bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Video‐Assisted Thoracoscopic Left Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation in Patients with Hereditary Ventricular Arrhythmias
Authors: JANG SE YONG , CHO YONGKEUN , KIM NAM KYUN , KIM CHANG‐YEON , SOHN JIHYUN , ROH JAE‐HYUNG , BAE MYUNG HWAN , LEE JANG HOON , YANG DONG HEON , PARK HUN SIK , CHAE SHUNG CHULL , OH TAK‐HYUK , KIM GUN JIK
Published: December 2016

Background

Left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) has been underutilized in patients with hereditary ventricular arrhythmia syndromes such as congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of video‐assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) LCSD in such patients.

Methods

Fifteen patients (four men, 24.6 ± 10.5 years old) who underwent VATS‐LCSD between November 2010 and January 2015 for hereditary ventricular arrhythmia syndromes at Kyungpook National University Hospital were enrolled in this study. The safety and efficacy of VATS‐LCSD were evaluated by periprocedural epinephrine tests and assessing the development of complications and cardiac events during follow‐up.

Results

Fourteen patients with LQTS and one patient with CPVT underwent VATS‐LCSD. Six and one patients developed ventricular tachyarrhythmia during preprocedural and postprocedural epinephrine test, respectively (P = 0.063). No serious complications such as Horner syndrome, pneumothorax, or bleeding developed after LCSD. Mean hospital stay after VATS‐LCSD was 3.7 ± 1.5 days. During a mean follow‐up of 927 ± 350 days, one LQTS patient and one CPVT patient, neither of whom manifested tachyarrhythmia during post‐LCSD epinephrine test, developed torsades de pointes and syncope, respectively. The annual event rates of six patients who were symptomatic during the period preceding LCSD decreased from 0.97 to 0.19 events/year (P = 0.045).

Conclusions

VATS‐LCSD was a safe, and effective procedure for patients with hereditary ventricular tachycardia syndrome, with no serious adverse events and with short hospital stay.
A Unique Ectopic Atrial Rhythm: Where Is the Origin?
Authors: HIGUCHI SATOSHI , SHODA MORIO , HAGIWARA NOBUHISA
Published: December 2016

In predicting the origin of focal atrial arrhythmias, a precise analysis of the P‐wave morphology in the 12‐lead electrocardiogram is essential. In this report, we demonstrate a unique ectopic atrial rhythm and discuss its origin by analyzing the P‐wave morphology.
Release of resource constraints allows greater carbon allocation to secondary metabolites and storage in winter wheat
Authors: Huang Jianbei , Hammerbacher Almuth , Forkelová Lenka , Hartmann Henrik
Published: December 2016

The atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) is rapidly increasing, and this may have substantial impact on how plants allocate metabolic resources. A thorough understanding of allocation priorities can be achieved by modifying [CO2] over a large gradient, including low [CO2], thereby altering plant carbon (C) availability. Such information is of critical importance for understanding plant responses to global environmental change. We quantified the percentage of daytime whole‐plant net assimilation (A) allocated to night‐time respiration (R), structural growth (SG), nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) and secondary metabolites (SMs) during 8 weeks of vegetative growth in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) growing at low, ambient and elevated [CO2] (170, 390 and 680 ppm). R/A remained relatively constant over a large gradient of [CO2]. However, with increasing C availability, the fraction of assimilation allocated to biomass (SG + NSC + SMs), in particular NSC and SMs, increased. At low [CO2], biomass and NSC increased in leaves but decreased in stems and roots, which may help plants achieve a functional equilibrium, that is, overcome the most severe resource limitation. These results reveal that increasing C availability from rising [CO2] releases allocation constraints, thereby allowing greater investment into long‐term survival in the form of NSC and SMs.
Development of transgenic crops based on photo‐biotechnology
Authors: Ganesan Markkandan , Lee Hyo‐Yeon , Kim Jeong‐Il , Song Pill‐Soon
Published: December 2016

The phenotypes associated with plant photomorphogenesis such as the suppressed shade avoidance response and de‐etiolation offer the potential for significant enhancement of crop yields. Of many light signal transducers and transcription factors involved in the photomorphogenic responses of plants, this review focuses on the transgenic overexpression of the photoreceptor genes at the uppermost stream of the signalling events, particularly phytochromes, crytochromes and phototropins as the transgenes for the genetic engineering of crops with improved harvest yields. In promoting the harvest yields of crops, the photoreceptors mediate the light regulation of photosynthetically important genes, and the improved yields often come with the tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and heavy metal ions. As a genetic engineering approach, the term photo‐biotechnology has been coined to convey the idea that the greater the photosynthetic efficiency that crop plants can be engineered to possess, the stronger the resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Development of GM crops based on photoreceptor transgenes (mainly phytochromes, crytochromes and phototropins) is reviewed with the proposal of photo‐biotechnology that the photoreceptors mediate the light regulation of photosynthetically important genes, and the improved yields often come with the added benefits of crops' tolerance to environmental stresses.
The Role of Behavioral Responses in the Total Economic Consequences of Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Air Travel Targets
Authors: Rose Adam , Avetisyan Misak , Rosoff Heather , Burns William J. , Slovic Paul , Chan Oswin
Published: December 2016

U.S. airports and airliners are prime terrorist targets. Not only do the facilities and equipment represent high‐value assets, but the fear and dread that is spread by such attacks can have tremendous effects on the U.S. economy. This article presents the methodology, data, and estimates of the macroeconomic impacts stemming from behavioral responses to a simulated terrorist attack on a U.S. airport and on a domestic airliner. The analysis is based on risk‐perception surveys of these two scenarios. The responses relate to reduced demand for airline travel, shifts to other modes, spending on nontravel items, and savings of potential travel expenditures by U.S. resident passengers considering flying domestic routes. We translate these responses to individual spending categories and feed these direct impact results into a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the U.S. economy to ascertain the indirect and total impacts on both the airline industry and the economy as a whole. Overall, the estimated impacts on GDP of both types of attacks exceed $10B. We find that the behavioral economic impacts are almost an order of magnitude higher than the ordinary business interruption impacts for the airliner attack and nearly two orders of magnitude higher for the airport attack. The results are robust to sensitivity tests on the travel behavior of U.S. residents in response to terrorism.
A Calibrated Power Prior Approach to Borrow Information from Historical Data with Application to Biosimilar Clinical Trials
Authors: Pan Haitao , Yuan Ying , Xia Jielai
Published: December 2016

A biosimilar product refers to a follow-on biologic that is intended to be approved for marketing on the basis of biosimilarity to an existing patented biological product (i.e. the reference product). To develop a biosimilar product, it is essential to demonstrate biosimilarity between the follow-on biologic and the reference product, typically through two-arm randomization trials. We propose a Bayesian adaptive design for trials to evaluate biosimilar products. To take advantage of the abundant historical data on the efficacy of the reference product that is typically available at the time that a biosimilar product is developed, we propose the calibrated power prior, which allows our design to borrow information adaptively from the historical data according to the congruence between the historical data and the new data collected from the current trial. We propose a new measure, the Bayesian biosimilarity index, to measure the similarity between the biosimilar product and the reference product. During the trial, we evaluate the Bayesian biosimilarity index in a group sequential fashion on the basis of the accumulating interim data and stop the trial early once there is enough information to conclude or reject the similarity. Extensive simulation studies show that the design proposed has higher power than traditional designs. We applied the design to a biosimilar trial for treating rheumatoid arthritis.
Taxidermy workshops: differently figuring the working of bodies and bodies at work in the past
Authors: Patchett Merle
Published: December 2016

Geographers have long demonstrated an interest in charting the geographical and bodily dynamics of work and employment. However, within this scholarship very little attention has been paid to historical geographies of craftwork. This paper seeks to address this deficit while also engaging with the evident and evidentiary methodological issues associated with the historical study of practices worked through the body. To do so, the paper experiments in the recuperation of the working spaces and working practice of three Scottish taxidermists. The creative challenge of this type of recovery work is to ascertain what can conceivably be said from those things that remain to mark the working of bodies and bodies at work at these sites. Yet from curated remainders we glean vital insights into the practices and class politics of 19th‐century natural history enquiry, the silenced agencies of a workshop devastated by the First World War and the more‐than‐human histories of elite blood sports and land ownership in the Scottish Highlands. And this is to emphasise that these materials, even in their textual representation in this paper, count: that they can create knowledge and invite affective experience of the past. Overall the paper seeks to emphasise the serious commitment to conceptual and methodological innovation required when geographers engage in researching bodies (both human and animal) ‘at work’ in the past.
ASSESSMENT OF SENTINEL LYMPH NODE METASTASIS IN CANINE MAMMARY GLAND TUMORS USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC INDIRECT LYMPHOGRAPHY
Authors: Soultani Christina , Patsikas Michail N. , Karayannopoulou Maria , Jakovljevic Samuel , Chryssogonidis Ioannis , Papazoglou Lysimachos , Papaioannou Nikolaos , Papadopoulou Paraskevi , Pavlidou Kyriaki , Ilia Georgia M. , Kaitzis Dimitrios G. , Ilia Tatiana M.
Published: December 2016

In the staging process of the breast cancer, demonstrating metastasis of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) has an important prognostic value, in both humans and animals. The aim of this prospective case‐control study was to determine the diagnostic value of computed tomographic indirect lymphography (CT‐LG) for detecting SLN metastasis in dogs with mammary cancer. Thirty‐three female dogs with tumors in the abdominal and inguinal mammary glands were prospectively selected and subjected to CT‐LG, 1 and 5 min after injection of 1 ml of contrast agent (iopamidol) in the subareolar tissue of the neoplastic and the contralateral normal mammary glands. The pattern of postcontrast opacification, degree of postcontrast enhancement, and size and shape were assessed in 65 SLNs in total and were correlated with histopathological findings. The absence of opacification or heterogeneous opacification 1 min after contrast medium injection showed the highest sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy (93%, 100%, and 98.4%, respectively). In images taken 1 min after injection, an absolute density value lower than 444 Hounsfield units (HU) in the center of the SLN also provided significant sensitivity and specificity (93.8% and 75%, respectively). The size and shape of the SLN (maximum and minimum diameter, maximum/minimum diameter ratio, maximum diameter/height of fifth thoracic vertebral body ratio) showed the lowest sensitivity and specificity. Results of this study support the hypothesis that CT‐LG could help in the assessment of SLN metastasis in cases of mammary gland tumors in dogs.
Plant–herbivore asynchrony necessitates augmentative releases of the exotic beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata, to enhance the biological control of Parthenium hysterophorus
Authors: Gupta Rakesh K. , Bali Kamlesh , Gani Mudasir
Published: December 2016

Systematic information on the quantitative impact of
Z

ygogramma bicolorata on the biology of
P

arthenium hysterophorus is crucial as the seeds of this weed continue to germinate from the accumulated soil seed bank throughout the year in the form of different germinating flushes, while the activity of the beetle ceases during winter as it enters diapause. Therefore, plant–herbivore interactions need to be explored to develop predictions of the overall impact of the introduced beetle on the weed. The findings revealed that defoliation by
Z

. bicolorata had a significant impact on the plant height, density and flower production in flushes F
3, F
4 and F
5, but not in F
1 and F
2 that exhibited longer periodicity, profuse branching, a longer flowering period and maximum flower production and contributed mostly to the existing seed soil bank. Therefore, total depletion of the existing soil seed bank was not possible. Consequently, the effect of augmentative field releases of laboratory‐reared beetles was explored on F
1 and F
2 in February for three consecutive years (2011–2013). Before initiating the trial, random soil samples were taken from the plots that were assigned to the paired treatments (i.e. with the beetle and without the beetle [insecticide‐treated]) and it was found that the seed bank in those samples did not differ. The single release of
Z

. bicolorata adults at five per plant at the six‐leaf stage significantly reduced the soil seed bank, compared to without the biocontrol agent, irrespective of the flushes at the end of the season.
Seed heteromorphism in carolina dayflower (Commelina carolinianaWalter)
Authors: Matsuo Mitsuhiro , Sakai Taira , Kawano Yoshiki
Published: December 2016

Carolina dayflower (Commelina caroliniana Walter), infesting soybean (Glycine max L.) fields on northern Kyushu Island, Japan, has seed heteromorphism; that is, it produces two types of seeds: pericarp and naked. However, there is no information about their germination behavior. The purpose of this study was to understand the germination characteristics of carolina dayflower seeds and to clarify the difference between the pericarp and naked seeds. On the shape of the seed, the pericarp seeds were significantly longer than the naked ones, with no significant difference in width or thickness. Both the pericarp and the naked seeds could germinate at >20°C, and at 30°C, their cumulative germination rate at 7 days after sowing was the highest, at >90%. Light had no effect on seed germination. The cumulative germination rate after 7 days, when the seeds had been stored dry, wet or under water at a low temperature, was significantly lower than after storage at room temperature, suggesting that a higher temperature and concentration of oxygen during the seed‐storage period affects the germination of carolina dayflower. However, there was no difference in the germination behavior between the pericarp and the naked seeds.
Quick assessment of the invasiveness of non‐native plant species by using eco‐physiological parameters in Tram Chim National Park, Vietnam
Authors: Le Thach B. , Truong Quan B.
Published: December 2016

Using eco‐physiological parameters, a quick assessment of the invasiveness of non‐native plant species was conducted in Tram Chim National Park, a Ramsar site that is located in the Mekong River Delta region of Vietnam. An investigation of non‐native species and a vegetation analysis were carried out along 25 line transects and in 50 quadrats by using the Braun–Blanquet method. The researchers identified 84 non‐native plant species but only 31 species were naturalized in the wetland ecosystems. Twenty of those 31 species with a high importance value index were screened by using a parameter that was obtained from chlorophyll a fluorescence measurement, the performance index. Five species were identified as invasive and five others were predicted to be potentially invasive. The first group of five species were:
M

imosa pigra,
P

anicum repens,
E

ichhornia crassipes,
S

alvinia cucullata and
L

eersia hexandra, which already had been confirmed as important weeds in the national park by previous studies. From the second group, two species (
L

udwigia hyssopifolia and S
accharum spontaneum) already are becoming prominent species in some locations. The three remaining species (
M

onochoria hastata,
I

sachne globosa and
M

arsilea quadrifolia) are likely to become invasive in the future.
Detection of Salmonella enterica Serovar Montevideo and Newport in Free‐ranging Sea Turtles and Beach Sand in the Caribbean and Persistence in Sand and Seawater Microcosms
Authors: Ives A.‐K. , Antaki E. , Stewart K. , Francis S. , Jay‐Russell M. T. , Sithole F. , Kearney M. T. , Griffin M. J. , Soto E.
Published: December 2016

Salmonellae are Gram‐negative zoonotic bacteria that are frequently part of the normal reptilian gastrointestinal flora. The main objective of this project was to estimate the prevalence of non‐typhoidal Salmonella enterica in the nesting and foraging populations of sea turtles on St. Kitts and in sand from known nesting beaches. Results suggest a higher prevalence of Salmonella in nesting leatherback sea turtles compared with foraging green and hawksbill sea turtles. Salmonella was cultured from 2/9 and identified by molecular diagnostic methods in 3/9 leatherback sea turtle samples. Salmonella DNA was detected in one hawksbill turtle, but viable isolates were not recovered from any hawksbill sea turtles. No Salmonella was detected in green sea turtles. In samples collected from nesting beaches, Salmonella was only recovered from a single dry sand sample. All recovered isolates were positive for the wzx gene, consistent with the O:7 serogroup. Further serotyping characterized serovars Montevideo and Newport present in cloacal and sand samples. Repetitive‐element palindromic PCR (rep‐PCR) fingerprint analysis and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis of the 2014 isolates from turtles and sand as well as archived Salmonella isolates recovered from leatherback sea turtles in 2012 and 2013, identified two distinct genotypes and four different pulsotypes, respectively. The genotyping and serotyping were directly correlated. To determine the persistence of representative strains of each serotype/genotype in these environments, laboratory‐controlled microcosm studies were performed in water and sand (dry and wet) incubated at 25 or 35°C. Isolates persisted for at least 32 days in most microcosms, although there were significant decreases in culturable bacteria in several microcosms, with the greatest reduction in dry sand incubated at 35°C. This information provides a better understanding of the epizootiology of Salmonella in free‐ranging marine reptiles and the potential public health risks associated with human interactions with these animals in the Caribbean.
Public Health Follow‐up of Suspected Exposure to Echinococcus multilocularis in Southwestern Ontario
Authors: Trotz‐Williams L. A. , Mercer N. J. , Walters J. M. , Wallace D. , Gottstein B. , Osterman‐Lind E. , Boggild A. K. , Peregrine A. S.
Published: December 2016

In the 3 years since the first report of canine alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in Ontario, three additional cases have been diagnosed in the province. Of the four cases reported to date, three have had no known history of travel outside the province. It is possible that this development is an indication of previously unrecognized environmental contamination with Echinococcus multilocularis eggs in some areas of the province. If so, there is the potential for an emerging threat to human health. This article describes a local public health department's investigation of the possible exposure to E. multilocularis of a number of individuals who had had contact with the latest of the four cases of canine AE, and summarizes a comprehensive decision process that can be used by public health departments to assist in the follow‐up of such exposures.
Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella enterica Serovar Indiana in China (1984–2016)
Authors: Gong J. , Kelly P. , Wang C.
Published: December 2016

Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana, first described in 1955, is generally regarded as having a low frequency worldwide with outbreaks of gastroenteritis and abortions described in North America and Europe. In China, S. Indiana was first reported in 1984 and in the subsequent 71 surveys in 35 cities/municipalities from 18 provinces, 70% of which were after 2012, S. Indiana has been shown to have become widely prevalent in people, animals, food and the environment around abattoirs and meat processing facilities. The organism is now one of the most common serovars found in livestock and raw meat in China with S. Indiana isolates having high levels of drug resistance, especially against tetracyclines, quinolones, folate pathway inhibitors, phenicols, penicillins, monobactams and nitrofurans. Further, S. Indiana isolates that are concurrently resistant to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone/cefotaxime have emerged. Studies have suggested the high levels of multidrug resistance of S. Indiana might be associated with the presence of class 1 integrons and plasmids. Unfortunately, information on the high prevalence of S. Indiana and its extensive drug resistance in China has largely escaped international recognition as it largely appears in local reports written in Chinese. To address this situation, we reviewed all the available local Chinese and international publications on the organism in China and report our findings in this review.
Experts' Perceptions on China's Capacity to Manage Emerging and Re‐emerging Zoonotic Diseases in an Era of Climate Change
Authors: Hansen A. , Xiang J. , Liu Q. , Tong M. X. , Sun Y. , Liu X. , Chen K. , Cameron S. , Hanson‐Easey S. , Han G.‐S. , Weinstein P. , Williams C. , Bi P.
Published: December 2016

Zoonotic diseases transmitted by arthropods and rodents are a major public health concern in China. However, interventions in recent decades have helped lower the incidence of several diseases despite the country's large, frequently mobile population and socio‐economic challenges. Increasing globalization, rapid urbanization and a warming climate now add to the complexity of disease control and prevention and could challenge China's capacity to respond to threats of emerging and re‐emerging zoonoses. To investigate this notion, face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with 30 infectious disease experts in four cities in China. The case study diseases under discussion were malaria, dengue fever and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, all of which may be influenced by changing meteorological conditions. Data were analysed using standard qualitative techniques. The study participants viewed the current disease prevention and control system favourably and were optimistic about China's capacity to manage climate‐sensitive diseases in the future. Several recommendations emerged from the data including the need to improve health literacy in the population regarding the transmission of infectious diseases and raising awareness of the health impacts of climate change amongst policymakers and health professionals. Participants thought that research capacity could be strengthened and human resources issues for front‐line staff should be addressed. It was considered important that authorities are well prepared in advance for outbreaks such as dengue fever in populous subtropical areas, and a prompt and coordinated response is required when outbreaks occur. Furthermore, health professionals need to remain skilled in the identification of diseases for which incidence is declining, so that re‐emerging or emerging trends can be rapidly identified. Recommendations such as these may be useful in formulating adaptation plans and capacity building for the future control and prevention of climate‐sensitive zoonotic diseases in China and neighbouring countries.
Effectiveness of different minimally invasive epiphysiodesis techniques in the management of pediatric leg length discrepancies: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Cain Megan , Stephenson Matthew , Umapathysivam Kandiah , Williams Nicole , Ianunzio Jamie
Published: December 2016

Review question/objective:

The objective of this review is to synthesize the best available evidence on the use of minimally invasive epiphysiodesis (MIE) for the management of pediatric leg length discrepancies (LLDs). The effectiveness of four different MIE techniques will be compared, including transphyseal screws, physeal drilling and curettage, physeal stapling and guided growth with eight-Plates.

Specific review questions to be addressed include:

What method of MIE is most effective at achieving growth arrest and correcting a LLD in children?- Percentage of correction- Rate of correction

Are the postoperative complication profiles different for each method of MIE?- Angular deformity- Failure of growth arrest- Infection- Re-operation/intervention

How do children respond to each technique?- Length of hospital stay- Time to return to activities of daily living such as schooling
Effectiveness of intermittent urinary catheterization in patients with neurogenic bladder: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Fumincelli Laís , Mazzo Alessandra , Martins José Carlos Amado , Henriques Fernando Manuel Dias , Cardoso Daniela , Rodrigues Manuel Alves
Published: December 2016

Review question/objective:

The objective of this review is to investigate the effectiveness of the use of intermittent urinary catheterization in improving the quality of life (QoL) of patients with neurogenic bladder.
Key components and strategies utilized by nurses for de-escalation of aggression in psychiatric in-patients: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Shah Lubna , Annamalai Jancirani , Aye Swe Nwe , Xie Huiting , Pavadai Singaravelan s/o , Ng Warric , Suppiah Kuganesh s/o , Shah Abu , Manickam Maragatham
Published: December 2016

Review question/objective:

This systematic review aims to identify the effective de-escalation strategies that nurses utilize to prevent aggressive behaviors.

Specifically, this review has the following objectives:

To explore effective strategies used by nurses to de-escalate aggression in patients in the psychiatric setting.

To identify the key components of effective strategies in the de-escalation of aggression in patients by nurses in the psychiatric setting.
Capnography compared to pulse oximetry for early detection of respiratory compromise in non-intubated patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Holton Jace , Flattery Bryan
Published: December 2016

Review question/objective:

Does the use of capnography versus pulse oximetry increase the early detection of respiratory compromise and improve safety in non-intubated patients undergoing moderate sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures?

Respiratory compromise will be detected by alveolar hypoventilation/hyperventilation (EtCO2 < 35 mmHg/EtCO2 > 50 mmHg), arterial oxygen desaturation (defined as a pulse oximetry reading of <95% for >5 s), visual assessments of abnormal ventilation including apnea detection and adverse respiratory events that involve the need for bag-mask ventilation.
Effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for the prevention and management of psychological and social morbidity in women who have an elective abortion: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Castillo-Bueno María Dolores , Moreno-Pina Josefa Patricia , Castaño-Molina Maria Angeles , González-Sánchez Marta , García-Arsac Isabel
Published: December 2016

Review question/objective:

The objective of this review is to synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for the prevention and management of psychological and social morbidity in women who have an elective abortion.

The specific review question that will be addressed is: In women (aged 13 years or more) with unwanted pregnancies who decide to have an elective abortion, which non-pharmacological interventions should be provided before, during and after the elective abortion procedure both in community and hospital environments to prevent and manage psychological and social morbidity?
Effect of peak inspiratory pressure on the development of postoperative pulmonary complications in mechanically ventilated adult surgical patients: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Wamsley Chelsa , Missel Donald
Published: December 2016

Review question/objective:

The objective is to identify the effect of peak inspiratory pressure on the development of postoperative pulmonary complications.

More specifically, the objective is to identify the effect of maintaining intraoperative peak inspiratory pressure less than or equal to 30 cmH2O compared with peak inspiratory pressure greater than 30 cmH2O on the incidence of postoperative atelectasis, pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome in mechanically ventilated adult surgical patients.
Effectiveness of prophylactic intravenous immunoglobulins in preventing infection in pediatric oncology patients: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Forsythe Amy , Christian Robin
Published: December 2016

Review question/objective:

The objective of this review is to identify the effectiveness of prophylactic intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) for the prevention of infection in pediatric oncology patients, and to identify which types of patients would benefit from the intervention, such as patients with specific diagnoses or those with previous infections. A further objective of this review is to identify the effectiveness of prophylactic IVIGs on the prevention of diffuse interstitial pneumonitis and mortality in pediatric oncology patients.

The review questions are:

Does the administration of prophylactic IVIGs prevent infection compared with no IVIG administration in pediatric oncology patients?

Would only specific pediatric oncology patients benefit from prophylactic IVIG administration, and if so, which type of pediatric oncology patients?

Does administration of prophylactic IVIGs decrease episodes of diffuse interstitial pneumonitis in pediatric oncology patients?

Does administration of prophylactic IVIGs decrease mortality in pediatric oncology patients?
Long-term topical corticosteroid use and risk of skin cancer: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Ratib Sonia , Burden-Teh Esther , Leonardi-Bee Jo , Harwood Catherine , Bath-Hextall Fiona
Published: December 2016

Review question/objective:

The objective of this systematic review is to synthesize the best available research evidence to determine the risk of skin cancer in patients on long-term use of topical corticosteroids. Specifically the review question is: In people using long-term (regular use over one month) topical corticosteroids, what is the risk of developing skin cancer (clinically or histologically confirmed basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma)?
Experiences of African women who migrate to a developed country and encounter domestic violence: a systematic review protocol of qualitative evidence
Authors: Ogunsiji Olayide , Foster Jann , Wilkes Lesley
Published: December 2016

Review question/objective:

The objective of this systematic review is to identify, critically appraise and synthesize the literature regarding the experiences of African women who have migrated to a developed country and have encountered domestic violence.
Low carbohydrate, high fat diet impairs exercise economy and negates the performance benefit from intensified training in elite race walkers
Authors: Burke Louise M. , Ross Megan L. , Garvican‐Lewis Laura A. , Welvaert Marijke , Heikura Ida A. , Forbes Sara G. , Mirtschin Joanne G. , Cato Louise E. , Strobel Nicki , Sharma Avish P. , Hawley John A.
Published: December 2016

Key points

Three weeks of intensified training and mild energy deficit in elite race walkers increases peak aerobic capacity independent of dietary support.

Adaptation to a ketogenic low carbohydrate, high fat (LCHF) diet markedly increases rates of whole‐body fat oxidation during exercise in race walkers over a range of exercise intensities.

The increased rates of fat oxidation result in reduced economy (increased oxygen demand for a given speed) at velocities that translate to real‐life race performance in elite race walkers.

In contrast to training with diets providing chronic or periodised high carbohydrate availability, adaptation to an LCHF diet impairs performance in elite endurance athletes despite a significant improvement in peak aerobic capacity.

We investigated the effects of adaptation to a ketogenic low carbohydrate (CHO), high fat diet (LCHF) during 3 weeks of intensified training on metabolism and performance of world‐class endurance athletes. We controlled three isoenergetic diets in elite race walkers: high CHO availability (g kg−1 day−1: 8.6 CHO, 2.1 protein, 1.2 fat) consumed before, during and after training (HCHO, n = 9); identical macronutrient intake, periodised within or between days to alternate between low and high CHO availability (PCHO, n = 10); LCHF (< 50 g day−1 CHO; 78% energy as fat; 2.1 g kg−1 day−1 protein; LCHF, n = 10). Post‐intervention, during race walking increased in all groups (P < 0.001, 90% CI: 2.55, 5.20%). LCHF was associated with markedly increased rates of whole‐body fat oxidation, attaining peak rates of 1.57 ± 0.32 g min−1 during 2 h of walking at ∼80% . However, LCHF also increased the oxygen (O2) cost of race walking at velocities relevant to real‐life race performance: O2 uptake (expressed as a percentage of new ) at a speed approximating 20 km race pace was reduced in HCHO and PCHO (90% CI: −7.047, −2.55 and −5.18, −0.86, respectively), but was maintained at pre‐intervention levels in LCHF. HCHO and PCHO groups improved times for 10 km race walk: 6.6% (90% CI: 4.1, 9.1%) and 5.3% (3.4, 7.2%), with no improvement (−1.6% (−8.5, 5.3%)) for the LCHF group. In contrast to training with diets providing chronic or periodised high‐CHO availability, and despite a significant improvement in , adaptation to the topical LCHF diet negated performance benefits in elite endurance athletes, in part due to reduced exercise economy.
Decreasing friction during Al cold forming using a nanomolecular layer
Authors: Prünte Stephan , Music Denis , Schneider Jochen M. , Teller Marco , Hirt Gerhard , Mutin P. Hubert , Ramanath Ganpati
Published: December 2016

The authors demonstrate that functionalizing tool steel die surfaces with an octadecylphosphonic acid molecular monolayer decreases friction during Al cold forming. Specifically, molecular functionalization leads to a 1.9-fold decrease in time-averaged torque during tribological compression-torsion wear tests. Electron spectroscopy suggests that weak van der Waals interaction between aluminum and the distal CH3 termini of the phosphonic acid molecules anchored to the steel surface via P–O bridges lubricate the aluminum–steel interface. The observation of this effect at contact-pressures of ≥75 MPa underscores the tremendous potential of molecular functionalization for devising industrial metal forming processes without the use of liquid lubricants.
Atomic layer deposition of tin oxide using tetraethyltin to produce high-capacity Li-ion batteries
Authors: Nazarov Denis V. , Maximov Maxim Yu. , Novikov Pavel A. , Popovich Anatoly A. , Silin Aleksey O. , Smirnov Vladimir M. , Bobrysheva Natalia P. , Osmolovskaya Olga M. , Osmolovsky Michail G. , Rumyantsev Aleksandr M.
Published: December 2016

The authors deposited thin films of tin oxide on substrates of silicon and stainless steel by using atomic layer deposition (ALD) with tetraethyltin precursors. In this process, the authors used various coreactants such as water, oxygen, remote oxygen plasma, hydrogen peroxide, and ozone. The growth rates of films were studied as functions of the deposition temperature, the pulse times of the precursor and coreactant, and the number of ALD cycles, and the optimal growth conditions were determined. The film growth rates were found to be 0.025, 0.045, and 0.07 nm per cycle within the optimal growth conditions and ALD temperature windows for H2O2, O3, and O2 plasma, respectively. Using H2O or O2 did not prompt film growth. The films deposited using O3 and H2O2 had good continuity and low roughness, while the morphology of a coating prepared using oxygen plasma depended greatly on the deposition temperature. The films produced at temperatures below 300 °C were amorphous, irrespective of the coreactant used. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the samples mainly contained tin in the +4 oxidation state. The films deposited on stainless steel had high reversible capacity above 900 mA h g−1, exceptional cycleability, and good electrochemical performance as anodes for lithium-ion batteries.
Thévenin acoustics
Authors: Williams Randall P. , Hall Neal A.
Published: December 2016

Thévenin's theorem is commonly used in the analysis of acoustic transducers to provide a simplified representation of a transducer or its environment. The method may be extended to the analyses of other acoustic systems, without limitation to systems that have been reduced to analogous circuit models, and is particularly convenient in the analysis of acoustic scattering when the scattering object is mobile. In this paper, the method is illustrated through an alternative derivation of the well-known “mass law” for transmission through a partition, and is also applied to the case of acoustic scattering from a rigid, mobile cylinder of arbitrary size in an ideal plane progressive wave. Differences between the conventional solution approach for such problems and the Thévenin-inspired method are discussed, along with the potential benefits of taking such an approach for the simplification of other problems in physical acoustics.
How orchestra members influence stage acoustic parameters on five different concert hall stages and orchestra pits
Authors: Wenmaekers R. H. C. , Hak C. C. J. M. , Hornikx M. C. J.
Published: December 2016

Stage acoustic parameters aim to quantify the amount of sound energy reflected by the stage and hall boundaries and the energy decay over time. In this research, the effect of orchestra presence on parameter values is investigated. The orchestra is simulated by dressed mannequins, which have been compared with humans with respect to acoustic properties. Impulse response measurements were performed in a concert hall, a theatre, a rehearsal room, and in two orchestra pits. Conditions were empty stage floors, stage floors with music stands and chairs only, and floors occupied by the mannequin orchestra. Results show that the direct and reflected sound levels and the energy decay are significantly affected by the orchestra compared to an empty stage or a stage with chairs and stands only. Both the direct sound and early reflected sound levels are reduced by the orchestra with the distance. The late reflected sound level is reduced considerably more than can be expected based on Barron's revised theory. It can be concluded that measurements on a stage without the orchestra being present results in significant differences. A practical method is presented to perform a “musician friendly” stage acoustic measurement with a real orchestra.
Asymptotic behavior of a frequency-domain nonlinearity indicator for solutions to the generalized Burgers equation
Authors: Miller Kyle G. , Gee Kent L. , Reichman Brent O.
Published: December 2016

A frequency-domain nonlinearity indicator has previously been characterized for two analytical solutions to the generalized Burgers equation (GBE) [Reichman, Gee, Neilsen, and Miller, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 139, 2505–2513 (2016)], including an analytical, asymptotic expression for the Blackstock Bridging Function. This letter gives similar old-age analytical expressions of the indicator for the Mendousse solution and a computational solution to the GBE with spherical spreading. The indicator can be used to characterize the cumulative nonlinearity of a waveform with a single-point measurement, with suggested application to noise waveforms as well.
Relationships of linear and nonlinear ultrasound parameters with porosity and trabecular spacing in trabecular-bone-mimicking phantoms
Authors: Lee Kang Il
Published: December 2016

The speed of sound (SOS), the normalized broadband ultrasound attenuation (nBUA), and the nonlinear parameter (B/A) were measured in 18 trabecular-bone-mimicking phantoms consisting of water-saturated aluminum foams. The strong slow wave and the very weak fast wave were consistently observed in the signals transmitted through all of the phantoms. It was found that the SOS increased as the porosity and the trabecular spacing increased. In contrast, both the nBUA and the B/A showed opposite dependences on the porosity and the trabecular spacing. All three ultrasound parameters exhibited high correlation coefficients with the porosity and the trabecular spacing.
Modified Kernel Marginal Fisher Analysis for Feature Extraction and Its Application to Bearing Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Jiang Li , Guo Shunsheng
Published: December 2016

The high-dimensional features of defective bearings usually include redundant and irrelevant information, which will degrade the diagnosis performance. Thus, it is critical to extract the sensitive low-dimensional characteristics for improving diagnosis performance. This paper proposes modified kernel marginal Fisher analysis (MKMFA) for feature extraction with dimensionality reduction. Due to its outstanding performance in enhancing the intraclass compactness and interclass dispersibility, MKMFA is capable of effectively extracting the sensitive low-dimensional manifold characteristics beneficial to subsequent pattern classification even for few training samples. A MKMFA- based fault diagnosis model is presented and applied to identify different bearing faults. It firstly utilizes MKMFA to directly extract the low-dimensional manifold characteristics from the raw time-series signal samples in high-dimensional ambient space. Subsequently, the sensitive low-dimensional characteristics in feature space are inputted into K-nearest neighbor classifier so as to distinguish various fault patterns. The four-fault-type and ten-fault-severity bearing fault diagnosis experiment results show the feasibility and superiority of the proposed scheme in comparison with the other five methods.
Hypercalcemia due to Primary Hepatic Lymphoma
Authors: Hsu Andrew , Gagnier Michael , Ryer Elizabeth , Salhab Mohammed , Rosmarin Alan G.
Published: December 2016

A 65-year-old female with a history of mixed connective tissue disease and pulmonary fibrosis on azathioprine, hydroxychloroquine, and prednisone (osteoporosis on teriparatide) presented with a 1-month history of hypercalcemia. After discontinuation of teriparatide, the patient’s hypercalcemia persisted. Further evaluation revealed primary hepatic lymphoma as the source of her hypercalcemia.
Exosomes from Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Identification, Purification, and Biological Characteristics
Authors: Zhang Bin , Shen Li , Shi Hui , Pan Zhaoji , Wu Lijun , Yan Yongmin , Zhang Xu , Mao Fei , Qian Hui , Xu Wenrong
Published: December 2016

Our and other groups have discovered that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived exosomes are a novel therapeutical modality for many diseases. In this study, we summarized a method to extract and purify hucMSCs‐exosomes using ultrafiltration and gradient centrifugation in our laboratory and proved that hucMSCs‐exosomes prepared according to our procedure were stable and bioactive. Results showed that exosomes derived from hucMSC were 40~100 nm and CD9 and CD81 positive. Functionally, hucMSCs‐exosomes promoted cell proliferation and protected against oxidative stress‐induced cell apoptosis in vitro by activation of ERK1/2 and p38. Interestingly, UV exposure abrogated the regulatory roles of exosomes under oxidative stress, indicating that hucMSCs‐exosomes may regulate cell growth and apoptosis by exosomal shuttle of RNA. Furthermore, cytokine profile analysis revealed that hucMSCs‐exosomes contained high dose of IL‐6, IL‐8, and other cytokines. The established method is practical and efficient, which provides a basis for further evaluating the potential of hucMSCs‐exosomes as therapeutic agents.
Stability and Boundedness of Solutions to a Certain Second-Order Nonautonomous Stochastic Differential Equation
Authors: Ademola A. T. , Moyo S. , Ogundare B. S. , Ogundiran M. O. , Adesina O. A.
Published: December 2016

This paper focuses on stability and boundedness of certain nonlinear nonautonomous second-order stochastic differential equations. Lyapunov’s second method is employed by constructing a suitable complete Lyapunov function and is used to obtain criteria, on the nonlinear functions, that guarantee stability and boundedness of solutions. Our results are new; in fact, according to our observations from the relevant literature, this is the first attempt on stability and boundedness of solutions of second-order nonlinear nonautonomous stochastic differential equations. Finally, examples together with their numerical simulations are given to authenticate and affirm the correctness of the obtained results.
Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring from Phonocardiograph Signal Using Repetition Frequency of Heart Sounds
Authors: Tang Hong , Li Ting , Qiu Tianshuang , Park Yongwan
Published: December 2016

As a passive, harmless, and low-cost diagnosis tool, fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring based on fetal phonocardiography (fPCG) signal is alternative to ultrasonographic cardiotocography. Previous fPCG-based methods commonly relied on the time difference of detected heart sound bursts. However, the performance is unavoidable to degrade due to missed heart sounds in very low signal-to-noise ratio environments. This paper proposes a FHR monitoring method using repetition frequency of heart sounds. The proposed method can track time-varying heart rate without both heart sound burst identification and denoising. The average accuracy rate comparison to benchmark is 88.3% as the SNR ranges from −4.4 dB to −26.7 dB.
Fuzzy Soft Compact Topological Spaces
Authors: Mishra Seema , Srivastava Rekha
Published: December 2016

In this paper, we have studied compactness in fuzzy soft topological spaces which is a generalization of the corresponding concept by R. Lowen in the case of fuzzy topological spaces. Several basic desirable results have been established. In particular, we have proved the counterparts of Alexander’s subbase lemma and Tychonoff theorem for fuzzy soft topological spaces.