bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Connectivity as the facilitator of intra‐European student migration
Authors: Baláž Vladimír , Williams Allan M. , Chrančoková Martina
Published: September 2017

Student migration represents the major form of international human capital training and has significant implications for knowledge transfer and economic development, but its highly uneven geography remains relatively underresearched. This paper addresses two gaps in the research literature. First, it provides a temporal perspective by analysing intra‐European tertiary student exchange in three subperiods, within the time frame of 1998–2012, capturing both continuities and major changes in the strong polarisation of intra‐European student exchanges against a backdrop of significant institutional changes in Europe. Alongside the dominant polarisation, there is also regionalisation of exchange within some parts of Europe. Second, the determinants of the changing spatial concentration of international human capital training are analysed in terms of not only traditional migration push–pull factors but also connectivity. The findings indicate that connectivity factors, such as language and/or spatial proximity, and established flows of labour, trade, and knowledge are the most significant determinants and underpin the persistent stability in the polarisation of exchange. In contrast, traditional push–pull factors, such as income and employment differentials or differences in tertiary education quality and investment, are less important.
Controlling Defect and Dopant Concentrations in Graphene by Remote Plasma Treatments
Authors: McManus John B. , Hennessy Alison , Cullen Conor P. , Hallam Toby , McEvoy Niall , Duesberg Georg S.
Published: September 2017

This report details the controllable doping of graphene through post‐growth plasma treatments. Defects are controllably introduced into the lattice using argon plasma, following this sample are exposed to ammonia/hydrogen plasma. During this nitrogen atoms get incorporated causing partial restoration of the graphene lattice. The damage levels are characterised by Raman and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopies. The incorporation of nitrogen into the graphene lattice provides significant n‐doping. This is confirmed by the fabrication of graphene field‐effect transistors which show clear n‐type behaviour and mobilities not significantly less than those of pristine graphene. Thus this work demonstrates the viability of plasma treatments to reliably dope graphene.
Order Parameter Boundary Conditions for Ferroics: Application to Flexoelectricity
Authors: Ahluwalia R. , Yudin P. V. , Yurkov A. S.
Published: September 2017

We study boundary conditions for ferroics in the context of the Landau theory with higher order gradient terms. Such thermodynamic description requires additional boundary conditions for the order parameter gradients, that we derive here. The results are of practical importance for materials exhibiting incommensurate phases due to competing interactions and for advanced modeling for nano‐scale ferroic systems. Boundary conditions are derived for the case when the order parameter is fixed at the free surface (blocking boundary condition) as well as for the free boundary case. The application of the boundary conditions is demonstrated using phase field simulations for ferroelectrics where there is a coupling of the polarization order parameter with strain gradients.
Anion–Anion Co‐Doped Monolayer MoS2 for Visible Light Photocatalysis
Authors: Wang Guang‐Zhao , Yuan Hong‐Kuan , Kuang An‐Long , Chen Hong
Published: September 2017

The structural, electronic, and optical properties of N, P mono‐doped and N–N, N–P, P–P co‐doped monolayer MoS2 (ML‐MoS2) have been calculated in contrast with the pure ML‐MoS2 so as to investigate if double‐hole‐mediated co‐doping with anion–anion pairs will improve the photocatalytic activity of ML‐MoS2. The unfilled impurity states appearing in the N‐doped system and the formation of S vacancy in N, P mono‐doped systems suppress the photocatalytic activities of N and P mono‐doped systems. N–P co‐doped [in configuration (ii)] as well as N–N and P–P co‐doped ML‐MoS2 also introduce unoccupied impurity states above the Fermi levels, and these impurity states accelerating the recombination of photo‐generated charge carriers will suppress the photocatalytic activity. The N–P co‐doped [in configuration (i)] ML‐MoS2 has the suitable band‐gap with respect to the water redox levels, and N–P co‐doping will suppress the formation of MoS2 bilayer. Therefore, N–P co‐doped (i) is a promising visible light photocatalyst for water splitting.
Toward the preparation of the HAuF6, HAu2F11, and HAu3F16 superacids: Theoretical study
Authors: Czapla Marcin , Skurski Piotr
Published: September 2017

We apply the B3LYP and QCISD theoretical methods with the 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set and the LANL2DZ effective core potentials to investigate the reaction paths leading to the preparation of the HAuF6, HAu2F11, and HAu3F16 superacids. The Gibbs free energies of deprotonation of these systems are calculated to estimate their acid strength. The thermodynamic stability of the corresponding anionic precursors ((AuF6)–, (Au2F11)–, and (Au3F16)–) and their vertical excess electron detachment energies are evaluated and discussed. The suggested route of the HAu2F11 preparation involves the F– attachment to the Au2F10 reactant which results in the formation of the (Au2F11)– anion whose protonation yields the HAu2F11 superacid. The suggested HAuF6 superacid preparation route is based on a qualitatively similar scheme and involves the conversion of the AuF5 reactant into the (AuF6)– anion followed by its protonation. The proposed path for the HAu3F16 superacid preparation involves the attachment of AuF5 to HAu2F11.
Mechanistic insights on how hydroquinone disarms OH and OOH radicals
Authors: Nakarada Ðura , Petković Milena
Published: September 2017

Phenol derivatives are distinguished as successful free radical scavengers. We present a detailed analysis of hydroxyl hydrogen abstraction from hydroquinone by hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radical with emphasis on changes that take place in the vicinity of the transition state. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules is employed to elucidate the sequence of positive and negative charge transfer by studying selected properties of the three key atoms (the transferring hydrogen, the donor atom, and the acceptor atom) along intrinsic reaction path. The presented results imply that in both reactions, which are examples of proton coupled electron transfer, proton, and electron get simultaneously transferred to the radical oxygen atom. The fact that the hydrogen's charge and volume do not monotonously change in the vicinity of the transition state in the product valley results from the adjacency of the proton and the electron to the donor and the acceptor oxygen atoms. Obtaining a detailed understanding of mechanisms by which free radicals are disarmed is of paramount importance given the effects of those highly reactive species on biological systems. A comprehensive analysis of hydroxyl hydrogen abstraction from hydroquinone by hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals, based on changes of selected electronic properties of the three most relevant atoms (hydrogen donor, hydrogen acceptor, and the hydrogen itself), along the reaction coordinate, can be obtained by first‐principles calculations.
Alkalized borazine: A simple recipe to design closed‐shell superalkalis
Authors: Srivastava Ambrish Kumar , Tiwari Sugriva Nath , Misra Neeraj
Published: September 2017

Superalkalis are hypervalent species, possessing smaller ionization energy (IE) than alkali metal. These species are typically designed by electronegative atoms with excess electropositive ligands. Typical examples include FLi2, OLi3, NLi4, etc. Herein, we study successive alkali metal substitution at H atoms in borazine (B3N3H6). Our B3LYP and MP2 calculations demonstrate that the vertical ionization energy (VIE) of B3N3H6‐xLix decreases with the increase in x for x = 1–6. For x ≥ 4, the VIE of B3N3H6‐xLix becomes lower than that of Li atom, thereby indicating their superalkali nature. More interestingly, all these species are planar with closed‐shell structure such that the NICSzz value at the ring's center is reduced. We have also studied B3N3M6 (M = Li, Na, and K) species and found that the VIE is further reduced in case of Na and K substitutions. These findings should suggest a simple yet effective route to the design of species with lower ionization energies than alkali metal.
A superatomic molecule under the spin‐orbit coupling: Insights from the electronic properties in the thiolate‐protected Au38(SR)24 cluster
Authors: Muñoz‐Castro Alvaro
Published: September 2017

The role of the spin‐orbit coupling in Au38(SR)24, as a representative case for a superatomic molecules is studied to offer a complete view of the relativistic effect in heavy elements clusters. Its
core can be described in as an analog to a diatomic molecule, such as F2, allowing the electronic structure to be depicted in terms of the D∞h point group. First, we showed the electronic structure under the spin‐orbit framework using total angular momentum representations (j = ℓ ± s; spinors), which allows us to characterize the expected splitting of certain levels derived from the cluster core. Accordingly, the optical properties are evaluated under spin‐orbit coupling regime, revealing differences in the low‐energy region of the absorption spectrum. Lastly, the variation of electron affinity (EA) and ionization potential (IP) properties is evaluated. This reveals characteristic consequences of the inclusion of spin‐orbit coupling in Au38(SR)24, as a bridge to larger thiolate‐protected gold clusters.
Real‐Time Observation of Iodide Ion Migration in Methylammonium Lead Halide Perovskites
Authors: Li Cheng , Guerrero Antonio , Zhong Yu , Gräser Anna , Luna Carlos Andres Melo , Köhler Jürgen , Bisquert Juan , Hildner Richard , Huettner Sven
Published: September 2017

Organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites (e.g., CH3NH3PbI3−xClx) emerge as a promising optoelectronic material. However, the Shockley–Queisser limit for the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite‐based photovoltaic devices is still not reached. Nonradiative recombination pathways may play a significant role and appear as photoluminescence (PL) inactive (or dark) areas on perovskite films. Although these observations are related to the presence of ions/defects, the underlying fundamental physics and detailed microscopic processes, concerning trap/defect status, ion migration, etc., still remain poorly understood. Here correlated wide‐field PL microscopy and impedance spectroscopy are utilized on perovskite films to in situ investigate both the spatial and the temporal evolution of these PL inactive areas under external electric fields. The formation of PL inactive domains is attributed to the migration and accumulation of iodide ions under external fields. Hence, we are able to characterize the kinetic processes and determine the drift velocities of these ions. In addition, it is shown that I2 vapor directly affects the PL quenching of a perovskite film, which provides evidence that the migration/segregation of iodide ions plays an important role in the PL quenching and consequently limits the PCE of organometal halide‐based perovskite photovoltaic devices.
Resource provisioning in Science Clouds: Requirements and challenges
Authors: López García Álvaro , Fernández‐del‐Castillo Enol , Orviz Fernández Pablo , Campos Plasencia Isabel , Marco de Lucas Jesús
Published: September 2017

Cloud computing has permeated into the information technology industry in the last few years, and it is emerging nowadays in scientific environments. Science user communities are demanding a broad range of computing power to satisfy the needs of high‐performance applications, such as local clusters, high‐performance computing systems, and computing grids. Different workloads are needed from different computational models, and the cloud is already considered as a promising paradigm. The scheduling and allocation of resources is always a challenging matter in any form of computation and clouds are not an exception. Science applications have unique features that differentiate their workloads; hence, their requirements have to be taken into consideration to be fulfilled when building a Science Cloud. This paper will discuss what are the main scheduling and resource allocation challenges for any Infrastructure as a Service provider supporting scientific applications.
Daily weather in Dublin 1716–1734: the diary of Isaac Butler
Authors: Sanderson M. G.
Published: September 2017

A summary of daily weather in Dublin was recorded in a diary between 1716 and 1734 by Isaac Butler. Frequencies of wet days during the summer months and for each year have been calculated. Annual numbers of days with frost, snow and hail are shown, as well as the longest frost‐free periods in each year. These totals are compared with those for the present‐day climate, using weather observations from Dublin airport between 1981 and 2010. Notable climatic events are highlighted, including a prolonged drought (May–October 1723) and frosts in June 1728. This diary is of particular interest as it provides one of the earliest records of daily weather in Ireland.
Definitions and dimensions of energy security: a literature review
Authors: Azzuni Abdelrahman , Breyer Christian
Published: September 2017

This paper sheds light on an integral aspect of the global energy system: energy security. Energy security is a universal topic that shapes policies and regulations in order to achieve higher levels of energy security and thus provides societies with a better life. Understanding the concept and its implications requires a holistic definition, but current research literature lacks a commonly accepted, precisely defined definition. Therefore, the research gap is the absence of a comprehensive definition that takes into account all energy security dimensions, and the absence of well‐studied relationships between energy security and its dimensions. Taking that in mind, the gap is addressed by a systematic review of energy security definitions and by building a structural dimensionalization of energy security. Thus, this review aims to track changing definitions of energy security in modern times and formulate a concise and comprehensive definition. Furthermore, using a structural approach, 15 dimensions, and related parameters of energy security are determined and categorized to illustrate the range of issues covered by the term and to enable precise evaluation of the energy security of energy systems. The results of this review show clearly how energy security could be defined generically to account all dimensions, and show the relationships between these 15 dimensions and energy security. Understanding all dimensions of energy security provides insights for policymakers to formulate policies that account for all of these dimensions. WIREs Energy Environ 2018, 7:e268. doi: 10.1002/wene.268

This article is categorized under:

Energy Systems Economics > Economics and Policy

Energy Policy and Planning > Economics and Policy

Energy and Development > Economics and Policy
Prognostic and Predictive Clinicopathologic Factors of Squamous Anal Canal Cancer in HIV‐Positive and HIV‐Negative Patients: Does HAART Influence Outcomes?
Authors: Pappou Emmanouil P. , Magruder Jonathan T. , Fu Tao , Hicks Caitlin W. , Herman Joseph M. , Fang Sandy , Wick Elizabeth C. , Safar Bashar , Gearhart Susan L. , Efron Jonathan E.
Published: September 2017

Background

The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anal canal has been rising over the past decades, especially in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite the advent of potent multidrug regimens to treat HIV‐termed highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), anal SCC rates have not declined, and the impact of HAART on anal SCC remains controversial.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to define outcomes of anal SCC treatment in HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative patients.

Methods and materials

A retrospective single‐institution analysis was performed on all patients with anal SCC treated at the Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1991 and 2010. The primary outcomes measured were 5‐year overall survival (5‐year OS), median survival, and relapse rates.

Results

Our search identified 93 patients with anal SCC. Patients had a mean age of 54 years; 37.6% were male, and 21.5% were HIV‐positive. Median follow‐up was 28 months. Relapse occurred in 16.1% of patients. Median time to relapse was 20 months. Relapse rates were slightly higher with HIV‐positive versus negative patients (30.0 vs. 12.3%) but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.06). Among HIV‐positive patients, those who relapsed were more likely to be on HAART than those who did not relapse (83.3 vs. 14.3%, p = 0.007). 5‐year OS was 58.9% for the total group of patients with no significant difference between those who relapsed versus those who did not (76.2 vs. 54.5%, p = 0.20). No survival difference was seen between HIV‐positive and negative patients. Survival was associated with AJCC stage in all patients.

Conclusion

In our small series, HIV infection was not associated with a significantly higher relapse rate or worse 5‐year OS among patients with anal SCC. HAART was associated with a higher rate of relapse in HIV‐positive patients. AJCC staging predicted survival in both relapsed and non‐relapsed patients regardless of HIV status.
Patient Navigation by Community Health Workers Increases Access to Surgical Care in Rural Haiti
Authors: Matousek Alexi C. , Addington Stephen R. , Kahan Joseph , Sannon Herriot , Luckner Thelius , Exe Chauvet , Jean Louis Rodolphe R. Eisenhower , Lipsitz Stuart , Meara John G. , Riviello Robert
Published: September 2017

Introduction

In the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer district in rural Haiti, patients from mountain areas receive fewer operations per capita than patients from the plains. Possible additional barriers for mountain patients include lower socioeconomic status, lack of awareness of financial support, illiteracy and unfamiliarity with the hospital system. We sought to increase the rate of elective surgery for a mountain population using a patient navigation program.

Materials and methods

Patient navigators were trained to guide subjects from a mountain population through the entire hospital process for elective surgery. We compared the rate of elective operations before and after the patient navigation intervention between three groups: a control group from a mountainous area, a control group from the plains and an intervention group from a mountainous area.

Results

The baseline elective operation rate differed significantly between the plains control group, the mountain control group and the mountain intervention group (361 vs. 57 vs. 68 operations per 100,000 population per year). The rate of elective surgery between the two mountain groups was not statistically different prior to the intervention. After the intervention, the elective operation rate in the mountain group that received patient navigation increased from 68 to 131 operations per 100,000 population per year (p = 0.017).

Discussion

Patient navigation doubled the elective operation rate for a mountain population in rural Haiti. While additional barriers to access remain for this vulnerable population, patient navigation is an essential augmentation to financial assistance programs to ensure that the poor gain access to surgical care.
Influence of Pleurectomy and Decortication in Health‐Related Quality of Life Among Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Vigneswaran Wickii T. , Kircheva Diana Y. , Rodrigues Adrian E. , Watson Sydeaka , Celauro Amy Durkin , Rose Berkley , Kindler Hedy L. , Husain Aliya N.
Published: September 2017

Background

Complete macroscopic resection surgery, pleurectomy and decortication (PD) improve survival in selected patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Yet its value has been questioned because of concern that this extensive surgical procedure may disrupt health‐related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods

HRQoL was studied in patients undergoing PD surgery for MPM using EORTC QLQ‐C30 instrument at baseline (prior to surgery), 1, 4–5, 7–8, and 10–11 months following surgery. Global health and variables in function and symptom domains were investigated. Sub‐groups analyses were performed for ECOG performance status (PS), histological sub‐types and pathological tumor volume (pTV). Within‐patient comparisons to baseline scores were made using Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. Trends over time were evaluated using Cuzick’s nonparametric test.

Results

There were 114 patients with median age of 70 years (range: 50–88) and PS 0: 35 (30.7%), epithelioid histology: 61 (53.5%) and volume <600 ml: 58 (50.9%). Patients with good PS (PS 0), epithelioid histology and small pTV had greater level of functioning and were less symptomatic at baseline. Overall global health worsened at the first postoperative month (p = 0.0005) with subsequent improvement. Non‐epithelioid histology and patients with large pTV demonstrated greater improvement in global health, function and symptoms domains following a PD.

Conclusions

At baseline, the overall health‐related quality of life, function and symptom domains were adversely affected in non‐epithelioid histology and patients with large pTV. However, greatest improvement in global health, symptom and function domains were observed first month after PD and during the follow‐up in these sub‐groups.
Repeated Resections of Hepatic and Pulmonary Metastases from Colorectal Cancer Provide Long‐Term Survival
Authors: Bellier Jocelyn , De Wolf Julien , Hebbar Mohamed , Amrani Mehdi El , Desauw Christophe , Leteurtre Emmanuelle , Pruvot François‐René , Porte Henri , Truant Stéphanie
Published: September 2017

Background

Liver and lungs are the two most frequent sites of metastatic spread of colorectal cancer (CRC). Complete resection of liver and/or lung metastases is the only chance of cure, and several studies have reported an improved survival after an aggressive treatment. Nevertheless, CRC liver metastases (CLM) have been recognized as a pejorative factor for patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy. We report our experience with patients successively operated on for CRC hepatic and pulmonary metastasis (CPM) and seek to identify prognostic factors.

Methods

All consecutive patients who had resection of CPM and CLM between 2001 and 2014 were enrolled in the study. Clinicopathological and survival data were retrospectively analysed.

Results

Forty‐six patients underwent resections of both CLM and CPM. Hepatic resection preceded pulmonary resection in most cases (91.3%). The median intervals between the resection of the primary tumour and the hepatic recurrence and between hepatic and pulmonary recurrences were 12 months [0–72] and 21.5 months [1–84], respectively. The mortality rate following CPM resection was 4.3%. After a median follow‐up of 41.5 months [0–126], 35 patients recurred of whom 14 (40%) and 11(31.4%) could benefit from repeated resection of recurrent CLM and CPM, respectively. The median and 5‐year overall survivals (OS) were 53 months and 49%, respectively. No prognostic factor was identified.

Conclusion

An aggressive management of CLM and CPM, including repeated resections, may provide a long‐term survival comparable to survival of patients with unique metastasectomy. The absence of prognostic factor may reflect the highly selected pattern of the eligible patients.
Asymmetric Item Characteristic Curves and Item Complexity: Insights from Simulation and Real Data Analyses
Authors: Lee Sora , Bolt Daniel M.
Published: September 2017

While item complexity is often considered as an item feature in test development, it is much less frequently attended to in the psychometric modeling of test items. Prior work suggests that item complexity may manifest through asymmetry in item characteristics curves (ICCs; Samejima in Psychometrika 65:319–335, 2000). In the current paper, we study the potential for asymmetric IRT models to inform empirically about underlying item complexity, and thus the potential value of asymmetric models as tools for item validation. Both simulation and real data studies are presented. Some psychometric consequences of ignoring asymmetry, as well as potential strategies for more effective estimation of asymmetry, are considered in discussion.
Kinetics of the fcc → hcp Phase Transformation in Cu-Ge Solid Solutions Upon Isothermal Aging
Authors: Polatidis E. , Zotov N. , Bischoff E. , Mittemeijer E. J.
Published: September 2017

The kinetics of the ζ-phase formation from a supersaturated α-Cu(Ge) solid solution (i.e., transformation from the fcc crystal structure to the hcp crystal structure) containing 10.8 at. pct Ge [at isothermal temperatures of 573 K, 613 K, and 653 K (300 °C, 340 °C, and 380 °C)] were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phase fraction determination. Both in situ and ex situ annealing experiments were performed. The transformation kinetics were modeled on the basis of a versatile modular model. The transformation kinetics complied with a site-saturation nucleation mode and strongly anisotropic interface-controlled growth mode in association with a corresponding impingement mode: diffusion of Ge (towards the stacking faults, SFs) does not control the transformation rate. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations showed that segregation of Ge at the stacking faults (SFs) takes place (relatively fast) prior to the structural transformation (fcc → hcp).
Recovery and Recycling of CO2/N2‐Switchable Anionic Surfactants in Emulsions
Authors: Fan Ye , Zhang Yuandi , Liu Xuefeng , Zhong Kai , Ge Zan
Published: September 2017

To develop a mild, effective, and clean strategy for recovery and recycling of anionic surfactants in CO2/N2‐switchable emulsions, a CO2/N2‐switchable anionic surfactant, which is a combination of dodecyl seleninic acid (DSA) and N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethyl‐1,2‐ethylenediamine (TMEDA), here referred to as DSA–TMEDA, was used to stabilize an oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsion. Upon stimulation with CO2, DSA–TMEDA was switched off to form insoluble DSA and the water‐soluble TMEDA bicarbonate. Upon N2 bubbling and heating, the OFF state of DSA–TMEDA was restored to the surfactant of DSA–TMEDA. In this manner, O/W emulsions stabilized by DSA–TMEDA can be switched reversibly between demulsification (phase separation) and re‐emulsification (recovered emulsion) by triggering with CO2/N2 over ten times. After breakage of the emulsion, nearly all of the OFF state surfactant could be separated conveniently away from the oil phase, thus facilitating recovery and recycling of the surfactant afterward in emulsifying oil. No obvious adverse changes in the dispersed oil particles size and the relative stability of the regenerated emulsions were observed over five cycles, and the surfactant loss can be neglected during the recycling.
Phase IV Study of Sunitinib in Chinese Patients with Imatinib-Resistant or Imatinib-Intolerant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Shen Lin , Sun Yan , Xu Jian-Ming , Linn Carlos , Wang Qiao , Yang Li-Qiang , Qin Shu-Kui
Published: September 2017

Introduction

Sunitinib is approved in China for treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), after disease progression on, or intolerance to, imatinib. However, available data from prospective clinical trials on its efficacy and safety in Chinese patients is limited. Our objective is to determine the efficacy and safety of sunitinib in Chinese patients with imatinib-resistant/intolerant GIST.

Methods

An open-label, single-arm, multicenter, phase IV study was performed in Chinese patients with imatinib-resistant/intolerant GIST. Sunitinib was administered orally in 6-week cycles of 4 weeks on-treatment (50 mg once daily) and 2 weeks off-treatment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Tumors were assessed every 6 weeks for the first 24 weeks and every 12 weeks thereafter. Responses were evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.0.

Results

A total of 60 patients were enrolled, of whom 59 were treated with sunitinib. All patients were Asian, and mean age was 55.1 years. Median PFS was 46.4 weeks (95% CI 33.6–53.1). An objective response (complete or partial) was observed in 11/58 (19%) patients. Median overall survival was 111.3 weeks (95% CI 75.4–167.1), median time to tumor progression was 47.3 weeks (95% CI 34.1–59.3), and median time to tumor response was 22.6 weeks (95% CI 10.4–57.3). The most common adverse events included leukopenia, fatigue, hand-foot syndrome, and neutropenia. No new safety concerns were identified.

Conclusions

This study confirms that sunitinib is active and well tolerated in Chinese patients with imatinib-resistant/intolerant GIST.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier

NCT00793871.

Funding

Pfizer Inc, USA.
An investigation on using serious gaming to study human decision-making in engineering contexts
Authors: Vermillion Sean D. , Malak Richard J. , Smallman Rachel , Becker Brittney , Sferra Michale , Fields Sherecce
Published: September 2017

Serious gaming is the use of games for purposes beyond entertainment. In this paper, we investigate the use of serious gaming as a tool for research into decision-making in engineering systems design. Serious gaming provides a fully controllable environment in which to study the decision-making behavior of engineers in simulated design scenarios. However, given the nature of games and their inherent association with entertainment, it is possible that gaming environments themselves induce unexpected, or unrepresentative behavior. We present two experiments in which we investigate serious gaming as a research tool. Both experiments deal with design decisions in the presence of sunk costs and compare two approaches for communicating the decision-making scenario: (1) an interactive game and (2) a written narrative. The written narrative approach for communicating decision-making scenarios is a widely used and accepted technique for decision-making research. We find that behavior observed in the game variants did not significantly differ from behavior observed in their written narrative equivalents. This result builds confidence for the use of game-based research approaches. However, the results in this paper suggest that response distributions collected from a game have more noise than those from an equivalent written narrative.
Shy shadows of infinite-dimensional partially hyperbolic invariant sets
Authors: SMANIA DANIEL
Published: September 2017

Let${\mathcal{R}}$be a strongly compact$C^{2}$map defined in an open subset of an infinite-dimensional Banach space such that the image of its derivative$D_{F}{\mathcal{R}}$is dense for every $F$. Let$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$be a compact, forward invariant and partially hyperbolic set of${\mathcal{R}}$such that${\mathcal{R}}:\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}\rightarrow \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$is onto. The$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}$-shadow$W_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}}^{s}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA})$of$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$is the union of the sets$$\begin{eqnarray}W_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}}^{s}(G)=\{F:\operatorname{dist}({\mathcal{R}}^{i}F,{\mathcal{R}}^{i}G)\leq \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}\text{for every }i\geq 0\},\end{eqnarray}$$where$G\in \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$. Suppose that$W_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}}^{s}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA})$has transversal empty interior, that is, for every$C^{1+\text{Lip}}$$n$-dimensional manifold$M$transversal to the distribution of dominated directions of$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$and sufficiently close to$W_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}}^{s}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA})$we have that$M\cap W_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}}^{s}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA})$has empty interior in$M$. Here$n$is the finite dimension of the strong unstable direction. We show that if$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{\prime }$is small enough then$$\begin{eqnarray}\mathop{\bigcup }_{i\geq 0}{\mathcal{R}}^{-i}W_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{\prime }}^{s}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA})\end{eqnarray}$$intercepts a$C^{k}$-generic finite-dimensional curve inside the Banach space in a set of parameters with zero Lebesgue measure for every$k\geq 0$. This extends to infinite-dimensional dynamical systems previous studies on the Lebesgue measure of stable laminations of invariants sets.
Doing Decoloniality in the Writing Borderlands of the PhD
Authors: McDowall Ailie , Ramos Fabiane
Published: September 2017

This paper takes us into the Writing Borderlands, an ambiguous in-between space borrowed from Anzaldúa's concept of Borderlands, where we as PhD students are in a constant state of transition. We argue that theorising from a decolonial position consists of not merely using concepts around coloniality/decoloniality, but also putting its core ideas into practice in the ‘doing’ aspect of research. The writing is a major part of this doing. We enact epistemic disobedience by challenging taken-for-granted conventions of what ‘proper’ academic writing looks like. Writing from a universal standpoint — the type of writing prescribed in theses formats, positivist research methods and ‘proper’ academic writing — has been instrumental in promoting the zero-point epistemologies that prevail through Northern artefacts of knowledge. In other words, we write to de-link from the epistemological assumption of a neutral and detached observational location from which the world is interpreted. In this paper, we discuss the journey we take as PhD students as we attempt to delink and decolonise our writing. Traversing the landscape of the Writing Borderlands, different features arise and fall. Along the way, we come across forks in the road between academic training and the new way we imagine writing decolonially.
REUSE OF BURIAL SITES DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE: EVIDENCE FROM MULTIPLE HUMAN BURIALS AT THE RÍO BOTE 1 ROCKSHELTER, UPPER SANTA CRUZ RIVER BASIN (SOUTHERN PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA)
Authors: Franco Nora Viviana , Brook George A. , Guraieb Solana García , Mancini María Virginia , Guarido Ana Lucía , Mehl Adriana , Montenegro Teresita
Published: September 2017

The first systematic research on the funerary record at the Río Bote 1 (RB1) rockshelter, located next to the Bote River, a tributary of the Santa Cruz River in southern Patagonia, has revealed at least three human burial events dating to the very early Late Holocene and one dating to the middle Late Holocene. The RB1 site appears to have been used for both subsistence and inhumation activities. All of the burials uncovered postdate the deposition of a prominent volcanic ash layer. Technological information indicates that RB1 was used by groups that were also using spaces to the west and south. Mortuary evidence indicates connections with groups living in areas extending from the Última Esperanza region to the Pali Aike volcanic field, at least at the beginning of the Late Holocene. The selection of the same place for multiple burials may explain why so few human burials are known in southern Patagonia from the beginning of the Late Holocene and earlier periods, as it is possible that sites like RB1 are yet to be discovered.
LOEWY LENGTHS OF CENTERS OF BLOCKS II
Authors: KÜLSHAMMER BURKHARD , OTOKITA YOSHIHIRO , SAMBALE BENJAMIN
Published: September 2017

Let $ZB$ be the center of a $p$-block $B$ of a finite group with defect group $D$. We show that the Loewy length $LL(ZB)$ of $ZB$ is bounded by $|D|/p+p-1$ provided $D$ is not cyclic. If $D$ is nonabelian, we prove the stronger bound $LL(ZB)<\min \{p^{d-1},4p^{d-2}\}$ where $|D|=p^{d}$. Conversely, we classify the blocks $B$ with $LL(ZB)\geqslant \min \{p^{d-1},4p^{d-2}\}$. This extends some results previously obtained by the present authors. Moreover, we characterize blocks with uniserial center.
Iodine concentration of milk-alternative drinks available in the UK in comparison with cows’ milk
Authors: Bath Sarah C. , Hill Sarah , Infante Heidi Goenaga , Elghul Sarah , Nezianya Carolina J. , Rayman Margaret P.
Published: September 2017

Iodine deficiency is present in certain groups of the UK population, notably in pregnant women; this is of concern as iodine is required for fetal brain development. UK milk is rich in iodine and is the principal dietary iodine source. UK sales of milk-alternative drinks are increasing but data are lacking on their iodine content. As consumers may replace iodine-rich milk with milk-alternative drinks, we aimed to measure the iodine concentration of those available in the UK. Using inductively coupled plasma-MS, we determined the iodine concentration of seven types of milk-alternative drink (soya, almond, coconut, oat, rice, hazelnut and hemp) by analysing forty-seven products purchased in November/December 2015. For comparison, winter samples of conventional (n5) and organic (n5) cows’ milk were included. The median iodine concentration of all of the unfortified milk-alternative drinks (n44) was low, at 7·3 μg/kg, just 1·7 % of our value for winter conventional cows’ milk (median 438 μg/kg). One brand (not the market leader), fortified its soya, oat and rice drinks with iodine and those drinks had a higher iodine concentration than unfortified drinks, at 280, 287 and 266 μg/kg, respectively. The iodine concentration of organic milk (median 324 μg/kg) was lower than that of conventional milk. Although many milk-alternative drinks are fortified with Ca, at the time of this study, just three of forty-seven drinks were fortified with iodine. Individuals who consume milk-alternative drinks that are not fortified with iodine in place of cows’ milk may be at risk of iodine deficiency unless they consume alternative dietary iodine sources.
A CRITERION FOR THE JACOBSON SEMISIMPLICITY OF THE GREEN RING OF A FINITE TENSOR CATEGORY
Authors: WANG ZHIHUA , LI LIBIN , ZHANG YINHUO
Published: September 2017

This paper deals with the Green ring $\mathcal{G}(\mathcal{C})$ of a finite tensor category $\mathcal{C}$ with finitely many isomorphism classes of indecomposable objects over an algebraically closed field. The first part of this paper deals with the question of when the Green ring $\mathcal{G}(\mathcal{C})$, or the Green algebra $\mathcal{G}(\mathcal{C})\otimes_{\mathbb {Z}}$K over a field K, is Jacobson semisimple (namely, has zero Jacobson radical). It turns out that $\mathcal{G}(\mathcal{C})\otimes_{\mathbb {Z}}$K is Jacobson semisimple if and only if the Casimir number of $\mathcal{C}$ is not zero in K. For the Green ring $\mathcal{G}(\mathcal{C})$ itself, $\mathcal{G}(\mathcal{C})$ is Jacobson semisimple if and only if the Casimir number of $\mathcal{C}$ is not zero. The second part of this paper focuses on the case where $\mathcal{C}=\text{Rep}(\mathbb {k}G)$ for a cyclic group G of order p over a field $\mathbb {k}$ of characteristic p. In this case, the Casimir number of $\mathcal{C}$ is computable and is shown to be 2p2. This leads to a complete description of the Jacobson radical of the Green algebra $\mathcal{G}(\mathcal{C})\otimes_{\mathbb {Z}}$K over any field K.
Behavioral Consequences of Probabilistic Precision: Experimental Evidence from National Security Professionals
Authors: Friedman Jeffrey A. , Lerner Jennifer S. , Zeckhauser Richard
Published: September 2017

National security is one of many fields where experts make vague probability assessments when evaluating high-stakes decisions. This practice has always been controversial, and it is often justified on the grounds that making probability assessments too precise could bias analysts or decision makers. Yet these claims have rarely been submitted to rigorous testing. In this paper, we specify behavioral concerns about probabilistic precision into falsifiable hypotheses which we evaluate through survey experiments involving national security professionals. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we find that decision makers responding to quantitative probability assessments are less willing to support risky actions and more receptive to gathering additional information. Yet we also find that when respondents estimate probabilities themselves, quantification magnifies overconfidence, particularly among low-performing assessors. These results hone wide-ranging concerns about probabilistic precision into a specific and previously undocumented bias that training may be able to correct.
“Spoon Theory” and the Fall of a Populist Princess in Seoul
Authors: Kim Hyejin
Published: September 2017

On December 9, 2016, South Korea's National Assembly voted to impeach the country's president, Park Geun-hye, over abuse of power among other charges. Three months later, the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment and she was dismissed from office—the first South Korean president to be removed this way. New elections were called. Park was then made the subject of a criminal investigation and jailed for the trial. The allegations center on Park's relationship with an old family friend, Ch'oe Sun-sil, who became involved in official decision-making and used her influence to extract funds from businesses, but the scandal widened to involve more individuals.
The role of whey protein in postprandial glycaemic control
Authors: Stevenson Emma J. , Allerton Dean M.
Published: September 2017

Epidemiological studies demonstrate that poor glycaemic control is an independent risk factor for CVD. Postprandial glycaemia has been demonstrated as a better predictor of glycated Hb, the gold standard of glycaemic control, when compared with fasting blood glucose. There is a need for more refined strategies to tightly control postprandial glycaemia, particularly in those with type 2 diabetes, and nutritional strategies around meal consumption may be effective in enhancing subsequent glycaemic control. Whey protein administration around meal times has been demonstrated to reduce postprandial glycaemia, mediated through various mechanisms including an enhancement of insulin secretion. Whey protein ingestion has also been shown to elicit an incretin effect, enhancing the secretion of glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide and glucagon-like peptide-1, which may also influence appetite regulation. Acute intervention studies have shown some promising results however many have used large dosages (50–55 g) of whey protein alongside high-glycaemic index test meals, such as instant powdered potato mixed with glucose, which does not reflect realistic dietary strategies. Long-term intervention studies using realistic strategies around timing, format and amount of whey protein in relevant population groups are required.
Nutritional psychiatry: the present state of the evidence
Authors: Marx Wolfgang , Moseley Genevieve , Berk Michael , Jacka Felice
Published: September 2017

Mental illness, including depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, accounts for a significant proportion of global disability and poses a substantial social, economic and heath burden. Treatment is presently dominated by pharmacotherapy, such as antidepressants, and psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy; however, such treatments avert less than half of the disease burden, suggesting that additional strategies are needed to prevent and treat mental disorders. There are now consistent mechanistic, observational and interventional data to suggest diet quality may be a modifiable risk factor for mental illness. This review provides an overview of the nutritional psychiatry field. It includes a discussion of the neurobiological mechanisms likely modulated by diet, the use of dietary and nutraceutical interventions in mental disorders, and recommendations for further research. Potential biological pathways related to mental disorders include inflammation, oxidative stress, the gut microbiome, epigenetic modifications and neuroplasticity. Consistent epidemiological evidence, particularly for depression, suggests an association between measures of diet quality and mental health, across multiple populations and age groups; these do not appear to be explained by other demographic, lifestyle factors or reverse causality. Our recently published intervention trial provides preliminary clinical evidence that dietary interventions in clinically diagnosed populations are feasible and can provide significant clinical benefit. Furthermore, nutraceuticals including n-3 fatty acids, folate, S-adenosylmethionine, N-acetyl cysteine and probiotics, among others, are promising avenues for future research. Continued research is now required to investigate the efficacy of intervention studies in large cohorts and within clinically relevant populations, particularly in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar and anxiety disorders.
Multiple origins of parasitic feminization: thelygeny and intersexuality in beach-hoppers are caused by paramyxid parasites, not microsporidia
Authors: PICKUP JAMES , IRONSIDE JOSEPH EDWARD
Published: September 2017

Within populations of the amphipod crustaceansOrchestia gammarellusandOrchestia aestuarensis, a proportion of females produce thelygenic (female-only) broods, which often contain intersexual individuals. This phenomenon is associated with the presence of two putative feminizing parasites, the paramyxidParamarteilia orchestiaeand the microsporidianDictyocoela cavimanum, which frequently co-infect the same host. In order to determine which of the parasites causes feminization,Orchestiawere resampled from the type locality ofP. orchestiaein France and from another population in the UK. Breeding experiments indicated that femaleO. gammarellusinfected withP. orchestiaeproduced a significantly higher proportion of female and intersex offspring than uninfected females, even in the absence ofD. cavimanum. There was no difference in mortality between infected and uninfected broods, indicating that the paramyxid alters the sex ratio through feminization rather than male-killing. AlthoughD. cavimanumalso displays a female-biased prevalence inOrchestiapopulations, this is due to co-infection withP. orchestiae, indicating that the paramyxid, rather than the microsporidian, is the cause of feminization in theseOrchestiapopulations.
MicroRNA expression profile in RAW264·7 macrophage cells exposed toEchinococcus multilocularismetacestodes
Authors: GUO XIAOLA , ZHENG YADONG
Published: September 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs, involved in the regulation of parasite diseases. However, a role of miRNAs inEchinococcus multilocularisinfection remains largely unknown. In this study, we first found the expression levels of key genes involved in miRNA biogenesis and function, includingAgo2,Xpo5,Tarbp2andDgcR8, were obviously altered in the macrophage RAW264·7 cells exposed toE. multilocularismetacestodes. Compared with the control, 18 and 32 known miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed (P< 0·05 and fold change >2) in the macrophages exposed toE. multilocularismetacestodes for 6 and 12 h, respectively. Among these, several are known to be involved in regulating cytokine activities and immune responses. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction results showed that the expression of nine selected miRNAs was consistent with the sequencing data at each treatment time points. Moreover, there were statistically significant correlations between the expression levels of miRNAs and their corresponding targeted genes. Our data give us some clues to pinpoint a role of miRNAs in the course of infection and immunity ofE. multilocularis.