bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring fine-tuning of the Next-to-Minimal Composite Higgs Model
Authors: Murnane Daniel , White Martin , Williams Anthony G.
Published: April 2019

Abstract

We perform a detailed study of the fine-tuning of the two-site, 4D, Next-to-Minimal Composite Higgs Model (NMCHM), based on the global symmetry breaking pattern SO(6) → SO(5). Using our previously-defined fine-tuning measure that correctly combines the effect of multiple sources of fine-tuning, we quantify the fine-tuning that is expected to result from future collider measurements of the Standard Model-like Higgs branching ratios, in addition to null searches for the new resonances in the model. We also perform a detailed comparison with the Minimal Composite Higgs Model, finding that there is in general little difference between the fine-tuning expected in the two scenarios, even after measurements at a high-luminosity, 1 TeV linear collider. Finally, we briefly consider the relationship between fine-tuning and the ability of the extra scalar in the NMCHM model to act as a dark matter candidate, finding that the realisation of a Z
2 symmetry that stabilises the scalar is amongst the most natural solutions in the parameter space, regardless of future collider measurements.
Adding new branches to the “Christmas tree” of the quasinormal spectrum of black branes
Authors: Grozdanov Sašo , Starinets Andrei O.
Published: April 2019

Abstract

In holography, quasinormal spectra of black branes coincide with the poles of retarded finite-temperature correlation functions of a dual quantum field theory in the limit of infinite number of relevant degrees of freedom such as colours. For asymptotically antide Sitter backgrounds, the spectra form a characteristic pattern in the complex frequency plane, colloquially known as the “Christmas tree”. At infinite coupling, the tree has only one pair of branches. At large but finite coupling, the branches become more dense and lift up towards the real axis, consistent with the expectation of forming a branch cut in the limit of zero coupling. However, it is known that at zero coupling, the corresponding correlators generically have not one but multiple branch cuts separated by intervals proportional to the Matsubara frequency. This suggests the existence of multiple branches of the “Christmas tree” spectrum in dual gravity. In this note, we show numerically how these additional branches of the spectrum can emerge from the dual gravitational action with higher-derivative terms. This phenomenon appears to be robust, yet, reproducing the expected weak coupling behaviour of the correlators quantitatively implies the existence of certain constraints on the coefficients of the higher-derivative terms of the dual gravity theory.
Video‐Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) Talc Pleurodesis Versus Pleurectomy for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax: A Large Single‐Centre Study with No Conversion
Authors: Mithiran Harish , Leow Lowell , Ong Kingsfield , Liew Terence , Siva Daveraj , Liang Shen , Tam John Kit Chung
Published: April 2019

Background

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a relatively common clinical entity with high incidence in the young population. Video‐Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) bullectomy and chemical or mechanical pleurodesis are two primary modalities of treatment. There has been much debate on the ideal mode of pleurodesis, but the literature on surgical outcomes comparing VATS pleurectomy with talc pleurodesis has been inconclusive.

Methods

We performed a single‐centre 5‐year observational retrospective study of 202 patients who underwent VATS bullectomy with talc pleurodesis or parietal pleurectomy.

Results

There were no significant differences in the demographics, pre‐operative and intra‐operative characteristics in both groups. Recurrence of pneumothorax, chest tube duration and hospital stay were similar in both groups. However, talc pleurodesis had a shorter operative time compared to pleurectomy.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated comparable outcomes between talc pleurodesis and pleurectomy following VATS bullectomy for patients with PSP.
Correction to: Development of an autotrophic fermentation technique for the production of fatty acids using an engineered Ralstonia eutropha cell factory
Authors: Li Zhongkang , Xiong Bin , Liu Li , Li Siwei , Xin Xiuqing , Li Zhi , Zhang Xueli , Bi ChangHao
Published: April 2019

The article Development of an autotrophic fermentation technique for the production of fatty acids using an engineered
Tolerance and transcriptional analysis of Corynebacterium glutamicum on biotransformation of toxic furaldehyde and benzaldehyde inhibitory compounds
Authors: Zhou Pingping , Khushk Imrana , Gao Qiuqiang , Bao Jie
Published: April 2019

Furaldehydes and benzaldehydes are among the most toxic inhibitors from lignocellulose pretreatment on microbial growth and metabolism. The bioconversion of aldehyde inhibitors into less toxic alcohols or acids (biotransformation) is the prerequisite condition for efficient biorefinery fermentations. This study found that Corynebacterium glutamicum S9114 demonstrated excellent tolerance and biotransformation capacity to five typical aldehyde inhibitors including two furaldehydes: 2-furaldehyde (furfural), 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde, and three benzaldehydes: 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin), and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (syringaldehyde). Transcription levels of 93 genes hypothesized to be responsible for five aldehydes biotransformation were examined by qRT-PCR. Multiple genes showed significantly up-regulated expression against furaldehydes or benzaldehydes. Overexpression of CGS9114_RS01115 in C. glutamicum resulted in the increased conversion of all five aldehyde inhibitors. The significant oxidoreductase genes responsible for each or multiple inhibitors biotransformation identified in this study will serve as a component of key gene device library for robust biorefinery fermentation strains development in the future biorefinery applications.
Modulating acetate ester and higher alcohol production inSaccharomyces cerevisiaethrough the cofactor engineering
Authors: Hong Kun-Qiang , Fu Xiao-Meng , Dong Sheng-Sheng , Xiao Dong-guang , Dong Jian
Published: April 2019

Flavor production by esters or by higher alcohols play a key role in the sensorial quality of fermented alcoholic beverages. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, the syntheses of esters and higher alcohols are considerably influenced by intracellular CoA levels catalyzed by pantothenate kinase. In this work, we examined the effects of cofactor CoA and acetyl-CoA synthesis on the metabolism of esters and higher alcohols. Strains 12α−BAP2 and 12α+ATF1 where generated by deleting and overexpressing BAP2 (encoded branched-chain amino acid permease) and ATF1 (encoded alcohol acetyl transferases), respectively, in the parent 12α strains. Then, 12α−BAP2+CAB1 and 12α−BAP2+CAB3 strains were obtained by overexpressing CAB1 (encoded pantothenate kinase Cab1) and CAB3 (encoded pantothenate kinase Cab3) in the 12α−BAP2 strain, and 12α−BAP2+CAB1+ATF1 and 12α−BAP2+CAB3+ATF1 were generated by overexpressing ATF1 in the pantothenate kinase overexpression strains. The acetate ester level in 12α−BAP2 was slightly changed relative to that in the control strain 12α, whereas the acetate ester levels in 12α−BAP2+CAB1, 12α−BAP2+CAB3, 12α−BAP2+CAB1+ATF1, and 12α−BAP2+CAB3+ATF1 were distinctly increased (44–118% for ethyl acetate and 18–57% for isoamyl acetate). The levels of n-propanol, methyl-1-butanol, isopentanol, isobutanol, and phenethylol levels were changed and varied among the six engineered strains. The levels of acetate esters and higher alcohols can be modulated by changing the CoA and acetyl-CoA levels. The method proposed in this work supplies a practical means of breeding yeast strains by modulating acetate ester and higher alcohol production.
Natural Antibacterial Clays: Historical Uses and Modern Advances
Authors: Williams Lynda B.
Published: April 2019

Antibacterial clays in nature include a variety of clay mineral assemblages that are capable of killing certain human pathogens. Although clays have been used for medicinal applications historically, only in the last decade have analytical methods and instrumentation been developed that allow researchers to evaluate the antibacterial mechanisms of various clays applied medicinally. Comparisons of the mineralogical and chemical compositions of natural clays that kill bacteria have promoted a better understanding of the mineral properties that are toxic to a broad-spectrum of human pathogens, including bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics. Popular literature is filled with reports of ‘healing’ clays, that, when tested against pathogens in vitro and compared to controls, do not appear to have bactericidal properties. It is important, however, to differentiate what properties make a clay ‘healing,’ versus what makes a clay ‘antibacterial.’ Most antibacterial clays identified to date buffer pH conditions of a hydrated clay outside the range of conditions in which human pathogens thrive (circum-neutral pH) and require oxidation reactions to occur. It is the change in oxidation state and pH imposed by the hydrated clay, applied topically, that leads to a chemical attack of the bacteria. Healing clays, on the other hand, may not kill bacteria but have soothing effects that are palliative. This article reviews some of the historical uses of clays in medicine but focuses primarily on the common characteristics of natural antibacterial clays and early studies of their antibacterial mechanisms. In this era of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, mimicking the antibacterial mechanisms exhibited by natural clays could be advantageous in the development of new antimicrobial agents.
Cytotoxicity and Biokinetic Evaluation of Clay Minerals
Authors: Choi Soo-Jin
Published: April 2019

Clay minerals, such as layered double hydroxide (LDH) and montmorillonite (MMT), have attracted a great deal of attention for biological applications. Along with the rapid development of nanotechnology, public concern about the potential toxicity of nanoparticles is growing. In the present work, cytotoxicity of LDH and MMT was assessed in terms of inhibition of cell proliferation, generation of oxidative stress, and induction of inflammation response. Moreover, the biokinetics of LDH and MMT were evaluated; biokinetics provides information about in vivo absorption, distribution, and excretion kinetics. The results demonstrated that both LDH and MMT inhibited cell proliferation at relatively large concentrations and after long exposure time compared to other inorganic nanoparticles, although they generated reactive oxygen species (ROS). LDH induced pro-inflammatory cytokines in a size-dependent manner. Biokinetic study revealed that, after single-dose oral administration to mice, both LDH and MMT had extremely slow oral rates of absorption and did not accumulate in any specific organ. All the results suggest great potential of clay minerals for biological application at safe levels.
The informativeness of U.S. banks’ statements of cash flows✩
Authors: Gao Zhan , Li Weijia , O’Hanlon John
Published: April 2019

Banks, financial statement users, and accounting standard setters have long disagreed on the informativeness of banks’ statements of cash flows (SCFs) and there is a lack of relevant evidence in the literature. This paper examines the informativeness of the SCFs of U.S. commercial banks in two settings where SCFs are purported to be useful. The first analysis tests the incremental value relevance of banks’ SCFs beyond income statements and balance sheets and compares bank's SCFs with those of industrial firms. We find that banks’ SCFs have limited incremental value relevance, and are much less value relevant than industrial firms’ SCFs. The second analysis examines and finds no distress-predictive power of banks’ SCFs, especially in the presence of standard distress predictors. Overall, our results are consistent with the view that banks’ SCFs have limited informativeness.
Ban the handshake in winter?
Authors: Mermel Leonard A.
Published: April 2019

Gastrointestinal and respiratory viruses are particularly common during winter months, and reducing risk of transmission is challenging. Transfer of bacteria from the hands of one person to another is dramatically reduced with a fist bump compared to a handshake. If the same is true for viruses, should we recommend this change in greeting in the winter?
A bulk-interface correspondence for equatorial waves
Authors: Tauber C. , Delplace P. , Venaille A.
Published: April 2019

Topology is introducing new tools for the study of fluid waves. The existence of unidirectional Yanai and Kelvin equatorial waves has been related to a topological invariant, the Chern number, that describes the winding of$f$-plane shallow water eigenmodes around band-crossing points in parameter space. In this previous study, the topological invariant was a property of the interface between two hemispheres. Here we ask whether a topological index can be assigned to each hemisphere. We show that this can be done if the shallow water model in the$f$-plane geometry is regularized by an additional odd-viscosity term. We then compute the spectrum of a shallow water model with a sharp equator separating two flat hemispheres, and recover the Kelvin and Yanai waves as two exponentially trapped waves along the equator, with all the other modes delocalized into the bulk. This model provides an exactly solvable example of bulk-interface correspondence in a flow with a sharp interface, and offers a topological interpretation for some of the transition modes described by Iga (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 294, 1995, pp. 367–390). It also paves the way towards a topological interpretation of coastal Kelvin waves along a boundary and, more generally, to an understanding of bulk-boundary correspondence in continuous media.
Metabolomic profiling to identify effects of dietary calcium reveal the influence of the individual and postprandial dynamics on the canine plasma metabolome
Authors: Allaway David , Gilham Matt , Wagner-Golbs Antje , Maldonado Sandra González , Haydock Richard , Colyer Alison , Stockman Jonathan , Watson Phillip
Published: April 2019

Short-term feeding studies have highlighted a phenomenon in Ca regulation that raises concerns around Ca absorption in dogs that may make an impact on commercial diets near to the maximum recommended level. A recent study to determine responses in dogs fed one of two diets differing in dietary Ca over 40 weeks found no evidence to suggest a concern across a range of biological parameters hypothesised to be affected by Ca. Unforeseen consequences of dietary Ca could have occurred and metabolic profiling was deemed a suitable data-driven approach to identify effects of dietary Ca. The objectives were to compare the fasted plasma metabolome (sampled at 8-week intervals over 40 weeks) of dogs fed one of two diets, near to the minimum and maximum recommended levels of dietary Ca. Comparisons with the control diet were also investigated across the postprandial time course (1–4 h) following acute (1 d) and long-term (24 weeks) feeding of the test diet. Comparing fasted plasma samples at each time point, no significant effect (adjustedP< 0·05) of diet on metabolites was observed. In the postprandial state, only phosphate was consistently different between diets and was explained by additional dietary P to maintain Ca:P. Metabolic profiling analysis supports the view that the dietary Ca upper limit is safe. Additionally, the canine plasma metabolome was characterised, providing insights into the stability of individual profiles across 40 weeks, the response to consumption of a nutritionally complete meal over a 4 h postprandial time course and different kinetic categories of postprandial absorption.
An analysis of the impacts of Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events on global molluscan diversity dynamics
Authors: Freymueller Nicholas A. , Moore Jason R. , Myers Corinne E.
Published: April 2019

Oceanic anoxic events (OAEs) are contemporaneous with 11 of the 18 largest Phanerozoic extinction events, but the magnitude and selectivity of their paleoecological impact remains disputed. OAEs are associated with abrupt, rapid warming and increased CO2flux to the atmosphere; thus, insights from this study may clarify the impact of current anthropogenic climate change on the biosphere. We investigated the influence of the Late Cretaceous Bonarelli event (OAE2; Cenomanian/Turonian stage boundary; ~94 Ma) on generic- and species-level molluscan diversity, extinction rates, and ecological turnover. Cenomanian/Turonian results were compared with changes across all Cretaceous stage boundaries, some of which are coincident with less severe OAEs. We found increased generic turnover, but not species-level turnover, associated with several Cretaceous OAEs. The absence of a species-level pattern may reflect species occurrence data that are too temporally coarse to robustly detect patterns. Five hypotheses of ecological selectivity relating anoxia to survivorship were tested across stage boundaries with respect to faunality, mobility, and diet using generalized linear models. Interestingly, benthic taxa were consistently selected against throughout the Cretaceous regardless of the presence or absence of OAEs. These results suggest that: (1) the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary (OAE2) was associated with a decline in molluscan diversity and increase in extinction rate that were significantly more severe than Cretaceous background levels; and (2) no differential ecological selectivity was associated with OAE-related diversity declines among the variables tested here.
‘Bottom-up’ effects in a tritrophic plant–aphid–parasitoid system: Why being the perfect host can have its disadvantages
Authors: Mehrparvar M. , Rajaei A. , Rokni M. , Balog A. , Loxdale H.D.
Published: April 2019

In this study the host plant genotype effect on cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.)(Hemiptera: Aphididae) preference and performance, the effect of aphid genotype on parasitoids performance, as well as the indirect effects of plant genotypes on aphid parasitoid performance, were tested using different population samples of the aphid and its primary endoparasitoid wasp, Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Experiments were run as fully-factorial randomized block design in a greenhouse. Accordingly, host plant cultivar had significant effects on the total number of aphids and aphid-load whilst the fitness of the aphid genotypes were also influenced by plant cultivar. The effect of parasitism on cabbage aphids was significantly different between plant cultivars. Overall, the results revealed that cabbage aphid is under different selective pressures arising from both higher (parasitoid) and lower (host plant cultivar) trophic levels. The host plant cultivar had a significant effect on both aphid fitness and parasitism rate on particular aphid genotypes. This indicates that host-plant-adapted aphid species can create much context-dependency in the nature and strength of ‘fitness benefits parasitism’, which may in turn alter the costs and benefits of host specialization.
Foraging behavior ofAphidius matricariae(Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on tobacco aphid,Myzus persicae nicotianae(Hemiptera: Aphididae)
Authors: Rezaei M. , Talebi A.A. , Fathipour Y. , Karimzadeh J. , Mehrabadi M.
Published: April 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the foraging behavior ofAphidius matricariae(Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a biological control agent ofMyzus persicae nicotianaeBlackman (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a key and cosmopolitan pest of tobacco fields. To achieve a strategy for the control of this pest and a mass-rearing program of the parasitoid, host stage preference, switching, functional response, and mutual interference ofA. matricariaewere investigated at 25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 5% RH and 16:8 h L:D photoperiod. The parasitoid showed a preference for third- and fourth-instar nymphs of tobacco aphid in both choice and no-choice experiments. Using the Murdach's model, switching behavior was observed inA. matricariaebetween different density proportions of third- and fourth-instar nymphs. Further, the parasitoid exhibited a type II functional response when it was offered to third-instar nymphs ofM. persicae nicotianaeat six densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64). Based on the linear regression analysis, there was a significance difference between the logarithm of per capita searching efficiency and the logarithm of parasitoid density. As the wasp density increased, per capita searching efficiency decreased. The result of this study revealed thatA. matricariaeis an effective agent in the integrated management ofM. persicae nicotianae. In addition, application of these results can be important in mass-rearing program ofA. matricariae.
A revised chronostratigraphic framework for International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 355 sites in Laxmi Basin, eastern Arabian Sea
Authors: Routledge Claire M. , Kulhanek Denise K. , Tauxe Lisa , Scardia Giancarlo , Singh Arun D. , Steinke Stephan , Griffith Elizabeth M. , Saraswat Rajeev
Published: April 2019

International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 355 drilled Sites U1456 and U1457 in Laxmi Basin (eastern Arabian Sea) to document the impact of the South Asian monsoon on weathering and erosion of the Himalaya. We revised the chronostratigraphic framework for these sites using a combination of biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and strontium isotope stratigraphy. The sedimentary section at the two sites is similar and we divided it into six units bounded by unconformities or emplaced as a mass-transport deposit (MTD). Unit 1 underlies the MTD, and is of early–middle Miocene age at Site U1456 and early Paleocene age at Site U1457. An unconformity (U1) created by emplacement of the MTD (unit 2) during the late Miocene Epoch (at c. 9.83–9.69 Ma) separates units 1 and 2 and is identified by a marked change in lithology. Unit 3 consists of hemipelagic sediment with thin interbeds of graded sandstone of late Miocene age, separated from unit 4 by a second unconformity (U2) of 0.5–0.9 Myr duration. Unit 4 consists of upper Miocene interbedded mudstone and sandstone and hemipelagic chalk deposited between c. 8 and 6 Ma. A c. 1.4–1.6 Myr hiatus (U3) encompasses the Miocene–Pliocene boundary and separates unit 4 from unit 5. Unit 5 includes upper Pliocene – lower Pleistocene siliciclastic sediment that is separated from unit 6 by a c. 0.45 Myr hiatus (U4) in the lower Pleistocene sediments. Unit 6 includes a thick package of rapidly deposited Pleistocene sand and mud overlain by predominantly hemipelagic sediment deposited since c. 1.2 Ma.
Influence of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and bacterial bioinoculants on growth and yield ofCapsicum chinensecultivated in non-sterilized soil
Authors: Surendirakumar K. , Pandey R. R. , Muthukumar T.
Published: April 2019

Despite the global importance ofCapsicumspecies, there is limited information on the indigenous endomycorrhizal fungal association in this crop. Therefore, the diversity and colonization patterns of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in roots of Naga King chilli (Capsicum chinense) were assessed during pre-flowering, flowering and fruit ripening growth stages under a sub-tropical shifting cultivation system of North Eastern India. All the roots examined had AMF colonization and the presence ofParis-type arbuscular mycorrhizal morphology is reported for the first time inC. chinense. A total of 11 AMF spore morphotypes were isolated from both field and trap culture soils. Maximum AMF spore density and root colonization were recorded during the pre-flowering and flowering stages, respectively. The influence ofFunneliformis geosporum, individually or in combination withPseudomonas fluorescensandAzotobacter chroococcum, on growth and yield ofC. chinense, was evaluated in a pot experiment using sterilized and non-sterilized soils. The application of AMF andP. fluorescensto sterilized soil significantly increased the growth, flower and fruit production, and nutrient content ofC. chinense. The highest growth rates and yields ofC. chinensein non-sterilized soils were achieved when AMF was combined with bothP. fluorescensandA. chroococcum. The results of the current study indicate the value of applying microorganisms to improve plant growth and performance in chillies. One of the mechanisms for this could be the facilitated assimilation of nutrients promoted by AMF and bacterial bioinoculants.
Morphological and molecular characterization ofLenonchium zanjanensesp. n. (Dorylaimida, Nordiidae) from Iran, with new insights into the phylogeny of the genus and a revision of its taxonomy
Authors: Asgari M. , Eskandari A. , Karani H.M. , Abolafia J. , Peña-Santiago R.
Published: April 2019

The new speciesLenonchium zanjanensesp. n. is described from a natural habitat of Zanjan province, Iran, including line, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy illustrations and a molecular (18S, 28S) study. It is characterized by its 3.50–4.51 mm long body, rounded lip region, continuous and 13.5–15.5 µm broad, odontostyle 21–24 µm long, neck 362–490 µm long, double guiding ring, pharyngeal expansion 190–285 µm long, female genital system didelphic–amphidelphic, uterus simple and 185–320 µm long or 3.4–5.9 times the corresponding body diameter, vulva nearly equatorial (V= 45–53), tail conical-elongated to filiform (90–165 µm,c= 23–43,c′ = 2.4–5.3) with three or four mucro-like projections at the tip, spicules 58–64 µm long and 16–21 contiguous ventromedian supplements ending at the level of the anterior end of the spicules. The taxonomy of the genus is updated, with an emended diagnosis, list of species, key to their identification and a compendium of their main morphometrics.Lenonchium asterocaudatumis regarded as identical and a junior synonym ofL. denticaudatum.New insights into the phylogeny of the group are also provided, and the classification ofLenonchiumwithin Nordiidae is seriously questioned.
Implementing a guideline for acute tonsillitis using an ambulatory medical unit
Authors: Perkins C , Ray Brown F , Pohl K , McLaren O , Powles J , Thorley R
Published: April 2019

Objective

Acute tonsillitis represents a significant proportion of admissions to ENT departments nationally. Given current hospital pressures, it is vital to look for safe alternatives to admission. This study explores the safe management of patients in an ambulatory medical unit, without the need for admission.

Methods

A retrospective review of 48 patients’ notes was carried out. Following the development and implementation of a guideline for acute tonsillitis, a prospective re-audit of 41 patients was carried out, measuring length of stay, overnight admissions and re-admissions.

Results

The rate of overnight admission following implementation of the guideline fell from 0.75 to 0.29, and average length of stay dropped from 19.2 to 9.5 hours. There were two re-admissions in each cycle of the audit, which represents a non-significant increase.

Conclusion

The tonsillitis guideline has significantly reduced admissions and length of stay. Re-admissions remain low, demonstrating that this is a safe and cost-effective intervention.
Human papillomavirus 16 and p16 positive nasal cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in immunocompetent men in their twenties
Authors: Amiraraghi N , Scott R A , Balaji N , Yaneza M M C
Published: April 2019

Background

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is usually associated with long-term ultraviolet light exposure. Human papillomavirus 16 is a high-risk mucosal human papillomavirus type, usually associated with anogenital and oropharyngeal cancer. This paper describes the first two cases of human papillomavirus 16 and p16 related nasal cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Method

Prospective case series from December 2015.

Results

Two young, male, fair-skinned patients had large (greater than 20 mm), rapidly growing, ulcerated lesions of the nasal tip. The tumours were excised, with at least a 6 mm margin, and the patients' noses were subsequently reconstructed. Neither patient had cervical lymphadenopathy or underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. Both patients were registered at the same general practice. The tumours were human papillomavirus 16 and p16 positive; the latter indicated that the virus was driving the disease process. Except for superficial burns, neither patient had other risk factors.

Conclusion

Changes in sexual practices have led to an increase in human papillomavirus positive oropharyngeal carcinoma and there may be an associated increase in human papillomavirus type 16 positive nasal cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Electromagnetic drift instability in a two-dimensional magnetotail – the addition of bouncing electrons
Authors: Tsareva O. , Fruit G. , Louarn P. , Tur A.
Published: April 2019

To explain the possible destabilization of a two-dimensional magnetic equilibrium such as the near-Earth magnetotail, we developed a kinetic model describing the resonant interaction of electromagnetic fluctuations and bouncing electrons trapped in the magnetic bottle. A small-$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$approximation (i.e., the plasma pressure is lower than the magnetic pressure) is used in agreement with a small field line curvature. The linearized gyro-kinetic Vlasov equation is integrated along the unperturbed particle trajectories, including cyclotron and bounce motions. The dispersion relation for drift-Alfvèn waves is obtained through the plasma quasi-neutrality condition and Ampere’s law for the parallel current. It has been found that for a quasi-dipolar configuration ($\text{L}\sim 8$corresponds to the set of the Earth’s magnetic field lines, crossing the Earths magnetic equator at 8 Earth radii), unstable electromagnetic modes may develop in the current sheet with a growth rate of the order of a few tenths of a second provided that the typical scale of density gradient slope responsible for the diamagnetic drift effects is over one Earth radius or less. This instability growth rate is large enough to destabilize the current sheet on time scales of 2–4 minutes as observed during substorm onset.
Anatomy of an Addict: Junie McCree and the Vaudeville Dope Fiend
Authors: Shulman Max
Published: April 2019

In 1900, performer Junie McCree debuted a new character on the stage of vaudeville theatres in New York City. In a short playlet written by McCree entitled The Dope Fiend; or, Sappho in Chinatown, the actor took to the stage in a black suit, fedora, and thick mustache to perform a comic version of an opium-smoking addict from the West of the United States. McCree's addict was marked by his slumped posture, his wisecracks and chicanery, and a broad assortment of inventive slang that was intended as a sign of the character's frontier roots. Undermining expectations regarding addicts as vicious or subhuman, this vaudeville dope fiend was charming in his insouciance and playfully eccentric in behavior. McCree's interpretation was distinct from the already established stage drunk or tramp clown; he was not sloppy or bedraggled, but more the figure of a slow-moving but cunning saloon poet. McCree quickly became famous for the portrayal, spawning numerous imitators who helped make the vaudeville dope fiend a standard character convention, recognizable to Progressive Era audiences of variety entertainment, but almost entirely ignored by modern scholarship. Dissecting the anatomy of McCree's characterization, including its sources and cultural impact, this article argues for the inclusion of the comic dope fiend in the pantheon of stage characters from the period and calls attention to popular entertainment's contribution to the national debate over drug addiction.
Widowhood and mortality risk of older people in rural China: do gender and living arrangement make a difference?
Authors: Liu Huijun , Jiang Quanbao , Feldman Marcus W.
Published: April 2019

Increased mortality after spousal bereavement has been observed in many populations. Few studies have investigated the widowhood effect in a traditional culture where the economy is underdeveloped. The reasons for the widowhood effect and its gender dynamic are not well understood. In this study, we assessed whether the widowhood-associated excess mortality exists and differs by gender and living arrangement in rural China. We used a six-wave panel of data derived from rural people over 60 years old in the Chaohu region of China. Cox regression analyses suggest that there was a positive effect of spousal loss on mortality for older rural Chinese and this effect was gender different. Our findings also suggest that living with adult children after spousal loss played a protective role in reducing the risk of older men's death, though it tended to increase older men's mortality risk in general.
EFFECTS OF NARROW READING AND LISTENING ON L2 VOCABULARY LEARNING
Authors: Chang Anna C-S.
Published: April 2019

Sixty target words were selected from two sets of graded readers. One set contained three readers with the same title,The Railway Children, and the other set, three books about Sherlock Holmes. Students chose one of the two sets to read and were given a pretest, an immediate posttest, and a five-week delayed posttest on their acquisition of spelling, aural meaning, written meaning, and use. Five fixed factors (time, frequency of word occurrence, glossing, word frequency levels, and four dimensions of vocabulary knowledge) in vocabulary learning and a random variable (the participants) were analyzed with generalized linear mixed models. The results show that the odds of improvements in the knowledge of written and aural meanings were significantly better than those for the knowledge of spelling and use. Significant interaction effects were found between time and other fixed factors, except for glossing. Pedagogical implications of the results are discussed.
Enhancing Equitable Access to Assistive Technologies in Canada: Insights from Citizens and Stakeholders
Authors: Mattison Cristina A. , Wilson Michael G. , Wang Rosalie H. , Waddell Kerry
Published: April 2019

Les besoins en technologies d’assistance augmentent au Canada, mais l’accès à ces technologies est inégal et fragmentaire, ce qui ferait en sorte que des besoins demeureraient non comblés. Cette étude visait à identifier les valeurs et préférences des citoyens concernant les moyens à utiliser pour favoriser un accès équitable aux technologies d’assistance. Elle visait également à impliquer les décideurs politiques, les parties prenantes et les chercheurs dans des discussions afin d’élaborer des actions dans ce domaine. Au printemps 2017, nous avons organisé trois panels de citoyens et un dialogue avec les parties prenantes. Les principales conclusions des panels ont été incluses dans une synthèse qui a été partagée avec les participants du dialogue. Trente-sept citoyens ont participé aux panels et ont souligné l’importance de l’accès à de l’information fiable, d’un accès équitable aux technologies d’assistance (et ce, quelle que soit la capacité de payer), et de la collaboration. Les vingt-deux participants au dialogue ont fait valoir la nécessité d’un cadre d’orientation pour appuyer l’évolution des pratiques dans l’ensemble au pays. Le cadre d’orientation proposé combinerait des politiques et programmes simplifiés incluant la collecte et l’évaluation de données robustes pour appuyer l’innovation et l’imputabilité à travers le pays.
Practical Ethics Given Moral Uncertainty
Authors: MacAskill William
Published: April 2019

A number of philosophers have claimed that we should take not just empirical uncertainty but also fundamental moral uncertainty into account in our decision-making, and that, despite widespread moral disagreement, doing so would allow us to draw robust lessons for some issues in practical ethics. In this article, I argue that, so far, the implications for practical ethics have been drawn too simplistically. First, the implications of moral uncertainty for normative ethics are far more wide-ranging than has been noted so far. Second, one can't straightforwardly argue from moral uncertainty to particular conclusions in practical ethics, both because of ‘interaction’ effects between moral issues, and because of the variety of different possible intertheoretic comparisons that one can reasonably endorse.
Decidability of regular language genus computation
Authors: Bonfante Guillaume , Deloup Florian L.
Published: April 2019

This article continues the study of the genus of regular languages that the authors introduced in a 2013 paper (published in 2018). In order to understand further the genus g(L) of a regular language L, we introduce the genus size of |L|gen to be the minimal size of all finite deterministic automata of genus g(L) computing L.We show that the minimal finite deterministic automaton of a regular language can be arbitrarily far away from a finite deterministic automaton realizing the minimal genus and computing the same language, in terms of both the difference of genera and the difference in size. In particular, we show that the genus size |L|gen can grow at least exponentially in size |L|. We conjecture, however, the genus of every regular language to be computable. This conjecture implies in particular that the planarity of a regular language is decidable, a question asked in 1976 by R. V. Book and A. K. Chandra. We prove here the conjecture for a fairly generic class of regular languages having no short cycles. The methods developed for the proof are used to produce new genus-based hierarchies of regular languages and in particular, we show a new family of regular languages on a two-letter alphabet having arbitrary high genus.
Transcatheter closure of doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defects with the Amplatzer ductal occluder: initial experience
Authors: Huang Yu , Yan Xiaoping , Lu Linxiang , Fang Jun , Sun Xudong , Zhong Ling , Li Jinguo , Chen Lianglong
Published: April 2019

Background:

There is limited experience about transcatheter closure of doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defects with Amplatzer ductal occluder.

Methods:

Between March, 2015 and July, 2017, a total of 22 patients with doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defects received transcatheter closure using Amplatzer ductal occluder and underwent clinical follow-up for at least 6 months.

Results:

Device implantation was finally successful in 21 (95.4%) patients despite failed occlusion in one patient and intra-procedural replacement of unsuitable occluders in four (19.0%) patients. In mean 12.3 months of follow-up, there were no major complications (death, aortic valve or sinus rupture, device dislocation or embolisation, grade 2 new-onset aortic regurgitation, etc.), resulting in clinical occlusion success of 95.4%. Mechanical haemolysis occurred in one patient and resolved with medication. Residual shunt was observed in 11 (52.4%) patients (9 mild, 2 moderate-severe) post-procedurally, 14 (66.7%) patients (12 mild, 2 moderate-severe) in hospital stay, and 2 (9.5%) patients (2 mild, 0 moderate-severe) at the last follow-up. Device-induced new-onset aortic regurgitation was found in nine (42.8%) patients (9 mild, 0 moderate-severe) post-procedurally and in hospital stay, which was resolved in two (9.5%) patients and unchanged in seven (33.3%) patients at the last follow-up. Another four (19.0%) patients newly developed mild aortic regurgitation during follow-up.

Conclusions:

Transcatheter closure of doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defects with Amplatzer ductal occluder is technically feasible in the selected patients. However, further study is needed to confirm its long-term clinical outcomes.
A path to the bilingual advantage: Pairwise matching of individuals
Authors: Czapka Sophia , Wotschack Christiane , Klassert Annegret , Festman Julia
Published: April 2019

Matching participants (as suggested by Hope, 2015) may be one promising option for research on a potential bilingual advantage in executive functions (EF). In this study we first compared performances in three EF-tasks of a naturally heterogeneous sample of monolingual (n = 69, age = 9.0 y) and multilingual children (n = 57, age = 9.3 y). Secondly, we meticulously matched participants pairwise to obtain two highly homogeneous groups to rerun our analysis and investigate a potential bilingual advantage. The initally disadvantaged multilinguals (regarding socioeconomic status and German lexicon size) performed worse in updating and response inhibition, but similarly in interference inhibition. This indicates that superior EF compensate for the detrimental effects of the background variables. After matching children pairwise on age, gender, intelligence, socioeconomic status and German lexicon size, performances became similar except for interference inhibition. Here, an advantage for multilinguals in the form of globally reduced reaction times emerged, indicating a bilingual executive processing advantage.
Study of Geometrically Necessary Dislocations of a Partially Recrystallized Aluminum Alloy Using 2D EBSD
Authors: Seyed Salehi Majid , Anjabin Nozar , Kim Hyoung S.
Published: April 2019

During recrystallization, the growth of fresh grains initiated within a deformed microstructure causes dramatic changes in the dislocation structure and density of a heavily deformed matrix. In this paper, the microstructure of a cold rolled and partially recrystallized Al-Mg alloy (AA5052) was studied via electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis. The structure and density of the geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) were predicted using a combination of continuum mechanics and dislocation theory. Accordingly, the Nye dislocation tensor, which determines the GND structure, was estimated by calculation of the lattice curvature. To do so, five components of the Nye dislocation tensor were directly calculated from the local orientation of surface points of the specimen, which was determined by two-dimensional EBSD. The remaining components of GNDs were determined by minimizing a normalized Hamiltonian equation based on dislocation energy. The results show the elimination of low angle boundaries, lattice curvature, and GNDs in recrystallized regions and the formation of low angle boundaries with orientation discontinuities in deformed grains, which may be due to static recovery.
A high proportion of beta-tocopherol in vitamin E is associated with poor seed longevity in rice produced under temperate conditions
Authors: Lee Jae-Sung , Kwak Jieun , Cho Jun-Hyeon , Chebotarov Dmytro , Yoon Mi-Ra , Lee Jeom-Sig , Hamilton N. Ruaraidh Sackville , Hay Fiona R.
Published: April 2019

Seeds of 15 diverse rice accessions, representing aus, indica, temperate japonica and tropical japonica subpopulations, were produced under temperate climate conditions in Korea and used for vitamin E analysis and seed storage experiments at 45°C and 10.9% seed moisture content. High γ-tocotrienol was significantly positively correlated with seed longevity. In addition, a high β-tocopherol proportion relative to δ-tocopherol was significantly negatively correlated with seed longevity. Using high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism marker data, DNA haplotype analysis showed clear allelic variations in the region of two S-adenosylmethionine synthetase genes: LOC_Os04g42095 and LOC_Os11g15410, which regulate the conversion of δ-tocopherol into β-tocopherol. Four indica accessions with rare and subpopulation-specific alleles showed a 2.3-fold lower β-/δ-tocopherol ratio compared with accessions from other subpopulations.
An analysis of the development assistance for health (DAH) allocations for STD control in Africa
Authors: Furuoka Fumitaka , Hoque Mohammad Zahirul , Jacob Ray Ikechukwu , Ziegenhain Patrick
Published: April 2019

The Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations recognize the importance of making progress in the eradication and treatment of sexually transmitted deceases (STD). STD are among the most widespread diseases in the world and have the highest prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa. The current study explored the associations between the allocation of the development assistance for health (DAH) in 54 African countries and key development indicators – STD incidence, Gross Domestic Product per capita, health expenditure, and life expectancy at birth. It employed descriptive statistical methods, the matrix scatter plot analysis and the Pearson correlation test for this purpose. The findings indicated that there was a considerable increase in the volume of the DAH given to control and prevent STD in Africa over the period of 2002–2011. A statistically significant positive association was detected between the STD incidence and the health aid allocations. At the same time, the imbalance in the distribution of the health aid between the major and minor aid recipients in the continent increased. The study concludes by discussing policy implications that can be drawn from these findings.
The relationship between diet, energy balance and fertility in men
Authors: Suliga Edyta , Głuszek Stanisław
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Research conducted in recent years provides more and more evidence that diet can have a significant impact on male fertility. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between diet, energy balance and fertility in men. A comprehensive literature search of published studies in various languages, was carried out in electronic databases. The direct analysis included 96 works published between 2008 and 2018, including 12 randomized controlled trials and 23 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A strong adherence to a healthy dietary pattern is positively correlated with total sperm count, progressive motility and total motile sperm count (all p < 0.05). However, attention is drawn to the fact that foods that are considered “healthy” can sometimes contain a significant amount of pollution, which negatively affect the semen parameters. An adequate intake of antioxidants or their supplementation have been quite effective in the prevention and treatment of male infertility. The improvement of pregnancy rate after antioxidant therapy ranged in various studies from 11% to 41%. An important problem, however, may be choosing the right dose of the supplement or finding an appropriate combination of antioxidants that may be more effective than any single antioxidant. The normalization of men’s body weight is beneficial for the quality of sperm and the concentration of male reproductive hormones. Further, long-term studies require the assessment of the impact of drastic weight loss after bariatric surgery on male fertility.