GermanyKaterina Diamantaki, Hellenic Open University, GreeceKunle Olufemi Aramide, The Polytechnic Ibadan, NigeriaMaría José Serrano, Universidad de La Laguna, SpainNdoma Brown, Cross River University of Technology, NigeriaNuran E. Isik, Izmir University of Economics, TurkeyRefat Aljumily, Newcastle University, UKSimone Tosoni, Catholic University of Milan, ItalyYi Luo, Montclair State University, USAYoung Joon Lim, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, USA  Patricia JohnsonEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Studies in Media and CommunicationRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://smc.redfame.com
Célula de Büngner
Authors: Nieto Ramírez Luis Eduardo , Tórres Arciniegas Sara Camila , Rios Rosado Elsa Carolina , Torres Jiménez Ivonne Andrea , Camargo Casas Sandy Daniela
Published: December 2017

Las lesiones del nervio periférico constituyen una condición clínica frecuente; por ello, entender su fisiopatología y los avances en el campo de la regeneración nerviosa es fundamental para brindar el mejor tratamiento a los pacientes. En los últimos años se ha venido dando cada vez mayor importancia a los eventos regenerativos después de la lesión, donde interviene en gran medida una expresión fenotípica única en este proceso, derivada de células ya presentes, fenómeno clave para la recuperación de la función del nervio lesionado. Este artículo revisó la literatura disponible con el objetivo de entender mejor este evento regenerativo y se encontraron procesos celulares y moleculares que suceden en los axones.
Estudio de supervivencia de pacientes menores de 18 años de edad con diagnóstico de cáncer atendidos en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio-Centro Javeriano de Oncología entre octubre de 2010 y marzo de 2016
Authors: Guzmán Cruz Paula Carolina , Farías Curtidor Luis Enrique , Jiménez Villabona Helena María , Maldonado Riveros Patricia , De Los Reyes Valencia Iliana Del Carmen
Published: December 2017

Resumen

Introducción: El cáncer infantil ocasiona importante mortalidad. El objetivo es caracterizar y determinar la sobrevida de un centro especializado. Métodos: Análisis de supervivencia en menores de 18 años de edad, diagnosticados con cáncer del 01/10/2010 al 31/03/2016. Se analizaron variables sociodemográficas (edad, sexo, seguridad social y zona de residencia) y clínicas (tipo de cáncer y categorización del riesgo). Se utilizó el método de Kaplan-Meier y Log-Rank Test. Resultados: 135 pacientes, con una edad promedio 7,4 años (DE 4,84), la mayoría de sexo masculino y pertenecientes al régimen contributivo. Las neoplasias más frecuentes fueron leucemias y tumores de sistema nervioso central, predominancia de alto riesgo. La supervivencia global fue del 75 % y la supervivencia libre de evento fue del 60 %. Los tumores sólidos y de alto riesgo presentaron mayor mortalidad. Conclusiones: La supervivencia global a 5 años es similar a los datos internacionales. La mayoría de los tumores sólidos eran de alto riesgo, probablemente asociados a mayor tiempo de evolución.
Neumomediastino espontáneo: revisión de tema
Authors: Londoño Duarte María Piedad , Ávila Arenas Lina María
Published: December 2017

Resumen

El neumomediastino espontáneo se define como la presencia de aire en el mediastino sin que tenga relación con patología traumática, procedimientos quirúrgicos o ventilación mecánica. Se considera una patología benigna y de rara presentación con una sintomatología que puede orientar a otros diagnósticos relacionados con patologías cardiovasculares, digestivas o respiratorias. Con una baja incidencia, la literatura reporta la presencia de un caso por cada 14.000 consultas al servicio de urgencias. Es más frecuente en adultos jóvenes, de sexo masculino, que manifiestan dolor torácico y disnea con otros hallazgos físicos relacionados que hacen sospechar el diagnóstico como la evidencia de enfisema subcutáneo. El artículo presenta una revisión de tema sobre neumomediastino espontáneo, patología poco frecuente, pero de importancia clínica en el diagnóstico diferencial del dolor torácico.
A Thermodynamic Model to Quantify the Impact of Cooling Improvements on Gas Turbine Efficiency
Authors: Uysal Selcuk Can , Liese Eric , Nix Andrew C. , Black James
Published: December 2017

Cooling of turbine hot-gas-path components can increase engine efficiency, reduce emissions, and extend engine life. As cooling technologies evolved, numerous blade cooling geometries have been and continue to be proposed by researchers and engine builders for internal and external blade and vane cooling. However, the impact of these improved cooling configurations on overall engine performance is the ultimate metric. There is no assurance that obtaining higher cooling performance for an individual cooling technique will result in better turbine performance because of the introduction of additional second law losses, e.g., exergy loss from blade heat transfer, cooling air friction losses, and fluid mixing, and thus, the higher cooling performance might not always be the best solution to improve efficiency. To quantify the effect of different internal and external blade cooling techniques and their combinations on engine performance, a cooled engine model has been developed for industrial gas turbines and aero-engines using MATLAB Simulink. The model has the flexibility to be used for both engine types and consists of uncooled on-design, turbomachinery design, and a cooled off-design analysis in order to evaluate the engine performance parameters by using operating conditions, polytropic efficiencies, material information, and cooling system information. The cooling analysis algorithm involves a second law analysis to calculate losses from the cooling technique applied. The effects of variations in engine parameters such as turbine inlet temperature, by-pass ratio, and operating temperature are studied. The impact of variations in metal Biot number, thermal barrier coating (TBC) Biot number, film cooling effectiveness, internal cooling effectiveness, and maximum allowable blade temperature on engine performance parameters are analyzed. Possible design recommendations based on these variations, and direction of use of this tool for new cooling design validation, are presented.
Experimental demonstration of evanescent-coupled antireflection coatings
Authors: Bourke Levi , Blaikie Richard J.
Published: December 2017

Evanescent-coupled antireflection coatings (EC-ARCs) are a form of ARC designed to operate in the hypernumerical aperture regime relying on evanescently coupled resonators to provide backward going fields for destructive interference. Two experimental EC-ARC designs are tested in an immersion interference lithography system at a wavelength of 405 nm: a MgF2|Cr surface state resonator based ARC at a numerical aperture (NA) of 1.4046 and transverse magnetic polarization, and a SiO2|HfO2|Si dielectric resonator based ARC at an NA of 1.5 and transverse electric polarization. The MgF2|Cr system was shown to partially suppress standing waves with a void footing indicating the system is resonating, albeit in a suboptimal fashion. The SiO2|HfO2|Si system was shown to almost fully suppress standing waves. These results indicate that with improved manufacturing techniques evanescent-coupled ARCs can be an effective method of standing wave suppression for photolithography.
Phonetic similarity of /s/ in native and second language: Individual differences in learning curves
Authors: Quené Hugo , Orr Rosemary , van Leeuwen David
Published: December 2017

Second language learners may merge similar sounds from their native (L1) and second (L2) languages into a single phonetic category, neutralizing subphonemic differences in these similar sounds. This study investigates whether Dutch speakers produce phonetically distinct variants of /s/ in their L1 Dutch and L2 English, and whether and how this phonetic categorization develops over time. Target /s/ sounds in matching words in L1 and L2 were compared in their centre of spectral gravity. Speakers varied in their individual learning curves in the categorization of produced /s/ sounds, both in starting points and in longitudinal trajectories. After 3 years, however, all speakers had converged in producing their /s/ variants in L1 and L2 as two similar but different sounds.