bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Variation and Relationships among Cultivated, Wild, and Semiwild Soybean
Authors: Chen Yiwu , Nelson Randall L.
Published: April 2016

Some annual Glycine accessions are intermediate between the standard phenotypes of Glycine max (L.) Merr. and Glycine soja Sieb. & Zucc. and have been labeled semiwild. Few studies have examined both the genetic and phenotypic relationships among G. soja, G. max, and semiwild‐types by combining morphological traits and DNA markers. The objectives of this research were to quantify genetic variation within G. soja, G. max, and semiwild accessions; to investigate the relationships among the G. soja, G. max, and semiwild accessions; and to examine the relationships among phenotypes on the basis of morphological traits and genotypes on the basis of DNA markers. Ninety‐two semiwild, G. soja, and G. max accessions from the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection were evaluated for 20 phenotypic traits and with 137 RAPD markers. Mahalanobis distances and a Jaccard genetic similarity matrix were calculated for phenotypic traits and DNA data, respectively. Nonhierarchical and hierarchical clustering as well as multidimensional scaling (MDS) were used to evaluate relationships among semiwild, G. soja, and G. max accessions. Principal component analysis was applied to identify the morphological traits that were most significant in separating the three groups. For the accessions examined, unique RAPD markers were found for each taxonomic type. Three clusters defined by either phenotypic or DNA data are highly consistent and strongly corresponded to G. soja, G. max, and semiwild classifications. On the basis of the analysis of RAPD data, G. soja accessions have the greatest genetic diversity and semiwild accessions the least. Glycine max and semiwild accessions are more closely related to each other than to G. soja accessions. These data will be useful in helping to define a core collection of annual Glycine
Characteristics of Timothy Genotypes Divergently Selected for Fiber Traits
Authors: Claessens A. , Michaud R. , Bélanger G. , Mather D. E.
Published: April 2016

Selection for reduced fiber concentration in forage crops is considered to be an effective approach to improve digestibility but often results in reduced dry matter (DM) yield. The objective of this study was to characterize timothy (Phleum pratense L.) genotypes divergently selected for fiber component concentrations and their ratios, and to identify selection criteria that could have a meaningful effect on timothy digestibility without adversely affecting DM yield. Divergent phenotypic selection was applied for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), hemicellulose (HEM), and cellulose (CEL) as determined by the detergent fiber system of forage analysis and for ratios of ADL/HEM, ADL/CEL, ADL/(HEM+CEL), and HEM/CEL among 78 high yielding plants selected from among 2000 spaced plants from four populations. For each criterion, the two plants with the highest and the two plants with the lowest values within each population were selected. These plants were vegetatively propagated and composition of spring growth was evaluated in a 2‐yr field experiment. The divergent NDF, ADF, ADL, CEL, ADL/HEM, ADL/CEL, and ADL/(HEM+CEL) groups of genotypes were significantly different for their respective trait. The ADL, ADL/HEM, ADL/CEL, and ADL/(HEM+CEL) groups were the most stable across years for in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), with the low groups having values of IVTD between 10 and 34 g kg−1 DM above those of the corresponding high groups. The DM yield of the low‐ADL/(HEM+CEL) and‐ADL/CEL groups were also greater than that of their corresponding high groups by more than 13%. Therefore, ADL/(HEM+CEL) and ADL/CEL seem to be promising selection criteria to increase digestibility while maintaining or increasing DM yield.
Prevalence of β-lactam (blaTEM) and Metronidazole (nim) Resistance Genes in the Oral Cavity of Greek Subjects
Authors: Koukos Georgios , Konstantinidis Antonios , Tsalikis Lazaros , Arsenakis Minas , Slini Theodora , Sakellari Dimitra
Published: April 2016

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence ofblaTEMandnimgenes that encode resistance to β-lactams and nitroimidazoles, respectively, in the oral cavity of systemically healthy Greek subjects.

Materials and Methodology:

After screening 720 potentially eligible subjects, 154 subjects were recruited for the study, including 50 periodontally healthy patients, 52 cases of gingivitis and 52 cases of chronic periodontitis. The clinical parameters were assessed with an automated probe. Various samples were collected from the tongue, first molars and pockets >6mm, and analysed by polymerase chain reaction-amplification of theblaTEMandnimgenes, using primers and conditions previously described in the literature.

Results:

There was a high rate of detection ofblaTEMin plaque and tongue samples alike in all periodontal conditions (37% of plaque and 60% of tongue samples, and 71% of participants). TheblaTEMgene was detected more frequently in the tongue samples of the periodontally healthy (56%) and chronic periodontitis (62%) groups compared to the plaque samples from the same groups (36% and 29%, respectively; z-test with Bonferroni corrections-tests,P<0.05). Thenimgene was not detected in any of the 343 samples analysed.

Conclusion:

The oral cavity of Greek subjects often harboursblaTEMbut notnimgenes, and therefore the antimicrobial activity of β-lactams might be compromised.
Mother–child Attachment and Social Withdrawal in Urban Chinese Children
Authors: Chen Bin-Bin , Santo Jonathan Bruce
Published: April 2016

We examined the association between mother–child attachment and social withdrawal in Chinese urban children. Participants in the 1.5-year longitudinal study were 142 Chinese children (74 boys, 68 girls), who were initially aged between 6 and 10 years. Self-reported mother–child
attachment style was measured at Time 1 and Time 2. Two subtypes of social withdrawal (i.e., shyness and unsociability) were measured by self-rating and peer nomination at Time 2. Regression analysis showed that attachment style predicted a different subtype of social withdrawal. Early secure
and ambivalent attachment were associated negatively and positively, respectively, with self-reported shyness. Current (Time 2) avoidant attachment was positively associated with both self-reported and peer-rated unsociability, whereas current ambivalent attachment was negatively associated
with self-reported unsociability. The findings underscore a specific connection between attachment style and social withdrawal subtype.
Closing the Green Gap: The Impact of Environmental Commitment and Advertising Believability
Authors: Kim Yeonshin , Oh Sangdo , Yoon Sukki , Shin Hwashin Hyun
Published: April 2016

We investigated how consumer and message characteristics affect the consistency between message acceptance and purchase intention for green products (viz., green gap). Participants were 231 adults who were approached in various public places in South Korea (e.g., shopping malls). We
used 2 mock advertisements with fictitious brand names. Our data showed that participants who were committed to environmentally friendly behaviors, as measured by their past proenvironmental behaviors, displayed a tighter relationship between accepting green advertising messages and intending
to purchase green products. Furthermore, the acceptance–intention relationship was even stronger among participants who were strongly committed to environmentally friendly behaviors and who also found the advertising message believable. Our research findings add to the literature on
the attitude–behavior relationship by demonstrating that both dispositional and message factors strengthen thought–action connections.
Pain threshold - measure of pain sensitivity or social behavior?
Authors: Modic-Stanke Koraljka , Ivanec Dragutin
Published: April 2016

The aim was to examine the effect of the experimenter?s social status and its
interaction with participant?s gender on pressure pain threshold. Both male
and female students participated in the study (N = 96) and were evenly
assigned into two groups which differed only in the professional status of
the experimenter who was a professor (higher status) in one group and a
student (lower status) in the other. The factorial ANOVA revealed
statistically significant and large main effects of the experimenter?s status
and the participants? gender, indicating higher pain thresholds in male
participants and in the higher status experimenter group. Although both males
and females had higher pain thresholds when measured by a higher status
experimenter, a statistically significant interaction revealed that status
affected male participants more so than females. The obtained results are
probably due to social behaviour, emphasizing relevance of the experimenter?s
and participants? characteristics in pain measurement.
Adaptation and empirical evaluation of the questionnaire on students’ motivation towards science learning
Authors: Olic Stanislava , Ninkovic Stefan , Adamov Jasna
Published: April 2016

The aim of this study is to verify the psychometric properties of the
translation of the questionnaire which is designed for self-assessment of
students? motivation toward science learning, SMTSL. Besides being translated
and adapted to Serbian language, the questionnaire was adapted to the
specific properties of chemistry as a school subject. The administered
questionnaire consisted of 29 items in the five-point Likert scale and
contained five subscales which assessed a sense of self-efficacy for learning
chemistry, active learning strategies, chemistry learning value, performance
goal and achievement goal. The suitability of the theoretical model and
psychometric characteristics of the questionnaire were assessed on the sample
of 741 grammar school students. The results show that the tested model has
good fit indicators. The calculated values of the indicators of reliability
and representativeness indicate quite satisfactory psychometric properties of
the questionnaire and it can be used in further research.
Acquisition of Hutchison Essar (India) by Vodafone (U.K.): A Case in International Taxation of Indirect Transfer of Shares
Authors: Gujarathi Mahendra R. , Comerford David R.
Published: April 2016

Vodafone is recognized globally as a seminal case in which the taxation of indirect transfer of shares was litigated before a country's highest judicial court. Vodafone Group plc, through a web of its directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries in different tax jurisdictions, acquired a majority interest in Hutchison Essar, an Indian telecommunications company. For failing to withhold taxes, the Indian Revenue Service has assessed $5 billion in taxes and penalties on Vodafone. Whether India's position to tax indirect transfer of shares between two non-Indian entities is consistent with the practices of OECD countries such as the U.S. and whether such tax measures help economic competitiveness are hotly debated topics.

The case can be used in a graduate course in international taxation, or in a capstone course to address the topics of tax research and tax policy. It helps students to (1) research tax literature in the U.S. and a foreign country and apply it to a real-world context, (2) understand a complex acquisition transaction and its tax ramifications, (3) determine whether a similar transaction would be taxable in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, and (4) evaluate the pros and cons of taxing the transfer of shares between two foreign entities by tax authorities.
Laser cleaning of commercial Al alloy surface for tungsten inert gas welding
Authors: Qiang Wang , Yingchun Guan , Baoqiang Cong , Bojin Qi
Published: April 2016

Surface preparation is known to have critical effect on welding quality of engineering materials, for instance, oxidation layer may reduce the weld performance significantly due to porosity issue. Laser cleaning is considered as a promising technique to do surface preparation for welding process. This paper presents the effect of laser cleaning on surface preparation for tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding of commercial aluminum alloy. We demonstrated the feasibility of using laser cleaning method to minimize the oxides layer of Al alloy for TIG welding. This one-step process without use of chemicals or any other additives is environmentally friendly. Comparison of the performance between conversional cleaning method and laser cleaning method was examined carefully to identify the changes in microstructure and chemical analysis of Al alloy welds after TIG welding processing. Special attention was paid to porosity distribution in the fusion zone after laser cleaning. In addition, some thermal melting was found to occur and refined microstructure took place between the fusion zone and the substrate after rapid solidification. It is further proposed that laser cleaning can refine microstructure of the interface between filter wire and the substrate during TIG welding, which may play a significant role in affecting the weld quality.
Hybrid laser-metal active gas welding of S460ML steel plates: Weldability and consequences of dropping on weld quality
Authors: Chaussé Fabrice , Paillard Pascal , Bertrand Emmanuel , Rückert Guillaume
Published: April 2016

This work investigates the weldability of S460ML steel using a hybrid laser-metal active gas (MAG) process and the effect of dropping on material properties. Dropping is the creation of regularly scattered drops on the back side of thick plates during full penetration hybrid laser-MAG welding. As these drops can reach several millimeters in diameter, it is an unacceptable defect since it lowers esthetic properties. Besides the geometrical aspect, mechanical properties are also affected by dropping. In order to check the consequences of dropping on weld quality: metallographic, mechanical, and dilution analyses have been performed. Results confirm the good weldability of S460ML using hybrid welding with proper welding parameters. If dropping occurs, it enhances heterogeneity in chemistry and microstructure, and welding defects such as porosity and undercuts. However, these properties and defects remain tolerable. Drops can be removed by grinding, making the weld acceptable.
Spectroscopic monitoring and melt pool temperature estimation during the laser metal deposition process
Authors: De Baere Dieter , Devesse Wim , De Pauw Ben , Smeesters Lien , Thienpont Hugo , Guillaume Patrick
Published: April 2016

Laser metal deposition is an additive manufacturing process that allows the production of near net shape structures. Moreover, the process can also be applied for the addition of material to an existing component for repair. In order to obtain structures with reproducible and excellent material properties, it is necessary to understand the thermal behavior of the process better and to monitor and control the process. One of the critical parameters in this process is the measurement of the melt pool temperature and its distribution. The varying emissivity in space and time for the melt pool forms a fundamental physical problem. This also prevents a correct temperature measurement of the melt pool temperature distribution with a thermal camera. The usage of the spectral information within the emitted light of the melt pool can form a key enabling element in the estimation of the emissivity and as such reveal the temperature information. In future, this information can be used in a controlling system in order to prevent excessive heat transfer toward the substrate and to reduce the amount of the residual stress. Another key criterion for the additive manufacturing process is the prevention of oxidation of the deposited layers in order to eliminate the formation of brittle zones within the components. The appearance of specific discrete spectral lines can reveal essential information of the stability of the process such as oxidation. In this paper, an optical setup with an optical spectrometer will be described for the measurement of the radiated spectrum ranging from 400 up to 850 nm. The spectra were obtained during the laser metal deposition process of the stainless steel (316L). The measured spectroscopic data of different locations on the melt pool surface will be presented and explored in this paper. Based on the measured spectra different temperature estimation algorithms will be presented and evaluated. The appearance of specific discrete spectral lines will also be examined.
Laser surface structuring with 100 W of average power and sub-ps pulses
Authors: Neuenschwander Beat , Jaeggi Beat , Zimmermannn Markus , Markovic Vesna , Resan Bojan , Weingarten Kurt , de Loor Ronny , Penning Lars
Published: April 2016

High throughput still represents a key factor for industrial use of ultrashort pulses in the field of surface structuring. Reliable systems with average powers up to 100 W are today available. It has already been proved that metals, especially steel having a low threshold fluence, can be machined with excellent surface quality at average powers of more than 40 W and a spot radius of about 25 μm, if a polygon line scanner, offering fast scanning speeds, is used. A further scale-up into the 100 W regime should be possible for metals showing a threshold fluence of about 0.2 J/cm2 or higher. But, it will lead to problems with heat accumulation in the case of steel and a straight forward scale-up is not possible. In order to keep a good surface quality, the machining strategy has to be adapted. A maximum flexibility can be obtained with an “interlaced” mode by using very high marking speeds of several 100 m/s and repetition rates of several tenths of MHz. As this is at the edge of today available technologies, alternative strategies are additionally investigated. Enlarging the spot size represents the most simple approach to reduce the heat accumulation in the case of steel but also multispots represent an attractive alternative.
Modulating the wettability characteristics and bioactivity of polymeric materials using laser surface treatment
Authors: Waugh D. G. , Lawrence J. , Shukla P.
Published: April 2016

It has been thoroughly demonstrated previously that lasers hold the ability to modulate surface properties of materials with the result being utilization of such lasers in both research and industry. What is more, these laser surface treatments have been shown to affect the adhesion characteristics and biofunctionality of those materials. This paper details the use of a Synrad CO2 laser marking system to surface treat nylon 6,6 and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The laser-modified surfaces were analyzed using three-dimensional surface profilometry to ascertain an increase in surface roughness when compared to the as-received samples. The wettability characteristics were determined using the sessile drop method and showed variations in contact angle for both the nylon 6,6 and PTFE. For the PTFE, it was shown that the laser surface treatment gave rise to a more hydrophobic surface with contact angles of up to 150° being achieved. For the nylon 6,6, it was observed that the contact angle was modulated approximately ±10° for different samples which could be attributed to a likely mixed state wetting regime. The effects of the laser surface treatment on osteoblast cell and stem cell growth are discussed showing an overall enhancement of biomimetic properties, especially for the nylon 6,6. This work investigates the potential of governing parameters which drives the wettability/adhesion characteristics and bioactivity of the laser surface treated polymeric materials.
Investigations of welding instabilities and weld seam formation during laser microwelding of ultrathin metal sheets
Authors: Seiler Michael , Patschger Andreas , Bliedtner Jens
Published: April 2016

During laser microwelding, the melt pool behavior and the formation of the weld seam depend on various process parameters. In this paper, the authors performed tests to clarify the influence of laser power P, the feeding rate vf, the focal diameter df, the foil thickness s, and the thermophysical material properties. Ultrathin metal foils such as stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium in thicknesses of 50 and 100 μm were welded in bead-on-plate welds in order to generate a full penetration weld. For this purpose, focal diameters between 25 and 78 μm were applied. By means of high-speed videography and micro-cross-sections, the observations were analyzed depending on the feeding rate. Imperfections such as root defects, surface structures, and humps were described and evaluated. Moreover, the influence of melt pool behavior prior to the appearance of humping is illustrated for full penetration microwelding in contrast to insufficient welds. The Rayleigh theory of the instability of a free suspended liquid cylinder is discussed. A correlation between the length of the melt pool L and the spot size df is examined to define the humping threshold for stainless steel. Due to the different thermophysical properties of the applied materials, weld seam formation and process behavior are changed.
From the Typewriter to the Internet: Editing Smollett for the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: April 2016

The year 2016 marks the 250th anniversary of the publication of Tobias Smollett’s Travels through France and Italy (1766), which, in the early 21st century, was named one of the greatest travel books of all time. Frank Felsenstein, editor of the 1979 Oxford University Press edition of Smollett’s Travels (and the Broadview Press 2011 edition), discusses the original publication of the book and its reception history, as well as his own recollections of first studying the Travels. He examines the changes in editorial research methods from the time of the typewriter to the era of the internet and the ways in which the electronic archive can be plumbed for yet more exciting revelations about this and other eighteenth-century works.
A matched cohort comparison of clinical outcomes following microsurgical resection or stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with small- and medium-sized vestibular schwannomas
Authors: Golfinos John G. , Hill Travis C. , Rokosh Rae , Choudhry Osamah , Shinseki Matthew , Mansouri Alireza , Friedmann David R. , Thomas Roland J. , Kondziolka Douglas
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVE

A randomized trial that compares clinical outcomes following microsurgery (MS) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for patients with small- and medium-sized vestibular schwannomas (VSs) is impractical, but would have important implications for clinical decision making. A matched cohort analysis was conducted to evaluate clinical outcomes in patients treated with MS or SRS.

METHODS

The records of 399 VS patients who were cared for by 2 neurosurgeons and 1 neurotologist between 2001 and 2014 were evaluated. From this data set, 3 retrospective matched cohorts were created to compare hearing preservation (21 matched pairs), facial nerve preservation (83 matched pairs), intervention-free survival, and complication rates (85 matched pairs) between cases managed with SRS and patients managed with MS. Cases were matched for age at surgery (± 10 years) and lesion size (± 0.1 cm). To compare hearing outcomes, cases were additionally matched for preoperative Class A hearing according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery guidelines. To compare facial nerve (i.e., cranial nerve [CN] VII) outcomes, cases were additionally matched for preoperative House-Brackmann (HB) score. Investigators who were not involved with patient care reviewed the clinical and imaging records. The reported outcomes were as assessed at the time of the last follow-up, unless otherwise stated.

RESULTS

The preservation of preoperative Class A hearing status was achieved in 14.3% of MS cases compared with 42.9% of SRS cases (OR 4.5; p < 0.05) after an average follow-up interval of 43.7 months and 30.3 months, respectively. Serviceable hearing was preserved in 42.8% of MS cases compared with 85.7% of SRS cases (OR 8.0; p < 0.01). The rates of postoperative CN VII dysfunction were low for both groups, although significantly higher in the MS group (HB III–IV 11% vs 0% for SRS; OR 21.3; p < 0.01) at a median follow-up interval of 35.7 and 19.0 months for MS and SRS, respectively. There was no difference in the need for subsequent intervention (2 MS patients and 2 SRS patients).

CONCLUSIONS

At this high-volume center, VS resection or radiosurgery for tumors ≤ 2.8 cm in diameter was associated with low overall morbidity. The need for subsequent intervention was the same in both groups. SRS was associated with improved hearing and facial preservation rates and reduced morbidity, but with a shorter average follow-up period. Facial function was excellent in both groups. Since patients were not randomly selected for surgery, different clinical outcomes may be of different value to individual patients. Both anticipated medical outcomes and patient goals remain the drivers of treatment decisions.
Cervical spine surgery in professional athletes: a systematic review
Authors: Joaquim Andrei F. , Hsu Wellington K. , Patel Alpesh A.
Published: April 2016

Cervical surgery is one of the most common surgical spinal procedures performed around the world. The authors performed a systematic review of the literature reporting the outcomes of cervical spine surgery in high-level athletes in order to better understand the nuances of cervical spine pathology in this population.

A search of the MEDLINE database using the search terms “cervical spine” AND “surgery” AND “athletes” yielded 54 abstracts. After exclusion of publications that did not meet the criteria for inclusion, a total of 8 papers reporting the outcome of cervical spine surgery in professional or elite athletes treated for symptoms secondary to cervical spine pathology (focusing in degenerative conditions) remained for analysis. Five of these involved the management of cervical disc herniation, 3 were specifically about traumatic neurapraxia.

The majority of the patients included in this review were American football players. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) was commonly performed in high-level athletes for the treatment of cervical disc herniation. Most of the studies suggested that return to play is safe for athletes who are asymptomatic after ACDF for cervical radiculopathy due to disc herniation. Surgical treatment may provide a higher rate of return to play for these athletes than nonsurgical treatment. Return to play after cervical spinal cord contusion may be possible in asymptomatic patients. Cervical cord signal changes on MRI may not be an absolute contraindication for return to play in neurologically intact patients, according to some authors. Cervical contusions secondary to cervical stenosis may be associated with a worse outcome and a higher recurrence rate than those those secondary to disc herniation. The evidence is low (Level IV) and individualized treatment must be recommended.
Predictors of postconcussion syndrome in collegiate student-athletes
Authors: Zuckerman Scott L. , Yengo-Kahn Aaron M. , Buckley Thomas A. , Solomon Gary S. , Sills Allen K. , Kerr Zachary Y.
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVE

Sport-related concussion (SRC) has emerged as a public health problem, especially among student-athletes. Whereas most concussions resolve by 2 weeks, a minority of patients experience postconcussion syndrome (PCS), in which symptoms persist for months. The objective of this study was to elucidate factors predictive of PCS among a sample of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes in the academic years 2009–2010 to 2014–2015.

METHODS

The SRC data originated from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) in the 2009–2010 to 2014–2015 academic seasons. The NCAA ISP is a prospective database made up of a convenience sample of schools across all divisions. All SRCs are reported by certified athletic trainers. The PCS group consisted of concussed student-athletes with concussion-related symptoms that lasted ≥ 4 weeks. The non-PCS group consisted of concussed student-athletes with symptom resolution in ≤ 2 weeks. Those with symptoms that resolved in the intermediate area of 2–4 weeks were excluded. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using logistic regression.

RESULTS

During the 2009–2010 to 2014–2015 seasons, 1507 NCAA student-athletes sustained an SRC, 112 (7.4%) of whom developed PCS (i.e., concussion-related symptoms that lasted ≥ 4 weeks). Men's ice hockey contributed the largest proportion of concussions to the PCS group (28.6%), whereas men's football contributed the largest proportion of concussions in the non-PCS group (38.6%). In multivariate analysis, recurrent concussion was associated with increased odds of PCS (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.28–3.36). Concussion symptoms that were also associated with increased odds of PCS included retrograde amnesia (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.34–5.64), difficulty concentrating (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.23–4.50), sensitivity to light (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.09–3.57), and insomnia (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.30–3.68). Contact level, sex, and loss of consciousness were not associated with PCS.

CONCLUSIONS

Postconcussion syndrome represents one of the most impactful sequelae of SRC. In this study of exclusively collegiate student-athletes, the authors found that recurrent concussions and various concussion-related symptoms were associated with PCS. The identification of initial risk factors for the development of PCS may assist sports medicine clinicians in providing timely interventions and treatments to prevent morbidity and shorten recovery time after SRC.
Sports-related brain injuries: connecting pathology to diagnosis
Authors: Pan James , Connolly Ian D. , Dangelmajer Sean , Kintzing James , Ho Allen L. , Grant Gerald
Published: April 2016

Brain injuries are becoming increasingly common in athletes and represent an important diagnostic challenge. Early detection and management of brain injuries in sports are of utmost importance in preventing chronic neurological and psychiatric decline. These types of injuries incurred during sports are referred to as mild traumatic brain injuries, which represent a heterogeneous spectrum of disease. The most dramatic manifestation of chronic mild traumatic brain injuries is termed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is associated with profound neuropsychiatric deficits. Because chronic traumatic encephalopathy can only be diagnosed by postmortem examination, new diagnostic methodologies are needed for early detection and amelioration of disease burden. This review examines the pathology driving changes in athletes participating in high-impact sports and how this understanding can lead to innovations in neuroimaging and biomarker discovery.
The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool: a systematic review
Authors: Yengo-Kahn Aaron M. , Hale Andrew T. , Zalneraitis Brian H. , Zuckerman Scott L. , Sills Allen K. , Solomon Gary S.
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVE

Over the last 2 decades, sport-related concussion (SRC) has garnered significant attention. Even with increased awareness and athlete education, sideline recognition and real-time diagnosis remain crucial. The need for an objective and standardized assessment of concussion led to the eventual development of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) during the Second International Conference on Concussion in Sport in 2004, which is now in its third iteration (SCAT3). In an effort to update our understanding of the most well-known sideline concussion assessment, the authors conducted a systematic review of the SCAT and the evidence supporting its use to date.

METHODS

English-language titles and abstracts published between 1995 and October 2015 were searched systematically across 4 electronic databases and a review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines adapted for the review of a heterogeneous collection of study designs. Peer-reviewed journal articles were included if they reported quantitative data on any iteration of the SCAT, Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), or modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS) data at baseline or following concussion in an exclusively athlete population with any portion older than 13 years of age. Studies that included nonathletes, only children less than 13 years old, exclusively BESS data, exclusively symptom scale data, or a non–SCAT-related assessment were excluded.

RESULTS

The database search process yielded 549 abstracts, and 105 full-text articles were reviewed with 36 meeting criteria for inclusion. Nineteen studies were associated with the SAC, 1 was associated with the mBESS exclusively, and 16 studies were associated with a full iteration of the SCAT. The majority of these studies (56%) were prospective cohort studies. Male football players were the most common athletes studied. An analysis of the studies focused on baseline differences associated with age, sex, concussion history, and the ability to detect an SRC.

CONCLUSIONS

Looking toward the upcoming Concussion in Sport Group meeting in fall 2016, one may expect further revision to the SCAT3. However, based on this systematic review, the authors propose further, in-depth study of an already comprehensive concussion test, with acute, diagnostic, as well as long-term use.
Pediatric sports-related traumatic brain injury in United States trauma centers
Authors: Yue John K. , Winkler Ethan A. , Burke John F. , Chan Andrew K. , Dhall Sanjay S. , Berger Mitchel S. , Manley Geoffrey T. , Tarapore Phiroz E.
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVE

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children is a significant public health concern estimated to result in over 500,000 emergency department (ED) visits and more than 60,000 hospitalizations in the United States annually. Sports activities are one important mechanism leading to pediatric TBI. In this study, the authors characterize the demographics of sports-related TBI in the pediatric population and identify predictors of prolonged hospitalization and of increased morbidity and mortality rates.

METHODS

Utilizing the National Sample Program of the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB), the authors retrospectively analyzed sports-related TBI data from children (age 0–17 years) across 5 sports categories: fall or interpersonal contact (FIC), roller sports, skiing/snowboarding, equestrian sports, and aquatic sports. Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify predictors of prolonged length of stay (LOS) in the hospital or intensive care unit (ICU), medical complications, inpatient mortality rates, and hospital discharge disposition. Statistical significance was assessed at α < 0.05, and the Bonferroni correction (set at significance threshold p = 0.01) for multiple comparisons was applied in each outcome analysis.

RESULTS

From 2003 to 2012, in total 3046 pediatric sports-related TBIs were recorded in the NTDB, and these injuries represented 11,614 incidents nationally after sample weighting. Fall or interpersonal contact events were the greatest contributors to sports-related TBI (47.4%). Mild TBI represented 87.1% of the injuries overall. Mean (± SEM) LOSs in the hospital and ICU were 2.68 ± 0.07 days and 2.73 ± 0.12 days, respectively. The overall mortality rate was 0.8%, and the prevalence of medical complications was 2.1% across all patients. Severities of head and extracranial injuries were significant predictors of prolonged hospital and ICU LOSs, medical complications, failure to discharge to home, and death. Hypotension on admission to the ED was a significant predictor of failure to discharge to home (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.03–0.07, p < 0.001). Traumatic brain injury incurred during roller sports was independently associated with prolonged hospital LOS compared with FIC events (mean increase 0.54 ± 0.15 days, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In pediatric sports-related TBI, the severities of head and extracranial traumas are important predictors of patients developing acute medical complications, prolonged hospital and ICU LOSs, in-hospital mortality rates, and failure to discharge to home. Acute hypotension after a TBI event decreases the probability of successful discharge to home. Increasing TBI awareness and use of head-protective gear, particularly in high-velocity sports in older age groups, is necessary to prevent pediatric sports-related TBI or to improve outcomes after a TBI.
Adult sports-related traumatic brain injury in United States trauma centers
Authors: Winkler Ethan A. , Yue John K. , Burke John F. , Chan Andrew K. , Dhall Sanjay S. , Berger Mitchel S. , Manley Geoffrey T. , Tarapore Phiroz E.
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVE

Sports-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important public health concern estimated to affect 300,000 to 3.8 million people annually in the United States. Although injuries to professional athletes dominate the media, this group represents only a small proportion of the overall population. Here, the authors characterize the demographics of sports-related TBI in adults from a community-based trauma population and identify predictors of prolonged hospitalization and increased morbidity and mortality rates.

METHODS

Utilizing the National Sample Program of the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB), the authors retrospectively analyzed sports-related TBI data from adults (age ≥ 18 years) across 5 sporting categories—fall or interpersonal contact (FIC), roller sports, skiing/snowboarding, equestrian sports, and aquatic sports. Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify predictors of prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS), medical complications, inpatient mortality rates, and hospital discharge disposition. Statistical significance was assessed at α < 0.05, and the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was applied for each outcome analysis.

RESULTS

From 2003 to 2012, in total, 4788 adult sports-related TBIs were documented in the NTDB, which represented 18,310 incidents nationally. Equestrian sports were the greatest contributors to sports-related TBI (45.2%). Mild TBI represented nearly 86% of injuries overall. Mean (± SEM) LOSs in the hospital or intensive care unit (ICU) were 4.25 ± 0.09 days and 1.60 ± 0.06 days, respectively. The mortality rate was 3.0% across all patients, but was statistically higher in TBI from roller sports (4.1%) and aquatic sports (7.7%). Age, hypotension on admission to the emergency department (ED), and the severity of head and extracranial injuries were statistically significant predictors of prolonged hospital and ICU LOSs, medical complications, failure to discharge to home, and death. Traumatic brain injury during aquatic sports was similarly associated with prolonged ICU and hospital LOSs, medical complications, and failure to be discharged to home.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, hypotension on ED admission, severity of head and extracranial injuries, and sports mechanism of injury are important prognostic variables in adult sports-related TBI. Increasing TBI awareness and helmet use—particularly in equestrian and roller sports—are critical elements for decreasing sports-related TBI events in adults.
Role of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex in obsessive-compulsive disorder: converging evidence from cognitive neuroscience and psychiatric neurosurgery
Authors: McGovern Robert A. , Sheth Sameer A.
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVE

Advances in understanding the neurobiological basis of psychiatric disorders will improve the ability to refine neuromodulatory procedures for treatment-refractory patients. One of the core dysfunctions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a deficit in cognitive control, especially involving the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). The authors' aim was to derive a neurobiological understanding of the successful treatment of refractory OCD with psychiatric neurosurgical procedures targeting the dACC.

METHODS

First, the authors systematically conducted a review of the literature on the role of the dACC in OCD by using the search terms “obsessive compulsive disorder” and “anterior cingulate.” The neuroscience literature on cognitive control mechanisms in the dACC was then combined with the literature on psychiatric neurosurgical procedures targeting the dACC for the treatment of refractory OCD.

RESULTS

The authors reviewed 89 studies covering topics that included structural and functional neuroimaging and electrophysiology. The majority of resting-state functional neuroimaging studies demonstrated dACC hyperactivity in patients with OCD relative to that in controls, while task-based studies were more variable. Electrophysiological studies showed altered dACC-related biomarkers of cognitive control, such as error-related negativity in OCD patients. These studies were combined with the cognitive control neurophysiology literature, including the recently elaborated expected value of control theory of dACC function. The authors suggest that a central feature of OCD pathophysiology involves the generation of mis-specified cognitive control signals by the dACC, and they elaborate on this theory and provide suggestions for further study.

CONCLUSIONS

Although abnormalities in brain structure and function in OCD are distributed across a wide network, the dACC plays a central role. The authors propose a theory of cognitive control dysfunction in OCD that attempts to explain the therapeutic efficacy of dACC neuromodulation. This theoretical framework should help to guide further research into targeted treatments of OCD and other disorders of cognitive control.
Craniofacial injuries in professional cricket: no more a red herring
Authors: Tripathi Manjul , Shukla Dhaval P. , Bhat Dhananjaya Ishwar , Bhagavatula Indira Devi , Mishra Tejesh
Published: April 2016

The issue of head injury in a noncontact sport like cricket is a matter of great debate and it carries more questions than answers. Recent incidents of fatal head injuries in individuals wearing a helmet have caused some to question the protective value of the helmet. The authors discuss the pattern, type of injury, incidents, and location of cranio-facio-ocular injuries in professional cricket to date. They evaluate the history of usage of the helmet in cricket, changes in design, and the protective value, and they compare the efficacy of various sports' helmets with injury profiles similar to those in cricket. The drop test and air cannon test are compared for impact energy attenuation performance of cricket helmets. A total of 36 cases of head injuries were identified, of which 5 (14%) were fatal and 9 (22%) were career-terminating events. Batsmen are the most vulnerable to injury, bearing 86% of the burden, followed by wicketkeepers (8%) and fielders (5.5%). In 53% of cases, the ball directly hit the head, while in 19.5% of cases the ball entered the gap between the peak and the faceguard. Ocular injuries to 3 wicketkeepers proved to be career-terminating injuries. The air cannon test is a better test for evaluating cricket helmets than the drop test. Craniofacial injuries are more common than popularly believed. There is an urgent need to improve the efficacy and compliance of protective restraints in cricket. A strict injury surveillance system with universal acceptance is needed to identify the burden of injuries and modes for their prevention.
The science and questions surrounding chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Authors: Ban Vin Shen , Madden Christopher J. , Bailes Julian E. , Hunt Batjer H. , Lonser Russell R.
Published: April 2016

Recently, the pathobiology, causes, associated factors, incidence and prevalence, and natural history of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) have been debated. Data from retrospective case series and high-profile media reports have fueled public fear and affected the medical community's understanding of the role of sports-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the development of CTE. There are a number of limitations posed by the current evidence that can lead to confusion within the public and scientific community. In this paper, the authors address common questions surrounding the science of CTE and propose future research directions.
Fossil “saurians” in the Quekett cabinets at the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Authors: Bocaege E.
Published: April 2016

As part of the recent Collections Review project carried out at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the scientific and historical potential of the collection of John Thomas Quekett (1815–1861), which includes archival documents, library items and an extensive collection of microscope slides, has been highlighted. In parallel with this review, a pilot project is currently underway and aims to conserve, catalogue and research Quekett's slides in the College's collection. This note reports on the findings of the pilot study and in particular on the discovery of the earliest microscope slides of “great fossil lizards”, including bones, teeth and coprolites presented by some of the greatest English naturalists of the nineteenth century.
Academic success of mature students in higher education: a Portuguese case study
Authors: Ambrósio Susana , Bago Joana , Baptista Ana V. , Fonseca Henrique M.A.C. , Quintas Helena , Santos Lucília
Published: April 2016

The increasing number and diversity of non-traditional participants who are now entering Higher Education Institutions (HEI) highlights the relevance of questioning on mature students’ academic success. Thus, the purpose of this study is to characterise mature students over 23 years old (MS23) of two Portuguese HEI, and understand their academic success. The study focuses on results obtained through a case study, based on quantitative and qualitative data: questionnaires and focus groups, respectively. We discuss the influence of different variables (such as: age, gender, area of study, schooling level at the entrance to the university, family monthly income) on MS23’s academic success, and we also describe some obstacles they face and changes they perceive when attending HEI. Results seem to demonstrate a similar tendency between data gathered on both HEI. Some recommendations for HEI, based on the results, are presented in the final section of this article.
Editorial: Non-traditional participants in adult education and learning
Authors: Fragoso António , Kurantowicz Ewa
Published: April 2016

Not Available._x000D_
Link to Appendix: http://www.rela.ep.liu.se/issues/10.3384_rela.2000-7426.201671/01/Appendix.pdf
Many-Body-Localization Transition in the Strong Disorder Limit: Entanglement Entropy from the Statistics of Rare Extensive Resonances
Authors: Monthus Cécile
Published: April 2016

The space of one-dimensional disordered interacting quantum models displaying a many-body localization (MBL) transition seems sufficiently rich to produce critical points with level statistics interpolating continuously between the Poisson statistics of the localized phase and the Wigner–Dyson statistics of the delocalized phase. In this paper, we consider the strong disorder limit of the MBL transition, where the level statistics at the MBL critical point is close to the Poisson statistics. We analyze a one-dimensional quantum spin model, in order to determine the statistical properties of the rare extensive resonances that are needed to destabilize the MBL phase. At criticality, we find that the entanglement entropy can grow with an exponent 0 < α < 1 anywhere between the area law α = 0 and the volume law α = 1 , as a function of the resonances properties, while the entanglement spectrum follows the strong multifractality statistics. In the MBL phase near criticality, we obtain the simple value ν = 1 for the correlation length exponent. Independently of the strong disorder limit, we explain why, for the many-body localization transition concerning individual eigenstates, the correlation length exponent ν is not constrained by the usual Harris inequality ν ≥ 2 / d , so that there is no theoretical inconsistency with the best numerical measure ν = 0 . 8 ( 3 ) obtained by Luitz et al. (2015).