bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs
Authors: Tal-Or L. , Zechmeister M. , Reiners A. , Jeffers S. V. , Schöfer P. , Quirrenbach A. , Amado P. J. , Ribas I. , Caballero J. A. , Aceituno J. , Bauer F. F. , Béjar V. J. S. , Czesla S. , Dreizler S. , Fuhrmeister B. , Hatzes A. P. , Johnson E. N. , Kürster M. , Lafarga M. , Montes D. , Morales J. C. , Reffert S. , Sadegi S. , Seifert W , Shulyak D.
Published: March 2018

Context. Previous simulations predicted the activity-induced radial-velocity (RV) variations of M dwarfs to range from ~1 cm s−1 to ~1 km s−1, depending on various stellar and activity parameters.

Aims. We investigate the observed relations between RVs, stellar activity, and stellar parameters of M dwarfs by analyzing CARMENES high-resolution visual-channel spectra (0.5–1μm), which were taken within the CARMENES RV planet survey during its first 20 months of operation.

Methods. During this time, 287 of the CARMENES-sample stars were observed at least five times. From each spectrum we derived a relative RV and a measure of chromospheric Hα emission. In addition, we estimated the chromatic index (CRX) of each spectrum, which is a measure of the RV wavelength dependence.

Results. Despite having a median number of only 11 measurements per star, we show that the RV variations of the stars with RV scatter of >10 m s−1 and a projected rotation velocity v sin i > 2 km s−1 are caused mainly by activity. We name these stars “active RV-loud stars” and find their occurrence to increase with spectral type: from ~3% for early-type M dwarfs (M0.0–2.5 V) through ~30% for mid-type M dwarfs (M3.0–5.5 V) to >50% for late-type M dwarfs (M6.0–9.0 V). Their RV-scatter amplitude is found to be correlated mainly with v sin i. For about half of the stars, we also find a linear RV–CRX anticorrelation, which indicates that their activity-induced RV scatter is lower at longer wavelengths. For most of them we can exclude a linear correlation between RV and Hα emission.

Conclusions. Our results are in agreement with simulated activity-induced RV variations in M dwarfs. The RV variations of most active RV-loud M dwarfs are likely to be caused by dark spots on their surfaces, which move in and out of view as the stars rotate.
Zirconocene-Initiated Intramolecular Hydride Transfer in N-Iso­alkyl-Substituted Propargylamines
Authors: Ramazanov Ilfir , Kadikova Rita , Saitova Zukhra , Dzhemilev Usein
Published: March 2018

The unusual transformation of N-isoalkyl-substituted propargylamines into alkenylamines under the action of Cp2ZrCl2 and organoaluminum compounds (Me3Al, EtAlCl2) has been observed. The proposed mechanism, involving the N-isoalkyl-substituted propargylamine undergoing zirconocene-initiated intramolecular hydride transfer was supported by B3LYP/6-31G(d)/LanL2DZ calculations.
Pseudotumor Cerebri Presenting Unilateral Papilledema Associated with Iron-deficiency Anemia
Authors: Costa Fernando , Fabião Neto Othello , Gago Guilherme , Martins Otávio , Gibbon Frederico , Nogueira Leonardo
Published: March 2018

Pseudotumor cerebri is a relatively common pathology that is characterized by intracranial hypertension in the absence of mass lesions. It commonly affects young and obese women, and its presentation with visual loss and bilateral papilledema is well-described in the literature. We present a case of a 44-year-old, non-obese, female patient presenting with unilateral papilledema and iron-deficiency anemia. This case emphasizes this unusual presentation and the rare association with iron deficiency.
Überlebensvorteil und hohes Ansprechen unter PD-1-Inhibition
Authors: Schmale Ine
Published: March 2018

Seit Einführung der etablierten Chemotherapie stehen mit dem Einzug der Immuntherapien in die Behandlung des Urothelkarzinoms, erstmals neue effektive Therapiestrategien zur Verfügung. Der PD-1-Inhibitor Pembrolizumab wurde auf Basis der KEYNO-TE-45-Studiendaten für die Zweitlinie sowie auf Basis der KEYNOTE-052-Studiendaten für die Erstlinie bei Cisplatin-ungeeigneten Patienten zugelassen. Bei einem Symposium diskutierten Experten die wichtigsten Wirksamkeitsdaten und den Umgang mit immunvermittelten Nebenwirkungen.
Liebe Leserinnen und Leser
Authors: Buchner Helmut
Published: March 2018

Liebe Leserinnen und Leser,

fragen Sie sich auch, wo das Jahr geblieben ist? Liegt es daran, dass alles so schnelllebig geworden ist?
Correction: The body politics of the urban age: reflections on surveillance and affect
Authors: Svenonius Ola
Published: March 2018

In the Introduction section the two references to (Buck and While, 2015) in the first and third paragraphs have been corrected to (Taylor Buck and While, 2017).
Prediction of the filtrate particle size distribution from the pore size distribution in membrane filtration: Numerical correlations from computer simulations
Authors: Marrufo-Hernández Norma Alejandra , Hernández-Guerrero Maribel , Nápoles-Duarte José Manuel , Palomares-Báez Juan Pedro , Chávez-Rojo Marco Antonio
Published: March 2018

We present a computational model that describes the diffusion of a hard spheres colloidal fluid through a membrane. The membrane matrix is modeled as a series of flat parallel planes with circular pores of different sizes and random spatial distribution. This model was employed to determine how the size distribution of the colloidal filtrate depends on the size distributions of both, the particles in the feed and the pores of the membrane, as well as to describe the filtration kinetics. A Brownian dynamics simulation study considering normal distributions was developed in order to determine empirical correlations between the parameters that characterize these distributions. The model can also be extended to other distributions such as log-normal. This study could, therefore, facilitate the selection of membranes for industrial or scientific filtration processes once the size distribution of the feed is known and the expected characteristics in the filtrate have been defined.
Fluctuation conductivity in the superconducting compound Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2Ca2Cu3Oy
Authors: Aliev V. M. , Ragimov J. A. , Selim-zade R. I. , Damirova S. Z. , Tairov B. A.
Published: March 2018

A study of how the partial substitution of Bi with Pb impacts the mechanism of excess conductivity in a Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system. It is found that such a substitution leads to an increase in the critical temperature of the Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2Ca2Cu3Oy(B2) sample, in comparison to Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox (B1) [Tc (B2) = 100.09 K and Tc (B1) = 90.5 K, respectively]. At the same time, the resistivity ρ of the sample B2 in the normal phase decreases by almost 1.5 times in comparison to B1. The mechanism responsible for the generation of excess conductivity in cuprate HTSCs Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox and Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2Ca2Cu3Oy is examined using the local pair model with consideration of the Aslamazov-Larkin theory, near Tc. The temperature T0 of the transition from the 2D fluctuation region to the 3D (i.e., the temperature of the 2D-3D crossover), is also determined. The coherence length ξc(0) along the c axis of fluctuation Cooper pairs is calculated. It is shown that the partial substitution of Bi with Pb in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system leads to a decrease in ξc(0) by a factor of 1.3 (4.205 and 3.254 Å, respectively), and that there is a narrowing of both the region of pseudogap existence and the region of superconducting fluctuations near Tc. The temperature dependence of the pseudogap Δ*(T) and the value Δ*(Tc) are determined, and the temperatures Tm, which correspond to the maximum of the pseudogap as a function of temperature in these materials, are estimated. The pseudogap maxima in samples B1 and B2 are found to be 61.06 and 38.18 meV, respectively.
Spectra of collective excitations and low-frequency asymptotics of Green's functions for degenerate states in magnets with spin s = 1
Authors: Glushchenko A. V. , Kovalevsky M. Y. , Matskevich V. T.
Published: March 2018

A phenomenological description of how the non-equilibrium degenerate states of one- and multi-sublattice magnets with spin s = 1 evolve in an external field. Dynamic equations for the magnetic degrees of freedom are obtained, based on which low-frequency asymptotics of two-time Green's functions are calculated. The spectra of collective excitations for ferromagnet, quadruple magnet, and spin nematic states are found. A comparative analysis of these asymptotics of Green's functions is carried out, and the nature of the magnetic anisotropy caused by the unitary symmetry of the exchange interaction is clarified.
Combi-cryostat for a X-ray diffractometer
Authors: Bondar I. S. , Pinegin V. I. , Ryabovol V. V. , Sirenko V. A. , Eremenko V. V.
Published: March 2018

A compact helium combi-cryostat (bath+ continuous flow) was designed and manufactured for the purposes of studying samples using x-ray diffraction.
Optical absorption by colloidal cadmium selenide quantum dots in a dielectric matrix
Authors: Pokutnyi S. I.
Published: March 2018

It is shown that light absorption by colloidal cadmium selenide quantum dots (with an average dot radius on the order of the exciton Bohr radius for a cadmium selenide single crystal) takes place in the form of an interband electron transition from a quantum level of the valence band to the quantum level of the conduction band of the quantum dot.
Low-temperature fabrication of sputtered high-k HfO2 gate dielectric for flexible a-IGZO thin film transistors
Authors: Yao Rihui , Zheng Zeke , Xiong Mei , Zhang Xiaochen , Li Xiaoqing , Ning Honglong , Fang Zhiqiang , Xie Weiguang , Lu Xubing , Peng Junbiao
Published: March 2018

In this work, low temperature fabrication of a sputtered high-k HfO2 gate dielectric for flexible a-IGZO thin film transistors (TFTs) on polyimide substrates was investigated. The effects of Ar-pressure during the sputtering process and then especially the post-annealing treatments at low temperature (≤200 °C) for HfO2 on reducing the density of defects in the bulk and on the surface were systematically studied. X-ray reflectivity, UV-vis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and micro-wave photoconductivity decay measurements were carried out and indicated that the high quality of optimized HfO2 film and its high dielectric properties contributed to the low concentration of structural defects and shallow localized defects such as oxygen vacancies. As a result, the well-structured HfO2 gate dielectric exhibited a high density of 9.7 g/cm3, a high dielectric constant of 28.5, a wide optical bandgap of 4.75 eV, and relatively low leakage current. The corresponding flexible a-IGZO TFT on polyimide exhibited an optimal device performance with a saturation mobility of 10.3 cm2 V−1 s−1, an Ion/Ioff ratio of 4.3 × 107, a SS value of 0.28 V dec−1, and a threshold voltage (Vth) of 1.1 V, as well as favorable stability under NBS/PBS gate bias and bending stress.
CASA-Mot in mammals: an update
Authors: Yániz J. L. , Silvestre M. A. , Santolaria P. , Soler C.
Published: March 2018

Sperm motility is one of the most widely used parameters of sperm quality. Computer-aided sperm motility analysis (CASA-Mot) systems were developed to reduce the subjectivity of sperm motility assessment, and have had broad scientific and practical acceptance. In this review, the sources of variation and current applications of this technology and its relationships with other sperm quality tests are described in detail. Despite remarkable advances in the technique, there is still great need for standardisation in many species, and the numerous factors that affect the results make it difficult to provide universally accepted criteria for classifying semen samples based on sperm motility characteristics. The main fields for CASA-Mot include the study of male fertility and pathologies, evaluation of the effects of physical and chemical agents, improvement of epidemiological survey studies, more precise calculation of seminal doses for farm animals, realisation of basic studies about sperm function, improvement of sperm technologies such as cryopreservation and quality control analysis. Numerous relationships have been established between CASA-Mot and other sperm quality tests, although most of these parameters are complementary. Future CASA-Mot systems will probably be able to integrate several sperm quality parameters with motility.
Metastability and avalanche dynamics in strongly correlated gases with long-range interactions
Authors: Hruby Lorenz , Dogra Nishant , Landini Manuele , Donner Tobias , Esslinger Tilman
Published: March 2018

Significance

Most structured matter, whether in the form of solids or macromolecules, is found in metastable states. Metastability, as well as the transition processes between metastable states, is ubiquitous in nature, but challenges our tools to describe such complex quantum systems. Using a quantum gas, we assemble a synthetic quantum many-body system featuring metastability. The essential ingredient is a global interaction that couples superfluid shells of the system with a metastable Mott insulator in its core. We study in real time the self-induced switching of the core to a different density configuration, a process reminiscent of the folding between discrete structures encountered in the study of macromolecules.
Reconstructing constructional semantics
Authors: Barðdal Jóhanna , Smitherman Thomas , Bjarnadóttir Valgerður , Danesi Serena , Jenset Gard B. , McGillivray Barbara
Published: March 2018

As the historical linguistic community is well aware, reconstructing semantics is a notoriously difficult undertaking. Such reconstruction has so far mostly been carried out on lexical items, like words and morphemes, and has not been conducted for larger and more complex linguistic units, which intuitively seems to be a more intricate task, especially given the lack of methodological criteria and guidelines within the field. This follows directly from the fact that most current theoretical frameworks are not construction-based, that is, they do not assume that constructions are form-meaning correspondences. In order to meet this challenge, we present an attempt at reconstructing constructional semantics, and more precisely the semantics of the Dative Subject Construction for an earlier stage of Indo-European. For this purpose we employ lexical semantic verb classes in combination with the semantic map model (Barðdal 2007, Barðdal, Kristoffersen & Sveen 2011), showing how incredibly stable semantic fields may remain across long time spans, and how reconstructing such semantic fields may be accomplished.
The semantics of definite expressions and the grammaticalization of THE
Authors: Gisborne Nikolas
Published: March 2018

This chapter explores the claim that definite expressions involve universal and existential quantification from the point of view of Word Grammar, in order to establish whether the quantificational view of definiteness is compatible with a particular cognitive theory of language, and to see how it compares with the familiarity treatment of definiteness. It is argued that the quantificational approach is superior to the familiarity approach in the analysis of a number of linguistic phenomena, and a number of Word Grammar analyses are presented. The chapter concludes with an investigation into the grammaticalization of the English definite article, in order to compare the merits of the two approaches, and argues that the quantificational approach delivers a simpler and preferable account.
Word classes
Authors: Hollmann Willem B.
Published: March 2018

Structuralists and generativists define word classes distributionally (Palmer 1971, Baker 2003, Aarts 2007), while cognitive linguists take a semantic (Langacker 1987a) or semantic-pragmatic approach (Croft 1991, 2001). Psycholinguistic research, by contrast, has shown that phonological properties also play a role (Kelly 1992, Monaghan et al. 2005). This study reports on a production experiment involving English nonce nouns and verbs. The data confirm the importance of phonology, whilst also suggesting that distributional facts are involved in lexical categorisation. Together with the existing psycholinguistic evidence, the results show that both the generative and cognitive models of word classes are too restricted. However, the usage-based model can accommodate the facts straightforwardly. This was already anticipated by Taylor (2002) but is worked out in more detail here by elaborating on his notion of phonological “sub-schemas” and by bringing together insights from Croft (1991, 2001) related to discourse propositional act constructions and recent suggestions by Langacker (2008b) concerning “summary scanning” and “sequential scanning”.
Sociodemographic characteristics of gay and lesbian victims of intimate partner psychological abuse in Spain and Latin America / Características sociodemográficas de gais y lesbianas víctimas de abuso psicológico en pareja en España e Hispanoamérica
Authors: Barrientos Jaime , Escartín Jordi , Longares Lara , Rodríguez-Carballeira Álvaro
Published: March 2018

Psychological abuse in same-sex couples has hardly been studied in Spain and Latin America, despite its importance in society and public health. The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of psychological abuse in same-sex couples in Spain and Latin America and analyse the associated sociodemographic characteristics. An online survey was conducted with 663 gay and lesbian respondents from Spain and Latin America. Of the total sample, 10.6% reported that they perceived themselves as victims of psychological abuse from their partner (9.6% in gay men and 10.7% in lesbians). In gay men, differences were found between victims and non-victims on the sociodemographic variables of age, professional status, and daily alcohol consumption. In lesbians, significant differences were found between victims and non-victims in the country and professional status variables. When comparing gay and lesbian victims, significant differences were found in professional status and alcohol consumption. This study contributes to better understanding of this phenomenon, and it reveals the need for further research.
Src turns FHL1 to the dark side
Authors: Short Ben
Published: March 2018

Phosphorylation by Src causes FHL1 to move into the nucleus and converts it from a tumor suppressor to a tumor promoter.
Does Merit Selection Work?
Authors: Goelzhauser Greg
Published: March 2018

Does merit selection work? Existing evidence on institutional performance compares outcomes of interest across selection mechanisms, which does not account for the two-stage process that makes merit selection unique. Using information obtained from public records requests, this article analyzes the determinants of commission and gubernatorial selections from relevant candidate pools. The evidence suggests that although commissions and governors seem to select on certain qualifications, women are disadvantaged at the commission stage and partisanship is relevant at both stages. The results have important implications for our understanding of merit selection’s institutional performance and the broader judicial selection debate.
Improvement of energy conversion effectiveness and maximum output power of electrostatic induction-type MEMS energy harvesters by using symmetric comb-electrode structures
Authors: Honma H , Mitsuya H , Hashiguchi G , Fujita H , Toshiyoshi H
Published: March 2018

We introduce symmetric comb-electrode structures for the electrostatic vibrational MEMS energy harvester to lower the electrostatic constraint force attributed to the built-in electret potential, thereby allowing the harvester device to operate in a small acceleration range of 0.05 g or lower (1 g  =  9.8 m s−2). Given the same device structure, two different potentials for the electret are tested to experimentally confirm that the output induction current is enhanced 4.2 times by increasing the electret potential from  −60 V to  −250 V. At the same time, the harvester effectiveness has been improved to as high as 93%. The device is used to swiftly charge a 470 µF storage capacitor to 3.3 V in 120 s from small sinusoidal vibrations of 0.6 g at 124 Hz.
Optical drift effects in general relativity
Authors: Korzyński Mikołaj , Kopiński Jarosław
Published: March 2018

We consider the question of determining the optical drift
effects in general relativity, i.e. the rate of change of the
apparent position, redshift, Jacobi matrix, angular distance and
luminosity distance of a distant object as registered by an observer
in an arbitrary spacetime. We present a fully relativistic and
covariant approach, in which the problem is reduced to a hierarchy
of ODE's solved along the line of sight. The 4-velocities and
4-accelerations of the observer and the emitter and the geometry of
the spacetime along the line of sight constitute the input data. We
build on the standard relativistic geometric optics formalism and
extend it to include the time derivatives of the observables. In
the process we obtain two general, non-perturbative relations: the
first one between the gravitational lensing, represented by the
Jacobi matrix, and the apparent position drift, also called the
cosmic parallax, and the second one between the apparent position
drift and the redshift drift. The applications of the results
include the theoretical study of the drift effects of cosmological
origin (so-called real-time cosmology) in numerical or exact
Universe models.
Integrated Community Based Coastal Management: Lesson From The Field
Authors: Hadi Sudharto P.
Published: March 2018

Coastal abrasion has been occurred throughout coastline of Java reaching 745 km at length, account for 44% of total Java’s coastline. This phenomena is caused by reclamation, cutting of mangrove, land-use change and other human activities specifically at coastal area. Coastal abrasion stimulates flood or tidal flood, when sea level rise, the sea water flows to the land undated fish pond, settlement and other infrastructures standing at coastal area. Tidal flood destroys settlement lead to significant decrease of property value: land and house. Coastal abrasion caused lose people’s job and income. One measure taken by local community is mangrove cultivation intended to prevent sea level rise flowing to the inland. However many efforts taken by community frequently fail because of un-integrated approach. This paper reviews a mangrove plantations in Mangunharjo, district of Tugu, Semarang, Central Java by utilizing an innovative approach integrating environmental, economic and social aspect. These mangrove cultivations environmentally useful to prevent coastal abrasion, economically creating income for local people and socially supported by local community. These three approaches ensure sustainability of mangrove’s culture.
METHCOMP: a special purpose compression platform for DNA methylation data
Authors: Peng Jianhao , Milenkovic Olgica , Ochoa Idoia
Published: March 2018

Motivation

DNA methylation is one of the most important epigenetic mechanisms in cells that exhibits a significant role in controlling gene expressions. Abnormal methylation patterns have been associated with cancer, imprinting disorders and repeat-instability diseases. As inexpensive bisulfite sequencing approaches have led to significant efforts in acquiring methylation data, problems of data storage and management have become increasingly important. The de facto compression method for methylation data is gzip, which is a general purpose compression algorithm that does not cater to the special format of methylation files. We propose METHCOMP, a new compression scheme tailor-made for bedMethyl files, which supports random access.

Results

We tested the METHCOMP algorithm on 24 bedMethyl files retrieved from four randomly selected ENCODE assays. Our findings reveal that METHCOMP offers an average compression ratio improvement over gzip of up to 7.5x. As an example, METHCOMP compresses a 48 GB file to only 0.9 GB, which corresponds to a 98% reduction in size.

Availability and implementation

METHCOMP is freely available at https://github.com/jianhao2016/METHCOMP.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
BATF2 activates DUSP2 gene expression and up-regulates NF-κB activity via phospho-STAT3 dephosphorylation
Authors: Kanemaru Hisashi , Yamane Fumihiro , Tanaka Hiroki , Maeda Kazuhiko , Satoh Takashi , Akira Shizuo
Published: March 2018

Growing evidence has revealed that the transcription factor basic leucine zipper transcription factor ATF-like 2 (BATF2) has unique transcriptional activities, including regulating cytokines via TLR signals in macrophages, which affect mortality due to infection and cancer. On the basis of genome-wide analyses using the chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing technique, we found that dual-specificity phosphatase 2 (Dusp2) had a significantly lower acetyl-histone status in Batf2−/− bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) compared with wild-type (WT) BMDMs. The phosphatase DUSP2 has been reported to play a critical role in inflammatory responses. Therefore, we evaluated the BATF2 transcriptional activities on the Dusp2 promoter. We found that the DUSP2 and IL-12 p40 expression levels were significantly lower in Batf2−/− BMDMs than in WT controls following their stimulation with TLR7 ligands. Further in vitro studies revealed that phospho-STAT3 was up-regulated and NF-κB p50/p65 were down-regulated in Batf2−/− BMDMs compared with their levels in WT controls. Additionally, Th1 immunity was impaired in Batf2−/− mice following their stimulation with TLR7 ligands. We also found that BATF2 interacts with NF-κB p65 and promotes DUSP2 expression through the NF-κB-binding site in the Dusp2 promoter at −203 to −121. Collectively, our findings suggest that BATF2 activates DUSP2 gene expression and up-regulates NF-κB activity via phospho-STAT3 dephosphorylation.
Seeing Stars: How the Binary Bias Distorts the Interpretation of Customer Ratings
Authors: Fisher Matthew , Newman George E , Dhar Ravi
Published: March 2018

Across many different contexts, individuals consult customer ratings to inform their purchase decisions. The present studies document a novel phenomenon, dubbed “the binary bias,” which plays an important role in how individuals evaluate customer reviews. Our main proposal is that people tend to make a categorical distinction between positive ratings (e.g., 4s and 5s) and negative ratings (e.g., 1s and 2s). However, within those bins, people do not sufficiently distinguish between more extreme values (5s and 1s) and less extreme values (4s and 2s). As a result, people’s subjective representations of distributions are heavily impacted by the extent to which those distributions are imbalanced (having more 4s and 5s vs. more 1s and 2s). Ten studies demonstrate that this effect has important consequences for people’s product evaluations and purchase decisions. Additionally, we show this effect is not driven by the salience of particular bars, unrealistic distributions, certain statistical properties of a distribution, or diminishing subjective utility. Furthermore, we demonstrate this phenomenon’s relevance to other domains besides product reviews, and discuss the implications for existing research on how people integrate conflicting evidence.
Symptomatic Adjacent Level Disease Requiring Surgery: Analysis of 10-Year Results From a Prospective, Randomized, Clinical Trial Comparing Cervical Disc Arthroplasty to Anterior Cervical Fusion
Authors: Ghobrial George M , Lavelle William F , Florman Jeffrey E , Riew K Daniel , Levi Allan D
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

Ten-year follow-up data from the US Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption trial comparing BRYAN® Cervical Disc (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) arthroplasty to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) demonstrated that disc arthroplasty maintained range of motion and improvements in overall success and neck disability.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the 10-yr rates of symptomatic adjacent level disease requiring surgery (SALDRS).

METHODS

Prospective randomized trial data were analyzed comparing BRYAN® Cervical Disc arthroplasty to ACDF for single-level cervical disc disease with concordant radiculopathy or myelopathy with clinicoradiographic analysis at 10 yr. Secondarily, 84-mo data were pooled with PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc arthroplasty (Medtronic) study data to provide overall rates of SALDRS.

RESULTS

Significantly greater overall success was maintained at every postoperative interval with an overall success rate of 81.3% with BRYAN® disc and 66.3% with ACDF (P = .005) without loss of motion preservation (8.69° vs 0.60°). Reoperation at adjacent levels up to the 120-mo visit was 9.7% in the arthroplasty group and 15.8% in the ACDF group (P = .146). The combined data from BRYAN® and Prestige ST demonstrate that BRYAN® and Prestige disc groups had a lower rate of second surgeries at the adjacent levels, up to the 84-mo visit, compared to the combined ACDF groups (6.9% vs 11.7%; P = .023).

CONCLUSION

Compared with ACDF, fewer patients with the BRYAN® disc required surgery for symptomatic adjacent level degeneration, but this did not achieve statistical significance. Analysis of combined study data using Bryan and Prestige discs shows significant differences in SADLRS as early as 7 yr.
Advancing Patient-Centered Care in Tuberculosis Management: A Mixed-Methods Appraisal of Video Directly Observed Therapy
Authors: Holzman Samuel B , Zenilman Avi , Shah Maunank
Published: March 2018

Background

Directly observed therapy (DOT) remains an integral component of treatment support and adherence monitoring in tuberculosis care. In-person DOT is resource intensive and often burdensome for patients. Video DOT (vDOT) has been proposed as an alternative to increase treatment flexibility and better meet patient-specific needs.

Methods

We conducted a pragmatic, prospective pilot implementation of vDOT at 3 TB clinics in Maryland. A mixed-methods approach was implemented to assess (1) effectiveness, (2) acceptability, and (3) cost. Medication adherence on vDOT was compared with that of in-person DOT. Interviews and surveys were conducted with patients and providers before and after implementation, with framework analysis utilized to extract salient themes. Last, a cost analysis assessed the economic impacts of vDOT implementation across heterogeneous clinic structures.

Results

Medication adherence on vDOT was comparable to that of in-person DOT (94% vs 98%, P = .17), with a higher percentage of total treatment doses (inclusive of weekend/holiday self-administration) ultimately observed during the vDOT period (72% vs 66%, P = .03). Video DOT was well received by staff and patients alike, who cited increased treatment flexibility, convenience, and patient privacy. Our cost analysis estimated a savings with vDOT of $1391 per patient for a standard 6-month treatment course.

Conclusions

Video DOT is an acceptable and important option for measurement of TB treatment adherence and may allow a higher proportion of prescribed treatment doses to be observed, compared with in-person DOT. Video DOT may be cost-saving and should be considered as a component of individualized, patient-centered case management plans.
MRI and PET-CT Failed to Differentiate Between Hepatic Malignancy and Brucelloma
Authors: Schreiber Peter W , Schmid Adrian , Fagagnini Stefania , Kröger Arne , Vrugt Bart , Reiner Cäcilia S , Boggian Katia , Schiesser Marc , Müllhaupt Beat , Günthard Huldrych F
Published: March 2018

Brucellosis is a common, worldwide zoonosis. Clinical presentation is protean and often goes unrecognized. Hepatic brucelloma is a rare local complication of chronic brucellosis. We report a case in which magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography imaging prompted suspicion of a hepatic malignancy. Diagnosis was ultimately made by serology and polymerase chain reaction of resected liver tissue.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Daily Pill Burden and Likelihood of Optimal Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among People Living With HIV Who Use Drugs
Authors: Mohd Salleh Nur Afiqah , Richardson Lindsey , Kerr Thomas , Shoveller Jean , Montaner Julio , Kamarulzaman Adeeba , Milloy M-J.
Published: March 2018

Objectives:

Among people living with HIV (PLWH), high levels of adherence to prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART) is required to achieve optimal treatment outcomes. However, little is known about the effects of daily pill burden on adherence amongst PLWH who use drugs. We sought to investigate the association between daily pill burden and adherence to ART among members of this key population in Vancouver, Canada.

Methods:

We used data from the AIDS Care Cohort to Evaluate Exposure to Survival Services study, a long-running community-recruited cohort of PLWH who use illicit drugs linked to comprehensive HIV clinical records. The longitudinal relationship between daily pill burden and the odds of ≥95% adherence to ART among ART-exposed individuals was analyzed using multivariable generalized linear mixed-effects modeling, adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioural, and structural factors linked to adherence.

Results:

Between December 2005 and May 2014, the study enrolled 770 ART-exposed participants, including 257 (34%) women, with a median age of 43 years. At baseline, 437 (56.7%) participants achieved ≥95% adherence in the previous 180 days. Among all interview periods, the median adherence was 100% (interquartile range 71%–100%). In a multivariable model, a greater number of pills per day was negatively associated with ≥95% adherence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.87 per pill, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84–0.91). Further analysis showed that once-a-day ART regimens were positively associated with optimal adherence (AOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.07–1.80).

Conclusions:

In conclusion, simpler dosing demands (ie, fewer pills and once-a-day single tablet regimens) promoted optimal adherence among PLWH who use drugs. Our findings highlight the need for simpler dosing to be encouraged explicitly for PWUD with multiple adherence barriers.
Nonpeptide Orexin-2 Receptor Agonist Attenuates Morphine-induced Sedative Effects in Rats
Authors: Toyama Satoshi , Shimoyama Naohito , Tagaito Yugo , Nagase Hiroshi , Saitoh Tsuyoshi , Yanagisawa Masashi , Shimoyama Megumi
Published: March 2018

Background

Sleepiness and decrease in attention are dose-limiting side effects of opioids. The orexin/hypocretin system plays an important role in maintaining wakefulness. This study aimed to explore the potential of a nonpeptide orexin receptor agonist to alleviate morphine-induced sedative effects.

Methods

Morphine sedative effects were evaluated as changes in electroencephalogram (EEG), locomotor activity, and acoustic startle response in rats (n = 5 to 9 per group). Effects of intracerebroventricular orexin-A and systemic orexin type-2 receptor agonist, YNT-185, on EEG changes induced by morphine were examined. Furthermore, the authors examined effects of morphine administered with or without YNT-185 on locomotor activity and on acoustic startle response.

Results

Morphine-induced, frequent, short epochs of increased power (total epoch duration: 0.5 [0.0 to 8.0] s/10 min during baseline vs. 74.0 [49.0 to 115.0] s/10 min during the post–morphine administration period; P = 0.012). EEG analyses revealed that morphine-induced, high-amplitude, slow activity (increase in spectral power of frequencies less than 15 Hz, baseline vs. postmorphine; P < 0.001). Orexin-A and YNT-185 attenuated these changes. Locomotor activity decreased after morphine (268 [103 to 889] ambulatory movement counts during baseline period [20 min] vs. 138 [7 to 434] counts during 40 to 59 min postadministration; P = 0.012), but did not change after morphine with YNT-185 (363 [121 to 636] vs. 864 [381 to 1092] counts, difference within morphine + YNT-185 group; P = 0.071). Startle response latency was longer after morphine (26 [20 to 28] ms) than after morphine with YNT-185 (17 [16 to 18] ms; P = 0.012).

Conclusions

Orexin-A and/or YNT-185 attenuated morphine-induced sedative effects assessed by EEG changes and behavioral measures in rats. The authors’ results suggest that orexin-2 receptor activation alleviates morphine-induced sedative effects.
Rectal Dissection Simulator for da Vinci Surgery: Details of Simulator Manufacturing With Evidence of Construct, Face, and Content Validity
Authors: Melich George , Pai Ajit , Shoela Ramy , Kochar Kunal , Patel Supriya , Park John , Prasad Leela , Marecik Slawomir
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND:

Apprenticeship in training new surgical skills is problematic, because it involves human subjects. To date there are limited inanimate trainers for rectal surgery.

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this article is to present manufacturing details accompanied by evidence of construct, face, and content validity for a robotic rectal dissection simulation.

DESIGN:

Residents versus experts were recruited and tested on performing simulated total mesorectal excision. Time for each dissection was recorded. Effectiveness of retraction to achieve adequate exposure was scored on a dichotomous yes-or-no scale. Number of critical errors was counted. Dissection quality was tested using a visual 7-point Likert scale. The times and scores were then compared to assess construct validity. Two scorer results were used to show interobserver agreement. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire was administered to each participant inquiring about basic demographics, surgical experience, and opinion of the simulator. Survey data relevant to the determination of face validity (realism and ease of use) and content validity (appropriateness and usefulness) were then analyzed.

SETTINGS:

The study was conducted at a single teaching institution.

SUBJECTS:

Residents and trained surgeons were included.

INTERVENTION:

The study intervention included total mesorectal excision on an inanimate model.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Metrics confirming or refuting that the model can distinguish between novices and experts were measured.

RESULTS:

A total of 19 residents and 9 experts were recruited. The residents versus experts comparison featured average completion times of 31.3 versus 10.3 minutes, percentage achieving adequate exposure of 5.3% versus 88.9%, number of errors of 31.9 versus 3.9, and dissection quality scores of 1.8 versus 5.2. Interobserver correlations of R = 0.977 or better confirmed interobserver agreement. Overall average scores were 4.2 of 5.0 for face validation and 4.5 of 5.0 for content validation.

LIMITATIONS:

The use of a da Vinci microblade instead of hook electrocautery was a study limitation.

CONCLUSIONS:

The pelvic model showed evidence of construct validity, because all of the measured performance indicators accurately differentiated the 2 groups studied. Furthermore, study participants provided evidence for the simulator’s face and content validity. These results justify proceeding to the next stage of validation, which consists of evaluating predictive and concurrent validity. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A551.
Effects of Team-Based Learning on the Core Competencies of Nursing Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Lee Kyung Eun
Published: March 2018

Background:

An important goal of nursing education is helping students achieve core competencies efficiently. One proposed way of improving nursing education is team-based learning (TBL).

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to assess the comparative effectiveness of TBL and lecture-style classes in terms of teaching core competencies in nursing education, which include clinical competence skills, problem-solving ability, communication competencies, critical thinking ability, and self-leadership.

Methods:

This quasi-experimental study enrolled 183 students as participants, with 95 and 88 in the experimental and control groups, respectively. These two groups attended 6 hours (2 hours weekly for 3 weeks) of TBL and lecture-style classes, respectively. Differences in core competencies between the two groups were compared before and after the intervention.

Results:

The experimental group achieved significantly higher scores for clinical competence skills, communication competence, critical thinking ability, and self-leadership at posttest than at pretest, whereas the control group achieved significantly higher scores for clinical competence skills and critical thinking ability at posttest than at pretest. After the intervention, the experimental group had significantly better clinical competence skills, communication competence, and self-leadership than the control group.

Conclusion:

TBL is an effective approach method to teaching core competencies in nursing education.
A Multicenter Performance Improvement Program Uses Rural Trauma Filters for Benchmarking: An Evaluation of the Findings
Authors: Coniglio Ray , McGraw Constance , Archuleta Mike , Bentler Heather , Keiter Leigh , Ramstetter Julie , Reis Elizabeth , Romans Cristi , Schell Rachael , Ross Kelli , Smith Rachel , Townsend Jodi , Orlando Alessandro , Mains Charles W.
Published: March 2018

Colorado requires Level III and IV trauma centers to conduct a formal performance improvement program (PI), but provides limited support for program development. Trauma program managers and coordinators in rural facilities rarely have experience in the development or management of a PI program. As a result, rural trauma centers often face challenges in evaluating trauma outcomes adequately. Through a multidisciplinary outreach program, our Trauma System worked with a group of rural trauma centers to identify and define seven specific PI filters based on key program elements of rural trauma centers. This retrospective observational project sought to develop and examine these PI filters so as to enhance the review and evaluation of patient care. The project included 924 trauma patients from eight Level IV and one Level III trauma centers. Seven PI filters were retrospectively collected and analyzed by quarter in 2016: prehospital managed airway for patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of less than 9; adherence to trauma team activation criteria; evidence of physician team leader presence within 20 min of activation; patient with a GCS score less than 9 in the emergency department (ED): intubated in less than 20 min; ED length of stay (LOS) less than 4 hr from patient arrival to transfer; adherence to admission criteria; documentation of GCS on arrival, discharge, or with change of status. There was a significantly increasing compliance trend toward appropriate documentation of GCS (p trend < .001) and a significantly decreasing compliance trend for ED LOS of less than 4 hr (p trend = .04). Moving forward, these data will be used to develop compliance thresholds, to identify areas for improvement, and create corrective action plans as necessary.
Implementation of a Massive Transfusion Protocol: Evaluation of Its Use and Efficacy
Authors: Broxton Shannon , Medeiros Regina , Abuzeid Adel , Peterson Corey , Schumacher Autumn
Published: March 2018

Massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) allow practitioners to follow a prescribed algorithm for the rapid replacement of blood products during a massive hemorrhage. They function as an established protocol to provide consistent treatment. Once implemented, the MTP must be evaluated to ensure best practice. The purpose of this clinical improvement project was to formally evaluate the use and efficacy of an MTP during its first year of implementation. The specific aims were to (1) determine whether MTP activations were missed; (2) compare outcomes between those patients managed by the MTP and those who were not; and (3) provide recommendations to the institution's stakeholders. A retrospective medical record review was conducted with 101 electronic medical records of adult trauma patients treated over 1 year. Patients were identified to have experienced massive bleeding if their medical record contained 1 of 4 indicators: (1) transfusion of uncrossmatched blood; (2) tranexamic acid administration; (3) transfusion of 4 or more units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) in 1 hr; and/or (4) transfusion of 10 or more units of PRBCs in 24 hr. While 58 patients experienced massive bleeding, only 16 (28%) were managed using the MTP. Although the non-MTP group received fewer transfused blood products due to higher initial and 24-hr hemoglobin levels, more deaths occurred in this group than in the MTP group. The recommendations were to (1) establish well-defined criteria for MTP activation based on the 4 indicators of massive bleeding and (2) regularly evaluate the use and efficacy of the MTP to ensure positive patient outcomes.
Heads Up: Describing and Implementing a Time-Saving Head Strike Protocol at a Level II Trauma Center
Authors: Wacht Sharon , Salottolo Kristin , Atnip Amy , Hooks Michelle , Bailie Mary , Carrick Matthew
Published: March 2018

Head strikes can be fatal for patients taking blood thinners (anticoagulants or antiplatelets). Our trauma center instituted the “head strike protocol” to provide uniform and expedited care for adult trauma patients taking preinjury anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications with suspected head injury. The purpose of this article is to describe the development and implementation of the head strike protocol and compare time metrics and outcomes before and after implementing the protocol. Per the head strike protocol, patients with suspected traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) were screened for anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications by emergency medical service personnel/at first contact, activated as a Level II trauma and received a computed tomographic scan of the head within 30 min of arrival, and started reversal of blood products within 30 min of tICH confirmation. Compared with patients admitted before establishing the head strike protocol, patients treated postimplementation were significantly more likely to have trauma team activation (77% preprotocol vs. 89% postprotocol) and expeditious initiation of reversal agents (68 min preprotocol vs. 21 min postprotocol) and to survive their head injury for patients taking anticoagulants (42% preprotocol vs. 21% postprotocol). There were no differences in mortality for patients taking antiplatelet agents. This comprehensive nurse-driven reversal protocol presents an algorithm for managing patients with suspected tICH taking any preinjury blood thinners, allowing “ownership” by the nursing staff to ensure there are no delays in initiating blood products. This protocol may be particularly salient with the aging of the trauma population and parallel increase in the use of blood thinners.