bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Polyhydroxybutyrate Content on the Crystallization Behavior of Polyamide 6‐polyhydroxy‐butyrate Blends
Authors: Dill Svenja , Demicheva Mariia , Fleschutz Barbara , Weinlein Roger
Published: April 2019

With the aim of exploring new areas of application for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), blends of PHB, polyamide 6 (PA 6) and partly maleated polyhydroxybutyrate (C) were compounded, injection molded into multi‐purpose test specimens and investigated. Blends with 2.5, 5, and 10% PHB content and an additional series where the PHB content was supplemented by an equal percentage of C, in each case, were produced. To investigate the influence of PHB and C on the crystallization behavior of PA 6, the blends were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results have shown that PHB has a nucleating influence on the PA 6 matrix. Compared to pure PA 6, the melting temperature decreases slightly, but the melting enthalpy and the proportion of smaller crystallites increases. A change of the crystallite configuration of the PA 6, from α to γ structure, depending on the PHB content, could be excluded by FTIR measurements.
Flexible Hot Runner Adapter Plates for Injection Molding Machines and Their Potential for Polymer Development
Authors: Zimmermann Philipp , Reichert Volker
Published: April 2019

Research facilities and industrial applications require highly modular and flexible solutions for injection molding machines to cope with the faster changing demand of costumers and science. Hot runner adapter plates enable an injection molding machine to be used for material analyses and material development for which previously different injection molding machines were required. Additionally the quick changing time of an hot runner adapter plate allows the injection molding machine to be used within a great variety of research projects.
Capability of Scratch Testing − A View on the Influence of Injection Molding, Water Absorption, and Blend Systems of Polymeric Materials
Authors: Moneke Martin , Seeger Philipp , Stengler Ralph
Published: April 2019

Scratch tests have been performed on a set of different ductile and brittle thermoplastics to investigate the influence of injection molding, water absorption and blending on the indentation depth during scratching and hence the scratch resistance. For the measurements a universal surface tester (UST) has been used which allows to control the normal force between 10 and 1000 mN and the velocity between 0.01 and 2.5 mm/s during scratching while at the same time measuring the indentation depth with a sub‐micron resolution. It could be shown that the water uptake of polyamide 6.6 (PA6.6) doubles the indentation depth from approx. 10 microns to approx. 20 microns within the first 2 h. The indentation depth also strongly correlates with the position of measurement on an injection molded plate. Near the gate, the indentation depth measured in processing direction is always higher than at a position far from the gate. Similarly the indentation depth always is higher at the center compared to at the edge of the plate. For amorphous thermoplastics this surface anisotropy can be explained by the molecular orientation resulting from the flow and cooling processes during injection molding. When blending poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) the indentation depth increases with increasing TPU content. Overall, scratch testing proves to be a quick and easy tool to investigate surface related effects in plastics engineering and polymer science.
The Combination of Electron Microscopy, Raman Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X‐Ray Spectroscopy for the Investigation of Polymeric Materials
Authors: Schmidt Ruth , Fitzek Harald , Nachtnebel Manfred , Mayrhofer Claudia , Schroettner Hartmuth , Zankel Armin
Published: April 2019

Polymers play an important role in materials science, because of their advantages over other types of materials. The huge variety in terms of the types, arrangements and combinations of monomers found in polymers leads to an extremely wide diversity of different polymeric materials. Although there is a wide range of analytical techniques to characterize polymeric materials, here the focus is laid on a novel correlative microscopy method, combining Raman microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDXS). Therefore, three polymeric specimens were analysed by the new system RISE (Raman Imaging and Scanning Electron microscopy) in combination with EDXS. The aim of this contribution is to demonstrate the potential of the new system to characterize different polymeric layers, as well as fillers and additives in polymeric materials. In addition to the results, a methodical chapter deals with preparation aspects, investigation skills and imaging modes of the electron microscope. Here the so‐called variable pressure mode (VP) is mentioned, where nitrogen is used as imaging gas at pressures between 10 and 133 Pa. Furthermore, the low‐voltage mode in the high vacuum is discussed which gives a better surface resolution due to a smaller interaction volume of the electrons in the material and furthermore causes lower beam damage. Both modes work without a conductive coating on the specimen, which is a requirement for Raman investigations. Further capabilities of the RISE system in combination with the EDXS will be discussed afterwards.
Post‐yield Fracture Mechanics as a Measure of the Degradation of Artificially Aged Biodegradable Mulch Films
Authors: Monami Andrea , Lach Ralf , Escudeiro Ana R. , Singkronart Kanjanawadee , Grellmann Wolfgang , Langer Beate
Published: April 2019

An accelerated approach to assess the long‐term performance of biodegradable agriculture films such as mulch films based on poly(butyrate adipate terephthalate) (PBAT) is presented. PBAT films were aged in water and in air at 80 °C for different times and morphological changes were analysed using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and light microscopy. For exposure in air a Xenon‐arc test chamber was applied. The essential work of fracture concept was used to determine the resistance against crack initiation and propagation as a measure of the degree of degradation. Only at wet conditions as in real applications the films degrade easily. Thus, the films can break in increasingly small parts to become a part of the ground.
Potentially functional genetic variants in the TNF/TNFR signaling pathway genes predict survival of patients with non‐small cell lung cancer in the PLCO cancer screening trial
Authors: Guo Yi , Feng Yun , Liu Hongliang , Luo Sheng , Clarke Jeffrey W. , Moorman Patricia G. , Su Li , Shen Sipeng , Christiani David C. , Wei Qingyi
Published: April 2019

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)/TNF receptor (TNFR) pathway is known to influence survival of patients with cancer. We hypothesize that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TNF/TNFR pathway genes related to apoptosis are associated with survival of patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We used 1185 patients with NSCLC in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial and 984 patients with NSCLC in the Harvard Lung Cancer Susceptibility Study as the discovery and validation datasets, respectively. We selected 6788 SNPs in 71 genes in the TNF/TNFR signaling pathway and extracted their genotyping data from the PLCO genowide‐association study (GWAS) dataset. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to evaluate associations between the identified SNPs and survival and validated the significant SNPs, which were further analyzed for their functional relevance. We found that genotypes of two validated SNPs,IKBKAPrs4978754 CT + TT andTNFRSF1Brs677844 TC + CC, as well as their combined genotypes predicted a better overall survival (P= 0.004, 0.002 and <0.001, respectively). These two validated SNPs were predicted by the RegulomeDB score to be potentially functional. In addition,IKBKAPmRNA expression levels were significantly higher, whileTNFRSF1BmRNA expression levels were significantly lower in lung cancer tissues than in adjacent normal tissues (P< 0.001). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)‐based expression quantitative trait loci analysis showed thatIKBKAPrs4978754 andTNFRSF1Brs677844 genotypes were significantly associated with their corresponding mRNA expression levels in lung cancer tissues in a recessive model (P= 0.035 and 0.045, respectively). Therefore, we identified two potentially functional SNPs (IKBKAPrs4978754 C > T andTNFRSF1Brs677844 T > C) to be associated with survival of patients with NSCLC.
Fish Assemblages and Fisheries Resources in Puerto Rico's Riverine Estuaries
Authors: Engman Augustin C. , Kwak Thomas J. , Fischer Jesse R. , Lilyestrom Craig G.
Published: April 2019

Tropical estuaries are diverse and productive habitats with respect to their fish assemblages and associated fisheries, but these ecosystems and fisheries are imperiled by multiple anthropogenic threats. Despite the economic, social, and biodiversity value of tropical estuarine fish assemblages, they are poorly understood, especially those on Caribbean islands. We sampled the fish assemblages of four estuaries that were broadly representative of riverine estuaries in Puerto Rico, including the Río Grande de Arecibo, Río Espiritu Santo, Río Mameyes, and Río Sabana. We used a combination of passive (gill nets) and active (seine) gears at locations that spanned the salinity gradient of each estuary during July–October 2013–2014 (rainy season) and March 2015 (dry season). Fish species richness among the riverine estuaries varied from 18 to 29 and was highest in the Río Espiritu Santo estuary. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling differentiated fish assemblages among estuaries but not by season or consistently by location within an estuary. Spearman's rank correlation analysis also revealed dissimilarity among each estuary's fish assemblage, as most pairwise correlations between the species compositions were not significant. We identified common and widespread species among estuaries, including sport fishes, such as the Tarpon Megalops atlanticus and Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis. As the only multi-river assessment of riverine estuary fish assemblages in Puerto Rico, our results provide the best available information about the spatial variability of assemblages and fisheries resources. This information will benefit future conservation and fisheries management efforts, which are needed due to increasing anthropogenic impacts, such as illegal harvest, invasive species, and water diversions.
ULTRASOUND IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND MONITORING OF AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS: A REVIEW
Authors: Hobson‐Webb Lisa D. , Simmons Zachary
Published: April 2019

Neuromuscular ultrasound is complementary to electrodiagnostic (EDx) testing and is useful in enhancing the diagnosis of mononeuropathies, peripheral nerve trauma, and demyelinating polyneuropathies. There is increasing interest in using ultrasound both to aid in the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to monitor its progression. In this article we review the relevant literature on ultrasound in ALS. Ultrasound is more sensitive than EDx in identifying fasciculations in patients with ALS. It can detect decreased muscle thickness, increased muscle echointensity and echovariance, and reduced peripheral nerve size in these patients. Ultrasound is also a helpful tool in assessment of diaphragm function. Although additional studies are required to define the exact role of ultrasound in the evaluation and monitoring of ALS, it can improve the diagnostic yield in patients when ALS is suspected, but insufficiently supported, by clinical and EDx examinations. Muscle Nerve 60: 114–123, 2019
Nutrition Management in Patients With Chronic Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Lehmann Sara , Ferrie Suzie , Carey Sharon
Published: April 2019

Background

The aim of this study was to systematically review effects of nutrition interventions on outcomes in patients with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders. There is currently a lack of evidence‐based guidelines for nutrition management in this group, likely a result of the rarity of the conditions.

Methods

A systematic review of all study types to evaluate current evidence‐based nutrition interventions was performed using Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases. Two independent reviewers participated in the process of this systematic review. A total of 15 studies and a total of 524 subjects were included.

Results

Best treatment of this population group was found to include a stepwise process, progressing from oral nutrition to jejunal nutrition and lastly to parenteral nutrition. Small particle, low‐fat diets were significantly better tolerated than the converse, with jejunal nutrition prior to consuming oral food significantly improving oral intake and motility. In more progressive cases, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with jejunal extension nutrition had lower reported symptoms than other enteral routes. Exclusive long‐term parenteral nutrition is a feasible option for advanced cases, with a 68% survival rate at 15 years duration, though oral intake with parenteral nutrition is associated with higher survival rates.

Conclusion

Treatment of patients with GI motility disorders should first trial oral nutrition. For patients who progress to jejunal or parenteral feeds, the primary aim should be to maintain or reinstate oral intake to reduce morbidity and mortality risk. Higher‐quality studies are still required in this area, particularly in the areas of chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction and systemic sclerosis.
Easy Room Temperature Synthesis of High Surface Area Anatase Nanowires with Different Morphologies
Authors: Schneider Christopher , Liu Ning , Romeis Stefan , Peukert Wolfgang , Schmuki Patrik
Published: April 2019

Anatase nanowires were synthesized in solution by using a simple mixing of titanium diisopropoxide bis(acetylacetonate), lactic acid and sodium hydroxide at room temperature. We discuss effects of reaction parameters and post treatment (annealing) on the nanowire morphology, surface area, and crystallinity, as well as the competing morphology directing effects of lactic acid and sodium hydroxide. Then the room temperature nanowires were directly grown onto fluoride doped tin oxide (FTO) glass to form photoanodes. Photoelectrochemical measurements of the different nanowires were performed and compared to conventional nanowires produced by high temperature synthesis. Clearly the nanowires introduced in this work show a significant increase in the maximum photocurrent, compared to classic hydrothermal nanowire layers.
Payer and race/ethnicity influence length and cost of childhood cancer hospitalizations
Authors: Whittle Sarah B. , Lopez Michelle A. , Russell Heidi V.
Published: April 2019

Background

Health disparities related to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and insurance status impact quality, access, and health outcomes for children. Medicaid is a proxy for poverty and restricted access to health care. The goal of this study was to determine if there are discrepancies in the length and cost of hospitalizations between admissions covered by Medicaid or commercial insurance for pediatric patients with cancer.

Methods

Childhood cancer‐related admissions were identified from the 2012 Kids Inpatient Database (KID) using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision. Length of hospitalization and cost of hospitalization were compared among hospitalizations paid by Medicaid or commercial insurance. Total admission charges were converted to costs using cost‐to‐charge ratios, and survey weighting methods were used for all analyses. Linear multiple regression models for both length of hospitalization and cost were developed to include patient‐level factors (race, sex, age, diagnosis, reason for admission).

Results

In 2012, there were 104 597 childhood cancer‐related admissions. Hospitalizations paid by Medicaid were significantly longer than those paid by commercial insurance. Hispanic ethnicity was associated with higher cost of hospitalization regardless of payer, and black race was associated with higher costs within the Medicaid population.

Conclusions

This analysis identifies differences in healthcare utilization for pediatric cancer‐related admissions paid for by Medicaid compared with commercial insurance. Prolonged hospitalizations and increased costs create burdens on children and their families, medical delivery systems, and third‐party payers. Further exploration into the causes of these disparities is warranted.
Incidence of acute kidney injury among pediatric hematology/oncology patients receiving vancomycin in combination with piperacillin/tazobactam or cefepime
Authors: Quach Henry T. , Esbenshade Adam J. , Zhao Zhiguo , Banerjee Ritu
Published: April 2019

There is mounting evidence that combination of antibiotic therapy with vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam (pip/tazo) is associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). To determine whether vancomycin plus pip/tazo is associated with higher rates of AKI compared to vancomycin plus cefepime among pediatric hematology/oncology (heme/onc) patients, we examined 121 heme/onc patients receiving at least two consecutive days of therapy with vancomycin and either pip/tazo or cefepime. Rate of AKI was higher in the pip/tazo than the cefepime group (4/27 [14.8%] vs 2/94 [2.1%], P = 0.022).
Nd3+ and Nb5+ Co‐Substitution Inducing a Large Electrocaloric Response in Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 Lead‐Free Ceramics
Authors: Kandula Kumara Raja , Patri Tirupathi , Asthana Saket
Published: April 2019

Nd3+ and Nb5+ co‐substituted (Na0.5Bi0.49Nd0.01)Ti1–xNbxO3 lead‐free ceramics are synthesized by conventional solid‐state reaction method. The X‐ray diffraction study revealed that NBNT‐Nb‐0 (x = 0.00) ceramics exhibit single phase monoclinic crystal with Cc phase while NBNT‐Nb‐1 (x = 0.00) ceramics exhibited a dual phase with coexistence of monoclinic and tetragonal systems. The temperature‐dependence dielectric study revealed the existence of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric transformations in two independent regions. Further temperature‐dependent strain vs. electric field measurements strengthen the ferroelectric to antiferroelectric transformation in the present ceramics. The induced electrocaloric effect (ECE) response showed that a significant change in temperature (ΔT) is obtained at 50 kV cm−1 fields: about 0.69 K for NBNT‐Nb‐0 and 0.81 K for NBNT‐Nb‐1 ceramics, respectively. The maximum isothermal entropy change (ΔS) is found to be 0.95 and 1.02 Jkg−1 K−1 for NBNT‐Nb‐0 and NBNT‐Nb‐1 ceramics obtained at 50 kV cm−1, respectively. The simultaneous presence of ECE response and isothermal change in entropy (ΔS) is an open window for great potential applications in the field of electronic devices.
Context and Implications Document for: Mindfulness in and as education: A map of a developing academic discourse from 2002 to 2017
Authors: Ergas Oren , Hadar Linor L.
Published: April 2019

This guide accompanies the following article:Oren Ergas and Linor L.Hadar, Mindfulness in and as education: A map of a developing academic discourse from 2002 to 2017, Review of Education, https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3169.
Slightly subcritical hypercube percolation
Authors: Hulshof Tim , Nachmias Asaf
Published: April 2019

We study bond percolation on the hypercube {0,1}m in the slightly subcritical regime where p = pc(1 − εm) and εm = o(1) but εm ≫ 2−m/3 and study the clusters of largest volume and diameter. We establish that with high probability the largest component has cardinality , that the maximal diameter of all clusters is , and that the maximal mixing time of all clusters is .

These results hold in different levels of generality, and in particular, some of the estimates hold for various classes of graphs such as high‐dimensional tori, expanders of high degree and girth, products of complete graphs, and infinite lattices in high dimensions.
Limit theorems for monochromatic stars
Authors: Bhattacharya Bhaswar B. , Mukherjee Sumit
Published: April 2019

LetT(K1,r,Gn) be the number of monochromatic copies of ther‐starK1,rin a uniformly random coloring of the vertices of the graphGn. In this paper we provide a complete characterization of the limiting distribution ofT(K1,r,Gn), in the regime whereis bounded, for any growing sequence of graphsGn. The asymptotic distribution is a sum of mutually independent components, each term of which is a polynomial of a single Poisson random variable of degree at mostr. Conversely, any limiting distribution ofT(K1,r,Gn) has a representation of this form. Examples and connections to the birthday problem are discussed.
Bismuth‐Based Perovskite‐Inspired Solar Cells: In Situ Diagnostics Reveal Similarities and Differences in the Film Formation of Bismuth‐ and Lead‐Based Films
Authors: Tang Ming-Chun , Barrit Dounya , Munir Rahim , Li Ruipeng , Barbé Jérémy M. , Smilgies Detlef-M. , Del Gobbo Silvano , Anthopoulos Thomas D. , Amassian Aram
Published: April 2019

Organic–inorganic lead‐based halide perovskite compounds currently yield thin film solar cells with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of >23%. However, replacing the lead with less‐toxic elements while maintaining a high PCE remains a challenge. For this reason, there has been significant effort to develop Pb‐free compounds, including methylammonium bismuth iodide (MA3Bi2I9), but such systems severely underperform when compared with the prototypical Pb‐based methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3). For the latter, it is known that lead complexes with polar solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylformamide (DMF), to form iodoplumbates which can co‐crystallize into solvated phases. Herein, the solidification and growth behaviors of Bi‐ and Pb‐based films is investigated using multi‐probe in situ characterization methods. It is shown that the Bi‐based compound crystallizes directly and rapidly into a textured polycrystalline microstructure from a precursor solution without evolving through intermediate crystalline solvated phases, in contrast to MAPbI3. This solidification process produces isolated crystals and challenges the growth of continuous and crystalline films required for solar cells. It is revealed that solvent engineering with antisolvent dripping is crucial to enable the formation of continuous polycrystalline films of MA3Bi2I9 and functional solar cells thereof.
Usage of polystyrene disposable food dishes in the lightweight concrete making
Authors: Asadollahfardi Gholamreza , Delnavaz Mohammad , Gonabadi Niloofar , Asadi Mohsen
Published: April 2019

The increasing use and subsequent accumulation of polystyrene containers has triggered a substantial environmental problem. This study investigated using varied percentages of solid waste polystyrene disposable food dishes in the production of lightweight concrete samples with 350 kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3) of cement and a density of 1,300 kg/m3. The polystyrene disposable dishes were ground into beads of 0–3 millimeters (mm) and 3–6 mm in size. First, the characteristics of Type II Portland cement, polystyrene, and aggregates were examined. The following characteristics of concrete using ASTM International and British Standards Institution standards were tested: slump, compressive strength, ability to resist chloride ion penetration, and resistance of concrete to rapid freezing and thawing cycles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analytical techniques were also used. The slump of samples varied between 40 and 70 mm and was not dependent on either the polystyrene percentage or the size of the polystyrene beads in the concrete samples (p‐value > .05). The compressive strength of the concrete samples after 90 days of curing, and using different percentages of polystyrene, varied between 96 and 113 kilograms per square centimeter (kg/cm2). The resistance of the samples to the freezing and thawing cycle and chloride ion penetration were affected unfavorably by the presence of the polystyrene. The SEM technique indicated that concrete samples containing 15% and 25% polystyrene had denser crystals and less void than concrete samples with 40% and 55% polystyrene.
RNA regulation of the antiviral protein 2′‐5′‐oligoadenylate synthetase
Authors: Schwartz Samantha L. , Conn Graeme L.
Published: April 2019

The innate immune system is a broad collection of critical intra‐ and extra‐cellular processes that limit the infectivity of diverse pathogens. The 2′‐5′‐oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) family of enzymes are important sensors of cytosolic double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) that play a critical role in limiting viral infection by activating the latent ribonuclease (RNase L) to halt viral replication and establish an antiviral state. Attesting to the importance of the OAS/RNase L pathway, diverse viruses have developed numerous distinct strategies to evade the effects of OAS activation. How OAS proteins are regulated by viral or cellular RNAs is not fully understood but several recent studies have provided important new insights into the molecular mechanisms of OAS activation by dsRNA. Other studies have revealed unanticipated features of RNA sequence and structure that strongly enhance activation of at least one OAS family member. While these discoveries represent important advances, they also underscore the fact that much remains to be learned about RNA‐mediated regulation of the OAS/RNase L pathway. In particular, defining the full complement of RNA molecular signatures that activate OAS is essential to our understanding of how these proteins maximize their protective role against pathogens while still accurately discriminating host molecules to avoid inadvertent activation by cellular RNAs. A more complete knowledge of OAS regulation may also serve as a foundation for the development of novel antiviral therapeutic strategies and lead the way to a deeper understanding of currently unappreciated cellular functions of the OAS/RNase L pathway in the absence of infection.

This article is categorized under:

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications

Translation > Translation Regulation
Youth Transitions of Descendants of Turkish Immigrants
Authors: Keskiner Elif
Published: April 2019

This open access book studies the youth transitions of descendants of migrants from Turkey living in Amsterdam and Strasbourg. It pursues a comparative mixed-methods research design and contributes to the theoretical discussions in youth sociology and second-generation research. The introductory chapter begins the book with a critical review of the literature on the Turkish second generation and youth transitions, illustrating how the book fills the gap in both fields. The comparative design is presented showing how it reveals the distinctive roles of macro-institutional structures in the youth transitions of descendants of Turkish migrants, while the mixed-methods approach is outlined to show how it marries the strengths of quantitative and qualitative research, conveying a profound understanding of the youth transition experience. The theoretical tools of the study section outlines the social structures such as social class, ethnicity and gender in shaping the youth transition experience. Special attention is attributed to the capital theory of Bourdieu and how it is applied in the book to make sense of the forms of capital and resources that were critical in the youth transitions of descendants of Turkish migrants.
A Typology of Transition Trajectories
Authors: Keskiner Elif
Published: April 2019

There is an ongoing debate among youth sociologists on whether transition processes still take the form of traditional sequences or diverge from conventional patterns. Traditional transitions are generally described as smooth processes that follow institutionally predictable, linear pathways from school to work (Evans K, Heinz W. Becoming adults in England and Germany. Anglo-German Foundation, London, 1994). Young people may, however, diverge from linear trajectories by experiencing periods of unemployment, shifting between different employment statuses or by changing direction. The discussion centres on whether shifting transitions are caused by a desire to try alternative pathways or if structural conditions are forcing young people into precarious situations. In this chapter, TIES Survey is analyzed using an advance methodology called Latent Class Analysis and a typology is developed based on how respondents’ transitions proceeded after leaving school. Next using biographical interviews; the typology is elaborated and revised according to the motivations and experiences of respondents. The chapter shows that almost all of the respondents in this study were motivated to seek stability in the labour market and wanted to pursue institutionally defined “traditional pathways”, prompted by both labour market conditions and job insecurity. Personal experiences of instability motivated them to stick at a job once they had secured a permanent position. Lack of security dragged other respondents into shifting transitions, not out of choice but born of necessity.
Thom Isotopy Theorem for Nonproper Maps and Computation of Sets of Stratified Generalized Critical Values
Authors: Ðinh Sĩ Tiệp , Jelonek Zbigniew
Published: April 2019

Let$$X\subset {\mathbb {C}}^n$$X⊂Cnbe an affine variety and$$f:X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}^m$$f:X→Cmbe the restriction toXof a polynomial map$${\mathbb {C}}^n\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}^m$$Cn→Cm. We construct an affine Whitney stratification ofX. The setK(f) of stratified generalized critical values offcan also be computed. We show thatK(f) is a nowhere dense subset of$${\mathbb {C}}^m$$Cmwhich contains the setB(f) of bifurcation values offby proving a version of the Thom isotopy lemma for nonproper polynomial maps on singular varieties.
Hepatitis C: van testen tot behandelen
Authors: Logtenberg-van der Grient Hilje , Warmoeskerken Rian , van Woerden Elsa , Schatz Eberhard
Published: April 2019

Samenvatting

Het doel van het onderzoek, uitgevoerd door De Regenboog Groep, Stichting Mainline en GGD Amsterdam, is het opsporen van hepatitis C (HCV) onder cliënten van de Maatschappelijke Opvang (MO) in Amsterdam. Aan cliënten van veertien MO-locaties werd in de periode augustus–december 2017 gevraagd een risicochecklist in te vullen en zich te laten testen op hepatitis C-antilichamen (anti-HCV) door middel van een oral swab. Bij een positieve uitslag werd HCV-RNA getest. Uit de zelfrapportage van 233 cliënten blijkt dat 90 % risico heeft gelopen op HCV. Getest zijn 225 cliënten, van wie 22 (9,8 %) anti-HCV-positief, onder wie 10 (4,4 %) HCV-RNA-positief. Er is hoge uitval (50 %) tussen het testen op anti-HCV en de behandeling. Prevalentie van anti-HCV in deze doelgroep is aanzienlijk hoger dan de prevalentie van anti-HCV in Nederland (9,8 % versus 0,2–0,4 %). De doelgroep behoort dus tot een risicogroep voor HCV en moet volgens het advies van de Gezondheidsraad worden opgespoord. Aanbevolen wordt om onmiddellijk na een positief anti-HCV-resultaat, HCV-RNA op locatie te testen en gebruik te maken van tests met vingerprikbloed.
Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Distress, Weight Gain, and Glucose Control for Pregnant Low-Income Women: A Quasi-Experimental Trial Using the ORBIT Model
Authors: Epel E. , Laraia B. , Coleman-Phox K. , Leung C. , Vieten C. , Mellin L. , Kristeller J. L. , Thomas M. , Stotland N. , Bush N. , Lustig R. H. , Dallman M. , Hecht F. M. , Adler N.
Published: April 2019

Background

Stress can lead to excessive weight gain. Mindfulness-based stress reduction that incorporates mindful eating shows promise for reducing stress, overeating, and improving glucose control. No interventions have tested mindfulness training with a focus on healthy eating and weight gain during pregnancy, a period of common excessive weight gain. Here, we test the effectiveness of such an intervention, the Mindful Moms Training (MMT), on perceived stress, eating behaviors, and gestational weight gain in a high-risk sample of low income women with overweight/obesity.

Method

We conducted a quasi-experimental study assigning 115 pregnant women to MMT for 8 weeks and comparing them to 105 sociodemographically and weight equivalent pregnant women receiving treatment as usual. Our main outcomes included weight gain (primary outcome), perceived stress, and depression.

Results

Women in MMT showed significant reductions in perceived stress (β = − 0.16) and depressive symptoms (β = − 0.21) compared to the treatment as usual (TAU) control group. Consistent with national norms, the majority of women (68%) gained excessive weight according to Institute of Medicine weight-gain categories, regardless of group. Slightly more women in the MMT group gained below the recommendation. Among secondary outcomes, women in MMT reported increased physical activity (β = 0.26) and had lower glucose post-oral glucose tolerance test (β = − 0.23), being 66% less likely to have impaired glucose tolerance, compared to the TAU group.

Conclusion

A short-term intervention led to significant improvements in stress, and showed promise for preventing glucose intolerance. However, the majority of women gained excessive weight. A longer more intensive intervention may be needed for this high-risk population.

Clinical Trials.gov #NCT01307683.
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AS A FRAMEWORK FOR ALGORITHMIC ACCOUNTABILITY
Authors: McGregor Lorna , Murray Daragh , Ng Vivian
Published: April 2019

Existing approaches to ‘algorithmic accountability’, such as transparency, provide an important baseline, but are insufficient to address the (potential) harm to human rights caused by the use of algorithms in decision-making. In order to effectively address the impact on human rights, we argue that a framework that sets out a shared understanding and means of assessing harm; is capable of dealing with multiple actors and different forms of responsibility; and applies across the full algorithmic life cycle, from conception to deployment, is needed. While generally overlooked in debates on algorithmic accountability, in this article, we suggest that international human rights law already provides this framework. We apply this framework to illustrate the effect it has on the choices to employ algorithms in decision-making in the first place and the safeguards required. While our analysis indicates that in some circumstances, the use of algorithms may be restricted, we argue that these findings are not ‘anti-innovation’ but rather appropriate checks and balances to ensure that algorithms contribute to society, while safeguarding against risks.
SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE: DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN TROUBLED TIMES
Authors: Dzehtsiarou Kanstantsin , Coffey Donal K
Published: April 2019

The effectiveness and legitimacy of the Council of Europe can be undermined by the actions of Member States which fail to comply with their international law obligations of genuine cooperation with the organization. This article first briefly examines the practice of international organizations in applying sanctions such as expulsion and suspension to their members. It then explains why it is necessary to discuss potential sanctions that the Council can apply in the context of current controversies involving the Council and Member States. It will be argued that the scale and intensity of challenges distinguish the current state of affairs from other ‘problematic’ periods in the Council's history. It proceeds to outline the considerations that should be taken into account in deciding whether a Member State should be suspended or expelled. These considerations include the implications of sanctions on the legitimacy of the Council of Europe, the level of human rights protection and the financial stability of the organization.
Insider Trading: What Really Protects U.S. Investors?
Authors: White Roger M.
Published: April 2019

I examine the ability of the U.S. investor protection regime to limit insider trading returns, absent Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the short-swing rule). I find that in this setting, U.S. insiders execute short-swing trades that i) beat the market by approximately 15 basis points per day and ii) systematically divest ahead of disappointing earnings announcements. These results indicate that the bright-line rule restricting short-horizon round-trip insider trading plays a substantial role in protecting outside investors from privately informed insiders in the United States.
Dividend Risk Premia
Authors: Cejnek Georg , Randl Otto
Published: April 2019

This article studies time variation in the expected excess returns of traded claims on dividends, bonds, and stock indices for international markets. We introduce a novel dividend risk factor that complements the bond risk factor of Cochrane and Piazzesi (2005). By aggregating over 4 regions (United States, United Kingdom, Eurozone, and Japan), we create global dividend and bond factors. Our global 2-factor model captures the excess returns of most Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) country indices, as well as a variety of other test assets. Our findings highlight the value of the information contained in dividend and bond forward curves and suggest substantial comovement in international risk premia.
Phonological potentials and the lower vocal tract
Authors: Moisik Scott R. , Czaykowska-Higgins Ewa , Esling John H.
Published: April 2019

This paper outlines a theoretical approach to speech sound systems based on the notion of phonological potentials: physical ‘pressures’ or biases that give rise to discrete structure and the tendencies associated with this structure that arise from the physical nature of speech sound systems. We apply this approach to a poorly understood area of phonology – phenomena of the lower vocal tract (LVT) – through a schematic that encapsulates the complex interactions among the vocal tract structures responsible for producing LVT sounds. With the framework, we provide an account of a range of LVT phenomena from several languages, illustrating how tonal, phonatory, and vowel qualities interact. Finally, we consider how the idea of phonological potentials extends across various physical domains and might exhibit patterns of alignment across these domains, thereby serving to guide the formation of patterns found in speech sound systems.
Eco-innovation and knowledge management: issues and organizational challenges to small and medium enterprises
Authors: Cherifi Ahmed , M'Bassègue Patrick , Gardoni Mickaël , Houssin Rémy , Renaud Jean
Published: April 2019

The proposed methodology is based on a (global and multi-criteria) simplified environmental but thorough assessment. In this stage we do not directly give the solution to designers. It will therefore translate the results of evaluation design axes, but in general, the lines proposed are inconsistent or contradictory. Therefore, what we find is a compromise given to the solution. The challenge we are facing in an industrial reality is that one should not go for a compromise solution. TRIZ (Teorija Reshenija Izobretateliskih Zadatch) or the theory of solving inventive problems, in the field, will be reformulated and go through the contradiction matrix and then intervene with the principles of interpretation resolutions to give possible solutions. To assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their product development, the objective of this paper is to propose a methodological approach named Ecatriz, that will allow us to achieve our eco-innovative goal. The applicability of this method is justified by the many contradictions in the choices in a study of the life cycle. As a starting point, a qualitative multi-criteria matrix will allow the prioritization of all impacts on the environment. A customized implementation of the inventive TRIZ (Teorija Reshenija Izobretateliskih Zadatch, Russian acronym for theory of solving inventive problems) principles will help us choose eco-innovative solutions. To that end, we have created a new approach named Ecatriz (ecological approach TRIZ), based on a new contradiction matrix. It was tested in various contexts, such as the “24 h of Innovation” competition and eco-innovative patents.
Development of the Halifax Visual Scanning Test: A New Measure of Visual-Spatial Neglect for Personal, Peripersonal, and Extrapersonal Space
Authors: Whitehouse Christiane E. , Green Janet , Giles Sarah M. , Rahman Rosanna , Coolican Jamesie , Eskes Gail A.
Published: April 2019

Objectives: Visual-spatial neglect is a common attentional disorder after right-hemisphere stroke and is associated with poor rehabilitation outcomes. The presence of neglect symptoms has been reported to vary across personal, peripersonal, and extrapersonal space. Currently, no measure is available to assess neglect severity equally across these spatial regions and may be missing subsets of symptoms or patients with neglect entirely. We sought to provide initial construct validity for a novel assessment tool that measures neglect symptoms equally for these spatial regions: the Halifax Visual Scanning Test (HVST). Methods: In Study I, the HVST was compared to conventional measures of neglect and functional outcome scores (wheelchair navigation) in 15 stroke inpatients and 14 healthy controls. In Study II, 19 additional controls were combined with the control data from Study I to establish cutoffs for impairment. Patterns of neglect in the stroke group were examined. Results: In Study I, performance on all HVST subtests were correlated with the majority of conventional subtests and wheelchair navigation outcomes. In Study II, neglect-related deficits in visual scanning showed dissociations across spatial regions. Four inpatients exhibited symptoms of neglect on the HVST that were not detected on conventional measures, one of which showed symptoms in personal and extrapersonal space exclusively. Conclusions: The HVST appears a useful measure of neglect symptoms in different spatial regions that may not be detected with conventional measures and that correlates with functional wheelchair performance. Preliminary control data are presented and further research to add to this normative database appears warranted. (JINS, 2019, 25, 490–500)
FROM EMMETT TILL TO TRAYVON MARTIN
Authors: Onwuachi-Willig Angela
Published: April 2019

On February 26, 2012, George Zimmerman, a man of White American and Peruvian descent, shot and killed Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager who was walking back to the home where he was a guest in Sanford, Florida. For many, Trayvon Martin is this generation’s Emmett Till, the fourteen-year-old Black boy who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 for whistling in a White woman’s presence. In fact, several scholars have highlighted similarities between the Till and Martin tragedies. One unexplored commonality is the manner in which defense counsel in both the Till and Martin trials used the trope of protecting White womanhood to get the jurors to psychologically identify and empathize with the defendants. Employing Multidimensional Masculinities Theory, this essay seeks to expose the role that the protection of White womanhood (and thus the preservation of White manhood) played in the killings of Till and Martin and in each of their killers’ defense strategies at trial. It does so by offering a history of lynching; explaining how White men demonstrated their ownership of White women and their dominance over Blacks by using violence against Black men who threatened the social order; and revealing how the defense attorneys in both the Till and Martin cases manipulated and employed the narrative of the White male protector of White women to facilitate acquittals for their clients. In so doing, it analyzes the transcript from the Till trial, a transcript previously believed to be lost forever until the FBI discovered the transcript upon its re-opening and investigation of the Till murder and released the transcript in 2006. Finally, utilizing excerpts from the trial transcript in the Martin case, this essay reveals how the trope of protecting White womanhood shaped the outcome in the Martin case, even though the stock narrative of needing White female protection from purportedly dangerous Black men was not at all related to the claims about Martin or charges against Zimmerman. In so doing, this essay reveals (1) how White womanhood has been abstracted to encompass not only a specific woman in an incident and to include not only a “man’s” home, but also to include broader spaces like gated communities, and (2) how that reality, coupled with the way that civil rights laws have made it harder for White men to bully Black men and the way that feminism has made it harder to subordinate women, has produced a new masculine anxiety for White men.
Vitamins C and E alone and in combination partly protect against chronic ethanol-induced toxicity in rat erythrocytes
Authors: Hasanein Parisa , Mohammadi-Raighan Peyman , Komaki Alireza
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Oxidative stress is part of the mechanisms involved in ethanol toxicity. We investigated effects of vitamins C (VC), E (VE) and the combination of VC+VE on chronic ethanol-induced toxicity in rat erythrocytes. The following groups were treated for 30 days: control (C), VC (200 mg/kg), VE (200 mg/kg), VC (200 mg/kg) + VE (200 mg/kg), ethanol 4 g/kg, ethanol + VC, ethanol + VE and ethanol + VC + VE. The doses of vitamins and ethanol were selected for per kilogram of animal’s body weight. Blood samples collected at the end of treatments were analyzed for erythrocyte osmotic fragility and plasma scavenging activity. The washed erythrocytes were used to determine superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdeyde (MDA). Ethanol induced erythrocyte fragility (p < 0.001) and increased lipid peroxidation (p < 0.001) in rat erythrocytes. Furthermore, there were significant decreases in plasma scavenging (p < 0.001), SOD (p < 0.001), CAT (p < 0.01) and GPx (p < 0.001) activities in erythrocytes of ethanol-treated animals. Although VC or VE alone restored all of ethanol-induced disturbances to near normal (p > 0.05) but there were still significant differences compared to control animals. Combination therapy completely corrected ethanol-induced erythrocyte fragility, lipid peroxidation and prooxidant/antioxidant imbalance. We showed the beneficial effects of VC and VE combination in decreasing erythrocyte fragility and lipid peroxidation in both ethanol and control groups. Therefore this combination treatment may provide a new potential alternative for prevention of ethanol toxicity which deserves consideration and further examination.