bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic review of pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy
Authors: Schreiner Lucas , Crivelatti Isabel , de Oliveira Julia M. , Nygaard Christiana C. , dos Santos Thais G.
Published: April 2018

Background

Pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy could reduce the impact of pregnancy and delivery on the pelvic floor.

Objective

To determine the effects of pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy on childbirth‐related and pelvic floor parameters.

Search strategy

PubMed, Embase, and LILACS were searched for reports published during between 1990 and 2016 in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. The search terms were “pregnancy,” “pelvic floor muscle training,” and related terms.

Selection criteria

Randomized controlled trials with healthy pregnant women were included.

Data collection and analysis

Baseline and outcome data (childbirth‐related parameters, pelvic floor symptoms) were compared for three interventions: EPI‐NO (Tecsana, Munich, Germany) perineal dilator, pelvic floor muscle training, and perineal massage.

Main results

A total of 22 trials were included. Two of three papers assessing EPI‐NO showed no benefit. The largest study investigating pelvic floor muscle training reported a significant reduction in the duration of the second stage of labor (P<0.01), and this intervention also reduced the incidence of urinary incontinence (evaluated in 10 trials). Two of six trials investigating perineal massage reported that a lower rate of perineal pain was associated with this intervention.

Conclusion

Pelvic floor muscle training and perineal massage improved childbirth‐related parameters and pelvic floor symptoms, whereas EPI‐NO showed no benefit.
Panzi score as a parsimonious indicator of urogenital fistula severity derived from Goh and Waaldijk classifications
Authors: Mukwege Denis , Peters Lisa , Amisi Christine , Mukwege Alain , Smith Abigail R. , Miller Janis M.
Published: April 2018

Objective

To derive a comprehensive system that allows a single score to define relative fistula severity.

Methods

The present observational study included women with urogenital fistula treated at the Panzi Hospital, Democratic Republic of Congo, or its outreach clinics across the Democratic Republic of Congo between September 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014. Fistula severity was assessed by Goh and Waaldijk classifications and surgical success was ascertained. Logistic regression was used to select fistula characteristics predictive of surgical failure, and to preliminarily verify the newly derived Panzi score.

Results

Overall, 837 women were included in the analysis. Goh or Waaldijk fistula descriptors associated with a higher probability of poor surgical outcomes in the unadjusted bivariate analysis were circumferential defect (P=0.007), proximity to the external urethral orifice (P=0.001), and size (P=0.001). These fistula characteristics were used to construct the Panzi score, which varied from 3 (most severe) to 0 (minor fistula). For each increase above 0, the odds of surgical failure increase by a factor of 1.65 (P<0.001).

Conclusion

The Panzi score of urogenital fistula provided a data‐driven, simple, comprehensive, and parsimonious score. It could be used to report group data, to provide continuous level data for use in higher order statistics, and to resolve issues such as the cut‐off point for referring women to hospital in accordance with fistula complexity.
Genetic distance, trade, and the diffusion of development
Authors: Bove Vincenzo , Gokmen Gunes
Published: May 2018

The determinants of countries' long‐term income differences feature prominently in the literature. Spolaore and Wacziarg (The diffusion of development, Quarterly Journal of Economics, , 124, 469–529) argue that cultural differences, measured by countries' genetic distance, are an important barrier to the diffusion of development from the world's technological frontier. We revisit their findings in three ways. First, we successfully reproduce their results and confirm the robustness of their baseline findings. Second, we estimate their models for different time periods and find that the impact of genetic distance on income differences did not significantly change over time. Finally, we explore one of the underlying mechanisms of technology adoption and show that bilateral trade is one channel through which cultural differences retard the diffusion of development.
Use of diffusion kurtosis imaging and quantitative dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI for the differentiation of breast tumors
Authors: Li Ting , Yu Tao , Li Lyu , Lu Lunbo , Zhuo Yaoyao , Lian Jingge , Xiong Yun , Kong Dexing , Li Kangan
Published: May 2018

Background

Breast MRI is a sensitive imaging technique to assess breast cancer but its effectiveness still remains to be improved.

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), and quantitative dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE)‐MRI in differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions independently or jointly and to explore whether correlations exist among these parameters.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

In all, 106 patients with breast lesions (47 malignant, 59 benign).

Sequence

DKI sequence with seven b values and quantitative DCE sequence on 3.0T MRI.

Assessment

Diffusion parameters (mean diffusivity [MD], mean diffusivity [MK], and apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC]) from DKI and DWI and perfusion parameters from DCE (Ktrans, kep, ve, and vp) were calculated by two experienced radiologists after postprocessing. Disagreement between the two observers was resolved by consensus.

Statistical Tests

The parameters in benign and malignant lesions were compared by Student's t‐test. The diagnostic performances of DKI and quantitative DCE, either alone or in combination, were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The Spearman correlation test was used to evaluate correlations among the diffusion parameters and perfusion parameters.

Results

MK, MD, ADC, Ktrans, and kep values were significantly different between breast cancer and benign lesions (P < 0.05). MK from DKI demonstrated the highest AUC of 0.849, which is significantly higher than ADC derived from conventional DWI (z = 3.345, P = 0.0008). The specificity of DCE‐MRI‐derived parameters was improved when combining diffusion parameters, such as ADC and MK. The highest diagnostic specificity (93.2%) was obtained when kep and ADC were combined. kep was correlated moderately positively with MK (r = 0.516) and moderately negatively with MD (r = –0.527). Ktrans was weakly positively correlated with MK with an r of 0.398 and weakly negatively correlated with MD with an r of –0.450.

Data Conclusion

DKI is more valuable than conventional DWI in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions. DKI exhibits promise as a quantitative technique to augment quantitative DCE‐MRI. Diffusion parameters derived from DKI were statistically correlated with perfusion parameters from quantitative DCE‐MRI.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1358–1366.
Treatment with broadly neutralizing influenza antibodies reduces severity of secondary pneumococcal pneumonia in mice
Authors: van Someren Gréve Frank , van der Sluijs Koenraad F. , Tuip Anita M. , Schultz Marcus J. , de Jong Menno D. , Juffermans Nicole P.
Published: May 2018

Secondary bacterial pneumonia is a frequent complication of influenza, associated with high morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that treatment with neutralizing influenza A antibody AT10_002 protects against severe secondary pneumococcal infection in a mouse model of influenza A infection. Influenza A (H3N2) virus–infected male C57Bl6 mice were treated intravenously with either AT10_002 or a control 2 days postinfection. Seven days later, both groups were infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae and killed 18 hours later. Mice receiving AT10_002 showed less loss of bodyweight compared with controls (+1% vs −12%, P < .001), lower viral loads in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) (7 vs 194 RNA copies per µL; P < .001), and reduced bacterial outgrowth in lung homogenates (3.3 × 101 vs 2.5 × 105 colony‐forming units per mg; P < .001). The treatment group showed lower pulmonary wet weights, lower cell counts, and lower protein levels in BALF compared with controls. Treatment with AT10_002 was associated with lower levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin (IL)‐6, cytokine‐induced neutrophil chemoattractant (KC), and interferon‐γ in BALF and lower IL‐6 and KC in lung homogenates. Treatment with anti‐influenza antibody AT10_002 is associated with reduced weight loss, viral load, bacterial outgrowth, and lung injury in a murine model of secondary pneumococcal pneumonia following influenza infection.
Age‐specific seroprevalence of dengue infection in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Polly , Yeung Apple C.M. , Chen Zigui , Chan Martin C.W. , Sze Kin Ho , Chan Paul K.S.
Published: May 2018

A newly developed dengue virus vaccine (chimeric yellow fever virus‐tetravalent dengue vaccine [CYD‐TDV]) has recently been licensed for clinical use. The World Health Organization recommends vaccination for populations with seroprevalence of at least 70% to maximize public health impact. This study aimed to delineate the seroprevalence of dengue infection in Hong Kong. A total of 105 972 serum samples submitted for clinical testing during the period 2013‐2015 were age‐stratified and sex‐stratified. For each year of collection, 25 samples were randomly selected from each age‐sex group. Altogether, 2100 samples were tested for the dengue immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody using a non‐type–specific ELISA kit. The overall dengue IgG‐positive rate was 4.6% and showed no significant change over the 3 years. The positive rate was not associated with sex, but a steep rise in seroprevalence for persons above 65 years (32.7%) was observed. The low dengue seroprevalence in Hong Kong does not support implementation of a national immunization program. Majority of the population in Hong Kong are susceptible to dengue infection, and a substantial proportion of persons older than 65 years could acquire secondary infection and are prone to develop severe dengue.
Implicitly enriched Galerkin methods for numerical solutions of fourth‐order partial differential equations containing singularities
Authors: Kim Sinae , Oh Hae‐Soo , Palta Birce , Kim Hyunju
Published: May 2018

Highlights are the following:

For any integer , we construct ‐continuous partition of unity (PU) functions with flat‐top from B‐spline functions to have numerical solutions of fourth‐order equations with singularities. B‐spline functions are modified to satisfy clamped boundary conditions.

To handle singularity arising in fourth‐order elliptic differential equations, these modified B‐spline functions are enriched either by introducing enrichment basis functions implicitly through particular geometric mappings or by adding singular basis functions explicitly.

To show the effectiveness of the proposed implicit enrichment methods (mapping method), the accuracy, the number of degrees of freedom (DOF), and matrix condition numbers are computed and compared in the h‐refinement, the p‐refinement, and the k‐refinement of the approximation space of B‐spline basis functions.

Using Partition of unity (PU) functions with flat‐top, B‐spline functions are modified to satisfy boundary conditions of the fourth‐order equations. Since the standard isogeometric analysis (IGA) as well as the conventional FEM have limitations in handling fourth‐order differential equations containing singularities, we consider two enrichment methods (explicit and implicit) in the framework of the p‐, the k, and the h‐refinements of IGA. We demonstrate that both enrichment methods yield good approximate solutions, but explicit enrichment methods give large (almost singular) matrix condition numbers and face integrating singular functions. Because of these limitations of external enrichment methods, we extensively investigate implicit enrichment methods (mapping methods) that virtually convert fourth‐order elliptic problems with singularities to problems with no influence of the singularities. Effectiveness of the proposed mapping method extensively tested to one‐dimensional fourth‐order equation with singularities. The implicit enrichment (mapping) method is extended to the two‐dimensional cases and test it to fourth‐order partial differential equations on cracked domains.
Synthesis of chromophores and polyimides with a green chemistry approach for second‐order nonlinear optical applications
Authors: Doddamani Radha V. , Tasaganva Raghavendra G. , Inamdar Sanjeev R. , Kariduraganavar Mahadevappa Y.
Published: May 2018

This article presents the synthesis of nonlinear optical responsive chromophores by adopting a green chemistry approach by coupling N‐methyl‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐4‐amino benzaldehyde with barbituric acid, 1,3‐indanedione, and 1,3‐diethyl‐2‐thiobarbituric acid as the acceptors through stilbene linkage. We performed the synthesis in less than 10 minutes at room temperature with water as a solvent without catalyst. Two different side‐chain polyimides were synthesized from poly(hydroxy‐imide)s with chromophores by Mitsunobu reaction. The chromophores were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and elemental analysis. However, the polyimides were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and 1H NMR. The inherent viscosities (ηinh) of polyimides were determined by Ubbelohde viscometer, which ranged between 0.1793 and 0.1890 dL/g. The molecular weights of the polyimides were determined using gel permeation chromatography and were in range of 23 000 to 26 000. Polyimides demonstrated an excellent solubility in polar aprotic solvents, indicating good processability. Thermal behavior of these polyimides was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The Tg's were in the range of 185°C to 255°C. The change in the molecular orientation in the polymer films after electrical poling was ascertained using ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometer and atomic force microscopy. The thicknesses and refractive indices of the thin films were determined by an ellipsometer. The second harmonic generation coefficients of the corona‐poled polymer films at Topt's, determined by the Maker fringe technique, ranged between 59.33 and 77.82 pm/V. High thermal endurance observed for the polyimides is attributed to the extensive hydrogen bonds in the matrix. The developed polyimides showed no decay in second harmonic generation signals below 110°C, indicating the acceptance for nonlinear optical devices.
Mikromaschinen für die Medizin
Authors: Rahmer Jürgen , Gleich Bernhard
Published: May 2018

Magnetfelder haben großes Potenzial zur Steuerung von Mikromaschinen und Implantaten im menschlichen Körper. Die Kombination aus homogenen und inhomogenen Magnetfeldern erlaubt eine räumlich selektive Kontrolle von identischen magnetischen Mikromaschinen. Damit können einzelne Mitglieder einer Gruppe von Maschinen individuell angesteuert werden, was neue Möglichkeiten in der lokalen Therapie eröffnen kann. Das Grundprinzip der Steuerung beruht auf rotierenden Magnetfeldern. Es lässt sich sehr einfach mit Hilfe von Dauermagneten demonstrieren.
A scoping review of studies exploring physical activity among adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer
Authors: Brunet Jennifer , Wurz Amanda , Shallwani Shirin M.
Published: May 2018

Objective

Physical activity can improve health, functional capacity, and quality of life among children and adults diagnosed with cancer. Physical activity may also offer important benefits to adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer (AYAs). We conducted a scoping review to: determine the extent, range, and nature of published studies on physical activity among AYAs; identify knowledge gaps; and provide directions for future research.

Methods

We searched 4 electronic databases for published studies. Two authors independently scanned the titles, abstracts, and full‐texts against inclusion criteria: original research with humans, published in an English‐language peer‐reviewed journal, ≥50% of participants were diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 and 39 years, and included at least 1 measure of physical activity behavior. Data were extracted from studies meeting these criteria and subsequently summarized narratively.

Results

Our search yielded 4729 articles; 32 met inclusion criteria. These included 18 cross‐sectional and 4 longitudinal studies that explored descriptive (ie, sociodemographic or medical), physical, personal/psychological, social, other health behaviors, and/or other factors as antecedents or correlates of physical activity. The remaining 10 were intervention studies that focused on changing physical activity behavior or on testing the effects of physical activity.

Conclusions

We can conclude that physical activity is not well researched among AYAs. More high‐quality research adopting longitudinal or intervention study designs that incorporate a range of descriptive, physical, personal/psychological, social, and environmental measures are warranted to better inform the development of behavior change interventions as well as to establish the benefits of physical activity for AYAs.
Utilization of health care services in cancer patients with elevated fear of cancer recurrence
Authors: Champagne Alexandra , Ivers Hans , Savard Josée
Published: May 2018

Background

Cancer patients commonly report experiencing fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), which may lead to several negative consequences. This study aimed at examining whether clinical levels of FCR are linked to a greater use of health care services.

Method

This is a secondary analysis of a longitudinal study of 962 cancer patients on the epidemiology of cancer‐related insomnia. They completed the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory—Short form (FCRI‐SF) and reported information on their consultations (medical, psychosocial, and complementary and alternative medicine [CAM]) and medication usage (anxiolytics/hypnotics and antidepressants) at 6 time points over an 18‐month period.

Results

Results indicated that clinical FCR at baseline was associated with greater consultation rates of medical and psychosocial professionals and a greater usage of anxiolytics/hypnotics and antidepressants. No significant association was found between the FCR level and use of CAM services. While consultation rates of medical and CAM professionals and usage of antidepressants generally increased over time, consultation rates of psychosocial professionals and usage of anxiolytics/hypnotics tended to decrease.

Conclusions

Cancer patients with clinical levels of FCR are more likely to consult health care providers and to use psychotropic medications, which may translate into significant costs for society and the patients themselves.
On‐line Measurement of Solids Concentration or the Mean Particle Size in a Saturated Slurry Containing Background Particles Using a Turbidity Method
Authors: Tadayyon Abdolsamad , Rohani Sohrab , Pons Marie‐Noelle
Published: May 2018

An on‐line double‐sensor turbidimeter for estimating the solids concentration or the mean particle size in a saturated slurry system in the presence of foreign insoluble particles is proposed. The correlation representing the operation of the double‐sensor turbidimeter for on‐line implementation is also developed. The technique relies on measuring the transmittance of an infrared light beam through the suspension, once in the presence of soluble particles and a second time when the soluble particles have completely dissolved. The device can be easily implemented on a crystallization system for monitoring and control applications. The maximum errors for solids concentration and mean particle size measurements were 13% and 7%, respectively.
Accurate spectroscopic constants of the lowest three electronic states in halonitrenes with multireference configuration interaction
Authors: Shan Shimin , Yin Shuang , Lian Yi , Xu Haifeng , Yan Bing
Published: May 2018

Internally contracted multireference configuration interaction (icMRCI) calculations of the ground state (X3Σ−), the first excited state (a1Δ) as well as the second excited state (b1Σ+) have been performed for a series of halogenated nitrenes NXs (X = Cl, Br, and I). Accurate spectroscopic constants of these lowest three electronic states of each NX were obtained in this work using MRCI methods with aug‐cc‐pVXZ (X = T, Q, 5) basis sets and complete basis set (CBS) limit. In addition, various corrections, including the Davidson correction, scalar relativistic effect, core‐valence correlation, and spin‐orbit coupling effect, have been studied in calculating spectroscopic constants, especially for heavy‐atom nitrenes. Comparisons have been made with previous computational and experimental results where available. The icMRCI + Q calculations presented in this work provide a comprehensive series of results at a consistent high level of theory for all of the halogenated nitrenes.
Using integrated modeling to support the global eradication of vaccine‐preventable diseases
Authors: Duintjer Tebbens Radboud J. , Thompson Kimberly M.
Published: May 2018

The long‐term management of global disease eradication initiatives involves numerous inherently dynamic processes, health and economic trade‐offs, significant uncertainty and variability, rare events with big consequences, complex and interrelated decisions, and a requirement for cooperation among a large number of stakeholders. Over the course of more than 16 years of collaborative modeling efforts to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we developed increasingly complex integrated system dynamics models that combined numerous analytical approaches, including differential equation‐based modeling, risk and decision analysis, discrete‐event and individual‐based simulation, probabilistic uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, health economics and optimization. We discuss the central role of systems thinking and system dynamics in the overall effort and the value of integrating different modeling approaches to appropriately address the trade‐offs involved in some of the policy questions. We discuss practical challenges of integrating different analytical tools and we provide our perspective on the future of integrated modeling.

Copyright © 2018 System Dynamics Society
Anisotropic Strain Relaxation of Graphene by Corrugation on Copper Crystal Surfaces
Authors: Deng Bing , Wu Juanxia , Zhang Shishu , Qi Yue , Zheng Liming , Yang Hao , Tang Jilin , Tong Lianming , Zhang Jin , Liu Zhongfan , Peng Hailin
Published: May 2018

Corrugation is a ubiquitous phenomenon for graphene grown on metal substrates by chemical vapor deposition, which greatly affects the electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties. Recent years have witnessed great progress in controlled growth of large graphene single crystals; however, the issue of surface roughness is far from being addressed. Here, the corrugation at the interface of copper (Cu) and graphene, including Cu step bunches (CuSB) and graphene wrinkles, are investigated and ascribed to the anisotropic strain relaxation. It is found that the corrugation is strongly dependent on Cu crystallographic orientations, specifically, the packed density and anisotropic atomic configuration. Dense Cu step bunches are prone to form on loose packed faces due to the instability of surface dynamics. On an anisotropic Cu crystal surface, Cu step bunches and graphene wrinkles are formed in two perpendicular directions to release the anisotropic interfacial stress, as revealed by morphology imaging and vibrational analysis. Cu(111) is a suitable crystal face for growth of ultraflat graphene with roughness as low as 0.20 nm. It is believed the findings will contribute to clarifying the interplay between graphene and Cu crystal faces, and reducing surface roughness of graphene by engineering the crystallographic orientation of Cu substrates.
A new species of burnetiid (Therapsida, Burnetiamorpha) from the early Wuchiapingian of South Africa and implications for the evolutionary ecology of the family Burnetiidae
Authors: Day Michael O. , Smith Roger M. H. , Benoit Julien , Fernandez Vincent , Rubidge Bruce S.
Published: April 2018

Burnetiidae is a family of basal therapsids that is known from sequences of late Permian (Lopingian) age from southern and eastern Africa and European Russia. Recent discoveries of related genera within the broader clade Burnetiamorpha have added to our understanding of morphological variation in the group but have eroded the list of characters defining the family Burnetiidae. We describe a new burnetiid taxon, Leucocephalus wewersi gen. et sp. nov., and argue that Burnetiidae can be defined by, among other characters, the presence of two bosses on the ventrolateral surface of suborbital bar and zygomatic arch, high skull angulation between the orbits, and a median frontal crest that becomes wider and lower posteriorly. The new specimen was found in the early Wuchiapingian Tropidostoma Assemblage Zone of the Main Karoo Basin and, along with previous discoveries, indicates that the family reached its greatest diversity and abundance in the early Wuchiapingian. Diversity declined into the later Wuchiapingian and Changhsingian. Although the clade Burnetiamorpha, including the family Burnetiidae, contains at least 11 genera, each of these is exceptionally rare, with most represented by only one specimen. This could be attributed to a genuine ecological characteristic or may be the result of biogeographical factors, particularly if the Main Karoo Basin was on the periphery of their range.
Modelling the effects of environmental conditions on wind turbine failures
Authors: Reder Maik , Melero Julio J.
Published: May 2018

Operation and maintenance is one of the main cost drivers of modern wind farms and has become an emerging field of research over the past years. Understanding the failure behaviour of wind turbines (WTs) can significantly enhance operation and maintenance processes and is essential for developing reliability and strategic maintenance models. Previous research has shown that especially the environmental conditions, to which the turbines are exposed to, affect their reliability drastically. This paper compares several advanced modelling techniques and proposes a novel approach to model WT system and component failures based on the site‐specific weather conditions. Furthermore, to avoid common problems in failure modelling, procedures for variable selection and complexity reduction are discussed and incorporated. This is applied to a big failure database comprised of 11 wind farms and 383 turbines. The results show that the model performs very well in several situations such as modelling general WT failures as well as failures of specific components. The latter is exemplified using gearbox failures.
Dynamical structure of Carrollian Electrodynamics
Authors: Basu Rudranil , Chowdhury Udit Narayan
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We present an action of ultra-relativistic electrodynamics on a flat Carroll manifold. The model exhibits a couple of physical degrees of freedom per space-point. We observe that the action of the conformal Carroll algebra on the phase space is Hamiltonian in 4 space-time dimensions. Moreover the elements of the algebra give rise to an infinite number of conserved charges and the charge algebra is an exact realization of the kinematical algebra.
A Retrospective and Commentary on FDA’s Bar Code Rule
Authors: Kearsley Aaron , Lew Nellie , Nardinelli Clark
Published: April 2018

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a final regulation in 2004 that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to place linear bar codes on certain human drug and biological products. The intent was that bar codes would be part of a system where healthcare professionals would use bar code scanning equipment and software to electronically verify against a patient’s medication regimen that the correct medication is being given to the patient before it is administered, which could ultimately reduce medication errors. In the 2004 prospective regulatory impact analysis, FDA anticipated that the rule would stimulate widespread adoption of bar code medication administration technology among hospitals and other facilities, thereby generating public health benefits in the form of averted medication errors. FDA estimated that annualized net benefits would be $5.3 billion. In this retrospective analysis, we reassess the costs and benefits of the bar code rule and our original model and assumptions. Employing the most recent data available on actual adoption rates of bar code medication administration technology since 2004 and other key determinants of the costs and benefits, we examine the impacts of the bar code rule since its implementation and identify approaches to improve the accuracy of future analyses. In this retrospective study, we use alternative models of health information technology diffusion to create counterfactual scenarios against which we compare the benefits and costs of the bar code rule. The magnitudes of the costs and benefits of the 2004 rule are sensitive to assumptions about the counterfactual technology adoption rate, with the upper-bound range of calculated annualized net benefits between $2.7 billion and $6.6 billion depending on the baseline scenario considered.

Disclaimer: The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the authors in their private capacities, and they do not represent the views of the Food and Drug Administration.
The Health Sector Response to the 2015 Earthquake in Nepal
Authors: Subedi Shiva , Sharma Guna Nidhi , Dahal Sagar , Banjara Megha Raj , Pandey Basu Dev
Published: May 2018

In April 2015, Nepal experienced an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale that resulted in deaths, morbidities, and infrastructure damage. In the post-earthquake period, 4 different workshops and a national “Lessons Learnt” conference were organized to assess the adequacy of the preparedness and response of the health sector. This article summarizes the main conclusions of these discussions relating to leadership, timely search and rescue, referral operations, medical relief to response activities, awareness campaigns, and support from the national and international levels, and epidemiological surveillance. The earthquake response was channeled through rapid response teams that spanned from the community level to the central level via a cluster coordination approach. Overall, the health sector’s response was concluded to be largely satisfactory because it focused not only on emergency medical care, but also on the resumption of basic health services and preventive health care (eg, hygiene, risk communication) equally. Post-disaster disease outbreak did not occur because effective surveillance and outbreak monitoring was one of the priority actions. However, services related to birthing centers, neonatal services, and vaccinations were impeded in some rural areas. Some weaknesses in planning, coordination, and management were also noted. The lessons learned can provide the impetus to strengthen future preparedness and response mechanisms. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:543–547)
Mutual information decay for factors of i.i.d.
Authors: GERENCSÉR BALÁZS , HARANGI VIKTOR
Published: April 2018

This paper is concerned with factors of independent and identically distributed processes on the
$d$
-regular tree for
$d\geq 3$
. We study the mutual information of values on two given vertices. If the vertices are neighbors (i.e. their distance is
$1$
), then a known inequality between the entropy of a vertex and the entropy of an edge provides an upper bound for the (normalized) mutual information. In this paper we obtain upper bounds for vertices at an arbitrary distance
$k$
, of order
$(d-1)^{-k/2}$
. Although these bounds are sharp, we also show that an interesting phenomenon occurs here: for any fixed process, the rate of mutual information decay is much faster, essentially of order
$(d-1)^{-k}$
.
Interim Resolution CM/RESDH(2017)429: Execution of the Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights Ilgar Mammadov Against Azerbaijan (Council of Eur. Comm. of Ministers)
Authors: Zastrow Julie-Enni
Published: May 2018

On December 5, 2017, the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers (Committee) issued an interim resolution concerning the European Court of Human Rights case of Ilgar Mammadov v. Azerbaijan. In this resolution, the Committee, for the first time ever, launched infringement proceedings against a member state of the European Convention of Human Rights (Convention).
A Latent Class Analysis Approach to Extradyadic Involvement
Authors: Rodriguez Lindsey M. , DiBello Angelo M. , Øverup Camilla S. , Lin Helen Lee
Published: April 2018

Extradyadic involvement — emotional, romantic, or sexual involvement with another person outside of one's romantic relationship — may have serious personal and relational consequences. The current research examines extradyadic involvement in two samples of individuals in relationships and identifies subgroups of people based on their engagement in different types of extradyadic behaviour. To assess involvement in such behaviour, we created a new behavioural inventory intended to broaden the conceptualisation of types of extradyadic behaviours. Subgroups of individuals who engage in these behaviours were extracted using latent class analysis. Study 1 assessed undergraduate students in relationships (N = 339), and results revealed four classes of individuals: loyal, confiding, deceptive, and unfaithful. Follow-up tests demonstrated that these classes of individuals differed significantly in ways that are consistent with the investment model and attachment theory. Study 2 (N = 202) replicated the four-class solution, as well as the group differences in relationship functioning and attachment orientations. Results suggest theoretically consistent typologies of extradyadic behaviour that may be useful in differentiating deceptive behaviour in close relationships in a more precise way.
How Much Wine Is Really Produced and Consumed in China, Hong Kong, and Japan?
Authors: Anderson Kym , Harada Kimie
Published: April 2018

Statistics on the wine market in countries where it is not traditionally produced or consumed are estimates using simple methods. In northeast Asia those statistics are exaggerated for a combination of several reasons. One is a labelling issue: imported bulk wine is able to be added to domestically produced wine without the front label having to declare the bottle may contain foreign product. Similar freedom applies to wine made from imported grape juice concentrate. A second (particularly in China) is a double-counting issue: domestic wine produced in one region of the country may be blended with wine produced in and packaged for final sale from another region, with both regions claiming it as their contribution to national wine output. A third possibility is a smuggling issue: some wine re-exports and imports are unrecorded. These possibilities of the wine market being exaggerated are significant for firms seeking to export to and sell in such countries, especially in the fast-growing ones of northeast Asia. This article shows the extent to which estimates for the region could change for such indicators as per capita wine consumption, wine self-sufficiency, and the region's share of global wine consumption, when alternative assumptions are made in response to these issues. (JEL classifications: F14, L66, Q13, Y10)
THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS AND ECONOMIC INTERACTIONS OF THE HOUSEHOLDS AT GRAMALOTE, A SMALL-SCALE RESIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT DURING THE SECOND MILLENNIUM BC ON THE NORTH COAST OF PERU
Authors: Prieto Gabriel
Published: April 2018

Excavations at the small-scale domestic settlement of Gramalote between 2010 and 2014 allowed the exploration of the social dynamics and economic interactions in the second millennium BC on the Peruvian North Coast. Detailed excavations and materials recovered during the intervention contribute a unique opportunity to explore domestic aspects of early settlements in the Andes. This study presents new data on the public sectors of Gramalote's settlement, house-to-house differences, and evidence that the extended family was a unit of economic productivity and collective action. This analysis assesses the degree of overlap, and lack thereof, in the economic activities of each house during the Initial Period (1500–1200 cal BC). A new model for social and economic interactions is proposed, with the aim of exploring alternative models from the bottom-up perspective for the emergence and consolidation of social complexity in the Central Andean Region.
Giving Advice Versus Making Decisions: Transparency, Information, and Delegation
Authors: Gailmard Sean , Patty John W.
Published: April 2018

We generalize standard delegation models to consider policymaking when both information and authority are dispersed among multiple actors. In our theory, the principal may delegate partial authority to a privately informed agent while also reserving some authority for the principal’s use after observing the agent’s decision. Counterintuitively, the equilibrium amount of authority delegated to the agent is increasing in the preference divergence between the principal and agent. We also show that the amount of authority delegated depends upon whether the agent can observe the principal’s own private information (a condition we refer to as “top-down transparency”): this form of transparency increases the authority that must be delegated to the agent to obtain truthful policymaking. Accordingly, such transparency can result in less-informed policymaking. Nonetheless, the principal will sometimes but not always voluntarily choose such transparency.
ON SYSTEMS OF PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS OF BRIOT–BOUQUET TYPE
Authors: LI FENGBAI
Published: April 2018

We study systems of partial differential equations of Briot–Bouquet type. The existence of holomorphic solutions to such systems largely depends on the eigenvalues of an associated matrix. For the noninteger case, we generalise the well-known result of Gérard and Tahara [‘Holomorphic and singular solutions of nonlinear singular first order partial differential equations’, Publ. Res. Inst. Math. Sci.26 (1990), 979–1000] for Briot–Bouquet type equations to Briot–Bouquet type systems. For the integer case, we introduce a sequence of blow-up like changes of variables and give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of holomorphic solutions. We also give some examples to illustrate our results.
A NOTE ON NORMAL COMPLEMENTS FOR FINITE GROUPS
Authors: SU NING , BALLESTER-BOLINCHES ADOLFO , MENG HANGYANG
Published: April 2018

Assume that $G$ is a finite group and $H$ is a 2-nilpotent Sylow tower Hall subgroup of $G$ such that if $x$ and $y$ are $G$-conjugate elements of $H\cap G^{\prime }$ of prime order or order 4, then $x$ and $y$ are $H$-conjugate. We prove that there exists a normal subgroup $N$ of $G$ such that $G=HN$ and $H\cap N=1$.
Do the plant host origins of Helicoverpa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) moth populations reflect the agricultural landscapes within which they are caught?
Authors: Baker G.H. , Tann C.R. , Verwey P. , Lisle L.
Published: April 2018

The use of Bt cotton varieties has greatly reduced the amount of conventional insecticides required to control lepidopteran pests, Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa punctigera, in Australia, but the possibility that these moths might become resistant to Bt remains a threat. Consequently, a Resistance Management Plan, which includes the mandatory growing of refuge crops (pigeon pea and non-Bt cotton; both C3 plants), has been established for Bt cotton farmers. However, knowledge of the relative contributions made to overall moth populations from the many host origins (both C3 and C4 plants) available to these insects throughout cotton production regions remains limited, as do the scales of movement and spatial mixing of moths within and between these areas. This study used stable isotope signatures (in particular δ13C) to help identify where moths fed as larvae within separate cotton production regions which differed in their proportions of C3 and C4 host crops (e.g. cotton and sorghum, respectively). C3-derived moths predominated in the early season, but C4-derived moths increased in frequency later. The overall proportion of C4 moths was higher in H. armigera than in H. punctigera. Whilst the relative proportions of C3 and C4 moths differed between regions, no differences in such proportiorns were found at smaller spatial scales, nor were there significant correlations between crop composition and isotope signatures in moths. Overall, these results suggest that C4 host plants are likely to be very important in offsetting the development of Bt resistance in these insects and such influences may operate across multiple regions within a single growing season.
Does the Political Power of Nonfinancial Stakeholders Affect Firm Values? Evidence from Labor Unions
Authors: Stanfield Jared , Tumarkin Robert
Published: April 2018

Whereas corporate political connections are known to enhance equity values, we demonstrate that union political activity can have the opposite effect. We examine the consequences of a recent Australian state law that restricts union political activity but does not change collective bargaining rights. In the wake of this law, the equity values of affected unionized firms significantly increase, and consistent with this market reaction, these firms are able to bargain for more favorable labor contracts than their unionized peers in other states. The evidence strongly suggests that unions use political activism to extract rents from shareholders and benefit their members.
The Rise of the Brazilian Cotton Trade in Britain during the Industrial Revolution
Authors: PEREIRA THALES A. ZAMBERLAN
Published: April 2018

When and why did Brazilian cotton become important to the Industrial Revolution in Britain? Between 1791 and 1801, Brazilian cotton represented 40 per cent of raw cotton imports in Liverpool, rivalling those from the West Indies. Using archival data between 1760 and 1808, this paper shows that Brazil benefitted from increasing British demand for a new variety of cotton staple that emerged with mechanised textile production. Previous explanations for the rise of Brazilian cotton trade attributed it to the revolutions in the Caribbean in the 1790s, and the American War of Independence, which ended in 1783. Evidence, however, suggests that these explanations are incomplete or incorrect. The United States did not export cotton to Britain before 1790, and British imports from the West Indies did not fall after the revolutions.
Growth Inhibition in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Callus by 2,6-Dinitroaniline Herbicides and Protection by D-α-tocopherol Acetate
Authors: Huffman J. B. , Camper N. D.
Published: May 2018

Tobacco(Nicotiana tabacumL. ‘X-73’) callus tissue cultures were used in a bioassay system for determining the effect of the following substituted 2,6-dinitroaniline herbicides on growth: trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine); oryzalin (3,5-dinitro-N4,N4-dipropylsulfanilamide); benefin(N-butyl-N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine); AC 92390(N-sec-butyl-2,6-dinitro-3,4-xylidine); penoxalin [N-(1-ethylpropyl)-2,6-dinitro-3,4-xylidine]; GS-38946(N-ethyl-N-tetrahydrofurfuryl-4-trifluoromethyl-2,6-dinitroaniline); chlornidine [N,N-di(2-chloroethyl)-4-methyl-2,6-dinitroaniline]; nitralin [4-(methylsulfonyl)2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropylaniline]; dinitramine(N4,N4-diethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-3,5-dinitrotoluene-2,4-diamine); isopropalin (2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropylcumidine), and profluralin [N(cyclopropylmethyl)-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N-propyl-p-toluidine]. The molar concentration required to inhibit fresh weight gain by 50% (I50) was determined by using linear regression analysis on data from a range of five concentrations of each chemical. I50values did not correlate with structural variations or available physical constants. Herbicides listed in order of increasing activity are AC 92390< GD-38946<profluralin = isopropalin<benefin = chlornidine = trifluralin = nitralin<oryzalin = penoxalin < dinitramine. Exogenously applied D-α-tocopherol acetate at 100 times the I50concentrations decreased the inhibition of tissue growth by the herbicides.
Technique for Separating Weed Seed from Soil
Authors: Fay P. K. , Olson W. A.
Published: May 2018

A simple technique is described for rapid determination of weed seed, rhizome, corm, or bulb populations in soil. Soil samples were placed in nylon mesh bags. The soil was washed from the bags by machine leaving only a small residue including the desired propagules. These were hand separated and the soil population of a given plant species calculated. The total manipulation time per sample was approximately 10 min.
Soybean(Glycine max)and Grain Sorghum(Sorghum bicolor)Tolerance to Residues of Tetrafluron and Fluometuron
Authors: Reasons D. L. , Jeffery L. S. , McCutchen T. C.
Published: May 2018

Fluometuron [1,1-dimethyl-3-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyl)urea] and tetrafluron {N,N-dimethyl-N′-[3-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy) phenyl] urea} are two urea-type herbicides for weed control in cotton(Gossypium hirsutumL.). In some years, because of cotton stand failure, an alternate crop must be established. Soybeans [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] and grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench] are possible alternate crops if they can withstand the residues left from herbicides used for weed control in cotton. Soybeans and grain sorghum were planted 3, 6 and 9 weeks after fluometuron and tetrafluron applications to soil at Knoxville and Milan, Tennessee, in 1975 and 1976. Tetrafluron residues were more toxic to grain sorghum and soybeans than were fluometuron residues. Grain sorghum was less susceptible than soybeans to both herbicides. Grain sorghum was planted 3 weeks after fluometuron (1.7 kg/ha) and tetrafluron (1.7 kg/ha) applications without severe yield reduction. Soybeans were planted in non-treated soil between banded tetrafluron (1.7 kg/ha on a treated area basis), 3 weeks after herbicide application, without significant yield reduction; but when a seedbed was prepared, a 9-week waiting period was required. When soybeans were planted into soil receiving a broadcast application of tetrafluron (1.7 kg/ha), a 9-week waiting period was not sufficient to reduce the residues to a non-toxic level. Soybeans planted 6 and 9 weeks following a broadcast application of fluometuron may or may not sustain yield reduction depending on rainfall frequency and intensity and soil type.
Difenzoquat for Wild Oat(Avena fatua)Control
Authors: Miller S. D. , Nalewaja J. D. , Pudelko J. , Adamczewski K. A.
Published: May 2018

Postemergence difenzoquat (1,2-dimethyl-3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazolium) for wild oat(Avena fatuaL.) control in spring wheat(Triticum aestivumL.), durum wheat(Triticum durumDesf.), and barley(Hordeum vulgareL.) was evaluated in the field, greenhouse, and controlled environmental chamber. Wild oat control with difenzoquat was greater at the five- that at the three and one-half or two-leaf stages of growth. Barley tolerance to difenzoquat was excellent; however, spring wheat tolerance was influenced by cultivar. Durum wheat generally was more tolerant of difenzoquat than spring wheat. Tank mix combinations of broadleaf herbicides with difenzoquat had no effect on crop injury or wild oat control. Wild oat control with difenzoquat was greatest with adequate soil moisture, adequate fertility, warm air temperatures and high relative humidity. A simulated rainfall of 0.25 mm within ½ h or 1 mm within 4 h of application reduced wild oat control with difenzoquat.