bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Richardson constant and electrostatics in transfer-free CVD grown few-layer MoS2/graphene barristor with Schottky barrier modulation >0.6eV
Authors: Jahangir Ifat , Uddin M. Ahsan , Singh Amol K. , Koley Goutam , Chandrashekhar M. V. S.
Published: October 2017

We demonstrate a large area MoS2/graphene barristor, using a transfer-free method for producing 3–5 monolayer (ML) thick MoS2. The gate-controlled diodes show good rectification, with an ON/OFF ratio of ∼103. The temperature dependent back-gated study reveals Richardson's coefficient to be 80.3 ± 18.4 A/cm2/K and a mean electron effective mass of (0.66 ± 0.15)m0. Capacitance and current based measurements show the effective barrier height to vary over a large range of 0.24–0.91 eV due to incomplete field screening through the thin MoS2. Finally, we show that this barristor shows significant visible photoresponse, scaling with the Schottky barrier height. A response time of ∼10 s suggests that photoconductive gain is present in this device, resulting in high external quantum efficiency.
BP plc 2010 – a case of linguistic legitimation?
Authors: D’Northwood Gavin
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the statements by the chairman and CEO in BP plc’s Annual Report 2010 for linguistic evidence of reader positioning. This is based on the premise that reputational fallout from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill would have heightened the need for such positioning to repair the company’s legitimacy.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics (SFL) framework, a comparative register analysis was undertaken of the respective statements of the chairman and CEO of BP plc. This was informed by corpus analysis of these statements, of comparative statements from industry competitors and of two larger-scale corpora constructed from the chairman and CEO statements extracted from the annual reports of 25 FTSE100 companies.

Findings

The findings suggest that readers’ perceptions are likely to be shaped by the statements of the chairman and CEO of BP plc in the company’s 2010 annual report, but similarities and differences are apparent in the way this positioning is engineered. Broader corpus analysis hints that these similarities and differences are not localised to BP plc.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis relies on the assumptions that the chairman and CEO are the writers of each piece. As with prior research, questions of intent on the part of the corporate authors and impact upon target readers remain unanswered.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates and highlights the issue of reader positioning through lexico-grammatical choices in corporate disclosures.

Originality/value

This paper makes a contribution to the literature by demonstrating how reader positioning may be engineered through lexico-grammatical choices in corporate disclosures. This paper further responds to a call from Sydserff and Weetman (1999, 2002) for interdisciplinary approaches to investigating corporate narrative reports involving linguistics, through foregrounding Halliday’s SFL framework as an analytical tool.
The moderating effect of management maturity on the implementation of an information platform system
Authors: Yang Tsai Gwo , Kuo Tsuang , Lin Li-Chen
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the satisfaction level of government employees toward the e-government information platform system in Taiwan to better understand the effectiveness of such systems. Furthermore, this paper aimed to investigate the moderating effects of management maturity on quality management and user satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examined the questionnaire via a pretest, and then 174 formal questionnaires were obtained from people who had used the focal information platform system.

Findings

The results show that management maturity has a high, positive moderating effect on service quality (SQ), a medium moderating effect on system quality (SysQ), and a low, negative moderating effect on information quality (IQ).

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of this study is that the survey was conducted at one public agency in Taiwan. Therefore, a suggestion for further research is to focus on both public and private corporations, as well as government agencies.

Practical implications

This study built a moderating model for 3Q and management maturity, in order to provide quality management directions, especially with regard to information management, system establishment, and service management.

Originality/value

Management maturity is a vital, albeit long neglected, determinant for the success of the adoption of e-government information systems (ISs). Such ISs serve only as a tool, and it is those who operate the systems that put their functions into full play. Given this, management maturity is likely to be the key to the successful operation of ISs.
Why do lenient claims handling practices exist in the insurance industry? A survey study of ethical decisions by claims adjusters
Authors: Tseng Lu-Ming
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate which factors will affect the insurance claims adjusters’ attitude and behavior intention toward lenient claims handling practices. These factors include organizational justice, behavioral-based control, significant others, and customer complaints.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected with questionnaires from full-time licensed insurance claims adjusters in Taiwan. Partial least squares method is used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The main results show that significant others and organizational justice have significant effects on the claims adjusters’ attitude toward the lenient claims handling practices. Significant others and attitude have significant effects on the behavioral intention.

Originality/value

The influence of claims management on insurance companies’ operation is quite considerable. Poor claims management may not only harm insurance companies’ finance, but also affect the adjustment of future premiums. Yet, in reality, some claims adjusters are found to make flawed claims decisions. Very few studies discuss this problem. This study provides an initial step toward understanding this issue.
Protists are an integral part of the Arabidopsis thaliana microbiome
Authors: Sapp Melanie , Ploch Sebastian , Fiore‐Donno Anna M. , Bonkowski Michael , Rose Laura E.
Published: October 2017

Although protists occupy a vast range of habitats and are known to interact with plants among other things via disease suppression, competition or growth stimulation, their contributions to the ‘phytobiome’ are not well described. To contribute to a more comprehensive picture of the plant holobiont, we examined cercozoan and oomycete taxa living in association with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana grown in two different soils. Soil, roots, leaves and wooden toothpicks were analysed before and after surface sterilization. Cercozoa were identified using 18S rRNA gene metabarcoding, whereas the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 was used to determine oomycetes. Subsequent analyses revealed strong spatial structuring of protist communities between compartments, although oomycetes appeared more specialized than Cercozoa. With regards to oomycetes, only members of the Peronosporales and taxa belonging to the genus Globisporangium were identified as shared members of the A. thaliana microbiome. This also applied to cercozoan taxa belonging to the Glissomonadida and Cercomonadida. We identified a strong influence by edaphic factors on the rhizosphere, but not for the phyllosphere. Distinct differences of Cercozoa found preferably in wood or fresh plant material imply specific niche adaptations. Our results highlight the importance of micro‐eukaryotes for the plant holobiont.
Daylight length‐dependent translocation of VIVID photoreceptor in cells and its essential role in conidiation and virulence of Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Tong Sen‐Miao , Zhang An‐Xue , Guo Chong‐Tao , Ying Sheng‐Hua , Feng Ming‐Guang
Published: October 2017

The fungal insect pathogen Beauveria bassiana has the blue‐light photoreceptor VIVID (VVD) but lacks a pigmentation pattern to trace its light responses. Here, we show that the fungal vvd is transcriptionally expressed, and linked to other blue/red photoreceptor genes, in a daylight length‐dependent manner. GFP‐tagged VVD fusion protein was localized to periphery, cytoplasm and vacuoles of hyphal cells in light/dark (L:D) cycles of 24:0 and 16:8 and aggregated in cytoplasm with shortening daylight until transfer into nuclei in full darkness. Deletion of vvd caused more reduced (91%) conidiation capacity in L:D 12:12 cycle of blue light (450/480 nm) than of yellow‐to‐red (540–760 nm) and white lights (∼70%). The conidiation defect worsened with shortened daylight in different L:D cycles of white light, coinciding well with drastic repression of key activator genes in central development pathway. Intriguingly, the deletion mutant displayed blocked secretion of cuticle‐degrading Pr1 proteases, retarded dimorphic transition in insect haemocoel, and hence a lethal action twice longer than those for control strains against Galleria mellonella regardless of the infection passing or bypassing insect cuticle. Conclusively, VVD sustains normal conidiation in a daylight length‐dependent manner and acts as a vital virulence factor in B. bassiana.
Phenological growth stages of mulberry tree (Morus sp.) codification and description according to the BBCH scale
Authors: Sánchez‐Salcedo E.M. , Martínez‐Nicolás J.J. , Hernández Fca.
Published: October 2017

Recently, mulberry fruits have increased rapidly the production and consumption, due to its high levels of bioactive compounds, excellent taste and nutritional value. Nevertheless there is poorly information about its phenology. In the present study, the different phenological growth stages of mulberry are characterised according to the BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt Chemische Industrie) scale. Eight of the 10 principal developmental stages from BBCH scale were described for Morus sp., starting at bud development (stage 0) and ending at the senescence and beginning of the rest period (stage 9). The BBCH code for this species provides a consensual unified approach for standardisation of phenological stages in mulberry, moreover to facilitate agronomic practices.
Does a Tired Mind Help Avoid a Decision Bias? The Effect of Ego Depletion on Escalation of Commitment
Authors: Lee Jong Seok , Keil Mark , Wong Kin Fai Ellick
Published: October 2017

In this research, we investigated the effect of ego depletion on escalation of commitment. Specifically, we conducted two laboratory experiments and obtained evidence that ego depletion decreases escalation of commitment. In Study 1, we found that individuals were less susceptible to escalation of commitment after completing an ego depletion task. In Study 2, we confirmed the effect observed in Study 1 using a different manipulation of ego depletion and a different subject pool. Contrary to the fundamental assumption of bounded rationality that people have a tendency to make decision errors when mental resources are scarce, the findings of this research show that a tired mind can help reduce escalation bias.
Insecurity, distress and mental health: experimental and randomized controlled trials of a psychosocial intervention for youth affected by the Syrian crisis
Authors: Panter‐Brick Catherine , Dajani Rana , Eggerman Mark , Hermosilla Sabrina , Sancilio Amelia , Ager Alastair
Published: October 2017

Background

Strengthening the evidence base for humanitarian interventions that provide psychosocial support to war‐affected youth is a key priority. We tested the impacts of an 8‐week programme of structured activities informed by a profound stress attunement (PSA) framework (Advancing Adolescents), delivered in group‐format to 12–18 year‐olds in communities heavily affected by the Syrian crisis. We included both Syrian refugee and Jordanian youth.

Methods

We followed an experimental design, comparing treatment youth and wait‐list controls over two programme implementation cycles, randomizing to study arm in cycle 2 (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03012451). We measured insecurity, distress, mental health difficulties, prosocial behaviour and post‐traumatic stress symptoms at three time‐points: baseline (n = 817 youth; 55% Syrian, 43% female), postintervention (n = 463; 54% Syrian, 47% female), and follow‐up (n = 212, 58% Syrian, 43% female). Regression models assessed: prospective intervention impacts, adjusting for baseline scores, trauma exposure, age, and gender; differential impacts across levels of trauma exposure and activity‐based modality; and sustained recovery 1 year later. We analysed cycle‐specific and cycle‐pooled data for youth exclusively engaged in Advancing Adolescents and for the intent‐to‐treat sample.

Results

We found medium to small effect sizes for all psychosocial outcomes, namely Human Insecurity (β = −7.04 (95% CI: −10.90, −3.17), Cohen's d = −0.4), Human Distress (β = −5.78 (−9.02, −2.54), d = −0.3), and Perceived Stress (β = −1.92 (−3.05, −0.79), d = −0.3); and two secondary mental health outcomes (AYMH: β = −3.35 (−4.68, −2.02), d = −0.4; SDQ: β = −1.46 (−2.42, −0.50), d = −0.2). We found no programme impacts for prosocial behaviour or post‐traumatic stress reactions. Beneficial impacts were stronger for youth with exposure to four trauma events or more. While symptoms alleviated for both intervention and control groups over time, there were sustained effects of the intervention on Human Insecurity.

Conclusions

Findings strengthen the evidence base for mental health and psychosocial programming for a generation affected by conflict and forced displacement. We discuss implications for programme implementation and evaluation research.
“Going to Law”: Reflections on Law, Religion, and Mitra Sharafi's Law and Identity in Colonial South Asia
Authors: Sullivan Winnifred Fallers
Published: October 2017

This essay explores religion's need for law, comparing the story told in Mitra Sharafi's Law and Identity in Colonial South Asia (2014)—about the virtual hijacking of British colonial law to serve the communal religious needs of Parsis in colonial India—to other contexts in which secular and religious legal systems have built symbiotic relationships, including in the United States and Thailand. It concludes by urging a reweaving of religious and legal histories after the critique of secularism and its shadows, separationism, and antinomianism.
Serum procalcitonin levels predict acute kidney injury in critically ill patients
Authors: Jeeha Rajeev , Skinner David L , De Vasconcellos Kim , Magula Nombulelo P
Published: October 2017

Aim

To determine whether admission procalcitonin (PCT) was associated with the subsequent development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in a general population of critically ill patients.

Methods

The study was a retrospective observational study conducted in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) over a period of 1 year. Adult patients who had a PCT performed on admission and who did not have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or AKI on admission, were evaluated for the development of AKI within the first week of ICU admission, according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. The association between PCT on admission and the development of AKI was explored for the entire cohort and for septic and non‐septic subgroups.

Results

Two hundred and one patients were included in the study. The incidence of AKI in the first 7 days of ICU admission was 36.8%. PCT, age, the presence of shock on admission, and sepsis were significantly associated with AKI on univariate analysis. Multivariable analysis of the entire cohort revealed that age, shock and sepsis remained independent predictors of AKI, while PCT was no longer significant. When the septic and non‐septic patients were analyzed separately a PCT ≥10 ng/mL remained the only significant predictor of AKI in the non‐septic patients (OR 4.430; 95% CI 1.464–13.399), but was not an independent predictor of AKI in septic patients.

Conclusion

The main finding of this study was the significant association of an elevated PCT on admission with the development of AKI in the non‐septic patient. An elevated PCT in a non‐septic patient identifies a patient at increased risk of AKI. PCT requires further study as a novel biomarker of AKI in non‐septic patients.
Ranitidine‐induced black tongue: A case report
Authors: Akcaboy Meltem , Sahin Sanliay , Zorlu Pelin , Şenel Saliha
Published: October 2017

Black tongue is a rare, benign, self‐limiting disorder caused by certain conditions and some medications. We report the first case of a child diagnosed with black tongue associated with ranitidine use. We report our case to emphasize the rare side effect of this frequently used drug. Health care professionals should be aware of the likelihood of ranitidine‐induced black tongue in clinical practice.
B and E MADS‐box genes determine the perianth formation in Cymbidium goeringii Rchb.f
Authors: Xiang Lin , Chen Yue , Chen Liping , Fu Xiaopeng , Zhao Kaige , Zhang Jie , Sun Chongbo
Published: October 2017

Cymbidium goeringii Rchb.f. is an important ornamental plant with a striking well‐differentiated lip. Its complex floral architecture presents an exciting opportunity to examine perianth development. In flowering plants, class A, B and E floral homeotic genes play key roles in the specification of perianth identity. In this study, we used a cDNA library of wild‐type C. goeringii flower buds for transcriptome sequencing. Eighteen candidate class A, B and E genes (including AP1/FUL‐, AP2‐, DEF‐, GLO‐, SEP‐ and AGL6‐like genes) were identified. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) results showed that CgDEF1, CgSEP2 and CgAGL6‐1 were strongly detected only in the sepals and petals and were significantly downregulated in the lips. CgDEF3, CgDEF4 and CgAGL6‐3 were highly expressed in the lips and lip‐like petals but were only minimally detected in the sepals. Yeast two‐hybrid analysis indicated that CgDEF1 and CgGLO formed a heterodimer. CgAGL6‐1/CgSEP2 and CgDEF1 formed higher‐order protein complexes with the assistance of the CgGLO protein, and both CgAGL6‐1 and CgSEP2 formed a heterodimer. CgDEF3/CgDEF4 could interact independently with CgGLO and CgAGL6‐3, respectively, while CgDEF3 and CgDEF4 also formed heterodimers with the assistance of the CgGLO. Based on a comprehensive analysis relating these gene expression patterns to protein interaction profiles, the mechanism of sepal/petal/lip determination was studied in C. goeringii. Furthermore, a hypothesis explaining the sepal/petal/lip determination of C. goeringii is proposed. The lip‐quartet (CgDEF3/CgDEF4/CgAGL6‐3/CgGLO) promoted lip formation, whereas the sepal/petal‐quartet (CgDEF1/CgAGL6‐1/CgSEP2/CgGLO) promoted sepal/petal formation. These results enrich the current knowledge regarding the mechanism and pathways of perianth formation in orchids.
Evaluation of droplet digital PCR for quantification of residual leucocytes in red blood cell concentrates
Authors: Doescher A. , Loges U. , Petershofen E. K. , Müller T. H.
Published: October 2017

Background and Objectives

Enumeration of residual white blood cells in leucoreduced blood components is essential part of quality control. Digital PCR has substantially facilitated quantitative PCR and was thus evaluated for measurements of leucocytes.

Materials and Methods

Target for quantification of leucocytes by digital droplet PCR was the blood group gene RHCE. The SPEF1 gene was added as internal control for the entire assay starting with automated DNA extraction. The sensitivity of the method was determined by serial dilutions of standard samples. Quality control samples were analysed within 24 h, 7 days and 6 months after collection. Routine samples from leucodepleted red blood cell concentrates (n = 150) were evaluated in parallel by flow‐cytometry (LeucoCount) and by digital PCR.

Results

Digital PCR reliably detected at least 0·4 leucocytes per assay. The mean difference between PCR and flow‐cytometric results from 150 units was −0·01 (±1·0). DNA samples were stable for up to at least six months. PCR measurement of leucocytes in samples from plasma and platelet concentrates also provided valid results in a pilot study.

Conclusion

Droplet digital PCR to enumerate leucocytes offers an alternative for quality control of leucoreduced blood products. Sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility are comparable to flow‐cytometry. The option to collect samples over an extended period of time and the automatization introduce attractive features for routine quality control.
Anophthalmia and elongation of body appendages in cave scale worms (Annelida: Aphroditiformia)
Authors: Gonzalez Brett C. , Worsaae Katrine , Fontaneto Diego , Martínez Alejandro
Published: October 2017

This study addresses whether cave dwelling annelids exhibited similar reductive and constructive traits equally as strong as those of arthropods and vertebrates inhabiting caves. Known as troglomorphism, these adaptations bring about striking morphologies across invertebrates and vertebrates from both aquatic and terrestrial cave habitats, and include varying degrees of eye and pigmentation loss, as well as hypertrophy of body appendages and sensorial structures. Employing phylogenetic comparative methods and ancestral character reconstructions on a worldwide data set of a group of annelids, the scale worms (Aphroditiformia), we investigate the behavioural and morphological traits of species living in marine caves in comparison with those species living outside caves. Our work demonstrated that cave scale worms respond similar to arthropods in cave environments, showing a significant elongation of sensory parapodial cirri, while lacking eyes and pigmentation. However, whereas elongation of sensory appendages likely occurred in correlation to cave colonization, eyes were plausibly lost in correlation with specialization and colonization of deep‐sea habitats.
Comparison between acoustic measurements of brass instruments and one-dimensional models with curved wavefronts and transformed axial coordinates
Authors: Orduña-Bustamante Felipe , Rendón Pablo Luis , Martínez-Montejo Erika
Published: October 2017

A progressive spherical or spheroidal wavefront approximation has previously been found to be a necessary step for a more accurate application of Webster's wave equation to rapidly flaring horns. This leads to a necessary transformation of the horn area function, from the usual flat cross-sectional area in terms of the axial coordinate, into a curved cap-like wavefront area as a function of either the axial coordinate, the arc-length coordinate along the horn profile, the leading curved wavefront coordinate, or still other possible longitudinal coordinates. In this article, horn functions, and related frequency potential functions are calculated from the measured horn profiles of a trombone and a trumpet for several of the above parameterizations. From them, cutoff frequencies and effective lengths are determined. A comparison is drawn between theoretical results using different parameterizations, results calculated via transfer-matrix models, and experimental measurements of the acoustical input impedance and reflection function of both instruments. Results indicate that one-dimensional models accurately predict the effective lengths, and consequently the fundamental resonance frequency of the instruments within ±25 cents, but fail noticeably in predicting cutoff frequencies, leading to what is probably an inaccurate representation of perceived timbre.
Theoretical perspective on electronic structure and photophysical properties for three cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes bearing different substituent groups on the main ligands
Authors: Han Deming , Wang Chaoyu , Fu Shijie , Li Jingmei , Lv Shuhui , Yu Yuanhua
Published: October 2017

To investigate the influence of the different substituents in the main ligands on the electronic structures, phosphorescent properties, and organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) performance, three iridium(III) complexes 1, 2, and 3 are studied by means of the density functional theory/time-dependent density functional theory (DFT/TDDFT). Ionization potential, electron affinities, and reorganization energy have also been obtained to evaluate the charge transfer and balance properties between hole and electron for the three complexes. The lowest energy absorption wavelength calculated for complex 1 is in very good agreement with the experimental value. The lowest energy emissions of complexes 1, 2, and 3 are localised at 492, 565, and 510 nm, respectively, at M052X level. It is expected that this work might provide a way to develop potential iridium(III) phosphors with good electroluminescent performance.
Study of texture zeros of fermion mass matrices in minimal extended seesaw mechanism and symmetry realization
Authors: Patgiri Mahadev , Kumar Priyanka , Sarma Debojit
Published: October 2017

In our work, we study the texture zeros of [Formula: see text] in the minimal extended type-I seesaw (MES) with incorporating one extra gauge singlet field “[Formula: see text]”. The MES models deal with the Dirac neutrino mass matrix [Formula: see text], the right-handed Majorana mass matrix [Formula: see text] and the sterile neutrino mass matrix [Formula: see text]. We carry out the mapping of all possible zero textures of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for phenomenologically predictive cases having total eight zeros of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] studied in the literature. With this motivation, we consider (a) [Formula: see text] scheme, (b) [Formula: see text] scheme and (c) [Formula: see text] scheme, where the digits of a pair represent the number of zeros of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively along with the one zero and two zero textures of [Formula: see text]. There are a large number of possibilities of zeros of fermion mass matrices but the implementation of [Formula: see text] transformations reduces it to a very minimum number of basic structures. Interestingly out of four allowed one zero textures of [Formula: see text] without sterile neutrino, only three cases ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) are allowed in MES mechanism for the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] schemes. We find some correlations for different combination of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] on enforcement of zeros. We examined all the correlations under the recent neutrino oscillation data and find that only [Formula: see text] survives while both [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are ruled out. Interestingly the one zero textures inherently represent the inverted hierarchy of the mass ordering of light neutrinos. No two zero textures of [Formula: see text] survive in MES although there are a number of allowed structures phenomenologically. The allowed texture zeros are finally realized using a discrete Abelian flavor symmetry group [Formula: see text] with the extension of standard model to include some scalar fields.
The Opioid Epidemic: Crisis and Solutions
Authors: Skolnick Phil
Published: October 2017

The widespread abuse of prescription opioids and a dramatic increase in the availability of illicit opioids have created what is commonly referred to as the opioid epidemic. The magnitude of this epidemic is startling: About 4% of the adult US population misuses prescription opioids, and in 2015, more than 33,000 deaths were attributable to overdose with licit and illicit opioids. Increasing the availability of medication-assisted treatments (such as buprenorphine and naltrexone), the use of abuse-deterrent formulations, and the adoption of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prescribing guidelines all constitute short-term approaches to quell this epidemic. However, with more than 125 million Americans suffering from either acute or chronic pain, the development of effective alternatives to opioids, enabled at least in part by a fuller understanding of the neurobiological bases of pain, offers the best long-term solution for controlling and ultimately eradicating this epidemic.
Harnessing the Properties of Natural Products
Authors: Boufridi Asmaa , Quinn Ronald J.
Published: October 2017

Natural products (NPs) have been used as traditional medicines since antiquity. With more than 1060 estimated compounds with molecular weights less than 500 Da representing chemical space, NPs occupy a very small percentage; however, they are significantly overrepresented in biologically relevant chemical space. The classical approach concentrates on identifying one or more NPs with biological activity from a source organism. There is much more to be learned from NPs than we can discover this narrow view. In this review, we discuss ways to harness the global properties of NPs.
AMCCR: Adaptive Multi-QoS Cross-Layer Cooperative Routing in Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Gawas Mahadev A. , Gudino Lucy J. , Anupama K. R.
Published: October 2017

The cooperative communication technique in an ad hoc network exploits the spatial diversity gains inherent in multiuser systems and mitigates the multipath fading. This technique is necessary but perhaps not sufficient to meet the QoS demands in ad hoc network. This is due to the fact that routing protocol at the network layer is more responsible for the successful packet delivery and QoS support. In this paper, we propose an adaptive multi-QoS cross-layer cooperative routing (AMCCR) protocol that enhances the performance through the cooperation of physical, MAC, and network layers. We first formulate an approach to analyze the channel state variations for effective communication schemes at the physical layer. Secondly, we dynamically select the transmission mode to employ cooperative MAC scheme by exploiting spatial diversity. Thereafter, the network layer chooses an optimized route from source to destination through the selected best relay candidates based on multiple QoS metrics. The paper is further extended to support dual-hop half-duplex communication via selected relay by coding technique. The proposed protocol is validated by extensive simulations and compared with CD-MAC and CODE protocols. The results clearly show that the proposed cooperative cross-layer design approach significantly improves the average delay, throughput, and network lifetime of the system.
Cochlear Implantation in Patients with Keratitis-Ichthyosis-Deafness Syndrome: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Gumus Birgul , Incesulu Armagan , Pinarbasli Mehmet Ozgur
Published: October 2017

Background.Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome is a syndrome which presents with hearing loss and visual and keratinization disorders. In such patients, hearing aids cannot be effectively used in the rehabilitation of hearing loss because of the frequent blockage of the external ear canal with epithelial debris and due to dry and tense skin of the external ear canal. Moreover, severe or profound hearing loss also limits the benefits gained from the conventional hearing aids. On the other hand, cochlear implantation is a method that has been used in limited cases in the literature.Case Report.This study presents the results of cochlear implantation applied in our clinic to two children who had been diagnosed with KID. Audiological assessments before and after the cochlear implant operation were performed using pure-tone audiometry, immittance audiometry, and auditory brainstem response (ABR), and the postoperative follow-up was conducted using pure-tone audiometry.Conclusion.Skin problems, visual disturbances, and other additional problems complicate the short-term and long-term rehabilitation after implantation in individuals with KID syndrome. Close monitoring should be exercised due to possible skin complications that may develop during the postoperative period. The families and rehabilitation teams should be warned about the possible visual disturbances and skin complications.
Vaginal Cuff Dehiscence Presenting with Free Air 60 Days after Robotic-Assisted Hysterectomy
Authors: Munger D. , Iannamorelli M. , Galvez C. , Service C.
Published: October 2017

Introduction. The vast majority of patients presenting with pneumoperitoneum have visceral organ perforation and require urgent diagnostic laparoscopy. Nonsurgical causes are relatively rare and may be attributed to multiple etiologies. Case Presentation. Here we describe the case of a 38-year-old Caucasian female who presented to the emergency department with three days of cramping, epigastric abdominal pain. Her physical exam was notable for tenderness to palpation in the epigastric area and abdominal and chest X-rays showed free air under the diaphragm. Free air around the porta hepatis was verified on CT scan. Approximately 90% of pneumoperitoneum cases are due to perforation of visceral organs and therefore require operative management. An urgent exploratory laparoscopy revealed no clear source of free air, but postoperatively the patient developed a large volume of watery discharge from her vagina. Subsequent workup revealed a 1 cm vaginal cuff dehiscence which was later repaired with no postoperative complications. Conclusion. Although the majority of patients with pneumoperitoneum require urgent exploratory laparoscopy, a careful diagnostic workup may reveal sources of free air that are not related to hollow viscous perforation. Vaginal cuff dehiscence represents a rare yet nonurgent source of pneumoperitoneum. This differential should be considered in light of the possible intra- and postoperative complications of surgery.
Coronary Artery Hematoma Treated with Fenestration Using a Novel NSE Alpha® Scoring Balloon
Authors: Funayama Naohiro , Konishi Takao , Yamamoto Tadashi , Hotta Daisuke
Published: October 2017

The optimal management of coronary intramural hematoma has not been defined. We described a case in which coronary occlusion developed due to an intramural hematoma after percutaneous coronary intervention for mid left circumflex artery (LCX). Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) demonstrated the progression of the intramural hematoma and a totally compressed true lumen. Our approach was based on fenestration with a scoring balloon (NSE Alpha, Goodman, Japan), which allowed the deployment of an additional stent to be avoided. In conclusion, this management can be effectively and safely performed.
Growth of Undergraduate Education in Design in the United States, 1988–2012
Authors: Ilhan Ali O.
Published: October 2017

As part of a larger project that analyzes disciplinary and interdisciplinary growth in the United States, this article quantitatively investigates the expansion of undergraduate education in design at four-year colleges and universities between 1988 and 2012. It utilizes data from the US Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Survey (IPEDS), which is especially suitable for investigating field-level change. Results show that undergraduate design education is growing in both absolute and relative terms, but this growth varies according to different institution types and conditions. Hence, variables such as control type (i.e., public vs. private), Carnegie classification type, institution size, and institutional revenues have differential influences on the diffusion of bachelor's degree-granting programs and the share of bachelor's degrees. This study provides valuable insights to policymakers, administrators, and design educators who seek to make meaningful interventions within the academy, and it will advance our understanding of the changing institutional organization of design education and the future of design disciplines in the United States.
‘Our Greatest Riches’: Horses at the Intersection of Settler and Kazakh Society in the Late Imperial Period
Authors: McDaniel Sean
Published: October 2017

This article examines interactions between Slavic peasant migrants and mobile pastoralist Kazakhs within the setting of the Kazakh Steppe during the period of heaviest resettlement to the region beginning in the late nineteenth century and continuing into the early twentieth century. It considers how the importance of horses to both settlers and Kazakhs alike dictated these interactions and how the sedentary world of the settlers disrupted the seasonal migration routes of Kazakh horse herders. Particularly with concern to the greatly expanded horse market, issues regarding land use, and increased instances of horse theft throughout the region, the Russian state’s encroachment into the steppe forever altered the social and economic makeup of the region.
A Devil's dictionary for mental health
Authors: Timms Philip
Published: October 2017

Clinical psychiatry, for all its emphasis on scientific rigour, is mediated mainly by words rather than by numbers. As with other professional areas, it has developed its own set of jargon words and phrases. Many of these are not the technical terms traditionally seen as jargon, but standard English words and phrases used in an idiosyncratic way. They therefore go unnoticed as jargon, while enfeebling our communications. I have used the template of Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary to highlight some examples, with the aim of helping us all to talk, write and, perhaps, think more clearly.
Acute Coronary Syndromes in the Elderly
Authors: Engberding Niels , Wenger Nanette K.
Published: October 2017

The clinical evidence for treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the elderly is less robust than in patients younger than 75 years. The elderly have the highest incidence of cardiovascular disease and frequently present with ACS. This number can be expected to increase over time because society is aging. Older adults often sustain unfavorable outcomes from ACS because of atypical presentation and delay in recognition. In addition, elderly patients commonly do not receive optimal guideline-directed ACS treatment. Owing to their high baseline risk of ischemic complications, the elderly also fare worse even with optimal ACS treatment as they frequently have more complex coronary disease, more comorbidities, less cardiovascular reserve, and a higher risk of treatment complications. They are also subjected to a broader range of pharmacologic treatment. Treatment complications can be mitigated to some extent by meticulous dose adjustment of antithrombotic and adjunctive therapies. While careful transitions of care and appropriate utilization of post-discharge secondary preventive measures are important in ACS patients of all ages, the elderly are more vulnerable to system errors and thus deserve special attention from the clinician.
Poétique de la distance: deux approches contrastées, Ying Chen et Aki Shimazaki
Authors: Parker Gabrielle
Published: October 2017

The paths followed by Aki Shimazaki and Ying Chen cross but do not meet; their writers’ journeys are equally different. Shimazaki weaves the development of her characters on a background of cultural, social and historical facts whilst stating that her main topic is the ‘human tragedy of a single person’. Her didactic intent is evident, the author choosing to explore universal topics through the prism of her own culture, thereby exploiting her own intercultural position. Conversely, Chen deems her Chinese origins irrelevant. She hopes her readers ‘do not seek to find out about [her] native country but rather to know themselves’. Her latest fiction situates her protagonists outside time and place coordinates. Both writers use the serial genre to develop their respective projects, but do so differently. Similarly, their distanced approach to their topic responds to distinct aesthetic positions. This article assesses how ethics, aesthetics and a generic instability combine into a singular poethics in each of the works examined.

Les itinéraires d’Aki Shimazaki et de Ying Chen se croisent sans se rencontrer et leurs parcours d’écrivaines divergent semblablement. Shimazaki tisse le développement de ses personnages sur fond de réalités culturelles et sociales et de faits historiques avérés tout en affirmant que son sujet principal est ‘la tragédie humaine d’un individu’. L’intention didactique est évidente, l’auteure choisissant d’explorer des thèmes universels au travers du prisme de sa propre culture, exploitant ainsi sa propre situation interculturelle. Pour Chen, au contraire, ses origines chinoises sont littéralement ‘hors thème’. Elle dit espérer être lue ‘non pas pour connaître [s]on pays natal mais pour se connaître’ soi-même (1997). Ses derniers romans situent les protagonistes en dehors des coordonnées temps et lieu. Si les deux romancières font appel à la forme sérielle pour développer leurs projets respectifs elles la déclinent différemment. De même, la distance que prend l’auteure par rapport à son sujet correspond à des positions esthétiques distinctes. Cette étude examinera comment l’éthique, l’esthétique et une instabilité générique se conjuguent dans une poéthique singulière pour chacune de ces deux œuvres.
The effect of censorship on Manoel de Oliveira’s screenplays during the Salazar Dictatorship in Portugal (1933−74)
Authors: Benis Rita
Published: October 2017

Portuguese screenwriter/director Manoel de Oliveira (1908–2015) survived almost the whole history of cinema, starting in the silent film epoch with Douro Faina Fluvial/Labor on the Douro (1931), and premiering his last film, O Velho do Restelo/The Old Man of Belem (2014), on his 106th birthday. During the political dictatorship of António de Oliveira Salazar, from 1933 to 1974, Manoel de Oliveira had to deal with exhaustive supervision over his projects and screenplays. The documentation held by the Portuguese National Archive reveals the complex conditions imposed by the censors (Secretariado Nacional de Informação (SNI), the Portuguese National Secretary of Information), as well as the filmmaker’s screenwriting strategies to circumvent those rules (not always with success, unfortunately). Throughout the files of Angélica (1954), Acto da Primavera/Rite of Spring (1958), A Caça/The Hunt (1958), among other film projects that did not succeed in passing the SNI evaluations, we can observe how decisively censorship influenced Portuguese cinema and the screenwriting of that time. This article explores how, under the tight control of the SNI, Manoel de Oliveira was not allowed to follow the original ‘finale’ foreseen in his screenplay A Caça/The Hunt and how, instead, he was bound to film a new ‘happy-ending’ according to the regime’s premises.
An introduction to voice in screenwriting
Authors: Ferrell Rose
Published: October 2017

This article explores the concept of an identifiable screenwriter’s voice, proposing that voice in a screenplay can be understood and described based on its formal and personal characteristics. The term voice can be understood to refer to the authorial presence of the screenwriter(s) whose consciousness has shaped every aspect of the text. This article also argues that the authorial presence is inscribed in a screenplay through the decision-making processes within screenwriting practice which lead the screenwriter to make many concrete and conceptual choices based on their own knowledge, perceptions and sensibilities. By disengaging the argument for voice from questions of quality, any voice is opened to interrogation and description based on its stylistic continuities. The article presents the conceptual framework for screenwriter’s voice, which is argued to be an effective tool through which a screenplay text can be interrogated to locate voice, whether this voice is created by a single or multiple authors.
Citizens’ attitudes towards democratic deliberation
Authors: Viegas José Manuel Lleite , Santos Susana
Published: October 2017

The economic and social crises the Western democracies are currently experiencing have aggravated ideological polarisation and increased citizens' distrust of both politicians and political institutions. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain consensus just at the
moment when it is most needed in order to put into effect those reforms the situation demands. It is in this context that studies of democratic deliberation gain new relevance and significance, particularly within parliaments, which are the places, par excellence, for political debate and
consensus building. However, democratic deliberation requires more than just institutions, rules and regulations: it requires a political culture that is imbued with these principles and values, that is to say, it need citizens and political actors with positive attitudes towards the various
dimensions of democratic deliberation. The results obtained here point in the general direction of support for the different aspects of deliberation, both in the attitudes of the citizens' and the deputies, indicating some very specific differences between each of them.
Portugal 2011: Tthe victory of the neoliberal right, the defeat of the left
Authors: Freire André , Santana-Pereira José
Published: October 2017

The present article analyses the 5 June 2011, parliamentary elections in Portugal, and begins by introducing the reader to the background of the elections: the exercise of power in the 11th legislature, the economic crisis, the Bailout Agreement for Portugal, and the electoral campaign.
Then the 2011 electoral results are described and compared with previous national elections. Overall, the picture displays a strong defeat of the left that paved the way for the most neoliberal government in Portuguese history. Voters also voted for stability: the right-wing parties declared
they were willing to co-operate (and in fact they formed a coalition government very quickly), whereas the left-wing parties have shown on several occasions that they are unable and unwilling to co-operate.
Part 3
Authors: Stengers Isabelle , Davis Christine , Lyall Scott , Deleuze Gilles , Parnet Claire , Lanthier Daniel , Zizek Slavoj , Cubitt Sean
Published: October 2017

Entries: The Pick-Up, “Don’t Bifurcate”, Primary Colours, Touché-Touchant, Entropy, Redaction, Non-Colour, Mixture. Includes text by Isabelle Stengers, Christine Davis, Scott Lyall, Gilles Deleuze and Claire Parnet, Daniel Lanthier, Slavoj Zizek, Sean Cubitt. Artworks by Donald Weber, Odilon Redon, Patrick Syme, Claude Tousignant, Liz Deschenes, Steve McQueen, Frederik DeWilde, Pascale Marthine Tayou.
Cuba: Babalú-Ayé tosses his crutches toward the future
Authors: West-Durán Alan
Published: October 2017

Article on Cuba in the immediate wake of 17 December 2014, when Cuban President Raul Castro and US President Barak Obama each delivered a speech about undoing the nearly 55-year blockade against Cuba.
Bookmarks: Visual Poetics
Authors: Elías Yornel Martínez
Published: October 2017

A series of bookmarks by artists who created book works to repurpose the space of a bookstore in Old Havana and reorient the reader-text-image relationship.
Bridget Moser, Tender Offer: Part 1
Authors: May Francis
Published: October 2017

Review of Bridget Moser, Tender Offer: Part 1, 8–11 Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 8–11 October, 2014.
‘Public Art as Collective Practice’: ‘Collective Breath Poster’
Authors: Gabie Neville , Zaiontz Keren
Published: October 2017

UK-based artist Neville Gabie discusses the turns his art practice has taken since his Olympic Park residency in the lead up to the 2012 London Summer Games. Gabie reflects on his counter-Olympic initiative, The Greatest Possible Distance (2012) as well as his more recent residency at the Cabot Institute, which led to a series of formally experimental works entitled, Experiments in Black and White (2012–2013). This series served as the impetus for Gabie’s ephemeral, socially engaged work, Collective Breath. A poster that documents the Collective Breath project is printed in Part 4: ‘Suspending Freedom, Sustaining Spectacle’ of this special issue.