bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Block Copolymers of 2‐Ethylhexyl Methacrylate, n‐Hexyl Methacrylate and Methyl Methacrylate via Anionic Polymerization at Ambient Temperature
Authors: Zou Guijin , Zheng Anna , Wei Dafu , Li Zheng , Su Ling , Zhang Tongyuan , Xu Xiang , Guan Yong
Published: July 2018

It still remains a concern to break through the bottlenecks of anionic polymerization of polar monomers, such as side reactions, low conversion and low temperature (–78°C). In this work, potassium tert‐butoxide (t‐BuOK) was chosen to initiate the anionic polymerization of 2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA) in tetrahydrofuran. The conversions were above 99% at 0 or 30°C, and above 95% at 60°C without side reaction inhibitors. The high conversions implied t‐BuOK could suppress the side reactions. A series of block copolymers of EHMA, n‐hexyl methacrylate (HMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were further synthesized at 0°C, and the conversions were all above 99%. The GPC and 1H NMR results confirmed the successful synthesis of the block copolymers. The molecular size of monomer and the state of t‐BuOK (free ion pairs or aggregates) remarkably affected the polymerization rates and the molecular structures of the products. The DMA results indicated that the glass transition temperatures of PEHMA or PHMA block and PMMA block were 20°C and 60°C, respectively, which deviated from –2°C and 105°C of homopolymer, respectively, due to the partial compatibility of the blocks. This work explored a route of the anionic polymerization of polar monomers at room temperature.
Conversion of Lignin Models by Photoredox Catalysis
Authors: Zhang Jian
Published: July 2018

One prominent goal of 21st century research is to develop a sustainable carbon‐neutral biorefinery. Lignin is an important component of lignocellulosic biomass; however, it is currently underutilized owing to its highly cross‐linked, complex, and randomly polymerized composition, which poses a significant challenge to its depolymerization and valorization. Chemical catalytic approaches based on transition metals represent the primary research area to drive degradation reactions. Recently, alternative photocatalytic strategies that employ sustainable solar energy to initiate the transformation of lignin have started to emerge. This Concept article examines new developments of photocatalyzed reactions and provides insight into C−O and C−C bond‐cleavage reactions of lignin models in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems.
Anti‐inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of tilifodiolide, isolated from Salvia tiliifolia Vahl (Lamiaceae)
Authors: González‐Chávez Marco Martin , Alonso‐Castro Angel Josabad , Zapata‐Morales Juan Ramón , Arana‐Argáez Víctor , Torres‐Romero Julio Cesar , Medina‐Rivera Yessica Elisa , Sánchez‐Mendoza Ernesto , Pérez‐Gutiérrez Salud
Published: July 2018

Salvia tiliifolia Vahl (Lamiaceae) is used for the empirical treatment of pain and inflammation. The diterpenoid tilifodiolide (TFD) was isolated from Salvia tiliifolia. The in vitro anti‐inflammatory effects of TFD (0.1–200 µM) were assessed using murine macrophages stimulated with LPS and estimating the levels of pro‐inflammatory mediators for 48 h. The in vivo anti‐inflammatory activity of TFD was assessed using the carrageenan‐induced paw edema test for 6 h. The antinociceptive effects of TFD were evaluated using the formalin test and the acetic acid induced‐writhing test. The effects of TFD on locomotor activity were assessed using the open field test and the rotarod test. TFD inhibited the production of TNF‐α (IC50 = 5.66 µM) and IL‐6 (IC50 = 1.21 µM) in macrophages. TFD (200 mg/kg) showed anti‐inflammatory effects with similar activity compared to 10 mg/kg indomethacin. The administration of TFD induced antinociception in the phase 1 (ED50 = 48.2 mg/kg) and the phase 2 (ED50 = 28.9 mg/kg) of the formalin test. In the acetic acid assay, TFD showed antinociceptive effects (ED50 = 32.3 mg/kg) with similar potency compared to naproxen (ED50 = 36.2 mg/kg). In the presence of different inhibitors in the acetic acid assay, only the co‐administration of TFD and naloxone reverted the antinociceptive activity shown by TFD alone. TFD did not affect locomotor activity in mice. TFD exerts in vitro and in vivo anti‐inflammatory activity and in vivo antinociceptive effects.
Flower preferences and pollen transport networks for cavity‐nesting solitary bees: Implications for the design of agri‐environment schemes
Authors: Gresty Catherine E. A. , Clare Elizabeth , Devey Dion S. , Cowan Robyn S. , Csiba Laszlo , Malakasi Panagiota , Lewis Owen T. , Willis Katherine J.
Published: July 2018

Floral foraging resources are valuable for pollinator conservation on farmland, and their provision is encouraged by agri‐environment schemes in many countries. Across Europe, wildflower seed mixtures are widely sown on farmland to encourage pollinators, but the extent to which key pollinator groups such as solitary bees exploit and benefit from these resources is unclear. We used high‐throughput sequencing of 164 pollen samples extracted from the brood cells of six common cavity‐nesting solitary bee species (Osmia bicornis, Osmia caerulescens, Megachile versicolor, Megachile ligniseca, Megachile centuncularis and Hylaeus confusus) which are widely distributed across the UK and Europe. We documented their pollen use across 19 farms in southern England, UK, revealing their forage plants and examining the structure of their pollen transport networks. Of the 32 plant species included currently in sown wildflower mixes, 15 were recorded as present within close foraging range of the bees on the study farms, but only Ranunculus acris L. was identified within the pollen samples. Rosa canina L. was the most commonly found of the 23 plant species identified in the pollen samples, suggesting that, in addition to providing a nesting resource for Megachile leafcutter bees, it may be an important forage plant for these species. Higher levels of connectance and nestedness were characteristic of pollen transport networks on farms with abundant floral resources, which may increase resilience to species loss. Our data suggest that plant species promoted currently by agri‐environment schemes are not optimal for solitary bee foraging. If a diverse community of pollinators is to be supported on UK and European farmland, additional species such as R. canina should be encouraged to meet the foraging requirements of solitary bees.
Reproducibility of quantitative sensory testing applied to musculoskeletal orofacial region: Site and sex differences
Authors: Costa Y.M. , de Araújo‐Júnior E.N.S. , Fiedler L. S. , de Souza P.R.J. , Silva L.L.C.P. , Ferreira D.M.A.O. , Conti P.C.R. , Bonjardim L.R.
Published: July 2018

Background

This study estimated the inter‐rater reliability and agreement of the somatosensory assessment performed at masseter and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region in a group of healthy female and male participants.

Methods

Forty healthy participants (20 men and 20 women) were evaluated in two sessions by two different examiners. Cold detection threshold (CDT), warm detection threshold (WDT), thermal sensory limen (TSL), cold pain threshold (CPT), heat pain threshold (HPT), mechanical detection threshold (MDT), mechanical pain threshold (MPT), wind‐up ratio (WUR) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) were assessed on the skin overlying TMJ and masseter body. Mixed ANOVA, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were applied to the data (α = 5%). Nonoverlapping 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of ICCs were considered significantly different.

Results

The ICCs of 77% of all quantitative sensory testing (QST) measurements were considered fair to excellent (ICCs: 0.47–0.97), and WUR presented the lowest values. The reliability of WDT, TSL and HPT of masseter was significantly higher than TMJ, whereas the MDT reliability of TMJ was higher than masseter. In addition, the following combination of test/sites presented significantly lower ICCs for women: HPT, MDT of TMJ and MPT of both TMJ and masseter. Finally, the highest SEM values were presented for CPT and MPT.

Conclusion

The overall somatosensory assessment of the masticatory structures performed by two examiners can be considered sufficiently reliable to discriminate participants, except WUR. Possible site and sex influences on the reproducibility parameters should be taken into account for an appropriate interpretation and clinical application of QST.

Significance

The test site and participant's sex can significantly influence the relative reliability and agreement of quantitative sensory testing applied to musculoskeletal orofacial region, which affect the capacity to discriminate participants and to evaluate changes over time.
A localized artificial diffusivity method to simulate compressible multiphase flows using the stiffened gas equation of state
Authors: Aslani Mohamad , Regele Jonathan D.
Published: July 2018

The development of numerical approaches to perform direct numerical simulations of compressible multiphase flows has been an active field of research for several years. Proper treatment of fluid interfaces is crucial as important physics occur in this infinitesimally small region. Furthermore, the compressibility of the fluid requires proper treatment of discontinuities. Artificial diffusivity is among a number of methods widely used for compressible flows. This study develops a general form of consistent artificial diffusion fluxes and extends the localized artificial diffusivity method for high‐order central schemes to solve multiphase flows with an interface‐capturing method. These fluxes ensure an oscillation‐free interface for pressure, velocity, and temperature without employing a sharpening technique. Moreover, the high‐order representation of all scales in the flow helps capture the wide range of instabilities inherent in these flows. The goal is to develop an approach capable of performing high‐fidelity simulations supported by physics‐driven validation. This is achieved by solving the five‐equation model with the stiffened‐gas equation of state using the proposed method for multicomponent and multiphase flows on a variety of 1D and 2D problems.
Assessment of age‐related differences in smoking status and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL): Findings from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Authors: Dube Shanta R. , Liu Jin , Fan Amy Z. , Meltzer Martin I. , Thompson William W.
Published: July 2018

Despite significant declines in the use of cigarettes, a significant proportion of adults smoke. This study explores the association between smoking and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) by age. The 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey was administered to adults in 50 states and District of Columbia (n = 437,195). Physically unhealthy days (PUDs) and mentally unhealthy days (MUDs)) were regressed on age strata (18–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, ≥ 65 years) and smoking status (never, former, someday, and everyday) using negative binomial regression models with adjustment for sociodemographic covariates. For each age group, everyday smoking highly predicted PUDs and MUDs. Predicted PUDs increased with age; predicted MUDs decreased with age. Among adults aged 45–54 and 55–64 years, 3‐day difference in PUDs was observed between never smokers and everyday smokers. Among young adults (18–24 years), a 4.3‐day difference in MUDs was observed between everyday and never smokers. The discrepancies were nonlinear with age. The observed relationship between smoking and HRQoL provides novel information about the need to consider age when designing community‐based interventions. Additional research can provide needed depth to understanding the relationship between smoking and HRQoL in specific age groups.
Gas‐phase protomers of p‐(dimethylamino)chalcone investigated by travelling‐wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIMS)
Authors: Erabelli Ramu , Xu Sihang , Attygalle Athula B.
Published: July 2018

Results from ion‐mobility (IM) separation experiments demonstrate that O‐ and N‐protomers of p‐(dimethylamino)chalcone (p‐DMAC) can coexist in the gas phase. The relative populations of the two protomers strongly depend on the ion‐generating settings and the conditions the precursor ions experience from the point of their gas‐phase inception to the time of their detection. Under relatively dry source conditions, the ratio of the gas‐phase protomers generated under helium‐plasma ionization (HePI) conditions is biased towards the thermodynamically favored O‐protomer. However, when the humidity of the enclosed ion source was increased, the IM arrival‐time distribution profile of the mass‐selected protonated precursor of p‐DMAC changed rapidly to one dominated by the N‐protomer. Under spray‐ionization conditions, the formation of the thermodynamically less favored protomer has been generally attributed to a phenomenon called kinetic trapping. Herein, we demonstrate that the population of thermodynamically less favored N‐protomer can be dramatically increased simply by introducing water vapor to the HePI ion source.
Pacific sea surface temperature related influences on North American monsoon precipitation within North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program models
Authors: Carrillo Carlos M. , Castro Christopher L. , Garfin Gregg , Chang Hsin‐I , Bukovsky Melissa S. , Mearns Linda O.
Published: July 2018

Climate inter‐annual variability over the North American monsoon (NAM) region is associated with El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific decadal variability (PDV), which drive a warm season atmospheric teleconnection response. Using the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) simulations, previous studies have found that regional models forced with an atmospheric reanalysis (NARCCAP Phase I) represent the NAM reasonably well as a climatological feature. However, when these same regional models are forced with global climate model projections (NARCCAP Phase II), their ability to represent the NAM as a salient feature substantially degrades. The present study evaluates NAM inter‐annual climate variability through the continental‐scale patterns of summer precipitation within the NARCCAP simulations (Phases I and II), in relation to ENSO–PDV, and the presence of the driving atmospheric teleconnection response. Multivariate statistical analyses are applied to sea surface temperature and precipitation data sets to determine dominant variability at continental scale, with focus on the southwest. The analysis reveals that NARCCAP Phase I simulations are able to portray the spatial pattern of precipitation associated with ENSO–PDV in a similar way to observations. However, all NARCCAP Phase II simulations, with the exception of the HRM(Hadcm3) regional–global model pair, fail to reproduce this climate variability. Although including all possible NARCCAP model simulations to generate a multi‐model ensemble mean would increase the statistical degree of confidence in climate projections, this type of result would not increase confidence in the physical climatology of model representations of warm season climate variability. More physically based, process‐oriented metrics are needed to evaluate model quality in assessing the uncertainty of future climate change in multi‐model ensemble products used for climate change impacts assessments.
Cloning and characterization of short‐chain N‐acyl homoserine lactone‐producing Enterobacter asburiae strain L1 from lettuce leaves
Authors: Lau Yin Yin , How Kah Yan , Yin Wai‐Fong , Chan Kok‐Gan
Published: July 2018

In gram‐negative bacteria, bacterial communication or quorum sensing (QS) is achieved using common signaling molecules known as N‐acyl homoserine lactones (AHL). We have previously reported the genome of AHL‐producing bacterium, Enterobacter asburiae strain L1. In silico analysis of the strain L1 genome revealed the presence of a pair of luxI/R genes responsible for AHL‐type QS, designated as easIR. In this work, the 639 bp luxI homolog, encoding 212 amino acids, have been cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3)pLysS. The purified protein (~25 kDa) shares high similarity to several members of the LuxI family among different E asburiae strains. Our findings showed that the heterologously expressed EasI protein has activated violacein production by AHL biosensor Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 as the wild‐type E. asburiae. The mass spectrometry analysis showed the production of N‐butanoyl homoserine lactone and N–hexanoyl homoserine lactone from induced E. coli harboring the recombinant EasI, suggesting that EasI is a functional AHL synthase. E. asburiae strain L1 was also shown to possess biofilm‐forming characteristic activity using crystal violet binding assay. This is the first report on cloning and characterization of the luxI homolog from E. asburiae.
On the small‐time asymptotics of 3D stochastic primitive equations
Authors: Dong Zhao , Zhang Rangrang
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we establish a small‐time large deviation principle for the strong solution of three‐dimensional stochastic primitive equations driven by multiplicative noise, which involves not only the study of small noise but also the challenging nonlinear drift terms.
A note on the rainbow cycle cover problem
Authors: Moreno Jorge , Martins Simone , Frota Yuri
Published: July 2018

Given an edge‐colored graph G, a cycle with all its edges with different colors is called a rainbow cycle. The rainbow cycle cover (RCC) problem consists of finding the minimum number of disjoint rainbow cycles covering G. We present an integer linear programming model for the RCC problem and a reduction process for decreasing the dimensions of the graph, resulting in a more efficient method that was able to find new optimal solutions for instances that were unsolved.
Government stewardship and primary health care in Guatemala since 1996
Authors: Cross Harry E. , De La Cruz Marisela , Dent Juan
Published: July 2018

This article analyzes the role of government stewardship in the expansion of primary health care in post‐conflict Guatemala. By the time the Peace Accords were signed in 1996, the country's primary health care system was scarcely functioning with virtually no services available in rural indigenous areas. To address this gaping void/deficiency, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) embarked on a progressive expansion of primary services aimed at covering the majority of rural poor. Through a series of legal, policy, and program reforms up to 2014, the MSPAS dramatically expanded primary coverage and greatly improved basic health indicators for the entire population. To succeed in this effort, the MSPAS and its partners needed to simultaneously grow their stewardship capacity to oversee and develop the primary health system. On the basis of recent health systems strengthening literature, we propose a stewardship framework of 6 critical functions and use it to analyze the gains in government capacity that enabled the achievement of many of the country's primary health goals. Of the 6 stewardship functions, “building relationships, coalitions, and partnerships” especially with civil society organizations stands out as one of the keys to MSPAS success.
AcFT promotes kiwifruit in vitro flowering when overexpressed and Arabidopsis flowering when expressed in the vasculature under its own promoter
Authors: Moss Sarah M. A. , Wang Tianchi , Voogd Charlotte , Brian Lara A. , Wu Rongmei , Hellens Roger P. , Allan Andrew C. , Putterill Joanna , Varkonyi‐Gasic Erika
Published: July 2018

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) has three FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) genes, AcFT, AcFT1, and AcFT2, with differential expression and potentially divergent roles. AcFT was previously shown to be expressed in source leaves and induced in dormant buds by winter chilling. Here, we show that AcFT promotes flowering in A. chinensis, despite a short sequence insertion not present in other FT‐like genes. A 3.5‐kb AcFT promoter region contained all the regulatory elements required to mediate vascular expression in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis). The promoter activation was initially confined to the veins in the distal end of the leaf, before extending to the veins in the base of the leaf, and was detected in inductive and noninductive photoperiods. The 3‐kb and 2.7‐kb promoter regions of AcFT1 and AcFT2, respectively, demonstrated different activation patterns in Arabidopsis, corresponding to differential expression in kiwifruit. Expression of AcFT cDNA from the AcFT promoter was capable to induce early flowering in transgenic Arabidopsis in noninductive photoperiods. Further, expression of AcFT cDNA fused to the green fluorescent protein was detected in the vasculature and was also capable to advance flowering in noninductive photoperiods. Taken together, these studies implicate AcFT in regulation of kiwifruit flowering time and as a candidate for kiwifruit florigen.
A calibration framework for the determination of accurate collision cross sections of polyanions using polyoxometalate standards
Authors: Hupin Sébastien , Lavanant Hélène , Renaudineau Séverine , Proust Anna , Izzet Guillaume , Groessl Michael , Afonso Carlos
Published: July 2018

Rationale

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are remarkable oxo‐clusters forming compact highly charged anions. We measured their collision cross sections (CCS) in N2 with drift tube ion mobility spectrometry (DTIMS). These values were then used to calibrate a traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) device and the accuracy of the calibration was tested.

Methods

Six POM standards were analyzed by DTIM‐MS (Tofwerk, Thun, Switzerland) at different voltages to determine absolute DTCCS (N2) values. Five POM compounds (Lindqvist TBA2Mo6O19; decatungstate TBA4W10O32; Keggin TBA3PMo12O40; TBA3PW12O40 and Dawson TBA6P2W18O62) were used for the calibration of the TWIM‐MS instrument (Synapt G2 HDMS, Waters, Manchester, UK) and a sixth Dawson POM, TBA9P2Nb3W15O62, was used to compare the accuracy of the calibrations with POM or with polyalanine and dextran reference ions.

Results

We determined 45 DTCCS (N2) values at 30°C or 60°C. Fourteen DTCCS (N2) values at 30°C were used to perform calibration of the TWIMS instrument. Better correlations were observed than when DTCCS values in helium from the literature were used. The accuracy tests on six ions of Dawson POM TBA9P2Nb3W15O62 led to relative errors below 3.1% while relative errors of 3.6% to 10.1% were observed when calibration was performed with polyalanine and dextran reference ions.

Conclusions

Our novel calibration strategy for determination of CCS values of multiply negatively charged ions on TWIM‐MS devices based on DTCCS (N2) of standard POM structures covered a wider range of CCS and improved the accuracy to 2.1% relative error on average compared with 6.9% using polyalanine and dextran calibration.
Exact and overapproximated guarantees for corner cutting avoidance in a multiobstacle environment
Authors: Stoican Florin , Prodan Ionela , Grøtli Esten Ingar
Published: July 2018

The corner cutting avoidance problem is an important but often overlooked part of motion planning strategies. Obstacle and collision avoidance constraints are usually imposed at the sampling time without regards to the intrasample behavior of the agent. Hence, it is possible for an agent to “cut the corner” of an obstacle while apparently respecting the constraints. This paper improves upon state of the art by providing exact and overapproximated descriptions of the undershadow (and of its complement, the visible) region generated by an agent against obstacles. We employ a hyperplane arrangement construction to handle multiple obstacles simultaneously and provide piecewise descriptions of the regions of interest and parametrizations of the corner cutting conditions (useful, eg, in finite horizon optimization problems). Mixed‐integer representations are used to describe the regions of interest, leading in the overapproximated case to binary‐only constraints. Illustrative proofs of concept, comparisons with the state of the art, and simulations over a standard multiobstacle avoidance problem showcase the benefits of the proposed approach.
Supply chain strategy decisions for sustainable development using an integrated multi‐criteria decision‐making approach
Authors: Sreekumar V. , Rajmohan M.
Published: July 2018

The evaluation and selection of strategies for sustainable development in manufacturing supply chains are critical tasks for the decision‐maker because of the complexity involving various criteria. This paper deals with the prioritization of critical sustainability criteria and the sustainability strategy selection (SSS) using an integrated weighting approach. This approach consists of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the subjective and objective weight integrated approach (SOWIA) and the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) and is found to be effective for solving this multi‐criteria decision‐making problem. The proposed methodology is applied to solve a real‐time supply chain decision‐making issue of an Indian manufacturing industry. From a sustainability perspective, the results indicate the second strategy set as the best among the given alternatives, with an objective factor of 0.5. The robustness of the results has been analysed to identify the uncertainty in the final ranking. The consistency of the final ranking has been evaluated based on different objective factor values. The novelty of this paper pertains to addressing the most relevant SSS problem involved in a manufacturing supply chain and in establishing a hybrid approach for solving it. This approach offers a flexible provision for decision‐makers to incorporate the appropriate level of subjectivity and objectivity into their decisions based on their degree of expertise. This study is unique and carries a high originality value, as it offers a new structured and flexible approach to solving the SSS problem.
The PROSIT tool: Toward the optimal design of probabilistic soft real‐time systems
Authors: Villalba Frías Bernardo , Palopoli Luigi , Abeni Luca , Fontanelli Daniele
Published: July 2018

In recent years, series of important achievements have paved the way for the introduction of probabilistic analysis in the area of soft real‐time systems design. In this article, we present an extensible design tool, called PROSIT, which facilitates the access to this technology for a potentially large number of researchers and industrial practitioners. The tool enables the probabilistic analysis of the temporal performance of a real‐time task under fixed‐priority and resource reservations scheduling algorithms. For resource reservations, the tool also offers an automatic procedure for the synthesis of scheduling parameters that optimize a quality metric related to the probabilistic behavior of the tasks.
Modelling of waves in fluid‐saturated porous media with high contrast heterogeneity: homogenization approach
Authors: Rohan Eduard , Naili Salah , Nguyen Vu‐Hieu
Published: July 2018

The paper deals with homogenization of a double porosity fluid‐saturated periodic medium. At the mesoscopic level, dynamic behaviour of the medium is described by the Biot model featured by high contrasts in the permeability and the poroelastic coefficients. The fluid flow is governed by the Darcy flow model extended by inertia terms and by the mass conservation equation. To respect the high contrasts, some of the material properties are scaled by the small parameter which characterizes the size of the heterogeneities being subject of the asymptotic analysis. The macroscopic model of the medium is obtained using the two‐scale homogenization based on the periodic unfolding method. For this, the Laplace transformation in time is used to introduce the local autonomous problems for characteristic responses defining the effective medium properties. In comparison with the low contrast heterogeneous medium, the microflow in the double porosity gives rise to the fading memory effects involved also in the macroscopic poroviscoelastic constitutive law. The problem treated in the paper is an extension of previously studied problems with either rigid skeleton part, or deformable Biot ‘medium without high contrasts in material properties. Numerical illustrations of the homogenized effective model parameters are given. The derived two‐scale model is a convenient tool for studying wave propagation in many natural media and provides a basis for material research.
An $$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$ 3d-3d correspondence
Authors: Eckhard Julius , Schäfer-Nameki Sakura , Wong Jin-Mann
Published: July 2018

Abstract

M5-branes on an associative three-cycleM3in aG2-holonomy manifold give rise to a 3d$$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$N=1supersymmetric gauge theory,$$ {T}_{\mathcal{N}=1}\left[{M}_3\right] $$TN=1M3. We propose an$$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$N=13d-3d correspondence, based on two observables of these theories: the Witten index and theS3-partition function. The Witten index of a 3d$$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$N=1theory$$ {T}_{\mathcal{N}=1}\left[{M}_3\right] $$TN=1M3is shown to be computed in terms of the partition function of a topological field theory, a super-BF-model coupled to a spinorial hypermultiplet (BFH), onM3. The BFH-model localizes on solutions to a generalized set of 3d Seiberg-Witten equations onM3. Evidence to support this correspondence is provided in the abelian case, as well as in terms of a direct derivation of the topological field theory by twisted dimensional reduction of the 6d (2,0) theory. We also consider a correspondence for theS3-partition function of the$$ {T}_{\mathcal{N}=1}\left[{M}_3\right] $$TN=1M3theories, by determining the dimensional reduction of the M5-brane theory onS3. The resulting topological theory is Chern-Simons-Dirac theory, for a gauge field and a twisted harmonic spinor onM3, whose equations of motion are the generalized 3d Seiberg-Witten equations. For genericG2-manifolds the theory reduces to real Chern-Simons theory, in which case we conjecture that theS3-partition function of$$ {T}_{\mathcal{N}=1}\left[{M}_3\right] $$TN=1M3is given by the Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant ofM3.
Applying four-component instructional design to develop a case presentation curriculum
Authors: Daniel Michelle , Stojan Jennifer , Wolff Margaret Wolff , Taqui Bizath , Glasgow Tiffany , Forster Susan , Cassese Todd
Published: July 2018

Medical students must gain proficiency with the complex skill of case presentations, yet current approaches to instruction are fragmented and often informal, resulting in suboptimal transfer of this skill into clinical practice. Whole task approaches to learning have been proposed to teach complex skill development. The authors describe a longitudinal case presentation curriculum developed using a whole task approach known as four-component instructional design (4-C/ID). 4‑C/ID is based on cognitive psychology theory, and carefully attends to titrating a learner’s cognitive load, aiming to always keep students in their zone of proximal development. A multi-institutional group of medical educators convened to develop expert consensus regarding case presentation instruction using the 4‑C/ID model. A curriculum consisting of 1) learning tasks, 2) supportive information, 3) just-in-time information, and 4) part-task practice was developed. Domains were identified that make the task of delivering a case presentation complex. A simplifying conditions approach was applied to each domain to develop sequential task class descriptions. Examples of the four components are given to facilitate understanding of the 4‑C/ID model, making it more accessible to medical educators. Applying 4‑C/ID to curriculum development for the complex skill of case presentation delivery may optimize instruction. The provision of the complete curricular outline may facilitate transfer and implementation of this case presentation curriculum, as well as foster the application of 4‑C/ID to other complex skill development in medical education.
Development of design system for crack patterns on cup surface based on KANSEI
Authors: Misaka Mai , Aoyama Hideki
Published: July 2018

With the development of manufacturing technology in recent years, as well as with the industrial product development, differentiation in the design aspect is becoming effective, not in terms of performance or quality. In addition, as consumers seek products that match their own sensibilities (KANSEI), designers are required to propose designs that highly conform to concept presented by client, while understanding the KANSEI of diversified consumers; therefore, their burden is increasing. To address these issues, the support of the development of computer-aided design has advanced; however, it is difficult to reflect human KANSEI or to generate a design that induces a natural impression through computers.

The purpose of this research is to develop a system that incorporates the KANSEI of users, and emits a pattern design that induces a natural impression using a computer. This work is focused on crack patterns that can be observed on pottery surfaces, and a method for generating crack patterns on a cup surface is suggested. In this study, a Bézier curved surface and fluctuation were employed in order to induce a natural impression. In addition, by using the neural network, the crack patterns were associated with user KANSEI. The neural network was composed of three layers, namely the input layer, the hidden layer, and the output layer; it adopted the sigmoid function as the transition function and the back propagation as the learning method. As a result, a system was constructed, in which a crack pattern that satisfied the input produces an output according to the desired impression of the user.

Finally, an evaluation questionnaire was distributed, and the usefulness of the system was confirmed.

Highlights A method for creating crack patterns using a computer is proposed. The relationship between KANSEI and crack patterns is modeled by neural network. A system is developed that outputs crack patterns that satisfy the inputted KANSEI.
The Limits of Sectoral and Regional Efforts to Designate High Seas Marine Protected Areas
Authors: Freestone David
Published: July 2018

This essay addresses the question of how the international community could designate high seas marine protected areas (MPAs) that would be binding on all states. This is a key issue for the forthcoming UN negotiations of an International Legally Binding Instrument (ILBI) on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. However, this is a longstanding question, the importance of which transcends the ILBI negotiations. Some have argued for the establishment of a centralized Ocean Governance Authority, whose decisions would be universally binding; others have argued that existing regional and sectoral bodies can be relied on to protect biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The experience of the Sargasso Sea project is that some sort of centralized or coordinating regime is needed to make MPAs effective across regional and sectoral bodies.
Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction: Regimes and Their Interaction
Authors: Young Margaret A. , Friedman Andrew
Published: July 2018

International efforts to better conserve the marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) through a new international legally binding instrument1 are developing in a context of established norms and institutions. Existing regimes already address specific marine sectors (such as shipping), regions (such as fishing in the South East Atlantic), species (such as whales), and even underlying customary international law and territorial concepts (including the boundaries of the “high seas”2). States have agreed that they will not “undermine” these existing frameworks.3 We seek to contextualize this commitment within the fragmentation of international law and the interaction between regimes.4 We argue that international law-making should not be overly restricted by deference to existing competencies and mandates, which are fluid and asymmetrically supported. An inclusive and adaptive approach to existing and future institutions is vital in the ongoing quest for integrated and effective oceans governance.
The High Seas Freedom to Lay Submarine Cables and the Protection of the Marine Environment: Challenges in High Seas Governance
Authors: Davenport Tara
Published: July 2018

The freedom to lay submarine cables and pipelines, one of the most venerated high seas freedoms under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), faces an uncertain future under the new international legally binding instrument (ILBI) being negotiated in the United Nations. UN General Assembly Resolution 72/249, authorizing the intergovernmental conference for the new ILBI, does not expressly mention submarine cables or pipelines but states that “the work and results of the conference should be fully consistent with the provisions of” UNCLOS. The issues in a new ILBI that are likely to have an impact on the freedom to lay submarine cables and pipelines in areas beyond national jurisdiction are (1) area-based management tools, and (2) environmental impact assessments (EIAs), which are mechanisms used to protect and preserve the marine environment and biodiversity. The challenge for high seas governance (and indeed, the perennial challenge for the law of the sea) is how to balance these two ostensibly competing, but equally valuable, interests: the protection of the marine environment and biodiversity and the high seas freedom to lay submarine cables in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Morphological evidence of biofilm in chronic obstructive sialadenitis
Authors: Schrøder S A , Eickhardt S , Bjarnsholt T , Nørgaard T , Homøe P
Published: July 2018

Objective

Bacterial infection is a common finding in acute sialadenitis and may play a role in the chronicity of the condition. This study investigated if bacterial biofilm is present in submandibular chronic obstructive sialadenitis.

Methods

A descriptive case–control study was conducted that compared 10 histological sections of submandibular glands with chronic obstructive sialadenitis, to 10 histological sections of the healthy part of submandibular glands with pleomorphic adenoma. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation and confocal laser scanning microscopy visualised evidence of bacterial biofilm.

Results

In the chronic obstructive sialadenitis group, 5 out of 10 histological sections showed morphological evidence of bacterial biofilm. In the control group, there was no sign of bacterial biofilm formation.

Conclusion

Morphological evidence of bacterial biofilm was found in the submandibular gland sections from patients with chronic sialadenitis and suggests a role in the chronicity of submandibular chronic obstructive sialadenitis.
Iron deficiency anaemia: experiences and challenges
Authors: Stelle Isabella , Kalea Anastasia Z. , Pereira Dora I. A.
Published: July 2018

Iron deficiency remains the largest nutritional deficiency worldwide and the main cause of anaemia. Severe iron deficiency leads to anaemia known as iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), which affects a total of 1·24 billion people, the majority of whom are children and women from resource-poor countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, iron deficiency is frequently exacerbated by concomitant parasitic and bacterial infections and contributes to over 120 000 maternal deaths a year, while it irreparably limits the cognitive development of children and leads to poor outcomes in pregnancy.

Currently available iron compounds are cheap and readily available, but constitute a non-physiological approach to providing iron that leads to significant side effects. Consequently, iron deficiency and IDA remain without an effective treatment, particularly in populations with high burden of infectious diseases. So far, despite considerable investment in the past 25 years in nutrition interventions with iron supplementation and fortification, we have been unable to significantly decrease the burden of this disease in resource-poor countries.

If we are to eliminate this condition in the future, it is imperative to look beyond the strategies used until now and we should make an effort to combine community engagement and social science approaches to optimise supplementation and fortification programmes.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ONTARIO DECISION FRAMEWORK: A VALUES BASED FRAMEWORK FOR HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
Authors: Krahn Murray , Miller Fiona , Bayoumi Ahmed , Brooker Ann-Sylvia , Wagner Frank , Winsor Shawn , Giacomini Mita , Goeree Ron , Schünemann Holger , van der Velde Gabrielle , Petersen Stephen , Sikich Nancy , Dhalla Irfan
Published: July 2018

Objectives:

In 2007, the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC) developed a decision framework to guide decision making around nondrug health technologies. In 2012, OHTAC commissioned a revision of this framework to enhance its usability and deepen its conceptual and theoretical foundations.

Methods:

The committee overseeing this work used several methods: (a) a priori consensus on guiding principles, (b) a scoping review of decision attributes and processes used globally in health technology assessment (HTA), (c) presentations by methods experts and members of review committees, and (d) committee deliberations over a period of 3 years.

Results:

The committee adopted a multi-criteria decision-making approach, but rejected the formal use of multi-criteria decision analysis. Three broad categories of attributes were identified: (I) context criteria attributes included factors such as stakeholders, adoption pressures from neighboring jurisdictions, and potential conflicts of interest; (II) primary appraisal criteria attributes included (i) benefits and harms, (ii) economics, and (iii) patient-centered care; (III) feasibility criteria attributes included budget impact and organizational feasibility.

Conclusion:

The revised Ontario Decision Framework is similar in some respects to frameworks used in HTA worldwide. Its distinctive characteristics are that: it is based on an explicit set of social values; HTA paradigms (evidence based medicine, economics, and bioethics/social science) are used to aggregate decision attributes; and that it is rooted in a theoretical framework of optimal decision making, rather than one related to broad social goals, such as health or welfare maximization.
THE MACROECONOMICS OF SHADOW BANKING
Authors: Botta Alberto , Caverzasi Eugenio , Tori Daniele
Published: July 2018

We propose a simple short-run Post-Keynesian model in which the key aspects of shadow banking, namely securitization and the production of structured finance instruments, are explicitly formalized. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to broaden purely real-side Post-Keynesian models and their traditional focus on shareholder-value orientation, the financialization of non-financial firms, and the profit-led vs. wage-led dichotomy. We rather put emphasis on the role of financial institutions and rentier-friendly environment in determining the predominance of specific growth and distribution regimes. First, we illustrate the macroeconomic rationale of shadow banking practices. We show how, before the 2007–08 crisis, securitization and shadow banking allowed for an increase in profitability for the whole financial sector, while apparently keeping leverage under control. Second, we define a variety of shadow-banking-led regimes in terms of economic activity, productive capital accumulation, and income distribution.
Regionalisms and Imperialisms in the Making of the Russian Far East, 1903–1926
Authors: Sablin Ivan , Sukhan Daniel
Published: July 2018

Tracing the emergence of the Russian Far East as a new region of the Russian Empire, revolutionary Russia, and the Soviet Union through regionalist and imperialist discourses and policies, this article briefly discusses Russian expansion in the Pacific littoral, outlines the history of regionalism in North Asia during the revolutionary and early Soviet periods, and focuses on the activities of the Far Eastern Council of People's Commissars (Dal΄sovnarkom), the Far Eastern Republic (FER), and the Far Eastern Revolutionary Committee (Dal΄'revkom). Inspired by Siberian regionalism and other takes on post-imperial decentralization, the Bolshevik Aleksandr Mikhailovich Krasnoshchekov and other regional politicians became the makers of the new region from within. Meanwhile, the legacies of the empire's expansionism, the Bolshevik “new imperialism” in Asia, and the Japanese military presence in the region during the Russian Civil War accompanied the consolidation of the Russian Far East.
Topographic Expressions of Large Thrust Faults on Mars
Authors: Klimczak Christian , Kling Corbin L. , Byrne Paul K.
Published: July 2018

On planets with little erosion, thrust faults produce broad, asymmetric, positive‐relief, linear to arcuate ridges—often referred to as lobate scarps—that remain largely unaltered, such that their topographic expressions are a measure of the structural uplift caused by the displacement and associated country rock deformation of the faults. Here we map and systematically assess the structural relief of 24 thrust faults across Mars to infer their growth behavior. Our mapping indicates that the majority of individual thrust faults have simple, linear map traces with lengths of up to ~450 km but that some thrust faults form systems of up to 1,400 km in length. For the most topographically pronounced landforms, the structural relief developed above the fault is as great as ~3,400 m. We then relate topographic measurements to the displacement on the underlying fault planes to study the displacement variations along the fault length. We find a variety of displacement distribution shapes of the fault systems, which we attribute to differences in fault growth that include unrestricted and restricted growth, linkage, and/or fault interaction. Finally, we relate the maximum displacements (Dmax) determined for each of the faults to their respective fault length (L) to establish a maximum displacement‐to‐length relationship. The observed scaling characteristics and order‐of‐magnitude scatter of our Dmax/L data are not uncommon for fault populations on Earth and tie in well with the map patterns, tectonic geomorphology, and systematic along‐strike displacement distributions to have grown in a basement‐block faulting style found in intraplate tectonic settings on Earth.