bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dimedone‐decorated conjugated polymer: Tandem knoevenagel‐michael post‐modification synthesis and its application as optical probe for Hg2+ and ClO− in high‐water‐fraction mediums
Authors: Zhai Dalong , Shi Wei , Hui Yonghai , Xie Zhengfeng
Published: February 2017

High‐efficiency, mild‐conditioned tandem Knoevenagel–Michael reaction was utilized to post‐modify aldehyde‐containing, triphenylamine‐based precursor conjugated polymer (CP1) to afford dimedone‐decorated aimed polymer (CP2). The chemical structure of CP2 was verified by FTIR and 1H NMR analyses. With the introduction of aqueous Hg2+, fluorescence of CP2 in THF‐water mixture (VTHF/Vwater = 1/100) (buffered with 5 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate‐disodium hydrogen phosphate (PB), pH = 7.4) altered significantly, with the emission changed from blue to orange. Besides this, CP2 also displayed specific optical response to ClO− in another probing medium (VTHF/Vwater = 1/100, buffered with 50 mM PBS (with NaCl in PB, pH = 7.4). The detailed probing process and the plausible detection mechanism of CP2 to Hg2+ and ClO− were systematically investigated here. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 1067–1076
Quantum phase slips and voltage fluctuations in superconducting nanowires
Authors: Semenov Andrew G. , Zaikin Andrei D.
Published: February 2017

We argue that quantum phase slips (QPS) may generate non‐equilibrium voltage fluctuations in superconducting nanowires. In the low frequency limit we evaluate all cumulants of the voltage operator which obey Poisson statistics and show a power law dependence on the external bias. We specifically address quantum shot noise which power spectrum may depend non‐monotonously on temperature. In the long wire limit decreases with increasing frequency Ω and vanishes beyond a threshold value of Ω at . Our predictions can be directly tested in future experiments with superconducting nanowires.
Joint Monitoring of Process Location and Dispersion Based on CUSUM Procedure and Generalized Likelihood Ratio in the Presence of Measurement Errors
Authors: Maleki Mohammad Reza , Salmasnia Ali
Published: February 2017

In this paper, we propose a new methodology based on the combination of cumulative sum procedure and generalized likelihood ratio statistic for joint monitoring of the process location and dispersion. Then, we explore the effect of measurement errors on detecting ability of the proposed control chart when (i) the variance of measurement error is constant (ii) the variance of measurement error increases linearly as the level of the process mean increases. We also utilize multiple measurements on each sample point in order to decrease the adverse effects of measurement errors on the performance of the proposed control charts. Two numerical examples based on simulation studies are given to evaluate the ability of the proposed methods in terms of average run length, median run length, standard deviation of run length, and the first and third quantile points of the run length distribution (Q1 and Q3). Finally, a real life example is given to illustrate the application of the proposed method. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Note: Hy:Con: A Strategic Tool For Balancing Hydropower Development And Conservation Needs
Authors: Seliger C. , Scheikl S. , Schmutz S. , Schinegger R. , Fleck S. , Neubarth J. , Walder C. , Muhar S.
Published: February 2017

The article from this special issue was previously published in River Research and Applications, Volume 32, Issue 7, 2016. For completeness we are including the title page of the article below. The full text of the article can be read in Issue 32:7 on Wiley Online Library: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rra.2985/abstract
Synthesis of BN coatings on carbon fiber by dip coating
Authors: Wei Yong‐shan , Huang Xiao‐zhong , Du Zuo‐juan , Cheng Yong
Published: February 2017

BN coatings were deposited on carbon fibers by dip coating method. The deposited coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The influence of temperature on composition and structure of the coatings was investigated. Composition and structure examinations revealed that the crystallinity of the coatings increased with the increasing temperature, and the coating is a mixture of little oxides, turbostratic boron nitride and hexagonal boron nitride. Furthermore, experiments were also conducted in order to describe the growth mechanism, thus forming the basis of future growth of BN coating on fibers by dip coating. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
StopGap: elastic VMs to enhance server consolidation
Authors: Nitu Vlad , Teabe Boris , Fopa Leon , Tchana Alain , Hagimont Daniel
Published: February 2017

Virtualized cloud infrastructures (also known as IaaS platforms) generally rely on a server consolidation system to pack virtual machines (VMs) on as few servers as possible. However, an important limitation of consolidation is not addressed by such systems. Because the managed VMs may be of various sizes (small, medium, large, etc.), VM packing may be obstructed when VMs do not fit available spaces. This phenomenon leaves servers with a set of unused resources (‘holes’). It is similar to memory fragmentation, a well‐known problem in operating system domain. In this paper, we propose a solution which consists in resizing VMs so that they can fit with holes. This operation leads to the management of what we call elastic VMs and requires cooperation between the application level and the IaaS level, because it impacts management at both levels. To this end, we propose a new resource negotiation and allocation model in the IaaS, called HRNM. We demonstrate HRNM's applicability through the implementation of a prototype compatible with two main IaaS managers (OpenStack and OpenNebula). By performing thorough experiments with SPECvirt_sc2010 (a reference benchmark for server consolidation), we show that the impact of HRNM on customer's application is negligible. Finally, using Google data center traces, we show an improvement of about 62.5% for the traditional consolidation engines. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of ZrO2 on the Melting, Viscosity, and Crystallization Behaviors of Fluorine‐Free Mold Flux for Casting Medium Carbon Steels
Authors: Zhou Lejun , Li Huan , Wang Wanlin , Sohn Il
Published: February 2017

The effect of ZrO2 on the melting, viscosity, and crystallization behaviors of fluorine (F)‐free mold flux designed for the casting of medium carbon steels is studied by using Single/Double Hot Thermocouple Technology (SHTT/DHTT) and high temperature rotary viscometer in this paper. The results showed that the melting temperature, viscosity at 1300 °C, and break temperature increases with the addition of ZrO2 content in the F‐free mold flux system. Besides, both the Continuous Cooling Transformation (CCT) and Time Temperature Transformation (TTT) diagrams showed that the ZrO2 can promote the crystallization ability of F‐free mold flux; and the analysis from the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) verified that the enhancement of ZrO2 on the mold flux crystallization is due to the fact that it could act as heterogeneous nucleation agent to trigger the heterogeneous crystallization of F‐free mold flux system, due to its limited solubility in the molten slags.
Revisiting the structural collapse of a 52.3 m composite wind turbine blade in a full‐scale bending test
Authors: Chen Xiao , Zhao Xiaolu , Xu Jianzhong
Published: February 2017

Full‐scale structural tests enable an in‐depth understanding of how composite blades respond to specific applied loads. Blade strength can be validated, and necessary modifications can be made to improve structural performance and/or reduce blade weight. This study revisits the structural collapse of a 52.3 m composite blade with new research content. Specifically, the present work examines the chain of events captured in the video record of the blade collapse and provides direct phenomenological evidence of how the blade collapsed in its ultimate limit state. In addition, three‐dimensional strains are investigated by reconstructing the root transition region of the blade using solid brick elements in a finite element analysis. The strain components responsible for particular failure characteristics are identified. The structural response of the blade is investigated numerically. Interactive failure phenomena associated with strains, local buckling and material failure are examined in detail. The study shows that local buckling of the sandwich panels with unbalanced construction drives progressive failure of the composite materials and eventually leads to blade collapse owing to significant failure of the load‐carrying spar cap. Design modifications of the blade are proposed and validated with the test of a new blade. With respect to the latest DNV GL standard, this study notes a possible method to predict delamination and skin/core debonding failures. This study also recommends the use of three‐dimensional solid elements in finite element analysis, especially when the strength and failure of large blades are of concern. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of salt water immersion caused by a tsunami on δ13C and δ18O values of Pinus thunbergii tree‐ring cellulose
Authors: Kubota Tayoko , Kagawa Akira , Kodama Naomi
Published: February 2017

Pinus thunbergii trees growing on Pacific coastal sand dunes in Japan were immersed by the tsunami that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011. Even trees that survived direct physical damage began to die during the following summer, probably because of the physiological stress of salt water immersion. The objectives of this study were to analyze the relationship between the carbon and oxygen isotope values (δ13C and δ18O, respectively) of P. thunbergii tree‐ring cellulose and the effects of salt water immersion caused by the tsunami. Pinus thunbergii trees were sampled in Yamamoto, Miyagi Prefecture, and in Misawa, Aomori Prefecture. Each tree‐ring that formed between 2008 and 2012 was sliced into four to eight equal subdivisions, and the isotope values were analyzed at a high time‐scale resolution. Tree rings that were immersed in seawater from the tsunami had higher δ13C values in the earlywood that formed in the spring following the tsunami than those formed prior to the disaster. This increase in δ13C values was likely caused by osmotic stress from root immersion in salt water. We did not observe a clear change in tree‐ring δ18O values after the tsunami. This lack of variance might have resulted from the post‐photosynthetic exchange of carbonyl oxygens with non‐18O‐enriched xylem water.
ACMG 2016 Update on Noninvasive Prenatal Testing for Fetal Aneuploidy: Implications for India
Authors: Verma I. C. , Dua-Puri R. , Bijarnia-Mahay S.
Published: February 2017

ACMG 2016 guidelines for noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) are examined in the Indian context, and recommendation made for their adoption. Currently in India, NIPS is not a test that can or should be offered directly to patients. Proper pre-test counseling is essential, during which, the different options should be explained so that the patients can choose the test most appropriate for their situation. NIPS has a greater detection rate than other screening methods (like biochemical screening or ultrasound markers of aneuploidy), and can be performed in place of conventional screening for Patau, Edwards, and Down syndromes, if the patient can afford the cost, and the ultrasound does not show a malformation that is not a part of aneuploidies. The NIPS should be performed at 12 weeks of gestation or later, to reduce ‘no calls’ due to low fetal fraction. In samples that contain less than 4% fetal fraction the confidence in the report is reduced. Testing for sex chromosomes can be included, as these abnormalities are associated with unpredictable prognosis (that is often burdensome), which proves unacceptable to most Indian couples. However, patients should be provided balanced information on the abnormality that has been detected and left to choose the course of action most suited to their situation. Screening for microdeletions can be done if the patient can afford the cost, as microdeletions are more frequent than aneuploidies in young mothers. In some cases diagnosis of a microdeletion is helpful in management of the disorder in the neonatal period leading to a better outcome. The vendors should fulfill their responsibility of educating the patients before offering the test, and giving clear reports in simple understandable language. It is hoped that more vendors will perform the tests locally so that they become cheaper and affordable, as they have greater detection rate than other screening methods.
Aristotle on Accidental Causation
Authors: HUISMANN TYLER
Published: February 2017

I offer a new analysis of Aristotle's concept of an accidental cause. Using passages fromMetaphysicsΔ andΕ, as well asPhysicsII, I argue that accidental causes are causally inert. After defending this reading against some objections, I draw some conclusions about Aristotle's basic understanding of causation.
Assessment and Rehabilitation of Social Cognition Impairment after Brain Injury: Surveying Practices of Clinicians
Authors: Kelly Michelle , McDonald Skye , Frith Matthew HJ
Published: February 2017

Objectives: This study examined the current assessment practices of clinicians working with people with social cognition impairment following traumatic brain injury.

Method: Two hundred and sixty clinicians completed an on-line survey that was disseminated through professional brain injury organisations. Of respondents around 90% were allied health clinicians, with the remainder comprising medical, nursing and academia.

Main outcomes: The four areas of social cognition that were routinely assessed across the disciplines were insight, disinhibition, anger and social adjustment. The least routinely assessed areas were theory of mind and alexithymia. The test suggested most likely to identify social cognition impairments was The Awareness of Social Inference Test, although only 8% of clinicians responded to this question. Clinicians preferred informal assessment methods over standardised assessment methods for identifying social cognition rehabilitation goals. Higher levels of education were associated with greater use of standardised assessment modalities. Whilst there was paucity of responses overall, TBI Express was most commonly used for social cognition rehabilitation.

Conclusions: Considering the high prevalence of social cognition impairments in this population, formal assessment is extremely limited. The under-utilisation of assessment tools is problematic for the assessment and rehabilitation initiatives offered to people with TBI. These results have implications for the training of clinicians working in brain injury rehabilitation.
Editorial
Authors: Fleming Jenny , Simpson Grahame
Published: February 2017

Welcome to 2017. This promises to be an exciting year for Brain Impairment. First, we are delighted to announce the Special Issue on Disorders of Social Cognition; Advances in Theory, Assessment and Treatment guest edited by Professor Skye McDonald. The Editors wish to thank Professor McDonald for her hard work in organising an issue of the highest class. This issue will lead off Volume 18.
Best practices in social and behavioral research: report from the
Enhancing Clinical Research Professional’s Training and Qualifications
project
Authors: Murphy Susan L. , Byks-Jazayeri Christine , Calvin-Naylor Nancy , Divecha Vic , Anderson Elizabeth , Eakin Brenda , Fair Alecia , Denton Laura
Published: February 2017

Introduction

This article discusses the process of defining competencies and development
of a best practices training course for investigators and clinical research
coordinators who conduct social and behavioral research.

Methods

The first project phase established recommendations for training in Good
Clinical Practice (GCP) and was done in conjunction with representatives
from 62 Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) hubs. Diversity in
behavioral clinical trials and differences in regulation of behavioral
trials compared with clinical trials involving drugs, devices, or biologics
necessitated a separate Social and Behavioral Work Group. This group worked
with CTSA representatives to tailor competencies and fundamental GCP
principles into best practices for social and behavioral research.

Results

Although concepts underlying GCP were deemed similar across all clinical
trials, not all areas were equally applicable and the ways in which GCP
would be enacted differ for behavioral trials. It was determined that
suitable training in best practices for social and behavioral research was
lacking.

Discussion

Based on the training need, an e-learning course for best practices is
available to all CTSA sites. Each institution is able to track outcomes for
its employees to help achieve standardized competency-based best practices
for social and behavioral investigators and staff.
Effect of thermocapillary stress on slip length for a channel textured with parallel ridges
Authors: Hodes Marc , Kirk Toby L. , Karamanis Georgios , MacLachlan Scott
Published: February 2017

We compute the apparent hydrodynamic slip length for (laminar and fully developed) Poiseuille flow of liquid through a heated parallel-plate channel. One side of the channel is textured with parallel (streamwise) ridges and the opposite one is smooth. On the textured side of the channel, the liquid is in the Cassie state. No-slip and constant heat flux boundary conditions are imposed at the solid–liquid interfaces along the tips of the ridges, and the menisci between ridges are considered to be flat and adiabatic. The smooth side of the channel is subjected to no-slip and adiabatic boundary conditions. We account for the streamwise and transverse thermocapillary stresses along menisci. When the latter is sufficiently small, Stokes flow may be assumed. Then, our solution is based upon a conformal map. When, additionally, the ratio of channel height to half of the ridge pitch is of order 1 or larger, an accurate but less cumbersome solution follows from a matched asymptotic expansion. When inertial effects are relevant, the slip length is numerically computed. Setting the thermocapillary stress equal to zero yields the slip length for an adiabatic flow.
Linking Romantic Attachment and Self-Injury: The Roles of the Behavioural Systems
Authors: Caron Angela , Lafontaine Marie-France , Bureau Jean-François
Published: February 2017

Attachment theory is considered an explanatory framework for understanding non-suicidal self-injury. Despite theoretical postulations, few studies have examined links between romantic attachment and its interconnected systems (the caregiving and sexual systems) and self-injury. This study investigated whether self-injurious thoughts and behaviours could be predicted by the functioning of the three systems. Two-hundred and sixty-three young adults participated in the study. Results revealed that participants endorsing self-injurious thoughts experience greater attachment anxiety and avoidance, controlling and compulsive romantic caregiving behaviours, and lower sexual satisfaction than participants with no thoughts. Conversely, findings indicate that the behavioural systems did not predict self-injurious behaviours. Such findings suggest that dimensions of the three interrelated behavioural systems hold unique roles in understanding young adult self-injurious thoughts, and that the constructs that predict self-injurious thoughts may differ from those that predict self-injurious behaviours.
Late Holocene hydroclimatic change at Cienega Amarilla, west-central New Mexico, USA
Authors: Onken Jill , Smith Susan J. , Palacios-Fest Manuel R. , Adams Karen R.
Published: February 2017

A late Holocene carbonate spring mound and associated wetland deposits at Cienega Amarilla, New Mexico, contain a 4000-yr record of geomorphic, paleoenvironmental, and hydroclimatic change on the southern Colorado Plateau. Forty-four14C dates support a century-scale chronostratigraphic framework. Pollen, plant macrofossil, mollusk, ostracode, and soil analyses indicate rapid spring mound growth and wetland expansion beginning ~2300 cal yr BP, followed by a pronounced decline in groundwater discharge (GWD) between ~1500 and 1000 cal yr BP. The isotopic composition of Cienega Amarilla springwater suggests GWD is driven primarily by winter precipitation. Historical climate data indicate that El Niño and warm Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) conditions foster wetter-than-average winters in the Cienega Amarilla area, whereas dry winters are associated with La Niña conditions regardless of PDO phase. The ~2300–1500 cal yr BP Cienega Amarilla pluvial appears to represent an interval of peak, late Holocene cool-season precipitation that implies unusually strong or persistent El Niño–like and warm PDO–like conditions in the Pacific. Other southwestern paleoenvironmental records corroborate atypically wet conditions during this interval, and pluvial conditions related to increased winter precipitation likely fostered significant prehistoric cultural changes throughout the region, including increased sedentism, population, and dependence on agriculture.
New pollen evidence from Nariani (Georgia) for delayed postglacial forest expansion in the South Caucasus
Authors: Messager Erwan , Nomade Sébastien , Wilhelm Bruno , Joannin Sébastien , Scao Vincent , Von Grafenstein Ulrich , Martkoplishvili Inga , Ollivier Vincent , Mgeladze Ana , Dumoulin Jean-Pascal , Mazuy Arnaud , Belmecheri Soumaya , Lordkipanidze David
Published: February 2017

The nature and timing of environmental changes throughout the last glacial-interglacial transition in the South Caucasus, and more widely in eastern Europe, are still not fully understood. According to certain pollen records, forest expansion occurred in many areas several millennia after what is considered worldwide as the onset of the Holocene. The current problem we face is that the time lag in forest expansion varies from one sequence to another, sometimes with no delay at all. Moreover, the potential forcing/controlling factors behind this complex pattern, contrary to the almost synchronous global Holocene warming, are still a matter for debate. Accordingly, we revisit the issue of forest expansion through vegetation history obtained in the South Caucasus using a new pollen record, retrieved from the Nariani paleolake (South Georgia). These data attest to a steppic phase, initially dominated by Amaranthaceae-Chenopodiaceae (12,700–10,500 cal yr BP), then by Poaceae (10,500–9000 cal yr BP), culminating with a more forested phase (9000–5000 calyrBP). Although some palaeoclimatic regional reconstructions show a wet early Holocene, we interpret the delay in forest expansion recorded in Nariani (2500 years) as the result of reduced spring precipitation, which would have limited forest development at that time.
Properties, age, and significance of dunes near Snow Water Lake, Elko County, Nevada
Authors: Munroe Jeffrey S. , Gorin Andrew L. , Stone Noah N. , Amidon William H.
Published: February 2017

Dunes adjacent to the Snow Water Lake playa in Elko County of northeastern Nevada rise up to ~10 m above the playa surface in seven distinct clusters. The dunes are composed of tan silty loam containing calcite, quartz, plagioclase, and dioctahedral clay. Abundances of trace elements, along with relative proportions of quartz and calcite, are distinct between dunes along the north and south sides of the playa, reflecting proximity to streams draining different lithologies in the neighboring mountains. Luminescence (optically stimulated luminescence and infrared-stimulated luminescence) dating of dune crest samples demonstrates that the last episode of dune accumulation occurred in the mid-eighteenth century. Moisture-sensitive tree ring records from a nearby site indicate that dune accumulation coincided with an interval of below-average precipitation immediately following a very wet decade. This sequence is consistent with models requiring wetter climatic conditions to move coarse sediment onto a playa surface, followed by dune building under drier conditions. Younger luminescence ages from a sand-dominated unit exposed in an arroyo cut through the dunes may reflect a wetter, more erosive climatic regime ca. AD 1800. The Snow Water Lake dunes are currently eroding, signaling a reduction in the amount of sediment reaching the playa.
– OFF-DIAGONAL ESTIMATES FOR THE ORNSTEIN–UHLENBECK SEMIGROUP: SOME POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE RESULTS
Authors: AMENTA ALEX , TEUWEN JONAS
Published: February 2017

We investigate $L^{p}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE})$–$L^{q}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE})$ off-diagonal estimates for the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck semigroup $(e^{tL})_{t>0}$. For sufficiently large $t$ (quantified in terms of $p$ and $q$), these estimates hold in an unrestricted sense, while, for sufficiently small $t$, they fail when restricted to maximal admissible balls and sufficiently small annuli. Our counterexample uses Mehler kernel estimates.
Do Citizens See Through Transparency? Evidence from Survey Experiments in Peru
Authors: Hawkins Darren , Brook Lucas C. , Hansen Ian M. , Hoopes Neal A. , Tidwell Taylor R.
Published: February 2017

Government transparency is widely promoted, yet little is known about transparency’s effects. Survey experiments reported here, made on the streets of Lima, Peru, investigate a simple question: what are the effects of government-sponsored transparency websites, and the information revealed by those efforts, on attitudes about the Peruvian political system? Like many developing countries, Peru lacks much system support, making it more difficult to improve governance and democracy; transparency itself has little impact on political attitudes. However, some dimensions of the information provided by transparency matter: endorsement by a credible third party or framing that associates comparatively good community well-being with government performance. These conditions substantively increase Peruvians’ approval of the national political community, the regime’s performance, institutions, and local government.
Negotiating under Political Uncertainty: National Elections and the Dynamics of International Co-operation
Authors: Kleine Mareike , Minaudier Clement
Published: February 2017

This article explores if (and how) national elections affect the chances of concluding an international agreement. Drawing on a literature about the informational efficiency of elections, it examines how political uncertainty in the run-up to an election impacts the dynamics of international negotiations. Using the case of decision making in the European Union (EU), it finds that (1) pending national elections significantly reduce the chances of reaching an agreement at the international level (2) this effect is strongest during close elections with uncertain outcomes and (3) the effect is particularly pronounced in the case of elections in larger member states. The findings highlight the fruitfulness of further research on the dynamics between national and international politics. The article has positive and normative implications for the literature on two-level games, international negotiations and legislative bargaining in the EU.
After Mazibuko: Exploring the responses of communities excluded from South Africa's water experiment
Authors: Cooper Nathan John
Published: February 2017

Despite a constitutional right to water, challenges remain for access to sufficient water in South Africa. This article considers the degree to which current legal provisions perpetuate approaches that are antithetical to genuinely eco-socio-sustainable water access. Water in South Africa has largely been re-cast as a commodity, exposed to market rules, proving problematic for many and giving rise to various responses, including litigation. In the seminal case of Mazibuko, the Constitutional Court failed to provide robust protection to the right to water, providing impetus for the formation of “commons” strategies for water allocation. Indeed, “commoning” is beginning to represent not only an emerging conceptual strand in urban resource allocation, but also a dynamic, contemporary, eco-sensitive, socio-cultural phenomenon, driving innovative, interactive and inclusive forms of planning and social engagement. Against the backdrop of unequal water access, commoning offers glimpses of an empowering and enfranchising subaltern paradigm.
Hyaluronic acid for post sinus surgery care: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fong E , Garcia M , Woods C M , Ooi E
Published: February 2017

Background:

Wound healing after endoscopic sinus surgery may result in adhesion formation. Hyaluronic acid may prevent synechiae development. A systematic review was performed to evaluate the current evidence on the clinical efficacy of hyaluronic acid applied to the nasal cavity after sinus surgery.

Methods:

Studies using hyaluronic acid as an adjunct treatment following endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis were identified. The primary outcome was adhesion formation rates. A meta-analysis was performed on adhesion event frequency. Secondary outcome measures included other endoscopic findings and patient-reported outcomes.

Results:

Thirteen studies (501 patients) met the selection criteria. A meta-analysis of adhesion formation frequency on endoscopy demonstrated a lower risk ratio in the hyaluronic acid intervention group (42 out of 283 cases) compared to the control group (81 out of 282) of 0.52 (95 per cent confidence interval = 0.37–0.72). Hyaluronic acid use was not associated with any significant adverse events.

Conclusion:

Hyaluronic acid appears to be clinically safe and well tolerated, and may be useful in the early stages after sinus surgery to limit adhesion rate. Further research, including larger randomised controlled trials, is required to evaluate patient- and clinician-reported outcomes of hyaluronic acid post sinus surgery.
Is celecoxib a useful adjunct in the treatment of post-tonsillectomy pain in the adult population? A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
Authors: Ng T-T , Diamantaras D , Priestley J , Redman J , De Silva N , Mahanta V
Published: February 2017

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of celecoxib for pain management in post-tonsillectomy adult patients.

Design:

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 clinical trial was conducted in an adult population (aged 18–55 years), with a parallel group design using an allocation ratio of 1:1.

Methods:

Eighty patients underwent elective tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy, operated on by one surgeon. They were discharged home with randomly assigned celecoxib or placebo, together with regular post-tonsillectomy medications (paracetamol and Endone). Pain scores were measured from post-operative days 1 to 10. All patients were assessed on post-operative days 5, 12 and 28.

Results:

There were no statistically significant differences in the daily or overall pain scores, the total intake of Endone, or the time taken to achieve freedom from pain after tonsillectomy between the study arms (n = 40 each arm). The celecoxib-treated group experienced significantly more vomiting (celecoxib vs placebo p < 0.001 (Mann–Whitney test), confidence interval = 0.57 to 0.76).

Conclusion:

Celecoxib usage was associated with significantly more vomiting and did not reduce narcotic analgesia requirement post-tonsillectomy.
Molecular insights into cancer therapeutic effects of the dietary medicinal phytochemical withaferin A
Authors: Chirumamilla Chandra Sekhar , Pérez-Novo Claudina , Van Ostade Xaveer , Vanden Berghe Wim
Published: February 2017

Despite the worldwide research efforts to combat cancer, it remains a leading cause of death. Although various specific kinase inhibitors already have been approved for clinical cancer treatment, occurrence of intrinsic or acquired resistance and intermittent response over longer periods limits long-term success of single kinase-targeted therapies. In this respect, there is a renewed interest in polypharmaceutical natural compounds, which simultaneously target various hyperactivated kinases involved in tumour-inflammation, angiogenesis, cell survival, proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis. The dietary medicinal phytochemical withaferin A (WA), isolated fromWithaferin somnifera(popular Indian name Ashwagandha), holds promise as a novel anti-cancer agent, which targets multiple cell survival kinase pathways, including IκB kinase/NF-κB, PI3 kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase amongst others. In this review, we propose a novel mechanism of WA-dependent kinase inhibition via electrophilic covalent targeting of cysteine residues in conserved kinase activation domains (kinase cysteinome), which could underlie its pleiotropic therapeutic effects in cancer signalling.
Innovative approaches to estimate individual usual dietary intake in large-scale epidemiological studies
Authors: Conrad Johanna , Nöthlings Ute
Published: February 2017

Valid estimation of usual dietary intake in epidemiological studies is a topic of present interest. The aim of the present paper is to review recent literature on innovative approaches focussing on: (1) the requirements to assess usual intake and (2) the application in large-scale settings. Recently, a number of technology-based self-administered tools have been developed, including short-term instruments such as web-based 24-h recalls, mobile food records or simple closed-ended questionnaires that assess the food intake of the previous 24 h. Due to their advantages in terms of feasibility and cost-effectiveness these tools may be superior to conventional assessment methods in large-scale settings. New statistical methods have been developed to combine dietary information from repeated 24-h dietary recalls and FFQ. Conceptually, these statistical methods presume that the usual food intake of a subject equals the probability of consuming a food on a given day, multiplied by the average amount of intake of that food on a typical consumption day. Repeated 24-h recalls from the same individual provide information on consumption probability and amount. In addition, the FFQ can add information on intake frequency of rarely consumed foods. It has been suggested that this combined approach may provide high-quality dietary information. A promising direction for estimation of usual intake in large-scale settings is the integration of both statistical methods and new technologies. Studies are warranted to assess the validity of estimated usual intake in comparison with biomarkers.
Anorexia nervosa in males: excess mortality and psychiatric co-morbidity in 609 Swedish in-patients
Authors: Kask J. , Ramklint M. , Kolia N. , Panagiotakos D. , Ekbom A. , Ekselius L. , Papadopoulos F. C.
Published: February 2017

Background

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder with high mortality.

Method

A retrospective register study of 609 males who received hospitalized care for AN in Sweden between 1973 and 2010 was performed. The standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and Cox regression-derived hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated as measures of mortality. The incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated to compare the mortality rates in patients with AN and controls both with and without psychiatric diagnoses.

Results

The SMR for all causes of death was 4.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1–5.3]. For those patients with psychiatric co-morbidities, the SMR for all causes of death was 9.1 (95% CI 6.6–12.2), and for those without psychiatric co-morbidity, the SMR was 1.6 (95% CI 0.9–2.7). For the group of patients with alcohol use disorder, the SMR for natural causes of death was 11.5 (95% CI 5.0–22.7), and that for unnatural causes was 35.5 (95% CI 17.7–63.5). The HRs confirmed the increased mortality for AN patients with psychiatric co-morbidities, even after adjusting for confounders. The IRRs revealed no significant difference in mortality patterns between the AN patients with psychiatric co-morbidity and the controls with psychiatric diagnoses, with the exceptions of alcohol use disorder and neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders, which seemed to confer a negative synergistic effect on mortality.

Conclusion

Mortality in male AN patients was significantly elevated compared with the general population among only the patients with psychiatric co-morbidities. Specifically, the presence of alcohol and other substance use disorders was associated with more profound excess mortality.
Migration and Popular Resistance in Rural China: Wukan and Beyond
Authors: Lu Yao , Zheng Wenjuan , Wang Wei
Published: February 2017

This study draws on a case study of Wukan and interviews with migrants and peasants in other sites to examine how migration shapes popular resistance in migrant-sending communities (i.e. rural China). Findings demonstrate multidimensional roles played by migrants and returned migrants who act as a vehicle of informational and ideological transmission and at times directly participate in or even lead rural resistance in origin communities. Both the transmission and participation processes foster political consciousness and action orientations among peasants. The importance of migrants is exemplified in the Wukan protests but is also found in other settings under study. In general, migrants represent a latent political force that acts upon serious grievances back home. The findings provide a useful lens for understanding the diffusion of popular resistance and the linkage between urban and rural activism in China.
A Unified Indexing Strategy for the Mixed Data of a Future Marine GIS
Authors: Liu Tao , Han Xie , Yang Jie , Kuang Liqun
Published: February 2017

Spatial indexing technology is widely used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial databases. As a data retrieval technology, spatial indexing is becoming increasingly important in the big-data age. The purpose of this study is to propose a unified indexing strategy for the mixed data of a future marine GIS. First, data organisation of the system is described. Second, the display condition of each type of data is introduced. These conditions are the basis for the construction of a unified indexing structure. Third, a unified indexing structure for mixed data is presented. The construction process and the search method of the indexing structure are described. Finally, we implement the indexing strategy in our system “Automotive Intelligent Chart Three-dimensional Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems” (AIC 3D ECDIS). Our strategy can provide fast and integrated data retrieval. The spatial indexing strategy we propose breaks through the limitation of data types in our system. It can also be applied in other GIS systems. With the advent of the big-data age, mixed data indexing will become more and more important.
Risk Assessment of Operational Safety for Oil Tankers - A Revised Risk Matrix
Authors: Hsu Wen-Kai , Lian Shu-Jun , Huang Show-Hui
Published: February 2017

This paper is aimed at the risk assessment of operational safety for oil tankers. Based on the operational features of oil tankers and relevant literature, the Risk Factors (RFs) of operational safety were first identified. A revised risk matrix based on a fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach was then proposed to assess the risk classes of the RFs. Finally, to validate the research model, the oil tanker fleet of Chinese Petroleum Corporation (CPC) in Taiwan was empirically investigated. The results can provide practical information for oil carriers to improve their ships' operational safety. Furthermore, the revised risk matrix may provide a theoretical reference for methodological researches in safety risk assessments.
Cost-effectiveness of active case-finding of household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in a low HIV, tuberculosis-endemic urban area of Lima, Peru
Authors: SHAH L. , ROJAS M. , MORI O. , ZAMUDIO C. , KAUFMAN J. S. , OTERO L. , GOTUZZO E. , SEAS C. , BREWER T. F.
Published: February 2017

We compared the cost-effectiveness (CE) of an active case-finding (ACF) programme for household contacts of tuberculosis (TB) cases enrolled in first-line treatment to routine passive case-finding (PCF) within an established national TB programme in Peru. Decision analysis was used to model detection of TB in household contacts through: (1) self-report of symptomatic cases for evaluation (PCF), (2) a provider-initiated ACF programme, (3) addition of an Xpert MTB/RIF diagnostic test for a single sputum sample from household contacts, and (4) all strategies combined. CE was calculated as the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in terms of US dollars per disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted. Compared to PCF alone, ACF for household contacts resulted in an ICER of $2155 per DALY averted. The addition of the Xpert MTB/RIF diagnostic test resulted in an ICER of $3275 per DALY averted within a PCF programme and $3399 per DALY averted when an ACF programme was included. Provider-initiated ACF of household contacts in an urban setting of Lima, Peru can be highly cost-effective, even including costs to seek out contacts and perform an Xpert/MTB RIF test. ACF including Xpert MTB/RIF was not cost-effective if TB cases detected had high rates of default from treatment or poor outcomes.
Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica: current insights into an emerging human pathogen
Authors: SCHRÖTTNER P. , RUDOLPH W. W. , DAMME U. , LOTZ C. , JACOBS E. , GUNZER F.
Published: February 2017

Since the first description of Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica in 2008, a number of well described case reports demonstrating its pathogenic role in humans have been published. Infections may be closely linked to flies, such as Wohlfahrtia magnifica, Lucilia sericata, Chrysomya megacephala or Musca domestica. These insects are potent vectors for the distribution of W. chitiniclastica causing local or systemic infections originating from wounds infested with fly larvae. However, other potential sources of transmission of W. chitiniclastica have been described such as soil or chicken meat. Infections in humans reported to date comprise wound infections, cellulitis, osteomyelitis and sepsis. This review summarizes all the literature available up to now and gives the current knowledge about this emerging human pathogen. Additionally, four patients with proven W. chitiniclastica infections treated at Dresden University Hospital between 2013 and 2015, are included. Special focus was placed on microbiological identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing of the pathogen.
Clinical application of three-dimensional printing to the management of complex univentricular hearts with abnormal systemic or pulmonary venous drainage
Authors: McGovern Eimear , Kelleher Eoin , Snow Aisling , Walsh Kevin , Gadallah Bassem , Kutty Shelby , Redmond John M. , McMahon Colin J.
Published: February 2017

In recent years, three-dimensional printing has demonstrated reliable reproducibility of several organs including hearts with complex congenital cardiac anomalies. This represents the next step in advanced image processing and can be used to plan surgical repair. In this study, we describe three children with complex univentricular hearts and abnormal systemic or pulmonary venous drainage, in whom three-dimensional printed models based on CT data assisted with preoperative planning. For two children, after group discussion and examination of the models, a decision was made not to proceed with surgery. We extend the current clinical experience with three-dimensional printed modelling and discuss the benefits of such models in the setting of managing complex surgical problems in children with univentricular circulation and abnormal systemic or pulmonary venous drainage.
Modern Focused-Ion-Beam-Based Site-Specific Specimen Preparation for Atom Probe Tomography
Authors: Prosa Ty J. , Larson David J.
Published: February 2017

Approximately 30 years after the first use of focused ion beam (FIB) instruments to prepare atom probe tomography specimens, this technique has grown to be used by hundreds of researchers around the world. This past decade has seen tremendous advances in atom probe applications, enabled by the continued development of FIB-based specimen preparation methodologies. In this work, we provide a short review of the origin of the FIB method and the standard methods used today for lift-out and sharpening, using the annular milling method as applied to atom probe tomography specimens. Key steps for enabling correlative analysis with transmission electron-beam backscatter diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and atom probe tomography are presented, and strategies for preparing specimens for modern microelectronic device structures are reviewed and discussed in detail. Examples are used for discussion of the steps for each of these methods. We conclude with examples of the challenges presented by complex topologies such as nanowires, nanoparticles, and organic materials.
Analysis of Cyclin E1 Functions in Porcine Preimplantation Embryonic Development by Fluorescence Microscopy
Authors: Guo Jing , Shin Kyung-Tae , Cui Xiang-Shun
Published: February 2017

Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) is a core component of cell cycle regulation that drives the transition into the S phase. CCNE1 plays critical roles in cell cycle, cell proliferation, and cellular functions. However, the function of CCNE1 in early embryonic development is limited. In the present study, the function and expression ofCcne1in porcine early parthenotes were examined. Immunostaining experiments showed that CCNE1 localized in the nucleus, starting at the four-cell stage. Knockdown ofCcne1by double-stranded RNA resulted in the failure of blastocyst formation and induced blastocyst apoptosis.Ccne1depletion increased expression of the pro-apoptotic geneBax, and decreased the expression ofOct4and the rate of inner cell mass (ICM)/trophectoderm formation. The results indicated that CCNE1 affects blastocyst formation by inducing cell apoptosis and ICM formation during porcine embryonic development.
The maximum growth rate of life on Earth
Authors: Corkrey Ross , McMeekin Tom A. , Bowman John P. , Olley June , Ratkowsky David , Ross Tom
Published: February 2017

Life on Earth spans a range of temperatures and exhibits biological growth rates that are temperature dependent. While the observation that growth rates are temperature dependent is well known, we have recently shown that the statistical distribution of specific growth rates for life on Earth is a function of temperature (Corkreyet al., 2016). The maximum rates of growth of all life have a distinct limit, even when grown under optimal conditions, and which vary predictably with temperature. We term this distribution of growth rates the biokinetic spectrum for temperature (BKST). The BKST possibly arises from a trade-off between catalytic activity and stability of enzymes involved in a rate-limiting Master Reaction System (MRS) within the cell. We develop a method to extrapolate quantile curves for the BKST to obtain the posterior probability of the maximum rate of growth of any form of life on Earth. The maximum rate curve conforms to the observed data except below 0°C and above 100°C where the predicted value may be positively biased. The deviation below 0°C may arise from the bulk properties of water, while the degradation of biomolecules may be important above 100°C. The BKST has potential application in astrobiology by providing an estimate of the maximum possible growth rate attainable by terrestrial life and perhaps life elsewhere. We suggest that the area under the maximum growth rate curve and the peak rate may be useful characteristics in considerations of habitability. The BKST can serve as a diagnostic for unusual life, such as second biogenesis or non-terrestrial life. Since the MRS must have been heavily conserved the BKST may contain evolutionary relics. The BKST can serve as a signature summarizing the nature of life in environments beyond Earth, or to characterize species arising from a second biogenesis on Earth.