bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Let‐7e inhibits TNF‐α expression by targeting the methyl transferase EZH2 in DENV2‐infected THP‐1 cells
Authors: Zhang Yingke , Zhang Qianqian , Gui Lian , Cai Yan , Deng Xiaohong , Li Cheukfai , Guo Qi , He Xiaoshun , Huang Junqi
Published: May 2018

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), an important inflammatory cytokine, is associated with dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS), a severe pathological manifestation of dengue virus (DENV) infection. However, the regulatory mechanism of microRNA on TNFα is currently unknown. Our study showed that the TNFα expression increased immediately and then later decreased, while a marked increase for the miRNA let‐7e was detected in dengue virus type 2 (DENV2)‐infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). From this study, we found that let‐7e was able to inhibit TNFα expression, but bioinformatics analysis showed that the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) was the potential direct target of let‐7e instead of TNFα. EZH2 methyl transferase can produce H3K27me3 and has a negative regulatory role. Using a dual‐luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting, we confirmed that EZH2 was a direct target of let‐7e and found that siEZH2 could inhibit TNFα expression. In the further study of the regulatory mechanism of EZH2 on TNFα expression, we showed that siEZH2 promoted EZH1 and H3K4me3 expression and inhibited H3K27me3 expression. More importantly, we revealed that siEZH2 down‐regulated NF‐κB p65 within the nucleus. These findings indicate that the let‐7e/EZH2/H3K27me3/NF‐κB p65 pathway is a novel regulatory axis of TNFα expression. In addition, we determined the protein differences between siEZH2 and siEZH2‐NC by iTRAQ and found a number of proteins that might be associated with TNFα.
Glutamic acid‐related hydrazine reagent for the derivatization of carbonyl compounds
Authors: Brkljačić Lidija , Jerić Ivanka
Published: May 2018

Chemical derivatization of carbonyl compounds is a prerequisite for their determination in environmental and biological samples by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The main requirements regarding the good derivatization reagent are fast, selective, and quantitative reaction with carbonyl compounds and efficient fragmentation upon collision‐induced dissociation. We have prepared glutamic acid‐related hydrazine reagent and optimized derivatization procedure with benzaldehyde as a model carbonyl compound. The collision‐induced dissociation spectrum of the obtained hydrazone gave rich fragmentation pattern with numerous abundant fragment ions. Structure‐specific fragment ions were selected for the development of sensitive multiple reaction monitoring method.
Specificity and Abstraction of Examples: Opposite Effects on Fixation for Creative Ideation
Authors: Ezzat Hicham , Agogué Marine , Le Masson Pascal , Weil Benoit , Cassotti Mathieu
Published: May 2018

Fixation is one of the major obstacles that individuals face in creative idea generation contexts. Several studies have shown that individuals unintentionally tend to fixate to the examples they are shown in a creative ideation task, even when instructed to avoid them. Most of these studies used examples formulated with high level of specificity. However, no study has examined individuals’ creative performance under an instruction to diverge from given examples, when these examples are formulated with a high level of abstraction. In the present study, we show that (a) instructing participants to avoid using common examples when formulated with a high level of specificity increases fixation; whereas (b) instructing participants to avoid such examples while using a more abstract level for stating these common examples—such as a categorization of these examples—mitigates fixation and doubles the number of creative ideas generated. These findings give new insights on the key role of categorization in creative ideation contexts.
Radiographic bone loss in a Scottish non‐smoking type 1 diabetes mellitus population: A bitewing radiographic study
Authors: Plessas Anastasios , Robertson Douglas P. , Hodge Penny J.
Published: May 2018

Background

The dental complications of uncontrolled diabetes include reduced salivary flow rate, candidiasis and periodontal manifestations. A recent meta‐analysis concluded that diabetes patients have a significantly higher severity, but not extent, of destructive periodontal disease than non‐diabetics. The authors reported that most type‐1 diabetes studies using dental radiographic data have not controlled for confounding factors such as smoking. The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to compare radiographic alveolar bone loss between type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and non‐diabetes (NDM) participants in a Scottish non‐smoking population.

Methods

Digital bitewing radiographs for 174 Scottish adults never or ex‐smoker (>5 years) participants (108 T1DM, 66 NDS), recruited from outpatient clinics throughout Greater Glasgow and Clyde, were included in the analysis. A single blinded, trained, and calibrated examiner recorded the radiographic bone loss seen on bitewing radiographs using the digital screen caliper (Screen Calliper ICONICO version 4.0 (Copyright (C) 2001–6 Iconico), New York). The bone loss was measured as the distance between the cemento‐enamel junction (CEJ) and the deepest radiographic alveolar bone margin interproximally of each tooth.

Results

T1DM participants had more radiographic alveolar bone loss throughout the all teeth measured (median:1.27 mm versus 1.06 mm, P < 0.001) and more than a two‐fold increase in the risk of having sites with ≥2 mm periodontal destruction (OR = 2.297, 95%CI 1.058 to 4.986, P = 0.036) compared with non‐diabetes subjects.

Conclusions

Patients suffering from type 1 diabetes are at higher risk of periodontitis even when controlling for multiple possible confounding factors and this difference can be detected on routine dental radiographs at an early stage. These data confirm radiographically the previously reported association between T1DM and periodontal bone loss.
Konjac glucomannan octenyl succinate (KGOS) as an emulsifier for lipophilic bioactive nutrient encapsulation
Authors: Li Yun‐Cheng , Zhong Geng , Meng Fan‐Bing , Yu Hua , Liu Da‐Yu , Peng Lian‐Xin
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND

Konjac glucomannan octenyl succinate (KGOS) has excellent emulsification properties and can potentially be used in the food industry as an emulsifier, stabilizer and microcapsule wall material. In the present study, the in vitro digestion properties and emulsification capability and stability of KGOS were studied to evaluate the transport and encapsulation characteristics of KGOS with insoluble bioactive nutrients.

RESULTS

Confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) suggested that oil droplets could be encapsulated by KGOS into regular spheres. In vitro digestion properties showed that KGOS is effective for colon‐targeted transport. β‐Carotene was selected as a representative lipophilic bioactive compound to evaluate the emulsification characteristics of KGOS. The loading capacity of the 0.4 mg mL−1 KGOS solution for β‐carotene was 3.26%, and transmission electron microscopy suggested that the self‐aggregate particles of KGOS/β‐carotene (KGOSC) were more uniform than KGOS. With a composition of 0.03% β‐carotene, 0.3% KGOS and 10% medium‐chain triglycerides, the emulsification yield of the KGOSC nanoemulsion was more than 95%. After 30 days of storage, the particle size and polydispersity index of the KGOSC nanoemulsion were less than 5 nm and 0.5, respectively, and the sensitivity of KGOSC nanoemulsions to storage conditions decreased in the order temperature, oxygen and light.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggested that KGOS is a good potential emulsifier and stabilizer for lipophilic bioactive nutrient encapsulation. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Indene Compounds Synthetically Derived from Vitamin D Have Selective Antibacterial Action on Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Wanibuchi Kiyofumi , Hosoda Kouichi , Ihara Masato , Tajiri Kentaro , Sakai Yuki , Masui Hisashi , Takahashi Takashi , Hirai Yoshikazu , Shimomura Hirofumi
Published: May 2018

Helicobacter pylori infects the human stomach and is closely linked with the development of gastric cancer. When detected, this pathogen can be eradicated from the human stomach using wide‐spectrum antibiotics. However, year by year, H. pylori strains resistant to the antibacterial action of antibiotics have been increasing. The development of new antibacterial substances effective against drug‐resistant H. pylori is urgently required. Our group has recently identified extremely selective bactericidal effects against H. pylori in (1R,3aR,7aR)‐1‐[(1R)‐1,5‐dimethylhexyl]octahydro‐7a‐methyl‐4H‐inden‐4‐one (VDP1) (otherwise known as Grundmann's ketone), an indene compound derived from the decomposition of vitamin D3 and proposed the antibacterial mechanism whereby VDP1 induces the bacteriolysis by interacting at least with PtdEtn (dimyristoyl‐phosphatidylethanolamine [di‐14:0 PtdEtn]) retaining two 14:0 fatty acids of the membrane lipid constituents. In this study, we synthesized new indene compounds ((1R,3aR,7aR)‐1‐((2R,E)‐5,6‐dimethylhept‐3‐en‐2‐yl)‐7a‐methyloctahydro‐4H‐inden‐4‐one [VD2‐1], (1R,3aR,7aR)‐1‐((S)‐1‐hydroxypropan‐2‐yl)‐7a‐methyloctahydro‐1H‐inden‐4‐ol [VD2‐2], and (1R,3aR,7aR)‐7a‐methyl‐1‐((R)‐6‐methylheptan‐2‐yl)octahydro‐1H‐inden‐4‐ol [VD3‐1]) using either vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 as materials. VD2‐1 and VD3‐1 selectively disrupted the di‐14:0 PtdEtn vesicles without destructing the vesicles of PtdEtn (dipalmitoyl‐phosphatidylethanolamine) retaining two 16:0 fatty acids. In contrast, VD2‐2, an indene compound lacking an alkyl group, had no influence on the structural stability of both PtdEtn vesicles. In addition, VD2‐1 and VD3‐1 exerted extremely selective bactericidal action against H. pylori without affecting the viability of commonplace bacteria. Meanwhile, VD2‐2 almost forfeited the bactericidal effects on H. pylori. These results suggest that the alkyl group of the indene compounds has a crucial conformation to interact with di‐14:0 PtdEtn of H. pylori membrane lipid constituents whereby the bacteriolysis is ultimately induced.
Optimal transportation meshfree method in geotechnical engineering problems under large deformation regime
Authors: Navas Pedro , López‐Querol Susana , Yu Rena C. , Pastor Manuel
Published: May 2018

Meshfree methods have been demonstrated as suitable and strong alternatives to the more standard numerical schemes such as finite elements or finite differences. Moreover, when formulated in a Lagrangian approach, they are appropriate for capturing soil behavior under high‐strain levels. In this paper, the optimal transportation meshfree method has been applied for the first time to geotechnical problems undergoing large deformations. All the features employed in the current methodology (ie, F‐bar, explicit viscoplastic integration, and master‐slave contact) are described and validated separately. Finally, the model is applied to the particular case of shallow foundations by using von Mises and Drucker‐Prager yield criteria to find the load at failure in the. The presented methodology is demonstrated to be robust and accurate when solving this type of problems.
A linearized and second‐order unconditionally convergent scheme for coupled time fractional Klein‐Gordon‐Schrödinger equation
Authors: Lyu Pin , Vong Seakweng
Published: May 2018

In this work, we study finite difference scheme for coupled time fractional Klein‐Gordon‐Schrödinger (KGS) equation. We proposed a linearized finite difference scheme to solve the coupled system, in which the fractional derivatives are approximated by some recently established discretization formulas. These formulas approximate the solution with second‐order accuracy at points different form the grid points in time direction. Taking advantage of this property, our proposed linearized scheme evaluates the nonlinear terms on the previous time level. As a result, iterative method is dispensable. The coupled terms in the scheme bring difficulties in analysis. By carefully studying these effects, we proved that the proposed scheme is unconditionally convergent and stable in discrete norm with energy method. Numerical results are included to justify the theoretical statements.
Clinical resistance associated with a novel MAP2K1 mutation in a patient with Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Authors: Azorsa David O. , Lee David W. , Wai Daniel H. , Bista Ranjan , Patel Apurvi R. , Aleem Eiman , Henry Michael M. , Arceci Robert J.
Published: May 2018

Patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) harbor BRAF V600E and activating mutations of MAP2K1/MEK1 in 50% and 25% of cases, respectively. We evaluated a patient with treatment‐refractory LCH for mutations in the RAS‐RAF‐MEK‐ERK pathway and identified a novel mutation in the MAP2K1 gene resulting in a p.L98_K104 > Q deletion and predicted to be auto‐activating. During treatment with the MEK inhibitor trametinib, the patient's disease showed significant progression. In vitro characterization of the MAP2K1 p.L98_K104 > Q deletion confirmed its effect on cellular activation of the ERK pathway and drug resistance.
Effect of the composition and degree of crosslinking on the properties of poly(l‐lactic acid)/crosslinked polyurethane blends
Authors: Ma Meng , Liu Kai , Zheng Haiming , Chen Si , Wu Bozhen , Shi Yanqin , Wang Xu
Published: May 2018

Poly(l‐lactic acid)/crosslinked polyurethane (PLLA/CPU) blends which were prepared via reactive blending of PLLA with poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL), glycerol and 4,4′‐methylenediphenyl diisocyanate showed excellent toughness. The effects of the composition of the mixture and degree of crosslinking of CPU on the toughness of the PLLA/CPU blends (80/20 w/w) were studied in detail. Dynamic mechanical analysis and rheological measurements were used to characterize the structure of the in situ formed CPU in the PLLA matrix. A novel netlike phase structure was observed when the average molecular weight of PCL and degree of crosslinking were 1 kDa and 10%, respectively. The impact strength of the blend was enhanced from 2.2 kJ m−2 for pure PLLA to 62.4 kJ m−2; meanwhile, the elongation at break was increased to 489.8%. Therefore, the mechanical properties of PLLA/CPU blends can be easily tailored by tuning the composition of the mixture and the degree of crosslinking of CPU. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Lethal and sublethal effects of chlorantraniliprole on Spodoptera cosmioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Lutz Alejandra L , Bertolaccini Isabel , Scotta Roberto R , Curis María C , Favaro María A , Fernandez Laura N , Sánchez Daniel E
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND

The Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker, 1858) population has increased in Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) soybean crops in Argentina. As there are no registered products for its control, the recommended insecticides for S. frugiperda are used. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the lethal concentration (LC) of chlorantraniliprole and its sublethal effects on the biological and reproductive functions of S. cosmioides, an emerging soybean pest in Argentina.

RESULTS

An ingestion toxicity bioassay showed that chlorantraniliprole was active against larvae of the second instar, and after 48 h of exposure LC50 was 0.054 µg mL−1 H2O. In the study of sublethal effect, chlorantraniliprole induced changes in the life cycle of exposed S. cosmioides, which required more time to complete all stages of development (larval, pupal and adult stages). Pupal weight was also higher in larvae exposed to sublethal concentrations of chlorantraniliprole. Adult fecundity was decreased: the number of eggs laid by each adult female moth, as compared with control females, was two (LC15) and eight (LC30) times lower.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that chlorantraniliprole has toxicity against S. cosmioides larvae. Sublethal effects on the biological and reproductive performance of this species can help optimize integrated pest management programs. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Using accelerated drug stability results to inform long‐term studies in shelf life determination
Authors: Faya Paul , Seaman John W. , Stamey James D.
Published: May 2018

In the pharmaceutical industry, the shelf life of a drug product is determined by data gathered from stability studies and is intended to provide consumers with a high degree of confidence that the drug retains its strength, quality, and purity under appropriate storage conditions. In this paper, we focus on liquid drug formulations and propose a Bayesian approach to estimate a drug product's shelf life, where prior knowledge gained from the accelerated study conducted during the drug development stage is used to inform the long‐term study. Classical and nonlinear Arrhenius regression models are considered for the accelerated conditions, and two examples are given where posterior results from the accelerated study are used to construct priors for a long‐term stability study.
Contribution of wind energy to balancing markets: The case of Spain
Authors: Martín‐Martínez Sergio , Lorenzo‐Bonache Alberto , Honrubia‐Escribano Andrés , Cañas‐Carretón Miguel , Gómez‐Lázaro Emilio
Published: May 2018

Ancillary services are intended to ensure the quality, reliability, and security conditions of the electricity supply. Active power‐related ancillary services are considered balancing services, including mandatory services, such as spinning or primary regulation, and optional services, such as secondary and tertiary regulation. These optional balancing services have typically been supplied by conventional power plants, but since their contribution to the production share is decreasing due to high renewable energy penetration, power system operators are currently in need of alternatives. In addition, the recent advances in both the wind power industry and power system observability and controllability, and the necessary changes in balancing markets have made it technically and economically possible for wind power plants to contribute to optional balancing services. Under this framework, our study focuses on the contribution of wind power to balancing markets in the Spanish power system. Specifically, this work analyses the operational capability test for wind energy active power ancillary services provision and the results of the participation of wind energy to tertiary regulation and imbalance management from February 2016 to July 2017. Furthermore, the analysis includes a comparison with other generation technologies and the identification of upward and downward direction margins. These results show the real experience of the contribution of Spanish wind energy to optional active power ancillary services.

This article is categorized under:

Wind Power > Systems and Infrastructure
Challenges and Strategies for Undertaking Continuous Experimentation to Embedded Systems: Industry and Research Perspectives
Authors: Mattos David Issa , Bosch Jan , Olsson Helena Holmström
Published: May 2018

Context: Continuous experimentation is frequently used in web-facing companies and it is starting to gain the attention of embedded systems companies. However, embedded systems companies have different challenges and requirements to run experiments in their systems. Objective: This paper explores the challenges during the adoption of continuous experimentation in embedded systems from both industry practice and academic research. It presents strategies, guidelines, and solutions to overcome each of the identified challenges. Method: This research was conducted in two parts. The first part is a literature review with the aim to analyze the challenges in adopting continuous experimentation from the research perspective. The second part is a multiple case study based on interviews and workshop sessions with five companies to understand the challenges from the industry perspective and how they are working to overcome them. Results: This study found a set of twelve challenges divided into three areas; technical, business, and organizational challenges and strategies grouped into three categories, architecture, data handling and development processes. Conclusions: The set of identified challenges are presented with a set of strategies, guidelines, and solutions. To the knowledge of the authors, this paper is the first to provide an extensive list of challenges and strategies for continuous experimentation in embedded systems. Moreover, this research points out open challenges and the need for new tools and novel solutions for the further development of experimentation in embedded systems.
Enterprise Agility: Why Is Transformation so Hard?
Authors: Karvonen Teemu , Sharp Helen , Barroca Leonor
Published: May 2018

Enterprise agility requires capabilities to transform, sense and seize new business opportunities more quickly than competitors. However, acquiring those capabilities, such as continuous delivery and scaling agility to product programmes, portfolios and business models, is challenging in many organisations. This paper introduces definitions of enterprise agility involving business management and cultural lenses for analysing large-scale agile transformation. The case organisation, in the higher education domain, leverages collaborative discovery sprints and an experimental programme to enable a bottom-up approach to transformation. Meanwhile the prevalence of bureaucracy and organisational silos are often contradictory to agile principles and values. The case study results identify transformation challenges based on observations from a five-month research period. Initial findings indicate that increased focus on organisational culture and leveraging of both bottom-up innovation and supportive top-down leadership activities, could enhance the likelihood of a successful transformation.
Surface operators in 5d gauge theories and duality relations
Authors: Ashok S. K. , Billò M. , Dell’Aquila E. , Frau M. , Gupta V. , John R. R. , Lerda A.
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We study half-BPS surface operators in 5d

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 1 gauge theories compactified on a circle. Using localization methods and the twisted chiral ring relations of coupled 3d/5d quiver gauge theories, we calculate the twisted chiral superpotential that governs the infrared properties of these surface operators. We make a detailed analysis of the localization integrand, and by comparing with the results from the twisted chiral ring equations, we obtain constraints on the 3d and 5d Chern-Simons levels so that the instanton partition function does not depend on the choice of integration contour. For these values of the Chern-Simons couplings, we comment on how the distinct quiver theories that realize the same surface operator are related to each other by Aharony-Seiberg dualities.
3d printing of 2d $$ \mathcal{N}=\left(0,2\right) $$ gauge theories
Authors: Franco Sebastián , Hasan Azeem
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We introduce 3d printing, a new algorithm for generating 2d

$$ \mathcal{N}=\left(0,2\right) $$

N
=

0
2

gauge theories on D1-branes probing singular toric Calabi-Yau 4-folds using 4d

$$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$

N
=
1

gauge theories on D3-branes probing toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds as starting points. Equivalently, this method produces brane brick models starting from brane tilings. 3d printing represents a significant improvement with respect to previously available tools, allowing a straightforward determination of gauge theories for geometries that until now could only be tackled using partial resolution. We investigate the interplay between triality, an IR equivalence between different 2d

$$ \mathcal{N}=\left(0,2\right) $$

N
=

0
2

gauge theories, and the freedom in 3d printing given an underlying Calabi-Yau 4-fold. Finally, we present the first discussion of the consistency and reduction of brane brick models.
Tensionless string spectra on AdS3
Authors: Gaberdiel Matthias R. , Gopakumar Rajesh
Published: May 2018

Abstract

The spectrum of superstrings on AdS3 × S3 ×

$$ \mathbb{M} $$

M

4 with pure NS-NS flux is analysed for the background where the radius of the AdS space takes the minimal value (k = 1). Both for

$$ \mathbb{M} $$

M

4 = S3 × S1 and

$$ \mathbb{M} $$

M

4 =

$$ \mathbb{T} $$

T

4 we show that there is a special set of physical states, coming from the bottom of the spectrally flowed continuous representations, which agree in precise detail with the single particle spectrum of a free symmetric product orbifold. For the case of AdS3 × S3 ×

$$ \mathbb{T} $$

T

4 this relies on making sense of the world-sheet theory at k = 1, for which we make a concrete proposal. We also comment on the implications of this striking result.
The Hyperbolic Higgs
Authors: Cohen Timothy , Craig Nathaniel , Giudice Gian F. , McCullough Matthew
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We introduce the Hyperbolic Higgs, a novel solution to the little hierarchy problem that features Standard Model neutral scalar top partners. At one-loop order, the protection from ultraviolet sensitivity is due to an accidental non-compact symmetry of the Higgs potential that emerges in the infrared. Once the general features of the effective description are detailed, a completion that relies on a five dimensional supersymmetric framework is provided. Novel phenomenology is compared and contrasted with the Twin Higgs scenario.
Closed strings and moduli in AdS3/CFT2
Authors: Sax Olof Ohlsson , Stefański Bogdan
Published: May 2018

Abstract

String theory on AdS3 × S3 × T4 has 20 moduli. We investigate how the perturbative closed string spectrum changes as we move around this moduli space in both the RR and NSNS flux backgrounds. We find that, at weak string coupling, only four of the moduli affect the energies. In the RR background the only effect of these moduli is to change the radius of curvature of the background. On the other hand, in the NSNS background, the moduli introduce worldsheet interactions which enable the use of integrability methods to solve the spectral problem. Our results show that the worldsheet theory is integrable across the 20 dimensional moduli space.
Biometrics on the blockchain
Authors: Garcia Paco
Published: May 2018

Distributed ledger technologies (DLT) – commonly called blockchain – have rapidly come to prominence as a new way to store and control data. But what benefits does blockchain offer to biometric systems developers and users, and how can biometrics be integrated into DLT systems to achieve better security, scalability and privacy?
Navigating between ‘friends’ and ‘foes’: the coalition building and networking of Italian interest groups
Authors: Pritoni Andrea
Published: May 2018

This paper focuses on the reasons that Italian interest groups decide to lobby together with like-minded groups (‘friends’), or engage in networking activity with groups that have conflicting interests (‘foes’), in order to influence public policy. How often do Italian interest groups recur to these lobbying strategies? What favours the construction of a coalition of more or less different interest groups lobbying on a particular issue? What, on the contrary, influences the decision to lobby individually? In order to answer these questions, original data coming from a national survey conducted on 1277 Italian interest groups are provided. Empirical results are interesting: from a descriptive point of view, business groups are more likely to engage in joint lobbying than other group types, whereas the same holds true for unions with respect to networking with rival organizations. From an explanatory point of view, groups that perceive themselves to be threatened by rivals’ influence in policymaking, or by environmental challenges, are more likely to work in coalitions and to engage in networking: resources do not matter in ‘absolute’ and ‘objective’ terms, but in ‘relative’ and ‘subjective’ ones.
The Secret Life of Statutes: A Century of the Trading with the Enemy Act
Authors: Coates Benjamin A.
Published: May 2018

In 1917 Congress passed the Trading with the Enemy Act to prevent trade with Germany and the Central Powers. It was a wartime law designed for wartime conditions but one that, over the course of the following century, took on a secret, surprising life of its own. Eventually it became the basis for a project of worldwide economic sanctions applied by the United States at the discretion of the president during times of both war and peace. This article traces the history of the law in order to explore how the expansion of American power in the twentieth century required a transformation of the American state and the extensive use of executive powers justified by repeated declarations of national emergency.
Government instability and the state
Authors: Walther Daniel , Hellström Johan , Bergman Torbjörn
Published: May 2018

Governmentinstability(cabinet duration) is an important feature of parliamentary democracy. Over time, the research on cabinet duration has improved in technical and theoretical sophistication. However, we note that little attention has been paid to the relationship between governments and the state itself. Our main hypothesis is that state capacity, e.g., factors such as state bureaucratic effectiveness and law and order, shape how easy it is for governments to implement the new policy and thus how well they can achieve policy objectives. We also argue that when state capacity is low, the ability to adequately respond to external shocks goes down, and instability increases. When testing this empirically we find that low state capacity does indeed help us predict an increased risk for early termination—in particular, whether the government ends through a replacement (but not by an early election). Using interaction effects, we also demonstrate that the effect of external shocks, such as an increase in unemployment, is conditional on state capacity. An increase in unemployment only has a significant effect on cabinet stability when state capacity is low, suggesting that the cabinet’s (in)ability to address the economic problems is an important factor for understating cabinet durability.
Dynamic Pivotal Politics
Authors: DZIUDA WIOLETTA , LOEPER ANTOINE
Published: May 2018

We analyze a dynamic extension of a parsimonious model of lawmaking in which preferences evolve over time and today’s policy becomes tomorrow’s status quo. Unlike in existing models of pivotal politics, policy makers’ voting behavior depends on the institutional environment and on their expectations about future economic and political shocks. Relative to sincere voting, the equilibrium behavior exhibits a strategic polarization effect, which increases with the degree of consensus required by the institution, the volatility of the policy environment, and the expected ideological polarization of the future policy makers. The equilibrium behavior also exhibits a strategic policy bias, which works against any exogenous policy bias embedded in the voting rule. Our analysis implies that the existing literature underestimates the inertial effect of checks and balances and overestimates the impact of institutional biases such as fiscally conservative budget procedures.
Corruption and Ideological Voting
Authors: Burlacu Diana
Published: May 2018

This article examines the effect of corruption on ideological voting. Linking previous studies of political corruption with theories of ideological voting, it argues that when corruption is high, voters place less importance on ideology when voting than they otherwise would. The reason for this effect is related to voters’ reduced ability to accurately perceive parties’ positions and to their low political efficacy in these contexts. Using data from ninety-seven elections from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems, the study shows that in countries with high levels of corruption, voters consider ideology less in their voting decisions, partially because they face difficulties identifying parties’ ideological positions and/or they do not believe parties can implement their electoral programmes. These relationships hold even after controlling for socio-economic and political confounders and for voters’ increased likelihood of abstaining when corruption is high.
Explaining the “ebb and flow” of the problem stream: frame conflicts over the future of coal seam gas (“fracking”) in Australia
Authors: Fawcett Paul , Jensen Michael J. , Ransan-Cooper Hedda , Duus Sonya
Published: May 2018

Why do issues “fade” from the problem stream? This is an important but underresearched question, which this article examines by looking at the dynamic interaction between frames and frame sponsors. We develop a novel methodological approach that combines algorithmic coding (topic modelling) with hand-coding to track changes in the presence of frames and frame sponsors during periods of intense problematisation (“problem windows”) both within continuous contexts and diachronically across different contexts. We apply this approach empirically in a corpus of newspaper articles that pertain to the coal seam gas controversy in Australia – a divisive policy issue where frame conflicts are common. We find that elite actors have a particularly decisive impact on the problem stream in terms of both the evolution and duration of debate. Further, problem windows close in response to three different mechanisms: elite frame convergence; public statements (by government and industry); and elections.
Mark Morris: Musician-Choreographer
Authors: Kant Marion
Published: May 2018

Mark Morris: Musician-Choreographer by Stephanie Jordan is unusual in many ways, and there are hardly any volumes to which it can be compared. That alone sets this study apart from other recent titles on choreographers and their works. Jordan's book was published by Dance Books; yet, it is about music more than anything else—a choreographer's relationship to music, his formation and evolution as a dancer and dancemaker through music, the exploration of music through dance, and eventually Mark Morris's arrival in music as a conductor.
Syllables and inflectional morphemes in early Finnish readers: evidence from eye-movements
Authors: HÄIKIÖ Tuomo , VAINIO Seppo
Published: May 2018

Finnish is a language with simple syllable structure but rich morphology. It was investigated whether syllables or morphemes are preferred processing units in early reading. To this end, Finnish first- and second-grade children read sentences with embedded inflected target words while their eye-movements were registered. The target words were either in essive or inessive/adessive (i.e., locative) case. The target words were either non-hyphenated, or had syllable-congruent or syllable-incongruent hyphenation. For the locatives, the syllable-incongruent hyphenation coincided with the morpheme boundary, but this was not the case for the essives. It was shown that the second-graders were slowed down by hyphenation to a larger extent than first-graders. However, there was no slowdown in gaze duration for either age group when the syllable-incongruent hyphen was morpheme-congruent. These findings suggest that Finnish readers already utilize morpheme-level information during the first grade.
Variation of Tamagawa numbers of semistable abelian varieties in field extensions
Authors: BETTS L. ALEXANDER , DOKCHITSER VLADIMIR , DOKCHITSER V. , MORGAN A.
Published: May 2018

We investigate the behaviour of Tamagawa numbers of semistable principally polarised abelian varieties in extensions of local fields. In particular, we give a simple formula for the change of Tamagawa numbers in totally ramified extensions and one that computes Tamagawa numbers up to rational squares in general extensions. As an application, we extend some of the existing results on thep-parity conjecture for Selmer groups of abelian varieties by allowing more general local behaviour. We also give a complete classification of the behaviour of Tamagawa numbers for semistable 2-dimensional principally polarised abelian varieties that is similar to the well-known one for elliptic curves. The appendix explains how to use this classification for Jacobians of genus 2 hyperelliptic curves given by equations of the formy2=f(x), under some simplifying hypotheses.
A point process model for generating biofilms with realistic microstructure and rheology
Authors: STOTSKY JAY ALEXANDER , DUKIC VANJA , BORTZ DAVID M.
Published: May 2018

Biofilms are communities of bacteria that exhibit a multitude of multiscale biomechanical behaviours. Recent experimental advances have led to characterisations of these behaviours in terms of measurements of the viscoelastic moduli of biofilms grown in bioreactors and the fracture and fragmentation properties of biofilms. These properties are macroscale features of biofilms; however, a previous work by our group has shown that heterogeneous microscale features are critical in predicting biofilm rheology. In this paper, we use tools from statistical physics to develop a generative statistical model of the positions of bacteria in biofilms. Specifically, the model is a type of pairwise interaction model (PIM). We show through simulation that the macroscopic mechanical properties of biofilms depend on the choice of microscale spatial model. A key finding is that uniform and non-uniform sets of points lead to differing mechanical properties. This distinction appears not to have been previously considered in mathematical biofilm literature. We also found that realisations of a biologically informed PIM have realisticin silicomechanical properties, and have statistical properties that closely match experimental data. We also note that a Poisson spatial point process of suitable number density also yields realistic mechanical properties, but that the spatial distribution of points does not reflect those occurring in our experimentally observed biofilm.
The European Historic Towns Atlas project: success and challenges (with particular reference to the Irish Historic Towns Atlas)
Authors: SIMMS ANNGRET , GEARTY SARAH
Published: May 2018

The European Historic Towns Atlas project, probably the largest one in European urban history, is conceptually rooted in national histories. Methodologically it is focused on the production and interpretation of large-scale maps primarily for the understanding of urban morphogenesis and the role of morphological agents but also of issues connected with the economic and cultural aspects of urban life. The atlas project now involves 19 countries and with over 520 towns produced across Europe, pioneer comparative urban studies have been published. Comparative work based on theoretical underpinning is the aim of the project and though it holds great potential, it also faces challenges: access to published towns, language barriers and consistency between national productions. It is argued that the digital production of the atlases may provide a chance for a more unified approach in the future.
“MISS X,” TELEPATHY, AND AFFECT ATFIN DE SIÈCLE
Authors: Zieger Susan
Published: May 2018

In his bookApparitions and Thought-Transference:An Examination of the Evidence for Telepathy(1895), Frank Podmore relates what might at first seem a humdrum occurrence of settling into bedtime reading. The diary he has transcribed, of a woman he calls D, records on January 6th, “Tried several books . . . finally took to ‘Villette.’” But D’s choice was not completely autonomous. She was clearly influenced by her friend, “X.” As Podmore wrote, “From Miss X's diary it appears that she willed D to readThe Professor,” which he notes, portentously, was “also by Charlotte Brontë.” X got luckier – or honed her skills – a few weeks later, when D recorded “Sonnets by E.B.B. 10:30 p.m.” and “In Miss X's diary, written at about 10 p.m., appears the entry, ‘Sonnets viii-ix., E.B.B.’” Assessing the records, Podmore found X's influence over D's literary taste to be “presumably telepathic” (122–23). Although the phenomenon was sensational, the circumstances surrounding it were decidedly mundane, ranging from bedtime reading to hearing X's piano-playing at a distance of miles, and meeting specific people at certain times. At a second glance, the phenomenon remains humdrum. Gauri Viswanathan has described how the institutionalization of Theosophy created reality effects that routinized its mysticism, rendering it ordinary (7). Similarly, though psychical research studied the numinous, its institutions ensconced it in bureaucracy, making it mundane. In the last quarter of the nineteenth century in Britain, the oddly interesting-yet-boring phenomenon of thought-reading became a cultural activity that ranged between scientific research, domestic pastime, and popular entertainment. Could people read each other's minds? If so, how was it done? Thought-reading arose to compete with Spiritualism, the practice of contacting the dead through séances. Its most mysterious public persona, and one of the more intriguing historical figures of the period, was Podmore's aficionado of Charlotte Brontë and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the presumed telepath known as Miss X.
HENRY LONGUEVILLE MANSEL'SPHONTISTERION(1852)
Authors: Whiteley Giles
Published: May 2018

Established in 1859,as a merger of the Whigs, Radicals and Peelites, the British Liberal Party and their ideological forerunners won 15 out of a total of 20 parliamentary elections between 1832–1910. Responsible for passing socially progressive legislation domestically, Victorian liberalism can lay claim to being the most significant political ideology of the period. By bringing together aspects of classical social liberalism and liberal free-market conservatism, this specifically Victorian brand of liberalism enabled Britain to take a place at the center of world affairs. Indeed, by the mid-1850s, the emergence of Victorian liberalism had begun to be seen as something of a political necessity, as demonstrated by Thomas Babington Macaulay'sThe History of England from the Accession of James II(1848–61), a foundational text of Whig historicism, in which Lord Charles Grey's 1832 Reform Bill was characterized as the teleological culmination of British history. But while the liberals styled themselves as progressives and their opponents as reactionaries, Whig history has tended to oversimplify the dynamics of this narrative. In this context, Henry Longueville Mansel's closet dramaPhontisterionoffers a fascinating glimpse into a contemporary Tory response to the seemingly irresistible rise of Victorian liberalism.
VICTORIAN LITERATURE AND THE VARIETY OF RELIGIOUS FORMS
Authors: Knight Mark
Published: May 2018

Literary studies is not theonly discipline to show a new enthusiasm for religion in the opening decades of the twenty-first century. When Stanley Fish suggested back in 2005 that religion might become the new theoretical center of gravity in the humanities, his declaration was cited frequently and may have proved a little too convenient for those, like myself, who wanted to see a major theoretical realignment in the humanities’ attitude to religion. But, the reality is that Fish is just one of a number of other prominent theorists in the last twenty years or so to have shown a new appreciation for the theoretical resources that religious thought makes available. Although the term religion is understood very differently across thinkers such as Giorgio Agamben, Judith Butler, Jacques Derrida, Bruno Latour, Sabo Mahmood, Charles Taylor, and Slavoj Žižek, they share a refusal to accept crude notions of the secularization thesis, with its commitment to seeing religion as an irrelevance in the modern world, and are instead determined to see religion as more than just an antiquated ideology that needs to be unmasked.
Poverty and climate change: introduction
Authors: Hallegatte Stephane , Fay Marianne , Barbier Edward B.
Published: May 2018

Because their assets and income represent such a small share of national wealth, the impacts of climate change on poor people, even if dramatic, will be largely invisible in aggregate economic statistics such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Assessing and managing future impacts of climate change on poverty requires different metrics, and specific studies focusing on the vulnerability of poor people. This special issue provides a set of such studies, looking at the exposure and vulnerability of people living in poverty to shocks and stressors that are expected to increase in frequency or intensity due to climate change, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, and impacts on agricultural production and ecosystem services. This introduction summarizes their approach and findings, which support the idea that the link between poverty and climate vulnerability goes both ways: poverty is one major driver of people's vulnerability to climate-related shocks and stressors, and this vulnerability is keeping people in poverty. The paper concludes by identifying priorities for future research.
Diet quality and depressive symptoms in adolescence: no cross-sectional or prospective associations following adjustment for covariates
Authors: Winpenny Eleanor M , van Harmelen Anne-Laura , White Martin , van Sluijs Esther MF , Goodyer Ian M
Published: May 2018

Objective

Adolescence is a critical period for development of depression and understanding of behavioural risk factors is needed to support appropriate preventive strategies. We examined associations between adolescent diet quality and depressive symptoms, cross-sectionally and prospectively, in a large community cohort, adjusting for behavioural and psychosocial covariates.

Design

Prospective community-based cohort study (ROOTS).

Setting

Secondary schools in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, UK.

Subjects

Study participants (n 603) who completed 4 d diet diaries at age 14 years and reported depressive symptoms (Moods and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ)) at 14 and 17 years of age.

Results

Diet data were processed to derive a Mediterranean diet score (MDS) and daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and fish. At age 14 years, a negative association between fruit and vegetable intake and MFQ score was seen in the unadjusted cross-sectional regression model (β=−0·40; 95 % CI −0·71,−0·10), but adjustment for behavioural covariates, including smoking and alcohol consumption, attenuated this association. Fish intake and MDS were not cross-sectionally associated with MFQ score. No prospective associations were found between MDS, fruit and vegetable intake or fish intake and later MFQ score.

Conclusions

Diet quality was not associated with depressive symptoms in mid-adolescence. Previously reported associations in this age range may be due to confounding. Further longitudinal studies are needed that investigate associations between adolescent diet and depression across different time frames and populations, ensuring appropriate adjustment for covariates.
Subjectivity and Sociality in Kant’s Theory of Beauty
Authors: Kalar Brent
Published: May 2018

Kant holds that it is possible to quarrel about judgements of beauty and cultivate taste, but these possibilities have not been adequately accounted for in the dominant interpretations of his aesthetics. They can be better explained if we combine a more subjectivist interpretation of the free harmony of the faculties and aesthetic form with a type of social constructivism. On this ‘subjectivist-constructivist’ reading, quarrelling over and cultivating taste are not attempts to conform to some matter of fact, but rather to reconcile subjective perceptions through mutual interchange governed by the regulative goal of constructing a universal community of agreement.
Kant’s Standpoint Distinction
Authors: Kohl Markus
Published: May 2018

I examine what Kant means when he appeals to different standpoints. I argue that Kant seeks to contrast an empirical, anthropocentric standpoint with a normative, more than human standpoint. Against common interpretations, I argue that the normative standpoint is not confined to practical reason, since theoretical reason is concerned with what ought to be as well. Finally, I defend the coherence of Kant’s distinction against important objections.