bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability analysis of quaternion‐valued Cohen‐Grossberg neural networks
Authors: Li Ruoxia , Gao Xingbao , Cao Jinde , Zhang Kai
Published: March 2019

In this paper, by starting from basic quaternion algebra properties and algorithms, a quaternion‐valued Cohen‐Grossberg neural network was derived, subsequently, several new sufficient conditions are derived to ensure existence and global asymptotic stability (GAS) and global exponential stability (GES) of the equilibrium point (EP) for quaternion‐valued Cohen‐Grossberg neural networks. The obtained criteria can be checked easily in practice and have a distinguished feature from previous studies. Finally, we have numerical evidences that the mathematical system and the conclusions presented are validated.
AGK‐BRAF is associated with distant metastasis and younger age in pediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Sisdelli Luiza , Cordioli Maria Isabel Cunha Vieira , Vaisman Fernanda , Moraes Lais , Colozza‐Gama Gabriel Avelar , Alves Paulo Alonso G. , Araújo Mario Lucio , Alves Maria Teresa Seixas , Monte Osmar , Longui Carlos Alberto , Cury Adriano Namo , Carvalheira Gianna , Cerutti Janete Maria
Published: March 2019

Background

The incidence of thyroid carcinoma has increased in most populations, including pediatric patients. The increase is almost exclusively due to an increase in the incidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Genetic alterations leading to mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation are highly prevalent in PTC, with BRAF V600E mutation being the most common event in adult PTC. Although a lower prevalence of BRAF V600E had been reported among pediatric patients, a higher prevalence of BRAF fusion has been identified in both radiation‐exposed and sporadic pediatric PTC. However, little is known about the prognostic implications of BRAF fusions in pediatric PTC.

Procedure

In this study, we investigated the prevalence of BRAF alterations (AGK‐BRAF fusion and BRAF V600E mutation) in a large set of predominantly sporadic pediatric PTC cases and correlate with clinicopathological features. Somatic AGK‐BRAF fusion was investigated by RT‐PCR and confirmed by FISH break‐apart. The BRAF V600E mutation was screened using Sanger sequencing.

Results

AGK‐BRAF fusion, found in 19% of pediatric PTC patients, was associated with distant metastasis and younger age. Conversely, the BRAF V600E, found in 15% of pediatric PTC patients, was correlated with older age and larger tumor size.

Conclusion

Collectively, our results advance knowledge concerning genetic bases of pediatric thyroid carcinoma, with potential implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic approaches.
The impact of illness perception and socio‐clinico‐demographic factors on perceived quality of life in children and adolescents with thalassemia intermedia
Authors: Atwa Zeze TH. , Wahed Wafaa Y. Abdel
Published: March 2019

Background/objectives

β‐Thalassemia intermedia (β‐TI) accounts for up to one‐fourth of β‐thalassemia patients. Evaluating and improving quality of life (QOL) should be a goal in β‐TI follow‐up and management strategies. Patients’ perceptions of their illness and its treatment may impact their QOL. This study aimed to evaluate QOL and the factors that affect it in children with β‐TI and to determine the impact of the patients’ and their mothers’ perceptions of the illness on patients’ QOL.

Design/methods

This was a case–control study. A total of 143 children and adolescents (71 β‐TI patients and 72 healthy controls) were enrolled. QOL, as perceived by the children and their mothers, was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 Generic Core Scale. Perceptions of the illness by the mothers and children were assessed using the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (Brief IPQ). The patients’ clinical and sociodemographic data were extracted from their medical records.

Results

The controls had higher QOL scores in nearly all domains (P < 0.01). The patients and mothers who had higher illness perception scores had better QOL scores (P < 0.01). Patient age and serum ferritin levels correlated negatively with QOL, while mean hemoglobin levels correlated positively. The use of hydroxyurea in treatment and high illness perception were independent predictors of better QOL.

Conclusion

QOL is significantly affected in β‐TI patients; maintaining a suitable hemoglobin level and standard levels of body iron are associated with better QOL. Patients’ and their mothers’ perceptions of the illness play an important role in QOL.
Divide and conquer: Evaluation of a redesign of a pediatric teaching service
Authors: Winn Ariel S. , Gross Caroline J. , Silverman Lewis B. , Kesselheim Jennifer C.
Published: March 2019

Background

Increasing census and work compression on the pediatric inpatient hematologic malignancy (IHM) service yielded resident dissatisfaction, impaired learning, and decreased perceived quality of patient care. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a service redesign on resident perceptions of (a) the educational value of the rotation and (b) the safety of patient care. As a secondary objective, we evaluated the impact on the time of day of patient discharge.

Procedure

A bundled intervention on the IHM service was instituted, including decreased patient volumes, intentional patient assignment, intentional faculty selection, and increased weekend staffing. We distributed an annual survey to end‐of‐the‐year junior residents. We compared responses from residents who experienced the redesign (2017) with residents whose experience predated the redesign (2016). We compared the time of day of patient discharge before and after the redesign.

Results

Survey completion rates were 70% (28/40) in 2016 and 57% (29/51) in 2017. Redesign residents rated their educational experience and perceived ability to care for patients on the nights and weekends significantly higher than previous residents. Redesign residents reported that their clinical education was compromised by excessive service less frequently than previous residents (24% vs 82%, P < 0.001). The time of day of patient discharge after the redesign was 35 minutes earlier than before the redesign (4:06 pm vs 4:41 pm, P = 0.01, 95% CI = −63, −6).

Conclusions

A redesign initiative of an oncology service led to improved resident perceptions of the educational value of the rotation and ability to provide safe care to patients, along with earlier discharge times.
The Role of PSL(2, 7) in M‐theory: M2‐Branes, Englert Equation and the Septuples
Authors: Cerchiai Bianca Letizia , Fré Pietro , Trigiante Mario
Published: March 2019

Reconsidering the M2‐brane solutions of supergravity with a transverse Englert flux introduced by one of us in 2016, we present a new purely group theoretical algorithm to solve Englert equation based on a specific embedding of the PSL(2, 7) group into . The aforementioned embedding is singled out by the identification of PSL(2, 7) with the automorphism group of the Fano plane. Relying on the revealed intrinsic PSL(2, 7) symmetry of Englert equation and on the new algorithm we present an exhaustive classification of Englert fluxes. The residual supersymmetries of the corresponding M2‐brane solutions associated with the first of the 8 classes into which we have partitioned Englert fluxes are exhaustively analyzed and we show that all residual supersymmetries with are available. Our constructions correspond to a particular case in the category of M2‐brane solutions with transverse self‐dual fluxes.
Boswellic acid has anti‐inflammatory effects and enhances the anticancer activities of Temozolomide and Afatinib, an irreversible ErbB family blocker, in human glioblastoma cells
Authors: Barbarisi Manlio , Barbarisi Alfonso , De Sena Gabriele , Armenia Emilia , Aurilio Caterina , Libutti Michele , Iaffaioli Rosario Vincenzo , Botti Gerardo , Maurea Nicola , Quagliariello Vincenzo
Published: March 2019

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor. Current therapeutic strategies are based on the use of Temozolomide (TMZ) and antihuman epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) drugs, such as Afatinib. However, clinically relevant drug‐resistance events are still present and closely related to a proinflammatory cancer brain microenvironment. The primary aim of this study is the association of Boswellic acid (BA), a molecule derived from Boswellia Serrata, with TMZ and Afatinibin different human GBM cells. We performed cell viability studies evaluating its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects analyzing p65/NF‐κB and Leukotriene B4 expression and production of interleukins and growth factors (IL‐8, IL‐6, vascular endothelial growth factor, CXCL‐12, and MMP‐9). Considering the cardiotoxicity of TMZ and anti‐EGFR drugs, we evaluated the putative cardioprotective effects of BA in adult cardiomyocytes. BA significantly increased the anticancer activities of TMZ and Afatinib. These effects are related to its anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects, based on the inhibition of growth factors and proinflammatory interleukins. Notably, BA exerts also cardioprotective effects in combination to both drugs. This study provides evidences of anti‐inflammatory, cardioprotective, and chemo sensitizing effects of BA in glioblastoma cells giving a rationale for new translational studies based on the use of this natural molecule during conventional therapies.
An extensive evaluation of ensemble techniques for software change prediction
Authors: Catolino Gemma , Ferrucci Filomena
Published: March 2019

Predicting the areas of the source code having a higher likelihood to change in the future represents an important activity to allow developers to plan preventive maintenance operations. For this reason, several change prediction models have been proposed. Moreover, research community demonstrated how different classifiers impact on the performance of devised models as well as classifiers tend to perform similarly even though they are able to correctly predict the change proneness of different code elements, possibly indicating the presence of some complementarity among them. In this paper, we deeper investigated whether the use of ensemble approaches, ie, machine learning techniques able to combine multiple classifiers, can improve the performances of change prediction models. Specifically, we built three change prediction models based on different predictors, ie, product‐, process‐ metrics‐, and developer‐related factors, comparing the performances of four ensemble techniques (ie, Boosting, Random Forest, Bagging, and Voting) with those of standard machine learning classifiers (ie, Logistic Regression, Naive Bayes, Simple Logistic, and Multilayer Perceptron). The study was conducted on 33 releases of 10 open‐source systems, and the results showed how ensemble methods and in particular Random Forest provide a significant improvement of more than 10% in terms of F measure. Indeed, the statistical analyses conducted confirm the superiority of this ensemble technique. Moreover, the model built using developer‐related factors performed better than the other models that exploit product and process metrics and achieves an overall median of F measure around 77%.
Mesomechanical properties of concrete with different shapes and replacement ratios of recycled aggregate based on base force element method
Authors: Wang Yao , Peng Yijiang , Kamel Mahmoud M. A. , Ying Liping
Published: March 2019

In order to study the mesomechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) under uniaxial tension, a numerical model of RAC with two different aggregate shapes (circular and convex) and five different replacement ratios of recycled aggregate (0, 30, 50, 70, and 100%) was established. A new finite element method—base force element method (BFEM) was used to derive the element strain and the element stiffness matrix with an explicit expression without Gauss integral. The two‐dimensional numerical model of the RAC was simulated to study the effect of aggregate shape, replacement ratio of recycled aggregate, aggregate distribution and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) properties on mesomechanical properties of RAC. Simulation results demonstrated that once the first crack appeared, the peak stress and peak strain were reached. The first crack appeared in old ITZ, which was located in whether the upper part or the lower part of the large‐size recycled aggregate. The continuous cracks were mainly around the recycled aggregate and the aggregate concentrated area. Comparing with natural concrete, when the replacement ratio of recycled aggregate was 100%, the elastic modulus decreased by 16~25%, the peak stress decreased by 12~15%, and the peak strain changed slightly. The ITZ had a significant influence on the mechanical properties of RAC and must be considered in the analysis.
Effect of corrosion‐induced crack and corroded rebar shape on bond behavior
Authors: Yang Yizhou , Nakamura Hikaru , Miura Taito , Yamamoto Yoshihito
Published: March 2019

This paper aims to investigate the individual effect of corrosion‐induced crack, corroded rebar shape, and rust around rebar on the bond properties of reinforced concrete (RC) members. First, test specimens were corroded by accelerated electric corrosion method with varying corrosion degree ranging from 0 to 25%. Test specimens were divided into different groups. For the normal corrosion group, bond test was conducted directly after the corrosion test to investigate the combined effects including corrosion‐induced crack, corroded rebar shape, and rust on bond deterioration. In another group, after corroded rebar was taken out from test specimen, rust was removed before casted into new concrete to evaluate single effect of corroded rebar shape. Similarly, corroded rebar with rust was casted into new concrete to evaluate the effect of the formation of rust on bond degradation. Experimental results quantitatively illustrate the influential factors including corrosion degree, corrosion crack width and geometry of corroded rebar. As the important finding, corrosion crack in concrete is concluded to be a more dominant factor than the corroded rebar shape and rust accumulation in bond deterioration mechanism. Moreover, rust accumulation contributes to the improvement of bond deterioration induced by corroded rebar shape.
Investigation of sulfates effects in perlite‐based geopolymer
Authors: Mohabbi Mehrzad
Published: March 2019

Condition deterioration of the concrete, especially in corrosive environments, is one of the most common imperfection and disadvantages of reinforced concrete structures. Sulfates' main damages are expansion and loss of strength. Geopolymers are one of the newest structural materials that have been widely developed in recent years for use in sustainable designs. Geopolymers are environmentally friendly and considered as green materials since they are effective in sustainable and eco‐friendly material design concept. One of the most important matters in the sustainability of structural materials is their resistance against sulfates. So far, the durability of perlite‐based geopolymers against sulfates and acids has not been investigated. In this research, the fineness influence, curing conditions, duration of maintaining in the sulfate environment at different weight percentage in solution (i.e., 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10%) have been investigated. Compressive strength and microstructure changes of geopolymer samples have been assessed in this research. As a result, optimum increase in perlite fineness causes increase in compressive strength and durability of samples against sulfate attack. Also, samples that have been cured by autoclave method have better mechanical properties and better durability. It is hoped that by filling these deficiencies and gaps, a positive step can be taken to accelerate attempts for finding a suitable replacement for ordinary Portland cement.
Understanding the marvels behind liver regeneration
Authors: Abu Rmilah Anan , Zhou Wei , Nelson Erek , Lin Li , Amiot Bruce , Nyberg Scott L.
Published: March 2019

Tissue regeneration is a process by which the remaining cells of an injured organ regrow to offset the missed cells. This field is relatively a new discipline that has been a focus of intense research by clinicians, surgeons, and scientists for decades. It constitutes the cornerstone of tissue engineering, creation of artificial organs, and generation and utilization of therapeutic stem cells to undergo transformation to different types of mature cells. Many medical experts, scientists, biologists, and bioengineers have dedicated their efforts to deeply comprehend the process of liver regeneration, striving for harnessing it to invent new therapies for liver failure. Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rodents has been extensively studied by researchers for many years. It is divided into three important distinctive phases including (a) Initiation or priming phase which includes an overexpression of specific genes to prepare the liver cells for replication, (b) Proliferation phase in which the liver cells undergo a series of cycles of cell division and expansion and finally, (c) termination phase which acts as brake to stop the regenerative process and prevent the liver tissue overgrowth. These events are well controlled by cytokines, growth factors, and signaling pathways. In this review, we describe the function, embryology, and anatomy of human liver, discuss the molecular basis of liver regeneration, elucidate the hepatocyte and cholangiocyte lineages mediating this process, explain the role of hepatic progenitor cells and elaborate the developmental signaling pathways and regulatory molecules required to procure a complete restoration of hepatic lobule.

This article is categorized under:

Adult Stem Cells, Tissue Renewal, and Regeneration > Regeneration

Signaling Pathways > Global Signaling Mechanisms

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Cellular Differentiation
Two-loop integrability of ABJM open spin chain from giant graviton
Authors: Bai Nan , Chen Hui-Huang , Ouyang Hao , Wu Jun-Bao
Published: March 2019

Abstract

We prove the integrability of the two-loop open spin chain Hamiltonian from ABJM determinant like operators given in [1]. By explicitly constructing R-matrices and K-matrices, we successfully obtain the two-loop Hamiltonian from the double row transfer matrices. This proves the integrability of our two-loop Hamiltonian. Based on the vacuum eigenvalues of the transfer matrices, we make a conjecture on the eigenvalues of the transfer matrices for general excited states. Bethe ansatz equations are simply obtained from the analytic conditions at the superficial poles of the eigenvalues.
ARDIS: a Swedish historical handwritten digit dataset
Authors: Kusetogullari Huseyin , Yavariabdi Amir , Cheddad Abbas , Grahn Håkan , Hall Johan
Published: March 2019

This paper introduces a new image-based handwritten historical digit dataset named Arkiv Digital Sweden (ARDIS). The images in ARDIS dataset are extracted from 15,000 Swedish church records which were written by different priests with various handwriting styles in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The constructed dataset consists of three single-digit datasets and one-digit string dataset. The digit string dataset includes 10,000 samples in red–green–blue color space, whereas the other datasets contain 7600 single-digit images in different color spaces. An extensive analysis of machine learning methods on several digit datasets is carried out. Additionally, correlation between ARDIS and existing digit datasets Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (MNIST) and US Postal Service (USPS) is investigated. Experimental results show that machine learning algorithms, including deep learning methods, provide low recognition accuracy as they face difficulties when trained on existing datasets and tested on ARDIS dataset. Accordingly, convolutional neural network trained on MNIST and USPS and tested on ARDIS provide the highest accuracies $$58.80\%$$

58.80
%

and $$35.44\%$$

35.44
%

, respectively. Consequently, the results reveal that machine learning methods trained on existing datasets can have difficulties to recognize digits effectively on our dataset which proves that ARDIS dataset has unique characteristics. This dataset is publicly available for the research community to further advance handwritten digit recognition algorithms.
Immunity of Heads of State and Senior State Officials from Subpoenas and Witness
Summonses
Authors: Pichou Maria
Published: March 2019

Although the law on immunities under international law is a very rich field of study, not much analysis has been done on the immunities of Heads of State from acts other than prosecution, namely from witness summonses and subpoenas in international criminal law. This article poses the question whether international law allows for Heads of State and Senior State officials to be subpoenaed or summonsed to testify as witnesses, and seeks to answer it by systemizing the relevant case law of international criminal courts and tribunals. After defining the types and the application of subpoenas and witness summonses in international criminal proceedings, the article examines whether the immunity of Heads of State is upheld when such requests are filed before international and national courts. The case law of the ad hoc international criminal tribunals shows that when the tribunal had to adjudicate a request to compel a witness to appear, it adapted the legal standard by considering the type and the object of the subpoena, the status of the prospective witness, and the court’s role and mandate. The International Criminal Court iterated its power to compel the appearance of witnesses. As the immunities that are attached to the office of Heads of State and Senior State officials are largely sourced in rules of customary international law, the article maps the content of the customary rule governing specifically the immunity from subpoenas and witness summonses in international criminal law.
Ten-Year Interval Changes in the Prevalence of Self-Identified Premature Ejaculation and Premature Ejaculation Based on an Estimated Intravaginal Ejaculation Latency Time of <3 Minutes in the General Population: The Korean Internet Sexuality Survey (KISS) 2016
Authors: Song Won Hoon , Yoo Sangjun , Oh Sohee , Park Juhyun , Cho Sung Yong , Cho Min Chul , Jeong Hyeon , Son Hwancheol
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Because the prevalence of premature ejaculation (PE) may change with time, few studies have been conducted over a 10-year time interval.

Aim

A 10-year time interval survey to determine whether there was a change in the prevalence of self-identified PE and PE defined on the basis of an estimated intravaginal ejaculation latency time of <3 minutes in adult Korean men, even after adjusting for various sociocultural factors.

Methods

We sent an e-mail to the panels registered in the same Internet survey agency in 2006, asking them to participate in a questionnaire-based survey of the same study design. 1,401 participants were enrolled in the 2016 study that included 800 subjects in their 20s–50s. The PE prevalence adjusted for age was evaluated because the proportion of participants per age was different between the 2 surveys. The age-adjusted prevalence of self-identified PE and PE with an estimated intravaginal ejaculation latency time of 3 minutes, which meets the diagnostic criteria for PE set by the International Society for Sexual Medicine (PE), was evaluated.

Main Outcome Measures

Changes in the overall prevalence of self-identified PE and PE in over a decade were evaluated.

Results

The overall age-adjusted prevalence of self-identified PE increased from 19.0% in 2006 to 21.6% in 2016; however, the result was not statistically significant (P = .244). The overall age-adjusted prevalence of PE increased from 1.8–4.0% in 2006 and 2016, respectively (P = .012). The risk factors of self-identified PE were few intercourses per month, masturbation, and self-identified erectile dysfunction. In addition, the risk factors of PE were aging, high body mass index, few intercourses per month, and masturbation.

Clinical Implication

The prevalence of PE has increased over 10 years. However, this increase may be due to sociocultural changes and should be more concerned with these factors.

Strength & Limitations

This study was the first to conduct a 10-year interval Web-based survey on the prevalence and risk factors of PE. However, this was not a cohort study with the same participants.

Conclusion

The overall age-adjusted prevalence of PE increased significantly over a decade, and sociocultural factors such as lifestyle were associated with the difference of PE prevalence for 10 years. However, more research is needed to determine how these sociocultural changes affect PE prevalence.
Non-Gaussianity in turbulent relative dispersion
Authors: Devenish B. J. , Thomson D. J.
Published: March 2019

We present an extension of Thomson’s (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 210, 1990, pp. 113–153) two-particle Lagrangian stochastic model that is constructed to be consistent with the $4/5$ law of turbulence. The rate of separation in the new model is reduced relative to the original model with zero skewness in the Eulerian longitudinal relative velocity distribution and is close to recent measurements from direct numerical simulations of homogeneous isotropic turbulence. The rate of separation in the equivalent backwards dispersion model is approximately a factor of 2.9 larger than the forwards dispersion model, a result that is consistent with previous work.
Missing the Target? Using Surveys to Validate Social Media Ad Targeting
Authors: Sances Michael W.
Published: March 2019

Facebook ads are increasingly used by political scientists as a method of survey recruitment. A key advantage is said to be the ability to recruit targeted audiences defined by demographics, political beliefs, location, and numerous other attributes. The same feature has been decried by non-researchers concerned about potential racial discrimination and foreign influence in elections. The extent to which these ads actually reach their targets, however, is unknown. Using a series of six surveys and 20 targeted ads, I show these ads regularly fail to reach their targets. The success rate ranges from 23 to 99 percent, and ads targeted toward groups defined by self-reported data and broader geographic locations are generally more successful.
Assessing Data Sources for Medicine Price Studies
Authors: Vogler Sabine , Schneider Peter
Published: March 2019

Objectives

There is no established methodology to assess the feasibility of medicine price data sources. Against this backdrop, a framework to guide the selection of most appropriate price data sources for pharmacoeconomic research has been developed.

Methods

A targeted literature review was carried out. Dimensions discussed in literature as relevant for medicine price comparisons and practical experience of the authors in medicine price studies informed the conceptional work of the framework development. A draft version of the framework was reviewed by peer pricing experts. The feasibility of the framework was tested in case studies.

Results

According to the developed framework (called Re-ADAPT), a medicine price data source should meet the following criteria: reliability and sustainability; accessibility at a cost that users can afford; provision of medicine price information at the date(s) required; information for the defined geographic area, or at least in a representative way; coverage of the pharmaceuticals and at the price type(s) required. Easy handling and provision of additional information were defined as supportive assets of candidate data sources (secondary criteria). The case studies confirmed the feasibility of the Re-ADAPT framework. In some cases, however, it can be difficult to disentangle assessment criteria (particularly geographic area, scope of pharmaceuticals and price types) for separate consideration, given their interlinkage.

Conclusions

While selection of the most appropriate data sources will remain a challenge, the Re-ADAPT framework aims to provide practical guidance and thus contribute to a more careful, balanced, and evidence-based selection of data sources for medicine price studies.
Conflicts of power, landscape and amenity in debates over the British Super Grid in the 1950s
Authors: Navickas Katrina
Published: March 2019

The ‘Super Grid’ network of high-voltage power lines transformed the landscapes of England and southern Scotland in the 1950s. This article examines debates over the siting of pylons, with a focus on the public inquiries into the proposed lines across the Pennines in Lancashire. It brings together archives on electrification from the newly nationalised British Electricity Authority, preservationist groups and local government to reveal deeper insights into processes of local and national decision-making about and popular attitudes to the rural landscape. It uncovers how the public inquiries exposed tensions and differences about the definition of amenity, not just between the electricity industry and preservationists, but also between interests representing urban industrial districts and the National Parks, northern and southern England, and within the preservationist movement. The conflicts over pylons and amenity shows how narratives of landscape preservation were contested and riven with class, region and economic differences in the postwar period.
Seeing is believing: sites/sights of agricultural improvement in Germany (1840–1914)
Authors: Jones Elizabeth B.
Published: March 2019

This article explores the visual culture of rural improvement in Germany, manifested in agricultural exhibitions, model farms and test plots. It argues that, following the English example, nineteenth-century experts increasingly believed that such material sites were the most effective way to persuade small farmers to embrace change and increase productivity. The presumption was that farmers were habitually keen observers who preferred to learn by seeing and that visual displays would alleviate their characteristic mistrust and build confidence in scientific advisers. The fact that these efforts coincided with the professionalisation of agronomy, the increased influence of scientists in rural policymaking and the rise of elite agricultural institutions revises the existing narrative of the spread of agricultural knowledge in Germany. Based on archival evidence from north-western Prussia, it is clear that many small cultivators responded enthusiastically to these sites, defying stereotypes of ‘dull-wittedness’ and ingrained suspicion of the new.
Identity types and weak factorization systems in Cauchy complete categories
Authors: North Paige Randall
Published: March 2019

It has been known that categorical interpretations of dependent type theory with Σ- and Id-types induce weak factorization systems. When one has a weak factorization system $({\cal L},{\cal R})$ on a category $\mathbb{C}$ in hand, it is then natural to ask whether or not $({\cal L},{\cal R})$ harbors an interpretation of dependent type theory with Σ- and Id- (and possibly Π-) types. Using the framework of display map categories to phrase this question more precisely, one would ask whether or not there exists a class ${\cal D}$ of morphisms of $\mathbb{C}$ such that the retract closure of ${\cal D}$ is the class ${\cal R}$ and the pair $(\mathbb{C},{\cal D})$ forms a display map category modeling Σ- and Id- (and possibly Π-) types. In this paper, we show, with the hypothesis that $\cal{C}$ is Cauchy complete, that there exists such a class $\cal{D}$ if and only if $(\mathbb{C},\cal{R})$itself forms a display map category modeling Σ- and Id- (and possibly Π-) types. Thus, we reduce the search space of our original question from a potentially proper class to a singleton.
Externalities and Agricultural Import Bans: Evaluating Regionalization Measures in Light of the Russia–Pigs Dispute
Authors: BLANCHARD EMILY , WU MARK
Published: March 2019

Article 6 of the SPS Agreement presents a series of interlinked obligations for importing and exporting countries of diseased agricultural products. The Russia–Pigs dispute raises the question of when an importing country is justified in imposing a ban on products from exporting countries unaffected by the disease, on the basis of the fact that the country is part of the same customs union as another country inflicted with the disease. This Article contends that four distinct classes of cross-border and cross-product externalities ought to play an important role when assessing this question in the future. It discusses the possible roles to be played by bilateral, sequential, pass-through, and supply chain externalities in propagating the transmission of agricultural disease across borders through trade.
Multiple herbicide resistance in California Italian ryegrass (Lolium perennessp.multiflorum): characterization of ALS-inhibiting herbicide resistance
Authors: Tehranchian Parsa , Nandula Vijay K. , Matzrafi Maor , Jasieniuk Marie
Published: March 2019

Multiple resistance to glyphosate, sethoxydim, and paraquat was previously confirmed in two Italian ryegrass [Lolium perenneL. ssp.multiflorum(Lam.) Husnot] populations,MR1andMR2, in northern California. Preliminary greenhouse studies revealed that both populations were also resistant to imazamox and mesosulfuron, both of which are acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. In this study, three subpopulations,MR1-A(from seed ofMR1plants that survived a 16X rate of sethoxydim),MR1-P(from seed ofMR1plants that survived a 2X rate of paraquat), andMR2(from seed ofMR2plants that survived a 16X rate of sethoxydim), were investigated to determine the resistance level to imazamox and mesosulfuron, evaluate other herbicide options for the control of these multiple resistantL. perennessp.multiflorum, and characterize the underlying ALS-inhibitor resistance mechanism(s). Based on LD50values, theMR1-A,MR1-P, andMR2subpopulations were 38-, 29-, 8-fold and 36-, 64-, and 3-fold less sensitive to imazamox and mesosulfuron, respectively, relative to the susceptible (Sus) population. OnlyMR1-P and MR2plants were cross-resistant to rimsulfuron, whereas bothMR1subpopulations were cross-resistant to imazethapyr. Pinoxaden (ACCase inhibitor [phenylpyrazoline 'DEN']) only controlledMR2andSusplants at the labeled field rate. However, all plants were effectively controlled (>99%) with the labeled field rate of glufosinate. Based on I50values,MR1-A,MR-P, andMR2plants were 712-, 1,104-, and 3-fold and 10-, 18-, and 5-fold less responsive to mesosulfuron and imazamox, respectively, than theSusplants. Sequence alignment of theALSgene of resistant plants revealed a missense single-nucleotide polymorphism resulting in a Trp-574-Leu substitution inMR1-AandMR1-Pplants, heterozygous in both, but not in theMR2plants. An additional homozygous substitution, Asp-376-Glu, was identified in theMR1-Aplants. Addition of malathion or piperonyl butoxide did not alter the efficacy of mesosulfuron onMR2plants. In addition, the presence of 2,4-D had no effect on the response of mesosulfuron on theMR2andSus. These results suggest an altered target site is the mechanism of resistance to ALS inhibitors inMR1-AandMR1-Pplants, whereas a non–target site based resistance apparatus is present in theMR2plants.
Effectiveness of the Pulsar-18 self-expanding stent with optional	drug-coated balloon angioplasty in the treatment of femoropopliteal lesions	– the BIOFLEX PEACE All-Comers Registry
Authors: Lichtenberg Michael , Breuckmann Frank , Kramer Veronika , Betge Stefan , Sixt Sebastian , Hailer Birgit , Nikol Sigrid , Arjumand Jawed , Wittenberg Guenther , Teßarek Jörg , Nolte-Ernsting Claus
Published: March 2019

Summary. Background: Previous studies showed favorable results after treatment of femoropopliteal lesions with the Pulsar-18 self-expanding (SE) nitinol stent. The objective of this registry was to evaluate whether these results will be confirmed in a real-world setting with varying stenting strategies. Patients and methods: In this prospective, observational trial, 160 patients with 186 femoropopliteal lesions were treated with the Pulsar-18 SE nitinol stent at 9 German sites. Mean lesion length was 116 ± 103 mm, and 41.9 % of the lesions were moderately or heavily calcified. Eighty lesions were concomitantly treated with drug-coated balloon (DCB). Main effectiveness outcome was primary patency at 12 months, and main safety outcome was freedom from the composite of device or procedure related death, major target limb amputation, and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 30 days and 6 months. Results: Kaplan-Meier estimate of primary patency was 89.1 %, 67.3 %, and 57.1 % at 6, 12, and 24 months. Freedom from TLR was 95.5 %, 91.4 %, and 85.2 % at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Lesions, which were additionally treated with DCB (plus DCB-group), were longer (150 versus 82 mm on average, p < 0.0001), and associated with lower primary patency estimates than those without DCB angioplasty (stent-only-group) (log-rank p = 0.006). However, there was no difference in freedom from TLR between groups (log-rank p = 0.542). Improvement by ≥ 1 Rutherford category was achieved in 84.8 %, 81.0 %, and 81.7 % of patients at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Walking distance and patient-reported pain improved persistently through 24 months (p < 0.001). Hemodynamic improvement was achieved in 68.2 %, 73.7 %, and 70.7 % of the patients at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Conclusions: The Pulsar-18 self-expanding nitinol stent with optional drug-coated balloon angioplasty can be considered an efficacious and safe therapy option for endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal artery disease.
Visual Inference for the Funnel Plot in Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kossmeier Michael , Tran Ulrich S. , Voracek Martin
Published: March 2019

Abstract. The funnel plot is widely used in meta-analyses to assess potential publication bias. However, experimental evidence suggests that informal, mere visual, inspection of funnel plots is frequently prone to incorrect conclusions, and formal statistical tests (Egger regression and others) entirely focus on funnel plot asymmetry. We suggest using the visual inference framework with funnel plots routinely, including for didactic purposes. In this framework, the type I error is controlled by design, while the explorative, holistic, and open nature of visual graph inspection is preserved. Specifically, the funnel plot of the actually observed data is presented simultaneously, in a lineup, with null funnel plots showing data simulated under the null hypothesis. Only when the real data funnel plot is identifiable from all the funnel plots presented, funnel plot-based conclusions might be warranted. Software to implement visual funnel plot inference is provided via a tailored R function.
Assessing Microbial Community Patterns During Incipient Soil Formation From Basalt
Authors: Sengupta Aditi , Stegen James C. , Meira Neto Antonio A. , Wang Yadi , Neilson Julia W. , Tatarin Triffon , Hunt Edward , Dontsova Katerina , Chorover Jon , Troch Peter A. , Maier Raina M.
Published: March 2019

Microbial dynamics drive the biotic machinery of early soil evolution. However, integrated knowledge of microbial community establishment, functional associations, and community assembly processes in incipient soil is lacking. This study presents a novel approach of combining microbial phylogenetic profiling, functional predictions, and community assembly processes to analyze drivers of microbial community establishment in an emerging soil system. Rigorous submeter sampling of a basalt‐soil lysimeter after 2 years of irrigation revealed that microbial community colonization patterns and associated soil parameters were depth dependent. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated the presence of diverse bacterial and archaeal phyla, with high relative abundance of Actinomyceles on the surface and a consistently high abundance of Proteobacteria (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta) at all depths. Despite depth‐dependent variation in community diversity, predicted functional gene analysis suggested that microbial metabolisms did not differ with depth, thereby suggesting redundancy in functional potential throughout the system. Null modeling revealed that microbial community assembly patterns were predominantly governed by variable selection. The relative influence of variable selection decreased with depth, indicating unique and relatively harsh environmental conditions near the surface and more benign conditions with depth. Additionally, community composition near the center of the domain was influenced by high levels of dispersal, suggesting that spatial processes interact with deterministic selection imposed by the environment. These results suggest that for oligotrophic systems, there are major differences in the length scales of variation between vertical and horizontal dimensions with the vertical dimension dominating variation in physical, chemical, and biological features.
Breakdown of Earthquake Self‐Similar Scaling and Source Rupture Directivity in the 2016–2017 Central Italy Seismic Sequence
Authors: Wang Hongwei , Ren Yefei , Wen Ruizhi , Xu Peibin
Published: March 2019

To analyze the source characteristics of the 2016–2017 central Italy seismic sequence, source spectra of 78 earthquakes of ML = 3.5–6.1 were separated from the S wave Fourier spectra using the two‐step nonparametric generalized inversion technique. Source parameters (e.g., stress drop) were estimated from the source spectra following the ω‐square model. Stress drops were found mainly in the range 0.113–12.190 MPa. The significant dependence of stress drop on magnitude indicates the breakdown of earthquake self‐similar scaling in this sequence. The low stress drops for small events following the release of high stress by the mainshock might have led to stress accumulation on the unruptured fault, which could explain the subsequent occurrence of multiple major events. We investigated the source rupture directivity for 36 events through the azimuthal variation of apparent source spectra. Significant variation was observed at specific frequency bands (generally, over corner frequencies) in 10 events caused by rupture directivity, which was verified by the stable estimation of rupture plane. The rupture parameters confirmed unilateral ruptures predominantly on the NNW–SSE striking fault with fast rupture velocity (2.52–2.84 km/s) for the 10 events. Rupture parameters for an additional four events with stable estimated rupture plane were also analyzed. These were characterized by slow rupture velocity causing weak directivity effects. According to the rupture parameters for the 14 events, prevailing SSE or SEE (NNW or NNE) rupture directivity was a common feature for events to the north (south) of the mainshock in this earthquake sequence.
Distributed Hydrological Modeling Framework for Quantitative and Spatial Bias Correction for Rainfall, Snowfall, and Mixed‐Phase Precipitation Using Vertical Profile of Temperature
Authors: Naseer Asif , Koike Toshio , Rasmy Mohamad , Ushiyama Tomoki , Shrestha Maheswor
Published: March 2019

Mountain snowpack and its distribution both have intimate connections to regional hydrology by preserving winter precipitation to sustain streamflows during the summer months. One of the key knowledge gaps in mountainous region is the interplay of precipitation and temperature with changing altitudes. Three‐dimensional temperature distribution is pivotal for the realistic temporal and spatial distribution of precipitation with pattern (rain/snow). The environmental/linear lapse rates are inadequate to address snow processes, resulting in significant uncertainties. An effort is made in this study to develop a vertical profile of temperature (VPT) and apply it as a dynamic temperature lapse rate to curtail uncertainties. The VPT was used for the spatiotemporal bias correction of precipitation by targeting accessible data sources based on the quantitative and spatial analysis in a distributed hydrologic modeling framework with a logical calibration and validation. The water and energy budget‐based distributed hydrological model with snow was utilized to simulate the streamflows and spatial distribution of snow cover based on VPT and corrected precipitation. During calibration and validation phase, the simulated discharge resulted with Nash‐Sutcliffe Efficiency over 0.76 and 0.71, respectively. Moreover, the output for the spatial distribution of snow cover evaluated against Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer‐derived 8‐day maximum snow cover extents by employing pixel‐by‐pixel analysis with average model accuracy over 88.28% and 85.89%. To the authors' knowledge, it is the first study to integrate VPT in hydrologic modeling with robust potential for optimal water resource management in the data scarce region.
Fireball over the Bering Sea
Authors: Redd Nola
Published: March 2019

Powerful meteorite explodes over “a sensitive part of the world.”
Efficient 3‐D Large‐Scale Forward Modeling and Inversion of Gravitational Fields in Spherical Coordinates With Application to Lunar Mascons
Authors: Zhao Guangdong , Chen Bo , Uieda Leonardo , Liu Jianxin , Kaban Mikhail K. , Chen Longwei , Guo Rongwen
Published: March 2019

An efficient forward modeling algorithm for calculation of gravitational fields in spherical coordinates is developed for 3‐D large‐scale gravity inversion problems. The 3‐D Gauss‐Legendre quadrature (GLQ) is used to calculate the gravitational fields of mass distributions discretized into tesseroids. Equivalence relations in the kernel matrix of the forward modeling are exploited to decrease storage and computation time. The numerical tests demonstrate that the computation time of the proposed algorithm is reduced by approximately 2 orders of magnitude, and the memory requirement is reduced by N′λ times compared with the traditional GLQ method, where N′λ is the number of the model elements in the longitudinal direction. These significant improvements in computational efficiency and storage make it possible to calculate and store the dense Jacobian matrix in 3‐D large‐scale gravity inversions. The equivalence relations can be applied to the Taylor series method or combined with the adaptive discretization to ensure high accuracy. To further illustrate the capability of the algorithm, we present a regional synthetic example. The inverted results show density distributions consistent with the actual model. The computation took about 6.3 hr and 0.88 GB of memory compared with about a dozen days and 245.86 GB for the traditional 3‐D GLQ method. Finally, the proposed algorithm is applied to the gravity field derived from the latest lunar gravity model GL1500E. Three‐dimensional density distributions of the Imbrium and Serenitatis basins are obtained, and high‐density bodies are found at the depths 10–60 km, likely indicating a significant uplift of the high‐density mantle beneath the two mascon basins.