bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some Enlightenment on Stakeholder Engagement: An Inquiry into Sustainable Development Disparity and Its Drivers in CHINA'S Two Leading Economic Zones
Authors: Tan Feifei , Jiang Xiangjun , Lu Zhaohua
Published: May 2017

Not only accumulating more social outcomes and avoiding worse environmental situations, but also mitigating sustainable development disparity, is an inevitable challenge for transitioning to sustainable development. Measurement of sustainable development disparity and identification of its drivers will be effective to enlighten the stakeholder engagement of sustainable development. In this paper, the inter‐provincial sustainable development disparity of China's two leading economic zones during the period 2001–2012 is presented from absolute and relative perspectives after evaluating the comprehensive sustainable development performance, and several convergence models are constructed to test whether the disparity tends to diverge. Furthermore, the constructed decomposition model of sustainable development disparity is applied to investigate the contributions between the BHR (Bohai Rim) and YRD (Yangtze River Delta), intra‐BHR and intra‐YRD, and then the drivers are revealed by multiple stepwise regression analyses. Results highlight the following: there is an evident inter‐provincial sustainable development disparity, and the conditional β‐convergence becomes faster as more structural factors are added gradually; the sustainable development disparity of BHR is higher than that of YRD in the period, and the inter‐BHR disparity makes great contributions (from 85.19% to 85.53%); such drivers can indicate an explicit direction for narrowing disparity (for instance, when one of the important indicators increases by 1%, the disparity of the economic subsystem and the whole sustainability system will reduce by 0.297% and 0.087%). Future policies and regulations to address sustainable development disparity are critical so as to promote sustainability management under the ‘equity and efficiency’ principle. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
A backup wide‐area protection technique for power transmission network
Authors: Elghazaly Hany , Emam Ahmed , Saber Ahmed
Published: May 2017

This paper proposes a wide‐area backup protection technique for transmission lines using a limited number of synchronized phasor measurement units. A binary integral linear programming is used for optimal placement of phasor measurement units to achieve fault observability. The positive‐sequence voltage and current components are utilized for the detection and location of transmission lines faults. The proposed technique considers the randomness of faults on the transmission grid, different fault types, frequency fluctuations, synchronization and measurement errors, different fault inception angles, and different fault resistances, as well as various loading conditions. The proposed scheme is applied to the Western System Coordinating Council (WSCC) 9‐bus test system and the New England 39‐bus test system. Simulation results prove that the proposed protection scheme can detect and locate all transmission line faults correctly. © 2017 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Impaired placentation in women with chronic hypertension who develop pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Panaitescu A.  M. , Akolekar R. , Kametas N. , Syngelaki A. , Nicolaides K. H.
Published: May 2017

Objective

To compare the degree of impaired placentation in women with and those without chronic hypertension (CH) who develop pre‐eclampsia (PE) in pregnancy.

Methods

Data were derived from prospective screening for adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with singleton pregnancy attending their first routine hospital visit at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation. This visit included recording of maternal characteristics and medical history and measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA‐PI), serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and serum pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A). The measured biomarkers were converted to multiples of the median (MoM) after adjustment for pregnancy characteristics. MoM values in women with CH who developed PE (n = 283) were compared to those of women without CH who developed PE (n = 2236).

Results

In both groups with and without CH, measurements of MAP and UtA‐PI were increased, whereas those of PlGF and PAPP‐A were decreased and the deviation from normal in all biomarkers decreased with advancing gestational age at delivery with PE. There was no significant difference between women with and those without CH in the slope of the regression line of log10 MoM biomarker values against gestational age at delivery with PE for any of the biomarkers. However, there was a significant difference in the intercepts and coefficients of biomarkers in the two groups; compared to those without CH, MAP MoM, PlGF MoM and PAPP‐A MoM were higher and UtA‐PI MoM was lower in the CH group (all P < 0.01).

Conclusion

In pregnancies that develop PE, the degree of impaired placentation, reflected in high UtA‐PI and low PlGF and PAPP‐A at 11–13 weeks' gestation, is less in women with CH than in those without CH. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Functional magnetic hybrid nanomaterials for biomedical diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Tian Xin , Zhang Lechuan , Yang Mo , Bai Lei , Dai Yiheng , Yu Zhiqiang , Pan Yue
Published: May 2017

Magnetic nanomaterials integrating supplemental functional materials are called magnetic hybrid nanomaterials (MHNs). Such MHNs have drawn increasing attention due to their biocompatibility and the potential applications either as alternative contrast enhancing agents or effective heat nanomediators in hyperthermia therapy. The joint function comes from the hybrid nanostructures. Hybrid nanostructures of different modification can be easily achieved owing to the large surface‐area‐to‐volume ratio and sophisticated surface characteristic. In this focus article, we mainly discussed the design and synthesis of MHNs and their applications as multimodal imaging probes and therapy agents in biomedicine. These MHNs consisting magnetic nanomaterials with functional nanocomponents such as noble metal or isotopes could perform not only superparamagnetism but also features that can be adapted in, for example, enhancing computed tomography contrast modalities, positron emission tomography, and single‐photon emission computed tomography. The combination of several techniques provides more comprehensive information by both synergizing the advantages, such as quantitative evaluation, higher sensitivity and spatial resolution, and mitigating the disadvantages. Such hybrid nanostructures could also provide a unique nanoplatform for enhanced medical tracing, magnetic field, and light‐triggered hyperthermia. Moreover, potential advantages and opportunities will be achieved via a combination of diagnostic and therapeutic agents within a single platform, which is so‐called ‘theranostics.’ We expect the combination of unique structural characteristics and integrated functions of multicomponent magnetic hybrid nanomaterials will attract increasing research interest and could lead to new opportunities in nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2018, 10:e1476. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1476

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices
Comparison of Mono‐ and Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation in Benign Thyroid Disease
Authors: Korkusuz Yücel , Mader Alexander , Gröner Daniel , Ahmad Shadi , Mader Oscar Maximilian , Grünwald Frank , Happel Christian
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an approved minimal invasive method for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Several experimental, mainly ex vivo animal studies have compared the effectiveness of different RFA procedures in liver tissue. The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate the difference between monopolar and bipolar RFA in thyroid tissue considering thyroid volume reduction, patient discomfort and ultrasound evaluation.

Methods

Eighteen patients with symptomatic complex benign thyroid nodules were treated in a single RFA session. Nine patients were treated with monopolar RFA, and nine other patients were treated with bipolar RFA. All patients underwent assessments before therapy and at 3‐month follow‐up (3MFU) including a complete hormone status (T3, T4, TSH, TG, TPOAb, TgAb, TRAb) and several ultrasound (US) evaluations using B‐mode and color‐coded Doppler imaging. The US evaluations contained measurement of volume, US Doppler, US echogenicity and US elastography. Additionally, applied energy (kJ), power output (W), number of shots (N) and total treatment time (s) were recorded in every case.

Results

Monopolar RFA resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) average thyroid volume reduction of Ø 18 ± 77 ml (25.1 ± 103%) and a nodule volume reduction of Ø 10.6 ± 22 ml (60.3 ± 62%). Bipolar RFA resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) average thyroid volume reduction of Ø 21.2 ± 54 ml (43.2 ± 84%) and a nodule volume reduction of Ø 13.8 ± 33 ml (70.8 ± 46%). Both groups showed equal results concerning volume reduction (p > 0.05). Monopolar RFA did not lead to any significant changes concerning the US scores, whereas bipolar RFA led to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in US Doppler and nodular blood flow. No significant difference between both groups could be found concerning applied energy, treatment time, power output and number of shots (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Bipolar RFA did not show any disadvantages in comparison with monopolar RFA in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. It shows better performance in terms of volume reduction and is superior when it comes to feasibility and patient discomfort. The recent study confirms the good ex vivo results for bipolar RFA.
Modeling of Source Parameters of the 15 December 2015 Deogarh Earthquake of Mw 4.0
Authors: Mandal Prantik , Singh B. , Nagendra P. , Gupta A. K.
Published: May 2017

We herein present source parameters and focal mechanism of a rare cratonic upper crustal earthquake of Mw4.0, which occurred at 8 km depth (centroid depth) below a region near Deogarh, Jharkhand. For our study, we used broadband waveform data from a seismic network of 15 three-component seismographs in the eastern Indian craton. The average seismic moment, moment magnitude and source radius are estimated to be 1.1 x 1015 N-m, 4.0 and 180.6 m, respectively. The high average stress drop of 14.27 MPa could be attributed to its lower-crustal origin. The mean corner frequency is calculated to be 4.1 Hz. To study the source mechanism, we perform a deviatoric constrained full waveform moment tensor inversion of multiple point sources on the band-passed (0.06 - 0.14 Hz) broadband displacement data of the Deogarh event, using ISOLA software. The best fit is obtained for the source at 8 km centroid depth, with a moment magnitude 3.7, and a right-lateral strike-slip mechanism with strike 162°, dip 72° and rake 169°. The P-axis orients N24°E, which is parallel to the direction of the absolute plate motion direction of Indian plate, while T-axis orients E-W, which is parallel to the strike of the pre-existing Damodar Graben (DG) of Gondwana age. The occurrence of this earthquake is attributed to the neotectonic reactivation of a fault associated with the E-W trending DG shear zone.
Techniques for Systematic Collection and Processing of Vertebrate Microfossils from their Host Mudrocks: A Case Study from the Upper Triassic Tiki Formation of India
Authors: Bhat Mohd Shafi
Published: May 2017

Vertebrate microfossils are valuable entities for the reconstruction of ancient ecosystems but difficult to find without using microscopes, resulting in a collection bias towards the macrofossils, which are easily visible to the naked eyes. The current study gives a comprehensive description of the protocols applied for systematic exploration and extraction of vertebrate microfossils. Initial assessment of the microsites for fossil-richness is carried out by spot sampling using coning and quartering, which is a technique applied for the first time. Subsequently, lithologs are prepared to ascertain the microfossil-bearing stratum, bulk samples are collected, screened by wet and dry sieving methods and residues examined under a microscope for extraction of vertebrate microfossils. These well-designed procedures are systematically applied for collection of vertebrate microfossils from the Upper Triassic Tiki Formation of the Rewa basin. More than 8000 kg of Tiki mudrocks collected as bulk samples, have yielded a rich and diverse array of vertebrate microfossils. The fauna incorporates different types of fresh water sharks, bony fishes, small temnospondyls, and varied r eptiles such as the archosauriforms, lepidosauromorphs, and cynodonts. These findings highlight the efficiency of the proposed methodology.
Geochemistry of Mesoproterozoic Deonar Pyroclastics from Vindhyan Supergroup of Central India: Evidences of Felsic Magmatism in the Son Valley
Authors: Mishra Meenal , Srivastava Vaibhava , Sinha P. K. , Srivastava Hari B.
Published: May 2017

Deonar Pyroclastics of Semri Group in the Vindhyan Supergroup originated as a result of violent and explosive intra-basinal submarine volcanism during the Mesoproterozoic period. These pyroclastics are rhyolitic to rhyodacitic in composition, comprised of banded, massive, pumiceous flow, breccia, vitric tuff, lapilli and volcanic bomb. The pyroclastic deposits represent welded and non-welded ignimbrites, exhibit typical eutaxitic texture. Mantle normalized multi-element patterns show enrichment in LILs and depletion in HFSFs. Ti, Nb and REE contents show close correlation with Zr, indicating their immobile character. HFSEs and Th/Nb, La/Nb and Zr/Nb values indicate contamination and these signatures represent mixing between mantle-derived rocks and the average continental crust. Deonar Pyroclastics reflect continental rift environment. Felsic magma plausibly generated by underplating of the mature Proterozoic crust of the Indian craton (which acted like a ‘heating lens’) resulted in extensive melting of metabasalt in the lower crustal levels. The high heat flow beneath the Indian shield accentuated heat generation which led to extensive partial melting of metabasalts. Thus, generation of rhyolitic magma occurred along the reactivated deep seated fractures and rifting of the craton, resulting in the explosive intra-basinal felsic vulcanicity in the Vindhyan basin.
A Note on ‘Composite Dike’ in Basement Granite in the Vicinity of Srisailam Sub-basin near Akkavaram, Telangana
Authors: Srivastava S. K. , Parashar K. K. , Kumar K. Ramesh , Nayak S. , Latha A.
Published: May 2017

A composite dike has been noticed in basement granite in the vicinity of Srisailam sub-basin near village Akkawaram, Mahabubnagar district, Telangana. It is trending N-S and traced over an extent of 600m in eastern flank of Akkavaram outlier and comprises rocks of mafic and felsic composition characterized by both gradational and abrupt contacts. On the basis of petrographic studies, felsic part of dike is designated as bostonite and mafic as dolerite. Geochemically, they are grouped into (i) trachyte to trachydacite and (ii) basalt categories. Such dissimilar mineralogical and chemical characters in a single dike may be due to coexistence of magma of contrasting composition and provides vital information for understanding the two phase liquid. Interestingly, high uranium values (0.022% U3O8) recorded in parts of felsic portion.
Rock Mass Classification and Assessment of Stability of Critical Slopes on National Highway-22 in Himachal Pradesh
Authors: Kumar Satish , Kumar Kishor , Dogra N. N.
Published: May 2017

Rock slopes require geo-engineering evaluation to assess the instability of critical slopes leading to landslides particularly in Himalayan terrain where rocks are highly jointed, fractured and weathering prone. Interplay of discontinuities in the rocks coupled with other parameters is one of the prime causes of failure of slopes. Engineering rock mass classification, such as, rock mass rating (RMR) and slope mass rating (SMR) along with geological strength index (GSI) have widely been used for stability assessment of rock slopes above tunnel portals, and these classifications are employed here for assessment of stability of slopes of critical nature along Rampur-Powari highway in Himachal Pradesh. In the present study, out of 154 numbers of slopes, a total of 29 have been selected for assessment of their criticality by employing RMR, SMR and GSI.
Impact of Bioturbation on Reservoir Quality and Production – A Review
Authors: Dey Joyjit , Sen Souvik
Published: May 2017

Bioturbation is a typically small scale yet potentially significant geological process altering rock properties by reworking. For many years, bioturbation studies found application in exploration geology to estimate paleobathymetry, interpreting depositional environment and identifying key stratigraphic surfaces. These act as vital inputs to the geological models, for determination of source rock potential, reservoir quality and modeling of petroleum systems. Recently geologists extended the application of bioturbation studies to address production related challenges. Recognizing the bioturbation effects and incorporating them in reservoir simulation models can improve production predictions and enhanced oil recovery operations. This paper discusses bioturbation and its effects on reservoir quality, its performance and production.
Parental experiences and preferences as participants in pediatric research conducted in the emergency department
Authors: Stang Antonia S. , Freedman Stephen B. , Mikrogianakis Angelo , Thompson Graham C. , Williamson Janie , Johnson David W.
Published: May 2017

Objective

To determine parental experiences and preferences regarding the conduct of pediatric research in an emergency department (ED) setting.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of parents of children ages 0 – 14 years who visited the ED of a tertiary care children’s hospital. Parents completed a Web-based survey designed to assess perceptions regarding: 1) background/training of research personnel, 2) location and timing of research discussions, and 3) factors influencing their consent/refusal decision.

Results

Parents totalling 339 were approached, and 227 (67%) surveys were completed. Overall, 87% (197/227; 95% confidence interval [CI] 83, 92) reported they would be comfortable being approached by a university student to discuss research. This proportion did not change when stratified by the child’s gender, illness severity, or season of visit. Whereas only 37% (84/227; 95% CI 31, 43) of respondents would be comfortable being approached in the waiting room, 68% (154/227; 95% CI 62, 75) would be comfortable if approached in a separate area of the main waiting room. The majority reported comfort with follow-up via email (83%; 188/227; 95% CI 78, 88) or telephone (80%; 182/227; 95% CI 75, 85); only 51% (116/227; 95% CI 44, 57) would be comfortable with a scheduled follow-up visit in the hospital. Participants identified potential complications or side effects as the most common reason for declining consent (69%; 157/227; 95% CI 63, 75).

Conclusions

The majority of parents are comfortable being approached by trained university students, preferably in a separate area of an ED waiting room, and email and telephone follow-ups are preferred over a scheduled re-visit.
Language Representation Following Left MCA Stroke in Children and Adults: An fMRI Study
Authors: Westmacott Robyn , McAndrews Mary Pat , deVeber Gabrielle
Published: May 2017

Background: In this case series, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine brain networks that mediate different aspects of language function in 4 young adults (17-22 years) with a history of left middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke in childhood (<7 years of age but after the neonatal period), and five older individuals (42-57 years) with left MCA stroke as adults (>40 years of age). Although it is widely believed that altered lateralization patterns are more likely to occur following early brain injuries compared with later brain injuries, the presumed plasticity of the young brain has been challenged in recent years, particularly in the domain of language. Methods: We explored this issue by contrasting the brain activation patterns of individuals with childhood left MCA stroke and adult left MCA stroke while performing two language tasks: verb generation and picture-word matching. Importantly, both groups showed significant recovery of language function, based on standard clinical indicators. Results: Controls showed left lateralized activation for both tasks, although much more pronounced for verb generation. Adult stroke patients also showed left lateralization for both tasks, though somewhat weaker than controls. Childhood stroke patients exhibited significantly weaker lateralization than the adult group for verb generation, but there was no significant group difference for picture-word matching. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that successful reorganization of language function is more likely to involve bilateral recruitment following left MCA stroke in childhood than in adulthood. Of importance, although childhood stroke patients had primarily subcortical lesions, there were substantial alterations in cortical activation patterns.
Inhomogeneous self-similar sets with overlaps
Authors: BAKER SIMON , FRASER JONATHAN M. , MÁTHÉ ANDRÁS
Published: May 2017

It is known that if the underlying iterated function system satisfies the open set condition, then the upper box dimension of an inhomogeneous self-similar set is the maximum of the upper box dimensions of the homogeneous counterpart and the condensation set. First, we prove that this ‘expected formula’ does not hold in general if there are overlaps in the construction. We demonstrate this via two different types of counterexample: the first is a family of overlapping inhomogeneous self-similar sets based upon Bernoulli convolutions; and the second applies in higher dimensions and makes use of a spectral gap property that holds for certain subgroups of $\text{SO}(d)$ for $d\geq 3$. We also obtain new upper bounds, derived using sumsets, for the upper box dimension of an inhomogeneous self-similar set which hold in general. Moreover, our counterexamples demonstrate that these bounds are optimal. In the final section we show that if the weak separation property is satisfied, that is, the overlaps are controllable, then the ‘expected formula’ does hold.
On some generalizations of skew-shifts on
Authors: BJERKLÖV KRISTIAN
Published: May 2017

In this paper we investigate maps of the two-torus $\mathbb{T}^{2}$ of the form $T(x,y)=(x+\unicode[STIX]{x1D714},g(x)+f(y))$ for Diophantine $\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}\in \mathbb{T}$ and for a class of maps $f,g:\mathbb{T}\rightarrow \mathbb{T}$, where each $g$ is strictly monotone and of degree 2 and each $f$ is an orientation-preserving circle homeomorphism. For our class of $f$ and $g$, we show that $T$ is minimal and has exactly two invariant and ergodic Borel probability measures. Moreover, these measures are supported on two $T$-invariant graphs. One of the graphs is a strange non-chaotic attractor whose basin of attraction consists of (Lebesgue) almost all points in $\mathbb{T}^{2}$. Only a low-regularity assumption (Lipschitz) is needed on the maps $f$ and $g$, and the results are robust with respect to Lipschitz-small perturbations of $f$ and $g$.
Illegal hunting in Jordan: using social media to assess impacts on wildlife
Authors: Eid Ehab , Handal Ramzi
Published: May 2017

This study is the first to provide data on the extent of illegal hunting practices in Jordan using posts on social media. During January 2015–January 2016 photographs from seven hunter groups on Facebook recorded the killing of 4,707 native animals of 59 species, of which birds constituted the majority, followed by mammals and reptiles. Flouting of Jordanian laws was widespread, with daily bag limits exceeded on many occasions, and in the case of chukar partridgeAlectoris chukar, the most popular quarry, some hunters exceeded the limit by 3,000%. Of even greater concern, a total of 34 species with special protection under Jordanian law were killed, and the hunting of large mammals, especially ibexCapra nubianaand gazelles (Gazellaspp.), with already depleted populations, was particularly excessive. It also appeared that a significant number of gazelles were shot by unlicensed hunters from Arabian Gulf countries. Overall, the survey indicates an alarming picture of overhunting of threatened species and ineffective enforcement of hunting laws, despite the efforts of key government and voluntary agencies. We recommend urgent action to address the causes of the problem and to improve the management of hunting through better collaboration, mobilization of resources and awareness raising.
Reliable flow in stochastic supply networks servicing pre- and after-sales markets
Authors: Rezapour Shabnam , Allen Janet K. , Mistree Farrokh
Published: May 2017

In this paper we consider a company including both a forward supply chain producing and supplying products to markets and an after-sales supply chain providing spare parts to fulfill its after-sales commitments. Uncertainty in estimating product demand in the premarkets and spare parts demands in the after-sales markets and qualified outputs of production facilities throughout these two chains are considered in this problem. Stochastic qualified outputs of these facilities are due to their imperfect productions systems. We show that uncertainties propagate and qualified flow depreciates by moving material, components, and products from upstream to the downstream of these supply chains, and these phenomena should be quantified to determine the service levels of this company in the pre- and after-sales markets. At the end, we propose a mathematical model determining the best marketing strategies for this company (i.e., price, warranty length, and service levels) in the markets and their preserving reliable flow dynamics throughout the chains’ networks. Finally, the model is tested on a test problem defined in engine industry and some managerial insights are provided by analyzing the results.
Sedimentary analysis and magnetic properties of Lake Anónima, Vega Island
Authors: Chaparro Marcos A.E. , Chaparro Mauro A.E. , Córdoba Francisco E. , Lecomte Karina L. , Gargiulo José D. , Barrios Ana M. , Urán Gimena M. , Manograsso Czalbowski Nadia T. , Lavat Araceli , Böhnel Harald N.
Published: May 2017

During the summer Lake Anónima experiences important changes in salinity and lake level fluctuations. Physicochemical data and field observations indicate that evaporative processes are dominant and that the water inflow is mainly provided by snow meltwater and streams. A multiproxy analysis of data from lake bottom sediments suggests that the main surface stream located south-west of the lake controls the clastic input and the spatial variation of sediment composition. Through an integrated analysis (magnetic, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies) magnetite and greigite minerals were identified in these lake sediments. Such ferrimagnetic minerals have ultra-fine grain sizes (<0.1 μm). Magnetic parameters and non-magnetic variables analysed by multivariate statistics reveal significant differences between silt facies (e.g. mass-specific susceptibility χ=109.6×10-8 m3 kg-1, remanent coercivity Hcr=49.2 mT and total organic carbon (TOC)=1.11%) and sand facies (e.g. χ=82.1×10-8 m3 kg-1, Hcr=44.7 mT and TOC=0.70%), and four recent depositional sub-environments were identified and characterized in Lake Anónima. This multiparameter analysis contributes to the understanding of present-day lacustrine dynamic and sedimentary processes. Lake Anónima may provide a useful analogue for the interpretation of other lacustrine basins in the Antarctic region.
Proof-relevant π-calculus: a constructive account of concurrency and causality
Authors: PERERA ROLY , CHENEY JAMES
Published: May 2017

We present a formalisation in Agda of the theory of concurrent transitions, residuation and causal equivalence of traces for the π-calculus. Our formalisation employs de Bruijn indices and dependently typed syntax, and aligns the ‘proved transitions’ proposed by Boudol and Castellani in the context of CCS with the proof terms naturally present in Agda's representation of the labelled transition relation. Our main contributions are proofs of the ‘diamond lemma’ for the residuals of concurrent transitions and a formal definition of equivalence of traces up to permutation of transitions.

In the π-calculus, transitions represent propagating binders whenever their actions involve bound names. To accommodate these cases, we require a more general diamond lemma where the target states of equivalent traces are no longer identical, but are related by abraidingthat rewires the bound and free names to reflect the particular interleaving of events involving binders. Our approach may be useful for modelling concurrency in other languages where transitions carry meta-data sensitive to particular interleavings, such as dynamically allocated memory addresses.
Beyond antiquarianism. A review of current theoretical issues in German-speaking prehistoric archaeology
Authors: Hofmann Kerstin P. , Stockhammer Philipp W.
Published: May 2017

Whereas German-speaking archaeology (GSA) has long been understood as generally uninterested in theoretical debates, the situation has taken a most interesting development since the year 2000. Archaeologists tried to escape the general decline of the small university disciplines by getting more and more involved in the overarching research questions of cultural studies and in large-scale collaborative projects. The necessity of integrating a clear theoretical and methodological approach for a successful proposal and the subsequent research changed the significance of theoretical discussions. As a consequence, theme-oriented research has developed which aims at addressing overarching themes in the cultural and social sciences. We have chosen five of the most prominent themes in German-speaking archaeology – self-reflexivity, identities, space, cultural encounter and knowledge transfer – as well as material culture, and shed light on their theoretical conceptualization and methodological implementation in recent publications. Despite the lack of dominant schools of thinking, its strong rootedness in the evaluation of empirical sources, and its close link to the discipline of history, current GSA can contribute to the overall theoretical discourse of the discipline.
Personality and Intelligence
Authors: Woods Stephen A. , Hinton Daniel P. , von Stumm Sophie , Bellman-Jeffreys James
Published: May 2017

Abstract. In this study, we examine the associations of the scales of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI; a measure of personality traits) with intelligence measured by four cognitive ability tests, completed by a sample of 4,876 working adults. We framed our analyses of the correlations around the investment perspective on the personality-intelligence relationship that proposes traits are associated with investment in intellectual activity, which develops cognitive abilities over time. In particular, we report associations between investment-related scales (Intellectual Efficiency, Flexibility, Achievement via Independence, Psychological-mindedness, and Tolerance) and a higher-order personality factor (Originality) of the CPI with intelligence measured at broad and narrow levels of abstraction. We found positive associations between investment-related scales, and Originality with observed ability test scores and factor g extracted from test scores. We found positive associations of traits with unique variance in verbal ability measures, but negative with measures of quantitative and visuospatial abilities. Our study extends the literature on investment theories of intelligence-personality relations, is the first study to examine the associations of multiple scales of the CPI with intelligence measures, and adds much needed data to the literature from a working adult sample.
Geoacoustics Takes to the Sky
Authors: Bowman Daniel , Young Eliot , Cutts James
Published: May 2017

Airborne Geoacoustics Workshop; Albuquerque, New Mexico, 3 January 2017
Ubiquitylation of MFHAS1 by the ubiquitin ligase praja2 promotes M1 macrophage polarization by activating JNK and p38 pathways
Authors: Zhong Jing , Wang Huihui , Chen Wankun , Sun Zhirong , Chen Jiawei , Xu Yajun , Weng Meilin , Shi Qiqing , Ma Duan , Miao Changhong
Published: May 2017

Sepsis is a systemic inflammation caused by infection. The balance between M1–M2 macrophage polarization has an essential role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. However, the exact mechanism underlying macrophage polarization is unclear. We previously showed that levels of malignant fibrous histiocytoma amplified sequence 1 (MFHAS1) were significantly elevated in septic patients compared with those in nonseptic patients, and involved in the activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway. In the present study, we explored whether MFHAS1 was involved in macrophage polarization and determined the effect of MFHAS1 on inflammation. We performed in vitro pulldown assays and in vivo co-immunoprecipitation assays and found that E3 ubiquitin ligase praja2 could directly bind to MFHAS1. In situ immunostaining analysis confirmed the colocalization of endogenous praja2 with MFHAS1. We first reported that praja2 promotes the accumulation of ubiquitylated MFHAS1 but does not degrade it. Moreover, our results indicate that MFHAS1 ubiquitylation by praja2 positively regulates TLR2-mediated JNK/p38 pathway and promotes M1 macrophage polarization, M2 to M1 macrophage transformation and inflammation.
Dysfunction of IKZF1/MYC/MDIG axis contributes to liver cancer progression through regulating H3K9me3/p21 activity
Authors: Huo Qi , Ge Chao , Tian Hua , Sun Ji , Cui Meiling , Li Hong , Zhao Fangyu , Chen Taoyang , Xie Haiyang , Cui Ying , Yao Ming , Li Jinjun
Published: May 2017

MDIG is known to be overexpressed in many types of human cancers and has demonstrated predictive power in the prognosis of cancer, although the functions and mechanisms of MDIG in liver cancer, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), are still unknown. In this study, we report that MDIG and MYC were negatively regulated by IKZF1. MDIG overexpression substantially promoted HCC cell proliferation, cell migration and spreading, whereas knockdown of MDIG would reverse above-mentioned effect. MDIG effects on tumour cell growth were further demonstrated in a tumour xenograft model. Moreover, MDIG had effects on the level of p21(CIP1/WAF1) via H3K9me3 expression in HCC. MDIG was also found to be closely related to the sorafenib resistance of HCC cells in vitro. Clinically, we found that MDIG was frequently overexpressed in human HCCs (69.7%; n=155) and was significantly associated with histological grade and hepatitis B virus infection. Our findings indicate that MDIG plays an important role in HCC progression via MDIG/H3K9me3/p21(CIP1/WAF1) signalling and serves as a potential therapeutic target.
Fabrication of MoSe2 nanoribbons via an unusual morphological phase transition
Authors: Chen Yuxuan , Cui Ping , Ren Xibiao , Zhang Chendong , Jin Chuanhong , Zhang Zhenyu , Shih Chih-Kang
Published: May 2017

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are a family of van der Waals layered materials exhibiting unique electronic, optical, magnetic and transport properties. Their technological potentials hinge critically on the ability to achieve controlled fabrication of desirable nanostructures, such as nanoribbons and nanodots. To date, nanodots/nanoislands have been regularly observed, while controlled fabrication of TMD nanoribbons remains challenging. Here we report a bottom-up fabrication of MoSe2 nanoribbons using molecular beam epitaxy, via an unexpected temperature-induced morphological phase transition from the nanodot to nanoribbon regime. Such nanoribbons are of zigzag nature, characterized by distinct chemical and electronic properties along the edges. The phase space for nanoribbon growth is narrowly defined by proper Se:Mo ratios, as corroborated experimentally using different Se fluxes, and supported theoretically using first-principles calculations that establish the crucial role of the morphological reconstruction of the bare Mo-terminated edge. The growth mechanism revealed should be applicable to other TMD systems.
Magnetotransport on the nano scale
Authors: Willke Philip , Kotzott Thomas , Pruschke Thomas , Wenderoth Martin
Published: May 2017

Transport experiments in strong magnetic fields show a variety of fascinating phenomena like the quantum Hall effect, weak localization or the giant magnetoresistance. Often they originate from the atomic-scale structure inaccessible to macroscopic magnetotransport experiments. To connect spatial information with transport properties, various advanced scanning probe methods have been developed. Capable of ultimate spatial resolution, scanning tunnelling potentiometry has been used to determine the resistance of atomic-scale defects such as steps and interfaces. Here we combine this technique with magnetic fields and thus transfer magnetotransport experiments to the atomic scale. Monitoring the local voltage drop in epitaxial graphene, we show how the magnetic field controls the electric field components. We find that scattering processes at localized defects are independent of the strong magnetic field while monolayer and bilayer graphene sheets show a locally varying conductivity and charge carrier concentration differing from the macroscopic average.
Electroconvulsive therapy-induced brain functional connectivity predicts therapeutic efficacy in patients with schizophrenia: a multivariate pattern recognition study
Authors: Li Peng , Jing Ri-xing , Zhao Rong-jiang , Ding Zeng-bo , Shi Le , Sun Hong-qiang , Lin Xiao , Fan Teng-teng , Dong Wen-tian , Fan Yong , Lu Lin
Published: May 2017

Previous studies suggested that electroconvulsive therapy can influence regional metabolism and dopamine signaling, thereby alleviating symptoms of schizophrenia. It remains unclear what patients may benefit more from the treatment. The present study sought to identify biomarkers that predict the electroconvulsive therapy response in individual patients. Thirty-four schizophrenia patients and 34 controls were included in this study. Patients were scanned prior to treatment and after 6 weeks of treatment with antipsychotics only (n = 16) or a combination of antipsychotics and electroconvulsive therapy (n = 13). Subject-specific intrinsic connectivity networks were computed for each subject using a group information-guided independent component analysis technique. Classifiers were built to distinguish patients from controls and quantify brain states based on intrinsic connectivity networks. A general linear model was built on the classification scores of first scan (referred to as baseline classification scores) to predict treatment response. Classifiers built on the default mode network, the temporal lobe network, the language network, the corticostriatal network, the frontal-parietal network, and the cerebellum achieved a cross-validated classification accuracy of 83.82%, with specificity of 91.18% and sensitivity of 76.47%. After the electroconvulsive therapy, psychosis symptoms of the patients were relieved and classification scores of the patients were decreased. Moreover, the baseline classification scores were predictive for the treatment outcome. Schizophrenia patients exhibited functional deviations in multiple intrinsic connectivity networks which were able to distinguish patients from healthy controls at an individual level. Patients with lower classification scores prior to treatment had better treatment outcome, indicating that the baseline classification scores before treatment is a good predictor for treatment outcome.
Analytical evidence of enamel hypomineralisation on permanent and primary molars amongst past populations
Authors: Garot Elsa , Couture-Veschambre Christine , Manton David , Beauval Cédric , Rouas Patrick
Published: May 2017

Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH) and Hypomineralised Second Primary Molars (HSPM) involve prevalent qualitative structural developmental anomalies of tooth enamel affecting the first permanent molars (and often incisors) and the second primary molars, respectively. These demarcated hypomineralised lesions of enamel manifest as white-cream or yellow-brown opacities, with possible post-eruptive localised loss of enamel. Aetiological hypotheses have involved contemporary life factors (i.e. environmental pollutant exposure or early childhood medications) in contrast to factors not limited to a specific time period (i.e. hypoxia at birth or genetic predisposition). Evidence of MIH in ancient populations would reinforce aetiological factors present for many centuries. By means of microtomographic and X-ray fluorescence analyses the present study provides evidence that (i) two archaeological specimens: “S407” (Sains-en-Gohelle, France, 12th–16thcenturies) and “B335” (Beauvais, France, 15th–18thcenturies) were MIH-affected, and (ii) one individual “S323” was affected by HSPM and MIH (Sains-en-Gohelle, France, 7th–11thcenturies).
Some dietary factors can modulate the effect of the zinc transporters 8 polymorphism on the risk of metabolic syndrome
Authors: Hosseini-Esfahani Firoozeh , Mirmiran Parvin , Koochakpoor Gelareh , Daneshpour Maryam S. , Guity Kamran , Azizi Fereidoun
Published: May 2017

There are conflicting data on the impact of zinc transporter 8 (ZNT8) gene variations on the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Hence, the effects of the interaction between rs13266634 and dietary factors on the risk of MetS were investigated in this study. Subjects of this nested case-control study were selected from the participants in Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Each of the cases (n = 817) was individually matched with a control. Dietary patterns were determined using factor analysis. The ZNT8 rs13266634 were genotyped by the Tetra-refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Two dietary patterns were extracted. There were no significant interactions between the ZNT8 SNP and the dietary patterns on the risk of MetS or its components. An interaction was observed between rs13266634 and the omega-3 fatty acid intakes on the risk of MetS in subjects with the CC genotype (P interaction < 0.01). Zinc modified the association of the ZNT8 variant with high fasting blood sugar (P interaction = 0.05) in CC genotype carriers. An interaction was also observed between rs13266634 and salty snacks at the risk of abdominal obesity (P interaction < 0.05). Our findings suggest an interaction between omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, salty snacks and rs13266634, which may affect the risk of MetS or its components.
Dendritic Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles mediate Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell recruitment
Authors: Silva Andreia M. , Almeida Maria I. , Teixeira José H. , Maia André F. , Calin George A. , Barbosa Mário A. , Santos Susana G.
Published: May 2017

Orchestration of bone repair processes requires crosstalk between different cell populations, including immune cells and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC). Extracellular vesicles (EV) as mediators of these interactions remain vastly unexplored. Here, we aimed to determine the mechanism of MSC recruitment by Dendritic Cells (DC), hypothesising that it would be mediated by EV. Primary human DC-secreted EV (DC-EV), isolated by ultracentrifugation, were characterized for their size, morphology and protein markers, indicating an enrichment in exosomes. DC-EV were readily internalized by human bone marrow-derived MSC, without impacting significantly their proliferation or influencing their osteogenic/chondrogenic differentiation. Importantly, DC-EV significantly and dose-dependently promoted MSC recruitment across a transwell system and enhanced MSC migration in a microfluidic chemotaxis assay. DC-EV content was analysed by chemokine array, indicating the presence of chemotactic mediators. Osteopontin and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were confirmed inside EV. In summary, DC-EV are naturally loaded with chemoattractants and can contribute to cell recruitment, thus inspiring the development of new tissue regeneration strategies.
Degradation mechanisms of silver nanowire electrodes under ultraviolet irradiation and heat treatment
Authors: Choo Dong Chul , Kim Tae Whan
Published: May 2017

We report the degradation mechanisms of the silver nanowire (Ag NW) electrodes that play a significantly important role in the stability of wearable and flexible devices. The degradation mechanisms behind the increase in the sheet resistances of Ag NW electrodes were clarified by investigating the variations in the structure and the chemical composition of the Ag NW electrodes caused by ultraviolet irradiation and thermal treatment. While the shapes of the Ag NWs were affected by melting during the thermal degradation process, the chemical composition of the polyvinylpyrrolidone protective layer on the surfaces of the Ag NWs was not changed. Ultraviolet irradiation deformed the shapes of the Ag NWs because nitrogen or oxygen atoms were introduced to the silver atoms on the surfaces of the Ag NWs. A graphene-oxide flake was coated on the Ag NW electrodes by using a simple dipping method to prevent ultraviolet irradiation and ozone contact with the surfaces of the Ag NWs, and the increase in the sheet resistance in the graphene-oxide-treated Ag NWs was suppressed. These observations will be of assistance to researchers trying to find novel ways to improve the stability of the Ag NW electrodes in next-generation wearable devices.
Characterisation of a 3-hydroxypropionic acid-inducible system from Pseudomonas putida for orthogonal gene expression control in Escherichia coli and Cupriavidus necator
Authors: Hanko Erik K. R. , Minton Nigel P. , Malys Naglis
Published: May 2017

3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) is an important platform chemical used as a precursor for production of added-value compounds such as acrylic acid. Metabolically engineered yeast,Escherichia coli, cyanobacteria and other microorganisms have been developed for the biosynthesis of 3-HP. Attempts to overproduce this compound in recombinantPseudomonas denitrificansrevealed that 3-HP is consumed by this microorganism using the catabolic enzymes encoded by geneshpdH,hbdHandmmsA. 3-HP-inducible systems controlling the expression of these genes have been predicted in proteobacteria and actinobacteria. In this study, we identify and characterise 3-HP-inducible promoters and their corresponding LysR-type transcriptional regulators fromPseudomonas putidaKT2440. A newly-developed modular reporter system proved possible to demonstrate thatPpMmsR/PmmsAandPpHpdR/PhpdHare orthogonal and highly inducible by 3-HP inE. coli(12.3- and 23.3-fold, respectively) andCupriavidus necator(51.5- and 516.6-fold, respectively). Bioinformatics and mutagenesis analyses revealed a conserved 40-nucleotide sequence in thehpdHpromoter, which plays a key role in HpdR-mediated transcription activation. We investigate the kinetics and dynamics of thePpHpdR/PhpdHswitchable system in response to 3-HP and show that it is also induced by both enantiomers of 3-hydroxybutyrate. These findings pave the way for use of the 3-HP-inducible system in synthetic biology and biotechnology applications.