bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An alternate protocol to achieve stochastic and deterministic resonances
Authors: Tiwari Ishant , Dave Darshil , Phogat Richa , Khera Neev , Parmananda P.
Published: October 2017

Periodic and Aperiodic Stochastic Resonance (SR) and Deterministic Resonance (DR) are studied in this paper. To check for the ubiquitousness of the phenomena, two unrelated systems, namely, FitzHugh–Nagumo and a particle in a bistable potential well, are studied. Instead of the conventional scenario of noise amplitude (in the case of SR) or chaotic signal amplitude (in the case of DR) variation, a tunable system parameter (“a” in the case of FitzHugh–Nagumo model and the damping coefficient “j” in the bistable model) is regulated. The operating values of these parameters are defined as the “setpoint” of the system throughout the present work. Our results indicate that there exists an optimal value of the setpoint for which maximum information transfer between the input and the output signals takes place. This information transfer from the input sub-threshold signal to the output dynamics is quantified by the normalised cross-correlation coefficient (|CCC|). |CCC| as a function of the setpoint exhibits a unimodal variation which is characteristic of SR (or DR). Furthermore, |CCC| is computed for a grid of noise (or chaotic signal) amplitude and setpoint values. The heat map of |CCC| over this grid yields the presence of a resonance region in the noise-setpoint plane for which the maximum enhancement of the input sub-threshold signal is observed. This resonance region could be possibly used to explain how organisms maintain their signal detection efficacy with fluctuating amounts of noise present in their environment. Interestingly, the method of regulating the setpoint without changing the noise amplitude was not able to induce Coherence Resonance (CR). A possible, qualitative reasoning for this is provided.
Microbubble-assisted optofluidic control using a photothermal waveguide
Authors: Cheng YuPeng , Yang JianXin , Li ZongBao , Zhu DeBin , Cai Xiang , Hu Xiaowen , Huang Wen , Xing XiaoBo
Published: October 2017

A convenient and easily controllable microfluidic system was proposed based on a photothermal device. Here, graphene oxide was assembled on an optical waveguide, which could serve as a miniature heat source to generate a microbubble and to control dynamic behaviors of flow by adjusting optical power at the micrometer scale. Micro/nanoparticles were used to demonstrate the trace of fluid flow around the microbubble, which displayed the ability of the flow to capture, transmit, and rotate particles in thermal convection. Correspondingly, three-dimensional theoretical simulation combining thermodynamics with hydrodynamics analyzed the distribution of the velocity field induced by the microbubble for collection and driving of particles. Furthermore, the photothermal waveguide would be developed into a microbubble-based device in the manipulation or transmission of micro/nanoparticles.
Effective drive current in steep slope FinFET (vs. conventional FinFET)
Authors: Ko Eunah , Shin Changhwan
Published: October 2017

With the negative capacitance (NC) effect of ferroelectric materials, a sub-60-mV/decade sub-threshold slope in a conventional field-effect transistor has been theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. In order to utilize the NC for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor logic device applications, it is necessary to closely examine various parameters for the device performance. Specifically, the analysis of effective drive current (i.e., Ieff = {IDS@[VDS = 0.5VDD, VG = VDD] + IDS@[VDS =VDD, VG = 0.5VDD]}/2) of the NC device is vital. In this work, Ieff of a NC fin field-effect transistor (FinFET), in which a baseline 70 nm FinFET is electrically integrated with a ferroelectric capacitor, is experimentally measured to explore the correlation between hysteresis and Ieff.
Photoluminescence performance limits of Si nanocrystals in silicon oxynitride matrices
Authors: Valenta Jan , Greben Michael , Gutsch Sebastian , Hiller Daniel , Zacharias Margit
Published: October 2017

The present comprehensive study of photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) of Si nanocrystals (SiNCs) in Si-rich oxynitride (SRON) superlattices was performed over a broad set of samples. The PL QY is sensitive mostly to the thickness of SRON and barrier oxide layers and to the passivation procedures. Annealing in hydrogen improves the QY proportionally to the NC surface area by passivating the NC/oxide interface defects present at a surface density of about 2.5 × 1012 cm−2. The maximum external QY of nearly 30% is found in well-passivated superlattices with a SiNC size of about 4 nm and a SiO2 barrier thickness of 2 nm or larger. We reveal the existence of an extended near-infrared tail of the PL spectra, whose weak intensity anti-correlates with the external QY. The relative intensity of this emission increases with temperature as well as for strong excitation above the PL saturation level and may be related to excitation energy transfer to the structural defects near NCs. Finally, we discuss the possible mechanisms which are responsible for limiting the attainable PL QY and which may be the subject of future efforts to further increase the PL QY.
Growth and characterization of MnGa thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy on BiSb topological insulator
Authors: Duy Khang Nguyen Huynh , Ueda Yugo , Yao Kenichiro , Hai Pham Nam
Published: October 2017

We report on the crystal growth as well as the structural and magnetic properties of Bi0.8Sb0.2 topological insulator (TI)/MnxGa1-x bi-layers grown on GaAs(111)A substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. By optimizing the growth conditions and Mn composition, we were able to grow MnxGa1-x thin films on Bi0.8Sb0.2 with the crystallographic orientation of Bi0.8Sb0.2(001)[1 1¯ 0]//MnGa (001)[100]. Using magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, we detected both the L10 phase (x<0.6) and the D022 phase (x>0.6) of MnxGa1-x. For 0.50≤x≤0.55, we obtained ferromagnetic L10-MnGa thin films with clear perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, which were confirmed by MCD hysteresis, anomalous Hall effect as well as superconducting quantum interference device measurements. Our results show that the BiSb/MnxGa1-x bi-layer system is promising for perpendicular magnetization switching using the giant spin Hall effect in TIs.
An LES-PBE-PDF approach for modeling particle formation in turbulent reacting flows
Authors: Sewerin Fabian , Rigopoulos Stelios
Published: October 2017

Many chemical and environmental processes involve the formation of a polydispersed particulate phase in a turbulent carrier flow. Frequently, the immersed particles are characterized by an intrinsic property such as the particle size, and the distribution of this property across a sample population is taken as an indicator for the quality of the particulate product or its environmental impact. In the present article, we propose a comprehensive model and an efficient numerical solution scheme for predicting the evolution of the property distribution associated with a polydispersed particulate phase forming in a turbulent reacting flow. Here, the particulate phase is described in terms of the particle number density whose evolution in both physical and particle property space is governed by the population balance equation (PBE). Based on the concept of large eddy simulation (LES), we augment the existing LES-transported probability density function (PDF) approach for fluid phase scalars by the particle number density and obtain a modeled evolution equation for the filtered PDF associated with the instantaneous fluid composition and particle property distribution. This LES-PBE-PDF approach allows us to predict the LES-filtered fluid composition and particle property distribution at each spatial location and point in time without any restriction on the chemical or particle formation kinetics. In view of a numerical solution, we apply the method of Eulerian stochastic fields, invoking an explicit adaptive grid technique in order to discretize the stochastic field equation for the number density in particle property space. In this way, sharp moving features of the particle property distribution can be accurately resolved at a significantly reduced computational cost. As a test case, we consider the condensation of an aerosol in a developed turbulent mixing layer. Our investigation not only demonstrates the predictive capabilities of the LES-PBE-PDF model but also indicates the computational efficiency of the numerical solution scheme.
Invited Review Article: Instrumentation for nuclear magnetic resonance in zero and ultralow magnetic field
Authors: Tayler Michael C. D. , Theis Thomas , Sjolander Tobias F. , Blanchard John W. , Kentner Arne , Pustelny Szymon , Pines Alexander , Budker Dmitry
Published: October 2017

We review experimental techniques in our laboratory for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in zero and ultralow magnetic field (below 0.1 μT) where detection is based on a low-cost, non-cryogenic, spin-exchange relaxation free 87Rb atomic magnetometer. The typical sensitivity is 20-30 fT/Hz1/2 for signal frequencies below 1 kHz and NMR linewidths range from Hz all the way down to tens of mHz. These features enable precision measurements of chemically informative nuclear spin-spin couplings as well as nuclear spin precession in ultralow magnetic fields.
An ionization gauge for ultrahigh vacuum measurement based on a carbon nanotube cathode
Authors: Zhang Huzhong , Cheng Yongjun , Sun Jian , Wang Yongjun , Xi Zhenhua , Dong Meng , Li Detian
Published: October 2017

This work reports on the complete design and the properties of an ionization gauge based on a carbon nanotube cathode, which can measure ultrahigh vacuum without thermal effects. The gauge is composed of a pressure sensor and an electronic controller. This pressure sensor is constructed based on a hot-cathode ionization gauge, where the traditional hot filament is replaced by an electron source prepared with multi-wall nanotubes. Besides, an electronic controller was developed for bias voltage supply, low current detection, and pressure indication. The gauge was calibrated in the pressure range of 10−8 to 10−4 Pa in a XHV/UHV calibration apparatus. The gauge shows good linear characteristics in different gases. The calibrated sensitivity is 0.035 Pa−1 in N2, and the standard deviation of the sensitivity is about 1.1%. In addition, the stability of the sensitivity was learned in a long period. The standard deviation of the sensitivity factor “S” during one year is 2.0% for Ar and 1.6% for N2.
Phased laser diode array permits selective excitation of ultrasonic guided waves in coated bone-mimicking tubes
Authors: Moilanen Petro , Salmi Ari , Kilappa Vantte , Zhao Zuomin , Timonen Jussi , Hæggström Edward
Published: October 2017

This paper validates simulation predictions, which state that specific modes could be enhanced in quantitative ultrasonic bone testing. Tunable selection of ultrasonic guided wave excitation is useful in non-destructive testing since it permits the mediation of energy into diagnostically useful modes while reducing the energy mediated into disturbing contributions. For instance, it is often challenging to distinguish and extract the useful modes from ultrasound signals measured in bone covered by a soft tissue. We show that a laser diode array can selectively excite ultrasound in bone mimicking phantoms. A fiber-coupled diode array (4 elements) illuminated two solid tubes (2–3 mm wall thickness) embraced by an opaque soft-tissue mimicking elastomer coating (5 mm thick). A predetermined time delay matching the selected mode and frequency was employed between the outputs of the elements. The generated ultrasound was detected by a 215 kHz piezo receiver. Our results suggest that this array reduces the disturbances caused by the elastomer cover and so pave way to permit non-contacting in vivo guided wave ultrasound assessment of human bones. The implementation is small, inexpensive, and robust in comparison with the conventional pulsed lasers.
Nekton communities as indicators of habitat functionality in Philippine mangrove plantations
Authors: Salmo III Severino G. , Tibbetts Ian R. , Duke Norman C.
Published: October 2017

In the present study, we investigated the changes to nekton communities with increasing mangrove forest age and relationships between nekton and the mangrove vegetation, mangrove sediments and environmental variables. The nekton community was assessed as a potential indicator for evaluating habitat functionality of mangrove planting programs. In all, 99 species from 52 families were captured, including crabs, shrimp, squid and fish. The crustacean assemblage was dominated by Portunidae and Penaeidae, whereas the fish assemblage was dominated by Atherinidae, Apogonidae, Hemirhamphidae, Tetraodontidae, Congridae, Sphyraenidae, Murraenidae, Ambassidae, Gerreidae, Clupeidae, Platycephalidae, Gobiidae, Mullidae and Plotosidae, with these families accounting for 90% of all individuals collected. The species composition, abundance and biomass of the nekton community were not significantly correlated with mangrove vegetation and sediment variables, but were significantly associated with environmental variables, particularly proximity to reef and tidal inundation. The lack of correlations suggests that the whole nekton assemblage was not a useful indicator in evaluating the progress of restoring habitat functionality in these planted mangroves. However, a significant interaction with mangrove vegetation was found for non-fish components of the nekton. As such, crustaceans, particularly of the Portunidae and Penaeidae families, were useful indicators for determining the habitat functionality of planted mangroves.
Messmate stringybark: bark ignitability and burning sustainability in relation to fragment dimensions, hazard score and time since fire
Authors: Penman Tara E. , Cawson Jane G. , Murphy Simon , Duff Thomas J.
Published: October 2017

Messmate stringybark is common in forests across south-eastern Australia. The bark of these trees is persistent and produces firebrands that contribute to house loss and the difficulty of fire suppression during wildfires. The trees typically survive fire with the amount of bark depleted. We compared two common methods to assess messmate bark fuels: (1) field-based hazard assessment, and (2) desk-based assessment using mapped time since fire. Our measurements included space-for-time field surveys and laboratory flammability tests. Although several physical properties of bark could be approximated from both assessment methods, some bark properties important to flammability were not captured. Ignitability was found to be dependent on the amount of char on bark fragments and could be predicted by the site assessment methods, whereas sustainability was dependent on bark fragment dimensions and could not be predicted by current methods. Bark fragment properties were found to be partially a function of tree size. Overall, these findings indicate that current bark assessment methods do not capture all the key bark properties that contribute to messmate bark’s flammability. Further research is warranted to improve bark assessment methods so they better reflect bark’s contribution to fire behaviour.
Inability of fire to control vegetation dynamics in low-productivity mulga (Acacia aneura)-dominated communities of eastern Australia
Authors: Silcock J. L. , Drimer J. , Fraser J. , Fensham R. J.
Published: October 2017

Reduced fire frequency and severity associated with livestock grazing are cited as a cause of woody plant encroachment and thickening in rangelands, but such paradigms are difficult to test experimentally owing to limited opportunities to burn. Mulga (Acacia aneura) dominates 25% of the Australian continent and epitomises this quandary. We measured the effect of rare wildfires on tree and shrub mortality and subsequent regeneration in mulga-dominated communities to critically examine prevailing but unsubstantiated paradigms of vegetation structural change. Mortality of mature mulga trees was positively correlated with fire severity, which was negatively correlated with tree basal area per hectare. High-severity fires killed the majority of mulga, but only occurred in more open areas, whereas low-severity fires typical of many mulga communities did not kill substantial proportions of mature mulga. The majority of mulga saplings were killed across all sites regardless of fire severity. Seedling germination was stimulated by fire, but not dependent on it. Green turkey bush (Eremophila gilesii) was the only shrub species with >50% mortality across all sites. Combined with the rarity of fire events in the historical record, our results, particularly limited fire mortality and enhanced post-fire seedling recruitment, suggest that the role of fire in shaping vegetation structure in mulga-dominated communities has been overstated. The decoupling of fire and vegetation structure is consistent with emerging regional studies in low-productivity semiarid environments.
Evolution of stochastic demography with life history tradeoffs in density-dependent age-structured populations
Authors: Lande Russell , Engen Steinar , Sæther Bernt-Erik
Published: October 2017

Significance

We derive a univariate approximation for the growth of a density-dependent age-structured population in a fluctuating environment. Its accuracy is demonstrated by comparison with simulations of the age-structured model under assumptions applicable to many vertebrate populations. This facilitates extension to age-structured populations of recent theory on the evolution of stochastic population dynamics, showing that evolution tends to maximize a simple function of three key population parameters: the maximum population growth rate and carrying capacity in the average environment,r0andK, and the variance of population growth rate,σe2. Regardless of the complexity of trade-offs among these parameters, for the classical logistic model of population growth, evolution in a fluctuating environment tends to maximize the average population size.
The topography of the environment alters the optimal search strategy for active particles
Authors: Volpe Giorgio , Volpe Giovanni
Published: October 2017

Significance

Adopting the right search strategy is of critical importance in a broad range of natural and man-related activities. For example, when foraging in an environment with scarce resources, the search strategy used by animals to look for nourishment is a matter of life or death. It is generally accepted that, under most conditions, the optimal strategy alternates ballistic and diffusive steps. This, however, does not take into account that many search spaces feature complex topographies with boundaries, barriers, and obstacles. Here, we show that the presence of such complexity shifts the optimal strategy toward less ballistic and more diffusive searches.
High-temperature thermodynamic properties of nanocrystalline CdSe thin film
Authors: Xiao Fei , Zhang Min , Yang Hui , Wei ShunYong , Liu Qiya , Chen Taihong , Zeng Tixian
Published: October 2017

The thermodynamic properties of the nanocrystalline CdSe (nc-CdSe) thin film were studied by in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction measurement over the temperature range 288–1073 K. It is shown that nc-CdSe thin film has high thermal stability and no phase transformation up to 1002 K. Lattice parameter, thermal expansion coefficients along c-axis and crystal quality increased with the increase of temperature, but dislocation density and strain decreased with the increase of temperature. Surface effect and size effect are two of the most specific intrinsic properties of nc-CdSe thin films, both of which are of great significance to the thermodynamic properties. This work has provided a reliable basis for the research of nc-CdSe devices at high temperature.
Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (o-VEMPs) testing in cervicogenic vertigo and its relation to radiological findings
Authors: Kotait Mona A. , Younes Rasha L.
Published: October 2017

Background:

The term cervicogenic vertigo is reserved for cases where the suspected mechanism is proprioceptive. For a diagnosis of cervicogenic vertigo, it is essential to exclude other causes of vertigo. Generally, the patient has no hearing complaints and characteristically the symptoms are elicited by neck massage or neck vibration. The ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (o-VEMP) is a test for utricular function that has been introduced and validated.

Objectives:

To assesses o-VEMPs in patients with cervicogenic vertigo using 500 Hz tone bust stimuli at 95 dB nHL. Consequently, correlate the relation between o-VEMPs test results and radiological imaging, in the form of MRI cervical spine and CT angiography of the vertebral artery.

Subjects:

Fifty two subjects participated in the study; the group comprised 32 patients with diagnosed cervicogenic vertigo and also included 20 healthy matched adults.

Methods:

A random sample of consenting case and control subjects were obtained. MRI cervical spine with CT angiography of vertebral artery was done with o-VEMPs recordings.

Results:

Abnormal MRI cervical spines were found in all study group participants. The results for the CT angiography were variable with abnormal o-VEMPs latencies.

Conclusion:

A link co-exists between utricle and superior vestibular nerve in patients with cervicogenic vertigo. This may play a role in the pathogenesis of vertigo in these affected patients.
PTEN drives Th17 cell differentiation by preventing IL-2 production
Authors: Kim Hyeong Su , Jang Sung Woong , Lee Wonyong , Kim Kiwan , Sohn Hyogon , Hwang Soo Seok , Lee Gap Ryol
Published: October 2017

T helper 17 (Th17) cells are a CD4+ T cell subset that produces IL-17A to mediate inflammation and autoimmunity. IL-2 inhibits Th17 cell differentiation. However, the mechanism by which IL-2 is suppressed during Th17 cell differentiation remains unclear. Here, we show that phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is a key factor that regulates Th17 cell differentiation by suppressing IL-2 production. Th17-specific Pten deletion (Ptenfl/flIl17acre) impairs Th17 cell differentiation in vitro and ameliorated symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of Th17-mediated autoimmune disease. Mechanistically, Pten deficiency up-regulates IL-2 and phosphorylation of STAT5, but reduces STAT3 phosphorylation, thereby inhibiting Th17 cell differentiation. PTEN inhibitors block Th17 cell differentiation in vitro and in the EAE model. Thus, PTEN plays a key role in Th17 cell differentiation by blocking IL-2 expression.
What is in a Name? Information, Heterogeneity, and Quality in a Theory of Nested Names
Authors: Yu Jianyu , Bouamra‐Mechemache Zohra , Zago Angelo
Published: October 2017

Collective labels are widespread in food markets, and are either separated or nested with private brands—the latter are known as “nested names”. We propose a model to explain the rationale of nested names, with collective labels being effective in reaching unaware consumers, while individual brands help firms to reach aware consumers. We also incorporate decision‐making within the group of producers joining collective labels, taking into account their heterogeneity in providing quality. We show that nested names emerge when consumers become more aware of information on the label's quality, as well as when producers become more heterogeneous. Welfare may decrease, however, when the group switches to nested names because they may lead to lower quality incentives for the majority of producers. Our results also provide insights into the historical and recent trends in food industries, such as within‐label differentiation and label fragmentation, as well as their respective welfare implications.
Robust and sparse correlation matrix estimation for the analysis of high-dimensional genomics data
Authors: Serra Angela , Coretto Pietro , Fratello Michele , Tagliaferri Roberto
Published: October 2017

Motivation

Microarray technology can be used to study the expression of thousands of genes across a number of different experimental conditions, usually hundreds. The underlying principle is that genes sharing similar expression patterns, across different samples, can be part of the same co-expression system, or they may share the same biological functions. Groups of genes are usually identified based on cluster analysis. Clustering methods rely on the similarity matrix between genes. A common choice to measure similarity is to compute the sample correlation matrix. Dimensionality reduction is another popular data analysis task which is also based on covariance/correlation matrix estimates. Unfortunately, covariance/correlation matrix estimation suffers from the intrinsic noise present in high-dimensional data. Sources of noise are: sampling variations, presents of outlying sample units, and the fact that in most cases the number of units is much larger than the number of genes.

Results

In this paper, we propose a robust correlation matrix estimator that is regularized based on adaptive thresholding. The resulting method jointly tames the effects of the high-dimensionality, and data contamination. Computations are easy to implement and do not require hand tunings. Both simulated and real data are analyzed. A Monte Carlo experiment shows that the proposed method is capable of remarkable performances. Our correlation metric is more robust to outliers compared with the existing alternatives in two gene expression datasets. It is also shown how the regularization allows to automatically detect and filter spurious correlations. The same regularization is also extended to other less robust correlation measures. Finally, we apply the ARACNE algorithm on the SyNTreN gene expression data. Sensitivity and specificity of the reconstructed network is compared with the gold standard. We show that ARACNE performs better when it takes the proposed correlation matrix estimator as input.

Availability and implementation

The R software is available at https://github.com/angy89/RobustSparseCorrelation.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
SELANSI: a toolbox for simulation of stochastic gene regulatory networks
Authors: Pájaro Manuel , Otero-Muras Irene , Vázquez Carlos , Alonso Antonio A
Published: October 2017

Motivation

Gene regulation is inherently stochastic. In many applications concerning Systems and Synthetic Biology such as the reverse engineering and the de novo design of genetic circuits, stochastic effects (yet potentially crucial) are often neglected due to the high computational cost of stochastic simulations. With advances in these fields there is an increasing need of tools providing accurate approximations of the stochastic dynamics of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) with reduced computational effort.

Results

This work presents SELANSI (SEmi-LAgrangian SImulation of GRNs), a software toolbox for the simulation of stochastic multidimensional gene regulatory networks. SELANSI exploits intrinsic structural properties of gene regulatory networks to accurately approximate the corresponding Chemical Master Equation with a partial integral differential equation that is solved by a semi-lagrangian method with high efficiency. Networks under consideration might involve multiple genes with self and cross regulations, in which genes can be regulated by different transcription factors. Moreover, the validity of the method is not restricted to a particular type of kinetics. The tool offers total flexibility regarding network topology, kinetics and parameterization, as well as simulation options.

Availability and implementation

SELANSI runs under the MATLAB environment, and is available under GPLv3 license at https://sites.google.com/view/selansi.
Dimensions of Sets Which Uniformly Avoid Arithmetic Progressions
Authors: Fraser Jonathan M , Saito Kota , Yu Han
Published: October 2017

We provide estimates for the dimensions of sets in $\mathbb{R}$ which uniformly avoid finite arithmetic progressions (APs). More precisely, we say $F$ uniformly avoids APs of length $k \geq 3$ if there is an $\epsilon>0$ such that one cannot find an AP of length $k$ and gap length $\Delta>0$ inside the $\epsilon \Delta$ neighbourhood of $F$. Our main result is an explicit upper bound for the Assouad (and thus Hausdorff) dimension of such sets in terms of $k$ and $\epsilon$. In the other direction, we provide examples of sets which uniformly avoid APs of a given length but still have relatively large Hausdorff dimension. We also consider higher dimensional analogues of these problems, where APs are replaced with arithmetic patches lying in a hyperplane. As a consequence, we obtain a discretized version of a “reverse Kakeya problem:” we show that if the dimension of a set in $\mathbb{R}^d$ is sufficiently large, then it closely approximates APs in every direction.
The Inadequate Protection of Human Rights in Unfair Dismissal Law
Authors: Collins Philippa
Published: October 2017

Workers in the private sector have limited legal options if they believe that, by terminating the working relationship, the employer has infringed their human rights. In most cases, they must rely on an existing cause of action, notably the right not to be unfairly dismissed contained in the Employment Rights Act 1996. The provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 reinforce the argument that unfair dismissal law should play a role in the vindication of human rights in the employment context. Is the law of unfair dismissal capable of fulfilling this role? This article will argue that it is not. It will demonstrate that there are several major obstacles to the vindication of a worker’s human rights through unfair dismissal law. It will be argued that there are three ways in which the law of unfair dismissal is inconsistent with the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights: the narrow personal scope of protection, the lax standard of review applied by the tribunals and the inadequate remedies available to claimants who are successful in their claim.
Navigation-Linked Heads-Up Display in Intracranial Surgery: Early Experience
Authors: Mascitelli Justin R , Schlachter Leslie , Chartrain Alexander G , Oemke Holly , Gilligan Jeffrey , Costa Anthony B , Shrivastava Raj K , Bederson Joshua B
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND

The use of intraoperative navigation during microscope cases can be limited when attention needs to be divided between the operative field and the navigation screens. Heads-up display (HUD), also referred to as augmented reality, permits visualization of navigation information during surgery workflow.

OBJECTIVE

To detail our initial experience with HUD.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent HUD-assisted surgery from April 2016 through April 2017. All lesions were assessed for accuracy and those from the latter half of the study were assessed for utility.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine patients with 84 pathologies were included. Pathologies included aneurysms (14), arteriovenous malformations (6), cavernous malformations (5), intracranial stenosis (3), meningiomas (27), metastasis (4), craniopharygniomas (4), gliomas (4), schwannomas (3), epidermoid/dermoids (3), pituitary adenomas (2) hemangioblastoma (2), choroid plexus papilloma (1), lymphoma (1), osteoblastoma (1), clival chordoma (1), cerebrospinal fluid leak (1), abscess (1), and a cerebellopontine angle Teflon granuloma (1). Fifty-nine lesions were deep and 25 were superficial. Structures identified included the lesion (81), vessels (48), and nerves/brain tissue (31). Accuracy was deemed excellent (71.4%), good (20.2%), or poor (8.3%). Deep lesions were less likely to have excellent accuracy (P = .029). HUD was used during bed/head positioning (50.0%), skin incision (17.3%), craniotomy (23.1%), dural opening (26.9%), corticectomy (13.5%), arachnoid opening (36.5%), and intracranial drilling (13.5%). HUD was deactivated at some point during the surgery in 59.6% of cases. There were no complications related to HUD use.

CONCLUSION

HUD can be safely used for a wide variety of vascular and oncologic intracranial pathologies and can be utilized during multiple stages of surgery.
A history into genetic and epigenetic evolution of food tolerance: how humanity rapidly evolved by drinking milk and eating wheat
Authors: Blanchard Carine
Published: October 2017

Purpose of review

Human exposure to wheat and milk is almost global worldwide. Yet the introduction of milk and wheat is very recent (5000–10 000 years) when compared to the human evolution. The last 4 decades have seen a rise in food allergy and food intolerance to milk and wheat. Often described as plurifactorial, the cause of allergic diseases is the result from an interplay between genetic predisposition and epigenetic in the context of environmental changes.

Recent findings

Genetic and epigenetic understanding and their contribution to allergy or other antigen-driven diseases have considerably advanced in the last few years. Yet, environmental factors are also quite difficult to identify and associate with disease risk. Can we rethink our old findings and learn from human history and recent genetic studies?

More than one million years separate Homo habilis to today's mankind, more than 1 million years to develop abilities to obtain food by foraging in diverse environments. One million year to adjust and fine-tune our genetic code and adapt; and only 1% of this time, 10 000 years, to face the three biggest revolutions of the human kind: the agricultural revolution, the industrial revolution and the postindustrial revolution. With big and rapid environmental changes come adaptation but with no time for fine-tuning. Today tolerance and adverse reactions to food may be a testimony of adaptation successes and mistakes.
Academic Medical Support to the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Liberia
Authors: McQuilkin Patricia A. , Niescierenko Michelle , Beddoe Ann Marie , Goentzel Jarrod , Graham Elinor A. , Henwood Patricia C. , Rehwaldt Lise , Teklu Sisay , Tupesis Janis , Marshall Roseda
Published: October 2017

During the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa (2014–2016), many faculty, staff, and trainees from U.S. academic medical centers (i.e., teaching hospitals and their affiliated medical schools; AMCs) wished to contribute to the response to the outbreak, but many barriers prevented their participation. Here, the authors describe a successful long-term academic collaboration in Liberia that facilitated participation in the EVD response. This Perspective outlines the role the authors played in the response (providing equipment and training, supporting the return of medical education), the barriers they faced (logistical and financial), and elements that contributed to their success (partnering and coordinating their response with both U.S. and African institutions). There is a paucity of literature discussing the role of AMCs in disaster response, so the authors discuss the lessons learned and offer suggestions about the responsibilities that AMCs have and the roles they can play in responding to disaster situations.
To See the Suffering
Authors: Charon Rita
Published: October 2017

The author notes the impressive growth in medical humanities programs, scholarly journals, textbooks, and national and international conferences as well as the convening of two recent national forums or boards addressing the potential of the humanities and the arts to improve medical practice. She also notes that the field of medical humanities seems to have shifted from addressing topics on the margins of medical education to equipping students with the foundational skills required for effective doctoring. This Invited Commentary proposes a number of personal, relational, and interpretive consequences to rigorous training in the humanities or the arts that might lead to improvement in the skills of doctoring. Where else but in hospitals with very ill patients and very young doctors who care for them are such skills needed the most? The author suggests that to see the suffering might be what the humanities in medicine are for, and that those who become capable of seeing the suffering around them in medical practice both experience the cost of countenancing the full burden of illness and death and, simultaneously, comprehend with clarity the worth of this thing, this life.
Disparities in Care for Publicly Insured Women With Pregestational Diabetes
Authors: Easter Sarah Rae , Rosenthal Emily W. , Morton-Eggleston Emma , Nour Nawal , Tuomala Ruth , Zera Chloe A.
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the association among public health insurance, preconception care, and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with pregestational diabetes.

METHODS:

This is a retrospective cohort of pregnant women with pregestational type 1 or type 2 diabetes from 2006 to 2011 in Massachusetts—a state with universal insurance coverage since 2006. Women delivering after 24 weeks of gestation and receiving endocrinology and obstetric care in a multidisciplinary clinic were included. Rates of preconception consultation, our primary outcome of interest, were then compared between publicly and privately insured women. We used univariate analysis followed by logistic regression to compare receipt of preconception consultation and other secondary diabetes care measures and pregnancy outcomes according to insurance status.

RESULTS:

Fifty-four percent (n=106) of 197 women had public insurance. Publicly insured women were younger (median age 30.4 compared with 35.3 years, P<.01) with lower rates of college education (12.3% compared with 45.1%, P<.01). Women with public insurance were less likely to receive a preconception consult (5.7% compared with 31.9%, P<.01), had lower rates of hemoglobin A1C less than 6% at the onset of pregnancy (37.2% compared with 58.4%, P=.01), and experienced higher rates of pregnancies affected by congenital anomalies (10.4% compared with 2.2%, P=.02) compared with those with private insurance. In adjusted analyses controlling for educational attainment, maternal age, and body mass index, women with public insurance were less likely to receive a preconception consult (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.21, 95% CI 0.08–0.58), although the odds of achieving the target hemoglobin A1C (adjusted OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.20–1.02) and congenital anomaly (adjusted OR 2.23, 95% CI 0.37–13.41) were similar after adjustment.

CONCLUSION:

Despite continuous access to health insurance, publicly insured women were less likely than privately insured women to receive a preconception consult—an evidence-based intervention known to improve pregnancy outcomes. Improving use of preconception care among publicly insured women with diabetes is critical to reducing disparities in outcomes.
Trial of Labor Compared With Cesarean Delivery in Superobese Women
Authors: Grasch Jennifer L. , Thompson Jennifer L. , Newton J. Michael , Zhai Amy W. , Osmundson Sarah S.
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To examine whether labor compared with planned cesarean delivery is associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all women with body mass indexes (BMIs) at delivery of 50 or greater delivering a live fetus at 34 weeks of gestation of greater between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2015. Pregnancies with multiple gestations and major fetal anomalies were excluded. The primary outcome was a composite of maternal and neonatal morbidity and was estimated to be 50% in superobese women based on institutional data. A sample size of 338 women determined the study period and was selected to show a 30% difference in the incidence of the primary outcome between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS:

There were 344 women with BMIs of 50 or greater who met eligibility criteria, of whom 201 (58%) labored and 143 (42%) underwent planned cesarean delivery. Women who labored were younger, more likely to be nulliparous, and less likely to have pre-existing diabetes. Among women who labored, 45% underwent a cesarean delivery, most commonly for labor arrest (61%) or nonreassuring fetal status (28%). Composite maternal and neonatal morbidity was reduced among women who labored even after adjusting for age, parity, pre-existing diabetes, and prior cesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio 0.42, 95% CI 0.24–0.75). In the subgroup of women (n=234) who underwent a cesarean delivery, whether planned (n=143) or after labor (n=91), there were no differences in maternal and neonatal morbidity except that severe maternal morbidity was increased in women (n=12) who labored (8.8% compared with 2.1%, relative risk 4.2, 95% CI 1.14–15.4).

CONCLUSION:

Despite high rates of cesarean delivery in women with superobesity, labor is associated with lower composite maternal and neonatal morbidity. Severe maternal morbidity may be higher in women who require a cesarean delivery after labor.
Implementing a Systematic Approach to Reduce Cesarean Birth Rates in Nulliparous Women
Authors: Bell Amy D. , Joy Saju , Gullo Susan , Higgins Robert , Stevenson Eleanor
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To implement a systematic approach to safely reduce nulliparous cesarean birth rates.

METHODS:

This is a quality improvement project at two rural community hospitals and one urban community hospital in North Carolina. These facilities implemented a systematic approach to reduce nulliparous cesarean birth rates, aligning with recommendations developed by the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care: Patient Safety Bundle on the Safe Reduction of Primary Cesarean Births. Health care providers and nurses received education on contemporary labor management guidelines developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Obstetric Care Consensus regarding safe prevention of primary cesarean deliveries and nurses were instructed on labor support techniques. The preguideline implementation period was January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2015. The postguideline implementation period was July 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016. The primary outcome measured was the nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex cesarean birth rate. Secondary outcomes included maternal and neonatal outcomes. Standard statistical analysis was used and a P value of <.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS:

There were 434 women identified in the preguideline period and 401 women in the postguideline period. The nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex cesarean birth rate decreased from 27.9% to 19.7% [odds ratio (OR) 0.63, CI 0.46–0.88]. There were improvements in health care provider compliance with following the labor management guidelines from 86.2% to 91.5% (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.11–2.70), the use of maternal position changes from 78.7% to 87.5% (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.29–2.68), and use of the peanut birthing ball from 16.8% to 45.2% (OR 3.83, 95% CI 2.84–5.16) as provisions for labor support.

DISCUSSION:

Implementing a systematic approach for care of nulliparous women is associated with a decrease in term, singleton, vertex cesarean birth rates.
Maternal Vascular Malperfusion and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes in Low-Risk Nulliparous Women
Authors: Wright Emily , Audette Melanie C. , Ye Xiang Y. , Keating Sarah , Hoffman Barry , Lye Stephen J. , Shah Prakesh S. , Kingdom John C.
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the disease burden of placental maternal vascular malperfusion pathology in a low-risk nulliparous population and test the hypothesis that a multiparameter model in the second trimester can predict maternal vascular malperfusion with high precision.

METHODS:

A single-center, prospective cohort study was conducted in healthy nulliparous women. Maternal vascular malperfusion disease burden was estimated by incidence, relative risk (RR), and population-attributable risk percent. Maternal risk factors, serum biomarkers, Doppler, and placental morphologic ultrasonography were examined in isolation and in combination for prediction of this placental pathology.

RESULTS:

The incidence of maternal vascular malperfusion pathology was 8.4% (72/856). Women with pathology had higher risk of preeclampsia (8.33% compared with 1.79%; RR 4.67, 95% CI 1.85–11.77%; population-attributable risk 23.6%, 95% CI 16.9–31.6%), small for gestational age (SGA) (47.22% compared with 9.45%; RR 5.00, 95% CI 3.6–6.93%; population-attributable risk 25.2%, 95% CI 22.1–28.5%), and the composite of adverse outcomes (defined as SGA or preeclampsia) (47.22% compared with 10.59%; RR 4.46, 95% CI 3.25–6.13; population-attributable risk 22.5%, 95% CI 19.8–25.5%). The combination of parameters was superior to individual modalities alone in predicting maternal vascular malperfusion, but achieved only moderate precision (area under the curve 0.77, 95% CI 0.71–0.84).

CONCLUSION:

One in 12 healthy nulliparous women develop maternal vascular malperfusion placental pathology, and these pregnancies had a 4.5 times higher risk of developing preeclampsia or delivering a SGA neonate compared with those without this pathology. A multiparameter model achieved modest precision to predict placental maternal vascular malperfusion. Importantly, in low-risk pregnancies, maternal vascular malperfusion accounts for one fourth of pregnancy outcomes with SGA or preeclampsia. The low population-attributable risk of this placental pathology for SGA and preeclampsia illustrates the importance of discovering novel associations to reduce the disease burden of these pregnancy complications.
A Medically Supervised Pregnancy Exercise Intervention in Obese Women
Authors: Daly Niamh , Farren Maria , McKeating Aoife , O'Kelly Ruth , Stapleton Mary , Turner Michael J.
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate whether an intensive, medically supervised exercise intervention improved maternal glycemia and gestational weight gain in obese pregnant women when compared with routine prenatal care.

METHODS:

This randomized controlled trial compared a medically supervised exercise intervention with routine prenatal care. The primary outcome was a reduction in mean maternal fasting plasma glucose in the intervention group by 6.9 mg/dL at the time of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 24–28 weeks of gestation. Secondary outcomes included excessive gestational weight gain. The intervention consisted of 50–60 minutes of exercise: warm-up, resistance or weights, aerobic exercises, and cool-down. All women received routine prenatal care. Power calculation determined that 24 women were required per group to detect a difference of 6.9 mg/dL in fasting plasma glucose between groups based on an independent-sample t test for statistical power of 80% at a type I error rate of 0.05. A sample size of 44 per group was planned to allow a dropout rate of 33%.

RESULTS:

From November 2013 through August 2015, 88 women were randomized: 44 each to the exercise and control groups. Eight women in the control group and 11 in the intervention group did not complete the trial at 6 weeks postpartum (P=.61), but 43 in each group attended the 24- to 28-week glucose screen. There were no baseline maternal differences between groups. Classes commenced at a mean of 13 4/7±1 2/7 weeks of gestation. In early pregnancy, 51.1% (n=45/88) had an elevated fasting plasma glucose (92–125 mg/dL). There was no difference in the mean fasting plasma glucose at 24–28 weeks of gestation: 90.0±9.0 mg/dL (n=43) compared with 93.6±7.2 mg/dL (n=43) (P=.13) or in the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus at 24–28 weeks of gestation: 48.8% (n=21/43) compared with 58.1% (n=25/43) (P=.51) in the control and exercise groups, respectively. At 36 weeks of gestation, excessive gestational weight gain greater than 9.1 kg was lower in the exercise group, 23.5% compared with 45.2% in the control group (P<.05).

CONCLUSION:

An intensive, medically supervised exercise intervention for obese women from early pregnancy did not improve maternal glycemia. Pregnant women who are obese, however, should be advised to exercise because it attenuates excessive gestational weight gain.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:

International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials (ISRCTN) registry, ISRCTN 31045925.