bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Saliva Pepsin Detection and Proton Pump Inhibitor Response in Suspected Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Authors: Wang Ching‐Ping , Wang Chen‐Chi , Lien Han‐Chung , Lin Wen‐Jiun , Wu Shang‐Heng , Liang Kai‐Li , Liu Shih‐An
Published: September 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

To evaluate the prediction value of saliva pepsin detection for an 8‐week proton pump inhibitor (PPI) response in patients with a Reflux Symptoms Index (RSI) score ≥13, which indicates possible laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Study Design

Prospective individual single‐cohort study.

Methods

Patients were recruited who had experienced chronic laryngopharyngeal symptoms (RSI score ≥13) for more than 3 months after excluding other etiologies. The patients received PPI (40 mg of esomeprazole once daily) treatment for 8 weeks. Prior to treatment, the patients submitted saliva/sputum samples that were collected during the time symptoms were observed. The samples were taken for pepsin detection, and performed using the commercially available Peptest lateral flow device. The association of the Peptest results and PPI response were statistically analyzed with the χ2 test.

Results

Seventy‐four patients completed the study, and upon completion of PPI treatment, the mean RSI score was significantly reduced from 19.22 ± 5.18 to 8.99 ± 5.69. Forty‐four (59.5%) patients exhibited a good response as defined by an RSI score reduction ≥50%. The results of the Peptest were semiquantitatively graded as 0, 1, 2, 3 (negative, weak positive, moderate positive and strong positive, respectively) based upon the visual intensity of the test sample line as compared to the control line. Twenty‐four patients (32.4%) exhibited grade 3 strong positive results. The Peptest strong positive results (P < .05) were significantly associated with a good PPI response, with the positive predictive value being 79.2%.

Conclusions

Analysis of strong positive results for pepsin detection in saliva/sputum samples may be a useful, noninvasive method for predicting better PPI response in patients with suspected reflux induced chronic laryngopharyngeal symptoms.

Level of Evidence

2 Laryngoscope, 129:709–714, 2019
An Evaluation of the Program‐Specific Paragraph in the Otolaryngology Residency Application
Authors: Stepan Katelyn O. , Kaul Vivian F. , Raquib Aaishah R. , Kozin Elliott D. , Sethi Rosh K. , Malkin Benjamin D. , Gray Stacey T. , Teng Marita S.
Published: September 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

The recent addition of mandatory program‐specific paragraphs within the personal statement during the otolaryngology match process has been controversial. It is unclear whether applicants customize these paragraphs for programs, or if they are largely uniform across applications. The objective of our study was to assess the degree of variability among program‐specific paragraphs.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort analysis.

Methods

An analysis of deidentified program‐specific paragraphs of 2016 otolaryngology residency applicants at two institutions was performed. Applicants who applied to both and had program‐specific paragraphs were included. Paragraphs were assessed for 24 parameters, including quantitative content analysis. Subjective and objective similarity scores were assigned to each pair, using a five‐point scale and Levenshtein distance function respectively. Differences between institutions were calculated using χ2 and two‐sided t tests.

Results

Two hundred eight‐five applications were reviewed, and 181 applied to both programs and had program‐specific paragraphs. The median subjective similarity score among all paragraphs was “mildly similar” (2/5). The mean objective similarity score was 0.59. There were statistical differences between institutions in 13 parameters. One institution garnered more applicants who mentioned interest in research or global surgery (71.3% vs. 57.5%, P = .006; 17.7% vs. 4.4%, P < .0001, respectively), whereas the other attracted mention of clinical aspects and geographical ties (80.0% vs. 45.3%, P < .0001; 72.4% vs. 45.3%, P < .0001, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that applicants tailor program‐specific paragraphs to the individual residency programs. These findings may aid programs and students in understanding the role of this new element of the application.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 2508–2513, 2018
Mixing and internal dynamics of a medium‐size and deep lake near the Arctic Circle
Authors: Priet‐Mahéo M. C. , Ramón C. L. , Rueda F. J. , Andradóttir H. Ó.
Published: September 2018

The goal of the research was to identify the mixing features that distinguish wind forced, medium‐size fjord‐type lakes near the Arctic Circle from systems of similar geometry, but in a temperate climate. Experimental data and the results of 3D numerical hydrodynamic simulations were analyzed for Lake Lagarfljót (27 km long; 2 km wide; 110 m maximum depth; 65°N) during the 5‐month ice‐free period in 2009. The results showed that probably the most distinctive feature of arctic lakes is their low water column stability, one order of magnitude lower than that of mid‐latitude lakes, even in mid‐summer. The second characteristic is the high rate of energy imparted by wind in the Arctic, estimated as one order of magnitude larger than in a temperate climate. Frequent wind events with Lake and Wedderburn numbers below 1 occurred during the ice‐free period, leading to a strong shear at the base of the surface mixed‐layer and the upwelling of deep metalimnetic layers. As a result, nearly continuous density stratification developed in the shallowest 70 m of the water column, and longitudinal temperature gradients may therefore be very significant. On average, 15% of the wind forcing drove large‐scale internal motions. This energy was rapidly dissipated, partly as a result of stronger bottom velocities, nonlinear surges, and hydraulic jumps that repeatedly formed in the lake. The initial V1H1 setup rapidly evolved into spatially complex oscillatory modes, which, given the high latitude, are affected by the Earth's rotation, even in narrow basins.
Photoacclimation of Arctic Ocean phytoplankton to shifting light and nutrient limitation
Authors: Lewis K. M. , Arntsen A. E. , Coupel P. , Joy‐Warren H. , Lowry K. E. , Matsuoka A. , Mills M. M. , van Dijken G. L. , Selz V. , Arrigo K. R.
Published: September 2018

As the physical environment of the Arctic Ocean shifts seasonally from ice‐covered to open water, the limiting resource for phytoplankton growth shifts from light to nutrients. To understand the phytoplankton photophysiological responses to these environmental changes, we evaluated photoacclimation strategies of phytoplankton during the low‐light, high‐nutrient, ice‐covered spring and the high‐light, low‐nutrient, ice‐free summer. Field results show that phytoplankton effectively acclimated to reduced irradiance beneath the sea ice by maximizing light absorption and photosynthetic capacity. In fact, exceptionally high maximum photosynthetic rates and efficiency observed during the spring demonstrate that abundant nutrients enable prebloom phytoplankton to become “primed” for increases in irradiance. This ability to quickly exploit increasing irradiance can help explain the ability of phytoplankton to generate massive blooms beneath sea ice. In comparison, phytoplankton growth and photosynthetic rates are reduced postbloom due to severe nutrient limitation. These results advance our knowledge of photoacclimation by polar phytoplankton in extreme environmental conditions and indicate how phytoplankton may acclimate to future changes in light and nutrient resources under continued climate change.
Feature characterization of scarring and non‐scarring types of alopecia by multiphoton microscopy
Authors: Lin Jessica , Saknite Inga , Valdebran Manuel , Balu Mihaela , Lentsch Griffin , Williams Joshua N. , Koenig Karsten , Tromberg Bruce J. , Atanaskova Mesinkovska Natasha
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Non‐invasive visualization of hair follicles is important for proper diagnosis and management of alopecia; however, histological assessment remains the gold standard. Laser imaging technologies have made possible noninvasive in vivo evaluation of skin and hair follicle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of multiphoton microscopy (MPM) to non‐invasively identify morphological features that can distinguish scarring from non‐scarring alopecia.

Methods

MPM images were obtained from areas on the scalp affected by alopecia. Investigators blinded to the diagnosis analyzed hair follicle and shaft sizes. Patients were recruited and imaged at the UC Irvine Health Medical Center and the University of California, Irvine Beckman Laser Institute. Patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA), and scarring alopecia, in particular frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) were recruited and imaged from July 2016 to July 2017.

Results

We imaged 5 normal scalp subjects and 12 patients affected by non‐scarring (7 subjects) and scarring (5 subjects) alopecia. In normal and non‐scarring alopecia patients, MPM identified presence of sebaceous glands associated with hair follicles. MPM images of scarring alopecia were characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells surrounding hair follicles. Measurements of hair follicle diameter sizes were found to be significantly smaller in scarring alopecia patients compared to normal (P < 0.001) and compared to non‐scarring alopecia patients (P = 0.046); non‐scarring hair follicles were also significantly smaller than normal hair follicles (P = 0.043).

Conclusions

This study shows that MPM imaging can non‐invasively identify morphological features that distinguish scarring from non‐scarring alopecia. Further studies are needed to validate this technique and evaluate its potential to be used as an aid for guiding treatment. Lasers Surg. Med. 51:95–103, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Distinguishing Tumor From Bland Portal Vein Thrombus in Liver Transplant Candidates With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: the A‐VENA Criteria
Authors: Sherman Courtney B. , Behr Spencer , Dodge Jennifer L. , Roberts John P. , Yao Francis Y. , Mehta Neil
Published: September 2018

Differentiating tumor versus bland portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is essential in determining liver transplantation (LT) candidacy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to evaluate radiographic and clinical features that could noninvasively distinguish tumor PVT from bland PVT in HCC patients. Of 467 patients with HCC listed for LT from 2004 to 2011, 59 (12.6%) had PVT and 12 of 59 (20.3%) were deemed malignant. When comparing tumor versus bland PVT, thrombus enhancement was seen in 100% versus 8.5%; venous expansion was seen in 91.7% versus 10.6%; neovascularity was seen in 58.3% versus 2.1%; and being adjacent to HCC or prior treatment site was seen in 100% versus 21.3% (all P < 0.001). Combining these 4 imaging characteristics with alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) >1000 ng/dL, the presence of ≥3 criteria best characterized tumor PVT with 100% sensitivity, 93.6% specificity, 80% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value. No LT recipients with presumed bland PVT had macrovascular invasion on explant. There were no differences in post‐LT survival or HCC recurrence with bland PVT versus no PVT. In conclusion, we proposed noninvasive criteria that could accurately differentiate tumor PVT from bland PVT called A‐VENA, which is based on the presence of ≥3 of the following: AFP >1000 ng/dL; venous expansion; thrombus enhancement; neovascularity; and adjacent to HCC. Use of the A‐VENA criteria can assist in standardizing the evaluation of PVT in patients with HCC being considered for LT.
Scope and Limitations of the Dehydrogenative Generation of Graphenic Nanoribbons from Methylene‐Bridged, Aromatic Ladder Polymers
Authors: Ockfen Marie‐Claire , Forster Michael , Scherf Ullrich
Published: September 2018

A synthetic route to solubilized graphenic nanoribbons (GNRs) by oxidation of methylene‐bridged, aromatic ladder polymers is presented. Hereby, the ladder polymer precursors are finally 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (or DDQ) oxidized into the desired GNRs. However, a detailed UV–vis analysis shows already partial oxidation/dehydrogenation during aqueous work‐up under loss of ≈50% of the bridgehead hydrogens as well as some indications for overoxidation with DDQ under formation of quinoid carbonyl defects, additionally driven by a reduction of the number of quinoid (quinodimethane) structural units.
The algorithmic detection of pulse thunderstorms within a large, mostly non‐severe sample
Authors: Miller Paul W. , Mote Thomas L.
Published: September 2018

The accurate differentiation of pulse thunderstorms from benign weakly forced thunderstorms (WFTs) is both a historical and contemporary forecasting challenge. Little research has been directed toward WFTs, and the few existing efforts are characterized by small sample sizes and inflated proportions of pulse thunderstorms. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pulse thunderstorms can be successfully differentiated from non‐severe WFTs within a large, mostly non‐severe sample, a more operationally realistic scenario. Random forests, a decision‐tree‐based machine learning technique, was applied to radar, total lightning and environmental parameters of >84,000 WFTs, of which <1% were pulse thunderstorms. In particular, differential reflectivity (ZDR) fields were mined for occurrences of ZDR troughs, suggested by recent work as a reliable indication of impending downbursts.

The random forest identified pulse thunderstorms from the 84,000 storm sample with a critical success index (CSI) of 0.29. The CSI improved to 0.50 in a subset of the most active geographical regions and convective environments, outperforming the US National Weather Service (CSI = 0.35) for warnings issued on pulse thunderstorms. Unfortunately, the presence of ZDR troughs contributed little skill to the random forest. Although forming at higher rates in pulse thunderstorms (61%) than non‐severe WFTs (5.1%), trough‐possessing non‐severe WFTs were roughly 9× more common than pulse thunderstorms with the same feature.

Overall, the random forest shows promise as a potential decision aid for identifying pulse thunderstorms. Performance may be further improved if collinearity amongst the radar parameters and probable under‐reporting of severe weather can be overcome.
Correction to Beaufort‐estimated wind speeds over the Tropical Indian Ocean
Authors: Kameshwari Nunna , Udaya Bhaskar T. V. S. , Pattabhi Rama Rao E. , Jampana Venkata
Published: September 2018

The Beaufort Scale was used to estimate wind speeds (WSs) over oceans before the introduction of ship‐mounted anemometers. Beaufort‐estimated WSs form a major component of most historical data sets such as those of the International Comprehensive Ocean—Atmosphere Dataset (ICOADS) and data obtained from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The Beaufort‐estimated WSs in the individual records of the ICOADS and IMD data are based on the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 1100 scale, which gives biased WS equivalents. Corrections to this scale have been formulated to give better estimates of the WS. Among others, the corrections proposed by Da Silva and Lindau are found to give least bias. However, the correction scale derived by Da Silva has limited utility over the Indian Ocean. The present paper derives a correction explicitly for the Tropical Indian Ocean (30–100 ° E, 30 ° S–30 ° N) using individual records from the ICOADS and IMD unique data for the period 1985–2005. There is significant improvement in the agreement between Beaufort estimates and the anemometer‐measured WSs based on these corrections. The regression co‐efficients for the new scale are derived using annual and monthly data. The correction scale derived, which is based on the regression co‐efficients for July (July scale), gives less bias compared with the scales of other months. The slope differs by almost 17% when the new July scale is applied to the annual data when compared with the Da Silva scale; the bias showed a reduction from 0.52 to 0.08 m/s.
Solid snowfall rate estimation using a C‐band radar
Authors: Hassan Diar , Taylor Peter A. , Isaac George A.
Published: September 2018

Snow water‐equivalent (SWE) estimation is important for meteorologists and hydrologists, but solid snowfall estimation (snow depth) is essential for on‐duty meteorologists, the snow removal authorities and airports. Such an estimation can help meteorologists better quantify solid snowfall amounts and allow them to issue more accurate alerts to designated agencies, cities, municipalities, airports or the public. These agencies and the public are usually more interested in snow depth. Data from the dual‐polarimetric C‐band King City radar (CWKR) near Toronto in Ontario, Canada, and solid snowfall observations from nearby Oakville were used to establish radar‐based solid‐snowfall algorithms. A nonlinear regression analysis method was used to develop two power‐law algorithms to estimate solid snowfall rates (cm/hr): one used reflectivity and the other both reflectivity and differential reflectivity. These algorithms directly determine snowfall rates (which can be translated to snow accumulation on the ground or snow depth), in contrast to the conventional radar‐based technique of estimating the melted snowfall rate (mm/hr), before applying a constant snow–liquid ratio (SLR) to obtain the solid snowfall rate. Both new algorithms were similar at estimating solid snowfall rates and showed far superior results when compared with the one currently used by Environment Canada which uses a constant SLR of 10:1. Although there is no unique SLR for any geographical area, the solid and SWE ground measurements from Oakville suggests a higher SLR (14:1) as a better representative value than that currently assumed. Further validation of the algorithm requires frequent accurate solid snowfall data.
Investigating changes in cloud cover using the long‐term record of precipitation extremes
Authors: Mishra Anoop Kumar
Published: September 2018

Clouds are important in a climate system due to their impact on the radiation budget and precipitation. Changes in cloud cover are hard to infer due to lack of reliable long‐term cloud datasets. An attempt is made in this study to investigate the changes in cloud cover using the relationship between precipitation extremes and clouds. Heavy precipitation is associated with convective clouds while light precipitation occurs mostly with low clouds. The Global Precipitation and Climatology Project (GPCP) precipitation data are used in this study to relate the changes in heavy and light precipitation with those in convective and low cloud cover, respectively, from the Visible and Infrared Scanner data of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission available from 1998 to 2014. Slopes were derived between changes in precipitation extremes and cloud cover using monthly data. These slopes were applied to long‐term trends of precipitation extremes from GPCP data (1979–2016) to infer long‐term changes in convective and low cloud cover. Cloud cover derived using this technique shows substantial inter‐monthly and inter‐annual variability. The results show an increase of about 4.48 ± 1.9% per decade in convective cloud cover over tropical ocean (25 ° S–25 ° N). This is consistent with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) High Resolution Infrared Radiometer Sounder (HIRS) observations, which show an increase of about 5.04 ± 2.18% per decade in convective cloud cover over tropical ocean. In the present study an increasing trend of about 5.54 ± 2.07% in convective cloud cover over land (20 °–60 ° N) is also derived, which is comparable to the NOAA HIRS trend of about 6.57 ± 2.53% increase per decade. Decreases of about 3.52 ± 1.69% and 4.26 ± 1.48% per decade in low cloud cover over tropical ocean and northern mid‐latitude land, respectively, are reported and are consistent with decreases of about 3.05 ± 1.68% and 5.31 ± 2.22% from NOAA HIRS data over those regions.
Data Curation can Improve the Prediction Accuracy of Metabolic Intrinsic Clearance
Authors: Esaki Tsuyoshi , Watanabe Reiko , Kawashima Hitoshi , Ohashi Rikiya , Natsume‐Kitatani Yayoi , Nagao Chioko , Mizuguchi Kenji
Published: September 2018

A key consideration at the screening stages of drug discovery is in vitro metabolic stability, often measured in human liver microsomes. Computational prediction models can be built using a large quantity of experimental data available from public databases, but these databases typically contain data measured using various protocols in different laboratories, raising the issue of data quality. In this study, we retrieved the intrinsic clearance (CLint) measurements from an open database and performed extensive manual curation. Then, chemical descriptors were calculated using freely available software, and prediction models were built using machine learning algorithms. The models trained on the curated data showed better performance than those trained on the non‐curated data and achieved performance comparable to previously published models, showing the importance of manual curation in data preparation. The curated data were made available, to make our models fully reproducible.
Dictionary‐based electric properties tomography
Authors: Hampe Nils , Herrmann Max , Amthor Thomas , Findeklee Christian , Doneva Mariya , Katscher Ulrich
Published: September 2018

Purpose

To develop and validate a new algorithm called “dictionary‐based electric properties tomography” (dbEPT) for deriving tissue electric properties from measured B1 maps.

Methods

Inspired by Magnetic Resonance fingerprinting, dbEPT uses a dictionary of local patterns (“atoms”) of B1 maps and corresponding electric properties distributions, derived from electromagnetic field simulations. For reconstruction, a pattern from a measured B1 map is compared with the B1 atoms of the dictionary. The B1 atom showing the best match with the measured B1 pattern yields the optimum electric properties pattern that is chosen for reconstruction. Matching was performed through machine learning algorithms. Two dictionaries, using transmit and transceive phases, were evaluated. The spatial distribution of local matching distance between optimal atom and measured pattern yielded a reconstruction reliability map. The method was applied to reconstruct conductivity of 4 volunteers’ brains. A conventional, Helmholtz‐based Electric properties tomography (EPT) reconstruction was performed for reference. Noise performance was studied through phantom simulations.

Results

Quantitative values of conductivity agree with literature values. Results of the 2 dictionaries exhibit only minor differences. Somewhat larger differences are visible between dbEPT and Helmholtz‐based EPT. Quantified by the correlation between conductivity and anatomic images, dbEPT depicts brain details more clearly than Helmholtz‐based EPT. Matching distance is minimal in homogeneous brain ventricles and increases with tissue heterogeneity. Central processing unit time was approximately 2 minutes per dictionary training and 3 minutes per brain conductivity reconstruction using standard hardware equipment.

Conclusion

A new, dictionary‐based approach for reconstructing electric properties is presented. Its conductivity reconstruction is able to overcome the EPT transceive‐phase problem.
Bladder changes after catheterizable channel creation in adults with cerebral palsy who are in chronic urinary retention
Authors: Narayan Vikram M. , Pariser Joseph J. , Gor Ronak A. , Katorski Jenna , Elliott Sean P.
Published: September 2018

Aims

Cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by motor impairments as a result of brain injury during development. Patients can have neurogenic bladder dysfunction and are often unable to catheterize through their native urethra. Catheterizable channel (CC) creation can facilitate clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). We have observed that patients with large capacity, low‐pressure bladders can develop de novo neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) postoperatively. We sought to better characterize this finding.

Methods

We reviewed the charts of patients 17 years or older with CP seen between 2006 and 2017. Patients undergoing creation of any type of CC without augmentation cystoplasty, due to adequate storage on pre‐operative urodynamics (UDS), were included. Pre‐ and post‐operative UDS were reviewed. Frequency of incontinence and use of anticholinergics or intravesical injections of onabotulinum toxin A (Btx) were reviewed.

Results

Eight patients with CP underwent CC creation without augmentation. Preoperatively, six of eight patients were in chronic retention with two others performing CIC. Following CC creation, patients in retention required additional NDO management with anticholinergics, mirabegron, or onabotulinumtoxin A. Among those with complete UDS data, 67% demonstrated lower maximum cystometric capacity postoperatively. Median follow‐up was 25 months.

Conclusions

CC creation facilitates CIC in adults with CP who are in chronic retention due to pseudodyssynergia. Despite preoperative UDS suggesting an adequate capacity, low‐pressure bladder, such patients often manifest de novo NDO and worsening incontinence upon initiation of CIC after surgery. These findings should be considered when determining whether to perform augmentation at the time of CC in adults with CP.
Amyloid self‐assembling peptides: Potential applications in nanovaccine engineering and biosensing
Authors: Al‐Halifa Soultan , Babych Margaryta , Zottig Ximena , Archambault Denis , Bourgault Steve
Published: September 2018

Living organisms are an inestimable source of inspiration for the design of biomaterials and nanostructures for medical and technological applications. Amyloids, which were historically associated with diseases, have recently been recognized as a biological structure that performs vital physiological functions in host organisms, highlighting their potential as life‐inspired assemblies. Amyloids are highly organized proteinaceous assemblies characterized by a cross‐β‐sheet quaternary conformation. The mechanical, physical, and biological properties of amyloids suggest that these nanostructures hold great potential as soft materials, nanoparticles, and biomatrices. This potential is associated with many characteristics, including the spontaneous self‐assembly of many polypeptide sequences, high mechanical resistance, biocompatibility, biodegradability as well as thermal, chemical, and enzymatic stability. Moreover, peptide‐based amyloid assemblies can efficiently be obtained by standard solid phase peptide synthesis and orthogonally functionalized with a wide range of biomolecules, such as large proteins and DNA. In this review, after briefly introducing the amyloid structure and the mechanisms of self‐assembly, we describe approaches to identify and design short self‐assembling amyloidogenic peptides. Afterward, we introduce strategies used to functionalize amyloid materials and we highlight some relevant examples in the development of nanovaccines and biosensors.
NV‐Center Formation in Single Crystal Diamond at Different CVD Growth Conditions
Authors: Lobaev Mikhail A. , Gorbachev Alexei M. , Bogdanov Sergey A. , Vikharev Anatoly L. , Radishev Dmitry B. , Isaev Vladimir A. , Drozdov Mikhail N.
Published: September 2018

The nitrogen incorporation, diamond growth rate and fluorescence of as‐grown NV centers is studied at different CVD diamond growth conditions. Also, the influence of the misorientation angle is investigated. Heavily nitrogen doped layers are grown at different gas pressures and methane contents, with the maximum nitrogen concentration in the doped layer reaching 7 × 1019 cm−3. The ratio of NV center concentration to the total nitrogen content was determined. The studies are aimed to determine the conditions for creating ensembles with a high concentration of NV centers localized in diamond with nanometer accuracy.
Understand responsibilities under General Data Protection Regulations
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: September 2018

If international students from the European Union interact with any part of your website, your institution is subject to the E.U.'s comprehensive privacy rules, the General Data Protection Regulations, which went into effect May 25, 2018.
Tap into your greatest resources by learning to manage them better
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: September 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a student affairs administrator, your greatest resources sit right in front of you every day. But do you manage those resources in ways that allow your department to reap the full benefits?
Was student denied due process at disciplinary hearing?
Authors: Gelpi Aileen
Published: September 2018

Dr. Sean Park surrendered his California and Texas dental licenses in 2013 after allegedly admitting to billing and documentary irregularities. He was then accepted into a graduate program at Temple University Dental School.
High‐Quality Sequential‐Vapor‐Deposited Cs2AgBiBr6 Thin Films for Lead‐Free Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Ming , Zeng Peng , Bai Sai , Gu Jinwen , Li Faming , Yang Zhou , Liu Mingzhen
Published: September 2018

Lead‐free double perovskites have been demonstrated as promising alternatives to solve the toxicity and stability issues in conventional lead trihalide perovskites. However, different solubility of components in the precursors hinders fabrication of double perovskite films with commonly used solution procedures. Here, for the first time, the authors successfully prepared double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 thin films throughout a sequential‐vapor‐deposition procedure. The obtained thin films with pure double perovskite phase show large grain sizes, uniform, and smooth surface properties. In addition, the high‐quality vapor‐deposited Cs2AgBiBr6 films exhibit a photoluminescence (PL) lifetime of 117 ns, indicative of significant potential in photovoltaic applications. The resulting solar cells with planar device structure show an optimized power conversion efficiency of 1.37%, which can be maintained at 90% after 240 h of storage under ambient condition. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of employing vapor deposition technique to fabricate high‐quality double perovskite thin films, which paves the way for further development of various optoelectronic devices based on these promising lead‐free semiconductors.
Effect of hot Rolling and Cooling Conditions on the Microstructure, MA Constituent Formation, and Pipeline Steels Mechanical Properties
Authors: Kabanov Alexander , Korpala Grzegorz , Kawalla Rudolf , Prahl Ulrich
Published: September 2018

Two types of pipeline steels differentiated by the content of aluminum and silicon are produced during the pilot plant test with varying rolling temperature and accelerated cooling rate. Microstructures, MA constituent morphology, and mechanical properties of such materials are compared using digital and electron microscopy, tensile, and Charpy impact tests. Results show that low finishing rolling temperature stimulates MA constituent refinement. Cooling rate increase leads to MA constituent amount increase and refinement. Alloying with aluminum significantly stabilizes austenite and leads to MA constituent amount and size increase. Higher MA constituent amount has in most cases positive effect on plasticity without strength and impact toughness degradation.
Formal analysis of the kinematic Jacobian in screw theory
Authors: Shi Zhiping , Wu Aixuan , Yang Xiumei , Guan Yong , Li Yongdong , Song Xiaoyu
Published: September 2018

As robotic systems flourish, reliability has become a topic of paramount importance in the human–robot relationship. The Jacobian matrix in screw theory underpins the design and optimization of robotic manipulators. Kernel properties of robotic manipulators, including dexterity and singularity, are characterized with the Jacobian matrix. The accurate specification and the rigorous analysis of the Jacobian matrix are indispensable in guaranteeing correct evaluation of the kinematics performance of manipulators. In this paper, a formal method for analyzing the Jacobian matrix in screw theory is presented using the higher-order logic theorem prover HOL4. Formalizations of twists and the forward kinematics are performed using the product of exponentials formula and the theory of functional matrices. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to formally analyze the kinematic Jacobian using theorem proving. The formal modeling and analysis of the Stanford manipulator demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed approach to the formal verification of the kinematic properties of robotic manipulators.
The Limitations of Comparative Institutional Analysis
Authors: Blanchard Sadie
Published: September 2018

Atul Gawande's Checklist Manifesto became a sensation in 2009 because it promised that a simple technique could powerfully discipline decision-making. Gawande had saved lives using hospital checklists, and he argued that checklists could improve outcomes in other complicated endeavors. Checklists, he explained, “provide a kind of cognitive net. They catch mental flaws.” Neil Komesar's method of comparative institutional analysis is by necessity messier than the checklist and does not claim to produce faultless policy-making. But Komesar similarly seeks to improve cognitive processing by imposing a disciplining framework on decision-making. Sergio Puig and Gregory Shaffer's effort to introduce Komesar's technique to the debate about foreign investment law reform is welcome. Their emphasis on tradeoffs among institutional alternatives helps us to appreciate the different contexts facing different nation states, the value of regime competition, and consequently, the importance of implementing reforms in ways that preserve a variety of options for states. If they persuade commentators and policy-makers to take stock of the tradeoffs among institutional alternatives, Puig and Shaffer will have made a meaningful contribution. Still, their analysis illustrates some of the weaknesses of comparative institutional analysis. In this essay, I identify those weaknesses and suggest that they also weigh in pluralism's favor.
The Role of the State and the ISDS Trinity
Authors: Pearsall Patrick W.
Published: September 2018

In their article Imperfect Alternatives: Institutional Choice and Reform of Investment Law, Sergio Puig and Gregory Shaffer develop a clear and discerning comparative framework to evaluate alternatives to the current system of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). In her essay Incremental, Systemic, and Paradigmatic Reform of Investor-State Arbitration, Anthea Roberts offers us a bracingly candid typology to describe the various actors involved in the recent efforts toward reform. My essay is meant to complement these excellent contributions and to focus unflinchingly on the tripartite role of the state itself. What I call the ISDS Trinity can be understood as shorthand for the state's systemic role as (1) law-giver, (2) protector of investment, and (3) respondent. Looking at current and future design trade-offs, I suggest that whether an institutional choice is embraced within the ISDS system has a lot to do with how well the reform validates each of these three roles. In this way, the ISDS Trinity offers further insight into how each state will approach the various trade-offs and intercamp dynamics described by Puig and Shaffer, and by Roberts, within the current debate. Put another way, the ISDS Trinity sheds additional light on whether a reform to the system will be well-received by a state and thus enjoy a greater chance of adoption.
Neuromuscular Ultrasound: Clinical Applications and Diagnostic Values
Authors: Mah Jean K. , van Alfen Nens
Published: September 2018

Advances in high-resolution ultrasound have provided clinicians with unique opportunities to study diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Ultrasound complements the clinical and electrophysiology exam by showing the degree of abnormalities in myopathies, as well as spontaneous muscle activities in motor neuron diseases and other disorders. In experienced hands, ultrasound is more sensitive than MRI in detecting peripheral nerve pathologies. It can also guide needle placement for electromyography exam, therapeutic injections, and muscle biopsy. Ultrasound enhances the ability to detect carpal tunnel syndrome and other focal nerve entrapment, as well as pathological nerve enlargements in genetic and acquired neuropathies. Furthermore, ultrasound can potentially be used as a biomarker for muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy. The combination of electromyography and ultrasound can increase the diagnostic certainty of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aid in the localization of brachial plexus or peripheral nerve trauma and allow for surveillance of nerve tumor progression in neurofibromatosis. Potential limitations of ultrasound include an inability to image deeper structures, with lower sensitivities in detecting neuromuscular diseases in young children and those with mitochondrial myopathies, due to subtle changes or early phase of the disease. As well, its utility in detecting critical illness neuromyopathy remains unclear. This review will focus on the clinical applications of neuromuscular ultrasound. The diagnostic values of ultrasound for screening of myopathies, neuropathies, and motor neuron diseases will be presented.
Three-dimensional instability of a flow past a sphere: Mach evolution of the regular and Hopf bifurcations
Authors: Sansica A. , Robinet J.-Ch. , Alizard F. , Goncalves E.
Published: September 2018

A fully three-dimensional linear stability analysis is carried out to investigate the unstable bifurcations of a compressible viscous fluid past a sphere. A time-stepper technique is used to compute both equilibrium states and leading eigenmodes. In agreement with previous studies, the numerical results reveal a regular bifurcation under the action of a steady mode and a supercritical Hopf bifurcation that causes the onset of unsteadiness but also illustrate the limitations of previous linear approaches, based on parallel and axisymmetric base flow assumptions, or weakly nonlinear theories. The evolution of the unstable bifurcations is investigated up to low-supersonic speeds. For increasing Mach numbers, the thresholds move towards higher Reynolds numbers. The unsteady fluctuations are weakened and an axisymmetrization of the base flow occurs. For a sufficiently high Reynolds number, the regular bifurcation disappears and the flow directly passes from an unsteady planar-symmetric solution to a stationary axisymmetric stable one when the Mach number is increased. A stability map is drawn by tracking the bifurcation boundaries for different Reynolds and Mach numbers. When supersonic conditions are reached, the flow becomes globally stable and switches to a noise-amplifier system. A continuous Gaussian white noise forcing is applied in front of the shock to examine the convective nature of the flow. A Fourier analysis and a dynamic mode decomposition show a modal response that recalls that of the incompressible unsteady cases. Although transition in the wake does not occur for the chosen Reynolds number and forcing amplitude, this suggests a link between subsonic and supersonic dynamics.
A vortex-dynamical scaling theory for flickering buoyant diffusion flames
Authors: Xia Xi , Zhang Peng
Published: September 2018

The flickering of buoyant diffusion flames is associated with the periodic shedding of toroidal vortices that are formed under gravity-induced shearing at the flame surface. Numerous experimental investigations have confirmed the scaling,$f\propto D^{-1/2}$, where$f$is the flickering frequency and$D$is the diameter of the fuel inlet. However, the connection between the toroidal vortex dynamics and the scaling has not been clearly understood. By incorporating the finding of Gharibet al.(J. Fluid Mech., vol. 360, 1998, pp. 121–140) that the detachment of a continuously growing vortex ring is inevitable and can be dictated by a universal constant that is essentially a non-dimensional circulation of the vortex, we theoretically established the connection between the periodicity of the toroidal vortices and the flickering of a buoyant diffusion flame with small Froude number. The scaling theory for flickering frequency was validated by the existing experimental data of pool flames and jet diffusion flames.
Nutrition and listeriosis during pregnancy: a systematic review
Authors: Moran L. J. , Verwiel Y. , Bahri Khomami M. , Roseboom T. J. , Painter R. C.
Published: September 2018

Listeriosis is a rare but severe foodborne illness which is more common in populations such as pregnant women, and can result in serious complications including miscarriage, prematurity, maternal and neonatal sepsis, and death in the newborn. Population recommendations exist for specific foods and food preparation practices to reduce listeriosis risk during pregnancy. The aim of the present systematic review was to assess the association between listeriosis and these practices during pregnancy to confirm appropriateness of these recommendations. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science Core Collection, included articles’ references, and contacted clinical experts. All databases were searched until July 2017. Case–control and cohort studies were included which assessed pregnant women or their newborn offspring with known listeriosis status and a nutritional exposure consistent with international population recommendations for minimising listeriosis. Outcomes included listeriosis with or without pregnancy outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed through the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Results were described narratively due to clinical heterogeneity in differences in nutritional exposures. Eleven articles comprising case–control or cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria. Cases of maternal, fetal or neonate listeriosis were more likely to have consumed high-risk dairy products, meat products or some fruits during pregnancy in comparison with women without listeriosis. Cases of listeriosis were more likely to have consumed foods that are highlighted in population guidelines to avoid to minimise listeriosis in comparison with those without listeriosis during pregnancy. Further research is warranted assessing means of improving the reach, uptake and generalisability of population guidelines for reducing listeriosis during pregnancy.
Guarding Traditions and Laws—Disciplining Bodies and Souls: Tradition, science, and religion in the age of Ottoman reform
Authors: YAYCIOGLU ALI
Published: September 2018

This article examines the religious and intellectual dynamics behind the Ottoman military reform movement, known as the New Order, in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Conventionally, the New Order has been examined within the framework of the Westernization of Ottoman military and administrative institutions. The Janissary-led popular opposition to the New Order, on the other hand, has been understood as a conservative resistance, fashioned by Muslim anti-Westernization. This article challenges this assumption, based on a binary between Westernization reforms versus Islamic conservatism. It argues that the Janissary-led popular opposition, which was consolidated long before the New Order, developed as a form of resistance by antinomian elements blocking the top-down disciplinary policies of the central state throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The New Order programme, which was unleashed in 1792, was also opposed by the Janissary-led coalition, on the basis that it would wipe out vested privileges and traditions. Supporting the New Order, we see a coalition and different intellectual trends, including: (i) theEuro-Ottoman military enlightenment, led by military engineers and scientists, which developed an agenda to reorganize and discipline the social-military order with universal principles of military engineering and (ii)Islamic puritan activism, which developed an agenda to rejuvenate the Muslim order by eliminating invented traditions, and to discipline Muslim souls with the universal principles of revelation and reason. While the Euro-Ottoman military enlightenment participated in military reform movements in Europe, Islamic activism was part of a trans-Islamic Naqshibandi-Mujaddidi network originating in India. We thus witness a discursive alliance between military enlightenment and Muslim activism, both of which had trans-Ottoman connections, against a Janissary-led popular movement, which mobilized resistance to protect local conventions and traditions.
Code word usage in the online ivory trade across four European Union member states
Authors: Alfino Sara , Roberts David L.
Published: September 2018

Illegal wildlife trade is a rapidly evolving environmental crime that is expanding through e-commerce. Because of the nature of the internet, detection of online illegal wildlife and enforcement has proven to be difficult and time-consuming, often based on manual searches through the use of keywords. As a result of scrutiny, traders in elephant ivory now use code words to disguise the trade, thus adding an additional level of complexity. Here we look at the use of 19 code words and phrases associated with the online trade in elephant ivory items on eBay across four European Union (EU) member states. Results show that, in spite of eBay's ban on ivory, elephant ivory is still being offered for sale across all four sites we searched (183 ivory items offered by 113 sellers during 18 January–5 February 2017). Beyond the violation of eBay's Terms and Conditions, other potential illegalities included offers for sale across international borders without mention of CITES permit requirements, and the offer of ivory that may be considered unworked, which violates EU regulations. Code word usage was found to be consistent across all four EU countries. Although the rise of online wildlife trade is of concern, the growth of global markets may homogenize conventions within trading communities, such as in this case the code words used. Homogenization of conventions may therefore offer opportunities for tackling the illegal online trade in wildlife.
NumerousFasciolaplasminogen-binding proteins may underlie blood-brain barrier leakage and explain neurological disorder complexity and heterogeneity in the acute and chronic phases of human fascioliasis
Authors: González-Miguel J. , Valero M. A. , Reguera-Gomez M. , Mas-Bargues C. , Bargues M. D. , Simón F. , Mas-Coma S.
Published: September 2018

Human fascioliasis is a worldwide, pathogenic food-borne trematodiasis. Impressive clinical pictures comprising puzzling polymorphisms, manifestation multifocality, disease evolution changes, sequelae and mortality, have been reported in patients presenting with neurological, meningeal, neuropsychic and ocular disorders caused at distance by flukes infecting the liver. Proteomic and mass spectrometry analyses of theFasciola hepaticaexcretome/secretome identified numerous, several new, plasminogen-binding proteins enhancing plasmin generation. This may underlie blood-brain barrier leakage whether by many simultaneously migrating, small-sized juvenile flukes in the acute phase, or by breakage of encapsulating formations triggered by single worm tracks in the chronic phase. Blood-brain barrier leakages may subsequently occur due to a fibrinolytic system-dependent mechanism involving plasmin-dependent generation of the proinflammatory peptide bradykinin and activation of bradykinin B2 receptors, after different plasminogen-binding protein agglomeration waves. Interactions between diverse parasitic situations and non-imbalancing fibrinolysis system alterations are for the first time proposed that explain the complexity, heterogeneity and timely variations of neurological disorders. Additionally, inflammation and dilation of blood vessels may be due to contact system–dependent generation bradykinin. This baseline allows for search of indicators to detect neurological risk in fascioliasis patients and experimental work on antifibrinolytic treatments or B2 receptor antagonists for preventing blood-brain barrier leakage.