bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A high-power wearable triboelectric nanogenerator prepared from self-assembled electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) fibers with a heart-like structure
Authors: Zhang Jia-Han , Li Yong , Du Jinhua , Hao Xihong , Huang Haitao
Published: April 2019

A heart-like micro-nanofiber based wearable HMN-TENG with mutually matched friction layers possesses great output performances.
Fundamental insights about interlayer cation migration in Li-ion electrodes at high states of charge
Authors: Vinckevičiūtė Julija , Radin Maxwell D. , Faenza Nicholas V. , Amatucci Glenn G. , Van der Ven Anton
Published: April 2019

Interlayer cation migration in layered cathodes, which can lead to irreversible capacity loss, is affected by surrounding transition metals.
Significant enhancement of responsivity of organic photodetectors upon molecular engineering
Authors: Lv Lei , Yu Jinde , Sui Xinyu , Wu Jianfei , Dong Xiaohan , Lu Guanghao , Liu Xinfeng , Peng Aidong , Huang Hui
Published: April 2019

Upon incorporating S⋯O noncovalent conformational locks and side chain engineering, the optical absorption and blend film morphology of molecular acceptors are effectively tuned, resulting in an enhanced photocurrent and thus a higher responsivity (from 70.5 mA W−1 to 291.3 mA W−1) for P3HT-based OPDs.
The formation mechanism of TiO2 polymorphs under hydrothermal conditions based on the structural evolution of [Ti(OH)h(H2O)6−h]4−h monomers
Authors: Zhang Jun , Sun Peng , Jiang Peng , Guo Zhaoying , Liu Wenxiu , Lu Qipeng , Cao Wenbin
Published: April 2019

In the hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2, [Ti(OH)h(H2O)6−h]4−h (h is the hydrolysis ratio) monomers are generated by the dissolution of the precursor containing titanium ions and then, the monomers form TiO2 polymorphs via a condensation reaction.
Indoloindole as a new building block of a hole transport type host for stable operation in phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Lee Ha Lim , Lee Kyung Hyung , Lee Jun Yeob
Published: April 2019

An organic material for application as a p-type host of phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes was newly developed using an indoloindole moiety as a hole transport unit.
Conjugated polymers and composites for stretchable organic electronics
Authors: Wang Min , Baek Paul , Akbarinejad Alireza , Barker David , Travas-Sejdic Jadranka
Published: April 2019

This review discusses recent development of conjugated polymer (CP)-based composites, hydrogels and intrinsically stretchable CPs for stretchable organic electronics.
Theoretical discovery of Dirac half metal in experimentally synthesized two dimensional metal semiquinoid frameworks
Authors: Tang Cheng , Zhang Chunmei , Jiang Zhenyi , Ostrikov Ken , Du Aijun
Published: April 2019

Dirac cone in metal-semiquinoid frameworks.
Excellent comprehensive energy storage properties of novel lead-free NaNbO3-based ceramics for dielectric capacitor applications
Authors: Ye Jiaming , Wang Genshui , Zhou Mingxing , Liu Ningtao , Chen Xuefeng , Li Song , Cao Fei , Dong Xianlin
Published: April 2019

Excellent energy storage properties were achieved in NaNbO3-based ceramics by enhancing antiferroelectricity and constructing local random field simultaneously.
Novel role of Snail 1 in promoting tumor neoangiogenesis
Authors: Zhang Yi-Kun , Wang Hua , Guo Yu-Wei , Yue Yang
Published: April 2019

Snail1 plays an important role in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) during tumor metastasis; however, whether Snai1 potentiates the process of neoangiogenesis is completely unknown. In the present study, tube formation assay was used to evaluate neoangiogenesis in vitro. The expression of Snai1 and other pro-neoangiogenic factors was measured by quantitative real time PCR. Tumor derived endothelial cells (TDECs) were stimulated with fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) or VEGF and formed more tubes compared with untreated, whereas cells treated with Sulforaphane had less tube formation. Silencing SNAI1 significantly attenuated tube formation accompanied by decreased CD31, CD34, and VWF expression in TDECs compared with control. In contrast, overexpression of Snai1 led to more CD31, CD34, and VWF expression and tube formation. To determine if the observed effects of SNAI1 on tube formation was a global phenomenon, the same assay was conducted in normal mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). SNAI1 silencing did not have any effect on tube formation in MSCs. The expression of TIMP2, ENG, and HIF1A was up-regulated 3-fold or higher after silencing SNAI1, and ID1, VEGFA, PLG, LECT1, HPSE were shown down-regulated. Taken together, our study elucidates an important role of EMT inducer Snai1 in regulating tumor neoangiogenesis, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for overcoming tumor EMT.
A Decade of Disproportionality: A State-Level Analysis of African American Students Enrolled in the Primary Disability Category of Speech or Language Impairment
Authors: Robinson Gregory C. , Norton Pamela C.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This study aimed to determine if African American students were disproportionately represented between the years of 2004 and 2014 in the primary disability category of Speech or Language Impairment (S/LI) under the 2004 reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act.

Method

S/LI enrollment data from the Office of Special Education Programs and general enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics were analyzed to compare the risk of primary S/LI category enrollment of African American students to that of all other students. Risk ratios with 99% confidence intervals were calculated for each state across the 10 years studied.

Results

An average of 75% of states disproportionately represented African American students in the S/LI category each year; on average, 62% underrepresented African American students, and 14% overrepresented them. A post hoc analysis of the relationship between African American student representation and population densities revealed that states with high African American population densities almost exclusively underrepresented African American students and states with low densities tended toward a proportionate representation.

Conclusions

African American students were largely underrepresented in the category of S/LI in the years studied. These findings, alongside historic and chronic overrepresentation in other categories of special education, are discussed in the context of the fragmented harm theory (
Payne, 1984
;
Voulgarides, 2018
;
Voulgarides, Zwerger, & Noguera, 2013
) and the disability rights and critical race theory (
Annamma, Connor, & Ferri, 2013
).

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.7967024
Planning and operation of LV distribution networks: a comprehensive review
Authors: Al‐Jaafreh Mohammad A.A. , Mokryani Geev
Published: April 2019

The low‐voltage (LV) distribution network is the last stage of the power network, which is connected directly to the end‐user customers and supplies many dispersed small‐scale loads. To achieve environmental targets and to address the energy shortage issue, governments worldwide increase the renewable energy sources (RESs) into the electricity grid. In addition, different types of low carbon technologies (LCTs) such as electric vehicles are becoming widely used. A significant portion of RES and LCTs is penetrated into the LV distribution network, which poses a wide range of challenges. To address these challenges, there is a persistent need to develop traditional planning and operation frameworks to cope with these new technologies. In this context, this study provides a comprehensive review of planning, operation, and management of LV distribution networks. The characteristics, types, and topologies of LV distribution networks plus different aspects of operation and planning are investigated. An insightful investigation of the reasons impacts and mitigation of voltage and current unbalanced in LV networks is provided. Moreover, the main three‐phase power flow techniques used to analyse the LV networks are analysed.
Vaccins anti-cancer : quel avenir dans les stratégies d’immunothérapie anti-cancéreuse ?
Authors: Tartour Eric
Published: April 2019

Les cellules tumorales peuvent être reconnues par le système immunitaire et notamment par les lymphocytes T (LT)-CD8 cytotoxiques. Cette observation a permis d’envisager le concept d’une vaccination ciblant les molécules associées aux tumeurs. Différents types de vaccins anti-tumoraux ont été développés. Les vaccins préventifs contre le cancer (vaccins anti-papillomavirus oncogéniques, vaccin contre le virus de l’hépatite B) visent à empêcher l’introduction dans l’organisme de virus jouant un rôle dans l’oncogénèse et ont démontré leur efficacité. Au contraire, en cas de tumeur déjà présente dans l’organisme, les vaccins thérapeutiques anti-cancer n’ont eu, jusqu’à ce jour, que peu d’impact sur la prise en charge des patients. Néanmoins, ces vaccins connaissent un regain d’intérêt, car de nouvelles cibles antigéniques sont apparues et ont été incorporées dans ledesigndes vaccins, tels que les antigènes mutés ou les molécules associées au stroma du microenvironnement tumoral. De nouveaux critères d’efficacité des vaccins ont été identifiés, comme la nécessité d’induire des lymphocytes T résidents intratumoraux, pouvant conduire au développement d’une vaccination muqueuse (voie nasale, voie orale…) pour les amplifier. Enfin, en raison de l’immunosuppression du microenvironnement tumoral et de l’expression de récepteurs inhibiteurs sur les LT-CD8 dans la tumeur, différentes stratégies d’association thérapeutique entre les vaccins anti-cancer et des molécules levant ces phénomènes d’inhibition sont en cours de développement sur le plan clinique.
Le microbiote de moustique et son influence sur la transmission vectorielle
Authors: Heu Katy , Gendrin Mathilde
Published: April 2019

Les moustiques, constituant la famille des Culicidae, sont présents partout dans le monde. Parmi leurs 3500 espèces, on compte une centaine de vecteurs d’agents pathogènes pour l’homme. Ils hébergent des communautés microbiennes qui influencent notamment leur propension à transmettre ces pathogènes par inhibition directe ou en affectant l’immunité et la physiologie de leur hôte. Ces communautés microbiennes colonisent divers tissus, notamment l’appareil digestif, et varient en fonction du sexe, du stade de développement et de facteurs écologiques. Dans cette revue, nous décrivons la diversité du microbiote, incluant des bactéries, des champignons, des parasites et des virus, ainsi que ses modes d’acquisition. Nous faisons état des connaissances sur les interactions microbiennes chez le moustique, qui affectent notamment la compétence vectorielle, et sur l’effet du microbiote sur le moustique. Enfin, nous nous intéressons aux opportunités d’utilisation de microbes ou de dérivés microbiens pour lutter contre la transmission vectorielle.
Nouvelles frontières de la lutte contre le cancer
Authors: Chiossone Laura , Vivier Eric
Published: April 2019

En un peu plus de 10 ans, les inhibiteurs de points de contrôle immunitaire, en particulier les anti-PD-1/L1, ont révolutionné la prise en charge des patients atteints de cancers. Néanmoins, ils n’affectent qu’une petite partie de la population de patients. Le principal enjeu actuel de l’immuno-oncologie est de surmonter ces résistances en ciblant de nouveaux points de contrôle et d’autres cellules immunitaires, en combinant ces nouvelles immunothérapies entre elles et avec d’autres standards de traitement. Monalizumab est un nouvel anticorps qui stimule simultanément l’action anti-tumorale des cellules NK et T en bloquant l’un de leurs récepteurs inhibiteurs : NKG2A. NKG2A est présent à la surface des deux types de cellules et son ligand, HLA-E, est très fréquemment surexprimé par les tumeurs humaines, ce qui ouvre une large fenêtre thérapeutique au monalizumab.
Insulintherapie beim Typ-2-Diabetes
Authors: Kress Stephan
Published: April 2019

Um einer physiologischen Insulinwirkung bei der Mahlzeit näher zu kommen, wurden kurzwirksame analoge Insuline entwickelt, die schneller, kürzer und mit einem höheren Wirkspiegel wirksam sind. Dadurch haben kurzwirksame analoge Insuline eine höhere Effektivität, Effizienz und weniger Hypoglykämien gegenüber Normalinsulinen. Der Patient schätzt die Vorteile eines geringeren Therapieaufwandes. Bei den langwirksamen analogen Insulinen war das Ziel der Weiterentwicklung, möglichst gleichmäßige 24 Stunden wirksame, flache Wirkprofile zu entwickeln. Dadurch konnte die Hypoglykämiegefahr gegenüber NPH-Insulinen, insbesondere nachts, verringert werden. Durch 24-Stunden-Wirkung kann der Betazellstress minimiert und die residuale Insulinsekretionsleistung wieder gesteigert werden. Das Erreichen glykämischer Ziele gelingt daher besser gegenüber NPH-Insulinen. Für die Wahl des Spritzzeitpunktes haben 24 Stunden wirksame analoge Insuline eine maximale Freiheit. Das oft fehlerhafte Schwenken von NPH-Insulinen und der daraus entstehende Dosisfehler ist bei langwirksamen Analoginsulinen nicht mehr notwendig.
Alterations of the Short-Term Variation of the Fetal Heart Rate after Antenatal Maternal Betamethasone Administration: Validation with Two Different Computational Algorithms
Authors: Kouskouti Christina , Jonas Hella , Levidou Georgia , Regner Kerstin , Kainer Franz
Published: April 2019

Introduction Antenatal betamethasone administration in the context of foetal lung maturity enhancement has a transient impact on the short-term variation (STV) of the foetal heart rate. There are currently various algorithms for computing the STV, each one resulting in different STV values. We studied the results of betamethasone administration on the STV using 2 different algorithms in order to investigate whether the effects of steroids on the STV depend on the algorithm used or not.

Materials and Methods In the context of a larger, single-centre, prospective, observational study, we gathered CTG traces under and without the influence of steroids in order to study their effect on the STV using 2 different computational algorithms (STV240 and STV16).

Results A total of 285 CTGs were registered and subsequently analysed with both algorithms. When compared to the STV240 and STV16 without or at least 72 h after the first intramuscular corticosteroid administration, a transient increase of both the STV240 and STV16 was documented in the first 24 h, followed by a transient decrease of both the STV240 and STV16 between 24 h and 72 h after the first intramuscular corticosteroid injection.

Conclusion Our results confirmed that betamethasone administration has a transient but significant effect on the STV independently of the algorithm used. These observations stress once again the fact that a decreased STV within the first 72 h after maternal bethametasone administration should not be an indication for early delivery.
Spontaneous Heterotopic Triplet Pregnancy with a Two Viable Intrauterine Embryos and an Ectopic One with Right Tubal Rupture
Authors: Guimarães Adriano Carvalho , Reis Luciano Dias de Oliveira , Leite Fabio Chaves , Reis Cassiana Franco Dias dos , Costa Alex Paula , Araujo Walter Junior Boim de
Published: April 2019

Heterotopic pregnancy (HP) is defined as the simultaneous development of an intra- and an extra uterine gestation. The occurrence of a spontaneous triplet HP is an exceptionally rare medical condition. We report the case of a young woman with spontaneous heterotopic triplets at 8 weeks of gestation, with a misdiagnosis of topic twins and acute appendicitis. The ectopic tubal pregnancy was ruptured and a salpingectomy was performed by laparotomy. The intrauterine pregnancy progressed uneventfully. The two healthy babies were delivery by cesarean section at 36 ± 2 weeks of gestation. Heterotopic triplets with ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy represent a special diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the obstetrician. A high rate of clinical suspicion and timely treatment by laparotomy or laparoscopy can preserve the intrauterine gestation with a successful outcome of the pregnancy.
Preface: Special Topic on Nuclear Quantum Effects
Authors: Tuckerman Mark , Ceperley David
Published: April 2019

Although the observable universe strictly obeys the laws of quantum mechanics, in many instances, a classical description that either ignores quantum effects entirely or accounts for them at a very crude level is sufficient to describe a wide variety of phenomena. However, when this approximation breaks down, as is often the case for processes involving light nuclei, a full quantum treatment becomes indispensable. This Special Topic in The Journal of Chemical Physics showcases recent advances in our understanding of nuclear quantum effects in condensed phases as well as novel algorithmic developments and applications that have enhanced the capability to study these effects.
Bacterial chromosome organization. II. Few special cross-links, cell confinement, and molecular crowders play the pivotal roles
Authors: Agarwal Tejal , Manjunath G. P. , Habib Farhat , Chatterji Apratim
Published: April 2019

Using a coarse-grained bead-spring model of bacterial chromosomes of Caulobacter crescentus and Escherichia coli, we show that just 33 and 38 effective cross-links in 4017 and 4642 monomer chains at special positions along the chain contour can lead to the large-scale organization of the DNA polymer, where confinement effects of the cell walls play a key role in the organization. The positions of the 33/38 cross-links along the chain contour are chosen from the Hi-C contact map of bacteria C. crescentus and E. coli. We represent 1000 base pairs as a coarse-grained monomer in our bead-spring flexible ring polymer model of the DNA polymer. Thus, 4017/4642 beads on a flexible ring polymer represent the C. crescentus/E. coli DNA polymer with 4017/4642 kilo-base pairs. Choosing suitable parameters from Paper I, we also incorporate the role of compaction of the polymer coil due to the presence of molecular crowders and the ability of the chain to release topological constraints. We validate our prediction of the organization of the bacterial chromosomes with available experimental data and also give a prediction of the approximate positions of different segments within the cell. In the absence of confinement, the minimal number of effective cross-links required to organize the DNA chains of 4017/4642 monomers was 60/82 [Agarwal et al., Europhys. Lett. 121, 18004 (2018) and Agarwal et al., J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 30, 034003 (2018)].
A new formulation for two-wave Riemann solver accurate at contact interfaces
Authors: Deng Xi , Boivin Pierre , Xiao Feng
Published: April 2019

This study proposes a new formulation for the Harten, Lax, and van Leer (HLL) type Riemann solver which is capable of solving contact discontinuities accurately but with robustness for strong shock. It is well known that the original HLL, which has incomplete wave structures, is too dissipative to capture contact discontinuities accurately. On the other side, contact-capturing approximate Riemann solvers such as HLL with Contact (HLLC) usually suffer from spurious solutions, also called carbuncle phenomenon, for strong shock. In this work, a new accurate and robust HLL-type formulation, the so-called HLL-BVD (HLL Riemann solver with boundary variation diminishing) is proposed by modifying the original HLL with the BVD algorithm. Instead of explicitly recovering the complete wave structures like the way of HLLC, the proposed method restores the missing contact with a jump-like function. The capability of solving contact discontinuities is further improved by minimizing the inherent dissipation term in HLL. Without modifying the original incomplete wave structures of HLL, the robustness for strong shock has been reserved. Thus, the proposed method is free from the shock instability problem. The accuracy and robustness of the new method are demonstrated through solving several one- and two-dimensional tests. Results indicate that the new formulation based on the two-wave HLL-type Riemann solver is not only capable of capturing contact waves more accurately than the original HLL or HLLC but, most importantly, is free form carbuncle instability for strong shock.
Excess entropy and long-time diffusion in colloidal fluids with short-range interparticle attraction
Authors: Ma Xiaoguang , Liu Jiachen , Zhang Yikang , Habdas Piotr , Yodh A. G.
Published: April 2019

Liquid structure and dynamics are experimentally investigated in colloidal suspensions with short-range depletion attraction. The colloidal fluid samples consist of hard-sphere colloidal particles suspended along with rodlike depletants based on surfactant micelles. The spheres have a range of surface chemistries, diameters, and packing fractions, and the rodlike micelle length depends on the temperature. Thus, the combination of hard-spheres and depletants generates a sample wherein short-range interparticle attraction can be temperature-tuned in situ. Video optical microscopy and particle tracking techniques are employed to measure particle trajectories from which structural and dynamical quantities are derived, including the particle pair correlation function [g(r)], mean square displacement, long-time diffusion coefficient, and the sample two-body excess entropy (S2). The samples with stronger short-range attractions exhibit more order, as characterized by g(r) and S2. The stronger short-range attractions are also observed to lead to slower long-time diffusion and more heterogeneous dynamics at intermediate time scales. Finally, the excess entropy scaling law prediction, i.e., the exponential relationship between two-body excess entropy and long-time diffusivity, is observed across the full range of samples.
Accurate equilibrium structures of methyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid by microwave spectroscopy and dispersion corrected calculations
Authors: Herbers S. , Kraus P. , Grabow J.-U.
Published: April 2019

The rotational constants of s-trans and s-cis methyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid are determined from microwave spectra. All singly substituted heavy-atom isotopologs of the four species are measured in natural abundance. The experimental rotational constants are combined with anharmonic vibrational corrections using the Coulomb-attenuating method, Becke, three-parameter, Lee-Yang-Parr density functional with Grimme’s D3 dispersion corrections and the Becke-Johnson damping function, yielding precise semi-experimental equilibrium rotational constants. These constants are used to determine semi-experimental equilibrium structures with sub-picometer accuracy, suitable for benchmarking purposes.
A tree money grows on: the first inclusive molecular phylogeny of the economically important pink shrimp (Decapoda : Farfantepenaeus) reveals cryptic diversity
Authors: Timm Laura , Browder Joan A. , Simon Shaina , Jackson Thomas L. , Zink Ian C. , Bracken-Grissom Heather D.
Published: April 2019

Species of Farfantepenaeus support economically important shrimp fisheries throughout the Western Hemisphere, necessitating proper fisheries management. To be effective, species management should be informed of the potential presence of cryptic species and of the evolutionary forces driving biodiversity. This is best accomplished through a robust phylogenetic framework and evidence-based species delimitation. This study represents the first comprehensive molecular phylogeny and species delimitation analyses of shrimps belonging to the genus Farfantepenaeus. Targeting three mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, and COI), gene trees and a phylogeny for the genus were inferred using maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. In general, the phylogenetic relationships inferred here largely agree with those recovered from morphological data, including the most recent designation of F. isabelae as sister to F. subtilis. Molecular divergence was found between northern and southern populations of F. brasiliensis, suggesting the existence of unrecognised subspecies. However, previous recognition of F. duorarum and F. notialis as two distinct species was not supported by this study. The phylogeny inferred here also uncovers a phylogeographic signal of latitudinal speciation in the genus. The study presented here provides valuable insight into the evolutionary history of Farfantepenaeus, improving our ability to effectively manage these economically important species.
More refined typology and design in linguistic relativity
Authors: Bernabeu Pablo , Tillman Richard
Published: April 2019

Linguistic relativity is the influence of language on other realms of cognition. For instance, the way movement is expressed in a person’s native language may influence how they perceive movement. Motion event encoding (MEE) is usually framed as a typological dichotomy.Path-in-verblanguages tend to encode path information within the verb (e.g., ‘leave’), whereasmanner-in-verblanguages encode manner (e.g., ‘jump’). The results of MEE-based linguistic relativity experiments range from no effect to effects on verbal and nonverbal cognition. Seeking a more definitive conclusion, we propose linguistic and experimental enhancements. First, we examine state-of-the-art typology, suggesting how a recent MEE classification across twenty languages (Verkerk, 2014) may enable more powerful analyses. Second, we review procedural challenges such as the influence of verbal thought and second-guessing in experiments. To tackle these challenges, we propose distinguishing verbal and nonverbal subgroups, and having enough filler items. Finally we exemplify this in an experimental design.
Assaying neural activity of children during video game play in public spaces: a deep learning approach
Authors: Sujatha Ravindran Akshay , Mobiny Aryan , Cruz-Garza Jesus G , Paek Andrew , Kopteva Anastasiya , Contreras Vidal José L
Published: April 2019

Objective. Understanding neural activity patterns in the developing brain remains one of the grand challenges in neuroscience. Developing neural networks are likely to be endowed with functionally important variability associated with the environmental context, age, gender, and other variables. Therefore, we conducted experiments with typically developing children in a stimulating museum setting and tested the feasibility of using deep learning techniques to help identify patterns of brain activity associated with different conditions.Approach. A four-channel dry EEG-based Mobile brain-body imaging data of children at rest and during videogame play (VGP) was acquired at the Children’s Museum of Houston. A data-driven approach based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) was used to describe underlying feature representations in the EEG and their ability to discern task and gender. The variability of the spectral features of EEG during the rest condition as a function of age was also analyzed.Main results. Alpha power (7–13 Hz) was higher during rest whereas theta power (4–7 Hz) was higher during VGP. Beta (13–18 Hz) power was the most significant feature, higher in females, when differentiating between males and females. Using data from both temporoparietal channels to classify between VGP and rest condition, leave-one-subject-out cross-validation accuracy of 67% was obtained. Age-related changes in EEG spectral content during rest were consistent with previous developmental studies conducted in laboratory settings showing an inverse relationship between age and EEG power.Significance. These findings are the first to acquire, quantify and explain brain patterns observed during VGP and rest in freely behaving children in a museum setting using a deep learning framework. The study shows how deep learning can be used as a data driven approach to identify patterns in the data and explores the issues and the potential of conducting experiments involving children in a natural and engaging environment.
Generic adaptation pathways for coastal archetypes under uncertain sea-level rise
Authors: Haasnoot Marjolijn , Brown Sally , Scussolini Paolo , Jimenez Jose A , Vafeidis Athanasios T , Nicholls Robert J
Published: April 2019

Adaptation to coastal flood risk is hampered by high uncertainty in the rate and magnitude of sea-level rise. Subsequently, adaptation decisions carry strong risks of under- or over-investment, and could lead to costly retrofitting or unnecessary high margins. To better allocate resources timely and effectively, and achieve long-term sustainability, planners could utilise adaptation pathways, revealing the path-dependencies of adaptation options. This helps to identify low-regret short-term decisions that preserve options in an uncertain future, while monitoring to detect signals to adapt. A major barrier to the application of adaptation pathways is limited experience. To facilitate this, here we generalize this pathways approach for six common coastal archetypes, resulting in generic pathways suitable to be adjusted to local conditions. This provides a much richer analysis of coastal adaptation than provided by any previous analysis, by assessing the solution space and options over time for a variety of coastal regions. Based on this analysis, we find that the number of adaptation options declines while sea-level rises. For some archetypes, it becomes clear that long-term thinking is needed now, about if, how and when to move to transformative options, such as planned retreat, which may presently not be considered or acceptable. Our analysis further shows that coastal adaptation needs to start earlier than anticipated, especially given time required for local debate and choice and to implement measures.
On the KDM-CCA Security from Partial Trapdoor One-Way Family in the Random Oracle Model
Authors: Chang Jinyong , Bian Genqing , Ji Yanyan , Xu Maozhi
Published: April 2019

In PKC 2000, Pointcheval presented a generic technique to make a highly secure cryptosystem from any partially trapdoor one-way function in the random oracle model. More precisely, any suitable problem providing a one-way cryptosystem can be efficiently derived into a chosen-ciphertext attack (CCA) secure public key encryption (PKE) scheme. In fact, the overhead only consists of two hashing and a XOR. In this paper, we consider the key-dependent message (KDM) security of the Pointcheval’s transformation. Unfortunately, we do not know how to directly prove its KDM-CCA security because there are some details in the proof that we can not bypass. However, a slight modification of the original transformation (we call twisted Pointcheval’s scheme) makes it possible to obtain the KDM-CCA security. As a result, we prove that the twisted Pointcheval’s scheme achieves the KDM-CCA security without introducing any new assumption. That is, we can construct a KDM-CCA secure PKE scheme from partial trapdoor one-way injective family in the random oracle model.
Mapping social media attention in Microbiology: identifying main topics and actors
Authors: Robinson-Garcia Nicolas , Arroyo-Machado Wenceslao , Torres-Salinas Daniel
Published: April 2019

This paper aims to map and identify topics of interest within the field of Microbiology and identify the main sources driving such attention. We combine data from Web of Science and Altmetric.com, a platform which retrieves mentions to scientific literature from social media and other non-academic communication outlets. We focus on the dissemination of microbial publications in Twitter, news media and policy briefs. A two-mode network of social accounts shows distinctive areas of activity. We identify a cluster of papers mentioned solely by regional news media. A central area of the network is formed by papers discussed by the three outlets. A large portion of the network is driven by Twitter activity. When analyzing top actors contributing to such network, we observe that more than half of the Twitter accounts are bots, mentioning 32% of the documents in our dataset. Within news media outlets, there is a predominance of popular science outlets. With regard to policy briefs, both international and national bodies are represented. Finally, our topic analysis shows that the thematic focus of papers mentioned varies by outlet. While news media cover the wider range of topics, policy briefs are focused on translational medicine and bacterial outbreaks.
Defining a State-Owned Enterprise in International Investment Agreements
Authors: McLaughlin Mark
Published: April 2019

The objective of this article is to establish a unified conceptual framework for State-owned enterprises in international investment law. I hope to furnish drafters and negotiators with the tools to define such enterprises in accordance with their policy concerns. The central thesis is that five definitional criteria must be considered: (i) separate legal personality; (ii) extent and form of control; (iii) eligible governmental units; (iv) nature of activity; and (v) purpose of activity. While variations within each criterion can reflect the policy choices of contracting parties, failure to adequately delimit the boundaries of all five will confer discretion on arbitrators to do so.

Application of this framework to existing international investment agreements reveals that many bilateral investment treaties are insufficiently precise as to the definition of State-owned enterprises. However, the Trans Pacific Partnership addresses all five criteria, and limits the scope of covered entities to those that are ‘principally engaged in commercial activities’ and have an ‘orientation towards profit making’. China’s strategic initiatives could necessitate a response that would further fragment the international investment regime. Furthermore, interpretive issues remain in relation to the scope of ‘effective influence’ and determining the purpose of investment activity.
Communicating About Animal Research with the Public
Authors: MacArthur Clark Judy , Clifford Paula , Jarrett Wendy , Pekow Cynthia
Published: April 2019

Animals play a key role in biomedical research and other areas of scientific inquiry. But public opinion plays a key role in influencing how this area of science is regulated and funded. Nevertheless, scientists have historically been reticent to speak openly about their animal research or to open their animal facilities to the public in any way. Consequently, most of the available information has come from those opposed to animal research.

This imbalance has led to suspicion and lagging public support for this work. To reverse this effect, efforts are now being made in many parts of the world to increase openness and transparency in this sector. The authors firmly believe that encouraging more institutions to join this movement, focused on better and greater communication, is essential to preserve the research community’s “permission” to perform justifiable studies involving animals.

For the purposes of this article, we consider “the public” to include that cross-section of society who may be asked their views in opinion poll studies and who may vote in elections. It also includes other influential groups such as the media, scientists working in other disciplines, animal welfare groups, and politicians who may shape regulatory frameworks.

Public opinion on this issue matters. The majority of funding for biomedical research comes, either directly or indirectly, from the public purse. In the case of pharmaceutical research, funding derives from selling medicines to consumers. We therefore all have a vested interest in this funding. Furthermore, legislation that covers the use of animals in research is permissive—it allows scientists to do things that might otherwise contravene animal welfare laws. But this permission is normally contingent on complying with strict protective measures designed to ensure the work stays within the ethical framework that public opinion has deemed appropriate.

Open and transparent communication is the best way to promote public understanding. There is thus a responsibility on all those involved in animal research, whether scientists, animal care staff, physicians, veterinarians, members of ethics committees, or managers and leaders, to support and promote public awareness and trust in this work. Circumstantial evidence shows that, with such open dialogue, there is decreased targeting and harassment of individuals and job pride and satisfaction for all involved is improved.
A mass conserving mixed stress formulation for the Stokes equations
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Jay , Lederer Philip L , Schöberl Joachim
Published: April 2019

We propose stress formulation of the Stokes equations. The velocity $u$ is approximated with $H(\operatorname{div})$-conforming finite elements providing exact mass conservation. While many standard methods use $H^1$-conforming spaces for the discrete velocity $H(\operatorname{div})$-conformity fits the considered variational formulation in this work. A new stress-like variable $\sigma $ equalling the gradient of the velocity is set within a new function space $H(\operatorname{curl} \operatorname{div})$. New matrix-valued finite elements having continuous ‘normal-tangential’ components are constructed to approximate functions in $H(\operatorname{curl} \operatorname{div})$. An error analysis concludes with optimal rates of convergence for errors in $u$ (measured in a discrete $H^1$-norm), errors in $\sigma $ (measured in $L^2$) and the pressure $p$ (also measured in $L^2$). The exact mass conservation property is directly related to another structure-preservation property called pressure robustness, as shown by pressure-independent velocity error estimates. The computational cost measured in terms of interface degrees of freedom is comparable to old and new Stokes discretizations.
Mapping gender transition sentiment patterns via social media data: toward decreasing transgender mental health disparities
Authors: Haimson Oliver L
Published: April 2019

Objective

Transgender people face substantial mental health disparities, and this population’s emotional well-being can be particularly volatile during gender transition. Understanding gender transition sentiment patterns can positively impact transgender people by enabling them to anticipate, and put support in place for, particularly difficult time periods. Yet, tracking sentiment over time throughout gender transition is challenging using traditional research methods. This study’s objective was to use social media data to understand average gender transition sentiment patterns.

Materials and Methods

Computational sentiment analysis and statistics were used to analyze 41 066 posts from 240 Tumblr transition blogs (online spaces where transgender people document gender transitions) to understand sentiment patterns over time and quantify relationships between transgender identity disclosures, sentiment, and social support.

Results

Findings suggest that sentiment increases over time on average throughout gender transition, particularly when people receive supportive responses to transgender identity disclosures. However, after disclosures to family members, people experienced temporary increased negative sentiment, followed by increased positive sentiment in the long term. After transgender identity disclosures on Facebook, an important means of mass disclosure, those with supportive networks experienced increased positive sentiment.

Conclusions

With foreknowledge of sentiment patterns likely to occur during gender transition, transgender people and their mental healthcare professionals can prepare with proper support in place throughout the gender transition process. Social media are a novel data source for understanding transgender people’s sentiment patterns, which can help reduce mental health disparities for this marginalized population during a particularly difficult time.
Selection biases in technology-based intervention research: patients’ technology use relates to both demographic and health-related inequities
Authors: Toscos Tammy , Drouin Michelle , Pater Jessica , Flanagan Mindy , Pfafman Rachel , Mirro Michael J
Published: April 2019

Objective

Researchers conduct studies with selection biases, which may limit generalizability and outcomes of intervention research. In this methodological reflection, we examined demographic and health characteristics of implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients who were excluded from an informatics intervention due to lack of access to a computer and/or the internet.

Materials and Methods

Using information gathered from surveys and electronic health records, we compared the intervention group to excluded patients on demographic factors, computer skills, patient activation, and medical history.

Results

Excluded patients were older, less educated, less engaged and activated in their health, and had worse health (ie, more medical comorbidities) than nonexcluded patients.

Discussion

Although excluded from the intervention based solely on lack of access to a computer and/or internet, excluded patients may have needed the intervention more because they were sicker with more comorbidities.

Conclusion

Researchers must be mindful of enrollment biases and demographic and health-related inequities that may exist during recruitment for technology-based interventions.
Things You Can See From There You Can't See From Here: Blind Spots in the American Perspective in IR and Their Effects
Authors: Levin Dov H , Trager Robert F
Published: April 2019

How do the limitations of the American perspective in international relations (IR) affect the accuracy of theorizing? We show that assumptions about the relationship between domestic and international politics that underlie significant segments of American IR scholarship are unwarranted. Publics around the world do not respond to United Nations’ and other intergovernmental organizations’ criticism of their governments in the same way that Americans do. Publics are not universally poorly informed of their country's foreign policies, and they are not equally skeptical of the value of using force for resolving disputes with other states. We demonstrate the limitations of US-based scholarship using new and unique survey data from the United States and other countries. We then address how these US-centric assumptions skew certain IR literatures and limit important research agendas pursued by American scholars.
National Perspectives and Quantitative Datasets: A Silver Lining?
Authors: Bush Sarah Sunn
Published: April 2019

As noted by other contributions to this special issue, an American perspective shapes many leading quantitative datasets used by international relations scholars. This tendency can lead to biased inferences, but it can also enhance scholarly accuracy under certain conditions. Precisely because some datasets reflect national perspectives, they are appropriate to use when seeking to test theories in which the actors of interest subscribe to the same national perspective. This argument is illustrated with the case of US democracy assistance. Using an appropriate measure of democracy reveals that—contrary to some claims in the literature—US policy-makers allocate democracy assistance in ways that reflect their perceptions of countries’ regime types, giving less democracy assistance to countries that they perceive as more democratic.
Radioprotective effect of newly synthesized toll-like receptor 5 agonist, KMRC011, in mice exposed to total-body irradiation
Authors: Kim Jun-Young , Park Jong-Hyung , Seo Sun-Min , Park Jin-Il , Jeon Hee-Yeon , Lee Han-Kyul , Yoo Ran-Ji , Lee Yong-Jin , Woo Sang-Keun , Lee Woo-Jong , Choi Chi-Min , Choi Yang-Kyu
Published: April 2019

Exposure to ionizing radiation leads to severe damages in radiosensitive organs and induces acute radiation syndrome, including effects on the hematopoietic system and gastrointestinal system. In this study, the radioprotective ability of KMRC011, a novel toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) agonist, was investigated in C57BL6/N mice exposed to lethal total-body gamma-irradiation. In a 30-day survival study, KMRC011-treated mice had a significantly improved survival rate compared with control after 11 Gy total-body irradiation (TBI), and it was found that the radioprotective activity of KMRC011 depended on its dosage and repeated treatment. In a 5-day short-term study, we demonstrated that KMRC011 treatment stimulated cell proliferation and had an anti-apoptotic effect. Furthermore, KMRC011 increased the expressions of genes related to DNA repair, such as Rad21, Gadd45b, Sod2 and Irg1, in the small intestine of lethally irradiated mice. Interestingly, downregulation of NF-κB p65 in the mouse intestine by KMRC011 treatment was observed. This data indicated that KMRC011 exerted a radioprotective activity partially by regulating NF-κB signaling. Finally, peak expression levels of G-CSF, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IP-10 induced by KMRC011 treatment were different depending on the route of administration and type of cytokine. These cytokines could be used as candidate biomarkers for the evaluation of KMRC011 clinical efficacy. Our data indicated that KMRC011 has radioprotective activity in lethally irradiated mice and may be developed as a therapeutic agent for radioprotection.
Safety, Health and Trauma among Newly Arrived Refugees in Greece
Authors: Stathopoulou Theoni , Avrami Lydia , Kostaki Anastasia , Cavounidis Jennifer , Eikemo Terje Andreas
Published: April 2019

This study identifies factors that affect safety, health and trauma among refugees and asylum seekers newly arrived and accommodated in Greece. The data of this study was collected from the REHEAL (Refugees’ Healing) project—a population-based survey conducted in six Greek refugee camps during the summer of 2016. We specified two binary logistic-regression models—one for safety and a second for health—as well as a multiple linear-regression model for the trauma score. Safety, health and trauma among refugees appear to be attributable to both pre- and post-displacement factors. The analysis shows that the mental and physical wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers is strongly affected by post-displacement factors and, more specifically, by exposure to stressors in host countries, such as poor living conditions, limited access to health-care services and uncertainty about the future.
Panel Survey Recruitment with or Without Interviewers? Implications for Nonresponse, Panel Consent, and Total Recruitment Bias
Authors: Sakshaug Joseph W , Hülle Sebastian , Schmucker Alexandra , Liebig Stefan
Published: April 2019

Panel surveys are increasingly experimenting with the use of self-administered modes of data collection as alternatives to more expensive interviewer-administered modes. As data collection costs continue to rise, it is plausible that future panel surveys will forego interviewer administration entirely. We examine the implications of this scenario for recruitment bias in the first wave of a panel survey of employees in Germany. Using an experimental multi-mode design and detailed administrative record data available for the full sample, we investigate the magnitude of two sources of panel recruitment bias: nonresponse and panel consent (i.e., consent to follow-up interview). Across 29 administrative estimates, we find relative measures of aggregate nonresponse bias to be comparable between face-to-face and self-administered (mail/Web) recruitment modes, on average. Furthermore, we find the magnitude of panel consent bias to be more severe in self-administered surveys, but that implementing follow-up conversion procedures with the non-consenters diminishes panel consent bias to near-negligible levels. Lastly, we find the total recruitment bias (nonresponse and panel consent) to be similar in both mode groups—a reassuring result that is facilitated by the panel consent follow-up procedures. Implications of these findings for survey practice and suggestions for future research are provided in conclusion.