bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial distribution of substitutional Mn-As clusters in ferromagnetic (Zn,Sn,Mn)As2 thin films revealed by image reconstruction of atom probe tomography data
Authors: Oomae Hiroto , Shinoda Miyuki , Asubar Joel T. , Sato Kai , Toyota Hideyuki , Mayama Norihito , Mehdiyev Bakhshi , Uchitomi Naotaka
Published: February 2019

The ferromagnetic transition in (Zn,Sn,Mn)As2 thin films is explained in terms of magnetic percolation in a Mn-As clustering network. We first studied the relationship between the spatial distribution of Mn-As clusters and the Curie temperature (TC). The local atomic structure was reconstructed from datasets of atomic positions in (Zn,Sn,Mn)As2 obtained by atom probe tomography (APT). To probe the local atomic structure and the magnetic properties of Mn-As clusters in ZnSnAs2 thin films, we investigated molecular beam epitaxially grown (Zn,Sn,Mn)As2 samples doped with 2.1 and 3.6 at. % Mn. Representative regions with a low and high Mn concentration were extracted from APT datasets. Mn-As clusters containing 2-36 Mn atoms were identified in regions of high Mn concentration. We also obtained a correlation between TC and Mn-As clustering that was consistent with not only the experimental results but also first-principles calculations using the mean-field approximation.
Electrostatic potential and counterion partition between flat and spherical interfaces
Authors: Bernardino Kalil , Farias de Moura André
Published: February 2019

While the electrostatic potential and the counterion distribution produced by interfaces with idealized geometries can be well-described by analytical models, the same does not hold true for the interaction between surfaces with different and arbitrary geometries. Besides, the geometry of a charged interface may also affect the counterion adsorption, potentially modulating the electrostatic potential and the solvent organization close to the interfaces, demanding molecular details to be taken into account. The complex electrostatics of a sodium dodecyl sulfate micelle in the presence of monolayers of the same surfactant at the water-vapor interface was assessed by a set of molecular dynamics simulations. The electrostatic potential was evaluated numerically, and its total magnitude was decomposed into contributions arising from each species comprising the system. The counterion adsorption was stronger at the flat interfaces due to the more favorable formation of sodium bridges, where the same counterion is bounded to two or more anionic heads, while water reorientation was more pronounced near the micelle. These opposing effects counteracted each other so that the overall electrostatic potential changes were similar for both interfaces. The increase in the counterion concentration between the micelle and the interface originates a double layer mediated repulsion amounting to a free energy barrier of at least 14 kJ/mol, preventing the micelle to get closer to the monolayers. It is noteworthy that the hydrophobic regions had electrostatic potential contributions as large as those arising from the hydrophilic regions, mostly due to the orderly orientation of the terminal methyl groups.
Double-layer graphene optical modulators based on Fano resonance in all-dielectric metasurfaces
Authors: Bahadori-Haghighi Shahram , Ghayour Rahim , Sheikhi Mohammad Hossein
Published: February 2019

In this paper, two double-layer graphene optical modulators based on all-dielectric metasurfaces are proposed. The double-layer graphene modulators remove the requirement of doped silicon back gates which would cause excessive loss and limit the modulation speed. The first structure is based on the electromagnetically induced transparency phenomenon, and the second one is a polarization-independent modulator that is based on the Fano resonance. The structures are simulated and analyzed using the finite element method. According to the simulation results, large modulation depth of about 95% at the wavelength of 1.55 μm can be obtained. The required voltages of 4.95 V are obtained for both of the modulators. By assuming the device of 50 × 50 unit cells, the 3 dB bandwidth of the first (second) structure is calculated as 630 MHz (482 MHz). It is estimated that by improving the quality of graphene, the 3 dB bandwidth of more than 2 GHz could be attained. The achieved modulation performances are much better than the previously reported free-space modulators with the same device area. The proposed high-performance optical modulators are promising for free-space optics technology especially free-space optical communication networks.
Large fatty acid-derived Aβ42 oligomers form ring-like assemblies
Authors: Xi Wenhui , Dean Dexter N. , Stockmal Kelli A. , Morgan Sarah E. , Hansmann Ulrich H. E. , Rangachari Vijayaraghavan
Published: February 2019

As the primary toxic species in the etiology of Alzheimer disease (AD) are low molecular weight oligomers of Aβ, it is crucial to understand the structure of Aβ oligomers for gaining molecular insights into AD pathology. We have earlier demonstrated that in the presence of fatty acids, Aβ42 peptides assemble as 12-24mer oligomers. These Large Fatty Acid-derived Oligomers (LFAOs) exist predominantly as 12mers at low and as 24mers at high concentrations. The 12mers are more neurotoxic than the 24mers and undergo self-replication, while the latter propagate to morphologically distinct fibrils with succinct pathological consequences. In order to glean into their functional differences and similarities, we have determined their structures in greater detail by combining molecular dynamic simulations with biophysical measurements. We conjecture that the LFAO are made of Aβ units in an S-shaped conformation, with the 12mers forming a double-layered hexamer ring (6 × 2) while the structure of 24mers is a double-layered dodecamer ring (12 × 2). A closer inspection of the (6 × 2) and (12 × 2) structures reveals a concentration and pH dependent molecular reorganization in the assembly of 12 to 24mers, which seems to be the underlying mechanism for the observed biophysical and cellular properties of LFAOs.
Charge transfer effect on Raman shifts of aromatic hydrocarbons with three phenyl rings from
ab initio
study
Authors: Zhang Chun-Fang , Huang Zhong-Bing , Yan Xun-Wang , Lin Hai-Qing
Published: February 2019

To clarify the charge transfer effect on Raman spectra of aromatic hydrocarbons, we investigate the Raman shifts of phenanthrene, p-terphenyl, and anthracene and their negatively charged counterparts by using density functional theory. For the three molecules, upon charge increasing, the computed Raman peaks generally shift down with the exception of a few shifting up. The characteristic Raman modes in the 0-1000 cm−1 region persist up, while some high-frequency ones change dramatically with three charges transferred. The calculated Raman shifts for one- and two-electron transfer are in agreement with the measured Raman spectra, and in accordance to the stoichiometric ratios 1:1 and 2:1 of the metal atom and aromatic hydrocarbon molecule in recent experimental and theoretical studies. Our theoretical results provide the fundamental information to elucidate the Raman shifts and the stoichiometric ratios for alkali-metal-doped aromatic hydrocarbons.
Thermo-optical properties of EuF2-based crystals
Authors: Mironov E. A. , Volkov M. R. , Palashov O. V. , Karimov D. N. , Khaydukov E. V. , Ivanov I. A.
Published: February 2019

High-power solid state lasers of the mid-IR spectral range are extremely interesting for both basic research and technological applications and they are actively developing at present. However, the implementation of projects with the use of such lasers is hampered by the absence of Faraday isolators (FIs) for the radiation with the corresponding characteristics. The need for such devices is growing with laser power enhancement. They reduce the risk of self-excitation of the damage of amplifiers and optical elements and are a handy tool for organizing multipass schemes. Magneto-active crystals based on Eu2+ ions are promising media for the development of FIs for high-power lasers of the mid-IR spectral range because of the unique combination of their spectral and magneto-optical properties. Thermo-optical characteristics are also of principal importance when operating with high-power laser radiation. This letter presents the results of investigation of thermo-optical constants Q and P of the EuF2.11 solid solution crystal which determines the values of polarization and phase distortions of passing laser radiation. The measured values can be considered as the corresponding values for the EuF2 crystal, which is of greatest interest for the development of FIs for high-power mid-IR lasers. The obtained results can be used to determine the characteristics of FIs based on EuF2 crystals in various implementations of their optical schemes for various parameters of laser radiation. According to the estimates, for the radiation wavelength of 2 μm, the maximum permissible laser power of the Faraday isolator based on one magneto-optical element with [001] orientation will be more than 200 W.
Investigation of the tribological behavior of chromium aluminum silicon nitride coatings via both scratch sliding test and FEM simulation
Authors: Chen Zhitong , Peng Guangjian , Chen Peijian , Xia Yuan , Li Guang
Published: February 2019

The finite element method (FEM) and scratch sliding test were combined to investigate the tribological behaviors of Chromium Aluminum Silicon Nitride (CrAlSiN) coatings with various Si contents. The tribological behavior was evaluated through sliding tests using a conventional ball-on-disc wear apparatus. It was found that the coefficient of friction (COF) of CrAlSiN was lower than CrAlN coating and it reached a minimum value of 0.56 for CrAlSi3.7N. Energy-dispersive Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was employed to reveal the compositions of wear debris formed during the scratch sliding experiments. As a reasonable approximation, a static condition was applied, and the scratch behavior was modeled by a sphere indenter scratching on a thin coating coated on a thick substrate. A three-dimensional finite element model was constructed with the help of the ABAQUS to describe the mechanical response during scratch.
Phage research in ‘organ-on-chip’ devices
Authors: Chin Wai Hoe , Barr Jeremy J
Published: February 2019

The use of ‘organ-on-chip' devices in microbiology research presents enormous opportunities for fundamental and translational research1–4. Yet these approaches have not been widely embraced by the microbiology field. This is particularly evident with bacteriophage (phage) research applications. Traditionally phage research has been an early adopter of experimental techniques and approaches5, having catalysed research in biotechnology, environmental biology, sequencing, and synthetic biology. Here we discuss some of the opportunities that organ-on-chip devices present to both phage and microbiology research, and provide a ‘how to' guide for researchers interested in utilising this approach.
Sourcing phages for compassionate use
Authors: Sacher Jessica C , Zheng Jan , McCallin Shawna
Published: February 2019

Antibiotic resistance is a phenomenon that knows no geographical borders, so addressing this crisis is a worldwide public health priority. While total global resistance rates are difficult to estimate and vary between countries, an international report asserts that the development of new antibacterials is essential to ensuring the future ability to treat bacterial infections1. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is a likely contributor to resolving potentially devastating effects of antibiotic resistance, yet no phage product currently holds a marketing authorisation that would permit their free use in clinical medicine outside of former countries of the Soviet Union, where phage therapy is a long-standing practice2,3. In the interim, the compassionate use of phage therapy (cPT) remains a possible treatment avenue for cases of antibiotic failure, and several competency centres, physicians, and researchers have achieved therapeutic benefits with this option. As antibiotic resistance continues to rise, there is much to be done in order to streamline cPT efforts, particularly in terms of phage sourcing, in order to reach more patients in an efficient, effective, and safe manner. This article highlights how cPT can be coordinated, and describes the experience of cPT in Australia.
Rainfall and its possible hysteresis effect on the proportional cover of tropical tidal-wetland mangroves and saltmarsh–saltpans
Authors: Duke Norman C. , Field Colin , Mackenzie Jock R. , Meynecke Jan-Olaf , Wood Apanie L.
Published: February 2019

Mangrove–saltmarsh tidal wetlands are highly dynamic ecosystems, responding and adapting to climate and physical conditions at all spatial and temporal scales. Knowledge of the large-scale ecosystem processes involved and how they might be influenced by climate variables is highly relevant today. For tidal-wetland sites well within the latitudinal range of the mostly tropical mangrove communities, we confirm that average annual rainfall influences vegetative cover, as well as species composition and biomass of tidal wetlands. On the basis of 205 largely unmodified, tropical and subtropical estuaries of northern Australia, a sigmoidal relationship, with a centroid inflection point ~1368mm, was derived between rainfall and the relative amounts of high-biomass mangroves and low-biomass saltmarsh–saltpan vegetation. The presence and probability of observed combinations of these community types were quantified using the wetland cover index, which is the ratio of total mangrove area to that of mangroves plus intertidal saltmarsh and saltpans. Accordingly, periodic changes in rainfall trends are likely manifest as either encroachment or dieback of mangroves along the ecotones separating them from tidal saltmarsh–saltpans. Presented is a new conceptual framework and model that describes how such ecosystem-scale processes take place in tropical and subtropical tidal wetlands.
Maternal exposure to fluoxetine during gestation and lactation does not alter plasma concentrations of testosterone, oestrogen or corticosterone in peripubertal offspring
Authors: Barbosa Matheus A. , Veríssimo Luiz F. , Gerardin Daniela C. C. , Pelosi Gislaine G. , Ceravolo Graziela S. , Moreira Estefania G.
Published: February 2019

Antidepressants are widely used around the world, primarily for the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety and pain syndromes. Women who use antidepressants often continue to use them during pregnancy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including fluoxetine, are the main class of antidepressants prescribed to pregnant women. It is known that fluoxetine crosses the placental–blood barrier and is excreted in breast milk. Consequently, indirect exposure of the infant occurs. Knowing that fluoxetine alters the balance of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, several studies have shown that maternal exposure to this drug leads to various adverse effects on the nervous, reproductive and cardiovascular systems of the offspring. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of exposure to fluoxetine during gestation and lactation on parameters related to steroid hormones in prepubertal and pubertal male and female rats. The endpoints evaluated were date of puberty onset, plasma testosterone and oestrogen concentrations before and after puberty onset and corticosterone concentration before and after adrenocorticotrophin stimulus. None of the parameters was affected by fluoxetine exposure.
Northern quoll persistence is most sensitive to survivorship of juveniles
Authors: Moro Dorian , Dunlop Judy , Williams Matthew R.
Published: February 2019

Context
Projecting the population trajectory of endangered species using models requires conservation practitioners to evaluate how variations in life history parameters may change a population’s viability. This is particularly important for species that occur as fragmented populations and whose densities are naturally low. Simulations may be used to identify conservation actions that have a higher likelihood of reducing a species’ extinction risk.

Aims
The aim was to apply population viability models to the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) under alternative scenarios.

Methods
The current (baseline) northern quoll demographic trajectories were evaluated using field-collected data derived from monitoring programs. The impact of alternative scenarios of mortality (for example, due to increased predation by introduced predators) and population supplementation (either from populations elsewhere or from captive breeding) on the viability of a northern quoll population was then determined.

Key results
Under current conditions, individual Pilbara populations of northern quoll are projected to persist for over 20 years. However, these populations are sensitive to extinction events. Population growth rate and local extinction risk were most sensitive to changes in juvenile mortality as low as 5% per annum. Increased mortality of the juvenile age cohort above current levels resulted in a projected decline in population size of 22–54%, with a moderate-to-high chance (20–96%) of local extinction within 20 years. Supplementing the population produced a moderate increase in quoll persistence over this time period.

Conclusions
Populations of northern quolls in the Pilbara, and potentially elsewhere in their range, are highly sensitive to even small perturbations in juvenile mortality rates. The continued persistence of quoll populations in fragmented refuges is characteristic of a species that functions as a dynamic metapopulation in the face of high environmental perturbations.

Implications
Increased juvenile mortality above current levels – for example through the spread of cane toads or invasion of feral cats – may have serious implications for the persistence of the current network of northern quoll populations and other mammals that exhibit population fragmentation in arid environments. Estimates of survival rates for the juvenile cohort of quolls would improve diagnosis of a species’ population dynamics as well as inform practitioners of key life-history sensitivities.
Lateral transfers of large DNA fragments spread functional genes among grasses
Authors: Dunning Luke T. , Olofsson Jill K. , Parisod Christian , Choudhury Rimjhim Roy , Moreno-Villena Jose J. , Yang Yang , Dionora Jacqueline , Quick W. Paul , Park Minkyu , Bennetzen Jeffrey L. , Besnard Guillaume , Nosil Patrik , Osborne Colin P. , Christin Pascal-Antoine
Published: February 2019

A fundamental tenet of multicellular eukaryotic evolution is that vertical inheritance is paramount, with natural selection acting on genetic variants transferred from parents to offspring. This lineal process means that an organism’s adaptive potential can be restricted by its evolutionary history, the amount of standing genetic variation, and its mutation rate. Lateral gene transfer (LGT) theoretically provides a mechanism to bypass many of these limitations, but the evolutionary importance and frequency of this process in multicellular eukaryotes, such as plants, remains debated. We address this issue by assembling a chromosome-level genome for the grass
Alloteropsis semialata
, a species surmised to exhibit two LGTs, and screen it for other grass-to-grass LGTs using genomic data from 146 other grass species. Through stringent phylogenomic analyses, we discovered 57 additional LGTs in the
A. semialata
nuclear genome, involving at least nine different donor species. The LGTs are clustered in 23 laterally acquired genomic fragments that are up to 170 kb long and have accumulated during the diversification of
Alloteropsis.
The majority of the 59 LGTs in
A. semialata
are expressed, and we show that they have added functions to the recipient genome. Functional LGTs were further detected in the genomes of five other grass species, demonstrating that this process is likely widespread in this globally important group of plants. LGT therefore appears to represent a potent evolutionary force capable of spreading functional genes among distantly related grass species.
Photosynthetic adaptation to low iron, light, and temperature in Southern Ocean phytoplankton
Authors: Strzepek Robert F. , Boyd Philip W. , Sunda William G.
Published: February 2019

Significance

Controls on phytoplankton productivity in the extreme environment of the Southern Ocean has received widespread attention. This polar region presents three challenges to primary producers: how to subsist under the joint constraints of low temperatures, low light, and growth-limiting concentrations of the essential trace element iron. The resident phytoplankton have overcome these extreme environmental conditions with a unique combination of physiological adaptations. They have modified parts of their photosynthetic machinery to harvest low levels of light without substantially increasing their iron requirements, and in a way that may exploit the low temperature in their environment. Together, these adaptations enable them to use iron and light more efficiently and grow faster than environmental conditions should otherwise permit.
Observation of chiral surface excitons in a topological insulator Bi
2
Se
3
Authors: Kung H.-H. , Goyal A. P. , Maslov D. L. , Wang X. , Lee A. , Kemper A. F. , Cheong S.-W. , Blumberg G.
Published: February 2019

Significance

We observe composite particles—chiral excitons—residing on the surface of a topological insulator (TI),

Bi
2

S
e

3

. Unlike other known excitons composed of massive quasiparticles, chiral excitons are the bound states of surface massless electrons and surface massive holes, both subject to strong spin–orbit coupling which locks their spins and momenta into chiral textures. Due to this unusual feature, chiral excitons emit circularly polarized secondary light (photoluminescence) that conserves the polarization of incident light. This means that the out-of-plane angular momentum of a chiral exciton is preserved against scattering events during thermalization, thus enabling optical orientation of carriers even at room temperature. The discovery of chiral excitons adds to the potential of TIs as a platform for photonics and optoelectronics devices.
Biosynthesis of magnetic nanoparticles from nano-degradation products revealed in human stem cells
Authors: Van de Walle Aurore , Plan Sangnier Anouchka , Abou-Hassan Ali , Curcio Alberto , Hémadi Miryana , Menguy Nicolas , Lalatonne Yoann , Luciani Nathalie , Wilhelm Claire
Published: February 2019

Significance

Naturally occurring magnetic nanoparticles have been detected in human cells; however, their origin and role remain unknown. In the present paper, the observation of long-term transformations of man-made magnetic nanoparticles internalized in human stem cells displays a mechanism regarding their assimilation. Indeed, the nanoparticles are first degraded by the stem cells, and then new magnetic nanoparticles are synthesized in situ from the released iron. This “remagnetization” phenomenon is observed under specific pathways only, involves the ferritin protein, and seems linked to a detoxification mechanism in case of iron excess. It also brings a direct experimental proof that magnetic nanoparticles can be synthesized by human cells.
Report on Gulfmet supplementary comparison measurement of gauge blocks by interferometry (GULFMET.L-S2)
Authors: Sendogdu D , Yaman O , Cetin T , Hamid R , Sahin E , Senel C , Asar M , Alqahtani N , Alqahtani F , Talhh Y B , Almutari A
Published: February 2019

This Bilateral Comparison of gauge blocks calibration by interferometry was held in 2017. The gauge blocks measured in the comparison, are short (2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 10 mm, 50 mm, 80 mm and 100 mm) and long gauge blocks (200 mm, 500 mm and 600 mm).

The blocks were inspected and illustrated prior and after the comparison according to the stability. The degree of equivalence is calculated for each of the gauge blocks and the results show that there is a degree of equivalence within 1. The latest comparison, which UME had participated, is EURAMET.L-K1.2011, calibration of short and long gage blocks by interferometry. Since GULFMET is a new RMO, this comparison can provide a link to the EURAMET key comparison.

KEY WORDS FOR SEARCH

Gauge blocks, length measurement, interferometry, comparison

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCL, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Report of CCQM-K149 nitrogen mass fraction measurements in milk powder
Authors: Medvedevskikh, Maria , Krasheninina Maria , González Cárdenas Ivonne Alejandra , Erazo Laura Vanessa Morales , Forigua Diego Alejandro Ahumada , Rego Eliane C P do , Wollinger Wagner , Monteiro Tânia M , Carvalho Lucas J de , Garcia Steve Ali Acco , Chan Kelly WY , Fung Wai-hong , Haraldsson Conny , Gavrilkin Vladimir , Kulik Sergey , Rodriguez Lic Gabriela , Aida Zharkynbekova
Published: February 2019

CCQM key comparison K-149 in the field of nitrogen mass fraction in milk powder has been performed by the Inorganic Analysis Working Group (IAWG) of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance (CCQM).

The aim of this key comparison CCQM-K149 is to support National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) and Designated Institutes (DIs) to demonstrate the validity of the procedures they employed for determination of nitrogen mass fraction in milk powder. Mass fraction of nitrogen is a very important pointer because the results of these measurements are often used for the determination of protein mass fraction that is an important indicator of the quality of the vast majority of food products and raw materials, in particular dry milk powder. Proteins-enzymes catalyze chemical reactions, protein along with fats and carbohydrates is one of the indicators characterizing the energy value of food, so its definition is mandatory for all food products.

The material, milk powder, used for this key comparison has been selected to be representative of the food products. Furthermore, the material shows good properties regarding homogeneity and stability. The results from the key comparison and other experiments indicates that the milk powder studied is suitable for use as a certified reference material.

Ural Scientific Research Institute for Metrology (UNIIM) acted as the coordinating laboratory of this comparison.

Eight NMIs and two DIs participated in this key comparison. This report contains the results of the key comparison.

KEY WORDS FOR SEARCH

Nitrogen; mass fraction; milk powder; CCQM; chemistry; BIPM KCDB; CIPM MRA

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Direct quantitative photoacoustic tomography for realistic acoustic media
Authors: Javaherian Ashkan , Holman Sean
Published: February 2019

Quantitative photo-acoustic tomography (QPAT) seeks to reconstruct a distribution of optical attenuation coefficients inside a sample from a set of time series of pressure data that is measured outside the sample. The associated inverse problems involve two steps, namely acoustic and optical, which can be solved separately or as a direct composite problem. We adopt the latter approach for realistic acoustic media that possess heterogeneous and often not accurately known distributions for sound speed and ambient density, as well as an attenuation following a frequency power law that is evident in tissue media. We use a diffusion approximation (DA) model for the optical portion of the problem. We solve the corresponding composite inverse problem using three total variation (TV) regularised optimisation approaches. Accordingly, we develop two Krylov-subspace inexact-Newton algorithms that utilise the Jacobian matrix in a matrix-free manner in order to handle the computational cost. Additionally, we use a gradient-based algorithm that computes a search direction using the L-BFGS method, and applies a TV regularisation based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) as a benchmark, because this method is popular for QPAT and direct QPAT. The results indicate the superiority of the developed inexact Newton algorithms over gradient-based quasi-Newton approaches for a comparable computational complexity.
A Dictionary of Gangs
Authors: Sanders Bill
Published: February 2019

Over 250 entries

This new dictionary gives a concise overview of key words used in the study and understanding of gangs. Broad in scope, it covers colloquialisms used in gang culture and sociological and criminological terms in relation to gangs, including social disorganization and social learning, as well as general academic concepts which apply to gangs, such as Critical Race Theory, acculturation, moral panic, and identity.

With entries on gangs both inside and outside of the United States and theories of key gang researchers, it is a useful resource for students, academics, and researchers studying criminology or law, or those who work in some capacity with gangs.
3. Censorship and politics in Hollywood noir
Authors: Naremore James
Published: February 2019

During the period when American film noir was at its zenith, Hollywood’s self-appointed censorship agency, the Production Code Administration (PCA), exercised control over the movie studios. The PCA’s standard report form of the 1940s was manifestly puritanical and ideological. ‘Censorship and politics in Hollywood noir’ explains the strategies used to get past the strict censorship rules and considers the impact of political censorship, especially the concern with communism, and the general culture’s treatment of women and minorities on Hollywood noir through the 1940s and 1950s, a period of time that saw probably the most regulated, censored, and morally scrutinized pictures of the kind in American history.
Identity: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Coulmas Florian
Published: February 2019

The term identity is used ubiquitously, but rarely explained. What exactly is identity? Identity: A Very Short Introduction provides a survey of the many faces of the concept of identity, and discusses its significance and varied meanings in the fields of philosophy, sociology, psychology, linguistics, as well as politics and law. Tracing our concern with identity to its deep roots in Europe’s intellectual history, individualism, and the felt need to draw borderlines, it identifies the most important features used to mark off individual and collective identities, and demonstrates why they are deemed important. It concludes with a glimpse at the many ways in which literature has engaged with problems of identity throughout history.
Introduction
Authors: Campbell Gordon
Published: February 2019

What is a garden? What do gardens mean? The Introduction considers these questions and also how, at a deeper level, the garden represents the interdependence of humans and other parts of the natural world. The garden is a space designated for a partnership between human activity and a compliant natural world. Gardens can be in numerous forms and mean many different things to different people. This VSI provides a short survey of garden history, using examples of gardens that no longer exist as well as ones that do and that can be visited all around the world. It also attempts to set gardens in the context of cultural memory.
Missing value estimation methods for DNA methylation data
Authors: Di Lena Pietro , Sala Claudia , Prodi Andrea , Nardini Christine
Published: February 2019

Motivation

DNA methylation is a stable epigenetic mark with major implications in both physiological (development, aging) and pathological conditions (cancers and numerous diseases). Recent research involving methylation focuses on the development of molecular age estimation methods based on DNA methylation levels (mAge). An increasing number of studies indicate that divergences between mAge and chronological age may be associated to age-related diseases. Current advances in high-throughput technologies have allowed the characterization of DNA methylation levels throughout the human genome. However, experimental methylation profiles often contain multiple missing values that can affect the analysis of the data and also mAge estimation. Although several imputation methods exist, a major deficiency lies in the inability to cope with large datasets, such as DNA methylation chips. Specific methods for imputing missing methylation data are therefore needed.

Results

We present a simple and computationally efficient imputation method, metyhLImp, based on linear regression. The rationale of the approach lies in the observation that methylation levels show a high degree of inter-sample correlation. We performed a comparative study of our approach with other imputation methods on DNA methylation data of healthy and disease samples from different tissues. Performances have been assessed both in terms of imputation accuracy and in terms of the impact imputed values have on mAge estimation. In comparison to existing methods, our linear regression model proves to perform equally or better and with good computational efficiency. The results of our analysis provide recommendations for accurate estimation of missing methylation values.

Availability and implementation

The R-package methyLImp is freely available at https://github.com/pdilena/methyLImp.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Changing Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: Results From a 21-Year, Prospective, Longitudinal Study
Authors: Souli Maria , Ruffin Felicia , Choi Seong-Ho , Park Lawrence P , Gao Shengli , Lent Nicholas Christopoulos , Sharma-Kuinkel Batu K , Thaden Joshua T , Maskarinec Stacey A , Wanda Lisa , Hill-Rorie Jonathan , Warren Bobby , Hansen Brenda , Fowler Vance G
Published: February 2019

Background

We conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate changes in the clinical presentation and epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) in an academic, US medical center.

Methods

Consecutive patients with monomicrobial SAB were enrolled from January 1995 to December 2015. Each person’s initial bloodstream S. aureus isolate was genotyped using spa typing. Clonal complexes (CCs) were assigned using Ridom StaphType software. Changes over time in both the patient and bacterial characteristics were estimated with linear regression. Associations between genotypes or clinical characteristics and complications were estimated using multivariable regression models.

Results

Among the 2348 eligible participants, 54.2% had an implantable, foreign body of some type. This proportion increased significantly during the 21-year study period, by 0.96% annually (P = .002), as did comorbid conditions and acquisition outside of the hospital. Rates of any metastatic complication also significantly increased, by 0.94% annually (P = .019). Among the corresponding bloodstream S. aureus isolates, spa-CC012 (multi-locus sequence type [MLST] CC30), -CC004 (MLST CC45), -CC189 (MLST CC1), and -CC084 (MLST CC15) all significantly declined during the study period, while spa-CC008 (MLST CC8) significantly increased. Patients with SAB due to spa-CC008 were significantly more likely to develop metastatic complications in general, and abscesses, septic emboli, and persistent bacteremia in particular. After adjusting for demographic, racial, and clinical variables, the USA300 variant of spa-CC008 was independently associated with metastatic complications (odds ratio 1.42; 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.99).

Conclusions

Systematic approaches for monitoring complications of SAB and genotyping the corresponding bloodstream isolates will help identify the emergence of hypervirulent clones and likely improve clinical management of this syndrome.
Invasive Fungal Infection After Lung Transplantation: Epidemiology in the Setting of Antifungal Prophylaxis
Authors: Baker Arthur W , Maziarz Eileen K , Arnold Christopher J , Johnson Melissa D , Workman Adrienne D , Reynolds John M , Perfect John R , Alexander Barbara D
Published: February 2019

Background

Lung transplant recipients commonly develop invasive fungal infections (IFIs), but the most effective strategies to prevent IFIs following lung transplantation are not known.

Methods

We prospectively collected clinical data on all patients who underwent lung transplantation at a tertiary care academic hospital from January 2007–October 2014. Standard antifungal prophylaxis consisted of aerosolized amphotericin B lipid complex during the transplant hospitalization. For the first 180 days after transplant, we analyzed prevalence rates and timing of IFIs, risk factors for IFIs, and data from IFIs that broke through prophylaxis.

Results

In total, 156 of 815 lung transplant recipients developed IFIs (prevalence rate, 19.1 IFIs per 100 surgeries, 95% confidence interval [CI] 16.4–21.8%). The prevalence rate of invasive candidiasis (IC) was 11.4% (95% CI 9.2–13.6%), and the rate of non-Candida IFIs was 8.8% (95% CI 6.9–10.8%). First episodes of IC occurred a median of 31 days (interquartile range [IQR] 16–56 days) after transplant, while non-Candida IFIs occurred later, at a median of 86 days (IQR 40–121 days) after transplant. Of 169 IFI episodes, 121 (72%) occurred in the absence of recent antifungal prophylaxis; however, IC and non-Candida breakthrough IFIs were observed, most often representing failures of micafungin (n = 16) and aerosolized amphotericin B (n = 24) prophylaxis, respectively.

Conclusions

Lung transplant recipients at our hospital had high rates of IFIs, despite receiving prophylaxis with aerosolized amphotericin B lipid complex during the transplant hospitalization. These data suggest benefit in providing systemic antifungal prophylaxis targeting Candida for up to 90 days after transplant and extending mold-active prophylaxis for up to 180 days after surgery.
Widespread pain is a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality: results from the Framingham Heart Study
Authors: Tesarz Jonas , Eich Wolfgang , Baumeister David , Kohlmann Thomas , D'Agostino Ralph , Schuster Alexander K
Published: February 2019

Aims

With the introduction of widespread pain (WSP) as a separate diagnostic code in the ICD-11, WSP has now become an own clinical diagnosis independent of the underlying pathophysiology. Research has reported aetiological associations of WSP and cardiovascular diseases. However, studies on mortality risk in individuals with WSP have reported inconsistent results. This study investigates whether there is increased mortality in WSP individuals and establish potential determinants of mortality risk. Therefore, we evaluates the population-based prospective cohort of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS).

Methods and results

The FHS is a longitudinal multi-generational study. Pain status was assessed uniquely between 1990 and 1994. Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of WSP on all-cause mortality controlling for sex and age, cardiovascular risk factors, cancer history, lifestyle factors and current medication. WSP examination was carried out in 4746 participants of the FHS (60.3 ± 13.5 years, 55.1% women). A total of 678 (14.5%) subjects fulfilled the criteria for WSP, whereas 4011 (85.5%) subjects did not. The follow-up time was 15 years, during which 202 persons died in the WSP group and 1144 in the no-WSP group. When adjusting for age and sex, all-cause mortality was increased by about 16% in WSP subjects. Individuals with WSP had an increased HR particularly for cardiovascular cause of death (HR adjusted by age and sex = 1.46, 95% confidence interval 1.10–1.94).

Conclusion

Our data show that in a large population-based cohort, WSP is associated with increased HR for cardiovascular cause of death, underlining the need for pain assessments in cardiovascular practice.
Mode-of-action of the PROPELLA concept in fulminant myocarditis
Authors: Spillmann Frank , Van Linthout Sophie , Schmidt Gunther , Klein Oliver , Hamdani Nazha , Mairinger Thomas , Krackhardt Florian , Maroski Bastian , Schlabs Thomas , Soltani Sajjad , Anker Stefan , Potapov Evgenij V , Burkhoff Daniel , Pieske Burkert , Tschöpe Carsten
Published: February 2019

Aims

Haemodynamic load induces cardiac remodelling via mechano-transduction pathways, which can further trigger inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that particularly in an inflammatory disorder such as myocarditis, a therapeutic strategy is required which, in addition to providing adequate circulatory support, unloads the left ventricle, decreases cardiac wall stress, and mitigates inflammatory responses.

Methods and results

Axial flow pumps such as the Impella systems comply with these requirements. Here, we report a potential mode-of-action of prolonged Impella support (PROPELLA concept) in fulminant myocarditis, including a decrease in cardiac immune cell presence, and integrin α1, α5, α6, α10 and β6 expression during unloading.

Conclusion

PROPELLA may provide benefits beyond its primary function of mechanical circulatory support in the form of additional disease-altering effects, which may contribute to enhanced myocardial recovery/remission in patients with chronic fulminant myocarditis.
Towards explaining time trends in adolescents’ alcohol use: a multilevel analysis of Swedish data from 1988 to 2011
Authors: Kim Yunhwan , Evans Brittany E , Hagquist Curt
Published: February 2019

Background

Alcohol use has decreased among Swedish adolescents in the past few decades. We examined peer and parent factors (i.e. time spent with peers, time spent with parents and parental monitoring) that could contribute to explaining this trend by investigating their main effects and interaction effects with investigation years on alcohol use. We furthermore examined whether municipality-level socioeconomic conditions could contribute to explaining the trend.

Methods

We used data from a repeated cross-sectional study that took place eight times between 1988 and 2011. The study targeted all ninth grade students (15–16 years old) in Värmland County, Sweden. Adolescents (N = 22 257) reported their monthly alcohol use, time spent with peers and parents and parental monitoring. Municipality-level socioeconomic conditions were based on parent education levels.

Results

Logistic multilevel regression analyses showed that peer and parent factors and municipality-level socioeconomic conditions were associated with alcohol use among adolescents. The interaction effects between peer and parent factors and investigation years were not significant. The decreased trend in time spent with peers was associated with the decreased trend in frequency of alcohol use over time.

Conclusions

The findings of the current study provide an indication that the decreased trend in alcohol use that has been observed in Swedish adolescents over the past few decades may be related to changes in adolescents’ social interactions with peers.
How Well Do Consumer-Brand Relationships Drive Customer Brand Loyalty? Generalizations from a Meta-Analysis of Brand Relationship Elasticities
Authors: Khamitov Mansur , Wang Xin (Shane) , Thomson Matthew
Published: February 2019

To advance understanding of how well different types of brand relationships drive customer brand loyalty and to help companies improve the effectiveness of their relationship-building investments, this article conducts a meta-analysis of the link between five consumer-brand relationship constructs and customer brand loyalty. The analysis of 588 elasticities from 290 studies reported in 255 publications over 24 years (n = 348,541 across 46 countries) reveals that the aggregate brand relationship elasticity is .439. More importantly, results demonstrate under what conditions various types of brand relationships increase loyalty. For example, while elasticities are generally highest for love-based and attachment-based brand relationships, the positive influence of brand relationships on customer brand loyalty is stronger in more recent (vs. earlier) years, for nonstatus (vs. status) and publicly (vs. privately) consumed brands, and for estimates using attitudinal (vs. behavioral) customer brand loyalty. Overall, the results suggest that brand relationship elasticities vary considerably across brand, loyalty, time, and consumer characteristics. Drawing on these findings, the current research advances implications for managers and scholars and provide avenues for future research.
Privacy, Sensitive Questions, and Informed Consent
Authors: Plutzer Eric
Published: February 2019

Survey science is driven to maximize data quality and reduce Total Survey Error (TSE). At the same time, survey methodologists have ethical and professional obligations to protect the privacy of respondents and ensure their capacity to provide informed consent for their participation, for data linkage, passive data collection, and the archiving of replication data. We have learned, however, that both sensitive topics and the consent process can contribute to errors of representation and errors of measurement. These compound threats to data quality that arise due to broader concerns about privacy, the intrusiveness of surveys, and the increasing number of participation requests directed to the same respondents. This article critically assesses the extant literature on these topics—including six original articles in this issue—by viewing these challenges through the lens of the TSE framework. This helps unify several distinct research programs and provides the foundation for new research and for practical innovations that will improve data quality.
Current perspectives on the short- and long-term effects of conventional dairy calf raising systems: a comparison with the natural environment
Authors: Cantor Melissa C , Neave Heather W , Costa Joao H C
Published: February 2019

Although the neonatal and infancy period is short, it is well documented that the early neonatal environment is critical for appropriate physical, behavioral, and cognitive development that lasts into adulthood. Dairy calves are commonly removed from the dam shortly after birth and raised in individual housing and fed limited milk allowances (4 to 6 L/d) in commercial farms around the world (conventional raising). Individual housing was developed to promote health status and facilitate individual animal monitoring. However, it is associated with high labor demand, and early life social isolation is associated with cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. Recently, group housing and enhanced milk-feeding programs are being increasingly adopted by farms; these practices more closely resemble the social and nutritional environments in natural or seminatural environments when the calf is raised with the dam. Conventional raising may lead to short- and long-term effects when compared to calves raised with the dam or peers. Short-term effects of conventional raising include impaired social skills when introduced to novel peers, reduced consumption of novel feeds, increased activity in a novel environment, and signs of hunger associated with limited milk intake and poor growth during the preweaning period. Evidence also suggests that the long-term effects of conventional artificial raising systems include behavioral differences, such as lower social submissiveness, increased heart rate and cortisol when presented with a novel environment, and production differences such as milk yield and reproductive performance. However, research on the long-term effects of maternal, social, physical, and nutritional restrictions in early life is still limited and should be encouraged. More research is needed to determine the long-term effects of artificial raising systems (individual, group housing, dam-raised) on future behavior, cognition, performance, and health parameters in dairy calves.