bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of cinnamon supplementation on body weight and composition in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of controlled clinical trials
Authors: Yazdanpanah Zeinab , Azadi‐Yazdi Maryam , Hooshmandi Hadis , Ramezani‐Jolfaie Nahid , Salehi‐Abargouei Amin
Published: December 2019

Background

This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to investigate the effect of cinnamon on body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist–hip ratio (WHR), and body fat mass including the maximum number of studies.

Methods

Medline, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library were searched with no limitation from inception up to August 2019 for relevant randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). The RCTs' risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane collaboration's tool. Random‐effects model was used for meta‐analysis.

Results

Twenty‐one RCTs with 1,480 participants were included. The meta‐analysis showed that cinnamon supplementation significantly reduces BMI [weighted mean difference (WMD) = −0.40 kg/m2, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.57, −0.22 kg/m2,p< .001,I2= 78.9%], body weight (WMD = −0.92 kg; 95% CI: −1.51, −0.33 kg;p= .002;I2= 84.2%), and WHR (WMD = −0.02, 95% CI: −0.038, −0.018;p< 0.001;I2= 0%). Cinnamon supplementation did not significantly affect the WC (WMD = −1.76 cm, 95% CI: −3.57, −0.045 cm;p= .056;I2= 90.8%) and body fat mass (WMD = −0.87%, 95% CI: −1.87, 0.025%;p= .057;I2= 78.6%).

Conclusion

Cinnamon supplementation significantly reduces body weight, BMI, and WHR. Future high‐quality long‐term RCTs are recommended to confirm these results.
Thermal desorption and pyrolysis direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry for qualitative characterization of polymers and polymer additives
Authors: Cody Robert B. , Fouquet Thierry N.J. , Takei Chikako
Published: December 2019

Rationale

Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART‐MS) provides qualitative information about additives and polymer composition. However, the observed mass spectra are dependent on sampling conditions, in particular the DART gas temperature. This report describes the combination of a heated sample stage with DART‐MS for polymer characterization.

Methods

Industrial polymers with different compositions were examined by thermal desorption and pyrolysis (TDPy) DART. Samples were heated on disposable copper stages from ambient temperature to 600°C, and the evolved gases were introduced directly into a DART ion source through a glass tee. Time‐ and temperature‐dependent mass spectra were acquired using a high‐resolution time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. Kendrick mass analysis was applied to the interpretation of complex mass spectra observed for fluorinated polymers.

Results

Positive‐ion DART mass spectra of common polymers exhibited peak series differing by monomer masses, often accompanied by a peak corresponding to the protonated monomer. Even polymers that did not exhibit a clear series of peaks produced characteristic mass spectra. Positive‐ion and negative‐ion mass spectra were recorded for fluorinated polymers, with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) producing only negative ions. Thermal desorption provided characteristic temperature profiles for volatile species such as polymer additives and polymer pyrolysis products.

Conclusions

In comparison with direct analysis by positioning sample directly in the heated DART gas stream, TDPy DART provides a more versatile sampling method and provides thermal separation and profiling of polymer additives, intact short polymer chains, and pyrolysis fragments.
Comparison of the adhesion forces in single and double‐layer coatings on the MEMS surfaces by JKR and DMT models
Authors: Joulaei Mahdi , Kolahdoozan Mojtaba , Salehi Mehdi , Zadsar Mehdi , Vahabi Meisam
Published: December 2019

In many medical and industrial applications, some strategies are needed to control the adhesion forces between the materials, because surface forces can activate or hinder the function of the device. All actual surfaces present some levels of roughness and the contact between two surfaces is transferred by the asperities on the surfaces. The force of the adhesion, which depends on the operating situations, can be influenced by the contact region. The aim of the present study is to predict the adhesion force in MEMS surfaces using the JKR and DMT models. The surfaces of the coating material in this research consisted of the single‐layer coating of Gold and Silver, and the double‐layer coating of TiO2/Gold and TiO2/Silver on the silicon (100) substrates. The depositing was done by the thermal evaporation method. The results showed that the double‐layer coating developed by the new deposition method helped the reduction of the adhesion forces between the probe tip and the specimen surface. The predicted adhesion forces between the probe and the specimens with DMT and JKR models were compared with the experimental results. For all specimens, the simulated data by applying the JKR theory were in a good agreement with the adhesion force experimental values.
Ecological inference for infectious disease data, with application to vaccination strategies
Authors: Fisher Leigh H. , Wakefield Jon
Published: December 2019

Disease surveillance systems provide a rich source of data regarding infectious diseases, aggregated across geographical regions. The analysis of such ecological data is fraught with difficulties, and, unless care and suitable data summaries are available, will lead to biased estimates of individual‐level parameters. We consider using surveillance data to study the impacts of vaccination. To catalog the problems of ecological inference, we start with an individual‐level model, which contains familiar parameters, and derive an ecologically consistent model for infectious diseases in partially vaccinated populations. We compare with other popular model classes and highlight deficiencies. We explore the properties of the new model through simulation and demonstrate that, under standard assumptions, the ecological model provides less biased estimates. We then fit the new model to data collected on measles outbreaks in Germany from 2005‐2007.
Applications of ESEM on Materials Science: Recent Updates and a Look Forward
Authors: Zhang Zhouyang , Zhou Yangbo , Zhu Xinli , Fei Linfeng , Huang Haitao , Wang Yu
Published: December 2019

The microscopic understanding of materials relies on the development of microscopy. Historically, the technological evolution from optical microscopes to electron microscopes has directly stimulated many discoveries of new physical and chemical fundamentals as well as advanced materials. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is, undoubtedly, the most widely used tool for microscopic characterization in modern materials science. Especially, the incorporation of a gas pressure around the sample area of conventional SEM, i.e., the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), has opened new possibilities in observing samples in their natural states, leading to unprecedented chances for studying the details of biological, organic, and hydrated samples. What is more, in recent years, in situ ESEM studies concerning materials change and chemical reactions have played a more important role in the field of materials science. Herein, the recent applications of ESEM in materials science are comprehensively reviewed, in terms of common static observations for various materials and in situ investigations of dynamic processes in controlled experimental environments. Moreover, the problems concerning state‐of‐the‐art ESEM experiments are discussed, as well as possible solutions. Looking forward, the rapid developments on instrumentation and fundamental science of ESEM can bring a clear vision of materials in the near future.
Evaluating the evidence base for evidence‐based instructional practices in chemistry through meta‐analysis
Authors: Rahman Tawabur , Lewis Scott E.
Published: December 2019

Investigating the effectiveness of instructional practices provides an evidence base to inform instructional decisions. Synthesizing research studies on instructional effectiveness provides an estimate of the generalizability of effectiveness across settings, along with an exploration of factors that may moderate the impact, which cannot be achieved within individual studies. This study sought to provide a synthesis of evidence‐based instructional practices (EBIPs) particular to chemistry through meta‐analysis. Ninety‐nine studies were analyzed comprising a broader view of chemistry specific studies than past meta‐analyses. The results showed that EBIPs feature a demonstrably positive impact on students' academic performance in chemistry, although assessment topic coverage and setting size emerged as relevant moderators of impact and prevented making definitive conclusions of the relative impact of each EBIP. In examining publication bias, an asymmetric distribution of studies based on standard error (SE) and effect size was found, indicative of potential publication bias. To explore the potential impact of bias, the trim and fill method was employed resulting in a range for the overall weighted effect size from 0.29 to 0.62. The study concludes that evidence‐based instructional practices have demonstrated effectiveness even in consideration of potential publication bias, as the range of effect sizes remains positive, but highlights the continued need to publish null findings in the research literature.
A Review of Gopher Tortoise Demography and Movements in Production Pine Forest Landscapes
Authors: Greene Rachel E. , Tuberville Tracey D. , Chamberlain Michael J. , Miller Darren A. , Wigley T. Bently , Martin James A.
Published: December 2019

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus; hereafter, tortoise), an ecosystem engineer in open pine (Pinus spp.) woodlands of the southeastern United States, often inhabits production pine forests (PPFs), defined here as even‐aged pine forests managed primarily for timber products, which is a common forest type in the tortoise's range. As a result of frequent disturbance from forest management activities, PPFs are characterized by a shifting mosaic of vegetation conditions over time. However, it is unclear how tortoises respond to these shifting conditions, necessitating an understanding of how forest management activities affect tortoise population dynamics and movements in these landscapes. Therefore, we systematically reviewed literature to assess tortoise responses (e.g., survival, demography, movement) to silvicultural activities in PPF landscapes. Although tortoises are often able to persist in PPF landscapes, their burrows may be concentrated along roadsides, powerline rights‐of‐way, and ecotones between recently harvested and older stands. How, and whether, tortoises can effectively move around PPF landscapes to take advantage of shifting habitat conditions is not well‐understood. We discuss research gaps that must be addressed to enhance conservation efforts on PPF landscapes across ownership types. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
Binding of HasA by its transmembrane receptor HasR follows a conformational funnel mechanism
Authors: Exner Thomas E. , Becker Stefanie , Becker Simon , Boniface-Guiraud Audrey , Delepelaire Philippe , Diederichs Kay , Welte Wolfram
Published: December 2019

HasR in the outer membrane of Serratia marcescens binds secreted, heme-loaded HasA and translocates the heme to the periplasm to satisfy the cell’s demand for iron. The previously published crystal structure of the wild-type complex showed HasA in a very specific binding arrangement with HasR, apt to relax the grasp on the heme and assure its directed transfer to the HasR-binding site. Here, we present a new crystal structure of the heme-loaded HasA arranged with a mutant of HasR, called double mutant (DM) in the following that seemed to mimic a precursor stage of the abovementioned final arrangement before heme transfer. To test this, we performed first molecular dynamics (MD) simulations starting at the crystal structure of the complex of HasA with the DM mutant and then targeted MD simulations of the entire binding process beginning with heme-loaded HasA in solution. When the simulation starts with the former complex, the two proteins in most simulations do not dissociate. When the mutations are reverted to the wild-type sequence, dissociation and development toward the wild-type complex occur in most simulations. This indicates that the mutations create or enhance a local energy minimum. In the targeted MD simulations, the first protein contacts depend upon the chosen starting position of HasA in solution. Subsequently, heme-loaded HasA slides on the external surface of HasR on paths that converge toward the specific arrangement apt for heme transfer. The targeted simulations end when HasR starts to relax the grasp on the heme, the subsequent events being in a time regime inaccessible to the available computing power. Interestingly, none of the ten independent simulation paths visits exactly the arrangement of HasA with HasR seen in the crystal structure of the mutant. Two factors which do not exclude each other could explain these observations: the double mutation creates a non-physiologic potential energy minimum between the two proteins and /or the target potential in the simulation pushes the system along paths deviating from the low-energy paths of the native binding processes. Our results support the former view, but do not exclude the latter possibility.
Identification of physical and psychosocial problems based on symptoms in patients with Behçet’s disease
Authors: Tsutsui Hideyo , Kikuchi Hirotoshi , Oguchi Hiroko , Nomura Kyoko , Ohkubo Takayoshi
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this study was to use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to identify physical and psychosocial problems associated with symptoms of Behçet’s disease (BD) in Japanese patients. Thirty patients with BD were interviewed in a pilot study using the “ICF Checklist”, and a team of medical experts selected categories related to physical and psychosocial aspects of BD. To identify specific physical and psychosocial problems of Japanese patients with BD, 100 new patients were interviewed using the selected categories. Among the 128 categories in the original ICF Checklist, 80 categories were identified as impaired, and another 12 ICF categories were added based on expert discussion of patients input. The number of problem categories was significantly greater in patients with BD with eye involvement and fatigue (eye involvement, 25.7 categories; fatigue, 25.2 categories; bothP < 0.001). Specifically, patients with eye involvement had more difficulties with problems in daily life, such as writing (odds ratio 4.2), understanding such nonverbal messages as gestures and facial expressions (13.7), moving (5.7), walking in intense sunlight and bright light (17.6), and patients with fatigue had more difficulties with climate problems such as symptoms getting worse at the turn of the seasons or on cold days (2.5), compared to those without these symptoms. This study demonstrated that support focusing not only on physical symptoms but on other aspects of life as well is necessary for patients with BD, particularly patients with eye involvement and fatigue.
Bedeutung des Gesundheitsindikators bei der Analyse der Gesundheitsfolgen informeller Pflege
Authors: Kaschowitz Judith , Lazarevic Patrick
Published: December 2019

Hintergrund

Die Analyse der Gesundheit informell Pflegender wird wichtiger. Frühere Forschung zeigte negative Folgen für ihre psychische Gesundheit. Die Ergebnisse für die körperliche Gesundheit waren weniger eindeutig. Unklar ist, inwieweit dies auf die Verwendung unterschiedlicher Gesundheitsindikatoren zurückgeführt werden kann.

Fragestellung

Welchen Einfluss haben die Wahl des Gesundheitsindikators und die Art der Pflege (innerhalb/außerhalb des Haushalts) auf die ermittelten Gesundheitsfolgen informeller Pflege?

Material und Methode

Mithilfe der Daten des Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, Wellen 1, 2, 4–6) wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen informeller Pflege inner- und außerhalb des Haushalts und der Gesundheit der Pflegenden modelliert. Richtung und Stärke dieses Zusammenhangs zwischen 8 Gesundheitsindikatoren wurden sowohl im Quer- als auch im Längsschnitt verglichen.

Ergebnisse

Für die meisten Gesundheitsindikatoren sowohl im Quer- als auch im Längsschnitt konnten negative Gesundheitsfolgen festgestellt werden. Pflegende außerhalb des Haushalts schätzten ihre Gesundheit als besser ein als Nichtpflegende. Im Längsschnitt ließ sich, je nach Gesundheitsindikator, sowohl eine Verbesserung als auch eine Verschlechterung der Gesundheit im Zuge der Pflegeaufnahme attestieren.

Diskussion

Die vorgestellte Arbeit bestätigt Gesundheitsunterschiede zwischen Pflegenden innerhalb und außerhalb des Haushalts. Sie zeigt für Pflegende außerhalb des Haushalts, dass je nach gewähltem Gesundheitsindikator unterschiedliche Auswirkungen von Pflege auf Gesundheit feststellbar sind. Dies verdeutlicht, dass die Wahl des Gesundheitsindikators und der Pflegendenpopulation einen substanziellen Einfluss auf die Analyseergebnisse und die daraus resultierenden Schlussfolgerungen hat.
The motor prodromes of parkinson’s disease: from bedside observation to large-scale application
Authors: Simonet C. , Schrag A. , Lees A. J. , Noyce A. J.
Published: December 2019

There is sufficient evidence that the pathological process that causes Parkinson’s disease begins years before the clinical diagnosis is made. Over the last 15 years, there has been much interest in the existence of a prodrome in some patients, with a particular focus on non-motor symptoms such as reduced sense of smell, REM-sleep disorder, depression, and constipation. Given that the diagnostic criteria for Parkinson’s disease depends on the presence of bradykinesia, it is somewhat surprising that there has been much less research into the possibility of subtle motor dysfunction as a pre-diagnostic pointer. This review will focus on early motor features and provide some advice on how to detect and measure them.
Aptamer-modified gold nanoparticles for rapid aggregation-based detection of inflammation: an optical assay for interleukin-6
Authors: Giorgi-Coll Susan , Marín María J. , Sule Olajumoke , Hutchinson Peter J. , Carpenter Keri L.H.
Published: December 2019

A proof-of-concept aptamer-based optical assay is described for the determination of the immuno signalling molecule interleukin-6 (IL-6), a key marker of acute inflammation. The optical assay is based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) coated in two complimentary “sandwich-style” aptamers, each with different IL-6 target moieties. IL-6 will recognise the complimentary aptamer pair and bind to it, thereby causing the aggregation of the corresponding functionalised nanoparticles. The aggregation of the AuNPs after exposure to IL-6 induces a visible colour change from red to pink, with a corresponding change in the absorption maximum from 520 to 540 nm. The change in the absorption maximum can be monitored visually, or by using a spectrophotometer or a plate reader. The optimal size and functionalisation of aptamer-coated AuNPs, and the potential assay formats were investigated using UV-vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The optical assay was applied for detecting mouse IL-6 in a mixed protein solution as a representative biological sample. The assay works in the 3.3 to 125 μg·mL−1 IL-6 concentration range, and the detection limit (at S/N = 3) is 1.95 μg·mL−1. This study was performed as a proof-of-concept demonstration of this versatile assay design, with a view to developing a similar assay for use in clinical samples in future.
The influence of irrigation fluid temperature on recurrence in the evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma
Authors: Bartley Andreas , Jakola Asgeir S. , Tisell Magnus
Published: December 2019

Background

Chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH) are one of the most common conditions requiring neurosurgical treatment. The reported recurrence after surgery is 3–21.5% with closed system drainage. In clinical practice, irrigation fluids at body temperature (37 °C) and at room temperature (22 °C) are routinely used in the evacuation of cSDH. Our hypothesis was that irrigation at body temperature might have more beneficial effects on coagulation and solubility of the chronic subdural hematoma than irrigation at room temperature. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different intraoperative irrigation fluid temperatures on recurrence rates.

Methods

This was a retrospective study where we included all consecutive patients from a defined geographical area of western Sweden between September 2013 and November 2014. In the course of 6 months, we performed intraoperative irrigation at body temperature (37 °C, BT-group) during burr hole evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma. This was then compared with the previous 6-month period, when irrigation fluid at room temperature (22 °C, RT-group) was used. The primary endpoint was same-sided recurrence in need of reoperation within 6 months.

Results

Recurrence occurred in 11 of 84 (13.1%) patients in the RT-group compared with 4 of 88 (4.5%) in the BT-group (p = 0.013). There were no significant between-group differences regarding age, sex, duration of surgery, frequency of bilateral hematomas, hematoma density, and use of anticoagulant/antithrombotic therapy.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that intraoperative irrigation fluid at body temperature is associated with lower recurrence rates compared with irrigation fluid at room temperature. To investigate this further, a prospective randomized controlled trial has been initiated (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT0275235).

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0275235
Caregiver burden and health-related quality of life in idiopathic dystonia patients under botulinum toxin treatment: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Drexel S. C. , Klietz M. , Kollewe K. , Paracka L. , Kutschenko A. , Kopp B. , Lange F. , Wegner F. , Dressler D.
Published: December 2019

Dystonia is a chronic movement disorder that is associated with a reduction in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and restriction of activities of daily living. Botulinum neurotoxin (BT) improves disease-specific HR-QoL by reducing abnormal movements, postures, and pain. We examined the burden of the corresponding primary caregiver as a potential important factor for disease management and HR-QoL of dystonia patients under treatment with BT. 114 patients with focal, segmental, or generalized dystonia were recruited, together with 93 corresponding caregivers, whose burden was investigated using the Caregiver Burden Inventory. In addition, all participants were assessed for cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, alexithymia, and HR-QoL. Only a small proportion of caregivers suffered from caregiver burden. Despite BT therapy, patients’ HR-QoL was decreased compared to the age-matched general German population. Psychological symptoms, notably anxiety, and depression correlated significantly with reduced HR-QoL. Our data imply that caregiver burden emerged to be an issue in subgroups of dystonia patients. Furthermore, HR-QoL of dystonia patients is reduced even under optimized BT treatment in a specialized center.
Evidence for groundwater mixing at Freeling Spring Group, South Australia
Authors: Halihan Todd , Love Andrew , Keppel Mark , Dailey Meghan K. M. , Berens Volmer , Wohling Daniel
Published: December 2019

Water sampling at springs that are a part of the Freeling Spring Group, South Australia, was used along with electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) data to evaluate the sources and pathways for groundwater to the springs and to find evidence of mixing between the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) aquifer system (Algebuckina Sandstone, Cadna-owie Formation and lateral equivalents) and waters from the adjacent mountain block basement (MB) aquifer. Five springs and a well were used to evaluate spring chemistry; multi-electrode resistivity data were collected along three orientations over the Freeling Spring site. The resistivity data indicate three independent electrically conductive curvilinear features connected to the spring. These features are evidence of mixing at the spring vent similar to what would be predicted from traditional hydraulic flownets. The chemistry of the spring water samples indicates that the water emanating from the Freeling Spring Group is a mixture of waters from both the GAB and the MB aquifers, supporting the geophysical evidence. The data suggest mixing occurs along a fracture in the body of the MB and porous media flow in the GAB beds, but the system is dominated by the GAB flow, which provides approximately 90% of the discharge.
Does Gender Equality Cause Gender Differences in Values? Reassessing the Gender-Equality-Personality Paradox
Authors: Fors Connolly Filip , Goossen Mikael , Hjerm Mikael
Published: December 2019

The Gender-Equality-Personality Paradox (GEPP) is the finding that gender differences in personality are at their largest in the most gender equal countries. Previous known studies have not examined this relationship over time. Examining this linkage is crucial to our understanding of gender differences and personality development. In the present study, we contrast evolutionary perspectives predicting a gender divergence in personality due to progression in gender equality against biosocial perspectives predicting convergence. Using data from all eight rounds of the European Social Survey (n = 235,339) across 32 European countries, we report three findings. First, in accordance with the evolutionary perspective, country-level gender equality is positively associated with gender differences in basic human values. Second, in accordance with the biosocial perspective, we find evidence supporting gender convergence in basic human values. Third, contradicting both evolutionary and biosocial assumptions, we find no evidence that gender equality causes gender differences in values. We argue that there is a need to explore alternative explanations to the observed cross-sectional association between gender equality and personality differences, as well as gender convergence in personality over time.
Quality attribute trade-offs in the embedded systems industry: an exploratory case study
Authors: Sas Darius , Avgeriou Paris
Published: December 2019

The embedded systems domain has grown exponentially over the past years. The industry is forced by the market to rapidly improve and release new products to beat the competition. Frenetic development rhythms thus shape this domain and give rise to several new challenges for software design and development. One of them is dealing with trade-offs between run-time and design-time quality attributes. To study practices, processes and tools concerning the management of run-time and design-time quality attributes as well as the trade-offs among them from the perspective of embedded systems software engineers. An exploratory case study with two qualitative data collection steps, namely interviews and a focus group, involving six different companies from the embedded systems domain with a total of twenty participants. The interviewed subjects showed a preference for run-time over design-time qualities. Trade-offs between design-time and run-time qualities are very common, but they are often implicit, due to the lack of adequate monitoring tools and practices. Practitioners prefer to deal with trade-offs in the most lightweight way possible, by applying ad-hoc practices, thus avoiding any overhead incurred. Finally, practitioners have elaborated on how they envision the ideal tool support for dealing with trade-offs. Although it is notoriously difficult to deal with trade-offs, constantly monitoring the quality attributes of interest with automated tools is key in making explicit and prudent trade-offs and mitigating the risk of incurring technical debt.
Interferenz von Licht macht einzelne unmarkierte Proteine sichtbar
Authors: König Katharina , Gemeinhardt André , Sandoghdar Vahid
Published: December 2019

iSCAT microscopy is a powerful tool for the optical detection and visualization of small nanoparticles, down to single unlabeled proteins. In this overview, we give an introduction to the method’s principles and benefits and show how it can be applied to monitor protein secretion of single living cells with single-protein sensitivity at millisecond temporal resolution.
Regulation des Angstverhaltens — zur Rolle neuronaler Netzwerke
Authors: Dedic Nina , Deussing Jan M.
Published: December 2019

The corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) system orchestrates the organism’s stress response including the regulation of adaptive be haviours. Here we describe a novel neuronal circuit, which acts anxiety suppressing and positively modulates dopamine release. This anxiolytic circuit comprises inhibitory CRH-expressing, long-range projection neurons within the extended amygdala. These neurons innervate the ventral tegmental area, a prominent brain reward center that expresses high levels of CRH receptor type 1.
Hitchhikers on floats to Arctic freshwater: Private aviation and recreation loss from aquatic invasion
Authors: Schwoerer Tobias , Little Joseph M. , Schmidt Jennifer I. , Borash Kyle W.
Published: December 2019

This study of aviation-related recreation loss shows that a survey primarily aimed at collecting information on invasive species’ pathways can also be used to estimate changes in pathway-related ecosystem services. We present a case study for Elodea spp. (elodea), Alaska’s first known aquatic invasive plant, by combining respondents’ stated pre-invasion actual flights with stated post-invasion contingent behavior, plane operating costs, and site quality data. We asked pilots about the extent of continued flights should destinations become invaded and inhibit flight safety. We estimate a recreation demand model where the lost trip value to the average floatplane pilot whose destination is an elodea-invaded lake is US$185 (95 % CI $157, $211). Estimates of ecosystem damages incurred by private actors responsible for transmitting invaders can nudge actors to change behavior and inform adaptive ecosystem management. The policy and modeling implications of quantifying such damages and integration into more complex models are discussed.
Organosilicon polymer-derived ceramics: An overview
Authors: Fu Shengyang , Zhu Min , Zhu Yufang
Published: December 2019

Polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) strategy shows a great deal of advantages for the fabrication of advanced ceramics. Organosilicon polymers facilitate the shaping process and different silicon-based ceramics with controllable components can be fabricated by modifying organosilicon polymers or adding fillers. It is worth noting that silicate ceramics can also be fabricated from organosilicon polymers by the introduction of active fillers, which could react with the produced silica during pyrolysis. The organosilicon polymer-derived ceramics show many unique properties, which have attracted many attentions in various fields. This review summarizes the typical organosilicon polymers and the processing of organosilicon polymers to fabricate silicon-based ceramics, especially highlights the three-dimensional (3D) printing technique for shaping the organosilicon polymer- derived ceramics, which makes the possibility to fabricate silicon-based ceramics with complex structure. More importantly, the recent studies on fabricating typical non-oxide and silicate ceramics derived from organosilicon polymers and their biomedical applications are highlighted.
Effect of BNNTs/matrix interface tailoring on toughness and fracture morphology of hierarchical SiCf/SiC composites
Authors: Zhu Guangxiang , Feng Qian , Yang Jinshan , Hu Jianbao , Wang Hongda , Xue Yudong , Shan Qingliang , Dong Shaoming
Published: December 2019

A thin BN interphase is applied on BNNTs surface to tailor the interfacial bonding between BNNTs and SiC matrix in hierarchical SiCf/SiC composites. The thickness of BN interphase ranging from 10 to 70 nm can be optimized by chemical vapor deposition after BNNTs are in situ grown on SiC fiber surface. Without BN interphase, the fracture toughness of hierarchical SiCf/SiC composites can be impaired by 13.6% due to strong interfacial bonding. As long as BN interphase with 30–45 nm thickness is applied, the interfacial bonding can be optimized and fracture toughness of hierarchical composites can be improved by 27.3%. It implies that tailoring BNNTs/matrix interface by depositing a layer of BN interphase is in favor of activating energy dissipation mechanisms at nanoscale induced by BNNTs.
Bending fracture behavior of freestanding (Gd0.9Yb0.1)2Zr2O7 coatings by using digital image correlation and FEM simulation with 3D geometrical reconstruction
Authors: Mao Weiguo , Wang Yujie , Shi Jun , Huang Huiyu , Wang Yuncheng , Lv Liang , Yang Haoyong , Zou Chen , Dai Cuiying , Zhu Xiaolei , Fang Daining
Published: December 2019

It is important to investigate the mechanical performances of (Gd0.9Yb0.1)2Zr2O7 (GYbZ) materials deposited on irregular substrates for improving new thermal barrier coatings. Three-point bending fracture characteristics of freestanding GYbZ coating prepared by supersonic plasma sprayed (SPS) technique were investigated with the help of digital image correlation technique. The cracking time, crack propagation path, and mechanical properties of GYbZ coating were obtained. Meanwhile, the X-ray computed tomography technique was introduced to scan the microstructure of freestanding GYbZ coatings, which are used to establish three-dimensional (3D) finite element model by using the Avizo software. The brittle cracking criterion was applied to describe the bending fracture process of GYbZ coatings. The critical cracking strain was estimated as 0.36%±0.03% by repeatedly comparing the difference between the experimental and simulated curves. The results would be extended to predict the dangerous region and failure mechanisms of GYbZ coatings deposited on irregular substrate during finite element simulations.
Determination of the load-independent hardness by analyzing the nanoindentation loading curves: A case study on fused silica
Authors: Duan Yunbiao , Jiang Danyu , Hu Jin
Published: December 2019

The nanoindentation loading curves measured on fused silica were analyzed based on the theoretical relationship derived by Malzbender et al. (J Mater Res 2000, 15: 1209–1212). It was found that the ratio of the applied load to the square of the displacement, P/(h + hd)2, does not keep constant during loading segment of the nanoindentation test. Considering the existence of the indentation size effect, an empirical method for the determination of the load-independent hardness by analyzing the nanoindentation loading curves was proposed.
‘I Can Do It’ Becomes ‘We Do It’: Kimberley (Australia) and Still Bay (South Africa) Points Through a Socio-technical Framework Lens
Authors: Högberg Anders , Lombard Marlize
Published: December 2019

Building on the body of work regarding the concepts of invention and innovation in lithic technology, we further explore the give-and-take relationship between people and their technologies in two different stone point knapping traditions. From the socio-technical framework perspective, which is one amongst many ways to look at technological trends, the acceptance and stabilisation of a tool-making tradition is not only dictated by its technology-specific properties, such as its ingenuity or usefulness. Instead, it also depends on the social conventions and practices of its spatiotemporal context, which can be explored through the notions of introduction, closure, stabilisation, destabilisation and copying. We explain the theory behind the socio-technical framework with modern examples, such as bicycle use in late nineteenth century England and electrical guitar trends in the last half of the twentieth century. Turning our attention to stone point knapping, we use Australian Kimberley point production during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries to bridge into how the socio-technical framework reflects in the dynamics that might be involved in lithic traditions. Using this theoretical framework to think about aspects of deep-time point production, such as that recorded from the Still Bay techno-complex during the Middle Stone Age in southern Africa, becomes trickier though. Instead of reliable ethno-historical accounts or dense archaeological context, we have to rely on coarse-grained data sets about distribution, age, environment and population, making inferences more speculative and less testable. In the context of this special volume, we suggest, however, that a socio-technical framework approach may be a useful tool to enhance our thinking about dynamics in ancient techno-behaviours and that more work is necessary to flesh out its potential in this respect.
Psychology of Design
Authors: Carbon Claus-Christian
Published: December 2019

Talking about design, most discussions circulate around physical objects or products, around their invention, development, production and marketing. While most modern design approaches do also cover questions pertaining to human interaction, e.g. within user- or human-centred design philosophies, a systematic and fundamental conception of the role and implications that human perception and emo-cognitive processing take with regard to designing physical goods is lacking. Under the umbrella term ‘Psychology of Design’, I will develop and elaborate on psychological dimensions that are highly relevant to the optimization and evaluation of design. I propagate a general psychological turn in design theory and practice in order to purposefully include not only the top-down processes triggered by context, framing, expectation, knowledge or habituation but also the psychological effects of Gestalt and Zeitgeist. Such psychological effects have the potential to determine whether the very same physical design will be aesthetically appreciated, desired, loved or rejected in the end. Psychology of design has a tremendous influence on the success and sustainability of design by triggering associations and displaying demand characteristics in a multimodal way. The paper is based on fundamental psychological theories and empirical evidences which are linked to applied examples from the world of art and design.
ARENS PRODUCTS, ARENS REGULARITY AND RELATED PROBLEMS
Authors: MATSUI RUKI , TAKAHASHI YUJI
Published: December 2019

We study the second dual algebra of a Banach algebra and related problems. We resolve some questions raised by Ülger, which are related to Arens products. We then discuss a question of Gulick on the radical of the second dual algebra of the group algebra of a discrete abelian group and give an application of Arens regularity to Fourier and Fourier–Stieltjes transforms.
An American Führer? Nazi Analogies and the Struggle to Explain Donald Trump
Authors: Rosenfeld Gavriel D.
Published: December 2019

Ever since Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the US presidency in June 2015, journalists, scholars, and other commentators in the United States have attempted to explain his political success with the aid of historical analogies. In so doing, they have sparked a wider debate about whether the Nazi past helps to make sense of the US present. One group in the debate has contended that Trump's ascent bears a worrisome resemblance to interwar European fascism, especially the National Socialist movement of Adolf Hitler. By contrast, a second group has rejected this comparison and sought analogies for Trump in other historical figures from European and US history. This article surveys the course, and assesses the results, of the debate from its origins up to the present day. It shows that historians of Germany have played a prominent role in helping to make sense of Trump, but notes that their use of Nazi analogies may be distorting, rather than deepening, our understanding of contemporary political trends. By examining the merits and drawbacks of Nazi analogies in present-day popular discourse, the article recommends that scholars draw on both the German and American historical experience in order to best assess the United States's present political movement.
The policy and policing of language in schools
Authors: Cushing Ian
Published: December 2019

This study investigates cases of language ‘policing’ as educational language policies, and the way that these are represented across different policy levels. Focusing on UK schools and using discursive approaches to language policy as a theoretical framework, I critically examine the motivations and justifications that institutions provide for designing and implementing policies whereby nonstandardised forms are ‘banned’, and how these are reported in metalinguistic discourse. Drawing on a range of data including media discourse, policy documents, teacher interviews and linguistic landscapes, I textually trace how educational language policies (re)produce prescriptive and linguicist ideologies, often using metaphors of crime, and often using language as a proxy for social factors such as academic achievement, employability, and standards. Overall, I argue that micro- and meso-level language policies are a partial product of the linguistic conservatism as found within current macro-level educational policy. (Language policy, language policing, schools, language ideologies)*
Comparing shape descriptor methods for different color space and lighting conditions
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Abhishek , Mukherjee Imon , Biswas Pradipta
Published: December 2019

Detecting and recognizing objects is one of the most important uses of vision systems in nature and is consequently highly evolved. This paper aims to accurately detect an object using its shape and color information from a complex background. In particular, we evaluated our algorithm to detect 19 different integrated circuits (IC) from 10 different printed circuit boards (PCB) of different colors. We have compared three different shape descriptors for four different color space models. We have evaluated shape detection algorithms in different lighting conditions (indoor, outdoor, and controlled light source) to find suitable illumination for image acquisition. We undertook statistical hypothesis testing to find the effect of color space models and shape descriptors on the accuracy, false positive and false negative rates. While measuring accuracy, we have noted that L*a*b* color space is significantly worse, and the best result is obtained in YCbCr color space using bounding box shape descriptors for 2500 Lux using LED.
Democracy belief systems in Europe: cognitive availability and attitudinal constraint
Authors: Hernández Enrique
Published: December 2019

There is a growing interest in analyzing what citizens think about democracy. However, gauging citizens’ opinions about a complex concept such as democracy might be hindered by the apparent low levels of political sophistication of mass publics. This paper contributes to the emerging literature on citizens’ views and evaluations of democracy by analyzing to what extent ordinary citizens are capable of developing structured opinions about democracy and its constitutive principles. For this purpose, the paper adapts Converse’s notion of political belief systems to analyze the articulation of individuals’ democracy belief systems (DBS). The first goal of this paper is to conceptualize and operationalize the main components of individuals’ DBS: cognitive availability, horizontal constraint, and vertical constraint. Drawing on data from the sixth round of the European Social Survey, the second goal is to describe the articulation of DBS in Europe. The third and final aim of this paper is to trace the most relevant individual- and country-level correlates of the articulation of the three components of DBS. In line with recent findings about political belief systems in other policy domains, the results indicate that most Europeans have coherently structured attitudes about democracy. However, even if the results imply that Europeans have a relatively articulated DBS, the empirical analysis also reveals some individual- and country-level variation in the articulation of specific components of DBS.
Making a StINK with STEM in the Classics Classroom: Exploring Ancient Roman Writing through Experimental Archaeology
Authors: Roy Nathalie
Published: December 2019

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take notes for Pliny the Elder? Surely he had a secretary to assist him with his writing, or did he take his own notes? He left a huge body of material in his Historia Naturalis. What must his home office have looked like with all the detritus of constant writing and research scattered about? I have often wondered these things and many others about the process of ancient writing. As a Latin teacher, I decided to try out ancient writing with my students as a STEM project.
Spoken Latin in the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance
Authors: Moran Jerome
Published: December 2019

Did educated people in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance use Latin routinely (Medieval Latin and Neo-Latin), rather than a regional vernacular, to conduct real-life conversations about ordinary, everyday matters? Were they taught how to do this in the schools of the day with the help of specimen written dialogues (colloquia)? Did their teachers use a Renaissance equivalent of the ‘direct method’, and did they teach Latin in the way that modern foreign languages are taught today? Or was spoken Latin, with a simulacrum of practical relevance to everyday life, a way of ‘bringing the subject to life’, an enjoyable diversion from the standard pedagogical fare (the ‘grammar grind’)? These are the questions that this article addresses. I argue that Latin was not generally used for everyday conversations, and that students were not taught how to conduct them outside the classroom any more than they are today, though spoken Latin was used as a medium for teaching and learning Latin, as it is to some extent today. Since Latin was not the first language of any native speaker, and since it was learned as a language primarily for reading and writing, comparisons with the teaching of modern foreign languages are specious. I also argue that spoken Latin today, as a pedagogical tool, is best kept out of the classroom and used, if it must be used, as a hobby or a pastime. It has limited usefulness as a means of learning Latin to a meaningful level (a level at which the learner can engage with original Latin texts). And the kind of Latin that is spoken in the classroom, an attempt to render a spoken form of Classical Latin, however ‘correct’ it may be grammatically and phonologically (and the grammar and phonology even of Classical Latin changed over time), is most unlikely to have been spoken routinely in the same kind of informal situations by an educated (one who is adept in Classical Latin) native speaker of Latin. In fact, the more ‘correct’ it is, the less likely it is to resemble authentic everyday spoken Latin, even of the educated elite that learned Classical Latin. This is even more the case after Classical Latin came increasingly to be different from the contemporary Latin that anyone spoke, and had increasingly to be learned from grammar books as if it were a second language. What Quintilian says of written Latin may be said of educated spoken Latin too: aliud est Latine, aliud grammatice scribere.