bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early neurocognitive improvements following parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Shah‐Becker Shivani , Derr Jonathan , Oberman Benjamin S. , Baker Aaron , Saunders Brian , Carr Michele M. , Goldenberg David
Published: May 2017

Objectives

To establish a time frame for postoperative improvements in neurocognitive function in patients who undergo parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism by utilizing repeat neuropsychological assessment at multiple time points before and after surgery.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary academic medical center between August 2014 and December 2015, including 50 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent parathyroidectomy. A panel of neurocognitive tests was administered at two separate time points: preoperative and 1‐week postoperative. Validated neuropsychological assessment tools were utilized, including Rey Auditory‐Verbal Learning Test, Trail Making Test A and B, Benton Controlled Oral Word Association, WAIS‐IV Digit Span, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and Insomnia Severity Index. Barona Information Sheet was used to collect demographic data. Paired t tests were to compare pre‐ and postoperative scores.

Results

Thirty‐five patients completed the preoperative and 1‐week postoperative testing. In cognitive testing, significant improvement was noted in immediate recall (P < 0.001), working memory (P = 0.011), and attention (P = 0.008) at 1‐week postoperative. In mood testing, depression (P < 0.001), anxiety (P < 0.001), and negative affect (P = 0.001) scores were significantly improved at 1‐week postoperative. Insomnia scores also were significantly improved at 1 week (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Objective improvements in neurocognitive function following parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism were noted as early as 1 week after surgery, which is earlier than previously reported.

Level of Evidence

2b. Laryngoscope, 128:775–780, 2018
The Braden Scale, A standard tool for assessing pressure ulcer risk, predicts early outcomes after liver transplantation
Authors: Sundaram Vinay , Lim Jane , Tholey Danielle M. , Iriana Sentia , Kim Irene , Manne Vignan , Nissen Nicholas N. , Klein Andrew S. , Tran Tram T. , Ayoub Walid S. , Schlansky Barry
Published: May 2017

The Braden Scale is a standardized tool to assess pressure ulcer risk that is reported for all hospitalized patients in the United States per requirements of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Previous data have shown the Braden Scale can predict both frailty and mortality risk in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Our aim was to evaluate the association of the Braden Scale score with short‐term outcomes after liver transplantation (LT). We performed a retrospective cohort study of deceased donor LT recipients at 2 centers and categorized them according to the Braden Scale at hospital admission as low (>18), moderate (16‐18), or high risk (<16) for pressure ulcer. We created logistic and Poisson multiple regression models to evaluate the association of Braden Scale category with in‐hospital and 90‐day mortality, length of stay (LOS), nonambulatory status at discharge, and discharge to a rehabilitation facility. Of 341 patients studied, 213 (62.5%) were low risk, 59 (17.3%) were moderate risk, and 69 (20.2%) were high risk. Moderate‐ and high‐risk patients had a greater likelihood for prolonged LOS, nonambulatory status, and discharge to a rehabilitation facility, as compared with low‐risk patients. High‐risk patients additionally had increased risk for in‐hospital and 90‐day mortality after LT. Multiple regression modeling demonstrated that high‐risk Braden Scale score was associated with prolonged LOS (IRR, 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47‐1.65), nonambulatory status at discharge (odds ratio [OR], 4.15; 95% CI, 1.77‐9.71), and discharge to a rehabilitation facility (OR, 5.51; 95% CI, 2.57‐11.80). In conclusion, the Braden Scale, which is currently assessed in all hospitalized patients in the United States, independently predicted early disability‐related outcomes and greater LOS after LT. Liver Transplantation 23 1153–1160 2017 AASLD.
Small dual‐band inverted F antenna using series resonator
Authors: Kim Jae Hee , Ahn Chi‐Hyung
Published: May 2017

Design procedure of a small dual‐band Inverted F Antenna (IFA) using a series resonator is proposed. A series resonator was loaded to the right end of the IFA to make different loading effects according to the resonant frequency of the antenna. When the resonant frequency of the series resonator is between the first and second resonance frequency of the designed antenna, the first resonance has capacitor loading effect while the second resonance has inductor loading effect. These loading effects lead small antenna size at the dual‐band. Both frequency tuning and impedance matching techniques are also proposed. The proposed antenna was simulated and fabricated to be able to resonate at 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz and the antenna proved to have had the bandwidth 200 MHz at 2.4 GHz and 400 MHz at 5.8 GHz with the size of 0.12 λ × 0.05 λ. As a result of measuring radiation pattern, maximum efficiency was 88% at 2.4 GHz and 90% at 5.8 GHz.
Bandwidth enhancement of a miniaturized reflectarray antenna using sub‐wavelength meander‐line cells
Authors: Jo Eon‐Seok , Cho Soo‐Bean , Kim Dongho
Published: May 2017

We propose a new way to enlarge gain bandwidth of a miniaturized reflectarray antenna (MRA), a new type of reflectarray antenna (RA) with significantly reduced volume. To extend the gain bandwidth, we have used meander‐line based sub‐wavelength elements as reflectarray cells, which can fully cover a required reflection phase range ideally, 360°. As a result, we have accomplished a three times wider gain bandwidth than that of our previous MRAs. In addition, the proposed MRA can also provide high gain with good aperture efficiency even though a main beam directs toward a tilted direction. Furthermore, remarkably reduced electrical volume, which is 700 times smaller than the smallest conventional RAs, is still maintained. Measured aperture efficiency of the proposed MRA is 41.1% which is comparable with conventional RAs. And the measurement results show that the main lobe direction is very stable around the target direction within the given −1 dB gain bandwidth without any degradation in other performances. As a result, the proposed MRAs with wide gain bandwidth stands out as a good alternative of the conventional RAs.
Split quadrilateral multiband microstrip patch antenna design for modern communication system
Authors: Alam Md. Jubaer , Faruque M. R. I. , Islam M. T.
Published: May 2017

In this article, a mixed split quadrilateral multiband microstrip antenna is designed and its measurement results in terms of different parameters are given. This patch antenna is designed to support modes with resonances at 6.3, 7.1, 7.5, 8.7, 12.8, 17, and 21.3 GHz. FR‐4 (lossy) is used as substrate to design the recommended antenna which has a firm dimension of 11 × 15 mm2 (0.23λ × 0.31λ). This antenna operates at C, X, Ku, and K band with moderate bandwidth because of its design and feedline. This mixed quadrilateral‐shaped multiband antenna has directivity gain of 1.65, 1.26, 2.4, 3.2, 4.57, 4.03, and 3.46 dBi at resonating frequencies and is suitable for a modern communication system. The proposed split multiband quadrilateral antenna results are obtained in terms of return loss, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), gain, and radiation pattern which have admissible values of return loss less than −10 dB, VSWR less than 2 at each resonant frequency, and gain more than 3 dB. A suitable radiation pattern and an emerging gain make the recommended antenna suitable for the use in a modern communication system.
Cavity‐backed self‐phased circularly polarized antenna based on stepped‐width dipole with wide axial ratio beamwidth
Authors: Zheng Dong‐Ze , Luo Yu , Chu Qing‐Xin
Published: May 2017

A cavity‐backed self‐phased circularly polarized (CP) antenna based on stepped‐width dipoles with wide axial ratio beamwidth is proposed for global positioning system (GPS) applications. The radiator of the antenna consists of two pairs of stepped‐width dipoles, contributing to the CP radiation. The working principle of CP radiation is elaborated by using two simplified models. Then, a feeding network consisting of a Y‐shaped structure and two pairs of identical coplanar striplines (CPSs) is utilized to feed the radiator. Moreover, a cavity‐backed reflector is employed in this antenna to achieve a unidirectional radiation with wide axial ratio (AR) beamwidth. Measured results show that the proposed antenna achieves a wide impedance bandwidth of 43% from 1.37 to 2.12 GHz with Return Loss > 15 dB, and a 3‐dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 6.98% from 1.52 to 1.63 GHz. Particularly, the antenna shows a right‐hand circular polarization (RHCP) radiation with wide 3‐dB AR beamwidth of 205° and 215° in the XOZ and YOZ plane at the center frequency of 1.575 GHz, respectively.
A pattern‐reconfigurable water‐loaded MIMO antenna
Authors: Qian Ya‐Hui , Chu Qing‐Xin
Published: May 2017

A novel radiation pattern reconfigurable multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna based on the loading of water is presented. By altering the situation of loading and unloading the distilled water on the surface of the parasitic element, the function of the parasitic element can be switched between a director and a reflector. According to the Yagi‐Uda principle, the antenna creates a directional radiation pattern in the azimuth plane through the electromagnetically coupled parasitic elements. A good direction is achieved with the front‐to‐back of 13 dBi. The MIMO antenna consists of 2 identical elements lying orthogonally to each other. As a result, high‐isolation (>35 dB) and low‐envelop correlation coefficient (ρe < 0.0001) between MIMO elements are obtained by orthogonal dual‐polarization antenna element. Good agreement is achieved between the measured results and the simulated results.
A high selective filtering small size/dual band antenna using hybrid terminated modified CRLH cell
Authors: Abdalla Mahmoud A.
Published: May 2017

This article presents a new small size dual band metamaterial antenna. The antenna is realized using a single cell of a suggested modified version of composite right left handed transmission line terminated by a hybrid capacitive loading with short circuit termination. The hybrid termination leads to decrease the size of the antenna whereas the modified composite right left handed cell configuration leads to introduce dual band antenna functionality at 2.5 and 2.92 GHz. The antenna size is only 31 × 26 mm2. Compared to, single band, non‐selective, conventional patch antenna, the size of the proposed antenna is only 9 and 11.5% at the two former frequencies, respectively. Despite the small size, the antenna gain is more than 3.5 dBi at the two operating frequencies. Moreover, the antenna has a high roll off beyond the operating frequency band which leads to high selective characteristics. The antenna can suppress 100% of the nearby signal power beyond its bands by 300 MHz at lower band and 200 MHz at upper band. The antenna design is discussed; the full wave simulation and experimental measurements are introduced for validating the results.
Quad‐wideband bandpass filter with high design flexibility based on independent triple‐mode resonators
Authors: Qiang Tian , Wang Cong , Kim Nam‐Young
Published: May 2017

This work presents a quad‐wideband bandpass filter (BPF) based on independent triple‐mode resonators (TMRs). Multiple TMRs can be designed at any desired frequencies below 5 GHz without interfering the in‐band performance of the other TMRs. Because of the intrinsic wideband property of TMR, four TMRs are applied and fully surrounded by feedline to produce the final quad‐wideband BPF. The 1st harmonic responses of TMR 1 and TMR 2 are suppressed to less than 23 dB below 5 GHz because of the source‐load coupling effect of the feedline. Therefore, no harmonic response is introduced to interfere the in‐band performance of the followed‐up TMR 3 and TMR 4. Furthermore, all TMRs can be independently tuned without interfering the others, which further proves the flexibility of our proposed work. The measurement results of the fabricated filter show a 3‐dB fractional bandwidth (FBW) above 15% for each passband, which is notably superior compared to other reported works. Good in‐band performance of 0.84 dB/0.84 dB/0.83 dB/1.12 dB is obtained at the operation band of 1.8 GHz/2.4 GHz/3.2 GHz/4.5 GHz with a compact circuit size of 0.29 λg × 0.24 λg. The simulation is consistent with the measurement, which validates our work.
UHF passive RFID‐based sensor‐less system to detect humidity for irrigation monitoring
Authors: Alonso Daniel , Zhang Qianyun , Gao Yue , Valderas Daniel
Published: May 2017

This article aims to propose a RFID system to detect the humidity of the soil in flowerpots and help farmers to judge whether the plants should be watered or not. By tuning the tag to dry soil state, it achieves higher dynamic range and sensitivity (20 dB) compared to a commercial RFID tag performance. This approach saves the addition of a sensor element to the RFID tag to operate as a wireless sensor.
Inverse E‐shape chiral metamaterial for long distance telecommunication
Authors: Hasan M. M. , Faruque M. R. I. , Islam M. T.
Published: May 2017

In this article, a chiral metamaterial based on the inverse E‐shape combined with the outer ring resonator that look like an inverse E‐shape structure has been discussed. The designed metamaterial structure is printed on Rogers RT 5880 material and electromagnetic simulator CST Microwave Studio has been used to design, simulation and investigation purposes. The proposed structure shows resonance at C‐band and exhibits 5.14 GHz bandwidth from 4 to 9.14 GHz. The effective medium ratio of the designed metamaterial is 6.83 and shows left handed characteristics at 7.61 GHz. Because of the bandwidth in the major portion of C‐band this proposed chiral metamaterial is applicable for long distance telecommunication applications.
Association between textural and morphological tumor indices on baseline PET‐CT and early metabolic response on interim PET‐CT in bulky malignant lymphomas
Authors: Ben Bouallègue Fayçal , Tabaa Yassine Al , Kafrouni Marilyne , Cartron Guillaume , Vauchot Fabien , Mariano‐Goulart Denis
Published: May 2017

Purpose

We investigated whether metabolic, textural, and morphological tumoral indices evaluated on baseline PET‐CT were predictive of early metabolic response on interim PET‐CT in a cohort of patients with bulky Hodgkin and non‐Hodgkin malignant lymphomas.

Methods

This retrospective study included 57 patients referred for initial PET‐CT examination. In‐house dedicated software was used to delineate tumor contours using a fixed 30% threshold of SUV max and then to compute tumoral metabolic parameters (SUV max, mean, peak, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis, metabolic tumoral volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis, and area under the curve of the cumulative histogram), textural parameters (Moran's and Geary's indices, energy, entropy, contrast, correlation derived from the gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix, area under the curve of the power spectral density, auto‐correlation distance, and granularity), and shape parameters (surface, asphericity, convexity, surfacic extension, and 2D and 3D fractal dimensions). Early metabolic response was assessed on interim PET‐CT using the Deauville 5‐point scale and patients were ranked according to the Lugano classification as complete or not complete metabolic responders. The impact of the segmentation method (alternate threshold at 41%) and image resolution (Gaussian postsmoothing of 3, 5, and 7 mm) was investigated. The association of the proposed parameters with early response was assessed in univariate and multivariate analyses. Their added predictive value was explored using supervised classification by support vector machines (SVM). We evaluated in leave‐one‐out cross‐validation three SVMs admitting as input features (a) MTV, (b) MTV + histological type, and (c) MTV + histology + relevant texture/shape indices.

Results

Features associated with complete metabolic response were low MTV (P = 0.01), low TLG (P = 0.003), high power spectral density AUC (P = 0.007), high surfacic extension (P = 0.006), low 2D fractal dimension (P = 0.007), and low 3D fractal dimension (P = 0.003). The prognostic value of these metrics was optimal with the 30% segmentation threshold and overall was progressively altered with decreasing image resolution. In cross‐validation, the SVM accounting for texture and shape achieved the highest predictive value with ROC AUC of 0.82 and 80% accuracy (compared with 0.68 and 61% for MTV, and 0.65 and 68% for MTV + histology).

Conclusions

The combination of usual prognostic factors with appropriately chosen textural and shape parameters evaluated on baseline PET‐CT improves the prediction of early metabolic response in bulky lymphoma.
The influence of non‐rigid anatomy and patient positioning on endoscopy‐CT image registration in the head and neck
Authors: Ingram W. Scott , Yang Jinzhong , Wendt Richard , Beadle Beth M. , Rao Arvind , Wang Xin A. , Court Laurence E.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

To assess the influence of non‐rigid anatomy and differences in patient positioning between CT acquisition and endoscopic examination on endoscopy‐CT image registration in the head and neck.

Methods

Radiotherapy planning CTs and 31–35 daily treatment‐room CTs were acquired for nineteen patients. Diagnostic CTs were acquired for thirteen of the patients. The surfaces of the airways were segmented on all scans and triangular meshes were created to render virtual endoscopic images with a calibrated pinhole model of an endoscope. The virtual images were used to take projective measurements throughout the meshes, with reference measurements defined as those taken on the planning CTs and test measurements defined as those taken on the daily or diagnostic CTs. The influence of non‐rigid anatomy was quantified by 3D distance errors between reference and test measurements on the daily CTs, and the influence of patient positioning was quantified by 3D distance errors between reference and test measurements on the diagnostic CTs. The daily CT measurements were also used to investigate the influences of camera‐to‐surface distance, surface angle, and the interval of time between scans.

Results

Average errors in the daily CTs were 0.36 ± 0.61 cm in the nasal cavity, 0.58 ± 0.83 cm in the naso‐ and oropharynx, and 0.47 ± 0.73 cm in the hypopharynx and larynx. Average errors in the diagnostic CTs in those regions were 0.52 ± 0.69 cm, 0.65 ± 0.84 cm, and 0.69 ± 0.90 cm, respectively. All CTs had errors heavily skewed towards 0, albeit with large outliers. Large camera‐to‐surface distances were found to increase the errors, but the angle at which the camera viewed the surface had no effect. The errors in the Day 1 and Day 15 CTs were found to be significantly smaller than those in the Day 30 CTs (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Inconsistencies of patient positioning have a larger influence than non‐rigid anatomy on projective measurement errors. In general, these errors are largest when the camera is in the superior pharynx, where it sees large distances and a lot of muscle motion. The errors are larger when the interval of time between CT acquisitions is longer, which suggests that the interval of time between the CT acquisition and the endoscopic examination should be kept short. The median errors found in this study are comparable to acceptable levels of uncertainty in deformable CT registration. Large errors are possible even when image alignment is very good, indicating that projective measurements must be made carefully to avoid these outliers.
Sperm capacitation pretreatment positively impacts bovine intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Authors: Águila Luis , Zambrano Fabiola , Arias Maria E. , Felmer Ricardo
Published: May 2017

The efficiency of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in bovines is low compared to other species due in part to inadequate egg activation and sperm nucleus decondensation after injection. We hypothesized that this low efficiency is due to the lack of complete sperm capacitation, so we evaluated the effects of isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (MβCD) on bovine sperm capacitation and on the preimplantation developmental potential of bovine embryos generated by ICSI. Treatment with IBMX and MβCD decreased sperm viability (between 13–30%); nevertheless, 0.4 mM IBMX and 1 mM MβCD increased (p < 0.05) capacitation metrics—that is, acrosome exocytosis, intracellular calcium level, plasma membrane fluidity, and tyrosine phosphorylation—compared to the control. After ICSI, embryos injected with IBMX‐ and MβCD‐treated sperm showed similar cleavage to the untreated group (range 82–88%). Pronucleus formation rate was higher with MβCD‐pretreatment (54%) compared to the control group (25%), and blastocyst rate was significantly improved with MβCD‐pretreatment (24%) compared to the IBMX (18%) and control (17%) groups. Importantly, embryo quality—as assessed by the total number of cells, cell allocation, and apoptotic cell index—was not affected by the sperm treatments. In conclusion, MβCD pretreatment of sperm improved the efficiency of blastocyst production in bovine ICSI.
Optical properties of conjugated polymer: review of its change mechanism for ionizing radiation sensor
Authors: Isa Naurah Mat , Baharin Ruzalina , Majid Rohah A. , Rahman Wan Aizan W. A.
Published: May 2017

A review on the change mechanism of conjugated polymer upon radiation exposure is presented. The change mechanism is mainly focused on the polymer's optical properties instead of its electrical properties. This research explores the effect of ionizing radiation on the optical change of conjugated polymer. This study also reviewed the possibility of using conjugated polymer as a radiation sensor vis‐à‐vis radiation type and the optical response. From material point of view, topochemical reaction, conjugation length and the degree of anisotropy of the conjugated polymer itself were identified as factors affecting the polymer's optical properties. These factors are tunable to meet a required optical degree, thus making the observation using the optical properties of a conjugated polymer possible for a radiation sensing tool. Based on the review, alteration of the factors and its mechanism of change occurs at macromolecular level. Therefore, a material at its smallest size down to a single molecule could be possible for the indication of radiation. Thus, radiation sensor made of nano or micro colloidal conjugated polymer deserves attention for future development. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation of n‐type Bi2Te3 thermoelectric materials by non‐contact dispenser printing combined with selective laser melting
Authors: Wu Keping , Yan Yonggao , Zhang Jian , Mao Yu , Xie Hongyao , Yang Jihui , Zhang Qingjie , Uher Ctirad , Tang Xinfeng
Published: May 2017

The manufacturing cost has been a bottle neck for broader applications of thermoelectric (TE) modules. We have developed a rapid, facile, and low cost method that combines non‐contact dispenser printing with selective laser melting (SLM) and we demonstrate it on n‐type Bi2Te3‐based materials. Using this approach, single phase n‐type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 thin layers with the Seebeck coefficient of −152 µV K−1 at 300 K have been prepared. Assembling such thin layers on top of each other, the performance of thus prepared bulk sample is comparable to Bi2Te3‐based materials fabricated by the conventional techniques. Dispenser printing combined with SLM is a promising manufacturing process for TE materials.
The Role of Secondary Packaging on Brand Awareness: Analysis of 2 L Carbonated Soft Drinks in Reusable Shells Using Eye Tracking Technology
Authors: Hurley Rupert Andrew , Rice Julie Christine , Koefelda Jerry , Congdon Robert , Ouzts Andrew
Published: May 2017

Even with new technologies emerging daily that reduce the barriers to identify and purchase products, the average consumer still reports having less time to devote to shopping. A study conducted at Clemson University, sponsored by a reusable packaging company, Rehrig Pacific Company, investigated if a unique shipping shell/crate design with on‐message and product branding (direct colour print onto the shell) increased brand awareness, attention and purchase intent when placed directly onto the retail shelf. Reusable packaging for 2 L bottles of carbonated soft drink packaged in proprietary reusable shells with a multicolour logo of the major US beverage company was chosen for the study. The branded proprietary reusable shell was evaluated against a standard reusable shell in the industry used by the same company. Testing was conducted using state‐of‐the‐art eye tracking hardware and CUshop™, a full immersion consumer retail experience laboratory. Data captured from 89 study participants indicated a strong preference for the new branded reusable shell. Statistical analysis demonstrated a 47% increase in eye fixations on the branded display and an increase in fixation duration, a measure of how long consumers looked at the display, of 34% (p < 0.05). More significantly, an increase in the visual saliency of the primary package, the 2 L bottle, was illustrated by an increase in fixation duration of 46% (p < 0.05) and an increase of the number of fixations of 54% (p < 0.01) when displayed in the branded reusable shell. Thus, results indicate that in‐store marketing incorporating a unique secondary packaging may lift brand awareness and increase purchase intent. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the Use of the Expected ARL Metric for Control Charts Based on Estimated Parameters
Authors: Schoonhoven Marit
Published: May 2017

At the origination of the Shewhart control chart, it was assumed that the process parameters were known. The in‐control Average Run Length (ARL) and the probability of having a false alarm (P) were introduced as metrics to indicate the in‐control performance. These two metrics are related when the process data are i.i.d. normally distributed: the ARL equals 1/P. When the process parameters are unknown and have to be estimated, a similar relation holds for each estimated control chart, but the relation between the expected ARL (the average of the ARLs of all possible estimated charts) and the expectedP is different. Control charts based on estimates are often designed such that the in‐control ARL equals a predefined value. This paper shows that the expected in‐control ARL is a less suitable design criterion. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Research of the master–slave robot surgical system with the function of force feedback
Authors: Shi Yunyong , Zhou Chaozheng , Xie Le , Chen Yongjun , Jiang Jun , Zhang Zhenfeng , Deng Ze
Published: May 2017

Background

Surgical robots lack force feedback, which may lead to operation errors. In order to improve surgical outcomes, this research developed a new master–slave surgical robot, which was designed with an integrated force sensor.

Methods

The new structure designed for the master–slave robot employs a force feedback mechanism. A six‐dimensional force sensor was mounted on the tip of the slave robot's actuator. Sliding model control was adopted to control the slave robot. According to the movement of the master system manipulated by the surgeon, the slave's movement and the force feedback function were validated.

Results

The motion was completed, the standard deviation was calculated, and the force data were detected. Hence, force feedback was realized in the experiment.

Conclusions

The surgical robot can help surgeons to complete trajectory motions with haptic sensation.
Exploring daily affective changes in university students with a mindful positive reappraisal intervention: A daily diary randomized controlled trial
Authors: Pogrebtsova Ekaterina , Craig Jacqueline , Chris Alexandra , O'Shea Deirdre , González‐Morales M. Gloria
Published: May 2017

Brief and cost‐effective interventions focused on emotion regulation techniques can buffer against stress and foster positive functioning. Mindfulness and positive reappraisal are two techniques that can mutually enhance one another to promote well‐being. However, research testing the effectiveness of interventions combining mindfulness and reappraisal is lacking. The current pilot examined the effect of a combined mindful‐reappraisal intervention on daily affect in a 5‐day diary study with 106 university students. Participants were randomized to a mindful‐reappraisal intervention (n = 36), a reappraisal‐only intervention (n = 34), or an active control activity (n = 36). All participants described a negative event each day but only reappraised the event in the intervention conditions. Using multilevel growth modelling, results indicated that negative affect in both interventions declined over 5 days compared to the control; however, there were no differences in the growth of positive affect. Compared to reappraisal‐only, the mindful‐reappraisal group reported overall lower daily negative affect and marginally higher daily positive affect over the 5‐day intervention. These findings suggest that brief daily practice combining mindfulness and positive reappraisal can be trained as a self‐regulatory resource to promote positive affect and buffer negative affect above and beyond reappraisal practice alone.
Conformational Dynamics of mRNA in Gene Expression as New Pharmaceutical Target
Authors: Endoh Tamaki , Sugimoto Naoki
Published: May 2017

Gene expression involves concurrent and consecutive events of unidirectional nature, such as transcription occurring from 5′ to 3′ end and translation from N to C terminus. Recent functional studies have shown the importance of kinetically coupled nucleic acid folding events that influence gene expression processes. For example, mRNA conformational dynamics during transcription and translation regulate gene expression and subsequent protein functionalization. The structure, stability, and kinetic properties of nucleic acids are sensitive to the intracellular molecular environment and can be regulated by using artificially developed molecules. Here, we review our current understanding of how mRNA conformational dynamics affect the consecutive and concurrent processes involved in gene expression and discuss how novel pharmaceutical agents designed to influence RNA conformational dynamics, could be developed to treat various diseases.
Torsional vibration characteristics analysis of DFIG‐based wind farm and its equivalent model
Authors: Xie Da , Sun Junbo , Lu Yupu , Lou Yucheng , Gu Chenghong , Li Furong
Published: May 2017

As large‐scale wind farms (WFs) are integrated with the power grid, the interaction between the WF and the grid may excite torsional vibration of the shaft of the wind turbine. To study the shaft's torsional vibration characteristics of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)‐based WF, a detailed small‐signal model of DFIG is established first. Then the small‐signal model for a WF composed of multiple DFIGs is developed on the basis of the single‐machine model. Modal analysis is employed to investigate the torsional vibration characteristics of a WF made up of several identical DFIGs, whose accuracy is also demonstrated through time‐domain simulation. To simplify the torsional vibration analysis for the DFIG‐based WF, a reduced‐order equivalent model is proposed. The results obtained from modal analysis show that the equivalent model not only precisely maintains all the torsional vibration modes of the original small‐signal model but also greatly reduces the computation complexity. With the equivalent model, the ‘curse of dimensionality’ problem is solved in torsional vibration analysis for large WFs, which is of great help in the design of further damping schemes. © 2017 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Voorjaarsvergadering NVU, 11 en 12 mei 2017, ’s-Hertogenbosch
Authors: van der Poel Henk G.
Published: May 2017

Samenvatting

Vooralsnog vergt het stellen van de diagnose blaascarcinoom (BC) een invasieve urethrocystoscopie (UCS). Bovendien zijn de recidiefpercentages hoog, hetgeen leidt tot een hoge frequentie van controle-UCS. Er is behoefte aan een snelle, niet-invasieve test met goede sensitiviteit (SN), specificiteit (SP) en een goede negatief voorspellende waarde (NVW) voor de detectie van primair of recidiverend BC. De Xpert Bladder Assay detecteert in circa 90 minuten vijf verschillende mRNA’s in urine (CRH, IGF2, UPK1B, ANXA10 en ABL1) die verhoogd aanwezig zijn bij BC. Het doel van deze studie is hiervan de testeigenschappen te bepalen.
Nutrients required for phospholipid synthesis are lower in blood and cerebrospinal fluid in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease dementia
Authors: van Wijk Nick , Slot Rosalinde E.R. , Duits Flora H. , Strik Marieke , Biesheuvel Egbert , Sijben John W.C. , Blankenstein Marinus A. , Bierau Jörgen , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Scheltens Philip , Teunissen Charlotte E.
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Synaptic membrane formation depends on nutrients that fuel metabolic pathways for the synthesis of constituent phospholipids. Consequently, insufficient availability of such nutrients may restrict membrane formation and contribute to synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We assessed whether blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of nutrients related to phospholipid synthesis differ among patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and control subjects.

Methods

Concentrations of uridine, choline, folate, homocysteine, and other related metabolites were analyzed in paired blood and CSF samples from subjects selected from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort with AD (n = 150; age, 66 ± 7 years; 37% female), MCI (n = 148; age, 66 ± 8 years; 37% female), and control subjects (n = 148; age, 59 ± 8 years; 38% female).

Results

Age‐ and gender‐adjusted analysis of variance revealed different concentrations of circulating uridine, choline, and folate and CSF uridine, folate, and homocysteine (allP < .05) among the three diagnostic groups. Post hoc pairwise comparison showed that subjects with AD had lower CSF uridine, plasma choline and higher CSF homocysteine concentrations, whereas subjects with MCI had lower plasma and CSF uridine, serum and CSF folate, and higher CSF homocysteine concentrations compared with control subjects (allP < .05), with differences ranging from −11 to +22%.

Discussion

AD and MCI patients have lower levels of nutrients involved in phospholipid synthesis. The current observations warrant exploration of the application of nutritional strategies in the early stages of AD.
Early Greek Portraiture
Authors: Keesling Catherine M.
Published: May 2017

In this book, Catherine M. Keesling lends new insight into the origins of civic honorific portraits that emerged at the end of the fifth century BC in ancient Greece. Surveying the subjects, motives and display contexts of Archaic and Classical portrait sculpture, she demonstrates that the phenomenon of portrait representation in Greek culture is complex and without a single, unifying history. Bringing a multi-disciplinary approach to the topic, Keesling grounds her study in contemporary texts such as Herodotus' Histories and situates portrait representation within the context of contemporary debates about the nature of arete (excellence), the value of historical commemoration and the relationship between the human individual and the gods and heroes. She argues that often the goal of Classical portraiture was to link the individual to divine or heroic models. Offering an overview of the role of portraits in Archaic and Classical Greece, her study includes local histories of the development of Greek portraiture in sanctuaries such as Olympia, Delphi and the Athenian Acropolis.
The Romantic Overture and Musical Form from Rossini to Wagner
Authors: Vande Moortele Steven
Published: May 2017

In this book Steven Vande Moortele offers a comprehensive account of operatic and concert overtures in continental Europe between 1815 and 1850. Discussing a broad range of works by German, French, and Italian composers, it is at once an investigation of the Romantic overture within the context of mid-nineteenth century musical culture and an analytical study that focuses on aspects of large-scale formal organization in the overture genre. While the book draws extensively upon the recent achievements of the 'new Formenlehre', it does not use the overture merely as a vehicle for a theory of romantic form, but rather takes an analytical approach that engages with individual works in their generic context.
Simulation in Canadian postgraduate emergency medicine training – a national survey
Authors: Russell Evan , Hall Andrew Koch , Hagel Carly , Petrosoniak Andrew , Dagnone Jeffrey Damon , Howes Daniel
Published: May 2017

Objectives

Simulation-based education (SBE) is an important training strategy in emergency medicine (EM) postgraduate programs. This study sought to characterize the use of simulation in FRCPC-EM residency programs across Canada.

Methods

A national survey was administered to residents and knowledgeable program representatives (PRs) at all Canadian FRCPC-EM programs. Survey question themes included simulation program characteristics, the frequency of resident participation, the location and administration of SBE, institutional barriers, interprofessional involvement, content, assessment strategies, and attitudes about SBE.

Results

Resident and PR response rates were 63% (203/321) and 100% (16/16), respectively. Residents reported a median of 20 (range 0–150) hours of annual simulation training, with 52% of residents indicating that the time dedicated to simulation training met their needs. PRs reported the frequency of SBE sessions ranging from weekly to every 6 months, with 15 (94%) programs having an established simulation curriculum. Two (13%) of the programs used simulation for resident assessment, although 15 (94%) of PRs indicated that they would be comfortable with simulation-based assessment. The most common PR-identified barriers to administering simulation were a lack of protected faculty time (75%) and a lack of faculty experience with simulation (56%). Interprofessional involvement in simulation was strongly valued by both residents and PRs.

Conclusions

SBE is frequently used by Canadian FRCPC-EM residency programs. However, there exists considerable variability in the structure, frequency, and timing of simulation-based activities. As programs transition to competency-based medical education, national organizations and collaborations should consider the variability in how SBE is administered.
The Author of the Life of Christina of Markyate: The Case for Robert de Gorron (d. 1166)
Authors: BUGYIS KATIE ANN-MARIE
Published: May 2017

The authorship of the Life of the twelfth-century English holy woman, Christina of Markyate (c. 1096–after 1155), has inspired considerable scholarly speculation. Though the writer never once positively identifies himself in extant versions of the text, oblique references locate his activity at the Benedictine monastery of St Albans in Hertfordshire during the 1130s under the patronage of the reigning abbot, Geoffrey de Gorron (1119–46), and intimate the close connections that he enjoyed with his narrative's subjects. Building on these references, and incorporating clues from related sources from St Albans and Markyate, this article reconstructs the likeliest candidate for authorship – Robert de Gorron (d. 1166), Geoffrey's nephew, appointed sacristan and later abbatial successor – and assesses his eligibility.
Uncertain Journeys: Return migration, home, and uncertainty for a displaced Kashmiri community
Authors: DATTA ANKUR
Published: May 2017

This article explores situations in which forced migrants revisit places and homes they had fled from, drawing on research carried out among Kashmiri Hindus, better known asPandits, who were displaced following the outbreak of conflict in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990. Due to the breakdown of law and order, selective attacks, and a climate of fear, most of the community had relocated from the Kashmir valley to the south in Jammu and to even cities such as New Delhi, constituting one of the most prominent groups of Internally Displaced Persons in the region. While there is an interest in repatriation/resettlement in scholarship and policy, the experiences of the Pandits reveal the multiple meanings ‘return’ holds for the displaced. This article will draw on the experiences of Pandit forced migrants in Jammu who have returned to visit Kashmir. Their experiences will be situated with work on return migration, the Kashmir conflict, and the political location of the Pandits in the region. The article argues that return migration is an inconclusive phenomenon that critically raises questions of home and uncertainty, and provides a way to understand how the displaced locate themselves in the world.
Appraising food insecurity
Authors: Coppin Géraldine
Published: May 2017

This commentary focuses on the mechanisms underlying the appraisal of food insecurity. I first describe what appraisal is and why it plays a major role in explaining how different individuals consider food supply as more or less secure. I then describe the potential reciprocal links between appraisal and obesity, based on the well-documented evidence that obesity can cause cognitive deficits.
Toward a mechanistic understanding of the impact of food insecurity on obesity
Authors: Dohle Simone , Hofmann Wilhelm
Published: May 2017

Nettle et al. provide a useful but incomplete analysis of the drivers of obesity. In this commentary, we argue that a dual-motives conceptualization of self-control, together with insights from the psychology of (perceived and actual) scarcity, might help advance a more fine-grained mechanistic understanding of the observed association between food insecurity and obesity.
Committed to the insurance hypothesis of obesity
Authors: Lozano George A.
Published: May 2017

Can ideas about the regulation of body mass in birds be used to explain the breakdown of regulation associated with obesity and anorexia in humans? There is no evidence to think so. Medicine can always benefit from the application of evolutionary ecology ideas, but we must be prepared to dismiss these ideas when they just do not fit the data.
A game theory appraisal of the insurance hypothesis: Specific polymorphisms in the energy homeostasis network as imprints of a successful minimax strategy
Authors: Mattei Tobias A.
Published: May 2017

The existence of specific polymorphisms in genes of key hormones of the energy homeostasis network that have been shown to predispose to obesity and the so-called metabolic syndrome provides further biological support for the proposed insurance hypothesis. In a broader sense, such polymorphisms can be understood as biological imprints of an evolutionarily successful minimax strategy employed by ancient Homo sapiens subpopulations in a one-player game against nature.
Household-level financial uncertainty could betheprimary driver of the global obesity epidemic
Authors: Smith Trenton G.
Published: May 2017

Evidence has accumulated in support of the notion that changes in household-level financial uncertainty (or “economic insecurity”) may be an important fundamental cause of the global obesity epidemic. The timing and spatial/demographic incidence of the obesity epidemic suggest that economic policies aimed at expanding economic freedom may have inadvertently shifted risk to households, thereby generating a costly public health problem.
‘It’s not just the word care, it’s the meaning of the word…(they) actually care': caregivers’ perceptions of home-based primary care in Toronto, Ontario
Authors: SMITH-CARRIER TRACY , PHAM THUY-NGA , AKHTAR SABRINA , SEDDON GAYLE , NOWACZYNSKI MARK , SINHA SAMIR K.
Published: May 2017

The frail and homebound older adult populations currently experience difficulties accessing primary care in the medical office. Given this fundamental access to care problem, and the questionable care quality that arises when navigating a labyrinthine health-care system, these populations have typically been subject to inadequate primary care. To meet their needs better, growing research stresses the importance of providing comprehensive home-based primary care (HBPC), delivered by an inter-professional team of health-care providers. Family care-givers typically provide the majority of care within the home, yet their perceptions of HBPC remain under-researched. The purpose of this study was to explore unpaid care-givers' perceptions of and experiences with HBPC programmes in Toronto, Canada. We conducted qualitative inductive content analysis, using analytic procedures informed by grounded theory, to discover a number of themes regarding unpaid care-givers' understandings of HBPC. Findings suggest that, compared to the standard office-based care model, HBPC may better support unpaid care-givers, providing them assistance with system navigation and offering them the peace of mind that they are not alone, but have someone to call should the need arise. The implications of this research suggest that HBPC could be a model to help mitigate the discontinuities in care that patients with comorbid chronic conditions and their attendant unpaid care-givers experience when accessing fragmented health, home and social care systems.
Mixing in High-Dimensional Expanders
Authors: PARZANCHEVSKI ORI
Published: May 2017

We establish a generalization of the Expander Mixing Lemma for arbitrary (finite) simplicial complexes. The original lemma states that concentration of the Laplace spectrum of a graph implies combinatorial expansion (which is also referred to asmixing, orpseudo-randomness). Recently, an analogue of this lemma was proved for simplicial complexes of arbitrary dimension, provided that the skeleton of the complex is complete. More precisely, it was shown that a concentrated spectrum of the simplicial Hodge Laplacian implies a similar type of pseudo-randomness as in graphs. In this paper we remove the assumption of a complete skeleton, showing that simultaneous concentration of the Laplace spectra in all dimensions implies pseudo-randomness in any complex. We discuss various applications and present some open questions.
Military Expenditures and Economic Growth in Central and Eastern EU Countries: Evidence from the Post-Cold War Era
Authors: Topcu Mert , Aras İlhan
Published: May 2017

Although the relationship between military expenditures and economic growth is well documented for the old members of the European Union, empirically little is known for the new members. Thus, the goal of this paper is to investigate the economic impact of military expenditures in Central and Eastern European countries employing panel cointegration and causality methods for the period 1993–2013. Findings indicate that the variables in question do not move together in the long run and the direction of causality in the short run is from economic growth to military expenditures. The implications of the results for international relations are discussed.