bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The baroclinic response to wind in a multiarm multibasin reservoir
Authors: Imam Yehya E. , Laval Bernard , Pieters Roger , Lawrence Gregory
Published: October 2019

Field data, a three‐dimensional hydrodynamic numerical model, and modal decomposition were used to examine the baroclinic response to wind in two interconnected multiarm lakes, Knewstubb and Natalkuz Lakes (British Columbia, Canada). Similar to lakes of simpler geometry, the first‐vertical first‐horizontal mode (V1H1) of Knewstubb and Natalkuz Lakes was found to be the most energetic mode. This V1H1 dominance is attributed to similarity between the relatively uniform distributions of along‐thalweg wind and surface‐layer flow for the V1H1 mode. Two bathymetric features, the geometric constriction between Knewstubb and Natalkuz Lakes, and changes in thalweg orientation relative to the wind field act to create subbasins in which wind forcing causes local metalimnetic tilts. These subbasin scale tilts deepen the metalimnion at the downwind ends of the subbasins, raise the metalimnion at the upwind ends, and are superimposed on the lake‐wide V1H1 tilt. The metalimnetic tilts in the subbasins are attributed to higher horizontal modes that are equivalent to V1H1 modes of the subbasins. Because the thickness of the metalimnion is significant, the subbasin metalimnetic tilts occur with variations in the metalimnetic thickness along the subbasins; the metalimnion is compressed at the downwind end and expanded at the other end of each subbasin. This variability in thickness leads to metalimnetic intrusions following the relaxation of wind forcing. The findings of this study contribute to characterizing the baroclinic response to wind in lakes of complex bathymetry. In particular, this study helps in understanding the effect of bathymetric features on modal composition of the baroclinic response.
Conjugated Main Chain Azo‐Polymers Based on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Wiktorowicz Szymon , Damlin Pia , Salomäki Mikko , Kvarnström Carita , Tenhu Heikki , Aseyev Vladimir
Published: October 2019

A reductive coupling reaction employing sodium bis(2‐methoxyethoxy) aluminum hydride is used to prepare main chain azo‐polymers comprising of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, anthraquinone, or fluorenone) from their dinitro‐derivatives. The azo‐bridges act as effective means of conjugation and all polymers exhibit differences in the ultra‐violet–visible light absorption and photoluminescence emission spectra depending on the degree of polymerization. Furthermore, in the case of poly(azofluorenone)s and poly(azoanthraquinone)s, these spectra may be modified by changes in the protonation state of the polymers. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels and the band gap of poly(azoanthraquinone) are estimated from cyclic voltammetry data and UV–visible absorption of films.
Definable topological dynamics for trigonalizable algebraic groups over Qp
Authors: Yao Ningyuan
Published: October 2019

We study the flow of trigonalizable algebraic group acting on its type space, focusing on the problem raised in [17] of whether weakly generic types coincide with almost periodic types if the group has global definable f‐generic types, equivalently whether the union of minimal subflows of a suitable type space is closed. We shall give a description of f‐generic types of trigonalizable algebraic groups, and prove that every f‐generic type is almost periodic.
Precise Synthesis of Alternate Fe(II)/Os(II)‐Based Bimetallic Metallo‐Supramolecular Polymer
Authors: Bera Manas K. , Ninomiya Yoshikazu , Yoshida Takefumi , Higuchi Masayoshi
Published: October 2019

A novel terpyridine‐based bimetallic metallo‐supramolecular polymer (polyFeOs) containing alternately complexed Fe(II) and Os(II) ions is synthesized. For precise synthesis of the polymer, a new three‐step synthetic pathway is developed to obtain a high yield (%) of product in each step. The first step is the synthesis of dibromo terpyridine‐Os(II) complex in 87% yield, the second step is the synthesis of bisterpyridine ligand containing Os(II) (OsL1) in 74% yield, and the last step is the synthesis of polyFeOs in 90% yield. The polyFeOs exhibits high thermal stability with two degradation temperatures at around 390 and 690 °C, which indicate thermal evaporation of the counter anions (Cl− and BF4−) and degradation of the coordination bonds, respectively. The combination of two different metal ions in polyFeOs results in an enlarged optical window (λ = 315–675 nm) and two highly stable reversible redox states, which can be of huge interest for potential optical, electro‐optical, and electrochemical applications.
Metal Plastic Hybrids: Optimisation in model experiments
Authors: Bräuer M. , Edelmann M. , Lehmann D. , Tuschla M.
Published: October 2019

Metall‐Kunststoff‐Verbunde werden als Bausteine für Leichtbaulösungen immer mehr an Bedeutung gewinnen. In dieser Arbeit wird über Modellversuche zur Optimierung der Herstellung von Dreischichtverbunden aus Stahlblech, einer Adhäsionsschicht aus einem Uretdionlack und der flexiblen Weichkomponente (thermoplastisches Polyurethan (TPU)) berichtet. Die Verbundbildung erfolgt in einem Pressverfahren. Es erfolgt sowohl eine Modifizierung der Adhäsionsschicht, als auch die Modifizierung der Weichkomponente mit dem Ziel einer Erhöhung der Verbundfestigkeit. Als quantitatives Maß dafür wird aus der im Schälversuch gemessenen Schälkraft ein „scheinbarer GIc‐Wert“ berechnet. Für Verbunde mit einer thermoplastischen Polyurethan‐Streifendicke von 2 mm wird der GIc‐Wert gegenüber dem Verbund mit unmodifizierten Komponenten um ca. 30 % auf 16 N/mm erhöht. Damit weisen diese Verbunde ähnlich hohe Verbundfestigkeiten auf wie die stabilsten Verbunde aus der Literatur. Abschließend werden die erzielten Optimierungsergebnisse hinsichtlich ihrer Bedeutung für die Interpretation des Haftungsmechanismus in der Grenzschicht Adhäsionsschicht‐thermoplastisches Polyurethan diskutiert.
Design and damping characteristics of magneto‐rheological fluid damper for special object
Authors: Wu Z.T. , Wang H.B. , Wang Zhishen , Zhu Chungeng , Liu Xuhui
Published: October 2019

Aiming at the vibration characteristics of a small type steel frame, based on the theory of non‐Newton liquid, from the physical property of the magneto‐rheological fluids, the shear stress model of magneto‐rheological fluids damper is built up, the non‐linear characteristics of the magneto‐rheological damper is described, and the parameters of designed magneto‐rheological damper are obtained. The vibration characteristics of the frame structure is studied using magneto‐rheological damper, the results show that after the magneto‐rheological fluids damper fixed, the vibration response of the frame structure is decreased by 42 % for the first mode, which validates the damping effect of the developed magneto‐rheological damper, which provides the theoretical and experimental proof for the design of magneto‐rheological damper.
Influence of carbon diffusion on microstructure and wear behaviour of duplex stainless steel surface layers on lamellar grey cast iron
Authors: Heider B. , Oechsner M. , Engler T. , Ellermeier J. , Reisgen U. , Sharma R. , Zokoll E. , Gonzalez E.
Published: October 2019

Surface welding with duplex stainless steel was performed to enhance the wear and corrosion properties of grey cast iron, which is used as material for applications as pump components in maritime and chemical environments. The method used for surface welding and the corresponding process parameters determine the chemical composition and microstructure, which both determine the corrosion and wear properties of the surface layer. High heat input leads to high chemical dilution and thus, reduced corrosion resistance. Slow cooling rates, which are recommended for welding of grey cast iron components, facilitate the formation of carbides in the fusion zone of the chromium‐rich duplex stainless steel surface layer. On the one hand, carbides lead to increased hardness and thus, improved wear resistance of the surface layers. On the other hand, carbides and high chemical dilution rates reduce the corrosion resistance and therefore should be avoided. Under high cooling rates, the risk of cracking in the heat affected zone of the grey cast iron increases due to martensitic phase transformations. The paper describes the correlation of process parameters, microstructure and chemical composition with a focus on carbon diffusion and carbide formation, ever considering the effect on the wear behaviour in an oscillation tribometer and under erosion‐corrosion conditions.
Bazelon Center issues guidance to reduce incarceration of people with MI
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: October 2019

Investments in supported housing, mobile crisis services and assertive community treatment (ACT) are key in helping to reduce incarceration of people with psychiatric disabilities, according to a report released Oct. 1 by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. The services are essential and effective and should be a part of every community's mental health system, officials stated.
Minnesota health group strives to improve MH access, outcomes
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: October 2019

Observing the urgency of addressing the needs of Minnesotans with mental illness that can be further exacerbated by inadequate insurance coverage, lack of access to qualified in‐network providers or societal attitudes that prevent people from receiving care, a coalition of public and private purchasers have released a new report that reflects voluntary responses to health plan assessments and provides changes to improve mental health parity, care delivery and outcomes for people across the state.
California county supports parity for Kaiser MH clinicians
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: October 2019

The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), representing 15,000 workers, including more than 4,000 psychologists, social workers, therapists and other mental health clinicians, expressed encouragement following a unanimously passed resolution by California's Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The board declared its “strong support” for establishing “full parity for mental health patients and clinicians at Kaiser Permanente,” according to an NUHW news release.
Graph Classification of Molecules Using Force Field Atom and Bond Types
Authors: Jippo Hideyuki , Matsuo Tatsuru , Kikuchi Ryota , Fukuda Daisuke , Matsuura Azuma , Ohfuchi Mari
Published: October 2019

Classification of the biological activities of chemical substances is important for developing new medicines efficiently. Various machine learning methods are often employed to screen large libraries of compounds and predict the activities of new substances by training the molecular structure‐activity relationships. One such method is graph classification, in which a molecular structure can be represented in terms of a labeled graph with nodes that correspond to atoms and edges that correspond to the bonds between these atoms. In a conventional graph definition, atomic symbols and bond orders are employed as node and edge labels, respectively. In this study, we developed new graph definitions using the assignment of atom and bond types in the force fields of molecular dynamics methods as node and edge labels, respectively. We found that these graph definitions improved the accuracies of activity classifications for chemical substances using graph kernels with support vector machines and deep neural networks. The higher accuracies obtained using our proposed definitions can enhance the development of the materials informatics using graph‐based machine learning methods.
Estimating Some General Molecular Descriptors of Saturated Hydrocarbons
Authors: Ali Akbar , Du Zhibin , Shehzadi Kiran
Published: October 2019

Three general molecular descriptors, namely the general sum‐connectivity index, general Platt index and ordinary generalized geometric‐arithmetic index, are studied here. Best possible bounds for the aforementioned descriptors of arbitrary saturated hydrocarbons are derived under certain constraints. These bounds are expressed in terms of number of carbon atoms and number of carbon‐carbon bonds of the considered hydrocarbons.
Ankle bracing practices in ambulatory, corticosteroid‐naive boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Kern Victoria , Wicklund Matthew , Haulman Anne , McDermott Michael P. , Martens William B. , Griggs Robert C. , Kumar Ashutosh ,   The Muscle Study Group and TREAT‐NMD
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Loss of ambulation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy presages scoliosis, respiratory failure, and death. Strategies to maintain ankle range of motion are employed, but little evidence exists to support these approaches and limited information is available concerning current practice.

Methods

In this study we assessed baseline bracing data from 187 boys participating in a multicenter, international clinical trial.

Results

Ankle‐foot orthoses (AFOs) were recommended for 54% of the boys, with nighttime static AFOs and nighttime dynamic AFOs utilized in 94% and 6% of these boys, respectively. Daytime static AFOs were recommended for 3 boys. Compliance with bracing recommendations was 54% for nighttime static braces and 67% for nighttime dynamic braces.

Discussion

The basis for the variation in recommended AFO use is unknown and requires further study. Long‐term follow‐up of boys may permit assessment of the effects of AFO use.
‘We secured the tussac’: Accounts of ecological discovery, exploitation and renewal in the Falkland Islands
Authors: Tourangeau Wesley , Sherren Kate , Delignières Marilou
Published: October 2019

Sheep farms dominate the Falkland Islands landscape and have for over a century. The introduction of sheep, and several other species, has significantly transformed the ecology of this archipelago—the near elimination of tussac grass being one of the most notable changes.

Tracing back to early accounts of tussac grass in the ‘Falklands’, this paper captures its discovery, exploitation and current stage of renewal, including a closer look at the connections between tussac and livestock farming, as well as parallel trends in other countries.

We narrate changing relations between people and tussac grass using a combination of interview data, historical accounts and scientific literature.

Tussac is presented as a historical bellwether of shifting trends in local farm and environmental management in this isolated archipelago. Shifts in land ownership, grazing management methods and conservation efforts are bringing momentum to a period of renewal across the Falklands.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Cover Image, Volume 68, Issue 11
Authors: Jung Dae Eon , Lee Ki Hyun , Lee Eun Jeoung , Kim Byoung Chul
Published: October 2019

The cover image is based on the Research Article Temperature‐dependent transition of crystal phases in the electrospinning process of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) by Dae Eon Jung et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.5895.

image
Binding of FAD and tryptophan to the tryptophan 6‐halogenase Thal is negatively coupled
Authors: Moritzer Ann‐Christin , Niemann Hartmut H.
Published: October 2019

Flavin‐dependent halogenases require reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2), O2, and halide salts to halogenate their substrates. We describe the crystal structures of the tryptophan 6‐halogenase Thal in complex with FAD or with both tryptophan and FAD. If tryptophan and FAD were soaked simultaneously, both ligands showed impaired binding and in some cases only the adenosine monophosphate or the adenosine moiety of FAD was resolved, suggesting that tryptophan binding increases the mobility mainly of the flavin mononucleotide moiety. This confirms a negative cooperativity between the binding of substrate and cofactor that was previously described for other tryptophan halogenases. Binding of substrate to tryptophan halogenases reduces the affinity for the oxidized cofactor FAD presumably to facilitate the regeneration of FADH2 by flavin reductases.
Function2Form Bridge—Toward synthetic protein holistic performance prediction
Authors: Yallapragada Venkata V. B. , Walker Sidney P. , Devoy Ciaran , Buckley Stephen , Flores Yensi , Tangney Mark
Published: October 2019

Protein engineering and synthetic biology stand to benefit immensely from recent advances in silico tools for structural and functional analyses of proteins. In the context of designing novel proteins, current in silico tools inform the user on individual parameters of a query protein, with output scores/metrics unique to each parameter. In reality, proteins feature multiple “parts”/functions and modification of a protein aimed at altering a given part, typically has collateral impact on other protein parts. A system for prediction of the combined effect of design parameters on the overall performance of the final protein does not exist. Function2Form Bridge (F2F‐Bridge) attempts to address this by combining the scores of different design parameters pertaining to the protein being analyzed into a single easily interpreted output describing overall performance. The strategy comprises of (a) a mathematical strategy combining data from a myriad of in silico tools into an OP‐score (a singular score informing on a user‐defined overall performance) and (b) the F2F Plot, a graphical means of informing the wetlab biologist holistically on designed construct suitability in the context of multiple parameters, highlighting scope for improvement. F2F predictive output was compared with wetlab data from a range of synthetic proteins designed, built, and tested for this study. Statistical/machine learning approaches for predicting overall performance, for use alongside the F2F plot, were also examined. Comparisons between wetlab performance and F2F predictions demonstrated close and reliable correlations. This user‐friendly strategy represents a pivotal enabler in increasing the accessibility of synthetic protein building and de novo protein design.
Nanoscale Surface Redox Chemistry Triggered by Plasmon‐Generated Hot Carriers
Authors: Yin Hao , Lan Jing‐Gang , Goubert Guillaume , Wang Yao‐Hui , Li Jian‐Feng , Zenobi Renato
Published: October 2019

Direct photoexcitation of charges at a plasmonic metal hotspot produces energetic carriers that are capable of performing photocatalysis in the visible spectrum. However, the mechanisms of generation and transport of hot carriers are still not fully understood and under intense investigation because of their potential technological importance. Here, spectroscopic evidence proves that the reduction of dye molecules tethered to a Au(111) surface can be triggered by plasmonic carriers via a tunneling mechanism, which results in anomalous Raman intensity fluctuations. Tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) helps to correlate Raman intensity fluctuations with temperature and with properties of the molecular spacer. In combination with electrochemical surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy, TERS results show that plasmon‐induced energetic carriers can directly tunnel to the dye through the spacer. This organic spacer chemically isolates the adsorbate from the metal but does not block photo‐induced redox reactions, which offers new possibilities for optimizing plasmon‐induced photocatalytic systems.
Policy‐Induced School Calendar Changes and Teacher Moonlighting
Authors: Gilpin Gregory
Published: October 2019

Secondary employment (SE) is an important for many workers and several motives impact engagement. This research analyzes a novel short‐lived crisis when California public schools switched between nine‐month and year‐round calendars in response to state policy inhibiting school construction. The crisis shifted primary employment vacation schedules of full‐time teachers for 4–6 years, potentially altering compositions of SE opportunities. Policy analysis is conducted, and the empirical analysis suggests teachers increase SE engagement by 13.8% during years their schools are on year‐round calendars. The increase is attributable to increases in school‐based SE engagement in schools using multi‐track year‐round calendars, and no changes in non‐school‐based SE engagement are observed. An event study suggests the impact on SE engagement only occurs when teachers are required to be on year‐round calendars. Males and mid‐career teachers' SE engagement appear most responsive. The relative importance of workers' SE motives and policy impact are discussed.
An end‐user‐centric test generation methodology for performance evaluation of mobile networked applications
Authors: Al‐tekreeti Mustafa , Abdrabou Atef , Naik Kshirasagar
Published: October 2019

We propose a model‐based test generation methodology to evaluate the impact of the interaction of the wireless network and application configurations on the performance of mobile networked applications. We consider waiting time delay to model wireless network quality. We classify mobile applications into two groups. Group I represents applications where end‐user experience is mainly affected by waiting time delay during service consumption, while group II represents applications where end‐user experience is affected by waiting time delay before service consumption. Test generation is formulated as an inversion problem. However, for group I applications, solving the inversion problem is expensive. Therefore, we utilize metamorphic testing to mitigate the cost of test oracles. We formulate metamorphic test generation as maximization of the distance between seed and follow‐up test cases. Two test coverage criteria are proposed: user experience and user‐experience‐and‐input interaction. Network models are developed for a mobile device that has network access through a WiFi hot spot and uses either transmission control protocol or user datagram protocol. Two mobile applications are used to demonstrate the methodology: multimedia streaming and web browsing. Application of the methodology when user actions are taken into consideration is also addressed. The effectiveness of the methodology is evaluated using two metrics: the incurred time cost and redundancy in the generated test suite. The obtained results show the advantage of casting test generation as an inversion problem, compared with random testing. For apps with intensive performance models, combining metamorphic testing with the methodology has tremendously reduced the cost of test oracles.
Numerical thermofluid simulation of a decaying arc behavior in CO2/O2/C5F10O (C5‐PFK) considering more than nona‐atomic molecules
Authors: Demura Yuki , Tanaka Yasunori , Uesugi Yoshihiko , Ishijima Tatsuo
Published: October 2019

The present article describes numerical thermofluid simulation results on decaying arc behavior in 80%CO2 + 10%O2 + 10%C5F10O (C5‐PFK) gas considering molecules constituted with more than 9 atoms in a nozzle space on the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) condition. The gas mixture 80%CO2 + 10%O2 + 10%C5F10O (C5‐PFK) is one of the candidate alternatives for SF6 in a gas circuit breaker. First, we calculated 80%CO2 + 10%O2 + 10%C5F10O (C5‐PFK) arc characteristics only by considering less than 8‐atom molecules. However, it seems possible to produce more than nona‐atomic molecules in the low‐temperature region in 80%CO2 + 10%O2 + 10%C5F10O (C5‐PFK) arcs. The present work further calculated the equilibrium composition of this gas mixture at 0.1 MPa with taking account more than nona‐atomic molecules. Furthermore, their thermodynamic and transport properties were also computed with collision integrals between species considered. Using these properties, the arc temperature and gas flow fields were calculated using two‐dimensional LTE model for a free recovery condition from dc 50 to 0 A. Results showed that a similar temperature decay was obtained for arcs in the 80%CO2 + 10%O2 + 10%C5F10O (C5‐PFK) gas mixture to that for arcs in 100%CO2 gas. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Efficacy of enteric‐coated tilmicosin granules in pigs artificially infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2
Authors: Dong Zhen , Zhou Xu‐Zheng , Sun Ji‐chao , Meng Xiao‐Bin , Li Hong‐Sheng , Cheng Fu‐Sheng , Wei Xiao‐Juan , Li Bing , Wang Wei‐Wei , Zhang Ji‐Yu
Published: October 2019

Background

Porcine infectious pleuropneumonia caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) is one of the most serious infectious diseases in pigs and has brought huge economic losses to the world pig industry. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of enteric‐coated tilmicosin granule in the treatment and control of artificial infection of App.

Methods

Sixty Duroc and Yorkshire crossbred pigs (50 of which were artificially infected) were divided into six groups: BCG (Blank control group), ICG (Infection‐only control group), HDG (High‐dose enteric‐coated tilmicosin granules), MDG (Medium‐dose enteric‐coated tilmicosin granules), LDG (Low‐dose enteric‐coated tilmicosin granules) and TPG (Tilmicosin premix drug control group). The cure rate, mortality, clinical respiratory score, body temperature score, weight gain, lung score and so on were recorded.

Results

The cure rate of HDG and MDG was as high as 90%, the mortality was 10%, and the clinical signs recovered quickly.

Conclusion

The results showed that enteric‐coated tilmicosin granules had obvious therapeutic effect on artificial infection, which could reduce the damage caused by the disease and reduce the mortality.
Cerebrovascular Complications After Upper Extremity Access for Complex Aortic Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Meertens Max M. , Lemmens Charlotte C. , Oderich Gustavo S. , Schurink Geert W. H. , Mees Barend M. E.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to review the risk of developing cerebrovascular complications from upper extremity access during endovascular treatment of complex aortic aneurysms.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. An electronic search of the public domains Medline (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), Web of Science and Cochrane Library was performed to identify studies related to the treatment of aortic aneurysms involving upper extremity access. Meta-analysis was used to compare the rate of cerebrovascular event after left, right and bilateral upper extremity access. Results are presented as relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Thirteen studies including 1276 patients with complex endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms using upper extremity access were included in the systematic review. Left upper extremity access (UEA) was used in 1028 procedures, right access in 148 and bilateral access in 100 procedures. The rate of cerebrovascular complications for patients treated through left UEA was 1.7%, through right UEA 4% and through bilateral UEA 5%. In the meta-analysis, we included seven studies involving 645 patients treated with a left upper extremity access, 87 patients through a right and 100 patients through a bilateral upper extremity access. Patients, who underwent right-sided (RR 5.01, 95% CI 1.51–16.58, P = 0.008) or bilateral UEA (RR 4.57, 95% CI 1.23–17.04, P = 0.02), had a significantly increased risk of cerebrovascular events compared to those who had a left-sided approach.

Conclusion

Left upper extremity access is associated with a significantly lower rate of cerebrovascular complications as compared to right or bilateral upper extremity access.
Investigating the Transport Mechanism of PM2.5 Pollution during January 2014 in Wuhan, Central China
Authors: Lu Miaomiao , Tang Xiao , Wang Zifa , Wu Lin , Chen Xueshun , Liang Shengwen , Zhou Hui , Wu Huangjian , Hu Ke , Shen Longjiao , Yu Jia , Zhu Jiang
Published: October 2019

Severe haze pollution that occurred in January 2014 in Wuhan was investigated. The factors leading to Wuhan’s PM2.5 pollution and the characteristics and formation mechanism were found to be significantly different from other megacities, like Beijing. Both the growth rates and decline rates of PM2.5 concentrations in Wuhan were lower than those in Beijing, but the monthly PM2.5 value was approximately twice that in Beijing. Furthermore, the sharp increases of PM2.5 concentrations were often accompanied by strong winds. A high-precision modeling system with an online source-tagged method was established to explore the formation mechanism of five haze episodes. The long-range transport of the polluted air masses from the North China Plain (NCP) was the main factor leading to the sharp increases of PM2.5 concentrations in Wuhan, which contributed 53.4% of the monthly PM2.5 concentrations and 38.5% of polluted days. Furthermore, the change in meteorological conditions such as weakened winds and stable weather conditions led to the accumulation of air pollutants in Wuhan after the long-range transport. The contribution from Wuhan and surrounding cities to the PM2.5 concentrations was determined to be 67.4% during this period. Under the complex regional transport of pollutants from surrounding cities, the NCP, East China, and South China, the five episodes resulted in 30 haze days in Wuhan. The findings reveal important roles played by transregional and intercity transport in haze formation in Wuhan.
The US Unemployment Insurance Scheme: A Model for the EU?
Authors: Luigjes Christiaan , Fischer Georg , Vandenbroucke Frank
Published: October 2019

The system of unemployment insurance (UI) used in the United States has often been cited as a model for Europe. The American model illustrates that it is possible to create and maintain a UI system based on federal-state co-financing that intensifies during economic crises and thus reinforces protection and stabilisation. Central requirements and conditional funding can improve the aggregate protection and stabilisation capacity of the system. However, the architecture of the US system financially incentivises states to organise retrenchment of their own efforts for UI, which in turn leads to a divergence of benefit generosity and coverage levels. During the Great Recession, the federal government mitigated these incentives for retrenchment through minimum requirements attached to federal financial intervention. With regards to the European unemployment re-insurance system debate, the US experience implies both positive and encourageing conclusions and cautionary lessons.
On VT-harmonic maps
Authors: Chen Qun , Jost Jürgen , Qiu Hongbing
Published: October 2019

VT-harmonic maps generalize the standard harmonic maps, with respect to the structure of both domain and target. These can be manifolds with natural connections other than the Levi-Civita connection of Riemannian geometry, like Hermitian, affine or Weyl manifolds. The standard harmonic map semilinear elliptic system is augmented by a term coming from a vector field V on the domain and another term arising from a 2-tensor T on the target. In fact, this geometric structure then also includes other geometrically defined maps, for instance magnetic harmonic maps. In this paper, we treat VT-harmonic maps and their parabolic analogues with PDE tools. We establish a Jäger–Kaul type maximum principle for these maps. Using this maximum principle, we prove an existence theorem for the Dirichlet problem for VT-harmonic maps. As applications, we obtain results on Weyl/affine/Hermitian harmonic maps between Weyl/affine/Hermitian manifolds, as well as on magnetic harmonic maps from two-dimensional domains. We also derive gradient estimates and obtain existence results for such maps from noncompact complete manifolds.
Sexual Coercion by Women: The Influence of Pornography and Narcissistic and Histrionic Personality Disorder Traits
Authors: Hughes Abigail , Brewer Gayle , Khan Roxanne
Published: October 2019

Largely overlooked in the literature, this study investigated factors influencing women’s use of sexual coercion. Specifically, pornography use and personality disorder traits linked with poor impulse control, emotional regulation, and superior sense of sexual desirability were considered. Women (N = 142) aged 16–53 years (M = 24.23, SD = 7.06) were recruited from community and student populations. Participants completed the Narcissistic and Histrionic subscales of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4, in addition to the Cyber-Pornography Use Inventory to explore the influence of their pornography use (interest, efforts to engage with pornography, and compulsivity) on their use of sexual coercion. This was measured using four subscales of the Postrefusal Sexual Persistence Scale: nonverbal sexual arousal, emotional manipulation and deception, exploitation of the intoxicated, and use of physical force or threats. Multiple regression analyses revealed that pornography use, narcissistic traits, and histrionic traits significantly predicted the use of nonverbal sexual arousal, emotional manipulation and deception, and exploitation of the intoxicated. Effort to engage with pornography was a significant individual predictor of nonverbal sexual arousal and emotional manipulation and deception, while histrionic traits were a significant individual predictor of exploitation of the intoxicated. Findings were discussed in relation to existing sexual coercion literature and potential future research.
Structural characteristics and electrochemical properties of sulfonated polyimide clay-based composite fabricated by a solution casting method
Authors: Ali Nisar , Ali Farman , Saeed Shaukat , Shah Syed Sakhawat , Bilal Muhammad
Published: October 2019

Herein, the electrochemical and structural properties of sulfonated polyimide (SPI) clay-based composite films have been investigated. SPI reinforced with grafted sonicated clay (GSC) was fabricated via a solution casting method in the form of thin films. The as-synthesized thin films were light brown, tough, flexible and transparent. The thickness of the films were 0.109 mm and 0.056 for pristine SPI and GSC-SPI, respectively. The fabricated composite was fully investigated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), carbon (13C) NMR and impedance spectroscopy. The completion of the proton exchange reaction was confirmed by 1H NMR. The electrical properties of the SPI-clay based composite film were investigated by impedance spectroscopy. The conductivity was measured in a wide frequency range from room temperature to 363 K by applying an ac signal of 0.5 V. The appearance of two semicircular arcs at low and high frequency shows two conduction mechanisms with different relaxation times at the exterior and interior of the system. Bode plot also confirms the presence of two electro-active regions. The shift in the position of tanδ peaks to lower frequency region with increasing temperature shows that these relaxations are thermally deactivated. The ac conductivity of the system increased from 6.02E−10 for neat SPI to 6.61E−6 Ω−1 cm−1 for SPI-GSC composite. In conclusion, these layered silicates based conductive films have the potential to act as a polyelectrolyte membrane for fuel cell energy devices.
Modelling election dynamics and the impact of disinformation
Authors: Brody Dorje C.
Published: October 2019

Complex dynamical systems driven by the unravelling of information can be modelled effectively by treating the underlying flow of information as the model input. Complicated dynamical behaviour of the system is then derived as an output. Such an information-based approach is in sharp contrast to the conventional mathematical modelling of information-driven systems whereby one attempts to come up with essentially ad hoc models for the outputs. Here, dynamics of electoral competition is modelled by the specification of the flow of information relevant to election. The seemingly random evolution of the election poll statistics are then derived as model outputs, which in turn are used to study election prediction, impact of disinformation, and the optimal strategy for information management in an election campaign.
Conceptual Organization is Revealed by Consumer Activity Patterns
Authors: Hornsby Adam N. , Evans Thomas , Riefer Peter S. , Prior Rosie , Love Bradley C.
Published: October 2019

Computational models using text corpora have proved useful in understanding the nature of language and human concepts. One appeal of this work is that text, such as from newspaper articles, should reflect human behaviour and conceptual organization outside the laboratory. However, texts do not directly reflect human activity, but instead serve a communicative function and are highly curated or edited to suit an audience. Here, we apply methods devised for text to a data source that directly reflects thousands of individuals’ activity patterns. Using product co-occurrence data from nearly 1.3-m supermarket shopping baskets, we trained a topic model to learn 25 high-level concepts (or topics). These topics were found to be comprehensible and coherent by both retail experts and consumers. The topics indicated that human concepts are primarily organized around goals and interactions (e.g. tomatoes go well with vegetables in a salad), rather than their intrinsic features (e.g. defining a tomato by the fact that it has seeds and is fleshy). These results are consistent with the notion that human conceptual knowledge is tailored to support action. Individual differences in the topics sampled predicted basic demographic characteristics. Our findings suggest that human activity patterns can reveal conceptual organization and may give rise to it.
Diagnostic accuracy of a global cognitive screen for Māori and non‐Māori octogenarians
Authors: Zawaly Kristina , Moyes Simon A. , Wood Phil C. , Cheung Gary , Rolleston Anna , Buetow Stephen , Tippett Lynette , Kerse Ngaire
Published: October 2019

Introduction

We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the Modified Mini–Mental State Examination (3MS) in predicting dementia and cognitive impairment in Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand) and non‐Māori octogenarians.

Methods

A subsample of participants from Life and Living in Advanced Age: a Cohort Study in New Zealand were recruited to determine the 3MS diagnostic accuracy compared with the reference standard.

Results

Seventy‐three participants (44% Māori) completed the 3MS and reference standard assessments. The 3MS demonstrated strong diagnostic accuracy to detect dementia with areas under the curve of 0.87 for Māori and 0.9 for non‐Māori. Our cutoffs displayed ethnic variability and are approximately 5 points greater than those commonly applied. Cognitive impairment yielded low accuracy, and discriminatory power was not established.

Discussion

Cutoffs that are not age or ethnically appropriate may compromise the accuracy of cognitive screens. Consequently, older age and indigeneity increase the risk of mislabeled cognitive status.
Multidecadal Climate Variability and the Florescence of Fremont Societies in Eastern Utah
Authors: Finley Judson Byrd , Robinson Erick , DeRose R. Justin , Hora Elizabeth
Published: October 2019

Fremont societies of the Uinta Basin incorporated domesticates into a foraging lifeway over a 1,000-year period from AD 300 to 1300. Fremont research provides a unique opportunity to critically examine the social and ecological processes behind the adoption and abandonment of domesticates by hunter-gatherers. We develop and integrate a 2,115-year precipitation reconstruction with a Bayesian chronological model for the growth of Fremont societies in the Cub Creek reach of Dinosaur National Monument. Comparison of the archaeological chronology with the precipitation record suggests that the florescence of Fremont societies was an adaptation to multidecadal precipitation variability with an approximately 30-plus-year periodicity over most, but not all, of the last 2,115 years. Fremont societies adopted domesticates to enhance their resilience to periodic droughts. We propose that reduced precipitation variability from AD 750 to AD 1050, superimposed over consistent mean precipitation availability, was the tipping point that increased maize production, initiated agricultural intensification, and resulted in increased population and development of pithouse communities. Our study develops a multidecadal/multigenerational model within which to evaluate the strategies underwriting the adoption of domesticates by foragers, the formation of Fremont communities, and the inherent vulnerabilities to resource intensification that implicate the eventual dissolution of those communities.
A new mean ergodic theorem for tori and recurrences
Authors: NGUYEN KHOA D.
Published: October 2019

Let$X$be a finite-dimensional connected compact abelian group equipped with the normalized Haar measure$\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}$. We obtain the following mean ergodic theorem over ‘thin’ phase sets. Fix$k\geq 1$and, for every$n\geq 1$, let$A_{n}$be a subset of$\mathbb{Z}^{k}\cap [-n,n]^{k}$. Assume that$(A_{n})_{n\geq 1}$has$\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}(1/n)$density in the sense that$\lim _{n\rightarrow \infty }(|A_{n}|/n^{k-1})=\infty$. Let$T_{1},\ldots ,T_{k}$be ergodic automorphisms of$X$. We have$$\begin{eqnarray}\frac{1}{|A_{n}|}\mathop{\sum }_{(n_{1},\ldots ,n_{k})\in A_{n}}f_{1}(T_{1}^{n_{1}}(x))\cdots f_{k}(T_{k}^{n_{k}}(x))\stackrel{L_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}}^{2}}{\longrightarrow }\int f_{1}\,d\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}\cdots \int f_{k}\,d\unicode[STIX]{x1D707},\end{eqnarray}$$for any$f_{1},\ldots ,f_{k}\in L_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}}^{\infty }$. When the$T_{i}$are ergodic epimorphisms, the same conclusion holds under the further assumption that$A_{n}$is a subset of$[0,n]^{k}$for every$n$. The density assumption on the$A_{i}$is necessary. Immediate applications include certain Poincaré style recurrence results.
Pattern formation on time-dependent domains
Authors: Ghadiri M. , Krechetnikov R.
Published: October 2019

In the quest to understand the dynamics of distributed systems on time-dependent spatial domains, we study experimentally the response to domain deformations by Faraday wave patterns – standing waves formed on the free surface of a liquid layer due to its vertical vibration – chosen as a paradigm owing to their historical use in testing new theories and ideas. In our experimental set-up of a vibrating water container with controlled positions of lateral walls and liquid layer depth, the characteristics of the patterns are measured using the Fourier transform profilometry technique, which allows us to reconstruct an accurate time history of the pattern three-dimensional landscape and reveal how it reacts to the domain dynamics on various length and time scales. Analysis of Faraday waves on growing, shrinking and oscillating domains leads to a number of intriguing results. First, the observation of a transverse instability – namely, when a two-dimensional pattern experiences an instability in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the domain deformation – provides a new facet to the stability picture compared to the one-dimensional systems in which the longitudinal (Eckhaus) instability accounts for pattern transformation on time-varying domains. Second, the domain evolution rate is found to be a key factor dictating the patterns observed on the path between the initial and final domain aspect ratios. Its effects range from allowing the formation of complex sequences of patterns to impeding the appearance of any new pattern on the path. Third, the shrinkage–growth process turns out to be generally irreversible on a horizontally evolving domain, but becomes reversible in the case of a time-dependent liquid layer depth, i.e. when the dilution and convective effects of the domain flow are absent. These experimentally observed enigmatic effects of the domain size variations in time are complemented here with appropriate theoretical insights elucidating the dynamics of two-dimensional pattern evolution, which proves to be more intricate compared to one-dimensional systems.
Determinants of antenatal HIV testing in the opt-out approach in Nigeria: findings from the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Udoh Ekerette Emmanuel , Ushie Boniface Ayanbekongshie
Published: October 2019

Children in Nigeria are frequently born with HIV, despite available services to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Not offering, or non-acceptance of, HIV testing during antenatal care (ANC) delays anti-retroviral commencement for infected women, thereby increasing the risk of MTCT. This study assessed the determinants of HIV testing during antenatal care in Nigeria using nationally representative data from the 2013 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey. This study included 13,352 women aged 15–49 years who reported having at least one antenatal visit. The outcome variables were HIV testing during ANC and during labour, while socio-demographic and maternal factors, including number of ANC visits, offer of HIV testing during ANC and labour, place of delivery and knowledge and counselling on MTCT, were among the independent variables. Multivariate regression analysis was used to predict HIV testing during ANC and labour. About half (53%) of the women were tested for HIV during antenatal care with 85% of those tested receiving their test results. Only 6% had HIV tests during labour. There was a 33% excess probability of urban women testing during ANC compared with rural women. Never having a previous pregnancy terminated was associated with lower odds of testing during ANC. No counselling on MTCT and no counselling to get tested were associated with a lower probability of testing during ANC. Counselling on the prevention of MTCT is crucial for women’s willingness to be tested, and acceptance of testing. More effort is needed to ensure that providers in Nigeria offer these services to all women, educate women on the dangers of opting out and ensure the earliest commencement of ARV enrolment for those infected.
Pott's puffy tumour: innovative technique in calvarial reconstruction
Authors: Mettias B , Dow G , Srinivasan D , Ramakrishnan Y
Published: October 2019

Background

Pott's puffy tumour is a rare complication of sinusitis. This osteomyelitis can affect the outer and inner tables of the frontal sinus. The treatment of Pott's puffy tumour combines medical and surgical approaches. Surgical approaches have traditionally been open, but endoscopic techniques have been adopted recently in select cases. The bony defect from debridement can be left alone, or closed with autografts or allografts.

Objective

To describe a technique for the reconstruction of a large skull vault after the debridement of extensive osteomyelitis of the anterior cranial vault.

Methods

Modified distraction osteogenesis is used in the cranial vault, to induce new bone formation. This is customarily used to lengthen long bones. The advantages of this technique include avoiding autologous grafts or alloplastic cranioplasty in the infected surgical bed, and allowing primary closure.

Results

Early post-operative imaging results have been encouraging, with no reported complications.

Conclusion

Modified distraction osteogenesis is a novel technique in the primary reconstruction of calvarial bone.