bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lower bound limit analysis of unsupported vertical circular excavations in rocks using Hoek‐Brown failure criterion
Authors: Kumar Jyant , Rahaman Obaidur
Published: February 2020

The stability of vertical unsupported circular excavations in rock media, obeying generalized Hoek‐Brown yield criterion, has been investigated by using the lower bound finite elements limit analysis. An axisymmetric analysis, composed of a planar domain with a mesh of three‐noded triangular elements, has been carried out. The optimization problem is dealt with by using the semidefinite programming technique avoiding the need of either smoothing the yield surface or making any assumption associated with the circumferential stress (σθ). A detailed parametric study has been executed, and the effects of different input material parameters, namely, geological strength index (GSI), yield parameter (mi), and the disturbance factor (D) on the results have been studied. For different height to radius ratios of the excavation, the computed results are presented in the form of nondimensional stability numbers. Failure mechanisms have also been investigated for a few typical cases. The results from the analysis have been compared with that evaluated separately with the application of the software OptumG2.
Pancreatic safety of sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tang Huilin , Yang Keming , Li Xin , Song Yiqing , Han Jiali
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aimed to systematically evaluate the association between sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and pancreatic safety in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

Electronic databases were searched before September 2019 to include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of SGLT2 inhibitors that reported any event on pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer among patients with T2DM. Peto odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to pool the data. The GRADE framework was introduced to assess the quality of evidence.

Results

Of the 35 trials involving 44 912 patients with T2DM included, 41 events of acute pancreatitis (19 trials; 32 932 patients), 72 events of overall pancreatitis (including acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, or nonspecific pancreatitis; 26 trials; 36 688 patients), and 40 events of pancreatic cancer (18 trials; 27 806 patients) were reported during a median follow‐up of 52 weeks. SGLT2 inhibitors were not associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared to controls (placebo or other active drugs; Peto OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.60‐2.13; moderate quality evidence). A similar result was found for risk of overall pancreatitis (Peto OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.67‐1.75; moderate quality evidence) and pancreatic cancer (Peto OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.71‐2.54; very low‐quality evidence).

Conclusions

Moderate quality evidence from RCTs shows no significantly increased risk of acute pancreatitis associated with SGLT2 inhibitors, while there is very low‐quality evidence suggesting no significant association between SGLT2 inhibitors and pancreatic cancer among patients with T2DM.
Effect of curcumin supplementation on disease severity in patients with liver cirrhosis: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Nouri‐Vaskeh Masoud , Malek Mahdavi Aida , Afshan Hossein , Alizadeh Leila , Zarei Mohammad
Published: February 2020

Recent reports indicated that curcumin had beneficial effects in animal models of liver injury and cirrhosis. Current study aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin supplementation in patients with liver cirrhosis. In this randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial, 70 patients with liver cirrhosis aged 20–70 years were randomly divided into two groups to receive 1,000 mg/day curcumin (n = 35) or placebo (n = 35) for 3 months. Model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) (i), MELD, MELD‐Na, and Child–Pugh scores were used to assess the severity of cirrhosis. Sixty patients (29 in the curcumin group and 31 in the placebo group) completed the study. MELD(i) (15.55 ± 3.78 to 12.41 ± 3.07), MELD (15.31 ± 3.07 to 12.03 ± 2.79), MELD‐Na (15.97 ± 4.02 to 13.55 ± 3.51), and Child–Pugh (7.17 ± 1.54 to 6.72 ± 1.31) scores decreased significantly in the curcumin group after 3‐month intervention (p < .001, p < .001, p = .001, and p = .051, respectively), whereas they increased significantly in the placebo group (p < .001, p < .001, p < .001, p = .001, respectively). Significant differences were only observed between the two groups in MELD(i), MELD, MELD‐Na, and Child–Pugh scores after 3‐month intervention (p < .001 for all of them). In this pilot study, beneficial effects of curcumin supplementation were observed in decreasing disease activity scores and severity of cirrhosis in patients with cirrhosis.
Herbal supplements interactions with oral oestrogen‐based contraceptive metabolism and transport
Authors: Hlengwa Nokulunga , Muller Christo J. F. , Basson Albertus K. , Bowles Sandra , Louw Johan , Awortwe Charles
Published: February 2020

The increased use of herbal supplements as complementary or alternative medicines has become a clinical conundrum due to the potential for herb–drug interactions. This is exacerbated by an increased supply of new herbal supplements in the market claiming various health advantages. These herbal supplements are available as over‐the‐counter self‐medications. Herbal supplements are generally perceived as efficacious without side effects commonly associated with conventional drugs. However, despite regulations, claims related to their therapeutic effects are mostly unsupported by scientific evidence. These products often lack suitable product quality controls, labelled inadequately and with batch to batch variations, potentially compromising the safety of the consumer. Amongst health practitioners, the greatest concern is related to the lack of chemical characterization of the active compounds of the herbal supplements. The interaction between these different active components and their concomitant effects on other conventional drugs is generally not known. This review will focus on herbal supplements with the potential to effect pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of oestrogen‐based oral contraceptives. The use of herbal supplements for weight management, depression, and immune boosting benefits were selected as likely herbal supplements to be used concomitantly by women on oral contraceptives.
Does the method of visualization impact the performance of a new surgical task in novice subjects?
Authors: Kassam Mikaeel , Chakravarthi Srikant , Epping Austin , Erpenbeck Sarah , Singh Maharaj , Fukui Melanie B. , Kassam Amin B. , Rovin Richard A.
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Evolution of optical technology from two‐dimensional to three‐dimensional (3D) systems has come with an associated loss of stereoscopy and 3D depth perception. This report compares performance of surgical tasks in unbiased subjects using these systems.

Methods

Untrained subjects were randomized into two groups, robotically operated video optical telescopic‐microscope (ROVOT) or surgical microscope (microscope). Subjects sutured and tied knots. Completion time, NASA‐Task Load Index (TLX), and galvanic skin responses were analyzed.

Results

Intergroup analysis of suture completion time indicated that microscope use was significantly faster compared to ROVOT, whether used first or second. Regardless of which methodology was used first, the second modality was faster, indicating a transfer effect. NASA‐TLX indicated that mental, performance, effort, and frustration were all greater with ROVOT.

Conclusion

Task completion time and perceived effort were greater with ROVOT. Task completion times improved with repetition regardless of visual modality.
The Effectiveness of Pre‐sessional EAP Programmes in UK Higher Education: A Review of the Evidence
Authors: Pearson William S.
Published: February 2020

UK higher education institutions have widely adopted intensive pre‐sessional programmes (PSPs) encompassing English for academic purposes provision to enhance their attractiveness in the intense global competition for higher fee‐paying international students whose proficiency in English falls below standard entry requirements. Nevertheless, opening up tertiary education participation to linguistically weaker candidates has attracted controversy, with reports in the UK media and academic journals that institutions have been engaged in linguistic corner‐cutting for financial gain. This paper critically reviews research investigating the extent pre‐sessional courses ‘work’ to remedy deficits in international non‐native English‐speaking students’ language proficiency in the UK higher education context. This paper synthesises the findings and methodological facets of 18 diverse studies investigating pre‐sessional effectiveness, organised according to Lynch's (1996) quantitative/qualitative language programme evaluation typology. The findings revealed that (a) most students were able to successfully complete pre‐sessional programmes, demonstrating tangible, if unremarkable language proficiency gains; (b) where post‐PSP measures were included, it was revealed many alumni undertook their tertiary programme with borderline proficiency, sometimes resulting in delayed degree completion, lower academic outcomes compared with direct entry students, or failure, often by thesis non‐(re)submission (in time); (c) PSP alumni perceived value and reward in undertaking the programme, though enhanced self‐effectiveness beliefs did not always translate into academic results. Suggestions are made for enhancing research into PSP effectiveness, while gaps in the literature are identified for future complementary investigations. Policy implications for institutions are also discussed.
Small area estimation of receiver operating characteristic curves for ordinal data under stochastic ordering
Authors: Jang Eun Jin , Nandram Balgobin , Ko Yousun , Kim Dal Ho
Published: February 2020

There has been a recent increase in the diagnosis of diseases through radiographic images such as x‐rays, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. The outcome of a radiological diagnostic test is often in the form of discrete ordinal data, and we usually summarize the performance of the diagnostic test using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC). The ROC curve will be concave and called proper when the outcomes of the diagnostic test in the actually positive subjects are higher than in the actually negative subjects. The diagnostic test for disease detection is clinically useful when a ROC curve is proper. In this study, we develop a hierarchical Bayesian model to estimate the proper ROC curve and AUC using stochastic ordering in several domains when the outcome of the diagnostic test is discrete ordinal data and compare it with the model without stochastic ordering. The model without stochastic ordering can estimate the improper ROC curve with a nonconcave shape or a hook when the true ROC curve of the population is a proper ROC curve. Therefore, the model with stochastic ordering is preferable over the model without stochastic ordering to estimate the proper ROC curve with clinical usefulness for ordinal data.
Size‐Extensive Molecular Machine Learning with Global Representations
Authors: Jung Hyunwook , Stocker Sina , Kunkel Christian , Oberhofer Harald , Han Byungchan , Reuter Karsten , Margraf Johannes T.
Published: February 2020

Machine learning (ML) models are increasingly used in combination with electronic structure calculations to predict molecular properties at a much lower computational cost in high‐throughput settings. Such ML models require representations that encode the molecular structure, which are generally designed to respect the symmetries and invariances of the target property. However, size‐extensivity is usually not guaranteed for so‐called global representations. In this contribution, we show how extensivity can be built into global ML models using, e. g., the Many‐Body Tensor Representation. Properties of extensive and non‐extensive models for the atomization energy are systematically explored by training on small molecules and testing on small, medium and large molecules. Our results show that non‐extensive models are only useful in the size‐range of their training set, whereas extensive models provide reasonable predictions across large size differences. Remaining sources of error for extensive models are discussed.
Combined laparoscopic ovariectomy and laparoscopic‐assisted gastropexy versus combined laparoscopic ovariectomy and total laparoscopic gastropexy: A comparison of surgical time, complications and postoperative pain in dogs
Authors: Leonardi Fabio , Properzi Roberto , Rosa Jessica , Boschi Paolo , Paviolo Silvia , Costa Giovanna L. , Bendinelli Cristiano
Published: February 2020

The trend in laparoscopy is to develop easy and rapid techniques associated with reduced intraoperative complications and decreased postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to compare combined laparoscopic ovariectomy (OIE) and laparoscopic‐assisted incisional gastropexy (LAG) with combined laparoscopic OIE and total laparoscopic gastropexy (TLG) for surgical time, incidence of complications and postoperative pain. Twenty‐eight female dogs were randomly assigned to the LAG group (n = 14) or the TLG group (n = 14). All laparoscopic procedures were performed using a three‐port technique. The gastropexy was located 3 cm caudal to the 13th rib and 4 cm lateral to the rectus abdominis muscle. Surgical time (minutes [min]), intraoperative complications and postoperative complications were recorded. The Glasgow pain score (GPS) (short form) was calculated before surgery and at 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hr after extubation. Surgical time was significantly longer in the TLG group (48 ± 2 min) compared with the LAG group (39 ± 2 min). Minor postoperative complications occurred in both groups and included swelling (n = 2) and subcutaneous emphysema (n = 1). No significant differences regarding the GPS were recorded between groups. The GPS was significantly higher in both groups at 1 hr and 6 hr than before surgery. Two dogs in each group required rescue analgesia. Combined laparoscopic OIE and TLG require more time to perform than combined laparoscopic OIE and LAG. Neither procedure results in significant surgical complications. Postoperative pain for 24 hr was mild and comparable in both groups.
Effect of platform disturbance on the performance of offshore wind turbine under pitch control
Authors: Karimian Aliabadi Saeed , Rasekh Sepehr
Published: February 2020

The aerodynamic performance of offshore floating wind turbines (OFWTs) is more complicated than onshore wind turbines due to 6‐degree of freedom (DOF) motion of the floating platform. In the current study, the aerodynamic analysis of a horizontal‐axis floating offshore wind turbine is performed with the aim of studying the effects of floating platform movement on the aerodynamic characteristics of the turbine in the presence of a pitch angle control system. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 5‐MW offshore wind turbine is selected as the baseline wind turbine. For this sake, the unsteady blade element momentum method with dynamic stall and dynamic inflow models have been employed to obtain the unsteady aerodynamic loads. The baseline pitch angle control system is assumed to be coupled with the aerodynamic model to maintain the rated condition of the wind turbine and also to approach a closer model of wind turbine. In case of pitching motion input, the reduction of mean power coefficient for tip speed ratios (TSRs) less that 7 is expected by an amount of 16% to 20% at pitch amplitude of 2° and frequency of 0.1 Hz. For high TSRs, the trend is reverse with respect to fixed‐platform case. The mean thrust coefficient is reduced for almost all range of TSRs with maximum loss of 37%. Moreover, the mean control pitch angle that is an index of control system effort is increased. The results also represent the importance of considering the pitch control system for aerodynamic analysis of disturbed OFWT.
Pt Modified TiO2–x/C Composites with Metal‐organic Frameworks as Precursors for Photodegradation of Organic Dye
Authors: Xu Qing , Fan Dongmei , He Bingbing
Published: February 2020

A series of Pt modified TiO2–x/C composites with higher specific surface area were obtained by using a Zn‐Ti heterometallic metal‐organic framework (MOF) as the precursor. The photocatalytic activities of these composites were studied by methylene blue (MB) as a representative organic pollutant. The chemical composition and porosity of these composites can be adjusted by changing the pyrolysis temperature. Among them, the sample being pyrolyzed at 1000 °C (PTC‐P10) showed excellent photocatalytic performance, and its rate constant of degradation of MB was higher than that of ATC‐P10 (Ag modified TiO2–x/C composites) due to the rapid capture of electrons and the expansion of the photoresponse range caused by Pt modifying. This work represents a novel approach towards Pt modified TiO2–x/C composites as photocatalysts.
Ammonothermal Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Vibrational Properties of the Doubly Deprotonated Calcium Guanidinate, CaC(NH)3
Authors: Ogutu George , Kozar Edin , Stoffel Ralf P. , Houben Andreas , Dronskowski Richard
Published: February 2020

We report the synthesis of the doubly deprotonated calcium guanidinate, CaC(NH)3, from liquid ammonia and its crystal structure as determined from powder X‐ray and neutron diffraction, and confirmed using CNH elemental analysis and infrared (IR) spectroscopy data. CaC(NH)3 crystallizes in the hexagonal system with space group P63/m (no. 176) with Z = 2 and a = 5.2666(13) Å, c = 6.5881(6) Å and V = 158.25(4) Å3. We also compare the structural similarities and differences of this phase with the isotypical strontium and ytterbium compounds.
Genomic and functional genomics analyses of gluten proteins and prospect for simultaneous improvement of end-use and health-related traits in wheat
Authors: Wang Daowen , Li Feng , Cao Shuanghe , Zhang Kunpu
Published: February 2020

Key message

Recent genomic and functional genomics analyses have substantially improved the understanding on gluten proteins, which are important determinants of wheat grain quality traits. The new insights obtained and the availability of precise, versatile and high-throughput genome editing technologies will accelerate simultaneous improvement of wheat end-use and health-related traits.

Being a major staple food crop in the world, wheat provides an indispensable source of dietary energy and nutrients to the human population. As worldwide population grows and living standards rise in both developed and developing countries, the demand for wheat with high quality attributes increases globally. However, efficient breeding of high-quality wheat depends on critically the knowledge on gluten proteins, which mainly include several families of prolamin proteins specifically accumulated in the endospermic tissues of grains. Although gluten proteins have been studied for many decades, efficient manipulation of these proteins for simultaneous enhancement of end-use and health-related traits has been difficult because of high complexities in their expression, function and genetic variation. However, recent genomic and functional genomics analyses have substantially improved the understanding on gluten proteins. Therefore, the main objective of this review is to summarize the genomic and functional genomics information obtained in the last 10 years on gluten protein chromosome loci and genes and thecis- andtrans-factors regulating their expression in the grains, as well as the efforts in elucidating the involvement of gluten proteins in several wheat sensitivities affecting genetically susceptible human individuals. The new insights gathered, plus the availability of precise, versatile and high-throughput genome editing technologies, promise to speed up the concurrent improvement of wheat end-use and health-related traits and the development of high-quality cultivars for different consumption needs.
Concordance Study in Hepatectomy Recommendations Between Watson for Oncology and Clinical Practice for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in China
Authors: Zhang Weiqi , Qi Shuo , Zhuo Jiaming , Wen Sai , Fang Chihua
Published: February 2020

Background

With the improvement in diagnostic imaging, perioperative care and surgical technique, the indications and complexity of liver resections have developed. However, the surgical indications remain controversial especially for some complex or advanced hepatocellular carcinomas. This study was designed to evaluate the concordance between hepatectomy recommendations proposed by Watson for Oncology, a cognitive technology providing decision support, and those determined by surgeons in our center for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 243 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were recommended for surgical treatment and received hepatectomy between 2008 and 2016 at the Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University. Watson for Oncology classified the treatment options into three categories: recommended, for consideration and not recommended. Treatment recommendations were considered concordant if the hepatectomy recommendations were designated “recommended” or “for consideration” by Watson for Oncology. The factors potentially affecting concordance rate were also analyzed in our study.

Results

The hepatectomy recommendations of 174 patients were concordant. There were significant differences in the coincidence rate between concordant group and discordant group considering tumor numbers (P = 0.006), extension of hepatectomy (P = 0.009) and BCLC staging system (P < 0.001). Lower degrees of concordance were observed in patients with multiple tumors, major hepatectomy and portal hypertension by using logistic regression analysis (OR = 0.309, P = 0.004; OR = 0.384, P = 0.004; and OR = 0.376, P = 0.022, respectively).

Conclusion

The concordance between Watson for Oncology and surgeons’ hepatectomy recommendation for hepatocellular carcinoma was only 72%. Differences in practice patterns for HCC between the USA (where Watson for Oncology was calibrated) and China may be the major cause of discordance. Watson for Oncology still requires further improvement and localization to be widely applied in China.
Electrophysiological examination of response-related interference while dual-tasking: is it motoric or attentional?
Authors: Jung Kyung Hun , Martin Tim , Ruthruff Eric
Published: February 2020

The possibility that interference between motor responses contributes to dual-task costs has long been neglected, yet is supported by several recent studies. There are two competing hypotheses regarding this response-related interference. The motor-bottleneck hypothesis asserts that the motor stage of Task 1 triggers a refractory period that delays the motor stage of Task 2. The response-monitoring hypothesis asserts that monitoring of the Task-1 motor response delays the response-selection stage of Task 2. Both hypotheses predict lengthening of Task-2 response time (RT2) when Task 1 requires motor processing relative to when it does not. However, they assume different loci for the response-related bottleneck, and therefore make different predictions regarding (a) the interaction between Task-1 motor requirement and the Task-2 difficulty effect as measured by RT2 and (b) the premotoric durations and motoric durations of Task 2 as measured by lateralized readiness potentials (LRPs). To test these predictions, we conducted two experiments manipulating the Task-1 motor requirement (Go vs. NoGo) and Task-2 response-selection difficulty, as well as the stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA). Task-1 motor processing significantly lengthened RT2, suggesting response-related interference. Importantly, the Task-1 motor response reduced the Task-2 difficulty effect at the short SOA, indicating postponement of the Task-2 motor stage, consistent with the motor-bottleneck hypothesis. Further consistent with the motor-bottleneck hypothesis, the Task-2 LRP indicated a consistent premotoric duration of Task 2 regardless of Task-1 motor requirement. These results are difficult to reconcile with the response-monitoring hypotheses, which places the response-related bottleneck before the response-selection stage of Task 2. The results also have important implications regarding use of locus-of-slack logic in PRP studies.
eDNA als neues Werkzeug für das Gewässermonitoring – Potenzial und Rahmenbedingungen anhand ausgewählter Anwendungsbeispiele aus Österreich
Authors: Schenekar Tamara , Schletterer Martin , Weiss Steven
Published: February 2020

In den letzten Jahren wurden vermehrt DNA-basierte Methoden zur Unterstützung konventioneller Ansätze von Biodiversitätserhebungen vorgeschlagen. Hierbei wird der Verwendung von Umwelt-DNA (oder environmental DNA – eDNA) ein besonders großes Potenzial zur Verbesserung von Biomonitorings zugeschrieben. Anhand von eDNA kann man mittels Einzelartansätzen wie qPCRs gezielt Arten nachweisen, oder aber, mittels Metabarcoding die gesamte Artenzusammensetzung einer Zielgruppe beschreiben. In diesem Artikel geben wir einen kurzen Überblick über Potenzial und Rahmenbedingungen dieser Methoden und stellen drei kleine Pilotstudien von eDNA-Analysen in österreichischen Fließgewässern vor. Zwei Projekte testeten den Einsatz von eDNA-Metabarcoding-Analysen zur Erhebung der Fischfauna in Tiroler Gewässern, während in einer dritten Studie ein Test auf Anwesenheit der Europäischen Äsche in der Enns sowie im Johnsbach im Nationalpark Gesäuse evaluiert wurde. Des Weiteren werden die Vor- und Nachteile von eDNA-basierten Ansätzen im Vergleich mit konventionellen Methoden diskutiert.
How bugs are born: a model to identify how bugs are introduced in software components
Authors: Rodríguez-Pérez Gema , Robles Gregorio , Serebrenik Alexander , Zaidman Andy , Germán Daniel M. , Gonzalez-Barahona Jesus M.
Published: February 2020

When identifying the origin of software bugs, many studies assume that “a bug was introduced by the lines of code that were modified to fix it”. However, this assumption does not always hold and at least in some cases, these modified lines are not responsible for introducing the bug. For example, when the bug was caused by a change in an external API. The lack of empirical evidence makes it impossible to assess how important these cases are and therefore, to which extent the assumption is valid. To advance in this direction, and better understand how bugs “are born”, we propose a model for defining criteria to identify the first snapshot of an evolving software system that exhibits a bug. This model, based on the perfect test idea, decides whether a bug is observed after a change to the software. Furthermore, we studied the model’s criteria by carefully analyzing how 116 bugs were introduced in two different open source software projects. The manual analysis helped classify the root cause of those bugs and created manually curated datasets with bug-introducing changes and with bugs that were not introduced by any change in the source code. Finally, we used these datasets to evaluate the performance of four existing SZZ-based algorithms for detecting bug-introducing changes. We found that SZZ-based algorithms are not very accurate, especially when multiple commits are found; the F-Score varies from 0.44 to 0.77, while the percentage of true positives does not exceed 63%. Our results show empirical evidence that the prevalent assumption, “a bug was introduced by the lines of code that were modified to fix it”, is just one case of how bugs are introduced in a software system. Finding what introduced a bug is not trivial: bugs can be introduced by the developers and be in the code, or be created irrespective of the code. Thus, further research towards a better understanding of the origin of bugs in software projects could help to improve design integration tests and to design other procedures to make software development more robust.
Dating Medieval Masonry Buildings by Radiocarbon Analysis of Mortar-Entrapped Relict Limekiln Fuels—a Buildings Archaeology
Authors: Thacker Mark
Published: February 2020

This paper considers how the data returned by radiocarbon analysis of wood-charcoal mortar-entrapped relict limekiln fuels (MERLF) relates to other evidence for the construction of medieval northern European masonry buildings. A review of previous studies highlights evidence for probable residuality in the data and reflects on how this has impacted on resultant interpretations. A critical survey of various wood-fired mortar materials and lime-burning techniques is then presented, to highlight evidence suggesting that a broad spectrum of different limekiln fuels has been exploited in different periods and that growth, seasoning, carriage and construction times are variable. It is argued that radiocarbon analysis of MERLF fragments does not date building construction directly and the heterogeneity of the evidence demands our interpretations are informed by sample taphonomy. A framework of Bayesian modelling approaches is then advanced and applied to three Scottish case studies with contrasting medieval MERLF assemblages. Ultimately, these studies demonstrate that radiocarbon analysis of MERLF materials can generate reasonably precise date range estimates for the construction of medieval masonry buildings which are consistent with other archaeological, historical and architectural interpretations. The paper will highlight that these different types of evidence are often complementary and establish that radiocarbon dated building materials can provide an important focus for more holistic multidisciplinary interpretations of the historic environment in various periods.
Reclaiming constructivism: towards an interpretive reading of the ‘Social Construction Framework’
Authors: Barbehön Marlon
Published: February 2020

The ‘Social Construction Framework’ which addresses the relationship between policy design and the construction of target groups is one of the central approaches within the field of policy theories. Yet, despite its name, the approach builds on several naturalist premises, and its analytical components are informed by principles rooted in positivist methodologies. Against this background, this article conducts a thorough critique of the framework’s constructivist shortcomings, and it develops a strictly constructivist and interpretive reading of its core arguments. The analytical value is substantiated by presenting original empirical research on the meaning of the ‘middle class’ in German welfare policy. We will show that, firstly, group construction is not only a matter of positive or negative evaluation, but more fundamentally an act of boundary-drawing, with differently constructed middle classes enabling different welfare policies. Secondly, we will show that target group constructions are always entangled with the construction of the group’s outside, leading to the stabilisation and legitimisation of hierarchies between the middle class and ‘the others’ in society. Thirdly, we demonstrate that the power of a target group is also a matter of social construction, with the middle class obtaining its hegemonic position from an order of knowledge that equates the middle with ‘the normal’ and ‘the common good’. Based on these insights, the article raises a more general plea against the translation of constructivism into a middle-range theory of the policy process and instead emphasises the ontological and epistemological distinctiveness of strict constructivism and interpretive methodologies.
Mild cognitive impairment and quality of life in the oldest old: a closer look
Authors: Hussenoeder Felix S. , Conrad Ines , Roehr Susanne , Fuchs Angela , Pentzek Michael , Bickel Horst , Moesch Edelgard , Weyerer Siegfried , Werle Jochen , Wiese Birgitt , Mamone Silke , Brettschneider Christian , Heser Kathrin , Kleineidam Luca , Kaduszkiewicz Hanna , Eisele Marion , Maier Wolfgang , Wagner Michael , Scherer Martin , König Hans-Helmut , Riedel-Heller Steffi G.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a widespread phenomenon, especially affecting older individuals. We will analyze in how far MCI affects different facets of quality of life (QOL).

Methods

We used a sample of 903 participants (110 with MCI) from the fifth follow-up of the German Study on Ageing, Cognition, and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe), a prospective longitudinal study, to analyze the effects of MCI on different facets of the WHOQOL-OLD. We controlled for age, gender, marital status, education, living situation, daily living skills, and the ability to walk, see, and hear.

Results

Univariate analyses showed that individuals with MCI exhibited lower QOL with regard to the facets autonomy; past, present, and future activities; social participation; and intimacy, but less fears related to death and dying. No significant difference was shown with regard to the facet sensory abilities. In multivariate analyses controlling for age, gender, marital status, education, living situation, daily living skills, and the ability to walk, see and hear, MCI-status was significantly associated with QOL in the facet autonomy.

Conclusion

Effects of MCI go beyond cognition and significantly impact the lives of those affected. Further research and practice will benefit from utilizing specific facets of QOL rather than a total score.
SWEclat: a frequent itemset mining algorithm over streaming data using Spark Streaming
Authors: Xiao Wen , Hu Juan
Published: February 2020

Finding frequent itemsets in a continuous streaming data is an important data mining task which is widely used in network monitoring, Internet of Things data analysis and so on. In the era of big data, it is necessary to develop a distributed frequent itemset mining algorithm to meet the needs of massive streaming data processing. Apache Spark is a unified analytic engine for massive data processing which has been successfully used in many data mining fields. In this paper, we propose a distributed algorithm for mining frequent itemsets over massive streaming data named SWEclat. The algorithm uses sliding window to process streaming data and uses vertical data structure to store the dataset in the sliding window. This algorithm is implemented by Apache Spark and uses Spark RDD to store streaming data and dataset in vertical data format, so as to divide these RDDs into partitions for distributed processing. Experimental results show that SWEclat algorithm has good acceleration, parallel scalability and load balancing.
Microstructural Evolution of SA508 Grade 3 Steel during Hot Deformation
Authors: Mandal Paranjayee , Lalvani Himanshu , Barrow Andrew , Adams Jack
Published: February 2020

SA508 grade 3 steel is widely used in the manufacture of large-scale forged components for nuclear reactor applications. Numerical models have already been established to simulate industrial forging process of grade 3 steel; however, limited information is available on the microstructural evolution of this steel during hot forging operation. This work focuses on the flow behavior and related microstructural evolution in grade 3 steel with detailed analysis on the interfacial friction, texture and hardness evolution. Uniaxial hot compression tests were conducted over a range of test temperatures (880-1130 °C) and true strain rates (0.001-1/s), representative of the industrial hot forging conditions. Two different deformation mechanisms, MDRX at the lowest forging temperature and DRV along with DRX at the highest forging temperature, were observed showing marked impact on the final microstructure and hardness. A random fiber-type weak deformation texture was observed irrespective of the test temperatures and strain rates used. The microstructural changes from the as-received to the various deformed conditions were quantified. The quantitative data are the key to obtain accurate parameters for DRV and DRX processes that affect the accuracy of the mathematical models.
Swyneshed, Aristotle and the Rule of Contradictory Pairs
Authors: Read Stephen
Published: February 2020

Roger Swyneshed, in his treatise on insolubles (logical paradoxes), dating from the early 1330s, drew three notorious corollaries from his solution. The third states that there is a contradictory pair of propositions both of which are false. This appears to contradict what Whitaker, in his iconoclastic reading of Aristotle’s De Interpretatione, dubbed “The Rule of Contradictory Pairs” (RCP), which requires that in every such pair, one must be true and the other false. Whitaker argued that, immediately after defining the notion of a contradictory pair, in which one statement affirms what the other denies of the same thing, Aristotle himself gave counterexamples to the rule. This gives some credence to Swyneshed’s claim that his solution to the logical paradoxes is not contrary to Aristotle’s teaching, as many of Swyneshed’s contemporaries claimed. Insolubles are false, he said, because they falsify themselves; and their contradictories are false because they falsely deny that the insoluble itself is false. Swyneshed’s solution depends crucially on the revision he makes to the acount of truth and falsehood, brought out in his first thesis: that a false proposition can signify as it is, or as Paul of Venice, who took up and developed Swyneshed’s solution some sixty years later, puts it, a false proposition can have a true significate. Swyneshed gave a further counterexample to (RCP) when he claimed that some insolubles, like future contingents, are neither true nor false. Dialetheism, the contemporary claim that some propositions are both true and false, is wedded to the Rule, and in consequence divorces denial from the assertion of the contradictory negation. Consequently, Swyneshed’s logical heresy is very different from that found in dialetheism.
Good gamers, good managers? A proof-of-concept study with Sid Meier’s Civilization
Authors: Simons Alexander , Wohlgenannt Isabell , Weinmann Markus , Fleischer Stefan
Published: February 2020

Human resource professionals increasingly enhance their assessment tools with game elements—a process typically referred to as “gamification”—to make them more interesting and engaging for candidates, and they design and use “serious games” that can support skill assessment and development. However, commercial, off-the-shelf video games are not or are only rarely used to screen or test candidates, even though there is increasing evidence that they are indicative of various skills that are professionally valuable. Using the strategy game Civilization, this proof-of-concept study explores if strategy video games are indicative of managerial skills and, if so, of what managerial skills. Under controlled laboratory conditions, we asked forty business students to play the Civilization game and to participate in a series of assessment exercises. We find that students who had high scores in the game had better skills related to problem-solving and organizing and planning than the students who had low scores. In addition, a preliminary analysis of in-game data, including players’ interactions and chat messages, suggests that strategy games such as Civilization may be used for more precise and holistic “stealth assessments,” including personality assessments.
Contrasting color loss and restoration in survivors of the 2014–2017 coral bleaching event in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Authors: Knipp A. L. , Pettijohn J. C. , Jadot C. , Hertler H.
Published: February 2020

Coral cover throughout the Caribbean region has declined by approximately 80% since the 1970s (Gardner et al. in Ecology 86(1):174–184, 2005) attributed to a combination of environmental and anthropogenic factors, including ocean acidification, rising sea surface temperatures, increased susceptibility to disease, as well as increased frequency and strength of storms, development stress, and increased sediment and nutrient loads. Three Global Bleaching Events (GBE) coincide directly with El Niño warming phases in El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle (1997–1998, 2009–2010, and 2014–2017). This study focuses the effects of anomalously high sea surface temperatures on Turks and Caicos Islands coral taxa during the 2014–2017 GBE. Interannual and interspecific variability in coral health offshore of South Caicos Island were evaluated between 2012 and 2018 using the CoralWatch citizen science Coral Health Chart method along belt transects at four dive survey sites. The study includes 104 site surveys conducted from 15 October 2012 to 18 July 2018. Coral health was assessed for the 35 principal coral taxa and 5646 individual corals. Data indicates that all coral taxa at the study sites were resilient to the maximum regional thermal stress during the 2014–2017 GBE, with boulder-type corals showing no significant bleaching as a result of the peak thermal stress in late 2015 and plate-type corals responding with a significant (p < 0.05) bleaching signal (i.e., coral color reductions), rebounding to pre-GBE pigmentations within months of the anomalously-high thermal stress. Boulder coral types were significantly healthier in 2017 than in 2014 when using coral color as a health diagnostic.
Arsenic-Bearing Serpentine-Group Minerals: Mineral Synthesis with Insights for the Arsenic Cycle
Authors: Ryan P. C. , Huertas F.J. , Pincus L. N. , Painter W.
Published: February 2020

When present at elevated levels in drinking water, arsenic is toxic, and magnesian clays are gaining recognition as a source of elevated arsenic in groundwater. In the crust and upper mantle of Earth, arsenic incorporation into clay minerals is influenced by geochemical conditions associated with hydrothermal fluids and metamorphic processes (e.g. serpentinization), meaning that As is a useful tracer of fluid-flow in the deep Earth. To improve understanding of arsenic speciation in groundwater, sediments, soils, and hydrothermal-metamorphic systems, the present study examined arsenic incorporation into magnesian clays by synthesis of serpentine minerals (200oC, 10 d) with varied concentrations of Si, Al, As5+, and As3+. The synthesis experiments produced two distinct crystal types, tubular and platy serpentines, each with 10–15% randomly interstratified talc layers. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated that As5+ and As3+ occurred in the tetrahedral sheet. Single-crystal analysis revealed that tubular crystals contained up to 1 wt.% arsenic [Mg2.8(Si1.8As0.2)O5(OH)4] (mean 0.2 wt.% As). The mean composition of platy, high-Al crystals is (Mg1.8Al0.7)(Si2.0)O5(OH)4, and that of platy, medium-Al crystals with As3+ is (Mg2.07Al0.52) (Si1.97As3+0.03)O5(OH)4. Charge, geometry, and radius of tetrahedral AsO43– oxyanions are similar to tetrahedral SiO44–, and this facilitates fixation of As5+ into the tetrahedral sheet of clay minerals. The geometry and size of the larger As3+ in tetrahedral sites (as a pyramidal AsO33– oxyanion) may limit incorporation relative to As5+. Arsenic-bearing Mg clays crystallize in alkaline environments where AsO43– or AsO33– are the dominant As species and where high pH accompanies crystallization of serpentine, talc, chlorite, or Mg-smectite. The presence of tetrahedral As in these clays raises the possibility of tetrahedral As in other Mg clays (e.g. sepiolite or kerolite) as well.
Evaluating barley landraces collected in North Africa and the Middle East for powdery mildew infection at seedling and adult plant stages
Authors: Piechota U. , Czembor P. C. , Czembor J. H.
Published: February 2020

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most widely grown cereal crops. Numerous pathogens impair the amount and quality of the grain yield. Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh) is a fungal pathogen causing powdery mildew, a widespread and economically important foliar disease. Since there is a limited number of known resistance genes, efforts of scientists and breeders are focused on searching for new sources of resistance. Barley landraces are a known, but still underexploited source of diversity. A set of 79 barley landraces collected in North Africa and the Middle East was tested against powdery mildew at seedling and adult plant stages. Under a controlled environment, 50% of accessions showed resistance conditioned by major genes. Among them, seven accessions showed broad resistance to Bgh isolates that were virulent to most of the known resistance genes. The field experiments carried out under natural infection over several years indicated all accessions as potential sources for resistance breeding. Twelve landraces were found to be medium resistant or resistant during all six seasons. This report relates to barley landraces as a promising source of potentially novel resistance to powdery mildew.
More than Just a Feeling: A Research Agenda for the Study of Consumer Emotions following Corporate Social Irresponsibility (CSI)
Authors: Antonetti Paolo
Published: February 2020

Research on how consumers react to Corporate Social Irresponsibility (CSI) has expanded significantly over the last few years. Scholars have identified the emotions caused by CSI information as an important area of research, since emotions drive consumer behavior. This article proposes a research agenda comprising five topics for future research that promise to advance research in this domain. First, research should develop theoretical explanations that clarify the specific role played by individual discrete emotions. Second, while existing research focuses predominantly on negative emotions, future studies could consider how positive emotions that are independent of the crisis might influence reactions to CSI. Third, scholars could explore in more depth the role that emotions play in avoidance responses, since past research has tended to focus predominantly on consumer aggression and retaliation. Fourth, research would benefit from integrating the current cross-sectional approach with a study of emotional dynamics both at the intrapersonal and at the interpersonal level. Finally, research should integrate dominant psychological perspectives with sociocultural conceptualizations of emotions. The article reviews each topic and proposes specific research questions for each of the areas identified.
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria: Exploring the Role of Home-Based Care Programs
Authors: Wyte-Lake Tamar , Claver Maria , Johnson-Koenke Rachel , Davis Darlene , Dobalian Aram
Published: February 2020

Objective:

The aim of this study is to determine the response of home-based primary care programs to the fall 2017 Atlantic hurricane season.

Methods:

This study examines the experiences of 9 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) programs in their responses to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Thirty-four phone interviews with HBPC leadership and staff were conducted from April to July 2018.

Results:

The total census of impacted HBPC programs was 3118. No program reported loss of life due to these hurricanes. Early preparedness was key to an effective program response. Response included prompt tracking of the patients. In the most affected areas, respondents noted limited resources to support basic patient needs.

Conclusions:

Medically complex patients served by programs such as the VHA’s HBPC program represent a subset of the population, yet they have an outsized impact on health care resources that could be exacerbated by inadequate disaster preparedness. HBPC programs serve a unique role in supporting the “older old.” They are tasked with supporting disaster preparedness activities of patients. Understanding what is involved in actualizing their requirements shows communities how to effectively engage with these programs.