bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural enamel caries in quinoline: Volumetric data and the pattern of infiltration
Authors: de Mattos Brito Camila Santos , Meira Kássia Regina Simões , de Sousa Frederico Barbosa
Published: October 2017

This study aimed to test the hypotheses that (i) a parameter related to permeability, αd (ratio of squared water volume by the nonmineral volume) is, among all major component volumes (mineral, water, and organic volumes) the best predictor of quinoline infiltration in natural enamel caries (NEC), and (ii) the pore volume fraction infiltrated by quinoline (Vqui) in NEC is much lower than previous estimates that neglected water and organic enamel volumes. Mineral and nonmineral volumes and αd were measured at 341 histological points (from 20 approximal NEC lesions), and transport of quinoline was tracked by orientation‐independent polarizing microscopy. R2 values of Vqui were 0.596 (αd), 0.033 (mineral volume), 0.474 (water volume), and 0.011 (organic volume). Vqui values were 23% (body of the lesion), 7% (dark zone), and 9% (translucent zone), lower than previous estimates (with high effect size). Transport of quinoline occurred both parallelly and perpendicularly to prism paths, and dark zones were seen where only transport parallel to prisms occurred. In conclusion, αd was the main predictor of quinoline infiltration, but it differed from the water volume with a small effect size, and the pore volume fraction with quinoline was much lower than previous estimates.
Effects of EDTA gel and chlorhexidine gel on root dentin permeability
Authors: Bighetti Trevisan Rayana Longo , Scatolin Renata Siqueira , Castro Raucci Larissa Moreira Spinola de , Raucci Neto Walter , Froner Izabel Cristina
Published: October 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 24% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) gel and 2% chlorhexidine gel (CHX) in dentin permeability and smear layer removal from root canals instrumented with NiTi rotary system using histochemical staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Overall, 43 premolars were classified into two experimental groups, EDTA (n = 20) and CHX (n = 20), and a negative control (NC) (n = 3). All specimens were instrumented and the irrigant solutions were used after each file change. The EDTA group received a final rinse with 5‐ml 1% NaOCl followed by a 5‐ml 0.9% saline solution; the CHX group received a final rinse with 10‐ml 0.9% saline solution; and the negative control group received a final rinse with only 0.9% saline solution. Fifteen teeth from each group were prepared for histochemical staining and evaluation of dentin permeability using the image‐scanning software Axion Vision (v.4.8.2). Five remaining teeth were prepared for analysis using SEM for morphological analysis. The study found that 24% EDTA gel increased the permeability of dentin in all thirds evaluated and also demonstrated an increased cleaning ability, with dentinal walls free of smear layer and open dentinal tubules, as compared to 2% CHX gel. It was concluded that EDTA was efficient in cleaning the dentinal tubules and increased dentin permeability.
Not just a bump on the head: ultrasound as first‐line imaging in a boy with Pott's puffy tumour
Authors: Reddan Tristan , Connor Patricia
Published: October 2017

While computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have established roles in evaluating Pott's puffy tumour, ultrasound can play a valuable role in identifying the condition, particularly in children. We present the case of a boy with a fluctuant forehead lump and headaches, where ultrasound was the first‐line imaging modality and expedited further investigations.
Metagenomic analysis of viral diversity in respiratory samples from patients with respiratory tract infections in Kuwait
Authors: Madi Nada , Al‐Nakib Widad , Mustafa Abu Salim , Habibi Nazima
Published: October 2017

A metagenomic approach based on target independent next‐generation sequencing has become a known method for the detection of both known and novel viruses in clinical samples. This study aimed to use the metagenomic sequencing approach to characterize the viral diversity in respiratory samples from patients with respiratory tract infections. We have investigated 86 respiratory samples received from various hospitals in Kuwait between 2015 and 2016 for the diagnosis of respiratory tract infections. A metagenomic approach using the next‐generation sequencer to characterize viruses was used. According to the metagenomic analysis, an average of 145, 019 reads were identified, and 2% of these reads were of viral origin. Also, metagenomic analysis of the viral sequences revealed many known respiratory viruses, which were detected in 30.2% of the clinical samples. Also, sequences of non‐respiratory viruses were detected in 14% of the clinical samples, while sequences of non‐human viruses were detected in 55.8% of the clinical samples. The average genome coverage of the viruses was 12% with the highest genome coverage of 99.2% for respiratory syncytial virus, and the lowest was 1% for torque teno midi virus 2. Our results showed 47.7% agreement between multiplex Real‐Time PCR and metagenomics sequencing in the detection of respiratory viruses in the clinical samples. Though there are some difficulties in using this method to clinical samples such as specimen quality, these observations are indicative of the promising utility of the metagenomic sequencing approach for the identification of respiratory viruses in patients with respiratory tract infections.
Diversity of methanogenic archaea in freshwater sediments of lacustrine ecosystems
Authors: Laskar Folguni , Das Purkayastha Sumi , Sen Aniruddha , Bhattacharya Mrinal K. , Misra Biswapriya B.
Published: October 2017

About half of the global methane (CH4) emission is contributed by the methanogenic archaeal communities leading to a significant increase in global warming. This unprecedented situation has increased the ever growing necessity of evaluating the control measures for limiting CH4 emission to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, research endeavors on the diversity and functional interactions of methanogens are not extensive till date. We anticipate that the study of the diversity of methanogenic community is paramount for understanding the metabolic processes in freshwater lake ecosystems. Although there are several disadvantages of conventional culture‐based methods for determining the diversity of methanogenic archaeal communities, in order to understand their ecological roles in natural environments it is required to culture the microbes. Recently different molecular techniques have been developed for determining the structure of methanogenic archaeal communities thriving in freshwater lake ecosystem. The two gene based cloning techniques required for this purpose are 16S rRNA and methyl coenzyme M reductase (mcrA) in addition to the recently developed metagenomics approaches and high throughput next generation sequencing efforts. This review discusses the various methods of culture‐dependent and ‐independent measures of determining the diversity of methanogen communities in lake sediments in lieu of the different molecular approaches and inter‐relationships of diversity of methanogenic archaea.
Post‐Crosslinked Polyurethanes with Excellent Shape Memory Property
Authors: Liu Wenkai , Zhao Yun , Wang Rong , Li Jiehua , Li Jianshu , Luo Feng , Tan Hong , Fu Qiang
Published: October 2017

Shape‐memory polymers are highly desirable in implant biomaterials for minimally invasive surgical procedures. However, most of them lack suitable transition temperature, mechanical properties, and biodegradability. Here, a series of shape‐memory polyurethanes are synthesized by postcrosslinking in hard‐segment domains using a flexible crosslinker. The materials used are all nontoxic and biodegradable. Through postcrosslinking of unsaturated linear polyurethanes with flexible and biodegradable crosslinker, the crosslinked polyurethanes (CPUs) show good mechanical properties, excellent shape‐memory property, and repeatability. The post‐crosslinking structure and shape‐memory mechanism of CPUs are investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis tests. The crosslinker endows the fixed phase enough crosslinking and inserts in the hard segments to give the fixed phase certain elasticity. The elastic hard segments make them form more hydrogen bonds with soft segments during shape deformation. The low‐molecular‐weight poly (ε‐caprolactone) offers the samples a shape‐memory transition temperature at around 37 °C, which is suitable for implant devices in vivo. This work expands CPUs with an elastic crosslinking structure as potential candidates for implant biomaterials. Since the post‐crosslinking polymerization is facile, it can be convenient for industrial production.
Ion traps in modern mass spectrometry
Authors: Nolting Dirk , Malek Robert , Makarov Alexander
Published: October 2017

This review is devoted to trapping mass spectrometry wherein ions are confined by electromagnetic fields for prolonged periods of time within limited volume, with mass measurement taking place within the same volume. Three major types of trapping mass spectrometers are discussed, specifically radiofrequency ion trap, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance and Orbitrap. While these three branches are intricately interwoven with each other over their recent history, they also differ greatly in their fundamentals, roots and historical origin. This diversity is reflected also in the difference of viewpoints from which each of these directions is addressed in this review. Following the theme of the issue, we focus on developments mainly associated with the country of Germany but, at the same time, we use this review as an illustration of the rapidly increasing globalization of science and expanding multi‐national collaborations.
Sleep fragmentation and Parkinson's disease pathology in older adults without Parkinson's disease
Authors: Sohail Shahmir , Yu Lei , Schneider Julie A. , Bennett David A. , Buchman Aron S. , Lim Andrew S. P.
Published: October 2017

Introduction

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) frequently experience disrupted sleep, and several sleep abnormalities are associated with an increased risk of incident PD. However, there are few data concerning the relationship between objectively quantified sleep disruption and the cardinal histopathological features of PD, especially in individuals without clinical PD.

Methods

We studied 269 older adults without PD who had participated in the Rush Memory and Aging Project and undergone uniform structured neuropathologic evaluations upon death. Sleep fragmentation was measured using actigraphy. Logistic regression models examined the associations of sleep fragmentation proximate to death with the burden of Lewy body pathology and substantia nigra neuron loss.

Results

Greater sleep fragmentation was associated with the presence of Lewy body pathology (odds ratio 1.40; 95% confidence interval 1.05‐1.86; P = .02) and substantia nigra neuron loss (odds ratio 1.43; 95% confidence interval 1.10‐1.88; P = .008) and a higher odds of a pathological diagnosis of PD (odds ratio 2.04; 95% confidence interval 1.34‐3.16; P = .0009). These associations were independent of motor features of parkinsonism, demographic characteristics, and a wide range of medical co‐morbidities.

Conclusions

Sleep fragmentation is associated with PD pathology in older adults without PD. These results suggest that sleep fragmentation may be a marker of or risk factor for PD pathology in older adults without PD. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Structural abnormality of substantia nigra induced by methamphetamine abuse
Authors: Rumpf Jost‐Julian , Albers Jana , Fricke Christopher , Mueller Wolf , Classen Joseph
Published: October 2017

Background: Methamphetamine abuse has been linked to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate structural abnormality of the substantia nigra in past methamphetamine users using transcranial sonography.

Methods: In a cross‐sectional, observational study, echogenicity of the substantia nigra was assessed in 59 past methamphetamine users and 59 matched controls. The frequencies of an abnormal spatial extension of the substantia nigra as well as the average sizes of left and right substantia nigra were evaluated.

Results: The average echogenic size of the substantia nigra was larger in methamphetamine users (0.22 ± 0.06 cm2) when compared with controls (0.17 ± 0.05 cm2, P < .001). Furthermore, the frequency of enlarged, echogenic substantia nigra was increased in methamphetamine users (42% vs 12% in controls, P < .001). Partial correlation analysis revealed an association of echogenic substantia nigra size with estimated total lifetime intake of methamphetamine (r55 = 0.395, P = .002).

Conclusions: Current data link methamphetamine abuse in humans to injury of substantia nigra neurons and an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Magnetic resonance molecular imaging of metastatic breast cancer by targeting extradomain‐B fibronectin in the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Han Zheng , Cheng Han , Parvani Jenny G. , Zhou Zhuxian , Lu Zheng‐Rong
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Non‐invasive early accurate detection of malignant breast cancer is paramount to the clinical management of the life‐threatening disease. Here, we aim to test a small peptide targeted MRI contrast agent, ZD2‐Gd(HP‐DO3A), specific to an oncoprotein, extradomain‐B fibronectin (EDB‐FN), in the tumor microenvironment for MR molecular imaging of breast cancer.

Method

EDB‐FN expression in 4T1 and MDA‐MB‐231 cancers was analyzed with quantitative real‐time PCR and western blot. Primary and metastatic triple negative breast cancer mouse models were developed using 4T1 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Contrast‐enhanced MRI was carried out to evaluate the use of ZD2‐Gd(HP‐DO3A) in detecting 4T1 and MDA‐MB‐231 primary and metastatic tumors.

Results

EDB‐FN was abundantly expressed in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of both the primary and metastatic TNBC tumors. In T1‐weighted MRI, ZD2‐Gd(HP‐DO3A) generated superior contrast enhancement in primary TNBC tumors than a nonspecific clinical agent Gd(HP‐DO3A), during 30 min after contrast injection. ZD2‐Gd(HP‐DO3A) also produced a significant increase in contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) of TNBC metastases, enabling sensitive localization and delineation of metastases that occulted in non‐contrast‐enhanced or Gd(HP‐DO3A)‐enhanced MRI.

Conclusions

These findings potentiate the use of ZD2‐Gd(HP‐DO3A) for MR molecular imaging of malignant breast cancers to improve the healthcare of breast cancer patients. Magn Reson Med 79:3135–3143, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
The Impact of Incentives to Recruit and Retain Teachers in “Hard‐to‐Staff” Subjects
Authors: Feng Li , Sass Tim R.
Published: October 2017

We investigate the effects of a statewide program designed to increase the supply of teachers in designated “hard‐to‐staff” areas, such as special education, math, and science. Employing a difference‐in‐difference estimator we find that the loan forgiveness component of the program was effective, reducing mean attrition rates for middle and high school math and science teachers by 10.4 percent and 8.9 percent, respectively. We also find that the impact of loan forgiveness varied with the generosity of payments; when fully funded, the program reduced attrition of special education teachers by 12.3 percent, but did not have a statistically significant impact when funding was substantially reduced. A triple‐difference estimate indicates that a one‐time bonus program also had large effects, reducing the likelihood of teachers’ exit by as much as 32 percent in the short run. A back‐of‐the‐envelope cost‐benefit analysis suggests that both the loan forgiveness and the bonus program were cost effective.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis UvrB forms dimers in solution and interacts with UvrA in the absence of ligands
Authors: Lahiri Samarpita , Rizzi Menico , Rossi Franca , Miggiano Riccardo
Published: October 2017

During its life cycle Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) must face a variety of environmental and endogenous physical and chemical stresses that could produce genotoxic damage. However, MTB possesses efficient systems to counteract the harmful effects of DNA‐damaging assaults. The nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a highly conserved multi‐enzymatic cascade that is initiated by the concerted action of three core proteins, that is UvrA, UvrB, and UvrC. Although the functional roles of these enzymes are well characterized, the intra‐pathway coordination of the NER components and the dynamics of their association is still a matter of debate. In the presented study, we analyzed the hydrodynamic properties and the oligomeric state of the MTB UvrB protein (MtUvrB) that we expressed and purified to homogeneity in a tag‐free form. Our results show that, differently to what has been previously observed for the His‐tagged version of the protein, MtUvrB forms dimers in solution, which are characterized by an elongated shape, as determined by small‐angle X‐ray scattering analysis. Moreover, to gain insights into the mycobacterial UvrA/UvrB lesion sensing/tracking complex we adopted a size‐exclusion chromatography‐based approach, revealing that the two proteins interact in the absence of ligands, leading to the assembling of A2B2 hetero‐tetramers in solution. Surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that the dissociation constant of the MtUvrA/MtUvrB complex falls in the low micromolar range that could represent the basis for a fine modulation of the complex architecture accompanying the multi‐step DNA repair activity of mycobacterial NER.
Lifestyle migration and settler colonialism: The imaginative geographies of British migrants to Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Higgins Katie W.
Published: October 2017

This paper explores the imaginative geographies of relatively privileged migrants living in settler societies for their colonial continuities. It responds to a recent call to historicise the cultural significance attached to migration and destinations in lifestyle migration research through an exploration of some of the potential synergies between the newly emergent field of settler colonial studies and lifestyle migration. The analysis draws on 12 months of qualitative research with British migrants living in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. First, it examines the ambivalent affective associations of “islandness” and distance, as both insulating and isolating. Second, the paper explores the twinned appreciation of spectacular, empty natural surroundings, and a perception of a “lack” of culture and history. It is argued, first, that the geographical and historical interpellation of the country as “at the end of the world” and as “young” recentres distant Euro‐colonial cultures and decentres Māori cultures. And, second, that the intersections of contemporary lifestyle migration and settler colonialism are an important avenue for future research.
Mechanism and selectivity of rhodium‐catalyzed CH bond arylation of indoles
Authors: Santoro Stefano , Himo Fahmi
Published: October 2017

Density functional theory calculations are used to study the reaction mechanism and origins of C2‐selectivity in a rhodium‐catalyzed arylation of indole. It is shown that the reaction is catalyzed by an anionic Rh(III)‐intermediate that activates the substrate through a concerted‐metalation deprotonation. Dissociation of pivalic acid and subsequent reductive elimination generate the arylated indole product. Oxidative addition of the aryl iodide and a subsequent ligand exchange regenerates the active catalytic species. The origin of the regioselectivity is found to be the more favorable interaction between the 2‐indolyl fragment and the metal center compared to the 3‐indolyl fragment. Moreover, the better interaction of the pivalate ligands with the substrate in the transition state for the activation of C2H compared to the transition state for the C3H activation further favors the C2‐selectivity.
Role of purines on the copper‐catalyzed oxidative damage in biological systems: Protection versus promotion
Authors: Castañeda‐Arriaga Romina , Pérez‐González Adriana , Alvarez‐Idaboy Juan Raúl , Galano Annia
Published: October 2017

Oxidative damage to biomolecules is a serious health‐threatening issue, which leads to the development of several diseases. Oxidative conditions are frequently catalyzed by metal ions. In this study, the role of purines in the copper‐catalyzed oxidative stress was investigated using the density functional theory. The obtained results indicate that purines can have a dual behavior, acting as both protectors and promoters of oxidative stress. Their protection role arises from their known radical scavenging activity, as well as their ability to chelate Cu(II) leading to complexes that are—to some extent—harder to reduce than free Cu(II). Conversely, their pro‐oxidant role is a consequence of their reductant behavior, when deprotonated. Thus, the purines’ anions can reduce Cu(II) to Cu(I), making the latter available to be involved in Fenton‐like reactions. Consequently, mixtures of purines and Cu(II), at pHs where the fraction of deprotonated purines is rather significant, would yield •OH radicals. In turn, these very reactive radicals would damage biological targets such as lipids, proteins, and DNA.
Flooding by Design: A Look at the National Flood Insurance Program
Authors: Silvis Virginia G.
Published: October 2017

This article examines the financially troubled National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in order to understand how a program designed to reduce the risk exposure of US citizens to flooding disasters has ultimately resulted in incentivizing the settlement of the country's floodplains in the past few decades. The origin of the program and its implementation history are discussed to show how Congress has repeatedly amended the program as natural disasters have exposed flaws in program's design and implementation, with little success as the cost of flooding disasters in the US continues to rise. The heavy flood losses from the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season were almost fatal to the program, leading to concerns regarding its continued solvency and viability. Eggers and O'Leary's systems perspective framework is used to analyze the program to understand how it reached this point. Critiquing the program through the theoretical arguments of another federally designed, locally implemented government project, the Economic Development Agency's Oakland Project, as considered in Pressman and Wildavsky's classic implementation text, also yields further insights into the design and implementation problems the NFIP faces.
Cracking New Zealand’s growing student loan debt problem
Authors: Rout Jocelyn , Taylor Keith
Published: October 2017

How behavioural change research led a government agency to take brave action
Winning Hearts and Minds With Science and Sentiment
Authors: Duric Mirna , Tilleuil Olivier , Louis Kara
Published: October 2017

Twitter and EyeSee Research teamed up on a study that combined science and sentiment, in order to help brands run the most impactful holiday campaigns. They combined state‐of‐the‐art behavioral methods and experimental design aiming to identify effective attributes of holiday ads. Results offer insights that help marketeers generate longer dwell times and elicit positive emotions along with increased recall, product awareness, message association, and purchase intent.
Imaging the Thickness of Passivation Layers for Crystalline Silicon with Micron‐Scale Spatial Resolution Using Spectral Photoluminescence
Authors: Nguyen Hieu T. , Johnston Steve , Basnet Rabin , Guthrey Harvey , Dippo Pat , Zhang Hanyu , Al‐Jassim Mowafak M. , Macdonald Daniel
Published: October 2017

Thin films deposited on crystalline silicon surfaces are critical components of many silicon‐based devices, including high‐efficiency photovoltaic cells. Knowledge of their optical and electronic properties is important in designing and fabricating efficient solar cells, especially as the device complexity increases and includes micron‐scale features. Here, a camera‐based photoluminescence (PL) technique is developed to image the thickness of specific passivating films on silicon wafers. The technique is entirely contactless and nondestructive, requires minimal sample preparation, and provides a large dynamic range in terms of field of view, with micron‐scale spatial resolution possible. It retains the advantages of PL imaging, a mainstream technique for photovoltaic material and device characterization, and it has some extra capabilities similar to those of ellipsometry. This newly developed technique is demonstrated on hydrogenated amorphous silicon and silicon nitride films, two important passivation technologies for high‐efficiency silicon solar cells.
Robust non‐parametric tests for imaging data based on data depth
Authors: López‐Pintado Sara , Wrobel Julia
Published: October 2017

Research in many disciplines stands on the analysis of complex high‐dimensional data sets. For example, in clinical neuroscience, large collections of brain images from different subjects are obtained by advanced scanning techniques to study variations in different neurological states. Developing new tools to analyse the main characteristics of these rich data sets is needed. We consider the basic unit of observation to be a general function, which is defined and takes values in spaces of arbitrary dimension. On the basis of a notion of depth for general functions denoted as multivariate volume depth (MVD), images will be ranked from centre to outward and robust estimators can be defined. The theoretical properties of MVD are established, and several non‐parametric depth‐based permutation tests for comparing two groups of images are proposed; in particular, we introduce two‐sample location tests based on MVD. In addition, dispersion measures for a sample of images are introduced and used for testing two sample differences in dispersion. All the proposed tests are calibrated in an extensive simulation study. These statistical tools are applied to detect whether there are differences between the brain images from healthy individuals and patients with major depressive disorders. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
No Room for Respectability: Boundary Work in Interaction at a Shanghai Rental
Authors: Liang Lily
Published: October 2017

This article examines the dramaturgical challenges of doing boundary work for a group of college women living with non‐college women at an overcrowded rental. To regulate tenant conduct and maintain their sense of self‐worth, the college women engaged in defensive othering and constructed their identity as “high‐quality” people on the basis of their characterization of their less‐educated roommates as “low‐quality” people. Their strategy of gaining self‐worth at their roommates' expense violated basic rules of social interaction that require participants to give face to gain face. This study shows that, in addition to weakening group solidarity and reproducing social inequalities, defensive othering also undermines subordinates' effort to gain self‐worth in the co‐presence of other subordinates. A video abstract is available athttp://tinyurl.com/yath4o65
Goals and principles for programmatic river restoration monitoring and evaluation: collaborative learning across multiple projects
Authors: Weber Christine , Åberg Ulrika , Buijse Anthonie D. , Hughes Francine M.R. , McKie Brendan G. , Piégay Hervé , Roni Phil , Vollenweider Stefan , Haertel‐Borer Susanne
Published: October 2017

River restoration is a relatively recent undertaking, with high levels of complexity and uncertainty involved. Many restoration projects have been monitored over the past three decades, however, results have rarely been compared across projects thereby limiting our ability to identify factors that influence restoration outcomes. Programmatic monitoring and evaluation (ProME) that builds on standardized surveys and systematic cross‐project comparison allows for collaborative learning, transfer of results across restoration projects and for adaptive management and monitoring. We present a conceptual framework for ProME consisting of four goals and nine principles. First, ProME accounts for complexity, uncertainty, and change in order to contribute to sustainable river management over the long term. Second, ProME promotes collaborative learning and adaptation by standardizing the sampling design for the field surveys at multiple projects and by disseminating findings across stakeholders. Third, ProME verifies to what extent restoration has been achieved, i.e., it must quantify the size and direction of change. Fourth, ProME identifies why the observed effects were present, thereby improving our mechanistic understanding of river functioning. We conclude with potential extensions of the framework (e.g., evaluating cumulative effects of projects within a catchment). Our conceptual framework presents a structured approach toward a more systematic learning and evidence‐based action in river restoration, while taking into account the wider picture of environmental change within which river restoration projects will inevitably operate. WIREs Water 2018, 5:e1257. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1257

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness

Water and Life > Methods
The End and the Beginning: The EU, Africa and the Need for a New Migration Regime
Authors: Billström Tobias
Published: October 2017

In the years to come, Europe will face many difficult challenges related to migration. To cope with the increased flows emanating from the African continent, present policies will have to be adapted and new ones created. The EU must pursue a course that protects the integrity of free movement, secures the external borders and enables it to work with stakeholders, both in Africa and elsewhere, to avoid an unchecked influx of migrants. The article reviews important elements of the debate that has been taking place in the EU in recent years and shows that a new basis for the European Migration and Asylum Policy is needed to ensure that it has a more realistic chance of success. It argues that there is a need for a review of EU policies on migration and asylum, and for the development of more useful tools to disentangle the complex web of interests which today is ever present in the debate on the European Migration and Asylum Policy.
The Prospects for EU-India Security Cooperation
Authors: Joshi Shashank
Published: October 2017

For Europe, four security challenges predominate: Russian revanchism, Islamist terrorism, the migrant crisis, and the associated problems of civil war and state collapse in the Middle East and North Africa. For India, the environment looks very different. Its two most important security challenges are cross-border terrorism from Pakistan-based militant groups, often sponsored by the Pakistani intelligence services, and the steady growth of China's economic and military presence along India's land and maritime borders, including as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. These differing priorities risk pushing Europe and India in different directions. India's hope is that an improved US-Russia relationship will create a thaw in Europe, allowing all parties—India, Europe and the US—to focus on addressing China's rise. But there is little sign of such a shift at present. However, there is considerable room for greater convergence on a range of issues, such as maritime security, Afghanistan and counterterrorism.
The rapid development of bespoke small unmanned aircraft
Authors: Paulson C. A. , Sóbester A. , Scanlan J. P.
Published: October 2017

The ability to quickly fabricate small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) through Additive Manufacturing (AM) methods opens a range of new possibilities for the design and optimisation of these vehicles. In this paper, we propose a design loop that makes use of surrogate modelling and AM to reduce the design and optimisation time of scientific sUAS. AM reduces the time and effort required to fabricate a complete aircraft, allowing for rapid design iterations and flight testing. Co-Kriging surrogate models allow data collected from test flights to correct Kriging models trained with numerically simulated data. The resulting model provides physically accurate and computationally cheap aircraft performance predictions. A global optimiser is used to search this model to find an optimal design for a bespoke aircraft. This paper presents the design loop and a case study which demonstrates its application.
EU Foreign Relations Law as a Field of Scholarship
Authors: Larik Joris
Published: October 2017

EU external relations law is a doubly peculiar field of scholarship that has attracted significant scholarly attention over the last several decades. It is both part of EU law—considered a “new legal order” distinct from international law—and it is concerned with the European Union as a global actor, a “strange animal” in that the EU is neither a state nor a classical international organization.
Shortening the Application Time of Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs to 15 Seconds May Improve the Frequency of Hand Antisepsis Actions in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Kramer Axel , Pittet Didier , Klasinc Romana , Krebs Stefan , Koburger Torsten , Fusch Christoph , Assadian Ojan
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND

For alcohol-based hand rubs, the currently recommended application time of 30 seconds is longer than the actual time spent in clinical practice. We investigated whether a shorter application time of 15 seconds is microbiologically safe in neonatal intensive care and may positively influence compliance with the frequency of hand antisepsis actions.

METHODS

We conducted in vitro experiments to determine the antimicrobial efficacy of hand rubs within 15 seconds, followed by clinical observations to assess the effect of a shortened hand antisepsis procedure under clinical conditions in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). An independent observer monitored the frequency of hand antisepsis actions during shifts.

RESULTS

All tested hand rubs fulfilled the requirement of equal or even significantly higher efficacy within 15 seconds when compared to a reference alcohol propan-2-ol 60% (v/v) within 30 seconds. Microbiologically, reducing the application time to 15 seconds had a similar effect when compared to 30-second hand rubbing, but it resulted in significantly increased frequency of hand antisepsis actions (7.9±4.3 per hour vs 5.8±2.9 per hour;P=.05).

CONCLUSION

Time pressure and workload are recognized barriers to compliance. Therefore, reducing the recommended time for hand antisepsis actions, using tested and well-evaluated hand rub formulations, may improve hand hygiene compliance in clinical practice.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2017;38:1430–1434
Aspect Ratio Effect on Laminar Flow Bifurcations in a Curved Rectangular Tube Driven by Pressure Gradients
Authors: Chen K. T. , Yarn K. F. , Chen H. Y. , Tsai C. C. , Luo W. J. , Chen C. N.
Published: October 2017

This study investigated the flow bifurcations of flows driven by a pressure gradient in a rectangular curved tube. When fluid flows within a curved tube, due to the centrifugal effect, secondary vortices can be induced in the cross section of the tube. The secondary flow states are dependent on the magnitude of the pressure gradient (q) and the aspect ratio (γ). In this study, the continuation method was applied to investigate the flow bifurcations in a curved tube with increasing pressure gradient (1 < q < 6000) and aspect ratio (0.9 < γ < 1.4).

The bifurcation diagrams are composed of solution branches, which are linked by limiting points or bifurcation points. The flow states in a solution branch belong to the same group. The ranges of the flow states and the relationship between the states can also be derived from the bifurcation diagrams. In this study, two types of bifurcation were found, one in the range of 0.9 < γ < 1.17, and another in the range of 1.18 < γ < 1.4. The ranges of stable flow solutions and the distributions of limit and bifurcation points in both pressure gradient and aspect ratio are derived in this study.
Impact of degree truncation on the spread of a contagious process on networks
Authors: HARLING GUY , ONNELA JUKKA-PEKKA
Published: October 2017

Understanding how person-to-person contagious processes spread through a population requires accurate information on connections between population members. However, such connectivity data, when collected via interview, is often incomplete due to partial recall, respondent fatigue, or study design, e.g. fixed choice designs (FCD) truncate out-degree by limiting the number of contacts each respondent can report. Research has shown how FCD affects network properties, but its implications for predicted speed and size of spreading processes remain largely unexplored. To study the impact of degree truncation on predictions of spreading process outcomes, we generated collections of synthetic networks containing specific properties (degree distribution, degree-assortativity, clustering), and used empirical social network data from 75 villages in Karnataka, India. We simulated FCD using various truncation thresholds and ran a susceptible-infectious-recovered (SIR) process on each network. We found that spreading processes on truncated networks resulted in slower and smaller epidemics, with a sudden decrease in prediction accuracy at a level of truncation that varied by network type. Our results have implications beyond FCD to truncation due to any limited sampling from a larger network. We conclude that knowledge of network structure is important for understanding the accuracy of predictions of process spread on degree truncated networks.
The 3Rs in research: a contemporary approach to replacement, reduction and refinement
Authors: MacArthur Clark Judy
Published: October 2017

First promulgated in 1959, the 3Rs of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement have evolved as fundamental principles underlying the use of animals and alternatives in science throughout the modern world. This review describes a contemporary approach to delivering the 3Rs through acknowledging the contribution of new technologies and emphasising that applying the 3Rs can be beneficial to good science as well as to animal welfare. This science-led approach moves the concept of the 3Rs out of an ethical silo where they were often considered by scientists to be an inconvenient obligation. On the contrary, relevant examples demonstrate the opportunity to practise better science using 3Rs technologies which deliver faster, more reproducible and more cost-effective results. Indeed, methods harnessing Replacement approaches may permit discoveries which are simply not feasible using animals and frequently are more flexible and agile since compliance with regulatory oversight requirements is simplified. Although the necessity for rigorous oversight is well recognised, it is important that the associated bureaucracy is not allowed to become prohibitive, causing scientists to avoid pursuing justifiable and important research involving animals. Public support for research is conditional – animals should not suffer unnecessarily and sufficient potential benefit should accrue from the research. However, society also actively seeks pioneering medical and scientific advances which can only be achieved through research. Therefore, a balance must be struck between safeguarding animal welfare whilst enabling high-quality science. It is this balance which promotes and sustains public confidence that animal based research is acceptable and being appropriately managed.
Jewish Antiquity in the Sixteenth Century: Calvin's Reception of Josephus
Authors: Essary Kirk
Published: October 2017

An analysis of Calvin's multifaceted use of the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus reveals several things of importance both for scholarship on Renaissance historical and biblical criticism generally, and for Calvin studies in particular. Calvin's reception of Josephus was quite extraordinary in its breadth, and complex in its employment and function. References to the historian are peppered throughout his works in a wide array of contexts, from the special authority of Moses to the length of the Sea of Galilee. Significantly, Calvin not only used Josephus as a source for raw historical data, but also employed him to philosophical, theological, and political ends as well. And while the reformer is not unequivocally positive in his judgment of the historian as a reliable source, an overwhelming majority of the instances where Calvin cites Josephus's texts are used to augment his exegetical works, and at times Josephus's authority comes close to overriding that of the literal biblical account. The purpose of this paper is to show how Calvin's engagement with Josephus in his commentaries reveals him to have been an able and discerning critic who would at times go to great lengths in order to sort out perceived discrepancies or to fill in historiographical lacunae pertinent to the biblical story, but also an opportunistic humanist who would use whatever resources he had at his disposal for clarifying the historical background of the biblical text.
A PETRONIAN PARROT IN A NERONIAN CAGE: A NEW READING OF STATIUS’SILVAE2.4
Authors: Kronenberg Leah
Published: October 2017

Critics generally agree that Statius’Silvae2.4, a poem about a dead parrot dedicated to Statius’ patron Atedius Melior, is modelled closely on Ovid'sAmores2.6, a poem about Corinna's dead parrot. In particular, many read Statius’ poem as picking up on the metapoetic strand in the Ovidian model, in which the parrot may be interpreted as a poet-figure, though they also note that Statius’ poem shows more of a concern for the tensions involved in a poet's relationship to his patron (and the emperor). I agree with this general interpretation of the poem and its metapoetic aspect; however, there are some oddities about the dead parrot and its relationship to itsdominusthat have not been fully explained by theories that equate the parrot with either Statius or a non-specific Flavian poet-figure and thedominuswith Atedius Melior or a similar patron-figure. For instance, why is the parrot dead, and why does Statius write an epicedium for it that is similar in tone to the epicedia for dead people inSilvae2? Why is the parrot's relationship to its master an ambiguous one such that his cage can be described as a prison (carcer, 2.4.15), and the master's grief over the parrot's death is never specifically mentioned? Finally, why does the parrot speak the name of Caesar instead of Atedius Melior, the friend of Statius to whom the poem is dedicated?
GENDER INFLUENCE ON PARTICIPATION IN CASSAVA VALUE CHAINS IN SMALLHOLDER FARMING SECTORS: EVIDENCE FROM KIGOMA REGION, TANZANIA
Authors: MASAMHA BLESSING , UZOKWE VERONICA NE , NTAGWABIRA FREDERICK EVANS , GABAGAMBI DAMIEN , MAMIRO PETER
Published: October 2017

When the agricultural value chain involves profit making, it results in changes in the production and distribution relationships among men and women in terms of access to and control of markets, resources and benefits emanating from product value chain participation. This affects not only individual incomes but also gender equality. This study examined gender relationships in the cassava value chain in the Kigoma region of Tanzania. The aim was to assess gender participation in the cassava value chain. Multi-stage sampling was used to select the respondents in four districts. A structured questionnaire was administered to 384 randomly selected household heads. A chi-square test was used to test for significant relationships among the variables. Results indicated that gender was significantly related to socio-economic characteristics. About 34% of the women participating in the cassava value chain were young, some below 17 years of age. There were significant relationships between gender and access to resources (land, extension services and markets), control over resources (land, house and household assets) and benefits (revenue) generated from cassava value chains. Overall, there was gender disparity in participation along the cassava value chain. These results suggest that any intervention in the cassava value chain should consider gender relations to benefit men and women and alleviate household poverty.
FACTORIZATION IN PRÜFER DOMAINS
Authors: COYKENDALL JIM , HASENAUER RICHARD ERWIN
Published: October 2017

We construct a norm on the nonzero elements of a Prüfer domain and extend this concept to the set of ideals of a Prüfer domain. These norms are used to study factorization properties Prüfer of domains.
Doing More with Less in Health Care: Findings from a Multi-Method Study of Decommissioning in the English National Health Service
Authors: HARLOCK JENNY , WILLIAMS IESTYN , ROBERT GLENN , HALL KELLY , MANNION RUSSELL , BREARLEY SALLY
Published: October 2017

In the context of an austere financial climate, local health care budget holders are increasingly expected to make and enact decisions to decommission (reduce or stop providing) services. However, little is currently known about the experiences of those seeking to decommission. This paper presents the first national study of decommissioning in the English National Health Service drawing on multiple methods, including: an interview-based review of the contemporary policy landscape of health care decommissioning; a national online survey of commissioners of health care services responsible for managing and enacting budget allocation decisions locally; and illustrative vignettes provided by those who have led decommissioning activities. Findings are presented and discussed in relation to four themes: national-local relationships; organisational capacity and resources for decommissioning; the extent and nature of decommissioning; and intended outcomes of decommissioning. Whilst it is unlikely that local commissioners will be able to ‘successfully’ implement decommissioning decisions unless aspects of engagement, local context and outcomes are addressed, it remains unclear what ‘success’ looks like in terms of a decommissioning process.
Can perception training improve the production of second language phonemes? A meta-analytic review of 25 years of perception training research
Authors: SAKAI MARI , MOORMAN COLLEEN
Published: October 2017

Cognitive scientists across disciplines have shown a vested interest in examining if and how the speech perception and production modalities are connected. The field of second language (L2) acquisition contributes to this discussion by investigating the effects of auditory training of L2 sounds on pronunciation. This meta-analysis offers a comprehensive view of the last 25 years of L2 perception training studies that test for effects in production. The results indicate that the two modalities are connected, insomuch as training the perception of L2 sounds can induce positive change in the productive mode as well. The data indicate that strictly controlled perception training led to medium-sized improvements in perception (d= 0.92,SD= 0.96) and small improvements in production (d= 0.54,SD= 0.45). A correlation analysis suggests a small- to medium-sized relationship between perception and production gains, although this relationship was not significant. The production of obstruents improved to a larger degree than sonorants or vowels, and an additional six moderating variables influenced the magnitude of the production effect sizes. We caution researchers to not equate the connection of the two modalities in long-term linguistic development to real-time neurological processing, and we end with five recommendations for the domain of L2 phonetic training research.