bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High‐Performance Non‐Fullerene Organic Solar Cells Based on a Pair of Medium Band Gap Polymer Donor and Perylene Bisimide Derivative Acceptor
Authors: Lee Woosung , Jung Jae Woong
Published: October 2016

Herein, high performance solution‐processed non‐fullerene organic solar cells employing a medium band gap conjugated polymer (PBDTTS‐TTffBT) and a bay‐linked perylene bisimide derivative (di‐PBI) as an electron donor and acceptor, respectively, have been demonstrated. Owing to the complementary absorption range and well‐matched energy levels, PBDTTS‐TTffBT and di‐PBI have great potential for constructing high‐performance non‐fullerene organic solar cells. The facile control of blend film morphology by careful choice of a processing solvent achieves a promising power conversion efficiency of the device up to 6.51% with high open‐circuit voltage (0.92 V), short circuit current density (10.89 mA cm−2), and a fill factor (0.65). Furthermore, the blend film exhibits high thermal stability, retaining >80% of its initial efficiency at 100 °C up to 120 min. This work demonstrates that the medium band gap is a promising candidate as a donor material for constructing high‐performance non‐fullerene organic solar cells.

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The resveratrol analogue trimethoxystilbene inhibits cancer cell growth by inducing multipolar cell mitosis
Authors: Traversi Gianandrea , Fiore Mario , Percario Zulema , Degrassi Francesca , Cozzi Renata
Published: October 2016

Natural compounds are extensively studied for their potential use in traditional and non‐traditional medicine. Several natural and synthetic Resveratrol analogues have shown interesting biological activities in the field of cancer chemoprevention. In the present study, we have focused on the ability of Resveratrol and two methoxylated derivatives (Trimethoxystilbene and Pterostilbene) to inhibit human cancer cell growth particularly analyzing their ability to interfere with tubulin dynamics at mitosis. We show that Trimethoxystilbene, differently from Resveratrol and Pterostilbene, alters microtubule polymerization dynamics in HeLa cells specifically inducing multipolar spindles and mitotic arrest coupled to a reduction of cell growth and an increase in apoptotic death by mitotic catastrophe. This work demonstrates that the structural modification of Rsv causes substantial changes in the mechanism of action of the derivatives. The presence of three extra methyl groups renders Trimethoxy very efficient in impairing cell proliferation by inducing mitotic catastrophe in cancer cells. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Triple integral approach to reachable set bounding for linear singular systems with time‐varying delay
Authors: Kang Wei , Zhong Shouming , Shi Kaibo
Published: October 2016

This paper is concerned with the reachable set estimation problem of singular systems with time‐varying delay and bounded disturbance inputs. Based on a novel Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional that contains four triple integral terms, reciprocally convex approach and free‐weighting matrix method, two sufficient conditions are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities to guarantee that the reachable set of singular systems with time‐varying delay is bounded by the intersection of ellipsoid. Finally, two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alterations in the plasma metabolite profile associated with improved hepatic function and glycemia in mice fed lingonberry supplemented high‐fat diets
Authors: Al Hamimi Said , Heyman‐Lindén Lovisa , Plaza Merichel , Turner Charlotta , Berger Karin , Spégel Peter
Published: October 2016

Scope

Lingonberries have been shown to reduce the detrimental effects of high‐fat diet (HFD) on weight gain, plasma glucose, and inflammation. However, the extent of effects was recently shown to vary between different batches of berries. Here, we examine the metabolic response to two independent batches of lingonberries.

Methods and results

Alterations in the phenotype and circulating metabolome elicited by three matched HFDs, two of which containing lingonberries (L1D and L2D) from different sources, were investigated. Glycemia was improved only in mice fed L1D, whereas liver function was improved and inflammation reduced in mice fed both L1D and L2D, compared to mice fed HFD. The unique improvement in glycemia elicited by L1D was associated with a 21% increase in circulating levels of fatty acids. Increased levels of phosphatidylcholines (62%) and lysophosphatidylcholines (28%) and decreased levels of serine (−13%) and sphingomyelins (−26%) were observed in mice fed L1D and L2D, as compared to HFD.

Conclusion

The unique improvement in glycemia in mice fed L1D was associated with a normal metabolic control with an altered set point. Moreover, the batch‐independent reduction in liver steatosis and inflammation, was associated with an altered sphingomyelin metabolism.
Measuring cancer evolution from the genome
Authors: Graham Trevor A , Sottoriva Andrea
Published: October 2016

The temporal dynamics of cancer evolution remain elusive, because it is impractical to longitudinally observe cancers unperturbed by treatment. Consequently, our knowledge of how cancers grow largely derives from inferences made from a single point in time – the endpoint in the cancer's evolution, when it is removed from the body and studied in the laboratory. Fortuitously however, the cancer genome, by virtue of ongoing mutations that uniquely mark clonal lineages within the tumour, provides a rich, yet surreptitious, record of cancer development. In this review, we describe how a cancer's genome can be analysed to reveal the temporal history of mutation and selection, and discuss why both selective and neutral evolution feature prominently in carcinogenesis. We argue that selection in cancer can only be properly studied once we have some understanding of what the absence of selection looks like. We review the data describing punctuated evolution in cancer, and reason that punctuated phenotype evolution is consistent with both gradual and punctuated genome evolution. We conclude that, to map and predict evolutionary trajectories during carcinogenesis, it is critical to better understand the relationship between genotype change and phenotype change. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Poly‐2‐oxazolidones with tailored physical properties synthesized by catalyzed polyaddition of 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate and different bisphenol‐based diepoxides
Authors: Prokofyeva Angelina , Laurenzen Hannah , Dijkstra Dirk J , Frick Elena , Schmidt Annette M , Guertler Christoph , Koopmans Carsten , Wolf Aurel
Published: October 2016

In the current study, we investigated poly‐2‐oxazolidones containing one of four different diglycidyl ethers carrying different bulky bisphenol centers. With increasing steric hindrance of the bisphenol‐based diepoxide from bisphenol F to bisphenol A, Z and TMC, the glass transition temperature (Tg) increased markedly from 156 to 211 °C, whereas the plateau modulus of the polymer, i.e. the chain flexibility as determined from rheological characterization, remained almost unchanged. This study demonstrates the general feasibility of the chemical design of poly‐2‐oxazolidones as an amorphous high‐performance thermoplastic. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Co3O4 Hollow Polyhedrons as Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Reduction and Evolution Reactions of Oxygen
Authors: Dong Duo , Liu Yang , Li Jinghong
Published: October 2016

It is very important to exploit low‐cost and efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts for the development of renewable‐energy conversion and storage techniques. Although much attention has been made to develop efficient catalysts for ORR and OER, it is still highly desired to create new bifunctional catalysts. In this study, Co3O4 hollow polyhedrons are synthesized as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for ORR and OER by simple one‐step annealing Co‐centered metal–organic frameworks (ZIF‐67). Due to the large specific surface areas and high porosity, the as‐prepared Co3O4 hollow polyhedrons exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activities for ORR and OER in alkaline media. Co3O4 hollow polyhedrons show higher peak current density (0.61 mA cm−2) with four‐electron pathway than Co3O4 particles (0.39 mA cm−2), better methanol tolerance and superior durability (82.6%) than commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst (58.6%) for ORR after 25 000 s. In addition, Co3O4 hollow polyhedrons also display excellent OER performances with smaller overpotential (536 mV) for 10 mA cm−2 than Co3O4 particles (593 mV) and superior stability (86.5%) after 25 000 s. This facile one‐step strategy based on metal–organic frameworks self‐sacrificed templates can be used to develop the promising well‐defined porous hollow metal oxides electrode materials for energy conversion and storage technologies.
Neuroproteomic study of nitrated proteins in moderate traumatic brain injured rats treated with gamma glutamyl cysteine ethyl ester administration post injury: Insight into the role of glutathione elevation in nitrosative stress
Authors: Henderson Moses , Rice Brittany , Sebastian Andrea , Sullivan Patrick G. , King Christina , Robinson Renã A.S. , Reed Tanea T.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The aims of this study are to establish a time point to determine the most beneficial time to administer GCEE post incident to reduce oxidative damage and second, by using redox proteomics, to determine if GCEE can readily suppress 3‐NT modification in TBI animals.

Experimental design

By using a moderate traumatic brain injury model with Wistar rats, it is hypothesized that the role of 3‐nitrotyrosine (3‐NT) formation as an intermediate will predict the involvement of protein nitration/nitrosation and oxidative damage in the brain.

Results

In this experiment, the levels of protein carbonyls, 4‐hydroxynonenal, and 3‐nitrotyrosine were significantly elevated in TBI injured, saline treated rats compared with those who sustained an injury and were treated with 150 mg/kg of the glutathione mimetic, GCEE.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

Determining the existence of elevated 3‐NT levels provides insight into the relationship between the protein nitration/nitrosation and the oxidative damage, which can determine the pathogenesis and progression of specific neurological diseases.
Timing performance of ZnO:Ga nanopowder composite scintillators
Authors: Turtos Rosana M. , Gundacker Stefan , Lucchini Marco T. , Procházková Lenka , Čuba Václav , Burešová Hana , Mrázek Jan , Nikl Martin , Lecoq Paul , Auffray Etiennette
Published: October 2016

The implementation of nanocrystal‐based composite scintillators as a new generation of ultrafast particle detectors is explored using ZnO:Ga nanopowder. Samples are characterized with a spectral‐time resolved photon counting system and pulsed X‐rays, followed by coincidence time resolution (CTR) measurements under 511 keV gamma excitation. Results are comparable to CTR values obtained using bulk inorganic scintillators. Bringing the ZnO:Ga nanocrystal's timing performance to radiation detectors could pave the research path towards sub‐20 ps time resolution as shown in this contribution. However, an efficiency boost when placing nanopowders in a transparent host constitutes the main challenge in order to benefit from sub‐nanosecond recombination times. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Comment on “The effect of confinement on the electronic energy and polarizability of a hydrogen molecular ion” by Josimar Fernando da Silva, Fabricio Ramos Silva and Elso Drigo Filho, Int. J. Quantum Chem. 2016, 116, 497–503
Authors: Cruz S. A. , Olivares‐Pilón H.
Published: October 2016

Various conceptual and numerical errors reported in the paper cited in the title of this contribution are pointed out and clarified. Our main concern is the evident violation of the variational principle, which is used in that paper for the study of the confined hydrogen molecular ion to obtain both energies and properties.
Rheological, pasting and microstructural studies of dairy protein–starch interactions and their application in extrusion‐based products: A review
Authors: Kumar Lokesh , Brennan Margaret A. , Mason Susan L. , Zheng Haotian , Brennan Charles S.
Published: October 2016

The two biopolymers protein and starch are used to enhance the textural properties of food and play a key role in the formulation of novel food structures. In this paper, the interactions between dairy proteins and starch are discussed with a focus on the recent development on the rheological, pasting, and microstructural properties of these systems. Fortification of extruded cereal based snacks with dairy proteins leads to nutritious and energy dense snack foods. Milk proteins and starch interactions, and their effects on physiochemical and functional properties of extruded products are also explored in this review. Processing parameters of the extrusion process and feed characteristics affect final product quality and act as an important contributor in the determination of overall product texture. Fortification with dairy proteins may result in an acceptable quality of extrusion based ready to eat (RTE) snack foods. This review article will help food technologists to design and predict a product's behaviour during processing and final texture of a starch–protein based food system.
Developmental Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors Expands Murine Myometrial Stem Cell Compartment as a Prerequisite to Leiomyoma Tumorigenesis
Authors: Mas Aymara , Stone Leyland , O'Connor Paul M. , Yang Qiwei , Kleven Daniel , Simon Carlos , Walker Cheryl L. , Al-Hendy Ayman
Published: October 2016

Despite the high prevalence and major negative impact of uterine fibroids (UFs) on women's health, their pathogenesis remains largely unknown. While tumor-initiating cells have been previously isolated from UFs, the cell of origin for these tumors in normal myometrium has not been identified. We isolated cells with Stro1/CD44 surface markers from normal myometrium expressing stem cell markers Oct-4/c-kit/nanog that exhibited the properties of myometrial stem/progenitor-like cells (MSCs). Using a murine model for UFs, we showed that the cervix was a hypoxic “niche” and primary site (96%) for fibroid development in these animals. The pool size of these MSCs also responded to environmental cues, contracting with age and expanding in response to developmental environmental exposures that promote fibroid development. Translating these findings to women, the number of MSCs in unaffected human myometrium correlated with risk for developing UFs. Caucasian (CC) women with fibroids had increased numbers of MSCs relative to CC women without fibroids, and African-American (AA) women at highest risk for these tumors had the highest number of MSCs: AA-with fibroids > CC-with fibroids > AA-without fibroids > CC-without fibroids. These data identify Stro1+/CD44+ MSCs as MSC/progenitor cell for UFs, and a target for ethnic and environmental factors that increase UF risk.
Engineering field tests for alkali‐aggregate reaction
Authors: Helene Paulo , Carvalho Mariana , Pacheco Jéssika
Published: October 2016

The Paulo Guerra Bridge in Recife, Brazil, was constructed in 1977. After about 15 years some pathological symptoms appeared, such as map cracking, concrete expansion, steel corrosion, and leaching stains. This paper presents a discussion of the specific inspections conducted, which included visual observation of the foundation blocks (pile caps), core extraction, ultrasonic pulse velocity tests, carbonation tests, measurements of chloride concentration, electrochemical resistivity, corrosion potential, compressive strength, and modulus of elasticity as well as X‐ray diffraction and microscopy evaluations. The results of the inspection showed the occurrence of generalized alkali‐aggregate reactions (AARs) on the pile caps (foundation blocks) of the bridge. The recommended repair for the pile caps was confinement to resist tensile stresses of 4 MPa.
Lung and cardiac ultrasound for hemodynamic monitoring of patients with severe pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Ambrozic J. , Brzan Simenc G. , Prokselj K. , Tul N. , Cvijic M. , Lucovnik M.
Published: October 2016

Objective

To evaluate lung and cardiac ultrasound for the assessment of fluid tolerance and fluid responsiveness before and after delivery in pregnant women with severe pre‐eclampsia (PE).

Methods

This was a prospective observational study of singleton pregnant women with severe PE and healthy term controls. Lung ultrasound echo comet score (ECS), which denotes the amount of extravascular lung water, was obtained using the 28‐rib interspaces technique. The echocardiographic E/e′ ratio, measured by pulsed‐wave and tissue Doppler, was used as a marker of diastolic left ventricular function. Fluid responsiveness was assessed by measuring changes in stroke volume (SV) with passive leg raising (PLR). SV was calculated from the left ventricular flow velocity‐time integral measured by pulsed‐wave Doppler at baseline and after PLR. Change in SV ≥ 12% was considered to indicate fluid responsiveness. Measurements obtained 1 day before delivery and 1 and 4 days after delivery were compared in the two groups (PE vs controls).

Results

We included 21 women with severe PE and 12 healthy controls. ECS and E/e′ ratio were higher in women with PE than in controls, both before delivery (P = 0.002 and P = 0.02) and 1 day postdelivery (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03); however there was no difference at 4 days postdelivery (P = 0.63 and P = 0.90). The change in SV with PLR before (P = 0.26) and after (P = 0.71) delivery did not differ between groups. An increase in SV ≥ 12% was observed in three (14%) women with PE and four (33%) controls before delivery and in four (19%) women with PE and two (17%) controls 1 day after delivery.

Conclusions

Severe PE is associated with an increase in extravascular lung water, which could in part be caused by disturbed diastolic left ventricular function. Excess lung water can be identified by lung ultrasound assessment in women with severe PE before the appearance of clinical signs. Only a small proportion of these women are fluid responsive. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Robotic‐Assisted Versus Laparoscopic Left Lateral Sectionectomy: Analysis of Surgical Outcomes and Costs by a Propensity Score Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Salloum Chady , Lim Chetana , Lahat Eylon , Gavara Concepcion Gomez I. , Levesque Eric , Compagnon Philippe , Azoulay Daniel
Published: October 2016

Background

After comparing with open approach, left lateral sectionectomy (LLS) has become standard in terms of short‐term outcomes without jeopardizing long‐term survival when performed for malignancy. The aim of this study was to compare the short‐term and economic outcomes of laparoscopic (L‐LLS) and robotic (R‐LLS) LLS.

Methods

All consecutive patients who underwent L‐LLS or R‐LLS from 1997 to 2014 were analyzed. Short‐term and economic outcomes were compared between the two groups using a propensity score matching (PSM).

Results

Ninety‐six consecutive cases of LLS were performed using the laparoscopic (80 cases; 83 %) or robotic (16 cases; 17 %) approach. The two groups were similar for operative and surgical outcomes. Operation time was similar in the R‐LLS compared to the L‐LLS group (190 vs. 162 min; p = 0.10). Perioperative costs were higher (1457 € vs. 576 €; p < 0.0001) in the R‐LLS group than in the L‐LLS group; however, postoperative costs were similar between the two groups (4065 € in the R‐LLS group vs. 5459 € in the L‐LLS group; p = 0.30). Total costs were similar between the two groups (5522 € in the R‐LLS group vs. 6035€ in the L‐LLS group; p = 0.70). The PSM included 14 patients for each group. Surgical and economic outcomes remained similar after PSM, except for total operating time which was significantly longer in the R‐LLS group than in the L‐LLS group.

Conclusions

Even if feasible and safe, the robotic approach does not seem so far to offer additional benefit in terms of intra‐ and postoperative outcomes over the laparoscopic approach in patients requiring LLS. Total costs associated with the R‐LLS group are not greater than that associated with the L‐LLS group, which is the standard of care so far.
Adverse Effects of Anastomotic Leakage on Local Recurrence and Survival After Curative Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Shuanhu , Liu Jingjing , Wang Shan , Zhao Hongyun , Ge Sitang , Wang Wenbin
Published: October 2016

Background

Anastomotic leakage is a serious complication associated with anterior resection for rectal cancer, the long‐term effects of which are unclear. Therefore, a systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted to evaluate the impact of anastomotic leakage on disease recurrence and survival.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases from their inception to January 2016. Studies evaluating the oncologic impact of anastomotic leakage were included in the meta‐analysis. Outcome measures were local recurrence, overall survival, cancer‐specific survival, and distant recurrence. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) was calculated using random effects models.

Results

Fourteen studies containing 11,353 patients met inclusion criteria. Anastomotic leakage was associated with a greater local recurrence (HR 1.71; 95 % CI 1.22–2.38) and decreased in both overall survival (HR 1.67; 95 % CI 1.19–2.35) and cancer‐specific survival (HR 1.30; 95 % CI 1.08–1.56); anastomotic leakage did not increase distant recurrence (HR 1.03; 95 % CI 0.76–1.40).

Conclusions

Anastomotic leakage was associated with high local recurrence and poor survival (both overall and cancer‐specific), but not with distant recurrence.
Addition of Surgery After Radiation Significantly Improves Survival in Stage IIIB Non‐small Cell Lung Cancer: A Population‐Based Analysis
Authors: Herskovic Alex , Chitti Bhargava , Christos Paul , Wernicke A. Gabriella , Parashar Bhupesh
Published: October 2016

Objectives

Limited work, either retrospective or prospective, has been done to investigate whether or not there is a cause‐specific mortality (CSM) or all‐cause mortality (ACM) benefit to adding surgery following neoadjuvant treatment for Stage IIIB NSCLC.

Methods

We extracted patients with Stage IIIB NSCLC from the Survival, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) database treated from 2004 to 2012 with either radiation alone or radiation followed by surgery. Other variables extracted were age, sex, race, and tumor location. The impact of patient and treatment variables on CSM and ACM was explored using Cox multivariable regression analysis.

Results

A total of 14,065 patients were extracted from the SEER database. On multivariable analysis, even after adjustment for age, gender, race, and site, radiation followed by surgery was associated with a reduction in cause‐specific mortality compared to radiation alone (adjusted HR 0.46; 95 % CI 0.41, 0.52; p < 0.0001). Median overall survival was 11 months in the radiotherapy alone arm versus 29 months in the radiotherapy plus surgery arm (p < 0.0001 by log‐rank test). After adjustment for these same factors, radiation followed by surgery was also associated with a reduction in all‐cause mortality compared with radiation alone (adjusted HR 0.47; 95 % CI 0.42, 0.52; p < 0.0001). Median cause‐specific survival was 12 months in the radiotherapy alone arm versus 33 months in the radiotherapy plus surgery arm (p < 0.0001 by log‐rank test).

Discussion

In the SEER database, there appears to be both a CSM and ACM benefit to adding surgery following radiation for Stage IIIB NSCLC.
Angiotensin receptor blockade mediated amelioration of mucopolysaccharidosis type I cardiac and craniofacial pathology
Authors: Osborn Mark J. , Webber Beau R. , McElmurry Ronald T. , Rudser Kyle D. , DeFeo Anthony P. , Muradian Michael , Petryk Anna , Hallgrimsson Benedikt , Blazar Bruce R. , Tolar Jakub , Braunlin Elizabeth A.
Published: October 2016

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS IH) is a lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by inactivating mutations to the alpha‐L‐iduronidase (IDUA) gene. Treatment focuses on IDUA enzyme replacement and currently employed methods can be non‐uniform in their efficacy particularly for the cardiac and craniofacial pathology. Therefore, we undertook efforts to better define the pathological cascade accounting for treatment refractory manifestations and demonstrate a role for the renin angiotensin system (RAS) using the IDUA−/− mouse model. Perturbation of the RAS in the aorta was more profound in male animals suggesting a causative role in the observed gender dimorphism and angiotensin receptor blockade (ARB) resulted in improved cardiac function. Further, we show the ability of losartan to prevent shortening of the snout, a common craniofacial anomaly in IDUA−/− mice. These data show a key role for the RAS in MPS associated pathology and support the inclusion of losartan as an augmentation to current therapies.
A Review of the Genetics of Intracranial Berry Aneurysms and Implications for Genetic Counseling
Authors: Hitchcock Emma , Gibson William T.
Published: October 2016

Here we review the current understanding of the genetic architecture of intracranial berry aneurysms (IBA) to aid in the genetic counseling of patients at risk for this condition. The familial subtype of IBA, familial intracranial aneurysms (FIA), is associated with increased frequency of IBA, increased risk of rupture, and increased morbidity and mortality after rupture. Family history is the strongest predictor for the development of IBA. However, a genetic test is not yet available to assess risk within a family. Studies using linkage analysis, genome‐wide association, and next‐generation sequencing have found several candidate loci and genes associated with disease onset, but have not conclusively implicated a single gene. In addition to family history, a separate or concurrent diagnosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is a strong genetic risk factor for IBA formation. We also discuss the relative risk for developing IBA in several Mendelian syndromes including vascular Ehlers‐Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, Neurofibromatosis Type I, and Loeys–Dietz syndrome.
Item Response Theory Observed-Score Kernel Equating
Authors: Andersson Björn , Wiberg Marie
Published: October 2016

Item response theory (IRT) observed-score kernel equating is introduced for the non-equivalent groups with anchor test equating design using either chain equating or post-stratification equating. The equating function is treated in a multivariate setting and the asymptotic covariance matrices of IRT observed-score kernel equating functions are derived. Equating is conducted using the two-parameter and three-parameter logistic models with simulated data and data from a standardized achievement test. The results show that IRT observed-score kernel equating offers small standard errors and low equating bias under most settings considered.
Geologic structure, relief, and neotectonics of the Chulyshman Upland (Gorny Altai)
Authors: Novikov I.S. , Vysotskii E.M. , Kargapolov S.A.
Published: October 2016

The Chulyshman Upland is a big mountain structure at the boundary between the Altai and West Sayan mountain ranges. It is composed mostly of metamorphic rocks of the greenschist, epidote–amphibolite, and amphibolite facies as well as several large granitoid massifs. The upland stretches for 150 km to the northwest and is ≤50 km in width. The main divides are flattened and are almost 3000 m (or, seldom, slightly more) in height. The southwestern and northeastern boundaries of the upland are formed by recent dextral strike-slip faults, and the northwestern and southeastern boundaries, by reverse faults. Neotectonic structures of lower rank divide the upland into four mountain massifs similar in morphology and size; the mountain massifs, in turn, are divided into altitude stages. Recent E–W trending faults are reverse, whereas N–S trending faults are normal. Horizontal displacements along the dextral strike-slip faults are >2000 m, while vertical displacements along the reverse and normal faults are within 150–500 m. There is no contemporary glaciation on the upland. In the Pleistocene, the upper stage of the relief was occupied by ice sheets, which left numerous traces of exaration. The middle stage was a transit zone for the outlet tongues of ice sheets; here, moraine deposits cover the bottoms and slopes of valleys. The lower stage was a zone of moraine accumulation in the Pleistocene. In the Holocene, neotectonic activity in the area was expressed as numerous earthquakes, which have left traces in the form of rock slides at the base of 20% of the extension of the sides of glacial valleys and seismogenic trenches 80 to 2300 m in length. Studies have revealed a pleistoseist zone (50°37′10″ N; 88°51′08″ E) from a recent (about 200–300 years ago) catastrophic earthquake.
Getting a GRiPP on everyday schistosomiasis: experience from Zimbabwe
Authors: MUTAPI FRANCISCA
Published: October 2016

Schistosomiasis, commonly known as bilharzia, is a parasitic disease prevalent in Africa, Asia and South America. The majority of the cases occur in Sub-Saharan Africa where schistosomiasis is a major public health problem impacting on child health and development as well as adult health when infections become chronic. Control of schistosomiasis is by treatment of infected people with the antihelminthic drug praziquantel. Current schistosome control programmes advocated by the World Health Assembly in 2001 are aimed at regular school-based integrated deworming strategies in order to reduce development of severe morbidity, promote school health and to improve cognitive potential of children. Several countries in Africa have now embarked on national scale deworming programmes treating millions of children exposed to schistosomiasis in endemic areas without prior diagnosis of infection through mass drug administration programmes. Implementing such control programmes requires a concerted effort between scientists, policy makers, health practitioners and several other stake holders and of course a receptive community. This paper considers the contributions to global schistosome control efforts made by research conducted in Zimbabwe and the historical context and developments leading to the national schistosomiasis control programme in Zimbabwe giving an example of Getting Research into Policy and Practice.
Developing the Politics of the Trade Union Movement: Popular Workers’ Education in South Yorkshire, UK, 1955 to 1985
Authors: Grayson John
Published: October 2016

Drawing on evidence from research interviews, workers’ memoirs, oral histories, and a range of secondary sources, the development of popular workers’ education is traced over a thirty year period, 1955 to 1985, and is rooted in the proletarian culture of South Yorkshire, UK. The period is seen as an historical conjuncture of Left social movements (trade unions, the Communist and Labour parties, tenants’ movements, movements of working-class women, and emerging autonomous black movements) in a context of trade union militancy and New Left politics. The Sheffield University extramural department, the South Yorkshire Workers' Educational Association (WEA), and the public intellectuals they employ as tutors and organizers are embedded in the politics and actions of the labor movement in the region, some becoming Labour MPs. They develop distinctive programs of trade union day release courses and labor movement organizations (Institute for Workers' Control, Conference of Socialist Economists, Society for the Study of Labour History). Workers involved in the process of popular workers' education become organic intellectuals having key roles in local and national politics, in the steel and miners' strikes of the 1980s, and in the formation of Northern College. The article draws on the language and insights of Raymond Williams and Antonio Gramsci through the lens of social movement theory and the praxis of popular education.
An Interview with Oskar Negt (2004)
Authors: Pohl Kerstin , Hufer Klaus-Peter
Published: October 2016

Oskar Negt is an emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Hannover and a prolific writer, best known in the Anglophone world for two books written with the film maker and novelist Alexander Kluge: Public Sphere and Experience: Toward an Analysis of the Bourgeois and Proletarian Public Sphere, published in Germany in 1972 and in the United States in 1993 (then reissued by Verso Books in 2016), and History & Obstinacy, which appeared in Germany in 2008 and in an English translation from Zone Books in 2014. In addition to his sociological and theoretical reflections, however, Negt is also a well-known worker educator, whose first major publication in 1971 was Soziologische Phantasie und exemplarisches Lernen: Zur Theorie und Praxis der Arbeiterbildung [Sociological Imagination and Exemplary Learning: On the Theory and Practice of Workers’ Education], which has never been translated into English. Soziologische Phantasie und exemplarisches Lernen was an influential, widely read text that provoked considerable discussion in European workers’ education circles, some of which can be followed in the 1978 anthology edited by Adolf Brock, Hans Dieter Müller, and Oskar Negt entitled Arbeiterbildung: Soziolgische Phantasie und Exemplarisches Lernen in Theorie, Kritik und Praxis [Workers' Education: Sociological Imagination and Exemplary Learning in Theory, Critique and Practice].
Convict Labor in Turkey, 1936–1953: A Capitalist Corporation in the State?
Authors: Sipahi Ali
Published: October 2016

The article proposes the institutional analysis of convict labor as an alternative to both (profit-oriented) economic and (discipline-oriented) political explanations. The specialized labor-based prisons in Turkey from 1936 to 1953 are brought to light by archival research and are presented here as a rich case to discuss the experiential/subjective conditions of unfree labor regimes and the structural effects of institutions on the convicts’ experiences. I argue that the state department responsible for prison labor in Turkey was transformed into a capitalist corporation with bureaucratic management, and the target of convict labor system was neither profit nor discipline, but the creation of the corporate bureaucracy itself. As a consequence, both for prisoners and for the prison staff, labor-based prisons appeared as privileged places. Hence, unfree labor was volunteered.
The Growth of a European Network of Labor Historians
Authors: van der Linden Marcel
Published: October 2016

The first conference of the European Labour History Network (ELHN) took place on December 14–16, 2015, in Turin, Italy. It was, for the time being, the culmination of a development that has been going on for a number of years. Increasingly European labor historians work together across borders. Since the 1970s the number of research projects comparing two or more national cases has grown considerably, while in recent years transnational connections have attracted more attention as well. Likewise, labor historians now take Europe's imperial, colonial, and neocolonial past very seriously, and therefore the labor dimension of that past is explored more intensely (chattel slavery, indentured labor, convict labor, and so on).
The Norwegian Workers’ Education Association: A Midwife of Labor's Breakthrough in Norway
Authors: Leesland Aslak
Published: October 2016

Norway in the year 1900 would be more easily recognizable to a person from the global South than to a citizen of present-day Norway. One of Europe's smallest countries, with a population of 2.2 million, it was also one of the poorest. Still a predominantly agrarian country, it suffered from the side effects of early industrialization that other European countries had known for decades. Under pressure from a growing labor movement and an increasingly restive citizenry, the Liberal Party was spearheading reformist social policies and further democratization in Norway, whereas the Conservative Party resisted such reforms. A third party—the Norwegian Labour party—was founded by some local trade unions in 1887, but remained a marginal influence at the turn of the century even if the party won sixteen percent of the votes cast in the election of 1900. However, it was about to begin its meteoric rise from obscurity to political dominance. In 1899 a number of trade unions came together to found a national superstructure—the LO—with 1,500 registered members. This prompted employers to do the same. The Employers’ Association dates back to the year 1900. Next, the right to vote was extended to new groups of voters. Before 1898 only men with an income above a certain minimum could participate in elections, but universal suffrage for men was introduced in 1898. Women were then given the right to vote in local elections in 1910 and in parliamentary elections in 1913. These reforms were introduced by the Liberal Party.
Definitely Not Moralistic: State Political Culture and Support for Donald Trump in the Race for the 2016 Republican Presidential Nomination
Authors: Fisher Patrick I.
Published: October 2016

This study analyzes the important role state political culture played in the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Donald Trump appealed to demographically distinct types of voters in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries and caucuses that varied considerably from previous Republican presidential nominees. Relative to the demographics of the primary electorates, however, this study finds that state political culture played an outsized role in determining Donald Trump’s relative level of support in a particular state. When state demographics are utilized in ordinary least squares regression models as independent variables with state partisanship and Daniel Elazar’s state political culture typology, political culture proves to be a significant determinant of the level of support given to Trump in a state. States that are characterized by a more moralistic political culture are considerably more likely to have given Trump a lower share of the vote while voters in states that are characterized by a more traditionalistic or individualistic culture were more likely to support Trump.
Becoming a Stop on the Road to the White House: Using a University Protocol to Govern Candidate Visits
Authors: Kedrowski Karen M. , Moyon Katarina Duich
Published: October 2016

Winthrop University capitalized upon South Carolina’s early presidential primary to bring 10 US Presidential candidates to campus between August 2015 and February 2016. These events are part of Winthrop University’s intentional commitment to civic engagement. This essay describes and analyzes how Winthrop University developed a campus-wide protocol for hosting visits by public officials and candidates. It also provides best practices that campuses may emulate in future election cycles.
The next generation
Authors: CHURCH KENNETH WARD
Published: October 2016

I’m sure you want me to tell you about the next new emerging trend, but I’m not going to do that. It is much easier to suggest where trends come from (the next generation), and how to distinguish passing fads (bubbles) from emerging trends. Young people are often the early adopters, the first to see what is about to happen, but most people don’t see what’s coming until well after the fact. Those with the most to lose (the establishment) tend to be the most resistant to change.
Mis-estimation risk: measurement and impact
Authors: Richards S. J.
Published: October 2016

When deriving a demographic basis from experience data it is useful to know (i) what uncertainty surrounds that basis, and (ii) the financial impact of that uncertainty. Under the Solvency II regime in the EU, insurers must hold capital against a number of risks. One of these is mis-estimation risk, i.e. the uncertainty over the current rates of mortality and other biometric risks experienced by a portfolio. We propose a general method for assessing mis-estimation risk, and by way of illustration we look at how mis-estimation risk can be assessed for a portfolio of pensions in payment from a UK pension scheme. We find that the impact of mis-estimation risk varies according to the risk factors included in a model, and that the inclusion of some necessary risk factors increases the financial impact of mis-estimation risk. In particular, the inclusion of risk factors which improve the model’s fit and financial applicability can lead to an increase in the mis-estimation risk. We also find that a full-portfolio valuation is preferable to using model points when assessing mis-estimation risk.
Zeldovich's legacy in the Discovery and Understanding of the Cosmic Web
Authors: Shandarin Sergei F.
Published: October 2016

Modeling and understanding the structure of the universe is one the most interesting problems in modern cosmology. It is also an extremely difficult problem. Despite spectacular achievements in observations and computational capabilities at present there is no comprehensive theory of the structure formation. There are successful theoretical models however most of them rely on assumptions and various fits which are not fully physically justified. The Zeldovich Approximation is a rare exception. Suggested more than forty years ago it remains one of the most successful and profound analytic models of structure formation. Some of results stemmed from the Zeldovich Approximation will be briefly reviewed.
Why Planck (the Satellite) could have been Zel'dovich
Authors: Partridge Bruce
Published: October 2016

In this brief paper, I cannot provide an overall review of the Planck results to date. Instead I will focus on a handful of results from both Planck and related cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments that reflect Ya. B. Zel'dovich's legacy in cosmology. These include the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect in clusters of galaxies and in the cosmic web, and a map of the overall distribution of mass in the Universe derived from CMB maps.
Understanding the cosmic web
Authors: Cautun Marius , van de Weygaert Rien , Jones Bernard J. T. , Frenk Carlos S.
Published: October 2016

We investigate the characteristics and the time evolution of the cosmic web from redshift,z=2, to present time, within the framework of the \nexus{} algorithm. This necessitates the introduction of new analysis tools optimally suited to describe the very intricate and hierarchical pattern that is the cosmic web. In particular, we characterising filaments (walls) in terms of their linear (surface) mass density, which is very good in capturing the evolution of these structures. At early times the cosmos is dominated by tenuous filaments and sheets, which, during subsequent evolution, merge together, such that the present day web is dominated by fewer, but much more massive, structures. We show also that voids are more naturally described in terms of their boundaries and not their centres. We illustrate this for void density profiles, which, when expressed as a function of the distance from void boundary, show a universal profile in good qualitative agreement with the theoretical shell-crossing framework of expanding underdense regions.
Non Gaussian Minkowski functionals and extrema counts for CMB maps
Authors: Pogosyan Dmitri , Codis Sandrine , Pichon Christophe
Published: October 2016

In the conference presentation we have reviewed the theory of non-Gaussian geometrical measures for 3D Cosmic Web of the matter distribution in the Universe and 2D sky data, such as Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) maps that was developed in a series of our papers. The theory leverages symmetry of isotropic statistics such as Minkowski functionals and extrema counts to develop post Gaussian expansion of the statistics in orthogonal polynomials of invariant descriptors of the field, its first and second derivatives. The application of the approach to 2D fields defined on a spherical sky was suggested, but never rigorously developed. In this paper we present such development treating the effects of the curvature and finiteness of the spherical space $S_2$ exactly, without relying on flat-sky approximation. We present Minkowski functionals, including Euler characteristic and extrema counts to the first non-Gaussian correction, suitable for weakly non-Gaussian fields on a sphere, of which CMB is the prime example.
Large-scale structure non-Gaussianities with modal methods
Authors: Schmittfull Marcel
Published: October 2016

Relying on a separable modal expansion of the bispectrum, the implementation of a fast estimator for the full bispectrum of a 3d particle distribution is presented. The computational cost of accurate bispectrum estimation is negligible relative to simulation evolution, so the bispectrum can be used as a standard diagnostic whenever the power spectrum is evaluated. As an application, the time evolution of gravitational and primordial dark matter bispectra was measured in a large suite of N-body simulations. The bispectrum shape changes characteristically when the cosmic web becomes dominated by filaments and halos, therefore providing a quantitative probe of 3d structure formation. Our measured bispectra are determined by ∼ 50 coefficients, which can be used as fitting formulae in the nonlinear regime and for non-Gaussian initial conditions. We also compare the measured bispectra with predictions from the Effective Field Theory of Large Scale Structures (EFTofLSS).
The cosmic web: a selective history and outlook
Authors: Peacock John A.
Published: October 2016

In the Century since Slipher's first observations, roughly three million galaxy redshifts have been measured. The resulting maps of large-scale structure have taught us much of central importance in cosmology, ranging from the matter content of the universe to the study of the primordial density fluctuations. This talk aims to review some of the key observational and theoretical milestones on this journey, and to speculate about what the future may bring.
Measuring Large-Scale Structure atz∼ 1 with the VIPERS galaxy survey
Authors: Guzzo Luigi
Published: October 2016

The VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS) is the largest redshift survey ever conducted with the ESO telescopes. It has used the Very Large Telescope to collect nearly 100,000 redshifts from the general galaxy population at 0.5 <z< 1.2. With a combination of volume and high sampling density that is unique for these redshifts, it allows statistical measurements of galaxy clustering and related cosmological quantities to be obtained on an equal footing with classic results from local redshift surveys. At the same time, the simple magnitude-limited selection and the wealth of ancillary photometric data provide a general view of the galaxy population, its physical properties and the relation of the latter to large-scale structure. This paper presents an overview of the galaxy clustering results obtained so far, together with their cosmological implications. Most of these are based on the ∼ 55,000 galaxies forming the first public data release (PDR-1). As of January 2015, observations and data reduction are complete and the final data set of more than 90,000 redshifts is being validated and made ready for the final investigations.