bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogeography of the prickly sculpin (Cottus asper) in north‐western North America reveals parallel phenotypic evolution across multiple coastal–inland colonizations
Authors: Dennenmoser Stefan , Nolte Arne W. , Vamosi Steven M. , Rogers Sean M.
Published: April 2015

Aim

Glacial cycles during the Pleistocene may have frequently contributed to parallel evolution of phenotypes across independently evolving genetic lineages associated with separate glacial refugia. Previous studies based on morphology suggested that the prickly sculpin (Cottus asper) survived the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in southern coastal and inland refugia, favouring allopatric divergence between coastal and inland prickling phenotypes, which vary in the degree to which spine‐like scales cover the body of the fish. Herein, we aimed to test whether parallel evolution across multiple genetic lineages rather than a single‐lineage origin of highly prickled inland sculpins could serve as an explanation for the biogeographical distribution of prickling phenotypes.

Location

North‐western North America, Southeast Alaska and Canada (British Columbia).

Methods

We used data from mitochondrial haplotypes and 19 microsatellite loci to identify distinct genetic lineages as a basis to interpret patterns of phenotypic evolution.

Results

The occurrence of multiple mtDNAgroups suggests that highly prickled inland phenotypes comprise more than one genetic lineage. Both mtDNAand microsatellite data are consistent with post‐glacial dispersal along the coast and repeated coastal to inland colonization events, as opposed to inland dispersal of a single lineage from a southern refugium to northern regions.

Main conclusions

Our results suggest that highly prickled inland phenotypes evolved repeatedly following multiple inland colonization events, probably via coastal rivers. The prickly sculpin therefore provides an example of recent (post‐glacial) parallel evolution, potentially facilitated by standing genetic variation already present in the ancestral coastal populations.
Electrophysiological Characteristics and Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Accessory Pathway Connecting the Right Atrial Appendage and the Right Ventricle
Authors: GUO XIAO‐GANG , SUN QI , MA JIAN , LIU XU , ZHOU GONG‐BU , YANG JIAN‐DU , ZHANG SHU
Published: April 2015

AP Connecting the RAA and the RV

Background

The accessory pathway (AP) connecting the right atrial appendage (RAA) and the right ventricle (RV) is rare.

Objective

We sought to investigate the feature of the AP connecting the RAA and the RV and the efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation via the endocardial access.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 14 consecutive patients with 14 APs connecting the RAA and the RV managed by 15 procedures between January 2003 and December 2014.

Results

Ten patients presented as preexcitation during sinus rhythm. All APs had retrograde conduction. None had either antegrade or retrograde decremental conduction property. Ablation targeting the sites at the tricuspid annulus failed in all patients. They were successfully managed by ablating the atrial insertion sites with a median of 10.5 (range 5–28) radiofrequency applications. Electrograms at the successful target showed high amplitude atrial electrogram and low amplitude or no ventricular electrogram. The atrial insertion sites were at the floor of the RAA in 10 patients and inside the lower lobe of the RAA in the remaining 4 patients. The shortest distance between the successful target and the tricuspid annulus in the right anterior oblique projection was 19.7 ± 4.0 mm. There were no complications or recurrences during a median follow‐up period of 4.3 (range 0.2–11.8) years.

Conclusion

The APs connecting the RAA and the RV had typical conduction properties. The atrial insertion site favored the floor and the lower lobe of the RAA. Ablation targeting the atrial insertion sites was effective and safe, albeit multiple radiofrequency applications were needed.
Arterial Stiffness as a Predictor of Clinical Hypertension
Authors: Zheng Xiaoming , Jin Cheng , Liu Yeqiang , Zhang Jing , Zhu Ying , Kan Shuting , Wu Yuntao , Ruan Chunyu , Lin Liming , Yang Xinchun , Zhao Xingquan , Wu Shouling
Published: April 2015

The association between vascular stiffening and blood pressure is likely bidirectional. The present study was designed to examine temporal relationships among vascular stiffness, blood pressure progression, and hypertension. The Asymptomatic Polyvascular Abnormalities Community study is a community‐based, prospective, long‐term follow‐up observational study. The present investigation is based on the baseline examinations (2010–2011) and the first follow‐up measurements (2012–2013) included in the study. A total of 4025 participants were followed for an average of 27 months. Of 2153 participants free of hypertension at the baseline examination, 432 (20.07%) had incident hypertension. The authors observed that brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was an independent predictor of incident hypertension. baPWV during baseline examination was positively associated with higher systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure during the first follow‐up examination. baPWV but not blood pressure during baseline examination was associated with baPWV during the first follow‐up examination. This study not only provides evidence that baPWV is an independent predictor of blood pressure progression and incident hypertension, but also provides evidence that blood pressure is not associated with baPWV after adjusting for baseline baPWV.
Isolation and characterization of 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci in Hypostomus ancistroides (Teleostei, Loricariidae) and cross‐amplification in related species
Authors: Galindo B. A. , Ferreira D. G. , Almeida F. S. , Carlsson J. , Sofia S. H.
Published: April 2015

This study details 13 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci in the armoured catfish Hypostomus ancistroides, and assesses their utility for population genetic studies. The analysis of 30 individuals revealed a total of 99 different alleles (ranging from two to 15 alleles per locus), with an average of 7·62 alleles per locus, with observed and expected heterozygosities ranging from 0·103 to 0·931 and from 0·102 to 0·906, respectively. One of the 13 loci showed significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, probably due to the presence of null alleles, inferred from the excess of homozygotes.
Evaluation of Biochemical and Quality Attributes to Monitor the Application of Heat and Cold Treatments in Tomato Fruit (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill.)
Authors: Polenta Gustavo , Budde Claudio , Sivakumar Dharini , Nanni Mariana , Guidi Silvina
Published: April 2015

The study was accomplished to optimize the application of stress treatment to prevent chilling injury (CI) in tomatoes. Four treatments were evaluated: control, heat shock applied for 24 (HS24) and 48 h (HS48), and cold shock applied for 24 h (CS24). The fruits were stored at 2 and 14C, and evaluated immediately after treatment and after 21 and 28 days of storage. An additional evaluation after 7 days of exposure at 20C following storage withdrawal was included to induce ripening and exteriorize the development of CI symptoms. Different biochemical and quality attributes were evaluated (color, titratable acidity, firmness, ethylene, CI index and heat shock protein [HSP] accumulation). Heat treatments were successful in preventing the decay of fruits under CI‐inducing conditions. The significantly better performance of HS48 in comparison to the other treatments gives evidence that the effectiveness relies on the adequate intensity of application; therefore, this intensity should be strictly controlled by a proper monitoring method. In this regard, small HSP accumulation was found suitable to reflect properly the physiological condition of fruits and therefore to potentially optimize and determine the adequate intensity of treatment application.

Practical Applications

Stress treatments constitute a promising technological alternative to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables because of their capacity to prevent the development of chilling injury during the cold storage of sensitive species. The main advantages are the ease of use, considering that they can be applied in commercial chambers with minor changes, and the avoidance of chemicals. By assessing the effectiveness of treatments and the suitability of different biochemical and quality attributes as monitoring parameters to maximize the efficiency of application, it became apparent that the adequate intensity of application must be accurately established, since beyond a certain limit, the effect of the stress may induce irreversible alterations, provoking a permanent damage. The study provides evidence that small heat shock protein accumulation constitutes suitable monitoring parameters to objectively establish the optimal intensity, able to maintain the quality characteristics and extend the shell life of tomatoes during the cold storage.
Effects of Plasma‐Modified Polyvinylidenefluoride and Polyethersulfone Ultrafiltration (UF) Membrane Treatments on Quality of Soybean Oil
Authors: Onal‐Ulusoy Baran
Published: April 2015

The effects of unmodified and surface‐modified polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) and polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration membranes on quality of crude soybean oil and crude oil miscellas were studied. Membranes were modified with hexamethyldisiloxane in radiofrequency plasma polymerization (PlzP) at 60 W (PVDF) or 75 W (PES) glow discharge power for 5 min. Contact angle results indicated an interfacial free energy increase between water and solid surface by 2.1‐ and 12.7‐fold for PVDF and PES, respectively, after PlzP, i.e., both membranes became more hydrophobic. Modified PVDF removed 10% more free fatty acids, 8–11% peroxides, and maintained 2–5% more tocopherols compared to those of unmodified PVDF and modified PES. Oxidation products and color compound removal of modified PVDF from crude oil and miscellas were similar to the commercial bleaching step and better than degumming‐neutralization step. Total tocopherol loss during modified PVDF treatment was 5.3% and 5.0–6.8% for crude oil and miscellas, respectively, and these values were far below than any processing steps in commercial refining (10.4–28.4% loss).

Practical Applications

PlzP coating of monomers on a polymeric‐based membrane changes the membrane's chemical and physical properties due to series of sequential reactions such as oxidation, degradation and cross‐linking. The predominant reactions were determined mainly with plasma power and plasma treatment time. Thus, if one can adjust the plasma parameters properly, one can create a tailor‐made surface in terms of angstroms at the molecular/atomic level. The minimal refining method with plasma‐modified PVDF and PES membranes described in the present study was a new practical approach to remove undesirable components from crude soybean oil as well as crude oil‐hexane miscellas for meeting commercial refining standards. It simultaneously preserves the more healthy minor components found in oil.
Solubility of chiral species as function of the enantiomeric excess
Authors: Coquerel Gerard
Published: April 2015

The solubility of racemizable and nonracemizable chiral species is discussed in terms of: enantiomeric excess, nature of solvent and the solid phases, which are in equilibrium with a saturated solution. Stable and metastable equilibria are contemplated by an extensive used of phase diagrams.
Changes in Systolic Blood Pressure over Time in Healthy Cats and Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Bijsmans E.S. , Jepson R.E. , Chang Y.M. , Syme H.M. , Elliott J.
Published: April 2015

Background

Hypertension is a common problem in older cats, most often associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cross‐sectional studies have suggested that blood pressure in cats increases with age.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To determine whether blood pressure in cats increases with age and whether this occurs independently of the presence ofCKD. To investigate risk factors for developing hypertension.

Animals/Subjects

Two hundred and sixty‐five cats withCKDand 133 healthy cats ≥9 years were retrospectively identified.

Methods

Four groups were created according to status at initial evaluation (CKDor healthy) and blood pressure at the last included visit (normotensive [NT] or developed hypertension [DH]): Healthy‐NT, Healthy‐DH,CKD‐NTandCKD‐DH. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) over time slopes were compared with 0 and between groups. Risk factors for the development of hypertension were investigated, and associations of biochemical and clinical variables withSBPwere examined.

Results

Cats that were hypertensive atCKDdiagnosis (n = 105) were not included in further analyses. Twenty‐seven cats withCKDand 9 healthy cats developed hypertension ≥3 months after diagnosis ofCKDor their first visit. Systolic blood pressure significantly increased with age in all cats (P < .001). Healthy cats were at less risk than cats withCKDto become hypertensive (hazard ratio 0.2,P < .001), with creatinine being an independent risk factor for the development of hypertension.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The high prevalence of hypertension in azotemic cats in this study shows the importance of monitoring ofSBPin elderly cats, and in particular in cats withCKD.
Invasive plant species in the Swedish flora: developing criteria and definitions, and assessing the invasiveness of individual taxa
Authors: Tyler Torbjörn , Karlsson Thomas , Milberg Per , Sahlin Ullrika , Sundberg Sebastian
Published: April 2015

In a north European context, identifying invasive species is far from trivial because the vegetation has been influenced by human activities for thousands of years. New species have immigrated continuously since the end of the last glaciation, both spontaneously and through direct or indirect help by man. Still, newly immigrated species may be problematic in a nature conservation context and may harm biodiversity, and cause changes in ecosystem services. In this study, all 721 presently established vascular plant and bryophyte taxa known to have been introduced to, or to have immigrated to, Sweden since the year 1700 are assessed for their invasive potential. The assessment is based on six components considered relevant for their invasiveness: 1) ability to compete in natural vegetation, 2) ability to form dense populations, 3) realized dispersal ability, 4) gene flow to native relatives, 5) time since immigration and 6) distance to their native range. Although the relative importance of these components is context dependent, a compound general index of invasive concern is proposed and calculated for all taxa. The index of invasive concern is validated by comparing it to assessments by a Bayesian Belief Network in which the influences of the same six components are assigned by expert opinions. In addition, rough estimates of the present‐day abundance of each taxon in Sweden are presented. The origin, biology and possible impact of the 150 taxa with the highest index values are discussed. Based on the index of invasive concern, Campylopus introflexus, Epilobium adenocaulon, E. ciliatum, Rosa rugosa, Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum, Orthodontium lineare, Solidago canadensis, Calystegia sepium subsp. spectabilis, Rubus armeniacus and Prunus serotina are identified as the ten most problematic alien vascular plant and bryophyte taxa in Sweden.
Does a prophylactic dose of propofol reduce emergence agitation in children receiving anesthesia? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: van Hoff Sophia L. , O'Neill Elizabeth S. , Cohen Lianna C. , Collins Brian A.
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Emergence agitation (EA) is common after sevoflurane anesthesia in children, and can lead to distressing inconsolability, agitation, crying, and injury. Use of a single dose of the short‐acting sedative‐hypnotic agent propofol at the end of a procedure has shown promise for preventing EA, but evidence evaluating the efficacy and safety of this approach has not been formally summarized.

Objective

The objective of this review was to assess the effects of a prophylactic dose of propofol vs placebo on the incidence and severity of EA in children age 0–13 years receiving general inhalational anesthesia.

Search methods

We searched PubMed (1946–2013) via Medline, CENTRAL (1898–2013), and Web of Science (1900–2013) without limits or language restrictions; we also searched ClinicalTrials.gov and reference lists. We reviewed abstracts from the 2012 and 2013 Society for Pediatric Anesthesia meetings and pediatric anesthesia‐related abstracts from the 2012 and 2013 International Anesthesia Research Society meetings.

Selection criteria

We assessed randomized, double‐blind trials evaluating the efficacy of a prophylactic dose of propofol (1 mg·kg−1) vs placebo given at the end of inhalational anesthesia to prevent EA in pediatric patients. Studies were required to follow patients through recovery and report at least one prespecified outcome.

Data collection and analysis

Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data from included studies. We contacted study authors regarding any missing data. We used the random effects models to calculate pooled relative risks (RR) and weighted mean differences (WMD). We collected Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale scores from included studies. PAED scale scores can range from 0 to 20.

Main results

Of 276 studies screened, nine trials involving 997 children met all inclusion criteria. All were considered low risk of bias. For one non‐English trial, we obtained a full‐text translation and for one non‐English trial, we used the English‐language abstract, tables, and figures. Based on available evidence, prophylactic propofol was associated with both decreased incidence of EA (29% vs 58%, RR 0.50, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.41, 0.61, I2 = 37%, seven studies), and reduced severity of EA as assessed by mean PAED scale score (WMD −2.08 points, 95% CI −3.20, −0.96, I2 = 0%, three studies), when compared to placebo. In addition, though prophylactic propofol did lengthen the time to awakening (WMD 4.07 min, 95% CI 2.22, 5.91, I2 = 82%, six studies), it did not increase recovery time (WMD 2.91 min, 95% CI −0.59, 6.41, I2 = 82%, six studies) when compared to placebo. No significant adverse events were reported in either arm.

Conclusion

Based on high quality evidence, prophylactic propofol appears to be effective for reducing the incidence and severity of EA in children emerging from general anesthesia.
Education Politics and Policy: Emerging Institutions, Interests, and Ideas
Authors: Galey Sarah
Published: April 2015

The article reviews the most recent research on K–12 education policy and politics in the United States. I begin by exploring current reform trends and emerging institutional arrangements governing contemporary U.S. school systems in relation to patterns of increasing federal and state involvement in educational policy arenas. I then examine and synthesize studies from four key areas of educational policy research—accountability and teacher evaluation, market‐based reforms, educational research utilization, and local and state capacity building. I conclude with an overview of gaps in the literature and suggestions for future research.
Antipsychotics can induce pre‐shock in very elderly patients: a report of two cases
Authors: Ueda Satoshi , Omori Ataru , Shioya Touko , Okubo Yoshiro
Published: April 2015

Antipsychotics have often been administered to treat delirium and intractable insomnia in elderly patients with or without dementia. However, antipsychotics sometimes cause severe adverse effects. We report two cases of very elderly patients who developed pre‐shock after the administration of antipsychotics in a clinical consultation‐liaison setting. These cases suggest that antipsychotics can induce fatal adverse events in very elderly patients. Although there has been little evidence regarding the most appropriate kind of drug and dosage for such patients, psychiatrists should exercise great caution in the use of antipsychotics for the very elderly, including deciding to prescribe the lowest dose or not prescribing them at all.
Additional donepezil treatment for patients with geriatric depression who exhibit cognitive deficit during treatment for depression
Authors: Inoue Jun , Hoshino Ryoichi , Nojima Hidenori , Ishida Wataru , Okamoto Norio
Published: April 2015

Background

Depression is a frequent comorbid condition in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we reported the effect of additional donepezil treatment for patients with geriatric depression who exhibited cognitive deficit and were diagnosed with AD during treatment for depression.

Methods

The present retrospective study investigated 14 AD outpatients who were diagnosed with geriatric depression at first and received antidepressant treatment. When apparent cognitive decline was observed, all of them were diagnosed with AD and received donepezil (5 mg/day) for at least 1 year. All patients underwent periodic examination of cognitive function (Mini‐Mental State Examination, Rorschach Cognitive Index) and clinical evaluation (Clinical Dementia Rating). The 14 patients were classified into three groups according to their treatment course: (i) ‘A’ group, patients who showed cognitive impairment during a long course of treatment for depression; (ii) ‘B’ group, patients who showed cognitive impairment at an early stage of treatment for depression and started to take additional donepezil at least 20 months after the first examination; and (iii) ‘C’ group, patients who showed cognitive impairment at an early stage of treatment for depression and began taking additional donepezil within 10 months of the first examination. The clinical feature and treatment effects were examined for each group.

Results

At 1 and 2 years after the start of treatment, the proportion of patients who had improved or maintained their Clinical Dementia Rating score was higher in ‘A’ and ‘C’ groups than in ‘B’ group. In ‘B’ group, additional donepezil treatment commenced later than in the other groups. Therefore, donepezil had an insufficient curative effect.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggested that early induction of donepezil treatment was necessary when apparent cognitive decline was identified during the treatment of geriatric depression.
Effect of ninjin'yoeito, a Kampo (traditional Japanese) medicine, on cognitive impairment and depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease: 2 years of observation
Authors: Kudoh Chiaki , Arita Ryutaro , Honda Mitsuru , Kishi Taichi , Komatsu Yasuhiro , Asou Hiroaki , Mimura Masaru
Published: April 2015

Background

Only a few approved drugs are capable of alleviating the cognitive and behavioural symptoms of people living with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In recent years, however, the number of studies examining the clinical effects of herbal medicines on cognitive function in patients with AD has increased considerably. This study evaluated the long‐term effects of a traditional Japanese medicine (Kampo medicine) known as ninjin'yoeito (NYT) on cognitive impairment and mood status in patients with AD over a 2‐year period.

Methods

Twenty‐three patients with mild‐to‐moderate probable AD according to the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria were included. Each participant had exhibited an insufficient response to treatment with donepezil alone before the start of the trial. Eleven patients received treatment with donepezil alone, and the remaining patients received a combined treatment of donepezil and NYT for 2 years. Patients were assessed by the Mini‐Mental State Examination and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale‐cognitive component‐Japanese version for cognitive function, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory was used to evaluate the patients' mood status at baseline and every 6 months for 2 years.

Results

The Mini‐Mental State Examination results showed no significant differences between the two groups. Significant improvements were observed on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale‐cognitive component‐Japanese version and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory depression scores of patients who received the combined therapy with donepezil and NYT (Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale‐cognitive component‐Japanese version, 12 months: P < 0.01, 18 months: P = 0.04, 24 months: P < 0.01; Neuropsychiatric Inventory depression, 6 months: P < 0.05, 24 months: P < 0.05).

Conclusions

A 2‐year follow‐up of patients receiving donepezil and NYT treatment showed an improved cognitive outcome and alleviation of AD‐related depression.
The effect of benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine prescriptions for diabetes mellitus type 2 in elderly Taiwanese with depressive symptoms
Authors: Tsai Min‐Ling , Huang Chien‐Ning , Lai Yung‐Rung , Chang Horng‐Rong , Chiou Jeng‐Yuan
Published: April 2015

Background

This study examined the relationship between depression, benzodiazepine (BZD)/nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics (non‐BZD), and other risk factors in a national sample of Taiwan's elderly diabetic patients.

Methods

Data were drawn from the 2005 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey and adults aged 65 years and older. A total of 1331 subjects were included in this study. The Chinese version of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to evaluate patients' depression symptoms.

Results

The rates of depression in the diabetes mellitus (DM) and non‐DM groups were 13.5% (39/288) and 9.8% (102/1043) and the average ages were 73.7 and 73.4 years, respectively. In multivariate regression, the odds ratio of depression was 1.66‐fold higher among BZD/non‐BZD users (95% confidence interval: 1.10–2.51, model 2) than among those without BZD/non‐BZD use. In addition, hyperlipidaemia, poor physical function, and antidepressant use were associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, a monthly household income of NT$30 000–NT$49 999, exercise, and betel chewing were associated with a lower risk of depression. We performed an additional logistic analysis for which the odds ratio of depression significantly increased to 1.52 in non‐DM elderly patients (95% confidence interval: 1.06–2.19) who were prescribed BZD/non‐BZD. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the odds ratio of depression in the DM elderly regardless of BZD/non‐BZD use, although there was a slight tendency for depression among those who used BZD/non‐BZD.

Conclusion

Depression in non‐DM Taiwanese elderly patients was found to be associated with BZD/non‐BZD use, whereas depression in DM Taiwanese elderly patients was not found to be associated with BZD/non‐BZD use.
Secondary mania due to AIDS and cryptococcal meningitis in a 78‐year‐old patient
Authors: Chou Po‐Han , Ouyang Wen‐Chen , Lan Tsuo‐Hung , Chan Chin‐Hong
Published: April 2015

We report a 78‐year‐old man without past psychiatric history who experienced his first manic episode successfully treated with quetiapine and lorazepam, but was ultimately found to have AIDS and Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis. Our presented case highlights the importance of comprehensive differential diagnoses to rule out secondary causes of psychiatric symptoms presenting for the first time in elderly patients.
Individual differences in resting heart rate variability moderate thought suppression success
Authors: Gillie Brandon L. , Vasey Michael W. , Thayer Julian F.
Published: April 2015

Individual differences in heart rate variability (HRV) at rest are thought to represent an individual's capacity for self‐regulation, but it remains unclear whether HRV predicts control over unwanted thoughts. The current study used a thought suppression paradigm in which participants recorded occurrences of a personally relevant intrusive thought over three monitoring periods. Among those instructed to suppress, higher levels of HRV were associated with greater declines in intrusions across the monitoring periods; no such relationship was found among those assigned to a control condition. Resting HRV also interacted with spontaneous thought suppression effort to predict intrusive thought frequency. In both cases, these HRV‐related differences in thought suppression success predicted the generalized distress symptoms common to depression and anxiety. These findings enhance understanding of the relationships between HRV and cognitive control and highlight how individual differences in self‐regulatory capacity impact thought suppression success and emotion regulation.
Suicidal Intent and Method of Self‐Harm: A Large‐scale Study of Self‐Harm Patients Presenting to a General Hospital
Authors: Haw Camilla , Casey Deborah , Holmes Jane , Hawton Keith
Published: April 2015

Data from the Oxford Monitoring System for Attempted Suicide (2004–2011) were used to study hospital presentations for self‐harm in which Suicidal Intent Scale (SIS) scores were obtained (N = 4,840). Regression of medians was used to control for the confounding effect of age and gender. Higher estimated median SIS scores were associated with increasing age, male gender, self‐poisoning versus self‐injury, multiple methods of self‐harm versus self‐injury alone, use of gas (mainly carbon monoxide), dangerous methods of self‐injury (including hanging, gunshot), and use of alcohol as part of the act. For self‐poisoning patients, there was a correlation between the number of tablets taken and the total SIS score. Compared with self‐poisoning with paracetamol and paracetamol‐containing compounds, self‐poisoning with antipsychotics was associated with a lower median SIS score while antidepressants had the same estimated median as paracetamol. Use of alcohol within 6 hours of self‐harm was associated with lower SIS scores. In conclusion, certain methods of self‐harm, particularly dangerous methods of self‐injury and self‐poisoning with gas, were associated with high intent and should alert clinicians to potential higher risk of suicide. However, apart from use of gas, suicidal intent cannot be inferred from type of drugs used for self‐poisoning.
B‐spline Based Multi‐organ Detection in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Jiang Z. , Witz J.‐F. , Lecomte‐Grosbras P. , Dequidt J. , Duriez C. , Cosson M. , Cotin S. , Brieu M.
Published: April 2015

In the context of the female pelvic medicine, non‐invasive magnetic resonance imaging is widely used for the diagnosis of pelvic floor disorders. Nowadays, in the clinical routine, diagnoses rely largely on human interpretation of medical images, on the experience of physicians, with sometimes subjective interpretations. Hence, image correlation methods would be an alternative way to assist physicians to provide more objective analyses with standard procedures and parametrisation for patient‐specific cases. Moreover, the main symptoms of pelvic system pathologies are abnormal mobilities. The finite element model simulation is a powerful tool for understanding such mobilities. Both the patient‐specific simulation and the image analysis require accurate and smooth geometries of the pelvic organs. This paper introduces a new method that can be classified as a model‐to‐image correlation approach. The method performs fast semi‐automatic detection of the bladder, vagina and rectum from magnetic resonance images for geometries reconstruction and further study of the mobilities. The approach consists of fitting a B‐spline model to the organ shapes in real images via a generated virtual image. We provided efficient, adaptive and consistent segmentation on a dataset of 19 patient images (healthy and pathological).
A single nucleotide replacement in exon 2 produces a novel HLA‐C*01:02 variant, HLA‐C*01:02:34
Authors: Yang K. L. , Hung J. H. , Lin P. Y.
Published: April 2015

HLA‐C*01:02:34 differs from HLA‐C*01:02:01 by a single nucleotide replacement in codon 43.
Capacity Analysis and Safety Assessment of Polyethylene Pipeline With Local Wall-Thinning Defect
Authors: Jiang Weijie , Zhao Jianping
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this study is to propose a safety assessment procedure for polyethylene (PE) pipe with local wall-thinning defect. A uniaxial tensile test is performed to test the mechanical performance of PE. Then, the constitutive model for PE can be established. The limit load of the PE pipe with local wall-thinning defect can be studied with the method of combining the orthogonal design of experiment and finite element (FE) analysis. Then, the factors of local wall-thinning defect can be analyzed. The results show that the depth of the defect has a great effect on the limit load (internal pressure and bending moment) of PE pipe. The effects that the axial length of the defect and the circumferential length of the defect have on the limit load are not significant. Referring to the safety assessment of metal pipe proposed by GB/T19624-2004, a safety assessment for PE pipe with local wall-thinning defect is revised.
State of Charge Management for Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles With Uncertain Trip Information
Authors: Manzie Chris , Dewangan Prakash , Corde Gilles , Grondin Olivier , Sciarretta Antonio
Published: April 2015

Efficient state of charge management of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) differs from their nonplug-in counterparts through the utilization of a charge depleting (CD) mode of operation. Several studies have shown that a blended mode of CD holds fuel economy advantages over a CD and charge sustaining (CS) combination, however, these approaches assume knowledge of the total journey distance. Here, this assumption is relaxed and the state of charge trajectory was recalculated online using a weaker assumption that only a probability distribution accumulated over past trips is available. The importance of other contributing factors to the state of charge profile such as vehicle velocity and altitude is also assessed. Simulation results on a prototype plug-in hybrid are presented with an adaptive equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) used by the powertrain management to track the proposed state of charge trajectory. The financial and environmental benefits of the proposed approach relative to other state of charge management strategies are then calculated over a number of different cycles and conditions.
Tennessee Eastman Process Diagnosis Based on Dynamic Classification With SVDD
Authors: Theljani Foued , Laabidi Kaouther , Zidi Salah , Ksouri Moufida
Published: April 2015

The support vector domain description (SVDD) is an efficient kernel method inspired from the SV machine (SVM) by Vapnik. It is commonly used for one-classification problems or novelty detection. The training algorithm solves a constrained convex quadratic programming (QP) problem. This assumes prior dense sampling (offline training) and it requires large memory and enormous amounts of training time. In this paper, we propose a fast SVDD dedicated for multiclassification problems. The proposed classifier deals with stationary as well as nonstationary (NS) data. The principle is based on the dynamic removal/insertion of informations according to adequate rules. To ensure the rapidity of convergence, the algorithm considers in each run a limited frame of samples for the training process. These samples are selected according to some approximations based on Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions. An additional merge mechanism is proposed to avoid local optima drawbacks and improve performances. The developed method is assessed on some synthetic data to prove its effectiveness. Afterward, it is employed to solve a diagnosis problem and faults detection. We considered for this purpose a real industrial plant consisting in Tennessee Eastman process (TEP).
Non-operative management of a complete anterior cruciate ligament injury in an English Premier League football player with return to play in less than 8 weeks: applying common sense in the absence of evidence
Authors: Weiler Richard , Monte-Colombo Mathew , Mitchell Adam , Haddad Fares
Published: April 2015

This case report illustrates and discusses the non-operative management of a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in an English Premier League football player, his return to play within 8 weeks and problem-free follow-up at 18 months post injury. When non-operative verses surgical ACL reconstruction is considered there are many fundamental gaps in our knowledge and currently, at elite level, there are no cases in cutting sports within the literature to guide these decisions. When the norm is for all professional footballers to be recommended surgery, it will be very challenging when circumstances and patient autonomy dictate a conservative approach, where prognosis, end points and risk are unclear and assumed to be high. This case challenges current dogma and provides a starting point for much needed debate about best practice, treatment options, research direction and not just at the elite level of sport.
Acquired Wharton's duct stenosis after dental radiographs treated with sialendoscopy
Authors: Kieliszak Christopher R , Shokri Tom , Joshi Arjun S
Published: April 2015

Salivary gland trauma may result in ductal stenosis and chronic sialadenitis. We describe a case of an 81-year-old woman with a history of intermittent left submandibular swelling that began after recent dental examination and radiographs. Diagnostic sialendoscopy was performed and demonstrated a near complete distal stenosis. It was determined that trauma experienced during dental radiography may have resulted in the patient's ductal obstruction and subsequent sialadenitis. This case illustrates an unusual presentation of non-sialolith-related ductal obstruction in the submandibular gland, treated with sialendoscopic-assisted sialodochoplasty.
Does this case hold the answer to one of the worse types of pain in medicine—that of loin pain haematuria syndrome (LPHS)
Authors: Russell Alan , Chatterjee Suman , Seed Michael
Published: April 2015

A patient with loin pain haematuria syndrome suffering chronic throbbing pulsing pain overlaid with prolonged periods of incapacitating colic and overnight vomiting was presented 10 months following diagnosis. Ultrasound was normal. No renal or ureteral stones, or filling defects were seen on CT. At cytoscopy, bladder and urethra were normal, and bloody urine effluxed from the left ureteric orifice. The ureters were normal at diagnosis, and developed new abutting non-penetrating calcifications by 8 months. Pain episodes of complete incapacitating intensity of 2–4 h duration were reduced to 10 min with 5 mg crushed tadalafil administered at onset. If tadalafil was delayed to after onset, the original course of agony resulted. Daily tadalafil reduced loin pain intensity, but not the exacerbations. Tadalafil efficacy may indicate that the pain exacerbations are due to spasm of ureter smooth muscle. 5 mg tadalafil taken at onset alleviated severe loin pain exacerbations in this case of loin pain haematuria syndrome.
Fibroadenoma in axilla: another manifestation of ectopic breast
Authors: Tiwary Satyendra K , Kumar Puneet , Khanna Ajay Kumar
Published: April 2015

Fibroadenoma of an accessory breast is a rare disease. The clinical significance lies in the fact that a number of cystic, inflammatory, neoplastic diseases similar to those of a normal breast have been reported in accessory breasts as well. Vigilant self-assessment and complete clinical examination are always encouraged to detect earliest malignancy in the axilla. We report two cases of ectopic breast fibroadenoma with the relevant literature.
Tree community shifts and Acorn Woodpecker population increases over three decades in a Californian oak woodland
Authors: McMahon Devin E. , Pearse Ian S. , Koenig Walter D. , Walters Eric L.
Published: April 2015

Forest communities change in response to shifting climate, changing land use, and species introductions, as well as the interactions of established species. We surveyed the oak (Quercus L. spp.) community and Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus (Swainson, 1827)) population within 230 ha of oak forest and savanna in central coastal California in 1979 and 2013 to assess demographic changes over a timescale relevant to mature oaks. Overall, percent canopy cover increased, particularly where coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia Née) and California black oak (Quercus kelloggii Newberry) were most abundant. The density of stems of Q. agrifolia increased, whereas the density of stems and basal area of valley oak (Quercus lobata Née), a species favored by Acorn Woodpeckers, decreased. The number of Acorn Woodpeckers and woodpecker territories increased over the study period, coincident with the increase in percent canopy cover; however, these increases were not related spatially. Instead, increased acorn production associated with broad-scale canopy growth likely more than compensated for the loss of Q. lobata. Our findings suggest that forests in this area are becoming denser and savanna is becoming more open, which so far has supported an increase in the Acorn Woodpecker population, despite potential habitat loss if Q. lobata continues to decline.
Making the invisible visible: using UAS-based high-resolution color-infrared imagery to identify buried medieval monastery walls
Authors: Lehmann Jan Rudolf Karl , Smithson Keturah Zoe , Prinz Torsten
Published: April 2015

Remote sensing techniques have become an increasingly important tool for surveying archaeological sites. However, budgeting issues in archaeological research often limit the application of satellite or airborne imagery. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) provide a flexible, quick, and more economical alternative to commonly used remote sensing techniques. In this study, the buried features of the archaeological site of the Kleinburlo monastery, near Münster, Germany, were identified using high-resolution color–infrared (CIR) images collected from a UAS platform. Based on these CIR images, a modified normalised difference vegetation index (NDVIblue) was calculated, showing reflectance spectra of vegetation anomalies caused by water stress. In the presented study, the vegetation growing on top of the buried walls was better nourished than the surrounding plants because very wet conditions over the days previous to data collection caused higher levels of water stress in the surrounding water-drenched land. This difference in water stress was a good indicator for detecting archaeological remains.
Fast Activity Evoked by Intracranial 50 Hz Electrical Stimulation as a Marker of the Epileptogenic Zone
Authors: Bellistri Elisa , Sartori Ivana , Pelliccia Veronica , Francione Stefano , Cardinale Francesco , de Curtis Marco , Gnatkovsky Vadym
Published: April 2015

Epilepsy is a disease characterized by aberrant connections between brain areas. The altered activity patterns generated by epileptic networks can be analyzed with intracerebral electrodes during pre-surgical stereo-electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring in patients candidate to epilepsy surgery. The responses to high frequency stimulation (HFS) at 50Hz performed for diagnostic purposes during SEEG were analyzed with a new algorithm, to evaluate signal parameters that are masked to visual inspection and to define the boundaries of the epileptogenic network. The analysis was focused on 60–80 Hz activity that represented the largest frequency component evoked by HFS. The distribution of HFS-evoked fast activity across all (up to 162) recording contacts allowed to define different clusters of contacts that retrospectively correlated to the epileptogenic zone identified by the clinicians on the basis of traditional visual analysis. The study demonstrates that computer-assisted analysis of HFS-evoked activities may contribute to the definition of the epileptogenic network on intracranial recordings performed in a pre-surgical setting.
Stability of discontinuous groups for reduced threadlike Lie groups
Authors: Khlif Fatma
Published: April 2015

Let G be a reduced threadlike Lie group, H an arbitrary closed connected subgroup of G and Γ ⊂ G an abelian discontinuous subgroup for G/H. We study in this work some topological properties of the parameter space [Formula: see text] and the deformation space [Formula: see text], namely the stability and the rigidity. Instead of treating stability, we consider a weaker form by using an explicit covering of Hom (Γ, G) which we call layering and we show that the local rigidity holds if and only if Γ is finite.
Ferroelectric-like transition on a hygroscopic barium thiourea chloride single crystal
Authors: Raju S. , Muralidharan R. , Krishnan H.
Published: April 2015

Barium thiourea chloride (BTC) single crystals were grown by slow evaporation of aqueous solution. The X-ray and spectral studies confirmed the formation of the title compound. Thermal studies carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed the presence of both the adsorbed and absorbed water in the grown crystal, which can be identified through the peaks around temperatures 80°C and 130°C. The dielectric constant against temperature curve for different frequencies showed concomitant anomaly around the temperature region of 80°C to 120°C similar to a ferroelectric phase transition. We infer that this peak is due to the removal of water and not due to ferroelectric transition and care should be taken while measuring and interpreting dielectric properties of similar hygroscopic crystals containing volatile compounds.
PREPARATION OF COPPER AND CHROMIUM ALLOYED LAYERS ON PURE TITANIUM BY PLASMA SURFACE ALLOYING TECHNOLOGY
Authors: HE XIAOJING , LI MENG , WANG HUIZHEN , ZHANG XIANGYU , TANG BIN
Published: April 2015

Cu – Cr alloyed layers with different Cu and Cr contents on pure titanium were obtained by means of plasma surface alloying technology. The microstructure, chemical composition and phase composition of Cu – Cr alloyed layers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that the alloyed layers are bonded strongly to pure titanium substrate and consist of unbound Ti , CuTi , Cu 3 Ti , CuTi 3 and Cr 2 Ti . The thickness of Cu 5 Cr 5 and Cu 7 Cr 3 alloyed layer are about 18 μm and 28 μm, respectively. The antibacterial properties against gram-negative Escherichia coli (E.coli, ATCC10536) and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, ATCC6538) of untreated pure titanium and Cu – Cr alloyed specimen were investigated by live/dead fluorescence staining method. The study shows that Cu – Cr alloyed layers exhibit excellent antibacterial activities against both E.coli and S.aureus within 24 h, which may be attributed to the formation of Cu -containing phases.
Composite Action Between Cold-Formed Steel Beams and Wood-Based Floorboards
Authors: Kyvelou Pinelopi , Gardner Leroy , Nethercot David A.
Published: April 2015

An experimental investigation has been conducted into the degree of shear interaction between cold-formed steel floor joists and wood-based flooring panels and the resulting benefits derived in terms of composite action. A series of four-point bending tests have been carried out to evaluate the overall system behavior, while material tests have been performed to accurately define the material properties of each component of the examined system. Two different shear transfer mechanisms were examined: self-drilling screws with varying spacing and structural adhesive. The bare system was also tested to provide a reference response, against which the stiffness and capacity of the composite system could be bench-marked. The experiments showed that significant benefit could be derived as a result of composite action with as much as a 100% increase in bending capacity and 42% increase in stiffness.