bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Klinik und Genetik von Augenentwicklungsstörungen: MAC-Spektrum und Vorderabschnittsdysgenesien
Authors: Käsmann-Kellner Barbara , Moslemani Kayed , Seitz Berthold
Published: February 2019

Zur Steuerung der Entwicklung des okulären Phänotyps sind mehrere aufeinander abgestimmte Schritte von zeitlich und räumlich organisierten vernetzten Auslösern (Induktionen) notwendig. Dies wird auf dem Niveau der Transkription reguliert. Entscheidend sind hier die sog. Mastergene oder DNA-bindende Transkriptionsfaktoren PAX6, FOXC1, SOX2, FOXE3, OTX2, PITX2 und PAX2. Abhängig vom Phänotyp kann auf die Gestationszeit geschlossen werden, in der die okuläre Entwicklung tiefgreifend gestört wurde. Die Neuralleistenzellen tragen wesentlich zur Entwicklung der Augenstrukturen, insbesondere der vorderen Augenabschnitte, bei. Der Beitrag gibt zunächst einen kurzen Überblick über die embryonale Entwicklung okulärer Strukturen und stellt dann die tiefgreifenden Entwicklungsstörungen der Augen vor: phänotypische und genetische Besonderheiten beim MAC-Spektrum (Mikrophthalmie, Anophthalmus, Kolobom) sowie bei Vorderabschnittsdysgenesien (Axenfeld-Rieger-Spektrum, Aniridie, Peters-Anomalie) und skizziert die bei diesen Erkrankungen auftretenden systemischen Beteiligungen. Bei der klinischen und genetischen Diagnostik ist der entscheidende Faktor die genaue phänotypische Charakterisierung, die jeder genetischen Diagnostik vorangestellt werden muss und nach der sich die Auswahl der diagnostischen Optionen richtet. Eine „Schrotschussdiagnostik“ auf alle beschriebenen Gene, die bei der embryonalen Augenbildung beteiligt sind, ist kostenintensiv und weniger effektiv als eine phänotypisch orientierte Selektion der für das beschriebene Erkrankungsbild häufigen Gene, gefolgt von den selteneren Genen in einem 2. oder 3. molekulargenetischen Schritt.
Efficacy of a Homeopathic Medicine of Capsicum frutescens L. (Solanaceae) in the Treatment of Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women: A Phase-2 Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Andrade Débora , Carmona Fabio , Angelucci Mateus , Martinez Edson , Pereira Ana
Published: February 2019

Background Hot flashes are common in women during menopause, and are an important cause of discomfort, increasing the number of medical appointments. Hormone replacement therapy is an effective treatment, but it can bring undesirable consequences. Alternative treatments exist but they are not universally accepted or effective. The ingestion of malagueta peppers (popular name for fruits of Capsicum frutescens L., Solanaceae) causes sensations similar to those experienced by women during hot flashes. Using the homeopathic law of similars (let like be cured by like), we hypothesized that a homeopathic remedy made of malagueta peppers can be effective in alleviating menopausal hot flashes. We named this remedy Malagueta.

Methods This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase-2 clinical trial was designed to test the hypothesis that, in menopausal women, the homeopathic medicine Malagueta (30 CH), compared with placebo, will significantly reduce the intensity of hot flashes, after 4 weeks of treatment. The primary outcome was the intensity of hot flashes, measured by the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) instrument. A total of 40 women were enrolled in the study, 20 in each group.

Results The effect of Malagueta on the primary outcome, the intensity of hot flashes, assessed by MYMOP, was superior to that of placebo over the 4 weeks of treatment, with worsening in both groups after treatment was interrupted (after week 4, p < 0.001 in ordinal logistic regression). The odds ratio for treatment response (reduction of at least three MYMOP categories) was 2.78 (95% confidence interval, 0.77 to 10.05). Treatment with Malagueta, compared with placebo, also reduced the intensity of the secondary symptoms (p = 0.001) and improved level of activity (p = 0.025) and well-being (p = 0.008).

Conclusion The homeopathic medicine of Capsicum frutescens (Malagueta) was superior to placebo in reducing the intensity of hot flashes in menopausal women after 4 weeks of treatment.
Virtual Surgical Planning and Hardware Fabrication Prior to Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Atrophic Edentulous Mandible Fractures
Authors: Maloney KarlDaniel , Rutner Torin
Published: February 2019

Mandibular fractures are a common injury encountered by facial trauma surgeons. A majority of these cases are in dentate patients and can predictably be treated with several different open or closed techniques. Edentulous mandible fractures can be challenging as maxillomandibular fixation, either as the sole treatment or used for fracture reduction and stabilization prior to internal fixation, is not possible. The atrophic edentulous mandible fracture poses an even greater challenge, as there is more sclerotic bone present and less bone volume for bony contact, both of which can impair healing. In addition, with less bone mass, available plate adaptation and fixation are difficult. In recent years, virtual surgical planning (VSP) has been increasingly used in craniofacial and maxillofacial surgeries as well as in dentistry. Utilizing VSP to fabricate the necessary hardware prior to open reduction and internal fixation of atrophic edentulous mandible fractures can be helpful in treating these cases. Two cases where this method was used are presented.
Necessary Factors to Achieve Deep Flexion for Asian Populations after Oxford Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Inui Hiroshi , Taketomi Shuji , Yamagami Ryota , Kawaguchi Kohei , Nakazato Keiu , Tanaka Sakae
Published: February 2019

There have been many reports on the clinical outcomes of Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA); however, none have investigated the influence of flexion angle after UKA on clinical outcomes. The objective of this study was to clarify the relationship between outcomes and the postoperative maximum flexion angle and reveal the necessary factors for maximum flexion angle ≥ 140 degrees which is considered necessary for Asian populations. We categorized 212 UKA patients into the following three groups based on the postoperative maximum flexion angle: group 1 had flexion angle ≥ 140 degrees in 80 patients (38%), group 2 had 130 degrees ≤ flexion angle < 140 degrees in 80 patients (38%), and group 3 had flexion angle < 130 degrees in 52 patients (24%). Furthermore, we compared the postoperative clinical outcomes between the three groups and conducted multivariable regression analyses to assess parameters affecting the flexion angle. Postoperative Knee Society function scores for group 1 was significantly higher than for group 3. Group 1 had higher mean knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome scores (KOOS) in all subscales and significantly higher KOOS scores in the sports and quality of life subscales compared with group 2 and in all subscales compared with group 3. Multivariable logistic regression showed that preoperative flexion angle and tibial component posterior slope were associated with maximum flexion angle ≥ 140 degrees. Maximum flexion angle ≥ 140 degrees after Oxford UKA improved the clinical results, particularly for patient-reported outcomes. Furthermore, the tibial posterior slope was an important factor in achieving maximum flexion angle ≥ 140 degrees in UKA patients.
Advanced Spectral Analysis Program
Authors: Montgomery J. M. , Lipp M. J.
Published: February 2019

Advanced Spectral Analysis Program is a LabVIEW-based program intended for rapid and accurate analysis of large sets of spectral data. It can handle a range of different types of data including angle-resolved and energy-dispersive powder diffraction and Raman spectra. We present it here with a focus on high-temperature high-pressure powder diffraction. The program contains a novel graphical user interface that allows rapid manual fitting and indexing of peaks which require precise fitting ranges and includes tools for fitting any Bravais lattice and arbitrary user-defined multivariate equations of state. The program allows the user to simultaneously view and manipulate multiple data sets from an experiment. The user can save and load analysis progress at any point, allowing for repeatable calculations to be performed, and to allow the fast comparison of different analysis parameters.
Sizing and applications of battery energy storage technologies in smart grid system: A review
Authors: Sufyan M. , Rahim N. A. , Aman M. M. , Tan C. K. , Raihan S. R. S.
Published: February 2019

Dynamics of the world are changing, and people are preferring low cost and reliable power throughout the day. The addition of renewable energy to the existing system is also one of the ways to provide reliable and cheap electricity. The existing bottle neck in transmission lines, continuous contamination of the environment due to heavy reliance on fossil fuels, and the highly fluctuating cost of fossil fuel are few reasons for the widespread use of renewable energy technology. Energy storage technologies are the need of time and range from low capacity mobile storage batteries to high capacity batteries connected to the intermittent renewable energy sources. Selection of different battery types, each having distinguished characteristics in power and energy, depends on the nature of power required and delivered. This paper presents a detailed review of battery energy storage technologies pertaining to the latest technologies, benefits, sizing considerations, efficiency, cost, and recycling. An in-depth analysis in terms of advantages and limitations between the different types of batteries is discussed and compared. In terms of microgrid application, the economic benefits of battery sizing using optimization and probabilistic methods provide a potential solution during the design stage by taking into account various factors affecting the sizing of the battery such as the degradation rate, reliability, and battery placement. This paper ends with the discussion on the recyclability of these batteries and their impact on the environment.
Piezoelectric-based uniaxial pressure cell with integrated force and displacement sensors
Authors: Barber Mark E. , Steppke Alexander , Mackenzie Andrew P. , Hicks Clifford W.
Published: February 2019

We present a design for a piezoelectric-driven uniaxial stress cell suitable for use at ambient and cryogenic temperatures and that incorporates both a displacement and a force sensor. The cell has a diameter of 46 mm and a height of 13 mm. It can apply a zero-load displacement of up to ∼45 μm and a zero-displacement force of up to ∼245 N. With combined knowledge of the displacement and force applied to the sample, it can quickly be determined whether the sample and its mounts remain within their elastic limits. In tests on the oxide metal Sr2RuO4, we found that at room temperature serious plastic deformation of the sample onset at a uniaxial stress of ∼0.2 GPa, while at 5 K the sample deformation remained elastic up to almost 2 GPa. This result highlights the usefulness of in situ tuning, in which the force can be applied after cooling samples to cryogenic temperatures.
Five-channel tunable W-band Doppler backscattering system in the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak
Authors: Feng X. , Liu A. D. , Zhou C. , Wang M. Y. , Zhang J. , Liu Z. Y. , Liu Y. , Zhou T. F. , Zhang S. B. , Kong D. F. , Hu L. Q. , Ji J. X. , Fan H. R. , Li H. , Lan T. , Xie J. L. , Mao W. Z. , Liu Z. X. , Ding W. X. , Zhuang G. , Liu W. D.
Published: February 2019

A 5-channel Doppler backscattering system has been designed and installed in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). Through an I/Q-type double sideband modulator and a frequency multiplier, an array of finely spaced (Δf = 400 MHz) frequencies that span 1.6 GHz has been created. The center of the array bandwidth is tunable within the range of 75-97.8 GHz, which covers most of the W band (75-110 GHz). The incident angle can be adjusted from −4° to 12°, and the wavenumber range is 4-15 cm−1 with a wavenumber resolution of Δk/k ≤ 0.35. Ray tracing is used to calculate the scattering location and the scattering wavenumber. This article details the hardware design, the ray tracing, and the preliminary experimental results from EAST plasmas.
Boron-graphdiyne as an anode material for Li, Na, and K ion batteries with high capacities and low diffusion barriers
Authors: Muhammad Imran , Wang Shuo , Liu Junyi , Xie Huanhuan , Sun Qiang
Published: February 2019

Inspired by the recent experimental synthesis of boron-graphdiyne [Wang et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 57(15), 3968–3973 (2018)], we have carried out systematic density functional studies on the adsorption and diffusion of alkali metal ions (Li, Na, and K) on boron-graphdiyne monolayer and bilayers, where multiple adsorption sites with strong adsorption energies are identified for all the studied alkali metal ions. Bader charge analysis indicates that significant charge transfer occurs upon absorption, leading to ionic bonding with the substrate and exhibiting a high storage capacity of 1294, 1617, and 1617 mAh g−1 for Li, Na, and K, respectively. Moreover, the migration energy barriers are found in the range of 0.36–0.47 eV for Li, 0.28–0.39 eV for Na, and 0.12–0.32 eV for K. These findings suggest that boron-graphdiyne based materials are promising for ion battery applications.
Which interactions dominate in active colloids?
Authors: Liebchen Benno , Löwen Hartmut
Published: February 2019

Despite mounting evidence that the same gradients, which active colloids use for swimming, induce important cross-interactions (phoretic interactions), they are still ignored in most many-body descriptions, perhaps to avoid complexity and a zoo of unknown parameters. Here we derive a simple model, which reduces phoretic far-field interactions to a pair-interaction whose strength is mainly controlled by one genuine parameter (swimming speed). The model suggests that phoretic interactions are generically important for autophoretic colloids (unless effective screening of the phoretic fields is strong) and should dominate over hydrodynamic interactions for the typical case of half-coating and moderately nonuniform surface mobilities. Unlike standard minimal models, but in accordance with canonical experiments, our model generically predicts dynamic clustering in active colloids at a low density. This suggests that dynamic clustering can emerge from the interplay of screened phoretic attractions and active diffusion.
Quasi-two-dimensional GeSbTe compounds as promising thermoelectric materials with anisotropic transport properties
Authors: Wei Tian-Ran , Hu Ping , Chen Hongyi , Zhao Kunpeng , Qiu Pengfei , Shi Xun , Chen Lidong
Published: February 2019

Pseudo-binary GeSbTe alloys, best known as phase-change materials, are quasi-two-dimensional semiconductors in their stable trigonal phases with high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity, but their thermoelectric properties have not been systematically investigated. Here, in this letter, we prepared polycrystalline Ge2Sb2Te5, GeSb2Te4, and GeSb4Te7 bulk materials and studied the thermoelectric transport properties. Large anisotropy in Seebeck coefficient as well as in electrical conductivity is observed, which is not commonly reported in polycrystalline thermoelectric materials. Combining experimental study and theoretical calculations, one can find that this phenomenon is attributed to the asymmetry of a material's band structure. Maximal zT values of 0.46–0.60 are achieved at 750 K, indicating that GeSbTe-based compounds are promising thermoelectric materials for mid-temperature applications.
Electronic structure and VUV photoabsorption measurements of thiophene
Authors: Jones D. B. , Mendes M. , Limão-Vieira P. , Ferreira da Silva F. , Jones N. C. , Hoffmann S. V. , Brunger M. J.
Published: February 2019

The absolute photoabsorption cross sections for thiophene in the 5.0–10.7 eV range were measured using synchrotron radiation. New theoretical calculations performed at the time-dependent density functional theory level were used to qualitatively interpret the recorded photoabsorption spectrum. The calculations facilitated a re-analysis of the observed vibronic and Rydberg structures in the photoabsorption spectrum. Here a number of features have been re-assigned, while a number of other features have been assigned for the first time. This represents the most comprehensive and self-consistent assignment of the thiophene high-resolution photoabsorption spectrum to date.
Metabolism of glycerol in pigs fed diets containing mixed crude glycerin and β-adrenergic agonist
Authors: Pinto A. B. F. , Naves L. de P. , Lima I. G. , Garbossa C. A. P. , Silva Júnior S. R. , Barbosa A. M. S. , Maluf C. L. , Rosa P. V. , Zangeronimo M. G. , Cantarelli V. de S. , Sousa R. V.
Published: February 2019

The optimised use of mixed crude glycerin (MCG) and ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) in diets for finishing pigs requires a better understanding of glycerol metabolism. Therefore, the present study evaluated the performance, blood parameters, metabolite concentrations in the Longissimus lumborum muscle and the activity of enzymes in the liver, subcutaneous adipose tissue and kidney of pigs fed diets containing MCG and/or RH. According to the initial weight, 64 barrows were distributed in a 4 × 2 factorial design, corresponding to four concentrations of MCG (0, 100, 150, and 200 g/kg) in diets containing 0 or 10 mg/kg of RH. There was no MCG × RH interaction for any of the evaluated parameters (P > 0.05). Moreover, there was no isolated effect of dietary MCG or RH on the weight gain and the blood concentrations of glucose, insulin, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, total protein, albumin, creatinine, cortisol and lactate (P > 0.05). There was a higher rate of phosphorylation of glycerol in the liver, stimulation of lipogenesis in adipose tissue and a likely increase in the utilisation of glycerol by muscle fibres in response to an increased concentration of circulating glycerol from the diet (P < 0.05). In contrast, when the diet contained up to 200 g/kg MCG and 10 mg/kg RH, there were indications of a lower utilisation of glycerol for the synthesis of triacylglycerols in muscle, liver and adipose tissue, in addition to increased oxidation of amino acids in the liver followed by improved feed conversion of pigs (P < 0.05).
Systematics and host-plant associations of the Palassocoris complex (Insecta : Heteroptera : Miridae : Orthotylinae), a monophyletic suprageneric group of long-headed Australian Orthotylini, and the description of five new genera and 10 new species
Authors: Chin Yee Wei , Cassis Gerasimos
Published: February 2019

The Australian plant bug family Miridae is hyperdiverse in Australia, including a remarkable radiation of undescribed species belonging to the tribe Orthotylini. This study includes a comparative morphological and phylogenetic study of a group of orthotylines, mostly associated with woody shrubs. Parsimony-based analysis of 49 morphological characters was undertaken, resulting in the recognition of a monophyletic supraspecific group with elongate heads, the Palassocoris complex, as well as three monophyletic genera with multiple species, and two monotypic genera. Five new genera (Austroloxops, gen. nov., Harpemiris, gen. nov., Hypospicula, gen. nov., Palassocoris, gen. nov. and Wallagootacoris, gen. nov.) and 10 species (Austroloxops juriensis, sp. nov., Harpemiris hibbertiaphila, sp. nov., Hypospicula banksiaphila, sp. nov., Hypospicula finkensis, sp. nov., Palassocoris elongatus, sp. nov., Palassocoris emuensis, sp. nov., Palassocoris jambrecinae, sp. nov., Palassocoris samphirensis, sp. nov., Wallagootacoris schwartzi, sp. nov., Wallagootacoris tasmaniensis, sp. nov.) are described as new to science. The Palassocoris complex was found to be the sister-group to two species of the Lattinova complex, the latter previously assigned to the tribe Austromirini, rendering the Orthotylini as paraphyletic. The classificatory implications of this finding are discussed. lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EB6C6196-C3FF-44D1-9746-E030797BEC69
Rotational grazing and exclosure improves grassland condition of the halophytic steppe in Flooding Pampa (Argentina) compared with continuous grazing
Authors: Vecchio María Cristina , Bolaños V. A. , Golluscio R. A. , Rodríguez A. M.
Published: February 2019

The most common grazing management applied on rangelands is continuous grazing. However, it can cause negative changes in vegetation structure and ecosystem functioning, leading to rangeland degradation. In Flooding Pampa rangelands, scientific evidence in favour of rotational over continuous grazing was developed on the humid mesophytic meadow and the humid prairie communities, but not on the halophytic steppe community. We evaluated the changes in species composition, richness and diversity, vegetation and litter cover, functional group composition and forage quality during 8 years in halophytic steppe subjected to both continuous or rotational grazing, and exclusion from grazing. Grazing exclusion and a rotational grazing system caused significant changes in the vegetation structure compared with continuous grazing. These treatments increased vegetation and litter cover, the contribution of summer and annual and perennial winter grasses, all them of high forage value, and encouraged the appearance of several grasses adapted to fertile, well drained and non-saline soils. Because of these structural changes, species richness, diversity and pastoral value increased in the halophytic steppe of the Flooding Pampa, in a manner previously demonstrated in other grassland communities of this region.
Relapse-associated AURKB blunts the glucocorticoid sensitivity of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Poulard Coralie , Kim Hye Na , Fang Mimi , Kruth Karina , Gagnieux Celine , Gerke Daniel S. , Bhojwani Deepa , Kim Yong-Mi , Kampmann Martin , Stallcup Michael R. , Pufall Miles A.
Published: February 2019

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are used in combination chemotherapies as front-line treatment for B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Although effective, many patients relapse and become resistant to chemotherapy and GCs in particular. Why these patients relapse is not clear. We took a comprehensive, functional genomics approach to identify sources of GC resistance. A genome-wide shRNA screen identified the transcriptional coactivators EHMT2, EHMT1, and CBX3 as important contributors to GC-induced cell death. This complex selectively supports GC-induced expression of genes contributing to cell death. A metaanalysis of gene expression data from B-ALL patient specimens revealed that Aurora kinase B (AURKB), which restrains GC signaling by phosphorylating EHMT1-2, is overexpressed in relapsed B-ALL, suggesting it as a potential contributor to relapse. Inhibition of AURKB enhanced GC-induced expression of cell death genes, resulting in potentiation of GC cytotoxicity in cell lines and relapsed B-ALL patient samples. This function for AURKB is distinct from its canonical role in the cell cycle. These results show the utility of functional genomics in understanding mechanisms of resistance and rapidly identifying combination chemotherapeutics.
Tackling the problems of deficient data when planning for religious tourism management.
Authors: Enongene V. , Griffin K.
Published: February 2019

This chapter stresses the importance of available, relevant and up-to-date data for effectively planning for religious tourism, for the advancement of tourism knowledge and for the enhancement of visitor experiences (pre and post visit). The chapter highlights Italy, Saudi Arabia and Israel as exceptional cases when it comes to data about religious tourism and pilgrimage; and provides practical solutions for dealing with the lack of data in Ireland.
Analysis of territorial development and management practices along the way of St James in Galicia (Spain).
Authors: Lopez L. , Santos X. M.
Published: February 2019

This chapter presents an empirical analysis of the territorial, economic and social impacts of management tools adopted for the tourist development of the Way of St James pilgrimage route. The benefits and inconveniences of such practices are evaluated, highlighting the best practice of the Way, and reflections are shared upon improvements for future management practices.
Managing cultural shift within religious sites in UK and the role of the performing and visual arts as transforming the experiences of visitors.
Authors: Morpeth N. D.
Published: February 2019

This chapter considers the changing status of religious sites in the UK and the role of both visual and performing arts in relation to the experience of visitors at religious sites. Consideration is given to the concept of culture, and cultural production and consumption as significant elements of the so-called cultural shifts or cultural turns, in relation to the changing role of religion within society. Specific consideration is given to the context of a UK City of Culture, namely Hull, and how Holy Trinity Church (re-designated as Hull Minster during the City of Culture in May 2017) has embraced different aspects of culture, to be a key partner and host of different aspects of both visual and performing arts. In communicating this example of engagement between the material and the spiritual world, this chapter explores the adaptability of places of worship to meet the challenge of secularization and to demonstrate that in hosting everyday cultural celebration, they can be at the vanguard of cultural shifts or cultural curves in society.
Agricultural practices for crop residue transformation into soil organic matter in cold humid temperate agroecosystems.
Authors: Tian Tian , Whalen J. K. , Dutilleul P.
Published: February 2019

Understanding how agricultural practices affect crop residue retention in soil organic matter (SOM) fractions is necessary to apply strategies that maintain or increase the SOM level in cold humid temperate agroecosystems. This review describes how SOM fractions, i.e. physically uncomplexed, aggregate-occluded and mineral-associated SOM, are influenced by crop residue inputs, considering that the amount of residue and its residence time within each fraction is impacted by climate, edaphic properties and residue characteristics. We also investigate how agricultural practices may improve residue retention. In cold humid temperate regions, crop residues can account for 17-62% of the light fraction (as physically uncomplexed SOM), 20-60% of aggregate-occluded SOM and a considerable amount of mineral-associated SOM, depending on the time of year when samples are collected. Crop residue retention within each fraction is strongly influenced by clay content and mineralogy. Physico-chemical characteristics of crop residues affect their transformation into SOM fractions. Agricultural practices within a cropping system, such as tillage, fertilization and residue management, determine the amount and timing of residue introduction to the agroecosystem, as well as the quantity of residues that are retained in the soil. Practices leading to residue retention within mineral-associated SOM, which has the longest residence time, are important to sustain the SOM pool. We recommend agricultural practices that build and sustain the aggregate-occluded and mineral-associated SOM reserves, including tillage practices that promote residue retention, judicious fertilization and continuous cropping.
Kinematic and kinetic differences in block and split‐stance standing starts during 30 m sprint‐running
Authors: Macadam Paul , Nuell Sergi , Cronin John B. , Nagahara Ryu , Uthoff Aaron M. , Graham Scott P. , Tinwala Farhan , Neville Jono
Published: February 2019

This study aimed to understand the kinematic and kinetic differences between two sprint starts: block and split‐stance standing. Fourteen sub‐elite male sprinters (100 m time: 11.40 ± 0.39 s) performed block and split‐stance standing starts sprints over 30 m of in‐ground force platforms in a randomised order. Independent t‐tests and repeated measures mixed model analysis of variance were used to analyse the between‐condition variables across conditions, and over four step phases. Block start sprints resulted in significantly (p < .05) faster 5 m (5.0%, effect size [ES] = 0.89) and 10 m (3.5%, ES = 0.82) times, but no significant differences were found at 20 and 30 m. No significant differences were found in any kinematic measure between starting positions. However, block starts resulted in significantly (p < .001) greater propulsive impulses (6.8%, ES = 1.35) and net anterior‐posterior impulses (6.5%, ES = 1.12) during steps 1–4, compared to the standing start. Block starts enable athletes to produce a greater amount of net anterior‐posterior impulse during early accelerated sprinting, resulting in faster times up to 10 m. When seeking to improve initial acceleration performance, practitioners may wish to train athletes from a block start to improve horizontal force production.
On the irreducibility of Severi varieties on 𝐾3 surfaces
Authors: Ciliberto C. , Dedieu Th.
Published: February 2019

Let

(
S
,
L
)

(S,L)

be a polarized

K
3

K3

surface of genus

p
⩾
11

p \geqslant 11

such that

Pic

(
S
)
=

Z

[
L
]

\textrm {Pic}(S)=\mathbf {Z}[L]

and

δ
\delta

is a non-negative integer. We prove that if

p
⩾
4
δ
−
3

p\geqslant 4\delta -3

, then the Severi variety of

δ
\delta

-nodal curves in

|

L

|

|L|

is irreducible.
On deformations of compact foliations
Authors: del Hoyo Matias , Fernandes Rui Loja
Published: February 2019

We combine classic stability results for foliations with recent results on deformations of Lie groupoids and Lie algebroids to provide a cohomological characterization for rigidity of compact Hausdorff foliations on compact manifolds.
The 𝐿_{𝑝} Aleksandrov problem for origin-symmetric polytopes
Authors: Zhao Yiming
Published: February 2019

The

L
p

L_p

Aleksandrov integral curvature and its corresponding characterization problem, the

L
p

L_p

Aleksandrov problem, were recently introduced by Huang, Lutwak, Yang, and Zhang. The current work presents a solution to the

L
p

L_p

Aleksandrov problem for origin-symmetric polytopes when

−
1
>
p
>
0

-1>p>0

.
Primes in prime number races
Authors: Lichtman Jared , Martin Greg , Pomerance Carl
Published: February 2019

Rubinstein and Sarnak have shown, conditional on the Riemann hypothesis (RH) and the linear independence hypothesis (LI) on the nonreal zeros of

ζ
(
s
)

\zeta (s)

, that the set of real numbers

x
≥
2

x\ge 2

for which

π
(
x
)
>
li
⁡
(
x
)

\pi (x)>\operatorname {li}(x)

has a logarithmic density, which they computed to be about

2.6
×

10

−
7

2.6\times 10^{-7}

. A natural problem is to examine the actual primes in this race. We prove, assuming RH and LI, that the logarithmic density of the set of primes

p
p

for which

π
(
p
)
>
li
⁡
(
p
)

\pi (p)>\operatorname {li}(p)

relative to the prime numbers exists and is the same as the Rubinstein–Sarnak density. We also extend such results to a broad class of prime number races, including the “Mertens race” between

∏

p
>
x

(
1
−
1

/

p

)

−
1

\prod _{p> x}(1-1/p)^{-1}

and

e

γ

log
⁡
x

e^{\gamma }\log x

and the “Zhang race” between

∑

p
≥
x

1

/

(
p
log
⁡
p
)

\sum _{p\ge x}1/(p\log p)

and

1

/

log
⁡
x

1/\log x

. These latter results resolve a question of the first and third authors from a previous paper, leading to further progress on a 1988 conjecture of Erdős on primitive sets.
Comparative African American and Asian American Literary Studies
Authors: Lee Julia H.
Published: February 2019

Comparative African American and Asian American literary studies traces the diverse (if uneven) ways that African American and Asian American authors have explored the relationship between the two groups and delves into the histories and the politics behind these interracial representations. The literature ranges from the polemical to the fantastic, from the realist to the postmodern, and from the formally innovative to the generically conventional. While some may assume that the politics behind such representations are either coalitional or conflictual in nature, the literature is highly ecumenical, including narratives that engage in Orientalism and/or Negrophobia, Third World rhetoric, postcolonial critique, and political radicalism. African Americans have long been interested in Asia as a potential site for resistance to American racism and empire, while Asian American authors have looked to the experiences of black Americans to understand their own experiences of racism within the United States. Despite the fact that there is a long-established tradition of Afro-Asian literary representation, literary criticism has only taken up a sustained and in-depth study of this topic within the past two decades. Afro-Asian literary studies is part of a late-20th-century “comparative turn” within US-based race studies, which goes along with the increasing transnational/diasporic orientation of formerly nation- or area-based disciplines.
Bilingualism in Asian American Literature
Authors: Lim Jeehyun
Published: February 2019

Bilingualism is an integral element of the lives and experiences of Asian Americans as well as a condition, theme, and style of a large and diverse body of Asian American writings. The history of Asian immigration, U.S. imperialism, and anti-Asian laws and policies all contributed to creating the material conditions for the linguistic environment of Asians in the United States. Whether the strictures of Asian exclusion, which severely limited immigrants’ access to English, or the stigmatization of the Japanese language during the Pacific War, social and cultural hostility to bilingualism was common. Despite such hostility, this literature of exclusion and incarceration reflects vibrant language-worlds in which writings in the language of the immigrant’s origin, as well as transliteration and translation of Asian languages into English, suggest the formal creativeness and psychological resilience of Asian Americans who navigated life in two languages. U.S. imperialism in the Philippines promoted English as the language of colonial bureaucracy and opportunities in the islands while also giving rise to literature in English as part of Filipino literature. Filipino diasporic writers note the power and prestige of English while being cognizant of the colonial origins of English in the Philippines. In a climate where bilingualism is regulated not by exclusionary laws and policies but by social and cultural forces, post-1965 Asian American literature explores the persistence of Asian non-belonging in English, with tropes of the mother tongue and the psychology of language loss recurring in its exploration of citizenship and assimilation. Asian American writers from Hawai‘i provide a distinctive postcolonial outlook, resisting assimilation into English through the use of Pidgin. As a rich and innovative literary language, Pidgin captures the experiences of Hawai‘ians excluded from the privileges of whiteness. The broader literary apparatuses of American literature also significantly conditioned bilingualism. American literary modernism’s Orientalism valorized Asian languages but employed limited and fixed ideas of the Other. The global dominance of English as a literary language has become a backdrop for new experiments with bilingualism in Asian American literature and new models of writing in English by Asian diasporic writers.
Accounting Narratives
Authors: Riley Tracey J. , Yen Alex C.
Published: February 2019

Although accounting is typically seen as a numbers-oriented discipline, with an emphasis on quantifying economic events and activity, the nexus of language and accounting, specifically the role of language in communicating corporate accounting results, has received an increasing amount of attention in recent years. This is because quantified accounting results (e.g., earnings per share, sales revenue) are rarely communicated in isolation. Rather, they are usually accompanied by a non-quantitative narrative, such as an earnings press release, a corporate annual report, or the president’s letter, which, along with conference calls and content at corporate websites, we collectively refer to as “accounting narratives.” These narratives allow management to elaborate on and contextualize the financial performance of the company. However, because they are not as extensively regulated as the financial statements and are not standardized, these narratives can also be used by companies for impression-management purposes, to obfuscate (poor) performance and to “spin” the financial results to the companies’ favor.

Research into accounting narratives dates back to 1952 and has focused on a wide variety of features of narratives and on how those features affect financial statement readers’ (most notably, investors’) reactions. The earliest studies focused on accounting narratives’ readability by performing a syntactic analysis to assess the cognitive difficulty of written passages. This line of research has found that accounting narratives are syntactically complex and difficult to read and that management intentionally makes bad news less readable in order to strain the readers’ cognitive processes and lead to lower comprehension of the bad news. In addition to this evidence of obfuscation, researchers have found support for managers engaging in attributional framing, which is the tendency to attribute positive outcomes to actions within the company and negative outcomes to actions external to the company (e.g., the government or the weather) in an effort to influence readers’ perception of good versus bad news. More recently, researchers have found that managers use syntactic (sentence structure), semantic (word meaning), and metasemantic (abstract versus concrete construal) manipulation and make broad stylistic choices such as emphasis, length, and scenario form. In terms of how those features affect the readers of the narratives, readers (most notably, investors) have been shown to respond to length and readability; level of negativity; words pertaining to risk, uncertainty, credibility, commitment, and responsibility; justifications of excuses of poor performance; optimistic and pessimistic tone; vivid versus pallid language; internal versus external attributions; and use of self-references.
Visual Attention With Cognitive Aging
Authors: Madden David J. , Monge Zachary A.
Published: February 2019

Age-related decline occurs in several aspects of fluid, speed-dependent cognition, particularly those related to attention. Empirical research on visual attention has determined that attention-related effects occur across a range of information processing components, including the sensory registration of features, selection of information from working memory, controlling motor responses, and coordinating multiple perceptual and cognitive tasks. Thus, attention is a multifaceted construct that is relevant at virtually all stages of object identification. A fundamental theme of attentional functioning is the interaction between the bottom-up salience of visual features and top-down allocation of processing based on the observer’s goals. An underlying age-related slowing is prominent throughout visual processing stages, which in turn contributes to age-related decline in some aspects of attention, such as the inhibition of irrelevant information and the coordination of multiple tasks. However, some age-related preservation of attentional functioning is also evident, particularly the top-down allocation of attention. Neuroimaging research has identified networks of frontal and parietal brain regions relevant for top-down and bottom-up attentional processing. Disconnection among these networks contributes to an age-related decline in attention, but preservation and perhaps even increased patterns of functional brain activation and connectivity also contribute to preserved attentional functioning.
Deep Neural Networks in Computational Neuroscience
Authors: Kietzmann Tim C. , McClure Patrick , Kriegeskorte Nikolaus
Published: February 2019

The goal of computational neuroscience is to find mechanistic explanations of how the nervous system processes information to give rise to cognitive function and behavior. At the heart of the field are its models, that is, mathematical and computational descriptions of the system being studied, which map sensory stimuli to neural responses and/or neural to behavioral responses. These models range from simple to complex. Recently, deep neural networks (DNNs) have come to dominate several domains of artificial intelligence (AI). As the term “neural network” suggests, these models are inspired by biological brains. However, current DNNs neglect many details of biological neural networks. These simplifications contribute to their computational efficiency, enabling them to perform complex feats of intelligence, ranging from perceptual (e.g., visual object and auditory speech recognition) to cognitive tasks (e.g., machine translation), and on to motor control (e.g., playing computer games or controlling a robot arm). In addition to their ability to model complex intelligent behaviors, DNNs excel at predicting neural responses to novel sensory stimuli with accuracies well beyond any other currently available model type. DNNs can have millions of parameters, which are required to capture the domain knowledge needed for successful task performance. Contrary to the intuition that this renders them into impenetrable black boxes, the computational properties of the network units are the result of four directly manipulable elements: input statistics, network structure, functional objective, and learning algorithm. With full access to the activity and connectivity of all units, advanced visualization techniques, and analytic tools to map network representations to neural data, DNNs represent a powerful framework for building task-performing models and will drive substantial insights in computational neuroscience.
The Early Middle Stone Age in South Africa
Authors: Wurz Sarah
Published: February 2019

The Early Middle Stone Age (EMSA) from South Africa occurred, broadly, between 300,000 and 130,000 years ago. This is a crucial phase in the history of Homo sapiens, as genetic and fossil evidence increasingly indicate that the roots of Homo sapiens reach back to this time. The fossil evidence from South Africa from this period is sparse, but the c. 260,000-year-old Homo helmei partial skull from Florisbad is especially significant in understanding modern human origins. A detailed chronological and regional framework for the EMSA is still in progress, but on the available evidence, the earliest EMSA occupations seem to be centered in the interior and northern regions. Transitional entities such as the Fauresmith and Sangoan and the first EMSA without large cutting tools, from Florisbad, are found in these areas. In the EMSA, biface technology as well as bipolar, discoidal, blade, and Levallois technologies were used to manufacture a wide variety of blanks, some of which were retouched into an array of tool types. Before lithic types such as hand-axes and bifacial points can be used as diagnostic criteria to define, for example, the Fauresmith and Pietersburg, further extended technological analyses are needed to determine their production sequences and context. Prepared core or Levallois technology occur frequently, but not always, in the EMSA. Prepared core technology entails careful planning to shape stone nodules geometrically prior to knapping the preformed blanks. EMSA hunters used Levallois and other pointed flakes as armatures in hafted thrusting spears. Levallois and composite tool technology reflect complex problem solving and hierarchical organizational cognitive capabilities. These competencies are also evident in early pigment processing. The clear footprint of the EMSA on the South African landscape indicates that several human groups populated this region during the Middle Pleistocene. It is highly likely that such groups were linked across Africa and that they collectively developed into Homo sapiens.
Fire Use
Authors: Bentsen Silje
Published: February 2019

Fire is one of the oldest technologies of humankind; indeed, the earliest signs of fire appeared almost two million years ago. Traces of early fire use include charcoal, baked sediments, and burnt bone, but the archaeological evidence is ambiguous due to exposure to the elements for hundreds of thousands of years. Thus the origin of fire use is debatable. The first fire users may have been occasional or opportunistic users, harvesting flames and heat-affected food from wildfires. The art of maintaining the fire developed, and eventually humans learned to make fire at will. Fire technology (pyrotechnology) then became a habitual part of life.

Fire provided warmth and light, which allowed people to continue activities after dark and facilitated moving into colder climates. Cooking food over or in the fire improved digestibility; over time, humans developed a culinary technology based on fire that included the use of cooking pits or earth ovens and preservation techniques such as smoking the food. Fire could even help in the procurement of food—for example, in clearing vegetation for easier hunting, to increase the fertility of the land, and to promote the growth of certain plants or to trap animals. Many materials could be transformed through fire, such as the color of ochre for use in pigments or the knapping properties of rocks for production of stone tools. Pyrotechnology ultimately became integral to other technologies, such as the production of pottery and iron tools.

Fire use also has a social component. Initially, fires for cooking and light provided a natural meeting point for people to conduct different activities, thus facilitating communication and the formation of strong social relationships. The social organization of a campsite can sometimes be interpreted from the artifact types found around a fire or in how different fires were placed. For example, access to household fires was likely restricted to certain family members, whereas communal fires allowed access for all group members. There would have been conventions governing the activities that were allowed by a household fire or a communal fire and the placement of different fire types. Furthermore, the social uses of fire included ritual and ceremonial uses, such as cleansing rituals or cremation. The fire use of a prehistoric group can, consequently, reveal information on aspects such as subsistence, social organization, and technology.