bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FAIR VALUATION OF INSURANCE LIABILITY CASH-FLOW STREAMS IN CONTINUOUS TIME: APPLICATIONS
Authors: Delong Łukasz , Dhaene Jan , Barigou Karim
Published: April 2019

Delong et al. (2018) presented a theory of fair (market-consistent and actuarial) valuation of insurance liability cash-flow streams in continuous time. In this paper, we investigate in detail two practical applications of our theory of fair valuation. In the first example, we consider the fair valuation of a terminal benefit which is contingent on correlated tradeable and non-tradeable financial risks. In the second example, we consider a portfolio of unit-linked contracts contingent on a non-tradeable insurance and a tradeable financial risk. We derive partial differential equations (PDEs) which characterize the continuous-time fair valuation operators in these two examples and we find explicit solutions to these PDEs. The fair values of the liabilities are decomposed into the best estimate of the liability and a risk margin. The arbitrage-free representations of the fair values of the liabilities are derived and the dynamic hedging strategies associated with the continuous-time fair valuation operators are also established. Detailed interpretations of the results, which should be useful both for researchers and practitioners, are provided.
Under the Influence: Pay-Offs to Legislative Support Parties under Minority Governments
Authors: Anghel Veronica , Thürk Maria
Published: April 2019

Previous studies show that in multiparty systems the formation of minority governments can be a rational choice. To ensure survival and policy implementation, minority governments make concessions to non-cabinet parties. In this study, we empirically analyse the pay-offs given to support parties under minority governments. We argue that the content of support agreements is conditioned by support party type. Results are based on a two-stage empirical investigation: a text analysis of 10 explicit support arrangements for minority governments in Romania and a within-case comparison of two Romanian minority cabinets with different support arrangements. We employ an original data set of support agreements and elite interviews with former minority cabinet members. We empirically confirm that ethno-regional parties are mostly policy-seeking and target benefits for their specific groups. In contrast, mainstream parties make stronger claims for office distribution. The analysis challenges the widespread understanding that all support parties are mostly policy-seeking.
Teacher acceptability of progressive muscle relaxation in the classroom for the treatment of test anxiety
Authors: O’Donnell Patrick S. , Dunlap Linda L.
Published: April 2019

Test anxiety is experienced by 10–40% of students. The physical symptoms associated with test anxiety may be more likely to be exhibited by elementary students. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) has been demonstrated to reduce physical symptoms of anxiety and could be used in the classroom, but teacher acceptability of PMR for test anxiety has not been assessed. This study used a vignette format to survey 404 first through fifth grade teachers on their acceptability of classroom-based PMR as an intervention for test anxiety. Good levels of acceptability were found for implementation with a school psychologist or counsellor, CD player, or digital music player. Special education teachers reported slightly lower levels of acceptability for using PMR in the digital music player scenario. With good levels of teacher acceptability of PMR to address test anxiety, school psychologists and counsellors may be more likely to recommend the use of PMR in classrooms. Implications for implementation of PMR to reduce test anxiety, study limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Connecting the ISM to TeV PWNe and PWN candidates
Authors: Voisin F. J. , Rowell G. P. , Burton M. G. , Fukui Y. , Sano H. , Aharonian F. , Maxted N. , Braiding C. , Blackwell R. , Lau J.
Published: April 2019

We investigate the interstellar medium towards seven TeV gamma-ray sources thought to be pulsar wind nebulae using Mopra molecular line observations at 7 mm [CS(1–0), SiO(1–0, v = 0)], Nanten CO(1–0) data and the Southern Galactic Plane Survey/GASS Hisurvey. We have discovered several dense molecular clouds co-located to these TeV gamma-ray sources, which allows us to search for cosmic rays coming from progenitor SNRs or, potentially, from pulsar wind nebulae. We notably found SiO(1–0, v = 0) emission towards HESS J1809–193, highlighting possible interaction between the adjacent supernova remnant SNR G011.0–0.0 and the molecular cloud atd∼ 3.7 kpc. Using morphological features, and comparative studies of our column densities with those obtained from X-ray measurements, we claim a distanced∼ 8.6 − 9.7kpc for SNR G292.2–00.5,d∼ 3.5 − 5.6 kpc for PSR J1418–6058 andd∼ 1.5 kpc for the new SNR candidate found towards HESS J1303–631. From our mass and density estimates of selected molecular clouds, we discuss signatures of hadronic/leptonic components from pulsar wind nebulae and their progenitor SNRs. Interestingly, the molecular gas, which overlaps HESS J1026–582 atd∼ 5 kpc, may support a hadronic origin. We find however that this scenario requires an undetected cosmic-ray accelerator to be located atd< 10 pc from the molecular cloud. For HESS J1809–193, the cosmic rays which have escaped SNR G011.0–0.0 could contribute to the TeV gamma-ray emission. Finally, from the hypothesis that at most 20% the pulsar spin down power could be converted into CRs, we find that among the studied pulsar wind nebulae, only those from PSR J1809–1917 could potentially contribute to the TeV emission.
Policy Ideology in European Mass Publics, 1981–2016
Authors: CAUGHEY DEVIN , O’GRADY TOM , WARSHAW CHRISTOPHER
Published: April 2019

Using new scaling methods and a comprehensive public opinion dataset, we develop the first survey-based time-series–cross-sectional measures of policy ideology in European mass publics. Our dataset covers 27 countries and 36 years and contains nearly 2.7 million survey responses to 109 unique issue questions. Estimating an ordinal group-level IRT model in each of four issue domains, we obtain biennial estimates of the absolute economic conservatism, relative economic conservatism, social conservatism, and immigration conservatism of men and women in three age categories in each country. Aggregating the group-level estimates yields estimates of the average conservatism in national publics in each biennium between 1981–82 and 2015–16. The four measures exhibit contrasting cross-sectional cleavages and distinct temporal dynamics, illustrating the multidimensionality of mass ideology in Europe. Subjecting our measures to a series of validation tests, we show that the constructs they measure are distinct and substantively important and that they perform as well as or better than one-dimensional proxies for mass conservatism (left–right self-placement and median voter scores). We foresee many uses for these scores by scholars of public opinion, electoral behavior, representation, and policy feedback.
The diagnostic utility of sequence-based assays for the molecular delimitation of the epidemiologically relevantCulex pipiens pipienstaxa (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Francuski L. , Gojković N. , Krtinić B. , Milankov V.
Published: April 2019

The northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens pipiensL.) is a vector of several important pathogens and comprises two epidemiologically distinct ecotypes (molestusForskål andpipiens). The delimitation of its ecotypes is a crucial, yet controversial step in vector surveillance due to varying diagnostic values of different characters. Therefore, we reviewed the success of a diagnostic assay based on the mitochondrial cytochromecoxidase subunit I locus (COI) by analyzing previously published sequences ofmolestusandpipienssampled in different geographical areas. Next, by genotyping individuals from Northern Serbia at this locus, we additionally assessed whether genetic structure of urban and ruralCx. p. pipiensecotypes corresponded to the admixture pattern. Finally, to account for the different susceptibility of genetic markers to introgression, we also analyzed genetic structuring based on the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2). No latitude-dependent differentiation ofCx. p. pipiensecotypes was found at a global level, with theCOIassay further failing to accurately identifymolestusandpipiensecotypes. Likewise, both individual- (BAPS) and population-based (analysis of molecular variance andFSTestimates) methods showed no significant urban/rural genetic differentiation in Serbia, indicating unhindered gene flow between differentCx. p. pipienshabitat types. The findings challenge the previous instances ofCx. p. pipiensecotype identification, while also spotlighting the vectorial capacity of their hybrid offspring.
Pest kill rate as aggregate evaluation criterion to rank biological control agents: a case study with Neotropical predators of Tuta absoluta on tomato
Authors: van Lenteren J.C. , Bueno V.H.P. , Burgio G. , Lanzoni A. , Montes F.C. , Silva D.B. , de Jong P.W. , Hemerik L.
Published: April 2019

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), a key pest of tomato, is quickly spreading over the world and biological control is considered as one of the control options. Worldwide more than 160 species of natural enemies are associated with this pest, and an important challenge is to quickly find an effective biocontrol agent from this pool of candidate species. Evaluation criteria for control agents are presented, with the advantages they offer for separating potentially useful natural enemies from less promising ones. Next, an aggregate parameter for ranking agents is proposed: the pest kill rate km. We explain why the predator's intrinsic rate of increase cannot be used for comparing the control potential of predators or parasitoids, while km can be used to compare both types of natural enemies. As an example, kill rates for males, females and both sexes combined of three Neotropical mirid species (Campyloneuropsis infumatus (Carvalho), Engytatus varians (Distant) and Macrolophus basicornis (Stål)) were determined, taking all life-history data (developmental times, survival rates, total nymphal and adult predation, sex ratios and adult lifespan) into account. Based on the value for the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) for T. absoluta and for the kill rate km of the predators, we predict that all three predators are potentially able to control the pest, because their km values are all higher than the rm of the pest. Using only km values, we conclude that E. varians is the best candidate for control of T. absoluta on tomato, with C. infumatus ranking second and M. basicornis last.
Production of alarm pheromone starts at embryo stage and is modulated by rearing conditions and farnesyl diphosphate synthase genes in the bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi
Authors: Sun C.-X. , Li Z.-X.
Published: April 2019

The major component of aphid alarm pheromone is (E)-β-farnesene (EβF), but the molecular mechanisms of EβF synthesis are poorly understood. Here we established a biological model to study the modulation of EβF synthesis in the bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and RNA interference. Our results showed that the rearing conditions significantly affected the weight of adult and modulated EβF synthesis in a transgenerational manner. Specifically, the quantity of EβF per milligram of aphid was significantly reduced in the individually reared adult or 1st-instar nymphs derived from 1-day-old adult reared individually, but EβF in the nymph derived from 2-day-old adult that experienced collective conditions returned to normal. Further study revealed that the production of EβF started in embryo and was extended to early nymphal stage, which was modulated by farnesyl diphosphate synthase genes (RpFPPS1 and RpFPPS2) and rearing conditions. Knockdown of RpFPPS1 and RpFPPS2 confirmed the role played by FPPS in the biosynthesis of aphid alarm pheromone. Our results suggested that the production of EβF starts at the embryo stage and is modulated by FPPS and rearing conditions in R. padi, which sheds lights on the modulatory mechanisms of EβF in the aphid.
Personal Identity and the Body
Authors: Gert Bernard
Published: April 2019

I see someone who looks vaguely familiar. I wonder if he could be the same person I had a fight with on my birthday ten years ago. I hear that some scientist has received the Nobel prize in chemistry for some work very similar to that which interested the brightest boy in my chemistry class twenty years ago. I wonder if that scientist and the brightest boy might be the same person. What facts, if they could be discovered, would be decisive in answering these questions? Are there any facts that, if it turns out that they do not obtain, would show conclusively that the two people are not the same person? That is, are there any necessary conditions for personal identity? Are there any facts that, if it turns out that they do obtain, would show conclusively that the two people are the same person? That is, are there any sufficient conditions for personal identity?
Butyric acid as a promising alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chicken production
Authors: Raza M. , Biswas A. , Mir N. A. , Mandal A. B.
Published: April 2019

The current work studied the effects of butyric acid (BA) supplementation on the growth performance, carcase characteristics, immunity, gut histology and serum biochemistry of broiler chicken. Four experimental diets were formulated: control, 20 mg bacitracin methylene di-salicylate/kg diet (BMD-supplemented), 3 g BA/kg diet and 4 g BA/kg diet. The results revealed higher body weight gain (BWG) in BA and BMD-supplemented groups. Only BMD supplementation increased the feed intake (FI) of birds, whereas BA supplementation improved feed efficiency. Expression of glucose transporter (GLUT5), sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT1) and peptide transporter (PepT1) were up-regulated due to BMD and BA supplementation. However, at 21 days post-hatching SGLT1 expression in the BMD-supplemented group was down-regulated with respect to the BA-supplemented groups. The 4 g BA/kg diet yielded better humoral and cell-mediated immune responses than the other groups. No dietary effects were observed on carcase characteristics and histomorphometry of jejunum at 7 days post-hatching. However, at 42 days old, the 4 g BA/kg diet increased villus length and width significantly. There was a significant increase in serum protein, albumin, creatinine, aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), phosphorus and calcium due to BA supplementation. However, the reverse trend was observed in serum uric acid and cholesterol, where BA supplementation decreased both and BMD supplementation decreased uric acid levels only. Based on the results it was concluded that 4 g BA/kg diet supplementation in feed is optimal for desirable broiler production.
Anatomical variation of the sphenoid sinus in paediatric patients and its association with age and chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Odat H , Almardeeni D , Tanash M , Al-Qudah M
Published: April 2019

Objective

To report the prevalence of different anatomical variations of the sphenoid sinus and its related structures among paediatric patients with or without chronic rhinosinusitis.

Methods

Computed tomography scans of 50 paediatric patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were reviewed and compared to 50 scans of paediatric patients without chronic rhinosinusitis. The type of sphenoid sinus pneumatisation and the surrounding structures were thoroughly analysed. The patients were divided into three groups according to age.

Results

Mean age was 10.9 years (range, 4–16 years). The sellar configuration was the commonest in all groups, while the conchal type was the least common. There were significant differences between paediatric patients with or without sinusitis in: sphenoid sinus pneumatisation type, vidian canal type and Onodi cell presence. In addition, there were significant differences between age groups in: sphenoid sinus pneumatisation type, single sinus septum and multiple septa presence, and internal carotid artery bulging.

Conclusion

Age and sinusitis have a significant impact on sphenoid pneumatisation type and surrounding structure variation. Recognition of these variations can be useful for mapping this region, and enables a safer and more efficient endoscopic surgical procedure.
Endoscopic septoplasty: literature review, surgical techniques and retrospective analysis at the University Hospitals Leuven
Authors: Vandenbroeck S , Jorissen M
Published: April 2019

Background

Endoscopic septoplasty is an alternative approach for a deviated nasal septum. Since its introduction, numerous techniques have been developed, each with its own advantages and limitations. A literature review is presented, along with our experience with endoscopic spur resection.

Methods

The Medline and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant literature, and the records of all patients undergoing endoscopic spur resection at the University Hospitals Leuven between 2001 and 2015 were reviewed.

Results and conclusion

Endoscopic septoplasty offers improved visualisation and the option of limited flap dissection, which are particularly helpful when dealing with isolated spurs, posterior deviations and revision septoplasty. It enhances teaching and improves surgical transition to endoscopic sinus surgery. Reported success and complication rates are comparable to those seen in traditional approaches. Endoscopic spur resection, as conducted at the University Hospitals Leuven, was shown to be a quick, safe and efficient technique when dealing with isolated septal spurs, especially when combined with endoscopic sinus surgery.
Revisiting ADHD age-of-onset in adults: to what extent should we rely on the recall of childhood symptoms?
Authors: Breda V. , Rohde L. A. , Menezes A. M. B. , Anselmi L. , Caye A. , Rovaris D. L. , Vitola E. S. , Bau C. H. D. , Grevet E. H.
Published: April 2019

Background

ADHD diagnosis requires the presence of symptoms before the age of twelve. In clinical assessment of adults, the most frequent strategy to check this criterion is investigating self-report recall of symptoms, despite little evidence on the validity of this approach. We aim to evaluate the recall accuracy and factors associated with its reliability in a large population-based sample of adults.

Methods

Individuals from the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort were followed-up from childhood to adulthood. At the age of 22, 3810 individuals were assessed through structured interviews by trained psychologists regarding mental health outcomes, including ADHD diagnosis and ADHD symptoms in childhood. The retrospective recall was compared with available information on ADHD childhood symptoms at the age of eleven. We also assessed factors related to recall accuracy through multiple regression analyses.

Results

Self-reported recall of childhood symptoms at 22 years of age had an accuracy of only 55.4%, with sensitivity of 32.8% and positive predictive value of 40.7%. Current inattention symptoms were associated with lower risk and social phobia with higher risk for false-positive endorsement, while higher levels of schooling correlated with lower risk and male gender with higher risk for false-negative endorsement.

Conclusions

Clinicians treating male patients with social phobia and ADHD symptoms should assess even more carefully retrospective recall of ADHD childhood symptoms. Moreover, characteristics associated with recall improvement do not impact accuracy robustly. In this context, the recall of childhood ADHD symptoms seems an unreliable method to characterize the neurodevelopmental trajectory in adults with currently-impairing ADHD symptomatology.
Epistolary Liveness: Narrative Presence and the Victorian Actress in Letters
Authors: Eriks Cline Lauren
Published: April 2019

In an influential essay on the place of autobiography in theatre history, Thomas Postlewait puts Fanny Kemble's memoirs at the crux of a historiographical problem. The literary sensibility of Kemble's work appears to Postlewait an instance of both the theatrical memoir's cultural richness and its limitations as biographical evidence: although Kemble's “epistolary mode of self-representation” gives her autobiography Records of a Girlhood “a documentary quality,” for example, even her “earliest letters reveal a calculated literary style” that signals her awareness of the “traits and conventions” of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century novels. In her consciousness of narrative trends, Kemble stands out as a particularly clear example of a general tendency in theatrical autobiographies of the period. As the nineteenth century's booming print market expanded the audience for stories about theatregoing, it also drew readers who were increasingly familiar with novelistic experiments in plotting, characterization, and point of view. This shared audience encouraged an exchange of discursive conventions across fictional and historical narratives, which makes memoirs a compelling but complicated source of historical data about nineteenth-century theatre. Indeed, the two-way influence between genres is so strong that Postlewait argues scholars “need to ask to what extent these autobiographies exist not only as historical records but as epistolary fictions.”
Influence of backstreaming ions on spot size of 2 MeV electron beam
Authors: Trunev Yury , Skovorodin Dmitry , Astrelin Vitaly , Danilov Valerii , Burdakov Alexander , Kurkuchekov Victor , Popov Sergey , Sinitsky Stanislav , Tarakanov Vladimir , Atlukhanov Magomedriza
Published: April 2019

Influence of backstreaming ions from the target on spot size of focused 2 MeV electron beam was considered. The 2D version of the particle-in-cell code KARAT was used to study the formation of the ions stream and dynamics of the electron beam. It was shown that light species emitted from the target can disrupt the beam. The emission of low-ionized states of tantalum cannot disrupt the beam during about 30 ns or longer. A few non-invasive techniques of mitigation of the beam disruption were considered. Final magnetic lens with fast variation of magnetic field of several hundred Ampere-turns per nanosecond is capable to stabilize initial spot size of the compressed beam at the target.
Adaptation Mechanism of Asymmetrical Potential Field Improving Precision of Position Tracking in the Case of Nonholonomic UAVs
Authors: Kownacki Cezary , Ambroziak Leszek
Published: April 2019

Position-tracking problems in the structures of rigid formations of nonholonomic mobile robots, such as fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs), must reconcile tracking precision and flight stability, which usually exclude each other due to nonholonomic motion constraints. Therefore, a position-tracking control that is based on distance and position displacement, defined as inputs of control loops, requires the application of dead zones around target positions, which are the points of instability. For this reason, the control becomes sensitive to any external disturbance causing oscillations of control signals and so it becomes difficult to maintain a zero value of position displacement over a long time horizon. Thus, we propose an approach based on the adaptive mechanism of an asymmetrical local artificial potential field, which is defined by a local frame of reference whose origin is located in the tracked position of a UAV in the formation frame. It couples controls of both airspeed and heading angle into a nonlinear potential function of relative position and orientation with respect to the tracked position and adapts it according to heading rate of the leader. The function splits the area around the tracked position longitudinally into two zones of acceleration and deceleration; therefore, velocity vectors are longer (higher airspeed) only when a UAV is behind the tracked position and shorter (lower airspeed) when it is ahead. The area is laterally symmetrical, and orientations of velocity vectors align asymptotically to the longitudinal direction accordingly with the decrease in the lateral error. Finally, velocity vectors are rotated proportionally to the heading rate of the leader, which improves the tracking precision during turns. If we assumed that a UAV’s tracked position is in motion, it could easily be proven that the position control based on the adaptive asymmetrical potential function becomes asymptotically stable in the tracked position. Numerical simulation verifies this thesis and presents more precise and stable position tracking due to the adaptation mechanism.
Adaptive Neural Feedback Linearizing Control of Type (m,s) Mobile Manipulators with a Guaranteed Prescribed Performance
Authors: Shojaei Khoshnam , Kazemy Ali
Published: April 2019

In this paper, a neural network (NN)-based tracking controller is proposed for a general class of type (m,s) wheeled mobile manipulators (WMMs) subjected to model uncertainties with prescribed transient and steady-state performance specifications. First, an input–output model of WMMs is derived by introducing proper output equations. Then, the prescribed performance technique is employed to propose a proportional integral derivative trajectory tracking controller for WMMs to ensure that the tracking errors converge to a smaller, arbitrary ultimate bound with a predefined maximum overshoot/undershoot and convergence speed. The learning capabilities of multilayer NNs are incorporated into the controller to approximate the uncertain nonlinear dynamics of the robot. An adaptive saturation-type controller is utilized to compensate NN estimation errors and external disturbances. A Lyapunov-based stability analysis is used to demonstrate that the tracking errors are uniformly ultimately bounded and converge to a small neighborhood of zero with a guaranteed prescribed performance. Numerical computer simulations are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Design and Development of a Novel 2-Degree-of-Freedom Parallel Robot
Authors: Cheng Changxi , Huang Wenkai , Zhang Chunliang
Published: April 2019

Parallel robots are widely used in the fields of manufacturing, medical science, education, scientific research, etc. Many studies have been conducted on the topic already. However, shortcomings still exist, especially in certain situations. To meet the demand of good speed and load performances at the same time, this work presents a novel 2-degree-of-freedom parallel robot. The structural design, static, stiffness, and reachable workspace analysis of the robot are given in the manuscript. Experiment regarding the accuracy and speed performance is conducted, and the results are provided. In the end, potential applications of the proposed robot are suggested.
Symmetric quotients of knot groups and a filtration of the Gordian graph
Authors: BAADER SEBASTIAN , KJUCHUKOVA ALEXANDRA
Published: April 2019

We define a metric filtration of the Gordian graph by an infinite family of 1-dense subgraphs. The nth subgraph of this family is generated by all knots whose fundamental groups surject to a symmetric group with parameter at least n, where all meridians are mapped to transpositions. Incidentally, we verify the Meridional Rank Conjecture for a family of knots with unknotting number one yet arbitrarily high bridge number.
Breeding success and population growth of Southern Ground Hornbills Bucorvus leadbeateri in an area supplemented with nest-boxes
Authors: CARSTENS KATE F. , KASSANJEE RESHMA , LITTLE ROB M. , RYAN PETER G. , HOCKEY PHIL A. R.
Published: April 2019

The provision of artificial nests can improve the conservation status of threatened bird species that are limited by nest-site availability. The shortage of natural cavity nesting sites is one factor limiting the population growth of the Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri. In an 1,800 km2 study area in north-eastern South Africa, 31 wooden nest-boxes were installed during 2002–2015. We investigated the relationships between nests, as well as environmental and social factors, with breeding. Generalised linear mixed models were fitted to the observational data and identified positive relationships between breeding attempts and each of home range size and the previous year’s rainfall; as well as positive relationships between breeding success (amongst the groups that attempt breeding) and each of earlier breeding, nest height and thickness of the nest cavity wall. The provision of nest-boxes increased the number of breeding groups and although breeding success also increased initially, it later declined as the density of breeding groups increased above 20 groups. Although nest-boxes alone did not increase overall breeding success, they are an effective conservation tool to enhance the population of Southern Ground Hornbills if spaced optimally, to enhance reproductive output in areas where suitable nest-sites are scarce or lacking.
Novel use of a 3D printed heart model to guide simultaneous percutaneous repair of severe pulmonary regurgitation and right ventricular outflow tract aneurysm
Authors: Jivanji Salim G. M. , Qureshi Shakeel A. , Rosenthal Eric
Published: April 2019

We describe percutaneous repair of severe pulmonary regurgitation and a right ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm in a 19-year-old patient after repair of pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect, and major aortopulmonary collaterals. A 3D printed model of his heart was used to simulate percutaneous repair with a closure device in the aneurysm neck and a Venus P-valve in the right ventricular outflow tract. The encouraging findings from the simulation allowed us to plan the complex procedure effectively with a successful outcome and avoidance of surgery.
Altered brain functional networks in Internet gaming disorder: independent component and graph theoretical analysis under a probability discounting task
Authors: Wang Ziliang , Liu Xiaoyue , Hu Yanbo , Zheng Hui , Du Xiaoxia , Dong Guangheng
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is becoming a matter of concern around the world. However, the neural mechanism underlying IGD remains unclear. The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences between the neuronal network of IGD participants and that of recreational Internet game users (RGU).

Methods

Imaging and behavioral data were collected from 18 IGD participants and 20 RGU under a probability discounting task. The independent component analysis (ICA) and graph theoretical analysis (GTA) were used to analyze the data.

Results

Behavioral results showed the IGD participants, compared to RGU, prefer risky options to the fixed ones and spent less time in making risky decisions. In imaging results, the ICA analysis revealed that the IGD participants showed stronger functional connectivity (FC) in reward circuits and executive control network, as well as lower FC in anterior salience network (ASN) than RGU; for the GTA results, the IGD participants showed impaired FC in reward circuits and ASN when compared with RGU.

Conclusions

These results suggest that IGD participants were more sensitive to rewards, and they were more impulsive in decision-making as they could not control their impulsivity effectively. This might explain why IGD participants cannot stop their gaming behaviors even when facing severe negative consequences.
Robust stylometric analysis and author attribution based on tones and rimes
Authors: Hou Renkui , Huang Chu-Ren
Published: April 2019

In this article, we propose an innovative and robust approach to stylometric analysis without annotation and leveraging lexical and sub-lexical information. In particular, we propose to leverage the phonological information of tones and rimes in Mandarin Chinese automatically extracted from unannotated texts. The texts from different authors were represented by tones, tone motifs, and word length motifs as well as rimes and rime motifs. Support vector machines and random forests were used to establish the text classification model for authorship attribution. From the results of the experiments, we conclude that the combination of bigrams of rimes, word-final rimes, and segment-final rimes can discriminate the texts from different authors effectively when using random forests to establish the classification model. This robust approach can in principle be applied to other languages with established phonological inventory of onset and rimes.
Collusion in palliative care: an exploratory study with the Collusion Classification Grid
Authors: Stiefel Friedrich , Nakamura Kenji , Ishitani Kunihiko , Bourquin Céline , Saraga Michael
Published: April 2019

Objective

Collusion is a largely unconscious, dynamic bond, which may occur between patients and clinicians, between patients and family members, or between different health professionals. It is widely prevalent in the palliative care setting and provokes intense emotions, unreflective behavior, and negative impact on care. However, research on collusion is limited due to a lack of conceptual clarity and robust instruments to investigate this complex phenomenon. We have therefore developed the Collusion Classification Grid (CCG), which we aimed to evaluate with regard to its potential utility to analyze instances of collusion, be it for the purpose of supervision in the clinical setting or research.

Method

Situations of difficult interactions with patients with advanced disease (N = 10), presented by clinicians in supervision with a liaison psychiatrist were retrospectively analyzed by means of the CCG.

Result

1) All items constituting the grid were mobilized at least once; 2) one new item had to be added; and 3) the CCG identified different types of collusion.

Significance of results

This case series of collusions assessed with the CCG is a first step before the investigation of larger samples with the CCG. Such studies could search and identify setting-dependent and recurrent types of collusions, and patterns emerging between the items of the CCG. A better grasp of collusion could ultimately lead to a better understanding of the impact of collusion on the patient encounter and clinical decision-making.
Substance misuse and parenting: making drugs and gender in the family court
Authors: Flacks Simon
Published: April 2019

Children tend to be represented as the quintessential victims of the ‘drug problem’, with drug-using parents, particularly mothers, characterised as vectors of the risks posed. Although evidence of drug use is not per se an impediment to retaining care of, or contact with, children (per Lady Hale inRe B[2013] UKSC 33, at para. 143), it does pose one of the greatest challenges to social and political norms about ‘good parenting’, and often has a powerful impact on decisions about care within UK family courts. While there is a considerable body of scholarship assessing criminal justice responses to drug use, there has been little research into how the family serves as an important site for the constitution of drug harms and the making of ‘drugs’ and ‘addiction’. This paper is informed by qualitative analysis of approximately 150 case reports in which drug use has been cited as relevant in the determination of guardianship/parenting. The purpose will not be to contest the difficult decisions that judges had to make in these cases but, using perspectives rooted in Science and Technology Studies and feminist drug scholarship, to remain attendant to the ontological multiplicity of objects that emerge from attempts to stabilise drug harms in legal narratives.
Cooking with shea butter is associated with lower blood pressure in the Ghanaian population
Authors: Kofi Amegah A. , Brahuah Emmanuel , Stranges Saverio
Published: April 2019

Abstract. The cardiovascular health benefits of shea butter, an edible off-white or ivory-colored fat native to West Africans has never been investigated. This is in spite of anecdotal evidence, which suggests that shea butter may have medicinal properties and its bioactive constituents lower certain cardiovascular risk markers. We hypothesized that cooking with shea butter would be associated with lower blood pressure (BP) in the Ghanaian population. Data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, a nationally representative population-based survey was analyzed. A total of 9396 women aged 15-49 years and 4388 men aged 15-59 years selected from 12,831 sampled households were included in the study. Respondents with average systolic BP of ≥140 mmHg or average diastolic BP of ≥90 mmHg were classified as hypertensive. Multivariable linear and logistic regression adjusting for gender, age, area of residence, religion, ethnic group, marital status, education and wealth index was used to establish the association between shea butter consumption and BP. Overall prevalence of hypertension in the population was 15.1%. Shea butter consumption was associated with 2.43 mmHg (95% CI: −3.54, −1.31) and 1.78 mmHg (95% CI: −2.71, −0.86) decrease in systolic BP and diastolic BP, respectively, and 25% (AOR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.55, 1.04) reduced odds of hypertension, compared to use of vegetable oils. Region of residence appeared to modify the relationship. We found an association of shea butter consumption with lower BP, which provides the rationale for investigation through rigorous study designs to evaluate the benefits of shea butter consumption for prevention of hypertension and improved cardiovascular health.
Ocean‐Scale Interactions From Space
Authors: Klein Patrice , Lapeyre Guillaume , Siegelman Lia , Qiu Bo , Fu Lee‐Lueng , Torres Hector , Su Zhan , Menemenlis Dimitris , Le Gentil Sylvie
Published: April 2019

Satellite observations of the last two decades have led to a major breakthrough emphasizing the existence of a strongly energetic mesoscale turbulent eddy field in all the oceans. This ocean mesoscale turbulence is characterized by cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies (with a 100‐ to 300‐km size and depth scales of ∼500–1,000 m) that capture approximatively 80% of the total kinetic energy and is now known to significantly impact the large‐scale ocean circulation, the ocean's carbon storage, the air‐sea interactions, and therefore the Earth climate as a whole. However, ocean mesoscale turbulence revealed by satellite observations has properties that differ from those related to classical geostrophic turbulence theories. In the last decade, a large number of theoretical and numerical studies has pointed to submesoscale surface fronts (1–50 km), not resolved by satellite altimeters, as the key suspect explaining these discrepancies. Submesoscale surface fronts have been shown to impact mesoscale eddies and the large‐scale ocean circulation in counterintuitive ways, leading in particular to up‐gradient fluxes. The ocean engine is now known to involve energetic scale interactions, over a much broader range of scales than expected one decade ago, from 1 to 5,000 km. New space observations with higher spatial resolution are however needed to validate and improve these recent theoretical and numerical results.
Thermophysical Properties of the North Polar Residual Cap using Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer
Authors: Bapst J. , Byrne S. , Bandfield J. L. , Hayne P. O.
Published: April 2019

Using derived temperatures from thermal‐infrared instruments aboard orbiting spacecraft, we constrain the thermophysical properties, in the upper few meters, of the north polar residual cap of Mars. In line with previous authors we test a homogeneous thermal model (i.e., depth‐independent thermal properties), simulating water ice of varying porosity against observed temperatures. We find that high thermal inertia (>1,000 J m−2 K−1 s 1/2 or <40% porosity) provides the best fit for most of the residual cap. Additionally, we test the observed data against models with depth‐dependent thermal properties. Models tested converge on similar solutions: we find extensive regions of low surface thermal inertia consistent with a porous layer at the surface (>40% porosity) that densifies with depth into a zero‐porosity ice layer at shallow depths (<0.5 m). We interpret this as evidence of recent water ice accumulation. Our results along the edge of the residual cap imply that denser (<40% porosity) ice is present at the surface and coincides with lower albedo. These results suggest that older ice is undergoing exhumation along much of the residual cap margin. The results support recent water ice accumulation having occurred over specific regions, while ablation dominates in others.
A Carbon Flux Assessment Driven by Environmental Factors Over the Tibetan Plateau and Various Permafrost Regions
Authors: Lin Shan , Wang Genxu , Feng Jinming , Dan Li , Sun Xiangyang , Hu Zhaoyong , Chen Xiaopeng , Xiao Xiao
Published: April 2019

In this study, the spatiotemporal changes in net primary production (NPP) and drivers, including climate change, atmospheric CO2 concentration and land use change, over the Tibetan Plateau from 1979 to 2016 were investigated using the version 4.5 of the Community Land Model. Based on high‐resolution atmospheric forcing data, six numerical experiments were designed to assess the relative contribution of different environmental factors on NPP. Our simulation results suggest that NPP over the Tibetan Plateau has increased significantly at a rate of 2.25 Tg C/year2 since 1979. At the plateau scale, changes in precipitation, CO2 concentration, and land use change contributed approximately 63.3%, 16.7%, and 9.5% to the interannual variation of NPP, respectively. Temperature did not exert a significant effect on the trends of NPP, which results from the increasing temperature enhancing the autotrophic respiration (AR) more than the gross primary production. We also divided the alpine grasslands into four types, including alpine meadow of permafrost, alpine steppe of permafrost, alpine meadow of seasonal frost, and alpine steppe of seasonal frost. We found that the increasing rate of NPP in permafrost regions was significantly higher than that in seasonal frost regions. Compared with other factors, precipitation change played a dominant role in the NPP over the four different types of grasslands. Temperature‐induced change on NPP and AR was larger in the alpine meadow regions compared to in the alpine steppe regions. In addition, NPP and AR showed a more remarkable response to temperature change over alpine meadow of permafrost than other regions.
Sensitivity of a Continuum‐Scale Porous Media Heat and Mass Transfer Model to the Spatial‐Discretization Length‐Scale of Applied Atmospheric Forcing Data
Authors: Trautz Andrew C. , Illangasekare Tissa H. , Howington Stacy , Cihan Abdullah
Published: April 2019

Fundamental process understanding and description of heat, mass, and momentum exchanges across the land‐atmosphere interface in model boundary forcing parameterizations is critical to the simulation of near‐surface soil moisture dynamics (e.g., bare‐soil evaporation). This study explores the sensitivity of a continuum‐scale porous media heat and mass transfer model to the spatial‐discretization length‐scales (i.e., spatial‐resolution) of near‐surface atmospheric data; the goal is to determine how much data are needed to force the model and adequately capture evaporative water losses and subsurface state variable distributions. The requisite atmospheric forcing data were taken from the high‐resolution, precision bare‐soil evaporation experiments of Trautz et al. (2018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR023102). Simulation results demonstrated that shallow subsurface mass and heat transfer dynamics can be adequately captured with forcing data averaged over large length‐scales, or a minimal number of measurements, provided that soil conditions are properly described. The soil moisture spatial distributions were found to be insensitive to horizontal variations in the forcing data. The model failed to capture small‐scale trends observed experimentally; this did not impact the accuracy of total evaporative water loss estimates however. These results indicate that in future physical experimental efforts conducted at 1–10‐m length‐scales, there is no need to focus on the generation of high‐spatial resolution atmospheric measurements—time and effort would be better spent in characterizing soil conditions and properties. Even though a theoretical foundation was not provided to directly extrapolate this work to the field scale, these findings have practical value in designing field data collection strategies.
Are Soil Moisture and Latent Heat Overcoupled in Land Models?
Authors: Sidder Aaron
Published: April 2019

A novel statistical approach demonstrates how to reduce bias in remote sensing estimates of soil moisture and latent heat flux coupling strength and clarifies the relationship between the variables.
NOAA Monitoring Stations Are Off-Line from a GPS Y2K Moment
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: April 2019

The outage could last until November for some stations.
The Role of the Subtropical Jet in Deficient Winter Precipitation Across the Mid‐Holocene Indus Basin
Authors: Hunt K. M. R. , Turner A. G.
Published: April 2019

The mid‐Holocene (7–5 ka) was a period with an increased seasonal insolation cycle, resulting from decreased insolation during northern hemisphere winter. Here, a set of six CMIP5 models is used to show that the decreased insolation reduced the upper‐tropospheric meridional temperature gradient, producing a weaker subtropical jet with less horizontal shear. These effects work to reduce the baroclinic and barotropic instability available for perturbations to grow, and in consequence, storm‐tracking results show that there are fewer winter storms over India and Pakistan (known as western disturbances). These western disturbances are weaker, resulting in a reduction in winter precipitation of around 15% in the north Indus Basin. Combined with previous work showing greater northwestward extent of the Indian monsoon during the mid‐Holocene, our Global climate models‐derived results are consistent with the Indus Basin changing from a summer‐growing season in the mid‐Holocene to a winter‐growing season in the present day.
Some Properties of the Solar Wind Turbulence at 1 AU Statistically Examined in the Different Types of Solar Wind Plasma
Authors: Borovsky Joseph E. , Denton Michael H. , Smith Charles W.
Published: April 2019

A four‐plasma classification scheme is used to categorize the ACE solar wind data set into four types of plasma: (1) coronal‐hole‐origin plasma, (2) streamer‐belt‐origin plasma, (3) sector‐reversal‐region plasma, and (4) ejecta. The statistical properties of the solar wind fluctuations at 1 AU are analyzed for each of the four types of plasma in the years 1998–2008 using ACE magnetic field and plasma measurements. Between the four types of solar wind plasma there are subtle statistical differences in the spectral indices of (a) trace‐B, (b) trace‐v, (c) total energy, (d) magnetic intensity, and (e) plasma number density. Between the four types of plasma there are significant statistical differences (a) in the Elsässer inward and outward spectral indices, (b) in the outward imbalance, (c) in the Alfvénicity, (d) in the normalized vector‐B, vector‐v, magnetic intensity, and number density fluctuation amplitudes, (e) in the population of strong current sheets, (f) in the population of sudden velocity shears, (g) in the anisotropies of magnetic field and velocity fluctuations, and (h) in the parallel‐to‐B magnetic field fluctuation spectral index. It is argued that the four‐plasma categorization scheme is superior to a slow‐versus‐fast categorization for the study of turbulence and fluctuations in the solar wind.