bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Race and diversity in U.S. Biological Anthropology: A decade of AAPA initiatives
Authors: Antón Susan C. , Malhi Ripan S. , Fuentes Agustín
Published: January 2018

Biological Anthropology studies the variation and evolution of living humans, non‐human primates, and extinct ancestors and for this reason the field should be in an ideal position to attract scientists from a variety of backgrounds who have different views and experiences. However, the origin and history of the discipline, anecdotal observations, self‐reports, and recent surveys suggest the field has significant barriers to attracting scholars of color. For a variety of reasons, including quantitative research that demonstrates that diverse groups do better science, the discipline should strive to achieve a more diverse composition. Here we discuss the background and underpinnings of the current and historical dearth of diversity in Biological Anthropology in the U.S. specifically as it relates to representation of minority and underrepresented minority (URM) (or racialized minority) scholars. We trace this lack of diversity to underlying issues of recruitment and retention in the STEM sciences generally, to the history of Anthropology particularly around questions of race‐science, and to the absence of Anthropology at many minority‐serving institutions, especially HBCUs, a situation that forestalls pathways to the discipline for many minority students. The AAPA Committee on Diversity (COD) was conceived as a means of assessing and improving diversity within the discipline, and we detail the history of the COD since its inception in 2006. Prior to the COD there were no systematic AAPA efforts to consider ethnoracial diversity in our ranks and no programming around questions of diversity and inclusion. Departmental survey data collected by the COD indicate that undergraduate majors in Biological Anthropology are remarkably diverse, but that the discipline loses these scholars between undergraduate and graduate school and systematically up rank. Our analysis of recent membership demographic survey data (2014 and 2017) shows Biological Anthropology to have less ethnoracial diversity than even the affiliated STEM disciplines of Biology and Anatomy; nearly 87% of AAPA members in the United States identify as white and just 7% as URM scholars. These data also suggest that the intersection of race and gender significantly influence scholarly representation. In response to these data, we describe a substantial body of programs that have been developed by the COD to improve diversity in our ranks. Through these programs we identify principal concerns that contribute to the loss of scholars of color from the discipline at different stages in their careers, propose other directions that programming for recruitment should take, and discuss the beginnings of how to develop a more inclusive discipline at all career stages.
NREM sleep EEG activity and procedural memory: A comparison between young neurotypical and autistic adults without sleep complaints
Authors: Rochette Annie‐Claude , Soulières Isabelle , Berthiaume Claude , Godbout Roger
Published: January 2018

Delta EEG activity (0.75–3.75 Hz) during non‐Rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep reflects the thalamo‐cortical system contribution to memory consolidation. The functional integrity of this system is thought to be compromised in the Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This lead us to investigate the topography of NREM sleep Delta EEG activity in young adults with ASD and typically‐developed individuals (TYP). The relationship between Delta EEG activity and sensory‐motor procedural information was also examined using a rotary pursuit task. Two dependent variables were computed: a learning index (performance increase across trials) and a performance index (average performance for all trials). The ASD group showed less Delta EEG activity during NREM sleep over the parieto‐occipital recording sites compared to the TYP group. Delta EEG activity dropped more abruptly from frontal to posterior regions in the ASD group. Both groups of participants learned the task at a similar rate but the ASD group performed less well in terms of contact time with the target. Delta EEG activity during NREM sleep, especially during stage 2, correlated positively with the learning index for electrodes located all over the cortex in the TYP group, but only in the frontal region in the ASD group. Delta EEG activity, especially during stage 2, correlated positively with the performance index, but in the ASD group only. These results reveal an atypical thalamo‐cortical functioning over the parieto‐occipital region in ASD. They also point toward an atypical relationship between the frontal area and the encoding of sensory‐motor procedural memory in ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 613–623. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lay Summary

Slow EEG waves recorded from the scalp during sleep are thought to facilitate learning and memory during daytime. We compared these EEG waves in young autistic adults to typically‐developing young adults. We found less slow EEG waves in the ASD group and the pattern of relationship with memory differed between groups. This suggests atypicalities in the way sleep mechanisms are associated with learning and performance in a sensory‐motor procedural memory task in ASD individuals.
A self‐caricature of michelangelo buonarroti hidden in the portrait of vittoria colonna
Authors: de campos Deivis
Published: January 2018

The specialized literature has described how the great anatomist par excellence, Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564), like many other renowned artists of his time, included a self‐portrait in many of his works. This article presents novel evidence that Michelangelo inserted his self‐portrait into a sketch of his close friend, Vittoria Colonna (1490–1547). This work, made by Michelangelo in 1525, is currently in the collection of the British Museum in London, England. This self‐portrait of Michelangelo can serve as a tool for analyzing the artist's probable bodily dimensions and even his state of health during this period of his life. Clin. Anat. 31:335–338, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Designed Meso‐macroporous Silica Framework Impregnated with Copper Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Catalytic Performance
Authors: Kanwar Rohini , Bhar Rekha , Mehta Surinder Kumar
Published: January 2018

The template efficacy of solid lipid nanoparticles for generating porous silica materials with the amalgamation of Cu‐functionalized cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC; as a co‐emulsifier and as a metal source for generation of CuO oxide nanoparticles) has been explored. Impregnation of CuO nanoparticles (∼10–12 nm) onto the silica matrix proffers to be a propitious route for the fabrication of twin sized porous, highly active catalytic materials. The surface morphology and structural characterization of the synthesized CuO@meso‐macroporous silica framework was elucidated by TEM, field ‐emission (FE)‐SEM, energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX), wavelength dispersive (WD)‐XRF, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), XRD, and N2 adsorption/desorption studies. All the results have shown that there exists a structural network interconnecting the mesopores with macropores. The catalytic performance of the synthesized framework (ascribed catalyst) was checked for two model reactions. For the reduction of p‐nitrophenol to p‐aminophenol, only 0.25 % (w/v) catalyst was sufficient to accomplish the reaction in 6 min, giving 99.9 % yield. On the other hand, the redox reaction of potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) and sodium thiosulfate utilized 5 % (w/v) catalyst and completed the reaction in 40 min, yielding 98.43 %. Therefore, CuO@meso‐macroporous silica materials could hold great importance in the world of nanocatalysis owing to the present promising results.
TePtFe Nanotubes as High‐Performing Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Li Wenqiang , Amiinu Ibrahim Saana , Ye Bei , Wang Zhe , Zhu Jiawei , Kou Zongkui , Mu Shichun
Published: January 2018

Currently, a multicomponent platinum‐based alloy has been applied as a promising electrocatalyst to improve catalysis and lower the usage of the noble metal platinum. Herein, a tellurium nanowire (NW)‐derived ternary TePtFe nanotube (NT) electrocatalyst has been prepared by the Kirkendall effect. The TePtFe NT formed consists of small single‐crystal nanoparticles and voids with an open‐end and hollow structure. The TePtFe NT electrocatalyst presents an impressive catalytic activity and stability for both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Its ORR specific activity and mass activity are 8.5 and 2.4 times, respectively, improved relative to those of commercial platinum catalysts. It is also impressive that, for the HER, a very low overpotential of 28.1 mV at 10 mA cm−2 can be achieved; this is lower than that of platinum (51.8 mV) catalysts in 0.1 m HClO4, and the activity is improved, even after 5000 cycles. This work reveals that TePtFe NTs can be employed as nanocatalysts with an impressive catalytic activity and stability for application in fuel cells and hydrogen production.
Process catalyzers in Amazonian rivers: large woody debris modifies ecosystem processes across freshwater habitats
Authors: Heilpern Sebastian A. , Wootton J. Timothy
Published: January 2018

Understanding the role of interactions in influencing community structure and ecosystem function is a goal in ecology, and identifying biotic entities that are strong interactors is imperative for setting targeted conservation strategies. Several different mechanisms have been linked with strongly interacting species (e.g., predation, competition, abiotic habitat modification), but the most important organisms often influence ecosystems in multiple ways. We propose that these strong interactors share a broad common feature: They catalyze ecosystem processes, such as rates of primary productivity, species interactions, and/or physical disturbances. We provide a case study of Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata), focusing on its influence as a provider of large woody debris (LWD) on food web dynamics in tropical floodplain rivers and associated oxbow lakes. Large woody debris has been subject to considerable attention because of its perceived importance in creating geomorphologically favorable conditions for target commercial species (e.g., distribution of pools and riffle for salmonids). However, in this study we suggest that LWD catalyzes a suite of ecological processes in addition to geomorphology that determines its important role within aquatic communities. Through a factorial experiment manipulating large and small fish access to treatments with and without LWD piles, we tested the role of Spanish cedar in modifying interactions between different‐sized fishes, invertebrates, and primary producers in a tropical floodplain river and associated oxbow lake. Path analysis revealed that fishes influence particulate matter accumulation and invertebrate abundances more so in wood piles than outside of wood piles in both river and lake ecosystem contexts. In addition to providing the first experimental test of factors controlling trophic dynamics in an Amazonian river, we suggest that understanding the role of organisms through the ecological processes they catalyze provides an overarching conceptual framework to link single species and ecosystem‐based management strategies.
Intrinsic flame resistance of polyurethane flexible foams: Unexpectedly low flammability without any flame retardant
Authors: Höhne Carl‐Christoph , Hanich Ronny , Kroke Edwin
Published: January 2018

Virgin polyurethane flexible foams are widely assumed to be highly flammable materials. The flammability of three model polyurethane flexible foams suggests that this may not be universally true. Two of them show unexpectedly low flammability in the limiting oxygen index test and pass flammability tests such as FMVSS 302 and FAR 25.853. Cone calorimetric measurements at 25 kW/m2and 50 kW/m2furthermore show a high resistance against ignition and demonstrate the self‐extinguishing properties of these two virgin, flame‐retardant‐free, polyurethane flexible foams.
Insights on the effectiveness of reward schemes from 10‐year longitudinal case studies in 2 Italian regions.
Authors: Vainieri Milena , Lungu Daniel Adrian , Nuti Sabina
Published: January 2018

Background

Pay for performance (P4P) programs have been widely analysed in literature, and the results regarding their impact on performance are mixed. Moreover, in the real‐life setting, reward schemes are designed combining multiple elements altogether, yet, it is not clear what happens when they are applied using different combinations.

Objectives

To provide insights on how P4P programs are influenced by 5 key elements:whom,what,how,how manytargets, andhow muchto reward.

Methods

A qualitative longitudinal analysis of 10 years of P4P reward schemes adopted by the regional administrations of Tuscany and Lombardy (Italy) was conducted. The effects of the P4P features on performance are discussed considering both overall and specific indicators.

Results

Both regions applied financial reward schemes for General Managers by linking the variable pay to performance. While Tuscany maintained a relatively stable financial incentive design and governance tools, Lombardy changed some elements of the design and introduced, in 2012, a P4P program aimed to reward the providers. The main differences between the 2 cases regard the number of targets (how many), the type (what), and the method applied to set targets (how).

Conclusion

Considering the overall performance obtained by the 2 regions, it seems thatwhom,how,and how muchto reward are not relevant in the success of P4P programs; instead, the number (how many) and the type (what) of targets set may influence the performance improvement processes driven by financial reward schemes.
Prediction of Individual Serum Infliximab Concentrations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease by a Bayesian Dashboard System
Authors: Eser Alexander , Primas Christian , Reinisch Sieglinde , Vogelsang Harald , Novacek Gottfried , Mould Diane R. , Reinisch Walter
Published: January 2018

Despite a robust exposure–response relationship of infliximab in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), attempts to adjust dosing to individually predicted serum concentrations of infliximab (SICs) are lacking. Compared with labor‐intensive conventional software for pharmacokinetic (PK) modeling (eg, NONMEM) dashboards are easy‐to‐use programs incorporating complex Bayesian statistics to determine individual pharmacokinetics. We evaluated various infliximab detection assays and the number of samples needed to precisely forecast individual SICs using a Bayesian dashboard. We assessed long‐term infliximab retention in patients being dosed concordantly versus discordantly with Bayesian dashboard recommendations. Three hundred eighty‐two serum samples from 117 adult IBD patients on infliximab maintenance therapy were analyzed by 3 commercially available assays. Data from each assay was modeled using NONMEM and a Bayesian dashboard. PK parameter precision and residual variability were assessed. Forecast concentrations from both systems were compared with observed concentrations. Infliximab retention was assessed by prediction for dose intensification via Bayesian dashboard versus real‐life practice. Forecast precision of SICs varied between detection assays. At least 3 SICs from a reliable assay are needed for an accurate forecast. The Bayesian dashboard performed similarly to NONMEM to predict SICs. Patients dosed concordantly with Bayesian dashboard recommendations had a significantly longer median drug survival than those dosed discordantly (51.5 versus 4.6 months, P < .0001). The Bayesian dashboard helps to assess the diagnostic performance of infliximab detection assays. Three, not single, SICs provide sufficient information for individualized dose adjustment when incorporated into the Bayesian dashboard. Treatment adjusted to forecasted SICs is associated with longer drug retention of infliximab.
A New Environmentally Friendly Approach to Lignin‐Based Cyclic Carbonates
Authors: Kühnel Isabell , Saake Bodo , Lehnen Ralph
Published: January 2018

Herein, a novel synthesis of a fully renewable lignin‐based building block equipped with cyclic carbonate functionalities is presented. In an efficient two‐step procedure, organosolv lignin from ethanol–water pulping of beech wood is oxyalkylated with glycerol carbonate to insert adjacent hydroxyl groups. The oxyalkylated lignin is then reacted via transesterification with dimethyl carbonate or ethylene carbonate in dimethyl sulfoxide under alkaline conditions producing cyclic carbonate functionalized lignin. This transesterification is studied as a function of time, catalyst type, and catalyst amount using NMR spectroscopy as well as size exclusion chromatography. Transesterification reactions with K2CO3 as catalyst (0.4 eq.) afford lignin‐based cyclic carbonate with almost complete conversion (96%) within 6 h, as analyzed by 31P and 13C NMR spectroscopy. This green building block represents a reactive prepolymer for the synthesis of nonisocyanate polyurethanes.
Numerical fatigue life analysis of a high frequency mechanical impact treated industrial component based on damage mechanics models
Authors: Schubnell J. , Farajian M. , Däuwel T. , Shin Y.
Published: January 2018

After post weld treatment with high frequency mechanical impact (HFMI) treatment of welds, a significant increase of fatigue life (up to a factor of 10) can be achieved. During the last years numerous experimental tests of welded joints with simple geometry under constant amplitude loading have been performed to quantify the positive effect of high frequency mechanical impact treatment. Due to the lack of methods for the prediction of the high frequency mechanical impact benefits, a widespread use of this process is not the case yet. Furthermore, it is still not clear if the results of these fatigue tests can be transferred to complex geometries and complex loading conditions such as in industrial applications. Therefore, an approach to assess the fatigue life of complex welded structures under variable amplitude loading was developed. For this purpose, high frequency mechanical impact treatment and fatigue load of simple welded specimen made of S690QL steel were simulated with finite element analysis (FEA) firstly. Then, the needed damage parameters for the fatigue life correlation were evaluated from the finite element post‐processing. The calculated life time to crack initiation was in good agreement with the experimental fatigue test results. In the next step, this procedure was implemented on a welded arm of an evacuator of type EW180B of the company Volvo Construction Equipment made of S700MC. The variable amplitude load measured under real service condition was transferred to single constant amplitude load cycles using a rainflow‐counting algorithm. By simulation and damage mechanics evaluation of each load cycle the total damage sum could be calculated and compared with the experimental results from Volvo Construction Equipment.
Solid solubility extension of copper‐tin immiscible system during mechanical alloying
Authors: Wu Z.F. , Wu J. , Zhang L. , Liu C. , Wu R.
Published: January 2018

In this paper, copper‐5 wt.%‐tin (Cu‐5wt%Sn) powder mixture was mechanically alloyed in order to study the solid solubility extension during the alloying process. Nanocrystalline supersaturated solid solution has been prepared in this system by high energy ball milling. Based on the thermodynamic model, the Gibbs free energy change in this alloy system during the formation of solid solution is calculated to be positive, which means that there is no driving force to form solid solution in copper‐tin (Cu−Sn) immiscible system. It has been found that a large fraction of grain boundaries and a high density of dislocations play a significant role in the solid solubility extension of immiscible copper and tin.
A Methodology for Estimating Kinetic Parameters and Reactivity Ratios of Multi‐site Type Catalysts Using Polymerization, Fractionation, and Spectroscopic Techniques
Authors: Touloupidis Vasileios , Albrecht Andreas , Soares João B. P.
Published: January 2018

This work describes a polymer reaction engineering framework for understanding how catalyst kinetic parameters affect the microstructure of polyolefins made with single‐ or multi‐site catalysts. Moreover, a methodology for deconvolution and kinetic parameters estimation is presented to estimate the reactivity ratios of multi‐site catalysts based on the combination of polymerization, fractionation, and spectroscopic techniques, namely, gel permeation chromatography‐IR and carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The methodology capabilities are then demonstrated and validated using a case study simulated via a Monte Carlo model including random noise in order to better represent experimental result uncertainties. The methodology can reverse engineer experimental results and estimate all relevant reaction performance parameters.
Functional relationship between dental macrowear and diet in Late Pleistocene and recent modern human populations
Authors: Fiorenza Luca , Benazzi Stefano , Oxilia Gregorio , Kullmer Ottmar
Published: January 2018

Many aspects of diet and behaviour can be gleaned from dental wear, including environmental conditions, food‐fracture properties, food processing techniques, and cultural habits. Specifically, the angulation (flat vs. steep) of molar wear has been used as an indicator of food toughness and has also been implicated in the use of grinding stones and pottery in food processing. In this work, we focus on the sequential phases of the power stroke of mastication in a functional way, measuring the inclination of molar wear facets through the occlusal fingerprint analysis method. Specifically, we have calculated the angulation of wear facets in upper and lower molars of Palaeolithic humans, extant hunter‐gatherers, and proto‐farmers to discern differences between groups with different diets.

Contrary to previous analyses, our study shows that the molars of Late Pleistocene specimens are characterized by significantly steeper angles than those of modern hunter‐gatherers.

The flat molar wear found in the latter group could be related to the excessive mixture of exogenous materials accidentally introduced into their foods, as indicated by ethnographic evidence. On the contrary, the steep wear angles characterizing the Palaeolithic group are probably associated with the consumption of a less abrasive diet, which could be ultimately due to food preparation techniques that incorporated less dust and grit into their diets.
Online purchasing under uncertainty
Authors: Frieze Alan , Pegden Wesley
Published: January 2018

Suppose there is a collection of independent uniform random variables, and a hypergraph of target structures on the vertex set . We would like to purchase a target structure at small cost, but we do not know all the costs xi ahead of time. Instead, we inspect the random variables xi one at a time, and after each inspection, choose to either keep the vertex i at cost xi, or reject vertex i forever. In the present paper, we consider the case where is the edge‐set of a complete graph (or digraph), and the target structures are the spanning trees of a graph, spanning arborescences of a digraph, the paths between a fixed pair of vertices, perfect matchings, Hamilton cycles or the cliques of some fixed size.
A Facile Access to Sterically Less Crowded to More Crowded Organo Triselones
Authors: Prabusankar Ganesan , Sathyanarayana Arruri , Srinivas Katam , Suresh Paladugu , Nath Ipsita
Published: January 2018

The reaction of 2,4,6‐N’‐imidazolium(N‐alkyl or N‐aryl)‐mesitylene bromides (alkyl=Me, isopropyl, vinyl, allyl; aryl=2,6‐dimethyl‐phenyl and 2,6‐diiospropyl‐phenyl) with six equivalents of selenium powder and potassium carbonate gave corresponding 2,4,6‐N’‐imidazole(N‐alkyl or N‐aryl)‐selone‐mesitylenes in very good yield. These new compounds were characterized by multinuclear (1D and 2D) NMR, FT‐IR, UV‐vis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction techniques. These trisimidazole selones are the first structurally characterized triselones supported by aryl platform. An interesting geometrical orientation of imidazole selones was observed from the solid‐state structures of trisimidazole selones. The orientation of imidazole selones in isopropyl and vinyl trisimidazole selone derivatives are in propeller shape, while methyl, allyl, 2,6‐dimethyl‐phenyl and 2,6‐diiospropyl‐phenyl derivatives of trisimidazole selone derivatives are in twisted propeller shape.
Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Imidazoquinazoline for Chemosensing of Pb2+ and Fe3+ and Living Cell Application
Authors: Iniya Murugan , Vidya Balasubramanian , Anand Thangaraj , Sivaraman Gandhi , Jeyanthi Dharmaraj , Krishnaveni Karuppiah , Chellappa Duraisamy
Published: January 2018

An efficient dual‐responsive fluorescent probe based on imidazoquinazoline has been synthesised using microwave‐assisted solvent‐free condition. Its sensing behaviour towards Pb2+ and Fe3+ has been investigated separately through fluorescence, absorbance and visual fluorescence colour changes in different solvent systems. Interestingly, the binding event triggers selective “turn‐on” response to Pb2+ and ratiometric response to Fe3+ against other commonly coexistent metal ions. The observed experimental data has been rationalized in terms of theoretical calculations. The living cell imaging experiment demonstrated the practical value of the sensor in mapping intracellular Fe3+ and Pb2+ distributions in biological systems.
A bearing outer raceway fault detection method in induction motors based on instantaneous frequency of the stator current
Authors: Song Xiangjin , Hu Jingtao , Zhu Hongyu , Zhang Jilong
Published: January 2018

Induction motors (IMs) are widely used in agricultural, industrial, and commercial applications. Bearing faults are one of the most common causes of breakdown in IMs. Motor current signature analysis (MCSA) is becoming a popular tool for bearing fault detection because of its cost effectiveness and noninvasiveness. However, when a motor operates under low‐load and lower load conditions, MCSA cannot be used to detect the bearing outer raceway fault because of the influence of the supply frequency component spectrum leakage, eccentricity harmonics, and other noises. In this paper, a new method for the fault detection of bearing outer raceway fault in IMs is proposed. The method is based on the analysis of the instantaneous frequency (IF) of the IM stator current using Hilbert transform, and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) spectrum analysis is used to detect the frequency associated with the bearing outer raceway fault. The proposed method can significantly reduce the negative influence of the supply frequency component spectrum leakage, and thus can enhance the fault features to detect bearing outer raceway fault under low‐load and lower load conditions, compared with the traditional MCSA method. Finally, the experimental results on an IM with bearing outer raceway fault prove the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Laxative action of sennoside A, which causes decreased colonic aquaporin‐3 expression, is controlled by the anti‐inflammatory effect of glycyrrhizin
Authors: Kon Risako , Yamamura Miho , Fujikawa Tetsuya , Uemura Takefumi , Kusunoki Yoshiki , Ikarashi Nobutomo , Sugiyama Kiyoshi
Published: January 2018

Aim

The laxative action of daiokanzoto (a compound containing rhubarb and glycyrrhiza) is thought to be due to sennoside A, an ingredient in rhubarb. Glycyrrhizin, which has anti‐inflammatory effects, is the main ingredient in glycyrrhiza, and it alleviates adverse reactions, such as abdominal pain and painful defecation, due to rhubarb. No consensus has been reached, however, on why daiokanzoto contains glycyrrhiza. We found that sennoside A exerts a laxative action by decreasing aquaporin‐3 (AQP3) expression through the activation of macrophages in the colon. This study analyzed the effect of glycyrrhizin on the laxative action of sennoside A focusing on AQP3 expression.

Methods

Sennoside A, glycyrrhizin, or a combination of both were given orally to rats, and diarrhea severity was assessed. The expression of AQP3, inflammatory cytokines, and cyclo‐oxygenase (COX) was analyzed.

Results

Although diarrhea occurred when sennoside A and glycyrrhizin were given together orally, it was less severe than when sennoside A was used alone, and, correspondingly, only sennoside A inhibited AQP3 expression to a greater extent than the combination of both drugs. When glycyrrhizin was given concomitantly, the sennoside A‐induced increased expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and COX‐2 was suppressed.

Conclusions

The laxative action of sennoside A and the decreased expression of AQP3 were suppressed when sennoside A and glycyrrhizin were given concomitantly, likely due to the anti‐inflammatory effects of glycyrrhizin. This indicates that glycyrrhizin both attenuates the adverse reactions caused by sennoside A and plays a role in its laxative action.
Long‐Term Outcomes After Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma in Elderly Patients: Special Reference to Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Watanabe Yusuke , Shinkawa Tomohiko , Endo Sho , Abe Yuji , Nishihara Kazuyoshi , Nakano Toru
Published: January 2018

Background

The benefit of pancreatectomy for elderly patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains controversial. Moreover, adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for elderly patients has not been fully evaluated. We investigated the long‐term outcomes after pancreatectomy for PDAC in elderly patients with special reference to AC.

Methods

The medical records of 123 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for PDAC from 2007 to 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: young (<75 years) and elderly patients (≥75 years).

Results

The study population comprised 91 young and 32 elderly patients. The postoperative clinical courses were not different between the two groups. AC was more frequently administered to young (85%) than elderly patients (66%; P = 0.04). The weekly dose of tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium (S1) for AC was significantly lower in elderly (median 423 mg/m2) than young patients (median 491 mg/m2; P = 0.02). The prevalence of adverse events and the completion rate of AC were not significantly different between the two groups. There were no significant differences in recurrence‐free survival (P = 0.73) or overall survival (P = 0.68) between the two groups in univariate analysis. Receipt of AC was not a significant independent factor for survival, and completion of planned AC was a significant independent factor for recurrence‐free survival and overall survival in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

The benefit of pancreatectomy for PDAC was the same between young and elderly patients. Completion of planned AC was important, and lowered‐dose AC using S1 for elderly patients might be safe and therapeutically useful.
IMPERFECT COMPETITION IN CHINA'S IMPORT MARKET OF ROUNDWOOD AND LUMBER PRODUCTS
Authors: SUN CHANGYOU , ZHOU XIAOPING
Published: January 2018

China has become the largest importer of roundwood and lumber products in recent years. In this study, the degree of competition among major supplying countries in China's import market is measured through the inverse residual demand elasticity over 1995–2015. Time-series properties of the data are considered through the autoregressive distributed lag model. The analysis reveals that market power exists in roundwood and lumber markets for a few supplying countries. The suppliers in the lumber import market have more market power than those in the roundwood market. Individual countries with substantial market power have more fluctuations in trading volumes.
The structure of business preferences and Eurozone crisis policies
Authors: Albertos José Fernández , Kuo Alexander
Published: January 2018

What explains business views regarding policy preferences in the Eurozone crisis? Although recent literature examines the impact of the crisis on citizen views, few studies examine business preferences towards adjustment policies. We present unique data from a new representative survey of 500 high-level firm representatives from Spain to test theories about such preferences, in particular views about the euro, fiscal austerity, and wage devaluation, as well as plausible mechanisms for such preferences. We test three broad families of theories to explain such preferences, focusing on the role of structural firm characteristics, economic hardship, and political leanings of firm managers. We find that first, there is a strong conservative position regarding all of these policies. Second, we find that contra conventional approaches to explaining preferences, for the domestic policies (but not for euro views), the political leanings of firms matter much more than baseline structural characteristics. Third, we find that surprisingly economic hardship does not cause firms to demand more left-wing policies, as it might for voters; in fact, firms that have suffered are likely to be more skeptical of such measures. These findings indicate the need to better measure political orientations of firm respondents and suggest that this is a larger division among firms than previously recognized.
Agency Workers’ Perceptions of Cross-System Collaboration to Support Students in Out-of-Home Care
Authors: Gill Amy , Oakley Grace
Published: January 2018

Children and young people in out-of-home care (OOHC) experience a wide range of educational issues at rates disproportionate to their peers. Collaboration between child protection and education systems is critical to addressing unique educational needs within this cohort. This article presents a qualitative case study investigating child protection workers’ perceptions of their work with primary and high school educators in Western Australia. Methods included policy analysis and in-depth interviews with a purposeful sample of 11 Case Workers and Education Officers employed by The Department for Child Protection and Family Support in metropolitan, regional and remote locations in Western Australia. Overall, participants reported that a jointly established Memorandum of Understanding had helped strengthen mutual accountability for education planning to support students in OOHC. However, difficulties obtaining Documented Education Plans and limited access to supplementary educational supports within both systems were considerable sources of tension. An adaptation of Whittington's (2003) Two-Stage Model of Collaboration illustrates the hierarchical nature of the influences on cross-system collaboration in the present study. While the size of the study limited its scope to one stakeholder group, the study offers frontline insights that may inform the development of future education and child protection agency initiatives.
A Review of Cumulative Harm: A Comparison of International Child Protection Practices
Authors: Bryce India
Published: January 2018

This article explores the prevalence of cumulative harm as a subtle and pervasive harm type, often dismissed or ignored in child protection assessment and reporting practices. The author examines a range of trends and research that identifies current gaps in the legislative response to cumulative harm identification and intervention. Through analysis of the current practices informing child protection in Australia, it is clear that there is movement towards a more holistic understanding of harm and the impacts of long-term maltreatment. However, a nationwide level of consistent practice has not yet been achieved, which places cumulative harm and reoccurring maltreatment on an equal footing with episodic maltreatment, particularly in relation to notification and reporting. Internationally, although variations are evident, just as they are in national framework, there is an inclusive impetus towards early intervention as a means of addressing harm prior to the onset of cumulative impact. There is a growing emphasis on children's wellbeing, development and universal right to quality of life and fair treatment.
Pulmonary Embolism in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Eswaradass Prasanna Venkatesan , Dey Sadanand , Singh Dilip , Hill Michael D.
Published: January 2018

Silent pulmonary embolism (PE) may be associated with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We identified 10 patients from 3,132 unique patients (3,431 CT scans). We retrospectively examined CT angiogram of patients with AIS to determine the frequency of concurrent PE in AIS. The period prevalence of PE was 0.32. Seven patients had concurrent PE, whereas three had PE diagnosed 2 days after their AIS presentation. We suspected paradoxical embolism via patent foramen ovale as the cause of stroke in three patients and thrombophilia in four patients. Seven patients had poor outcome including four deaths. CT angiogram stroke protocol images from aortic arch to vertex allows visualization of upper pulmonary arteries and PE detection in AIS.
Alcohols as Surface Disinfectants in Healthcare Settings
Authors: Boyce John M.
Published: January 2018

Isopropyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol have been used as low-level disinfectants in healthcare settings for many years. Recent studies have found that ethyl alcohol inhibits protein synthesis in Escherichia coli by direct effects on ribosomes and RNA polymerase and that 60%–70% solutions have in vitro efficacy against murine norovirus, Ebola virus, and several coronaviruses. Alcohol prep pads or towelettes containing isopropyl or ethyl alcohol and water have been used primarily for disinfection of small noncritical items due to a concern regarding their rapid evaporation rates and associated short contact times. Sterile alcohol solutions are used mostly for disinfection of compounding pharmacies and controlled areas. One new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)–registered cleaner/disinfectant formulation differs from other alcohol-based disinfectants by virtue of having a 30-second contact time for multiple pathogens and a toxicity rating of category IV. Multiple disinfectants containing ethyl alcohol and/or isopropyl alcohol combined with other active agents such as quaternary ammonium or phenolic compounds are widely used for disinfecting environmental surfaces in healthcare facilities.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:323–328
What is the Role of Resilience in Predicting Cyber Bullying Perpetrators and Their Victims?
Authors: Kabadayi Fedai , Sari Serkan V.
Published: January 2018

This study examined the role of resilience in the lives of cyberbullying perpetrators and their victims. Turkish adolescents (n= 444; 245 girls, 55.2%, and 199 boys, 44.8%) 15–19 years of age (mean age of 16.58 years,SD= 0.789) were recruited from different high schools. The participants completed the Cyberbullying Scale (Arıcak, Kınay, & Tanrıkulu,2012), the Cybervictimisation Scale (Arıcak, Tanrıkulu, & Kınay,2012), and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (Arslan,2015). The data were analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and simple regression. The Pearson correlations revealed that there were negative and significant correlations between cyberbullying perpetration and resilience (r= −.146,p< .01). There were negative and significant correlations between cybervictimisation and resilience (r= −0.203,p< 0.01). Simple regression also revealed that resilience was a significant individual predictor for both cyberbullying perpetration (β = −0.146,t= −3.094,p< .001) and cyber victimisation (β = −0.203,t= −4.357,p< .001).
WITCHES, ODIN, AND THE ENGLISH STATE: THE LEGAL RECEPTION OF A COUNTER-CULTURAL MINORITY RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT
Authors: Wheeler G. J.
Published: January 2018

This article looks at the ways in which the legal system of a modern European jurisdiction has engaged with a counter-cultural minority religious movement. The jurisdiction in question is England and Wales, and the religious movement is revived modern Paganism. The article seeks to cast light on the question of what a post-Christian secular state does in practice when its commitment to pluralistic values encounters a group whose self-understanding challenges the norms of both Christianity and secularity. In more general terms, it allows us to look at how the law of England and Wales has attempted to move beyond its historic confessional Protestant premises; and how this attempt has not been without its anomalies and shortcomings.
Dispersion and Attenuation of Love-Type Waves Due to a Point Source in Magneto-Viscoelastic Layer
Authors: Alam P. , Kundu S. , Gupta S.
Published: January 2018

This paper intends to study the dispersion and attenuation characteristics of Love-type wave propagation due to a disturbance point source in a hydrostatic stressed magneto-viscoelastic layer, lying over a heterogeneous fibre-reinforced elastic half-space. The shear elastic moduli and mass density of half-space are the functions of depth and heterogeneity parameters. The coupled field equations are solved with the aid of Green's function technique and Fourier transform. The dispersion and damping equations have been obtained for the wave. The deduced equations coincide with the classical Love-wave condition for the uniform homogeneous isotropic structure. Numerical computations are carried out for involved parameters and demonstrated with the help of graphs. The effects of hydrostatic stress, magnetic coupling parameter, dissipation factor, attenuation coefficient, reinforcement parameters, heterogeneity parameters and order of the depth variation on the dispersion and damping curves are highlighted.
PLANNING CLONAL SELECTION PROGRAMMES FOR PERENNIAL CROPS
Authors: OWUSU-ANSAH FRANK , CURNOW ROBERT N.
Published: January 2018

A formula is developed for calculating the expected gain when a first-order autoregressive repeated measures model for the plot errors is assumed. Using examples from our earlier papers, the similarities of the conclusions about the best selection programme from using simulation of an unstructured model and from using the autoregressive formula for expected gain are presented. The autoregressive formula is then used to derive optimal programmes when the number of plots or plot years is fixed for a range of values for the variance of the interactions of clone effects with years relative to the variance of the clone effects and for the variances and covariances between years of the plot residuals. In general, there are advantages in studying many clones at low replication rather than fewer clones at high replication.
ON SMOOTHNESS OF MINIMAL MODELS OF QUOTIENT SINGULARITIES BY FINITE SUBGROUPS OF SLn(ℂ)
Authors: YAMAGISHI RYO
Published: January 2018

We prove that a quotient singularity ℂn/G by a finite subgroup G ⊂ SLn(ℂ) has a crepant resolution only if G is generated by junior elements. This is a generalization of the result of Verbitsky (Asian J. Math.4(3) (2000), 553–563). We also give a procedure to compute the Cox ring of a minimal model of a given ℂn/G explicitly from information of G. As an application, we investigate the smoothness of minimal models of some quotient singularities. Together with work of Bellamy and Schedler, this completes the classification of symplectically imprimitive quotient singularities that admit projective symplectic resolutions.
WEAK CAYLEY TABLE GROUPS OF SOME CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC GROUPS
Authors: HUMPHRIES STEPHEN P. , PAULSEN REBECA A.
Published: January 2018

For a group G, a weak Cayley table isomorphism is a bijection f : G → G such that f(g1g2) is conjugate to f(g1)f(g2) for all g1, g2 ∈ G. The set of all weak Cayley table isomorphisms forms a group (G) that is the group of symmetries of the weak Cayley table of G. We determine (G) for each of the 17 wallpaper groups G, and for some other crystallographic groups.
VANISHING THEOREMS FOR HYPERSURFACES IN THE UNIT SPHERE
Authors: LIN HEZI
Published: January 2018

Let Mn, n ≥ 3, be a complete hypersurface in $\mathbb{S}$n+1. When Mn is compact, we show that Mn is a homology sphere if the squared norm of its traceless second fundamental form is less than $\frac{2(n-1)}{n}$. When Mn is non-compact, we show that there are no non-trivial L2 harmonic p-forms, 1 ≤ p ≤ n − 1, on Mn under pointwise condition. We also show the non-existence of L2 harmonic 1-forms on Mn provided that Mn is minimal and $\frac{n-1}{n}$-stable. This implies that Mn has only one end. Finally, we prove that there exists an explicit positive constant C such that if the total curvature of Mn is less than C, then there are no non-trivial L2 harmonic p-forms on Mn for all 1 ≤ p ≤ n − 1.
FREE ACTION OF FINITE GROUPS ON SPACES OF COHOMOLOGY TYPE (0, b)
Authors: SINGH K. SOMORJIT , SINGH HEMANT KUMAR , SINGH TEJ BAHADUR
Published: January 2018

Let G be a finite group acting freely on a finitistic space X having cohomology type (0, b) (for example, $\mathbb S$n × $\mathbb S$2n is a space of type (0, 1) and the one-point union $\mathbb S$n ∨ $\mathbb S$2n ∨ $\mathbb S$3n is a space of type (0, 0)). It is known that a finite group G that contains ℤp ⊕ ℤp ⊕ ℤp, p a prime, cannot act freely on $\mathbb S$n × $\mathbb S$2n. In this paper, we show that if a finite group G acts freely on a space of type (0, 1), where n is odd, then G cannot contain ℤp ⊕ ℤp, p an odd prime. For spaces of cohomology type (0, 0), we show that every p-subgroup of G is either cyclic or a generalized quaternion group. Moreover, for n even, it is shown that ℤ2 is the only group that can act freely on X.
GENERALIZED HARDY–CESÀRO OPERATORS BETWEEN WEIGHTED SPACES
Authors: PEDERSEN THOMAS VILS
Published: January 2018

We characterize those non-negative, measurable functions ψ on [0, 1] and positive, continuous functions ω1 and ω2 on ℝ+ for which the generalized Hardy–Cesàro operator
$$\begin{equation*}(U_{\psi}f)(x)=\int_0^1 f(tx)\psi(t)\,dt\end{equation*}$$

defines a bounded operator Uψ: L1(ω1) → L1(ω2) This generalizes a result of Xiao [7] to weighted spaces. Furthermore, we extend Uψ to a bounded operator on M(ω1) with range in L1(ω2) ⊕ ℂδ0, where M(ω1) is the weighted space of locally finite, complex Borel measures on ℝ+. Finally, we show that the zero operator is the only weakly compact generalized Hardy–Cesàro operator from L1(ω1) to L1(ω2).
Long-term efficacy of standardised specific subcutaneous immunotherapy in children with persistent allergic rhinitis due to multiple allergens including house dust mites
Authors: Song Y , Long J , Wang T , Xie J , Wang M , Tan G
Published: January 2018

Objectives:

To observe the five-year efficacy of standardised specific subcutaneous immunotherapy for house dust mite allergy in monosensitised and polysensitised children with persistent allergic rhinitis.

Methods:

From January 2007 to August 2009, 236 children with persistent allergic rhinitis were divided into 2 groups: 1 group received standardised specific subcutaneous immunotherapy using house dust mite extract; the other received pharmacotherapy with intranasal corticosteroids and oral antihistamines. A total of 193 patients (106 in the immunotherapy group and 87 in the pharmacotherapy group) completed treatment. Scores for symptoms, total medication and quality of life were evaluated.

Results:

The subcutaneous immunotherapy group demonstrated a significant reduction in visual analogue scale scores, Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire scores and total medication scores (p < 0.05) compared with the pharmacotherapy group. No significant differences in the visual analogue scale and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire scores were found between the polysensitised and monosensitised subgroups (p > 0.05). No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusion:

Standardised subcutaneous immunotherapy has long-term efficacy for children with persistent allergic rhinitis. Single-allergen subcutaneous immunotherapy was appropriate for allergic rhinitis caused by multiple allergens, including house dust mites, in the paediatric population.