bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A INFLUÊNCIA DOS MATERIAIS CONSTRUTIVOS NA PRODUÇÃO DO CLIMA URBANO
Authors: Rodrigues de Mello Maria Angélica , Martins Nathalia , Sant'anna Neto João Lima
Published: July 2017

O rápido crescimento demográfico associado a elevadas taxas de urbanização nas ultimas décadas tem sido responsavel por uma expansão territorial urbana sem precedentes na história do Brasil. Com o movimento migratório de populações de baixa renda do campo para as áreas urbanas que se constituem como pólos de atração, conjuntos habitacionais têm se espalhado pela perifieria de cidades, em grande utilizando materiais construtivs inadequados tanto do ponto de vista da qualidade de vida, quanto da eficiência térmica. Neste trabalho oi estudada a cidade de Presidente Prudente com aproximadamente 200 mil habitantes localizada no oeste do Estado de São Paulo, em que foram medidas temperaturas e umidades do ar a partir de aparelhos medidores fixados nas habitações. Os tipos de cobertura das edificações (telhados) foram classificados em três grupos: cerâmica, metálica e fibrocimento. Considerando que as coberturas de fibrocimento (habitações populares) produzem entre 10º C e 12ºC de temperatura superior ao do ar circundante. As coberturas cerâmicas entre -0,1ºC e -0,3ºC (habitações das classes média e alta) e as metálicas (comércio, galpões e serviços) entre 16,0 ºC e 20º C superiores. Como resultados demonstrou-se que as temperaturas médias da cidade estudada aumenta cerca de 2,5ºC nos últimos 30 anos e a diferença entre a área urbana e rural, em cerca de 10º C. O principal problema se refere as residências populares, que além de apresentarem áreas construídas muito pequenas, são densamente ocupadas. Além da produção de calor, da baixa qualidade de vida, estas áreas são o principal foco de doenças do aparelho respiratório.
A COMBUSTÃO DA BIOMASSA E SEUS EFEITOS NA SAÚDE HUMANA EM ÁREAS URBANAS
Authors: Aleixo Natacha Cintia Regina , Sant'anna Neto João Lima
Published: July 2017

Os elementos climáticos como temperatura, umidade e precipitaão inseridas no diagnóstico do clima urbano indica e as situações adversas que pessoas com uma predisposição de desenvolver e agravar uma patologia respiratória estão sujeitas. As condições atmosféricas vinculadas a área de risco de ocorrência das doenças respiratórias. Estas associações incluem variáveis como as condições socioeconômicas dos indivíduos expostos, os mecanismos de difusão dos poluentes na emissão e as principais áreas afetadas. A fonte de emissão de particulados e produtos gasosos na cidade de Ourinhos-SP ocorre no período da safra de agricultura canavieira pela combustão da cana-de-açucar realizada dos meses de abril a dezembro constituindo graves impactos ambientais, contribuindo para a piora da qualidade do ar no ambiente intra-urbano e no aumento da morbidade por doenças respiratórias. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar o ritmo climático vinculado ao período da queima da cana-de-açucar sobre a ocorrência de doenças respiratórias no espaço urbano de Ourinhos.
MODELO COMPUTACIONAL ESTOCÁSTICO PARA SIMULAÇÕES DE SÉRIES CLIMÁTICAS DIÁRIAS DE UMIDADE RELATIVA DO AR, BASEADO NA PARAMETRIZAÇÃO DINÂMICA DAS DISTRIBUIÇÕES DE PROBABILIDADE DECORRENTE DA RETROALIMENTAÇÃO DE DADOS
Authors: Virgens Filho Jorim Sousa das , Leite Maysa De Lima , Franco Jaqueline Rissa , Korelo Monica
Published: July 2017

A umidade relativa do ar como um fator climático é indispensável em diversos processos físicos e biológicos, relacionados com as atividades humanas, Sua ocorrência em maior ou menor grau pode, por exemplo, interferir na saúde dos seres humanos, proporcionar efeitos desejáveis ou não no crescimento de plantas, auxiliar na previsão de incêndios florestais, ser decisiva na incidência de pragas e doenças, tanto em animais como em plantas, bem como no conforto térmico das instalações de animais confinados. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve como principal objetivo o desenvolvimento de um modelo computacional estocástico para simulação de séries climáticas diárias de umidade relativa do ar, baseado na parametrização dinâmica das distribuições de probabilidade, decorrente da retroalimentação de dados. Foram utilizadas séries climáticas de umidade relativa do ar, onde se empregou o modelo da distribuição Beta para dias considerados secos e o moddelo da distribuição Normal para dias considerados chuvosos. Utilizou-se a linguagem de programação C++ Builder no desenvolvimento do modelo que é uma linguagem de alto nível orientada a objetos e adequada para o gerenciamento de banco de dados. As séries geradas se mostraram muito próximas, realisticamente, das séries observadas, apresentando uma leve tendência de superestimação das mesmas. Espera-se que quando utilizado conjuntamente em outros modelos, o mesmo se apresente como uma alternativa viável para simular a umidade do ar no cenário ambiental.
EVENTOS EXTREMOS: ESTUDO DA CHUVA DE GRANIZO DE 21 DE ABRIL DE 2008 NA CIDADE DE MARINGÁ-PR
Authors: Berezuk André Geraldo
Published: July 2017

No dia 21 de abril de 2008 a cidade de Maringá foi atingida, muito provavelmente pela mais intensa chuva de granizo dos seus 62 anos de existência. Em um período de oito minutos, caíram pedras do diâmetro de ovos de galinha. Aproxidamente mil casas da cidade foram atingidas, foram registradas aproximadamente 300 ocorrências de emergência, além dos muitos outros transtornos que eventos extremos dessa magnitude ocasionam. Depois da cidade ter decretado estado de emergência após a tempestade, vêm a indagação: estariam as cidades brasileiras preparadas para a ocorrência desses eventos climáticos?
Do Institutional Investors Aleviate Agency Costs in R&D Investment Decisions?
Authors: Scott Ricky William
Published: July 2017

This study tests whether institutional investors encourage R&D investment in firms with potential agency problems. Firm and year fixed effect regressions and difference-GMM regressions are used to examine the effect of changes in institutional investor levels to subsequent changes in R&D investment levels. Increased institutional ownership leads to increased R&D investment and this relationship is stronger in firms more susceptible to agency problems. Agency-based free cash flow theory predicts that institutional investors will encourage R&D investment in firms with good investment opportunities, but they will not encourage R&D investment simply because a firm has higher free cash flow. My results support this prediction indicating that institutional investors help to control agency problems in R&D investment decisions. The results in this paper indicate that this may lead to a decrease in agency costs in R&D decisions, thus benefiting institutional and non-institutional shareholders.
A Corpus-based Study of Chinese EFL Learners’ Employment of although
Authors: Chen Jingwen
Published: July 2017

Although is a frequently used subordinating conjunction in English. However, non-nativeness is often observed in Chinese EFL learners’ although output during pedagogical practice. This paper aims at exploring the characteristics of Chinese EFL learners’ although employment in Chinese EFL learners’ writing. The study is a corpus-based analysis launched under the analytical framework of contrastive interlanguage analysis. The interlanguage hypothesis lays the theoretical foundation of the present study. Texts from two corpora—the Chinese learner English corpus [CLEC] and the “arts and humanities” disciplinary group of the British academic written English corpus [sub-BAWEC]—are analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively with the help of concordance software Antconc 3.2.1 and statistics program PASW Statistics 18. Based on the findings, conclusions are drawn as follows: 1) Chinese EFL learners tend to underuse although and produce mono-structural although clauses in their writing. Nevertheless, they share similar preference on deciding although placement in clauses with native English speakers; and 2) Factors such as interlingual difference between English and Mandarin Chinese, pedagogical neglect in English classrooms and different cognitive styles influence Chinese EFL learners’ although employment.
Applying Biomimetic Principles to Thermoelectric Cooling Devices for Water Collection
Authors: Davidson Kyle B , Asiabanpour Bahram , Almusaied Zaid
Published: July 2017

The shortage of freshwater resources in the world has developed the need for sustainable, cost-effective technologies that can produce freshwater on a large scale. Current solutions often have extensive manufacturing requirements, or involve the use of large quantities of energy or toxic chemicals. Atmospheric water generating solutions that minimize the depletion of natural resources can be achieved by incorporating biomimetics, a classification of design inspired by nature. This research seeks to optimize thermoelectric cooling systems for use in water harvesting applications by analyzing the different factors that affect surface temperature and water condensation in TEC devices. Further experiments will be directed towards developing a robust, repeatable system, as well as an accurate measurement system. Surface modifications, device structure and orientation, and power generation will also be studied to better understand the ideal conditions for maximum water collection in thermoelectric cooling systems.
Effects of Interest Rate on Stock Market Returns in Kenya
Authors: Otieno Donald A. , Ngugi Rose W. , Wawire Nelson H. W.
Published: July 2017

Debate on the stochastic behaviour of stock market returns, 3-month Treasury Bills rate, lending rate and their cointegrating residuals remains unsettled. This study examines the stochastic properties of the macroeconomic variables, stock market returns and their cointegrating residuals using an Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average (ARFIMA) model. It also investigates Granger causality between the two measures of interest rate and stock market returns. The study uses monthly data from 1st January 1993 to 31st December 2015. The results indicate that the 3-month Treasury Bills rate, lending rate and stock market returns are fractionally integrated which implies that shocks to the variables persist but eventually disappear. The results also reveal that the cointegrating residuals are fractionally integrated which suggests that a new and harmful long-run equilibrium might be established when each of the measures of interest rate is driven away from stock market returns. Additionally, the results indicate that the 3-month Treasury Bills rate and lending rate negatively Granger cause stock market returns in the long run. This suggests that stocks and Treasury Bills are competing investment assets. On the other hand, ARFIMA-based Granger causality reveals that stock market returns lead the 3-month Treasury Bills rate and lending rate with a negative sign in the short run. This implies that a prosperous stock market results into a favorable macroeconomic environment. A key contribution of this study is that it is the first to empirically examine fractional cointegration and ARFIMA-based Granger Causality between interest rate and stock market returns in Kenya.
Offshoring Strategies in Norwegian Ship Production
Authors: Semini Marco , Brett Per Olaf , Hagen Arnulf , Kolsvik Jørund , Alfnes Erlend , Strandhagen Jan Ola
Published: July 2017

For the past several decades, Norwegian shipyards have focused on innovative, customized, and technologically advanced ships, often serving the offshore oil and gas industry. Usually, a significant part of the ship production is off shored, especially steel-related tasks. That is, such tasks are carried out in a country with lower factor costs. The Norwegian yards focus on the more advanced outfitting tasks, such as the installation and commissioning of machinery and deck equipment, electrical systems, and accommodation. Nevertheless, the amount of work performed abroad before the Norwegian yard takes over and continues production differs among various yards; some only offshore block construction, others construction of the entire hull. Yet others finish the ship to such a degree abroad that it does not need to be recovered from the water in Norway and all the remaining work can be done from the quayside. This paper introduces a typology of shipbuilding strategies that differ in how much of the steel and outfitting work is performed in a country with lower cost levels. The strategies are discussed and compared in terms of relevant build strategic elements, such as preoutfitting, concurrent execution of engineering and production, yard capabilities, and vertical integration. The strategies' likely effect on performance is also addressed, in terms of costs, quality, delivery dependability, delivery time, and flexibility. The results are based on a qualitative study of Norwegian yards and their offshoring strategies.

1. Introduction

Throughout history, Norway has played a central role in the design and production of ships and marine constructions. Until some decades ago, yards along the entire coast built various types of ships, such as tankers, bulkers, ferries, roll-on/roll-offs, and fishing boats of different sizes. During the 1970s, the competition from Eastern Asia rose, benefitting from significantly lower labor costs. The larger yards in Norway could not adapt and scale down, and they eventually closed down and their properties were adapted for other, typically urban purposes. In the 1990s, mainly the smaller yards on the West coast managed to survive, focusing on ship conversions and repairs as well as an increasing specialization toward ships serving the offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction industry. Since then, a big portion of all larger ships delivered from Norwegian yards has been made up of such customized, technologically advanced offshore support vessels (OSVs). Other types of customized, advanced ships, such as fishing vessels, live fish carriers, research vessels, cruise ships, mega yachts, and naval ships, have also been relevant market segments. Though of far less historic significance over the last 20 years, they have helped counteract crises in the offshore segment over the years.
La réception et la réinvention du taoïsme en Occident
Authors: LaRochelle Dominic
Published: July 2017

Les religions ne constituent pas des monolithes immuables et inchangés dans le temps. Elles évoluent au fil de l’histoire humaine, changent au gré des transformations culturelles et sociales des communautés dans lesquelles elles s’implantent, négocient avec les instances séculières et religieuses leur pertinence et leur droit d’exister ; bref, elles innovent constamment pour s’assurer une place dans un monde lui aussi en constant changement. Cet article propose deux outils pour analyser les innovations au sein des traditions religieuses : les théories de la réception, inspirées des travaux de Hans Robert Jauss, et l’invention des traditions, inspirée du célèbre ouvrage d’Eric J. Hobsbawm et Terence O. Ranger. L’intérêt de l’utilisation de ces outils en histoire est qu’ils permettent, entre autres choses, de dépasser les oppositions classiques tradition/modernité et authenticité/innovation en analysant les religions du point de vue des ruptures et des transformations à l’intérieur de celles-ci. Ces outils seront appliqués à un cas particulier, celui de la réception et de la réinvention du taoïsme dans les sociétés occidentales au XXe siècle. Cette tradition religieuse chinoise vieille de plusieurs siècles a en effet été réinventée en Occident et transformée en une tradition spirituelle universelle répondant aux attentes des Occidentaux en matière de spiritualité contemporaine.
Physiological and pathophysiological control of synaptic GluN2B-NMDA receptors by the C-terminal domain of amyloid precursor protein
Authors: Pousinha Paula A , Mouska Xavier , Raymond Elisabeth F , Gwizdek Carole , Dhib Gihen , Poupon Gwenola , Zaragosi Laure-Emmanuelle , Giudici Camilla , Bethus Ingrid , Pacary Emilie , Willem Michael , Marie Hélène
Published: July 2017

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) harbors physiological roles at synapses and is central to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Evidence suggests that APP intracellular domain (AICD) could regulate synapse function, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. We addressed AICD actions at synapses, per se, combining in vivo AICD expression, ex vivo AICD delivery or APP knock-down by in utero electroporation of shRNAs with whole-cell electrophysiology. We report a critical physiological role of AICD in controlling GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors (NMDARs) at immature excitatory synapses, via a transcription-dependent mechanism. We further show that AICD increase in mature neurons, as reported in AD, alters synaptic NMDAR composition to an immature-like GluN2B-rich profile. This disrupts synaptic signal integration, via over-activation of SK channels, and synapse plasticity, phenotypes rescued by GluN2B antagonism. We provide a new physiological role for AICD, which becomes pathological upon AICD increase in mature neurons. Thus, AICD could contribute to AD synaptic failure.
Cell cycle entry triggers a switch between two modes of Cdc42 activation during yeast polarization
Authors: Witte Kristen , Strickland Devin , Glotzer Michael
Published: July 2017

Cell polarization underlies many cellular and organismal functions. The GTPase Cdc42 orchestrates polarization in many contexts. In budding yeast, polarization is associated with a focus of Cdc42•GTP which is thought to self sustain by recruiting a complex containing Cla4, a Cdc42-binding effector, Bem1, a scaffold, and Cdc24, a Cdc42 GEF. Using optogenetics, we probe yeast polarization and find that local recruitment of Cdc24 or Bem1 is sufficient to induce polarization by triggering self-sustaining Cdc42 activity. However, the response to these perturbations depends on the recruited molecule, the cell cycle stage, and existing polarization sites. Before cell cycle entry, recruitment of Cdc24, but not Bem1, induces a metastable pool of Cdc42 that is sustained by positive feedback. Upon Cdk1 activation, recruitment of either Cdc24 or Bem1 creates a stable site of polarization that induces budding and inhibits formation of competing sites. Local perturbations have therefore revealed unexpected features of polarity establishment.
Tundra water budget and implications of precipitation underestimation
Authors: Liljedahl Anna K. , Hinzman Larry D. , Kane Douglas L. , Oechel Walter C. , Tweedie Craig E. , Zona Donatella
Published: July 2017

Difficulties in obtaining accurate precipitation measurements have limited meaningful hydrologic assessment for over a century due to performance challenges of conventional snowfall and rainfall gauges in windy environments. Here, we compare snowfall observations and bias adjusted snowfall to end‐of‐winter snow accumulation measurements on the ground for 16 years (1999–2014) and assess the implication of precipitation underestimation on the water balance for a low‐gradient tundra wetland near Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska (2007–2009). In agreement with other studies, and not accounting for sublimation, conventional snowfall gauges captured 23–56% of end‐of‐winter snow accumulation. Once snowfall and rainfall are bias adjusted, long‐term annual precipitation estimates more than double (from 123 to 274 mm), highlighting the risk of studies using conventional or unadjusted precipitation that dramatically under‐represent water balance components. Applying conventional precipitation information to the water balance analysis produced consistent storage deficits (79 to 152 mm) that were all larger than the largest actual deficit (75 mm), which was observed in the unusually low rainfall summer of 2007. Year‐to‐year variability in adjusted rainfall (±33 mm) was larger than evapotranspiration (±13 mm). Measured interannual variability in partitioning of snow into runoff (29% in 2008 to 68% in 2009) in years with similar end‐of‐winter snow accumulation (180 and 164 mm, respectively) highlights the importance of the previous summer's rainfall (25 and 60 mm, respectively) on spring runoff production. Incorrect representation of precipitation can therefore have major implications for Arctic water budget descriptions that in turn can alter estimates of carbon and energy fluxes.
Explicit prediction of hail using multimoment microphysics schemes for a hailstorm of 19 March 2014 in eastern China
Authors: Luo Liping , Xue Ming , Zhu Kefeng , Zhou Bowen
Published: July 2017

In the late afternoon of 19 March 2014, a severe hailstorm swept through eastern central Zhejiang province, China. The storm produced golf ball‐sized hail, strong winds, and lighting, lasting approximately 1 h over the coastal city of Taizhou. The Advanced Regional Prediction System is used to simulate the hailstorm using different configurations of the Milbrandt‐Yau microphysics scheme that predict one, two, or three moments of the hydrometeor particle size distribution. Simulated fields, including accumulated precipitation and maximum estimated hail size (MESH), are verified against rain gauge observations and radar‐derived MESH, respectively. For the case of the 19 March 2014 storms, the general evolution is better predicted with multimoment microphysics schemes than with the one‐moment scheme; the three‐moment scheme produces the best forecast. Predictions from the three‐moment scheme qualitatively agree with observations in terms of size and amount of hail reaching the surface. The life cycle of the hailstorm is analyzed, using the most skillful, three‐moment forecast. Based upon the tendency of surface hail mass flux, the hailstorm life cycle can be divided into three stages: developing, mature, and dissipating. Microphysical budget analyses are used to examine microphysical processes and characteristics during these three stages. The vertical structures within the storm and their link to environmental shear conditions are discussed; together with the rapid fall of hailstones, these structures and conditions appear to dictate this pulse storm's short life span. Finally, a conceptual model for the life cycle of pulse hailstorms is proposed.
Extension of Hybrid Scintillation Propagation Model to the case of field propagation in the ionosphere with highly anisotropic irregularities
Authors: Gherm Vadim E. , Zernov Nikolay N.
Published: July 2017

The detailed effects of the high‐frequency radio wave propagation in a stochastic transionospheric propagation channel are discussed. This is a special case of propagation along or almost along the lines of the Earth's magnetic field. In this case, the ionospheric random irregularities of the electron density of the ionosphere may have very high values of the aspect ratio, which stands beyond the range of validity of the traditional analytical approaches utilized to treat the appropriate transionospheric propagation problems. In the consideration presented here, new analytical results are obtained for treating the problem under consideration. Based on the analytical results obtained, the previously developed Hybrid Scintillation Propagation Model is further extended, which also includes the software simulator of the signals propagating on the transionospheric paths with the random electron density irregularities highly elongated in the direction of the Earth's magnetic field.
A tale of two orogens: Crustal processes in the Proterozoic Trans‐Hudson and Grenville Orogens, eastern Canada
Authors: Darbyshire F. A. , Bastow I. D. , Petrescu L. , Gilligan A. , Thompson D. A.
Published: July 2017

The Precambrian core of North America was assembled in the Proterozoic by a series of collisions between Archean cratons. Among the orogenic belts, two stand out due to their significant spatial extent. The Paleoproterozoic Trans‐Hudson Orogen (THO) and Mesoproterozoic Grenville Orogen extend for thousands of kilometers along strike and hundreds of kilometers across strike. Both have been compared to the present‐day Himalayan‐Karakoram‐Tibetan Orogen (HKTO). Over the last 20–30 years, active and passive source seismic studies have contributed a wealth of information about the present‐day crustal structure and composition of the two orogens in Canada. The Proterozoic orogenic crust is generally thicker than that of neighboring Archean terranes, with a more variable Moho character, ranging from relatively sharp to highly diffuse. Both orogens have a prominent high‐velocity lower crustal layer, consistent with long‐term preservation of a partially eclogitized root at the base of the crust and similar to that inferred beneath the western HKTO. Crustal structure in the northern THO strongly resembles the lower crustal structure of the HKTO, suggesting that Moho depths may have reached 60–70 km when the orogen was active. A prominent midcrustal discontinuity beneath the central Grenville Province and changes in the patterns of seismic anisotropy in the THO crust beneath Hudson Bay provide geophysical evidence that lower crustal flow likely played a role in the evolution of both orogens, similar to that inferred beneath the present‐day HKTO. The seismic evidence from Canada supports the notion of tectonic uniformitarianism, at least as far back as the Paleoproterozoic.
Hydrologic controls on hyporheic exchange in a headwater mountain stream
Authors: Schmadel Noah M. , Ward Adam S. , Wondzell Steven M.
Published: July 2017

The spatial and temporal scales of hyporheic exchange within the stream corridor are controlled by stream discharge and groundwater inflow interacting with streambed morphology. While decades of study have resulted in a clear understanding of how morphologic form controls hyporheic exchange at the feature scale, we lack comparable predictive power related to stream discharge and the spatial structure of groundwater inflows at the reach scale, where spatial heterogeneity in both geomorphic setting and hydrologic forcing are present. In this study, we simulated vertical hyporheic exchange along a 600 m mountain stream reach under high, medium, and low stream discharge while considering groundwater inflow as negligible, spatially uniform, or proportional to upslope accumulated area. Most changes to hyporheic flow path residence time or length in response to stream discharge were small (<5%), suggesting that discharge is a secondary control relative to morphologically driven hyporheic exchange. Groundwater inflow was a primary control and mostly caused decreases in hyporheic flow path residence time and length. This finding generally agrees with expectations from the literature; however, flow path response was not consistent across the study reach. Instead, we found that flow paths driven by large hydraulic gradients coinciding with large morphologic features were less sensitive to changes in groundwater inflow than those driven by hydraulic gradients similar to the valley gradient. Our results indicate that consideration of heterogeneous arrangement of morphologic features is necessary to differentiate between hyporheic flow paths that persist in time and those that are sensitive to changing hydrologic conditions.
Water security, risk, and economic growth: Insights from a dynamical systems model
Authors: Dadson Simon , Hall Jim W. , Garrick Dustin , Sadoff Claudia , Grey David , Whittington Dale
Published: July 2017

Investments in the physical infrastructure, human capital, and institutions needed for water resources management have been noteworthy in the development of most civilizations. These investments affect the economy in two distinct ways: (i) by improving the factor productivity of water in multiple economic sectors, especially those that are water intensive such as agriculture and energy and (ii) by reducing acute and chronic harmful effects of water‐related hazards like floods, droughts, and water‐related diseases. The need for capital investment to mitigate risks and promote economic growth is widely acknowledged, but prior conceptual work on the relationship between water‐related investments and economic growth has focused on the productive and harmful roles of water in the economy independently. Here the two influences are combined using a simple, dynamical systems model of water‐related investment, risk, and growth. In cases where initial water security is low, initial investment in water‐related assets enables growth. Without such investment, losses due to water‐related hazards exert a drag on economic growth and may create a poverty trap. The presence and location of the poverty trap is context‐specific and depends on the exposure of productive water‐related assets to water‐related risk. Exogenous changes in water‐related risk can potentially push an economy away from a growth path toward a poverty trap. Our investigation shows that an inverted‐U‐shaped investment relation between the level of investment in water security and the current level of water security leads to faster rates of growth than the alternatives that we consider here, and that this relation is responsible for the “S”‐curve that is posited in the literature. These results illustrate the importance of accounting for environmental and health risks in economic models and offer insights for the design of robust policies for investment in water‐related productive assets to manage risk, in the face of environmental change.
Micro‐PIV measurements of multiphase flow of water and liquid CO2 in 2‐D heterogeneous porous micromodels
Authors: Li Yaofa , Kazemifar Farzan , Blois Gianluca , Christensen Kenneth T.
Published: July 2017

We present an experimental study of pore‐scale flow dynamics of liquid CO2 and water in a two‐dimensional heterogeneous porous micromodel, inspired by the structure of a reservoir rock, at reservoir‐relevant conditions (80 bar, 21°C). The entire process of CO2 infiltration into a water‐saturated micromodel was captured using fluorescence microscopy and the micro‐PIV method, which together reveal complex fluid displacement patterns and abrupt changes in velocity. The CO2 front migrated through the resident water in an intermittent manner, forming dendritic structures, termed fingers, in directions along, normal to, and even opposing the bulk pressure gradient. Such characteristics indicate the dominance of capillary fingering through the micromodel. Velocity burst events, termed Haines jumps, were also captured in the heterogeneous micromodel, during which the local Reynolds number was estimated to be ∼21 in the CO2 phase, exceeding the range of validity of Darcy's law. Furthermore, these drainage events were observed to be cooperative (i.e., across multiple pores simultaneously), with the zone of influence of such events extending beyond tens of pores, confirming, in a quantitative manner, that Haines jumps are nonlocal phenomena. After CO2 completely breaks through the porous section, shear‐induced circulations caused by flowing CO2 were also observed, in agreement with previous studies using a homogeneous porous micromodel. To our knowledge, this study is the first quantitative measurement that incorporates both reservoir‐relevant conditions and rock‐inspired heterogeneity, and thus will be useful for pore‐scale model development and validation.
Complex Design by Simple Robots: A Collective Embodied Intelligence Approach to Construction
Authors: Petersen Kirstin , Nagpal Radhika
Published: July 2017

Nature's builders – from termites to beavers – offer a model of collective intelligence that can inspire robotic construction. Kirstin Petersen, Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and Radhika Nagpal, Professor in Computer Science at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, describe several recent projects in this field that they have been involved in, both separately and collaboratively.
Compressive Assemblies: Bottom‐Up Performance for a New Form of Construction
Authors: Block Philippe , Rippmann Matthias , Van Mele Tom
Published: July 2017

From Inuit igloos to Roman arches to Gothic cathedrals, builders have long used friction and balance to make structures hold together. The Block Research Group at ETH Zurich is involved in ongoing research that investigates historical techniques and fuses them with the latest technologies, including robotics and 3D printing, to establish new methods of architectural assembly. Group founder Philippe Block, co‐director Tom Van Mele and team member Matthias Rippmann explain.
Disarmed Strategies: New Machines and Techniques for an Era of Computational Contextualism in Architecture
Authors: Mayer Hannes , Gramazio Fabio , Kohler Matthias
Published: July 2017

Digital fabrication to date has typically been blind to context. But this need not be the case – as demonstrated by the experiments of Gramazio Kohler Research, based at ETH Zurich. They have developed systems that employ robotic arms and flying machines with feedback control to adapt the fabrication process as it progresses. From the ballistic projection of clay in a cutting‐edge version of adobe, to the interlacing of string to form suspended structures in space, Fabio Gramazio, Matthias Kohler and Hannes Mayer outline some of their inventions here.
Amorphizing of Au Nanoparticles by CeOx–RGO Hybrid Support towards Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for N2 Reduction under Ambient Conditions
Authors: Li Si‐Jia , Bao Di , Shi Miao‐Miao , Wulan Ba‐Ri , Yan Jun‐Min , Jiang Qing
Published: July 2017

Ammonia synthesis is one of the most kinetically complex and energetically challenging chemical processes in industry and has used the Harber–Bosch catalyst for over a century, which is processed under both harsh pressure (150–350 atm) and hightemperature (623–823 K), wherein the energy and capital intensive Harber–Bosch process has a huge energy cost accounting for about 1%–3% of human's energy consumption. Therefore, there has been a rough and vigorous exploration to find an environmentally benign alternative process. As the amorphous material is in a metastable state and has many “dangling bonds”, it is more active than the crystallized one. In this paper, CeOx‐induced amorphization of Au nanoparticles anchored on reduced graphite oxide (a‐Au/CeOx–RGO) has been achieved by a facile coreduction method under ambient atmosphere. As a proof‐of‐concept experiment, a‐Au/CeOx–RGO hybrid catalyst containing the low noble metal (Au loading is 1.31 wt%) achieves a high Faradaic efficiency (10.10%) and ammonia yield (8.3 μg h−1 mg−1cat.) at −0.2 V versus RHE, which is significantly higher than that of the crystalline counterpart (c‐Au/RGO), and even comparable to the yields and efficiencies under harsh temperatures and/or pressures.
Tailoring the Performances of Lead Halide Perovskite Devices with Electron‐Beam Irradiation
Authors: Yi Ningbo , Wang Shuai , Duan Zonghui , Wang Kaiyang , Song Qinghai , Xiao Shumin
Published: July 2017

Lead halide perovskites are intensively studied in past few years due to their potential applications in optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, photodetectors, light‐emitting diodes (LED), and lasers. In addition to the rapid developments in material synthesis and device fabrication, it is also very interesting to postsynthetically control the optical properties with external irradiations. Here, the influences of very low energy (10–20 keV) electron beam of standard electron beam lithography are experimentally explored on the properties of lead halide perovskites. It is confirmed that the radiolysis process also happens and it can selectively change the photoluminescence, enabling the direct formation of nanolaser array, microsized light emitter array, and micropictures with an electron beam writer. Interestingly, it is found that discontinuous metallic lead layers are formed on the top and bottom surfaces of perovskite microplate during the radiolysis process, which can act as carrier conducting layers and significantly increase the photocurrent of perovskite photodetector by a factor of 217%. By using the electron beam with low energy to modify the perovskite, this method promises to shape the emission patterns for micro‐LED with well‐preserved optical properties and improves the photocurrent of photodetector.
Stretchable Motion Memory Devices Based on Mechanical Hybrid Materials
Authors: Liu Yaqing , Liu Zhiyuan , Zhu Bowen , Yu Jiancan , He Ke , Leow Wan Ru , Wang Ming , Chandran Bevita K. , Qi Dianpeng , Wang Hong , Chen Geng , Xu Cai , Chen Xiaodong
Published: July 2017

Animals possess various functional systems such as sensory, nervous, and motor systems, which show effective cooperation in order to realize complicated and intelligent behaviors. This inspires rational designs for the integration of individual electronic devices to exhibit a series of functions, such as sensing, memory, and feedback. Inspired by the fact that humans can monitor and memorize various body motions, a motion memory device is developed to mimic this biological process. In this work, mechanical hybrid substrates are introduced, in which rigid memory devices and stretchable strain sensors are integrated into a single module, which enables them to work cooperatively in the wearable state. When attached to the joints of limbs, the motion memory device can detect the deformations caused by limb motions and simultaneously store the corresponding information in the memory device. This work would be valuable in materials design and electronics technology toward the realization of wearable and multifunctional electronic modules.
Correlation between Electronic Defect States Distribution and Device Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Landi Giovanni , Neitzert Heinz Christoph , Barone Carlo , Mauro Costantino , Lang Felix , Albrecht Steve , Rech Bernd , Pagano Sergio
Published: July 2017

In the present study, random current fluctuations measured at different temperatures and for different illumination levels are used to understand the charge carrier kinetics in methylammonium lead iodide CH3NH3PbI3‐based perovskite solar cells. A model, combining trapping/detrapping, recombination mechanisms, and electron–phonon scattering, is formulated evidencing how the presence of shallow and deeper band tail states influences the solar cell recombination losses. At low temperatures, the observed cascade capture process indicates that the trapping of the charge carriers by shallow defects is phonon assisted directly followed by their recombination. By increasing the temperature, a phase modification of the CH3NH3PbI3 absorber layer occurs and for temperatures above the phase transition at about 160 K the capture of the charge carrier takes place in two steps. The electron is first captured by a shallow defect and then it can be either emitted or thermalize down to a deeper band tail state and recombines subsequently. This result reveals that in perovskite solar cells the recombination kinetics is strongly influenced by the electron–phonon interactions. A clear correlation between the morphological structure of the perovskite grains, the energy disorder of the defect states, and the device performance is demonstrated.
Food insecurity partially mediates associations between social disadvantage and body composition among older adults in india: Results from the study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE)
Authors: Schrock Joshua M. , McClure Heather H. , Snodgrass J. Josh , Liebert Melissa A. , Charlton Karen E. , Arokiasamy Perianayagam , Naidoo Nirmala , Kowal Paul
Published: July 2017

Objective

Our objective was to test whether food insecurity mediates cross‐sectional associations between social disadvantage and body composition among older adults (aged 50+) in India (n = 6556).

Methods

Adjusting for key sociodemographic and dietary variables, we examined whether markers of social disadvantage (lower educational attainment, lower household wealth, belonging to a disadvantaged caste/tribe, and belonging to a minority religion) were associated with food insecurity. We then examined whether food insecurity, in turn, was associated with anthropometric measures of body composition, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC). We also tested whether food insecurity mediated the relationship between social disadvantage and body composition.

Results

In adjusted models, lower household wealth [lowest quintile (Q5) vs highest quintile (Q1): odds ratio (OR) = 13.57, P < .001], having less than a high‐school education (OR = 2.12. P < .005), being Muslim (OR = 1.82, P < .001), and being in a scheduled caste (historically marginalized) (OR = 1.49, P < .005) were associated with greater food insecurity. Those who were severely food insecure had greater odds of being underweight (OR = 1.36, P < .01) and lower odds of high WC (OR = 0.70, P < .01). Mediation analyses estimated that food insecurity explained 4.7%–29.7% of the relationship between social disadvantage and body composition, depending on the variables considered.

Conclusions

Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that food insecurity is a mechanism linking social disadvantage and body composition among older adults in India. These analyses contribute to a better understanding of processes leading to variation in body composition, which may help enhance the design of interventions aimed at improving population nutritional status.
A case of omental herniation through the esophageal hiatus successfully treated by laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Sueyoshi Koichiro , Inoue Yoshiaki , Sumi Yuka , Okamoto Ken , Azuma Daisuke , Yoshikawa Seiichiro , Fukunaga Masaki , Tanaka Hiroshi
Published: July 2017

Case

We report a rare case of omental herniation through the esophageal hiatus. A 46‐year‐old man visited our emergency department complaining of epigastralgia. Abdominal examination revealed muscular defense and rebound tenderness in his upper abdomen. A computed tomography scan showed a fat density mass in the posterior mediastinum. A laparoscopic operation was carried out under the diagnosis of omental herniation through the esophageal hiatus.

Outcome

Abdominal pain disappeared dramatically after the operation. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Conclusion

Although a fat density mass in the posterior mediastinum is likely to be diagnosed as a lipomatous tumor, omental herniation through the esophageal hiatus should be taken into consideration as a possible diagnosis for acute abdominal pain in the emergency department.
Familial mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and the borderland of déjà vu
Authors: Perucca Piero , Crompton Douglas E. , Bellows Susannah T. , McIntosh Anne M. , Kalincik Tomas , Newton Mark R. , Vajda Frank J. E. , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Kwan Patrick , O'Brien Terence J. , Tan K. Meng , Berkovic Samuel F.
Published: July 2017

Objective

The cause of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is often unknown. We ascertained to what extent newly diagnosed nonlesional MTLE actually represents familial MTLE (FMTLE).

Methods

We identified all consecutive patients presenting to the Austin Health First Seizure Clinic with MTLE and normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or MRI evidence of hippocampal sclerosis over a 10‐year period. Patients' first‐degree relatives and pairwise age‐ and sex‐matched controls underwent a comprehensive epilepsy interview. Each interview transcript was reviewed independently by 2 epileptologists, blinded to relative or control status. Reviewers classified each subject as follows: epilepsy, specifying if MTLE; manifestations suspicious for epilepsy; or unaffected. Physiological déjà vu was noted.

Results

Forty‐four patients were included. At the Clinic, MTLE had been recognized to be familial in 2 patients only. Among 242 subjects interviewed, MTLE was diagnosed in 9 of 121 relatives versus 0 of 121 controls (p = 0.008). All affected relatives had seizures with intense déjà vu and accompanying features; 6 relatives had not been previously diagnosed. Déjà vu experiences that were suspicious, but not diagnostic, of MTLE occurred in 6 additional relatives versus none of the controls (p = 0.04). Physiological déjà vu was common, and did not differ significantly between relatives and controls. After completing the relatives' interviews, FMTLE was diagnosed in 8 of 44 patients (18.2%).

Interpretation

FMTLE accounts for almost one‐fifth of newly diagnosed nonlesional MTLE, and it is largely unrecognized without direct questioning of relatives. Relatives of patients with MTLE may experience déjà vu phenomena that clinically lie in the “borderland” between epileptic seizures and physiological déjà vu. Ann Neurol 2017;82:166–176.
Microbleeds in the Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes Trial: Stroke, mortality, and treatment interactions
Authors: Shoamanesh Ashkan , Pearce Lesly A. , Bazan Carlos , Catanese Luciana , McClure Leslie A. , Sharma Mukul , Marti‐Fabregas Joan , Anderson David C. , Kase Carlos S. , Hart Robert G. , Benavente Oscar R. ,   on behalf of the SPS3 Trial Investigators
Published: July 2017

Objective

To characterize cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in lacunar stroke patients in the Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes (SPS3) trial and to assess their relationship with recurrent stroke and death, and response to assigned treatment.

Methods

SPS3 is a randomized, clinical trial conducted between 2003 and 2011. Patients with recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐documented lacunar infarcts were randomly assigned in a factorial design to target levels of systolic blood pressure (130–149mmHg vs <130mmHg; open label) and to antiplatelet treatment (aspirin/clopidogrel vs aspirin/placebo; double‐blinded). The current analysis involves 1,278 trial participants who had a baseline axial T2*‐weighted gradient echo MRI sequence allowing for CMB detection.

Results

CMBs were present in 30% of 1,278 patients (mean age = 63 years). Male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3–2.3), history of hypertension (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2–2.3), increased systolic blood pressure (1.2 per 20mmHg, 95% CI = 1.1–1.4), nondiabetic status (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1–1.9), multiple old lacunar infarcts (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5–2.5), and moderate (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2–2.3) or severe (OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 3.0–5.9) white matter hyperintensities on MRI were independently associated with CMBs. During a mean follow‐up of 3.3 years, overall stroke recurrence was 2.5% per patient‐year. Patients with CMBs had an adjusted 2‐fold increased risk of recurrent stroke (hazard ratio = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.4–3.1). CMBs were not a risk factor for death. There were no statistically significant interactions between CMBs and treatment assignments.

Interpretation

Patients with lacunar stroke and CMBs likely harbor a more advanced form of cerebral small vessel disease in need of efficacious therapeutic strategies. Ann Neurol 2017;82:196–207.
Visible‐Light‐Induced Carbo‐2‐pyridylation of Electron‐Deficient Alkenes with Pyridinium Salts
Authors: Hu Rong‐Bin , Sun Shuai , Su Yijin
Published: July 2017

A simple and practical visible‐light‐induced carbo‐2‐pyridylation of electron‐deficient alkenes with readily available N‐benzoylmethylpyridinium bromides is reported. More than 40 examples are presented and proceed in greater than 80 % yield (on average) with excellent regio‐ and diastereoselectivities.