bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Not just a migration problem: Metapopulations, habitat shifts, and gene flow are also important for fishway science and management
Authors: Wilkes M. A. , Webb J. A. , Pompeu P. S. , Silva L. G. M. , Vowles A. S. , Baker C. F. , Franklin P. , Link O. , Habit E. , Kemp P. S.
Published: August 2018

Worldwide, fishways are increasingly criticized for failing to meet conservation goals. We argue that this is largely due to the dominance of diadromous species of the Northern Hemisphere (e.g., Salmonidae) in the research that underpins the concepts and methods of fishway science and management. With highly diverse life histories, swimming abilities and spatial ecologies, most freshwater fish species do not conform to the stereotype imposed by this framework. This is leading to a global proliferation of fishways that are often unsuitable for native species. The vast majority of fish populations do not undertake extensive migrations between clearly separated critical habitats, yet the movement of individuals and the genetic information they carry is critically important for population viability. We briefly review some of the latest advances in spatial ecological modelling for dendritic networks to better define what it means to achieve effective fish passage at a barrier. Through a combination of critical habitat assessment and the modelling of metapopulations, climate change‐driven habitat shifts, and adaptive gene flow, we recommend a conceptual and methodological framework for fishway target‐setting and monitoring suitable for a wide range of species. In the process, we raise a number of issues that should contribute to the ongoing debate about fish passage research and the design and monitoring of fishways.
Effects of hydropeaking operations on the growth of Alabama bass Micropterus henshalli and redeye bass Micropterus coosae in the Tallapoosa River, Alabama, USA
Authors: Earley Laurie A. , Sammons Steven M.
Published: August 2018

Anthropogenic factors such as dam construction and hydropower generation can dramatically alter the flow regime of rivers and may impact growth of aquatic organisms. Using incremental growth techniques, annual growth of Alabama bass Micropterus henshalli and redeye bass M. coosae in the Tallapoosa River, Alabama, USA, was evaluated in response to variation in flow regime. Fish were collected from the Tallapoosa River above Harris Dam (unregulated site) and at two sites downstream of the dam (regulated sites), as well as Hillabee Creek (unregulated tributary). Flow variables were calculated for each growth year, and the best model that described growth for each species at each location was determined using Akaike's Information Criterion. Additionally, growth increments of each species at ages 1, 2, and 3 were compared between years characterized by low and high flow variability. Age was the best explanatory variable that described growth in all models, although flow variables were included in more than half the models. In all cases, annual and seasonal flow variables had low predictive power and explained <2% of the variation in growth. Growth was higher for age‐1 fish in years with less flow variation but was similar among years for age‐2 and age‐3 fish. Overall, this study provided little evidence that annual growth of either species was heavily influenced by flow in this regulated river.
Morphological Ensembles of N‐Doped Porous Carbon Derived from ZIF‐8/Fe‐Graphene Nanocomposites: Processing and Electrocatalytic Studies
Authors: Thomas Minju , Illathvalappil Rajith , Kurungot Sreekumar , Nair Balagopal N. , Mohamed A. Peer , Anilkumar Gopinathan M. , Yamaguchi Takeo , Hareesh U. S.
Published: August 2018

Engineering the active site density of porous carbon catalysts for enhanced electrocatalytic activity is the current focus in the quest for economically viable fuel cells. Herein, we synthesise ZIF‐8/Fe‐graphene composites for the formation of N and Fe co‐doped carbon with diverse morphologies ranging from tubes and sheets to frameworks of carbon. A synthetic strategy involving the one pot synthesis of ZIF‐8 based composites is accomplished by the reaction of 2‐methylimidazole with mixed Zn/Fe salt solution containing graphene dispersions. The high temperature heat treatment of this precursor mix yielded micro‐meso porous architectures of N, Fe co‐doped carbon with dispersions of Fe/Fe3C. An onset potential value of 0.95 V and a half‐wave potential of 0.82 V coupled with excellent durability and stability in alkaline medium indicated improved electrocatalytic performances over its commercial Pt/C counterpart. The appreciable electrocatalytic properties of the synthesized carbon are attributed to its morphological diversity, hybrid structure, high N doping and its heteroporous characteristics. The dispersed Fe/Fe3C and FeNx sites facilitated enhanced oxygen adsorption and the graphene inclusions in the composite provided retention of high nitrogen contents.
Micron‐size Silicon Monoxide Asymmetric Membranes for Highly Stable Lithium Ion Battery Anode
Authors: Wu Ji , Jin Congrui , Johnson Nathan , Kusi Moses , Li Jianlin
Published: August 2018

To meet the increasing demand for high energy density lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles and mobile electronics, it is mandatory to make revolutionary changes in electrode materials and chemistry. In this report, micron‐size silicon monoxide powders are utilized to fabricate asymmetric membranes via a phase inversion method. We investigate the effects of carbonization temperature, silicon monoxide concentration and glues on membrane microstructure and electrochemical performance. It iss also observed that silicon monoxide powders in the membranes consist of silicon with multiple oxidation states. All silicon monoxide asymmetric membrane electrodes are characteristic of significantly improved cycling stability as compared to the control silicon monoxide electrode. The best cycling performance is achieved from the asymmetric membrane with lower silicon monoxide content and using carboxymethyl cellulose as the glue. 95% initial capacity can be retained after 110 cycles at 400 mA g−1 for the membrane with ∼33 wt.% silicon monoxide. Its initial capacity loss is only 23.1% with an average coulombic efficiency of 99.82% over 110 cycles.
A Smart Flexible Solid State Photovoltaic Device with Interfacial Cooling Recovery Feature through Thermoreversible Polymer Gel Electrolyte
Authors: Sonigara Keval K. , Machhi Hiren K. , Vaghasiya Jayraj V. , Gibaud Alain , Tan Swee Ching , Soni Saurabh S.
Published: August 2018

Quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated with lightweight flexible substrates have a great potential in wearable electronic devices for in situ powering. However, the poor lifespan of these DSSCs limits their practical application. Strong mechanical stresses involved in practical applications cause breakage of the electrode/electrolyte interface in the DSSCs greatly affecting their performance and lifetime. Here, a mechanically robust, low‐cost, long‐lasting, and environment‐friendly quasi‐solid‐state DSSC using a smart thermoreversible water‐based polymer gel electrolyte with self‐healing characteristics at a low temperature (below 0 °C) is demonstrated. When the performance of the flexible DSSC is hindered by strong mechanical stresses (i.e., from multiple bending/twisting/shrinking actions), a simple cooling treatment can regenerate the electrode/electrolyte interface and recover the performance close to the initial level. A performance recovery as high as 94% is proven possible even after 300 cycles of 90° bending. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first aqueous DSSC device with self‐healing behavior, using a smart thermoreversible polymer gel electrolyte, which provides a new perspective in flexible wearable solid‐state photovoltaic devices.
Nanoscale Discrimination between Toxic and Nontoxic Protein Misfolded Oligomers with Tip‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: D'Andrea Cristiano , Foti Antonino , Cottat Maximilien , Banchelli Martina , Capitini Claudia , Barreca Francesco , Canale Claudio , de Angelis Marella , Relini Annalisa , Maragò Onofrio M. , Pini Roberto , Chiti Fabrizio , Gucciardi Pietro G. , Matteini Paolo
Published: August 2018

Highly toxic protein misfolded oligomers associated with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are nowadays considered primarily responsible for promoting synaptic failure and neuronal death. Unraveling the relationship between structure and neurotoxicity of protein oligomers appears pivotal in understanding the causes of the pathological process, as well as in designing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies tuned toward the earliest and presymptomatic stages of the disease. Here, it is benefited from tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) as a surface‐sensitive tool with spatial resolution on the nanoscale, to inspect the spatial organization and surface character of individual protein oligomers from two samples formed by the same polypeptide sequence and different toxicity levels. TERS provides direct assignment of specific amino acid residues that are exposed to a large extent on the surface of toxic species and buried in nontoxic oligomers. These residues, thanks to their outward disposition, might represent structural factors driving the pathogenic behavior exhibited by protein misfolded oligomers, including affecting cell membrane integrity and specific signaling pathways in neurodegenerative conditions.
UV Photodetectors Based on BiOCl Nanosheet Arrays: The Effects of Morphologies and Electrode Configurations
Authors: Ouyang Weixin , Su Longxing , Fang Xiaosheng
Published: August 2018

A facile chemical bath method is adopted to grow bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) nanosheet arrays on a piece of Cu foil (denoted as BiOCl‐Cu) and isolated BiOCl nanosheets are collected by ultrasonication. A self‐supporting BiOCl film is obtained by the removal of Cu foil. Photodetectors (PDs) based on these BiOCl materials are assembled and the effects of morphologies and electrode configurations on the photoelectric performance of these PDs are examined. The BiOCl nanosheet PD achieves high responsivities in the spectral range from 250 to 350 nm, while it presents quite a small photocurrent and slow response speed. The BiOCl film PD yields low photocurrents and near‐unity on–off ratios, demonstrating poor photoelectric performance. The photocurrent of the BiOCl‐Cu PD with both electrodes on the BiOCl film is much higher than those of these above‐mentioned PDs, and the response times are fast. Meanwhile, the BiOCl‐Cu PD with separate electrodes on the BiOCl film and Cu foil achieves even higher photocurrents and presents a self‐powering characteristic, depicting the improved photodetecting performances induced by the specific morphology and distinct electrode configuration. These results would promote the applications of BiOCl nanostructures in the photoelectric devices.
GraftFast Surface Engineering to Improve MOF Nanoparticles Furtiveness
Authors: Giménez‐Marqués Mónica , Bellido Elena , Berthelot Thomas , Simón‐Yarza Teresa , Hidalgo Tania , Simón‐Vázquez Rosana , González‐Fernández África , Avila José , Asensio Maria Carmen , Gref Ruxandra , Couvreur Patrick , Serre Christian , Horcajada Patricia
Published: August 2018

Controlling the outer surface of nanometric metal–organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) and further understanding the in vivo effect of the coated material are crucial for the convenient biomedical applications of MOFs. However, in most studies, the surface modification protocol is often associated with significant toxicity and/or lack of selectivity. As an alternative, how the highly selective and general grafting GraftFast method leads, through a green and simple process, to the successful attachment of multifunctional biopolymers (polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hyaluronic acid) on the external surface of nanoMOFs is reported. In particular, effectively PEGylated iron trimesate MIL‐100(Fe) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit suitable grafting stability and superior chemical and colloidal stability in different biofluids, while conserving full porosity and allowing the adsorption of bioactive molecules (cosmetic and antitumor agents). Furthermore, the nature of the MOF–PEG interaction is deeply investigated using high‐resolution soft X‐ray spectroscopy. Finally, a cell penetration study using the radio‐labeled antitumor agent gemcitabine monophosphate (3H‐GMP)‐loaded MIL‐100(Fe)@PEG NPs shows reduced macrophage phagocytosis, confirming a significant in vitro PEG furtiveness.
In honor of Michael Grossman
Authors: Markowitz Sara , Kaestner Robert
Published: August 2018

This symposium is to celebrate the accomplishments of Michael Grossman on the occasion of his retirement from teaching. The articles selected are all written by Mike's former students and colleagues, and were presented in a session at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Southern Economic Association. Each of the articles celebrate Mike's scholarly legacy in developing the field of health economics.
Kronenbrücke in Freiburg
Authors: Bothner Ralf , Häberle Uwe
Published: August 2018

Herrn Dipl.‐Ing., Dr.‐Ing. E. h. Reiner Saul zur Vollendung seines 80. Lebensjahres gewidmet

In Freiburg im Breisgau wurde der Ersatzneubau der Kronenbrücke realisiert. Das Bauwerk wurde für kombinierten Straßenbahn‐ und Straßenverkehr ausgelegt. In der Mitte zwischen den beiden Teilbauwerken ist eine Öffnung. Die Spannweite beträgt ca. 45 m, die schlanke Stahlbetonplatte wird mit einer Unterspannung gehalten.
Puente Mercosur – Die dritte Brücke über den Orinoco
Authors: Eilzer Wolfgang , Humpf Karl , Müller Michael , Moslener Michael
Published: August 2018

Herrn Dipl.‐Ing., Dr.‐Ing. E. h. Reiner Saul zur Vollendung des 80. Lebensjahres gewidmet

Das Land Venezuela sieht sich in den letzten Jahren mit schweren wirtschaftlichen und politischen Problemen konfrontiert. Stetige Preissteigerungen, Hyperinflation und entstehende Versorgungsengpässe sind die sichtbarsten Symptome einer Krise, die sich insbesondere mit dem Verfall der Erdölpreise seit 2014 verschärft hat. Auch Defizite im Staatshaushalt, eine zunehmende Staatsverschuldung und Rezession sind Ausdruck der wirtschaftlichen Herausforderungen.

Dabei verfügt Venezuela über die größte Menge an Ölreserven auf der Welt, ist auch eines der Länder mit den größten Erdgasreserven, reich an Bauxit, Mangan, Gold, Eisenerzen und wertvollen Mineralien wie beispielsweise Coltan.

Noch vor 10 Jahren florierte die Baubranche in Venezuela, Staudämme wurden gebaut, die Metro in Caracas erweitert sowie das Straßen‐ und Eisenbahnnetz im Landesinneren ausgebaut. Dabei entstanden auch große Brückenbauprojekte wie die Puente Nigale in Maracaibo sowie die beiden Brücken über den Orinoco, die Puente Orinoquia in Ciudad Guayana und die dritte Brücke über den Orinoco im Südosten des Landes, die Puente Mercosur, denen wegen ihrer außergewöhnlichen Größe eine besondere Bedeutung zukommt.

Der Beitrag beschreibt diese dritte Brücke über den Orinoco, die sich momentan noch im Bau befindet bei einem Fertigstellungsgrad von ca. 75 % [1].
Effect of Storage Time on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Starch/Bentonite Nanocomposites
Authors: Lendvai László , Sajó István , Karger‐Kocsis József
Published: August 2018

Thermoplastic starch (TPS), plasticized with glycerol and water, and its nanocomposites containing up to 7.5 parts per hundred resin (phr) pristine bentonite (BT) are prepared by melt compounding. Effects of the BT reinforcement and storage time on the morphology, water content, and mechanical properties of the related TPS nanocomposites are investigated on compression molded specimens. Morphology change is followed by wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) measurements. The presence of BT increases the rate of transformation from A‐ to V‐type crystalline form. It is also found that BT particles hinders the recrystallization (retrogradation) of TPS. BT becomes intercalated in TPS, which is supported by the water used as additional plasticizer for the compounding of maize starch. According to gravimetric measurements, TPS samples lose part of their water content during retrogradation/aging. Both the incorporation of BT and the time of aging result in increased strength and stiffness, however at the cost of elongation at break. This is associated with enhanced strength and stiffness, which is ascribed to a change (from more to less hydrated) in the interphase. According to scanning electron and atomic force microscopy analysis, the reinforcing BT particles are homogenously dispersed on nano and micron scale within the TPS matrix.
Tensile resistance of an anchor plate with supplementary reinforcement
Authors: Bujňák Ján , Mečár Jakub , Bahleda František
Published: August 2018

The anchorage capacity of anchor plates under tensile loads is typically limited by the resistance of concrete against cone failure. This resistance can be increased by using supplementary reinforcement in the concrete member. Several authors cited in this paper have discussed the applicability of current normative design methods for a cost‐efficient design of anchor plates or headed anchors combined with supplementary reinforcement in the concrete member. A novel analytical approach has been recently developed by Sharma et al. (2017) to allow for a more efficient design of such anchorages. The applicability of the new analytical approach for the design a proprietary model of anchor plate is discussed in this paper.
Spin Transition and Charge Transfer in Co2+/Co3+ Complexes of Meridional Ligands Holding Nearby Redox‐active Triarylamine
Authors: Schnaubelt Linda , Petzold Holm , Speck J. Matthäus , Rüffer Tobias , Hörner Gerald , Lang Heinrich
Published: August 2018

Phenanthroline‐pyridyl bases containing a triarylamine (Tara) 1–4 and their respective Co2+ ([Co(L)2](ClO4)2, L = 1–4) and Co3+ complexes ([Co(L)2](ClO4)3–n(BF4)n, L = 2, 3) were prepared. The structure of [Co(3)2](ClO4)2 in the solid state was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry. The oxidation processes of [Co(L)2](ClO4)2 (L = 1–4) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The first oxidation step in [Co(L)2](ClO4)2 (L = 1–3) is chemically reversible and cobalt‐centered. This process is followed by the irreversible oxidation of the Tara units at higher potentials. In case of [Co(4)2](ClO4)2 the first oxidation is Tara‐centered and electrochemically reversible. The electronic coupling between the Co3+ ion and Tara in in‐situ prepared [Co(L)2]3+ (L = 2, 3) was investigated by UV/Vis/NIR spectroelectrochemistry. In spectra of in situ prepared [Co(L)2]3+ (L = 2, 3) ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) bands were found between 600–1250 nm, which were assigned to a charge transfer from the Tara to the Co3+ ion. Physical parameters (wavenumber ν̃max, extinction εmax, and full‐width at half‐maximum Δν1/2) of the charge transfer (CT) bands were obtained by deconvolution of the UV/Vis/NIR spectra. In addition analogous Co3+ complexes [Co(L)2]3+ (L = 2, 3) were isolated as the mixed BF4–/ClO4– salts. These compounds exhibit the same CT bands as observed in the in situ oxidation experiments.
Spherical branes
Authors: Bobev Nikolay , Bomans Pieter , Gautason Fridrik Freyr
Published: August 2018

Abstract

We construct new solutions of ten-dimensional supergravity with sixteen super-charges which describe the backreaction of Dp-branes with spherical worldvolume. These solutions are holographically dual to the (p+ 1)-dimensional maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory onSp+1. The finite size of the sphere provides an IR cut-off for the gauge theory which is manifested in the supergravity solution as a smooth cap-off of the geometry. In the UV the size of the sphere plays no role and the backgrounds asymptote to the well-known supergravity solutions that describe the near-horizon limit of flat Dp-branes. We compute the on-shell action of our spherical brane solutions and show that it is in agreement with recent supersymmetric localization results for the free energy of maximal SYM theory onSp+1.
Non-abelian lattice gauge theory with a topological action
Authors: Nogradi Daniel , Szikszai Lorinc , Varga Zoltan
Published: August 2018

Abstract

SU(2) gauge theory is investigated with a lattice action which is insensitive to small perturbations of the lattice gauge fields. Bare perturbation theory can not be defined for such actions at all. We compare non-perturbative continuum results with that obtained by the usual Wilson plaquette action. The compared observables span a wide range of interesting phenomena: zero temperature large volume behavior (topological susceptibility), finite temperature phase transition (critical exponents and critical temperature) and also the small volume regime (discrete β-function or step-scaling function). In the continuum limit perfect agreement is found indicating that universality holds for these topological lattice actions as well.
The Cost of Intramedullary Nailing Versus Skeletal Traction for Treatment of Femoral Shaft Fractures in Malawi: A Prospective Economic Analysis
Authors: Mustafa Diab Mohamed , Shearer David W. , Kahn James G. , Wu Hao‐Hua , Lau Brian , Morshed Saam , Chokotho Linda
Published: August 2018

Background

In many low‐ and middle‐income countries, non‐surgical management of femoral shaft fractures using skeletal traction is common because intramedullary (IM) nailing is perceived to be expensive. This study assessed the cost of IM nailing and skeletal traction for treatment of femoral shaft fractures in Malawi.

Methods

We used micro‐costing methods to quantify the costs associated with IM nailing and skeletal traction. Adult patients who sustained an isolated closed femur shaft fracture and managed at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi were followed from admission to discharge. Resource utilization and time data were collected through direct observation. Costs were quantified for procedures and ward personnel, medications, investigations, surgical implants, disposable supplies, procedures instruments and overhead.

Results

We followed 38 nailing and 27 traction patients admitted between April 2016 and November 2017. Nailing patient’s average length of stay (LOS) was 36.35 days (SD 21.19), compared to 61 (SD 18.16) for traction (p = 0.0003). The total cost per patient was $596.97 ($168.81) for nailing and $678.02 (SD $144.25) for traction (p = 0.02). Major cost drivers were ward personnel and overhead; both are directly proportional to LOS. Converting patients from traction to nailing is cost‐saving up to day 23 post‐admission.

Conclusion

Savings from IM nailing as compared with skeletal traction were achieved by shortened LOS. Although this study did not assess the effectiveness of either intervention, the literature suggests that traction carries a higher rate of complications than nailing. Investment in IM nailing capacity may yield substantial net savings to health systems, as well as improved clinical outcomes.
When Nothing is What it Seems: A Digital Marketing Research Agenda
Authors: de Ruyter Ko , Isobel Keeling Debbie , Ngo Liem Viet
Published: August 2018

Digital breakthroughs continue to challenge prevailing understandings of markets and marketing practices, bringing exciting opportunities to reimagine our offerings. Looking through the lens of digital surrealism, we identify key trends emerging in the field: (1) Is AR (Augmented Reality) for real?; (2) There is no better PR than GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation); (3) A persona is not a persona; (4) Min(e)d your language, and; (4 ¾) Raise your voice. Maybe. Based on these trends we develop an agenda for future research that enables the realization of the opportunities that the digital space offers.
Combination of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil in persistent proteinuria due to refractory childhood lupus nephritis
Authors: Almutairi Abdulaziz , Alkathiri Ziyad , Al-Mayouf Sulaiman M.
Published: August 2018

Background:

Children with lupus nephritis particularly, diffuse proliferative and membranous glomerulonephritis, may necessitate potent immunosuppressive medications and occasionally combined therapy.

Objective:

To report the beneficial effects of tacrolimus (TAC) in children with refractory lupus nephritis from a single tertiary pediatric rheumatology clinic.

Methods:

This is a retrospective case series of children with refractory lupus nephritis treated with TAC after failure of aggressive immunosuppressive treatment. All patients were evaluated at the time of initiation of TAC and at last follow-up visit by assessing the following response parameters: cSLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), urine protein/creatinine ratio, urine sediments, serum albumin, complement (C3 and C4), anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody levels, and renal function assessed by glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Results:

Three children (two girls and one boy) with lupus nephritis and persistent nephrotic-range proteinuria failed prednisone treatment as well as sequential treatment of cyclophosphamide, myco- phenolate mofetil (MMF), and rituximab. When TAC was administered along with MMF and prednisone, all patients showed improvement in response parameters, namely, SLEDAI, serum albumin, and proteinuria, and prednisone doses were significantly weaned off and discontinued in two patients. However, eGFR remained stable during the treatment period. TAC was well tolerated, and no adverse effects were observed.

Conclusion:

TAC combined with MMF can be considered as an alternative therapeutic option for children with refractory lupus nephritis particularly those with persistent nephrotic-range proteinuria.
Outcome following repeat haemorrhoid artery ligation surgery
Authors: Forouzanfar Amir , Smith Jonathan , Chapple Keith S.
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACT

Background:

Although the Haemorrhoid Artery Ligation (HAL) operation provides a low morbidity option in the surgical management of haemorrhoids, a significant proportion of patients (up to 30%) experience recurrence. Further surgery with repeat HAL is an option for this group of patients, yet the effectiveness of this repeat HAL surgery is unreported. Therefore, we investigated patient satisfaction following repeat HAL surgery after an unsatisfactory initial procedure.

Methods:

All patients undergoing repeat HAL surgery at a single institution were identified from a prospectively-maintained database. Patient satisfaction as clinical outcome following repeat surgery was determined. Data was also collected on the interval between primary and repeat HAL surgery, grade of operating surgeon, number of sutures inserted at both operations and 30-day post-operative complications.

Results:

A total of 548 patients underwent HAL surgery over a 4 year period. Of these, 29 (5%) patients (16 male, 13 female; median age 46 [range 16–64] years) underwent repeat HAL surgery. Four (14%) patients were lost to follow up. Of the remaining 25 patients, 15 (60%) patients were satisfied with their outcome, and 10 (40%) were dissatisfied with their outcome at a median of 189 days following repeat HAL surgery. Of the dissatisfied group, 6 (24%) did not request further surgical intervention and 4 (16%) underwent further surgery (open haemorrhoidectomy).

Conclusion:

Repeat HAL has a high success rate after failed primary HAL, especially if performed by a Consultant surgeon rather than a trainee. In those patients with recurrent symptoms after primary HAL, repeat HAL surgery should be considered as a feasible treatment option.

Highlights:
UNLIKELY INTERSECTIONS IN FINITE CHARACTERISTIC
Authors: SHANKAR ANANTH N. , TSIMERMAN JACOB
Published: August 2018

We present a heuristic argument based on Honda–Tate theory against many conjectures in ‘unlikely intersections’ over the algebraic closure of a finite field; notably, we conjecture that every abelian variety of dimension 4 is isogenous to a Jacobian. Using methods of additive combinatorics, we answer a related question of Chai and Oort where the ambient Shimura variety is a power of the modular curve.
Increased environmental sample area and recovery ofClostridium difficilespores from hospital surfaces by quantitative PCR and enrichment culture
Authors: Brown Kevin Antoine , MacDougall Laura K. , Valenta Kim , Simor Andrew , Johnstone Jennie , Mubareka Samira , Broukhanski George , Garber Gary , McGeer Allison , Daneman Nick
Published: August 2018

Objective

Clostridium difficilespores play an important role in transmission and can survive in the environment for several months. Optimal methods for measuring environmentalC. difficileare unknown. We sought to determine whether increased sample surface area improved detection ofC. difficilefrom environmental samples.

Setting

Samples were collected from 12 patient rooms in a tertiary-care hospital in Toronto, Canada.

Methods

Samples represented small surface-area and large surface-area floor and bedrail pairs from single-bed rooms of patients with low (without prior antibiotics), medium (with prior antibiotics), and high (C. difficileinfected) shedding risk. Presence ofC. difficilein samples was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) with targets on the 16S rRNA and toxin B genes and using enrichment culture.

Results

Of the 48 samples, 64·6% were positive by 16S qPCR (geometric mean, 13·8 spores); 39·6% were positive by toxin B qPCR (geometric mean, 1·9 spores); and 43·8% were positive by enrichment culture. By 16S qPCR, each 10-fold increase in sample surface area yielded 6·6 times (95% CI, 3·2–13) more spores. Floor surfaces yielded 27 times (95% CI, 4·9–181) more spores than bedrails, and rooms ofC. difficile–positive patients yielded 11 times (95% CI, 0·55–164) more spores than those of patients without prior antibiotics. Toxin B qPCR and enrichment culture returned analogous findings.

Conclusions

Clostridium difficilespores were identified in most floor and bedrail samples, and increased surface area improved detection. Future research aiming to understand the role of environmentalC. difficilein transmission should prefer samples with large surface areas.
From individual variation in energy intakes...to variations in energy requirements and adaptations to them
Authors: Goldberg Gail R.
Published: August 2018

Dr Widdowson and Professor McCance always expressed a great deal of interest in the inter-individual variability in their scientific data considering that extreme values often provided the most revealing results. Their interest developed as a result of Dr Widdowson’s studies of the individual diets of men, women and children conducted in the 1930s; she later used the phrase ‘nutritional individuality’ to describe between-individual variability in intake and expenditure (Widdowson, 1962). This paper continues Dr Widdowson’s theme of individual variability. It focuses on recent data which describe between-individual differences in daily energy expenditure, particularly the extremes, and also on the insights these have given into the measurements of energy intake (EI).
From absorption and excretion of minerals...to the importance of bioavailability and adaptation
Authors: Fairweather-Tait Susan J.
Published: August 2018

It was nearly 120 years ago that the physiologist Claude Bernard proposed that for an organism to function optimally the component cells must be surrounded by a medium of closely regulated composition (‘La fixité du milieu interne est la condition de la vie libre’). Homeostasis is the term used today to describe this phenomenon, being first coined by Walter B. Cannon in 1929 (Hardy, 1976). This is the underlying physiological principle that explains the relative chemical constancy of the body, including inorganic nutrients such as Fe.
From blackbirds and thrushes...to the gut-loaded cricket: a new approach to zoo animal nutrition
Authors: Allen Mary E.
Published: August 2018

Zoo animal nutritionists need to make decisions about diet composition for a wide variety of vertebrate species, including those with very specialized diets (dietary specialists). For some zoo species it is common to refer to the published literature on the nutrient requirements of analogous domestic animals, such as cattle, horses and cats, as well as human beings (Allen & Oftedal, 1996). When this information is combined with knowledge of natural history, feeding patterns, composition of foods consumed in the wild and gastrointestinal tract morphology, it is possible to develop a sound foundation for a successful feeding programme for many zoo animals.
L’avenir contextualiste du constructivisme métaéthique : le constructivisme humien amendé
Authors: MACLURE JOCELYN
Published: August 2018

Je défends dans ce texte une version particulière de la position que Sharon Street a appelée le «constructivisme humien». J’esquisserai pourquoi je considère que ce constructivisme est préférable à la fois au réalisme moral et au constructivisme kantien sur le plan de la compréhension du statut ontologique des valeurs. Après avoir accepté de reconnaître le rôle des pressions de l’évolution dans l’émergence de la moralité, le constructivisme humien doit toutefois préciser le rôle de l’intersubjectivité historique dans l’évolution subséquente de la morale. J’expliquerai aussi pourquoi je considère que l’intégration d’un volet cohérentiste au constructivisme permet d’atténuer les craintes concernant le caractère potentiellement non-cognitiviste des théories contextualistes. Enfin, j’esquisserai pourquoi l’idée d’un «espace des raisons morales» indépendant, à certains égards, de l’esprit humain est compatible avec le constructivisme humien.
Convergence in infinitary term graph rewriting systems is simple
Authors: BAHR PATRICK
Published: August 2018

Term graph rewriting provides a formalism for implementing term rewriting in an efficient manner by emulating duplication via sharing. Infinitary term rewriting has been introduced to study infinite term reduction sequences. Such infinite reductions can be used to modelnon-strict evaluation. In this paper, we unify term graph rewriting and infinitary term rewriting thereby addressing both components oflazy evaluation: non-strictness and sharing. In contrast to previous attempts to formalise infinitary term graph rewriting, our approach is based on a simple and natural generalisation of the modes of convergence of infinitary term rewriting. We show that this new approach is better suited for infinitary term graph rewriting as it is simpler and more general. The latter is demonstrated by the fact that our notions of convergence give rise to two independent canonical and exhaustive constructions of infinite term graphs from finite term graphs via metric and ideal completion. In addition, we show that our notions of convergence on term graphs are sound w.r.t. the ones employed in infinitary term rewriting in the sense that convergence is preserved by unravelling term graphs to terms. Moreover, the resulting infinitary term graph calculi provide a unified framework for both infinitary term rewriting and term graph rewriting, which makes it possible to study the correspondences between these two worlds more closely.
Selbststigmatisierung und soziale Integration bei Alkoholabhängigkeit
Authors: Stolzenburg Susanne , Tessmer Claudia , Melchior Hanne , Schäfer Ingo , Schomerus Georg
Published: August 2018

Zusammenfassung. Zielsetzung: Menschen mit Alkoholabhängigkeit werden im Vergleich zu Personen mit anderen psychischen Krankheiten besonders stark stigmatisiert. Selbststigmatisierung aufgrund der eigenen Alkoholabhängigkeit hat vielfältige soziale Folgen. Unter Anwendung von Corrigans progressivem Modell zur Selbststigmatisierung soll der Zusammenhang zwischen geringer sozialer Integration und Selbststigmatisierung bei Alkoholabhängigen näher untersucht werden. Methodik: Es wurden N = 86 Patienten mit Alkoholabhängigkeit interviewt. Dabei wurden ein objektives Maß zur sozialen Integration, eine Skala zur Selbststigmatisierung bei Menschen mit Alkoholabhängigkeit, eine Skala zur Erfassung der Schwere der Alkoholabhängigkeit und das Ausmaß an psychischer Belastung erfasst. Ergebnisse: Es zeigte sich ein signifikanter negativer Zusammenhang zwischen der Anwendung negativer Stereotype auf sich selbst und geringerer sozialer Integration, sowie zwischen dem Selbstwertverlust aufgrund der eigenen Alkoholabhängigkeit und der sozialer Integration. In allen Regressionsanalysen wurde für die konfundierenden Variablen psychische Belastung, Schwere der Alkoholerkrankung, Alter und Geschlecht kontrolliert. Schlussfolgerung: Selbststigmatisierung aufgrund der eigenen Alkoholabhängigkeit ist ein wichtiges Korrelat fehlender sozialer Integration oder sozialem Rückzug bei Menschen mit Alkoholabhängigkeit und sollte daher bei der psychotherapeutischen Behandlung berücksichtigt werden.
Differentiating Treatment-Seeking Substance-Use Disordered Patients: Support for a Staging Model
Authors: Rutten Ruud J. T. , Broekman Theo , van den Brink Wim , Schippers Gerard M.
Published: August 2018

Abstract. Background and Aims: Profiling according to a staging model could be useful for differentiating among the heterogeneous group of treatment-seeking substance use disorder (SUD) patients. The staging model that was evaluated in this study is analogous to the hierarchical Tumor-Nodes-Metastasis (TNM) model in oncology. The proposed model distinguishes profiles derived from the following stages of addiction: (0) addicted, but not severely; (1) severely addicted, but without psychiatric comorbidity or social disintegration; (2) severely addicted with psychiatric comorbidity, but with no social disintegration; and (3) severely addicted in combination with psychiatric comorbidity and social disintegration. Methods: We tested whether subgroups suggested by the staging model for SUDs could be identified among Dutch treatment-seeking SUD patients (N = 6,602). Results: The profile of 5,153 patients (80.9 %) fitted the staging model, and the model was invariant for age, sex, and primary substance of abuse. The majority of the patients not fitting the model (N = 906 of 1,202; 75.4 %) were not severely addicted but were in treatment or had recently been treated for a comorbid psychiatric disorder. When psychiatric treatment was removed as an indicator for the presence of psychiatric comorbidity, the fit increased to 87.1 %. Conclusions: These results support the validity of the hierarchical staging model, which may be used to match patients to specific treatment regimens.

Keywords: staging, profiling, disease progression, addiction severity, treatment-seeking patients, substance-use disorders
Pilotstudie zur Wirksamkeit einer multimodalen Gruppenbehandlung für Kinder mit einer Störung des Sozialverhaltens mit oppositionellem, aufsässigem Verhalten in der klinischen Grundversorgung
Authors: Wettach Ralph , Aebi Marcel
Published: August 2018

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Die Störung des Sozialverhaltens mit oppositionellem, aufsässigem Verhalten (SSV/OAV) ist eine häufige Störung des Kindesalters und oft Zuweisungsgrund an kinderpsychiatrische Kliniken. Die SSV/OAV zeigt sich in Form von erhöhter Reizbarkeit, Dickköpfigkeit und boshaften Verhaltensweisen. In dieser Pilotstudie sollen Hinweise auf die Wirksamkeit von kombinierten kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutischen Gruppeninterventionen – bei den Kindern das Baghira-Gruppentraining und bei deren Eltern das Triple P-Elterntraining – im Kontext der ambulanten kinderpsychiatrischen Grundversorgung geprüft werden. Methodik: 42 Kinder mit SSV/OAV erhielten die kombinierte Behandlung und wurden mit 26 unbehandelten Probanden einer Wartelistekontrollgruppe verglichen. Externalisierendes Problemverhalten sowie aggressives und regelverletzendes Verhalten wurden bei Behandlungsbeginn und -ende sowie nach sechs Monaten Katamnesezeitraum mittels der Fragebogenmethode bei Kindern, Eltern und Lehrpersonen erhoben. Ergebnisse: Im Vergleich zur Wartelistekontrollgruppe ergab sich bei den Kindern der Behandlungsgruppe zwischen Prä- und Posterhebung eine signifikante Abnahme der von den Eltern beurteilten externalisierenden Probleme und eine tendenziell signifikante Abnahme des von den Lehrpersonen berichteten regelverletzenden Verhaltens. Es wurden mittelgroße Effektstärken gefunden und die Effekte blieben über den Katamnesezeitraum stabil. Schlussfolgerungen: In dieser Pilotstudie zeigten sich die kombinierten Interventionen für die Behandlung von SSV/OAV in der ambulanten kinderpsychiatrischen Grundversorgung als wirksam und hilfreich. Zur Beurteilung der spezifischen Wirksamkeit des Baghira-Gruppentrainings sind weitere, umfangreichere Studien erforderlich.
Seasonal and Solar Cycle Variations of Thermally Excited 630.0 nm Emissions in the Polar Ionosphere
Authors: Kwagala Norah Kaggwa , Oksavik Kjellmar , Lorentzen Dag A. , Johnsen Magnar G. , Laundal Karl M.
Published: August 2018

Solar cycle and seasonal variations have been found in the occurrence of strong thermally excited 630.0 nm emissions in the polar ionosphere. Measurements from the European Incoherent Scatter Svalbard Radar have been used to derive the thermal emission intensity. Thermally excited emissions have been found to maximize at solar maximum with peak occurrence rate of ∼40% compared to ∼2% at solar minimum. These emissions also have the highest occurrence in equinox and the lowest occurrence rate in summer and winter. There is an equinoctial asymmetry in the occurrence rate which reverses with the solar cycle. This equinoctial asymmetry is attributed to variations of the solar wind‐magnetosphere coupling arising from the Russell‐McPherron effect. The occurrence rate of thermal excitation emission on the dayside, at Svalbard, has been found to be higher in autumn than spring at solar maximum and the reverse at solar minimum. Enhanced electron temperatures characterize the strong thermal component for solar minimum and winter, whereas enhanced electron densities characterize the thermal component for solar maximum. The results point to solar wind‐magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling as the dominant controlling process.
Introduction to NASA Living With a Star Institute Special Section on Low Earth Orbit Satellite Drag: Science and Operational Impact
Authors: Zhang Yongliang , Paxton Larry J. , Jones James C.
Published: August 2018

This paper provides a brief description of the NASA Living With a Star (LWS) Institute special section on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite drag: Science and operational impact. The goals of the LWS institute are to (a) review the current status of atmospheric drag research and operational concerns for LEO satellites, (b) identify and understand the major issues in atmospheric drag estimation, and (c) provide recommendations for future improvement in our ability to provide nowcasts of satellite drag. This special section presents the progress made by the 17 institute members of the 11 participating institutes from four countries as well as additional contributions from scientists who were not part of the original NASA LWS LEO drag team. Contributions cover topics in measurement and modeling of solar extreme ultraviolet inputs, thermospheric neutral density profiles, changes in composition and total density, and satellite conjunction and orbit prediction. Errors in the thermosphere density specification are the dominant source in uncertainty of LEO drag estimation and satellite conjunction. The consensus opinion is that significant funded future effort needs to address and improve measurements and modeling of the thermospheric neutral density and composition under different solar and geomagnetic conditions.
A growth factor-free culture system underscores the coordination between Wnt and BMP signaling in Lgr5+ intestinal stem cell maintenance
Authors: Li Yehua , Liu Yuan , Liu Bofeng , Wang Jilian , Wei Siting , Qi Zhen , Wang Shan , Fu Wei , Chen Ye-Guang
Published: August 2018

Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells (ISCs) drive the fast renewal of intestinal epithelium. Several signaling pathways have been shown to regulate ISC fates. However, it is unclear what are the essential signals to sustain the ISC self-renewal. Here we show that coordination between Wnt and BMP signaling activity is necessary and sufficient to maintain Lgr5+ ISCs self-renewal. The key function of R-spondin1 is to achieve a high activity of Wnt signaling in the organoid culture. Using the GSK3 inhibitor CHIR-99021 and the BMP type I receptor inhibitor LDN-193189, we can maintain Lgr5+ ISCs without growth factors in vitro. Our results define the basic signaling pathways sustaining Lgr5+ ISCs and set up a convenient and economical culture system for their in vitro expansion. This work also set up an example for growth factor-free culture of other adult stem cells.
Decoding topologically associating domains with ultra-low resolution Hi-C data by graph structural entropy
Authors: Li Angsheng , Yin Xianchen , Xu Bingxiang , Wang Danyang , Han Jimin , Wei Yi , Deng Yun , Xiong Ying , Zhang Zhihua
Published: August 2018

Submegabase-size topologically associating domains (TAD) have been observed in high-throughput chromatin interaction data (Hi-C). However, accurate detection of TADs depends on ultra-deep sequencing and sophisticated normalization procedures. Here we propose a fast and normalization-free method to decode the domains of chromosomes (deDoc) that utilizes structural information theory. By treating Hi-C contact matrix as a representation of a graph, deDoc partitions the graph into segments with minimal structural entropy. We show that structural entropy can also be used to determine the proper bin size of the Hi-C data. By applying deDoc to pooled Hi-C data from 10 single cells, we detect megabase-size TAD-like domains. This result implies that the modular structure of the genome spatial organization may be fundamental to even a small cohort of single cells. Our algorithms may facilitate systematic investigations of chromosomal domains on a larger scale than hitherto have been possible.
Author Correction: Metabolomics profiling reveals differential adaptation of major energy metabolism pathways associated with autophagy upon oxygen and glucose reduction
Authors: Weckmann Katja , Diefenthäler Philip , Baeken Marius W. , Yusifli Kamran , Turck Christoph W. , Asara John M. , Behl Christian , Hajieva Parvana
Published: August 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Identification of Urine Metabolites as Biomarkers of Early Lyme Disease
Authors: Pegalajar-Jurado Adoracion , Fitzgerald Bryna L. , Islam M. Nurul , Belisle John T. , Wormser Gary P. , Waller Kathlene S. , Ashton Laura V. , Webb Kristofor J. , Delorey Mark J. , Clark Rebecca J. , Molins Claudia R.
Published: August 2018

Metabolites detectible in human biofluids are attractive biomarkers for the diagnosis of early Lyme disease (ELD), a vector-borne infectious disease. Urine represents an easily obtained clinical sample that can be applied for diagnostic purposes. However, few studies have explored urine for biomarkers of ELD. In this study, metabolomics approaches were applied to evaluate small molecule metabolites in urine from patients with ELD (n = 14), infectious mononucleosis (n = 14) and healthy controls (n = 14). Metabolic biosignatures for ELD versus healthy controls and ELD versus infectious mononucleosis were generated using untargeted metabolomics. Pathway analyses and metabolite identification revealed the dysregulation of several metabolic processes in ELD as compared to healthy controls or mononucleosis, including metabolism of tryptophan. Linear discriminant analyses demonstrated that individual metabolic biosignatures can correctly discriminate ELD from the other patient groups with accuracies of 71 to 100%. These data provide proof-of-concept for use of urine metabolites as biomarkers for diagnostic classification of ELD.