bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic review of carotid artery procedures and the volume–outcome relationship in Europe
Authors: Phillips P , Poku E , Essat M , Woods H B , Goka E A , Kaltenthaler E C , Shackley P , Walters S , Michaels J A
Published: June 2017

Background

Hospitals that conduct more procedures on the carotid arteries may achieve better outcomes. In the context of ongoing reconfiguration of UK vascular services, this systematic review was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the volume of carotid procedures and outcomes, including mortality and stroke.

Methods

Searches of electronic databases identified studies that reported the effect of hospital or clinician volume on outcomes. Reference and citation searches were also performed. Inclusion was restricted to European populations on the basis that the model of healthcare delivery is similar across Europe, but differs from that in the USA and elsewhere. Analyses of hospital and clinician volume, and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) were conducted separately.

Results

Eleven eligible studies were identified (233 411 participants), five from the UK, two from Sweden, one each from Germany, Finland and Italy, and a combined German, Austrian and Swiss population. All studies were observational. Two large studies (179 736 patients) suggested an inverse relationship between hospital volume and mortality (number needed to treat (NNT) as low as 165), and combined mortality and stroke (NNT as low as 93), following CEA. The evidence was less clear for CAS; multiple analyses in three studies did not identify convincing evidence of an association. Limited data are available on the relationship between clinician volume and outcome in CAS; in CEA, an inverse relationship was identified by two of three small studies.

Conclusion

The evidence from the largest and highest-quality studies included in this review support the centralization of CEA.
Direct comparison of oligochaete erythrocruorins as potential blood substitutes
Authors: Zimmerman Devon , DiIusto Matthew , Dienes Jack , Abdulmalik Osheiza , Elmer Jacob J.
Published: June 2017

While many blood substitutes are based on mammalian hemoglobins (e.g., human hemoglobin, HbA), the naturally extracellular hemoglobins of invertebrates (a.k.a. erythrocruorins, Ecs) are intriguing alternative oxygen carriers. Specifically, the erythrocruorin of Lumbricus terrestris has been shown to effectively deliver oxygen in mice and rats without the negative side effects observed with HbA. In this study, the properties of six oligochaete Ecs (Lumbricus terrestris, Eisenia hortensis, Eisenia fetida, Eisenia veneta, Eudrilus eugeniae, and Amynthas gracilis) were compared in vitro to identify the most promising blood substitute candidate(s). Several metrics were used to compare the Ecs, including their oxidation rates, dissociation at physiological pH, thermal stability, and oxygen transport characteristics. Overall, the Ecs of Lumbricus terrestris (LtEc) and Eisenia fetida (EfEc) were identified as promising candidates, since they demonstrated high thermal and oligomeric stability, while also exhibiting relatively low oxidation rates. Interestingly, the O2 affinity of LtEc (P50 = 26.25 mmHg at 37 °C) was also observed to be uniquely lower than EfEc and all of the other Ecs (P50 = 9.29–13.62 mmHg). Subsequent alignment of the primary sequences of LtEc and EfEc revealed several significant amino acid substitutions within the D subunit interfaces that may be responsible for this significant change in O2 affinity. Nonetheless, these results show that LtEc and EfEc are promising potential blood substitutes that are resistant to oxidation and denaturation, but additional experiments will need to be conducted to determine their safety, efficacy, and the effects of their disparate oxygen affinities in vivo.
Poly(2‐propylacrylic acid)/poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) blend microparticles as a targeted antigen delivery system to direct either CD4+ or CD8+ T cell activation
Authors: Yang Lirong , Bracho‐Sanchez Evelyn , Fernando Lawrence P. , Lewis Jamal S. , Carstens Matthew R. , Duvall Craig L. , Keselowsky Benjamin G.
Published: June 2017

Poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) based microparticles (MPs) are widely investigated for their ability to load a range of molecules with high efficiency, including antigenic proteins, and release them in a controlled manner. Micron‐sized PLGA MPs are readily phagocytosed by antigen presenting cells, and localized to endosomes. Due to low pH and digestive enzymes, encapsulated protein cargo is largely degraded and processed in endosomes for MHC‐II loading and presentation to CD4+ T cells, with very little antigen delivered into the cytosol, limiting MHC‐I antigenic loading and presentation to CD8+ T cells. In this work, PLGA was blended with poly(2‐propylacrylic acid) (PPAA), a membrane destabilizing polymer, in order to incorporate an endosomal escape strategy into PLGA MPs as an easily fabricated platform with diverse loading capabilities, as a means to enable antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells. Ovalbumin (OVA)‐loaded MPs were fabricated using a water‐in‐oil double emulsion with a 0% (PLGA only), 3 and 10% PPAA composition. MPs were subsequently determined to have an average diameter of 1 µm, with high loading and a release profile characteristic of PLGA. Bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs) were then incubated with MPs in order to evaluate localization, processing, and presentation of ovalbumin. Endosomal escape of OVA was observed only in DC groups treated with PPAA/PLGA blends, which promoted high levels of activation of CD8+ OVA‐specific OT‐I T cells, compared to DCs treated with OVA‐loaded PLGA MPs which were unable activate CD8+ T cells. In contrast, DCs treated with OVA‐loaded PLGA MPs promoted OVA‐specific OT‐II CD4+ T cell activation, whereas PPAA incorporation into the MP blend did not permit CD4+ T cell activation. These studies demonstrate PLGA MP blends containing PPAA are able to provide an endosomal escape strategy for encapsulated protein antigen, enabling the targeted delivery of antigen for tunable presentation and activation of either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells.
The length of the large intestine in children determined by computed tomography scan
Authors: Mirjalili S. Ali , Tarr Gregory , Stringer Mark D
Published: June 2017

Little information is available on the length of the normal large intestine and its component parts in children. This information would be useful for procedures such as colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to investigate the length of the large intestine and its component parts in New Zealand children. Archival deidentified pediatric supine abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scans were retrospectively analyzed. After exclusion criteria, a total of 112 scans (57 males and 55 females) were included in the study and divided into three age groups: 0–2 years (n = 33), 4–6 years (n = 40), and 9–11 years of age (n = 39). The length of the large bowel increased from a mean of 52 cm in children aged <2 years to 73 cm at 4–6 years and 95 cm at 9–11 years. In all age groups, the transverse colon was the longest segment, contributing ∼30% of the total length of the large bowel. In comparison to total large bowel length, the mean proportional length of the rectum (9–12%), sigmoid colon (23–27%), descending colon (19–22%), transverse colon (27–32%), and ascending colon (14–17%) varied little between the three age groups. There were no significant differences between males and females in all age groups. The cecum was located in the right upper quadrant in 27% of children aged 0–2 years but in the right lower quadrant in all 9–11 year olds. These data provide useful information on the length of the large intestine and its component parts in living children, which are particularly relevant to pediatric colonoscopy and surgery. Clin. Anat. 30:887–893, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chemobacterial Synthesis of a Sialyl‐Tn Cyclopeptide Vaccine Candidate
Authors: Richard Emeline , Pifferi Carlo , Fiore Michele , Samain Eric , Le Gouëllec Audrey , Fort Sébastien , Renaudet Olivier , Priem Bernard
Published: June 2017

A conjugatable form of the tumour‐associated carbohydrate antigen sialyl‐Tn (Neu5Ac‐α‐2,6‐GalNAc) was efficiently produced in Escherichia coli. Metabolically engineered E. coli strains overexpressing the 6‐sialyltransferase gene of Photobacterium sp. and CMP‐Neu5Ac synthetase genes of Neisseria meningitidis were cultivated at high density in the presence of GalNAc‐α‐propargyl as the exogenous acceptor. The target disaccharides, which were produced on the scale of several hundreds of milligrams, were then conjugated by using copper(I)‐catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry to a fully synthetic and immunogenic scaffold with the aim to create a candidate anticancer vaccine. Four sialyl‐Tn epitopes were introduced on the upper face of an azido‐functionalised multivalent cyclopeptide scaffold, the lower face of which was previously modified by an immunogenic polypeptide, PADRE. The ability of the resulting glycoconjugate to interact with oncofoetal sialyl‐Tn monoclonal antibodies was confirmed in ELISA assays.
Iridium (III)‐Doped Core–Shell Silica Nanoparticles: Near‐IR Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence in Water
Authors: Kesarkar Sagar , Rampazzo Enrico , Valenti Giovanni , Marcaccio Massimo , Bossi Alberto , Prodi Luca , Paolucci Francesco
Published: June 2017

The front cover artwork is provided by Dr. Francesco Paolucci and Dr. Luca Prodi, University of Bologna (Italy). The image illustrates the electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of metal complexes encapsulated in core–shell PEGylated silica (Plus) nanoparticles emitting light in aqueous medium in the presence of a co‐reactant. Read the full text of the Article at 10.1002/celc.201700071.
NMR Study of the Reductive Decomposition of [BMIm][NTf2] at Gold Electrodes and Indirect Electrochemical Conversion of CO2
Authors: Michez Roman , Doneux Thomas , Buess‐Herman Claudine , Luhmer Michel
Published: June 2017

Potential controlled electrolyses of [BMIm][NTf2] ionic liquid were performed at a gold cathode under nitrogen atmosphere. The structures of the major conversion products of the BMIm+ cation were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses and gas chromatography (GC) analysis of the volatile compounds. Recombination of the imidazol‐2‐yl radicals, generated at the electrode by single electron transfer, leads to neutral diastereomeric dimers in equal proportions, with a faradaic efficiency of 80 %, while disproportionation of these radicals and/or reaction with hydrogen atoms adsorbed at the electrode generates a neutral monomer with 20 % faradaic efficiency. Both pathways also yield the N‐heterocyclic carbene imidazolin‐2‐ylidene, which is involved in fast proton exchange with the parent BMIm+ cation. The reductive decomposition products of the BMIm+ cation are no longer detected if the pre‐electrolysed sample is reacted with CO2, which undergoes an indirect reduction and generates the carboxylate adduct.
Habitat patch size alters the importance of dispersal for species diversity in an experimental freshwater community
Authors: Schuler Matthew S. , Chase Jonathan M. , Knight Tiffany M.
Published: June 2017

Increased dispersal of individuals among discrete habitat patches should increase the average number of species present in each local habitat patch. However, experimental studies have found variable effects of dispersal on local species richness. Priority effects, predators, and habitat heterogeneity have been proposed as mechanisms that limit the effect of dispersal on species richness. However, the size of a habitat patch could affect how dispersal regulates the number of species able to persist. We investigated whether habitat size interacted with dispersal rate to affect the number of species present in local habitats. We hypothesized that increased dispersal rates would positively affect local species richness more in small habitats than in large habitats, because rare species would be protected from demographic extinction. To test the interaction between dispersal rate and habitat size, we factorially manipulated the size of experimental ponds and dispersal rates, using a model community of freshwater zooplankton. We found that high‐dispersal rates enhanced local species richness in small experimental ponds, but had no effect in large experimental ponds. Our results suggest that there is a trade‐off between patch connectivity (a mediator of dispersal rates) and patch size, providing context for understanding the variability observed in dispersal effects among natural communities, as well as for developing conservation and management plans in an increasingly fragmented world.
ParaHydrogen Hyperpolarized Substrates for Molecular Imaging Studies
Authors: Cavallari Eleonora , Carrera Carla , Reineri Francesca
Published: June 2017

Parahydrogen induced polarization (PHIP) is a chemistry based, cheap and easy to handle hyperpolarization method that allows to increase the sensitivity of magnetic resonance signals of several orders of magnitude. This powerful tool has not coalesced in the field of biomedical studies due to the lack of suitable hyperpolarization substrates, of commercial parahydrogen polarizers and to the presence of metal complex in the solutions of products. Here is reported an overview of the recent advances in these fields, with particular attention to the issues that have been tackled in order to allow the translation of parahydrogen based hyperpolarization methods into a widely applicable molecular imaging tool for biomedical research.
Improving the quality of maternity services in Uganda through accelerated implementation of essential interventions by healthcare professional associations
Authors: Spira Cintia , Kwizera Amata , Jacob Sue , Amongin Dinah , Ngonzi Joseph , Namisi Charles P. , Byaruhanga Romano , Rushwan Hamid , Cooper Peter , Day‐Stirk Frances , Berrueta Mabel , García‐Elorrio Ezequiel , Belizán José M.
Published: June 2017

Objective

To assess whether the implementation of a package of activities through the joint action of the three international healthcare professionals associations (HCPAs) increased the use of intrapartum and postnatal essential interventions (EIs) in two hospitals in Uganda.

Methods

A non‐controlled before‐and‐after study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of a package of activities designed to change practice relating to nine EIs among providers. Coverage of the EIs was measured in a 3‐month pre‐implementation period and a 3‐month post‐implementation period in 2014. Data were obtained for women older than 18 years who delivered vaginally or by cesarean.

Results

Overall, 4816 women were included. Level of use remained high for EIs used widely at baseline. Some EIs that had low use at baseline did not show improvement after the implementation. Promotion of breastfeeding showed a significant improvement in the Kampala hospital, from 8.5% (8/94) to 25.6% (30/117; P=0.001), whereas promotion of hygiene in cord care improved at the Mbarara hospital, from 0.1% (2/1592) to 46.0% (622/1351; P<0.001).

Conclusion

These exploratory results show that a package delivered through the joint work of the three HCPAs was feasible to implement along with rigorous data collection. Although the data show disparities, trends suggest that improvement could be achieved.
Sediment Yield Potential in South Africa's Only Large River Network without a Dam: Implications for Water Resource Management
Authors: Le Roux J.J.
Published: June 2017

Soil erosion not only involves the loss of fertile topsoil but is also coupled with sedimentation of dams, a double barrel problem in semi‐arid regions where water scarcity is frequent. Due to increasing water requirements in South Africa, the government is planning water resource development in the Mzimvubu River Catchment, which is the only large river network in the country without a dam. However, previous soil erosion studies indicate that large parts of the catchment are severely eroded. These studies, nonetheless, focussed only on rill and interill erosion processes and provided insufficient information about sediment yield. The present study maps and models the sediment yield potential by considering important connectivity factors (flow path length, slope steepness and surface roughness) over a 5‐year timeframe (from 2007 to 2012). Sediment yield contribution from rill–interrill erosion was modelled with ArcSWAT‐2012, whereas gully erosion contributions were estimated using sequential gully mapping with SPOT 5 imagery followed by gully‐derived sediment modelling in a GIS. Integration of the rill–interrill and gully results provided the total sediment yield potential, with an average of 5100 Mg km−2 y−1. The average sediment yield where the irrigation and hydropower dams are planned is around 20 000 Mg km−2 y−1. This study provides relative differences of the potential sediment yield and a framework to predict sediment yield to assist area‐specific rehabilitation in large, ungauged catchments. Without catchment rehabilitation, the life expectancies of the future irrigation and hydropower dams could be 55 and 43 years, respectively. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A method to assess the loss of a dipole antenna for ultra‐high‐field MRI
Authors: Chen Gang , Collins Christopher M. , Sodickson Daniel K. , Wiggins Graham C.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

To describe a new bench measurement based on quality (Q) factors to estimate the coil noise relative to the sample noise of dipole antennas at 7 T.

Methods

Placing a dipole antenna close to a highly conductive sample surrogate (HCSS) greatly reduces radiation loss, and using QHCSS gives a more accurate estimate of coil resistance than Qunloaded. Instead of using the ratio of unloaded and sample‐loaded Q factors, the ratio of HCSS‐loaded and sample‐loaded Q factors should be used at ultra‐high fields. A series of simulations were carried out to analyze the power budget of sample‐loaded or HCSS‐loaded dipole antennas. Two prototype dipole antennas were also constructed for bench measurements to validate the simulations.

Results

Simulations showed that radiation loss was suppressed when the dipole antenna was HCSS‐loaded, and coil loss was largely the same as when the dipole was loaded by the sample. Bench measurements also showed good alignment with simulations.

Conclusions

Using the ratio QHCSS/Qloaded gives a good estimate of the coil loss for dipole antennas at 7 T, and provides a convenient bench measurement to predict the body noise dominance of dipole antenna designs. The new approach also applies to conventional surface loop coils at ultra‐high fields. Magn Reson Med 79:1773–1780, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
An investigation of support services available by Internet searching to families impacted by a parent's cancer
Authors: Morris Julia N. , Ohan Jeneva , Martini Angelita
Published: June 2017

Objective

Throughout a parent's cancer diagnosis and treatment, families are likely to turn to the Internet to find social, emotional, and informational support services. It is important that professionals understand the content and availability of support discoverable through Web searches. This study identified and described Web‐based information regarding support services offered to families when a parent has cancer.

Methods

Predefined key search terms were searched across 2 public Web browsers for a period of 3 months. Web‐based information of support services (n = 25) was abstracted, and their key criteria examined.

Results

Of services offering face‐to‐face support (n = 22), more were founded by persons impacted by cancer (n = 10) (patients, parents, and offspring) than professionals (n = 4). Services offered online were created by health organisations and universities (n = 3). It appeared several service programs were delivered by volunteers, support staff, or facilitators, rather than registered health professionals or those with professional qualifications. Few services supported young children (under 5 years) or the parents themselves.

Conclusion

Support services for families affected by a parent's cancer is relatively difficult to find through Web searches. Ambiguity around staff qualifications or evidence‐base of support may hinder layperson engagement. Services offering face‐to‐face support were often founded by those directly affected by cancer; conversely, services founded by persons with assumable expertise (health organisation and university staff) were limited to online support. Such findings highlight a possible discrepancy in consumer and provider priorities and have implications for current understandings of psychosocial support needs and service development for families affected by a parent's cancer.
Determinantes por cuantiles de la duración del desempleo en Cali y su área metropolitana en el periodo 2012-2014
Authors: Hernández García Edwin Arbey , García Rivera Gonzalo
Published: June 2017

El objetivo principal es estimar los determinantes de la duración del desempleo de Cali (Colombia)  y su Área Metropolitana (AM) durante el periodo 2012-2014 teniendo en cuenta duraciones de 8, 16y 48 semanas. Se utiliza la técnica de regresiones cuantílicas corrigiendo el sesgo de selección. Los resultados para Cali AM coinciden con recientes estimaciones para Colombia respecto al papel jugado por la educación, la edad, la jefatura de hogar, la presencia de hijos menores de 6 años en el hogar, las actividades no remuneradas y el rol de las mujeres comprometidas. Los resultados también sugieren que los determinantes inciden de manera diferente para individuos que duran 8, 16 y 48 semanas desempleados.
Unilateral vs. bilateral total knee arthroplasty with 90-day morbidity and mortality: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Mufarrih Syed Hamza , Aqueel Talal , Ali Arif , Malik Azeem Tariq , Noordin Shahryar
Published: June 2017

Abstract

Background

The decision to adopt a unilateral vs. a bilateral approach while performing a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for a patient with bilateral knee involvement remains a matter of much debate. Previous literature has claimed the supremacy of unilateral surgery in terms of complications where as some evidence supporting no significant difference between the two approaches also exists. In this study, we aim to compare the morbidity and mortality of unilateral with bilateral TKA.

Methodology

A review of 658 patients who underwent TKA (2005–2015) was carried out. Details of patient characteristics, hospital course and complications occurring within 90 post-operatively were recorded. Data was analyzed using both univariate testing and multivariate regression analysis with a threshold for significance at p < 0.2 and p < 0.05 respectively.

Results

The study showed that there is no statistically significant difference in the mortality and major complication between unilateral TKA and bilateral TKA. Further analysis revealed that only higher ASA status (3-4) is associated with higher risk of SSI (RR = 3.42,p-value = 0.034). No variables were found to be significant predictors for cardiac complications and UTI. Interestingly, all 3 cases of DVT occurred in bilateral TKR.

Conclusions

There is no significant difference between unilateral and bilateral TKA in terms of mortality and morbidity except for DVT. This tips the balance in favor of the simultaneous bilateral approach owing to the added benefits of a combined lower cost of surgery, faster recovery, less work absence, single anesthesia session, single hospital admission and fewer follow-ups. Hence, it can be preferred in selected patients with bilateral osteoarthritis.

Highlights
Acupressure Therapy for Acute Ankle Sprains: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Zhao Mingxing , Gao Wei , Zhang Long , Huang Wei , Zheng Sihua , Wang Guanliang , Hong Brian Y. , Tang Baoyong
Published: June 2017

Background

Ankle sprains occur frequently among young and active people, accounting for almost 2 million injuries per year. Previous reports suggest that acupressure therapy for acute ankle sprains may shorten the recovery time.

Objective

To evaluate whether acupressure therapy can improve ankle sprain recovery compared with standard RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) treatment.

Design

A randomized controlled trial was conducted. The study protocol was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the study registration number: ChiCTR‐TRC‐14004794.

Setting

Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics, PLA No.60 Center Hospital, Dali, China, and Department of Orthopedics, Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou China, between June 2014 and January 2016.

Patients

A total of 68 patients with acute ankle sprains were assessed for study eligibility, and a total of 62 patients were included in the present study.

Methods

All patients with ankle sprains seen by the Orthopedics Department within 48 hours since the time of injury were identified. Consenting patients were randomized to either (1) standard treatment (ST group), (2) standard treatment + acupressure (AP group), or (3) standard treatment + mock acupressure (mock AP group).

Main Outcome Measurements

Outcomes of interest included a volumetric measurement of the foot, ankle, and lower leg), range of ankle movement, and visual analog pain scores. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score) and SF12v2 scores were used to assess quality of life.

Results

Among the 62 randomized patients, the mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) volumetric measurement of the foot, ankle, and lower leg in the AP group decreased from 185.24 (95% CI 142.80‐227.67) to 62.14 (95% CI 44.03‐80.25) after 3 sessions of acupressure treatment. This was a statistically significant difference (P < .01) compared with the means of ST group (119.00; 95% CI 89.14‐148.86) and mock AP group (118.18; 95% CI 83.99‐152.37). After the first treatment, the mean range of ankle movement, visual analog pain scores, and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Scores of the AP group were 31.67 (95% CI 27.78‐35.55), 3.33 (95% CI 2.97‐3.70), and 55.86 (95% CI 50.03‐61.69), respectively. These scores were statistically better (P < .01) than the mean of the ST and mock AP group scores. In addition, the mean SF12v2 scores of AP group at 4 and 8 weeks were 109.95 (95% CI 107.29‐112.62) and 119.67 (95% CI 119.27‐120.05), respectively. These scores were also significantly greater than those of the ST group and mock AP groups (P < .01).

Conclusion

Acupressure therapy may improve recovery after acute ankle sprain injury, yielding shortened time of disability and improved quality of life.

Level of Evidence

I
Characteristics of a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Sample Recruited Using Amazon's Mechanical Turk
Authors: Bernstein John , Calamia Matthew
Published: June 2017

Background

Several barriers exist in the recruitment of individuals with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The current study is the first to examine whether crowdsourcing, which has been used in other clinical populations, is useful in the recruitment of those with mTBI.

Objective

To examine whether Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk), an online crowdsourcing platform, is a useful tool in the recruitment of individuals with a history of mTBI and to examine the injury and psychological characteristics of individuals who report a history of mTBI.

Design

Retrospective, cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Online.

Participants

A total of 468 MTurk workers (215 who reported mTBI history on the screener, 253 who did not).

Methods

Comparison of MTurk participants (“workers”) who report a history of mTBI on a one‐item screener and/or a more comprehensive mTBI assessment tool (ie, the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method [OSU TBI‐ID]) with workers who do not report mTBI history.

Main Outcome Measures

Prevalence rates of mTBI in the MTurk sample (one‐item screener and/or OSU TBI‐ID), associations between self‐reported mTBI with history of psychological disorders and current psychological symptoms (ie, selected Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scales).

Results

Of workers who reported a history of mTBI on the screener, 169 (79%) met mTBI criteria on the OSU TBI‐ID. Compared with those who denied history of mTBI on both the screener and OSU TBI‐ID, workers who reported a history of mTBI on both measures were more likely to have a history of diagnosed depression (P = .008), anxiety (P = .007) or attention deficit‐hyperactivity disorder (P = .04), and were more likely to currently experience cognitive (P = .01) and sleep disorder symptoms (P = .003).

Conclusions

Workers recruited via MTurk with history of mTBI show similar rates of psychological disorder history and current symptoms to samples recruited via noncrowdsourcing methods in previous studies. MTurk may be a useful recruitment tool in the mTBI population and should be used in future studies of outcomes after mTBI.

Level of Evidence

III
Spasticity Video Challenge: A Look at Methods for Addressing Difficult Cases
Authors: Alter Katharine E. , Gormley Mark , Patel Atul T.
Published: June 2017

As seen in this CME online activity (available at http://courses.elseviercme.com/spasticity/662e), treatment of patients with spasticity due to upper motor neuron syndromes, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, and cerebral palsy, is multifaceted, involving chemodenervation, systemic medications, surgical therapy, rehabilitation efforts, and home care. Optimal care begins with the recognition that each patient's impairments are unique and must be assessed carefully to determine the impact of muscle overactivity, loss of dexterity, and weakness on passive and active function in the context of the patients' goals. While botulinum toxin plays a major role in providing symptomatic relief and functional improvement from hypertonia, it should rarely be used as a standalone treatment.
Long memory or structural breaks: Some evidence for African stock markets
Authors: Ngene Geoffrey , Tah Kenneth A. , Darrat Ali F.
Published: June 2017

This study explores two main issues. One: How do the exchange rate and inflation rate impact long term dependency structure of weekly returns of seven African stock markets? Two: What is the long term dependency structure of stock returns and variance in the absence and in the presence of structural breaks? The sample period is 06‐2002 through 02‐2014. The returns are de‐thinned to account for illiquidity of stock returns. The study implements sequential multiple structural breaks test to identify structural breaks. Three semi‐parametric tests and three parametric methods are then implemented to test for the long memory behavior of raw returns and break‐adjusted returns. The long memory estimates decline monotonically in magnitude or in statistical significance as returns are adjusted for exchange rate and then inflation rate. There is evidence of multiple structural shifts whose break dates correspond to major domestic or global events. Without structural breaks, the results indicate the existence of long memory components in returns and variance. Using the break‐adjusted returns, the long memory evidence in returns and variance weakens in magnitude and/or statistical significance or just dissipates in some ASMs. The absence of long memory using break‐adjusted returns suggests that long memory may be an artifact of short memory encountering breaks in some ASMs. Caution is therefore warranted when interpreting long memory inferences in the presence of structural breaks and making policy recommendations. Our evidence is useful to investors, fund managers and policy makers.
The writer’s guide to education scholarship in emergency medicine: Education innovations (part 3)
Authors: Hall Andrew K. , Hagel Carly , Chan Teresa M. , Thoma Brent , Murnaghan Aleisha , Bhanji Farhan
Published: June 2017

Objective

The scholarly dissemination of innovative medical education practices helps broaden the reach of this type of work, allowing scholarship to have an impact beyond a single institution. There is little guidance in the literature for those seeking to publish program evaluation studies and innovation papers. This study aims to derive a set of evidence-based features of high-quality reports on innovations in emergency medicine (EM) education.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review and thematic analysis to determine quality markers for medical education innovation reports, with a focus on EM. A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, ERIC, and Google Scholar was augmented by a hand search of relevant publication guidelines, guidelines for authors, and website submission portals from medical education and EM journals. Study investigators reviewed the selected articles, and a thematic analysis was conducted.

Results

Our search strategy identified 14 relevant articles from which 34 quality markers were extracted. These markers were grouped into seven important themes: goals and need for innovation, preparation, innovation development, innovation implementation, evaluation of innovation, evidence of reflective practice, and reporting and dissemination. In addition, multiple outlets for the publication of EM education innovations were identified and compiled.

Conclusion

The publication and dissemination of innovations are critical for the EM education community and the training of health professionals. We anticipate that our list of innovation report quality markers will be used by EM education innovators to support the dissemination of novel educational practices.
Purely exponential growth of cusp-uniform actions
Authors: YANG WEN-YUAN
Published: June 2017

Suppose that a countable group$G$admits a cusp-uniform action on a hyperbolic space$(X,d)$such that$G$is of divergent type. The main result of the paper is characterizing the purely exponential growth type of the orbit growth function by a condition introduced by Dal’bo, Otal and Peigné [Séries de Poincaré des groupes géométriquement finis.Israel J. Math.118(3) (2000), 109–124]. For geometrically finite Cartan–Hadamard manifolds with pinched negative curvature, this condition ensures the finiteness of Bowen–Margulis–Sullivan measures. In this case, our result recovers a theorem of Roblin (in a coarse form). Our main tool is the Patterson–Sullivan measures on the Gromov boundary of$X$, and a variant of the Sullivan shadow lemma called the partial shadow lemma. This allows us to prove that the purely exponential growth of either cones, or partial cones or horoballs is also equivalent to the Dal’bo–Otal–Peigné condition. These results are used further in a paper by the present author [W. Yang, Patterson–Sullivan measures and growth of relatively hyperbolic groups.Preprint, 2013,arXiv:1308.6326].
Mean topological dimension for random bundle transformations
Authors: MA XIANFENG , YANG JUNQI , CHEN ERCAI
Published: June 2017

We introduce the mean topological dimension for random bundle transformations, and show that continuous bundle random dynamical systems with finite topological entropy or satisfying the small boundary property have zero mean topological dimensions.
Shaping the shared mental model: How leader humility helps teams to learn
Authors: Li Mingze , Zhang Pengcheng , Xia Ying , Liu Wenxing
Published: June 2017

Although an increasing amount of the leadership literature argues that leader humility is beneficial to team learning, few studies have examined this effect directly and, as such, little is known about why leader humility has such important effects or when these effects can be amplified or attenuated. Utilizing a survey of 305 employees on 89 teams, we found a positive relationship existing between leader humility and team learning. The results also indicated that a shared mental model was an important mechanism revealing why leader humility could stimulate team members to learn. In addition, we found that the learning effect stimulated by leader humility was much stronger on teams having a high collective promotion focus instead of a high collective prevention focus. Theoretical implications and managerial practices were also discussed.
Online Smoking Cessation Advertising and Young Pacific Smokers in New Zealand
Authors: Taufa Nalei , Laumatia Ainsleigh , Marsh Samantha , Walker Natalie , Whittaker Robyn , Bullen Christopher
Published: June 2017

Introduction: Social media advertising could be effective in promoting smoking cessation. However, it's salience to Pacific youth in New Zealand who smoke is unknown.

Aim: To explore the views that 18–25 year old Pacific smokers have towards online smoking cessation advertising.

Methods: Twenty young Pacific smokers, aged 18–25 years, were recruited through indirect snowballing methods interviewed in focus groups by a female Pacific researcher. Questions centred on smoking cessation advice via social media and devices, preferences for advertisements, effective features and implications for internet banner and ad designs, positive versus negative framing, cultural cues and motivations. The general inductive approach was used to analyse the data for common themes.

Results: Smartphones were the most common device and Facebook the social media site most often used by participants. The informants recommended that the advertisements should have the following features: central position, eye-catching, bold imagery using simple language; endorsed by Pacific Island personalities; and positively framed messages to secure and maintain interest. The collective nature of Pacific cultures should be leveraged and testimonies from previous smokers used to strengthen motivation and dispel common myths around smoking.

Conclusion: There are potential opportunities for social media to be used as a platform to promote smoking cessation among Pacific young people.
Dosimetric feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR)-based dose calculation of prostate radiotherapy using multilevel threshold algorithm
Authors: Almatani Turki , Hugtenburg Richard P. , Lewis Ryan D. , Barley Susan E. , Edwards Mark A.
Published: June 2017

Objective

The development of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems has been extended for the entire radiotherapy process. However, MR images provide voxel values that are not directly related to electron densities, thus MR images cannot be used directly for dose calculation. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of dose calculations to be performed on MR images and evaluate the necessity of re-planning.

Methods

A prostate cancer patient was imaged using both MR and computed tomography (CT). The multilevel threshold (MLT) algorithm was used to categorise voxel values in the MR images into three segments (air, water and bone) with homogeneous Hounsfield units (HU). An intensity-modulated radiation therapy plan was generated from CT images of the patient. The plan was then copied to the segmented MR datasets and the doses were recalculated using pencil beam (PB) and collapsed cone (CC) algorithms and Monte Carlo (MC) modelling.

Results

γEvaluation showed that the percentage of points in regions of interest withγ<1 (3%/3 mm) were more than 94% in the segmented MR. Compared with the planning CT plan, the segmented MR plan resulted in a dose difference of –0·3, 0·8 and –1·3% when using PB, CC and MC algorithms, respectively.

Conclusion

The segmentation and conversion of MR images into HU data using the MLT algorithm, used in this feasibility study, can be used for dose calculation. This method can be used as a dosimetric assessment tool and can be easily implemented in the clinic.
Skillful prediction of northern climate provided by the ocean
Authors: Årthun Marius , Eldevik Tor , Viste Ellen , Drange Helge , Furevik Tore , Johnson Helen L. , Keenlyside Noel S.
Published: June 2017

It is commonly understood that a potential for skillful climate prediction resides in the ocean. It nevertheless remains unresolved to what extent variable ocean heat is imprinted on the atmosphere to realize its predictive potential over land. Here we assess from observations whether anomalous heat in the Gulf Stream's northern extension provides predictability of northwestern European and Arctic climate. We show that variations in ocean temperature in the high latitude North Atlantic and Nordic Seas are reflected in the climate of northwestern Europe and in winter Arctic sea ice extent. Statistical regression models show that a significant part of northern climate variability thus can be skillfully predicted up to a decade in advance based on the state of the ocean. Particularly, we predict that Norwegian air temperature will decrease over the coming years, although staying above the long-term (1981–2010) average. Winter Arctic sea ice extent will remain low but with a general increase towards 2020.
Microscopic origins of the large piezoelectricity of leadfree (Ba,Ca)(Zr,Ti)O3
Authors: Nahas Yousra , Akbarzadeh Alireza , Prokhorenko Sergei , Prosandeev Sergey , Walter Raymond , Kornev Igor , Íñiguez Jorge , Bellaiche L.
Published: June 2017

In light of directives around the world to eliminate toxic materials in various technologies, finding lead-free materials with high piezoelectric responses constitutes an important current scientific goal. As such, the recent discovery of a large electromechanical conversion near room temperature in (1−x)Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3−x(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 compounds has directed attention to understanding its origin. Here, we report the development of a large-scale atomistic scheme providing a microscopic insight into this technologically promising material. We find that its high piezoelectricity originates from the existence of large fluctuations of polarization in the orthorhombic state arising from the combination of a flat free-energy landscape, a fragmented local structure, and the narrow temperature window around room temperature at which this orthorhombic phase is the equilibrium state. In addition to deepening the current knowledge on piezoelectricity, these findings have the potential to guide the design of other lead-free materials with large electromechanical responses.
Learning relative values in the striatum induces violations of normative decision making
Authors: Klein Tilmann A. , Ullsperger Markus , Jocham Gerhard
Published: June 2017

To decide optimally between available options, organisms need to learn the values associated with these options. Reinforcement learning models offer a powerful explanation of how these values are learnt from experience. However, human choices often violate normative principles. We suggest that seemingly counterintuitive decisions may arise as a natural consequence of the learning mechanisms deployed by humans. Here, using fMRI and a novel behavioural task, we show that, when suddenly switched to novel choice contexts, participants’ choices are incongruent with values learnt by standard learning algorithms. Instead, behaviour is compatible with the decisions of an agent learning how good an option is relative to an option with which it had previously been paired. Striatal activity exhibits the characteristics of a prediction error used to update such relative option values. Our data suggest that choices can be biased by a tendency to learn option values with reference to the available alternatives.
Differences in Three-Dimensional Geometric Recognition by Non-Cancerous and Cancerous Epithelial Cells on Microgroove-Based Topography
Authors: Kushiro Keiichiro , Yaginuma Tomohiro , Ryo Akihide , Takai Madoka
Published: June 2017

During metastasis, cancer cells are exposed to various three-dimensional microstructures within the body, but the relationship between cancer migration and three-dimensional geometry remain largely unclear. Here, such geometric effects on cancerous cells were investigated by characterizing the motility of various cancer cell types on microgroove-based topographies made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), with particular emphasis on distinguishing cancerous and non-cancerous epithelial cells, as well as understanding the underlying mechanism behind such differences. The 90-degree walls enhanced motility for all cell lines, but the degrees of enhancements were less pronounced for the cancerous cells. Interestingly, while the non-cancerous epithelial cell types conformed to the three-dimensional geometrical cues and migrated along the walls, the cancerous cell types exhibited a unique behavior of climbing upright walls, and this was associated with the inability to form stable, polarized actin cytoskeleton along the walls of the microgrooves. Furthermore, when non-cancerous epithelial cell lines were altered to different levels of polarization capabilities and cancer malignancy or treated with inhibitory drugs, their three-dimensional geometry-dependent motility approached those of cancerous cell lines. Overall, the results suggest that cancerous cells may gradually lose geometrical recognition with increasing cancer malignancy, allowing them to roam freely ignoring three-dimensional geometrical cues during metastasis.
MERRAclim, a high-resolution global dataset of remotely sensed bioclimatic variables for ecological modelling
Authors: C. Vega Greta , Pertierra Luis R. , Olalla-Tárraga Miguel Ángel
Published: June 2017

Species Distribution Models (SDMs) combine information on the geographic occurrence of species with environmental layers to estimate distributional ranges and have been extensively implemented to answer a wide array of applied ecological questions. Unfortunately, most global datasets available to parameterize SDMs consist of spatially interpolated climate surfaces obtained from ground weather station data and have omitted the Antarctic continent, a landmass covering c. 20% of the Southern Hemisphere and increasingly showing biological effects of global change. Here we introduce MERRAclim, a global set of satellite-based bioclimatic variables including Antarctica for the first time. MERRAclim consists of three datasets of 19 bioclimatic variables that have been built for each of the last three decades (1980s, 1990s and 2000s) using hourly data of 2 m temperature and specific humidity. We provide MERRAclim at three spatial resolutions (10 arc-minutes, 5 arc-minutes and 2.5 arc-minutes). These reanalysed data are comparable to widely used datasets based on ground station interpolations, but allow extending their geographical reach and SDM building in previously uncovered regions of the globe.
Large-scale synthesis of uniformly dispersed hexagram-like gibbsite by a controlled replacement reaction
Authors: Hai Chunxi , Zhou Yuan , Zhang Lijuan , Sun Yanxia , Li Xiang , Shen Yue , Zhan Huaijin , Han Qier , Liu Jianghua , Ren Hongbo
Published: June 2017

A facile, convenient and mild method has been developed for synthesis of uniformly dispersed 2D six-pointed star-like gibbsite micro-nano crystals with lateral size around 2.5 μm and thickness around 100 nm.
Effect of lithium doping and precursors on the microstructural, surface electronic and luminescence properties of single crystalline microtubular tin oxide structures
Authors: del Prado Félix , Cremades Ana , Ramírez-Castellanos Julio , Maestre David , González-Calbet José M. , Piqueras Javier
Published: June 2017

Li doped SnO2 microtubes were obtained by thermal evaporation using two different starting materials as precursors.
Linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics of reversible periodic processes and chemical oscillations
Authors: Heimburg Thomas
Published: June 2017

Phenomenological equations successfully describe isentropic oscillations in mechanics, electrodynamics and chemistry.
Modeling the kinetics of cobalt Fischer–Tropsch catalyst deactivation trends through an innovative modified Weibull distribution
Authors: Khorashadizadeh Mahdi , Atashi Hossein
Published: June 2017

The deactivation trend of a cobalt-based catalyst was modeled via an innovative Weibull distribution base, which presents a significant advance over the existing macroscopic deactivation models.
Stability and growth mechanism of self-assembling putative antifreeze cyclic peptides
Authors: Brotzakis Z. Faidon , Gehre Mascha , Voets Ilja K. , Bolhuis Peter G.
Published: June 2017

From right to left: three distinct growth mechanisms of a pentamer to a hexamer putative antifreeze cyclic peptide nanotube.