bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can cognitive structure outcomes reveal cognitive styles? A study on the relationship between cognitive styles and cognitive structure outcomes on the subject of chemical kinetics
Authors: Atabek-Yigit Elif
Published: April 2018

Determination of the relationship between individuals’ cognitive styles and cognitive structure outcomes was the main aim of this study. Sixty-six participants were enrolled in the study and their cognitive styles were determined by using the Hidden Figure Test (for their field dependent/independent dimension of cognitive style) and the Convergent/Divergent Test (for their convergence/divergence dimension of cognitive style). An open-ended questionnaire was formed in order to determine participants’ cognitive structure outcomes. The study topic was chosen as chemical kinetics since it is one of the most difficult topics in chemistry according to many students and also there is limited study in the literature on this topic. Key concepts about chemical kinetics were selected and given to the participants and they were asked to write a text by using the given concepts. A flow map technique was used to reveal participants’ cognitive structure outcomes. According to the findings of this study, it can be said that field independent participants tended to be divergent thinkers while field dependents tended to be convergent thinkers. Also, strong positive relationships between participants’ field dependency/independency and some cognitive structure outcomes (extent and richness) were found. That is, field independents tended to have more extended and richer cognitive structure outcomes. However, the convergence/divergence dimension of cognitive style did not show any correlation with cognitive structure outcomes.
Hierarchical porous metallized poly-melamine-formaldehyde (PMF) as a low-cost and high-efficiency catalyst for cyclic carbonate synthesis from CO2 and epoxides
Authors: Yin Jian , Zhang Tianqi , Schulman Emily , Liu Dongxia , Meng Jianqiang
Published: April 2018

We report a metalized hierarchical porous poly-melamine-formaldehyde catalyst having excellent catalytic activity and low cost.
Versatile multicolor nanodiamond probes for intracellular imaging and targeted labeling
Authors: Bray Kerem , Cheung Leonard , Hossain Khondker Rufaka , Aharonovich Igor , Valenzuela Stella M. , Shimoni Olga
Published: April 2018

We report on the first demonstration of FNDs containing either silicon or nitrogen vacancy color centers for multi-color bio-imaging.
Improving Narrative Production in Children With Language Disorders: An Early-Stage Efficacy Study of a Narrative Intervention Program
Authors: Gillam Sandra L. , Olszewski Abbie , Squires Katie , Wolfe Katie , Slocum Timothy , Gillam Ronald B.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

As noted in this forum, more research is needed to support the work of school-based speech-language pathologists who are designing and implementing interventions for students with language disorders. This article presents the findings of a multiple-baseline, single-subject study that was conducted to assess the outcomes of an intervention designed to improve narrative discourse proficiency for children with language disorders.

Method

Four school-age children with language disorders that included deficits in narration received an experimental version of a 3-phase narrative language intervention program called Supporting Knowledge in Language and Literacy (Gillam, Gillam, & Laing, 2014). Two additional children remained in baseline throughout the study and served as controls for history, testing, and maturation effects. Measures of story productivity (number of different words) and overall story complexity (Monitoring Indicators of Scholarly Language; Gillam, Gillam, Fargo, Olszewski, & Segura, 2016) were used to assess the children's self-generated narratives.

Results

After the onset of treatment, all 4 children who received the narrative intervention made moderate-to-large improvements in narrative productivity (number of different words). Three of the 4 children also made moderate-to-large improvements in narrative complexity (Monitoring Indicators of Scholarly Language). The narrative abilities of the 2 children who did not receive intervention did not change over the course of the study.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence for the feasibility of the Supporting Knowledge in Language and Literacy narrative instruction program for improving self-generated narratives by children with language disorders. Future research is needed to determine how gains in oral narration transfer to written narrative skills.
Data‐driven consensus for non‐linear networked multi‐agent systems with switching topology and time‐varying delays
Authors: Li Chang‐Jiang , Liu Guo‐Ping
Published: April 2018

This study investigates the output consensus problem for a class of non‐linear networked multi‐agent systems with switching topology and time‐varying delays. To synchronise the outputs of the agents, novel distributed data‐driven consensus protocols are proposed, where the reference input is designed to be the time‐varying average of the agents' output. To avoid the self‐tracking phenomenon, the delayed information is introduced in the protocol. The proposed methods merely depend on the input and output data of the neighbouring agents, without using explicit or implicit information of its mathematical model. Sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the closed‐loop stability and consensus, with the convergence rate obtained. Numerical and practical examples are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed protocols.
Fast learning optimiser for real‐time optimal energy management of a grid‐connected microgrid
Authors: Tan Zhukui , Zhang Xiaoshun , Xie Baiming , Wang Dezhi , Liu Bin , Yu Tao
Published: April 2018

This study proposes a novel fast learning optimiser (FLO) for real‐time optimal energy management (OEM) of a grid‐connected microgrid. To reduce the optimisation difficulty, the non‐convex real‐time OEM is decomposed into a two‐layer optimisation. The non‐convex top‐layer optimisation is responsible to determine the direction of tie‐line power, and the heat energy outputs of combined heat and power units. Then bottom‐layer optimisation is strictly convex with the rest controllable variables, which is solved by the classical interior point method. The model‐free Q‐learning is employed for knowledge learning and decision making in the top‐layer optimisation, thus the feedback reward from the bottom‐layer optimisation can effectively realise a coordination between them. The real‐coded associative memory is presented for a more efficient optimisation of continuous controllable variables. In order to dramatically reduce the execution time, the knowledge transfer is adopted for approximating the optimal knowledge matrices of a real‐time new task by abstracting the optimal knowledge matrices of the predictive source tasks. Simulation results demonstrates that the proposed FLO can rapidly search a high‐quality optimum of real‐time OEM, in which the computation rate is about 2.75–29.23 times faster than that of eight classical heuristic algorithms.
Reliable and enhanced cooperative cross‐layer medium access control scheme for vehicular communication
Authors: Eze Elias , Zhang Sijing , Liu Enjie , Eze Joy , Muhammad Shehu
Published: April 2018

In an unreliable cluster‐based, broadcast vehicular network setting, the authors investigate the transmission reliability and throughput performance of random network coding (RNC) as a function of the percentage of packet generation rate and transmit power‐to‐noise ratio. In this study, a novel scheme called reliable and efficient cooperative cross‐layer medium access control (RECMAC) is proposed. The proposed scheme consists of a source vehicle broadcasting packets to a set of receivers (i.e. one‐to‐many) over independent broadcast erasure channels. The source vehicle performs RNC on N packets and broadcasts the encoded message to a set of receivers. In each hop, several vehicles form a cluster and cooperatively transmit the encoded or re‐encoded packet. The combination of the RNC, cluster based, and cooperative communications enables RECMAC to optimally minimise data redundancy, which means less overhead, and improve reliability as opposed to coding‐based solutions. Theoretical analyses and simulation results show that under the same conditions RECMAC scheme can achieve improved performance in terms of transmission reliability and throughput.
Evaluation of an interleaved boost converter powered by fuel cells and connected to the grid via voltage source inverter
Authors: Fuzato Guilherme H.F. , Aguiar Cassius R. , Bastos Renan F. , Machado Ricardo Q.
Published: April 2018

The connection of distributed generation systems powered by fuel cells (FCs) to the grid requires power electronics devices with high voltage gain, high capability of power processing and high levels of current absorbed from the direct current (dc) source. In this context, the authors propose the use of an interleaved boost with voltage multiplier (IBVM) converter connected to a FC and a voltage source inverter (VSI) to form a micro grid. To manage the power delivered by the FC in grid‐connected operation, they propose two different control structures, mode 1 (FC cascade control) and mode 2 (controlling FC operating point). In mode 1, the dc‐link voltage is adjusted by the dc/dc converter, while the injected current is controlled by the VSI. On the other hand, in mode 2, the VSI is responsible to keep the dc‐link stable, while the dc/dc converter controls the current injected into the grid by means of the FC current reference. Since the VSI control structure has been exhaustively investigated in the literature, in this study, they evaluate the impact of the proposed control structures in the dc‐side and also the IBVM efficiency. Finally, they conclude the study outlining the main points discussed.
Robust and accurate UWB‐based indoor robot localisation using integrated EKF/EFIR filtering
Authors: Xu Yuan , Shmaliy Yuriy S. , Ahn Choon Ki , Tian Guohui , Chen Xiyuan
Published: April 2018

A novel ultra wideband (UWB)‐based scheme is proposed to provide robust and accurate robot localisation in indoor environments. An extended Kalman filter (EKF), which is suboptimal, is combined in the main estimator design with an extended unbiased finite impulse response (EFIR) filter, which has better robustness. In the integrated EKF/EFIR algorithm, the EFIR filter and the EKF operate in parallel and the final estimate is obtained by fusing the outputs of both filters using probabilistic weights. Accordingly, the EKF/EFIR filter output ranges close to the most accurate one of the EKF and EFIR filters. Experimental testing has shown that the EKF/EFIR‐based UWB‐range robot localisation is more robust than the EKF‐ and EFIR‐based ones in uncertain noise environments.
Neutral gas properties of Lyman continuum emitting galaxies: Column densities and covering fractions from UV absorption lines
Authors: Gazagnes S. , Chisholm J. , Schaerer D. , Verhamme A. , Rigby J. R. , Bayliss M.
Published: April 2018

Context. The processes allowing the escape of ionizing photons from galaxies into the intergalactic medium are poorly known.

Aims. To understand how Lyman continuum (LyC) photons escape galaxies, we constrain the H I covering fractions and column densities using ultraviolet (UV) H I and metal absorption lines of 18 star-forming galaxies that have Lyman series observations. Nine of these galaxies are confirmed LyC emitters.

Methods. We fit the stellar continuum, dust attenuation, metal, and H I properties to consistently determine the UV attenuation, as well as the column densities and covering factors of neutral hydrogen and metals. We used synthetic interstellar absorption lines to explore the systematics of our measurements. Then we applied our method to the observed UV spectra of low-redshift and z ~ 3 galaxies.

Results. The observed H I lines are found to be saturated in all galaxies. An indirect approach using O I column densities and the observed O/H abundances yields H I column densities of log(NH I) ~ 18.6−20 cm−2. These columns are too high to allow the escape of ionizing photons. We find that the known LyC leakers have H I covering fractions less than unity. Ionizing photons escape through optically thin channels in a clumpy interstellar medium. Our simulations confirm that the H I covering fractions are accurately recovered. The Si II and H I covering fractions scale linearly, in agreement with observations from stacked Lyman break galaxy spectra at z ~ 3. Thus, with an empirical correction, the Si II absorption lines can also be used to determine the H I coverage. Finally, we show that a consistent fitting of dust attenuation, continuum, and absorption lines is required to properly infer the covering fraction of neutral gas and subsequently to infer the escape fraction of ionizing radiation.

Conclusions. These measurements can estimate the LyC escape fraction, as we demonstrate in a companion paper.
Die Auskultation des Thorax und der Lunge
Authors: Sengebusch Jürgen , Herzog Michael
Published: April 2018

Die Auskultation der Lunge ist wichtig, um Erkrankungen des Atemapparats zu befunden. Man kann zwischen pathologischen und physiologischen Atemgeräuschen unterscheiden. Die Bronchophonie ist ein Verfahren, das Hinweise über die Dichte des Lungengewebes gibt.
Notlösung Neurodermitis
Authors: Garvelmann Friedemann
Published: April 2018

Die Traditionelle Europäische Naturheilkunde (TEN) betrachtet Hauterkrankungen als Ersatzausscheidungen aufgrund blockierter physiologischer Ausscheidungswege. Somit stehen konstitutionelle regulatorische Diagnostik- und Therapiekonzepte im Vordergrund – erst an letzter Stelle folgen symptomatische Maßnahmen. Im Fall Robert M. ließ sich eine stark atopische Reaktionslage mit Konstitutionsmitteln, Ernährungsumstellung, Mikrobiom- und Eigenbluttherapie modifizieren, bis die Ekzeme verschwanden.
Vom Sonnengewürz zum Lichtbringer
Authors: Ghasemi Nikmanesh Forusan
Published: April 2018

Kurkuma ist fester Bestandteil der traditionellen chinesischen, indischen und orientalischen Medizin und wurde in seiner Wirkung pharmakologisch bestätigt. Mit dem antientzündlichen, isolierten Curcumin und enteral wirksamen Kurkuma-Gewürzmischungen lassen sich zwei Wirkprinzipien synergistisch kombinieren. Bei Entzündungen des inneren Auges (Uveitis) kann die Kurkumatherapie als Begleitbehandlung Entzündungsschübe und Rezidive verringern.
Impact of the Canonical Wnt Pathway Activation on the Pathogenesis and Prognosis of Adamantinomatous Craniopharyngiomas
Authors: Jucá Carlos , Colli Leandro , Martins Clarissa , Campanini Marina , Paixão Beatriz , Jucá Renata , Saggioro Fabiano , de Oliveira Ricardo , Moreira Ayrton , Machado Hélio , Neder Luciano , Antonini Sonir , de Castro Margaret
Published: April 2018

CTNNB1 mutations and abnormal β-catenin distribution are associated with the pathogenesis of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (aCP). We evaluated the expression of the canonical Wnt pathway components in aCPs and its association with CTNNB1 mutations and tumor progression. Tumor samples from 14 aCP patients and normal anterior pituitary samples from eight individuals without pituitary disease were studied. Gene expression of Wnt pathway activator (WNT4), inhibitors (SFRP1, DKK3, AXIN1, and APC), transcriptional activator (TCF7), target genes (MYC, WISP2, and, CDH1), and Wnt modulator (TP53) was evaluated by qPCR. β-Catenin, MYC, and WISP2 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The transcription levels of all genes studied, except APC, were higher in aCPs as compared to controls and TCF7 mRNA levels correlated with CTNNB1 mutation. CDH1 mRNA was overexpressed in tumor samples of patients with disease progression in comparison to those with stable disease. β-Catenin was positive and aberrantly distributed in 11 out of 14 tumor samples. Stronger β-catenin immunostaining associated positively with tumor progression. MYC positive staining was found in 10 out of 14 cases, whereas all aCPs were negative for WISP2. Wnt pathway genes were overexpressed in aCPs harboring CTNNB1 mutations and in patients with progressive disease. Recurrence was associated with stronger staining for β-catenin. These data suggest that Wnt pathway activation contributes to the pathogenesis and prognosis of aCPs.
Herzbeteiligung bei rheumatischen Erkrankungen
Authors: Specker C.
Published: April 2018

Entzündlich-rheumatische Erkrankungen können als immunologische Systemerkrankungen in unterschiedlicher Häufigkeit auch zu einer Beteiligung des Herzens führen. Dabei können sämtliche kardialen Strukturen und Funktionen betroffen sein. Die Perikarditis beim Lupus, Mitralklappenfehler beim Antiphospholipidsyndrom, eine Myokarditis oder Coronariitis bei den systemischen Vaskulitiden sind typische Beispiele hierfür. Auch die Entwicklung einer pulmonalen arteriellen Hypertonie bei der Systemsklerose oder die Ausbildung eines kongenitalen AV-Blocks bei Neugeborenen von Müttern mit Lupus sind hierzu zu rechnen. Krankheits- und therapiebedingte kardiovaskuläre Sekundärschäden gewinnen im Langzeitverlauf dieser Erkrankungen zunehmende Bedeutung für Komorbidität und Mortalität.
Lungenbeteiligung bei rheumatischen Erkrankungen
Authors: Krause A.
Published: April 2018

Lungenmanifestationen, insbesondere interstitielle Lungenerkrankungen, gehören zu den häufigsten Organbeteiligungen entzündlich-rheumatischer Erkrankungen und sind mit einer erheblichen Morbidität und Mortalität verbunden. Besonders betroffen sind Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis, systemischer Sklerose und idiopathischen inflammatorischen Myopathien. Bei diesen Patienten sollte auf pulmonale Symptome geachtet und, abhängig von Grunderkrankung und klinischer Symptomatik, eine weitere Diagnostik insbesondere mittels Lungenfunktionsprüfung und HR-CT der Lunge durchgeführt werden. Die optimale Therapie der pulmonalen Manifestationen ist bisher nicht bekannt. Außer bei der systemischen Sklerose existieren bisher keine kontrollierten Studien. Neben Glukokortikoiden, Cyclophosphamid, Azathioprin und Mycophenolat kommen andere Immunsuppressiva und auch Biologika in kleinen Fallserien erfolgreich zum Einsatz. Die Behandlung sollte in Zusammenarbeit von Rheumatologen und Pneumologen erfolgen.
Pathophysiology of Trousseau’s syndrome
Authors: Dicke C. , Langer F.
Published: April 2018

Clinically relevant clotting abnormalities in cancer patients are referred to as Trousseau’s syndrome. While thrombotic complications such as venous thromboembolism are most frequent in every day’s practice, cancer patients may also experience severe bleeding symptoms due to complex systemic coagulopathies, including disseminated intravascular coagulation, haemolytic thrombotic microangiopathy, and hyperfibrinolysis. The pathophysiology of Trousseau’s syndrome involves all aspects of Virchow’s triad, but previous basic research has mainly focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying blood hypercoagulability in solid cancers and haematological malignancies. In this regard, over-expression of tissue factor (TF), the principal initiator of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, by primary tumour cells and increased shedding of TF-bearing plasma microparticles are critical to both thrombus formation and cancer progression. However, novel findings on intrinsic contact activation in vivo, such as the release of polyphosphates or DNA by activated platelets and neutrophils, respectively, have pointed to additional pathways in the complex pathophysiology of Trousseau’s syndrome.
The Impact of Insurance Status on the Development of Nonunion following Scaphoid Fracture
Authors: Fenoglio Amy , Bohl Daniel , Gala Raj , Dodds Seth
Published: April 2018

Purpose Certain factors have been associated with the development of scaphoid nonunion, including delayed diagnosis, smoking, inadequate initial management, proximal location, and carpal instability. We hypothesized that insurance status would also be a risk factor for the development of scaphoid nonunion.

Methods A case–control study was performed on patients who presented to a single surgeon at a tertiary referral center during 2006 to 2015. Cases were patients presenting with nonunions, controls, and patients with acute fractures. Patients were characterized as underinsured if they lacked any type of insurance or if they were on Medicaid.

Results Patients (39 nonunions [cases] and 32 primary fractures [controls]) presenting with nonunions were more likely than controls to have had displaced fractures (72 vs. 41%) and fractures located at the proximal aspect of the scaphoid (18 vs. 0%), and to be underinsured (46 vs. 19%).

Conclusion Patients presenting with nonunions were more likely to be underinsured than patients presenting with primary fractures. This finding suggests that underinsurance is a risk factor for the development of nonunion. Assuming delay between fracture and intervention is a known risk factor for the development of nonunion, and it is likely that the association between nonunion and underinsurance is mediated through this delay.

Level of Evidence Prognostic, level III, case-control study.
Efficacy and Safety of Hylan versus Hyaluronic Acid in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Dai Wen-Li , Lin Ze-Ming , Guo Dong-Hong , Shi Zhan-Jun , Wang Jian
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to use meta-analytic approach to compare the efficacy and safety of intraarticular hylan and hyaluronic acid (HA) for knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane databases through July 2017 to identify Level I randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated clinical efficacy and safety of hylan compared with HA for knee OA. The primary outcomes were Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, and WOMAC function scores. In each study and for the outcome measures (VAS for pain, WOMAC pain, function and stiffness scores, and Lequesne score), we calculated the treatment effect from the difference between the preintervention and postintervention changes in the hylan and HA groups. Twenty-one RCTs involving 3,058 patients were included. Pooled analysis suggested that compared with HA, hylan was associated with similar pain relief and function improvement in patients with knee OA (VAS for pain: mean difference [MD], –3.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], –9.13 to 3.04; p = 0.33; I
2 = 76%. WOMAC pain score: MD, 0.23; 95% CI, –0.25 to 0.70; p = 0.35; I
2 = 0%. WOMAC function score: MD, –0.47; 95% CI, –6.81 to 5.88; p = 0.88; I
2 = 84%). No significant difference was found comparing the patients with treatment-related adverse events. The relationship was robust in sensitivity analysis and consistent in most of the subgroup analyses. As to the primary outcomes (WOMAC pain, function scores, VAS for pain), the difference between hylan and HA did not reach the previously reported minimum clinically important difference (MCID) values (–13.4 for VAS for pain, –2.0 for WOMAC pain score, –7.7 for WOMAC function score). Our meta-analysis showed that there were no statistically and clinically significant differences in pain relief and function improvement between hylan and HA injections for knee OA treatment. In view of its higher costs, we discourage the use of hylan in patients with knee OA in clinical practice. The level of evidence is I, meta-analysis of Level I studies.
Renal Impairment, Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism and Bleeding in Cancer Patients with Acute Venous Thromboembolism—Analysis of the CATCH Study
Authors: Lee Agnes , Kamphuisen Pieter , Meyer Guy , Janas Mette , Jarner Mikala , Khorana Alok , Bauersachs Rupert ,   on behalf of the CATCH Investigators
Published: April 2018

Objective This article assesses the impact of renal impairment (RI) on the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation in patients with cancer-associated thrombosis from the Comparison of Acute Treatments in Cancer Hemostasis (CATCH) study (NCT01130025).

Materials and Methods Renal function was assessed using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation in patients with cancer-associated thrombosis who received either tinzaparin (175 IU/kg) once daily or warfarin for 6 months, in an open-label, randomized, multi-centre trial with blinded adjudication of outcomes. Associations between baseline RI (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] <60 mL/min/1.73m2) and recurrent symptomatic or incidental venous thromboembolism (VTE), clinically relevant bleeding (CRB), major bleeding and death were assessed using Fisher's exact test.

Results Baseline-centralized GFR data were available for 864 patients (96% of study population). RI was found in 131 patients (15%; n = 69 tinzaparin). Recurrent VTE occurred in 14% of patients with and 8% of patients without RI (relative risk [RR] 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06, 2.85), CRB in 19% and 14%, respectively (RR 1.33; 95% CI 0.90, 1.98), major bleeding in 6.1% and 2.0%, respectively (RR 2.98; 95% CI 1.29, 6.90) and mortality rate was 40% and 34%, respectively (RR 1.20; 95% CI 0.94, 1.53). Patients with RI on tinzaparin showed no difference in recurrent VTE, CRB, major bleeding or mortality rates versus those on warfarin.

Conclusion RI in patients with cancer-associated thrombosis on anticoagulation was associated with a statistically significant increase in recurrent VTE and major bleeding, but no significant increase in CRB or mortality. No differences were observed between long-term tinzaparin therapy and warfarin.
Platelet Inhibition and Bleeding in Patients Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery—The BIANCA Observational Study
Authors: Mahla Elisabeth , Metzler Helfried , Bornemann-Cimenti Helmar , Prueller Florian , Raggam Reinhard , Pregartner Gudrun , Berghold Andrea , Baumann Anneliese , Goeroeg Christian , Gurbel Paul
Published: April 2018

Nearly 20% of patients will need non-cardiac surgery within 1 year of coronary stenting and their management is complicated by concomitant antiplatelet therapy. Platelet function testing may optimize the timing of surgery in these patients. In this prospective observational study, we explored the association between platelet reactivity and bleeding in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery treated with clopidogrel with or without aspirin within 7 days before surgery. The timing of surgery was at the surgeon's discretion. Blood was drawn at induction of anaesthesia and platelet reactivity assessed by light transmittance aggregometry (LTA), vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) assay, Multiplate Analyzer and Innovance PFA-200. The primary endpoint was surgery-related thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) bleeding. Among 197 patients enrolled, 72 and 12% underwent surgery within 24 and 48 hours of the last dose of clopidogrel, respectively. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) for pre-operative maximal adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced aggregation was 33.0% (21.0–57.5%), for VASP-platelet reactivity index was 61.5% (40.1–75.4%), for Multiplate was 22.0 (14.5–36.0) U*min and for Innovance PFA-200 was 224 (101.0–300.0) seconds. TIMI bleeding, observed in 25% of patients, decreased with increasing tertiles of platelet reactivity to ADP assessed by LTA (p = 0.031). Additionally, in a multivariable logistic regression analysis, platelet reactivity to ADP assessed by LTA was significantly associated with TIMI bleeding, as were age and urgency of surgery. These results demonstrate that in clopidogrel-treated patients, pre-operative platelet reactivity to ADP is associated with surgical bleeding risk. An objective assessment of pre-operative platelet function may optimize the timing of non-cardiac surgery in these patients.
Approach to the Surgical Theater: Epidemiological Survey in Orthopaedic Italian Private Hospitals
Authors: Boniforti Filippo , Adriani Ezio
Published: April 2018

Surgeons prepare for surgery in a reliable and reproducible manner and according to the guidelines published by the international health institutions. An epidemiological survey on 127 surgeons has shown that in everyday practice they have to follow the most recent knowledge based on evidence-based medicine (EBM) guidelines. However, more standardized approach to the surgical theater practices have to be defined by our health caregivers.
Drug-Resistant Myoclonic Epilepsy Revealing Juvenile Huntington's Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Feki Fatma , Triki Chahnez , Amara Nesrine
Published: April 2018

Juvenile Huntington's disease (JHD) shares many general clinical features with the adult form. One important difference is that JHD patients experience more epileptic manifestations, sometimes difficult to control. We describe an atypical clinical picture of a genetically confirmed JHD patient diagnosed during evaluation for a progressive myoclonic epilepsy. A female patient with a family history of psychiatric disorders developed recurrent drug-resistant myoclonic seizures at the age of 6 years, followed by extrapyramidal symptoms (rigidity and dystonia). Cognitive impairment, akinetic rigidity syndrome, and dystonia were noticed at the age of 10 years. Epileptiform abnormalities were noted in ictal electroencephalography. Magnetic resonance imaging showed brain atrophy. Genetic testing for HD confirmed the diagnosis. JHD can initially manifest as myoclonic epilepsy. A DNA testing should be performed if clinical history is suggestive.
Immuntherapien beim fortgeschrittenen NSCLC
Authors: Reck Martin , Schütte Wolfgang , Dickgreber Nicolas , Reinmuth Niels , Wehler Thomas , Morris Stefanie , Rittmeyer Achim , Weichert Wilko
Published: April 2018

Der Einzug von Immuntherapien mit Checkpoint-Inhibitoren in die Behandlung des fortgeschrittenen nicht kleinzelligen Lungenkarzinoms (NSCLC) hat die Erst- und Zweitlinientherapie revolutioniert. Nach langem therapeutischem Stillstand für die große Gruppe von Patienten ohne therapierbare Treibermutationen stehen nun erstmals neue Behandlungsoptionen zur Verfügung. Aktuell werden Kombinationstherapien geprüft, die das Potenzial der Immuntherapien noch besser ausschöpfen sollen. Für den Kliniker heißt das aber auch, dass die Therapieentscheidungen beim metastasierten NSCLC immer komplexer werden. Daher möchte die vorliegende Publikation vor allem folgende Fragen beantworten: Wie verändern die aktuell etablierten Immuntherapien unser Vorgehen in der klinischen Praxis? Welche Kriterien eignen sich zur Auswahl geeigneter Therapieschemata? Welche Herausforderungen müssen zukünftig noch gemeistert werden?
Phantomschmerz – „Ich spüre was, wo nichts mehr ist!“
Authors: Weiß Thomas
Published: April 2018

Prof. Dr. Thomas Weiß ist Physiologe und Experte auf dem Gebiet Phantomschmerz und hat das Wichtigste zum Beschwerdebild zusammengefasst. Wer sich intensiv mit der Pathophysiologie auseinandersetzt, versteht die komplexen Zusammenhänge und die Diskussion um Behandlungsansätze wie Spiegeltherapie und virtuelle Realität.
Halt trotz begrenzter Möglichkeiten
Authors: Reiland Kirsten
Published: April 2018

Fixierung von Pleuradrainagen Eine Pleuradrainage bei Früh- und Neugeborenen ist eher selten notwendig. Kommt sie dennoch einmal vor, fehlt dem pflegerischen, aber auch dem ärztlichen Team die Routine. Die Möglichkeiten der Fixierung sind begrenzt, denn die Körperoberfläche ist sehr klein. Und auch Umgebungsfaktoren wie die Versorgung im Inkubator mit hoher Feuchtigkeit erschweren die Fixierung. Oft kommt es deshalb im Team zu unterschiedlichem Vorgehen und zur Verwendung unterschiedlicher Materialien. Autorin Kirsten Reiland stellt die verschiedenen Fixierungsmöglichkeiten vor.
Effect of injection-gas concentration on the electron beam quality from a laser-plasma accelerator
Authors: Mirzaie Mohammad , Zhang Guobo , Li Song , Gao Kai , Li Guangyu , Ain Quratul , Hafz Nasr A. M.
Published: April 2018

By using 25–45 TW ultra-short (30 fs) laser pulses, we report on the effect of the injection gas concentration on the quality of electron beams generated by a laser-driven plasma wakefield acceleration employing the ionization-injection. For a plasma formed from helium-nitrogen gas mixture and depending on the concentration of the nitrogen gas, we could distinguish a clear trend for the quality of the generated electron beams in terms of their peak energy, energy-spread, divergence angle, and beam charge. The results clearly showed that the lower the nitrogen concentration, the better the quality (higher peak energy, smaller energy spread, and smaller emittance) of the generated electron beams. The results are in reasonable agreement with two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.
Exchange coupled CoPt/FePtC media for heat assisted magnetic recording
Authors: Dutta Tanmay , Piramanayagam S. N. , Ru Tan Hui , Saifullah M. S. M. , Bhatia C. S. , Yang Hyunsoo
Published: April 2018

L10 FePtC granular media are being studied as potential future magnetic recording media and are set to be used in conjunction with heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) to enable recording at write fields within the range of current day recording heads. Media structures based on a FePtC storage layer and a capping layer can alleviate the switching field distribution (SFD) requirements of HAMR and reduce the noise originating from the writing process. However, the current designs suffer from SFD issues due to high temperature writing. To overcome this problem, we study a CoPt/FePtC exchange coupled composite structure, where FePtC serves as the storage layer and CoPt (with higher Curie temperature, Tc) as the capping layer. CoPt remains ferromagnetic at near Tc of FePtC. Consequently, the counter exchange energy from CoPt would reduce the noise resulting from the adjacent grain interactions during the writing process. CoPt/FePtC bilayer samples with different thicknesses of CoPt were investigated. Our studies found that CoPt forms a continuous layer at a thickness of 6 nm and leads to considerable reduction in the saturation field and its distribution.
Interplay between ferroelectric and resistive switching in doped crystalline HfO2
Authors: Max Benjamin , Pešić Milan , Slesazeck Stefan , Mikolajick Thomas
Published: April 2018

Hafnium oxide is widely used for resistive switching devices, and recently it has been discovered that ferroelectricity can be established in (un-)doped hafnium oxide as well. Previous studies showed that both switching mechanisms are influenced by oxygen vacancies. For resistive switching, typically amorphous oxide layers with an asymmetric electrode configuration are used to create a gradient of oxygen vacancies. On the other hand, ferroelectric switching is performed by having symmetric electrodes and requires crystalline structures. The coexistence of both effects has recently been demonstrated. In this work, a detailed analysis of the reversible interplay of both switching mechanisms within a single capacitor cell is investigated. First, ferroelectric switching cycles were applied in order to drive the sample into the fatigued stage characterized by increased concentration of oxygen vacancies in the oxide layer. Afterwards, a forming step that is typical for the resistive switching devices was utilized to achieve a soft breakdown. In the next step, twofold alternation between the high and low resistance state is applied to demonstrate the resistive switching behavior of the device. Having the sample in the high resistance state with a ruptured filament, ferroelectric switching behavior is again shown within the same stack. Interestingly, the same endurance as before was observed without a hard breakdown of the device. Therefore, an effective sequence of ferroelectric—resistive—ferroelectric switching is realized. Additionally, the dependence of the forming, set, and reset voltage on the ferroelectric cycling stage (pristine, woken-up and fatigued) is analyzed giving insight into the physical device operation.
Study of array plasma antenna parameters
Authors: Kumar Rajneesh , Kumar Prince
Published: April 2018

This paper is aimed to investigate the array plasma antenna parameters to help the optimization of an array plasma antenna. Single plasma antenna is transformed into array plasma antenna by changing the operating parameters. The re-configurability arises in the form of striations, due to transverse bifurcation of plasma column by changing the operating parameters. Each striation can be treated as an antenna element and system performs like an array plasma antenna. In order to achieve the goal of this paper, three different configurations of array plasma antenna (namely Array 1, Array 2 and Array 3) are simulated. The observations are made on variation in antenna parameters like resonance frequency, radiation pattern, directivity and gain with variation in length and number of antenna elements for each array plasma antenna. Moreover experiments are also performed and results are compared with simulation. Further array plasma antenna parameters are also compared with monopole plasma antenna parameters. The study of present paper invoke the array plasma antenna can be applied for steering and controlling the strength of Wi-Fi signals as per requirement.
Thermal diffusivity of diamond nanowires studied by laser assisted atom probe tomography
Authors: Arnoldi L. , Spies M. , Houard J. , Blum I. , Etienne A. , Ismagilov R. , Obraztsov A. , Vella A.
Published: April 2018

The thermal properties of single-crystal diamond nanowires (NWs) have been calculated from first principles but have never been measured experimentally. Taking advantage of the sharp geometry of samples analyzed in a laser assisted atom probe, this technique is used to measure the thermal diffusivity of a single NW at low temperature (<300 K). The obtained value is in good agreement with the ab-initio calculations and confirms that thermal diffusivity in nanoscale samples is lower than in bulk samples. The results impact the design and integration of diamond NWs and nanoneedles in nanoscale devices for heat dissipation.
A simple and effective solution to the constrained QM/MM simulations
Authors: Takahashi Hideaki , Kambe Hiroyuki , Morita Akihiro
Published: April 2018

It is a promising extension of the quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) approach to incorporate the solvent molecules surrounding the QM solute into the QM region to ensure the adequate description of the electronic polarization of the solute. However, the solvent molecules in the QM region inevitably diffuse into the MM bulk during the QM/MM simulation. In this article, we developed a simple and efficient method, referred to as the “boundary constraint with correction (BCC),” to prevent the diffusion of the solvent water molecules by means of a constraint potential. The point of the BCC method is to compensate the error in a statistical property due to the bias potential by adding a correction term obtained through a set of QM/MM simulations. The BCC method is designed so that the effect of the bias potential completely vanishes when the QM solvent is identical with the MM solvent. Furthermore, the desirable conditions, that is, the continuities of energy and force and the conservations of energy and momentum, are fulfilled in principle. We applied the QM/MM-BCC method to a hydronium ion(H3O+) in aqueous solution to construct the radial distribution function (RDF) of the solvent around the solute. It was demonstrated that the correction term fairly compensated the error and led the RDF in good agreement with the result given by an ab initio molecular dynamics simulation.
Quantitative measurements of nanoscale permittivity and conductivity using tuning-fork-based microwave impedance microscopy
Authors: Wu Xiaoyu , Hao Zhenqi , Wu Di , Zheng Lu , Jiang Zhanzhi , Ganesan Vishal , Wang Yayu , Lai Keji
Published: April 2018

We report quantitative measurements of nanoscale permittivity and conductivity using tuning-fork (TF) based microwave impedance microscopy (MIM). The system is operated under the driving amplitude modulation mode, which ensures satisfactory feedback stability on samples with rough surfaces. The demodulated MIM signals on a series of bulk dielectrics are in good agreement with results simulated by finite-element analysis. Using the TF-MIM, we have visualized the evolution of nanoscale conductance on back-gated MoS2 field effect transistors, and the results are consistent with the transport data. Our work suggests that quantitative analysis of mesoscopic electrical properties can be achieved by near-field microwave imaging with small distance modulation.
Interplay of single particle and collective response in molecular dynamics simulation of dusty plasma system
Authors: Maity Srimanta , Das Amita , Kumar Sandeep , Tiwari Sanat Kumar
Published: April 2018

The collective response of the plasma medium is well known and has been explored extensively in the context of dusty plasma medium. On the other hand, the individual particle response associated with the collisional character giving rise to the dissipative phenomena has not been explored adequately. In this paper, two-dimensional molecular dynamics simulation of dust particles interacting via Yukawa potential has been considered. It has been shown that disturbances induced in a dust crystal elicit both collective and single particle responses. Generation of a few particles moving at speeds considerably higher than acoustic and/or shock speed (excited by the external disturbance) is observed. This is an indication of a single particle response. Furthermore, as these individual energetic particles propagate, the dust crystal is observed to crack along their path. Initially when the energy is high, these particles generate secondary energetic particles by the collisional scattering process. However, ultimately as these particles slow down they excite a collective response in the dust medium at secondary locations in a region which is undisturbed by the primary external disturbance. The condition when the cracking of the crystal stops and collective excitations get initiated has been identified quantitatively. The trailing collective primary disturbances would thus often encounter a disturbed medium with secondary and tertiary collective perturbations, thereby suffering significant modification in its propagation. It is thus clear that there is an interesting interplay (other than mere dissipation) between the single particle and collective response which governs the dynamics of any disturbance introduced in the medium.
Electron acoustic nonlinear structures in planetary magnetospheres
Authors: Shah K. H. , Qureshi M. N. S. , Masood W. , Shah H. A.
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we have studied linear and nonlinear propagation of electron acoustic waves (EAWs) comprising cold and hot populations in which the ions form the neutralizing background. The hot electrons have been assumed to follow the generalized (r,q) distribution which has the advantage that it mimics most of the distribution functions observed in space plasmas. Interestingly, it has been found that unlike Maxwellian and kappa distributions, the electron acoustic waves admit not only rarefactive structures but also allow the formation of compressive solitary structures for generalized (r,q) distribution. It has been found that the flatness parameter r, tail parameter q, and the nonlinear propagation velocity u affect the propagation characteristics of nonlinear EAWs. Using the plasmas parameters, typically found in Saturn's magnetosphere and the Earth's auroral region, where two populations of electrons and electron acoustic solitary waves (EASWs) have been observed, we have given an estimate of the scale lengths over which these nonlinear waves are expected to form and how the size of these structures would vary with the change in the shape of the distribution function and with the change of the plasma parameters.
Collector modulation in high-voltage bipolar transistor in the saturation mode: Analytical approach
Authors: Dmitriev A. P. , Gert A. V. , Levinshtein M. E. , Yuferev V. S.
Published: April 2018

A simple analytical model is developed, capable of replacing the numerical solution of a system of nonlinear partial differential equations by solving a simple algebraic equation when analyzing the collector resistance modulation of a bipolar transistor in the saturation mode. In this approach, the leakage of the base current into the emitter and the recombination of non-equilibrium carriers in the base are taken into account. The data obtained are in good agreement with the results of numerical calculations and make it possible to describe both the motion of the front of the minority carriers and the steady state distribution of minority carriers across the collector in the saturation mode.
Factors Influencing Possible Participation in Chronic Disease Self-management Courses
Authors: Mahomed Rosemary , St. John Winsome , Patterson Elizabeth
Published: April 2018

Chronic disease self-management (CDSM) courses have been shown to be effective in improving self-management, quality of life and clinical outcomes; however, participation rates in both generic and disease-specific courses are low. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the attitudes, perceived behavioural control (PBC) and subjective norms of general practice patients with chronic diseases towards future participation in a CDSM course. The study, conducted in 2 006, used semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of eight men and 11 women who had a chronic disease. The theory of planned behaviour provided a framework for a thematic analysis of the data identifying themes related to attitude, PBC and subjective norms. Nine themes were identified related to attitude. These included a desire for the opportunity to share/gain support; willingness to participate if they were provided with more/new information; basing their choice on severity of disease; trying the program out first; individual coping strategies; reliance on medical practitioner advice; needing some certainty or being afraid of future prospects; doing things in their own particular way; and deciding on the basis of proven results. Six themes emerged related to PBC, which revolved around structural barriers, time, transport, cost, mobility, convenient time and location. Three subjective norms were identified including encouragement from family/friends, medical practitioner and others with the same condition. Several positive attitudes such as the provision of information, opportunities to share and gain support and help with coping - which CDSM courses offer - could be capitalised on when promoting the courses. However, understanding other attitudes such as the importance of disease severity and a need to 'do it my way', reveal misconceptions about the aims of CDSM courses that need to be more clearly communicated when promoting courses. Structural barriers to participating in CDSM courses can easily be overcome by careful planning and adequate funding. Finally, general practitioner encouragement to attend CDSM courses could improve participation rates.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Perspectives on Lifestyle Changes during Pregnancy and Post-partum, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Future Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Doran Frances
Published: April 2018

This paper reports on a mixed methods study which sought to explore the role of physical activity in relation to the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); the impact of a diagnosis of GDM on a woman?s life; follow-up support and factors that both hinder and support women to engage in physical activity post-partum in order to reduce their risk of developing future type 2 diabetes. Thirty-eight women who had a pregnancy complicated by GDM completed surveys. In-depth interviews were then conducted with a subset of eight women who completed these surveys, to further explore their experiences. Women reported making changes to their lifestyle to improve diet and engage in physical activity during pregnancy. These changes were harder to sustain after the baby was born. In this study few women underwent the recommended six-weekly oral glucose tolerance testing, and post-partum follow-up support was virtually non-existent. There is a clear role for health promotion across a number of sectors to support sustained behaviour change in this high-risk group of women. Factors are identified that could enhance follow-up support, particularly for lifestyle change.