bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compelling Interest Cacodoxy: Why the Contraception Mandate Fails RFRA's Compelling Interest Analysis
Authors: Prichard Wesley A.
Published: March 2017

Since its birth in 2011, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (“ACA”) Contraception Mandate (the “Mandate”) has been a frequent subject of discussion, debate, and litigation. From the outset, the government has defended the Mandate generally in the name of public health and gender equality. While both public health and gender equality are well within the government’s regulatory domain, these broadly framed interests are inadequate to survive the compelling interest test under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”) and its companion, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”).As RFRA’s text provides, when a person’s sincere religious exercise is substantially burdened, the government must demonstrate that application of the burden to the person is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest. As the Supreme Court unanimously held in O Centro, RFRA’s “to the person” language requires that strict scrutiny is applied to the asserted harm of granting specific exemptions to a particular religious claimant, rather than the broadly formulated interests justifying the general applicability of a law. As will be explained, there is no compelling governmental interest under RFRA to enforce the Mandate against religious non-profits or closely-held businesses that sincerely hold religious objections, especially for coverage of contraceptives that operate to prevent implantation after fertilization. In Hobby Lobby, the Court assumed arguendo that the government had a compelling interest in the Mandate in order to base its decision on narrow tailoring. In doing so, the Court never conducted a RFRA compelling interest analysis. The purpose of this Note is to argue that the government lacks a compelling interest in enforcing the Mandate against religious non-profits or closely-held businesses after such an organization proves that the Mandate substantially burdens a sincere religious belief. Part I lays the scope and foundation of this Note, providing information on RFRA’s compelling interest test, the organizations and their beliefs, the Mandate, and the coverage mandated. Part II applies RFRA’s compelling interest test to religious non-profits and closely-held businesses. It notes the numerous exemptions already in place, the lack of evidence supporting the government’s claim that the Mandate furthers women’s health, and the small impact the Mandate has on a national scale for employers whose sincerely held religious beliefs are not substantially burdened by its imposition. Part III gives the current status of the Zubik cases, which in part involve the subject of this Note.
Transnational Feminisms, Nonideal Theory, and “Other” Women’s Power
Authors: Khader Serene J
Published: March 2017

Postcolonial and transnational feminists’ calls to recognize “other” women’s agency have seemed to some Western feminists to entail moral quietism about women’s oppression. Here, I offer an antirelativist framing of the transnational feminist critiques, one rooted in a conception of transnational feminisms as a nonideal theoretical enterprise. The Western feminist problem is not simple ethnocentrism, but rather a failure to ask the right types of normative questions, questions relevant to the nonideal context in which transnational feminist praxis occurs. Instead of asking which forms of power are gender-justice-enhancing, Western feminists are fixated on contrasting “other” cultures to an idealized Western culture. A focus on ideal theorizing works together with colonial epistemic practices to divert Western feminist attention from key questions about what will reduce “other” women’s oppression under conditions of gender injustice and ongoing imperialism. Western feminists need to ask whether “other” women’s power is resistant, and answering this question requires a focus on what Amartya Sen would call “justice enhancement” rather than an ideal of the gender-just culture. I show how a focus on resistance, accompanied by a colonialism-visibilizing hypothesis and a normative vision that allows multiple strategies for transitioning out of injustice, can guide Western feminists toward more appropriate questions about “other” women’s power.
A Capacious Account of Liberal Feminism
Authors: Baehr Amy R
Published: March 2017

This paper presents an account of liberal feminism as a capacious family of doctrines. The account is capacious in the sense that it sweeps in a wide variety of doctrines, including some thought to be challenges to liberal feminism, and allows us to refer to doctrines with more than one label—so we can identify, for example, care-ethical liberal feminism, socially conservative liberal feminism, and liberal socialist feminism. The capacious account also provides a conceptual framework to allow us to think with greater clarity about the scope of liberal feminist claims to justice, and about how that justice is to be secured and sustained. Since there is such variety within the liberal feminist family of doctrines, it makes little sense to criticize or defend liberal feminism simpliciter. The capacious account both requires and makes it possible for us to eschew such talk and focus instead on the particular doctrines we have in mind.
Western Faculty Profile: Dr. Cam Tsujita
Authors: Qu Kathleen
Published: March 2017

Dr. Cameron Tsujita is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Western University. He completed his BSc at Western and his PhD at McMaster University and now teaches several undergraduate Earth Sciences courses while doing research and outreach, as well as supervising graduate students. He was named one of the 2014 3M National Teaching Fellows and is held in high esteem by his students and colleagues. Kathleen Qu, a member of the Academic Affairs Committee for WURJHNS, interviewed Dr. Tsujita to learn more about his career path and relay his advice for students who wish to pursue research.
Accountability and Reporting in the Fight against Corruption: Preliminary Evidences from the Italian Setting
Authors: Spanò Rosanna , Ferri Luca , Fiondella Clelia , Maffei Marco
Published: March 2017

This paper aims to explain how Italian Regional Governments reacted to the introduction of the Anti-Corruption Plans in order to understand the degree of thoroughness. To answer the research question 20 Anti-Corruption Plans prepared by Italian Regional Governments for the years 2013-2016. The plans were examined using a meaning-oriented content analysis. This analysis allows us to detect the degree of compliance with the National Anticorruption Plan (NAP). Also we investigated the characteristics of the information, as well as the degree of thoroughness of the reports. Our findings highlight the existence of high degree of heterogeneity in the Anti corruption plans that characterises the national context. Also, our findings reveal the existence of a wide presence of regions employing poor reporting practices.
Od herosa do superbohatera, od „potwora” do celebryty. Disnejowski Herkules w drodze na popkulturowy Olimp
Authors: Mik Anna
Published: March 2017

Hercules by Walt Disney is a fairy-tale type movie that re-tells well-known greek myth about Heracles, ancient Greek hero. In this paper I try to analyze the title character in order to prove that he is a monomythical realization of the contemporary superhero, with it’s main features, like: „the otherness”, being a celebrity and a potential lover. The movie also provides the actualization of a myth with its new American conservative values. However, many suggestions in it imply creating a distance between this new production and the classical Disney’s animations, like Snow White. Hercules also comments on the popular culture itself and reminds the viewers what does it mean to be
„Podoba mi się, jak umierasz, chłopcze”. Django i jego Czarny Antybohater
Authors: Górny Antoni
Published: March 2017

The article discusses the phenomenon of the “Black badman” in the context of Quentin Tarantino’s film Django Unchained. A brief outline of the history of Black folktales provides the parameters for the rise of violent tales and tales of violent men, such as Railroad Bill or Stagolee. As an outlaw, Django represents a counterimage to the threat of Black violence that was used to justify not only the racist brutality of lynching, but also the establishment of law enforcement agencies in the American South. By alluding to the legend of Bras Coupé, Tarantino provides a historic lineage for Django, while his use of the “blaxploitation” aesthetic highlights the viability of the Black badman figure for a contemporary America. As a badman, Django is not simply a personification of resistance to White racial domination, but a veritable superhero for a future that one might be tempted to call “post-racial.”
Jak umierają współcześni bohaterowie i co po nich zostaje?
Authors: Pycka Anna
Published: March 2017

Watching deaths belongs to natural human needs. Nowadays this need is fulfilled by popular culture. Here I am focusing on the last public statements by the late Polish VIPs and celebrities, recognized as the superstars of popular culture – Pope John Paul II, Zbigniew Religa, a prominent Polish cardiac surgeon and politician, Jan Kaczkowski, a Roman Catholic priest, and Maria Czubaszek, a writer and a journalist, and the best selling books seals with their names. My conclusions, in the context of Goeffrey Gorer’s essay, The Pornography of Death, put the new light on the issue of the death in popular culture.
Kobieta FIT – seksualne uprzedmiotowienie czy zyskana moc? Analiza na podstawie kobiecego aktu sportowego.
Authors: Budzisz Aleksandra , Hoły-Łuczaj Magdalena , Łuczaj Kamil
Published: March 2017

Today, the perception of (ideal) feminity is based on a visual presentation of the (ideal) female body, including female nudes. Due to the cultural patterns, most of the recipients of visual culture rarely have an opportunity to become familiar with a variety of representations of the female body (age, body shape, stylization). The most common is the pattern of “fit woman” – neat, slim, stressing her sexual attributes. This analysis confronts the traditional image with the increasingly popular trend among women – building athletic body (strong, muscular, silhouette), previously limited to men. The main aim is to investigate how women nude based on the musculature can empower the image of a female by adding power and agency, previously only enjoyed by men. We will try to determine whether the muscular nudity is actually a way to manifest (gained) power and an opportunity to change the perception of femininity or just another way of presenting women as a mere sexual object
The Effects of Computerized Clinical Decision Support Systems on Laboratory Test Ordering: A Systematic Review
Authors: Delvaux Nicolas , Van Thienen Katrien , Heselmans Annemie , de Velde Stijn Van , Ramaekers Dirk , Aertgeerts Bert
Published: March 2017

Context.—

Inappropriate laboratory test ordering has been shown to be as high as 30%. This can have an important impact on quality of care and costs because of downstream consequences such as additional diagnostics, repeat testing, imaging, prescriptions, surgeries, or hospital stays.

Objective.—

To evaluate the effect of computerized clinical decision support systems on appropriateness of laboratory test ordering.

Data Sources.—

We used MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane Library, and Inspec through December 2015. Investigators independently screened articles to identify randomized trials that assessed a computerized clinical decision support system aimed at improving laboratory test ordering by providing patient-specific information, delivered in the form of an on-screen management option, reminder, or suggestion through a computerized physician order entry using a rule-based or algorithm-based system relying on an evidence-based knowledge resource. Investigators extracted data from 30 papers about study design, various study characteristics, study setting, various intervention characteristics, involvement of the software developers in the evaluation of the computerized clinical decision support system, outcome types, and various outcome characteristics.

Conclusions.—

Because of heterogeneity of systems and settings, pooled estimates of effect could not be made. Data showed that computerized clinical decision support systems had little or no effect on clinical outcomes but some effect on compliance. Computerized clinical decision support systems targeted at laboratory test ordering for multiple conditions appear to be more effective than those targeted at a single condition.
Professional Practice Evaluation for Pathologists: The Development, Life, and Death of the Evalumetrics Program
Authors: Volmar Keith E. , McCall Shannon J. , Schifman Ronald B. , Talbert Michael L. , Tworek Joseph A. , Hulkower Keren I. , Guidi Anthony J. , Nakhleh Raouf E. , Souers Rhona J. , Bashleben Christine P. , Blond Barbara J.
Published: March 2017

Context.—

In 2008, the Joint Commission (JC) implemented a standard mandating formal monitoring of physician professional performance as part of the process of granting and maintaining practice privileges.

Objective.—

To create a pathology-specific management tool to aid pathologists in constructing a professional practice-monitoring program, thereby meeting the JC mandate.

Design.—

A total of 105 College of American Pathologists (CAP)–defined metrics were created. Metrics were based on the job descriptions of pathologists' duties in the laboratory, and metric development was aided by experience from the Q-Probes and Q-Tracks programs. The program was offered in a Web-based format, allowing secure data entry, customization of metrics, and central data collection for future benchmarking.

Results.—

The program was live for 3 years, with 347 pathologists subscribed from 61 practices (median, 4 per institution; range, 1–35). Subscribers used 93 of the CAP-defined metrics and created 109 custom metrics. The median number of CAP-defined metrics used per pathologist was 5 (range, 1–43), and the median custom-defined metrics per pathologist was 2 (range, 1–5). Most frequently, 1 to 3 metrics were monitored (42.7%), with 20% each following 4 to 6 metrics, 5 to 9 metrics, or greater than 10 metrics. Anatomic pathology metrics were used more commonly than clinical pathology metrics. Owing to low registration, the program was discontinued in 2016.

Conclusions.—

Through careful vetting of metrics it was possible to develop a pathologist-specific management tool to address the JC mandate. While this initial product failed, valuable metrics were developed and implementation knowledge was gained that may be used to address new regulatory requirements for emerging value-based payment systems.
Jornal de pesquisa e diários de aula particular: Uma experiência formativa voltada ao ensino de acordeom para terceira idade
Authors: Weiss Douglas Rodrigo Bonfante , Louro-Hettwer Ana Lúcia De Marques E
Published: March 2017

Neste trabalho apresenta-se a problematização de uma aplicação prática de Diários de Aula (ZABALZA, 2004) e do Jornal de Pesquisa (BARBOSA; HESS, 2010). Com intuito de pesquisar e teorizar sobre o ensino de acordeom voltado a alunos da terceira idade, este estudo possibilitou identificar fatores sobre a educação musical neste contexto. Foi perceptível, dentro dos diários analisados, como a qualidade da sala de aula, o mapeamento estético e a flexibilidade em relação à progressão de conteúdos auxiliam na motivação para o estudo musical. Enviado em: 06 de outubro de 2016.Aprovado em: 27 de novembro de 2016.
Towards the metaphorical transformation of urban space: digital art and the city after web 2.0
Authors: Barranha Helena , Ribeiro António Pinto , Pereira Raquel
Published: March 2017

A revolução digital tem sido muitas vezes associada à indefinição de fronteiras geográficas, levando a novas formas de reconhecimento e (in)diferenciação territorial. À medida que as distâncias físicas se dissiparam, as barreiras tornaram-se ambíguas e crescentemente condicionadas por reconfigurações digitais de lugares reais ou ficcionados. Depois da Web 2.0, as representações geográficas de cidades foram redefinidas por ligações eletrónicas, abrindo assim o caminho para novas cartografias em rede, paralelas à realidade material, mas não necessariamente dependentes da mesma. Esta transformação metafórica do espaço físico em imagens e informação, permanentemente alteradas, partilhadas e atualizadas na Internet, promoveu uma dialética instável entre as dimensões tangíveis e subjetivas. Enquanto algumas fronteiras tendem a desaparecer, outras estão também a ser criadas, dado que o aparecimento de novos territórios digitais (ou digitalizados), com protocolos de acesso e cartografias específicas, tem gerado novas formas de exclusão social e cultural. Centrando-se na Arte Digital e Pós-Digital, este artigo discute esta situação recente, observando como os artistas contemporâneos têm proposto sistemas alternativos para a apropriação e representação de espaços urbanos. Enviado em: 22 de outubro de 2016.Aprovado em: 15 de novembro de 2016.
Expression and clinical value of EGFR in human meningiomas
Authors: Arnli Magnus B. , Backer-Grøndahl Thomas , Ytterhus Borgny , Granli Unn S. , Lydersen Stian , Gulati Sasha , Torp Sverre H.
Published: March 2017

Background

Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors in humans that frequently recur despite having a predominantly benign nature. Even though these tumors have been shown to commonly express EGFR/c-erbB1 (epidermal growth factor receptor), results from previous studies are uncertain regarding the expression of either intracellular or extracellular domains, cellular localization, activation state, relations to malignancy grade, and prognosis.

Aims

This study was designed to investigate the expression of the intracellular and extracellular domains of EGFR and of the activated receptor as well as its ligands EGF and TGFα in a large series of meningiomas with long follow-up data, and investigate if there exists an association between antibody expression and clinical and histological data.

Methods

A series of 186 meningiomas consecutively operated within a 10-year period was included. Tissue microarrays were constructed and immunohistochemically analyzed with antibodies targeting intracellular and extracellular domains of EGFR, phosphorylated receptor, and EGF and TGFα. Expression levels were recorded as a staining index (SI).

Results

Positive immunoreactivity was observed for all antibodies in most cases. There was in general high SIs for the intracellular domain of EGFR, phosphorylated EGFR, EGF, and TGFα but lower for the extracellular domain. Normal meninges were negative for all antibodies. Higher SIs for the phosphorylated EGFR were observed in grade II tumors compared with grade I (p = 0.018). Survival or recurrence was significantly decreased in the time to recurrence analysis (TTR) with high SI-scores of the extracellular domain in a univariable survival analysis (HR 1.152, CI (1.036–1.280, p = 0.009)). This was not significant in a multivariable analysis. Expression of the other antigens did not affect survival.

Conclusion

EGFR is overexpressed and in an activated state in human meningiomas. High levels of ligands also support this growth factor receptor system to be involved in meningioma tumorigenesis. EGFR may be a potential candidate for targeted therapy.
Low stress drops observed for aftershocks of the 2011 Mw 5.7 Prague, Oklahoma, earthquake
Authors: Sumy Danielle F. , Neighbors Corrie J. , Cochran Elizabeth S. , Keranen Katie M.
Published: March 2017

In November 2011, three Mw ≥ 4.8 earthquakes and thousands of aftershocks occurred along the structurally complex Wilzetta fault system near Prague, Oklahoma. Previous studies suggest that wastewater injection induced a Mw 4.8 foreshock, which subsequently triggered a Mw 5.7 mainshock. We examine source properties of aftershocks with a standard Brune‐type spectral model and jointly solve for seismic moment (M0), corner frequency (f0), and kappa (κ) with an iterative Gauss‐Newton global downhill optimization method. We examine 934 earthquakes with initial moment magnitudes (Mw) between 0.33 and 4.99 based on the pseudospectral acceleration and recover reasonable M0, f0, and κ for 87 earthquakes with Mw 1.83–3.51 determined by spectral fit. We use M0 and f0 to estimate the Brune‐type stress drop, assuming a circular fault and shear‐wave velocity at the hypocentral depth of the event. Our observations suggest that stress drops range between 0.005 and 4.8 MPa with a median of 0.2 MPa (0.03–26.4 MPa with a median of 1.1 MPa for Madariaga‐type), which is significantly lower than typical eastern United States intraplate events (>10 MPa). We find that stress drops correlate weakly with hypocentral depth and magnitude. Additionally, we find the stress drops increase with time after the mainshock, although temporal variation in stress drop is difficult to separate from spatial heterogeneity and changing event locations. The overall low median stress drop suggests that the fault segments may have been primed to fail as a result of high pore fluid pressures, likely related to nearby wastewater injection.
Tsunami‐driven gravity waves in the presence of vertically varying background and tidal wind structures
Authors: Laughman B. , Fritts D. C. , Lund T. S.
Published: March 2017

Many characteristics of tsunami‐driven gravity waves (TDGWs) enable them to easily propagate into the thermosphere and ionosphere with appreciable amplitudes capable of producing detectable perturbations in electron densities and total electron content. The impact of vertically varying background and tidal wind structures on TDGW propagation is investigated with a series of idealized background wind profiles to assess the relative importance of wave reflection, critical‐level approach, and dissipation. These numerical simulations employ a 2‐D nonlinear anelastic finite‐volume neutral atmosphere model which accounts for effects accompanying vertical gravity wave (GW) propagation such as amplitude growth with altitude. The GWs are excited by an idealized tsunami forcing with a 50 cm sea surface displacement, a 400 km horizontal wavelength, and a phase speed of 200 ms−1 consistent with previous studies of the tsunami generated by the 26 December 2004 Sumatra earthquake. Results indicate that rather than partial reflection and trapping, the dominant process governing TDGW propagation to thermospheric altitudes is refraction to larger and smaller vertical scales, resulting in respectively larger and smaller vertical group velocities and respectively reduced and increased viscous dissipation. Under all considered background wind profiles, TDGWs were able to attain ionospheric altitudes with appreciable amplitudes. Finally, evidence of nonlinear effects is observed and the conditions leading to their formation is discussed.
Temperature changes in Three Gorges Reservoir Area and linkage with Three Gorges Project
Authors: Song Zhen , Liang Shunlin , Feng Lian , He Tao , Song Xiao‐Peng , Zhang Lei
Published: March 2017

The Three Gorges Project (TGP) is one of the largest hydroelectric projects throughout the world. It has brought many benefits to the society but also led to endless debates about its environmental and climatic impacts. Monitoring the spatiotemporal variations of temperature in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) is important for understanding the climatic impacts of the TGP. In this study, we used remote sensing‐based land surface temperature (LST) and ground‐measured air temperature data to investigate temperature changes in the TGRA. Results showed that during the daytime in summer, LST exhibited significant cooling (1–5°C) in the downstream region of the reservoir, whereas LST during the nighttime in winter exhibited significant warming (1–5°C) across the entire reservoir. However, these cooling and warming effects were both locally constrained within 5 km buffer along the reservoir. The changes in air temperature were consistent with those in LST, with 0.67°C cooling in summer and 0.33°C warming in winter. The temperature changes along the reservoir not only resulted from the land‐water conversion induced by the dam impounding but were also related to the increase of vegetation cover caused by the ecological restoration projects. Significant warming trends were also found in the upstream of TGRA, especially during the daytime in summer, with up to 5°C for LST and 0.52°C for air temperature. The warming was caused mainly by urban expansion, which was driven in part by the population resettlement of TGP. Based on satellite observations, we investigated the comprehensive climatic impacts of TGP caused by multiple factors.
Summertime upper tropospheric nitrous oxide over the Mediterranean as a footprint of Asian emissions
Authors: Kangah Yannick , Ricaud Philippe , Attié Jean‐Luc , Saitoh Naoko , Hauglustaine Didier A. , Wang Rong , El Amraoui Laaziz , Zbinden Régina , Delon Claire
Published: March 2017

The aim of this paper is to study the transport of nitrous oxide (N2O) from the Asian surface to the eastern Mediterranean Basin (MB). We used measurements from the spectrometer Thermal and Near infrared Sensor for carbon Observation Fourier transform spectrometer on board the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) over the period of 2010–2013. We also used the outputs from the chemical transport model LMDz‐OR‐INCA over the same period. By comparing GOSAT upper tropospheric retrievals to aircraft measurements from the High‐performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research Pole‐to‐Pole Observations, we calculated a GOSAT High‐performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research standard deviation (SD error) of ~2.0 ppbv for a single pixel and a mean bias of approximately −1.3 ppbv (approximately −0.4%). This SD error is reduced to ~0.1 ppbv when we average the pixels regionally and monthly over the MB. The use of nitrogen fertilizer coupled with high soil humidity during the summer Asian monsoon produces high N2O emissions, which are transported from Asian surfaces to the eastern MB. This summertime enrichment over the eastern MB produces a maximum in the difference between the eastern and the western MB upper tropospheric N2O (east‐west difference) in July in both the measurements and the model. N2O over the eastern MB can therefore be considered as a footprint of Asian summertime emissions. However, the peak‐to‐peak amplitude of the east‐west difference observed by GOSAT (~1.4 ± 0.3 ppbv) is larger than that calculated by LMDz‐OR‐INCA (~0.8 ppbv). This is due to an underestimation of N2O emissions in the model and to a relatively coarse spatial resolution of the model that tends to underestimate the N2O accumulation into the Asian monsoon anticyclone.
A modeling study of secondary organic aerosol formation from sesquiterpenes using the STOCHEM global chemistry and transport model
Authors: Khan M. A. H. , Jenkin M. E. , Foulds A. , Derwent R. G. , Percival C. J. , Shallcross D. E.
Published: March 2017

Sesquiterpenes are one of the precursors of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) which can be an important global sources of organic aerosol (OA). Updating the chemistry scheme in the global chemistry transport model by incorporating an oxidation mechanism for β‐caryophyllene (representing all sesquiterpenes), adding global sesquiterpene emissions of 29 Tg/yr, and revising global monoterpene emissions up to 162 Tg/yr [Guenther et al., 2012] led to an increase of SOA burden by 95% and SOA production rate by 106% relative to the base case described in Utembe et al. [2011]. Including the emissions of sesquiterpenes resulted in increase of SOA burden of 0.11 Tg and SOA production rate of 12.9 Tg/yr relative to the base case. The highest concentrations of sesquiterpene‐derived SOA (by up to 1.2 μg/m3) were found over central Africa and South America, the regions having high levels of biogenic emissions with significant biomass burning. In the updated model simulation, the multigeneration oxidation products from sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes transported above the boundary layer and condensed to the aerosol phase at higher altitude led to an increase of OA by up to 30% over the tropics and northern midlatitude to higher altitude. The model evaluation showed an underestimation of model OA mostly for the campaigns dominated by regional anthropogenic pollution. The increase of SOA production from sesquiterpenes reduced the discrepancies between modeled and observed OA concentrations over the remote and rural areas. The increase of SOA concentrations by up to 200% from preindustrial to present scenarios was found over the tropical oceans.
Continental crust anisotropy measurements from tectonic tremor in Cascadia
Authors: Huesca‐Pérez Eduardo , Ortega Roberto , Valenzuela Raúl W.
Published: March 2017

We present new observations of crustal anisotropy in the southern Cascadia fore arc from tectonic tremor. The abundance of tremor activity in Oregon and northern California during slow‐slip events offers an enormous amount of information with which to measure and analyze anisotropy in the upper brittle continental crust. To accomplish this, we performed analyses of wave polarization and shear wave splitting of tectonic tremor signals by using three component broadband seismic stations. The splitting times range between 0.11 and 0.32 s and are consistent with typical values observed in the continental crust. Fast polarization azimuths are, in general, margin parallel and trend N‐S, which parallels the azimuths of the maximum compressive stresses observed in this region. This pattern is likely to be controlled by the stress field. Comparatively, the anisotropic structure of fast directions observed in the northern section of the Cascadia margin is oblique with respect to the southern section of Cascadia, which, in general, trends E‐W and is mainly controlled by active faulting and geological structures. Source distribution analysis using a bivariate normal distribution that expresses the distribution of tremors in a preferred direction shows that in northern California and Oregon, the population of tremors tends to distribute parallel to fast polarization azimuths and maximum compressive stresses, suggesting that both tremor propagation and anisotropy are influenced by the stress field. Results show that the anisotropy reflects an active tectonic process that involves the northward movement of the Oregon Block, which is rotating as a rigid body. In northern Cascadia, previous results of anisotropy show that the crust is undergoing a shortening process due to velocity differences between the Oregon Block and the North America plate, which is moving more slowly with respect to the Oregon Block, making it clash against Vancouver Island.
Uncertainty quantification and predictability of wind speed over the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Fernández‐González S. , Martín M. L. , Merino A. , Sánchez J. L. , Valero F.
Published: March 2017

During recent decades, the use of probabilistic forecasting methods has increased markedly. However, these predictions still need improvement in uncertainty quantification and predictability analysis. For this reason, the main aim of this paper is to develop tools for quantifying uncertainty and predictability of wind speed over the Iberian Peninsula. To achieve this goal, several spread indexes extracted from an ensemble prediction system are defined in this paper. Subsequently, these indexes were evaluated with the aim of selecting the most appropriate for the characterization of uncertainty associated to the forecasting. Selection is based on comparison of the average magnitude of ensemble spread (ES) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). MAPE is estimated by comparing the ensemble mean with wind speed values from different databases. Later, correlation between MAPE and ES was evaluated. Furthermore, probability distribution functions (PDFs) of spread indexes are analyzed to select the index with greater similarity to MAPE PDFs. Then, the spread index selected as optimal is used to carry out a spatiotemporal analysis of model uncertainty in wind forecasting. The results indicate that mountainous regions and the Mediterranean coast are characterized by strong uncertainty, and the spread increases more rapidly in areas affected by strong winds. Finally, a predictability index is proposed for obtaining a tool capable of providing information on whether the predictability is higher or lower than average. The applications developed may be useful in the forecasting of wind potential several days in advance, with substantial importance for estimating wind energy production.
Ultrathin Metal films for Transparent Electrodes of Flexible Optoelectronic Devices
Authors: Yun Jungheum
Published: March 2017

The need for the development of transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) supported on flexible polymer substrates has explosively increased in response to flexible polymer‐based photovoltaic and display technologies; these TCEs replace conventional indium tin oxide (ITO) that exhibits poor performance on heat‐sensitive polymers. An efficient, flexible TCE is required to exhibit high electrical conductance and high optical transmittance, as well as excellent mechanical flexibility and long‐term stability, simultaneously. Recent advances in technologies utilizing an ultrathin noble‐metal film in a dielectric/metal/dielectric structure, or its derivatives, have attracted attention as promising alternatives that can satisfy the requirements of flexible TCEs. This review will survey the background knowledge and recent updates of synthetic strategies and design rules toward highly efficient, flexible TCEs based on ultrathin metal films, with a special focus on the principal features and available methodologies involved in the fabrication of highly transparent, conductive, ultrathin noble‐metal films. This survey will also cover the practical applications of TCEs to flexible organic solar cells and light‐emitting diodes.
Advanced Materials for Health Monitoring with Skin‐Based Wearable Devices
Authors: Jin Han , Abu‐Raya Yasmin Shibli , Haick Hossam
Published: March 2017

Skin‐based wearable devices have a great potential that could result in a revolutionary approach to health monitoring and diagnosing disease. With continued innovation and intensive attention to the materials and fabrication technologies, development of these healthcare devices is progressively encouraged. This article gives a concise, although admittedly non‐exhaustive, didactic review of some of the main concepts and approaches related to recent advances and developments in the scope of skin‐based wearable devices (e.g. temperature, strain, biomarker‐analysis werable devices, etc.), with an emphasis on emerging materials and fabrication techniques in the relevant fields. To give a comprehensive statement, part of the review presents and discusses different aspects of these advanced materials, such as the sensitivity, biocompatibility and durability as well as the major approaches proposed for enhancing their chemical and physical properties. A complementary section of the review linking these advanced materials with wearable device technologies is particularly specified. Some of the strong and weak points in development of each wearable material/device are highlighted and criticized. Several ideas regarding further improvement of skin‐based wearable devices are also discussed.
An Innovative Freeze‐Dried Reduced Graphene Oxide Supported SnS2 Cathode Active Material for Aluminum‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Hu Yuxiang , Luo Bin , Ye Delai , Zhu Xiaobo , Lyu Miaoqiang , Wang Lianzhou
Published: March 2017

Rechargeable aluminum‐ion batteries (AIBs) are attractive new generation energy storage devices due to its low cost, high specific capacity, and good safety. However, the lack of suitable electrode materials with high capacity and enhanced rate performance makes it difficult for real applications. Herein, the preparation of 3D reduced graphene oxide‐supported SnS2 nanosheets hybrid is reported as a new type of cathode material for AIBs. The resultant material demonstrates one of the highest capacities of 392 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and good cycling stability. It is revealed that the layered SnS2 nanosheets anchored on 3D reduced graphene oxide network endows the composite not only high electronic conductivity but also fast kinetic diffusion pathway. As a result, the hybrid material exhibits high rate performance (112 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1). The detailed characterization also verifies the intercalation and deintercalation of relatively large chloroaluminate anions into the layered SnS2 during the charge–discharge process, which is important for better understanding of the electrochemical process of AIBs.
A Solution Processable High‐Performance Thermoelectric Copper Selenide Thin Film
Authors: Lin Zhaoyang , Hollar Courtney , Kang Joon Sang , Yin Anxiang , Wang Yiliu , Shiu Hui‐Ying , Huang Yu , Hu Yongjie , Zhang Yanliang , Duan Xiangfeng
Published: March 2017

A solid‐state thermoelectric device is attractive for diverse technological areas such as cooling, power generation and waste heat recovery with unique advantages of quiet operation, zero hazardous emissions, and long lifetime. With the rapid growth of flexible electronics and miniature sensors, the low‐cost flexible thermoelectric energy harvester is highly desired as a potential power supply. Herein, a flexible thermoelectric copper selenide (Cu2Se) thin film, consisting of earth‐abundant elements, is reported. The thin film is fabricated by a low‐cost and scalable spin coating process using ink solution with a truly soluble precursor. The Cu2Se thin film exhibits a power factor of 0.62 mW/(m K2) at 684 K on rigid Al2O3 substrate and 0.46 mW/(m K2) at 664 K on flexible polyimide substrate, which is much higher than the values obtained from other solution processed Cu2Se thin films (<0.1 mW/(m K2)) and among the highest values reported in all flexible thermoelectric films to date (≈0.5 mW/(m K2)). Additionally, the fabricated thin film shows great promise to be integrated with the flexible electronic devices, with negligible performance change after 1000 bending cycles. Together, the study demonstrates a low‐cost and scalable pathway to high‐performance flexible thin film thermoelectric devices from relatively earth‐abundant elements.
Expandable Polymer Enabled Wirelessly Destructible High‐Performance Solid State Electronics
Authors: Gumus Abdurrahman , Alam Arsalan , Hussain Aftab M. , Mishra Kush , Wicaksono Irmandy , Torres Sevilla Galo A. , Shaikh Sohail F. , Diaz Marlon , Velling Seneca , Ghoneim Mohamed T. , Ahmed Sally M. , Hussain Muhammad M.
Published: March 2017

In today's digital age, the increasing dependence on information also makes us vulnerable to potential invasion of privacy and cyber security. Consider a scenario in which a hard drive is stolen, lost, or misplaced, which contains secured and valuable information. In such a case, it is important to have the ability to remotely destroy the sensitive part of the device (e.g., memory or processor) if it is not possible to regain it. Many emerging materials and even some traditional materials like silicon, aluminum, zinc oxide, tungsten, and magnesium, which are often used for logic processor and memory, show promise to be gradually dissolved upon exposure of various liquid medium. However, often these wet processes are too slow, fully destructive, and require assistance from the liquid materials and their suitable availability at the time of need. This study shows Joule heating effect induced thermal expansion and stress gradient between thermally expandable advanced polymeric material and flexible bulk monocrystalline silicon (100) to destroy high‐performance solid state electronics as needed and under 10 s. This study also shows different stimuli‐assisted smartphone‐operated remote destructions of such complementary metal oxide semiconductor electronics.
Selective Surface Smoothening of Polymer Microlenses by Depth Confined Softening
Authors: Chidambaram Nachiappan , Kirchner Robert , Fallica Roberto , Yu Libo , Altana Mirco , Schift Helmut
Published: March 2017

Polymeric refractive micro‐optical devices simultaneously demand striking smooth 3D topographies and precise shape accuracy for high performance and low stray light. Here, a surface selective smoothening of thermoplastic, polymeric material has been established while maintaining the high curvature corners required for a 50 µm tall, refractive, optical diffuser device. The 3D master structures are fabricated using direct write laser‐lithography with two‐photon absorption. Master structures are replicated into poly(methyl methacrylate) through a poly(dimethyl siloxane) intermediate copying step and subsequently smoothed out. Here, various high‐energy radiations have been considered to have a surface selective exposure and have been narrowed down to 172 nm ultraviolet exposure to be the ideal fit for this application. The 172 nm exposure provides selective modification of an up to 400 nm thick surface skin layer and negligible etching, which allows smoothening out up to 420 nm surface steps and reducing the RMS roughness from 22 nm down to below 10 nm by thermally driven material displacement, the so–called reflow, on a global pattern scale. Extreme ultraviolet exposure, as an alternative method, shows a higher modification efficiency than the 172 nm but has severe practical limitations.
Actively Tunable Structural Color Rendering with Tensile Substrate
Authors: Song Shichao , Ma Xiaoliang , Pu Mingbo , Li Xiong , Liu Kaipeng , Gao Ping , Zhao Zeyu , Wang Yanqin , Wang Changtao , Luo Xiangang
Published: March 2017

Dynamic color tuning is a very important and fascinating direction in the field of structural colorations due to its possible applications in stealth, anticounterfeiting, displaying techniques, etc. However, the most recent work about structural colors either have limitations on dynamic frequency tunability or require special conditions. In this work, a tensile substrate (e.g., polydimethylsiloxane) is introduced into conventional plasmonic structures to demonstrate dynamic tunable structural colors. The proposed idea is experimentally realized by fabricating samples via interference photolithography. The results show that resonance‐induced colors can be dynamically tuned from green to fuchsia by stretching the tensile substrate. Moreover, a further thematic analysis of the physical mechanism in the proposed structure is conducted. The authors envisage that their method has potential applications in anticounterfeiting, biometric sensors, and mechanics measurements.
Control of the Stokes Shift with Strong Coupling
Authors: Tanyi Ekembu K. , Thuman Hannah , Brown Nicolas , Koutsares Samantha , Podolskiy Viktor A. , Noginov Mikhail A.
Published: March 2017

Strong coupling of excitons in macroscopic ensembles of quantum emitters and cavities (or surface plasmons) can lead to dramatic change of the optical properties and modification of the dispersion curves, characterized by the normal mode splitting of the order of 1 eV. Such gigantic alteration of the hybrid energy states enables scores of unparalleled physical phenomena and functionalities, ranging from enhancement of electrical conductivity to control of chemical reactions. While coupling of single emitters to a cavity is a pure quantum mechanical phenomenon, the origin of the strong coupling involving large ensembles of molecules is the subject of controversy. In this work, the strong coupling of rhodamine 6G dye molecules with silver Fabry–Perot cavities is studied and the significant increase of the Stokes shift between the excitation and the emission bands of hybridized molecules is demonstrated. The proposed empirical model of the underlying physics calls for the quantum mechanical parity selection rule.
Bioinspired Adaptive Microplate Arrays for Magnetically Tuned Optics
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Long Yue , Liu Chuanyong , Chen Zhijian , Song Kai
Published: March 2017

In this work, magnetic field driven polymer microplate arrays are fabricated to modulate the optical properties of the sample, i.e. reflectance and fluorescence. Inspired by poplar leaves, which rotate the high reflectance white side of the leave upwards to act as a “roof” under strong light radiation, and switch the low reflectance green side for photosynthesis back again when the light is less severe. In this study, gold was selectively deposited on one side of the microplate, and surface reflectivity can be reversibly switched from higher to lower state through the change of the magnetic field direction to bend the microplates with the gold side facing up and down. The modulation of fluorescence emission is realized by magnetically control the tilting angle of the microplates, in the same way as a venetian blind. The fluorescence intensity reaches its maximum and minimum at the perpendicular and parallel position to the fluorescent substrate, respectively. This system provides a fast responding and remote controllable means to modulate the optical properties of samples, which has been considered important in certain applications, such as smart reflectors, environmentally friendly windows, and field emission.
Spatial Confinement of Light onto a Flat Metallic Surface Using Hybridization between Two Cavities
Authors: Weissman Adam , Galanty Matan , Gachet David , Segal Elad , Shavit Omer , Salomon Adi
Published: March 2017

Controlling the optical field down to the nanometer scale is a key step in optoelectronic applications and light–matter interaction at the nanoscale. Bowtie structures, rods, and sharp tapers are commonly used to realize such optical properties, but their fabrication is challenging. In this context, the complementary structures, namely, holes and cavities, are less explored. Herein, a simple system of two metallic nanocavities milled in thin silver film is used to confine the electromagnetic field to an area of ≈60 nm2. The field is confined onto a flat surface area and is either enhanced or suppressed by the polarization state of incident light. The energy of this spatially confined mode is determined by the distance between the two cavities and thus any color (wavelength) at the optical regime can be achieved. As a consequence, a dynamically controlled color is generated on an optical pixel size smaller than 1 µm2. Those results are supported by both transmission spectra and a cathodoluminescence study.
Cyanotrifluoromethylthiolation of Unactivated Olefins through Intramolecular Cyano Migration
Authors: Ji Meishan , Wu Zhen , Yu Jiajia , Wan Xiaobing , Zhu Chen
Published: March 2017

A new protocol for the elusive cyanotrifluoromethylthiolation of unactivated olefins is described. A broad range of vicinal CF3S‐substituted alkyl nitriles are furnished in good yields under mild reaction conditions. The intramolecular cyano migration strategy is harnessed for the trifluoromethylthiolation of alkenes for the first time, thus offering an efficient tool for the construction of alkyl trifluoromethylthioethers.

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