bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intermediate efficiency in nonparametric testing problems with an application to some weighted statistics
Authors: Inglot Tadeusz , Ledwina Teresa , Ćmiel Bogdan
Published: October 2018

The basic motivation and primary goal of this paper is a qualitative evaluation of the performance of a new weighted statistic for a nonparametric test for stochastic dominance based on two samples, which was introduced in Ledwina and Wyłupek [TEST 21 (2012) 730–756]. For this purpose, we elaborate a useful variant of Kallenberg’s notion of intermediate efficiency. This variant is general enough to be applicable to other nonparametric problems. We provide a formal definition of the proposed variant of intermediate efficiency, describe the technical tools used in its calculation, and provide proofs of related asymptotic results. Next, we apply this approach to calculating the intermediate efficiency of the new test with respect to the classical one-sided Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, which is a recognized standard for this problem. It turns out that for a very large class of convergent alternatives the new test is more efficient than the classical one. We also report the results of an extensive simulation study on the powers of the tests considered, which shows that the new variant of intermediate efficiency reflects the exact behavior of the power well.
Zukunft der regionalen Versorgung in Deutschland – Wohin wollen junge Zahnärztinnen und Zahnärzte?
Authors: Kettler Nele , Baudisch Nicolas Frenzel , Klingenberger David , Jordan Rainer Andreas
Published: October 2018

Ziel der Studie Vor dem Hintergrund des Versorgungsengpasses im allgemeinmedizinischen Sektor stellt sich die Frage, ob im zahnärztlichen Sektor eine ähnliche Entwicklung zu erwarten ist. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht präferierte Tätigkeitsorte von jungen Zahnärztinnen und -ärzten in Deutschland und ihre zukünftige Verteilung auf Stadt und Land.

Methodik Die Online-Befragung wurde im Frühjahr 2017 als zweite Befragungswelle der longitudinalen deutschlandweiten Studie „Y-Dent: Berufsbild angehender und junger Zahnärzte“ durchgeführt. Studienendpunkt waren (1) die Abbildung der gewünschten dauerhaften Tätigkeitsregion, (2) die Präferenz der Ortsklassengröße junger Zahnärzte und Zahnärztinnen für ihre zukünftige Tätigkeit und (3) der Zusammenhang zwischen der Heimatregion und der gewünschten Tätigkeitsregion. Die erhobenen Daten wurden einer deskriptiven univariaten Analyse unterzogen.

Ergebnisse 625 (51,2% aller angeschriebenen) Zahnärztinnen und -ärzte beteiligten sich an der Studie. Beliebte Kammer-/KZV-Bereiche für eine dauerhafte Tätigkeit lagen vor allem im Süden und im Westen Deutschlands. Ostdeutsche sowie kleinflächigere Bereiche wurden seltener als mögliche Beschäftigungsregion genannt (unter 10%). Etwa die Hälfte der Teilnehmenden konnte sich vorstellen, im mittelstädtischen Raum zu arbeiten, doch auch der ländliche Raum kam für einen Teil der Befragten in Betracht. Je nach Bundesland konnten sich 57–95% vorstellen, in der Heimatregion tätig zu werden.

Schlussfolgerung Ein Versorgungsengpass, der dem im ärztlichen Bereich gleichkommt, ist nach den Bekundungen des zahnärztlichen Nachwuchses zunächst nicht zu befürchten: Grundsätzlich ist ein Teil der jungen Zahnärztinnen und -ärzte gewillt, auch in weniger stark bevölkerten Regionen und Ortsgrößen tätig zu werden.
Zugangsschwellen zu HIV-Test-Angeboten – Eine systematische Literaturanalyse
Authors: Wurm Michael , Neumann Anja , Wasem Jürgen , Biermann-Stallwitz Janine
Published: October 2018

Ziel In Deutschland liegen die jährlichen HIV-Neu-Infektionen bei 3100 (2016) und betreffen v. a. Männer, die Sex mit Männern haben sowie intravenös Drogengebrauchende. Es wird eine Rate von 30 % der HIV-Infektionen angenommen, die erst in einer fortgeschrittenen Phase der Infektion diagnostiziert werden, oft jenseits des optimalen Zeitpunkts des Behandlungsbeginns. Die hohe Rate an Late-Presentern ist ein starkes Argument für eine Stärkung von Beratungs- und HIV-Testangeboten. Ziel dieser Literaturanalyse ist es daher zu beschreiben, welche Zugangsschwellen zu HIV-Testangeboten existieren.

Methodik Mit einer Literaturanalyse wurde der aktuelle Erkenntnisstand in Forschung und Praxis darauf hin abgebildet, welche Barrieren Risikogruppen vom HIV-Test abhalten. In die Suche wurden alle Veröffentlichungen zwischen 2010 und 2014 aus Australien, Europa und Nordamerika einbezogen, die sich auf Klienten-initiierte Tests beziehen.

Ergebnisse 132 Veröffentlichungen wurden in eine Volltextanalyse einbezogen. Die meisten Veröffentlichungen basieren auf Klientenbefragungen. Die individuelle Risikowahrnehmung beeinflusst die Entscheidung für oder gegen einen HIV-Test maßgeblich. Diese kann über Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und über aufsuchende Angebote beeinflusst werden. In den Strukturen und Abläufen des HIV-Test-Angebotes sind Vertraulichkeit und Anonymität an jeder Stelle zentral. Darüber hinaus ist den Klienten wichtig, dass ihnen in den Beratungsgesprächen mit Akzeptanz und Vorurteilsfreiheit begegnet wird. Die Angst der Klienten vor Stigmatisierung, Verurteilung und Ausgrenzung verlangt eine besondere Sensibilität und lebensstilakzeptierende Haltung auf Seiten des Personals.

Schlussfolgerung Die Faktoren, die für Klienten bei der Entscheidung über einen HIV-Test und der Auswahl eines Test-Angebots von Bedeutung sind, werden klar abgebildet. Die zentralen Elemente in der Entscheidungsfindung sind die eigene Risikowahrnehmung sowie die Furcht vor Stigmatisierung aufgrund vermeintlich abweichenden Sexualverhaltens oder aufgrund einer befürchteten HIV-Infektion. Die Öffentlichkeitsarbeit sollte Risikofaktoren bzw. -wahrnehmung in Bezug auf HIV sowie Vertraulichkeit und Anonymität des Angebots betonen. Die Nutzung sozialer Netzwerke ist hierbei besonders empfehlenswert. Neue Angebotsformen wie Heimtests könnten die Sorgen hinsichtlich Vertraulichkeit und Anonymität auflösen.
Hindernisse bei der sekundären Nutzung hausärztlicher Routinedaten
Authors: Hauswaldt Johannes , Kempter Valérie , Himmel Wolfgang , Hummers Eva
Published: October 2018

Hintergrund Routinedaten aus alltäglicher ambulanter Patientenversorgung sind für Versorgungs- und Gesundheitssystemforschung dringend erforderlich, in Deutschland jedoch nur unter größten Schwierigkeiten und erheblichen Einschränkungen zu erhalten. 2018 treten die europäische Datenschutzgrundverordnung und ein neues Bundesdatenschutzgesetz in Kraft. Durch simulierte Szenarien sollte sich erkennen lassen, ob dadurch Zugang zu und Nutzung von Routinedaten einfacher werden oder die Hemmnisse zunehmen.

Methode Allgemeinärzte, Medizininformatiker, Treuhänder und Datenschutzexperten erarbeiten in einem Projekt zur Nutzung hausärztlicher Routinedaten Konzepte, Prozesse und Standards für rechtskonforme sekundäre Forschung an hausärztlichen Routinedaten und untersuchen deren Umsetzung in 2 Szenarien (anonyme bzw. pseudonyme Datennutzung). Aus Sicht von Technikentwicklung und Datenschutz werden technisch-organisatorische Hindernisse und rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen vorgestellt.

Ergebnisse Eine veraltete Schnittstellenversion, unzureichende Softwarepflege, organisatorische und finanzielle Belastungen durch die Hersteller sowie mangelhafte IT-Standards behindern die Nutzung ambulanter Routinedaten, v. a. im Längsschnitt. Das zukünftige europäische Datenschutzrecht wird – europaweit einheitlich – die wissenschaftliche Nutzung hausärztlicher Routinedaten grundsätzlich erlauben. Es bleibt jedoch eine gewisse Spannung zwischen Individual- bzw. Patienteninteressen (Schutz personenbezogener Daten als Grundrecht) und Gemeinwohlinteressen (Versorgungs- und Gesundheitssystemforschung zur Qualität und Effizienz öffentlichen Ressourceneinsatzes; freier Datenverkehr innerhalb des Europäischen Binnenmarktes). Das macht sich besonders beim Wunsch nach Auswertung von Routinedaten im Längsschnitt via Pseudonymiserung bemerkbar.

Diskussion Weder datenschutzrechtlich unüberwindliche Hürden noch die Gefahr von Big Data sind das augenblicklich größte Problem bei der Nutzung von Routinedaten. Die tatsächlich relevanten Hindernisse bestehen auf der technisch-organisatorischen Ebene. EU-Datenschutzgrundverordnung und das neue Bundesdatenschutzgesetz verbessern europaweit Rechtseinheitlichkeit und Rechtsklarheit im Patienteninteresse. Spannungen zwischen Datenschutz für personenbezogene Gesundheitsdaten und ihrer wissenschaftlichen Nutzung im Gemeinwohlinteresse erfordern jedoch weitere rechtliche Klärung. Ein möglicher Teil der Lösung, eine weiterentwickelte und einsatzbereit vorliegende Schnittstelle, harrt ihrer Implementierung.
Die Bedeutung von sexuellen Bedenken und Bindung für spezifische sexuelle Funktionsbereiche
Authors: Hoy Madita , Strauß Bernhard , Brenk-Franz Katja
Published: October 2018

Ziel der Studie Untersuchung von Beziehungen zwischen sexueller Funktion, sexuellen Bedenken und der Bindung.

Methodik Online-Befragung mit 965 Probanden.

Ergebnisse Für die weibliche sexuelle Funktion waren Bedenken bezüglich Masturbation und sexuellem Selbstverständnis besonders bedeutend. Die männliche Sexualität konnte vor allem durch Bedenken zu sexuellem Leistungsdruck beeinträchtigt werden. Bindung war vor allem mit sexueller Zufriedenheit assoziiert.

Schlussfolgerung Sexuelle Bedenken und Bindung sollten in der Behandlung von sexuellen Funktionsstörungen berücksichtigt werden, da sie das Krankheitsverständnis verbessern.
Adrenal Incidentaloma: Picking out the High-Risk Patients
Authors: Di Dalmazi Guido
Published: October 2018

Patients with adrenal incidentalomas and autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) have been recognized as a category at risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic co-morbidities. Considering the increasing number of patients affected by this condition, it is important to perform an accurate subtyping of the patients, in the light of a tailored treatment. This review aims to identify the phenotypic characteristics of patients with adrenal incidentalomas and ACS who are at risk of developing severe cortisol-related co-morbidities. ACS has been associated with severe alteration of the cardiovascular profile, including hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Moreover, ACS has been identified as a contributing factor to the development of cardiovascular events and related mortality. Patients with ACS are also at risk of incident bone fractures, which occur in half of the patients independently of the bone mass density, and infectious diseases. Severity and persistence of hypercortisolism are among the main contributing factors for cardiovascular diseases and bone fractures. Moreover, progression of hypercortisolism over time and altered circadian cortisol rhythm seem to be important additional factors. The role of potential novel biomarkers is also discussed in this review.
Europäisches bäuerliches Erfahrungswissen zum Einsatz von pflanzlichen Hausmitteln bei ihren Tieren
Authors: Walkenhorst Michael
Published: October 2018

Die Phytotherapie erfreut sich unter den Tierärztinnen und Tierärzten deutschsprachiger Länder stetig wachsendem Interesse. Doch was ist die Wissensbasis, auf der Arzneipflanzen gezielt beim Tier eingesetzt werden können? Neben historischer Literatur sowie Ergebnissen aus der aktuellen In-vitro-, In-vivo- und klinischen Forschung (Letztere ist in Bezug auf die Tiermedizin jedoch nach wie vor rar) sind es auch Ergebnisse der ethnoveterinärmedizinischen Forschung Europas. Insbesondere Bäuerinnen und Bauern haben hier Wissen lebendig erhalten. In den vergangenen Jahren lag ein Forschungsschwerpunkt in der Schweiz. Es konnten hier vielfach neue Einsatzgebiete für „alte Bekannte“ aus der Humanmedizin dokumentiert werden.
Konsum von Tabak, Alkohol und illegalen Substanzen bei Brandenburger Jugendlichen 2005 bis 2017
Authors: Böhm Andreas , Hardeling Andrea , Gundermann Berit
Published: October 2018

Einleitung Für die Verringerung des Tabak- und Alkoholkonsums in der Bevölkerung gelten Kinder und Jugendliche als wichtige Zielgruppe. Daten zum Substanzkonsum über einen längeren Zeitraum bei Jugendlichen stellen die Suchtpolitik im Land Brandenburg auf eine Grundlage und zeigen Trends.

Methode Jugendliche der 10. Klassen im Land Brandenburg wurden 2005, 2009, 2013 und 2017 zum Konsum von Alkohol, Tabak und weiteren psychoaktiven Substanzen sowie zu potentiell hilfreichen Ansprechpersonen befragt. Insgesamt wurden 42 221 Jugendliche mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 15,7 Jahren erreicht (Standardabweichung 0,7 Jahre).

Ergebnisse Der regelmäßige (mindestens wöchentliche) Tabakkonsum ist von 2005 bis 2017 gesunken, bei den Mädchen von 41 auf 17%, bei den Jungen von 37 auf 18%. Der regelmäßige Alkoholkonsum sank bei den Mädchen von 18 auf 9%, bei den Jungen von 34 auf 15%. Jungen trinken mehr Alkohol als Mädchen. Der Tabakkonsum ist in Gymnasien am geringsten und für beide Substanzen gibt es Unterschiede nach Regionen. Die Jugendlichen sehen die Gleichaltrigen als erste Ansprechpartner bei Problemen mit Suchtmitteln. Professionelle Helfer werden seltener genannt.

Schlussfolgerung Die Studie beschreibt eine günstige Entwicklung. Wenn die Reduktion aufrechterhalten oder sogar fortgesetzt wird, wird der Alkohol- und Tabakkonsum in der Bevölkerung abnehmen. Die Ergebnisse legen für die Suchtprävention einen verstärkten Peer-Ansatz nahe.
Consenso da Associação Brasileira de Nutrologia sobre o uso de suplementos alimentares para crianças com dificuldades alimentares
Authors: Nogueira-de-Almeida Carlos , de Mello Elza , Filho Durval , Maximino Priscila , Fisberg Mauro
Published: October 2018

Introdução Dificuldades alimentares são queixas extremamente frequentes na faixa etária pediátrica, sendo relevante a padronização das condutas pelos profissionais envolvidos no tratamento. Uma das ferramentas que pode ser utilizada é a suplementação nutricional.

Objetivos Estabelecer as recomendações da Associação Brasileira de Nutrologia sobre a utilização de suplementos para a criança com dificuldade alimentar.

Metodologia Revisão da literatura científica dos últimos cinquenta anos em relação ao tema proposto.

Conclusões São feitas recomendações sobre a utilização de suplementos para a criança com dificuldade alimentar.
Inherited Disorders of Neurotransmitters: Classification and Practical Approaches for Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Brennenstuhl Heiko , Jung-Klawitter Sabine , Assmann Birgit , Opladen Thomas
Published: October 2018

Neurotransmitter deficiencies are rare neurological disorders with clinical onset during childhood. The disorders are caused by genetic defects in the enzymes involved in synthesis, degradation, or transport of neurotransmitters or by defects in the cofactor biosynthesis such as tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). With the newly described DNAJC12 deficiency, a chaperon-associated neurotransmitter disorder, the pathophysiological spectrum has been broadened. All deficiencies result in a lack of monoamine neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and its products, with a subset leading to decreased levels of serotonin. Symptoms can occur already in the neonatal period. Classical signs are hypotonia, movement disorders, autonomous dysregulations, and impaired development. Diagnosis depends on quantitative detection of neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid, since peripheral markers in blood or urine are less reliable. Treatment is based on supplementation of the missing neurotransmitter precursors or restoring deficient cofactors for endogenous enzymatic synthesis. In recent years, knowledge about this orphan group of diseases increased substantially among clinicians. However, the difficult task of integrating clinical symptoms and laboratory values still leads to a critical delay in diagnosis and therapy for patients. This review aims at enhancing the understanding of neurotransmitter disorders and should help practicing clinicians to choose useful diagnostic steps on the way to a valid diagnosis.
An Early Investigation into Possible Alternatives to Stapled Hysterotomy in Open Fetal Surgery
Authors: Church Joseph T. , McLeod Jennifer S. , Coughlin Megan A. , Bergin Ingrid L. , Perkins Elena M. , Hoffman Hayley R. , Bilger Mark , Rojas-Peña Alvaro , Treadwell Marjorie C. , Berman Deborah R. , Jarboe Marcus D. , Mychaliska George B. , Perrone Erin E.
Published: October 2018

Purpose We hypothesized that surgical energy could be used to create hysterotomies in open fetal surgery.

Study Design Initial studies compared the LigaSure Impact and Harmonic ACE + 7 Shears in the efficiency of hysterotomy and thermal damage. Pregnant ewes at an estimated gestational age (EGA) of 116 to 120 days (term = 145; n = 7) underwent hysterotomy using either device. Hysterotomy edges were resected, and thermal injury extent was determined by histopathological assessment. Upon determining a superior device, subsequent studies compared this to the AutoSuture Premium Poly CS*-57 Stapler in uterine healing. Pregnant ewes (n = 6) at an EGA of 87 to 93 days underwent 6-cm hysterotomy in each gravid horn with either the stapler (n = 5) or Harmonic (n = 5) followed by closure and animal recovery. After 37 to 42 days, uterine healing was assessed by evaluating tensile strength and histopathology.

Results Thermal damage was more extensive with the LigaSure (n = 11 hysterotomies) than with the Harmonic (n = 11; 5.6 ± 1 vs. 3.1 ± 0.6 mm; p < 0.0001);therefore, the Harmonic was selected for healing studies. Gross scar appearance and tensile strength were the same between the Harmonic and stapler. The stapler caused more fibrosis (4/7 samples with “moderate” fibrosis vs. 0/8 with the Harmonic; p = 0.02).

Conclusion The Harmonic ACE + 7 caused less thermal injury than the LigaSure Impact and performed similar to the CS*-57 Stapler in uterine healing with continued gestation.
Clinical Insights for Cervical Ripening and Labor Induction Using Prostaglandins
Authors: Pierce Stephanie , Bakker Ronan , Myers Dean , Edwards Rodney
Published: October 2018

Cervical ripening is often the first component of labor induction and is used to facilitate the softening and thinning of the cervix in preparation for labor. Common methods used for cervical ripening include both mechanical (e.g., Foley or Cook catheters) and pharmacologic (e.g., prostaglandins) methods. The choice of method(s) for ripening should take into account the patient's medical and obstetric history, clinical characteristics, and risk of adverse effects if uterine tachysystole were to occur. In this narrative review, we highlight the differences between the prostaglandins dinoprostone and misoprostol with respect to pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and potential safety concerns. Practical guidance on choosing an appropriate prostaglandin agent for cervical ripening and labor induction is provided via the use of clinical vignettes. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of each preparation allows clinicians to individualize treatment, depending on the indications for induction and unique characteristics of each patient.
Bartlebys: Gothicizing office fiction
Authors: Kobayashi Masaomi
Published: October 2018

Gothic fiction is in essence about the power of place, particularly of house. If this obsessive focus on the house is found in other genres of fiction, Gothic fiction can certainly expand its realm of representation; namely, the extensive capacity of this genre can be illustrated by unveiling the Gothic nature of the seemingly non-Gothic. Herein lies why special attention is given to the office as an idiosyncratic kind of house in office fiction: fiction featuring such characters as clerks, civil servants, and company employees. In Gothicizing office fiction, Herman Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street” draws parallels with Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis.” These classics of nongenre fiction have hardly been considered the classics of office fiction. The primary emphasis of this study is on the international kinship between Melville’s Bartleby and Kafka’s Samsa: Bartleby’s occupation of the law office turns the place into a house, and Samsa’s transformation into the monstrous vermin turns his apartment into an office. These dual settings render each protagonist uncanny and ghostly. The discovery of parallels between the protagonists who embody work-life integration stems from incorporating not only elements typical of the Gothic, such as supernatural happenings and closed-room settings, but also other elements, especially work-life balance. This focus on work-life issues allows an exploration of another classic office-fiction story about an Asian Bartleby. Thus, cultivating an environment in which Bartleby’s transnational cousins are rediscovered as Bartlebys lends itself to extending the scope of the Gothic. After all, Gothic fiction is an expanding universe in which the walls come tumbling down between office and house, between work and life, and even between the Gothic and the non-Gothic. The findings of this study highlight how every sphere of life, including work life, is potentially Gothicized.
Magnetic properties of Mn1-xTMxAlGe (TM = V, Fe, Cu) with Cu2Sb-type structure
Authors: Noguchi Kohei , Masumitsu Hayato , Mitsui Yoshifuru , Umetsu Rie Y. , Hiroi Masahiko , Uwatoko Yoshiya , Koyama Keiichi
Published: October 2018

The magnetic properties of Mn1-xTMxAlGe (TM = V, Fe and Cu) were investigated for x ≤ 0.2. The spontaneous magnetization decreased with increasing x. A remarkable decrease in the Curie temperature TC was observed for TM = Fe. For ferromagnetic MnAlGe (x = 0) and TM = nonmagnetic Cu (x = 0.2), Curie-Weiss law was confirmed. The compounds with TM = V and Fe (x = 0.2) did not show Curie-Weiss law, and the data of reciprocal susceptibility vs. temperature bent, indicating change of the magnetism from ferromagnetism. Obtained results suggested that the magnetic moments of V and Fe were aligned antiparallel to those of Mn, resulting in the ferrimagnetism-like behavior.
Perspective: Principles and specifications of photothermal imaging methodologies and their applications to non-invasive biomedical and non-destructive materials imaging
Authors: Tavakolian Pantea , Mandelis Andreas
Published: October 2018

This article discusses a number of dynamic thermography techniques used for analysis of captured raw infrared images of objects. The most widely used, as well as state-of-the-art, modalities are outlined in terms of their operating principles and their specifications. Special attention is paid to truncated correlation photothermal coherence tomography, a novel method that provides high contrast and high resolution 3D images of objects. Applications of thermography in medical imaging, art analysis, and non-destructive imaging of industrial materials are discussed.
The effects of antigen size, binding site valency, and flexibility on fab-antigen binding near solid surfaces
Authors: Bush Derek B. , Knotts Thomas A.
Published: October 2018

Next generation antibody microarray devices have the potential to outperform current molecular detection methods and realize new applications in medicine, scientific research, and national defense. However, antibody microarrays, or arrays of antibody fragments (“fabs”), continue to evade mainstream use in part due to persistent reliability problems despite improvements to substrate design and protein immobilization strategies. Other factors could be disrupting microarray performance, including effects resulting from antigen characteristics. Target molecules embody a wide range of sizes, shapes, number of epitopes, epitope accessibility, and other physical and chemical properties. As a result, it may not be ideal for microarray designs to utilize the same substrate or immobilization strategy for all of the capture molecules. This study investigates how three antigen properties, such as size, binding site valency, and molecular flexibility, affect fab binding. The work uses an advanced, experimentally validated, coarse-grain model and umbrella sampling to calculate the free energy of ligand binding and how this energy landscape is different on the surface compared to in the bulk. The results confirm that large antigens interact differently with immobilized fabs compared to smaller antigens. Analysis of the results shows that despite these differences, tethering fabs in an upright orientation on hydrophilic surfaces is the best configuration for antibody microarrays.
First-principles prediction of two hexagonal silicon crystals as potential absorbing layer materials for solar-cell application
Authors: Yang Xiong , He Chaoyu , Shi Xizhi , Li Jin , Zhang Chunxiao , Tang Chao , Zhong Jianxin
Published: October 2018

Based on first-principles calculations, the structures, stabilities, electronic properties, and mechanical properties as well as optical properties of two new hexagonal silicon allotropes (Hex-193 and Hex-194) were theoretically investigated. Both Hex-193 and Hex-194 are confirmed to be meta-stable phases with energetic stability exceeding the previously proposed Si-20 and the experimentally viable Si-24. They are also confirmed to be dynamically and elastically stable silicon phases according to their calculated phonon band structures and mechanical properties. The HSE06-based band structures of Hex-193 and Hex-194 indicate that they are quasi-direct bandgap semiconductors with fundamental bandgaps of 1.275 eV (direct bandgap is 1.277 eV) and 1.200 eV (direct bandgap is 1.302 eV), respectively. Further investigation of the optical properties shows that both Hex-193 and Hex-194 exhibit a stronger absorption coefficient in comparison to that of diamond silicon, which indicates that both are potential materials for solar-cell application.
Characterization of stability of benchmark organic photovoltaic films after proton and electron bombardments
Authors: Barbé Jérémy , Lee Harrison K. H. , Toyota Hiroyuki , Hirose Kazuyuki , Sato Shin-ichiro , Ohshima Takeshi , Heasman Keith C. , Tsoi Wing C.
Published: October 2018

Organic solar cells have attractive potential for space applications as they have very high specific power (power generated per weight) and ultra-high flexibility (to reduce stowed volume). However, one critical issue is whether they are stable under the harsh space environment, particularly their stability under high energy, high flux, electron and proton bombardment. In this paper, the stability of benchmark organic photovoltaic layers under proton bombardment (150 keV with a fluence of 1 × 1012/cm2) and electron bombardment (1 MeV with a fluence of 1 × 1013/cm2) under vacuum is investigated. Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and optical reflectance spectroscopy are applied to study their chemical/structural, photo-chemical/morphological, and optical stability after the bombardments. The results show that all the benchmark organic photovoltaic films are stable under the radiation, implying that organic solar cells could be feasible for space applications.
Performance enhancement of TaOx resistive switching memory using graded oxygen content
Authors: Wang B. , Xue K. H. , Sun H. J. , Li Z. N. , Wu W. , Yan P. , Liu N. , Tian B. Y. , Liu X. X. , Miao X. S.
Published: October 2018

We compared the resistive switching performances of built-in graded oxygen concentration TaOx films and uniform TaOx films under the 100 μA compliance current. The device with a graded oxygen concentration demonstrates increased low resistance and high resistance states, as well as improved stability without the need of higher switching voltages. Using the pulse mode, the switching voltages were confirmed to be less than 1.0 V for the pulse widths of 100 ns and 50 ns and less than 3.3 V for that of 10 ns, showing great advantages over previous reports. The remarkably high performances are due to the built-in oxygen concentration gradient, which results in an electric-field gradient and temperature along conduction paths, confining the rupture/reformation of the random conductive filaments to the customized highest oxygen concentration zone.
Dynamic fracture and frictional heating due to periodic excitation in energetic materials
Authors: Duarte Camilo A. , Kohler Rachel , Koslowski Marisol
Published: October 2018

Mechanical stimulus may lead to localized temperature increase due to the concentration of energy dissipation at microstructural features. Mechanically induced heating occurs, for example, when materials are subjected to periodic excitation. This is a particular concern in energetic materials where ignition may start a deflagration. In this study, finite element simulations are performed on a single β-HMX particle in a polymer matrix subjected to mechanical periodic excitation. Different initial defects, such as cracks and interface debonding, are included to control the location of hot-spots nucleation. The model accounts for damage evolution and heat generation due to friction at cracks. The results indicate that hot-spots nucleate preferentially at the particle/binder interface, and therefore, the temperature rate is higher when the particle is initially debonded than when it is perfectly attached to the polymer.
Charged solitons in branched conducting polymers
Authors: Babajanov D. , Matyokubov H. , Matrasulov D.
Published: October 2018

We consider the dynamics of charged solitons in branched conducting polymers, such as, e.g., trans-polyacetylene. An effective model based on the sine-Gordon equation on metric graphs is used for computing the charge transport and scattering of charge carriers at the polymer branching points. The condition for the ballistic charge carrier transport is revealed.
Propagation of input parameter uncertainties in transport models
Authors: Vaezi P. , Holland C. , Grierson B. A. , Staebler G. M. , Smith S. P. , Meneghini O.
Published: October 2018

The many sources of uncertainty in validation studies of plasma turbulence in magnetically confined fusion devices are well-known. In this paper, we investigate how to efficiently transform uncertainties in experimentally derived transport model inputs into model prediction uncertainties, using the quasilinear trapped-gyro-Landau-fluid (TGLF) turbulent transport model [Staebler et al., Phys. Plasmas 14, 055909 (2007)]. We use the rapidly converging and computationally inexpensive non-intrusive probabilistic collocation method (PCM) to propagate input parameter uncertainty probability distribution functions (PDFs) through TGLF, yielding PDFs of predicted transport fluxes. We observe in many cases that the flux PDFs exhibit significant non-normal features such as strong skewness, even when the input distributions were normal. To illustrate the utility of the PCM approach, we apply this methodology to transport predictions for a DIII-D ITER baseline plasma [Grierson et al., Phys. Plasmas 25, 022509 (2018)] in which the mix of neutral beam injection (NBI) and electron cyclotron heating (ECH) was varied. The model predictions show clear changes in the parametric dependencies and sensitivities of the turbulence between the two heating mixes. Specifically, when only NBI heating was used, the transport fluxes responded significantly only to the ion temperature gradient scale length. However, when both NBI and ECH were applied, the electron transport channels demonstrate a strong sensitivity to the electron temperature and density gradients not observed in the NBI-only case. Additional context for the PCM approach is provided by comparing its predictions with those obtained via a local flux-matching approach. A new set of validation metrics based on the Wasserstein distance is proposed for PDF-based comparisons.
Excitation of concentration and temperature fluctuations by vibrating bodies in superfluid 3Не–4Не solution
Authors: Vikhtinskaya T. G. , Nemchenko K. E. , Rogova S. Yu.
Published: October 2018

The excitation of concentration and temperature fluctuations in waves of the first and second sounds, as well as in the thermal wave, by a vibrating tuning fork, in a superfluid 3He–4He solution with a concentration of 3Не exceeding 10% was studied. In particular, the possibility of emission of second sound and dissipative thermal wave by an oscillating tuning fork, the efficiency of such emission as a function of the solution concentration, and the possible effect of this emission on the damping of the tuning fork vibrations, which have been observed in experiments but not explained theoretically to date, are considered in this paper.
Channel electron bubbles in low-temperature helium gas
Authors: Monarkha Yu. P.
Published: October 2018

Self-localization of electrons caused by their interaction with helium vapor atoms in quasi-one-dimensional conducting channels over liquid helium is theoretically studied. We have shown that channel electron bubbles of a large size can exist at temperatures which are substantially lower than the critical temperature reported previously for electron bubbles of three-dimensional and two-dimensional electron systems. The transition from a large-size bubble to a small-size bubble is shown to be discontinuous, and a sort of bistability involving metastable states is described. The analysis given explains a sharp decrease of electron mobility in quasi-one-dimensional channels on liquid helium observed at T ≳ 2,5 K.
Valence band offsets for CuI on (-201) bulk Ga2O3 and epitaxial (010) (Al0.14Ga0.86)2O3
Authors: Fares Chaker , Ren F. , Hays David C. , Gila B. P. , Tadjer Marko , Hobart Karl D. , Pearton S. J.
Published: October 2018

Thin films of copper iodide (CuI) were grown on (-201) bulk Ga2O3 and (010) epitaxial (Al0.14Ga0.86)2O3 using a copper film iodination reaction method. The valence band offsets for these heterostructures were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). High resolution XPS data of the O 1s peak and onset of elastic losses were used to establish the (Al0.14Ga0.86)2O3 bandgap to be 5.0 ± 0.30 eV. The valence band offsets were −0.25 eV ± 0.07 eV and 0.05 ± 0.02 eV for CuI on Ga2O3 or (Al0.14Ga0.86)2O3, respectively. The respective conduction band offsets were 1.25 ± 0.25 eV for Ga2O3 and 1.85 ± 0.35 eV for (Al0.14Ga0.86)2O3. Thus, there is a transition from type-II to type-I alignment as Al is added to β-Ga2O3. The low valence band offsets are ideal for hole transport across the heterointerfaces.
Targeting test environments and rust-resistant genotypes in lentils (Lens culinaris) by using heritability-adjusted biplot analysis
Authors: Parihar A. K. , Basandrai Ashwani K. , Kushwaha K. P. S. , Chandra S. , Singh K. D. , Bal R. S. , Saxena D. , Singh Deepak , Gupta Sanjeev
Published: October 2018

Lentil rust incited by the fungus Uromyces viciae-fabae is a major impedance to lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) production globally. Host-plant resistance is the most reliable, efficient and viable strategy among the various approaches to control this disease. In this study, 26 lentil genotypes comprising advanced breeding lines and released varieties along with a susceptible check were evaluated consecutively for rust resistance under natural incidence for two years and at five test locations in India. A heritability-adjusted genotype main effect plus genotype × environment interaction (HA-GGE) biplot program was used to analyse disease-severity data. The results revealed that, among the interactive factors, the GE interaction had the greatest impact (27.81%), whereas environment and genotype showed lower effects of 17.2% and 20.98%, respectively. The high GE variation made possible the evaluation of the genotypes at different test locations. The HA-GGE biplot method identified two sites (Gurdaspur and Pantnagar) as the ideal test environments in this study, with high efficiency for selection of durable and rust-resistant genotypes, whereas two other sites (Kanpur and Faizabad) were the least desirable test environments. In addition, the HA-GGE biplot analysis identified three distinct mega-environments for rust severity in India. Furthermore, the analysis identified three genotypes, DPL 62, PL 165 and PL 157, as best performing and durable for rust resistance in this study. The HA-GGE biplot analysis recognised the best test environments, restructured the ecological zones for lentil-rust testing, and identified stable sources of resistance for lentil rust disease, under multi-location and multi-year trials.
The creative use of absences
Authors: Montoro Rocío
Published: October 2018

In an article published in this journal,Partington (2014)addresses the criticism often made against corpus linguistics that it is apparently unable to cope with absences. He convincingly argues that corpus linguistics is better suited to account for absences than has been claimed. I resume the debate by discussing a type of absence not fully addressed inPartington (2014)which I have termed ‘creative absences’. With a focus on corpus stylistics, I consider the way in which the author Henry Green dispenses with a compulsory element in the grammatical structure of Standard English, i.e. the determiner (mainly, the definite article). By means of a manual analysis as well as two corpus stylistic analyses (keyness and text-type analysis) of the novelLiving(Green 1929), I explore the effects of such an unorthodox use and argue, alongsidePartington (2014), for the usefulness of corpus approaches to account for at least certain types of absences.
Feeding modulation in insects through factors in the hemolymph
Authors: Nagata Shinji
Published: October 2018

In insect hemolymph, many factors are present that can influence feeding motivation, such as lipids, carbohydrates, and other metabolites. Levels of these hemolymph factors fluctuate according to metabolic, nutrient and feeding states, eventually affecting feeding motivation and consequent regularly occurring feeding cycles. Such fluctuations contribute to energy homeostasis and innate feeding behavior in insects possibly by endocrine systems. Ultimately, orchestration of bioactive factors in the hemolymph modulate feeding motivation and nutrient selective behavior in insects.
The influence of facial expressions on attack recognition and response behaviour in karate kumite
Authors: Petri Katharina , Bandow Nicole , Salb Simon , Witte Kerstin
Published: October 2018

Facial expressions play a crucial role in human daily life interactions, so it is possible that they contain relevant anticipatory cues. Therefore, we conducted two studies in karate kumite to analyse the influence of facial expressions on the attack recognition (study A) and on the response behaviour (study B). In study A, 10 karate athletes (age 14–26 years, national and international level) had to recognize temporally occluded karate attacks in 2 conditions (normal and blurred face of the attacker) and identify the upcoming attack (verbal reports). In study B, a natural fight was initiated with 12 karate athletes (age 15–32 years, national and international level) in 3 conditions: an attacker with a normal face, wearing a ski mask, and wearing a ski mask together with sunglasses. The measured parameters response quality and time for response were calculated applying the McNemar test (study A) and Friedman test (study B). Results of study A showed a significant improvement in the attack recognition in the blurred face condition compared to the normal face condition. In study B a significant improvement in time for response was observed in the ski mask and ski mask plus sunglasses conditions (r < 0.1). No significant difference for response quality was found in any of the three conditions. The results of our work indicate that the disguise of the attacker's face leads to a better attack recognition and response behaviour. We conclude that anticipatory cues in karate kumite context mainly lie in the attacker's movements and not in the attacker's face.
Clinical research using extracellular vesicles: insights from the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles 2018 Annual Meeting
Authors: Rayyan Morsi , Zheutlin Alex , Byrd James Brian
Published: October 2018

The abstracts presented at the 2018 International Society for Extracellular Vesicles Annual Meeting offer unique insight into the newest discoveries related to the biology and applied use of extracellular vesicles (EVs). As an extension of a recent “Clinical‐Wrap Up” discussion at the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles 2018 Annual Meeting, a systematic review of each abstract was performed to determine which abstracts could be considered clinical research. Once the clinical research abstracts were identified, systematic data extraction included: the major focus of each clinical research abstract; the countries in which the work was done; and the sample size, if provided in the abstract. Each abstract was reviewed by two independent authors, with a third author resolving discrepancies in cases of disagreement. 174 out of 656 (27%) unique abstracts were determined to be clinical research. Oncology was a principal research focus (51 of the 174 clinical research abstracts, 29%). Many other clinical research abstracts presented at the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles 2018 Annual Meeting focused on the use of human samples for development of methods for potential application in the clinic. Beyond oncology and methods development, a wide range of topics was represented, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, genetics, and many others. Current research involving EVs highlights the common, but false dichotomy of science into curiosity‐driven basic science or application‐driven clinical research, when in fact both quest for understanding and intent to apply the findings appeared to drive much of the work at the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles 2018 Annual Meeting. Using Pasteur's Quadrant as a framework, we discuss where the field of EV research is heading and how we may gain insight into the biological function of EVs in tandem with how they may benefit individual health.
What’s at stake in the treaty reporting process? Cuba and the United Nations’ convention on women’s rights
Authors: Baldez Lisa
Published: October 2018

What impact do U.N. human rights treaties have on the countries that ratify them? Most of the scholarly literature on this topic focuses on ratification, with little attention to the ways that the process of reporting can shape compliance. Ratification commits countries to a regular process of documenting and defending the extent to which they comply with a particular treaty. Many countries participate faithfully in the reporting process, devoting significant resources to it and subjecting themselves to vigorous review by the committees that oversee compliance. What is at stake in the reporting process? What can we learn from taking seriously the content of the exchanges between government officials and committee experts? This article examines Cuba's engagement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) across eight reporting cycles, from 1982 to 2016. Cuba has adopted many changes, but has strenuously resisted the CEDAW Committee's assessment of its progress on critical aspects of violence against women policy.
Pore- and voltage sensor–targeted KCNQ openers have distinct state-dependent actions
Authors: Wang Caroline K. , Lamothe Shawn M. , Wang Alice W. , Yang Runying Y. , Kurata Harley T.
Published: October 2018

Ion channels encoded by KCNQ2-5 generate a prominent K+ conductance in the central nervous system, referred to as the M current, which is controlled by membrane voltage and PIP2. The KCNQ2-5 voltage-gated potassium channels are targeted by a variety of activating compounds that cause negative shifts in the voltage dependence of activation. The underlying pharmacology of these effects is of growing interest because of possible clinical applications. Recent studies have revealed multiple binding sites and mechanisms of action of KCNQ activators. For example, retigabine targets the pore domain, but several compounds have been shown to influence the voltage-sensing domain. An important unexplored feature of these compounds is the influence of channel gating on drug binding or effects. In the present study, we compare the state-dependent actions of retigabine and ICA-069673 (ICA73, a voltage sensor–targeted activator). We assess drug binding to preopen states by applying drugs to homomeric KCNQ2 channels at different holding voltages, demonstrating little or no association of ICA73 with resting states. Using rapid solution switching, we also demonstrate that the rate of onset of ICA73 correlates with the voltage dependence of channel activation. Retigabine actions differ significantly, with prominent drug effects seen at very negative holding voltages and distinct voltage dependences of drug binding versus channel activation. Using similar approaches, we investigate the mechanistic basis for attenuation of ICA73 actions by the voltage-sensing domain mutation KCNQ2[A181P]. Our findings demonstrate different state-dependent actions of pore- versus voltage sensor–targeted KCNQ channel activators, which highlight that subtypes of this drug class operate with distinct mechanisms.
Fractal Complexity of Daily Physical Activity Patterns Differs With Age Over the Life Span and Is Associated With Mortality in Older Adults
Authors: Raichlen David A , Klimentidis Yann C , Hsu Chiu-Hsieh , Alexander Gene E
Published: October 2018

Background

Accelerometers are included in a wide range of devices that monitor and track physical activity for health-related applications. However, the clinical utility of the information embedded in their rich time-series data has been greatly understudied and has yet to be fully realized. Here, we examine the potential for fractal complexity of actigraphy data to serve as a clinical biomarker for mortality risk.

Methods

We use detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) to analyze actigraphy data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; n = 11,694). The DFA method measures fractal complexity (signal self-affinity across time-scales) as correlations between the amplitude of signal fluctuations in time-series data across a range of time-scales. The slope, α, relating the fluctuation amplitudes to the time-scales over which they were measured describes the complexity of the signal.

Results

Fractal complexity of physical activity (α) decreased significantly with age (p = 1.29E−6) and was lower in women compared with men (p = 1.79E−4). Higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in older adults and in women were associated with greater fractal complexity. In adults aged 50–79 years, lower fractal complexity of activity (α) was associated with greater mortality (hazard ratio = 0.64; 95% confidence interval = 0.49–0.82) after adjusting for age, exercise engagement, chronic diseases, and other covariates associated with mortality.

Conclusions

Wearable accelerometers can provide a noninvasive biomarker of physiological aging and mortality risk after adjusting for other factors strongly associated with mortality. Thus, this fractal analysis of accelerometer signals provides a novel clinical application for wearable accelerometers, advancing efforts for remote monitoring of physiological health by clinicians.
Near-optimal sample complexity for convex tensor completion
Authors: Ghadermarzy Navid , Plan Yaniv , Yilmaz Özgür
Published: October 2018

We study the problem of estimating a low-rank tensor when we have noisy observations of a subset of its entries. A rank-$r$, order-$d$, $N \times N \times \cdots \times N$ tensor, where $r=O(1)$, has $O(dN)$ free variables. On the other hand, prior to our work, the best sample complexity that was achieved in the literature is $O\left(N^{\frac{d}{2}}\right)$, obtained by solving a tensor nuclear-norm minimization problem. In this paper, we consider the ‘M-norm’, an atomic norm whose atoms are rank-1 sign tensors. We also consider a generalization of the matrix max-norm to tensors, which results in a quasi-norm that we call ‘max-qnorm’. We prove that solving an M-norm constrained least squares (LS) problem results in nearly optimal sample complexity for low-rank tensor completion (TC). A similar result holds for max-qnorm as well. Furthermore, we show that these bounds are nearly minimax rate-optimal. We also provide promising numerical results for max-qnorm constrained TC, showing improved recovery compared to matricization and alternating LS.