bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the extracellular matrix in health and disease using proteomics
Authors: Taha Isra N. , Naba Alexandra
Published: August 2019

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex assembly of hundreds of proteins that constitutes the scaffold of multicellular organisms. In addition to providing architectural and mechanical support to the surrounding cells, it conveys biochemical signals that regulate cellular processes including proliferation and survival, fate determination, and cell migration. Defects in ECM protein assembly, decreased ECM protein production or, on the contrary, excessive ECM accumulation, have been linked to many pathologies including cardiovascular and skeletal diseases, cancers, and fibrosis. The ECM thus represents a potential reservoir of prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. However, our understanding of the global protein composition of the ECM and how it changes during pathological processes has remained limited until recently.

In this mini-review, we provide an overview of the latest methodological advances in sample preparation and mass spectrometry-based proteomics that have permitted the profiling of the ECM of now dozens of normal and diseased tissues, including tumors and fibrotic lesions.
Short-Term Reliability of Different Methods of Contralateral Suppression of Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emission in Children and Adults
Authors: Swamy Shreyank P. , Yathiraj Asha
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the reliability of 3 methods to measure contralateral suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in children and adults.

Method

Contralateral suppression of TEOAEs was measured in 14 adults and 14 children using 3 methods with and without contralateral acoustic stimulus (CAS). Method-I having “2 s on-off” and Method-II having “10 s on-off” interleaved presentation of white noise. Method-III used “continuous presentation of white noise”. Test–retest reliability was checked in adults without removing the probe (same-probe recording) and reinserting the probe (different-probe recording) and in children using a different-probe recording.

Results

The absolute suppression amplitude of TEOAEs was higher for “continuous noise,” followed by “10 s on-off” and “2 s on-off” CAS. There was no significant effect of age across the 2 probe recordings, 3 methods of TEOAEs with and without CAS, and for the absolute suppression amplitude. Also, in adults, there was no significant difference between same-probe and different-probe recordings across the 3 methods. High internal consistency was observed on Cronbach's alpha (α > .9) for the 3 methods and 2 probe recordings. High agreement and correlation between the recordings for all 3 methods were seen using Bland–Altman plots and Pearson product–moment correlation coefficient.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that highly reliable contralateral suppression of TEOAE can be measured using the 3 methods in adults and children. However, continuous presentation of CAS resulted in greater TEOAE suppression amplitude compared to interleaved presentation of CAS; hence, the former is recommended.
Behavioral and Neural Correlates of Auditory
n
-Back Task in Adults With and Without Stuttering
Authors: Devaraju Dhatri S. , Kumar U. Ajith , Maruthy Santosh
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Adults with stuttering (AWS) exhibit compromised phonological working memory abilities, poor central auditory processing, and impaired auditory processing especially during overt speech production tasks. However, these tasks are sensitive to language disturbances already found in them. Thus, in this study, monosyllables were used ruling out the language effects, and auditory working memory ability was evaluated in AWS using the
n
-back task. In specific, the auditory sensory input of the working memory mechanism was evaluated.

Method

Thirty-two participants, 16 each of AWS and adults with no stuttering (AWNS), performed behavioral auditory 1-back and 2-back tasks. The long latency responses were also recorded during no-back and 2-back conditions from 64 electrode sites.

Results

Results revealed no significant differences between the groups in any of the behavioral parameters such as reaction time, accuracy, false alarm rate, or
d′
. N1 amplitude modulation was noted in AWNS, which was absent in AWS. The segmentation analysis showed a left hemisphere–oriented topographical distribution in the N2 region in AWS irrespective of conditions, whereas the scalp topography was right hemisphere–oriented with the involvement of parietal channels in AWNS. The timing differences existed between AWS and AWNS in the intervals that a topographical distribution lasted in all throughout the time window of analysis.

Conclusion

The results suggest altered neural pathway and hemispheric differences during auditory working memory tasks in AWS.
Low‐energy spin‐orbit torque MTJ‐based non‐volatile flip‐flop with data‐aware backup technique
Authors: Kang G. , Kim T. , Park J.
Published: August 2019

Spin‐orbit torque magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) based non‐volatile flip‐flops (NVFFs) have been introduced to provide zero‐leakage standby state without data loss in power‐gating mode. In this Letter, the data‐aware backup scheme for NVFF, where significant energy can be saved by performing data backup only when the stored data and the current data are different is proprosed. Low‐area backup signal generator is also proposed for the proposed data backup scheme. The simulation results with 65 nm process show 88.7% reduction in backup energy when the stored data and the current data are equal.
Design of dual‐band wide‐angle RF/IR beam combiner based on impedance matching
Authors: Hao Kaizi , Li Zhuo , Wang Xin , Yang Suhui , Wang Yiting , Xu Chang , Zhou Lang , Gao Yanze
Published: August 2019

A radiofrequency (RF)/infrared (IR) beam combiner is used to combine IR signals and RF signals into a common transmission axis. In this study, a dual‐band wide‐angle RF/IR beam combiner with high RF transmission and IR reflection was proposed. Based on the impedance matching principle, the RF/IR beam combiner consisted of a high reflective IR film, an IR substrate, and two RF matching layers. Multi‐objective particle swarm algorithm was applied to optimise the relative permittivity and the thicknesses of the IR substrate and the RF matching layers. A higher than 75% RF transmittance was obtained in both 8–12 GHz and 34–36 GHz bands when the RF incident angle was varied from 30° to 62°. At the same time, the reflectance in 8–12 μm was as high as 96%. It could be used in the hardware‐in‐the‐loop simulation systems to test and evaluate the detecting and tracing performances of the RF/IR dual‐mode guidance devices.
Experimental study of the influence of crack width due to corrosion behaviour using different measurement methods and different exposures
Authors: Schneider Martin , Gardener Georg
Published: August 2019

Corrosion of reinforcing steel has a great influence in reducing the lifetime of concrete structures; Carbonation of the concrete pore solution causes surface corrosion on the steel and diffusion of chloride ions through the capillary system of the concrete cover causes pitting corrosion on the steel surface. Corrosion of metals is highly dependent on the environmental conditions. Exposure to chloride ions can be critical to the service life of reinforced concrete structures. The durability of reinforced concrete structures exposed to deicing salt or marine environments can be affected by impact of chloride ions. Detection methods for the rate of corrosion of non-destructive and destructive procedures were analysed. The potential mapping applied on the concrete surface was discussed as a standard method for corrosion detection and will be explained in detail including the application boundaries of the method. It is assumed that the corrosion behaviour of reinforcing steel depends on crack widths. To analyse that, 8 coated and 8 uncoated test samples with different concrete strength classes were used. The concrete objects were exposed to a 3% sodium chloride solution. The corrosion behaviour of reinforcing steel is analysed by using potential mapping with different reference electrodes (Ag/AgCl and Cu/CuSO4). The results show a significant correlation between crack size and protection system on the surface. The maximum crack width with a low indication of corrosion was found to be 0.1 mm.
Experimental testing of medium scale GFRP reinforced concrete frames
Authors: Hopartean George , Donchev Ted , Petkova Diana , Georgopoulos Costas , Limbachiya Mukesh , Parnada Noel
Published: August 2019

Fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) have been used as strengthening for existing RC structures for many decades. Lately, there has been a lot of interest in using FRP as internal reinforcement in beams, slabs and columns. One potential area of application could be reinforced concrete frames internally reinforced with GFRP bars. With limited research in this direction, the objective of this publication is to assess the behaviour of glass FRP (GFRP) reinforced concrete frames under reversed cyclic lateral in plane loading and to analyse the seismic performances of such elements. For the purpose of this paper, experimental testing of two 1/3 scaled down frames is conducted in displacement-controlled mode with the loading history according to ACI 374.1-05. The control sample is reinforced with conventional steel reinforcement and the results obtained are compared with the sample reinforced with GFRP bars. In summary, observations on the sample behaviour at specified drift ratio such as load-displacement behaviour, envelope curves and energy dissipation are presented.
Opportunities regarding the potential use of the self-cleaning concept within urban contemporary architecture in Romania
Authors: Grebenişan Elvira , Szilagyi Henriette , Hegyi Andreea , Mircea Călin , Baeră Cornelia
Published: August 2019

Contemporary urban architecture faces two important issues: degradation of buildings, caused by exposure to various environmental factors (air and water pollution, mainly generated by the fuels combustion used for transport and heating) and also the costs for repair, cleaning and maintenance of the buildings facades. Regarding the last mentioned aspects, recent research led to development of materials with self-cleaning potential and consequently pollution reduction. Self-cleaning concrete represents a state-of-the-art material with photocatalytic properties generated by the addition in its composition of nanomaterials like TiO2. Already known for its intrinsic photocatalytic character, TiO2 has the ability to catalyse the decomposition of organic substances like grease and dirt, facilitating their quick removal only by rainwater action. Therefore, a building façade made of TiO2-SiO2-containing material develops substantial savings regarding maintenance costs, water consumption and less detergents contamination due to its intrinsic super hydrophilic effect of the surface in the presence of UV radiation, leading to easy dirt removal when water reaches it. The aim of present paper is presenting the latest stage of worldwide research regarding the obtaining of self-cleaning concrete and also the possibility of adapting the concept to the actual Romanian architecture needs, as a sustainable solution for urban pollution reduction.
Comparative study on shotcrete repair solutions of buried steel pipelines
Authors: Mircea Călin GR , Blaga Sergiu , Dăbăcan Ovidiu
Published: August 2019

The research aims to optimize the rehabilitation works of steel buried pipes after their lifespan is reached. It is based on objective real situations met in the Romanian agricultural irrigation system. The study proposes an analytical approach to predict the behavior of the rehabilitated pipelines initially subjected to various corrosion rates, from low to high agressivity of the environment. Besides traditional lining with reinforced concrete, a new trend given by the relative modern structural repair mortars is considered. The time behavior of the shotcrete lining is estimated based on information given by the appropriate European norm. The results question the design philosophy, still not clarified in the field, and emphasize the superior performance of modern cementitious materials, both in terms of technical performance and economical efficiency. Future research perspectives are also underlined with regard to the new materials meeting sprayed concrete technology requirements, and design philosophy.
A novel approach to in-depth façade assessments: Improved corrosion test methods for embedded steel framing in historic masonry clad buildings
Authors: Crevello Gina , Matteini Irene , Noyce Paul
Published: August 2019

Corrosion of structural steel frames and associated steel assemblies within ‘vintage’ buildings circa 1880s to 1930s pose a health and safety risk to the public in major urban centers. The projecting masonry elements pose a particular concern when the underlying steel assemblies and anchorage begin to corrode. Failed masonry has fallen from buildings, leading to death in worst case scenarios. While some signs of masonry cracking or displacement are usually visible prior to failure, the level of degradation of the embedded steel is not. With the equipment available to test these unforeseen conditions, methodologies need to be shifted to understand unobservable conditions to assist in condition state ratings of embedded steel. In many cities, building owners are being faced with large expenditures to strip and replace terra cotta or stone elements where the underlying steel is in fair condition. This paper will discuss the field-testing programs where a building elevations' masonry clad, steel assemblies (outriggers, anchorage and cross bracing) were evaluated for corrosion. The testing program assessed various steel components which either projected from the structure or were embedded at great depth with a bespoke, in-depth advanced testing program geared towards the development of condition state ratings for the façade elements.
Field investigation of slab deterioration due to carbonation in a concrete building
Authors: Araya Eleni B. , Ekolu Stephen , Solomon Fitsum
Published: August 2019

This paper presents an investigation on a deteriorated slab of a two-story building located in Johannesburg, South Africa. The structure has been in use as a residential building for more than 60 years. The top slab of the first floor was delaminated and reinforcement bars were severely corroded. Condition assessment of the building was done using the Schmidt hammer test, cover-meter survey and half-cell potential measurements. In addition to the non-destructive tests done, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were also conducted on the deteriorated concrete.
The influence of defects at the steel/concrete interface for pitting corrosion initiation studied through X-ray Computed Tomography and image analysis
Authors: Rossi Emanuele , Nijland Timo , Çopuroğlu Oğuzhan , Polder Rob , Šavija Branko
Published: August 2019

Although corrosion of reinforcement is a well-known issue for the construction industry, there are still open questions about some fundamentals of corrosion in reinforced concrete. These points include, among others, which are the most sensitive locations of the steel/concrete interface for pitting corrosion to initiate and to propagate. In this study, X-ray computed tomography (CT-scan) is used to characterize eight 20-years-old reinforced concrete cores naturally deteriorated due to chloride-induced corrosion. The volume loss due to corrosion of the reinforcement was quantified through image analysis of CT-scans. The volume loss of the steel was found to be higher for steel rebars embedded in Portland cement specimens rather than in blended cement specimens. Furthermore, CT-scans revealed that the deepest and most frequent corrosion pits, as well as the consequent highest volume loss of steel, were present at the portion of the reinforcement closer to the outdoor environment and in proximity to air voids at the steel/concrete interface. As a consequence, the highest decrease of structural performance of the rebars would be likely localized at those locations. Therefore, the presence of interfacial air voids should be considered as relevant factor when assessing the risk of corrosion of reinforced concrete structures.
Design and Implementation of Mechanical Instrument for Flight Simulator
Authors: Huiru Li
Published: August 2019

The mechanical simulation instrument of flight simulator can meet the display visual error specified by the new regulations. By studying the working principle of the flight simulator mechanical simulation instrument, it can be seen that the mechanical simulation instrument can be quickly converted into other instruments of the same series by changing the dial. Taking the oxygen pressure indicating instrument of flight simulator as an example, this paper introduces the design principle, design circuit diagram, design angle calculation and software architecture of the instrument. It was installed on the CJ1 flight simulator for transmission delay testing. Test results show that the simulation instrument can fully meet the regulatory requirements
A 2–D Mathematical Model of Vortex Induced Vibration Driven Bladeless Wind Turbine
Authors: Saengsaen Sirada , Chantharasenawong Chawin , Wu Tsung-Liang
Published: August 2019

Bladeless wind turbine (BWT) is a flexible cylindrical structure that extracts energy from wind by utilising vortex-induced vibration (VIV) - aerodynamic forces and the resulting structural vibration. This work focuses on taking possible advantage of the increase in lift forces in the similar fashion to birds flying in a V-formation. The purposes of the present study are 1) to study the flow pattern and characteristic around two BWTs which are cylindrical structures in the same flow field and 2) to study the extra lift force generation of the system. 2–D CFD models are used to simulate flow of stationary cylinder of BWTs at Re = 105. The two different turbulent models, Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes shear-stress transport k(RANS–SST k) and Detached Eddy Simulation shear-stress transport k(DES–SST k) are investigated. The results show that only DES–SST kgives converged results, therefore, DES–SST kis selected for the additional studies of two cylindrical structures. From 2–D CFD simulation, the one BWT in flow field case produces lift coefficient 0.851. In the case of two BTWs in same flow field (BWT no.2 is located at x = 3D, y = 0D, directly downstream of two cylinders), BTW no.1 and BWT no.2 show greater lift coefficients of 0.893 and 1.841, respectively. This result indicates that the kinetic energy generation of the downstream BWT in the two BWTs system in this study is greater than the baseline BWT with an increase of 116% of lift. Further work is needed to determine the optimum location of the behind wind turbine for greater lift and result to increasing of energy produce of the system.
Viscosities in PbO − ZnO − “FexO” − SiO2–CaO system for lead and zinc smelting slags
Authors: OuYang Kun , Dou Zhi-he , Zhang Ting-an , Liu Yan , Niu Li-ping
Published: August 2019

With the increase of Zn content in lead raw materials, it is essential to understand the viscous behavior of high lead-zinc smelting slags in improving the process efficiency and inhibiting the formation of foaming slag. In this article, the viscosities in lead and zinc smelting slag in the multicomponent system PbO-ZnO-“FexO”-SiO2-CaO were measured using the rotating cylinder method at a fixed ZnO/PbO mass ratio. The results indicated that the apparent viscosity increased with the increasing Fe/SiO2 mass ratio because of the formation of spinel (ZnxFe3-xO4+y) and zincite (ZnO) phase. The viscosity decreased with the increase of CaO/SiO2 mass ratio above 1573 K, and apparent viscosity increased significantly as the Ca3Fe15O25 and zincite phase emerged. The influences of Fe3O4, sulfur and CuO content of slag on apparent viscosities at lower temperatures were also due to the presence of crystals.
Nested Bi-level metaheuristic algorithms for cellular manufacturing systems considering workers’ interest
Authors: Behnia Bardia , Shirazi Babak , Mahdavi Iraj , Paydar Mohammad Mahdi
Published: August 2019

Due to the competitive nature of the market and the various products production requirements with short life cycles, cellular manufacturing systems have found a special role in manufacturing environments. Creativity and innovation in products are the results of the mental effort of the workforces in addition to machinery and parts allocation. Assignment of the workforce to cells based on the interest and ability indices is a tactical decision while the cell formation is a strategic decision. To make the correct decision, these two problems should be solved separately while considering their impacts on each other classically. For this reason, a novel bi-level model is designed to make decentralized decisions. Because of the importance of minimizing voids and exceptional element in the cellular manufacturing system, it is considered as a leader at the first level and the assignment of human resources is considered as a follower at the second level. To achieve product innovation and synergy among staff in the objective function at the second level, increasing the worker’s interest in order to cooperate with each other is considered too. Given the NP-Hard nature of cell formation and bi-level programming, nested bi-level genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization are developed to solve the mathematical model. Various test problems have been solved by applying these two methods and validated results have been shown the efficiency of the proposed model. Also, real experimental comparisons have been presented. These results in contrast with previous works have been shown the minimum amount of computational time, cell load variation, total intercellular movements, and total intracellular movements of this new method. These effects have an important role in order to the improvement of cellular manufacturing behavior.
Wichtige Differenzialdiagnosen bei Hüft- und Beckenschmerzen
Authors: Schmaranzer Florian , Bixby Sarah , Tannast Moritz
Published: August 2019

Schmerzen in der Hüft- und Beckenregion sind klinisch oft nur wenig spezifisch. Während der Nachweis offensichtlicher Frakturen oder Gelenkdestruktionen mit Röntgenbildern von Hüfte oder Becken vergleichsweise einfach möglich ist, müssen auch seltenere Krankheitsbilder zuverlässig diagnostiziert werden. Sie sind Thema dieses Beitrags.
Singular-unbounded random Jacobi matrices
Authors: Rangamani Nishant
Published: August 2019

There have been several recent proofs of one-dimensional Anderson localization based on positive Lyapunov exponent that hold for bounded potentials. We provide a Lyapunov exponent based proof for unbounded potentials, simultaneously treating the singular and unbounded Jacobi case by extending the techniques in a recent work by Jitomirskaya and Zhu.
Perturbations of KMS states and noncommutative Lp-spaces
Authors: Correa da Silva R.
Published: August 2019

We extend the theory of perturbations of KMS states to a class of unbounded perturbations using noncommutative Lp-spaces. We also prove certain stability of the domain of the modular operator associated with a ∥·∥p-continuous state. This allows us to define an analytic multiple-time KMS condition and to obtain its analyticity together with some bounds to its norm.
Simultaneous single-peak and narrowband thermal emission enabled by hybrid metal-polar dielectric structures
Authors: Cai Lu , Li Qiang , Yu Jianbo , Luo Hao , Du Kaikai , Qiu Min
Published: August 2019

Simultaneous single-peak and narrowband thermal emitters with the merits of a simple configuration and ease-of-fabrication provide a path to enhance the energy utilization efficiency while they remain a challenge. Here, we demonstrate simultaneous single-peak and narrowband thermal emission by hybridizing metal microstructures with polar dielectric substrates. The metal provides single-peak emission in a broad spectrum range and the polar dielectric assists narrowband operation. The measured peak emissivity of the single-peak transverse-magnetic-polarized emission is 0.94 with a quality factor of 19 at the wavelength of 11.2 μm, and the emission at all other wavelengths from 2.5 μm to 25 μm is significantly suppressed. The utilization of the refractory material (molybdenum) provides further possibility for such a device to operate at temperatures up to 600 °C. These simultaneous single-peak and narrowband thermal emitters suggest avenues for numerous energy-efficient applications including gas sensing, thermal sources, and thermophotovoltaics.
Experimental evidence of quadrupolar whispering-gallery modes in phononic crystal based waveguides
Authors: Zhao Jinfeng , Yuan Weitao , Boyko Olga , Bonello Bernard , Zhang Xiaoqing , Pan Yongdong , Zhong Zheng
Published: August 2019

Understanding the performance of resonators introduced in elastic and/or acoustic circuits is important for conceiving complex and efficient guiding structures. In this work, we reported upon the experimental characterization of hollow pillars in different waveguides with 90° corners by measuring the displacement on top of hollow pillars. The air-coupled method, laser ultrasonic technique and the newly developed method based on polypropylene (PP) piezoelectret film have been adopted during this process. In such way, we experimentally show the quadrupolar resonance of hollow pillars that corresponds well to the whispering-gallery modes in numerical results in several types of waveguides for guiding Lamb wave.
Invariant tori, action-angle variables, and phase space structure of the Rajeev-Ranken model
Authors: Krishnaswami Govind S. , Vishnu T. R.
Published: August 2019

We study the classical Rajeev-Ranken model, a Hamiltonian system with three degrees of freedom describing nonlinear continuous waves in a 1 + 1-dimensional nilpotent scalar field theory pseudodual to the SU(2) principal chiral model. While it loosely resembles the Neumann and Kirchhoff models, its equations may be viewed as the Euler equations for a centrally extended Euclidean algebra. The model has a Lax pair and r-matrix leading to four generically independent conserved quantities in involution, two of which are Casimirs. Their level sets define four-dimensional symplectic leaves on which the system is Liouville integrable. On each of these leaves, the common level sets of the remaining conserved quantities are shown, in general, to be 2-tori. The nongeneric level sets can only be horn tori, circles, and points. They correspond to measure zero subsets where the conserved quantities develop relations and solutions degenerate from elliptic to hyperbolic, circular, or constant functions. A geometric construction allows us to realize each common level set as a bundle with base determined by the roots of a cubic polynomial. A dynamics is defined on the union of each type of level set, with the corresponding phase manifolds expressed as bundles over spaces of conserved quantities. Interestingly, topological transitions in energy hypersurfaces are found to occur at energies corresponding to horn tori, which support purely homoclinic orbits. The dynamics on each horn torus is non-Hamiltonian, but expressed as a gradient flow. Finally, we discover a family of action-angle variables for the system that apply away from horn tori.
Effect of volume fraction on droplet break-up in an emulsion flowing through a microfluidic constriction
Authors: Bick Alison D. , Tang Sindy K. Y.
Published: August 2019

This paper reports the effect of the droplet volume fraction on the breakup of droplets within an emulsion flowing as a two-dimensional monolayer through a tapered microchannel into a constriction. To obtain emulsions with different volume fractions, a concentrated emulsion with droplet volume fraction φ = 0.85 is injected into the channel and diluted on-chip by introducing an additional continuous phase at different flow rates. At a fixed flow rate, the breakup fraction decreases significantly when the droplet volume fraction φ decreases below 0.50. This result is consistent with our previous report showing that droplet breakup in the emulsion arises primarily from droplet-droplet interactions, which are expected to decrease significantly in dilute emulsions. Furthermore, an optimal location for the introduction of the additional continuous phase is identified to be approximately one to two droplet diameters upstream of the constriction. Away from this optimal location, the dilution of the emulsion is ineffective. Finally, we find that while a higher emulsion volume fraction packs more drops per unit volume, the propensity of the drops to undergo breakup limits droplet throughput if droplet integrity and assay accuracy are to be maintained. At a droplet breakup fraction of 0.10, diluting the emulsion 2.1 times from φ = 0.85 to φ = 0.40 increases the droplet throughput by ∼1.5 times.
Simulation study of an inductively coupled plasma discharge with different copper coil designs and gas compositions
Authors: Lei Fan , Li Xiaoping , Liu Donglin , Liu Yanming , Zhang Shun
Published: August 2019

The physical characteristics for the study of two-dimensional inductively coupled plasma (ICP) discharge with different designs of copper coil and gas composition are presented in this paper. And this numerical model is a typical inductively coupled plasma discharge. Compared with former publications studying in ICP discharge, our simulation results indicate some new discoveries. First, the inductive coil gaps are arranged at different distances and their physical properties are studied in argon environment. The maximum electron density, electron temperature and macroscopic gas temperature are obtained at the best coil gap distance for discharge. Then, the inductive coils on the quartz tube without changing the coil gaps between the coils are placed in different positions and the discharge properties are also studied in argon environment. The maximum electron density, electron temperature and macroscopic gas temperature are obtained in the best position for discharge respectively. Finally, the physical characteristics of the ICP discharge in different gas compositions (other physical parameters were unchanged) are studied and the related important chemical reactions are also been described. It is concluded that the best discharge effect of argon gas is obtained under the same discharge conditions.
Pinch formation and the zippering effect in laser-triggered discharge plasma under various electrode separations
Authors: Xie Zhuo , Wu Jiazhi , Dou Yinping , Lin Jingquan , Tomie Toshihisa
Published: August 2019

In applying a laser-triggered discharge-produced plasma (LT-DPP) as a light source, the most important issues are the supply of fuel and the suppression of a large-scale nonuniformity called the zippering effect. This paper reports pinch formation in LT-DPP under various electrode separations from 4 mm to 10 mm, which provides information for suppressing the zippering effect. Spherically expanding fuel ablated from the cathode becomes visible when the discharge current becomes large. By 100 ns after the laser trigger, the laser-ablated fuel extends 5 mm from the cathode. The width of the fuel reduces gradually with the increase of the current and forms a pinch at the current peak at 200 ns for the case of a 5mm electrode separation. When the electrode separation is larger, neck-like fuel distribution is observed and the pinched portion propagates toward the anode. The condition for reducing the zippering effect is discussed.
Placing African labour in global capitalism: the politics of irregular work
Authors: Bernards Nick
Published: August 2019

This contribution to ROAPE’s ongoing debate on ‘Capitalism in Africa’ highlights the politically contested relationships between irregular forms of work predominant in sub-Saharan Africa and global capitalism. Previous contributions to this debate have rightly pointed out that abstracted understandings of ‘capitalism’ assuming the ever-wider spread of proletarian labour are problematic in African contexts dominated by irregular forms of work. This piece argues, however, that this should be a prompt for us to consider how African labour relations require us to alter our understandings of ‘capitalism’, rather than debating whether or not African political economies are capitalist.
Short term effects of a weight loss and healthy lifestyle programme for overweight and obese men delivered by German football clubs
Authors: Pietsch Benjamin , Weisser Burkhard , Hanewinkel Reiner , Gray Cindy , Hunt Kate , Wyke Sally , Morgenstern Matthis
Published: August 2019

Numbers of obese and overweight people continue to grow in Germany as they do worldwide. Men are affected more often but do less about it and few weight loss services attract men in particular. To evaluate the effectiveness of a men‐only weight loss programme, Football Fans in Training (FFIT), delivered by football clubs in the German Bundesliga, we did a non‐randomized trial with a waiting list control group. Participants’ data were collected between January 2017 and July 2018. FFIT is a 12‐week, group‐based, weight loss programme and was delivered in stadia and facilities of 15 professional German Bundesliga clubs. Inclusion criteria were age 35–65 years, BMI ≥ 28 and waist circumference ≥100 cm. Clubs recruited participants through Social Media, E‐Mail and match day advertisement. 477 German male football fans were allocated to the intervention group by order of registration date at their respective clubs. 84 participants on the waiting list were allocated to the control group. Primary outcome was mean difference in weight loss with treatment condition over time as independent variable. We performed a multilevel mixed‐effects linear regression analysis. Results were based on Intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis with Multiple Imputation. After 12 weeks, the mean weight loss of the intervention group adjusted for club, course and participants’ age was 6.24 kg (95% CI 5.82–6.66) against 0.50 kg (−0.47–1.49) in the comparison group (p < 0.001). The results indicate that Football Fans in Training effectively helped German men to reduce their weight and waist circumference.
Latin American Print Culture in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries: Censorship and Public Sphere Before and After the Independence War
Authors: Valdez Garza Rosa Dalia
Published: August 2019

The history of print culture in Latin America is not only about the world of books propagated by an intellectual elite who exerted influence and advanced civic discourse by publishing their works, their intimate reading customs, and exclusive kinds of sociabilities—even during the Enlightenment. Not even the increase in literacy among the general population lessens the importance of oral practice traditions among their potential readers. This is made evident not only when identifying the kinds of sociabilities based on reading among different social classes but when observing the role and impact of print during the reign of the Spanish Crown in the Americas. In this way, we can identify the role of publishers, print culture, and books. To think about print culture beyond the printed book and prevailing print genres enables us to attain the broadest understanding of printing typology that served the intellectual elite and those materials that responded to the daily requirements related to public governance and professional or family life. Widening this perspective leads to the understanding of the appearance during the 18th century of the periodical that even with a civil and religious censorship served to advance the principles of discussion based on reason; while during the 19th century, with freedom in printing, periodicals consolidate themselves as protagonists in political discourse. Therefore it is necessary to imagine the impact of publishing and print culture on people’s lives beyond the members of the Republic of Letters and to weigh the impact of print on an illiterate audience whose lives were also shaped by print culture. The cultural practices related mainly to reading, sociabilities, conversation, and publicizing (in the sense of “making public”) are those that bring to light the cultural significance of print.
Narratives of Intimacy in Asian American Literature
Authors: Woodcock Nicolyn
Published: August 2019

Narratives of intimacy in Asian American literature reveal a number of hidden histories and probe complex issues that challenge a US-centered identity or label Asian American. Asian American literature grapples with these by representing the spaces where interracial sexual, romantic, and familial relationships form, many of them the direct result of US-led war and militarism in Asia and the Pacific over the 20th century, and especially since World War II. Using intimacy as a mode of analysis demonstrates that reading literature and the intimacies of private relationships are both imaginative world-building processes. That is, personal relations cannot be disentangled from the physical spaces where they happen and the geopolitical contexts that frame them. From some of those spaces, “monstrous” Asian American families emerge. Defying the normative tropes of immigration and assimilation that have been familiar in post-1965 Asian American literature, late-20th- and 21st-century narratives contemplate how militarized intimacies are central to Asian American family formation. Though experiences of militarized intimacy are prevalent, they have not been prominent in defining Asian American identity. Literature offers a mode for sustained engagement with these discomforting histories of personal and political intimacy and prompts audiences to question what they “know” about the constructions Asia(n), America(n), and Asian America(n).
The Flores Magón Brothers and Magonismo on the Borderlands
Authors: Marentes Luis A.
Published: August 2019

Early critics of the Porfirio Díaz regime and editors of the influential newspaper Regeneración, Ricardo and Enrique Flores Magón escaped to the United States in 1904. Here, with Ricardo as the leader and most prolific writer, they founded the Partido Liberal Mexicano (PLM) in 1906 and facilitated oppositional transnational networks of readers, political clubs, and other organizations. From their arrival they were constantly pursued and imprisoned by coordinated Mexican and US law enforcement and private detective agencies, but their cause gained US radical and worker support. With the outbreak of the 1910 Mexican Revolution the PLM splintered, with many members joining Madero’s forces, while the Flores Magón brothers and the PLM nucleus refused to compromise. They had moved beyond a liberal critique of a dictatorship to an anarchist oppositional stance to the state and private property. While not called Magonismo at the time, their ideological and organizational principles left a legacy in both Mexico and the United States greatly associated with the brothers. During World War I, a time of a growing nativist red scare in the United States, they turned from a relative nuisance to a foreign radical threat to US authorities. Ricardo died in Leavenworth federal penitentiary in 1922 and Enrique was deported to Mexico, where he promoted the brothers’ legacy within the postrevolutionary order. Although the PLM leadership opposed the new regime, their 1906 Program inspired much of the 1917 Constitution, and several of their comrades played influential roles in the new regime. In the United States many of the networks and mutual aid initiatives that engaged with the Flores Magón brothers continued to bear fruit, well into the emergence of the Chicana/o Movement.
Socioemotional Aspects of Entrepreneurship for the Classroom
Authors: Bolinger Alexander , Bolinger Mark
Published: August 2019

There is currently great enthusiasm for entrepreneurship education and the economic benefits that entrepreneurial activity can generate for individuals, organizations, and communities. Beyond economic outcomes, however, there is a variety of social and emotional costs and benefits of engaging in entrepreneurship that may not be evident to students nor emphasized in entrepreneurship courses. The socioemotional costs of entrepreneurship are consequential: on the one hand, entrepreneurs who pour their time and energy into new ventures can incur costs (e.g., ruptured personal and professional relationships, decreased life satisfaction and well-being, or strong negative reactions such as grief) that can often be as or more personally disruptive and enduring than economic costs. On the other hand, the social and emotional benefits of an entrepreneurial lifestyle are often cited as intrinsically satisfying and as primary motivations for initiating and sustaining entrepreneurial activity.

The socioemotional aspects of entrepreneurship are often poorly understood by students, but highlighting these hidden dimensions of entrepreneurial activity can inform their understanding and actions as prospective entrepreneurs. For instance, entrepreneurial passion, the experience of positive emotions as a function of engaging in activities that fulfill one’s entrepreneurial identity, and social capital, whereby entrepreneurs build meaningful relationships with co-owners, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders, are two specific socioemotional benefits of entrepreneurship. There are also several potential socioemotional costs of entrepreneurial activity. For instance, entrepreneurship can involve negative emotional responses such as grief and lost identity from failure. Even when an entrepreneur does not fail, the stress of entrepreneurial activity can lead to sleep deprivation and disruptions to both personal and professional connections. Then, entrepreneurs can identify so closely and feel so invested that they experience counterproductive forms of obsessive passion that consume their identities and impair their well-being.
Reading “Asian Values” into Journalism Practices in Asia
Authors: Loo Eric
Published: August 2019

Discourse of “Asian values” in journalism is commonly contrasted with non-Asian or Western/Occidental libertarian values. This dualistic treatment of Asian versus Western journalism implies a professional and cultural dichotomy when in actuality the forms and methods of journalism are two sides of the same coin. Regardless of cultural contexts, journalists essentially address the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions in their reporting. Journalists react to events and issues. They source for credible reactions, fact check, and construct their news narratives in the interests of the general public. Reporting fairly, accurately, and truthfully are universal journalism principles. The issues that journalists in Asia confront daily are not radically different from journalists in the West. There are, nonetheless, variations of emphases in the goals, motivations, methods, and content in journalism as practiced in the West and parts of Asia. These variations are manifested in the practice of development-oriented journalism, which media scholars in parts of Asia deem to be more in line with the nation-building priorities of developing economies. It is worth revisiting the debates for a New World Information and Communication Order in the 1970s when responses to the normative theories of the press by media institutions and agencies in developing countries led to the conceptualization of “development journalism,” which, as an alternative to the adversarial journalism practice of media agencies in the West, was theoretically more reflective of the “Asian values” for social harmony, collective well-being, and deference to authority. Even as the binary perception of journalism practices by media scholars in the West and parts of Asia remains contentious, it is less about Asian cultural values per se that influence the methods, form, and substance of journalism but the political system, stringent media laws, public expectations of the media, role perception of the journalists, and power relation structure that ultimately shape journalism practices in Asia.
Credibility and Trust in Journalism
Authors: Schiffrin Anya
Published: August 2019

Questions of media trust and credibility are widely discussed; numerous studies over the past 30 years show a decline in trust in media as well as institutions and experts. The subject has been discussed—and researched—since the period between World Wars I and II and is often returned to as new forms of technology and news consumption are developed. However, trust levels, and what people trust, differ in different countries. Part of the reason that trust in the media has received such extensive attention is the widespread view shared by communications scholars and media development practitioners that a well-functioning media is essential to democracy. But the solutions discussion is further complicated because the academic research on media trust—before and since the advent of online media—is fragmented, contradictory, and inconclusive. Further, it is not clear to what extent digital technology –and the loss of traditional signals of credibility—has confused audiences and damaged trust in media and to what extent trust in media is related to worries about globalization, job losses, and economic inequality. Nor is it clear whether trust in one journalist or outlet can be generalized. This makes it difficult to know how to rebuild trust in the media, and although there are many efforts to do so, it is not clear which will work—or whether any will.
Financial Journalism
Authors: Timmermans Jeffrey
Published: August 2019

On a fundamental level, financial journalism provides information to individuals that helps them make informed economic choices, and understand how those choices impact their financial situation within the context of the broader political economy. The need for reliable information about prevailing business conditions has been recognized since the dawn of commerce, and since then financial journalism and commerce have developed together in a mostly symbiotic, albeit occasionally combative, relationship for hundreds of years. In its earliest iterations, in the 16th century, financial journalism consisted of little more than the publication of prices of commodities or other goods for sale. As trade and commerce expanded over the following centuries, so did the role and content of financial journalism. The globalization of commerce and increasing integration of the world economy since the late 20th century has increased the importance of financial journalism, while the spread of mass-market investment opportunities and defined-benefit retirement accounts in many countries has expanded the pool of individuals exposed to moves in financial markets, helping to make financial publications among the world’s most-read newspapers and websites. The focus of financial journalism is quite consistent no matter what country or language it is published in: broadly defined, financial journalism encompasses news about financial markets, macroeconomic data and trends, government economic policy, corporate news (especially earnings announcements), personal finance, and commentary about all of the above. However, the often mutualistic relationship between financial journalism and the organizations it covers has led to conflicts of interest, and to a debate over the proper role of a financial press: whether it is to merely disseminate data and information from those organizations, or to serve as a watchdog over them. For example, the bubble in internet-related shares in the 1990s was blamed partly on “boosterism” by the financial media, while many investors also blamed the financial press for failing to sound the alarm ahead of the Global Financial Crisis later in the following decade.