bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Path integral and spectral representations for supersymmetric Dirac-Hamiltonians
Authors: Junker G. , Inomata A.
Published: May 2018

The resolvent of supersymmetric Dirac Hamiltonian is studied in detail. Due to supersymmetry the squared Dirac Hamiltonian becomes block-diagonal whose elements are in essence non-relativistic Schrödinger-type Hamiltonians. This enables us to find a Feynman-type path-integral representation of the resulting Green’s functions. In addition, we are also able to express the spectral properties of the supersymmetric Dirac Hamiltonian in terms of those of the non-relativistic Schrödinger Hamiltonians. The methods are explicitly applied to the free Dirac Hamiltonian, the so-called Dirac oscillator and a generalization of it. The general approach is applicable to systems with good and broken supersymmetry.
Nucleus-size pinning for determination of nucleation free-energy barriers and nucleus geometry
Authors: Sharma Abhishek K. , Escobedo Fernando A.
Published: May 2018

Classical Nucleation Theory (CNT) has recently been used in conjunction with a seeding approach to simulate nucleation phenomena at small-to-moderate supersaturation conditions when large free-energy barriers ensue. In this study, the conventional seeding approach [J. R. Espinosa et al., J. Chem. Phys. 144, 034501 (2016)] is improved by a novel, more robust method to estimate nucleation barriers. Inspired by the interfacial pinning approach [U. R. Pedersen, J. Chem. Phys. 139, 104102 (2013)] used before to determine conditions where two phases coexist, the seed of the incipient phase is pinned to a preselected size to iteratively drive the system toward the conditions where the seed becomes a critical nucleus. The proposed technique is first validated by estimating the critical nucleation conditions for the disorder-to-order transition in hard spheres and then applied to simulate and characterize the highly non-trivial (prolate) morphology of the critical crystal nucleus in hard gyrobifastigia. A generalization of CNT is used to account for nucleus asphericity and predict nucleation free-energy barriers for gyrobifastigia. These predictions of nuclei shape and barriers are validated by independent umbrella sampling calculations.
The influence of alloying on the phase formation sequence of ultra-thin nickel silicide films and on the inheritance of texture
Authors: Geenen F. A. , Solano E. , Jordan-Sweet J. , Lavoie C. , Mocuta C. , Detavernier C.
Published: May 2018

The controlled formation of silicide materials is an ongoing challenge to facilitate the electrical contact of Si-based transistors. Due to the ongoing miniaturisation of the transistor, the silicide is trending to ever-thinner thickness's. The corresponding increase in surface-to-volume ratio emphasises the importance of low-energetic interfaces. Intriguingly, the thickness reduction of nickel silicides results in an abrupt change in phase sequence. This paper investigates the sequence of the silicides phases and their preferential orientation with respect to the Si(001) substrate, for both “thin” (i.e., 9 nm) and “ultra-thin” (i.e., 3 nm) Ni films. Furthermore, as the addition of ternary elements is often considered in order to tailor the silicides' properties, additives of Al, Co, and Pt are also included in this study. Our results show that the first silicide formed is epitaxial θ-Ni2Si, regardless of initial thickness or alloyed composition. The transformations towards subsequent silicides are changed through the additive elements, which can be understood through solubility arguments and classical nucleation theory. The crystalline alignment of the formed silicides with the substrate significantly differs through alloying. The observed textures of sequential silicides could be linked through texture inheritance. Our study illustrates the nucleation of a new phase drive to reduce the interfacial energy at the silicide-substrate interface as well as at the interface with the silicide which is being consumed for these sub-10 nm thin films.
Composition inversion in mixtures of binary colloids and polymer
Authors: Zhang Isla , Pinchaipat Rattachai , Wilding Nigel B. , Faers Malcolm A. , Bartlett Paul , Evans Robert , Royall C. Patrick
Published: May 2018

Understanding the phase behaviour of mixtures continues to pose challenges, even for systems that might be considered “simple.” Here, we consider a very simple mixture of two colloidal and one non-adsorbing polymer species, which can be simplified even further to a size-asymmetrical binary mixture, in which the effective colloid-colloid interactions depend on the polymer concentration. We show that this basic system exhibits surprisingly rich phase behaviour. In particular, we enquire whether such a system features only a liquid-vapor phase separation (as in one-component colloid-polymer mixtures) or whether, additionally, liquid-liquid demixing of two colloidal phases can occur. Particle-resolved experiments show demixing-like behaviour, but when combined with bespoke Monte Carlo simulations, this proves illusory, and we reveal that only a single liquid-vapor transition occurs. Progressive migration of the small particles to the liquid phase as the polymer concentration increases gives rise to composition inversion—a maximum in the large particle concentration in the liquid phase. Close to criticality, the density fluctuations are found to be dominated by the larger colloids.
Transport characteristics of InSb trench-type in-plane gate quantum point contact
Authors: Masuda T. , Sekine K. , Nagase K. , Wickramasinghe K. S. , Mishima T. D. , Santos M. B. , Hirayama Y.
Published: May 2018

An InSb quantum point contact (QPC) has been fabricated in a two-dimensional InSb heterostructure by using a trench-type in-plane gate. The magneto-transport characteristics show magneto-depopulation of 1D subbands under a perpendicular magnetic field and crossings of the 1D subbands under an in-plane magnetic field. The estimated effective g-factor has in-plane (|g*x| ∼ |g*y| ∼ 40) and out-of-plane (|g*z| ∼ 60) anisotropy. When a positive voltage is applied to the trench gate, the QPC device shows the typical characteristics of parallel channels, suggesting electron accumulation along the side walls of the trench.
On the kinematic criterion for the inception of breaking in surface gravity waves: Fully nonlinear numerical simulations and experimental verification
Authors: Khait A. , Shemer L.
Published: May 2018

The evolution of unidirectional wave trains containing a wave that gradually becomes steep is evaluated experimentally and numerically using the Boundary Element Method (BEM). The boundary conditions for the nonlinear numerical simulations corresponded to the actual movements of the wavemaker paddle as recorded in the physical experiments, allowing direct comparison between the measured in experiments’ characteristics of the wave train and the numerical predictions. The high level of qualitative and quantitative agreement between the measurements and simulations validated the kinematic criterion for the inception of breaking and the location of the spilling breaker, on the basis of the BEM computations and associated experiments. The breaking inception is associated with the fluid particle at the crest of the steep wave that has been accelerated to match and surpass the crest velocity. The previously observed significant slow-down of the crest while approaching breaking is verified numerically; both narrow-/broad-banded wave trains are considered. Finally, the relative importance of linear and nonlinear contributions is analyzed.
Contrast between the mechanisms for dissociative electron attachment to CH3SCN and CH3NCS
Authors: Miller Thomas M. , Viggiano Albert A. , Shuman Nicholas S.
Published: May 2018

The kinetics of thermal electron attachment to methyl thiocyanate (CH3SCN), methyl isothiocyanate (CH3NCS), and ethyl thiocyanate (C2H5SCN) were measured using flowing afterglow-Langmuir probe apparatuses at temperatures between 300 and 1000 K. CH3SCN and C2H5SCN undergo inefficient dissociative attachment to yield primarily SCN− at 300 K (k = 2 × 10−10 cm3 s−1), with increasing efficiency as temperature increases. The increase is well described by activation energies of 0.17 eV (CH3SCN) and 0.14 eV (C2H5SCN). CN− product is formed at <1% branching at 300 K, increasing to ∼30% branching at 1000 K. Attachment to CH3NCS yields exclusively SCN− ionic product but at a rate at 300 K that is below our detection threshold (k < 10−12 cm3 s−1). The rate coefficient increases rapidly with increasing temperature (k = 6 × 10−11 cm3 s−1 at 600 K), in a manner well described by an activation energy of 0.51 eV. Calculations at the B3LYP/def2-TZVPPD level suggest that attachment to CH3SCN proceeds through a dissociative state of CH3SCN−, while attachment to CH3NCS initially forms a weakly bound transient anion CH3NCS−* that isomerizes over an energetic barrier to yield SCN−. Kinetic modeling of the two systems is performed in an attempt to identify a kinetic signature differentiating the two mechanisms. The kinetic modeling reproduces the CH3NCS data only if dissociation through the transient anion is considered.
In situ atomic-level observation of the formation of platinum silicide at platinum-silicon oxide interfaces under electron irradiation
Authors: Nagase Takeshi , Yamashita Ryo , Lee Jung-Goo
Published: May 2018

In situ atomic-level observation of the formation of Pt2Si at Pt/SiOx interface by electronic excitation under electron irradiation was performed by using scanning transmission electron microscopy. Scanning of an electron-beam probe stimulates silicide formation at the Pt/SiOx interface; the change in the Pt column corresponding to Pt2Si formation with a crystallographic orientation of (001)Pt//(001)Pt2Si and [110]Pt//[110]Pt2Si was observed in high-angle annular dark-field images.
Heat stress: impact on livestock well-being and productivity and mitigation strategies to alleviate the negative effects
Authors: Johnson Jay S.
Published: May 2018

Heat stress (HS) is a multi-factorial problem that negatively affects livestock health and productivity and is closely linked with animal welfare. While HS may not be harmful when animals are able to adapt, the physiological changes that occur to ensure survival may impede the efficient conversion of feed energy into animal products. This adaptive response can be variable and is often based on previous HS exposure, genetics, species and production stage. When the heat load becomes too great for adaptive responses to compensate, the subsequent strain response causes reduced productivity and well-being and, in severe cases, mortality. The effects of HS on livestock productivity are well documented and range from decreased feed intake and body weight gain, to reduced reproductive efficiency and altered carcass composition and meat quality. In addition, researchers are beginning to elucidate the effects of prenatal HS on postnatal livestock performance and welfare. As knowledge of the negative impacts of HS on livestock performance and welfare increases, so will the development of effective mitigation strategies to support maintenance of productivity during times of high thermal heat loads and preserve appropriate animal welfare standards.
Maintaining the appeal of Australian lamb to the modern consumer
Authors: Fowler S. M. , Hoban J. M. , Melville G. , Pethick D. W. , Morris S. , Hopkins D. L.
Published: May 2018

Aligning the production of lamb cuts with consumer preferences is an ongoing challenge for the Australian lamb supply chain. In recent decades, genetic and on-farm management practices have improved, while the demographics of consumers and their consumption patterns have changed. This has resulted in larger traditional lamb cuts, which have less appeal to modern consumers. Therefore, research has been conducted to determine the potential to fabricate new value-added lamb cuts from heavier carcasses, determine consumer preferences for lamb roasts, investigate the impact of increasing carcass weight and fat depths on the production of value-added retail cuts and determine the nutritional composition of these cuts. In an effort to address these issues, a new value-added cut, the compact shoulder roast, was developed from the forequarter of the carcass to provide an option for retailers processing heavier lamb carcasses. A subsequent survey of consumer preferences highlighted that preferences for roast weight and size were affected by frequency of consumption, with daily consumers preferring the heaviest roasts and younger consumers preferring lighter roasts, implying the need for further fabrication, such as that required for the compact shoulder roast. However, the time taken to fabricate these value-added cuts increases with each kilo increase in carcass weight and decreasing saleable meat yield of lamb carcasses results as the degree of value-adding increases, indicating that a higher average price per kilo is required at retail. Subsequently, value-added cuts will need to be marketed on the basis of other product qualities such as nutritive value. However, profiling of lamb cuts has also shown that there is little data on the nutritive value of a range of lamb cuts, apart from the loin, so work has been undertaken to address this deficiency using grass-fed lamb through a major supply chain.
Cumulative reproductive performance effect on overall lifetime productivity in Merino sheep
Authors: Richards J. S. , Sladek M. A. , Lee G. J.
Published: May 2018

Reproduction is an important driver of profitability in commercial sheep flocks. Historically, Merino flocks have been run with a fixed age structure, ignoring individual merit and casting for age at a specific age. More recently, research has focussed on utilising the variation within age groups by keeping productive older ewes longer and culling less productive ewes earlier. Previous studies have also examined the effect of age on reproduction and the impact of reproduction status on productivity, but little research has been conducted on cumulative effects of reproductive performance on later productivity, reproduction and health. The present study examined the impact of higher lifetime reproduction on other key production and fitness traits in older ewes run under commercial conditions. Data were collected from two commercial wool-producing properties in the South West Slopes and the Central West Plains of New South Wales during 2009–2011. Reproduction, fleece measurements, bodyweight and condition and dental health were recorded during the study. The results showed that age had a bigger effect on productivity and dental health than did cumulative lifetime reproduction. Environment and genetics determined the level of impact, with minimal loss in productivity from increased age of animals occurring in the South West Slopes flock, whereas the Central West Plains flock would appear to require closer monitoring of productivity as ewes aged. The data collected did not allow separation of the genetic and environmental influences within the study. Retaining animals with a higher reproductive performance past normal culling age does not necessarily result in reduction of productivity or ewe health, but this must be monitored.
Habitat suitability for Chilean silverside (Basilichthys microlepidotus) in the Mataquito River, Maule Region: a geospatial approach
Authors: Rojas Venegas Pablo M. , Espinoza Christian D.
Published: May 2018

Habitat suitability for the Chilean silverside (Basilichthys microlepidotus) in the Mataquito River, located in the Maule Region, was evaluate using geospatial analysis tools. Data were recorded in 2011 (a total of 40 fixed sampling stations) along the Mataquito River, as a result of five limnological surveys (i.e. January, March, June, August and November) in order to characterise the habitat and estimate the abundance of the Chilean silverside in the river. Preference curves were used to describe the dependence of Chilean silverside on relevant physicochemical, hydromorphological and biological parameters. The habitat suitability model showed that the combination of relevant parameters can more accurately explain the presence of a high habitat suitability index in the middle and lower sections of the river, as well as the lower half of the upper section of the Mataquito River. The habitat suitability model provides a comprehensive overall vision of hydrological–hydraulic, morphodynamic and environmental phenomena that determine the dominant habitat for Chilean silverside in the Mataquito River. Understanding the bioecological aspects of Chilean silverside and the dynamics of the Mataquito River system contributes to the establishment of policies for river resource conservation at the local and regional scales.
Reproductive biology of captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Part 1: oestrous cycle characterisation
Authors: Swinbourne Alyce M. , Johnston Stephen D. , Janssen Tina , Lisle Alan , Keeley Tamara
Published: May 2018

Southern hairy-nosed wombats (SHNWs: Lasiorhinus latifrons) do not breed well in captivity. To better understand their reproduction, daily urine samples were collected from nine captive females and analysed for volume (mL), specific gravity and a qualitative index of the number of epithelial cells, then stored at −20°C until samples could be analysed for progesterone metabolites (P4M). The mean oestrous cycle length was 35.1 ± 2.4 days; however, individual cycle length ranged from 23 to 47 days. The mean luteal phase length was 20.8 ± 1.3 days (range: 12 to 33 days). Urinary P4M was divided into four oestrous cycle stages: (1) early follicular phase, (2) late follicular phase, (3) early luteal phase, (4) late luteal phase, and analysed against urinary characteristics. During the late follicular phase, urine volume decreased (P = 0.002) while urine specific gravity (P = 0.001) and concentration of epithelial cells (P = 0.004) both increased. The level of variability in oestrous cycle length suggests that some captive females may exhibit abnormal cycles; however, the changes in the urinary characteristics associated with the different stages of the oestrous cycle appear to offer a possible non-invasive means of monitoring the reproductive status of captive SHNWs.
Habitat use by the brush-tailed mulgara (Dasycercus blythi)
Authors: Molyneux J. , Pavey C. R. , James A. I. , Carthew S. M.
Published: May 2018

One of the largest remaining marsupial predators to persist across the Australian arid zone, despite increasing pressures, is the brush-tailed mulgara (Dasycercus blythi). Although D. blythi populations have declined since European settlement, they are currently considered stable, persisting in small, low-density isolated populations during periods of low rainfall. The main threat to the species is currently thought to be large introduced and feral predators. Through spool and line tracking, we examined how the species utilises its surroundings in relation to access to food resources and exposure to predators during a low-rainfall period. We found that D. blythi uses the open space between vegetation, a microhabitat that is known to support important prey species. We found that some individuals experiencing greater physiological demands consistently used resource-rich patches (such as termite mounds). We also identified the repeated use of great desert skink (Liopholis kintorei) burrows, which may provide access to prey items (such as young skinks), protection from predators and/or thermoregulation benefits. This study shows that D. blythi utilises several components in the landscape to increase access to reliable food resources and shows little active selection for areas that provide protection from predators.
Negotiating with the Boss
Authors: Fant Lars , Denke Annika
Published: May 2018

Elicited conversations with participants engaged in a problematic negotiation with their boss were analyzed in groups of native speakers of British English, Chilean Spanish and Swedish, and in groups of Swedish speakers of L2 English and L2 Spanish (longtime residents in their host community and highly proficient in their L2). Two planes of comparison were involved: cross-culturally, addressing differences between the native groups, and, inter-culturally, addressing interaction between natives and non-natives. Results show considerable distance between the three L1 groups, especially regarding how power distance and social distance are managed both by the ‘employees’ and the ‘bosses’. As regards L2 speaker behavior, alignment with target community patterns largely prevails and few instances of L1 transfer occur. Communicative clashes are found to take place more often in the Swedish-Spanish encounters than in the Swedish-English ones, arguably due to the wider cultural distance between the Chilean and Swedish socio-cultures.
Evading and resisting answering
Authors: Vázquez Carranza Ariel
Published: May 2018

This investigation is a conversation-analytic study of Mexican Spanish news interviews. It focuses on the question-answer adjacency pair in which interviewees (IE) are questioned, directly or indirectly, by the interviewers (IR) about the legality of their wealth in light of corruption allegations. The questions examined display strategies to generate news: content questions elicit a contrast; statement formulated questions followed by a request for confirmation give the opportunity to accept or deny the allegations, in contrast to statements which create a confrontational context. Non-type-conforming answers evade answering and type-conforming answers contain resistance elements. The IE minimize the allegations by repairing and providing a downgraded version, or use other resources to suggest that their activities are of common order, hence not newsworthy. The IE display evasion by addressing only certain elements of the question and counter the allegations by casting doubt on the professionalism of the IR.
Prime Minister Abe’s challenge to the Japanese Postwar Constitution
Authors: Okuda Hiroko , Suzuki Takeshi
Published: May 2018

Japan has transformed itself from a militaristic, imperialist state into a pacifist, democratic country as well as a reliable U.S. ally. However, postwar Japan has had two responses to the lost war. On the one hand, conservatives often found it difficult to reconcile themselves with the reality of losing the last war. On the other hand, liberals found themselves at home in line with the Japanese postwar democracy based on the country’s embrace of the no war ideal. Taking into account the tension intrinsic to Japanese interpretations of the postwar Constitution, this study will explore the way in which Prime Minister Abe made confrontational strategic maneuvering in political argumentation. By doing so, it will explicate how Abe sought to identify the context in the way that one should view a reality.
Children’s use of gesture and action with static and dynamic verbs
Authors: Andrén Mats , Blomberg Johan
Published: May 2018

The present study investigates the use of gestures by 18-, 24- and 30-month-old Swedish children, as well as their practical actions in coordination with verbs. Previous research on connections between children’s verbs and gestures has mainly focused only on iconic gestures and action verbs. We expand the research foci in two ways: we look both at gestures and at practical actions, examining how the two are coordinated with static verbs (e.g. sleep) and dynamic verbs (e.g. fall). Thanks to these additional distinctions, we have found that iconic gestures and iconic actions (the latter in particular) most commonly occurred with dynamic verbs. Static verbs were most commonly accompanied by deictic actions and deictic gestures (the latter in particular). At 30 months, deictic bodily expressions, including both gestures and actions, increased, whereas iconic expressions decreased. We suggest that this may reflect a transition to less redundant ways of using bodily expressions at 30 months, where bodily movement increasingly takes on the role of specifying verb arguments rather than expressing the semantics of the verb itself.
Gestural depiction of motion events in narrative increases symbolic distance with age
Authors: Sekine Kazuki , Wood Catharine , Kita Sotaro
Published: May 2018

We examined gesture representation of motion events in narratives produced by three- and nine-year-olds, and adults. Two aspects of gestural depiction were analysed: how protagonists were depicted, and how gesture space was used. We found that older groups were more likely to express protagonists as an object that a gesturing hand held and manipulated, and less likely to express protagonists with whole-body enactment gestures. Furthermore, for older groups, gesture space increasingly became less similar to narrated space. The older groups were less likely to use large gestures or gestures in the periphery of the gesture space to represent movements that were large relative to a protagonist’s body or that took place next to a protagonist. They were also less likely to produce gestures on a physical surface (e.g. table) to represent movement on a surface in narrated events. The development of gestural depiction indicates that older speakers become less immersed in the story world and start to control and manipulate story representation from an outside perspective in a bounded and stage-like gesture space. We discuss this developmental shift in terms of increasingsymbolic distancing(Werner & Kaplan, 1963).
Murine intestinal organoids resemble intestinal epithelium in their microRNA profiles
Authors: Ohsaka Fumina , Sonoyama Kei
Published: May 2018

Intestinal organoids were established as an ex vivo model of the intestinal epithelium. We investigated whether organoids resemble the intestinal epithelium in their microRNA (miRNA) profiles. Total RNA samples were obtained from crypt and villus fractions in murine intestine and from cultured organoids. Microarray analysis showed that organoids largely resembled intestinal epithelial cells in their miRNA profiles. In silico prediction followed by qRT-PCR suggested that six genes are regulated by corresponding miRNAs along the crypt-villus axis, suggesting miRNA regulation of epithelial cell renewal in the intestine. However, such expression patterns of miRNAs and their target mRNAs were not reproduced during organoids maturation. This might be due to lack of luminal factors and endocrine, nervous, and immune systems in organoids and different cell populations between in vivo epithelium and organoids. Nevertheless, we propose that intestinal organoids provide a useful in vitro model to investigate miRNA expression in intestinal epithelial cells.
Stress and risk for depression in competitive athletes suffering from back pain – Do age and gender matter?†
Authors: Belz Johanna , Heidari Jahan , Levenig Claudia , Hasenbring Monika , Kellmann Michael , Kleinert Jens
Published: May 2018

Back pain (BP), a prominent problem for competitive athletes, is a primary reason for limitations in athletic performance and daily life restrictions. As studies on the relationship between psychological variables and BP in athletes are scarce, the aim of this study was to investigate stress and depression in competitive athletes with BP. In a cross‐sectional design, data of 154 competitive athletes (51% female; Mage = 18.81 years, SDage = 5.05 years) were collected, assessing Performance stress, Socio‐emotional stress, Risk for depression and Psychological well‐being and the two BP parameters BP Intensity and Disability. Two multiple linear regressions were conducted to predict (1) BP Intensity and (2) Disability from Performance stress, Socio‐emotional stress, Risk for depression and Psychological well‐being. Multiple linear regressions demonstrated that Performance stress (β = .21, p = .01) was the only significant predictor of BP Intensity (F1,142 = 6.68, p = .01, R2 = .05), whilst Risk for depression (β = .24, p = .01) was the only significant predictor of Disability (F1,142 = 8.46, p = .01, R2 = .06). Neither gender nor age explained a significant amount of variance in the models. Study results showed that, as in the general population, the variables stress and depression are related to BP in competitive athletes. In particular, BP intensity was found to be associated with stress and BP‐related disability was associated with depression, whereas age and gender showed no association with the BP parameters. A longitudinal investigation is warranted to determine the direction of the observed relationships.
A comparative study of spatiotemporal patterns of urban expansion in six major cities of the Yangtze River Delta from 1980 to 2015
Authors: Fang Chenyu , Zhao Shuqing
Published: May 2018

Introduction:
China has been experiencing dramatic urbanization in parallel with its economic boom over the past three to four decades. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD), as the most important engine in the Chinese economy, has pioneered in the rapid urbanization road of China since the late 1970s. We quantified and compared the spatiotemporal patterns of urban expansion in six major cities in the YRD urban agglomeration between 1980 and 2015.
Outcomes:
We found that Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou and Ningbo expanded by an annual rate of 5.4%, 5.9%, 9.6%, 7.4%, 6.3% and 8.1% from 1980 to 2015, suggesting larger cities generally possess lower growth rates. Spatiotemporal patterns of urban expansion are defined by multiple forces including physical conditions and urban planning and policy. The urbanization processes in Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou generally conformed with the diffusion-coalescence theory as the number of patches (NP) and patch density (PD) of urbanized land peaked and the proportion of leapfrogging urban growth type began to decrease around 2005, which separating their urbanization processes into diffusion phase before and coalescence phase after. In contrast, Suzhou, Wuxi and Ningbo is either in the diffusion or in the transition phase from diffusion to coalescence, not showing temporal dynamics of diffusion-coalescence phase across the study period, which might be related to the fact that the urban areas in these three cities were more dispersive in space than that of other cities.
Conclusions:
These spatially explicit findings are the fundamental cornerstone to understand the characteristics, drivers and consequences of urban expansion in the urban agglomerations, and then detect the feasibility of general urbanization theories and further advance in-depth theoretical understanding to support a sustainable urban future.
PTEN deletion in luminal cells of mature prostate induces replication stress and senescence in vivo
Authors: Parisotto Maxime , Grelet Elise , El Bizri Rana , Dai Yongyuan , Terzic Julie , Eckert Doriane , Gargowitsch Laetitia , Bornert Jean-Marc , Metzger Daniel
Published: May 2018

Genetic ablation of the tumor suppressor PTEN in prostatic epithelial cells (PECs) induces cell senescence. However, unlike oncogene-induced senescence, no hyperproliferation phase and no signs of DNA damage response (DDR) were observed in PTEN-deficient PECs; PTEN loss-induced senescence (PICS) was reported to be a novel type of cellular senescence. Our study reveals that PTEN ablation in prostatic luminal epithelial cells of adult mice stimulates PEC proliferation, followed by a progressive growth arrest with characteristics of cell senescence. Importantly, we also show that proliferating PTEN-deficient PECs undergo replication stress and mount a DDR leading to p53 stabilization, which is however delayed by Mdm2-mediated p53 down-regulation. Thus, even though PTEN-deficiency induces cellular senescence that restrains tumor progression, as it involves replication stress, strategies promoting PTEN loss–induced senescence are at risk for cancer prevention and therapy.
Coupling between an electrostatic network and the Zn2+ binding site modulates Hv1 activation
Authors: De La Rosa Victor , Bennett Ashley L. , Ramsey Ian Scott
Published: May 2018

The voltage sensor (VS) domain in Hv1 proton channels mediates a voltage-dependent and H+-selective “aqueous” conductance (GAQ) that is potently modulated by extracellular Zn2+. Although two conserved His residues are required for Zn2+ effects on GAQ gating, the atomic structure of the Zn2+ coordination site and mechanism by which extracellular Zn2+ stabilizes a closed-state conformation remain unknown. Here we use His mutagenesis to identify residues that increase Zn2+ potency and are therefore likely to participate in first solvation shell interactions with Zn2+. Experimental Zn2+-mapping data were then used to constrain the structure of a new resting-state Hv1 model (Hv1 F). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show how protein and water atoms directly contribute to octahedral Zn2+ coordination spheres in Zn2+-bound and -unbound Hv1 F models. During MD simulations, we observed correlated movements of Zn2+-interacting side chains and residues in a highly conserved intracellular Coulombic network (ICN) that contains highly conserved Arg “gating charges” in S4 as well as acidic “counter-charges” in S2 and S3 and is known to control VS activation, suggesting that occupancy of the extracellular Zn2+ site is conformationally coupled to reorganization of the ICN. To test this hypothesis, we neutralized an ICN Glu residue (E153) and show that in addition to shifting GAQ activation to more negative voltages, E153A also decreases Zn2+ potency. We speculate that extracellular gating-modifier toxins and other ligands may use a generally similar long-range conformational coupling mechanism to modulate VS activation in related ion channel proteins.
Effect of Low Doped Calcium on the Magnetic Properties of La0.7Ba0.297Ca0.003MnO3 for Magnetocaloric Application
Authors: Kurniawan B , Winarsih S , Komala T
Published: May 2018

Effect of low doped calcium concentration to the magnetic properties of La0.7Ba0.3MnO3 material has been reported in this paper. This compound was chosen because it has high potential to be applied in electronic devices. The most intensive research in the last decade is about magnetocaloric effect (MCE). Magnetic refrigeration will replace Freon R12 that is used in conventional refrigeration with magnetic material which has MCE properties. It is due to conventional refrigeration produce chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) gases which causes ozone depletion. The magnetic measurement was performed by using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer in the range of temperature between 300-400 K under external magnetic field until 20 kOe. By using derivative of magnetization as a function of temperature of the material’s result, Curie temperature (Tc
) of the material is 332.7 K. By using equation (5) for calculating magnetic field dependence of magnetization at various temperature result, magnetic entropy change value (ΔSM
) of the material can be obtained. The ΔSM
of the material is -2.928 Jkg-1K-1. The material has highest magnetic entropy change value around its Tc
. It is due to there is strong lattice spin coupling around its Tc
and would be weak at below and above its Tc
.
Properties of Carathéodory measure hyperbolic universal covers of compact Kähler manifolds
Authors: Ng Ngai-Fung
Published: May 2018

This article explores some properties of universal covers of compact Kähler manifolds under the assumption of Carathéodory measure hyperbolicity. In particular, by comparing invariant volume forms, an inequality is established between the volume of canonical bundle of a compact Kähler manifold and the Carathéodory measure of its universal cover (similar result as in [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 139 (2011), pp. 1411–1420]). Using a similar method, an inequality is established between the restricted volume of a canonical bundle of a compact Kähler manifold and the restricted Carathéodory measure of its covering, solving a conjecture in [Michigan Math. J. 62 (2013), pp. 259–292].
The V-ATPase V1 subunit A1 is required for rhodopsin anterograde trafficking inDrosophila
Authors: Zhao Haifang , Wang Jing , Wang Tao
Published: May 2018

Synthesis and maturation of the light sensor, rhodopsin, are critical for the maintenance of light sensitivity and for photoreceptor homeostasis. In Drosophila, the main rhodopsin, Rh1, is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum and transported to the rhabdomere through the secretory pathway. In an unbiased genetic screen for factors involved in rhodopsin homeostasis, we identified mutations in vha68-1, which encodes the vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase (V-ATPase) catalytic subunit A isoform 1 of the V1 component. Loss of vha68-1 in photoreceptor cells disrupted post-Golgi anterograde trafficking of Rh1, reduced light sensitivity, increased secretory vesicle pH, and resulted in incomplete Rh1 deglycosylation. In addition, vha68-1 was required for activity-independent photoreceptor cell survival. Importantly, vha68-1 mutants exhibited phenotypes similar to those exhibited by mutations in the V0 component of V-ATPase, vha100-1. These data demonstrate that the V1 and V0 components of V-ATPase play key roles in post-Golgi trafficking of Rh1 and that Drosophila may represent an important animal model system for studying diseases associated with V-ATPase dysfunction.
R&D Spending, Knowledge Capital, and Agricultural Productivity Growth: A Bayesian Approach
Authors: Baldos Uris Lantz C. , Viens Frederi G. , Hertel Thomas W. , Fuglie Keith O.
Published: May 2018

In this article, we employ Bayesian hierarchical modeling to better capture and communicate the uncertainties surrounding the transformation of U.S. public agricultural research and development (R&D) expenditures to knowledge capital stocks as well as its contribution to the historic growth of U.S. agricultural total factor productivity. Compared to studies based on classical statistics, analytical methods grounded in Bayesian inference explicitly incorporate existing information and permit revision of our knowledge regarding the distribution of the unknown model parameters as additional information becomes available. Bayesian hierarchical modeling is particularly useful in statistically estimating the underlying parameters of the R&D lag weight structure, as well as the R&D knowledge stocks given observed data on agricultural productivity and R&D expenditures. Our results show a significant level of uncertainty on the R&D lag weight structure, indicating that published assumptions about the R&D lag structure can now be tested and validated against available data. Estimating the R&D lag weights and knowledge stocks also make a large difference in the uncertainties surrounding economic returns from R&D investments. Indeed, our results show that the best‐fit linear model yields slightly higher mean returns to R&D spending relative to the log model results and have significantly less uncertainty. This suggests that marginal returns to U.S. public agricultural research spending might have remained relatively constant despite a century of growth in expenditure. Furthermore, we find that such investments could take a longer time to bear fruit than previously realized.
National Costs Associated With Methicillin-Susceptible and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Hospitalizations in the United States, 2010–2014
Authors: Klein Eili Y , Jiang Wendi , Mojica Nestor , Tseng Katie K , McNeill Ryan , Cosgrove Sara E , Perl Trish M
Published: May 2018

Background

Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been associated with worse patient outcomes and higher costs of care than methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) infections. However, since prior studies found these differences, the healthcare landscape has changed, including widespread dissemination of community-associated strains of MRSA. We sought to provide updated estimates of the excess costs of MRSA infections.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from the National Inpatient Sample from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for the years 2010–2014. We calculated costs for hospitalizations, including MRSA- and MSSA-related septicemia and pneumonia infections, as well as MRSA- and MSSA-related infections from conditions classified elsewhere and of an unspecified site (“other infections”). Differences in the costs of hospitalization were estimated using propensity score–adjusted mortality outcomes for 2010–2014.

Results

In 2014, estimated costs were highest for pneumonia and sepsis-related hospitalizations. Propensity score–adjusted costs were significantly higher for MSSA-related pneumonia ($40725 vs $38561; P = .045) and other hospitalizations ($15578 vs $14792; P < .001) than for MRSA-related hospitalizations. Similar patterns were observed from 2010 to 2013, although crude cost differences between MSSA- and MRSA-related pneumonia hospitalizations rose from 25.8% in 2010 to 31.0% in 2014. Compared with MSSA-related hospitalizations, MRSA-related hospitalizations had a higher adjusted mortality rate.

Conclusions

Although MRSA infections had been previously associated with higher hospitalization costs, our results suggest that, in recent years, costs associated with MSSA-related infections have converged with and may surpass costs of similar MRSA-related hospitalizations.
Whole-Exome Sequencing of an Exceptional Longevity Cohort
Authors: Nygaard Haakon B , Erson-Omay E Zeynep , Wu Xiujuan , Kent Brianne A , Bernales Cecily Q , Evans Daniel M , Farrer Matthew J , Vilariño-Güell Carles , Strittmatter Stephen M
Published: May 2018

Centenarians represent a unique cohort to study the genetic basis for longevity and factors determining the risk of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The estimated genetic contribution to longevity is highest in centenarians and super-cententenarians, but few genetic variants have been shown to clearly impact this phenotype. While the genetic risk for AD and other dementias is now well understood, the frequency of known dementia risk variants in centenarians is not fully characterized. To address these questions, we performed whole-exome sequencing on 100 individuals of 98–108 years age in search of genes with large effect sizes towards the exceptional aging phenotype. Overall, we were unable to identify a rare protein-altering variant or individual genes with an increased burden of rare variants associated with exceptional longevity. Gene burden analysis revealed three genes of nominal statistical significance associated with extreme aging, including LYST, MDN1, and RBMXL1. Several genes with variants conferring an increased risk for AD and other dementias were identified, including TREM2, EPHA1, ABCA7, PLD3, MAPT, and NOTCH3. Larger centenarian studies will be required to further elucidate the genetic basis for longevity, and factors conferring protection against age-dependent neurodegenerative syndromes.
Individualization and the Health Care Mosaic in Assisted Living
Authors: Kemp Candace L , Ball Mary M , Perkins Molly M
Published: May 2018

Background and Objectives

Assisted living (AL) is a popular residential long-term care option for frail older adults in the United States. Most residents have multiple comorbidities and considerable health care needs, but little is known about their health care arrangements, particularly over time. Our goal is to understand how health care is managed and experienced in AL by residents and their care network members.

Research Design and Methods

This grounded theory analysis focuses on the delivery of health care in AL. Qualitative data were gathered from 28 residents and 114 of their care network members followed over a 2-year period in 4 diverse settings as part of the larger study, “Convoys of Care: Developing Collaborative Care Partnerships in Assisted Living.”

Results

Findings show that health care in AL involves routine, acute, rehabilitative, and end-of-life care, is provided by residents, formal and informal caregivers, and occurs on- and off-site. Our conceptual model derived from grounded theory analysis, “individualizing health care,” reflects the variability found in care arrangements over time and the multiple, multilevel factors we identified related to residents and caregivers (e.g., age, health), care networks (e.g., size, composition), residences (e.g., ownership), and community and regulatory contexts. This variability leads to individualization and a mosaic of health care among AL residents and communities.

Discussion and Implications

Our consideration of health care and emphasis on care networks draw attention to the importance of communication and need for collaboration within care networks as key avenues for improving care for this and other frail populations.
Flexible Lagrangians
Authors: Eliashberg Yakov , Ganatra Sheel , Lazarev Oleg
Published: May 2018

We introduce and discuss notions of regularity and flexibility for Lagrangian manifolds with Legendrian boundary in Weinstein domains. There is a surprising abundance of flexible Lagrangians. In turn, this leads to new constructions of Legendrians submanifolds and Weinstein manifolds. For instance, many closed n-manifolds of dimension n > 2 can be realized as exact Lagrangian submanifolds of $T^{\ast }S^n$ with possibly exotic Weinstein symplectic structures. These Weinstein structures on $T^{\ast } S^n$, infinitely many of which are distinct, are formed by a single handle attachment to the standard 2n-ball along the Legendrian boundaries of flexible Lagrangians. We also formulate a number of open problems.
Family Language Policy
Authors: Curdt-Christiansen Xiao Lan
Published: May 2018

The family is a social unit which has its norms for speaking, viewing, acting, and believing, thus providing a cornerstone for language socialisation and language development. This chapter begins with a brief introduction to the theoretical conceptualisation of family language policy (FLP) currently used by most researchers. It then provides a discussion of the major contributions to the field by focusing on three major themes: FLP and language-in-education policy; FLP and language ideology; and linguistic practices and the processes of language change. This discussion is followed by an overview of recent developments in research methodology employed in the field. Finally, future directions in research resulting from increasing transnational migration and evolving political environments are outlined.
Ideologies of Language Standardization
Authors: Chen Katherine H. Y.
Published: May 2018

Virtually all Hong Kong Cantonese speakers know of 懶音 (“lazy pronunciation”), which refers to the colloquial pronunciation of Cantonese that differs from prescribed dictionary pronunciation. Speakers of the colloquial variety are essentialized as “lazy” and said to be responsible for “destroying Chinese culture.” These language ideologies about the aesthetics and cultural qualities of Cantonese are part of a process of differentiation associated with the renegotiation of local Hong Kong identity in the period of political change around the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China in 1997. Thus the standardization of Cantonese is at the center of social, cultural, and political negotiation with regard to community boundaries and identities. The changes in Hong Kong’s political sovereignty, from its position as a Chinese Qing dynasty–ruled rural island, to a British crown colony, and then to a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, make a unique and interesting study for language standardization processes and shifts in language ideologies.