bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlative Study of Vibrational and Luminescence Properties of Zn2GeO4 Microrods
Authors: Dolado Jaime , Hidalgo Pedro , Méndez Bianchi
Published: July 2018

The optical properties of zinc germanate microrods are investigated and correlated with vibrational modes of the crystalline structure. The samples are grown by a thermal evaporation method using ZnO and Ge as precursors. Polarized Raman spectroscopy and polarized micro‐photoluminescence techniques are applied in order to shed some light into the origin of the luminescence in Zn2GeO4. Oxygen defects are usually responsible for light emission in most of semiconducting oxides. Here, the authors report two luminescence bands at room temperature, a broad green one at about 2.4 eV and an ultraviolet one at 3.2 eV, which are of composed nature. In addition, the authors observe changes in the Raman and PL spectra recorded with polarizers oriented parallel or orthogonal to the microrod axis. The evolution of the luminescence bands in Zn2GeO4 and their correlation with the observed Raman modes (O‐Ge‐O and Ge‐O‐Zn vibration modes) are discussed in the framework of oxygen defects in the Zn2GeO4 structure.
Thermal Stability and Oxidation of Group IV Terminated (100) Diamond Surfaces
Authors: Sear Michael J. , Schenk Alex K. , Tadich Anton , Stacey Alastair , Pakes Chris I.
Published: July 2018

High resolution X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used to explore the thermal stability of as‐prepared and oxidized silicon and germanium‐terminated (100) diamond surfaces which form two domain (3 × 1) surface reconstructions. The as‐prepared germanium and silicon‐terminated surfaces are stable up to 1200 °C, making them the most thermally stable surface termination for diamond (100). The oxidized forms of these surfaces can be created via exposure to O2, H2O or atmospheric conditions and retain the (3 × 1) surface symmetry. The thermal stability of the oxidized surfaces exhibit differing behavior. A 700 °C anneal is sufficient to liberate oxygen from the germanium‐oxide‐terminated (100) diamond surface, leaving the pristine germanium‐terminated surface, while the silicon‐oxide‐terminated surface is thermally stable up to 1200 °C, at which point both silicon and oxygen are removed.
Rainfall types over southern West Africa: Objective identification, climatology and synoptic environment
Authors: Maranan Marlon , Fink Andreas H. , Knippertz Peter
Published: July 2018

Southern West Africa (SWA) is characterised by a wide range of rainfall types, the relative importance of which have never been quantified on a regional level. Here, we use 16 years of three‐dimensional reflectivity data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission–Precipitation Radar (TRMM‐PR) to objectively distinguish between seven different rainfall types in three subregions of SWA.

Highly organized Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) events are the dominating rain‐bearing systems in SWA. They tend to occur in highly sheared environments as a result of mid‐level northeasterlies ahead of a cyclonic vortex. Their contribution to annual rainfall decreases from 71% in the Soudanian to 56% in the coastal zone. MCSs in SWA also propagate slower than their Sahelian counterparts and occur predominantly at the start of the first coastal rainy season. However, in terms of numbers, about 90% of rainfall systems are weakly organized classes, particularly small‐sized, highly reflective and moderately deep (40 dBZ at altitude <10 km) systems. Contrary to MCSs, less organized convection typically occurs during and after the passage of a cyclonic vortex within a regime of deep westerly anomalies, low wind shear and low to moderate CAPE (convective available potential energy), bearing some resemblance to what has been termed “monsoon” or “vortex rainfall”. Combining TRMM‐PR rainfall system identification with infrared‐based cloud tracking reveals that organized convection over SWA typically lasts for more than >9 h, whereas less intense rainfall types tend to be short‐lived, diurnal phenomena.

This novel approach stresses the relevance of mid‐level (wave) disturbances on the type and lifetime of convective systems and thereby their regionally, seasonally and diurnally varying contribution to rainfall amount. The present study suggests further investigations into the character of the disturbances as well as possible implications for operational forecasting and the understanding of rainfall variability in SWA.
Information‐driven robotic sampling in the coastal ocean
Authors: Fossum Trygve Olav , Eidsvik Jo , Ellingsen Ingrid , Alver Morten Omholt , Fragoso Glaucia Moreira , Johnsen Geir , Mendes Renato , Ludvigsen Martin , Rajan Kanna
Published: July 2018

Efficient sampling of coastal ocean processes, especially mechanisms such as upwelling and internal waves and their influence on primary production, is critical for understanding our changing oceans. Coupling robotic sampling with ocean models provides an effective approach to adaptively sample such features. We present methods that capitalize on information from ocean models and in situ measurements, using Gaussian process modeling and objective functions, allowing sampling efforts to be concentrated to regions with high scientific interest. We demonstrate how to combine and correlate marine data from autonomous underwater vehicles, model forecasts, remote sensing satellite, buoy, and ship‐based measurements, as a means to cross‐validate and improve ocean model accuracy, in addition to resolving upper water‐column interactions. Our work is focused on the west coast of Mid‐Norway where significant influx of Atlantic Water produces a rich and complex physical–biological coupling, which is hard to measure and characterize due to the harsh environmental conditions. Results from both simulation and full‐scale sea trials are presented.
Adaptive regularization for Lasso models in the context of nonstationary data streams
Authors: Monti Ricardo P. , Anagnostopoulos Christoforos , Montana Giovanni
Published: July 2018

Large‐scale, streaming data sets are ubiquitous in modern machine learning. Streaming algorithms must be scalable, amenable to incremental training, and robust to the presence of nonstationarity. In this work we consider the problem of learningℓ1regularized linear models in the context of streaming data. In particular, the focus of this work revolves around how to select the regularization parameter when data arrives sequentially and the underlying distribution is nonstationary (implying the choice of optimal regularization parameter is itself time‐varying). We propose a framework through which to infer an adaptive regularization parameter. Our approach employs anℓ1penalty constraint where the corresponding sparsity parameter is iteratively updated via stochastic gradient descent. This serves to reformulate the choice of regularization parameter in a principled framework for online learning. The proposed method is derived for linear regression and subsequently extended to generalized linear models. We validate our approach using simulated and real data sets, concluding with an application to a neuroimaging data set.
Lasting community wellbeing: Comparison of Lisbon and Tokyo
Authors: Kumagai Yoichi , Partidario Maria
Published: July 2018

This paper introduces the concept of lasting community wellbeing (LCW), through the lens of five sustainability‐related features at the neighborhood scale in larger city‐regions. The LCW features are vicinity, sense of place, urban and suburban farming, safety and learning, which emphasize continuity of individual and collective satisfaction of local daily lives based on hedonic and eudaimonic outcomes. This exploratory study creates a framework of LCW and investigates whether the five features are useful as an LCW framework in the comparison between Lisbon and Tokyo in identifying similarities and differences. Applying the framework to the comparative case studies shows that the five features are relevant and strategic for analyzing sustainability of daily lives at the neighborhood scale, while accommodating multiple cultural differences.
Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Binding Studies of Flufenamic‐ Acid‐Based Metal Complexes
Authors: Kumar Vineet , Tewari Shailabh , Balendra  , Karmakar Sandip , Ramanan Arunachalam
Published: July 2018

Synthesis and structural characterization of four new coordination solids of flufenamic acid (ffa), a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug molecule with biologically significant cobalt and zinc along with an auxiliary N‐donor ligand (4ap or 2ap) are reported: Co3(ffa)6(4ap)2 1, Zn3(ffa)6(4ap)2 2, Co3(ffa)6(2ap)2 3 and Zn3(ffa)6(2ap)2 4. All the four compounds are molecular solids built of analogous linear, trinuclear metal carboxylates. Crystal packing of all the solids were dominated by weak interactions viz. C−F⋅⋅⋅H−C, C−F⋅⋅⋅F−C and C−H⋅⋅⋅H−C; however the positioning of the amino group in the auxiliary ligand led to a different crystal packing in the two pairs of solids containing the same aminopyridine. Two of the four coordination complexes showed higher binding affinity with bovine serum albumin protein in comparison to free ffa.
A systematic literature review of how mutation testing supports quality assurance processes
Authors: Zhu Qianqian , Panichella Annibale , Zaidman Andy
Published: July 2018

Mutation testing has been very actively investigated by researchers since the 1970s, and remarkable advances have been achieved in its concepts, theory, technology, and empirical evidence. While the most influential realisations have been summarised by existing literature reviews, we lack insight into how mutation testing is actually applied. Our goal is to identify and classify the main applications of mutation testing and analyse the level of replicability of empirical studies related to mutation testing. To this aim, this paper provides a systematic literature review on the application perspective of mutation testing based on a collection of 191 papers published between 1981 and 2015. In particular, we analysed in which quality assurance processes mutation testing is used, which mutation tools and which mutation operators are employed. Additionally, we also investigated how the inherent core problems of mutation testing, ie, the equivalent mutant problem and the high computational cost, are addressed during the actual usage. The results show that most studies use mutation testing as an assessment tool targeting unit tests, and many of the supporting techniques for making mutation testing applicable in practice are still underdeveloped. Based on our observations, we made 9 recommendations for future work, including an important suggestion on how to report mutation testing in testing experiments in an appropriate manner.
Habitat‐Specific Reproductive Potential of Red Snapper: A Comparison of Artificial and Natural Reefs in the Western Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Downey Charles H. , Streich Matthew K. , Brewton Rachel A. , Ajemian Matthew J. , Wetz Jennifer J. , Stunz Gregory W.
Published: July 2018

Energy exploration in the Gulf of Mexico (hereafter, Gulf) has resulted in the addition of numerous oil and gas production platforms that create structurally complex habitat in an area otherwise dominated by barren mud/sand bottom. How these artificial structures affect fish populations is largely unknown, and there is ongoing debate regarding their value as surrogate habitats for ecologically and economically important reef fish species. Thus, the purpose of this study was to characterize trends in Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus reproductive potential in the western Gulf at oil and gas platform reefs relative to reproductive potential at natural banks. Red Snapper (n = 1,585) were collected during 2013–2015 from standing platforms, decommissioned platform artificial reefs, and natural banks by using standardized vertical line gear. Comparisons of gonadosomatic index, male : female ratios, batch fecundity, annual fecundity, spawning frequency, and number of spawning‐capable individuals indicated that Red Snapper reproductive biology was similar among natural bank, standing platform, and artificial reef habitats. These results suggest that in terms of reproductive output, fish inhabiting artificial reefs are functionally similar to similar‐aged fish on natural banks. This work can be used to make informed management decisions and suggests that there are benefits to converting decommissioned platforms into designated artificial reefs. Future studies should consider site‐specific characteristics, such as depth, vertical relief, and proximity to other structures, to elucidate how habitat characteristics may influence reproduction, ultimately improving future artificial reef deployments for fisheries enhancement in the western Gulf.
The study of low‐harmonic concentric rotor wound brushless doubly fed machine
Authors: Kan Chaohao , Ren Taian , Hu Yang , Wu Hongbin
Published: July 2018

To overcome the weakness of the wound‐rotor brushless doubly fed machine (BDFM), including the reduction of the harmonic content and improving the utilization of conductor, a low‐harmonic concentric wound‐rotor BDFM is proposed in this paper. First, the design principle and method of winding are illustrated, and the distribution coefficient calculation method that is suitable for all kinds of winding is derived. Next, the calculation of the harmonic magnetomotive force (MMF) is described in detail with a design example. Then a prototype based on the example is fabricated for the experiment. In addition, the selection of the power winding (PW) and control winding (CW) for the stator is illustrated, and the harmonic content characteristics of the rotor winding is analyzed by experiment. The validity of proposed rotor winding structure design is verified by both finite element modeling and prototype experiment. Simulation and experimental results show that the design of proposed rotor winding structure for BDFM has excellent performance. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Quadratic‐wavelet‐transform‐based fault detection approach for temperature sensor
Authors: Han Xiaojia , Xu Aidong , Wang Kai , Guo Haifeng , Zhang Ning , Liu Yang , Hong Seung Ho
Published: July 2018

Addressing the problem of online fault detection of a temperature sensor, a fault detection algorithm based on quadratic wavelet transform is proposed in this paper. First, the discrete wavelet transform is used to extract noise from the process signal; since the process noise signal is related to the internal structure and status of the sensor, a Butterworth low‐pass filter is used to filter out the high‐frequency electrical interference signal to obtain the process noise signal. Second, the continuous wavelet transform is used to detect abrupt fault from the process noise signal. Experimental results show that the noise‐analysis‐based fault detection algorithm (quadratic wavelet transform) is better than the process‐signal‐analysis‐based approach and that the quadratic wavelet transform is feasible for thermowell drop fault detection of the temperature sensor. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
LES over RANS in building simulation for outdoor and indoor applications: A foregone conclusion?
Authors: Blocken Bert
Published: July 2018

Large Eddy Simulation (LES) undeniably has the potential to provide more accurate and more reliable results than simulations based on the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach. However, LES entails a higher simulation complexity and a much higher computational cost. In spite of some claims made in the past decades that LES would render RANS obsolete, RANS remains widely used in both research and engineering practice. This paper attempts to answer the questions why this is the case and whether this is justified, from the viewpoint of building simulation, both for outdoor and indoor applications. First, the governing equations and a brief overview of the history of LES and RANS are presented. Next, relevant highlights from some previous position papers on LES versus RANS are provided. Given their importance, the availability or unavailability of best practice guidelines is outlined. Subsequently, why RANS is still frequently used and whether this is justified or not is illustrated by examples for five application areas in building simulation: pedestrian-level wind comfort, near-field pollutant dispersion, urban thermal environment, natural ventilation of buildings and indoor airflow. It is shown that the answers vary depending on the application area but also depending on other—less obvious—parameters such as the building configuration under study. Finally, a discussion and conclusions including perspectives on the future of LES and RANS in building simulation are provided.
Gravity field, surface topography, and volcanic complexes of Kamchatka and its junction with the Aleutian arc
Authors: Dobretsov N.L. , Vasilevskiy A.N.
Published: July 2018

The paper deals with interpretation of global digital maps of gravity anomalies and surface topography for the northwestern Pacific and Kamchatka regions. A transformation procedure is suggested to reveal subtle features of surface topography against high elevation contrasts. Gravity data (free-air and Bouguer anomalies) have important implications for the evolution of the circum-Pacific region and the problems of volcanism and geodynamics in subduction zones. The patterns of gravity anomalies and transformed topography interpreted jointly with onshore and offshore geological data can make a basis for tectonic paleoreconstructions of upper crust and lithospheric mantle structures.
Application of electrical prospecting methods to petroleum exploration on the northern margin of the Siberian Platform
Authors: Afanasenkov A.P. , Yakovlev D.V.
Published: July 2018

This paper considers the potential of modern electrical prospecting methods for evaluating oil and gas occurrence on the northern margin of the Siberian Platform—a vast region from the Gydan Peninsula to the mouth of the Lena River. Results of regional electrical surveyes over the past 12 years in this region are generalized. The capabilities of electrical prospecting for solving the following four problems are defined: survey, in conjunction with seismics and drilling, in the Jurassic–Cretaceous part of the section; study of the structure of the Paleozoic sequence; study of the junction zones of large geoblocks and deep structure of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle; and study of the permafrost. © 2018, V.S. Sobolev IGM, Siberian Branch of the RAS. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The Bazhenov Horizon of West Siberia: structure, correlation, and thickness
Authors: Ryzhkova S.V. , Burshtein L.M. , Ershov S.V. , Kazanenkov V.A. , Kontorovich A.E. , Kontorovich V.A. , Nekhaev A.Yu. , Nikitenko B.L. , Fomin M.A. , Shurygin B.N. , Beizel A.L. , Borisov E.V. , Zolotova O.V. , Kalinina L.M. , Ponomareva E.V.
Published: July 2018

The type sections of the Bazhenov Horizon and formations recognized within this horizon have been identified based on a comprehensive analysis of paleontological, lithological, geophysical (well-log and CDP seismic data), and geochemical data on the West Siberian Basin. The Bazhenov Horizon was traced throughout the entire West Siberian sedimentary basin. The criteria for the recognition of the top and base of this horizon within the stratigraphic equivalents of the Bazhenov Formation were suggested. The proposed facies-stratigraphic zonation of the Bazhenov Horizon reflects the spatial location of all formations identified within this horizon. As seen on the newly proposed thickness map, the Bazhenov Horizon reaches a thickness of 15–25 m within the Bazhenov and Tutleim Formations, 30–35 m within the Mulym’ya Formation, 30–45 m within the Danilov Formation, 40–65 m within the Mar’yanovka Formation, up to 100 m within the Golchikha Formation, > 350 m within the Yanovstan Formation, up to 35 m within the Bagan Formation, and 35–40 m within the Maksimkin Yar Formation. A marginal filter (according to A.P. Lisitzin) has been identified along the East Siberian land.
Experimental platform for the investigation of magnetized-reverse-shock dynamics in the context of POLAR
Authors: Albertazzi B. , Falize E. , Pelka A. , Brack F. , Kroll F. , Yurchak R. , Brambrink E. , Mabey P. , Ozaki N. , Pikuz S. , Van Box Som L. , Bonnet-Bidaud J. M. , Cross J. E. , Filippov E. , Gregori G. , Kodama R. , Mouchet M. , Morita T. , Sakawa Y. , Drake R. P. , Kuranz C. C. , Manuel M. J.-E. , Li C. , Tzeferacos P. , Lamb D. , Schramm U. , Koenig M.
Published: July 2018

The influence of a strong external magnetic field on the collimation of a high Mach number plasma flow and its collision with a solid obstacle is investigated experimentally and numerically. The laser irradiation ($I\sim 2\times 10^{14}~\text{W}\cdot \text{cm}^{-2}$) of a multilayer target generates a shock wave that produces a rear side plasma expanding flow. Immersed in a homogeneous 10 T external magnetic field, this plasma flow propagates in vacuum and impacts an obstacle located a few mm from the main target. A reverse shock is then formed with typical velocities of the order of 15–20 $\pm$ 5 km/s. The experimental results are compared with 2D radiative magnetohydrodynamic simulations using the FLASH code. This platform allows investigating the dynamics of reverse shock, mimicking the processes occurring in a cataclysmic variable of polar type.
INTERTWINING SEMISIMPLE CHARACTERS FOR -ADIC CLASSICAL GROUPS
Authors: SKODLERACK DANIEL , STEVENS SHAUN
Published: July 2018

Let $G$be an orthogonal, symplectic or unitary group over a non-archimedean local field of odd residual characteristic. This paper concerns the study of the “wild part” of an irreducible smooth representation of $G$, encoded in its “semisimple character”. We prove two fundamental results concerning them, which are crucial steps toward a complete classification of the cuspidal representations of $G$. First we introduce a geometric combinatorial condition under which we prove an “intertwining implies conjugacy” theorem for semisimple characters, both in $G$and in the ambient general linear group. Second, we prove a Skolem–Noether theorem for the action of $G$on its Lie algebra; more precisely, two semisimple elements of the Lie algebra of $G$which have the same characteristic polynomial must be conjugate under an element of $G$if there are corresponding semisimple strata which are intertwined by an element of $G$.
The Logic of Authoritarian Political Selection: Evidence from a Conjoint Experiment in China
Authors: Liu Hanzhang
Published: July 2018

Political selection is important to authoritarian regime survival. Although selection outcomes are often observed, it is difficult to decipher elites’ logic of decision-making due to their multidimensional preference and the opaque process. Employing a conjoint experiment conducted among over 300 government officials in China, this paper unpacks multidimensional elite preference in entry-level political selection. It finds that while elites comply with institutional norms by selecting candidates based on competence and loyalty, they also take into account personal preference by favoring those with political connections. Kinship ties to government increase a candidate’s chance by over 20 percentage points, even though the candidate is not deemed more competent or loyal. These findings demonstrate that authoritarian elites do not always follow the logic of regime survival; there exists an agency problem in political selection that could undermine the effectiveness of the ruling class over time.
Nations et Nations Fragiles
Authors: Guénette Par Dave , Mathieu Félix
Published: July 2018

Les nations minoritaires dans les États multinationaux évoluent dans un contexte parfois incertain et inhospitalier de leur particularité sociétale, politique et culturelle. Si leur situation minoritaire n'est en rien un frein à leur existence comme nation, elle peut néanmoins s'accompagner d'un certain sentiment de fragilité nationale et même d'une peur de disparaître. Ces nations minoritaires, quand l’État auquel elles appartiennent refuse de reconnaître leur particularisme et de leur permettre de le défendre, peuvent alors rapidement devenir des nations fragiles. Il est l'objet du présent article de définir et de préciser le concept de nation fragile, à l'aide d'une discussion théorique, conceptuelle et normative.
Bonebridge transcutaneous bone conduction implant in children with congenital aural atresia: surgical and audiological outcomes
Authors: Ngui L X , Tang I P
Published: July 2018

Objectives

To investigate the surgical and audiological outcomes of the Bonebridge transcutaneous bone conduction hearing implant among children with congenital aural atresia.

Methods

Six children were recruited and underwent Bonebridge transcutaneous bone conduction implant surgery. The patients’ audiometric thresholds for air conduction, bone conduction and sound-field tests were assessed pre-operatively and at six months post-operatively. Patients’ satisfaction was assessed at six months post-operatively with the Hearing Device Satisfaction Scale.

Results

No major complications were reported. Mean aided sound-field thresholds improved post-operatively by more than 30 dB for 0.5–4 kHz (p < 0.05). Mean unaided air conduction and bone conduction thresholds differed by less than 5 dB post-operatively (compared to pre-operatively) for 0.5–4 kHz; these findings were not significant (p > 0.05). All patients were satisfied (scores were over 90 per cent) with the implant in terms of functional outcome and cosmetic appearance.

Conclusion

Bonebridge transcutaneous bone conduction implant surgery is safe and effective among children with congenital aural atresia with conductive hearing loss.
Religious Others, Tourism, and Missionization: Buddhist ‘Monk Chats’ in Northern Thailand
Authors: SCHEDNECK BROOKE
Published: July 2018

Conjunctures of globalization and education have shaped the intersection of Buddhist monasticism and international tourism in the Northern Thai city, Chiang Mai. International tourism in Chiang Mai has been popular since the 1990s, while monks from all over Thailand and South and Southeast Asia have come to Chiang Mai in large numbers to pursue higher education in English since the 2000s. Focusing on Buddhist temples that contain a Monk Chat programme, where tourists and monks engage in conversation, this article analyses the responses of Buddhist monks towards a range of international tourists. Utilizing the perspectives of Buddhist monks through interviews reveals attitudes towards Western and Asian tourists as situated within broader discourses of Thai society. Investigating these attitudes and responses within the context of wider state, regional, and transnational influences, I argue that attitudes towards religious others are inextricably connected to missionization.
Hip Hop headz in sex ed: Gender, agency, and styling in New Zealand
Authors: King Brian W.
Published: July 2018

This study examines Hip Hop styling, gender, and sexual agency in a sex education class. The focus is on the indirect indexing of gender by a female-bodied student through the Hip Hop cultural personas of braggadocio and swagger, providing a rare look at ‘mundane’ performances of Hip Hop and its relationship to gender. Discourse analysis demonstrates that she used Hip Hop styling to manage ascriptions of sexual agency during a discussion task as she repeatedly recontextualized the telling of a classroom incident. Her language use afforded the trying out of identity meanings and required complex discursive work in relation to constructs such as masculinity, femininity, straight, and lesbian. These processes assisted her to negotiate how sexual agency might fit with her various identifications and identities. Therefore the potential for Hip Hop styling to connect identities with language has implications for both sexuality education and the study of sociolinguistics. (Agency, gender, Hip Hop, performativity, sexuality, social identities, styling)*
Cognitive enhancement for the ageing world: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Ienca Marcello , Shaw David Martin , Elger Bernice
Published: July 2018

Population ageing and the global burden of dementia pose a major challenge for human societies and a priority for public health. Cognitive enhancement,i.e.the targeted amplification of core cognitive abilities, is raising increasing attention among researchers as an effective strategy to complement traditional therapeutic and assistive approaches, and reduce the impact of age-related cognitive disability. In this paper, we discuss the possible applicability of cognitive enhancement for public health purposes to mitigate the burden of population ageing and dementia. After discussing the promises and challenges associated with enhancing ageing citizens and people with cognitive disabilities, we argue that global societies have a moral obligation to consider the careful use of cognitive enhancement technologies as a possible strategy to improve individual and public health. In addition, we address a few primary normative issues and possible objections that could arise from the implementation of public health-oriented cognitive enhancement technologies.
Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) sequencing and developmental delay: Preliminary evidence for a SNP in the 3’ UTR region of the POMC gene—Possible relevance for biological risk and self-injurious behavior
Authors: Damerow John A. , Tervo Raymond C. , Ehrhardt Michael , Panoskaltsis-Mortari Angela , Symons Frank J.
Published: July 2018

The proopiomelanocortin (POMC) molecule has been implicated in models of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in neurodevelopmental disorders, but it has never been specifically sequenced in search of base specific polymorphisms. The empirical focus of this preliminary study was to sequence thePOMCgene in 11 children (mean age = 41.8 months, range = 12–60 months; 73% male) with clinical concerns regarding global developmental delay, 5 with reported self-injury. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples, and thePOMCgene was amplified by specific oligonucleotide primers via polymerase chain reaction. The amplified gene products were sequenced by the University of Minnesota Genomic Center, and the results were analyzed using Sequencher software. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), 1130 C>T, was found in the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of two samples (one of whom had SIB). The program TargetScanHuman was used to predict the function of this mutation. Variant c.1130 C<T was predicted to be located in the target site of two microRNAs (miRNAs; hsa-mir-3715 and hsa-mir-1909), and the variant allele T may result in an increased minimum free energy for the two miRNAs. Further work with much larger samples is needed to continue the investigation ofPOMC’s possible function as a risk factor for the development of SIB in children with developmental delay/disability. The findings presented in this study show that the SNP found in the 3’ UTR could alter the binding of miRNAs toPOMC3'UTR, thus, increasingPOMCexpression and affecting several biological systems with high relevance to the biology of self-injury. There was a significant difference in β-endorphin levels between SIB (M= 169.25 pg/mL) and no SIB (M= 273.5 pg/mL,SD= 15.2) cases (p< .01). Intervention implications are tied to prior observations of individual differences among SIB responders and nonresponders to treatment with the opioid antagonist naltrexone. Stratifying individuals with SIB byPOMCmutation status may provide a potential tailoring-like variable to guide the selection of who is more (or less) likely to respond to opiate antagonist treatment. Currently, opioid antagonistic treatment for SIB is empiric (trial and error).
Turán Number of an Induced Complete Bipartite Graph Plus an Odd Cycle
Authors: ERGEMLIDZE BEKA , GYŐRI ERVIN , METHUKU ABHISHEK
Published: July 2018

Let k ⩾ 2 be an integer. We show that if s = 2 and t ⩾ 2, or s = t = 3, then the maximum possible number of edges in a C2k+1-free graph containing no induced copy of Ks,t is asymptotically equal to (t − s + 1)1/s(n/2)2−1/s except when k = s = t = 2.

This strengthens a result of Allen, Keevash, Sudakov and Verstraëte [1], and answers a question of Loh, Tait, Timmons and Zhou [14].
Tilings in Randomly Perturbed Dense Graphs
Authors: BALOGH JÓZSEF , TREGLOWN ANDREW , WAGNER ADAM ZSOLT
Published: July 2018

A perfect H-tiling in a graph G is a collection of vertex-disjoint copies of a graph H in G that together cover all the vertices in G. In this paper we investigate perfect H-tilings in a random graph model introduced by Bohman, Frieze and Martin [6] in which one starts with a dense graph and then adds m random edges to it. Specifically, for any fixed graph H, we determine the number of random edges required to add to an arbitrary graph of linear minimum degree in order to ensure the resulting graph contains a perfect H-tiling with high probability. Our proof utilizes Szemerédi's Regularity Lemma [29] as well as a special case of a result of Komlós [18] concerning almost perfect H-tilings in dense graphs.
The Spectres Haunting Europe: Reading Contemporary Catalan Nationalism throughThe Break-Up of Britain
Authors: White Jerry
Published: July 2018

This article reads contemporary Catalan nationalist discourse through the lens of Tom Nairn’s polemical classicThe Break-Up of Britain. First published in 1977, that text presents key issues for understanding contemporary Catalonia. The first is the emergence of a national sentiment that is separate from that of anti-colonialism because it is characterized by a higher level of economic development than the place it is seeking to break from, but is the repository of a legitimate claim to self-determination. That is how Nairn sees the Northern Ireland–Éire relationship, and that is a good analogy for Spain–Catalonia. The second is the tension between what he sees as ‘indifferent’, that is to say strictly civic-political nationalism and a more linguistically or culturally-driven nationalism. This is also a key tension in Catalonia, where immigration has transformed the national movement towards an interculturalist ideology and ade factobilingualism (with Catalan and Spanish) remains a key but strategically unacknowledged element of that movement. The third aspect ofBreak-Up, and the synthesis of the comparison, is the importance of federalism, which is key for Nairn in seeing a way forward for the constituent countries of the UK and long a crucial, if notthecrucial, political element ofcatalanisme.
Young people, precarious work, and the development of youth employment policies in Japan
Authors: Song Jiyeoun
Published: July 2018

Japan's labor market has been under severe strain over the past few decades, driven by its protracted economic recession, a series of labor market reforms, and changing labor management practices. Confronting these new challenges, an increasing number of young people have had extreme difficulties in searching for decent and stable jobs in the labor market, trapped in the vicious cycle of precarious employment. This paper examines the deterioration of employment and labor market conditions for Japan's youth after the collapse of the asset bubble in the early 1990s and the government's policy efforts to address these concerns, especially since the early 2000s, a period during which it has initiated a wide array of youth employment and labor market policies. In particular, it analyzes variations in policy target group and goal across different measures and evaluates the effectiveness and limitations of these programs in dealing with youth problems in the labor market. This paper argues that while the government has promoted various policy tools to help young people become economically and socially independent individuals, it has gradually shifted its policy focus toward human capital development for growth and industrial competitiveness as a way of revitalizing Japan's troubling economy.
Reconstructing hierarchy as the key international relations concept and its implications for the study of Japanese national identity
Authors: Kolmaš Michal
Published: July 2018

For the last few decades, the discipline of international relations has been littered with anarchy. Since Waltz'sTheory of International Politics, it has been assumed that states are formally equal sovereign unitary actors operating in an anarchic world system and that their identities and interests are defined by the very existence of anarchy. This article shatters this conception. It offers a ‘hierarchical worldview’ in order to illustrate that the very concepts of state, sovereignty, and anarchy are discursive creations inherently tied to the practice of hierarchy. I use a case study of Japanese national identity to illustrate this practice. The narratives of Japan as an autonomous and sovereign state were inextricably linked to Japan's hierarchical relationship toward Asia and the West (pre-war) and the USA (post-war). Japan's sovereignty and autonomy were then formulated within the practice of hierarchy.
On the low detection efficiency of disk water megamasers in Seyfert 2 AGN
Authors: Masini Alberto , Comastri Andrea
Published: July 2018

Disk megamasers are a unique tool to study active galactic nuclei (AGN) sub-pc environment, and precisely measure some of their fundamental parameters. While the majority of disk megamasers are hosted in heavily obscured (i.e., Seyfert 2, Sy2) AGN, the converse is not true, and disk megamasers are very rarely found even in obscured AGN. The very low detection rate of such systems in Sy2 AGN could be due to the geometry of the maser beaming, which requires a strict edge-on condition. We explore some other fundamental factors which could play a role in a volume-limited survey of disk megamasers in Sy2 galaxies, most importantly the radio luminosity.
Astrometric VLBI Observations of the Galactic LPVs, Miras, and OH/IR stars
Authors: Nakagawa Akiharu , Kurayama Tomoharu , Orosz Gabor , Burns Ross A. , Oyama Tomoaki , Nagayama Takumi , Miyata Takashi , Sekido Mamoru , Baba Junichi , Wada Kiichi
Published: July 2018

Studies of Galactic LPVs based on astrometric VLBI are presented. We use a VLBI array, “VERA”, to measure parallaxes and calibrate the K-band period luminosity relation (PLR) of the Galactic Miras. Since the PLR offers a distance indicator, its calibration is crucial to reveal their spatial distribution. Parallaxes of dozens of LPVs are presented. For the longer period stars, the mass-loss is high and the stars are obscured and recognized as OH/IR stars. We estimated mid-infrared absolute magnitudes of dozens of OH/IR stars and found that they show a loose concentration around −14 mag at λ of 11.6 μm, indicating an existence of PLR for OH/IR stars. Astrometry of OH/IR stars will also help us to study non-steady spiral arms as proposed from the latest simulation study of the galactic dynamics. We will start astrometric VLBI observation of two OH/IR stars NSV25875 and OH127.8+0.0 at 43 GHz with VERA.
Water masers as signposts of extremely young planetary nebulae
Authors: Gómez José F. , Miranda Luis F. , Uscanga Lucero , Suárez Olga
Published: July 2018

Only five planetary nebulae (PNe) have been confirmed to emit water masers. They seem to be very young PNe. The water emission in these objects preferentially traces circumstellar toroids, although in K 3-35 and IRAS 15103-5754, it may also trace collimated jets. We present water maser observations of these two sources at different epochs. The water maser distribution changes on timescales of months to a few years. We speculate that these changes may be due to the variation of the underlying radio continuum emission, which is amplified by the maser process in the foreground material.
Towards continuous viewing of circumstellar maser sources over decades
Authors: Imai Hiroshi
Published: July 2018

The brightness of maser features are fascinating and give valuable insight for circumstellar physics of oxygen-rich, intermediate-mass stars, in particular the final evolution of circumstellar envelopes (CSEs). The variety of accompanying masers such as SiO, H2O, and OH in the CSEs may provide unique probes into different stages of rapid CSE evolution. However, with only sparse monitoring of these masers one can sometimes find it difficult to accurately interpret their spatio-kinematics, origins and excitation mechanisms. Examples can be seen in the variety of proposed models for water masers associated with “water fountains” and for silicon-monoxide masers. In order to better understand these issues, one needs to consider continuous monitoring of the individual maser gas clumps over a few stellar cycles or episodic ejection events. Here I present our previous long-term monitoring observations, especially for the water fountain source W43A. Our current efforts involve programs of intensive monitoring observations of circumstellar maser sources over decadal time periods. These programs with the East Asia VLBI Network observe H2O and SiO maser lines simultaneously mapped at high cadence (2–8 weeks) with VLBI observations.
Distances of Stars by mean of the Phase-lag Method
Authors: Etoka Sandra , Engels Dieter , Gérard Eric , Richards Anita M. S.
Published: July 2018

Variable OH/IR stars are Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars with an optically thick circumstellar envelope that emit strong OH 1612 MHz emission. They are commonly observed throughout the Galaxy but also in the LMC and SMC. Hence, the precise inference of the distances of these stars will ultimately result in better constraints on their mass range in different metallicity environments. Through a multi-year long-term monitoring program at the Nancay Radio telescope (NRT) and a complementary high-sensitivity mapping campaign at the eMERLIN and JVLA to measure precisely the angular diameter of the envelopes, we have been re-exploring distance determination through the phase-lag method for a sample of stars, in order to refine the poorly-constrained distances of some and infer the currently unknown distances of others. We present here an update of this project.
Masers! What can VLBI do for you?
Authors: Colomer Francisco , van Langevelde Huib
Published: July 2018

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) is providing key information to the study of maser processes in the Universe, from star formation regions or circumstellar envelopes around evolved stars, to Galactic structure and cosmology, through precise astrometry. VLBI networks offer various capabilities and, most importantly, support to users, to ensure that these infrastructures are fully accesible and that the best science can emerge. In this paper we describe the advances in VLBI that enable exciting maser studies.
Isotopic SiO Maser Emission from the BAaDE Survey
Authors: Claussen M. J , Morris M. R. , Pihlström Y. M. , Sjouwerman L. O. ,   the BAaDE Team
Published: July 2018

The Bulge Asymmetries and Dynamical Evolution (BAaDE) project aims to map the positions and velocities of up to ~20,000 late-type stars with SiO maser emission along the full Galactic plane, with a large concentration in the Galactic Bulge and inner Galaxy. Both J = 1 → 0 and J = 2 → 1 transitions using the Very Large Array (VLA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) are being observed. In the VLA observing setup, in addition to the 28SiO, v = 1 and v = 2J = 1 → 0 maser transitions, the bandwidth was wide enough to include the J = 1 → 0 transitions of the rare isotopologues of the SiO molecule in both the ground and vibrationally excited states: 29SiO, v = 0, 30SiO, v = 0, 29SiO, v = 1, and 29SiO, v = 2. Approximately 10% of the initial ~3500 targets of the project show maser emission from at least one of these lines. Some of these stars (with isotopic maser emission) show high radial velocities which implies that they are indeed in the Galactic Bulge or inner Galaxy (i.e. not foreground objects). We present line profiles, refined detection statistics, and the implications of the detection of the isotopic maser emission on pumping schemes that have been previously presented.
Methanol Masers in the Andromeda Galaxy
Authors: Pihlström Ylva M. , Sjouwerman Loránt O.
Published: July 2018

Is M31 going to collide with the Milky Way, or spiral around it? Determining the gravitational potential in the Local Group has been a challenge since it requires 3D space velocities and orbits of the members, and most objects have only had line-of-sight velocities measured. Compared to the less massive group members, the transverse velocity of M31 is of great interest, as after the Milky Way, M31 is the most dominant constituent and dynamic force in the Local Group. Proper motion studies of M31 are preferentially done using masers, as continuum sources are much weaker, and are enabled through the high angular resolution provided by VLBI in the radio regime. The challenges of achieving high astrometric accuracy at high VLBI frequencies (> 20 GHz) makes observations at lower frequencies attractive, as long as sufficient angular resolution is obtained. In particular, we have discovered 6.7 GHz methanol masers in M31 using the VLA, and here we will address their feasibility as VLBI proper motion targets using a set of global VLBI observations.
The extraordinary outburst in NGC6334I-MM1: dimming of the hypercompact HII region and destruction of water masers
Authors: Brogan Crystal L. , Hunter Todd R. , MacLeod Gordon , Chibueze James O. , Cyganowski Claudia J.
Published: July 2018

We present subarcsecond resolution pre- and post-outburst JVLA continuum and water maser observations of the massive protostellar outburst source NGC6334I-MM1. The continuum data at 5 and 1.4 cm reveal that the free-free emission powered by MM1B, modeled as a hypercompact HII region from our 2011 JVLA data, has dropped by a factor of 5.4. Additionally, the water maser emission toward MM1, which had previously been strong (500 Jy) has dramatically reduced. In contrast, the water masers in other locations in the protocluster have flared, with the strongest spots associated with CM2, a non-thermal radio source that appears to mark a shock in a jet emanating 2″ (2600 au) northward from MM1. The observed quenching of the HCHII region suggests a reduction in uv photon production due to bloating of the protostar in response to the episodic accretion event.
Perspectives on Galactic Structure
Authors: Gerhard Ortwin
Published: July 2018

The Milky Way is currently the subject of great observational effort. This includes both ESA's unique Gaia mission, as well as a multitude of ground-based surveys. Several of these are already returning data of unprecedented depth and quality for large numbers of Milky Way stars. These new data are likely to lead to a quantum step in our understanding of Milky Way structure and evolution. Because the new data will allow us to study our Galaxy at much greater resolution than possible in other galaxies, we also expect to greatly improve our understanding of disk galaxy formation in general.
MultiView High Precision VLBI Astrometry at Low Frequencies
Authors: Rioja M. , Dodson R. , Orosz G. , Imai H.
Published: July 2018

Observations at low frequencies (<8GHz) are dominated by distinct direction dependent ionospheric propagation errors, which place a very tight limit on the angular separation of a suitable phase referencing calibrator and astrometry. To increase the capability for high precision astrometric measurements an effective calibration strategy of the systematic ionospheric propagation effects that is widely applicable is required. The MultiView technique holds the key to the compensation of atmospheric spatial-structure errors, by using observations of multiple calibrators and two dimensional interpolation. In this paper we present the first demonstration of the power of MultiView using three calibrators, several degrees from the target, along with a comparative study of the astrometric accuracy between MultiView and phase-referencing techniques. MultiView calibration provides an order of magnitude improvement in astrometry with respect to conventional phase referencing, achieving ~100micro-arcseconds astrometry errors in a single epoch of observations, effectively reaching the thermal noise limit.