bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of Rayleigh-Based Distributed Optical Fiber Sensors Bonded to Reinforcing Bars in Bending
Authors: Bado Mattia Francesco , Casas Joan Ramon , Barrias António
Published: September 2018

Distributed Optical Fiber Sensors (DOFSs), thanks to their multiple sensing points, are ideal tools for the detection of deformations and cracking in reinforced concrete (RC) structures, crucial as a means to ensure the safety of infrastructures. Yet, beyond a certain point of most DOFS-monitored experimental tests, researchers have come across unrealistic readings of strain which prevent the extraction of further reliable data. The present paper outlines the results obtained through an experimental test aimed at inducing such anomalies to isolate and identify the physical cause of their origin. The understanding of such a phenomenon would enable DOFS to become a truly performant strain sensing technique. The test consists of gradually bending seven steel reinforcement bars with a bonded DOFS under different conditions such as different load types, bonding adhesives, bar sections and more. The results show the bonding adhesives having an influence on the DOFS performance but not on the rise of anomalies while the reasons triggering the latter are narrowed down from six to two, reaching a strain threshold and a change in structure’s deformative behavior. Further planned research will allow identification of the cause behind the rise of strain-reading anomalies.
Fast and Stable Ionic Electroactive Polymer Actuators with PEDOT:PSS/(Graphene–Ag-Nanowires) Nanocomposite Electrodes
Authors: Park Minjeong , Kim Joohee , Song Hanjung , Kim Seonpil , Jeon Minhyon
Published: September 2018

Ionic electroactive polymer (IEAP) actuators that are driven by electrical stimuli have been widely investigated for use in practical applications. However, conventional electrodes in IEAP actuators have a serious drawback of poor durability under long-term actuation in open air, mainly because of leakage of the inner electrolyte and hydrated cations through surface cracks on the metallic electrodes. To overcome this problem, a top priority is developing new high-performance ionic polymer actuators with graphene electrodes that have superior mechanical, electrical conductivity, and electromechanical properties. However, the task is made difficultby issues such as the low electrical conductivity of graphene (G). The percolation network of silver nanowires (Ag-NWs) is believed to enhance the conductivity of graphene, while poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), which exhibits excellent stability under ambient conditions, is expected to improve the actuation performance of IEAP actuators. In this study, we developed a very fast, stable, and durable IEAP actuator by employing electrodes made of a nanocomposite comprising PEDOT:PSS and graphene–Ag-NWs (P/(G–Ag)). The cost-effective P/(G–Ag) electrodes with high electrical conductivity displayed a smooth surface resulting from the PEDOT:PSS coating, which prevented oxidation of the surface upon exposure to air, and showedstrong bonding between the ionic polymer and the electrode surface. More interestingly, the proposed IEAP actuator based on the P/G–Ag electrode can be used in active biomedical devices, biomimetic robots, wearable electronics, and flexible soft electronics.
On the Use of Focused Incident Near-Field Beams in Microwave Imaging
Authors: Bayat Nozhan , Mojabi Puyan
Published: September 2018

We consider the use of focused incident near-field (NF) beams to interrogate the object of interest (OI) in NF microwave imaging (MWI). To this end, we first discuss how focused NF beams can be advantageously utilized to suppress scattering effects from the neighbouring objects whose unknown dielectric properties are not of interest (i.e., undesired scatterers). We then discuss how this approach can also be helpful in reducing the required measured data points to perform imaging. Driven by the relation between the electromagnetic inverse source and inverse scattering problems, our approach emphasizes the importance of tailoring the induced contrast sources in the imaging domain through the utilized incident NF beams. To demonstrate this idea, we consider two recently-proposed NF beams, and simulate them for imaging applications. The first one is a subwavelength focused NF beam generated by a passive NF plate, and the other is a Bessel beam generated by a leaky radial waveguide. Simple imaging examples are considered to explore the potential advantages of this approach, in particular, toward mainly seeing the object of interest, and not the unknown undesired scatterers. The scope of this paper is limited to homogeneous dielectric objects for which the induced total field distributions in the interrogated objects are similar to the incident field distributions (e.g., those that satisfy the Born approximation). Simple inversion results for focused and non-focused beams are presented accompanied by discussions comparing the achieved reconstructed values.
Development of an Apparatus for Crop-Growth Monitoring and Diagnosis
Authors: Ni Jun , Zhang Jingchao , Wu Rusong , Pang Fangrong , Zhu Yan
Published: September 2018

To non-destructively acquire leaf nitrogen content (LNC), leaf nitrogen accumulation (LNA), leaf area index (LAI), and leaf dry weight (LDW) data at high speed and low cost, a portable apparatus for crop-growth monitoring and diagnosis (CGMD) was developed according to the spectral monitoring mechanisms of crop growth. According to the canopy characteristics of crops and actual requirements of field operation environments, splitting light beams by using an optical filter and proper structural parameters were determined for the sensors. Meanwhile, an integral-type weak optoelectronic signal processing circuit was designed, which changed the gain of the system and guaranteed the high resolution of the apparatus by automatically adjusting the integration period based on the irradiance received from ambient light. In addition, a coupling processor system for a sensor information and growth model based on the microcontroller chip was developed. Field experiments showed that normalised vegetation index (NDVI) measured separately through the CGMD apparatus and the ASD spectrometer showed a good linear correlation. For measurements of canopy reflectance spectra of rice and wheat, their linear determination coefficients (R2) were 0.95 and 0.92, respectively while the root mean square errors (RMSEs) were 0.02 and 0.03, respectively. NDVI value measured by using the CGMD apparatus and growth indices of rice and wheat exhibited a linear relationship. For the monitoring models for LNC, LNA, LAI, and LDW of rice based on linear fitting of NDVI, R2 were 0.64, 0.67, 0.63 and 0.70, and RMSEs were 0.31, 2.29, 1.15 and 0.05, respectively. In addition, R2 of the models for monitoring LNC, LNA, LAI, and LDW of wheat on the basis of linear fitting of NDVI were 0.82, 0.71, 0.72 and 0.70, and RMSEs were 0.26, 2.30, 1.43, and 0.05, respectively.
Quantitative Cross-Platform Performance Comparison between Different Detection Mechanisms in Surface Plasmon Sensors for Voltage Sensing
Authors: Suvarnaphaet Phitsini , Pechprasarn Suejit
Published: September 2018

Surface plasmon Resonance (SPR) has recently been of interest for label-free voltage sensing. Several SPR structures have been proposed. However, making a quantitative cross-platform comparison for these structures is not straightforward due to (1) different SPR measurement mechanisms; (2) different electrolytic solution and concentration in the measurement; and (3) different levels of external applied potential. Here, we propose a quantitative approach to make a direct quantitative comparison across different SPR structures, different electrolytic solutions and different SPR measurement mechanisms. There are two structures employed as example in this theoretical study including uniform plasmonic gold sensor and bimetallic layered structure consisting of uniform silver layer (Ag) coated by uniform gold layer (Ag). The cross-platform comparison was carried by several performance parameters including sensitivity (S), full width half maximum (FWHM) and figure of merit (FoM). We also discuss how the SPR measurement mechanisms enhance the performance parameters and how the bimetallic layer can be employed to enhance the FoM by a factor of 1.34 to 25 depending on the SPR detection mechanism.
Structured Background Modeling for Hyperspectral Anomaly Detection
Authors: Li Fei , Zhang Lei , Zhang Xiuwei , Chen Yanjia , Jiang Dongmei , Zhao Genping , Zhang Yanning
Published: September 2018

Background modeling has been proven to be a promising method of hyperspectral anomaly detection. However, due to the cluttered imaging scene, modeling the background of an hyperspectral image (HSI) is often challenging. To mitigate this problem, we propose a novel structured background modeling-based hyperspectral anomaly detection method, which clearly improves the detection accuracy through exploiting the block-diagonal structure of the background. Specifically, to conveniently model the multi-mode characteristics of background, we divide the full-band patches in an HSI into different background clusters according to their spatial-spectral features. A spatial-spectral background dictionary is then learned for each cluster with a principal component analysis (PCA) learning scheme. When being represented onto those dictionaries, the background often exhibits a block-diagonal structure, while the anomalous target shows a sparse structure. In light of such an observation, we develop a low-rank representation based anomaly detection framework that can appropriately separate the sparse anomaly from the block-diagonal background. To optimize this framework effectively, we adopt the standard alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm. With extensive experiments on both synthetic and real-world datasets, the proposed method achieves an obvious improvement in detection accuracy, compared with several state-of-the-art hyperspectral anomaly detection methods.
An Advanced, Silicon-Based Substrate for Sensitive Nucleic Acids Detection
Authors: Petralia Salvatore , Vicario Nunzio , Calabrese Giovanna , Parenti Rosalba , Conoci Sabrina
Published: September 2018

Surface substrate and chemical functionalization are crucial aspects for the fabrication of the sensitive biosensor based on microarray technology. In this paper, an advanced, silicon-based substrate (A-MA) allowing enhancement of optical signal for microarray application is described. The substrate consists in a multilayer of Si/Al/SiO2 layers. The optical signal enhancement is reached by a combination of the mirror effect of Al film and the SiO2 thickness around 830 nm, which is able to reach the maximum of interference for the emission wavelength of the Cy5 fluorescent label. Moreover, SiO2 layer is suitable for the immobilization of single-strand DNA through standard silane chemistry, and probe densities of about 2000 F/um2 are reached. The microarray is investigated in the detection of HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) pathogen with analytical samples, resulting in a dynamic linear range of 0.05–0.5 nM, a sensitivity of about 18000 a.u. nM−1, and a Limit of Detection in the range of 0.031–0.043 Nm as a function of the capture probe sequence.
The Consequences of Spatial Inequality for Adolescent Residential Mobility
Authors: Vogel Matt , Zwiers Merle
Published: September 2018

A large body of literature suggests that neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage is positively associated with out-mobility. However, prior research has been limited by (1) the inability to account for endogenous factors that both funnel families into deprived neighborhoods and increase their likelihood of moving out, and (2) the failure to consider how the spatial distribution of socioeconomic deprivation in the broader community conditions the effect of local deprivation on mobility. This paper attends to this gap in the literature by examining how changes in socioeconomic disadvantage between sending and receiving neighborhoods and the spatial patterning of deprivation in the areas surrounding destination neighborhoods influence future mobility among a representative sample of American adolescents. We employ a modeling strategy that allows us to examine the unique and separable effects of local and extralocal neighborhood disadvantage while simultaneously holding constant time-invariant factors that place some youth at a greater likelihood of experiencing a residential move. We find that moves to more impoverished neighborhoods decrease the likelihood of subsequent mobility and that this effect is most pronounced among respondents who move to neighborhoods surrounded by other similarly deprived neighborhoods. In this sense, geographical pockets of disadvantage strengthen the mobility-hampering effect of neighborhood deprivation on future mobility.
Out of the Education Desert: How Limited Local College Options are Associated with Inequity in Postsecondary Opportunities
Authors: Klasik Daniel , Blagg Kristin , Pekor Zachary
Published: September 2018

The United States has a stratified hierarchy of colleges and universities. The consequences of this stratification include large disparities in the returns to higher education between the levels of postsecondary institutions, and gaps by race and income in terms of where students enroll that, together, have the potential to reproduce longstanding social inequality. We study one potential cause associated with enrollment disparities, the uneven geographic distribution of colleges around the United States. Specifically, we examine the college application and enrollment decisions of students who live in education deserts—geographic areas where students either do not have access to a broad-access, public college option (access deserts), or where they do not have access to a college that is academically matched to their academic credentials (match deserts). We find that the students in access deserts are more likely to apply to and enroll in colleges farther away from home than the students who have more readily available college options. In contrast, students in match deserts are less likely to apply to and enroll in academically-matched institutions. We discuss the equity implications of these findings and make recommendations for policy and future research.
Moderate Intensity Intermittent Exercise Modality May Prevent Cardiovascular Drift
Authors: Colakoglu Muzaffer , Ozkaya Ozgur , Balci Gorkem Aybars
Published: September 2018

Cardiovascular drift (CV-Drift) may occur after the ~10th min of submaximal continuous exercising. The purpose of this study was to examine whether CV-Drift is prevented by an intermittent exercise modality, instead of a continuous exercise. Seven well-trained male cyclists volunteered to take part in the study ( V ˙ O2max: 61.7 ± 6.13 mL·min−1·kg−1). Following familiarization sessions, athletes’ individual maximal O2 consumption ( V ˙ O2max), maximum stroke volume responses (SVmax), and cardiac outputs (Qc) were evaluated by a nitrous-oxide re-breathing system and its gas analyzer. Then, continuous exercises were performed 30 min at cyclists’ 60% V ˙ O2max, while intermittent exercises consisted of three 10 min with 1:0.5 workout/recovery ratios at the same intensity. Qc measurements were taken at the 5th, 9th, 12nd, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th min of continuous exercises versus 5th and 10th min of workout phases of intermittent exercise modality. Greater than a 5% SV decrement, with accompanying HR, increase, while Qc remained stable and was accepted as CV-Drift criterion. It was demonstrated that there were greater SV responses throughout intermittent exercises when compared to continuous exercises (138.9 ± 17.9 vs. 144.5 ± 14.6 mL, respectively; p ≤ 0.05) and less HR responses (140.1 ± 14.8 vs. 135.2 ± 11.6 bpm, respectively; p ≤ 0.05), while mean Qc responses were similar (19.4 ± 2.1 vs. 19.4 ± 1.5 L, respectively; p > 0.05). Moreover, the mean times spent at peak SV scores of exercise sessions were greater during intermittent exercise (1.5 vs. 10 min) (p < 0.001). In conclusion, intermittent exercises reduce CV-Drift risk and increases cardiac adaptation potentials of exercises with less physiological stress.
Modified S2CVA Algorithm Using Cross-Sharpened Images for Unsupervised Change Detection
Authors: Park Honglyun , Choi Jaewan , Park Wanyong , Park Hyunchun
Published: September 2018

This study aims to reduce the false alarm rate due to relief displacement and seasonal effects of high-spatial-resolution multitemporal satellite images in change detection algorithms. Cross-sharpened images were used to increase the accuracy of unsupervised change detection results. A cross-sharpened image is defined as a combination of synthetically pan-sharpened images obtained from the pan-sharpening of multitemporal images (two panchromatic and two multispectral images) acquired before and after the change. A total of four cross-sharpened images were generated and used in combination for change detection. Sequential spectral change vector analysis (S2CVA), which comprises the magnitude and direction information of the difference image of the multitemporal images, was applied to minimize the false alarm rate using cross-sharpened images. Specifically, the direction information of S2CVA was used to minimize the false alarm rate when applying S2CVA algorithms to cross-sharpened images. We improved the change detection accuracy by integrating the magnitude and direction information obtained using S2CVA for the cross-sharpened images. In the experiment using KOMPSAT-2 satellite imagery, the false alarm rate of the change detection results decreased with the use of cross-sharpened images compared to that with the use of only the magnitude information from the original S2CVA.
The Effect of Independent Director Reputation Incentives on Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from China
Authors: Yu Lei , Wang Daojuan , Wang Qi
Published: September 2018

This paper examines the effect of independent director reputation incentives on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Using an unbalanced panel of 3765 Chinese-listed firms between 2009 and 2014, this study suggests that independent director reputation incentives improve CSR. Furthermore, it is found that this effect is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs) than in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). In addition, our results also show that the effect of independent director reputation incentives on CSR is moderated by firm size, and this effect is much stronger in relatively larger firms. Together, these results suggest that reputation is an effective mechanism that can motivate independent directors to fulfill their role of monitoring and advising CSR, especially in non-SOEs and relatively larger firms. We add new insights to the research on the topics of independent director system, protection of the stakeholders’ interests, and CSR enhancement.
Detecting Land Use Changes in a Rapidly Developing City during 1990–2017 Using Satellite Imagery: A Case Study in Hangzhou Urban Area, China
Authors: An Yuqing , Tsou Jin Yeu , Wong Kapo , Zhang Yuanzhi , Liu Dawei , Li Yu
Published: September 2018

As one of the rapidly-developing mega cities in China, Hangzhou has experienced great land use change during the past three decades. By analyzing land use change in designated period, it is beneficial to understand urbanization process in Hangzhou, and undertake further urban management and urban planning. In this study, the land use change from 1990 to 2017 in Hangzhou urban area was detected by a method of supervised classification with Landsat TM images from 1990, 1997, 2004, 2010 and 2017, and analyzed by a Markov matrix. The results show that from 1990 to 2017, a great deal of rural areas transformed into built up areas in the Hangzhou urban area. Consequently, the urban area of Hangzhou increased eight times over the period from 1990 to 2017. This may imply that such a change should be directly related to the Chinese government policy, of which the main factor is rapidly-developing urbanization in China, such as in Hangzhou. Thus, it is believed that China’s land use change is going to be small in the following decades. This may indicate that China’s urban construction is slowing down, while its urban planning is being shifted from construction to management.
Household Food Security Status and Its Determinants in Maphumulo Local Municipality, South Africa
Authors: Ngema Primrose Zama , Sibanda Melusi , Musemwa Lovemore
Published: September 2018

Food security at the household level remains a major issue in South Africa and for many other developing countries, particularly those in Africa. As a means of ensuring food security in KwaZulu-Natal province, various food security intervention programmes were launched. Nonetheless, food security remains an issue among households in the province. This paper estimates the household food security status of the “One Home One Garden” (OHOG) beneficiaries against that of non-beneficiaries and assesses the determinants of household food security status in Maphumulo. A stratified random sampling technique was used to sample 495 households (including 330 OHOG beneficiaries and 165 non-beneficiaries). The status of household food security was estimated by means of a “Household Dietary Diversity Score” (HDDS). Additionally, a Household Food Consumption Score” (HFCS) tool was employed to supplement the HDDS. The results showed that food consumption patterns were characterized by medium (4.89) and average (4.22) HDDS for the OHOG beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, respectively. Taking HDDS as a proxy for household food security, an independent samples t-test (Levene’s test—equal variances assumed) reveals a significant (p < 0.001) relationship between the sample means of the two groups. A greater proportion (65%) of the OHOG beneficiaries had an acceptable (≥35) HFCS level, whereas just over half (54%) of the non-beneficiaries fell in the borderline (21.5 to 35) HFCS level. The determinants of household food security status were elicited by means of a binary logistic regression model. The results revealed that education (p = 0.036), receiving infrastructural support (irrigation) (p = 0.001), and participation in the OHOG programme (p = 0.000) positively influenced the food security status of households, yet household income (p = 0.000) and access to credit (p = 0.002) showed a negative correlation. This paper proposes that government and developmental agencies, in their efforts to enhance food security through food security intervention programmes, should support households by investing in education and agricultural infrastructure, as well as giving priority to smallholder infrastructural irrigation support for households that largely rely on rain-fed systems.
The Greening of Terminal Concessions in Seaports
Authors: Notteboom Theo , Lam Jasmine Siu Lee
Published: September 2018

Port authorities around the world are pursuing a greening of port management in view of safeguarding their license to operate, and increasing their economic and environmental competitiveness. This paper analyzes how port authorities, via the design and implementation of concession agreements, can contribute to a further greening of port management. The paper presents a typology of green instruments applicable to a terminal concession setting. The instruments are evaluated on overall feasibility and suitability in a concession context, but also on more specific criteria related to implementation issues, contribution to green strategies, and targets of port authorities and regulatory/enforcement aspects. The evaluation matrix is based on the output of a structured workshop with port managers and concession experts in a sample of European ports. We demonstrate that a variety of regulatory, investment, and pricing measures are available to port authorities to include green targets in terminal concession agreements. Not all instruments have the same likeliness of being embraced or implemented by port authorities, in part because of a low perceived contribution, high associated regulation costs, or simply because the port authority is unlikely to have jurisdiction in that specific area. Measures related to information reporting and some types of harm-based standards, design standards, and technology specifications are relatively easy to implement in a concession setting. The results also show that many of the measures with a higher expected contribution to innovation and environmental objectives are typically also the ones with higher regulation costs, which might post a higher complexity in terms of their implementation in a concession setting. We further argue that initiatives toward the greening of concession procedures can only reap full benefits if these actions are embedded in a chain approach toward the environment (ship, port, terminal, warehouse, and inland transport).
Testing of Grouped Product for the Weibull Distribution Using Neutrosophic Statistics
Authors: Aslam Muhammad , Arif Osama H.
Published: September 2018

Parts manufacturers use sudden death testing to reduce the testing time of experiments. The sudden death testing plan in the literature can only be applied when all observations of failure time/parameters are crisp. In practice however, it is noted that not all measurements of continuous variables are precise. Therefore, the existing sudden death test plan can be applied if failure data/or parameters are imprecise, incomplete, and fuzzy. The classical statistics have the special case of neutrosophic statistics when there are no fuzzy observations/parameters. The neutrosophic fuzzy statistics can be applied for the testing of manufacturing parts when observations are imprecise, incomplete and fuzzy. In this paper, we will design an original neutrosophic fuzzy sudden death testing plan for the inspection/testing of the electronic product or parts manufacturing. We will assume that the lifetime of the product follows the neutrosophic fuzzy Weibull distribution. The neutrosophic fuzzy operating function will be given and used to determine the neutrosophic fuzzy plan parameters through a neutrosophic fuzzy optimization problem. The results of the proposed neutrosophic fuzzy death testing plan will be implemented with the aid of an example.
Fixed Points Results in Algebras of Split Quaternion and Octonion
Authors: Munir Mobeen , Naseem Asim , Rasool Akhtar , Saleem Muhammad Shoaib , Kang Shin Min
Published: September 2018

Fixed points of functions have applications in game theory, mathematics, physics, economics and computer science. The purpose of this article is to compute fixed points of a general quadratic polynomial in finite algebras of split quaternion and octonion over prime fields Z p. Some characterizations of fixed points in terms of the coefficients of these polynomials are also given. Particularly, cardinalities of these fixed points have been determined depending upon the characteristics of the underlying field.
Utilisation de Facebook en contexte universitaire
Authors: Melot Lionel , Strebelle Albert , Mahauden Jérôme , Depover Christian
Published: September 2018

Today, the social media like ''Facebook'' are part of our everyday life. They create a number of human interactions. This is why it seems relevant to question their uses as well as their representations by academic users. This research mainly focuses on educational and communicational uses by University students enrolled in a master's degree in educational sciences at the University of Mons (UMons), within their degree courses. We also focus on Facebook groups and more specifically on the activities performed by the students. We highlight the fact that learners recognize benefits to Facebook such as accessibility, convenience, swiftness and ease of communication. Nevertheless, they emphasize disadvantages associated with distraction and confidentiality.
Une typologie de MOOC de France Université Numérique (FUN) : méthode et enjeux
Authors: Vrillon Éléonore
Published: September 2018

Alors que le nombre de MOOC dans le monde ne cesse de croître, la réalité qu’ils recouvrent est loin d’être uniforme. Cette hétérogénéité rend difficile une comparaison des recherches entre elles, tout comme une appréhension générale de cet objet d’étude et des enjeux qu’il soulève. Cet article présente une étude des caractéristiques des MOOC de la plateforme nationale française FUN d’octobre 2013 à mai 2016. Pour 195 MOOC, un ensemble d’informations a été systématiquement répertorié jusqu’à la constitution d’une base de données exhaustive et raisonnée. La réalisation d’une analyse des correspondances multiples (ACM) met au jour huit formes typiques de MOOC. Ce résultat rend possible un travail de contextualisation des MOOC étudiés, l’identification de leurs spécificités, tout en représentant un point d''appui méthodologique à la mise en place d'enquêtes de terrain.
Three Hypervelocity White Dwarfs in Gaia DR2: Evidence for Dynamically Driven Double-degenerate Double-detonation Type Ia Supernovae
Authors: Shen Ken J. , Boubert Douglas , Gänsicke Boris T. , Jha Saurabh W. , Andrews Jennifer E. , Chomiuk Laura , Foley Ryan J. , Fraser Morgan , Gromadzki Mariusz , Guillochon James , Kotze Marissa M. , Maguire Kate , Siebert Matthew R. , Smith Nathan , Strader Jay , Badenes Carles , Kerzendorf Wolfgang E. , Koester Detlev , Kromer Markus , Miles Broxton , Pakmor Rüdiger , Schwab Josiah , Toloza Odette , Toonen Silvia , Townsley Dean M. , Williams Brian J.
Published: September 2018

Double detonations in double white dwarf (WD) binaries undergoing unstable mass transfer have emerged in recent years as one of the most promising Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) progenitor scenarios. One potential outcome of this “dynamically driven double-degenerate double-detonation” (D6) scenario is that the companion WD survives the explosion and is flung away with a velocity equal to its >1000 km s−1 pre-SN orbital velocity. We perform a search for these hypervelocity runaway WDs using Gaia's second data release. In this paper, we discuss seven candidates followed up with ground-based instruments. Three sources are likely to be some of the fastest known stars in the Milky Way, with total Galactocentric velocities between 1000 and 3000 km s−1, and are consistent with having previously been companion WDs in pre-SN Ia systems. However, although the radial velocity of one of the stars is >1000 km s−1, the radial velocities of the other two stars are puzzlingly consistent with 0. The combined five-parameter astrometric solutions from Gaia and radial velocities from follow-up spectra yield tentative 6D confirmation of the D6 scenario. The past position of one of these stars places it within a faint, old SN remnant, further strengthening the interpretation of these candidates as hypervelocity runaways from binary systems that underwent SNe Ia.
Relativistic Tidal Disruption and Nuclear Ignition of White Dwarf Stars by Intermediate-mass Black Holes
Authors: Anninos Peter , Fragile P. Chris , Olivier Samuel S. , Hoffman Robert , Mishra Bhupendra , Camarda Karen
Published: September 2018

We present results from general relativistic calculations of the tidal disruption of white dwarf stars from near encounters with intermediate-mass black holes. We follow the evolution of 0.2 M
⊙ and 0.6 M
⊙ stars on parabolic trajectories that approach 103–104
M
⊙ black holes as close as a few Schwarzschild radii at periapsis, paying particular attention to the effect that tidal disruption has on thermonuclear reactions and the synthesis of intermediate-mass to heavy elements. These encounters create diverse thermonuclear environments that are characteristic of Type I supernovae and capable of producing both intermediate-mass and heavy elements in arbitrary ratios, depending on the strength (or proximity) of the interaction. Nuclear ignition is triggered in all of our calculations, even at weak tidal strengths β ∼ 2.6 and large periapsis radius R
P ∼ 28 Schwarzschild radii. A strong inverse correlation exists between the mass ratio of calcium-group to iron-group elements and tidal strength, with β ≲ 5 producing predominantly calcium-rich debris. At these moderate to weak interactions, nucleosynthesis is not especially efficient, limiting the total mass and outflows of calcium-group elements to <15% of available nuclear fuel. Iron-group elements, however, continue to be produced in greater quantity and ratio with increasing tidal strength, peaking at ∼60% mass conversion efficiency in our closest encounter cases. These events generate short bursts of gravitational waves with characteristic frequencies 0.1–0.7 Hz and strain amplitudes from 0.5 × 10−22 to 3.5 × 10−22 at a source distance of 10 Mpc.
New chromosome counts and genome size estimates for 28 species of Taraxacum sect. Taraxacum
Authors: Macháčková Petra , Majeský Ľuboš , Hroneš Michal , Hřibová Eva , Trávníček Bohumil , Vašut Radim J.
Published: September 2018

The species-rich and widespread genusTaraxacumF. H. Wiggers, 1780 (Asteraceae subfamily Cichorioideae) is one of the most taxonomically complex plant genera in the world, mainly due to its combination of different sexual and asexual reproduction strategies. Polyploidy is usually confined to apomictic microspecies, varying from 3x to 6x (rarely 10x). In this study, we focused on Taraxacum sect.Taraxacum(= T.sect.Ruderalia;T.officinalegroup), i.e., the largest group within the genus. We counted chromosome numbers and measured the DNA content for species sampled in Central Europe, mainly in Czechia. The chromosome number of the 28 species (T.aberransHagendijk, Soest & Zevenbergen, 1974,T.atrovirideŠtěpánek & Trávníček, 2008,T.atroxKirschner & Štěpánek, 1997,T.baeckiiformeSahlin, 1971,T.chrysophaenumRailonsala, 1957,T.coartatumG.E. Haglund, 1942,T.corynodesG.E. Haglund, 1943,T.crassumH. Øllgaard & Trávníček, 2003,T.deltoidifronsH. Øllgaard, 2003,T.diastematicumMarklund, 1940,T.gesticulansH. Øllgaard, 1978,T.glossodonSonck & H. Øllgaard, 1999,T.guttigestansH. Øllgaard in Kirschner & Štěpánek, 1992,T.huelphersianumG.E. Haglund, 1935,T.ingensPalmgren, 1910,T.jugiferumH. Øllgaard, 2003,T.laticordatumMarklund, 1938,T.lojoenseH. Lindberg, 1944 (=T.debrayiHagendijk, Soest & Zevenbergen, 1972,T.lippertianumSahlin, 1979),T.lucidifronsTrávníček, ineditus,T.obtusifronsMarklund, 1938,T.ochrochlorumG.E. Haglund, 1942,T.ohlseniiG.E. Haglund, 1936,T.perdubiumTrávníček, ineditus,T.praestabileRailonsala, 1962,T.sepulcrilobumTrávníček, ineditus,T.sertatumKirschner, H. Øllgaard & Štěpánek, 1997,T.subhuelphersianumM.P. Christiansen, 1971,T.valensMarklund, 1938) is 2n = 3x = 24. The DNA content ranged from 2C = 2.60 pg (T.atrox) to 2C = 2.86 pg (T.perdubium), with an average value of 2C = 2.72 pg. Chromosome numbers are reported for the first time for 26 species (all butT.diastematicumandT.obtusifrons), and genome size estimates for 26 species are now published for the first time.
High diversity of Diaporthe species associated with dieback diseases in China, with twelve new species described
Authors: Yang Qin , Fan Xin-Lei , Guarnaccia Vladimiro , Tian Cheng-Ming
Published: September 2018

Diaporthespecies have often been reported as important plant pathogens, saprobes and endophytes on a wide range of plant hosts. Although severalDiaporthespecies have been recorded in China, little is known about species able to infect forest trees. Therefore, extensive surveys were recently conducted in Beijing, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi and Zhejiang Provinces. The current results emphasised on 15 species from 42 representative isolates involving 16 host genera using comparisons of DNA sequence data for the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS),calmodulin(cal), histone H3 (his3), partial translation elongation factor-1α (tef1) and β-tubulin (tub2) gene regions, as well as their morphological features. Three known species,D.biguttulata,D.eresandD.unshiuensis, were identified. In addition, twelve novel taxa were collected and are described asD.acerigena,D.alangii,D.betulina,D.caryae,D.cercidis,D.chensiensis,D.cinnamomi,D.conica,D.fraxinicola,D.kadsurae,D.padinaandD.ukurunduensis. The current study improves the understanding of species causing diebacks on ecological and economic forest trees and provides useful information for the effective disease management of these hosts in China.
Delving Deeper Into Informed Consent: Legal and Ethical Dilemmas of Emergency Consent, Surrogate Consent, and Intraoperative Consultation
Authors: Bhimani Abhiraj D. , Macrinici Victor , Ghelani Seema , Huang Estella Y. , Khan Narmeen I. , Saw Tha A. , Mejia Alfonso
Published: September 2018

Informed consent is gaining an ever-important place in modern medicine. The practice of patient-centered medicine along with evidence-based medicine requires a balance between the patient's wishes and the physician's oath to do no harm. Surrogate consent, emergency consent, and intraoperative consultation are 3 situations prone to legal and ethical dilemmas in the fulfillment of informed consent. By examining the proposed models and legal precedents that address the challenges in informed consent, discussion of these dilemmas in the context of both law and bioethics may provide a better understanding of how to resolve them. [
Orthopedics
. 2018; 41(6):e741–e746.]
Peripheral Retinal Nonperfusion in Pediatric Patients With Morning Glory Syndrome
Authors: She Kaiqin , Zhang Qi , Fei Ping , Peng Jie , Lyu Jiao , Li Yian , Huang Qiujing , Zhao Peiquan
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To report the association of morning glory syndrome (MGS) with peripheral retinal nonperfusion in pediatric patients with MGS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The authors retrospectively analyzed the records of pediatric patients with MGS using fundus fluorescein angiography. The peripheral retinal vascular architecture was recorded and graded according to the severity of peripheral retinal nonperfusion.

RESULTS:

Eighty-six eyes of 74 patients were enrolled. Seventy-three of 86 eyes (84.88%) had peripheral retinal nonperfusion, in which mild severity was found in 31 of 86 eyes (36.05%), moderate in 17 of 86 eyes (19.77%), severe in 18 of 86 eyes (20.93%), and extreme in seven of 86 eyes (8.14%). Secondary complications of nonperfusion included leakage in six of 73 eyes (8.22%), fibrovascular proliferation in two of 73 eyes (2.74%), and tractional retinal detachment in one of 73 eyes (1.34%).

CONCLUSION:

There is a high prevalence of peripheral retinal nonperfusion in pediatric MGS eyes, with secondary complications in some, suggesting that more attention should be paid to the peripheral retina in MGS.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:674–679.]
Post-Traumatic Giant Retinal Tear Without Posterior Vitreous Detachment: A Case Series
Authors: Savastano Alfonso , Barca Francesco , Tartaro Ruggero , Caporossi Tomaso , Rizzo Stanislao
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the vitreal condition in retinal detachment (RD) related to giant retinal tears (GRT) after ocular blunt trauma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Retrospective, observational study conducted at Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy. The institutional review board and ethics committee approved the study. Records of 23 eyes of 23 patients affected by traumatic RD associated with a GRT were evaluated. A total of four eyes had RD related to blunt trauma, in which the authors performed 25-gauge vitrectomy and silicone oil was used as a endotamponade.

RESULTS:

Three out of four eyes did not display a posterior vitreous detachment at the B-scan, and this was confirmed during surgery. The three eyes had a mean visual acuity of 20/32 1 month after silicone oil removal.

CONCLUSIONS:

Posterior vitreous detachment may not be present in RD associated with GRT after blunt trauma. This knowledge could result in modified intraoperative management to improve postoperative outcomes.

[Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:686–690.]
Visual Acuity Outcomes in Diabetic Macular Edema With Fluocinolone Acetonide 0.2 μg/Day Versus Ranibizumab Plus Deferred Laser (DRCR Protocol I)
Authors: Singer Michael A. , Miller Dan M. , Gross Jeffrey G. , Greven Craig M. , Kapik Barry , Bailey Clare , Ghanchi Faruque , Kuppermann Baruch D.
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Visual outcomes of the FAME study (0.2 μg/day fluocinolone acetonide [FAc]) and Protocol I (0.5 mg ranibizumab plus deferred laser) were compared using the area under the curve (AUC) analysis method.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) data collected during a period of 3 years of follow-up for patients enrolled in FAME or Protocol I were used to calculate AUC of the change in BCVA over a time curve.

RESULTS:

In the overall population, there was a greater treatment effect for ranibizumab plus deferred laser compared with FAc. However, for subgroups of pseudophakic eyes, eyes with chronic diabetic macular edema (DME), and pseudophakic eyes with chronic DME, ranibizumab plus deferred laser and FAc were not found to be significantly different. The ranibizumab group received a median of 14 injections during a 36-month period compared with a mean of 1.3 injections in the FAc group.

CONCLUSION:

In pseudophakic and chronic DME subgroups, FAc was comparable to ranibizumab plus deferred laser with fewer injections.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:698–706.]
Repeatability of Split-Spectrum Amplitude-Decorrelation Angiography to Assess Capillary Perfusion Density Within Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Conti Felipe F. , Young Jason M. , Silva Fabiana Q. , Rodrigues Eduardo B. , Singh Rishi P.
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the repeatability of retinal thickness and vascular density measurements using split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography (SSADA) with optical coherence tomography (OCT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Forty patients were divided into seven categories according to their diagnosis: no retinopathy (control), retinal vein occlusion, diabetes with no retinopathy, diabetes with retinopathy, non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), exudative AMD, and epiretinal membrane. Capillary density and retinal thickness measurements were taken and evaluated for reliability by determination of statistically significant differences and coefficient of variability (CoV) between measurements.

RESULTS:

No significant differences (
P
> .05) were found in any of the within-visit measurements. CoVs ranged from 0.26% to 52.76%, depending on the measure and the disease settings.

CONCLUSION:

The SSADA OCT angiography analysis has a low level of variability between measurements and, thus, is a reliable tool for evaluation of retinal perfusion.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:e9–e19.]
A Retrospective Analysis of the Timing of Initial Treatment of Bedside-Screened Versus Photographically Screened Eyes With Retinopathy of Prematurity
Authors: Alapati Akhila , Trese Michael
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

A retrospective clinical study was performed to assess whether photographically screened and remotely read images for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) allowed for timely and accurate diagnosis of treatment-warranted ROP compared to bedside examination.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The study included 130 eyes of 65 premature neonates in born at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak NICU. Bedside examined (2006 to 2010) and telemedicine screened (2010 to 2014) neonates were compared to identify whether there is a statistical difference in postmenstrual age (PMA) at the time of treatment.

RESULTS:

One hundred thirty eyes of 65 infants met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty-five infants who needed laser treatment were screened bedside with an average PMA at treatment of 36.5 weeks. Thirty infants who needed treatment were photographically screened, with an average PMA at treatment of 36.4 weeks. Neither group had statistically different PMAs (
P
= .58).

CONCLUSION:

This study confirms that telemedicine also allows for appropriately timed treatment for early ROP.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:e32–e35.]
Contralateral Autologous Internal Limiting Membrane Transplantation for Closure of a Refractory Macular Hole: Surgical Technique
Authors: Ra Ho , Lee Won Ki
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To determine the efficacy of a new surgical technique involving use of a contralateral autologous internal limiting membrane (ILM) free flap for closure of a refractory macular hole (MH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Closure could not be achieved after several MH surgeries in a 72-year-old woman with an epiretinal membrane (ERM) in the right eye and a chronic MH in the left eye. Therefore, the authors performed surgery on the left eye using a contralateral autologous ILM free flap obtained during ERM surgery performed on the right eye.

RESULTS:

The refractory MH had disappeared, and the patient's corrected visual acuity was improved in both eyes by 4 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION:

When a suitable free flap cannot be obtained from the operated eye, contralateral autologous ILM transplantation has the potential to improve functional and anatomical outcomes in an eye with a refractory MH.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:e75–e77.]
Late-Stage Sjögren-Larsson Syndrome Maculopathy Imaged With OCT Angiography
Authors: Kovach Jaclyn L.
Published: September 2018

Three adult siblings with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome (SLS) demonstrated signs of late-stage SLS maculopathy, including intraretinal crystals, atrophic changes, and lipofuscin deposition. This first report of SLS maculopathy imaged with optical coherence tomography angiography revealed decreased retinal capillary density, vessel dilation, and increased flow voids in the superficial and deep capillary plexuses.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:e78–e82.]
Incumplimientos más habituales que comparten los estudios y estudios básicos de seguridad y salud en las obras de construcción de la Armada, respecto a las exigencias del Real Decreto 1627/1997 (1)
Authors: Zapata Lobo M. A. , Ros Serrano A. , Izquierdo Gracia P.
Published: September 2018

Esta investigación (2) surge del análisis de 248 informes de la Oficina de Supervisión de Proyectos la Dirección de Infraestructura de la Armada (3), correspondientes tanto a estudios como a estudios básicos de seguridad y salud, que han puesto de manifiesto la frecuente carencia de determinados aspectos documentales en los contenidos mínimos obligatorios que establece el Real Decreto 1627/1997.

Esta situación ha motivado un estudio minucioso sobre ello, analizando de forma detallada las incidencias más habituales para buscar su posible origen y comparando las que son comunes para ambos tipos de documentos.
Aboriginal relationships to the natural world: colonial ‘protection’ of human rights and the environment
Authors: Watson Irene
Published: September 2018

Colonialism has challenged Aboriginal obligations and relationships to the natural world. This article describes the efforts of First Nations on the continent now known as Australia to maintain their authority and existences in the face of neoliberalism and colonialism, which the British initially inflicted and under which we still survive. The colonial policies of Australia denied our existence and at the same time attempted to demolish our languages and cultures, and to assimilate the consequences. This article asks the questions: what underpins state claims to the title to Aboriginal lands? Does Australia renounce terra nullius and the racist principles and beliefs which make up such a doctrine? And finally does Australia acknowledge and support all ‘Peoples’ as having an inherent right to self-determination, and as a component of such a right, that all ‘Peoples’ have a right to collectively care for their country and to benefit from a relationship to the land which sustains future generations of all Peoples? The possibility of a future for all life forms on earth lies in the responses states might deliver to these questions.