bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical efficacy and safety of switch from bosentan to macitentan in children and young adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Aypar Ebru , Alehan Dursun , Karagöz Tevfik , Aykan Hayrettin Hakan , Ertugrul İlker
Published: December 2017

Background

Macitentan is an orally active, potent, dual endothelin receptor antagonist and is the only registered treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension that significantly reduced morbidity and mortality in a long-term event-driven study.

Aim

Few studies compared the clinical efficacy and safety of switch from bosentan to macitentan only in adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of switch from bosentan to macitentan in children and young adults.

Methods

This is a single-institution, 24-week prospective study. Patients ⩾12 years of age with idiopathic/heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension or related to CHD or residual pulmonary arterial hypertension due to repaired congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunts and on bosentan therapy were included. Concomitant treatment with oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and inhaled prostanoids was allowed. Outcome measures included change from baseline to week 24, in the 6-minute walk distance, functional class, oxygen saturation at rest/after 6-minute walk distance test, systolic pulmonary artery pressure estimated by echocardiography, and brain natriuretic peptide levels. Safety end points included adverse events laboratory abnormalities.

Results

A total of 13 patients – 5 male and 8 female – completed the study. The mean age was 20.3±6.5 years (12–35) and weight was 54.0±14.5 kg (27–75). Five patients were ⩽18 years of age. Macitentan improved 6-minute walk distance from baseline (mean: 466±35 m (300–590)), at 12 weeks (mean: 494±78 m (325–590), +28 m) (p<0.05), and at 24 weeks (mean: 507±58 m (325–625), +41 m) (p<0.05). Macitentan did not significantly change functional class, oxygen saturation at rest/after 6-minute walk distance test, brain natriuretic levels, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (p>0.05). None of the patients had anaemia, hepatotoxicity, and peripheral oedema.

Conclusions

Our study is the first study that showed that switch from bosentan to macitentan significantly improved exercise capacity in children and young adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension and is well tolerated without any adverse events.
Coronary sinus ostial atresia with persistent left superior caval vein in a patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries
Authors: Zhang Yuchen , Alberdi Hugo V. , Nguyen Elsie T.
Published: December 2017

We present a case of a 57-year-old man with congenitally corrected transposition of great vessels who was found to have coronary ostial atresia with cranial flow through left superior vena cava on CT with contrast injection in coronary tributaries. As such, he was ineligible for cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Effect of Late-Season Herbicide Applications on Inflorescence and Seed Production of Glyphosate-Resistant Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
Authors: Ganie Zahoor A. , Kaur Simranpreet , Jha Prashant , Kumar Vipan , Jhala Amit J.
Published: December 2017

Giant ragweed is one of the most competitive annual broadleaf weeds in corn and soybean crop production systems in the United States and eastern Canada. Management of giant ragweed has become difficult due to the evolution of resistance to glyphosate and/or acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibitor herbicides and giant ragweed’s ability to emerge late in the season, specifically in the eastern Corn Belt. Late-season herbicide application may reduce seed production of weed species; however, information is not available about late-season herbicide applications on giant ragweed seed production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of single or sequential late-season applications of 2,4-D, dicamba, glyphosate, and glufosinate on inflorescence injury and seed production of glyphosate-resistant (GR) giant ragweed under greenhouse and field conditions (bare ground study). Single and sequential applications of glufosinate resulted in as much as 59 and 60% injury to giant ragweed inflorescence and as much as 78 and 75% reduction in seed production, respectively, under field and greenhouse conditions. In contrast, single or sequential applications of 2,4-D or dicamba resulted in ≥ 96% inflorescence injury and reduction in seed production in the field as well as in greenhouse studies. The results indicated that 2,4-D or dicamba are effective options for reducing seed production of glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed even if applied late in the season. Targeting weed seed production to decrease the soil seedbank will potentially be an effective strategy for an integrated management of GR giant ragweed.
Dan Rather’s Vision for Scientists in an Era of “Fake News”
Authors: Wendel JoAnna , Showstack Randy , Kumar Mohi
Published: December 2017

Scientists must embrace communication, and communicators must work harder to tell more nuanced and compelling science stories, the newsman said to an auditorium full of scientists.
Author Correction: The energy cost of polypeptide knot formation and its folding consequences
Authors: Bustamante Andrés , Sotelo-Campos Juan , Guerra Daniel G. , Floor Martin , Wilson Christian A. M. , Bustamante Carlos , Báez Mauricio
Published: December 2017

The original version of this article contained an error in the spelling of the author Christian A.M. Wilson, which was incorrectly given as Christian M.A. Wilson. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the article.
A Novel Design Approach for Self-Crack-Healing Structural Ceramics with 3D Networks of Healing Activator
Authors: Osada Toshio , Kamoda Kiichi , Mitome Masanori , Hara Toru , Abe Taichi , Tamagawa Yuki , Nakao Wataru , Ohmura Takahito
Published: December 2017

Self-crack-healing by oxidation of a pre-incorporated healing agent is an essential property of high-temperature structural ceramics for components with stringent safety requirements, such as turbine blades in aircraft engines. Here, we report a new approach for a self-healing design containing a 3D network of a healing activator, based on insight gained by clarifying the healing mechanism. We demonstrate that addition of a small amount of an activator, typically doped MnO localised on the fracture path, selected by appropriate thermodynamic calculation significantly accelerates healing by >6,000 times and significantly lowers the required reaction temperature. The activator on the fracture path exhibits rapid fracture-gap filling by generation of mobile supercooled melts, thus enabling efficient oxygen delivery to the healing agent. Furthermore, the activator promotes crystallisation of the melts and forms a mechanically strong healing oxide. We also clarified that the healing mechanism could be divided to the initial oxidation and additional two stages. Based on bone healing, we here named these stages as inflammation, repair, and remodelling stages, respectively. Our design strategy can be applied to develop new lightweight, self-healing ceramics suitable for use in high- or low-pressure turbine blades in aircraft engines.
INTEGRATE-Vis: a tool for comprehensive gene fusion visualization
Authors: Zhang Jin , Gao Teng , Maher Christopher A.
Published: December 2017

Despite the increasing quantity of tools for accurately predicting gene fusion candidates from sequencing data, we are still faced with the critical challenge of visualizing the corresponding gene fusion products to infer their biological consequence (i.e. novel protein and increased gene expression). This is currently accomplished by manually inspecting and inferring the biological consequence of top scoring gene fusion candidates. This labor-intensive process could be made easier by automating the annotation of gene fusion products and generating easily interpretable visualizations. We developed a gene fusion visualization tool, called INTEGRATE-Vis, that generates comprehensive, highly customizable, publication-quality graphics focused on annotating each gene fusion at the transcript- and protein-level and assessing expression within an individual sample or across a patient cohort. INTEGRATE-Vis is the first comprehensive gene fusion visualization tool to help a user infer the potential consequence of a gene fusion event. It has potential utility in both research and clinical settings. INTEGRATE-Vis is available at https://github.com/ChrisMaherLab/INTEGRATE-Vis.
A metal–organic framework based multifunctional catalytic platform for organic transformation and environmental remediation
Authors: Kaur Harpreet , Venkateswarulu M. , Kumar Suneel , Krishnan Venkata , Koner Rik Rani
Published: December 2017

Given the need for an efficient reaction platform, a multifunctional material has been developed through the integration of iodine into a Cd2+based MOF as a new catalytic system for organic transformation.
International Telesupervision: The Clinical Fellowship Experience
Authors: Rule David W. , Kelchner Lisa N.
Published: December 2017

Telepractice technology allows greater access to speech-language pathology services around the world. These technologies extend beyond evaluation and treatment and are shown to be used effectively in clinical supervision including graduate students and clinical fellows. In fact, a clinical fellow from the United States completed the entire supervised clinical fellowship (CF) year internationally at a rural East African hospital, meeting all requirements for state and national certification by employing telesupervision technology. Thus, telesupervision has the potential to be successfully implemented to address a range of needs including supervisory shortages, health disparities worldwide, and access to services in rural areas where speech-language pathology services are not readily available. The telesupervision experience, potential advantages, implications, and possible limitations are discussed. A brief guide for clinical fellows pursuing telesupervision is also provided.
Boundary output feedback control of a flexible spacecraft system with input constraint
Authors: Fu Yun , Liu Yu , Huang Daoping
Published: December 2017

This study is concerned with vibration control of a flexible spacecraft system in the presence of disturbances and input saturation constraint. The dynamics of the spacecraft consisting of a rigid body and two flexible appendages is presented by the coupled partial differential equations and ordinary differential equations. The first boundary state feedback control is adopted when the spacecraft system states can be measured. The second boundary output feedback control is employed when there exists the unmeasurable state in the proposed control law. A high‐gain observer is developed to estimate the unmeasurable system state, two auxiliary systems are designed to prevent the presence of input saturation from destroying the system performance and two disturbance observers are established to handle the unknown boundary disturbances. The well‐posedness and stability of the spacecraft system are proved. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control schemes.
Output regulation of anti‐stable coupled wave equations via the backstepping technique
Authors: Gu Jian‐Jun , Wang Jun‐Min , Guo Ya‐Ping
Published: December 2017

This study is concerned with the output regulation of an anti‐stable system of coupled wave equations with external disturbances. A state‐feedback regulator is designed to force the output of the coupled wave equations to track the reference signal, which is generated by an exosystem. Moreover, the tracking error decays exponentially at a prescribed rate. The design is based on backstepping approach and relies on solving the regulator equations. The solvability condition of the regulator equations is characterised by the transfer matrix of the coupled wave equations and eigenvalues of the exosystem. An output‐feedback regulator is then constructed by developing an observer. Finally, the numerical simulations are demonstrated for the effectiveness of the theoretical results.
Multiple models and neural networks based adaptive PID decoupling control of mine main fan switchover system
Authors: Wang Qianjin , Dai Wei , Ma Xiaoping , Yang Chunyu
Published: December 2017

Mine main fan switchover system (MMFSS) consists of two main fans, which are equipped with a horizontal air door and a vertical air door, respectively. The purpose of operating MMFSS is to ensure small fluctuation of the underground airflow quantity and to guarantee safe operations of both fans simultaneously by controlling the four air doors during switchover from working to standby fan. MMFSS has time‐varying dynamics under different operating conditions, strong coupling, high non‐linearities and uncertainty in character, applying conventional control methods can not lead to satisfactory performances. In this study, an adaptive intelligent decoupling proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control method is proposed, where the unmodelled dynamics are estimated and compensated by neural networks, the coupling effect is eliminated by the designed decoupling compensator, and a switching mechanism among multiple models is employed to deal with the effect of time‐varying dynamics. By inspiring from the generalised minimum variance control law concept, the parameters of the developed controller are determined. The stability of the close‐loop system and the convergence of tracking error are examined. Finally, simulations of MMFSS show the feasibility and effectiveness of the obtained results.
Observer‐based dynamic local piecewise control of a linear parabolic PDE using non‐collocated local piecewise observation
Authors: Wang Jun‐Wei , Liu Ya‐Qiang , Sun Chang‐Yin
Published: December 2017

This paper employs the observer‐based output feedback control technique to study the problem of local piecewise control for a linear parabolic partial differential equation(PDE) using non‐collocated local piecewise observation. By the non‐collocated local piecewise observation, a Luenberger‐type PDE observer is first constructed to exponentially track the state of the PDE in the sense of both norm and norm. Based on the estimated state, a collocated local piecewise state feedback controller is then proposed for exponential stabilisation of the PDE. Sufficient conditions on exponential stabilisation of the PDE by the suggested feedback controller in the sense of both norm and norm are developed by utilising Lyapunov direct method, integration by parts, Wirtinger's inequality, and first mean value theorem for definite integrals, and presented in terms of standard linear matrix inequalities. The well‐posedness is also analysed for both open‐loop and resulting closed‐loop PDE by using ‐semigroup approach. Finally, numerical simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed design method.
Distributed finite‐time output feedback synchronisation control for six DOF spacecraft formation subject to input saturation
Authors: Huang Yi , Jia Yingmin
Published: December 2017

This study is devoted to the distributed finite‐time output feedback synchronisation control problem for six degree‐of‐freedom (DOF) spacecraft formation flying (SFF) with coupled attitude and position motions subject to input saturation. On the basis of a new velocity filter, a bounded distributed output feedback control protocol is proposed, whose upper bound is independent on the number and edge weights of the neighbours in the formation. Moreover, a straightforward relationship between the magnitude of the limited control and the control parameters is established, which can be regarded as the guideline to tune the control parameters such that the input saturation can be satisfied. By applying the homogenous theory and Lyapunov approach, it is proved that the closed‐loop system is globally finite‐time stable and six DOF synchronisation control for SFF can be achieved. With mild modification of the proposed control scheme, the aforementioned results can be successfully extended to the containment control problem for SFF. Finally, numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control protocols.
Effect of nanoindentation depth and ligament size on mechanical properties of nanoporous silver
Authors: Li Zhiqiang , Lu Xing , Wang Qi , Zhang Siwen
Published: December 2017

Mechanical properties of nanoporous silver have been investigated by nanoindentation. Experiment shows that the hardness and elastic modulus are both involved with strong surface size effect. Under the same loading rate, hardness decreases from 56.7 to 26 MPa along with indentation depth increasing from 200 to 2000 nm, while the corresponding elastic modulus increases from 2.68 to 3.73 GPa. In the case of the same indentation depth, the hardness decreases from 53 to 7.4 MPa with ligament size increasing from 100 to 198 nm, and the corresponding elastic modulus reduces from 4.7 to 0.17 GPa. The calculated indentation size effect index m is 0.34, revealing that nanoporous silver has a good ductility in micro‐state, but brittle in the macro‐state.
Acetic Anhydride Mediated Retro-Ene Reaction via a [4.4.3]Propel­lane Skeleton Intermediate Containing a Quaternary Ammonium Linkage
Authors: Nagase Hiroshi , Kutsumura Noriki , Okada Takahiro , Imaide Satomi , Fujii Hideaki
Published: December 2017

A novel retro-ene reaction via a [4.4.3]propellane intermediate containing a quaternary ammonium linkage was developed. The feature of this acetic anhydride mediated rearrangement includes the elimination of an acetoxy group at the C14 position and subsequent intramolecular nucleophilic addition of a nitrogen functional group to form an isolable ammonium salt intermediate. We clarified the reaction mechanism utilizing the deuterated derivative.
Enterprise Business Process Management in the Public Sector: The Case of the Department of Human Services (DHS) Australia
Authors: Bandara Wasana , Bailey Scott , Mathiesen Paul , McCarthy Jo , Jones Chris
Published: December 2017

Business process management (BPM) in the public sector is proliferating globally, but has its contextual challenges. Ad hoc process improvement initiatives across governmental departments are not uncommon. However, as for all organisations, BPM efforts that are coordinated across the organisation will reap better outcomes than those conducted in isolation. BPM education plays a vital role in supporting such organisation-wide BPM efforts. This teaching case is focused on the sustainable development and progression of enterprise business process management (E-BPM) capabilities at the Federal Department of Human Services: a large Australian federal government agency. The detailed case narrative vividly describes the case organisation, their prior and present BPM practices and how they have attempted BPM at an enterprise level, capturing pros and cons of the journey. A series of student activities pertaining to E-BPM practices is provided with model answers (covering key aspects of BPM governance, strategic alignment, culture, people, IT, methods, etc.). This case provides invaluable insights into E-BPM efforts in general and BPM within the public sector. It can be useful to BPM educators as a rich training resource and to BPM practitioners seeking guidance for their E-BPM efforts.
Phase sensitive imaging of 10 GHz vibrations in an AlN microdisk resonator
Authors: Shen Zhen , Han Xu , Zou Chang-Ling , Tang Hong X.
Published: December 2017

We demonstrate a high frequency phase-sensitive heterodyne vibrometer, operating up to 10 GHz. Using this heterodyne vibrometer, the amplitude and phase fields of the fundamental thickness mode, the radial fundamental, and the 2nd-order modes of an AlN optomechanical microdisk resonator are mapped with a displacement sensitivity of around 0.36pm/Hz. The simultaneous amplitude and phase measurement allow precise mode identification and characterization. The recorded modal frequencies and profiles are consistent with numerical simulations. This vibrometer will be of great significance for the development of high frequency mechanical devices.
A platform for time-resolved scanning Kerr microscopy in the near-field
Authors: Keatley Paul S. , Loughran Thomas H. J. , Hendry Euan , Barnes William L. , Hicken Robert J. , Childress Jeffrey R. , Katine Jordan A.
Published: December 2017

Time-resolved scanning Kerr microscopy (TRSKM) is a powerful technique for the investigation of picosecond magnetization dynamics at sub-micron length scales by means of the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE). The spatial resolution of conventional (focused) Kerr microscopy using a microscope objective lens is determined by the optical diffraction limit so that the nanoscale character of the magnetization dynamics is lost. Here we present a platform to overcome this limitation by means of a near-field TRSKM that incorporates an atomic force microscope (AFM) with optical access to a metallic AFM probe with a nanoscale aperture at its tip. We demonstrate the near-field capability of the instrument through the comparison of time-resolved polar Kerr images of magnetization dynamics within a microscale NiFe rectangle acquired using both near-field and focused TRSKM techniques at a wavelength of 800 nm. The flux-closure domain state of the in-plane equilibrium magnetization provided the maximum possible dynamic polar Kerr contrast across the central domain wall and enabled an assessment of the magneto-optical spatial resolution of each technique. Line profiles extracted from the Kerr images demonstrate that the near-field spatial resolution was enhanced with respect to that of the focused Kerr images. Furthermore, the near-field polar Kerr signal (∼1 mdeg) was more than half that of the focused Kerr signal, despite the potential loss of probe light due to internal reflections within the AFM tip. We have confirmed the near-field operation by exploring the influence of the tip-sample separation and have determined the spatial resolution to be ∼550 nm for an aperture with a sub-wavelength diameter of 400 nm. The spatial resolution of the near-field TRSKM was in good agreement with finite element modeling of the aperture. Large amplitude electric field along regions of the modeled aperture that lie perpendicular to the incident polarization indicate that the aperture can support plasmonic excitations. The comparable near-field and focused polar Kerr signals suggest that such plasmonic excitations may lead to an enhanced near-field MOKE. This work demonstrates that near-field TRSKM can be performed without significant diminution of the polar Kerr signal in relatively large, sub-wavelength diameter apertures, while development of a near-field AFM probe utilizing plasmonic antennas specifically designed for measurements deeper into the nanoscale is discussed.
Linear stability analysis of particle-laden hypopycnal plumes
Authors: Farenzena Bruno Avila , Silvestrini Jorge Hugo
Published: December 2017

Gravity-driven riverine outflows are responsible for carrying sediments to the coastal waters. The turbulent mixing in these flows is associated with shear and gravitational instabilities such as Kelvin-Helmholtz, Holmboe, and Rayleigh-Taylor. Results from temporal linear stability analysis of a two-layer stratified flow are presented, investigating the behavior of settling particles and mixing region thickness on the flow stability in the presence of ambient shear. The particles are considered suspended in the transport fluid, and its sedimentation is modeled with a constant valued settling velocity. Three scenarios, regarding the mixing region thickness, were identified: the poorly mixed environment, the strong mixed environment, and intermediate scenario. It was observed that Kelvin-Helmholtz and settling convection modes are the two fastest growing modes depending on the particles settling velocity and the total Richardson number. The second scenario presents a modified Rayleigh-Taylor instability, which is the dominant mode. The third case can have Kelvin-Helmholtz, settling convection, and modified Rayleigh-Taylor modes as the fastest growing mode depending on the combination of parameters.
Microfluidics: A new tool for microbial single cell analyses in human microbiome studies
Authors: Liu Yuguang , Walther-Antonio Marina
Published: December 2017

Microbial cells behave differently in colonies and when singled out. The standard methods of microbiome studies present the average characteristics and behaviors of heterogeneous populations and lack the resolution to analyze microbes on a single cell level. Besides, the microbiome does not exist in pure colonies in human bodies, but naturally in complex communities. Therefore, it would be ideal to observe the microbes on a single cell level while maintaining their natural settings. Conventional dilution-to-extinction methods are capable of reducing the complexity of the communities to a minimal ecologically functional unit; however, new tools are needed to perform these studies. Recently, microfluidics as a new technology is gaining attention for various single cell applications because it offers the unique ability of handling nanoscale volume in microstructures, providing an attractive alternative to look at single microbial cells. Here, we compare different microfluidic technologies for microbial single cell studies and review the advancement of microfluidics for various microbial single cell analyses. Continuous microfluidics has been used in microbial single cell culture, whole genome sequencing, gene expression, and metabolic analyses; however, droplet microfluidics is becoming a new trend for its high-throughput single cell encapsulation ability. We envision that different microfluidic paradigms will be integrated in the future for their unique attributes and offer a versatile platform for systematic microbiome studies.
A new look at bubbles during biofilm inoculation reveals pronounced effects on growth and patterning
Authors: Asayesh Farnaz , Zarabadi Mir Pouyan , Greener Jesse
Published: December 2017

Specially designed microfluidic bioflow cells were used to temporarily trap microbubbles during different inoculation stages of Pseudomonas sp. biofilms. Despite being eliminated many hours before biofilm appearance, templated growth could occur at former bubble positions. Bubble-templated growth was either continuous or in ring patterns, depending on the stage of inoculation when the bubbles were introduced. Templated biofilms were strongly enhanced in terms of their growth kinetics and structural homogeneity. High resolution confocal imaging showed two separate bubble-induced bacterial trapping modes, which were responsible for the altered biofilm development. It is concluded that static bubbles can be exploited for fundamental improvements to bioreactor performance, as well as open new avenues to study isolated bacteria and small colonies.
High contrast periodic plasma pattern formation during the laser-induced breakdown in transparent dielectric
Authors: Gildenburg V. B. , Pavlichenko I. A.
Published: December 2017

Based on a simple 1D initial-time model, we have carried out the numerical simulation for the spatio-temporal evolution of femtosecond laser pulse induced breakdown in transparent dielectric (fused silica) at the nonlinear stage of the plasma resonance ionization instability. The instability develops from very small seed perturbations of the medium permittivity and results in, because of the strong mutual enhancement of the electric field and plasma density perturbations in the plasma resonance region, the formation of the subwavelength periodic plasma-field structure consisting of the overcritical plasma layers perpendicular to the laser polarization. The calculation of the time-course and spatial profiles of the plasma density, field amplitude, and energy deposition density in the medium during one breakdown pulse has allowed us to establish the main possible scenarios of the process considered and to found the laser intensity range where this process can underlie the nanograting modification of the medium by repeated pulses.
General application of Tolman’s concept of activation energy
Authors: Rafatijo Homayoon , Thompson Donald L.
Published: December 2017

We present a generalization of Tolman’s concept of activation energy applicable to thermal and non-thermal reactions in molecular dynamics simulations of reactions in bulk gases. To illustrate the applicability of the method, molecular dynamics calculations were carried out for the NVT ensemble to determine the activation energies of O2 + H2 → H + HO2 and 2O2 + H2 → 2HO2 from MD simulation results for [H2]/[O2] = 1 at 3000 K using the reactive force field, ReaxFF. Assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium, we define the reaction cluster local energy, the energy of the atoms participating in an individual reaction, which is conserved. The generalized Tolman activation energy (GTEa) approach is applicable to reactions of any molecularity. Although we have applied GTEa for thermal conditions, it is applicable to chemistry occurring under non-thermal conditions because it rests upon local rather than global equilibrium. We have defined the transition configurations, unique points that define a seam separating reactants and products at which the local energies of the reactants and products become equal.
Integrated light-sheet imaging and flow-based enquiry (iLIFE) system for 3D in-vivo imaging of multicellular organism
Authors: Rasmi Chelur K. , Padmanabhan Sreedevi , Shirlekar Kalyanee , Rajan Kanhirodan , Manjithaya Ravi , Singh Varsha , Mondal Partha Pratim
Published: December 2017

We propose and demonstrate a light-sheet-based 3D interrogation system on a microfluidic platform for screening biological specimens during flow. To achieve this, a diffraction-limited light-sheet (with a large field-of-view) is employed to optically section the specimens flowing through the microfluidic channel. This necessitates optimization of the parameters for the illumination sub-system (illumination intensity, light-sheet width, and thickness), microfluidic specimen platform (channel-width and flow-rate), and detection sub-system (camera exposure time and frame rate). Once optimized, these parameters facilitate cross-sectional imaging and 3D reconstruction of biological specimens. The proposed integrated light-sheet imaging and flow-based enquiry (iLIFE) imaging technique enables single-shot sectional imaging of a range of specimens of varying dimensions, ranging from a single cell (HeLa cell) to a multicellular organism (C. elegans). 3D reconstruction of the entire C. elegans is achieved in real-time and with an exposure time of few hundred micro-seconds. A maximum likelihood technique is developed and optimized for the iLIFE imaging system. We observed an intracellular resolution for mitochondria-labeled HeLa cells, which demonstrates the dynamic resolution of the iLIFE system. The proposed technique is a step towards achieving flow-based 3D imaging. We expect potential applications in diverse fields such as structural biology and biophysics.
Annealing behaviour of cold-rolled Cu–Ag alloy under mechanical loads
Authors: Lu Yue , Ma Ru , Wang Yi-nong
Published: December 2017

The influence of the mechanical stress much lower than the yield stress during annealing on the annealing behaviour of cold-rolled Cu–Ag alloy was investigated. The optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) were used to characterise the microstructure and texture. When such annealing of cold-rolled Cu–Ag alloy is conducted under uniaxial tensile stress, an analysis of the work hardening behaviour and microstructural evolution indicated that the presence of uniaxial tensile stress during annealing retards recrystallisation. EBSD studies also revealed that the dislocation density of the sample annealed under stress is lower than that after cold-rolled. The retardation of recrystallisation is associated with the reduction of the dislocation density of unrecrystallised cold-rolled Cu–Ag alloy induced by dynamic recovery.
Differential contribution of Ca2+ sources to day and night BK current activation in the circadian clock
Authors: Whitt Joshua P. , McNally Beth A. , Meredith Andrea L.
Published: December 2017

Large conductance K+ (BK) channels are expressed widely in neurons, where their activation is regulated by membrane depolarization and intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i). To enable this regulation, BK channels functionally couple to both voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) and channels mediating Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. However, the relationship between BK channels and their specific Ca2+ source for particular patterns of excitability is not well understood. In neurons within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)—the brain’s circadian clock—BK current, VGCC current, and Ca2+i are diurnally regulated, but paradoxically, BK current is greatest at night when VGCC current and Ca2+i are reduced. Here, to determine whether diurnal regulation of Ca2+ is relevant for BK channel activation, we combine pharmacology with day and night patch-clamp recordings in acute slices of SCN. We find that activation of BK current depends primarily on three types of channels but that the relative contribution changes between day and night. BK current can be abrogated with nimodipine during the day but not at night, establishing that L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs) are the primary daytime Ca2+ source for BK activation. In contrast, dantrolene causes a significant decrease in BK current at night, suggesting that nighttime BK activation is driven by ryanodine receptor (RyR)–mediated Ca2+i release. The N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channel blocker ω-conotoxin MVIIC causes a smaller reduction of BK current that does not differ between day and night. Finally, inhibition of LTCCs, but not RyRs, eliminates BK inactivation, but the BK β2 subunit was not required for activation of BK current by LTCCs. These data reveal a dynamic coupling strategy between BK channels and their Ca2+ sources in the SCN, contributing to diurnal regulation of SCN excitability.
Maxwell Gravitation
Authors: Dewar Neil
Published: December 2017

This article gives an explicit presentation of Newtonian gravitation on the backdrop of Maxwell space-time, giving a sense in which acceleration is relative in gravitational theory. However, caution is needed: assessing whether this is a robust or interesting sense of the relativity of acceleration depends on some subtle technical issues and on substantive philosophical questions over how to identify the space-time structure of a theory.
Hereditary circularity for energy minimal diffeomorphisms
Authors: Koh Ngin-Tee
Published: December 2017

We reveal some geometric properties of energy minimal diffeomorphisms defined on an annulus, whose existence was established in works by Iwaniec et al. (2011) and Kalaj (2014).
On a Minkowski-like inequality for asymptotically flat static manifolds
Authors: McCormick Stephen
Published: December 2017

The Minkowski inequality is a classical inequality in differential geometry giving a bound from below on the total mean curvature of a convex surface in Euclidean space, in terms of its area. Recently there has been interest in proving versions of this inequality for manifolds other than

R

n

\mathbb {R}^n

; for example, such an inequality holds for surfaces in spatial Schwarzschild and AdS-Schwarzschild manifolds. In this note, we adapt a recent analysis of Y. Wei to prove a Minkowski-like inequality for general static asymptotically flat manifolds.
Coiling Versus Microsurgical Clipping in the Treatment of Unruptured Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Alreshidi Meshal , Cote David J , Dasenbrock Hormuzdiyar H , Acosta Michael , Can Anil , Doucette Joanne , Simjian Thomas , Hulou M Maher , Wheeler Lee A , Huang Kevin , Zaidi Hasan A , Du Rose , Aziz-Sultan M Ali , Mekary Rania A , Smith Timothy R
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Open microsurgical clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms has long been the gold standard, yet advancements in endovascular coiling techniques have begun to challenge the status quo.

OBJECTIVE

To compare endovascular coiling with microsurgical clipping among adults with unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms (MCAA) by conducting a meta-analysis.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted from January 2011 to October 2015 to update a previous meta-analysis. All studies that reported unruptured MCAA in adults treated by microsurgical clipping or endovascular coiling were included and cumulatively analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven studies including 3352 patients were included. Using the random-effects model, pooled analysis of 11 studies of microsurgical clipping (626 aneurysms) revealed complete aneurysmal obliteration in 94.2% of cases (95% confidence interval [CI] 87.6%-97.4%). The analysis of 18 studies of endovascular coiling (759 aneurysms) revealed complete obliteration in 53.2% of cases (95% CI: 45.0%-61.1%). Among clipping studies, 22 assessed neurological outcomes (2404 aneurysms), with favorable outcomes in 97.9% (95% CI: 96.8%-98.6%). Among coiling studies, 22 examined neurological outcomes (826 aneurysms), with favorable outcomes in 95.1% (95% CI: 93.1%-96.5%). Results using the fixed-effect models were not materially different.

CONCLUSION

This updated meta-analysis demonstrates that surgical clipping for unruptured MCAA remains highly safe and efficacious. Endovascular treatment for unruptured MCAAs continues to improve in efficacy and safety; yet, it results in lower rates of occlusion.
Open Wide and Say A-Ha: Adding Oral Health Content to the Nurse Practitioner Curriculum
Authors: Kent Kathleen A. , Clark Carol A.
Published: December 2017

While aligning our nurse practitioner curriculum to the competencies of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, we realized that there was a lack of oral health content in our program. As we did not possess the knowledge needed to teach this content, we invited a dental school faculty member to do this for our class. This experience led to a change in the delivery of our teaching content through the use of the STAR Legacy Cycle model and the How People Learn theory. The purpose of this article is to share our journey with others.
Caring from a Christian Worldview
Authors: Rieg Linda S. , Newbanks R. Shirlene , Sprunger Rose
Published: December 2017

This study explored Christian nurses' views of their source of caring (Deity or other), adherence to biblical faith practices, and view of nursing as a job, career, profession, or calling. Participants who reported Deity (God, Christ, Holy Spirit) as their source of caring were more likely to view nursing as a calling and report a higher degree of volunteering (serving), giving (financially to a religious community), devotions and prayer (personal walk), and fellowship (meeting with a community of other believers). Results have implications for understanding the concept of caring within the context of a Christian worldview.
Effect of night-time temperatures on cause and age-specific mortality in London
Authors: Murage Peninah , Hajat Shakoor , Kovats R. Sari
Published: December 2017

Background:

High ambient temperatures are associated with an acute increase in mortality risk. Although heat exposure during the night is anecdotally cited as being important, this has not been rigorously demonstrated in the epidemiological literature.

Methods:

We quantified the contribution of nighttime temperatures using time-series quasi-Poisson regression on cause and age-specific daily mortality in London between 1993 and 2015. Daytime and nighttime exposures were characterized by average temperatures between 9 am and 9 pm and between 4 am and 8 am, respectively, lagged by 7 days. We also examined the differential impacts of hot and cool nights preceded by very hot days. All models were adjusted for air quality, season, and day of the week. Nighttime models were additionally adjusted for daytime exposure.

Results:

Effects from nighttime exposure persisted after adjusting for daytime exposure. This was highest for stroke, RR (relative risk) = 1.65 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.27 to 2.14) estimated by comparing mortality risk at the 80th and 99th temperature percentiles. Compared to daytime exposure, nighttime exposure had a higher mortality risk on chronic ischemic and stroke and in the younger age groups. Respiratory mortality was most sensitive to daytime temperatures. Hot days followed by hot nights had a greater mortality risk than hot days followed by cool nights.

Conclusions:

Nighttime exposures make an additional important contribution to heat-related mortality. This impact was highest on warm nights that were preceded by a hot day, which justifies the alert criteria in heat–health warning system that is based on hot days followed by hot nights. The highest mortality risk was from stroke; targeted interventions would benefit patients most susceptible to stroke.
Well Preserved Renal Function in Children With Untreated Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Berg Ulla B. , Németh Antal
Published: December 2017

Objectives:

On the basis of studies with hepatorenal syndrome, it is widely regarded that renal function is impacted in chronic liver disease (CLD). Therefore, we investigated renal function in children with CLD.

Methods:

In a retrospective study of 277 children with CLD, renal function was investigated as glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), measured as clearance of inulin and para‐amino hippuric acid or clearance of iohexol. The data were analyzed with regard to different subgroups of liver disease and to the grade of damage.

Results:

Hyperfiltration (>+2 SD of controls) was found in the subgroups of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (44%), glycogenosis (75%), and acute fulminant liver failure (60%). Patients with biliary atresia, most other patients with metabolic disease and intrahepatic cholestasis, and those with vascular anomalies and cryptogenic cirrhosis had normal renal function. Decreased renal function was found in patients with Alagille's syndrome (64% < −2 SD). Increased GFR and ERPF was found in patients with elevated transaminases, low prothrombin level, high bile acid concentration, and high aspartate‐aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio.

Conclusions:

Most children with CLD had surprisingly well preserved renal function and certain groups had even hyperfiltration. The finding that children with decompensated liver disease and ongoing liver failure had stable kidney function suggests that no prognostic markers of threatening hepatorenal syndrome were at hand. Moreover, estimation of GFR based on serum creatinine fails to reveal hyperfiltration.
Surgical Consultation as Social Process
Authors: Clapp Justin T. , Arriaga Alexander F. , Murthy Sushila , Raper Steven E. , Schwartz J. Sanford , Barg Frances K. , Fleisher Lee A.
Published: December 2017

Objective:

This qualitative study examines surgical consultation as a social process and assesses its alignment with assumptions of the shared decision-making (SDM) model.

Summary of Background Data:

SDM stresses the importance of patient preferences and rigorous discussion of therapeutic risks/benefits based on these preferences. However, empirical studies have highlighted discrepancies between SDM and realities of surgical decision making. Qualitative research can inform understanding of the decision-making process and allow for granular assessment of the nature and causes of these discrepancies.

Methods:

We observed consultations between 3 general surgeons and 45 patients considering undergoing 1 of 2 preference-sensitive elective operations: (1) hernia repair, or (2) cholecystectomy. These patients and surgeons also participated in semi-structured interviews.

Results:

By the time of the consultation, patients and surgeons were predisposed toward certain decisions by preceding events occurring elsewhere. During the visit, surgeons had differential ability to arbitrate surgical intervention and construct the severity of patients’ conditions. These upstream dynamics frequently displaced the centrality of the risk/benefit-based consent discussion.

Conclusion:

The influence of events preceding consultation suggests that decision-making models should account for broader spatiotemporal spans. Given surgeons’ authority to define patients’ conditions and control service provision, SDM may be premised on an overestimation of patients’ power to alter the course of decision making once in a specialist's office. Considering the subordinate role of the risk/benefit discussion in many surgical decisions, it will be important to study if and how the social process of decision making is altered by SDM-oriented decision aids that foreground this discussion.
Immediate Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Obsession-Induced Anxiety in Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Todder Doron , Gershi Adi , Perry Zvi , Kaplan Zeev , Levine Joseph , Avirame Keren
Published: December 2017

Objective

Studies have shown that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has immediate effects on brain activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of tDCS to regulate obsession-induced anxiety immediately after symptom provocation in patients with refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Methods

Twelve patients with refractory OCD received cathode, anode, and sham transcranial direct current stimulation over the medial prefrontal cortex conjugant to pharmacological treatment in a crossover design. Before and after the DC stimulation, patients graded the intensity of their anxiety after a short exposure to a provoking stimulus using the visual analogue scale. Clinical questionnaires assessing symptoms severity were also applied before each stimulation mode.

Results

We found a statistically significant decrease in the severity of the obsession-induced anxiety (decreased visual analogue scale) as a result of cathode tDCS in comparison with the anode and sham stimulation. Reduction in obsession-induced anxiety was consistent, yet short lasting, and was independent of symptom severity.

Conclusions

Cathode tDCS could be potentially used to regulate obsession-induced anxiety in refractory OCD patients. Further studies are warranted to confirm our results as well as to determine whether tDCS can achieve prolonged benefits in OCD and be of aid in behavioral treatments based on exposure.
Species richness alters spatial nutrient heterogeneity effects on above-ground plant biomass
Authors: Xi Nianxun , Zhang Chunhui , Bloor Juliette M. G.
Published: December 2017

Previous studies have suggested that spatial nutrient heterogeneity promotes plant nutrient capture and growth. However, little is known about how spatial nutrient heterogeneity interacts with key community attributes to affect plant community production. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate how nitrogen heterogeneity effects vary with species richness and plant density. Effect size was calculated using the natural log of the ratio in plant biomass between heterogeneous and homogeneous conditions. Effect sizes were significantly above zero, reflecting positive effects of spatial nutrient heterogeneity on community production. However, species richness decreased the magnitude of heterogeneity effects on above-ground biomass. The magnitude of heterogeneity effects on below-ground biomass did not vary with species richness. Moreover, we detected no modification in heterogeneity effects with plant density. Our results highlight the importance of species richness for ecosystem function. Asynchrony between above- and below-ground responses to spatial nutrient heterogeneity and species richness could have significant implications for biotic interactions and biogeochemical cycling in the long term.