bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flavonoid‐rich fraction of Bauhinia forficata Link leaves prevents the intestinal toxic effects of irinotecan chemotherapy in IEC‐6 cells and in mice
Authors: Cechinel‐Zanchett Camile Cecconi , Boeing Thaise , Somensi Lincon Bordignon , Steimbach Viviane Miranda Bispo , Campos Adriana , Krueger Clarissa de Medeiros Amorm , Schultz Cristiany , Sant'ana Débora de Mello Gonçales , Cechinel‐Filho Valdir , Mota da Silva Luísa , Faloni de Andrade Sérgio
Published: October 2018

This study evaluated the effects of flavonoid‐rich fraction from Bauhinia forficata leaves (FRF‐BF), against intestinal toxicity induced by irinotecan. The leaves of this plant are used like tea in Brazilian folk medicine, and it is rich in flavonoids, mainly kaempferitrin. First, the chemopreventive effects of FRF‐BF and kaempferitrin were evaluated in intestinal cells (IEC‐6 cells) exposed to irinotecan. Next, the effects were evaluated against irinotecan‐induced mucositis in mice. Lastly, melanoma was induced in C57BL/6 mice to evaluate FRF‐BF interference on irinotecan antitumor activity. The results showed that FRF‐BF and kaempferitrin exert no cytotoxic effects in IEC‐6 cells and confirmed that pretreatment with FRF‐BF and kaempferitrin displays chemoprotective effects against cytotoxicity induced by irinotecan. Interestingly, the FRF‐BF (100 mg/kg, p.o) reduced the intestinal motility in mice and attenuated parameters linked to irinotecan‐induced intestinal mucositis, including diarrhea, histological damage, depletion of duodenal GSH, amount of TNF‐α, and MPO activity in the small intestine. Also, FRF‐BF does not interfere in the antitumor activity of irinotecan and exerted antitumoral activity in murine melanoma. In conclusion, FRF‐BF (100 mg/kg, p.o) presents promising pharmacological potential to prevent and attenuate the severity of intestinal mucositis during chemotherapy treatment, related to the presence of kaempferitrin.
Effect of purslane on blood lipids and glucose: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Hadi Amir , Pourmasoumi Makan , Najafgholizadeh Ameneh , Kafeshani Marziyeh , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: October 2018

Despite a history of purslane usage as a herbal treatment for dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia management, existing evidence from clinical trials is controversial. The aim for the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of purslane supplementation on lipid parameters and glycemic status in adult populations. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to January 15, 2018, searching for randomized controlled trials that assessed the impact of purslane on fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C). Based on the detected heterogeneity between studies, a random‐ or fixed‐effect model was applied in the meta‐analysis. The findings from six randomized controlled trials, comprising 352 participants, indicated that purslane can reduce FBG (−4.54 mg/dl, 95% CI [−7.54, −1.53]; I2 = 0.53%) and triglycerides (−19.16 mg/dl, 95% CI [−38.17, −0.15]; I2 = 0%) levels. Changes in TC, LDL‐C, and HDL‐C concentrations did not reach a statistically significant level. Subgroup analysis showed a favorable effects of purslane on FBG, triglycerides, TC, and LDL‐C in a subset of studies in which purslane was administered >1.5 g/day. Categorization based on gender showed that purslane was more effective in improving FBG, TC and LDL‐C in females compared with males. This systematic review and meta‐analysis suggested that the purslane might be effective on the improvement of blood lipid and glucose levels. Further robust studies with sufficient durations and dosages of supplementation are needed to confirm these results.
Optimal design of the side‐sensitive modified group runs (SSMGR) chart when process parameters are estimated
Authors: Chong Zhi Lin , Khoo Michael B.C. , Teoh Wei Lin , You Huay Woon , Castagliola Philippe
Published: October 2018

A side‐sensitive modified group runs (SSMGR)
chart is commonly examined under the assumption of known process parameters (denoted as Case‐K). However, in practical situations, the process parameters are seldom known, and it is essential to estimate them from in‐control (IC) phase I samples. From the study of the minimum amount of phase I samples, m that is required by the SSMGR
chart when the process parameters are estimated (represented as Case‐U), to achieve practically the same performance as that of the Case‐K, it was found that a huge number of IC phase I samples are needed. Due to time and cost factors, accumulating a substantial amount of IC phase I samples is difficult. To circumvent this problem, we study the optimal designs of the Case‐U SSMGR
chart, based on both the zero and steady states' average number of observations to signal (ANOS) and expected ANOS (EANOS). Tables containing optimal charting parameters are provided to ease the implementation of the Case‐U SSMGR
chart. By using these optimal parameters specifically designed for the Case‐U SSMGR
chart, we can obtain similar zero and steady states' ANOS and EANOS performances to that of the Case‐K. The use of the optimal Case‐U SSMGR
chart is demonstrated with real data taken from a hard‐bake process in a manufacturing company.
Global and local reactivity descriptors based on quadratic and linear energy models for α,β‐unsaturated organic compounds
Authors: Oller Javier , Pérez Patricia , Ayers Paul W. , Vöhringer‐Martinez Esteban
Published: October 2018

Global and local descriptors of chemical reactivity can be derived from conceptual density functional theory. Their explicit form, however, depends on how the energy is defined as a function of the number of electrons. Within the existing interpolation models, here, the quadratic and the linear energy model were used to derive global descriptors as the electrophilicity and nucleophilicity (defined as the negative of the ionization potential) and local descriptors employing either the corresponding condensed Fukui function in the linear model or the local response of the global descriptor in the quadratic model. The ability of these descriptors to predict the reactivity of molecules with more than one reactive site was first studied on a set of α, β‐unsaturated ketones, where experimental rate constants for the nucleophilic attack is known. With the validated descriptors the reactivity of α, β‐unsaturated carboxylic compounds with different heteroatoms as α, β‐unsaturated thioesters, esters, and amides was addressed as alternative substrates for enzymatic CO2 fixation. Carbon dioxide fixation involves the reduction of the neutral α, β‐unsaturated carboxylic compounds by a nucleophilic attack of a hydride anion from NADPH and the following electrophilic attack by carbon dioxide. It was found that condensed values of the linear Fukui function within the fragment of molecular response approximation describe best the reactivity of α, β‐unsaturated ketones. For the two relevant processes involved in CO2 fixation the amides present the largest reactivity in vacuum and in aqueous solution compared to the esters and thioesters and may, therefore, serve as alternative substrates of carboxylases.
Toward a theory of mechanochemistry: Simple models from the very beginnings
Authors: Quapp Wolfgang , Bofill Josep Maria , Ribas‐Ariño Jordi
Published: October 2018

A core idea in the context of mechanochemistry is that applying an external tensile force along a reaction coordinate should enhance the chemical reaction of interest. Here, we analyze perturbed generic molecular structures: schematic models of triatomics, ABC, and tetraatomics, AABB. They are used to demonstrate that pulling does usually not use the “reaction coordinate,” but opens new reaction pathways. Within development of these models we use the concept of Newton trajectories for a theory of mechanochemistry. However, we find cases where the theory of Newton trajectories is not applicable. For all cases, we define the curve of force‐displaced stationary points, and we discuss the importance of barrier breakdown points and valley‐ridge inflection points. The examples use Morse potentials for bonds and simple angle functions and are demonstrated by assumed real values for the potential parameters. On the basis of the systematic study of some generic models we explain a set of already observed experimental mechanochemical phenomena in specific molecular systems and we apply the results to the strength of chemical bonds.
An automatic skill evaluation framework for robotic surgery training
Authors: Peng Wenjia , Xing Yuan , Liu Ruida , Li Jinhua , Zhang Zemin
Published: October 2018

Background

To provide feedback to surgeons in robotic surgery training, many surgical skill evaluation methods have been developed. However, they hardly focus on the performance of the surgical motion segments. This paper proposes a method of specifying a trainee's skill weakness in the surgical training.

Methods

This paper proposed an automatic skill evaluation framework by comparing the trainees' operations with the template operation in each surgical motion segment, which is mainly based on dynamic time warping (DTW) and continuous hidden Markov model (CHMM).

Results

The feasibility of this proposed framework has been preliminarily verified. For specifying the skill weakness in instrument handling and efficiency, the result of this proposed framework was significantly correlated with that of manual scoring.

Conclusion

The automatic skill evaluation framework has shown its superiority in efficiency, objectivity, and being targeted, which can be used in robotic surgery training.
Robust microvibration mitigation and pointing performance analysis for high stability spacecraft
Authors: Preda Valentin , Cieslak Jérôme , Henry David , Bennani Samir , Falcoz Alexandre
Published: October 2018

This paper deals with the development of a mixed active‐passive microvibration mitigation solution capable of attenuating the transmitted vibrations generated by reaction wheels to a satellite structure. A dedicated simulation environment, provided by the European Space Agency and Airbus Defence and Space industries, serves as a support for testing the proposed solution at satellite level. This paper covers modeling, control system design, and worst‐case analysis for a typical satellite observation mission that requires high pointing stability. Combined with a novel disturbance model for the reaction wheel perturbations, the pointing performance and stability requirements are reformulated as bounds on the worst‐case
system gains. Subsequently, the active microvibration controller is tuned to manage the conflicting design goals and optimize different trade‐offs between robustness and performance. Finally, robust stability margins and worst‐case performance bounds with respect to various system uncertainties, time‐varying reaction wheel spin rates, actuator saturation, and time delays are obtained using the structured singular value, integral quadratic constraints, and time‐domain nonlinear simulations.
Event‐based dissipative analysis for discrete time‐delay singular stochastic systems
Authors: Zhang Yingqi , Shi Peng , Agarwal Ramesh K.
Published: October 2018

This paper is concerned with the event‐based dissipative filter analysis and design problems of discrete‐time singular stochastic network systems with Markovian jump parameters and time‐varying delay. A discrete error singular stochastic network model of network‐induced delay is initially constructed by utilizing the event‐triggered communication scheme. Based on stochastic analysis and free‐weighing matrix schemes, sufficient conditions are then established such that the resulting error time‐delay stochastic model is stochastically admissible and strictly stochastically dissipative. By applying slack matrix variables and filter transfer function equivalent method, an event‐triggered dissipative state estimated filter is designed to ensure stochastic admission and strictly stochastic dissipativity of the resulting singular stochastic model, provided if derived conditions satisfy sets of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed approaches is verified by a numerical example.
Design and monitoring of survival trials in complex scenarios
Authors: Luo Xiaodong , Mao Xuezhou , Chen Xun , Qiu Junshan , Bai Steven , Quan Hui
Published: October 2018

This paper proposes an approach to design and monitor survival trials accounting for complex scenarios such as delayed treatment effect, treatment dilution, and treatment crossover. These scenarios often lead to non‐proportional hazards, making study design and monitoring more difficult. We demonstrate that, with event times following piecewise exponential distributions, the log‐rank statistic as well as its variance‐covariance structure can be easily computed, which greatly simplifies study design and monitoring. As the number of pieces in the exponential distributions can be arbitrary, this approach can handle a wide range of scenarios. Three hypothetical examples are used to demonstrate its potential use.
A systematic literature review on the detection of smells and their evolution in object‐oriented and service‐oriented systems
Authors: Sabir Fatima , Palma Francis , Rasool Ghulam , Guéhéneuc Yann‐Gaël , Moha Naouel
Published: October 2018

This systematic literature review paper investigates the key techniques employed to identify smells in different paradigms of software engineering from object‐oriented (OO) to service‐oriented (SO). In this review, we want to identify commonalities and differences in the identification of smells in OO and SO systems. Our research method relies on an automatic search from the relevant digital libraries to find the studies published since January 2000 on smells until December 2017. We have conducted a pilot and author‐based search that allows us to select the 78 most relevant studies after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. We evaluated the studies based on the smell detection techniques and the evolution of different methodologies in OO and SO. Among the 78 relevant studies selected, we have identified six different studies in which linguistic source code analysis received less attention from the researchers as compared to the static source code analysis. Smells like the yo‐yo problem, unnamed coupling, intensive coupling, and interface bloat received considerably less attention in the literature. We also identified a catalog of 30 smells infrequently reported for SO systems and that require further attention. Moreover, a suite of 20 smells reported for SO systems can also be detected using static source code metrics in OO. Finally, our review highlighted three major research trends that are further subdivided into 20 research patterns initiating the detection of smells toward their correction.
Dispersive liquid‐liquid microextraction based on the solidification of floating organic droplets for preconcentration of amino acids in human plasma samples
Authors: Zare Fahimeh , Jannesar Ramin , Ghaedi Mehrorang , Tayebi Lobat
Published: October 2018

In this research, dispersive liquid‐liquid microextraction was established based on the solidification of floating organic droplets. This simple, fast, and eco‐friendly sample extraction method allows preconcentration and identification of amino acids in plasma samples through the use of high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. By application of central composite design, the main factors in the microextraction procedure were optimized. The optimal experimental parameters were: 330 μL of 1‐dodecanol as an extraction solvent, 340 μL of acetone as disperser solvent, 140 μL of methanol as diluent at 6.8 min of ultrasonic time, and finally cooling in an ice bath for 3 min. Under these optimal conditions, good responses for 19 amino acids were obtained in the concentration ranges of 0.5–400 μmol L−1, with coefficients of determination higher than 0.9993. Limits of detection were based on a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3, and ranged from 0.09 to 0.85 μmol L−1. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that this method was successfully applied to determine the amino acids in plasma samples. The relative recoveries of the 19 amino acids ranged from 81 to 103%, with relative standard deviations ranging from 1 to 4%.
A Subset of Paracrine Factors as Efficient Biomarkers for Predicting Vascular Regenerative Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells
Authors: Kim Hyun-Kyung , Lee Seul-Gi , Lee Seung-Woo , Oh Bae Jun , Kim Jae Hyeon , Kim Jeong A. , Lee Guisera , Jang Jae-Deog , Joe Young Ae
Published: October 2018

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have been developed as a promising source for cell-based therapies of ischemic disease. However, there are some hurdles in their clinical application such as poor cell engraftment and inconsistent stem cell potency. In this study, we sought to find biomarkers for predicting potency of MSCs for proangiogenic therapy to improve their beneficial effects. Large variations were observed in proangiogenic factor secretion profiles of conditioned media derived from nine different donor-derived Wharton's jelly (WJ)-derived MSCs and 8 factors among 55 angiogenesis-related factors were secreted at considerable levels. Two distinct WJ-MSCs that had the lowest or the highest secretion of these eight factors showed corresponding proangiogenic activities in in vitro angiogenesis assays. When four additional different donor-derived WJ-MSCs were further examined, proangiogenic activities in migration and tube formation of endothelial cells and in in vivo Matrigel plug assay were highly consistent with secretion levels of four major factors (angiogenin, interleukin-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor). Such correlation was also observed in vascular regenerative effect in a mouse hind limb ischemia model. Blocking of these four factors by neutralizing antibodies or knockdown of them by siRNA treatment resulted in significant inhibition of proangiogenic activities of not only WJ-MSCs, but also bone marrow-derived MSCs. These results suggest that these four factors may represent efficient biomarkers for predicting vascular regenerative efficacy of MSCs. Stem Cells  2019;37:77–88
The practical CT transient simulation model based on dynamic tests and its application
Authors: Qi Xuanwei , Ye Yutian , Wang Song , Lu Chengyu , Xuan Xiaohua , Wen Minghao
Published: October 2018

With the fast development of the modern power system, the current transformer (CT) saturation problem is most serious, causing the measuring error of primary current and the maloperation of protection. This article proposes a CT transient simulation model based on the Jiles–Atherton theory. The key coefficients of the CT model that define the basic magnetizing characteristics are identified based on the practical CT. The dynamic tests are carried out to analyze the saturation characteristics of different CT types, and to verify the accuracy of the CT simulation model. The CT simulation models are then utilized for analyzing two actual maloperation cases. The results prove that the proposed CT simulation model can provide an effective method for analyzing the CT saturation problem. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Delusions and Three Myths of Irrational Belief
Authors: Bortolotti Lisa
Published: October 2018

This chapter addresses the contribution that the delusion literature has made to the philosophy of belief. Three conclusions will be drawn: (1) a belief does not need to be epistemically rational to be used in the interpretation of behaviour; (2) a belief does not need to be epistemically rational to have significant psychological or epistemic benefits; (3) beliefs exhibiting the features of epistemic irrationality exemplified by delusions are not infrequent, and they are not an exception in a largely rational belief system. What we learn from the delusion literature is that there are complex relationships between rationality and interpretation, rationality and success, and rationality and knowledge.
Direct CP violation in Cabibbo-favored charmed meson decays and ϵ′/ϵ in SU(2)L × SU(2)R × U(1)B−L model
Authors: Haba Naoyuki , Umeeda Hiroyuki , Yamada Toshifumi
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Since the standard model contribution is virtually absent, any observation of direct CP violation in the Cabibbo-favored charmed meson decays would be evidence of new physics. In this paper, we conduct a quantitative study on direct CP violation in D
0 → K
−
π
+, D

s

+
 → ηπ
+ and D

s

+
 → η′π
+ decays in the SU(2)
L
×SU(2)
R
×U(1)
B−L
gauge extension of the standard model. In the model, direct CP violation arises mainly from the interference between the decay amplitude coming from the SM left-left current operators and that from the right-right current operators induced by W

R

+
gauge boson exchange. Interestingly, the strong phase between the two amplitudes is evaluable, since it stems from difference in QCD corrections to the left-left and right-right current operators, which is a short-distance QCD effect given by

$$ \sim \left({\alpha}_s\left({M}_{W_L}^2\right)/4\pi \right) \log \left({M}_{W_R}^2/{M}_{W_L}^2\right) $$

∼

α
s

M

W
L

2

/
4
π

log

M

W
R

2

/

M

W
L

2

. We assess the maximal direct CP violation in the above decays in the SU(2)
L
× SU(2)
R
× U(1)
B−L
model. Additionally, we present a correlation between direct CP violation in these modes and one in K → ππ decay parametrized by ϵ′, since W

R

+
gauge boson has a sizable impact on the latter.
The subleading eikonal in supergravity theories
Authors: Collado Arnau Koemans , Di Vecchia Paolo , Russo Rodolfo , Thomas Steven
Published: October 2018

Abstract

In this paper we study the subleading contributions to eikonal scattering in (super)gravity theories with particular emphasis on the role of both elastic and inelastic scattering processes. For concreteness we focus on the scattering of various massless particles off a stack of Dp-branes in type II supergravity in the limit of large impact parameter b. We analyse the relevant field theory Feynman diagrams which naturally give rise to both elastic and inelastic processes. We show that in the case analysed the leading and subleading eikonal only depend on elastic processes, while inelastic processes are captured by a pre-factor multiplying the exponentiated leading and subleading eikonal phase. In addition to the traditional Feynman diagram computations mentioned above, we also present a novel method for computing the amplitudes contributing to the leading and subleading eikonal phases, which, in the large b limit, only involves knowledge of the onshell three and four-point vertices. The two methods are shown to give the same results. Furthermore we derive these results in yet another way, by computing various one-point amplitudes which allow us to extract the classical solution of the gravitational back reaction of the target Dp-branes. Finally we show how our expressions for the leading and subleading eikonal agree with the calculation of the metric and corresponding deflection angle for massless states moving along geodesics in the relevant curved geometry.
Reduction of Risk Factors for Pedophilic Sexual Offending
Authors: Engel Jannis , Körner Mandy , Schuhmann Petya , Krüger Tillmann H.C. , Hartmann Uwe
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Exploratory analysis of characteristics and reduction of risk factors for child sexual abuse (CSA) in a sample treated in the Prevention Projects Dunkelfeld Hannover and Regensburg.

Aim

To evaluate a treatment program aimed at reducing dynamic risk factors (DRF) for CSA.

Methods

Using a psychometric test battery based on self-report questionnaires, intergroup analysis between treatment group (TG, n = 35), treatment refusers (TR, n = 51), and drop-out group (DO, n = 14) was conducted with pretreatment data. Intragroup analysis compared data of TG from pre- and posttreatment. The test battery included sociodemographic and sociosexual data, as well as questionnaires measuring DRF.

Main Outcome Measure

This study investigated effects of treatment on pedophilic men who are at risk for offending and observed reductions in important risk factors for CSA.

Results

TG, TR (consisting of persons who were offered but refused therapy), and DO did not differ regarding sociodemographic and sociosexual variables before therapy. There were no significant differences in education, relationship status, living solitarily, and being a father/stepfather. TR and DO lived farther away from treatment site than TG. In the TG, a reduction in offense-supportive attitudes, coping self-efficacy deficits, and child identification were revealed at second assessment. In TG no participants started the consumption of child abuse content during the course of the study.

Clinical Implications

Future treatment concepts should focus on the reduction of empirically relevant risk factors for child sexual offending.

Strength & Limitations

The present article is the first that compares TG to TR and DO before assessment regarding DRF and sociosexual variables. Moreover, it is only the second study that investigated treatment effects on a population of pedophilic men who are at risk for offending. These preliminary findings are limited by moderate group size and a missing control group.

Conclusion

A reduction in some but not all assessed risk factors for sexual offending against minors could be seen within the time frame of therapy. Findings are in line with results from a previous evaluation study.
FST materials help utilities distribute electricity safely and effectively
Authors: Atkinson Simon
Published: October 2018

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) is developing and supplying materials that are helping power utilities distribute electricity safely and effectively. As this technology focus shows, the company is developing seals for climate-friendly switching stations, whilst Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies – which runs business operations for FST in the Americas – recently played a key role in restoring power to storm-ravaged communities in the USA and Caribbean.
Art and technology: archiving video games for humanities research in university libraries
Authors: Wood Kelli , Carter David S.
Published: October 2018

Over the past half-century video games have become a significant part of our cultural environment, in part, by leading advances in both technology and artistic innovation. In recent years librarians and researchers have recognized these games as cultural objects that require collection and curation. Developing and maintaining collections of this fast moving and somewhat ephemeral media, however, poses challenges due to constantly advancing technology and a corresponding lack of consistent terminology. This article addresses the literature and critical issues surrounding collections of video games within libraries and presents a case study of the University of Michigan’s Computer and Video Game Archive (CVGA), one of the largest academic archives of its kind. Moreover, video games are situated in a humanistic approach to the field of game studies as the article draws on the relevance of methods from art history and film studies.
Public Agendas and Policy Agendas in Three Western European Countries: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Authors: Pritoni Andrea
Published: October 2018

In any democratic system, the question of whether governments pay attention to citizens’ needs and requests represents a crucial component of democratic quality. But what conditions favour this fundamental democratic process? This article compares policy priorities identified by public opinion with the actual legislative production in Italy, Spain and the UK from 2003 to 2012. The article’s methodology is a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) in which causal conditions are represented by politico-institutional and contextual factors, while the outcome consists of the degree of overlap between public opinion priorities and legislation. Empirical analysis shows that there are four paths leading to a correspondence in priorities: first, it is linked to the combination of high government decision-making capacity and declining citizens’ trust in government; second, it is also linked to the combination of rising citizens’ trust and low government decision-making capacity. Third and fourth, priorities also correspond where there is a simultaneous absence of both trust and elections, and in the absence of both decision-making capacity and elections, respectively.
Diet and Chronology of Neolithic-Eneolithic Cultures (from 6500 to 4700 cal BC) in the Lower Volga Basin
Authors: Vybornov A , Kulkova M , Kosintsev P , Platonov V , Platonova S , Philippsen B , Nesterova L
Published: October 2018

During the last several years, new multi- and single-layered archaeological sites, in which the most ancient Neolithic pottery in the Eastern Europe had been found, were excavated in the region of Lower Volga. Animal bones and organic materials were sampled from these sites for radiocarbon (14C) dating and diet investigations. The evidence from these studies suggests that the first domestic animals in the Lower Volga region appeared in the Cis-Caspian culture of the Early Eneolithic. Lipid analysis of food crusts from pottery allowed the cooked food to be characterized. The detailed chronology from Neolithic (6500–5400 cal BC) to Eneolithic (5300–4700 cal BC) cultures, as well as the diet of these ancient people, were reconstructed.
Ossicular chain mobilisation versus reconstruction in surgery for isolated malleus and/or incus fixation: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Crutcher W L , Tassone P , Pelosi S
Published: October 2018

Objective

To compare post-operative audiometric outcomes for the two prevailing surgical approaches for isolated malleus and/or incus fixation: ossicular mobilisation with preservation of the ossicular chain, and disruption and reconstruction of the ossicular chain.

Methods

A search was conducted, in December 2016, of PubMed, Scopus, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature articles written in English. Papers presenting original data regarding post-operative audiometric outcomes in patients who underwent surgical treatment for malleus and/or incus fixation with a mobile and intact stapes were included. A risk of bias assessment was performed on the 14 selected papers and a tier system was developed. Meta-analysis was accomplished by comparing pooled rates of surgical success by chi-square test and calculating odds ratios by logistical regression. Analysis was performed using Revman5 and R software.

Results and conclusion

Analysis of the literature revealed no differences in audiometric outcomes between ossicular chain mobilisation and ossicular chain reconstruction in patients with isolated malleus and/or incus fixation. A large, prospective study comparing both short- and long-term hearing results for ossicular chain mobilisation and ossicular chain reconstruction in this population may identify whether a difference in outcomes exists between the two approaches.
Wound healing after tonsillectomy – a review of the literature
Authors: Davidoss N H , Eikelboom R , Friedland P L , Santa Maria P L
Published: October 2018

Objective

To summarise the available literature related to wound healing post tonsillectomy, including the stages of healing, experimental models for assessing healing (in animals and humans) and the various factors that affect wound healing.

Methods

A search of the English literature was conducted using the Ovid Medline database, with the search terms ‘tonsillectomy’ or ‘tonsil’ and ‘wound healing’. Thirty-one articles that objectively assessed tonsillectomy wound healing were included for analysis.

Results

The majority of assessments in humans investigating tonsillectomy wound healing involve serial direct clinical examinations of the oral cavity. Many patient and surgical factors have been shown to affect wound healing after tonsillectomy. There is some research to suggest that the administration of adjunctive treatment in the post-operative period may be beneficial to tonsillectomy wound healing.

Conclusion

Wound healing post tonsillectomy has been poorly researched. Having a better understanding of the process of wound healing would allow surgeons to potentially prevent, anticipate and manage complications from the surgery that arise as part of the healing process.
Reviewing indications for panendoscopy in the investigation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Noor A , Stepan L , Kao S S-T , Dharmawardana N , Ooi E H , Hodge J-C , Krishnan S , Foreman A
Published: October 2018

Background

The role of panendoscopy in the modern investigation of head and neck cancer is changing with the development of improved radiological techniques, in-office biopsy capabilities and the low rate of synchronous primary tumours. This study aimed to review the indications for panendoscopy in the investigation of newly diagnosed head and neck cancer.

Method

A retrospective review was conducted of 186 patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer, between January 2014 and December 2015, at two tertiary centres.

Results

Obtaining a tissue diagnosis was the most common indication for panendoscopy (65 per cent), followed by surgical planning including transoral robotic surgery suitability assessment (22.6 per cent), and the investigation of carcinoma of an unknown primary (11.3 per cent). Two synchronous primary tumours were identified, generating a yield of 1.1 per cent.

Conclusion

Panendoscopy remains integral in the assessment of transoral robotic surgery suitability. Refining indications for modern panendoscopy could reduce the need for this procedure in this cohort of patients.
Design opportunity conception using the total technology space map
Authors: Luo Jianxi , Song Binyang , Blessing Lucienne , Wood Kristin
Published: October 2018

Traditionally, design opportunities and directions are conceived based on expertise, intuition, or time-consuming user studies and marketing research at the fuzzy front end of the design process. Herein, we propose the use of the total technology space map (TSM) as a visual ideation aid for rapidly conceiving high-level design opportunities. The map is comprised of various technology domains positioned according to knowledge proximity, which is measured based on a large quantity of patent data. It provides a systematic picture of the total technology space to enable stimulated ideation beyond the designer's knowledge. Designers can browse the map and navigate various technologies to conceive new design opportunities that relate different technologies across the space. We demonstrate the process of using TSM as a rapid ideation aid and then analyze its applications in two experiments to show its effectiveness and limitations. Furthermore, we have developed a cloud-based system for computer-aided ideation, that is, InnoGPS, to integrate interactive map browsing for conceiving high-level design opportunities with domain-specific patent retrieval for stimulating concrete technical concepts, and to potentially embed machine-learning and artificial intelligence in the map-aided ideation process.
Sunbelt Capitalism, Civil Rights, and the Development of Carceral Policy in North Carolina, 1954–1970
Authors: Taylor Kirstine
Published: October 2018

This article investigates an important yet poorly understood aspect of the origins of the U.S. carceral state. Many explanations attribute the rise of mass incarceration to the conservative tide in American politics beginning in the late 1960s: “tough on crime” policies advanced by southern Democrats and Republicans, white backlash against black civil rights, and the law-and-order politics of Nixon's “Southern Strategy.” But in focusing on conservatives, prevailing theories have ignored how the changing economic and political landscape of the post-WWII South shaped how policymakers thought about crime. This article examines how key elements of the carceral state emerged in the rapidly growing, metropolitan, and business-minded Sunbelt South between 1954 and 1970, using North Carolina as a test case. Drawing on a variety of archival sources, it unearths how moderate southern politicians with material links to extra-regional sources of capital, political links to northern liberal elites, and ideological links to postwar liberalism pioneered state-level carceral policy. It argues that the swift development of crime policy in midcentury North Carolina was the product of how the state's moderate elites chose to govern the emerging Sunbelt economy in the wake ofBrown v. Board of Educationand the civil rights movement. The problems of rampant civil disorder, racial extremism, and lawlessness, they argued, threatened the economic progress of North Carolina and required the implementation of strong yet race-neutral crime policy. This study offers an analysis of how the Sunbelt South, in shedding Jim Crow and entering the national political and economic mainstream, came to help spearhead the carceral turn in American politics.
Effect of aquaporin 3 knockdown by RNA interference on antrum formation in sheep secondary follicles cultured in vitro
Authors: Paz Marcela Pinheiro , de Sousa Francisca Geovania Canafístula , Alves Benner Geraldo , Lobo Carlos Henrique , Sales Antonia Débora , Tavares Kaio Cesar Simiano , de Sá Naíza Arcângela Ribeiro , Guerreiro Denise Damasceno , Maside Carolina , Rocha Rebeca Magalhães Pedrosa , Bertolini Luciana Relly , Bordignon Vilceu , de Figueiredo José Ricardo , Rodrigues Ana Paula Ribeiro
Published: October 2018

The objectives were to develop an effective protocol for transfection of ovine secondary follicles and to assess the effect of attenuating aquaporin 3 (AQP3) using a small interfering RNA (siRNA-AQP3) on antrum formation and follicular growth in vitro. Various combinations of Lipofectamine® volumes (0.5, 0.75 or 1.0 µl), fluorescent oligonucleotide (BLOCK-iT ™) concentrations (3.18, 27.12 or 36.16 nM) and exposure times (12, 14, 16, 18 or 20 h) were tested. The BLOCK-iT™ was replaced by siRNA-AQP3 in the transfection complex. Ovine secondary follicles were isolated and cultured in vitro for 6 days using standard protocols. Follicles were transfected on day 0 or 3 or on both days (0 and 3) and then cultured for an additional 3 or 6 days. As revealed by the fluorescence signal, the Lipofectamine®/BLOCK-iT™ complex (0.75 µl + 27.12 nM by 12 h of incubation) crossed the basement membrane and granulosa cell and reached the oocytes. In general, the rate of intact follicles was higher and the rate of antrum formation was lower in transfected follicles compared with control follicles. In conclusion, ovine secondary follicles can be successfully transfected during in vitro culture, and siRNA-mediated attenuation of AQP3 gene reduced antrum formation of secondary follicles.
Propensity in low-grade oocytes for delayed germinal vesicle breakdown compromises the developmental ability of sub-optimal grade Bubalus bubalis oocytes
Authors: Kumar Manish , Faraji Mona , Sarwalia Parul , Kumar Sandeep , Gohain Moloya , De Sachinandan , Kumar Rakesh , Datta T K
Published: October 2018

Maturing oocytes have diverse developmental potential and good quality oocytes exhibit a better ability to attain physiological milestones in a time-dependent manner. This situation necessitates the confirmation of oocyte developmental status more precisely under an in vitro embryo production (IVEP) regime. The aim of this study was to explain timely events in germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), an important milestone of oocyte nuclear maturation, to delineate the developmental capacity of Bubalus bubalis oocytes. In addition, the expression profile of genes responsible for GVBD was assessed in order to understand the molecular context responsible for GVBD. The chronology of GVBD events at different time intervals during in vitro maturation (IVM) suggests that the rate at which oocytes undergo GVBD was strikingly different in the brilliant cresyl blue (BCB)+ and BCB− groups. The expression of AKT and CDC25B genes for BCB+ oocytes was maximum at 8 h of IVM, and CCNB (cyclin B) peaked at around 10 h, which suggested that GVBD was finished after 10 h in BCB+ oocytes, whereas the expression of AKT and CDC25B was found to peak at around 12–14 h of IVM. This difference consequently delays the GVBD event by 2–4 h in BCB− oocytes. Poor abundance of gene transcripts was mainly implicated in delay and lower rate of GVBD in BCB− oocytes which in turn strongly affected the translational ability of oocytes to blastocysts. The findings of this study support the idea that there is a propensity in sub-optimal grade oocytes for delayed GVBD that compromises the developmental ability of low grade buffalo oocytes. The study highlights the very small, but importantly vital and separate, time window of the GVBD event during which the competence levels of buffalo oocytes are altered along with their translational ability to develop into the prospective embryos.
Development and implementation of an advance care planning program in Catalonia, Spain
Authors: Lasmarías Cristina , Aradilla-Herrero Amor , Santaeugènia Sebastià , Blay Carles , Delgado Sara , Ela Sara , Terribas Núria , Gómez-Batiste Xavier
Published: October 2018

Objective

Implementation of an advance care planning (ACP) program for people with advanced chronic conditions is a complex process. The aims of this paper are to describe (1) the development of the ACP program in Catalonia, Spain, for patients with advanced chronic conditions and complex needs and (2) the preliminary results of the implementation of this program in health and social services.

Method

The ACP program was developed and implemented in a four-stage process as follows: (1) design and organization of the project; (2) selection of the professionals to carry out the project; (3) creation of four working groups to develop the conceptual model, guidelines, training program, and perform a qualitative evaluation; and (4) project implementation.

Result

The following deliverables were completed: (1) conceptual framework document; (2) practical guidelines for the application of the ACP; (3) online training course (3,763 healthcare professionals completed the online course, with an overall satisfaction rating of 8.4 on a 10-point scale); and (4) additional training activities (conferences, short courses, and seminars) in between 2015 and 2017.

Significance of results

This project was led by the Catalan Ministry of Health. The strengths of the project development include the contribution of a wide range of professionals from the entire region, approval by the Catalan Bioethics Committee and the Social Services Ethics Committee, and the ongoing validation by members of the community. A standardized online training course was offered to all primary care professionals and included as a quality indicator for continuing education for those professionals in the period 2016–2020. The main outcome of this project is the establishment of a pragmatic ACP throughout the region and training of the health and social care professionals involved in the care of advanced chronic patients.
Möglichkeiten online-basierter Diagnostik von Arbeitsgedächtnis und Exekutiven Funktionen bei Kindern mit Lernstörungen
Authors: Mähler Claudia , von Goldammer Ariane , Schuchardt Kirsten
Published: October 2018

Zusammenfassung. Die Forschung zu möglichen Ursachen für Lernstörungen kann anhand zahlreicher empirischer Arbeiten belegen, dass Lernstörungen mit weiteren Beeinträchtigungen kognitiver Funktionen einhergehen. Hier wurden in jüngerer Zeit insbesondere das Arbeitsgedächtnis (AG) und die exekutiven Funktionen (EF) in den Blick genommen. Kinder mit verschiedenen Lernstörungen zeigen spezifische Defizite in einzelnen Teilbereichen dieser Systeme. Der vorliegende Beitrag geht der Frage nach, ob und in welcher Weise AG und EF online-basiert erfasst werden können. Geeignete Aufgaben werden vorgestellt und sowohl Möglichkeiten als auch Grenzen der technischen Umsetzung als Online-Diagnostikum diskutiert. Eine reliable und valide Diagnostik entsprechender Defizite liefert wichtige Hinweise für eine effektive Förderung von Kindern mit Lernstörungen, bei der Strategien zur Entlastung der begrenzten Ressourcen bzw. zur Kompensation vorhandener Funktionseinschränkungen vermittelt werden sollten.
Online-gestützte Diagnostik emotionaler Belastungen bei Lernstörungen
Authors: Leiders Britta Pauline , Schwenck Christina
Published: October 2018

Zusammenfassung. Lernstörungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter treten gehäuft mit emotionaler Belastung auf. Es ist wichtig, diese zu erfassen, um ggf. zusätzliche Maßnahmen einleiten und Prioritäten in der Behandlung setzen zu können. Online-gestützte Verfahren können einen ersten Anhaltspunkt für die Notwendigkeit weiterer Diagnostik sein. Es werden Screeningverfahren, Belastungs-spezifische Verfahren und Konstrukt-verwandte Verfahren vorgestellt, die sich gründsätzlich für eine online-gestützte Diagnostik eignen.
Nations Work Together to Size Up Caribbean Tsunami Hazards
Authors: L�pez-Venegas A. , Chac�n-Barrantes S. , Zamora N. , Mac�as J.
Published: October 2018

An international collaboration is using historical records and modeling to assess tsunami potential in this high-risk region.
Mantle Source and Magmatic Evolution of the Dying Spreading Ridge in the South China Sea
Authors: Zhang Guo‐Liang , Sun Wei‐Dong , Seward Gareth
Published: October 2018

The genesis of seamount chains along fossil spreading ridges reflects the mantle melting dynamics of dying spreading center. The South China Sea developed a seamount chain along its fossil ridge shortly after cessation of spreading. International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 349 has recovered three volcanic layers, a shallow volcanic breccia layer and two deeper (upper and lower sections) basalt layers, at Site U1431 near the fossil ridge of the South China Sea. Despite the mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB)‐like geochemistry of the lower and upper section basalts, they show distinct geochemical differences that indicate a change of mantle source and a transition from spreading to intraplate volcanism. While the lower section basalts could reflect the last stage volcanism before the cessation of ridge spreading, the upper section basalts with whole‐rock MgO up to ~20 wt.% were formed by intraplate volcanism with significant olivine accumulation once the spreading center had become inactive. The MORB type basalts at Site U1431 have Hawaii‐like high olivine Ni and Fe/Mn and low olivine Ca and Mn and bulk‐rock low CaO that are distinctly different from normal global MORBs, suggesting an anomalous mantle source in lithology. We suggest that an eclogite‐/pyroxenite‐rich component, possibly sourced from the Hainan hot spot, played a fundamental role in the transition from spreading to intraplate volcanism of the dying spreading ridge of the South China Sea.