bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stationary measures associated to analytic iterated function schemes
Authors: Cipriano Italo , Pollicott Mark
Published: April 2018

We study how the stationary measure associated to analytic contractions on the unit interval behaves under changes in the contractions and the weights. Firstly we give a simple proof of the fact that the integrals of analytic functions with respect to the stationary measure vary analytically if we perturb the contractions and the weights analytically. Secondly, we consider the special case of affine contractions and we prove a conjecture of J. Fraser in on the Kantorovich–Wasserstein distance between two stationary measures associated to affine contractions on the unit interval with different rates of contraction.
A semiautomatic segmentation method for prostate in CT images using local texture classification and statistical shape modeling
Authors: Shahedi Maysam , Halicek Martin , Guo Rongrong , Zhang Guoyi , Schuster David M. , Fei Baowei
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Prostate segmentation in computed tomography (CT) images is useful for treatment planning and procedure guidance such as external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy. However, because of the low, soft tissue contrast of CT images, manual segmentation of the prostate is a time‐consuming task with high interobserver variation. In this study, we proposed a semiautomated, three‐dimensional (3D) segmentation for prostate CT images using shape and texture analysis and we evaluated the method against manual reference segmentations.

Methods

The prostate gland usually has a globular shape with a smoothly curved surface, and its shape could be accurately modeled or reconstructed having a limited number of well‐distributed surface points. In a training dataset, using the prostate gland centroid point as the origin of a coordination system, we defined an intersubject correspondence between the prostate surface points based on the spherical coordinates. We applied this correspondence to generate a point distribution model for prostate shape using principal component analysis and to study the local texture difference between prostate and nonprostate tissue close to the different prostate surface subregions. We used the learned shape and texture characteristics of the prostate in CT images and then combined them with user inputs to segment a new image. We trained our segmentation algorithm using 23 CT images and tested the algorithm on two sets of 10 nonbrachytherapy and 37 postlow dose rate brachytherapy CT images. We used a set of error metrics to evaluate the segmentation results using two experts' manual reference segmentations.

Results

For both nonbrachytherapy and post‐brachytherapy image sets, the average measured Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was 88% and the average mean absolute distance (MAD) was 1.9 mm. The average measured differences between the two experts on both datasets were 92% (DSC) and 1.1 mm (MAD).

Conclusions

The proposed, semiautomatic segmentation algorithm showed a fast, robust, and accurate performance for 3D prostate segmentation of CT images, specifically when no previous, intrapatient information, that is, previously segmented images, was available. The accuracy of the algorithm is comparable to the best performance results reported in the literature and approaches the interexpert variability observed in manual segmentation.
Interplay effect on a 6‐MV flattening‐filter‐free linear accelerator with high dose rate and fast multi‐leaf collimator motion treating breast and lung phantoms
Authors: Netherton Tucker , Li Yuting , Nitsch Paige , Shaitelman Simona , Balter Peter , Gao Song , Klopp Ann , Muruganandham Manickam , Court Laurence
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Using a new linear accelerator with high dose rate (800 MU/min), fast MLC motions (5.0 cm/s), fast gantry rotation (15 s/rotation), and 1 cm wide MLCs, we aimed to quantify the effects of complexity, arc number, and fractionation on interplay for breast and lung treatments under target motion.

Methods

To study lung interplay, eight VMAT plans (1–6 arcs) and four‐nine‐field sliding‐window IMRT plans varying in complexity were created. For the breast plans, four‐four‐field sliding‐window IMRT plans were created. Using the Halcyon 1.0 linear accelerator, each plan was delivered five times each under sinusoidal breathing motion to a phantom with 20 implanted MOSFET detectors; MOSFET dose (cGy), delivery time, and MU/cGy values were recorded. Maximum and mean dose deviations were calculated from MOSFET data. The number of MOSFETs with at least 19 of 20 detectors agreeing with their expected dose within 5% per fraction was calculated across 106 iterations to model dose deviation as function of fraction number for all plan variants. To put interplay plans into clinical context, additional IMRT and VMAT plans were created and delivered for the sites of head and neck, prostate, whole brain, breast, pelvis, and lung. Average modulation and interplay effect were compared to those from conventional linear accelerators, as reported from previous studies.

Results

The mean beam modulation for plans created for the Halcyon 1.0 linear accelerator was 2.9 MU/cGy (two‐ to four‐field IMRT breast plans), 6.2 MU/cGy (at least five‐field IMRT), and 3.6 MU/cGy (four‐arc VMAT). To achieve treatment plan objectives, Halcyon 1.0 VMAT plans require more arcs and modulation than VMAT on conventional linear accelerators. Maximum and mean dose deviations increased with increasing plan complexity under tumor motion for breast and lung treatments. Concerning VMAT plans under motion, maximum, and mean dose deviations were higher for one arc than for two arcs regardless of plan complexity. For plan variants with maximum dose deviations greater than 3.7%, dose deviation as a function of fraction number was protracted.

Conclusion

For treatments on the Halcyon 1.0 linear accelerator, the convergence of dose deviation with fraction number happened more slowly than reported for conventional linear accelerators. However, if plan complexity is reduced for IMRT and if tumor motion is less than ~10‐mm, interplay is greatly reduced. To minimize dose deviations across multiple fractions for dynamic targets, we recommend limiting treatment plan complexity and avoiding one‐arc VMAT on the Halcyon 1.0 linear accelerator when interplay is a concern.
The Dresden Burnout Study: Protocol of a prospective cohort study for the bio‐psychological investigation of burnout
Authors: Penz Marlene , Wekenborg Magdalena K. , Pieper Lars , Beesdo‐Baum Katja , Walther Andreas , Miller Robert , Stalder Tobias , Kirschbaum Clemens
Published: April 2018

Objectives

The Dresden Burnout Study (DBS) is a 12‐year longitudinal cohort study that aims to provide a description of the burnout syndrome on the basis of time and symptom criteria with a special focus on the search for biomarkers. Biological and psychosocial approaches are applied to examine the long‐term course and consequences of burnout within a population‐based German‐speaking sample aged 18 to 68 years.

Methods

Demographics and psychosocial data are generated by online assessments, including demographics and questionnaires on burnout, burnout‐related constructs, work‐environment, and health‐related factors. The lab‐based biomarker assessment includes endocrine, physiological, immunological, and epigenetic markers obtained from blood and hair samples. In addition, heart rate variability is also measured repeatedly. Within the first 2 years, the DBS collected psychosocial data from over 7,600 participants with biological data obtained from more than 800 individuals. During the following 10 years, detailed assessments of biomarkers and psychosocial factors will be collected in annual study waves.

Results

Results will be generated during the following decade.

Conclusion

The findings of the DBS are expected to pave the road for an in‐depth biopsychosocial characterization of burnout and to give insight into the long‐term course and potential mental and physical health consequences of the burnout syndrome.
The effect of medical clowns on performance of spirometry among preschool aged children
Authors: Nir Vered , Schichter‐Konfino Vered , Kassem Eias , Klein Adi
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Medical clowns (MCs) are known to assist in reducing pain and alleviating anxiety. The objective of this study is to evaluate the ability of MCs to assist preschoolers in performing spirometry.

Methods

A prospective, randomized controlled trial. Children aged 3‐6 years participated. After a first spirometry, children were divided into two groups: the first performed a second spirometry with an MC. The second repeated spirometry with the technician. Primary outcome was second spirometry values compared between the groups. Secondary outcome were change in spirometry values within groups, and difference between the groups.

Results

A total of 140 children participated. The groups did not differ in age, sex, mother tongue, or weight. Nor in mean FVC (MC 89.2% ± 16.7, control 89.5% ± 16.3) mean FEV1 (MC 91.3% ± 15.6, control 94.2% ± 16.8), and expiratory time (MC 1.58 ± 0.43, control 1.7 ± 0.44) in first spirometry. In second spirometry the control group had a similar FVC, FEV1, and expiratory time. The MC group had a significant improvement in all parameters: FVC: MC 95.3% ± 15.5, control 89.3% ± 19.1, FEV1: MC 98.0% ± 15.6, control 91.8% ± 19.3, and expiratory time MC 1.96 ± 0.55, control 1.84 ± 0.52. The differences between the groups between first and second attempt were significant (P‐value FVC 0.000, FEV1 0.000, expiratory time 0.003).

Discussion

MCs improved performance of spirometry among preschoolers. It is possible that laughter and relief of stress had a physiological effect. Further studies are required to better establish the ability of MCs to improve active participation and to better understand whether the mechanism of the improvement is better cooperation or true physiological change.
Variation of boundary‐layer wind spectra with height
Authors: Larsén Xiaoli G. , Petersen Erik L. , Larsen Søren E.
Published: April 2018

This study revisits the height dependence of the wind speed power spectrum from the synoptic scale to the spectral gap. Measurements from cup and sonic anemometers at heights of 15 to 244 m are used. The measurements are from one land site, one coastal land‐based site and three offshore sites in the midlatitudes. There are two new findings. The first finding addresses the diurnal peak in the power spectrum. Our analysis suggests that there are two sources that contribute to the diurnal peak. One is related to surface‐driven processes and another is related to a pressure perturbation from the atmospheric tide. The second finding concerns the height dependence of the general spectrum. We describe the dependence through a so‐called effective roughness, which is calculated from wind spectra and represents the energy removal at different frequencies, and thus surface conditions in the footprint areas. The generalizable spectral properties of winds presented here may prove useful for validating numerical models.
The probability of avoiding consecutive patterns in the Mallows distribution
Authors: Crane Harry , DeSalvo Stephen , Elizalde Sergi
Published: April 2018

We use combinatorial and probabilistic techniques to study growth rates for the probability that a random permutation from the Mallows distribution avoids consecutive patterns. The Mallows distribution is a q‐analogue of the uniform distribution weighting each permutation π by , where is the number of inversions in π and q is a positive, real‐valued parameter. We prove that the growth rate exists for all patterns and all q > 0, and we generalize Goulden and Jackson's cluster method to keep track of the number of inversions in permutations avoiding a given consecutive pattern. Using singularity analysis, we approximate the growth rates for length‐3 patterns, monotone patterns, and non‐overlapping patterns starting with 1, and we compare growth rates between different patterns. We also use Stein's method to show that, under certain assumptions on q and σ, the number of occurrences of a given pattern σ is well approximated by the normal distribution.
Pyrolytic Carbon Nanosheets for Ultrafast and Ultrastable Sodium‐Ion Storage
Authors: Cho Se Youn , Kang Minjee , Choi Jaewon , Lee Min Eui , Yoon Hyeon Ji , Kim Hae Jin , Leal Cecilia , Lee Sungho , Jin Hyoung‐Joon , Yun Young Soo
Published: April 2018

Na‐ion cointercalation in the graphite host structure in a glyme‐based electrolyte represents a new possibility for using carbon‐based materials (CMs) as anodes for Na‐ion storage. However, local microstructures and nanoscale morphological features in CMs affect their electrochemical performances; they require intensive studies to achieve high levels of Na‐ion storage performances. Here, pyrolytic carbon nanosheets (PCNs) composed of multitudinous graphitic nanocrystals are prepared from renewable bioresources by heating. In particular, PCN‐2800 prepared by heating at 2800 °C has a distinctive sp2 carbon bonding nature, crystalline domain size of ≈44.2 Å, and high electrical conductivity of ≈320 S cm−1, presenting significantly high rate capability at 600 C (60 A g−1) and stable cycling behaviors over 40 000 cycles as an anode for Na‐ion storage. The results of this study show the unusual graphitization behaviors of a char‐type carbon precursor and exceptionally high rate and cycling performances of the resulting graphitic material, PCN‐2800, even surpassing those of supercapacitors.
Real‐Time Imaging of Dynamic Cell Reprogramming with Nanosensors
Authors: Wiraja Christian , Yeo David C. , Tham Khek‐Chian , Chew Sharon W. T. , Lim Xinhong , Xu Chenjie
Published: April 2018

Cellular reprogramming, the process by which somatic cells regain pluripotency, is relevant in many disease modeling, therapeutic, and drug discovery applications. Molecular evaluation of reprogramming (e.g., polymerase chain reaction, immunostaining) is typically disruptive, and only provides snapshots of phenotypic traits. Gene reporter constructs facilitate live‐cell evaluation but is labor intensive and may risk insertional mutagenesis during viral transfection. Herein, the utilization of a non‐integrative nanosensor is demonstrated to visualize key reprogramming events in situ within live cells. Principally based on sustained intracellular release of encapsulated molecular probes, nanosensors successfully monitored mesenchymal‐epithelial transition, pluripotency acquisition, and transdifferentiation events. Tracking the dynamic expression of four pivotal biomarkers (i.e., THY1, E‐CADHERIN, OCT4, and GATA4 mRNA), nanosensor signal showed great agreement with polymerase chain reaction and gene reporter imaging (R2 > 0.9). Overall, such facile, versatile nanosensor enables real‐time monitoring of low‐frequency reprogramming events, thereby useful for high‐throughput assessment, optimization, and biomarker‐specific cell enrichment.
The Flexibility of an Amorphous Cobalt Hydroxide Nanomaterial Promotes the Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Liu Juzhe , Nai Jianwei , You Tingting , An Pengfei , Zhang Jing , Ma Guanshui , Niu Xiaogang , Liang Chaoying , Yang Shihe , Guo Lin
Published: April 2018

Structural flexibility can be a desirable trait of an operating catalyst because it adapts itself to a given catalytic process for enhanced activity. Here, amorphous cobalt hydroxide nanocages are demonstrated to be a promising electrocatalyst with an overpotential of 0.28 V at 10 mA cm−2, far outperforming the crystalline counterparts and being in the top rank of the catalysts of their kind, under the condition of electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. From the direct experimental in situ and ex situ results, this enhanced activity is attributed to its high structural flexibility in terms of 1) facile and holistic transformation into catalytic active phase; 2) hosting oxygen vacancies; and 3) structure self‐regulation in a real‐time process. Significantly, based on plausible catalytic mechanism and computational simulation results, it is disclosed how this structural flexibility facilitates the kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction. This work deepens the understanding of the structure–activity relationship of the Co‐based catalysts in electrochemical catalysis, and it inspires more applications that require flexible structures enabled by such amorphous nanomaterials.
Controllable Synthesis of [11−2−2] Faceted InN Nanopyramids on ZnO for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Liu Huiqiang , Ma Xinzhou , Chen Zuxin , Li Qiuguo , Lin Zuoye , Liu Han , Zhao Liuying , Chu Sheng
Published: April 2018

Indium nitride (InN) is one of the promising narrow band gap semiconductors for utilizing solar energy in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. However, its widespread application is still hindered by the difficulties in growing high‐quality InN samples. Here, high‐quality InN nanopyramid arrays are synthesized via epitaxial growth on ZnO single‐crystals. The as‐prepared InN nanopyramids have well‐defined exposed facets of [0001], [11−2−2], [1−212], and [−2112], which provide a possible routine for understanding water oxidation processes on the different facets of nanostructures in nanoscale. First‐principles density functional calculations reveal that the nonpolar [11−2−2] face has the highest catalytic activity for water oxidation. PEC investigations demonstrate that the band positions of the InN nanopyramids are strongly altered by the ZnO substrate and a heterogeneous n–n junction is naturally formed at the InN/ZnO interface. The formation of the n–n junction and the built‐in electric field is ascribed to the efficient separation of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs and the good PEC performance of the InN/ZnO. The InN/ZnO shows good photostability and the hydrogen evolution is about 0.56 µmol cm−2 h−1, which is about 30 times higher than that of the ZnO substrate. This study demonstrates the potential application of the InN/ZnO photoanodes for PEC water splitting.
High‐Responsivity Photodetection by a Self‐Catalyzed Phase‐Pure p‐GaAs Nanowire
Authors: Ali Hassan , Zhang Yunyan , Tang Jing , Peng Kai , Sun Sibai , Sun Yue , Song Feilong , Falak Attia , Wu Shiyao , Qian Chenjiang , Wang Meng , Zuo Zhanchun , Jin Kui‐Juan , Sanchez Ana M. , Liu Huiyun , Xu Xiulai
Published: April 2018

Defects are detrimental for optoelectronics devices, such as stacking faults can form carrier‐transportation barriers, and foreign impurities (Au) with deep‐energy levels can form carrier traps and nonradiative recombination centers. Here, self‐catalyzed p‐type GaAs nanowires (NWs) with a pure zinc blende (ZB) structure are first developed, and then a photodetector made from these NWs is fabricated. Due to the absence of stacking faults and suppression of large amount of defects with deep energy levels, the photodetector exhibits room‐temperature high photoresponsivity of 1.45 × 105 A W−1 and excellent specific detectivity (D*) up to 1.48 × 1014 Jones for a low‐intensity light signal of wavelength 632.8 nm, which outperforms previously reported NW‐based photodetectors. These results demonstrate these self‐catalyzed pure‐ZB GaAs NWs to be promising candidates for optoelectronics applications.
Magnetically Powered Annelid‐Worm‐Like Microswimmers
Authors: Liu Yiman , Ge Dongqing , Cong Jiawei , Piao Hong‐Guang , Huang Xiufeng , Xu Yunli , Lu Guangduo , Pan Liqing , Liu Min
Published: April 2018

A bioinspired magnetically powered microswimmer is designed and experimentally demonstrated by mimicking the morphology of annelid worms. The structural parameters of the microswimmer, such as the surface wrinkling, can be controlled by applying prestrain on substrate for the precise fabrication and consistent performance of the microswimmers. The resulting annelid‐worm‐like microswimmers display efficient propulsion under an oscillating magnetic field, reaching a peak speed of ≈100 µm s−1. The speed and directionality of the microswimmer can be readily controlled by changing the parameters of the field inputs. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the microswimmers are able to transport microparticles toward a predefined destination, although the translation velocity is inevitably reduced due to the additional hydrodynamic resistance of the microparticles. These annelid‐worm‐like microswimmers have excellent mobility, good maneuverability, and strong transport capacity, and they hold considerable promise for diverse biomedical, chemical sensing, and environmental applications.
FE Simulation of the Influence of Roll Diameter Difference on the Plate Curvature during Hot Plate Rolling
Authors: Son Ryong‐Chol , Sim Kyong‐Ho , O Sin‐Ho
Published: April 2018

In the hot plate rolling process, the ideal symmetric condition cannot be always ensured and the rolled plate may turn up or turn down. The factors associated with the plate curvature are as follows: temperature difference, roll speed mismatch, roll diameter difference, frictional difference, reduction rate, ingoing thickness, and so on. The roll diameter ratio must occur when the reprocessed work rolls are used. So, it is important to determine the range of the admissible roll diameter ratio which causes very narrow range of the plate curvature to ensure a normal rolling. The authors investigate the influence of the roll diameter ratio on the plate curvature during seven passes of a reversing rougher by using the three‐dimension finite element analysis software DEFORM‐3D V.10.2. Based on the simulation results, the range of admissible roll diameter ratio is determined. It is less than 1.09 when the linear velocities of rolls are symmetric. The results can be as basis data for the design of the work roll reprocessing parameters and the real‐time control to ensure a normal rolling in a reversing rougher.
Vegetationsentwicklung in revitalisierten Flusslandschaften am Beispiel des LIFE+-Traisen-Projekts
Authors: Egger Gregory , Mayer Katharina , Kreuzberger Markus , Aigner Susanne
Published: April 2018

Die übergeordneten Ziele des LIFE+-Traisen-Projektes liegen in der Schaffung von naturnahen Gewässer- und Auenbiozönosen und einer Erhöhung der Biodiversität im „Europaschutzgebiet Tullnerfelder Donauauen“. Erreicht werden sollen diese Ziele durch eine optimale Vernetzung des neu angelegten und ungesicherten Traisenflussbettes mit den großflächig abgesenkten Ufer- und Auenbereichen der Donauauen. Generell sind die Wachstumsbedingungen im Absenkungsbereich sehr gut und die Vegetationsentwicklung verläuft im gesamten Projektgebiet entsprechend rasch. In allen Bauabschnitten konnten sich auf über 50 % der Flächen jeweils in der ersten Vegetationsperiode bereits die Silber-Weide (Salix alba) und die Schwarz-Pappel (Populus nigra) über eine Naturverjüngung etablieren. Auf den restlichen Flächen haben sich Hochstauden, Röhrichtarten und ruderale Arten durchgesetzt. Vor allem das Rohrglanzgras (Phalaris arundinacea) hat sich massiv verbreitet. In den beiden Folgejahren hat sich die Gehölzanzahl verringert. Es konnten sich jedoch trotz Wildverbiss und der Lichtkonkurrenz mit den krautigen Arten die standorttypischen Gehölze etablieren und über eine erfolgreiche Naturverjüngung auch in den beiden Folgejahren noch zusätzliche Flächen einnehmen. Neophyten treten bislang nur vereinzelt auf. Am häufigsten ist noch die Goldrute (Solidago gigantea, S. canadensis) zu finden. In Summe zeichnet sich ab, dass die gesamte Umlandabsenkung bereits in den nächsten Jahren bis auf ca. Mittelwasserhöhe der „neuen“ Traisen von einer dichten Vegetationsdecke eingenommen werden wird. Pionierflächen werden, falls sich kein „Jahrhunderthochwasser“ ereignet, wieder fast vollständig verschwinden. Es ist absehbar, dass sich trotz Wildverbiss und der Lichtkonkurrenz die jungen Weiden und Pappeln zu einem locker geschlossenen Weichholzauwald entwickeln werden. Dieser wird mosaikartig mit Röhricht- und Hochstaudenfluren verzahnt sein. Letztere werden über viele Jahre mehr oder minder als solche stabil bleiben.
Clinical characteristics associated with paedophilia and child sex offending – Differentiating sexual preference from offence status
Authors: Gerwinn Hannah , Weiß Simone , Tenbergen Gilian , Amelung Till , Födisch Carina , Pohl Alexander , Massau Claudia , Kneer Jonas , Mohnke Sebastian , Kärgel Christian , Wittfoth Matthias , Jung Stefanie , Drumkova Krassimira , Schiltz Kolja , Walter Martin , Beier Klaus M. , Walter Henrik , Ponseti Jorge , Schiffer Boris , Kruger Tillmann H.C.
Published: April 2018

Contrary to public perception, child sex offending (CSO) and paedophilia are not the same. Only half of all cases of CSO are motivated by paedophilic preference, and a paedophilic preference does not necessarily lead to CSO. However, studies that investigated clinical factors accompanying and contributing to paedophilia so far mainly relied on paedophiles with a history of CSO. The aim of this study was to distinguish between factors associated with sexual preference (paedophile versus non-paedophile) and offender status (with versus without CSO). Accordingly, a 2 (sexual preference) × 2 (offender status) factorial design was used for a comprehensive clinical assessment of paedophiles with and without a history of CSO (n = 83, n = 79 respectively), child sex offenders without paedophilia (n = 32) and healthy controls (n = 148). Results indicated that psychiatric comorbidities, sexual dysfunctions and adverse childhood experiences were more common among paedophiles and child sex offenders than controls. Offenders and non-offenders differed in age, intelligence, educational level and experience of childhood sexual abuse, whereas paedophiles and non-paedophiles mainly differed in sexual characteristics (e.g., additional paraphilias, onset and current level of sexual activity). Regression analyses were more powerful in segregating offender status than sexual preference (mean classification accuracy: 76% versus 68%). In differentiating between offence- and preference-related factors this study improves clinical understanding of both phenomena and may be used to develop scientifically grounded CSO prevention and treatment programmes. It also highlights that some deviations are not traceable to just one of these two factors, thus raising the issue of the mechanism underlying both phenomena.
How far does the Systemic Approach to Immunities take us?
Authors: Webb Philippa
Published: April 2018

The International Law Commission (ILC) explains in its 2017 Commentary to Draft Article 7 of its Draft Articles on the Immunity of State Officials from Foreign Criminal Jurisdiction that the draft articles are “intended to apply within an international legal order whose unity and systemic nature cannot be ignored.” The quest for coherence is admirable. It enhances legal certainty and predictability in an evolving area of the law. But a systemic approach can also go too far—stretching analogies and ignoring differences, seeing a trend where there is none. The trajectory of the ILC's work on Draft Article 7 illustrates certain dangers.
Reducing Clostridium difficile Colitis Rates Via Cost-Saving Diagnostic Stewardship
Authors: Yen Christina , Holtom Paul , Butler-Wu Susan M. , Wald-Dickler Noah , Shulman Ira , Spellberg Brad
Published: April 2018

We conducted a quality improvement project at a large public tertiary-care academic hospital to reduce reported hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) rates. We introduced diagnostic stewardship and provider education, resulting in a 2-fold reduction in C. difficile nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) orders and markedly lower hospital CDI rate.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:734–736
The impact of a deep-water plunging breaker on a wall with its bottom edge close to the mean water surface
Authors: Wang An , Ikeda-Gilbert Christine M. , Duncan James H. , Lathrop Daniel P. , Cooker Mark J. , Fullerton Anne M.
Published: April 2018

The impact of a deep-water plunging breaker on a finite height two-dimensional structure with a vertical front face is studied experimentally. The structure is located at a fixed horizontal position relative to a wave maker and the structure’s bottom surface is located at a range of vertical positions close to the undisturbed water surface. Measurements of the water surface profile history and the pressure distribution on the front surface of the structure are performed. As the vertical position,$z_{b}$(the$z$axis is positive up and$z=0$is the mean water level), of the structure’s bottom surface is varied from one experimental run to another, the water surface evolution during impact can be categorized into three classes of behaviour. In class I, with$z_{b}$in a range of values near$-0.1\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}_{0}$, where$\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}_{0}$is the nominal wavelength of the breaker, the behaviour of the water surface is similar to the flip-through phenomena first described in studies with shallow water and a structure mounted on the sea bed. In the present work, it is found that the water surface between the front face of the structure and the wave crest is well fitted by arcs of circles with a decreasing radius and downward moving centre as the impact proceeds. A spatially and temporally localized high-pressure region was found on the impact surface of the structure and existing theory is used to explore the physics of this phenomenon. In class II, with$z_{b}$in a range of values near the mean water level, the bottom of the structure exits and re-enters the water phase at least once during the impact process. These air–water transitions generate large-amplitude ripple packets that propagate to the wave crest and modify its behaviour significantly. At$z_{b}=0$, all sensors submerged during the impact record a nearly in-phase high-frequency pressure oscillation indicating possible air entrainment. In class III, with$z_{b}$in a range of values near$0.03\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}_{0}$, the bottom of the structure remains in air before the main crest hits the bottom corner of the structure. The subsequent free surface behaviour is strongly influenced by the instantaneous momentum of the local flow just before impact and the highest wall pressures of all experimental conditions are found.
Three-dimensional surfactant-covered flows of thin liquid films on rotating cylinders
Authors: Li Weihua , Kumar Satish
Published: April 2018

The coating of discrete objects is an important but poorly understood step in the manufacturing of a broad variety of products. An important model problem is the flow of a thin liquid film on a rotating cylinder, where instabilities can arise and compromise coating uniformity. In this work, we use lubrication theory and flow visualization experiments to study the influence of surfactant on these flows. Two coupled evolution equations describing the variation of film thickness and concentration of insoluble surfactant as a function of time, the angular coordinate and the axial coordinate are solved numerically. The results show that surface-tension forces arising from both axial and angular variations in the angular curvature drive flows in the axial direction that tend to smooth out free-surface perturbations and lead to a stable speed window in which axial perturbations do not grow. The presence of surfactant leads to Marangoni stresses that can cause the stable speed window to disappear by driving flow that opposes the stabilizing flow. In addition, Marangoni stresses tend to reduce the spacing between droplets that form at low rotation rates, and reduce the growth rate of rings that form at high rotation rates. Flow visualization experiments yield observations that are qualitatively consistent with predictions from linear stability analysis and the simulation results. The visualizations also indicate that surfactants tend to suppress dripping, slow the development of free-surface perturbations, and reduce the shifting and merging of rings and droplets, allowing more time for solidifying coatings in practical applications.
Democracy as the legitimating condition in the UK Constitution
Authors: Murkens Jo Eric Khushal
Published: April 2018

The UK Constitution is either theorised as a political constitution that is premised on the Westminster model of government or as a legal constitution that rests on moral principles, which the common law is said to protect. Both models conceive of democracy in procedural terms, and not in normative terms. However, the democratic legitimacy of laws stems from a complex constellation of conditions that no longer involves popular or parliamentary sovereignty alone. In this paper, I break with the traditional account that bases law-making authority on the condition of procedural democracy. Instead, I argue for a normative conception of democracy that conditions parliamentary authority. I show that failure to do so amounts to a glaring omission in certain cases.
Autonomy and prenuptial agreements in Ireland: a relational analysis
Authors: Buckley Lucy-Ann
Published: April 2018

Unlike England and Wales, Ireland has not yet moved from the traditional common law rejection of prenuptial agreements. Nevertheless, similar policy concerns continue to be debated in both jurisdictions, particularly regarding the balance between autonomy and fairness concerns, and gender equity. In 2007, an Irish ministerial Study Group recommended limited recognition of prenuptial agreements, foreshadowing similar proposals by the Law Commission for England and Wales in 2014. However, the Irish recommendations were never implemented, despite sustained lobbying. This paper draws on relational theory to scrutinise the Study Group's proposals, identifying its core assumptions and their implications. The paper contends that Irish courts dealing with spousal agreements have tacitly accepted liberal conceptualisations of autonomy, which may lead to injustice. Furthermore, the Study Group's recommendations have been overtaken by events. Recent decisions on spousal agreements emphasise respect for party autonomy, without interrogating what this means. This could be problematic if applied to prenuptial agreements. Accordingly, the paper suggests modifications to the Study Group's proposals, to address relational concerns. In this regard, the paper speaks to the broader debate on family autonomy, and draws on comparative perspectives, including the recommendations of the Law Commission for England and Wales, and the Canadian experience.
A civic republican analysis of mental capacity law
Authors: O'Shea Tom
Published: April 2018

This paper draws upon the civic republican tradition to offer new conceptual resources for the normative assessment of mental capacity law. The republican conception of liberty as non-domination is used to identify ways in which such laws generate arbitrary power that can underpin relationships of servility and insecurity. It also shows how non-domination provides a basis for critiquing legal tests of decision making that rely upon ‘diagnostic’ rather than ‘functional’ criteria. In response, two main civic republican strategies are recommended for securing freedom in the context of the legal regulation of psychological disability: self-authorisation techniques and participatory shaping of power. The result is a series of proposals for the reform of decisional capacity law, including a transition towards purely functional assessment of decisional capacity, surer legal footing for advanced care planning, and greater control over the design and administration of decision making capacity laws by those with psychological disabilities.
Loess in the mid-Atlantic region, USA
Authors: Wah John S. , Wagner Daniel P. , Lowery Darrin L.
Published: April 2018

Loess is common in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States south of the Late Wisconsinan glacial border particularly along rivers draining the glaciated areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The broadest deposits occur on the flat landscapes of the Delmarva Peninsula in Maryland where two episodes of deposition have been identified. The earlier Miles Point Loess has a limited distribution and is buried by the more widespread Paw Paw Loess. OSL and 14C dates place deposition of the Miles Point Loess during MIS 3. The well developed paleosol formed in the Miles Point Loess acts as a stratigraphic marker. The Paw Paw Loess buries Clovis age cultural materials which date deposition to the end of the Pleistocene. Loess deposits and paleosols are critical in understanding regional landscape evolution, Late Pleistocene environments, and early North American cultural history. Mapping the extent of loess in the Mid-Atlantic using the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s gSSURGO database overrepresents loess in some areas and underrepresents in others.
COFFEA CANEPHORA CLONES WITH MULTIPLE RESISTANCE TO MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA AND M. PARANAENSIS
Authors: FATOBENE BÁRBHARA J. R. , ANDRADE VINICIUS T. , GONÇALVES WALLACE , GUERREIRO FILHO OLIVEIRO
Published: April 2018

Root-knot nematodes represent a serious threat to world coffee production, especially Meloidogyne incognita and M. paranaensis. Most cultivars of Coffea arabica are highly susceptible to these parasites and cultivation in infested areas has only been possible with the use of resistant C. canephora rootstocks. In this research, three elite clones of C. canephora, selected in areas infested by M. incognita and M. paranaensis, were evaluated in controlled conditions to assess levels of resistance against two populations of M. paranaensis, four populations of M. incognita and a mixed population of both species. The three clones were resistant to both species, but CcK1 and CcR2 were considered most promising because their vegetative growth was not impaired by nematodes.
Nd and Pb isotope mapping of crustal domains within the Makkovik Province, Labrador
Authors: MOUMBLOW R. M. , ARCURI G. A. , DICKIN A. P. , GOWER C. F.
Published: April 2018

The Makkovik Province of eastern Labrador represents part of an accretionary orogen active during an early stage in the development of the Palaeoproterozoic southern Laurentian continental margin. New Nd isotope data for the eastern Makkovik Province suggest that accreted juvenile Makkovik crust was generated in the Cape Harrison domain during a single crust-forming event at c. 2.0 Ga. Pb isotope data support this model, and show a strong similarity to radiogenic crustal signatures in the juvenile Palaeoproterozoic crust of the Ketilidian mobile belt of southern Greenland. As previously proposed, an arc accretion event at c. 1.9 Ga triggered subduction-zone reversal and the development of an ensialic arc on the composite margin. After the subduction flip, a temporary release of compressive stress at c. 1.87 Ga led to the development of a retro-arc foreland basin on the downloaded Archean continental edge, forming the Aillik Group. Unlike previous models, a second arc is not envisaged. Instead, a compressive regime at c. 1.82 Ga is attributed to continued ensialic arc plutonism on the existing margin. The tectonic model for the Makkovikian orogeny proposed here is similar to that for the Ketilidian orogeny. Major- and trace-element analyses suggest that much of the magmatism in the Makkovik orogen results from post-accretionary ensialic arc activity, and that few vestiges remain of the original accreted volcanic arc. This pattern of arc accretion and intense post-accretion reworking is common to many accretionary orogens, such as the South American Andes and North American Cordillera.
“The Dust Was Long in Settling”: Human Capital and the Lasting Impact of the American Dust Bowl
Authors: Arthi Vellore
Published: April 2018

I find that childhood exposure to the Dust Bowl, an environmental shock to health and income, adversely impacted later-life human capital—especially when exposure wasin utero—increasing poverty and disability rates, and decreasing fertility and college completion rates. The event's devastation of agriculture, however, had the beneficial effect of increasing high school completion, likely by pushing children who otherwise might have worked on the farm into secondary schooling. Lastly, New Deal spending helped remediate Dust Bowl damage, suggesting that timely and substantial policy interventions can aid in human recovery from natural disasters.
“Big Data” in Economic History
Authors: Gutmann Myron P. , Merchant Emily Klancher , Roberts Evan
Published: April 2018

Big data is an exciting prospect for the field of economic history, which has long depended on the acquisition, keying, and cleaning of scarce numerical information about the past. This article examines two areas in which economic historians are already using big data – population and environment – discussing ways in which increased frequency of observation, denser samples, and smaller geographic units allow us to analyze the past with greater precision and often to track individuals, places, and phenomena across time. We also explore promising new sources of big data: organically created economic data, high resolution images, and textual corpora.
Some Corner of a Chinese Field: The politics of remembering foreign veterans of the Taiping civil war
Authors: CHAPPELL JONATHAN
Published: April 2018

The memory of the foreign involvement in the Taiping war lasted long after the fall of the Taiping capital at Nanjing in 1864. The events were commemorated by various actors, Chinese and foreign, from the end of the war until the end of the treaty-port century in 1943 when the right to extraterritoriality was abrogated. This article explores the commemorations of the foreign role through three media: the issuing of medals to foreign fighters, the building of memorials to the foreign dead, and the writing of histories of the events. Across these media, different interest groups used the foreign interventions as a proxy for continuing debates about the role of foreigners in China and about China's place in the world. More broadly, the commemorations of the role of foreign fighters in the Taiping war is a case study in the transnational politics of memory. The memories of the war were contested or commemorated not just by states, but also by individuals and groups whose views often diverged from those of their government. By tracing how memories of the war were remembered and forgotten, we can trace the insecurities of different interest groups over time and their perceived power relative to each other.
What does agency afford the self?
Authors: Franks Bradley , Voyer Benjamin G.
Published: April 2018

We welcome Doris's dual systems, social account of agency and self. However, we suggest that a level of affordances regarding agency is interpolated between those dual systems. We also suggest a need to consider joint (“we”) agency in addition to individual (“I”) agency, and we suggest a more fundamental role for culture in configuring both the values entering the dialogue that generates the sense of agency and self, and the nature of the dialogue itself.
A related proposal: An interactionist perspective on reason
Authors: Mercier Hugo
Published: April 2018

This comment introduces the interactionist perspective on reason that Dan Sperber and I developed. In this perspective, reason is a specific cognitive mechanism that evolved so that humans can exchange justifications and arguments with each other. The interactionist perspective significantly aligns with Doris's views in rejecting reflectivism and individualism. Indeed, I suggest that it offers different, and maybe stronger arguments to reject these views.
Why value values?
Authors: Murray Samuel
Published: April 2018

Doris argues that an agent is responsible for her behavior only if that behavior expresses (a relevant subset of) the agent's values. This view has problems explaining responsibility for mistakes or episodes of forgetfulness. These problems highlight a conceptual problem with Doris's theory of responsible agency and give us reasons to prefer an alternative (non-valuational) theory of responsible agency.
Occurrence and Recovery of Different Neglect-Related Symptoms in Right Hemisphere Infarct Patients during a 1-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Nurmi Laura , Ruuskanen Eija-Inkeri , Nurmi Mari , Koivisto Anna-Maija , Parkkila Anna-Kaisa , Numminen Heikki , Dastidar Prasun , Jehkonen Mervi
Published: April 2018

Objectives:To examine the occurrence of and recovery from visual neglect-related symptoms with the focus on neglect laterality, ipsilateral orienting bias, and slowed processing speed in right hemisphere (RH) infarct patients during a 1-year follow-up. Furthermore, to propose guidelines for assessing processing speed alongside the Behavioural Inattention Test (BIT).Methods:We studied three RH patient groups: neglect (N+), mild left inattention (MLI+), and non-neglect (N−) patients, and healthy controls. The BIT with some additional analyses was conducted at the acute phase and at 6 and 12 months.Results:The N+ group’s BIT score increased and originally lateralized omissions became more evenly distributed during the follow-up. The N+ and MLI+ groups’ starting points were more rightward located than the healthy group’s at the acute phase and at 6, and partly at 12 months. Patient groups were slower than the controls in performing cancellation tests at the acute phase. The N+ and MLI+ groups remained slower than the controls throughout the follow-up.Conclusions:During the first year after RH infarct, originally left-sided manifestation of neglect shifted toward milder non-lateralized attentional deficit. Ipsilateral orienting bias and slowed processing speed appeared to be rather persistent neglect-related symptoms both in neglect patients and patients with initially milder inattention. We propose some effortless, tentative ways of examining processing speed and ipsilateral orienting bias alongside the BIT to better recognize these neglect-related symptoms, and highlight the need to assess and treat patients with initially milder inattention, who have been under-recognized and under-treated in clinical work. (JINS, 2018,24, 617–628)
Quasi-self-complementary ultra-wideband antenna with band rejection characteristics
Authors: Sanyal Rajarshi , Sarkar Partha Pratim , Chowdhury Santosh Kumar
Published: April 2018

This article presents a compact novel quasi-self-complementary semi-octagonal-shaped antenna for ultra-wideband (UWB) application. The proposed novel structure is fed by a microstrip line where different rectangular truncation is etched to the ground plane as an impedance matching element, which results for much wider impedance bandwidth (VSWR<2) from 2.9 to 20 GHz. In order to obtain band-notched characteristics at 5.5 GHz, an open-ended, quarter wavelength, spiral-shaped stub is introduced in the vicinity of the truncated part of the ground plane. An equivalent circuit model is adopted to investigate the band rejection characteristics of the ground plane stub. Sharpness of the rejection band can be controlled by maintaining the gap between stub resonator and the slotted periphery of ground plane. The proposed antenna design is validated by experimental measurements.
A miniaturized UWB-MIMO antenna with quadruple band-notched characteristics
Authors: Wu Ling , Xia Yingqing , Cao Xia , Xu Zhengtao
Published: April 2018

A simple multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna with quad-band-notched characteristics for ultra-wideband (UWB) system is proposed and tested in the article. Based on two similar radiators, the UWB-MIMO system only occupies 22 mm × 28 mm. By etching an inverted L-like meander slot, two inverted L-shaped slots, and adding a C-shaped stub beside the feeding line, four notched bands are realized (3.25–3.6, 5.05–5.48, 5.6–6, and 7.8–8.4 GHz) to suppress interference from WiMAX, lower WLAN, upper WLAN, and uplink of X-band satellite communication system. With a T-like stub extruding from the ground plane, port isolation is effectively improved. The results show that the antenna covers 3.1–10.6 GHz UWB frequency band except four rejected bands and has high isolation of better than −20 dB over most of the frequency band. Moreover, envelope correlation coefficient and good radiation patterns also prove that the introduced antenna is suitable for UWB applications.