bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence and predictors of reinfection with trichomoniasis based on nucleic acid amplification testing results in HIV-infected patients
Authors: Muzny Christina A , Tamhane Ashutosh R , Eaton Ellen F , Hudak Kathryn , Burkholder Greer A , Schwebke Jane R
Published: November 2018

Trichomonas vaginalis infection contributes to HIV transmission. The study objective was to determine the incidence and predictors of T. vaginalis reinfection among HIV-infected women in Birmingham, Alabama. A retrospective cohort study of women at an urban HIV clinic from August 2014 to March 2016 with T. vaginalis by nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) was conducted. Time to first episode of reinfection was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival curves. The association of various predictors was evaluated by univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses. Of 612 HIV-infected women at the UAB HIV clinic tested for T. vaginalis by the Aptima TV assay, 110 (18.0%) were identified with prevalent T. vaginalis infection. Overall, 25/110 (22.7%) had a first episode of T. vaginalis reinfection by NAAT with a rate of 3.7 reinfections per 100 person-months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.3, 5.2). In univariate analysis, only an HIV viral load (VL) ≥200 copies/ml approached statistical significance (hazard ratio = 2.26; 95% CI: 0.97, 5.29, p = 0.06). After adjusting for age and race, the association of HIV VL ≥200 copies/ml remained strong (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.49; 95% CI: 0.99, 6.27, p = 0.05). T. vaginalis reinfection was high among HIV-infected women in this sample, necessitating enhanced disease control efforts in this high-risk population.
Relationship between job involvement, leader-member exchange, and innovative behavior of public librarians
Authors: Peng Yu-Ping
Published: November 2018

Public library leaders require librarians to exhibit markedly high job involvement and notably innovative behaviors to maintain pace with rapidly varying environments. The study examined the relationships between the job involvement, leader–member exchange, and innovative behavior of public librarians through structural equation modeling. The finding identified the antecedents (job involvement and leader–member exchange ) of innovation behavior. Leader–member exchange was a significant moderator of the job involvement–innovative behavior relationship. The findings can enhance understanding of these relationships in the public library context. Finally, the study provided suggestions for leaders within the librarianship profession to develop for themselves and their subordinates.
Total cell-free DNA, carcinoembryonic antigen, and C-reactive protein for assessment of prognosis in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Spindler Karen-Lise Garm , Demuth Christina , Sorensen Boe Sandahl , Johansen Julia S , Nielsen Dorte , Pallisgaard Niels , Hoegdall Estrid , Pfeiffer Per , Vittrup Jensen Benny
Published: November 2018

In late-stage metastatic colorectal cancer, difficult treatment decisions should incorporate a thorough evaluation of the patient’s general condition and subject for shared decision making. Assessment of the individual patients’ prognosis is valuable in this setting. The aim was to analyze the prognostic value of plasma levels of total cell-free DNA, carcinoembryonic antigen and C-reactive protein in 97 heavily pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients received irinotecan, cetuximab, and everolimus in a phase-2 clinical trial ( clinicaltrials.gov NCT01387880). Plasma samples were used for DNA purification and quantification of total cell-free DNA by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen and C-reactive protein were analyzed by routine methods. Clinical endpoints were overall survival and progression-free survival. A total of 82 patients had blood samples available for quantification of total cell-free DNA. Patients with pre-treatment cell-free DNA levels higher than the median total cell-free DNA (9800 alleles per milliliter plasma) had a significantly shorter overall survival of 4.3 months (95% confidence interval: 3.6–5.8) compared to patients with cell-free DNA levels below the median with an overall survival of 11.3 months (95% confidence interval: 8.0–14.8, p < 0.0001). When using the upper normal limit from a previously analyzed normal control group, the median overall survival was 11.3 (95% confidence interval: 7.3–14.8) and 4.3 (95% confidence interval: 3.7–6.1) months, respectively (p < 0.0001). Serum carcinoembryonic antigen and C-reactive protein had similar prognostic value with short overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with elevated levels compared to those within normal range. A high-risk profile of elevated cell-free DNA, carcinoembryonic antigen, and C-reactive protein was described, but in combined Cox regression multivariate analysis, only total cell-free DNA preserved a strong prognostic value. In conclusion, total cell-free DNA in plasma, carcinoembryonic antigen, and C-reactive protein could all contribute to assessment of patients’ prognosis and potentially aid in clinical decision making in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Cell-adhesion molecules and their soluble forms: Promising predictors of “tumor progression” and relapse in leukemia
Authors: Fonseca Ieda Cristina Cunha Ferreira e , da Luz Felipe Andrés Cordero , Uehara Isadora Akemi , Silva Marcelo José Barbosa
Published: November 2018

Some surface markers are used to discriminate certain leukemic subpopulations that retain a greater oncogenic potential than others, and, for this reason, they were termed as leukemic stem cells, similar to the concept of cancer stem cells in carcinoma. Among these surface markers are proteins involved in cell–cell adhesion or cell–matrix adhesion, and they may play a role in the relapse of leukemia, similar to metastasis in carcinomas. The most important are epithelial cadherin, neural cadherin, epithelial cell-adhesion molecule, and CD44, which can be cleaved and released, and their soluble forms were found increased in serum levels of cancer patients, being implicated, in some cases, with progression, metastases, and relapse. In this review, we highlighted the role of these four adhesion molecules in carcinomas and hematological malignancies, mainly leukemia, and discuss if the serum levels of soluble forms can be correlated with the surface protein status on the leukemic cells. Accession of the soluble forms looks attractive, but their use as markers in cancer must be studied in association with other parameters, as there are significant changes in levels in other pathological conditions besides cancer. Studies correlating the levels of the forms with the status of the membrane-bound proteins in leukemic (stem) cells and correlating those parameters with relapse in leukemia may afford important knowledge and applicability of those serum markers in clinical practice. For instance, the expression of the membrane-bound forms of these adhesion proteins may have promising clinical use in leukemia and other hematological malignancies.
Nivolumab in never-smokers with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer: Results from the Italian cohort of an expanded access program
Authors: Garassino Marina Chiara , Crinò Lucio , Catino Annamaria , Ardizzoni Andrea , Cortesi Enrico , Cappuzzo Federico , Bordi Paola , Calabrò Luana , Barbieri Fausto , Santo Antonio , Altavilla Giuseppe , Ambrosio Francesca , Mini Enrico , Vasile Enrico , Morgillo Floriana , Scoppola Alessandro , Bengala Carmelo , Follador Alessandro , Tedde Natale , Giannarelli Diana , Lo Russo Giuseppe , Vitiello Fabiana
Published: November 2018

Objectives:

Never-smokers may be a distinct subgroup among patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, appearing to benefit less from immunotherapy than smokers. We report results from never-smokers enrolled in the Italian cohort of the nivolumab expanded access program in pre-treated patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Materials and methods:

Nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks for ≤24 months) was available on physician request. Efficacy data included objective tumor response, date of progression, and survival information. Safety was monitored.

Results:

Overall, 371 patients received at least one dose of nivolumab, including 31 never-smokers (8%). Objective response rate, disease-control rate, and median overall survival were 23%, 45%, and 12.1 months (95% confidence interval: 3.7–20.4), respectively, in never-smokers, and 18%, 47%, and 7.9 months (95% confidence interval: 6.2–9.6), respectively, in the overall expanded access program population. Any-grade and grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events were reported in 12 (39%) and 3 (10%) never-smokers, respectively, and in 109 (29%) and 21 (6%) patients, respectively, in the overall expanded access program population. Grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events in non-smokers were increased transaminases (n = 2; 6%) and diarrhea (n = 1; 3%). Treatment-related adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 4 non-smokers (17%) and in 26 patients (9%) overall.

Conclusion:

Pre-treated never-smokers with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer in this Italian expanded access program demonstrated efficacy and safety that were consistent with those in the overall expanded access program population and clinical trials. These results suggest that a proportion of never-smoker patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer may be responsive to immunotherapy. Other factors, such as the tumor mutational load and the status of programmed death-ligand 1, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, and epidermal growth factor receptor, might play a potential key role.
Development and Validation of the Return and Disposal of Unused Medications Questionnaire (ReDiUM) in Malaysia
Authors: Sim Si Mui , Lai Pauline Siew Mei , Tan Kit Mun , Lee Hong Gee , Sulaiman Che Zuraini
Published: November 2018

The aim of our study was to develop and validate the return and disposal of unused medications (ReDiUM), as there are currently no validated tools available (worldwide) to assess this. The ReDiUM was developed by an expert panel. It was then administered to community-dwelling adults, who could understand English, at baseline and 2 weeks later. A total of 338/354 participants agreed to participate (response rate = 95.4%). Flesch reading ease was 60. The overall Cronbach’s α was 0.703 (range = 0.609-0.762). At test-retest, κ values ranged from 0.244 to 0.523. Median total knowledge score was 60% (interquartile range = 40% to 70%). The majority of participants (94.4%) knew that improper drug disposal has harmful effects on the environment. However, their knowledge was low (11.2%) regarding the disposal of pressurized metered-dose inhalers in the garbage. The ReDiUM was found to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice on the ReDiUM in Malaysia.
Single session work: Implementing brief intervention as routine practice in an acute care mental health assessment service.
Authors: Le Gros Jillian , Wyder Marianne , Brunelli Vanessa
Published: November 2018

Objectives:

The study describes the implementation and adaptation of a brief intervention model as routine clinical practice in an acute care service.

Methods:

An action research process informed the evaluation and design of the intervention.

Results:

The model’s theoretical framework enhanced clinical practice and benefited consumers, though it was too rigid to be implemented in an acute care setting, so was adapted to suit this environment.

Conclusions:

This paper highlights the value in realigning practice with fundamental engagement principles to improve practice outcomes.
Peer Review: A Vital Gatekeeping Function and Obligation of Professional Scholarly Practice
Authors: Caputo Richard K.
Published: November 2018

The author argues for the centrality of peer review in assessing the scholarly merits of manuscripts, given considerable changes in the publication landscape that present formidable challenges for editors to solicit qualified reviewers, and seeks to convince reluctant senior faculty and scholarly practitioners to review manuscripts in their areas of expertise, contending in effect that we have a professional obligation to do so.
Exact impact response of multi-layered cement-based piezoelectric composite considering electrode effect
Authors: Zhang Taotao , Zhang Keping , Liu Wende
Published: November 2018

Multi-layered cement-based piezoelectric composites could enable accurate real-time detection of the concrete structure deformation induced by impact load. An analytical method for quantifying the impact response of the multi-layered cement-based piezoelectric composite is established based on the piezo-elasticity, and a general transfer matrix description for the composite with any number of layers is derived. The motion of the composite is decomposed into natural modes according to its physical significance of vibration modes. The mechanical and electrical solutions are obtained via the mode summation method and the virtual work principle. In order to give a clear demonstration, some numerical simulations are conducted to verify the validity of the theoretical analysis. Moreover, the current analytical method considers the electrode as an extra layer and evaluates the effect of its thickness and material on the performance of the multi-layered cement-based piezoelectric composite. It can be seen that the mathematical model presented in this article provides a rigorous tool for the analysis of the multi-layered cement-based piezoelectric composite and therefore could benefit the design of certain types of smart devices under impact load.
External Territorial Threats and Military Regimes
Authors: Kim Nam Kyu
Published: November 2018

This study argues that sustained threats to homeland territory create an environment conducive to the presence of military regimes. Territorial threats lead to increased levels of militarization and make the military internally unified and cohesive. These developments enhance the military’s capacity for intervening in politics where a strong and autonomous military serves as an institutionalized veto player. Accordingly, collegial military regimes, characterized by a group of high-ranking officers and distinct from military strongman rule in which power is concentrated in the hands of a single military leader, are likely to exist in environments rife with territorial threats. Supporting my argument, I find that a country is more likely to experience collegial military rule when it engages in rivalries or claims over territorial issues.
Early Changes in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score Among Patients With Sepsis-Induced Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Authors: Mochizuki Katsunori , Mori Kotaro , Nakamura Yuta , Uchimido Ryo , Kamijo Hiroshi , Takeshige Kanako , Nitta Kenichi , Imamura Hiroshi
Published: November 2018

It is unclear whether initial infection control or anticoagulant therapy exerts a greater effect on early changes in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score among patients with sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). This retrospective propensity score cohort study aimed to evaluate whether adequacy of infection control or anticoagulation therapy had a greater effect on early changes in the SOFA scores among 52 patients with sepsis-induced DIC. Inadequate initial infection control was associated with a lower 28-day survival rate among patients with sepsis-induced DIC (odds ratio [OR]: 0.116, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.022-0.601; P = .010); however, the adequacy was not associated with an early improvement in the SOFA score. However, despite adjusting for inadequate initial infection control, administration of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin was associated with an early improvement in the SOFA score (OR: 5.058, 95% CI: 1.047-24.450; P = .044). Therefore, early changes in the SOFA score within 48 hours after the DIC diagnosis were more strongly affected by the administration of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin than the adequacy of initial infection control.
Dynamic analysis of nonlinear time-varying spur gear system subjected to multi-frequency excitation
Authors: Yang Yi , Xu Mengjuan , Du Yang , Zhao Pan , Dai Yiping
Published: November 2018

Due to the complex working environment, gear systems always suffer from multiple excitations in actual engineering. This paper concerns the frequency response characteristics of a nonlinear time-varying spur gear system subjected to multi-frequency excitation. Firstly, a single degree-of-freedom gear pair model is established with consideration of the gear backlash, time-varying mesh stiffness and multiple harmonic excitations. Then, using the multiple time scales method, a comprehensive theoretical study is conducted to analyze various resonant cases including primary, parametric and combination resonances. Besides, parametric studies are accomplished to reveal the effects of the multi-frequency excitation on gear dynamics and to provide some useful references for reducing the vibration level. With the help of the fifth-order Runge–Kutta method, the numerical results are obtained to verify the validity of the analytical solutions and to emphasize the significances of the multi-frequency excitation. In addition, a comparison is performed between the numerical results and the published experimental results to validate the proposed gear model. Results show that the presence of the multi-frequency excitation will introduce the interaction between different harmonic excitations, which significantly affects the nonlinear vibration characteristics of a spur gear system. The proposed gear model with multi-frequency excitation could be more reliable and universal than that with single-frequency excitation. In addition, the results of parametric study could provide some suggestions to designers and researchers attempting to obtain desirable dynamic behaviors of a gear system subjected to multi-frequency excitation.
Altered methotrexate clearance in the treatment of CNS lymphoma with concurrent use of nitrofurantoin for a urinary tract infection
Authors: Gowarty Jasmine L , Patel Ina J , Herrington Jon D
Published: November 2018

Methotrexate is a widely used chemotherapy agent with a propensity for drug interactions placing the patient at risk for toxicities. There are several modes for altering methotrexate clearance including concomitant drugs leading to toxic effects on the kidneys, medications producing an acidic urine pH, and agents interfering with methotrexate transporters including the organic anion transporter and breast cancer resistance protein efflux pump. We report a case of a patient with central nervous system non-Hodgkin's lymphoma receiving high-dose methotrexate and being concomitantly treated for a urinary tract infection with nitrofurantoin. Subsequently, her initial methotrexate clearance was altered by the introduction of nitrofurantoin and returned to baseline when her nitrofurantoin was discontinued. This is the first case report describing the altered methotrexate clearance from concurrent administration of methotrexate and nitrofurantoin.
Vacancies for controlling the behavior of microstructured three-dimensional mechanical metamaterials
Authors: Vangelatos Z , Komvopoulos K , Grigoropoulos CP
Published: November 2018

Mechanical metamaterials are designed to exhibit enhanced properties not found in natural materials or to bolster the properties of existing materials. The theoretical foundations for tuning the mechanical properties have been established, including topological states, controllable buckling behavior, and quasi-two-dimensional mechanical metamaterials with structures containing vacancies. However, the fabrication and experimental procedures to study these structures at the microscale have not been developed yet and the three-dimensional (3D) architectures examined to date are fairly limited. In this study, 3D mechanical metamaterial structures with select unit cells designed to have vacancies were fabricated by multi-photon lithography, having as the principal objective to control (localize) failure and increase the strain energy capacity of the structure. The metamaterial structure from which all the current designs originate is the octet-truss structure, one of the most widely studied 3D metamaterials. The design of the structures was inspired by the role of vacancies in crystal lattices. Vacancies were introduced in the metamaterial structures to allow localized buckling of lattice members to occur in specific unit cells. The significant increase of the strain energy dissipated in these metamaterials is demonstrated by nanoindentation experiments and finite element results. Vacancy effects on the dynamic response of metamaterial structures are also examined in the light of modal analysis simulations. The findings of this study illustrate the importance of strategically placing vacancies in the microlattices of metamaterial structures to control the overall mechanical behavior and greatly increase strain energy dissipation.
Content, structure, and dynamics of personal reputation: The role of trust and status potential within social networks
Authors: Jazaieri Hooria , Logli Allison Maria , Campos Belinda , Young Randall C. , Keltner Dacher
Published: November 2018

In this paper we examined the content, structure, and dynamics of reputation, a person’s agreed-upon character that is constructed within social groups. In Study 1, we examined longitudinally the content and structure of an individual’s reputation as distributed across a newly forming group. In Study 2, we examined how the dynamics of reputation shape gossip, a form of reputational discourse. In keeping with theoretical claims about the function of reputation, trustworthiness and status potential proved to be central to reputation content that is shared across a social network and emerged over the course of a year (Study 1). Gossip, a form of reputational discourse, was found to focus upon individuals who are untrustworthy and of questionable and undeserved status (Study 2). We discuss how the results from these studies shed light on how reputation is essential to cooperation and cohesion within groups.
The effect of sonic vibration on electrospun fiber mats
Authors: Li Xiaoxia , Qiang Jing , Wan Yuqin , Wang Hongbo , Gao Weidong
Published: November 2018

Electrospun nanofibers have shown great potential in wide applications such as energy, filtration, medical devices, and sensors. For all these applications, fiber morphology, fiber diameter and pore size of electrospun fiber mat play critical roles in determining the performance of the final products. Research has proved that sonic vibration can dramatically improve the electrospinnability of polymer solutions and subsequently the resultant fiber properties. In this work, the effects of sonic vibration on fiber morphology as well as fiber diameter and the pore structures of electrospun polyacrylonitrile fiber mat were investigated. The relationships between sonic vibration and fiber diameter, and pore size of the electrospun fiber mats were also studied.
Alphabet books: The nature of parents’ shared reading between and across books
Authors: Bergman Deitcher Deborah , Aram Dorit , Goldberg Adva
Published: November 2018

This study examined the nature of parents’ shared reading with their preschoolers between and across two different alphabet trade books. The “busy” book contains more sentences and words per page, more complex illustrations per page, and the target letter takes up less of the page and appears in the same colour as the text. The “less busy” book contains fewer sentences and words per page, simpler, more monochromatic illustrations, and the target letter takes up more of the page and appears in a different colour from the text. Participants included 46 parent–child dyads from middle SES homes. The children (13 boys, 33 girls) ranged from 4-years-old to 6.8-years-old (M = 5.63, SD = 0.6). Results revealed that parents made more references to the writing system and to more narrative elements when reading the “less busy” book. They also requested their children’s responses more when reading this book. Parents made more references to the illustrations and regulation of behaviour when reading the “busy” book. These results went beyond the child’s language level and the parent’s education level, controlling for the overall number of utterances. Findings also showed that parents seem to have a consistent style across both alphabet books, such that the more characteristics of the shared reading appeared during one book, the more they featured in the shared reading of the other book. Parents may benefit from exposure to different types of alphabet books and how their varying characteristics can impact on discourse style.
“A murky business”: A phenomenological ontology of risk in child protection social work
Authors: Smeeton Joe
Published: November 2018

This paper is based upon ongoing theoretical work by the author. A growing number of academics are starting to problematise social work within a risk paradigm by highlighting the impact this has on how service user's experiences are atomised into units of risk, rather than having their needs understood as members of families and communities. This paper seeks to develop this discussion by offering a theoretical examination of risk from a phenomenological perspective by unpacking some of the underlying constructions of risk. Using Heidegger’s work this paper attempts to first of all undertake an ontology of risk and then to examine its usefulness in the UK child protection context. The author argues that working within a risk paradigm obscures rather than clarifies understanding. The approach is rooted in an argument that “phenomenology” is the natural home of social work which is interested in the lived experiences of people within their environments or “being-in-the-world”.
Deep learning in design workflows: The elusive design pixel
Authors: Mahankali Ranjeeth , Johnson Brian R , Anderson Alex T
Published: November 2018

The recent wave of developments and research in the field of deep learning and artificial intelligence is causing the border between the intuitive and deterministic domains to be redrawn, especially in computer vision and natural language processing. As designers frequently invoke vision and language in the context of design, this article takes a step back to ask if deep learning’s capabilities might be applied to design workflows, especially in architecture. In addition to addressing this general question, the article discusses one of several prototypes, BIMToVec, developed to examine the use of deep learning in design. It employs techniques like those used in natural language processing to interpret building information models. The article also proposes a homogeneous data format, provisionally called a design pixel, which can store design information as spatial-semantic maps. This would make designers’ intuitive thoughts more accessible to deep learning algorithms while also allowing designers to communicate abstractly with design software.
Arterial Aneurysmal Degeneration With Venous Varicosity Following Ligation of an Arteriovenous Fistula in a Kidney Transplant Recipient
Authors: Lee Hyun Yong , Roh Young Nam , Kim Hyoung Tae , Park Ui Jun
Published: November 2018

Late occurrence of arterial aneurysms following ligation of a hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is rare. Here, we report the case of 51-year-old male patient with an AVF in which arterial aneurysms developed. The patient had undergone left arm radiocephalic (RC) AVF creation for hemodialysis in 2000. He had received a living related donor kidney transplantation from his father in the same year. His RC AVF was ligated in 2009. However, his arm continued to gradually grow in size even after ligation and he visited a hospital for acute pain and erythema around the left elbow in 2017. Since his renal allograft function had been deteriorating, duplex ultrasonography was performed. It revealed 2 giant aneurysms in the distal brachial artery and proximal radial artery with diameters of 3.0 and 2.8 cm, respectively. The superficial veins of the left upper arm showed varicosity and had multifocal thrombi. Microfistula between the artery and vein was revealed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and the contrast agent microbubbles flowed from the artery toward the superficial veins. The aneurysms were resected and the arteries were reconstructed with great saphenous vein. There were no perioperative complications and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 3. No complications in the arm or bypass conduit have occurred at 6 months after the surgery.
A Rare Cause of Critical Carotid Stenosis
Authors: Sentman Michelle , Bloch Charles , Sommerset Jill , Bloch Robert , Karmy-Jones Riyad , Teso Desarom
Published: November 2018

Blunt carotid artery injuries are uncommon, usually occur in a delayed fashion, and most commonly after significant blunt-force mechanism. Choke holds, use of pressure points, and other close-combat techniques used in military or mixed martial arts training can have the same kinetic impact as a motor vehicle crash. We present an unusual case of common carotid fibrosis which required surgery and suggest that duplex ultrasound might be an appropriate screening tool in those who regularly participate in such training.
Carotid surgical cut-down technique for neuroendovascular therapy
Authors: Takano Issei , Matsumoto Yoshiyuki , Fujii Yoshiko , Inoue Yuki , Sugiura Yoshiki , Kawamura Yosuke , Suzuki Ryotaro , Nakae Ryuta , Tanaka Yoshihiro , Nagaishi Masaya , Takigawa Tomoji , Hyodo Akio , Suzuki Kensuke
Published: November 2018

Background

Neuroendovascular therapy is typically performed via the femoral artery, but there are rare cases in which a tortuous upstream angioarchitecture makes it difficult to access the intracranial circulation via this route.

Methods

In this case series, we describe six cases treated by surgical cut-down in the neck, with puncture of the carotid artery. Antiplatelet and anticoagulation agents were used in all cases. The indications for the technique were postsurgical thoracic aortic aneurysm (two cases), postsurgical abdominal aortic aneurysm (one case), major vessel tortuosity of the common carotid artery (two cases) and aortic arch anomaly (one case).

Results

The surgical cut-down technique permitted successful neuroendovascular therapy. Although one patient had a small cervical haematoma, he was treated without surgical evacuation.

Conclusion

Overall, our findings indicate that the surgical cut-down technique is safe and useful for patients in whom the femoral approach is unsuitable.
Fault diagnosis in autonomous underwater vehicle propeller in the transition stage based on GP-RPF
Authors: He Jiayu , Li Ye , Li Yueming , Jiang Yanqing , An Li
Published: November 2018

Propellers are one of the key parts on the autonomous underwater vehicles. When adopting the conventional particle filter to estimate the degree of fault, based on the status given by the sensors, the diagnosis value is not always satisfactory in the transition stage (as it accelerates substantially). The diagnosis value is relatively larger than it is in the cruising stage, and this might weaken the ability to classify using the fault diagnosis method. This article proposes a new fault diagnosis method combining the grey prediction and rank particle filter method. The main improvements include two aspects: status input prediction and thrust loss trend analysis. The status input into the rank particle filter is predicted by the grey prediction method, to meet the condition that the thrust loss estimation does not change quickly when the control signal changes drastically. Subsequently, the control signal change rate is combined to analyse the thrust loss change trend. This improvement reduces the diagnosis value under normal conditions and enlarges the ratio between faulty and normal conditions. Simulation experiments are carried out to verify the performance of the proposed algorithm. The results show that the proposed method could reduce the thrust loss estimation error and enlarge the ratio of diagnosis value between faulty and normal conditions, providing basis for the following operation.
Trans-mediatized terrorism: The Sydney Lindt Café siege
Authors: Ali Saira , Khattab Umi
Published: November 2018

This article presents an empirical analysis of the Australian media representation of terrorism using the 2014 Sydney Lindt Café siege as a case in point to engage with the notion of moral panic. Deploying critical discourse analysis and case study as mixed methods, insights into trans-media narratives and aftermath of the terrifying siege are presented. While news media appeared to collaborate with the Australian right-wing government in the reporting of terrorism, social media posed challenges and raised security concerns for the state. Social media heightened the drama as sites were variously deployed by the perpetrator, activists and concerned members of the public. The amplified trans-media association of Muslims with terrorism in Australia and its national and global impact, in terms of the political exclusion of Muslims, are best described in this article in the form of an Islamophobic Moral Panic Model, invented for a rethink of the various stages of its occurrence, intensification and institutionalization.
The Dark Side of Information Proliferation
Authors: Hills Thomas T.
Published: November 2018

There are well-understood psychological limits on our capacity to process information. As information proliferation—the consumption and sharing of information—increases through social media and other communications technology, these limits create an attentional bottleneck, favoring information that is more likely to be searched for, attended to, comprehended, encoded, and later reproduced. In information-rich environments, this bottleneck influences the evolution of information via four forces of cognitive selection, selecting for information that is belief-consistent, negative, social, and predictive. Selection for belief-consistent information leads balanced information to support increasingly polarized views. Selection for negative information amplifies information about downside risks and crowds out potential benefits. Selection for social information drives herding, impairs objective assessments, and reduces exploration for solutions to hard problems. Selection for predictive patterns drives overfitting, the replication crisis, and risk seeking. This article summarizes the negative implications of these forces of cognitive selection and presents eight warnings that represent severe pitfalls for the naive “informavore,” accelerating extremism, hysteria, herding, and the proliferation of misinformation.
Leukocyte recognition with convolutional neural network
Authors: Lin Liqun , Wang Weixing , Chen Bolin
Published: November 2018

Accurate segmentation of leukocytes is a primary and very difficult problem because of the non-uniform color, uneven illumination of blood smear image. An improved algorithm based on feature weight adaptive K-means clustering for extracting complex leukocytes is proposed. In this paper, the initial clustering center is chosen according to the histogram distribution of a cell image; this approach not only improves the clustering effect but also reduces the time complexity of the algorithm from O (n) to O (1). Prior to white blood cell extraction, the color space is decomposed. Then, color space decomposition and K-means clustering are combined for image segmentation. And then adherent complex white blood cells are separated again based on watershed algorithm. Finally, classification experiments based on convolutional neural network were performed and compared with other methods; 368 representative images were used to evaluate the performance of our method. The proposed segmentation method achieves 95.81% segmentation accuracy. The classification accuracy reached a maximum of 98.96%, and the average classification time is 0.39 s. Compared with those in the existing algorithms for WBC, convolutional neural network classification method not only presents obvious advantages but can also be easily improved.
The fracture of a climbing rope: a phenomenological approach
Authors: Leuthäusser Ulrich
Published: November 2018

For the fracture process of a climbing rope, two mechanisms are responsible: plastic deformation and local damage of the contact zone between the rope and the anchor. These mechanisms are described by two analytical models represented by nonlinear difference equations. The plastic deformation equation can be linked to a catastrophe-theoretical model. From the equation describing local damage accumulation, the Palmgren–Miner rule can be derived. The used energy-based approach allows the combination of these models and thus the calculation of the number of falls to failure as a function of the ratio of fall energy/energy storage capacity. The behavior of climbing ropes tested by subsequent UIAA falls can be quantitatively explained by these models.
Oral Administration of a Chemically Modified Curcumin, TRB-N0224, Reduced Inflammatory Cytokines and Cartilage Erosion in a Rabbit ACL Transection Injury Model
Authors: Coury Josephine R. , Nixon Ryan , Collins Melinda , Schwartz John , Chahine Nadeen O. , Grande Daniel A.
Published: November 2018

Objective

To evaluate the effects of TRB-N0224, a chemically modified curcumin (CMC) with zinc binding properties and improved pharmacokinetics, in a rabbit anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) transection injury–induced model of osteoarthritis (OA).

Design

Thirty-eight skeletally mature New Zealand white rabbits were studied in 4 groups: a sham with arthrotomy ( n = 6), control with ACL transection ( n = 6), and 2 treatment groups with ACL transection and administration of TRB-N0224 at low (25 mg/kg/day) ( n = 13) and high (50 mg/kg/day) ( n = 13) doses. After euthanization at 12 weeks, outcomes were measured by post-necropsy gross morphology, biomechanics, and cartilage and synovium histology. Rabbit blood ELISA quantified cytokine and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) concentrations at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks.

Results

Both treatment doses had fewer distal femoral condyle erosive defects than the control; the low dose demonstrated a mean 78% decrease ( P < 0.01). Histologically, the low- and high-dose treatment groups had fewer cartilage pathologic changes and less severe synovitis than the control. CMC alone did not have a major effect on the biomechanics of healthy cartilage or cartilage in the ACL transection model, as demonstrated in 5 of the 6 measured properties/regions ( P < 0.05). ELISA results suggested that the key mediators of OA, (interleukin) IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα (tumor necrosis factor-α), MMP-9, and MMP-13, had decreased concentrations with TRB-N0224 treatment at different time points between weeks 4 to 12 ( P < 0.05).

Conclusions

In the pathogenesis of OA, an imbalance exists between catabolic and anabolic mediators. These results suggest the potential of TRB-N0224 to modulate MMP and cytokine levels, slowing the macroscopic and histopathological progression of OA.
‘We will all laugh at gilded butterflies’. The shadow of antitrust law on the collective negotiation of fair fees for self-employed workers
Authors: Biasi Marco
Published: November 2018

The development of a wide-reaching collective representation for (genuine) self-employment and the collective negotiation of fair fees for independent contractors might often be more dissuasive vis-à-vis scam self-employment than the threat of reclassification. However, case law in both civil and common law jurisdictions showcases how antitrust law can hamper the collective negotiation of workers’ minimum fees. The premise of such a view, which has its roots in the early stage of development of collective bargaining, is that the agreements setting the rates of pay for non-subordinate labour stand as restraints of trade. The author contends that this narrow interpretation of the scope of collective labour law - or rather this extensive view of the scope of antitrust law - is unacceptable. On the one hand, workers who personally carry out their activity cannot be treated as businesses operating on a free market, because they are - akin to the employees - individuals who lack the power to tangibly affect the terms and conditions of their work. For those persons, as the author recalls, collective bargaining have always stood for, even before the binary legal divide between employment and self-employment was drawn. On the other hand, it appears incongruous that a major challenge to the perimeters of collective labour law stems from a formalistic approach to a field of law (antitrust or competition law) which seeks to correct the market asymmetries in the interest of weaker parties, such as smaller businesses, communities and consumers. Ultimately, the author contends that a solution to overcome this legal hurdle cannot be found through a mere change in the interpretation of the existing US and EU competition and labour law rules, which have to be amended by the legislators in accordance with the current social needs.
Measuring trainee competence in performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Voiosu Theodor , Bălănescu Paul , Voiosu Andrei , Benguş Andreea , Preda Carmen , Umans Devica S , Bogdan Mateescu Radu , van Hooft Jeanin E
Published: November 2018

Background

Current recommendations on training in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are predicated on a performance‐centred approach designed to ensure that trainees achieve appropriate skills. We aimed to analyse how competence in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is defined in the literature and what proportion of trainees actually reach this threshold.

Methods

We conducted a systematic MEDLINE search for studies reporting on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography training programmes in a clinical setting. The main outcome measure was threshold for achieving competence in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; the secondary outcome measure was assessment of trainee performance. Quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the Methodological Index for Non‐Randomized Studies criteria.

Results

Of 522 initially identified articles, 20 were included in the analysis; most studies showed a high risk of bias. Cannulation rate of the desired duct was the main marker of competence in all studies; however, only 8/20 studies reported on the performance of individual trainees, who achieved their respective standard of competence in only 25.6% of reported cases.

Conclusions

Current literature identifies cannulation rate of a native papilla to be the most appropriate measure of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography competence; however, most trainees do not reach predefined competence thresholds. Furthermore, due to the limitations of available studies, the most appropriate competence measure remains subject for debate.
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hasselbalch IC , Søndergaard HB , Koch-Henriksen N , Olsson A , Ullum H , Sellebjerg F , Oturai AB
Published: November 2018

Background

Subtypes of white blood cell counts are known biomarkers of systemic inflammation and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with several autoimmune diseases. Few studies have investigated the NLR in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective

To examine the association between NLR, MS and disability measured by the MS severity score (MSSS).

Methods

Patients were included from the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Biobank. Information on patient NLR was obtained just before their first treatment and clinical information was provided by the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Register. Information on NLR from controls was collected from the Danish Blood Donor Study. Patients and controls were 1:2 propensity score matched by baseline confounders.

Results

Propensity score matching left 740 of 743 MS patients and 1420 of 4691 controls for further analyses. Odds-ratio (OR) was 3.64 (95% confidence interval 2.87–4.60, p < 0.001) for MS disease per unit increase of logarithmically transformed NLR (ln-NLR), corresponding to an OR of 2.68 for each doubling of NLR. Mean NLR was 2.12 for patients and 1.72 for controls ( p < 0.001). Ln-NLR correlated weakly with patient MSSS ( R2 = 0.019, p = 0.008).

Conclusion

Patients with early MS had increased levels of NLR compared to healthy controls and NLR was weakly correlated with MSSS.
Weakened Functional Connectivity Between the Amygdala and the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Is Longitudinally Related to Psychopathic Traits in Low-Income Males During Early Adulthood
Authors: Waller Rebecca , Gard Arianna M. , Shaw Daniel S. , Forbes Erika E. , Neumann Craig S. , Hyde Luke W.
Published: November 2018

Psychopathy is a complex disorder consisting of harmful personality traits and impulsive-lifestyle and antisocial behaviors. Weakened functional connectivity between limbic and prefrontal brain regions is thought to underlie impaired sensitivity to others’ emotions that contribute to the interpersonal and affective personality traits associated with psychopathy. We tested whether weakened functional connectivity between the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) during the processing of fearful, angry, and neutral facial expressions was prospectively related to psychopathic traits in early adulthood. The sample included 167 low-income, racially diverse, urban males who completed a functional MRI scan at age 20 and questionnaire measures at ages 20 and 22. Weakened amygdala-vmPFC functional connectivity to fearful but not neutral or angry faces at age 20 was related to higher psychopathic traits at age 22.
Zur Stratizifizierung des wissenschaftlichen Hochschulsystems in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Authors: Hummel Thomas R.
Published: November 2018

Der vorliegende Beitrag diskutiert die Frage, wie vor dem Hintergrund der die Diskussion bestimmenden Schlagworte, Expansion und Wettbewerb im bundesdeutschen Hochschulsystem, die einzelne Hochschule, aber auch die relevanten Abnehmermärkte reagieren werden bzw. können.

Aufgrund der beobachtbar real stagnierenden Hochschulbudgets und zu erwartender rückläufiger Studentenzahlen wird allgemein ein sich verschärfender Wettbewerb zwischen den Hochschulen, aber auch innerhalb der Hochschulen, konstatiert. Im Rahmen zweier empirischer Studien wird aufgezeigt, welche Instrumente derzeit den Hochschulen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland zur Verfügung stehen und wie sie genutzt werden. Implikationen auf der Output-Seite, die insbesondere den entsprechenden Teilarbeitsmarkt tangieren - in diesem Fall die Absolventen wirtschaftswissenschaftlicher Fachbereiche -, werden abschließend aus Sicht der Abnehmer (Personalbereich) aufgezeigt.
Personalstrategien für multinationale Unternehmen
Authors: Schulte Christof
Published: November 2018

Vor dem Hintergrund einer zunehmenden Globalisierung der Märkte kommt der Entwicklung und Umsetzung einer internationalen Personalstrategie eine Schlüsselrolle im Rahmen der Unternehmensstrategie zu. Praktisch jedes Problem im internationalen Management ist letztendlich auf Mitarbeiter zurückzuführen, sei es, daß es durch sie verursacht wurde, sei es, daß es durch sie zu lösen ist. Aus diesem Grunde stellt der richtige Mitarbeiter zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort den wesentlichen Erfolgsfaktor im internationalen Geschäft dar. Der folgende Beitrag beschäftigt sich zunächst mit den Unterschieden zwischen nationalem und internationalem Personalmanagement sowie den Zielen des internationalen Personalmanagements. Es folgt eine Beschreibung und Bewertung der Strategiealternativen des internationalen Personalmanagements. Als wesentliche Gestaltungsparameter werden die Führungskräfteauswahl, Führungskräfteentwicklung und -entlohnung analysiert. Der Beitrag schließt mit Überlegungen zur Effizienzkontrolle und der Formulierung von Anforderungen an ein internationales Personal management.