bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green quaternary concrete composites: Characterization and evaluation of the mechanical properties
Authors: Dave Niragi , Misra Anil Kumar , Srivastava Amit , Sharma Anil Kumar , Kaushik Surendra Kumar
Published: May 2018

Industrial byproducts such as fly ash (FA), silica fume (SF), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), metakaolin (MK), and lime powder (LP), popularly known as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), have been extensively used in the manufacturing of cement and cement products in binary and ternary modes. In the present study, attempt has been made to develop a new sustainable green quaternary binder by partially replacing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with different percentages of SCMs and find the optimum mix that can provide the best results in terms of mechanical as well as durability properties. The motivation is to reduce our dependency on OPC to reduce carbon foot print and utilizing these industrial byproducts for the sustainable development. Different compositions of quaternary binders were prepared and their physical, mechanical, and durability properties were studied and compared with the OPC and binary cement product pozzolanic Portland cement (PPC). The mechanical properties of concrete prepared with these OPC, PPC, and quaternary binders were also studied and it is established that the concrete mixtures prepared with quaternary binders provided better results and proved to be more economical. It is concluded that quaternary binders (a) OPC70% + FA15% + SF7.5% + GGBS7.5%, (b) OPC70% + FA15% + SF7.5% + MK7.5%, (c) 50%OPC + 30%FA + 10%SF + 10%GGBS, and (d) 50%OPC + 30%FA + 10%SF + 10%MK have produced relatively better strength, improved durability, and resistance to sulfate attack. These findings were also supported with the microstructural studies of hardened concrete of M20 grade using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD).
Framework for definition of design formulations from empirical and semi‐empirical resistance models
Authors: Castaldo Paolo , Gino Diego , Carbone Vincenzo Ilario , Mancini Giuseppe
Published: May 2018

The study proposes a framework based on the Monte Carlo method for the probabilistic calibration of empirical and semi‐empirical resisting models. The resisting models adopted in engineering practice may be based both on physical laws, such as equilibrium of forces, and on semi‐empirical or empirical formulations. Precisely, empirical or semi‐empirical resisting models are calibrated in order to fit experimental data and the direct application of partial safety factors to material properties does not allow a proper estimation of the structural reliability. For this reason, a probabilistic definition of design expressions from empirical or semi‐empirical resisting models should be preferred to define a final formulation in agreement with a specific level of reliability. After a detailed description of the framework, its application to the probabilistic calibration of the semi‐empirical model proposed by fib Model Code 2010 for the estimation of tensile strength of laps and anchorages in reinforced concrete structures is proposed.
Overcoming early career barriers to interdisciplinary climate change research
Authors: Hein Christopher J. , Ten Hoeve John E. , Gopalakrishnan Sathya , Livneh Ben , Adams Henry D. , Marino Elizabeth K. , Susan Weiler C.
Published: May 2018

Climate‐change impacts are among the most serious and complex challenges facing society, affecting both natural and social systems. Addressing these requires a new paradigm of interdisciplinary collaboration which incorporates tools, techniques, and insights from across the social, natural, and engineering sciences. Yet, a wide range of intrinsic and extrinsic hurdles need to be overcome to conduct successful, integrated interdisciplinary research. The results of a bibliometric analysis and survey of early to mid‐career scientists from 56 countries who were involved with the interdisciplinary DISsertations initiative for the advancement of Climate Change ReSearch (DISCCRS) emphasize the particular challenges faced by early career researchers. Survey respondents perceive conflict between the need for interdisciplinary climate‐change research and its potential detriment to career advancement. However, participation in interventions for early career scientists, such as networking and training symposia, had both perceived and measurable impacts on the likelihood of engagement in climate‐centric interdisciplinary research. Respondents also ranked alternative mechanisms for encouraging incorporation of interdisciplinary science at early career stages, prioritizing funding of interdisciplinary seed grants, fellowships, and junior faculty networks, interdisciplinary teamwork and communication training, and interdepartmental symposia. To this we add the suggestion that interdisciplinarity be incorporated into tenure and promotion evaluations through the use of exploratory science mapping tools. Despite the need to foster interdisciplinary research and the availability of multiple prospective solutions, there remain expansive structural challenges to its promotion and recognition which, unless collectively addressed, will continue to hinder its potential growth and application to climate‐change science.

This article is categorized under:

Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Knowledge and Practice

Integrated Assessment of Climate Change > Methods of Integrated Assessment of Climate Change
ABJM quantum spectral curve and Mellin transform
Authors: Lee R. N. , Onishchenko A. I.
Published: May 2018

Abstract

The present techniques for the perturbative solution of quantum spectral curve problems in

$$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$

N
=
4

SYM and ABJM models are limited to the situation when the states quantum numbers are given explicitly as some integer numbers. These techniques are sufficient to recover full analytical structure of the conserved charges provided that we know a finite basis of functions in terms of which they could be written explicitly. It is known that in the case of

$$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$

N
=
4

SYM both the contributions of asymptotic Bethe ansatz and wrapping or finite size corrections are expressed in terms of the harmonic sums. However, in the case of ABJM model only the asymptotic contribution can still be written in the harmonic sums basis, while the wrapping corrections part can not. Moreover, the generalization of harmonic sums basis for this problem is not known. In this paper we present a Mellin space technique for the solution of multiloop Baxter equations, which is the main ingredient for the solution of corresponding quantum spectral problems, and provide explicit results for the solution of ABJM quantum spectral curve in the case of twist 1 operators in sl(2) sector for arbitrary spin values up to four loop order with explicit account for wrapping corrections. It is shown that the result for anomalous dimensions could be expressed in terms of harmonic sums decorated by the fourth root of unity factors, so that maximum transcendentality principle holds.
Three-loop massive form factors: complete light-fermion and large-Nc corrections for vector, axial-vector, scalar and pseudo-scalar currents
Authors: Lee Roman N. , Smirnov Alexander V. , Smirnov Vladimir A. , Steinhauser Matthias
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We compute the three-loop QCD corrections to the massive quark form factors with external vector, axial-vector, scalar and pseudo-scalar currents. All corrections with closed loops of massless fermions are included. The non-fermionic part is computed in the large-N

c
limit, where only planar Feynman diagrams contribute.
Inquiry, knowledge and understanding
Authors: Kelp Christoph
Published: May 2018

This paper connects two important debates in epistemology—to wit, on the goal of inquiry and on the nature of understanding—and offers a unified knowledge-based account of both.
Choosing the right model for policy decision-making: the case of smallpox epidemiology
Authors: Grüne-Yanoff Till
Published: May 2018

Policymakers increasingly draw on scientific methods, including simulation modeling, to justify their decisions. For these purposes, scientists and policymakers face an extensive choice of modeling strategies. Discussing the example of smallpox epidemiology, this paper distinguishes three types of strategies: Massive Simulation Models (MSMs), Abstract Simulation Models (ASMs) and Macro Equation Models (MEMs). By analyzing some of the main smallpox epidemic models proposed in the last 20 years, it discusses how to justify strategy choice with reference to the core characteristics of these respective strategies. First, I argue that MEMs often suffice for policy purposes, and need to be replaced only if they are insufficiently robust. Such robustness results, however, only requires the use of ASMs, not MSMs. Second, I argue that although MSMs have larger potentials than ASMs in various dimensions, they are also more likely to fail—and that in many cases, this probability of failing outweighs their higher potential. In particular, these dimensions include the representation of the relevant target, the accurate measurement of the relevant parameters, the number of parameters included, the number of mechanisms modeled simultaneously, and the ways of dealing with structural uncertainty. While this in no way excludes the prospect that some MSMs provide good justifications for policy decisions, my arguments caution against a general preference for MSMs over ASMs for policy decision purposes in general and vaccination problems in particular.
Microstructure Evolution in Cold-Rolled Pure Titanium: Modeling by the Three-Scale Crystal Plasticity Approach Accounting for Twinning
Authors: Frydrych Karol , Kowalczyk-Gajewska Katarzyna
Published: May 2018

A three-scale crystal plasticity model is applied to simulate microstructure evolution in hcp titanium subjected to cold rolling. Crystallographic texture and misorientation angle development, as an indicator of grain refinement, are studied. The impact of twinning activity on both phenomena is accounted for by combining the original three-scale formulation with the probabilistic twin-volume consistent (PTVC) reorientation scheme. The modeling results are compared with available experimental data. It is shown that the simulated textures are in accordance with the experimental measurements. The basic components of misorientation angle distribution, especially in the range of high angle boundaries, are also well reproduced.
Relationship between frailty and Alzheimer's disease biomarkers: A scoping review
Authors: Wallace Lindsay , Theou Olga , Rockwood Kenneth , Andrew Melissa K.
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Frailty and dementia appear to be closely linked, although mechanisms remain unclear. The objective was to conduct a scoping review of the association between frailty and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers in humans.

Methods

Three databases, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase, were searched for articles using the following search terms: “frail elderly”, “Alzheimer's disease”, “dementia biomarkers” and their synonyms. Inclusion was limited to original research in humans published before 2017, which included a frailty measure and AD biomarker (fluid markers, neuroimaging, and neuropathology).

Results

Five hundred twenty‐two articles were identified and screened; 10 were included. Most were cross‐sectional (n = 6), measured the frailty phenotype (n = 6), and included people with dementia (n = 7). Biomarkers examined were postmortem AD pathology (n = 3), brain atrophy (n = 5), and in vivo fluid markers (n = 2). Eight studies reported that increased frailty was associated with at least one biomarker abnormality.

Discussion

Evidence is limited and suffers from design limitations but suggests that frailty and AD biomarkers are closely linked. Longitudinal research examining multiple biomarkers and frailty is warranted.
The risk of fall accidents for home dwellers with dementia—A register‐ and population‐based case‐control study
Authors: Petersen Jindong Ding , Siersma Volkert Dirk , Christensen René dePont , Storsveen Maria Munch , Nielsen Connie Thurøe , Waldorff Frans Boch
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Institutionalized people with dementia have an increased risk of fall accidents, but little is known about whether this increased risk holds for home dwellers.

Methods

This register‐ and population‐based study comprised 115,584 cases and 394,679 controls. Cases were individuals with any fall between 2009 and 2014, and matched with up to six controls on age, sex, and geographic location. Individuals were excluded if they (1) had any fall in 2008, or (2) lived in a nursing home on the date of the fall. Dementia, other chronic diseases, and sedative medicines were assessed from Danish national registers.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, older people with dementia living at home had a 1.89‐fold higher risk of fall (odds ratio = 1.89, 95% confidence interval [1.84–1.94], P < .001).

Discussion

Dementia almost doubles the risk of fall for older Danish people living at home. This highlights the need for effective fall preventions that target people with dementia.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of psychotic depression in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966
Authors: Nietola Miika , Heiskala Anni , Nordström Tanja , Miettunen Jouko , Korkeila Jyrki , Jääskeläinen Erika
Published: May 2018

Background:

Psychotic depression (PD) is heavily understudied despite high mortality and the severe course of illness. A majority of the studies conducted so far are also largely based on selected clinical samples. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics of PD in a representative prospective birth cohort sample.

Methods:

The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 is a well-known prospective population-based cohort including 12 058 people followed since mid-pregnancy. We identified 55 individuals with PD, analysed their characteristics and compared them with schizophrenia (SZ), non-psychotic depression (NPD), psychotic bipolar disorder (PBD) and other psychoses (PNOS).

Results:

The life-time prevalence of stable (no conversion to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder) PD was 0.5%. PD subjects were older than SZ and PNOS subjects during the first psychotic episode and compared to SZ, more often female. PD required hospitalization and transition to disability pension more often than NPD, but less often than SZ. Comorbid alcohol abuse disorder (44%) and personality disorder (40%) were highly common in PD. PNOS had a similar occupational outcome than PD but hospitalization rate was lower in the PNOS group. PBD and PD had mostly comparable outcomes.

Conclusions:

Our findings in a naturalistic cohort support the notion that the course of illness in PD is mostly similar to that of PBD, it is less severe than in schizophrenia, but worse than in non-psychotic depression. PD seems to have high psychiatric comorbidity.
Increased risk of dementia in patients with Schizophrenia: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Ching-En , Chung Chi-Hsiang , Chen Li-Fen , Chi Mei-Ju
Published: May 2018

Background:

The extent to which schizophrenia is associated with the risk of all-cause dementia is controversial. This study investigated the risk of dementia by type in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods:

Data were collected from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Database 2005 and analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models to determine the effect of schizophrenia on the dementia risk after adjusting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and medications. Fine and Gray's competing risk analysis was used to determine the risk of dementia, as death can act as a competing risk factor for dementia.

Results:

We assessed 6040 schizophrenia patients and 24,160 propensity scale-matched control patients. Schizophrenia patients exhibited a 1.80-fold risk of dementia compared to controls (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36 ∼ 2.21,p <0.001) after adjusting for covariates. Cardiovascular disease (aHR = 5.26; 95% CI = 4.50 ∼ 6.72;p <0.001), hypertension (aHR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.77 ∼ 2.04;p= 0.002), traumatic head injury (aHR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.24 ∼ 1.78;p <0.001), chronic lung diseases (aHR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.13 ∼ 2.56;p <0.001), alcohol-related disorders (aHR = 3.67; 95% CI = 2.68 ∼ 4.92;p <0.001), and Parkinson’s disease (aHR = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.25 ∼ 2.40;p <0.001) were significantly associated with dementia risk. Notably, first-generation antipsychotics (aHR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.56 ∼ 0.95;p=0.044) and second-generation antipsychotics (aHR = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.11 ∼ 0.60;p <0.001) were associated with a lower dementia risk. Sensitivity tests yielded consistent findings after excluding the first year and first 3 years of observation. Patients with schizophrenia had the highest risk of developing Alzheimer’s [dementia/disease?] among dementia subtypes (aHR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.88 ∼ 3.86;p< 0.001), followed by vascular dementia (aHR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.27 ∼ 2.12;p< 0.001) and unspecified dementia (aHR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.04 ∼ 2.01;p< 0.001).

Conclusions:

Schizophrenia was significantly associated with the risk of all-cause dementia. Data are scarce on the mechanisms through which antipsychotic agents protect persons with schizophrenia from developing dementia. Further research is recommended to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the association between schizophrenia and dementia, and whether antipsychotics protect against the development of dementia in schizophrenia.
Patient centric measures for a patient centric era: Agreement and convergent between ratings on The Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale and the Clinical Global Impressions – Improvement (CGI-S) scale in bipolar and major depressive disorder
Authors: Mohebbi M. , Dodd S. , Dean O.M. , Berk M.
Published: May 2018

Background:

Concordant with an increased emphasis on consumer engagement, the Patient Global Impression Scale of Improvement (PGI-I) is commonly used as an outcome measure in studies evaluating the efficacy of treatments in medical and psychiatric conditions with subjective symptom domains. The current study evaluated the agreement between PGI-I and Clinician Global Impression Scale of Improvement (CGI-I) ratings and convergent validity of PGI-I among individuals with bipolar or major depressive disorders.

Method:

Data were derived from three double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre studies conducted from 2007 to 2015 among adult individuals (N = 472). Clinicians were asked to rate participants symptoms using the CGI-I as well as severity of depression by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression (MADRS), quality of life (Q-LES-Q), social and occupational functioning (SOFAS), and functional impairment (LIFE–RIFT). Participants were asked to assess their symptom improvement with the PGI-I. Bland-Altman agreement plots and Intra-class correlations were used to evaluate agreement, and Spearman correlation coefficients were implemented to examine convergent validity. Sub-group analyses for disorder type (bipolar and major depression) were performed.

Results:

There was high agreement between the PGI-I and CGI-I ratings across follow-up time points (weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28). Similar results were observed in male only and female only data and after adjustment for age and gender. Both PGI-I and CGI-I ratings were robustly positively correlated with MADRS, and LIFE-RIFT and negatively correlated with SOFAS and Q-LES-Q, supporting the convergent validity of the PGI-I. Sub-group analyses for bipolar and major depressive disorder showed similar findings.

Conclusion:

Our findings support the utility of the PGI-I as a participant rated measure of global improvement among individuals with bipolar or major depressive disorders.
Evidence-based perioperative management of a child with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) undergoing elective surgery; A systematic review
Authors: Lema Girmay Fitiwi , Berhe Yophtahe Woldegerima , Gebrezgi Amare Hailekiros , Getu Ayechew Adera
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACT

Background:

Upper respiratory tract infections are frequently encountered medical problems in paediatric age groups. Children with less than five years may have six up to seven episodes of URTIs per year with each lasting up to two weeks. The issue of whether to proceed with elective surgery on a child with an URTI has been source of debate for many years. The rationale of this review was to avoid traditional approach of blanket cancellation of surgery by stratified risk factors as well as optimization of the patients. Furthermore, this review summarized current evidences regarding perioperative anaesthetic management of children with URTIs.

Methods:

The study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Search engines like PubMed through HINARI, Cochrane database and Google Scholars were used to find high-level evidences that help to draw appropriate conclusions.

Discussion:

Performing anaesthesia in children with URTIs increases the risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs) like laryngospasm, bronchospasm, and desaturation and breath holding.

Conclusion:

Children with mild and moderate URTIs can safely anaesthetized with optimal preparation and optimization of the patient in the preoperative period. Prevention of stimulation of a potentially irritable airway, use of bronchodilators and induction with propofol are helpful. Furthermore, adequate suppression of airway reflexes with optimal depth of anaesthesia is highly recommended.

Highlights:
Product competition, managerial discretion, and manufacturing recalls in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry
Authors: Ball George P. , Shah Rachna , Wowak Kaitlin D.
Published: May 2018

Empirical research examining whether and how competition influences product recalls is limited. We address this important research gap by creating a novel measure of product competition using data from the Food and Drug Administration's Orange Book, and combining it with product recall data across a 12‐year period. Our results show that product competition is positively associated with manufacturing‐related recalls, providing evidence of a possible downside to competition in the pharmaceutical industry. Although competition is fostered by numerous federal regulations, we find that it may encourage companies to relax quality standards during the manufacturing process, which may result in lower quality products. We also find that this relationship is contingent on managerial discretion surrounding the recall decision. While product competition is associated with an increase in high severity, low discretion recalls, it is associated with a decrease in low severity, high discretion recalls. Findings from this study have critical implications for policy‐makers who regulate product competition in the pharmaceutical industry.
Impaired cutaneous T‐cell attracting chemokine elevation and adipose‐derived stromal cell migration in a high‐glucose environment cause poor diabetic wound healing
Authors: Wang Wei‐Ting , Lee Su‐Shin , Wang Ya‐Chin , Lai Ya‐Wei , Kuo Yur‐Ren , Tang Chen Yueh‐Bih , Liu Yu‐Sen , Wu Yi‐Chia
Published: May 2018

Diabetic wound care is a major health care concern. The major cause of non‐healing of wounds in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) patients mainly involves poor glycemic control, which hinders the migration of progenitor cells including mesenchymal stem cells to the wound site. In this study, we introduced adipose‐derived stromal cells (ADSCs) into wound sites and demonstrated that the local transplantation of ADSCs accelerated DM‐related wound healing. Furthermore, the migration ability of ADSCs, which diminishes in a high‐glucose environment, was partially restored by the exogenous replenishment of the cutaneous T‐cell attracting chemokine (CTACK/CCL27). Our findings suggest that CTACK is a potential novel therapeutic target in DM‐related wound healing.
Large-scale generation and analysis of filamentous fungal DNA barcodes boosts coverage for kingdom fungi and reveals thresholds for fungal species and higher taxon delimitation
Authors: Vu D. , Groenewald M. , de Vries M. , Gehrmann T. , Stielow B. , Eberhardt U. , Al-Hatmi A. , Groenewald J.Z. , Cardinali G. , Houbraken J. , Boekhout T. , Crous P.W. , Robert V. , Verkley G.J.M.
Published: May 2018

Species identification lies at the heart of biodiversity studies that has in recent years favoured DNA-based approaches. Microbial Biological Resource Centres are a rich source for diverse and high-quality reference materials in microbiology, and yet the strains preserved in these biobanks
have been exploited only on a limited scale to generate DNA barcodes. As part of a project funded in the Netherlands to barcode specimens of major national biobanks, sequences of two nuclear ribosomal genetic markers, the Internal Transcribed Spaces and 5.8S gene (ITS) and the D1/D2 domain
of the 26S Large Subunit (LSU), were generated as DNA barcode data for ca. 100 000 fungal strains originally assigned to ca. 17 000 species in the CBS fungal biobank maintained at the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht. Using more than 24 000 DNA barcode
sequences of 12 000 ex-type and manually validated filamentous fungal strains of 7 300 accepted species, the optimal identity thresholds to discriminate filamentous fungal species were predicted as 99.6 % for ITS and 99.8 % for LSU. We showed that 17 % and 18 %
of the species could not be discriminated by the ITS and LSU genetic markers, respectively. Among them, ∼8 % were indistinguishable using both genetic markers. ITS has been shown to outperform LSU in filamentous fungal species discrimination with a probability of correct identification
of 82 % vs. 77.6 %, and a clustering quality value of 84 % vs. 77.7 %. At higher taxonomic classifications, LSU has been shown to have a better discriminatory power than ITS. With a clustering quality value of 80 %, LSU outperformed ITS in identifying filamentous fungi
at the ordinal level. At the generic level, the clustering quality values produced by both genetic markers were low, indicating the necessity for taxonomic revisions at genus level and, likely, for applying more conserved genetic markers or even whole genomes. The taxonomic thresholds predicted
for filamentous fungal identification at the genus, family, order and class levels were 94.3 %, 88.5 %, 81.2 % and 80.9 % based on ITS barcodes, and 98.2 %, 96.2 %, 94.7 % and 92.7 % based on LSU barcodes. The DNA barcodes used in this study have been
deposited to GenBank and will also be publicly available at the Westerdijk Institute's website as reference sequences for fungal identification, marking an unprecedented data release event in global fungal barcoding efforts to date.
ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Following a Crotalus horridus Envenomation
Authors: Simpson Christian H. , Richardson William H. , Swartzentruber Greg S. , Lloyd Vincent J.
Published: May 2018

Cardiac ischemia or myocardial infarction after pit viper envenomation is rare. Few case reports have been published, none describing cases reported after crotaline snake envenomation in the United States. We report a case of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurring in a 73-year-old man after an envenomation by a juvenile canebrake rattlesnake ( Crotalus horridus). The man was bitten on the left index finger and subsequently developed localized edema followed by hypotension, chest pain, and altered mental status. His initial electrocardiogram revealed ST-segment elevation in the inferior and lateral leads. His hospital course included emergent left heart catheterization with thrombectomy and cardiac stent placement. This case captures the unique medical situation involving the approach to treatment and management of a patient with a severe crotaline envenomation complicated by a STEMI.
Hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets incorporated antireflective silica coating with enhanced laser-induced damage threshold
Authors: Wang Jing , Li Chunhong , Hu Wenjie , Han Wei , Zhu Qihua , Xu Yao
Published: May 2018

Boron nitride (BN) nanosheets incorporated silica antireflective (AR) coating was successfully prepared on fused silica substrate to improve the antilaser-damage ability of transmissive optics used in high-power laser systems. The BN nanosheets were obtained by urea assisted solid exfoliation, and then incorporated into basic-catalyzed silica sols without any further treatment. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images indicated that the BN nanosheets generally consisted of 2–10 layers. The antireflective BN/$\text{SiO}_{2}$ coating exhibited excellent transmittance as high as 99.89% at 351 nm wavelength on fused silica substrate. The thermal conductivity $0.135~\text{W}\cdot \text{m}^{-1}\cdot \text{K}^{-1}$ of the BN/$\text{SiO}_{2}$ coating with 10% BN addition was about 23% higher than $0.11~\text{W}\cdot \text{m}^{-1}\cdot \text{K}^{-1}$ of the pure $\text{SiO}_{2}$ AR coating. The laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of that BN/$\text{SiO}_{2}$ coating is also 23.1% higher than that of pure $\text{SiO}_{2}$ AR coating. This research provides a potential application of BN/$\text{SiO}_{2}$ coatings in high-power laser systems.
Hyena as a predator of small mammals? Taphonomic analysis from the site of Bois Roche, France
Authors: Williams Jim , Andrews Peter , García-Morato Sara , Villa Paola , Fernández-Jalvo Yolanda
Published: May 2018

Feeding behaviors may differ between past and current predators due to differences in the environments inhabited by these species at different times. We provide an example of this behavioral variability in spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), for which our analysis of a late Pleistocene micromammal assemblage indicates that hyenas preyed upon small rodents, a feeding habit that is rarely observed today among hyenas.

The Bois Roche cave site is situated at the edge of a low bluff overlooking the floodplain of a small stream in Cherves-Richemont (Charente, France). The deposits are dated by electron spin resonance (ESR) to about 69.7 ± 4.1 Ka. Excavations at the site recovered fossil bones and teeth of large and small mammals, together with hyena coprolites. Water screening of the sediments produced large accumulations of rodent remains with low taxonomic diversity. Small mammal bones were recovered from hyena coprolites as well. Descriptions of small mammal bone modification, both from the sediments and coprolites, are reported here. The analysis yielded a distinct taphonomic pattern representative of large carnivores (over 30 kg), which differs from any other modern or fossil predator-accumulated microfaunal assemblage taphonomically analyzed to date. To our knowledge, previous studies of hyena diet have not recorded high concentrations of a single-rodent prey species. We conclude that the low species diversity of this small mammal assemblage most likely relates to a local abundance of the prey species due to an outbreak in the rodent population, rather than from specialist predator behavior and hunting technique.
Orbits of Selected Globular Clusters in the Galactic Bulge
Authors: Pérez-Villegas A. , Rossi L. , Ortolani S. , Casotto S. , Barbuy B. , Bica E.
Published: May 2018

We present orbit analysis for a sample of eight inner bulge globular clusters, together with one reference halo object. We used proper motion values derived from long time base CCD data. Orbits are integrated in both an axisymmetric model and a model including the Galactic bar potential. The inclusion of the bar proved to be essential for the description of the dynamical behaviour of the clusters. We use the Monte Carlo scheme to construct the initial conditions for each cluster, taking into account the uncertainties in the kinematical data and distances. The sample clusters show typically maximum height to the Galactic plane below 1.5 kpc, and develop rather eccentric orbits. Seven of the bulge sample clusters share the orbital properties of the bar/bulge, having perigalactic and apogalatic distances, and maximum vertical excursion from the Galactic plane inside the bar region. NGC 6540 instead shows a completely different orbital behaviour, having a dynamical signature of the thick disc. Both prograde and prograde–retrograde orbits with respect to the direction of the Galactic rotation were revealed, which might characterise a chaotic behaviour.
Distribution, evidence for internal ice, and possible hydrologic significance of rock glaciers in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA
Authors: Munroe Jeffrey S.
Published: May 2018

Mapping at a scale of 1:5000 identified 395 rock glaciers in the Uinta Mountains, Utah. The majority of these have areas<20 ha, although the largest covers 97 ha. Rock glaciers have a mean elevation of 3285 m above sea level (range of 2820 to 3744 m above sea level) and exhibit a preference for northerly aspects. Sixty (15%) have a tongue-shaped morphology, whereas 335 (85%) are lobate features protruding from talus along valley walls. Tongue-shaped rock glaciers are found at significantly higher elevations and receive considerably less direct solar radiation each year than lobate rock glaciers. Winter ground temperatures atop representative rock glaciers drop to between −3°C and −5°C. This result, combined with ~0°C water discharging in the summer and water ages >1 year, suggests that at least some of these landforms contain buried ice. Late summer water discharge from two rock glaciers exhibits higher pH and significantly elevated concentrations of some ions compared with lake water, consistent with ablation of internal ice after melting of winter snowpack is complete. Although the amount of water discharging from individual rock glaciers may be small, the aggregate discharge from all rock glaciers and talus could constitute a significant component of streamflow in late summer and fall.
BOX DIMENSION OF BILINEAR FRACTAL INTERPOLATION SURFACES
Authors: KONG QING-GE , RUAN HUO-JUN , ZHANG SHENG
Published: May 2018

Bilinear fractal interpolation surfaces were introduced by Ruan and Xu in 2015. In this paper, we present the formula for their box dimension under certain constraint conditions.
RESOLVABLE MENDELSOHN DESIGNS AND FINITE FROBENIUS GROUPS
Authors: HSU D. F. , ZHOU SANMING
Published: May 2018

We prove the existence and give constructions of a $(p(k)-1)$-fold perfect resolvable $(v,k,1)$-Mendelsohn design for any integers $v>k\geq 2$ with $v\equiv 1\hspace{0.2em}{\rm mod}\hspace{0.2em}\,k$ such that there exists a finite Frobenius group whose kernel $K$ has order $v$ and whose complement contains an element $\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}$ of order $k$, where $p(k)$ is the least prime factor of $k$. Such a design admits $K\rtimes \langle \unicode[STIX]{x1D719}\rangle$ as a group of automorphisms and is perfect when $k$ is a prime. As an application we prove that for any integer $v=p_{1}^{e_{1}}\cdots p_{t}^{e_{t}}\geq 3$ in prime factorisation and any prime $k$ dividing $p_{i}^{e_{i}}-1$ for $1\leq i\leq t$, there exists a resolvable perfect $(v,k,1)$-Mendelsohn design that admits a Frobenius group as a group of automorphisms. We also prove that, if $k$ is even and divides $p_{i}-1$ for $1\leq i\leq t$, then there are at least $\unicode[STIX]{x1D711}(k)^{t}$ resolvable $(v,k,1)$-Mendelsohn designs that admit a Frobenius group as a group of automorphisms, where $\unicode[STIX]{x1D711}$ is Euler’s totient function.
Dietary supplementation with blueberry partially restores T-cell-mediated function in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice
Authors: Lewis Erin D. , Ren Zhihong , DeFuria Jason , Obin Martin S. , Meydani Simin N. , Wu Dayong
Published: May 2018

Blueberry, rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, has been demonstrated to lower inflammatory status in adipose induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and obesity. The effect of blueberry on systemic immune functions has not been examined. C57BL/6 mice were randomised to one of three diets – low-fat diet (LFD), HFD and HFD plus 4 % (w/w) blueberry (HFD+B) – for 8 or 12 weeks.Ex vivoT-cell mitogens (concanavalin A (Con A); phytohaemagglutinin), T-cell antibody (anti-CD3; anti-CD3/CD28)-stimulated T-cell proliferation and cytokine production were assessed. After 8 weeks, both HFD groups weighed more (>4 g) than the LFD group; after 12 weeks, HFD+B-fed mice weighed more (>6 g) and had 41 % more adipose tissue than HFD-fed mice (P<0·05). After 12 weeks, T-cell proliferation was less in both HFD groups, compared with the LFD group. HFD-associated decrements in T-cell proliferation were partially (10–50 %) prevented by blueberry supplementation. At 12 weeks, splenocytes from HFD mice, but not from HFD+B mice, produced 51 % less IL-4 (CD3/CD28) and 57 % less interferon-γ(Con A) compared with splenocytes from LFD mice (P<0·05). In response to lipopolysaccharide challenge, splenocytes from both HFD groups produced 24–30 % less IL-6 and 27–33 % less TNF-αcompared with splenocytes from LFD mice (P<0·05), indicating impaired acute innate immune response. By demonstrating deleterious impacts of HFD feeding on T-cell proliferation and splenocyte immune responses, our results provide insights into how HFD/obesity can disrupt systemic immune function. The protective effects of blueberry suggest that dietary blueberry can buttress T-cell and systemic immune function against HFD-obesity-associated insults.
Oil from transgenicCamelina sativacontaining over 25 %n-3 long-chain PUFA as the major lipid source in feed for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Authors: Betancor Mónica B. , Li Keshuai , Bucerzan Valentin S. , Sprague Matthew , Sayanova Olga , Usher Sarah , Han Lihua , Norambuena Fernando , Torrissen Ole , Napier Johnathan A. , Tocher Douglas R. , Olsen Rolf E.
Published: May 2018

Facing a bottleneck in the growth of aquaculture, and a gap in the supply and demand of the highly beneficialn-3 long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA), sustainable alternatives to traditional marine-based feeds are required. Therefore, in the present trial, a novel oil obtained from a genetically engineered oilseed crop,Camelina sativa, that supplied over 25 %n-3 LC-PUFA was tested as a sole dietary-added lipid source in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) feed. Three groups of fish were fed three experimental diets for 12 weeks with the same basal composition and containing 20 % added oil supplied by either a blend of fish oil and rapeseed oil (1:3) (COM) reflecting current commercial formulations, wild-type Camelina oil (WCO) or the novel transgenic Camelina oil (TCO). There were no negative effects on the growth, survival rate or health of the fish. The whole fish and fleshn-3 LC-PUFA levels were highest in fish fed TCO, with levels more than 2-fold higher compared with those of fish fed the COM and WCO diets, respectively. Diet TCO had no negative impacts on the evaluated immune and physiological parameters of head kidney monocytes. The transcriptomic responses of liver and mid-intestine showed only mild effects on metabolism genes. Overall, the results clearly indicated that the oil from transgenic Camelina was highly efficient in supplyingn-3 LC-PUFA providing levels double that obtained with a current commercial standard, and similar to those a decade ago before substantial dietary fishmeal and oil replacement.
Property, power and participation in local administration in the Dutch delta in the early modern period
Authors: BRUSSE PAUL
Published: May 2018

According to the literature inspired by the ideas of Robert Brenner, leaseholders, small farmers and craftsmen did not participate in the local administration of those districts in the Dutch Republic where the majority of land was owned by large landowners. However, in this article we show that, at least in the Dutch river clay area, where water management was an essential part of the population's struggle to survive the annual floods, the battle against the elements induced people, regardless of their property relations and social distinctions, to share power in order to overcome the challenges they all faced. The study also contributes to the growing literature about the effects of water management on political culture in the North Sea area.
An EEG study of the relationship between design problem statements and cognitive behaviors during conceptual design
Authors: Liu Longfan , Li Yan , Xiong Yan , Cao Juan , Yuan Ping
Published: May 2018

In the design process, different problem statements result in different problem-solving strategies. A proper problem statement is the key to effective problem-solving. Based on the characteristics of the product design process, we divided design problem statements into open-ended (OE), decision-making (DM), and constrained (CO) statements and attempted to investigate the influences of different problem statements on designers’ cognitive behaviors from three perspectives, namely divergent thinking, convergent thinking, and mental workload. Then we provided quantification description to these influences based on electroencephalography (EEG) technology. We conducted experiments on 19 participants and used the BrainProduct™ actiChamp-32 to record the EEG data. Results are as follows: (1) The higher task-related α power was found in the temporal and occipital regions in the OE task compared with that in the DM and CO tasks. The OE statement also would help designers get novel ideas by strengthening their divergent thinking. (2) In the DM and CO tasks, there was no significant difference in the impact of the brain region on convergent thinking, but activities in the left hemisphere were stronger than that in the right hemisphere. The DM and CO tasks have better performance in convergent thinking than the OE task. (3) In the CO task, the designer's mental workload is the highest and mainly related to the activation of the centroparietal and occipital regions. These findings help designers understand the design problem-solving process from the perspective of cognitive science and monitor their thinking modes in the design process so as to improve their design performance.
The Understanding of Death in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients in China: An Initial Study
Authors: HUANG HAI SHAN , ZENG TIE YING , MAO JING , LIU XIAO HONG
Published: May 2018

Patient’s needs and rights are the key to delivering state-of-the-art modern nursing care. It is especially challenging to provide proper nursing care for patients who are reaching the end of life (EOL). In Chinese culture nursing practice, the perception and expectations of these EOL patients are not well known. This article explores the feelings and wishes of 16 terminally ill Chinese cancer patients who are going through the dying process. An open-ended questionnaire with eight items was used to interview 16 terminally ill Chinese cancer patients, and was then analyzed by a combined approach employing grounded theory and interpretive phenomenological analysis. Four dimensions were explored: first, patient’s attitudes towards death, such as accepting the fact calmly, striving to survive, and the desire for control; second, the care desired during the dying process, including avoiding excessive treatment and dying with dignity; third, the degree of the patient’s acceptance of death; and fourth, the consequences of death. This cognitive study offers a fundamental understanding of perceptions of death of terminally ill cancer patients from the Chinese culture. Their attitude toward death was complex. They did not prefer aggressive treatment and most of them had given a great deal of thought to their death.
ON INVOLUTIONS AND INDICATORS OF FINITE ORTHOGONAL GROUPS
Authors: TAYLOR GREGORY K. , VINROOT C. RYAN
Published: May 2018

We study the numbers of involutions and their relation to Frobenius–Schur indicators in the groups$\text{SO}^{\pm }(n,q)$and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}^{\pm }(n,q)$. Our point of view for this study comes from two motivations. The first is the conjecture that a finite simple group$G$is strongly real (all elements are conjugate to their inverses by an involution) if and only if it is totally orthogonal (all Frobenius–Schur indicators are 1), and we observe this holds for all finite simple groups$G$other than the groups$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}^{\pm }(4m,q)$with$q$even. We prove computationally that for small$m$this statement indeed holds for these groups by equating their character degree sums with the number of involutions. We also prove a result on a certain twisted indicator for the groups$\text{SO}^{\pm }(4m+2,q)$with$q$odd. Our second motivation is to continue the work of Fulman, Guralnick, and Stanton on generating functions and asymptotics for involutions in classical groups. We extend their work by finding generating functions for the numbers of involutions in$\text{SO}^{\pm }(n,q)$and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}^{\pm }(n,q)$for all$q$, and we use these to compute the asymptotic behavior for the number of involutions in these groups when$q$is fixed and$n$grows.
NILPOTENT SUBSPACES AND NILPOTENT ORBITS
Authors: PANYUSHEV DMITRI I. , YAKIMOVA OKSANA S.
Published: May 2018

Let $G$ be a semisimple complex algebraic group with Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$. For a nilpotent $G$-orbit ${\mathcal{O}}\subset \mathfrak{g}$, let $d_{{\mathcal{O}}}$ denote the maximal dimension of a subspace $V\subset \mathfrak{g}$ that is contained in the closure of ${\mathcal{O}}$. In this note, we prove that $d_{{\mathcal{O}}}\leq {\textstyle \frac{1}{2}}\dim {\mathcal{O}}$ and this upper bound is attained if and only if ${\mathcal{O}}$ is a Richardson orbit. Furthermore, if $V$ is $B$-stable and $\dim V={\textstyle \frac{1}{2}}\dim {\mathcal{O}}$, then $V$ is the nilradical of a polarisation of ${\mathcal{O}}$. Every nilpotent orbit closure has a distinguished $B$-stable subspace constructed via an $\mathfrak{sl}_{2}$-triple, which is called the Dynkin ideal. We then characterise the nilpotent orbits ${\mathcal{O}}$ such that the Dynkin ideal (1) has the minimal dimension among all $B$-stable subspaces $\mathfrak{c}$ such that $\mathfrak{c}\cap {\mathcal{O}}$ is dense in $\mathfrak{c}$, or (2) is the only $B$-stable subspace $\mathfrak{c}$ such that $\mathfrak{c}\cap {\mathcal{O}}$ is dense in $\mathfrak{c}$.
Marine and Terrestrial Organic Ice‐Nucleating Particles in Pristine Marine to Continentally Influenced Northeast Atlantic Air Masses
Authors: McCluskey Christina S. , Ovadnevaite Jurgita , Rinaldi Matteo , Atkinson James , Belosi Franco , Ceburnis Darius , Marullo Salvatore , Hill Thomas C. J. , Lohmann Ulrike , Kanji Zamin A. , O'Dowd Colin , Kreidenweis Sonia M. , DeMott Paul J.
Published: May 2018

Sea spray aerosol (SSA) generated by bubble bursting at the ocean surface is an important component of aerosol‐cloud interactions over remote oceans, providing the atmosphere with ice‐nucleating particles (INPs) or particles required for heterogeneous ice nucleation. Studies have shown that organic INPs are emitted during phytoplankton blooms, but changes in INP number concentrations (nINPs) due to ocean biological activity have not been directly demonstrated in natural SSA. In this study, a clean sector sampler was used to differentiate ice nucleation and composition of pristine SSA from terrestrial aerosol at the Mace Head Research Station in August 2015. Average nINPs active at −15 °C (nINPs,−15 °C) were 0.0011 L−1, and large variability (up to a factor of 200) was observed for INPs active warmer than −22 °C. Highest nINPs in the clean sector occurred during a period of elevated marine organic aerosol from offshore biological activity (M1, nINPs,−15 °C = 0.0077 L−1). A peak in nINPs was also observed in terrestrial organic aerosol (T1, nINPs,−15 °C = 0.0076 L−1). The impacts of heating and hydrogen peroxide digestion on nINPs indicate that INPs at Mace Head Research Station were largely organic and that INPs observed during M1 and T1 were biological (i.e., protein containing). Complexities of predicting increases in nINPs due to offshore biological activity are explored. A parameterization for pristine SSA INPs over the North Atlantic Ocean was developed, illustrating that SSA is associated with a factor of 1,000 fewer ice‐nucleating sites per surface area of aerosol compared to mineral dust.