bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovation in and from India: The who, where, what, and when
Authors: Krishnan Rishikesha T. , Prashantham Shameen
Published: February 2018

Research Summary: Most Indian organizations operate within the technological frontier and focus on lowering costs, sometimes through frugal innovation orjugaad, to meet the constrained affordability of Indian consumers. Process and organizational innovations abound more than product or supply chain management innovations. Foreign multinationals, the major contributor of patents in India, appear to be uninhibited by the current state of the IP protection regime, although this has deficiencies in enforcement. A new noteworthy trend is the rise of start‐ups that hold promise as a source of product and business model innovations. Our analysis of the (limited) extant literature indicates a general dearth of empirical research on this topic relative to work on China; as such, there is scope for further research.

Managerial Summary: This article offers a perspective on innovation in India by both Indian and foreign companies. Using an inward‐outward lens, we conclude that while many Indian organizations have been the source of myriad process and incremental—as well as frugal—innovations that have cumulatively created value for companies and consumers, much of this has happened within the technological frontier and has been focused on lowering costs to meet the constrained affordability of Indian consumers (inward lens). At the same time, foreign multinationals have played an important role in initiating patent‐creating R&D activity, mostly for global products (outward lens). Spillovers from these entities have, in part, fueled the emergent rise of start‐ups, many of which are pursuing product innovation and, in some instances, frugal innovation.
Preoperative imaging for parathyroid localization in patients with concurrent thyroid disease: A systematic review
Authors: Frank Ethan , Ale‐Salvo Daniela , Park Joshua , Liu Yuan , Simental Alfred , Inman Jared C.
Published: February 2018

Background

Thyroid disease occurs more frequently in patients with hyperparathyroidism than the general population and hinders parathyroid localization. Identifying thyroid pathology before operating improves management and avoids the risks of reoperation in the neck. This review assesses imaging studies in patients with hyperparathyroidism and thyroid pathology to identify the ideal imaging methodology for patients with multigland disease.

Methods

Systematic review of original articles reporting sensitivity or positive predictive value (PPV) for one or more imaging modalities in patients with hyperparathyroidism and thyroid disease.

Results

Twenty‐eight studies, 13 prospective and 15 retrospective, met inclusion criteria. Nine modalities were evaluated, including: cervical ultrasound (n = 18), dual‐phase 99mTc‐sestamibi (n = 14), subtraction scintigraphy (n = 11), combined ultrasound and scintigraphy (n = 8), single photon emission CT (SPECT; n = 5), SPECT‐CT (n = 4), contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (n = 1), CT (n = 1), and MRI (n = 1).

Conclusion

Combined ultrasound and scintigraphy is the most sensitive study to localize parathyroid adenomas in patients with hyperparathyroidism and thyroid disease, followed by hybrid SPECT‐CT and SPECT.
Recruiting under the influence: New labor market entrants' reactions to workplace drinking norms
Authors: Klotz Anthony C. , da Motta Veiga Serge P.
Published: February 2018

Prior research indicates that the influence of alcohol use, at work or at home, on employees' personal and professional lives is often harmless, but that it can be detrimental under certain circumstances. Alcohol's prevalence in and around some workplaces suggests that some employees value it, and that companies seeking to hire and retain these employees perhaps see a competitive advantage in embracing permissive workplace drinking norms. In this article, we draw from signaling theory and the fit, applicant attraction, and political skill literatures, to propose that during the recruitment process, organizations that promote workplace drinking norms are likely to attract applicants with high levels of political skill while turning off those with low levels of political skill. We conducted two studies and found that new labor market entrants with lower levels of political skill perceived lower levels of fit with companies that promote the acceptance of alcohol use at work‐related events during the recruitment process compared to companies that do not signal the presence of workplace drinking norms in their recruitment activities. In turn, these lower fit perceptions related to reduced organizational attraction.
The factor structure of the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire: A comparison of four models using confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Njardvik Urdur , Klar Elin Kristin , Thorsdottir Fanney
Published: February 2018

Aims

The Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) consists of 8 subscales measuring different aspects of eating behavior and is a widely used instrument in pediatric settings, both in relation to eating disorders and overweight/obesity. However, despite its widespread usage, research results have, to this date, been inconsistent in regard to the factor structure of the CEBQ, with several factorial models suggested. The purpose of this study was to systematically compare the 4 factor structures commonly reported in the literature on the 35‐item CEBQ, using confirmatory factor analysis in the same sample.

Methods and results

In total, parents of 560 children aged 5 to 12 years old completed the CEBQ; 70 questionnaires were incomplete, resulting in a final sample of 490. Confirmatory factor analyses tested the 4 competing models: a 6‐factor model, 2 seven‐factor models, and an 8‐factor model. The 8‐factor model provided an acceptable fit to the data and turned out to be the best fitting model. Correlation coefficients between the 8 factors never exceeded r = .77, supporting the construct uniqueness of the 8 subscales. Results also indicated that the CEBQ subscales have good factorial validity and internal reliability (α ≥ .75).

Conclusion

In summary, this study of Icelandic children supports the appropriateness of using the CEBQ as a measure of 8 distinct dimensions of eating behavior style in school‐aged children.
Isotope mixing models require individual isotopic tracer content for correct quantification of sediment source contributions
Authors: Upadhayay Hari Ram , Bodé Samuel , Griepentrog Marco , Bajracharya Roshan Man , Blake William , Cornelis Wim , Boeckx Pascal
Published: February 2018

The use of isotopic tracers for sediment source apportionment is gaining interest with recent introduction of compound‐specific stable isotope tracers. The method relies on linear mixing of source isotopic tracers, and deconvolution of a sediment mixture initially quantifies the contribution of sources to the mixture's tracer signature. Therefore, a correction to obtain real sediment source proportions is subsequently required. As far as we are aware, all published studies to date have used total isotopic tracer content or a proxy (e.g., soil carbon content) for this post‐unmixing correction. However, as the relationship between the isotopic tracer mixture and the source mixture is different for each isotopic tracer, post‐unmixing corrections cannot be carried out with one single factor.

This contribution presents an isotopic tracer model structure—the concentration‐dependent isotope mixing model (CD‐IMM)—to overcome this limitation. Herein, we aim to clarify why the “conventional” approach to converting isotopic tracer proportions to source proportions using a single factor is wrong. In an initial mathematical assessment, error incurred by not using CD‐IMM (NCD‐IMM) in unmixing two sources with two isotopic tracers showed a complex relation as a function of relative tracer contents. Next, three artificial mixtures with different proportions of three soil sources were prepared and deconvoluted using 13C of fatty acids using CD‐IMM and NCD‐IMM. Using NCD‐IMM affected both accuracy (mean average error increased up to a threefold compared with the CD‐IMM output) and precision (interquartile range was up to 2.5 times larger). Finally, as an illustrative example, the proportional source contribution reported in a published study was recalculated using CD‐IMM. This resulted in changes in estimated source proportions and associated uncertainties.

Content of isotopic tracers is seldom reported in published work concerning use of isotopic tracers for sediment source partitioning. The magnitude of errors made by miscalculation in former studies is therefore difficult to assess. With this contribution, we hope the community will acknowledge the limitations of prior approaches and use a CD‐IMM in future studies.
Extracting drainage networks and their connectivity using LiDAR data
Authors: Roelens Jennifer , Rosier Ine , Dondeyne Stefaan , Van Orshoven Jos , Diels Jan
Published: February 2018

Policies, measures, and models geared towards flood prevention and managing surface waters benefit from high quality data on the presence and characteristics of drainage ditches. As a cost and labour effective alternative for acquiring such data through field surveys, we propose a method (a) to extract vector data representing ditch drainage networks based on local morphologic features derived from high resolution digital elevation models (DEM) and (b) to identify possible connections in the ditch network by calculating a probability of the connectivity using a logistic regression where the predictor variables are characteristics of the ditch centre lines or derived from the DEM.

Using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) derived DEMs with a 1 m resolution, the method was developed and tested for a mixed agricultural residential area in north‐eastern Belgium. The derived ditch segments had an error of omission of 8% and an error of commission of 5%. The original positional accuracy of the centre lines of the extracted ditches was 0.6 m and could be improved to 0.4 m by shifting each vertex to the position of the lowest LiDAR point located within a radius equal to the spatial resolution of the used DEM. About 69% of the false disconnections in the network were identified and corrected leading to a reduction of the unconnected parts of the ditch network by 71%. The extracted and connected network approximated the reference ditch network fairly well.
Effect of canopy openness and meteorological factors on spatial variability of throughfall isotopic composition in a Japanese cypress plantation
Authors: Sun Xinchao , Onda Yuichi , Hirata Akiko , Kato Hiroaki , Gomi Takashi , Liu Xueyan
Published: February 2018

Spatial variability of throughfall (TF) isotopic composition, used as tracer input, influences isotope hydrological applications in forested watersheds. Notwithstanding, identification of the dominant canopy factors and processes that affect the patterns of TF isotopic variability remains ambiguous. Here, we examined the spatio‐temporal variability of TF isotopic composition in a Japanese cypress plantation, in which intensive strip thinning was performed and investigated whether canopy structure at a fine resolution of canopy effect analysis is related to TF isotopic composition and how this is affected by meteorological factors. Canopy openness, as an index of canopy structure, was calculated from hemispherical photographs at different zenith angles. TF samples were collected in a 10 × 10 m experimental plot in both pre‐thinning (from July to November 2010) and post‐thinning (from May 2012 to March 2013) periods. Our results show that thinning resulted in a smaller alteration of input δ18O of gross precipitation, whereas the changes in deuterium excess varied in both directions. Despite the temporal stability of spatial patterns in TF amount, the spatial variability of TF isotopic composition was not temporally stable in both pre‐ and post‐thinning periods. Additionally, after thinning, the isotopic composition of TF was best related to canopy openness calculated at the zenith angle of 7°, exhibiting three different relationships, that is, significantly negative, significantly positive, and nonsignificant. Changes in meteorological factors (wind speed, rainfall intensity, and temperature) were found to affect the relationships between TF δ18O and canopy openness. The observed shifts in the relationships reveal different dominant factors (partial evaporation and the selection), and canopy water flowpaths control such differences. This study provides useful insights into the spatial variability of TF isotopic composition and improves our understanding of the physical processes of interception through canopy passage.
Tobacco‐attributable burden of cancer according to socioeconomic position in France
Authors: Menvielle Gwenn , Kulhánová Ivana , Bryère Joséphine , Launoy Guy , Eilstein Daniel , Delpierre Cyrille , Soerjomataram Isabelle
Published: February 2018

Smoking is a major preventable cause of cancers and is increasingly concentrated among the most deprived individuals leading to increasing socioeconomic inequalities in the incidence of cancers linked to smoking. We aimed to estimate the tobacco‐attributable cancer burden according to socioeconomic position in France. The analysis was restricted to cancer sites for which tobacco smoking was recognized as a risk factor. Cancer cases by sex, age group and European Deprivation Index (EDI) among people aged 30–74 between 2006 and 2009 were obtained from cancer registries covering ∼20% of the French population. The tobacco‐attributable burden of cancer according to EDI was estimated applying the population attributable fraction (PAF) computed with the Peto‐Lopez method. The PAF increased from 56% in the least deprived EDI quintile to 70% in the most deprived EDI quintile among men and from 26% to 38% among women. In total, 28% of the excess cancer cases in the four most deprived EDI quintiles in men and 43% in women could be prevented if smoking in these 4 EDI quintiles was similar to that of the least deprived EDI quintile. A substantial smoking‐attributable burden of cancer by socioeconomic position was observed in France. The results highlight the need for policies reducing tobacco consumption. More comprehensive interventions integrating the various dimensions of health determinants and proportionate according to socioeconomic position may essentially contribute to the reduction of socioeconomic inequalities in cancer.
Examining regional variability in work ethic within Mexico: Individual difference or shared value
Authors: Arciniega Luis M. , Woehr David J. , Del Rincón Germán A.
Published: February 2018

Despite the acceptance of work ethic as an important individual difference, little research has examined the extent to which work ethic may reflect shared environmental or socio‐economic factors. This research addresses this concern by examining the influence of geographic proximity on the work ethic experienced by 254 employees from Mexico, working in 11 different cities in the Northern, Central and Southern regions of the country. Using a sequence of complementary analyses to assess the main source of variance on seven dimensions of work ethic, our results indicate that work ethic is most appropriately considered at the individual level.
Estrogenic and anti‐estrogenic activity of butylparaben, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene and propyl gallate and their binary mixtures on two estrogen responsive cell lines (T47D‐Kbluc, MCF‐7)
Authors: Pop Anca , Drugan Tudor , Gutleb Arno C. , Lupu Diana , Cherfan Julien , Loghin Felicia , Kiss Béla
Published: February 2018

The estrogenic and anti‐estrogenic effects of butylparaben (BuPB), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and propyl gallate (PG) were evaluated for individual compounds as well as for binary mixtures, using an estrogen‐dependent reporter gene assay in T47D‐Kbluc breast cancer cells and an estrogen‐dependent proliferation assay in MCF‐7 breast cancer cells. In terms of estrogenicity the potency of the selected compounds increased from BHA < PG < BuPB in the luciferase assay (with BHT showing no significant estrogenic activity), while in the proliferation assay the following order was observed: BHT < BHA < BuPB (with PG showing no significant estrogenic activity). Non‐monotonic dose–response curves were obtained for BuPB (in both assays) and PG (in the luciferase assay), respectively. In the presence of estradiol, a significant anti‐estrogenic activity was observed in both cell lines for PG, BuPB and BHA, while BHT showed weak anti‐estrogenic activity only in T47D‐Kbluc cells. The evaluation of binary mixtures confirmed the endocrine disruptive potential of the compounds, their individual potency being correlated with that of the mixtures. All mixtures were able to reduce the estradiol‐induced luminescence or cell proliferation, an effect that was accurately predicted by the dose addition mathematical model, suggesting the same (or at least partially overlapping) modes of action for the tested compounds. The results of the present study emphasize the importance of a cumulative risk assessment of endocrine disruptors.
Reshaping a multimode laser beam into a constructed Gaussian beam for generating a thin light sheet
Authors: Saghafi Saiedeh , Haghi‐Danaloo Nikoo , Becker Klaus , Sabdyusheva Inna , Foroughipour Massih , Hahn Christian , Pende Marko , Wanis Martina , Bergmann Michael , Stift Judith , Hegedus Balazs , Dome Balazs , Dodt Hans‐Ulrich
Published: February 2018

Based on the modal analysis method, we developed a model that describes the output beam of a diode‐pumped solid state (DPSS) laser emitting a multimode beam. Measuring the output beam profile in the near field and at the constructed far field the individual modes, their respective contributions, and their optical parameters are determined. Using this information, the beam is optically reshaped into a quasi‐Gaussian beam by the interference and superposition of the various modes. This process is controlled by a mode modulator unit that includes different meso‐aspheric elements and a soft‐aperture. The converted beam is guided into a second optical unit comprising achromatic‐aspheric elements to produce a thin light sheet for ultramicroscopy. We found that this light sheet is markedly thinner and exhibits less side shoulders compared with a light sheet directly generated from the output of a DPSS multimode laser.
Human skin in vivo has a higher skin barrier function than porcine skin ex vivo—comprehensive Raman microscopic study of the stratum corneum
Authors: Choe ChunSik , Schleusener Johannes , Lademann Jürgen , Darvin Maxim E.
Published: February 2018

Porcine skin is widely used as a human skin model in dermatology. For both, porcine stratum corneum (SC) ex vivo and human SC in vivo, the hydrogen bonding states of water, the secondary and tertiary structures of keratin, the natural moisturizing factor (NMF) concentrations and the intercellular lipids' (ICL) lateral organization are investigated depth‐dependently using confocal Raman microscopy. The SC depth profiles show that porcine SC ex vivo is characterized by lower hydrogen bonding states of water (10%‐30% SC depth), lower NMF concentration in the whole SC, more β‐sheet form of keratin (10%‐90% SC depth), more folded tertiary keratin structures (30%‐70% SC depth) and higher hexagonal lateral packing order of ICL (10%‐50% SC depth) compared to human SC in vivo. The results clearly show a higher value of skin barrier function of human SC in vivo than of porcine SC ex vivo. Thus, the human SC in vivo is less permeable for lipophilic and hydrophilic substances than porcine SC ex vivo. Considering the porcine SC as an ex vivo model of human SC in vivo, these findings should be taken into consideration.

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The in vivo effects of cefazolin, cefuroxime, and cefoperazon on the carbonic anhydrase in different rat tissues
Authors: Türkan Fikret , Huyut Zübeyir , Taslimi Parham , Gülçin İlhami
Published: February 2018

In this paper, the in vivo effects of some antibiotics including cefazolin, cefuroxime, and cefoperazon, on the activity of the carbonic anhydrase enzyme (CA) in heart, brain, eye, liver, and kidney tissues of rats were evaluated. For this purpose, 16 different groups, which each containing six rats (n = 6), were formed (control group, cefazolin groups, cefuroxime groups, and cefoperazon groups). The rats were necropsied 60 min after the intraperitoneal injection of the chemicals into the rats. The CA activities were measured for each tissue using esterase activity methods. The activity values for each tissue obtained were statistically calculated. The CA activities in the liver tissue were assessed, and the activities of the cefoperazon groups were decreased compared to the sham groups from the third hour (p < 0.05). In the cefuroxime and cefoperazon groups, the CA activities in the eye tissue were decreased during the first 3 h and then increased (p < 0.05).
N‐Acetyl‐cysteine mediated inhibition of spermatogonial cells apoptosis against malathion exposure in testicular tissue
Authors: Bhardwaj Jitender Kumar , Saraf Priyanka , Kumari Priya , Mittal Meenu , Kumar Vijay
Published: February 2018

Toxicological studies so far suggest that excessive use of malathion, an organophosphate insecticide, causes serious ill‐effects in mammalian reproductive physiology. The present study aims at assessing malathion‐induced toxicity in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner with mitigating effects of N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine. The testicular germ cell viability was monitored using MTT assay, where NAC, being an antioxidant significantly reduced malathion‐induced toxicity by enhancing the frequency of cell viability. The histomorphological analysis showed that NAC successfully diminished several apoptotic features in testicular cells, induced by malathion. The differential EB/AO staining revealed a significant decline in the percentage of apoptosis after NAC supplementation. NAC also diminished the malathion‐induced DNA fragmentation along with significantly reduction in oxidative stress parameters causing decrease in lipid peroxidation and enhancement of ferric reducing antioxidant power within testicular germ cells. Thus, NAC mitigated the malathion‐induced toxicity, proving its potential in infertility treatment.
A dialectical behavior therapy skills intervention for women with suicidal behaviors in rural Nepal: A single‐case experimental design series
Authors: Ramaiya Megan K. , McLean Caitlin , Regmi Upasana , Fiorillo Devika , Robins Clive J. , Kohrt Brandon A.
Published: February 2018

Background

Suicide in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) accounts for 75% of the world's burden of suicide mortality and is the leading single cause of death among Nepali reproductive age women. To advance treatment for suicidal behaviors in LMICs, a single‐case experimental design (SCED) was conducted of a culturally adapted Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills intervention for Nepali populations (DBT‐N).

Method

Ten Nepali women with histories of suicidality participated in the 10‐session intervention. Outcomes of emotion regulation, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, resilience, and coping skills use were measured at multiple time points pre‐intervention, during, and at follow‐up. Qualitative interviewing assessed DBT‐N's feasibility and acceptability.

Results

Participants showed improvements in emotion regulation over the course of treatment, which were associated with increased skills use. Rapid, sustained reductions in suicidal ideation and improvements in resilience were observed after DBT‐N initiation.

Conclusion

This SCED supports conducting further evaluation of DBT‐N through controlled trials with emotion regulation as a target mechanism of action for reducing suicidal behaviors in LMICs.
A reexamination of the cognitive behavioral model of chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: Sunnquist Madison , Jason Leonard A.
Published: February 2018

Objective

The cognitive behavioral model of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) suggests that cognitions and reduced activity level perpetuate the fatigue and impairment that individuals with CFS experience. The two empirical evaluations of this model resulted in conflicting findings. The current study examines the influence of case definition fulfillment on the applicability of this model to CFS.

Method

A moderated mediation analysis was conducted on 990 individuals with CFS to reexamine the behavioral pathway of this model. Case definition fulfillment was entered as a moderator.

Results

Findings were generally inconsistent with the cognitive behavioral model of CFS. Case definition fulfillment significantly moderated the relation between activity level and physical impairment (β = –0.08, p = 0.03); individuals who met more stringent case definitions demonstrated a weaker relation between activity level and impairment.

Conclusions

This model may not accurately represent the experience of individuals with CFS, particularly those who fulfill more stringent case definitions.
Community stigma, internalized homonegativity, enacted stigma, and HIV testing among young men who have sex with men
Authors: Goldenberg Tamar , Stephenson Rob , Bauermeister Jose
Published: February 2018

HIV testing is an important HIV prevention strategy for young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in the United States, but the relationships between community‐ and individual‐level aspects of sexuality‐related stigma and HIV testing among YMSM are unknown. Data from a cross‐sectional survey included 334 HIV‐negative YMSM in Detroit. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine if place‐based community prejudice perceptions, internalized homonegativity, and sexuality‐related discrimination were associated with HIV testing. Increased perceptions of community prejudice were associated with lower odds of never testing, while increased internalized homonegativity was associated with greater odds of never testing. Experiences of discrimination had no association with HIV testing. Understanding the influence of sexuality‐related stigma (and especially place‐specific, community‐level stigma) on HIV testing could help improve public health messaging to increase HIV testing among YMSM.
Antimicrobial stewardship without infectious disease physician for patients with candidemia: A before and after study
Authors: Murakami Minoru , Komatsu Hirokazu , Sugiyama Masahide , Ichikawa Yuhei , Ide Kyoko , Tsuchiya Rumi , Kunieda Kenji , Magishi Akiko , Akiyama Gaku , Miura Fumihide , Okada Kunihiko , Ikezoe Masaya
Published: February 2018

Background

Little is known about the effects of antimicrobial stewardship team (AST) without infectious disease physician (IDP) on clinical outcome in patients with candidemia.

Methods

We conducted a before and after study involving patients with hospital‐acquired candidemia at a tertiary hospital without IDPs. The AST consisted of physicians, pharmacists, nurse, microbiologist, and administrative staff. A candidemia care bundle was developed based on the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) guideline. The non‐IDP AST provided recommendations to the attending physicians whose patients developed candidemia during hospitalization. The primary outcome was 30‐day all‐cause mortality, while the secondary outcomes were adherence to the IDSA guidelines regarding the management of candidemia. Data of up to 3 years of preintervention and 3 years of intervention period were analyzed.

Results

By 30 days, 11 of 46 patients (23.9%) in the intervention group and 7 of 30 patients (23.3%) in the preintervention group died (adjusted hazard ratio for the intervention group: 0.68 [95% CI 0.24‐1.91]). The non‐IDP AST was associated with appropriate empirical antifungal therapy (100% vs 60.0%; proportion ratio 1.67 [95% CI 1.24‐2.23]), appropriate duration of treatment (84.7% vs 43.3%; 1.96 [1.28‐3.00]), removal of central venous catheters (94.4% vs 70.8%; 1.33 [1.02‐1.74]), and ophthalmological examination (93.5% vs 63.3%; 1.48 [1.12‐1.96]).

Conclusions

Although we found no significant difference in 30‐day mortality, the non‐IDP AST was associated with improved adherence to guidelines for management of candidemia.
Evolution of facial innervation in anomodont therapsids (Synapsida): Insights from X‐ray computerized microtomography
Authors: Benoit Julien , Angielczyk Kenneth D. , Miyamae Juri A. , Manger Paul , Fernandez Vincent , Rubidge Bruce
Published: February 2018

Anomodontia was the most successful herbivorous clade of the mammalian stem lineage (non‐mammalian synapsids) during the late Permian and Early Triassic. Among anomodonts, Dicynodontia stands apart because of the presence of an osseous beak that shows evidence of the insertion of a cornified sheath, the ramphotheca. In this study, fourteen anomodont specimens were microCT‐scanned and their trigeminal canals reconstructed digitally to understand the origin and evolution of trigeminal nerve innervation of the ramphotheca. We show that the pattern of innervation of the anomodont “beak” is more similar to that in chelonians (the nasopalatine branch is enlarged and innervates the premaxillary part of the ramphotheca) than in birds (where the nasopalatine and maxillary branches play minor roles). The nasopalatine branch is noticeably enlarged in the beak‐less basal anomodontPatranomodon, suggesting that this could be an anomodont or chainosaur synapomorphy. Our analyses suggest that the presence or absence of tusks and postcanine teeth are often accompanied by corresponding variations of the rami innervating the caniniform process and the alveolar region, respectively. The degree of ossification of the canal for the nasal ramus of the ophthalmic branch also appears to correlate with the presence of a nasal boss. The nasopalatine canal is absent from the premaxilla in the Bidentalia as they uniquely show a large plexus formed by the internal nasal branch of the maxillary canal instead. The elongated shape of this plexus inLystrosaurussupports the hypothesis that the rostrum evolved as an elongation of the subnarial region of the snout. Finally, the atrophied and variable aspect of the trigeminal canals inMyosaurussupports the hypothesis that this genus had a reduced upper ramphotheca.
How does it feel and how does it look? The role of employee motivation in organizational learning type
Authors: Kauppila Olli‐Pekka
Published: February 2018

Employees' work outcomes vary as a function of their focus on exploring new possibilities versus exploiting current opportunities. But what determines how employees divide their attention between these contrasting work behaviors? Drawing on studies on work motivation and employees' impression management concerns, we examine how intrinsic work motivation and self‐enhancement motivation relate to the exploration–exploitation balance and how environmental dynamism moderates these relationships. Based on the analyses of a sample of 638 employees in 34 organizations in Finland, we find that intrinsic work motivation is positively associated with employees' focus on exploration relative to exploitation. By contrast, self‐enhancement motivation negatively associates with exploration relative to exploitation, but this relationship is nonlinear, such that as self‐enhancement motivation increases, its positive association with exploitation diminishes. The findings also show that the hypothesized nonlinear relationship between self‐enhancement motivation and exploration is particularly pronounced in stable business environments. Our findings contribute to organizational learning research and provide a new theoretical perspective on pursuing exploration and exploitation in organizations.
Periodontal disease and its connection to systemic biomarkers of cardiovascular disease in young American Indian/Alaskan natives
Authors: Delange Nicole , Lindsay Suzanne , Lemus Hector , Finlayson Tracy L. , Kelley Scott T. , Gottlieb Roberta A.
Published: February 2018

Background

Periodontal disease has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). No known studies evaluate the relationship between periodontal disease status and biomarkers of CVD risk in the American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) population despite their disproportionately high rates of poor oral health and cardiovascular disease–related outcomes. This study compared levels of interleukin (IL)‐6 and C‐reactive protein (CRP) across increasing severity of periodontal disease status among younger adults between the ages of 21 and 43 years.

Methods

Plasma levels of IL‐6 and CRP were measured in adult participants (ages 21 to 43 years) as part of a study of periodontal disease and CVD risk among an AI/AN population in southern California (n = 59). Periodontal evaluations were performed and disease status was classified into three categories based on highest probing depth (none/mild: < 3 mm; moderate: 4 to 5 mm; severe: ≥6 mm). Participants with known systemic disease or active infection were excluded.

Results

Severe periodontitis was significantly associated with increased levels of IL‐6 compared with those with none or mild periodontitis before controlling for other variables (P = 0.02), but lacked significance after controlling for sex, BMI, smoking status, and high‐density lipoprotein (P = 0.09). Moderate periodontal disease was positively associated with IL‐6 levels after controlling for potential confounders (P = 0.01). Periodontal status was not associated with CRP, before or after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions

In this otherwise healthy AI/AN adult sample, moderate periodontal disease compared with none or mild periodontal disease was associated with increased levels of IL‐6. High levels of CRP found in this population warrant further research.
Asymptotic growth bounds for the 3‐D Vlasov‐Poisson system with point charges
Authors: Li Donghao , Zhang Xianwen
Published: February 2018

In this article, we consider the asymptotic behavior of the classical solution to the 3‐dimensional Vlasov‐Poisson plasma interacting repulsively with N point charges. The large time behavior in terms of diameters of its velocity‐spatial supports is improved to O(t2/3+ϵ) for any ϵ>0.
Aperture generation based on threshold segmentation for intensity modulated radiotherapy treatment planning
Authors: Yang Jie , Gui Zhiguo , Zhang Liyuan , Zhang Pengcheng
Published: February 2018

Purpose

To reduce computation and decrease planning time with little or no loss in plan quality compared to the column‐generation‐based (cg) method, a simple method of aperture generation based on threshold segmentation (agts) is proposed.

Methods

The proposed agts strategy consists of two steps. First, a fuzzy controller is used for noise cancellation; then, new apertures are added using the threshold segmentation algorithm. We tested the proposed method on seven prostate tumor cases using the computational environment for radiotherapy research algorithms for the dose calculations and compared the results with those obtained by generating the plan aperture using the cg method. Specifically, the homogeneity index and conformity number of the planning target volume, organs at risk (OARs) sparing, and total planning time were compared among the two methods.

Results

The proposed agts technique produced treatment plans approximating the cg solution. Furthermore, the planning time required by the agts method was approximately 58.61% ± 0.40 less than that required by the cg method.

Conclusions

The agts algorithm can decrease planning time with little or no loss in plan quality compared to the cg method.
International Continence Society supported pelvic physiotherapy education guideline
Authors: Bakker Els , Shelly Beth , Esch Fetske H. , Frawley Helena , McClurg Doreen , Meyers Peter
Published: February 2018

Aim

To provide a guideline of desired knowledge, clinical skills and education levels in Pelvic Physiotherapy (PT). Physiotherapy (PT) involves “using knowledge and skills unique to physiotherapists” and, “is the service only provided by, or under the direction and supervision of a physiotherapist.”1

Methods

The PT Committee, within the body of the International Continence Society (ICS), collected information regarding existing educational levels for pelvic floor PT. Through face to face and on on‐line discussion consensus was reached which was summarized in three progressive educational levels based on knowledge and skills and brought together in a guideline. The guideline was submitted to all physiotherapists and the Educational Committee of the ICS, and after approval, submitted to the Executive Board of the ICS.

Result

The guideline lists, in a progressive way, knowledge areas and skills to be achieved by education. It is broad and allows for individual interpretation based on local situations regarding education and healthcare possibilities. It is intended to be dynamic and updated on a regular basis.

Conclusion

The proposed Pelvic PT education guideline is a dynamic document that allows course creators to plan topics for continuing course work and to recognize educational level of a therapist in the field of Pelvic PT. This education guideline can be used to set minimum worldwide standards resulting in higher skill levels for local pelvic physiotherapists and thereby better patient care outcome.
Urine: Waste product or biologically active tissue?
Authors:   Urinology Think Tank Writing Group
Published: February 2018

Aims

Historically, urine has been viewed primarily as a waste product with little biological role in the overall health of an individual. Increasingly, data suggest that urine plays a role in human health beyond waste excretion. For example, urine might act as an irritant and contribute to symptoms through interaction with—and potential compromise of—the urothelium.

Methods

To explore the concept that urine may be a vehicle for agents with potential or occult bioactivity and to discuss existing evidence and novel research questions that may yield insight into such a role, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease invited experts in the fields of comparative evolutionary physiology, basic science, nephrology, urology, pediatrics, metabolomics, and proteomics (among others) to a Urinology Think Tank meeting on February 9, 2015.

Results

This report reflects ideas that evolved from this meeting and current literature, including the concept of urine quality, the biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of urine, including the microbiota, cells, exosomes, pH, metabolites, proteins, and specific gravity (among others). Additionally, the manuscript presents speculative, and hopefully testable, ideas about the functional roles of urine constituents in health and disease.

Conclusion

Moving forward, there are several questions that need further understanding and pursuit. There were suggestions to consider actively using various animal models and their biological specimens to elaborate on basic mechanistic information regarding human bladder dysfunction.
The female continence mechanism measured by high resolution manometry: Urethral bulking versus midurethral sling
Authors: Wasenda Erika J. , Kirby Anna C. , Lukacz Emily S. , Nager Charles W.
Published: February 2018

Aims

Traditional technology to characterize urethral pressure changes during dynamic conditions is limited by slow response times or artifact‐inducing withdrawal maneuvers. The 8F high‐resolution manometry (HRM) catheter (ManoScan™ ESO, Covidien) has advantages of fast response times and the ability to measure urethral pressures along the urethral length without withdrawal. Our objective was to determine static and dynamic maximum urethral closure pressures (MUCPs) and resting functional urethral length (FUL) in women using HRM before and after transurethral bulking and compare results to other women who underwent midurethral sling (MUS).

Methods

We recorded rest, cough, and strain MUCPs and FUL in 24 women before and after transurethral bulking with polydimethylsiloxane (Macroplastique®) using the HRM catheter and compared these changes to HRM values from 26 women who had the same measures before and after MUS.

Results

At rest, MUCPs increased minimally after both urethral bulking and MUS (3 vs 0.4 cm H2O respectively, P = 0.4). Under dynamic conditions there were statistically insignificant small increases in MUCP and these increases were markedly less than after MUS (cough: 1.5 vs 63.8 cm H2O, P < 0.001 and strain: 11.5 vs 57.7 cm H2O, P < 0.001). FUL increased by 0.5 cm after transurethral bulking (P = 0.003), and decreased by 0.25 cm after MUS placement (P = 0.012).

Conclusions

The mechanism of continence after urethral bulking differs from MUS. While MUS increases dynamic MUCP, bulking may rely on increasing the length of the continence zone.
Numerical convergence of nonlinear nonlocal continuum models to local elastodynamics
Authors: Jha Prashant K. , Lipton Robert
Published: February 2018

We quantify the numerical error and modeling error associated with replacing a nonlinear nonlocal bond‐based peridynamic model with a local elasticity model or a linearized peridynamic model away from the fracture set. The nonlocal model treated here is characterized by a double‐well potential and is a smooth version of the peridynamic model introduced in the work of Silling. The nonlinear peridynamic evolutions are shown to converge to the solution of linear elastodynamics at a rate linear with respect to the length scale ε of nonlocal interaction. This rate also holds for the convergence of solutions of the linearized peridynamic model to the solution of the local elastodynamic model. For local linear Lagrange interpolation, the consistency error for the numerical approximation is found to depend on the ratio between mesh size h and ε. More generally, for local Lagrange interpolation of order p≥1, the consistency error is of order hp/ε. A new stability theory for the time discretization is provided and an explicit generalization of the CFL condition on the time step and its relation to mesh size h is given. Numerical simulations are provided illustrating the consistency error associated with the convergence of nonlinear and linearized peridynamics to linear elastodynamics.
A monolithic, mortar‐based interface coupling and solution scheme for finite element simulations of lithium‐ion cells
Authors: Fang Rui , Farah Philipp , Popp Alexander , Wall Wolfgang A.
Published: February 2018

This work introduces a novel, mortar‐based coupling scheme for electrode‐electrolyte interfaces in 3‐dimensional finite element models for lithium‐ion cells and similar electrochemical systems. The coupling scheme incorporates the widely applied Butler‐Volmer charge transfer kinetics, but conceptually also works for other interface equations. Unlike conventional approaches, the coupling scheme allows flexible mesh generation for the electrode and electrolyte phases with nonmatching meshes at electrode‐electrolyte interfaces. As a result, the desired spatial mesh resolution in each phase and the resulting computational effort can be easily controlled, leading to improved efficiency. All governing equations are solved in a monolithic fashion as a holistic, unified system of linear equations for computational robustness and performance reasons. Consistency and optimal convergence behavior of the coupling scheme are demonstrated in elementary numerical tests, and the discharge of two different realistic lithium‐ion cells, each consisting of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, is also simulated. One of the two cells involves about 1.35 million degrees of freedom and very complex microstructural geometries obtained from X‐ray tomography data. For validation purposes, characteristic numerical results from the literature are reproduced, and the coupling scheme is shown to require considerably fewer degrees of freedom than a standard discretization with matching interface meshes to achieve a similar level of accuracy.
African carnivores as taphonomic agents: Contribution of modern coprogenic sample analysis to their identification
Authors: Campmas E. , Stoetzel E. , Denys C.
Published: February 2018

In archaeological sites, large, medium, and small vertebrate remains may have been accumulated by humans, by nonhuman predators, or both. It is now assumed that neotaphonomic referentials are essential to contribute to characterising the accumulators of fossil assemblages. However, such reference data are lacking for many areas (such as North Africa) and for several predators. In addition, most of the existing studies focus on skeleton representation, bone fragmentation, and tooth marks on noningested remains. Faeces‐containing ingested remains are still rarely considered, especially for viverrids, small or medium canids, or large felids. This paper provides new taphonomic data concerning the ingested remains of diversified prey (herbivores, lagomorphs, rodents, amphibians, fish, squamates, birds, and insects) from coprogenic samples accumulated by these predators. As expected, small or medium‐small carnivores consumed more small vertebrates than did medium‐large and large carnivores. Among the small vertebrate remains from small and medium‐small carnivore scats, limb extremities are less represented than other parts of the skeleton, whereas in meso‐macromammal remains from medium‐large and large carnivore scats, small bones (from limb extremities) are abundant. Digestion attack seems to be more developed on small vertebrate remains from small and medium‐small carnivore scats than in mesofaunal prey remains from medium‐large and large carnivore scats. Among small and medium‐small carnivores, prey from cf. fox scats (mainly microvertebrates) are more diversified, more fragmented, and more digested than in small carnivore (cf. genet) samples. Among medium‐large and large carnivores, fragmentation and digestion attack on mesofaunal remains are more intense in large carnivore (cf. leopard) scats than in medium‐large (cf. jackal/wolf) scats. Finally, in order to improve characterisation of the predator responsible for fossil faunal accumulations, we highlight here the importance of considering all the small bone fragments from sieve residues in archaeological contexts (and not only whole bones and identified bone fragments).
A case of a death in the fortress Hisn al‐Bab, on the first cataract of the Nile
Authors: Scheelen‐Nováček K. , Nováček J. , Rose P. J.
Published: February 2018

A skeleton was discovered during the excavation of fortifications at Hisn al‐Bab in southern Egypt. It was not found in a grave but was lying on its back in an outspread position at the foot of the collapsed northern wall of the fort, covered by wall debris. The individual was probably male and about 25 to 30 years old. The osteological evidence strongly suggests that the man met his death through interpersonal violence. A deep kerf was identified on the medial shaft of his left femur, caused perimortem by a large, bladed weapon. In addition, fractures of the facial bones, the skull base, and the right ribs occurred around the time of his death. These traumas, as well as the archaeological evidence of a contemporary destruction horizon of the fort, suggest some sort of conflict. The taphonomic changes to the bones indicate that the body was partly covered by wall debris soon after death, whereas some parts remained exposed. Distinct marks on the facial bones may suggest the presence of larger, scavenging birds, such as vultures. The analysis and interpretation of the traumas, and the taphonomic changes in relation to the archaeological context, give an insight into the last moments of one phase of occupation at Hisn al‐Bab. They illustrate an ancient case of violent death on the border between Egypt and Nubia.