bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Common pool water resources management considering a regulator interference: A game theory approach to derive managerial policies for Urmia lake, Iran
Authors: Mohammadpour Maryam , Bagheri Ali
Published: March 2017

An increased need for water, combined with a scarcity of water resources, has resulted in serious challenges regarding water resource management. Those issues have always been a major concern of most research regarding the management and operation of water resources. Various qualitative and quantitative methods, Game Theory (GT) being an example, have been proposed for managing common pool water resources. This study adopts GT to address a case of common pool water resource management, including consideration of the interference of a regulator. Urmia lake in north‐western Iran was chosen as an illustration of a common source of water shared between two provinces acting as littoral stakeholders to the lake. Due to a non‐cooperative behaviour of the stakeholders, the lake is most likely to dry up. To change the game situation, a regulator was inserted into the game as a third player. The game among players is investigated in terms of two static and dynamic game methods. Two strategies are defined for each player. The equilibrium point will be achieved according to the strategies adopted by the players. For static games, a low‐level equilibrium under non‐cooperation conditions is obtained. Dynamic games among players are more likely to occur, rather than static games. The equilibrium of high‐level productivity will be obtained under cooperative conditions among the players.
Assessment of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) stock in Lake Baringo, Kenya
Authors: Macharia Simon , Obwoyere Gilbert O. , Kirui Bernard K. , Manyala Julius O.
Published: March 2017

The management measures used for sustainable utilization of Clarias gariepinus in Lake Baringo do not have a stock assessment reference, attributable mainly to a lack of information on biological limits and target reference points. Assessment of Clarias gariepinus stock in Lake Baringo was carried out between August 2013 and July 2014. A total of 2772 fish were sampled from 25 boats (40%) for 5 days each week for length and weight measurements. Fish Stock Assessment Tools and yield model were used to estimate population parameters, exploitation rate and optimal fishing scenarios. Annual C. gariepinus standing biomass was estimated at 21 383 kg, L∞ = 114.30, K = 0.37 year−1, W = 0.0147L2.81, Z = 1.14 year−1, M = 0.61 year−1, F = 0.53 year−1, and exploitation rate = 0.46 year−1. The relative yield‐per‐recruit (Y′/R) and biomass‐per‐recruit (B′/R) resulted in Emax = 0.44 and FMSY = 0.50 year−1. The yield‐per‐recruit ratio at maximum sustainable yield was 29.12%, and the SSBMSY per recruit ratio = 56.10%. The steady‐state biomass, exploitation rate and optimal fishing scenario indicated a pristine fishery for the lake, suggesting the current fishing efforts should not be exceeded to enable sustainable economic utilization of C. gariepinus.
Temporal patterns in phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish composition, abundance and biomass in Shirati Bay, Lake Victoria, Tanzania
Authors: Waya Revania K. , Limbu Samwel M. , Ngupula Godfrey W. , Mwita Chacha J. , Mgaya Yunus D.
Published: March 2017

Shirati Bay is among the important breeding and nursery sites for major fish species in Lake Victoria. Weekly samplings were conducted to assess the temporal patterns in phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish composition, abundance and biomass in relation to prevailing water quality parameters. The study also determined the influences of plankton dynamics and water quality on the fish catch composition and biomass. It was hypothesized that temporal patterns in the composition, abundance and biomass in the plankton in the bay are controlled by water quality parameters that, in turn, affect the composition and biomass of fish catches. The phytoplankton comprised mainly cyanophytes and bacillariophytes, while the zooplankton were dominated by copepods. The heavy rain season exhibited a significantly higher plankton abundance and biomass than the dry season. The plankton abundances in both seasons exhibited significant positive correlations with water temperature and transparency. The phytoplankton community was controlled by calanoid and cyclopoid species. At higher trophic levels,Lates niloticusjuveniles,Oreochromis niloticusjuveniles and haplochromines controlled Cladocera and Cyclopoid copepods, whileTilapia rendallijuveniles controlled the Rotifera. This study revealed that Cyanophyta and Bacillariophyta are the dominant phytoplankton, whereas cyclopoids dominate the zooplankton species in the bay. These dominant plankton groups are partly controlled by rainfall, water temperature and transparency. Fish biomass, zooplankton and phytoplankton exhibit a typical predator–prey inverse relationship. Thus, evaluation of the plankton composition, abundance and biomass should be mandatory during fisheries stock assessments to effectively manage the fishery resources in the bay.
Genome‐wide association studies with proteomics data reveal genes important for synthesis, transport and packaging of globulins in legume seeds
Authors: Le Signor Christine , Aimé Delphine , Bordat Amandine , Belghazi Maya , Labas Valérie , Gouzy Jérôme , Young Nevin D. , Prosperi Jean‐Marie , Leprince Olivier , Thompson Richard D. , Buitink Julia , Burstin Judith , Gallardo Karine
Published: March 2017

Improving nutritional seed quality is an important challenge in grain legume breeding. However, the genes controlling the differential accumulation of globulins, which are major contributors to seed nutritional value in legumes, remain largely unknown.

We combined a search for protein quantity loci with genome‐wide association studies on the abundance of 7S and 11S globulins in seeds of the model legume species Medicago truncatula. Identified genomic regions and genes carrying polymorphisms linked to globulin variations were then cross‐compared with pea (Pisum sativum), leading to the identification of candidate genes for the regulation of globulin abundance in this crop.

Key candidates identified include genes involved in transcription, chromatin remodeling, post‐translational modifications, transport and targeting of proteins to storage vacuoles. Inference of a gene coexpression network of 12 candidate transcription factors and globulin genes revealed the transcription factor ABA‐insensitive 5 (ABI5) as a highly connected hub.

Characterization of loss‐of‐function abi5 mutants in pea uncovered a role for ABI5 in controlling the relative abundance of vicilin, a sulfur‐poor 7S globulin, in pea seeds. This demonstrates the feasibility of using genome‐wide association studies in M. truncatula to reveal genes that can be modulated to improve seed nutritional value.
Intervertebral disc calcification with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament
Authors: Mizukawa Kaori , Kobayashi Takako , Yamada Nobuharu , Hirota Takahisa
Published: March 2017

A 6‐year‐old girl presented to hospital with a 4 day history of increasing neck pain. White blood cell count was normal with slightly raised C‐reactive protein. The patient had a limited range of neck movement, and experienced enhanced pain with neck extension. X‐ray and cervical computed tomography (CT) confirmed the diagnosis of cervical intervertebral disc calcification (IDC) and IDC with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), respectively. The symptoms improved after approximately 1 week following rest and oral acetaminophen. X‐ray 6 months after onset confirmed the disappearance of the calcification. IDC is often reported in children, but IDC with OPLL is extremely rare and has not been previously reported in Japan. We believe that IDC with or without OPLL in children has a good prognosis when treated conservatively.
Reduced positive emotion and underarousal are uniquely associated with subclinical depression symptoms: Evidence from psychophysiology, self‐report, and symptom clusters
Authors: Benning Stephen D. , Ait Oumeziane Belel
Published: March 2017

Multiple models of aberrant emotional processing in depression have been advanced. However, it is unclear which of these models best applies to emotional disturbances in subclinical depressive symptoms. The current study employed a battery of psychophysiological measures and emotional ratings in a picture‐viewing paradigm to examine whether the underarousal, low positive emotion, heightened negative emotion, or emotion context insensitivity model of emotional dysfunction in subclinical depressive symptoms received greatest support. Postauricular reflex and skin conductance response potentiation for pleasant minus neutral pictures (measuring low positive emotion), overall skin conductance magnitude and late positive potential (LPP) amplitude (measuring underarousal), and pleasant minus aversive valence ratings (measuring emotion context insensitivity) and aversive minus neutral arousal ratings (measuring heightened negative emotionality) were all negatively related to depressive symptomatology. Of these, postauricular reflex potentiation and overall LPP amplitude were incrementally associated with depressive symptoms over the other measures. Postauricular reflex potentiation, overall skin conductance magnitude, and aversive minus neutral arousal ratings were incrementally associated with depressive symptomatology after controlling for other symptoms of internalizing disorders. Though no model was unequivocally superior, the low positive emotion and underarousal models received the most support from physiological measures and symptom reports, with self‐report data matching patterns consistent with the emotion context insensitivity model.
Recombinant expression of porcine spermadhesin AWN and its phospholipid interaction: Indication for a novel lipid binding property
Authors: Schröter F , Müller K , Müller P , Krause E , Braun BC
Published: March 2017

Contents

AWN is a porcine (Sus scrofa domestica) seminal plasma protein and has been linked to a variety of processes related to fertilization. To acquire the protein in sufficient amount and purity for functional studies, we established its recombinant expression in E. coli and a three‐step purification protocol based on different chromatographies. The test for AWN–phospholipid interaction revealed phosphatidic acid and cardiolipin as potential binding partners. As phosphatidic acid is surmised to play a role in cation‐induced membrane destabilization and fusion events, we propose a membrane protective function of the presented binding affinity. Further studies with recombinant AWN will allow new insights into the mechanism of sperm–spermadhesin interaction and might provide new approaches for artificial reproduction techniques.
Profiling cellular and inflammatory changes in the airway wall of mild to moderate COPD
Authors: Eapen Mathew S. , McAlinden Kielan , Tan Daniel , Weston Steven , Ward Chris , Muller Hans K. , Walters Eugene H. , Sohal Sukhwinder S.
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT

Background and objective

The objective of this study was to enumerate total cells and the number of inflammatory cell differentials in large airways (LAs) versus small airways (SAs) of mild‐moderate COPD, and against appropriate controls.

Methods

For LA, we used endobronchial biopsies and for SA resected lung tissues. Immunostaining was enumerated (cells per mm2) for macrophages, neutrophils, CD4 and CD8 T cells in the lamina propria (LP) up to 150 µM deep for LA and full wall thickness for SA.

Results

We confirmed hypocellularity in the LA and in the SA wall in smokers and COPD (P < 0.001). LA cellularity was least in current smokers with COPD (COPD‐CS) (P < 0.01), while SA cellularity was similar across smoker/COPD groups. LA neutrophils were decreased in COPD‐CS (P < 0.01), while SA neutrophil counts were unchanged. Compared with controls, LA macrophage numbers in COPD were significantly lower (P < 0.05), with SA macrophage numbers unchanged. A significant increase was observed in SA CD8+ cells in both normal smokers (P < 0.01) and COPD‐CS (P < 0.001) but not in LA.

Conclusion

These unique data indicate that the current model for airway wall inflammation in COPD is oversimplified, and contrast with innate inflammatory activation in the lumen, at least in mild‐moderate disease. Any abnormalities in airway wall cell differentials are small, although exaggerated in percentage terms.
Psychological and Behavioral Predictors of Rural In‐migration
Authors: Nakagawa Yoshinori
Published: March 2017

In recent times, many studies have been conducted to understand those who migrate to rural areas. However, few have investigated the psychological and behavioral factors that affect people's decisions to migrate to rural areas. This study identifies the psychological and behavioral factors that have been suggested in the psychology literature and in rural studies as factors affecting people's decision to move to rural areas. The study is unique in that it categorizes the psychological states during the process of rural migration decision into three levels and identifies how psychological and behavioral factors affect people at each level. Researchers collected data from 906 respondents in Japan, including 128 people who had migrated to rural areas. The findings show that environmental and health concerns were significantly associated with initiating the procedure of the rural migration decision, while motives related to spiritual growth and employment were strongly connected with completing the procedure by actually migrating to rural areas. These findings contribute to a better understanding of a question that attracts a great deal of political attention in Japan: Why are rural areas gaining popularity especially after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011? This study represents the first time that the importance of psychological and behavioral traits, as measured by psychometrically sound scales, has been confirmed within a model explaining the decision to migrate to rural areas.
Investigating the Needs for Measurement and Evaluation Course: A Case Study on English Language Teaching Program
Authors: Karakuş Memet , Türkkan Buket Turhan
Published: March 2017

This study aims at investigating the needs related to the attainments, content, processes of teaching-learning and measurement-evaluation aspect of Measurement and Evaluation course. This research was designed as a case study which is one of the qualitative research designs. The most common problem in Measurement and Evaluation courses was found to be the statistics and the source of this problem was students’ insufficient mathematical knowledge and skills. It was revealed that there was a need to include more practice, examples and activities in the course. In addition, it was understood that measurement instruments which are peculiar to each discipline need to be included in the scope of the course. Besides, as well as theoretical bases of the course, concrete practices and examples encompassing knowledge and skills that can be used in teaching profession might be included in the course.
Fabrication of single-phase SnS film by H2 annealing of amorphous SnSx prepared by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Jang Byeonghyeon , Yeo Seungmin , Kim Hyungjun , Shin Byungha , Kim Soo-Hyun
Published: March 2017

This study evaluated a simple and novel route to fabricate single-phase SnS thin films, consisting of the growth of smooth amorphous SnS2 films by atomic layer deposition at very low temperature using tetrakis(dimethylamino)tin {TDMASn, [(CH3)2N]4Sn} and hydrogen sulfide followed by H2 annealing at controlled higher temperatures. The properties of the SnS films fabricated by subjecting the amorphous as-grown SnS2 films deposited at 100 °C to post-H2 annealing at 360 °C were superior to those of the as-grown SnS films deposited at 200 °C in terms of their phase purity, optical band gap, adhesion, and surface roughness. Raman spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy consistently showed that single-phase, stoichiometric crystalline (orthorhombic structure) SnS films (Sn/S ratio: ∼1), without any incorporated sulfur-rich tin sulfides, could be fabricated with a very low surface roughness [root mean square (RMS) roughness: ∼7 nm] using the proposed scheme. On the other hand, the as-grown SnS film at 200 °C still contained a small amount of SnS2 phase and its RMS surface roughness was as high as 16 nm. The optical band gap of the as-grown SnS film was 1.85 eV, whereas that of the annealed SnS film was ∼1.2 eV, confirming the latter's improved phase purity. The SnS film fabricated by H2 annealing was a p-type semiconductor with a carrier concentration of ∼2.3 × 1016/cm3 and a hole mobility of ∼15 cm2/V s. The present scheme to prepare high-quality SnS films might be useful for fabricating photovoltaic or solar conversion devices.
Design framework for spherical microphone and loudspeaker arrays in a multiple-input multiple-output system
Authors: Morgenstern Hai , Rafaely Boaz , Noisternig Markus
Published: March 2017

Spherical microphone arrays (SMAs) and spherical loudspeaker arrays (SLAs) facilitate the study of room acoustics due to the three-dimensional analysis they provide. More recently, systems that combine both arrays, referred to as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, have been proposed due to the added spatial diversity they facilitate. The literature provides frameworks for designing SMAs and SLAs separately, including error analysis from which the operating frequency range (OFR) of an array is defined. However, such a framework does not exist for the joint design of a SMA and a SLA that comprise a MIMO system. This paper develops a design framework for MIMO systems based on a model that addresses errors and highlights the importance of a matched design. Expanding on a free-field assumption, errors are incorporated separately for each array and error bounds are defined, facilitating error analysis for the system. The dependency of the error bounds on the SLA and SMA parameters is studied and it is recommended that parameters should be chosen to assure matched OFRs of the arrays in MIMO system design. A design example is provided, demonstrating the superiority of a matched system over an unmatched system in the synthesis of directional room impulse responses.
Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome in an immunocompetent host resulting in bandemia and death
Authors: Myint Aung , Chapman Courtney , Almira-Suarez Isabel , Mehta Nupur
Published: March 2017

Strongyloides stercoralisinfection is usually asymptomatic but can result in a hyperinfection syndrome, most commonly triggered by acquired or iatrogenic immunosuppression. Here, we present a case of a man aged 60 years originally from a strongyloides endemic area with a medical history of alcohol abuse who presents with strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome (SHS) complicated by partial small bowel obstruction, pulmonary haemorrhage, large bandemia without eosinophilia and cardiac arrest resulting in death. This case is notable for the presence of bandemia and absence of eosinophilia, lack of historical risk factors for hyperinfection, specifically corticosteroid immunosuppressants, and dramatic decline in clinical status which ultimately resulted in the patient's death. Clinicians should suspect SHS in immunocompetent patients who are from an endemic area and who have persistent gastrointestinal and/or pulmonary manifestations in the absence of a clear cause.
Isolated lower limb hypoplasia secondary to congenital varicella syndrome: a rare occurrence and management of its complications
Authors: Mehta Sneha , Schenk Willem , Kirker Stephen , Atrey Amit
Published: March 2017

Isolated lower limb hypoplasia is a rare consequence of maternal congenital varicella syndrome (CVS). The hypoplastic limb is susceptible to multiple injuries, including fractures, especially if there is associated muscle weakness and lack of sensation. We describe a unique index case of a woman aged 26 years with a background of CVS who presented with a distal femur fracture following a fall onto her insensate, hypoplastic right leg. This report highlights the complexities involved in the diagnosis and management of fractures in patients with an anaesthetic limb, and in particular describes limb amputation as a successful treatment modality for distal femur fractures.
Effect of non-pharmacological intervention for apathy: response to one-on-one reminiscence-based intervention
Authors: Okada Akira , Ueda Tetsuya
Published: March 2017

Apathy has adverse consequences for patients and caregivers. However, the therapeutic approach remains uncertain. Here, we present the case of a man aged 67 years who only developed apathy after surgery for oesophageal cancer. He showed no response to intervention with donepezil, a ‘brain training’ video game and psychoeducation for apathy. Subsequently, we implemented a programme designed to facilitate recall of 2 themes (editorial content and television shows during the week) once a week. After 3 months, the scores of 2 apathy scales rated by the patient's wife, psychological test scores and brain perfusion single-photon emission CT data improved compared with those obtained before intervention. These results may be attributable to activated 2-way communication as well as benefits of reminiscence therapy, as seen in patients with dementia. Further studies are needed to develop additional non-pharmacological interventions that activate 2-way communication for apathetic patients in ways appropriate to their interests and comorbidities.
Pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma presenting as complete lung consolidation
Authors: Alwassia Ahmad , Alshathri Ziyad , Khosla Rahul , Spagnolo Samuel V
Published: March 2017

The patient in our case presented with progressive dyspnoea and cough. Chest radiograph reveals complete opacification of the hemithorax. Complete lung consolidation was not seen on chest CT. The patient in this case had extensive pulmonary and endobronchial Kaposi sarcoma (KS) that led to complete consolidation of the right lung that was diagnosed via bronchoscopy. After diagnosis, he was restarted on antiretroviral therapy and single-agent chemotherapy for treatment of pulmonary KS.
Tetraploidy acute myeloid leukaemia after chromosome 16 inversion
Authors: Vilches Alba Sara , Díaz de Bustamante Aranzazu , Sanchez-Calero Jorge , Darnaude María Teresa
Published: March 2017

Our patient is a 36-year-old man referred by his general physician to the Department of Hematology because of mild neutropenia in a routine analysis at work. There was no history of previous diseases, and examination was normal. Blood investigations confirmed the neutropenia and showed elongation of prothrombin time. A bone marrow examination was performed revealing about 10% of myeloblasts on the aspirate smears. A cytogenetic study showed chromosome 16 inversion in all of these cells and tetraploidy only in some of them, which were extremely large in size. According to the revised WHO classification of tumours (2008), the patient was diagnosed as a case of acute myeloid leukaemia with chromosome 16 inversion.
Association between secondhand smoke and obesity and glucose abnormalities: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999–2010)
Authors: Kermah Dulcie , Shaheen Magda , Pan Deyu , Friedman Theodore C
Published: March 2017

Objective

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between cotinine level-confirmed secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and glycemic parameters and obesity.

Research design and methods

We examined a cohort of 6472 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1999–2010. Serum cotinine levels and self-reported data on smoking were used to determine smoking status. The outcome variables were body mass index (BMI) and glycemic status (HbA1c), Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted.

Results

Using cotinine level-confirmed smoking status, 1794 (27.4%) of the sample were current smokers, 1681 (25.0%) were former smokers, 1158 (17.8%) were secondhand smokers, and 1839 (29.8%) were non-smokers. In a generalized linear model after controlling for potential confounding variables, secondhand smokers had higher adjusted levels of HOMA-IR, FPG, and BMI compared with non-smokers (p<0.05). Adjustment for BMI demonstrated that some, but not all, of the detrimental effects of SHS on glycemic parameters are mediated by the increased body weight of secondhand smokers.

Conclusions

We conclude that SHS is associated with obesity and worsening glycemic parameters. More studies are needed to show a causal relationship between SHS and glycemic parameters and to understand the mechanisms involved in the association.
Economic costs of automated and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in Taiwan: a combined survey and retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Tang Chao-Hsiun , Wu Yu-Ting , Huang Siao-Yuan , Chen Hsi-Hsien , Wu Ming-Ju , Hsu Bang-Gee , Tsai Jer-Chia , Chen Tso-Hsiao , Sue Yuh-Mou
Published: March 2017

Objectives

Taiwan succeeded in raising the proportion of peritoneal dialysis (PD) usage after the National Health Insurance (NHI) payment scheme introduced financial incentives in 2005. This study aims to compare the economic costs between automated PD (APD) and continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) modalities from a societal perspective.

Design and setting

A retrospective cohort of patients receiving PD from the NHI Research Database was identified during 2004–2011. The 1:1 propensity score matched 1749 APD patients and 1749 CAPD patients who were analysed on their NHI-financed medical costs and utilisation. A multicentre study by face-to-face interviews on 117 APD and 129 CAPD patients from five hospitals located in four regions of Taiwan was further carried out to collect data on their out-of-pocket payments, productivity losses and quality of life with EuroQol-5D-5L.

Outcome measures

The NHI-financed medical costs, out-of-pocket payments and productivity losses of APD and CAPD patients.

Results

The total NHI-financed medical costs per patient-year after 5 years of follow-up were significantly higher with APD than CAPD (US$23 005 vs US$19 237; p<0.01). In terms of dialysis-related costs, APD had higher costs resulting from the use of APD machines (US$795) and APD sets (US$2913). Significantly lower productivity losses were found with APD (US$2619) than CAPD (US$6443), but the out-of-pocket payments were not significantly different. The differences in NHI-financed medical costs and productivity losses between APD and CAPD remained robust in the bootstrap analysis. The total economic costs of APD (US$30 401) were similar to those of CAPD (US$29 939), even after bootstrap analysis (APD, US$28 399; CAPD, US$27 960). No discernable differences were found in the results of mortality and quality of life between the APD and CAPD patients.

Conclusions

APD had higher annual dialysis-related costs and lower annual productivity losses than CAPD, which made the economic costs of APD very close to those of CAPD in Taiwan.
Systems for physical health care for mental health patients in the community: different approaches to improve patient care and safety in an Early Intervention in Psychosis Service
Authors: Mouko Josie , Sullivan Rebecca
Published: March 2017

Patients with mental illnesses have a high rate of physical comorbidity, and specifically, those with psychosis are at an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease and shortened lifespans, due to medication, lifestyle and illness factors. There are recognised challenges with physical health care in this group.

At baseline, no patients on the Bath and North East Somerset Early Intervention in Psychosis caseload had a fully completed physical health assessment. Our aim was to offer a physical health check, blood tests, and ECG for all patients, trialling four phases of interventions. The four phases were (1) increased awareness, education and data collection tools; (2) mobile physical health clinics; (3) letters sent to patients and GPs to request health checks be conducted, (4) a combination of the above approaches, as well as regular caseload reviews and prompts to professionals. At the time of our study (2015-16), many of the above parameters were also incentivised nationally by Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payments. The mobile physical health clinic offered patient choice of home visits or clinic checks, to increase engagement and provide flexible care.

The most successful approach overall was the combination approach, resulting in 48% of all patients having fully completed physical health checks, bloods and ECGs. The mobile clinic resulted in physical health checks completion rates of 60%, and blood tests in 65-70%. 92% of patients undertook ECG's, following letter requests to GPs and patients.

Combining mobile physical health clinics, GP letters, financial incentives and managerial engagement produced much improved results, but was very time consuming, and in our case was inefficient due to using multiple professionals. We recommend embedding such approaches within the team, using sustainable systems, and would encourage teams to trial dedicated trained clinicians to establish sustainable systems to improve the physical health care of this vulnerable group.
Brief fixation enables same-day breast cancer diagnosis with reliable assessment of hormone receptors, E-cadherin and HER2/Neu
Authors: Halilovic Altuna , Bulte Joris , Jacobs Yvonne , Braam Hanneke , van Cleef Patricia , Schlooz-Vries Margrethe , Werner Annelies , Boelens Oliver , Nagtegaal Iris , de Wilt Hans , Bult Peter
Published: March 2017

Aims

Preoperative core needle biopsy (CNB) is commonly used to confirm the diagnosis of breast cancer. For treatment purposes and for determining histological type, especially in case of neoadjuvant therapy, oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status and E-cadherin assessments are crucial. Considering the increasing demand for same-day diagnosis of breast lesions, an accelerated method of CNB processing was developed, in which the tissue fixation time is radically reduced.

Methods

To determine whether short fixation time frustrates assessment of ER, PR and E-cadherin immunohistochemistry (IHC) and HER2 fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), 69 consecutive patients with 70 invasive breast carcinomas were included through the same-day diagnostics programme of breast lesions of the Radboud university medical center and the hospital Pantein. IHC for ER, PR and E-cadherin and HER2 FISH were compared between CNBs fixed for approximately 60–90 min and traditionally fixed resection specimens.

Results

Overall agreement between CNBs and resection specimens was 98.6% for ER (p<0.001; κ=0.93), 90.0% for PR (p<0.001; κ=0.75), 100% for E-cadherin (p<0001; κ=1.00) and 98.6% (p<0.001; κ=0.94) for HER2 FISH. Positive and negative predictive values were respectively 98.4% and 100% for ER, 95.9% and 76.2% for PR, 100% and 100% for E-cadherin and 90% and 100% for HER2 FISH.

Conclusions

Hormone receptors and E-cadherin IHC and HER2 FISH are highly comparable between briefly fixed CNBs and the corresponding traditionally fixed resection specimens, and can therefore reliably be used in the daily clinical practice of same-day diagnostics of breast cancer.
Complicity and torture
Authors: Shue Henry
Published: March 2017

One of the great merits ofOn Complicity and Compromiseis that it wades into specific swamps where ordinary theorists fear to slog. It is persuasive that in general it can be right sometimes to be complicit in wrongdoing by others through causally contributing to the wrongdoing, but not sharing its purpose, if by being involved one can reasonably expect to lessen the extent of the wrong that would otherwise be suffered by the victims. I focus on whether the book's general thesis is applicable to torture, which depends on what torture and the torture situation are in fact like. I focus on the case to which the chapter several times refers: the innovative CIA paradigm of torture. First, to the extent that the paradigm, which is predominantly mental, or psychological, torture succeeds in its goal of producing regression to a compliant state, the physician would be unable to rely on the torture victim's expressions of preferences or interests as authentically his own. Second, since disorientation plays such a large role in the CIA's style of torture (adopted at Guantanamo by the military), the authorities would refuse to allow a stable relationship to be built up with any one doctor by any victim, making comprehension of the victim's preferences difficult. Third, even if the doctor could somehow judge what the victim's genuine interests were, the control of the situation is much too totalistic to allow the physician any action independent of what the torture regime requires.
Course of patients with juvenile spondyloarthritis during 4 years of observation, juvenile part of GESPIC
Authors: Weiß Anja , Minden Kirsten , Listing Joachim , Foeldvari Ivan , Sieper Joachim , Rudwaleit Martin
Published: March 2017

Objective

To describe the course and the 4-year outcome of juvenile spondyloarthritis (jSpA).

Methods

Patients with a diagnosis of jSpA and an age at onset ≤16 years were included in the German Spondyloarthritis Inception cohort (GESPIC) and followed up prospectively for 4 years.

Results

118 patients (73% men, 66% HLA-B27 positive, mean age 13.5 years, mean symptom duration 2.2 years) were enrolled in 2 study centres: 52% of patients with jSpA were captured by the enthesitis-related arthritis subgroup of the International League of Associations for Rheumatology classification criteria. At inclusion, the majority of patients had active peripheral arthritis (75.4%), followed by inflammatory back pain (IBP) (19.5%) and enthesitis (16.1%). There was a significant improvement in clinical manifestations and in patient-reported outcomes over time. During the 4-year follow-up, 85% of the patients had at least 1 period of remission on drug ≥6 months, and 46% of the patients achieved remission ≥12 months without medication, of whom 68% kept this status and 32% worsened. At the end of 4 years of observation, 23% of the patients were in remission without medication, but 57% still suffered from active disease. Patients with peripheral arthritis had a likelihood of 29% for having peripheral arthritis after 4 years, whereas the likelihood of IBP persistence was 53% for those with IBP at enrolment.

Conclusions

Although 1 quarter of patients with jSpA achieved remission off medication after 4 years, the likelihood of having recurrent or persistent disease into adulthood is substantial, particularly for jSpA with IBP.

Trial registration number

NCT 01277419.
A novel NhaD-type Na+/H+antiporter from the moderate halophile and alkaliphileHalomonas alkaliphila
Authors: Wang Yanhong , Song Na , Yang Lina , Abdel-motaal Heba , Zhang Rui , Zhang Zhenglai , Meng Fankui , Jiang Juquan
Published: March 2017

In this study, a NhaD-type Na+/H+antiporter gene designated Ha-nhaD was obtained by selection of genomic DNA from the moderate halophile and alkaliphile Halomonas alkaliphila in Escherichia coli KNabc lacking 3 major Na+/H+antiporters. The presence of Ha-NhaD conferred tolerance of E. coli KNabc to NaCl up to 0.6 mol·L–1and to LiCl up to 0.2 mol·L–1and to an alkaline pH. pH-dependent Na+(Li+)/H+antiport activity was detected from everted membrane vesicles prepared from E. coli KNabc/pUC-nhaD but not those of KNabc/pUC18. Ha-NhaD exhibited Na+(Li+)/H+antiport activity over a wide pH range from 7.0 to 9.5, with the highest activity at pH 9.0. Protein sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that Ha-NhaD is significantly different from the 7 known NhaD-type Na+/H+antiporters, including Dw-NhaD, Dl-NhaD, Vp-NhaD, Vc-NhaD, Aa-NhaD, He-NhaD, and Ha-NhaD1. Although Ha-NhaD showed a closer phylogenetic relationship with Ha-NhaD2, a significant difference in pH-dependent activity profile exists between Ha-NhaD and Ha-NhaD2. Taken together, Ha-nhaD encodes a novel pH-dependent NhaD-type Na+/H+antiporter.
Behavioral and neurochemical effects of alpha lipoic acid associated with omega-3 in tardive dyskinesia induced by chronic haloperidol in rats
Authors: de Araújo Dayane Pessoa , Camboim Thaisa Gracielle Martins , Silva Ana Patrícia Magalhães , Silva Caio da Fonseca , de Sousa Rebeca Canuto , Barbosa Mabson Delâno Alves , Oliveira Lucidio Clebeson , Cavalcanti José Rodolfo Lopes de Paiva , Lucena Eudes Euler de Souza , Guzen Fausto Pierdoná
Published: March 2017

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is characterized by involuntary movements of the lower portion of the face being related to typical antipsychotic therapy. TD is associated with the oxidative imbalance in the basal ganglia. Lipoic acid (LA) and omega-3 (ω-3) are antioxidants acting as enzyme cofactors, regenerating antioxidant enzymes. This study aimed to investigate behavioral and neurochemical effects of supplementation with LA (100 mg/kg) and ω-3 (1 g/kg) in the treatment of TD induced by chronic use of haloperidol (HAL) (1 mg/kg) in rats. Wistar male rats were used, weighing between 180–200 g. The animals were treated chronically (31 days) with LA alone or associated with HAL or ω-3. Motor behavior was assessed by open-field test, the catalepsy test, and evaluation of orofacial dyskinesia. Oxidative stress was accessed by determination of lipid peroxidation and concentration of nitrite. LA and ω-3 alone or associated caused an improvement in motor performance by increasing locomotor activity in the open-field test and decreased the permanence time on the bar in the catalepsy test and decreased the orofacial dyskinesia. LA and ω-3 showed antioxidant effects, decreasing lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels. Thus, the use of LA associated with ω-3 reduced the extrapyramidal effects produced by chronic use of HAL.
Amphibian terrestrial habitat selection and movement patterns vary with annual life-history period
Authors: Groff Luke A. , Calhoun Aram J.K. , Loftin Cynthia S.
Published: March 2017

Identification of essential habitat is a fundamental component of amphibian conservation; however, species with complex life histories frequently move among habitats. To better understand dynamic habitat use, we evaluated Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus (LeConte, 1825)) habitat selection and movement patterns during the spring migration and foraging periods and described the spatiotemporal variability of habitats used during all annual life-history periods. We radio-tracked 71 frogs in Maine during 2011–2013 and evaluated spring migration, foraging activity center (FAC), and within-FAC habitat selection. Telemetered frogs spent the greatest percentage of each field season in hibernacula (≥54.4%), followed by FACs (≥25.5%), migration habitat (≥16.9%), and breeding sites (≥4.5%). FACs ranged 49 – 1 335 m2 (568.0 ± 493.4 m2) and annual home ranges spanned 1 413 – 32 165 m2 (11 780.6 ± 12 506.1 m2). During spring migration, Wood Frogs exhibited different movement patterns (e.g., turn angles), selected different habitat features, and selected habitat features less consistently than while occupying FACs, indicating that the migration and foraging periods are ecologically distinct. Habitat-use studies that do not discriminate among annual life-history periods may obscure true ecological relationships and fail to identify essential habitat necessary for sustaining amphibian populations.
Formulation of aerial platform environmental requirements from global radiosonde data
Authors: Stelman Jacob , Liu Zhang
Published: March 2017

Successful operation of an aerial platform requires that it be designed with respect to the environments in which it will function. This paper demonstrates how raw observational climate data can be processed to characterize global climate histories and statistics for the formulation of aerial platform environmental requirements.
Monitoring vineyards with UAV and multi-sensors for the assessment of water stress and grape maturity
Authors: Soubry I. , Patias P. , Tsioukas V.
Published: March 2017

This paper deals with the monitoring of vineyards for the assessment of water stress and grape maturity using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with multispectral/infrared and red-green-blue (RGB) cameras. The study area is the Gerovassiliou winery in the region of Epanomi, Greece, cultivated with the local grape variety of Malagouzia. Fifteen flights were conducted with a fixed-wing UAV during the months of April to August 2015 with a mean interval of 2 weeks. The flight images were photogrammetrically processed for the production of orthoimages and then used to extract indices for the detection of water stress. Grape samples were collected 2 days before harvest and then analyzed and correlated with remote sensing indices. The TCARI/OSAVI index showed the best correlation with the grape samples with regards to maturity and the likelihood of water stress. Furthermore, the final results were of high resolution as far as farm purposes are concerned (a scale of 1:500 for all three sensors). These facts suggest that the instruments used in this study represent a fast, reliable, and efficient solution to the evaluation of crops for agricultural applications.
Meet-in-the-Middle Attack on 11-Round 3D Block Cipher
Authors: Li Rongjia , Jin Chenhui
Published: March 2017

3D cipher is a new block cipher proposed by Nakahara at CANS 2008, which operates on 512-bit blocks and 512-bit keys. It has an SPN structure like AES, and employs a 3-dimensional state to enlarge block size and key size. In this paper, we extend the meet-in-the-middle distinguisher to 6 rounds by employing the differential enumeration technique and rebound-like idea, and mount the attack on 11-round 3D with 2497 chosen plaintexts, 2487.5 computations and 2361 memories. By trading some memory for data and time, we can achieve the attack with 2479 chosen plaintexts, 2479.5 computations and 2379 memories.
Cycles Embedding in Exchanged Crossed Cube
Authors: Zhou Dongfang , Fan Jianxi , Lin Cheng-Kuan , Zhou Jingya , Wang Xi
Published: March 2017

The (s+t+1)-dimensional exchanged crossed cube, denoted by ECQ(s, t), proposed by Li et al., combines the advantages of the hypercube and the crossed cube. It has been proven that ECQ(s, t) has better properties than the fundamental hypercube in the aspects of the fewer edges, lower cost factor and smaller diameter. This paper studies the embedding of cycles in ECQ(s, t). It is proved that ECQ(s, t) contains an l-cycle of every length l from 4 to 2s+t+1 except that ECQ(2, 3) and ECQ(3, 3) do not contain a cycle of length 9 where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. This result reveals the fact that ECQ(s, t) nearly remains the cycle embedding capability, while it only has about half edges of crossed cube.
Deterministic Rendezvous with Detection Using Beeps
Authors: Elouasbi Samir , Pelc Andrzej
Published: March 2017

Two mobile agents, starting at arbitrary, possibly different times from arbitrary nodes of an unknown network, have to meet at some node. Agents move in synchronous rounds: in each round an agent can either stay at the current node or move to one of its neighbors. Agents have different labels which are positive integers. Each agent knows its own label, but not the label of the other agent. In traditional formulations of the rendezvous problem, meeting is accomplished when the agents get to the same node in the same round. We want to achieve a more demanding goal, called rendezvous with detection: agents must become aware that the meeting is accomplished, simultaneously declare this and stop. This awareness depends on how an agent can communicate to the other agent its presence at a node. We use two variations of the arguably weakest model of communication, called the beeping model, introduced in [8]. In each round an agent can either listen or beep. In the local beeping model, an agent hears a beep in a round if it listens in this round and if the other agent is at the same node and beeps. In the global beeping model, an agent hears a loud beep in a round if it listens in this round and if the other agent is at the same node and beeps, and it hears a soft beep in a round if it listens in this round and if the other agent is at some other node and beeps.

We first present a deterministic algorithm of rendezvous with detection working, even for the local beeping model, in an arbitrary unknown network in time polynomial in the size of the network and in the length of the smaller label (i.e., in the logarithm of this label). However, in this algorithm, agents spend a lot of energy: the number of moves that an agent must make, is proportional to the time of rendezvous. It is thus natural to ask if bounded-energy agents, i.e., agents that can make at most c moves, for some integer c, can always achieve rendezvous with detection as well. This is impossible for some networks of unbounded size. Hence we rephrase the question: Can bounded-energy agents always achieve rendezvous with detection in bounded-size networks? We prove that the answer to this question is positive, even in the local beeping model but, perhaps surprisingly, this ability comes at a steep price of time: the meeting time of bounded-energy agents is exponentially larger than that of unrestricted agents. By contrast, we show an algorithm for rendezvous with detection in the global beeping model that works for bounded-energy agents (in bounded-size networks) as fast as for unrestricted agents.
Semiample perturbations for log canonical varieties over an F-finite field containing an infinite perfect field
Authors: Tanaka Hiromu
Published: March 2017

Let [Formula: see text] be an [Formula: see text]-finite field containing an infinite perfect field of positive characteristic. Let [Formula: see text] be a projective log canonical pair over [Formula: see text]. In this note, we show that, for a semi-ample divisor [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text], there exists an effective [Formula: see text]-divisor [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] is log canonical if there exists a log resolution of [Formula: see text].
Extendable outflow boundary conditions for dissipative particle dynamics simulation
Authors: Huang Z. G. , Yue T. M. , Deng Y. , Guo Z. N.
Published: March 2017

This paper presents a systematic study on a basic kind of outflow boundary condition for Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) simulation, in which the flow near the outlet can be assumed as fully developed. The boundary conditions are expressed in Neumann-type constraints due to the zero gradients of hydrodynamic quantities on the boundary. The flow rate is included as an additional constraint to ensure the stability of a simulation. The boundary conditions are imposed through a reservoir, which is a replica of the simulation domain in the vicinity of the outlet. All the particle configurations are conserved in the reservoir. A velocity adjusting scheme is developed for the reservoir in order to control the deviation of the outflow rate and to remove the pressure discontinuity across the boundary. The effectiveness of the boundary method is examined through the simulations of a uniform flow and a laminar flow in a bifurcated tunnel. The outflow rates, as well as the velocity profile and pressure distribution, all agree well with the Navier–Stokes solution by comparison. The assumption of the fully developed outflow is validated by measuring the gradients of the flow rates. It is expected that this boundary method can be used in the simulation of flows with heterogeneous particle distribution, without having to evaluate the distribution function in advance.