bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ADRIENNE THOMAS UND VERA BRITTAIN: ‘WALKING THE DEAD’
Authors: Zitzlsperger Ulrike
Published: January 2019

Adrienne Thomas and Vera Brittain both contributed to the body of anti‐war literature during the interwar period that was dominated by male writers. A comparison of Thomas's novel Die Katrin wird Soldat (1930) and Brittain's Testament of Youth (1933) highlights that, over time, their perception of ‘Heimat’ becomes increasingly differentiated. Work in the hospitals alienated both authors from the institutions that shaped society (‘Gesellschaft’) in Germany and England and from women active at the ‘home front’. Instead, wartime suffering as part of their own generation engenders a sense of community (‘Gemeinschaft’) with the soldiers that works across borders.
ELISABETH LANDAU'S NOVEL DER HOLZWEG (1918): A GERMAN‐JEWISH GENDERED DISCUSSION OF HEIMAT
Authors: Weiss‐Sussex Godela
Published: January 2019

Elisabeth Landau's novel Der Holzweg discusses her German‐Jewish protagonists’ attitudes to their estranged homeland in the climate of anti‐Semitism in the last months of the First World War. With reference to contemporary theoretical writing, two main notions of Heimat, held by the novel's main characters, Karl and Elise, can be identified. Landau pits Karl's heroic but desperate clinging to his German homeland against the female protagonist Elise's clear‐sighted argument for turning away from a nation that excludes its Jewish citizens and for building a new life elsewhere. Building on the concepts of motherhood and motherliness, and investing her heroine with a life‐giving femininity and ‘nomadic’ subjectivity, Landau describes the ‘female’ perspective as the one showing the way into the future. An analysis of contemporary reviews of the novel shows how critics, who were not willing to concede the struggle for the acceptance of German Jews as equal citizens, ensured through misogynistic attacks that the novel and the criticism of the Heimat concept it carries were denied the readership it deserved.
A Genetic Programming–Based Model for Colloid Retention in Fractures
Authors: Yosri Ahmed , Siam Ahmad , El‐Dakhakhni Wael , Dickson‐Anderson Sarah
Published: January 2019

Understanding the behavior of colloids in groundwater is critical as some are pathogenic while others may facilitate or inhibit the transport of dissolved contaminants. Colloid behavior in saturated fractured aquifers is governed by the physical and chemical properties of the groundwater‐particle‐fracture system. The interaction between these properties is nonlinear, and there is a need for a mathematical model describing the relationship between them to advance the mechanistic understanding of colloid transport in fractures and facilitate modeling in fractured environments. This paper coupled genetic programming and linear regression within a multigene genetic programming framework to develop a robust mathematical model describing the relationship between colloid retention in fractures and the physical and chemical parameters that describe the system. The data employed for model development and validation were collected from a series of 75 laboratory‐scale colloid tracer experiments conducted under a range of conditions in three laboratory‐induced discrete dolomite fractures and their epoxy replicas. The model sufficiently reproduced the observed data with coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.92 and 0.80 for model development and validation, respectively. A cross‐validation demonstrated the model generality to 86% of the observed data. A variance‐based global sensitivity analysis confirmed that attachment is the primary retention mechanism in the systems employed in this work. The model developed in this study provides a tool describing colloid retention in factures, which furthers the understanding of groundwater‐particle‐fracture system conditions contributing to the retention of colloids and can aid in the design of groundwater remediation strategies and development of groundwater management plans.
Topical Ambroxol 20% for the Treatment of Classical Trigeminal Neuralgia – A New Option? Initial Clinical Case Observations
Authors: Kern Kai‐Uwe , Schwickert‐Nieswandt Myriam , Maihöfner Christian , Gaul Charly
Published: January 2019

Background

Trigeminal neuralgia is difficult to treat and shows upregulation of sodium channels. The expectorant ambroxol acts as a strong local anesthetic, about 40 times stronger than lidocaine. It preferentially inhibits the channel subtype Nav1.8, expressed especially in nociceptive C‐fibers. It seemed reasonable to try ambroxol for the treatment with neuropathic facial pain unresponsive to other standard options.

Material and Methods

Medical records of patients suffering from classical trigeminal neuralgia (n = 5) and successful pain reduction following topical ambroxol 20% cream in addition to standard treatment are reported.

Results

All patients reported pain attacks with pain intensity between 4 and 10 NRS (numeric pain scale). In all cases they could be triggered, 3 patients reported additional spontaneous pain. Attacks were reduced in all 5 patients. Pain reduction achieved following ambroxol 20% cream was 2–8 points (NRS) earliest within 15–30 minutes and lasted for 4–6 hours mostly. This was reproducible in all cases; in one case pain was eliminated after 1 week. No patient reported side effects or skin changes; oral medication was reduced in 2 patients.

Conclusion

For the first time, a clinically significant pain relief following topical ambroxol 20% cream in patients with trigeminal neuralgia is reported. In view of the positive side effect profile, topical ambroxol for patients with such a highly impaired quality of life should be investigated further as a matter of urgency.
Negotiating the Gender Wage Gap
Authors: Stevens Katrien , Whelan Stephen
Published: January 2019

There is some evidence that gender differences exist in the propensity to negotiate and outcomes from negotiation. We examine the propensity to negotiate over pay with the employer, the wage outcomes resulting from negotiation, and the impact on the gender wage gap. We find evidence that females are less likely to have the opportunity to negotiate over pay. However, conditional on the opportunity to negotiate, they are no less likely to actually negotiate. The analysis does not provide strong evidence that women fare worse than men if negotiation occurs.
Management earnings forecasts and bank loan contracting
Authors: Hsieh Tien‐Shih , Song Byron Y. , Wang Ray R. , Wang Xinlu
Published: January 2019

We find that firms tend to issue management earnings forecasts and convey good news before bank loan initiation. Issuing firms enjoy more favorable contracting terms and attract more lenders. Management forecasts issuance within a nine‐month period prior to the loan activating quarter can lower the subsequent loan spread by 14.06 basis points. Moreover, firms with larger management forecast errors are charged harsher contracting terms and attract fewer lenders. Our study suggests that firms strategically issue management earnings forecasts before entering into debt contracts and lenders incorporate the information contained in management earnings forecasts into bank loan contracting.
Contrasting genetic structure of sympatric congeneric gastropods: Do differences in habitat preference, abundance and distribution matter?
Authors: Wort Edward J. G. , Chapman Mark A. , Hawkins Stephen J. , Henshall Lucy , Pita Alfonso , Rius Marc , Williams Suzanne T. , Fenberg Phillip B.
Published: January 2019

Aim

The relationship of population genetics with the ecology and biogeography of species may be explored by comparing phenotypically similar but ecologically different congeners with overlapping ranges. We compared genetic differentiation between two congeneric rocky intertidal gastropods across a major portion of their sympatric range. We hypothesized that the habitat generalist with high abundance and continuous distribution would exhibit comparatively less genetic differentiation than the habitat specialist with low abundance and a fragmented distribution.

Location

North‐east Atlantic from the north‐west Iberian Peninsula to southern British coastline.

Taxon

Gastropoda, Trochidae, Steromphala (formerly Gibbula).

Methods

Field surveys were conducted to assess the presence/absence and the abundance of Steromphala umbilicalis (generalist) and S. pennanti (specialist) at 23 localities along ~1,800 km coastline. We isolated polymorphic microsatellite markers for both species (seven loci for S. umbilicalis and eight for S. pennanti) and used these to genotype 187 S. umbilicalis and 157 S. pennanti individuals. We used standard population genetic analyses to compare patterns of genetic differentiation between species in relation to the field surveys.

Results

Steromphala pennanti showed a more fragmented distribution, significantly lower abundance, and greater genetic differentiation than S. umbilicalis. One S. umbilicalis population towards the north of the range (southern Britain) was genetically distinct from all other sampled populations. Steromphala pennanti showed greater genetic differentiation between three southern localities, which may be attributable to its fragmented distribution and lower abundance because of limited availability of its preferred fucoid habitat in this region. We also suggest that oceanographic currents could be associated with regional genetic structure.

Main conclusions

The habitat generalist showed high‐local abundances, continuous distribution and low regional genetic differentiation. We found the opposite pattern for the habitat specialist. Our study highlights the importance of considering ecological (e.g. abundance, habitat preferences) and abiotic variables (e.g. ocean currents and temperature) for understanding differences in genetic structure of sympatrically distributed congeners.
The practice of glycaemic control in intensive care units: A multicentre survey of nursing and medical professionals
Authors: Fernández‐Méndez Rocío , Harvey Daniel John Roberton , Windle Richard , Adams Gary George
Published: January 2019

Aims and objectives

To determine the views of nurses and physicians working in intensive care units (ICU) about the aims of glycaemic control and use of their protocols.

Background

Evidence about the optimal aims and methods for glycaemic control in ICU is controversial, and current local protocols guiding practice differ between ICUs, both nationally and internationally. The views of professionals on glycaemic control can influence their practice.

Design

Cross‐sectional, multicentre, survey‐based study.

Methods

An online short survey was sent to all physicians and nurses of seven ICUs, including questions on effective glycaemic control, treatment of hypoglycaemia and deviations from protocols’ instructions. STROBE reporting guidelines were followed.

Results

Over half of the 40 respondents opined that a patient spending <75% admission time within the target glycaemic levels constituted poor glycaemic control. Professionals with more than 5 years of experience were more likely to rate a patient spending 50%–74% admission time within target glycaemic levels as poor than less experienced colleagues. Physicians were more likely to rate a patient spending <50% admission time within target as poor than nurses. There was general agreement on how professionals would rate most deviations from their protocols. Nurses were more likely to rate insulin infusions restarted late and incorrect dosage of rescue glucose as major deviations than physicians. Most professionals agreed on when they would treat hypoglycaemia.

Conclusions

When surveyed on various aspects of glycaemic control, ICU nurses and physicians often agreed, although there were certain areas of disagreement, in which their profession and level of experience seemed to play a role.

Relevance to clinical practice

Differing views on glycaemic control amongst professionals may affect their practice and, thus, could lead to health inequalities. Clinical leads and the multidisciplinary ICU team should assess and, if necessary, address these differing opinions.
The Life Course Health Development Model: A theoretical research framework for paediatric delirium
Authors: Kalvas Laura Beth
Published: January 2019

Aims and objectives

To create a framework for future research through application and critique of the Life Course Health Development Model to the phenomenon of paediatric delirium.

Background

Delirium in the paediatric intensive care unit is associated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay and mortality. Nurses are uniquely positioned at the bedside to identify, prevent and treat delirium. An understanding of the potential long‐term consequences of paediatric delirium is necessary to provide impetus for nursing research and practice change. The Life Course Health Development Model is a valuable tool when considering the multiple mechanisms and processes through which the experience of delirium could affect a child's life trajectory.

Design

Critical review of the literature through application and critique of the Life Course Health Development Model in the context of paediatric delirium. Gaps in the current understanding of paediatric delirium, as well as future directions for research and practice, are discussed.

Methods

The seven core principles of the model are considered in the context of paediatric delirium. Each of the principles has the potential to further understanding of paediatric delirium and identify areas for future inquiry. This discussion leads to a critique of the ability of the model to lead future research and practice change.

Conclusions

The Life Course Health Development Model depicts a process in which the acute and severe stress of critical illness leads to maladaptive neurologic changes that contribute to the development of delirium and impair a child's life trajectory.

Relevance to clinical practice

By emphasising the potential lifelong consequences for critically ill children who experience delirium, this application of the Life Course Health Development Model will stimulate discussion, research and practice change among paediatric clinicians and researchers.
Use of rare‐earth elements in the phyllosphere colonizer Methylobacterium extorquens PA1
Authors: Ochsner Andrea M. , Hemmerle Lucas , Vonderach Thomas , Nüssli Ralph , Bortfeld‐Miller Miriam , Hattendorf Bodo , Vorholt Julia A.
Published: January 2019

Until recently, rare‐earth elements (REEs) had been thought to be biologically inactive. This view changed with the discovery of the methanol dehydrogenase XoxF that strictly relies on REEs for its activity. Some methylotrophs only contain xoxF, while others, including the model phyllosphere colonizer Methylobacterium extorquens PA1, harbor this gene in addition to mxaFI encoding a Ca2+‐dependent enzyme. Here we found that REEs induce the expression of xoxF in M. extorquens PA1, while repressing mxaFI, suggesting that XoxF is the preferred methanol dehydrogenase in the presence of sufficient amounts of REE. Using reporter assays and a suppressor screen, we found that lanthanum (La3+) is sensed both in a XoxF‐dependent and independent manner. Furthermore, we investigated the role of REEs during Arabidopsis thaliana colonization. Element analysis of the phyllosphere revealed the presence of several REEs at concentrations up to 10 μg per g dry weight. Complementary proteome analyses of M. extorquens PA1 identified XoxF as a top induced protein in planta and a core set of La3+‐regulated proteins under defined artificial media conditions. Among these was a REE‐binding protein that is encoded next to a gene for a TonB‐dependent transporter. The latter was essential for REE‐dependent growth on methanol indicating chelator‐assisted uptake of REEs.
The BiZiFED project: Biofortified zinc flour to eliminate deficiency in Pakistan
Authors: Ohly H. , Broadley M. R. , Joy E. J. M. , Khan M. J. , McArdle H. , Zaman M. , Zia M. , Lowe N.
Published: January 2019

Zinc deficiency is a global public health problem, affecting ~17% of the world's population, with the greatest burden in low‐ and middle‐income countries. An increasing body of evidence suggests that biofortification may be a cost‐effective and sustainable approach to reducing zinc and other micronutrient deficiencies. Biofortification enhances the nutritional quality of food crops through conventional plant breeding techniques and agronomic practices. This paper presents ongoing research on biofortification in Pakistan, where over 40% of women are zinc deficient. The Biofortified Zinc Flour to Eliminate Deficiency (BiZiFED) project aims to investigate the impact of biofortification as a strategy to alleviate zinc deficiency in Pakistan. The project is supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Global Challenges Research Fund from May 2017 to April 2019. This paper outlines the four objectives and work packages within the BiZiFED project: (1) a double‐blind, randomised controlled trial to examine the effect of consuming flour made from a high zinc variety of biofortified wheat (Zincol‐2016/NR‐421) on dietary zinc intake and status; (2) a cost‐effectiveness study to assess the health and economic impact of agronomic biofortification of wheat; (3) a mixed methods study to explore the cultural acceptability and sustainability of biofortification in Pakistan; (4) capacity building and development of long‐term research partnerships in Pakistan. The findings will contribute to the evidence base for the potential impact of biofortification to alleviate zinc deficiency among the poorest communities.
A qualitative study about the experiences of ethnic minority pregnant women with gestational diabetes
Authors: Dayyani Ida , Terkildsen Maindal Helle , Rowlands Gillian , Lou Stina
Published: January 2019

Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus demands rapid health behaviour changes for the pregnant woman to obtain stable blood glucose levels. In Denmark, the general incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus is about 3%, but more than 4.5% among non‐Western immigrants and descendants. Women belonging to ethnic minorities may be particularly challenged by health behaviour changes due to educational, language and cultural barriers.

Aim

To explore how non‐Western ethnic minority pregnant women in Denmark experience the hospital‐based information about gestational diabetes mellitus and how they integrate this information into their everyday life. A secondary aim was to investigate how health literacy and distributed health literacy affect this process.

Methods

Semistructured, qualitative interviews with 11 women. Thematic analysis was conducted with a special focus on health literacy as analytical approach.

Results

Three themes were identified: Reaction to the diagnosis, Everyday life and Information needs. All women felt sad and worried by the diagnosis. Some struggled to implement the recommended behaviour changes, and many lacked supports from their spouse. The hospital‐based information was positively evaluated, but in some cases, the information was misunderstood. Social networks, language skills, and the ability to seek and assess information were important factors influencing the degree to which the women experienced gestational diabetes mellitus to be a challenge.

Conclusion

Women were generally satisfied with the hospital‐based information. Women with low health literacy/poor Danish language skills seem to be most challenged by the diagnosis. Future research should examine ways to organise patient‐centred health care while simultaneously supporting women's opportunity to increase health literacy through, for example social network and the Internet.
Factores pronósticos para artrodesis lumbar
Authors: Lindado Pacheco Carlos Alberto , Acevedo González Juan Carlos
Published: January 2019

El dolor de espalda es uno de los síntomas más frecuentes en las instituciones de salud. La neurocirugía desempeña un papel importante en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del dolor de espalda que a menudo resulta en intervenciones quirúrgicas que incluyen la fusión intersomática lumbar entre otras alternativas terapéuticas. Sin embargo, la funcionalidad y los índices de calidad de vida esperados no siempre demuestran una mejora completa, a pesar del tratamiento médico y quirúrgico adecuado. Por lo tanto, los autores realizaron una revisión de la literatura no sistemática para evaluar los elementos más importantes involucrados en las evaluaciones diagnósticas que incluyen: anatomía lumbosacra, procesos patológicos de la columna vertebral que causan dolor de espalda e indicaciones de fusión intersomática lumbar. Finalmente, el papel relevante que tienen los parámetros espinopélvicos en un adecuado planeamiento quirúrgico. Esta revisión de la literatura no sistemática tiene como objetivo establecer la evaluación más contribuyente de los factores espinopélvicos antes de la cirugía para mejorar la selección de pacientes que se someten a tratamiento quirúrgico y, por lo tanto, mejorar su funcionalidad y los índices de calidad de vida.
Phenotypical Characterization of Patients Who Underwent Perinatal Autopsy at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio
Authors: Olaya Contreras Mercedes , Ortega Rico Rita Iris , Moreno Niño Olga Milena , Suárez Obando Fernando
Published: January 2019

Introduction: Chromosomal disorders cause a high mortality in the fetal and perinatal age group; however, cytogenetic or molecular studies are not routinely performed in our setting. Methods: Study where the morphology of patients subjected to perinatal autopsy in the HUSI during 2012 and 2013, with the diagnostic impression of chromosomal disorder, is characterized and the prenatal clinical characteristics are reviewed. Results: Forty-two cases were included. The majority of cases had placenta, corresponded to the second trimester of pregnancy (median of 15.5 weeks) and the mothers were 18-35 years old. The morphological changes predominated in the head, neck and extremities. Conclusions: The knowledge of the morphological changes from perinatal autopsy is a tool that complements the analysis of mortality in this age group.
Association between the Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors and Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults
Authors: Gómez Camilo , Borda Borda Miguel German , Pérez Mario Ulises , Tella Vega Pamela , Cano Gutiérrez Carlos Alberto
Published: January 2019

Objective: The objective was to describe the association between the presence of cognitive impairment and the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) in the older adult population in Bogotá, Colombia. Methods: We analyzed the SABE Bogotá study. This study included 2,000 people over 60 years, in a cross-sectional sample. The variable of interest was the alteration in the modified Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-M). It was related to the use of PPI. This analysis was adjusted for factors such as sex, age, years of schooling and marital status. Results: The average age was 71.17±8.05 years, 63.4% were women. We found that 20.7% used PPIs, with an average duration of use of 74.8±93.76 months. 12.6% of older adults had altered MMSE-M, with a higher prevalence in PPI users (25.4% vs. 20.02%; p: 0.049). In the multivariate analysis, an association of adjusted risk increase was found between cognitive impairment and the use of PPIs for ≥24 months (OR: 1.90; CI: 1.11-3.24; p = 0.018). Conclusions: This study shows an association of a significant increase in the risk between using PPIs for ≥ 24 months and developing cognitive impairment. More studies are needed to conclude a direct causality relationship.
Nonlinear Material Model in Part Variation Simulations of Sheet Metals
Authors: Camuz Soner , Lorin Samuel , Wärmefjord Kristina , Söderberg Rikard
Published: January 2019

Current methodologies for variation simulation of compliant sheet metal assemblies and parts are simplified by assuming linear relationships. From the observed physical experiments, it is evident that plastic strains are a source of error that is not captured in the conventional variational simulation methods. This paper presents an adaptation toward an elastoplastic material model with isotropic hardening in the method of influence coefficients (MIC) methodology for variation simulations. The results are presented in two case studies using a benchmark case involving a two-dimensional (2D) quarter symmetric plate with a centered hole, subjected to both uniaxial and biaxial displacement. The adaptation shows a great reduction in central processing unit time with limited effect on the accuracy of the results compared to direct Monte Carlo simulations.
A Note on the Second-Order Contribution to Extreme Waves Generated During Hurricanes
Authors: McAllister Mark L. , Adcock Thomas A. A. , Taylor Paul H. , van den Bremer Ton S.
Published: January 2019

High wind speeds generated during hurricanes result in the formation of extreme waves. Extreme waves by nature are steep meaning that linear wave theory alone is insufficient in understanding and predicting their occurrence. The complex, highly transient nature of the direction of wind and hence of waves generated during hurricanes affects this nonlinear behavior. Herein, we examine how this directionality can affect the second-order nonlinearity of extreme waves generated during hurricanes. This is achieved through both deterministic calculations and experiments based on the observations of Young (2006, “Directional Spectra of Hurricane Wind Waves,” J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 111(C8), epub). Our calculations show that interactions between the tail and peak of the spectrum can become significant when they travel in different directions, resulting in second-order difference components that exist in the linear range of frequencies. These calculations are generally supported by experimental observations, but we note the difficulty of generating and focusing the high-frequency tail of the spectrum experimentally. Bound second-order difference components or subharmonics typically exist as low frequency infra-gravity waves. Components that exist in the linear range of frequencies may be missed by conventional methods of processing field data where low-pass filtering is used and hence overlooked. In this note, we show that in idealized directional spreading conditions representative of a hurricane, failing to account for second-order difference components may lead to underestimation of extreme wave height.
A Real-Time Tracking and Visualization System for Robot-Assisted Template Location Method Applied to Lung Cancer Brachytherapy
Authors: Ma Xiaodong , Jiang Shan , Yang Zhiyong , Zhang Guobin , Yu Zhonghua , Chai Shude
Published: January 2019

Accurate location of the puncture-guiding template, including the position and orientation, is essential for surgeons to implant radioactive seeds into an internal tumor in lung cancer brachytherapy. The objective of this paper is to establish a real-time tracking and visualization system (RTVS) to monitor the robot-assisted location process distantly and confirm the ultimate location accuracy without redundant computed tomography (CT) scans. RTVS consists of tracking and visualization components. A quaternion-based iterative closest point (QICP) algorithm for higher accuracy was proposed for the premised module of spatial registration. Arithmetic accuracy of QICP and clinical performance of RTVS were both validated by a series of experiments in a CT room. Spatial registration experiment shows that QICP consistently presents a distinctly higher degree of accuracy of 0.87±0.11 mm compared with other two conventional algorithms. RTVS, evaluated by tracking and visualization experiments, achieves a tracking accuracy of 1.05±0.05 mm position and (0.29±0.14) deg orientation. In addition, the time cost for template location is greatly reduced, so are the CT scan times. RTVS has the potential on lessening the workload of surgeons, reducing the CT radiation injury to the patient, and accelerating the progress of a brachytherapy surgery. The system presented means a new contribution to the lung cancer brachytherapy.
Multiphysics-Based Statistical Model for Investigating the Mechanics of Carbon Nanotubes Membranes for Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Applications
Authors: Vijayaraghavan V. , Garg A. , Gao Liang
Published: January 2019

The filter membrane made up of carbon nanostructure is one of the important components in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The membrane while under operating conditions of a PEMFC is subjected to various dynamical loads due to the imposition of several input operating factors of the PEMFC. Hence, it is important to estimate optimal process parameters, which can maximize the strength of the membrane. Current studies in PEMFC focus on adsorption and transport-related properties of PEMFC membrane, without adequately investigating the mechanical strength of the membrane. This study proposes a multiphysics model of the membrane, which is used to extract the mechanical properties of the membrane by systematically varying various input factors of PEMFC. The extracted data are then fed into a neural search machine learning cluster to obtain optimal design parameters for maximizing the strength of the membrane. It is expected that the findings from this study will provide critical design data for manufacturing PEMFC membranes with high strength and durability.
Over 1 GW/cm2 for high-power GaN p-i-n diodes with edge termination structure and laser annealing
Authors: Yu Chia-Jui , Lu Jyun-You , Shan Li-Wei , Chen Chien-Ju , Liao Jyun-Hao , Wu Meng-Chyi
Published: January 2019

In this article, the authors report the fabrication and characterization of quasi-vertical gallium nitride (GaN) p-i-n diodes grown on patterned sapphire substrates. In order to reduce diode leakage current and enhance breakdown voltage, the authors design the diodes having the structures of edge termination with a multi-mesa structure coupled with a field plate. Besides, the laser annealing is used to decrease the contact resistance and lower the forward voltage. Combining these processes, the fabricated p-i-n diodes with a 5 μm i-layer exhibit a specific on-resistance (RONA) of 0.47 mΩ cm2 and a breakdown voltage (VB) of 835 V. The corresponding Baliga’s figure of merit (VB2/RONA) is 1.48 GW/cm2, which is the highest ever reported for a GaN p-i-n diode grown on a sapphire substrate. Finally, depositing an aluminum layer onto the mesa surface can effectively block the ultraviolet emission out of the diode under forward bias.
Flexible vertical-channel thin-film transistors using In-Ga-Zn-O active channel and polyimide spacer on poly(ethylene naphthalate) substrate
Authors: Kim Hyeong-Rae , Yang Ji-Hee , Kim Gi-Heon , Yoon Sung-Min
Published: January 2019

A flexible vertical-channel thin-film transistor (VTFT) with a channel length of 400 nm was fabricated on a poly(ethylene naphthalate) substrate. The vertical gate-stack composed of gate electrode/gate insulator/active channel was prepared by a conformal atomic layer deposition and a dry etching process of an organic polyimide spacer. The transfer characteristics of the fabricated flexible VTFT were well confirmed after the postannealing process at 200 °C, in which the on/off ratio was obtained to be 1.8 × 102. The threshold voltage shifts were estimated to be +6.1 and −4.5 V under the positive and negative bias-stress conditions for 104 s, respectively. The device characteristics showed no remarkable degradation when delaminating from the carrier glass substrate. Furthermore, there were no marked changes in transfer curves even when the device was bent with a radius of curvature of 10 mm. A suitable choice of spacer material, optimization of the dry etching process, and employment of ultra-thin flexible film substrate were suggested to appropriate solutions for enhancing the device performance of the proposed flexible VTFTs.
Nonlinear effect of forced harmonic oscillator subject to sliding friction and simulation by a simple nonlinear circuit
Authors: Xu Qian , Fan Wenkai , Luo Yao , Wang Sihui , Jiang Hongjian
Published: January 2019

We study the nonlinear behaviors of mass-spring systems damped by dry friction using simulation by a nonlinear LC circuit damped by anti-parallel diodes. We show that the differential equation for the electric oscillator is equivalent to that of the mechanical system when a piecewise linear model is used to simplify the diodes' I–V curve. We derive series solutions to the differential equation under weak nonlinear approximation which can describe the resonant response as well as amplitudes of superharmonic components. The experimental results are consistent with the series solutions. We also present the phenomenon of hysteresis. A theoretical analysis along with numerical simulations is conducted to explore the stick-slip boundary. The correspondence between the mechanical and electric oscillators makes it easy to demonstrate the behaviors of this nonlinear oscillator on a digital oscilloscope. It can be used to extend the linear RLC experiment at the undergraduate level.
Twentieth century redistribution in climatic drivers of global tree growth
Authors: Babst Flurin , Bouriaud Olivier , Poulter Benjamin , Trouet Valerie , Girardin Martin P. , Frank David C.
Published: January 2019

Water availability and demand are becoming the dominant limitations of tree growth across the boreal and temperate zones.
Full in vivo characterization of carbonate chemistry at the site of calcification in corals
Authors: Sevilgen Duygu S. , Venn Alexander A. , Hu Marian Y. , Tambutté Eric , de Beer Dirk , Planas-Bielsa Víctor , Tambutté Sylvie
Published: January 2019

In vivo measurements of [Ca
2+
] and [CO
3
2−
] indicate biological control of carbonate chemistry at site of calcification in corals.
Purposive learning: Robot reasoning about the meanings of human activities
Authors: Cheng Gordon , Ramirez-Amaro Karinne , Beetz Michael , Kuniyoshi Yasuo
Published: January 2019

Reasoning about the meanings of human activities is a powerful way for robots to learn from humans.
Beyond imitation: Zero-shot task transfer on robots by learning concepts as cognitive programs
Authors: Lázaro-Gredilla Miguel , Lin Dianhuan , Guntupalli J. Swaroop , George Dileep
Published: January 2019

Programs on a visual cognitive computer learned underlying concepts and generalized well to new settings without explicit demonstrations.
A Real-Time Multiplex PCR Assay for Detection ofElizabethkingiaSpecies and Differentiation betweenElizabethkingia anophelisandE. meningoseptica
Authors: Kelly Aubree J. , Karpathy Sandor E. , Gulvik Christopher A. , Ivey Melissa L. , Whitney Anne M. , Bell Melissa E. , Nicholson Ainsley C. , Humrighouse Ben W. , McQuiston John R.
Published: January 2019

Nosocomial infections ofElizabethkingiaspecies can have fatal outcomes if not identified and treated properly. The current diagnostic tools available require culture and isolation, which can extend the reporting time and delay treatment.
High-flow nasal cannula therapy for children with bronchiolitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lin Jilei , Zhang Yin , Xiong Limei , Liu Sha , Gong Caihui , Dai Jihong
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To review the effects and safety of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for bronchiolitis.

Methods

Six electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, CQ VIP Database and Wanfang Data were searched from their inception to 1 June 2018. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) which investigated the effects of HFNC versus other forms of oxygen therapies for bronchiolitis were included.

Results

Nine RCTs with 2121 children met the eligibility criteria. There was no significant difference in length of stay in hospital (LOS), length of oxygen supplementation (LOO), transfer to intensive care unit, incidence of intubation, respiratory rate, SpO2 and adverse events in HFNC group compared with standard oxygen therapy (SOT) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) groups. A significant reduction of the incidence of treatment failure (risk ratio (RR) 0.50, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.62, p<0.01) was observed in HFNC group compared with SOT group, but there was a significant increase of the incidence of treatment failure (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.42, p0.02) in HFNC group compared with nCPAP group. In subgroup analysis, LOS was significantly decreased in HFNC group compared with SOT group in low-income and middle-income countries.

Conclusion

The systematic review suggests HFNC is safe as an initial respiratory management, but the evidence is still lacking to show benefits for children with bronchiolitis compared with SOT or nCPAP.
The NeoTree application: developing an integrated mHealth solution to improve quality of newborn care and survival in a district hospital in Malawi
Authors: Crehan Caroline , Kesler Erin , Nambiar Bejoy , Dube Queen , Lufesi Norman , Giaccone Matteo , Normand Charles , Azad Kishwar , Heys Michelle
Published: January 2019

More than two-thirds of newborn lives could be saved worldwide if evidence-based interventions were successfully implemented. We developed the NeoTree application to improve quality of newborn care in resource-poor countries. The NeoTree is a fully integrated digital health intervention that combines immediate data capture, entered by healthcare workers (HCW) on admission, while simultaneously providing them with evidence-based clinical decision support and newborn care education. We conducted a mixed-methods intervention development study, codeveloping and testing the NeoTree prototype with HCWs in a district hospital in Malawi. Focus groups explored the acceptability and feasibility of digital health solutions before and after implementation of the NeoTree in the clinical setting. One-to-one theoretical usability workshops and a 1-month clinical usability study informed iterative changes, gathered process and clinical data, System Usability Scale (SUS) and perceived improvements in quality of care. HCWs perceived the NeoTree to be acceptable and feasible. Mean SUS before and after the clinical usability study were high at 80.4 and 86.1, respectively (above average is >68). HCWs reported high-perceived improvements in quality of newborn care after using the NeoTree on the ward. They described improved confidence in clinical decision-making, clinical skills, critical thinking and standardisation of care. Identified factors for successful implementation included a technical support worker. Coproduction, mixed-methods approaches and user-focused iterative development were key to the development of the NeoTree prototype, which was shown to be an agile, acceptable, feasible and highly usable tool with the potential to improve the quality of newborn care in resource-poor settings.
Changes in adult Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) survival within the lower Columbia River amid increasing pinniped abundance
Authors: Wargo Rub A. Michelle , Som Nicholas A. , Henderson Mark J. , Sandford Benjamin P. , Van Doornik Donald M. , Teel David J. , Tennis Matthew J. , Langness Olaf P. , van der Leeuw Bjorn K. , Huff David D.
Published: January 2019

Considerable effort towards conservation has contributed to the recovery of historically depleted pinniped populations worldwide. However, in several locations where pinnipeds have increased, they have been blamed for preventing the recovery of commercially valuable fish species through predation. Prompted by increasing pinniped abundance within the Columbia River (CR), USA, over a 6-year period, we used passive integrated transponder tags to measure the survival of adult spring-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) through the estuary and lower CR to Bonneville Dam (river kilometre 234). We estimated 51 751 – 224 705 salmon died annually within this reach from sources other than harvest. Mixed-effects logistic regression modelling identified pinniped predation as the most likely source of this mortality. The odds of survival was estimated to decrease by 32% (95% CI: 6%–51%) for every additional 467 sea lions (Zalophus californianus and Eumetopias jubatus) present within the CR and to increase by 32% (95% CI: 8%–61%) for every increase of 1.5 in the log of American shad (Alosa sapidissima), a potential prey item for sea lions.
The effects of repeat acute thermal stress on the critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and physiology of juvenile shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)
Authors: Bard Brittany , Kieffer James D.
Published: January 2019

The shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum Lesueur, 1818) is a species of special concern in Canada, but little is known about their thermal biology. Information on the upper thermal tolerance of shortnose sturgeon becomes valuable for predicting future survival particularly with climate change and improving species management. Using a modified critical thermal maximum (CTmax) methodology, the objective is to determine whether previous thermal stress affects the thermal tolerance of juvenile shortnose sturgeon when exposed to a second thermal stress event. Prior exposure to thermal stress (CTmax1) did not affect the thermal tolerance (CTmax2) of juvenile shortnose sturgeon when a 24 h recovery period was allotted between tests. However, a significant increase in thermal tolerance occurred when the recovery time between the two thermal challenges was 1 h. Plasma glucose, lactate, and osmolality were all significantly affected by thermal stress, but values returned to control levels within 24 h. Hematocrit and plasma chloride concentrations were not significantly affected by thermal stress. All fish survived the CTmax testing. The data indicate that the thermal tolerance of juvenile shortnose sturgeon is modified when multiple thermal stresses occur closer together (1 h) but not if separated by a longer time period (24 h).
State Dependent Control of Closed Queueing Networks
Authors: Banerjee Siddhartha , Kanoria Yash , Qian Pengyu
Published: January 2019

We study the design of state dependent control for a closed queueing network model, inspired by shared transportation systems such as ridesharing. In particular, we focus on the design of assignment policies, wherein the platform can choose which supply unit to dispatch to meet an incoming customer request. The supply unit subsequently becomes available at the destination after dropping the customer. We consider the proportion of dropped demand in steady state as the performance measure. We propose a family of simple and explicit state dependent policies called Scaled MaxWeight (SMW) policies and prove that under the complete resource pooling (CRP) condition (analogous to a strict version of Hall's condition for bipartite matchings), any SMW policy induces an exponential decay of demand-dropping probability as the number of supply units scales to infinity. Furthermore, we show that there is an SMW policy that achieves the optimal exponent among all assignment policies, and analytically specify this policy in terms of the matrix of customer-request arrival rates. The optimal SMW policy protects structurally under-supplied locations.
Dandelion++
Authors: Fanti Giulia , Venkatakrishnan Shaileshh Bojja , Bakshi Surya , Denby Bradley , Bhargava Shruti , Miller Andrew , Viswanath Pramod
Published: January 2019

Recent work has demonstrated significant anonymity vulnerabilities in Bitcoin's networking stack. In particular, the current mechanism for broadcasting Bitcoin transactions allows third-party observers to link transactions to the IP addresses that originated them. This lays the groundwork for low-cost, large-scale deanonymization attacks. In this work, we present Dandelion++, a first-principles defense against large-scale deanonymization attacks with near-optimal information-theoretic guarantees. Dandelion++ builds upon a recent proposal called Dandelion that exhibited similar goals. However, in this paper, we highlight some simplifying assumptions made in Dandelion, and show how they can lead to serious deanonymization attacks when violated. In contrast, Dandelion++ defends against stronger adversaries that are allowed to disobey protocol. Dandleion++ is lightweight, scalable, and completely interoperable with the existing Bitcoin network.We evaluate it through experiments on Bitcoin's mainnet (i.e., the live Bitcoin network) to demonstrate its interoperability and low broadcast latency overhead.
Practical Bounds on Optimal Caching with Variable Object Sizes
Authors: Berger Daniel S. , Beckmann Nathan , Harchol-Balter Mor
Published: January 2019

Many recent caching systems aim to improve miss ratios, but there is no good sense among practitioners of how much further miss ratios can be improved. In other words, should the systems community continue working on this problem? Currently, there is no principled answer to this question. In practice, object sizes often vary by several orders of magnitude, where computing the optimal miss ratio (OPT) is known to be NP-hard. The few known results on caching with variable object sizes provide very weak bounds and are impractical to compute on traces of realistic length. We propose a new method to compute upper and lower bounds on OPT. Our key insight is to represent caching as a min-cost flow problem, hence we call our method the flow-based offline optimal (FOO). We prove that, under simple independence assumptions, FOO's bounds become tight as the number of objects goes to infinity. Indeed, FOO's error over 10M requests of production CDN and storage traces is negligible: at most 0.3%. FOO thus reveals, for the first time, the limits of caching with variable object sizes. While FOO is very accurate, it is computationally impractical on traces with hundreds of millions of requests. We therefore extend FOO to obtain more efficient bounds on OPT, which we call practical flow-based offline optimal (PFOO). We evaluate PFOO on several full production traces and use it to compare OPT to prior online policies. This analysis shows that current caching systems are in fact still far from optimal, suffering 11-43% more cache misses than OPT, whereas the best prior offline bounds suggest that there is essentially no room for improvement.
An Optimal Randomized Online Algorithm for QoS Buffer Management
Authors: Yang Lin , Wong Wing Shing , Hajiesmaili Mohammad H.
Published: January 2019

The QoS buffer management problem, with significant and diverse computer applications, e.g., in online cloud resource allocation problems, is a classic online admission control problem in the presence of resource constraints. In its basic setting, packets with different values, arrive in online fashion to a switching node with limited buffer size. Then, the switch needs to make an immediate decision to either admit or reject the incoming packet based on the value of the packet and its buffer availability. The objective is to maximize the cumulative profit of the admitted packets, while respecting the buffer constraint. Even though the QoS buffer management problem was proposed more than a decade ago, no optimal online solution has been proposed in the literature. This paper proposes an optimal randomized online algorithm for this problem.
Minimizing Queue Length Regret Under Adversarial Network Models
Authors: Liang Qingkai , Modiano Eytan
Published: January 2019

Stochastic models have been dominant in network optimization theory for over two decades, due to their analytical tractability. However, these models fail to capture non-stationary or even adversarial network dynamics which are of increasing importance for modeling the behavior of networks under malicious attacks or characterizing short-term transient behavior. In this paper, we focus on minimizing queue length regret under adversarial network models, which measures the finite-time queue length difference between a causal policy and an "oracle" that knows the future. Two adversarial network models are developed to characterize the adversary's behavior. We provide lower bounds on queue length regret under these adversary models and analyze the performance of two control policies (i.e., the MaxWeight policy and the Tracking Algorithm). We further characterize the stability region under adversarial network models, and show that both the MaxWeight policy and the Tracking Algorithm are throughput-optimal even in adversarial settings.