bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microorganism's adaptation of Crucian carp may closely relate to its living environments
Authors: Zhang Huanxin , Tang Hongshuo , Zang Yu , Tang Xuexi , Wang Ying
Published: June 2018

The relationship between the internal microbiome of an individual organism and that of its external environment has been little investigated in freshwater ecosystems. Thus, this is an area of interest in freshwater fish biology. Along with the genotype of the fish host, external environment plays an important role in determining the composition of the internal microbiome. Here, we characterized the variability of the microbiome of wild Crucian carp (Carassius auratus), along with those of their surrounding environments (water and mud). We found that each environment had distinct bacterial communities, with varying composition and structure. The primary bacterial phyla identified in the Crucian carp gut were Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria (90% of all bacterial phyla identified); the primary genera identified were Cetobacterium, Aeromonas, and Plesiomonas (85% of all bacterial phyla identified). We identified 1,739 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the Crucian carp gut, 1,703 in water, and 5,322 in mud. Each environment had unique OTUs, but the fewest unique OTUs (97) were found in the Crucian carp gut. There were significant differences in the relative abundances of different bacterial phyla in the different environments. It may be that only bacterial phyla vital for efficient fish function (e.g., immune response or metabolism), such as Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria, are retained in the Crucian carp gut.
Hemozoin‐induced activation of human monocytes toward M2‐like phenotype is partially reversed by antimalarial drugs—chloroquine and artemisinin
Authors: Bobade Deepali , Khandare Ashwin V. , Deval Mangesh , Shastry Padma , Deshpande Prakash
Published: June 2018

Plasmodium falciparum malaria is the most severe form of malaria with several complications. The malaria pigment‐hemozoin (Hz) is associated with severe anemia, cytokine dysfunction, and immunosuppression, thus making it an interesting target for developing new strategies for antimalarial therapy. Monocytes (MO) in circulation actively ingest Hz released by Plasmodium parasites and secrete pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines. M1 and M2 types represent the two major forms of MO/macrophages (MQ) with distinct phenotypes and opposing functions. Imbalance in the polarization of these types is reported in many infectious diseases. Though the association of Hz with immunosuppression is well documented, its role in activation of MO in context of M1/M2 phenotypes remains to be addressed. We report here that natural Hz drives human MO toward M2‐like phenotype as evidenced by the expression of M2 signature markers. Hz‐fed MO showed elevated transcript and secreted level of IL‐10, CCL17, CCL1, expression of mannose‐binding lectin receptor (CD206), and arginase activity. Hz attenuated HLA‐DR expression, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species production, which are the features of M1 phenotype. Our data also implicate the involvement of p38 MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and NF‐κB signaling pathways in skewing of Hz‐fed MO toward M2‐like type and suppression of mitogen‐stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. Importantly, antimalarial drugs—chloroquine and artemisinin—partially reversed activation of Hz‐induced MO toward M2‐like phenotype. Considering the limitations in the current therapeutic options for malaria, we propose that these drugs may be re‐examined for their potential as immunomodulators and candidates for adjunctive treatment in malaria.
Bacterial communities in natural versus pesticide‐treated Aphis gossypii populations in North China
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Luo Junyu , Wang Li , Zhang Lijuan , Zhu Xiangzhen , Jiang Weili , Cui Jinjie
Published: June 2018

The cotton‐melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is a worldwide‐spreading species, and pesticide‐resistant populations are increasing rapidly. In this study, investigations were performed based on Illumina HiSeq sequencing of the 16S rDNA V4 region for the bacterial communities embodied as intracellular symbionts under natural and in pesticide‐treated populations of A. gossypii. The results revealed that more than 82% of bacterial communities belonged to the phylum Proteobacteria in which the maximum proportion (53.24%) was of the genus Arsenophonus; Hamiltonella composed 22.31; and 1.37% was of the genus Acinetobacter. The relative abundance of Hamiltonella was obvious, vertically transmitted, divided into two groups, and its infection influenced the bacterial communities in A. gossypii. Symbiont density and composition were changed in samples tested on different days. Azadirachtin and phoxim influenced on the composition of bacterial communities. Different biomarkers were used for pesticide‐treated samples with LEfSe results. These findings will increase awareness regarding bacterial communities in naturally occurring populations of A. gossypii and pave the way to study the relationship between symbionts and pesticide resistance.
Associations of Abdominal Muscle Area and Radiodensity with Adiponectin and Leptin: The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Vella Chantal A. , Cushman Mary , Van Hollebeke Rachel B. , Allison Matthew A.
Published: June 2018

Objective

This study examined the associations of muscle area and radiodensity with adiponectin and leptin.

Methods

A total of 1,944 participants who enrolled in the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis underwent computed tomography to quantify body composition and measurements of adiponectin, leptin, interleukin‐6, C‐reactive protein, and resistin.

Results

The mean age and BMI of participants were 64.7 years and 28.1 kg/m2 and 49% were female. With adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, inflammatory biomarkers, physical activity, and sedentary behavior, a 1‐SD increment in total abdominal, stability, and locomotor muscle area was associated with a 19%, 17%, and 12% lower adiponectin level, respectively (P < 0.01 for all) but not leptin (P > 0.05). Muscle radiodensity was more robustly associated with adiponectin and leptin in the multivariable linear regression models. That is, with full adjustment for all covariates, a 1‐SD increment in total abdominal, stability, and locomotor muscle radiodensity was associated with a 31%, 31%, and 18% lower adiponectin level (P < 0.01 for all) and a 6.7%, 4.6%, and 8.1% higher leptin level (P < 0.05 for all), respectively.

Conclusions

The data suggest that increases in muscle area and radiodensity may have positive impacts on chronic inflammation and, in turn, reduce the risk of cardiometabolic disease.
Technology, telemedicine and social media are tools to improve health outcomes, education and patient engagement in a paediatric diabetes service
Authors: Ng Sze May
Published: June 2018

Few centres in the UK within adult and paediatric diabetes units adopt digital technology, telemedicine or social media within their services. Perhaps this is due to both lack of investments and to some extent clinical leadership to champion and drive change.

The 2018 Mary MacKinnon Diabetes UK lecture is aimed at showing how health outcomes, education and patient engagement can be significantly improved using novel digital and technology strategies as effective means of driving change and delivering good quality of care within a paediatric diabetes service. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons.
Magnetodielectric Coupling Response in La‐Modified M‐Type Strontium Hexaferrite
Authors: Feng Yuan , Tan Guolong
Published: June 2018

Magnetoelectric (ME) materials are a class of functional materials which present coupling effect between magnetic and electric orders. M‐type hexaferrites could embrace both ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism, but the ME effect is weak. Here, it is expected to enhance the magnetoelectric response in SrFe12O19 by substitution of 0.3 Sr2+ with 0.2 La3+ to form La0.2Sr0.7Fe12O19. X‐ray diffraction results show a lattice contraction of 0.59%, while the remnant magnetic moment of La0.2Sr0.7Fe12O19 is improved by 45.3% in comparison with SrFe12O19. Strong magnetodielectric (MD) response is observed in La0.2Sr0.7Fe12O19, a magnetic field lifts the whole ϵ′–f spectra up and right shifts the ϵ″–f spectra (ωm) to higher frequency side. Both real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constants obey the Debye relaxation model and vary with magnetic field B at a large amplitude. The maximum MD variation ratio in ϵ′ is 83.4% at B = 926mT. The applied magnetic field greatly enhances the capacitance of the La0.2Sr0.7Fe12O19 through imposing an additional polarization P(H) induced from the cycloid spin upon the conventional P(E). The physical mechanism for the lift of ϵ′–f spectra and right shift of ϵ″–f spectra with B field is discussed in detail from the point of view of Debye relaxation formula and magnetoelectric coupling theory.
Fucosyl monosialoganglioside: Quantitative analysis of specific potential biomarkers of lung cancer in biological matrices using immunocapture extraction/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Ranasinghe Asoka , Mehl John , D'Arienzo Celia , Nabbie Fizal , Chiu Christopher , Thevanayagam Lourdes , Srinivasan Mohan , Hogan Jason , Ponath Paul , Olah Timothy
Published: June 2018

Rationale

Certain lung cancer patients express elevated Fucosyl Monosialoganglioside (Fuc‐GM1) in circulation compared to control groups. Several sensitive methods involving characterization of Fuc‐GM1 have been reported. However, a highly specific and sensitive method for quantifying multiple potential Fuc‐GM1 biomarkers present in various biological matrices has not been reported to date.

Methods

Individual Fuc‐GM1 analogs in a commercially obtained standard mixture were characterized using HPLC/UV/MS and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Proprietary antibodies, mAb1 and mAb2, were used to selectively capture and pre‐concentrate the soluble and drug‐bound forms of Fuc‐GM1 molecules present in human serum and whole blood, eliminating the background matrix components. Immunocapture extraction (ICE) followed by HPLC/MS/MS was used to quantify specific Fuc‐GM1 analogs in biological matrices.

Results

The concentration of individual Fuc‐GM1 analogs in the standard mixture was estimated to be 7–34%, using HPLC/UV/MS. Using the standard mixture spiked into the biological matrices (100 μL), the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of each analog was 0.2–0.4 ng/mL with a dynamic range of up to 200 ng/mL. The applicability of the ICE‐HPLC/MS/MS method was demonstrated by detecting endogenous Fuc‐GM1 analogs present in rat blood and in several lung cancer cell lines.

Conclusions

This highly specific and sensitive HPLC/MS/MS method for quantifying individual potential Fuc‐GM1 biomarkers in serum and whole blood can play a critical role in patient stratification strategies and during drug treatment. This method can be employed for monitoring both free (soluble) form and antibody drug‐bound Fuc‐GM1.
Chlorinated vapor intrusion indicators, tracers, and surrogates (ITS): Supplemental measurements for minimizing the number of chemical indoor air samples—Part 1: Vapor intrusion driving forces and related environmental factors
Authors: Schuver Henry J. , Lutes Chris , Kurtz Jeff , Holton Chase , Truesdale Robert S.
Published: June 2018

Vapor intrusion (VI) assessment is complicated by spatial and temporal variability, largely due to compounded interactions among the many individual factors that influence the vapor migration pathway from subsurface sources to indoor air. Past research on highly variable indoor air datasets demonstrates that conventional sampling schemes can result in false negative determinations of potential risk corresponding to reasonable maximum exposures (RME). While high‐frequency chemical analysis of individual chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) in indoor air is conceptually appealing, it remains largely impractical when numerous buildings are involved and particularly for long‐term monitoring. As more is learned about the challenges with indoor air sampling for VI assessment, it has become clear that alternative approaches are needed to help guide discrete sampling efforts and reduce sampling requirements while maintaining acceptable confidence in exposure characterization. Indicators, tracers, and surrogates (ITS), which include a collection of quantifiable metrics and tools, have been suggested as a potential solution for making VI pathway assessment and long‐term monitoring more informative, efficient, and cost‐effective. This review, compilation, and evaluation of ITS demonstrates how even low numbers of indoor air CVOC samples can provide high levels of confidence for representing the RME levels (e.g., 95th percentile) often sought by regulatory agencies for less than chronic effects. A two‐part compilation of available evidence for select low‐cost ITS is presented, with Part 1 focused on introducing the concepts of ITS, meteorologically based ITS, and the evidence from data‐rich studies to support lower cost CVOC VI assessments. Part 1 includes the results of quantitative analyses on two robust residential building VI datasets, where numerous supplemental metrics were collected concurrently with indoor air concentration data. These are supplemented with additional less‐intensive studies in different circumstances. These analyses show that certain ITS metrics and tools, including differential temperature, differential pressure, and radon (in Part 2), can provide benefits to VI assessment and long‐term monitoring. This includes indicators that narrow the assessment period needed to capture RME conditions, tracers that enhance understanding of the conceptual site model, and aid in the identification of preferential pathways and surrogates that support or substitute for CVOC sampling results. The results of this review provide insight into the scientifically supportable uses of ITS.
Status of nanoremediation and its potential for future deployment: Risk‐benefit and benchmarking appraisals
Authors: Bardos Paul , Merly Corinne , Kvapil Petr , Koschitzky Hans‐Peter
Published: June 2018

NanoRem (Taking Nanotechnological Remediation Processes from Lab Scale to End User Applications for the Restoration of a Clean Environment) was a research project, funded through the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme, which focuses on facilitating practical, safe, economic, and exploitable nanotechnology for in situ remediation of polluted soil and groundwater, which closed in January 2017. This article describes the status of the nanoremediation implementation and future opportunities for deployment based on risk‐benefit appraisal and benchmarking undertaken in the NanoRem Project. As of November 2016, NanoRem identified 100 deployments of nanoremediation in the field. While the majority of these are pilot‐scale deployments, there are a number of large scale deployments over the last five to 10 years. Most applications have been for plume control (i.e., pathway management in groundwater), but a number of source control measures appear to have taken place. Nanoremediation has been most frequently applied to problems of chlorinated solvents and metals (such as chromium VI). The perception of risk‐benefit balance for nanoremediation has shifted as the NanoRem Project has proceeded. Niche benefits are now more strongly recognized, and some (if not most) of the concerns, for example, relating to environmental risks of nanoremediation deployment, prevalent when the project was proposed and initiated, have been addressed. Indeed, these now appear overstated. However, it appears to remain the case that in some jurisdictions the use of nanoparticles remains less attractive owing to regulatory concerns and/or a lack of awareness, meaning that regulators may demand additional verification measures compared to technologies with which they have a greater level of comfort.
Gate‐Controlled Graphene–Silicon Schottky Junction Photodetector
Authors: Chang Kyoung Eun , Yoo Tae Jin , Kim Cihyun , Kim Yun Ji , Lee Sang Kyung , Kim So‐Young , Heo Sunwoo , Kwon Min Gyu , Lee Byoung Hun
Published: June 2018

Various photodetectors showing extremely high photoresponsivity have been frequently reported, but many of these photodetectors could not avoid the simultaneous amplification of dark current. A gate‐controlled graphene–silicon Schottky junction photodetector that exhibits a high on/off photoswitching ratio (≈104), a very high photoresponsivity (≈70 A W−1), and a low dark current in the order of µA cm−2 in a wide wavelength range (395–850 nm) is demonstrated. The photoresponsivity is ≈100 times higher than that of existing commercial photodetectors, and 7000 times higher than that of graphene‐field‐effect transistor‐based photodetectors, while the dark current is similar to or lower than that of commercial photodetectors. This result can be explained by a unique gain mechanism originating from the difference in carrier transport characteristics of silicon and graphene.
Organic Electrolytes Doped ZnO Layer as the Electron Transport Layer for Bulk Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Kim Youn Hwan , Kim Dong Geun , Maduwu Ratna Dewi , Jin Ho Cheol , Moon Doo Kyung , Kim Joo Hyun
Published: June 2018

ZnO layers doped with small molecule viologen derivatives, i.e., 1,1′‐bis(4‐hydroxypropyl)‐[4,4′‐bipyridine]‐1,1′‐diium bromide (VOH) or 1,1′‐bis(2,3‐dihydroxypropyl)‐[4,4′‐bipyridine]‐1,1′‐diium bromide (V2OH), are prepared and used as the electron transport layer in inverted polymer solar cells (iPSCs). The presence of VOH (or V2OH) in ZnO layer and the formation of homogeneous VOH (or V2OH) doped ZnO layer are confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electron mobilities of doped ZnO layers are comparable to those of pristine ZnO because the crystallinity of the ZnO layer is not significantly affected by the doping process. Kelvin probe microscopy measurements show that the work function of doped ZnO layers is in the range of −4.2 –−4.3 eV, which is higher than that of pristine ZnO (−4.5 eV). This is due to the formation of interface dipoles at the interface between the ZnO layer and the active layer. The water contact angle data reflect the existence of quaternary ammonium bromide on the surface, and unreacted hydroxyl groups are pointed away from the surface of the ZnO layer. iPSCs based on VOH doped ZnO and V2OH doped ZnO exhibit power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) up to 9.0% and 8.6%, which are dramatically enhanced compared to the device based on pristine ZnO (PCE = 7.4%).
Impact of Intercritical Annealing on Retained Austenite and Toughness of a 460 MPa Grade Multiphase Heavy Gauge Plate Steel
Authors: Yuan Shengfu , Shang Chengjia , Xie Zhenjia , Wang Xuemin , Yang Jer‐ren , Misra R. Devesh K.
Published: June 2018

The objective of the study described here is to elucidate structure‐property relationship in a 460 MPa multiphase steel with particular emphasis on the influence of intercritical annealing process and retained austenite on mechanical properties. The study suggests that there is significant effect on comprehensive mechanical properties of heavy gauge plate (60 mm thickness) on intercritical annealing, especially the low temperature toughness is increased from 135 to 254 J at the test temperature of −40 °C. Fine retained austenite can be obtained by optimization of interrupted on‐line cooling and partitioning during intercritical annealing heat treatment. The retained austenite stabilized by enrichment with alloying elements during heat treatment replacing coarse martensite and austenite (M/A) constituent is the underlying reason for superior toughness. The study underscores that a practical approach to enhance the toughness of heavy plate is via multiphase control during thermo‐mechanical control processing (TMCP) and off line intercritical annealing.
Evaluation of information presented within mast cell tumour histopathology reports in the United States: 2012–2015
Authors: Reagan Jennifer K. , Selmic Laura E. , Fallon Caroline , Driskell Elizabeth A. , Garrett Laura D.
Published: June 2018

For canine mast cell tumour (MCT), histopathology reports are one of the main factors considered in the decision‐making process regarding need and type of adjunctive therapy. However, considerable variation exists in types of information reported, especially relating to surgical margins. The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate how information is presented within canine MCT histopathology reports across the United States. The reports were collected from medical and surgical oncologists from 4 geographic regions of the USA: Midwest, Northeast, South and West. All reports were obtained between January 1st 2012 and May 1st 2015. Inclusion criteria required that the final diagnosis was MCT, a microscopic description was present, and it was not a scar revision. Three hundred and sixty‐eight reports were collected from 26 contributors. While the majority of the reports contained a clinical history (85.9%), information for certain prognostic indicators such as location and mass size was lacking. Grading with both Patnaik and Kiupel systems were described in 76.5% of reports with a single system being used in 7.1% and 15.2% of reports, respectively. Subcutaneous MCT were assigned a grading scheme in 67.2% of reports with 33.3% stating appropriate limitations. Surgical margins were reported in 92% of the reports with 77.2% describing deep and lateral margins separately. Tissue composing the deep margin was only described in 10.9% of the reports. The present results indicate reporting of MCT has variability across pathologists with inconsistencies present in the reporting of clinical history, margin evaluation and subcutaneous MCT grading.
Effect of Retirement on Cognition: Evidence From the Irish Marriage Bar
Authors: Mosca Irene , Wright Robert E.
Published: June 2018

This study empirically investigates the relationship between retirement duration and cognition among older Irish women using microdata collected in the third wave of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression estimates indicate that the longer an individual has been retired, the lower the cognitive functioning, with other factors thought to affect cognition held constant (e.g., age, education, and early-life socioeconomic conditions). However, retirement is potentially endogenous with respect to cognition because cognition may affect decisions relating to retiring. If so, the OLS estimates will be biased. To test for this possibility, instrumental variable (IV) estimation is used. This method requires an IV that is highly correlated with retirement duration but not correlated with cognition. The instrument used in this study is based on the so-called marriage bar, the legal requirement that women leave paid employment upon getting married, which took effect in Ireland in the 1930s and was abolished only in the 1970s. The IV regression estimates, along with formal statistical tests, provide no evidence in support of the view that cognition affects retirement decisions. The finding of a small negative effect of retirement duration on cognition is robust to alternative empirical specifications. These findings are discussed in the wider context of the effects of work-like and work-related activities on cognition.
Drawing on drawings: Moving beyond text in health professions education research
Authors: Rees Charlotte
Published: June 2018

None
Departmental collaborative approach for improving in-patient clinical documentation (five years experience)
Authors: Almidani Eyad , Khadawardi Emad , Alshareef Turki , Saadeh Sermin , Alrowaily Fouzah , Elsaidawi Weam , Qeretli Raef , Alobari Rania , Alhajjar Sami , Almofada Saleh
Published: June 2018

Introduction:

Health care institutes are cooperative areas where multiple health care services come together and work closely; physician, nurses and paramedics etc,. These multidisciplinary teams usually communicate with each other by documentation. Therefore, accurate documentation in health care organization is considered one of the vital processes. To make the documentation useful, it needs to be accurate, relevant, complete and confidential.

Objectives:

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the effect of the collaborative work in the Department of Pediatrics on improving the quality of inpatient clinical documentation over 5 years.

Methods:

Improving clinical documentations went through several collaborative approaches, these include: Departmental Administration involvement, establishment of quality management team, regular departmental collaborative meeting as a monitoring and motivating tool, establishment of the residents quality team, Integration of quality projects into the new residents annual orientation, considering it as a part of the trainee personal evaluation, sending reminders to the consultants and residents on the adherence for admission note initiating and 24 h's verification, utilization of standardized template of admission note and progress note and emphasizing on the adherence to the approved medical abbreviation list only for any abbreviation to be used.

Results:

During the period between the first quarter of 2012 to the fourth quarter of 2017; a significant improvement was noticed in the overall in-patient clinical documentation compliance rate, as it was ranging from lower 50% in 2012 and 2013, and increased gradually to reach upper 80% in the last quarters of 2016 and 2017. These figures are based on an independent audit that being done by the hospital quality management department and received by the department in a quarterly basis.

Conclusion:

Despite multiple challenges for improving the compliance for clinical documentations, major improvement can be achieved when the collaboration and efforts among all stakeholders being shared and set as a common goal.
Jurassic sediments in the Irkut basin and southwestern Transbaikalia: correlations based on paleobotanical and geochronological data
Authors: Arzhannikova A.V. , Frolov A.O. , Arzhannikov S.G. , Demonterova E.I. , Ivanov A.V. , Jolivet M. , Rubtsova M.N. , Dorozhko A.L.
Published: June 2018

The Jurassic growth of mountain ranges along the southern edge of the Siberian platform occurred in an active tectonic setting related to the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean. The oceanic subduction and subsequent continent collision events induced compressive deformations at the platform boundary. Understanding the paleogeography related to the Mesozoic closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean requires dating and correlation of the Jurassic Prisayan Formation in the Irkut basin and Tugnuyskaya Formation in southwestern Transbaikalia. This work presents structural and paleobotanic results within both formations. 40Ar/39Ar dating of underlying volcanics from the upper member of the Ichetuyskaya Formation is used to refine the age of the sediment series and provide probable correlation. The results show that the Tugnuyskaya Formation initiated at the end of the Middle Jurassic–beginning of the Late Jurassic and was not coeval with the Prisayan Formation, whose upper fine-grained members were deposited in the early Middle Jurassic. 40Ar/39Ar dating of volcanics from the upper member of the Ichetuyskaya Formation yielded a Middle Jurassic age of 167.7 ± 1.2 Ma (Bajocian to Bathonian). The paleogeographic data analysis based on facies and mineralogical composition of sediments and on a study of source areas from Sm–Nd data and the U–Pb ages of detrital zircons from the deposits in the southern Irkut basin indicates that the deposition of the Prisayan Formation was followed by the intensification of relief building along the southern edge of the Siberian Platform. Our geochronological data show that active tectonic deformations in southwestern Transbaikalia evidenced in the volcanoclastic Ichetuyskaya Formation in the Tugnuy basin also occurred during the Middle Jurassic. The uppermost sediments of the Tugnuy basin were deposited at the end of the Middle Jurassic–Late Jurassic in a quiet tectonic setting with low relief and lacustrine-boggy depositional environments.
Detailed paleoseismological research on the flank of the Lake Imandra depression (Kola region): new approaches and results
Authors: Nikolaeva S.B. , Nikonov A.A. , Shvarev S.V. , Rodkin M.V.
Published: June 2018

We present results of detailed paleoseismological research at the key site on the flank of the Lake Imandra depression (Kola region, northeast of the Fennoscandian Shield). Study of various groups of paleoseismic deformations in the fault zone and application of new methods and approaches made it possible to recognize a segment of a large seismotectonic zone where violent earthquakes occurred repeatedly at the end of the Late Glacial and in the Holocene. The dates of earthquakes and the location of their foci are determined.
Organic and Amorphous-Metal-Oxide Flexible Analogue Electronics
Authors: Pecunia Vincenzo , Fattori Marco , Abdinia Sahel , Sirringhaus Henning , Cantatore Eugenio
Published: June 2018

Recent years have witnessed significant research efforts in flexible organic and amorphous-metal-oxide analogue electronics, in view of its formidable potential for applications such as smart sensor systems. This Element provides a comprehensive overview of this growing research area. After discussing the properties of organic and amorphous-metal-oxide technologies relevant to analogue circuits, this Element focuses on their application to two key circuit blocks: amplifiers and analogue-to-digital converters. The Element thus provides a fresh look at the evolution and immediate opportunities of the field, and identifies the remaining challenges for these technologies to become the platform of choice for flexible analogue electronics.
The Continuing Growth of Cross-Cultural Psychology
Authors: Lonner Walter J.
Published: June 2018

This Element describes noteworthy developments in cross-cultural psychology of the past half century. It stresses the author's involvement with the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology and the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology. It presents events in a decade-by-decade format, allowing brief discussion of high points in each decade, such as significant conferences and books, and commentaries on selected scholars. Topics include summaries of IACCP conferences, Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, IACCP Archives, and assessment of introductory psychology texts and their cultural content. Key aspects of culture-centered methodology in psychology and the teaching of culture-oriented psychology conclude the presentation.
Measuring and Interpreting Subjective Wellbeing in Different Cultural Contexts
Authors: Cummins Robert A.
Published: June 2018

The scientific study of 'wellbeing' involves both objective and subjective variables. While objective wellbeing can be simply measured as tangible aspects of the living environment, measuring subjective wellbeing involves quantifying self-reported feelings. Although reliable and valid measures can be achieved, in a cross-cultural context differences in language and culture present formidable challenges to measurement comparability. This Element begins by describing the behaviour of subjective wellbeing in single cultures, using the theory of homeostasis. Robert A. Cummins then discusses cross-cultural differences in subjective wellbeing, with a focus on measurement invariance as a means of ensuring the validity of comparative results. Cummins proposes that the major barrier to creating such comparability of measurement is a pervasive response bias that differs between cultures. He concludes that current instruments are inadequate to provide valid cross-cultural measures of subjective wellbeing, and that suitable measures may be created as short forms of current scales.
Do top management performance attribution patterns matter to subsequent organizational outcomes? A two-country study of attribution in economic crisis
Authors: Lehmberg Derek , Tangpong Chanchai
Published: June 2018

Top management plays a central role in interpreting the organization’s performance and communicating to stakeholders. Management’s performance attributions set the tone for accountability and shape organizational climate. However, prior studies of the relationships between attribution patterns and subsequent performance have been limited and reported mixed results. This study extends this literature stream by examining the relationships of four different types of attribution and subsequent performance concurrently and testing them in a two-country sample. We find a significant positive relationship between positive internal attribution and subsequent performance, and reaffirm prior findings on negative external attribution and performance.
Processes controlling the downstream evolution of ice rheology in glacier shear margins: case study on Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica
Authors: MINCHEW BRENT M. , MEYER COLIN R. , ROBEL ALEXANDER A. , GUDMUNDSSON G. HILMAR , SIMONS MARK
Published: June 2018

Ice rheology governs how glaciers flow and respond to environmental change. The rheology of glacier ice evolves in response to a variety of mechanisms, including damage, heating, melting and the development of crystalline fabric. The relative contributions of these rheological mechanisms are not well understood. Using remotely sensed data and physical models, we decouple the influence of each of the aforementioned mechanisms along the margins of Rutford Ice Stream, a laterally confined outlet glacier in West Antarctica. We show that fabric is an important control on ice rheology in the shear margins, with an inferred softening effect consistent with a single-maximum fabric. Fabric evolves to steady state near the onset of streaming flow, and ice progressively softens downstream almost exclusively due to shear heating. The rate of heating is sensitive to local shear strain rates, which respond to local changes in bed topography as ice is squeezed through the basal trough. The impact of shear heating on the downstream evolution of ice rheology in a laterally confined glacier suggests that the thermoviscous feedback – wherein faster ice flow leads to higher rates of shear heating, further softening the ice – is a fundamental control on glacier dynamics.
Introduction to ‘Show Me the Data! Improving Evidence Presentation for Publication’ and ‘Show Us Your Data: Connect the Dots, Improve Science’
Authors: Välikangas Liisa
Published: June 2018

Henrich R. Greve, joined here by Sheen S. Levine, calls for presenting empirical data in more graphical forms than currently is the standard in management journals. This would benefit the advancement of science in many ways: showing the potential importance of the phenomenon under study to allowing a visual understanding of its relationships, thus connecting the reader to the evidence beyond the statistics shown. Do we have here a beast or a star? Without following the recommendations to start graphing as put forward by Greve and Levine, the reader would never know.
Civil Disobedience in Democratic Regimes
Authors: Wihl Gary
Published: June 2018

This article provides a fresh interpretation of John Rawls's discussion of civil disobedience inA Theory of Justice(Harvard University Press 1971). It focuses on an original feature in Rawls's analysis: civil disobedience as a form of speech deployed by a well-defined minority in an effort to correct an injustice perpetrated by a majority. For Rawls, civil disobedience as a speech function departs from the principle of protected free speech. Only certain expressions of civil disobedience are capable of producing genuine legal reform. Rawls gains new importance as part of a larger effort to understand and evaluate the outbreak of recent movements of mass dissent and protest from the Arab Spring to Ukraine to Hong Kong to the United States. A reconsideration of Rawls may be used to assess the likely success of these various expressions of dissent and protest.

Rawls's discussion of civil disobedience circumvents arguments in the legal literature that attempt to justify certain types of illegal activity with reference to moral conscience or natural law. Nevertheless, the focus on civil disobedience as speech encounters forms of coercive, resistant public opinion in the public sphere. Detailed, exemplary narratives by Martin Luther King and Norman Mailer on acts of civil disobedience illuminate forms of coercion that must be considered in extending and re-evaluating Rawls's original contributions.
The International Legal Status of Armed Groups: Can One Be Determined Outside the Scope of Armed Conflict?
Authors: Gal Tom
Published: June 2018

In 2016 Daragh Murray published his book Human Rights Obligations of Non-State Armed Groups (Hart 2016). By way of distinction from many other contributions on this widely discussed topic, Murray tries to provide the reader with a complete overview of the legal framework that enables armed groups to acquire international legal status, and preferably outside the framework of armed conflict. He walks the reader through the path of international legal personality, leading towards the acknowledgement of armed groups as addressees of the law. Murray's attempt is courageous, interesting and innovative, but it has its shortcomings. These include his reliance on international criminal law as a source for defining armed groups, and his insistence on stepping outside international humanitarian law. Nonetheless, his contribution is essential for those who wish to include even more armed groups on the international plane.
The Status of Judea and Samaria Revisited: A Response to Eyal Benvenisti
Authors: Blum Yehuda Z
Published: June 2018

The July 2017 issue of the Israel Law Review celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its publication, and for that occasion selected five articles (one for each decade) which, in the Editors’ view, ‘had a lasting impact on scholarly debate and beyond’. For the first decade the Editors chose my article ‘The Missing Reversioner: Reflections on the Status of Judea and Samaria’, which appeared in the July 1968 issue, and asked Professor Eyal Benvenisti to comment on my piece, which he did under the title ‘An Article that Changed the Course of History?’ Not unexpectedly, Benvenisti has made a frontal attack on the central thesis of my article, which he reproduced in virtually identical language in the April 2017 issue of the American Journal of International Law.
Living in a Legal Vacuum: The Case of Israel's Legal Position and Policy towards Gaza Residents
Authors: Luft Michal
Published: June 2018

The legal status of the Gaza Strip following the 2005 Israeli ‘Disengagement’, as well as the applicability of the laws of belligerent occupation with regard to this territory, have sparked, and continue to generate, a lively academic debate, involving states, organisations and legal scholars. Nevertheless, this debate has seldom included an examination of the de facto policy exercised by Israel vis-à-vis Gaza residents themselves.

This article seeks to fill the gap by providing a thorough examination of Israel's legal position towards the residents of Gaza, and a critical analysis of its policy and practice with regard to their movement as well as the movement of goods. This review, based on dozens of policy papers, regulations and procedures, as well as numerous judgments handed down by Israeli courts, reveals that Israel maintains a deliberately deficient and ambiguous legal position with regard to the status of Gaza residents. Under this position, the residents are merely ‘foreign residents’ who have no particular rights in relation to Israel. I argue that this position establishes a major legal vacuum in the protection afforded to Gaza residents and is therefore incompatible with both the reality of Israel's continuous control over Gaza as well as the objects and norms of international humanitarian law.
Interaction and instructed second language acquisition
Authors: Loewen Shawn , Sato Masatoshi
Published: June 2018

Interaction is an indispensable component in second language acquisition (SLA). This review surveys the instructed SLA research, both classroom and laboratory-based, that has been conducted primarily within the interactionist approach, beginning with the core constructs of interaction, namely input, negotiation for meaning, and output. The review continues with an overview of specific areas of interaction research. The first investigates interlocutor characteristics, including (a) first language (L1) status, (b) peer interaction, (c) participation structure, (d) second language (L2) proficiency, and (e) individual differences. The second topic is task characteristics, such as task conditions (e.g. information distribution, task goals), task complexity (i.e. simple or complex), and task participation structure (i.e. whole class, small groups or dyads). Next, the review considers various linguistic features that have been researched in relation to interaction and L2 learning. The review then continues with interactional contexts, focusing especially on research into computer-mediated interaction. The review ends with a consideration of methodological issues in interaction research, such as the merits of classroom and lab-based studies, and the various methods for measuring the noticing of linguistic forms during interaction. In sum, research has found interaction to be effective in promoting L2 development; however, there are numerous factors that impact its efficacy.
Integrated assessment research: Writing-into-reading
Authors: Plakans Lia , Liao Jui-Teng , Wang Fang
Published: June 2018

The view that language should be divided into four skills – reading, writing, listening, speaking – has dominated second language (L2) teaching and learning for some time; perspectives have emerged that conceptualize language as holistic or skills as integrated. This construct of language is evident in language assessments, with an increase in ‘integrated skills’ tasks appearing in tests of writing or speaking. Integrated skills assessments have been defined in several ways (Knoch & Sitajalabhorn 2013) such as reading-into-writing performance with the reading content included in the writing or as tasks that use input, textual or visual, as stimulus for writing under the integrated umbrella (Plakans 2013). Even with these multiple interpretations questions arise: ‘Is that all?’ ‘Is there more to integration?’
Smart Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscopy Imaging Technique Using Horizontal Fast Scanning Method
Authors: Zhuang Jian , Wang Zhiwu , Li Zeqing , Liang Pengbo , Vincent Mugubo
Published: June 2018

To solve extended acquisition time issues inherent in the conventional hopping-scanning mode of scanning ion-conductance microscopy (SICM), a new transverse-fast scanning mode (TFSM) is proposed. Because the transverse motion in SICM is not the detection direction and therefore presents no collision problem, it has the ability to move at high speed. In TSFM, the SICM probe gradually descends in the vertical/detection direction and rapidly scans in the transverse/nondetection direction. Further, the highest point that decides the hopping height of each scanning line can be quickly obtained. In conventional hopping mode, however, the hopping height is artificially set without a priori knowledge and is typically very large. Consequently, TFSM greatly improves the scanning speed of the SICM imaging system by effectively reducing the hopping height of each pixel. This study verifies the feasibility of this novel scanning method via theoretical analysis and experimental study, and compares the speed and quality of the scanning images obtained in the TFSM with that of the conventional hopping mode. The experimental results indicate that the TFSM method has a faster scanning speed than other SICM scanning methods while maintaining the quality of the images. Therefore, TFSM provides the possibility to quickly obtain high-resolution three-dimensional topographical images of extremely complex samples.
SHARP CONSTANTS FOR MULTIVARIATE HAUSDORFF -INEQUALITIES
Authors: FAN DASHAN , ZHAO FAYOU
Published: June 2018

In this paper, we focus on the multivariate Hausdorff operator of the form $$\begin{eqnarray}\mathbf{H}_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}}(f)(x)=\int _{(0,+\infty )^{n}}{\displaystyle \frac{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}\big(\frac{x_{1}}{t_{1}},\frac{x_{2}}{t_{2}},\ldots ,\frac{x_{n}}{t_{n}}\big)}{t_{1}t_{2}\cdots t_{n}}}f(t_{1},t_{2},\ldots ,t_{n})\,\mathbf{dt},\end{eqnarray}$$ where $\mathbf{dt}=dt_{1}\,dt_{2}\cdots \,dt_{n}$ or $\mathbf{dt}=d_{q}t_{1}\,d_{q}t_{2}\cdots d_{q}t_{n}$ is the discrete measure in $q$-analysis. The sharp bounds for the multivariate Hausdorff operator on spaces $L^{p}$ with power weights are calculated, where $p\in \mathbb{R}\backslash \{0\}$.
Introduction: Parenting Support in the Nordic Countries: Is there a Specific Nordic Model?
Authors: Sundsbø Astrid Ouahyb , Sihvonen Ella
Published: June 2018

This themed section focuses on parenting support as a social policy phenomenon within and across the five Nordic Countries of Europe: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. As in other parts of Europe, parenting support has received increased attention in social policy making in the Nordic region. In reviewing developments in the Nordic countries, the themed section seeks to identify and discuss similarities and differences between parenting support policies in the North versus other parts of Europe. It considers whether the aims and the provision of parenting support in the Nordic countries differ significantly from those identified in studies of parenting support policies in other European countries.
Effect of Bicyclopyrone on Triploid Watermelon in Plasticulture
Authors: Bertucci Matthew B. , Jennings Katherine M. , Monks David W. , Jordan David L. , Schultheis Jonathan R. , Louws Frank J. , Waldschmidt Matthew D.
Published: June 2018

Field studies were conducted to determine watermelon tolerance and yield response when treated with bicyclopyrone preplant (PREPLANT), POST, and POST-directed (POST-DIR). Treatments consisted of two rates of bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ai ha–1), fomesafen (175 g ai ha–1), S-metolachlor (802 g ai ha–1), and a nontreated check. Preplant treatments were applied to formed beds 1 d prior to transplanting and included bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ha–1) and fomesafen (175 g ha–1), and new polyethylene mulch was subsequently laid above treated beds. POST and POST-DIR treatments were applied 14 ± 1 d after watermelon transplanting and included bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ha–1) POST and POST-DIR, and S-metolachlor (802 g ai ha–1) POST-DIR. POST-DIR treatments were applied to row middles, ensuring that no herbicide contacted watermelon vines or polyethylene mulch. At 2 wk after transplanting (WAT), 15% foliar bleaching was observed in watermelon treated with bicyclopyrone (50 g ha–1) PRE. At 3 WAT, bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ha–1) POST caused 16% and 17% foliar bleaching and 8% and 9% crop stunting, respectively. At 4 WAT, initial injury had subsided and bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ha–1) POST caused 4% and 4% foliar bleaching and 4% and 8% crop stunting, respectively. No symptoms of bleaching or stunting were observed at 6- and 8-WAT ratings. Watermelon total yield, marketable yield, total fruit number, marketable fruit number, and average fruit size were unaffected by herbicide treatments. Therefore, registration of bicyclopyrone (37.5 and 50 g ha–1) PREPLANT, POST, and POST-DIR would offer watermelon producers a safe herbicide option and a novel mode of action for weed management.