bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In utero effects of maternal phthalate exposure on male genital development
Authors: Wineland Rebecca J. , Bloom Michael S. , Cruze Lori , Butts Celeste D. , Wenzel Abby G. , Unal E. Ramsey , Kohno Satomi , Willan Keith B. , Brock John W. , Newman Roger B.
Published: November 2018

Background

Phthalates are used extensively in commercial and personal care products and maternal exposure is ubiquitous. Phthalates are anti‐androgenic, but the potential effects of phthalates on male penile development have not been assessed in utero.

Objective

The study aims to investigate the association between early pregnancy phthalate exposure and fetal penile development, overall and by race.

Methods

Prospective cohort study of women with singleton pregnancies presenting for prenatal ultrasound between 18 and 22 weeks' gestation. Maternal urine samples were assayed for eight phthalate monoester metabolites. We used maternal phthalate levels at 18 to 22 weeks' gestation as predictors of fetal size using multiple linear regression models, adjusted for fetal gestational age, maternal age, race, smoking, and education. We incorporated a phthalate by race interaction into a second set of regression models.

Results

We detected statistically significant race interactions for continuous phthalates with penile width. Race interactions were also suggested for penile length and volume using tertiles of phthalates with point estimates generally positive for whites and negative for African Americans.

Conclusion

Penile development is significantly influenced by race, and the impact of maternal phthalates on penile measurements also varies by race. Maternal phthalate exposure can adversely affect in utero penile growth and development, especially among African Americans.
In‐Depth Proteome Analysis of Ricinus communis Pollens
Authors: Teixeira Fabiano M. , Shah Mohibullah , Domont Gilberto B. , Nogueira Fábio C.S. , Campos Francisco A.P.
Published: November 2018

Pollen grains are tiny structures vital for sexual reproduction and consequently seed and fruit production in angiosperms, and a source of many allergenic components responsible for deleterious implications for health worldwide. Current pollen research is mainly focused on unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying the pollen germination and tube formation passing from the quiescent stage. In this context, an in‐depth proteome analysis of the pollens from Ricinus communis at three different stages—that is, mature, hydrated, and in vitro germinated—is performed. This analysis results in the identification of 1950 proteins, including 1773, 1313, and 858, from mature, hydrated, and germinated pollens, respectively. Based on label‐free quantification, 164 proteins are found to be significantly differentially abundant from mature to hydrated pollens, 40 proteins from hydrated to germinated, and 57 proteins from mature to germinated pollens, respectively. Most of the differentially abundant proteins are related to protein, carbohydrate, and energy metabolism and signaling. Besides other functional classes, a reasonable number of the proteins are predicted to be allergenic proteins, previously undiscovered. This is the first in‐deep proteome analysis of the R. communis pollens and, to the best of our knowledge, one of the most complete proteome dataset identified from the pollens of any plant species, thus providing a reference proteome for researchers interested in pollen biology.
Intercation spacing and side chain effects on phosphonium polymers: Thermal, supramolecular, and bactericidal properties
Authors: Yang Xiaoyan , Bedford Monte S. , Wan Wang , Conrad Catherine A. , Colter Emily F. , Freeman Emily H. , Wilson Clayton , Hu Longyu , Chumanov George , Whitehead Kristi J. , Smith Rhett C.
Published: November 2018

The properties of phosphonium polyelectrolytes (PELs) were evaluated in an effort to assess the influence of both side chain and main chain composition. The influence of side chain was examined by comparing properties of a series of PELs having hydrophobic octyloxy side chains to those of structural analogues lacking the side chains. The influence exerted by backbone flexibility/length of spacer between charges was revealed by comparing properties of two series of polymers with a variable number of methylene units between phosphonium charge‐bearing sites. Side chain composition and spacing between phosphonium units lead to noteworthy influence on thermal stability, glass transition, and crystallinity. The molecular structure of PELs also correlates with trends in film morphology and critical surface energy of PEL dip‐cast films. Sensitivity of morphology to humidity or water in the casting solvent was observed. Supramolecular assembly of films via layer‐by‐layer deposition of PELs alternating with anionic polythiophene derivative layers was also undertaken. The linearity of film growth, amount of material deposited in each bilayer, polycation:polyanion ratio, and film roughness all show noteworthy trends that depend on both the presence/absence of side chains and on spacing between ionic centers. The relationship between side chain and spacer on bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was assessed. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 24–34
Effects of annealing above Tg on the physical aging of quenched PLLA studied by modulated temperature FTIR
Authors: Di Lisio Valerio , Sturabotti Elisa , Francolini Iolanda , Piozzi Antonella , Martinelli Andrea
Published: November 2018

The effect of the annealing few degrees above the glass transition temperature (Tda = 62 °C) on the physical aging (Tpa = 51 °C) of amorphous quenched poly(l‐lactide) is investigated by an implementation of variable temperature Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). By using a temperature program composed of a linear heating ramp superimposed to a temperature modulation (modulated temperature FTIR), the reversing and nonreversing intensity variation of selected bands, related to high‐energy gg and low‐energy gt conformers, is investigated. It is observed that the annealing above T
g changes irreversibly the conformation distribution of the liquid polymer. The glasses obtained from annealed and nonannealed liquids behave differently, evolving in the physical aging toward their own liquid state and retaining the memory of their original condition before the vitrification. The recovery through T
g of the relaxation occurred in the physical aging depends not only from aging conditions but also by the thermal history of the sample above the Tg. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 174–181
Cold plasma oxidation of harmful algae and associated metabolite BMAA toxin in aqueous suspension
Authors: Nisol Bernard , Watson Sean , Leblanc Yves , Moradinejad Saber , Wertheimer Michael R. , Zamyadi Arash
Published: November 2018

We report experiments in which reactive oxygen species (ROS) from a 20 kHz HV discharge in Ar/O2 (90/10) gas mixture at atmospheric pressure were directly bubbled into highly concentrated aqueous suspensions of cyanobacteria Dolichospermum, green algae Scenedesmus and BMAA toxin, simulating extreme algal blooms. It has been found that even quite short treatment durations, up to 6 min, could greatly reduce the numbers of viable cells and completely destroy the BMAA toxin. Perhaps even more important, “plasma‐activated water” (PAW) was found to continue its effectiveness after 24 h, even 4 days after terminating the discharge.
Detection and Identification of the Traces of Explosives with Using of Active Spectral Imaging
Authors: Kuzovnikova Liudmila V. , Maksimenko Eugene V. , Vorozhtsov Alexander B. , Pavlenko Anatolii A. , Didenko Alexander V. , Titov Sergei S.
Published: November 2018

An optical‐electronic laser complex for the standoff detection of traces of explosives was developed with using of the Active Spectral Imaging. The tuning and automatization of the developed complex were performed. Experimental researches in detection of traces of various types of explosives on different substrates were carried out. On average, the probability of detection was 89 % and the probability of identification was 91 %.
Pyrotechnic Films Based on Thermites Covered with PVC
Authors: Smit Kenneth J. , Morgan Michael , Pietrobon Raoul
Published: November 2018

Incorporation of pyrotechnics into a polymer film of approximately 0.5 mm thick can be used to conveniently prepare pyrotechnics for characterization and demonstration purposes as shown with various thermites. Pyrotechnics may be prepared from fuels and oxidants as sieve mixed powders or dispersed into liquids and mixed together. In this way thermites, including nanothermites, may be prepared as solid films. The matrix of the film is composed of poly(vinyl chloride) however the thermite still undergoes solid thermite reactions because the majority of the polymer dries above the pyrotechnic layer. The process also facilitates control over thermite ignition as shown when appropriate priming layers are sequentially added to ignite an Al/Fe2O3 thermite layer. The resultant product of the additive manufacturing technique is a multilayered pyrotechnic thin film.
Growth and Characterization of Vertical and Lateral p‐n Junctions Formed by Selective‐Area p‐GaN MOVPE on Patterned Templates
Authors: Debald Arne , Kotzea Simon , Heuken Michael , Kalisch Holger , Vescan Andrei
Published: November 2018

In this work, vertical and lateral GaN p‐n junctions are investigated. In particular, there is a strong demand of lateral p‐n junctions for the realization of numerous types of power devices. The comparison of I‐V characteristics of regrown and continuously‐grown p‐n diodes, formed by metal‐organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE), reveals the impact of different surface treatments before regrowth. The use of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) prove vital for growth on etch‐damaged GaN and to smoothen vertical sidewalls for selective‐area regrowth (SAR). Initial growth on patterned templates is identified to occur both vertically on the horizontal c‐plane and laterally on the vertical m‐planes allowing for an integration of the developed process in power device fabrication routes. The formation of local superelevations (LSE) near edges of masked areas is analyzed and explained.
Fluorescent Platforms Based on Organic Molecules for Chemical and Biological Detection
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Liu Lu , Zhu Shuxian , Li Lidong
Published: November 2018

Fluorescent platforms based on organic molecules have attracted great attention in the field of chemical and biological detection because of their high detection efficiency and sensitivity. Strategies in fluorescent platform design with controlled luminescence properties based on Förster resonance energy transfer, excimer/exciplex formation, and metal‐enhanced fluorescence mechanisms are reviewed herein. Attention is focused on the photophysical processes of fluorescent molecules in their interactions with other components as well as with the target. Color‐ and intensity‐tunable luminescence from energy or electron transfer and the electronic structures of fluorescent molecules are discussed. On the basis of the photophysical properties of fluorescent molecules, their responsive fluorescence signals, which reflect specific inter‐ and intra‐molecular interactions, are particularly effective for chemical and biological detection.
L‐theanine ameliorate depressive‐like behavior in a chronic unpredictable mild stress rat model via modulating the monoamine levels in limbic–cortical–striatal–pallidal–thalamic‐circuit related brain regions
Authors: Shen Manjun , Yang Yi , Wu Ying , Zhang Beibei , Wu Haishan , Wang Lu , Tang Hui , Chen Jindong
Published: November 2018

L‐theanine, originally found in green tea, elicits various physiological effects, such as promoting relaxation, improving concentration and learning ability, and providing antianxiety‐like and antidepressant‐like properties. This study aims to investigate the effects of L‐theanine (2 mg/kg) on monoamine levels in an animal model of depression. The effect of l‐theanine on the symptoms of depression was examined through the open‐field test, sucrose preference test, and forced swim test. The monoamine neurotransmitters that involve serotonin (5‐HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) were measured in the limbic–cortical–striatal–pallidal–thalamic (LCSPT)‐circuit related brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAC), striatum (ST), amygdala, and hippocampus (HIP). L‐theanine ameliorated the depressive‐like behaviors in the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat model. In the PFC, NAC, and HIP, L‐theanine administration significantly increased the levels of 5‐HT, NE, and DA. In the ST, the levels of 5‐HT and DA were increased after the administration of L‐theanine. However, in the HIP, only the level of DA significantly changed after the treatment of L‐theanine. Taken together, these results indicated that L‐theanine has possibly antidepressant‐like effects in the CUMS rat model, which could be mediated by the monoamine neurotransmitters in the LCSPT‐circuit related brain regions.
An Economical Synthesis of Caulerpin and Evaluation of Its New Anticancer Activities
Authors: Li Hangbin , Liao Xiaojian , Sun Yueguang , Zhou Rong , Long Weili , Li Le , Gu Liuqun , Xu Shihai
Published: November 2018

Caulerpin was economically synthesized with a new easy‐handled procedure in higher overall yield of 25.4%, compared to overall yield of 11% in reported literature. Evaluation of caulerpin in new types of cancer cell lines was performed and generally excellent biological activities were observed. In which, caulerpin showed the most activity in human liver tumor cell line (Huh7: IC50 =0.7 μM).
Ni(OH)2 Nanoflakes Supported on 3D Ni3Se2 Nanowire Array as Highly Efficient Electrodes for Asymmetric Supercapacitor and Ni/MH Battery
Authors: Shi Xin , Key Julian , Ji Shan , Linkov Vladimir , Liu Fusheng , Wang Hui , Gai Hengjun , Wang Rongfang
Published: November 2018

Porous Ni(OH)2 nanoflakes are directly grown on the surface of nickel foam supported Ni3Se2 nanowire arrays using an in situ growth procedure to form 3D Ni3Se2@Ni(OH)2 hybrid material. Owing to good conductivity of Ni3Se2, high specific capacitance of Ni(OH)2 and its unique architecture, the obtained Ni3Se2@Ni(OH)2 exhibits a high specific capacitance of 1689 µAh cm−2 (281.5 mAh g−1) at a discharge current of 3 mA cm−2 and a superior rate capability. Both the high energy density of 59.47 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 100.54 W kg−1 and remarkable cycling stability with only a 16.4% capacity loss after 10 000 cycles are demonstrated in an asymmetric supercapacitor cell comprising Ni3Se2@Ni(OH)2 as a positive electrode and activated carbon as a negative electrode. Furthermore, the cell achieved a high energy density of 50.9 Wh L−1 at a power density of 83.62 W L−1 in combination with an extraordinary coulombic efficiency of 97% and an energy efficiency of 88.36% at 5 mA cm−2 when activated carbon is replaced by metal hydride from a commercial NiMH battery. Excellent electrochemical performance indicates that Ni3Se2@Ni(OH)2 composite can become a promising electrode material for energy storage applications.
Multilevel States of Nano‐Electromechanical Switch for a PUF‐Based Security Device
Authors: Hwang Kyu‐Man , Kim Wu‐Kang , Jin Ik Kyeong , Lee Seung‐Wook , Choi Yang‐Kyu
Published: November 2018

A nano‐electromechanical (NEM) switch using multilevel states based on the high security physical unclonable function (PUF) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Using the asymmetric random stiction of a silicon nanowire (SiNW), the conventional binary state is simply expanded to a quaternary‐state encryption key without increasing chip area. The multiple states are determined by the asymmetrically bent direction and stiction of the SiNW. The experimental results show that the fabricated NEM‐PUF with multistates retains unique, random, and robust characteristics, while the key capacity is doubled, even with the same array size footprint.
Cambrian trilobites from the Huérmeda Formation (Iberian Chains, north‐east Spain) and the inadequacy of the Marianian Stage
Authors: Álvaro J. Javier , Esteve Jorge , Gracia Fernando , Zamora Samuel
Published: November 2018

A taxonomic study of the trilobites found in the Marianian parastratotype of the Iberian Chains, north‐east Spain, results in the recognition of the new redlichiid Redlichia isuelaensis sp. nov., the ellipsocephalid Lusatiops ribotanus, and the saukiandids Onaraspis garciae sp. nov., Paulaspis tiergaensis gen. et sp. nov. and Luciaspis matiasi gen. et sp. nov. The diagnosis of the new Subfamily Onaraspininae (Saukiandidae) and its genera takes into account distinct differences in the thorax, which is subdivided into prothorax with spinose and/or macropleural tergites and opistothorax with micropleurid segments. Onaraspis geyeri sp. nov. is erected based on material previously described in Jordan, which was assigned to poorly preserved material of Myopsolenites palmeri from Israel. The temporal correlation of Marianian endemic‐dominant trilobites throughout the Variscan tectonostratigraphic units of the Iberian Peninsula is not supported by acritarchs, archaeocyaths or trilobites. Three diachronous horizons have been proposed to mark the base of the Marianian (based on the first occurrence of two trilobite genera and one archaeocyathan assemblage zone) and two diachronous horizons for the top (based on the first and last occurrence of different trilobite genera). As a result, the Cambrian Epoch‐2 Marianian Stage is ill‐defined and rendered invalid for correlation throughout the Iberian Peninsula.
The Shkarofsky‐Gneiting class of covariance models for bivariate Gaussian random fields
Authors: Porcu Emilio , Bevilacqua Moreno , Hering Amanda S.
Published: November 2018

We propose new covariance functions for bivariate Gaussian random fields that are very general and include as special cases other popular models proposed in earlier literature, namely, the bivariate Matérn and bivariate Cauchy models. The proposed model allows the covariance margins to belong to different parametric families with. To our knowledge, this is the first model of this type to be proposed in the literature. For instance, one of the margins can be of the Matérn type, whereas the latter can index long‐range dependence. Estimation of the model is illustrated through simulation.
Semiparametric estimation for the accelerated failure time model with length‐biased sampling and covariate measurement error
Authors: Chen Li‐Pang
Published: November 2018

Analysis of survival data with biased samples caused by left‐truncation or length‐biased sampling has received extensive interest. Many inference methods have been developed for various survival models. These methods, however, break down when survival data are typically error contaminated. Although error‐prone survival data commonly arise in practice, little work has been available in the literature for handling length‐biased data with measurement error. In this paper, we study this important problem and explore valid inference methods under the accelerated failure time (AFT) model. We establish asymptotic results for the proposed estimators and examine the efficiency and robustness issues of the proposed estimators. The proposed methods enjoy appealing features in that there is no need to specify the distributions of the covariates and of the error term in the AFT model. Numerical studies are reported to assess the performance of the proposed method.
Green Light: On YCl[WO4] as Host Material for Luminescence Active Tb3+ Cations
Authors: Schustereit Tanja , Netzsch Philip , Höppe Henning A. , Hartenbach Ingo
Published: November 2018

Coarse, colorless and transparent single crystals as well as single phase powder of YCl[WO4] were yielded by the reaction of Y2O3, YCl3, and WO3 in evacuated silica ampules at 850 °C for six days, utilizing a fivefold excess of YCl3 with respect to the stoichiometric ratio as flux. The title compound crystallizes isotypically to the RECl[WO4] representatives for RE = Gd – Tm in the monoclinic space group C2/m (a = 1022.41(3), b = 722.91(2), c = 684.34(2) pm; β = 107.455(3)°; Z = 4). By doping the title compound with about 1 % Tb3+ cations, bright green luminescence is observed upon irradiation with UV light. Investigations of the excitation and emission spectra at room temperature as well as 77 K reveal a slight shift in the O2– → W6+ LMCT transition towards shorter wavelengths upon reducing the temperature. This charge transfer transition can be used as sensitizer for the Tb3+ luminescence, however, the 5D3 state of the latter is not reached by this excitation. This is possible by exciting the 7F6 → 5G6 transition, which causes the emissions from the aforementioned 5D3 level to intensify, thus causing a blue shift of the emission.
Conclusions: Coming to Terms with Superdiversity?
Authors: Crul Maurice , Scholten Peter , van de Laar Paul
Published: November 2018

Our quest in this book was to unravel how the city of Rotterdam comes to terms with its superdiverse character. It speaks to the rapidly evolving literature on superdiversity by taking as the central case study a city that may be representative of a much broader range of cities in Europe (and beyond) that seem reluctant in coming to terms with superdiversity, and that are not ranked as global cities. The example of Rotterdam reveals the spectrum of contradictions and paradoxes that come along with this uncomfortable relationship with superdiversity. Rotterdam is both a city of inclusion, the first with a mayor of Moroccan descent, and a city of exclusion, with political discourses in the City Council that are exclusionary and sometimes outright discriminatory. The core question to be addressed in this concluding chapter is why in some cities, like Rotterdam, the transformation into a superdiverse city is more problematic and accompanied by political upheaval, while in other cities it seems to be a more smooth process. The term superdiversity is merely describing a certain reality that characterizes Rotterdam and is not used as a normative term. With this book, we want to contribute to the growing literature that is trying to explain under which conditions a superdiverse city or neighbourhood is perceived by its inhabitants as an overall positive configuration and under which conditions people perceive it as being a more negative phenomenon and it leads to a more negative discourse.
Walking the Walk’ Rather Than ‘Talking the Talk’ of Superdiversity: Continuity and Change in the Development of Rotterdam’s Immigrant Integration Policies
Authors: Dekker Rianne , van Breugel Ilona
Published: November 2018

Rotterdam is commonly characterised as pioneering in immigrant integration governance, often functioning as a predecessor for national and local policies in other cities. Before the first national integration policies were drafted in the Netherlands, Rotterdam already developed integration policies to deal with the interethnic tensions in the ‘Afrikaanderwijk’-neighbourhood. Also more recently Rotterdam’s policies were marked as pioneering, setting an example for other national and local policies. The best known example is the national law ‘Wet Bijzondere Grootstedelijke Problematiek’, also known as the Rotterdam Act. This national law was developed in Rotterdam and offers large cities the discretion to develop measures for specific urban problems in their city. Ethnic segregation and inequalities were the main underlying reason for Rotterdam to develop this policy. A local motto – ‘deeds, not words’ (in Dutch ‘Geen woorden maar daden’) – expresses the hands-on attitude for which the city and its citizens are known. This maxim is reflected in the city’s integration policies as well.
The effects of microdose LSD on time perception: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Yanakieva Steliana , Polychroni Naya , Family Neiloufar , Williams Luke T. J. , Luke David P. , Terhune Devin B.
Published: November 2018

Rationale

Previous research demonstrating that lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) produces alterations in time perception has implications for its impact on conscious states and a range of psychological functions that necessitate precise interval timing. However, interpretation of this research is hindered by methodological limitations and an inability to dissociate direct neurochemical effects on interval timing from indirect effects attributable to altered states of consciousness.

Methods

We conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study contrasting oral administration of placebo with three microdoses of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) in older adults. Subjective drug effects were regularly recorded and interval timing was assessed using a temporal reproduction task spanning subsecond and suprasecond intervals.

Results

LSD conditions were not associated with any robust changes in self-report indices of perception, mentation, or concentration. LSD reliably produced over-reproduction of temporal intervals of 2000 ms and longer with these effects most pronounced in the 10 μg dose condition. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that LSD-mediated over-reproduction was independent of marginal differences in self-reported drug effects across conditions.

Conclusions

These results suggest that microdose LSD produces temporal dilation of suprasecond intervals in the absence of subjective alterations of consciousness.
Opportunity Lost? Diagnostic Laparoscopy in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database
Authors: Paracha Munizay , Van Orden Kathryn , Patts Gregory , Tseng Jennifer , McAneny David , Sachs Teviah
Published: November 2018

Background

Routine preoperative staging in pancreas cancer is controversial. We sought to evaluate the rates of diagnostic laparoscopy (DLAP) for pancreatic cancer.

Methods

We queried the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for patients with pancreas cancer (2005–2013) and compared groups who underwent DLAP, exploratory laparotomy (XLAP), pancreas resection (RSXN) or therapeutic bypass (THBP). We compared demographics, comorbidities, postoperative complications, 30‐day mortality (Chi‐square P < 0.05) and trends over time (R2 0–1).

Results

We identified 17,138 patients (RSXN 81.8%, XLAP 16.5%, THBP 8.2%, and DLAP 12.9%), with some having multiple CPT codes. Only 10.3% (n = 1432) of RSXN patients underwent DLAP prior to resection. XLAP occurred in 49.5% of non‐RSXN patients, of whom 67.1% had no other operation. The percentage of patients undergoing RSXN increased 20.3% over time (R2 0.81), while DLAP decreased 52.6% (R2 0.92). XLAP patients without other operations decreased from 4.2 to 2.4%, although not linearly (R2 0.31). Only 10.3% of XLAP had a diagnostic laparoscopy as well, leaving nearly 90% of these patients with an exploratory laparotomy without RSXN or THBP.

Discussion

Diagnostic laparoscopy for pancreas malignancy is becoming less common but could benefit a subset of patients who undergo open exploration without resection or therapeutic bypass.
The Short‐Form Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (sf‐IPQ): An Instrument for Rating Groin Pain After Inguinal Hernia Surgery in Daily Clinical Practice
Authors: Olsson Anders , Sandblom G. , Fränneby U. , Sondén A. , Gunnarsson U. , Dahlstrand U.
Published: November 2018

Background

The Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (IPQ) is a standardised and validated instrument for assessing persisting pain after groin hernia surgery. The IPQ is often perceived as being too extensive for routine use. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a condensed version of the IPQ in order to facilitate its use in daily clinical practice.

Methods

The condensed form, i.e. Short‐Form Inguinal Pain Questionnaire (sf‐IPQ), comprises two main items taken from the IPQ. Four hundred patients were recruited from the Swedish Hernia Register and were sent the IPQ, sf‐IPQ and the Short‐Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF‐MPQ) three years after hernia repair. Ratings from the IPQ and the sf‐IPQ were converted to a 12‐point scale. The reported scores for the two shared items in the IPQ and sf‐IPQ were compared using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Cohen’s kappa and McNemar’s test.

Results

After two reminders, the response rate was 69.8% (n = 279/400). The ICC for the IPQ and sf‐IPQ scores was 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.73–0.82, p < 0.001). Cohen’s kappa was 0.66 (95% confidence interval 0.55–0.77, p < 0.001). The sf‐IPQ systematically indicated a higher pain score than the IPQ (p = 0.013).

Conclusions

Despite the systematic difference in level of pain scored, correlation, consistency and agreement were seen between the IPQ and sf‐IPQ. The forms appear to be interchangeable, though the sf‐IPQ may be a more sensitive instrument. The condensed structure of the sf‐IPQ is more user‐friendly and shows promise as a useful tool in daily clinical practice.
Postoperative Skeletal Muscle Loss Predicts Poor Prognosis of Adenocarcinoma of Upper Stomach and Esophagogastric Junction
Authors: Kudou Kensuke , Saeki Hiroshi , Nakashima Yuichiro , Kimura Koichi , Ando Koji , Oki Eiji , Ikeda Tetsuo , Maehara Yoshihiko
Published: November 2018

Background

The relationship between postoperative changes in muscle mass and the prognosis of malignancies remains controversial. We aimed to determine whether a decrease in skeletal muscle mass after surgical resection can predict long‐term outcomes in patients with adenocarcinoma of upper stomach (AUS) and esophagogastric junction (AEGJ).

Methods

We reviewed 146 patients who underwent curative surgery for AUS and AEGJ. We assessed the skeletal muscle index pre‐ and post‐surgery and 6 months postoperatively. The rate of decrease in skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated and its relationship with clinicopathological factors and prognosis was analyzed.

Results

Among the 146 patients studied, 115 underwent re‐assessment of SMI 6 months postoperatively. The mean decrease in SMI was more prominent in patients with recurrence than in those without recurrence (19.0 ± 2.3 vs. 7.4 ± 0.9%, respectively, P < 0.0001). AUS and AEGJ patients with a >19% decrease in SMI showed significantly lower 5‐year overall survival and recurrence‐free rates than those with a <19% decrease in SMI (recurrence‐free survival: 33.4 vs. 89.2%, respectively, P < 0.0001; overall survival: 40.6 vs. 90.0%, respectively, P < 0.0001). Multivariate analyses indicated that a ≥19% decrease in SMI could predict poor overall survival independently in patients with AUS and AEGJ (P = 0.0070).

Conclusions

A ≥19% postoperative decrease in SMI was substantially associated with poor survival in patients with AUS and AEGJ.
Hurdles to Take for Adequate Treatment of Morbidly Obese Children and Adolescents: Attitudes of General Practitioners Towards Conservative and Surgical Treatment of Paediatric Morbid Obesity
Authors: Roebroek Yvonne G. M. , Talib Ali , Muris Jean W. M. , van Dielen Francois M. H. , Bouvy Nicole D. , van Heurn L. W. Ernest
Published: November 2018

Background

Bariatric surgery is regarded as the most effective treatment of morbid obesity in adults. Referral patterns for bariatric surgery in adults differ among general practitioners (GPs), partially due to restricted knowledge of the available treatment options. Reluctance in referral might be present even stronger in the treatment of morbidly obese children.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the current practice of GPs regarding treatment of paediatric morbid obesity and their attitudes towards the emergent phenomenon of paediatric weight loss surgery.

Methods

All GPs enlisted in the local registries of two medical centres were invited for a 15‐question anonymous online survey.

Results

Among 534 invited GPs, 184 (34.5%) completed the survey. Only 102 (55.4%) reported providing or referring morbidly obese children for combined lifestyle interventions. A majority (n = 175, 95.1%) estimated that conservative treatment is effective in a maximum of 50% of children. Although 123 (66.8%) expect that bariatric surgery may be effective in therapy‐resistant morbid obesity, only 76 (41.3%) would consider referral for surgery. Important reasons for reluctance were uncertainty about long‐term efficacy and safety. The opinion that surgery is only treatment of symptoms and therefore not appropriate was significantly more prevalent amongst GPs who would not refer (58.3% vs. 27.6%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

There is a potential for undertreatment of morbidly obese adolescents, due to suboptimal knowledge regarding guidelines and bariatric surgery, as well as negative attitudes towards surgery. This should be addressed by improving communication between surgeons and GPs and providing educational resources on bariatric surgery.
Assessment of thermally comfortable urban spaces in Amsterdam during hot summer days
Authors: Klok Lisette , Rood Niek , Kluck Jeroen , Kleerekoper Laura
Published: November 2018

Since it is insufficiently clear to urban planners in the Netherlands to what extent design measures can reduce heat stress and which urban spaces are most comfortable, this study evaluates the impact of shading, urban water, and urban green on the thermal comfort of urban spaces during hot summer afternoons. The methods used include field surveys, meteorological measurements, and assessment of the PET (physiological equivalent temperature). In total, 21 locations in Amsterdam (shaded and sunny locations in parks, streets, squares, and near water bodies) were investigated. Measurements show a reduction in PET of 12 to 22 °C in spaces shaded by trees and buildings compared to sunlit areas, while water bodies and grass reduce the PET up to 4 °C maximum compared to impervious areas. Differences in air temperature between the locations are generally small and it is concluded that shading, water and grass reduce the air temperature by roughly 1 °C. The surveys (n = 1928) indicate that especially shaded areas are perceived cooler and more comfortable than sunlit locations, whereas urban spaces near water or green spaces (grass) were not perceived as cooler or thermally more comfortable. The results of this study highlight the importance of shading in urban design to reduce heat stress. The paper also discusses the differences between meteorological observations and field surveys for planning and designing cool and comfortable urban spaces. Meteorological measurements provide measurable quantities which are especially useful for setting or meeting target values or guidelines in reducing urban heat in practice.
Truth Does Not Matter: Legal Storytelling in the Japanese Drama “Legal High 2”
Authors: Hu Lung Lung
Published: November 2018

People expect that the truth can be revealed in a trial and the decision then is made based on the truth. However, such expectation is a fantasy because the truth has disappeared since the moment when an incident occurred. What are left about this incident are merely fragments (witnesses and evidences) that need further interpretations. Interpretations are open to possibilities; possibilities mean different stories. That is to say: there is no truth (or there are many truths) but stories; truth actually does not matter in law. Law is asked to re-construct the truth logically, based on facts, and without being affected by what outside the law, and then a fair and just legal decision can be made. The idea of storytelling, from the perspective of literature—literary narrative, on the other end is opposite to legal narrative that: a story does not need to be true or real; a story can be as bizarre as it can get as long as it is explainable and acceptable when the story comes to law. In a Japanese drama “Legal High 2” a black widow spider woman is accused of murdering her fiancée and his daughter. Since this woman is the only suspect and has been involved in many marriage fraudulent cases, the prosecutor proves that she is the murder based on the motivation and evidences found (the poison she bought from internet) in the crime scene. However, the defense attorney for getting this woman acquitted tells a story absolutely different from the prosecutor’s based on the same evidences. Therefore, in this present paper I am going to discuss that: how literary narrative and legal narrative in a law drama create both legit but opposite stories that challenges the idea that law and its language is a tool used to pursue the truth based on logics and facts. And, I will compare the similarity and the difference between literary narrative and legal narrative, from the both sides of legal theory and literary theory about language, to examine the idea of “truth” in law and in literature about law.
Flexible Working and Unpaid Overtime in the UK: The Role of Gender, Parental and Occupational Status
Authors: Chung Heejung , van der Horst Mariska
Published: November 2018

Recent studies have shown that flexible boundaries between work and family may make employees work harder and longer. Yet most studies were not able to show whether there are differences across different types of flexible working arrangements, and whether this relationship may only hold for certain groups of workers. We examine how three different types of flexible working arrangements, that is schedule control, flexitime, and teleworking, are associated with an increase in unpaid overtime hours of workers in the UK using the Understanding Society data from 2010 to 2015 and fixed effects panel regression models. Results show that the flexible arrangements that were introduced primarily for work-life balance purposes, i.e., flexitime and teleworking, do not necessarily increase unpaid overtime hours significantly. On the other hand, workers’ control over their schedule, mainly introduced as a part of high-performance strategies, leads to increased unpaid overtime hours. This is especially true for professional men, and women without children, especially those working full-time, and surprisingly part-time working mothers. The results of this study point to the importance of distinguishing between different groups of workers as well as between different types of arrangements when examining outcomes of flexible working. Furthermore, the results of the study contribute to the argument that performance enhancing flexible working arrangements can potentially exacerbate gender inequalities in the labour market by enabling men to commit more time to their jobs, while for women, especially full-time working mothers, this may be less possible.
Gender, Flexibility Stigma and the Perceived Negative Consequences of Flexible Working in the UK
Authors: Chung Heejung
Published: November 2018

This study examines the prevalence and the gender differences in the perceptions and experiences of flexibility stigma—i.e., the belief that workers who use flexible working arrangements for care purposes are less productive and less committed to the workplace. This is done by using the 4th wave of the Work-Life Balance Survey conducted in 2011 in the UK. The results show that 35% of all workers agree to the statement that those who work flexibly generate more work for others, and 32% believe that those who work flexibly have lower chances for promotion. Although at first glance, men are more likely to agree to both, once other factors are controlled for, women especially mothers are more likely to agree to the latter statement. Similarly, men are more likely to say they experienced negative outcomes due to co-workers working flexibly, while again mothers are more likely to say they experienced negative career consequences due to their own flexible working. The use of working time reducing arrangements, such as part-time, is a major reason why people experience negative career outcomes, and can partially explain why mothers are more likely to suffer from such outcomes when working flexibly. However, this relationship could be reverse, namely, the stigma towards part-time workers may be due to negative perceptions society hold towards mothers’ commitment to work and their productivity. In sum, this paper shows that flexibility stigma is gendered, in that men are more likely to discriminate against flexible workers, while women, especially mothers, are more likely to suffer from such discrimination.
Correction to: Landscape ecology and expanding range of biocontrol agent taxa enhance prospects for diamondback moth management. A review
Authors: Gurr Geoff M. , Reynolds Olivia L. , Johnson Anne C. , Desneux Nicolas , Zalucki Myron P. , Furlong Michael J. , Li Zhenyu , Akutse Komivi S. , Chen Junhui , Gao Xiwu , You Minsheng
Published: November 2018

The article “Making people buy and eat differently”: lessons from the modernization of small independent grocery stores in the early twentieth century written by Frank Cochoy, was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on 29 June 2017.
Central nervous system manifestation of lupus erythematosus resembling brain abscess
Authors: Panagopoulos Dimitrios , Themistocleous Marios
Published: November 2018

Manifestations of central nervous system involvement are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus. It frequently involves the central nervous system and sometimes need to be differentiated from lesions of infectious etiology, thus representing a major diagnostic dilemma. We present the case of a male adolescent with a known history of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who presented with a seizure ictus and a space-occupying lesion, which posed significant diagnostic challenges to specify its characteristics.
Safe digital transformation for SMEs
Authors: Bedell-Pearce Jack
Published: November 2018

The pressure is on for British businesses over the next couple of years. With the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) now in force and Brexit looming, what can UK SMEs learn from their enterprise cousins during this profound period of transformation?

Organisations are eagerly adopting digital transformation. Solutions such as containerisation and other cloud-based models allow greater flexibility while helping firms remain secure.

These also address compliance and data sovereignty requirements, the need for greater business continuity in the event of a disaster (natural or otherwise) and improved accessibility to hardware and data. And for smaller firms, the assurance of colocation and the flexibility of cloud infrastructure strikes a good balance for their IT needs, says Jack Bedell-Pearce of 4D Datacentres.
Business continuity and disaster recovery – advice for best practice
Authors: Timms Paul
Published: November 2018

With downtime leading to reputational damage, lost trade and impact on long-term projects, organisations are starting to realise that continuity planning and disaster recovery are critical to success. Business continuity needs to be properly planned, tested and reviewed in order to be successful. For most businesses, planning for disaster recovery will raise more questions than answers to begin with: however by ensuring you do the hard work now you will save a lot of pain in the future.
Nation-state attacks: the start of a new Cold War?
Authors: Mansfield-Devine Steve
Published: November 2018

Nation-state hacking isn't just grabbing headlines. It is exercising the minds, and worrying the nerves, of everyone concerned with security – from network managers to heads of state. And there seems to be something of a change of attitude taking place. Although the ‘attribution problem’ still exists, law enforcement agencies and senior government officials are now more willing to name names and issue indictments. As Ian Goslin, head of UK Cyber at Airbus CyberSecurity, explains in this interview, the issues of nation state hacking have moved out of the technical domain.
The changing face of phishing
Authors: Rutherford Robert
Published: November 2018

Using cyber attacks to steal sensitive information from businesses is nothing new. In fact, building and updating defences against data breaches is a standard requirement for IT departments around the world. However, as the methods of cyber criminals grow more sophisticated and persistent, the number of businesses being targeted is on the rise, with three quarters of organisations hit by phishing attacks in 2017. 1
Unmasking deceptive attacks with machine learning
Authors: Peterson Patrick
Published: November 2018

The success of a cyber attack is increasingly dictated not by the use of the most nefarious zero-day malware weapons, but by the strength of the attackers’ ability to deceive their targets. Powerful social engineering techniques mean that even the best security strategies can be undone by users clicking on a link that they believe came from a trusted contact.
The ever-changing face of phishing
Authors: Mansfield-Devine Steve
Published: November 2018

Phishing is one of the oldest tricks in the book. As a form of impersonation-based fraud, you can trace its origins to the days of fax and even snailmail letters. And in essence it's very simple – convince people you're someone you're not in order to convince them to click links, open attachments or take actions that will harm them and enrich the attacker. But as Stu Sjouwerman, founder and CEO of KnowBe4, points out in this interview, that doesn't mean there's nothing new in the world of phishing – in fact, quite the reverse.
Asymptotics for the long-time evolution of kurtosis of narrow-band ocean waves
Authors: Janssen Peter A. E. M. , Janssen Augustus J. E. M.
Published: November 2018

In this paper we highlight that extreme events such as freak waves are a transient phenomenon in keeping with the old fisherman tale that these extreme events seem to appear out of nowhere. Janssen (J. Phys. Oceanogr., vol. 33, 2003, pp. 863–884) obtained an evolution equation for the ensemble average of the excess kurtosis, which is a measure for the deviation from normality and an indicator for nonlinear focusing resulting in extreme events. In the limit of a narrow-band wave train, whose dynamics is governed by the two-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation, the excess kurtosis is under certain conditions seen to grow to a maximum after which it decays to zero for large times. This follows from a numerical solution of the problem and also from an analytical solution presented by Fedele (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 782, 2015, pp. 25–36). The analytical solution is not explicit because it involves an integral from initial time to actual time. We therefore study a number of properties of the integral expression in order to better understand some interesting features of the time-dependent excess kurtosis and the generation of extreme events.