bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of investor attention on commodity futures markets
Authors: Han Liyan , Li Ziying , Yin Libo
Published: May 2017

This study utilizes the search volume for key terms on Google as a direct and timely proxy for investor attention in order to examine how attention impacts commodity futures prices, We provide significant evidence for attention's influence on 13 commodity futures and the interaction between attention and returns, even after controlling for important macroeconomic variables. We also examine the impact of investor attention on market efficiency. Results show that rising attention, on one hand, increases information efficiency and attenuates arbitrage opportunities, whereas, on the other hand, decreases market efficiency by facilitating herd behavior.
Feasibility of a staff training and support programme to improve pain assessment and management in people with dementia living in care homes
Authors: Petyaeva Anya , Kajander Martine , Lawrence Vanessa , Clifton Lei , Thomas Alan J. , Ballard Clive , Leroi Iracema , Briggs Michelle , Closs Jose , Dening Tom , Nunez Kayleigh‐Marie , Testad Ingelin , Romeo Renee , Johar Iskandar , Corbett Anne
Published: May 2017

Objectives

The objective of this study was to establish the feasibility and initial effectiveness of training and support intervention for care staff to improve pain management in people with dementia living in care homes (PAIN‐Dem).

Methods

PAIN‐Dem training was delivered to care staff from three care homes in South London, followed by intervention support and resources to encourage improved pain management by staff over 4 weeks. Feasibility was assessed through fidelity to intervention materials and qualitative approaches. Focus group discussions with staff explored the use of the PAIN‐Dem intervention, and interviews were held with six residents and family carers. Pain was assessed in all residents at baseline, 3 and 4 weeks, and goal attainment scaling was assessed at 4 weeks.

Results

Delivery of training was a key driver for success and feasibility of the PAIN‐Dem intervention. Improvements in pain management behaviour and staff confidence were seen in homes where training was delivered in a care home setting across the care team with good manager buy‐in. Family involvement in pain management was highlighted as an area for improvement. Goal attainment in residents was significantly improved across the cohort, although no significant change in pain was seen.

Conclusions

This study shows good initial feasibility of the PAIN‐Dem intervention and provides valuable insight into training and support paradigms that deliver successful learning and behaviour change. There is a need for a larger trial of PAIN‐Dem to establish its impact on resident pain and quantifiable staff behaviour measures. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modulation of 7 T fMRI Signal in the Cerebellar Cortex and Nuclei During Acquisition, Extinction, and Reacquisition of Conditioned Eyeblink Responses
Authors: Ernst Thomas M. , Thürling Markus , Müller Sarah , Kahl Fabian , Maderwald Stefan , Schlamann Marc , Boele Henk‐Jan , Koekkoek Sebastiaan K. E. , Diedrichsen Jörn , De Zeeuw Chris I. , Ladd Mark E. , Timmann Dagmar
Published: May 2017

Classical delay eyeblink conditioning is likely the most commonly used paradigm to study cerebellar learning. As yet, few studies have focused on extinction and savings of conditioned eyeblink responses (CRs). Saving effects, which are reflected in a reacquisition after extinction that is faster than the initial acquisition, suggest that learned associations are at least partly preserved during extinction. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that acquisition‐related plasticity is nihilated during extinction in the cerebellar cortex, but retained in the cerebellar nuclei, allowing for faster reacquisition. Changes of 7 T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals were investigated in the cerebellar cortex and nuclei of young and healthy human subjects. Main effects of acquisition, extinction, and reacquisition against rest were calculated in conditioned stimulus‐only trials. First‐level β values were determined for a spherical region of interest (ROI) around the acquisition peak voxel in lobule VI, and dentate and interposed nuclei ipsilateral to the unconditioned stimulus. In the cerebellar cortex and nuclei, fMRI signals were significantly lower in extinction compared to acquisition and reacquisition, but not significantly different between acquisition and reacquisition. These findings are consistent with the theory of bidirectional learning in both the cerebellar cortex and nuclei. It cannot explain, however, why conditioned responses reappear almost immediately in reacquisition following extinction. Although the present data do not exclude that part of the initial memory remains in the cerebellum in extinction, future studies should also explore changes in extracerebellar regions as a potential substrate of saving effects. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3957–3974, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Low rates of contralateral neck failure in unilaterally treated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with prospectively defined criteria of lateralization
Authors: Hu Kenneth Shung , Mourad Waleed Fouad , Gamez Mauricio , Safdieh Joseph , Lin Wilson , Jacobson Adam Saul , Persky Mark Stephen , Urken Mark Lawrence , Culliney Bruce , Li Zujun , Tran Theresa Nguyen , Schantz Stimson Pryor , Chadha Juskaran , Harrison Louis Benjamin
Published: May 2017

Background

Unilateral radiotherapy (RT) of oropharyngeal carcinomas is accepted for patients with lateralized primary and low‐volume nodal disease. Utilizing prospectively defined criteria of laterality and staging positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, we studied outcomes in patients with advanced‐stage oropharyngeal cancer undergoing unilateral RT.

Methods

Thirty‐seven patients with oropharyngeal tumors >1 cm from midline regardless of node status underwent unilateral RT and were followed prospectively. Patient characteristics: T1 = 11; T2 = 22; T3 = 4; N0 = 3; N1 = 9; N2a = 3; N2b = 21; and Nx = 1. Dosimetry were determined and weekly National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) distress thermometer data were collected.

Results

At median follow‐up of 32 months, 3‐year locoregional control, contralateral regional failure, distant metastasis‐free survival, and disease‐free survival were 96%, 0%, 7%, and 93%, respectively.

Conclusion

Low rates of contralateral neck failure are demonstrated utilizing prospectively defined criteria for unilateral RT. The tolerances of contralateral organs are respected and patients report low to moderate levels of distress throughout treatment.
Tongue‐out versus tongue‐in position during intensity‐modulated radiotherapy for base of tongue cancer: Clinical implications for minimizing post‐radiotherapy swallowing dysfunction
Authors: Kil Whoon Jong , Kulasekere Christina , Hatch Craig , Bugno Jacob , Derrwaldt Ronald
Published: May 2017

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess whether different tongue positions change the radiation doses to swallowing organs at risks: the pharyngeal constrictor, oral cavity, and larynx during intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for base of tongue (BOT) cancer.

Methods

IMRT plans with Tongue‐out (IMRT‐TO) and tongue‐in position (IMRT‐TI) was compared in 3 cases.

Results

Distance from BOT to pharyngeal constrictor was increased to 1.8 ± 0.8 cm with IMRT‐TO from 0.9 ± 0.6 cm with IMRT‐TI (P < .01). Compared to IMRT‐TI, IMRT‐TO significantly decreased the radiation dose to the anterior oral cavity, oral tongue, superior pharyngeal constrictor, middle pharyngeal constrictor, and supraglottic larynx (all P ≤ .04). IMRT‐TO also had a smaller volume irradiated than IMRT‐TI to the anterior oral cavity and the oral tongue receiving ≥30 Gy (V30) and V35, and superior pharyngeal constrictor and middle pharyngeal constrictor for V55 and V65 (all P ≤ .04).

Conclusion

Dosimetric advantage with IMRT‐TO over IMRT‐TI may potentially reduce post‐IMRT swallowing dysfunction in selected patients with BOT cancer.
Effects of discharge, wind, and tide on sedimentation in a recently restored tidal freshwater wetland
Authors: Verschelling Eelco , van der Deijl Eveline , van der Perk Marcel , Sloff Kees , Middelkoop Hans
Published: May 2017

Sediment deposition is one of the key mechanisms to counteract the impact of sea level rise in tidal freshwater wetlands (TFWs). However, information about sediment deposition rates in TFWs is limited, especially for those located in the transition zone between the fluvially dominated and tidally dominated sections of a river delta where sedimentation rates are affected by the combined impact of river discharge, wind, and tides. Using a combined hydrodynamic–morphological model, we examined how hydrometeorological boundary conditions control sedimentation rates and patterns in a TFW located in the Rhine–Meuse estuary in the Netherlands. The modelling results show that net sedimentation rate increases with the magnitude of the river discharge, whereas stronger wind increasingly prevents sedimentation. Sediment trapping efficiency decreases for both increasing river discharge and wind magnitude. The impact of wind storms on the trapping efficiency becomes smaller for higher water discharge. The spatial sedimentation patterns are affected by all controls. Our study illustrates the importance of evaluating both the separate and the joint impact of discharge, wind, and tides when estimating sedimentation rates in a TFW affected by these controls. Such insights are relevant to design measures to reactivate the sedimentation process in these areas.
BayesWHAM: A Bayesian approach for free energy estimation, reweighting, and uncertainty quantification in the weighted histogram analysis method
Authors: Ferguson Andrew L.
Published: May 2017

The weighted histogram analysis method (WHAM) is a powerful approach to estimate molecular free energy surfaces (FES) from biased simulation data. Bayesian reformulations of WHAM are valuable in proving statistically optimal use of the data and providing a transparent means to incorporate regularizing priors and estimate statistical uncertainties. In this work, we develop a fully Bayesian treatment of WHAM to generate statistically optimal FES estimates in any number of biasing dimensions under arbitrary choices of the Bayes prior. Rigorous uncertainty estimates are generated by Metropolis‐Hastings sampling from the Bayes posterior. We also report a means to project the FES and its uncertainties into arbitrary auxiliary order parameters beyond those in which biased sampling was conducted. We demonstrate the approaches in applications of alanine dipeptide and the unthreading of a synthetic mimic of the astexin‐3 lasso peptide. Open‐source MATLAB and Python implementations of our codes are available for free public download. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of antioxidant potential ofAcacia niloticaleaf extract in oxidative stress response system ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Subhaswaraj Pattnaik , Sowmya Mani , Jobina Rajkumari , Sudharshan SJ , Dyavaiah Madhu , Siddhardha Busi
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUND

From ancient times, plants and plant‐derived products have been used as folkloric medicines for a variety of health disorders owing to their tremendous therapeutic potential. The present study aimed to determine the antioxidant efficacy of crudeAcacia niloticaextract in the oxidative stress response system ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeas a model organism.

RESULTS

Acacia niloticashowed significant antioxidant activity, withIC50values of 75.157 and 159.57 µgmL−1for 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities respectively at a concentration of 500 µgmL−1. The total antioxidant activity ofA. niloticashowed an ascorbic acid equivalent of 152.79 ± 7.43 µgmL−1. The presence of phytoconstituents such as phytol andα‐tocopherol from gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the potential ofA. niloticaas an antioxidant. The results were validated using the stress response mechanism inS. cerevisiaewild type and its isogenic deletion strainssod1Δ andtsa1Δ.Acacia niloticasubstantially neutralized reactive oxygen species generated by hydrogen peroxide in mutant strains, as evident from spot assay and fluorescence assay using fluorescence microscopy and intensity studies.

CONCLUSION

The results suggested the efficacy ofA. niloticaas a potent antioxidant in theS. cerevisiaesystem for the first time and its use in neutraceuticals/therapeutics. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Multi‐disciplinary management of locally advanced pancreatic cancer with irreversible electroporation
Authors: Martin Robert C.G.
Published: May 2017

The essential diagnosis for LAPC is based on high‐quality cross‐sectional imaging, which demonstrates tumor invasion into the celiac/superior mesenteric arteries and/or superior mesenteric/portal venous system that is not reconstructable. The optimal management of these patients is evolving quickly with the advent of newer chemotherapeutics, radiation, and non‐thermal ablation modalities. This review will present the current status of initial chemotherapy, surgical therapy, ablative therapy, and radiation therapy for patients with nonmetastatic locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer.
Down‐regulated miRs specifically correlate with non‐cardial gastric cancers and Lauren's classification system
Authors: Lorenzon Laura , Cippitelli Claudia , Avantifiori Riccardo , Uccini Stefania , French Deborah , Torrisi Maria Rosaria , Ranieri Danilo , Mercantini Paolo , Canu Valeria , Blandino Giovanni , Cavallini Marco
Published: May 2017

Background and Objectives

Gastric cancers are usually characterized using Lauren's classification into intestinal and diffuse types. We previously documented the down‐modulation of miR31, miR148a, miR204, and miR375 in gastric cancers. We aimed this manuscript to investigate these miRs with the end‐points of diagnosis, Lauren's classification and prognosis.

Methods

A total of 117 resected non‐cardial adenocarcinomas were evaluated for miRs' expressions. The performance of miRs’ expressions for cancer diagnosis was tested using ROC curves. Logistic regression was conducted with the end‐point of Lauren's classification. Kaplan‐Meier and Cox analyses were performed for OS, DFS, and DSS. miRs’ targets were reviewed using PRISMA method and BCL‐2 was further investigated in cell lines.

Results

ROC curves documented that miRs’ down‐modulation was significant in differentiating cancer versus normal tissues. Diffuse type cancers were associated with female sex, young age, and miR375 higher expression. We confirmed BCL‐2 as a miR204 target. However, survival analyses confirmed the pathologic criteria (advanced stages, LNR, and low LNH) as the significant variables correlated to worse prognosis.

Conclusions

The down‐modulation of miR31, miR148a, miR204, and miR375 is significantly associated with non‐cardial gastric cancers and miR375 is specifically linked to Lauren's classification. Nevertheless, standard pathological features display as the independent variables associated with worse prognosis.
Management of Depression in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Starkstein Sergio E. , Brockman Simone
Published: May 2017

Background

Depression is a frequent psychiatric condition in Parkinson's disease (PD). The treatment of depression has been examined in several randomized controlled trials and meta‐analyses, but no clear guidelines are available.

Methods

We carried out a systematic review of pharmacological and non‐pharmacological treatments for depression in patients with PD using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. We searched main medical databases up to December 12, 2016, and included randomized controlled trials, patient‐control studies, and case series with data on treatment modality, outcome measures, and side effects.

Results

Selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants may have efficacy for the treatment of depression in patients with PD, although the evidence is not strong. The antidepressant efficacy of dopamine agonists is still controversial, and initial results were positive for pramipexole but not for rotigotine. Cognitive‐behavioral therapy showed promising results in two recent randomized controlled trials, but further evidence is required. Studies using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation produced conflicting results, and the efficacy results for this treatment have been inconsistent. On the other hand, electroconclusive therapy produced strong positive results in patients with severe depression, but no randomized controlled trials are available.

Conclusion

Selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors and cognitive‐behavioral therapy are currently first‐line treatments for depression in patients with PD, although the evidence is still weak. The heterogeneity among contributory factors for depression in PD should be considered for the most effective treatment of depression in this condition.
Global existence and zero α limit of the 3D incompressible two‐fluid MHD equations
Authors: Ma Caochuan , Jiang Zaihong , Zhu Mingxuan
Published: May 2017

In this paper, we establish global existence of strong solutions to the 3D incompressible two‐fluid MHD equations with small initial data. In addition, the explicit convergence rate of strong solutions from the two‐fluid MHD equations to the Hall‐MHD equations is obtained as
. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Amide proton transfer CEST of the cervical spinal cord in multiple sclerosis patients at 3T
Authors: By Samantha , Barry Robert L. , Smith Alex K. , Lyttle Bailey D. , Box Bailey A. , Bagnato Francesca R. , Pawate Siddharama , Smith Seth A.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The ability to evaluate pathological changes in the spinal cord in multiple sclerosis (MS) is limited because T1‐ and T2‐w MRI imaging are not sensitive to biochemical changes in vivo. Amide proton transfer (APT) chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) can indirectly detect amide protons associated with proteins and peptides, potentially providing more pathological specificity. Here, we implement APT CEST in the cervical spinal cord of healthy and MS cohorts at 3T.

Methods

APT CEST of the cervical spinal cord was obtained in a cohort of 10 controls and 10 MS patients using a novel respiratory correction methodology. APT was quantified using two methods: 1) APTw, based off the conventional magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry, and 2) ΔAPT, a spatial characterization of APT changes in MS patients relative to the controls.

Results

Respiratory correction yielded highly reproducible z‐spectra in white matter (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.82). APTw signals in normal‐appearing white matter (NAWM) of MS patients were significantly different from healthy controls (P = 0.04), whereas ΔAPT of MS patients highlighted large APT differences in NAWM.

Conclusion

Respiration correction in the spinal cord is necessary to accurately quantify APT CEST, which can provide unique biochemical information regarding disease processes within the spinal cord. Magn Reson Med 79:806–814, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Controlled co‐solvent vapor annealing and the importance of quenching conditions in thin‐film block copolymer self‐assembly
Authors: Stahl Brian C. , Kramer Edward J. , Hawker Craig J. , Lynd Nathaniel A.
Published: May 2017

A controlled co‐solvent vapor annealing system was designed and constructed to investigate the effects of solvent vapor activity during the rapid ambient quenching process on the morphology of a cylinder‐forming poly(styrene)‐b‐poly (ethylene oxide) (PS‐PEO) annealed in toluene and water vapor. A phase transformation from cylinders in the bulk to close‐packed spheres in swollen thin films occurred, which was reversed upon quenching with dry nitrogen. Quenching with humidified nitrogen preserved the spherical morphology but could significantly alter domain spacing and reduce long‐range order in the dried films under some circumstances. Specifically, long‐range order in the quenched films was found to decrease as the quenching humidity decreased from the humidity used during annealing, and the best long‐range order was obtained when the humidity remained consistent throughout both annealing and quenching. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017, 55, 1125–1130
Metrics for the evaluation of warm convective cloud fields in a large‐eddy simulation with Meteosat images
Authors: Bley Sebastian , Deneke Hartwig , Senf Fabian , Scheck Leonhard
Published: May 2017

The representation of warm convective clouds in atmospheric models and satellite observations can considerably deviate from each other partly due to different spatial resolutions. This study aims to establish appropriate metrics to evaluate high‐resolution simulations of convective clouds by the ICON Large‐Eddy Model (ICON‐LEM) with observations from Meteosat SEVIRI over Germany. The time series and frequency distributions of convective cloud fraction and liquid water path (LWP) are analyzed. Furthermore, the study focuses on size distributions and decorrelation scales of warm convective cloud fields. The investigated metrics possess a pronounced sensitivity to the apparent spatial resolution. At the fine spatial scale, the simulations show higher occurrence frequencies of large LWP values and a factor of two to four smaller convective cloud fractions. Coarse‐graining of simulated fields to the optical resolution of Meteosat essentially removes the differences between the observed and simulated metrics. The distribution of simulated cloud sizes compares well with the observations and can be represented by a power law, with a moderate resolution sensitivity. A lower limit of cloud sizes is identified, which is 8–10 times the native grid resolution of the model. This likely marks the effective model resolution beyond which the scaling behaviour of considered metrics is not reliable, implying that a further increase in spatial resolution would be desirable to better resolve cloud processes below 1 km. It is finally shown that ICON‐LEM is consistent with spatio‐temporal decorrelation scales observed with Meteosat having values of 30 min and 7 km, if transferred to the true optical satellite resolution. However, the simulated Lagrangian decorrelation times drop to 10 min at 1 km resolution, a scale covered by the upcoming generation of geostationary satellites.
Performance analysis of open‐source distributed file systems for practical large‐scale molecular ab initio, density functional theory, and GW + BSE calculations
Authors: Roch Loïc M. , Aleksiev Tyanko , Murri Riccardo , Baldridge Kim K.
Published: May 2017

Application of conventional post‐Hartree–Fock theory, density functional theory, and GW + BSE theory, on chemical and biological problems of growing molecular scale, has created a need for innovative designs in high‐performance computing infrastructures and associated middleware technologies. The growing trend toward petascale computing creates an enormous demand for highly efficient storage solutions. Notably, in reaching limitations of the scale‐up model, technological progress, and continual growth in demand has evolved into solutions that alternatively scale‐out. This investigation involves an analysis of commonly used open source storage solutions for high demand ab initio calculations. Comparisons are shown for the most competitive solutions for a broad range of workloads, following disk usage of key ab initio algorithms in the widely used open source electronic structure theory software, GAMESS. Assessment is based on results of read/write speeds and ratios, scaling ability, and impact of block‐size on overall performance of the distributed storage. GlusterFS is shown to generally outperform CEPH and local disk file systems, providing the most reasonable alternative to local storage, and is therefore recommended for large‐scale molecular calculations.
Stability of finite subspaces in density functional theory: Application to simple atoms
Authors: Torres F. J. , Ludeña E. V. , Carrillo Y. , Rincón L. , Iza P. , Zambrano D.
Published: May 2017

We examine the validity of the first Hohenberg‐Kohn theorem, namely, the one‐to‐one relationship between an external potential and the 1‐particle density, when it is applied to finite subspaces and consider the stability of these subspaces with respect to external potentials. This is done by analysing the DFT description of some simple atoms (eg, H, He, Li, and Be) provided by the solution of the Kohn‐Sham equation in a finite Gaussian basis set. We show that in the finite subspace generated from the finite basis set, it is possible to construct external potentials that differ from one another by more than a constant but which associate with the same 1‐particle density. We carry out the specific construction of these potentials for the above atoms using the wave functions resulting from the application of the B3LYP functional. We comment on the fact that these instability potentials seem to be prominent only in the outer region of the atom where the density tends to zero. We also discuss the implications that the instability potentials have in relation to the Kohn‐Sham formalism and equations.
Command governor for constrained switched systems with scheduled model transition dwell times
Authors: Franzè Giuseppe , Lucia Walter , Tedesco Francesco
Published: May 2017

In this paper, a switched control architecture for constrained control systems is presented. The strategy is based on command governor ideas that are here specialized to ‘optimally’ schedule switching events on the plant dynamics for improving control performance at the expense of low computational burdens. The significance of the method mainly lies in its capability to avoid constraints violation and loss of stability regardless of any configuration change occurrence in the plant/constraint structure. To this end, the concept of model transition dwell time is used within the proposed control framework to formally define the minimum time necessary to enable a switching event under guaranteed conditions on the overall stability and constraint fulfilment. Simulation results on a simple linear system and on a Cessna 182 aircraft model show the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impacts of SiC Carrier and Nickel Precursor of NiLa/support Catalysts for CO2 Selective Hydrogenation to Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG)
Authors: Li Le , Zheng Jian , Liu Yuefeng , Wang Wei , Huang Qingsong , Chu Wei
Published: May 2017

The porous silicon carbide (β‐SiC) carrier supported nickel‐lanthanum based catalysts (NiLa/SiC) were synthesized via incipient‐wetness impregnation by using two types of nickel salts as the precursor, for the selective hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (CO2+4H2→CH4+2H2O). The alumina supported catalysts were also prepared and tested for comparison. The samples were characterized using TEM, TPR, XRD, SEM, TG‐DTG techniques. Compared to the Al2O3 supported catalysts, the SiC supported catalysts were more resistant to sintering and carbon deposition due to the high thermal conductivity of SiC support. The relative weak metal‐support interaction on Ni nanoparticles supported on SiC carrier resulted in the easy reduction of active species during the activation process. Meanwhile, the performances of the catalysts prepared from nickel acetate were better than those of using nickel nitrate, while enhanced nickel dispersion and better reducibility of the catalyst from nickel acetate werr evidenced by TEM, TPR and XRD results. Catalytic performances exhibited that Ni−Ac‐La/SiC catalyst possessed the higher activity with 89.4 % conversion of CO2 and almost 100 % selectivity to methane with slight deactivation after 3000 min test under reaction conditions.
One–pot Selective Synthesis of 2,3‐Dihydro‐4H‐Furo[3,2‐c]coumarins by Palladium‐Catalyzed Silver‐Assisted Propargylation/Intramolecular 5‐exo–dig Cyclization
Authors: Uchiyama Chihiro , Miyadera Yukari , Hayashi Yoshio , Yakushiji Fumika
Published: May 2017

A new catalytic system using bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride and Ag2CO3 was developed for the one‐pot selective synthesis of dihydrofuro[3,2‐c]coumarin 3 from 4‐hydroxycoumarin (1) and propargylic carbonate 2 under the mild condition. Our catalytic system afforded distinct regioselectivity compared to reported methodologies using palladium catalysts, 2 and active methylene compounds. In addition, furo[3,2‐c]coumarin 4 was derived from 3 with Et3N. The proposed reaction mechanism involved 4‐hydroxycoumarin (1) reacting with the η1–(propargyl)palladium complex to generate a terminal alkyne, and subsequent intramolecular 5‐exo‐dig cyclization selectively synthesized 3 in one‐pot. The newly developed methodology is beneficial in the construction of a novel compound library related to furocoumarins with distinct regioselective preference.
Wind effects on Shenzhen Zhuoyue Century Center: Field measurement and wind tunnel test
Authors: Pan Haoran , Xie Zhuangning , Xu An , Zhang Li
Published: May 2017

Field measurements of wind effects on Zhuoyue Century Center were conducted during 4 typhoon events in the recent 5 years, during which the field data such as wind speeds, wind directions, and acceleration responses were simultaneously and continuously measured. On the basis of field measured data, dynamic characteristics of this super‐tall building were determined by recently developed fast Bayesian fast Fourier transform method. Using full‐scale measurement data under 4 typhoons and breezy conditions for modal identification, one could observe a relatively wide scatter in the identified modal damping ratios, and the damping ratios do not appear to have an obvious nonlinear relationship with vibration amplitude. The average damping ratios of the first 2 modes were 0.70% and 0.73%, respectively. Serviceability of the super‐tall building under wind action was analyzed on the basis of the field measured response. Finally, the measured wind‐induced acceleration responses were further compared with those obtained from the wind tunnel test to evaluate the accuracy of the model test results.
An Acceptable Alternative Articulation to Remediate Mispronunciation of the English /l/ Sound: Can Production Precede Perception?
Authors: Raver‐Lampman Greg , Wilson Corinne
Published: May 2017

This article explores the teaching of an acceptable alternative articulation to correct the mispronunciation of the English /l/ sound by speakers of some Asian languages and dialects who struggle to differentiate the English liquids /r/ and /l/. Although teaching pronunciation, and especially segmentals, has generated controversy over whether practitioners should promote native‐like, nonaccented speech, the /l/ sound is a high‐functional‐load consonant, the mispronunciation of which can cause significant communication problems. Many methods designed to correct this mispronunciation assume that perception must precede production. This article builds on research suggesting that speakers of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese may be able produce the /l/‐/r/ distinction even if they fail to perceive it (Goto, ; Sheldon & Strange, ) as well as research that found that 30% of a sample of 50 U.S. university students, all native English speakers, produce the /l/ sound in a nonalveolar position, with their tongue tip touching the bottom of their front teeth protruding slightly (Raver‐Lampman, ). The present study produced evidence that teaching this alternative articulation in three 30‐minute sessions helped speakers of Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and Thai improve the pronunciation of the /l/ sound regardless of their ability to perceive it. Implications for instruction are discussed.
Movements and source–sink dynamics of a Masai giraffe metapopulation
Authors: Lee Derek E. , Bolger Douglas T.
Published: May 2017

Spatial variation in habitat quality and anthropogenic factors, as well as social structure, can lead to spatially structured populations of animals. Demographic approaches can be used to improve our understanding of the dynamics of spatially structured populations and help identify subpopulations critical for the long‐term persistence of regional metapopulations. We provide a regional metapopulation analysis to inform conservation management for Masai giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) in five subpopulations defined by land management designations. We used data from an individual‐based mark–recapture study to estimate subpopulation sizes, subpopulation growth rates, and movement probabilities among subpopulations. We assessed the source–sink structure of the study population by calculating source–sink statistics, and we created a female‐based matrix metapopulation model composed of all subpopulations to examine how variation in demographic components of survival, reproduction, and movement affected metapopulation growth rate. Movement data indicated no subpopulation was completely isolated, but movement probabilities varied among subpopulations. Source–sink statistics and net flow of individuals indicated three subpopulations were sources, while two subpopulations were sinks. We found areas with higher wildlife protection efforts and fewer anthropogenic impacts were sources, and less‐protected areas were identified as sinks. Our results highlight the importance of identifying source–sink dynamics among subpopulations for effective conservation planning and emphasize how protected areas can play an important role in sustaining metapopulations.
Korn inequalities for shells with zero Gaussian curvature
Authors: Grabovsky Yury , Harutyunyan Davit
Published: May 2017

We consider shells with zero Gaussian curvature, namely shells with one principal curvature zero and the other one having a constant sign. Our particular interests are shells that are diffeomorphic to a circular cylindrical shell with zero principal longitudinal curvature and positive circumferential curvature, including, for example, cylindrical and conical shells with arbitrary convex cross sections. We prove that the best constant in the first Korn inequality scales like thickness to the power 3/2 for a wide range of boundary conditions at the thin edges of the shell. Our methodology is to prove, for each of the three mutually orthogonal two-dimensional cross-sections of the shell, a “first-and-a-half Korn inequality”—a hybrid between the classical first and second Korn inequalities. These three two-dimensional inequalities assemble into a three-dimensional one, which, in turn, implies the asymptotically sharp first Korn inequality for the shell. This work is a part of mathematically rigorous analysis of extreme sensitivity of the buckling load of axially compressed cylindrical shells to shape imperfections.
DRESSING THE PERSON: CLOTHING AND IDENTITY IN THE CASAS GRANDES WORLD
Authors: VanPool Christine S. , VanPool Todd L. , Downs Lauren W.
Published: May 2017

Casas Grandes Medio–period (A.D. 1200–1450) human effigies are unique in the North American Southwest in that they depict primary and secondary sexual traits, making determination of sex and gender roles possible. Here, we build on previous discussions by considering the importance of depictions of clothing (e.g., belts and sashes), personal adornments (e.g., necklaces and bracelets), facial decorations, and other aspects of dress. We find that Medio-period symbolism for males and females was based on gender complementary that combined the productive, reproductive, and ritual activities of men and women within a single symbolic and ritual system. Some clothing styles are found on both males and females (e.g., arm bands), but there are also sex-based differences. Women wear low horizontal belts across their hips, whereas men primarily wear sandals and elaborate headbands. Aspects of dress also appear to be continued from previous cultures such as the Classic Mimbres (A.D. 1000–1150) and continued into historic northern Mexican and southwestern groups (e.g., headgear and some sandal types). Ultimately, we find that males have more elaborate dress and are associated with a specific set of ritually important symbols. Females are associated with cloud/fertility symbolism, sternal decorations, and birds.
ANCESTRAL O'ODHAM: AKIMEL O'ODHAM CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD–ERRATUM
Authors: Loendorf Chris , Lewis Barnaby V.
Published: May 2017

References to the O'Odham tribe were written as O'Odhams. The correct form is O'Odham. The error was introduced after the final proof had been approved by the author.
The linguistic integration of Japanese ideophones and its typological implications
Authors: Akita Kimi
Published: May 2017

This article proposes that two linguistic systems (that is, two languages or registers) with different degrees of morphosyntactic integration of ideophones may apply the same restrictions on ideophones in different ways. In Study 1, the author shows quantitatively that the sentence-type restrictions reported for ideophones in several languages also constrain Japanese ideophones, but to a lesser extent. In Study 2, the author argues that two previously identified restrictions on Japanese ideophonic verbs appear to apply only partially to ideophonic verbs in baby talk and highly playful discourse. It is concluded that the strength of these restrictions is negatively correlated with the overall degree of morphosyntactic integration of ideophones in the language or register.
L-syntax and phono-symbolism: on the status of ideophones in complexpredicates
Authors: Franco Ludovico
Published: May 2017

In this article, the author demonstrates that verbal compound constructions involving an ideophone and a light verb represent a widespread syntactic device in the world's languages. The author provides evidence that phono-symbolic morphemes cannot be treated as ‘bare’ direct objects in such constructions. Ideophones appearing in the light verb-adjacent position form a semantic unit with the verbal predicate, despite the fact that in some languages they can besyntacticizedas (bare) nouns and appear in argumental position. Specifically, ideophones in complex predicates are part of the verbal domain with which they ‘blend’ (yielding a single predicate) through the mechanism of conflation, along the lines of Hale and Keyser (1993, 2002), and building on Ramchand (2008).
A Year in the Life of a Contaminated Heater-Cooler Unit With Mycobacterium chimaera?
Authors: Garvey Mark I. , Bradley Craig W. , Walker Jimmy
Published: May 2017

OBJECTIVE

Heater-cooler units (HCUs) have been shown to be a source of Mycobacterium chimaera infections. For the past year, weekly water samples have been taken from HCUs used at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust. We report the microbial contamination of the HCUs over a year detailing the decontamination regimes applied at UHB to reduce the microbial load.

DESIGN

Observational study

SETTING

UHB is a tertiary referral teaching hospital in Birmingham, United Kingdom, that provides clinical services to nearly 1 million patients every year. The UHB Cardiac department is one of the largest in the United Kingdom and provides treatment for adult patients with a wide range of cardiac diseases.

METHODS

Water samples taken from HCUs used at UHB for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery were sampled over a year to determine the number of microorganisms by membrane filtration. Various decontamination processes were employed throughout the year.

RESULTS

Varying total viable counts containing a wide variety of microorganisms were obtained from water inside the HCUs. No M. chimaera were isolated after replacement of the HCU internal tubing. Stringent decontamination regimes resulted in degradation of the HCUs and increased TVCs after several months.

CONCLUSION

More work is required to ensure effective decontamination processes to reduce the microbial load within the HCUs. Our studies indicate that weekly water sampling for TVC will be required indefinitely to monitor the water quality in these units as well as regular replacement of the tubing to control the build-up of biofilm.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:705–711
Susceptibility of Nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus to Chlorhexidine After Implementation of a Hospital-wide Antiseptic Bathing Regimen
Authors: Marolf Cole T. , Alter Roxanne , Lyden Elizabeth , Fey Paul D. , Rupp Mark E.
Published: May 2017

Hospital use of chlorhexidine (CHX) containing antiseptics to decrease nosocomial infections may promote CHX resistance among pathogenic organisms. Nosocomial bloodstream-infecting Staphylococcus aureus isolates from before and after adoption of hospital-wide CHX bathing were tested for CHX susceptibility, and no decreased susceptibility or resistance-promoting genes were discovered.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:873–875
RATIONAL POINTS ON SHIMURA CURVES AND THE MANIN OBSTRUCTION
Authors: ARAI KEISUKE
Published: May 2017

In a previous article, we proved that Shimura curves have no points rational over number fields under a certain assumption. In this article, we give another criterion of the nonexistence of rational points on Shimura curves and obtain new counterexamples to the Hasse principle for Shimura curves. We also prove that such counterexamples obtained from the above results are accounted for by the Manin obstruction.
False Beliefs About Asylum Seekers to Australia: The Role of Confidence in Such Beliefs, Prejudice, and the Third Person Effect
Authors: Pedersen Anne , Hartley Lisa K.
Published: May 2017

There has been much controversy about the treatment of asylum seekers in Australia in recent years, with the Australian Government continuing to enforce a very hard-line stance on asylum seekers who arrive to Australia by boat. The present study examined attitudes towards asylum seekers using 164 Australian community members during June 2015 by way of questionnaire. Our primary research question involved how five variables predicted false beliefs about asylum seekers. Specifically, we measured prejudice, the third-person effect, and confidence in the answers given to false beliefs about asylum seekers. Regression results indicated that the main predictors of false beliefs were right-wing political orientation, prejudice, confidence in espousing false beliefs, and the third-person effect (politicians). Furthermore, most of our community participants accepted a large number of false beliefs as being true, with approximately two-thirds of our participants scoring above the midpoint. This reflects similar findings over the last decade or so. Our results indicate that, if one believes in bottom-up change, a more nuanced approach needs to be undertaken with community anti-prejudice interventions.
What is the Future of the Survey Course?
Authors: Gelvin James L.
Published: May 2017

I want to kick off this discussion with three quotes and a statistic. The first quote is as follows: “The chief purpose [of historical education] is not to fill [someone's] head with a mass of material which he may perhaps put forward again when a college examiner demands its production.” The second—a line from a front page story in The New York Times—reads, “College freshmen throughout the nation reveal a striking ignorance of even the most elementary aspects of United States history.” And the third:

We have descended into what some consider the dark age of declining enrollments, professional unemployment, and a growing rejection of history by many students who seem to agree with Henry Ford that history is “bunk.” If we are going to have any real impact on individuals or society, we must do something besides just cover the material.

Finally, the statistic: in eight years alone, the number of students majoring in history dropped 40 percent.
Correcting for the Problems of the Survey Course
Authors: Shields Sarah
Published: May 2017

Every year, I teach a broad survey course on the Modern Middle East (between 120 and 200 students), along with seminars on a wide range of topics. Regardless of the content of these courses, I have three big goals. I want them to come away understanding that the history of the region is more complex and fascinating than they learned in high school and from the pundits, and the simplistic assumptions and solutions they offer answer no questions. Second, I want to persuade them that things change over time, and we can't understand anything without knowing its context—and the context of the Middle East is global. But most imperative: I want to convince students to be critical in analyzing sources of information. Informed citizenship requires students to be able to think critically, and that is what historians do offer. We analyze multiple sources in myriad ways.
PURE TIME PREFERENCE IN INTERTEMPORAL WELFARE ECONOMICS
Authors: Kelleher J. Paul
Published: May 2017

Several areas of welfare economics seek to evaluate states of affairs as a function of interpersonally comparable individual utilities. The aim is to map each state of affairs onto a vector of individual utilities, and then to produce an ordering of these vectors that can be represented by a mathematical function assigning a real number to each. When this approach is used in intertemporal contexts, a central theoretical question concerns therate of pure time preference, i.e. the evaluative weight to be applied to utility coming at different times. This article criticizes the standard philosophical account of pure time preference, arguing that it ascribes to economists a methodological commitment they need not accept. The article then evaluates three further objections to pure time preference, concluding that it might still be defensible under certain circumstances. I close by articulating a final argument that, if sound, would constitute a decisive objection to pure time preference as it currently figures in much intertemporal welfare economics.
ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION OF BLOOD-TESTING PROCEDURES
Authors: Bar-Lev Shaul K. , Boxma Onno , Perry David , Vastazos Lazaros P.
Published: May 2017

This paper is devoted to the performance analysis and optimization of blood testing procedures. We present a queueing model of two queues in series, representing the two stages of a blood-testing procedure. Service (testing) in stage 1 is performed in batches, whereas it is done individually in stage 2. Since particular elements of blood can only be stored and used within a finite time window, the sojourn time of blood units in the system of two queues in series is an important performance measure, which we study in detail. We also introduce a profit objective function, taking into account blood acquisition and screening costs as well as profits for blood units, which were found uncontaminated and were tested fast enough. We optimize that profit objective function w.r.t. the batch size and the length of the time window.
Randomized algorithms in numerical linear algebra
Authors: Kannan Ravindran , Vempala Santosh
Published: May 2017

This survey provides an introduction to the use of randomization in the design of fast algorithms for numerical linear algebra. These algorithms typically examine only a subset of the input to solve basic problems approximately, including matrix multiplication, regression and low-rank approximation. The survey describes the key ideas and gives complete proofs of the main results in the field. A central unifying idea is sampling the columns (or rows) of a matrix according to their squared lengths.