bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance enhancement of ground radiation antenna by coupling with ground body
Authors: Moon Sungjin , Jeon Jihwan , Shin Hyunwoong , Kim Hyung Hoon , Kim Hyeongdong
Published: October 2018

In this paper, the effect of coupling between the antenna and ground characteristic mode is investigated by comparing the radiation performance of antennas located inside and outside the ground plane. In general, it is understood that an antenna occupying a larger space has better radiation performance. However, in this paper, it is shown that coupling between the antenna and ground is important for radiation performance, rather than the size occupied by the antenna. The antenna is strongly coupled with the ground characteristic mode when located inside the ground; the −10 dB bandwidth is 130 MHz at 2.45 GHz, and the measured realized efficiency is −0.64 dB in the 2.4‐2.5 GHz band. When the antenna protrudes from the ground plane, the coupling between the antenna and the ground characteristic mode is weak, achieving a narrower −10 dB bandwidth of 50 MHz at 2.45 GHz, and lower measured realized efficiency of −2.20 dB in the 2.4‐2.5 GHz band. In other words, the radiation performance of the same antenna is significantly influenced by the coupling with the ground.
VERDICT‐AMICO: Ultrafast fitting algorithm for non‐invasive prostate microstructure characterization
Authors: Bonet‐Carne Elisenda , Johnston Edward , Daducci Alessandro , Jacobs Joseph G. , Freeman Alex , Atkinson David , Hawkes David J. , Punwani Shonit , Alexander Daniel C. , Panagiotaki Eleftheria
Published: October 2018

VERDICT (vascular, extracellular and restricted diffusion for cytometry in tumours) estimates and maps microstructural features of cancerous tissue non‐invasively using diffusion MRI. The main purpose of this study is to address the high computational time of microstructural model fitting for prostate diagnosis, while retaining utility in terms of tumour conspicuity and repeatability.

In this work, we adapt the accelerated microstructure imaging via convex optimization (AMICO) framework to linearize the estimation of VERDICT parameters for the prostate gland. We compare the original non‐linear fitting of VERDICT with the linear fitting, quantifying accuracy with synthetic data, and computational time and reliability (performance and precision) in eight patients. We also assess the repeatability (scan‐rescan) of the parameters.

Comparison of the original VERDICT fitting versus VERDICT‐AMICO showed that the linearized fitting (1) is more accurate in simulation for a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 20 dB; (2) reduces the processing time by three orders of magnitude, from 6.55 seconds/voxel to 1.78 milliseconds/voxel; (3) estimates parameters more precisely; (4) produces similar parametric maps and (5) produces similar estimated parameters with a high Pearson correlation between implementations, r2 > 0.7. The VERDICT‐AMICO estimates also show high levels of repeatability. Finally, we demonstrate that VERDICT‐AMICO can estimate an extra diffusivity parameter without losing tumour conspicuity and retains the fitting advantages.

VERDICT‐AMICO provides microstructural maps for prostate cancer characterization in seconds.
A multi‐parametric PET/MRI study of breast cancer: Evaluation of DCE‐MRI pharmacokinetic models and correlation with diffusion and functional parameters
Authors: Inglese Marianna , Cavaliere Carlo , Monti Serena , Forte Ernesto , Incoronato Mariarosaria , Nicolai Emanuele , Salvatore Marco , Aiello Marco
Published: October 2018

The objective of this study is to compare perfusion parameters, as measured by the shutter speed and the Tofts models applied in DCE‐MRI, in malignant breast lesions. Also, to investigate the relationship between perfusion, morphological and functional parameters extracted by the simultaneous acquisition of positron emission tomography (PET) and MRI.

46 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer were imaged with a 3 T hybrid PET/MRI system, at staging. 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET images were acquired simultaneously with MRI, which included DW‐ and DCE‐MRI. Standardized uptake value (SUV), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and pharmacokinetic maps (from the Tofts and shutter speed models) were generated for each primary lesion and a reference, healthy tissue area. Wilcoxon and Spearman tests were used for the statistical analysis.

MRI‐derived parameters (perfusion and diffusion) and PET SUVmean were significantly different between tumour and reference tissue (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between the two pharmacokinetic models (p < 0.01) and between SUV and pharmacokinetic parameters (Ktrans, kep, ve and τi). No correlation was observed between ADC and SUV, or between ADC and pharmacokinetic parameters.

In conclusion, PET/MRI allows for the characterization of primary lesions in breast cancer. Simultaneous analysis of perfusion, morphological and functional markers reveals good agreement between different pharmacokinetic models. Perfusion parameters showed a good correlation with the SUV in breast lesions. In particular, the shutter speed τi was found to be significantly correlated to 18F‐FDG uptake (negative correlation), indicating an association with tumour metabolic mechanisms.
Lessons Learned: Starting the First On‐Demand, Gravity‐Powered Ceramic Filtration Plant in the United States
Authors: Kutil Nathan D. , Keenan James R.
Published: October 2018

Starting a new state‐of‐the‐art water treatment facility is always challenging, but it's even more difficult when the technology provider is working alone for the first time in the United States. That was the situation operators faced when the Basin Creek Water Treatment Plant went online last year in Butte, Mont.
Transparent Communication Builds Trust Regarding Lead in Drinking Water
Authors: Davis J.C.
Published: October 2018

Legacy lead pipes and plumbing create the risk of potential lead exposure, whether through utility‐owned service laterals; privately owned lines; or home fixtures, fittings, and solder. AWWA's lead communication tools can help water providers reach out to stakeholders about this public health issue.
Synthesis and biological activities of polymer–thorium (IV) nanocomposites
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed Galal , Fahmy Alaa , Othman Ibraheem , Salah Ahmed , El‐Hai Farag Abd
Published: October 2018

In this investigation radical induced copolymerization reaction of vinylpyridine (VP)‐Thorium (Th(IV)) complex with pure methylmethacrylate in dimethylsulfoxide using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator led to formation of polymer metal composite. The prepared polymer composite was characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope and X‐ray diffraction. FT‐IR results showed that the metal ion is coordinated via the nitrogen of VP. The solubility of Th(IV) complex and the formed polymer composite in polar and non‐polar solvents was also tested. However, the conductivity measurements revealed nonelectrolytic nature of the complex. Moreover, the thermal properties of the prepared composite and their antitumor and antimicrobial activities were discussed. Additionally, in this work not only the nanocomposite as bulky materials (powder) but thin films also were deposited utilizing electrospray deposition technique. The produced films have been reduced growth of gram‐negative Escherichia coli by ∼99.1%. The morphology of the prepared film was studied by SEM and atomic force microscopy. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:1939–1950, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Comparative effectiveness and safety of antiplatelet drugs in patients with diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Spoendlin Julia , Gagne Joshua J. , Lewey Jennifer J. , Patorno Elisabetta , Schneeweiss Sebastian , Desai Rishi J.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Comparative outcomes of treatment with antiplatelet drugs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and co‐morbid diabetes mellitus (DM) are not well studied.

Methods

We performed a cohort study using US commercial claims data (2009‐2015) and conducted the following pairwise comparisons in ACS patients with DM: prasugrel vs clopidogrel, ticagrelor vs clopidogrel, and prasugrel vs ticagrelor. Outcomes of interest included (1) a composite effectiveness endpoint including myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or inpatient mortality; (2) a composite safety endpoint including major bleeding events requiring hospitalization; and (3) pneumonia hospitalizations as a negative control endpoint. We used calendar time‐specific propensity score matching to account for confounding and applied Cox proportional hazard models to calculate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Comparative risk of the effectiveness endpoint was lower among prasugrel initiators compared to clopidogrel initiators (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.68‐0.99, N = 7011 matched pairs), but no different between ticagrelor and clopidogrel (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.76‐1.37, N = 3013 pairs) or prasugrel and ticagrelor (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.58‐1.18, N = 2207 pairs). Bleeding risk was higher among prasugrel initiators when compared to clopidogrel initiators within the first month of treatment (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.03‐3.35); no other comparison indicated any difference. No differences in the negative control outcomes were noted after PS matching for all comparisons, indicating adequate confounding control.

Conclusions

Prasugrel was associated with superior cardiovascular outcomes and a higher risk of short‐term bleeding compared to clopidogrel in patients with ACS and DM. Comparative outcomes were similar between ticagrelor and clopidogrel or prasugrel and ticagrelor.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of risk minimization measures for trimetazidine: A cross sectional joint PASS survey among physicians in selected European countries
Authors: von Bredow Dorothea , Toussi Massoud , Samad Abdus , Kaplan Sigal , Domahidy Mónika , de Voogd Hanka , Böhmert Stella , Ramos Rita Silveira , Arora Deepa
Published: October 2018

Purpose

In 2012, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) restricted prescription of trimetazidine (TMZ) to “add‐on therapy for patients with stable angina pectoris who are inadequately controlled by or intolerant to first‐line therapies.” TMZ was no longer indicated for ophthalmology and otolaryngology. Risk minimization measure (RMM) was communicated to physicians. The survey presented here evaluated effectiveness of the RMM and assessed physicians knowledge and compliance with RMM. It also analyzed actual prescribing pattern of TMZ.

Methods

A cross sectional, web‐based survey was developed and conducted among prescribing physicians of TMZ across 12 European countries. Physicians' samples were weighted to account for the actual proportion of specialties within and across countries.

Results

Using weighted samples, data from 1123 physicians and 8332 prescriptions were analyzed. Most (74.0%) of the physicians assumed stable angina pectoris to be an indication for TMZ. Three quarter of (75.7%) of these physicians were aware of the approved indication. Vertigo (62.1%), tinnitus (42.5%), declined visual acuity, and visual field disturbances (45.1%) were also presumed to be approved indications for TMZ, and physicians actually prescribed for these indications. Only 29.8% of the physicians remembered receiving RMM communications regarding TMZ. Most (90.5%) of the physicians expressed their interest to know and comply with the safety communications. Of all prescriptions, 33.9% were issued for add‐on therapy for patients with stable angina pectoris.

Conclusions

RMM for TMZ prescription have been moderately effective. Improvement in physician's compliance with safety information of TMZ is necessary for patient's safety.
Who diagnosed and prescribed what? Using provider details to inform observational research
Authors: Bushnell Greta A. , Stürmer Til , Mack Christina , Pate Virginia , Miller Matthew
Published: October 2018

Purpose

To describe how often patients with depression initiating antidepressants receive their depression diagnosis and prescriptions from the same provider and, when simultaneously initiating benzodiazepines, how often both prescriptions come from the same provider.

Methods

Using a US healthcare claims database, we created a cohort of adults (18‐64 years) with a depression diagnosis who initiated antidepressants. We examined concordance by provider specialty and provider identifier between (a) the first antidepressant prescription fill and most proximal depression diagnosis, and (b) the initial antidepressant and benzodiazepine prescription fills among simultaneous benzodiazepine and antidepressant initiators.

Results

Among 245 166 antidepressant initiators with a recent depression diagnosis (female = 67%; median age = 39), the specialty of the provider assigning the depression diagnosis matched the antidepressant prescriber's specialty in 94% of cases with known provider details (provider identifier concordance = 93%). Concordance was higher for adults diagnosed by a general practitioner (98%) or psychiatrist (92%) than for those diagnosed by a psychologist (74%). In simultaneous new users of antidepressants and benzodiazepines (n = 19 371), both prescriptions were issued by the same provider specialty and provider identifier 94% and 93% of the time, respectively.

Conclusions

The vast majority of patients who received antidepressant prescriptions and depression diagnoses appear to have received both diagnosis and antidepressants from the same provider, suggesting that when antidepressants are issued around the time a patient is diagnosed with depression, the antidepressant was likely prescribed for depression. In addition, the great majority of patients who simultaneously initiate benzodiazepines appear to do so under the direction of one provider.
PLUG (Pruning of Local Unrealistic Geometries) removes restrictions on biophysical modeling for protein design
Authors: Hallen Mark A.
Published: October 2018

Protein design algorithms must search an enormous conformational space to identify favorable conformations. As a result, those that perform this search with guarantees of accuracy generally start with a conformational pruning step, such as dead‐end elimination (DEE). However, the mathematical assumptions of DEE‐based pruning algorithms have up to now severely restricted the biophysical model that can feasibly be used in protein design. To lift these restrictions, I propose to prune local unrealistic geometries (PLUG) using a linear programming‐based method. PLUG's biophysical model consists only of well‐known lower bounds on interatomic distances. PLUG is intended as preprocessing for energy‐based protein design calculations, whose biophysical model need not support DEE pruning. Based on 96 test cases, PLUG is at least as effective at pruning as DEE for larger protein designs—the type that most require pruning. When combined with the LUTE protein design algorithm, PLUG greatly facilitates designs that account for continuous entropy, large multistate designs with continuous flexibility, and designs with extensive continuous backbone flexibility and advanced nonpairwise energy functions. Many of these designs are tractable only with PLUG, either for empirical reasons (LUTE's machine learning step achieves an accurate fit only after PLUG pruning), or for theoretical reasons (many energy functions are fundamentally incompatible with DEE).
The vitellogenin receptor has an essential role in vertical transmission of rice stripe virus during oogenesis in the small brown plant hopper
Authors: He Kang , Lin Kejian , Ding Simin , Wang Guirong , Li Fei
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

The small brown plant hopper (SBPH), Laodelphax striatellus Fallén, is one of the most destructive pests on rice. This pest transmits rice stripe virus (RSV) both horizontally and vertically, leading to major yield and economic losses in rice production. However, the way that RSV particles enter oocytes of SBPH remains largely unknown. Thus, identification of key factors involved in the interaction between SBPH and RSV in the ovary is crucial.

RESULTS

Transcriptome of non‐viruliferous (NV) or high viruliferous (HV) SBPH ovaries at 24 and 48 h of emergence was sequenced. Differentially expressed genes analysis showed that vitellogenin receptor was significantly highly expressed in the ovary of the HV SBPH strains compared to NV strains. Quantitative real‐time polymer chain reaction showed that the vitellogenin receptor in L. striatellus (LsVgR) was highly expressed in the ovaries of female adults and maintained a high level of expression at the early stage of ovary development. By using RNA interference, the expression of LsVgR in the ovaries of the HV strain was significantly decreased by 98.1%. RSV titer was reduced by 60.9% as quantified by viral RNA3 intergenic region and the transcripts of nucleocapsid protein gene (CP) reduced by 46.3%. The numbers of offspring hatched were significantly reduced in dsRNA‐treated groups. The transcripts of CP were not affected by silencing LsVgR, whereas the abundance of RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase increased by 15‐fold in the member of surviving progenies.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that vitellogenin receptor participates in regulating RSV replication during oogenesis. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Fully Solution‐Processed Low‐Voltage Driven Transparent Oxide Thin Film Transistors
Authors: Yang Bo‐Xuan , Chien Yu‐Hsin Chang , Chang Ting , Liao Ching‐Han , Liu Cheng‐Yi , Chiang Anthony Shiaw‐Tseh , Liu Cheng‐Liang
Published: October 2018

In this work, transparent ZnO thin‐film transistors (TFTs) are fabricated on ITO glass substrate with only solution processes. The active ZnO channels are deposited by spray pyrolysis. The gate dielectric is a spin‐coated high dielectric constant (k) titanium‐silicon oxide (TSO) layer, while the source/drain (S/D) electrodes are patterned by two‐step spray‐printing of silver nanowire (AgNWs)/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) transparent conductive composite through a shadow mask. The composition and microstructural characteristics of the films, as well as their TFTs performance, are systematically studied as a function of the temperature. The introduction of TSO high k dielectric, with ultraviolet (UV)‐assisted post‐annealing, significantly improves the device performance and achieves a maximum electron mobility (µmax) value as high as 56.2 cm2 V−1 s−1 when measured with thermally‐evaporated Al top electrode. For fully solution‐processed transparent TFTs with low temperature fabricated AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS S/D electrodes, the µmax is calculated to be 9.1 cm2 V−1 s−1 operating at a relatively low voltage of <3 V. The TFTs also show hysteresis‐free electrical characteristics and optical transparency of ≈80% in the visible region of the optical spectrum.
A Bayesian framework for accelerated reliability growth testing with multiple sources of uncertainty
Authors: Ruiz Cesar , Pohl Ed , Liao Haitao , Sullivan Kelly M.
Published: October 2018

Reliability growth tests are often used for achieving a target reliability for complex systems via multiple test‐fix stages with limited testing resources. Such tests can be sped up via accelerated life testing (ALT) where test units are exposed to harsher‐than‐normal conditions. In this paper, a Bayesian framework is proposed to analyze ALT data in reliability growth. In particular, a complex system with components that have multiple competing failure modes is considered, and the time to failure of each failure mode is assumed to follow a Weibull distribution. We also assume that the accelerated condition has a fixed time scaling effect on each of the failure modes. In addition, a corrective action with fixed ineffectiveness can be performed at the end of each stage to reduce the occurrence of each failure mode. Under the Bayesian framework, a general model is developed to handle uncertainty on all model parameters, and several special cases with some parameters being known are also studied. A simulation study is conducted to assess the performance of the proposed models in estimating the final reliability of the system and to study the effects of unbiased and biased prior knowledge on the system‐level reliability estimates.
H2 clumped isotope measurements at natural isotopic abundances
Authors: Popa Maria Elena , Paul Dipayan , Janssen Christof , Röckmann Thomas
Published: October 2018

Rationale

Molecular hydrogen (H2) is an important gas for atmospheric chemistry, and an indirect greenhouse gas due to its reaction with OH. The isotopic composition of H2 (δD) has been used to investigate its atmospheric budget; here we add a new observable, the clumped isotopic signature ΔDD, to the tools that can be used to study the global cycle of H2.

Methods

A method for determining ΔDD in H2 was developed using the high‐resolution MAT 253‐Ultra isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Thermo Fisher). The HH, HD and DD abundances are quantified at medium resolution (M/ΔM ≈ 6000), which is sufficient for HD+ and DD+ to be distinguished from H3+ and H2D+, respectively. The method involves sequential measurement of isotopologues, and DD is measured using an ion counter. For verification, catalytic ΔDD equilibration experiments were performed at temperatures of up to 850°C.

Results

The typical precision obtained for ΔDD is 2–6‰, close to the theoretical counting statistics limit, and adequate for detecting the expected natural variations. Compatibility and medium‐term reproducibility are consistent with the precision values. The method was validated using temperature equilibration experiments, which showed a dependence of ΔDD on temperature as expected form theoretical calculations.

Conclusions

We have established a method for determining ΔDD in H2 at natural isotopic abundances, with a precision that is adequate for observing the expected variations in atmospheric and other natural H2. This method opens the road to new research on the natural H2 cycle.
Short informative title: Quantitative assessment of acute impacts of suspended sediment on carp in the Yellow River
Authors: Xu Fengran , Baoligao Baiyin , Chen Xingru , Li Xiang , Deng Huanhuan , Shang Xu
Published: October 2018

Sediment concentration usually increases during the reservoir sediment flushing or natural floods, which may result in acute hypoxia stress and death of fishes in river reaches. Deceased fishes often appeared during periods of the reservoir sediment flushing in the Yellow River. To assess the quantitative impacts of high sediment concentration on carp, the suspended sediment concentration‐exposure duration model (SEV model) was applied and revised. With data from field surveys conducted during the sediment flushing of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir, the sediment flushing in 2009 was assessed as having no lethal effect. However, for the flushing in 2010, the fish mortality rate was assessed to be less than 20%. By analysing the data from experiments that exposed carps to different sediment concentrations, the SEV model tended to underestimate the acute impact of high sediment concentration (>30,000 mg/l). The SEV model was revised by refitting with experimental data. The comparison between the models showed that the severity effect values (SEVs) calculated by the revised model were closer to actual observations. The revised model was validated with data from previous field surveys. This research could provide a scientific basis for river sediment management and eco‐friendly reservoir sediment flushing operations.
Nonmedical use of prescription drugs for cognitive enhancement as response to chronic stress especially when social support is lacking
Authors: Sattler Sebastian
Published: October 2018

The nonmedical use of prescription drugs to improve cognitive performance has gained attention due to concerns over its social and political implications as well as side effects and long‐term health consequences. Some researchers expect a future trend of an instrumental use of drugs for cognitive enhancement (CE). Thus, getting insights about causes of CE‐drug consumption is warranted before the prevalence increases. Because perceived stress is ubiquitous in universities and may decrease cognitive performance, one reaction to cope with stress and its consequences might be the instrumental use of drugs for CE, especially if other resources, such as social support, are lacking. With a prospective design, randomly selected students from four German universities were invited to a web‐based survey and reinterviewed after 6 months (N = 2,203). Results show a 6‐month prevalence rate of self‐reported CE‐drug use of about 2%. Higher reported chronic stress is positively associated with CE‐drug use. Although social support has no main effect, stress‐buffering effects were found. In men with low stress, more support is associated with a higher chance of self‐reported CE‐drug use. These findings can inform intervention and prevention strategies such as changes in drug regulation or sensitizing (potential) users to unwanted health consequences.
Hexagonal Double Perovskite Cs2AgCrCl6
Authors: Zhou Yuqiao , Askar Abdelrahman M. , Pöhls Jan‐Hendrik , Iyer Abishek K. , Oliynyk Anton O. , Shankar Karthik , Mar Arthur
Published: October 2018

The quaternary halide Cs2AgCrCl6 was prepared in the form of dark purple crystals by reaction of CsCl, AgCl, and CrCl3, at 700 °C. It crystallizes in the trigonal Ba2NiTeO6‐type structure [space group R3m, Z = 6, a = 7.2692(4) Å, c = 36.443(2) Å] belonging to the family of perovskite polytypes containing sequences of hexagonal close‐packed layers. Groups of three face‐sharing octahedra, which are occupied in the sequence Ag–Cr–Ag, are connected through corner‐sharing by Cr‐centered octahedra. The UV/Vis/NIR diffuse reflectance spectrum shows absorptions arising from d–d transitions typical of octahedral Cr3+ complexes, as confirmed by electronic structure calculations. The compound melts at 506 °C. Magnetic measurements revealed simple paramagnetic behavior consistent with the presence of isolated Cr3+ ions.
Reactivity and Structural Defects in Glaserite‐Type Iron‐Vanadates
Authors: Reuß Anna , Ksenofontov Vadim , Tapp Joshua , Möller Angela
Published: October 2018

We investigated (a) the redox reaction of FeO and Ag2O in the presence of BaCO3 and V2O5 under inert atmosphere and (b) the oxidation of FeO in air in the presence of BaCO3, Na2CO3, and V2O5. The reaction products are members of the glaserite‐type of compounds: Ba(Ag□)Fe[VO4]2 [a = 5.47397(4) Å, c = 7.1780(1) Å, P3]; BaNa1.63Fe0.79[VO4]2 [a = 9.672(1) Å, b = 5.5860(6) Å, c = 14.1505(4) Å, β = 90.042(9)°, C2/c]; and Ba(Ba,Na)Na[VO4]2 [a = 5.8478(2) Å, c = 7.3835(3) Å, P3m1]. The latter presents an example for a statistical distribution of differently charged ions with differences in ionic radii (Ba2+ and Na+) on the B site of the general formula AB2M[VO4]2. The iron compounds exhibit differences in the defect concentration and localization of voids. For Ba(Ag□)Fe[VO4]2 the Fe3+‐triangular lattice remains intact and the Ag substructure is depleted by 50 % through the redox reaction (a). In contrast, for BaNa1.63Fe0.79[VO4]2 defects occur on both sites (B = Na+ and M = Fe3+) with a total of 0.58 defects per formula unit. Extended 57Fe‐Mössbauer studies on a series of Fe‐glaserite compounds relate structural findings from Rietveld refinements of X‐ray diffraction data with defect concentrations, substitution variants, and charge distributions.
Relating ’t Hooft anomalies of 4d pure Yang-Mills and 2d ℂℙN− 1 model
Authors: Yamazaki Masahito
Published: October 2018

Abstract

It has recently been shown that a center-twisted compactification of the four-dimensional pure SU(N) Yang-Mills theory on a three-torus gives rise to the twodimensional ℂℙ
N− 1-model on a circle with a flavor-twisted boundary condition. We verify the consistency of this statement non-perturbatively at theta angle θ = π, in terms of the mixed ’t Hooft anomalies for flavor symmetries and the time-reversal symmetry. This provides further support for the approach to the confinement of four-dimensional Yang-Mills theory from the two-dimensional ℂℙ
N− 1-model.
Exotic holographic RG flows at finite temperature
Authors: Gürsoy Umut , Kiritsis Elias , Nitti Francesco , Silva Pimenta Leandro
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Black hole solutions and their thermodynamics are studied in Einstein-scalar theories. The associated zero-temperature solutions are non-trivial holographic RG flows. These include solutions which skip intermediate extrema of the bulk scalar potential or feature an inversion of the direction of the flow of the coupling (bounces). At finite temperature, a complex set of branches of black hole solutions is found. In some cases, first order phase transitions are found between the black-hole branches. In other cases, black hole solutions are found to exist even for boundary conditions which did not allow a zero-temperature vacuum flow. Finite-temperature solutions driven solely by the vacuum expectation value of a perturbing operator (zero source) are found and studied. Such solutions exist generically (i.e. with no special tuning of the potential) in theories in which the vacuum flows feature bounces. It is found that they exhibit conformal thermodynamics.
Topological invariants for holographic semimetals
Authors: Liu Yan , Sun Ya-Wen
Published: October 2018

Abstract

We study the behavior of fermion spectral functions for the holographic topological Weyl and nodal line semimetals. We calculate the topological invariants from the Green functions of both holographic semimetals using the topological Hamiltonian method, which calculates topological invariants of strongly interacting systems from an effective Hamiltonian system with the same topological structure. Nontrivial topological invariants for both systems have been obtained and the presence of nontrivial topological invariants further supports the topological nature of the holographic semimetals.
Calogero-Sutherland approach to defect blocks
Authors: Isachenkov Mikhail , Liendo Pedro , Linke Yannick , Schomerus Volker
Published: October 2018

Abstract

Extended objects such as line or surface operators, interfaces or boundaries play an important role in conformal field theory. Here we propose a systematic approach to the relevant conformal blocks which are argued to coincide with the wave functions of an integrable multi-particle Calogero-Sutherland problem. This generalizes a recent observation in [1] and makes extensive mathematical results from the modern theory of multi-variable hypergeometric functions available for studies of conformal defects. Applications range from several new relations with scalar four-point blocks to a Euclidean inversion formula for defect correlators.
Analysing Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Patient Management: A Prospective Observational Evaluation of Team Clinical Decision‐Making
Authors: Gandamihardja T. A. K. , Soukup T. , McInerney S. , Green J. S. A. , Sevdalis N.
Published: October 2018

Background

Multidisciplinary team (MDT)‐driven cancer care is a mandatory UK national policy, widely used globally. However, few studies have examined how MDT members make decisions as a team. We report a single‐centre prospective study on team working within breast cancer MDT.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study of 10 breast MDT meetings (MDM). Trained clinical observer scored quality of presented information and disciplinary contribution to case reviews in real time, using a validated tool, namely Metric for the Observation of Decision‐Making. Data were analysed to evaluate quality of team working.

Results

Ten MDMs were observed (N = 346 patients). An average of 42 patients were discussed per MDM (range: 29–51) with an average 3 min 20 s (range: 31 s–9 min) dedicated to each patient. Management decision was made in 99% of cases. In terms of contribution to case reviews, breast care nurses scored significantly (p < 0.05) lower (M = 1.79, SD = 0.12) compared to other team members (e.g. surgeons, M = 4.65; oncologists, M = 3.07; pathologists, M = 4.51; radiologists, M = 3.21). Information on patient psychosocial aspects (M = 1.69, SD = 0.68), comorbidities (M = 1.36, SD = 0.39) and views on treatment options (M = 1.47, SD = 0.34) was also significantly (p < 0.05) less well represented compared to radiology (M = 3.62, SD = 0.77), pathology (M = 4.42, SD = 0.49) and patient history (M = 3.91, SD = 0.48).

Conclusion

MDT evaluation via direct observation in a meeting is feasible and reliable. We found consistent levels of quality of information coverage and contribution within the team, but certain aspects could be improved. Contribution to patient review resides predominantly with surgeons, while presented patient information is largely of biomedical nature. These findings can be fed to cancer MDTs to identify potential interventions for improvement.
Confronting Prior Conceptions in Paleontology Courses
Authors: Yacobucci Margaret M.
Published: October 2018

People hold a variety of prior conceptions that impact their learning. Prior conceptions that include erroneous or incomplete understandings represent a significant barrier to durable learning, as they are often difficult to change. While researchers have documented students' prior conceptions in many areas of geoscience, little is known about prior conceptions involving paleontology. Here, data on student prior conceptions from two introductory undergraduate paleontology courses are presented. In addition to more general misunderstandings about the nature of science, many students held incorrect ideas about methods of historical geology, Earth history, ancient life, and evolution. Of special note are student perceptions of the limits of paleontology as scientific inquiry. By intentionally eliciting students' prior conceptions and implementing the pedagogical strategies described in other Elements in this series, we can shape instruction to challenge this negative view of paleontology and improve student learning.
14C Dating of the Roman Military Interventions in the Middle Danube Barbarian World
Authors: Komoróczy Balázs , Vlach Marek , Hüssen Claus-Michael , Rajtár Ján
Published: October 2018

The Roman-barbarian interactions along the riverine borderline of the Middle Danube Limes exhibit a wide range of forms, from peaceful contacts and trading activities to full-scale military conflicts. The direct evidence of the latter type of events represents a specific source of archaeological information—generally referred to as temporary camps. The regions of Moravia, SW Slovakia and Lower Austria currently encompass more than 30 verified Roman military field installations. The specifics of these archaeological contexts and the present unsatisfactory state of knowledge have raised the necessity of approaching the given questions with advanced techniques, not least with respect to their chronological position. Along with multiple methods and analytical procedures of relevant natural sciences (geophysics and geochemistry, archaeobotany, microstratigraphy, etc.), radiocarbon (14C) dating has also been involved in order to further establish the chronological position of temporary camps because the archaeological data provide limited possibilities in this respect. In multiple cases, the method has augmented traditional dating techniques and allowed more precise and secure establishment of the chronological position of the field camps of the Roman army.
The Neolithic Transition in the Western Mediterranean: a Complex and Non-Linear Diffusion Process—The Radiocarbon Record Revisited
Authors: Manen C , Perrin T , Guilaine J , Bouby L , Bréhard S , Briois F , Durand F , Marinval P , Vigne J-D
Published: October 2018

The Neolithic transition is a particularly favorable field of research for the study of the emergence and evolution of cultures and cultural phenomena. In this framework, high-precision chronologies are essential for decrypting the rhythms of emergence of new techno-economic traits. As part of a project exploring the conditions underlying the emergence and dynamics of the development of the first agro-pastoral societies in the Western Mediterranean, this paper proposes a new chronological modeling. Based on 45 new radiocarbon (14C) dates and on a Bayesian statistical framework, this work examines the rhythms and dispersal paths of the Neolithic economy both on coastal and continental areas. These new data highlight a complex and far less unidirectional dissemination process than that envisaged so far.
THE POLITICS OF REGIONALISM AND FEDERATION IN EAST AFRICA, 1958–1964
Authors: VAUGHAN CHRIS
Published: October 2018

Recent scholarship discussing the ‘federal moment’ in world history after 1945 has re-examined alternatives to the nation-state in the years of decolonization, arguing against any inevitable transition from empire to nation. This article focuses on the case of East Africa, where federation seemed an attractive and likely prospect by 1963, yet never came to pass. Here, the politics of federation should be understood as a constitutive part of the contested nation-state-making process, rather than a viable alternative to it. For the leaders who initiated the politics of federation in the 1960s, regional unity promised the further centralization of power and a means of defeating ‘tribalist’ opposition. For their opponents, federation was seized on as a means of promoting the autonomy of provinces or kingdoms within a larger federal unit. Ultimately, regionalist aspiration was inseparable from national politics, and negotiations among the leaders of East African states demanded the definition of national interests which divided states rather than united them. Such conclusions suggest that historians of the federal moment might more productively focus on the functions of federalist discourse in the making of nation-states rather than debating the viability of federalist projects.
Integrating Science, Technology and Health Policies in Brazil: Incremental Change and Public Health Professionals as Agents of Reform
Authors: da Fonseca Elize Massard , Shadlen Kenneth , Bastos Francisco Inácio
Published: October 2018

Brazil has encouraged an ambitious set of policies towards the pharmaceutical industry, aiming to foster technological development while meeting health requirements. We characterise these efforts, labelled the ‘Complexo Industrial da Saúde’ (Health-Industry Complex, CIS), as an outcome of incremental policy change backed by the sustained efforts of public health professionals within the federal bureaucracy. As experts with a particular vision of the relationship between health, innovation and industry came to dominate key institutions, they increasingly shaped government responses to emerging challenges. Step by step, these professionals first made science and technology essential aspects of Brazil's health policy, and then merged the Ministry of Health's new focus on science, technology and health with industrial policy measures aimed at private firms. We contrast our depiction of these policy changes with a conventional view that relies on a partisan orientation of the executive.
Adaptation to syntactic structures in native and nonnative sentence comprehension
Authors: KAAN EDITH , FUTCH CORINNE , FERNÁNDEZ FUERTES RAQUEL , MUJCINOVIC SONJA , ÁLVAREZ DE LA FUENTE ESTHER
Published: October 2018

Previous research suggests that native speakers quickly adapt to the properties of the language in the surrounding context. For instance, as they repeatedly read a structure that is initially nonpreferred or infrequent, they show a reduction of processing difficulty. Adaptation has been accounted for in terms of error-based learning: the error resulting from the difference between the expected and actual input leads to an adjustment of the knowledge representation, which changes future expectations. The present study tested whether experiencing an error is sufficient for adaptation. We compared native English speakers and second language (L2) learners’ processing of, and adaptation to, two types of temporarily ambiguous structures that were resolved toward the nonpreferred interpretation. Whereas both native English and L2 speakers showed increased reading times at the disambiguating word versus a nonambiguous control, our data suggest that only native English speakers adapted, and only to one of the two structures. These results suggest that experiencing an error is not sufficient for adaptation, and that factors such as ease of revision and task effects may play a role as well.
Understanding how time flies and what it means to be on cloud nine: English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners’ metaphor comprehension
Authors: HESSEL Annina K. , MURPHY Victoria A.
Published: October 2018

We explored the vocabulary and metaphor comprehension of learners of English as an additional language (EAL) in the first two years of UK primary school. EAL vocabulary knowledge is believed to be a crucial predictor of (reading) comprehension and educational attainment (Murphy, 2018). The vocabulary of five- to seven-year-old children with EAL was compared to that of English monolinguals (N = 80). Comprehension was assessed for both verbal (e.g., time flies) and nominal metaphors (be on cloud nine) of varying frequency. Results showed that children in year 2 (age six to seven years) had better comprehension than their younger (age five to six) peers, particularly for low-frequency metaphors. Children with EAL had weaker metaphor comprehension than their monolingual peers, particularly on a reasoning task. The results document how metaphor comprehension develops over the first critical years of schooling and indicates where learners with EAL differ from monolingual peers, thereby supporting targeted vocabulary teaching at primary schools.
Muscled by the System: Informal Caregivers’ Experiences of Transitioning an Older Adult into Long-term Care
Authors: Konietzny Christy , Kaasalainen Sharon , Dal-Bello Haas Vanina , Merla Cristina , Te Alyssa , Di Sante Emily , Kalfleish Luke , Hadjistavropoulos Thomas
Published: October 2018

Cette étude a exploré les expériences des aidants devant s’occuper de la transition d’une personne âgée vers une institution de soins de longue durée (SLD). Une approche de description qualitative a été utilisée pour l’analyse d’entretiens semi-structurés effectués auprès de 13 aidants de personnes âgées hébergées en centres de soins de longue durée dans le sud de l’Ontario. Nos résultats illustrent que les aidants ressentent des soucis et un lourd fardeau de manière chronique lorsqu’il s’agit de prendre une décision sur l’hébergement ou de faire une demande pour un centre de soins de longue durée. Le sentiment de ne pas avoir le contrôle était un thème récurrent dans les entretiens, particulièrement dans les cas où les aidants requéraient une place en SLD. Les participants se sont sentis bousculés, sous pression et punis à travers le système de santé, mais soulagés et privilégiés après l’acceptation de l’offre de la place en CHSLD. Cette expérience tumultueuse a encouragé les aidants à anticiper les prochaines transitions. Il est recommandé que les aidants aient accès à une préparation et à un soutien ciblé pour mieux gérer les transitions. Une amélioration de la communication entre les professionnels de la santé est essentielle. Les amendes imposées lors du refus d’une place en SLD devraient être réexaminées, considérant l’impact négatif de celles-ci sur les aidants.
Examining the relationship between nutrition and cerebral structural integrity in older adults without dementia
Authors: Reddan J. M. , Macpherson H. , White D. J. , Scholey A. , Pipingas A.
Published: October 2018

The proportion of adults aged 60 years and over is expected to increase over the coming decades. This ageing of the population represents an important health issue, given that marked reductions to cerebral macro- and microstructural integrity are apparent with increasing age. Reduced cerebral structural integrity in older adults appears to predict poorer cognitive performance, even in the absence of clinical disorders such as dementia. As such, it is becoming increasingly important to identify those factors predicting cerebral structural integrity, especially factors that are modifiable. One such factor is nutritional intake. While the literature is limited, data from available cross-sectional studies indicate that increased intake of nutrients such as B vitamins (for example, B6, B12and folate), choline,n-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, or increased adherence to prudent whole diets (for example, the Mediterranean diet) predicts greater cerebral structural integrity in older adults. There is even greater scarcity of randomised clinical trials investigating the effects of nutritional supplementation on cerebral structure, though it appears that supplementation with B vitamins (B6, B12and folic acid) orn-3 fatty acids (DHA or EPA) may be beneficial. The current review presents an overview of available research examining the relationship between key nutrients or adherence to select diets and cerebral structural integrity in dementia-free older adults.
Simulation of multiphase porous media flows with minimising movement and finite volume schemes
Authors: CANCÈS CLÉMENT , GALLOUËT THOMAS , LABORDE MAXIME , MONSAINGEON LÉONARD
Published: October 2018

The Wasserstein gradient flow structure of the partial differential equation system governing multiphase flows in porous media was recently highlighted in Cancès et al. [Anal. PDE10(8), 1845–1876]. The model can thus be approximated by means of the minimising movement (or JKO after Jordan, Kinderlehrer and Otto [SIAM J. Math. Anal.29(1), 1–17]) scheme that we solve thanks to the ALG2-JKO scheme proposed in Benamou et al. [ESAIM Proc. Surv.57, 1–17]. The numerical results are compared to a classical upstream mobility finite volume scheme, for which strong stability properties can be established.
Risk factors for mortality in paediatric cardiac ICU patients managed with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Achuff Barbara-Jo , Elias Matthew D. , Ittenbach Richard F. , Ravishankar Chitra , Nicolson Susan C. , Spray Thomas L. , Fuller Stephanie , Gaynor J. William , O’Connor Matthew J.
Published: October 2018

Background

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is frequently used in patients with cardiac disease. We evaluated short-term outcomes and identified factors associated with hospital mortality in cardiac patients supported with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients supported with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at a university-affiliated children’s hospital was performed.

Results

A total of 253 patients with cardiac disease managed with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were identified; survival to discharge was 48%, which significantly improved from 39% in an earlier era (1995–2001) (p=0.01). Patients were categorised into surgical versus non-surgical groups on the basis of whether they had undergone cardiac surgery before or not, respectively. The most common indication for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: 96 (51%) in the surgical group and 45 (68%) in the non-surgical group. In a multiple covariate analysis, single-ventricle physiology (p=0.01), duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (p<0.01), and length of hospital stay (p=0.03) were associated with hospital mortality. Weekend or night shift cannulation was associated with mortality in non-surgical patients (p=0.05).

Conclusion

We report improvement in survival compared with an earlier era in cardiac patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Single-ventricle physiology continues to negatively impact survival, along with evidence of organ dysfunction during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and length of stay.