bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and sensitivity analysis for economical operation of active distribution network
Authors: Ma Liye , Zhu Tao , Gao Huifang , Lu Zhigang , Qi Jintao
Published: January 2018

With the connection of a large number of distributed energy resources to the power grid, the problem of economical operation of an active distribution network (ADN) has restricted its application. According to the economics of ADN operation, an innovative evaluation index system is proposed and a cloud model is established for evaluating the economical operation of an ADN. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is carried out on the value and weight of the index value. First, the ADN accommodation profit rate, ADN loss contribution rate, etc. are defined. In addition, an evaluation index system is established for the economical operation of ADNs. Index weight cloud model, evaluation grade boundary cloud model, correlation evaluation matrix cloud model, and final evaluation results cloud model are proposed based on the three numeric characteristics of the cloud model, namely expectation value (Ex), entropy (En), and hyper entropy (He). Our evaluation results are close to the actual ones considering uncertainty. Besides, a method for analyzing the the index value and index weight is proposed, which provides a basis for improving the economical operation of ADNs. Finally, simulation results demonstrate the rationale and validity of the index system and the evaluation method of the cloud model, as well as the practicability of sensitive analysis. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Choice at the end of life?
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: January 2018

A considerable majority of the public want assisted dying to sit alongside other end‐of‐life choices.
Sequencing treatment for metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Merrick Sophie , Germanou Styliani , Kirby Roger , Chowdhury Simon
Published: January 2018

In the past 10 years there have been significant advances in the understanding and treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. These include the earlier use of docetaxel chemotherapy, and the use of abiraterone, enzalutamide, radium‐223 and cabazitaxel.1–6 This has led to significant improvements in survival, but has increased the choice and complexity of treatment. In this article, the authors review these advances and look at the sequencing of agents.
Urine sample collection: issues and a solution
Authors: Chinegwundoh Frank
Published: January 2018

Urine is probably the most common specimen collected for analysis every day. To the clinician, it can represent liquid gold, providing valuable evidence of myriad conditions across urology, antenatal health, STIs, diabetes and increasingly certain cancers. Despite its importance there is no standard for urine collection. In this article the author discusses the problem of inadequate samples and describes a collection system that can help.
The risks of cancer after bladder replacement or diversion
Authors: Woodhouse Christopher
Published: January 2018

Cancer following bladder replacement or diversion is a significant issue and can undo even the very best surgical reconstructions. In this article the author describes which procedures carry the highest risk, and what efforts can be made to reduce the risk and catch cancers at an early stage if they do occur.
The Arms of British Urology
Authors: Goddard Jonathan Charles
Published: January 2018

2020 sees the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) and the centenary of the Urology Section of the Royal Society of Medicine. In a build‐up to this celebratory year for British Urology, Trends will be looking at aspects of these two institutions which have supported urologists throughout that time. In this article the author describes the origins and perhaps unnoticed elements of the BAUS arms.
Optimal non‐invasive diagnosis of fetal achondroplasia combining ultrasonography with circulating cell‐free fetal DNA analysis
Authors: Vivanti A. J. , Costa J.‐M. , Rosefort A. , Kleinfinger P. , Lohmann L. , Cordier A.‐G. , Benachi A.
Published: January 2018

Objectives

To assess the performance of non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for achondroplasia using high‐resolution melting (HRM) analysis, and to propose an optimal diagnostic strategy combining ultrasound examination and cell‐free fetal DNA (cffDNA) analysis.

Methods

In this prospective multicenter study, cffDNA was extracted from blood of pregnant women at risk for fetal achondroplasia (owing to paternal achondroplasia, previous affected child or suspected rhizomelic shortening) and of pregnant low‐risk controls. The presence of either one of the two main fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene (FGFR3) mutations was determined using HRM combined with confirmation by SNaPshot minisequencing. Results were compared with phenotypes obtained using three‐dimensional computed tomography or postnatal examination, and/or molecular diagnosis by an invasive procedure. Fetal biometry (head circumference and femur length) was analyzed in order to develop a strategy in which cffDNA analysis for diagnosis of
achondroplasia is offered only in selected cases.

Results

Eighty‐six blood samples from women at risk for fetal achondroplasia and 65 from controls were collected. The overall sensitivity and specificity of NIPT were 1.00 (95% CI, 0.87–1.00) and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.96–1.00), respectively. Critical reduction in femur length of affected fetuses could be observed from 26 weeks' gestation.

Conclusions

HRM combined with SNaPshot minisequencing is a reliable method for NIPT for achondroplasia. Its implementation in routine clinical care combined with ultrasonography is an efficient strategy for the non‐invasive diagnosis of achondroplasia. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
From Initial Description by Wermer to Present‐Day MEN1: What have We Learned?
Authors: Perrier Nancy D.
Published: January 2018

Introduction

Pancreas, parathyroid, and pituitary, are referred to as the “3 Ps” of MEN1. The time has come to move beyond those Ps and begin to discuss (1) prediction, (2) pausing progression, and (3) prevention of MEN1.

Methods

In preparation for the International Association of Endocrine Surgeons State of the Art address, updates and uncertainties of MEN were reviewed. This included a detailed examination of the MEN1 gene and the library of implicated mutations, exon sequencing databases and cell cycle pathways. Therapeutic options including radiofrequency ablation, systemic therapy, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitor mechanisms and preimplantation genetic testing were described.

Results

Several key points included mutations in exon 2 are suspected of being associated with a higher rate of distant metastases, a higher rate of PNET development, and more aggressive disease. The suggestion that missense mutations involving loss of interaction with CHES1 (associated with DNA repair) correlates with more aggressive disease and is more closely associated with death related to PNET than to death from other causes was mentioned. For advanced NETs, optimism for agents under study include lanreotide, a long‐acting somatostatin analog, and everolimus (Afinitor), a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor. The NETest shows the potential value of being a multidimensional tumor marker for response to therapy. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is applicable.

Conclusion

Adjunct modalities and determination of the effect of therapy for MEN1 is needed. Prediction through early detection of aggressive disease is an idea worth spreading. We are called us to engage with our patients about prevention, the only true cure.
Predicting time to recall in patients conditionally released from a secure forensic hospital: A survival analysis
Authors: Jewell Amelia , Cocks Christopher , Cullen Alexis E. , Fahy Tom , Dean Kimberlie
Published: January 2018

Background

The recall of conditionally discharged forensic patients in England is a formal order from the Ministry of Justice under the Mental Health Act (1983) which has the power to revoke conditional release and direct readmission to hospital. Recall has significant implications for the individual and for hospital services, but despite this, little is known about predictors of recall for forensic patients.

Methods

We examined the rate of recall for 101 patients conditionally discharged from medium secure forensic inpatient services between 2007 and 2013. Demographic, clinical, and forensic factors were examined as possible predictors of time to recall using Cox regression survival techniques.

Results

Conditionally discharged patients were followed for an average of 811 days, during which 45 (44.5%) were recalled to hospital. Younger age (HR 1.89; 95% CI 1.02–3.49; p = 0.04), non-white ethnicity (HR 3.44; 95% CI 1.45–8.13), substance abuse history (HR 2.52; 95% CI 1.17–5.43), early violence (HR 1.90; 95% CI 1.03–3.50), early childhood maladjustment (HR 1.92; 95% CI 1.01–3.68), treatment with a depot medication (HR 2.17; 95% CI 1.14–4.11), being known to mental health services (HR 3.44; 95% CI 1.06–11.16), and a psychiatric admission prior to the index admission (HR 2.44; 95% CI 1.08–5.52) were significantly associated with a shorter time to recall. Treatment with clozapine reduced the risk of recall to hospital (HR 0.40; 95% CI 0.20–0.79).

Conclusions

Time to recall can be predicted by a range of factors that are readily available to clinical teams. Further research is required to determine if targeted interventions can modify the likelihood or time to recall for conditionally released forensic patients.
Shakespeare: A Dove, a Hawk, or Simply a Humanist?
Authors: Meron Theodor
Published: January 2018

For readers whose first introduction to Shakespeare was through the widely seen filmHenry Vby Laurence Olivier, it is not surprising that Shakespeare was regarded as a patriotic, nationalistic and militaristic, rather pro-war playwright. Olivier'sHenry V, as Ton Hoenselaars points out in his “Out-Ranting the Enemy Leader”:Henry Vand/as World War II Propaganda, was entrenched in the British propaganda effort even before the thought of the film version of the war epic had occurred. Indeed, the film resulted from an invitation to produce it for the Churchill government. According to William Shaw, Olivier's film produced uplifting, patriotic propaganda for a war-weary England. It was the first Shakespeare play produced in Technicolor.
Engaging emergency clinicians in emergency department clinical research
Authors: McRae Andrew D. , Perry Jeffrey J. , Brehaut Jamie , Brown Erica , Curran Janet , Emond Marcel , Hohl Corinne , Taljaard Monica , Stiell Ian G.
Published: January 2018

Objective

The objective of this panel was to generate recommendations to promote the engagement of front-line emergency department (ED) clinicians in clinical and implementation research.

Methods

Panel members conducted semi-structured interviews with 37 Canadian adult and pediatric emergency medicine researchers to elicit barriers and facilitators to clinician engagement in research activities, and to glean strategies for promoting clinician engagement.

Results

Responses were organized by themes, and, based on these responses, recommendations were developed and refined in an iterative fashion by panel members.

Conclusions

We offer eight recommendations to promote front-line clinician engagement in clinical research activities. Recommendations to promote clinician engagement specifically address the creation of a research-friendly culture in the ED, minimizing the burden of data collection on clinical staff through the careful design of data collection tools and the use of research staff, and communication between researchers and clinical staff to promote adherence to study protocols.
Canadian Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs: Current Resources and Implementation Characteristics
Authors: Wong Jacqueline , Timberlake Kathryn , Boodhan Sabrina , Barton Michelle , Fanella Sergio , Read Stanley , Science Michelle ,   the members of the Groupe Antibiothérapie en Pédiatrie Canada Alliance for Stewardship of Antimicrobials in Pediatrics
Published: January 2018

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) became an accreditation requirement for Canadian hospitals in 2013. Pediatric programs are in various stages of program development and implementation, with 93% of surveyed Canadian academic pediatric hospitals having established ASPs. The programs varied in their team composition, implementation of stewardship strategies, and measured metrics.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:350–354
Wiping Is Inferior to Rubbing: A Note of Caution for Hand Hygiene With Alcohol-Based Solutions
Authors: Ory Jérôme , Zingg Walter , de Kraker Marlieke E. A. , Soule Hervé , Pittet Didier
Published: January 2018

We evaluated whether hand wiping is noninferior to hand rubbing in reducing the bacterial concentration on hands. In 20 healthy volunteers, hand wiping with or without an alcohol-based solution was inferior to hand rubbing with an alcohol-based solution. This finding warrants a note of caution for the application of wipes in health care.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:332–335
Guidance on Frequency and Location of Environmental Sampling for Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Sbarra Alyssa N. , Harris Anthony D. , Johnson J. Kristie , Madger Laurence S. , O’Hara Lyndsay M. , Jackson Sarah S. , Thom Kerri A.
Published: January 2018

We assessed various locations and frequency of environmental sampling to maximize information and maintain efficiency when sampling for Acinetobacter baumannii. Although sampling sites in closer proximity to the patient were more likely positive, to fully capture environmental contamination, we found value in sampling all sites and across multiple days.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:339–342
WEAK SQUARES AND VERY GOOD SCALES
Authors: LEVINE MAXWELL
Published: January 2018

We assume the existence of a supercompact cardinal and produce a model with weak square but no very good scale at a particular cardinal. This follows work of Cummings, Foreman, and Magidor, but uses a different approach. We produce another model, starting from countably many supercompact cardinals, where □K,<Kholds but □K,λfails forλ<K.
Femminicidioand the emergence of a ‘community of sense’ in contemporary Italy
Authors: Parmigiani Giovanna
Published: January 2018

In this article, I offer a reading of the ‘creation’ offemminicidioand of its role in the emergence of a new women’s question in Italy. I concentrate on three central steps in the legitimation of the word and the worldsfemminicidio: Unione delle Donne Italiane (UDI)’s political use of the term in 2006, UDI’sStaffettain 2008/2009, and the birth of the movementSe Non Ora Quandoin 2011. By following Rancière’s understanding of politics as a ‘reconfiguration of the sensible’, I argue that the emergence offemminicidiofostered the emergence of a ‘community of sense’ of women as a new political subject. This community did not gather mainly aroundideasof who a woman is or should be, nor did it arise from a common acknowledgement of the nature of ‘violence’. Rather, it was structured around sharedfeelingsandaffects,triggered by women’s sense of being actual or potential objects of violence.
ON SOME PROPERTIES OF QUASI-DISTANCE-BALANCED GRAPHS
Authors: HUJDUROVIĆ ADEMIR
Published: January 2018

For an edge$uv$in a graph$G$,$W_{u,v}^{G}$denotes the set of all vertices of$G$that are closer to$u$than to$v$. A graph$G$is said to bequasi-distance-balancedif there exists a constant$\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}>1$such that$|W_{u,v}^{G}|=\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}^{\pm 1}|W_{v,u}^{G}|$for every pair of adjacent vertices$u$and$v$. The existence of nonbipartite quasi-distance-balanced graphs is an open problem. In this paper we investigate the possible structure of cycles in quasi-distance-balanced graphs and generalise the previously known result that every quasi-distance-balanced graph is triangle-free. We also prove that a connected quasi-distance-balanced graph admitting a bridge is isomorphic to a star. Several open problems are posed.
Squabbling Sisters: Multinational Companies and Middle East Oil Prices
Authors: Madureira Nuno Luís
Published: January 2018

This article examines the historical emergence of the Middle East oil-pricing system. The collapse of the Gulf-plus system, combined with outstanding discoveries of new reservoirs across the Arabian Peninsula and Persia, awoke latent competitive forces within the oligopolistic oil industry. After World War II, business differences regarding vertical integration, market priorities, and global competition worsened existing fractures among the multinational oil companies generally referred to as “the seven sisters.” The conclusions underscore the role of the “fringe” companies Texaco, Standard of California–Chevron, and Gulf Oil in prompting new price equilibriums for Persian Gulf crude oil.
History of intranasal splints
Authors: Lau J , Elhassan H A , Singh N
Published: January 2018

Objective:

Intranasal splints have long been utilised as a post-operative adjunct in septoplasty, intended to reduce the risk of adhesions and haematoma formation, and to maintain alignment during healing.

Methods:

A Medline literature review of the history and evolution of intranasal splint materials and designs was performed. Advantages and disadvantages of various splints are discussed.

Results:

Intranasal splints fashioned from X-ray film were first reported in 1955. Since then, a variety of materials have been utilised, including polyethylene coffee cup lids, samarium cobalt magnets and dental utility wax. Most contemporary splints are produced from silicon rubber or polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon). Designs have varied in thickness, flexibility, shape, absorption and the inclusion of built-in airway tubes. Future directions in splint materials and designs are discussed.

Conclusion:

Intranasal splints have steadily evolved since 1955, with numerous novel innovations. Despite their simplicity, they play an important role in nasal surgery and will continue to evolve over time.
Changes in cannabis potency and first-time admissions to drug treatment: a 16-year study in the Netherlands
Authors: Freeman Tom P. , van der Pol Peggy , Kuijpers Wil , Wisselink Jeroen , Das Ravi K. , Rigter Sander , van Laar Margriet , Griffiths Paul , Swift Wendy , Niesink Raymond , Lynskey Michael T.
Published: January 2018

Background

The number of people entering specialist drug treatment for cannabis problems has increased considerably in recent years. The reasons for this are unclear, but rising cannabis potency could be a contributing factor.

Methods

Cannabis potency data were obtained from an ongoing monitoring programme in the Netherlands. We analysed concentrations of δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the most popular variety of domestic herbal cannabis sold in each retail outlet (2000–2015). Mixed effects linear regression models examined time-dependent associations between THC and first-time cannabis admissions to specialist drug treatment. Candidate time lags were 0–10 years, based on normative European drug treatment data.

Results

THC increased from a mean (95% CI) of 8.62 (7.97–9.27) to 20.38 (19.09–21.67) from 2000 to 2004 and then decreased to 15.31 (14.24–16.38) in 2015. First-time cannabis admissions (per 100 000 inhabitants) rose from 7.08 to 26.36 from 2000 to 2010, and then decreased to 19.82 in 2015. THC was positively associated with treatment entry at lags of 0–9 years, with the strongest association at 5 years, b = 0.370 (0.317–0.424), p < 0.0001. After adjusting for age, sex and non-cannabis drug treatment admissions, these positive associations were attenuated but remained statistically significant at lags of 5–7 years and were again strongest at 5 years, b = 0.082 (0.052–0.111), p < 0.0001.

Conclusions

In this 16-year observational study, we found positive time-dependent associations between changes in cannabis potency and first-time cannabis admissions to drug treatment. These associations are biologically plausible, but their strength after adjustment suggests that other factors are also important.
Three-dimensional nonlinear force-sensing method based on double microgrippers with E-type vertical elastomer for minimally invasive robotic surgery
Authors: Yu Lingtao , Yan Yusheng , Li Chenzheng , Zhang Xiufeng
Published: January 2018

This paper presents a new type of forceps that consist of two microgrippers with the capability of direct force sensing, which enables grasping and manipulating forces at the tip of surgical instrument for minimally invasive robotic surgery. For the prototype design of the forceps, a double E-type vertical elastomer with four strain beams is presented, whose force-sensing principle is expounded. Thus, the forceps with the elastomer can be considered a compliant component, which provides tiny displacements that allow large strain, and the overall diameter is 10 mm. The sizes of the elastomer and forceps are successively determined by analyzing the relationship of several parameters and strain. Then, the linearity analysis of strain beams determines the positions to apply gauges for sensing. The two-dimensional force decoupling models for a single microgripper are proposed based on piecewise analytical polynomials of the strain difference and employed to develop a new three-dimensional force nonlinear decoupling algorithm based on double microgrippers, which realizes single-axial grasping and three-axial pulling forces. Finally, the required force-sensing performance of the proposed method is successfully verified in theory using finite-element simulations.
From Brexit to Bregret
Authors: Lalić-Krstin Gordana , Silaški Nadežda
Published: January 2018

The UK's June 2016 decision to withdraw from the European Union, popularly referred to as Brexit, has had a major political, financial and economic impact worldwide. However, the impact was also linguistic as this event has generated a myriad of neologisms in English, such as breferendum, brexiteer, Brexitsphere, regrexit or Brexitology. The aim of the present study is to give a general overview of these new words, to establish the predominant word-formational patterns as well as to point out the creativity and speed with which speakers of English have reacted linguistically to this change in the socio-political context.
Ten years after the stroke: Me talk slightly less funny
Authors: Schwyter Jürg R.
Published: January 2018

It is now ten years since I suffered a stroke. I continue to improve, albeit much more slowly than in the first one or two years. Readers of English Today may remember (Schwyter, 2011) that I was head of the English Department at the University of Lausanne, and a graduate of both the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Cambridge. My stroke came really out of the blue; I did not have any of the early warning signs. And the only possible risk factors I was aware of were very long working hours and stress in all its forms – though ‘stress’ is not very well defined medically, being not one symptom but rather a cluster of symptoms (Kivimäki et al., 2015).
Characterization of a low-grade copper-sulphide ore to assess its suitability for in situ recovery
Authors: Li Jian , Kuhar Laura , Austin Peter , Da Costa Micheal
Published: January 2018

CSIRO Minerals is developing new technologies and approaches for the in situ recovery (ISR) of valuable metals. ISR provides opportunities to process small and/or deep deposits and could create additional revenue for conventional uneconomic mines. Unlike for conventional processing, no standard methodology exists for characterizing sample suitability for ISR. The authors are developing a workflow to understand sample and deposit amenability to ISR processing. A South Australian low-grade iron-oxide-copper-gold sulphide ore was studied. A total of 37 drill cores samples were obtained from the ore sample for detailed mineralogical and leaching characterization. A range of characterization techniques including chemical analysis, X-ray fluorescence mapping, quantitative evaluation of minerals by scanning electron microscopy, computed tomography scanning, and bulk- and micro-X-ray diffraction analyses were applied to understand the ore mineralogy. Leaching tests at 50 °C were performed on selected samples to understanding their leaching behaviour. Mineralogical characterization found that copper was present mostly as discrete secondary copper sulphides distributed in various areas and at various specimen depths, which, in theory should be readily available for leaching, provided sufficient solution access exists. Leaching results showed steady copper recovery under the conditions tested. This study provides insight into understanding the suitability of an ore for ISR processing.
Spatial variability of elements in ancient Greek (ca. 600–250 BC) silver coins using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS)
Authors: Marjo Christopher E. , Davis Gillan , Gong Bin , Gore Damian B.
Published: January 2018

Archaeometrists use a variety of analytical methods to determine trace elements in ancient Greek silver coins, for provenance studies, understanding social and technological change, and authentication. One analytical problem which is little documented is understanding the horizontal spatial heterogeneity of coin elemental composition in micro-sampled areas, which are usually assumed to be uniform. This study analysed ten ancient Greek coins representative of silver circulating in the Aegean region in the sixth to third centuries BC. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry was used to map the spatial distribution of elements on coins that were abraded to remove the patina. Time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry was then conducted on selected coins, mapping an area ~100 × 100 µm and depth profiling from 0 to 10 µm. These data revealed the three-dimensional elemental complexity of the coins, in particular, the heterogeneity both in the patina and beneath it. These data will guide future authentication and provenance studies of larger sample sets of ancient Greek coins including the use of line scanning for laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry data collection rather than spot analyses, and non-destructive analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.
Understanding Multiple Perspectives: The Contribution of a Short-Essay Assignment to Teaching about the Arab–Israeli Conflict
Authors: Yakter Alon , Tessler Mark
Published: January 2018

Teaching about political conflict requires an understanding of the multiple perspectives and motivations of the parties to the conflict. This is especially true when teaching students who may have strong predispositions, such as in classes on the Arab–Israeli conflict. Various active-learning techniques address this problem but often at a cost of long preparation, substantial class time, and class-size limitations. This article offers both quantitative and qualitative evidence that a short essay asking students to defend a key action taken by one of the actors makes them more understanding and less accusatory of that side—even as it does not change their overall attitude toward the conflict. Adding a small-group discussion and a written reflection further helps students to make more informed and reasoned judgments. Importantly, such an assignment is easy to create, implement, and modify across various class types, sizes, and constraints.
Spatiotemporal heterogeneity of malnutrition indicators in children under 5 years of age in Bangladesh, 1999–2011
Authors: Hasan Md Tanvir , Mamun Abdullah A , Williams Gail M , Soares Magalhães Ricardo J
Published: January 2018

Objective

To examine changes in the spatial clustering of malnutrition in children under 5 years of age (under-5s) for the period 1999 to 2011 in Bangladesh.

Design

We used data from four nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 1999–2000, 2004, 2007 and 2011 in Bangladesh involving a total of 24 211 under-5s located in 1661 primary sampling units (PSU; geographical unit of analysis) throughout Bangladesh. The prevalence of stunting (height/length-for-age Z-score <−2), underweight (weight-for-age Z-score <−2) and wasting (weight-for-height/length Z-score <−2) at each PSU site and for each survey year were estimated based on the WHO child growth standard. The extent of spatial clustering was quantified using semivariograms.

Setting

Whole of Bangladesh.

Subjects

Children under 5 years of age.

Results

Our results demonstrate that in 1999–2000 most PSU throughout Bangladesh experienced stunting, underweight and wasting prevalence which exceeded the WHO thresholds. By 2011, this situation improved, although in two of the six divisions (Barisal and Sylhet) PSU still exhibited higher levels of malnutrition compared with other divisions of the country. The pattern of spatial clustering for stunting, underweight and wasting also changed between 1999 and 2011 both at national and sub-national (division) levels.

Conclusions

We identified divisions where malnutrition indicators (stunting, underweight and wasting) remain highly clustered and other divisions where they are more widely spread in Bangladesh. This has important implications on how interventions for malnutrition need to be delivered (geographically targeted interventions v. random interventions) within each division of the country.
DILATIONS OF INTERACTION GROUPS THAT EXTEND ACTIONS OF ORE SEMIGROUPS
Authors: ABADIE FERNANDO
Published: January 2018

We show that if a unital injective endomorphism of a $C^{\ast }$-algebra admits a transfer operator, then both of them are compressions of mutually inverse automorphisms of a bigger algebra. More generally, every interaction group – in the sense of Exel – extending an action of an Ore semigroup by injective unital endomorphisms of a $C^{\ast }$-algebra, admits a dilation to an action of the corresponding enveloping group on another unital $C^{\ast }$-algebra, of which the former is a $C^{\ast }$-subalgebra: the interaction group is obtained by composing the action with a conditional expectation. The dilation is essentially unique if a certain natural condition of minimality is imposed, and it is faithful if and only if the interaction group is also faithful.
Attitudes towards the scientific search for extraterrestrial life among Swedish high school and university students
Authors: Persson Erik , Capova Klara Anna , Li Yuan
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study is to increase our understanding of the attitudes towards the scientific search for extraterrestrial life among high school and university students in Sweden. The most important results of the analysis are that: (a) the great majority of students believe that extraterrestrial life exists; (b) most students regard searching for extraterrestrial life to be quite important or very important; (c) very few students think that we should actively avoid searching for extraterrestrial life; (d) the most common motive for assigning a high priority to search for extraterrestrial life is that it is interesting, the most common motive for assigning a low priority is that such knowledge would not be practically useful, or that the money would be better spent elsewhere; (e) most students do not think they are very well informed regarding the search for extraterrestrial life. A higher percentage of the students who judge themselves to be well informed also believe that extraterrestrial life exists. We have also found some differences between subgroups (men/women, high school students/university students and different fields of study), but the differences are with few exceptions small in comparison with the overall trends, and they mostly differ in degree rather than direction.
Social affective context reveals altered network dynamics in schizophrenia patients
Authors: Hendler Talma , Raz Gal , Shimrit Solnik , Jacob Yael , Lin Tamar , Roseman Leor , Wahid Wahid Madah , Kremer Ilana , Kupchik Marina , Kotler Moshe , Bleich-Cohen Maya
Published: January 2018

Impairments in social cognition and interactions are core psychopathologies in schizophrenia, often manifesting as an inability to appropriately relate to the intentions and feelings of others. Neuroimaging has helped to demarcate the dynamics of two distinct functional connectivity circuits underlying the social-affective processes related to mentalization (known as Theory of Mind, ToM) and somatic-affiliation (known as Embodied Simulation, ES). While evidence points to abnormal activation patterns within these networks among those suffering from schizophrenia, it is yet unclear however, if these patients exhibit this abnormal functional connectivity in the context of social-affective experiences. The current fMRI study, investigated functional connectivity dynamics within ToM and ES networks as subjects experienced evolving cinematic portrayals of fear. During scanning, schizophrenia patients and healthy controls passively watched a cinematic scene in which a mother and her son face various threatening events. Participants then provided a continuous and retrospective report of their fear intensity during a second viewing outside the scanner. Using network cohesion index (NCI) analysis, we examined modulations of ES-related and ToM-related functional connectivity dynamics and their relation to symptom severity and the continuous emotional ratings of the induced cinematic fear. Compared to patients, healthy controls showed higher ES-NCI and marginally lower ToM-NCI during emotional peaks. Cross-correlation analysis revealed an intriguing dynamic between NCI and the inter-group difference of reported fear. Schizophrenia patients rated their fear aslowerrelative to healthy controls, shortly after exhibitinglowerES connectivity. This increased difference in rating was also followed byhigherToM connectivity among schizophrenia patients. The clinical relevance of these findings is further highlighted by the following two results: (a) ToM-NCI was found to have a strong correlation with the severity of general symptoms during one of the two main emotional peaks (SpearmanR = 0.77); and (b)k-mean clustering demonstrated that the networks’ NCI dynamic during the social-affective context reliably differentiated between patients and controls. Together, these findings point to a possible neural marker for abnormal social-affective processing in schizophrenia, manifested as the disturbed balance between two functional networks involved in social-affective affiliation. This in turn suggests that exaggerated mentalization over somatic-affiliative processing, in response to another’s’ distress may underlie social-affective deficits in schizophrenia.
Target identification of small molecules using large-scale CRISPR-Cas mutagenesis scanning of essential genes
Authors: Neggers Jasper Edgar , Kwanten Bert , Dierckx Tim , Noguchi Hiroki , Voet Arnout , Bral Lotte , Minner Kristien , Massant Bob , Kint Nicolas , Delforge Michel , Vercruysse Thomas , Baloglu Erkan , Senapedis William , Jacquemyn Maarten , Daelemans Dirk
Published: January 2018

Unraveling the mechanism of action and molecular target of small molecules remains a major challenge in drug discovery. While many cancer drugs target genetic vulnerabilities, loss-of-function screens fail to identify essential genes in drug mechanism of action. Here, we report CRISPRres, a CRISPR-Cas-based genetic screening approach to rapidly derive and identify drug resistance mutations in essential genes. It exploits the local genetic variation created by CRISPR-Cas-induced non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair to generate a wide variety of functional in-frame mutations. Using large sgRNA tiling libraries and known drug–target pairs, we validate it as a target identification approach. We apply CRISPRres to the anticancer agent KPT-9274 and identify nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) as its main target. These results present a powerful and simple genetic approach to create many protein variants that, in combination with positive selection, can be applied to reveal the cellular target of small-molecule inhibitors.
Cell fate in antiviral response arises in the crosstalk of IRF, NF-κB and JAK/STAT pathways
Authors: Czerkies Maciej , Korwek Zbigniew , Prus Wiktor , Kochańczyk Marek , Jaruszewicz-Błońska Joanna , Tudelska Karolina , Błoński Sławomir , Kimmel Marek , Brasier Allan R. , Lipniacki Tomasz
Published: January 2018

The innate immune system processes pathogen-induced signals into cell fate decisions. How information is turned to decision remains unknown. By combining stochastic mathematical modelling and experimentation, we demonstrate that feedback interactions between the IRF3, NF-κB and STAT pathways lead to switch-like responses to a viral analogue, poly(I:C), in contrast to pulse-like responses to bacterial LPS. Poly(I:C) activates both IRF3 and NF-κB, a requirement for induction of IFNβ expression. Autocrine IFNβ initiates a JAK/STAT-mediated positive-feedback stabilising nuclear IRF3 and NF-κB in first responder cells. Paracrine IFNβ, in turn, sensitises second responder cells through a JAK/STAT-mediated positive feedforward pathway that upregulates the positive-feedback components: RIG-I, PKR and OAS1A. In these sensitised cells, the ‘live-or-die’ decision phase following poly(I:C) exposure is shorter—they rapidly produce antiviral responses and commit to apoptosis. The interlinked positive feedback and feedforward signalling is key for coordinating cell fate decisions in cellular populations restricting pathogen spread.
A NIN-LIKE PROTEIN mediates nitrate-induced control of root nodule symbiosis in Lotus japonicus
Authors: Nishida Hanna , Tanaka Sachiko , Handa Yoshihiro , Ito Momoyo , Sakamoto Yuki , Matsunaga Sachihiro , Betsuyaku Shigeyuki , Miura Kenji , Soyano Takashi , Kawaguchi Masayoshi , Suzaki Takuya
Published: January 2018

Legumes and rhizobia establish symbiosis in root nodules. To balance the gains and costs associated with the symbiosis, plants have developed two strategies for adapting to nitrogen availability in the soil: plants can regulate nodule number and/or stop the development or function of nodules. Although the former is accounted for by autoregulation of nodulation, a form of systemic long-range signaling, the latter strategy remains largely enigmatic. Here, we show that the Lotus japonicus NITRATE UNRESPONSIVE SYMBIOSIS 1 (NRSYM1) gene encoding a NIN-LIKE PROTEIN transcription factor acts as a key regulator in the nitrate-induced pleiotropic control of root nodule symbiosis. NRSYM1 accumulates in the nucleus in response to nitrate and directly regulates the production of CLE-RS2, a root-derived mobile peptide that acts as a negative regulator of nodule number. Our data provide the genetic basis for how plants respond to the nitrogen environment and control symbiosis to achieve proper plant growth.
Lateral epitaxial heterojunctions in single nanowires fabricated by masked cation exchange
Authors: Dogan Sedat , Kudera Stefan , Dang Zhiya , Palazon Francisco , Petralanda Urko , Artyukhin Sergey , De Trizio Luca , Manna Liberato , Krahne Roman
Published: January 2018

Cation exchange is a versatile tool to control the composition of nanocrystals, and recently deterministic patterning could be achieved by combining it with lithography techniques. Regarding single nanocrystal structures, such spatial control of cation exchange enables the design of heterostructures, which can be integrated in functional optoelectronic elements. In this work, we fabricate nanowire CdSe/Cu2Se heterojunctions by masking cation exchange via electron-beam irradiation, such that cation exchange proceeds only in the non-irradiated sections. Interestingly, the heterojunction interfaces are almost atomically sharp, and the adjacent CdSe and Cu2Se domains exhibit epitaxial relationships. We show that the cation exchange at the CdSe/Cu2Se interface is only possible if the displaced Cd2+ ions can radially out-diffuse to the solution phase. If this exit pathway is blocked, the cation exchange cannot occur. Our technique allows one to transform already contacted single nanowires, and the obtained heterojunction nanowires manifest a noticeable gain in conductance.
Matched asymptotic solution for crease nucleation in soft solids
Authors: Ciarletta P.
Published: January 2018

A soft solid subjected to a large compression develops sharp self-contacting folds at its free surface, known as creases. Creasing is physically different from structural elastic instabilities, like buckling or wrinkling. Indeed, it is a fully nonlinear material instability, similar to a phase-transformation. This work provides theoretical insights of the physics behind crease nucleation. Creasing is proved to occur after a global bifurcation allowing the co-existence of an outer deformation and an inner solution with localised self-contact at the free surface. The most fundamental result here is the analytic prediction of the nucleation threshold, in excellent agreement with experiments and numerical simulations. A matched asymptotic solution is given within the intermediate region between the two co-existing states. The self-contact acts like the point-wise disturbance in the Oseen’s correction for the Stokes flow past a circle. Analytic expressions of the matching solution and its range of validity are also derived.
Methods for Sterilizing Clinically Relevant Wear Particles Isolated from Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants
Authors: Fung Ernest S. , Unice Kenneth M. , Paustenbach Dennis J. , Finley Brent L. , Kovochich Michael
Published: January 2018

Engineered or incidental particles may contain endotoxin from contaminated environments associated with generation, production, or handling activities. Endotoxins are ubiquitous contaminants that may yield false positive responses in immunological assays if present. The purpose of this study was to develop a sterilization method for removal of endotoxin from clinically relevant wear particles isolated from metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implant lubricant. In this case, the goal of particle sterilization was to sufficiently reduce endotoxin levels to acceptable levels for sensitive biological assays while retaining the physical and chemical characteristics of the original particles. Optimization of treatment with 0.05 NaOH in 50% ethanol successfully achieved a 5-log (>99.999%) reduction of endotoxin content while retaining the size and chemistry of MoM hip implant wear particles. Using the optimized method, the concentration of endotoxin was reduced from 161,000 to 1.19 EU/mL. As particle types can vary, sterilization strategies will also differ to optimize endotoxin removal while retaining key particle characteristics. To our knowledge, this study represents the first published sterilization method for clinically relevant MoM hip implant wear particles isolated from serum-rich lubricant.
Effect of HIV/HCV Co-Infection on the Protease Evolution of HIV-1B: A Pilot Study in a Pediatric Population
Authors: Domínguez-Rodríguez Sara , Rojas Patricia , Fernández McPhee Carolina , Pagán Israel , Navarro María Luisa , Ramos José Tomás , Holguín África
Published: January 2018

This pilot study evaluates in pediatric patients the impact of HIV/HCV coinfection in the molecular evolution of the HIV-1 subtype B protease (HIV-1BPR). For this study, HIV-1B/HCV coinfected (15) and HIV-1B monoinfected (56) patients with available HIV-1B pol sequences were enrolled. Both groups of patients had comparable gender frequencies and average age, time of infection, antiretroviral treatment (ART) exposure and time under ART. Prevalence of drug resistance mutations (DRM), genetic diversity, number of synonymous (dS) and non-synonymous (dN) mutations per site and selection pressures (dN − dS) in the HIV-1BPR were estimated and compared between mono- and coinfected patients. Both HIV-1B populations presented similar genetic diversity (0.050 ± 0.02 vs. 0.045 ± 0.01) and dS (0.074 ± 0.03 vs. 0.078 ± 0.04). In turn, in coinfected patients the HIV-1BPR had higher dN (0.045 ± 0.01 vs. 0.024 ± 0.01) and dN-dS (−0.026 ± 0.02 vs. −0.048 ± 0.04) values, and less amino acid sites under purifying selection (4.2% vs. 42.1%) than in monoinfected patients. Accordingly, in co-infection with HCV, the HIV-1BPR sites 50, 53, 82, 84 and 88 - associated with resistance to PIs - were under neutral evolution, whereas these sites were under purifying selection in monoinfected patients. This pilot study suggests that HIV-1B may evolve differently in the presence than in the absence of HCV.
Small-molecule MDM2 antagonists attenuate the senescence-associated secretory phenotype
Authors: Wiley Christopher D. , Schaum Nicholas , Alimirah Fatouma , Lopez-Dominguez Jose Alberto , Orjalo Arturo V. , Scott Gary , Desprez Pierre-Yves , Benz Christopher , Davalos Albert R. , Campisi Judith
Published: January 2018

Processes that have been linked to aging and cancer include an inflammatory milieu driven by senescent cells. Senescent cells lose the ability to divide, essentially irreversibly, and secrete numerous proteases, cytokines and growth factors, termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Senescent cells that lack p53 tumor suppressor function show an exaggerated SASP, suggesting the SASP is negatively controlled by p53. Here, we show that increased p53 activity caused by small molecule inhibitors of MDM2, which promotes p53 degradation, reduces inflammatory cytokine production by senescent cells. Upon treatment with the MDM2 inhibitors nutlin-3a or MI-63, human cells acquired a senescence-like growth arrest, but the arrest was reversible. Importantly, the inhibitors reduced expression of the signature SASP factors IL-6 and IL-1α by cells made senescent by genotoxic stimuli, and suppressed the ability of senescent fibroblasts to stimulate breast cancer cell aggressiveness. Our findings suggest that MDM2 inhibitors could reduce cancer progression in part by reducing the pro-inflammatory environment created by senescent cells.
Optimization by Self-Organized Criticality
Authors: Hoffmann Heiko , Payton David W.
Published: January 2018

Self-organized criticality (SOC) is a phenomenon observed in certain complex systems of multiple interacting components, e.g., neural networks, forest fires, and power grids, that produce power-law distributed avalanche sizes. Here, we report the surprising result that the avalanches from an SOC process can be used to solve non-convex optimization problems. To generate avalanches, we use the Abelian sandpile model on a graph that mirrors the graph of the optimization problem. For optimization, we map the avalanche areas onto search patterns for optimization, while the SOC process receives no feedback from the optimization itself. The resulting method can be applied without parameter tuning to a wide range of optimization problems, as demonstrated on three problems: finding the ground-state of an Ising spin glass, graph coloring, and image segmentation. We find that SOC search is more efficient compared to other random search methods, including simulated annealing, and unlike annealing, it is parameter free, thereby eliminating the time-consuming requirement to tune an annealing temperature schedule.