bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Characterization of Genetically Diagnosed Cases of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 12 from India
Authors: Choudhury Supriyo , Chatterjee Sayan , Chatterjee Koustav , Banerjee Rebecca , Humby Jonathan , Mondal Banashree , Anand Sidharth S. , Shubham Shantanu , Kumar Hrishikesh
Published: September 2017

View Supplementary Video 1

Background

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 (SCA12) is a rare form of an autosomal‐dominant ataxic disorder associated with an expansion of CAG repeat length. Here, we present a large case series of patients with SCA12 and describe a wide range of typical and rare symptoms.

Methods

Twenty‐one consecutive patients with genetically proven SCA12 underwent detailed neurological examination. We assessed clinical characteristics using validated rating scales for evaluating motor features in SCA. Nonmotor symptoms and quality of life were assessed using appropriate, validated scales. Correlations of CAG repeat length with both severity score and age of onset were explored.

Results

The mean age of onset was 51 years, and most patients were descendants of a single, endogamous Indian community (Agarwal). Tremor was the most common initial presenting symptom (90%). Hand dystonia was present in 14 of 21 patients, and most patients in the cohort presented with gait disturbance. Neuropsychiatric manifestations were common coexisting features. The CAG repeat length was significantly correlated (r = −0.760; P = 0.0001) with early age of onset, but not with disease severity. Tremor affected the quality of life in 18 of 21 patients, because they had difficulty in handling liquids.

Conclusions

Tremor was the most common, nonataxic symptom at initial presentation in patients with SCA12. Proximal upper limb tremor, typically with high amplitude and low frequency, can raise a strong diagnostic suspicion. Associated hand dystonia was a common coexisting motor feature. Various nonmotor features were also observed in several cases which require therapeutic attention.
Handwriting Analysis in Parkinson's Disease: Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Thomas Mathew , Lenka Abhishek , Kumar Pal Pramod
Published: September 2017

Background

The majority of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have handwriting abnormalities. Micrographia (abnormally small letter size) is the most commonly reported and easily detectable handwriting abnormality in patients with PD. However, micrographia is perhaps the tip of the iceberg representing the handwriting abnormalities in PD. Digitizing tablet technology, which has evolved over the last 2 decades, has made it possible to study the pressure and kinematic features of handwriting. This has resulted in a surge of studies investigating graphomotor impairment in patients with PD.

Methods

The objectives of this study were to review the evolution of the kinematic analysis of handwriting in PD and to provide an overview of handwriting abnormalities observed in PD along with future directions for research in this field. Articles for review were searched from the PubMed and SCOPUS databases.

Results

Digitizing tablet technologies have resulted in a shift of focus from the analysis of only letter size to the analysis of several kinematic features of handwriting. Studies based on the kinematic analysis of handwriting have revealed that patients with PD may have abnormalities in velocity, fluency, and acceleration in addition to micrographia. The recognition of abnormalities in several kinematic parameters of handwriting has given rise to the term PD dysgraphia. In addition, certain kinematic properties potentially may be helpful in distinguishing PD from other parkinsonian disorders.

Conclusion

The journey from micrographia to PD dysgraphia is indeed a paradigm shift. Further research is warranted to gain better insight into the graphomotor impairments in PD and their clinical implications.
Short T2 imaging using a 3D double adiabatic inversion recovery prepared ultrashort echo time cones (3D DIR‐UTE‐Cones) sequence
Authors: Ma Ya‐Jun , Zhu Yanchun , Lu Xing , Carl Michael , Chang Eric Y. , Du Jiang
Published: September 2017

Purpose

To investigate high contrast imaging of short T2 tissues with a three‐dimensional double adiabatic inversion recovery prepared ultrashort echo time Cones (3D DIR‐UTE‐Cones) sequence.

Methods

The sequence used two sequential adiabatic inversion pulses to suppress signals from long T2 tissues, followed by multispoke UTE acquisition to detect signals from short T2 tissues. The two adiabatic inversion pulses are identical with a center frequency located at the water peak, but the spectral width is broad enough to cover both water and fat frequencies. The feasibility of this technique was demonstrated through numerical simulation and phantom studies. Finally, DIR‐UTE‐Cones was applied to three healthy volunteers to image cortical bone, patellar tendon, and Achilles tendon.
was also measured via single‐component exponential fitting.

Results

Numerical simulation suggests that the DIR technique provides perfect nulling of muscle and fat as well as efficient suppression of other long T2 tissues with T1 values between fat and water or those above water. Excellent image contrast can be achieved with DIR‐UTE‐Cones for the short T2 tissues, with fitted
values of 0.28–0.38 ms for cortical bone, 0.56 ± 0.07 ms for the patella tendon, and 0.45 ± 0.06 ms for the Achilles tendon, respectively.

Conclusion

The 3D DIR‐UTE‐Cones sequence provides robust suppression of long T2 tissues and allows selective imaging as well as
measurement of short T2 tissues such as cortical bone, patellar tendon, and the Achilles tendon. Magn Reson Med 79:2555–2563, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
A temperature sensor implant for active implantable medical devices for in vivo subacute heating tests under MRI
Authors: Silemek Berk , Acikel Volkan , Oto Cagdas , Alipour Akbar , Aykut Zaliha Gamze , Algin Oktay , Atalar Ergin
Published: September 2017

Purpose

To introduce a temperature sensor implant (TSI) that mimics an active implantable medical device (AIMD) for animal testing of MRI heating. Computer simulations and phantom experiments poorly represent potential temperature increases. Animal experiments could be a better model, but heating experiments conducted immediately after the surgery suffer from alterations of the thermoregulatory and tissue properties during acute testing conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to introduce a temperature sensor implant that mimics an AIMD and capable of measuring the electrode temperature after implantation of the device without any further intervention at any time after the surgery in an animal model.

Methods

A battery‐operated TSI, which resembled an AIMD, was used to measure the lead temperature and impedance and the case temperature. The measured values were transmitted to an external computer via a low‐power Bluetooth communication protocol. In addition to validation experiments on the phantom, a sheep experiment was conducted to test the feasibility of the system in subacute conditions.

Results

The measurements had a maximum of 0.5°C difference compared to fiber‐optic temperature probes. In vivo animal experiments demonstrated feasibility of the system.

Conclusion

An active implant, which can measure its own temperature, was proposed to investigate implant heating during MRI examinations. Magn Reson Med 79:2824–2832, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
31P magnetic resonance fingerprinting for rapid quantification of creatine kinase reaction rate in vivo
Authors: Wang Charlie Y. , Liu Yuchi , Huang Shuying , Griswold Mark A. , Seiberlich Nicole , Yu Xin
Published: September 2017

The purpose of this work was to develop a 31P spectroscopic magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) method for fast quantification of the chemical exchange rate between phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) via creatine kinase (CK).

A 31P MRF sequence (CK‐MRF) was developed to quantify the forward rate constant of ATP synthesis via CK (
), the T1 relaxation time of PCr (
), and the PCr‐to‐ATP concentration ratio (
. The CK‐MRF sequence used a balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP)‐type excitation with ramped flip angles and a unique saturation scheme sensitive to the exchange between PCr and γATP. Parameter estimation was accomplished by matching the acquired signals to a dictionary generated using the Bloch‐McConnell equation. Simulation studies were performed to examine the susceptibility of the CK‐MRF method to several potential error sources. The accuracy of nonlocalized CK‐MRF measurements before and after an ischemia–reperfusion (IR) protocol was compared with the magnetization transfer (MT‐MRS) method in rat hindlimb at 9.4 T (n = 14). The reproducibility of CK‐MRF was also assessed by comparing CK‐MRF measurements with both MT‐MRS (n = 17) and four angle saturation transfer (FAST) (n = 7).

Simulation results showed that CK‐MRF quantification of
was robust, with less than 5% error in the presence of model inaccuracies including dictionary resolution, metabolite T2 values, inorganic phosphate metabolism, and B1 miscalibration. Estimation of
by CK‐MRF (0.38 ± 0.02 s−1 at baseline and 0.42 ± 0.03 s−1 post‐IR) showed strong agreement with MT‐MRS (0.39 ± 0.03 s−1 at baseline and 0.44 ± 0.04 s−1 post‐IR).
estimation was also similar between CK‐MRF and FAST (0.38 ± 0.02 s−1 for CK‐MRF and 0.38 ± 0.11 s−1 for FAST). The coefficient of variation from 20 s CK‐MRF quantification of
was 42% of that by 150 s MT‐MRS acquisition and was 12% of that by 20 s FAST acquisition.

This study demonstrates the potential of a 31P spectroscopic MRF framework for rapid, accurate and reproducible quantification of chemical exchange rate of CK in vivo.
Can increased spatial resolution solve the crossing fiber problem for diffusion MRI?
Authors: Schilling Kurt , Gao Yurui , Janve Vaibhav , Stepniewska Iwona , Landman Bennett A. , Anderson Adam W.
Published: September 2017

It is now widely recognized that voxels with crossing fibers or complex geometrical configurations present a challenge for diffusion MRI (dMRI) reconstruction and fiber tracking, as well as microstructural modeling of brain tissues. This “crossing fiber” problem has been estimated to affect anywhere from 30% to as many as 90% of white matter voxels, and it is often assumed that increasing spatial resolution will decrease the prevalence of voxels containing multiple fiber populations. The aim of this study is to estimate the extent of the crossing fiber problem as we progressively increase the spatial resolution, with the goal of determining whether it is possible to mitigate this problem with higher resolution spatial sampling. This is accomplished using ex vivo MRI data of the macaque brain, followed by histological analysis of the same specimen to validate these measurements, as well as to extend this analysis to resolutions not yet achievable in practice with MRI. In both dMRI and histology, we find unexpected results: the prevalence of crossing fibers increases as we increase spatial resolution. The problem of crossing fibers appears to be a fundamental limitation of dMRI associated with the complexity of brain tissue, rather than a technical problem that can be overcome with advances such as higher fields and stronger gradients.
Preventing physical abuse of nursing home residents‐ as seen from the nursing staff's perspective
Authors: Braaten Kjersti Lisbeth , Malmedal Wenche
Published: September 2017

Aim

This study aims to capture first‐hand information from nursing home staff's own understanding regarding what they think and have experienced about prevention of physical abuse of nursing home residents and what measures they consider useful to implement in their daily work.

Design

The design is qualitative.

Methods

A convenient sample of staff in three nursing homes was used and data were collected during three focus group interviews. The total number of informants was 14. Thematic content analysis was used. The data collection period was from December 2015–February 2016.

Results

According to the staff, several factors contribute to the prevention of physical abuse of residents in nursing homes. There is a requirement for increased competence among staff about the concept of abuse and known risk factors. Good communication skills and trusting relationships are important factors, as well as a culture that fosters openness where ethical dilemmas can be discussed.
Disturbance‐observer–based control for Markov jump systems with time‐varying delay
Authors: Gao Qian , Gao Xianwen , Qi Wenhai
Published: September 2017

This paper deals with disturbance‐observer–based control for Markov jump systems with time‐varying delay. A disturbance observer is constructed to estimate the disturbance generated by an exogenous dynamic system. Meantime, a control scheme is proposed to guarantee the corresponding system to be stochastically stable and achieve the purpose of suppressing the corresponding disturbance. By constructing the stochastic Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional, the desired observer and the controller are designed to ensure stochastic stability of the closed‐loop system. Finally, the simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.
AgNPs incorporated on deacetylated electrospun cellulose nanofibers and their effect on the antimicrobial activity
Authors: Kalwar Kaleemullah , Hu Lin , Li Da‐Li , Shan Dan
Published: September 2017

In the present study, cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning technique. Alkaline hydrolysis was introduced for conversion of CA nanofibers to cellulose nanofibers. Nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Furthermore, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were incorporated on regenerated cellulose nanofibers with different concentrations and used as an antimicrobial agent against Gram negative Escherichia coli BH5 α, Gram positive Spectromyces arenus, and Aspergillus flavus. Strong inhibition activities were determined.
Influence of different functionality degree grafting monomers on polypropylene melt radical branching reaction and their structure
Authors: Zhang Chun , Yang Le , He Li , Gong Wei , Luo Zhu , Liu Wei
Published: September 2017

Long‐chain–branched polypropylene (LCBPP) is one of polypropylenes (PPs) with high melt strength and good melt elasticity. Recently, due to its outstanding properties, LCBPP have been attracted increasingly attention in the field of development and characterization by the researchers all over the world. In this study, LCBPP was prepared by the melt radical branching reaction in a torque rheometer. The influences of various acrylate monomers with different functionality degrees on the structure and melt performance of PP products were investigated. The results indicated that grafting monomers with different functionality degrees made diverse influences on the branching density and branching chain length of branching PP products. With the increase of the functionality degree of grafting monomers, the branching level of PP products increased gradually and the “multiplicity” of branches became increasingly obvious. Besides, a higher reactivity of pentaerythritol triacrylate with hydroxyl than the similar molecular structured pentaerythritol tetraacrylate was confirmed. Furthermore, due to the high reactivity of dipentaerythritol penta(hexa)acrylate, branching and crosslinking reaction occurred simultaneously during the reaction process. As a result, the gel content increased and finally formed highly star branching structures with a shape of “dense and short.”
Shared temptations: An fMRI study of dishonest profit maximization
Authors: Simmank Fabian
Published: September 2017

A single case of a tempting‐decision task involving financial gain is reported. The subject showed a prosocial Social Value Orientation and applied a profit‐maximizing strategy. Differential brain activation patterns for self‐serving and other‐serving decisions were observed. Results provide new insight into the design of paradigms on bounded ethicality and self‐ and group‐serving behavior.
Acculturation‐based family conflict: A validation of Asian American Family Conflict Scale among Chinese Americans
Authors: Wu Shiyou , Wang Xiafei , Wu Qi , Zhai Fuhua , Gao Qin
Published: September 2017

Acculturation‐based family conflicts can influence parent–child relationships and children's development among immigrant families. The Asian American Family Conflict Scale (AAFCS) was developed to measure conflicting practices and values between parents and children in the context of acculturation. Given that considerable cultural and institutional changes have taken place in original countries for the Chinese immigrant population, it is important to investigate whether the factor structure of the AAFCS is appropriate for measuring the attitudes and practices of acculturation among the current Chinese immigrant population. A sample of Chinese American immigrant parents (n = 269) from the Survey of Asian American Families was employed to conduct exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The principal‐axis factoring method of EFA was used to determine the factor structure of the AAFCS, followed by the weighted least squares means and variance estimation in CFA to assess the fitness of the measurement model. A nine‐item one‐factor model (without the first item regarding decision making) was suggested by EFA with all factor loadings greater than .45. CFA results indicated a good fit of the nine‐item one‐factor model: χ2 (27, 296) = 40.24, p < .05, root‐mean‐square error of approximation = .04, 90% CI [.00, .07], comparative fit index = .99, Tucker–Lewis index = .99. The validation of the AAFCS is useful for practitioners and researchers to better assess the outcomes of acculturation conflicts among Chinese immigrants who are adjusting to living in the United States. This study can inform social work practitioners in regards to cultural sensitivity and cultural competency when working with Chinese immigrants and their U.S.‐born children.
Reporting to Improve Reproducibility and Facilitate Validity Assessment for Healthcare Database Studies V1.0
Authors: Wang Shirley V. , Schneeweiss Sebastian , Berger Marc L. , Brown Jeffrey , de Vries Frank , Douglas Ian , Gagne Joshua J. , Gini Rosa , Klungel Olaf , Mullins C. Daniel , Nguyen Michael D. , Rassen Jeremy A. , Smeeth Liam , Sturkenboom Miriam ,   on behalf of the joint ISPE‐ISPOR Special Task Force on Real World Evidence in Health Care Decision Making
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Defining a study population and creating an analytic dataset from longitudinal healthcare databases involves many decisions. Our objective was to catalogue scientific decisions underpinning study execution that should be reported to facilitate replication and enable assessment of validity of studies conducted in large healthcare databases.

Methods

We reviewed key investigator decisions required to operate a sample of macros and software tools designed to create and analyze analytic cohorts from longitudinal streams of healthcare data. A panel of academic, regulatory, and industry experts in healthcare database analytics discussed and added to this list.

Conclusion

Evidence generated from large healthcare encounter and reimbursement databases is increasingly being sought by decision‐makers. Varied terminology is used around the world for the same concepts. Agreeing on terminology and which parameters from a large catalogue are the most essential to report for replicable research would improve transparency and facilitate assessment of validity. At a minimum, reporting for a database study should provide clarity regarding operational definitions for key temporal anchors and their relation to each other when creating the analytic dataset, accompanied by an attrition table and a design diagram.

A substantial improvement in reproducibility, rigor and confidence in real world evidence generated from healthcare databases could be achieved with greater transparency about operational study parameters used to create analytic datasets from longitudinal healthcare databases.
Degradation of subcells and tunnel junctions during growth of GaInP/Ga(In)As/GaNAsSb/Ge 4‐junction solar cells
Authors: García Ivan , Ochoa Mario , Lombardero Iván , Cifuentes Luis , Hinojosa Manuel , Caño Pablo , Rey‐Stolle Ignacio , Algora Carlos , Johnson Andrew , Davies Iwan , Tan Kian Hua , Loke Wan Khai , Wicaksono Satrio , Yoon Soon Fatt
Published: September 2017

A GaInP/Ga(In)As/GaNAsSb/Ge 4J solar cell grown using the combined MOVPE + MBE method is presented. This structure is used as a test bench to assess the effects caused by the integration of subcells and tunnel junctions into the full 4J structure. A significant degradation of the Ge bottom subcell emitter is observed during the growth of the GaNAsSb subcell, with a drop in the carrier collection efficiency at the high energy photon range that causes a ~15% lower Jsc and a Voc drop of ~50 mV at 1‐sun. The Voc of the GaNAsSb subcell is shown to drop by as much as ~140 mV at 1‐sun. No degradation in performance is observed in the tunnel junctions, and no further degradation is neither observed for the Ge subcell during the growth of the GaInP/Ga(In)As subcells. The hindered efficiency potential in this lattice‐matched 4J architecture due to the degradation of the Ge and GaNAsSb subcells is discussed.
The Relational Experience of Poverty: Challenges for Family Planning and Autonomy in Rural Areas
Authors: Seale Elizabeth
Published: September 2017

This is a qualitative study of a family planning education program in New York State using in‐depth interviews with 16 low‐income participants. The study demonstrates how challenges faced by the rural poor in family planning and health autonomy are exacerbated by lack of social support and isolation. Service providers are therefore critical to clients’ achievement of health and family planning goals. Such services are needed not merely because of individual deficiencies, but also due to the relational nature of the effects of poverty. The concept of relational autonomy is used to explain the experiences of the rural poor in this study.
The Effects on Children's Well‐Being of Ecuador's Conditional Cash Transfer “Bono de Desarrollo Humano”
Authors: Rosales Mitte Diana
Published: September 2017

Ecuador's conditional cash transfer program, Bono de Desarrollo Humano (BDH), reaches more than 400,000 households with children, providing economic assistance to these families. Even though there are no official results of the program regarding how many people left poverty due to the BDH, national social indicators show that coverage of basic education has expanded, while child labor has increased at the national level, especially in rural areas where child labor is more severe, suggesting that these children are at risk of living in poverty as adults. Even though data show improvement in school enrollment and infant mortality, the BDH program should engage parents and educate them to raise their children, emphasizing that the main purpose of the program is focused on children's well‐being. Also, there is a need to create sustainable programs to allow BDH beneficiaries to exit the program and foster upward mobility by creating labor opportunities in the formal sector. Although there have been improvements in the program such as additional services, and larger coverage of the vulnerable population, the BDH still has some flaws. Like other conditional cash transfers in the region, the BDH has become one of the government's flagship poverty‐alleviation programs. However, the program needs to include an evaluation process of its results.
Considerations Regarding the SSA Board of Trustees’ Report, 2017
Authors: Skidmore Max J.
Published: September 2017

Max J. Skidmore discusses the reports of the Trustees of the Social Security Administration, and their public reception, inspired by the release on 13 July of the report for 2017.
Lifecycle risk assessment of a technological system using dynamic Bayesian networks
Authors: Ashrafi Maryam , Anzabi Zadeh Sadjad
Published: September 2017

Investigations of technological systems accidents reveal that technical, human, organizational, as well as environmental factors influence the occurrence of accidents. Despite these facts, most traditional risk assessment techniques focus on technical aspects of systems and have some limitations of incorporating efficient links between risk models and human and organizational factors. This paper presents a method for risk analysis of technological systems. Application of the presented framework makes it possible to analyze the influence of technical, human, organizational, and environmental risk factors on system safety. It encompasses system lifecycle from design to operational phase to give a comprehensive picture of system risks. The developed framework comprises the following main steps: (1) development of a conceptual risk analysis framework, (2) identifying risk influencing factors in different levels of technical, human, organizational, and environmental factors providing the possibility of analyzing interactions in a multi‐level system, (3) modeling system risk using dynamic Bayesian network (DBN), (4) assignment of probabilities and risk quantification in node probability tables (NPTs) based on industry records and experts extracted knowledge, (5) implementation of the model for wind turbines risk analysis combining use of V‐model, risk factors, and DBN in order to analyze the risk, and (6) analyzing different scenarios and the interactions in different levels. Finally, the various steps of the framework, the research objective fulfillment, and case study results are presented and discussed.
The complexities of measuring fine sediment accumulation within gravel‐bed rivers
Authors: Harper S.E. , Foster I.D.L. , Lawler D.M. , Mathers K.L. , McKenzie M. , Petts G.E.
Published: September 2017

Fine sediment storage within gravel beds is a key component of catchment sediment budgets and affects the health of benthic and hyporheic habitats. Here, we assess the performance of two substrate infiltration traps for the characterization of fine sediment (<2 mm) accumulation. One design, the vertically extending sediment trap, permits both lateral and vertical exchange in the sediment column, whereas the second type, a more traditional fixed‐area sediment trap with impermeable side walls, permits only vertical exchange. Traps were deployed at three sites on the River Tame, Birmingham (UK), over varying installation periods (14–401 days). Results indicate that the facilitation of multiple pathways of exchange within the vertically extending sediment traps (vertical and lateral) resulted in a significantly greater amount of fine sediment being accumulated than in adjacent fixed‐area sediment traps. This suggests that lateral transport is an important component contributing to fine sediment accumulation. However, there are notable and inherent problems associated with the use of different types of sediment trap and in the way the data should be presented and interpreted. This paper discusses the practical implications of the study findings and reflects on the complexities of undertaking accurate sediment deposition measurements in the field.
Self‐assembled monolayers of octadecylphosphonic acid and polymer films: Surface chemistry and chemical structures studied by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry
Authors: Nie Heng‐Yong
Published: September 2017

With the ever‐decreasing thickness of functional organic thin films, surface sensitive analytical techniques are required to probe surface/interface chemistry and structural changes of ultra‐thin organic films such as self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of amphiphilic molecules and polymeric coatings. Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS) fits this requirement because it is extremely surface sensitive and provides rich chemical information. In this article prepared for celebrating the 35th anniversary of our lab as a surface analysis service provider and a surface science research center, we highlight our TOF‐SIMS studies on exploring the surface chemistry of SAMs of octadecylphosphonic acid. Due to our contribution to developing the fast growth method of delivering octadecylphosphonic acid SAMs via the use of solvents having a dielectric constant of 3 to 5, we will review the formation mechanisms of SAMs. We will also review our recent results that demonstrated the feasibility of using the ion intensity ratio between C6H− and C4H− to differentiate the chemical structures of several polymers and depth profiling the cross‐linking degree of a polymer. In this article, we show results from principal component analysis on numerous CnH− intensity data from multiple spectra obtained from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisoprene, and polystyrene. This multivariate analysis method allowed us to better understand the relationships between the polymers and between CnH−, as well as verify the rationale for the selection of C4H−as the reference ion for normalization. We demonstrate that together with principal component analysis, TOF‐SIMS is unique in differentiating chemical structures of polymers. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of nanoclay and tin(IV) oxide nanopowder on morphological, thermo‐mechanical properties of hexamethylene diisocyanate treated jute/bamboo/polyethylene hybrid composites
Authors: Liew Fui Kiew , Hamdan Sinin , Rahman Md Rezaur , Mahmood Mohamad Rusop , Lai Josephine Chang Hui
Published: September 2017

Hybrid composites were fabricated by hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) treated jute–bamboo fiber, nanoclay, tin(IV) oxide nanopowder, and low‐density polyethylene. The composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Surface morphology, tensile testing, and water absorption test were also reported. FTIR results revealed that treated fiber had covalence bonding with polymer matrix which enhanced mechanical properties. All HDI‐treated hybrid composites showed significant improvement in activation energy, lower crystallinity index, significant high tensile strength, and Young's modulus compared to untreated hybrid composites. All treated hybrid composites also showed extreme low water absorption. The addition of nanoclay or tin(IV) oxide into treated hybrid composites had a negative impact on thermal‐mechanical properties. Surface morphological results revealed the bonding condition among hybrid composites. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:358–366, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Mimicry in butterflies: co‐option and a bag of magnificent developmental genetic tricks
Authors: Deshmukh Riddhi , Baral Saurav , Gandhimathi A. , Kuwalekar Muktai , Kunte Krushnamegh
Published: September 2017

Butterfly wing patterns are key adaptations that are controlled by remarkable developmental and genetic mechanisms that facilitate rapid evolutionary change. With swift advancements in the fields of genomics and genetic manipulations, identifying the regulators of wing development and mimetic wing patterns has become feasible even in nonmodel organisms such as butterflies. Recent mapping and gene expression studies have identified single switch loci of major effects such as transcription factors and supergenes as the main drivers of adaptive evolution of mimetic and polymorphic butterfly wing patterns. We highlight several of these examples, with emphasis on doublesex, optix, WntA and other dynamic, yet essential, master regulators that control critical color variation and sex‐specific traits. Co‐option emerges as a predominant theme, where typically embryonic and other early‐stage developmental genes and networks have been rewired to regulate polymorphic and sex‐limited mimetic wing patterns in iconic butterfly adaptations. Drawing comparisons from our knowledge of wing development in Drosophila, we illustrate the functional space of genes that have been recruited to regulate butterfly wing patterns. We also propose a developmental pathway that potentially results in dorsoventral mismatch in butterfly wing patterns. Such dorsoventrally mismatched color patterns modulate signal components of butterfly wings that are used in intra‐ and inter‐specific communication. Recent advances—fuelled by RNAi‐mediated knockdowns and CRISPR/Cas9‐based genomic edits—in the developmental genetics of butterfly wing patterns, and the underlying biological diversity and complexity of wing coloration, are pushing butterflies as an emerging model system in ecological genetics and evolutionary developmental biology. WIREs Dev Biol 2018, 7:e291. doi: 10.1002/wdev.291

This article is categorized under:

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Regulatory Mechanisms

Comparative Development and Evolution > Regulation of Organ Diversity

Comparative Development and Evolution > Evolutionary Novelties
An upgraded external beam PIXE setup for multielemental analysis of atmospheric aerosol samples
Authors: Xu M. , Chu Y.J. , Wang G.F. , Qiu M.L. , Zheng L.
Published: September 2017

The external beam particle‐induced X‐ray emission (PIXE) setup has been upgraded by introducing a new silicon drift detector with the aim of obtaining better minimum detection limits (MDLs) at the 2 × 1.7 MV Tandetron accelerator of the Beijing Normal University in China. The upgraded external beam PIXE setup is equipped with two silicon drift detectors for PIXE analysis of low and high Z elements. A surface barrier detector for Rutherford backscattering spectrometry monitors beam and helium flow. Two kinds of aerosol filter samples (quartz fiber filters and Teflon filters) were studied. A 200‐μm thick Mylar absorber in front of the medium‐high energy X‐rays detector was adopted, and it got the best MDLs for atmospheric aerosol samples analysis. Multielemental analysis of quartz fiber filter aerosol samples was achieved. For more accurate and better MDLs of low Z elements in PIXE analysis, it is necessary to keep sufficient helium flow behind the thin samples.
Introduction: A Strange Eventful History
Authors: Hilton Claire
Published: September 2017

In January 1965, Barbara Robb visited seventy-three-year-old Amy Gibbs, a patient on a back ward at Friern psychiatric hospital in North London. There, Barbara stepped into the murky, hardly shifting territory of older people’s long-stay care. Shocked by what she saw, such as harshness from nurses and the patients’ uniform haircuts, institutional clothing and lack of personal possessions and occupation, Barbara set out to make improvements. Her campaign triggered a series of scandals about psychiatric hospitals, ultimately resulting in change in National Health Service (NHS) policy and practice. This chapter outlines the historical context of Barbara’s campaign, at a time when consumer rights, equality, social justice and the quality of healthcare were among public concerns adopted by new pressure groups.
Barbara Robb, Amy Gibbs and the ‘Diary of a Nobody’
Authors: Hilton Claire
Published: September 2017

‘Mrs Robb has always been a terrible danger’ to the government, a fine tribute from a Cabinet Minister. How did she build such a fearsome reputation? What was her background? How did she acquire her skills? What made her take on the cause of older people in hospitals? How did she cope with NHS bureaucracy? This chapter illuminates aspects of Barbara’s background and personality that motivated her and sustained her in her campaign. It also introduces Amy Gibbs and the ‘Diary of a Nobody’, Barbara’s visit-by-visit record of her experiences at Friern that underpinned her campaign. Early events of the campaign included Barbara’s meeting with Dr Tooth at the Ministry of Health and Lord Strabolgi’s passionate and provocative speech in the House of Lords.
Establishing AEGIS and Writing Sans Everything: ‘The Case’ and ‘Some Answers’
Authors: Hilton Claire
Published: September 2017

In October 1965 Barbara established AEGIS (Aid for the Elderly in Government Institutions). AEGIS, became a high-profile pressure group. It aimed to call public attention to serious defects in the care of older patients in psychiatric hospitals. AEGIS won the support of policy experts, such as Brian Abel-Smith. Barbara compiled the book Sans Everything, incorporating accounts of poor practice from whistle-blowers who were mainly hands-on staff and new to a hospital. Sans Everything also suggested remedies, including dedicated and proactive psychiatric services for older people, a hospitals' inspectorate, an ombudsman and improved complaints procedures. AEGIS planned tactically, aiming to kick-start the Ministry out of its complacency. This chapter also explores comparisons made by Sans Everything contributors between psychiatric hospital long-stay wards and Nazi concentration camps.
Reprinted Before Publication: Plotting a Route for Sans Everything
Authors: Hilton Claire
Published: September 2017

Barbara enthused journalists to publicise AEGIS’s concerns, to enlighten the public and to pave the way for Sans Everything. In early 1967, the Ministry began to prepare for the outburst of public opinion which it predicted would follow publication. The Ministry prioritised protecting staff against criticism, rather than safeguarding patients from poor care, and fumbled over establishing appropriate inquiry processes. Directly related to Sans Everything, unrest surfaced among staff in other hospitals, such as at Ely in Cardiff, from where a nursing assistant wrote to the News of the World describing similar conditions. The newspaper forwarded his report to the Ministry. Overall, the press supported AEGIS and criticised the Ministry and the NHS leadership, which continued to defend hospital standards.
Then and Now: Concluding Remarks
Authors: Hilton Claire
Published: September 2017

The concluding remarks draw together aspects of AEGIS’s campaign and Barbara’s work, the role of women in the campaign, the last years of Barbara’s life, and AEGIS’s legacy for twenty-first century health and social care policy and practice. Inadequate care still occurs in the twenty-first century, but recurrence of scandal does not invalidate Barbara’s achievements, or those of other pioneer social reformers: William Wilberforce, for example, would be busy today, dealing with modern slavery and people trafficking. Some risky patterns of NHS practice continue: understaffing and regimented monitoring of task-driven rather than person-centred practice is common, and staff new to a hospital are rarely asked for feedback about their experiences and insights, which, seen through a ‘new pair of eyes’, may be valuable.
Perinatal deficiency in dietary omega‐3 fatty acids potentiates sucrose reward and diet‐induced obesity in mice
Authors: Auguste Stéphanie , Sharma Sandeep , Fisette Alexandre , Fernandes Maria F , Daneault Caroline , Des Rosiers Christine , Fulton Stephanie
Published: September 2017

Insufficient dietary intake of essential omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (N‐3), especially during critical stages of development, is well‐associated with negative neurological and metabolic consequences. The increased availability and intake of foods rich in saturated fat coincides with reduced N‐3 consumption, yet how N‐3 dietary deficiency during perinatal development modulates motivation for palatable food and interacts with a high‐fat diet to affect body weight and emotional states is not clear. Pregnant C57Bl6 mice and pups were subjected to diets either deficient or adequate (control) in N‐3 until postnatal day 21. Adult male N‐3 deficient or control offspring were tested in a progressive ratio operant task for sucrose motivated behavior or given prolonged access to a saturated high‐fat diet or chow followed by measures of energy balance and anxiety‐like behavior in the elevated‐plus maze and open field test. Brain fatty acid profiles were measured via gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Perinatal dietary N‐3 deficiency lowered brain N‐3 levels, augmented the rewarding effects of sucrose, heightened diet‐induced weight gain and fat mass accumulation and diminished spontaneous physical activity. Finally, perinatal N‐3 deficiency increased anxiety‐like behaviour independent of diet in the open field but not in the elevated‐plus maze test. Insufficient dietary N‐3 during critical periods of developmental can amplify the obesogenic effects of saturated fat intake, enhance motivated behaviour for palatable foods and may elicit negative emotional states that can perpetuate overeating and obesity.
Rent-seeking and firm value: Chinese evidence
Authors: Li Sihai , Wu Huiying , Jiang Xinfeng
Published: September 2017

We examine whether engagement in rent-seeking improves firm value in China. Rent-seeking is defined as a firm's use of resources to establish a relationship with the government to obtain government-controlled resources. We incorporate political rents and associated costs into an analytical framework to examine the relationship between rent-seeking and firm value. Using a sample of non-state-owned firms listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange from 2007 to 2013, we find evidence of the presence of political rents in the form of government subsidies and evidence of associated costs in the forms of corporate philanthropy and excess management remuneration, which largely explains the insignificant relationship found between rent-seeking and firm value. Our further analysis shows that rent-seeking behavior of firms reduces production efficiency, providing additional evidence to support our thesis that engagement in rent-seeking does not enhance firm value in the Chinese context. In an economy with weak institutions, in particular with weak protection for shareholders, managers and politicians can become rent-seekers and take a considerable share of the economic benefits derived from rent-seeking.
Rapid Risk Assessment Report for Schistosomiasis Epidemic in Jianli County Caused by the Sunk “Oriental Star” Cruise Ship
Authors: Ni Ziling , Tan Xiaodong , Liu Bei , Ying Zhaoyu , Gao Xudong , Yang Fen
Published: September 2017

Background

At 9:28 pm on June 1, 2015, the cruise ship “Oriental Star” sank into Yangtze River in Jianli County, with 422 people killed. When the accident occurred, the Chinese government took immediate action and dispatched more than 9000 rescuers. The risk for outbreak of schistosomiasis was increased because of the shipwreck. Obviously it is critical to carry out risk assessment as soon as possible.

Methods

By means of the Delphi method, the situation was analyzed so that the government could fathom the severity of the accident. Then, through matrix and sigma-plotting (3-dimensional graphics) methods, related authorities performed risk assessment after site investigation.

Results

The latest news reported that more than 9000 people were involved in the rescue. The affected river was analyzed and mapped using SigmaPlot software, according to which the possibility, harmfulness, and controllability of the accident were determined to be medium (6), medium (6), and poor (7), respectively.

Conclusion

The site of the accident where the cruise ship sank and rescue operations were carried out is a schistosomiasis epidemic area with high mortality and morbidity. The chance of an outbreak of the schistosomiasis epidemic in Jianli County is quite high. To protect people in this county from the epidemic, relevant logistic services should be arranged and all remains should be cleared up carefully. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:147–153)
Limit theorems for pure death processes coming down from infinity
Authors: Sagitov Serik , France Thibaut
Published: September 2017

In this paper we treat a pure death process coming down from infinity as a natural generalization of the death process associated with the Kingman coalescent. We establish a number of limit theorems including a strong law of large numbers and a large deviation theorem.
Limit laws on extremes of nonhomogeneous Gaussian random fields
Authors: Tan Zhongquan
Published: September 2017

In this paper, by using the tail asymptotics derived by Dębicki et al. (2016), we prove the Gumbel limit laws for the maximum of a class of nonhomogeneous Gaussian random fields. As an application of the main results, we derive the Gumbel limit law for Shepp statistics of fractional Brownian motion and Gaussian integrated processes.
Two Doctrines of the Unwritten Constitution
Authors: Eleftheriadis Pavlos
Published: September 2017

United Kingdom Supreme Court – Brexit – European Communities Act 1972 – British unwritten Constitution – Theories of the unwritten Constitution – Royal prerogative – Constitutional instruments – Higher law – Process of withdrawal from the European Union – Rule of recognition – H.L.A. Hart – A.V. Dicey – John Finnis – ‘Rule of recognition’ – Theory of sovereignty – Common law Constitution – John Laws
Environmental Constitutionalism: A Comparative Study
Authors: O’Gorman Roderic
Published: September 2017

While 148 of the 196 national constitutions in effect today manifest some form of environmental constitutionalism, the fact that some states have not adopted such provisions suggests that their spread is not inexorable. This article investigates the factors which affect whether a state adopts environmental constitutionalism. By undertaking a historical analysis of those countries which have so amended their constitutions, it identifies the context in which the constitutional change takes place as a significant consideration. The context of constitutional change influences the amendment process, which is then opened up to a range of other factors, both external (learning/persuasion, acculturation/emulation) and internal (political leadership, public and sectoral engagement, constitutional ideology, national environmental damage), all of which are considered by examining previous efforts to enshrine environmental constitutionalism. The article concludes by highlighting four specific responses that are key to successful amendment processes, namely: capitalizing on crisis situations; ensuring that economic concerns are adequately addressed; leveraging the support of the public and politicians; and linking environmental protection to national values.
Tolerance and Suppression of Weeds Varies among Carrot Varieties
Authors: Colquhoun Jed B. , Rittmeyer Richard A. , Heider Daniel J.
Published: September 2017

Slow carrot emergence and canopy development render the crop a poor competitor with weeds. In this study, the ability to suppress weeds and maintain yield in the presence of weeds was compared among nine carrot varieties that included those selected by plant breeders for rapid vegetative canopy development compared to traditional varieties. Two weed management treatments were compared: handweeding for 21 d after carrot seeding versus handweeding for the entire carrot season. In years and locations with low to moderate weed pressure, such as in the 2014 study, differences among carrot varieties in weed competitiveness or tolerance were less apparent and therefore less relevant. Maximum carrot yield loss to weed competition among varieties was 28% in 2014. Yield loss in the presence of weeds was 15% or less with six of the nine carrot varieties. However, when weed pressure was intense in the 2015 study, both carrot plant density and carrot canopy development were inversely related to weed biomass. Carrot yield loss in the presence of weeds ranged from 38 to 87%. Despite correcting seeding populations for differences in germination among carrot varieties, carrot stand establishment varied greatly and would likely affect subsequent weed control measures such as timely cultivation or herbicide application. Future research efforts are warranted that consider carrot stand establishment factors and their relationship with integrated weed management programs.