bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and fractionation of poly(phenylene methylene)
Authors: Braendle Andreas , Schwendimann Pascal , Niederberger Markus , Caseri Walter R.
Published: November 2017

Poly(phenylene methylene) (PPM) was isolated in a broad range of molar masses by optimization of the catalytic polymerization of benzyl chloride with SnCl4 or FeCl3, followed by fractionation by Soxhlet extraction or phase separation in concentrated solutions in poor solvents. Low molar mass products were also obtained by quenching the reaction at moderate monomer conversions. Products with number average molar masses (Mn) ranging from 200 to 61,000 g mol−1 were isolated, the latter being an order of magnitude above the previously reported values. DSC analysis of polymers of different molar masses revealed that the glass transition temperature follows the Flory‐Fox equation reaching a plateau value of 65 °C at a molar mass between 10,000 and 20,000 g mol−1. The onset of decomposition temperature of higher molar mass products proceeds above 450 °C (maximum decomposition rate at 515 °C), according to TGA. Furthermore, the substitution pattern of PPM was discussed by study of chemical shifts of the methylene group
by extensive NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, DEPT, and HSQC) and by comparison with two mono‐substituted derivatives of PPM—poly(2,4,6‐trimethylphenylene methylene) and poly(2,3,5,6‐tetramethylphenylene methylene)—which were synthesized analogous to PPM. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 309–318
Understanding the distressed prostate cancer patient: Role of personality
Authors: Perry Laura M. , Hoerger Michael , Silberstein Jonathan , Sartor Oliver , Duberstein Paul
Published: November 2017

Objective

To evaluate the relationship between personality and emotional distress in prostate cancer. Neuroticism and introversion were hypothesized to be associated with clinically significant symptoms of emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

Methods

Men with a history of prostate cancer (n = 212) completed an NIH‐funded cross‐sectional study using well‐validated measures of personality, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Covariates were age, education, time since diagnosis, comorbidity, and presence of metastases.

Results

Emotional distress was reported by 37% of participants, including depression (23%), anxiety (15%), and suicidal ideation (10%). As hypothesized, men who were more neurotic were more likely to report emotional distress (44.5% vs 26.9%; OR = 2.78, P = .004), depression (31.9% vs 11.8%; OR = 4.23, P = .001), and suicidal ideation (29.4% vs 9.7%; OR = 4.15, P = .001). Introverts were more likely to report emotional distress (45.2% vs 28.7%; OR = 2.32, P = .012) and depression (30.8% vs 15.7%; OR = 2.57, P = .014). Men with metastases were more likely to report emotional distress (51.7% vs 31.2%; OR = 4.56, P < .001).

Conclusions

Neuroticism and introversion were associated with clinically significant emotional distress in men with prostate cancer. Findings suggest that, in the context of treatment for prostate cancer, patient distress reflects disease characteristics (eg, metastases presence) as well as stable personality traits. Implications for clinical care are discussed.
A dyadic analysis of stress processes in Latinas with breast cancer and their family caregivers
Authors: Segrin Chris , Badger Terry A. , Sikorskii Alla , Crane Tracy E. , Pace Thaddeus W.W.
Published: November 2017

Objective

Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment negatively affect quality of life for survivors and their family caregivers. The stress process model has been useful for describing the cascade of social and psychological experiences that culminate in degraded quality of life for both survivors and their family caregivers. This study is designed to test theoretically specified predictors of negative psychosocial outcomes in a dyadic context.

Methods

Participants were 230 dyads composed of Latinas recently diagnosed with breast cancer and their primary family caregiver, who completed measures of socioeconomic status, stress, family conflict, depression, and anxiety. Data were analyzed following the Actor‐Partner Interdependence Mediation Model in structural equation modeling.

Results

For both survivors and caregivers, there were significant direct and indirect actor effects (through family conflict) of perceived stress on depression and anxiety. Several indirect partner effects were also evident in this sample. Specifically, caregivers' stress was predictive of survivors' depression and anxiety through survivors' increased perceptions of family conflict.

Conclusions

As predicted by the stress process model, stress and family conflict were predictive of psychological distress in breast cancer survivors and their family caregivers. Significant partner effects in the Actor‐Partner Interdependence Mediation Model suggest that there are some dyadic influences, particularly from caregivers' stress to survivors' perceptions of exacerbated family conflict. These findings show how strained family relationships can aggravate the well‐being of cancer survivors and their family caregivers through this challenging experience.
Measurement of Relaxation Time of Excess Carriers in Si and CIGS Solar Cells by Modulated Electroluminescence Technique
Authors: Khatavkar Sanchit , Muniappan Kulasekaran , Kannan Chinna V. , Kumar Vijay , Narsimhan Krishnamachari L. , Nair Pradeep R. , Vasi Juzer M. , Contreras Miguel A. , van Hest Maikel F. A. M. , Arora Brij M.
Published: November 2017

Excess carrier lifetime plays a crucial role in determining the efficiency of solar cells. In this paper, we use the frequency dependence of inphase and quadrature components of modulated electroluminescence (MEL) to measure the relaxation time (decay) of excess carriers. The advantage of the MEL technique is that the relaxation time is obtained directly from the angular frequency at which the quadrature component peaks. It does not need knowledge of the material parameters like mobility, etc., and can be used for any finished solar cells which have detectable light emission. The experiment is easy to perform with standard electrical equipment. For silicon solar cells, the relaxation time is dominated by recombination and hence, the relaxation time is indeed the excess carrier lifetime. In contrast, for the CIGS solar cells investigated here, the relaxation time is dominated by trapping and emission from shallow minority carrier traps.
HNgBeF3(Ng = Ar‐Rn): Superhalogen‐supported noble gas insertion compounds
Authors: Saha Ranajit , Mandal Bijoya , Chattaraj Pratim K.
Published: November 2017

Ab initio and density functional theory‐based calculations are performed to study the structure, stability, and nature of bonding of superhalogen‐supported noble gas (Ng) compounds of the type HNgY where (Ng = Ar‐Rn; Y = BeF3). Here, BeF3acts as the superhalogen. Calculations show that the HNgBeF3spontaneously dissociates into product following the dissociation channels: HNgBeF3→ HBeF3 + Ng and HNgBeF3→ Ng + HF + BeF2. The transition states are optimized and the energy barriers are computed to show the metastable behavior of HNgBeF3. HNgBeF3molecules are kinetically stable with respect to the first dissociation process having energy barriers of 1.0, 5.0, 10.6, and 13.9 kcal/mol for Ar, Kr, Xe, and Rn analogues, respectively, at CCSD(T)/Aug‐cc‐pVTZ level. These calculations suggest that the HXeBeF3and HRnBeF3can be shown to be stable up to ∼100 K temperature with a half‐life of ∼102seconds. The nature of HNg and two different types of NgF bonds in HNgBeF3molecules is explored through the natural bond orbital and electron density analyses. The large Wiberg bond index (WBI) values for the HNg bond indicate the formation of almost a single bond in between H‐atoms and Ng‐atoms, whereas small WBI values for the two NgF bonds indicate a noncovalent interaction in between them. The electron density analysis further supports the covalency of the HNg bond and noncovalent interaction in the two NgF bonds in HNgBeF3.
The Impact of Fair Trade on Smallholders' Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change
Authors: Borsky Stefan , Spata Martina
Published: November 2017

The aim of this paper is to assess to what extent producers' participation in fair trade can increase their adaptive capacity and make them more resilient to climate change. Based on the adaptation deficit framework of Fankhauser and McDermott (2014) and an expert interview with 39 producer organizations from Latin America, Asia and Africa, we first determine the perception and the impacts of climate change on fair trade producers' organizations. We then analyze how fair trade is helping producers to increase their adaptive capacity. Our results suggest that fair trade affects the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers in developing countries in two ways. First, it can work as a growth policy and affects the disposable income, which is then partly spent on adaptation measures. Second, by increased knowledge exchange, a higher degree of social capital and a better access to the international community, it makes the supply of adaptation more efficient. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Engineering Potato Virus X Particles for a Covalent Protein Based Attachment of Enzymes
Authors: Röder Juliane , Fischer Rainer , Commandeur Ulrich
Published: November 2017

Plant virus nanoparticles are often used to display functional amino acids or small peptides, thus serving as building blocks in application areas as diverse as nanoelectronics, bioimaging, vaccination, drug delivery, and bone differentiation. This is most easily achieved by expressing coat protein fusions, but the assembly of the corresponding virus particles can be hampered by factors such as the fusion protein size, amino acid composition, and post‐translational modifications. Size constraints can be overcome by using the Foot and mouth disease virus 2A sequence, but the compositional limitations cannot be avoided without the introduction of time‐consuming chemical modifications. SpyTag/SpyCatcher technology is used in the present study to covalently attach the Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase Cel12A to Potato virus X (PVX) nanoparticles. The formation of PVX particles is confirmed by western blot, and the ability of the particles to display Cel12A is demonstrated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and transmission electron microscopy. Enzymatic assays show optimal reaction conditions of 50 °C and pH 6.5, and an increased substrate conversion rate compared to free enzymes. It is concluded that PVX displaying the SpyTag can serve as new scaffold for protein display, most notably for proteins with post‐translational modifications.
Concise Review: Advanced Cell Culture Models for Diamond Blackfan Anemia and Other Erythroid Disorders
Authors: Migliaccio Anna Rita , Varricchio Lilian
Published: November 2017

In vitro surrogate models of human erythropoiesis made many contributions to our understanding of the extrinsic and intrinsic regulation of this process in vivo and how they are altered in erythroid disorders. In the past, variability among the levels of hemoglobin F produced by adult erythroblasts generated in vitro by different laboratories identified stage of maturation, fetal bovine serum, and accessory cells as “confounding factors,” that is, parameters intrinsically wired in the experimental approach that bias the results observed. The discovery of these factors facilitated the identification of drugs that accelerate terminal maturation or activate specific signaling pathways for the treatment of hemoglobinopathies. It also inspired studies to understand how erythropoiesis is regulated by macrophages present in the erythroid islands. Recent cell culture advances have greatly increased the number of human erythroid cells that can be generated in vitro and are used as experimental models to study diseases, such as Diamond Blackfan Anemia, which were previously poorly amenable to investigation. However, in addition to the confounding factors already identified, improvement in the culture models has introduced novel confounding factors, such as possible interactions between signaling from cKIT, the receptor for stem cell factor, and from the glucocorticoid receptor, the cell proliferation potential and the clinical state of the patients. This review will illustrate these new confounding factors and discuss their clinical translation potential to improve our understanding of Diamond Blackfan Anemia and other erythroid disorders.
Climate change, tree pollination and conservation in the tropics: a research agenda beyond IPBES
Authors: Ramírez Fernando , Kallarackal Jose
Published: November 2017

Tree‐pollinator interactions are important ecosystem services that are threatened by global warming and climate change. Very few investigations have focused on fruit‐tree pollination interactions in the tropics. In this paper, we analyze knowledge gaps proposed by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) with special reference to the tropics and associated with (1) the effects of climate change on plant‐pollinator interactions and (2) pollinator diversity and population attributes within the context of nature conservation. WIREs Clim Change 2018, 9:e502. doi: 10.1002/wcc.502

This article is categorized under:

Climate, Ecology, and Conservation > Observed Ecological Changes
Tetraquark operators in lattice QCD and exotic flavour states in the charm sector
Authors: Cheung Gavin K. C. , Thomas Christopher E. , Dudek Jozef J. , Edwards Robert G. ,   for the Hadron Spectrum collaboration
Published: November 2017

Abstract

We present a general class of operators resembling compact tetraquarks which have a range of colour-flavour-spin structures, transform irreducibly under the symmetries of the lattice and respect other relevant symmetries. These constructions are demonstrated in lattice QCD calculations with light quarks corresponding to m

π
= 391 MeV. Using the distillation framework, correlation functions involving large bases of meson-meson and tetraquark operators are computed in the isospin-1 hidden-charm and doubly-charmed sectors, and finite-volume spectra are extracted with the variational method. We find the spectra are insensitive to the addition of tetraquark operators to the bases of meson-meson operators. For the first time, through using diverse bases of meson-meson operators, the multiple energy levels associated with meson-meson levels which would be degenerate in the non-interacting limit are extracted reliably. The number of energy levels in each spectrum is found to be equal to the number of expected non-interacting meson-meson levels in the energy region considered and the majority of energies lie close to the non-interacting levels. Therefore, there is no strong indication for any bound state or narrow resonance in the channels we study.
Erratum to: Anomalous dimensions in non-supersymmetric bifundamental Chern-Simons theories
Authors: Gurucharan V. , Prakash Shiroman
Published: November 2017

Equation (2.16) should be replaced by
Chaos, complexity, and random matrices
Authors: Cotler Jordan , Hunter-Jones Nicholas , Liu Junyu , Yoshida Beni
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Chaos and complexity entail an entropic and computational obstruction to describing a system, and thus are intrinsically difficult to characterize. In this paper, we consider time evolution by Gaussian Unitary Ensemble (GUE) Hamiltonians and analytically compute out-of-time-ordered correlation functions (OTOCs) and frame potentials to quantify scrambling, Haar-randomness, and circuit complexity. While our random matrix analysis gives a qualitatively correct prediction of the late-time behavior of chaotic systems, we find unphysical behavior at early times including an

$$ \mathcal{O}(1) $$

O

1

scrambling time and the apparent breakdown of spatial and temporal locality. The salient feature of GUE Hamiltonians which gives us computational traction is the Haar-invariance of the ensemble, meaning that the ensemble-averaged dynamics look the same in any basis. Motivated by this property of the GUE, we introduce k-invariance as a precise definition of what it means for the dynamics of a quantum system to be described by random matrix theory. We envision that the dynamical onset of approximate k-invariance will be a useful tool for capturing the transition from early-time chaos, as seen by OTOCs, to late-time chaos, as seen by random matrix theory.
AdS5 compactifications with punctures in massive IIA supergravity
Authors: Bah Ibrahima , Passias Achilleas , Tomasiello Alessandro
Published: November 2017

Abstract

We find AdS5 solutions holographically dual to compactifications of six- dimensional

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= (1, 0) supersymmetric field theories on Riemann surfaces with punctures. We simplify a previous analysis of supersymmetric AdS5 IIA solutions, and with a suitable Ansatz we find explicit solutions organized in three classes, where an O8-D8 stack, D6-and D4-branes are simultaneously present, localized and partially localized. The D4-branes are smeared over the Riemann surface and this is interpreted as the presence of a uniform distribution of punctures. For the first class we identify the corresponding six-dimensional theory as an E-string theory coupled to a quiver gauge theory. The second class of solutions lacks D6-branes and its central charge scales as n
5/2, suggesting a five-dimensional origin for the dual field theory. The last class has elements of the previous two.
Recurrence relations for the $$ {\mathcal{W}}_3 $$ conformal blocks and $$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$ SYM partition functions
Authors: Poghossian Rubik
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Recursion relations for the sphere 4-point and torus 1-point

$$ {\mathcal{W}}_3 $$

W
3

conformal blocks, generalizing Alexei Zamolodchikov’s famous relation for the Virasoro conformal blocks are proposed. One of these relations is valid for any 4-point conformal block with two arbitrary and two special primaries with charge parameters proportional to the highest weight of the fundamental irrep of SU(3). The other relation is designed for the torus conformal block with a special (in above mentioned sense) primary field insertion. AGT relation maps the sphere conformal block and the torus block to the instanton partition functions of the

$$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$

N
=
2

SU(3) SYM theory with 6 fundamental or an adjoint hypermul-tiplets respectively. AGT duality played a central role in establishing these recurrence relations, whose gauge theory counterparts are novel relations for the SU(3) partition functions with N

f
= 6 fundamental or an adjoint hypermultiplets. By decoupling some (or all) hypermultiplets, recurrence relations for the asymptotically free theories with 0 ≤ N

f
< 6 are found.
Radical Surgery Improves Survival in Patients with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma
Authors: Vollmer Katherin , Gfroerer Stefan , Theilen Till‐Martin , Bochennek Konrad , Klingebiel Thomas , Rolle Udo , Fiegel Henning
Published: November 2017

Background

Neuroblastoma (NBL) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Despite a good overall prognosis in NBL patients, the outcome of children with stage 4 disease, even with multimodal intensive therapy, remains poor. The role of extended surgical resection of the primary tumor is in numerous studies controversial. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the impact of radical surgical resection on the overall‐ and event‐free survival of stage 4 NBL patients.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed patient charts of 40 patients with stage 4 NBL treated in our institution between January 1990 and May 2012. All clinical and pathological findings of stage 4 NBL patients were included. Extent of surgery was assessed from the operation records and was classified as non‐radical (tumor biopsy, partial 50–90% resection) or radical (near‐complete >90% resection, complete resection). Overall‐ (OS) and event‐free (EFS) survival was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier analysis and log‐rank test. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to demonstrate independency.

Results

In total, 29/40 patients were operated radically (>90% resection), whereas 11 patients received subtotal resection or biopsy only. OS and EFS were significantly increased in patients with radical operation compared with non‐radical resection (p = 0.0003 for OS, p = 0.004 for EFS; log‐rank test). A multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed radical operation as a significant and independent parameter for OS and EFS.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that radical (over 90% resection) surgery improves OS and EFS in stage 4 NBL patients.
Seasonal changes in community structure along a vertical gradient: patterns and processes in rocky intertidal sessile assemblages
Authors: Kanamori Yuki , Fukaya Keiichi , Noda Takashi
Published: November 2017

Here we considered two fundamental questions in community ecology regarding the relationship between seasonal changes in community structure and environmental gradients: (i) How does the magnitude of seasonal changes in community structure vary along an environmental gradient? (ii) How do the processes driving seasonal changes in community structure vary along an environmental gradient? To examine these questions, we investigated intertidal sessile assemblages inhabiting a notable vertical environmental gradient and fitted a transition probability matrix model to decadal time series data gathered at 25 plots along the Pacific coast of eastern Hokkaido, Japan. We found that the magnitude of seasonal changes in community structure was the largest at mid shore. The major processes driving seasonal changes in community structure changed vertically, reflecting the indirect influence of vertical changes in the physical environment on the vertical distributions of species. An unexpected finding was that the magnitude of seasonal changes in community structure did not reflect the strength of seasonal variation in the physical environment. One explanation may be that sessile organisms living on the high shore have a broad tolerance to environmental stress and are thus less sensitive to the large seasonal variation in physical stress.
The Role of Creativity and Project Management in Enhancing Service Quality of Advertising Agencies: A Qualitative Approach
Authors: Levin Elizabeth , Thaichon Park , Quach Sara , Lobo Antonio
Published: November 2017

This research study aims to investigate the role of creativity and project management as important aspects of service quality. The context is the advertising industry which is highly competitive and its clients have very specific needs and expectations. Data was collected using indepth interviews with marketing managers and project leaders who were responsible for the advertising needs of their organisations. The findings provide detailed insights into the nature of creative competence, project management process and project outcomes from the clients’ perspective. Creative competence includes an assessment of the creative work produced by the advertising agencies and their staff. The project management processes reflect the need for detailed plans and budgets to be developed and communicated, as well as having a clear process for change management once the project scope and plan have been signed off. This study is the first of its kind using a qualitative approach to investigate the role of creativity and project management in enhancing the service quality of advertising agencies.
Multi-criteria retrieval of CAD assembly models
Authors: Lupinetti Katia , Giannini Franca , Monti Marina , Pernot Jean-Philippe
Published: November 2017

Being able to reuse existing design knowledge is of major interest to help designers during the creation of new products. This is true at the level of the parts and even more at the level of the assemblies of multiple parts. Meaningful information and knowledge can be extracted from existing geometric models and associated data and metadata, as well as from the processes followed to define them. This paper proposes a method to characterize and structure CAD assembly models to enable the retrieving of similar models from a database. A framework has been devised for the retrieval of globally and/or partially similar assembly models according to multiple user-specified search criteria. It is based on an assembly descriptor, called the Enriched Assembly Model, which is an attributed graph that encodes all the required data automatically extracted from the geometry and structure of the CAD models. The data are organized in four layers: structural, assembly interface, shape and statistic layers. Starting from a real CAD model or from an abstract query model, the algorithm retrieves models from the database by solving a matching problem. The matching between two assembly models is translated into the problem of finding a sub-isomorphism between two EAMs. The layered organization of the EAM allows partially defined queries, which can be further refined. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is illustrated with results obtained from the developed software prototype.

Highlights Retrieval of CAD assembly models global or partial similar to a given one. An Enriched Assembly Model is created from the B-rep of each model to compare. Definition of different criteria of similarities to fit user requests. Creation of an association graph from the two Enriched Assembly Models to compare. Model matching is achieved by identifying the maximum clique in the association graph.
Optimizing the preclinical Alzheimer's cognitive composite with semantic processing: The PACC5
Authors: Papp Kathryn V. , Rentz Dorene M. , Orlovsky Irina , Sperling Reisa A. , Mormino Elizabeth C.
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Amyloid‐related decline in semantic memory was recently shown to be observable in the preclinical period of Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive composites designed to be sensitive to cognitive change in preclinical Alzheimer's disease (e.g., preclinical Alzheimer's cognitive composite [PACC]) and currently used in secondary prevention trials do not currently integrate measures of semantic processing. Our objective was to determine whether a standard semantic measure (i.e., category fluency [CAT] to animals, fruits, and vegetables) adds independent information above and beyond Aβ‐related decline captured by the PACC.

Methods

Clinically normal older adults from the Harvard Aging Brain Study were identified at baseline as Aβ+ (n = 70) or Aβ− (n = 209) using Pittsburgh compound B–positron emission tomography imaging and followed annually with neuropsychological testing for 3.87 ± 1.09 years. The relationships between PACC, CAT, and variations of the PACC including/excluding CAT were examined using linear mixed models controlling for age, sex, and education. We additionally examined decline on CAT by further grouping Aβ+ participants into preclinical stage 1 and stage 2 on the basis of neurodegeneration markers.

Results

CAT explained unique variance in amyloid‐related decline, with Aβ+'s continuing to decline relative to Aβ−'s in CAT even after controlling for overall PACC decline. In addition, removal of CAT from the PACC resulted in a longitudinal Aβ+/− effect size reduction of 20% at 3‐year follow‐up and 12% at 5‐year follow‐up. Finally, both stage 1 and stage 2 participants declined on CAT in comparison with stage 0, suggesting CAT declines early within the preclinical trajectory.

Conclusion

Addition of CAT to the PACC provides unique information about early cognitive decline not currently captured by the episodic memory, executive function, and global cognition components and may therefore improve detection of early Aβ‐related cognitive decline.
Audiological results of endoscopic surgical repair of the long process of incus
Authors: Aldosari Badi , Thomassin Jean‐Marc
Published: November 2017

Objective

The purpose of this study is to evaluate our experience with endoscopic repair of ossicular discontinuity at the incudostapedial joint, with or without an intact stapes suprastructure, and present our hearing results. We classify results based on the causative pathology, the type of ossiculoplasty, and type of lesion. We demonstrate the ability to endoscopically place a total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP), measuring 4.25 mm, between the stapes footplate and the incus remnant to reestablish ossicular continuity.

Methods

This was a retrospective case series conducted in tertiary referral center (Hopital de la Timone) Marseille, France. 25 patients underwent incudostapedial rebridging ossiculoplasty between 2009 and 2013. Fifteen cases of chronic otitis media and 10 otosclerosis revisions were included in the study. Three different materials were used in ossiculoplasty, hydroxyapatite cement, incus remnant, and partial/total ossicular replacement prostheses. Audiometric results were evaluated before and after ossiculoplasty. Twelve month follow‐up data is provided.

Results

The mean postoperative air‐bone gap was 15 dB (5–25 dB). Hearing results were better inotosclerosis revisions. Hydroxyapatite cement produced an air‐bone gap of 5 dB, TORP placed under the incus produced a 12 dB gap, and TORP placed under the malleus resulted in a 12 dB gap and one deaf ear. In cases of chronic otitis media, the residual air‐bone gap was 17 dB with PORP, 12 dB with TORP, and 20 dB with incus transposition.

Conclusion

The hydroxyapatite cement is effective in the reconstruction of ossicular discontinuity but the high price limits its utilization. TORP placed under the incus is a reliable and stable method of ossicular reconstruction that is cost effective and offers satisfactory hearing results in selected patients.
Effect of back pressure and freestream dynamic pressure on a typical Ramjet engine duct under realistic supersonic inlet condition
Authors: Saravanan R. , Desikan S.L.N. , Muruganandam T.M.
Published: November 2017

The present study investigates the behaviour of the shock train in a typical Ramjet engine under the influence of shock and expansion waves at the entry of a low aspect ratio (1:0.75) rectangular duct/isolator at supersonic Mach number (M = 1.7). The start/unstart characteristics are investigated through steady/unsteady pressure measurements under different back and dynamic pressures while the shock train dynamics are captured through instantaneous Schlieren flow visualisation. Two parameters, namely pressure recovery and the pressure gradient, is derived to assess the duct/isolator performance. For a given back pressure, with maximum blockage (9% above nominal), the duct/isolator flow is established when the dynamic pressure is increased by 23.5%. The unsteady pressure measurements indicate different scales of eddies above 80 Hz (with and without flap deflection). Under the no flap deflection (no back pressure) condition, the maximum fluctuating pressure component is 0.01% and 0.1% of the stagnation pressure at X/L = 0.03 (close to the entry of the duct) and X/L = 0.53 (middle of the duct), respectively. Once the flap is deflected (δ = 8°), decay in eddies by one order is noticed. Further increase in back pressure (δ ≥ 11°) leads the flow to unstart where eddies are observed to be disappeared.
Transitive action on finite points of a full shift and a finitary Ryan’s theorem
Authors: SALO VILLE
Published: November 2017

We show that on the four-symbol full shift, there is a finitely generated subgroup of the automorphism group whose action is (set-theoretically) transitive of all orders on the points of finite support, up to the necessary caveats due to shift-commutation. As a corollary, we obtain that there is a finite set of automorphisms whose centralizer is
$\mathbb{Z}$
(the shift group), giving a finitary version of Ryan’s theorem (on the four-symbol full shift), suggesting an automorphism group invariant for mixing subshifts of finite type (SFTs). We show that any such set of automorphisms must generate an infinite group, and also show that there is also a group with this transitivity property that is a subgroup of the commutator subgroup and whose elements can be written as compositions of involutions. We ask many related questions and prove some easy transitivity results for the group of reversible Turing machines, topological full groups and Thompson’s 
$V$
.
ALTERNATING AND SYMMETRIC GROUPS WITH EULERIAN GENERATING GRAPH
Authors: LUCCHINI ANDREA , MARION CLAUDE
Published: November 2017

Given a finite group $G$, the generating graph $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}(G)$ of $G$ has as vertices the (nontrivial) elements of $G$ and two vertices are adjacent if and only if they are distinct and generate $G$ as group elements. In this paper we investigate properties about the degrees of the vertices of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}(G)$ when $G$ is an alternating group or a symmetric group of degree $n$. In particular, we determine the vertices of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}(G)$ having even degree and show that $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}(G)$ is Eulerian if and only if $n\geqslant 3$ and $n$ and $n-1$ are not equal to a prime number congruent to 3 modulo 4.
Disentangling Wine Judges’ Consensus, Idiosyncratic, and Random Expressions of Quality or Preference
Authors: Bodington Jeffrey
Published: November 2017

Judges confer various awards on wines entered in dozens of wine competitions each year. This article employs data on blind replicates to show that those awards are based on one instance of stochastic ratings assigned by wine judges; awards based on the expected values of those stochastic ratings would be different. This article recognizes the stochastic nature of ratings and builds on the work of many others to propose and test a conditional-probability model that yields maximum-likelihood estimates of judges’ latent consensus, idiosyncratic, and random assignments of scores to wines. The exact p-value for a likelihood test of the null hypothesis that the model's results are random is less than 0.001. Applying the notion of conditional probability may lead to better methods of assigning awards to entries in wine competitions and of assessing the capabilities of wine judges. (JEL Classifications: A10, C10, C00, C12, D12)
TORSION OF ABELIAN VARIETIES OVER LARGE ALGEBRAIC EXTENSIONS OF
Authors: JARDEN MOSHE , PETERSEN SEBASTIAN
Published: November 2017

Let$K$be a finitely generated extension of$\mathbb{Q}$, and let$A$be a nonzero abelian variety over$K$. Let$\tilde{K}$be the algebraic closure of$K$, and let$\text{Gal}(K)=\text{Gal}(\tilde{K}/K)$be the absolute Galois group of$K$equipped with its Haar measure. For each$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}\in \text{Gal}(K)$, let$\tilde{K}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E})$be the fixed field of$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$in$\tilde{K}$. We prove that for almost all$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}\in \text{Gal}(K)$, there exist infinitely many prime numbers$l$such that$A$has a nonzero$\tilde{K}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E})$-rational point of order$l$. This completes the proof of a conjecture of Geyer–Jarden from 1978 in characteristic 0.
Feedback and Feeding in the Context of Galaxy Evolution withSPICA: Direct Characterisation of Molecular Outflows and Inflows
Authors: González-Alfonso E. , Armus L. , Carrera F. J. , Charmandaris V. , Efstathiou A. , Egami E. , Fernández-Ontiveros J. A. , Fischer J. , Granato G. L. , Gruppioni C. , Hatziminaoglou E. , Imanishi M. , Isobe N. , Kaneda H. , Koziel-Wierzbowska D. , Malkan M. A. , Martín-Pintado J. , Mateos S. , Matsuhara H. , Miniutti G. , Nakagawa T. , Pozzi F. , Rico-Villas F. , Rodighiero G. , Roelfsema P. , Spinoglio L. , Spoon H. W. W. , Sturm E. , van der Tak F. , Vignali C. , Wang L.
Published: November 2017

A far-infrared observatory such as theSPace Infrared telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics, with its unprecedented spectroscopic sensitivity, would unveil the role of feedback in galaxy evolution during the last ~10 Gyr of the Universe (z= 1.5–2), through the use of far- and mid-infrared molecular and ionic fine structure lines that trace outflowing and infalling gas. Outflowing gas is identified in the far-infrared through P-Cygni line shapes and absorption blueshifted wings in molecular lines with high dipolar moments, and through emission line wings of fine-structure lines of ionised gas. We quantify the detectability of galaxy-scale massive molecular and ionised outflows as a function of redshift in AGN-dominated, starburst-dominated, and main-sequence galaxies, explore the detectability of metal-rich inflows in the local Universe, and describe the most significant synergies with other current and future observatories that will measure feedback in galaxies via complementary tracers at other wavelengths.
Impact of mid- to late Holocene precipitation changes on vegetation across lowland tropical South America: a paleo-data synthesis
Authors: Smith Richard J. , Mayle Francis E.
Published: November 2017

A multi-proxy paleo-data synthesis of 110 sites is presented, exploring the impact of mid- to late Holocene precipitation changes upon vegetation across Southern Hemisphere tropical South America. We show that the most significant vegetation changes occurred in southwest Amazonia and southeast Brazil, regions reliant on precipitation derived from the South American summer monsoon (SASM). A drier mid-Holocene in these regions, linked to a weaker SASM, favored more open vegetation (savannah/grasslands) than present, while increased late-Holocene precipitation drove expansion of humid forests (e.g., evergreen tropical forest in southwest Amazonia,Araucariaforests in southeast Brazil). The tropical forests of central, western and eastern Amazonia remained largely intact throughout this 6000-year period. Northeastern Brazil’s climate is “antiphased” with the rest of tropical South America, but a lack of paleo-data limits our understanding of how vegetation responded to a wetter (drier) mid-(late) Holocene. From this paleo-data perspective, we conclude that ecotonal forests already close to their climatic thresholds are most vulnerable to predicted future drought, but the forest biome in the core of Amazonia is likely to be more resilient. Of greater concern are widespread deforestation and uncontrolled anthropogenic burning, which will decrease ecosystem resilience, making them more vulnerable than they might be without current anthropogenic pressures.
EXAMINING TEMPORAL SHIFTS IN THE PROXIMATE DETERMINANTS OF FERTILITY IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES
Authors: Rogers Erin , Stephenson Rob
Published: November 2017

Targeting reductions in fertility remains a key development goal, as too-high fertility hampers the economic and health prosperity of low- and middle-income countries. However, critical to the success of gaining reductions in fertility is the ability to understand the factors that are shaping fertility, and to understand the factors that are acting to keep fertility levels high. To contribute to this understanding, this study applied the Bongaarts (2015) adjusted proximate determinants of fertility model to 33 low- and middle-income countries using data collected from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) programme between 2000 and 2016. Results from the analysis indicate that there has been a universal decrease in the duration of breast-feeding and postpartum abstinence, which has contributed to stalling and increasing fertility rates in countries of Central Africa. In other regions of the world, such as Southern Africa, Latin America & Caribbean and Asia, increased contraceptive use and increased age at marriage, or sexual debut, has been able to offset this, leading to substantial decreases in fertility rates. These findings should serve as a guide to where additional development policy and programmatic attention should focus to reduce too-high fertility in resource-poor settings.
Impacts of anthropogenic pressures on the contemporary biogeography of threatened crocodilians in Indonesia
Authors: Shaney Kyle J. , Hamidy Amir , Walsh Matthew , Arida Evy , Arimbi Aisyah , Smith Eric N.
Published: November 2017

The Greater Sunda region of South-east Asia supports a rich diversity of economically and ecologically important species. However, human pressures are reshaping contemporary biogeography across the region. Megafaunal distributional patterns have been particularly affected because of deforestation, poaching and human–wildlife conflict. Crocodilians are at the centre of these conflicts in Indonesia and yet remain poorly studied across much of the archipelago. We conducted population surveys of salt-water crocodiles Crocodylus porosus and false gharials Tomistoma schlegelii in Sumatra, and examined whether crocodile abundance and distribution are correlated with variations in human disturbance, fishing pressure, and habitat type. We then used these data to model remaining suitable habitat for T. schlegelii across South-east Asia. We found that abundance of T. schlegelii and C. porosus was correlated with distance from human settlements, and fish-trapping pressure. We recorded the presence of T. schlegelii in a river system in which it was previously unknown, thus expanding the known range of the species. We also found that the predicted remaining suitable habitat for T. schlegelii in Indonesia is largely limited to areas of low human activity. From these empirical and modelling approaches we propose several key conservation priorities: (1) eliminate the use of fish traps in remaining patches of T. schlegelii habitat, (2) prioritize crocodile population surveys in remaining suitable habitat, particularly in remote areas, (3) consider T. schlegelii to be potentially Endangered locally in Sumatra, and (4) expand existing reserves around the Lower Kampar River and Berbak National Park/Sembilang National Park areas of Sumatra.
A “Grandiose Future for Italian Somalia”: Colonial Developmentalist Discourse, Agricultural Planning, and Forced Labor (1900–1940)
Authors: Urbano Annalisa
Published: November 2017

This article explores the evolution of a developmentalist discourse for colonial Somalia and the attempts of the colonial government to present agricultural plans and labor policies as efforts to bring about social and economic development for colonial subjects and profit for colonial investors. In the long term, these efforts provided both a justification and a scope for the colonial venture. Fostering intensive farming and commercial agriculture, development planning institutionalized forced labor, disrupted the local production of foodstuff, and made the colony dependent on foreign imports.
What “Development” Does to Work
Authors: Rossi Benedetta
Published: November 2017

This article introduces an Africa-focused special issue showing that the rise of development in its modern form coincided with the demise of the political legitimacy of forced labor. It argues that by mobilizing the idea of development, both colonial and independent African governments were able to continue recruiting unpaid (or underpaid) labor—relabeled as “voluntary participation,” “self-help,” or “human investment” —after the passing of the ILO’s Forced Labor Convention. This introduction consists of two parts: the first section summarizes the main findings of the contributions to the special issue. The second part advances preliminary considerations on the implications of these findings for our assessment of international development “aid.” The conclusion advocates that research on planned development focus not on developers-beneficiaries, but rather on employers-employees. Doing so opens up a renewed research agenda on the consequences of “aid” both for development workers (those formally employed by one of the many development institutions) and for so-called beneficiaries (those whose participation in development is represented as conducive to their own good).
REAL WAGES AND SKILL PREMIUMS IN LATIN AMERICA, 1900-2011
Authors: Astorga Pablo
Published: November 2017

This paper discusses and documents a new data set of real wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and relatively skilled labour in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela (LA-6) over the period 1900-2011. Three interrelated aspects are examined: the wage growth record associated with periods dominated by a particular development strategy; developments in the wage share of income; and movements in skill premiums and their links with fundamentals. The key findings are: (i) the region’s unskilled wage rose by 147 per cent compared to rises of 254 per cent in the average wage and 440 per cent in income per worker (including both property and labour income); (ii) the average LA-6 wage share started a secular fall in the 1950s; (iii) skill premiums tended to peak during the middle decades of the 20thcentury, coinciding with the acceleration of industrialisation and the timing of the demographic transition. Movements in the terms of trade are broadly associated with both fluctuations and trends in wage premiums, though the direction of the link is country and time specific.
THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BRAZIL’S FOREIGN TRADE SERIES, 1821-1913
Authors: Absell Christopher David , Tena-Junguito Antonio
Published: November 2017

To date, research on the economic history of Brazil during the 19thcentury has relied on official foreign trade statistics, the accuracy of which has repeatedly been put into question. This paper provides insights into the accuracy of the official series by examining the accuracy of the export and import series for Brazil during the 19thcentury. We re-estimate the official import series using trading partner sources, and find that the official series was marginally under-valued during certain periods of the 19thcentury. Furthermore, we provide new upper- and lower-bound estimates of the export series by testing different assumptions regarding the size of the cost, insurance and freight to free on board factor adjustments. Finally, we introduce a new import price index for the period 1827-1913.
China's New “Black Box”: Problems and Prospects for the Central National Security Commission
Authors: Wuthnow Joel
Published: November 2017

China's establishment of a Central National Security Commission (CNSC) in late 2013 was a potentially transformative event in the evolution of China's national security decision-making structure. Yet, as of mid-2017, few details about this organization and its activities have been released, leading to continuing questions about its likely role and functions in the Chinese system. Based on an analysis of numerous authoritative but under-utilized Chinese sources, this article addresses the rationale, prospects and implications of the CNSC. It argues that the organization is both a fulfilment of a long-held desire by many in China for a centralized, permanent national security deliberation forum and also a reflection of the unique challenges facing China in the 21st century. Contrary to existing analyses, which argue that the CNSC is likely to be focused primarily on domestic security tasks, the article contends that it is more likely to play a major role in both internalandexternal security affairs. Moreover, the article argues that if certain obstacles can be addressed, the CNSC may have broad implications in areas ranging from China's crisis response capability to the role played by the Chinese Communist Party general secretary in the national security decision-making process. The conclusion recaps the findings and suggests avenues for further research.