bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intra-Articular Biocompatibility of Multistranded, Long-Chain Polyethylene Suture Tape in a Canine ACL Model
Authors: Smith Patrick A. , Bozynski Chantelle C. , Kuroki Keiichi , Henrich Sarah M. , Wijdicks Coen A. , Cook James L.
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this study was to assess intra-articular use of a nonabsorbable braided suture tape for its biocompatibility when implanted adjacent to the native anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a canine model. Establishing biocompatibility of suture tape in the knee is an important foundational step for clinicians considering use of suture tape augmentation for ACL reconstruction or repair. The study hypothesis was that a nonabsorbable braided suture tape would be biocompatible in the knee with no resultant adverse functional consequences, and no significant intra-articular synovial reactions or articular cartilage degeneration attributable to direct exposure to the suture tape, whether intact or transected. Nonabsorbable braided suture tape was arthroscopically implanted adjacent to the native ACL of dogs (n = 6). The suture was intact in half of the dogs and was transected in the other half as a “worst-case” scenario. Dogs were assessed for postoperative complications and morbidity. Arthroscopic grading of synovium and cartilage was performed at 4 and 6 months. Histologic assessments were performed at the 6-month endpoint and compared with the ACL partial tear (n = 9) and ACL reconstruction (n = 5) cohorts as well as historical sham controls. No postoperative complications were noted. No animal developed lameness or clinical dysfunction, and there were no severe inflammatory or immune responses, cartilage erosions, or premature osteoarthritis noted. Arthroscopic assessments revealed no to mild synovitis and no apparent cartilage damage in either group. Histologically, both the intact and transected suture tape groups were associated with significantly (p ≤ 0.05) less synovial and articular cartilage pathology compared with the partial ACL transection and patellar bone–tendon–bone ACL autograft reconstruction cohorts, and matched historical sham controls. The hypothesis was accepted as study results support the biocompatibility of suture tape in the canine knee.
Anterior Clinoid Metastasis Removed Extradurally: First Case Report
Authors: Pojskić Mirza , Zbytek Blazej , Arnautović Kenan
Published: May 2018

Background We report a case of isolated metastasis on the anterior clinoid process (ACP) mimicking meningioma.

Clinical Presentation A 58-year-old male presented with headaches, right-sided visual disturbances, and blurred and double vision. The cause of double vision was partial weakness of the right III nerve, resulting from compression of the nerve by “hypertrophied” tumor-involved right anterior clinoid. Medical history revealed two primary malignant tumors—male breast cancer and prostate cancer (diagnosed 6 and 18 months prior, respectively). The patient was treated with chemotherapy and showed no signs of active disease, recurrence, or metastasis. Postcontrast head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed extra-axial well-bordered enhancing mass measuring 1.6 × 1.1 × 1 × 1 cm (anteroposterior, transverse, and craniocaudal dimensions) on the ACP, resembling a clinoidal meningioma. Extradural clinoidectomy with tumor resection was performed via right orbitozygomatic pretemporal skull base approach. Visual symptoms improved. Follow-up MRI showed no signs of tumor residual or recurrence.

Conclusion This is the first case report of a metastasis of any kind on ACP. Metastasis should be included as a part of the differential diagnosis of lesions of the anterior clinoid. Extradural clinoidectomy is a safe and effective method in the treatment of these tumors.
A study on the effects of temperature and substrate structure on the templated two-phase film growth via a hybrid model
Authors: Lu Xiao , Li Jia , Zhu Jian-Gang , Laughlin David E. , Zhu Jingxi
Published: May 2018

Templated growth of two-phase thin films can achieve desirably ordered microstructures. In such cases, the microstructure of the growing films follows the topography of the template. By combining the Potts model Monte Carlo simulation and the “level set” method, an attempt was previously made to understand the physical mechanism behind the templated growth process. In the current work, this model is further used to study the effect of two parameters within the templated growth scenario, namely, the temperature and the geometric features of the template. The microstructure of the thin film grown with different lattice temperatures and domes is analyzed. It is found that within a moderate temperature range, the effect of geometric features took control of the ordering of the microstructure by its influence on the surface energy gradient. Interestingly, within this temperature range, as the temperature is increased, an ordered microstructure forms on a template without the optimal geometric features, which seems to be a result of competition between the kinetics and the thermodynamics during deposition. However, when the temperature was either above or below this temperature range, the template provided no guide to the whole deposition so that no ordered microstructure formed.
The surface nucleation of tension twin via pure-shuffle mechanism: The energy landscape sampling and dynamic simulations
Authors: Tang Xiao-Zhi , Zu Qun , Guo Ya-Fang
Published: May 2018

The surface nucleation of tension twin in magnesium monocrystalline is investigated by potential energy landscape sampling and dynamic simulations. Surface nucleation via pure-shuffle mechanism is proved without any other pre-existing defects or defect interactions as a trigger event. The stress-dependent reaction pathways and activation potential energies of a tension twin nucleus are reported. The growth of a tension twin nucleus in a submicron-sized sample is simulated by molecular dynamics. During the growth, a twin nucleus with basal-prismatic interfaces as its dominant boundaries evolves into a twin grain which is characterized by coherent twin boundaries. A better understanding of shuffle-induced plasticity in hexagonal close-packed metals is pursued.
Localized deformation in Ni-Mn-Ga single crystals
Authors: Davis Paul H. , Efaw Corey M. , Patten Lance K. , Hollar Courtney , Watson Chad S. , Knowlton William B. , Müllner Peter
Published: May 2018

The magnetomechanical behavior of ferromagnetic shape memory alloys such as Ni-Mn-Ga, and hence the relationship between structure and nanoscale magnetomechanical properties, is of interest for their potential applications in actuators. Furthermore, due to its crystal structure, the behavior of Ni-Mn-Ga is anisotropic. Accordingly, nanoindentation and magnetic force microscopy were used to probe the nanoscale mechanical and magnetic properties of electropolished single crystalline 10M martensitic Ni-Mn-Ga as a function of the crystallographic c-axis (easy magnetization) direction relative to the indentation surface (i.e., c-axis in-plane versus out-of-plane). Load-displacement curves from 5–10 mN indentations on in-plane regions exhibited pop-in during loading, whereas this phenomenon was absent in out-of-plane regions. Additionally, the reduced elastic modulus measured for the c-axis out-of-plane orientation was ∼50% greater than for in-plane. Although heating above the transition temperature to the austenitic phase followed by cooling to the room temperature martensitic phase led to partial recovery of the indentation deformation, the magnitude and direction of recovery depended on the original relative orientation of the crystallographic c-axis: positive recovery for the in-plane orientation versus negative recovery (i.e., increased indent depth) for out-of-plane. Moreover, the c-axis orientation for out-of-plane regions switched to in-plane upon thermal cycling, whereas the number of twins in the in-plane regions increased. We hypothesize that dislocation plasticity contributes to the permanent deformation, while pseudoelastic twinning causes pop-in during loading and large recovery during unloading in the c-axis in-plane case. Minimization of indent strain energy accounts for the observed changes in twin orientation and number following thermal cycling.
Energetics of hydrogen and helium-vacancy complexes in bulk and near surfaces of tungsten: First-principles study
Authors: Yang L. , Wirth B. D.
Published: May 2018

Understanding the interaction between hydrogen (H) and helium-vacancy (He-V) complexes in tungsten (W) is important for the development of plasma-facing materials in fusion reactors. H trapping by HexVy complexes in bulk W, as well as the H solution behavior and H trapping by HexV complexes near W(100), W(111), and W(110) surfaces, has been investigated by first-principles computer simulations using density function theory. The results show that the sequential H binding energies to HexV complexes in bulk W decrease with the increasing number of H and He. For the HexV2 complexes in bulk W, H prefers to trap at interstitial sites near the junction of the di-vacancy, where the H can minimize the isosurface of optimal charge density. The most stable interstitial sites for H below W surfaces are dependent on the surface orientation. Our calculations indicate that H atoms tend to prefer a depth of 0.3 nm below the W(100) and W(111) surfaces due to the surface reconstruction. The binding energy of H to a HeV complex near W surfaces has the most significant orientation dependence below the W(111) surface, followed by the W(100) and W(110) surfaces. Compared with the bulk value, the largest difference in the average binding energy of H to the stable HexV complexes at the three W surfaces is about 0.2 eV. Furthermore, the effect of surfaces on the H binding energy to HexV complexes can be ignored for depths greater than 0.65 nm.
Nanoscopic studies of domain structure dynamics in ferroelectric La:HfO2 capacitors
Authors: Buragohain P. , Richter C. , Schenk T. , Lu H. , Mikolajick T. , Schroeder U. , Gruverman A.
Published: May 2018

Visualization of domain structure evolution under an electrical bias has been carried out in ferroelectric La:HfO2 capacitors by a combination of Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM) and pulse switching techniques to study the nanoscopic mechanism of polarization reversal and the wake-up process. It has been directly shown that the main mechanism behind the transformation of the polarization hysteretic behavior and an increase in the remanent polarization value upon the alternating current cycling is electrically induced domain de-pinning. PFM imaging and local spectroscopy revealed asymmetric switching in the La:HfO2 capacitors due to a significant imprint likely caused by the different boundary conditions at the top and bottom interfaces. Domain switching kinetics can be well-described by the nucleation limited switching model characterized by a broad distribution of the local switching times. It has been found that the domain velocity varies significantly throughout the switching process indicating strong interaction with structural defects.
Optical fiber sensing technology based on Mach-Zehnder interferometer and orbital angular momentum beam
Authors: Xia Feng , Zhao Yong , Hu Hai-feng , Zhang Yong
Published: May 2018

An optical fiber sensing and signal demodulation technology based on Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam was proposed in this work. One path of the MZI containing only single mode fiber (SMF) emits Gaussian beam, and the other path which contains a segment of two-mode fiber (TMF) generates OAM beam. The OAM beam was generated by offset splicing a segment of TMF with SMF, and then rotating the TMF by using a customized fiber rotator. The interference between the Gaussian beam and the OAM beam generates spiral interference pattern, which can rotate with the change of phase difference between these two beams. A segment of SMF in the Gaussian beam path was used as a sensing fiber, which was placed on a thermostat. When the temperature changes, the phase difference between the Gaussian beam and the OAM beam was changed owing to the thermo-optic effect and thermal expansion effect of the sensing fiber, resulting in the rotation of spiral interference pattern. An optical phase difference demodulation method based on spiral interference pattern feature extraction technology was proposed to demodulate optical phase difference between these two beams. Experimental result shows that the sensing system has a linear temperature measurement sensitivity of 12.67 rad/°C. The temperature measurement resolution is 0.0000122 °C in theory and about 0.005 °C achieved in experiment.
X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy of thermochromic phase transition in CuMoO4
Authors: Jonane I. , Cintins A. , Kalinko A. , Chernikov R. , Kuzmin A.
Published: May 2018

Thermochromic phase transition was studied in CuMoO4 using the Cu and Mo K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy in the temperature range of 10–300 K. The hysteretic behavior has been evidenced from the temperature dependence of the pre-edge shoulder intensity at the Mo K-edge, indicating that the transition from brownish-red γ-CuMoO4 to green α-CuMoO4 occurs in the temperature range of 230–280 K upon heating, whereas the α-to-γ transition occurs between 200 and 120 K upon cooling. Such behavior of the pre-edge shoulder at the Mo K-edge correlates with the change of molybdenum coordination between distorted tetrahedral in α-CuMoO4 and distorted octahedral in γ-CuMoO4. This result has been supported by ab initio full-multiple-scattering x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) calculations.
Curviness of nanowires is shown to affect their resistivity in random and aligned networks
Authors: De Jarnette Drew
Published: May 2018

Monte Carlo simulations show that the resistivity of networks made up of 1-D metal nanowires depends on their curvature, where the degree of nanowire alignment changes the optimal curvature.
Chaos theory leads to new understanding of when the next fashion trend will hit
Authors: Liebendorfer Adam
Published: May 2018

An adapted mathematical theory about fashion cycles helps to determine qualitative change in nonlinear dynamical systems such as art tastes and business practices.
Exploring new directions for advanced tokamaks reveals promising potential
Authors: Wolverton Mark
Published: May 2018

An all-metal ASDEX Upgrade facility opens new pathways for upcoming fusion demonstration plants and explores new scenarios for long-pulse operation.
Exfoliation of crystals
Authors: Aslanov Leonid A. , Dunaev Sergei F.
Published: May 2018

The review is concerned with progress in methods for exfoliation of crystals, from mechanical exfoliation using sticky tape to modern techniques involving sonication-assisted exfoliation, shear exfoliation in liquids using intercalating agents and stabilizers, direct liquid exfoliation and cosolvent exfoliation. The potential of methods of osmotic swelling in water and in organic dispersion media with constant and variable chemical composition of nanosheets, chemical and electrochemical intercalation, exfoliation by hydrazine (including versions resulting in changes in the chemical composition of nanosheets), ionic liquids and supercritical fluids is discussed. Methods for size sorting of nanosheets by density-gradient and cascade centrifugation and the possibility of nanosheet size control are analyzed.

The bibliography includes 136 references.
Carbonized Waste Cotton/Stearic Acid Composites for Photo-Thermal Conversion and Heat Storage
Authors: Li Haifeng , Li Nian , Zhang Cheng , Zhao Tingting , Sun Lidong , Shang Mengya , Liu Cui , Zhou Yongqiang , Zhang Shudong , Wang Zhenyang
Published: May 2018

Photo-thermal conversion is an effective method to utilise solar energy. The generated heat can be converted into electrical energy through the thermoelectric Seebeck effect. However, the key challenge in enhancing solar-thermal-electric conversion is to achieve efficient photo-thermal conversion and temperature difference control. Herein, new composite materials are prepared using abundant and cheap raw materials to simultaneously realise photo-thermal conversion, heat storage, and heat supply for a thermoelectric device. The composites consist of carbonised waste cotton and stearic acid (SA), where carbonised waste cotton can achieve efficient full spectrum photo-thermal conversion and SA can store the generated heat to maintain a stable temperature for a thermoelectric device. The best content of SA is found to be 85 wt-% in the composites due to uniform dispersion and ideal combination. The 3D netlike structure of carbonised waste cotton provides increased heat transfer paths and also prevents leakage of SA during phase change. The maximum phase change enthalpy is 203.6 J g−1 for the composite with 85 wt-% SA, which is almost the same as pure SA, assuring high density heat storage. A light-thermal-electric conversion device is further constructed based on as-prepared composites and a thermoelectric system. The generated electricity can light up a light-emitting diode with strong intensity.
“Since when does the Midwest have an accent?”
Authors: Carmichael Katie
Published: May 2018

Folk ideologies about regional variation often depend on the consideration of certain varieties in contrast with the idea of a linguistically unmarked, standard way of speaking (Preston 1996; Lippi-Green 2012). This study analyzes the relationship between those abstract ideologies and in-the-moment reactions to linguistic input. Examining this question with respect to American English, a listening task manipulated where speakers were said to be from and whether the speakers used regional speech varieties linked to those places. Listeners were asked to make social judgments about speakers with varying degrees of local accentedness said to be from Southern, Northeastern, and Midwestern locales in the U.S.; these locations were selected to target highly enregistered nonstandard dialect areas versus more linguistically “unmarked” regions. Results indicate that while pre-existing sociolinguistic stereotypes about these three locations in some cases trumped the actual linguistic input that listeners encountered, effects of accentedness also varied in place-specific ways related to expectations for each locale.
Revisiting Hebrides English
Authors: Clayton Ian
Published: May 2018

This paper describes a study of phonetic variation in Hebrides English, a variety of English spoken in the Scottish Hebrides island chain. Study participants included 24 English-Scottish Gaelic bilinguals, ten male and 14 female, representing a range of ages and geographic origins within the Hebrides. Three features are considered: preaspiration, preglottalization, and T-glottalling. Preaspiration, once commonplace in some varieties of Hebridean English, is now found to be abundant only among older women, suggesting that the feature is obsolescent. By contrast, preglottalization and T-glottalling, already widespread in urban varieties of Scottish English, now appear to be making inroads in Hebrides English as well. The evidence therefore suggests that Hebridean English is undergoing significant changes, though the precise trajectory or outcome of these changes remain unclear.
Collocation and word association
Authors: Kang Beom-mo
Published: May 2018

This paper studies the relationship between grammar and language use by comparing word association and collocation. Since word association reveals mental semantic knowledge, usage-based approaches expect word association to mirror the relation between words in use, namely collocation. The paragraph is a more apt unit for collocation than the sentence in mirroring word association. Among measures of collocation, (simple) log likelihood and t-score turn out to be more consistent with association, with log likelihood leading by a small margin over MI or MI3. Overall, word association and collocation are quite close, but not perfectly close because of differences in relevant resources and the characteristics of lexical/semantic relations.
Lexical preference and variation in the complementation of provide
Authors: Lehmann Hans Martin
Published: May 2018

This paper investigates grammatical variation in the complementation of the verb provide. It describes the
distribution of the four possible patterns with two internal arguments and the interaction between pattern choice and lexical
choice. The study finds and documents significant differences in the preferred complementation patterns for American and British
English as well as for spoken and written news genres. It also establishes the double object construction as a viable option for
American English. Methodologically, this study is based on robust automatic syntactic annotation and computerized retrieval from a
data-set comprising 2.5 billion words. It is this large amount of data that permits the observation of strong preferences in terms
of pattern choice at the interface between grammar and lexis.
Computer-assisted visual articulation feedback in L2 pronunciation instruction
Authors: Bliss Heather , Abel Jennifer , Gick Bryan
Published: May 2018

Language learning is a multimodal endeavor; to improve their pronunciation in a new language, learners access not only auditory information about speech sounds and patterns, but also visual information about articulatory movements and processes. With the development of new technologies in computer-assisted pronunciation training (CAPT) comes new possibilities for delivering feedback in both auditory and visual modalities. The present paper surveys the literature on computer-assisted visual articulation feedback, including direct feedback that provides visual models of articulation and indirect feedback that uses visualized acoustic information as a means to inform articulation instruction. Our focus is explicitly on segmental features rather than suprasegmental ones, with visual feedback conceived of as providing visualizations of articulatory configurations, movements, and processes. In addition to discussing types of visual articulation feedback, we also consider the criteria for effective delivery of feedback, and methods of evaluation.
Taking cognisance of cognitive linguistic research on humour
Authors: Dynel Marta
Published: May 2018

This article is meant to give a state-of-the-art picture of cognitive linguistic studies on humour. Cognitive linguistics has had an immense impact on the development of humour research and, importantly, humour theory over the past few decades. On the one hand, linguists, philosophers and psychologists working in the field of humour research have put forward proposals to explain the cognitive processes underlying specifically humour production and reception (e.g. the incongruity-resolution framework and its refinements). On the other hand, humour research has drawn on theories and concepts advanced in contemporary cognitive linguistics taken as a whole (e.g. mental spaces, conceptual blending, salience or conceptual metaphor). The different notions and approaches originating in these strands of research are in various ways interwoven in order to give new insights into the cognitive workings of humour.
Perceptual opposites and the modulation of contrast in irony
Authors: Canestrari Carla , Bianchi Ivana
Published: May 2018

This paper proposes a new way of analyzing the contrast between an ironic comment and the referent context by focusing on the structure of the dimension which the contrast belongs to. This new approach was stimulated by previous experimental studies demonstrating that dimensions are perceptually made up of two opposite poles and an intermediate region consisting either of point or range properties. Applying this schema it became clear that, on the one hand what previous evidence-based literature mostly focuses on is the idea that for an ironic meaning to be detected there must be a contrastbetweentwo poles orwithina pole; on the other hand, that there is room for new investigations concerning whether it is possible to make ironic comments containing poles to refer to intermediate situations (i.e. situations perceived asneither one pole nor the other) or, vice versa, to make ironic comments containing intermediates to refer to polarized situations.
The effect of the Arab Spring on the use of metaphor and metonymy in Jordanian economic discourse
Authors: Zibin Aseel
Published: May 2018

This study aims to identify the metaphors and metonymies used to describe economic concepts in Jordanian economic discourse pre- and post-Arab Spring in order to examine whether the events of the Arab Spring have had an impact on these figurative devices. This study also examines whether metaphor and metonymy can be affected by the social and cultural setting in which they are used and by politico-economic factors. In addition, this study aims to explore the notion that economic discourse uses many of the same conceptual metaphors regardless of the language and culture. To achieve this, I compiled a corpus of economic articles published in 2005 and 2008 (i.e. pre-Arab Spring) and 2012 and 2015 (i.e. post-Arab Spring) from two daily Jordanian newspapers. Frequency counts of metaphorical expressions representing the source domains and metonymies were compared to assess their saliency in the two periods and the two newspapers.
Ultimate attainment in Spanish spirantization
Authors: Face Timothy L.
Published: May 2018

This study examines the acquisition of the Spanish spirantization of /b/, /d/ and /g/ by a group of very advanced L2 learners who immigrated to Spain from the United States and have lived in central Spain for many years. While spirantization has received considerable attention in previous L2 research on Spanish, the participants in previous studies have typically been newer learners of Spanish, typically studying at the university level. By examining the production of immigrants to Spain, the present study provides insight into ultimate attainment, and whether this results in a native-like pronunciation in the case of spirantization. Productions are examined both categorically to determine the manner of articulation employed (i.e., approximant, fricative, stop) and also gradiently, using intensity measurements to determine the degree of spirantization when approximants are produced. The comparisons for manner of articulation show significant differences between native Spanish speakers and L2 learners, although when approximants are produced the intensity measurements often do not differ significantly between the two groups. The degree to which individual learners approach native-like pronunciation, both in terms of manner of articulation and intensity measurements of produced approximants, varies considerably.
Interviews as sites of ideological work
Authors: Márquez Reiter Rosina
Published: May 2018

This paper maintains that the interview, understood as an interactionally achieved social practice, can be a locus for ideological work. It shows how a differentiated understanding of stance, alignment and the discourse identities that the participants assume and leave in interaction, can bring into focus aspects of ideology that would be difficult to capture otherwise. Specifically, the paper shows how mis- and realigning actions with respect to the stances conveyed by the interview participants relative to a given subject or from a given discourse identity can lead to the construction of ideology, encouraging (or not) movement along a given interview trajectory. The ideological work observed is contingent on how the participants locate themselves and others in the interview where tensions between legitimised linguistic views and discourse identity adoption, as well as contradictions with regard to other circulating discourses emerge. The paper thus suggests that (language ideological) analyses of interview data can and should be focused on the social dynamics of the participants and how their ideological presuppositions play out in the situated interaction of the interview.
Distributed specificity for automatic terminology extraction
Authors: Amjadian Ehsan , Inkpen Diana , Paribakht T. Sima , Faez Farahnaz
Published: May 2018

The present article explores two novel methods that integrate distributed representations with terminology extraction. Both methods assess the specificity of a word (unigram) to the target corpus by leveraging its distributed representation in the target domain as well as in the general domain. The first approach adopts this distributed specificity as a filter, and the second directly applies it to the corpus. The filter can be mounted on any other Automatic Terminology Extraction (ATE) method, allows merging any number of other ATE methods, and achieves remarkable results with minimal training. The direct approach does not perform as high as the filtering approach, but it reemphasizes that using distributed specificity as the words’ representation, very little data is required to train an ATE classifier. This encourages more minimally supervised ATE algorithms in the future.
Improving term candidates selection using terminological
tokens
Authors: Vàzquez Mercè , Oliver Antoni
Published: May 2018

The identification of reliable terms from domain-specific corpora using
computational methods is a task that has to be validated manually by
specialists, which is a highly time-consuming activity. To reduce this effort
and improve term candidate selection, we implemented the Token Slot Recognition
method, a filtering method based on terminological tokens which is used to rank
extracted term candidates from domain-specific corpora. This paper presents the
implementation of the term candidates filtering method we developed in
linguistic and statistical approaches applied for automatic term extraction
using several domain-specific corpora in different languages. We observed that
the filtering method outperforms term candidate selection by ranking a higher
number of terms at the top of the term candidate list than raw frequency, and
for statistical term extraction the improvement is between 15% and 25% both in
precision and recall. Our analyses further revealed a reduction in the number of
term candidates to be validated manually by specialists. In conclusion, the
number of term candidates extracted automatically from domain-specific corpora
has been reduced significantly using the Token Slot Recognition filtering
method, so term candidates can be easily and quickly validated by
specialists.
Influence of weld geometry and process on fatigue crack growth characteristics of AISI 304L cruciform joints containing lack of penetration defects
Authors: Singh P. Johan , Achar D. R. G. , Guha B. , Nordberg H.
Published: May 2018

The influence of weld geometry in conjunction with the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and gas metal arc welding (GMAW) processes on fatigue properties of AISI 304L load carrying transverse fillet welded cruciform joints, containing lack of penetration (LOP) defects, has been studied. The fatigue lives of the joints were evaluated using conventional S -N (stress - number of cycles to failure) and fracture mechanics methods. The fatigue lives were calculated according to the two stage approach in which both the fatigue crack initiation and the crack propagation phases were considered. Constant amplitude fatigue experiments with stress ratio R=0 were carried out using a 100 kN servohydraulic Dartec universal testing machine at a frequency of 30 Hz. An automatic crack monitoring system based on crack propagation gauges was used to obtain the crack initiation and propagation data during the fatigue process. The predicted life was compared with the experimental values. It was found that the fatigue lives of the joints fabricated via GTAW were longer than those of the corresponding GMAW joints. It was also observed that the fillet geometry plays a major role in determining the failure mode and life. Test results have been compared with the BS 5400 design curve.
The influence of an afternoon nap on the endurance performance of trained runners
Authors: Blanchfield Anthony W. , Lewis‐Jones Tammy M. , Wignall James R. , Roberts James B. , Oliver Samuel J.
Published: May 2018

The effectiveness of a nap as a recovery strategy for endurance exercise is unknown and therefore the present study investigated the effect of napping on endurance exercise performance. Eleven trained male runners completed this randomised crossover study. On two occasions, runners completed treadmill running for 30 min at 75% ⩒O2max in the morning, returning that evening to run for 20 min at 60% ⩒O2max, and then to exhaustion at 90% ⩒O2max. On one trial, runners had an afternoon nap approximately 90 min before the evening exercise (NAP) whilst on the other, runners did not (CON). All runners napped (20 ± 10 min), but time to exhaustion (TTE) was not improved in all runners (NAP 596 ± 148 s vs. CON 589 ± 216 s, P = .83). Runners that improved TTE after the nap slept less at night than those that did not improve TTE (night‐time sleep 6.4 ± 0.7 h vs. 7.5 ± 0.4 h, P < .01). Furthermore, night‐time sleep predicted change in TTE, indicating that runners sleeping least at night improved TTE the most after the nap compared to CON (r2 = −0.76, P = .001). In runners that improved TTE, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were lower during the TTE on NAP than CON compared to runners that did not improve (−0.4 ± 0.6 vs. 0 ± 0, P = .05). Reduced exercising sense of effort (RPE) may account for the improved TTE after the nap. In conclusion, a short afternoon nap improves endurance performance in runners that obtain less than 7 h night‐time sleep.
Acute exercise‐induced irisin release in healthy adults: Associations with training status and exercise mode
Authors: Qiu Shanhu , Bosnyák Edit , Treff Gunnar , Steinacker Jürgen Michael , Nieß Andreas Michael , Krüger Karsten , Mooren Frank Christoph , Zügel Martina , Schumann Uwe
Published: May 2018

There is a growing interest in exploring irisin response to acute exercise; however, the associations of acute exercise‐induced irisin release with training status and exercise mode are not fully understood. This study was primarily designed to evaluate these associations. Sixteen healthy adults (8 trained versus 8 untrained) underwent a bout of cycling at 80% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) for 50 min, with blood drawn pre‐, 10‐, and 180‐min post‐exercise. Another 17 healthy adults performed 2 bouts of graded exercise (cycling and running) until exhaustion on separate days using a randomized cross‐over design, with blood taken pre‐, 0‐, 10‐, and 60‐min post‐exercise. Circulating irisin, creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and myoglobin (Mb) were measured, and their respective areas under the curves (AUCs) were calculated. Irisin increased 10‐min after 50 min of cycling at 80% of VO2max, while its changes from baseline to post‐exercise and the amount of exercise‐induced irisin release (presented as AUC) were comparable between trained and untrained adults (all P > .05). Irisin remained elevated 10‐min post‐exhausting running but decreased towards baseline 10‐min post‐exhausting cycling. Exhausting running induced an increase in irisin release for the whole course of exercise and recovery periods, but cycling did not. Acute exercise‐induced irisin changes seemed not related to changes of CK, aspartate AST, and Mb in general. In conclusion, acute exercise‐induced irisin release is not associated with training status but might be affected by training mode. Future studies are required to investigate which exercise mode might be most efficient in altering irisin.
Gilded medieval Islamic glazed ceramics: Non-destructive surface analyses in search of technological features
Authors: Pacheco C. , Chapoulie R. , Dooryhee E. , Aucouturier M. , Makariou S. , Miroudot D.
Published: May 2018

Gold leaf decoration on Islamic glazed ceramics appears in the twelfth–thirteenth century in Iran. In late fourteenth century, many craftsmen were deported by Tamerlane – alias Timur-i Leng (1336–1405) – to Samarkand or Shakhrisabz in order to adorn the monuments he ordered to settle his power. Thus, gilded tiles are quite frequent in Timurid architecture and are regarded as a heritage of Iranian techniques of glaze decoration. This paper is dealing with the history of ceramic techniques and its first aim is to propose the main steps of the making process of gold leaf decoration. This study implies the combination of non-destructive surface observations and analyses such as SEM-EDS, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and white light interferometry in the light of an ancient text describing the know-how. The other issue of the study is to compare the obtained data on two corpuses of sherds: Iranian vessel dating from the twelfth to thirteenth century, and architectural Timurid tiles dating from the fourteenth to fifteenth century, so as to grasp the evolution of the technique.
Itraconazole targets cell cycle heterogeneity in colorectal cancer
Authors: Buczacki Simon J.A. , Popova Semiramis , Biggs Emma , Koukorava Chrysa , Buzzelli Jon , Vermeulen Louis , Hazelwood Lee , Francies Hayley , Garnett Mathew J. , Winton Douglas J.
Published: May 2018

Cellular dormancy and heterogeneity in cell cycle length provide important explanations for treatment failure after adjuvant therapy with S-phase cytotoxics in colorectal cancer (CRC), yet the molecular control of the dormant versus cycling state remains unknown. We sought to understand the molecular features of dormant CRC cells to facilitate rationale identification of compounds to target both dormant and cycling tumor cells. Unexpectedly, we demonstrate that dormant CRC cells are differentiated, yet retain clonogenic capacity. Mouse organoid drug screening identifies that itraconazole generates spheroid collapse and loss of dormancy. Human CRC cell dormancy and tumor growth can also be perturbed by itraconazole, which is found to inhibit Wnt signaling through noncanonical hedgehog signaling. Preclinical validation shows itraconazole to be effective in multiple assays through Wnt inhibition, causing both cycling and dormant cells to switch to global senescence. These data provide preclinical evidence to support an early phase trial of itraconazole in CRC.
Comparison of the air-kerma standards of the NRPA, the STUK, the SSM and the LNE-LNHB in medium-energy x-rays (EURAMET.RI(I)-S15)
Authors: Bjerke H , Plagnard J , Bordy J-M , Kosunen A , Lindholm C , Persson L , Hetland P O
Published: May 2018

A supplementary comparison has been made between the air-kerma standards of the NRPA, Norway, the STUK, Finland, the SSM, Sweden and the LNE-LNHB, France in the medium-energy x-ray range. The technical protocol was approved by the CCRI(I) in April 2016. The results show the standards to be in agreement at the level of the standard uncertainty of the comparison of 4.4, 9.1 and 4.5 parts in 10³ for the NRPA, STUK and the SSM, respectively. The results are analysed and presented in terms of degrees of equivalence.

KEY WORDS FOR SEARCH

Supplementary comparison, air kerma, medium energy x-rays, radiation dosimetry

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCRI, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Revealing Measles Outbreak Risk With a Nested Immunoglobulin G Serosurvey in Madagascar
Authors: Winter Amy K , Wesolowski Amy P , Mensah Keitly J , Ramamonjiharisoa Miora Bruna , Randriamanantena Andrianmasina Herivelo , Razafindratsimandresy Richter , Cauchemez Simon , Lessler Justin , Ferrari Matt J , Metcalf C Jess E , Héraud Jean-Michel
Published: May 2018

Madagascar reports few measles cases annually and high vaccination campaign coverage. However, the underlying age profile of immunity and risk of a measles outbreak is unknown. We conducted a nested serological survey, testing 1,005 serum samples (collected between November 2013 and December 2015 via Madagascar’s febrile rash surveillance system) for measles immunoglobulin G antibody titers. We directly estimated the age profile of immunity and compared these estimates with indirect estimates based on a birth cohort model of vaccination coverage and natural infection. Combining these estimates of the age profile of immunity in the population with an age-structured model of transmission, we further predicted the risk of a measles outbreak and the impact of mitigation strategies designed around supplementary immunization activities. The direct and indirect estimates of age-specific seroprevalence show that current measles susceptibility is over 10%, and modeling suggests that Madagascar may be at risk of a major measles epidemic.
The small peptide world in long noncoding RNAs
Authors: Choi Seo-Won , Kim Hyun-Woo , Nam Jin-Wu
Published: May 2018

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of transcripts that are longer than 200 nucleotides (nt) without coding potential. Over the past decade, tens of thousands of novel lncRNAs have been annotated in animal and plant genomes because of advanced high-throughput RNA sequencing technologies and with the aid of coding transcript classifiers. Further, a considerable number of reports have revealed the existence of stable, functional small peptides (also known as micropeptides), translated from lncRNAs. In this review, we discuss the methods of lncRNA classification, the investigations regarding their coding potential and the functional significance of the peptides they encode.
Recent advances in the precise control of isolated single-site catalysts by chemical methods
Authors: Li Zhijun , Wang Dehua , Wu Yuen , Li Yadong
Published: May 2018

The search for constructing high-performance catalysts is an unfailing topic in chemical fields. Recently, we have witnessed many breakthroughs in the synthesis of single-atom catalysts (SACs) and their applications in catalytic systems. They have shown excellent activity, selectivity, stability, efficient atom utilization and can serve as an efficient bridge between homogeneous and heterogenous catalysis. Currently, most SACs are synthesized via a bottom-up strategy; however, drawbacks such as the difficulty in accessing high mass activity and controlling homogeneous coordination environments are inevitably encountered, restricting their potential use in the industrial area. In this regard, a novel top-down strategy has been recently developed to fabricate SACs to address these practical issues. The metal loading can be increased to 5% and the coordination environments can also be precisely controlled. This review highlights approaches to the chemical synthesis of SACs towards diverse chemical reactions, especially the recent advances in improving the mass activity and well-defined local structures of SACs. Also, challenges and opportunities for the SACs will be discussed in the later part.
Detection and Quantification of Airborne Claviceps purpurea sensu lato Ascospores from Hirst-Type Spore Traps using Real-Time Quantitative PCR
Authors: Dung Jeremiah K.S. , Scott Jeness C. , Cheng Qunkang , Alderman Stephen C. , Kaur Navneet , Walenta Darrin L. , Frost Kenneth E. , Hamm Philip B.
Published: May 2018

The U.S. Pacific Northwest states of Oregon and Washington are major producers of cool-season grass seed. Ergot, caused by fungi in the Claviceps purpurea sensu lato group, is an important seed replacement disease of grass worldwide. Microscopic methods that are currently used to quantify airborne Claviceps ascospores captured by spore traps are not currently rapid enough to allow for detecting and reporting of spore numbers in a timely manner, hindering growers from using this information to help manage ergot. We developed a SYBR Green real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based assay for fast and efficient detection and quantification of C. purpurea sensu lato ascospores from Hirst-type spore traps. Species-specificity of the qPCR assay was confirmed against 41 C. purpurea sensu lato isolates collected from six hosts and six other Claviceps spp. Significant relationships were observed between cycle threshold (Ct) values and standard curves of serial dilutions of DNA ranging from 1 pg to 10 ng (R2 = –0.99; P = 0.0002) and DNA extracted from a conidial suspension representing 8 to 80,000 conidia (R2 = –0.99; P = 0.0004). Ct values from qPCR were significantly correlated with results from microscopic examination of spore trap samples from the field (r = –0.68; P < 0.0001) and the procedure was able to detect a single ascospore from spore trap tape samples. The qPCR procedure developed in this study provided a means for quantifying airborne Claviceps ascospores that was highly specific and useful over a wide range of spore densities, and could be performed in a matter of hours instead of days. The qPCR assay developed in this study could be part of an integrated pest management approach to help grass seed growers make risk-based fungicide application decisions for ergot management in grass grown for seed.
What is the role of PCSK9 inhibitors in treating hypercholesterolemia?
Authors: Volpe Mark
Published: May 2018

PCSK9 inhibitors are a novel medical therapy for treating hypercholesterolemia. This article reviews the basic properties of PCSK9 inhibitors, including their mechanism of action, indications, contraindications, adverse reactions, and efficacy.
Can state-supported interprofessional coalitions cure preceptor shortages?
Authors: Woodall Lesli , Smith Gigi , Garr David , Hopla Deborah , Kern Donna
Published: May 2018

The shortage of clinical preceptors compromises the current and future supply of healthcare providers and patient access to primary care. This article describes how an interprofessional coalition in South Carolina formed and sought government support to address the preceptor shortage. Some states have legislated preceptor tax credits and/or deductions to support the clinical education of future primary care healthcare providers. As a result of the coalition's work, a bill to establish similar incentives is pending in the South Carolina legislature.
Successful Integration of an Academic Electronic Health Record Into the Curriculum of an Associate Degree Nursing Program
Authors: Baxter Patricia M. , Andrew Lesley A.
Published: May 2018

The use of electronic data management systems is rapidly expanding. Nurses need to be competent in the use of electronic health records (EHRs) and understand their contribution to safe, effective, high quality patient care. Faculty must incorporate learning experiences in the application of EHRs into undergraduate nursing programs in order to adequately prepare students for employment. This article reports the challenges involved in the successful addition of an academic EHR into an existing curriculum.
Measuring the Gap Between Students’ Expectations and Experiences in an RN-to-BSN Nursing Program
Authors: Dabney Beverly W. , Linton Mary , Duncan Chelsea , Koonmen Jamie
Published: May 2018

With the nursing profession requiring a more educated workforce, RN-to-BSN program enrollment has increased. Therefore, many nursing schools have expanded these programs and incorporated online learning components. The purpose of this study was to explore student expectations and perceptions of a Midwestern university’s RN-to-BSN program. A modified SERVQUAL tool was used to measure student perceptions of six quality dimensions: empathy, assurance, responsiveness, reliability, website content, and e-learning quality. Results showed that the expectation-perception gap was greatest for responsiveness (−0.506) and least for website content (−0.156). Results from this and future gap analyses will be used to develop quality improvement measures.