bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lanthanide metals in the boron cages: Computational prediction of M@Bn (M = Eu, Gd; n = 38, 40)
Authors: Xi Cong , Yang Le , Liu Chang , You Peng , Li Lanlan , Jin Peng
Published: December 2017

Endohedral metalloborofullerenes (EMBFs) are novel boron analogues of the famous endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs). Many EMBFs have been proposed by theoretical calculations thus far. However, in sharp contrast to EMFs, which trap most of the lanthanides with f electrons inside the cages, the corresponding lanthanide‐based EMBFs have never been reported. In this work, the encapsulation of Eu and Gd in the B38 and B40 fullerenes was studied by means of density functional theory calculations. Our results revealed that Gd@B38(9A), Eu@B40(8B2), and Gd@B40(7A″) all favor the endohedral configuration, and the electronic structures can be described as Gd3+@
, Eu2+@
, and Gd3+@
with jailed f electron spins. The large binding energies and sizable HOMO–LUMO gaps suggest that they may be achieved experimentally. They feature σ and π double aromaticity, and their excellent stabilities were confirmed by the Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations. Finally, the infrared and UV/vis spectra were simulated to assist experimental characterization.
Discrimination of constructed air samples using multivariate analysis of full scan membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) data
Authors: Richards L.C. , Davey N.G. , Fyles T.M. , Gill C.G. , Krogh E.T.
Published: December 2017

Rationale

Volatile and semi‐volatile organic compounds (S/VOCs) are important atmospheric pollutants affecting both human and environmental health. They are directly measured as an unresolved mixture using membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS). We apply chemometric techniques to discriminate, classify, and apportion air samples from a variety of sources.

Methods

Full scan mass spectra of lab‐constructed air samples were obtained using a polydimethylsiloxane membrane interface and an electron ionization ion trap mass spectrometer. Normalized full scan spectra were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and k‐nearest neighbours (kNN) for sample discrimination and classification. Multivariate curve resolution (MCR) was used to extract pure component contributions. Similar techniques were applied to VOC mixtures sampled from different woodsmoke emissions and from the headspace above aqueous hydrocarbon solutions.

Results

PCA successfully discriminated 32 constructed VOC mixtures from nearly 300 air samples, with cluster analysis showing similar results. Further, kNN classification (k = 1) correctly classified all but one test set sample, and MCR successfully identified the pure compounds used to construct the VOC mixtures. Real‐world samples resulting from the combustion of different wood species and those associated with water contaminated with different commercial hydrocarbon products were similarly discriminated by PCA.

Conclusions

Chemometric techniques have been evaluated using full scan MIMS spectra with a series of VOC mixtures of known composition containing known compounds, and successfully applied to samples with known sources, but unknown molecular composition. These techniques have application to source identification and apportionment in real‐world environmental samples impacted by atmospheric pollutants.
Optimization and validation of enhanced biological reduction of 1,2,3‐trichloropropane in groundwater
Authors: Schmitt Melissa , Varadhan Srinivasa , Dworatzek Sandra , Webb Jennifer , Suchomel Eric
Published: December 2017

Laboratory and field demonstration studies were conducted to assess the efficacy of enhanced biological reduction of 1,2,3‐trichloropropane (TCP) in groundwater. Laboratory studies evaluated the effects of pH and initial TCP concentrations on TCP reduction and the activity of a microbial inoculum containing Dehalogenimonas (Dhg). Laboratory results showed successful reduction at a pH of 5 to 9 with optimal reduction at 7 to 9 and at initial TCP concentrations ranging from 10 to over 10,000 micrograms per liter (μg/L). Based on findings from the laboratory study, the effects of TCP concentration, geochemical conditions, and amendment concentration on bioremediation efficacy were investigated during a field demonstration at a site with relatively low initial concentrations of TCP (< 2 μg/L). The field demonstration included injection of emulsified vegetable oil (EVO) and lactate as a carbon substrate for biostimulation, followed by bioaugmentation using the microbial inoculum containing Dhg. Post‐injection performance monitoring demonstrated reduction of TCP to below laboratory detection limits (< 0.005 μg/L) after an initial lag period of approximately six months following injections. TCP reduction was accompanied by generation of the degradation byproduct propene. A marginal increase in TCP concentrations, potentially due to an influx of upgradient aerobic groundwater containing TCP, was observed eight months after injections thereby demonstrating the sensitivity of this bioaugmentation application to changes in geochemical parameters. Despite this marginal increase, performance monitoring results indicate continued TCP biodegradation 15 months after implementation of the injection program. This demonstration suggests that enhanced biodegradation of TCP by combining biostimulation and bioaugmentation may be a promising solution to the challenges associated with remediation of TCP, even when present at low part per billion concentrations in groundwater.
Modeling of water quality downgradient of a mulch biowall
Authors: Alexander Matthew L. , Adeniran Adewale , Tovar Caitlin
Published: December 2017

Groundwater treatment biowalls may be located close to a surface water body to prevent contaminant discharge from a groundwater plume into the surface water. Groundwater contaminants passing through the biowall are treated within the biowall or immediately downgradient of the biowall. Biowalls designed and constructed for the treatment of chlorinated solvents typically contain either a solid and/or liquid source of organic carbon to promote contaminant degradation by enhanced anaerobic reductive dechlorination. Common solid organic materials in biowalls include wood mulch or similar waste plant material, and common liquid organic materials are vegetable oil (possibly emulsified) or other long‐chain fatty acids. Such biowalls then develop anaerobic conditions in the constructed biowall volume, and potentially downgradient, as dissolved oxygen originally present in the aquifer is consumed. This groundwater condition can lead to the appearance of sulfide if groundwater influent to the biowall contains moderate to high sulfate concentrations. Other researchers have presented evidence for groundwater conditions downgradient of a biowall or a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) that are altered in relation to groundwater quality, besides the desired effect of contaminant degradation or removal by precipitation. The objective of this work was to investigate with modeling the changes in downgradient groundwater species chemistry as a result of a constructed biowall. This was accomplished with a chemical species model to predict levels of sulfate and sulfide present in groundwater in close downgradient proximity to the biowall. The results indicate that downgradient chemical changes could impact a surface water body to which groundwater discharges. The model described could be enhanced by incorporating additional design variables that should be considered in biowall feasibility assessments.
Do remediation experts have what it takes to explain empirical uncertainty?
Authors: Hughes Kate
Published: December 2017

Words matter in risk communication, and experts’ choice of words is critical when remediation risks are being explained to nonexperts. In risk communication studies, communication gaps between experts and nonexperts are investigated but there is lack of primary research. An Australian project addresses this shortcoming through research into communication about the risks of contaminated land remediation, and this paper provides some of its findings. Seventeen experts completed a questionnaire about the meaning of some scientific terms, and analysis found that they have capacity to improve communication through their selection and use of language.

When experts undertake risk communication, the language they use may increase or reduce communication gaps. When the topic is uncertainty about health risks, communication gaps about the extent of uncertainty may reduce the effectiveness of social engagement, leading to unintended consequences such as cost overruns. This situation makes for a good case study since remediation is about benefit as well as risk, and communication about benefit, while desirable, may not always be achievable. The study suggests how to improve risk communication by exploring the accuracy, clarity, and depth of expert language. It identifies attributes of language that can bridge gaps in knowledge and understanding and characterizes them as integration mechanisms. These are defined as knowledge forms and mental processes that support cooperation between different epistemic communities to achieve mutually agreed outcomes. Two integration mechanisms are suggested. Bridging content addresses communication gaps through the selection of content (what knowledge is selected). Bridging process addresses communication gaps through the use of language (how knowledge is explained). Bridging content and bridging process can be expressed through cognitive and experiential platforms, or a blending of both, so whether words are positioned in the science‐based or mental model of risk communication, a utility value can be found in their quality, whether reflected by accuracy or the power to communicate meaning.
Cover time and mixing time of random walks on dynamic graphs
Authors: Avin Chen , Koucký Michal , Lotker Zvi
Published: December 2017

The application of simple random walks on graphs is a powerful tool that is useful in many algorithmic settings such as network exploration, sampling, information spreading, and distributed computing. This is due to the reliance of a simple random walk on only local data, its negligible memory requirements, and its distributed nature. It is well known that for static graphs the cover time, that is, the expected time to visit every node of the graph, and the mixing time, that is, the time to sample a node according to the stationary distribution, are at most polynomial relative to the size of the graph. Motivated by real world networks, such as peer‐to‐peer and wireless networks, the conference version of this paper was the first to study random walks on arbitrary dynamic networks. We study the most general model in which an oblivious adversary is permitted to change the graph after every step of the random walk. In contrast to static graphs, and somewhat counter‐intuitively, we show that there are adversary strategies that force the expected cover time and the mixing time of the simple random walk on dynamic graphs to be exponentially long, even when at each time step the network is well connected and rapidly mixing. To resolve this, we propose a simple strategy, the lazy random walk, which guarantees, under minor conditions, polynomial cover time and polynomial mixing time regardless of the changes made by the adversary.
Solvent‐induced surface instability of thin metal films on a polymer substrate
Authors: Xue Xiuli , Wang Shibin , Zeng Chaofeng , Li Linan , Li Chuanwei
Published: December 2017

The solvent‐provoked formation and evolution of thin film buckling‐delamination on a compliant substrate have been studied. The film surface is observed by an optical microscope showing a remarkable dynamic buckling‐delamination development and a subsequent stable branched‐straight state. It is revealed that the initiation, propagation, and the resulting patterns of film buckles are strongly dependent on the solvent type, film stress, interfacial adhesion, and film thickness. The buckling could be controlled further by a reasonable chemical solvent configuration and used to provide useful information for the pattern creation on polymer systems in diverse fields, such as micro/nanofabrication and optics.
A boundary‐optimized rejection region test for the two‐sample binomial problem
Authors: Gabriel Erin E. , Nason Martha , Fay Michael P. , Follmann Dean A.
Published: December 2017

Testing the equality of 2 proportions for a control group versus a treatment group is a well‐researched statistical problem. In some settings, there may be strong historical data that allow one to reliably expect that the control proportion is one, or nearly so. While one‐sample tests or comparisons to historical controls could be used, neither can rigorously control the type I error rate in the event the true control rate changes. In this work, we propose an unconditional exact test that exploits the historical information while controlling the type I error rate. We sequentially construct a rejection region by first maximizing the rejection region in the space where all controls have an event, subject to the constraint that our type I error rate does not exceedαfor any true event rate; then with any remainingαwe maximize the additional rejection region in the space where one control avoids the event, and so on. When the true control event rate is one, our test is the most powerful nonrandomized test for all points in the alternative space. When the true control event rate is nearly one, we demonstrate that our test has equal or higher mean power, averaging over the alternative space, than a variety of well‐known tests. For the comparison of 4 controls and 4 treated subjects, our proposed test has higher power than all comparator tests. We demonstrate the properties of our proposed test by simulation and use our method to design a malaria vaccine trial.
Big splash, no waves? Cognitive mechanisms driving incumbent firms’ responses to low‐price market entry strategies
Authors: Luoma Jukka , Falk Tomas , Totzek Dirk , Tikkanen Henrikki , Mrozek Alexander
Published: December 2017

Research Summary: Low‐price market entries, aiming for rapid sales growth, tend to prompt strong competitive reactions. This research explores whether and how firms using low‐price entry strategies can mitigate retaliatory incumbent reactions. An experiment with 656 managers shows that entrants can attenuate the strength of incumbents’ responses by fostering perceptions of high aggressiveness or low commitment. Entrants may be able to accomplish this by adjusting their entry strategy to embed (subtle) cues of aggressiveness and (lack of) commitment. A replication experiment with university students reinforces our overall theoretical argument. However, the results also indicate that the interpretation of cues embedded in the entry strategy may be affected by the experience of incumbent firm managers. Overall, these results clarify the cognitive foundations of competitive responses to market entry.

Managerial Summary: What drives incumbents to respond strongly to market entries, and what can the entrant, if anything, do to mitigate those responses? This research offers empirical evidence and theoretical insights for managers faced with these questions by shedding light on the thinking processes preceding competitive responses. The study shows that while managers are motivated to respond strongly to market entries that appear to be highly consequential to their business, these responses may be mitigated if the entrant manages to foster perceptions of high aggressiveness or low commitment to the market. Managers form these perceptions in part on the basis of the entrant’s behavior, creating an opportunity for entrants to adjust their entry strategies in a manner that demotivates strong competitive responses.
Enhancing the Efficiency of Organic Photovoltaics by a Photoactive Molecular Mediator
Authors: Yang Bin , Kolaczkowski Matthew A. , Brady Michael A. , Keum Jong K. , Browning James F. , Chen Teresa L. , Liu Yi
Published: December 2017

High boiling‐point solvent additives, such as 1,8‐diiodooctane, have been widely used to tune nanoscale phase morphology for increased efficiency in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells. However, liquid‐state solvent additives remain in the active films for extended times and later migrate or evaporate from the films, leading to unstable device performance. Here, a solid‐state photoactive molecular mediator, namely N(BAI)3, is reported that could be employed to replace the commonly used solvent additives to tune the morphology of bulk heterojunction films for improved device performance. The N(BAI)3 mediator not only resides in the active films locally to fine tune the phase morphology, but also contributes to the additional absorption of the active films, leading to ∼11% enhancement of power conversion efficiency of P3HT:PC60BM devices. Comparative studies are carried out to probe the nanoscale morphologies using grazing incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and complementary neutron reflectometry. The use of 1 wt% N(BAI)3 is found to effectively tune the packing of P3HT, presumably through balanced π‐interactions endowed by its large conjugated π surface, and to promote the formation of a PC60BM‐rich top interfacial layer. These findings open up a new way to effectively tailor the phase morphology by photoactive molecular mediators in organic photovoltaics.
Pewss: A platform of extensible workflow simulation service for workflow scheduling research
Authors: Tsai Meng‐Han , Lai Kuan‐Chou , Chang Hsi‐Ya , Chen Kuan Fu , Huang Kuo‐Chan
Published: December 2017

This paper presents a Platform of Extensible Workflow Simulation Service (Pewss), which we have developed to provide a cloud service for aiding research work in workflow scheduling. The simulation has been a major tool for performance evaluation and comparison in workflow scheduling research. However, researchers usually have to develop their own simulation programs with limited functionality, simply outputting summarized performance results. Pewss has been developed for easing and improving current practices in conducting performance simulations during studying of existing workflow scheduling algorithms or designing of new scheduling algorithms. Pewss has been designed based on the Software as a Service (SaaS) model, adopting a multiuser Web‐based client/server architecture. Conducting simulation experiments on Pewss, researchers simply have to implement the scheduling algorithm under study instead of a whole simulation environment, allowing them to focus on their research work without spending unnecessary efforts on the simulation implementation details. Pewss provides the visualization of a workflow execution schedule based on simulation results, offering a convenient way for researchers to gain an insight into the effectiveness, characteristics, and performance bottleneck of scheduling algorithms. As a multiuser environment, Pewss also provides functionality for researchers to facilitate comparative performance analysis and collaborative research works effectively. Pewss has been used in our research work on task‐parallel workflow scheduling and has been planned to be extended to support other types of workflow scheduling research problems, eg, mixed‐parallel workflows.
Key requirements in the procurement of future low observable combat vehicles: a European perspective
Authors: Andersson Kent E.
Published: December 2017

The aim of this study is to propose guidelines for the systems engineering of future stealth combat vehicles using Low Observable Technology (LOT). A case study approach, based on interviews and document reviews, was used to analyze the systems engineering processes of the SEP multirole armored vehicle and the Visby class corvette respectively. The result is a thorough investigation of what worked in the cases studied, but with lessons extrapolated into recommendations for future development programs. These will have to deal with an increasingly complex sensor threat and a transformed, multilateral, European procurement environment. The main conclusion is that coherence and traceability between military needs on the battlefield and signature requirements is expected to be particularly challenging. A workflow tailored for requirements analysis in LO combat vehicle programs has, therefore, been derived and is presented here. In addition, the most important enablers for future multilateral development programs involving LOT have been identified as: establishing common best practices, demonstrator programs, an integrated product team approach, and, in line with similar work on combat aircraft, establishing stealth as a key architectural principle.
Data‐driven control system design for a multi‐input single‐output dual‐rate system based on input‐multiple closed‐loop data
Authors: Ito Sho , Sato Takao , Araki Nozomu , Konishi Yasuo
Published: December 2017

This study proposes a new design method for controlling a multi‐input single‐output dual‐rate system, where the sampling interval of the plant output is longer than the hold intervals of the control inputs. Using the lifting technique, the dual‐rate system is converted to the multi‐input multi‐output single‐rate system, and the controller parameters are optimized based on one‐shot closed‐loop data. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through numerical examples. © 2017 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Identification and characterization of novel promoters for recombinant protein production in yeast Pichia pastoris
Authors: Xu Ning , Zhu Jinxiang , Zhu Qiaoyun , Xing Yanzi , Cai Menghao , Jiang Tianyi , Zhou Mian , Zhang Yuanxing
Published: December 2017

Pichia pastoris expression system has been widely used in recombinant protein production. So far the majority of heterologous proteins are expressed by methanol inducible promoter PAOX1 and constitutive promoter PGAP. The use of other promoters is rather limited. Here we selected 16 potentially efficient and regulatory promoter candidates based on the RNA‐seq and RNA folding free energy ΔG data. GFP and recombinant amylase were inserted after these promoters to reveal their strength and efficiency under different carbon sources and culture scales. Two novel promoters were successfully identified and could possibly be applied in recombinant protein expression: the methanol‐inducible promoter P0547 and the constitutive promoter P0472.
Recovery of Voice After Reconstruction of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Adjuvant Nimodipine
Authors: Mattsson P. , Frostell A. , Björck G. , Persson J. K. E. , Hakim R. , Zedenius J. , Svensson M.
Published: December 2017

Background

Transection injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has been associated with permanent vocal fold palsy, and treatment has been limited to voice therapy or local treatment of vocal folds. Microsurgical repair has been reported to induce a better function. The calcium channel antagonist nimodipine improves functional recovery after experimental nerve injury and also after cranial nerve injury in patients. This study aims to present voice outcome in patients who underwent repair of the RLN and received nimodipine during regeneration.

Methods

From 2002–2016, 19 patients were admitted to our center with complete unilateral injury to the RLN and underwent microsurgical repair of the RLN. After nerve repair, patients received nimodipine for 2–3 months. Laryngoscopy was performed repeatedly up to 14 months postoperatively. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was administered, and patients’ maximum phonation time (MPT) was recorded during the follow‐up.

Results

All patients recovered well after surgery, and nimodipine was well tolerated with no dropouts. None of the patients suffered from atrophy of the vocal fold, and some patients even showed a small ab/adduction of the vocal fold on the repaired side with laryngoscopy. During long‐term follow‐up (>3 years), VHI and MPT normalized, indicating a nearly complete recovery from unilateral RLN injury.

Conclusions

In this cohort study, we report the results of the first 19 consecutive cases at our center subjected to reconstruction of the RLN and adjuvant nimodipine treatment. The outcome of the current strategy is encouraging and should be considered after iatrogenic RLN transection injuries.
Changes in Clinical Practice Reduce the Rate of Anastomotic Leakage After Colorectal Resections
Authors: Iversen Henrik , Ahlberg Madelene , Lindqvist Marja , Buchli Christian
Published: December 2017

Background

Anastomotic leakage is a serious clinical problem after colorectal resections and is associated with a significantly increased length of stay, morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of changes in clinical practice on anastomotic leakage rate after colorectal resections.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study based on prospectively collected data. All 894 patients with primary anastomosis after colorectal resection at a tertiary referral center between 2006 and 2013 were analyzed. Changes in clinical practice aiming at reducing the rate of anastomotic leakages were introduced in January 2010 and were characterized by exclusion of perioperative nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, introduction of intra‐operative goal‐directed fluid therapy and avoidance of primary anastomoses in emergency resections. The study population was divided into two groups, one treated before and one after the introduction of changes in clinical practice. Groups were compared regarding patient characteristics and incidence of anastomotic leakage.

Results

The cumulative incidence of anastomotic leakage after colorectal resections decreased from 10.0% (41 of 409) to 4.5% (22 of 485) after changing clinical practice, relative risk 0.45 (95% CI 0.27–0.75,p= 0.002). The adjusted odds ratio was 0.45 (0.26–0.78,p= 0.004). A separate analysis showed a decrease after colon resections from 9.1% (23 of 252) to 4.5% (14 of 310), relative risk 0.49 (0.26–0.94,p= 0.039), and from 11.5% (18 of 157) to 4.6% (8 of 175) after rectal resections, relative risk 0.40 (0.18–0.89,p= 0.024).

Conclusion

Implementing a structured change of clinical practice can significantly reduce the anastomotic leakage rate after colorectal resections.

Trial registration

Clinical trial registration number: ACTRN12617001497392.
A Nomogram to Predict Prognosis in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Wang Shuai , Ma Ke , Chen Zongwei , Yang Xiaodong , Sun Fenghao , Jin Yulin , Shi Yu , Jiang Wei , Wang Qun , Zhan Cheng
Published: December 2017

Background

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare malignancy with heterogeneous outcomes. This study was aimed to develop a nomogram to precisely and visually predict survival of MPM patients.

Methods

Data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (1973–2014) on MPM were screened and retrieved. The prognostic effects of variables, including age, sex, race, year of diagnosis, laterality, histology, tumor stage, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model. A nomogram was formulated to predict overall survival of MPM patients.

Results

A total of 1092 cases who met inclusion criteria were included in this study. The overall 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐year survival rate in the entire cohort was 45.1, 23.0, and 12.1%, with median survival of 11 months. Cox regression analysis showed that age (P < 0.001), race (P = 0.003), histology type (P < 0.001), T stage (P < 0.001), M stage (P < 0.001), TNM stage (P < 0.001), cancer‐directed surgery (P < 0.001), and chemotherapy (P < 0.001) were all independent prognostic factors of MPM patients. A nomogram was established based on the results of multivariate analysis. The internal bootstrap resampling approach suggested the nomogram had sufficient discriminatory power with the C‐index of 0.705 (95% CI 0.681–0.729). The calibration plots also demonstrated good consistence between the prediction and the observation.

Conclusions

We developed a nomogram to accurately predict clinical outcomes of MPM patients based on individual characteristics. Risk stratification by the survival nomogram could optimize individual therapies and follow‐up.
Insights into portability issues of FM3TR waveform
Authors: Le Roy Frédéric , Rakotondrainibe Lahatra , Delahaye Jean-Philippe , Mansour Ali
Published: December 2017

This manuscript focuses on issues related to the implementation of the Future Multiband Multiwaveform Modular Tactical Radio (FM3TR) waveform on two different SCA platforms with similar hardware but different SCA development and deployment environments. Our experimental results showed that a SCA standardization based on technologies such as CORBA, XML, IDL, is not enough to ensure the portability of the waveform. Indeed, the files generated by SCA 2.2.2 environments (ZCE, SCA Architect, http://nordiasoft.com/products/scari-software-suite/sca-architect/) may often use a specific non-standard IDL interface to generate software components. To corroborate our statement, specific examples of SCA components are considered. The portability of the waveform depends on the waveform software used by the porting team. Three classic cases can be observed during the development of a waveform according to a standard specification: The first case is related to waveform development from scratch, the second case is observed when a static library is used to carry the golden code of the waveform and the third one occurs when only platform specific codes are available to the porting process. Finally, a general discussion about portability is provided.
Physicians’ Awareness and Utilization of Genetic Services in Texas
Authors: Diamonstein Callie , Stevens Blair , Shahrukh Hashmi S. , Refuerzo Jerrie , Sullivan Cathy , Hoskovec Jennifer
Published: December 2017

The number of disorders for which genetic testing is available has increased nearly 500% in the past 15 years. Access to genetic tests and services often hinges on physicians’ ability to identify patients at risk for genetic disease and provide appropriate testing and counseling or refer to genetic specialists. Recent research demonstrates the need for referrals to genetic specialists by showing that many physicians lack skills required to perform appropriate genetic services, such as making proper risk assessments, providing genetic counseling, ordering genetic testing and interpreting results. However, little research exists on physicians’ awareness and utilization of genetic services. In this study, an electronic survey evaluating practicing physicians’ awareness of, utilization of and perceived barriers to genetic services in Texas, and interest in learning more about genetics and genetic services was distributed via state physician organizations. Of the 157 participants, approximately half reported they were moderately or very aware of genetic testing and services in their area. Very few reported awareness of telemedicine services. Over two‐thirds reported never or rarely referring to genetic counselors or other genetic specialists, despite 75% reporting they had noticed an increased impact of genetics on their field and 61% reporting they had discussed genetics more in their day‐to‐day practice in the last 5–10 years. Only 20% reported genetics was very integral to their specialty. Over three‐fourths of all participants indicated interest in learning more about genetics, genetic testing, and genetic services. Among the most frequently chosen barriers to genetic counselors were awareness‐related barriers such as not knowing how to refer to a genetic counselor. Responses to many items varied significantly by medical specialty. The results identify a need to increase awareness of genetic services and referral logistics. Specific findings can help direct outreach efforts to educate clinicians, such as developing clinically meaningful, specialty‐specific educational objectives.
Firefighters Have a Higher Incidence of Trochlear Chondral Lesions than the Normal Population
Authors: Brady Jacqueline M. , Brown Haydée C. , Nguyen Joseph T. , Smith Halley , Mannor Dana A. , Kelly Anne M. , Hannafin Jo A.
Published: December 2017

Background

Firefighters’ knees are subjected to significant dynamic and static forces, resulting in increased knee complaints and a higher relative risk of osteoarthrosis, compared with aged-matched office workers. Firefighters wear or carry a total of 80 to 100 lbs. of gear while performing intensive physical activity.

Purpose/Question

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a central femoral trochlear lesion was observed in firefighters undergoing knee arthroscopy for other diagnoses.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 159 knees in 146 firefighters undergoing arthroscopy for treatment of acute meniscal injury or anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction over a 14-year period was undertaken. Patient demographics, physical examination results, trochlear lesion size and grade, and firehouse type (engine vs. ladder company) and firefighter position (seniority) were recorded. Comparisons of characteristics in those with and without trochlear lesions were performed.

Results

The average patient age was 42.2 years (range, 27 to 64 years). Ninety-eight knees (62%) had trochlear lesions and 33 knees (51%) had matching patellar lesions. Patients with lesions were older (43.2 vs. 40.5 years). Mean trochlear lesion size was 19.5 ± 13.7 mm by 18.9 ± 12.4 mm. Lesion grade distribution was grade 1 or 2 in 24 knees (24%) and grade 3 or 4 in 67 knees (44%). Trochlear lesion presence was associated with a body mass index of over 30. Current engine company members had more advanced lesions.

Conclusions

A “firefighter's trochlea” was present in the majority of firefighters undergoing knee arthroscopy. Higher age and longer tenure as a firefighter prior to surgery were associated with more advanced lesions. Firefighters working in engine companies at the time of arthroscopy were at a greater risk of developing low-grade lesions but not high-grade lesions. Firefighters move between ladder and engine companies, thus a definitive association with company type cannot be reached in this retrospective study. This lesion may reflect the increase in patellofemoral biomechanical stresses secondary to the physical demands of the occupation.
Living Shorelines Support Nearshore Benthic Communities in Upper and Lower Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Davenport Theresa M. , Seitz Rochelle D. , Knick Kathleen E. , Jackson Nina
Published: December 2017

Human population growth and sea-level rise are increasing the demand for protection of coastal property against shoreline erosion. Living shorelines are designed to provide shoreline protection and are constructed or reinforced using natural elements. While living shorelines are gaining popularity with homeowners, their ability to provide ecological services (e.g., habitat provision and trophic transfer) is not well understood, and information is needed to improve coastal and resource management decision-making. We examined benthic community responses to living shorelines in two case-study subestuaries of Chesapeake Bay using a before-after control-impact study design. At Windy Hill, a bulkhead was removed and replaced by three tombolos, sand fill, and native marsh vegetation. At Lynnhaven, 25 m of eroding marsh shoreline was stabilized with coir logs, sand fill, and native marsh vegetation. Communities of large (> 3 mm) infauna adjacent to living shorelines at both locations tended to increase in biomass by the end of the study period. Community compositions changed significantly following living shoreline construction at Windy Hill, reflecting a trend toward higher density and biomass of large bivalves at living shorelines compared to pre-construction. Increasing trends in density and biomass of clams and simultaneously decreasing density and decreasing trends in biomass of polychaetes suggest a transition toward stable infaunal communities at living shorelines over time, though longer-term studies are warranted.
Changes in rejection sensitivity across adolescence and emerging adulthood: Associations with relationship involvement, quality, and coping
Authors: Norona Jerika C. , Tregubenko Valerya , Boiangiu Shira Bezalel , Levy Gil , Scharf Miri , Welsh Deborah P. , Shulman Shmuel
Published: December 2017

Using a sample of 110 Israeli youth (72% female), the present study investigates associations between initial levels of rejection sensitivity as well as changes in rejection sensitivity from age 16 to age 23 and relationship involvement, quality, and (growth following) coping with relationship stress. Results showed that rejection sensitivity generally decreased over time into the transition to adulthood. Furthermore, levels of rejection sensitivity at age 16 predicted whether young people were romantically involved by age 23, as well as the quality of their relationships. Yet, the change in level of rejection sensitivity over time explained far more the quality of later romantic relationships and competence in coping with relationship stress than the initial level of rejection sensitivity. These findings have important implications for examining the role of changes in personality attributes such as rejection sensitivity in the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
New methodologies for old problems: tridimensional gastrointestinal organoids and guts-on-a-chip
Authors: Sakalem Marna Eliana , Ribeiro-Paes João Tadeu
Published: December 2017

Objectives The present review intended to present a critical overview of the methodological and experimental advances concerning tridimensional cell culture models within the scope of gastrointestinal research.

Methods A literature review was performed and some of the main published articles in the area were mentioned.

Main results Classic studies and high impact results were presented, starting from the pioneer works with gastrointestinal organoids, with a small gut organoid, to the achievement of guts-on-a-chip and multi-organ-chips. It was also discussed which implications the construction of such co-cultures bring, as well as future applications arising from these new methodologies.

Conclusions Despite the still discrete number of publications, in quantitative terms, there are qualitative promising and consistent results addressing physiopathological aspects and new therapeutic perspectives of tridimensional in vitro cultures in the gastroenterology field. It is expected, thus, that such new methodological approaches, including organoids and guts-on-a-chip, may contribute decisively to the advance in knowledge on basic aspects, as well as on the translation to new therapeutic approaches in gastrointestinal diseases.
Association of sociodemographic and clinical factors with self-image, self-esteem and locus of health control in patients with an intestinal stoma
Authors: Lima Joelma Alves de , Muniz Karina de Cássia , Salomé Geraldo Magela , Ferreira Lydia Masako
Published: December 2017

Objective To evaluate the sociodemographic and clinical factors related to patients with an intestinal stoma and to correlate them with locus of health control, self-esteem and self-image.

Method 44 patients with an intestinal stoma participated in the study. The following instruments were used: Scale for Locus of Health Control, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale/UNIFESP-EPM and Body Investment Scale.

Results With regard to Locus Health Control variables, sociodemographic variables with alterations were: unemployed (28.13); retirees (27.79); age up to 50 years (28.44); and singles (27.89). Regarding Body Investment Scale, the sociodemographic variables with alterations were: age up to 50 years (21.79); single (19.15) or married (17.53); retired (18.79) or unemployed (19.83); and can read and write (20.13). Regarding Rosenberg-EPM Self-esteem Scale, all sociodemographic variables were altered.

Conclusions Ostomized patients presented alterations in the following variables: unemployed, retired, aged up to 50 years and unmarried. There were also alterations in individuals whose cause of the stoma was neoplasia, a temporary stoma, stoma time <4 years, and ostomized non-participants of an association or support group, and who also did not practice physical activities. We conclude from these findings that ostomized individuals who participated in the study and who were included in these variables showed negative feelings about their body and believed that only they could control their health and that the people involved in their care and rehabilitation did not could contribute to their improvement.
Health Care Coalitions as Response Organizations: Houston After Hurricane Harvey
Authors: Upton Lori , Kirsch Thomas D. , Harvey Melissa , Hanfling Dan
Published: December 2017

Health care coalitions play an increasingly important role in both preparedness for, response to, and recovery from large scale disaster events occurring across the United States. The actions taken by the South East Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) in response to the landfall of Hurricane Harvey, and the consequential flooding that ensued, serve as an excellent example of how health care coalitions are increasingly needed to play a unifying role in response. This paper highlights a number of the strategic planning, operational planning and response, information sharing, and resource coordination and management activities that were undertaken for the response to Hurricane Harvey. The successful response to this devastating storm in the Houston, Texas area serves as an example to other regions across the country as they work to implement the 2017-2022 health care capabilities articulated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:637–639)
Zongo v. Burkina Faso, Judgment & Judgment on Reparations (Afr. Ct. H.P.R.)
Authors: Windridge Oliver
Published: December 2017

Does human rights law require countries to investigate serious crimes and bring those responsible to justice? And if so, how far must a country go to satisfy this requirement? This case concerns the murder of Norbert Zongo, an investigative journalist and director of the weekly Burkinabe magazine L'Indpéndenant, his younger brother Ernest Zongo, and two work companions. All four were killed in Burkina Faso on December 13, 1998, in suspicious circumstances. The case was brought by the families of Zongo and his colleagues (Individual Applicants) and the NGO Burkinabé Human and Peoples' Rights Movement (NGO Applicant, together the Applicants). The Applicants alleged that the murders of Zongo and his colleagues were not a random act of violence, but were instead related to their investigations into various political scandals, including those operating at the very highest levels of Burkinabe government. The Applicants claimed that Burkina Faso officials had not only failed to properly investigate the case, but also deliberately stymied the investigation, leading to a failure to bring those responsible for the deaths to justice. The judgment, rendered on March 28, 2014, is only the second judgment to be rendered on the merits by the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Court). The Court ruled unanimously that Burkina Faso had violated Article 1 and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. By a majority of 5 to 4, the Court also found that Burkina Faso had violated Article 9(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and Article 66(2)(c) of the Revised Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Treaty. Following the judgment on the merits, the Court rendered its reparations judgment, also included here. This is only the second reparations judgment rendered by the Court, and the first to award reparations to the victims.
Conservatism and liberalism predict performance in two nonideological cognitive tasks
Authors: Bernabel Rodolpho Talaisys , Oliveira Amâncio
Published: December 2017

Intuitive thinking would argue that political or ideological orientation does not correlate with nonpolitical decisions, and certainly not with nonideological cognitive tasks. However, that is what happens in some cases. Previous neuropolitics studies have found that liberals are more adept at dealing with novel information than conservatives. This finding suggests that conservatives and liberals possess different cognitive skills. For the purposes of this article, two studies were executed to test whether this difference remained in alternative environmental settings. To this end, two novel cognitive tasks were designed in which one type of ideology or another was privileged according to the cognitive environment created by the tasks. Experimental findings indicate that liberals committed fewer errors than conservatives in one kind of cognitive environment, while conservatives scored higher in another.
Effects of dietary methionine on productivity, reproductive performance, antioxidant capacity, ovalbumin and antioxidant-related gene expression in laying duck breeders
Authors: Ruan Dong , Fouad Ahmed M. , Fan Qiuli , Xia Weiguang , Wang Shuang , Chen Wei , Lin Chuxiao , Wang Ying , Yang Lin , Zheng Chuntian
Published: December 2017

The study investigated whether dietary methionine (Met) affects egg weight and antioxidant status through regulating gene expression of ovalbumin (OVAL), nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2) and haem oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in laying duck breeders. Longyan duck breeders (n540, 19 weeks) were randomly assigned to six treatments with six replicates of fifteen birds each. Breeders were fed diets with six Met levels (2·00, 2·75, 3·50, 4·25, 5·00 and 5·75 g/kg) for 24 weeks. The egg weight (g), egg mass (g/d), feed conversion ratio, hatchability, 1-d duckling weight, albumen weight, albumen proportion andOVALmRNA level improved with dietary Met levels, whereas yolk proportion decreased (P<0·05). The weight of total large yellow follicles increased linearly (P<0·001) and quadratically (P<0·05) with dietary Met concentration, and their weight relative to ovarian weight showed a linear (P<0·05) effect. Dietary Met level had a linear (P<0·05) and quadratic (P<0·001) effect on the gene expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPX1),HO-1andNrf2, and quadratically (P<0·05) increased contents of GPX and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in liver of duck breeders. In addition, maternal dietary Met enhanced gene expression ofGPX1,HO-1andNrf2, increased contents of GPX and T-AOC and reduced carbonylated protein in the brains of hatchlings. Overall, dietary Met concentration affected egg weight and albumen weight in laying duck breeders, which was partly due to gene expression ofOVALin oviduct magnum. A diet containing 4·0 g Met/kg would achieve optimal hepaticGPX1andNrf2expression, maximise the activity of GPX and minimise lipid peroxidation.
MEAT AND ECONOMIC EXPERTISE IN THE BRITISH IMPERIAL STATE DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
Authors: KUMEKAWA IAN
Published: December 2017

During the First World War, the British imperial state deployed economic expertise on a new scale. This article examines how such expertise was involved in the management of the supply and distribution of red meat, a key commodity because of its caloric and symbolic value. Meat was managed not through a centralized bureaucracy, but through the often contradictory policies and initiatives of several government departments. These departments, particularly the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Food, had vastly different ideological commitments about the proper economic role of the state and the importance of market liberalism. They also had highly distinct bureaucratic agendas related to the war. But all departments shared an interest in deploying economic expertise to pursue better their policy and political goals. Economics thus became both a real and a rhetorical tool. This article explores how economic information on meat was collected, analysed, and deployed by Whitehall offices during the First World War. In so doing, it contends that the variegation and ideological divergence of the departments helped integrate economic expertise into the fabric of the administrative state, thereby increasing the power both of the economic discipline and the state itself.