bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Is ‘The Meaning of Our Cheerfulness’? Philosophy as a Way of Life in Nietzsche and Montaigne
Authors: Lanier Anderson R. , Cristy Rachel
Published: July 2017

Robert Pippin has recently raised what he calls ‘the Montaigne problem’ for Nietzsche's philosophy: although Nietzsche advocates a ‘cheerful’ mode of philosophizing for which Montaigne is an exemplar, he signally fails to write with the obvious cheerfulness attained by Montaigne. We explore the moral psychological structure of the cheerfulness Nietzsche values, revealing unexpected complexity in his conception of the attitude. For him, the right kind of cheerfulness is radically non‐naïve; it expresses the overcoming of justified revulsion at calamitous aspects of life through a reflective, higher‐order affirmative attitude. This complex notion of cheerfulness turns out to have roots in Montaigne himself, and it must (according to both philosophers) be thought of as a kind of second nature cultivated through practice, as a kind of second nature. Understanding the meaning of cheerfulness thereby sheds light on the conception of philosophy as a way of life in both Nietzsche and Montaigne.
Large uncertainty in soil carbon modelling related to method of calculation of plant carbon input in agricultural systems
Authors: Keel S. G. , Leifeld J. , Mayer J. , Taghizadeh‐Toosi A. , Olesen J. E.
Published: July 2017

The application of dynamic models to report changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, for example as part of greenhouse gas inventories, is becoming increasingly important. Most of these models rely on input data from harvest residues or decaying plant parts and also organic fertilizer, together referred to as soil carbon inputs (C). The soil C inputs from plants are derived from measured agricultural yields using allometric equations. Here we compared the results of five previously published equations. Our goal was to test whether the choice of method is critical for modelling soil C and if so, which of these equations is most suitable for Swiss conditions. For this purpose we used the five equations to calculate soil C inputs based on yield data from a Swiss long‐term cropping experiment. Estimated annual soil C inputs from various crops were averaged from 28 years and four fertilizer treatments; the average was 3.6 Mg C ha−1 and covered a surprisingly large range from 2.1 to 5.3 Mg C ha−1 year−1 among the five equations. For single crop species, differences reached 6.6 Mg C ha−1 year−1. The variation between estimated soil C inputs depended on crop type and increased with yield. Simulations with the model C‐TOOL showed that calculated SOC stocks were affected strongly by the choice of the allometric equation. With four equations, a decrease in SOC stocks was simulated, whereas with one equation there was no change. This considerable uncertainty in modelled soil C is attributable solely to the allometric equation used to estimate the soil C input. We identify the evaluation and selection of allometric equations and associated coefficients as critical steps when setting up a model‐based soil C inventory for agricultural systems.

Highlights

Uncertainty analyses in soil C modelling have focused mainly on model parameters and structures.

The uncertainty related to estimation of soil C inputs from crop residues was calculated.

Simulated soil C stocks and stock changes depend strongly on the method of estimating C input.

The method to derive soil C inputs is critical for model‐based soil C inventories.
Integrating the Dark Side of Competition into Explanations of Business Failures: Evidence from a Developing Economy
Authors: Amankwah‐Amoah Joseph , Antwi‐Agyei Issek , Zhang Hongxu
Published: July 2017

In spite of the growing body of literature on the bright side of inter‐firm relationships, limited attention has been paid to the dark side of inter‐firm relationships. Using insights of serial entrepreneurs in a developing economy, we articulate the mechanisms through which adverse rumours and misinformation perpetrated by rivals' firms undermine small businesses and lead to decline and eventual collapse. We uncovered that the rumours were made more potent when combined with other factors such as prior history of poor and faulty products, sensitivity of industry and intense competition from rival firms in reducing the life chance of firms. Our study also uncovered that inter‐firm backstabbing leads former business owners to form a negative perception of former competitors and their organizations even after their business collapsed. We conclude by articulating the theoretical and practical implications.
Do Managerial Practices Matter in Innovation and Firm Performance Relations? New Evidence from the UK
Authors: Nemlioglu Ilayda , Mallick Sushanta K.
Published: July 2017

The innovation and firm performance relationship remains a puzzle, as all types of innovation are not equally beneficial. Besides, better‐managed firms can perform better. Integrating these two strands of literature, we examine whether managerial practices explain this relationship using data from UK firms during 1992–2014. We find that firms which focus on R&D activities jointly with better managerial practices benefit favourably. During the post‐crisis period, higher intangibles are only beneficial when combined with R&D activity. Also firms with better managerial practices and innovative activities exhibit a positive effect of higher leverage. Finally, an inverse U‐shaped result supports the Schumpeterian theory of creative destruction.
Local Equilibrium and Retardation Revisited
Authors: Hansen Scott K. , Vesselinov Velimir V.
Published: July 2017

In modeling solute transport with mobile‐immobile mass transfer (MIMT), it is common to use an advection‐dispersion equation (ADE) with a retardation factor, or retarded ADE. This is commonly referred to as making the local equilibrium assumption (LEA). Assuming local equilibrium, Eulerian textbook treatments derive the retarded ADE, ostensibly exactly. However, other authors have presented rigorous mathematical derivations of the dispersive effect of MIMT, applicable even in the case of arbitrarily fast mass transfer. We resolve the apparent contradiction between these seemingly exact derivations by adopting a Lagrangian point of view. We show that local equilibrium constrains the expected time immobile, whereas the retarded ADE actually embeds a stronger, nonphysical, constraint: that all particles spend the same amount of every time increment immobile. Eulerian derivations of the retarded ADE thus silently commit the gambler's fallacy, leading them to ignore dispersion due to mass transfer that is correctly modeled by other approaches. We then present a particle tracking simulation illustrating how poor an approximation the retarded ADE may be, even when mobile and immobile plumes are continually near local equilibrium. We note that classic “LEA” (actually, retarded ADE validity) criteria test for insignificance of MIMT‐driven dispersion relative to hydrodynamic dispersion, rather than for local equilibrium.
ZrB2 powders with low oxygen content: Synthesis and characterization
Authors: Bai Liuyang , Ni Shouliang , Jin Huacheng , He Jiaping , Ouyang Yuge , Yuan Fangli
Published: July 2017

A two‐step reduction route is proposed for well‐dispersed submicrometer ZrB2 powder synthesis with low oxygen content. The second synthesis step can reduce the oxygen content apparently, whereas presents minor adverse effects on particle size and dispersion of ZrB2 powders. The samples were mainly characterized by an oxygen‐nitrogen analyzer and X‐ray diffractometer (XRD). It can be determined that the adsorbed oxygen constitutes a low proportion of total oxygen content based on the release profile of oxygen and nitrogen contents. Besides, the oxygen content calculated based on XRD characterization is significantly lower than the total oxygen content measured by impulse‐thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the lattice constants were determined according to XRD patterns as being higher than the calculated theoretical values based on the First‐Principles, indicating that a portion of oxygen remains in ZrB2 powders in the form of interstitial impurity atoms.
South‐South Migration and Urban Food Security: Zimbabwean Migrants in South African Cities
Authors: Crush Jonathan , Tawodzera Godfrey
Published: July 2017

The drivers of food insecurity in rapidly‐growing urban areas of the Global South are receiving more research and policy attention, but the precise connections between urbanization and urban food security are still largely unexplored. In particular, the levels and causes of food insecurity amongst new migrants to the city have received little consideration. This is in marked contrast to the literature on the food security experience of new immigrants from the South in European and North American cities. This article aims to contribute to the new literature on South‐South migration and urban food security by focusing on the case of recent Zimbabwean migrants to South African cities. The article presents the results of a household survey of migrants in the South African cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg. The survey showed extremely high levels of food insecurity and low dietary diversity. We attribute these findings, in part, to the difficulties of accessing regular incomes and the other demands on household income. However, most migrants are also members of multi‐spatial households and have obligations to support household members in Zimbabwe. We conclude, therefore, that although migration may improve the food security of the multi‐spatial household as a whole, it is also a factor in explaining the high levels of insecurity of migrants in the city.
Earning Gaps for Chinese Immigrants in Canada and the United States
Authors: Wu Zheng , Lee Sharon M. , Hou Feng , Edmonston Barry , Carmichael Adam
Published: July 2017

This study compares the US and Canada on the gap in earnings between Chinese immigrants and native‐born whites. Canada and the US are arguably more alike than most possible country pairings, yet they differ in significant ways in their approaches to immigration and integration. The primary difference between Canada and the US regarding immigration policy is that Canada selects a larger proportion of economic immigrants – that is, those admitted based on their ability to contribute to the economy – than the US's focus on family reunification. Canadian immigration and multicultural integration policy does not appear to improve Chinese immigrant earnings in the way that might be predicted from Canada's skilled‐based immigrant selection policy and welcoming social context. In spite of a more laissez‐faire approach to immigrant integration and a less skill‐selective immigration policy, we show that Chinese immigrants are earning relatively more in the US than in Canada.
Models and solution methods for the uncapacitated r‐allocation p‐hub equitable center problem
Authors: Peiró Juanjo , Corberán Ángel , Laguna Manuel , Martí Rafael
Published: July 2017

Hub networks are commonly used in telecommunications and logistics to connect origins to destinations in situations where a direct connection between each origin–destination (o‐d) pair is impractical or too costly. Hubs serve as switching points to consolidate and route traffic in order to realize economies of scale. The main decisions associated with hub‐network problems include (1) determining the number of hubs (p), (2) selecting the p‐nodes in the network that will serve as hubs, (3) allocating non‐hub nodes (terminals) to up to r‐hubs, and (4) routing the pairwise o‐d traffic. Typically, hub location problems include all four decisions while hub allocation problems assume that the value of p is given. In the hub median problem, the objective is to minimize total cost, while in the hub center problem the objective is to minimize the maximum cost between origin–destination pairs. We study the uncapacitated (i.e., links with unlimited capacity) r‐allocation p‐hub equitable center problem (with) and explore alternative models and solution procedures.
ZnO‐enhanced electrical properties of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3‐based incipient ferroelectrics
Authors: Geng Xiao‐Yu , Zhang Ji , Wang Rui‐Xue , Deng Xian‐Zhu , Sun Lei , Gu Zheng‐Bin , Zhang Shan‐Tao
Published: July 2017

Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3‐based incipient ferroelectrics with pseudocubic structure generally show weak ferro‐/piezoelectricity but giant field‐induced strains. It is difficult to artificially and smoothly improve the electrical property based on conventional chemical doping or substituting without changing the crystal structure and suppressing the strain. Here, by introducing the semiconductor ZnO into the lead‐free incipient ferroelectric ((Bi0.5(Na0.84K0.16)0.5)0.96Sr0.04)(Ti0.975Nb0.025)O3 (BNT–2.5Nb) to form 0‐3 type composites (BNT–2.5Nb:xZnO), we experimentally illustrate that the resistance and ferro‐/piezoelectric properties can be enhanced significantly with an unchanged crystal structure and only slightly suppressed strains. For example, the remanent polarization and piezoelectric coefficient increase from 4.6 μC/cm2 and 8 pC/N for x=0 to 9.0 μC/cm2 and 31 pC/N for x=0.3. At the same time, the total strain only decreases from 0.140% for x=0 to 0.108% for x=0.3, whereas the negative strain increases from −0.003% for x=0 to −0.010% for x=0.3. And the thermal stability of d33 is enhanced. The corresponding mechanism is attributed to that ZnO can form a local field, preventing the depolarization of field induced macroscopic ferroelectric domains. Our results not only provide a feasible way to tune electrical properties of BNT‐based incipient ferroelectrics, but also may stimulate further work on artificially structured high‐performance ferroelectrics.
Structural modification associated with Al2O3 addition in oxyfluoride glasses: Thermal and mechanical properties
Authors: Biswas Kaushik , Karmakar Prantik , Balaji Sathravada , Gupta Gaurav , Ghosh Debarati , Annapurna Kalyandurg
Published: July 2017

In this work, the effect of gradual addition of Al2O3 substituting SiO2 on the structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of SiO2–BaF2–K2O–GdF3–Sb2O3‐based oxyfluoride glasses have been studied. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) curves indicate that there is a distinct primary crystallization corresponding to BaGdF5 phase formation in the samples without (0AlG) and with 5 mol% substitution of Al2O3 (5AlG) while the sample with 10 mol% of Al2O3 (10AlG) does not show such crystallization event. Further, the activation energy (Ea) for fluoride crystal formation is higher for the 5AlG in comparison to the 0AlG glass as determined by Kissinger, Augis‐Bennett and Ozawa models. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the structural modification with the gradual addition of Al2O3 in the glass matrix revealing dominant presence of AlO4 tetrahedral units in 10AlG sample unlike in 5AlG sample which exhibited the manifestation of AlO6 units. Such structural variation has further been substantiated from the estimated elastic properties like Young's modulus (E), shear modulus (G), bulk modulus (K), longitudinal modulus (L), and mean ultrasonic velocity (Um) by showing a decrease for 5AlG sample in comparison with 0AlG sample followed by subsequent increase for 10AlG sample.
Alteration in the relationship between tanycytes and gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone neurosecretory terminals following long‐term metabolic manipulation in the sheep
Authors: Pouchain Ribeiro Neto R. , Clarke I. J. , Conductier G.
Published: July 2017

The activity of the hypothalamic‐pituitary gonadal axis is influenced by energy reserves, such that an increase or a decrease in adiposity may perturb the secretion and action of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH). This is considered to be a result of the signalling of hormones such as leptin, which act upon neuronal systems controlling GnRH secretion. Other work shows plasticity in the relationship between tanycytes and GnRH neurosecretory terminals in the median eminence across the oestrous cycle and we hypothesised that a similar plasticity may occur with altered metabolic status. We studied Lean, Normal and Fat ovariectomised ewes, which displayed differences in gonadotrophin status, and investigated the relationship between tanycytes and GnRH neuroterminals. Under both Lean and Fat conditions, an altered anatomical arrangement between these two elements was observed in the vicinity of the blood vessels of the primary plexus of the hypophysial portal blood system. These data suggest that such plasticity is an important determinant of the rate of secretion of GnRH in animals of differing metabolic status and that this also contributes to the relative hypogonadotrophic condition prevailing with metabolic extremes.
SHIFTING BOUNDARIES IN ECONOMICS: THE INSTITUTIONAL COGNITIVE STRAND AND THE FUTURE OF INSTITUTIONAL ECONOMICS
Authors: Ambrosino Angela , Fontana Magda , Gigante Anna Azzurra
Published: July 2017

This paper aims at contributing to the debate on the future of institutional economics and of the field as a whole by starting from the literature that discusses the relationship between Old‐Original Institutional Economics and New Institutional Economics. It suggests that the process of reunifying OIE and NIE (and evolutionary economics) prompted by part of the literature could be improved by the contribution of the Cognitive Institutional Economics. The paper follows a two‐stage pathway: first, it frames the debate on the relationships between NIE and the OIE and it concentrates on a subset of the literature that shows that NIE's recent developments complicate the distinction between NIE and OIE, and it explores the possibility that NIE and OIE may merge so that an amalgam of NIE, OIE and Evolutionary Economics becomes the next economic paradigm. Secondly, the paper argues that a step forward in the direction outlined by the literature has been made by CIE, which is a research stream that developed from cross‐fertilization among NIE, OIE and the Hayekian contributions to the analysis of institutions. In the concluding remarks, the possible emergence of a single institutional paradigm is discussed in the light of the literature about change in economics.
Sovereignty and Martyrdom: A Sociological Sketch
Authors: Fordahl Clayton
Published: July 2017

This paper has two goals: to develop a sociological conception of martyrdom and to use that concept to interpret the history of sovereignty in the West. While recent research on the topic has focused on martyrdom as a terrorist tactic associated with radical Islam, I redress these trends by analyzing martyrdom as a social process, focusing on cases of martyrdom in European history, and cultivating a new perspective on the relationship between religion and politics in the historical development of sovereignty in the West.
The antithrombotic and haemostatic effects of LASSBio-752: a synthetic, orally active compound in an arterial and venous thrombosis model in rats
Authors: Frattani Flávia S , Lima Lidia M , Barreiro Eliezer J , Zingali Russolina B
Published: July 2017

Objectives

In this work, we further investigated the effect of the compound LASSBio-752 in thrombosis models in rats.

Methods

Arterial and venous thrombosis model, ex-vivo recalcification time and aPTT and PT.

Key findings

In the venous thrombosis model, oral administration of LASSBio-752 [48.2 mg (100 μmol)/kg] one hour before the thrombus induction decreased thrombus weight by 37 ± 0.2%. Interestingly, the antithrombotic action of this compound [48.2 mg (100 μmol)/kg] occurred at 87.5 ± 2.1% of inhibition after 24 h of administration and showed a lasting activity. When tested on the arterial thrombosis model, after a 1-h interval, there was already an increase in time to total occlusion of 34 ± 2.4 min, but the greatest effect was observed at intervals between 6 and 15 h of administration, when no occlusion of the artery was observed. The antithrombotic effect was reduced after 24 h when the occlusion time was 23.8 ± 2.3 min, close to that of the control, 17.6 ± 2.0 min. We also observed that bleeding was not excessive in any of the intervals tested.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that compound LASSBio-752 is a potential candidate for utilization in the treatment of thromboembolic diseases.
Investigating the effect of poly-l-lactic acid nanoparticles carrying hypericin on the flow-biased diffusive motion of HeLa cell organelles
Authors: Penjweini Rozhin , Deville Sarah , Haji Maghsoudi Omid , Notelaers Kristof , Ethirajan Anitha , Ameloot Marcel
Published: July 2017

Objectives

In this study, we investigate in human cervical epithelial HeLa cells the intracellular dynamics and the mutual interaction with the organelles of the poly-l-lactic acid nanoparticles (PLLA NPs) carrying the naturally occurring hydrophobic photosensitizer hypericin.

Methods

Temporal and spatiotemporal image correlation spectroscopy was used for the assessment of the intracellular diffusion and directed motion of the nanocarriers by tracking the hypericin fluorescence. Using image cross-correlation spectroscopy and specific fluorescent labelling of endosomes, lysosomes and mitochondria, the NPs dynamics in association with the cell organelles was studied. Static colocalization experiments were interpreted according to the Manders' overlap coefficient.

Key findings

Nanoparticles associate with a small fraction of the whole-organelle population. The organelles moving with NPs exhibit higher directed motion compared to those moving without them. The rate of the directed motion drops substantially after the application of nocodazole. The random component of the organelle motions is not influenced by the NPs.

Conclusions

Image correlation and cross-correlation spectroscopy are most appropriate to unravel the motion of the PLLA nanocarrier and to demonstrate that the rate of the directed motion of organelles is influenced by their interaction with the nanocarriers. Not all PLLA-hypericin NPs are associated with organelles.
Petrocosmea viridis sp. nov. of Petrocosmea (Gesneriaceae) from Guizhou, China and a supplementary and revised description of P. minor
Authors: Han Meng‐Qi , Lü Tian-Feng , Liu Yan
Published: July 2017

Petrocosmea viridis M.Q. Han & Yan Liu, a new tiny but pretty species from Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated. It was found on damp cliffs in an enormous limestone sinkhole called Dadaihe Tiankeng. It is mostly similar to P. minor in its conformation of the corolla, but differs from the latter by having numerous leaves and a tiny, light green corolla. While comparing these two species, some additions and revisons of previous descriptions of P. minor had to be made.
Spiradiclis quanzhouensis sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from a limestone area in Guangxi, China
Authors: Liu Jing , Pan Bo , Li Shu-Wan , Xu Wei-Bin
Published: July 2017

Spiradiclis quanzhouensis, a new species of Rubiaceae from northeastern Guangxi, China is described and illustrated. It is similar to S. umbelliformis, but can be distinguished by its rosulate habit, subglabrous stems, leaf blades that are pubescent on both surfaces, lanceolate purple‐pubescent stipules that are undivided or sometimes bifid in apical 1/3, an inflorescence with 2–4 flowers, lanceolate 4–5 mm long calyx lobes that are purple‐pubescent outside, a salveriform corolla that is light purple‐pubescent outside, a semi‐inferior ovary, and capsules that are light purple‐pubescent with persistent calyx lobes 5–6 mm, in fruit 2 × as long as capsule.
A transposon‐directed epigenetic change in ZmCCT underlies quantitative resistance to Gibberella stalk rot in maize
Authors: Wang Chao , Yang Qin , Wang Weixiang , Li Yipu , Guo Yanling , Zhang Dongfeng , Ma Xuena , Song Wei , Zhao Jiuran , Xu Mingliang
Published: July 2017

A major resistance quantitative trait locus, qRfg1, significantly enhances maize resistance to Gibberella stalk rot, a devastating disease caused by Fusarium graminearum. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown.

We adopted a map‐based cloning approach to identify the resistance gene at qRfg1 and examined the dynamic epigenetic changes during qRfg1‐mediated maize resistance to the disease.

A CCT domain‐containing gene, ZmCCT, is the causal gene at the qRfg1 locus and a polymorphic CACTA‐like transposable element (TE1) c. 2.4 kb upstream of ZmCCT is the genetic determinant of allelic variation. The non‐TE1 ZmCCT allele is in a poised state, with predictive bivalent chromatin enriched for both repressive (H3K27me3/H3K9me3) and active (H3K4me3) histone marks. Upon pathogen challenge, this non‐TE1 ZmCCT allele was promptly induced by a rapid yet transient reduction in H3K27me3/H3K9me3 and a progressive decrease in H3K4me3, leading to disease resistance. However, TE1 insertion in ZmCCT caused selective depletion of H3K4me3 and enrichment of methylated GC to suppress the pathogen‐induced ZmCCT expression, resulting in disease susceptibility. Moreover, ZmCCT‐mediated resistance to Gibberella stalk rot is not affected by photoperiod sensitivity.

This chromatin‐based regulatory mechanism enables ZmCCT to be more precise and timely in defense against F. graminearum infection.
Interventions to reduce consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages or increase water intake: evidence from a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Vargas‐Garcia E.J. , Evans C.E.L. , Prestwich A. , Sykes‐Muskett B.J. , Hooson J. , Cade J.E.
Published: July 2017

A systematic review and meta‐analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of interventions to reduce sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSB) or increase water intakes and to examine the impact of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) in consumption patterns. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials published after January 1990 and until December 2016 reporting daily changes in intakes of SSB or water in volumetric measurements (mL d−1) were included. References were retrieved through searches of electronic databases and quality appraisal followed Cochrane principles. We calculated mean differences (MD) and synthesized data with random‐effects models. Forty studies with 16 505 participants were meta‐analysed. Interventions significantly decreased consumption of SSB in children by 76 mL d−1 (95% confidence interval [CI] −105 to −46; 23 studies, P < 0.01), and in adolescents (−66 mL d−1, 95% CI −130 to −2; 5 studies, P = 0.04) but not in adults (−13 mL d−1, 95% CI −44 to 18; 12 studies, P = 0.16). Pooled estimates of water intakes were only possible for interventions in children, and results were indicative of increases in water intake (MD +67 mL d−1, 95% CI 6 to 128; 7 studies, P = 0.04). For children, there was evidence to suggest that modelling/demonstrating the behaviour helped to reduce SSB intake and that interventions within the home environment had greater effects than school‐based interventions. In conclusion, public health interventions – mainly via nutritional education/counselling – are moderately successful at reducing intakes of SSB and increasing water intakes in children. However, on average, only small reductions in SSBs have been achieved by interventions targeting adolescents and adults. Complementary measures may be needed to achieve greater improvements in both dietary behaviours across all age groups.
Myopes have significantly higher serum melatonin concentrations than non‐myopes
Authors: Kearney Stephanie , O'Donoghue Lisa , Pourshahidi L. Kirsty , Cobice Diego , Saunders Kathryn J.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Experimental animal models of myopia demonstrate that higher melatonin (Mel) and lower dopamine (DA) concentrations actively promote axial elongation. This study explored the association between myopia and serum concentrations of DA and Mel in humans.

Methods

Morning serum concentrations of DA and Mel were measured by solid phase extraction‐liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry from 54 participants (age 19.1 ± 0.81 years) in September/October 2014 (phase 1) and March/April 2016 (phase 2). Axial length (AL), corneal radii (CR) and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) were also recorded. Participants were defined as myopic if non‐cycloplegic spherical equivalent refractive error ≤−0.50 DS at phase 1.

Results

Nine participants were lost to follow up. Mel concentrations were measurable for all myopes (phase 1 n = 25, phase 2 n = 22) and non‐myopes (phase 1 n = 29, phase 2 n = 23). SER did not change significantly between phases (p = 0.51). DA concentrations were measurable for fewer myopes (phase 1 n = 13, phase 2 n = 12) and non‐myopes (phase 1 n = 23, phase 2 n = 16). Myopes exhibited significantly higher Mel concentrations than non‐myopes at phase 1 (Median difference: 10 pg mL−1, p < 0.001) and at phase 2 (Median difference: 7.3 pg mL−1, p < 0.001) and lower DA concentrations at phase 2 (Median difference: 4.7 pg mL−1, p = 0.006). Mel concentrations were positively associated with more negative SER (all r ≥ −0.53, all p < 0.001), longer AL (all r ≥ 0.37, all p ≤ 0.008) and higher AL/CR ratio (all r ≥ 0.51, all p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study reports for the first time in humans that myopes exhibit higher serum Mel concentrations than non‐myopes. This may indicate a role for light exposure and circadian rhythm in the human myopic growth mechanism. Further research should focus on younger cohorts exhibiting more dynamic myopic progression and explore the profile of these neurochemicals alongside evaluation of sleep patterns in myopic and non‐myopic groups.
County‐level Variation in Infant Mortality Reporting at Early Previable Gestational Ages
Authors: Goyal Neera K. , DeFranco Emily , Kamath‐Rayne Beena D. , Beck Andrew F. , Hall Eric S.
Published: July 2017

Background

Infant mortality rate (IMR), or number of infant deaths per 1000 livebirths, varies widely across the US While fetal deaths are not included in this measure, reported infant deaths do include those delivered at previable gestations, or ≤20 weeks gestation. Variation in reporting of these events may have a significant impact on IMR estimates.

Methods

This retrospective analysis used US National Center for Health Statistics 2007–2013 data from 2391 US counties. Counties were categorised by US region, demographic characteristics, and state‐level fetal death reporting requirements. County percentage of fetal deaths among all 17–20 week fetal and infant deaths was evaluated using multivariable linear regression. County‐level characteristics were then included in multivariable linear regression to determine the associated change in county IMR.

Results

County percentage of deaths at 17–20 weeks reported as fetal ranged from 0% to 100% (mean 63.7%). Every 1 point increase in this percentage was associated with a 0.02 point decrease in county IMR (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02, 0.03). When county IMRs were recalculated holding the percentage of fetal vs. infant deaths at 17–20 weeks constant at 63.7%, results suggest that the predicted gap in county IMR between Northeast and Midwest regions would narrow by 0.45 points.

Conclusions

Variable reporting of previable fetal and infant deaths may compromise the validity of county IMR comparisons. Improved consistency and accuracy of fetal and infant death reporting is warranted.
The Contemporary Presidency: The Trump Transition, Early Presidency, and National Security Organization
Authors: Burke John P.
Published: July 2017

President Trump's establishment of his national security system proved highly problematic compared to those of his recent predecessors. Problems arose in its initial organization, especially the designation of his chief political strategist as a participant at its highest levels, later rescinded. Further difficulties developed with the resignation of his National Security Council advisor, after only 24 days on the job. The news media quickly pounced. They portrayed a presidency in disarray and a national security process as dysfunctional. It was a major blow to this new administration, even though it was unwilling to acknowledge it publicly. In his first solo press conference on February 16, 2017, Trump stated, “This administration is running like a fine‐tuned machine.” Not quite. This article explores their early organizational difficulties in national security policy making.
Effects of consistency between self and in‐group on children's views of self, groups, and abilities
Authors: Patterson Meagan M. , Bigler Rebecca S.
Published: July 2017

Children's developing views of self and in‐groups inevitably conflict at points during childhood (e.g., a girl who thinks of herself as strong encounters the gender stereotype that girls are weak). How are self and group views reconciled in such cases? To test hypotheses based on Greenwald et al.'s model of self, group, and attribute relations, children (N = 107; ages 7–12;M = 9 years, 6 months) were assigned to novel social groups, denoted by red and blue t‐shirts, in their classrooms. Across 3 weeks, children completed three novel tasks and received false feedback on personal and group task performance, producing a between‐subjects experimental design in which children received either consistent or inconsistent self and group feedback. Immediately after receiving feedback, children answered questions about the particular task. Finally, upon completion of all three manipulations, children completed measures of views of the self and novel groups. As predicted, children's views of the tasks, self, and groups were influenced by feedback. Unexpectedly, children viewed themselves as more similar to the in‐group than out‐group irrespective of feedback consistency. Furthermore, children developed in‐group biased attitudes, but these biases were largely unrelated to feedback.
Children's attentional breadth around their mother: Comparing stimulus‐driven vs. cognitively controlled processes
Authors: Bosmans Guy , Goldblum Emma , Braet Caroline , van de Walle Magali , Heylen Joke , Bijttebier Patricia , Santens Tara , Koster Ernst H. W. , De Raedt Rudi
Published: July 2017

Attentional processes in children are tuned toward their mother. It is unclear whether this is a cognitively controlled or more automatic, stimulus‐driven process. Therefore, 172 children (age 9–13) were assigned to either a cognitively controlled or a stimulus‐driven task measuring the breadth of their attentional field around their mother. Results demonstrated a narrower field around the mother for children completing the more stimulus‐driven task. Moreover, only for the stimulus‐driven task, this effect was linked with the interaction between children's age and self‐reported trust in maternal support. More trust was linked with a narrower attentional field around the mother in younger children, but with a less narrow field in older children. This resembles the expected age‐related shift toward increased autonomy and points at stimulus‐driven attentional processes.
Cell‐free fetal DNA‐based noninvasive prenatal testing of aneuploidy
Authors: Mackie Fiona L , Allen Stephanie , Morris R Katie , Kilby Mark D
Published: July 2017

Key content

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) uses cell‐free fetal DNA (cffDNA) to test for aneuploidy, as opposed to noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD), which uses cffDNA to diagnose fetal sex, Rhesus D status and monogenic disorders. This classic review focuses on screening for aneuploidy.

NIPT is a screening test and needs confirmatory invasive testing in cases of a high‐risk (positive) result.

NIPT demonstrates high sensitivities and specificities according to our recent meta‐analysis, although it is less accurate for Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, Monosomy X and sex chromosomal aneuploidies than for Trisomy 21.

It is imperative that the implications of false positive and false negative results are investigated and considered in a clinical context.

Learning objectives

To be able to discuss NIPT with patients, including test accuracy and disadvantages.

To be up to date with the implementation of NIPT in the National Health Service (NHS).

Ethical issues

NIPT requires careful counselling: patients may consider it a ‘trivial’ or routine blood test and may not fully understand the implications of a high‐risk (positive) result.

There are issues surrounding other diagnoses that NIPT can potentially reveal, including maternal cancers, maternal sex chromosome aneuploidies and milder fetal phenotypes.
Developing inland China: The role of coastal foreign direct investment and exports
Authors: Ouyang Puman , Yao Shunli
Published: July 2017

The design of China's foreign direct investment (FDI) and export promotion policies has intrinsic elements not helpful with the original policy intent to generate spillovers to the wide Chinese economy. Applying panel estimation models to Chinese provincial‐level data for 1993–2008, we examine the impacts of China's coastal FDI and exports on its inland regions. We find that the coastal FDI has overall positive inter‐regional impacts, while the coastal exports do not. Cooperative joint ventures generate positive impacts, but little for wholly foreign‐funded enterprises and even negative for equity joint ventures. The inter‐regional impacts do not exhibit any significance and robustness across exporters' ownership status. We attribute these counter‐intuitive findings to the protectionist behaviours of state‐owned enterprises in equity joint ventures and the prevalence of processing exports.
Technical change and income inequality in China
Authors: Zhang Xun , Wan Guanghua , Wang Chen , Luo Zhi
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this paper was to explore the inequality–technical change relationship. Different from earlier studies, we aim to gauge the impact of technical change on the overall inequality, not just a particular component of inequality. This is achieved by establishing that the labour share of income is negatively correlated with overall inequality as indicated by the popular Gini coefficient and by modelling the labour share of income as a function of technical change. The empirical model of labour share of income is estimated using 1978–2012 provincial panel data from China. The main estimation results show that technical change in China had been mostly capital‐biased. It contributed to the successive reductions in China's labour share of income and thus rapid rises in income inequality.
Persistent papilloma treated with cryotherapy in three dogs
Authors: Richman Austin W. , Kirby Allison L. , Rosenkrantz Wayne , Muse Russell
Published: July 2017

Background

Canine papillomaviruses can affect the mucous membranes and skin of young, old and immunocompromised dogs. Most lesions regress spontaneously over a four to eight week interval; however, in some cases the lesions may persist or progress. Cryotherapy is used as a treatment for papillomavirus induced lesions in veterinary practice but there is limited published evidence regarding its use.

Objectives

To describe the history, lesions and treatment outcomes of three dogs with persistent viral papillomas treated with cryotherapy.

Animals

Three client owned dogs.

Methods

Canine viral papilloma lesions were treated with five to six freeze–thaw cycles using liquid nitrogen cryotherapy.

Results

All lesions in each case resolved with cryotherapy treatment. Two cases required one treatment and one case required two treatment courses.

Conclusions and clinical importance

The apparent resolution of these papilloma lesions with cryotherapy suggests that this may be a useful treatment intervention for persistent canine papilloma lesions. Spontaneous resolution may still have taken place; consequently, large scale clinical trials are required to demonstrate unequivocally that this mode of therapy, as with other therapeutic modalities, is really effective in the treatment of canine papillomatosis.
Designing for Additive Manufacturing: Lightweighting Through Topology Optimization Enables Lunar Spacecraft
Authors: Orme Melissa E. , Gschweitl Michael , Ferrari Michael , Madera Ivan , Mouriaux Franck
Published: July 2017

An end-to-end development approach for space flight qualified additive manufacturing (AM) components is presented and demonstrated with a case study consisting of a system of five large, light-weight, topologically optimized components that serve as an engine mount in SpaceIL's GLPX lunar landing craft that will participate in the Google Lunar XPrize challenge. The development approach includes a preliminary design exploration intended to save numerical effort in order to allow efficient adoption of topology optimization and additive manufacturing in industry. The approach also addresses additive manufacturing constraints, which are not included in the topology optimization algorithm, such as build orientation, overhangs, and the minimization of support structures in the design phase. Additive manufacturing is carried out on the topologically optimized designs with powder bed laser technology and rigorous testing, verification, and validation exercises complete the development process.
Dynamic Data-Driven Design of Lean Premixed Combustors for Thermoacoustically Stable Operations
Authors: Chattopadhyay Pritthi , Mondal Sudeepta , Bhattacharya Chandrachur , Mukhopadhyay Achintya , Ray Asok
Published: July 2017

Prediction of thermoacoustic instabilities is a critical issue for both design and operation of combustion systems. Sustained high-amplitude pressure and temperature oscillations may cause stresses in structural components of the combustor, leading to thermomechanical damage. Therefore, the design of combustion systems must take into account the dynamic characteristics of thermoacoustic instabilities in the combustor. From this perspective, there needs to be a procedure, in the design process, to recognize the operating conditions (or parameters) that could lead to such thermoacoustic instabilities. However, often the available experimental data are limited and may not provide a complete map of the stability region(s) over the entire range of operations. To address this issue, a Bayesian nonparametric method has been adopted in this paper. By making use of limited experimental data, the proposed design method determines a mapping from a set of operating conditions to that of stability regions in the combustion system. This map is designed to be capable of (i) predicting the system response of the combustor at operating conditions at which experimental data are unavailable and (ii) statistically quantifying the uncertainties in the estimated parameters. With the ensemble of information thus gained about the system response at different operating points, the key design parameters of the combustor system can be identified; such a design would be statistically significant for satisfying the system specifications. The proposed method has been validated with experimental data of pressure time-series from a laboratory-scale lean-premixed swirl-stabilized combustor apparatus.
Mining Process Heuristics From Designer Action Data via Hidden Markov Models
Authors: McComb Christopher , Cagan Jonathan , Kotovsky Kenneth
Published: July 2017

Configuration design problems, characterized by the assembly of components into a final desired solution, are common in engineering design. Various theoretical approaches have been offered for solving configuration type problems, but few studies have examined the approach that humans naturally use to solve such problems. This work applies data-mining techniques to quantitatively study the processes that designers use to solve configuration design problems. The guiding goal is to extract beneficial design process heuristics that are generalizable to the entire class of problems. The extraction of these human problem-solving heuristics is automated through the application of hidden Markov models to the data from two behavioral studies. Results show that designers proceed through four procedural states in solving configuration design problems, roughly transitioning from topology design to shape and parameter design. High-performing designers are distinguished by their opportunistic tuning of parameters early in the process, enabling a more effective and nuanced search for solutions.
An Investigation of Wind Farm Power Production for Various Atmospheric Boundary Layer Heights
Authors: Al Sam A. , Szasz R. , Revstedt J.
Published: July 2017

The dependency of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) characteristics on the ABL’s height is investigated by using large eddy simulations (LES). The impacts of ABL’s height on the wind turbine (WT) power production are also investigated by simulating two subsequent wind turbines using the actuator line method (ALM). The results show that, for the same driving pressure forces and aerodynamic roughness height, the wind velocity is higher at deeper ABL, while the wind shear and the wind veer are not affected by the depth. Moreover, the turbulence intensity, kinetic energy, and kinematic shear stress increase with the ABL’s height. Higher power production and power coefficient are obtained from turbines operating at deeper ABL.
Application of a Composite Model in the Analysis of Creep Deformation at Low and Intermediate Temperatures
Authors: Yang Xinjun , Ling Xiang
Published: July 2017

The creep behaviors of TA2 and R60702 at low and intermediate temperature were presented and discussed in this paper. Experimental results indicated that an apparent threshold stress was exhibited in the creep deformation of R60702. Meanwhile, the primary creep phase was found as the main pattern in the room temperature creep behavior of TA2. Compared with the exponential law, the power law has been proved to be a proper constitutive model in the description of primary creep phase. It also showed that θ projection method had its significant advantage in the evaluation of accelerated creep stage. Thus, a composite model which combined power law with θ projection method was applied in the creep curves evaluation at low and intermediate temperature. Based on the multiaxial creep deformation results, the model was modified and discussed. A linear relationship existed between composite model parameters and applied load. Finally, the creep life of TA2 and R60702 could be accurately predicted by the composite model, and it is suitable for the application in low and intermediate temperature creep life analysis.
Band Gap Formation and Tunability in Stretchable Serpentine Interconnects
Authors: Zhang Pu , Parnell William J.
Published: July 2017

Serpentine interconnects are highly stretchable and frequently used in flexible electronic systems. In this work, we show that the undulating geometry of the serpentine interconnects will generate phononic band gaps to manipulate elastic wave propagation. The interesting effect of “bands-sticking-together” is observed. We further illustrate that the band structures of the serpentine interconnects can be tuned by applying prestretch deformation. The discovery offers a way to design stretchable and tunable phononic crystals by using metallic interconnects instead of the conventional design with soft rubbers and unfavorable damping.