bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strong and Sustained Antihypertensive Effect of Small Interfering RNA Targeting Liver Angiotensinogen
Authors: Uijl Estrellita , Mirabito Colafella Katrina M. , Sun Yuan , Ren Liwei , van Veghel Richard , Garrelds Ingrid M. , de Vries René , Poglitsch Marko , Zlatev Ivan , Kim Jae B. , Hoorn Ewout J. , Foster Don , Danser A.H. Jan
Published: April 2019

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting hepatic angiotensinogen (
Agt
) may provide long-lasting antihypertensive effects, but the optimal approach remains unclear. Here, we assessed the efficacy of a novel AGT siRNA in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Rats were treated with vehicle, siRNA (10 mg/kg fortnightly; subcutaneous), valsartan (31 mg/kg per day; oral), captopril (100 mg/kg per day; oral), valsartan+siRNA, or captopril+valsartan for 4 weeks (all groups, n=8). Mean arterial pressure (recorded via radiotelemetry) was lowered the most by valsartan+siRNA (−68±4 mm Hg), followed by captopril+valsartan (−54±4 mm Hg), captopril (−23±2 mm Hg), siRNA (−14±2 mm Hg), and valsartan (−10±2 mm Hg). siRNA and captopril monotherapies improved cardiac hypertrophy equally, but less than the dual therapies, which also lowered NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide). Glomerular filtration rate, urinary NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin), and albuminuria were unaffected by treatment. siRNA lowered circulating AGT by 97.9±1.0%, and by 99.8±0.1% in combination with valsartan. Although siRNA greatly reduced renal Ang (angiotensin) I, only valsartan+siRNA suppressed circulating and renal Ang II. This coincided with decreased renal sodium hydrogen exchanger type 3 and phosphorylated sodium chloride cotransporter abundances. Renin and plasma K
+
increased with every treatment, but especially during valsartan+siRNA; no effects on aldosterone were observed. Collectively, these data indicate that Ang II elimination requires >99% suppression of circulating AGT. Maximal blockade of the renin-angiotensin system, achieved by valsartan+siRNA, yielded the greatest reduction in blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy, whereas AGT lowering alone was as effective as conventional renin-angiotensin system inhibitors. Given its stable and sustained efficacy, lasting weeks, RNA interference may offer a unique approach to improving therapy adherence and treating hypertension.
Regulator of G Protein Signaling 2 Facilitates Uterine Artery Adaptation During Pregnancy in Mice
Authors: Koch Jennifer N. , Dahlen Shelby A. , Owens Elizabeth A. , Osei‐Owusu Patrick
Published: April 2019

Background

Decreased uterine blood flow is known to contribute to pregnancy complications such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Previously, we showed that the loss of regulator of G protein signaling 2 (
RGS
2), a
GTP
ase activating protein for G
q/11
and G
i/o
class G proteins, decreases uterine blood flow in the nonpregnant state in mice. Here, we examined the effects of the absence of
RGS
2 and 5 on uterine blood flow and uterine vascular structure and function at early, mid, and late gestation, as well as peripartum period in mice.

Methods and Results

Abdominal Doppler ultrasonography was performed on adult female wild‐type,

Rgs2
−/−

, and

Rgs5
−/−

mice at pre‐pregnancy, gestational days 10, 15, and 18, and postpartum day 3. Uterine artery structure and function were also assessed by vessel myograph studies. At mid‐pregnancy, uterine blood flow decreased in both

Rgs2
−/−

and

Rgs5
−/−

mice, whereas resistive index increased only in

Rgs2
−/−

mice. In uterine arteries from wild‐type mice,
mRNA
expression of
RGS
2 and 4 increased, whereas
RGS
5 expression remained elevated at mid‐pregnancy. These changes in gene expression were unique to uterine arteries because they were absent in mesenteric arteries and the aorta of wild‐type mice. In

Rgs2
−/−

mice, uterine artery medial cross‐sectional area and G protein–coupled receptor‐mediated vasoconstriction increased in mid‐pregnancy, implicating a role for
RGS
2 in structural and functional remodeling of uterine arteries during pregnancy. In contrast,
RGS
5 absence increased vasoconstriction only in the peripartum period.

Conclusions

These data together indicate that
RGS
2 plays a critical role in the structural and functional remodeling of uterine arteries to impact uterine blood flow during pregnancy. Targeting the signaling pathway regulated by
RGS
2 may therefore be a therapeutic strategy for ameliorating utero‐placental perfusion disorders during pregnancy.
Power and Profit at Sea: The Rise of the West in the Making of the International System
Authors: Sharman J.C.
Published: April 2019

The making of the international system from c. 1500 reflected distinctively maritime dynamics, especially “gunboat diplomacy,” or the use of naval force for commercial gain. Comparisons between civilizations and across time show, first, that gunboat diplomacy was peculiarly European and, second, that it evolved through stages. For the majority of the modern era, violence was central to the commercial strategies of European state, private, and hybrid actors alike in the wider world. In contrast, large and small non-Western polities almost never sought to advance mercantile aims through naval coercion. European exceptionalism reflected a structural trade deficit, regional systemic dynamics favoring armed trade, and mercantilist beliefs. Changes in international norms later restricted the practice of gunboat diplomacy to states, as private navies became illegitimate. More generally, a maritime perspective suggests the need for a reappraisal of fundamental conceptual divisions and shows how the capital- and technology-intensive nature of naval war allowed relatively small European powers to be global players. It also explains how European expansion and the creation of the first global international system was built on dominance at sea centuries before Europeans’ general military superiority on land.
Categorical Metadata Representation for Customized Text Classification
Authors: Kim Jihyeok , Amplayo Reinald Kim , Lee Kyungjae , Sung Sua , Seo Minji , Hwang Seung-won
Published: April 2019

The performance of text classification has improved tremendously using intelligently engineered neural-based models, especially those injecting categorical metadata as additional information, e.g., using user/product information for sentiment classification. This information has been used to modify parts of the model (e.g., word embeddings, attention mechanisms) such that results can be customized according to the metadata. We observe that current representation methods for categorical metadata, which are devised for human consumption, are not as effective as claimed in popular classification methods, outperformed even by simple concatenation of categorical features in the final layer of the sentence encoder. We conjecture that categorical features are harder to represent for machine use, as available context only indirectly describes the category, and even such context is often scarce (for tail category). To this end, we propose using basis vectors to effectively incorporate categorical metadata on various parts of a neural-based model. This additionally decreases the number of parameters dramatically, especially when the number of categorical features is large. Extensive experiments on various data sets with different properties are performed and show that through our method, we can represent categorical metadata more effectively to customize parts of the model, including unexplored ones, and increase the performance of the model greatly.
Pyrisinellidae, a new family of anascan cheilostome bryozoans
Authors: MARTINO EMANUELA DI , TAYLOR PAUL D
Published: April 2019

A new family of anascan-grade cheilostome bryozoans, Pyrisinellidae n. fam., is introduced, together with two new gen-era, Pyrisinella n. gen. and Spinisinella n. gen. Containing species previously assigned either to the large, paraphyleticCalloporidae, or Microporidae, pyrisinellids are characterized by having small autozooids with a conspicuous pear-shapedridge formed by the mural rim and distal rim of the opesia, articulated oral spines, and hyperstomial ovicells recumbenton the distal zooid and indenting its mural rim. Five species of pyrisinellids are described, two of which are new: Spin-isinella zagorseki n. gen. et sp., from the Cenomanian or Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) of the Czech Republic, and Seto-sinella perfluxa n. sp., from the Langhian (Middle Miocene) of Kalimantan, Indonesia. A Recent species, Megaporaringens (Busk), is redescribed and questionably assigned to Pyrisinellidae. Important evolutionary changes within Py-risinellidae having parallels elsewhere among anascan cheilostomes include: (1) the development of opesiules for passageof the parietal muscles which correlates with a change from a trifoliate to a semielliptical opesia; and (2) the transitionfrom an open spinose ovicell in the oldest species (Spinisinella zagorseki) to a conventional ovicell with a solid hood-like ooecium that characterizes all other species belonging to the family.
The mitochondrial genome of Coridius chinensis (Hemiptera: Dinidoridae)
Authors: LIU LI , LI HU , SONG FAN , SONG WEN , DAI XUN , CHANG JIAN , Cai Wanzhi
Published: April 2019

The nearly complete mitochondrial genome of Coridius chinensis (Dallas) is reported in this study. The mitogenome is a double-stranded circular molecule of more than 14,648 bp in length with an A+T content of 75.1%. It encoded 37 genes as in other insect mtDNAs, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and a control region (unsuccessful sequencing), and the gene order is the same as most other known heteropteran mitogenomes. All of the 22 transfer RNAs can be folded into the typical cloverleaf structure except tRNASer(AGN), which can only form a simple loop at the site of dihydrouridine (DHU) arm as known in other metazoans. The secondary structures of the large and small ribosomal RNAs of C. chinensis are similar to other presented insects. The rrnL consisted of six structural domains and 40 helices, and the rrnS consisted of three structural domains and 26 helices. Nine PCGs are initiated with the standard initiation codons (ATN), while ND6 and ND1 use GTG, and COI and ATP8 use TTG. All PCGs stopped with TAA/TAG termination codons except the COII terminated with a single T residue. Asymmetry in the nucleotide composition between J-strand and N-strand was observed in this mitogenome.
A new species of Leofa (Prasutagus) Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Chiasmini) from Thailand with a checklist of Leofa
Authors: DUAN YANI , ZHANG YALIN , ZAHNISER JAMES N.
Published: April 2019

Leofa (Prasutagus) pulla sp. n., is described and illustrated from Thailand. This represents the first record of the genus Leofa Distant from Thailand. A key to known species of the subgenus Prasutagus Distant is provided. A checklist of the genus is provided.
A Guide to Mongolian Stoneflies (Insecta: Plecoptera)
Authors: JUDSON SARAH W. , NELSON C. RILEY
Published: April 2019

Since the early 1900s, efforts have been made to catalogue the stoneflies of Mongolia. Taxonomic work from 1960 to1980 greatly expanded basic lists of stoneflies in Mongolia, but no comprehensive survey or synthesis of this dispersedliterature has been completed. In conjunction with a modern survey of the aquatic insects of Mongolia, we collectedPlecoptera on a series of expeditions to the Selenge (north) and Altai (west) regions of Mongolia. A total of 48 speciesdistributed in 24 genera and 8 families were documented, including 3 of the 5 Mongolian endemics, 2 new species re-cords for Mongolia, and 1 species new to science. The majority of the fauna is representative of the East Palearcticregion. The 800+ specimen records were used to validate historical species lists, document species ranges with georef-erenced localities, and create identification tools to be used by Mongolian and international researchers with a broadrange of taxonomic expertise. These identification tools include a generic-level key to nymphs, species diagnoses, aswell as known species range and predicted species range maps created using Ecological Niche Modeling. These toolsare primarily intended for use by Mongolian scientists, sampling teams, and community water quality monitoringgroups, as well as general use by researchers interested in biogeography, ecology, and water quality applications ofMongolian Plecoptera. With this work, we hope to equip Mongolians with the scientific resources to protect their valuable and vulnerable water resources.
Sponge biodiversity of South Georgia island with descriptions of fifteen new species
Authors: GOODWIN CLAIRE , BREWIN PAUL E , BRICKLE PAUL
Published: April 2019

Sponge samples were taken by SCUBA diving from sixteen sites on the north coast of South Georgia island, south westSouthern Ocean. Fifteen new species are described: Iophon husvikensis sp. nov., Clathria (Clathria) stromnessa sp.nov., Clathria (Axosuberites) rosita sp. nov., Clathria (Microciona) matthewsi sp. nov., Lissodendoryx (Ectyodoryx)collinsi sp. nov., Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) barnesi sp. nov., Hymedesmia (Stylopus) pharos sp. nov., Myxilla(Burtoanchora) ponceti sp. nov., Tedania (Tedaniopsis) aurantiaca sp. nov., Tedania (Tedaniopsis) wellsae sp. nov.,Mycale (Mycale) brownorum sp. nov., Mycale (Mycale) cartwrighti sp. nov., Haliclona (Soestella) crowtheri sp. nov.,Microxina myxa sp. nov. and Calyx shackletoni sp. nov. Information is also provided on the distribution and in situexternal appearance of other sponge species such as Cinachyra barbata Sollas 1886, Polymastia invaginata Kirkpatrick1907, Iophon unicorne Topsent 1907, Phorbas glaberrimus (Topsent 1917), Myxilla (Ectyomyxilla) kerguelensis(Hentschel 1914) and Rossella nuda Topsent 1901. These results increase the previously reported low spongeendemicity in South Georgia, which now better aligns with the high endemicity of other groups. However, because wesampled areas that have been poorly sampled in the Southern Ocean / Antarctic region (shallow subtidal, rocky), manyof these species may have wider polar distributions. The effect of the Polar Front as a dispersal barrier to neighbouring biogeographic regions is discussed.
Two new species of the genus Hamataliwa Keyserling, 1887 (Araneae: Oxyopidae) from Gaoligong Mountains, Yunnan, China
Authors: TANG GUO , WANG QIAOBING , PENG XIANJIN
Published: April 2019

Two new species of the genus Hamataliwa (Araneae: Oxyopidae) from the Gaoligong Mountains area, Yunnan Province,China are described: Hamataliwa cucullata sp. nov. (male, female) and Hamataliwa torsiva sp. nov. (female). Photos of the morphological appearances and illustrations of the genital organs are provided.
Licornus Roewer, 1932: newly transferred to Ampycinae and first record of the family Gonyleptidae (Opiliones: Laniatores) from Venezuela
Authors: M. OSVALDO VILLARREAL , KURY ADRIANO B.
Published: April 2019

Licornus tama sp. nov. is described from Táchira State in Venezuelan Andes. This is the first record of real Gonyleptidaefrom this country, although in the past some Venezuelan species, currently placed in other families, have been assigned toGonyleptidae. The genus Licornus Roewer, 1932 had hitherto two species, both endemic to Ecuador. Male genitalmorphology of a species of Licornus is for the first time illustrated and described. Original placement of Licornus in theCranaidae: Cranainae is not supported by morphology of the included species and Licornus is here formally placed in Gonyleptidae: Ampycinae. An emended diagnosis is given to Ampycinae.
Taxonomy of Kermes greeni Bodenheimer (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kermesidae) with a new synonymy
Authors: SPODEK MALKIE , BEN-DOV YAIR , PROTASOV ALEX
Published: April 2019

The first-instar nymph and adult female of Kermes greeni Bodenheimer, 1931 are redescribed and a lectotype is designated. Kermes palestiniensis Balachowsky, 1953 is synonymized with K. greeni. This synonymy is based on a study of the type material of K. greeni and K. palestiniensis, as well as on fresh, topotypic material collected from Quercus calliprinos Webb in Israel.
Taxonomy of Neotropical Trichomyia (Septemtrichomyia) Bravo (Diptera, Psychodidae, Trichomyiinae) with descriptions of five new species
Authors: ARAÚJO MAÍRA XAVIER , BRAVO FREDDY
Published: April 2019

Subgenus Septemtrichomyia Bravo of genus Trichomyia Haliday in Curtis was originally proposed to include four Neotropical species: T. botosaneanui Wagner, T. bou Bravo, T. cauga Bravo and T. mishi Bravo. Five new species are described for this subgenus: Trichomyia atlantica sp. nov., T. imarui sp. nov., T. jezeki sp. nov., T. amazonensis sp. nov. and T. sertaneja sp. nov.; five previously described species are included in Septemtrichomyia: T. dolichakis Quate, T. dolichopogon Alexander, Freitas & Quate, T. dolichothrix Quate, T. pedrabranquensis Bravo and T. sattelmairi Wagner & Masteller. A key to males of the 14 Neotropical species of Septemtrichomyia is presented.
Two new species of the Torodora karismata species complex and a new species of the Torodora leucochlora species complex (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae: Torodorinae)
Authors: PARK KYU-TEK , LEE SANGMI
Published: April 2019

Two new species of the Torodora karismata species complex, T. parakarismata Park, sp. nov. and T. sabahana Park, sp. nov., are described from Sumatra, Indonesia, and Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, respectively, and a sibling species of Torodora leucochlora (Meyrick), T. niphadodes Park, sp. nov., is described from the Philippines. The Torodora new species are easily distinguished from congeners by having dark-fuscous wings with various sizes of whitish costal patches or the orange-white wings and body. Illustrations of adults and genitalia for the new species are provided, as well as keys to the species for each the two species-complexes.
A description of the nymph of Anacroneuria ofaye Froehlich (Plecoptera: Perlidae) and a apparatus for rearing Neotropical stonefly species
Authors: NOVAES MARCOS CARNEIRO , DA CONCEIÇÃO BISPO PITÁGORAS , HIGUTI JANET
Published: April 2019

The Neotropical genus Anacroneuria (Perlidae) is represented by more than 300 species. Among the Brazilian Anacroneuria, only the nymphs of two species have been described. In this paper, we described the nymph of A. ofaye Froehlich and an apparatus for rearing this genus. This is the first record of A. ofaye from Paraná State, Brazil.
First annotated checklist of the ant fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: KIRAN KADRİ , KARAMAN CELAL
Published: April 2019

The first annotated checklist of the ants of Turkey is presented. A total of 306 valid names of species-group taxa (286 species, 20 subspecies) is recorded based on literature records and additional newly collected material carried out since 1998. Synonyms are included. New localities are added for some poorly known species. Four species (Tapinoma subboreale, Formica georgica, Formica lugubris and Lasius balcanicus) are reported for the first time and thirteen species (Bothriomyrmex atlantis, B. meridionalis, Tapinoma madeirense, Camponotus robustus, Formica fuscocinerea, F. gagatoides, Rossomyrmex minuchae, Messor barbarus, Monomorium glabrum, M. salomonis, Myrmica vandeli, Stenamma westwoodii and Tetramorium forte) are excluded from the list of Turkish ants.
Two new species of Podonomus (Diptera: Chironomidae: Podonominae) of the Brundin’s decarthrus group from Ventania system, Argentina
Authors: SIRI AUGUSTO , DONATO MARIANO
Published: April 2019

The descriptions and illustrations of two new species of Podonomus, P. tehuelche and P. quinquesetosus are presented. Both species belong to the Brundin’s decarthrus group and were collected in an "orogenic island", representing the first record of a named Podonomus species from Argentina outside the Andean-Patagonian region. Immatures and adults were collected at relatively low altitude for the genus (500 to 800 m a.s.l.). A key for the South American male adults and pupae of the decarthrus group is presented.
Lynchiatilla Casal, 1963 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae): a new species from Brazil associated with Paroxystoglossa spiloptera Moure (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Halictinae), and notes on other species
Authors: BERGAMASCHI ANTONIO C. B. , CAMBRA ROBERTO A. , BROTHERS DENIS J. , MELO GABRIEL A. R.
Published: April 2019

Lynchiatilla parana Cambra in Bergamaschi et al., sp. nov. (female and male) from Brazil and the male of Lynchiatilla leguera Casal, 1963 are newly described and illustrated. Lynchiatilla silvai Casal, 1963 is reported for the first time for the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. A key to the males for those species where they are known is given. Specimens of L. parana sp. nov. were observed and collected during 204 hours of fieldwork in a montane Atlantic Forest area, providing behavioral data and implicating the halictine bee Paroxystoglossa spiloptera Moure, 1960 as its probable host. Adult wasps were captured and kept in individual containers for sex-association mating trials in the laboratory. Color and size variation in a population of L. leguera from Jujuy, northern Argentina, are discussed and illustrated.
A new species of Herina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Ulidiidae) from Turkey, with the key to species of oscillans group
Authors: KAMENEVA ELENA P. , KORNEYEV VALERY A.
Published: April 2019

Herina lazi sp. nov. from North Eastern Turkey is described. It shares small size, yellow face and femora, short oval flagellomere 1 of antenna, low oval eyes, and the apical brown spot on wing aligned to costal vein in cells r2+3 and r4+5 and shape of male and female genitalia with H. pseudoluctuosa Hennig, differing by details of the wing pattern and male genitalia. A key to species and diagnosis of Herina oscillans group of species are provided.
Rhaphium Meigen (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) from the Taimyr Peninsula (Russia), with description of a new species
Authors: NEGROBOV OLEG P. , BARKALOV АNATOLII V. , SELIVANOVA ОLGA В.
Published: April 2019

Eight species of Rhaphium Mg. are recorded from the southern tundra of the Taimyr Peninsula (Russia), including the description of a new species, Rhaphium borisovi Negrobov, Barkalov & Selivanova sp. nov. The new species is similar to Rhaphium gruniniani Negrobov and differs from it by yellow fore coxa, equal length of hind tarsomeres 1–2 and broader inner lobe of cercus. The female of Rhaphium beringiense Negrobov & Vockeroth is described. A key to Siberian species (exclusive of Far East species) of the genus Rhaphium is presented and morphological characters of all species are illustrated.
Assimilation of Remotely Sensed Leaf Area Index into the Noah-MP Land Surface Model: Impacts on Water and Carbon Fluxes and States over the Continental United States
Authors: Kumar Sujay V. , M. Mocko David , Wang Shugong , Peters-Lidard Christa D. , Borak Jordan
Published: April 2019

Accurate representation of vegetation states is required for the modeling of terrestrial water–energy–carbon exchanges and the characterization of the impacts of natural and anthropogenic vegetation changes on the land surface. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of assimilating remote sensing–based leaf area index (LAI) retrievals over the continental United States in the Noah-MP land surface model, during a time period of 2000–17. The results demonstrate that the assimilation has a beneficial impact on the simulation of key water budget terms, such as soil moisture, evapotranspiration, snow depth, terrestrial water storage, and streamflow, when compared with a large suite of reference datasets. In addition, the assimilation of LAI is also found to improve the carbon fluxes of gross primary production (GPP) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE). Most prominent improvements in the water and carbon variables are observed over the agricultural areas of the United States, where assimilation improves the representation of vegetation seasonality impacted by cropping schedules. The systematic, added improvements from assimilation in a configuration that employs high-quality boundary conditions highlight the significant utility of LAI data assimilation in capturing the impacts of vegetation changes.
Il genere delle controversie fra diritto e letteratura
Authors: Cherchi Paolo
Published: April 2019

Il dibattito dei Law and Literature Studies non ha preso in considerazione le controversiae classiche che contengono in fase embrionale le discipline del diritto e della letteratura. In questo saggio si danno esempi di come tali embrioni producano aneddoti e novelle. La metamorfosi avviene quando in una fabula controversistica si introduce un personaggio capace di risolvere quell’ impasse che protrae all’infinito il dibattito fra gli oratori o avvocati. Le controversiae presentano dilemmi che stimolano la ricerca narrativa, cioè la creazione di personaggi che si definiscono nel momento in cui superano ostacoli e portano alla chiusura un’azione novellistica o teatrale. Il genere giudiziario e declamatorio delle controversiae ha in potenza il germe della letteratura, e lo prova storicamente il fatto che novellisti e drammaturghi ne abbiano ricavato spesso temi e trame per i loro racconti e spunti di azioni teatrali.
A Normative Case for Abolishing the Doctrine of Extended Joint Criminal Enterprise
Authors: Wang Victoria Bo
Published: April 2019

It is submitted in this article that assisting/encouraging is normatively different from and less harmful and dangerous than perpetration, and that the unfairness and injustice of complicity is doubled in the context of extended joint criminal enterprise. The defendant’s participation in the underlying crime is constructed as participation in the collateral crime and such fictitiously constructed participation is further constructed as actus reus of the collateral crime; and the defendant’s foresight of the collateral crime is constructed as intention to assist/encourage the collateral crime and such fictitiously constructed mental state is further constructed as sufficient mens rea for the collateral crime. The double constructive nature of this doctrine cries out for legal reform, especially in jurisdictions where it is still retained as a sui generis doctrine. It is proposed that a new lesser offence of risking another’s collateral offending will serve better the purpose of fair labelling and proportionate punishment.
Conviction by Consent? Vulnerability, Autonomy and Conviction by Guilty Plea
Authors: Helm Rebecca K
Published: April 2019

A criminal conviction resulting from a guilty plea rather than a full trial is typically justified on the basis that the defendant had the ability to go to trial but instead chose to admit guilt in exchange for a small sentence reduction. In other words, the conviction, and associated waiver of rights, occurred by consent. In this article, I challenge that notion by drawing on psycho-legal research on vulnerability and consent and research on guilty pleas in the USA. I suggest that while plea procedure in England and Wales appears less coercive than the practice of ‘plea bargaining’ in the United States, aspects of the system are highly problematic and are likely to be leading to non-consensual guilty pleas, through which innocent defendants are pleading guilty.
Toward equality of educational opportunity: What’s most promising?
Authors: Wise Arthur E.
Published: April 2019

Arthur E. Wise, a longtime advocate for K-12 school improvement, reviews 50 years of efforts to promote equal educational opportunities for all children, describing the pros and cons of three main reform strategies: lawsuits focused on funding equity, which have had some success; the standards and accountability movement, which has not; and teacher professionalism, which has immense promise but has yet to be pursued with the commitment it deserves.
Under the Law: Weighing responsibility for providing equitable and adequate education
Authors: Underwood Julie
Published: April 2019

Questions of responsibility for school funding often hinge on our definitions of community. Historically, in the United States, the community that is responsible for education is the local one, but over time, states have taken more responsibility, particularly in the area of funding. In this column, Julie Underwood considers how questions of responsibility and control have played out in the courts at the federal and state levels. There is no federal right to education, and so much of the litigation related to questions of funding equity has occurred at the state level, with different results in different states. A recent federal case, Cook v. Raimondo, however, seeks to establish that students have a right to an education that provides them with certain civic skills needed to participate in the democratic process.
Cities in an era of interfacing infrastructures: Politics and spatialities of the urban nexus
Authors: Monstadt Jochen , Coutard Olivier
Published: April 2019

Over the last few years, nexus-thinking has become a buzzword in urban research and practice. This also applies to recent claims of greater integration or coordination of urban infrastructures that have traditionally been managed separately and have been unbundled. The idea is to better address their growing sociotechnical complexity, their externalities and their operation within an urban system of systems. This article introduces a collection of case studies aimed at critically appraising how concepts of nexus and infrastructure integration have become guiding visions for the development of green, resilient or smart cities. It assesses how concepts of nexus and calls for higher interconnectivity and ‘co-management’ within and across infrastructure domains often forestall more politically informed discussions and downplay potential risks and institutional restrictions. Based on an urban political and sociotechnical approach, the introduction to this special issue centres around four major research gaps: 1) the tensions between calls for infrastructure re-bundling and the urban trends and realities driven by infrastructure restructuring since the 1990s; 2) the existing boundary work in cities and urban stakeholders’ practices in bringing fragmented urban infrastructures together; 3) the politics involved in infrastructural and urban change and in aligning urban infrastructures that often defy managerial rhetoric of resource efficiency, smartness and resilience; and 4) the spatialities at play in infrastructural reconfigurations that selectively promote specific spaces and scales of metabolic autonomy, system operation (and failure), networked interconnectivities and system regulation. We conclude by outlining directions for future research.
Gender competency in public administration education
Authors: Elias Nicole M , D’Agostino Maria J
Published: April 2019

Sex and gender are evolving identity categories with emergent public policy and administration needs. To respond to the diverse landscape of sex and gender issues in the public sector, greater competency is needed. This research will contribute to the body of work on sex and gender in public administration by asking the following questions: (a) what do graduate students in Master of Public Administration (MPA) programs know about gender competency, (b) have graduate students learned gender competency in their MPA coursework, and (c) how can gender competency in MPA education be further developed and promoted? This study provides a critical analysis of one MPA program, at John Jay College, City University of New York, to begin this line of research. Our e-survey results of a non-random sample of John Jay MPA students demonstrate that many students do not learn about gender competency through their MPA education and that gender competency skills otherwise obtained are limited. To address this, we emphasize the need for incorporating gender competency into MPA education as the first step in equipping future practitioners with skills to promote gender competency in public policy, administrative decision making, and workplace culture. We provide practical means of achieving greater gender competency in MPA curricula and programming and articulate the importance of expanding this research to other MPA programs, MPA faculty and directors, and geographic regions.
Innovations in Technology and Mechanisms of Change in Behavioral Interventions
Authors: Nugent Nicole R. , Pendse Sachin R. , Schatten Heather T. , Armey Michael F.
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an overview of, and rationale for, the increasing adoption of a wide range of cutting-edge technological methods in assessment and intervention which are relevant for treatment. First, we review traditional approaches to measuring and monitoring affect, behavior, and cognition in behavior and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Second, we describe evolving active and passive technology-enabled approaches to behavior assessment including emerging applications of digital phenotyping facilitated through fitness trackers, smartwatches, and social media. Third, we describe ways that these emerging technologies may be used for intervention, focusing on novel applications for the use of technology in intervention efforts. Importantly, though some of the methods and approaches we describe here warrant future testing, many aspects of technology can already be easily incorporated within an established treatment framework.
Personal Guidance System for People with Visual Impairment: A Comparison of Spatial Displays for Route Guidance
Authors: Loomis Jack M. , Marston James R. , Golledge Reginald G. , Klatzky Roberta L.
Published: April 2019

This article reports on a study of route guidance using a navigation system that receives location information from a Global Positioning System receiver. Fifteen visually impaired participants traveled along 50-meter (about 164-foot) paths in each of five conditions that were defined by the type of display interface used. One of the virtual displays—virtual speech—led to the shortest travel times and the highest subjective ratings, despite concerns about the use of headphones.
Overcoming Barriers to Employment: Strategies of Rehabilitation Providers
Authors: Crudden Adele , Sansing William , Butler Stacy
Published: April 2019

Focus groups of rehabilitation providers identified barriers to the employment of persons who are visually impaired and strategies to overcome them. The barriers included negative attitudes of employers and of persons with visual impairments, inadequate transportation, the lack of access to print, and administrative issues. Strategies for overcoming each barrier are discussed.
Play Behaviors and Social Interactions of a Child who is Blind: In Theory and Practice
Authors: Celeste Marie
Published: April 2019

This case study describes the play behaviors and social interactions of a preschool-age girl who is blind and has no additional disabilities. The data obtained from the assessment protocol indicated that although the participant was developmentally at or above age level in most domains, she demonstrated limited play behaviors and compromised social interactions. The results reinforce the variability of social competence skills in young children with visual impairments.
Focus Group Research on the Implications of Adopting the Unified English Braille Code
Authors: Wetzel Robin , Knowlton Marie
Published: April 2019

Five focus groups explored concerns about adopting the Unified English Braille Code. The consensus was that while the proposed changes to the literary braille code would be minor, those to the mathematics braille code would be much more extensive. The participants emphasized that “any code that reduces the number of individuals who can access braille has failed to meet the goal of reading and should not be adopted, regardless of how elegant the code may be.”
The Effects of Visual Experience and Training in Raised-Line Materials on the Mental Spatial Imagery of Blind Persons
Authors: Dulin David , Hatwell Yvette
Published: April 2019

Visual experience improved performances of blind adults in mental rotation and mental representation of the path of a spot. Congenitally blind participants with high expertise in graphic material performed better than two categories of nonexpert participants—those who became blind early in their lives versus those who became blind later in their lives—indicating that graphic expertise may compensate for the lack of visual representations. Implications for teaching are discussed.
Divergent Development of Gross Motor Skills in Children who are Blind or Sighted
Authors: Brambring Michael
Published: April 2019

This empirical study compared the average ages at which four congenitally blind children acquired 29 gross motor skills with age norms for sighted children. The results indicated distinct developmental delays in the acquisition of motor skills and a high degree of variability in developmental delays within and across the six subdomains that were analyzed.
An Investigation of the Motivational Effects of Talking Pedometers among Children with Visual Impairments and Deaf-Blindness
Authors: Lieberman Lauren J. , Stuart Moira E. , Hand Karen , Robinson Barbara
Published: April 2019

This study sought to determine the effects of using a talking pedometer on walking behavior and the value placed on walking by 22 children who are visually impaired or deaf-blind. The results revealed that the children were motivated to set challenging goals for increasing daily activity levels through the feedback provided by the talking pedometers.
Valve mobilization and augmentation in systemic atrioventricular valve plasty
Authors: Iwai Shigemitsu , Yamauchi Sanae , Tominaga Yuji , Kugo Yosuke , Hasegawa Moyu , Kawata Hiroaki
Published: April 2019

Repair of the systemic atrioventricular valve before a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt is challenging. We describe a novel approach to atrioventricular valve repair in an infant who had severe regurgitation associated with right isomerism and a single ventricle. The atrioventricular valve showed downward displacement with tethering. Atrioventricular valve plasty using our valve mobilization technique and pulmonary artery banding were performed at age 3 months. Posterior leaflet augmentation was performed 1 month later for the remaining moderate regurgitation. The severity of regurgitation was reduced to less than mild. After the Glenn and Fontan operations, reintervention was unnecessary.
Turkish Foreign Policy and the Role of the TGNA: Cases of Syria (and Iraq) Motions
Authors: Esentürk N. Nevra
Published: April 2019

The study aims to explore the role of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) in Turkish foreign policy with respect to the cases of the Syria (and Iraq) motions. In the academic literature, there is considerable research arguing that parliaments do not influence parliamentary democracies’ foreign policies. However, the existing literature does not provide examples or case studies that go beyond the limited role of legislatures in the foreign policies of parliamentary democracies. Parliaments, as the primary institutions for representative and participatory democracy, have limited but complementary role(s) in foreign policy, even under the circumstances where it is least likely for the parliaments to have influence on foreign policy affairs. Turkey’s decisions on the Syria (and Iraq) motions illustrate how parliament can play complementary roles in foreign affairs, which is significant in the effective functioning of the foreign policy decision. What are the specific effects of the complementary role of the parliament? What is the position of the political opposition, intraparty dynamics, and public opinion in the parliament’s playing that role? To elaborate on these questions, primary data are gathered from the proceedings of the TGNA during plenary sessions (covering the 24th, 25th, and 26th parliaments) to examine the deliberations and positions of political parties voting on the motions. In addition, the domestic context in the related terms is examined, elaborating on the state of political parties in the TGNA, single party, and intraparty dynamics. The primary data are supported by interviews. The findings of the study give significant insights that go beyond the limited role of parliaments in foreign policy and explore the complementary role of the legislature in foreign policy in terms of parliamentary legitimacy and the parliament as a venue for the opposition.
Toward the Development of Weather-Dependent Microsimulation Models
Authors: Hammit Britton E. , James Rachel , Ahmed Mohamed , Young Rhonda
Published: April 2019

Adverse weather conditions severely affect transportation networks. Decades of research have been dedicated to analyzing these impacts and developing countermeasures to reduce their negative effects on travelers and infrastructure. Recent developments in technology have enabled the introduction of intelligent transportation system applications used for network planning, safety assessments, countermeasure evaluation, and roadway operations. One such application is microsimulation modeling, which is a powerful tool used to emulate traffic flow. Agencies are interested in using microsimulation to forecast the effects on safety and mobility of adverse weather conditions; however, there is limited knowledge on how to calibrate the model to reflect different weather conditions. This paper contributes a methodology for calibrating car-following behavior required for successful development of microsimulation models. This research was completed using SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving Study (NDS) data to capture realistic driving behavior in a variety of weather conditions. This study has two primary objectives. First, calibrate the Wiedemann 1999 car-following model for a subset of NDS trips, cluster trips with similar weather conditions, and identify an optimal parameter set to represent that condition. Second, apply the optimal model parameters in a realistic microsimulation network to assess the predicted traffic flow in each weather condition. Findings support the hypothesis that the calibration of driving models for use in microsimulation results in more realistic estimations of traffic flow. Moreover, this research illustrates that the use of high resolution trajectory-level data can successfully capture weather-dependent driving behaviors.
From Fundamental Research to the Design of a Software Solution to Help Poor Readers
Authors: Ecalle Jean , Vidalenc Jean-Luc , Ballet Carine , Magnan Annie
Published: April 2019

Fundamental research has indicated that (a) difficulties in reading are linked to a deficit in phonemic awareness and word reading and (b) in French, decoding and word reading are based on the syllable as a functional unit. A software program involving two tasks, namely, phonemic discrimination and grapho-syllabic segmentation, was proposed to poor readers aged from 7 to 12 years in order to stimulate their reading skills. Two experiments were set up during which the children were trained for a total of 10 hours. In Experiment 1, conducted at home, we observed meaningful progress in phonemic awareness and decoding after training only in the poorest readers. In Experiment 2, which was conducted at school, we observed significant short- and medium-term effects on phonemic awareness, decoding, and word reading. These encouraging results support the use of evidence-based practices based on tools validated by means of experimental research in ecological situations.
Effect of alumina on the properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)/alumina composites obtained by melt blending
Authors: Arimatéia Rafaela R , Hanken Ruth BL , Oliveira Akidauana DB , Agrawal Pankaj , Freitas Normanda L , Silva Erik S , Ito Edson N , Melo Tomás JA
Published: April 2019

In this work, the properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/alumina composites prepared by melt blending were evaluated. Two types of alumina were used: one, that was synthesized (ALS) by the combustion reaction method, and the other that is commercially available (ALC). Extrusion proved to be a good processing technique for obtaining PMMA/alumina composites. PMMA/alumina composites containing ALC presented higher alumina average particles size. The addition of alumina to PMMA substantially decreased the wear index and increased the scratch resistance. The mechanical properties of the composites containing ALS were similar to those containing ALC. The storage modulus ( E′) increased with the addition of alumina to PMMA. The zero shear viscosity ( η0) values of the composites containing ALC were higher than those of the composites containing ALS.
Natural fiber–reinforced composites: A review on material, manufacturing, and machinability
Authors: Lotfi Amirhossein , Li Huaizhong , Dao Dzung Viet , Prusty Gangadhara
Published: April 2019

Interest in natural fiber–reinforced composites (NFRCs) is increasing rapidly thanks to their numerous advantages such as low cost, biodegradability, eco-friendly nature, relatively good mechanical properties, and a growing emphasis on the environmental and sustainability aspects of engineering materials. However, large-scale use of NFRCs is still considered as challenging due to the difficulties in manufacturing, limited knowledge of its machinability and appropriate parameter settings, and being prone to machining-induced defects. This article presents a comprehensive review on various aspects of NFRCs, with a focus on the manufacturing and machinability. It covers some recent works related to NFRCs, including the manufacturing processes and parameters, characterization of mechanical properties, applications, and machinability and machining process monitoring, many for the first time. The main challenges associated with machining of NFRCs and the induced damages are outlined, with special attention paid to the effect of physical properties of the fibers and manufacturing process on the machinability, along with the essential machining parameters that affect the quality of the machined surface. The research perspectives and the current application status are also discussed. The article is intended to help readers attain a fundamental understanding of key technologies and the state of the arts in this research area.
Effect of guide rail profile errors on the motion accuracy for a heavy-duty hydrostatic turntable
Authors: Zhao Yongsheng , Wu Hongchao , Yang Congbin , Cai Ligang , Liu Zhifeng
Published: April 2019

The motion accuracy of hydrostatic turntable is the key in improving the machining accuracy of heavy-duty machine tool. However, the motion accuracy of hydrostatic turntable depends not only on the offset load but also on the rotating speed of the turntable as well as the profile errors of the guide rails. In this paper, a simulation model is developed to analyze the effect of guide rail profile errors on the motion accuracy of hydrostatic turntable. The reaction forces of preload thrust bearing and hydrostatic circular oil pads are obtained based on the Reynolds equation of the lubricant film. The motion equations of hydrostatic turntable are derived in which the profile errors of two guide rails are considered. The results show that the motion accuracy of hydrostatic turntable can be affected by wavelength, amplitude of profile errors and speed, and offset load of turntable. Finally, the motion accuracy of heavy-duty hydrostatic turntable used in XCKA28105 type turning and milling composite machine tool is obtained by using the presented method. Comparing with the experimental results, the proposed model can be used to predict the machining accuracy caused by the profile errors of guide rails for any heavy-duty hydrostatic turntable.
Simulation-based process analysis for discontinuous cutting of generated bevel gears
Authors: Mazak Julia , Klocke Fritz , Bergs Thomas , Brecher Christian , Löpenhaus Christoph
Published: April 2019

For manufacturing bevel gears, special tool systems consisting of a cutterhead and carbide stick blades are used. Due to the complex relationship between the machine and process kinematics, however, an analytical analysis of the cutting process has been proven to be very difficult. For this reason, a manufacturing simulation based on planar penetration has been developed. In this paper, the algorithm is to be extended to generate processes for the first time. The concluding validation ensures that the simulated values match the actual cutting conditions. The result is a validated extension of the existing manufacturing simulation.