bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Der Einfluss städtischer Grünflächen auf die Immobilienpreise: Eine hedonische Analyse für die Stadt Berlin
Authors: Wüstemann Henry , Kolbe Jens
Published: September 2017

Urban green space represents a key aspect for the sustainable development of urban areas. The benefit of urban green space can also be reflected in higher property and land prices. Although a high number of international studies prove the impact of urban green on real estate prices, the empirical basis in Germany is still very limited. The overall purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of urban green space on real estate prices in Germany. The data set contains transaction data for single family homes (1996-2012) provided by the Committee of Valuation Experts (GAA, Gutachterausschuss für Grundstückswerte) for the city of Berlin and cross section geo-coded data for urban green drawn from the European Urban Atlas (EUA) of the European Environment Agency. In order to control for additional open space categories we further incorporated geo-coded data on water bodies, forest, farmland and fallow land. The analysis shows a positive impact of urban green on real estate prices. The results provide helpful information on the capitalization of urban green space in real estate prices.
Netzwerkstrukturen kreativ-urbaner Milieus in mittleren Großstädten
Authors: Bingel Katharina , Leßmann Grit , Nußbaum Jens , Wotha Brigitte
Published: September 2017

Cities are increasingly reliant on innovative ideas to better survive in global competition. These ideas are based on creative potential which can only be revealed by the creative inhabitants of the cities. However, the creativity of single geniuses is less relevant than the collective creativity of the whole milieu. To utilize the resources of these creative-urban milieus further information about their networks is necessary. Creativity is regarded as a form of implicit knowledge which arises and is passed through interaction within the framework of spatially-related network relationships. The article explores to what extend creativity is a resource of cities, which role the collective network-resource has for urban development and how actors can be identified which allows an integration of creative potential in urban development and urban planning. Features and structures of a creative-urban milieu in the city of Braunschweig (Germany) are analysed by ego-centered network-relationships of several actors. Information about different roles, functions and meanings of single actors or groups in the milieu, about different network-layers, about density and centrality are given in order to get a better understanding of the development of creative-urban milieus in medium-sized cities.
Functional and Sports-Specific Outcome After Surgical Repair of Rotator Cuff Tears in Rock Climbers
Authors: Simon Michael , Popp Dominik , Lutter Christoph , Schöffl Volker
Published: September 2017

Objective

The purpose of this study was to analyze the general (Constant Murley score) and sports-specific (change in International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation [UIAA] grade) outcome after surgical repair of rotator cuff injuries in rock climbers.

Methods

In a retrospective study, 12 rock climbers (10 men, 2 women; age 55 years; SD±9; range 28–66 years [mean±SD with range] with rotator cuff lesions were re-evaluated 27±16 (12–72) months after arthroscopic surgical repair of the rotator cuff of the shoulder. The etiology of the rotator cuff pathology was equally chronic (age 61±12 [28–66] years) and acute (age 53±5 [51–65] years). The postoperative general outcome, including the Constant Murley score, was assessed with a standardized questionnaire and clinical examination. The postoperative sports-specific outcome was analyzed using the UIAA metric scale.

Results

The postoperative Constant Murley score was 92±7 (80–98). All participants had already started climbing again; 11 of 12 climbers regained a climbing level within ±1.33 UIAA metric grades of their initial capability.

Conclusion

Arthroscopic repair of acute and chronic rotator cuff tears shows a good functional outcome, enabling most patients to regain a high level of rock climbing ability.
Courts and Democracies in Asia
Authors: Yap Po Jen
Published: September 2017

What is the relationship between the strength of a country's democracy and the ability of its courts to address deficiencies in the electoral process? Drawing a distinction between democracies that can be characterised as 'dominant-party' (for example Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong), 'dynamic' (for example India, South Korea, and Taiwan), and 'fragile' (for example Thailand, Pakistan ,and Bangladesh), this book explores how democracy sustains and is sustained by the exercise of judicial power. In dominant-party systems, courts can only pursue 'dialogic' pathways to constrain the government's authoritarian tendencies. On the other hand, in dynamic democracies, courts can more successfully innovate and make systemic changes to the electoral system. Finally, in fragile democracies, where a country regularly oscillates between martial law and civilian rule, their courts tend to consistently overreach, and this often facilitates or precipitates a hostile take-over by the armed forces, and lead to the demise of the rule of law.
Ethics as a Weapon of War
Authors: Eastwood James
Published: September 2017

What role does ethics play in modern-day warfare? Is it possible for ethics and militarism to exist hand-in-hand? James Eastwood examines the Israeli military and its claim to be 'the most moral army in the world'. This claim has been strongly contested by human rights bodies and international institutions in their analysis of recent military engagements in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon. Yet at the same time, many in Israel believe this claim, including the general public, military personnel and politicians. Compiled from extensive research including interviews with soldiers, Eastwood unpacks the ethical pedagogy of the Israeli military, as well as soldier-led activism which voices a moral critique, and argues that the belief in moral warfare doesn't exist separately from the growing violence of Israel's occupation. This book is ideal for those interested in military ethics and Israeli politics, and provides crucial in-depth analysis for students and researchers alike.
Metaphorical Stories in Discourse
Authors: Ritchie L. David
Published: September 2017

When Hillary Clinton conceded in 2008 that she didn't quite 'shatter the glass ceiling', and when Rick Perry in 2012 called Mitt Romney a 'vulture capitalist', they used abbreviated metaphorical stories, in which stories about one topic are presented as stories about something entirely different. This book examines a wide range of metaphorical stories, beginning with literary genres such as allegories and fables, then focusing on metaphorical stories in ordinary conversations, political speeches, editorial cartoons, and other communication. Sometimes metaphorical stories are developed in rich detail; in other examples, like 'vulture capitalist', they may merely be referenced or implied. This book argues that close attention to metaphorical stories and story metaphors enriches our understanding and is essential to any theory of communication. The book introduces a theoretical structure, which is developed into a theory of metaphorical stories and then illustrates the theory by applying it to actual discourse.
PARSIMONIOUS PARAMETERIZATION OF AGE-PERIOD-COHORT MODELS BY BAYESIAN SHRINKAGE
Authors: Venter Gary , Şahın Şule
Published: September 2017

Age-period-cohort models used in life and general insurance can be over-parameterized, and actuaries have used several methods to avoid this, such as cubic splines. Regularization is a statistical approach for avoiding over-parameterization, and it can reduce estimation and predictive variances compared to MLE. In Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimation, regularization is accomplished by the use of mean-zero priors, and the degree of parsimony can be optimized by numerically efficient out-of-sample cross-validation. This provides a consistent framework for comparing a variety of regularized MCMC models, such as those built with cubic splines, linear splines (as ours is), and the limiting case of non-regularized estimation. We apply this to the multiple-trend model of Hunt and Blake (2014).
Pharmacists as Care Providers for Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Basaraba Jade E. , Picard Michelle , George-Phillips Kirsten , Mysak Tania
Published: September 2017

Background:Pharmacists have become an integral member of the multidisciplinary team providing clinical patient care in various healthcare settings. Although evidence supporting their role in the care of patients with other disease states is well-established, minimal literature has been published evaluating pharmacist interventions in stroke patients. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence evaluating the impact of pharmacist interventions on stroke patient outcomes.Methods: Study abstracts and full-text articles evaluating the impact of a pharmacist intervention on outcomes in patients with an acute stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a history of an acute stroke/TIA were identified and a qualitative analysis performed.Results: A total of 20 abstracts and full-text studies were included. The included studies provided evidence supporting pharmacist interventions in multiple settings, including emergency departments, inpatient, outpatient, and community pharmacy settings. In a significant proportion of the studies, pharmacist care was collaborative with other healthcare professionals. Some of the pharmacist interventions included participation in a stroke response team, assessment for thrombolytic use, medication reconciliation, participation in patient rounds, identification and resolution of drug therapy problems, risk-factor reduction, and patient education. Pharmacist involvement was associated with increased use of evidence-based therapies, medication adherence, risk-factor target achievement, and maintenance of health-related quality of life.Conclusions: Available evidence suggests that a variety of pharmacist interventions can have a positive impact on stroke patient outcomes. Pharmacists should be considered an integral member of the stroke patient care team.
Implementation of a “Flipped Classroom” for Neurosurgery Resident Education
Authors: Girgis Fady , Miller Jonathan P.
Published: September 2017

Introduction:Engaging residents across a multiyear training spectrum is challenging given the heterogeneity of experience and limited time available for educational activities. A “flipped classroom” model, in which residents prepare ahead of time for mentored topic discussions, has potential advantages.Methods:We implemented a curriculum consisting of topics distributed across the specialty. Weekly, each resident was randomly assigned to research a specific aspect of an assigned topic appropriate to his or her level of experience: junior residents aboutwhatcharacterizes each clinical entity, midlevel residents aboutwhento intervene, and chief residents abouthowto administer treatment. Residents completed an anonymous survey 6 months after implementation. Board examination performance was assessed before and after implementation.Results:A total of 12 residents participated in the program. Weekly, 1.75±0.40 hours were spent in preparation, with senior residents reporting less time than junior residents. All residents indicated that the accumulation of experience across 7 years of residency was a major advantage of this program, and all preferred it to lectures. Performance on the board examination significantly increased after implementation (from 316±36 to 468±45,p<0.05).Conclusions:The flipped classroom is a viable approach to resident education and is associated with increased engagement and improved performance using validated knowledge-assessment tools.
Mainstream Media and the F-Word: Documentary Coherence and the Exclusion of a Feminist Narrative in The Fifth Estate Coverage of the Ashley Smith Case
Authors: Crépault Charissa , Kilty Jennifer M.
Published: September 2017

This article offers a narrative analysis of the two CBCFifth Estateinvestigative documentaries about Ashley Smith (“Behind the Wall,” 2010; “Out of Control,” 2010) and juxtaposes the documentary narratives against claims made by feminist criminologists with respect to women’s corrections. Examining the coherent ‘through narrative’ that is constructed in each documentary, we claim thatThe Fifth Estateuses dominant medicalized conceptualizations of mental illness and mental health treatment to frame the Smith case, leaving questions about the gendered nature of her criminalization, imprisonment and mistreatment unasked. Considering the socio-political context of neoliberal and post-feminist individualism, we argue thatThe Fifth Estatepresents the case in a way that maintains the status quo and may resonate with their national audience, but which also reinforces the pathologization of women prisoners and upholds gendered stereotypes.
Appreciating Ashley: Learning About and From the Life and Death of Ashley Smith through Feminist Pedagogy
Authors: Minaker Joanne
Published: September 2017

Feminist scholars and advocates struggle with how to confront the over-criminalization of the most marginalized girls and women. One of the most troubling illustrations of gross injustice is what happened to Ashley Smith. The anniversary of Ashley Smith’s death is a catalyst for amplifying feminist voices. In this paper, I use the Ashley Smith case as a way to frame how I teach critical social justice issues concerning the criminalization of girls and women. My aim is to encourage critical conversations about pedagogy in feminist criminology and socio-legal studies aimed at ameliorative change. With the discipline of Criminology’s systematic failure to understand the unique problems and shared circumstances of girls’ and women’s lives, feminist professors’ teaching, which offers a lens for our students that underscores young women’s constrained choices and the socio/political/cultural context in which their lives and behaviours are embedded, opens up possibilities for transformation.
Surface characterization of ICF capsule by AFM-based profilometer
Authors: Meng Jie , Zhao Xuesen , Tang Xing , Xia Yihao , Ma Xiaojun , Gao Dangzhong
Published: September 2017

Outside surface fluctuations of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) capsule greatly affect the implosion performance. An atomic force microscope (AFM)-based profilometer is developed to precisely characterize the capsule surface with nanometer resolution. With the standard nine surface profiles and the complete coverage data, 1D and 2D power spectra are obtained to quantitatively qualify the capsule. Capsule center fast aligning, orbit traces automatic recording, 3D capsule orientation have been studied to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the profilometer.
Direct numerical simulation of a self-similar adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer at the verge of separation
Authors: Kitsios V. , Sekimoto A. , Atkinson C. , Sillero J. A. , Borrell G. , Gungor A. G. , Jiménez J. , Soria J.
Published: September 2017

The statistical properties are presented for the direct numerical simulation of a self-similar adverse pressure gradient (APG) turbulent boundary layer (TBL) at the verge of separation. The APG TBL has a momentum thickness-based Reynolds number range from $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}_{2}}=570$ to 13 800, with a self-similar region from $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}_{2}}=10\,000$ to 12 300. Within this domain the average non-dimensional pressure gradient parameter $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}=39$, where for a unit density $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}=\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}_{1}P_{\!e}^{\prime }/\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{w}$, with $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}_{1}$ the displacement thickness, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{w}$ the mean shear stress at the wall and $P_{\!e}^{\prime }$ the far-field pressure gradient. This flow is compared with previous zero pressure gradient and mild APG TBL ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}=1$) results of similar Reynolds number. All flows are generated via the direct numerical simulation of a TBL on a flat surface with far-field boundary conditions tailored to apply the desired pressure gradient. The conditions for self-similarity, and the appropriate length and velocity scales, are derived. The mean and Reynolds stress profiles are shown to collapse when non-dimensionalised on the basis of these length and velocity scales. As the pressure gradient increases, the extent of the wake region in the mean streamwise velocity profiles increases, whilst the extent of the log-layer and viscous sublayer decreases. The Reynolds stress, production and dissipation profiles of the APG TBL cases exhibit a second outer peak, which becomes more pronounced and more spatially localised with increasing pressure gradient. This outer peak is located at the point of inflection of the mean velocity profiles, and is suggestive of the presence of a shear flow instability. The maximum streamwise velocity variance is located at a wall normal position of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}_{1}$ of spanwise wavelength of $2\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}_{1}$. In summary as the pressure gradient increases the flow has properties less like a zero pressure gradient TBL and more akin to a free shear layer.
Effects of Bubble Location on Pore Shape in Solid
Authors: Hsiao S. Y. , Wei P. S.
Published: September 2017

The shapes of a pore resulting from an entrapped bubble by a solidification front for different locations of the bubble below the free surface are predicted in this work. Bubble location is an important factor affecting temperature gradient in liquid, solute gas dissipated into the ambient, heterogeneous nucleation of the bubble and shape of the bubble cap, and subsequent entrapment and the pore shape in solid. The shapes of pores in solid influence not only material properties, but also contemporary issues of engineering, biology, medical technology and science, etc. This study takes into account solute transport across a coupling shape of the pore cap determined by the Young-Laplace equation governing balance of liquid, gas and capillary pressures. The results find that increases in depthwise location of a bubble increase pore radius and time for bubble entrapment as solute transport is from the pore across cap emerged through a concentration boundary layer along the solidification front into surrounding liquid in the early stage. On the other hand, the bubble cannot be entrapped, provided that solute transport in opposite directions across the cap submerged in a concentration boundary layer along the solidification front. The predicted growth and entrapment of a tiny bubble as a pore in solid agree with experimental data. Understanding and controlling of the pore shape via controlling bubble location is of interest and challenging.
FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT, SEASONALITY AND MATERNAL AND CHILDHOOD UNDERNUTRITION IN BANGLADESH
Authors: Mohsena Masuda , Hossain Mahabub , Chakraborty Barnali , Bayes Abdul , Rahman A. N. Mahfuzur
Published: September 2017

This study assessed whether agricultural and household incomes were the same across different agro-ecological environments in Bangladesh. An in-depth analysis of the effect of unfavourable ecologies on maternal and child malnutrition was carried out. Data were from a longitudinal data set comprising a nationally representative data sample collected in 2014 and the Food Security Nutrition Surveillance Project (FSNSP) conducted in 2011 and 2012. Anthropometric indices were used to assess the nutritional status of mothers and under-five children. The key variables of interest were food seasonality and geographical location. Data were analysed using the General Linear Model and multinomial and binary logistic regression analysis. Panel data analysis showed that household income was not equal across agro-ecological zones, indicating that the fragility of the environment affects a household’s ability to access food, and thus the nutritional status of mothers and children. Coastal areas of Bangladesh were found to be less dependent on agriculture, particularly cultivation, which had diminished during last few decades.Per capitaincome has been increasing in coastal areas of Bangladesh, led by remittance (money sent home by migrant workers) growing at 8% per year against 6% in other areas. Regression analysis showed that a household in a coastal zone earned 19% less than one in more favourable zones. Although the income from farm practices was found to be lower in unfavourable areas, the deficiency was compensated by increased non-farm incomes. The results from the FSNSP data showed that overall the rates of stunting and wasting among under-five children were 37% and 11.7%, respectively, and nearly 28% of mothers suffered from undernutrition. A highly significant regional heterogeneity in undernutrition was found, with alarmingly high levels in the Haor Basin and coastal belt areas. There were significantly higher rates of underweight and wasting in the monsoon season compared with the two harvest seasons among children under the age of five. The findings stress the importance of bringing geographical location and seasonality thinking into debates on hunger and nutrition in Bangladesh.
A new study of the kinetics of curd production in the process of cheese manufacture
Authors: Muñoz Susana Vargas , Torres Maykel González , Guerrero Francisco Quintanilla , Talavera Rogelio Rodríguez
Published: September 2017

We studied the role played by temperature and rennet concentration in the coagulation process for cheese manufacture and the evaluation of their kinetics. We concluded that temperature is the main factor that determines the kinetics. The rennet concentration was unimportant probably due to the fast action of the enzyme chymosin. The Dynamic light scattering technique allowed measuring the aggregate's size and their formation kinetics. The volume fraction of solids was determined from viscosity measurements, showing profiles that are in agreement with the size profiles. The results indicate that the formation of the aggregates for rennet cheese is strongly dependent on temperature and rennet concentration. The results revealed that at 35·5 °C the volume fraction of solids has the maximum slope, indicating that at this temperature the curd is formed rapidly. The optimal temperature throughout the process was established. Second-order kinetics were obtained for the process. We observed a quadratic dependence between the rennet volume and the volume fraction of solids (curd), thereby indicating that the kinetics of the curd production should be of order two.
Conservation of chimpanzeesPan troglodytes verusand other primates depends on forest patches in a West African savannah landscape
Authors: Binczik Anna , Roig-Boixeda Paula , Heymann Eckhard W. , Waltert Matthias
Published: September 2017

Habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and human–wildlife conflict threaten the survival of primates across Africa. Particularly dramatic forest losses have occurred outside protected areas in the Guinean forest–savannah transition zone. Using the Boé region, Guinea-Bissau, as a case study, we investigated whether and how this rapidly humanized mosaic of wooded savannah, gallery forests and cropland could sustain viable primate populations. We conducted line transect surveys and reconnaissance (recce) walks to assess populations of one Critically Endangered (chimpanzeePan troglodytes verus), one Endangered (Temminck's red colobusPiliocolobus badius temminckii), one Vulnerable (king colobusColobus polykomos), and one Near Threatened (sooty mangabeyCercocebus atys) arboreal primates across a 104 km2section of Boé in the dry season of 2016. Using the standing crop nest count method we estimated a relatively high chimpanzee density (0.77 individuals per km2, 95% CI 0.45–1.34). An assessment of habitat selection showed that chimpanzees prefer semi-dense forest and fallow fields with remnant old trees for nesting, and locations close to rivers. The other primates studied occurred in extremely low densities and were largely restricted to gallery forests. Our results indicate a need for immediate action to ensure the long-term survival of the primate community in the human-dominated landscape of Boé. Our recommendations include action to maintain hunting pressure at a low level, restoring and protecting gallery forests, introducing incentives for farmers for forest protection and primate-friendly practices, and extending the conservation programme to all arboreal primates in the region.
Comorbidity of autoimmune thyroid disorders and psychiatric disorders during the postpartum period: a Danish nationwide register-based cohort study
Authors: Bergink V. , Pop V. J. M. , Nielsen P. R. , Agerbo E. , Munk-Olsen T. , Liu X.
Published: September 2017

Background

The postpartum period is well-known risk period for the first onset of autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITDs) as well as first onset of psychiatric disorders. These two disorders are some of the most prevalent medical conditions postpartum, often misdiagnosed and disabling if left untreated. Our study was designed to explore the possible bidirectional association between AITDs and psychiatric disorders during the postpartum period.

Methods

A population-based cohort study through linkage of Danish national registers, which comprised 312 779 women who gave birth to their first child during 1997–2010. We conducted Poisson regression analysis to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of psychiatric disorders among women with first-onset AITDs, the IRR of AITDs among women with first-onset psychiatric disorders as well as the overlap between these disorders using a comorbidity index.

Results

Women with first-onset AITDs postpartum were more likely to have first-onset psychiatric disorders than women who did not have postpartum AITDs (IRR = 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25–2.81). Women with first-onset postpartum psychiatric disorders had a higher risk of AITDs than women with no psychiatric disorders (IRR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.45–3.20). The comorbidity index 2 years after delivery was 2.26 (95% CI: 1.61–2.90), indicating a comorbidity between first-onset AITDs and psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions

First-onset AITDs and psychiatric disorders co-occur in the postpartum period, which has relevance to further studies on the etiologies of these disorders and why childbirth in particular triggers the onset.
The semantic network, lexical access, and reading comprehension in monolingual and bilingual children: An individual differences study
Authors: SPÄTGENS TESSA , SCHOONEN ROB
Published: September 2017

Using a semantic priming experiment, the influence of lexical access and knowledge of semantic relations on reading comprehension was studied in Dutch monolingual and bilingual minority children. Both context-independent semantic relations in the form of category coordinates and context-dependent semantic relations involving concepts that co-occur in certain contexts were tested in an auditory animacy decision task, along with lexical access. Reading comprehension and the control variables vocabulary size, decoding skill, and mental processing speed were tested by means of standardized tasks. Mixed-effects modeling was used to obtain individual priming scores and to study the effect of individual differences in the various predictor variables on the reading scores. Semantic priming was observed for the coordinate pairs but not the context-dependently related pairs, and neither context-independent priming nor lexical access predicted reading comprehension. Only vocabulary size significantly contributed to the reading scores, emphasizing the importance of the number of words known for reading comprehension. Finally, the results show that the monolingual and bilingual children perform similarly on all measures, suggesting that in the current Dutch context, language status may not be highly predictive of vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension skill.
Four notions of conjugacy for abstract semigroups
Authors: Araújo João , Kinyon Michael , Konieczny Janusz , Malheiro António
Published: September 2017

The action of any group on itself by conjugation and the corresponding conjugacy relation play an important role in group theory. There have been many attempts to find notions of conjugacy in semigroups that would be useful in special classes of semigroups occurring in various areas of mathematics, such as semigroups of matrices, operator and topological semigroups, free semigroups, transition monoids for automata, semigroups given by presentations with prescribed properties, monoids of graph endomorphisms, etc. In this paper we study four notions of conjugacy for semigroups, their interconnections, similarities and dissimilarities. They appeared originally in various different settings (automata, representation theory, presentations, and transformation semigroups). Here we study them in full generality. The paper ends with a large list of open problems.
Assessing the extent of access and benefit sharing in the wildlife trade: lessons from horticultural orchids in Southeast Asia
Authors: HINSLEY AMY , ROBERTS DAVID L.
Published: September 2017

The equitable sharing of benefits from natural resources is a key target of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Trade in its native species is one way in which a country can potentially benefit from its natural resources, and even small-scale traders can now access global markets online. However, little is known about the extent of benefit sharing for many products, and the extent to which the appropriate processes and permits are being used. We surveyed online trade in a lucrative and widely sold product in Southeast Asia (horticultural orchids) to assess the extent of access and benefit sharing. In total, 20.8% (n = 1120) of orchid species from the region were being sold. Although seven out of ten countries were trading, five had very little or no trade in their native species, and the majority of recently described endemic species being traded from non-range states had no reported Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora exports from their country of origin. We suggest that addressing access and benefit-sharing gaps requires wider recognition of the problem, coupled with capacity building in the countries currently benefitting least: Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. The priority should be to increase botanical capacity and enable these countries to better control the commercialization and trade of their native species.
The effect of temperature on the initial development of Brycon amazonicus Spix & Agassiz, 1829 as tool for micromanipulation of embryos
Authors: Cristina da Silva Regiane , Pereira dos Santos Matheus , Senhorini José Augusto , Paes Maria do Carmo Faria , Valentin Fernanda Nogueira , Fujimoto Takafumi , do Nascimento Nivaldo Ferreira , Yasui George Shigueki , Nakaghi Laura Satiko Okada
Published: September 2017

Primordial germ cell (PGC) transplant is a promising tool in aquaculture; however, successful use of this technique requires in depth knowledge of the early stages of embryo and larval development. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of different temperatures (22, 26, and 30°C) on the early development of B. amazonicus. The newly fertilized eggs were distributed into tanks with controlled temperature and oxygenation. Samples were collected at pre-established times and analysed under light and fluorescence microscopy. Temperature influenced the speed and duration of each stage of early development, including hatching time. The highest pronuclei fusion rate was observed 8 min post-fertilization (mpf) at 22 and 26°C, and 6 mpf at 30°C. The duration of the 512–1000 blastomeres phase during in the blastocyst stage was 1 h 30 min at 22°C, and 25 min at 26 and 30°C. Hatching occurred at 24 h 30 mpf at 22°C, 16 h post-fertilization (hpf) at 26°C, and 11 h 30 mpf at 30°C. The rate of morphologically normal larvae was 88.34% at 22°C, 90.49% at 26°C, and 73% at 30°C. Malformations of the head, yolk sac, heart, and tail were observed in all temperatures. Nevertheless, B. amazonicus embryos were able to develop satisfactory in all three temperatures tested. These results enable embryo manipulation at different temperatures to optimize the micromanipulation time of embryos and larvae for biotechnological studies.
A vascular endothelial growth factor A genetic variant is associated with improved ventricular function and transplant-free survival after surgery for non-syndromic CHD
Authors: Mavroudis Constantine D. , Seung Kim Daniel , Burnham Nancy , Morss Alexandra H. , Kim Jerry H. , Burt Amber A. , Crosslin David R. , McDonald-McGinn Donna M. , Zackai Elaine H. , Cohen Meryl S. , Nicolson Susan C. , Spray Thomas L. , Stanaway Ian B. , Nickerson Deborah A. , Russell Mark W. , Hakonarson Hakon , Jarvik Gail P. , Gaynor J. William
Published: September 2017

Background

We have previously shown that the minor alleles of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) single-nucleotide polymorphism rs833069 and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) single-nucleotide polymorphism rs2758331 are both associated with improved transplant-free survival after surgery for CHD in infants, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We hypothesised that one or both of these minor alleles are associated with better systemic ventricular function, resulting in improved survival.

Methods

This study is a follow-up analysis of 422 non-syndromic CHD patients who underwent neonatal cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Echocardiographic reports were reviewed. Systemic ventricular function was subjectively categorised as normal, or as mildly, moderately, or severely depressed. The change in function was calculated as the change from the preoperative study to the last available study. Stepwise linear regression, adjusting for covariates, was performed for the outcome of change in ventricular function. Model comparison was performed using Akaike’s information criterion. Only variables that improved the model prediction of change in systemic ventricular function were retained in the final model.

Results

Genetic and echocardiographic data were available for 335/422 subjects (79%). Of them, 33 (9.9%) developed worse systemic ventricular function during a mean follow-up period of 13.5 years. After covariate adjustment, the presence of the VEGFA minor allele was associated with preserved ventricular function (p=0.011).

Conclusions

These data support the hypothesis that the mechanism by which the VEGFA single-nucleotide polymorphism rs833069 minor allele improves survival may be the preservation of ventricular function. Further studies are needed to validate this genotype–phenotype association and to determine whether this mechanism is related to increased vascular endothelial growth factor production.
MONETARY POLICY AND EXCHANGE RATES: A BALANCED TWO-COUNTRY COINTEGRATED VAR MODEL APPROACH
Authors: Heinlein Reinhold , Krolzig Hans-Martin
Published: September 2017

We study the exchange rate effects of monetary policy in a balanced macroeconometric two-country model for the United States and United Kingdom. In contrast to the empirical literature, which consistently treats the domestic and foreign countries unequally in the modeling process, we consider full model feedback, allowing for a thorough analysis of the system dynamics. The problem of model dimensionality is tackled by invoking the approach by Aoki (1981). Assuming country symmetry in the long run allows to decouple the two-country macrodynamics of country averages and differences such that the cointegration analysis can be applied to smaller systems. Second, the econometric modeling is general-to-specific, a graph-theoretic approach for the contemporaneous effects combined with automatic general-to-specific model selection. We find delayed overshooting of the exchange rate in the case of a Bank of England monetary shock but instantaneous response to a Fed shock. Altogether the response is more pronounced in the former case.
The Politics of ‘Dolphin-Safe’ Tuna in the United States: Policy Change and Reversal, Lock-in and Adjustment to International Constraints (1984–2017)
Authors: CEZAR RODRIGO FAGUNDES
Published: September 2017

Recently, the World Trade Organization (WTO) granted Mexico the right to retaliate against the US as a compensation for losses related to the US ‘dolphin-safe’ label (May 2017). Despite the diversity of works on the issue, few analyze the changes in the US approach to dolphin protection as a result of international and domestic pressures related to the tuna–dolphin controversy. This paper seeks to understand such changes and their consequences using the process tracing method. It shows that (1) the US approach to dolphin protection passed through a process of policy change motivated by trade and diplomatic concerns mediating dolphin protection, and that (2) it was partially reversed in court as an outcome of the concessions offered to get the policy change approved. Finally, the paper argues that (3) this process led to the lock-in of the US ‘dolphin-safe’ label and to its expansion in response to recent WTO decisions.
Microstrip band-pass filter with −67 dB stop band up to 8.8 times the pass-band center frequency
Authors: Huang Frederick
Published: September 2017

Step-impedance resonators and step-impedance capacitor coupling pads are introduced to microstrip band-pass filters to suppress spurious stop-band responses up to the ninth order, thereby providing a very wide stop band. Combined with improvements in existing suppression techniques, the overall suppression in one of the filters, with 1 GHz center frequency and 42% bandwidth, is −54 dB, up to 8.9 GHz. By also using suitably placed resistors, spurious levels are now depressed to −67 dB up to 8.8 GHz, with only 0.03 dB extra pass-band loss.
Influence of Herbicides on the Development of Internal Necrosis of Sweetpotato
Authors: Beam Shawn C. , Jennings Katherine M. , Monks David W. , Schultheis Jonathan R. , Chaudhari Sushila
Published: September 2017

Field studies were conducted to determine the influence of herbicides on the development of internal necrosis (IN) in sweetpotato storage roots. In a slip propagation study, herbicide treatments included PRE application (immediately after covering seed roots with soil) of clomazone (0.42, 0.84 kg ai ha-1), flumioxazin (0.11, 0.21 kg ai ha-1), fomesafen (0.28, 0.56 kg ai ha-1), linuron (0.56, 1.12 kg ai ha-1),S-metolachlor (0.8, 1.6 kg ai ha-1), flumioxazin plusS-metolachlor (0.11 + 0.8 or 1.6 kg ha-1), and napropamide (1.12, 2.24 kg ai ha-1), and POST application (2 to 4 wk prior to cutting slips) of ethephon (0.84, 1.26 kg ai ha-1) and paraquat (0.14, 0.28 kg ai ha-1). In a field production study, flumioxazin, fomesafen, linuron, and paraquat were applied PREPLANT (one d prior to sweetpotato transplanting), clomazone,S-metolachlor, and napropamide were applied PRE [4 d after transplanting (DAP)], flumioxazin PREPLANT followed by (fb) S-metolachlor PRE, and ethephon applied POST (2 wk prior to harvest). Herbicide rates were similar to those used in the slip propagation study. Yield of sweetpotato in both studies was not affected by herbicide treatment. In both studies, IN incidence and severity increased with time and was greatest at 60 d after curing. No difference was observed between herbicide treatments for IN incidence and severity in the slip production study which indicates herbicide application at time of slip propagation does not impact the development of IN. In the field production study, the only treatment that increased IN incidence compared to the nontreated was ethephon with 53% and 2.3 incidence and severity, respectively. The presence of IN affected roots in nontreated plots indicates that some other pre- or post-curing factors other than herbicides are responsible for the development of IN. However, the ethephon application prior to sweetpotato root harvest escalates the development of IN.
How Does Treatment Self-Selection Affect Inferences About Political Communication?
Authors: Leeper Thomas J.
Published: September 2017

Ecological validity is vital to experimental research because designs that are too artificial may not speak to any real-world political phenomenon. One such concern is treatment of self-selection: if individuals in the real-world self-select treatments, such as political communications, how well does the sample average treatment effect estimate the effects of message exposure for those individuals who would—if given the choice—opt-in to and out of receiving treatment? This study shows that randomization masks effect heterogeneity between individuals who would select different messages if given the choice. Yet, such selections are themselves complex, revealing additional challenges for realistically studying treatments prone to self-selection. The evidence of effect heterogeneity raises questions about the appropriateness of random assignment experiments for studying political communication and the results more broadly advance our understanding of citizens’ selection into and responses to communications when, as they often do, have choice over what messages to receive.
Caribbean Sediment Traced to 1755 Portuguese Quake and Tsunami
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: September 2017

Archaeologists digging in Martinique chanced upon the first tsunami deposit from the earthquake found in the New World. The tsunami left a strong trace, it seems, because the wave went up a river.
A surface-stabilized ozonide triggers bromide oxidation at the aqueous solution-vapour interface
Authors: Artiglia Luca , Edebeli Jacinta , Orlando Fabrizio , Chen Shuzhen , Lee Ming-Tao , Corral Arroyo Pablo , Gilgen Anina , Bartels-Rausch Thorsten , Kleibert Armin , Vazdar Mario , Andres Carignano Marcelo , Francisco Joseph S. , Shepson Paul B. , Gladich Ivan , Ammann Markus
Published: September 2017

Oxidation of bromide in aqueous environments initiates the formation of molecular halogen compounds, which is important for the global tropospheric ozone budget. In the aqueous bulk, oxidation of bromide by ozone involves a [Br•OOO−] complex as intermediate. Here we report liquid jet X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements that provide direct experimental evidence for the ozonide and establish its propensity for the solution-vapour interface. Theoretical calculations support these findings, showing that water stabilizes the ozonide and lowers the energy of the transition state at neutral pH. Kinetic experiments confirm the dominance of the heterogeneous oxidation route established by this precursor at low, atmospherically relevant ozone concentrations. Taken together, our results provide a strong case of different reaction kinetics and mechanisms of reactions occurring at the aqueous phase-vapour interface compared with the bulk aqueous phase.
Inorganic semiconducting materials for flexible and stretchable electronics
Authors: Yu Ki Jun , Yan Zheng , Han Mengdi , Rogers John A.
Published: September 2017

Recent progress in the synthesis and deterministic assembly of advanced classes of single crystalline inorganic semiconductor nanomaterial establishes a foundation for high-performance electronics on bendable, and even elastomeric, substrates. The results allow for classes of systems with capabilities that cannot be reproduced using conventional wafer-based technologies. Specifically, electronic devices that rely on the unusual shapes/forms/constructs of such semiconductors can offer mechanical properties, such as flexibility and stretchability, traditionally believed to be accessible only via comparatively low-performance organic materials, with superior operational features due to their excellent charge transport characteristics. Specifically, these approaches allow integration of high-performance electronic functionality onto various curvilinear shapes, with linear elastic mechanical responses to large strain deformations, of particular relevance in bio-integrated devices and bio-inspired designs. This review summarizes some recent progress in flexible electronics based on inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials, the key associated design strategies and examples of device components and modules with utility in biomedicine.
Room-temperature cavity quantum electrodynamics with strongly coupled Dicke states
Authors: Breeze Jonathan D. , Salvadori Enrico , Sathian Juna , Alford Neil McN. , Kay Christopher W. M.
Published: September 2017

The strong coupling regime is essential for efficient transfer of excitations between states in different quantum systems on timescales shorter than their lifetimes. The coupling of single spins to microwave photons is very weak but can be enhanced by increasing the local density of states by reducing the magnetic mode volume of the cavity. In practice, it is difficult to achieve both small cavity mode volume and low cavity decay rate, so superconducting metals are often employed at cryogenic temperatures. For an ensembles of N spins, the spin–photon coupling can be enhanced by $$\sqrt N$$

N

through collective spin excitations known as Dicke states. For sufficiently large N the collective spin–photon coupling can exceed both the spin decoherence and cavity decay rates, making the strong-coupling regime accessible. Here we demonstrate strong coupling and cavity quantum electrodynamics in a solid-state system at room-temperature. We generate an inverted spin-ensemble with N ~ 1015 by photo-exciting pentacene molecules into spin-triplet states with spin dephasing time $$T_2^*\sim 3$$

T

2

*

~
3
 μs. When coupled to a 1.45 GHz TE01δ mode supported by a high Purcell factor strontium titanate dielectric cavity ($$V_{\mathrm{m}}\sim 0.25$$

V

m

~
0.25
 cm3, Q ~ 8,500), we observe Rabi oscillations in the microwave emission from collective Dicke states and a 1.8 MHz normal-mode splitting of the resultant collective spin–photon polariton. We also observe a cavity protection effect at the onset of the strong-coupling regime which decreases the polariton decay rate as the collective coupling increases.
Comparison of Structural and Functional Properties of Wheat Starch Under Different Soil Drought Conditions
Authors: Zhang Weiyang , Gu Junfei , Wang Zhiqin , Wei Cunxu , Yang Jianchang , Zhang Jianhua
Published: September 2017

Drought influences cereal crop yield and quality. However, little is known about changes in the structural and functional properties of wheat starch under soil drought conditions. In this study, two wheat cultivars were subjected to well-watered (WW), moderate soil-drought (MD), and severe soil-drought (SD) from 7 tillers in the main stem to maturity. The structural and functional properties of the resultant endosperm starch were investigated. In comparison with WW soil, the MD increased starch accumulation in grains, the proportion of large starch granules, amylose and amylopectin long branch chain contents, and average amylopectin branch chain length, which were accompanied by the increase in activities of granule bound starch synthase and soluble starch synthase. MD treated-starch had a lower gelatinization enthalpy, and swelling power, but a higher gelatinization temperature, retrogradation enthalpy, and retrogradation percentage when compared to WW conditions. The MD also increased starch resistance to acid hydrolysis, amylase hydrolysis, andin vitrodigestion. The SD had the opposite effects to the MD in all cases. The results suggest that soil drought more severely affects amylose synthesis than amylopectin synthesis in wheat grains, and moderate soil-drought improves molecular structure and functional properties of the starch.