bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical fluctuations and static inhomogeneities in polymer gel volume phase transitions
Authors: Habicht Axel , Schmolke Willi , Goerigk Günter , Lange Frank , Saalwächter Kay , Ballauff Matthias , Seiffert Sebastian
Published: May 2015

Thermoresponsive polymer gels exhibit pronounced swelling and deswelling upon changes in temperature, accompanied by dynamic concentration fluctuations that have been interpreted as critical opalescence. These fluctuations span lengthscales similar to that of static structures in the gels, such as the gel polymer‐network meshsize (1–10 nm) and static polymer‐network crosslinking inhomogeneities (10–1000 nm). To systematically investigate this overlay, we use droplet‐based microfluidics and fabricate submillimeter‐sized gel particles with varying static heterogeneity, as revealed on a molecular scale by proton NMR. When these microgels are probed by small‐angle neutron scattering, the detection of dynamic fluctuations during the volume phase transitions is strongly perturbed by the co‐existing static inhomogeneity. Depending of the type of data analysis employed, the temperature‐dependent evolution of the correlation length associated to the dynamic fluctuations does or does not agree with predictions by the critical scaling theory. Only the most homogeneous sample of this study, prepared by controlled polymer crosslinking in droplet microfluidics, shows a diverging correlation length in agreement to the critical scaling theory independent of the specific approach of data analysis. These findings suggest that care must be taken about polymer‐network heterogeneity when gel volume phase transitions are evaluated as critical phenomena. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 1112–1122
Micromechanical fast quasi‐static detection of α and β relaxations with nanograms of polymer
Authors: Bose Sanjukta , Schmid Silvan , Larsen Tom , Sylvest Keller Stephan , Boisen Anja , Almdal Kristoffer
Published: May 2015

Micromechanical string resonators are used as a highly sensitive tool for the detection of glass transition (Tg or α relaxation) and sub‐Tg (β relaxation) temperatures of polystyrene (PS) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The characterization technique allows for a fast detection of mechanical relaxations of polymers with only few nanograms of sample in a quasi‐static condition. The polymers are spray coated on one side of silicon nitride (SiN) microstrings. These are pre‐stressed suspended structures clamped on both ends to a silicon frame. The resonance frequency of the microstrings is then monitored as a function of increasing temperature. α and β relaxations in the polymer affect the net static tensile stress of the microstring and result in measureable local frequency slope maxima. Tg of PS and PMMA is detected at 91 ±2°C and 114 ±2°C, respectively. The results match well with the glass transition values of 93.6°C and 114.5°C obtained from differential scanning calorimetry of PS and PMMA, respectively. The β relaxation temperatures are detected at 30 ± 2°C and 33 ± 2°C for PS and PMMA which is in accordance with values reported in literature. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 1035–1039
Exploring proteome‐wide occurrence of clusters of charged residues in eukaryotes
Authors: Belmabrouk Sabrine , Kharrat Najla , Benmarzoug Riadh , Rebai Ahmed
Published: May 2015

Clusters of charged residues are one of the key features of protein primary structure since they have been associated to important functions of proteins. Here, we present a proteome wide scan for the occurrence of Charge Clusters in Protein sequences using a new search tool (FCCP) based on a score‐based methodology. The FCCP was run to search charge clusters in seven eukaryotic proteomes: Arabidopsis thaliana, Caenorhabditis elegans, Danio rerio, Drosophila melanogaster, Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that negative charge clusters (NCCs) are three to four times more frequent than positive charge clusters (PCCs). The Drosophila proteome is on average the most charged, whereas the human proteome is the least charged. Only 3 to 8% of the studied protein sequences have negative charge clusters, while 1.6 to 3% having PCCs and only 0.07 to 0.6% have both types of clusters. NCCs are localized predominantly in the N‐terminal and C‐terminal domains, while PCCs tend to be localized within the functional domains of the protein sequences. Furthermore, the gene ontology classification revealed that the protein sequences with negative and PCCs are mainly binding proteins. Proteins 2015; 83:1252–1261. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Steps to better understand severe asthma in adults
Authors: Nanzer Alexandra M , Menzies‐Gow Andrew
Published: May 2015

Primary care plays an essential role in identifying and supporting a patient with undertreated or difficult to treat asthma.
Social Relationships and Relationships in Context: Post‐Accession Poles in Southampton
Authors: McGhee Derek , Travena Paulina , Heath Sue
Published: May 2015

In this article, we examine post‐accession Poles' shifting identity practices through the lens of their attitudes to other Poles in a high‐density post‐accession Polish migration destination, namely the city of Southampton on England's south coast. We examine the impact of human capital (in this instance, we will focus on their ability to speak English) and the extent of their social capital (focusing on the restrictions based on their communicative competence with non‐Polish groups and their particular trust issues associated with compatriots). We contextualise our findings in other research on post‐accession Poles in London, Glasgow, the Midlands of England, the North of England, the Netherlands, Norway, and Brussels, thus drawing together common themes from a wide body of evidence. Through examining biographical data focusing on the everyday lives of our participants, we were able to explore the impact of context on their presentation of their identities and relational practices. By so doing, we exposed the interplay of a range of intersecting factors that result in many of our participants leading restrictive and restricted lives. © 2015 The Authors Population, Space and Place Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Place Attachment and Social Ties – Migrants and Natives in Three Urban Settings in Vienna
Authors: Kohlbacher Josef , Reeger Ursula , Schnell Philipp
Published: May 2015

With ongoing immigration from ‘all over the world’, European cities are realising that the local level is gaining importance as a setting for interethnic coexistence. In this article, we investigate the attachment of migrants and natives to their local context in three neighbourhoods (one better‐off, two more deprived) in Vienna that differ in contextual, structural, and socio‐economic characteristics. We ask how the place attachment of natives and migrants is related to weak and strong social ties. In all three neighbourhoods, we found a majority of residents reported high or medium levels of attachment proving that urban neighbourhoods are still important contexts for local residents. A closer look revealed differences across groups and research areas: The strongest place attachment is displayed by natives in the middle‐class area of Laudongasse, with migrants being significantly less attached, but still more than migrants (and natives) in the two deprived settings. In social housing (Am Schöpfwerk), migrants are more attached than natives, whereas in Ludo‐Hartmann‐Platz, the difference is not significant. The first result is that obviously deprivation reduces individual place attachment. In contrast to previous studies we found that socio‐demographic factors are not relevant, it is social contacts that are important in explaining local attachment. For natives and migrants alike, close ties in the neighbourhood raise local attachment. Small talks are relevant for migrants but not for natives. This is in line with previous studies emphasising the special relevance of weak ties for migrants in supporting the integration process in a new environment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Place for Integration: Refugee Experiences in Two English Cities
Authors: Platts‐Fowler Deborah , Robinson David
Published: May 2015

This paper seeks to inject an appreciation of place into analysis of refugee integration. A framework of integration sensitive to interactions between people and places is operationalised to facilitate the systematic comparison of the refugee integration process in different places. In particular, this paper explores variations in key indicators of integration within a cohort of refugees arriving into the UK from the same country of origin (Iraq), at the same time, granted the same legal status and afforded a similar package of support and assistance but settled in two cities in England (Hull and Sheffield). Variations in the integration experiences of refugees in the two cities are spotlighted and related to the contextual, compositional, and collective aspects of the places into which they were settled. The findings highlight the importance of recognising that refugee integration is grounded and embodied in space and place and that despite proceeding under the same general operative processes, can evolve in distinctive ways in different places. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Cultural Panic in the Province? Counterurban Mobilities, Creativity, and Crisis in Greece
Authors: Gkartzios Menelaos , Scott Karen
Published: May 2015

In this paper, we explore the link between counterurban mobilities and a potential emergent cultural economy in rural locations, associated with the economic crisis in Greece. Drawing on a quantitative survey of Athenian residents and qualitative interviews with counterurban migrants, we observe that in the context of the economic crisis in Greece, many urban‐based households have relocated or seek to relocate to the Greek province, creating perhaps a new paradigm for conceptualising rural mobilities and their associated transformations. In that regard, we observe that counterurban mobilities are linked with changing cultural mobilities and phenomena including a new wave of ideas and creative activities (characterised by voluntarism and collectivism) and a shift in the patterns of cultural consumption. Therefore, we stress the need for a reconceptualising of counterurban mobilities in this context and highlight the need for more research that explores the role of creative expression and activity in times of crisis, particularly in the context of supporting the opportunities that an organically triggered rural cultural economy may offer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robust Parameter Design for Profile Quality Control
Authors: Bao Lulu , Huang Qiang , Wang Kaibo
Published: May 2015

In certain manufacturing processes, product quality is characterized by spatial profiles, and such profiles are expected to meet specific shape requirements. As profile shapes are affected by process conditions, properly adjusted process variables are expected to help improve profile quality. This work aims to achieve desired shapes of profiles that are sensitive to the variation of noise factors through optimizing settings of controllable factors. A hierarchical model is first built to characterize the spatial correlation of measurement points on a profile and link quality metrics with process variables. The process is then optimized using the robust parameter design technique. The performance of the proposed method is studied using a motivating example from nanomanufacturing. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Valid randomization‐basedp‐values for partially post hoc subgroup analyses
Authors: Lee Joseph J. , Rubin Donald B.
Published: May 2015

By ‘partially post‐hoc’ subgroup analyses, we mean analyses that compare existing data from a randomized experiment—from which a subgroup specification is derived—to new, subgroup‐only experimental data. We describe a motivating example in which partially post hoc subgroup analyses instigated statistical debate about a medical device's efficacy. We clarify the source of such analyses' invalidity and then propose a randomization‐based approach for generating valid posterior predictivep‐values for such partially post hoc subgroups. Lastly, we investigate the approach's operating characteristics in a simple illustrative setting through a series of simulations, showing that it can have desirable properties under both null and alternative hypotheses. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fire design methods for slim‐floor structures
Authors: Romero Manuel L. , Cajot Louis‐Guy , Conan Yves , Braun Matthias
Published: May 2015

Slim‐floor beams are well‐known, sustainable and economical solutions for residential, commercial and industrial buildings. However, despite their widespread use, Eurocode 4 contains no specific simplified calculation methods for the fire resistance of integrated and shallow floor beams. There is a clear need for an improved understanding of the performance of structures in fire plus clear and cost‐effective design guidance. This paper presents a set of simplified rules for determining thermal fields in the lower flange, web, rebars and slab of slim or integrated floor beams. This calculation methodology is based on existing formulas taken from different parts of Eurocode 4 except for the temperature calculation in the lower flange, which is deduced from a parametrical study using the SAFIR software.
Slim‐floor construction – design for ultimate limit state
Authors: Lam Dennis , Dai Xianghe , Kuhlmann Ulrike , Raichle Jochen , Braun Matthias
Published: May 2015

This paper presents the design method for slim‐floor construction that comprises a steel beam and a concrete or composite floor slab in which the beam is integrated within the depth of the slab. The slabs are either supported on a plate attached to the bottom flange or the bottom flange of the beam itself. The main design parameters and load transfer mechanisms are discussed. Plastic analysis has been adopted for the design of the bending capacity at the ultimate load condition and the design procedures described are in accordance with the principles given in Eurocode 4. Attention is paid to the type of shear connection between steel and concrete.
The Renaissance of State‐Owned Multinationals
Authors: He Xiaoming , Eden Lorraine , Hitt Michael A.
Published: May 2015

State‐owned multinational enterprises (SMNEs) have significant levels of state ownership and value‐adding activities outside their home countries. SMNEs are undergoing a renaissance, highlighted by their numbers in the global economy and their heightened importance; as a result, they are gaining new attention in the academic literature and in the popular press. This work discusses the reasons for this renaissance and examines the challenges involved in managing SMNEs. SMNEs represent a hybrid organizational form with the dual characteristics of both the state‐owned enterprise (SOE) and the multinational enterprise (MNE). When compared with private MNEs, SMNEs are generally less profit oriented and have a more complex corporate governance structure. They have less autonomy to establish their strategies, but also experience a lower level of uncertainty in their external environment. As a result, SMNEs have more difficulty than private MNEs in developing strategies and making organizational changes. Our study concludes with recommendations to managers for improving SMNE performance. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Accuracy of ultrasound in antenatal diagnosis of placental attachment disorders
Authors: Pilloni E. , Alemanno M. G. , Gaglioti P. , Sciarrone A. , Garofalo A. , Biolcati M. , Botta G. , Viora E. , Todros T.
Published: May 2015

Objectives

To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of placenta accreta and its variants, and to assess the impact of prenatal diagnosis in our population.

Methods

A total of 314 women with placenta previa were enrolled prospectively and underwent transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound examinations. An ultrasound diagnosis (grayscale and color/power Doppler) of placental attachment disorder (PAD) was based on the detection of at least two of the following (‘two‐criteria system’): loss/irregularity of the retroplacental clear zone, thinning/interruption of the uterine serosa–bladder wall interface, turbulent placental lacunae with high velocity flow, myometrial thickness < 1 mm, increased vascularity of the uterine serosa–bladder wall interface, loss of vascular arch parallel to the basal plate and/or irregular intraplacental vascularization. Definitive diagnosis was made at delivery by Cesarean section. Maternal outcome in cases diagnosed antenatally was compared with that in cases diagnosed at delivery.

Results

There were 37/314 cases of PAD (29 anterior and eight posterior). The two‐criteria system identified 30 cases of placenta accreta, providing a sensitivity of 81.1% and specificity of 98.9%. When anterior and posterior placentae were considered separately, the detection rates of PAD were 89.7 and 50.0%, respectIvely. Maternal outcome was better in women with prenatal diagnosis of PAD, as seen by less blood loss and shorter hospitalization.

Conclusions

Our data confirmed that grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound have good performance in the diagnosis of PAD and that prenatal diagnosis improves maternal outcome. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Development and validation of a tool incorporating quantitative fetal fibronectin to predict spontaneous preterm birth in symptomatic women
Authors: Kuhrt K. , Hezelgrave N. , Foster C. , Seed P. T. , Shennan A. H.
Published: May 2015

Objective

To develop a reliable and validated tool for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in symptomatic women that incorporates quantitative measurements of fetal fibronectin (qfFN) and other relevant risk factors.

Methods

Data were analyzed that had been collected prospectively from 382 women who presented at an emergency assessment unit between 22 + 0 and 35 + 6 weeks' gestation with symptoms of preterm labor. Clinicians were blinded to qfFN although they were aware of qualitative fFN results. Parametric survival models for sPTB, with time‐updated covariates, were developed for combinations of predictors and the best was selected using the Akaike and Bayesian information criteria. The model was developed on the first 190 consecutive women and validated on the subsequent 192. The estimated probability of delivery before 30, 34 or 37 weeks' gestation and within 2 or 4 weeks of testing was calculated for each patient and was compared to actual event rates. Predictive statistics were calculated to compare training and validation sets.

Results

The final model that was selected used qfFN and previous sPTB/preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) as predictors. Predictive statistics were similar for training and validation sets and there was good agreement between expected and observed sPTB for all outcomes. Areas under the receiver–operating characteristics curves ranged from 0.77 to 0.88, indicating accurate prediction across all five delivery outcomes.

Conclusions

sPTB in symptomatic women can be predicted accurately using a model combining qfFN and previous sPTB/PPROM. Clinicians can use this model, which has been incorporated into an App (QUiPP), to determine accurately a woman's risk of sPTB and potentially tailor management decisions appropriately. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Stable Heterometallic CuII‐BaII‐2,5‐Thiophenedicarboxylate Framework with High Capacity for Light Hydrocarbons
Authors: Xing Guang'en , Zhang Yan , Zhang Sufang
Published: May 2015

The heterometallic CuII‐BaII coordination polymer, namely [CuBa(tdc)2(H2O)(DMF)]n (1) (H2tdc = 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylic acid, DMF = N,N′‐dimethylformamide), was solvothermally synthesized by the reaction of H2tdc, CuCl2·2H2O, and Ba(NO3)2. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that compound 1 features a 3D intricate framework with the 1D channels occupied by the coordinated solvent molecules. After removing the coordinated solvent molecules, the desolvated samples of 1a exhibit high capacity for light hydrocarbons.
A mechanisms‐based reliability model for fatigue of composite laminates
Authors: Talreja Ramesh
Published: May 2015

Experimental studies of fatigue of composite laminates have clarified the progressive mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. These mechanisms cause degradation in load bearing capacity of laminates and failure occurs when the residual strength equals the maximum applied stress. Assuming that the strength degradation can be related to a measure of the fatigue damage, a two‐stage reliability model is developed. A three‐parameter Weibull distribution is assumed to describe the initial strength and the probability distributions of residual strengths in both stages and of the fatigue life are derived from this distribution. Experimental data are analyzed to support the results.
Stability of Emulsions Containing Interesterified Fats Based on Mutton Tallow and Walnut Oil
Authors: Kowalska Malgorzata , Zbikowska Anna , Tarnowska Katarzyna
Published: May 2015

In this work, modified fats were produced by enzymatic interesterification of mutton tallow with walnut oil. As a result of forcing the fat hydrolysis process by addition of water to the enzymatic preparation (11.5, 13.0, 14.5, 16.0 wt %), additional levels of polar fractions (MAGs, DAGs, and FFAs) were observed. The aim of this work was to evaluate the stability of emulsions of modified fats containing natural emulsifiers resulting from enzymatic interesterification of mutton tallow with walnut oil. The physical‐chemical parameters of obtained fats were determined in this study. Using several methods, the stability of the formed emulsions was also evaluated. The results showed that the fats resulting from interesterification in the presence of Lipozyme RM IM (immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei, Novozymes Bagsvaerd, Denmark) with 13.0, 14.5, and 16.0 wt % of water in the enzymatic preparation could form stable emulsion systems. On the other hand, the emulsion of the interesterification system where the amount of water in the enzymatic preparation was 11.5 % showed very low stability. The number of natural emulsifiers (MAGs and DAGs) that arose after interesterification was insufficient to stabilize the emulsion system. The work has shown the possibility of using interesterified fats as the fat phase. Emulsions formed on the basis of interesterified fats without any additional emulsifiers such as sunflower lecithin had properties comparable to emulsions containing mixed non‐interesterified fat containing additional emulsifier. The natural emulsifiers formed as part of enzymatic interesterification allow formation of stable emulsion systems.
Black-White Differences in Attitudes Related to Pregnancy Among Young Women
Authors: Barber Jennifer S. , Yarger Jennifer Eckerman , Gatny Heather H.
Published: May 2015

In this article, we use newly available data from the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) study to compare a wide range of attitudes related to pregnancy for 961 black and white young women. We also investigate the extent to which race differences are mediated by, or net of, family background, childhood socioeconomic status (SES), adolescent experiences related to pregnancy, and current SES. Compared with white women, black women generally have less positive attitudes toward young nonmarital sex, contraception, and childbearing, and have less desire for sex in the upcoming year. This is largely because black women are more religious than white women and partly because they are more socioeconomically disadvantaged in young adulthood. However, in spite of these less positive attitudes, black women are more likely to expect sex without contraception in the next year and to expect more positive consequences if they were to become pregnant, relative to white women. This is largely because, relative to white women, black women had higher rates of sex without contraception in adolescence and partly because they are more likely to have grown up with a single parent. It is unclear whether attitudes toward contraception and pregnancy preceded or are a consequence of adolescent sex without contraception. Some race differences remain unexplained; net of all potential mediators in our models, black women have less desire for sex in the upcoming year, but they are less willing to refuse to have sex with a partner if they think it would make him angry and they expect more positive personal consequences of a pregnancy, relative to white women. In spite of these differences, black women’s desires to achieve and to prevent pregnancy are very similar to white women’s desires.
Binding study advice: effect of raising the standards?
Authors: Stegers-Jager Karen M. , Themmen Axel P. N.
Published: May 2015

None
Imprinting, Honeymooning, or Maturing: Testing Three Theories of how Interfirm Social Bonding Impacts Suppliers’ Allocations of Resources to Business Customers
Authors: Woodside Arch G. , Baxter Roger
Published: May 2015

In business markets, does strength of social bonds that a supplier perceives with a specific customer influence the supplier's allocations of resources relative to other customers? If social bonding does uniquely impact supplier allocation of resources to customers, does the impact vary by relationship duration? Relationship marketing and Homans’ framework for social behavior are the theoretical bases for the study, which uses survey data to examine three alternative models that indicate how suppliers’ perceptions of social bonds with customers influence the suppliers’ allocations of resources over time. Analysis of data from sales and marketing managers confirms that two of these models, the imprinting theory and the maturity theory, are relevant. The findings indicate that relationship managers need to take into account the clear effect that creation of strong social bonds in buyer–seller relationships, as distinct from financial bonds, has on the way in which suppliers allocate resources to those relationships and how relationship duration affects the way in which they do so. The study strengthens the argument, on a strong theoretical base, to adopt a collaborative, as opposed to a transactional, approach to buyer–seller relationships.
Plenary Address, Australian Childhood Foundation Conference Childhood Trauma: Understanding the Basis of Change and Recovery Early Right Brain Regulation and the Relational Origins of Emotional Wellbeing
Authors: Schore Allan N.
Published: May 2015

During the past two decades an explosion of interdisciplinary research, especially in developmental neuroscience, has transformed and deepened our understanding of how the seminal social emotional events of infancy indelibly impact, for better or worse, all later stages of human development. In this article I briefly summarise my contributions in regulation theory towards that effort. After describing a current paradigm shift in the developmental sciences, I present an overview of my ongoing studies on the interpersonal neurobiology of the mother–infant attachment relationship. I offer research which indicates that optimal attachment experiences facilitate the experience-dependent maturation of the early developing ‘emotional’ right brain and thereby a predisposition for emotional wellbeing in later stages of life. I conclude with thoughts about the application of regulation theory for early intervention and prevention programs, as well as some larger implications for family law, cultural and political systems, and human capital formation.
RELIABILISM, VERITISM, AND EPISTEMIC CONSEQUENTIALISM
Authors: Goldman Alvin I.
Published: May 2015

According to Selim Berker the prevalence of consequentialism in contemporary epistemology rivals its prevalence in contemporary ethics. Similarly, and more to the point, Berker finds epistemic consequentialism, epitomized by process reliabilism, to be as misguided and problematic as ethical consequentialism. This paper shows how Berker misconstrues process reliabilism and fails to pinpoint any new or substantial defects in it.
CHRISTIAN HEROES, PROVIDENCE, AND PATRIOTISM IN WARTIME BRITAIN, 1793–1815
Authors: ATKINS GARETH
Published: May 2015

The use by British crowds of victorious admirals to articulate patriotic and libertarian ideas during the wars of the long eighteenth century is well known. But conflict also posed awkward questions about masculinity and issues surrounding it. Was military prowess compatible with politeness, with religiosity? During the 1790s, the fight to the death with revolutionary France made such questions hard to ignore, being compounded by the fact that Britain's most celebrated leader – Nelson – was not a paragon of virtue. This article shows how evangelicals sought to resolve these tensions by advancing a different set of ideals founded on piety and professionalism: by finding heroes of their own. This has crucial consequences for our understanding of how they and the ideas they championed became so prominent in late Hanoverian public life. In contradistinction to recent work suggesting that they exploited causes that were already popular – moral reform, antislavery – this article shows how they advanced a powerful providential narrative in which Christian heroes and godly policy were what made Britain great, a narrative whose veracity was ‘proven’ by wartime successes, especially in the navy, and which would remain highly influential well into the nineteenth century.
VOLUNTARY SERVICE AND STATE HONOURS IN TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRITAIN
Authors: HARPER TOBIAS
Published: May 2015

The importance of the honours system as an institution in British politics and public life has frequently been underestimated. At the end of the First World War, the British government prioritized voluntary service to the state as an area which the honours system should reward more than others through the newly created Order of the British Empire. However, after the war the Order changed to focus more on civil servants, soldiers, and the broad category of ‘local service’. The latter could include volunteers, but more often did not. Various attempts to democratize honours through reforms from the 1960s focused on rewarding a wider range of service. The most successful of these was John Major's honours reform programme in 1993, which returned volunteer service to the forefront of the public image of honours. While these reforms were not as egalitarian as they seemed, they were successful because they integrated an ideology of crown honours with the other functions of the modern monarchy and opened up the honours system to a wider potential set of recipients. At the same time, they maintained a hierarchical structure that meant that elites who had traditionally enjoyed the exclusivity of high honours continued to do so.
Abundance and genetic variation of the coral-killing cyanobacteriospongeTerpios hoshinotain the Spermonde Archipelago, SW Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: van der Ent Esther , Hoeksema Bert W. , de Voogd Nicole J.
Published: May 2015

The cyanobacteriospongeTerpios hoshinotais expanding its range across the Indo-Pacific. This species can have massive outbreaks on coral reefs, actively kill corals it overgrows and affect the entire benthic community. Although it has received much attention on the post-outbreak follow-up, little is known about its ecology, habitat preferences, and the possible environmental triggers that cause its outbreaks. We present a baseline study in the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia, whereT. hoshinotawas first observed in 2012. We surveyed 27 reefs and recorded patches between 14 and 217 cm2, at four reef sites (~15% cover). The sponge was found on both mid-shelf and outer shelf reefs but not close to the coast and the city of Makassar. Differences in benthic community structure, as well as spatial variables relating to the on-to-offshore gradient in the Spermonde archipelago, neither constrained nor promoted its expansion. Patches of the sponge were mostly overgrowing branching corals, belonging to Acroporidae species. Genetic variation withinT. hoshinotawas studied by sequencing partitions of the mitochondrial CO1 and nuclear ribosomal 28S gene. Two haplotypes were found within the Spermonde archipelago, which differed from the CO1 sequence in GenBank. The present study provides an indication of habitat preferences ofT. hoshinotain non-outbreak conditions, although it is still unclear which environmental conditions may lead to the onset of its outbreaks.
Morphology of juvenile phase of Achelous spinimanus (Latreille, 1819) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Portunidae) reared in laboratory
Authors: Bolla Júnior Eduardo Antonio , Negreiros Fransozo Maria Lucia
Published: May 2015

The swimming crabAchelous spinimanusis an important fishery component of several countries in the Western Atlantic; therefore, knowledge of the different phases of its life cycle is essential for good management of this resource. The juvenile development ofA. spinimanuswas investigated in the laboratory, from megalopae captured in neuston samples at Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil (23°26′S 46°09′W), during the summer months of 2005–2007. Rearing was performed in a constant temperature (25 ± 1°C), filtered seawater from the collection location (35 psu) and natural photoperiod. We obtained nine stages of the juvenile phase. All the morphological characters that allow the recognition of the first juvenile stage were drawn and described, as well as the main alterations that occur in the following stages. The sexual differentiation based on the number of pleopods becomes apparent from the third stage on. Some important characters in the identification of the species at the juvenile phase are the number of segments on the exopod of antennule, on the antennal flagellum and on the palp of mandible, beyond the absence of pleopods (even rudimentary) in the first stage.
LIKELIHOOD INFERENCE IN AN AUTOREGRESSION WITH FIXED EFFECTS
Authors: Dhaene Geert , Jochmans Koen
Published: May 2015

We calculate the bias of the profile score for the regression coefficients in a multistratum autoregressive model with stratum-specific intercepts. The bias is free of incidental parameters. Centering the profile score delivers an unbiased estimating equation and, upon integration, an adjusted profile likelihood. A variety of other approaches to constructing modified profile likelihoods are shown to yield equivalent results. However, the global maximizer of the adjusted likelihood lies at infinity for any sample size, and the adjusted profile score has multiple zeros. Consistent parameter estimates are obtained as local maximizers inside or on an ellipsoid centered at the maximum likelihood estimator.
Uniqueness of higher genus bridge surfaces for torus knots
Authors: ZUPAN ALEXANDER
Published: May 2015

We show that a torus knot which is not 2-bridge has a unique irreducible bridge splitting of positive genus.
Set-syllogistics meet combinatorics
Authors: OMODEO EUGENIO G. , POLICRITI ALBERTO , TOMESCU ALEXANDRU I.
Published: May 2015

This paper considers ∃*∀* prenex sentences of pure first-order predicate calculus with equality. This is the set of formulas which Ramsey's treated in a famous article of 1930. We demonstrate that the satisfiability problem and the problem of existence of arbitrarily large models for these formulas can be reduced to the satisfiability problem for ∃*∀* prenex sentences of Set Theory (in the relators ∈, =).

We present two satisfiability-preserving (in a broad sense) translations Φ ↦ $\dot{\Phi}$ and Φ ↦ Φσ of ∃*∀* sentences from pure logic to well-founded Set Theory, so that if $\dot{\Phi}$ is satisfiable (in the domain of Set Theory) then so is Φ, and if Φσ is satisfiable (again, in the domain of Set Theory) then Φ can be satisfied in arbitrarily large finite structures of pure logic.

It turns out that |$\dot{\Phi}$| = $\mathcal{O}$(|Φ|) and |Φσ| = $\mathcal{O}$(|Φ|2).

Our main result makes use of the fact that ∃*∀* sentences, even though constituting a decidable fragment of Set Theory, offer ways to describe infinite sets. Such a possibility is exploited to glue together infinitely many models of increasing cardinalities of a given ∃*∀* logical formula, within a single pair of infinite sets.
Prevalence of and risk factors for binge eating behaviour in 6930 adults starting a weight loss or maintenance programme
Authors: Bertoli Simona , Leone Alessandro , Ponissi Veronica , Bedogni Giorgio , Beggio Valentina , Strepparava Maria Grazia , Battezzati Alberto
Published: May 2015

Objective

Conflicting data are available on the prevalence of binge eating behaviour (BE) in individuals seeking to lose or maintain weight. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and the risk factors for BE in a large sample of men and women starting a weight loss or maintenance programme.

Design

Cross-sectional study. BE was defined as a Binge Eating Scale (BES) score ≥18. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Italian Depression Questionnaire were used to assess anxiety and depression. Besides sex, age and BMI, marital status, educational level, smoking and physical activity were evaluated as potential risk factors for BE. Uni- and multivariable Poisson working regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and marginal probabilities.

Setting

Nutritional research centre.

Subjects

Adults (n6930; 72 % women) with a median age of 46 years (range 18–81 years) were consecutively studied.

Results

BE prevalence in the pooled sample was 17 %. At multivariable analysis, being a woman (PR=2·70), smoking (PR=1·15) and increasing BMI (PR=1·05 for 1 kg/m2increase) were risk factors for BE. On the contrary, being older (PR=0·99 for 1-year increase), performing physical activity (PR=0·89) and being married (PR=0·88) were protective factors for BE. Anxiety and depression were more common in subjects with BE.

Conclusions

BE is common in individuals seeking to lose or maintain weight. The prevalence of BE is higher in young obese women. However, BE is present also in men, elders and normal-weight subjects.
“Unstuck in time”: Harry Partch's Bilocated Life
Authors: JOHNSON JAKE
Published: May 2015

In a letter dated to 1960, Harry Partch describes living two lives simultaneously—one in modern America and another in ancient Greece. Furthermore, throughout his life, Partch exhibited striking dualities in both his music and personal life. Partch's affinity for Greek themes and modalities in his music and music theory is well known, but less known is his feeling of bilocation between Greek and modern life. Using writings by Vonnegut, Woolf, and Stephen Hawking, I examine methods of constructing history that support Partch's temporal irregularity and, in so doing, foster new ways of understanding Partch and his music. With a particular focus on corporeality within his late work Revelation in the Courthouse Park, I explore how Partch leaned on his sense of bilocation to cope with his decidedly outsider status, how that in turn helped him deal with reality, and how biographers might tackle this most perplexing issue.
Long-term observation of amphibian populations inhabiting urban and forested areas in Yekaterinburg, Russia
Authors: Vershinin Vladimir L. , Vershinina Svetlana D. , Berzin Dmitry L. , Zmeeva Darya V. , Kinev Alexander V.
Published: May 2015

This article presents data derived from a 36 year-long uninterrupted observational study of amphibian populations living in the city and vicinity of Yekaterinburg, Russia. This area is inhabited by six amphibian species. Based on a degree of anthropogenic transformation, the urban territory is divided into five highly mosaic zones characterized by vegetation, temperature, and a distinctive water pollution profile. Population data is presented year-by-year for the number of animals, sex ratio, and species-specific fecundity including the number and quality of spawns for the following amphibian species: Salamandrella keyserligii, Rana arvalis, R. temporaria, Lissotriton vulgaris, and Pelophylax ridibundus. These data provide an excellent opportunity to assess an urban environment from an animal population-wide perspective, as well as revealing the forces driving animal adaptation to the anthropogenic transformation of habitats.
A user-friendly database of coastal flooding in the United Kingdom from 1915–2014
Authors: Haigh Ivan D. , Wadey Matthew P. , Gallop Shari L. , Loehr Heiko , Nicholls Robert J. , Horsburgh Kevin , Brown Jennifer M. , Bradshaw Elizabeth
Published: May 2015

Coastal flooding caused by extreme sea levels can be devastating, with long-lasting and diverse consequences. Historically, the UK has suffered major flooding events, and at present 2.5 million properties and £150 billion of assets are potentially exposed to coastal flooding. However, no formal system is in place to catalogue which storms and high sea level events progress to coastal flooding. Furthermore, information on the extent of flooding and associated damages is not systematically documented nationwide. Here we present a database and online tool called ‘SurgeWatch’, which provides a systematic UK-wide record of high sea level and coastal flood events over the last 100 years (1915-2014). Using records from the National Tide Gauge Network, with a dataset of exceedance probabilities and meteorological fields, SurgeWatch captures information of 96 storms during this period, the highest sea levels they produced, and the occurrence and severity of coastal flooding. The data are presented to be easily assessable and understandable to a range of users including, scientists, coastal engineers, managers and planners and concerned citizens.
Four-state ferroelectric spin-valve
Authors: Quindeau Andy , Fina Ignasi , Marti Xavi , Apachitei Geanina , Ferrer Pilar , Nicklin Chris , Pippel Eckhard , Hesse Dietrich , Alexe Marin
Published: May 2015

Spin-valves had empowered the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) devices to have memory. The insertion of thin antiferromagnetic (AFM) films allowed two stable magnetic field-induced switchable resistance states persisting in remanence. In this letter, we show that, without the deliberate introduction of such an AFM layer, this functionality is transferred to multiferroic tunnel junctions (MFTJ) allowing us to create a four-state resistive memory device. We observed that the ferroelectric/ferromagnetic interface plays a crucial role in the stabilization of the exchange bias, which ultimately leads to four robust electro tunnel electro resistance (TER) and tunnel magneto resistance (TMR) states in the junction.
The Association between Serum Uric Acid Levels and the Prevalence of Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaque: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Li Qing , Zhou Yong , Dong Kehui , Wang Anxin , Yang Xin , Zhang Caifeng , Zhu Yi , Wu Shouling , Zhao Xingquan
Published: May 2015

Little is known about the associations between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and atherosclerotic carotid plaque vulnerability. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of SUA levels with the prevalence of vulnerable atherosclerotic carotid plaque in a community-based cohort. In the Asymptomatic Polyvascular Abnormalities Community (APAC) study, cross-sectional data from 2860 Chinese residents who underwent SUA measurement and ultrasonographic assessment of carotid plaque were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of SUA levels with presence of vulnerable carotid plaque. After adjustment for potential confounders, SUA levels were significantly associated with the prevalence of vulnerable plaque amongst the middle-aged adults (odds ratio [OR] = 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–1.28). Compared to the lowest quartile, quartiles 2, 3 and 4 had a prevalence OR of 1.33 (1.02–1.74), 1.70 (1.27–2.27) and 2.05 (1.53–2.75), respectively, for the presence of vulnerable carotid plaque (p for trend across quartiles < 0.001). In the APAC study, elevated SUA levels were independently associated with the prevalence of vulnerable carotid plaque in middle-aged adults.
Low Temperature Vacuum Synthesis of Triangular CoO Nanocrystal/Graphene Nanosheets Composites with Enhanced Lithium Storage Capacity
Authors: Guan Qun , Cheng Jianli , Li Xiaodong , Wang Bin , Huang Ling , Nie Fude , Ni Wei
Published: May 2015

CoO nanocrystal/graphene nanosheets (GNS) composites, consisting of a triangular CoO nanocrystal of 2~20 nm on the surface of GNS, are synthesized by a mild synthetic method. First, cobalt acetate tetrahydrate is recrystallized in the alcohol solution at a low temperature. Then, graphene oxide mixed with cobalt-precursor followed by high vacuum annealing to form the CoO nanocrystal/GNS composites. The CoO nanocrystal/GNS composites exhibit a high reversible capacity of 1481.9 m Ah g−1 after 30 cycles with a high Coulombic efficiency of over 96% when used as anode materials for lithium ion battery. The excellent electrochemical performances may be attributed to the special structure of the composites. The well-dispersed triangular CoO nanocrystal on the substrate of conductive graphene can not only have a shorter diffusion length for lithium ions, better stress accommodation capability during the charge-discharge processes and more accessible active sites for lithium-ion storage and electrolyte wetting, but also possess a good conductive network, which can significantly improve the whole electrochemical performance.
Larynx carcinoma regulates tumor-associated macrophages through PLGF signaling
Authors: Zhou Xu , Qi Ying
Published: May 2015

Cancer neovascularization plays an essential role in the metastasis of larynx carcinoma (LC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. Recently, we reported that placental growth factor (PLGF) regulates expression of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) through ERK/MAPK signaling pathway in LC. Here, we show that MMP9 upregulated in LC and appeared to be mainly produced by M2 macrophages (tumor-associated macrophages (TAM)). In a transwell co-culture system, PLGF secreted by LC cells triggered macrophage polarization to a TAM subtype that releases MMP9. Moreover, MMP9 was found to be activated in the PLGF-polarized TAM via transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) receptor signaling activation. Furthermore, PLGF in LC cells induced macrophage polarization in vivo and significantly promoted the growth of LC. Thus, together with our previous work, our study highlights a pivotal role of cross-talk between TAM and LC in regulating the metastasis of LC.
Generic amyloidogenicity of mammalian prion proteins from species susceptible and resistant to prions
Authors: Nyström Sofie , Hammarström Per
Published: May 2015

Prion diseases are lethal, infectious diseases associated with prion protein (PrP) misfolding. A large number of mammals are susceptible to both sporadic and acquired prion diseases. Although PrP is highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed in all mammals, not all species exhibit prion disease. By employing full length recombinant PrP from five known prion susceptible species (human, cattle, cat, mouse and hamster) and two species considered to be prion resistant (pig and dog) the amyloidogenicity of these PrPs has been delineated. All the mammalian PrPs, even from resistant species, were swiftly converted from the native state to amyloid-like structure when subjected to a native condition conversion assay. The PrPs displayed amyloidotypic tinctorial and ultrastructural hallmarks. Self-seeded conversion of the PrPs displayed significantly decreased lag phases demonstrating that nucleation dependent polymerization is a dominating mechanism in the fibrillation process. Fibrils from Aβ1-40, Aβ1-42, Lysozyme, Insulin and Transthyretin did not accelerate conversion of HuPrP whereas fibrils from HuPrP90-231 and HuPrP121-231 as well as full length PrPs of all PrPs efficiently seeded conversion showing specificity of the assay requiring the C-terminal PrP sequence. Our findings have implications for PrP misfolding and could have ramifications in the context of prion resistant species and silent carriers.