bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptive control for estimating insulation resistance of high‐voltage battery system in electric vehicles
Authors: Chiang Yi‐Hsien , Sean Wu‐Yang , Huang Chih‐Yung , Chiang Hsieh Lin‐Han
Published: May 2017

To ensure electrical safety in electric vehicles equipped with a high‐voltage battery pack, an insulation monitoring circuit is indispensible to continuously monitor the insulation resistance during charging or driving. Existing methods such as to inject specific signals into the monitoring circuit and earth help to extract the resistance value from the voltage waveform. However, parasitic or stray capacitances in the monitoring circuit, which might introduce higher‐order dynamics into the waveform are ignored. Or to avoid estimation error, the insulation resistance must be known in advance to carry out parameter calibration. In this work, one parasitic capacitance is applied in the circuit model and employ a new adaptive algorithm based on Lyapunov stability to estimate the insulation resistance. This new online monitoring method and circuit are verified through simulation and experimentation, respectively. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can quickly react and track variations of insulation resistance on both positive and negative DC lines. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1882–1887, 2017
Are exposure predictions, used for the prioritization of pharmaceuticals in the environment, fit for purpose?
Authors: Burns Emily E. , Thomas-Oates Jane , Kolpin Dana W. , Furlong Edward T. , Boxall Alistair B.A
Published: May 2017

Prioritization methodologies are often used for identifying those pharmaceuticals that pose the greatest risk to the natural environment and to focus laboratory testing or environmental monitoring toward pharmaceuticals of greatest concern. Risk-based prioritization approaches, employing models to derive exposure concentrations, are commonly used, but the reliability of these models is unclear. The present study evaluated the accuracy of exposure models commonly used for pharmaceutical prioritization. Targeted monitoring was conducted for 95 pharmaceuticals in the Rivers Foss and Ouse in the City of York (UK). Predicted environmental concentration (PEC) ranges were estimated based on localized prescription, hydrological data, reported metabolism, and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) removal rates, and were compared with measured environmental concentrations (MECs). For the River Foss, PECs, obtained using highest metabolism and lowest WWTP removal, were similar to MECs. In contrast, this trend was not observed for the River Ouse, possibly because of pharmaceutical inputs unaccounted for by our modeling. Pharmaceuticals were ranked by risk based on either MECs or PECs. With 2 exceptions (dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine), risk ranking based on both MECs and PECs produced similar results in the River Foss. Overall, these findings indicate that PECs may well be appropriate for prioritization of pharmaceuticals in the environment when robust and local data on the system of interest are available and reflective of most source inputs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2823–2832. © 2017 SETAC
Improved outcomes with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma in Finland
Authors: Mroueh Rayan , Haapaniemi Aaro , Grénman Reidar , Laranne Jussi , Pukkila Matti , Almangush Alhadi , Salo Tuula , Mäkitie Antti
Published: May 2017

Background

Incidence rates for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are steadily rising worldwide.

Methods

All patients diagnosed with primary oral tongue SCC at the 5 university hospitals in Finland from 2005 to 2009 were studied. The mean follow‐up time was 43 months (median, 54 months; range, 0–111 months).

Results

Three hundred sixty patients with primary oral tongue SCC were identified. Treatment with curative intent was provided for 328 patients (91%). The 5‐year disease‐specific survival (DSS) rates were as follows: stage I 87%; stage II 73%; stage III 69%; and stage IV 51%. The 5‐year recurrence‐free survival in general has improved from 47% in our previous published series (1995–1999) to 65% in the current series (p < .001).

Conclusion

The outcome of oral tongue SCC has significantly improved in Finland. However, the relatively high number of disease recurrences in patients with stage I and II disease, when compared with patients with stage III and IV disease, calls for an investigation of new treatment approaches. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1306–1312, 2017
Multigrade kindergarten classrooms and children's academic achievement, executive function, and socioemotional development
Authors: Ansari Arya
Published: May 2017

Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Class of 2010–2011 (n = 11,000), this study examined the developmental outcomes of 5‐year‐old children in multigrade classrooms (combined prekindergarten and kindergarten classrooms serving 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐year‐olds) compared with those of 5‐year‐olds attending kindergarten‐only classrooms serving primarily 5‐year‐olds. Results from regression and propensity score analyses revealed that 5‐year‐old children who attended multigrade classrooms with prekindergarteners made smaller gains in math and literacy skills and demonstrated less optimal executive function at the end of the school year than children who attended kindergarten‐only classrooms. Classroom‐level factors largely explained the differences in children's academic achievement but did not consistently explain differences in their executive functioning. No consistent differences emerged for children's social‐behavioral development.

Highlights

This paper examines the implications of multigrade kindergarten classrooms for 5‐year‐olds' school success and the mechanisms through which these classrooms affect children.

Five‐year‐olds who attended multigrade classrooms demonstrate smaller gains in academics and exhibit less optimal executive function, which was partially explained by classroom‐level factors.

When possible, the implementation of multigrade kindergarten classrooms may need to be re‐evaluated.
Mechanisms leading to misattribution errors and cooperative knowledge acquisition
Authors: Nada Tetsuya , Maruno Shun'ichi
Published: May 2017

This study sought to clarify the process of knowledge acquisition by examining why people tend to misattribute others' activities as their own after having interacted with them. In Study 1, an experiment was conducted with 4‐year‐old children allocated to 2 groups: one group of children interacted with an adult, and the other group interacted with a peer. The latter group was further divided into 2 subgroups on the basis of the strength of children's friendships (high intimacy vs. low intimacy). Children in the low intimacy condition demonstrated more misattributions and greater knowledge acquisition. Study 2 focused on interactions and revealed that knowledge acquisition was influenced by the nature of children's interactions, which depended on the strength of their friendships. Those in the low intimacy condition (i.e., weaker friendships) provided their peers with appropriate support sufficient to complete a task but did not unilaterally complete tasks for their peers. These results suggest that misattribution occurs when individuals actively participate in interactions with others, and that new knowledge is acquired as they internalize the knowledge of others.

Highlights

This paper examined the role of “error bias” (a tendency to mistakenly attribute others' activities to oneself more often than attributing one's own activities to others) in knowledge acquisition.

Error bias occurred in child‐child pairs with low intimacy more often than in adult‐child pairs, as the level of intimacy leads to differences in attitudes to taking part in interactions.

The findings suggest that although intimacy is useful for starting active interactions with others, meaningful interactions that lead to knowledge acquisition are developed through an individual's recognition of appropriate ways of interacting with others.
RAD51 as a potential surrogate marker for DNA repair capacity in solid malignancies
Authors: Gachechiladze Mariam , Škarda Josef , Soltermann Alex , Joerger Markus
Published: May 2017

Targeting deficient mechanisms of cellular DNA repair still represents the basis for the treatment of the majority of solid tumors, and increased DNA repair capacity is a hallmark mechanism of resistance not only to DNA‐damaging treatments such as cytotoxic drugs and radiotherapy, but also to small molecule targeted drugs such as inhibitors of poly‐ADP ribose polymerase (PARP). Hence, there is substantial medical need for potent and convenient biomarkers of individual response to DNA‐targeted treatment in personalized cancer care. RAD51 is a highly conserved protein that catalyzes DNA repair via homologous recombination, a major DNA repair pathway which directly modulates cellular sensitivity to DNA‐damaging treatments. The clinical and biological significance of RAD51 protein expression is still under investigation. Pre‐clinical studies consistently show the important role of nuclear RAD51 immunoreactivity in chemo‐ and radioresistance. Validating data from clinical trials however is limited at present, and some clinical studies show controversial results. This review gives a comprehensive overview on the current knowledge about the prognostic and predictive value of RAD51 protein expression and genetic variability in patients with solid malignancies.
Initial experiences with a new design for a preattached intravenous port device
Authors: Wu Ching‐Yang , Fu Jui‐Ying , Wu Ching‐Feng , Cheng Chia‐Hui , Liu Yen‐Ting , Ko Po‐Jen , Liu Yun‐Hen , Chu Yen
Published: May 2017

All available conventional ports share a common design, including catheter, locking nut, and port body, and all share two sites of structural weakness. One site is the junction between the locking nut and the proximal end of the catheter. The other site is the catheter fixation site between the locking nut and the protruding stud of the connecting tube. To overcome these shortcomings, we designed a new type of intravenous port which combines the connecting tube into one piece. The aims of this study were to test the mechanical characteristics of the new design and assess its safety in animal study. The prototype of the preattached port was manufactured from biocompatible materials, including PEEK, silicone and polyurethane. All components were assembled with biocompatible glue and mechanical and safety tests were performed to determine the mechanical strength, and tissue reaction of surrounding soft tissue and entry vessels. The mechanical tests showed the new design would not lead to catheter fracture in the oscillation test. The traction test showed significant peak load (18.75 ± 3.29 vs. 26.61 ± 1.75 N; p = 0.036) because of the difference in catheter extension capacity (26.57 ± 4.28 vs. 47.93 ± 2.45 mm; p = 0.012). Significantly smaller endurable injection pressure was identified in the prototype. (90 ± 20 vs. 177.5± 9.48 psi; p = 0.01) The safety test showed good tolerance in beagle dogs and led to no intravascular thrombus and minimal reaction in surrounding tissues. The new prototype preattached port showed good mechanical strength and overcame two potential structural weakness points. The integrated fixation design not only reduced the dimensions of the port device but also provided a greater injection area compared to current designs. It did not cause intravascular thrombosis and produced minimal tissue reaction in surrounding soft tissue, as identified by autopsy. The new design of the fixation device could serve as the basis for the next generation of intravenous ports. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 1017–1027, 2018.
Echocardiographic features of right ventricular diverticulum: A case report
Authors: Wang Lihong , Cao Xiaoli , Xue Jie , Li Hongyan , Shi Lei , Men Yanming
Published: May 2017

Right ventricular diverticulum is a rare form of cardiac deformity, with a very few cases caused by pericarditis. A 60‐year‐old man sought medication because of chest congestion and shortness of breath. CT showed a soft tissue mass at the heart apex and pericardial calcification. Doppler echocardiography demonstrated a mixed cystic solid mass at the right ventricular apex. Surgical cure confirmed the diagnosis of right ventricular apex diverticulum with pericarditis. Echocardiography is contributive to the diagnosis of ventricular diverticula in measuring their size and showing the local thinning of the ventricular wall with localized bulging and abnormal motion. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:531–534, 2017
Effective deployment of public‐access automated external defibrillators to improve out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest outcomes
Authors: Nakahara Shinji , Sakamoto Tetsuya
Published: May 2017

Out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major health concern in Japan and other developed countries with aging populations. Improvements in OHCA outcomes require streamlining the chain of survival. Deployment of public‐access automated external defibrillators (PADs) and defibrillation by bystanders is one strategy that may streamline the chain by reducing the time to defibrillation in individuals with shockable rhythms. Although the effectiveness of PAD programs in increasing survival to discharge has been reported, there have been criticisms and concerns about the small population impact, cost‐effectiveness, and potential negative impact on those with nonshockable rhythms. This article reviews relevant literature regarding the effectiveness and concerns regarding PAD for OHCA.
Decreasing spatial variability of drought in southwest China during 1959–2013
Authors: Liu Meixian , Xu Xianli , Sun Alexander Y. , Wang Kelin
Published: May 2017

Southwest (SW) China is a drought prone region. Knowledge of the risks and coupling characteristics of drought duration and severity is essential for hazards mitigation and water management. Based on probability distributions, copulas, Mann–Kendall test, overlapping moving windows approach and the self‐calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) at 69 stations (1959–2013), this study focused on the trends and spatial variability (SV) of (joint) probability drought duration and severity in SW China, and further investigated the potential contributors by analysing the behaviours of precipitation (P), temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), atmospheric moisture flux (MF) and divergence (MFD). In particular, the SV was represented by the standard deviation, the drought duration and severity were characterized by the number of months with PDSI < −0.5 in a year [drought months (DM)] and the absolute mean PDSI in drought months (DS), respectively. Results showed that, the DM, DS, DM5, DS5 (5‐year return levels for DM and DS) increased by 0.058 month year−2, 0.012 month−1 year−1, 0.039 month year−2, and 0.009 month−1 year−1, respectively, and the joint return period T(DM > 4, DS > 2) decreased by −0.20 year year−1. Furthermore, due to the decreasing SV in P, T, RH, WS, MF, and MFD, SV of DM5, DS5 and T(DM > 4, DS > 2) significantly decreased in the past decades, by −0.003 month year−2, −0.006 month−1 year−1 and −0.03 year year−1, respectively. These results indicated that drought risks and severity increased significantly in the past decades over SW China. Most importantly, the decreasing SV implied that drought risks and severity might have become more homogeneous in this region. In other words, droughts became more widely spread throughout SW China in the past decades. Therefore, water agencies and governments should be more proactive in seeking measures to improve water resources management and drought mitigation in this region.
Rainfall variability and trend analysis in coastal arid Ecuador
Authors: García‐Garizábal Iker
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT

The creation of baseline climate series is the first step towards the analysis of climate characteristics and behaviour in any region of the world. The objective of this article is to construct homogeneous precipitation series for the period 1982–2011, for the study of its spatial distribution and temporal evolution (dynamics) in the Province of Santa Elena, most occidental region of continental Ecuador. Data from 22 rainfall stations at the study location enabled the construction of five precipitation series using statistical and correlation techniques to complete information gaps. Precipitations present irregular temporal and spatial variation throughout the year, with a wet season between December and May. The December–January–February (DJF) and March–April–May (MAM) trimesters account for 59.7 and 39.1 of annual rainfall. The dry season, between June and November, presents almost zero rainfall. Small precipitations were also identified in coastal, topographically low areas, with precipitations more frequent events towards the continental region. Throughout the years, there has been high variability in precipitations, with the occurrence of wet‐dry episodes associated with the ‘El Niño–La Niña’ events, which were correlated with the sea surface temperature values of the Oceanic Niño Index. Trend analysis detected an average increase in rainfall of 2.1 mm year−1in the Province, however, the trimestral rates oscillated between 2.2 and 4.3 mm quart−1. The construction of these precipitation series has been an important step for the spatial‐temporal characterization of this peculiar tropical climate region that presents arid characteristics. These series can be applied to base scenarios for the development of climate studies and water resource management in the region.
Contribution of the tropical western Atlantic thermal conditions during the preceding winter to summer temperature anomalies over the lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin–Jiangnan region
Authors: Wang Huimei , Liu Ge , Chen Junming
Published: May 2017

Using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration extended reconstructed sea surface temperature (SST) data sets, we examine the preceding factors in the Atlantic Ocean contributing to summer high temperature anomalies over the lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin–Jiangnan (LRYB–JN) region. We find that summer LRYB–JN surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies are highly correlated with, and physically connected to, the preceding winter SST and SAT anomalies in the tropical western Atlantic (TWA) region [(10°–30°N, 60°–35°W) and (0°–10°N, 50°–35°W)]. The effect of preceding winter thermal conditions in the TWA region can be explained by the following two mechanisms. Coupled with SST, positive TWA SAT anomalies can persist from the preceding winter to summer and excite a zonal wave train at middle latitudes extending from the Atlantic to Eurasia, with a deep and stable high pressure anomaly centred over the LRYB–JN region. As a result, high temperature anomalies occur over the LRYB–JN region. In addition to the above mechanism, the TWA SST–SAT coupled anomalies also exert an impact on summer LRYB–JN SAT by modulating the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) SAT and SST variation, which causes summer LRYB–JN SAT anomalies. Given the contributions of TWA SAT anomalies, independent of and in concert with the TIO SAT variation, we define a preceding winter TWA–TIO SAT index, which measures the concurrent variation of TWA and TIO SATs. The preceding winter TWA–TIO index is more significantly correlated with the summer LRYB–JN SAT and therefore can reflect the latter better than the individual TWA or TIO SAT index.
Surface interpolation of environmental factors as tool for evaluation of the occurrence of high methane and nitrous oxide fluxes
Authors: Lengerer Andreas , Kazda Marian
Published: May 2017

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wetlands typically exhibit extended low‐flux phases accompanied by distinct high‐flux events. Prediction and explanation of flux occurrence is hindered by various interactions of the underlying environmental predictors. Here, a novel approach is described to gain insight in patterns of environmental factors, which lead to elevated emissions. Natural neighbor interpolation was utilized to construct flux intensity maps based on two environmental predictors, the ground water level and soil temperature. Further, the effect of inhomogeneous data density was considered by filtering estimates for sufficient information content. The practical application was exemplified by CH4 and N2O flux field data of three years from two fen sites in southwest Germany. This approach considered factor interactions as well as the fluxes occurring as rare events. The application can be useful for the delineation of driving conditions for high‐flux events as well as for wetland management practice.
In vitro antifungal, probiotic, and antioxidant functional properties of a novel Lactobacillus paraplantarum isolated from fermented dates in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Arasu Mariadhas Valan , Al‐Dhabi Naif Abdullah
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUND

Fermented foods produced using dates are used in Gulf countries as beneficial and healthful foods. The beneficial microbial flora in fermented dates contributes to maintaining the nutritional properties of dates by preventing the growth of spoilage fungi. Here, we examined the antifungal, probiotic, and antioxidant properties of the novel Lactobacillus strain D‐3 isolated from fermented dates.

RESULTS

Analyzing the morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of this strain demonstrated that it was similar to Lactobacillus species, and molecular‐level amplification of the 16S rRNA gene showed that it belonged to Lactobacillus paraplantarum. Under shake flask cultivation using date juice, the strain produced significant amounts of ethanol and lactic, succinic, and acetic acids. Purification of benzoic acid extracted from the extracellular fermentation medium was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared and mass spectral data revealed minimum inhibitory concentration values of 10, 20, 10, 5, and 10 mg mL−1 for Aspergillus fumigates, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum, Gibberella moniliformis, and Penicillium chrysogenum, respectively. The strain showed several advantages, including the ability to survive under conditions similar to the gastrointestinal tract (low pH, bile salts, and antimicrobial susceptibility) and high levels of extracellular enzyme activities. The strain's growth patterns under various concentrations of H2O2 and its scavenging properties towards hydroxyl radical (64.85%) and DPPH (84.97%) were also interesting properties.

CONCLUSION

The antifungal, probiotic, and antioxidant properties of L. paraplantarum D3 may provide health benefits to consumers. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Para‐aortic lymphadenectomy can be omitted in most endometrial cancer patients at risk of lymph node metastasis
Authors: Baiocchi Glauco , Faloppa Carlos Chaves , Mantoan Henrique , Camarço Willian Ricardo , Badiglian‐Filho Levon , Kumagai Lillian Yuri , De Brot Louise , da Costa Alexandre Andre Balieiro Anastacio
Published: May 2017

Objectives

To determine the predictive factors of para‐aortic lymph node (PALN) metastasis in endometrial cancer (EC) and recommend a subgroup of patients who can safely forgo PALN dissection.

Methods

We analyzed a series of 255 patients who were at risk of lymph node metastasis and treated from June 2007 to June 2015. All patients underwent systematic pelvic and para‐aortic lymphadenectomy.

Results

The median number of pelvic lymph nodes (PLN) and PALNs that were resected was 33 and 15, respectively. Fifty (19.6%) patients had LN metastasis—43 (16.9%) pelvic, 28 (11%) para‐aortic, 21 (8.2%) pelvic and para‐aortic, and 7 (2.7%) isolated PALN metastasis. PALN metastasis was significantly associated with PLN metastasis, the presence of lymphovascular space invasion, deep myometrial invasion (MI), and histological grade 3. In the multivariate analysis, only pelvic LN metastasis and deep MI remained independent risk factors of PALN metastasis. For patients without LN enlargement ± adnexal metastasis, when deep MI and PLN metastasis were absent, the risk of PALM was 0.8%.

Conclusions

Our series supports that PALN metastasis is a rare event in the absence of PLN metastasis and that most patients can safely forego PALN dissection. This subgroup can be identified by the combined absence of PLN metastasis and deep MI.
Adapting coastal management to climate change: Mitigating our shrinking shorelines
Authors: Martin Scott A. , Rautsaw Rhett M. , Bolt Rebecca , Parkinson Christopher L. , Seigel Richard A.
Published: May 2017

Sea‐level rise due to climate change is a major threat to coastal ecosystems worldwide. Current management to reduce beach erosion often focuses on protecting human structures and research on effects on wildlife is lacking. Using a combination of hierarchical models and generalized linear models, we evaluated how the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) colonized constructed dunes along coastal scrub at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, central Florida, USA. Over 2 years, we surveyed tortoise populations along natural dunes and 2 constructed dunes (completed in 2012 and in 2014) and estimated tortoise density each summer and winter. Our models indicated that tortoise density along the 2014 dune was comparable to that of natural dunes ( = 0–8 tortoises/ha), and density peaked at a mean of 21 tortoises/ha along the 2012 constructed dune. Gopher tortoises rapidly colonized constructed dunes, and dune construction may represent effective management against habitat loss for this species. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
The feasibility of gamma radiation sterilization for decellularized tracheal grafts
Authors: Johnson Christopher M. , Guo DeHuang , Ryals Stephanie , Postma Gregory N. , Weinberger Paul M.
Published: May 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

The most promising stem cell‐derived tracheal transplantation approach is dependent upon the use of decellularized tracheal grafts. It has been assumed that a sterilization step, such as gamma radiation, would damage the delicate extracellular matrix of the graft, thus rendering it less viable for cellular repopulation, although this has not been thoroughly investigated.

Study Design

Laboratory‐based comparative analysis.

Methods

Fifteen murine tracheas of strain C57/B‐6 mice were obtained. Thirteen were subjected to a detergent‐enzymatic decellularization process. Of these decellularized tracheas (DT), eight were irradiated, exposing five tracheas to a radiation level of 25 kGy (DT25) and three to 5 kGy (DT5). Two were left untreated. The two untreated tracheas, two DTs, and two DT25s were prepared and examined using both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Bioburden calculations were obtained from three DTs, three DT25s, and three DT5s by homogenization, serial dilution, and streak plating.

Results

Electron microscopy of untreated fresh tracheas and DTs showed a slight qualitative degradation of cartilage ultrastructure due to the decellularization process. In contrast, examination of DT25 shows significant degradation including poor overall preservation of cartilage architecture with disorganized collagen fibers. The nonirradiated DTs had a calculated bacterial bioburden of 7.8 × 107 to 3.4 × 108 colony‐forming units per gram. Both the DT25 and DT5 specimens were found to have a bioburden of zero.

Conclusions

Gamma radiation at 25 kGy degrades the architecture of decellularized tracheal grafts. These ultrastructural changes may prove detrimental to graft viability; however, bioburden calculations suggest that a 5 kGy radiation dose may be sufficient for sterilization.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 127:E258–E264, 2017
Sialendoscopy‐assisted transfacial removal of parotid sialoliths: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Roland Lauren T. , Skillington S. Andrew , Ogden M. Allison
Published: May 2017

Objective

To review the literature and conduct a meta‐analysis to determine the effectiveness and safety of the combined endoscopic–transfacial approach for parotid sialolith management.

Data Sources

PubMed 1946–, Embase 1947–, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Database of Abstracts of Review Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, clinicaltrials.gov, Proquest Dissertations and Theses, and FirstSearch Proceedings to March 2015.

Review Methods

Published prospective or retrospective English‐language studies with reported outcomes of more than one patient undergoing the combined endoscopic‐transfacial procedure for parotid sialolithiasis were included. Two independent authors screened all eligible studies and reviewed and extracted data from relevant publications. Weighted pooled proportions for stone removal, symptom improvement, gland preservation, and complications were calculated.

Results

Ten studies, primarily retrospective single‐institution studies, were included in the final analysis, with a total of 184 patients. Overall, the procedure was noted to be successful with low risk; the weighted pooled proportions were 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97 to 1.00) for stone removal, 0.97 (95% CI: 0.93 to 0.99) for symptom improvement, 1 (95% CI: 0.99 to 1.00) for gland preservation, and 0.06 (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.15) for complications.

Conclusions

Although our analysis is primarily based on retrospective data, the evidence shown here suggests that the combined endoscopic–transfacial technique is an effective treatment for parotid gland sialolithiasis not amenable to intraoral or purely endoscopic removal. This approach results in high rates of symptom improvement and gland preservation. The complication rates are low, further supporting the use of this technique. Laryngoscope, 127:2510–2516, 2017
Automatic quantification of bone marrow edema on MRI of the wrist in patients with early arthritis: A feasibility study
Authors: Aizenberg Evgeni , Roex Edgar A.H. , Nieuwenhuis Wouter P. , Mangnus Lukas , van der Helm‐van Mil Annette H.M. , Reijnierse Monique , Bloem Johan L. , Lelieveldt Boudewijn P.F. , Stoel Berend C.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

To investigate the feasibility of automatic quantification of bone marrow edema (BME) on MRI of the wrist in patients with early arthritis.

Methods

For 485 early arthritis patients (clinically confirmed arthritis of one or more joints, symptoms for less than 2 years), MR scans of the wrist were processed in three automatic stages. First, super‐resolution reconstruction was applied to fuse coronal and axial scans into a single high‐resolution 3D image. Next, the carpal bones were located and delineated using atlas‐based segmentation. Finally, the extent of BME within each bone was quantified by identifying image intensity values characteristic of BME by fuzzy clustering and measuring the fraction of voxels with these characteristic intensities within each bone. Correlation with visual BME scores was assessed through Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results

Pearson correlation between quantitative and visual BME scores across 485 patients was r=0.83, P<0.001.

Conclusions

Quantitative measurement of BME on MRI of the wrist has the potential to provide a feasible alternative to visual scoring. Complete automation requires automatic detection and compensation of acquisition artifacts. Magn Reson Med 79:1127–1134, 2018. © 2017 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Unravelling urban–rural health disparities in England
Authors: Allan Rebecca , Williamson Paul , Kulu Hill
Published: May 2017

Previous research shows significant health and mortality variations by residential context. Numerous studies report better health and lower mortality among rural populations in comparison to urban residents, whereas other research shows the opposite, with poor health and high mortality in rural areas. This study investigates health variations in England by residential contexts and the causes of such differences. Further, it examines the sensitivity of results to different rural–urban classifications. Applying logistic regression models to individual‐level data from the 2001 UK census we demonstrate significant health variation by residential context. A clear urban–rural positive health gradient is apparent, with levels of ill health increasing parallel to levels of urbanisation. Briefly, people living in rural areas have better health than those living in cities and other urban contexts. However, the capital city (London) provides an exception to the gradient, with its inhabitants having better health than anticipated. Once we control for individual sociodemographic characteristics, including occupational status and educational level, the urban–rural health variations are reduced, but significant differences still persist. Most notably, Outer London residents have health expectations similar to those residing in the most rural locations. Clearly, our results support the existence of a positive urban–rural health gradient, with the exception of a protective “capital city” effect. These findings persist regardless of the precise urban–rural classification used. Finally we show that, having accounted for composition and the rural–urban context, there still remains a North–South divide in health outcomes.
Testing for changes in spatial relative risk
Authors: Hazelton Martin L.
Published: May 2017

The spatial relative risk function is a useful tool for describing geographical variation in disease incidence. We consider the problem of comparing relative risk functions between two time periods, with the idea of detecting alterations in the spatial pattern of disease risk irrespective of whether there has been a change in the overall incidence rate. Using case–control datasets for each period, we use kernel smoothing methods to derive a test statistic based on the difference between the log‐relative risk functions, which we term the log‐relative risk ratio. For testing a null hypothesis of an unchanging spatial pattern of risk, we show how p‐values can be computed using both randomization methods and an asymptotic normal approximation. The methodology is applied to data on campylobacteriosis from 2006 to 2013 in a region of New Zealand. We find clear evidence of a change in the spatial pattern of risk between those years, which can be explained in differences by response to a public health initiative between urban and rural communities. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mourning dove period and annual survival in west‐central Missouri
Authors: Schulz John H. , Bian Yuanyuan , Gao Xiaoming , Mong Tony W. , Millspaugh Joshua J.
Published: May 2017

We examined annual and period survival for mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in Missouri, USA, using birds captured and marked on public land intensively managed for dove hunting. During 2005–2008, we radiomarked and monitored 713 birds to estimate period survival and banded 826 to estimate annual survival. For all ages, sexes, and years combined, spring‐summer survival prior to hunting season was 0.447 (95% CI = 0.378–0.517) and overall period survival during May–October, including hunting season, was 0.252 (95% CI = 0.200–0.303). Mean annual survival for after‐hatch‐year (AHY) doves was 0.214 (95% CI = 0.053–0.569) and 0.041 (95% CI = 0.002–0.506) for hatch‐year (HY) doves; recovery rates were 0.165 (95% CI = 0.105–0.249) for AHY and 0.179 (95% CI = 0.121–0.256) for HY doves. Our longer monitoring period allowed for a more robust picture of survival showing relatively low annual survival with few doves living beyond one year and significant mortality occurring prior to and during the hunting season. Differences in period survival each year likely reflect local differences in habitat influenced by weather and associated farming and management on the study area to attract feeding doves. Our results suggest locally intensive harvest management practices may be negatively affecting local populations and warrant continued monitoring to ensure long‐term population sustainability. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
A New Insight into the Pressure‐Decreasing Mechanism of Hydrophobic Silica Nanoparticles Modified byn‐Propyltrichlorosilane
Authors: Zhao Mingwei , Wang Shilu , Dai Caili
Published: May 2017

Hydrophobic silica nanoparticles were prepared for pressure decreasing in water injection through modification of hydrophilic silica nanoparticles byn‐propyltrichlorosilane. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis and surface hydroxyl number measurement results certified that the modification was very successful. The core flowing experiment showed that the modified hydrophobic silica nanoparticles have an excellent pressure‐decreasing ability. The contact angles measurement results showed that the core chip changed from strong water wet to neutral wet after treated by the modified silica nanoparticles. In this work, a roughness decreasing mechanism is proposed to explain the pressure‐decreasing mechanism of modified silica nanoparticles. After injection into the core, the modified silica nanoparticles occupied the spaces between the sand grains, forming a discontinuous hydrophobic film on the flowing channel surface. This can not only partially change the wettability of the sand surface, but also decrease the roughness of the core flowing channel, decreasing the critical layer thickness and flowing pressure accordingly.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Paediatric and Adult Samples: Nature, Treatment and Cognitive Processes. A Review of the Theoretical and Empirical Literature
Authors: Mantz Sharlene C. , Abbott Maree J.
Published: May 2017

The appraisal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suggests that six key appraisal domains contribute to the aetiology and maintenance of OCD symptoms. An accumulating body of evidence supports this notion and suggests that modifying cognitive appraisals may be beneficial in reducing obsessive-compulsive symptomatology. This literature review first summarises the nature of OCD and its treatment, followed by a summary of the existing correlational and experimental research on the role of cognitive appraisal processes in OCD across both adult and paediatric samples. While correlational data provide some support for the relationship between cognitive appraisal domains and OCD symptoms, results are inconclusive, and experimental methods are warranted to determine the precise causal relationship between specific cognitive appraisal domains and OCD symptoms.
L'alternance des voyelles moyennes en coratin : une analyse basée sur la théorie des éléments
Authors: Bucci Jonathan
Published: May 2017

Coratino is a dialect spoken in the region of Puglia, in which there is a process of vowel reduction: all unstressed vowels except /a/ are reduced to schwa. However, this reduction does not happen when a vowel is adjacent to a consonant that shares a melody element, such as palatality for front vowels and velarity or labiality for back vowels. In addition, the ATR property of the mid vowels alternates: stressed /ε,ɔ/ are realized as [e,o] in unstressed positions, and /o,ɔ/ surface as [u] only when the adjacent consonant is velar. The analysis of this alternation is based on a version of Element Theory, and also on the licensing constraints that on the one hand define the specific choice a language makes among the combinatory possibilities, and on the other hand play a role in defining the properties of the phonological processes in the language.
Liver fat: a relevant target for dietary intervention? Summary of a Unilever workshop
Authors: Peters Harry P. F. , Schrauwen Patrick , Verhoef Petra , Byrne Christopher D. , Mela David J. , Pfeiffer Andreas F. H. , Risérus Ulf , Rosendaal Frits R. , Schrauwen-Hinderling Vera
Published: May 2017

Currently it is estimated that about 1 billion people globally have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition in which liver fat exceeds 5 % of liver weight in the absence of significant alcohol intake. Due to the central role of the liver in metabolism, the prevalence of NAFLD is increasing in parallel with the prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance and other risk factors of metabolic diseases. However, the contribution of liver fat to the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and CVD, relative to other ectopic fat depots and to other risk markers, is unclear. Various studies have suggested that the accumulation of liver fat can be reduced or prevented via dietary changes. However, the amount of liver fat reduction that would be physiologically relevant, and the timeframes and dose–effect relationships for achieving this through different diet-based approaches, are unclear. Also, it is still uncertain whether the changes in liver fatper seor the associated metabolic changes are relevant. Furthermore, the methods available to measure liver fat, or even individual fatty acids, differ in sensitivity and reliability. The present report summarises key messages of presentations from different experts and related discussions from a workshop intended to capture current views and research gaps relating to the points above.
UNIMODULARITY UNIFIED
Authors: GARCÍA DARÍO , WAGNER FRANK O.
Published: May 2017

Unimodularity is localized to a complete stationary type, and its properties are analysed. Some variants of unimodularity for definable and type-definable sets are introduced, and the relationship between these different notions is studied. In particular, it is shown that all notions coincide for non-multidimensional theories where the dimensions are associated to strongly minimal types.
Droning On: Explaining the Proliferation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Fuhrmann Matthew , Horowitz Michael C.
Published: May 2017

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), more popularly known as “drones,” have become emblematic of twenty-first century military technologies but scholars have yet to convincingly explain the drivers of UAV proliferation. Using the first systematic data set of UAV proliferation, this research note examines the spread of UAVs in the context of scholarly debates about interests versus capacity in explaining policy adoption. The results yield important insights for both IR scholarship and the policy-making community. While countries that experience security threats—including territorial disputes and terrorism—are more likely to seek UAVs, drone proliferation is not simply a function of the threat environment. We find evidence that democracies and autocracies are more likely than mixed regimes to develop armed UAV programs, and suggest that autocracies and democracies have their own unique incentives to acquire this technology. Moreover, supply-side factors play a role in the UAV proliferation process: a state's technological capacity is a strong predictor of whether it will obtain the most sophisticated UAVs. The theories and evidence we present challenge emerging views about UAV proliferation and shed useful light on how and why drones spread.
The AU Task Forces: an African response to transnational armed groups
Authors: Brubacher Matthew , Damman Erin Kimball , Day Christopher
Published: May 2017

This article examines the Task Forces created by the African Union (AU) to address the security threats posed by Boko Haram and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). It argues that these Task Forces are well suited to address transnational armed groups whose ambiguous political goals and extreme violence make traditional conflict resolution ineffective. Although the Task Forces fall within the AU's collective security mandate and broadly within the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), their distinct characteristics make it more capable of addressing these new cross-border threats. Their reliance on nationally funded and directed militaries also allow the Task Forces to fulfil both the goals of the AU and the interests of the regimes that take leadership roles within these structures.
Genetic and other risk factors for suicidal ideation and the relationship with depression
Authors: Dutta R. , Ball H. A. , Siribaddana S. H. , Sumathipala A. , Samaraweera S. , McGuffin P. , Hotopf M.
Published: May 2017

Background

There is a genetic contribution to the risk of suicide, but sparse prior research on the genetics of suicidal ideation.

Methods

Active and passive suicidal ideation were assessed in a Sri Lankan population-based twin registry (n = 3906 twins) and a matched non-twin sample (n = 2016). Logistic regression models were used to examine associations with socio-demographic factors, environmental exposures and psychiatric symptoms. The heritability of suicidal ideation was assessed using structural equation modelling.

Results

The lifetime prevalence of any suicidal ideation was 13.0% (11.7–14.3%) for men; 21.8% (20.3–23.2%) for women, with no significant difference between twins and non-twins. Factors that predicted suicidal ideation included female gender, termination of marital relationship, low education level, urban residence, losing a parent whilst young, low standard of living and stressful life events in the preceding 12 months. Suicidal ideation was strongly associated with depression, but also with abnormal fatigue and alcohol and tobacco use. The best fitting structural equation model indicated a substantial contribution from genetic factors (57%; CI 47–66) and from non-shared environmental factors (43%; CI 34–53) in both men and women. In women this genetic component was largely mediated through depression, but in men there was a significant heritable component to suicidal ideation that was independent of depression.

Conclusions

These are the first results to show a genetic contribution to suicidal ideation that is independent of depression outside of a high-income country. These phenomena may be generalizable, because previous research highlights similarities between the aetiology of mental disorders in Sri Lanka and higher-income countries.
Children's comprehension of plural predicate conjunction
Authors: TIEU LYN , ROMOLI JACOPO , POORTMAN EVA , WINTER YOAD , CRAIN STEPHEN
Published: May 2017

Previous developmental studies of conjunction have focused on the syntax of phrasal and sentential coordination (Lust, 1977; de Villiers, Tager-Flusberg & Hakuta, 1977; Bloom, Lahey, Hood, Lifter & Fiess, 1980, among others). The present study examined the flexibility of children's interpretation of conjunction. Specifically, when two predicates that can apply simultaneously to a single individual are conjoined in the scope of a plural definite (The bears are big and white), conjunction receives a Boolean, intersective interpretation. However, when the conjoined predicates cannot apply simultaneously to an individual (The bears are big and small), conjunction receives a weaker ‘split’ interpretation (Krifka, 1990; Lasersohn, 1995; Winter, 1996). Our experiments reveal that preschool-aged children are sensitive to both intersective and split interpretations, and can use their lexical and world knowledge of the relevant predicates in order to select an appropriate reading.
Prenilpotent pairs in the E10 root lattice
Authors: ALLCOCK DANIEL
Published: May 2017

Tits has defined Kac–Moody groups for all root systems, over all commutative rings with unit. A central concept is the idea of a prenilpotent pair of (real) roots. In particular, writing down his group presentation explicitly would require knowing all the Weyl-group orbits of such pairs. We show that for the hyperbolic root system E10 there are so many orbits that any attempt at direct enumeration is impractical. Namely, the number of orbits of prenilpotent pairs having inner product k grows at least as fast as (constant) ⋅ k7 as k → ∞. Our purpose is to motivate alternate approaches to Tits' groups, such as the one in [2].