bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anion Selective Disruption of Strong Intramolecular –NH⋅⋅⋅O=C Hydrogen Bonds in a Nonchromogenic Tripodal Benzoylthiourea Receptor to Display Colorimetric Response
Authors: Dey Sandeep Kumar , Hernández Beatriz Gil , D'Souza Milagrina , Mhaldar Shashank N. , Gobre Vivekanand V. , Dhuri Sunder N.
Published: April 2019

Tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine based tripodal benzoylthiourea receptor (L) showed colorimetric response for fluoride and acetate in aprotic solvents within a range of competitive anions studied. The strong intramolecular –NH⋅⋅⋅O=C hydrogen bonding in the C3 symmetric receptor was not disrupted upon addition of any other anions except for fluoride and acetate as confirmed by 1H‐NMR experiments in DMSO‐d6. The cavity of the tripodal receptor is locked due to the inward orientation of the intramolecular hydrogen bonded donor‐acceptor groups as confirmed by single crystal X‐ray crystallography. Fluoride and acetate could selectively disrupt the intramolecular –NH⋅⋅⋅O=C hydrogen bonds to establish intermolecular hydrogen bonds with both the –NH protons from each receptor side arm and showed visual colour change from colourless to yellow. However, hydrogen bonding observed in the solution state does not provide sufficient stabilization to the receptor fluoride/acetate complexes to be crystallized in the solid state and the receptor crystallised as solvates both from DMSO and THF in the presence of excess fluoride/acetate. From UV‐vis and 1H‐NMR experiments, it was confirmed that the colorimetric sensing by the nonchromogenic benzoylthiourea receptor is due to strong hydrogen bonding between thiourea –NH groups and fluoride/acetate.
Multi‐Dentate Carbazole Based Schiff Base Dyes with Chlorovinylene Group in Spacer for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study.
Authors: Lokhande Prerana K M. , Sonigara Keval K. , Jadhav Manoj M. , Patil Dinesh S. , Soni Saurabh S. , Sekar Nagaiyan
Published: April 2019

Four new metal free organic Schiff bases employing N‐hexyl/N‐phenyl carbazole moiety as a donor, 1‐chlorobuta‐1,3‐diene as a π‐bridge and 4‐amino salicylic acid as an anchor, are designed, synthesized and investigated as photosensitizers in the dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC). We have studied the combined effect of the introduction of electronegative chlorine group with an additional double bond in π‐conjugation and 4‐amino salicylic acid as a tridentate anchoring group, on the optoelectronic, theoretical and photovoltaic performance of the dyes. The halogen electronegativity and strong polarization of the C–X bond represented interesting acceptor moieties for organic push–pull systems. The designed strategy leads to red‐shifted absorption maxima and reduced band gap. Density functional theory (DFT) and Time dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) are used to support the performance of the obtained carbazole based Schiff‐base dyes. When compared with the other three dyes, 3b exhibited the smallest band gap (2.86 eV), red‐shifted absorption spectra on TiO2 surface (453 nm) and improved nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. Among the four reported dyes, 3b exhibited the excellent photovoltaic performance, short‐circuit current density (Jsc) of 10.60 mA/cm2, open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.626 V and fill factor (FF) of 70.0 %, conforming to a total power conversion efficiency of 4.3% under 1 sun light illumination due to the presence of two anchoring groups with multiple binding sites on TiO2 surface leading to efficient charge injection. NLO properties are examined theoretically and dye 3b exhibited the highest value of the first hyperpolarizability (β) amongst all four dyes which are in good agreement with exhibited highest DSSC efficiency. The present work revealed that the incorporation of electronegative chlorine group in π‐conjugation and the use of double acceptors with multiple binding sites for better adsorption on TiO2 surface are crucial to supplement the efficiency of the dye.
A π‐Conjugated Chromophore Dye and Its Functional Paper Strips for Visually On‐Site Sensing F− and Its Reaction Mechanism
Authors: Hu Lei , Xu Jie , Wang Cong , Zhu Yanjie , Tang Yulian , Yin Liwen , Yan Zhengquan
Published: April 2019

An improved D−A‐D typed π‐conjugated optical chromophore (PBHPI) with multi‐activated recognition sites and its functionalized testing‐paper strips were constructed and developed, for the first time, based on B3LYP/6‐31G level of theory in Gaussian 03 suite. After its UV‐vis spectral property was investigated in detail, it was noted to find that the target PBHPI and its functionalized paper strips could conclusively react with F− with obvious color change from light yellow to dark red. Under the optimized experimental conditions, both PBHPI and its functionalized paper‐strips could selectively recognize F− with a double‐wavelength colorimetric response to realize a wide linear range from 5.0 ×10–6 mol/L to 1.4 ×10–4 mol/L. The present sensing systems were successfully applied for visually on‐site monitoring F− in some commercial organic and toothpaste samples simply and conveniently. The recognition mechanism was confirmed to be the deprotonating mechanism to form multiple hydrogen bonds as what we expected.
Clean Synthesis and Formation Mechanisms of High‐Purity Silicon for Solar Cells by the Carbothermic Reduction of SiC with SiO2
Authors: Liu Yang , Wang Shuai , Jiang Shengnan , Kong Jian , Wang Xiaofeng , Gao Bo , Xing Pengfei , Luo Xuetao
Published: April 2019

Metallurgical synthesis of solar grade silicon (SoG−Si) is an existing challenge due to the strict chemical composition of silicon for solar cells. Here, we report a green and facile approach to synthesize high‐purity silicon (99.98 wt%, 0.12 ppmw B and 0.18 ppmw P) for solar cells by the carbothermic reduction of SiC with SiO2 in a vacuum graphite resistance furnace. Catalyst of Fe2O3 plays the role of reducing the concentration of CO(g), lowering the energy consumption and improving the purity and yield of silicon. The present work is one‐step to obtain silicon with less B and P, but it is composed of silicon synthesis, oxidation refining, vacuum refining and blowing refining, which discloses an innovative chemical concepts of in‐situ synthesis combined with refining. According to the characterizations of the reacted SiC particles performed by XRD, Raman, PL, XPS, SEM and TEM, the morphologies and formation mechanisms of the in‐situ silicon from the horizons of atomic scale were revealed for the first time. It was evidenced conclusively that the Si−C bonding is broken from the (006) planes of 6H‐SiC at 1850°C by the reaction of SiC(s) + 2SiO2(l)=3SiO(g) + CO(g), and then the silicon nucleates on the (101) planes of 6H‐SiC and grows along the [111] direction at 1950°C via the vapor‐solid reaction of SiO(g) + SiC(s)=2Si(l) + CO(g).
A Facile Route to Prepare PMMA/SiO2 Core‐Shell Particles and PMMA Microcapsules via Sonochemical Graft Polymerization
Authors: Guo Sheng‐Wei , Wang Xin , Wang Gu‐Xia , Nie Min
Published: April 2019

Ultrasonically initiated graft polymerization is employed to prepare poly (methyl methacrylate)/silicon dioxide (PMMA/SiO2) core‐shell particles and PMMA microcapsules. Monodisperse SiO2 particles are obtained by the Stöber method. Its surface is modified with γ‐methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (MPS) to introduce unsaturated double bonds. And then MMA and MPS are copolymerized under ultrasonic initiation to prepare PMMA/SiO2 core‐shell particles. PMMA microcapsules are obtained by etching SiO2 with the HF aqueous solution. The morphology and size of the core‐shell particles and polymer microcapsules are analysed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The encapsulation state is determined using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The results show that both the core‐shell particles and the polymer microcapsules have perfect core‐shell or hollow structures. The control of shell thickness can be easily realized by adjusting the amount of monomer, e. g. 30 nm, 50 nm and 80 nm, respectively. And in the inner of the shell, PMMA is anchored onto the surface of SiO2 core with covalent bonds. As the monomer amount increases, the contents of Si, O, and C change accordingly. And the polymer shell would become denser and thicker.
Zn(II) Di‐isobutyldithiocarbamate Complex Enabled Efficient Synthesis of Au/ZnS Nanocomposite Core‐shell in One Pot
Authors: Biswas Rathindranath , Singh Harjinder , Banerjee Biplab , Haldar Krishna K.
Published: April 2019

Here, we demonstrate a one pot synthesis of gold/zinc sulphide (Au/ZnS) core‐shell type composite nanostructure via thermal decomposition of single molecular precursor Zn(II)di‐isobutyldithiocarbamate complex. In these Au/ZnS core‐shell type hybrid nanostructures where ZnS quantum dots are assembled onto Au nanoparticles surface were prepared via a facile and reproducible approach under mild conditions. The crystalline nature and interface of these Au/ZnS core‐shell type composite nanostructures were confirmed by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and inverted TEM images. Here Zn(II)di‐isobutyldithiocarbamate complex acts as ZnS source as well as reducing and stabilizing agent for Au0 at their nanoscale range by coating in the reaction medium.
Novel Surface Passivation for Stable FA0.85MA0.15PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells with 21.6% Efficiency
Authors: Qian Fang , Yuan Shihao , Cai Yuan , Han Yu , Zhao Huan , Sun Jie , Liu Zhike , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: April 2019

In planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs), defect‐induced recombination at the interface between the perovskite and hole transport layer (HTL) leads to a large potential loss and performance deterioration. Therefore, an effective method for improving interfacial properties is critical to boost the performance and stability of PSCs. Herein, a novel surface engineering technology is reported for passivating the perovskite surface with the polyfluoro organic compound tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron (TPFPB), which can yield large perovskite grains, reduced defect densities, and improved charge transport and phase stability for the perovskite film, and enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability for PSCs. Using this strategy, a champion FA0.85MA0.15PbI3 perovskite cell achieves a high PCE of 21.6% as well as significantly improved air and light stabilities. This work demonstrates that TPFPB is a promising material for crystallization control and defect passivation and paves a new path for mitigating defects and further increasing the performance of planar PSCs.
Therapeutic effects of shikonin on skin lesions in mouse models of allergic dermatitis and wound
Authors: Kadoyama Keiichi , Takenokuchi Mariko , Matsuura Kenji , Shichiri Hiroaki , Watanabe Aimi , Yamaguchi Hirotsugu , Takahashi Hisashi , Takano‐Ohmuro Hiromi , Taniguchi Taizo
Published: April 2019

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the beneficial effects of shikonin on skin lesions in mouse models of allergic dermatitis and wound.

Methods

Mouse models of allergic dermatitis and wound were generated by spreading an allergic‐inducing reagent on the dorsal skin and earflaps, and by punching the dorsal skin, respectively. The effects of shikonin on allergic dermatitis was evaluated on frequency of scratching, clinical severity of dermatitis and immunohistochemistry. The effect of shikonin on wound healing compared with steroid was evaluated by the size of the wound area.

Results

Shikonin treatment not only improved allergic dermatitis, but also prevented the onset of allergic dermatitis. Furthermore, shikonin promoted wound healing in a mouse model of skin wound. In contrast, steroid (betamethasone) treatment, which is often applied to treat allergic dermatitis, delayed wound healing in the mouse model of allergic dermatitis.

Conclusion

Shikonin can be used as a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic dermatitis including atopic dermatitis.
Conclusion
Authors: Vickstrom Erik R.
Published: April 2019

Migrants from Senegal have gained renown for their mobility, especially to European destinations. In 2010 Senegalese migrants accounted for more than 4% of migrants born in sub-Saharan Africa living in OECD countries, while Senegal accounted for less than 1.5% of the total population of sub-Saharan Africa. Senegalese migrants were the largest sub-Saharan African migrant group in Italy and Spain in 2010, accounting respectively for 23% and 27% of all sub-Saharan migrants, and the third-largest such group in France, accounting for 13% of the population born in this region. Senegalese also made up a significant share of the overall foreign-born population in these three destination countries: almost 1% in Spain, 1.3% in Italy, and 1.6% in France. While Senegalese migrants have established a presence overseas, they have also profoundly shaped the economy and culture of Senegal. Not only does Senegal rank third in sub-Saharan Africa in the total volume of cash remittances received, but a “culture of migration” has emerged in Senegal that values the economic and social contributions of emigrants. Senegalese migrants themselves also remain connected to Senegal for their sense of social status.
Imprints of Schwinger effect on primordial spectra
Authors: Chua Wan Zhen , Ding Qianhang , Wang Yi , Zhou Siyi
Published: April 2019

Abstract

We study the Schwinger effect during inflation and its imprints on the primordial power spectrum and bispectrum. The produced charged particles by Schwinger effect during inflation can leave a unique angular dependence on the primodial spectra.
Sign of CP violating phase in quarks and leptons
Authors: Shimizu Yusuke , Takagi Kenta , Takahashi Shunya , Tanimoto Morimitsu
Published: April 2019

Abstract

We discuss the relation between the CP violation of the quark mixing and that of the lepton mixing by investigating a CP violating observable, the Jarlskog invariant, as well as the CP violating Dirac phase. The down-type quark mass matrix with three zeros is given in terms of the minimal number of parameters, while the up-type quark mass matrix is diagonal. These quark mass matrices leading to the successful CKM mixing angles and CP violation are embedded in both the Pati-Salam and SU(5) models. The leptonic Jarlskog invariant J
CP

l

(as well as CP violating Dirac phase) is examined for two cases: the neutrino mass matrix is diagonal or non-diagonal, where no additional CP violating phase is introduced apart from the Majorana phases. In the case of the diagonal neutrino mass matrix, the favorable sign of the leptonic CP violation is obtained, however, the magnitude of J
CP

l

is at most

$$ \mathcal{O} $$

O

(10−4), which is too small compared with the expected value from the observation −0.02. In the case of the non-diagonal neutrino mass matrix where the tri-bimaximal mixing pattern is taken, we obtain the successful J
CP

l

up to its sign.
The Benefits of Docetaxel Plus Cisplatin and 5‐Fluorouracil Induction Therapy in Conversion to Curative Treatment for Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Takeuchi Masashi , Kawakubo Hirofumi , Mayanagi Shuhei , Yoshida Kayo , Irino Tomoyuki , Fukuda Kazumasa , Nakamura Rieko , Wada Norihito , Takeuchi Hiroya , Kitagawa Yuko
Published: April 2019

Background

Definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT), used for treatment of patients with an initial diagnosis of unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer, has led to unsatisfactory long‐term prognosis. Moreover, CRT can lead to esophageal fistula, perforation, and strictures. Therefore, strong induction chemotherapeutic treatments are necessary to reduce the tumor volume for subsequent radical esophagectomy. This study aimed to determine the oncological utility of docetaxel plus cisplatin and 5‐fluorouracil (DCF) and the technical feasibility of subsequent esophagectomy for locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Methods

Eighty‐seven patients with clinical borderline unresectable T3 and T4 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma without distant metastases were included in this study. There were 44 patients in primary DCF group and 43 patients in definitive CRT group, and perioperative and long‐term oncological outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results

Twenty‐two patients (50%) achieved R0 resection in the DCF group. Albeit not significant, the rate of curative treatment was higher in the DCF group than the definitive CRT group (p = 0.099). The overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) were better with DCF than with definitive CRT (median OS, 29 vs. 17 months, p = 0.206; median PFS, 10 vs. 6 months, p = 0.020). Specifically, the OS of patients with a Charlson score of less than 3 among the DCF‐treated patients tended to be better than those among the definitive CRT‐treated patients.

Conclusion

DCF and subsequent esophagectomy achieved R0 resection in 50% of the patients and was associated with better long‐term oncological outcomes in patients with initially unresectable esophageal cancer if their systemic status is acceptable.
Correction to: Potatoes, Nutrition and Health
Authors: Beals Katherine A.
Published: April 2019

In the original article the author’s affiliations were incomplete and conflict of interest disclosure was missing. The author discloses that she is a paid consultant for Fleishman-Hillard, Inc, whose clients include for Potatoes USA.
Rectal carcinoid tumor: diagnosis and management
Authors: Viana Charlene , Marques Isabel , Staubus Adriano , Martins Sandra F.
Published: April 2019

The authors present a case of rectal carcinoid tumor in an asymptomatic patient who sought a coloproctology service with the purpose of colorectal cancer prevention. During colonoscopy, a polyp lesion was found in the rectum, and it was resected with a polypectomy loop. Anatomopathological examination revealed a rectal carcinoid tumor with compromised margins. The lesion site was resected again and pathological exam no longer showed neoplasia. A systematic review of the issue was performed, discussing diagnosis aspects, difficulties in the choice of therapeutic approaches, and prognosis. The conclusion is that the rarity of the disease brings difficulties in the choice of treatment; although it has a good prognosis in most cases, its malignant potential cannot be underestimated.
The stable algebra of a Wieler solenoid: inductive limits and -theory
Authors: DEELEY ROBIN J. , YASHINSKI ALLAN
Published: April 2019

Wieler has shown that every irreducible Smale space with totally disconnected stable sets is a solenoid (i.e., obtained via a stationary inverse limit construction). Using her construction, we show that the associated stable $C^{\ast }$-algebra is the stationary inductive limit of a $C^{\ast }$-stable Fell algebra that has a compact spectrum and trivial Dixmier–Douady invariant. This result applies in particular to Williams solenoids along with other examples. Beyond the structural implications of this inductive limit, one can use this result to, in principle, compute the $K$-theory of the stable $C^{\ast }$-algebra. A specific one-dimensional Smale space (the $aab/ab$-solenoid) is considered as an illustrative running example throughout.
An answer to Furstenberg’s problem on topological disjointness
Authors: HUANG WEN , SHAO SONG , YE XIANGDONG
Published: April 2019

In this paper we give an answer to Furstenberg’s problem on topological disjointness. Namely, we show that a transitive system $(X,T)$ is disjoint from all minimal systems if and only if $(X,T)$ is weakly mixing and there is some countable dense subset $D$ of $X$ such that for any minimal system $(Y,S)$, any point $y\in Y$ and any open neighbourhood $V$ of $y$, and for any non-empty open subset $U\subset X$, there is $x\in D\cap U$ such that $\{n\in \mathbb{Z}_{+}:T^{n}x\in U,S^{n}y\in V\}$ is syndetic. Some characterization for the general case is also given. By way of application we show that if a transitive system $(X,T)$ is disjoint from all minimal systems, then so are $(X^{n},T^{(n)})$ and $(X,T^{n})$ for any $n\in \mathbb{N}$. It turns out that a transitive system $(X,T)$ is disjoint from all minimal systems if and only if the hyperspace system $(K(X),T_{K})$ is disjoint from all minimal systems.
Resource Wealth as Leverage: Natural Resources and the Failure of Non-Violent Campaigns
Authors: Kirisci Mustafa , Demirhan Emirhan
Published: April 2019

While the growing body of research on non-violent political movements centres on the idea that choosing non-violence tends to produce more favourable outcomes for dissidents, the question of why some non-violent campaigns still fail has not been sufficiently empirically investigated. Building on the extant research on the effects of group dynamics and certain external actors, we examine the role of the natural resource wealth of target states on the outcomes of non-violent campaigns. We hypothesize that the probability that a non-violent movement will fail increases as the target state's natural resource wealth increases. This natural resource wealth could serve to neutralize the potential for support from both domestic and external actors, thereby increasing the risk of failure. The results of our statistical analyses support our hypothesis and suggest that non-violent campaigns are more likely to fail in states with higher natural resource wealth, particularly that which stems from oil.
Managing polyuria during lithium treatment: a preliminary prospective observational study
Authors: Kinahan J. C. , Ní Chorcoráin A. , Cunningham S. , Barry S. , Kelly B. D.
Published: April 2019

Objectives:

Lithium-treated patients with polyuria are at increased risk of lithium toxicity. We aimed to describe the clinical benefits and risks of different management strategies for polyuria in community lithium-treated patients.

Methods:

This is a naturalistic, observational, prospective 12-month cohort study of lithium-treated patients with polyuria attending a community mental health service in Dublin, Ireland. When polyuria was detected, management changed in one of four ways: (a) no pharmacological change; (b) lithium dose decrease; (c) lithium substitution; or (d) addition of amiloride.

Results:

Thirty-four participants were diagnosed with polyuria and completed prospective data over 12 months. Mean 24-hour urine volume decreased from 4852 to 4344 ml (p = 0.038). Mean early morning urine osmolality decreased from 343 to 338 mOsm/kg (p = 0.823). Mean 24-hour urine volume decreased with each type of intervention but did not attain statistical significance for any individual intervention group. Mean early morning urine osmolality decreased in participants with no pharmacological change and increased in participants who received a change in medication but these changes did not attain statistical significance. Only participants who discontinued lithium demonstrated potentially clinically significant changes in urine volume (mean decrease 747 ml in 24 hours) and early morning urine osmolality (mean increase 31 mOsm/kg) although this was not definitively proven, possibly owing to power issues.

Conclusions:

Managing polyuria by decreasing lithium dose does not appear to substantially improve objective measures of renal tubular dysfunction, whereas substituting lithium may do so. Studies with larger numbers and longer follow-up would clarify these relationships.
Stokes resistance of a solid cylinder near a superhydrophobic surface. Part 1. Grooves perpendicular to cylinder axis
Authors: Schnitzer Ory , Yariv Ehud
Published: April 2019

An important class of canonical problems that is employed in quantifying the slipperiness of microstructured superhydrophobic surfaces is concerned with the calculation of the hydrodynamic loads on adjacent solid bodies whose size is large relative to the microstructure period. The effect of superhydrophobicity is most pronounced when the latter period is comparable to the separation between the solid probe and the superhydrophobic surface. We address the above distinguished limit, considering a simple configuration where the superhydrophobic surface is formed by a periodically grooved array, in which air bubbles are trapped in a Cassie state, and the solid body is an infinite cylinder. In the present part, we consider the case where the grooves are aligned perpendicular to the cylinder and allow for three modes of rigid-body motion: rectilinear motion perpendicular to the surface; rectilinear motion parallel to the surface, in the groove direction; and angular rotation about the cylinder axis. In this scenario, the flow is periodic in the direction parallel to the axis. Averaging over the small-scale periodicity yields a modified lubrication description where the small-scale details are encapsulated in two auxiliary two-dimensional cell problems which respectively describe pressure- and boundary-driven longitudinal flow through an asymmetric rectangular domain, bounded by a compound surface from the bottom and a no-slip surface from the top. Once the integral flux and averaged shear stress associated with each of these cell problems are calculated as a function of the slowly varying cell geometry, the hydrodynamic loads experienced by the cylinder are provided as quadratures of nonlinear functions of the latter distributions over a continuous sequence of cells.
Layer formation and relaminarisation in plane Couette flow with spanwise stratification
Authors: Lucas Dan , Caulfield C. P. , Kerswell Rich R.
Published: April 2019

In this paper we investigate the effect of stable stratification on plane Couette flow when gravity is oriented in the spanwise direction. When the flow is turbulent we observe near-wall layering and associated new mean flows in the form of large-scale spanwise-flattened streamwise rolls. The layers exhibit the expected buoyancy scaling $l_{z}\sim U/N$ where $U$ is a typical horizontal velocity scale and $N$ the buoyancy frequency. We associate the new coherent structures with a stratified modification of the well-known large-scale secondary circulation in plane Couette flow. We find that the possibility of the transition to sustained turbulence is controlled by the relative size of this buoyancy scale to the spanwise spacing of the streaks. In parts of parameter space transition can also be initiated by a newly discovered linear instability in this system (Facchini et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 853, 2018, pp. 205–234). When wall turbulence can be sustained the linear instability opens up new routes in phase space for infinitesimal disturbances to initiate turbulence. When the buoyancy scale suppresses turbulence the linear instability leads to more ordered nonlinear states, with the possibility for intermittent bursts of secondary shear instability.
DEFINABLY SIMPLE STABLE GROUPS WITH FINITARY GROUPS OF AUTOMORPHISMS
Authors: KARHUMÄKI ULLA
Published: April 2019

We prove that infinite definably simple locally finite groups of finite centraliser dimension are simple groups of Lie type over locally finite fields. Then, we identify conditions on automorphisms of a stable group that make it resemble the Frobenius maps, and allow us to classify definably simple stable groups in the specific case when they admit such automorphisms.
Associated cultivated plants in tomato cropping systems structure arthropod communities and increase theHelicoverpa armigeraregulation
Authors: Dassou A.G. , Vodouhè S.D. , Bokonon-Ganta A. , Goergen G. , Chailleux A. , Dansi A. , Carval D. , Tixier P.
Published: April 2019

Cultivating plant mixtures is expected to provide a higher productivity and a better control of pests and diseases. The structure of the arthropod community is a major driver of the magnitude of natural pest regulations.

With the aim of optimizing pest management, a study was carried out to determine the effect of the cropping system type (tomato mono-cropping vs. mixed-cropping) on the diversity and abundance of arthropods from three trophic groups (herbivores, omnivores, predators) and the abundance ofHelicoverpa armigera. Therefore, the diversity of cultivated plants and arthropod communities was assessed within tomato fields from 30 farmer's fields randomly selected in South of Benin. Results showed that the arthropod abundance was significantly higher in mixed-cropping systems compared with mono-cropping systems, although the crop type did not alter significantly the arthropod diversity, evenness, and richness. At the level of taxa, the abundances of generalist predators including ants (Pheidolespp., andPaltothyreus tarsatus) and spiders (Araneusspp. andErigonesp.) were significantly higher in mixed fields than in mono-crop fields. Then, the abundances of omnivore-predator trophic groups have a negative significant effect on theH. armigeraabundance. This study allowed better understanding of how plant diversity associated to tomato fields structures arthropod's food webs to finally enhance the ecological management ofH. armigera.
Selection of parents and estimation of genetic parameters using BLUP and molecular methods for lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) breeding program in Argentina
Authors: Bermejo Carolina , Cazzola Federico , Maglia Fernando , Cointry Enrique
Published: April 2019

The most important objective of lentil breeding programs is to develop new genotypes that are genetically more productive. Besides, it is necessary that the varieties obtained have short flowering cycles to allow the later sowing of summer crops. Selection is based through phenotypic means; however, we argue it should be based on genetic or breeding values because quantitative traits are often influenced by environments and genotype–environment interactions. The objectives of this study were to: (i) identify genotypes with the highest merit; (ii) estimate genetic parameters to know the genetic control of morphological traits in macrosperma and microsperma lentil types using best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). Twenty-five recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from six F4 families selected on the basis of precocity and high yields were tested in four environments for important quantitative traits. The analysis of variance showed significant differences between genotypes, environments, and genotype–environment interactions for all the traits. Seven macrosperma- and two microsperma-type RILs were selected. Based on average ranking from breeding values and molecular data obtained with sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP), the same genotypes were selected. Genotypic coefficients of variation, heritability across and by environment, and genetic correlation coefficients using BLUP were obtained. According to our results BLUP could replace molecular analysis methods because the selection process was simpler, more cost-effective, and more accurate. The breeding value of parents would give a better ranking of their genetic value than would their phenotypic value; therefore, the selection efficiency would be enhanced and the genetic gain would be more predictable. The selected genotypes could become potential commercial varieties or be used as parental lines in future hybridization programs.
Transplanting improves the allometry and fiber quality of Bt cotton in cotton–wheat cropping system
Authors: Shah Muhammad Asghar , Hussain Mubshar , Shahzad Muhammad , Jabran Khawar , Ul-Allah Sami , Farooq Muhammad
Published: April 2019

In cotton–wheat cropping system of Pakistan, wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) is harvested in late April; however, the optimum sowing time of Bt cotton is mid-March. This indicates a time difference of 4–6 weeks between the harvest of wheat and cotton sowing. It is hypothesized that this overlapping period may be managed by transplanting cotton seedlings (30–45 days old) in late April, after the harvest of wheat due to better performance of already established seedlings. To this end, this study was conducted to evaluate the allometric traits and fiber quality of transplanted Bt cotton after harvesting wheat in the cotton–wheat cropping system. The Bt cotton–wheat cropping systems were flat sown wheat (FSW)–conventionally tilled cotton, FSW–zero tilled cotton, ridge sown wheat–ridge transplanted cotton using 30- and 45-days-old seedlings, and bed sown wheat (BSW)–bed transplanted cotton (BTC) also using 30- and 45-days-old seedlings. The study was conducted at Vehari and Multan in Punjab, Pakistan. Bt cotton in BSW–BTC with 45-days-old seedlings showed better performance for allometric (leaf area index; (LAI), net assimilation rate; (NAR), and crop growth rate; (CGR)), seed cotton yield, and fiber traits (fiber uniformity, fiber length, fiber strength, and fiber fineness) in comparison to other treatments. Most of the fiber quality traits were positively correlated with allometric traits and biological yield (dry matter yield at maturity) at both locations, except correlations of CGR and LAI with fiber fineness and fiber length and NAR with fiber length. As plant growth and fiber quality of transplanted cotton was significantly higher than conventionally grown cotton, our data indicate transplanting is an interesting management practice for improving productivity in wheat–cotton cropping systems.
Augmenting ENT surgery outside the medical school curriculum: the role of a 1-day otolaryngology course
Authors: Spiers H , Enayati H , Moussa R , Zargaran A , Thomas A , Murtaza A , Turki M , Ofo E
Published: April 2019

Background

ENT is highly under-represented in the saturated UK medical school curriculum, comprising less than 1 per cent of the curriculum. A 1-day course was implemented in order to raise awareness of ENT among medical students, educate them in the specialty and teach a basic skill.

Methods

The skills day comprised lectures by consultants followed by a consultant-led workshop teaching tracheostomy. Pre- and post-course questionnaires assessed perceptions of ENT, confidence performing tracheostomy and interest in ENT as a career.

Results

Perceptions of ENT as a specialty were improved by up to 80 per cent (p < 0.01). There was improved understanding of and confidence in performing tracheostomies. Interest in a career in ENT was increased by 77 per cent (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

A 1-day course run by a student body can be a powerful adjunct to the medical school curriculum, in terms of educating undergraduates in ENT and inspiring the pursuit of ENT as a career.
Maternal mental health and infant emotional reactivity: a 20-year two-cohort study of preconception and perinatal exposures
Authors: Spry Elizabeth , Moreno-Betancur Margarita , Becker Denise , Romaniuk Helena , Carlin John B. , Molyneaux Emma , Howard Louise M. , Ryan Joanne , Letcher Primrose , McIntosh Jennifer , Macdonald Jacqui A. , Greenwood Christopher J. , Thomson Kimberley C. , McAnally Helena , Hancox Robert , Hutchinson Delyse M. , Youssef George J. , Olsson Craig A. , Patton George C.
Published: April 2019

Background

Maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum predicts later emotional and behavioural problems in children. Even though most perinatal mental health problems begin before pregnancy, the consequences of preconception maternal mental health for children's early emotional development have not been prospectively studied.

Methods

We used data from two prospective Australian intergenerational cohorts, with 756 women assessed repeatedly for mental health problems before pregnancy between age 13 and 29 years, and during pregnancy and at 1 year postpartum for 1231 subsequent pregnancies. Offspring infant emotional reactivity, an early indicator of differential sensitivity denoting increased risk of emotional problems under adversity, was assessed at 1 year postpartum.

Results

Thirty-seven percent of infants born to mothers with persistent preconception mental health problems were categorised as high in emotional reactivity, compared to 23% born to mothers without preconception history (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4–3.1). Ante- and postnatal maternal depressive symptoms were similarly associated with infant emotional reactivity, but these perinatal associations reduced somewhat after adjustment for prior exposure. Causal mediation analysis further showed that 88% of the preconception risk was a direct effect, not mediated by perinatal exposure.

Conclusions

Maternal preconception mental health problems predict infant emotional reactivity, independently of maternal perinatal mental health; while associations between perinatal depressive symptoms and infant reactivity are partially explained by prior exposure. Findings suggest that processes shaping early vulnerability for later mental disorders arise well before conception. There is an emerging case for expanding developmental theories and trialling preventive interventions in the years before pregnancy.
Visible Absences: Inclusive Theatre in Contemporary Spain (Interview with Victoria Teijeiro and Isabel Rodes)
Authors: Fernández Esther
Published: April 2019

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines disability, in very broad terms, as the difficulty an individual may have relating to his or her surrounding environment. Nonetheless, since the eighteenth century, Spanish literature has portrayed disability as a metaphor for deficiency, imperfection, monstrosity, disorder, and even excess. In this sense, the grotesque amputation suffered by the protagonist, Tristana, in Benito Pérez Galdós's famous homonymous novel written in 1892 can be interpreted as a settling of accounts of society with a woman who was too independent and intellectually ambitious for her time. Literary production became in that sense a reflection of a society that wove together a series of prejudices regarding disability, resulting in the stigmatization and invisibility of these individuals.
Design and Implementation of a Facial Character Analysis Algorithm for Humanoid Robots
Authors: Göngör Fatma , Tutsoy Önder
Published: April 2019

Humanoid robots (HR) equipped with a sophisticated facial character analysis (FCA) algorithm can able to initiate crucial improvements in human–robot interactions. This paper, for the first time in the literature, proposes a three-stage FCA algorithm for the HR. At the initial stage of this algorithm, the HR detects the face with the Viola–Jones algorithm, and then important facial distance measurements are obtained with the geometric-based facial distance measurement technique. Finally, the measured facial distances are evaluated with the physiognomy science to reveal the characteristic properties of a person. Even though the proposed algorithm can be implemented to all HR, in this paper, it has been specifically applied to NAO HR. The reliability of the developed FCA algorithm is verified by analyzing each terminal decision about the character and its connection with the measured facial distances in the anatomy science.
IMU-Based Gait Phase Recognition for Stroke Survivors
Authors: Lou Yu , Wang Rongli , Mai Jingeng , Wang Ninghua , Wang Qining
Published: April 2019

Using wearable robots is an effective means of rehabilitation for stroke survivors, and effective recognition of human motion intentions is a key premise in controlling wearable robots. In this paper, we propose an inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based gait phase detection system. The system consists of two IMUs that are tied on the thigh and on the shank, respectively, for collecting acceleration and angular velocity. Features were extracted using a sliding window of 150 ms in length, which was then fed into a quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) classifier for classification. We recruited five stroke survivors to test our system. They walked at their own preferred speed on the level ground. Experimental results show that our proposed system has the ability of recognizing the gait phase of stroke survivors. All recognition accuracy results are above 96.5%, and detections are about 5–15 ms in advance of time. In addition, using only one IMU can also give reliable recognition results. This paper proposes an idea about the further research on human–computer interaction for the control of wearable robots.
Assessment of the Effect of Energy Consumption on Trajectory Improvement for a Car-like Robot
Authors: Valero Francisco , Rubio Francisco , Llopis-Albert Carlos
Published: April 2019

Reducing the energy consumed by a car-like mobile robot makes it possible to move at a lower cost, yet it takes more working time. This paper proposes an optimization algorithm for trajectories with optimal times and analyzes the consequences of restricting the energy consumed on the trajectory obtained for a car-like robot. When modeling the dynamic behavior of the vehicle, it is necessary to consider its inertial parameters, the behavior of the motor, and the basic properties of the tire in its interaction with the ground. To obtain collision-free, minimum-time trajectories quadratic sequential optimization techniques are used, where the objective function is the time taken by the robot to move between two given configurations. This is subject to constraints relating to the vehicle and tires as well as the energy consumed, which is the basis for this paper. We work with a real random distribution of consumed energy values following a normal Gaussian distribution in order to analyze its influence on the trajectories obtained by the vehicle. The energy consumed, the time taken, the maximum velocity reached, and the distance traveled are analyzed in order to characterize the properties of the trajectories obtained. The proposed algorithm has been applied to 101 examples, showing that the computational times needed to obtain the solutions are always lower than those required to realize the trajectories. The results obtained allow us to reach conclusions about the energy efficiency of the trajectories.
Differentiating scalar implicature from exclusion inferences in language acquisition
Authors: SULLIVAN Jessica , DAVIDSON Kathryn , WADE Shirlene , BARNER David
Published: April 2019

During acquisition, children must learn both the meanings of words and how to interpret them in context. For example, children must learn the logical semantics of the scalar quantifier some and its pragmatically enriched meaning: ‘some but not all’. Some studies have shown that ‘scalar implicature’ – that some implies ‘some but not all’ – poses a challenge even to nine-year-olds, while others find success by age three. We asked whether reports of children's successes might be due to the computation of exclusion inferences (like contrast or mutual exclusivity) rather than scalar implicatures. We found that young children (N = 214; ages 4;0–7;11) sometimes compute symmetrical exclusion inferences rather than asymmetric scalar inferences. These data suggest that a stronger burden of evidence is required in studies of implicature; before concluding that children compute implicatures, researchers should first show that children exhibit sensitivity to asymmetric entailment in the task.
A rare association of left pulmonary artery sling with right pulmonary hypoplasia and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection
Authors: Kitadai Yuzo , Kan Nobuhiko , Tsukimori Kiyomi
Published: April 2019

We present the second reported case of left pulmonary artery sling with dextrocardia, right pulmonary hypoplasia, and total pulmonary venous connection in a fetus. This case highlights the importance of the determination of pulmonary artery arrangement by fetal echocardiography if right pulmonary hypoplasia and/or congenital heart disease is suspected.
Cardiovascular Events after the Sewol Ferry Disaster, South Korea
Authors: Kong So Yeon , Song Kyoung Jun , Shin Sang Do , Ro Young Sun
Published: April 2019

Background:

Major incidents affecting large numbers of people may increase the rate of acute cardiovascular events, even among those who are not directly involved in the incident. It is hypothesized that the MV Sewol ferry disaster (South Korea) would increase the incidence of cardiovascular events nation-wide.

Methods:

Data on all adult patients (>18 years) who were diagnosed with acute cardiovascular events, including acute myocardial infarction (MI), angina, and cardiac arrhythmias, were extracted from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) from March 15 through June 17, during the years 2011-2014 (four weeks before to eight weeks after the event date). Poisson regression models were used to calculate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) comparing the weekly changes in the occurrences of cardiovascular events from the week of the Sewol event (April 16-22, 2014) to eight weeks after the disaster (June 11-17, 2014), using the one-month period before Sewol as a reference period (March 15-April 15), adjusting for calendar years (years 2011-2014) and environmental factors.

Results:

During the study periods, cardiovascular events were identified in 73,823 patients. Compared to the reference period, the week of the Sewol disaster and the three weeks after the disaster showed a significant increase in the number of acute cardiovascular events, IRRs of 1.09 (95% CI, 1.03-1.15) and 1.08 (95% CI, 1.02-1.15), respectively (P <.01 for both). In particular, there was 21% increase in incidence of arrhythmia (IRR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02-1.44; P = .03) during the week of the Sewol disaster compared with the reference period.

Conclusion:

This study showed a significant increase in the incidence of acute cardiovascular events during the week of, and the three weeks after, the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014. These additional cardiac emergencies may be triggered by emotional stressors related to the event, highlighting the public health importance of indirect exposure to a tragic catastrophe.

Kong SY, Song KJ, Shin SD, Ro YS. Cardiovascular events after the Sewol ferry disaster, South Korea. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019;34(2):142–148
Political Legacies: Understanding Their Significance to Contemporary Political Debates
Authors: Fong Christian , Malhotra Neil , Margalit Yotam
Published: April 2019

Politicians bequeath an important legacy after they leave office: the public’s memories of their time in office. Indeed, the media often discuss legacy concerns as a key motivation of politicians. Yet, there has been little empirical analysis of how politicians’ legacies are interpreted and used by the mass public. Analyzing millions of comments from online discussion forums, we show that citizens frequently mobilize memories of past politicians in their discussions of current events. A randomized survey experiment rationalizes such invocations of past politicians: they bolster the persuasiveness of contemporary arguments—particularly bad ones—but only when made in the context of a policy domain specifically associated with a past politician. Our findings suggest that politicians have a strong interest in cultivating a positive, broad, and enduring legacy because memories of them influence policy debates long after they leave office.
THE MINSKY MOMENT AS THE REVENGE OF ENTROPY
Authors: Rosser J. Barkley
Published: April 2019

Considering macroeconomies as systems subject to stochastic forms of entropic equilibria, we shall consider how deviations driven by positive feedbacks as in a speculative bubble can drive such an economy into an anti-entropic state that can suddenly collapse back into an entropic state, with such a collapse taking the form of a Minsky moment. This can manifest itself as shifts in the boundary between the portion of the income distribution that is best modeled as Boltzmann–Gibbs and that best modeled as a Paretian power law.