bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Gender, Cognitive Attributes and Personality on Willingness to Take Risks
Authors: Agnew Stephen , Harrison Neil
Published: January 2017

The aim of this research is to provide a further examination of the role gender plays as an influence on risk preferences. A combination of ordinary least squares (OLS) and logit regressions were carried out on data collected from 425 university students, including demographic and personality variables, along with GPA’s and CRT scores. This study found females reported lower levels of willingness to take risks than males. In an addition to the current literature, it was found that females also achieved lower scores on a cognitive reflection test (CRT). When separated by major, the gender gap was found to be the lowest for engineering and science students. None of CRT score, Maths GPA, or overall GPA were found to be correlated with risk willingness, suggesting societal conditioning as a possible cause of females being more risk averse than males. Personality variables along with gender were found to be correlated with willingness to take risk. These findings have implications for creating greater awareness of how females’ different risk preferences are generated and managed.
Development of the First Adult Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Center in Croatia under Emergency Circumstances
Authors: Kutleša Marko , Baršić Bruno
Published: January 2017

Introduction

We report on the challenges of establishing a successful adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) center in a developing country like Croatia under emergency conditions. We further introduce measures that would improve the outcome of patients treated with ECMO for respiratory failure at the national level.

Methods

100 consecutive adult patients treated with venovenous (VV) ECMO for acute respiratory failure were enrolled to the database prospectively from October 2009 until June 2016. A review of methodology in establishing an adult respiratory ECMO center is provided.

Results

7 years after the establishment of the first respiratory ECMO center in Croatia the hospital mortality was 44% and ECMO procedure survival was 71%. With this data, our results are comparable to an average extracorporeal life support organization (ELSO) center.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that a successful adult respiratory ECMO center can be established under emergency conditions even in less developed countries like Croatia. Today Croatia's respiratory ECMO network is insufficiently organized and the Ministry of Health should provide a comprehensive, national, ECMO network strategy. Currently, and contrary to the opinion of the world's leading experts, any hospital in Croatia is allowed to perform the ECMO procedure without any control or validation. Only if health-policy makers in Croatia reconsider this issue will we be able to provide the best care possible for respiratory ECMO patients at the national level.
Mannose Receptor as a Potential Biomarker for Gastric Cancer: A Pilot Study
Authors: Liu Deng-Rui , Guan Quan-Lin , Gao Ming-Tai , Jiang Lei , Kang Hong-Xia
Published: January 2017

Background

The mannose receptor is an immune adhesion molecule mainly expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells such as nonmature dendritic cells and macrophages. This study aimed to investigate mannose receptor expression and its predictive role in papillary gastric cancer patients.

Methods

The expression of the mannose receptor was measured in 120 samples of gastric cancer tissues and corresponding paracarcinoma tissues, by immunohistochemical and quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The relationships between mannose receptor expression and clinicopathological features of gastric cancer patients were analyzed.

Results

The expression rate of the mannose receptor in gastric cancer cells was 45.8% (54/120), significantly higher than that in the paracarcinoma tissue (20.0%, 36/120) (χ2 = 6.286, p = 0.012). High expression of the mannose receptor was closely related to tumor size, T stage, N stage and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage of gastric cancer (p<0.05). A Kaplan-Meier survival model indicated that the survival of patients in the high-expression mannose receptor group was significantly shorter than in the low-expression mannose receptor group (p<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that high mannose receptor expression was an independent predictor for the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

Conclusions

High mannose receptor expression indicates poor prognosis for gastric cancer patients. The mannose receptor may be an important molecular marker for gastric cancer prognosis.
Diabetes Mellitus Increases the Risk of Intrahepatic Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Surgical Resection
Authors: Choi Yunseon , Choi YoungKil , Choi Chang Soo , Lee Yun-Han
Published: January 2017

Aims and background

The relationship between cancer and metabolism has recently been receiving attention. We investigated the prognostic influence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with curative resection.

Methods and Study Design

The records of 58 patients who underwent curative resection for HCC pT1-2N0M0 between 2010 and 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Fourteen patients (24.1%) had diabetes mellitus at diagnosis. Local control (LC) was defined as time to recurrence in the liver.

Results

The median follow-up was 23.3 months. Relapses occurred in 20 patients (34.5%) during the follow-up period; 17 of them developed intrahepatic recurrence, which was associated with diabetes mellitus (p = 0.013) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels >500 ng/mL (p = 0.019). Overall relapses (n = 20) were related to T stage (p = 0.044), AFP level (p = 0.005), and diabetes (p = 0.044). The 3-year local control (intrahepatic control), disease-free survival, and overall survival rates were 56.7%, 50.5%, and 84.3%, respectively. LC was affected by diabetes mellitus (p = 0.046), Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging (p<0.001), Milan criteria for transplantation (p = 0.041), serosal invasion (p = 0.032), and microvascular invasion (p = 0.043). Diabetes was also associated with reduced LC in the subgroup with hepatitis B-related HCC (n = 44, p = 0.028).

Conclusions

Diabetes mellitus is correlated with intrahepatic HCC recurrence after surgery. Greater attention should be paid to managing patients with HCC and diabetes mellitus.
Intersectional Meditations: A Reply to Kathryn Gines and Shannon Sullivan
Authors: Mills Charles W.
Published: January 2017

In this article the author responds to the mini-symposium on his work provided by Kathryn Gines and Shannon Sullivan, both of whom focus on the issue of intersectionality. Gines's article looks at the treatment of race and gender in one of the chapters in Mills's book with Carole Pateman, Contract and Domination (2007). Her major criticism centers on what she sees as Mills's failure to recognize nonwhite men's patriarchal domination of nonwhite women. However, the present article claims that this criticism is simply a misreading of what Mills says in the chapter. Sullivan's article reviews the various stages in Mills's career path, with special attention to race and class. Her major criticism is that while nominally conceding intersectionality, Mills still holds on to the assumption that different variables (class, race, gender …) can be discretely singled out. In reply, this article argues that a recognition of intersectionality need not commit one to rejecting claims about the possible differential causal and explanatory significance of the intersecting variables.
Bodies of Crystal, Houses of Glass: Observing Reform and Improving Piety in the St. Katharinental Sister Book
Authors: Ayanna Amiri
Published: January 2017

This article examines the evolving modes of piety performed and written by cloistered women at the St. Katharinental Convent in Diessenhofen, Switzerland, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries in their St. Katharinental Sister Book, a collection of quasi-hagiographic vitae composed by the sisters themselves. The article argues that the changing ways the vitae exhibit and encourage piety evidence the effect of the fifteenth-century Observant reform on the cloister.
Limits to Trade Growth: Decomposing Manufacturing Trade
Authors: Aksoy M. Ataman , Ng Francis
Published: January 2017

This paper decomposes manufacturing import growth rates in 5 large industrial and 8 large developing countries and measures the relative contributions of domestic demand and market share changes for 1986/87, 1991/92, 1996/97, 2001/02, 2006/07 and 2011/12. Imports as a share of domestic value added has increased significantly over this period and account between 70 to 80 percent of import growth during this period. Exports from developing countries and especially China account for the bulk of this increase. China is an exception to this development and its import shares have not increased and have actually decreased during the last period. Finally future trade growth rates are going to decrease. We show that most of the early growth of trade was caused by trade liberalizations from almost closed economies and initial import shares were very low so that small changes led to high trade growth rates. Now that the market shares are already very high, it is almost impossible to replicate similar growth rates.
Economic Growth and Total Factor Productivity in Lebanon
Authors: Saad Wadad
Published: January 2017

This study investigates empirically the determinants of economic growth and total factor productivity in Lebanon over the period 1980-2014. To do so, we firstly estimate the total factor productivity in a growth accounting framework. Secondly, an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modeling approach has been applied to examine the relationship between economic growth and some macroeconomic variables such as foreign direct investment, openness, claims on private sector, and official development assistance. Then we consider modeling the effects of these macroeconomic determinants on TFP through an ARDL model. Findings of the regression analysis suggest the presence of a statistically significant relationship between economic growth and the variables involved in this study except for claims on private sector which appears to be insignificant. The results of TFP model show a significant relationship with claims on private sector and openness on one hand and insignificant link with the direct foreign investment and official development assistance on the other hand.
Investigating the Effects of Migrant Remittances on the Economic Growth of Cameroon
Authors: Ofeh Moses A. , Muandzevara Ali T.
Published: January 2017

Low and unsteady economic growth rates and strategies for fostering growth are major issues of concern for Cameroon. The paper attempted to investigate the effects of remittances on the economic growth of Cameroon. To achieve the objective for a clearer understanding of the dynamics of migrant remittances in relation to economic growth in Cameroon, the least squares method of multiples regression was exploited to analysze data collected from 1980 to 2013. The results revealed that migrant remittances to the tune of 1.5% positively but insignificantly explained economic growth in Cameroon.Further, consumption expenditure; government expenditure and exports were found to positively but significantly explain growth while investment expenditure was found to positively but insignificantly determine growth. Only imports alone stood to negatively and significantly influence economic growth in Cameroon.The value of R-squared Adjusted showed that 85% of variation in GDP was explained by variations in the independent variables specified in the model. Therefore, any policy measure aimed at improving upon the level of economic growth in Cameroon must give consideration to migrant remittances.
Application of Multivariate Classification Protocols in Research Focusing on Food, Environmental Samples, and Wastewater Technological Processes
Authors: Świderska-Dąbrowska Renata , Piaskowski Krzysztof , Baran Michał J
Published: January 2017

Analysis and quantification of multiple analytes in complex samples originating from food and environmentalmatrixes generate large data sets that can be difficult to analyze and interpret. Multivariate analysis and related computation protocols provide an effective platform and enable such problems to be dealt with. This review illustrates the effective application of chemometrics protocols used to improve quantification techniques and the interpretation of raw data from complex samples.
Hexavalent Chromium: Analysis of the Mechanism of Groundwater Contamination in a Former Industrial Site in the Province of Vicenza (Northern Italy)
Authors: Accoto Valentina , Bullo Pierluigi , Faccio Ruben , Mason Leonardo , Sottani Andrea
Published: January 2017

The study consisted in the analysis of the mobilization mechanisms of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) into groundwater from a decommissioned contaminated factory. The site is located in the Province of Vicenza and formerly was a chrome-plating plant. The subsoil consists predominantly of gravelly deposits with a thickness of at least one hundred meters. An unconfined aquifer is present with water table at about 23 m depth bgl. During the seven years of monitoring (2008-2014), the fluctuation of groundwater level was more than 6 m; hydraulic conductivity is about 1.0E-03 m/s and groundwater seepage velocity about 12 m/day. At the area of the source of contamination, the unsaturated soil is contaminated by hexavalent chromium throughout the thickness: concentrations range from 200 to 500 mg/kg. At the bottom of zone of groundwater level fluctuation, the hexavalent chromium concentration decreases to below the detection limit. The available data (e.g. hexavalent chromium concentrations in groundwater, groundwater level, local rainfall) give the opportunity to assess the effects, on the magnitude of groundwater contamination, of the effective infiltration versus the fluctuation of groundwater level. The main analysis was performed on a statistical basis, in order to find out which of the two factors was most likely related to the periodic peaks of hexavalent chromium concentration in groundwater. Statistical analysis results were verified by a mass balance. Data show that at the site both the effective infiltration through the unsaturated zone and the leaching of soil contaminated by groundwater, when it exceeds a certain piezometric level, lead to peak concentrations of hexavalent chromium, even if with characteristics and effects different.
Signals in water - the deep originated CO2 in the Peschiera-Capone acqueduct in relation to monitoring of seismic activity in central Italy
Authors: Martini Claudio
Published: January 2017

Valuation of the analysis performed on groundwater of Central Lazio by ACEA ATO2 SpA from 2001 to 2016, according to the model proposed by Chiodini et al. in 2004 that identifies in the Tyrrhenian coast of central and southern Italy, two notable releasing areas of the CO2 produced by the sub-crustal magma activity, or two areas of natural degassing of the planet: the TRDS area (Tuscan Roman degassing structure) and the CDS area (Campanian degassing structure). Reconstruction of the CO2 produced by degassing through the analysis of the components of inorganic carbon measured in groundwater of Central Lazio (Rome and Rieti districts) between 2001 and 2016. Causal relationship of the activity of mantle degassing in the TRDS area with the disastrous earthquake occurred at L’Aquila in April 6, 2009. Current use of the dissolved inorganic carbon measurement in the Peschiera and Capore spring waters to monitor the activity of mantle degassing in the TRDS area, in order to have an early warning signal of possible seismic activity in the Central Apennines. Revision and data updating after the earthquake in August 24, 2016 at Amatrice.
Nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora mimics olfactory cues of sex and food to lure its nematode prey
Authors: Hsueh Yen-Ping , Gronquist Matthew R , Schwarz Erich M , Nath Ravi David , Lee Ching-Han , Gharib Shalha , Schroeder Frank C , Sternberg Paul W
Published: January 2017

To study the molecular basis for predator-prey coevolution, we investigated how Caenorhabditis elegans responds to the predatory fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. C. elegans and other nematodes were attracted to volatile compounds produced by A. oligospora. Gas-chromatographic mass-spectral analyses of A. oligospora-derived volatile metabolites identified several odors mimicking food cues attractive to nematodes. One compound, methyl 3-methyl-2-butenoate (MMB) additionally triggered strong sex- and stage-specific attraction in several Caenorhabditis species. Furthermore, when MMB is present, it interferes with nematode mating, suggesting that MMB might mimic sex pheromone in Caenorhabditis species. Forward genetic screening suggests that multiple receptors are involved in sensing MMB. Response to fungal odors involves the olfactory neuron AWCs. Single-cell RNA-seq revealed the GPCRs expressed in AWC. We propose that A. oligospora likely evolved the means to use olfactory mimicry to attract its nematode prey through the olfactory neurons in C. elegans and related species.
Proliferation-independent regulation of organ size by Fgf/Notch signaling
Authors: Kozlovskaja-Gumbrienė Agnė , Yi Ren , Alexander Richard , Aman Andy , Jiskra Ryan , Nagelberg Danielle , Knaut Holger , McClain Melainia , Piotrowski Tatjana
Published: January 2017

Organ morphogenesis depends on the precise orchestration of cell migration, cell shape changes and cell adhesion. We demonstrate that Notch signaling is an integral part of the Wnt and Fgf signaling feedback loop coordinating cell migration and the self-organization of rosette-shaped sensory organs in the zebrafish lateral line system. We show that Notch signaling acts downstream of Fgf signaling to not only inhibit hair cell differentiation but also to induce and maintain stable epithelial rosettes. Ectopic Notch expression causes a significant increase in organ size independently of proliferation and the Hippo pathway. Transplantation and RNASeq analyses revealed that Notch signaling induces apical junctional complex genes that regulate cell adhesion and apical constriction. Our analysis also demonstrates that in the absence of patterning cues normally provided by a Wnt/Fgf signaling system, rosettes still self-organize in the presence of Notch signaling.
Framing of grid cells within and beyond navigation boundaries
Authors: Savelli Francesco , Luck JD , Knierim James J
Published: January 2017

Grid cells represent an ideal candidate to investigate the allocentric determinants of the brain’s cognitive map. Most studies of grid cells emphasized the roles of geometric boundaries within the navigational range of the animal. Behaviors such as novel route-taking between local environments indicate the presence of additional inputs from remote cues beyond the navigational borders. To investigate these influences, we recorded grid cells as rats explored an open-field platform in a room with salient, remote cues. The platform was rotated or translated relative to the room frame of reference. Although the local, geometric frame of reference often exerted the strongest control over the grids, the remote cues demonstrated a consistent, sometimes dominant, countervailing influence. Thus, grid cells are controlled by both local geometric boundaries and remote spatial cues, consistent with prior studies of hippocampal place cells and providing a rich representational repertoire to support complex navigational (and perhaps mnemonic) processes.
Reward-based training of recurrent neural networks for cognitive and value-based tasks
Authors: Song H Francis , Yang Guangyu R , Wang Xiao-Jing
Published: January 2017

Trained neural network models, which exhibit features of neural activity recorded from behaving animals, may provide insights into the circuit mechanisms of cognitive functions through systematic analysis of network activity and connectivity. However, in contrast to the graded error signals commonly used to train networks through supervised learning, animals learn from reward feedback on definite actions through reinforcement learning. Reward maximization is particularly relevant when optimal behavior depends on an animal’s internal judgment of confidence or subjective preferences. Here, we implement reward-based training of recurrent neural networks in which a value network guides learning by using the activity of the decision network to predict future reward. We show that such models capture behavioral and electrophysiological findings from well-known experimental paradigms. Our work provides a unified framework for investigating diverse cognitive and value-based computations, and predicts a role for value representation that is essential for learning, but not executing, a task.
High throughput in vivo functional validation of candidate congenital heart disease genes in Drosophila
Authors: Zhu Jun-yi , Fu Yulong , Nettleton Margaret , Richman Adam , Han Zhe
Published: January 2017

Genomic sequencing has implicated large numbers of genes and de novo mutations as potential disease risk factors. A high throughput in vivo model system is needed to validate gene associations with pathology. We developed aDrosophila-based functional system to screen candidate disease genes identified from Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) patients. 134 genes were tested in theDrosophilaheart using RNAi-based gene silencing. Quantitative analyses of multiple cardiac phenotypes demonstrated essential structural, functional, and developmental roles for more than 70 genes, including a subgroup encoding histone H3K4 modifying proteins. We also demonstrated the use ofDrosophilato evaluate cardiac phenotypes resulting from specific, patient-derived alleles of candidate disease genes. We describe the first high throughput in vivo validation system to screen candidate disease genes identified from patients. This approach has the potential to facilitate development of precision medicine approaches for CHD and other diseases associated with genetic factors.
Sibling cell size matters
Authors: Cabernard Clemens
Published: January 2017

A motor protein called Klp10A ensures that germline stem cells in male fruit flies divide to produce two sibling cells that are equal in size.
Response of Arterial Stiffness Four Weeks After Terminating Short‐term Aerobic Exercise Training in a Sedentary Lifestyle
Authors: Baykara Murat , Demirel Adnan , Yavuzatmaca İhsan , Bilgen Mehmet
Published: January 2017

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the response of arterial stiffness in individuals with a sedentary lifestyle at 4 weeks after terminating a 2‐week aerobic exercise session.

Methods

Arterial stiffness was evaluated in 38 participants before starting and after completing a prescribed aerobic exercise program and also at 4 weeks after returning back to their sedentary lifestyle. Parameters regarding arterial compliance, distensibility, wall stress, and the elastic modulus were estimated from the information gained from sonography on the dimensions of carotid and femoral arteries and a sphygmomanometer on the pulse pressure.

Results

Primary outcomes included whether short‐term aerobic exercise reduced the heart rate, arterial pressure, and intima‐media thickness and improved vascular biomechanics in physically inactive but otherwise healthy individuals. The benefits gained in arterial compliance and distensibility deteriorated with termination of exercise, but diastolic wall stress and the elastic modulus improved further.

Conclusions

In individuals with sedentary lifestyles, short‐term aerobic exercise has strong four‐week residual benefits on diastolic wall stress and the elastic modulus, but the effects appear to be negligible on arterial stiffness and distensibility.
Circulating and disseminated tumor cells: harbingers or initiators of metastasis?
Authors: Dasgupta Arko , Lim Andrea R. , Ghajar Cyrus M.
Published: January 2017

Tumor cells leave the primary tumor and enter the circulation. Once there, they are called circulating tumor cells (CTCs). A fraction of CTCs are capable of entering distant sites and persisting as disseminated tumor cells (DTCs). An even smaller fraction of DTCs are capable of progressing toward metastases. It is known that the DTC microenvironment plays an important role in sustaining their survival, regulating their growth, and conferring resistance to therapy. But we still have much to learn about the nature of these rare cell populations to predict which will progress and what exactly should cause concern for future relapse. Although recent technological advances in our ability to detect and molecularly and functionally characterize CTCs and DTCs promise to unravel this ambiguity, the timing of dissemination and the precise source of CTCs and DTCs profiled will impact the conclusions that can be made from these endeavors. In this review, we discuss the biology of CTCs and DTCs; the technologies to detect, isolate, and profile these cells; and the exceptions we must apply to our understanding of what role these cells play in the metastatic process. We conclude that a greater effort to understand the unique biology of these cells in context will positively impact our ability to use these cells to predict outcome, monitor treatment efficacy, and reveal therapeutically relevant targets to deplete these populations and ultimately prevent metastasis.
Declining spatial efficiency of global cropland nitrogen allocation
Authors: Mueller Nathaniel D. , Lassaletta Luis , Runck Bryan C. , Billen Gilles , Garnier Josette , Gerber James S.
Published: January 2017

Efficiently allocating nitrogen (N) across space maximizes crop productivity for a given amount of N input and reduces N losses to the environment. Here we quantify changes in the global spatial efficiency of cropland N use by calculating historical trade‐off frontiers relating N inputs to possible N yield assuming efficient allocation. Time series cropland N budgets from 1961 to 2009 characterize the evolution of N input‐yield response functions across 12 regions and are the basis for constructing trade‐off frontiers. Improvements in agronomic technology have substantially increased cropping system yield potentials and expanded N‐driven crop production possibilities. However, we find that these gains are compromised by the declining spatial efficiency of N use across regions. Since the start of the Green Revolution, N inputs and yields have moved farther from the optimal frontier over time; in recent years (1994–2009), global N surplus has grown to a value that is 69% greater than what is possible with efficient N allocation between regions. To reflect regional pollution and agricultural development goals, we construct scenarios that restrict reallocation, finding that these changes only slightly decrease potential gains in nitrogen use efficiency. Our results are inherently conservative due to the regional unit of analysis, meaning a larger potential exists than is quantified here for cross‐scale policies to promote spatially efficient N use.
Testing model parameters for wave‐induced dune erosion using observations from Hurricane Sandy
Authors: Overbeck J. R. , Long J. W. , Stockdon H. F.
Published: January 2017

Models of dune erosion depend on a set of assumptions that dictate the predicted evolution of dunes throughout the duration of a storm. Lidar observations made before and after Hurricane Sandy at over 800 profiles with diverse dune elevations, widths, and volumes are used to quantify specific dune erosion model parameters including the dune face slope, which controls dune avalanching, and the trajectory of the dune toe, which controls dune migration. Wave‐impact models of dune erosion assume a vertical dune face and erosion of the dune toe along the foreshore beach slope. Observations presented here show that these assumptions are not always valid and require additional testing if these models are to be used to predict coastal vulnerability for decision‐making purposes. Observed dune face slopes steepened by 43% yet did not become vertical faces, and only 50% of the dunes evolved along a trajectory similar to the foreshore beach slope. Observations also indicate that dune crests were lowered during dune erosion. Moreover, analysis showed a correspondence between dune lowering and narrower beaches, smaller dune volumes, and/or longer wave impact.
Suprathermal electron acceleration in the near‐Earth flow rebounce region
Authors: Liu C. M. , Fu H. S. , Xu Y. , Wang T. Y. , Cao J. B. , Sun X. G. , Yao Z. H.
Published: January 2017

Flux pileup regions (FPRs) are traditionally referred to the strong‐Bz bundles behind dipolarization fronts (DFs) in the Earth's magnetotail and can appear both inside earthward and tailward bursty bulk flows. It has been widely reported that suprathermal electrons (40–200 keV) can be efficiently accelerated inside earthward FPRs, leaving the electron acceleration inside tailward FPRs as an open question. In this study, we focus on the electron acceleration inside a tailward FPR that is formed due to the flow rebounce in the near‐Earth region (XGSM ≈ −12 RE) and compare it quantitatively with the acceleration inside an earthward FPR. By examining the Cluster data in 2008, we sequentially observe an earthward FPR and a tailward FPR in the near‐Earth region, with the earthward one belonging to decaying type and the tailward one belonging to growing type. Inside the earthward FPR, Fermi acceleration and betatron cooling of suprathermal electrons are found, while inside the tailward FPR, Fermi and betatron acceleration occur. Whistler‐mode waves are observed inside the tailward FPR; their generation process may still be at the early stage. We notice that the suprathermal electron fluxes inside the tailward FPR are about twice as large as those inside the earthward FPR, suggesting that the acceleration of suprathermal electrons is more efficient in the flow rebounce region. These acceleration processes have been successfully reproduced using an analytical model; they emphasize the role of flow rebounce in accelerating suprathermal electrons and further reveal how the MHD‐scale flow modulates the kinetic‐scale electron dynamics in the near‐Earth magnetotail.
Coupling of swelling, internal stress evolution, and diffusion in coal matrix material during exposure to methane
Authors: Liu Jinfeng , Fokker Peter A. , Spiers Christopher J.
Published: January 2017

We construct theoretical models for time‐dependent swelling of coal matrix material upon adsorption of a single gas, taking into account a coupling between stress, strain, chemical potential, and diffusion. Two models are developed. The first (model A) corresponds to diffusion and hence swelling rates being controlled by the jump frequency of adsorbed molecules between closely spaced adsorption sites and the second (model B) to transport controlled by diffusion of unadsorbed molecules through diffusion paths linking distant adsorption sites. To test these models, we performed axial swelling experiments on a single 4 mm sized cylindrical sample of medium volatile bituminous coal, exposed to CH4 at pressures up to 40 MPa, at 40°C, using 1‐D, high‐pressure dilatometry. The models were calibrated to the experimental data by adjustment of a single‐valued diffusion coefficient, independent of gas pressure and adsorbed concentration. The results show that the data can be accurately explained only by model B. The implication is that the gas transport, the associated adsorption, and hence time‐dependent swelling are controlled by the diffusion of unadsorbed molecules and not by molecules jumping between the adjacent adsorption sites. Our model describes a full coupling between stress, strain, sorption, and diffusion in coal matrix material in terms of parameters that have clear physical meaning and are easily obtained from sorption and swelling experiments on coal of any rank exposed to any gas. It therefore offers an important tool for modeling permeability evolution with time during (enhanced) coalbed methane operations.
The properties of optical lightning flashes and the clouds they illuminate
Authors: Peterson Michael , Deierling Wiebke , Liu Chuntao , Mach Douglas , Kalb Christina
Published: January 2017

Optical lightning sensors like the Optical Transient Detector and Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) measure total lightning across large swaths of the globe with high detection efficiency. With two upcoming missions that employ these sensors—LIS on the International Space Station and the Geostationary Lightning Mapper on the GOES‐R satellite—there has been increased interest in what these measurements can reveal about lightning and thunderstorms in addition to total flash activity. Optical lightning imagers are capable of observing the characteristics of individual flashes that include their sizes, durations, and radiative energies. However, it is important to exercise caution when interpreting trends in optical flash measurements because they can be affected by the scene. This study uses coincident measurements from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite to examine the properties of LIS flashes and the surrounding cloud regions they illuminate. These combined measurements are used to assess to what extent optical flash characteristics can be used to make inferences about flash structure and energetics. Clouds illuminated by lightning over land and ocean regions that are otherwise similar based on TRMM measurements are identified. Even when LIS flashes occur in similar clouds and background radiances, oceanic flashes are still shown to be larger, brighter, longer lasting, more prone to horizontal propagation, and to contain more groups than their land‐based counterparts. This suggests that the optical trends noted in literature are not entirely the result of radiative transfer effects but rather stem from physical differences in the flashes.
Experimental investigation of the impact of compound‐specific dispersion and electrostatic interactions on transient transport and solute breakthrough
Authors: Muniruzzaman Muhammad , Rolle Massimo
Published: January 2017

This study investigates the effects of compound‐specific diffusion/dispersion and electrochemical migration on transient solute transport in saturated porous media. We conducted laboratory bench‐scale experiments, under advection‐dominated regimes (seepage velocity: 0.5, 5, 25 m/d), in a quasi two‐dimensional flow‐through setup using pulse injection of multiple tracers (both uncharged and ionic species). Extensive sampling and measurement of solutes' concentrations (∼1500 samples; >3000 measurements) were performed at the outlet of the flow‐through setup, at high spatial and temporal resolution. The experimental results show that compound‐specific effects and charge‐induced Coulombic interactions are important not only at low velocities and/or for steady state plumes but also for transient transport under high flow velocities. Such effects can lead to a remarkably different behavior of measured breakthrough curves also at very high Péclet numbers. To quantitatively interpret the experimental results, we used four modeling approaches: classical advection‐dispersion equation (ADE), continuous time random walk (CTRW), dual‐domain mass transfer model (DDMT), and a multicomponent ionic dispersion model. The latter is based on the multicomponent formulation of coupled diffusive/dispersive fluxes and was used to describe and explain the electrostatic effects of charged species. Furthermore, we determined experimentally the temporal profiles of the flux‐related dilution index. This metric of mixing, used in connection with the traditional solute breakthrough curves, proved to be useful to correctly distinguish between plume spreading and mixing, particularly for the cases in which the sole analysis of integrated concentration breakthrough curves may lead to erroneous interpretation of plume dilution.
Identifying modern and historic recharge events from tracer‐derived groundwater age distributions
Authors: McCallum James L. , Cook Peter. G. , Dogramaci Shawan , Purtschert Roland , Simmons Craig T. , Burk Lawrence
Published: January 2017

Understanding groundwater ages offers insight into the time scales of recharge, aquifer storage turnover times, and contaminant protection time frames. The ability to quantify groundwater age distributions heavily depends on the choice of the interpretive model, and often important features of the age distribution cannot be identified with the subset of available models. In this paper, we implemented a multiple tracer method using a technique that assumes limited details regarding the shape of the age distribution and applied it to dewatering wells at a mine site in the Pilbara region of north‐western Australia. Using our method, we were able to identify distinct age components in the groundwater. We calculated the presence of four distinct age groups in the samples. All wells contained water aged between zero and 20 years. However, the rest of the samples were composed of water between 50 and 100 years, 100 and 600 years, or water approximately 1000 years old. These were consistent with local recharge sources (50–100 years) and knowledge of paleoclimate from lake sediment records. We found that although the age components were well constrained, the relative proportions of each component were highly sensitive to errors of environmental tracer data. Our results show that our method can identify distinct age groups in groundwater samples without prior knowledge of the age distribution. The presence of distinct recharge times gives insight into groundwater flow conditions over long periods of time.
History of Dermatology
Authors: Levell Nick J.
Published: January 2017

Dermatology encompasses all of medicine. The history of dermatology stretches back to the earliest records of human activity throughout the world. Ancient Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Middle Eastern and European scripts mention skin disease and treatments. Dermatology texts have reclassified skin disorders as understanding of the mechanisms has improved through research and by observation and analysis. This evolution of dermatology continues to the present day with advances in molecular medicine.
Release from Prison
Authors: Petersilia Joan , Threatt Jimmy
Published: January 2017

Discretionary parole has been under attack since its beginnings. Starting in the late 1970s, states began abolishing discretionary parole boards. By 2010, 16 states had done so, and fewer than 20% of inmates released from prison were released by a parole board. Opponents of discretionary parole hoped that abolishing parole would reduce disparities in prison time served – and it did. Research shows, however, that inmates actually servelongerprison terms in states retaining discretionary parole, and their parolees have higher success rates. Retaining discretionary parole may serve to refocus prison and corrections staff on planning for release rather than merely opening the prison door at the end of the prescribed term. Significantly, discretionary parole systems also provide a means by which inmates representing continuing public safety risks can be kept in prison. In the last few years, as states have grappled with their increasingly large prison populations, more and more prisoners have been released discretionarily.
Pains of Imprisonment
Authors: Shammas Victor L.
Published: January 2017

Imprisonment is widely seen as a humane improvement over corporal punishment. But social observers like Gresham M. Sykes pointed out that imprisonment entailed its own distinct set of deprivations, including the loss of liberty, goods and services, heterosexual relationships, autonomy, and security. According to the deprivation model, prison culture and inmate behavior are shaped by constraints encountered in the prison environment. Contrary to the deterrence hypothesis, which contends that greater pains of imprisonment yield lower offending rates, research suggests that harsher punishments may have criminogenic effects. Recent empirical work has emphasized secondary pains of imprisonment that extend beyond the individual offender to negatively impact families and communities outside the prison.
T
hailand, Corrections in
Authors: Bing Robert L. , Albano Brandy
Published: January 2017

This entry provides insights into the history of the prison system in the Kingdom of Thailand. The responsibilities of the government to the inmate are detailed and contradictions between policy and practice are also outlined. The entry also provides information on the nature of prisons in Thailand, including issues related to overcrowding, healthcare, and death row.
Clinical Profiles of Young Adults With Juvenile‐Onset Fibromyalgia With and Without a History of Trauma
Authors: Nelson Sarah , Cunningham Natoshia , Peugh James , Jagpal Anjana , Arnold Leslie M. , Lynch‐Jordan Anne , Kashikar‐Zuck Susmita
Published: January 2017

Objective

To examine the differential presentation(s) of psychological and health‐related outcomes in young adults with juvenile‐onset fibromyalgia (FM) with and without a history of trauma, compared to healthy controls.

Methods

In total, 110 participants (86 with juvenile‐onset FM and 24 healthy controls, with a mean age of 23.4 years) completed a structured clinical interview to assess for trauma and psychological comorbidities, as well as self‐report questionnaires on pain, physical functioning, and health care utilization.

Results

Of the juvenile‐onset FM participants, 37% (n = 32) reported a history of trauma. Three group comparisons (i.e., juvenile‐onset FM with trauma versus juvenile‐onset FM with no trauma versus healthy controls) revealed that juvenile‐onset FM participants significantly differed from healthy controls on all psychological and health‐related outcomes. Further, although juvenile‐onset FM participants with and without a history of trauma did not significantly differ on pain and physical functioning, juvenile‐onset FM participants with a history of trauma were significantly more likely to have psychological comorbidities.

Conclusion

This is the first controlled study to examine the differential outcomes between juvenile‐onset FM participants with and without a history of trauma. Group comparisons between juvenile‐onset FM participants and healthy controls were consistent with previous research. Further, our findings indicate that juvenile‐onset FM participants with a history of trauma experience greater psychological, but not physical, impairment than juvenile‐onset FM participants without a history of trauma.
Significant Enhancement of Proton Transport in Bioinspired Peptide Fibrils by Single Acidic or Basic Amino Acid Mutation
Authors: Silberbush Ohad , Amit Moran , Roy Subhasish , Ashkenasy Nurit
Published: January 2017

Bioinspired materials are extremely suitable for the development of biocompatible and environmentally friendly functional materials. Peptide‐based assemblies are remarkably attractive for such tasks, since they provide a simple way to fuse together functional and structural protein motifs in artificial materials. Motivated by this idea, it is shown here that the introduction of a single acidic, or basic, amino acid into the side chain of a heptameric self‐assembling peptide increases proton conduction in the resulting fibers by two orders of magnitude. This self‐doping effect is much more pronounced than the effect induced by the peptide's acidic and basic termini groups. Furthermore, the self‐doping process is found to be significantly more effective for acidic side chains than for basic ones due to both much more effective self‐doping process, resulting in an order of magnitude larger concentration of charge carriers for the acidic assemblies, and higher mobility of the formed charge carriers – almost threefolds in this case. This work facilitates the realization of unique bioinspired self‐assembled proton conducting materials that may find uses in the emerging bioprotonic technology. The presented design flexibility and, in particular, the ability to introduce both proton and proton holes further extend the usefulness of these materials.
Ultrathin‐Nanosheet‐Induced Synthesis of 3D Transition Metal Oxides Networks for Lithium Ion Battery Anodes
Authors: Zhu Shan , Li Jiajun , Deng Xiaoyang , He Chunnian , Liu Enzuo , He Fang , Shi Chunsheng , Zhao Naiqin
Published: January 2017

A general ultrathin‐nanosheet‐induced strategy for producing a 3D mesoporous network of Co3O4 is reported. The fabrication process introduces a 3D N‐doped carbon network to adsorb metal cobalt ions via dipping process. Then, this carbon matrix serves as the sacrificed template, whose N‐doping effect and ultrathin nanosheet features play critical roles for controlling the formation of Co3O4 networks. The obtained material exhibits a 3D interconnected architecture with large specific surface area and abundant mesopores, which is constructed by nanoparticles. Merited by the optimized structure in three length scales of nanoparticles–mesopores–networks, this Co3O4 nanostructure possesses superior performance as a LIB anode: high capacity (1033 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1) and long‐life stability (700 cycles at 5 A g−1). Moreover, this strategy is verified to be effective for producing other transition metal oxides, including Fe2O3, ZnO, Mn3O4, NiCo2O4, and CoFe2O4.
Electronic and Optical Properties of a Semiconducting Spinel (Fe2CrO4)
Authors: Chambers Scott A. , Droubay Timothy C. , Kaspar Tiffany C. , Nayyar Iffat H. , McBriarty Martin E. , Heald Steve M. , Keavney David J. , Bowden Mark E. , Sushko Peter V.
Published: January 2017

Epitaxial chromium ferrite (Fe2CrO4), prepared by state‐of‐the‐art oxygen plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy, is shown to exhibit unusual electronic transport properties driven by the crystallographic structure and composition of the material. Replacing 1/3 of the Fe cations with Cr converts the host ferrimagnet from a metal into a semiconductor by virtue of its fixed valence (3+); Cr substitutes for Fe at B sites in the spinel lattice. By contrast, replacing 2/3 of the Fe cations with Cr results in an insulator. Three candidate conductive paths, all involving electron hopping between Fe2+ and Fe3+, are identified in Fe2CrO4. Moreover, Fe2CrO4 is shown to be photoconductive across the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. As a result, this material is of potential interest for important photo‐electrochemical processes such as water splitting.
Energy‐Dissipative Matrices Enable Synergistic Toughening in Fiber Reinforced Soft Composites
Authors: Huang Yiwan , King Daniel R. , Sun Tao Lin , Nonoyama Takayuki , Kurokawa Takayuki , Nakajima Tasuku , Gong Jian Ping
Published: January 2017

Tough hydrogels have shown strong potential as structural biomaterials. These hydrogels alone, however, possess limited mechanical properties (such as low modulus) when compared to some load‐bearing tissues, e.g., ligaments and tendons. Developing both strong and tough soft materials is still a challenge. To overcome this obstacle, a new material design strategy has been recently introduced by combining tough hydrogels with woven fiber fabric to create fiber reinforced soft composites (FRSCs). The new FRSCs exhibit extremely high toughness and tensile properties, far superior to those of the neat components, indicating a synergistic effect. Here, focus is on understanding the role of energy dissipation of the soft matrix in the synergistic toughening of FRSCs. By selecting a range of soft matrix materials, from tough hydrogels to weak hydrogels and even a commercially available elastomer, the toughness of the matrix is determined to play a critical role in achieving extremely tough FRSCs. This work provides a good guide toward the universal design of soft composites with extraordinary fracture resistance capacity.