bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shaping dental contract reform: a clinical and cost-effective analysis of incentive-driven commissioning for improved oral health in primary dental care
Authors: Hulme C , Robinson P G , Saloniki E C , Vinall-Collier K , Baxter P D , Douglas G , Gibson B , Godson J H , Meads D , Pavitt S H
Published: September 2016

Objective

To evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a new blended dental contract incentivising improved oral health compared with a traditional dental contract based on units of dental activity (UDAs).

Design

Non-randomised controlled study.

Setting

Six UK primary care dental practices, three working under a new blended dental contract; three matched practices under a traditional contract.

Participants

550 new adult patients.

Interventions

A new blended/incentive-driven primary care dentistry contract and service delivery model versus the traditional contract based on UDAs.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcome was as follows: percentage of sites with gingival bleeding on probing. Secondary outcomes were as follows: extracted and filled teeth (%), caries (International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS)), oral health-related quality of life (Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14)). Incremental cost-effective ratios used OHIP-14 and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) derived from the EQ-5D-3L.

Results

At 24 months, 291/550 (53%) patients returned for final assessment; those lost to follow-up attended 6.46 appointments on average (SD 4.80). The primary outcome favoured patients in the blended contract group. Extractions and fillings were more frequent in this group. Blended contracts were financially attractive for the dental provider but carried a higher cost for the service commissioner. Differences in generic health-related quality of life were negligible. Positive changes over time in oral health-related quality of life in both groups were statistically significant.

Conclusions

This is the first UK study to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a blended contract in primary care dentistry. Although the primary outcome favoured the blended contract, the results are limited because 47% patients did not attend at 24 months. This is consistent with 39% of adults not being regular attenders and 27% only visiting their dentist when they have a problem. Promotion of appropriate attendance, especially among those with high need, necessitates being factored into recruitment strategies of future studies.
High prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in patients with aortic dissection or aneurysm: feasibility of extended aorta CT angiography with involvement of intracranial arteries
Authors: Lee Dahye , Ahn Sung Jun , Cho Eun-Suk , Kim Yong Bae , Song Suk-Won , Jung Woo Sang , Suh Sang Hyun
Published: September 2016

Introduction

Previous studies have suggested a higher prevalence of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in patients with aortic aneurysms (AAs).

Objective

To carry out a preliminary study to evaluate the prevalence of IAs in these patients and the diagnostic feasibility of extended aorta CT angiography (CTA), including intracranial arteries as well as the aorta.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed all patients with a clinical diagnosis of AA or aortic dissection (AD) who had undergone aorta CTA as well as MR angiography, CTA, and/or DSA of the brain between 2009 and 2014. Since 2012, the extended aorta CTA protocol has been applied in these patients. Characteristics of IAs were classified with baseline clinical data. For quantitative and qualitative assessment by two independent raters, brain images obtained by extended aorta CTA and brain CTA were compared. The radiation dose of the two aorta protocols was compared.

Results

The prevalence of IA was 22.2% (35/158). All IAs were detected by extended aorta CTA, except one small aneurysm (<3 mm). The mean vascular attenuation value between brain images showed no difference (p=0.83), but the contrast-to-noise ratio was significantly lower in extended aorta CTA (p<0.001). In qualitative assessment, the interobserver agreement was substantial (k=0.79). For the radiation dose, the dose–length product of the extended aorta CTA increased with increment of the scan range (p=0.048).

Conclusions

With a high prevalence of IAs in patients with ADs or AAs, extended aorta CTA could be used to evaluate aorta disease and IA in a single session. However, further prospective studies are needed to prove efficacy and safety of the extended aorta CTA protocol in patients with AAs or ADs.
Genetic screening and mutation identification in a rare canine breed, the ceský fousek
Authors: Shaffer Lisa G , Ramirez Christina J , Sundin Kyle , Connell Laurie B , Ballif Blake C
Published: September 2016

Identification of genetic mutations causing disease is helpful in breeding programmes aimed at enhancing the qualities of a breed. The ceský fousek (CF), also known as the Bohemian wirehaired pointing griffon, is a versatile hunting dog that dates back to the 14th century. Because no genetic mutations are known in this breed, the authors screened 17 CFs for 148 disease‐associated mutations known to occur in domestic dogs. The authors identified three carriers of the common mutation in SOD1, associated with degenerative myelopathy (DM) and one carrier with a mutation in MLPH, associated with colour dilution alopecia and black hair follicular dysplasia. An additional 13 CF dogs were screened to identify additional carriers of DM. This information can be used to test CF before breeding to improve the health of the breed and to avoid producing affected dogs. This study demonstrates the usefulness of genetic screening in dogs, particularly those of rare breeds.
Seedling recruitment in subalpine grassland forbs: Predicting field regeneration behaviour from lab germination responses
Authors: Vandvik Vigdis , Elven Reidar , Töpper Joachim
Published: September 2016

Environmental cueing that restricts seed germination to times and places where mortality risk is relatively low may have considerable selective advantage. The predictive power of lab germination responses for field regeneration behaviour is rarely tested. We screened 11 alpine grassland forbs for germination behaviour predictive of microsite and seasonal selectivity, and seed carry-over across years. The predictions were tested in a field experiment. Germination in the lab ranged from 0.05% to 67.9%, and was affected by light (5 species), temperature (6 species), fluctuating temperatures (4 species), moist chilling prior to germination (cold-stratification) (6 species), and dormancy-breaking by means of gibberellic acid (8 species). Seedling emergence in the field varied from 0.1% to 14.1%, and increased in low-competition microsites (bare-ground gaps and cut vegetation; 7 species), and showed seasonal timing (1 species in autumn and 1 species in spring), and seed carry-over across years (7 species). Lab germination responses successfully predicted microsite selectivity in the field and to some extent seed carry-over across years but not seasonal timing of germination. Gap-detecting species were generally small-seeded, low-growing, and found in unproductive habitats. Larger-seeded species germinated in all of the microsites but experienced increased mortality in high-competition microsites. Seed carry-over across years was lower for alpine specialists than for more widely-distributed species.
Permineralized infructescence from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation, Upper Cretaceous, Coahuila, Mexico
Authors: Cevallos-Ferriz Sergio R.S. , Vázquez-Rueda Mar-Allesha
Published: September 2016

Permineralized infructescences are described from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation, Coahuila, Mexico. Morphological and anatomical observations of 584 infructescences support the identification and reconstruction of an infructescence, with fruit developed as nutlets. The fruit are each surrounded by bracts, and have a persistent style and stigma. They comprise a woody exocarp composed of macrosclereids, and mesocarp and endocarp with layers of brachysclereids. The seeds are fusiform with a thin seed coat. Seeds contain a distal hollow chamber, probably involved in dispersal, and an embryo with two cotyledons with probable helobial endosperm. The fruit and seed characters of the fossil do not correspond with an extant genus or family, thus, a new genus and species is proposed, Patocarpus coahuilensis gen. et sp. nov. Cevallos-Ferriz and Vázquez-Rueda, and is interpreted to be an extinct member of Proteales.
A systematic investigation of the gap in various Barabási–Albert and Erdös–Rényi networks
Authors: Sumour Muneer A. , Lima F. W. S.
Published: September 2016

On Barabási–Albert networks (BA) and variations as well as on Erdös–Rényi (ER) random graphs, we study the occurrence of a gap in the neighbor numbers [Formula: see text] versus node index [Formula: see text] (with [Formula: see text]) at [Formula: see text], 4, 6, 10, 50, 100 and 150 and with up to [Formula: see text] nodes. Here, we call “gap” a jump in the neighbor numbers [Formula: see text] when [Formula: see text] equals the initial number [Formula: see text] of neighbors; [Formula: see text] is also the number of neighbors randomly selected by a newly added node. The size of the gap depends on the value of [Formula: see text] and causes a deformation in the structure [Formula: see text] of the networks studied here. We give a systematic investigation of the gap in all types of BA networks known to us, and only the undirected BA (UBA) network and the ER graphs show no gap for [Formula: see text].
The effect of spherical metallic nanoparticles on electromagnetically induced transparency in spherical quantum dots
Authors: Asgharinejad A. , Askari H. R.
Published: September 2016

In this paper, electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) is investigated in a GaAs spherical quantum dot (SQD) with central potential in presence of spherical metallic nanoparticle (SMNP). Solving the Schrödinger equation in effective mass, eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of SQD are obtained. By using the obtained eigenfunctions and eigenvalues, the susceptibility of SQD is found. In addition, dependence of EIT on radius of SQD and SMNP, distance between SMNP and SQD and Rabi and probe frequencies are investigated.
The Design of Fifth-Order Butterworth Lowpass Log-Domain Filter for Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Receiver Using Signal Flow Graph Method
Authors: Gul Tuba Nur , Kircay Ali
Published: September 2016

In this study, a fifth-order lowpass log-domain Butterworth filter, which is appropriate for Bluetooth/Wi-Fi receiver, is designed with signal flow graph approach. The filter is realized by using a unique translinear integrator circuit. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modes are obtained without changing the circuit configuration. To change the mode of the filter, it is needed to change the cutoff frequency of the filter that can be electronically tuned by adjusting the external currents. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth receivers have 6[Formula: see text]MHz and 600[Formula: see text]kHz cutoff frequencies, respectively. Only BJTs and grounded capacitors were utilized to achieve the desired circuit. Lowpass log-domain Butterworth filter was simulated by using SPICE simulation program. A validated BJT and idealized BJT models are used to obtain simulation results confirming the theoretical analysis.
New parities and coverings over free knots
Authors: Manturov Vassily Olegovich
Published: September 2016

In the present paper, we develop the parity theory invented in [V. O. Manturov, Mathematics 201(5) (2010) 693733]; we construct new parities for two-component (virtual and free) links. New parities significantly depend on geometrical properties of diagrams; in particular, they are mutation-sensitive. New parities can be used practically in all problems, where parities were previously applied.
A note on the OU sequences of a 2-bridge knot
Authors: Funahashi Y. , Nakanishi Y. , Satoh S.
Published: September 2016

An OU sequence is a cyclically ordered sequence in symbols [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] such that the number of [Formula: see text]’s is equal to that of [Formula: see text]’s. Every knot diagram defines an O’U sequence by reading [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at over- and under-crossings, respectively, appeared along the diagram. In this note, we determine the OU sequences for a [Formula: see text]-bridge knot arising from its diagrams with two over-bridges.
INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF SILVER THIN FILMS DEPOSITED BY DC MAGNETRON SPUTTERING
Authors: WANG LINWEN , LI LING , CHEN WEI-DONG
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we studied the surface morphology of silver (Ag) thin films deposited on glass substrate by using the DC magnetron sputtering with various power conditions at room temperature. The surface morphology, the optical and electrical properties were measured by AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy), UV–Vis Spectrophotometer (Lambda 950), and the four-probe method (RTS-9, Four Probes Technology). The effect of the sputtering power on the root-mean-square (RMS) surface roughness of Ag thin films was analyzed. The experiment results showed that the RMS value was lowest in the range from 60[Formula: see text]W to 80[Formula: see text]W. At the same time, the effect of the thickness on optical transmittance and sheet resistance was also investigated. We found the rough surface was prejudiced to inducing sheet resistance and enhancing the optical transmittance when the thickness of Ag thin films was thin. In addition, the excitation of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) was due to Ag nanoparticles (NPs) based on the analysis of the FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) simulation.
Learning rates of regression with q-norm loss and threshold
Authors: Hu Ting , Yao Yuan
Published: September 2016

This paper studies some robust regression problems associated with the [Formula: see text]-norm loss ([Formula: see text]) and the [Formula: see text]-insensitive [Formula: see text]-norm loss in the reproducing kernel Hilbert space. We establish a variance-expectation bound under a priori noise condition on the conditional distribution, which is the key technique to measure the error bound. Explicit learning rates will be given under the approximation ability assumptions on the reproducing kernel Hilbert space.
DFT study of N-Heterocyclic Olefins-catalyzed carboxylative cyclization of CO2with alkynol: A CO2-promoted hydrogen abstraction mechanism
Authors: Ye Benfei , Yang Longhua , Sun Jianqi , Luo Chao , Wang Hongming
Published: September 2016

DFT calculations have been carried out to study the detailed mechanisms of the carboxylative cyclization reaction between propargylic alcohols and CO2catalyzed by N-Heterocyclic Olefins (NHO), as well as the molecular orbital theory. Results indicated that this type of reaction prefers a three steps mechanism controlled by free NHO rather than to be catalyzed by the NHO–CO2adducts. For the first step, CO2promotes the hydrogen transfer from alkynol to NHO to form the carboxylate, in which propargylic alcohols was deprotonated by the free NHO acted as the catalyst precursor to form the alkynol anion; meanwhile, alkynol anion captures carbon dioxide to form the carboxylate. We found this CO2promoting Hydrogen abstraction mechanism would decrease the reaction energy barrier and increase releasing heat of this reaction. Secondly, a five-membered-ring intermediate is easily formed to generate carboxylate via an intramolecular ring-closing reaction. Finally, the production generated through a protonating process.
More about the instanton/soliton/kink correspondence
Authors: Addazi Andrea
Published: September 2016

We demonstrate that all gauge instantons in a [Formula: see text] Yang–Mills theory, with generic topological vacuum charge [Formula: see text], correspond to soliton solutions and kink scalar fields in [Formula: see text] space-time.
Counterexamples, covering systems, and zero-one laws for inhomogeneous approximation
Authors: Ramírez Felipe A.
Published: September 2016

We develop the inhomogeneous counterpart to some key aspects of the story of the Duffin–Schaeffer Conjecture (1941). Specifically, we construct counterexamples to a number of candidates for a sans-monotonicity version of Szüsz’s inhomogeneous (1958) version of Khintchine’s Theorem (1924). For example, given any real sequence [Formula: see text], we build a divergent series of non-negative reals [Formula: see text] such that for any [Formula: see text], almost no real number is inhomogeneously [Formula: see text]-approximable with inhomogeneous parameter [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, given any second sequence [Formula: see text] not intersecting the rational span of [Formula: see text], and assuming a dynamical version of Erdős’ Covering Systems Conjecture (1950), we can ensure that almost every real number is inhomogeneously [Formula: see text]-approximable with any inhomogeneous parameter [Formula: see text]. Next, we prove a positive result that is near optimal in view of the limitations that our counterexamples impose. This leads to a discussion of natural analogues of the Duffin–Schaeffer Conjecture and Duffin–Schaeffer Theorem (1941) in the inhomogeneous setting. As a step toward these, we prove versions of Gallagher’s Zero-One Law (1961) for inhomogeneous approximation by reduced fractions.
Period polynomial relations of binomial coefficients and binomial realization of formal double zeta space
Authors: Ma Ding
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we give a realization of the formal double zeta space by using binomial coefficients. Along with the results in [Period polynomial relations between formal double zeta values of odd weight, Math. Ann. 365 (2016) 345–362], this gives us two families of period polynomial relations among binomial coefficients. We also give another family of period polynomial relations among binomial coefficients which cannot be obtained from our binomial realization. At the end, some higher depth observation is provided.
Facile Synthesis, Characterization, Nanocrystal Growth and Photoluminescence Properties of GeS Nanowires
Authors: Lai Zhiqiang , Guo Yanjie , Yang Peihui
Published: September 2016

As a IV–VI semiconductor, GeS is winning wide attention for its excellent properties. However, few examples of GeS nanostructures, especially those with photoluminescence (PL) properties, have been reported. After the optimization of reaction conditions, including time and temperature, the GeS nanowires with PL properties are synthesized a green, facile hydrothermal route without using any toxic reagent. These materials are characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), etc. With the average diameter of [Formula: see text]200[Formula: see text]nm and the length ranging from 1–25[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m, the resulting GeS nanowires have relatively smooth surface and round top, and are oriented along [100] facet. The growth mechanism of GeS nanowires is investigated, and the understanding of their growth mechanism could provide helpful guidance for designing experimental conditions rationally to synthesize nanowires. Due to their special nanostructure, these nanowires possess very good fluorescent properties, which indicates that these nanowires have potential to apply in future optical nanodevices.
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and mechanical stimulation negatively regulate the transition of airway smooth muscle tissues to a synthetic phenotype
Authors: Wu Yidi , Huang Youliang , Gunst Susan J.
Published: September 2016

The effects of mechanical forces and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in regulating the inflammatory responses of airway smooth muscle (ASM) tissues to stimulation with interleukin (IL)-13 were investigated. Canine tracheal tissues were subjected to different mechanical loads in vitro, and the effects of mechanical load on eotaxin secretion and inflammatory signaling pathways in response to IL-13 were determined. Eotaxin secretion by tissues in response to IL-13 was significantly inhibited in muscles maintained at a higher (+) load compared with those at a lower (−) load as assessed by ELISA, and Akt activation was also reduced in the higher (+) loaded tissues. Conversely the (+) mechanical load increased activation of the focal adhesion proteins FAK and paxillin in the tissues. The role of FAK in regulating the mechanosensitive responses was assessed by overexpressing FAK-related nonkinase in the tissues, by expressing the FAK kinase-dead mutant FAK Y397F, or by treating tissues with the FAK inhibitor PF-573228. FAK inactivation potentiated Akt activity and increased eotaxin secretion in response to IL-13. FAK inhibition also suppressed the mechanosensitivity of Akt activation and eotaxin secretion. In addition, FAK inactivation suppressed smooth muscle myosin heavy chain expression induced by the higher (+) mechanical load. The results demonstrate that the imposition of a higher mechanical load on airway smooth muscle stimulates FAK activation, which promotes the expression of the differentiated contractile phenotype and suppresses the synthetic phenotype and the inflammatory responses of the muscle tissue.
Effects of Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-Transgenic Soybean on Phosphatase Activities and Rhizospheric Bacterial Community of the Saline-Alkali Soil
Authors: Nie Ying , Wang Da-qing , Zhao Guang , Yu Song , Wang Hong-yan
Published: September 2016

The development of transgenic soybean has produced numerous economic benefits; however the potential impact of root exudates upon soil ecological systems and rhizospheric soil microbial diversity has also received intensive attention. In the present study, the influence of saline-alkali tolerant transgenic soybean of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase on bacterial community structure and soil phosphatase during growth stages was investigated. The results showed that, compared with nontransgenic soybean as a control, the rhizospheric soil pH of transgenic soybean significantly decreased at the seedling stage. Compared to HN35, organic P content was 13.5% and 25.4% greater at the pod-filling stage and maturity, respectively. The acid phosphatase activity of SRTS was significantly better than HN35 by 12.74% at seedling, 14.03% at flowering, and 59.29% at podding, while alkaline phosphatase achieved maximum activity in the flowering stage and was markedly lower than HN35 by 13.25% at pod-filling. The 454 pyrosequencing technique was employed to investigate bacterial diversity, with a total of 25,499 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) obtained from the 10 samples. Notably, the effect of SRTS on microbial richness and diversity of rhizospheric soil was marked at the stage of podding and pod-filling. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla among all samples. Compared with HN35, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria was lower by 2.01%, 2.06%, and 5.28% at the stage of seedling, at pod-bearing, and at maturity. In genus level, the relative abundance of Gp6,Sphingomonassp., and GP4 was significantly inhibited by SRTS at the stage of pod-bearing and pod-filling.
Antioxidant and Vasodilator Activity of Ugni molinae Turcz. (Murtilla) and Its Modulatory Mechanism in Hypotensive Response
Authors: Jofré Ignacio , Pezoa Cesar , Cuevas Magdalena , Scheuermann Erick , Freires Irlan Almeida , Rosalen Pedro Luiz , Alencar Severino Matias de , Romero Fernando
Published: September 2016

Hypertension is a systemic condition with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide, which poses an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we demonstrated the antioxidant and vasodilator activity of Ugni molinae Turcz. (Murtilla) fruit, a berry native to Chile and proposed models to explain its modulatory mechanism in hypotensive response. Murtilla fruits were cultivated in a germplasm bank and submitted to chemical and biological analyses. The phenolic compounds gallic acid, Catechin, Quercetin‐3‐β‐D‐glucoside, Myricetin, Quercetin, and Kaempferol were identified. Murtilla extract did not generate toxic effects on human endothelial cells and had significant antioxidant activity against ROS production, lipid peroxidation, and superoxide anion production. Furthermore, it showed dose‐dependent vasodilator activity in aortic rings in the presence of endothelium, whose hypotensive mechanism is partially mediated by nitric oxide synthase/guanylate cyclase and large‐conductance calcium‐dependent potassium channels. Murtilla fruits might potentially have beneficial effects on the management of cardiovascular diseases.
A Case of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia in a Patient with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Authors: Eginli Ariana N. , Bagayoko Courtney W. , McMichael Amy J.
Published: September 2016

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a form of scarring hair loss that is characterized by hair follicle destruction in a fronto-temporo-parietal distribution. Its etiology is unknown; however, most authors presently favor an immune pathogenesis. Associated autoimmune connective tissue diseases have been reported in patients with FFA. We present a case of FFA in a woman with primary biliary cirrhosis and polymyalgia rheumatica, suggesting an association between these clinical entities and supporting a potential autoimmune etiology of FFA.
Aging‐Related Decline of Glutathione Peroxidase 3 and Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Pastori Daniele , Pignatelli Pasquale , Farcomeni Alessio , Menichelli Danilo , Nocella Cristina , Carnevale Roberto , Violi Francesco
Published: September 2016

Background

Experimental studies demonstrated that glutathione peroxidase 3 (
GP
x3), an antioxidant enzyme that catabolizes hydrogen peroxide, protects against thrombosis. Little is known about its role in cardiovascular disease.

Methods and Results

A prospective cohort study was conducted in 909 atrial fibrillation patients. Serum activities of
GP
x3, superoxide dismutase (
SOD
), and catalase were measured at baseline to assess the risk of cardiovascular events during a mean follow‐up of 43.4 months (3291 person‐years). Serum Nox2 and urinary excretion of 11‐deydro‐thromboxane B
2
were also measured. During follow‐up 160 cardiovascular events occurred (4.9%/year). Significantly lower values of
GP
x3 (
P
<0.001) and
SOD
(
P
=0.037) were detected in patients with, compared to those without, cardiovascular events. A lower survival rate was observed in patients with
GP
x3 (
P
<0.001) and
SOD
(
P
=0.010) activities below the median, as compared to those above. In a fully adjusted Cox regression model,
GP
x3 was the only antioxidant enzyme predictor of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio 0.647, 95% confidence interval 0.524‐0.798,
P
<0.001).
GP
x3 was inversely associated with urinary 11‐dehydro‐thromboxane B
2
(B −0.337,
P
<0.001) and serum Nox2 (B: −0.423,
P
<0.001).
GP
x3 activity progressively decreased with decades of age (
P
<0.001), with a progressive reduction in people aged ≥70 years.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that a low antioxidant status, as depicted by reduced levels of
GP
x3, increases the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation. The age‐related decline of
GP
x3 may represent a mechanism for the enhanced cardiovascular risk in the elderly population.
Ostpolitik: Transformation through Communication and the Quest for Peaceful Change
Authors: Niedhart Gottfried
Published: September 2016

Ostpolitik during the era of Willy Brandt signaled a new departure in West German foreign policy. At first a latecomer in European détente, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) became its pacemaker. With respect to both security matters and economic relations, the FRG emerged as the main partner of the Soviet Union in Europe. Starting from the international context, the article analyzes the dynamic that emanated from the formula Wandel durch Annäherung (change through rapprochement). The focus is on (1) perceptions and short-term objectives, (2) underlying assumptions and expectations, and (3) the achievements of Ostpolitik. East-West relations were shaped by newly introduced methods of communication that opened avenues for détente and peaceful change. The experience of communicative actions led to a constellation of antagonistic cooperation in Europe. The East-West conflict continued, but conflict behavior had changed for good.
The Impact of the German Question on Polish Attitudes toward CSCE, 1964–1975
Authors: Jarząbek Wanda
Published: September 2016

In Polish political thought and foreign policy during the four-plus decades of Communist rule in Poland, the German question played a central role. Many aspects of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) were connected with the German question, but it would be a simplification to construe the Polish regime's interest in the conference only in the context of the German problem. Polish leaders saw CSCE also as a chance for introducing changes in East-West relations and for extending Poland's leeway for maneuver in international relations. This article shows how Polish Communist leaders thought about these issues and traces the diplomatic activity aimed at promoting the Polish point of view and securing the country's (and regime’s) priorities.
Imaginary Gables: The Visual Culture of Dutch Architecture in the Indies
Authors: Kehoe Marsely L.
Published: September 2016

With their bold foray into global exploration and trade, the Dutch, through the East and West India companies, established centralized trading entrepôts and capitals in Batavia on Java and Willemstad on Curaçao. Both of these cities were built following Dutch urban planning principles and were filled with Dutch-styled buildings that reflected the architecture at home, yet were hybridized as they drew on local materials and forms, adapting to local conditions and responding to the ethnic diversity of the populations. In print, however, these cities were pictured as full of Dutch step- and spout-gabled houses, seemingly direct transplants from Amsterdam. This paper considers vernacular buildings in these cities, alongside visual representations of these cities in maps and printed travel accounts, primarily those of Johan Nieuhof, provoking a consideration of the role of print culture in cultivating a visual culture of imaginary Dutch gables for European viewers and readers.
On the Nature and Future of Partnerships in the Practice of International Organizations
Authors: Blokker Niels
Published: September 2016

This contribution offers a brief analysis of partnerships among international institutions. It shows that there is a wide variety of forms of cooperation between international organizations and external entities in the current practice of international organizations. No single concept or term has emerged for such forms of cooperation. Some of these are called partnerships, others carry different names. It is argued that the need for international organizations to cooperate with external entities is likely to stay, that it may be expected that more partnerships—or whatever other name is used—will be established in the future, and that this is in principle a positive development.
The Brumberg Sisters: The Fairy Grandmothers of Soviet Animation
Authors: Balakirsky Katz Maya
Published: September 2016

The Jewish Brumberg sisters, known as the “grandmothers of Soviet animation,” established their own directors’ group at the newly-formed Soyuzmultfilm through which they sheltered and nurtured an underemployed artistic milieu. A case study of the personal, professional, and creative biographies of Valentina and Zinaida Brumberg reveals how they used their directors’ group as a safe haven for Moscow’s disenfranchised intellectual community after the closing of avant-garde theaters in the 1930s and 1940s.
If you Break it, do you own it?
Authors: Shelton Dinah , Cutting Isabelle
Published: September 2016

This article examines the extent to which international legal obligations aimed at protecting the environment apply to military activities in peacetime and during armed conflict. The discussion draws on international environmental law, human rights law, the law of armed conflict, and the law of State responsibility in evaluating the extent to which States have a duty to prevent or mitigate environmental harm and remediate or compensate for any such damage caused by their military activities. The article also examines international law on liability for the injurious consequences of lawful activities, to assess whether this equitable doctrine supports shifting the clean-up costs of environmental harm to the acting State even when there is no breach of international law. The article concludes that international law requires measures be taken to prevent environmental harm and could support a claim for remediation or compensation where norms of international law have been breached. It also suggests the need to develop specific rules in peace treaties and status of forces or bases agreements, to address the consequences of environmental harm resulting from military activities.
Risk and Compliance with Normative Frameworks Relating to Disaster Management
Authors: McDermott Ronan , Gibbons Patrick
Published: September 2016

This article adopts a comparative socio-legal approach in exploring the relationship between disaster risk and compliance with normative frameworks concerning disaster management. Risk colonisation is the term given to the phenomenon whereby societal risks such as those posed by disasters create further risks, institutional in nature, to disaster management systems themselves. Disaster management systems are exposed to institutional risks, including those that arise from non-compliance with the range of laws and guidelines relating to disaster management developed in recent years. Grounded in exploratory case studies drawn from Indonesia and Ireland, it is suggested that the consequences of this phenomenon is that, in circumstances in which disaster risk is perceived to be high, patterns of compliance with regulatory frameworks are likely to be characterised by recourse to scientific expertise. Blame avoidance and defensive compliance strategies are also likely to occur. Conversely, in circumstances in which disaster risk is perceived to be relatively low, compliance patterns are likely to be ad hoc in nature and allow for significant governmental discretion. The implications of such consequences for the normative underpinning of disaster management are addressed.
Challenges of Regulating Non-International Armed Conflicts – an Examination of Ongoing Trends in South Sudan’s Civil War
Authors: Mulukwat Kuyang Harriet Logo
Published: September 2016

The conflict in South Sudan became the only viable violent way of expressing underlying discontentment with the style of governance adopted by the incumbent government and unresolved issues from the 1991 split which occurred when Dr. Riak Machar, one of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (splm/a) leaders at the time, now turned rebel leader, fell out with Dr. John Garang, the chairman of the splm/a. The split, notably referred to as the “Nassir split”, led communities from both the Dinka and Nuer tribes to turn against each other. The referendum, a consequence of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (cpa) between the government in Khartoum, Sudan, and the splm/a, led to an overwhelming vote for secession, later paving way for the subsequent independence of South Sudan in 2011. The existing tension took on a violent expression. The article analyses occurrences the splm/a command pursued on a secessionist agenda in the 21 years of armed struggle and the attainment of independence on the 9 July 2011. It further denotes the insurgents’ pursuit of armed confrontation and the government’s response to the belligerents’ actions, while providing a genesis of the belligerence and laws governing non–international armed conflicts.
Atmospheric Conditions during the Arctic Clouds in Summer Experiment (ACSE): Contrasting Open Water and Sea Ice Surfaces during Melt and Freeze-Up Seasons
Authors: Sotiropoulou Georgia , Tjernström Michael , Sedlar Joseph , Achtert Peggy , Brooks Barbara J. , Brooks Ian M. , Persson P. Ola G. , Prytherch John , Salisbury Dominic J. , Shupe Matthew D. , Johnston Paul E. , Wolfe Dan
Published: September 2016

The Arctic Clouds in Summer Experiment (ACSE) was conducted during summer and early autumn 2014, providing a detailed view of the seasonal transition from ice melt into freeze-up. Measurements were taken over both ice-free and ice-covered surfaces near the ice edge, offering insight into the role of the surface state in shaping the atmospheric conditions. The initiation of the autumn freeze-up was related to a change in air mass, rather than to changes in solar radiation alone; the lower atmosphere cooled abruptly, leading to a surface heat loss. During melt season, strong surface inversions persisted over the ice, while elevated inversions were more frequent over open water. These differences disappeared during autumn freeze-up, when elevated inversions persisted over both ice-free and ice-covered conditions. These results are in contrast to previous studies that found a well-mixed boundary layer persisting in summer and an increased frequency of surface-based inversions in autumn, suggesting that knowledge derived from measurements taken within the pan-Arctic area and on the central ice pack does not necessarily apply closer to the ice edge. This study offers an insight into the atmospheric processes that occur during a crucial period of the year; understanding and accurately modeling these processes is essential for the improvement of ice-extent predictions and future Arctic climate projections.
Validation of a Water Vapor Micropulse Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL)
Authors: Weckwerth Tammy M. , Weber Kristy J. , Turner David D. , Spuler Scott M.
Published: September 2016

A water vapor micropulse differential absorption lidar (DIAL) instrument was developed collaboratively by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Montana State University (MSU). This innovative, eye-safe, low-power, diode-laser-based system has demonstrated the ability to obtain unattended continuous observations in both day and night. Data comparisons with well-established water vapor observing systems, including radiosondes, Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometers (AERIs), microwave radiometer profilers (MWRPs), and ground-based global positioning system (GPS) receivers, show excellent agreement. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient for the DIAL and radiosondes is consistently greater than 0.6 from 300 m up to 4.5 km AGL at night and up to 3.5 km AGL during the day. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient for the DIAL and AERI is greater than 0.6 from 300 m up to 2.25 km at night and from 300 m up to 2.0 km during the day. Further comparison with the continuously operating GPS instrumentation illustrates consistent temporal trends when integrating the DIAL measurements up to 6 km AGL.
Ties to the Rest: Autocratic Linkages and Regime Survival
Authors: Tansey Oisín , Koehler Kevin , Schmotz Alexander
Published: September 2016

The relationship between international linkages and the nature and survival of political regimes has gained increasing attention in recent years, but remains one that is poorly understood. In this article, we make three central contributions to our understanding of international linkage politics and autocratic regime survival. First, we introduce and develop the concept of “autocratic linkage,” and highlight its importance for understanding the international politics of autocratic survival. Second, we use event history analysis to demonstrate that autocratic linkage has a systematic effect on the duration of authoritarian regimes. Finally, we complement our quantitative analysis with a focused comparison of autocratic linkage politics in the Middle East. We show that variation in Saudi Arabian support for autocratic incumbents in the wake of the Arab Spring protests can be explained in significant part by variation in linkage relationships.
Appraising Risk for Intimate Partner Violence in a Police Context
Authors: Jung Sandy , Buro Karen
Published: September 2016

This study examines the predictive accuracy of three risk assessment approaches for intimate partner violence (IPV) among a sample of 246 male perpetrators who were charged for offenses against their intimate partners. The sample was followed up for an average of 3.3 years, and any new general, violent, and IPV charges and convictions were recorded. The Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) and a modified 14-item version of the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA) demonstrated large effects in their ability to predict any reoffending or any violent reoffending and moderate predictive accuracy for IPV offending behaviors. The regionally used approach, Family Violence Investigative Report (FVIR), showed good predictive validity for any future offending but poorly predicted any of the violent-specific recidivism outcomes. Results of the study show that the ODARA was significantly better at predicting violence risk over the FVIR, but paired comparisons did not reveal statistical differences with the SARA.
Effect of impregnated powder materials on surface integrity aspects of Inconel 625 during electrical discharge machining
Authors: Talla Gangadharudu , Gangopadhyay Soumya , Biswas CK
Published: September 2016

In recent times, nickel-based super alloys are widely utilized in aviation, processing, and marine industries owing to their supreme ability to retain the mechanical properties at elevated temperature in combination with remarkable resistance to corrosion. Some of the properties of these alloys such as low thermal conductivity, strain hardening tendency, chemical affinity, and presence of hard and abrasives phases in the microstructure render these materials very difficult-to-cut using conventional machining processes. In this work, an experimental setup was developed and integrated with the existing electrical discharge machining system for carrying out powder-mixed electrical discharge machining process for Inconel 625. The experiments were planned and conducted by varying five different variables, that is, powder concentration, peak current, pulse-on time, duty cycle, and gap voltage based on the central composite design of response surface methodology. Effects of these parameters along with powder concentration were investigated on various surface integrity aspects including surface morphology, surface roughness, surface microhardness, change in the composition of the machined surface, and residual stress. Results clearly indicated that addition of powder to dielectric has significantly improved surface integrity compared to pure dielectric. Among the powders used, silicon has resulted in highest microhardness, that is, almost 14% more than graphite. Lowest surface roughness (approximately 50% less than pure kerosene) and least residual stress were obtained using silicon powder (approximately 8% less than graphite-mixed dielectric). Relative content of nickel was reduced at the expense of Nb and Mo after addition of powders like aluminum and graphite in dielectric during electrical discharge machining.
Performances analysis of a novel load-sensing hydraulic system with overriding differential pressure control
Authors: Quanyi Hu , Hong Zhang , Shujun Tian , Xuxin Qin
Published: September 2016

The traditional load-sensing hydraulic system is an energy-saving fluid power transmission, which supply “on-demand” flow at a prescribed pressure margin greater than the highest load pressure of the system. In this paper, a novel load-sensing system that has a variable pressure margin through overriding differential pressure control via integrating an electro-proportional three-way type pressure reducing valve into the hydro-mechanical load-sensing valve is proposed. Also, a bond graph model taking into account the dynamic characteristics of load-sensing valve and load-sensing path is constructed, and three group experiments are performed to verify the validation of the model. Based on the bond graph model, a series of theoretical simulations are carried out to prove that the proposed Load-Sensing system enables a satisfactory balance between energy efficiency and rapid dynamic response over a wide range of operating conditions. In addition, due to overriding differential pressure control, mode selection and power limit regulation can also be achieved.
A Qualitative Analysis of Offenders’ Emotional Responses to Perpetrating Sexual Assault
Authors: Brennan Carolyn L. , Swartout Kevin M. , Cook Sarah L. , Parrott Dominic J.
Published: September 2016

The purpose of this study was to understand sexual assault perpetrators’ emotional responses to perpetration to facilitate treatment development and to better understand processes that may give rise to repeat perpetration. Sixty-one firsthand narratives of sexual assault perpetration, posted on Reddit.com , were analyzed using qualitative text analysis. The analysis revealed four primary emotional responses to perpetrating sexual assault: shame, guilt, depression, and anger. Each emotional response was associated with different contextual features that appeared in the narratives. Shame co-occurred with perpetrator alcohol use and consent confusion, guilt co-occurred with perpetrators’ stated self-growth, anger co-occurred with denial of responsibility and hostility toward women, and depressed affect co-occurred with social isolation following perpetration. The findings indicate certain emotional responses may be more adaptive than others for protecting against repeat perpetration. This research has important implications for the treatment of perpetrators and supports the idea that self-image and perceived social context may be important treatment targets.
A fast feature vector approach for revealing simplex and equi-correlation data patterns in reorderable matrices
Authors: Guimarães da Silva Celmar , Medina Bruno Figueiredo , Rodrigues da Silva Maressa , Hitoshi Kawakami Willian , Rocha Miguel Mechi Naves
Published: September 2016

Reorderable matrices may be used as support for tabular displays such as heatmaps. Matrix reordering algorithms provide an initial permutation of these matrices, which should help to reveal hidden patterns in the dataset in the visual structure. Some of these algorithms directly permute the data matrix, instead of its row- and column-proximity matrices. We present a data matrix reordering method ( feature vector-based sort – FVS), which reorders a data matrix aiming to reveal simplex and equi-correlation patterns. Our approach extracts feature vectors from a data matrix and uses them to calculate row and column permutations of the data matrix. We used FVS for reordering data matrices of distinct real-world scenarios, in which it revealed those patterns. Our experiments with synthetic matrices revealed that FVS is faster than other known matrix-reordering algorithms and produces results of approximately the same quality (in terms of stress function) when these patterns are hidden in the data matrix. We also present some real-world datasets reordered by our algorithm and discuss the patterns that it uncovers.