bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Luxación expuesta de rodilla: ¿Qué hemos aprendido en los últimos 20 años?
Authors: Xabier Carredano G. , Juanjose Valderrama R. , Sergio Arellano G. , Diego Montenegro B. , Pedro Lizama C. , Nazira Bernal B. , Ignacio Valderrama S. , Gonzalo Espinoza E. , Gonzalo Espinoza L.
Published: August 2018

Introducción La luxación expuesta de rodilla es compleja, de incidencia baja con grandes secuelas funcionales. Existen escasos reportes de series en la literatura relativos a su manejo y resultados.

Objetivo El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir los resultados obtenidos de todos los pacientes con luxación expuesta de rodilla tratados durante las últimas dos décadas en nuestro hospital bajo un mismo estándar de tratamiento.

Método Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo en una serie quirúrgica de 11 pacientes con luxación expuesta de rodilla, tratados entre 1994 y 2015. Todos fueron estudiados y manejados según esquema estandarizado: Angiografía/ angioTC, aseo quirúrgico, fijador externo y reparación neurovascular en casos necesarios. Revisión de registros clínicos e imagenológicos consignando datos demográficos, lesiones concomitantes, número y tipo de cirugías, y complicaciones asociadas. Seguimiento promedio fue de 10,7 años con evaluación mediante encuesta funcionales SF-12/IKDC durante el mes de marzo de 2015.

Resultados Diez pacientes eran hombres, 1 mujeres. Edad promedio al accidente 38,6 años. Mecanismo lesional de alta energía; como referencia la clasificación de Schenck, 1 lesión III-M, 4 tipo IV y los 6 restantes una tipo V. 4 lesiones vasculares (36.4%) y 7 lesiones neurológicas (63.6%). Tratamiento definitivo consistió en 4 reconstrucciones ligamentarias, 2 prótesis, 3 artrodesis y 2 amputaciones supracondíleas. Evaluaciones funcionales dieron como resultados un puntaje promedio de 37 y 48,5 para SF-12 físico y mental respectivamente, y de 44,1 para IKDC.

Conclusión La luxación expuesta de rodilla es una lesión infrecuente, muy compleja, asociada a accidentes de alta energía, con complicaciones severas, lo que determina resultados funcionales relativamente malos. La estandarización permite sistematizar las distintas etapas de atención, racionalizar los recursos disponibles evitando la improvisación en momentos críticos, lo que podría incidir en la obtención de resultados.

Nivel de Evidencia IV Serie de casos.
Study of Histomolecular Classification of Glioma-Integrating Histology and Molecular Analysis in the Diagnosis of Brain Tumors
Authors: Devi Shameen , De Padua Michelle , Kalal Iravathy
Published: August 2018

Introduction The updated 2016 classification of gliomas incorporates well-established molecular parameters into the classification of diffuse gliomas, taking into account isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation, α-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) loss, and 1p/19q co-deletion.

Aim and Objectives To study IDH1 and ATRX mutations in gliomas, 1p/19q co-deletion by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in oligodendroglioma, and to correlate IDH1, ATRX, and 1p/19q with tumor type and grade.

Material and Methods Total 73 cases of gliomas were diagnosed on histology and graded as astrocytoma (grades 2–4), oligodendroglioma (grades 2–3), and oligoastrocytoma (grades 2–3) by two pathologists independently. IDH mutation and ATRX expression were analyzed using immunohistochemistry in all cases whereas 1p/19q co-deletion was studied using FISH in cases with oligodendroglioma and oligoastrocytoma morphology.

Results Total 48 cases of astrocytoma, 9 cases of oligoastrocytoma, and 16 cases of oligodendroglioma were included. The maximum number of IDH1 mutation cases were seen in diffuse astrocytoma (7/10; 70%) as compared with anaplastic astrocytoma (5/15; 33.33%), glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (3/23; 13.04%) grade II oligoastrocytoma (3/6; 50%), anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (2/3; 66.67%), and oligodendroglioma grade II (7/10; 70%). ATRX loss was seen in diffuse astrocytoma grade II (6/10; 60%), anaplastic astrocytoma (6/15; 40%), oligoastrocytoma grade II (2/6; 33.33%), and anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (1/3; 33.33%). 1p/19q co-deletion was seen in oligoastrocytoma (2/2; 100%), anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (1/2; 50%), oligodendroglioma (3/4; 75%), and anaplastic oligodendroglioma (1/3; 33.33%). Six of the seven cases with 1p/19q co-deletion also showed IDH1 mutation. One of seven 1p/19q co-deleted cases had loss of expression of ATRX.

Conclusion Incorporation of IDH1 mutation, ATRX loss, and 1p/19q co-deletion molecular studies help in a more accurate diagnosis and classification of gliomas.
Densfrakturen – ventrale Techniken
Authors: Spiegl Ulrich , Jarvers Jan-Sven , Heyde Christoph-Eckhard , Josten Christoph
Published: August 2018

Densfrakturen sind nach Unfällen relativ häufig nachweisbar, insbesondere beim alten Menschen. Während Densfrakturen vom Typ Anderson I und III meist stabil sind und gut auf eine konservative Therapie ansprechen, kommt es bei Typ-II-Frakturen nach Anderson nach konservativer Therapie häufig zu Pseudarthrosen. Dementsprechend werden diese Verletzungen mehrheitlich operativ versorgt. Eine gelenkerhaltende Versorgung ohne permanente oder temporäre C I/II-Fixierung ist nur von ventral möglich und bietet sich insbesondere bei Patienten ohne relevante C I/II-Arthrose an. Klassischerweise erfolgt dies über eine ventrale Zugschraubenosteosynthese mittels 1 oder 2 Schrauben. Bei relevanter C I/II-Arthrose ist eine zusätzliche atlantoaxiale Fixation im Sinne einer 3- oder 4-fach-Verschraubung empfehlenswert. Bei instabilen Anderson-III-Frakturen und kleinem Basisfragment kann alternativ eine ventrale Versorgung mittels Plattenosteosynthese unter Einbezug von HWK III durchgeführt werden.
Correction: Group formation under limited resources: narrow basin of equality
Authors: Lee Dongryul , Kim Pilwon
Published: August 2018

In the original published HTML version of this Article, some of the characters in the equations were not appearing correctly. This has now been corrected in the HTML version.
Numerical simulation of ballistic electron dynamics and heat transport in metallic targets exposed to ultrashort laser pulse
Authors: Suslova Anastassiya , Hassanein Ahmed
Published: August 2018

The role of ballistic electrons generated during ultrashort pulse laser (USPL) absorption in metallic targets was investigated in a wide range of laser intensities using our developed simulation package FEMTO-2D. The simulation package is based on the numerical solution of the two-temperature model with the assumption of local thermal equilibrium for electron and lattice subsystems within the simulation cell at any time step. Electron thermodynamic parameters were calculated through the processes of material transition from the cold solid state into the dense plasma state during and after the pulse based on the collision theory. The appropriate model for temperature dependent thermodynamic parameters allows defining the heat transport during an early stage of the USPL-matter interaction directly, without relying on the effective absorption depth model. The study investigated, for the first time, using integrated computer simulation the role of ballistic electrons in energy transfer and heat conduction during USPL deposition. The simulation predictions of the electron heat transport dynamics during and shortly after the laser pulse were benchmarked for the gold target against available experimental data and were able to confirm the dominant role of the ballistic electrons in the initial heat propagation within 100–120 nm of the target at laser intensities below 1013 W/cm2.
An effect of electrode material on pinning layer characteristics and depolarization field in polymer ferroelectrics
Authors: Kochervinskii V. V. , Chubunova E. V. , Bedin S. A.
Published: August 2018

An effect of electrode materials on the process of oriented film polarization of ferroelectric copolymers of vinylidenefluoride and tetrafuoroethylene has been studied. Electrodes of Al and Au were used, with their work function values being substantially different. Polarization was carried out by high-voltage impulse supply from which remnant polarization was estimated. Under the same conditions, the latter was shown to be higher in films with Au electrodes. The cause of this phenomenon was studied by the method of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, when chemical changes in the polymer surface were observed in situ during metal deposition on it. It was found that when Al was deposited, new functional groups were formed on the polymer surface. It was assumed that unlike in the case of Au, there was no complete compensation of the ferroelectric field, and the local field turned out to be lower than that determined by the external source.
TDLAS-WMS second harmonic detection based on spectral analysis
Authors: Jiang Chunlei , Liu Yunfei , Yu Bo , Yin Shuxin , Chen Peng
Published: August 2018

A novel method for the detection of the second-harmonic component of tunable laser diode absorption spectroscopy-wavelength-modulated absorption spectroscopy is proposed in this study. The proposed method is based on spectral analysis, and the second-harmonic component is obtained in the frequency domain through a rectangular window. The validity, correctness, and noise immunity of the proposed method are verified through simulations and experiments. Experimental results demonstrate that the relative detection error level of the proposed method is <3%. In contrast to lock-in amplification, the proposed method does not require reference signals and low-pass filtering algorithms. These characteristics simplify data processing in the proposed method.
Compensation of non-linear bandwidth broadening by laser chirping in Thomson sources
Authors: Maroli C. , Petrillo V. , Drebot I. , Serafini L. , Terzić B. , Krafft G. A.
Published: August 2018

A new laser chirping prescription is derived by means of the phase-stationary method for an incident Gaussian laser pulse in conjunction with a Liénard-Wiechert calculation of the scattered radiation flux and spectral brilliance. This particularly efficient laser chirp has been obtained using the electric field of the laser and for electrons and radiation on axis. The frequency modulation is somewhat reduced with respect to that proposed in the previous literature, allowing the application of this procedure to lasers with larger values of the parameter a0. Numerical calculations have been performed using mildly focused and narrow bandwidth laser pulses, confirming a larger efficiency of the chirp prescription here introduced. The chirp efficiency has been analysed as a function of the laser parameter and focusing.
Electrostatic effects in collagen fibril formation
Authors: Morozova Svetlana , Muthukumar Murugappan
Published: August 2018

Using light scattering and Atomic Force Microscopy techniques, we have studied the kinetics and equilibrium scattering intensity of collagen association, which is pertinent to the vitreous of the human eye. Specifically, we have characterized fibrillization dependence on pH, temperature, and ionic strength. At higher and lower pH, collagen triple helices remain stable in solution without fibrillization. At physiological pH, fibrillization occurs and the fibril growth is slowed upon either an increase in ionic strength or a decrease in temperature. The total light scattering with respect to ionic strength is non-monotonic in these conditions as a result of a competing dependence of fibril concentration and size on ionic strength. Fibril concentration is the highest at lower ionic strengths and rapidly decays for higher ionic strengths. On the other hand, fibril size is larger in solutions with higher ionic strength. We present a theoretical model, based on dipolar interactions in solutions, to describe the observed electrostatic nature of collagen assembly. At extreme pH values, either very low or very high, collagen triple helices carry a large net charge of the same sign preventing their assembly into fibrils. At intermediate pH values, fluctuations in the charge distribution of the collagen triple helices around roughly zero net charge lead to fibrillization. The growth kinetics of fibrils in this regime can be adequately described by dipolar interactions arising from charge fluctuations.
Hybrid iterative approach for simulation of radio-frequency fields in plasma
Authors: Svidzinski V. A. , Kim J. S. , Zhao L. , Galkin S. A. , Spencer J. A.
Published: August 2018

A novel iterative approach for solving discretized linear wave equations in a frequency domain, which combines time evolution with iterative relaxation schemes, is presented. In this hybrid approach, each iteration cycle consists of evolution of electromagnetic (EM) fields in time over a specified number of field periods followed by several iterative relaxations. Provided that there is sufficient dissipation, both the time evolution and the iterative relaxations contribute to the convergence of the EM fields to the solution of the formulated full wave boundary value problem. Time evolution rapidly distributes EM fields, propagating with group velocity, over the simulation domain, while the iterative relaxations smooth the fields, reducing the numerical errors such that iteration cycles converge to a steady state solution, approximating the solution of the formulated problem. This approach is intended for large scale simulations which are beyond the capabilities of direct solvers presently used for solving wave equations in the frequency domain. The technique is demonstrated for solving wave equations on a regular grid using a cold plasma dielectric model with collisions for 2D modeling of EM fields in tokamak in an electron cyclotron frequency range.
Coupling study of fast wave near the lower hybrid frequency range in VEST
Authors: Jo JongGab , Wang J. , Lee H. W. , Kim S. C. , Lee B. J. , Kim S. H. , Hwang Y. S.
Published: August 2018

The fast wave branch in lower hybrid resonance frequency range, especially higher than 2ωlh, has been proposed for the central or off-axis electron heating and current drive in higher density plasmas than the slow wave scheme. With a higher cutoff density for launching, efficient coupling between the antenna and plasma would be a priority issue for feasibility. The fast wave coupling characteristics with the wave frequency, gap size, and electron density profile of the Versatile Experiment Spherical Torus (VEST) device are investigated using a commercial full wave FEM solver, COMSOL. Maximum coupling between combline antenna and plasma is expected to be at ∼500 MHz with n∥∼4.5. The coupled power ranges from 90% to 60% in the gap size between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm. The relative power fraction of the fast wave is larger than 80% at these conditions. The propagation and coupling power of the fast wave is crucially dependent on the plasma density window by launching and confluence densities. Initial experimental result with low power shows that measured coupling efficiency starts to increase as electron density in front of antenna attains the level of cutoff density for the fast wave propagation. It varies from 30% to 90% with the edge density evolution, which is consistent with the coupling simulation using the measured edge density profile. Coupling simulation verified in this study will make it possible to predict and analyze the coupling characteristics of future lower hybrid fast wave experiments.
Low radar cross section checkerboard metasurface with a transmission window
Authors: Li Quan , Pang Yongqiang , Li Yongfeng , Yan Mingbao , Wang Jiafu , Xu Zhuo , Qu Shaobo
Published: August 2018

In this paper, we propose the design of a hybrid surface with a low radar cross section (RCS) at lower frequencies and a transmission window at higher frequencies. The hybrid surface comprises two parts: a frequency selective surface (FSS) on the bottom and a checkerboard metasurface on the top. The FSS exhibits low-stop and high-pass properties, which reflects waves at lower frequencies and allows transmission of waves at higher frequencies. The checkerboard metasurface, with a reflective substrate, can reduce RCS at lower frequencies by means of scattering cancellation. Due to the low-stop property of the FSS, the hybrid surface can achieve broadband RCS reduction at low frequencies since the FSS acts as the reflective substrate. Simultaneously, the transmission window at higher frequencies of the FSS can be kept. Simulation results show that the RCS can be reduced by more than 10 dB in 4.1–7.7 GHz and the insertion loss in the transmission window is lower than 1.0 dB in 11.3–13.3 GHz. A prototype was fabricated and measured. The experimental results agree well with the simulation results. This work provides an effective alternative to the design of functional devices such as stealthy radomes, etc.
Extinction of random telegraph switching in small area silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors
Authors: Hu Gangyi , Shichijo Hisashi , Naquin Clint , Edwards Hal , Lee Mark
Published: August 2018

Random telegraph switching (RTS) noise showing a slow decay in the switching rate at cryogenic temperatures which leads to the eventual extinction of the discrete noise fluctuations has been observed in the drain-source current (IDS) of small area (<0.05 μm2) Si n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors. The RTS noise was characterized by current fluctuations between two discrete current levels spaced ΔIDS apart with relative fluctuation amplitude ΔIDS/IDS from 2% to 76%, depending on the device, over a finite interval of gate bias. In all devices showing RTS, the average switching rate gradually diminished to zero over a time of 1 to 2 h at 15 K while maintaining the nearly constant fluctuation amplitude so that the RTS eventually ceased with IDS staying in its lower current state. This decay in the switching rate may be due to a metastable oxygen vacancy defect that gradually repairs itself after repeated capture and emission of charge, deactivating the trap defect. Once gone, RTS noise did not reappear in any subsequent measurements of a given device even after bias and temperature cycling, suggesting a mechanism to deactivate at least some forms of RTS through a “cryogenic anneal.”
Incorporating magnetic equilibrium information in Gaussian process tomography for soft X-ray spectroscopy at WEST
Authors: Wang T. , Mazon D. , Svensson J. , Li D. , Jardin A. , Verdoolaege G.
Published: August 2018

Gaussian process tomography (GPT) [J. Svensson, JET Internal Report EFDA-JET-PR(11)24, 2011 and D. Li, J. Svensson, H. Thomsen, F. Medina, A. Werner, and R. Wolf, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 84, 083506 (2013)] is a recently developed tomography method applied earlier to soft X-ray (SXR) spectroscopy on WEST—Tungsten (W) Environment in Steady-state Tokamak. The short execution time of the algorithm makes GPT an important candidate for providing real-time information on impurity transport and for fast MHD control. In earlier work, GPT has shown its flexibility by providing good reconstruction results without background information about the magnetic equilibrium. On the other hand, information about the magnetic flux surface geometry can in general be useful for additional regularization of the solution. In this paper, we develop a way to take into account the equilibrium information, by constructing a covariance matrix of the prior Gaussian process depending on the flux surface geometry. The GPT method is validated using synthetic SXR emissivity profiles relevant to WEST plasmas and compares favorably with the classical algorithm based on minimization of the Fisher information.
Using integrated data analysis to extend measurement capability (invited)
Authors: Reusch L. M. , Nornberg M. D. , Goetz J. A. , Den Hartog D. J.
Published: August 2018

The analysis approach called integrated data analysis (IDA) provides a means to exploit all information present in multiple streams of raw data to produce the best inference of a plasma parameter. This contrasts with the typical approach in which information (data) from a single diagnostic is used to measure a given parameter, e.g., visible bremsstrahlung → Zeff. Data from a given diagnostic usually contain information on many parameters. For example, a Thomson scattering diagnostic is sensitive to bremsstrahlung and line emission in addition to electron temperature. This background light is typically subtracted off and discarded but could be used to improve knowledge of Zeff. IDA encourages explicit awareness of such information and provides the quantitative framework to exploit it. This gives IDA the ability to increase spatial and temporal resolution, increase precision and accuracy of inferences, and measure plasma parameters that are difficult or impossible to measure using single diagnostic techniques. One example is the measurement of Zeff on Madison symmetric torus using IDA since no single diagnostic can provide a robust measurement. As we enter the burning plasma era, application of IDA will be critical to the measurement of certain parameters, as diagnostic access in the harsh fusion environment will be extremely limited.
Double-layer heterostructure of graphene/carbon nanotube films for highly efficient broadband photodetector
Authors: Cao Jun , Zou Yuexin , Gong Xue , Gou Peng , Qian Jie , Qian Ruijie , An Zhenghua
Published: August 2018

Graphene-semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes' (graphene-s-SWCNTs) thin-film photodetector based on a double-layer stacked heterostructure was fabricated. The carbon-based heterostructure exhibits excellent long-range van der Waals interactions. The as-fabricated device was demonstrated with an ultra-broadband photodetection characteristic with a high responsivity of 78 A/W at a visible wavelength and a fast response time of 80 μs. Moreover, the high photoconductive gain based on the photogating effect for the graphene-s-SWCNTs device was realized. In addition, the temperature-dependent photoresponse performance was also demonstrated. Benefiting from the high photoconductive gain, ultra-fast response time, and high stable quality of carbon materials, our devices exhibit great potential applications for high sensitivity detection to weak target signals in extreme environments.
Suppression of drain-induced barrier lowering by double-recess overlapped gate structure in normally-off AlGaN-GaN MOSFETs
Authors: Sato Taku , Uryu Kazuya , Okayasu Junichi , Kimishima Masayuki , Suzuki Toshi-kazu
Published: August 2018

We investigated drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) in normally-off AlGaN-GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) with a double-recess overlapped gate structure. It is found that the double-recess overlapped gate structure can suppress DIBL; the threshold voltage is constant without lowering for high drain-source voltages, and sub-threshold characteristics remains excellent. We elucidate the mechanism of the DIBL suppression by considering a local potential in the MOSFETs. In addition, it is also found that the double-recess overlapped gate structure is beneficial for current collapse suppression.
Large topological hall effect observed in tetragonal Mn2PtSn Heusler thin film
Authors: Li Yueqing , Ding Bei , Wang Xiaotian , Zhang Hongwei , Wang Wenhong , Liu Zhongyuan
Published: August 2018

Tetragonal Mn-Pt-Sn Heusler compounds have been of interest because they enable magnetic antiskyrmion phases, which can potentially lead to low energy cost spintronic device applications. We report the synthesis and systematic study of the magnetic and transport properties of magnetron sputtered tetragonal Mn2PtSn thin films on the thermally oxidized Si substrates. We have observed a large topological Hall resistivity up to 0.57 μΩ cm around 150 K, which is the largest value among the Mn-based metallic materials so far. Moreover, the large topological Hall effect (THE) appears in a very wide temperature range of 10 K–300 K in a magnetic field region where the field-dependent Hall resistivity largely deviates from the magnetization. The large THE indicated here may also provide pathways towards realizing the magnetic antiskyrmions in tetragonal Mn2PtSn thin films.
Active control of polarization-dependent near-field coupling in hybrid metasurfaces
Authors: Chen Xieyu , Ghosh Shuprio , Xu Quan , Ouyang Chunmei , Li Yanfeng , Zhang Xueqian , Tian Zhen , Gu Jianqiang , Liu Liyuan , Azad Abul K. , Han Jiaguang , Zhang Weili
Published: August 2018

We present experimental results of actively controlled anisotropic near-field coupling in a metamaterial composed of two concentric in-plane split ring resonators and a closed-ring resonator functioning at terahertz (THz) frequencies. Transparency windows are observed due to the coupling effect between two dipole-like modes for both polarizations of the THz field, but at different frequencies. By properly incorporating silicon islands into the metamaterial unit cells, the transparency windows can be optically controlled with a modulation depth reaching 68% and 62% for horizontal and vertical polarizations, respectively. The results are of value for designing active THz anisotropic devices.
Picosecond x-ray radiography of microjets expanding from laser shock-loaded grooves
Authors: de Rességuier T. , Prudhomme G. , Roland C. , Brambrink E. , Loison D. , Jodar B. , Lescoute E. , Sollier A.
Published: August 2018

Material ejection upon the breakout of a shock wave at a rough surface is a key safety issue for various applications, including pyrotechnics and inertial confinement fusion. For a few years, we have used laser driven compression to investigate microjetting from calibrated grooves in the free surface of shock-loaded specimens. Fast transverse optical shadowgraphy, time-resolved measurements of planar surface and jet tip velocities, and post-shock analysis of some recovered material have provided data over ranges of small spatial and temporal scales, short loading pulses (ns-order), and extremely high strain rates. In the new experiment reported here, picosecond laser irradiation of a thin copper wire generates an ultrashort x-ray burst which is used to radiograph the microjets expanding from plane wedged-shape grooves in tin and copper samples shock-loaded by a longer, nanosecond laser pulse. Such ultrafast radiography provides estimates of the density gradients along the jets and of the total ejected mass at different times after shock breakout. Furthermore, it reveals regions of low density inside the samples deep beneath the grooves, associated with subsurface damage due to tension induced by the interaction of rarefaction waves. Thus, combining this x-ray probe with our former experimental techniques provides a more complete insight into the physics of microjetting at very high loading rates and the ballistic properties of the resulting ejecta.
Dual-band electromagnetically induced transparency effect in a concentrically coupled asymmetric terahertz metamaterial
Authors: Devi Koijam Monika , Chowdhury Dibakar Roy , Kumar Gagan , Sarma Amarendra K.
Published: August 2018

We propose a scheme to achieve a dual-band electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effect in a planar terahertz metamaterial (MM), comprising an inner circular split ring resonator (CSRR) concentrically coupled to an outer asymmetric two-gap circular split ring resonator (ASRR). The scheme is numerically and theoretically analyzed. The dual-band EIT effect occurs as a result of the near field coupling between the resonant modes of the resonators comprising the MM configuration. It is observed that the dual-band EIT effect in the MM structure could be modulated with an in-plane rotation of the CSRR structure. The dual-band EIT effect is also examined by varying the asymmetry of the ASRR and the size of the inner CSRR. A theoretical model based upon the four-level tripod-system provides an intuitive explanation about the underlying coupling mechanism responsible for the dual-band EIT effect in the proposed MM structure. Our study could be significant in the development of multi-band slow light devices, narrowband absorbers, etc., in the terahertz regime.
Piezotronic effects in the extension of a composite fiber of piezoelectric dielectrics and nonpiezoelectric semiconductors
Authors: Cheng Ruoran , Zhang Chunli , Chen Weiqiu , Yang Jiashi
Published: August 2018

We study the extension of a composite fiber of piezoelectric dielectrics and nonpiezoelectric semiconductors. A theoretical analysis is performed using a one-dimensional model. It is shown that mechanical loads cause redistribution of mobile charges in such a composite fiber. Thus, the composite fiber exhibits piezotronic couplings like a homogeneous piezoelectric semiconducting fiber. The couplings are a product property of the composite, enabling the design of piezotronics devices beyond materials with direct piezotronics couplings. The basic behavior of the composite fiber and the effects of various parameters on piezotronic couplings are calculated and examined. It is observed that piezotronic couplings in these fibers are sensitive to material and geometric parameters and can be optimized through design.
Non-invasive decoding of hand movements from electroencephalography based on a hierarchical linear regression model
Authors: Zhang Jinhua , Wang Baozeng , Li Ting , Hong Jun
Published: August 2018

A non-invasive brain–computer interface (BCI) is an assistive technology with basic communication and control capabilities that decodes continuous electroencephalography (EEG) signals generated by the human brain and converts them into commands to control external devices naturally. However, the decoding efficiency is limited at present because it is unclear which decoding parameters can be used to effectively improve the overall decoding performance. In this paper, five subjects performed experiments involving self-initiated upper-limb movements during three experimental phases. The decoding method based on a hierarchical linear regression (HLR) model was devised to investigate the influence of decoding efficiency according to the characteristic parameters of brain functional networks. Then the optimal set of channels and most sensitive frequency bands were selected using the p value from a Kruskal–Wallis test in the experimental phases. Eventually, the trajectories of free movement and conical helix movement could be decoded using HLR. The experimental result showed that the Pearson correlation coefficient (R) between the measured and decoded paths is 0.66 with HLR, which was higher than the value of 0.46 obtained with the multiple linear regression model. The HLR from a decoding efficiency perspective holds promise for the development of EEG-based BCI to aid in the restoration of hand movements in post-stroke rehabilitation.
In vitro culture and non-invasive metabolic profiling of single bovine embryos
Authors: Nõmm Monika , Porosk Rando , Pärn Pille , Kilk Kalle , Soomets Ursel , Kõks Sulev , Jaakma Ülle
Published: August 2018

Selecting high-quality embryos for transfer has been a difficult task when producing bovine embryos invitro. The most used non-invasive method is based on visual observation. Molecular characterisation of embryo growth media has been proposed as a complementary method. In this study we demonstrate a culture medium sampling method for identifying potential embryonic viability markers to predict normal or abnormal embryonic development. During single embryo culture, 20µL culture media was removed at Days 2, 5 and 8 after fertilisation from the same droplet (60µL). In all, 58 samples were analysed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. We demonstrate that it is possible to remove samples from the same culture medium droplets and not significantly affect blastocyst rate (25.2%). Changes in any single low molecular weight compound were not predictive enough. Combining multiple low molecular weight signals made it possible to predict Day 2 and 5 embryo development to the blastocyst stage with an accuracy of 64%. Elevated concentrations of lysophosphatidylethanolamines (m/z=453, 566, 588) in the culture media of Day 8 well-developing embryos were observed. Choline (104m/z) and citrate (215m/z) concentrations were increased in embryos in which development was retarded. Metabolic profiling provides possibilities to identify well-developing embryos before transfer, thus improving pregnancy rates and the number of calves born.
Dialogue
Authors: Weigand Edda
Published: August 2018

When trying to find out the ‘state of the art’ in pragmatics we risk getting lost in a mix of diverse approaches which seems to be accepted as the ‘plurality of models’ but in the end means nothing other than ‘anything goes’. The ‘pragmatic turn’, which introduced the new natural object ‘language use’, waits to be structured by the ‘dialogic turn’, i.e. the insight that language use means dialogic use in a sequence of initiative and reactive actions. In this sense dialogue provides the key to the yet unstructured field of pragmatics. Human beings are dialogic individuals who use their abilities for dialogic purposes. It is their extraordinary ability of competence-in-performance which allows them to tackle the challenge of ‘living with uncertainty’.
Humboldt, Bhartrihari, and the dialogic
Authors: Lipari Lisbeth A.
Published: August 2018

Drawing on the work of von Humboldt (1963, 1997, 1999) and the 5th century BCE Indian Grammarian Bhartrihari (1971), this essay sketches how dialogue is neither a special-use of language nor a specific mode of pragmatics, but forms instead the primordial character of all language. When the study of language is restricted to Saussure’s bifurcated paradigm, the ontologically basic character of dialogue is concealed. In what follows, I will first briefly sketch a history of ancient Indian linguistics and its influence on European linguistics, then briefly review Saussure’s bifurcated conceptions of langue and parole, and then illustrate several ways that Bhartrihari and Humboldt saw language as, at heart, dialogic.
Progress in language teaching
Authors: Grein Marion
Published: August 2018

The article maintains that language teaching has to include the teaching of cross- or intercultural dialogic competencies. Cross-cultural competencies are often linked to the field of cross- or intercultural pragmatics. Yet, most approaches to pragmatics are hardly suitable to discover what language use is all about. We are in need of a dialogic holistic model, integrating all facets of language use. The theory set up by Weigand (2010) integrating the human abilities of speaking, thinking, and perceiving, is a convincing approach to be taken as the basis of teaching intercultural competence within language teaching. I will first sketch the development of the goals of language learning and teaching in common, then turn to intercultural communicative competence and then depict Weigand’s dialogic approach, the so-called Mixed Game Model (MGM).
Dialogicity in written language use
Authors: Bondi Marina
Published: August 2018

The chapter looks at dialogicity in written language use, focusing on how expert knowledge is recontextualized in different action games. Using a corpus of journal articles, newspaper columns and blog posts by the same author (Paul Krugman), the analysis centres on: (a) participants (the expert community, the writer and the reader), (b) communicative action and (c) the evaluative dialogue between writer and reader. The study highlights that research action games take scholarly debates as their starting point and involve the expert community, while knowledge dissemination recontextualizes expert argument in a wider participation framework: columns highlight the authority of the writer by presenting a self-contained argument; blogs present the post as the opening move of a polylogue addressing different participants.
Dialogic pragmatics and complex objects
Authors: Arnett Ronald C.
Published: August 2018

This essay frames the insights of pragmatics within the stream of everyday life as a normatively dialogical communicative activity. Pragmatics understood as existentially dialogical moves from abstraction to concrete engagement of events and persons. Dialogic pragmatics eschews the assumption that one can single-handedly construct the world, embodying a humble and simultaneously creative social task of infinite semiosis. In order to illustrate this perspective, I turn to a brief outline of pragmatics and then illuminate this perspective with emphasis on the holistic and relational insights of Gregory Bateson’s work and life. I end with discussion of Bateson’s life as a complex object that reveals dialogic pragmatics in unceasing framing of action and reaction, an act of infinite semiosis.
Types and functions of pseudo-dialogues
Authors: Mustajoki Arto , Sherstinova Tatiana , Tuomarla Ulla
Published: August 2018

In pure dialogues, the speakers address their words to recipients who concentrate on listening, while in pseudo-dialogues the recipients are not able to listen, or prefer not to listen. The speaker may be fully aware of the recipient’s mental absence. The aim of the chapter is to study how pseudo-dialogues are used in everyday communication. We differentiate four main categories of pseudo-dialogues based on the role of the recipient: a human recipient who is present in the situation but whose role in the interaction is secondary; a physically remote human recipient; a non-human recipient (a dog, a computer, etc.); a speaker who speaks to himself/herself (no other recipients than oneself). In most cases, the manner of speaking in pseudo-dialogues largely resembles that of pure dialogues. Examples of the usage of pseudo-dialogues are taken from the St. Petersburg One Day of Speech Corpus.
Youth, language and urban public space
Authors: Aalst Irina van , Nortier Jacomine
Published: August 2018

This paper presents an interdisciplinary study on the interface between young people, their language use, group belonging and urban space. Relevant literature from the fields of sociolinguistics and urban geography is reviewed and integrated, focusing on language, identity and place. The outcomes are based on on-site interviews and focus group meetings that were used to explore and explain the in-depth meanings of our assumption: language is a situated practice. Participants reported to adjust their language use to place ‘automatically’, indicating the awareness of unwritten norms. Furthermore, being in or out of place and adjustment of language use is merely a function of the presence of other people. It is concluded that the space where young people find themselves is crucial for physical and social distance between the self and others and, therefore, the way language is used.
Het gebruik van de Nederlandse plaatsingswerkwoorden ‘zetten’ en ‘leggen’ door Franstalige leerders van het Nederlands
Authors: Heyvaert Pauline
Published: August 2018

This research presents the results of a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the use of the Dutch placement verbs zetten (‘put’) and leggen (‘lay’) by French-speaking learners of Dutch. The experiment consisted of a productive task. The results confirm that the use of Dutch placement verbs is problematic for French-speaking learners, but they also reveal some important tendencies. First, our analysis demonstrates that French-speaking learners tend to underuse these verbs, which can be explained by the fact that placement events in French are often described by means of a neutral verb such as ‘mettre’ (‘put’) as opposed to the more specific verbs in Dutch. Secondly, the learners occasionally also tend to overuse the placement verbs in contexts where such verbs are not allowed, an observation which is seemingly paradoxical to the first one. Thirdly, learners also tend to confuse ‘zetten’ with ‘leggen’ and vice versa.
Project based learning in EFL classes
Authors: Artini Luh Putu , Ratminingsih Ni Made , Padmadewi Ni Nyoman
Published: August 2018

In the contexts where English is taught as a foreign language, especially to beginners, project-based learning is often perceived
as complicated to implement and difficult to assess. This Indonesian research was inspired by the need to address those
misgivings. First, a project-based model for practical learning activities in EFL classes was created using a research and
development design. In this stage, a careful reading to the English as a Foreign Language curriculum for junior high school
students was conducted in an attempt to identify the topics, basic competencies, and indicators of success. Based on the results
of the curriculum analysis, a careful development of project-based learning tasks was carried out. This article first of all
described how the learning materials were developed with reference to the results of curriculum analysis and characteristics of
learners. The developed materials were then sent to expert judges to check for relevance, readability and quality of the
materials. In the next stage, the materials were tried out in three junior high schools in Bali, Indonesia, to further check the
readability and practicability of the product as a teaching and learning innovation. Finally, after a revision to the materials, a
quasi-experiment involving 36 students, was conducted in a school to examine the impact of project-based learning on students’
productive skills in English as well as on their attitudes towards learning the language. The data collection method used during
the quasi experiment included: classroom observation, interviews with teachers and students, and a questionnaire. The overall
impact of the implementation was evaluated using a t-test formula. It was found that project-based learning caused consistent
improvement in the abilities to speak (monologue and dialogue) and to write (on a topic of students’ own choice). In addition, it
was observable that project-based learning has an impact on students’ positive attitudes toward learning the foreign language.
This was indicated by the motivation, enthusiasm, and excitement on the part of the students during the process of planning,
working on a project, as well as on the assessment procedures.
Adolescents’ social background and non-standard writing in online communication
Authors: Hilte Lisa , Vandekerckhove Reinhild , Daelemans Walter
Published: August 2018

In a large corpus (2.9 million tokens) of chat conversations, we studied the impact of Flemish adolescents’ social background on non-standard writing. We found significant correlations between different aspects of social class (level of education, home language and profession of the parents) and all examined deviations from formal written standard Dutch. Clustering several social variables might not only lead to a better operationalization of the complex phenomenon of social class, it certainly allows for discriminating social groups with distinct linguistic practices: lower class teenagers used each of the non-standard features much more often and in some cases in a different way than their upper class peers. Possible explanations concern discrepancies in terms of both linguistic proficiency and linguistic attitudes. Our findings emphasize the importance of including social background as an independent variable in variationist studies on youngsters’ computer-mediated communication.
Grammatical metaphor and grammaticalization
Authors: Taverniers Miriam
Published: August 2018

The aim of this paper is to explore possible connections between ‘grammatical
metaphor’ and ‘grammaticalization’, especially with a view to identifying
synergies and fostering cross-fertilization of insights between SFL and
‘grammaticalization theory’. After a characterization of the concepts of
grammatical metaphor and grammaticalization, it is argued that the two notions
are intricately connected. Their connection is explored at two levels: a
theoretical-conceptual and a descriptive level. At the theoretical-conceptual
level, it is argued that metaphoricity and codification are two sides of the
same coin, providing complementary perspectives on synchronic variation and
diachronic ‘change’, which can be deconstructed if one changes the time depth or
the angle of the perspective. At the descriptive level it is shown that
interpersonal grammatical metaphors can be seen as a breeding ground for
grammaticalization. Aspects of the syntagmatic nature of interpersonal metaphors
are identified as bridging contexts for their grammaticalization into
expressions of epistemic assessment, and two grammaticalization paths are
identified on the basis of interacting vectors of grammaticalization and
metaphoricity, viz. a path into discourse markers and one into epistemic
adverbials.
Interpersonal grammar of Korean
Authors: Shin Gi-Hyun
Published: August 2018

This paper provides an account of interpersonal resources in Korean from the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistics. The focus is upon the paradigmatic interdependency ofaddressee deference, mood, stanceandpoliteness, and the syntagmatic interaction of their realisations withpolarity, modality, vocationand theparticipant deferencein this language. Specifically, this paper puts two arguments forward. One is that the system offormalityis fundamental in Korean. The system has two choices: formal and informal.moodandaddressee deferencebelong to formal resources, and involve power-oriented language use.stanceandpolitenessare informal resources, and involve solidarity-oriented language use. The other argument is that realisations of interpersonal resources are scattered across ranks in Korean. The paper advocates SFL’s top-down paradigmatic perspective, which enables us to pull resources together in an account that formalises their interdependency while respecting their divergent realisations.
The syntax and semantics of descriptive V-deconstructions
Authors: Tsai Cheng-Yu Edwin
Published: August 2018

This paper tackles the long-standing problem of the phrase structure of the descriptive V-deconstruction in Mandarin, and proposes a variant of the Primary Predication analysis. I argue that the suffix -deis a nominalizing head that turns the verb to which it attaches into a nominal event argument, which is in turn predicated over by the descriptive adjectival phrase, the primary predicate of the construction. This syntactic analysis allows for a straightforward explanation for the presupposition-focus semantics of this construction based on structured event quantification. In addition, it is shown that previous arguments that go against the Primary Predication hypothesis (including the distribution of the A-not-A form and negation, and the scope relation between an IP-level element and the adjectival phrase) either do not constitute counterevidence or are simply irrelevant. Further support for the proposal is provided that draws on a number of syntactic properties of the descriptive V-deconstruction and on the distinction between the descriptive adjectival phrase on the one hand and secondary predicates and adverbial adjuncts on the other hand.
Attitudes to Mandarin Chinese varieties in Singapore
Authors: Cavallaro Francesco , Seilhamer Mark Fifer , Yen Yee Ho , Bee Chin Ng
Published: August 2018

This study aims to shed light on the attitudes of Chinese Singaporeans and Chinese nationals residing in Singapore to varieties of Mandarin Chinese. 64 Singaporean Chinese and Chinese national participants took matched and verbal-guise tests, evaluating recorded speakers of two varieties of Singapore Mandarin (standard and colloquial) and the variety spoken in the PRC on status and solidarity traits. These evaluations were followed by optional questionnaire items intended to probe for additional more insights into the participants’ attitudes and perceptions of one another. Both Singaporean Chinese and Chinese national participants assigned higher status to the PRC’s variety of Mandarin. Attitudes toward the two varieties of Singapore Mandarin, however, varied, with Singaporeans rating the standard variety higher than the colloquial variety on all traits and Chinese nationals favouring the colloquial variety. Interestingly, for all three varieties of Mandarin, solidarity traits were rated higher than status traits by all participants, suggesting that, in Singapore, Mandarin Chinese is now viewed more as a language of solidarity than status.