bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatio-temporal dynamics of pulsed gas breakdown in microgaps
Authors: Meng Guodong , Ying Qi , Loveless Amanda M. , Wu Feihong , Wang Kejing , Fu Yangyang , Garner Allen L. , Cheng Yonghong
Published: January 2019

Microscale gas breakdown plays a critical role in microplasma generation for numerous applications and device lifetime for miniaturized electronics. This communication extends a previous investigation of pulsed breakdown morphology [G. Meng et al., Phys. Plasmas 25, 082116 (2018)] by providing further insight into the spatio-temporal dynamics of pulsed gas breakdown for different gap distances using an in-situ electrical-optical measurement method. Time-resolved sequential images and the corresponding photon number distributions are obtained to demonstrate the dynamic evolution of the breakdown channel morphology and the ionization intensity during breakdown development. For a 15 μm gap, breakdown transitions from a spot area on both electrode surfaces to a broad discharge region comprised of filamentary main breakdown channel (∼2.00 μm) and surrounding weak ionization area due to the local field enhancement. For a 2 μm gap, it transitions from a thin channel (∼1.09 μm) to a wider and uniform channel (∼2.14 μm) because the electric field is more uniform at smaller gaps. Interestingly, the main breakdown channel width at the instant of breakdown is independent of the gap width. For the 2 μm gap, field emission dominates the initial stage of breakdown and collision ionization (α process) dominates during breakdown development, while the Townsend avalanche dominates the breakdown process for the 15 μm gap. We apply a simple asymptotic theory to quantify the relative contribution of these phenomena and predict that breakdown will follow Paschen's law for gaps larger than 17.8 μm.
Topologically nontrivial phases in superconducting transition metal carbides
Authors: Zhan Richard , Luo Xuan
Published: February 2019

Topological superconductors have shown great potential in the search for unique quasiparticles such as Majorana fermions. Combining nontrivial band topology and superconductivity can lead to topological superconductivity due to the proximity effect. In this work, we used first principles calculations to predict that rock-salt phases of VC and CrC are superconducting with topologically nontrivial states. The phonon dispersions of these transition metal carbides displayed no imaginary frequencies, which suggests dynamic stability. Additionally, the presence of soft acoustic phonon bands supports the existence of Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superconductivity in rock-salt VC and CrC. Therefore, these transition metal carbides are practical candidates for studying topological superconductors and their associated Majorana bound states.
Transport properties and crystal structure of layered LaSb2
Authors: Fischer Karl F. F. , Roth Nikolaj , Iversen Bo B.
Published: January 2019

LaSb2 has a layered crystal structure along the c-axis with ∼2% difference between the in-plane orthorombic a and b axes. Here, we report on the thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and Seebeck coefficient from 10 to 300 K as well as the magnetoresistance at 10 K. Using the van der Pauw technique on single crystal samples, the in-plane electrical resistivity tensor has been measured and it is found to be isotropic. An anisotropic crystal structure may have isotropic properties, but in the present case, the isotropic nature stems from crystal imperfection. Single crystal X-ray diffraction provides evidence of a mixing of the in-plane a- and b-directions leading to observed diffraction intensity where systematic absences are expected. Whether the underlying structural mechanism is twinning or stacking faults is unknown, but it could be the origin of the previously observed charge density wave states, and it may also explain the high unsaturating linear magnetoresistance reported here. At ambient conditions, LaSb2 is found to be stable in air, with no sign of bulk degradation after 5 years of storage; however, some change is observed in the amorphous background scattering.
On the detection, measurement, and characterization of slip-velocity in Couette-rheology involving viscoelastic liquids
Authors: Azese Martin Ndi
Published: February 2019

We present a robust calculation leading to experimentally convenient and accurate ways of detecting, measuring, and characterizing velocity-slippage in viscoelastic-fluids, unlike previous inaccurate Mooney-type techniques. Herein, the unsteady Navier-Stokes equation for viscoelastic-fluid is solved while highlighting the rheological ramification. Our results emphasize phase-lags amongst shear stresses and strains, key output used in differing slip-types. The viscoelastic fluid is non-aging and isothermal, and we obtain an exact solution of the non-trivial flow profile, without assuming a linear Couette profile as customarily used. Moreover, the Navier-type slip boundary condition is considered. This approach is similar to that done in our earlier paper [Azese, “Measurement and characterization of slippage and slip-law using a rigorous analysis in dynamics of oscillating rheometer: Newtonian fluid,” Phys. Fluids 30, 023103 (2018)] where instead it was a Newtonian fluid. Accordingly, the sample fluid is trapped in the Couette-gap, where one of them is stationary and the other is steadily oscillating with an amplitude Re (Reynolds-number) and angular speed Ω = Ro (Roshko number), thus Couette-rheometry. We showcase an alternative way to obtain a steady-periodic solution, matching the long-time solution obtained in our earlier paper. We obtain the unsteady solution for this viscoelastic case and also use the alternative method to obtain the steady-periodic version, later used in obtaining the velocity and stress at the walls. Interestingly, we note the influence of Re, Ro, and Wi (Weissenberg Number) on this analysis. The equations and plots presented evidently show the influence of the slip. We conclude with reverse algorithms, Fourier-transform, Lissajous-figures, and Mooney-like procedures, capable of reproducing the slip-parameters, leading to a systematic measurement-and-characterization of the slip, useful in the calibration of rheological devices.
Recurrence in three dimensional magnetohydrodynamic plasma
Authors: Mukherjee Rupak , Ganesh Rajaraman , Sen Abhijit
Published: February 2019

We report on a numerical observation of the recurrence phenomenon in a three dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) plasma for certain classes of initial flow profiles. Our simulations discover such a behaviour for an initial Taylor-Green (TG) type of flow, whereas under identical conditions, an initial Arnold-Beltrami-Childress (ABC) flow fails to show recurrent behaviour. This difference in the dynamical behaviours is traced to the nature of the Rayleigh quotient in each case. The Rayleigh quotient which is an approximate measure of the number of active degrees of freedom in a dynamical system is found to remain small and bounded in time for the TG flow but grows indefinitely in time for the ABC flow. An estimate of the effective degrees of freedom for the TG flow case is provided and its practical implications for the nonlinear behaviour of the continuum nonlinear MHD plasma system are discussed.
Ekman-type solutions for shallow-water flows on a rotating sphere: A new perspective on a classical problem
Authors: Constantin A. , Johnson R. S.
Published: February 2019

An asymptotic analysis, based solely on a small shallow-water parameter, produces a generalisation of the classical Ekman spiral which combines all the relevant physical processes, including nonlinearity, in a balance of terms at leading order. This new approach is applicable both at mid-latitudes (where linearity prevails) and near the Equator (where classical Ekman fails so that nonlinear effects have to be included).
Direct observation of the stress-induced domain structure in lead-free (Na1/2Bi1/2)TiO3-based ceramics
Authors: Martin Alexander , Uršič Hana , Rojac Tadej , Webber Kyle G.
Published: February 2019

In this work, the creep behavior of (Na1/2Bi1/2)TiO3-0.07BaTiO3 was characterized as a function of bias stress up to −500 MPa, revealing the time-dependence of the stress-induced relaxor-to-ferroelectric long-range order transformation. Creep strain was observed across a range of applied compressive stress levels, in particular at stresses approximately 50% above the critical coercive stress, indicating the significant time-dependence of the transformation on the long-range ferroelectric order. The macroscopic behavior is discussed in conjunction with ex situ piezoresponse force microscopy measurements that directly show the formation of ferroelectric domains in mechanically loaded relaxor ferroelectrics.
The large eddy simulation capability of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations: Analytical results
Authors: Heinz Stefan
Published: February 2019

A highly attractive idea to overcome shortcomings of both Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and large eddy simulation (LES) equations is the implementation of LES capability in RANS models. However, this approach faces questions regarding (i) the measurement of resolved motion and equivalence of various equations having the same resolution, (ii) the continuous variation of resolved and modeled motion under grid variations, and (iii) the explanation of how resolved motion and scaling variables in LES depend on the grid. Corresponding analytical results (addressing the resolution measurement, equivalence of equations, and resolution control) are reported, and grid effects (including the scaling of computational cost) are discussed.
Corrigendum to: Effect of the ratio of maize cob and husk to napier Pakchong 1 silage on nutritive value and in vitro gas production of rumen fluid of Thai native cattle
Authors: Yammuen-art S. , Somrak P. , Phatsara C.
Published: January 2019

The present study evaluated the chemical composition and in vitro ruminal digestibility of napier Pakchong 1 silage combined with maize cob and husk in different ratios. The napier Pakchong 1 grass was harvested at 45 days of maturity. The napier Pakchong 1 grass was ensiled with maize cob and husk at ratios of 1:5, 1:10 and 1:15. Three rumen fistulated Thai native cattle (White Lamphun cattle) with an average weight of 154 ± 4.7 kg were used to determine ruminal digestibility by in vitro gas-production technique. Gas production was recorded after incubating for 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The microbial biomass yield was determined after incubating for 24 h. DM, NDF and ADF of maize cob and husk mixed with napier Pakchong 1 silage declined by increasing the proportion of napier Pakchong 1 grass, while gas production after 4–10 h of incubating maize cob and husk mixed with napier Pakchong 1 grass increased by increasing the proportion of napier Pakchong 1 grass. The metabolisable energy, organic matter digestibility and microbial biomass yield did not differ among the different ratios. The results of the study suggested a recommended ratio of maize cob and husk to napier Pakchong 1 grass of 1:10. The ensiling fermentation increased the proportion of protein in the roughage, which lead to increased in vitro gas production of roughage.
Assessment of selected quality of life domains in patients who have undergone conservative or radical surgical treatment for penile cancer: an observational study
Authors: Sosnowski Roman , Wolski Jan Karol , Ziętalewicz Urszula , Szymański Michał , Bakuła Robert , Demkow Tomasz
Published: February 2019

Background Surgery is the standard treatment for organ-restricted penile cancer, but it is also a disfiguring procedure that can profoundly affect quality of life. Using a survey, in this study we assessed the effect of different surgical invasiveness on satisfaction in selected life domains of patients who underwent penile-sparing surgery and partial penectomy. Methods: Forty patients who underwent penile-sparing surgery (n=13) or partial penectomy (n=27) were enrolled in the study. The response rate was 71%. Information was obtained after surgery on sexuality, self-esteem, masculinity and partner relationships using the International Index of Erectile Function, the Self-Esteem Scale and the Conformity to Masculinity Norms Inventory questionnaires. We evaluated the effect of primary surgery type on selected domains of quality of life and correlations between study variables after surgery. Results: High self-esteem, satisfactory erectile function and masculinity results in both groups were comparable to those in the published literature. Men who underwent less disfiguring treatment had a significantly higher sense of masculinity than those who underwent partial penectomy (P=0.05). No significant differences were observed in erectile dysfunction and self-esteem. The level of aggressiveness of a surgical procedure was a predictor of sense of masculinity (P=0.01), but was not associated with self-esteem and sexual dysfunction (P=0.28 and P=0.55 respectively); 83% of patients were able to satisfactorily maintain partner relationships. Conclusions: Disfiguring treatments for penile cancer significantly interfere with the sense of masculinity, but sexual functioning and self-esteem do not differ according to the type of surgical procedure. Most men maintained stable partner relationships after surgery, regardless of surgery type.
Argument realization of psychological verbs
Authors: Li Chao
Published: February 2019

By using data from nearly thirty languages of various families and regions, this paper examines the argument realization of three types of psychological verbs (i.e. causative bivalent, non-causative bivalent, and monovalent). It finds that, when compared with the argument realization of core transitive verbs likeBREAK, causative bivalent psych verbs show crosslinguistic uniformity in that they pattern with core transitive verbs in argument realization. The same comparative approach finds that the argument realization of non-causative bivalent psych verbs shows a lot of crosslinguistic variation. As for monovalent psych verbs, the paper finds that they almost always pattern with the argument realization of unaccusative verbs. The findings of the paper are accounted for by using the Force-Control-Causality (FCC) model of verb meaning. Under this model, the uniformity in argument realization with respect to causative bivalent psych verbs is due to the prominence of the causative relationship expressed and the directionality of the causality from the Causer to the Causee. The variation in argument realization with respect to non-causative bivalent psych verbs can be attributed to the fact that such verbs express neither causation nor transmission of physical force. As for the near uniformity in argument realization with respect to monovalent psych verbs, it is due to the fact that they involve only one argument (thus no competition for the subject position) and this single argument shares the [−control] feature with the single argument of unaccusative verbs. This study points to the need of recognizing Causer and Causee as two core and highly-ranked thematic roles in a global thematic hierarchy.
Human impersonal pronouns in West Germanic
Authors: Van Olmen Daniël , Breed Adri
Published: February 2019

In this article, we examine and compare the main human impersonal pronouns in Afrikaans, Dutch and English. The second person singular, the third person plural and the ‘man’- and ‘one’-pronouns are studied by means of an acceptability judgment questionnaire and a completion questionnaire. The combination of the two methods reveals interesting descriptive facts about the three West Germanic languages. They include, among other things, the ‘man’-prominence of Afrikaans versus the ‘you’-prominence of Dutch and English for expressing the universal meaning ‘anyone’ and the more prominent position of ‘they’ in Dutch than in the other languages for conveying the existential meaning ‘someone, some people’. Our findings have a number of more theoretical implications too. The two existing semantic maps for human impersonal pronouns make different distinctions in the existential domain, based on type/level of (un)knownness on the one hand and number on the other. Our study tests both sets of distinctions and shows that the two dimensions interact with each other in Afrikaans, Dutch and English. The results thus support a recent proposal in the literature for a combined semantic map. The data from the completion questionnaire, finally, also indicates that existential uses prefer alternative forms of impersonalization to human impersonal pronouns in all three languages.
The AAA+ ATPase/ubiquitin ligase mysterin stabilizes cytoplasmic lipid droplets
Authors: Sugihara Munechika , Morito Daisuke , Ainuki Shiori , Hirano Yoshinobu , Ogino Kazutoyo , Kitamura Akira , Hirata Hiromi , Nagata Kazuhiro
Published: January 2019

Mysterin, also known as RNF213, is an intracellular protein that forms large toroidal oligomers. Mysterin was originally identified in genetic studies of moyamoya disease (MMD), a rare cerebrovascular disorder of unknown etiology. While mysterin is known to exert ubiquitin ligase and putative mechanical ATPase activities with a RING finger domain and two adjacent AAA+ modules, its biological role is poorly understood. Here, we report that mysterin is targeted to lipid droplets (LDs), ubiquitous organelles specialized for neutral lipid storage, and markedly increases their abundance in cells. This effect was exerted primarily through specific elimination of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) from LDs. The ubiquitin ligase and ATPase activities of mysterin were both important for its proper LD targeting. Notably, MMD-related mutations in the ubiquitin ligase domain of mysterin significantly impaired its fat-stabilizing activity. Our findings identify a unique new regulator of cytoplasmic LDs and suggest a potential link between the pathogenesis of MMD and fat metabolism.
Novel alanine serine cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2) inhibitors based on sulfonamide and sulfonic acid ester scaffolds
Authors: Ndaru Elias , Garibsingh Rachel-Ann A. , Shi YueYue , Wallace Evan , Zakrepine Paul , Wang Jiali , Schlessinger Avner , Grewer Christof
Published: February 2019

The neutral amino acid transporter alanine serine cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2) belongs to the solute carrier 1 (SLC1) family of transport proteins and transports neutral amino acids, such as alanine and glutamine, into the cell in exchange with intracellular amino acids. This amino acid transport is sodium dependent, but not driven by the transmembrane Na+ concentration gradient. Glutamine transport by ASCT2 is proposed to be important for glutamine homoeostasis in rapidly growing cancer cells to fulfill the energy and nitrogen demands of these cells. Thus, ASCT2 is thought to be a potential anticancer drug target. However, the pharmacology of the amino acid binding site is not well established. Here, we report on the synthesis and characterization of a novel class of ASCT2 inhibitors based on an amino acid scaffold with a sulfonamide/sulfonic acid ester linker to a hydrophobic group. The compounds were designed based on an improved ASCT2 homology model using the human glutamate transporter hEAAT1 crystal structure as a modeling template. The compounds were shown to inhibit with a competitive mechanism and a potency that scales with the hydrophobicity of the side chain. The most potent compound binds with an apparent affinity, Ki, of 8 ± 4 µM and can block the alanine response with a Ki of 40 ± 23 µM at 200 µM alanine concentration. Computational analysis predicts inhibitor interactions with the binding site through molecular docking. In conclusion, the sulfonamide/sulfonic acid ester scaffold provides facile synthetic access to ASCT2 inhibitors with a potentially large variability in chemical space of the hydrophobic side chain. These inhibitors will be useful chemical tools to further characterize the role of ASCT2 in disease as well as improve our understanding of inhibition mechanisms of this transporter.
A new method to prove the nonuniform dichotomy spectrum theorem in ℝⁿ
Authors: Xia Yonghui , Bai Yuzhen , O’Regan Donal
Published: February 2019

This paper presents a new method to prove the nonuniform dichotomy spectrum theorem. Chu et al. [Bull. Sci. Math. 139 (2015), pp. 538–557] and Zhang [J. Funct. Anal. 267 (2014), pp. 1889–1916] generalized the dichotomy spectrum in Siegmund [J. Dynam. Differential Equations 14 (2002), pp. 243–258] to the nonuniform dichotomy spectrum and the authors in these works employed linear integral manifolds (stable and unstable) to establish the spectral theorem. They then used the spectrum theorem to study reducibility. We prove the nonuniform dichotomy spectrum by way of contradiction. In particular, we employ the nonuniform kinematically similarity (nonuniform reducibility) to reduce the shift system into two blocks and then we get a contradiction based on a technique in mathematical analysis. The method in the proof is completely different from previous works.
Asymptotics for skew standard Young tableaux via bounds for characters
Authors: Dousse Jehanne , Féray Valentin
Published: February 2019

We are interested in the asymptotics of the number of standard Young tableauxfλ/μf^{\lambda /\mu }of a given skew shapeλ/μ\lambda /\mu. We mainly restrict ourselves to the case where both diagrams are balanced, but investigate all growth regimes of|μ||\mu |compared to|λ||\lambda |, from|μ||\mu |fixed to|μ||\mu |of order|λ||\lambda |. When|μ|=o(|λ|1/3)|\mu |=o(|\lambda |^{1/3}), we get an asymptotic expansion to any order. When|μ|=o(|λ|1/2)|\mu |=o(|\lambda |^{1/2}), we get a sharp upper bound. For larger|μ||\mu |, we prove a weaker bound and give a conjecture on what we believe to be the correct order of magnitude.

Our results are obtained by expressingfλ/μf^{\lambda /\mu }in terms of irreducible character values of the symmetric group and applying known upper bounds on characters.
New approaches for metagenome assembly with short reads
Authors: Ayling Martin , Clark Matthew D , Leggett Richard M
Published: February 2019

In recent years, the use of longer range read data combined with advances in assembly algorithms has stimulated big improvements in the contiguity and quality of genome assemblies. However, these advances have not directly transferred to metagenomic data sets, as assumptions made by the single genome assembly algorithms do not apply when assembling multiple genomes at varying levels of abundance. The development of dedicated assemblers for metagenomic data was a relatively late innovation and for many years, researchers had to make do using tools designed for single genomes. This has changed in the last few years and we have seen the emergence of a new type of tool built using different principles. In this review, we describe the challenges inherent in metagenomic assemblies and compare the different approaches taken by these novel assembly tools.
MinE-RFE: determine the optimal subset from RFE by minimizing the subset-accuracy–defined energy
Authors: Su Ran , Liu Xinyi , Wei Leyi
Published: February 2019

Recursive feature elimination (RFE), as one of the most popular feature selection algorithms, has been extensively applied to bioinformatics. During the training, a group of candidate subsets are generated by iteratively eliminating the least important features from the original features. However, how to determine the optimal subset from them still remains ambiguous. Among most current studies, either overall accuracy or subset size (SS) is used to select the most predictive features. Using which one or both and how they affect the prediction performance are still open questions. In this study, we proposed MinE-RFE, a novel RFE-based feature selection approach by sufficiently considering the effect of both factors. Subset decision problem was reflected into subset-accuracy space and became an energy-minimization problem. We also provided a mathematical description of the relationship between the overall accuracy and SS using Gaussian Mixture Models together with spline fitting. Besides, we comprehensively reviewed a variety of state-of-the-art applications in bioinformatics using RFE. We compared their approaches of deciding the final subset from all the candidate subsets with MinE-RFE on diverse bioinformatics data sets. Additionally, we also compared MinE-RFE with some well-used feature selection algorithms. The comparative results demonstrate that the proposed approach exhibits the best performance among all the approaches. To facilitate the use of MinE-RFE, we further established a user-friendly web server with the implementation of the proposed approach, which is accessible at http://qgking.wicp.net/MinE/. We expect this web server will be a useful tool for research community.
Aid, social capital and local collective action: attitudes towards community-based health funds and village organizations in Rushan, Tajikistan
Authors: Jacobs Eelco , Hofman Irna
Published: February 2019

Despite overwhelming interest in the role of social capital in international development, attention to the interplay of community-based development aid with local collective-action dynamics in Central Asia and particularly Tajikistan has remained limited. This paper investigates donor-induced local institutions for collective action in rural Tajikistan with a focus on the introduction of a community-based health insurance. Social capital and collective-action theories are used to interpret results from qualitative research in two Rushan District villages in the Gorno-Badakhshan region. By highlighting the role of donor embeddedness, and the perceived legitimacy of different decision-making structures, the article contends that the perception of such externally-induced change depends on the community’s capacity to reach beyond the intra-communal solidarity network through bridging and linking capital. The findings suggest this can be fostered by addressing trust, and the role of effective development brokers, with due attention to power relations within communities and towards external agents.
Firms’ leverage ratio and the Financial Instability Hypothesis: an empirical investigation for the US economy (1970–2014)
Authors: Pedrosa Ítalo
Published: February 2019

‘There are many ‘Minskian’ interpretations of how financial fragility builds up reflecting the unsolved tensions regarding the transition from micro to macro results in Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis (FIH).’ Using firm-level and macroeconomic data to comply with the variety of FIH’s interpretations, we empirically assess the relations between leverage and financial fragility in the US economy (1970–2014). To evaluate firms’ financial fragility, we deploy Minsky’s scale—from the financially sounder to the more fragile firms: hedge, speculative and Ponzi. The main findings are the following: (i) the evolution of the aggregate leverage ratio does not account for the systemic financial fragility, measured by the frequency of speculative and Ponzi firms, and (ii) within the biggest firms, the leverage has increased along with the incidence of hedge financing, and for the smallest firms group the opposite has happened. We conclude that a positive relation between leverage and financial fragility cannot be deemed to be a general outcome.
Mid-term outcome of severe tricuspid regurgitation: are there any differences according to mechanism and severity?
Authors: Santoro Ciro , Marco del Castillo Alvaro , González-Gómez Ariana , Monteagudo Juan Manuel , Hinojar Rocio , Lorente Alvaro , Abellás María , Vieitez Jose Maria , Garcia Martìn Ana , Casas Rojo Eduardo , Ruíz Soledad , Barrios Vivencio , Luis Moya Jose , Jimenez-Nacher Jose Julio , Zamorano Gomez Jose Luis , Fernández-Golfín Covadonga
Published: February 2019

Aims

Patients with significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) addressed according the new classification in torrential TR may have different prognosis compared with just severe TR patients. We sought to determine distribution and mechanism of consecutive severe TR patients, in accordance with aetiology and severity by applying the new proposed classification scheme and their long-term outcomes.

Methods and results

Between January and December 2013, 249 patients with significant TR referred to the cardiac imaging unit (mean age 79.9 ± 10.2 years; 29.8% female) were included. Patients were divided according to aetiology in six groups, and TR severity was reclassified into severe, massive, and torrential TR. The follow-up period was of 313 ± 103 days. When considering cardiovascular mortality, patients in the massive/torrential group showed the highest number of events (P < 0.007). Patients with TR due to pulmonary diseases had the worst prognosis according to different aetiology. Noteworthy, the best predictors for the combined endpoint [cardiovascular mortality and readmission admission for heart failure (HF)] were TR severity according to the new classification [hazard ratio (HR) 2.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25–4.93] and clinical scores such as New York Heart Association classification and congestive status (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.28–2.49; HR 2.08, 95% CI 1.06–4.06, respectively).

Conclusion

Patients with massive/torrential TR and patients with comorbidities, especially pulmonary disease, were identified as populations at higher risk of death and readmission for HF. New classification scheme and clinical assessment may establish who may benefit the most of intensive therapeutic treatments and intervention on the tricuspid valve.
Comparison of Mobility Indices for Predicting Early Death in Older Patients With Cancer: The Physical Frailty in Elderly Cancer Cohort Study
Authors: Pamoukdjian Frederic , Aparicio Thomas , Zebachi Sonia , Zelek Laurent , Paillaud Elena , Canoui-Poitrine Florence
Published: February 2019

Background

To assess and compare the ability of five mobility indices to predict 6-month mortality in older patients with cancer.

Methods

All consecutive ambulatory older patients with cancer referred for a geriatric assessment before a cancer treatment decision were included in a prospective two-center cohort study (Physical Frailty in Elderly Cancer) between 2013 and 2017. The mobility indices compared were the short physical performance battery, gait speed, hand grip strength, the one-leg stance balance test, and repeated falls. The primary endpoint was 6-month overall mortality. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) for each mobility index was estimated using a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for sex, the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics, the body mass index, cancer site/extension, and the provision of supportive care alone. The models’ predictive performances were assessed in terms of Harrell’s C index, net reclassification improvement, and the standardized net benefit.

Results

A total of 603 patients included (mean age: 81.2 ± 6.1 years; women: 54%; metastatic cancer: 45%). In multivariate analyses, an impairment in any of the mobility indices (with the exception of repeated falls) was independently associated with 6-month mortality following a geriatric assessment; the adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI] ranged from 2.35 [1.34–4.13] for the one-leg stance balance (C index: 0.74) to 3.03 [1.93–4.76] for the short physical performance battery (C index: 0.77). For each mobility index, inclusion in the multivariate model improved significantly the latter’s prediction of 6-month mortality.

Conclusions

Among mobility tests, short physical performance battery had the best discriminative value for predicting 6-month mortality in older patients with cancer.
Integrating genomic resources to present full gene and putative promoter capture probe sets for bread wheat
Authors: Gardiner Laura-Jayne , Brabbs Thomas , Akhunov Alina , Jordan Katherine , Budak Hikmet , Richmond Todd , Singh Sukhwinder , Catchpole Leah , Akhunov Eduard , Hall Anthony
Published: January 2019

Background

Whole-genome shotgun resequencing of wheat is expensive because of its large, repetitive genome. Moreover, sequence data can fail to map uniquely to the reference genome, making it difficult to unambiguously assign variation. Resequencing using target capture enables sequencing of large numbers of individuals at high coverage to reliably identify variants associated with important agronomic traits. Previous studies have implemented complementary DNA/exon or gene-based probe sets in which the promoter and intron sequence is largely missing alongside newly characterized genes from the recent improved reference sequences.

Results

We present and validate 2 gold standard capture probe sets for hexaploid bread wheat, a gene and a putative promoter capture, which are designed using recently developed genome sequence and annotation resources. The captures can be combined or used independently. We demonstrate that the capture probe sets effectively enrich the high-confidence genes and putative promoter regions that were identified in the genome alongside a large proportion of the low-confidence genes and associated promoters. Finally, we demonstrate successful sample multiplexing that allows generation of adequate sequence coverage for single-nucleotide polymorphism calling while significantly reducing cost per sample for gene and putative promoter capture.

Conclusions

We show that a capture design employing an “island strategy” can enable analysis of the large gene/putative promoter space of wheat with only 2 × 160 Mbp probe sets. Furthermore, these assays extend the regions of the wheat genome that are amenable to analyses beyond its exome, providing tools for detailed characterization of these regulatory regions in large populations.
All that glitters is not gold: the returns of educational credentials at different stages of industrial and organizational evolution
Authors: Khessina Olga M , Jaffee Jonathan
Published: January 2019

A long stream of research has shown that the educational prestige of organizational members has a largely positive effect on organizational outcomes. We integrate the literatures on educational credentials, signaling theory, and industrial evolution to show that the benefits of educational prestige for firm survival may vary over different stages of industry development. When customers cannot evaluate the quality of a firm’s offerings directly, educational prestige signals that the firm can produce high-quality outputs. We predict that the signaling benefits of educational prestige will be highest during industry inception when evaluation uncertainty is highest. These benefits will diminish during the subsequent period of legitimation with decreasing evaluation uncertainty, but may increase again during the late-stage competition with increasing evaluation uncertainty. We extend this logic to new firms and firms with a new class of offerings. We find empirical support for our predictions from historical accounts and event-history analyses of all law firms in the Silicon Valley corporate legal market, 1928–1998.
The Effects of Epistasis and Pleiotropy on Genome-Wide Scans for Adaptive Outlier Loci
Authors: Jones Adam G , Arnold Stevan J , Bürger Reinhard
Published: January 2019

With the advent of next-generation sequencing approaches, the search for individual loci underlying local adaptation has become a major enterprise in evolutionary biology. One promising method to identify such loci is to examine genome-wide patterns of differentiation, using an FST-outlier approach. The effects of pleiotropy and epistasis on this approach are not yet known. Here, we model 2 populations of a sexually reproducing, diploid organism with 2 quantitative traits, one of which is involved in local adaptation. We consider genetic architectures with and without pleiotropy and epistasis. We also model neutral marker loci on an explicit genetic map as the 2 populations diverge and apply FST outlier approaches to determine the extent to which quantitative trait loci (QTL) are detectable. Our results show, under a wide range of conditions, that only a small number of QTL are typically responsible for most of the trait divergence between populations, even when inheritance is highly polygenic. We find that the loci making the largest contributions to trait divergence tend to be detectable outliers. These loci also make the largest contributions to within-population genetic variance. The addition of pleiotropy reduces the extent to which quantitative traits can evolve independently but does not reduce the efficacy of outlier scans. The addition of epistasis, however, reduces the mean FST values for causative QTL, making these loci more difficult, but not impossible, to detect in outlier scans.
The Mistaken Restriction of Strict Liability to Uncommon Activities
Authors: Shavell Steven
Published: February 2019

Courts generally insist that two criteria be met before imposing strict liability rather than basing liability on the negligence rule. The first—that the injurer’s activity must be dangerous—is sensible because strict liability possesses general advantages over the negligence rule in controlling risk. But the second—that the activity must be uncommon—is ill-advised because it exempts all common activities from strict liability no matter how dangerous they are. Thus, the harm generated by the large swath of common dangerous activities—from hunting, to construction, to the transmission of natural gas—is inadequately regulated by tort law. After developing this theme and criticizing ostensible justifications for the uncommon activity requirement, the article addresses the question of how it arose. The answer is that its legal pedigree is problematic: it appears to have been invented by the authors of the first Restatement of Torts. The conclusion is that the uncommon activity requirement for the imposition of strict liability should be eliminated.
The Association Between Hysterectomy and Ovarian Cancer Risk: A Population-Based Record-Linkage Study
Authors: Dixon-Suen Suzanne C , Webb Penelope M , Wilson Louise F , Tuesley Karen , Stewart Louise M , Jordan Susan J
Published: February 2019

Background

Recent studies have called into question the long-held belief that hysterectomy without oophorectomy protects against ovarian cancer. This population-based longitudinal record-linkage study aimed to explore this relationship, overall and by age at hysterectomy, time period, surgery type, and indication for hysterectomy.

Methods

We followed the female adult Western Australian population (837 942 women) across a 27-year period using linked electoral, hospital, births, deaths, and cancer records. Surgery dates were determined from hospital records, and ovarian cancer diagnoses (n = 1640) were ascertained from cancer registry records. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between hysterectomy and ovarian cancer incidence.

Results

Hysterectomy without oophorectomy (n = 78 594) was not associated with risk of invasive ovarian cancer overall (HR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.85 to 1.11) or with the most common serous subtype (HR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.89 to 1.23). Estimates did not vary statistically significantly by age at procedure, time period, or surgical approach. However, among women with endometriosis (5.8%) or with fibroids (5.7%), hysterectomy was associated with substantially decreased ovarian cancer risk overall (HR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.24, and HR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.20 to 0.36, respectively) and across all subtypes.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that for most women, having a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation is not likely to substantially alter their risk of developing ovarian cancer. However, our results, if confirmed, suggest that ovarian cancer risk reduction could be considered as a possible benefit of hysterectomy when making decisions about surgical management of endometriosis or fibroids.
Clinical outcomes in ocular pythiosis patients treated with a combination therapy protocol in Thailand: A prospective study
Authors: Permpalung Nitipong , Worasilchai Navaporn , Manothummetha Kasama , Torvorapanit Pattama , Ratanawongphaibul Kitiya , Chuleerarux Nipat , Plongla Rongpong , Chindamporn Ariya
Published: February 2019

Ocular pythiosis is the second most common form of human pythiosis, and the rates of evisceration/enucleation in Thailand are 55–79%. This prospective study was conducted to evaluate treatment outcomes of the combination therapy protocol and the potential use of serum (1→3)-β-glucan (BG) and Pythium insidiosum-specific antibody (Pi-Ab) as an aid to diagnosis and monitoring of ocular pythiosis. Thirty patients were enrolled in the study and 14 (non-globe salvage) required evisceration/enucleation. The globe salvage group was significantly younger, and first ocular surgeries were performed significantly sooner than in the non-globe salvage group. Serum BG and Pi-Ab levels were similar among the 2 groups over time. In vitro susceptibility testing of antifungal agents revealed relatively high minimum inhibitory concentrations and lack of synergistic effect. Serum BG and Pi-Ab would not be useful in diagnosis and monitoring of ocular pythiosis. Until effective antimicrobial agents are discovered, ocular surgeries are still the mainstay therapy in Thailand.
The mass of the Milky Way from satellite dynamics
Authors: Callingham Thomas M , Cautun Marius , Deason Alis J , Frenk Carlos S , Wang Wenting , Gómez Facundo A , Grand Robert J J , Marinacci Federico , Pakmor Ruediger
Published: February 2019

We present and apply a method to infer the mass of the Milky Way (MW) by comparing the dynamics of MW satellites to those of model satellites in the eagle cosmological hydrodynamics simulations. A distribution function (DF) for galactic satellites is constructed from eagle using specific angular momentum and specific energy, which are scaled so as to be independent of host halo mass. In this two-dimensional space, the orbital properties of satellite galaxies vary according to the host halo mass. The halo mass can be inferred by calculating the likelihood that the observed satellite population is drawn from this DF. Our method is robustly calibrated on mock eagle systems. We validate it by applying it to the completely independent suite of 30 auriga high-resolution simulations of MW-like galaxies: the method accurately recovers their true mass and associated uncertainties. We then apply it to 10 classical satellites of the MW with six-dimensional phase-space measurements, including updated proper motions from the Gaia satellite. The mass of the MW is estimated to be $M_{200}^{\rm {MW}}=1.17_{-0.15}^{+0.21}\times 10^{12}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ (68 per cent confidence limits). We combine our total mass estimate with recent mass estimates in the inner regions of the Galaxy to infer an inner dark matter (DM) mass fraction $M^\rm {DM}(\lt 20~\rm {kpc})/M^\rm {DM}_{200}=0.12$, which is typical of ${\sim }10^{12}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ lambda cold dark matter haloes in hydrodynamical galaxy formation simulations. Assuming a Navarro, Frenk and White (NFW) profile, this is equivalent to a halo concentration of $c_{200}^{\rm {MW}}=10.9^{+2.6}_{-2.0}$.
Pre-existing malignancies in renal transplant candidates—time to reconsider waiting times
Authors: Watschinger Bruno , Budde Klemens , Crespo Marta , Heemann Uwe , Hilbrands Luuk , Maggiore Umberto , Mariat Christophe , Oberbauer Rainer , Oniscu Gabriel C , Peruzzi Licia , Sorensen Søren S , Viklicky Ondrej , Abramowicz Daniel ,   ERA-EDTA DESCARTES Working Group
Published: February 2019

Current proposals for waiting times for a renal transplant after malignant disease may not be appropriate. New data on malignancies in end-stage renal disease and recent diagnostic and therapeutic options should lead us to reconsider our current practice.
Is It Cool to Be a Cop? Exploring the Differential Impact of Ferguson on Police Applicants
Authors: Rhodes Trisha N , Tyler David H
Published: February 2019

Recruitment of highly qualified applicants has been a defining characteristic of police reforms for decades. Research has explored why individuals become officers, yet it remains an empirical question whether the current US ‘legitimacy crisis’ has influenced citizen decisions to apply to policing. Many cities are reporting hiring and retention issues, yet it is unclear whether this is due to changes in citizen perceptions of police or something else entirely. As an initial test of this question, this paper explores changes in the number of applicants to one large urban police agency, the Dallas Police Department, in the months following the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, using autoregressive integrated moving average time-series analysis. The paper determines if there was a differential impact in police applications across racial, ethnic, and gender groups. Findings showed stability in the number of applicants each month from each sub-group since 2010. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Introgression ofrpg4/Rpg5Into Barley Germplasm Provides Insights Into the Genetics of Resistance toPuccinia graminisf. sp.triticiRace TTKSK and Resources for Developing Resistant Cultivars
Authors: Hernandez Javier , Steffenson Brian J. , Filichkin Tanya , Fisk Scott P. , Helgerson Laura , Meints Brigid , Vining Kelly J. , Marshall David , del Blanco Alicia , Chen Xianming , Hayes Patrick M.
Published: February 2019

Stem rust (incited by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) is a devastating disease of wheat and barley in many production areas. The widely virulent African P. graminis f. sp. tritici race TTKSK is of particular concern, because most cultivars are susceptible. To prepare for the possible arrival of race TTKSK in North America, we crossed a range of barley germplasm—representing different growth habits and end uses—with donors of stem rust resistance genes Rpg1 and rpg4/Rpg5. The former confers resistance to prevalent races of P. graminis f. sp. tritici in North America, and the latter confers resistance to TTKSK and other closely related races from Africa. We produced doubled haploids from these crosses and determined their allele type at the Rpg loci and haplotype at 7,864 single-nucleotide polymorphism loci. The doubled haploids were phenotyped for TTKSK resistance at the seedling stage. Integration of genotype and phenotype data revealed that (i) Rpg1 was not associated with TTKSK resistance, (ii) rpg4/Rpg5 was necessary but was not sufficient for resistance, and (iii) specific haplotypes at two quantitative trait loci were required for rpg4/Rpg5 to confer resistance to TTKSK. To confirm whether lines found resistant to TTKSK at the seedling resistance were also resistant at the adult plant stage, a subset of doubled haploids was evaluated in Kenya. Additionally, adult plant resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust (incited by Puccinia hordei and Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei, respectively) was also assessed on the doubled haploids in field trials at three locations in the United States over a 2-year period. Doubled haploids were identified with adult plant resistance to all three rusts, and this germplasm is available to the research and breeding communities.