bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
South Africa's transition to democracy and democratic consolidation: A reflection on socio‐economic challenges
Authors: Masipa Tshepo
Published: April 2018

This article uses South Africa as a case of study to reflect on socio‐economic transformation challenges confronting the country within the context of democratic consolidation. It argues that although the 1994 democratic project has made considerable strides to enhance the well‐being of the society, socio‐economic challenges of unemployment, poverty, and inequalities still persists in the contemporary South Africa—hence South Africa's governing party mantra of radical socio‐economic transformation. Citizens often demonstrate their discontent through acts of civil disobedience: protests. The last decade has increasingly pockmarked South Africa as a theater of social unrests. The article argues that this is the manifestation of democratic distemper rather than consolidation. In other words, democratic consolidation in South Africa should not, as many do, be understood merely as conceptual fiat but rather as a precondition towards alleviating the socio‐economic challenges confronting the nation. If this does not happen, democratic distemper is spawned. The manifestation of this is civil unrest. A democratic project ought to be about, also more importantly, enhancing the economic opportunities of the citizens. This should result in creating jobs and reducing inequalities. For this to happen, socio‐economic policies should be restructured in a way interrelated with the economic policy. This is important to advance the well‐being of the society.
Did Black skilled industrial workers support the northern Black Metropolis of the early 20th century?
Authors: Boyd Robert L.
Published: April 2018

The rise of a Black skilled industrial workforce in major northern cities was a significant development in the early 20th‐century United States. The emergence of this workforce coincided with a growing belief that these cities' Black communities could support Blacks' entry into professional, entrepreneurial, public service, and cultural occupations of the Black Metropolis. A question thus arises: Did the Black skilled industrial workforce advance Blacks' entry into these occupations? Regression analyses of census data suggest that Black skilled industrial workers did help promote Blacks' employment in a narrow range of Black Metropolis occupations, notably, entertainment, music, photography, art, and writing, implying that an upper stratum of the Black working class supported Black cultural expression. The results accord with the argument that the northern Black Metropolis fostered vital cultural institutions for Blacks in the early 20th century but offered fewer opportunities for Blacks' economic advancement through professions and businesses.
Clustering and selection of boundary conditions for limited‐area ensemble prediction
Authors: Bouttier François , Raynaud Laure
Published: April 2018

Limited‐area ensemble predictions can be sensitive to the specification of lateral boundary conditions, which are often built by subsampling larger ensembles. Using the operational PEARP and AROME‐EPS ensembles, we compare several subsampling methods, including random selection, representative members, and a new selection method. The tests show that the algorithms used for the clustering and the member selection have a significant impact on the resulting ensembles. Clustering‐based methods are shown to outperform random subsampling, mostly (but not only) because they change the ensemble spread. Cluster sizes can be highly variable, which can complicate ensemble interpretation. We present a subsampling algorithm that has little impact on performance scores, but better preserves ensemble spread and produces nearly equally likely members by limiting cluster size variability.
An objective global climatology of polar lows based on reanalysis data
Authors: Stoll Patrick J. , Graversen Rune G. , Noer Gunnar , Hodges Kevin
Published: April 2018

Here we present an objective global climatology of polar lows. In order to obtain objective detection criteria, the efficacy of several parameters for separating polar lows from other cyclones has been compared. The comparison and the climatology are based on the ERA‐Interim reanalysis from 1979 to 2016 and the high‐resolution Arctic System Reanalysis from 2000 to 2012. The most effective parameters in separating polar lows from other extratropical cyclones were found to be the difference between the sea‐level pressure at the centre of the low and its surroundings, the difference in the potential temperature between the sea surface and the 500 hPa level, and the tropopause wind speed poleward of the system. Other parameters often used to identify polar lows, such as the 10 m wind speed and the temperature difference between the sea surface and the 700 hPa level, were found to be less effective. The climatologies reveal that polar lows occur in all marine basins at high latitudes, but with high occurrence density in the vicinity of the sea‐ice edge and coastal zones. The regions showing the highest degree of polar‐low activity are the Denmark Strait and the Nordic Seas, especially for the most intense polar lows. In the North Atlantic and Pacific, the main polar‐low season ranges from November to March. In the Southern Hemisphere, polar lows are mainly detected between 50 and 65°S from April to October, indicating that this hemisphere compared to its northern counterpart has a two months longer, but less intense, polar‐low season. No significant hemispheric long‐term trends are observed, although some regions, such as the Denmark Strait and the Nordic Seas, experience significant downward and upward trends in polar lows, respectively, over the last decades. For intense polar lows, a significant declining trend has been observed for the Northern Hemisphere.
Quasi‐stationary waves and their impact on European weather and extreme events
Authors: Wolf Gabriel , Brayshaw David J. , Klingaman Nicholas P. , Czaja Arnaud
Published: April 2018

Large‐scale, quasi‐stationary atmospheric waves (QSWs) have long been known to be associated with weather extremes such as the European heatwave in 2003. There is much debate in the scientific literature as to whether QSW activity may increase under a changing climate, providing a strong motivation for developing a better understanding of the behaviour and drivers of QSWs. This paper presents the first steps in this regard: the development of a robust objective method for a simple identification and characterization of these waves. A clear connection between QSWs and European weather and extreme events is confirmed for all seasons, indicating that blocking anti‐cyclones are often part of a broader‐scale wave pattern.

Investigation of the QSW climatology in the Northern Hemisphere reveals that wave activity is typically strongest in midlatitudes, particularly at the exit of the Atlantic and Pacific storm track, with weaker intensities in summer. In general, the structure of individual QSW events tends to follow the climatological pattern, except in winter where the strongest and most persistent QSWs are typically shifted polewards, indicating a distinct evolution of the “strongest” QSW events. Modes of interannual variability are calculated to better understand their importance and connection to European temperatures and to identify relevant QSW patterns. This analysis highlights that European winter temperatures are strongly associated with the meridional location of QSW activity whereas high European summer temperatures are associated with increases in the overall intensity of midlatitude QSW activity.

QSWs are shown to be strongly connected to commonly used indices to describe the large‐scale atmospheric circulation (NAO, AO, Niño 3.4, PNA) but offer a more direct link to understanding their impact on regional weather events. It is therefore hoped that objective identification of QSWs will provide a useful new viewpoint for interpreting large‐scale weather alongside more traditional measures.
Knowledge sharing and safeguarding in R&D collaborations: The role of steering committees in biotechnology alliances
Authors: Devarakonda Shivaram V. , Reuer Jeffrey J.
Published: April 2018

Research Summary: This research contributes to alliance governance research by demonstrating how partners' administrative controls in nonequity collaborations regulate knowledge transfers across partners. These administrative controls can take the form of board‐like joint committees having explicitly delineated authority over certain alliance activities. We illuminate governing committees as an important, albeit neglected, instrument for administrative control in the governance of non‐equity alliances, and we demonstrate that these organizational mechanisms facilitate knowledge flows within the scope of an alliance. We also show that governing committees safeguard against misappropriation hazards, particularly when a partner possesses the incentive and ability to engage in such behavior. This study extends alliance governance research beyond the implications of the equity‐nonequity dichotomy to consider a wider and richer gamut of governance instruments available to address the challenges associated with knowledge transfers in alliances.

Managerial Summary: Non‐equity alliances are important vehicles to collaborate with external partners, particularly in the biopharmaceutical industry and other high‐tech sectors. To guide these collaborations effectively, partners can use the contract to custom‐build jointly‐staffed managerial units with clearly demarcated decision‐making responsibilities. We demonstrate that these organizational mechanisms facilitate knowledge flows within the scope of an alliance. We also show that governing committees also safeguard against misappropriation hazards, particularly when a partner values a firm's knowledge highly, or it possesses the required ability to absorb and assimilate a firm's knowledge. Our results imply that contractually‐defined managerial interfaces provide a channel to regulate knowledge‐sharing in collaborative alliances.
A Polypyrrole Elastomer Based on Confined Polymerization in a Host Polymer Network for Highly Stretchable Temperature and Strain Sensors
Authors: He Yonglin , Gui Qinyuan , Wang Yuxuan , Wang Zhen , Liao Shenglong , Wang Yapei
Published: April 2018

For the purpose of stretchable electronics, broad interests have been paid to elastic conductors by which high tensile strain over 100% can be readily achieved. Here, a scalable‐processing, dyeing‐like strategy for highly stretchable polypyrrole elastomer (1450% in strain) is conceived without particular topological design. This approach effectively improves the mechanical properties of the classic insoluble polypyrrole by confined polymerization within an elastic polymer network. In terms of the easy processing, it is technically possible to prepare stretchable electronics with arbitrary shape and size for wearable electronics with low cost. The mechanism of interpenetrated networks coexisting with microphase separation is comprehensively illustrated at molecular scale. The as‐fabricated polypyrrole elastomers are utilized as temperature or strain sensors for automatic fishing and region‐distinct dual signal sensing. Further integration of multiple sensors offers immediate alarm for old people falling at home, which thereby proves its promising potential in practical applications.
Geometrische Ersatzimperfektionen zur Anwendung des Teilschnittgrößenverfahrens für Biegeknicken um die schwache Querschnittsachse
Authors: Winkler Rebekka , Knobloch Markus
Published: April 2018

Herrn Univ.‐Prof. Dr.‐Ing. habil. Joachim Lindner zur Vollendung seines 80. Lebensjahres gewidmet

Die Veröffentlichung analysiert und vergleicht Ansätze für geometrische Ersatzimperfektionen für den Stabilitätsfall Biegeknicken um die schwache Achse für gewalzte doppeltsymmetrische I‐/H‐Querschnitte. Neben den in Deutschland und Europa normativ eingeführten Regeln werden auch Ansätze für Ersatzimperfektionen berücksichtigt, die im Zuge der Weiterentwicklung des Eurocodes 3 diskutiert werden. Ein Vorschlag unter Anwendung des Teilschnittgrößenverfahrens ermöglicht eine konsistente Bemessung für Bauteile unter Berücksichtigung des Querschnittsversagens sowie des Biegeknickens um die starke und schwache Querschnittsachse. Der Vorschlag führt zu Bemessungsergebnissen, welche gut mit den Resultaten numerischer Simulationen übereinstimmen.
Multifunktionale Geschäftshäuser in Stahl‐ und Verbundbauweise
Authors: Stroetmann Richard , Eisele Johann , Otto Jens , Hüttig Lukas , Trautmann Benjamin , Harzdorf Anne , Weller Cornell
Published: April 2018

Herrn Prof. Dr.‐Ing. habil. Joachim Lindner zur Vollendung seines 80. Lebensjahres gewidmet

Im Rahmen des AIF/FOSTA‐Forschungsprojektes P881 [1] wurde der Einsatz von Stahl‐ und Verbundkonstruktionen bei Büro‐ und Verwaltungsgebäuden im Hinblick auf die Flexibilität für unterschiedliche Büroorganisationsformen und die Nachhaltigkeit mit Schwerpunkten auf die Ökonomie und Ökologie untersucht. Hierüber wurde in verschiedenen Beiträgen berichtet (s. z. B. [2] bis [5]). Gegenstand des kurz vor dem Abschluss stehenden AIF/FOSTA‐Projektes P1118 [6] ist die Gestaltung und Bewertung multifunktionaler Geschäftshäuser in Stahl‐ und Verbundbauweise. Kerngedanke des Forschungsvorhabens ist die Schaffung anpassungsfähiger Geschossbauten für den städtischen Raum, um damit die Wertstabilität und Vermarktungsfähigkeit der Immobilien zu erhöhen und die Nutzungsdauer zu verlängern. Dabei wird der moderate Mehraufwand bei der Errichtung der Gebäude dem Nutzen in Bezug auf die Ökonomie und Ökologie gegenübergestellt.

Der Teil 1 des Beitrags beginnt mit der Beschreibung der Problemstellung und Grundlagen zur Bewertung der Nachhaltigkeit mit dem Schwerpunkt auf die Ökonomie. Dabei wird auf die Lebenszyklusberechnung, Methoden der Investitionsrechnung und immobilienwirtschaftliche Einflussgrößen eingegangen. Es folgen objektplanerische Aspekte zur Schaffung multifunktionaler Gebäude. Ausgehend von den Gebäudetypologien und der Zuordnung von Nutzungsformen zu Geschossen werden Strategien zur planerischen Berücksichtigung verschiedener Erst‐ und Nachnutzungen in typischen städtischen Gebäuderiegeln vorgestellt. Wesentliche Aspekte sind dabei die Wahl der Gebäudetiefe, der lichten Geschosshöhe, die Erschließung über Gebäudekerne, Flure und Schächte für die technische Gebäudeausstattung. Im Abschnitt 4 werden zunächst die Lastannahmen für Geschossbauten bei verschiedenen Nutzungsformen und Deckensysteme in Stahl‐ und Verbundbauweise erläutert. Dabei wird auch auf neue Entwicklungen von Multifunktionsdecken eingegangen. Es folgen Untersuchungen und Parameterstudien zu Ökologie und Ökonomie verschiedener Flach‐ und Unterzugsdecken. In diesem Zusammenhang wird auch den Fragestellungen nachgegangen, „welche Unterschiede ergeben sich bei Deckensystemen mit und ohne Innenstützen?” und „wie wirken sich unterschiedlich hohe Nutzlastansätze aus?”
90 Jahre STAHLBAU
Authors: Kurrer Karl‐Eugen
Published: April 2018

Herrn Prof. Dr.‐Ing. habil. Joachim Lindner zur Vollendung seines 80. Lebensjahres gewidmet
Influence of voltage on the H‐bridge of a large capacitor bank
Authors: Shi Lei , Wei Peng , Li JunHong , Gong Peng
Published: April 2018

Unbalance protection is often used in high‐voltage power capacitor banks as their main relay protection. Based on the analysis of the force of the capacitor, we show that the capacitance of the oil‐filled capacitor will change with the change of the field strength, and we deduce the theoretical equation of the capacitance change with the voltage. On the basis of this, we study the relationship between the capacitance and the voltage. Taking a real capacitor device as an example, the effect of voltage on unbalance leveling is studied by Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that the capacitance of the oil‐impregnated high‐voltage capacitor is affected by the voltage and may lead to the failure of the unbalance protection leveling. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Concurrent flashover phenomena of a parallel gap configuration—effects of gap length and residual voltage
Authors: Shindo Takatoshi , Miki Megumu , Miki Toru
Published: April 2018

For the analysis of back‐flashover phenomena of transmission lines, accurate evaluation of flashover occurrence at arcing horns is necessary. In this paper, parallel gap flashover phenomena are studied theoretically in the following conditions: (i) the gap lengths are different, and (ii) after one of the gaps flashes overs, there remains some residual voltage. The formulae for the occurrence probabilities of concurrent flashover on these conditions are introduced. Based on the analysis, application to the analysis of multiphase flashover is discussed. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Influence of prenatal diagnosis of abnormally invasive placenta on maternal outcome: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Buca D. , Liberati M. , Calì G. , Forlani F. , Caisutti C. , Flacco M. E. , Manzoli L. , Familiari A. , Scambia G. , D'Antonio F.
Published: April 2018

Objective

To ascertain the impact of prenatal diagnosis on surgical outcome of women affected by abnormally invasive placenta (AIP).

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane databases were searched. Observed outcomes included: gestational age at birth (weeks), amount of blood loss (L), units of red blood cells (RBC), platelets (PLT) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfused, length of stay in hospital and the intensive care unit (ICU) (days), urinary tract injury and infection. Only studies reporting the occurrence of any of the explored outcomes in women with a prenatal compared with an intrapartum diagnosis of AIP were considered eligible for inclusion. Random‐effect head‐to‐head meta‐analyses were used to analyze the data.

Results

Thirteen studies were included. Women with a prenatal diagnosis of AIP had less blood loss during surgery (mean difference (MD), −0.87; 95% CI, −1.5 to −0.23), had fewer units of RBC (MD, −1.45; 95% CI, −2.9 to −0.04) and FFP (MD, −1.73; 95% CI, −3.3 to −0.2) transfused, and delivered earlier (MD, 1.33 weeks; 95% CI, −2.23 to −0.43) compared with those with an intrapartum diagnosis. The risk of admission to an ICU and length of in‐hospital and in‐ICU stay were not different between the groups. Prenatal diagnosis of AIP was associated with a higher risk of urinary‐tract injury (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3–4.6), mainly due to the higher prevalence of placenta percreta in the group with AIP diagnosed prenatally.

Conclusion

Prenatal diagnosis of AIP is associated with reduced hemorrhagic morbidity compared with cases in which such anomalies are detected at delivery. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Strategies to improve tumor penetration of nanomedicines through nanoparticle design
Authors: Zhang Ya‐Ru , Lin Run , Li Hong‐Jun , He Wei‐ling , Du Jin‐Zhi , Wang Jun
Published: April 2018

Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as an effective means to deliver therapeutic drugs for cancer treatment, as they can preferentially accumulate at tumor site through the enhanced permeability and retention effect. Various forms of NPs including liposomes, polymeric micelles, and inorganic particles have been used for therapeutic applications. However, the therapeutic benefits of nanomedicines are suboptimal. Although many possible reasons may account for the compromised therapeutic efficacy, the inefficient tumor penetration can be a vital obstacle. Tumor develops characteristic pathological environment, such as abnormal vasculature, elevated interstitial fluid pressure, and dense extracellular matrix, which intrinsically hinder the transport of nanomedicines in the tumor parenchyma. The physicochemical properties of the NPs such as size, shape, and surface charge have profound effect on tumor penetration. In this review, we will highlight the factors that affect the transport of NPs in solid tumor, and then elaborate on designing strategies to improve NPs' penetration and uniform distribution inside the tumor interstitium.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Cover Image, Volume 10, Issue 3
Authors: Miao Xiaoqing , Yang Wuwei , Feng Tao , Lin Jing , Huang Peng
Published: April 2018

The cover image, by Xiaoqing Miao et al., is based on the Advanced Review Drug nanocrystals for cancer therapy, DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1499.

image
The role of the Human Metabolome Database in inborn errors of metabolism
Authors: Mandal Rupasri , Chamot Danuta , Wishart David S.
Published: April 2018

Metabolomics holds considerable promise to advance our understanding of human disease, including our understanding of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). The application of metabolomics in IEM research has already led to the discovery of several novel IEMs and the identification of novel IEM biomarkers. However, with hundreds of known IEMs and more than 700 associated IEM metabolites, it is becoming increasingly challenging for clinical researchers to keep track of IEMs, their associated metabolites, and their corresponding metabolic mechanisms. Furthermore, when using metabolomics to assist in IEM biomarker discovery or even in IEM diagnosis, it is becoming much more difficult to properly identify metabolites from the complex NMR and MS spectra collected from IEM patients. To that end, comprehensive, open access metabolite databases that provide up‐to‐date referential information about metabolites, metabolic pathways, normal/abnormal metabolite concentrations, and reference NMR or MS spectra for compound identification are essential. Over the last few years, a number of compound databases, including the Human Metabolome Database (HMDB), have been developed to address these challenges. First described in 2007, the HMDB is now the world's largest and most comprehensive metabolomic resource for human metabolic studies. The latest release of the HMDB contains 114,100 metabolite entries (with 247 being relevant to IEMs), thousands of metabolite concentrations (with 600 being relevant to IEMs), and ~33,000 metabolic and disease‐associated pathways (with 202 being relevant to IEMs). Here we provide a summary of the HMDB and offer some guidance on how it can be used in metabolomic studies of IEMs.
Molecular biology and gene therapy for glycogen storage disease type Ib
Authors: Chou Janice Y. , Cho Jun‐Ho , Kim Goo‐Young , Mansfield Brian C.
Published: April 2018

Glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSD‐Ib) is caused by a deficiency in the ubiquitously expressed glucose‐6‐phosphate (G6P) transporter (G6PT or SLC37A4). The primary function of G6PT is to translocate G6P from the cytoplasm into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Inside the ER, G6P is hydrolyzed to glucose and phosphate by either the liver/kidney/intestine‐restricted glucose‐6‐phosphatase‐α (G6Pase‐α) or the ubiquitously expressed G6Pase‐β. A deficiency in G6Pase‐α causes GSD type Ia (GSD‐Ia) and a deficiency in G6Pase‐β causes GSD‐I‐related syndrome (GSD‐Irs). In gluconeogenic organs, functional coupling of G6PT and G6Pase‐α is required to maintain interprandial blood glucose homeostasis. In myeloid tissues, functional coupling of G6PT and G6Pase‐β is required to maintain neutrophil homeostasis. Accordingly, GSD‐Ib is a metabolic and immune disorder, manifesting impaired glucose homeostasis, neutropenia, and neutrophil dysfunction. A G6pt knockout mouse model is being exploited to delineate the pathophysiology of GSD‐Ib and develop new clinical treatment options, including gene therapy. The safety and efficacy of several G6PT‐expressing recombinant adeno‐associated virus pseudotype 2/8 vectors have been examined in murine GSD‐Ib. The results demonstrate that the liver‐directed gene transfer and expression safely corrects metabolic abnormalities and prevents hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) development. However, a second vector system may be required to correct myeloid and renal dysfunction in GSD‐Ib. These findings are paving the way to a safe and efficacious gene therapy for entering clinical trials.
A multiple-perspective approach for the assessment and learning of ultrasound skills
Authors: Tolsgaard Martin Grønnebæk
Published: April 2018

Ultrasound has become a core skill in many specialties. We evaluated the learning and assessment of ultrasound skills in Obstetrics-Gynaecology in a series of eight studies. In the clinical setting, we found that trainees as well as experienced clinicians struggle with technical aspects of performance such as image optimization. We examined how to improve these aspects of performance in the simulated setting by determining mastery learning levels and exploring learning curves for novices. We then examined how to improve the efficiency of training as well as transfer of learning through the use of dyad practice as compared with single practice. We found that the use of simulation-based training focusing on technical aspects of performance in addition to clinical training led to sustained improvements in performance after two months of clinical training in all aspects of performance. In addition, we found an interaction effect between initial simulation-based training and subsequent clinical training on trainees’ need for supervision. These findings suggest that simulation-based training can work as preparation for future learning rather than merely as added learning. Finally, we found that the use of simulation-based initial training led to a large decrease in patients’ discomfort, improvements in their perceived safety and confidence in their ultrasound operator. However, simulation-based training comes at a cost and in the final study we developed a model for conducting cost-effectiveness studies and provided data from an example study on how to link training costs with quality of care.
Dyad Calling Behavior: Asymmetric Power and Tie Strength Dynamics
Authors: Shi Mengze , Yang Botao , Chiang Jeongwen
Published: April 2018

We develop a model of dyad calling behavior as the outcome of asymmetric power between the initiating and receiving callers and the strength of their tie. Using a unique mobile phone service dataset, we estimate the model which encapsulates the evolving relationship between pairs of callers. We find that, first, the initiating callers enjoy more power than the receiving callers in determining the call volume. Second, the call volume between a pair of callers increases with the number of their common contacts. Finally, the reciprocity effect is prevalent in mobile phone service consumption. We discuss and demonstrate the implications of our results on firms’ telecommunication service pricing decisions.
On the learning machine with compensatory aggregation based neurons in quaternionic domain
Authors: Kumar Sushil , Tripathi Bipin Kumar
Published: April 2018

The nonlinear spatial grouping process of synapses is one of the fascinating methodologies for neuro-computing researchers to achieve the computational power of a neuron. Generally, researchers use neuron models that are based on summation (linear), product (linear) or radial basis (nonlinear) aggregation for the processing of synapses, to construct multi-layered feed-forward neural networks, but all these neuron models and their corresponding neural networks have their advantages or disadvantages. The multi-layered network generally uses for accomplishing the global approximation of input–output mapping but sometimes getting stuck into local minima, while the nonlinear radial basis function (RBF) network is based on exponentially decaying that uses for local approximation to input–output mapping. Their advantages and disadvantages motivated to design two new artificial neuron models based on compensatory aggregation functions in the quaternionic domain. The net internal potentials of these neuron models are developed with the compositions of basic summation (linear) and radial basis (nonlinear) operations on quaternionic-valued input signals. The neuron models based on these aggregation functions ensure faster convergence, better training, and prediction accuracy. The learning and generalization capabilities of these neurons are verified through various three-dimensional transformations and time series predictions as benchmark problems.

Highlights Two new CSU and CPU neuron models for quaternionic signals are proposed. Net potentials based on the compositions of summation and radial basis functions. The nonlinear grouping of synapses achieve the computational power of proposed neurons. The neuron models ensure faster convergence, better training and prediction accuracy. The learning and generalization capabilities of CSU/CPU are verified by various benchmark problems.
Graphene Flagship yields breakthrough in composites technology for structural applications
Authors: Mathijsen Django
Published: April 2018

Professor Ahmed Elmarakbi recently rocked the reinforced plastics world by unveiling the world’s first graphene composite structural, automotive component: a car bumper made of graphene and fiber reinforced plastics. Graphene turns out to be able to enhance the material more than previously expected, but only if you stick to rigorous standards in production and processing. We asked Elmarakbi to gives us some details and a glimpse of what nanocomposites have in store for the future.
Science in The Children's Encyclopedia and its appropriation in the twentieth century in Latin America
Authors: DE OLIVEIRA BERNARDO JEFFERSON
Published: April 2018

In the early twentieth century, encyclopedias addressed to children and youths became special reference works concerning science and technology education. In search of greater comprehension of this historical process, I analyse The Children's Encyclopedia’s representation of science and technology, and how it was re-edited by the North American publishing company that bought its copyrights and promoted its circulation in several countries. Furthermore, I examine how its contents were appropriated in its translations into Portuguese and Spanish, which circulated in Latin America in the first half of the twentieth century. The comparison between the different versions reveals that the writings of science and technology are practically the same, with significant changes only in literature and in the approach of historical and geographical themes. I then argue that, even keeping the scientific contents virtually unchanged, these versions of the encyclopedia gave it a new meaning, because of the contexts in which they circulated. Finally, I show how the appropriations of the encyclopedia contributed to the promotion of scientific values and technological innovation as the core development and as a model of civilization for South American nations.
Best Thing Is Always in the Middle? An Investigation of Centrality Preference By Eye-Tracking Technique and Memory Recall
Authors: Lo Lap-Yan , Tsang Cheuk-Yu
Published: April 2018

An object located in the centre position is believed to be the most attended and well remembered, which increases its likelihood of being chosen (i.e., centrality preference). However, the literature has yielded inconsistent evidence. With the support of an eye-tracking technique, this study tried to provide another means of examining the relationship between preference and attention. Thirty undergraduates were asked to choose one of five similar items presented on a horizontal line. The findings on eye fixation points and looking duration positively related to the probability of an item being chosen as the preferred item. Yet performance in a recall test revealed an independence between preference and remembering. Furthermore, an unexpectedly large proportion of the participants also preferred the items on the leftmost side of the array. The mental number line and social norms, together with centrality preference, were used to provide an explanation of our implicit preference in decision making.
Colorectal cancers survivors’ adherence to lifestyle recommendations and cross-sectional associations with health-related quality of life
Authors: Breedveld-Peters Jose J. L. , Koole Janna L. , Müller-Schulte Eloise , van der Linden Bernadette W. A. , Windhausen Cherelle , Bours Martijn J. L. , van Roekel Eline H. , Weijenberg Matty P.
Published: April 2018

The lifestyle recommendations of the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) are primarily intended for cancer prevention. In the absence of specific recommendations for cancer survivors, we investigated adherence of colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors to the WCRF/AICR lifestyle recommendations and associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The cross-sectional part of the Energy for life after ColoRectal cancer (EnCoRe) study was conducted in 155 CRC survivors (stage I-III), 2–10 years post diagnosis. Dietary intake, physical activity and general body fatness were measured by 7-d food diaries, by questionnaires and accelerometers and BMI, respectively. Adherence to each of the ten WCRF/AICR recommendations was scored as 0 (no/low adherence), 0·5 (moderate adherence) or 1 point (complete adherence), and summed into an overall adherence score (range: 0–10). HRQoL, disability and distress were assessed by validated questionnaires. Associations of the overall WCRF/AICR adherence score with HRQoL outcomes were analysed by confounder-adjusted linear regression. The mean adherence score was 5·1 (sd1·4, range: 1·5–8·5). In confounder-adjusted models, a higher adherence score was significantly associated with the HRQoL dimension better physical functioning (βper 1 point difference in score: 2·6; 95 % CI 0·2, 5·1) and with less fatigue (β: −3·3; 95 % CI −6·4, −0·1). In conclusion, higher adherence of CRC survivors to WCRF/AICR lifestyle recommendations for cancer prevention was associated with better physical functioning and with less fatigue. This study adds to the limited knowledge on adherence to lifestyle behaviours in CRC survivors and relationships with quality of life. Prospective studies are needed to investigate longitudinal associations.
Mass transport deposits overprinted by contractional tectonics: a case study from the southern Apennines of Italy
Authors: PALLADINO GIUSEPPE , PROSSER GIACOMO , BENTIVENGA MARIO , ALSOP G. IAN
Published: April 2018

Mass transport deposits (MTDs), created by gravity-driven deformation of unlithified sediments, and tectonic mélanges produced by contractional deformation are characterized by a similar chaotic appearance. It follows that distinguishing structures formed by soft-sediment deformation during mass transport from those produced by contractional tectonics can be problematic. In fact, deformation occurring along detachment levels may completely obliterate the original sedimentary fabric. Although a number of advances have been made during recent decades, field criteria for discriminating structures within MTDs that are overprinted by later regional contraction are not readily applicable to all the exposed examples. We address some of these general issues through a detailed case study of the Monte Facito Formation in Italy. This Triassic unit was formed during the Africa–Europe continental separation and, since the Miocene, has been involved in contractional deformation during the construction of the Apennines. The Monte Facito Formation consists of a series of stratigraphically coherent units, separated by chaotic and often deformed intervals, whose origin has been previously attributed to either tectonic or sedimentary processes. An example is provided by a characteristic pebbly mudstone (or ‘paraconglomerate’) which has been interpreted as either a Triassic gravity-flow deposit, or alternatively, as a product of shearing along regional contractional detachments during the Miocene. This detailed field-based study allows us to recognize structures related to the depositional processes that created these chaotic intervals, and which can therefore be interpreted as MTDs. We also discriminate structures connected to later contractional tectonics that locally produced intense reworking of the MTDs.
Divine persons as relationalqua-objects
Authors: KOONS ROBERT C.
Published: April 2018

Is the Christian doctrine of the Trinity consistent with a very strong version of the thesis of divine simplicity? Yes, so long as the simple divine nature is arelationalnature, a nature that could be characterized in terms of such relations as knowing and loving. This divine nature functions simultaneously as agent, patient, and action: as knower, known and knowledge, and lover, beloved, and love. I will draw on work onqua-objects by Kit Fine and Nicholas Asher and on my own account of relational facts to elucidate this model more fully.
Gastroenteritis outbreak at a health function caused by an emerging recombinant strain of Norovirus GII.P16/GII.4 Sydney 2012, Australia
Authors: Jones B. J. , Flint J. , Collins J. , White P. A. , Lun J. H. , Durrheim D. N.
Published: April 2018

An emerging recombinant norovirus GII.P16/GII.4 Sydney 2012 strain caused a gastroenteritis outbreak amongst attendees at a large health function in regional New South Wales, Australia. This was the third outbreak caused by the recombinant GII.P16/GII.4 Sydney 2012 strain in this region in 2017, which appears to be emerging as a common strain in the Hunter New England region.
Quantitative assessment of the association between IL-10 -592 A/C polymorphism and Kawasaki disease risk in Chinese population: evidence from a meta-analysis
Authors: Jin Xiaochun , Yin Shuzhou , Zhang Youtao , Chen Xu
Published: April 2018

Background

IL-10, as a proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine, has been thought to have an important role in the development of Kawasaki disease. Variation in theIL-10gene might lead to altered protein production, which may result in Kawasaki disease. Several studies have been performed to investigate theIL-10-592 A/C polymorphism and Kawasaki disease risk. Unfortunately, the results of previous studies were inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of the association between theIL-10-592 A/C polymorphism and Kawasaki disease risk.

Method

The association between theIL-10-592 A/C polymorphism and Kawasaki disease risk was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Six studies were enrolled in the present meta-analysis.

Results

Overall, no significant association betweenIL-10-592 A/C polymorphism and Kawasaki disease risk was found under allele contrast (A versus C: OR=0.95, 95% CI=0.77–1.18, p=0.668), homozygote comparison (AA versus CC: OR=0.86, 95% CI=0.56–1.31, p=0.475), heterozygote comparison (CA versus CC: OR=0.88, 95% CI=0.65–1.19, p=0.479), recessive genetic model (AA versus CA/CC: OR=0.96, 95% CI=0.73–1.28, p=0.801), or dominant genetic model (AA/CA versus CC: OR=0.85, 95% CI=0.64–1.13, p=0.275).

Conclusions

We conclude thatIL-10-592 A/C polymorphism was not associated with Kawasaki disease risk in the Chinese population. However, more primary large-scale and well-designed studies are still required to further evaluate the interaction ofIL-10-592 A/C polymorphism with Kawasaki disease risk.
Bilingual memory, to the extreme: Lexical processing in simultaneous interpreters
Authors: SANTILLI MICAELA , VILAS MARTINA G. , MIKULAN EZEQUIEL , MARTORELL CARO MIGUEL , MUÑOZ EDINSON , SEDEÑO LUCAS , IBÁÑEZ AGUSTÍN , GARCÍA ADOLFO M.
Published: April 2018

This study assessed whether bilingual memory is susceptible to the extreme processing demands of professional simultaneous interpreters (PSIs). Seventeen PSIs and 17 non-interpreter bilinguals completed word production, lexical retrieval, and verbal fluency tasks. PSIs exhibited enhanced fluency in their two languages, and they were faster to translate words in both directions. However, no significant differences emerged in picture naming or word reading. This suggests that lexical enhancements in PSIs are confined to their specifically trained abilities (vocabulary search, interlingual reformulation), with no concomitant changes in other word-processing mechanisms. Importantly, these differences seem to reflect specifically linguistic effects, as both samples were matched for relevant executive skills. Moreover, only word translation performance correlated with the PSIs’ years of interpreting experience. Therefore, despite their tight cooperation, different subcomponents within bilingual memory seem characterized by independent, usage-driven flexibility.
Correlates of fruit and vegetable intake among parents and adolescents: findings from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study
Authors: Parks Courtney A , Blaser Casey , Smith Teresa M , Calloway Eric E , Oh April Y , Dwyer Laura A , Liu Benmai , Nebeling Linda C , Yaroch Amy L
Published: April 2018

Objective

The present study aimed to examine the correlates of fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) separately among parents and their adolescents.

Design

Cross-sectional surveys.

Setting

Online survey.

Subjects

Parents and adolescents completed the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) survey through the National Cancer Institute. The survey assessed daily intake frequencies of food/beverage groups, psychosocial, parenting and sociodemographic factors. Generalized linear models were run for both parents and adolescents, for a total of six models (three each): (i) sociodemographic characteristics; (ii) psychosocial factors; (iii) parent/caregiver factors.

Results

Parent participants (n 1542) were predominantly 35–59 years old (86 %), female (73 %), non-Hispanic White (71 %) or non-Hispanic Black (17 %), with household income <$US 100 000 (79 %). Adolescents (n 805) were aged 12–14 years (50 %), non-Hispanic White (66 %) and non-Hispanic Black (15 %). Parents consumed 2·9 cups fruits and vegetables (F&V) daily, while adolescents consumed 2·2 cups daily. Educational attainment (higher education had greater FVI) and sex (men consumed more than women; all P<0·001) were significant FVI predictors. Parents with greater autonomous and controlled motivation, self-efficacy and preferences for fruit reported higher FVI (all P<0·001). Similarly, adolescents with greater autonomous and controlled motivation, self-efficacy and knowledge reported higher FVI (all P<0·001). Parenting factors of importance were co-deciding how many F&V teens should have, rules, having F&V in the home and cooking meals from scratch (all P<0·05).

Conclusions

Findings suggest factors that impact FVI among parents and their adolescent(s), which highlight the importance of the role of parent behaviour and can inform tailored approaches for increasing FVI in various settings.
HOW ENGLAND FELL OFF THE MAP OF VOLTAIRE'S ENLIGHTENMENT
Authors: EDELSTEIN DAN , KASSABOVA BILIANA
Published: April 2018

Voltaire'sLetters Concerning the English Nation(Lettres philosophiques) have left the indelible impression that the Frenchphilosophewas fundamentally marked by his exposure to English thought in the late 1720s. On the map of his epistolary correspondence, however, England is hardly to be found. What are we to make of this discrepancy? In this article, we demonstrate that the missing letters to England are unlikely to be the result of a data glitch, but rather reflect a lack of interest in contemporary English matters. The only England that Voltaire seems to have cared about lay in the past, during the reign of Charles II. Moreover, this period of English history was (in his view) intrinsically French, given the English monarch's close ties to Versailles. Voltaire's limited admiration of English thought, accordingly, formed part of his broader philosophy of history, which was centered at the court of Louis XIV.
Plastic and metal additive manufacturing technologies for microwave passive components up toKaband
Authors: Sence Johann , Feuray William , Périgaud Aurélien , Tantot Olivier , Delhote Nicolas , Bila Stéphane , Verdeyme Serge , Pejoine Jean-Baptiste , Gramond René-Philippe
Published: April 2018

This paper illustrates the different possibilities given by additive manufacturing technologies for the creation of passive microwave hardware. The paper more specifically highlights a prototyping scheme where the 3D-printed plastic parts can be used as initial proofs of concept before considering more advanced 3D-printed parts (metal parts, for instance). First, a characterization campaign has been made on common plastics used by a 3D printer using the fused deposition modeling and material jetting (Polyjet©) technologies. The impact of the manufacturing strategy (high-speed or high-accuracy) on the part roughness, as well as on the dielectric material permittivity and loss tangent, has been specifically studied at 10 and 16 GHz. Based on a specifically optimized and deeply explained characterization method, the conductivity of a coating based on silver paint has also been characterized on such plastic parts at 10 and 40 GHz. These plastic materials and coating have been used for the creation of quasi-elliptic and tuning-free bandpass filters centered at 6 and 12 GHz and compared with a similar filter made of stainless steel by selective laser melting. Finally, a compact rectangularTE10to circularTE01mode converter also undergoes one prototyping step out of plastic before moving to an advanced part made out of stainless steel. This mode converter, which is made in a single part, is designed to operate from 28 to 36 GHz as a tuning-free final demonstrator.
Decline and Bidecadal Oscillations of Dissolved Oxygen in the Oyashio Region and Their Propagation to the Western North Pacific
Authors: Sasano Daisuke , Takatani Yusuke , Kosugi Naohiro , Nakano Toshiya , Midorikawa Takashi , Ishii Masao
Published: April 2018

During the period 1954–2014, concentrations of dissolved oxygen (O2) in the Oyashio region of the western subarctic North Pacific has been oscillating over bidecadal timescales and significantly decreasing over the isopycnal layer spanning σθ = 26.6–27.5 kg/m3. The cycles of oscillation (16.4–19.6 years) are almost consistent and synchronized within 1 year over this density layer and are probably controlled by the nodal tidal cycle of 18.6 years and/or atmospheric forcing. The mean rate of the long‐term decrease is the highest (−0.70 ± 0.06 μmol · kg−1 · year−1) in the temperature minimum layer. The O2 decline there is predominantly attributed to a reduction of ventilation in winter due to warming and freshening. On the other hand, the O2 decline in deeper layers down to the oxygen minimum layer is attributable to a reduction in ventilation in the Sea of Okhotsk associated with a reduction in sea ice formation and propagation of its impact through diapycnal mixing adjacent to the Bussol' Strait. These trends of bidecadal oscillations and decline of O2 were also found in the downstream to the east in the 165°E section at latitudes 30°N–42.5°N on σθ = 26.8 kg/m3 and with attenuated amplitudes at latitudes of 40°N–45°N in the oxygen minimum layer on σθ = 27.4 kg/m3. These results indicate that the signal of secular declines of O2, together with bidecadal oscillations, is being propagated broadly from the Oyashio source region into the interior of the Pacific Ocean.