bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fault interaction and evolution during two‐phase rifting in the Xijiang Sag, Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea
Authors: Ma Bingshan , Qi Jiafu , Chen Weichang , Zhao Meng
Published: March 2019

Fault geometries, various fault interactions, and fault evolution during the Palaeogene two‐phase rifting in the north‐west Xijiang Sag, Pearl River Mouth Basin, are examined using 2D and 3D seismic data. The study area is characterised as a half‐graben bounded by a NE‐striking SE‐dipping listric fault, and it has been proven to have undergone two phases of extension during the Palaeogene rifting stage. The study area comprises several fault sets with different strikes, mainly including NE‐striking and E‐W‐striking faults. Various styles of fault interactions have been examined in this study, which vary in different regions. Based on observations made in this study, we suggest that (1) major E‐W‐striking faults may either abut against or cross‐cut the boundary fault; (2) many thin‐skinned E‐W‐striking faults mainly develop in groups in the unruptured sub‐sag; and (3) most NE‐striking faults are continuously active in Rift Phase 2 on the slope. The NE‐striking faults initiated in Rift Phase 1, while most of the E–W‐striking faults formed in Rift Phase 2. Our results demonstrate that the major E‐W‐striking faults are prone to cross‐cutting the boundary fault surface during Rift Phase 2, which results in the transformation of two‐phase basin architectures. Compared to previous physical model results, we suggest that our natural fault characteristics support the model's conclusions and that the angle between the first‐ and second‐phase extension directions is an important factor that influences the styles of fault interaction and fault evolution during a two‐phase extension.
Direct‐acting antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection: Exploring new regimens
Authors: Toyoda Hidenori
Published: March 2019

The optimal antiviral regimen for hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 is still a subject of investigation. The report in this issue of Health Science Reports by Asselah and colleagues investigated the additional benefit of extending treatment duration of the ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus ribavirin regimen to up to 24 weeks for patients with HCV genotype 4 and compensated cirrhosis.
The establishment of in‐house neurology driven therapeutic plasma exchange infrastructure in a resource‐limited public hospital in Malaysia: Adopting and integrating evidenced‐based health care technology through time
Authors: Viswanathan Shanthi , Hiew Fu Liong
Published: March 2019

There has been an increase in the use of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in immune‐mediated neurological disorders in recent years. However, accessibility and availability of TPE remains low and costly, especially for a country with limited healthcare funding like Malaysia. With expanding clinical indications in neurological disorders, and increasingly expensive conventional immunomodulatory treatment such as intravenous immunoglobulin and monoclonal antibodies, TPE remains an effective part of first or second‐line treatment. In this article, we detailed the historical aspects of the use of TPE in neurological disorders in Malaysia over the last four decades and discussed the challenges behind the establishment of the first in‐house neurology‐driven TPE service in the country. Local TPE database from a national neurology centre in Kuala Lumpur over the past 20 years was analyzed. We observed a remarkable three folds increase in the use of TPE at our center over the past 10 years (total 131 TPE treatments) compared to a decade prior, with expanding clinical indications predominantly for central nervous system demyelinating disorders. Besides using membrane filtration method, centrifugal technique was adopted, providing new opportunities for other clinical beneficiaries such as a neurologist driven “in‐house TPE unit”. However, there were real world challenges, especially having to provide services with limited funding, human resources, and space. In addition, much has to be done to improve accessibility, availability, and sustainability of TPE services at our center and nationwide. Nevertheless, even with limited resources and support, it is possible with concerted efforts to work within the confines of these limitations to establish a safe, successful, and sustainable TPE service.
Biofortification of common buckwheat microgreens and seeds with different forms of selenium and iodine
Authors: Germ Mateja , Stibilj Vekoslava , Šircelj Helena , Jerše Ana , Kroflič Ana , Golob Aleksandra , Maršić Nina K
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND

The biofortification of crops can counteract human diseases, including selenium (Se) and iodine (I) deficiencies in the diet. Little is known about the effects of combinations of Se and I on microgreens and seeds, or on their accumulation in these tissues. The present study aimed to evaluate Se (SeO32−, SeO42−) and I (I−, IO3−) biofortification of common buckwheat microgreens and seeds with respect to the effects of the addition of Se, I and Se + I on yield and on physiological and biochemical characteristics.

RESULTS

In combination treatments, microgreens yield (600–800 g m−2) was 50–70% higher than for Se and I alone. The respiratory potential also increased by 60–120%. Fv/Fm was close to 0.8 in all samples. Se content [0.24 μg g−1 dry weight (DW)] was 50% higher for combination treatments than for Se and I alone. I content was highest for IO3− treatment (216 μg g−1 DW) and decreased in combination treatments with Se by 50%.

CONCLUSION

Biofortification of buckwheat microgreens with Se and I should be performed with care because there are synergistic and antagonistic effects of these elements with respect to their accumulation. IO3− for the biofortification of microgreens should be kept low to prevent exceeding the recommended daily intake of I. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
COL1A2 p.Gly1066Val variant identified in a Han Chinese family with osteogenesis imperfecta type I
Authors: Wang Mingyuan , Guo Yi , Rong Pengfei , Xu Hongbo , Gong Lina , Deng Hao , Yuan Lamei
Published: March 2019

Background

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetically determined connective tissue disorder, is characterized by increased bone fragility and reduced bone mass. Clinical presentation severity ranges from very mild types with nearly no fractures to intrauterine fractures and perinatal lethality. It can be accompanied by blue sclerae, dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI), hearing loss, muscle weakness, ligament laxity, and skin fragility. This study sought to identify pathogenic gene variants in a four‐generation Han Chinese family with OI type I.

Methods

In order to unveil the molecular genetic factors underlying the disease phenotype, whole exome sequencing in a member, with OI type I, of a Han Chinese family from Hunan, China was performed. The variant identified by whole exome sequencing was further tested by Sanger sequencing in the family members.

Results

A heterozygous missense variant (NM_000089.3: c.3197G>T; NP_000080.2: p.Gly1066Val) in the collagen type I alpha 2 chain gene (COL1A2) was identified in four patients. It co‐segregated with the disease in the family.

Conclusion

The sequence variant may be a disease‐causing factor resulting in abnormal type I procollagen synthesis and leading to OI type I. This finding has significant implications for genetic counseling and clinical monitoring of high‐risk families and may be helpful for understanding pathogenic mechanism of OI and developing therapies.
Improvement of random coefficient differential models of growth of anaerobic photosynthetic bacteria by combining Bayesian inference and gPC
Authors: Calatayud Julia , Cortés Juan Carlos , Jornet Marc
Published: March 2019

The time evolution of microorganisms, such as bacteria, is of great interest in biology. In the article by D. Stanescu et al. [Electronic Transactions on Numerical Analysis, 34, 44–58 (2009)], a logistic model was proposed to model the growth of anaerobic photosynthetic bacteria. In the laboratory experiment, actual data for two species of bacteria were considered: Rhodobacter capsulatus and Chlorobium vibrioforme. In this paper, we suggest a new nonlinear model by assuming that the population growth rate is not proportional to the size of the bacteria population, but to the number of interactions between the microorganisms, and by taking into account the beginning of the death phase in the kinetic curve. Stanescu et al. evaluated the effect of randomness into the model coefficients by using generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) expansions, by setting arbitrary distributions without taking into account the likelihood of the data. By contrast, we utilize a Bayesian inverse approach for parameter estimation to obtain reliable posterior distributions for the random input coefficients in both the logistic and our new model. Since our new model does not possess an explicit solution, we use gPC expansions to construct the Bayesian model and to accelerate the Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for the Bayesian inference.
Novel circularly polarized dielectric resonator antenna for microwave image sensing application
Authors: Singhwal Sumer Singh , Kanaujia Binod Kumar , Singh Ajit , Kishor Jugul
Published: March 2019

In this article, a novel, simple, and compact structure of dielectric resonator antenna is proposed, which provides wide bandwidth across proposed mm wave band for microwave image sensing with considerable gain using a lossy FR‐4 epoxy substrate and thick FR4 as DRA. A DR can be excited using four‐line feed using a circular loop type feed network. These line feeds maintain phase difference of 90° to produce CP. This antenna provides approximate constant gain of 8.6 dB on 25‐26 GHz band and 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth is almost 1 GHz from 25.2 to 26.2 GHz, Impedance bandwidth of the proposed antenna is 3 GHz (24‐27 GHz). This antenna can be used in microwave image sensing and wearable sensors applications, due to its compactness (30 × 30 mm2), in mm wave band.
High‐dimensionality undersampled patch‐based reconstruction (HD‐PROST) for accelerated multi‐contrast MRI
Authors: Bustin Aurélien , Lima da Cruz Gastão , Jaubert Olivier , Lopez Karina , Botnar René M. , Prieto Claudia
Published: March 2019

Purpose

To develop a new high‐dimensionality undersampled patch‐based reconstruction (HD‐PROST) for highly accelerated 2D and 3D multi‐contrast MRI.

Methods

HD‐PROST jointly reconstructs multi‐contrast MR images by exploiting the highly redundant information, on a local and non‐local scale, and the strong correlation shared between the multiple contrast images. This is achieved by enforcing multi‐dimensional low‐rank in the undersampled images. 2D magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) phantom and in vivo brain acquisitions were performed to evaluate the performance of HD‐PROST for highly accelerated simultaneous T1 and T2 mapping. Additional in vivo experiments for reconstructing multiple undersampled 3D magnetization transfer (MT)‐weighted images were conducted to illustrate the impact of HD‐PROST for high‐resolution multi‐contrast 3D imaging.

Results

In the 2D MRF phantom study, HD‐PROST provided accurate and precise estimation of the T1 and T2 values in comparison to gold standard spin echo acquisitions. HD‐PROST achieved good quality maps for the in vivo 2D MRF experiments in comparison to conventional low‐rank inversion reconstruction. T1 and T2 values of white matter and gray matter were in good agreement with those reported in the literature for MRF acquisitions with reduced number of time point images (500 time point images, ~2.5 s scan time). For in vivo MT‐weighted 3D acquisitions (6 different contrasts), HD‐PROST achieved similar image quality than the fully sampled reference image for an undersampling factor of 6.5‐fold.

Conclusion

HD‐PROST enables multi‐contrast 2D and 3D MR images in a short acquisition time without compromising image quality. Ultimately, this technique may increase the potential of conventional parameter mapping.
Maximum principle for optimal control of McKean‐Vlasov FBSDEs with Lévy process via the differentiability with respect to probability law
Authors: Meherrem Shahlar , Hafayed Mokhtar
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we study stochastic optimal control problem for general McKean‐Vlasov–type forward‐backward differential equations driven by Teugels martingales, associated with some Lévy process having moments of all orders, and an independent Brownian motion. The coefficients of the system depend on the state of the solution process as well as of its probability law and the control variable. We establish a set of necessary conditions in the form of Pontryagin maximum principle for the optimal control. We also give additional conditions, under which the necessary optimality conditions turn out to be sufficient. The proof of our main result is based on the differentiability with respect to probability law and a corresponding Itô formula.
Frustration mit erstaunlicher Wirkung
Authors: Tsirlin Alexander A. , Gegenwart Philipp
Published: March 2019

Quantenspinflüssigkeiten können sich in frustrierten Magneten bilden. Dort verhindern konkurrierende magnetische Wechselwirkungen die üblicherweise auftretende magnetische Ordnung. Trotzdem fluktuieren die Spins korreliert, was Spinflüssigkeiten auszeichnet. Quanteneffekte dominieren die Eigenschaften von Quantenspinflüssigkeiten, etwa die gegenseitige Verschränkung von benachbarten Spins. Die Anregungen von Quantenspinflüssigkeiten unterscheiden sich fundamental von normalen Spinwellen. Sie gelten als aussichtsreich für zukünftige Anwendungen in der Quanteninformations‐Technologie. Materialien mit starker Spin‐Bahn‐Wechselwirkung bieten neue Ansätze für eine Realisierung von Quantenspinflüssigkeits‐Verhalten.
Multimodal Management and Triple Nerve Transfer for Optimal Recovery of Shoulder Function Following Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy: A Case Report
Authors: Osorio Marisa , Lewis Sarah , Tse Raymond
Published: March 2019

Neonatal brachial plexus palsy is a complex disorder that requires evaluation of the primary nerve injury and associated sequelae. There is no standardized approach to management, and many treatment options are available. We present a case of Erb palsy with a unique multidisciplinary approach to nonsurgical and surgical management. Inherent in the case is the complexity of decision‐making, and we review the literature on treatment options and the rationale for the approach, which resulted in near normal functional recovery.
Pongapin and Karanjin, furanoflavanoids of Pongamia pinnata, induce G2/M arrest and apoptosis in cervical cancer cells by differential reactive oxygen species modulation, DNA damage, and nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cell signaling
Authors: Roy Rituparna , Pal Debolina , Sur Subhayan , Mandal Suvra , Saha Prosenjit , Panda Chinmay Kumar
Published: March 2019

In this study, the antitumor activity of two furanoflavanoid derivatives, Pongapin and Karanjin, was evaluated in comparison with Plumbagin, a plant‐derived polyphenol with proven antitumor activity. The compounds differentially inhibit the growth of different cancer cell lines (most effective on HeLa cells), with very low inhibitory effect on the growth of normal mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line. Pongapin like Plumbagin could significantly increase the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the HeLa cells by stabilization of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B‐cells inhibitor (I‐κB) expression and reduction of nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) expression. In contrast, Karanjin could decrease ROS level by inhibition of I‐κB degradation resulting restriction of NF‐κB nuclear translocation. Pongapin and Plumbagin significantly increased DNA damage‐induced p53 expression and p21 nuclear expression. However, Karanjin treatment showed low DNA damage with increased p53 expression. The compounds induced G2/M arrest and increase in SubG1 population, indicating induction of apoptosis. Apoptosis was further validated by acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick‐end labeling assay in HeLa cells after treatment with the compounds. The compounds induced caspase‐dependent apoptosis through induction of Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio either through increased expression of Bax by Pongapin and Plumbagin or low expression of Bcl‐2 by Karanjin. Thus, Pongapin and Karanjin may be potential natural anticancer agents in the future, like Plumbagin.
The impact of spin‐up and resolution on the representation of a clear convective boundary layer over London in order 100 m grid‐length versions of the Met Office Unified Model
Authors: Lean Humphrey W. , Barlow Janet F. , Halios Christos H.
Published: March 2019

With a number of operational centres looking forward to the possibilities of “city scale” NWP and climate modelling it is important to understand the behaviour of order 100 m models over cities. A key issue is how to handle the representation of partially resolved turbulence in these models. In this article we compare the representation of a clear convective boundary‐layer case in London in 100 and 50 m grid‐length versions of the Unified Model (MetUM) with observations. Comparison of Doppler lidar observations of the vertical velocity shows that convective overturning in the boundary layer is broadly well represented in terms of its depth and magnitude. The role of model resolution was investigated by comparing a 50 m grid‐length model with the 100 m one. It is found that, although going to 50 m grid length does not greatly change many of the bulk properties (mixing height, heat flux profiles, etc.) the spatial structure of the overturning is significantly different. This is confirmed with spectral analysis which shows that the 50 m model resolves significantly more of the energetic eddies, and a length‐scale analysis that shows the 50 and 100 m models produce convective structures 2–3 times larger than observed. We conclude that, for the MetUM, model grid‐lengths of order 100 m may well be sufficient for predicting many bulk and statistical properties of convective boundary layers; however, the details of the spatial structures around convective overturning in these situations are likely to be still under‐resolved. Spin‐up artefacts emanating from the inflow boundary of the model are investigated by comparing with a smaller 100 m grid‐length domain which is more dominated by such effects. These manifest themselves as along‐wind boundary‐layer rolls which produce a less realistic comparison with the lidar observations. A stability analysis is presented in order to better understand the formation of these rolls.
Intra-Articular Injection of Autologous Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Phase IIb, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Lee Woo-Suk , Kim Hwan Jin , Kim Kang-Il , Kim Gi Beom , Jin Wook
Published: March 2019

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been the focus of an emerging treatment for osteoarthritis. However, few studies reported about outcomes of an intra-articular injection of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs). This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a single intra-articular injection of AD-MSCs for patients with knee osteoarthritis. It was a prospective double-blinded, randomized controlled, phase IIb clinical trial. AD-MSCs were administered for 12 patients (MSC group), and the group was compared with 12 knees with injection of normal saline (control group) up to 6 months. All procedures were performed in the outpatient clinic. Primary outcome measure was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) score. Secondary outcome measure included various clinical and radiologic examination, and safety after injection. Change of cartilage defect after injection was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Single injection of AD-MSCs led to a significant improvement of the WOMAC score at 6 months. In the control group, there was no significant change in the WOMAC score at 6 months. No serious adverse events were observed in both groups during the follow-up period. In MRI, there was no significant change of cartilage defect at 6 months in MSC group whereas the defect in the control group was increased. An intra-articular injection of autologous AD-MSCs provided satisfactory functional improvement and pain relief for patients with knee osteoarthritis in the outpatient setting, without causing adverse events at 6 months’ follow-up. Larger sample size and long-term follow-up are required. Stem Cells Translational Medicine  2019;8:504–511
Effect of the shear layer on the etching behavior of 6060 aluminum extrusion alloys
Authors: Lutz Alexander , Lapeire Linsey , Nguyen‐Minh Tuan , Verbeken Kim , Terryn Herman , De Graeve Iris
Published: March 2019

The occurrence of preferential grain etching (PGE) during alkaline etching of aluminum extrusion alloys from the 6XXX series is often linked to the presence of certain impurity elements such as zinc, causing an undesired etching appearance. In the presented work, an additional culprit in this context is identified, which has not been investigated yet. A clear relation between PGE and the presence of a subsurface shear layer is identified for extruded Al 6060 alloys containing 0.02 and 0.06 wt% Zn. This shear layer can be distinguished from the bulk of the metal by its difference in crystallographic texture as visualized by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). For the Zn enriched alloy, the <111>//ND grains are etched away faster than grains with other orientations, resulting in the grainy appearance typical for PGE. Independent of the Zn content in the alloy, once the shear layer is removed and <111>//ND grains are practically absent on the new surface, the depths variations caused by preferential etching disappear. Instead, the surface of the alloy is attacked uniformly by the caustic etch bath.
Dual Activities of Nano Silver Embedded Reduced Graphene Oxide Using Clove Leaf Extracts: Hg2+ Sensing and Catalytic Degradation
Authors: Sahu Deepak , Sahoo Gyanaranjan , Mohapatra Priyaranjan , Swain Sarat K
Published: March 2019

Silver nanoparticles embedded reduced graphene oxide (rGO−Ag) nanocomposites are synthesized by green technique using clove leaf aqueous extract as reducing agent. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) at 410 nm in rGO−Ag nanocomposites is analysed by UV–visible spectroscopy. The intensity of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of Ag NPs in rGO−Ag nanocomposites is decreased with addition of Hg2+ ion at small interval of time. This is due to the occurrence of redox reaction between Ag(0) and Hg2+ and also for the formation Ag/Hg amalgam. The lower limit of detection (LOD) of rGO−Ag nanocomposites for Hg2+ ion is found to be 9.5 nM. Moreover, the rGO−Ag nanocomposites may be used as catalyst for degradation of methylene blue (MB) by sodium borohydride (NaBH4) at ambient temperature. The adsorption efficiency of methylene blue is increased due to hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction along with π–π stacking between the catalyst and the dye molecules. The methylene blue is degraded within a small time due to large surface area and more number of active sites of rGO−Ag nanocomposites. The as‐synthesized nanocomposite is a potential hybrid material having dual activity as Hg2+ sensing and catalytic behaviour in degradation of methylene blue.
Glycerol Esterification to Glyceryl Diacetate over SO42−/W‐Zr Complex Solid Super Acid Catalysts
Authors: Lei Qifeng , Li Duo , Li Ji‐Fan , Liu Chun‐Ling , Xu Chunli , Dong Wen‐Sheng
Published: March 2019

A series of SO42−/W−Zr catalysts with different W/Zr mole ratios were synthesized by solvent evaporation self‐assembly followed by impregnation of sulfuric acid. The catalysts were examined in the glycerol esterification with acetic acid, and fully characterized by XRD, BET, TEM, XPS, NH3‐TPD, H2O‐TPD and pyridine adsorption infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that W/Zr mole ratio and calcination temperature significantly affected the structure, acidity and catalytic performance of the catalysts. SO42−/W−Zr(1:1)‐500 (with a W/Zr mole ratio of 1:1, calcined at 500 °C) exhibited the highest catalytic activity, which is mainly due to the fact that the catalyst had more acidic sites and good water tolerance. In addition, the catalyst also showed excellent recyclability, in five repeated runs the conversion of glycerol and yields of products remained stable.
Stereo‐Defined Synthetic Route to (E)‐ and (Z)‐Tamoxifen Derived from(E)‐1‐Bromo‐2‐iodoalkenes.
Authors: Fujii Yoshino , Tamura Yuka , Hashimoto Nako , Endo Naoki , Iwasawa Tetsuo
Published: March 2019

Straightforwardly stereo‐defined syntheses of (E)‐ and (Z)‐Tamoxifens were described, including a description of chemo‐selective activation of (E)‐1‐bromo‐2‐iodoalkenes. The (E)‐1‐bromo‐2‐iodoalkenes were employed as starting materials; first, the vinylic iodine was transformed into a phenyl group with employing CuTC and PhSnBu3 reagents. Then the resultant vinylic bromine undertook Suzuki reaction to afford an all‐carbon tetrasubstituted olefin; finally, the phenol‐protective group was converted into the corresponding amino‐moiety. The stereochemistry of the initial (E)‐1‐bromo‐2‐iodoalkenes was fully retained throughout. Thus, it would provide us a new entry for preparation of Tamoxifens and its related compounds.
Sicherheit, Robustheit, Duktilität, Ermüdungssicherheit und Dauerhaftigkeit der Tragwerke – eine Grundsatzdiskussion
Authors: Geißler Karsten
Published: March 2019

Herrn Prof. Dr.‐Ing. habil. Wolfgang Graße zur Vollendung des 80. Lebensjahres gewidmet

Wissenschaftler und Ingenieure bauen immer auf Wissen und Erfahrungen vorheriger Generationen auf. Deshalb ist es ein großes Glück, wenn man ein wichtiges Stück auf dem oft schwierigen Weg der Erkenntnis geführt wurde. Dies verpflichtet zu großem Dank.

Robustheit, Duktilität und Dauerhaftigkeit sollte der Ingenieur neben der Zuverlässigkeit immer im Hinterkopf haben, wenn er ein Tragwerk entwirft. Deshalb werden die Grundlagen des Sicherheitskonzepts für Tragwerke in Verbindung mit diesen wichtigen Einflussgrößen werkstoffübergreifend diskutiert. Hauptziel des Aufsatzes ist, die im Titel angesprochenen und oft unabhängig voneinander diskutierten Aspekte qualitativ aus Sicht des Bauingenieurs darzustellen und quantitative Verknüpfungen herauszuarbeiten.

Es wird erläutert, wie die erforderliche Bauteil‐Zuverlässigkeit – als Zielwert der Bemessung sowie aktuell häufig auch der Nachrechnung – innerhalb eines Tragsystems, abhängig von dessen Redundanzen und der Duktilität der Bauteile, ohne Minderung der Ziel‐Zuverlässigkeit des Tragwerks rechnerisch modifiziert werden kann. Die Theorie zur Berechnung der Wahrscheinlichkeit der vorhandenen Duktilität eines Bauteils wird für den allgemeinen Fall hybrider Bauteile angegeben und damit die Grundlage beschrieben, wie duktiles Verhalten gegenüber verformungsarmem Verhalten hinsichtlich der erforderlichen Sicherheitsbeiwerte abzustufen ist. Weiterhin wird dargelegt, wie ausreichende Duktilität der Bauteile als notwendige Bedingung für die Ausnutzung von Umlagerungsvermögen innerhalb des Tragsystems direkt in die Berechnung der Versagenswahrscheinlichkeit des Tragsystems einfließen kann.
Lectotypification of Valeriana celtica, V. saxatilis and V. sibirica (Caprifoliaceae) proposed by Linnaeus
Authors: Iamonico Duilio , Fortini Paola , Di Pietro Romeo
Published: March 2019

The typification of the names Valeriana celtica, V. saxatilis and V. sibirica is discussed. Specimens from UPS and an illustration by Amman are designated as the lectotypes.
Avoiding the string swampland in single-field inflation: excited initial states
Authors: Brahma Suddhasattwa , Hossain Md. Wali
Published: March 2019

Abstract

One class of single-field inflationary models compatible with the recently-conjectured Swampland criteria would be those in which a Hubble slow-roll arameter ϵ
H is not the same as ϵ
V ∼ (V
′
/V)2. However, a roadblock for these models (with a convex potential) lie in the unacceptably high tensor-to-scalar ratio, r, generically predicted by them. In this work, illustrating through an explicit example, we point out that having a non-Bunch-Davies component to the initial state of cosmological perturbations makes the value of r compatible with observations. In this way, we lay down a new path even for standard models of slow-roll inflation to be consistent with the Swampland criteria by invoking deviations from the Bunch-Davies initial state.
Consistency between Lüscher’s finite volume method and HAL QCD method for two-baryon systems in lattice QCD
Authors:   The HAL QCD collaboration, Iritani Takumi , Aoki Sinya , Doi Takumi , Hatsuda Tetsuo , Ikeda Yoichi , Inoue Takashi , Ishii Noriyoshi , Nemura Hidekatsu , Sasaki Kenji
Published: March 2019

Abstract

There exist two methods to study two-baryon systems in lattice QCD: the direct method which extracts eigenenergies from the plateaux of the temporal correlation function and the HAL QCD method which extracts observables from the non-local potential associated with the tempo-spatial correlation function. Although the two methods should give the same results theoretically, there have been reported qualitative difference for observables from lattice QCD simulations. Recently, we pointed out in [1, 2] that the separation of the ground state from the excited states is crucial to obtain sensible results in the former, while both states provide useful signals for observables in the latter. In this paper, we identify the contribution of each state in the direct method by decomposing the two-baryon correlation functions into the finite-volume eigenmodes obtained from the HAL QCD method. As in our previous studies, we consider the ΞΞ system in the 1S0 channel at m

π
= 0.51 GeV in (2+1)-flavor lattice QCD using the wall and smeared quark sources with spatial extents, La = 3.6, 4.3, 5.8 fm. We demonstrate that the “pseudo-plateau” at early time slices (t = 1 ∼ 2 fm) from the smeared source in the direct method indeed originates from the contamination of the excited states, and the plateau with the ground state saturation is realized only at t > 5 ∼ 15 fm corresponding to the inverse of the lowest excitation energy. We also demonstrate that the two-baryon operator can be optimized by utilizing the finite-volume eigenmodes, so that (i) the finite-volume energy spectra from the HAL QCD method agree with those from the temporal correlation function with the optimized operators and (ii) the correct finite-volume spectra would be accessed in the direct method only if highly optimized operators are employed. Thus we conclude that the long-standing issue on the consistency between Lüscher’s finite volume method and the HAL QCD method for two baryons is now resolved at least for this particular system considered here: they are consistent with each other quantitatively only if the excited contamination is properly removed in the former.
2019 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures
Authors:   Alzheimer's Association
Published: March 2019

This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including incidence and prevalence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care, and the overall impact on caregivers and society. The Special Report examines the use of brief cognitive assessments by primary care physicians as a tool for improving early detection of dementia. An estimated 5.8 million Americans have Alzheimer's dementia. By mid‐century, the number of people living with Alzheimer's dementia in the United States may grow to 13.8 million, fueled in large part by the aging baby boom generation. In 2017, official death certificates recorded 121,404 deaths from AD, making AD the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death among Americans age ≥65 years. Between 2000 and 2017, deaths resulting from stroke, heart disease, and prostate cancer decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased 145%. In 2018, more than 16 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 18.5 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias. This care is valued at nearly $234 billion, but its costs extend to family caregivers' increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes. Average per‐person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age ≥65 years with Alzheimer's or other dementias are more than three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions. Total payments in 2019 for health care, long‐term care and hospice services for people age ≥65 years with dementia are estimated to be $290 billion. Early detection of Alzheimer's offers numerous medical, emotional and financial benefits—benefits that accrue to affected individuals and their families as well as to society at large. Alzheimer's Association surveys regarding brief cognitive assessments for detection of dementia found that while a large majority of seniors and primary care physicians say the assessments are important, only half of seniors have received an assessment, and only 16 percent of seniors receive regular cognitive assessments. Many educational opportunities exist to facilitate increased use of brief cognitive assessments in the primary care setting.
Databases for Specialized Audiences: An Exploration of Online Access to the Nontextual Features of Greek New Testament Manuscripts
Authors: Toumpouri Marina
Published: March 2019

Since the beginning of the century, the digitization of medieval manuscripts has been a major concern of institutions in the possession of such material. This has led to the massive production of digital surrogates for online display. Preservation condition and temporal and spatial limitations are no longer restrictions for accessing these objects, making them easily available to a potentially larger public than before. The databases created for hosting the surrogates are designed for different categories of audience, with various standards in mind and different levels of technical sophistication. Although primarily accessed for the texts they bear, the digital surrogates of manuscripts are also the object of study of a specialized group of users interested in their physical features. This review will discuss whether databases that comprise digital surrogates of Greek New Testament manuscripts built by different types of institutions are efficient in addressing the needs of this admittedly small audience. I examine questions of content, interface, organization, and rationales behind the choices of their creators.
On the Shelf, But Close at Hand: The Contribution of Non-State Initiatives to International Cyber Law
Authors: Mačák Kubo
Published: March 2019

In late 2018, the New York Times reported that the U.S. Cyber Command had targeted individual Russian hackers in order to deter them from engaging in conduct that could affect the organization and outcome of the U.S. mid-term elections. This unusual preemptive step suggests that states are looking for creative solutions to safeguard their national interests in cyberspace. But to what extent should their conduct be guided by considerations of international law? In this essay, I explore several key aspects of that central conundrum. I argue that (1) we should see cyberspace as an underregulated (but not ungoverned) domain; (2) a main reason for that state of affairs lies in a unique strategic dilemma innate to the cyber domain; and (3) non-state initiatives, including the eponymous “rule book on the shelf,” have a critical role to play in the development of the law in this area.
Characterisation and correlates of stunting among Malaysian children and adolescents aged 6–19 years
Authors: Partap Uttara , Young Elizabeth H. , Allotey Pascale , Sandhu Manjinder S. , Reidpath Daniel D.
Published: March 2019

Background

Despite emerging evidence regarding the reversibility of stunting at older ages, most stunting research continues to focus on children below 5 years of age. We aimed to assess stunting prevalence and examine the sociodemographic distribution of stunting risk among older children and adolescents in a Malaysian population.

Methods

We used cross-sectional data on 6759 children and adolescents aged 6–19 years living in Segamat, Malaysia. We compared prevalence estimates for stunting defined using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) references, using Cohen's κ coefficient. Associations between sociodemographic indices and stunting risk were examined using mixed-effects Poisson regression with robust standard errors.

Results

The classification of children and adolescents as stunted or normal height differed considerably between the two references (CDC v. WHO; κ for agreement: 0.73), but prevalence of stunting was high regardless of reference (crude prevalence: CDC 29.2%; WHO: 19.1%). Stunting risk was approximately 19% higher among underweight v. normal weight children and adolescents (p = 0.030) and 21% lower among overweight children and adolescents (p = 0.001), and decreased strongly with improved household drinking water sources [risk ratio (RR) for water piped into house: 0.35, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.30–0.41, p < 0.001). Protective effects were also observed for improved sanitation facilities (RR for flush toilet: 0.41, 95% CI 0.19–0.88, p = 0.023). Associations were not materially affected in multiple sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

Our findings justify a framework for strategies addressing stunting across childhood, and highlight the need for consensus on a single definition of stunting in older children and adolescents to streamline monitoring efforts.
Mixing hot and cold with sound
Authors: Nama Nitesh
Published: March 2019

An acoustically forced fluid system is known to generate a time-averaged mean, or streaming, flow that evolves on a slow time scale compared to the acoustic-wave period. Classical acoustic streaming in a homogeneous fluid is typically associated with a one-way coupled system wherein the oscillatory acoustic fields inform the streaming mean flow, without any appreciable feedback. In contrast, Michel & Chini (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 858, 2019, pp. 536–564) investigate acoustic streaming in a stratified fluid and demonstrate that the streaming is sufficiently strong to induce significant rearrangements of the background temperature and density fields, resulting in a strong coupling between the acoustic waves and mean flow. This new class of streaming, referred to as baroclinic acoustic streaming, is shown to result in altered streaming patterns with enhanced heat transport that makes possible a range of new applications.
Profitable inefficiency: the politics of port infrastructure in Mombasa, Kenya
Authors: Lamarque Hugh
Published: March 2019

This article examines the distribution of power among public, private and criminal interests invested in Mombasa port. It approaches Kenya as a gatekeeper state, in which national elites compete to control the country's points of interaction with the rest of the world. Mombasa's controversial private dry ports are used to highlight (1) how the opportunity to profit from inefficiencies in container storage has been distributed among the political elite, and (2) how the development of the country's principal seaport not only reflects Kenya's underlying political settlements, but is one of the key sites in which those settlements are tested and reshaped. The case exposes a dynamic interaction between Kenya's shifting political settlement on the one hand, and the gate itself – Mombasa port's physical infrastructure and regulations – on the other.
Politics or management? Analysing differences in local implementation performance of the EU Ambient Air Quality directive
Authors: Bondarouk Elena , Liefferink Duncan , Mastenbroek Ellen
Published: March 2019

As far as local governments are responsible for the practical implementation of many European Union (EU) policies, they codetermine member states’ EU compliance records and the fate of EU legislation. Yet, they do so in remarkably different ways, as exemplified by the variegated implementation of the Ambient Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC by Dutch municipalities. Taking guidance from the literature on EU compliance, in this article we explain the differences in local implementation performance based on the political and managerial approaches. Understanding which of the two approaches drives different local responses to EU policy bears consequences for the appropriate remedy for nonimplementation. Four municipalities were purposefully selected along with the two-by-two implementation performance scoring matrix in the realm of air quality. A comparative within-case analysis specifies how political explanations outweigh managerial explanations in accounting for variation in implementation performance and distils ‘policy saliency’ as the driving causal mechanism.
Assisted living facilities as sites of encounter: implications for older adults’ experiences of inclusion and exclusion
Authors: Herron Rachel V. , Funk L. M. , Spencer D. , Wrathall M.
Published: March 2019

Most of the existing literature on inclusion and exclusion among older adults focuses on community-dwelling individuals. In this article, we draw on the results of a comparative case study to explore how older adults in two assisted living settings experience inclusion and exclusion. One site was a low-income facility and the other a higher-end facility in a mid-sized Canadian city. Bridging together geographies of encounter and gerontological approaches on social inclusion, we analyse interviews with tenants and key informants to explore when, where and in what ways these groups experience inclusion and exclusion in these particular settings. Tenants’ narratives reveal how their encounters, and in turn their experiences of exclusion and inclusion are shaped by experiences throughout their lifecourse, the organisation of assisted living spaces, communities beyond the facility, and pervasive discourses of ageism and ‘dementiaism’. We argue that addressing experiences of exclusion for older adults within these settings involves making more time and space for positive encounters and addressing pervasive discourses around ageism and ‘dementiaism’ among tenants and staff.
Speech development in preschool children: evaluating the contribution of phonological short-term and phonological working memory
Authors: WARING Rebecca , RICKARD LIOW Susan , EADIE Patricia , DODD Barbara
Published: March 2019

Emerging evidence suggests domain-general processes, including working memory, may contribute to reduced speech production skills in young children. This study compared the phonological short-term (pSTM) and phonological working memory (pWM) abilities of 50 monolingual English-speaking children between 3;6 and 5;11 with typical speech production skills and percentage consonant correct (PCC) standard scores of 12 and above (n = 22) and typical speech production skills and PCC standard scores of between 8 and 11 (n = 28). A multiple hierarchical regression was also conducted to determine whether pSTM and/or pWM could predict PCC. Children with typical speech production skills and PCC standard scores of 12 and above had better pWM abilities than children with typical speech production skills and PCC standard scores of between 8 and 11. pSTM ability was similar in both groups. pWM accounted for 5.3% variance in overall phonological accuracy. Implications of phonological working memory in speech development are discussed.
What are the effects of vitamin C on sperm functional properties during direct swim-up procedure?
Authors: Raad Georges , Mansour Joyce , Ibrahim Rim , Azoury Jessica , Azoury Joan , Mourad Youmna , Fakih Chadi , Azoury Joseph
Published: March 2019

Direct swim-up procedure is widely used to separate the motile competent spermatozoa from the antioxidant-rich semen. Subsequently, spermatozoa become more vulnerable to reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to their cytological characteristics. The effect of vitamin C, a highly concentrated antioxidant in the semen, on direct swim-up-enriched sperm population is not fully investigated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of vitamin C on sperm functional properties during direct swim-up procedure. Semen samples were collected from 22 participants. Each semen sample was divided into several aliquots. The first portion was overlaid with sperm medium without ascorbic acid (0 µM AA). The second and third fractions were overlaid with sperm medium supplemented with 300 µM and 600 µM AA; respectively. After 1 h of incubation, basic sperm parameters, intracellular ROS levels, acrosome reaction, chromatin integrity, and glucose uptake were assessed. Swim-up without AA significantly increased the percentage of ROS(+) spermatozoa compared with the raw semen (P<0.01). Interestingly, swim-up with 300 µM AA did not increase the percentage of ROS(+) sperm compared with the raw semen. In parallel, the percentage of sperm with altered chromatin integrity was significantly lower in the 300 µM AA group compared with that in the raw semen (P<0.05). These findings suggest that supplementation of vitamin C to sperm medium could be beneficial for direct swim-up-derived spermatozoa.
Evaluating response to group CBT in young children with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Swain Deanna , Murphy Haley G. , Hassenfeldt Tyler A. , Lorenzi Jill , Scarpa Angela
Published: March 2019

Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit difficulties with negative affect. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been successfully adapted for individuals with ASD to treat these difficulties. In a wait-list control study, for example, group analyses showed promising results for young children with ASD using a developmentally adapted group CBT approach. This report examined response to group CBT in terms of individual-level change in young children with ASD. Eighteen children with ASD, aged 5–7 years, and their respective parents participated in treatment. Parents completed pre- and post-treatment measures of negative affect and related behaviours. Treatment responders and non-responders were grouped based on significant treatment outcomes as assessed by statistically significant change for lability/negativity and 20% decrease in intensity, duration or frequency of emotional outbursts. Results indicated that 67% of children met criteria as a treatment responder, showing meaningful improvement in at least two outcome measures. No significant group differences emerged for initial characteristics before treatment. Wilcoxon signed rank tests determined pre-/post-treatment change in parental confidence for each treatment responder group. Results indicated statistically significant increase for the treatment responder group in parent-reported confidence in their own ability and in their child's ability to manage the child's anger and anxiety, but these results were not significant for the treatment non-responder group. Results provide additional evidence that CBT can significantly decrease expressions of anger/anxiety in children with ASD as young as 5 years, yet also suggest need for further improvement.