bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dental enamel hypoplasias in Holocene bighorn sheep (Oviscanadensis) in eastern Washington state, USA
Authors: Lyman R. Lee
Published: May 2018

Dental enamel hypoplasias have been documented in extant and fossil mammal species and attributed to several kinds of physiological stress. They have not previously been reported among bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis Shaw, 1804). Forty-six (36.8%) of 125 mandibular molars (m1, m2, m3) of bighorn recovered from disturbed Holocene archaeological deposits in eastern Washington state display several kinds of hypoplasias. The exact ontogenetic age of the individual animals when hypoplasias formed cannot be determined. The majority of the hypoplasias occur near the root–enamel junction of the m3, suggesting that most individuals were young adults when the defect formed. Physiological stress associated with reproductive costs, winter nutritional deficits, or both seems likely.
Search for the chiral magnetic effect in relativistic heavy-ion collisions
Authors: Zhao Jie
Published: May 2018

Relativistic heavy-ion collisions provide an ideal environment to study the emergent phenomena in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). The chiral magnetic effect (CME) is one of the most interesting, arising from the topological charge fluctuations of QCD vacua, immersed in a strong magnetic field. Since the first measurement nearly a decade ago of the possibly CME-induced charge correlation, extensive studies have been devoted to background contributions to those measurements. Many new ideas and techniques have been developed to reduce or eliminate the backgrounds. This paper reviews these developments and the overall progress in the search for the CME.
Inexpensive Cu2SnS3 grown by room-temperature aqueous bath electrodeposition for thin film solar cells
Authors: Patel Biren , Mukhopadhyay Indrajit , Ray Abhijit
Published: May 2018

We report the growth of Cu2SnS3 (CTS) thin films on F-doped SnO2 (FTO) glass substrates at room-temperature by low-cost electrodeposition technique using an aqueous medium without the evolution of hydrogen. Electrolyte concentration and deposition potential were optimized under the limits of water hydrolysis. As-deposited films are post-annealed in the presence of the sulphur flakes to establish the stoichiometry. The annealed films were found to contain high phase purity and favorable optical properties to be useful for the photovoltaic applications. Optical data reveal that the CTS films have direct optical bandgap of 1.25 eV with an absorption coefficient of the order of 104 cm[Formula: see text]. A photovoltaic cell architecture of Glass/FTO (back contact)/CTS/CdS/Al:ZnO/Al (front contact) exhibited an open circuit voltage of 28 mV, a short circuit current density of 8.4 [Formula: see text]A/cm2 and the fill factor of 25%. The absorber thickness optimization and the use of Mo-coated glass as a back contact improve the solar cell parameters. A further study in this aspect is under way.
An integrated algorithm for hypersonic fluid-thermal-structural numerical simulation
Authors: Li Jia-Wei , Wang Jiang-Feng
Published: May 2018

In this paper, a fluid-structural-thermal integrated method is presented based on finite volume method. A unified integral equations system is developed as the control equations for physical process of aero-heating and structural heat transfer. The whole physical field is discretized by using an up-wind finite volume method. To demonstrate its capability, the numerical simulation of Mach 6.47 flow over stainless steel cylinder shows a good agreement with measured values, and this method dynamically simulates the objective physical processes. Thus, the integrated algorithm proves to be efficient and reliable.
Chaotic Itinerancy Observed in Mutually Coupled Gaussian Maps
Authors: Kobayashi Mio , Yoshinaga Tetsuya
Published: May 2018

A one-dimensional Gaussian map defined by a Gaussian function describes a discrete-time dynamical system. Chaotic behavior can be observed in both Gaussian and logistic maps. This study analyzes the bifurcation structure corresponding to the fixed and periodic points of a coupled system comprising two Gaussian maps. The bifurcation structure of a mutually coupled Gaussian map is more complex than that of a mutually coupled logistic map. In a coupled Gaussian map, it was confirmed that after a stable fixed point or stable periodic points became unstable through the bifurcation, the points were able to recover their stability while the system parameters were changing. Moreover, we investigated a parameter region in which symmetric and asymmetric stable fixed points coexisted. Asymmetric unstable fixed point was generated by the [Formula: see text]-type branching of a symmetric stable fixed point. The stability of the unstable fixed point could be recovered through period-doubling and tangent bifurcations. Furthermore, a homoclinic structure related to the occurrence of chaotic behavior and invariant closed curves caused by two-periodic points was observed. The mutually coupled Gaussian map was merely a two-dimensional dynamical system; however, chaotic itinerancy, known to be a characteristic property associated with high-dimensional dynamical systems, was observed. The bifurcation structure of the mutually coupled Gaussian map clearly elucidates the mechanism of chaotic itinerancy generation in the two-dimensional coupled map. We discussed this mechanism by comparing the bifurcation structures of the Gaussian and logistic maps.
3D Grid Multi-Wing Chaotic Attractors
Authors: Yu Nan , Wang Yan-Wu , Liu Xiao-Kang , Xiao Jiang-Wen
Published: May 2018

As reported in the existing literature, wing attractors are confined to 1D [Formula: see text]-wing attractors, 2D [Formula: see text]-grid wing attractors. In this paper, we break this limitation and generate 3D [Formula: see text]-grid multi-wing chaotic attractors (GMWCAs). The 3D GMWCAs are produced via the following three steps: (1) applying rotation transformation to a double-wing Lorenz-like system to ensure that its saddle-focus equilibria with index 2 are located on the plane [Formula: see text]; (2) extending the wing attractors of the transformed Lorenz-like system along the [Formula: see text]-axis to have mirror symmetry; (3) introducing stair switching functions to increase the number of saddle-focus equilibria with index 2 along the [Formula: see text]-axis and [Formula: see text]-axis. Furthermore, some basic dynamical properties of the 3D chaotic system, including equilibria, symmetry, dissipativity, Lyapunov exponents and bifurcation diagram, are investigated and a module-based unified circuit diagram is designed. The effectiveness of this approach is confirmed by both numerical simulations and electrical circuit experiment.
Various Attractors, Coexisting Attractors and Antimonotonicity in a Simple Fourth-Order Memristive Twin-T Oscillator
Authors: Zhou Ling , Wang Chunhua , Zhang Xin , Yao Wei
Published: May 2018

By replacing the resistor in a Twin-T network with a generalized flux-controlled memristor, this paper proposes a simple fourth-order memristive Twin-T oscillator. Rich dynamical behaviors can be observed in the dynamical system. The most striking feature is that this system has various periodic orbits and various chaotic attractors generated by adjusting parameter [Formula: see text]. At the same time, coexisting attractors and antimonotonicity are also detected (especially, two full Feigenbaum remerging trees in series are observed in such autonomous chaotic systems). Their dynamical features are analyzed by phase portraits, Lyapunov exponents, bifurcation diagrams and basin of attraction. Moreover, hardware experiments on a breadboard are carried out. Experimental measurements are in accordance with the simulation results. Finally, a multi-channel random bit generator is designed for encryption applications. Numerical results illustrate the usefulness of the random bit generator.
Disjoint Hypercyclicity and Topological Entropy of Composition Operators
Authors: Yin Zongbin , Chen Yuming , He Shengnan
Published: May 2018

In a previous paper, we characterized the Devaney chaos, frequent hypercyclicity and dense distributional chaos of composition operators induced by continuous self-maps on the real line. The present paper further investigates the disjoint hypercyclicity and topological entropy of these operators. It is shown that the composition operator is [Formula: see text]-transitive if and only if it is Cesàro-hypercyclic, if and only if it is supercyclic, if and only if it has the specification property on the whole space. Furthermore, sufficient and necessary conditions for a pair of composition operators to be disjoint hypercyclic (disjoint mixing, respectively) are obtained. Finally, sufficient conditions for the composition operator to admit infinite topological entropy are provided.
Synthesis, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical characterization of iron(III) tetraarylporphyrins containing four β,β′-butano and β,β′-benzo fused rings
Authors: Xu Weijie , Fang Yuanyuan , Ou Zhongping , Chen Mingyuan , Kadish Karl M.
Published: May 2018

Six iron(III) tetraarylporphyrins containing four [Formula: see text]-butano or [Formula: see text]-benzo fused rings were synthesized and characterized by electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry in nonaqueous media. The examined compounds are represented as butano(TpYPP)FeCl and benzo(TpYPP)FeCl, where TpYPP is a dianion of the meso-substituted porphyrin, Y is a CH[Formula: see text], H or Cl substituent on the para-position of the four meso-phenyl rings and butano and benzo are the [Formula: see text]-substituents on each of the four pyrrole rings of the compound. Up to three reductions are observed for each Fe(III) butano- and benzoporphyrin in CH[Formula: see text]Cl[Formula: see text] or pyridine containing 0.1 M TBAP, the first of which is assigned in each case to a metal-centered electron transfer. The second reduction is also metal-centered in CH[Formula: see text]Cl[Formula: see text] and leads to formation of an Fe(I) porphyrin, but it is porphyrin ring-centered and gives an Fe(II) porphyrin [Formula: see text]-anion radical reduction product when pyridine is used as the solvent. The effects of the solvent and type of fused ring system (butano or benzo) on the UV-vis spectra and electrochemical properties of the Fe(III) porphyrins are discussed and comparisons are made to both the structurally related non-[Formula: see text]-substituted iron porphyrins and earlier described butano- or benzotetraarylporphyrins containing Cu(II) or Co(II) central metal ions.
Probing the interactions of phthalocyanine-based photosensitizers with model phospholipid bilayer by molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Huang Yuchao , Liu Yichang , Chen Yayu , Song Meiru , Huang Mingdong , Xue Jinping , Liu Lin , Li Jinyu
Published: May 2018

Phthalocyanines (Pc) have received considerable attention in the design of photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). It is of great interest to design novel Pc-based photosensitizer with improved biological efficiency, which largely relies on the understanding of the interactions of Pc with cell membranes at a molecular level. Here, via all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we explored the interaction mechanism between a model phospholipid bilayer and three zinc Pc (ZnPc) molecules with different hydrophobicity in nature. We find that the adsorption and insertion behaviors of ZnPc molecules in the model bilayer are different due to the differing hydrophobicity and interaction patterns with phospholipids. Moreover, our simulations demonstrate that the conjunction of a ZnPc skeleton with a cholesterol moiety may reduce the intrinsic molecular rotation of ZnPc in membranes, presumably leading to an increase of the generation efficiency of reactive oxygen species for PDT. The molecular insights obtained here are likely to help improve the rational design of novel photosensitizers with enhanced cellular uptake and photocytotoxic activity.
Spatio-Temporal Matching for Urban Transportation Applications
Authors: Ayala Daniel , Wolfson Ouri , Dasgupta Bhaskar , Lin Jie , Xu Bo
Published: May 2018

In this article, we present a search problem in which mobile
agents
are searching for static
resources
. Each agent wants to obtain exactly one resource. Both agents and resources are spatially located on a road network and the movement of the agents is constrained to the road network. This problem applies to various transportation applications including: vehicles (agents) searching for parking (resources) and taxicabs (agents) searching for clients to pick up (resources). In this work, we design search algorithms for such scenarios. We model the problem in different scenarios that vary based on the level of information that is available to the agents. These scenarios vary from scenarios in which agents have complete information about other agents and resources, to scenarios in which agents only have access to a fraction of the data about the availability of resources (uncertain data). We also propose pricing schemes that incentivize vehicles to search for resources in a way that benefits the system and the environment. Our proposed algorithms were tested in a simulation environment that uses real-world data. We were able to attain up to 40% improvements over other approaches that were tested against our algorithms.
Implications of High-Frequency Trading for Security Markets
Authors: Linton Oliver , Mahmoodzadeh Soheil
Published: May 2018

High-frequency trading (HFT) has grown substantially in recent years due to fast-paced technological developments and their rapid uptake, particularly in equity markets. This review investigates how HFT could evolve and, by developing a robust understanding of its effects, identifies potential risks and opportunities that HFT could present in terms of financial stability and other market outcomes such as volatility, liquidity, price efficiency, and price discovery. Despite commonly held negative perceptions, the available evidence indicates that HFT and algorithmic trading may have several beneficial effects on markets. However, these types of trading may cause instabilities in financial markets in specific circumstances. Carefully chosen regulatory measures are needed to address concerns in the shorter term. However, further work is needed to inform policies in the longer term, particularly in view of likely uncertainties and lack of data. This work will be vital in supporting evidence-based regulation in this controversial and rapidly evolving field.
Tales of Human Migration, Admixture, and Selection in Africa
Authors: Schlebusch Carina M. , Jakobsson Mattias
Published: May 2018

In the last three decades, genetic studies have played an increasingly important role in exploring human history. They have helped to conclusively establish that anatomically modern humans first appeared in Africa roughly 250,000–350,000 years before present and subsequently migrated to other parts of the world. The history of humans in Africa is complex and includes demographic events that influenced patterns of genetic variation across the continent. Through genetic studies, it has become evident that deep African population history is captured by relationships among African hunter–gatherers, as the world's deepest population divergences occur among these groups, and that the deepest population divergence dates to 300,000 years before present. However, the spread of pastoralism and agriculture in the last few thousand years has shaped the geographic distribution of present-day Africans and their genetic diversity. With today's sequencing technologies, we can obtain full genome sequences from diverse sets of extant and prehistoric Africans. The coming years will contribute exciting new insights toward deciphering human evolutionary history in Africa.
Twenty-First-Century Trade Agreements and the Owl of Minerva
Authors: Hoekman Bernard , Nelson Douglas
Published: May 2018

The post-Second World War liberal trade order has been a driver of global economic growth and rising average per capita incomes. This order confronts increasing opposition, reflecting concerns about adjustment costs and distributional effects of globalization and the ability to pursue national policy goals. At the same time, the development of complex production relations distributed across many countries calls for cooperation on a variety of regulatory policies. Contrary to what is argued by opponents of globalization, this does not imply one-size-fits-all rules that constitute a threat to national sovereignty and democratic legitimation. There remains an important traditional integration agenda that centers on rule making by major trading powers on policies that generate negative international spillovers. But the core challenge for the political economy of twenty-first-century trade agreements is to support regulatory cooperation to better govern international production and address the nonpecuniary externalities associated with greater economic integration.
Improvement of Spinosad Production upon Utilization of Oils and Manipulation of β-Oxidation in a High-Producing Saccharopolyspora spinosa Strain
Authors: Huang Ying , Zhang Xiaolin , Zhao Chen , Zhuang Xuhui  , Zhu Lin , Guo Chao , Song Yuan
Published: May 2018

Spinosad, a member of polyketide-derived macrolides produced in the actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa, has been developed as a broad-spectrum and effective insecticide. The β-oxidation pathway could be an important source of building blocks for the biosynthesis of spinosad, thus the effect of vegetable oils on the production of spinosad in a high-yield strain was investigated. The spinosad production increased significantly with the addition of strawberry seed oil (511.64 mg/L) and camellia oil (520.07 mg/L) compared to the control group without oil (285.76 mg/L) and soybean oil group (398.11 mg/L). It also revealed that the addition of oils would affect the expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, precursor supply, and oxidative stress. The genetically engineered strain, in which fadD1 and fadE genes of Streptomyces coelicolor were inserted, produced spinosad up to 784.72 mg/L in the medium containing camellia oil, while a higher spinosad production level (843.40 mg/L) was detected with the addition of 0.01 mM of thiourea.
Association of Diabetic Status and Glycemic Control With Ischemic and Bleeding Outcomes in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease: The 5‐Year CORONOR Registry
Authors: Lemesle Gilles , Meurice Thibaud , Tricot Olivier , Lamblin Nicolas , Bauters Christophe
Published: May 2018

Background

The relation between diabetes mellitus, glycemic control, and ischemic and bleeding events is poorly described in outpatients with stable coronary artery disease receiving modern secondary prevention.

Methods and Results

The multicenter CORONOR (Suivi d'une cohorte de patients Coronariens stables en région Nord‐pas‐de‐Calais) registry enrolled 4184 outpatients with stable coronary artery disease, including 1297 patients (31%) with diabetes mellitus. A recent glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was available for 1146 diabetic patients, and 48% had HbA1c ≥7%. We analyzed 5‐year ischemic (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke) and bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium ≥3) outcomes, according to diabetic status and glycemic control. When compared with nondiabetic patients, the ischemic risk was higher in diabetic patients with HbA1c ≥7% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25–1.93) but not in diabetic patients with HbA1c <7% (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.83–1.36). Diabetic patients with HbA1c ≥7% were at higher risk than diabetic patients with HbA1c <7% (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.09–1.98). When compared with nondiabetic patients, the bleeding risk was higher in diabetic patients, with HbA1c <7% (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.04–2.67) and in those with HbA1c ≥7% (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.07–2.86). No difference in bleeding risk was observed between diabetic patients with HbA1c ≥7% versus those with HbA1c <7%. Similar results were obtained when adjusted for baseline characteristics.

Conclusions

The 5‐year increased risk of ischemic events in patients with stable coronary artery disease with diabetes mellitus was restricted to those with HbA1c ≥7%. By contrast, the increase in bleeding risk associated with diabetes mellitus was observed in patients with HbA1c ≥7% and in patients with HbA1c <7%. The level of HbA1c should be taken into account for future research and may help physicians to manage prolonged antithrombotic therapies in this high‐risk subgroup.
Muslim American Cyber Contestations between Scholars and Activists Debating Racism, Islamophobia and Black Lives Matter
Authors: Latif Jibril
Published: May 2018

Over the last half-century, African Americans have been supplanted as the representational face of Islam in America by an immigrant population they initially perceived as obsequious to power and unconcerned with seeking redress to their historical grievances. Recently, however, a widespread cognizance of this strategic miscalculation coupled with the precipitous rise of Islamophobia in the Trump era has younger descendants of Muslim immigrants identifying with the left, combating Islamophobia as a type of racism in intersectional solidarity with other social justice platforms like the Black Lives Matter movement (blm). Thus, when fundamental disagreements emerged at the ris conference in late 2016 over endorsing the non-profit blm entity, they sparked robust social media debates. This paper analyzes those inter-communal negotiations as they played out on the Facebook pages of Muslim scholars, associating discourse models with contestations of community members negotiating the boundaries involved with integrating the heterogeneous discourses of antiracism.
Fall-Behind Parents? The Influential Factors on Digital Parenting Self-Efficacy in Disadvantaged Communities
Authors: Huang Gejun , Li Xiaoqian , Chen Wenhong , Straubhaar Joseph D.
Published: May 2018

As the Internet penetration in the United States increases, many digital divide researchers have delved into the parent–child dynamics regarding family digital access and use. However, little attention has been paid to digital parenting in terms of monitoring, guiding, and regulating children’s digital lives, especially in the context of disadvantaged communities. As an initial step to fill the critical gaps in related literature, this study casts light on factors that affect the self-efficacy of digital parenting in disadvantaged urban communities. Using a census survey of public housing households in one of the largest public housing authorities in the United States, we found that single motherhood and home Internet access significantly accounted for low–socioeconomic status parents’ digital parenting self-efficacy. We also found that parental engagement in children’s school activities strongly affected their digital parenting self-efficacy. By contrast, we found that other sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors (i.e., gender, education, race/ethnicity), mobile Internet access, parents’ homework help, and educational expectation fail to be contributing factors.
The impact of post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology on quality of life: The sentinel experience of anger, hypervigilance and restricted affect
Authors: Forbes David , Nickerson Angela , Bryant Richard A , Creamer Mark , Silove Derrick , McFarlane Alexander C , Van Hooff Miranda , Phelps Andrea , Felmingham Kim L , Malhi Gin S , Steel Zachary , Fredrickson Julia , Alkemade Nathan , O’Donnell Meaghan
Published: May 2018

Background:

It is unclear which specific symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are related to poor perceived quality of life.

Objective:

To investigate the influence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology on quality of life in traumatic injury survivors.

Method:

Traumatic injury survivors completed questionnaires on post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology and quality of life at 3 months ( n = 987), 12 months ( n = 862), 24 months ( n = 830) and 6 years ( n = 613) post trauma.

Results:

Low quality of life was reported by 14.5% of injury survivors at 3 months and 8% at 6 years post event. The post-traumatic stress disorder symptom clusters that contributed most to poor perceived quality of life were numbing and arousal, the individual symptoms that contributed most were anger, hypervigilance and restricted affect.

Conclusions:

There was variability in the quality of life of traumatic injury survivors in the 6 years following trauma and a consistent proportion reported low quality of life. Early intervention to reduce anger, hypervigilance and restricted affect symptoms may provide a means to improving the quality of life of traumatic injury survivors.
Preparation and characterization of titanium—segmented polyurethane composites for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Aguilar-Perez Fernando Javier , Vargas-Coronado Rossana , Cervantes-Uc Jose Manuel , Cauich-Rodriguez Juan Valerio , Rosales-Ibañez Raul , Pavon-Palacio Juan Jose , Torres-Hernandez Yadir , Rodriguez-Ortiz Jose Antonio
Published: May 2018

Segmented polyurethanes were prepared with polycaprolactone diol as soft segment and 4,4-methylene-bis cyclohexyl diisocyanate and l-glutamine as the rigid segment. These polyurethanes were filled with 1 wt.% to 5 wt.% titanium particles (Ti), physicochemically characterized and their biocompatibility assessed using human dental pulp stem cells and mice osteoblasts. Physicochemical characterization showed that composites retained the properties of the semicrystalline polyurethane as they exhibited a glass transition temperature (Tg) between −35°C and −45°C, melting temperature (Tm) at 52°C and crystallinity close to 40% as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. In agreement with this, X-ray diffraction showed reflections at 21.3° and 23.6° for polycaprolactone diol and reflections at 35.1°, 38.4°, and 40.2° for Ti particles suggesting that these particles are not acting as nucleating sites. The addition of up to 5 wt.% of Ti reduced both, tensile strength and maximum strain from 1.9 MPa to 1.2 MPa, and from 670% to 172% for pristine and filled polyurethane, respectively. Although there were differences between composites at low strain rates, no significant differences in mechanical behavior were observed at higher strain rate where a tensile stress of 8.5 MPa and strain of 223% were observed for 5 wt.% composites. The addition to titanium particles had a beneficial effect on both human dental pulp stem cells and osteoblasts viability, as it increased with the amount of titanium in composites up to 10 days of incubation.
Repair of Primary Cleft Palate and Oronasal Fistula With Acellular Dermal Matrix: A Systematic Review and Surgeon Survey
Authors: Simpson Andrew , Samargandi Osama A. , Wong Alison , Graham M. Elise , Bezuhly Michael
Published: May 2018

Objective:

The current review and survey aim to assess the effectiveness of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in the repair of cleft palate and oronasal fistula and to evaluate the current trends of ADM use in palate surgery.

Design:

A systematic review of English articles was conducted using MEDLINE (1960 to July 1, 2016), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (1960 to July 1, 2016), and EMBASE (1991 to July 1, 2016). Additional studies were identified through a review of references cited in initially identified articles. Search terms included “cleft palate,” “palatal,” “oronasal fistula,” “acellular dermal matrix,” and “Alloderm®.” An online survey was disseminated to members of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association to assess current trends in ADM use in palate surgery.

Study Selection:

All studies evaluating the outcome of primary palate repair or repair of oronasal fistula with the use of aceullar dermal matrix products were included in the review.

Results:

Twelve studies met inclusion criteria for review. Studies were generally of low quality, as indicated by methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) scores ranging from 7 to 14. The pooled estimate for fistula formation after primary palatoplasty following ADM use was 7.1%. The pooled estimate for recurrence of fistula after attempted repair using ADM was 11%. Thirty-six cleft surgeons responded to the online survey study. Of these, 45% used ADM in primary cleft palate repair, while 67% used ADM for repair of oronasal fistulae.

Conclusion:

Use of ADM products is commonplace in palate surgery. Despite this, there is a paucity of high-quality data demonstrating benefit. Further randomized controlled trials examining ADM in palate surgery are required to help develop structured guidelines and improve care.
Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Medicaid Beneficiaries: The Role of Physician Payment and Managed Care
Authors: Sabik Lindsay M. , Dahman Bassam , Vichare Anushree , Bradley Cathy J.
Published: May 2018

Medicaid-insured women have low rates of cancer screening. There are multiple policy levers that may influence access to preventive services such as screening, including physician payment and managed care. We examine the relationship between each of these factors and breast and cervical cancer screening among nonelderly nondisabled adult Medicaid enrollees. We combine individual-level data on Medicaid enrollment, demographics, and use of screening services from the Medicaid Analytic eXtract files with data on states’ Medicaid-to-Medicare fee ratios and estimate their impact on screening services. Higher physician fees are associated with greater screening for comprehensive managed care enrollees; for enrollees in fee-for-service Medicaid, the findings are mixed. Patient participation in primary care case management is a significant moderator of the relationship between physician fees and the rate of screening, as interactions between enrollee primary care case management status and the Medicaid fee ratio are consistently positive across models of screening.
How preferable and possible is management research-led teaching impact?
Authors: Mitchell Vincent Wayne , Harvey William S
Published: May 2018

Despite some research-led teaching relying heavily on an individual’s research, we find very few impact cases studies from the United Kingdom’s research excellence framework 2014 which use this mechanism for impact. This article questions this absence, identifies problems and challenges of ignoring it and suggests recognising students as research translators to create change. Using research excellence framework 2014 as a case, we define research-led teaching and use Boyer’s scholarship of application as our pedagogical base arguing that ignoring this impact pathway is unjustifiable, demotivating and a missed opportunity which underrepresents the impact of management research. The article provokes new thinking on research-led teaching impact for faculty, research managers, universities and international impact assessment organisations.
Predicting Tendon Tissue Grafting Source From the Extensors of Long Fingers: A Systematic Review of Cadaveric Studies
Authors: Yammine Kaissar
Published: May 2018

Background: The use of tendon tissue for transfer and grafting is a common practice in hand surgery. Many local tendons are usually used, mainly that of the palmaris longus muscle. However, this tendon could be absent in up to 46%. Extra slips of the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) and extra tendons such as the extensor indicis (EI) and the extensor digiti minimi (EDM) could be valuable sources for tendon tissue. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to quantify the proportion of extra slips in relation to each tendon and extra tendons in relation to each long finger. The aim is to better predict the location of tendon tissue sources on the dorsum of the hand in reconstructive surgery. Results: Based on 39 studies including 7847 hands, the cumulative frequencies of extra slips and extra tendons and the association between double-slip frequency and ancestry were as follows: (1) the little finger showed the highest cumulative frequency of extra slips (96.54%), followed by the ring (37.5%), long (30.6%), and index (9.5%) fingers; (2) the index with its EI and its variants and the little finger with its EDM bear by far the highest cumulative frequency of extra tendons (≈100%); and (3) double slips are found to be rare in Indian populations, most prevalent in Japanese populations, more prevalent in the index and little fingers of Caucasians, and more prevalent in the ring fingers of Middle Eastern populations. Conclusions: Knowledge of the frequencies of extra slips for each long extensor tendon and extra tendons for each long finger along with their prevalence in different populations would improve: (1) location prevision of tendon source for tendon grafting; and (2) surgical planning while supporting a patient-centered approach. Evidence-based hand anatomy would have a major potential to contribute to the practice of an evidence-based hand surgery. Predicting the possible tendon sources that could be present on the dorsum of the hand is thought to be very valuable for hand surgeons. In addition and from an evolutionary perspective, we hypothesized that the observed significantly higher frequency values of the double-slip and triple-slip types of the EDC of the ring finger, EDC of the little finger, and EDM might indicate a natural selection tendency for a higher independence of the former digits in the future evolution of the human hand.
Time-efficient filtering method for three-dimensional point clouds data of tunnel structures
Authors: Xu Xiangyang , Yang Hao , Neumann Ingo
Published: May 2018

With the development of subways and tunnels, health monitoring of these structures are more and more important. Terrestrial laser scanning is an essential highly accurate technology used to obtain the point clouds data. However, the enormous quantity of point cloud of a tunnel makes it difficult to monitor the long-distance tunnel effectively and efficiently. Therefore, a fast and accurate extraction method is critical for the health monitoring of tunnel structures. In this article, a “Circular Likelihood” method is investigated. The innovation of this study is the consideration of the symmetry and the circular shape of the tunnel structure, where most of the noise can be removed and lots of inefficient iterations are avoided; thus, the computing time is greatly shortened.
Design and control of a hydraulic composite actuator for vibration simulation
Authors: Xuan Jianlin , Wang Shoukun , Liu Hu
Published: May 2018

A hydraulic composite actuator is developed for vibration simulation. The hydraulic scheme and control principle are introduced and an open–closed-loop iterative learning control method is proposed for control issue. A special composite cylinder controlled by servo valve and proportional relief valve is designed to generate static force with large amplitude and dynamic force with small amplitude but high frequency. The control subsystem for dynamic force is a zero-type system with very high open-loop gain and uncertainty of parameters; therefore, an open–closed-loop proportional–derivative-type iterative learning control scheme is designed to solve this challenging control issue. A principle prototype of this hydraulic has been developed, and the experiments have been designed for this actuator. Different control methods are experimented for verification and comparison, and experiment results have verified practical applicability of this actuator and the superiority of control scheme.
Energy consumption modeling of industrial robot based on simulated power data and parameter identification
Authors: Liu Aiming , Liu Huan , Yao Bitao , Xu Wenjun , Yang Ming
Published: May 2018

Industrial robots consume a considerable amount of energy in the manufacturing industry. As sustainable manufacturing is one of the directions of manufacturing, the energy efficiency of the industrial robots should be considered. The energy consumption model is the key to analyze and improve the energy efficiency of industrial robots. This article focuses on the energy consumption characteristic analysis and energy consumption modeling of the industrial robot. The inertial and friction parameters which are the base of energy consumption modeling need to be identified. Since the torque which is usually used for parameter identification may be unavailable, we propose to use the software-simulated power data to perform the parameter identification and model the energy consumption of the robot. Then, comprehensive simulations are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method for parameter identification and the energy consumption model. The relation between the speed of the robot and its energy consumption is also analyzed.
Fire in operating theatres: DaSH-ing to the rescue
Authors: Wilson Liam , Farooq Omer
Published: May 2018

Operating theatres are dynamic environments that require multi professional team interactions. Effective team working is essential for efficient delivery of safe patient care. A fire in the operating theatre is a rare but potentially life threatening event for both patients and staff. A rapid and cohesive response from theatre and allied staff including porters, fire safety officer etc is paramount.

We delivered a training session that utilised in situ simulation (simulation in workplace). After conducting needs analysis, learning objectives were agreed. After thorough planning, the date and location of the training session were identified. Contingency plans were put in place to ensure that patient care was not compromised at any point. To ensure success, checklists for faculty were devised and adhered to. A medium fidelity manikin with live monitoring was used.

The first part of the scenario involved management of a surgical emergency by theatre staff. The second part involved management of a fire in the operating theatre while an emergency procedure was being undertaken. To achieve maximum learning potential, debriefing was provided immediately after each part of the scenario. A fire safety officer was present as a content expert.

Latent errors (hidden errors in the workplace, staff knowledge etc) were identified. Malfunctioning of theatre floor windows and staff unawareness about the location of an evacuation site were some of the identified latent errors. Thorough feedback to address these issues was provided to the participants on the day. A detailed report of the training session was given to the relevant departments. This resulted in the equipment faults being rectified.

The training session was a very positive experience and helped not only in improving participants’ knowledge, behaviour and confidence but also it made system and environment better equipped.
Metformin prevents nerve growth factor-dependent proliferative and proangiogenic effects in epithelial ovarian cancer cells and endothelial cells
Authors: Garrido Maritza P. , Vera Carolina , Vega Margarita , Quest Andrew F.G. , Romero Carmen
Published: May 2018

Background:

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is characterized by exacerbated angiogenesis regulated by proangiogenic and growth factors. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is overexpressed in EOC where it promotes proliferation as well as survival and is considered a proangiogenic factor. Metformin, a drug commonly used in the treatment of diabetes, is attributed to antineoplastic effects, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Given that current therapies yield modest results in EOC patients, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of metformin on NGF-enhanced proliferation of EOC cells and the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells.

Methods:

A2780 (EOC), HOSE (human ovarian surface epithelial) and EA.hy926 (endothelial) cells were treated with NGF and metformin. Cell viability, cell proliferation and cell cycle were evaluated in all three cell lines, and the angiogenic potential in endothelial EA.hy926 cells.

Results:

NGF enhanced cell proliferation in A2780, HOSE and EA.hy926 cells ( p < 0.05), while metformin treatment decreased cell proliferation in A2780 and EA.hy926 cells ( p < 0.05). Moreover, the NGF-enhanced angiogenic score in EA.hy926 cells was prevented by metformin ( p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Given that NGF plays a significant role in EOC progression, our current findings suggest that metformin holds considerable promise as an adjuvant treatment in ovarian cancer.
Changes in the Spatial Pattern and Ecological Functionalities of Green Spaces in Lubumbashi (the Democratic Republic of Congo) in Relation With the Degree of Urbanization
Authors: Useni Sikuzani Yannick , Sambiéni Kouagou Raoul , Maréchal Justine , Ilunga wa Ilunga Edouard , Malaisse François , Bogaert Jan , Munyemba Kankumbi François
Published: May 2018

An accurate description of spatial urban growth is a prerequisite step in order to implement appropriated policies to improve the ecosystem service performance of green spaces in a city. Such information is, however, absent in Lubumbashi, the second metropolis of the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite its high demographic growth rate and an unplanned spatial urban growth. This study was designed to characterize the spatial pattern of green spaces and the extent of changes driven by the urbanization along the urban–rural gradient using a combination of landscape metrics and floristic plots. Our results revealed that the number of patches was directly proportional to the degree of urbanization of the city, whereas the area of the green spaces and the index of the largest patch showed an inverse relationship with the urbanization degree. Urban green spaces were dominated by attached and roadside spaces that are more equipped and present a higher occurrence of cultivated plants. By contrast, peri-urban green spaces were characterized by buffer zones, fields, abandoned areas, and informal spaces, with an elevated proportion of invasive species and natural vegetation. Moreover, it was found that the number of exotic species increased with the degree of urbanization, reaching values considered a threat to the indigenous flora. The current results underline the need for urgent measures oriented both toward increasing the spatial connectivity between green spaces (e.g., by creating new green spaces planted with indigenous species) while reducing the spread of invasive species in the city.
Reframing generations scholarship through the eyes of ordinary Chinese
Authors: Bischoping Katherine , Gao Zhipeng
Published: May 2018

Scholars studying China’s generations have shown keen interest in devising new generational labels to identify characteristics of particular age cohorts. This analysis, based on 41 interviews with Chinese participants, departs from this common research strategy, first, by positioning generational labels used by ordinary Chinese, rather than academic constructs developed in western democracies, at the centre of inquiry. Three successive forms of generational nomenclature are discussed in light of China’s socialist movement and modernization: generations as natural sites of continuity, generations of revolutionaries, and generations named after decades. Further, by treating generation as a fundamentally social construct, this analysis investigates how terms such as “my generation” are constantly reconstituted in contextually-specific discursive and conversational contexts. Often distinctively shaped by China’s unique path of modernization and uneasy relationship with the West, the generational discourses of everyday Chinese shed new light on what it could mean for generations scholarship to “think globally.”
Vaccine therapy in hematologic malignancies
Authors: Avigan David , Rosenblatt Jacalyn
Published: May 2018

Immune-based therapy has emerged as a paradigm shift in cancer therapy with dramatic responses observed in previously incurable disease. Cancer vaccines are being developed to disrupt tumor-associated tolerance and activate and selectively expand tumor-specific lymphocytes within the native effector cell repertoire while maintaining immune-regulatory protection against autoimmunity. Although individual antigen approaches result in immune response with a suggestion of clinical effect in some settings, broader efficacy may be dependent on presentation of multiple antigens that capture clonal diversity presented in the context of functionally potent antigen-presenting cells. The use of whole cell–based strategies such as dendritic cell/tumor fusions have yielded provocative results in single-arm studies and are currently being explored in multicenter randomized trials. The posttransplant setting is a potentially promising platform for vaccination due to cytoreduction and relative depletion of inhibitory accessory cells fostering greater immune responsiveness. Integration of these efforts with other immunotherapeutic strategies and agents that target the tumor microenvironment is being studied in an effort to generate durable immunologic responses with clinically meaningful impact on disease.
Gut Microbiota: FFAR Reaching Effects on Islets
Authors: Priyadarshini Medha , Navarro Guadalupe , Layden Brian T
Published: May 2018

The G protein–coupled receptors, free fatty acid (FFA) receptors 2 and 3 (FFA2 and FFA3), belonging to the free fatty acid receptor (FFAR) class, sense a distinct class of nutrients, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These receptors participate in both immune and metabolic regulation. The latter includes a role in regulating secretion of metabolic hormones. It was only recently that their role in pancreatic β cells was recognized; these receptors are known now to affect not only insulin secretion but also β-cell survival and proliferation. These observations make them excellent potential therapeutic targets in type 2 diabetes. Moreover, expression on both immune and β cells makes these receptors possible targets in type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, SCFAs are generated by gut microbial fermentative activity; therefore, signaling by FFA2 and FFA3 represents an exciting novel link between the gut microbiota and the β cells. This review enumerates the role of these receptors in β cells revealed so far and discusses possible roles in clinical translation.
Collagen VI in healthy and diseased nervous system
Authors: Gregorio Ilaria , Braghetta Paola , Bonaldo Paolo , Cescon Matilde
Published: May 2018

Collagen VI is a major extracellular matrix protein exerting a number of functions in different tissues, spanning from biomechanical to regulatory signals in the cell survival processes, and playing key roles in maintaining the stemness or determining the differentiation of several types of cells. In the last couple of years, emerging findings on collagen VI have led to increased interest in its role in the nervous system. The role of this protein in the peripheral nervous system was intensely studied and characterized in detail. Collagen VI acts as a regulator of Schwann cell differentiation and is required for preserving peripheral nerve myelination, function and structure, as well as for orchestrating nerve regeneration after injury. Although the role and distribution of collagen VI in the peripheral nervous system is now well established, the role of this distinctive extracellular matrix component in the central nervous system, along with its links to human neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, remains an open field of investigation. In this Review, we summarize and discuss a number of recent findings related to collagen VI in the central and peripheral nervous systems. We further link these findings to different aspects of the protein that are relevant to human diseases in these compartments in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the roles of this key matrix component in the nervous system.