bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The new administration and international chemical issues
Authors: Bergeson Lynn L.
Published: August 2018

As a candidate and now as president, President Trump has been uncharacteristically predictable in systematically dismantling signature environmental policies of prior administrations and ceding the United States’ leadership in combating climate change to other global powers. The administration's industrial chemicals management policy has been less transparent and predictable, however. Some may have interpreted candidate Trump's notable silence on the campaign trail as support for Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform, given the broad bipartisan support it enjoyed before its enactment on June 22, 2016. Others may have assumed that candidate Trump was simply unaware of the enactment of the most sweeping legislative changes to our domestic chemical management law in four decades and the significant commercial, legal, and trade implications occasioned by enactment of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg). President Trump has kept his TSCA cards close to his vest, and the administration's broader engagement in chemicals management on the world stage is similarly unclear. Some trends can be discerned, or at least inferred, as discussed below.
The IPCC and the new map of science and politics
Authors: Beck Silke , Mahony Martin
Published: August 2018

In this study, we review work which seeks to understand and interpret the place of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) within the science and politics of climate change in the context of a post‐Paris polycentric governance regime and the culture of “post‐truth” politics. Focusing on studies of how the IPCC has sought to maintain a boundary between the scientific and the political, we offer an historical account of “boundary work” within the IPCC which is instructive for thinking, in an anticipative mode, about emerging and likely challenges to the IPCC's position as a science–policy boundary organization. We suggest that the relationships between climate science and policy are undergoing fundamental transformation in light of the Paris Agreement, and contend that the IPCC will need to be nimble and reflexive in meeting new challenges. Growing calls for more “solution‐oriented” assessment question the IPCC's positioning at the science—politics boundary, where it can function to put some policy options on the table, while obscuring others. Recent controversies over proposed mitigation solutions are indicative of likely future challenges. We suggest that by adopting a mode of “responsible assessment,” the IPCC can continue to exercise its world‐making power in a relevant and legitimate fashion.

This article is categorized under:

Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Climate Science and Decision Making
How Kaizen Brightens Africa’s Future
Authors: Sonobe Tetsushi
Published: August 2018

This chapter addresses the question of why successful industrial development in Africa requires the dissemination of Kaizen. For this purpose, it begins with a simple definition of the approach. While detailed explanations are provided in subsequent chapters, this chapter briefly explains what characterizes Kaizen, how it was born in Japan and why it was accepted there, and how it has absorbed and assimilated those new ideas and practices that emerged later in Japan and other parts of the world to grow into the most widely and intensively used approach to management. The chapter discusses the challenges and opportunities for Africa as a late adopter of the approach, before concluding with a brief introduction of the other chapters.
Role of Kaizen in Japan’s Overseas Development Cooperation
Authors: Jin Kimiaki
Published: August 2018

Kaizen is one of the core systems of knowledge utilized in Technical Cooperation projects of the Japanese government. For the effective transfer of Kaizen, recipient country governments and their top leaders can play significant roles through a set of institutional arrangements. For sustainable improvement of quality and productivity of work, people’s core capacities need to receive due attention since they provide the bases for further technical capacity development. The Kaizen mind-set can create change and make proactive contributions to improvement. Since knowledge transfer is influenced by both technical and human aspects, the process of customizing Kaizen tools and methodologies in the local context while maintaining the core value of Kaizen is indispensable for long-lasting quality and productivity improvement activities.
Behind Horndeski: structurally robust higher derivative EFTs
Authors: Santoni Luca , Trincherini Enrico , Trombetta Leonardo G.
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Higher derivative scalar interactions can give rise to interesting cosmological scenarios. We present a complete classification of such operators that can yield sizeable effects without introducing ghosts and, at the same time, define an effective field theory robust under the inclusion of quantum corrections. A set of rules to power count consistently the coefficients of the resulting Lagrangian is provided by the presence of an approximate global symmetry. The interactions that we derive in this way contain a subset of the so-called Horndeski and beyond Horndeski theories. Our construction therefore provides a structurally robust context to study their phenomenology. Applications to dark energy/modified gravity and geodesically complete cosmologies are briefly discussed.
Wilson surfaces in M5-branes
Authors: Agarwal Prarit , Kim Joonho , Kim Seok , Sciarappa Antonio
Published: August 2018

Abstract

We study Wilson surface defects in 6d$$ \mathcal{N}=\left(2,0\right) $$N=20superconformal field theories, engineered by semi-infinite M2-branes intersecting M5-branes. Two independent approaches are used to obtain the Wilson surface observables on theT2inside Ω-deformedR4×T2. One approach is to compute 5d$$ \mathcal{N}={1}^{*} $$N=1*instanton partition functions in the presence of Wilson lines, where the instanton corrections capture the 6d Kaluza-Klein momentum modes. The other approach is to study the elliptic genera of 2d$$ \mathcal{N}=\left(0,4\right) $$N=04gauge theories, which we propose as describing 6d self-dual strings in the presence of Wilson surface defects. We make a detailed comparison between these two independent computations, which precisely agree for Wilson surfaces in minuscule representations; for non-minuscule representations instead we only find partial agreement, due to technical problems which we comment about.
On statistical models on super trees
Authors: Gorsky A. S. , Nechaev S. K. , Valov A. F.
Published: August 2018

Abstract

We consider a particular example of interplay between statistical models related to CFT on one hand, and to the spectral properties of ODE, known as ODE/IS correspondence, on the other hand. We focus at the representation of wave functions of Schrödinger operators in terms of spectral properties of associated transfer matrices on “super trees” (the trees whose vertex degree changes with the distance from the root point). Such trees with varying branchings encode the structure of the Fock space of the model. We discuss basic spectral properties of “averaged random matrix ensembles” in terms of Hermite polynomials for the transfer matrix of super trees. At small “branching velocities” we have related the problem of paths counting on super trees to the statistics of area-weighted one-dimensional Dyck paths. We also discuss the connection of the spectral statistics of random walks on super trees with the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang scaling.
Fibrations in non-simply connected Calabi-Yau quotients
Authors: Anderson Lara B. , Gray James , Hammack Brian
Published: August 2018

Abstract

In this work we study genus one fibrations in Calabi-Yau three-folds with a non-trivial first fundamental group. The manifolds under consideration are constructed as smooth quotients of complete intersection Calabi-Yau three-folds (CICYs) by a freely acting, discrete automorphism. By probing the compatibility of symmetries with genus one fibrations (that is, discrete group actions which preserve a local decomposition of the manifold into fiber and base) we find fibrations that are inherited from fibrations on the covering spaces. Of the 7,890 CICY three-folds, 195 exhibit known discrete symmetries, leading to a total of 1,695 quotient manifolds. By scanning over 20,700 fiber/symmetry pairs on the covering spaces we find 17,161 fibrations on the quotient Calabi-Yau manifolds. It is found that the vast majority of the non-simply connected manifolds studied exhibit multiple different genus one fibrations — echoing a similar ubiquity of such structures that has been observed in other data sets. The results are available at [1]. The possible base manifolds are all singular and are catalogued. These Calabi-Yau fibrations generically exhibit multiple fibers and are of interest in F-theory as backgrounds leading to theories with superconformal loci and discretely charged matter.
Perception of Climate Change and Impact on Land Allocation and Income: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam's Delta Region
Authors: Mishra Ashok K. , Pede Valerien O. , Barboza Gustavo A.
Published: August 2018

Using a sample survey from Vietnam's M&RRD, this study examines both the factors affecting smallholder households’ perceptions of climate change, and the impact of climatic change on smallholders’ income and land allocation decisions. Results show a significant and negative impact of perception of climate change on income of smallholder households. Smallholders with perceived climate changes reduce land allocated to paddy crop. Farmers make strategic decision to counter the negative effects of climate change by increasing the amount of rented land for paddy crop production, while at the same time decreasing the amount of owned land allocated to paddy crop.
Impact of Climate Change on Livestock Returns and Rangeland Ecosystem Sustainability in the Southwest
Authors: Torell Gregory L. , Lee Katherine D.
Published: August 2018

Climate change will increase variability in temperature and precipitation on rangelands, impacting ecosystem services including livestock grazing. Facing uncertainty about future climate, managers must know if current practices will maintain rangeland sustainability. Herein, the future density of an invasive species, broom snakeweed, is estimated using a long-term ecological dataset and climate projections. We find that livestock stocking rates determined using a current method result in lower forage production, allowable stocking rate, and grazing value than an economically efficient stocking rate. Results indicate that using ecology and adaptive methods in management are critical to the sustainability of rangelands.
GAUSSIAN PROCESS MODELS FOR MORTALITY RATES AND IMPROVEMENT FACTORS
Authors: Ludkovski Mike , Risk Jimmy , Zail Howard
Published: August 2018

We develop a Gaussian process (GP) framework for modeling mortality rates and mortality improvement factors. GP regression is a nonparametric, data-driven approach for determining the spatial dependence in mortality rates and jointly smoothing raw rates across dimensions, such as calendar year and age. The GP model quantifies uncertainty associated with smoothed historical experience and generates full stochastic trajectories for out-of-sample forecasts. Our framework is well suited for updating projections when newly available data arrives, and for dealing with “edge” issues where credibility is lower. We present a detailed analysis of GP model performance for US mortality experience based on the CDC (Center for Disease Control) datasets. We investigate the interaction between mean and residual modeling, Bayesian and non-Bayesian GP methodologies, accuracy of in-sample and out-of-sample forecasting, and stability of model parameters. We also document the general decline, along with strong age-dependency, in mortality improvement factors over the past few years, contrasting our findings with the Society of Actuaries (SOA) MP-2014 and -2015 models that do not fully reflect these recent trends.
A biomarker feasibility study in the South East Asia Community Observatory health and demographic surveillance system
Authors: Partap U. , Young E. H. , Allotey P. , Sandhu M. S. , Reidpath D. D.
Published: August 2018

Background

Integration of biomarker data with information on health and lifestyle provides a powerful tool to enhance the scientific value of health research. Existing health and demographic surveillance systems (HDSSs) present an opportunity to create novel biodata resources for this purpose, but data and biological sample collection often presents challenges. We outline some of the challenges in developing these resources and present the outcomes of a biomarker feasibility study embedded within the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) HDSS.

Methods

We assessed study-related records to determine the pace of data collection, response from potential participants, and feedback following data and sample collection. Overall and stratified measures of data and sample availability were summarised. Crude prevalence of key risk factors was examined.

Results

Approximately half (49.5%) of invited individuals consented to participate in this study, for a final sample size of 203 (161 adults and 42 children). Women were more likely to consent to participate compared with men, whereas children, young adults and individuals of Malay ethnicity were less likely to consent compared with older individuals or those of any other ethnicity. At least one biological sample (blood from all participants – finger-prick and venous [for serum, plasma and whole blood samples], hair or urine for adults only) was successfully collected from all participants, with blood test data available from over 90% of individuals. Among adults, urine samples were most commonly collected (97.5%), followed by any blood samples (91.9%) and hair samples (83.2%). Cardiometabolic risk factor burden was high (prevalence of elevated HbA1c among adults: 23.8%; of elevated triglycerides among adults: 38.1%; of elevated total cholesterol among children: 19.5%).

Conclusions

In this study, we show that it is feasible to create biodata resources using existing HDSS frameworks, and identify a potentially high burden of cardiometabolic risk factors that requires further evaluation in this population.
Costs versus earnings in colon surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting under a prospective payment system: Sufficient financial incentives to reduce surgical site infections?
Authors: Juchler Fabrice , Roth Jan A. , Schweiger Alexander , Dangel Marc , Gugliotta Massimo , Battegay Manuel , Eckstein Friedrich S. , Kettelhack Christoph , Abshagen Christian , Hug Balthasar L. , Boyce John M. , Widmer Andreas F.
Published: August 2018

Based on a surgical site infection (SSI) cohort at an academic center, we showed a median potentially preventable loss per non-SSI case of $17,916 in colon surgery and of $34,741 in coronary artery bypass grafting.
Recommended Practices for Academics to Initiate and Manage Research Partnerships With Organizations
Authors: Lapierre Laurent M. , Matthews Russell A. , Eby Lillian T. , Truxillo Donald M. , Johnson Russell E. , Major Debra A.
Published: August 2018

Although academics can receive considerable training in selecting appropriate research designs, types of data to collect, and methods for analyzing data, as well as guidance on preparing scholarly manuscripts, there is a dearth of information on how to initiate and manage partnerships with organizations in order to conduct high-quality applied research, particularly when the research is quantitative in nature. In this article, we provide our own experience-based insights and recommendations to help academics more easily (a) initiate a research relationship with senior organizational leadership, (b) decide early whether to pursue or end a research collaboration with an organization, (c) keep the organization engaged during the study, and (d) maintain the relationship with the organization after data collection is complete. This information is proposed as a complement to traditional organizational research methods and as instrumental in the pursuit of research salient to the interests of organizational practitioners.
Insights into the dynamics of conical breakdown modes in coaxial swirling flow field
Authors: Rajamanickam Kuppuraj , Basu Saptarshi
Published: August 2018

The main idea of this paper is to understand the fundamental vortex breakdown mechanisms in the coaxial swirling flow field. In particular, the interaction dynamics of the flow field is meticulously addressed with the help of high fidelity laser diagnostic tools. Time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) (${\sim}1500~\text{frames}~\text{s}^{-1}$) is employed in $y{-}r$ and multiple $r{-}\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}$ planes to precisely delineate the flow dynamics. Experiments are carried out for three sets of co-annular flow Reynolds number $Re_{a}=4896$, 10 545, 17 546. Furthermore, for each $Re_{a}$ condition, the swirl number ‘$S_{G}$’ is varied independently from $0\leqslant S_{G}\leqslant 3$. The global evolution of flow field across various swirl numbers is presented using the time-averaged PIV data. Three distinct forms of vortex breakdown namely, pre-vortex breakdown (PVB), central toroidal recirculation zone (CTRZ; axisymmetric toroidal bubble type breakdown) and sudden conical breakdown are witnessed. Among these, the conical form of vortex breakdown is less explored in the literature. In this paper, much attention is therefore focused on exploring the governing mechanism of conical breakdown. It is should be interesting to note that, unlike other vortex breakdown modes, conical breakdown persists only for a very short band of $S_{G}$. For any small increase/decrease in $S_{G}$ beyond a certain threshold, the flow spontaneously reverts back to the CTRZ state. Energy ranked and frequency-resolved/ranked robust structure identification methods – proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) respectively – are implemented over instantaneous time-resolved PIV data sets to extract the dynamics of the coherent structures associated with each vortex breakdown mode. The dominant structures obtained from POD analysis suggest the dominance of the Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) instability (axial $+$ azimuthal; accounts for ${\sim}80\,\%$ of total turbulent kinetic energy, TKE) for both PVB and CTRZ while the remaining energy is contributed by shedding modes. On the other hand, shedding modes contribute the majority of the TKE in conical breakdown. The frequency signatures quantified from POD temporal modes and DMD analysis reveal the occurrence of multiple dominant frequencies in the range of ${\sim}10{-}400~\text{Hz}$ with conical breakdown. This phenomenon may be a manifestation of high energy contribution by shedding eddies in the shear layer. Contrarily, with PVB and CTRZ, the dominant frequencies are observed in the range of ${\sim}20{-}40~\text{Hz}$ only. We have provided a detailed exposition of the mechanism through which conical breakdown occurs. In addition, the current work explores the hysteresis (path dependence) phenomena of conical breakdown as functions of the Reynolds and Rossby numbers. It has been observed that the conical mode is not reversible and highly dependent on the initial conditions.
Forum on Tesla and the Global Automotive Industry
Authors: Välikangas Liisa
Published: August 2018

China, the world's largest market for electric vehicles (EV), has put in play a state industrial policy that is seeking to upend global automakers (see Financial Times, October 12, 2017 and May 20, 2018). Exemptions from taxes and subsidy programs have favored the purchasing of an EV, which are also exempt from driving restrictions in large cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Policies that target manufacturers include meeting production targets for EVs (the so-called dual-credit policy by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology). China may be on the verge of becoming a global disruptor in an industry that has home market advantages of scale, lower fossil fuel imports, and significant reduction of air pollution in cities while exploiting related technologies such as lithium batteries where China has world class industrial competence. It is in China's national interest to be a game changer in the global automotive industry from fossil fuel to electricity. And building infrastructure – supercharging stations included – fits the government-directed approach that aspires to establish the country as an undisputable global leader in a high-tech sector of global significance.
Sources and pattern of protein intake and risk of overweight or obesity in young UK twins
Authors: Pimpin Laura , Jebb Susan A. , Johnson Laura , Llewellyn Clare , Ambrosini Gina L.
Published: August 2018

High protein intake in young children is associated with excess gains in weight and body fat, but the specific role of different protein sources has yet to be described. The study aimed to investigate the role of different types of protein in the post-weaning stage on weight, BMI and overweight/obesity at 60 months. Intakes of animal, dairy and plant protein and a dietary pattern characterising variation in protein types at 21 months of age were estimated using a 3-d diet diary in a cohort of 2154 twins; weight and height were recorded every 3 months from birth to 60 months. Longitudinal mixed-effect models investigated the associations between sources of protein intake or dietary pattern scores and BMI, weight and overweight/obesity from 21 months up to 60 months. Adjusting for confounders, dairy protein intake at 21 months was positively associated with greater weight (46 (95 % CI 21, 71) g and BMI up to 60 months (0·04 (95 % CI 0·004, 0·070) kg/m2) and the odds of overweight/obesity at 3 years (OR 1·12; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·24). Milk showed associations of similar magnitude. A dietary pattern low in dairy protein and high in plant protein was associated with lower weight gain up to 60 months, but not overweight/obesity. Intake of dairy products in early childhood is most strongly associated with weight gain, compared with other protein sources. A dietary pattern characterised by lower protein intake and greater protein source diversity at 2 years may confer a lower risk of excess weight gain.
The paediatric option for BodPod to assess body composition in preschool children: what fat-free mass density values should be used?
Authors: Delisle Nyström Christine , Söderström Emmie , Henriksson Pontus , Henriksson Hanna , Poortvliet Eric , Löf Marie
Published: August 2018

Air displacement plethysmography utilises a two-component model to assess body composition, which relies on assumptions regarding the density of fat-free mass (FFM). To date, there is no evidence as to whether Lohman’s or Wellset al.’s FFM density values are more accurate in young children. Therefore, the aims of this study were to compare total body fat percentage (TBF%) assessed using the BodPod with both Lohman’s and Wellset al.’s FFM density values with TBF% from the three-component (3C) model in forty healthy Swedish children aged 5·5 years. Average TBF% calculated using Lohman’s FFM density values underestimated TBF% in comparison with the corresponding value assessed using the 3C model (22·2 (sd5·7) and 25·1 (sd5·5) %, respectively;P<0·001). No statistically significant difference was observed between TBF% assessed using Wellset al.’s FFM density values and the 3C model (24·9 (sd5·5) and 25·1 (sd5·5) %, respectively;P=0·614). The Bland and Altman plots for TBF% using both Lohman’s and Wellset al.’s FFM density values did not show any bias across the range of body fatness (Lohman:r0·056,P=0·733 and Wellset al.:r−0·006,P=0·970). These results indicate that Wellset al.’s FFM density values should be used when assessing body composition with the paediatric option for BodPod in 5-year-old children. However, future studies are needed to confirm these results in other populations, including a wider age range of children.
Vitamin D receptor genotype influences risk of upper respiratory infection
Authors: Jolliffe David A. , Greiller Claire L. , Mein Charles A. , Hoti Mimoza , Bakhsoliani Eteri , Telcian Aurica G. , Simpson Angela , Barnes Neil C. , Curtin John A. , Custovic Adnan , Johnston Sebastian L. , Griffiths Christopher J. , Walton Robert T. , Martineau Adrian R.
Published: August 2018

SNP in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene is associated with risk of lower respiratory infections. The influence of genetic variation in the vitamin D pathway resulting in susceptibility to upper respiratory infections (URI) has not been investigated. We evaluated the influence of thirty-three SNP in eleven vitamin D pathway genes (DBP,DHCR7,RXRA,CYP2R1,CYP27B1,CYP24A1,CYP3A4,CYP27A1,LRP2,CUBNandVDR)resulting in URI risk in 725 adults in London, UK, using an additive model with adjustment for potential confounders and correction for multiple comparisons. Significant associations in this cohort were investigated in a validation cohort of 737 children in Manchester, UK. In all, three SNP inVDR(rs4334089, rs11568820 and rs7970314) and one SNP inCYP3A4(rs2740574) were associated with risk of URI in the discovery cohort after adjusting for potential confounders and correcting for multiple comparisons (adjusted incidence rate ratio per additional minor allele ≥1·15,Pfor trend≤0·030). This association was replicated for rs4334089 in the validation cohort (Pfor trend=0·048) but not for rs11568820, rs7970314 or rs2740574. Carriage of the minor allele of the rs4334089 SNP inVDRwas associated with increased susceptibility to URI in children and adult cohorts in the United Kingdom.
Workflow for analysis of compositional data in sedimentary petrology: provenance changes in sedimentary basins from spatio-temporal variation in heavy-mineral assemblages
Authors: VERHAEGEN J. , WELTJE G.J. , MUNSTERMAN D.
Published: August 2018

The field of provenance analysis has seen a revival in the last decade as quantitative data-acquisition techniques continue to develop. In the 20th century, many heavy-mineral data were collected. These data were mostly used as qualitative indications for stratigraphy and provenance, and not incorporated in a quantitative provenance methodology. Even today, such data are mostly only used in classic data tables or cumulative heavy-mineral plots as a qualitative indication of variation. The main obstacle to rigorous statistical analysis is the compositional nature of these data which makes them unfit for standard multivariate statistics. To gain more information from legacy data, a straightforward workflow for quantitative analysis of compositional datasets is provided. First (1) a centred log-ratio transformation of the data is carried out to fix the constant-sum constraint and non-negativity of the compositional data. Next, (2) cluster analysis is followed by (3) principal component analysis and (4) bivariate log-ratio plots. Several (5) proxies for the effects of sorting and weathering are included to check the provenance significance of observed variations and finally a (6) spatial interpolation of a provenance proxy extracted from the dataset can be carried out. To test this methodology, available heavy-mineral data from the southern edge of the Miocene North Sea Basin are analysed. The results are compared with available information from literature and are used to gain improved insight into Miocene sediment input variations in the study area.
Effects of pasteurization and storage conditions on donkey milk nutritional and hygienic characteristics
Authors: Martini Mina , Salari Federica , Altomonte Iolanda , Ragona Giuseppe , Piazza Alice , Gori Roberta , Casati Daniela , Brajon Giovanni
Published: August 2018

Until now there are only few data on the effects of thermal treatments on the nutritional and hygienic characteristics of donkey milk. This Research Communication aims to provide information on the effects of pasteurization (at +65 °C for 30 min) and prolonged storage at refrigeration and freezing temperatures (21 d at + 3 °C ± 2 °C and up to 90 d at −20 °C ± 5 °C) on some nutritional and hygienic characteristics of Amiata donkey milk. The milk was monitored by chemical and microbiological analysis. Pasteurization ensured compliance with EC Regulation No 1441/2007, as Enterobacteriaceae were never found in the milk, or during storage at refrigeration and freezing temperatures. Colony count at 30 °C in pasteurized milk never went beyond 1 log CFU/ml. The heat treatment and the storage did not result in any variations in the main constituents of the milk. Only a decrease in lactose and few variations in some fatty acids at 90 d of freezing were observed. In conclusion, pasteurization was able to achieve and maintain a high hygienic-sanitary quality over time; storage at refrigeration or freezing temperatures did not alter the nutritional quality of fat and the gross composition of the product. These findings are useful to improve knowledge on the milk shelf life in order to guarantee safety and nutritional quality for infants who need small quantities of daily milk.
When Banks Grow Too Big for Their National Economies: Tail Risks, Risk Channels, and Government Guarantees
Authors: Hagendorff Jens , Keasey Kevin , Vallascas Francesco
Published: August 2018

Banks are growing ever larger compared to their national economies. We show that increases in relative bank size (measured as a bank’s liabilities divided by national GDP) are linked to banks displaying higher tail risk. This effect is not entirely due to risk channels that disproportionately expose relatively large banks to systematic tail risks, sovereign risks, or banking crises. Instead, we detect a persistent component in the tail risk of relatively large banks that is bank-specific and connected to government guarantees. Furthermore, as banks grow in relative size, tail risks are shifted to debtholders without wealth gains for shareholders.
Choice or opportunity: are post-release social groupings influenced by familiarity or reintroduction protocols?
Authors: Moseby K. E. , Blumstein D. T. , Letnic M. , West R.
Published: August 2018

The conservation benefits of maintaining social groupings during and after animal translocations are unclear. Although some studies report improved post-release survival, others found no discernible influence on reintroduction success. Understanding the effects of social groupings is difficult because release methods can influence the animals’ ability to maintain social groups. We explored this relationship by first studying whether release protocols influenced post-release cohesion in the communal burrowing bettong Bettongia lesueur, and then investigating whether maintenance of social cohesion conferred any post-release advantage. We released bettongs into a small (8 ha) and large (2,600 ha) area and compared the proportion that maintained social groupings in the different settings. The proportion of bettongs sharing with previous warren co-occupants was higher than expected by chance in both areas, however, a significantly higher proportion of bettongs maintained social groupings in the small (75%) compared to the large release area (13%). This suggests bettongs prefer to maintain social groupings but are unable to locate members of their group in large release areas. Bettongs that did maintain social groupings showed no difference in reproductive or health outcomes compared to those that formed new social groupings, suggesting no benefit to reintroduction success. We conclude that release protocols can influence post-release cohesion, but that greater cohesion does not necessarily confer advantages to group-living animals. To test the importance of social cohesion, further research on reintroductions should compare post-release parameters for animals released using protocols that do and do not facilitate maintenance of social groupings.
Depression, anxiety and perceived stress in women with and without PCOS: a community-based study
Authors: Damone Anna L. , Joham Anju E. , Loxton Deborah , Earnest Arul , Teede Helena J. , Moran Lisa J.
Published: August 2018

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with increased psychological distress in clinical populations. We aimed to assess depression, anxiety and perceived stress in women with and without PCOS in a large community-based sample and investigate the role of stress in contributing to and mediating the relationship between PCOS, depression and anxiety.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was performed from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALWSH) comparing women with (n = 478) or without (n = 8134) a self-reported diagnosis of PCOS. Main outcome measures were depression, anxiety and perceived stress measured using validated scales. The χ2 and t tests were used to assess differences between groups. Univariable and multivariable regression were performed to determine factors contributing to each outcome.

Results

Women reporting PCOS, compared with women not reporting PCOS, reported higher prevalence of depression (27.3% v. 18.8%), anxiety symptoms (50% v. 39.2%) and greater score for perceived stress (1.01 ± 0.03 v. 0.88 ± 0.01). After adjusting for body mass index, infertility and socio-demographic factors, women with PCOS were still more likely to be depressed, anxious and to have a higher level of perceived stress. There was a high-level mediation effect of stress between PCOS and both depression and anxiety.

Conclusion

Compared with women not reporting PCOS, women reporting PCOS have increased depression, anxiety and perceived stress. Stress may play a role in the association between PCOS, depression and anxiety. Further studies should consider assessment and management of stress in PCOS as it may be relevant for understanding the aetiology and treatment of psychological distress.
English as an ASEAN lingua franca and the role of nativeness in English education in Thailand
Authors: Jindapitak Naratip
Published: August 2018

English has been increasingly used in Thailand as a lingua franca; that is, a means of communication between people who do not share a mother tongue nor speak English as a native language. Given the integration of ASEAN nations to form an economic region, the use of English as lingua franca (ELF) in Thailand and other member states of ASEAN will likely continue to increase at a significant rate. Kagnarith, Klein and Middlecamp (2012) observe that the increasing use of English as an inter-regional language of communication probably results from two causes. First, the use of English as ASEAN's working lingua franca has already been in effect. Second, the promotion of English as an international business language is one objective of the plan for the regional integration of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). In fact, the campaign to promote English as an official lingua franca in ASEAN is based on Article 34 of The ASEAN Charter ratified in February 2009: ‘The working language of ASEAN shall be English’.
Two-cocycle twists and Atiyah–Patodi–Singer index theory
Authors: AZZALI SARA , WAHL CHARLOTTE
Published: August 2018

We construct η- and ρ-invariants for Dirac operators, on the universal covering of a closed manifold, that are invariant under the projective action associated to a 2-cocycle of the fundamental group. We prove an Atiyah–Patodi–Singer index theorem in this setting, as well as its higher generalisation. Applications concern the classification of positive scalar curvature metrics on closed spin manifolds. We also investigate the properties of these twisted invariants for the signature operator and the relation to the higher invariants.
Parenting, culture, and the development of externalizing behaviors from age 7 to 14 in nine countries
Authors: Lansford Jennifer E. , Godwin Jennifer , Bornstein Marc H. , Chang Lei , Deater-Deckard Kirby , Di Giunta Laura , Dodge Kenneth A. , Malone Patrick S. , Oburu Paul , Pastorelli Concetta , Skinner Ann T. , Sorbring Emma , Steinberg Laurence , Tapanya Sombat , Uribe Tirado Liliana Maria , Alampay Liane Peña , Al-Hassan Suha M. , Bacchini Dario
Published: August 2018

Using multilevel models, we examined mother-, father-, and child-reported (N = 1,336 families) externalizing behavior problem trajectories from age 7 to 14 in nine countries (China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, the Philippines, Sweden, Thailand, and the United States). The intercept and slope of children's externalizing behavior trajectories varied both across individuals within culture and across cultures, and the variance was larger at the individual level than at the culture level. Mothers’ and children's endorsement of aggression as well as mothers’ authoritarian attitudes predicted higher age 8 intercepts of child externalizing behaviors. Furthermore, prediction from individual-level endorsement of aggression and authoritarian attitudes to more child externalizing behaviors was augmented by prediction from cultural-level endorsement of aggression and authoritarian attitudes, respectively. Cultures in which father-reported endorsement of aggression was higher and both mother- and father-reported authoritarian attitudes were higher also reported more child externalizing behavior problems at age 8. Among fathers, greater attributions regarding uncontrollable success in caregiving situations were associated with steeper declines in externalizing over time. Understanding cultural-level as well as individual-level correlates of children's externalizing behavior offers potential insights into prevention and intervention efforts that can be more effectively targeted at individual children and parents as well as targeted at changing cultural norms that increase the risk of children's and adolescents’ externalizing behavior.
Colonial Virginia's paper money, 1755–1774: value decomposition and performance
Authors: Grubb Farley
Published: August 2018

Colonial Virginia's legislature introduced an inside paper money into its domestic economy that was, at that time, primarily a barter economy without any government or bank-issued inside paper monies in circulation. I decompose Virginia's paper money into its expected real-asset present value, risk discount and transaction premium. The value of Virginia's paper money was determined primarily by its real-asset present value. The transaction premium was small. Positive risk discounts occurred in years when monetary troubles were suspected, namely worries that the government would not redeem the paper money as promised. Counterfeiting, however, was not one of these worries. The legislature had the tools and used them effectively to mitigate the effects of counterfeiting on the value of its paper money. Colonial Virginia's paper money was not a fiat currency, but a barter asset, with just enough transaction premium to make it the preferred medium of exchange for local transactions. It functioned like a zero-coupon bond and traded below face value due to time-discounting, not depreciation.
ORTHOGONALITY AND PARALLELISM OF OPERATORS ON VARIOUS BANACH SPACES
Authors: BOTTAZZI T. , CONDE C. , MOSLEHIAN M. S. , WÓJCIK P. , ZAMANI A.
Published: August 2018

We present some properties of orthogonality and relate them with support disjoint and norm inequalities in $p$-Schatten ideals. In addition, we investigate the problem of characterization of norm-parallelism for bounded linear operators. We consider the characterization of the norm-parallelism problem in $p$-Schatten ideals and locally uniformly convex spaces. Later on, we study the case when an operator is norm-parallel to the identity operator. Finally, we give some equivalence assertions about the norm-parallelism of compact operators. Some applications and generalizations are discussed for certain operators.
Miniaturized branch-line coupler based on slow-wave microstrip lines
Authors: Alhalabi H. , Issa H. , Pistono E. , Kaddour D. , Podevin F. , Baheti A. , Abouchahine S. , Ferrari P.
Published: August 2018

This paper presents a miniaturized 3-dB branch-line coupler based on slow-wave microstrip transmission lines. The miniaturized coupler operating at 2.45 GHz is designed and implemented on a double-layer printed circuit board substrate with blind metallic vias embedded in the lower substrate layer providing the slow-wave effect. Based on this concept, a 43% size miniaturization is achieved as compared with a classical microstrip branch-line coupler prototype. The measured S parameters present a return loss of 25.5 dB and an average insertion loss equal to 0.05 dB at the operating frequency.
CME: Phäochromozytom in der Hausarztpraxis
Authors: Erlic Zoran , Fischli Stefan
Published: August 2018

Zusammenfassung. Phäochromozytome sind seltene Tumoren, die sich vor allem klinisch durch ihre Hormonaktivität mit exzessiver Freisetzung von Katecholaminen manifestieren und aufgrund ihrer vielgestaltigen Klinik oft verzögert diagnostiziert werden. Die Diagnostik erfolgt primär biochemisch mit Bestimmung der freien Metanephrine im Plasma bzw. der fraktionierten Metanephrine im 24-h-Urin. Bei der Interpretation sind Kenntnisse bezüglich der Messmethode und möglichen «Störfaktoren» zentral. Eine Bildgebung erfolgt erst nach biochemischer Sicherung des Katecholaminexzesses. Die chirurgische Exzision ist in den meisten Fällen kurativ. Lebenslange jährliche biochemische Nachkontrollen werden empfohlen mit Zusatzuntersuchungen bei hereditären Fällen.
Physical Activity Is an Opportunity for the Health of Nations: What Should We Do Next?
Authors: Gojanovic Boris
Published: August 2018

Abstract. Physical activity provides huge opportunities for the health of nations. Understanding this, the World Health Organization has published a Global Action Plan which aims to provide member states with a framework for action, namely to create active societies, people, environments and systems. The target is set at a 15 % reduction in physical inactivity levels by 2030. We explore in this paper some of the challenges and opportunities that come with it, and give the practitioner some real-world opportunities for relevant action at the local level, as well as for their patients, staying true to the Physician’s Pledge (Declaration of Geneva): “I will attend to my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard.”
Direct Observation of Faulting by Means of Rotary Shear Tests Under X‐Ray Micro‐Computed Tomography
Authors: Zhao Qi , Tisato Nicola , Kovaleva Olga , Grasselli Giovanni
Published: August 2018

Friction and fault evolution are critical aspects in earthquake studies as they directly influence the nucleation, propagation, and arrest of earthquake ruptures. We present the results of a recently developed experimental approach that investigates these important aspects using a combination of rotary shear testing and X‐ray micro‐computed tomography technology. Two sets of experiments at normal stresses (σn) of 2.5 and 1.8 MPa were conducted on synthetic laboratory faults. We identified real contact areas (Ac) on the fault surfaces and estimated sizes of contact patches by means of micro‐computed tomography image analysis. The number of contact patches and their sizes showed positive correlations with σn, and contact patch size distributions followed power law relations. The total number of contact patches decreased with increasing slip distance, and large contact patches endured longer slip distance than small ones. Secondary off‐fault fractures created by interlocking and breakdown of large contact patches were closely related to the sudden drops of frictional resistance, suggesting the dominant role of surface roughness on shear behavior especially at low stress.
Effects of Needle Ice on Peat Erosion Processes During Overland Flow Events
Authors: Li Changjia , Holden Joseph , Grayson Richard
Published: August 2018

Freeze‐thaw processes play a role in increasing erosion potential in upland areas, but their impact on overland flow hydraulics and fluvial erosion processes are not clearly established. We provide the first quantitative analysis demonstrating that needle ice production is a primary process contributing to upland peat erosion by enhancing peat erodibility during runoff events following thaw. To quantify the effects of needle ice on peat physical properties, overland flow hydraulics, and erosion processes, physical overland flow simulation experiments were conducted on highly frost‐susceptible blanket peat with and without needle ice processes. For each treatment, overland flow rates of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 L/min and slopes of 2.5° and 7.5° were applied. Peat erodibility, sediment concentration, and sediment yield were significantly increased in treatments subjected to needle ice processes. Median peat losses were nearly 6 times higher in peat blocks subject to needle ice processes than in peat blocks not subject to needle ice processes. Needle ice processes decreased mean overland flow velocities by 32–44% via increased hydraulic roughness and changes to surface microtopographic features, with microrills and headcut development. Needle ice processes increased the hydrodynamic force of shear stress by 55–85%. Erosion rates under needle ice processes exhibited a significant linear relationship with stream power. Our findings indicate that models of overland flow‐induced peat erosion would benefit from a winter component that properly accounts for the effects of needle ice processes on peat erodibility and erosion.
Glacier Calving Rates Due to Subglacial Discharge, Fjord Circulation, and Free Convection
Authors: Schild K. M. , Renshaw C. E. , Benn D. I. , Luckman A. , Hawley R. L. , How P. , Trusel L. , Cottier F. R. , Pramanik A. , Hulton N. R. J.
Published: August 2018

Tidewater glacier calving provides the most direct mechanism of ice transfer from land to the ocean. However, the physical melt processes influencing calving remain challenging to constrain. In this study we focus on calving rates at Kongsbreen, a tidewater glacier in Svalbard, due to three mechanisms of submarine melt: (1) free convection, (2) horizontal fjord circulation, and (3) meltwater discharge. To calculate an overall calving rate, we measure glacier velocity and terminus change using Sentinel imagery. We calculate free convection, fjord circulation, and meltwater discharge calving using mooring data for mid‐fjord ocean temperature (30–80 m depth), reanalysis results for meltwater runoff, and georectified time‐lapse imagery to track icebergs and infer surface circulation. Results show that the total glacier calving rate is highly correlated with ocean temperature during the 2016 melt season. When runoff was present, we found that subglacial discharge accounted for calving rates an order of magnitude greater than the maximum calving rates assigned to the other two melting mechanisms combined. Further, subglacial discharge at Kongsbreen was more efficient in inducing calving later in the season than earlier in the season, implying that the increase in ocean temperatures, the timing of meltwater discharge within a melt season, and/or the development of discrete meltwater exit channels are critical components to calving rates. As the recent atmospheric warming trend and subsequent increase in meltwater discharge is expected to continue, it is essential to understand the processes contributing to an increase in glacier calving and incorporate these processes into predictive models.