bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospective multi‐institutional transnasal esophagoscopy: Predictors of a change in management
Authors: Howell Rebecca J. , Pate Mariah B. , Ishman Stacey L. , Isseroff Tova F. , Rubin Adam D. , Soliman Ahmed M. , Postma Gregory N. , Pitman Michael J.
Published: August 2016

Objectives/Hypothesis

To evaluate clinical indications and endoscopic findings for patients undergoing transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE).

Study Design

Prospective, multi‐institutional, observational cohort study at four tertiary centers.

Methods

Demographics, reflux finding score, reflux symptom index, Eating Assessment Tool (EAT‐10) scores, clinical indications, and endoscopic findings were compared among patients whose TNE findings resulted in a changes in management (FCIM), defined as a referral, new medication, or surgery recommendation.

Results

Of the 329 patients who were enrolled nine (3%) were unable to complete the exam. In an adjusted regression model, male gender and elevated body mass index were significantly predictive of a positive TNE (P =.013‐.045); 51% (n = 162/319) had TNE with FCIM. Common FCIM were esophageal stricture (7.5%), irregular Z‐line (27.4%), reflux esophagitis (12.8%), and infectious esophagitis (6.3%) (P <.001‐.010). Overall, the average EAT‐10 was higher for patients with FCIM (9.7 vs. 5.4) than in those without it (P =.014). Patients with a history of head and neck cancer (HNCA) had FCIM 64% of the time, which rose to 81% if they had both HNCA and dysphagia.

Conclusions

In treatment‐seeking patients TNE is predictive of a change in management in males and obese patients. In patients with HNCA and dysphagia, TNE is likely to yield findings that cause a change in management.

Level of Evidence

2b. Laryngoscope, 126:2667–2671, 2016
Gender specific association of TP53 polymorphisms (EX4 215G>C Arg72Pro, IVS3+40‐41ins16, and IVS6+62G>A), with risk of oral cancer subtypes and overall survival of the patients
Authors: Nagam Srivani L.S.S. , Katta Saritha , Prasad Vidudala V.T.S
Published: August 2016

Reports on the association of TP53 polymorphisms with oral cancer are not only limited but also not specific to site and/or gender. Hence, we examined the effect of TP53 polymorphisms (EX4 215G>C, IVS3+40‐41ins16 and IVS6+62G>A) on buccal mucosa cancer (BMC) and tongue cancer (TC) risk, survival of patients in relation to risk and clinical factors, gender wise (excepting for estimating hazards ratio [HR]), using Fisher's Exact Test, Kaplan–Meier analysis, and Cox‐proportional hazards models. The exonic polymorphism increased BMC and TC risk in males by 2–4‐fold. The IVS3+40‐41ins16 was protective against BMC and TC in both genders, whereas IVS6+62G>A protected only males against TC. Genotype combinations and haplotypes which altered the risk of cancers in males and females were different. TC males, aged 40–44 years and females, aged 55–59 years survived better than BMC patients. The IVS3+40‐41ins16 polymorphism differentially impacted survival of female patients exposed to tobacco. TC patients with EX4 215GC with lymphovascular spread (LVS) and metastasis exhibited higher HR while, patients with EX4 215CC and perineural invasion (PNI) showed lower HR. Impact of the intronic variants along with clinical parameters on survival and HR estimates varied between BMC and TC. Our bioinformatics analysis revealed the presence of CTCF binding site within TP53 gene. In conclusion, the polymorphisms altered risk and survival of BMC and TC in a gender specific manner, which varied with mode of tobacco and/or alcohol use. The current study, therefore underscores strong need for research, stratified by tumor site and gender. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Designing networks: A mixed‐integer linear optimization approach
Authors: Gounaris Chrysanthos E. , Rajendran Karthikeyan , Kevrekidis Ioannis G. , Floudas Christodoulos A.
Published: August 2016

Designing networks with specified collective properties is useful in a variety of application areas, enabling the study of how given properties affect the behavior of network models, the downscaling of empirical networks to workable sizes, and the analysis of network temporal evolution. Despite the importance of the task, there currently exists a gap in our ability to systematically generate networks that adhere to theoretical guarantees for the given property specifications. In thisarticle, we propose the use of Mixed‐Integer Linear Optimization modeling and solution methodologies to address this Network Generation Problem. We present useful modeling techniques and apply them to mathematically express and constrain a broad class of network properties in the context of an optimization formulation. We derive complete formulations for the generation of networks that attain specified levels of connectivity, spread, assortativity and robustness, and we illustrate these via a number of computational case studies. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 68(4), 283–301 2016
Predict enrollment spikes and declines using state and federal employment data
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: August 2016

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — What metrics do you use to accurately plan for and predict the ebbs and flows of adult student enrollment your institution will see, years into the future? At the Society for College and University Planning annual conference, Matt Wetstein, assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction and planning at San Joaquin Delta College in California, shared the information‐gathering procedures he used to analyze data regarding the economic impact on enrollment numbers to more accurately predict enrollment declines and surges. “Conventional wisdom tells us that state higher education enrollments are driven by the state revenue economy,” Wetstein said. “We wanted to figure out if that was true and what that meant for our institution.” Read on to learn how to forecast your institutional enrollment so as to ensure accurate expectations for your administrative leadership teams.
Students Speak/Resources
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: August 2016

Students Speak

Nontraditional course offerings lead to career advancements

Resources

Student debt affects earnings, wealth

Offer students access to federal loans

Student enrollment down nationwide
Poly(trimethylene carbonate) and nano‐hydroxyapatite porous scaffolds manufactured by stereolithography
Authors: Guillaume O. , Geven M. A. , Grijpma D. W. , Tang T.T. , Qin L. , Lai Y.X. , Yuan H. , Richards R. G. , Eglin D.
Published: August 2016

Designing calcium phosphate‐loaded polymeric porous scaffolds with controlled architecture using stereolithography (SLA) has great potential in the field of bone tissue engineering. However, the use of poly(ester)s with suboptimal degradation property has mainly been reported. In the present work, we introduced a poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) and nano‐hydroxyapatite (HA) resin suitable for SLA manufacturing and created cytocompatible 3D porous structure. First, the resin formulation and HA content were optimized for photo‐crosslink‐based SLA fabrication process. Subsequently, we evaluated the influence of the resin composition on physico‐chemical characteristics of fabricated films and scaffolds. Then, the influence of the biomaterial composition on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell viability, adhesion and proliferation was assessed. Films and macroporous scaffolds were successfully produced by photo‐crosslinking with up to 40 wt% of HA (relative to PTMC). We demonstrated that addition of HA in PTMC matrices induced a direct effect on the surface properties, in terms of wettability and topography. Additionally, mechanical tests revealed a correlation between the amounts of HA loaded in PTMC and the stiffness of the SLA‐fabricated scaffolds. Importantly, the different photo‐crosslinked biomaterials exhibited in vitro cytocompatibility, similar to tissue culture polystyrene. Those data suggest the possibility to fabricate highly tunable HA‐loaded PTMC 3D porous structures for bone tissue engineering application. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychosocial outcomes of an electronic self‐report assessment and self‐care intervention for patients with cancer: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Fann Jesse R. , Hong Fangxin , Halpenny Barbara , Blonquist Traci M. , Berry Donna L.
Published: August 2016

Background

The use of Web‐based technology to facilitate self‐care and communication with health care providers has the potential to improve psychosocial outcomes for patients undergoing cancer treatment. This study reports an analysis of psychosocial outcomes of the electronic self‐report assessment for cancer study.

Methods

Adult patients starting cancer therapy were randomized to receive usual education about symptoms and quality of life topics (control) or usual education plus self‐care instruction for symptoms and quality of life issues, communication coaching, and the opportunity to track symptoms and quality of life between clinic visits (intervention). Depression (Patient Health Questionnaire‐9) and social, emotional, and role functioning (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Core 30 subscales) were measured before treatment (T1), 3 to 6 weeks after starting treatment (T2), 2 weeks later (T3), and 2 to 4 weeks after treatment ended or at the next restaging visit for participants who continued to receive treatment (T4). Clinicians received summaries of participant reports at each time point in both groups.

Results

In multivariable analysis, the depression scores were significantly lower (P = .04) and there was a trend to higher social and role functioning (P = .07) in the intervention group compared with the control. Working status was significantly associated with lower depression and better social and role functioning.

Conclusions

A patient‐centered, Web‐based intervention that facilitates self‐care and communication can improve psychosocial outcomes in the cancer setting.
Model‐Based Assessment of Alternative Study Designs in Pediatric Trials. Part II: Bayesian Approaches
Authors: Smania G , Baiardi P , Ceci A , Cella M , Magni P
Published: August 2016

This study presents a pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic based clinical trial simulation framework for evaluating the performance of a fixed‐sample Bayesian design (BD) and two alternative Bayesian sequential designs (BSDs) (i.e., a non‐hierarchical (NON‐H) and a semi‐hierarchical (SEMI‐H) one). Prior information was elicited from adult trials and weighted based on the expected similarity of response to treatment between the pediatric and adult populations. Study designs were evaluated in terms of: type I and II errors, sample size per arm (SS), trial duration (TD), and estimate precision. No substantial differences were observed between NON‐H and SEMI‐H. BSDs require, on average, smaller SS and TD compared to the BD, which, on the other hand, guarantees higher estimate precision. When large differences between children and adults are expected, BSDs can return very large SS. Bayesian approaches appear to outperform their frequentist counterparts in the design of pediatric trials even when little weight is given to prior information from adults.
Modified coffee rings for quasi‐1D interconnects
Authors: Martínez‐Miranda Luz J. , Blyskal Andrew , Michaels Christina K.
Published: August 2016

Silver nanowires (AgNW) in solution with isopropyl alcohol are deposited on photolithographed gratings of varying depth. The deposition results in a modified coffee ring where the flow is redirected along the grating direction. We investigate the anisotropic character of the flow by performing electrical measurements at different concentrations of the nanowires, and for each of the grating depths used. We measure the electrical current along the directions perpendicular and parallel to the gratings. The current anisotropy tends to disappear at higher concentrations. The flow arranges the NW's into a 2D anisotropic arrangement by analyzing how the electrical percolation behaves. By observing the properties this 2D anisotropic arrangement as a function of concentration and grating depth, we can predict where a quasi‐1D interconnect can be obtained.
Response to: “Comment on benchmarking compressed sensing, super‐resolution, and filter diagonalization”
Authors: Markovich Thomas , Blau Samuel M. , Sanders Jacob N. , Aspuru‐Guzik Alán
Published: August 2016

In light of a recent comment by Vladimir Mandelshtam, we provide a brief, theoretically motivated, justification of our methodology. We show that our
error metric provides a valid lower bound for the parameter estimation error through both exact calculations and numerical examples. Additionally, we prove the validity of Parseval?s identity.
Modification of CeO2 and its effect on physical and mechanical properties of gamma irradiated EPDM rubber nanocomposite contain montmorillonite modified nanoclay
Authors: Abdel‐Aziz Mohamed Mansour , Amer Hany A. , Atia Mona K. , Rabie Abdel gwaed Mohamed
Published: August 2016

The modified CeO2 was prepared by a chemical surface modification method. The action of CeO2 powders in EPDM composites contain 10 phr modified clay was studied. The effects of content and surface modification of CeO2 powders on the properties of the EPDM composites containing 10 phr modified clay rubber was discussed. The results showed that the mechanical, volume resistivity and thermal properties of EPDM rubber filled with the modified CeO2 increased by loading of modified CeO2. And the tensile strength of EPDM composites containing modified CeO2 is higher than that with the unmodified CeO2. The surface of modified CeO2 powders had a hydrophobic organized layer which could increase interface cohesion with the rubber and dispersity in rubber resulting in exerting reinforcement effect. The effect of coagent on the physical and thermal properties of EPDM rubber composites was studied. The results showed that the physical and thermal properties of EPDM rubber composites increased with the addition of the coagent due to the increase of the crosslinking density. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:E201–E210, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Mortality Related to Appendectomy; a Population Based Analysis over Two Decades in Finland
Authors: Kotaluoto Sannamari , Ukkonen Mika , Pauniaho Satu‐Liisa , Helminen Mika , Sand Juhani , Rantanen Tuomo
Published: August 2016

Object

To define the mortality rate of appendectomy patients and appendectomy‐related risk factors.

Background

Appendectomy has been considered as a safe operation and negative appendectomies acceptable in order to avoid perforations. There are few publications on appendectomy‐related mortality. Removal of a normal appendix has been suggested to be related to a higher mortality rate versus removal of an inflamed appendix.

Methods

Data on all appendectomy patients between 1990 and 2010 in Finland were retrieved from the Discharge Register of the National Institute for Health and Welfare and combined with data from the Death Certificate Register of Statistics Finland. Thirty‐day mortality was identified and compared with overall mortality. Detailed information from death certificates of patients dying within 30‐day post‐surgery was collected and analyzed.

Results

Over the study period, the thirty‐day post‐appendectomy mortality rate was 2.1/1000. Increased mortality was found in patients over 60 years of age. Negative appendectomy and complicated appendicitis were related to mortality. The negative appendectomy rate was higher in patients older than 40 years of age. During the study period, both mortality and the rate of negative appendectomies decreased, while the rate of laparoscopic appendectomies increased.

Conclusions

Post‐appendectomy mortality is related to both negative appendectomies and complicated appendicitis. Diagnostic accuracy is fundamental in the care of patients with acute appendicitis, especially in the elderly. Improved diagnostic accuracy may have reduced mortality over the last two decades in Finland.
Overexpressing target helper genes enhances secretion and glycosylation of recombinant proteins in Pichia pastoris under simulated microgravity
Authors: Huangfu Jie , Xu Yinghua , Li Chun , Li Jun
Published: August 2016

In this study, the potential helper genes were identified through the data analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic profiling in recombinant Pichia pastoris cultured under simulated microgravity (SMG). Co-expressing of four genes PRX1, YAP1, AHA1, and YPT6, involved in the oxidative stress response and protein folding, exhibited promising helper factor effects on the recombinant protein yields in engineered P. pastoris, respectively. When two of the above genes were co-expressed simultaneously, β-glucuronidase (PGUS) specific activity was further increased by 30.3–50.6 % comparing with that of single helper gene, particularly when the oxidative stress response and protein folding genes were both present in the combinations. In addition, co-expressing co-chaperone AHA1 and transcription factor YAP1 not only enhanced PGUS secretion, but also affected its glycosylation. Thus, through deep “omics” analysis of SMG effects, our results provided combined impact of new helper factors to improve the efficacy of recombinant protein secretion and glycosylation in engineered P. pastoris.
Composition and Structure of Single Cell Oil Produced by Schizochytrium limacinum SR31
Authors: Zhang Tao , Lou Fei , Tao Guanjun , Liu Ruijie , Chang Ming , Jin Qingzhe , Wang Xingguo
Published: August 2016

Schizochytrium limacinum sp. was commercially utilized to produce single cell oil (SCO), but its detailed lipid profile remains unknown. In order to analyze the composition and structure of SCO produced by Schizochytrium limacinum SR31, the SCO extracted at stationary growth phase was separated into neutral lipids (NL), polar lipids and glycolipids by using silica gel column chromatography. The result of lipid classes in NL revealed that triacylglycerol (TAG) was the primary glyceride (93.81 %). Fatty acid (FA) analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometer (GC–MS) proved that palmitic acid (29.78 %) and docosahexaenoic acid (25.64 %) were the major FA. Quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry in electrospray ionization mode coupled with ultra‐performance liquid chromatography was carried out to investigate TAG structures. More than 80 species were identified. Positional distribution of FA in TAG might contribute to further study of the FA shifts during the lipid turnover stage and nutritional evaluation of the SCO.
Compartment syndrome in infants and toddlers
Authors: Broom Alexander , Schur Mathew D. , Arkader Alexandre , Flynn John , Gornitzky Alex , Choi Paul D.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

To study the cause, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of acute compartment syndrome in infants and toddlers aged <3 years.

Methods

Fifteen patients aged <3 years with acute compartment syndrome were identified from two large pediatric trauma centers over a fifteen-year period. All children underwent fasciotomy. The mechanism of injury, time of injury, time to diagnosis, compartment pressures, time to fasciotomy, and outcome at the time of the latest follow-up were recorded.

Results

Nine (60 %) of fifteen patients developed compartment syndrome secondary to trauma, four (4/15, 27 %) due to infection, and two (2/15, 13 %) due to intravenous infiltration. The average time from injury or hospital admission to fasciotomy was 31.8 h (range 2.9–136.3 h). In general, the functional outcome was excellent at the latest follow-up with thirteen (13/15, 87 %) patients having an excellent outcome. No cases of Volkmann's ischemia were noted at the time of fasciotomy, even when performed as late as 5 days after injury.

Conclusions

Compared to the general pediatric population, the diagnosis of compartment syndrome in infants and toddlers may be further delayed, i.e., >24 h after injury. Despite delays in diagnosis and time to treatment, the present study shows that outcomes in infants and toddlers remain favorable even when fasciotomy is performed 48–72 h after injury.

Level of evidence

Case series, level IV.
Numerical investigation of the flow over a model transonic turbine blade tip
Authors: Wheeler Andrew P. S. , Sandberg Richard D.
Published: August 2016

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) are used to investigate the unsteady flow over a model turbine blade tip at engine-scale Reynolds and Mach numbers. The DNS are performed with an in-house multiblock structured compressible Navier–Stokes solver. The particular case of a transonic tip flow is studied since previous work has suggested that compressibility has an important effect on the turbulent nature of the separation bubble at the inlet to the tip–casing gap and subsequent flow reattachment. The flow is simulated over an idealized tip geometry where the tip gap is represented by a constant-area channel with a sharp inlet corner to represent the pressure side edge of the turbine blade. The effects of free-stream disturbances, cross-flow and the pressure side boundary layer on the tip flow aerodynamics and heat transfer are studied. For ‘clean’ inflow cases we find that even at engine-scale Reynolds numbers the tip flow is intermittent in nature, i.e. neither laminar nor fully turbulent. The breakdown to turbulence occurs through the development of spanwise streaks with wavelengths of approximately 15 %–20 % of the gap height. Multidimensional linear stability analysis confirms the two-dimensional base state to be most unstable with respect to spanwise wavelengths of 25 % of the gap height. The linear stability analysis also shows that the addition of cross-flows with 25 % of the streamwise gap exit velocity increases the stability of the tip flow. This is confirmed by the DNS, which also show that the turbulence production is significantly reduced in the separation bubble. For the case when free-stream disturbances are added to the inlet flow, viscous dissipation and the rapid acceleration of the flow at the inlet to the tip–casing gap cause significant distortion of the vorticity field and reductions of turbulence intensity as the flow enters the tip gap. The DNS results also suggest that the assumption of the Reynolds analogy and a constant recovery factor are not accurate, in particular in regions where the skin friction approaches zero while significant temperature gradients remain, such as in the vicinity of flow reattachment.
Analysis of Residual Stresses on the Vibration of a Circular Sensor Diaphragm with Surface Effects
Authors: Zhou S.-S. , Zhou S.-J. , Li A.-Q. , Wang B.-L.
Published: August 2016

Resonant micro-biochemical sensors play important roles in a wide range of emerging applications to detect biochemical molecules. As the resonators of micro-biochemical sensors, the vibration characteristics of circular sensor diaphragms are important for the design of diaphragm-based resonant micro-biochemical sensors. In this paper, the influence of residual stresses on the vibration of a circular sensor diaphragm with surface effects is analyzed. Based on the Kirchhoff's plate theory and surface elasticity theory, the governing equation is presented. The material characteristic lengths for different surface effects are obtained. The influences of residual stresses on the effective flexural rigidity and natural frequency of the diaphragm with surface effects are discussed. Results show that the influence of residual stresses on the effective flexural rigidity becomes obvious with the increasing of residual stresses. The first order natural frequency increases rapidly when the tension parameter is larger than 30 for the stiffened surfaces, while for the softened surfaces the value is 10. Moreover, surface effects can influence the transition range of diaphragm from the plate behavior to membrane behavior in terms of the tension parameter. The transition range can be enlarged by the stiffened surface and be shortened by the softened surface. The analysis and results are helpful for the design of sensor diaphragm-based resonant micro-biochemical sensors and some related researches.
The Environmental Context and Function of Burnt-Mounds: New Studies of Irish Fulachtaí Fiadh
Authors: Brown Antony G. , Davis Steven R. , Hatton Jackie , O’Brien Charlotte , Reilly Fiona , Taylor Kate , Emer Dennehy K. , O’Donnell Lorna , Bermingham Nora , Mighall Tim , Timpany Scott , Tetlow Emma , Wheeler Jane , Wynne Shirley
Published: August 2016

Burnt mounds, or fulachtaí fiadh as they are known in Ireland, are probably the most common prehistoric site type in Ireland and Britain. Typically Middle–Late Bronze Age in age (although both earlier and later examples are known), they are artefact-poor and rarely associated with settlements. The function of these sites has been much debated with the most commonly cited uses being for cooking, as steam baths or saunas, for brewing, tanning, or textile processing. A number of major infrastructural development schemes in Ireland in the years 2002–2007 revealed remarkable numbers of these mounds often associated with wood-lined troughs, many of which were extremely well-preserved. This afforded an opportunity to investigate them as landscape features using environmental techniques – specifically plant macrofossils and charcoal, pollen, beetles, and multi-element analyses. This paper summarises the results from eight sites from Ireland and compares them with burnt mound sites in Great Britain. The fulachtaí fiadh which are generally in clusters, are all groundwater-fed by springs, along floodplains and at the bases of slopes. The sites are associated with the clearance of wet woodland for fuel; most had evidence of nearby agriculture and all revealed low levels of grazing. Multi-element analysis at two sites revealed elevated heavy metal concentrations suggesting that off-site soil, ash or urine had been used in the trough. Overall the evidence suggests that the most likely function for these sites is textile production involving both cleaning and/or dyeing of wool and/or natural plant fibres and as a functionally related activity to hide cleaning and tanning. Whilst further research is clearly needed to confirm if fulachtaí fiadh are part of the ‘textile revolution’ we should also recognise their important role in the rapid deforestation of the wetter parts of primary woodland and the expansion of agriculture into marginal areas during the Irish and British Bronze Ages.
Effects of isovalerate supplementation on growth performance and ruminal fermentation in pre- and post-weaning dairy calves
Authors: LIU Q. , WANG C. , ZHANG Y. L. , PEI C. X. , ZHANG S. L. , WANG Y. X. , ZHANG Z. W. , YANG W. Z. , WANG H. , GUO G. , HUO W. J.
Published: August 2016

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of isovalerate supplementation on growth performance and ruminal fermentation in pre- and post-weaning dairy calves. Forty-eight Chinese Holstein male calves at 15 days of age and 45·1 ± 0·36 kg body weight (BW) were assigned randomly to four groups. The treatments were: control, low-isovalerate, moderate-isovalerate (MIV) and high-isovalerate (HIV) with 0, 3, 6 and 9 g isovalerate per calf per day, respectively. Isovalerate was hand-mixed into milk in pre-weaning calves and the concentrate portion in post-weaning calves. The study lasted 75 days, including a 15-day adaptation period followed by a 60-day sampling period. Weaning was conducted when calves were 60 days old. Six calves were chosen from each treatment at random and slaughtered at 30 and 90 days of age. Average daily weight gain increased linearly whether during pre-weaning or post-weaning period with increasing isovalerate supplementation. Dry matter intake linearly increased at 90 days of age with increasing isovalerate supplementation. During weaning, ruminal pH and ammonia nitrogen (N) decreased linearly, whereas total ruminal volatile fatty acid concentration increased linearly with increasing isovalerate supplementation. The ratio of acetate to propionate increased linearly with increasing isovalerate supplementation due to increased acetate concentration and the unchanged propionate concentration. Activities of caboxymethyl-cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase linearly increased at 90 days of age, α-amylase and β-amylase activities linearly increased at 30 and 90 days of age. Relative quantities of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Ruminococcus albus, Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens increased linearly with increasing isovalerate supplementation. Ruminal fermentation, enzyme activities and cellulolytic bacteria were higher for HIV and MIV than for the control. The present results indicate that isovalerate accelerated growth of calves by improving ruminal fermentation, microbial enzyme activities and cellulolytic bacteria growth during weaning. In the experimental conditions of the current trial, the optimum isovalerate dose was about 6·0 g isovalerate per calf per day.
Research on a multimodal actuator-oriented power-assisted knee exoskeleton
Authors: Han Yali , Zhu Songqing , Zhou Zhou , Shi Yu , Hao Dabin
Published: August 2016

A multimodal actuator was proposed to achieve a more agile power-assisted exoskeleton in uncertain complex walking environments. A power-assisted knee exoskeleton prototype based on a multimodal actuator was constructed. With this multimodal actuator, several modes of operation in the power-assisted knee exoskeleton during a motion cycle are actuated, including series elastic actuation, stiff position control, and energy storage and release. Also, a control strategy for power-assisted knee exoskeleton motion control based on a state machine is developed. The ability of the power-assisted knee exoskeleton to follow human motion was tested, and the results showed that the angle error of the knee exoskeleton followed the human motion is not more than 0.4˚, and the response time error of the knee exoskeleton followed the human motion is not more than 0.2 s.
Current epidemiology of tetanus in England, 2001–2014
Authors: COLLINS S. , AMIRTHALINGAM G. , BEECHING N. J. , CHAND M. A. , GODBOLE G. , RAMSAY M. E. , FRY N. K. , WHITE J. M.
Published: August 2016

Public Health England conducts enhanced national surveillance of tetanus, a potentially life-threatening vaccine-preventable disease. A standardized questionnaire was used to ascertain clinical and demographic details of individuals reported with clinically suspected tetanus. The 96 cases identified between 2001 and 2014 were analysed. The average annual incidence was 0·13/million (95% confidence interval 0·10–0·16) of which 50·0% were male. Where reported, 70·3% of injuries occurred in the home/garden (45/64). Overall, 40·3% (31/77) cases were in people who inject drugs (PWID), including a cluster of 22 cases during 2003–2004. Where known (n = 68), only 8·8% were age-appropriately immunized. The overall case-fatality rate was 11·0% (9/82). All tetanus-associated deaths occurred in adults aged >45 years, none of whom were fully immunized. Due to the success of the childhood immunization programme, tetanus remains a rare disease in England with the majority of cases occurring in older unimmunized or partially immunized adults. Minor injuries in the home/garden were the most commonly reported likely sources of infection, although cases in PWID increased during this period. It is essential that high routine vaccine coverage is maintained and that susceptible individuals, particularly older adults, are protected through vaccination and are offered timely post-exposure management following a tetanus-prone wound.
Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin treatment in pregnant women in Denmark from 2005 to 2015: descriptive epidemiology and follow-up
Authors: JESPERSEN C. , HELMUTH I. G. , KRAUSE T. G.
Published: August 2016

Primary infection with varicella-zoster virus in pregnancy poses a risk of severe infection and embryopathies. Upon exposure, seronegative women are candidates for varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG). The aim of this paper was to describe risk factors for VZIG treatment including sources of varicella exposure and to study how many women developed clinical infection and received postpartum vaccination. We identified all pregnant women who received VZIG from December 2005 to March 2015. Additional information was obtained from Danish registers and a follow-up questionnaire. A total of 104 women were included and 88 completed the questionnaire. Significantly more women had ‘other country of origin’ than Denmark. They were more often second para (57%) and had most commonly been exposed to varicella by their own child (58%). Five women developed clinical varicella infection, and only 26·5% were vaccinated after delivery. The study concludes that few women developed infection after VZIG and none developed pneumonia. General practitioners should be particularly aware of obtaining varicella anamnesis in parous women from non-temperate countries in order to perform selective vaccination prior to pregnancy. In case of varicella exposure during pregnancy in a seronegative woman, postpartum vaccination is crucial.
Alcohol Consumption Does not Impede Recovery from Mild to Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Silverberg Noah D. , Panenka William , Iverson Grant L. , Brubacher Jeffrey R. , Shewchuk Jason R. , Heran Manraj K.S. , Oh Gary C.S. , Honer William G. , Lange Rael T.
Published: August 2016

Objectives: To examine the effect of pre-injury alcohol use, acute alcohol intoxication, and post-injury alcohol use on outcome from mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: Prospective inception cohort of patients who presented to the Emergency Department with mild to moderate TBI and had a blood alcohol level (BAL) taken for clinical purposes. Those who completed the 1-year outcome assessment were eligible for this study (N=91). Outcomes of interest were the count of post-concussion symptoms (British Columbia Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory), low neuropsychological test scores (Neuropsychological Assessment Battery), and abnormal regions of interest on diffusion tensor imaging (low fractional anisotropy). The main predictors were pre-injury alcohol consumption (Cognitive Lifetime Drinking History interview), BAL, and post-injury alcohol use. Results: The alcohol use variables were moderately to strongly inter-correlated. None of the alcohol use variables (whether continuous or categorical) were related to 1-year TBI outcomes in generalized linear modeling. Participants in this cohort generally had a good clinical outcome, regardless of their pre-, peri-, and post-injury alcohol use. Conclusions: Alcohol may not significantly alter long-term outcome from mild to moderate TBI. (JINS, 2016, 22, 816–827)
Limits to Seeing High-Redshift Galaxies Due to Planck-Scale-Induced Blurring
Authors: Steinbring Eric
Published: August 2016

If spacetime is “foamy” travel along a lightpath must be subject to continual, random distance fluctuations ± δ l proportional to Planck length lP ~ 10−35 m (Lieu & Hillman 2003). Although each “kick” by itself is tiny, these may accumulate. Accounting for redshifted (bluer) emitted photons, over a cosmological distance L = (1+z)LC for co-moving distance LC, the resultant phase perturbations Δ φ = 2π δ l/λ at observed wavelength λ could grow independently of telescope diameter D to a maximum of Δφmax=(1+z)Δφ0 (Steinbring 2007) where Δφ0=2π a0 (lPα/λ)L1 - α follows Ng et al. (2003). Here a0 ~ 1 and α specifies the quantum-gravity model: 1/2 implies a random walk and 2/3 is consistent with the holographic principle; a vanishingly small ΔφP=Δφmax/[(1 + z) a0 (L/lP)1 - α]=2π lP/λ is approached when α=1.
Herschel/SPIRE colors of galaxies at z>2.5
Authors: Yuan F.-T. , Buat V. , Burgarella D. , Ciesla L. , Heinis S. , Shen S. , Shao Z.-Y. , Hou J. -L.
Published: August 2016

We compiled a sample of 57 galaxies with spectroscopically confirmed redshifts and SPIRE detections in all three bands at z = 2.5-6.4, and compared their SPIRE colors with SED templates from local and high-z libraries. We find that local calibrations are inconsistent with high-z observations. For high-z libraries, the templates with an evolution from z = 0 to 3 can describe the average colors of the observations at high redshift well. Based on the templates, we defined color cuts to divide the SPIRE color-color diagram into different regions with different mean redshifts. We tested this method and two other color cut methods using a larger sample (783 galaxies) with photometric redshifts. We find that these color cuts can separate the sample into subsamples with different mean redshifts, but the dispersion of redshifts in each subsample is considerably large. Additional information is needed for better sampling.
Life in Low Density Environments – Field Galaxies from z=1.0 to the Present
Authors: Jørgensen Inger , Fisher Scott , Woodrum Charity , Kwan Teiler , Bieker Jacob
Published: August 2016

We present results on the stellar populations of bulge-dominated field galaxies at redshifts up to ≈1.0. The sample consists of non-cluster galaxies observed as part of the spectroscopic observations for the Gemini/HST Galaxy Cluster Project (GCP). Our preliminary results show that the bulge-dominated field galaxies contain younger stellar populations than cluster galaxies at similar redshifts. Future work will include photometry from Hubble Space Telescope and will be aimed at establishing the evolution of the sizes and the mass-to-light ratios for the field galaxies.
Early and Late Life - Bulge-Dominated Galaxies over the Last 8-9 Gyr
Authors: Jørgensen Inger , Chiboucas Kristin , Bergmann Marcel , Toft Sune , Schiavon Ricardo
Published: August 2016

We present results from our investigation of galaxy evolution in dense cluster environments up to redshift z=1.3 based on high S/N ground-based spectroscopy and HST imaging of bulge-dominated galaxies: (1) An analysis of sizes, M/L ratios and line indices of galaxies in massive clusters out to z=1.3. The results are published in Jørgensen & Chiboucas (2013) and Jørgensen et al. (2014). (2) A preliminary analysis (Fig. 1) of absorption line indices, ages, metallicities and abundance ratios for galaxies in nine massive clusters out to z=0.9. New data cover three clusters at z=0.2-0.5.
AGN - Dust-Obscured Galaxies at z~1-3 revealed by near-to-far infrared SED-fitting
Authors: Riguccini Laurie
Published: August 2016

Dust-Obscured galaxies (DOGs, Dey et al. 2008) are bright 24μm-selected sources with extreme obscuration at optical wavelengths (F24μ m/FR > 982). Recent studies (Dey et al. 2008, Bussmann et al. 2009) describe an evolutionary scenario in which the starbursting nature of submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) evolves into the composite nature of DOGs as an underlying AGN grows; this is followed by a quasar phase that terminates star formation (SF), leading to the formation of a passive, massive elliptical galaxy. Within this context, DOGs could provide a key insight to an extremely dusty stage in the evolution of galaxies at z ~ 2, where both AGN and SF activity coexist.
Anomalies in the GRBs' distribution
Authors: Bagoly Zsolt , Horváth István , Hakkila Jon , Tóth L. Viktor
Published: August 2016

Gamma-ray bursts are the most luminous objects known: they outshine their host galaxies making them ideal candidates for probing large-scale structure. Earlier it has been found that the angular distribution of different groups of GRBs (long, intermediate and short) show deviation from the full randomness at different levels (e.g. Vavrek et al. (2008)).

In the current sample there are more than 361 GRBs with position and redshift: the large scale homogeneous and isotropic distribution were checked with nearest-neighbour tests and with the two-point correlation function.
Variability in the light curve of tidal disruption events
Authors: Lu Zu-Jia , Lin Da-Bin , Xie Ling-Hua , Liang En-Wei
Published: August 2016

The X-ray light curve of Sw~J1644+57 indicates this event would be due to a tidal disruption. The lightcurve shows large amplitude fluctuation. As proposed by Lyubarskii (1997), the aperiodic variability observed in the Galactic X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei is likely from the fluctuation of the viscous parameter in their disks. We explain the significant fluctuation of the late X-ray lightcurve (t>106 seconds) of Sw J1644+57 with this model. We assume the stochastic variations in the viscous parameter featuring as α(R,t) = α0 [1+β(R,t)], where the time-scale for varying β(R,t) is set as ten times of the dynamic time-scale for disk at the radius R (Janiuk & Misra 2012). Based on the simulation results of Lodato et al. (2009), we describe the fallback behavior of the tidal disruption as Ṁfb ∝ {[(t - tb)/tfb]κ n + [(t - tb)/tfb]5n/3}−1/n for t > tb and Ṁfb=0 for other situations, where κ=10.0, n=0.5, tfb=103τ, and tb=102τ in which τ=2π(Rf3/GMBH)1/2 and Rf=5rg is the pericentre distance. Figure 1 compare the power-density spectra (PDS) derived from the observed and our simulated lightcurves. It is found the our simulations are well consistent with the observations.
Environmental Effects on Galaxy Evolution: Multifrequency study of nearby clusters
Authors: Bravo-Alfaro H. , Venkatapathy Y. , Durret F. , Caretta C. A. , Gamez V.
Published: August 2016

We show first results of a multifrequency survey focused on the mechanisms driving the transformation of cluster galaxies, from late to earlier S0-types. We compare the ram-pressure effects seen on 21cm-HI images with those mechanisms affecting the old stellar disks seen on deep optical and NIR images. Our targets are the Abell clusters A85, A496, A2670, which span different relaxation degrees, masses and X-ray luminosities.
The self-regulated AGN feedback loop: the role of chaotic cold accretion
Authors: Gaspari M.
Published: August 2016

Supermassive black hole accretion and feedback play central role in the evolution of galaxies, groups, and clusters. I review how AGN feedback is tightly coupled with the formation of multiphase gas and the newly probed chaotic cold accretion (CCA). In a turbulent and heated atmosphere, cold clouds and kpc-scale filaments condense out of the plasma via thermal instability and rain toward the black hole. In the nucleus, the recurrent chaotic collisions between the cold clouds, filaments, and central torus promote angular momentum cancellation or mixing, boosting the accretion rate up to 100 times the Bondi rate. The rapid variability triggers powerful AGN outflows, which quench the cooling flow and star formation without destroying the cool core. The AGN heating stifles the formation of multiphase gas and accretion, the feedback subsides and the hot halo is allowed to cool again, restarting a new cycle. Ultimately, CCA creates a symbiotic link between the black hole and the whole host via a tight self-regulated feedback which preserves the gaseous halo in global thermal equilibrium throughout cosmic time.
Probing the Interplay between AGN Outflows and their Host Galaxies:
Optical Integral Field Unit and Radio Imaging
Authors: Shastri Prajval ,   on behalf of the S7 team
Published: August 2016

We report on the Siding Spring Southern Seyfert Spectroscopic Snap-shot Survey.
Les Finances publiques en 1935
Authors: Wigny Pierre
Published: August 2016

L’histoire des finances publiques en 1935 fut très mouvementée. Les trois premiers mois furent sombres. Les recettes étaient moindres qu’un pessimiste Ministre des finances ne l’avait prévu. Les dépenses s’alourdissaient (allocations de chômage pensions) ou étaient incompressibles (service de la dette publique, minimum de traitement garanti par l’Arrêté Royal du 30 janvier 1935). A la fin du trimestre, on pouvait craindre que le déficit annuel ne soit pas éloigné d’un milliard. C’est alors que la rude secousse de la dévaluation remit d’aplomb notre économie. La reprise fut bienfaisante pour les particuliers et pour les finances publiques. Le déficit fut pratiquement résorbé et le Gouvernement put présenter pour 1936 un budget qui comporte quelques dégrèvements, et dont l’équilibre semble cependant assuré. C’est cette étonnante évolution que nous allons retracer avec plus de détails. Commençons toutefois par commenter les résultats des budgets de 1933-1934.
La théorie de la surévaluation monétaire et la dévaluation belge
Authors: Triffin Robert
Published: August 2016

On se souvient du bruit que firent, dans l’immédiate après-guerre, les théories du Professeur G. Cassel sur la parité de pouvoir d’achat. A une Europe à la recherche d’un nouveau statut monétaire, il offrait, en un langage simple et direct, une solution claire, d’application aisée. Ces avantages, cependant si précieux au point de vue pratique ou, si l’on veut, politique, étaient chèrement achetés par l’insuffisance et les imprécisions des aspects proprement théoriques de la doctrine. On a pu affirmer que les polémiques qui suivirent restèrent, dans leur ensemble, inférieures aux discussions que des circonstances semblables avaient soulevées, un siècle plus tôt, dans la correspondance entre Malthus et Ricardo.

Cette confusion théorique était loin d’être éclaircie lorsqu’en 1935, la dévaluation du belga remit à la mode la terminologie de Cassel. L’opinion semble s’être assez largement accréditée que la dévaluation belge et les calculs théoriques qui la précédèrent se fondent simplement sur la doctrine de Cassel. Je voudrais, dans l’article qui suit, montrer que cette opinion ne correspond guère à la réalité et qu’au contraire, les calculs de la dévaluation se basent sur les éléments même dont Cassel faisait expressément abstraction dans une explication des phénomènes simplifiée à outrance. Il suffirait, pour s’en convaincre, de considérer les indices employés pour ces calculs: alors que Cassel insiste sur l’emploi d’indices généraux des prix et que ceux de ses interprètes qui se séparent de lui sur ce point recommandent l’emploi d’indices n’englobant que les marchandises entrant dans le commerce international, les calculs belges utilisent précisément des indices reflétant les prix les plus purement domestiques: les indices du coût de la vie. L’analyse rigoureuse du pourquoi de cette divergence conduit à admettre une distinction fondamentale entre la théorie Cassélienne de la surévaluation monétaire et la théorie défendue en Belgique à l’occasion de la dévaluation de 1935.
Characterizing the Faults Beneath Germany
Authors: Hall Shannon
Published: August 2016

A team of researchers has described how the faults within the German Alpine Molasse Basin initially developed.
Luteolin-7-glucoside inhibits IL-22/STAT3 pathway, reducing proliferation, acanthosis, and inflammation in keratinocytes and in mouse psoriatic model
Authors: Palombo R , Savini I , Avigliano L , Madonna S , Cavani A , Albanesi C , Mauriello A , Melino G , Terrinoni A
Published: August 2016

The epidermis is a dynamic tissue in which keratinocytes proliferate in the basal layer and undergo a tightly controlled differentiation while moving into the suprabasal layers. The balance between keratinocyte proliferation, differentiation, and death is essential, and its perturbation can result in pathological changes. Some common skin diseases, such as psoriasis, are characterized by hyperproliferation accompanied by inflammatory reactions, suggesting that molecules with topical anti-inflammatory and ROS scavenging abilities may be useful for their treatment. Here we investigate the potential of the flavone Luteolin-7-glucoside (LUT-7G) as a treatment for psoriasis. We show that LUT-7G leads to a modification of the cell cycle and the induction of keratinocyte differentiation, with modification of energy, fatty acid, and redox metabolism. LUT-7G treatment also neutralizes the proliferative stimulus induced by the proinflammatory cytokines IL-22 and IL-6 in HEKn. Moreover, in the Imiquimod (IMQ) mouse model of psoriasis, topical administration of LUT-7G leads to a marked reduction of acanthosis and re-expression of epidermal differentiation markers. Dissection of the IL-22 signalling pathway, activated by IMQ treatment, demonstrates that LUT-7G impairs the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated (activated) STAT3, blocking the IL-22 signalling cascade. Thus LUT-7G appears to be a promising compound for the treatment of hyperproliferative and inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis.