bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influences of Ultrafine Slag Slurry Prepared by Wet Ball Milling on the Properties of Concrete
Authors: Li Yubo , Dai Shaobin , He Xingyang , Su Ying
Published: June 2018

The application of ultrafine ground‐granulated blast‐furnace slag (GGBFS) in concrete becomes widely used for high performance and environmental sustainability. The form of ultrafine slag (UFS) used in concrete is powder for convenience of transport and store. Drying‐grinding‐drying processes are needed before the application for wet emission. This paper aims at exploring the performances of concrete blended with GGBFS in form of slurry. The ultrafine slag slurry (UFSS) was obtained by the process of grinding the original slag in a wet ball mill, which was mixed in concrete directly. The durations of grinding were 20 min, 40 min, and 60 min which were used to replace Portland cement with different percentages, namely, 20, 35, and 50, and were designed to compare cement with original slag concrete. The workability was investigated in terms of fluidity. Microstructure and pore structure were evaluated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The fluidity of concrete mixed with UFSS is deteriorated slightly. The microstructure and early strength were obviously improved with the grind duration extended.
An Analytical Theory of Piezoresistive Effects in Hall Plates with Large Contacts
Authors: Ausserlechner Udo
Published: June 2018

Four-terminal transducers can be used to measure the magnetic field via the Hall effect or the mechanical stress via the piezoresistance effect. Both effects are described by an anisotropic conductivity tensor with small offdiagonal elements. This has led other authors to the conclusion that there is some kind of analogy. In both cases the output voltage depends on the geometry of the device and the size of the contacts. For Hall plates this influence is accounted for by the Hall-geometry factor. The alleged analogy proposes that the Hall-geometry factor also applies to four-terminal stress transducers. This paper shows that the analogy holds only for a limited class of devices. Moreover, it is shown that devices of different geometries may have identical magnetic field sensitivity but different mechanical stress sensitivities. Thus, shape optimization makes sense for mechanical stress sensors. In extreme cases the output voltages of vertical Hall-effect devices may have notable magnetic field sensitivity but zero mechanical stress sensitivity. As byproduct, exact analytical formulae for the equivalent resistor circuit of rectangular and circular devices with two perpendicular mirror symmetries are given. They allow for an accurate description of how mechanical stress and deformation affect the output offset voltage and the magnetic sensitivity of Hall-effect devices.
On the Asymptotic Hyperstability of Linear Time-Invariant Continuous-Time Systems under a Class of Controllers Satisfying Discrete-Time Popov’s Inequality
Authors: De la Sen M.
Published: June 2018

This paper is concerned with the property of asymptotic hyperstability of a continuous-time linear system under a class of continuous-time nonlinear and perhaps time-varying feedback controllers belonging to a certain class with two main characteristics; namely, (a) it satisfies discrete-type Popov’s inequality at sampling instants and (b) the control law within the intersample period is generated based on its value at sampling instants being modulated by two design weighting auxiliary functions. The closed-loop continuous-time system is proved to be asymptotically hyperstable, under some explicit conditions on such weighting functions, provided that the discrete feed-forward transfer function is strictly positive real.
Molecular Evolutionary Analysis of the HCRTR Gene Family in Vertebrates
Authors: Cai Zhen , Liu Hehe , Wang Liyun , Li Xinxin , Bai Lili , Gan Xinmeng , Li Liang , Han Chunchun
Published: June 2018

Hypocretin system is composed of hypocretins (hcrts) and their receptors (hcrtrs), which has multiple vital functions. Hypocretins work via hypocretin receptors and it is reported that functional differentiation occurred in hcrtrs. It is necessary to figure out the evolution process of hypocretin receptors. In our study, we adopt a comprehensive approach and various bioinformatics tools to analyse the evolution process of HCRTR gene family. It turns out that the second round of whole genome duplication in early vertebrate ancestry and the independent round in fish ancestry may contribute to the diversity of HCRTR gene family. HCRTR1 of fishes and mammals are not the same receptor, which means that there are three members in the family. HCRTR2 is proved to be the most ancient one in HCRTR gene family. After duplication events, the structure of HCRTR1 diverged from HCRTR2 owing to relaxed selective pressure. Negative selection is the predominant evolutionary force acting on the HCRTR gene family but HCRTR1 of mammals is found to be subjected to positive selection. Our study gains insight into the molecular evolution process of HCRTR gene family, which contributes to the further study of the system.
Unexpected Liver Embryonal Sarcoma in the Adult: Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Pinamonti Maurizio , Vittone Federico , Ghiglione Francesco , Borasi Andrea , Silvestri Stefano , Coverlizza Sergio
Published: June 2018

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver is a malignancy with poor prognosis observed more frequently in children between 6 and 10 years old and very rarely found in adults. We present a case of embryonal sarcoma of the liver in a 60-year-old woman without significant medical history who presented to our attention with constitutional symptoms. Preoperative assessments did not show alterations in blood chemistry or tumor markers. Imaging studies showed a huge mass lying in the right abdominal quadrants, strictly adherent to the liver. The tumor was partially cystic with a thickened wall, sporadic contrast enhancement, and solid component. The patient underwent excision of the mass with associated liver bisegmentectomy S5-S6. Postoperative course was uneventful. The definitive histological diagnosis revealed the presence of embryonal sarcoma of the liver. We describe the clinical, histopathological, and therapeutic options adopted in the multimodal treatment of this disease.
Duodenal Pyloric Gland Adenoma in a 59-Year-Old Asian Male
Authors: Manabat Mia , Jackson Matthew , Ngo Kha , Stawick Laurence
Published: June 2018

Pyloric gland adenomas (PGAs) are rare precancerous tumors typically arising from the stomach. Even more rarely do they arise in extragastric sites such as the duodenum and gallbladder. The identification of PGAs is important because they possess a risk of developing into invasive adenocarcinoma. This case report describes a 59-year-old male who presented to our office for a follow-up of a nonspecific duodenal lesion. Endoscopic ultrasound and pathology revealed a PGA with low grade dysplasia and some areas of focal high grade dysplasia. It is important that gastroenterologists are aware of these lesions and their risk of malignant transformation. More studies are needed to describe the long-term behavior of pyloric gland adenomas and to recommend appropriate endoscopic surveillance of these lesions.
Filled Function Method for Nonlinear Model Predictive Control
Authors: Degachi Hajer , Naffeti Bechir , Chagra Wassila , Ksouri Moufida
Published: June 2018

A new method is used to solve the nonconvex optimization problem of the nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) for Hammerstein model. Using nonlinear models in MPC leads to a nonlinear and nonconvex optimization problem. Since control performances depend essentially on the results of the optimization method, in this work, we propose to use the filled function as a global optimization method to solve the nonconvex optimization problem. Using this method, the control law can be obtained through two steps. The first step consists of determining a local minimum of the objective function. In the second step, a new function is constructed using the local minimum of the objective function found in the first step. The new function is called the filled function; the new constructed function allows us to obtain an initialization near the global minimum. Once this initialization is determined, we can use a local optimization method to determine the global control sequence. The efficiency of the proposed method is proved firstly through benchmark functions and then through the ball and beam system described by Hammerstein model. The results obtained by the presented method are compared with those of the genetic algorithm (GA) and the particle swarm optimization (PSO).
Electrical Impedance Changes at Different Phases of Cerebral Edema in Rats with Ischemic Brain Injury
Authors: Song Jiali , Chen Rongqing , Yang Lin , Zhang Ge , Li Weichen , Zhao Zhanqi , Xu Canhua , Dong Xiuzhen , Fu Feng
Published: June 2018

Cerebral edema contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality associated with many common neurologic conditions. Clinically, a diagnostic tool that can be used to monitor cerebral edema in real-time and differentiate between different types of cerebral edema is urgently needed. Because there are differences in electrical impedance between normal cortical tissue and cerebral edema tissue, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) can potentially be used to detect cerebral edema. Accurate recording of the electrical impedance properties of cerebral edema tissue at different time points is important when detecting cerebral edema with EIT. In this study, a rat cerebral edema model was established; then, following the onset of ischemic brain injury, variation in the electrical impedance of cerebral edema was measured at different time points within a 24-hour period and the corresponding morphologic variation was analyzed. After the first six hours, following the onset of ischemic brain injury, the resistivity of brain tissue increased (p < 0.05); during this period, brain cell volume increased (p < 0.05) and the intercellular space decreased (p < 0.05) (behaving like cytotoxic cerebral edema). From 6 to 24 hours, the resistivity of brain tissue decreased; during this time, brain cell volume unchanged (p > 0.05) while intercellular space increased (p < 0.05) (behaving like vasogenic cerebral edema). These findings support the notion that EIT can be used to monitor the development of cerebral edema in real-time and differentiate between different types of brain edema.
Identification of Clonal Hematopoiesis Mutations in Solid Tumor Patients Undergoing Unpaired Next-Generation Sequencing Assays
Authors: Coombs Catherine C. , Gillis Nancy K. , Tan Xianming , Berg Jonathan S. , Ball Markus , Balasis Maria E. , Montgomery Nathan D. , Bolton Kelly L. , Parker Joel S. , Mesa Tania E. , Yoder Sean J. , Hayward Michele C. , Patel Nirali M. , Richards Kristy L. , Walko Christine M. , Knepper Todd C. , Soper John T. , Weiss Jared , Grilley-Olson Juneko E. , Kim William Y. , Earp H. Shelton , Levine Ross L. , Papaemmanuil Elli , Zehir Ahmet , Hayes D. Neil , Padron Eric
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

In this era of precision-based medicine, for optimal patient care, results reported from commercial next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays should adequately reflect the burden of somatic mutations in the tumor being sequenced. Here, we sought to determine the prevalence of clonal hematopoiesis leading to possible misattribution of tumor mutation calls on unpaired Foundation Medicine NGS assays.

Experimental Design:

This was a retrospective cohort study of individuals undergoing NGS of solid tumors from two large cancer centers. We identified and quantified mutations in genes known to be frequently altered in clonal hematopoiesis (DNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1, TP53, ATM, CHEK2, SF3B1, CBL, JAK2) that were returned to physicians on clinical Foundation Medicine reports. For a subset of patients, we explored the frequency of true clonal hematopoiesis by comparing mutations on Foundation Medicine reports with matched blood sequencing.

Results:

Mutations in genes that are frequently altered in clonal hematopoiesis were identified in 65% (1,139/1,757) of patients undergoing NGS. When excluding TP53, which is often mutated in solid tumors, these events were still seen in 35% (619/1,757) of patients. Utilizing paired blood specimens, we were able to confirm that 8% (18/226) of mutations reported in these genes were true clonal hematopoiesis events. The majority of DNMT3A mutations (64%, 7/11) and minority of TP53 mutations (4%, 2/50) were clonal hematopoiesis.

Conclusions:

Clonal hematopoiesis mutations are commonly reported on unpaired NGS testing. It is important to recognize clonal hematopoiesis as a possible cause of misattribution of mutation origin when applying NGS findings to a patient's care.

See related commentary by Pollyea, p. 5790
Synthetic Lethal Strategy Identifies a Potent and Selective TTK and CLK1/2 Inhibitor for Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer with a Compromised G1–S Checkpoint
Authors: Zhu Dan , Xu Shuichan , Deyanat-Yazdi Gordafaried , Peng Sophie X. , Barnes Leo A. , Narla Rama Krishna , Tran Tam , Mikolon David , Ning Yuhong , Shi Tao , Jiang Ning , Raymon Heather K. , Riggs Jennifer R. , Boylan John F.
Published: June 2018

Historically, phenotypic-based drug discovery has yielded a high percentage of novel drugs while uncovering new tumor biology. CC-671 was discovered using a phenotypic screen for compounds that preferentially induced apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines while sparing luminal breast cancer cell lines. Detailed in vitro kinase profiling shows CC-671 potently and selectively inhibits two kinases—TTK and CLK2. Cellular mechanism of action studies demonstrate that CC-671 potently inhibits the phosphorylation of KNL1 and SRp75, direct TTK and CLK2 substrates, respectively. Furthermore, CC-671 causes mitotic acceleration and modification of pre-mRNA splicing leading to apoptosis, consistent with cellular TTK and CLK inhibition. Correlative analysis of genomic and potency data against a large panel of breast cancer cell lines identifies breast cancer cells with a dysfunctional G1–S checkpoint as more sensitive to CC-671, suggesting synthetic lethality between G1–S checkpoint and TTK/CLK2 inhibition. Furthermore, significant in vivo CC-671 efficacy was demonstrated in two cell line–derived and one patient tumor-derived xenograft models of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) following weekly dosing. These findings are the first to demonstrate the unique inhibitory combination activity of a dual TTK/CLK2 inhibitor that preferably kills TNBC cells and shows synthetic lethality with a compromised G1–S checkpoint in breast cancer cell lines. On the basis of these data, CC-671 was moved forward for clinical development as a potent and selective TTK/CLK2 inhibitor in a subset of patients with TNBC. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(8); 1727–38. ©2018 AACR.
Development of MGD007, a gpA33 x CD3-Bispecific DART Protein for T-Cell Immunotherapy of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Moore Paul A. , Shah Kalpana , Yang Yinhua , Alderson Ralph , Roberts Penny , Long Vatana , Liu Daorong , Li Jonathan C. , Burke Steve , Ciccarone Valentina , Li Hua , Fieger Claudia B. , Hooley Jeff , Easton Ann , Licea Monica , Gorlatov Sergey , King Kathy L. , Young Peter , Adami Arash , Loo Deryk , Chichili Gurunadh R. , Liu Liqin , Smith Douglas H. , Brown Jennifer G. , Chen Francine Z. , Koenig Scott , Mather Jennie , Bonvini Ezio , Johnson Syd
Published: June 2018

We have developed MGD007 (anti-glycoprotein A33 x anti-CD3), a DART protein designed to redirect T cells to target gpA33 expressing colon cancer. The gpA33 target was selected on the basis of an antibody-based screen to identify cancer antigens universally expressed in both primary and metastatic colorectal cancer specimens, including putative cancer stem cell populations. MGD007 displays the anticipated-bispecific binding properties and mediates potent lysis of gpA33-positive cancer cell lines, including models of colorectal cancer stem cells, through recruitment of T cells. Xenograft studies showed tumor growth inhibition at doses as low as 4 μg/kg. Both CD8 and CD4 T cells mediated lysis of gpA33-expressing tumor cells, with activity accompanied by increases in granzyme and perforin. Notably, suppressive T-cell populations could also be leveraged to mediate lysis of gpA33-expressing tumor cells. Concomitant with CTL activity, both T-cell activation and expansion are observed in a gpA33-dependent manner. No cytokine activation was observed with human PBMC alone, consistent with the absence of gpA33 expression on peripheral blood cell populations. Following prolonged exposure to MGD007 and gpA33 positive tumor cells, T cells express PD-1 and LAG-3 and acquire a memory phenotype but retain ability to support potent cell killing. In cynomolgus monkeys, 4 weekly doses of 100 μg/kg were well tolerated, with prolonged PK consistent with that of an Fc-containing molecule. Taken together, MGD007 displays potent activity against colorectal cancer cells consistent with a mechanism of action endowed in its design and support further investigation of MGD007 as a potential novel therapeutic treatment for colorectal cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(8); 1761–72. ©2018 AACR.
Health Literacy and Cardiovascular Disease: Fundamental Relevance to Primary and Secondary Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Magnani Jared W. , Mujahid Mahasin S. , Aronow Herbert D. , Cené Crystal W. , Dickson Victoria Vaughan , Havranek Edward , Morgenstern Lewis B. , Paasche-Orlow Michael K. , Pollak Amy , Willey Joshua Z. ,   On behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease; Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research; and Stroke Council
Published: June 2018

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals are able to access and process basic health information and services and thereby participate in health-related decisions. Limited health literacy is highly prevalent in the United States and is strongly associated with patient morbidity, mortality, healthcare use, and costs. The objectives of this American Heart Association scientific statement are (1) to summarize the relevance of health literacy to cardiovascular health; (2) to present the adverse associations of health literacy with cardiovascular risk factors, conditions, and treatments; (3) to suggest strategies that address barriers imposed by limited health literacy on the management and prevention of cardiovascular disease; (4) to demonstrate the contributions of health literacy to health disparities, given its association with social determinants of health; and (5) to propose future directions for how health literacy can be integrated into the American Heart Association’s mandate to advance cardiovascular treatment and research, thereby improving patient care and public health. Inadequate health literacy is a barrier to the American Heart Association meeting its 2020 Impact Goals, and this statement articulates the rationale to anticipate and address the adverse cardiovascular effects associated with health literacy.
Secular Trends in Blood Pressure and Overweight and Obesity in Chinese Boys and Girls Aged 7 to 17 Years From 1995 to 2014
Authors: Dong Yanhui , Ma Jun , Song Yi , Ma Yinghua , Dong Bin , Zou Zhiyong , Prochaska Judith J.
Published: June 2018

The current study aimed to assess the secular trends in overweight and obesity status and high blood pressure (HBP) in Chinese children and adolescents for 2 decades. Data on 943 128 participants aged 7 to 17 years were obtained from the Chinese National Survey on Students’ Constitution and Health from 1995 to 2014. The population attributable risk of overweight status for HBP was calculated. The prevalence of overweight increased from 4.3% in 1995 to 18.4% in 2014, whereas HBP prevalence fluctuated in the range of 4.4% to 6.4% during the same time period, the lowest in 2005. Within each survey year, blood pressure levels and HBP prevalence increased with higher body mass index. Notably, the population attributable risk of HBP because of being overweight steadily increased from 6.3% in 1995 to 19.2% in 2014. The same trends of linear growth for obesity, fluctuating blood pressure, and its sustained increasing population attributable risk for overweight also occurred among the domestic 29 provinces. Despite dramatic increases in overweight prevalence among Chinese children from 1995 to 2014, the HBP prevalence remained relatively stable, suggesting that other independent factors are affecting HBP trends to a greater extent. Yet, over time, the magnitude of the impact of being overweight or obese on HBP increased sharply, predicting looming heavy burden of HBP. Reductions in overweight status may aid in preventing HBP so as to prevent coronary risk in adulthood.
Adaptive Fitness Predictors in Coevolutionary Cartesian Genetic Programming
Authors: Drahosova Michaela , Sekanina Lukas , Wiglasz Michal
Published: June 2018

In genetic programming (GP), computer programs are often coevolved with training data subsets that are known as fitness predictors. In order to maximize performance of GP, it is important to find the most suitable parameters of coevolution, particularly the fitness predictor size. This is a very time-consuming process as the predictor size depends on a given application, and many experiments have to be performed to find its suitable size. A new method is proposed which enables us to automatically adapt the predictor and its size for a given problem and thus to reduce not only the time of evolution, but also the time needed to tune the evolutionary algorithm. The method was implemented in the context of Cartesian genetic programming and evaluated using five symbolic regression problems and three image filter design problems. In comparison with three different CGP implementations, the time required by CGP search was reduced while the quality of results remained unaffected.
A Hybrid Genetic Programming Algorithm for Automated Design of Dispatching Rules
Authors: Nguyen Su , Mei Yi , Xue Bing , Zhang Mengjie
Published: June 2018

Designing effective dispatching rules for production systems is a difficult and time-consuming task if it is done manually. In the last decade, the growth of computing power, advanced machine learning, and optimisation techniques has made the automated design of dispatching rules possible and automatically discovered rules are competitive or outperform existing rules developed by researchers. Genetic programming is one of the most popular approaches to discovering dispatching rules in the literature, especially for complex production systems. However, the large heuristic search space may restrict genetic programming from finding near optimal dispatching rules. This article develops a new hybrid genetic programming algorithm for dynamic job shop scheduling based on a new representation, a new local search heuristic, and efficient fitness evaluators. Experiments show that the new method is effective regarding the quality of evolved rules. Moreover, evolved rules are also significantly smaller and contain more relevant attributes.
The Socio-Institutional Divide: Explaining Italy’s Long-Term Regional Differences
Authors: Felice Emanuele
Published: June 2018

The recent availability of more accurate estimates of regional gdp, of social indicators (human capital, life expectancy, the human development index [hdi], heights, inequality, and social capital), and of other indices (such as market potential) has helped to advance the study of the growth patterns within Italian regions from (approximately) unification to the present day. This up-to-date information provides the basis for a new explanation of Italy’s industrial expansion and economic growth: The North–South socio-institutional divide that existed in Italy before unification in some respects grew stronger after unification, never to be bridged. This geographical division ultimately carried differences in human and social capital, governmental policies, and various institutions that exerted considerable influence on the regional structure of Italy’s economic growth.
The Causes of Growth during Belgium’s Industrial Revolution
Authors: Buyst Erik
Published: June 2018

New estimates of gdp per province for the period from 1819 to 1896 show that the Industrial Revolution did not generate radical changes in the hierarchy of rich and poor provinces, but it increased the gap between the two sets dramatically. These findings suggest that the foundations of Belgium’s economic geography were shaped during the ancien régime, not during the first half of the nineteenth century, as the traditional literature maintains. They support the revisionist view, recently advanced in British historiography, of substantial continuity between the eighteenth century and the era of the Industrial Revolution.
Un registre carcéral de la Fusṭāṭ abbasside
Authors: Tillier Mathieu , Vanthieghem Naïm
Published: June 2018

This article presents the edition of three fragments of a prison register from
Fusṭāṭ, preserved in the Michaelides Collection of the
Cambridge University Library. They record the arrival of petitions from
prisoners, mainly imprisoned for debt, and mention their release. These excerpts
provide crucial information on the organization of prisons during the early
Abbasid period. They testify to the high frequency of imprisonment for debt, and
confirm that the prison system revolved around the qadi’s judgeship and
the police (shurṭa), which included an administrative
service where the petitions of the detainees were examined. These documents
allow therefore a better understanding of the process of incarceration and
release of debtors.
Effect of territory intruders on the perceived quality of territorial males in an endangered pupfish, Cyprinodon bovinus
Authors: Bloch Andrew N. , Al-Shaer Layla , Little Kimberly , Itzkowitz Murray
Published: June 2018

Social eavesdropping can guide mate choice and the assessment of competitor quality. In the endangered Leon Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon bovinus), males establish breeding territories that they defend from conspecifics and heterospecific egg predators. Females enter the breeding area to assess males and spawn in their territories. It was hypothesized that male and female C. bovinus eavesdrop on social interactions within male territories to evaluate each territorial male’s ability to exclude intruders and attract potential mates. Using a repeated design, a bottle containing either a female C. bovinus, a non-territorial male C. bovinus, a swarm of G. nobilis, or water was placed at the centre of a male’s territory. Territorial males received more spawns and females spawned more frequently per visit when a female stimulus was present. These results suggest that females eavesdrop to inform their mating decisions, but this may be limited to the assessment of extra-pair females within territories.
Use of Armed Force against Suspected Foreign Submarines in the Swedish Internal Waters and Territorial Sea
Authors: Mahmoudi Said
Published: June 2018

Sweden’s territorial sea and internal waters have experienced regular intrusions by submerged foreign submarines since the early 1950s. The response of the country to such intrusions is generally well-documented and mainly public. The present article offers an overview of the development of the relevant national legislation, the actual response of the naval forces, and the legal arguments invoked at national level to justify or dismiss use of force in self-defence or under another title. The article discusses the relevance of the immunity that submarines normally enjoy under international law and Sweden’s human-rights obligations, two issues that have been at the centre of the legal discourse. Particular attention is paid to developments since 2014 when a new round of “submarine hunts” started and led to the adoption of new measures both revising the existing laws and strengthening the defence forces.
Escape the welcome cliché
Authors: Wise Hannah , Lowe Julie , Hill Adam , Barnett Laura , Barton Charlotte
Published: June 2018

The University of Surrey Library and Learning Support Services (LLSS) recognised an increasing need to transform its welcome, induction and orientation activities for students. Past activities have entailed delivering information to students in ways which may have led to information overload and lack of engagement by students with library services. The LLSS have been exploring innovative ways to welcome students to university, moving away from didactic approaches. This paper presents one such innovation produced among a series of activities during 2017/18, an educational escape room, informed by the work of Walsh (2017). This activity invited students to solve a series of themed puzzles in the escape room, introducing them to library services and information literacy (IL) skills to support their studies. This report provides an account of the challenges and positive outcomes encountered in designing the escape room, with a view to sharing good learning and teaching practice.
An elephant in the room?
Authors: Hackett Diana
Published: June 2018

Despite its recognised role in education, lifelong learning and active citizenship, the term information literacy (IL) is rarely used in the context of public libraries. At a time when public libraries are operating in an environment of financial austerity and are under increasing pressure to demonstrate the value of their role in UK society, this paper presents the findings of a small-scale research project examining the narratives surrounding public libraries and IL.

Through a qualitative text analysis, a picture is built up of the roles of public libraries as presented by government, professional organisations and charitable organisations. This analysis shows that IL is not a concept explicitly associated with public libraries; that the government’s focus is on public libraries’ role in delivering digital inclusion while at the same time depicting a largely passive role for libraries and diminished role for professional library staff; and that while current library advocacy supports this digital role, it does not effectively address the deeper need for transferrable information skills.

Based on this analysis, this paper recommends greater collaboration between academic research, higher education, and the public library sector, with a view to fostering a better understanding of IL and its potential to create a wider, more educationally-focussed role for public libraries and their staff.
Information literacy skills on the go
Authors: Schmidt Hanbidge Alice , Tin Tony , Sanderson Nicole
Published: June 2018

Students’ understanding and integration of information literacy (IL) skills are fundamental to higher education and lifelong learning.  Development and implementation of thirteen mobile lessons application (http://renmil.ca/ ) in the Mobile Information Literacy Tool (MIL) was the result of a unique collaboration between faculty and the library. Lessons demonstrated how to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively. Mixed methods pilot study findings (Hanbidge, Sanderson, & Tin, 2015) informed the Canadian project’s second stage analysis to determine fluency in digital literacy skills and testing of the MIL tool. One hundred and twenty-eight undergraduate Arts students from eight different classes majoring in psychology, social work, English or social development studies participated in the study to determine the effectiveness of using mobile technology to enhance their IL skills.  Preliminary successes and experiences with overcoming the barriers to support anytime, anywhere student mobile information literacy training are discussed and future directions are recommended.
Thinking of going to LILAC?
Authors: Gardner Lisa
Published: June 2018

One of the winners of the LILAC student bursary award draws on her experience as a first time attendee at LILAC 18 to suggest some tips on how to get the best out of the conference experience.
The Transition from Downward to Upward Air–Sea Momentum Flux in Swell-Dominated Light Wind Conditions
Authors: Högström Ulf , Sahlée Erik , Smedman Ann-Sofi , Rutgersson Anna , Nilsson Erik , Kahma Kimmo K. , Drennan William M.
Published: June 2018

Fifteen hours of consecutive swell data from the experiment Flux, État de la Mer, et Télédétection en Condition de Fetch Variable (FETCH) in the Mediterranean show a distinct upward momentum flux. The characteristics are shown to vary systematically with wind speed. A hysteresis effect is found for wave energy of the wind-sea waves when represented as a function of wind speed, displaying higher energy during decaying winds compared to increasing winds. For the FETCH measurements, the upward momentum transfer regime is found to begin for wind speeds lower than about U = 4 m s−1. For the lowest observed wind speeds U < 2.4 m s−1, the water surface appears to be close to dynamically smooth. In this range almost all the upward momentum flux is accomplished by the peak in the cospectrum between the vertical and horizontal components of the wind velocity. It is demonstrated that this contribution in turn is linearly related to the swell significant wave height Hsd in the range 0.6 < Hsd < 1.4 m. For Hsd < 0.6 m, the contribution is zero in the present dataset but may depend on the swell magnitude in other situations. It is speculated that the observed upward momentum flux in the smooth regime, which is so strongly related to the cospectral peak at the dominant swell frequency, might be caused by the recirculation mechanism found by Wen and Mobbs in their numerical simulation of laminar flow of a nonlinear progressive wave at low wind speed.
Decadal Variability of Great Lakes Ice Cover in Response to AMO and PDO, 1963–2017
Authors: Wang Jia , Kessler James , Bai Xuezhi , Clites Anne , Lofgren Brent , Assuncao Alexandre , Bratton John , Chu Philip , Leshkevich George
Published: June 2018

In this study, decadal variability of ice cover in the Great Lakes is investigated using historical airborne and satellite measurements from 1963 to 2017. It was found that Great Lakes ice cover has 1) a linear relationship with the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO), similar to the relationship of lake ice cover with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), but with stronger impact than NAO; 2) a quadratic relationship with the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), which is similar to the relationship of lake ice cover to Niño-3.4, but with opposite curvature; and 3) decadal variability with a positive (warming) trend in AMO contributes to the decreasing trend in lake ice cover. Composite analyses show that during the positive (negative) phase of AMO, the Great Lakes experience a warm (cold) anomaly in surface air temperature (SAT) and lake surface temperature (LST), leading to less (more) ice cover. During the positive (negative) phase of PDO, the Great Lakes experience a cold (warm) anomaly in SAT and LST, leading to more (less) ice cover. Based on these statistical relationships, the original multiple variable regression model established using the indices of NAO and Niño-3.4 only was improved by adding both AMO and PDO, as well as their interference (interacting or competing) mechanism. With the AMO and PDO added, the correlation between the model and observation increases to 0.69, compared to 0.48 using NAO and Niño-3.4 only. When November lake surface temperature was further added to the regression model, the prediction skill of the coming winter ice cover increased even more.
Impact of Assimilating Aircraft Reconnaissance Observations on Tropical Cyclone Initialization and Prediction Using Operational HWRF and GSI Ensemble–Variational Hybrid Data Assimilation
Authors: Tong Mingjing , Sippel Jason A. , Tallapragada Vijay , Liu Emily , Kieu Chanh , Kwon In-Hyuk , Wang Weiguo , Liu Qingfu , Ling Yangrong , Zhang Banglin
Published: June 2018

This study evaluates the impact of assimilating high-resolution, inner-core reconnaissance observations on tropical cyclone initialization and prediction in the 2013 version of the operational Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) Model. The 2013 HWRF data assimilation system is a GSI-based hybrid ensemble–variational system that, in this study, uses the Global Data Assimilation System ensemble to estimate flow-dependent background error covariance. Assimilation of inner-core observations improves track forecasts and reduces intensity error after 18–24 h. The positive impact on the intensity forecast is mainly found in weak storms, where inner-core assimilation produces more accurate tropical cyclone structures and reduces positive intensity bias. Despite such positive benefits, there is degradation in short-term intensity forecasts that is attributable to spindown of strong storms, which has also been seen in other studies. There are several reasons for the degradation of intense storms. First, a newly discovered interaction between model biases and the HWRF vortex initialization procedure causes the first-guess wind speed aloft to be too strong in the inner core. The problem worsens for the strongest storms, leading to a poor first-guess fit to observations. Though assimilation of reconnaissance observations results in analyses that better fit the observations, it also causes a negative intensity bias at the surface. In addition, the covariance provided by the NCEP global model is inaccurate for assimilating inner-core observations, and model physics biases result in a mismatch between simulated and observed structure. The model ultimately cannot maintain the analysis structure during the forecast, leading to spindown.
Rethinking Digital Media and Citizenship: Conditions, Contexts, and Consequences
Authors: Nah Seungahn , Yamamoto Masahiro
Published: June 2018

This special issue presents a total of seven articles concerning digital media and citizenship in various political, civic, and cultural contexts. Specifically, the entire collection investigates how digital media use and civic engagement can be conceptualized, operationalized, and theorized in the current digital media environment. The seven studies further examine how the use of traditional and newer forms of media influences civic engagement across communities of places, interests, and practices as well as different social groups at the local and global levels. With an interest in social conditions and contexts surrounding the civic utility of digital media, this special issue brings a unique perspective to the existing scholarship and provides new venues for continued scholarly attention to this important subject.
Human Superior Olivary Nucleus Neuron Populations in Subjects With Normal Hearing and Presbycusis
Authors: Christov Florian , Nelson Erik G. , Gluth Michael B.
Published: June 2018

Introduction:

Normative data on superior olivary nucleus neuron counts derived from human specimens are sparse, and little is known about their coherence with structure and function of the cochlea. The purpose of this study was to quantify the neuron populations of the divisions of the superior olivary nucleus in human subjects with normal hearing and presbycusis and investigate potential relationships between these findings and histopathology in the cochlea and hearing phenotype

Methods:

Histopathologic examination of temporal bone and brainstem specimens from 13 subjects having normal hearing or presbycusis was undertaken. The following was determined for each: number and density of superior olivary nucleus and cochlear nucleus neurons, inner and outer hair cell counts, spiral ganglion cell counts, and pure tone audiometry.

Results:

The results demonstrate a significant relationship between cells within structures of the cochlear nucleus and the number of neurons of the medial superior olivary nucleus. No relationship between superior olivary nucleus neuron counts/density and cochlear histopathology or hearing phenotype was encountered.

Conclusion:

Normative data for superior olivary nucleus neuron populations are further established in the data presented in this study that includes subjects with normal hearing and also presbycusis.
‘I’m not getting out of bed!’ The criminalisation of young people in residential care
Authors: Gerard Alison , McGrath Andrew , Colvin Emma , McFarlane Kath
Published: June 2018

Evidence from both Australian and international jurisdictions show that children in residential care are over-represented in the criminal justice system. In the current study, we interviewed 46 professionals who had contact with young people in residential care settings in New South Wales, Australia. Our sample included police officers, residential care service providers, legal aid lawyers and juvenile justice workers, about their perceptions of the link between residential care and contact with the criminal justice system. Factors identified by the participants included the care environment itself, use of police as a behavioural management tool, deficient staff training and inadequate policies and funding to address the over-representation. These factors, combined with the legacy of Australia’s colonial past, were a particularly potent source of criminalisation for Aboriginal children in care.
Women Politicians, Institutions, and Perceptions of Corruption
Authors: Barnes Tiffany D. , Beaulieu Emily
Published: June 2018

Why do people assume female politicians are less likely than men to engage in the illegal use of public positions for private gain? We argue that voters may perceive women as marginalized within political institutions, or as more risk averse and consequently more constrained by institutional oversight, which could lead to perceptions of women as less likely to engage in corruption. Using an original survey experiment, we test these mechanisms against conventional wisdom that women are seen as more honest. We find strong support for the risk aversion explanation, as well as heterogeneous effects by respondent sex for both the marginalization and honesty mechanisms. These findings suggest that the institutional contexts in which women are operating can help explain why people perceive them as less likely to engage in corruption. Identifying these mechanisms is critical to understanding the role of women in politics and for improving trust in government.
Caring collectives and other forms of bystander helping behavior in violent situations
Authors: Bloch Charlotte , Liebst Lasse Suonperä , Poder Poul , Christiansen Jasmin Maria , Heinskou Marie Bruvik
Published: June 2018

Social science research has traditionally described bystanders in violent emergencies as being passive. Recent evidence, however, stresses that bystanders typically intervene proactively and successfully in violent, dangerous emergencies. This article examines the multiple ways bystanders act in situations of violence, with the aim of moving beyond the understanding of bystanders as being either passive or active. Based on a qualitative analysis of surveillance camera recordings of urban public assaults, the study maps different types of bystander behaviors as they unfold in real-life violent events. The first part of the analysis is summarized in a typology that covers three types of bystander action: distancing, ambivalence, and involvement. The second part shows that the involvement action also unfolds through coordinated interactions between the bystanders, what the article characterizes as a ‘caring collective.’ This interactional aspect of bystander involvement has rarely been examined in the bystander literature, which tends to focus on individual bystander actions and motivations.
China’s summons for environmental sociology
Authors: Zinda John Aloysius , Li Yifei , Liu John Chung-En
Published: June 2018

From demand for natural resources to sustainability initiatives, everything seems to hinge on China. China’s environmental entanglements call out for the analysis and understanding that environmental sociologists practice. Environmental sociologists from within and beyond China have begun to explore how society, polity, and ecology intersect, but we have yet to fully take on the challenges that China’s environmental struggles pose. This article focuses on four domains in which China’s experience compels us to rethink our theories: environmental ideology, political economy, civil society and environmental justice, and international environmental politics. In each domain, China’s institutions, discourses, and place in the world-system reframe major currents of thought in environmental sociology. These points challenge us to decenter environmental sociologists’ focus on how things happen within liberal polities in the global North; they likewise push us to reconsider arguments about the South. Together, these challenges present an opportunity to extend our theory and practice, fashioning a more global environmental sociology.
The Relationship Between Belief in Stable Luck and a Propensity for Superstition: The Influence of Culturally Conferred Agency Beliefs
Authors: Chen Ning , Young Maia J.
Published: June 2018

Superstition is known to be positively associated with the belief in luck. However, prior research that has demonstrated the link between luck belief and superstition has not distinguished between two different types of luck beliefs—stable luck and fleeting luck—and their concomitant relationships with agency beliefs and superstition, as those vary by culture. The current research focused on the belief in stable luck and investigated the relationship between this belief and the propensity for superstition among Asians and Americans (Study 1) or Asian Americans and non–Asian Americans (Study 2). We found that belief in stable luck is positively associated with the propensity for superstition among Asians (Study 1) and Asian Americans (Study 2) but not among individuals without Asian cultural background. Furthermore, belief in collective agency mediated the effect of stable luck on superstition, but again, only for Asians (Study 3). The implications of these findings for the study of culture are discussed.
Msx2 Prevents Stratified Squamous Epithelium Formation in the Enamel Organ
Authors: Nakatomi M. , Ida-Yonemochi H. , Nakatomi C. , Saito K. , Kenmotsu S. , Maas R.L. , Ohshima H.
Published: June 2018

Tooth enamel is manufactured by the inner enamel epithelium of the multilayered enamel organ. Msx2 loss-of-function mutation in a mouse model causes an abnormal accumulation of epithelial cells in the enamel organ, but the underlying mechanism by which Msx2 regulates amelogenesis is poorly understood. We therefore performed detailed histological and molecular analyses of Msx2 null mice. Msx2 null ameloblasts and stratum intermedium (SI) cells differentiated normally in the early stages of amelogenesis. However, during subsequent developmental stages, the outer enamel epithelium (OEE) became highly proliferative and transformed into a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium that ectopically expressed stratified squamous epithelium markers, including Heat shock protein 25, Loricrin, and Keratin 10. Moreover, expression of hair follicle–specific keratin genes such as Keratin 26 and Keratin 73 was upregulated in the enamel organ of Msx2 mutants. With the accumulation of keratin in the stellate reticulum (SR) region and subsequent odontogenic cyst formation, SI cells gradually lost the ability to differentiate, and the expression of Sox2 and Notch1 was downregulated, leading to ameloblast depolarization. As a consequence, the organization of the Msx2 mutant enamel organ became disturbed and enamel failed to form in the normal location. Instead, there was ectopic mineralization that likely occurred within the SR. In summary, we show that during amelogenesis, Msx2 executes a bipartite function, repressing the transformation of OEE into a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium while simultaneously promoting the development of a properly differentiated enamel organ competent for enamel formation.