bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Rate Capability and Enhanced Cyclability of Na3V2(PO4)2F3 Cathode by In Situ Coating of Carbon Nanofibers for Sodium‐Ion Battery Applications
Authors: Zhao Jing , Gao Yu , Liu Qiang , Meng Xing , Chen Nan , Wang Chunzhong , Du Fei , Chen Gang
Published: December 2017

A facile chemical vapor deposition method is developed for the preparation of carbon nanofiber (CNF) composite Na3V2(PO4)2F3@C as cathodes for sodium‐ion batteries. In all materials under investigation, the optimized composite content, denoted as NVPF@C@CNF‐5, shows excellent sodium storage performance (86.3 % capacity retention over 5000 cycles at 20 C rate) and high rate capability (84.3 mA h g−1 at 50 C). The superior sodium storage performance benefits from the enhanced electrical conductivity of the working electrode after formation of a composite with CNF. Furthermore, the full cell using NVPF@C@CNF‐5 and hard carbon as the cathode and anode, respectively, demonstrates an impressive electrochemical performance, realizing an ultrahigh rate charge/discharge at a current rate of 30 C and long‐term stability over 1000 cycles. This approach is facile and effective, and could be extended to other materials for energy‐storage applications.
Pooled analysis of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for primary renal cell carcinoma: A report from the International Radiosurgery Oncology Consortium for Kidney (IROCK)
Authors: Siva Shankar , Louie Alexander V. , Warner Andrew , Muacevic Alexander , Gandhidasan Senthilkumar , Ponsky Lee , Ellis Rodney , Kaplan Irving , Mahadevan Anand , Chu William , Swaminath Anand , Onishi Hiroshi , Teh Bin , Correa Rohann J. , Lo Simon S. , Staehler Michael
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is an emerging therapy for primary renal cell carcinoma. The authors assessed safety, efficacy, and survival in a multi‐institutional setting. Outcomes between single‐fraction and multifraction SABR were compared.

METHODS

Individual patient data sets from 9 International Radiosurgery Oncology Consortium for Kidney institutions across Germany, Australia, the United States, Canada, and Japan were pooled. Toxicities were recorded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were stratified according to the number of radiotherapy fractions (single vs multiple). Survival outcomes were examined using Kaplan‐Meier estimates and Cox proportional‐hazards regression.

RESULTS

Of 223 patients, 118 received single‐fraction SABR, and 105 received multifraction SABR. The mean patient age was 72 years, and 69.5% of patients were men. There were 83 patients with grade 1 and 2 toxicity (35.6%) and 3 with grade 3 and 4 toxicities (1.3%). The rates of local control, cancer‐specific survival, and progression‐free survival were 97.8%, 95.7%, and 77.4%, respectively, at 2 years; and they were 97.8%, 91.9%, and 65.4%, respectively, at 4 years. On multivariable analysis, tumors with a larger maximum dimension and the receipt of multifraction SABR were associated with poorer progression‐free survival (hazard ratio, 1.16 [P < .01] and 1.13 [P = .02], respectively) and poorer cancer‐specific survival (hazard ratio, 1.28 [P < .01] and 1.33 [P = .01], respectively). There were no differences in local failure between the single‐fraction cohort (n = 1) and the multifraction cohort (n = 2; P = .60). The mean ( ± standard deviation) estimated glomerular filtration rate at baseline was 59.9 ± 21.9 mL per minute, and it decreased by 5.5 ± 13.3 mL per minute (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

SABR is well tolerated and locally effective for treating patients who have primary renal cell carcinoma and has an acceptable impact on renal function. An interesting observation is that patients who receive single‐fraction SABR appear to be less likely to progress distantly or to die of cancer. Cancer 2018;124:934‐42. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Prediction for sustained deep molecular response of BCR‐ABL1 levels in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase
Authors: Sasaki Koji , Kantarjian Hagop , O'Brien Susan , Ravandi Farhad , Konopleva Marina , Borthakur Gautam , Garcia‐Manero Guillermo , Wierda William , Daver Naval , Ferrajoli Alessandra , Takahashi Koichi , Jain Preetesh , Rios Mary Beth , Pierce Sherry , Jabbour Elias , Cortes Jorge E.
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

The achievement of a sustained deep molecular response is a goal of increasing relevance because it opens the possibility of treatment discontinuation. The objective of this analysis was to develop a prediction model for a sustained molecular response with BCR‐ABL1 level <0.0032% on the international scale (MR4.5) for at least 2 years according to BCR‐ABL1 levels achieved within the first 12 months of therapy.

METHODS

Data for 603 patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase in consecutive prospective clinical trials were analyzed. The best fit average molecular response was defined by robust linear regression models, with which the average molecular levels were defined. The minimum acceptable molecular response was defined by quantile regression for the 95th percentile, with which the worst 5% BCR‐ABL1 levels were identified.

RESULTS

In 603 patients with a median follow‐up of 103 months, 2002 BCR‐ABL1–level data points within 1 year of tyrosine kinase inhibitors were identified. The regression equation for the best fit average levels for a sustained MR4.5 was Log10(PCR) = −0.1424 × (Months) – 0.8668, and the regression equation for minimum acceptable levels was Log10(PCR) = −0.1403 × (Months) + 0.6142 (where PCR indicates polymerase chain reaction). To achieve a sustained MR4.5, the best fit average levels were 0.051%, 0.019%, 0.007%, and 0.003% at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively; the minimum acceptable levels were 1.561%, 0.592%, 0.225%, and 0.085% at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This model proposes optimal values that predict the highest probability of reaching such a goal. These values can be used to guide therapy when a sustained MR4.5 is the objective. Cancer 2018;124:1160‐8. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Prometheus: A flexible toolkit for the experimentation with virtualized infrastructures
Authors: Anglano Cosimo , Canonico Massimo , Guazzone Marco
Published: December 2017

A typical problem that arises when devising a novel resource management strategy for virtualized infrastructures is how to experimentally assess its ability of achieving its design goals and whether it advances the state of the art. Among the available options, the use of a physical testbed is usually considered to be the most appropriate because of its high degree of accuracy. Unfortunately, however, physical testbeds are characterized by a limited controllability of the experimental conditions. Moreover, their implementation is usually a complex and time‐consuming task that requires the integration of many software components that need to interact among them in non‐trivial ways.

In this paper, we address the aforementioned issues by proposing Prometheus, a toolkit specifically designed to support the configuration, deployment, and use of physical testbeds suitable to perform experimental studies of resource management strategies and that provides a high degree of controllability and low implementation costs. We discuss the design, implementation, and use of Prometheus, and we show how it can be used in practice to configure and deploy a physical testbed by providing various examples of experimental activities that can be carried out by means of it.
Stable Lithium Storage in Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon‐Coated Ferric Oxide Yolk–Shell Nanospindles with Preserved Hollow Space
Authors: Zhang Bao‐Lin , Xin Sen , Qin Haili , Cong Huai‐Ping , Yu Shu‐Hong
Published: December 2017

Iron oxide (Fe2O3) is a promising anode material for next‐generation high‐energy lithium‐ion batteries owing to its high theoretical specific capacity, but it suffers from unstable electrochemistry, as represented by a significant volume variation upon (de)lithiation and unstable solid–electrolyte interface. To target these issues, a double‐coating synthetic route has been developed to prepare a yolk–shell‐structured γ‐Fe2O3/nitrogen‐doped carbon composite, in which spindle‐like γ‐Fe2O3 cores are encapsulated in the highly conductive carbon shell. Through precisely controlling the void space between the γ‐Fe2O3 core and the carbon shell, volume variation in γ‐Fe2O3 during (de)lithiation is well accommodated, while the composite maintains an intact and relatively dense structure, which stabilizes the solid–electrolyte interface and is beneficial for improving the practical energy density of the material. With a stabilized (de)lithiation electrochemistry and a synergistic storage effect between the two active components, the composite enables excellent lithium storage performance, in terms of reversible capacity, cycling ability, and rate capability.
Colleges and universities liable for employment discrimination
Authors: Charmatz Marc
Published: December 2017

Colleges and universities have done an increasingly good job in educating students with disabilities, but schools should not overlook their responsibilities to ensure that applicants and employees are not subject to discrimination. There are a number of federal laws that prohibit employment discrimination, including Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title II of the ADA in some federal circuits, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act if a school is a federal contractor, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act if a school receives federal financial assistance.
Use a variety of ways to encourage students to use supports
Authors: Hamblet Elizabeth C.
Published: December 2017

Accommodations can be helpful tools for our students, but research shows students don't always use them because they want to shed their special education “identity.” Of course, accommodations won't be students' only key to success, either. How do we encourage students to utilize both their accommodations and the other supports on campus that are there to help them?
Eating disorders disproportionately affect female college athletes, specific populations
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: December 2017

Of all mental illnesses, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate, with at least one person dying as a direct consequence of an eating disorder every 62 minutes, according to data provided by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Also, according to data from ANAD, more than 30 million people nationwide suffer from an eating disorder, a number that has severe repercussions for serving college students.
RNA helicase Mov10 is essential for gastrulation and central nervous system development
Authors: Skariah Geena , Perry Kimberly J. , Drnevich Jenny , Henry Jonathan J. , Ceman Stephanie
Published: December 2017

Background: Mov10 is an RNA helicase that modulates access of Argonaute 2 to microRNA recognition elements in mRNAs. We examined the role of Mov10 in Xenopus laevis development and show a critical role for Mov10 in gastrulation and in the development of the central nervous system (CNS). Results: Knockdown of maternal Mov10 in Xenopus embryos using a translation blocking morpholino led to defects in gastrulation and the development of notochord and paraxial mesoderm, and a failure to neurulate. RNA sequencing of the Mov10 knockdown embryos showed significant upregulation of many mRNAs when compared with controls at stage 10.5 (including those related to the cytoskeleton, adhesion, and extracellular matrix, which are involved in those morphogenetic processes). Additionally, the degradation of the miR‐427 target mRNA, cyclin A1, was delayed in the Mov10 knockdowns. These defects suggest that Mov10's role in miRNA‐mediated regulation of the maternal to zygotic transition could lead to pleiotropic effects that cause the gastrulation defects. Additionally, the knockdown of zygotic Mov10 showed that it was necessary for normal head, eye, and brain development in Xenopus consistent with a recent study in the mouse. Conclusions: Mov10 is essential for gastrulation and normal CNS development. Developmental Dynamics 247:660–671, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Moose selecting for specific nutritional composition of birch places limits on food acceptability
Authors: Wam Hilde K. , Felton Annika M. , Stolter Caroline , Nybakken Line , Hjeljord Olav
Published: December 2017

Despite decades of intense research, it remains largely unsolved which nutritional factors underpin food selection by large herbivores in the wild. We measured nutritional composition of birch foliage (Betula pubescens) available to, and used by, moose (Alces alces) in natural settings in two neighboring regions with contrasting animal body mass. This readily available food source is a staple food item in the diet of moose in the high‐fitness region, but apparently underutilized by moose in the low‐fitness region. Available birch foliage in the two regions had similar concentrations of macronutrients (crude protein [CP], fiber fractions, and water‐soluble carbohydrates [WSC]), although a notably lower variation of WSC in the low‐fitness region. For minerals, there were several area differences: available birch foliage in the low‐fitness region had less Mg (depending on year) and P, but more Ca, Zn, Cu, and Mn. It also had higher concentrations of some plant secondary metabolites: chlorogenic acids, quercetins, and especially MeOH‐soluble condensed tannins. Despite the area differences in available foliage, we found the same nutritional composition of birch foliage used in the two regions. Compared to available birch foliage, moose consistently used birch foliage with more CP, more structural fiber (mainly hemicellulose), less WSC, higher concentrations of several minerals (Ca, Zn, K, Mn, Cu), and lower concentrations of some secondary metabolites (most importantly, MeOH‐soluble condensed tannins). Our study conceptually supports the nutrient‐balancing hypothesis for a large herbivore: within a given temporal frame, moose select for plant material that matches a specific nutritional composition. As our data illustrate, different moose populations may select for the same composition even when the nutritional composition available in a given food source varies between their living areas. Such fastidiousness limits the proportion of available food that is acceptable to the animal and has bearings on our understanding and application of the concept of carrying capacity.
Simulations inform design of regional occupancy‐based monitoring for a sparsely distributed, territorial species
Authors: Latif Quresh S. , Ellis Martha M. , Saab Victoria A. , Mellen‐McLean Kim
Published: December 2017

Sparsely distributed species attract conservation concern, but insufficient information on population trends challenges conservation and funding prioritization. Occupancy‐based monitoring is attractive for these species, but appropriate sampling design and inference depend on particulars of the study system. We employed spatially explicit simulations to identify minimum levels of sampling effort for a regional occupancy monitoring study design, using white‐headed woodpeckers (Picoides albolvartus), a sparsely distributed, territorial species threatened by habitat decline and degradation, as a case study. We compared the original design with commonly proposed alternatives with varying targets of inference (i.e., species range, space use, or abundance) and spatial extent of sampling. Sampling effort needed to achieve adequate power to observe a long‐term population trend (≥80% chance to observe a 2% yearly decline over 20 years) with the previously used study design consisted of annually monitoring ≥120 transects using a single‐survey approach or ≥90 transects surveyed twice per year using a repeat‐survey approach. Designs that shifted inference toward finer‐resolution trends in abundance and extended the spatial extent of sampling by shortening transects, employing a single‐survey approach to monitoring, and incorporating a panel design (33% of units surveyed per year) improved power and reduced error in estimating abundance trends. In contrast, efforts to monitor coarse‐scale trends in species range or space use with repeat surveys provided extremely limited statistical power. Synthesis and applications. Sampling resolutions that approximate home range size, spatially extensive sampling, and designs that target inference of abundance trends rather than range dynamics are probably best suited and most feasible for broad‐scale occupancy‐based monitoring of sparsely distributed territorial animal species.
Plant community and soil conditions individually affect soil microbial community assembly in experimental mesocosms
Authors: Reese Aspen T. , Lulow Kyrstin , David Lawrence A. , Wright Justin P.
Published: December 2017

Soils harbor large, diverse microbial communities critical for local and global ecosystem functioning that are controlled by multiple and poorly understood processes. In particular, while there is observational evidence of relationships between both biotic and abiotic conditions and microbial composition and diversity, there have been few experimental tests to determine the relative importance of these two sets of factors at local scales. Here, we report the results of a fully factorial experiment manipulating soil conditions and plant cover on old‐field mesocosms across a latitudinal gradient. The largest contributor to beta diversity was site‐to‐site variation, but, having corrected for that, we observed significant effects of both plant and soil treatments on microbial composition. Separate phyla were associated with each treatment type, and no interactions between soil and plant treatment were observed. Individual soil characteristics and biotic parameters were also associated with overall beta‐diversity patterns and phyla abundance. In contrast, soil microbial diversity was only associated with site and not experimental treatment. Overall, plant community treatment explained more variation than soil treatment, a result not previously appreciated because it is difficult to dissociate plant community composition and soil conditions in observational studies across gradients. This work highlights the need for more nuanced, multifactorial experiments in microbial ecology and in particular indicates a greater focus on relationships between plant composition and microbial composition during community assembly.
Comparing the effects of even‐ and uneven‐aged silviculture on ecological diversity and processes: A review
Authors: Nolet Philippe , Kneeshaw Daniel , Messier Christian , Béland Martin
Published: December 2017

With an increasing pressure on forested landscapes, conservation areas may fail to maintain biodiversity if they are not supported by the surrounding managed forest matrix. Worldwide, forests are managed by one of two broad approaches—even‐ and uneven‐aged silviculture. In recent decades, there has been rising public pressure against the systematic use of even‐aged silviculture (especially clear‐cutting) because of its perceived negative esthetic and ecological impacts. This led to an increased interest for uneven‐aged silviculture. However, to date, there has been no worldwide ecological comparison of the two approaches, based on multiple indicators. Overall, for the 99 combinations of properties or processes verified (one study may have evaluated more than one property or process), we found nineteen (23) combinations that clearly showed uneven‐aged silviculture improved the evaluated metrics compared to even‐aged silviculture, eleven (16) combinations that showed the opposite, and 60 combinations that were equivocal. Furthermore, many studies were based on a limited study design without either a timescale (44 of the 76) or spatial (54 of the 76) scale consideration. Current views that uneven‐aged silviculture is better suited than even‐aged silviculture for maintaining ecological diversity and processes are not substantiated by our analyses. Our review, by studying a large range of indicators and many different taxonomic groups, also clearly demonstrates that no single approach can be relied on and that both approaches are needed to ensure a greater number of positive impacts. Moreover, the review clearly highlights the importance of maintaining protected areas as some taxonomic groups were found to be negatively affected no matter the management approach used. Finally, our review points to a lack of knowledge for determining the use of even‐ or uneven‐aged silviculture in terms of both their respective proportion in the landscape and their spatial agency.
Feather mite abundance varies but symbiotic nature of mite‐host relationship does not differ between two ecologically dissimilar warblers
Authors: Matthews Alix E. , Larkin Jeffery L. , Raybuck Douglas W. , Slevin Morgan C. , Stoleson Scott H. , Boves Than J.
Published: December 2017

Feather mites are obligatory ectosymbionts of birds that primarily feed on the oily secretions from the uropygial gland. Feather mite abundance varies within and among host species and has various effects on host condition and fitness, but there is little consensus on factors that drive variation of this symbiotic system. We tested hypotheses regarding how within‐species and among‐species traits explain variation in both (1) mite abundance and (2) relationships between mite abundance and host body condition and components of host fitness (reproductive performance and apparent annual survival). We focused on two closely related (Parulidae), but ecologically distinct, species: Setophaga cerulea (Cerulean Warbler), a canopy dwelling open‐cup nester, and Protonotaria citrea (Prothonotary Warbler), an understory dwelling, cavity nester. We predicted that feather mites would be more abundant on and have a more parasitic relationship with P. citrea, and within P. citrea, females and older individuals would harbor greater mite abundances. We captured, took body measurements, quantified feather mite abundance on individuals’ primaries and rectrices, and monitored individuals and their nests to estimate fitness. Feather mite abundance differed by species, but in the opposite direction of our prediction. There was no relationship between mite abundance and any measure of body condition or fitness for either species or sex (also contrary to our predictions). Our results suggest that species biology and ecological context may influence mite abundance on hosts. However, this pattern does not extend to differential effects of mites on measures of host body condition or fitness.
Associations of Food Addiction in a Sample Recruited to Be Nationally Representative of the United States
Authors: Schulte Erica M. , Gearhardt Ashley N.
Published: December 2017

The current study investigated the prevalence of food addiction and its associations with obesity and demographic factors in a sample recruited to be more nationally representative of the United States than previous research. Individuals (n = 1050) were recruited through Qualtrics' qBus, which sets demographic quotas developed using the United States census reference population. Participants (n = 986) self‐reported food addiction, measured by the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, height, weight, age, gender, race and income. Food addiction was observed in 15% of participants, with greater prevalence in individuals who were younger, Hispanic and/or reported higher annual income. Food addiction prevalence was higher in persons who were underweight or obese, relative to normal weight or overweight. Food addiction was associated with higher body mass index in women and persons who were older, White and/or reported lower income. Identifying the scope of food addiction and individual risk groups may inform public policy initiatives and early intervention efforts. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Differential modulation of CA1 impulse flow by endogenous serotonin along the hippocampal longitudinal axis
Authors: Mlinar Boris , Corradetti Renato
Published: December 2017

The hippocampus is functionally differentiated along its longitudinal axis, with the dorsal and ventral segments preferentially involved in cognitive and emotional processing, respectively. Serotonergic modulation of hippocampal function has been extensively studied, but its relation to the dorsoventral axis has remained largely unknown. To examine the modulation of hippocampal output along the dorsoventral axis by endogenous serotonin (5‐HT) we compared the effect of the 5‐HT/noradrenaline (NA)‐releaser, 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), in transversal slices encompassing the entire rat hippocampus. Co‐release of 5‐HT and NA by MDMA resulted in a gradient of effects on evoked population spikes in the CA1 area along the dorsoventral axis of the hippocampus. Selective 5‐HT release decreased population spike amplitude in slices from dorsal hippocampus, whereas an increase was produced in the ventral hippocampus, indicating differential modulation of CA1 impulse flow along the dorsoventral axis by endogenous 5‐HT. Selective NA release increased population spike amplitude with no gradient indicating facilitatory effect of endogenous NA along the entire dorsoventral axis. Blockade of 5‐HT1A receptors prevented the inhibitory component of MDMA action and the emergence of the gradient, indicating that activation of 5‐HT1A receptors is required for differential modulation of CA1 impulse flow by endogenous 5‐HT. These findings suggest that a dorsoventral shift in CA1 output level may represent an integral component of 5‐HT action on hippocampal information processing. Given the preferential role of ventral hippocampus in emotional and anxiety‐related behavior, it can be proposed that serotonin tone encodes the emotional salience of the signal processed by hippocampus.
Live birth outcomes after adolescent and young adult breast cancer
Authors: Anderson Chelsea , Engel Stephanie M. , Anders Carey K. , Nichols Hazel B.
Published: December 2017

Reproductive outcomes are an important survivorship concern for women diagnosed with cancer as adolescents and young adults (AYAs). We examined the incidence of live birth and the prevalence of adverse birth outcomes according to tumor and treatment characteristics among AYAs with breast cancer. Women diagnosed with breast cancer at ages 15–39 during 2000–2013 were identified using the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry (n = 4,978). Cancer registry records were linked to state birth certificate files from 2000 to 2014 to identify births to women with and without a breast cancer history. The breast cancer cohort was followed until live birth, death, age 46, or December 31, 2014, whichever occurred first. For each birth to breast cancer survivors (n = 338), we sampled 20 births to women without a recorded cancer diagnosis, with frequency matching on maternal age and year of delivery. The cumulative incidence of live births after breast cancer was 8% at 10 years. Births were less common among women treated with chemotherapy. Overall, the prevalence of preterm birth, low birth weight, small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) and Cesarean delivery did not differ substantially between births to women with and without breast cancer. However, births to women with ER‐negative disease were more likely to be preterm (PR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.11–3.06). In this population‐based study, <10% of AYA breast cancer survivors had a live birth within 10 years of their diagnosis. The increase in risk of preterm delivery among ER‐negative survivors in our cohort warrants further investigation in larger studies.
Glioma tumor detection in brain MRI image using ANFIS‐based normalized graph cut approach
Authors: Sasikanth S. , Suresh Kumar S.
Published: December 2017

Glioma is the severe type of brain tumor which leads to immediate death for the case high‐grade Glioma. The Glioma tumor patient in case of low grade can extend their life period if tumor is timely detected and providing proper surgery. In this article, a computer‐aided fully automated Glioma brain tumor detection and segmentation system is proposed using Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) classifier based Graph cut approach. Initially, orientation analysis is performed on the brain image to obtain the edge enhanced abnormal regions in the brain. Then, features are extracted from the orientation enhanced image and these features are trained and classified using ANFIS classifier to classify the test brain image into either normal or abnormal. Normalized Graph cur segmentation methodology is applied on the classified abnormal brain image to segment the tumor region. The proposed Glioma tumor segmentation method is validated using the metric parameters as sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and dice similarity coefficient.
Synthesis of Amphiphilic Block Copolymers Based on SKA by RAFT Polymerization
Authors: Yu Xiaoqian , Picker Marie‐Theres , Schneider Martin , Herberg Artjom , Pascual Sagrario , Fontaine Laurent , Kuckling Dirk
Published: December 2017

Temperature‐sensitive amphiphilic block copolymers of 2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐4‐yl‐methyl acrylate (solketal acrylate, SKA) and N‐isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) have been prepared via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer radical polymerization (RAFT). A kinetics study of SKA polymerization is performed in order to find a compatible RAFT chain transfer agents (CTA) and versatile polymerization conditions for the synthesis of well‐defined poly(2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐4‐yl‐methyl acrylate) (PSKA). Depending on the RAFT‐CTA and the reaction time, PSKA with molar masses up to 5700 g mol−1 and dispersity values as low as 1.1 could be prepared. Additionally, the end group distribution of PSKA is investigated via electrospray ionization‐ion mobility separation–mass spectrometry. The chain extensions of the homopolymers for the second block of NIPAAm are analyzed with size‐exclusion chromatography. Amphiphilic block copolymers are obtained after hydrolysis of hydrophobic PSKA block to target hydrophilic poly(2,3‐dihydroxypropyl acrylate) block.
Quantitative CT scans of lung parenchymal pathology in premature infants ages 0–6 years
Authors: Spielberg David R. , Walkup Laura L. , Stein Jill M. , Crotty Eric J. , Rattan Mantosh S , Hossain Md Monir , Brody Alan S. , Woods Jason C.
Published: December 2017

Background

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common, heterogeneous disease in premature infants. We hypothesized that quantitative CT techniques could assess lung parenchymal heterogeneity in BPD patients across a broad age range and demonstrate how pathologies change over time.

Methods

A cross‐sectional, retrospective study of children age 0‐6 years with non‐contrast chest CT scans was conducted. BPD subjects met NICHD/NHLBI diagnostic criteria for BPD and were excluded for congenital lung/airway abnormalities or other known/suspected pulmonary diagnoses; control subjects were not premature and had normal CT scan findings. Radiologic opacities, lucencies, and spatial heterogeneity were quantified via: 1) thresholding using CT‐attenuation (HU); 2) manual segmentation; and 3) Ochiai reader‐scoring system. Clinical outcomes included BPD severity by NICHD/NHLBI criteria, respiratory support at NICU discharge, wheezing, and respiratory exacerbations.

Results

Heterogeneity (standard deviation) of lung attenuation in BPD was significantly greater than in controls (difference 36.4 HU [26.1‐46.7 HU], P < 0.001); the difference between the groups decreased 0.58 HU per month of age (0.08‐1.07 HU per month, P = 0.02). BPD patients had greater amounts of opacities and lucencies than controls except with automated quantification of lucencies. Cross‐sectionally, lucencies per Ochiai score and opacities per manual segmentation decreased with time. No approach measured a statistically significant relationship to BPD clinical severity.

Conclusions

Opacities, lucencies, and overall heterogeneity of lungs via quantitative CT can distinguish BPD patients from healthy controls, and these abnormalities decrease with age across BPD patients. Defining BPD severity by clinical outcomes such as respiratory support at several time points (vs a single time point, per current guidelines) may be meaningful.
A dual Newton strategy for scenario decomposition in robust multistage MPC
Authors: Kouzoupis D. , Klintberg E. , Diehl M. , Gros S.
Published: December 2017

This paper considers the solution of tree‐structured quadratic programs as they may arise in multistage model predictive control. In this context, sampling the uncertainty on prescribed decision points gives rise to different scenarios that are linked to each other via the so‐called nonanticipativity constraints. Previous work suggests to dualize these constraints and apply Newton's method on the dual problem to achieve a parallelizable scheme. However, it has been observed that the globalization strategy in such an approach can be expensive. To alleviate this problem, we propose to dualize both the nonanticipativity constraints and the dynamics to obtain a computationally cheap globalization. The dual Newton system is then reformulated into small highly structured linear systems that can be solved in parallel to a large extent. The algorithm is complemented by an open‐source software implementation that targets embedded optimal control applications.
Time‐to‐event data with time‐varying biomarkers measured only at study entry, with applications to Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Lee Catherine , Betensky Rebecca A. ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: December 2017

Relating time‐varying biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease to time‐to‐event using a Cox model is complicated by the fact that Alzheimer's disease biomarkers are sparsely collected, typically only at study entry; this is problematic since Cox regression with time‐varying covariates requires observation of the covariate process at all failure times. The analysis might be simplified by using study entry as the time origin and treating the time‐varying covariate measured at study entry as a fixed baseline covariate. In this paper, we first derive conditions under which using an incorrect time origin of study entry results in consistent estimation of regression parameters when the time‐varying covariate is continuous and fully observed. We then derive conditions under which treating the time‐varying covariate as fixed at study entry results in consistent estimation. We provide methods for estimating the regression parameter when a functional form can be assumed for the time‐varying biomarker, which is measured only at study entry. We demonstrate our analytical results in a simulation study and apply our methods to data from the Rush Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project and data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.
The optimal reactive power flow model in mixed polar form based on transformer dummy nodes
Authors: Wei Hua , Lin Chunmei , Wang Yufei
Published: December 2017

This paper proposes a simple optimal reactive power flow (ORPF) model in mixed polar form based on the dummy nodes transformer model. By introducing voltage magnitude variables at the dummy nodes to express the transformation relationships of the power and the voltages of ideal transformers, the proposed model does not need to consider the variables of transformer ratios directly. So the power equations of the transformer branches do not contain complex items multiplied by the squares of variables, but drop from four‐dimensional variables of the transformer equivalent ∏ circuits to three‐dimensional variables. It simplifies the ORPF model efficiently and solves the problem of the traditional model which is a little complicated and hard to calculate. The calculation results of IEEE‐30, ‐57, ‐118, and ‐300 bus systems show that the proposed model converges quickly and the number of iterations reduce by more than half compared to the traditional model. With higher computational efficiency and more stable numerical property, the proposed model is suitable for practical application in large‐scale power systems. © 2017 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
How effective is Thinking Maps® instruction in improving Jordanian EFL learners’ creative reading skills?
Authors: Bataineh Ruba Fahmi , Alqatnani Alaeddin Khalid
Published: December 2017

This study examines the potential effect of a Thinking Maps®–based treatment on the creative reading skills (viz., fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration) of Jordanian learners of English as a foreign language. The researchers drew a purposeful sample of two intact 10th‐grade sections (N = 57) from a public school in Zarqa, Jordan. The two sections were randomly assigned into an experimental group of 28 students taught through Thinking Maps® and a control group of 29 students taught per the guidelines of the prescribed teacher's book. Following the 8‐week treatment, the researchers collected data by means of a creative reading skills test and an interview. The findings reveal not only significant differences (at α = 0.05) in the students’ creative reading skills in favor of the experimental group, but also general favorable opinions about the effectiveness of the treatment.
Community college completion report finds success initiatives on the rise
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: December 2017

More than half of community colleges have at least one college completion initiative in place already, according to a report issued by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. The report focuses on how the completion agenda impacts student success and the institution, as measured by an increase in the number or percentage of certificates or degrees awarded at community colleges nationwide.
Image‐Guided Proper Liver Segmentectomy
Authors: Roncati L. , Manenti A. , Simonini E.
Published: December 2017

Background

The new cross‐sectional radiological tools, 3D computed tomography and magnetic resonance, allow a precise study of the liver anatomy. Thanks to these imaging techniques, a new space inside the liver parenchyma, the “hepatic core,” was recently recognized, where the hila of liver segments are present.

Methods

On the basis of anatomical and radiological observations, we identified a new virtual plane of dissection, named “hepato‐portal,” which is useful in liver segmentectomy, if integrated with the classical planes of dissection.

Results

Simulated surgical procedures can be intra‐operatively transferred by ultrasounds. In this way, we performed ten “proper” liver segmentectomies through preliminary sections of the hilar vessels and a precise dissection of the boundaries of each segment.

Conclusions

Our experience underlines the value of integrating anatomy and radiology in the simulated liver surgery.
Pre-design of a commuter transport utilising Voltaic-Joule/Brayton motive power systems
Authors: Isikveren A. T. , Fefermann Y. , Maury C. , Level C. , Zarati K. , Salanne J.-P. , Pornet C. , Thoraval B.
Published: December 2017

This investigation surveyed the potential and established outcomes for future 19-passenger fixed-wing commuter transport aircraft concepts employing battery-based Voltaic-Joule/Brayton motive power systems with no additional electrical energy drawn from generators mechanically coupled to thermal engines. The morphological approach was that of a tri-prop (two on-wing podded turbo-props and one aft-fuselage mounted electric motor configured as a pusher-on-pylon installation). A Battery System-level Gravimetric Specific Energy (referred to as “battery energy density”) of at least 500 Wh/kg yielded 39%, 25% and 10% block fuel reductions for 150-nm (Design Service Goal), 430-nm (85th percentile) and 700-nm (maximum range) stage lengths, respectively. All quoted comparisons are against a suitably projected turbo-prop only year-2030 aircraft. In contrast to the reference Beech 1900D, block fuel reductions of up to 44-49% were predicted, which could facilitate a significantly lower deficit in relation to the Advisory Council for Aviation Research and Innovation in Europe (ACARE) Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA) 55% target for year 2030. This investigation also indicated that, in the future, suitably flexible hybrid-electric architectures could be fashioned allowing possibility for the aircraft to complete any required city-pair operations (within the legitimate payload-range working capacity) irrespective of exchangeable batteries being available at a given station. Finally, it was also established, assuming such a tri-prop morphology, Normal conducting machines delivering maximum shaft power output of 1.1 MW would be required.
Supervision Effects on Self-Efficacy, Competency, and Job Involvement of School Counsellors
Authors: Tan Soo Yin , Chou Chih Chin
Published: December 2017

This research examined the effects of structured group supervision (SGS) on counsellors’ self-efficacy, counselling competency, and job involvement in Singapore. Twenty-one counsellors participated in six, 3-hour SGS sessions over 12 weeks with one qualified counselling supervisor. The counsellors had at least six months’ experience working as counsellors in schools or educational-related settings, such as student care centres. A single-group, before-after design was adopted. Pre- and posttest questionnaires were administered — Counselling Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES), Counsellor's Competence Self-Evaluation Scale (CCSS), and Job Involvement Scale (JIS) — to examine counsellor self-efficacy, counselling competency, and job involvement respectively. Paired-samplettests were used to examine the impact of SGS on the three measures, whereas the Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationships among them. It was found that there was (a) a significant increase in mean scores for pre- and posttest scores for counsellor self-efficacy and counselling competency, but not for job involvement after SGS; and (b) a significant positive correlation among the three variables. With a better understanding of the SGS and the impact on counsellors, supervision practices can be improved and school counsellors can become more competent and confident.
Hans Holbein the Younger and Reformation Bible Production
Authors: Price David H.
Published: December 2017

Hans Holbein the Younger produced a large corpus of illustrations that appeared in an astonishing variety of Bibles, including Latin Vulgate editions, Desiderius Erasmus's Greek New Testament, rival German translations by Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli, the English Coverdale Bible, as well as in Holbein's profoundly influential Icones veteris testamenti (Images of the Old Testament)—to name only his better-known contributions. This essay discusses strategies that the artist developed for accommodating the heterogeneity of the various humanist and Reformation Bibles. For Erasmus's innovative Bibles, Holbein connected the text to the expansive concept of Renaissance humanist art, simultaneously portraying the new Bible and humanist art as part of a broadly defined cultural-philosophical discourse. Similarly, Holbein's production of Protestant Bibles, most importantly the epochal Luther Bible, associated the new text with the humanist Bible and, in so doing, conceptualized the humanist biblical image as a validation of religious art in a new context. Ultimately, the reliance on humanist art as a cultural authority mitigated perception of the heterogeneity of the text to the point that the publishers of Holbein's Icones completely displaced the text with the daring creation of a new genre: the picture Bible. With the exception of the iconography of royal supremacy in England, Holbein's Bible image was exceedingly movable, an artistic efficiency designed to contribute to the stability of the Bible image across a wide humanist and multiconfessional spectrum.
Proton imaging of stochastic magnetic fields
Authors: Bott A. F. A. , Graziani C. , Tzeferacos P. , White T. G. , Lamb D. Q. , Gregori G. , Schekochihin A. A.
Published: December 2017

Recent laser-plasma experiments (Foxet al.,Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 111, 2013, 225002; Huntingtonet al.,Nat. Phys., vol. 11(2), 2015, 173–176; Tzeferacoset al.,Phys. Plasmas, vol. 24(4), 2017a, 041404; Tzeferacoset al., 2017b,arXiv:1702.03016[physics.plasm-ph]) report the existence of dynamically significant magnetic fields, whose statistical characterisation is essential for a complete understanding of the physical processes these experiments are attempting to investigate. In this paper, we show how a proton-imaging diagnostic can be used to determine a range of relevant magnetic-field statistics, including the magnetic-energy spectrum. To achieve this goal, we explore the properties of an analytic relation between a stochastic magnetic field and the image-flux distribution created upon imaging that field. This ‘Kugland image-flux relation’ was previously derived (Kuglandet al., Rev. Sci. Instrum.vol. 83(10), 2012, 101301) under simplifying assumptions typically valid in actual proton-imaging set-ups. We conclude that, as with regular electromagnetic fields, features of the beam’s final image-flux distribution often display a universal character determined by a single, field-scale dependent parameter – the contrast parameter$\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}\equiv d_{s}/{\mathcal{M}}l_{B}$– which quantifies the relative size of the correlation length$l_{B}$of the stochastic field, proton displacements$d_{s}$due to magnetic deflections and the image magnification${\mathcal{M}}$. For stochastic magnetic fields, we establish the existence of four contrast regimes, under which proton-flux images relate to their parent fields in a qualitatively distinct manner. These are linear, nonlinear injective, caustic and diffusive. The diffusive regime is newly identified and characterised. The nonlinear injective regime is distinguished from the caustic regime in manifesting nonlinear behaviour, but as in the linear regime, the path-integrated magnetic field experienced by the beam can be extracted uniquely. Thus, in the linear and nonlinear injective regimes we show that the magnetic-energy spectrum can be obtained under a further statistical assumption of isotropy. This is not the case in the caustic or diffusive regimes. We discuss complications to the contrast-regime characterisation arising for inhomogeneous, multi-scale stochastic fields, which can encompass many contrast regimes, as well as limitations currently placed by experimental capabilities on one’s ability to extract magnetic-field statistics. The results presented in this paper are of consequence in providing a comprehensive description of proton images of stochastic magnetic fields, with applications for improved analysis of proton-flux images.
PROGRESS, DESTRUCTION, AND THE ANTHROPOCENE
Authors: Moellendorf Darrel
Published: December 2017

Enlightenment era optimism that technological and educational developments offer a progressive path to plenty and liberation supports a hope that human toil may be progressively reduced. The Development Thesis defended by G. A. Cohen is a piece of that Enlightenment optimism. The Development Thesis holds that productive forces tend to develop throughout history. The tendency for such an increase in productive forces to occur is, according to Cohen’s argument, due to persistent facts about human nature. If Cohen is correct, there is a tendency toward progress of an important sort, and this progress is due in significant part to human nature. But the development of productive forces also destroys nonhuman natural value. In the era of the Anthropocene this is occurring on a planetary scale. The simultaneous development and destruction entails that claims of progress must rely on an all-things-considered judgment. But due to the plurality of the relevant values, which cannot be compared according to a common metric, rational disagreement about the existence of progress and our progressive nature can be expected to persist.