bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Sorting Statistic with Application in Neurological Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Autism
Authors: Levman Jacob , Takahashi Emi , Forgeron Cynthia , MacDonald Patrick , Stewart Natalie , Lim Ashley , Martel Anne
Published: March 2018

Effect size refers to the assessment of the extent of differences between two groups of samples on a single measurement. Assessing effect size in medical research is typically accomplished with Cohen’s d statistic. Cohen’s d statistic assumes that average values are good estimators of the position of a distribution of numbers and also assumes Gaussian (or bell-shaped) underlying data distributions. In this paper, we present an alternative evaluative statistic that can quantify differences between two data distributions in a manner that is similar to traditional effect size calculations; however, the proposed approach avoids making assumptions regarding the shape of the underlying data distribution. The proposed sorting statistic is compared with Cohen’s d statistic and is demonstrated to be capable of identifying feature measurements of potential interest for which Cohen’s d statistic implies the measurement would be of little use. This proposed sorting statistic has been evaluated on a large clinical autism dataset from Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, demonstrating that it can potentially play a constructive role in future healthcare technologies.
A 0.45 W 18% PAE E‐Band Power Amplifier in 100 nm InGaAs pHEMT Technology
Authors: Zhao Dixian , Yi Yongran
Published: March 2018

This paper describes a fully integrated power amplifier (PA) in 100 nm InGaAs pHEMT process for E‐band point‐to‐point communications. The device size and biasing conditions are optimized to enhance the overall performance at millimeter‐wave frequencies. The complete PA consists of two unit PAs and each unit PA has four stages to improve the gain while ensuring stability from dc to the operating frequencies. A 4‐way zero‐degree combiner (in the unit PA) and a 2‐way λ/2 combiner are used to boost the output power. Occupying 5 mm2, the proposed PA achieves an output power of 0.45 W with 17.9% PAE at 74 GHz.
Further Results on Reachable Set Bounding for Discrete‐Time System with Time‐Varying Delay and Bounded Disturbance Inputs
Authors: Kang Wei , Chen Hao , Shi Kaibo , Cheng Jun
Published: March 2018

This paper investigates the problem of reachable set bounding for discrete‐time system with time‐varying delay and bounded disturbance inputs. Together with a new Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional, discrete Wirtinger‐based inequality, and reciprocally convex approach, sufficient conditions are derived to find an ellipsoid to bound the reachable sets of discrete‐time delayed system. The main advantage of this paper lies in two aspects: first, the initial state vectors are not necessarily zero; second, the obtained criteria in this paper do not really require all the symmetric matrices involved in the employed Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional to be positive definite. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Improved Approach to Robust Control for Type-2 T-S Fuzzy Systems
Authors: Park Bum Yong , Shin JaeWook
Published: March 2018

This paper is concerned with the robust stability conditions to stabilize the type 2 Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems. The conditions effectively handle parameter uncertainties using lower and upper membership functions. To improve the solvability of the stability conditions, we establish a multigain controller with comprehensive information of the lower and upper membership grades. In addition, a well-organized relaxation technique is proposed to fully exploit relationship among fuzzy weighting functions and their lower and upper membership grades, which enlarges a set of feasible solutions. Therefore, we derive a less conservative stabilization condition in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) than those in the literature. Two simulation examples illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the derived stabilization conditions.
Two‐Layer Hierarchy Optimization Model for Communication Protocol in Railway Wireless Monitoring Networks
Authors: Ma Xiaoping , Dong Honghui , Tang Junqing , Jia Limin , Qin Yong , Cheng Ruijun
Published: March 2018

The wireless monitoring system is always destroyed by the insufficient energy of the sensors in railway. Hence, how to optimize the communication protocol and extend the system lifetime is crucial to ensure the stability of system. However, the existing studies focused primarily on cluster‐based or multihop protocols individually, which are ineffective in coping with the complex communication scenarios in the railway wireless monitoring system (RWMS). This study proposes a hybrid protocol which combines the cluster‐based and multihop protocols (CMCP) to minimize and balance the energy consumption in different sections of the RWMS. In the first hierarchy, the total energy consumption is minimized by optimizing the cluster quantities in the cluster‐based protocol and the number of hops and the corresponding hop distances in the multihop protocol. In the second hierarchy, the energy consumption is balanced through rotating the cluster head (CH) in the subnetworks and further optimizing the hops and the corresponding hop distances in the backbone network. On this basis, the system lifetime is maximized with the minimum and balance energy consumption among the sensors. Furthermore, the hybrid particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithm (PSO‐GA) are adopted to optimize the energy consumption from the two‐layer hierarchy. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed CMCP is verified in the simulation. The performances of the proposed CMCP in system lifetime, residual energy, and the corresponding variance are all superior to the LEACH protocol widely applied in the previous research. The effective protocol proposed in this study can facilitate the application of the wireless monitoring network in the railway system and enhance safety operation of the railway.
Evaluation of Consumption of Poultry Products Enriched withOmega-3Fatty Acids in Anthropometric, Biochemical, and Cardiovascular Parameters
Authors: Arias-Rico José , Cerón-Sandoval Martha Izbeth , Sandoval-Gallegos Eli Mireya , Ramírez-Moreno Esther , Fernández-Cortés Trinidad Lorena , Jaimez-Ordaz Judith , Contreras-López Elizabeth , Añorve-Morga Javier
Published: March 2018

An alternative for prevention and treatment for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is increasing the intake of bioactive compounds asomega-3. However, several countries as México do not consume regularly foods with high content ofomega-3, mainly fish products due to cultural, social, and economic factors. Therefore, the addition ofomega-3in other food sources could contribute to completing the requirements established of these fatty acids. To evaluate the effect of the consumption of poultry products supplemented withomega-3in healthy population, a phase 1, double blind randomized, controlled parallel-group trial was carried out. After 14 weeks, the supplemented group had an increase in HDL, reducing the atherogenic index. The supplementation withomega-3in poultry products could contribute to a cardioprotective effect. It is necessary to complete studies with a higher evaluation period to determine the improvement in anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters.
Health education in the community with information and communication technologies: small scientist project
Authors: Sampaio Samára Dos Santos , Nammur Larissa Guerra , Stuardo Juan Yazlle Rocha , Barbieri Marisa Ramos , Oliveira Caique Jhones de
Published: March 2018

Este trabalho tem como objetivo descrever o desenvolvimento de um projeto de investigação sobre protagonismo adolescente na promoção da saúde, com o uso das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TICs). Trata-se de uma abordagem qualitativa e descritiva das atividades desenvolvidas no Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem (AVA) em encontros semanais. Como resultado, os adolescentes - com o apoio dos orientadores e dos recursos explorados no Moodle Extensão da USP - construíram questões sobre promoção de saúde e prevenção de doenças, a saúde antes e depois do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), protagonismo e participação do adolescente na saúde esboçando um serious games para plataforma Android. O trabalho constata que o uso das TICs como material de educação em saúde pode auxiliar os adolescentes a se tornarem na escola, em casa, e nos demais ambientes, agentes multiplicadores de transformação social e promotores de saúde.
A Welcome Presence: The Custodial Activities of Third Order Women Religious in Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Italy
Authors: Lehtsalu Liise
Published: March 2018

Third order women religious actively participated in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Italian society. Scholars have argued that the introduction of monastic enclosure for all women religious after the Council of Trent crushed non-enclosed forms of female monasticism in Italy and Europe. The study of third orders reveals, however, that non-enclosed monastic communities survived the Tridentine reforms and met specific social needs in the early modern society. Third order women religious provided education, care, and companionship to women of all ages and socioeconomic ranks. They thus filled a gap left by other monastic and custodial institutions. Ecclesiastical and secular authorities as well as neighbors considered women’s third orders an asset to local communities. Drawing on examples from Bergamo and Bologna, this article examines the social activities of tertiary women and shows activity to be a useful category of analysis for recovering the place of women religious in early modern society.
Moisture and Moist Static Energy Budgets of South Asian Monsoon Low Pressure Systems in GFDL AM4.0
Authors: Adames Ángel F. , Ming Yi
Published: March 2018

The mechanisms that lead to the propagation of anomalous moisture and moist static energy (MSE) in monsoon low and high pressure systems, collectively referred to as synoptic-scale monsoonal disturbances (SMDs), are investigated using daily output fields from GFDL’s atmospheric general circulation model, version 4.0 (AM4.0). On the basis of linear regression analysis of westward-propagating rainfall anomalies of time scales shorter than 15 days, it is found that SMDs are organized into wave trains of three to four individual cyclones and anticyclones. These events amplify over the Bay of Bengal, reach a maximum amplitude over the eastern coast of India, and dissipate as they approach the Arabian Sea. The structure and propagation of the simulated SMDs resemble those documented in observations. It is found that moisture and MSE anomalies exhibit similar horizontal structures in the simulated SMDs, indicating that moisture is the leading contributor to MSE. Propagation of the moisture anomalies is governed by vertical moisture advection, while the MSE anomalies propagate because of horizontal advection of dry static energy by the anomalous winds. By combining the budgets, we interpret the propagation of the moisture anomalies in terms of lifting that is forced by horizontal dry static energy advection, that is, ascent along sloping isentropes. This process moistens the lower free troposphere, producing an environment that is more favorable to deep convection. Ascent driven by radiative heating is of primary importance to the maintenance of the moisture anomalies.
A Possible Three-Dimensional Mechanism for Oscillating Wobbles in Tropical Cyclone–Like Vortices with Concentric Eyewalls
Authors: Menelaou Konstantinos , Yau M. K. , Lai Tsz-Kin
Published: March 2018

It is known that concentric eyewalls can influence tropical cyclone (TC) intensity. However, they can also influence TC track. Observations indicate that TCs with concentric eyewalls are often accompanied by wobbling of the inner eyewall, a motion that gives rise to cycloidal tracks. Currently, there is no general consensus of what might constitute the dominant triggering mechanism of these wobbles. In this paper we revisit the fundamentals. The control case constitutes a TC with symmetric concentric eyewalls embedded in a quiescent environment. Two sets of experiments are conducted: one using a two-dimensional nondivergent nonlinear model and the other using a three-dimensional nonlinear model. It is found that when the system is two-dimensional, no wobbling of the inner eyewall is triggered. On the other hand, when the third dimension is introduced, an amplifying wobble is evident. This result contradicts the previous suggestion that wobbles occur only in asymmetric concentric eyewalls. It also contradicts the suggestion that environmental wind shear can be the main trigger. Examination of the dynamics along with complementary linear eigenmode analysis revealed the triggering mechanism to be the excitation of a three-dimensional exponentially growing azimuthal wavenumber-1 instability. This instability is induced by the coupling of two baroclinic vortex Rossby waves across the moat region. Additional sensitivity analyses involving reasonable modifications to vortex shape parameters, perturbation vertical length scale, and Rossby number reveal that this instability can be systematically the most excited. The growth rates are shown to peak for perturbations characterized by realistic vertical length scales, suggesting that this mechanism can be potentially relevant to actual TCs.
Decadal Shift of NAO-Linked Interannual Sea Level Variability along the U.S. Northeast Coast
Authors: Kenigson Jessica S. , Han Weiqing , Rajagopalan Balaji , Yanto  , Jasinski Mike
Published: March 2018

Recent studies have linked interannual sea level variability and extreme events along the U.S. northeast coast (NEC) to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), a natural internal climate mode that prevails in the North Atlantic Ocean. The correlation between the NAO index and coastal sea level north of Cape Hatteras was weak from the 1960s to the mid-1980s, but it has markedly increased since around 1987. The causes for the decadal shift remain unknown. Yet understanding the abrupt change is vital for decadal sea level prediction and is essential for risk management. Here we use a robust method, the Bayesian dynamic linear model (DLM), to explore the nonstationary NAO impact on NEC sea level. The results show that a spatial pattern change of NAO-related winds near the NEC is a major cause of the NAO–sea level relationship shift. A new index using regional sea level pressure is developed that is a significantly better predictor of NEC sea level than is the NAO and is strongly linked to the intensity of westerly winds near the NEC. These results point to the vital importance of monitoring regional changes of wind and sea level pressure patterns, rather than the NAO index alone, to achieve more accurate predictions of sea level change along the NEC.
Southern Ocean Heat Uptake, Redistribution, and Storage in a Warming Climate: The Role of Meridional Overturning Circulation
Authors: Liu Wei , Lu Jian , Xie Shang-Ping , Fedorov Alexey
Published: March 2018

Climate models show that most of the anthropogenic heat resulting from increased atmospheric CO2 enters the Southern Ocean near 60°S and is stored around 45°S. This heat is transported to the ocean interior by the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) with wind changes playing an important role in the process. To isolate and quantify the latter effect, we apply an overriding technique to a climate model and decompose the total ocean response to CO2 increase into two major components: one due to wind changes and the other due to direct CO2 effect. We find that the poleward-intensified zonal surface winds tend to shift and strengthen the ocean Deacon cell and hence the residual MOC, leading to anomalous divergence of ocean meridional heat transport around 60°S coupled to a surface heat flux increase. In contrast, at 45°S we see anomalous convergence of ocean heat transport and heat loss at the surface. As a result, the wind-induced ocean heat storage (OHS) peaks at 46°S at a rate of 0.07 ZJ yr−1 (° lat)−1 (1 ZJ = 1021 J), contributing 20% to the total OHS maximum. The direct CO2 effect, on the other hand, very slightly alters the residual MOC but primarily warms the ocean. It induces a small but nonnegligible change in eddy heat transport and causes OHS to peak at 42°S at a rate of 0.30 ZJ yr−1 (° lat)−1, accounting for 80% of the OHS maximum. We also find that the eddy-induced MOC weakens, primarily caused by a buoyancy flux change as a result of the direct CO2 effect, and does not compensate the intensified Deacon cell.
Investigation on the surface free energy of a single flax fiber through adhesion measurement by atomic force microscopy
Authors: Ahmed Shabbir , Wang Xinnan , Li Kai , Ulven Chad A
Published: March 2018

Surface free energy of a fiber is an important parameter for predicting the interfacial bond strength of fiber-matrix adhesion of composite materials. For mechanical characterization of bio-composite materials, the measurement of the surface energy of individual single microfibers is complicated due to their surface roughness, formation of chemical bonds, wicking characteristics, etc. This paper demonstrates a novel method for determining the dispersive component of surface free energy [Formula: see text] of single flax fiber by directly measuring the adhesion force between the probe tip of an atomic force microscope and the fiber surface. Johnson–Kendal–Roberts theory was employed to correlate the adhesion force with the surface energy and tip radius. Finally, the value of [Formula: see text] was determined, and its significance with respect to other methods was analyzed.
Damage initiation of thermally degraded carbon composites in tension
Authors: Wolfrum J , Quan E , Maier G , Eibl S
Published: March 2018

This study focuses on exploring the initial failure of thermally degraded carbon fibre-reinforced polymers. It is the aim of this study to provide deep insight into the damage development and propagation as well as to understand failure mechanisms of thermally degraded composites. Carbon fibre-reinforced polymer panels with different fibre orientations are exposed to heat above maximum operational temperature (up to 200 ℃) for various durations (up to ca. 200 days). Thermal degradation of the material is characterized by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The onset of the failure in tension is determined by acoustic emission analysis. The results show that the development and propagation of cracks depend on the level of thermal degradation and the fibre orientation relative to the applied load. With increasing thermal degradation, transverse matrix cracking, as the prevailing initiating failure mode, is replaced by crack initiation and propagation in the damaged outermost ply independent of its fibre orientation. Severe thermal matrix degradation is limited to this area, as characterized by infrared spectroscopy. With increasing thermal degradation of the polymer matrix, the onset of crack initiation and propagation is shifted to lower strains. The effects of damage initiation on fracture behaviour are discussed.
Mechanical behaviour of adhesively bonded composite single lap joints under quasi-static and impact conditions with variation of temperature and overlap
Authors: Machado JJM , Marques EAS , da Silva LFM
Published: March 2018

The use of adhesively bonded joints in structural components for the automotive industry has significantly increased over the last years, supported by the widespread integration of composite materials. This synergy allows vehicle manufacturers to offer a significant weight reduction of the vehicle allowing for fuel and emissions reduction and, at the same time, providing high mechanical strength. However, to ensure vehicle safety, the crashworthiness of these adhesive joints must be assessed, to evaluate if the structures can sustain large impact loads, transmitting the load and absorbing the energy, without damaging the joint. The novelty of this work is the study of the strain rate dependent behaviour of unidirectional composite adhesive joints bonded with a ductile epoxy crash resistant adhesive, subjected to low and high testing temperatures and using different overlap lengths. It was demonstrated that joints manufactured with this type of adhesive and composite substrates can exhibit excellent quasi-static and impact performance for the full range of temperatures tested. Increasing the overlap length, and independently of the testing temperature, it was observed an increase of energy absorbed for both quasi-static and impact loads, this is of considerable importance for the automotive industry, demonstrating that composite joints exhibit higher performance under impact.
Quality Measurement Recommendations Relevant to Clinical Guidelines in Germany and the United Kingdom: (What) Can We Learn From Each Other?
Authors: Petzold Thomas , Deckert Stefanie , Williamson Paula R. , Schmitt Jochen
Published: March 2018

We conducted a systematic review of clinical guidelines (CGs) to examine the methodological approaches of quality indicator derivation in CGs, the frequency of quality indicators to check CG recommendations in routine care, and clinimetric properties of quality indicators. We analyzed the publicly available CG databases of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Data on the methodology of subsequent quality indicator derivation, the content and definition of recommended quality indicators, and clinimetric properties of measurement instruments were extracted. In Germany, no explicit methodological guidance exists, but 3 different approaches are used. For NICE, a general approach is used for the derivation of quality indicators out of quality standards. Quality indicators were defined in 34 out of 87 CGs (39%) in Germany and for 58 out of 133 (43%) NICE CGs. Statements regarding measurement properties of instruments for quality indicator assessment were missing in German and NICE documents. Thirteen pairs of CGs (32%) have associated quality indicators. Thirty-four quality indicators refer to the same aspect of the quality of care, which corresponds to 27% of the German and 7% of NICE quality indicators. The development of a standardized and internationally accepted methodology for the derivation of quality indicators relevant to CGs is needed to measure and compare quality of care in health care systems.
Trade unions in the community: Building broad spaces of solidarity
Authors: Holgate Jane
Published: March 2018

This article approaches the subject of trade union community-based organising from the perspective of one union’s attempt to broaden its remit by recruiting ‘non-workers’. In 2011, Unite, the largest private sector union in the UK, announced it was to recruit retirees, students and people who were unemployed into a new section of the union. This could be a radical and potentially ground-breaking development for a UK union where the organising approach stems from an understanding that the purpose of trade unionism is to advance the interests of the working class as a whole – whether or not individuals are, indeed, working – broadening the ideology of trade unionism from its narrow economistic focus. The article reports on a six-year study of this initiative and analyses whether this can be understood as a reorientation of union purpose as a consequence of loss of power in the workplace. It further considers the potential this has for rebuilding wider spaces of solidarity.
Are cannabis-using and non-using patients different groups? Towards understanding the neurobiology of cannabis use in psychotic disorders
Authors: Sami Musa Basseer , Bhattacharyya Sagnik
Published: March 2018

A substantial body of credible evidence has accumulated that suggest that cannabis use is an important potentially preventable risk factor for the development of psychotic illness and its worse prognosis following the onset of psychosis. Here we summarize the relevant evidence to argue that the time has come to investigate the neurobiological effects of cannabis in patients with psychotic disorders. In the first section we summarize evidence from longitudinal studies that controlled for a range of potential confounders of the association of cannabis use with increased risk of developing psychotic disorders, increased risk of hospitalization, frequent and longer hospital stays, and failure of treatment with medications for psychosis in those with established illness. Although some evidence has emerged that cannabis-using and non-using patients with psychotic disorders may have distinct patterns of neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental impairments, the biological underpinnings of the effects of cannabis remain to be fully elucidated. In the second and third sections we undertake a systematic review of 70 studies, including over 3000 patients with psychotic disorders or at increased risk of psychotic disorder, in order to delineate potential neurobiological and neurochemical mechanisms that may underlie the effects of cannabis in psychotic disorders and suggest avenues for future research.
Individual Value Clarification Methods Based on Conjoint Analysis: A Systematic Review of Common Practice in Task Design, Statistical Analysis, and Presentation of Results
Authors: Weernink Marieke G.M. , van Til Janine A. , Witteman Holly O. , Fraenkel Liana , IJzerman Maarten J.
Published: March 2018

Background. There is an increased practice of using value clarification exercises in decision aids that aim to improve shared decision making. Our objective was to systematically review to which extent conjoint analysis (CA) is used to elicit individual preferences for clinical decision support. We aimed to identify the common practices in the selection of attributes and levels, the design of choice tasks, and the instrument used to clarify values. Methods. We searched Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science to identify studies that developed a CA exercise to elicit individual patients’ preferences related to medical decisions. We extracted data on the above-mentioned items. Results. Eight studies were identified. Studies included a fixed set of 4–8 attributes, which were predetermined by interviews, focus groups, or literature review. All studies used adaptive conjoint analysis (ACA) for their choice task design. Furthermore, all studies provided patients with their preference results in real time, although the type of outcome that was presented to patients differed (attribute importance or treatment scores). Among studies, patients were positive about the ACA exercise, whereas time and effort needed from clinicians to facilitate the ACA exercise were identified as the main barriers to implementation. Discussion. There is only limited published use of CA exercises in shared decision making. Most studies resembled each other in design choices made, but patients received different feedback among studies. Further research should focus on the feedback patients want to receive and how the CA results fit within the patient–physician dialogue.
Comparison of posterior occlusion between patients with anterior open bite and scissor deep bite
Authors: Qi Kun , Xu Yifei , Hou Yuxia , Wang Mei-Qing
Published: March 2018

Objective

A minor alteration in the posterior occlusal height elicits a large transformation in the anterior vertical dimension. Thus, the present study was performed to determine whether a posterior cusp-to-cusp relation that increases the posterior vertical dimension contributes to an anterior open bite.

Methods

Study casts were examined from orthodontic patients aged 10 to 27 years, 21 with an open bite and 28 with a scissor deep bite. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the contribution of various factors to these two anterior occlusal patterns. The dental arch width and number of worn cusps were compared between the two groups.

Results

Patients with an open bite had a significantly higher incidence of a posterior buccal–lingual cusp-to-cusp relation, wider mandibular arch in the molar region, and larger numbers of worn maxillary buccal cusps and mandibular lingual cusps than patients with a scissor deep bite.

Conclusions

A posterior buccal–lingual cusp-to-cusp relation is associated with a larger anterior vertical dimension, such as that in patients with an open bite.
The Son of a Chief of Sculptors Thutmose at Hatnub
Authors: Enmarch Roland , Gourdon Yannis
Published: March 2018

A republication of Hatnub Inscription XIV, belonging to a chief of sculptors Any. A newly discovered second line of text provides Any’s genealogy.
Do local employment centers modify the association between neighborhood urban form and individual obesity?
Authors: Ahn YongJin , Park JiYoung , Bruckner Tim A , Choi Simon
Published: March 2018

Extensive literature examines the relation between land use patterns and obesity, but less work explores whether local employment centers may reduce obesity. Local employment centers may affect obesity via providing agglomeration benefits such as increased job/transportation opportunities and closer proximity to local facilities/destinations. We utilized a large serial cross-sectional health survey from Los Angeles, California, conducted over three periods, to examine whether the presence of local employment centers modifies the association between land use patterns and individual body mass index. We retrieved individual health and sociodemographic data from the Los Angeles County Health Survey (2002, 2005, and 2007). To this Health Survey, we linked land use attributes at the census tract level collected from the Southern California Association of Governments. Our log-transformed regression models present interactions between local employment centers, neighborhood urban form features, and body mass index. Although most findings are consistent with previous studies, some of land use factors hypothesized to reduce the risk of obesity could have counterintuitive associations unless local employment centers were controlled. The unexpected results of our land use coefficients indicate that the tenet of New Urbanism may not necessarily promote health benefits. Our findings suggest that modifying the built environment may be effective in reducing obesity only in areas with high degree of local employment centers. Future studies would benefit from longitudinal and experimental, rather than cross-sectional, study designs that rigorously test the potential causal role of New Urbanism on obesity.
Immunosuppressive and antiviral treatment of hepatitis C virus–associated glomerular disease: A long-term follow-up
Authors: Fabrizi Fabrizio , Aghemo Alessio , Lampertico Pietro , Fraquelli Mirella , Cresseri Donata , Moroni Gabriella , Passerini Patrizia , Donato Francesca M , Messa Piergiorgio
Published: March 2018

Background:

The evidence in the medical literature on the treatment of hepatitis C virus–associated glomerular disease is extremely limited. The advent of nonconventional immunosuppressive agents and direct-acting antivirals promises high efficacy and safety.

Aims:

We conducted an open-label, single-arm clinical study to examine the efficacy and safety of a combined approach for hepatitis C virus–associated glomerular disease.

Methods:

In the first phase of the study, patients with hepatitis C virus–associated glomerular disease received interferon-based antiviral therapy and immunosuppressive agents; since 2013, interferon-free antiviral therapy was adopted and novel immunosuppressants (including B-cell depleting agents and mycophenolate mofetil) or immunomodulators (ribavirin) were choiced. Virological and clinical responses were evaluated over a long observation period (median follow-up of 60 weeks and 46.5 months after the end of treatment with interferon and direct-acting antiviral agents, respectively).

Results:

We enrolled 25 consecutive patients with hepatitis C virus–associated glomerular disease, 8 being liver transplant recipients for hepatitis C. A total of 13 patients received therapy with direct-acting antivirals and experienced sustained viral response (serum hepatitis C virus RNA <12 IU/mL, 12 weeks after treatment ended, sustained viral response12). The mean (±standard deviation) proteinuria decreased from 2.61 ± 1.01 at baseline to 1.71 ± 1.43 (g/day) at sustained viral response 48, p = 0.031; microscopic hematuria and serum cryoglobulins disappeared in six (50%) and seven (64%) patients, respectively, after sustained viral response by direct-acting antivirals. Adverse events occurred in 69% (9/13) of patients and were mild, with four cases of ribavirin-related anemia requiring blood transfusions (no drop-outs). After sustained viral response by direct-acting antivirals, immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory agents were initiated in clinical relapsers ( n = 2) and nonresponders ( n = 3) with some benefit. Among patients on interferon-based regimens ( n = 12), viral response (sustained viral response 24) and dropout rates were 58% (7/12) and 33% (4/12), respectively. After sustained viral response by interferon-based therapy, clinical relapsers ( n = 3) were successfully managed with immunosuppressive agents in two patients.

Conclusion:

Treatment with direct-acting antivirals provides excellent rates of viral response and safety in patients with hepatitis C virus–related glomerular disease; viral response was frequently accompanied by clinical improvement. The absence of hepatitis C virus RNA from serum allowed immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies with benefits for glomerular abnormalities and no concern on hepatitis C virus replication.
Investigation of the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of widely used neonicotinoid insecticides in HepG2 and SH-SY5Y cells
Authors: Şenyildiz Mine , Kilinc Adem , Ozden Sibel
Published: March 2018

Neonicotinoids are a relatively new type of insecticide to control a variety of pests. Although they are generally considered to be safe, they can lead to harmful effects on human and environmental health. We aimed to investigate possible effects of common neonicotinoid insecticides (acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam) on cytotoxicity and DNA damage in human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. Our results indicated that 50% of inhibitory concentration values of neonicotinoids are in the range of 0.96 to >4 mM in SH-SY5Y cells and 0.53 to >4 mM in HepG2 cells by the methyl tetrazolium and neutral red uptake tests after 24 and 48 h exposure. We observed significant DNA damage at 500 µM of five neonicotinoids in SHSY-5Y cells, while only imidacloprid, thiametoxam, and thiacloprid showed some alterations in HepG2 cells after 24 h exposure using the alkaline comet assay. In conclusion, neonicotinoid insecticides may induce cytotoxicity and DNA damage in cell cultures; therefore, further studies are needed to better understand the toxicity of neonicotinoids.
Effects of T-2 and Fumonisin B1 combined treatment on in vitro mouse embryo development and blastocyst quality
Authors: Somoskői Bence , Kovács Melinda , Cseh Sándor
Published: March 2018

In the temperate region, most common mycotoxins are members of fusariotoxins. It often happens that food and forage are contaminated with two or more fusariotoxins at the same time. Effects of co-contamination are poorly documented, especially in the field of reproduction. The aim of our study was to assess the combined effect of the two common fusariotoxins, T-2 toxin (T-2) and Fumonisin B1 on early mouse embryo development in vitro. Embryo culture media contained either (1) 0.5 ng/ml T-2; 1, 2, or 10 ng/ml FB1 (group A, B, and C, respectively); or (2) 0.5 ng/ml T-2 and 1, 2, or 10 ng/ml FB1 (group TA, TB, and TC, respectively). Developmental rate, blastocoel expansion, cell number, and micronucleus rate were measured following 96 h culture. Although the developmental rate was similar to the control group (86.43% vs. 83.33, 78.79, 85.98, and 86.67%, respectively) in the case of single toxin treatments, the combined treatments induced significant decreases (14.5, 33.6, and 22.8% in TA, TB, and TC, respectively). The proportion of late blastocysts was lower in all treatments compared to control (83.6% vs. 0–83.6%). Combined treatment resulted in a significantly lower proportion of late blastocysts (25% in TA and 0% in TB and TC). Cell numbers decreased in all toxin-treated groups with a higher rate after combined treatments. No differences were detected in the micronucleus rate in the single or combined treatments compared to control. Our study shows that T-2 and FB1 toxins do not necessarily decrease the developmental rate, but co-contamination results in a significantly lower blastocyst rate and disturbs the blastocoel expansion as well. One possible explanation of this observation could be that the presence of two mycotoxins in the culture media intensifies their negative effects. All toxin treatments decreased the cell number in the blastocysts and this negative effect was more expressed after combined treatment.
Optimization of night mechanical ventilation strategy in summer for cooling energy saving based on inverse problem method
Authors: Zhang Yin , Wang Xin , Hu Eric
Published: March 2018

Night ventilation has great energy saving potentials for public buildings in summer. However, night mechanical ventilation inevitably causes more fan energy consumptions, even though it can reduce the cooling loads for the next day and save the air conditioning energy consumption correspondingly. Thus the optimization of night mechanical ventilation strategy is highly significant for building energy efficiency. In this paper, the simplified two-plate room model is used and the optimization model of the mechanical ventilation and air conditioning system is established. To minimize the total energy consumption, the optimal night ventilation strategy is determined through inverse problem method. Taking an office room in Beijing as the illustrative example, the results show that the optimal air exchange rate for night mechanical ventilation is much higher than the traditional value (ACH = 0.5 h−1) and it highly depends on the indoor-outdoor air temperature difference and cooling load demands. Moreover, the total electricity usage amount can decline from 210 kWh to 111 kWh after optimization, reduced by about 47% in the whole summer season. It also indicates that the energy saving effect of night ventilation mainly derives from the cooling storage and load shifting of building internal walls. Compared to traditional ventilation strategy, the energy saving ratio increases with increasing thermal conductivity and specific heat of building internal walls. This work can provide guidance for practical ventilation system optimization design and operation strategy determination.
A post-infection serologic assessment of cattle herd immune status after a vesicular stomatitis outbreak and the agreement of antibody assays
Authors: Berninger Mary Lou , O’Hearn Emily , Lomkin Richanne , Newens Ken , Havas Karyn A.
Published: March 2018

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a vesicular disease of horses, cattle, and pigs in the Western Hemisphere caused by viruses in the genus Vesiculovirus. Disease manifests as vesicles and erosions on the oral mucosa, teats, prepuce, and coronary band, and is similar in presentation to foot-and-mouth disease. Laboratory confirmation is therefore required. Conventional assays include competitive (c)ELISA and complement fixation (CF). The cELISA provides more accurate herd-level detection of VSV-exposed cattle, but may lack the ability to capture fluctuating antibody levels in individual animals. The CF assay can confirm newly infected animals because of its ability to detect antigen–antibody complexes, thus is considered to be indicative of IgM. We evaluated the immune status of 2 herds affected by VSV in 2014 by testing sera collected in June 2015. Two conventional assays were compared to a novel IgM-IgG ELISA. When sampled in 2015, both herds had detectable VSV-specific antibodies; 18% and 36% of animals tested by cELISA and 2% and 8% of animals tested by CF were positive. The novel IgM-IgG assay exhibited fair agreement (adjusted kappa score of 48) with the conventional assays, and should be evaluated further to assess its ability to replace the 2 separate assays with a single assay system, or for its ability to replace the CF assay as a more sensitive method for defining newly exposed animals.
Distraction-Based Interventions for Children Undergoing Venipuncture Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Kuo Hui-Chen , Pan Hsiao-Hsien , Creedy Debra K. , Tsao Ying
Published: March 2018

Little is known about the effects of distraction techniques when undertaking medical procedures with hospitalized pediatric patients in Asian countries. This study examined the effects of distraction interventions on behavioral distress related to venipuncture procedures in Taiwanese children aged 3 to 7 years. Using concealed randomization, eligible children were allocated to receive a picture book ( n = 92), or animated cartoon ( n = 92) compared with routine oral instructions ( n = 92), when being injected with an intravenous cannula. Two trained observers independently scored the responses of each child using the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress–Revised before, during, and after the procedure. All children experienced distress during needle insertion, but distress was less in the distraction-based intervention groups. Moreover, distraction interventions were more effective for children aged 4 to 5 years. Our culturally tailored intervention engaged child participants, was age-appropriate, and could be adapted for use in other Chinese cultures.
Pharmacotherapy in Acutely Anemic Jehovah’s Witnesses: An Evidence-Based Review
Authors: McConachie Sean M. , Almadrahi Zinah , Wahby Krista A. , Wilhelm Sheila M.
Published: March 2018

Objective: To determine the pharmacological treatment methods available to anemic Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW). Data Sources: MEDLINE and PubMed were searched from inception through February 2018 using the search terms Jehovah’s Witnesses, treatment, erythropoietin, hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, Sanguinate, Hemopure, bleeding, and anemia. Study Selection and Data Extraction: All clinical trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and observational trials involving pharmacotherapy in anemic JW patients were evaluated. Case reports and bibliographies were also analyzed for inclusion. Data Synthesis: Two studies involving the use of erythropoietin (EPO) and one study involving recombinant factor VIIa were included. Information was also included from other pharmacotherapeutic modalities that had case report data only. Current published evidence is limited with regard to evidence-based management of JW patients. High-dose EPO, intravenous iron supplementation, and hemostatic agents have demonstrated good clinical outcomes in case reports. EPO doses as high as 40 000 units daily have been advocated by some experts; however, pharmacokinetic studies do not support dose-dependent effects. Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) are currently not Food and Drug Administration approved. They are available through expanded access programs and may represent a lifesaving modality in the setting of severe anemia. Conclusions: There are currently not enough data to make definitive recommendations on the use of pharmacological agents to treat severe anemia in the JW population. Further evidence utilizing EPO and HBOCs will be beneficial to guide therapy.
Drug shortages in a pediatric stem cell transplantation ward: Challenges and implications. A 5-year bilan
Authors: Claus B , Bauters T , Laureys G
Published: March 2018

This article describes the implications of shortages of pharmaceutical products used in conditioning and supportive care regimens of pediatric patients undergoing a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a tertiary care hospital. Between July 2011 and July 2016, a total of 84 individual shortages, affecting 22 different drugs (79.8% supportive care drugs; 20.2% chemotherapeutics) were detected with a mean duration of 85 days (SD 138) per individual drug shortage. Eighteen shortages were critical and very urgent. Sulfamethoxazol/trimethoprim, piperacillin/tazobactam, ranitidine, benzylpenicillin, ondansetron (supportive care) and methotrexate, melphalan (chemotherapeutics) had the longest supply disruptions. A variety of solutions could be identified including the purchase of a generic alternative (36.9%) for both oral and parenteral treatments (in a ratio 3:2). Urgent import from another (European) country was performed in 14 cases (16.7%). High impact solutions such as cohorting of patients and change of ongoing treatments (2.4%) were used for parenteral treatments only. Pharmaceutical modification was sometimes applied for oral treatments (2.4%). Due to persistent occurrence of these shortages, an efficient pharmacy workflow (electronic follow-up by end of 2016) and a multidisciplinary approach were needed.
A Validation Study of the Child Pornography Offender Risk Tool (CPORT)
Authors: Eke Angela W. , Helmus L. Maaike , Seto Michael C.
Published: March 2018

The Child Pornography Offender Risk Tool (CPORT) is a seven-item structured tool to assess the likelihood of future sexual offending over a 5-year fixed follow-up. The current study examined 5-year fixed follow-up data (15% any new sexual offense, 9% any new child pornography offense) for a validation sample of 80 men convicted of child pornography offense(s). Although statistical power was low, results were comparable with the development sample: The CPORT had slightly lower predictive accuracy for sexual recidivism for the overall group (area under the curve [AUC] = .70 vs. .74), but these values were not significantly different. Combining the development and validation samples, the CPORT predicted any sexual recidivism (AUC = .72) and child pornography recidivism specifically (AUC = .74), with similar accuracies. CPORT was also significantly predictive of these outcomes for the child pornography offenders with no known contact offenses. Strengths and weaknesses of incorporating CPORT into applied risk assessments are discussed.
Asymptotic derivation of nonlocal beam models from two-dimensional nonlocal elasticity
Authors: Hache Florian , Challamel Noël , Elishakoff Isaac
Published: March 2018

The paper is focused on the possible justification of nonlocal beam models (at the macroscopic scale) from an asymptotic derivation based on nonlocal two-dimensional elasticity (at the material scale). The governing partial differential equations are expanded in Taylor series, through the dimensionless depth ratio of the beam. It is shown that nonlocal Bernoulli–Euler beam models can be asymptotically obtained from nonlocal two-dimensional elasticity, with a nonlocal length scale at the beam scale (macroscopic length scale) that may differ from the nonlocal length scale at the material scale. Only when the nonlocality is restricted to the axial direction are the two length scales coincident. In this specific nonlocal case, the nonlocal Bernoulli–Euler model emerged at the zeroth order of the asymptotic expansion, and the nonlocal truncated Bresse–Timoshenko model at the second order. However, in the general case, some new asymptotically-based nonlocal beam models are built which may differ from existing references nonlocal structural models. The natural frequencies for simply supported nonlocal beams are determined for each nonlocal model. The comparison shows that the models provide close results for low orders of frequencies and the difference increases with the order.