bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Co/C Microwave Absorber with Tunable Co Nanoparticles Derived from a ZnCo Bimetallic Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework
Authors: Huang Lina , Liu Xiaofang , Yu Ronghai
Published: June 2018

A facile strategy is developed to modulate the content, particle size, and dispersity of magnetic metal nanoparticles (NPs) in porous carbon composite derived from Co/Zn bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF). By adjusting the Co/Zn mole ratio in ZIF structure, porous carbon embedded with controllable Co NPs is synthesized through pyrolysis of CoZn‐based ZIF during which Zn is selectively evaporated away at 900 °C. The Co/C composite derived from ZIF with Co/Zn ratio of 1/1 (Co50/C composite) displays well‐dispersed Co NPs uniformly embedded in porous carbon. Meanwhile, the impedance matching of the composite is significantly improved due to the appropriate amount of Co NPs. Benefiting from the synergistic effect between Co NPs with magnetic loss and carbon with dielectric loss, the Co50/C composite exhibits excellent microwave absorbing properties with strong absorption, thin thickness, and lightweight, which is superior to previous metal–organic framework‐derived absorbers. When the filler loading of Co50/C composite in paraffin matrix is only 20 wt%, a minimum reflection loss of −51.6 dB is achieved at a very thin layer thickness of 1.6 mm.
Treatment outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Nigeria: An institutional experience
Authors: Aliyu Usman Malami , Folasire Ayorinde Mobolanle , Ntekim Atara Isaiah
Published: June 2018

Objective

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma occurs worldwide. The incidence varies according to geographical region, with the highest incidence recorded in Asian countries. In Nigeria, the incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is increasing. Thus, current treatment outcomes must be evaluated to identify areas of possible improvement in the management of this disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the treatment outcome after 2 years in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods

This was a retrospective study that used the records of patients treated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, between 2000 and 2009. The treatment regimen of interest was radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy using cisplatin and 5‐fluorouracil.

Results

A total of 161 patients were included in the analysis, of which 113 (70%) were men and 48 (30%) were women. The mean age of the patients was 41.7 years (range 15–89 years). Ten (6.3%) patients presented with early‐stage disease, whereas 149 (93.7%) had late‐stage disease. The median survival time was 22 months, and the overall disease‐free survival rates were 67% and 46% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Late side‐effects included chronic otitis (n = 21, 13.2%), change in voice (n = 11, 6.8%), trismus (n = 7, 4.4%), neck and facial edema (n = 27, 16.7%), and neck fibrosis (n = 8, 4.9%).

Conclusions

The treatment outcome in this study is worse than in previous studies in developed countries. This is likely because most patients presented with late‐stage disease. Guidelines for the early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma are required, and local studies on treatment regimens that can improve survival should be carried out.
Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Uniform CuCo2S4 Ball‐in‐Ball Hollow Nanospheres as High Performance Electrode for Supercapacitors
Authors: Lee Young Hun , Kang Bong Kyun , Kim Min Seob , Choi Hyung Wook , Choi Dong Soo , Kumar Mohit , Yoon Dae Ho
Published: June 2018

Highly uniform and monodispersed CuCo2S4 ball‐in‐ball hollow nanospheres (HNSs) are successfully synthesized from CuCo‐glycerate nanospheres (NSs) precursors via a facile two‐step solvothermal process. The most influential parameter in anion exchange reaction between glycerate and sulfur ion is the solvothermal time, which plays a significant role in enhancing the structural and electrochemical properties. Impressively, CuCo2S4 ball‐in‐ball HNSs obtained through a sulfurization reaction time of 18 h show high capacitance (442 F g−1 at current density of 0.5 A g−1) and superior electrochemical stability (84.5% at 5 A g−1 after 5000 cycles), which can realize high‐performance materials for supercapacitors.
Hydrologic scaling for hydrogeomorphic floodplain mapping: Insights into human‐induced floodplain disconnectivity
Authors: Nardi Fernando , Morrison Ryan R. , Annis Antonio , Grantham Theodore E.
Published: June 2018

Hydrogeomorphic approaches for floodplain modelling are valuable tools for water resource and flood hazard management and mapping, especially as the global availability and accuracy of terrain data increases. Digital terrain models implicitly contain information about floodplain landscape morphology that was produced by hydrologic processes over long time periods, as well as recent anthropogenic modifications to floodplain features and processes. The increased availability of terrain data and distributed hydrologic datasets provide an opportunity to develop hydrogeomorphic floodplain delineation models that can quickly be applied at large spatial scales. This research investigates the performance of a hydrogeomorphic floodplain model in two large urbanized and gauged river basins in the United States, the Susquehanna and the Wabash basins. The models were calibrated by a hydrologic data scaling technique, implemented through regression analyses of USGS peak flow data to estimate floodplain flow levels across multiple spatial scales. Floodplain model performance was assessed through comparison with 100‐year Federal Emergency Management Agency flood hazard maps. Results show that the hydrogeomorphic floodplain maps are generally consistent with standard flood maps, even when significantly and systematically varying scaling parameters within physically feasible ranges, with major differences that are likely due to infrastructure (levees, bridges, etc.) in highly urbanized areas and other locations where the geomorphic signature of fluvial processes has been altered. This study demonstrates the value of geomorphic information for large‐scale floodplain mapping and the potential use of hydrogeomorphic models for evaluating human‐made impacts to floodplain ecosystems and patterns of disconnectivity in urbanized catchments.
Facile One‐Pot Synthesis of Yolk‐Shell Structured Ni Doped Mesoporous Silica and Its Application in Enzyme‐Free Glucose Sensor
Authors: Pal Nabanita , Banerjee Sangam , Choi Eunji , Cho Eun‐Bum
Published: June 2018

Yolk‐shell structured Ni‐doped silica with high specific surface area and excellent thermal stability has been synthesized via a simple surfactant assisted sol‐gel mediated hydrothermal method using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a structure‐directing agent in water‐ethanol mixed solvent. After calcining off the organic surfactant, the resulting material shows crystallinity in powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis with formation of nickel hydrosilicate phase, Ni3Si2O5(OH)4. The mesoporosity, nanostructure and morphology of the material have been confirmed by N2 sorption, transmission (TEM) and field‐emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM) analysis, respectively. Ni‐silica yolk‐shell nanostructure with around 30 wt% Ni has surface area ca. 500 m2/g with pore width ca. 3.8 nm and 400–500 nm particle size. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) study has also been carried out to confirm the presence of Ni(II) species in the material. This yolk‐shell Ni‐doped‐silica mesostructure has been utilized successfully for non‐enzymatic glucose detection at room temperature via electrochemical sensing of D‐glucose analyte in 0.1 M NaOH solution.
The power and limits of modularity: A replication and reconciliation
Authors: Fang Christina , Kim Ji‐hyun (Jason)
Published: June 2018

Research Summary:We ask two questions: First, what are the underlying mechanisms that explain the power of modularity? Second, is the power of modularity robust in nonmodular problems? We replicate and then reconcile the key results in two prior models on modularity: E&L and S‐search. Our results yield several important insights. First, a significant portion of the advantage enjoyed by S‐search is attributed to multi‐bit mutation. Second, organization‐evaluation needs to be used in combination with multi‐bit mutation. Third, when the underlying problem structure becomes nonmodular, S‐search outperforms E&L search, even though the advantage is reduced. More generally, organizational designers need to pay close attention to how different elements of modular search interact, and avoid making incremental adjustments.

Managerial Summary:Modularity in product or organizational design is an approach that divides a system into smaller modules and attempts to augment the system level performance by experimenting with new modules. Because of its potential benefits such as parallel problem solving, adaptability in turbulent environment, or high speed in experimentation, both scholars and practitioners subscribed to the “power of modularity” thesis. Despite its popularity, there are significant number of cases where the superiority of modular design does not hold. We compare and contrast two representative prior studies that had different views on modeling organizational evolution under a modular design principle. By doing so, we are able to uncover what contributes to the superiority of modular design. Our results suggest that, when conducting experimentation under a modular design, it is important to (a) experiment multiple decision components simultaneously within a single module; and (b) allow evaluation of the changes to be made by the module‐level manager not by the organization‐level manager. When the manager does not know whether the modularity in organizational design fits with the modularity in the task, it is advised to do multiple experimentation in a single module at a time while allowing the organization‐level manager to evaluate the changes.
Thermally Driven Transport and Relaxation Switching Self‐Powered Electromagnetic Energy Conversion
Authors: Cao Maosheng , Wang Xixi , Cao Wenqiang , Fang Xiaoyong , Wen Bo , Yuan Jie
Published: June 2018

Electromagnetic energy radiation is becoming a “health‐killer” of living bodies, especially around industrial transformer substation and electricity pylon. Harvesting, converting, and storing waste energy for recycling are considered the ideal ways to control electromagnetic radiation. However, heat‐generation and temperature‐rising with performance degradation remain big problems. Herein, graphene‐silica xerogel is dissected hierarchically from functions to “genes,” thermally driven relaxation and charge transport, experimentally and theoretically, demonstrating a competitive synergy on energy conversion. A generic approach of “material genes sequencing” is proposed, tactfully transforming the negative effects of heat energy to superiority for switching self‐powered and self‐circulated electromagnetic devices, beneficial for waste energy harvesting, conversion, and storage. Graphene networks with “well‐sequencing genes” (w = Pc/Pp > 0.2) can serve as nanogenerators, thermally promoting electromagnetic wave absorption by 250%, with broadened bandwidth covering the whole investigated frequency. This finding of nonionic energy conversion opens up an unexpected horizon for converting, storing, and reusing waste electromagnetic energy, providing the most promising way for governing electromagnetic pollution with self‐powered and self‐circulated electromagnetic devices.
Confinement Impact for the Dynamics of Supported Metal Nanocatalyst
Authors: Liu Huimin , Wang Hui , Liu Zongwen , Ling Huajuan , Zhou Cuifeng , Li Huawei , Stampfl Catherine , Liao Xiaozhou , Wang Jiuling , Shi Xinghua , Huang Jun
Published: June 2018

Supported metal nanoparticles play key roles in nanoelectronics, sensors, energy storage/conversion, and catalysts for the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. Direct observation of the dynamic processes of nanocatalysts at high temperatures and the confinement of supports is of great significance to investigate nanoparticle structure and functions for practical utilization. Here, in situ high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy photos and videos are combined with dynamics simulations to reveal the real‐time dynamic behavior of Pt nanocatalysts at operation temperatures. Amorphous Pt surface on moving and deforming particles is the working structure during the high operation temperature rather than a static crystal surface and immobilization on supports as proposed before. The free rearrangement of the shape of Pt nanoparticles allows them to pass through narrow windows, which is generally considered to immobilize the particles. The Pt particles, no matter what their sizes, prefer to stay inside nanopores even when they are fast moving near an opening at temperatures up to 900 °C. The porous confinement also blocks the sintering of the particles under the confinement size of pores. These contribute to the continuous high activity and stability of Pt nanocatalysts inside nanoporous supports during a long‐term evaluation of catalytic reforming reaction.
Postcranial morphology of the Early Triassic epicynodont Galesaurus planiceps (Owen) from the Karoo Basin, South Africa
Authors: Butler Elize , Abdala Fernando , Botha‐Brink Jennifer
Published: June 2018

The Early Triassic non‐mammaliaform epicynodont Galesaurus planiceps formed an important part of ecosystems following the Permo‐Triassic Mass Extinction, the greatest mass extinction in Phanerozoic history. Here, we re‐examine the postcranial skeleton of Galesaurus and present data which sheds light on the biology, ecology and possible survival strategies of this species. We find evidence for two distinct morphotypes, a gracile and a robust morph, which we interpret as stages in an ontogenetic series. The primary differences between the morphs manifest in the girdles, with further subtle differences in the fore and hind limbs. Our study also reveals postcranial differences between Galesaurus and the contemporaneous taxon Thrinaxodon liorhinus, allowing these taxa to be distinguished in the absence of cranial material. We also report the first evidence of intraspecific variation in the presence and distribution of disc‐like phalanges in a non‐mammaliaform cynodont. An analysis of the osteohistology of Galesaurus reveals rapid growth to skeletal maturity within one year, thereafter transitioning to slow intermittent growth. This growth pattern is similar to that of Thrinaxodon, which also grew rapidly and continuously to skeletal, and possibly reproductive, maturity within its first year of life. Features such as a strong, reinforced pelvis, elongated ilium, thick, robust forelimbs and stout unguals indicate that Galesaurus was capable of actively excavating burrows. The combination of rapid maturation and fossoriality may have aided its survival in the harsh, unpredictable post‐extinction Early Triassic environment.
Does 4D transperineal ultrasound have additional value over 2D transperineal ultrasound for diagnosing posterior pelvic floor disorders in women with obstructed defecation syndrome?
Authors: van Gruting I. M. A. , Kluivers K. , Sultan A. H. , De Bin R. , Stankiewicz A. , Blake H. , Thakar R.
Published: June 2018

Objective

To establish the diagnostic test accuracy of two‐dimensional (2D) and four‐dimensional (4D) transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) for diagnosis of posterior pelvic floor disorders in women with obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS), in order to assess if 4D ultrasound imaging provides additional value.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of 121 consecutive women with ODS. Symptoms of ODS and pelvic organ prolapse on clinical examination were assessed using validated methods. All women underwent both 2D‐ and 4D‐TPUS. Imaging analysis was performed by two blinded observers. Posterior pelvic floor disorders were dichotomized into presence or absence, according to predefined cut‐off values. In the absence of a reference standard, a composite reference standard was created from a combination of results of evacuation proctography, magnetic resonance imaging and endovaginal ultrasound. Primary outcome measures were diagnostic test characteristics of 2D‐ and 4D‐TPUS for rectocele, enterocele, intussusception and anismus. Secondary outcome measures were interobserver agreement, agreement between the two imaging techniques, and association of severity of ODS symptoms and degree of posterior vaginal wall prolapse with conditions observed on imaging.

Results

For diagnosis of all four posterior pelvic floor disorders, there was no difference in sensitivity or specificity between 2D‐ and 4D‐TPUS (P = 0.131–1.000). Good agreement between 2D‐ and 4D‐TPUS was found for diagnosis of rectocele (κ = 0.675) and moderate agreement for diagnoses of enterocele, intussusception and anismus (κ = 0.465–0.545). There was no difference in rectocele depth measurements between the techniques (19.9 mm for 2D vs 19.0 mm for 4D, P = 0.802). Interobserver agreement was comparable for both techniques, although 2D‐TPUS had excellent interobserver agreement for diagnosis of enterocele and rectocele depth measurements, while this was only moderate and good, respectively, for 4D‐TPUS. Diagnoses of rectocele and enterocele on both 2D‐ and 4D‐TPUS were significantly associated with degree of posterior vaginal wall prolapse on clinical examination (odds ratio (OR) = 1.89–2.72). The conditions observed using either imaging technique were not associated with severity of ODS symptoms (OR = 0.82–1.13).

Conclusions

There is no evidence of superiority of 4D ultrasound acquisition to dynamic 2D ultrasound acquisition for the diagnosis of posterior pelvic floor disorders. 2D‐ and 4D‐TPUS could be used interchangeably to screen women with symptoms of ODS. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Plant versus animal based diets and insulin resistance, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: the Rotterdam Study
Authors: Chen Zhangling , Zuurmond Maria Geertruida , van der Schaft Niels , Nano Jana , Wijnhoven Hanneke Anna Hendrikje , Ikram Mohammad Arfan , Franco Oscar Horacio , Voortman Trudy
Published: June 2018

Vegan or vegetarian diets have been suggested to reduce type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk. However, not much is known on whether variation in the degree of having a plant-based versus animal-based diet may be beneficial for prevention of T2D. We aimed to investigate whether level of adherence to a diet high in plant-based foods and low in animal-based foods is associated with insulin resistance, prediabetes, and T2D. Our analysis included 6798 participants (62.7 ± 7.8 years) from the Rotterdam Study (RS), a prospective population-based cohort in the Netherlands. Dietary intake data were collected with food-frequency questionnaires at baseline of three sub-cohorts of RS (RS-I-1: 1989–1993, RS-II-1: 2000–2001, RS-III-1: 2006–2008). We constructed a continuous plant-based dietary index (range 0–92) assessing adherence to a plant-based versus animal-based diet. Insulin resistance at baseline and follow-up was assessed using homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Prediabetes and T2D were collected from general practitioners’ records, pharmacies’ databases, and follow-up examinations in our research center until 2012. We used multivariable linear mixed models to examine association of the index with longitudinal HOMA-IR, and multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression models to examine associations of the index with risk of prediabetes and T2D. During median 5.7, and 7.3 years of follow-up, we documented 928 prediabetes cases and 642 T2D cases. After adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, a higher score on the plant-based dietary index was associated with lower insulin resistance (per 10 units higher score: β = −0.09; 95% CI: − 0.10; − 0.08), lower prediabetes risk (HR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.81; 0.98), and lower T2D risk [HR = 0.82 (0.73; 0.92)]. After additional adjustment for BMI, associations attenuated and remained statistically significant for longitudinal insulin resistance [β = −0.05 (− 0.06; − 0.04)] and T2D risk [HR = 0.87 (0.79; 0.99)], but no longer for prediabetes risk [HR = 0.93 (0.85; 1.03)]. In conclusion, a more plant-based and less animal-based diet may lower risk of insulin resistance, prediabetes and T2D. These findings strengthen recent dietary recommendations to adopt a more plant-based diet.

Clinical Trial Registry number and website NTR6831, http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=6831.
Where health and environment meet: the use of invariant parameters in big data analysis
Authors: Leonelli Sabina , Tempini Niccolò
Published: June 2018

The use of big data to investigate the spread of infectious diseases or the impact of the built environment on human wellbeing goes beyond the realm of traditional approaches to epidemiology, and includes a large variety of data objects produced by research communities with different methods and goals. This paper addresses the conditions under which researchers link, search and interpret such diverse data by focusing on “data mash-ups”—that is the linking of data from epidemiology, biomedicine, climate and environmental science, which is typically achieved by holding one or more basic parameters, such as geolocation, as invariant. We argue that this strategy works best when epidemiologists interpret localisation procedures through an idiographic perspective that recognises their context-dependence and supports a critical evaluation of the epistemic value of geolocation data whenever they are used for new research purposes. Approaching invariants as strategic constructs can foster data linkage and re-use, and support carefully-targeted predictions in ways that can meaningfully inform public health. At the same time, it explicitly signals the limitations in the scope and applicability of the original datasets incorporated into big data collections, and thus the situated nature of data linkage exercises and their predictive power.
Open‐ended responses from early adolescents: Method matters
Authors: Love Abigail M.A. , Butz Amanda R. , Usher Ellen L. , Waiters Brittany L.
Published: June 2018

This study investigates whether the length and pattern of early adolescents' (N = 261) responses to open‐ended self‐reflective questions varied according to data collection method: paper and pencil versus online survey. Adolescent students' (Npaper = 157; Ncomputer = 104) responses from a suburban, United States sample of fifth grade students were significantly longer on computerized surveys than on paper surveys. Students provided higher quality responses (i.e., lexically richer) on the computerized survey. Findings were consistent when responses were relevant to two subject areas: mathematics and reading. Results suggest that the use of computerized survey methods in psychological research with early adolescent samples is both appropriate and valuable.
Understanding the Role of Adenosine Receptors in the Myofibroblast Transformation in Peyronie’s Disease
Authors: Mateus Marta , Ilg Marcus M. , Stebbeds William J. , Christopher Nim , Muneer Asif , Ralph David J. , Cellek Selim
Published: June 2018

Background

Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a chronic fibrotic disease of the penis affecting a significant number of men worldwide without effective medical treatments. Myofibroblasts are pivotal in the pathogenesis of PD. Adenosine and adenosine receptors have been suggested to be involved in the pathophysiology of fibrosis.

Aim

To understand the role of adenosine receptors in myofibroblast transformation in PD.

Methods

Fibroblasts were isolated from the non-PD tunica albuginea (TA) tissue and PD plaque tissue and were transformed into myofibroblasts using transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Quantification of α-smooth muscle actin and adenosine receptors (adenosine receptor A1 [ADORA1], adenosine receptor A2A, adenosine receptor A2B [ADORA2B], and adenosine receptor A3) was performed using immuno-cytochemistry, in-cell enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ICE), and real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The effect of various adenosine receptor agonists or antagonists on TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast transformation was measured using ICE.

Outcomes

Expression of adenosine receptors in myofibroblasts obtained from human TA and the effect of adenosine receptor ligands on myofibroblast transformation were investigated.

Results

The experiments showed that the protein and messenger RNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin in non-PD TA cells and PD plaque-derived cells were significantly higher in cells exposed to TGF-β1 than those not treated with TGF-β1. 2 of 4 adenosine receptors (ADORA1 and ADORA2B) were found to be expressed in both cell populations. Among various adenosine receptor agonists/antagonist investigated, only ADORA2B agonist, BAY 60-6583, significantly inhibited myofibroblast transformation in a concentration-dependent manner when applied simultaneously with TGF-β1 (IC50 = 30 μmol/L).

Clinical Translation

ADORA2B agonists may be clinically efficacious in early-stage PD.

Strengths & Limitations

The strength of this study is the use of primary fibroblasts from human TA. Limitation of the study is the high concentrations of the ligands used.

Conclusion

The effect of an ADORA2B agonist on TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast transformation shows a novel potential therapeutic target for PD if applied during early, non-stable phase of PD.
Laceração da artéria ilíaca externa por migração de prótese da anca
Authors: Moura Diogo Lino , Moreira Mário , Antunes Luís , Agostinho Alfredo Gil , Fonseca Manuel , Albuquerque António
Published: June 2018

A artroplastia da anca é uma intervenção frequente e segura na cirurgia ortopédica. No entanto, a proximidade dessa articulação com vasos de grande calibre faz com que a ocorrência de lesão vascular maior seja uma complicação rara, mas grave e possivelmente letal, dessa técnica cirúrgica. As lesões vasculares agudas no contexto de uma artroplastia da anca têm etiologia e apresentação clínica variáveis e são mais frequentes em cirurgias de revisão e situações de migração medial intrapélvica e de infecção crônica de próteses da anca. No presente artigo, os autores apresentam um caso com complicação vascular maior aguda e tardia em contexto de revisão de prótese da anca. Trata-se de um paciente que desenvolveu uma laceração aguda da artéria ilíaca externa em contexto de migração acetabular intrapélvica crônica progressiva da prótese da anca associada a infecção crônica.
Case Report: Severe Frostbite in Extreme Altitude Climbers—The Kathmandu Iloprost Experience
Authors: Pandey Prativa , Vadlamudi Ravi , Pradhan Rashila , Pandey Kishore R. , Kumar Alex , Hackett Peter
Published: June 2018

Severe frostbite occurs frequently at extreme altitude in the Himalayas, often resulting in amputations. Recent advances in treatment of frostbite injuries with either intravenous or intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator, or with iloprost, have improved outcomes in frostbite injuries, but only if the patient has access to these within 24 to 48 h postinjury, and ideally even sooner. Frostbitten Himalayan climbers are seldom able to reach medical care in this time frame. We wished to see if delayed iloprost use (up to 72 h) would help reduce tissue loss in grade 3 to 4 frostbite. In a series of 5 consecutive climbers with severe frostbite in whom we used iloprost, 4 of whom received treatment between 48 and 72 h from injury, 2 had excellent results with minimal tissue loss, and 2 had good results with tissue loss less than expected. The 1 patient with a poor outcome likely experienced a freeze-thaw-refreeze injury. This small series suggests that iloprost can be beneficial for severe frostbite, even after the standard 48-h window and perhaps for up to 72 h.
MULTIVARIATE MODELLING OF HOUSEHOLD CLAIM FREQUENCIES IN MOTOR THIRD-PARTY LIABILITY INSURANCE
Authors: Pechon Florian , Trufin Julien , Denuit Michel
Published: June 2018

Actuarial risk classification studies are typically confined to univariate, policy-based analyses: Individual claim frequencies are modelled for a single product, without accounting for the interactions between the different coverages bought by the members of the same household. Now that large amounts of data are available and that the customer's value is at the heart of insurers' strategies, it becomes essential to develop multivariate risk models combining all the products subscribed by the members of the household in order to capture the correlation effects. This paper aims to supplement the standard actuarial policy-based approach with a household-based approach. This makes the actuarial model more complex but also increases the volume of available information which eases and refines forecasting. Possible cross-selling opportunities can also be identified.
Biological and Behavioral Patterns of Post-Stroke Depression in Rats
Authors: Ifergane Gal , Boyko Matthew , Frank Dmitri , Shiyntum Honore N. , Grinshpun Julia , Kuts Ruslan , Geva Amir B. , Kaplan Zeev , Zeldetz Vladimir , Cohen Hagit
Published: June 2018

Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most frequent psychiatric complication following ischemic stroke. It affects up to 60% of all patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality following ischemic stroke. The pathophysiology of PSD remains elusive and appears to be multifactorial, rather than “purely” biological or psychosocial in origin. Thus, valid animal models of PSD would contribute to the study of the etiology (and treatment) of this disorder. Methods: The present study depicts a rat model for PSD, using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The two-way shuttle avoidance task, Porsolt forced-swim test, and sucrose preference test were employed to assess any depression-like behavior. Localized brain expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels were evaluated to examine the possible involvement of the brain neuronal plasticity in the observed behavioral syndrome. The raw data were subjected to unsupervised fuzzy clustering (UFC) algorithms to assess the sensitivity of bio-behavioral measures indicative of depressive symptoms post MCAO. Results: About 56% of the rats developed significant depressive-like behavioral disruptions as a result of MCAO compared with 4% in the sham-operated control rats. A pattern of a depressive-like behavioral response was common to all affected MCAO animals, characterized by significantly more escape failures and reduced number of total avoidance shuttles, a significant elevation in immobility duration, and reduced sucrose preference. Significant downregulations of BDNF protein levels in the hippocampal sub-regions, frontal cortex, and hypothalamus were observed in all affected MCAO animals. Conclusion: The UFC analysis supports the behavioral analysis and thus, lends validity to our results.
The author is the meaning: narrative in Augustine's hermeneutics
Authors: Glowasky Michael
Published: June 2018

The parallel between Augustine's preoccupation with language and the ‘linguistic turn’ of the last century has made him a valuable figure in recent discussions on hermeneutics and meaning. Still, he has yet to be brought into serious conversation with contemporary narrative hermeneutics. In this essay, I contend that narrative hermeneutics provides a lens through which we can appreciate the important role narrative plays in Augustine's hermeneutics and, in particular, how it shapes his account of meaning. Rather than casting his perception of meaning as a static reality that lies completely beyond the text, recognising the place of narrative in his thought allows us to appreciate the dynamic and personal aspects of meaning which it produces.
The Irony of Just War
Authors: O'Driscoll Cian
Published: June 2018

By claiming that “just war is just war,” critics suggest that just war theory both distracts from and sanitizes the horror of modern warfare by dressing it up in the language of moral principles. However, the phrase can also be taken as a reminder of why we need just war theory in the first place. It is precisely because just war is just war, with all that this implies, that we must think so carefully and so judiciously about it. Of course, one could argue that the rump of just war scholarship over the past decade has been characterized by disinterest regarding the material realities of warfare. But is this still the case? This essay examines a series of benchmark books on the ethics of war published over the past year. All three exemplify an effort to grapple with the hard facts of modern violent conflict, and they all skillfully bring diverse traditions of just war thinking into conversation with one another.
Effectiveness of Intraindividual Variability in Detecting Subtle Cognitive Performance Deficits in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Collins Barbara , Widmann Gerard , Tasca Giorgio A.
Published: June 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if intraindividual variability would be more sensitive than speed or accuracy in detecting subtle cancer-related cognitive disturbance. Methods: Data were from a previous study in which 60 breast cancer (BC) patients underwent neuropsychological assessment before commencement of chemotherapy and again following each chemotherapy cycle. Sixty healthy controls were tested at equivalent intervals. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to compare the BC and control groups in terms of accuracy, mean reaction time, and intraindividual variability in reaction time on a computerized continuous performance test with three conditions: a simple reaction time task, a “1-back” task, and a “2-back” task. Results: An increase in accuracy and response speed over sessions was noted on some tasks in the sample as a whole but there were no differences in these parameters between the BC patients and the controls on any condition. There was a significant group difference in change in intraindividual variability across sessions (i.e., a “group × session interaction”), albeit only on the most complex “2-back” task. Intraindividual variability declined in the control group (i.e., consistency improved with practice) but this practice effect was significantly attenuated in the BC patients. There was no main effect of group on the “2-back” task. Conclusions: Results support our hypothesis that intraindividual variability is a more sensitive indicator of subtle cognitive disturbance than conventional speed or accuracy measures and may have potential in the assessment of mild cognitive impairment in patients with non-central nervous system cancers. (JINS, 2018, 24, 1–11)
‘The Art of Agony’: Aspects of Negativity in Grainger’s Music
Authors: Tregear Peter
Published: June 2018

Throughout his life, Grainger claimed that he sought to put his music at the service of ‘the complicated facts & problems of modern life’, a task he thought required engaging his audience in a ‘pilgrimage to sorrow’. On the whole, however, audiences and critics alike have tended instead to associate Grainger with the works of his that sound anything but downbeat. Nevertheless, Grainger’s self assessment was genuine. He had a painfully ambivalent relationship to many of the emerging features of modernity, a state of mind for which he found a fellow-traveller in Rudyard Kipling. Both men found a means to express elements of this ambivalence via an unusually strong interest in both local and foreign vernacular cultures. Grainger’s original text settings and folksong arrangements alike do not merely celebrate the global reach of the British world or try to preserve the dying folk music traditions of rural England and Scandinavia, but instead are an attempt to express what he considered to be particular fissures in the modern psyche, not least his own. He believed that any lasting accommodation with the emerging features of modern life required us to confront what we had lost along the way.
A STUDY OF TRUTH PREDICATES IN MATRIX SEMANTICS
Authors: MORASCHINI TOMMASO
Published: June 2018

Abstract algebraic logic is a theory that provides general tools for the algebraic study of arbitrary propositional logics. According to this theory, every logic ${\cal L}$ is associated with a matrix semantics $Mo{d^{\rm{*}}}{\cal L}$. This article is a contribution to the systematic study of the so-called truth sets of the matrices in $Mo{d^{\rm{*}}}{\cal L}$. In particular, we show that the fact that the truth sets of $Mo{d^{\rm{*}}}{\cal L}$ can be defined by means of equations with universally quantified parameters is captured by an order-theoretic property of the Leibniz operator restricted to deductive filters of ${\cal L}$. This result was previously known for equational definability without parameters. Similarly, it was known that the truth sets of $Mo{d^{\rm{*}}}{\cal L}$ are implicitly definable if and only if the Leibniz operator is injective on deductive filters of ${\cal L}$ over every algebra. However, it was an open problem whether the injectivity of the Leibniz operator transfers from the theories of ${\cal L}$ to its deductive filters over arbitrary algebras. We show that this is the case for logics expressed in a countable language, and that it need not be true in general. Finally we consider an intermediate condition on the truth sets in $Mo{d^{\rm{*}}}{\cal L}$ that corresponds to the order-reflection of the Leibniz operator.
Ultra-wideband coplanar waveguide-to-asymmetric coplanar stripline transition from DC to 165 GHz
Authors: Dong Yunfeng , Johansen Tom K. , Zhurbenko Vitaliy
Published: June 2018

This paper presents an ultra-wideband coplanar waveguide (CPW)-to-asymmetric coplanar stripline (ACPS) transition based on aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate. The concepts of designing CPW, ACPS, and CPW-to-ACPS transition are explained. In order to suppress parasitic modes, vias going through AlN substrate are added along the ground traces. The signal trace is tapered out and chamfered to reduce the reflection caused by the termination of ground trace. The CPW-to-ACPS transition is designed, fabricated, and measured in a back-to-back configuration. The fabricated CPW-to-ACPS transition can provide a bandwidth of 165 GHz with an associated insertion loss of 3 dB.
Sediment Provenance Changes in the Western Arctic Ocean in Response to Ice Rafting, Sea Level, and Oceanic Circulation Variations Since the Last Deglaciation
Authors: Deschamps Charles‐Edouard , Montero‐Serrano Jean‐Carlos , St‐Onge Guillaume
Published: June 2018

Two sediment piston cores were recovered from the Chukchi‐Alaskan (05JPC) and Canadian Beaufort (02PC) margins to investigate grain‐size, geochemical, and mineralogical compositions. This allowed the reconstruction of changes in detrital sediment provenance and transport related to climate variability since the last deglaciation. The end‐member modeling analyses of grain size indicate that sea ice and nepheloid transport and the Mackenzie River sediment plume are major factors influencing sedimentation in the Chukchi‐Alaskan and Canadian Beaufort margins, respectively. Unmixing of the sediment composition indicates that detrital sediments in core 02PC are derived mainly from the Mackenzie River, whereas sediments from core 05JPC are derived mainly from the Mackenzie River during the deglaciation and include a mixture of Holocene sediments from the Bering Strait, Mackenzie River, and Eurasian margin. The dolomite‐rich ice‐rafted debris recorded in both cores could be related to the different phases of iceberg discharges from the Amundsen Gulf Ice Stream. Quartz and feldspar‐rich ice‐rafted debris dated at 13 and 10.6 ka cal BP (before present) are related to the Lake Agassiz outburst in core 02PC and meltwater discharge from the Brooks Range glaciers in core 05JPC. Detrital proxies in core 02PC support the hypothesis that large meltwater and iceberg discharges from the Lake Agassiz outburst to the Arctic Ocean and Amundsen Gulf ice stream may have triggered the Younger Dryas. Finally, similar trends observed between sea level curves and our detrital proxy suggest that the sea level changes in the western Arctic Ocean have an important influence on the sediment dynamic during the early to middle Holocene.
Agulhas Current Meanders Facilitate Shelf‐Slope Exchange on the Eastern Agulhas Bank
Authors: Malan Neil , Backeberg Bjorn , Biastoch Arne , Durgadoo Jonathan V. , Samuelsen Annette , Reason Chris , Hermes Juliet
Published: June 2018

Large solitary meanders are arguably the dominant mode of variability in the Agulhas Current. Observational studies have shown that these large meanders are associated with strong upwelling velocities and affect the shelf circulation for over 100 days per year. Here 10‐year time series from two ocean general circulation models are used to create a composite picture of the Agulhas Current and its interactions with the shelf circulation in meandering and nonmeandering modes. Both models show good agreement with the size, propagation speed, and frequency of observed meanders. These composite meanders are then used to examine the response of shelf waters to the onset of large meanders, with the use of model output enabling the dynamics at depth to be explored. Results show a composite mean warming of up to 3°C of depth‐averaged temperature along the shelf edge associated with an intrusion of the current jet onto the shelf driven by an intensification of the flow along the leading edge of large meanders. However, this intensification of flow results in cooling of bottom waters, driving cold events at the shelf break of <10°C at 100 m. Thus, the intensification of the current jet associated with large meander events appears to drive strong up and downwelling events across the inshore front of the Agulhas Current, facilitating shelf‐slope exchange.
Flooding Alters Plant‐Mediated Carbon Cycling Independently of Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations
Authors: Jones Scott F. , Stagg Camille L. , Krauss Ken W. , Hester Mark W.
Published: June 2018

Plant‐mediated processes determine carbon (C) cycling and storage in many ecosystems; how plant‐associated processes may be altered by climate‐induced changes in environmental drivers is therefore an essential question for understanding global C cycling. In this study, we hypothesize that environmental alterations associated with near‐term climate change can exert strong control on plant‐associated ecosystem C cycling and that investigations along an extended hydrologic gradient may give mechanistic insight into C cycling. We utilize a mesocosm approach to investigate the response of plant, soil, and gaseous C cycling to changing hydrologic regimes and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations expected by 2100 in a coastal salt marsh in Louisiana, USA. Although elevated CO2 had no significant effects on C cycling, we demonstrate that greater average flooding depth stimulated C exchange, with higher rates of labile C decomposition, plant CO2 assimilation, and soil C respiration. Greater average flooding depth also significantly decreased the soil C pool and marginally increased the aboveground biomass C pool, leading to net losses in total C stocks. Further, flooding depths along an extended hydrologic gradient garnered insight into decomposition mechanisms that was not apparent from other data. In C‐4 dominated salt marshes, sea level rise will likely overwhelm effects of elevated CO2 with climate change. Deeper flooding associated with sea level rise may decrease long‐term soil C pools and quicken C exchange between soil and atmosphere, thereby threatening net C storage in salt marsh habitats. Manipulative studies will be indispensable for understanding biogeochemical cycling under future conditions.
ICON‐A, the Atmosphere Component of the ICON Earth System Model: I. Model Description
Authors: Giorgetta M. A. , Brokopf R. , Crueger T. , Esch M. , Fiedler S. , Helmert J. , Hohenegger C. , Kornblueh L. , Köhler M. , Manzini E. , Mauritsen T. , Nam C. , Raddatz T. , Rast S. , Reinert D. , Sakradzija M. , Schmidt H. , Schneck R. , Schnur R. , Silvers L. , Wan H. , Zängl G. , Stevens B.
Published: June 2018

ICON‐A is the new icosahedral nonhydrostatic (ICON) atmospheric general circulation model in a configuration using the Max Planck Institute physics package, which originates from the ECHAM6 general circulation model, and has been adapted to account for the changed dynamical core framework. The coupling scheme between dynamics and physics employs a sequential updating by dynamics and physics, and a fixed sequence of the physical processes similar to ECHAM6. To allow a meaningful initial comparison between ICON‐A and the established ECHAM6‐LR model, a setup with similar, low resolution in terms of number of grid points and levels is chosen. The ICON‐A model is tuned on the base of the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) experiment aiming primarily at a well balanced top‐of atmosphere energy budget to make the model suitable for coupled climate and Earth system modeling. The tuning addresses first the moisture and cloud distribution to achieve the top‐of‐atmosphere energy balance, followed by the tuning of the parameterized dynamic drag aiming at reduced wind errors in the troposphere. The resulting version of ICON‐A has overall biases, which are comparable to those of ECHAM6. Problematic specific biases remain in the vertical distribution of clouds and in the stratospheric circulation, where the winter vortices are too weak. Biases in precipitable water and tropospheric temperature are, however, reduced compared to the ECHAM6. ICON‐A will serve as the basis of further development and as the atmosphere component to the coupled model, ICON‐Earth system model (ESM).
Upcoming Leadership Elections
Authors: Leinen Margaret
Published: June 2018

The American Geophysical Union announces the full slate of leadership candidates. Voting will open at the end of August.
Attributing the U.S. Southwest's Recent Shift Into Drier Conditions
Authors: Lehner Flavio , Deser Clara , Simpson Isla R. , Terray Laurent
Published: June 2018

The U.S. Southwest experienced a strong hydroclimate trend from the 1980s to the 2010s, from cool and wet to warm and dry conditions. Attribution of this trend is challenging due to the influence of internal variability but desired by water managers eager to plan for robust signals of climate change in this water‐scarce region. Here we use an empirical method based on constructed circulation analogues to assess the contribution of atmospheric circulation variability to the recent observed hydroclimate trend. Consistent with other studies, we find the observed precipitation trend from 1983 to 2012 to be mainly due to internal atmospheric circulation variability that is driven in part by decadal‐scale tropical Pacific sea surface temperature changes. Removing this internal dynamical component brings the observed precipitation trend into closer agreement with the anthropogenically forced response in climate models, demonstrating progress toward an integrated perspective on climate change attribution.
Nonlinearity of Runoff Response to Global Mean Temperature Change Over Major Global River Basins
Authors: Zhang Xuejun , Tang Qiuhong , Liu Xingcai , Leng Guoyong , Di Chongli
Published: June 2018

We investigated the nonlinearity of runoff response to global mean temperature (GMT) change in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate models at the river basin scale globally. Results show that changes in long‐term mean annual runoff are nonlinear with GMT rise over most extended subtropical basins, suggesting that estimation of future runoff change derived from the linear scaling relations would be biased. As for the interannual variability, nonlinearities are apparent mainly in central and western Asia, southern and western Africa, most of Europe, and Australia when GMT increases beyond 1.5°C. This suggests that impacts of climate change under 1.5°C GMT rise on runoff variability should not be simply scaled from that under a 2°C warming world. Our results highlight the contrasting response of areal runoff to GMT rise across global major river basins and reveal the threshold of GMT increment at which the nonlinear runoff response is projected to emerge.