bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Penile neurovascular structure revisited: immunohistochemical studies with three‐dimensional reconstruction
Authors: Yin G. N. , Park S.‐H. , Choi M.‐J. , Limanjaya A. , Ghatak K. , Minh N. N. , Ock J. , Song K.‐M. , Ryu J.‐K. , Suh J.‐K.
Published: August 2017

Penile erection is a neurovascular phenomenon that requires well coordinated and functional interaction between penile vascular and nervous systems. In order to provide a useful tool to examine pathologic changes in the erectile tissue, mainly focusing on penile neurovascular dysfunction, we established the technique to determine the differential distribution of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and nerve fibers in the mouse penis using immunohistochemical staining with three‐dimensional reconstruction. Immunofluorescent staining of penile tissue was performed with antibodies against CD31 (an endothelial cell marker), smooth muscle α ‐actin (SMA, a smooth muscle cell marker), NG2 (a pericyte marker), or βIII‐tubulin (a neuronal marker). We reconstructed three‐dimensional images of penile vascular or neurovascular system from stacks of two‐dimensional images, which allows volume rendering and provides reliable anatomic information. CD31‐positive endothelial cells, SMA‐positive smooth muscle cells, and NG2‐positive pericytes were evenly distributed and composed sinusoidal or venous wall. However, the endothelial layer of the cavernous artery or dorsal artery was mainly covered with smooth muscle cells and rarely associated with pericytes. The reconstructed three‐dimensional images clearly visualized typical wavy appearance of nerve fibers that evenly innervate to cavernous sinusoids, cavernous artery, dorsal vein, and dorsal artery. We observed a significant decrease in CD31‐positive endothelial cells, NG2‐positive pericytes, and βIII‐tubulin‐positive nerve fibers in the penis of diabetic mice compared with those in normal condition. Our protocol for immunofluorescent staining with three‐dimensional reconstruction will allow a better understanding of the penile neurovascular anatomy and may constitute a standard technique to determine the efficacy of candidate therapeutics targeting therapeutic angiogenesis or neural regeneration.
Onion (Allium cepa L.) peel extract (OPE) regulates human sperm motility via protein kinase C‐mediated activation of the human voltage‐gated proton channel
Authors: Chae M. R. , Kang S. J. , Lee K. P. , Choi B. R. , Kim H. K. , Park J. K. , Kim C. Y. , Lee S. W.
Published: August 2017

Onion (Allium cepa L.) and quercetin protect against oxidative damage and have positive effects on multiple functional parameters of spermatozoa, including viability and motility. However, the associated underlying mechanisms of action have not yet been identified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of onion peel extract (OPE) on voltage‐gated proton (Hv1) channels, which play a critical role in rapid proton extrusion. This process underlies a wide range of physiological processes, particularly male fertility. The whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique was used to record the changes in Hv1 currents in HEK293 cells transiently transfected with human Hv1 (HVCN1). The effects of OPE on human sperm motility were also analyzed. OPE significantly activated the outward‐rectifying proton currents in a concentration‐dependent manner, with an EC50 value of 30 μg/mL. This effect was largely reversible upon washout. Moreover, OPE induced an increase in the proton current amplitude and decreased the time constant of activation at 0 mV from 4.9 ± 1.7 to 0.6 ± 0.1 sec (n = 6). In the presence of OPE, the half‐activation voltage (V1/2) shifted in the negative direction, from 20.1 ± 5.8 to 5.2 ± 8.7 mV (n = 6), but the slope was not significantly altered. The OPE‐induced current was profoundly inhibited by 10 μm Zn2+, the most potent Hv1 channel inhibitor, and was also inhibited by treatment with GF109203X, a specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. Furthermore, sperm motility was significantly increased in the OPE‐treated groups. OPE exhibits protective effects on sperm motility, at least partially via regulation of the proton channel. Moreover, similar effects were exerted by quercetin, the major flavonoid in OPE. These results suggest OPE, which is rich in the potent Hv1 channel activator quercetin, as a possible new candidate treatment for human infertility.
Retracted: Effects of (−)‐hydroxycitric acid on lipid droplet accumulation in chicken embryos
Authors: Peng Mengling , Li Longlong , Yu Lei , Ge Chongyang , Ma Haitian
Published: August 2017

This study was conducted to determine the impact of (−)‐hydroxycitric acid ((−)‐HCA) on biochemical indices and lipid metabolism parameters in chicken embryos. Two hundred and forty fertilized eggs were divided into six groups and injected with (−)‐HCA at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 10.0 and 50 mg/kg (n = 40). After 19 days of incubation, serum and liver were collected for analysis of biochemical indices and lipid metabolism parameters. Results showed no significant differences on serum biochemical indices: 1–50 mg/kg (−)‐HCA significantly increased serum glucose and hepatic glycogen contents (P < 0.05). Oil Red O staining analysis showed total area, counts of lipid droplets and hepatic triglyceride content were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), meanwhile hepatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase activity were significantly increased (P < 0.05). ACLY, ME1, SREBP‐1c messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in 0.5–10 mg/kg groups and FAS mRNA level in 1–10 mg/kg groups were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while PPARα mRNA level, serum adiponectin content and AdipoR1 mRNA level were significantly increased in 0.5–50 mg/kg groups (P < 0.05). These results indicated (−)‐HCA treatment inhibited triglyceride synthesis via decreasing lipogenesis‐related factors, mRNA expression level and accelerated lipolysis by enhancing lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activity, which finally reduced lipid droplet accumulation, and this action may be associated with activating the adiponectin signaling pathway.
Childhood Maltreatment and Early Developmental Vulnerabilities at Age 5 Years
Authors: Green Melissa J. , Tzoumakis Stacy , McIntyre Brooke , Kariuki Maina , Laurens Kristin R. , Dean Kimberlie , Chilvers Marilyn , Harris Felicity , Butler Merran , Brinkman Sally A. , Carr Vaughan J.
Published: August 2017

This study examined associations between maltreatment and early developmental vulnerabilities in a population sample of 68,459 children (Mage = 5.62 years, SD = .37) drawn from the Australian state of New South Wales, using linked administrative data for the children and their parents (collected 2001–2009). Associations were estimated between (a) any maltreatment, (b) the number of maltreatment types, and (c) the timing of first reported maltreatment and vulnerability and risk status on multiple developmental domains (i.e., physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and communication). Pervasive associations were revealed between maltreatment and all developmental domains; children exposed to two or more maltreatment types, and with first maltreatment reported after 3 years of age, showed greater likelihood of vulnerability on multiple domains, relative to nonmaltreated children.
Ternary Sparse Matrix Representation for Volumetric Mesh Subdivision and Processing on GPUs
Authors: Mueller‐Roemer J. S. , Altenhofen C. , Stork A.
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we present a novel volumetric mesh representation suited for parallel computing on modern GPU architectures. The data structure is based on a compact, ternary sparse matrix storage of boundary operators. Boundary operators correspond to the first‐order top‐down relations of k‐faces to their (k − 1)‐face facets. The compact, ternary matrix storage format is based on compressed sparse row matrices with signed indices and allows for efficient parallel computation of indirect and bottom‐up relations. This representation is then used in the implementation of several parallel volumetric mesh algorithms including Laplacian smoothing and volumetric Catmull‐Clark subdivision. We compare these algorithms with their counterparts based on OpenVolumeMesh and achieve speedups from 3× to 531×, for sufficiently large meshes, while reducing memory consumption by up to 36%.
Evaluating Hex‐mesh Quality Metrics via Correlation Analysis
Authors: Gao Xifeng , Huang Jin , Xu Kaoji , Pan Zherong , Deng Zhigang , Chen Guoning
Published: August 2017

Hexahedral (hex‐) meshes are important for solving partial differential equations (PDEs) in applications of scientific computing and mechanical engineering. Many methods have been proposed aiming to generate hex‐meshes with high scaled Jacobians. While it is well established that a hex‐mesh should be inversion‐free (i.e. have a positive Jacobian measured at every corner of its hexahedron), it is not well‐studied that whether the scaled Jacobian is the most effective indicator of the quality of simulations performed on inversion‐free hex‐meshes given the existing dozens of quality metrics for hex‐meshes. Due to the challenge of precisely defining the relations among metrics, studying the correlations among different quality metrics and their correlations with the stability and accuracy of the simulations is a first and effective approach to address the above question. In this work, we propose a correlation analysis framework to systematically study these correlations. Specifically, given a large hex‐mesh dataset, we classify the existing quality metrics into groups based on their correlations, which characterizes their similarity in measuring the quality of hex‐elements. In addition, we rank the individual metrics based on their correlations with the accuracy and stability metrics for simulations that solve a number of elliptic PDE problems. Our preliminary experiments suggest that metrics that assess the conditioning of the elements are more correlated to the quality of solving elliptic PDEs than the others. Furthermore, an inversion‐free hex‐mesh with higher average quality (measured by any quality metrics) usually leads to a more accurate and stable computation of elliptic PDEs. To support our correlation study and address the lack of a publicly available large hex‐mesh dataset with sufficiently varying quality metric values, we also propose a two‐level perturbation strategy to generate the desired dataset from a small number of meshes to exclude the influences of element numbers, vertex connectivity, and volume sizes to our study.
Spectral Affine‐Kernel Embeddings
Authors: Budninskiy Max , Liu Beibei , Tong Yiying , Desbrun Mathieu
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we propose a controllable embedding method for high‐ and low‐dimensional geometry processing through sparse matrix eigenanalysis. Our approach is equally suitable to perform non‐linear dimensionality reduction on big data, or to offer non‐linear shape editing of 3D meshes and pointsets. At the core of our approach is the construction of a multi‐Laplacian quadratic form that is assembled from local operators whose kernels only contain locally‐affine functions. Minimizing this quadratic form provides an embedding that best preserves all relative coordinates of points within their local neighborhoods. We demonstrate the improvements that our approach brings over existing nonlinear dimensionality reduction methods on a number of datasets, and formulate the first eigen‐based as‐rigid‐as‐possible shape deformation technique by applying our affine‐kernel embedding approach to 3D data augmented with user‐imposed constraints on select vertices.
Allometric scaling of flow‐mediated dilation: is it always helpful?
Authors: McLay K. M. , Nederveen J. P. , Koval J. J. , Paterson D. H. , Murias J. M.
Published: August 2017

Flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) is calculated as the greatest percent change in arterial diameter following an ischaemic challenge. This Traditional %FMD calculation is thought to have statistical bias towards baseline diameter (Dbase), which is reduced by allometric scaling. This study examined whether allometric scaling FMD influenced the difference between a group of healthy young and older adults compared to the Traditional %FMD, and to determine whether a New (allometric) scaling %FMD improved the ability to obtain individually scaled FMD. Popliteal artery FMD was assessed in 18 young (26 ± 3 years) and 17 older adults (77 ± 5 years). ‘Corrected’ mean FMD was generated from a log‐linked ANCOVA model. Individual %FMD was evaluated using three calculations: (1) Traditional %FMD calculation; (2) Atkinson (allometric) scaling %FMD (peak diameter ); and (3) New scaling %FMD . Traditional %FMD was significantly larger in young (5·82 ± 2·58%) versus old (3·72 ± 1·26%). ‘Corrected’ FMD means (Y: 5·97 ± 2·12%; O: 3·98 ± 2·06%) were similar to Traditional %FMD; however, the logarithmic transformation prevents statistical interpretation of group differences. Individually scaled %FMD using the Atkinson scaling resulted in values that were corrected for variations in Dbase but that were twofold to threefold larger than those of the Traditional calculation. New scaling %FMD resulted in values that were similar to values expected (Y: 6·21 ± 2·75%; O: 3·98 ± 1·36%); however, it did not effectively correct for variation in Dbase. Recommendations regarding the advantages of allometrically scaling %FMD should be made with caution until research clearly establishes the benefits of this approach.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of mental health service use in people who report psychotic experiences
Authors: Bhavsar Vishal , McGuire Philip , MacCabe James , Oliver Dominic , Fusar‐Poli Paolo
Published: August 2017

Background

Self‐reported psychotic experiences (PEs) are associated with psychopathology of all kinds, not just psychoses. However, systematic reviews on the relevance of this for health services are unavailable. Furthermore, whether association with service use is confounded by other psychopathology is unknown, and is relevant to prevention and treatment.

Objectives

Literature examining associations between PEs and service use was systematically reviewed. Study quality and the direction and extent of any associations were assessed, and meta‐analysis conducted.

Methods

Systematic review and meta‐analysis was carried out as per PRISMA guidelines. A search of electronic databases was performed based on free‐text and structured terms. Included studies were evaluated by two raters using a structured tool and estimates extracted for reporting.

Results

Thirteen studies were returned. We found two prospective studies, and a minority of studies accounted for concurrent psychopathology, limiting our ability to test our main hypotheses. Five studies reported associations by different types of service use. Almost all studies assessed service use by self‐report. Meta‐analysis suggested that people who reported PEs were around twice as likely to report service use compared to those who did not (pooled OR for all included studies: 2.20,95% confidence intervals (95%CI): 1.66,2.91).

Conclusions

There was consistent evidence of association between PEs and mental health service use at the general population level. However, evidence for causation was poor due to a limited number of studies. Whether increased service use in this group is solely attributable to PEs, and therefore whether interventions aimed at limiting/preventing PEs might be effective, requires studies focusing on the relationships between PEs, psychopathology and service use.
Defending Nietzsche's Constructivism about Objects
Authors: Remhof Justin
Published: August 2017

Nietzsche appears to adopt a radical Kantian view of objects called constructivism, which holds that the existence of all objects depends essentially on our practices. This essay provides a new reconstruction of Nietzsche's argument for constructivism and responds to five pressing objections to reading Nietzsche as a constructivist that have not been addressed by commentators defending constructivist interpretations of Nietzsche.
Rapid‐Guessing Behavior: Its Identification, Interpretation, and Implications
Authors: Wise Steven L.
Published: August 2017

The rise of computer‐based testing has brought with it the capability to measure more aspects of a test event than simply the answers selected or constructed by the test taker. One behavior that has drawn much research interest is the time test takers spend responding to individual multiple‐choice items. In particular, very short response time—termed rapid guessing—has been shown to indicate disengaged test taking, regardless whether it occurs in high‐stakes or low‐stakes testing contexts. This article examines rapid‐guessing behavior—its theoretical conceptualization and underlying assumptions, methods for identifying it, misconceptions regarding its dynamics, and the contextual requirements for its proper interpretation. It is argued that because it does not reflect what a test taker knows and can do, a rapid guess to an item represents a choice by the test taker to momentarily opt out of being measured. As a result, rapid guessing tends to negatively distort scores and thereby diminish validity. Therefore, because rapid guesses do not contribute to measurement, it makes little sense to include them in scoring.
Fragility of epidermis: acne and post‐procedure lesional skin
Authors: Fabbrocini G. , Rossi A.B. , Thouvenin M.‐D. , Peraud C. , Mengeaud V. , Bacquey A. , Saint Aroman M.
Published: August 2017

‘Fragile skin’, or skin with lower resistance to aggressors, can be broadly classified into four causal categories: constitutional (age‐dependent or associated with specific vulnerable locations on the body, e.g. eyelids), pathological (related to disease), circumstantial (related to environmental or internal factors, e.g. stress) and iatrogenic (caused by medical interventions or treatments). In this supplement, we focus on the fourth category, the iatrogenic origin of fragile skin and the role that dermo‐cosmetics can have in restoring the natural protective function of the skin following treatments for skin diseases and medical interventions. We present epidemiological data on the prevalence of fragile skin in three different geographical regions, and the results of two randomized controlled studies investigating the efficacy and tolerability of dermo‐cosmetics in combination with topical acne treatment and following physical skin damage. Overall, we found that prevalence across the three regions (23% in Germany, 41% in UAE, 56% in Taiwan) reflected previous global estimates (24–53%) across skin types, with significant associations found with environmental and lifestyle factors, such as stress, humidity and pollution. The iatrogenic effects of topical acne treatments can result in poor compliance or use of over‐the‐counter moisturizers, which may reduce treatment efficacy. Dermo‐cosmetics were found to aid in restoration of fragile skin caused by the acne topical retinoid treatment adapalene 0.1% gel, by reducing transepidermal water loss and improving skin hydration, as well as reducing the side‐effects such as skin irritation that are frequently associated with topical retinoids. Additionally, dermo‐cosmetic products were found to accelerate wound closure following skin damage in a laser ablation model and reduced the duration of post‐procedural side‐effects such as itching and burning.
Interactions between Manta birostris and Sotalia guianensis in a World Heritage listed Brazilian estuary
Authors: Domit C. , Broadhurst M. K. , Bornatowski H.
Published: August 2017

During 1442 h of visual observations over 7 years throughout the World Heritage listed Paranaguá estuarine complex, Brazil, seven occurrences of interactions were observed at a single location involving breaching Manta birostris displacing schools of teleosts, which were subsequently preyed upon by Sotalia guianensis. Although the interactions were not definitively categorized as being amensal, commensal or mutual, their restriction to isolated space (adjacent to a protected area) and time (summer) supports previous assertions the area is important to regional productivity and the continuation of protected‐area status.
The Creditor Channel of Liquidity Crises
Authors: LIU XUEWEN , MELLO ANTONIO S.
Published: August 2017

This paper presents a model to study the transmission of liquidity shocks across financial institutions through the creditor channel. In the model, a borrower institution obtains funds from a large institutional lender and small investors. When the large lender's asset market is hit by a liquidity shock, it might decide to withdraw funding extended to the borrower. The potential withdrawal by the large lender causes small investors to panic and to close positions even if the large lender does not. Facing funding problems, the borrower has to cut its activities, contributing to further shocks to the supply of market liquidity. The original shock is exacerbated, which reinforces withdrawals by all creditors. The model helps explain how the spreading of liquidity shocks from the broker–dealer sector to the hedge fund sector and the feedback contribute to a systemic crisis.
Central Bank Policy Paths and Market Forward Rates: A Simple Model
Authors: DE GRAEVE FERRE , IVERSEN JENS
Published: August 2017

Increasingly many central banks announce likely paths for future policy rates. Recent experience suggests that market forward rates can differ substantially from those announced. Models commonly adopted in policy analysis ignore such differences. This paper studies a simple model that can capture deviations between announced paths and market forward rates. We detail the macroeconomic transmission of such deviations and show how the model can inform policy deliberations.
Challenges and Resources for Nurses Participating in a Hurricane Sandy Hospital Evacuation
Authors: VanDevanter Nancy , Raveis Victoria H. , Kovner Christine T. , McCollum Meriel , Keller Ronald
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Weather‐related disasters have increased dramatically in recent years. In 2012, severe flooding as a result of Hurricane Sandy necessitated the mid‐storm patient evacuation of New York University Langone Medical Center. The purpose of this study was to explore, from the nurses’ perspective, what the challenges and resources were to carrying out their responsibilities, and what the implications are for nursing education and preparation for disaster.

Design

This mixed‐methods study included qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of nurses and an online survey of nurses who participated in the evacuation.

Methods

The interviews explored prior disaster experience and training, communication, personal experience during the evacuation, and lessons learned. The cross‐sectional survey assessed social demographic factors, nursing education and experience, as well as potential challenges and resources in carrying out their disaster roles.

Findings

Qualitative interviews provided important contextual information about the specific challenges nurses experienced and their ability to respond effectively. Survey data identified important resources that helped nurses to carry out their roles, including support from coworkers, providing support to others, personal resourcefulness, and leadership. Nurses experienced considerable challenges in responding to this disaster due to limited prior disaster experience, training, and education, but drew on their personal resourcefulness, support from colleagues, and leadership to adapt to those challenges.

Conclusions

Disaster preparedness education in schools of nursing and practice settings should include more hands‐on disaster preparation exercises, more “low‐tech” options to address power loss, and specific policies on nurses’ disaster roles.

Clinical Relevance

Nurses play a critical role in responding to disasters. Learning from their disaster experience can inform approaches to nursing education and preparation.
Kierkegaard's Critique of Eudaimonism: A Reassessment
Authors: Webb Carson
Published: August 2017

Interpreters are less univocal than one might think in assessing Søren Kierkegaard's attitude toward eudaimonism. Through an analysis of several key texts from across Kierkegaard's authorship, I argue that existing interpretations do not convincingly address the relationship between Kierkegaard's critique of eudaimonism and his mid‐nineteenth‐century context, which was dominated by post‐Kantian idealists. While I am sympathetic to aspects of deontological and aretaic interpretations, a contextual reading shows that his critique centers on what he diagnoses as the enclosure of the modern self. This puts his critique of eudaimonism in the purview of his moral psychology and in continuity with his critique of romanticism.
Islamic Bioethics and Animal Research: The Case of Iran
Authors: Tappan Robert
Published: August 2017

Despite growing interest in Islamic bioethics, little work has been done on research ethics in Islam, and even less on animal research ethics. This essay explores religious and scientific insights into the lives of animals used as research subjects, particularly in Iran. The inner lives of animals and their relationship to their Creator as relayed by the Qur'an, ethological research on animal minds, and neuroethical reflection on painience (the ability to feel and process pain as noxious [injurious] and explicitly hurtful) are brought together to question the current, relatively unrestricted use of research animals in Iran. The essay concludes that Islamic sources and the desire of Iranian clinicians to treat laboratory animals in line with them could poise Muslims to take the lead in developing alternatives to animal research. Further, recent suggestions that human and animal research guidelines and protections should be brought closer together are examined in light of these findings.
The Difference Law Makes: Domestic Atrocity Laws and Human Rights Prosecutions
Authors: Berlin Mark S. , Dancy Geoff
Published: August 2017

This article offers the first systematic analysis of the effects of domestic atrocity laws on human rights prosecutions. Scholars have identified various political and sociological factors to explain the striking rise in human rights prosecutions over the past 30 years, yet the role of domestic criminal law in enabling such prosecutions has largely been unexamined. That is surprising given that international legal prohibitions against human rights atrocities are designed to be enforced by domestic courts applying domestic criminal law. We argue that domestic criminal laws against genocide and crimes against humanity facilitate human rights prosecutions in post-authoritarian states by helping to overcome formal legal roadblocks to prosecution, such as retroactivity, amnesties, immunities, and statutes of limitations. Using original data on domestic atrocity laws and human rights prosecutions in new democracies, we find that atrocity laws increase the speed with which new democracies pursue prosecutions, as well as the overall numbers of trials they initiate and complete.
Networking in the Shadow of the Law: Informal Access to Legal Expertise through Personal Network Ties
Authors: York Cornwell Erin , Taylor Poppe Emily S. , Doherty Bea Megan
Published: August 2017

Civil legal problems are common in everyday life, but the costs of obtaining legal representation create barriers to legal action and contribute to disparities in access to justice. Some individuals, however, may have informal access to legal assistance through personal network ties with lawyers, enhancing their responses to justiciable problems. In this study, we draw from theories of social capital and network formation to examine the distribution and mobilization of network-based legal expertise. Using nationally representative survey data, we find that network-based access to lawyers is widespread, and most people who have ties to lawyers expect to informally mobilize legal assistance when facing a problem. But people who are most likely to afford formal legal representation are also most likely to have informal access to lawyers. Thus, while informal access to lawyers may shape responses to legal problems, it may also exacerbate inequalities in experiences with civil justice events.
Petrogenesis and shock metamorphism of the enriched lherzolitic shergottite Northwest Africa 7755
Authors: Wang Shu‐Zhou , Zhang Ai‐Cheng , Pang Run‐Lian , Chen Jia‐Ni , Gu Li‐Xin , Wang Ru‐Cheng
Published: August 2017

Northwest Africa (NWA) 7755 is a newly found enriched lherzolitic shergottite. Here, we report its detailed petrography and mineralogy. NWA 7755 contains both poikilitic and non‐poikilitic lithologies. Olivine has different compositional ranges in the poikilitic and non‐poikilitic lithologies, Fa30–39 and Fa37–40, respectively. Pyroxene in the non‐poikilitic lithology is systematically Fe‐richer than that in the poikilitic lithology. The chromite grains in non‐poikilitic lithology are highly Ti‐richer than those in the poikilitic lithology. The chemical variations of olivine, pyroxene, and chromite between the poikilitic and non‐poikilitic lithologies support a two‐stage formation model of lherzolitic shergottites. Besides planar fractures and strong mosaicism in olivine and pyroxene, shock‐induced melt veins and pockets are observed in NWA 7755. Olivine grains within and adjacent to melt veins and/or pockets have either transformed to ringwoodite, amorphous phase, or dissociated to bridgmanite plus magnesiowüstite. Merrillite in melt veins has completely transformed to tuite; however, apatite only has partially transformed to tuite, indicating a relatively sluggish transformation rate. The partial transformation from apatite to tuite resulted in fractional devolatilization of Cl and F in apatite. The fine‐grained mineral assemblage in melt veins consists mainly of bridgmanite, minor magnesiowüstite, Fe‐sulfide, Fe‐phosphide, and Ca‐phosphate minerals. The coexistence of bridgmanite and magnesiowüstite in these veins indicates a shock pressure of >~24 GPa and a temperature of 1800–2000 °C. Coesite and seifertite are probably present in NWA 7755. The presence of these high‐pressure minerals indicates that NWA 7755 has experienced a more intense shock metamorphism than other enriched lherzolitic shergottites.
Healing and Transformation: Lonergan, Girard and Buddhism
Authors: Dadosky John
Published: August 2017

This paper presents some comparative themes examining the anthropologies of Bernard Lonergan, René Girard and the four noble truths in Buddhism. It also engages some specific aspects from the Tibetan lineage of Buddhism represented by Pema Chödron (Canada), following her teacher Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

The approach of the paper invokes the structure of John Thatamanil'sThe Immanent Divine: diagnosis, etiology, prognosis, prescription (solution) as an organizational way of presenting material on such diverse thinkers. Following an overview of these thinkers, I will highlight some of the themes such as suffering, violence, healing, compassion, and the role of affectivity in its relation to desire. It should become clear that such a practical approach to Buddhist-Christian dialogue provides a fruitful starting point and underscores the value of learning other religious traditions.
Explaining Attitudes Toward U.S. Energy Extraction: Offshore Drilling, the Keystone XL Pipeline, and Hydraulic Fracturing
Authors: Ceccoli Stephen
Published: August 2017

Objective

This research develops and tests several individual‐level explanations of citizen attitudes toward offshore drilling, the Keystone XL pipeline, and hydraulic fracturing.

Methods

Using survey data from the Pew Research Center, logistic regression models analyze the effects of partisan and ideological considerations, presidential approval, affect for various levels of government, and a number of demographic considerations.

Results

Findings indicate that partisan, ideological, and core value considerations are highly influential in shaping individual sentiment toward the energy policies. Further, evidence for the affect heuristic suggests important empirical divides are also found with respect to patterns of citizen orientation to President Obama, his energy policies, and to federal and local governments.

Conclusion

These results are important in the context of previous assertions that energy policy and its regulatory character have changed over time and remain highly partisan and politically polarized. Additionally, citizen patterns of orientation, including measures of affect as encapsulated by the affect heuristic, also provide citizens with important shortcuts when developing attitudes toward the three policies.
Moralizing to the Choir: The Moral Foundations of American Clergy*
Authors: Djupe Paul A. , Friesen Amanda
Published: August 2017

Objective

In order to understand the role of clergy in shaping Americans’ moral worldviews, we examine whether the structure of clergy values varies in systematic ways according to contextual factors, such as disagreement in the congregation.

Method

In early 2014 (February), clergy from a variety of Protestant denominations were contacted by email and invited to complete a survey online, which included a 20‐item moral foundations (MFs) battery as well as a variety of attitudinal, behavioral, and relational measures.

Results

Clergy MFs resemble average citizens’, they look to preserve their autonomy by emphasizing individualizing foundations when they are in disagreement with their congregation, and emphasize MFs that align with their religious beliefs, especially their views on religious authority.

Conclusion

We reject a special religious emphasis on binding foundations. While clergy take moral positions that reflect their theological commitments, we find evidence of contextualizing in how they weight moral positions.
Heat Transfer in a Rib and Pin Roughened Rotating Multipass Channel With Hub Turning Vane and Trailing-Edge Slot Ejection
Authors: Wu Hao-Wei , Zirakzadeh Hootan , Han Je-Chin , Zhang Luzeng , Moon Hee-Koo
Published: August 2017

A multipassage internal cooling test model with a 180 deg U-bend at the hub was investigated. The flow is radially inward at the inlet passage while it is radially outward at the trailing edge passage. The aspect ratio (AR) of the inlet passage is 2:1 (AR = 2) while the trailing edge passage is wedge-shaped with side wall slot ejections. The squared ribs with P/e = 8, e/Dh = 0.1, α = 45 deg, were configured on both leading surface (LE) and trailing surface (TR) along the inlet passage, and also at the inner half of the trailing edge passage. Three rows of cylinder-shaped pin fins with a diameter of 3 mm were placed at both LE and TR at the outer half of the trailing edge passage. For without turning vane case, heat transfer on LE at hub turn region is increased by rotation while it is decreased on the TR. The presence of turning vane reduces the effect of rotation on hub turn portion. The combination of ribs, pin-fin array, and mass loss of cooling air through side wall slot ejection results in the heat transfer coefficient gradually decreased along the trailing edge passage. Correlation between regional heat transfer coefficients and rotation numbers is presented for with and without turning vane cases, and with channel orientation angle β at 90 deg and 45 deg.
Uniform theory of diffraction (UTD)-based solution for sound diffraction caused by an array of obstacles
Authors: Rodríguez José-Víctor , Pascual-García Juan , Martínez-Inglés María-Teresa , Molina-Garcia-Pardo Jose-Maria , Juan-Llácer Leandro
Published: August 2017

A formulation based on the uniform theory of diffraction (UTD) for the analysis of the multiple-diffraction of a spherical sound wave caused by a series of wedges or knife-edges is hereby presented. The receiver location has to be considered at the same height as the preceding obstacles and at the same inter-obstacle distance from the last wedge. The solution, which is based on a UTD-physical optics formulation for radio-wave multiple-diffraction and has been validated through comparison with a geometrical theory of diffraction acoustic model, is computationally more efficient than other existing methods thanks to the fact that only single diffractions are involved in the calculations (high-order diffraction terms are not considered in the diffraction coefficients), thus allowing for the consideration of a great number of obstacles. In such a way, the proposed solution overcomes the limitations of previous works when multiple acoustic diffraction caused by an array of elements of equal height is to be analyzed. Therefore, the results can be applied in the study of sound propagation in scenarios where multiple-diffraction over a series of edges of equal height and periodical spacing has to be considered, such as the typical audience seating of a concert hall.
Social Media as a Relationship Marketing Tool in Professional Sport: A Netnographical Exploration
Authors: Abeza Gashaw , O’Reilly Norm , Seguin Benoit , Nzindukiyimana Ornella
Published: August 2017

This study, guided by the relationship marketing theoretical framework, adopted an observational netnography method to investigate professional sport teams’ use of Twitter as a relationship marketing tool. Specifically, the study focused on the three core components of the theoretical framework of relationship marketing: communication, interaction, and value. The observational netnography is based on data gathered from the official Twitter account of 20 professional sport teams in the four major North American leagues over a seven-month period. Results outline seven emergent communication types, six interaction practices, and ten values (co)created by the teams or/and fans. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as impetus for future research, are identified.
The impact of an acute oral phosphate load on endothelium dependent and independent brachial artery vasodilation in healthy males
Authors: Levac Brendan M. , Adams Michael A. , Pyke Kyra E.
Published: August 2017

Serum phosphate levels are associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population and endothelial dysfunction may be mechanistically involved. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute phosphate supplementation on endothelial-dependent (flow-mediated dilation; FMD) and -independent (glyceryl trinitrate; GTN)) vasodilation in young, healthy males. Seventeen healthy male participants (age, 23 ± 3 years) were exposed to an oral load of phosphate (PHOS; liquid supplement containing 1200 mg of phosphorous) and placebo (PLAC) over 2 experimental days. A brachial artery FMD test was performed pre-ingestion and at 20 min, 60 min, and 120 min following the ingestion of the phosphate load or the placebo. GTN tests were performed pre- and 140 min post-ingestion. Serum phosphate was not impacted differently by phosphate versus placebo ingestion (p = 0.780). In contrast, urinary phosphate excretion was markedly increased in the PHOS (p < 0.001) but not in the PLAC condition (p = 0.130) (Δ fractional excretion of phosphate in PHOS (29.2%) vs. PLAC (9.3%)). This indicates that circulating phosphate levels were homeostatically regulated. GTN-mediated vasodilation was not significantly affected by phosphate ingestion. In primary analysis no impact of phosphate ingestion on FMD was detected. However, when the shear stress stimulus was added as a covariate in a subset of participants, exploratory pairwise comparisons revealed a significantly lower FMD 20 min post-phosphate ingestion versus placebo (p = 0.024). The effects of phosphate ingestion on FMD and serum phosphate are in contrast with previous findings and the mechanisms that underlie the disparate results require further investigation.
Consequences of three modified forms of holographic dark energy models in bulk–brane interaction
Authors: Pasqua Antonio , Chattopadhyay Surajit , Myrzakulov Ratbay
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we study the effects that are produced by the interaction between a brane Universe and the bulk in which the Universe is embedded. Taking into account the effects produced by the interaction between a brane Universe and the bulk, we derived the equation of state parameter ωD for three different models of dark energy (DE): holographic DE model with infrared cutoff given by the Granda–Oliveros cutoff, the modified holographic Ricci DE model, and a DE model that is a function of the Hubble parameter H squared and to higher derivatives of H. Moreover, we have considered two different cases of scale factor (namely, the power law and the emergent ones). A nontrivial contribution of the DE is observed to be different from the standard matter fields confined to the brane. Such contribution has a monotonically decreasing behavior upon the evolution of the Universe for the emergent scenario of the scale factor, while monotonically increasing for the power-law form of the scale factor a(t).
Predation and food–weather interactions drive colony collapse in a managed metapopulation of Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea)
Authors: Scopel L.C. , Diamond A.W.
Published: August 2017

Seabirds are considered bioindicators of bottom-up ecosystem processes, owing to seabirds’ dependence on marine prey. However, ground-nesting seabirds are susceptible to predation, which can limit their use as bioindicators. Machias Seal Island (MSI) supported the largest colony of Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea Pontoppidan, 1763) in the Gulf of Maine metapopulation, but prolonged breeding failure led ∼90% of terns to abandon the colony in 2006. We analyzed 12 years of food, weather, and predation data using logistic regression models to determine which had the strongest influence on breeding success. Food–weather interactions were important; under low rainfall, more euphausiids (northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica (M. Sars, 1857)) in the diet increased breeding success, but euphausiids had a negative effect as rainfall became moderate or high. Predation by Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763) increased following the cessation of lethal predator control; we identified a predation threshold of 25%, beyond which terns could not breed successfully. The collapse of MSI’s tern colony can be attributed entirely to gull predation. The breeding success of terns at MSI cannot be used as a bottom-up ecosystem bioindicator without accounting for predation. Managers of ground-nesting seabirds should consider predation and food as equally valid potential causes of population or reproductive declines.
Measuring long-range correlations in news flow intensity time series
Authors: Sidorov Sergei , Faizliev Alexey , Balash Vladimir
Published: August 2017

We consider the flow intensity of economic and financial news taken from a nine-month period of 2015. This data is found to be well approximated by a persistent self-affine walk. It is characterized by a Hurst exponent of [Formula: see text] over three orders of magnitude in time ranging from minutes to several days. In this paper, we use the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) of order 1, Rescaled Range Analysis (R/S) and Fourier Transform Method (FTM) to examine long-range auto-correlation and self-similarity of time series of news flow intensity. DFA method allowed us to reveal a strong scaling behavior as well as to detect a distinct crossover effect. On the other hand, it turns out that for the classic R/S analysis and Fourier transform techniques, the scaling regimes and/or positions of cross-overs are hard to define.
Initial sequences and Waldschmidt constants of planar point configurations
Authors: Farnik Łucja , Gwoździewicz J. , Hejmej B. , Lampa-Baczyńska M. , Malara G. , Szpond J.
Published: August 2017

The purpose of this work is to extend the classification of planar point configurations with low Waldschmidt constants initiated in [M. Dumnicki, T. Szemberg and H. Tutaj-Gasińska, Symbolic powers of planar point configurations II, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 220 (2016) 2001–2016] and continued in [M. Mosakhani and H. Haghighi, On the configurations of points in [Formula: see text] with the Waldschmidt constant equal to two, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 220 (2016) 3821–3825] for all values less than [Formula: see text]. As a consequence, we prove a conjecture of Dumnicki, Szemberg and Tutaj-Gasińska concerning initial sequences with low first differences.
Improving Capital Budgeting Through Probabilistic Approaches
Authors: Benallou Oualid , Aboulaich Rajae
Published: August 2017

This article advocates the multiple benefits of applying probabilistic approaches to capital budgeting through enriching the deterministic framework with a stochastic modeling of main impacting inputs (including a methodology for selecting the most important inputs to be modeled stochastically). The essential limitations of the deterministic capital budgeting methodology are presented: behavioral biases (optimism, asymmetric probability distribution, etc.), incomplete view of the risk return profile, neglecting real options (be it to evaluate a project or to reshape it in a value creation perspective), portfolio diversification impact, etc. Through some selected examples, we illustrate how each of these limitations can be mitigated thanks to probabilistic approaches leading to a better decision-making process and ultimately more value creation.
Combined experimental and theoretical studies on molecular structures, spectroscopy of 4-(3-(2-amino-3,5-dibromophenyl)-1-(benzoyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzonitriles through NBO, FT-IR, HOMO-LUMO and NLO analyzes
Authors: Bharathi R. , Santhi N.
Published: August 2017

The pyrazole compounds 4-(3-(2-amino-3,5-dibromophenyl)-1-(4-substitutedbenzoyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-yl) benzonitriles (4–6) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental, IR, 1HNMR spectral methods. In addition, the synthesized compounds were subjected to density functional theory for further understanding of the molecular architecture and optoelectronic properties. The optimized geometric parameters were in support of the corresponding experimental values. The FT-IR spectra of 4–6 have been investigated extensively using DFT employing B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) level theory. The molecular electrostatic potential analysis has been utilized to identify reactive sites of title compounds. Natural bonding orbital analysis proved the inter- and intra-molecular delocalization and acceptor–donor interactions based on the second-order perturbation interactions. The calculated band gap energies revealed that charge transfer occurs within the molecule. The polarizability and hyperpolarizability were calculated which show that compounds posses nonlinear optical nature.
Evaluating binomial convolution sums of divisor functions in terms of Euler and Bernoulli polynomials
Authors: Cho Bumkyu , Park Ho
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we provide two identities about binomial convolution sums of [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], which are expressed in terms of Euler and Bernoulli polynomials. A recent result of Kim, Bayad and Park turns out to be a special case of one of the two identities when [Formula: see text].
Gamma Ray Bursts and Stellar Evolution
Authors: Marquez Kauan D. , Menezes Débora P.
Published: August 2017

The phenomenon that originates gamma ray bursts (GRBs) remains undefined. In this work the conversion of a hadronic star into a quark star is discussed as one of the possible causes of GRBs. Effective models are used to describe the compact stars and to obtain their equations of state. Macroscopic properties, such baryonic and gravitational masses, of both types of stars are then obtained from the solution of the hydrostatic equilibrium equations. The relation between this values allows to calculate the amount of energy possibly released in this process. The obtained results are then compared to actual GRB observational data, and are within the observational order of magnitude.
Jefimenko’s Gravito-Electromagnetic Equations as an Implication of the Helmholtz Theorem, Adapted to Time-Varying Vector Fields
Authors: Dalmolin Fabrício T. , Lenzi César H. , Battistel Orimar A.
Published: August 2017

Using the Helmholtz theorem (modified to time-varying vector fields) the Jefimenko’s gravito-electromagnetic equations are deduced. Newton’s gravitational field emerges as a particular case when an action at a distance theory is considered.