bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of working diagnosis by paramedics for patients presenting with dyspnoea
Authors: Christie Andrew , Costa‐Scorse Brenda , Nicholls Mike , Jones Peter , Howie Graham
Published: July 2016

Objective

The present study aims to determine the agreement between paramedic and ED or hospital working diagnosis in dyspnoeic patients.

Methods

Non‐consecutive written patient report forms were retrospectively audited for patients suffering from dyspnoea, who were transported to a tertiary hospital ED by ambulance paramedics. Accuracy of the paramedic working diagnosis was assessed by comparing agreement with either the primary or secondary ED diagnoses or hospital discharge diagnosis.

Results

The study cohort was 293 patients. Exact agreement between paramedic versus ED or hospital diagnosis was 64%, 95% CI 58–69, k = 0.58, 95% CI 0.52–0.64. Only 226 (77%) had a ‘clearly documented’ paramedic diagnosis. Among these, agreement with either ED or hospital diagnosis was 79%, and there was a trend towards more agreement as paramedic level of practice increased (74%, 78% and 87% for Basic, Intermediate and ALS paramedics, respectively, P = 0.07). Conversely, ALS paramedics were less likely to document a working diagnosis (30/98, 31%) compared with Intermediate (22/102, 23%) and BLS paramedics (15/93, 16%), P = 0.008. Diagnostic agreement varied according to medical condition, from anaphylaxis (100%) and asthma (86%) to acute pulmonary oedema (46%).

Conclusions

There was moderate agreement between paramedic and ED or hospital diagnosis. The number of cases with no clearly documented working diagnosis suggested that a singular working diagnosis may not always serve the complexity of presentation of some dyspnoea patients: more open descriptors such as ‘mixed disease’ or ‘atypical features’ should be encouraged.
The 2016 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference, Shared Decision Making in the Emergency Department: Development of a Policy‐relevant Patient‐centered Research Agenda May 10, 2016, New Orleans, LA
Authors: Grudzen Corita R. , Anderson Jana R. , Carpenter Christopher R. , Hess Erik P.
Published: July 2016

Shared decision making in emergency medicine has the potential to improve the quality, safety, and outcomes of emergency department (ED) patients. Given that the ED is the gateway to care for patients with a variety of illnesses and injuries and the safety net for patients otherwise unable to access care, shared decision making in the ED is relevant to numerous disciplines and the interests of the United States (U.S.) public. On May 10, 2016 the 16th annual Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM) consensus conference, “Shared Decision Making: Development of a Policy‐Relevant Patient‐Centered Research Agenda” was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. During this one‐day conference clinicians, researchers, policy‐makers, patient and caregiver representatives, funding agency representatives, trainees, and content experts across many areas of medicine interacted to define high priority areas for research in 1 of 6 domains: 1) diagnostic testing; 2) policy, 3) dissemination/implementation and education, 4) development and testing of shared decision making approaches and tools in practice, 5) palliative care and geriatrics, and 6) vulnerable populations and limited health literacy. This manuscript describes the current state of shared decision making in the ED context, provides an overview of the conference planning process, the aims of the conference, the focus of each respective breakout session, the roles of patient and caregiver representatives and an overview of the conference agenda. The results of this conference published in this issue of AEM provide an essential summary of the future research priorities for shared decision making to increase quality of care and patient‐centered outcomes.
Early detection of aquatic invaders using metabarcoding reveals a high number of non‐indigenous species in Canadian ports
Authors: Brown Emily A. , Chain Frédéric J. J. , Zhan Aibin , MacIsaac Hugh J. , Cristescu Melania E.
Published: July 2016

Aim

Invasive species represent one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. The ability to detect non‐indigenous species (NIS), particularly those present at low abundance, is limited by difficulties in performing exhaustive sampling and in identifying species. Here we sample zooplankton from 16 major Canadian ports and apply a metabarcoding approach to detect NIS.

Location

Marine and freshwater ports along Canadian coastlines (Pacific, Arctic, Atlantic) and the Great Lakes.

Methods

We amplified the V4 region of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (18S) and used two distinct analytic protocols to identify species present at low abundance. Taxonomic assignment was conducted using BLAST searches against a local 18S sequence database of either (i) individual reads (totalling 7,733,541 reads) or (ii) operational taxonomic units (OTUs) generated by sequence clustering. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to confirm the identity of reads with ambiguous taxonomic assignment.

Results

Taxonomic assignment of individual reads identified 379 zooplankton species at a minimum sequence identity of 97%. Of these, 24 species were identified as NIS, 11 of which were detected in previously unreported locations. When reads were clustered into OTUs prior to taxonomic assignment, six NIS were no longer detected and an additional NIS was falsely identified. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that sequences belonging to closely related species clustered together into shared OTUs as a result of low interspecific variation. NIS can thus be misidentified when their sequences join the OTUs of more abundant native species.

Main conclusions

Our results reveal the power of the metabarcoding approach, whilst also highlighting the need to account for potentially low levels of genetic diversity when processing data, to use barcode markers that allow differentiation of closely related species and to continue building comprehensive sequence databases that allow reliable and fine‐scale taxonomic designation.
Cvek pulpotomy – revisited
Authors: Bimstein Enrique , Rotstein Ilan
Published: July 2016

Background/Aim

While some studies support the notion that the time elapsed from coronal fracture and treatment with Cvek pulpotomy in permanent teeth plays an important role in minimizing the possibility of pain and discomfort, microbial pulp invasion, and ensuring pulp and periodontal healing, others consider that neither time between the accident and treatment nor size of exposure is critical if the inflamed superficial pulp tissue is amputated to the level of a healthy pulp. This study compares published data in an attempt to assess whether the outcome of Cvek pulpotomies is affected by these factors.

Results and conclusions

Evidence in the literature suggests to treat a permanent tooth with a complicated crown fracture as soon as possible to diminish the possibility of pain and prevent necrosis and infection of the pulp. Delay of treatment by 9 days or less may have minimal effect on the outcome of Cvek pulpotomies. While the literature indicates that pulp exposures of 4 mm or less may have a good prognosis after a Cvek pulpotomy, the prognosis in teeth with pulp exposures of more than 4 mm has not yet been clarified. Although the literature is not conclusive regarding a difference in the outcomes of Cvek pulpotomies in teeth with open or closed apices, it appears that teeth with open apices have a better prognosis. The outcome of a Cvek pulpotomy may be compromised by a luxation injury that diminishes the tooth's blood supply and innervation. A good restoration that prevents bacterial penetration into the tooth is essential for the success of a Cvek pulpotomy.
Increasing metronidazole and rifampicin resistance of Helicobacter pylori isolates obtained from children and adolescents between 2002 and 2015 in southwest Germany
Authors: Regnath Thomas , Raecke Olaf , Enninger Axel , Ignatius Ralf
Published: July 2016

Background

Increasing antibiotic resistance has been reported for Helicobacter pylori, but data on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance of H. pylori in pediatric patients and the development of resistance over time are sparse.

Methods

Data for 610 H. pylori isolates obtained between 2002 and 2015 from gastric biopsies of 582 (mainly treatment‐naïve) pediatric patients from southwest Germany were analyzed retrospectively regarding the antibiotic susceptibility determined by Etest and patients’ characteristics.

Results

Overall resistance to metronidazole, clarithromycin, and rifampicin was 28.7%, 23.2%, and 13.3%, respectively, while resistance to amoxicillin was rare (0.8%). Simultaneous resistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin was observed for 7.7% of the isolates, and 2.3% were resistant to metronidazole, clarithromycin, and rifampicin. Differences between primary vs secondary resistance existed for metronidazole (24.7% vs 38.8%, P=.01) and clarithromycin (17.2% vs 54.1%, P=.0001). From 2002–2008 to 2009–2015, resistance to metronidazole increased from 20.8% to 34.4% (P=.003) and to rifampicin from 3.9% to 18.8% (P=.0001); this was not associated with increased numbers of patients previously treated for H. pylori infection in the second study period. In contrast, resistance to clarithromycin did not change significantly over time. Resistance was not associated with age, sex, or family origin in Europe.

Conclusions

The considerable antibiotic resistance of H. pylori isolates argues for standard antibiotic susceptibility testing of H. pylori in pediatric patients prior to the initiation of antibiotic therapy.
Exosomes from the tumor microenvironment as reciprocal regulators that enhance prostate cancer progression
Authors: Liu Che‐Ming , Hsieh Chia‐Ling , Shen Chia‐Ning , Lin Cheng‐Chieh , Shigemura Katsumi , Sung Shian‐Ying
Published: July 2016

Distant organ metastasis of prostate cancer is a puzzle, and various theories have successively arisen to explain the mechanism of lethal cancer progression. While perhaps agreeable to many cancer biologists, the very statement of “seed and soil” proposed by Stephan Paget in 1881 is arguably still the major statement for organ‐specific cancer metastasis. Since recent studies showed important correlations of regulation of cancer cells and the microenvironment, exosomes from cancer and stromal cells seem to create another important niche for metastasis. Stromal cells pretreated with exosomes from metastatic cancer cells increase the potential of change stromal cells. The poorly metastatic cancer cells could also enhance malignancy through transfer of proteins, microribonucleic acid and messenger ribonucleic acid to recipient cancer cells. Herein, we reviewed extracellular exosomes as a factor involved in cross‐talk between stromal and prostate cancer epithelial cells.
Risk factors for periprosthetic joint infection following primary total hip or knee arthroplasty: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Kong Lingde , Cao Junming , Zhang Yingze , Ding Wenyuan , Shen Yong
Published: July 2016

To identify risk factors for periprosthetic joint infection following primary total joint arthroplasty, a systematic search was performed in Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane library databases. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) or standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Patient characteristics, surgical‐related factors and comorbidities, as potential risk factors, were investigated. The main factors associated with infection after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) were male gender (OR, 1·48; 95% CI, 1.19–1.85), age (SMD, −0·10; 95% CI, −0.17–−0.03), obesity (OR, 1·54; 95% CI, 1·25–1·90), alcohol abuse (OR, 1·88; 95% CI, 1·32–2·68), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scale > 2 (OR, 2·06; 95% CI, 1·77–2·39), operative time (SMD, 0·49; 95% CI, 0·19–0·78), drain usage (OR, 0·36; 95% CI, 0·18–0·74), diabetes mellitus (OR, 1·58; 95% CI, 1·37–1·81), urinary tract infection (OR, 1·53; 95% CI, 1.09–2.16) and rheumatoid arthritis (OR, 1·57; 95% CI, 1·30–1·88). Among these risk factors, ASA score > 2 was a high risk factor, and drain usage was a protective factor. There was positive evidence for some factors that could be used to prevent the onset of infection after TJA.
Introduction: The Great Rule of Law Debate in the EU
Authors: Kochenov Dimitry , Magen Amichai , Pech Laurent
Published: July 2016

Faced with what has been labeled ‘rule of law backsliding’ in some EU countries, EU institutions have sought to address the rise of ‘illiberal regimes’ via existing mechanisms as well as new instruments. This introductory contribution offers an overview of the problem and a brief summary of the papers to follow and which were first presented at a workshop co‐organized by the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law and Middlesex University London.
Farewell to life on land – thoracic strength as a new indicator to determine paleoecology in secondary aquatic mammals
Authors: Ando Konami , Fujiwara Shin‐ichi
Published: July 2016

Habitat shifts from land to water have occurred independently in several mammal lineages. However, because we do not know completely about the relationship between skeletal morphology and function, both reliable life reconstructions of each extinct taxon and the timing of those shifts in locomotor strategies are yet to be fully understood. We estimated the strengths of rib cages against vertical compression in 26 extant and four extinct mammal specimens including cetartiodactyls, paenungulates, and carnivorans, representing 11 terrestrial, six semi‐aquatic, and nine obligate aquatic taxa. Our analyses of extant taxa showed that strengths were high among terrestrial/semi‐aquatic mammals, whose rib cages are subjected to vertical compression during the support on land, whereas strengths were low among obligate aquatic mammals, whose rib cages are not subjected to antigravity force in the water. We therefore propose rib strength as a new index to estimate the ability of an animal to be supported on land while being supported by either the forelimbs or thoracic region. According to our analyses of extinct taxa, this ability to be supported on land was rejected for a basal cetacean (Cetartiodactyla:Ambulocetus) and two desmostylians (Paenungulata:PaleoparadoxiaandNeoparadoxia). However, this ability was not rejected for one desmostylian species (Desmostylus). Further study of the ribs of extant/extinct semi‐aquatic taxa may help in understanding the ecological shifts in these groups.
Scalar politics, language ideologies, and the sociolinguistics of globalization among transnational Korean professionals in Hong Kong
Authors: Bailey Adrian J. , Canagarajah Suresh , Lan Shanshan , Powers Devereux Gong
Published: July 2016

This paper argues that the sociolinguistics of globalization is accompanied by a constitutive scalar politics. Based on ten interviews with Korean professionals in Hong Kong, we report that Korean migrants’ use and experience of English is characterized by competing language ideologies we identify as: Pragmatic English/Perfect English, Multilingualism/English Only, and Global Language/Local Language. Tensions within these ideologies were revealed as respondents referenced the contexts of their daily lives as intersecting sets of geographic, temporal, and social scales. We discuss how sociolinguistic relations associated with the transnational lifecourse, hybridizing identity, and racialization were imagined in ways that re‐negotiated these scales to serve the interests of the participants and provide coherence to their communicative practices. Sociolinguistic relations both reference scales and constitute them. We conclude that attending to scales and scalar politics provides a better explanatory framework for the ways the uneven linguistics markets of globalization are negotiated by transnational subjects.
Does (Non‐)Meaningful Sensori‐Motor Engagement Promote Learning With Animated Physical Systems?
Authors: Pouw Wim T. J. L. , Eielts Charly , van Gog Tamara , Zwaan Rolf A. , Paas Fred
Published: July 2016

Previous research indicates that sensori‐motor experience with physical systems can have a positive effect on learning. However, it is not clear whether this effect is caused by mere bodily engagement or the intrinsically meaningful information that such interaction affords in performing the learning task. We investigated (N = 74), through the use of a Wii Balance Board, whether different forms of physical engagement that was either meaningfully, non‐meaningfully, or minimally related to the learning content would be beneficial (or detrimental) to learning about the workings of seesaws from instructional animations. The results were inconclusive, indicating that motoric competency on lever problem solving did not significantly differ between conditions, nor were response speed and transfer performance affected. These findings suggest that adult's implicit and explicit knowledge about physical systems is stable and not easily affected by (contradictory) sensori‐motor experiences. Implications for embodied learning are discussed.
The brain on silent: mind wandering, mindful awareness, and states of mental tranquility
Authors: Vago David R. , Zeidan Fadel
Published: July 2016

Mind wandering and mindfulness are often described as divergent mental states with opposing effects on cognitive performance and mental health. Spontaneous mind wandering is typically associated with self‐reflective states that contribute to negative processing of the past, worrying/fantasizing about the future, and disruption of primary task performance. On the other hand, mindful awareness is frequently described as a focus on present sensory input without cognitive elaboration or emotional reactivity, and is associated with improved task performance and decreased stress‐related symptomology. Unfortunately, such distinctions fail to acknowledge similarities and interactions between the two states. Instead of an inverse relationship between mindfulness and mind wandering, a more nuanced characterization of mindfulness may involve skillful toggling back and forth between conceptual and nonconceptual processes and networks supporting each state, to meet the contextually specified demands of the situation. In this article, we present a theoretical analysis and plausible neurocognitive framework of the restful mind, in which we attempt to clarify potentially adaptive contributions of both mind wandering and mindful awareness through the lens of the extant neurocognitive literature on intrinsic network activity, meditation, and emerging descriptions of stillness and nonduality. A neurophenomenological approach to probing modality‐specific forms of concentration and nonconceptual awareness is presented that may improve our understanding of the resting state. Implications for future research are discussed.
The paradox of painless periodontal disease
Authors: Gaurilcikaite E , Renton T , Grant AD
Published: July 2016

Periodontal diseases, primarily gingivitis and periodontitis, are characterised by progressive inflammation and tissue destruction. However, they are unusual in that they are not also accompanied by the pain commonly seen in other inflammatory conditions. This suggests that interactions between periodontal bacteria and host cells create a unique environment in which the pro‐algesic effects of inflammatory mediators and factors released during tissue damage are directly or indirectly inhibited. In this review, we summarise the evidence that periodontal disease is characterised by an accumulation of classically pro‐algesic factors from bacteria and host cells. We then discuss several mechanisms by which inflammatory sensitisation of nociceptive fibres could be prevented through inactivation or inhibition of these factors. Further studies are necessary to fully understand the molecular processes underlying the endogenous localised hypoalgesia in human periodontal disease. This knowledge might provide a rational basis to develop future therapeutic interventions, such as host modulation therapies, against a wide variety of other human pain conditions.
Perioperative morbidity in children with elastin arteriopathy
Authors: Latham Gregory J. , Ross Faith J. , Eisses Michael J. , Richards Michael J. , Geiduschek Jeremy M. , Joffe Denise C.
Published: July 2016

Background

Children with elastin arteriopathy (EA), the majority of whom have Williams–Beuren syndrome, are at high risk for sudden death. Case reports suggest that the risk of perioperative cardiac arrest and death is high, but none have reported the frequency or risk factors for morbidity and mortality in an entire cohort of children with EA undergoing anesthesia.

Aim

The aim of this study was to present one institution's rate of morbidity and mortality in all children with EA undergoing anesthesia and to examine patient characteristics that pose the greatest risk.

Methods

We reviewed medical records of children with EA who underwent anesthesia or sedation for any procedure at our institution from 1990 to 2013. Cardiovascular hemodynamic indices from recent cardiac catheterization or echocardiography were tabulated for each child. The incidence, type, and associated factors of complications occurring intraoperatively through 48 h postoperatively were examined.

Results

Forty‐eight patients with confirmed EA underwent a total of 141 anesthetics. There were seven cardiac arrests (15% of patients, 5% of anesthetics) and nine additional intraoperative cardiovascular complications (15% of patients, 6% of anesthetics). Extracorporeal life support was initiated in five cases. There were no perioperative deaths. All children having a cardiac arrest or complication were <3 years old and had biventricular outflow tract obstruction (BVOTO). Subgroup analysis demonstrated high rates of cardiac arrest in two groups: children with BVOTO (44%) and age <3 years old (21%).

Conclusions

We have confirmed that the rate of cardiac arrest and complications is significantly elevated in children with EA undergoing anesthesia. Children <3 years old and with BVOTO were at the greatest risk in our population.
X‐ray tomography of tsunami deposits: Towards a new depositional model of tsunami deposits
Authors: Falvard Simon , Paris Raphaël
Published: July 2016

X‐ray computed microtomography is used to obtain high resolution imagery of a historical tsunami deposit in Andalusia, Spain (1755 Lisbon tsunami). The technique allows characterization of grain‐size distribution, structures, component analysis and sedimentary fabric of fine‐grained unconsolidated tsunami deposits at resolutions down to particle scale. The results are validated by comparing to data obtained using other techniques such as laser diffraction, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and X‐ray microfluorescence on the same deposits. Specific technical details such as sampling, scanning and image processing methods, and further improvements are addressed. The use of X‐ray computed microtomography provides new insights into the stratigraphy of the deposits and gives access to significantly more detailed view of key sedimentary features such as mudlines, rip‐up clasts, crude laminations, convolutions, floating outsized clasts and contacts between successive units. This analysis of the 1755 tsunami deposits using X‐ray computed microtomography allows the proposal of new hypotheses for the sedimentary processes forming tsunami deposits. Deposition by settling is limited and the section analysed here is dominated by a high shear stress leading to the development of traction carpets, with laminated mudlines corresponding to the basal frictional region of these carpets. The onset of the tsunami backwash is marked by a micro‐vortex resembling Kelvin–Helmoltz instabilities.
Retrospective analysis of cutaneous lesions in 23 canine and 17 feline cases of coccidioidomycosis seen in Arizona, USA (2009–2015)
Authors: Simões Diana M. , Dial Sharon M. , Coyner Kimberly S. , Schick Anthea E. , Lewis Thomas P.
Published: July 2016

Background

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease caused by the dimorphic saprophytic fungus Coccidioides immitis or C. posadasii. Primary pulmonary infection can disseminate to cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, or less commonly direct cutaneous inoculation may occur.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To characterize the historical, clinical, diagnostic and treatment findings in dogs and cats with cutaneous manifestation of coccidioidomycosis.

Animals

Twenty three dogs and seventeen cats diagnosed between 2009 and 2015 in Arizona, USA.

Methods

Retrospective review of medical records from dogs and cats from an endemic area with a confirmed diagnosis via histopathology, cytology and/or culture, and skin lesions.

Results

Age of affected dogs ranged from 14 weeks to 13 years (median = 7 years), whereas cats ranged from 3 to 17 years (median = 9 years). Subcutaneous nodules were the most common lesions in both species. Lesions were distributed widely and not often found over sites of bone infection. In 75% of dogs and 54.5% of cats with cutaneous lesions there were clinical signs of systemic illness, supporting the diagnosis of cutaneous disseminated disease. Four dogs and four cats had localized lesions with no systemic illness, consistent with possible primary cutaneous infection. The most common mode of diagnosis was cytology identification in both species. Fluconazole was the most commonly prescribed antifungal drug.

Conclusions and clinical importance

Coccidioidomycosis is the most common mycosis of dogs and cats in endemic regions and cutaneous signs of the disease may be an initial presenting complaint. This study identified a variety of cutaneous manifestations of the disease in dogs and cats and should be recognized by clinicians.
Force-Time–Curve Comparison Between Weight-Lifting Derivatives
Authors: Suchomel Timothy J. , Sole Christopher J.
Published: July 2016

The force-production characteristics of 3 weight-lifting derivatives were examined by comparing the force–time curves of each exercise. Sixteen resistance-trained men performed repetitions of the hang power clean (HPC), jump shrug (JS), and hang high pull (HHP) on a force platform at several relative loads. Relative peak force (PFRel), relative impulse (IMPRel), peak rate of force development (PRFD), and time-normalized force–time curves of each exercise were compared. The JS produced greater PFRel than the HPC (P < .001, d = 1.38) and HHP (P < .001, d = 1.14), while there was no difference between the HPC and HHP (P = .338, d = 0.26). Similarly, the JS produced greater IMPRel than the HPC (P < .001, d = 0.52) and HHP (P = .019, d = 0.36). The HHP also produced greater IMPRel than the HPC (P = .040, d = 0.18). Finally, the JS produced greater PRFD than the HPC (P < .001, d = 0.73) and HHP (P = .001, d = 0.47), while there was no difference between the HPC and HHP (P = .192, d = 0.22). The HPC, JS, and HHP force–time profiles were similar during the first 75–80% of the movement; however, the JS produced markedly different force–time characteristics in the final 20–25% of the movement. The JS produced superior force-production characteristics, namely PFRel, IMPRel, and PRFD, as well as a unique force–time profile, compared with the HPC and HHP across several loads.
Distribution Strategy of a Global Firm in an Emerging Market: The Case of 3M India
Authors: Pradhan Debasis , Kundu Niladri
Published: July 2016

3M had an entire portfolio of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) targeted at the large industrial customers. These were high priced, premium quality products which 3M India enjoyed a dominant market share in this segment. The demand for such products was facilitated by the fact that big clients were more aware of the Occupational Health and Environmental Safety (OHES) implications at the workplace.

3M traditionally capitalised on its business strategy of differentiation. This helped it charge a premium on its products to its customers. Having catered to large industrial customers since its entry into the Indian market, 3M had developed its marketing channel to improve its revenues from this target segment.

With economic liberalisation, the smaller B2B customers who belonged to the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) category also became aware of OHES. This segment was very price conscious and did not have preference for any brand. PPE was another overhead for them and they would opt for any product that addressed the safety concerns and at the same time keep costs down. In order to build a presence among them, it was necessary to build an intensive distribution network with a strong sales force. Ubiquity of the brand was essential to gain market share. Another important consideration was competitive pricing compared to prices to the existing players. Both the factors together were expected to help 3M consolidate its position as a supplier of PPE for this segment.

3M had never been a player on the price front. The price war that 3M had to constantly indulge in while targeting the SME segment was not its forte. The decision on whether to go for a comprehensive rollout was itself questionable. Introducing low price products in the Indian market would lead to cannabilisation of the high end PPE. A pertinent question was how much of this inevitable cannibalisation would be acceptable without impacting the revenues.
Schrödinger's smoke
Authors: Chern Albert , Knöppel Felix , Pinkall Ulrich , Schröder Peter , Weißmann Steffen
Published: July 2016

We describe a new approach for the purely Eulerian simulation of incompressible fluids. In it, the fluid state is represented by a C
2
-valued wave function evolving under the Schrödinger equation subject to incompressibility constraints. The underlying dynamical system is Hamiltonian and governed by the kinetic energy of the fluid together with an energy of Landau-Lifshitz type. The latter ensures that dynamics due to thin vortical structures, all important for visual simulation, are faithfully reproduced. This enables robust simulation of intricate phenomena such as vortical wakes and interacting vortex filaments, even on modestly sized grids. Our implementation uses a simple splitting method for time integration, employing the FFT for Schrödinger evolution as well as constraint projection. Using a standard penalty method we also allow arbitrary obstacles. The resulting algorithm is simple, unconditionally stable, and efficient. In particular it does not require any Lagrangian techniques for advection or to counteract the loss of vorticity. We demonstrate its use in a variety of scenarios, compare it with experiments, and evaluate it against benchmark tests. A full implementation is included in the ancillary materials.
Artist-directed dynamics for 2D animation
Authors: Bai Yunfei , Kaufman Danny M. , Liu C. Karen , Popović Jovan
Published: July 2016

Animation artists enjoy the benefits of simulation but do not want to be held back by its constraints. Artist-directed dynamics seeks to resolve this need with a unified method that combines simulation with classical keyframing techniques. The combination of these approaches improves upon both extremes: simulation becomes more customizable and keyframing becomes more automatic. Examining our system in the context of the twelve fundamental animation principles reveals that it stands out for its treatment of exaggeration and appeal. Our system accommodates abrupt jumps, large plastic deformations, and makes it easy to reuse carefully crafted animations.
Legible compact calligrams
Authors: Zou Changqing , Cao Junjie , Ranaweera Warunika , Alhashim Ibraheem , Tan Ping , Sheffer Alla , Zhang Hao
Published: July 2016

A calligram is an arrangement of words or letters that creates a visual image, and a
compact calligram
fits one word into a 2D shape. We introduce a fully automatic method for the generation of
legible compact calligrams
which provides a balance between conveying the input shape, legibility, and aesthetics. Our method has three key elements: a path generation step which computes a global layout path suitable for embedding the input word; an alignment step to place the letters so as to achieve feature alignment between letter and shape protrusions while maintaining word legibility; and a final deformation step which deforms the letters to fit the shape while balancing fit against letter legibility. As letter legibility is critical to the quality of compact calligrams, we conduct a large-scale crowd-sourced study on the impact of different letter deformations on legibility and use the results to train a letter legibility measure which guides the letter deformation. We show automatically generated calligrams on an extensive set of word-image combinations. The legibility and overall quality of the calligrams are evaluated and compared, via user studies, to those produced by human creators, including a professional artist, and existing works.
Multi-scale rendering of scratched materials using a structured SV-BRDF model
Authors: Raymond Boris , Guennebaud Gaël , Barla Pascal
Published: July 2016

We introduce a Spatially-Varying BRDF model tailored to the multi-scale rendering of scratched materials such as metals, plastics or finished woods. Our approach takes advantage of the regular structure of scratch distributions to achieve high performance without compromising visual quality. We provide users with controls over the profile, micro-BRDF, density and orientation of scratches, while updating our material model at interactive rates. The BRDF for a single scratch is simulated using an optimized 2D ray-tracer and compactly stored in a three-component 2D texture. In contrast to existing models, our approach takes into account all interreflections inside a scratch, including Fresnel effects. At render time, the SV-BRDF for the scratch distribution under a pixel or ray footprint is obtained by linear combination of individual scratch BRDFs. We show how to evaluate it using both importance and light sampling, in direct and global illumination settings.
StyLit
Authors: Fišer Jakub , Jamriška Ondřej , Lukáč Michal , Shechtman Eli , Asente Paul , Lu Jingwan , Sýkora Daniel
Published: July 2016

We present an approach to example-based stylization of 3D renderings that better preserves the rich expressiveness of hand-created artwork. Unlike previous techniques, which are mainly guided by colors and normals, our approach is based on light propagation in the scene. This novel type of guidance can distinguish among context-dependent illumination effects, for which artists typically use different stylization techniques, and delivers a look closer to realistic artwork. In addition, we demonstrate that the current state of the art in guided texture synthesis produces artifacts that can significantly decrease the fidelity of the synthesized imagery, and propose an improved algorithm that alleviates them. Finally, we demonstrate our method's effectiveness on a variety of scenes and styles, in applications like interactive shading study or autocompletion.
Sleep Spindle Characteristics in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Their Relation to Cognition
Authors: Gruber Reut , Wise Merrill S.
Published: July 2016

Empirical evidence indicates that sleep spindles facilitate neuroplasticity and “off-line” processing during sleep, which supports learning, memory consolidation, and intellectual performance. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) exhibit characteristics that may increase both the risk for and vulnerability to abnormal spindle generation. Despite the high prevalence of sleep problems and cognitive deficits in children with NDD, only a few studies have examined the putative association between spindle characteristics and cognitive function. This paper reviews the literature regarding sleep spindle characteristics in children with NDD and their relation to cognition in light of what is known in typically developing children and based on the available evidence regarding children with NDD. We integrate available data, identify gaps in understanding, and recommend future research directions. Collectively, studies are limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous populations with multiple comorbidities, and nonstandardized methods for collecting and analyzing findings. These limitations notwithstanding, the evidence suggests that future studies should examine associations between sleep spindle characteristics and cognitive function in children with and without NDD, and preliminary findings raise the intriguing question of whether enhancement or manipulation of sleep spindles could improve sleep-dependent memory and other aspects of cognitive function in this population.
The Acceptability and Usefulness of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Older Adults with Dementia: A Narrative Review
Authors: Toh Hui Moon , Ghazali Shazli Ezzat , Subramaniam Ponnusamy
Published: July 2016

Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is an evidence-based therapy for individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia. Past reviews have only synthesized outcomes obtained through quantitative study which does not fully represent the understanding on the acceptability and usefulness of CST. Therefore, the present review aims to integrate outcomes obtained from both quantitative and qualitative studies to provide a deeper understanding on the acceptability and usefulness of CST for older adults with dementia. Findings of literature were retrieved from searches of computerized databases in relation to CST for people with dementia. Literatures were selected according to selection criteria outlined. Results obtained in previous studies pertaining to the effects of CST were discussed in relation to variables such as cognitive function, quality of life, and family caregivers’ wellbeing. The review also explores the use of CST in different cultural context, the perception on its effectiveness, and individualized CST (iCST). There is considerable evidence obtained through quantitative and qualitative studies on the usefulness and acceptability of CST for older adults with dementia. Recommendations for future research are provided to strengthen the evidence of CST’s effectiveness.
Impact of Dental Implant Surface Modifications on Osseointegration
Authors: Smeets Ralf , Stadlinger Bernd , Schwarz Frank , Beck-Broichsitter Benedicta , Jung Ole , Precht Clarissa , Kloss Frank , Gröbe Alexander , Heiland Max , Ebker Tobias
Published: July 2016

Objective.The aim of this paper is to review different surface modifications of dental implants and their effect on osseointegration. Common marketed as well as experimental surface modifications are discussed.Discussion.The major challenge for contemporary dental implantologists is to provide oral rehabilitation to patients with healthy bone conditions asking for rapid loading protocols or to patients with quantitatively or qualitatively compromised bone. These charging conditions require advances in implant surface design. The elucidation of bone healing physiology has driven investigators to engineer implant surfaces that closely mimic natural bone characteristics. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of surface modifications that beneficially alter the topography, hydrophilicity, and outer coating of dental implants in order to enhance osseointegration in healthy as well as in compromised bone. In the first part, this paper discusses dental implants that have been successfully used for a number of years focusing on sandblasting, acid-etching, and hydrophilic surface textures. Hereafter, new techniques like Discrete Crystalline Deposition, laser ablation, and surface coatings with proteins, drugs, or growth factors are presented.Conclusion.Major advancements have been made in developing novel surfaces of dental implants. These innovations set the stage for rehabilitating patients with high success and predictable survival rates even in challenging conditions.
Optimal Method for Catastrophic Faults Diagnosis in RC Ladder Network
Authors: Goel Abhilasha Rani , Wajid Mohd
Published: July 2016

The RC ladder network has been analyzed for various catastrophic fault detection using minimal number of measurements. Generally, electronic circuit testing procedure is very exhaustive and includes higher cost; the presented approach will save fault diagnosis time. It is not possible to analyze the big RC ladder network to give the good fault coverage, so the ladder network has been broken into segments of different sizes. However, if segment size is small, it will cause more area overhead compared to bigger step size in terms of the interconnections and pins on the integrated circuit. A systematic and detailed analysis for one-step, two-step, three-step, and four-step RC ladder networks has been carried out for various faults and optimal step size is proposed. It has been investigated that three measurements are optimal to localize different catastrophic faults in a RC ladder network.
Intergenerational Transmission of Internalizing Behavior: The Role of Maternal Psychopathology, Child Responsiveness and Maternal Attachment Style Insecurity
Authors: Reck Corinna , Nonnenmacher Nora , Zietlow Anna-Lena
Published: July 2016

Background: Maternal depression and anxiety disorders are risk factors for the development of internalizing disorders in offspring. Maternal attachment has been discussed as one factor accounting for transmission. The aim of this study was to investigate child internalizing behavior at preschool age on a symptomatic and behavioral level and possible links to maternal mental health over time and maternal attachment style insecurity in a sample of postpartum depressed and anxious mothers. Sampling and Methods: Child internalizing behavior at preschool age was rated by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form (C-TRF), and during a mother-child free-play situation. We focused on child responsiveness as it has been linked to child internalizing behavior. Maternal attachment style insecurity was tested to mediate the link between maternal mental health (assessed postpartum and at preschool age with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-I Disorders, SCID-I) and child internalizing behavior/child responsiveness. Of the overall sample (n = 58), 28 women were diagnosed with postpartum depression and/or anxiety disorders according to DSM-IV, and 30 were healthy controls. Data were collected 3-9 months after delivery and at preschool age (mean = 4.6 years). Results: At preschool age, children of postpartum depressed and anxious mothers were rated significantly higher on child internalizing behavior by mothers, fathers, and additional caregivers compared to the control group. Child internalizing behavior rated by mothers was influenced by current psychiatric symptoms; maternal attachment style insecurity did not mediate this link. During interaction, children in the clinical group displayed significantly less child responsiveness compared to the control group. Maternal attachment style insecurity mediated the relationship between maternal mental health over time and child responsiveness. Conclusions: The results emphasize the need for interventions focusing on mother-child interaction and maternal attachment.
Cystatin C-Creatinine Based Glomerular Filtration Rate Equation in Obese Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: Impact of Deindexation and Gender
Authors: Lemoine Sandrine , Panaye Marine , Pelletier Caroline , Bon Chantal , Juillard Laurent , Dubourg Laurence , Guebre-egziabher Fitsum
Published: July 2016

Background: Cystatin C is considered an alternative to creatinine to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, studies have reported that increased adiposity is associated with a higher level of circulating cystatin C questioning the performance of estimation of GFR using cystatin C in obese subjects. Methods: We prospectively included 166 obese stages 1-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients between 2013 and 2015. GFR was measured with a reference method without (measured GFR [mGFR]) and with adjustment to body surface area (mGFRr) and estimated (eGFR) or de-indexed eGFR using the Chronic Kidney Disease and Epidemiology (CKD-EPI) equation using creatinine (CKD-EPIcreat), cystatin (CKD-EPIcyst) and the combination of cystatin and creatinine (CKD-EPIcyst-creat). Results: The biases between mGFR and de-indexed CKD-EPIcyst-creat were significantly lower than de-indexed CKD-EPIcreat (p = 0.001). Accuracies were significantly better with de-indexed CKD-EPIcyst-creat compared to CKD-EPIcreat and CKD-EPIcyst, respectively (p = 0.04 and 0.03). Bland and Altman plot showed a great dispersion of all formulae when patients had a GFR >60 ml/min. Interestingly, there is a gender difference; biases, precisions and accuracies of de-indexed CKD-EPIcyst-creat were significantly lower in obese women. These results may be related to a difference in the change of body composition during obesity in men versus women and in fact only waist circumference (WC) was positively and significantly correlated with cystatin C (p < 0.0001) whereas body mass index (BMI; p = 0.3) was not; bias for CKD-EPIcyst-creat was related with WC. Conclusion: Cystatin C-creatinine-based GFR equations outperform creatinine-based formula in obese CKD patients especially those with BMI ≥35 and in obese women.
On the resolution of a long standing issue surrounding the holotype of Cnemaspis podihuna Deraniyagala, 1944 (Reptilia: Gekkonidae)
Authors: Amarasinghe A.A. Thasun , Campbell Patrick D.
Published: July 2016

The number of species in the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 has grown rapidly, and it currently comprises more than 100 species (Grismer et al. 2014; Amarasinghe et al. 2015). The Sri Lankan endemic and vulnerable day-gecko Cnemaspis podihuna Deraniyagala, 1944 (Ministry of the Environment 2012) was first described by Deraniyagala from the Lahugala-Maha Oya, Eastern Province on the basis of one holotype and four paratypes [incorrectly reported as three paratypes by Karunarathna et al. 2010]. There had been no further collections or sightings made of this species until Wickramasinghe (2000) rediscovered the species from Koslanda in the Badulla District (National Museums of Sri Lanka, Colombo, NMSL RG 21a–e). Wickramasinghe and Munindradasa (2007) collected a further four specimens (NMSL 20061001–4) around the type locality. Recently, Sri Lankan members of the day-gecko genus Cnemaspis were reviewed and redescribed morphologically by two groups of researchers: Wickramasinghe and Munindradasa (2007) and Manamendra-Arachchi et al. (2007). The former group considered the holotype lost. Therefore, they designated a neotype plus syntypes for C. podihuna. This action was invalidated by Pethiyagoda (2007) following the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999).
A new species of Heleobia (Caenogastropoda: Cochliopidae) from the Chilean Altiplano
Authors: COLLADO GONZALO A. , VALLADARES MOISÉS A. , MÉNDEZ MARCO A.
Published: July 2016

Cochliopidae Tryon, 1866 is a diverse family of caenogastropods that lives in a wide variety of aquatic habitats primarily in the New World (Hershler &Thompson 1992). In Chile, the species of the group have been traditionally assigned to the genus Littoridina Souleyet, 1852 using conchological characters (Biese 1944, 1947; Stuardo, 1961; Valdovinos 2006) but according to anatomical studies and phylogenetic analysis the majority of them have been reassigned to the genus Heleobia Stimpson, 1865 (Hershler & Thompson 1992; Collado et al. 2011a; Kroll et al. 2012; Collado et al. 2013; Collado et al. 2016). Here we formally describe a new species of the genus Heleobia from Spring 1 in the Carcote saltpan, Chilean Altiplano, based on molecular and morphological characters. Snails from this locality were previously shown to be distinct based on DNA sequences (Collado et al. 2013; Collado et al. 2016).