bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural and thermodynamic properties of Cu‐doped Sn‐based single‐crystalline clathrates
Authors: Wang Jingsong , Cheng Feng , Liu Hongxia , Li Decong , Shen Lanxian , Shen Kaiyuan , Deng Shukang
Published: August 2015

This work is a joint experimental and theoretical study on the structural properties and thermodynamic stability of Cu‐doped Ba8Ga16Sn30 single‐crystalline clathrates. Different synthesis temperatures were adopted to prepare type‐I and type‐VIII Ba8Ga16–xCuxSn30 (x = 0, 1, 2) by the Sn‐flux method. Experimental results revealed that the reaction transformation temperature from type‐VIII to type‐I clathrates is approximately 773 K, and Cu doping can increase the critical preparation temperature of type‐I phase. The Cu‐doped samples possess high conductivity resulting from the significant enhancement of carrier mobility. Theoretical calculation revealed that the density of states (DOS) near the Fermi level increased for Cu doping, which may lead to reduction in structural stability.
A penalized robust semiparametric approach for gene–environment interactions
Authors: Wu Cen , Shi Xingjie , Cui Yuehua , Ma Shuangge
Published: August 2015

In genetic and genomic studies, gene‐environment (G×E) interactions have important implications. Some of the existing G×E interaction methods are limited by analyzing a small number of G factors at a time, by assuming linear effects of E factors, by assuming no data contamination, and by adopting ineffective selection techniques. In this study, we propose a new approach for identifying important G×E interactions. It jointly models the effects of all E and G factors and their interactions. A partially linear varying coefficient model is adopted to accommodate possible nonlinear effects of E factors. A rank‐based loss function is used to accommodate possible data contamination. Penalization, which has been extensively used with high‐dimensional data, is adopted for selection. The proposed penalized estimation approach can automatically determine if a G factor has an interaction with an E factor, main effect but not interaction, or no effect at all. The proposed approach can be effectively realized using a coordinate descent algorithm. Simulation shows that it has satisfactory performance and outperforms several competing alternatives. The proposed approach is used to analyze a lung cancer study with gene expression measurements and clinical variables. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incorporating the sampling design in weighting adjustments for panel attrition
Authors: Chen Qixuan , Gelman Andrew , Tracy Melissa , Norris Fran H. , Galea Sandro
Published: August 2015

We review weighting adjustment methods for panel attrition and suggest approaches for incorporating design variables, such as strata, clusters, and baseline sample weights. Design information can typically be included in attrition analysis using multilevel models or decision tree methods such as the chi‐square automatic interaction detection algorithm. We use simulation to show that these weighting approaches can effectively reduce bias in the survey estimates that would occur from omitting the effect of design factors on attrition while keeping the resulted weights stable. We provide a step‐by‐step illustration on creating weighting adjustments for panel attrition in the Galveston Bay Recovery Study, a survey of residents in a community following a disaster, and provide suggestions to analysts in decision‐making about weighting approaches. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Harmonisierung von DNV GL‐Standards & Empfehlung zum Korrosionsschutz von Offshore‐Windparks
Authors: Lichtenstein Lars
Published: August 2015

Richtlinien und Hinweise zum Korrosionsschutz werden momentan durch die DNV GL Guideline for the Certification of Offshore Wind Turbines, Edition 2012, DNV‐OS‐J101, oder DNV‐RP‐B401 gegeben. Diese Informationen werden in der neuen DNV GL Recommended Practice on Corrosion Protection of Offshore Wind Farms an die aktuellen Erkenntnisse angepasst und in einem Dokument zusammengefasst. Es werden Empfehlungen bezüglich der Wahl der Schutzsysteme, der zulässigen Korrosion, der Notwendigkeit von Prequalifikationen sowie zur Berücksichtigung von standortspezifischen Besonderheiten gegeben. Zusätzlich werden Gefahren infolge der mikrobiellen Korrosion und weitere Besonderheiten für Windparks berücksichtigt sowie Erläuterungen zu den empfohlenen Ansätzen bereitgestellt.

Harmonisation of the DNV GL Standard – Recommendation on the corrosion protection of offshore wind farms. Guidance on corrosion protection is currently being provided in DNV GL Guideline for the Certification of Offshore Wind Turbines, Edition 2012, DNV‐OS‐J101 or DNV‐RP‐B401. This guidance is updated and summarized in the upcoming DNV GL Recommended Practice on Corrosion Protection of Offshore Wind Farms. Recommendation will be given on the choice of coating systems, the corrosion allowance, the necessity of pre‐qualification, and the effects of durability of these. Also the danger of microbiologically induced corrosion or the effects site specific considerations will be presented. Guidance and justifications for the recommended approaches will be given.
Is There Justification for Total Thyroidectomy in Low‐Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma? A Decision‐Analysis Model
Authors: Stern Sagit , Hilly Ohad , Horowitz Einav , Leshno Moshe , Feinmesser Raphael
Published: August 2015

Background

Low‐risk papillary thyroid carcinoma is commonly treated surgically. However, uncertainties exist in regard to the optimal extent of surgery. We approached this question using a decision‐analysis model.

Methods

A Markov model was used to compare outcome between patients with small (1–2 cm) low‐risk PTC treated by hemithyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy. Probabilities and utilities were derived from the literature. The model was evaluated with Monte Carlo simulation. Sensitivity analysis was used to determine which variables most affected the model.

Results

Hemithyroidectomy was associated with a minor increase in mortality risk. After incorporation of mortality risk, complications, and quality‐of‐life measures, hemithyroidectomy was found to be superior to total thyroidectomy, with an increasing benefit over time. Quality‐of‐life measures, especially disutility of disease recurrence and undergoing surgery, had the greatest effect on the incremental benefit of hemithyroidectomy.

Conclusion

Based on our decision‐analysis model, hemithyroidectomy is the preferred option in low‐risk PTC.
Revisiting Low‐Risk Thyroid Papillary Microcarcinomas Resected Without Observation: Was Immediate Surgery Necessary?
Authors: Ito Yasuhiro , Miyauchi Akira , Oda Hitomi , Kobayashi Kaoru , Kihara Minoru , Miya Akihiro
Published: August 2015

Introduction

Low‐risk thyroid papillary microcarcinomas (PMCs) without evidence of metastasis grow slowly if at all. However, we recommended surgery for tumors touching the trachea (TR) or located in the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RN). Here we compared the cases of low‐risk PMC patients who underwent immediate surgery to cases of TR‐ and RN‐involved PMCs.

Materials and methods

We enrolled 1143 low‐risk PMC patients who underwent immediate surgery in the years 2006–2014. The PMCs of 437 patients touched the TR on imaging studies: 270, 104, and 63 were graded as low, intermediate, and high risk, respectively, for TR invasion based on the angles between the tumor and the TR surface. The tumor was in the course of the RN in 144 patients, with 35 graded low risk and 109 high risk for RN invasion based on the normal rim of the thyroid in the direction of the RN.

Results

Invasion of the TR cartilage was observed only in high‐risk patients. Peritracheal connective tissue was resected in 21, 15, and 6 of the high‐, intermediate‐ and low‐risk patients, respectively. Significant invasion of the RN requiring complete resection was observed in only nine patients at high risk for RN invasion. The incidence of TR invasion in high‐ and intermediate patients and the incidence of RN invasion in the high‐risk patients were significantly higher than those of the low‐risk patients. Tumors <7 mm did not show TR or RN invasion.

Conclusion

Among PMCs that touched the TR or were located in the course of the RN, observation could be the first choice for tumors < 7 mm and those ≥ 7 mm judged as low risk for TR or RN invasion. However, for PMCs with high‐risk features, immediate surgery after cytological diagnosis by a needle aspiration biopsy is recommended.
Cryopreservation of testis tissues and in vitro spermatogenesis
Authors: Yokonishi Tetsuhiro , Ogawa Takehiko
Published: August 2015

Cancer treatments, either chemo‐ or radiotherapy, may cause severe damage to gonads which could lead to the infertility of patients. In post‐pubertal male patients, semen cryopreservation is recommended to preserve the potential to have their own biological children in the future; however, it is not applicable to prepubertals. The preservation of testis tissue which contains spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) but not sperm would be an alternative measure. The tissues or SSCs have to be transplanted back into patients to obtain sperm; however, this procedure remains experimental, invasive, and is accompanied with the potential risk of re‐implantation of cancer cells. Recently, we developed an organ culture system which supports the spermatogenesis of mice up to sperm formation from SSCs. It was also shown that the tissues could be frozen for later sperm production, which resulted in the generation of offspring. Thus, it could be useful as a clinical application for preserving the reproductive potential of male pediatric cancer patients. The establishment of an optimized cryopreservation method and the development of a culture system for human testis tissue are expected in the future.
KAM for autonomous quasi-linear perturbations of KdV
Authors: Montalto Riccardo , Baldi Pietro , Berti Massimiliano
Published: August 2015

We prove the existence and the stability of Cantor families of quasi-periodic, small amplitude solutions of
quasi-linear
(i.e.
strongly nonlinear
) autonomous Hamiltonian differentiable perturbations of KdV. This is the first result that extends KAM theory to quasi-linear autonomous and parameter independent PDEs. The core of the proof is to find an approximate inverse of the linearized operators at each approximate solution and to prove that it satisfies tame estimates in Sobolev spaces. A symplectic decoupling procedure reduces the problem to the one of inverting the linearized operator restricted to the normal directions. For this aim we use pseudo-differential operator techniques to transform such linear PDE into an equation with constant coefficients up to smoothing remainders. Then a linear KAM reducibility technique completely diagonalizes such operator. We introduce the “initial conditions” as parameters by performing a “weak” Birkhoff normal form analysis, which is well adapted for quasi-linear perturbations.
FANWU LIUXING 凡物流形 (“ALL THINGS FLOW INTO FORM”) AND THE “ONE” IN THE LAOZI
Authors: Perkins Franklin
Published: August 2015

The archeological discoveries of the past several decades have radically expanded our knowledge of the Laozi and its context. Thus far, most research has focused on the various manuscript versions of the text itself, but there is another way in which archeological evidence has changed our knowledge of the Laozi: the discovery of several other cosmogonic texts, all dated to around the same time as the Guodian materials. While these texts share some concerns and assumptions, they also disagree and offer conflicting positions. Thus rather than assuming that anything sounding vaguely like the Laozi is saying the same thing in different words, we should be attuned to subtle differences on issues ranging from cosmogony to conceptions of action. We should also allow for the possibility that the Laozi itself incorporates diverse positions. This article analyzes one particular example, the role of “the one” (yi 一) in the Laozi. It argues that the five chapters discussing the one represent an attempt to incorporate what was originally a distinct position that took the one as the ultimate and had no concern with the interdependence of opposites. That position is expressed in the recently discovered Fanwu liuxing.
Parents make the difference: a randomized-controlled trial of a parenting intervention in Liberia
Authors: Puffer E. S. , Green E. P. , Chase R. M. , Sim A. L. , Zayzay J. , Friis E. , Garcia-Rolland E. , Boone L.
Published: August 2015

Background.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a brief parenting intervention, ‘Parents Make the Difference‘(PMD), on parenting behaviors, quality of parent-child interactions, children's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing, and malaria prevention behaviors in rural, post-conflict Liberia.

Methods.

A sample of 270 caregivers of children ages 3–7 were randomized into an immediate treatment group that received a 10-session parent training intervention or a wait-list control condition (1:1 allocation). Interviewers administered baseline and 1-month post-intervention surveys and conducted child-caregiver observations. Intent-to-treat estimates of the average treatment effects were calculated using ordinary least squares regression. This study was pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01829815).

Results.

The program led to a 55.5% reduction in caregiver-reported use of harsh punishment practices (p < 0.001). The program also increased the use of positive behavior management strategies and improved caregiver–child interactions. The average caregiver in the treatment group reported a 4.4% increase in positive interactions (p < 0.05), while the average child of a caregiver assigned to the treatment group reported a 17.5% increase (p < 0.01). The program did not have a measurable impact on child wellbeing, cognitive skills, or household adoption of malaria prevention behaviors.

Conclusions.

PMD is a promising approach for preventing child abuse and promoting positive parent-child relationships in low-resource settings.
Reversals of the large-scale circulation in quasi-2D Rayleigh–Bénard convection
Authors: Ni Rui , Huang Shi-Di , Xia Ke-Qing
Published: August 2015

We report an experimental study of the large-scale circulation (LSC) reversal in quasi-2D turbulent thermal convection, in which the aspect ratio ${\it\Gamma}$ ($=\text{height}/\text{length}$ of a rectangular box) is used as a parameter to perturb the stability of the LSC. It is found that the mean time interval $\langle {\it\tau}\rangle$ between two successive reversals increases strongly with increasing ${\it\Gamma}$. A stochastic model is proposed to incorporate the effect of the corner rolls. In the model, the aspect ratio serves as a tuning parameter for the relative weight of the corner rolls that damp the LSC. The model predictions for the shape of the bistable states of the system and $\langle {\it\tau}\rangle$ agree excellently with the experimental results, with $\langle {\it\tau}\rangle$ having an unexpected stretched exponential Rayleigh number dependence, ${\sim}\!\exp (Ra^{{\it\alpha}})$. We further show quantitatively that the main damping force of the LSC in a quasi-2D system is from the corner rolls rather than the viscous drag from the sidewalls, which bridges the difference found in quasi-2D and 3D systems.
The C14 Chronology of the Central and SE European Neolithic
Authors: Quitta Hans
Published: August 2015

The last four decades have seen marked changes of opinion about the chronology of the Neolithic. While at first a high dating for the Central European Neolithic was generally accepted, since the Second World War this has given way to a short chronology. With the help of archaeological stratigraphy and comparative methods of research it has been possible to determine anew the relative succession of the individual cultures, and to establish convincingly the temporal priority of those parts of South-eastern Europe adjacent to the Near East.
The Pet Banks in Jacksonian Politics and Finance, 1833–1841
Authors: Scheiber Harry N.
Published: August 2015

In September 1833, Andrew Jackson issued an executive order ending deposit of Federal funds in the Bank of the United States, which had been the government depository since 1817. The culmination of Jackson's long struggle with the Bank and its friends in Congress, this measure closed a chapter in the political history of the era. To the conservative Jacksonians, “victory over the Bank of the United States was a consummation” that freed the state banks and business enterprise from the control of a powerful and despised institution. To the radical, hard-money faction of the Democratic party, however, “removal of the deposits” (as the order was popularly termed) was merely a first step toward more fundamental reform—elimination of the monetary disturbances that they attributed to reliance on bank paper for the currency of the country. Because of this divergence of views, partisan and factional disputes over Jacksonian financial policy did not cease with victory over the Bank. Central to the continuing debate was the relationship of die Treasury Department to the group of state-chartered banks, usually called the “pet banks,” in which Federal funds were deposited after September 1833. My purpose here is to review Treasury operations in die period 1833–1841, to suggest the political role of die pet banks and the economic impact of financial policy in die administrations of Jackson and Van Buren.
Institutional Investors and the Information Production Theory of Stock Splits
Authors: Chemmanur Thomas J. , Hu Gang , Huang Jiekun
Published: August 2015

We make use of a large sample of transaction-level institutional trading data to test an extended version of Brennan and Hughes’ (1991) information production theory of stock splits. We compare brokerage commissions paid by institutional investors before and after a split, assess the private information held by them, and relate the informativeness of their trading to brokerage commissions paid. We show that institutions make abnormal profits net of brokerage commissions by trading in splitting stocks. We also show that the information asymmetry faced by firms goes down after stock splits. Overall, our empirical results support the information production theory.
Diet preferences of the Aglajidae: a family of cephalaspidean gastropod predators on tropical and temperate shores
Authors: Zamora-Silva Andrea , Malaquias Manuel António E.
Published: August 2015

Aglajidae is a family of tropical and temperate marine Cephalaspidea gastropod slugs regarded as active predators. In order to better understand their food habits and trophic interactions, we have studied the diet of all genera through the examination of gut contents. Specimens were dissected for the digestive tract and gut contents were removed and identified by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Our results confirmed that carnivory is the only feeding mode in aglajids and showed a sharp preference for vagile prey (94% of food items). We suggest that the interaction between crawling speed, presence of sensorial structures capable of detecting chemical signals from prey, and unique features of the digestive system (e.g. lack of radula, eversion of the buccal bulb, thickening of gizzard walls) led aglajid slugs to occupy a unique trophic niche among cephalaspideans, supporting the hypothesis that dietary specialization played a major role in the adaptive radiation of Cephalaspidea gastropods.
Fair is Fair: social Preferences and reciprocity in international Politics
Authors: Kertzer Joshua D. , Rathbun Brian C.
Published: August 2015

Behavioral economics has shown that people often diverge from classical assumptions about self-interested behavior: they have social preferences and are concerned about issues of fairness and reciprocity. Social psychologists show that these preferences vary across actors, with some displaying more prosocial value orientations than others. Integrating a laboratory bargaining experiment with original archival research on Anglo-French and Franco-German diplomacy during the interwar period, the authors show how fairness and reciprocity matter in social interactions. That prosocials do not exploit their bargaining leverage to the degree that proselfs do helps explain why some pairs of actors are better able to avoid bargaining failure than others. In the face of consistent egoism on the part of negotiating partners, however, prosocials engage in negative reciprocity and adopt the same behaviors as proselfs.
Democracy, Elite Bias, and Financial Development in Latin America
Authors: Menaldo Victor , Yoo Daniel
Published: August 2015

Does democracy induce financial development? There are good theoretical reasons to believe this to be the case, but the evidence adduced to support this claim has been mixed. In this article, the authors posit that only democracies that appeal to the median voter should experience financial development because those democracies have adopted their own constitution after transition, rather than having inherited one from an authoritarian predecessor. The authors empirically test this theory by focusing attention on Latin America, where there have been several reversals and improvements in financial outcomes and where many countries have cycled between regime types. They find robust support for it across different specifications. While popular democracies tend to reform their financial systems, have greater participation in the banking system, increase the supply of credit and reduce its price, and grow their stock markets, elite-biased democracies do not.
Attribution And Accountability: Voting for roads in Ghana
Authors: Harding Robin
Published: August 2015

Do voters in Africa use elections to hold governments accountable for their performance in office? In contexts of limited information and weak state capacity, it can be difficult for citizens to attribute the provision of public goods and services to political action. As a result, voters often have little information about government performance on which to condition their electoral support. Such contexts are frequently characterized by clientelism or ethnic politics, and there is a widespread impression that African elections are little more than contests in corruption or ethnic mobilization. Using an original panel data set containing electoral returns and detailed information on road conditions throughout Ghana, the author provides robust evidence that when a public good can be attributed to political action, as is the case with roads in Ghana, electoral support is affected by the provision of that good. The author also uses data on a variety of educational inputs to test the claim that votes are conditioned only on attributable outcomes.
Elections and Collective Action: Evidence from Changes in Traditional Institutions in Liberia
Authors: Baldwin Kate , Mvukiyehe Eric
Published: August 2015

Numerous recent field and laboratory experiments find that elections cause higher subsequent levels of collective action within groups. This article questions whether effects observed in these novel environments apply when traditional institutions are democratized. The authors test the external validity of the experimental findings by examining the effects of introducing elections in an indigenous institution in Liberia. They use a break in the process of selecting clan chiefs at the end of Liberia’s civil wars to identify the effects of elections on collective action within communities. Drawing on survey data and outcomes from behavioral games, the authors find that the introduction of elections for clan chiefs has little effect on community-level and national-level political participation but that it increases contentious collective action and lowers levels of contributions to public goods. These findings provide an important counterpoint to the experimental literature, suggesting that elections have less salutary effects on collective action when they replace customary practices.
XXXIV.—Foundations of Relativity: Parts I and II
Authors: Walker A. G.
Published: August 2015

Relativity is the study of matter in motion, and the basis of a theory of relativity can be either physical, mathematical, or logical. It is physical if some of the elementary objects and relations are concepts derived from the external world and if certain of their properties are assumed as physically obvious. If, however, the elementary objects, etc. are defined as mathematical symbols and relations, and if the subsequent theorems are mathematical deductions from these definitions, then the theory may be described as mathematical. Lastly, the basis of a theory is logical if certain terms are undefined—and clearly stated as such—and if the theory is then developed strictly deductively from an explicit set of axioms and definitions. Analogous examples taken from geometry are the Euclidean, algebraic, and projective theories. The first, as developed by Euclid, has a physical basis, while the second is mathematical, a point being defined as an ordered set of numbers (co-ordinates) and a line as the class of points satisfying a linear equation. The third is logical, the undefined elements being point and line (an undefined class of points) and the axioms being those of incidence, extension, etc. Usually a physical theory comes first, to be followed by a mathematical and then by a logical theory, this last being so constructed that it includes previous theories when its undefined elements are replaced on the one hand by the conceptual physical objects and on the other hand by the symbolic mathematical objects. The construction of such a logical theory is not merely a matter of academic interest, for it can be regarded as an analysis of the previous theories. It tests, for example, the consistency and independence of their basic assumptions and definitions. It also indicates how a theory can be modified, with as little change as possible, so as to include some feature previously excluded. This can be particularly useful in the case of a physical theory which has been constructed to correspond as closely as possible to the external world, for such a theory may need continual modification to keep in step with observational data. For this reason the axioms of a logical theory should be not only consistent and independent but also simple, i.e. indivisible.
XXII.—The Ullmann Synthesis of 3-Bromofluorenone
Authors: Campbell Neil , Andrew Howard F.
Published: August 2015

The synthesis of 3-bromofluorenone is described and attention drawn to erroneous statements by previous workers in the field. The reduction of the ketone to 3-bromofluorene has been investigated and shown to be readily effected by heating with hydrazine hydrate in diethylene glycol. This appears to be the method of choice for reducing fluorenones to fluorenes.
Development and transfer of vocabulary knowledge in Spanish-speaking language minority preschool children
Authors: GOODRICH J. MARC , LONIGAN CHRISTOPHER J. , KLEUVER CHERIE G. , FARVER JOANN M.
Published: August 2015

In this study we evaluated the predictive validity of conceptual scoring. Two independent samples of Spanish-speaking language minority preschoolers (Sample 1: N = 96, mean age = 54·51 months, 54·3% male; Sample 2: N = 116, mean age = 60·70 months, 56·0% male) completed measures of receptive, expressive, and definitional vocabulary in their first (L1) and second (L2) languages at two time points approximately 9–12 months apart. We examined whether unique L1 and L2 vocabulary at time 1 predicted later L2 and L1 vocabulary, respectively. Results indicated that unique L1 vocabulary did not predict later L2 vocabulary after controlling for initial L2 vocabulary. An identical pattern of results emerged for L1 vocabulary outcomes. We also examined whether children acquired translational equivalents for words known in one language but not the other. Results indicated that children acquired translational equivalents, providing partial support for the transfer of vocabulary knowledge across languages.
Assessing the GMO debate in Turkey: The Case of Cotton Farming
Authors: Aydın Cem İskender , Ȫzertan Gökhan , Ȫzkaynak Begðm
Published: August 2015

This paper frames the GM cotton approval debate in Turkey in the context of a socio-political process in which conflicts must be resolved between competing interests and among people who hold different value systems and have different priorities. Four different cotton farming alternatives— business as usual (BAU), ecological farming (ECO), GM farming (GM), and good agricultural practices (GAP)—are assessed and evaluated via a set of environmental, social, and economic criteria chosen on the basis of an extensive review of the cotton production and genetically modified organism (GMO) literatures, and in-depth interviews with several key stakeholders and experts in Turkey. The results show that when economic concerns are considered primary, GM farming is the preferred practice. In contrast, when only the social dimension is prioritised, the ECO alternative performs best. Finally, when the economic and social dimensions are appraised together, GAP emerges as a compromise solution. This study reveals that the decision to approve GM farming is not only complex but also value-laden and interest-based.
Recursive phonological phrasing in Basque
Authors: Elordieta Gorka
Published: August 2015

This paper presents data that force a revised account of the distribution of downstep and pitch reset in Lekeitio Basque. In the light of these data, previous analyses of pitch reset in Lekeitio Basque make wrong predictions. On the one hand, pitch reset is predicted where downstep occurs, and on the other, an ordinary reset is predicted where a large reset occurs. The occurrence of downstep and pitch reset, as well as the amount of pitch reset observed, is best accounted for under the assumption that languages possess a hierarchical prosodic structure that roughly matches the surface syntactic structure of a sentence, including levels of embedding or nesting of syntactic constituents. The analysis proposed in this paper is that pitch reset in Lekeitio Basque applies at the left edge of a non-minimal phonological phrase, i.e. a phonological phrase that dominates at least another phonological phrase.
Neolithization in Southwest Asia in a Context of Niche Construction Theory
Authors: Sterelny Kim , Watkins Trevor
Published: August 2015

The term ‘neolithization’ as it is generally used in relation to southwest Asia narrows the focus of research, and works against our efforts to envision explanations of the process in terms of the long-term evolution of human societies. Here, we re-frame the neolithization process, setting it within the framework of niche construction theory. We argue that the concept of cultural niche construction fits the purpose, but needs to be extended to encompass the more complex social worlds of the Holocene in the form of the cognitive-cultural niche.
A Review on Quality of Life and Depression in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Moritz Steffen
Published: August 2015

Quality of life (QoL) is increasingly recognized as a pivotal outcome parameter in research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While the concept remains somewhat ill-defined, there is now little dispute that the patients’ personal goals deserve foremost consideration during the course of treatment as the primary aim of treatment should be relief from individual despair, which is related but by no means synonymous to symptom reduction. Studies using generic (ie, illness-unspecific) instruments have confirmed poor QoL in OCD patients across a wide range of domains, especially with respect to social, work role functioning, and mental health aspects. Scores are sometimes as low as those obtained by patients with schizophrenia. Depression and obsessions are the symptom clusters that most strongly contribute to low QoL. Findings from a novel survey of 105 OCD participants point to multiple daily life problems, poor work status, and tense social networks in these patients. In order to achieve therapeutic success and improve QoL, functional problems at work and comorbid disorders such as secondary depression and physical impairments should be targeted. While successful treatment sometimes positively impacts well-being, in some studies symptom decline did not translate into improved QoL.
Sustainable development in mineral economies: the example of Botswana
Authors: LANGE GLENN-MARIE , WRIGHT MATTHEW
Published: August 2015

The Hartwick–Solow rule for sustainability requires that depletion of natural capital be offset by a compensating increase in other forms of capital capable of generating as much income as the natural capital they replace. Many countries have not been successful in transforming natural capital into other forms of wealth. This paper investigates the process of wealth transformation for Botswana, one of the most successful resource-rich countries. Using an expanded measure of wealth that includes manufactured capital, natural capital and net foreign financial assets, Botswana's per capita wealth has increased over the past 20 years. Government has recovered and reinvested rent. However, examination of the public sector capital budget reveals considerable unproductive investment. While correction for unproductive investments still indicates sustainable development, results suggest that aggregate indicators such as national wealth or genuine savings may be misleading without further attention to the process by which natural capital is transformed into other forms of wealth.
JEWISHNESS AND THE PROBLEM OF NATIONALISM: A GENEALOGY OF ARENDT'S EARLY POLITICAL THOUGHT
Authors: ASHCROFT CAROLINE
Published: August 2015

Hannah Arendt's early writings, focused on Jewish politics in the 1930s and 1940s, are in many ways her most directly political work. Yet certain problematic concepts in these texts, notably the idea of the “Jewish nation,” have led many to disregard it. A shift in the themes of Arendt's work following the publication ofThe Origins of Totalitarianismin 1951 has resulted in further divisions being drawn between the pre- and post-Originswork. This essay opposes both these positions. By mapping out the causes and development of Arendt's thought on the “Jewish nation,” in particular through her critical engagement with Zionism and her support of a binational or federal political solution in Israel and Palestine, the influence of Arendt's early thought on Jewish politics is shown to form the basis of a more general theory of politics, further developed in her later work on the nature of the political.
Control in Flexible Working Arrangements
Authors: Gerdenitsch Cornelia , Kubicek Bettina , Korunka Christian
Published: August 2015

Supported by media technologies, today’s employees can increasingly decide when and where to work. The present study examines positive and negative aspects of this temporal and spatial flexibility, and the perceptions of control in these situations based on propositions of self-determination theory. Using an exploratory approach we conducted semi-structured interviews with 45 working digital natives. Participants described positive and negative situations separately for temporal and spatial flexibility, and rated the extent to which they felt autonomous and externally controlled. Situations appraised positively were best described by decision latitude, while negatively evaluated ones were best described by work–nonwork conflict. Positive situations were perceived as autonomous rather than externally controlled; negative situations were rated as autonomously and externally controlled to a similar extent.
Light microenvironment and single-cell gradients of carbon fixation in tissues of symbiont-bearing corals
Authors: Wangpraseurt Daniel , Pernice Mathieu , Guagliardo Paul , Kilburn Matt R , Clode Peta L , Polerecky Lubos , Kühl Michael
Published: August 2015

Recent coral optics studies have revealed the presence of steep light gradients and optical microniches in tissues of symbiont-bearing corals. Yet, it is unknown whether such resource stratification allows for physiological differences of Symbiodinium within coral tissues. Using a combination of stable isotope labelling and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry, we investigated in hospite carbon fixation of individual Symbiodinium as a function of the local O2 and light microenvironment within the coral host determined with microsensors. We found that net carbon fixation rates of individual Symbiodinium cells differed on average about sixfold between upper and lower tissue layers of single coral polyps, whereas the light and O2 microenvironments differed ~15- and 2.5-fold, respectively, indicating differences in light utilisation efficiency along the light microgradient within the coral tissue. Our study suggests that the structure of coral tissues might be conceptually similar to photosynthetic biofilms, where steep physico-chemical gradients define form and function of the local microbial community.
A natural odor attraction between lactic acid bacteria and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Choi Jae Im , Yoon Kyoung-hye , Subbammal Kalichamy Saraswathi , Yoon Sung-Sik , Il Lee Jin
Published: August 2015

Animal predators can track prey using their keen sense of smell. The bacteriovorous nematode Caenorhabditis elegans employs sensitive olfactory sensory neurons that express vertebrate-like odor receptors to locate bacteria. C. elegans displays odor-related behaviors such as attraction, aversion and adaptation, but the ecological significance of these behaviors is not known. Using a combination of food microbiology and genetics, we elucidate a possible predator–prey relationship between C.elegans and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in rotting citrus fruit. LAB produces the volatile odor diacetyl as an oxidized by-product of fermentation in the presence of citrate. We show that C. elegans is attracted to LAB when grown on citrate media or Citrus medica L, commonly known as yuzu, a citrus fruit native to East Asia, and this attraction is mediated by the diacetyl odor receptor, ODR-10. We isolated a wild LAB strain and a wild C. elegans-related nematode from rotten yuzu, and demonstrate that the wild nematode was attracted to the diacetyl produced by LAB. These results not only identify an ecological function for a C. elegans olfactory behavior, but contribute to the growing understanding of ecological relationships between the microbial and metazoan worlds.
Design of aqueous redox-enhanced electrochemical capacitors with high specific energies and slow self-discharge
Authors: Chun Sang-Eun , Evanko Brian , Wang Xingfeng , Vonlanthen David , Ji Xiulei , Stucky Galen D. , Boettcher Shannon W.
Published: August 2015

Electrochemical double-layer capacitors exhibit high power and long cycle life but have low specific energy compared with batteries, limiting applications. Redox-enhanced capacitors increase specific energy by using redox-active electrolytes that are oxidized at the positive electrode and reduced at the negative electrode during charging. Here we report characteristics of several redox electrolytes to illustrate operational/self-discharge mechanisms and the design rules for high performance. We discover a methyl viologen (MV)/bromide electrolyte that delivers a high specific energy of ∼14 Wh kg−1 based on the mass of electrodes and electrolyte, without the use of an ion-selective membrane separator. Substituting heptyl viologen for MV increases stability, with no degradation over 20,000 cycles. Self-discharge is low, due to adsorption of the redox couples in the charged state to the activated carbon, and comparable to cells with inert electrolyte. An electrochemical model reproduces experiments and predicts that 30–50 Wh kg−1 is possible with optimization.
Truncating mutation in the autophagy gene UVRAG confers oncogenic properties and chemosensitivity in colorectal cancers
Authors: He Shanshan , Zhao Zhen , Yang Yongfei , O'Connell Douglas , Zhang Xiaowei , Oh Soohwan , Ma Binyun , Lee Joo-Hyung , Zhang Tian , Varghese Bino , Yip Janae , Dolatshahi Pirooz Sara , Li Ming , Zhang Yong , Li Guo-Min , Ellen Martin Sue , Machida Keigo , Liang Chengyu
Published: August 2015

Autophagy-related factors are implicated in metabolic adaptation and cancer metastasis. However, the role of autophagy factors in cancer progression and their effect in treatment response remain largely elusive. Recent studies have shown that UVRAG, a key autophagic tumour suppressor, is mutated in common human cancers. Here we demonstrate that the cancer-related UVRAG frameshift (FS), which does not result in a null mutation, is expressed as a truncated UVRAGFS in colorectal cancer (CRC) with microsatellite instability (MSI), and promotes tumorigenesis. UVRAGFS abrogates the normal functions of UVRAG, including autophagy, in a dominant-negative manner. Furthermore, expression of UVRAGFS can trigger CRC metastatic spread through Rac1 activation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, independently of autophagy. Interestingly, UVRAGFS expression renders cells more sensitive to standard chemotherapy regimen due to a DNA repair defect. These results identify UVRAG as a new MSI target gene and provide a mechanism for UVRAG participation in CRC pathogenesis and treatment response.
Unique metabolites protect earthworms against plant polyphenols
Authors: Liebeke Manuel , Strittmatter Nicole , Fearn Sarah , Morgan A. John , Kille Peter , Fuchser Jens , Wallis David , Palchykov Vitalii , Robertson Jeremy , Lahive Elma , Spurgeon David J. , McPhail David , Takáts Zoltán , Bundy Jacob G.
Published: August 2015

All higher plants produce polyphenols, for defence against above-ground herbivory. These polyphenols also influence the soil micro- and macro-fauna that break down plant leaf litter. Polyphenols therefore indirectly affect the fluxes of soil nutrients and, ultimately, carbon turnover and ecosystem functioning in soils. It is unknown how earthworms, the major component of animal biomass in many soils, cope with high-polyphenol diets. Here, we show that earthworms possess a class of unique surface-active metabolites in their gut, which we term ‘drilodefensins’. These compounds counteract the inhibitory effects of polyphenols on earthworm gut enzymes, and high-polyphenol diets increase drilodefensin concentrations in both laboratory and field populations. This shows that drilodefensins protect earthworms from the harmful effects of ingested polyphenols. We have identified the key mechanism for adaptation to a dietary challenge in an animal group that has a major role in organic matter recycling in soils worldwide.
Reduction of butyrate- and methane-producing microorganisms in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Pozuelo Marta , Panda Suchita , Santiago Alba , Mendez Sara , Accarino Anna , Santos Javier , Guarner Francisco , Azpiroz Fernando , Manichanh Chaysavanh
Published: August 2015

The pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains unclear. Here we investigated the microbiome of a large cohort of patients to identify specific signatures for IBS subtypes. We examined the microbiome of 113 patients with IBS and 66 healthy controls. A subset of these participants provided two samples one month apart. We analyzed a total of 273 fecal samples, generating more than 20 million 16S rRNA sequences. In patients with IBS, a significantly lower microbial diversity was associated with a lower relative abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria (P = 0.002; q < 0.06), in particular in patients with IBS-D and IBS-M. IBS patients who did not receive any treatment harboured a lower abundance of Methanobacteria compared to healthy controls (P = 0.005; q = 0.05). Furthermore, significant correlations were observed between several bacterial taxa and sensation of flatulence and abdominal pain (P < 0.05). Altogether, our findings showed that IBS-M and IBS-D patients are characterized by a reduction of butyrate producing bacteria, known to improve intestinal barrier function and a reduction of methane producing microorganisms a major mechanism of hydrogen disposal in the human colon, which could explain excess of abdominal gas in IBS.
The role of silicon in physiology of the medicinal plant (Lonicera japonica L.) under salt stress
Authors: Gengmao Zhao , Shihui Li , Xing Sun , Yizhou Wang , Zipan Chang
Published: August 2015

Silicon(Si) is the only element which can enhance the resistance to multiple stresses. However, the role of silicon in medicinal plants under salt stress is not yet understood. This experiment was conducted to study the effects of silicon addition on the growth, osmotic adjustments, photosynthetic characteristics, chloroplast ultrastructure and Chlorogenic acid (CGA) production of Honeysuckle plant (Lonicera japonica L.) under salt-stressed conditions. Salinity exerted an adverse effect on the plant fresh weight and dry weight, whilst 0.5 g L−1 K2SiO3·nH2O addition obviously improved the plant growth. Although Na+ concentration in plant organs was drastically increased with increasing salinity, higher levels of K+/Na+ ratio was obtained after K2SiO3·nH2O addition. Salinity stress induced the destruction of the chloroplast envelope; however, K2SiO3·nH2O addition counteracted the adverse effect by salinity on the structure of the photosynthetic apparatus. K2SiO3·nH2O addition also enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. To sum up, exogenous Si plays a key role in enhancing its resistance to salt stresses in physiological base, thereby improving the growth and CGA production of Honeysuckle plant.
Origin of anomalous giant dielectric performance in novel perovskite: Bi0.5−xLaxNa0.5−xLixTi1−yMyO3 (M = Mg2+, Ga3+)
Authors: Liu Xiao , Fan Huiqing , Shi Jing , Li Qiang
Published: August 2015

Dielectric properties and dielectric relaxation behaviors of A/B sites co-substituted Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 perovskite-type ferroelectrics are reported. The Bi0.5−xLaxNa0.5−xLixTi1−yMyO3 (M = Mg2+, Ga3+) exhibits anomalous giant dielectric permittivity (ε’) of ~105 under a heterogeneous constitution with easily discernible grain and grain boundary conductivity. The lone pairs substitution theory as well as extrinsic disorders are used to clarify the significant structural evolution and the origin of the dielectric performance. A bigger free volume promotes the anomalous relaxation between oxygen sites and the polarization direction on the nanoscale deviates from the average polarization direction at its ferroelectric state. Furthermore, no obvious phase transition indicates the considerable static substitutional disorder at the Bi/Na sites, which facilitates delocalized conduction of oxygen ions in the intermediate temperature range.
Suppressed N2O formation during NH3 selective catalytic reduction using vanadium on zeolitic microporous TiO2
Authors: Lee Seung Gwan , Lee Hyun Jeong , Song Inhak , Youn Seunghee , Kim Do Heui , Cho Sung June
Published: August 2015

Emission of N2O from mobile and off-road engine is now being currently regulated because of its high impact compared to that of CO2, thereby implying that N2O formation from the exhaust gas after-treatment system should be suppressed. Selective catalytic reduction using vanadium supported TiO2 catalyst in mobile and off-road engine has been considered to be major source for N2O emission in the system. Here we have demonstrated that vanadium catalyst supported on zeolitic microporous TiO2 obtained from the hydrothermal reaction of bulk TiO2 at 400 K in the presence of LiOH suppresses significantly the N2O emission compared to conventional VOx/TiO2 catalyst, while maintaining the excellent NOx reduction, which was ascribed to the location of VOx domain in the micropore of TiO2, resulting in the strong metal support interaction. The use of zeolitic microporous TiO2 provides a new way of preparing SCR catalyst with a high thermal stability and superior catalytic performance. It can be also extended further to the other catalytic system employing TiO2-based substrate.