bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optomechanical microwave oscillator and frequency comb generation in a full phononic bandgap 1D optomechanical crystal cavity
Authors: Mércade Laura , Martin Leopoldo L. , Griol Amadeu , Navarro-Urrios Daniel , Martínez Alejandro
Published: August 2020

In this work we show that a silicon optomechanical crystal cavity can be used as an optomechanical oscillator when driven to the phonon lasing condition with a blue-detuned laser. The optomechanical cavity is designed to have a breathing like mode vibrating at Ωm/2π =3.897 GHz in a full phononic bandgap. Our measurements show that the first harmonic displays a phase noise of -100 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz. Stronger bluedetuned driving leads eventually to the formation of an optomechanical frequency comb, with lines spaced by the mechanical frequency. The measured phase noise grows up with the harmonic number, as in classical harmonic mixing. We present real-time measurements of the comb waveform and show that it can be adjusted to a theoretical model recently presented. Our results suggest that silicon optomechanical cavities can play a role in integrated microwave photonics.
Cavity-enhanced detection of transient absorption signals
Authors: Rodrigues-Machado Fernanda C. , Pestre Pauline , Scanlon Liam , Enger Shirin A. , Sankey Jack C. , Childress Lilian I.
Published: August 2020

We present a simple, high-duty-cycle, cavity-enhanced optical absorption measurement technique based on delay-limited Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) sideband locking. The chosen circuit naturally provides realtime readout of the amplitude quadrature of the PDH error signal, which can be mapped onto the cavity’s internal loss rate while using the phase quadrature to lock sideband frequency to the cavity mode. Our proofof-concept device comprises a 5-cm-long Fabry-Perot cavity with a 450 kHz bandwidth (finesse 6800, 350 ns power ringdown), and a feedback bandwidth of several MHz, limited primarily by the group delay of our electronics. This technique could readily be applied to other optical resonators such as fiber cavities, with potential applications in radiation dosimetry.
Optical design of a variable angle irradiation system for skin cancer laser phototherapy
Authors: Garcia Diogo , Coelho João M. P. , Vieira Pedro
Published: August 2020

Photothermal therapy is a developing therapeutic technic mainly regarding the usage of nanoparticles considering their proneness to assemble around malignant tissue and induce their destruction by converting electromagnetic radiation into thermal radiation. In order to optimize this process, controlling the area of incidence in a way that it can fit the tumour and prevent damage of healthy cells is of great importance. This study was conducted by designing an optical system based on zoom systems for manipulating an initial input beam and adjust it to the most common skin cancer sizes. Two solutions are proposed, accomplishing spot sizes at 150 mm from the last lens within the approximate range of 2 mm to 76 mm, with beam divergences lower than 3 mrad.
Discrete transparent boundary conditions for the two-dimensional leap-frog scheme: approximation and fast implementation
Authors: Besse Christophe , Coulombel Jean-François , Noble Pascal
Published: August 2020

We develop a general strategy in order to implement approximate discrete transparent boundary conditions for finite difference approximations of the two-dimensional transport equation. The computational domain is a rectangle equipped with a Cartesian grid. For the two-dimensional leap-frog scheme, we explain why our strategy provides with explicit numerical boundary conditions on the four sides of the rectangle and why it does not require prescribing any condition at the four corners of the computational domain. The stability of the numerical boundary condition on each side of the rectangle is analyzed by means of the so-called normal mode analysis. Numerical investigations for the full problem on the rectangle show that strong instabilities may occur when coupling stable strategies on each side of the rectangle. Other coupling strategies yield promising results.
Die Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie der Universitätsmedizin Rostock – von Fischschuppenerkrankungen, Mondscheinkindern und viel, viel Mee(h)r!
Authors: Emmert S. , Panzer R. , Rode S. , Thiem A. , Tietze J. , Blaschke V. , Fischer T. , Böckmann L.
Published: August 2020

Die Universität Rostock und die Universitätsmedizin als Gründungsfakultät ist die drittälteste Alma Mater in Mitteleuropa – 2019 hat sie ihr 600-jähriges Bestehen gefeiert. Die Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie der Universitätsmedizin Rostock kann auf eine ähnlich lange Tradition zurückblicken – sie ist das drittälteste Ordinariat nach Breslau und der Charité in Berlin. Gemäß dem universitären Motto „Traditio et Innovatio“ hat sich aus dieser Tradition, begründet durch angesehene Ordinarien wie Wolters, Frieboes oder auch Flegel zu DDR-Zeiten, in den letzten 4 Jahren eine moderne universitäre Dermatologische Universitätsklinik (DUK) mit hoher Entwicklungsdynamik und einem Masterplan DUK2030 für alle Bereiche der Krankenversorgung, Forschung und Lehre entwickelt. Unter einem Dach sind stationäre, teilstationäre, ambulante und operative Patientenversorgung zusammen mit dem histologischen und klinischen Labor und den Forschungslaboren vereint. Unter anderem durch Zentrumsgründungen vor Ort (Hautkrebszentrum, Immuntherapiezentrum, Allergologisches Zentrum, Gefäß- und Wundzentrum, Zentrum für Seltene (Haut-) Erkrankungen) und auf europäischer Ebene (Europäisches Referenznetzwerkzentrum für seltene Hauterkrankungen) hat diese interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit die Klinik lokal und überregional sehr gut vernetzt. Ein junges, hochengagiertes und noch expandierendes Team hat diese bisherige Entwicklung ermöglicht. Dafür kann allen Beteiligten nicht genug gedankt werden. Dieser und die folgenden Artikel geben einen Einblick in die dermatologische Welt der Universitätsmedizin Rostock.
Aquagener Pruritus als Warnzeichen eines inneren Tumorleidens – eine Fallvorstellung und Literaturübersicht
Authors: Troitzsch P. , Panzer R. , Emmert S. , Thiem A.
Published: August 2020

Aquagener Pruritus (AP), d. h. Jucken, Kribbeln, Brennen nach Wasserkontakt, ist ein häufiges Symptom bei Polycythaemia vera und anderen myeloproliferativen Neoplasien, kann aber auch unabhängig davon auftreten. Wie andere Formen des Pruritus schränkt AP die Lebensqualität der Betroffenen häufig ein und kann zu einem hohen Leidensdruck führen. Zur Pathogenese existieren unterschiedliche Erklärungsansätze, jedoch kein einheitliches Konzept. Passend dazu sprechen Patienten auch nur zum Teil auf vorhandene Therapien an, die überwiegend off label sind. In dieser Literaturübersicht zum AP werden beschriebene Pathomechanismen diskutiert und mögliche Therapieformen genannt. Ein verbessertes Verständnis von AP soll dazu beitragen, dieses Symptom zu erkennen und an mögliche zugrunde liegende Erkrankungen, insbesondere an ein inneres Tumorleiden, zu denken.
Differential Diagnosis of Acquired Esotropia in the Elderly
Authors: Roggenkämper Bettina , Neugebauer Antje , Fricke Julia , Hedergott Andrea M.
Published: August 2020

Aim To provide an overview of the differential diagnoses of acquired esotropia that occur in the elderly and to facilitate their differentiation in everyday clinical practice.

Methods The data of all patients who presented in our outpatient university department for strabology and neuroophthalmology from March 2014 to October 2015 due to esotropia with diplopia with onset after age 50 were evaluated retrospectively. Exclusion criteria were a known strabismus before the age of 50 and/or vertical deviations in the primary position. Anamnestic characteristics, accompanying findings and orthoptic parameters, were analysed.

Results 85 patients were included in the study, 42 of them female and 43 male. The following diagnoses were made: abducens nerve palsy (n = 34, 3 of them both sides), esotropia due to myopia magna (n = 12), esotropia with accompanying neurological symptoms (n = 6) and other etiology (n = 5). In 4 cases, the diagnosis was still unclear at the end of the study. In 24 patients, none of the above diagnoses existed and the diagnosis of “sagging eye syndrome” (ETSAG) was made. The abducens nerve palsy typically showed a sudden onset of double vision, slowed abduction saccades and asymmetrical abduction ability. With unilateral abducens nerve palsy, the esotropia increased continuously from the view to the unaffected side through the primary position to the view to the affected side. Patients with ETSAG and myopia-associated esotropia, on the other hand, reported a gradual onset of double vision, showed normal abduction saccades and a slightly reduced abduction ability. The squint angle often increased slightly to both sides. Esotropia with accompanying neurological symptoms was rare and was seen in various underlying diseases.

Conclusions The kind of onset of the double vision, the quality of the saccades, the incomitance pattern and the ability to abduct are important parameters for the etiological assignment of an esotropia in the elderly. The characteristics of the individual diagnoses are described and differential diagnostic aspects are discussed.
Chondrokalzinose
Authors: Niemeier Andreas , Rüther Wolfgang
Published: August 2020

Als Chondrokalzinose bezeichnet man die Ablagerung von Kalziumphosphaten im chondralen Gewebe. Im Gelenk treten die Minerale sowohl im hyalinen Knorpel wie im Faserknorpel auf. Die Kalzifikationen sind teils amorph, teils kristallin. Es werden sowohl apatitische Kristalle wie Pyrophosphatkristalle beobachtet. Die Ätiologie ist unklar, möglicherweise nicht monokausal. Es mehren sich die Hinweise, dass es sich um ein systemisches Geschehen, d. h. alle Gelenke betreffend, handelt, das – in geringerer Ausprägung – schon in jungem Alter einsetzt. Die Chondrokalzinose lässt sich so nicht als Sekundärphänomen einer Arthrose verstehen. Die Chondrokalzinose ist wahrscheinlich viel häufiger als sie diagnostiziert wird. Im Röntgenbild ist die Kalzinose erst dann erkennbar, wenn stärkere Depositionen vorliegen und wenn sich die Knorpelgewebe ohne Knochenüberlagerung projizieren lassen. Apatitische Kristalle sind derart klein, dass sie weder im Punktat noch im histologischen Schnitt lichtmikroskopisch erkennbar sind. Das Serumlabor ist unergiebig.
Medien und frühe Kindheitsentwicklung
Authors: Mall Volker
Published: August 2020

Der Einsatz elektronischer Medien in der frühen Kindheit wird häufig kontrovers diskutiert. Der folgende Artikel soll zu dieser Diskussion einen evidenzbasierten Beitrag leisten. Mit dem Ziel konkrete Empfehlungen zur Mediennutzung abzugeben, wird vor allem zwei Fragen nachgegangen: 1. Die Auswirkungen von Mediennutzung in den ersten Lebensjahren auf die Entwicklung und die psychische Gesundheit. 2. Inwiefern „Lernen“ durch moderne elektronische Medien in dieser frühen Entwicklungsphase möglich ist. Die Literaturrecherche ergibt ein klares Bild bezüglich der Auswirkungen von exzessivem Medienkonsum auf die Kindesentwicklung und die psychische Gesundheit. Studien belegen eine verzögerte Sprachentwicklung, verzögerte motorische Fähigkeiten und Erhöhung des Risikos für Aufmerksamkeits- und Angststörung sowie Depression. Für Lerneffekte über digitale Medien gibt es zumindest vor dem 18. Lebensmonat keine Hinweise. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird der frühe Medienkonsum international einheitlich von allen Kinderärzte-Verbänden kritisch gesehen und ein Null-Konsum unter 18 (USA) bzw. 36 (D) Monaten empfohlen.
Patient Reported Outcomes
Authors: Deimel Hubertus , Chermette Chloé
Published: August 2020

Bewegungs- und sporttherapeutische Maßnahmen bilden einen festen Therapiebestandteil im Rahmen der multidisziplinären Rehabilitation von alkoholabhängigen Menschen. Dies begründet sich aus den suchtbedingten Folgen im physischen, psychischen und sozialen Bereich. Die Zielsetzungen der Bewegungs- und Sporttherapie liegen dementsprechend in der Verbesserung der physischen Funktionen, der Stärkung psychosozialer Ressourcen sowie der Hinführung zu einem körperlich aktiven Lebensstil und zu Gesundheitskompetenz. Hinsichtlich ihrer Evidenz liegen bisher wenige randomisierte Studien im Sinne der evidenzbasierten Medizin (EbM) vor. Unter deren Kriterien lassen sich komplementäre Therapien im stationären Bereich kaum sauber evaluieren. Hier sollte das Konzept der evidenzbasierten Praxis (EbP) ergänzend hinzutreten.

Die vorliegende multizentrische Studie untersucht in diesem Sinne die subjektive Bewertung der Therapiemaßnahmen am Ende der stationären Behandlung hinsichtlich des Therapieerfolgs mittels eines standardisierten Fragebogens. Zudem sollten ausgewählte Faktoren innerhalb der Bewegungs- und Sporttherapie bewertet werden, die zu einem Behandlungserfolg beigetragen haben. Es konnten insgesamt die Werte von 218 Klienten statistisch ausgewertet werden. Die Ergebnisse verweisen zum einen auf die hohe Akzeptanz dieser Maßnahme im Rahmen der angebotenen Therapiemodule hin. Zum anderen kristallisierten sich drei nahezu gleichgewichtige Wirkfaktoren heraus, die als hilfreich angesehen wurden. Dies sind der gesundheitliche, der soziale sowie der sensitive und kognitive Benefit. Die Ergebnisse sollten für zukünftige Konzeptualisierungen der Bewegungs- und Sporttherapie sowie bei der Revision der Therapiestandards stärker berücksichtigt werden.
The Clinical Picture of a Bilateral Perisylvian Syndrome as the Initial Symptom of Mega-Corpus-Callosum Syndrome due to a MAST1-Gene Mutation
Authors: Hecher Laura , Johannsen Jessika , Bierhals Tatjana , Buhk Jan-Hendrik , Hempel Maja , Denecke Jonas
Published: August 2020

Congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome (CBPS) is a rare neurological disorder associated with typical clinical and imaging features such as bilateral symmetrical polymicrogyria, either exclusively or mainly affecting the perisylvian region of the brain. We present a girl with the typical clinical picture of a CBPS and a complex migration disorder, predominantly presenting as bilateral symmetrical polymicrogyria associated with corpus callosum hyperplasia, ventricular dilation, and pontine hypoplasia. At the age of 6 months, the girl showed a profound global developmental delay, seizures refractory to treatment, and severe oromotor dysfunction. Exome analysis revealed a de novo mutation in microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase 1 (MAST1). Recently, mutations in this gene were described in six patients with a cortical migration disorder named mega-corpus-callosum syndrome with cerebellar hypoplasia. Although all patients present the clinical and imaging features of CBPS, a clear assignment between CBPS and MAST1 mutations has not been reported yet.
Mucosal Fenestration After 2% Chlorhexidine Extrusion Used in Substitution of Sodium Hypochlorite: A Case Report
Authors: Alves Flávio Rodrigues Ferreira , Marceliano-Alves Marília F. , Souza Aline Carvalho de , Campello Andrea Fagundes
Published: August 2020

This report describes a case of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorhexidine (CHX) extrusion through the apical foramen, causing acute pain, swelling and mucosal fenestration. A 62-year-old woman was referred for endodontic treatment in the first left maxillary premolar with a diagnosis of necrotic pulp. After the root canal irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl, the patient felt a burning sensation and pain. Discrete swelling and redness were noted in the patient’s face at the end of the session. Antibiotic and corticosteroids were prescribed. In the next appointment, 2% CHX was used, but another episode of extrusion occurred, with a sudden acute pain and intense swelling within a few minutes after the injection. After 2 weeks, the patient exhibited a left-side facial swelling extending anterior and inferior to the left zygomatic arch and superior to the body of the mandible. Oral antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drugs were administered. After 10 days, the swelling had completely diminished, but a mucosal fenestration and tooth mobility were verified. A cone beam CT was requested and showed a periapical lesion involving both buccal and palatal roots. After a prosthetic evaluation, the tooth extraction was indicated. One week after tooth removal, the mucosa was completely healed.
Plate Removal after Internal Fixation of Limb Fractures: A Retrospective Study of Indications and Complications in 48 Horses
Authors: Donati Brice , Fürst Anton E. , Del Chicca Francesca , Jackson Michelle A.
Published: August 2020

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the indications for, and complications of, plate removal surgery in horses that underwent internal fixation of limb fractures.

Study Design Medical records of horses presented to our hospital between 1990 and 2015 for the removal of plates after treatment of limb fractures were reviewed. Data collected at the time of initial presentation, including signalment, history, fracture features and treatment and information about the indications, timing and complications of implant removal were reviewed.

Results The most common bones involved were the ulna (n = 19) and third metacarpal and metatarsal bones (n = 14). A total of 63 plates were removed from 48 horses during 53 separate surgeries, and the complication rate was 6/48; six horses had complications related to implant removal, which included persistent infection (n = 1) and refracture (n = 5). Complications related to implant removal were associated with comminuted fractures (p = 0.002), age > 3 years (p = 0.016) and the presence of surgical site infection (p = 0.001).

Conclusion Plate removal after fracture healing is necessary in patients with implant-associated clinical signs. There is a strong relationship between the complication rate and the degree of comminution of the original fracture, increasing age and the presence of surgical site infection. The surgeon must be aware of these risk factors when planning plate removal.
Publication Rate and Evidence-Based Evaluation of Abstracts Presented at the Annual Veterinary Orthopedic Society Conference
Authors: Kettleman William S. , Iuliani Matthew C. , Webb Brenna G. , Ceballos Joselys M. , Torres Bryan T.
Published: August 2020

Objectives Scientific abstracts are a common method for disseminating new research. There is no information on the publication rate of orthopaedic surgery abstracts presented at the annual Veterinary Orthopedic Society (VOS) Conference. The objectives of this study were to document the publication rate, the publication timeline and the level of evidence (LoE) of abstracts presented at an annual orthopaedic meeting.

Study Design All conference abstracts from the 2001 to 2014 annual VOS meeting were reviewed, and final publication was determined through a comprehensive bibliographic search.

Results Over 14 conferences, 1,112 scientific abstracts were presented with an overall publication rate of 47%. The majority of abstracts had low LoE scores, and those abstracts were published less timely than ones with higher LoE scores. Once presented, most abstracts took 1 year to be submitted and 2 years to be published. Dog (45%) and ex vivo (19%) studies were the most common. Publication occurred most frequently in Veterinary Surgery (40%), Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology (17%) and the American Journal of Veterinary Research (12%).

Conclusion The publication rate for abstracts presented at the annual VOS meeting is lower than those from a more generalized veterinary surgery conference. Publication occurs most frequently in a select group of journals, and the subject matter is limited in scope with a focus on dog and ex vivo studies. Overall, most abstracts presented at VOS contain a lower LoE.
Measuring Parental Presence in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Powers Shelby A. , Taylor Katherine , Tumin Dmitry , Kohler John A.
Published: August 2020

Parental presence is believed to improve outcomes for infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). As a result, NICU policies and procedures have evolved to support parental presence, and a growing number of studies examine the role of parental presence in the NICU. However, the measurement of parental presence is not standardized, complicating assessment of its impact on child and parent outcomes across studies. We reviewed 29 studies that presented 27 distinct methods of quantifying parental presence in the NICU and reported associations of presence with patient demographics, parental engagement in the NICU, and outcomes for both infants and parents. This overview provides a foundation for standardizing and improving routine measurement of parental presence in the NICU.

Key Points
Pharmaceutical Expenditure Is Unchanged with Ultrasound-Guided Surfactant Administration
Authors: De Luca Daniele , Yousef Nadya
Published: August 2020

Objective Semiquantitative lung ultrasound improves the timeliness of surfactant replacement, but its financial consequences are unknown. We aim to investigate if the ultrasound-guided surfactant administration influences the general costs of surfactant therapy for preterm neonates affected by respiratory distress syndrome.

Study Design This is a pharmacoeconomic, retrospective, and before-and-after study investigating the impact of ultrasound-guided surfactant replacement (echography-guided Surfactant THERapy [ESTHER]) on pharmaceutical expenditure within the ESTHER initiative. Data extracted from the institutional official database hosted by the hospital administration for financial management were used for the analysis. We analyzed the number of surfactant administrations in neonates of gestational age ≤326/7 weeks, and the number of surfactant vials used from January 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014 (i.e., during the period of standard surfactant administration policy) and from July 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 (that is during ESTHER policy).

Results ESTHER did not modify surfactant use, as proportion of treated neonates with RDS receiving at least one surfactant dose (Standard: 21.3% vs. ESTHER: 20.9%; p = 0.876) or as proportion of used vials over the total number of vials opened for neonates of any gestational age (Standard: 37% vs. ESTHER: 35%; p = 0.509).

Conclusion Ultrasound-guided surfactant replacement using a semiquantitative lung ultrasound score in preterm infants with RDS does not change the global use of surfactant and the related expenditure.

Key Points
Atmospheric pressure self-organized filaments in dielectric barrier discharge excited by a modulated sinusoidal voltage
Authors: Wu Kaiyue , Wu Jiacun , Jia Boyu , Ren Chenhua , Kang Pengcheng , Jia Pengying , Li Xuechen
Published: August 2020

Excited by a modulated sinusoidal voltage, self-organized filaments are generated in a parallel plate dielectric barrier discharge with a flowing mixture of argon and nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. With increasing off time of the modulated voltage, a single filament transits into a pair of filaments. Then, the self-organized filaments undergo a scenario from triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, and finally, to a ring composed of rotating filaments. During the transition process, the discharge current always presents a single pulse per half voltage cycle, whose amplitude increases for both positive and negative discharges. However, discharge current symmetry deteriorates. Moreover, with increasing off time, the inception voltage increases for the positive discharge, while it decreases for the negative discharge. For the hexagonal arranged filaments, temporal evolutions are implemented for the positive and negative discharges. The results reveal that the initiation in one current pulse seems to propagate opposite to the gas flow direction in the positive discharge, while advances along it in the negative discharge. By optical emission spectroscopy, the electron temperature and electron density are investigated via Boltzmann plotting and a line ratio from 738 nm to 750 nm, respectively. With increasing off time, both of them increase for the positive discharge, while they decrease for the negative discharge. What is more, both electron temperature and electron density increase as the inception voltage increases.
Grad–Shafranov reconstruction of the magnetic configuration in the reconnection X-point vicinity in compressible plasma
Authors: Korovinskiy D. B. , Divin A. V. , Semenov V. S. , Erkaev N. V. , Kiehas S. A. , Kubyshkin I. V.
Published: August 2020

The reconstruction problem for steady symmetrical two-dimensional magnetic reconnection is addressed in the frame of a two-fluid approximation with neglected ion current. This approach yields Poisson's equation for the magnetic potential of the in-plane magnetic field, where the right-hand side contains the out-of-plane electron current density with the reversed sign. In the simplest case of uniform electron temperature and number density and neglecting the electron inertia, Poisson's equation turns to the Grad–Shafranov one. With boundary conditions fixed at any unclosed curve (the satellite trajectory), both equations result in an ill-posed problem. Since the magnetic configuration in the reconnection region is highly stretched, one can make use of the boundary layer approximation; hence, the problem becomes well-posed. The described approach is generalized for the case of nonuniform electron temperature and number density. The benchmark reconstruction of the PIC simulations data has shown that the main contribution for inaccuracy arises from replacing Poisson's equation by the equation of Grad–Shafranov. Under this substitution, the reachable cross-size of the reconstructed region is shrinking down to fractions of the proton inertial length. Artificial smoothing, demanded by solving the ill-posed problem, and boundary layer approximation represent two alternative methods of problem regularization. In terms of the reconstruction error, they perform nearly the same; the second method benefits from the comparative simplicity and less restrictions imposed on the boundary shape.
A comparison of indium arsenide antimonide and mercury cadmium telluride as long wavelength infrared detector materials
Authors: Ciani Anthony J. , Grein Christoph H. , Sarney Wendy L. , Svensson Stefan P. , Donetski Dmitri V. , Belenky Gregory L.
Published: August 2020

The basic material parameters that govern the performance of bulk alloys for long wavelength infrared detection have been calculated for indium arsenide antimonide and mercury cadmium telluride. The numbers show that similar performance could be expected from the two materials provided they can be synthesized at similar degrees of perfection. In order to approach parity, the quality of InAsSb must be optimized, which requires careful variations of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth parameters, namely, substrate temperature and flux magnitudes and ratios. Molecular dynamics-based simulations of MBE growth offer a means to optimize these parameters by providing constants for first-principles or empirical growth models or by directly relating the qualities of the simulation-grown crystals to the MBE parameters.
Ghost attractors in blinking Lorenz and Hindmarsh–Rose systems
Authors: Barabash Nikita V. , Levanova Tatiana A. , Belykh Vladimir N.
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we consider blinking systems, i.e., non-autonomous systems generated by randomly switching between several autonomous continuous time subsystems in each sequential fixed period of time. We study cases where a non-stationary attractor of a blinking system with fast switching unexpectedly differs from the attractors of composing subsystems. Such a non-stationary attractor is associated with an attractor of the averaged system being a ghost attractor of the blinking system [Belykh et al., Phys. D: Nonlinear Phenom. 195, 188 (2004); Hasler et al., SIAM J. Appl. Dyn. Syst. 12, 1031 (2013); Belykh et al., Eur. Phys. J. Spec. Top. 222, 2497 (2013)]. Validating the theory of stochastically blinking systems [Hasler et al., SIAM J. Appl. Dyn. Syst. 12, 1031 (2013); Hasler et al., SIAM J. Appl. Dyn. Syst. 12, 1007 (2013)], we demonstrate that fast switching between two Lorenz systems yields a ghost chaotic attractor, even though the dynamics of both systems are trivial and defined by stable equilibria. We also study a blinking Hindmarsh–Rose system obtained from the original model of neuron activity by using randomly switching sequence as an external stimulus. Despite the fact that the values of the external stimulus are selected from a set corresponding to the tonic spiking mode, the blinking model exhibits bursting activity. For both systems, we analyze changes in the dynamical behavior as the period of stochastic switching increases. Using a numerical approximation of the invariant measures of the blinking and averaged systems, we give estimates of a non-stationary and ghost attractors’ proximity.
Electronically Induced Steric Clash: Synthesis of NMe2-Modified β-Diketiminate-Supported Boron Difluoride Compounds
Authors: Murugesapandian Balasubramanian , Ganguly Rakesh , Lee Peter T. K. , Petković Milena , Clyburne Jason A. C. , Vidović Dragoslav
Published: August 2020

We report on the synthesis and structural features of NMe2-modified β-diketiminate-supported boron difluoride compounds (LArBF2: LAr=[HC(NAr)2(CNMe2)2]–; LPh: Ar=Ph; LTol: Ar=p-tolyl; LXyl: Ar=m-xylyl). The title compounds were prepared in moderate yields (~65%) by insitu deprotonation of the corresponding ligands LArH using KH, followed by the addition of BF3OEt2. According to solid-state and theoretical analyses of the BF2 compounds, the lone pair at each NMe2 group is involved in electron delocalization within the central BC3N2 ring. As a result, the N-aryl substituents sterically clash with the NMe2 groups, causing this central ring to pucker. Several attempts were made to prepare heavy analogues (e.g. LArBX2, X=Cl, Br, I) but only unidentifiable product mixtures were observed. It appears that the observed steric clash between the N-aryl substituents and the NMe2 groups prevented the formation of these heavy analogues.
Seasonal variation in basal resources supporting fish biomass in longitudinal zones of the Usumacinta River Basin, southern Mexico
Authors: Soria-Barreto Miriam , Montaña Carmen G. , Winemiller Kirk O. , Castillo María M. , Rodiles-Hernández Rocío
Published: August 2020

Aquatic food webs in tropical rivers are affected by spatial and temporal variations in basal resources and the composition of consumer assemblages. We used stable isotope analysis to estimate seasonal variation in basal resources supporting fish biomass in zones along the longitudinal gradient of the Usumacinta River Basin, the largest of Mesoamerica. A Bayesian isotope mixing model was used to estimate the proportional contributions of six basal resources: seston, filamentous algae, periphyton, aquatic macrophytes, riparian C3 plants and C4 plants. Models estimated that fish in the upper zone were largely supported by periphyton and riparian C3 plants during the dry season and by filamentous algae during the wet season. In the dry season, fishes in the middle and lower zones assimilated material derived from seston and, to a lesser extent, periphyton, whereas aquatic macrophytes were more important during the wet season. Chlorophyll-a measurements from the middle and lower zones suggested that seston contained large fractions of suspended algae. These patterns are consistent with the river wave concept, which predicts flow-associated changes in contributions of basal resources to the aquatic food web. The findings of this study reinforce the major role of flow regime in the ecological dynamics of rivers and how these dynamics vary depending on location and local conditions within fluvial networks.
Demographic perspectives on the mortality of COVID-19 and other epidemics
Authors: Goldstein Joshua R. , Lee Ronald D.
Published: August 2020

Significance

What would a hypothetical 1 million US deaths in the COVID-19 epidemic mean for mortality of individuals at the population level? Life expectancy for 2020 would drop by 2.9 y. Those dying would lose an average of 11.7 y of expected remaining life, while for the general population the loss of remaining life would be 0.2 y for elders (at age 80) and much less at younger ages. Mortality per person would be less than that of the Spanish flu, but closer to that of the opioid and HIV/AIDS epidemics, while far more concentrated in time. The standard valuation of averting 1.75 million deaths would be many trillions of dollars.
Prevention and treatment of SHIVAD8 infection in rhesus macaques by a potent
d
-peptide HIV entry inhibitor
Authors: Nishimura Yoshiaki , Francis J. Nicholas , Donau Olivia K. , Jesteadt Eric , Sadjadpour Reza , Smith Amanda R. , Seaman Michael S. , Welch Brett D. , Martin Malcolm A. , Kay Michael S.
Published: August 2020

Significance

This paper characterizes a
d
-peptide HIV entry inhibitor, CPT31, in rhesus macaques. This nonhuman primate animal model provides the most robust evaluation of an in vivo antiviral prior to human trials. As described here, CPT31 is a promising HIV drug candidate because of its high potency and breadth, long half-life, and strong activity in this macaque model (both as a preventative and therapeutic agent). The efficacy data described here complete CPT31’s preclinical studies, with clinical trials scheduled to start this year. These data also help establish
d
-peptides as an emerging class of therapeutics.
Social and behavioral consequences of mask policies during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Betsch Cornelia , Korn Lars , Sprengholz Philipp , Felgendreff Lisa , Eitze Sarah , Schmid Philipp , Böhm Robert
Published: August 2020

Mandatory and voluntary mask policies may have yet unknown social and behavioral consequences related to the effectiveness of the measure, stigmatization, and perceived fairness. Serial cross-sectional data (April 14 to May 26, 2020) from nearly 7,000 German participants demonstrate that implementing a mandatory policy increased actual compliance despite moderate acceptance; mask wearing correlated positively with other protective behaviors. A preregistered experiment (
n
= 925) further indicates that a voluntary policy would likely lead to insufficient compliance, would be perceived as less fair, and could intensify stigmatization. A mandatory policy appears to be an effective, fair, and socially responsible solution to curb transmissions of airborne viruses.
The Prologue toNarcopolisby Jeet Thayil in translation into German and Polish
Authors: Zyga Magdalena
Published: August 2020

The novel Narcopolis and its translations into German and Polish start with a prologue which consists of one long sentence. The aim of this paper is an analysis of this sentence with the use of a combination of three approaches: (1) the translation theory proposed by Barańczak (1992), (2) the approach posited byM. H. Freeman (2006), and (3) the DIMEAN model byWarnke and Spitzmüller (2008)with the view to check their usefulness for translation criticism and as support in a text analysis preceding translation. In the first step, the conceptual schemata of key importance for the text are sought. Subsequently, language features of key importance which allow for the schemata to materialize are identified in the original and the translation equivalents of these are compared. The results of the analysis indicate that the eclectic approach presented in the paper appears to be quite efficient and user-friendly.
ACTFL OPIc question prompt and advanced Spanish fluency
Authors: Brown Alan V. , Thompson Gregory L. , Cox Troy L.
Published: August 2020

Fluency is a key feature used to gauge task
complexity in L2 research. In this chapter we explore the
relationship between the temporal fluency of Spanish candidates’
(N = 154) speech and their official American
Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) rating on the
OPIc – a computer-based version of the Oral Proficiency Interview
(OPI). We investigated the temporal fluency of speakers at the
Intermediate-High, Advanced-Low, and Advanced-Mid
(N = 109) levels. The results indicated that, in
general, the OPIc question prompts discriminated between the
Intermediate and Advanced major levels and the Advanced sub-levels
appropriately since the fluency of higher-rated speakers surpassed
that of lower-rated speakers on nearly every fluency measure,
regardless of prompt.
Allowable temporal distances for future-time forms
Authors: Kanwit Matthew
Published: August 2020

Learners may show sensitivity to linguistic
factors in more controlled tasks before doing so in production, although
advanced learners often demonstrate greater inter-task consistency.
Future-time expression in Spanish serves as a good test case for
such variability due to the multiple forms speakers use. Although
recent research has considered production and contextualized
selection of future-time forms, it has not required learners to
react to forms they may not otherwise implement. We manipulate four
future forms and five lexical types, asking learners to indicate
when an action could occur for each item. Learners showed more
nuanced temporal restrictions according to these factors as
proficiency increased, with advanced learners most approximating
native speakers, in addition to overshooting some targets and
revealing lexical effects.
Linguistic markers of stance in advanced second language Spanish
academic writing
Authors: Menke Mandy R.
Published: August 2020

Written academic texts allow for the observation
of advanced capacities as writers must negotiate identities in order
to position their claims within a disciplinary community. The
construct of stance focuses on how a writer stamps her/his personal
authority on a text. This chapter reports on how six Spanish studies
majors constructed stance in their writing, reporting on both the
interpersonal-epistemic elements and the linguistic devices used.
Participants employed all four stance elements, relying primarily on
a limited number of lexical items to do so. Findings suggest that
Spanish studies majors may need additional instruction to acquire
the valued ways of meaning in academic writing and highlight the
importance of considering diverse contexts of use when exploring
advanced language competencies.
Using the L2 to express intercultural competence
Authors: Czerwionka Lori
Published: August 2020

This chapter explores stancetaking expressed in the second language (L2) as a means of identifying learners’ intercultural competence in order to offer a novel way to define sophisticated language use in context and to describe advanced L2 learners. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with L2 learners of Spanish. Qualitative and quantitative analyses revealed that learners’ stances towards cultural difference aligned with stages of intercultural competence. Learners expressed nuanced stances that indicated the advanced intercultural competence stages of acceptance and adaptation. A comparison of learners’ intercultural competence expressed in the L2 and performance on a lexicogrammatical test revealed no clear relationship between these two measures of advancedness, suggesting that L2 advancedness is multifaceted and includes linguistic competence and the ability to express intercultural competence via the L2.
Spanish-language advancedness
Authors: Velázquez-Mendoza Omar
Published: August 2020

For Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), language embodies a continuum of uses extending from extreme informality to extreme formality. Users develop informal registers first, and formal registers only subsequently, generally in the academic setting. SFL views Grammatical Metaphor (GM) as the most prevalent feature of advanced language use insofar as it helps achieve the tasks typical of academic contexts. Through GM, language users deploy complex meaning-making to achieve objectification and abstraction of discipline-based knowledge. In this chapter, the move from informal to more formal language is traced using evidence drawn from recent studies on Spanish GM. Longer participation in educational settings correlates with students producing GMs or attempting to align their GM use to that of the the specialized community.
Developing advanced pragmatic competence in Spanish
Authors: Félix-Brasdefer J. César , DiBartolomeo Megan
Published: August 2020

This chapter provides an overview of the
fundamental concepts in second language (L2) pragmatics, offering
detailed descriptions of the challenges associated with the
acquisition of pragmatics in advanced Spanish learners. It provides
a discussion of speech acts and the comprehension of indirect
meaning, focusing on the difficulties a learner might have in
attaining pragmatic competence. The chapter also discusses the
acquisition of pragmatics in study abroad and heritage-language
learning contexts and provides an overview of instructional
pragmatics and how instruction affects advanced learners in the
classroom and during study abroad. Lastly, the chapter discusses
methodological issues associated with L2 pragmatics research,
emphasizing the difficulties in operationalizing proficiency across
studies. The chapter ends with future directions for research on
advanced-level pragmatics.
The role of individual characteristics in the acquisition of
Spanish copula choice
Authors: Long Avizia Y.
Published: August 2020

The present study examined individual patterns
of use of variable Spanish copula choice by advanced-level Korean
learners. Participants were nine native speakers of Korean enrolled
in fourth-year Spanish courses at a South Korean university. To
examine variable copula use, learners participated in a
sociolinguistic interview and picture book description task from
which all pre-adjectival contexts were identified and the
distribution (i.e., range and frequency) of copula forms was
examined. To examine individual patterns of use, learners completed
a background questionnaire and Spanish grammar task. Results
revealed that advanced-level Korean learners produced primarily
ser, estar, and developmental omission in
pre-adjectival contexts, and there was a positive relationship
between higher rates of estar and four of the five
individual characteristics examined.
Language aptitude and foreign accent in advanced L2 speakers of
Spanish
Authors: Granena Gisela
Published: August 2020

This chapter reports on the results of a
follow-up analysis of Granena
and Long (2013), which found a significant
relationship between language aptitude and pronunciation ratings on
a read-aloud task in late L2 learners with ages of onset 16+. Granena and Long
argued that the relationship could have been due to task effects,
specifically to the fact that high-aptitude learners could have
monitored their performance while reading aloud. The present study
included speech samples from four tasks, two read-aloud and two
spontaneous production tasks. The results showed that ratings on
word list reading were the highest and that late L2 learners’
ratings on the two read-aloud tasks were significantly related to
aptitude, after controlling for age of onset and length of
residence.
Looking ahead
Authors: Malovrh Paul A. , Menke Mandy R.
Published: August 2020

The present concluding chapter provides an
overview of the main results yielded by the empirical research
included in the present volume. It further explores our
understanding of advanced proficiency in Spanish as a second/foreign
language by identifying challenges in defining advancedness, as well
as challenges in defining the advanced learner, in terms of
linguistic development and socially situated language use. In doing
so, the present volume establishes directions for future research
and generates questions for practitioners to consider as they design
foreign-language courses and curricula targeting advanced-level
proficiency. Future directions for research and instructional
practice are contextualized according to definitions, challenges,
and possibilities, as we consider advancedness in L2 Spanish.
L1 Phonetic permeability and phonetic path towards a potential merger
Authors: de la Fuente Iglesias Monica , Pérez Castillejo Susana
Published: August 2020

This study investigates the phonetic implementation of Galician /ɛ-e/ and /ɔ-o/ as produced by Galician-Spanish
early bilinguals. It examines whether there is variation that can be explained by differences in participants’ linguistic
histories (as captured by their language dominance scores). Based on production data from one point in participants’ lives, the
study uses regression to predict phonetic variation from participants’ language dominance at that point in life. Results reveal
that, although participants produce a robust /ε/ vs /e/ contrast, the L1 specific category, /ε/ presented a more fronted position,
more like /e/, as a function of lower dominance in Galician. However, this effect was not replicated for the back vowels. Given
our results, we argue that differences in language dominance may trigger phonetic variation in bilingual speech production in some
variables, but not others. This result is consistent with the current cognitive approach in bilingualism research claiming the
plasticity of native phonetic domains throughout an individual’s lifespan. Results also align with recent claims that language
dominance does not equally affect multiple phonological processes for the same individual.
The rRNA synthesis inhibitor CX-5461 may induce autophagy that inhibits anticancer drug-induced cell damage to leukemia cells
Authors: Okamoto Shuichiro , Miyano Kei , Kajikawa Mizuho , Yamauchi Akira , Kuribayashi Futoshi
Published: August 2020

Autophagy induced in cancer cells during chemotherapy is classified into two types, which differ depending on the kind of cells or anticancer drugs. The first type of autophagy contributes to the death of cells treated with drugs. In contrast, the second type plays a crucial role in preventing anticancer drug-induced cell damages; the use of an autophagy inhibitor is considered effective in improving the efficacy of chemotherapy. Thus, it is important to determine which type of autophagy is induced during chemotherapy. Here, we showed that a novel inhibitor of RNA polymerase I, suppresses growth, induces cell cycle arrest and promotes apoptosis in leukemia cell lines. The number of apoptotic cells induced by co-treatment with CX-5461 and chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, increased compared with CX-5461 alone. Thus, the autophagy which may be induced by CX-5461 was the second type.
RainbowPIV with improved depth resolution—design and comparative study with TomoPIV
Authors: Xiong J , Aguirre-Pablo A A , Idoughi R , Thoroddsen S T , Heidrich W
Published: August 2020

RainbowPIV is a recent imaging technology, proposed for time-resolved 3D-3C fluid velocity measurement using a single RGB camera. It dramatically simplifies hardware setup and calibration procedures as compared to alternative 3D-3C measurement approaches. RainbowPIV combines optical design and tailored reconstruction algorithms, and earlier preliminary studies have demonstrated its ability to extract physically constrained fluid vector fields. This article addresses the issue of limited axial resolution, the major drawback of the original RainbowPIV system. We validate the new system with a direct, quantitative comparison with four-camera Tomo-PIV on experimental data. The reconstructed flow vectors of the two approaches exhibit a high degree of consistency, with the RainbowPIV results explicitly guaranteeing physical properties, such as divergence free velocity fields for incompressible fluid flows.