bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental characterisation and modelling of intra‐car communications inside high‐speed trains
Authors: Zhang Lei , Moreno Juan , Briso Cesar
Published: May 2019

The rising demand of high‐capacity wireless services on‐board has driven the research interest on radio communications in public transportation systems. In this experimental study, the authors focus on the intra‐car communication links in a high‐speed train (HST), which have been rarely reported in the literatures. Specifically, the authors have carefully measured and modelled the radio propagation characteristics for intra‐train link. Measurements at both 2.4 and 5.8 GHz have shown that propagation losses inside the train car are much lower than free space, where path‐loss exponent increases as the receiver moves away from the transmitter. Otherwise, the shielding loss and frequency dependent penetration losses caused by the train car body shell are parameterised. In addition, the small‐scale fading is also evaluated to formulate a complete propagation model for intra‐car communications. This work aims to support the Internet access for passengers,for onboard sensor networks and broadband moving‐relay solutions.
Identifying galaxy mergers in observations and simulations with deep learning
Authors: Pearson W. J. , Wang L. , Trayford J. W. , Petrillo C. E. , van der Tak F. F. S.
Published: May 2019

Context. Mergers are an important aspect of galaxy formation and evolution. With large upcoming surveys, such as Euclid and LSST, accurate techniques that are fast and efficient are needed to identify galaxy mergers for further study.

Aims. We aim to test whether deep learning techniques can be used to reproduce visual classification of observations, physical classification of simulations and highlight any differences between these two classifications. As one of the main difficulties of merger studies is the lack of a truth sample, we can use our method to test biases in visually identified merger catalogues.

Methods. We developed a convolutional neural network architecture and trained it in two ways: one with observations from SDSS and one with simulated galaxies from EAGLE, processed to mimic the SDSS observations. The SDSS images were also classified by the simulation trained network and the EAGLE images classified by the observation trained network.

Results. The observationally trained network achieves an accuracy of 91.5% while the simulation trained network achieves 65.2% on the visually classified SDSS and physically classified EAGLE images respectively. Classifying the SDSS images with the simulation trained network was less successful, only achieving an accuracy of 64.6%, while classifying the EAGLE images with the observation network was very poor, achieving an accuracy of only 53.0% with preferential assignment to the non-merger classification. This suggests that most of the simulated mergers do not have conspicuous merger features and visually identified merger catalogues from observations are incomplete and biased towards certain merger types.

Conclusions. The networks trained and tested with the same data perform the best, with observations performing better than simulations, a result of the observational sample being biased towards conspicuous mergers. Classifying SDSS observations with the simulation trained network has proven to work, providing tantalising prospects for using simulation trained networks for galaxy identification in large surveys.
Modernes Management des Pancoast-Tumors
Authors: Marra Alessandro
Published: May 2019

Der Pancoast-Tumor (Sulcus-superior-Tumor) ist eine Sonderform des Lungenkarzinoms mit Infiltration der oberen Thoraxapertur, die durch Schulterschmerz und eventuell Horner-Syndrom klinisch auffällig wird. Die häufig verspätete Diagnose und die komplexe Anatomie der Region stellen eine Herausforderung für die Therapeuten dar. Dieser Beitrag schildert, wie moderne Diagnostik und multimodale Behandlung die Prognose der Erkrankung positiv beeinflussen können.
Schmerztherapeutische Aspekte bei Tumoroperationen
Authors: Wirz Stefan , Schenk Michael , Kieselbach Kristin
Published: May 2019

Trotz einer Vielzahl von Therapieoptionen wird die Akutschmerztherapie nach onkologischen Operationen häufig als unzureichend beschrieben. Neben einer unzureichenden Akutschmerztherapie können weitere Faktoren eine Hypersensitivierung und Chronifizierung sowie den Verlauf der Tumorerkrankung beeinflussen. Dieser Beitrag erklärt pathophysiologische Hintergründe und erläutert geeignete Therapiemodalitäten.
Ultrasound Microbubbles for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Rix Anne , Curaj Adelina , Liehn Elisa , Kiessling Fabian
Published: May 2019

Ultrasound (US) imaging of heart and major arteries and veins is among the most frequently used diagnostic techniques applied in humans. Conventional cardiovascular US sessions include anatomical B-mode and functional M-, pulsed-wave- and Doppler mode, which have their limitations in both precise cardiac chambers' delineation and small vessel imaging. The introduction of contrast-enhanced US, employing microbubble suspensions as contrast agent, has enabled a better delineation of heart chambers, the visualization of myocardial microvasculature, and the atherosclerotic plaque neovascularization. Moreover, specific disease-related molecular tracers have been developed by modifying the microbubbles with targeting ligands directed to biological markers exposed to the luminal side of the blood vessels. Microbubble functionalization has enabled in vivo molecular US imaging of various stages of atherosclerosis, from plaque initiation to plaque vulnerability, and neointima formation following revascularization procedures. Furthermore, oscillating microbubbles have been used to mechanically dissolve thrombus material and may act as carriers of drugs and nucleic acids that are released locally by US pulses. This review article summarizes recent advances in functional and molecular US images and discusses therapeutic applications of microbubbles. The addressed topics include an overview on microbubble formats, microbubble detection methods, molecular targets of cardiovascular diseases, and the use of microbubbles for thrombolysis and drug delivery.
Evaluation of Preoperative Pain Using PROMIS Pain Interference in Knee Surgery Patients
Authors: Nadarajah Vidushan , Glazier Elizabeth , Miller Kenneth , Jauregui Julio J. , Smuda Michael P. , Bennett Craig H. , Packer Jonathan D. , Henn R. Frank
Published: May 2019

Given that pain relief is often the primary goal of orthopaedic surgery, an accurate assessment of pain is paramount. The objectives of this cross-sectional analytical study were to (1) compare how the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pain interference (PI) computer adaptive test (CT) performs against the Numeric Pain Scale (NPS) measure in evaluating pain, and (2) to determine demographic, clinical, and psychosocial correlates of PI in an urban population undergoing a variety of knee surgeries. We hypothesized that there would be a strong correlation between PI and NPS, with minimal floor and ceiling effects; and that a worse PI score would be associated with a worse general health profile. The sample consisted of 412 patients undergoing knee surgery at an urban academic center. Patients were preoperatively administered measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Bivariate and multivariable statistical analyses were performed to identify significant independent predictors. The mean PI score was 60.3 ± 7.2 and had no floor or ceiling effects, whereas NPS demonstrated a greater percentage of patients scoring at the extremes of the measure. Worse PI scores were associated with older age, higher body mass index (BMI), greater comorbidity, lower income, smoking, female gender, Hispanic ethnicity, Black race, unemployment, opioid use, lower expectations, and greater American Society of Anesthesiologists score (p < 0.05). Compared with other procedures, total knee arthroplasty was associated with worse PI scores and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was associated with better PI scores. Furthermore, PI demonstrated significant associations with a wide range of HRQOL measures. After controlling for confounding variables, worse PI was independently associated with older age, lower income, higher BMI, and smoking.
Klinik Unternehmen: Auf-/Absteiger des Monats
Authors: Schmidt Hartmut
Published: May 2019

Börsenexperte Hartmut Schmidt analysiert für kma die Jahresabschlüsse ausgewählter Kliniken
A new method for measuring the thermal conductivity of small insulating samples
Authors: Jannot Yves , Schaefer Sébastien , Degiovanni Alain , Bianchin Jérémy , Fierro Vanessa , Celzard Alain
Published: May 2019

Due to the limited size of samples prepared at the lab scale, characterizing the thermal properties of new materials may be problematic, and this makes it all the more difficult to optimize them. This statement especially applies to the development of innovative thermal (super)insulators. In this work, we demonstrate that the hot disk method, which might be preferred for such kinds of studies because of the low sample size it can allow in practice, is unable to provide realistic values of thermal conductivity in the case of insulators. A new method was thus developed, called Calibrated Tiny Hot Plate (CTHP). The corresponding heat transfers were modeled, and the two unknowns of the model were obtained by calibration with insulating samples whose thermal conductivity was precisely measured with a reference (guarded hot plate) method. We show that the CTHP is able to estimate conductivities within the range 0.014–0.2 W m−1 K−1 based on samples having thicknesses ranging from 3 to 9 mm and diameters as low as 15 mm. The accuracy was generally much better than 10%, which is a remarkable result for characterizing so small insulating materials.
Ar and Kr on deuterium gas-puff staged Z-pinch implosions on a 1-MA driver: Experiment and simulation
Authors: Rahman H. U. , Ruskov E. , Ney P. , Conti F. , Valenzuela J. C. , Aybar N. , Narkis J. , Beg F. N. , Dutra E. , Covington A.
Published: May 2019

Recent experiments on the 1 MA, 100 ns Zebra driver at the Nevada Terawatt Facility at the University of Nevada, Reno, investigated the compression of a deuterium target by a high-atomic-number (Ar or Kr) gas-puff liner. Pinch stability improved with axial premagnetization of 1–2 kG observed as a decrease in magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth. Implosion dynamics and stagnation conditions were studied computationally with the radiation-MHD code MACH2 using initial conditions that approximate those in the experiment. Typical average and peak implosion velocities exceeded 300 and 400 km/s, respectively, which raised the target adiabat by shock heating as the front converges on axis, at which time the target is adiabatically compressed to stagnation. Experimental fusion yields of up to 2 × 109 for Ar liner on D target implosions were measured, while with a Kr liner yields up to 1 × 1010 were measured. Higher yields in Kr compared to Ar were also calculated in 2-D MACH2 simulations. These observations will be further tested with other radiation-MHD codes, and experiments on the 1 MA LTD-III machine at UC San Diego.
Electron density measurements in shock tube using microwave interferometry
Authors: Toujani Nesrine , Alquaity Awad Bin Saud , Farooq Aamir
Published: May 2019

Microwave interferometry (MWI) is a nonintrusive diagnostic technique, capable of measuring small quantities of electrons present in a flame plasma. In this paper, a 94 GHz microwave interferometer is characterized and validated to perform robust and reliable measurements of electron concentrations in thermal and nonthermal plasmas in a shock tube. The MWI system is validated first by measuring the refractive index of a dielectric material. Subsequently, the system is used for measuring electron densities during the thermal ionization of argon and krypton in shock tube experiments. The measured activation energies are in good agreement with both the measured values from previous studies and theoretical values. The MWI system is finally used for measuring electron density time-histories in fuel oxidation experiments in the shock tube. The electron density profile of methane combustion shows a peak at the ignition time which agrees with pressure measurements. Experimental electron histories are also in overall agreement with predictions of the methane ion chemistry model.
Optics based biomedical imaging: Principles and applications
Authors: Wang Depeng , Xia Jun
Published: May 2019

Biomedical optical imaging is an important subdivision of optical imaging with the aim of understanding the anatomy and function of life. In principle, biomedical optical imaging systems form an image by manipulating the excitation light and detecting the signals originating from light and tissue interactions. Ever since the invention of the first optical microscope over 1000 years ago, biomedical optical imaging technologies have been steadily evolving to enable faster, deeper, and higher resolution imaging. These technologies have led to a more comprehensive understanding of life at the macro-, micro-, and nanoscales and have improved clinical diagnosis and treatment. This tutorial provides an overview of biomedical optical imaging techniques and their applications. Based on the imaging depth, this tutorial classifies the current optical imaging systems into two regimes: diffraction and diffusion. Within each regime, a few commonly used imaging techniques and their biological imaging applications are discussed. Finally, we provide an outlook of future biomedical optical imaging.
Implosion of auto-magnetizing helical liners on the Z facility
Authors: Shipley G. A. , Awe T. J. , Hutsel B. T. , Greenly J. B. , Jennings C. A. , Slutz S. A.
Published: May 2019

In the first auto-magnetizing liner implosion experiments on the Z Facility, precompressed internal axial fields near 150 T were measured and 7.2-keV radiography indicated a high level of cylindrical uniformity of the imploding liner's inner surface. An auto-magnetizing (AutoMag) liner is made of discrete metallic helical conductors encapsulated in insulating material. The liner generates internal axial magnetic field as a 1–2 MA, 100–200 ns current prepulse flows through the helical conductors. After the prepulse, the fast-rising main current pulse causes the insulating material between the metallic helices to break down ceasing axial field production. After breakdown, the helical liner, nonuniform in both density and electrical conductivity, implodes in 100 ns. In-flight radiography data demonstrate that while the inner wall maintains cylindrical uniformity, multiple new helically oriented structures are self-generated within the outer liner material layers during the implosion; this was not predicted by simulations. Furthermore, liner stagnation was delayed compared to simulation predictions. An analytical implosion model is compared with experimental data and preshot simulations to explore how changes in the premagnetization field strength and drive current affect the liner implosion trajectory. Both the measurement of >100 T internal axial field production and the demonstration of cylindrical uniformity of the imploding liner's inner wall are encouraging for promoting the use of AutoMag liners in future MagLIF experiments.
Formation and characterization of embedded Fe3Si binary structures in Si
Authors: Lakshantha Wickramaarachchige J. , McDaniel Floyd D. , Rout Bibhudutta
Published: May 2019

Chemical and electronic properties of ion beam synthesized Fe-Si binary structures are studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy binding energy analysis. Ferromagnetic Fe-Si (Fe3Si) binary structure formation is enhanced in the ion-beam synthesis process by applying an in situ external magnetic field parallel to the Si substrate during the Fe implantation. Core-level analysis shows features corresponding to chemical environments of different Fe-Si phases. Fe 2p3/2 and Fe 3s peaks were analyzed, considering peak position, symmetry, and splitting. The ferromagnetic Fe3Si phase shows a highly asymmetric 2p3/2 peak at 706.6 eV and peak splitting in the 3s peak due to the exchange interaction with unfilled 3d electrons in the valance band. In contrast, the Si core-level did not show any significant features leading to the identification of Fe-Si binary compounds. The Si 2p peak showed a constant 0.2 eV peak shift toward the high-energy side compared to the elemental Si. Further valance band spectra reveal distinct features to help identify the Fe3Si phase. In general, core and valance band features of Fe-Si binary compounds provided definitive information about Fe3Si phase identification and its electronic structure with direct evidence of the exchange interaction, which occurs between core levels, valance band, and the unfilled 3d shell.
Color switching of a terahertz quantum cascade laser
Authors: Kainz Martin A. , Schönhuber Sebastian , Limbacher Benedikt , Andrews Aaron M. , Detz Hermann , Strasser Gottfried , Bastard Gérald , Unterrainer Karl
Published: May 2019

The mode formation of a terahertz Quantum Cascade laser with two optical transitions is studied experimentally. The emission spectrum shows two well separated frequency regions at 3.4 THz and 3.8 THz corresponding to two different upper laser states |3⟩ and |4⟩. From the relative strength of the two colors, population and electron scattering effects for the two states are investigated at different operating temperatures and in the presence of a strong magnetic field. At elevated temperatures, the population of state |3⟩ is continuously reduced, resulting in only the 3.8 THz transition lasing at 140 K. For an applied magnetic field, the elastic scattering channel from |4⟩→|3⟩ is progressively suppressed, resulting in laser emission switching from 3.4 THz to 3.8 THz.
Theoretical research on power handling capacity of the modes TM01 and TM02 in corrugated waveguides
Authors: Teng Yan , Wang Dongyang , Li Shuang , Yang Dewen , Shi Yanchao , Wu Ping , Wu Xiaoling
Published: May 2019

This paper studies the power handling capacity of the modes TM01 and TM02 in circumferentially corrugated waveguides through analytical research on the evolution of the field distribution and the corresponding dispersion with an overmoded ratio. As the overmoded ratio grows at the constant frequency, the total electric field of the volumetric wave, in which the amplitude of the axial electric field reaches its peak value on the central axis and declines along the r-axis, gradually concentrates toward the corrugated surface; the volumetric wave is then converted into a surface wave. Such conversion does not completely prevent, but weakens the enhancement of the power handling capacity caused by augmentation of the overmoded ratio. Moreover, due to the effect of the longitudinal mode transition, the power handling capacity of the modes TM01 and TM02 does not monotonically increase as the overmoded ratio grows with the constant frequency. Such longitudinal mode transition counteracts, to some extent, the enhancement of the power handling capacity caused by augmentation of the overmoded ratio. Even when the average radius of the corrugated waveguide is only a little larger than the cutoff radius of the required frequency, the power handling capacity decreases dramatically with augmentation of the overmoded ratio. A comparison between the different types of ripple demonstrates that a smaller corrugation pitch results in a lower power handling capacity. The advantage of the power handling capacity of the TM02 mode over that of the TM01 mode is proved by a careful comparison between the different cases.
Interpolyelectrolyte complexes: advances and prospects of application
Authors: Izumrudov Vladimir A. , Mussabayeva Binur Kh. , Kassymova Zhanar S. , Klivenko Alexey N. , Orazzhanova Lyazzat K.
Published: May 2019

Advances in the development of water-soluble nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes, which are characterized by high stability and can be involved in competitive interpolyelectrolyte reactions, are summarized and analyzed. The complexes remain stable over a wide range of external conditions (pH, ionic strength, temperature), but show a rapid, reversible and highly sensitive response to environmental changes outside this range by changing the phase state. The review considers methods of preparation and properties of nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes formed by interactions between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. These reagents can be used for controlled modification of various surfaces, the preparation of soluble complexes functionalized by different molecules, the suppression and prevention of protein aggregation. The review briefly summarizes new types of soluble polyelectrolytes and polyelectrolyte complexes of different nature and with different structures, including biopolymers and dendrimers, suitable for solving problems in medicine and agricultural biotechnology. In order to evaluate the results achieved, there is a need to integrate and analyze the data on interpolyelectrolyte reactions, which are of most interest for a wide range of researchers.

The bibliography includes 118 references.
Suprathermal particles in astrochemistry
Authors: Shematovich Valeriy I.
Published: May 2019

The kinetic Monte Carlo method, used in astrochemistry to investigate suprathermal (hot) particles at the molecular level, is presented. Different modifications of this method, aimed at studying the influence of suprathermal particles in the processes occurring in gas and dust envelopes surrounding astrophysical objects — prestellar and protostellar cores of molecular clouds, planets, their moons, and comets in the Solar and extrasolar planetary systems — are considered. The important role of the fraction of suprathermal particles in astrochemical applications of this approach is demonstrated. The presence of these particles leads to local changes in the chemical composition; causes non-thermal emissions in gas and dust envelopes; enhances the chemical exchange between the gas and dust fractions of envelope; leads to the formation of extended hot coronae of planets; increases non-thermal atmospheric losses, thus determining the evolution of planetary atmosphere on astronomical time scales; and facilitates the formation of complex molecules in gas and dust envelopes of astrophysical objects.

The bibliography includes 146 references.
Mechanical activation of heterogeneous exothermic reactions in powder mixtures
Authors: Rogachev Alexander S.
Published: May 2019

The review concerns the results of recent experimental, theoretical and applied studies on mechanical activation of reactive powder compositions and self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of materials using activated mixtures. We discuss the influence of activation regimes on the combustion temperature and velocity, self-ignition temperature, activation energy of the reaction, as well as the microstructure and atomic structure of the reactive compositions. Particular attention is paid to revealing structural transformations that lead to an increase in the reactivity of powder mixtures. Examples of practical application of the processes reviewed are presented.

The bibliography includes 229 references.
Hyperelliptic systems of sequences of rank 4
Authors: Illarionov A. A.
Published: May 2019

Sequences of complex numbers satisfying functional relations of bilinear type are investigated. The results obtained are used in describing all 1-periodic entire functions

such that the expansion

holds for some

.

Bibliography: 38 titles.
Drought-tolerance mechanisms in foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) under different nitrogen supply and sowing dates
Authors: Nematpour Afsaneh , Eshghizadeh Hamid Reza , Zahedi Morteza
Published: May 2019

Drought stress is one of the main limitations to crop growth and yield. Efficient nitrogen (N) nutrition may moderate the negative effects of drought stress on plants through retention of metabolic activities. The present study was conducted to investigate the biochemical responses of two millet species, foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P.Beauv.) and proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), under two irrigation regimes (based on 55% and 85% soil-water depletion) and two N fertiliser levels (0 and 112.5 kg N ha–1) at four sowing dates (22 June and 6 July 2015, 14 and 30 June 2016). Drought stress increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and other aldehyde contents of the plants, ultimately leading to 52% and 55% reductions in grain yield in foxtail millet and proso millet, respectively. Antioxidant activities showed significant increases under drought stress. Nitrogen application decreased H2O2, MDA and other aldehyde contents and activities of antioxidant enzymes, whereas it increased chlorophyll, carotenoid, phenolic compound and proline contents as well as grain yield. Higher grain yields were obtained with early planting dates under sufficient water supply, whereas superior yields were obtained with delayed planting dates under water stress owing to lower temperatures and evaporation rates. The results suggest that N application could mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress on millet plants by promoting osmoregulation, alleviating lipid peroxidation, and improving plant physiological traits. Foxtail millet had higher antioxidant potential than proso millet, resulting in greater capacity to inhibit production of free oxygen radicals and making it the more drought-tolerant species.
Nutritional and anti-nutritional seed-quality traits of faba bean (Vicia faba) grown in South Australia
Authors: Skylas Daniel J. , Paull Jeffrey G. , Hughes David G. D. , Gogel Beverley , Long Hao , Williams Brett , Mundree Sagadevan , Blanchard Christopher L. , Quail Ken J.
Published: May 2019

Pulses such as faba bean (Vicia faba L.) have received significant attention in recent years because of their nutritional properties and health benefits. However, in many faba bean varieties, these nutritional qualities are hindered by the presence of anti-nutritional factors such as vicine and convicine. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the relative performance of key varieties of faba bean for a range of nutritional and anti-nutritional seed quality traits. Seed material consisting of 10 faba bean varieties grown in replicated field trials at Charlick and Freeling in South Australia over consecutive seasons (2016 and 2017) was provided by the national breeding program in Australia. Predicted variety or variety × environment means and variance parameter estimates for the final fitted models are reported for moisture (94.8–101.4 g kg–1), seed weight (523.3–813.7 g−1 1000 seed), protein (269.5–295.3 g kg–1), total starch (386.9–410.1 g kg–1), amylose (126–150.3 g kg–1), amylopectin (254–258.2 g kg–1), percentage total starch comprising amylose (33.5–37.4%) and amylopectin (62.6–66.5%), and anti-nutritional factors vicine (4.5–7.4 mg g–1) and convicine (1.7–3.2 mg g–1) and combined total vicine and convicine (6.4–9.6 mg g–1). Information from this study will contribute to better understanding of nutritional and anti-nutritional properties of faba bean and will help the national breeding program to deliver better performing varieties for Australia’s key growing regions. The information will also prove useful in the processing and development of healthy, value-added foods and ingredients, leading to increased consumer acceptance and demand for faba bean, ultimately providing benefits to growers.
Culture and persuasive discourse in localized NGO
websites
Authors: Charalampidou Parthena
Published: May 2019

Non-governmental organisations set different goals than
for-profit corporations. However, they need to be advertised in order to keep
working. One of the basic means NGOs use in order to attract volunteers and
donators is their website. Although the English language is considered as the
lingua franca of the internet it seems to be inadequate
when a global audience is aimed at. NGOs seem to have realized the need to
communicate with potential donators or volunteers in their native language and
have started providing localized versions of their websites. In this paper we
are going to examine the persuasive discourse adopted by NGOs in their English,
French and Greek website versions. According to Aristotle (Rhetoric, 1356a) (2002) the three persuasive techniques used to
change the audience’s beliefs are (a) pathos, which appeals to
the audience’s emotions, (b) ethos, which establishes the good
“character” and credibility of the author and (c) logos, which
uses logic and evidence to convince the audience. Our aim is to examine both the
use and the multisemiotic realization of the above mentioned techniques in
different cultural contexts. For the needs of our analysis we will adopt
methodological tools from the field of social semiotics (image and text
relation (Barthes 2007) and the grammar of visual design
and of colours (Kress and Van
Leeuwen 1996, 2002).
Translational theories such as Skopos theory (Reiss and Vermeer 1984; Nord 1997) will provide the theoretical framework for
the study of the adaptation techniques and strategies adopted when the Greek
audience is addressed.
Transferring web accessibility through localization and internationalization standards
Authors: Torres del Rey Jesús , Vázquez Lucía Morado
Published: May 2019

In recent years, translation and localization studies have started to include accessibility, and web accessibility in particular, as one of the key aspects to take into consideration when adapting a web product to another language and culture (web localization). This paper provides a comprehensive insight of the connections between these two fields and concepts and, above all, it discusses the possibility of transferring accessibility throughout the localization process. In particular, we analyze how the use of current localization and internationalization data exchange standards is connected to this notion of transfer, and how those standards may be capable of transferring accessibility qualities or information, or supporting localizers in their task. Finally, we present an analytical and pragmatic approach to explore this transferability challenge, which includes the study of the techniques proposed by the W3C to help web developers fulfil a set of success criteria that are included in the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, in relation to their possible integration in localization and internationalization standards.
Spectral and electrical characterization of an aluminum plasma laser between the flat plates of a capacitor
Authors: Alvarez J , Pacheco P , Sarmiento R
Published: May 2019

The spectral and electrical diagnostics of plasmas generated by laser were performed by using the LIBS technique accompanied with simultaneous measurements of the electrical signal in the perturbations of an aluminum plasma laser, submerged in electric fields transverse to the direction of the beam laser produced by a parallel flat plates capacitor. In this paper, we show that temperature and electron density in the formed plasmas are directly proportional to the energy deposited by the beam laser on the sample. Depending on the separation of the plates, the analysis of the electrical signal shows that it decays approximately with the inverse of the squared distance and it also decays with the number of laser pulses for plasmas produced on the same region of the solid sample.
Electrodynamic formulation of special relativity from the first postulate
Authors: Bolívar E , Molina U , Viloria P
Published: May 2019

This work presents the form that the special theory of relativity takes when only the first postulate and the properties of homogeneity and isotropy of space and time are considered valid. The transformations of Lorentz coordinates are obtained in terms of a universal constant parameter k, developing from these the relativistic kinematics, dynamics and electrodynamics and their respective invariances before these transformations.
What can we learn from consumption-based carbon footprints at different spatial scales? Review of policy implications
Authors: Ottelin Juudit , Ala-Mantila Sanna , Heinonen Jukka , Wiedmann Thomas , Clarke Jack , Junnila Seppo
Published: May 2019

Background: Current climate change mitigation policies, including the Paris Agreement, are based on territorial greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting. This neglects the understanding of GHG emissions embodied in trade. As a solution, consumption-based accounting (CBA) that reveals the lifecycle emissions, including transboundary flows, is gaining support as a complementary information tool. CBA is particularly relevant in cities that tend to outsource a large part of their production-based emissions to their hinterlands. While CBA has so far been used relatively little in practical policymaking, it has been used widely by scientists. Methods and design: The purpose of this systematic review, which covers more than 100 studies, is to reflect the policy implications of consumption-based carbon footprint (CBCF) studies at different spatial scales. The review was conducted by reading through the discussion sections of the reviewed studies and systematically collecting the given policy suggestions for different spatial scales. We used both numerical and qualitative methods to organize and interpret the findings of the review. Review results and discussion: The motivation for the review was to investigate whether the unique consumption perspective of CBA leads to similarly unique policy features. We found that various carbon pricing policies are the most widely supported policy instrument in the relevant literature. However, overall, there is a shortage of discussion on policy instruments, since the policy discussions focus on policy outcomes, such as behavioral change or technological solutions. In addition, some policy recommendations are conflicting. Particularly, urban density and compact city policies are supported by some studies and questioned by others. To clarify the issue, we examined how the results regarding the relationship between urban development and the CBCF vary. The review provides a concise starting point for policymakers and future research by summarizing the timely policy implications.
VCP/p97 controls signals of the ERK1/2 pathway transmitted via the Shoc2 scaffolding complex: novel insights into IBMPFD pathology
Authors: Jang HyeIn , Jang Eun Ryoung , Wilson Patricia G. , Anderson Daniel , Galperin Emilia
Published: May 2019

Valosin-containing protein (VCP), also named p97, is an essential hexameric AAA+ ATPase with diverse functions in the ubiquitin system. Here we demonstrate that VCP is critical in controlling signals transmitted via the essential Shoc2-ERK1/2 signaling axis. The ATPase activity of VCP modulates the stoichiometry of HUWE1 in the Shoc2 complex as well as HUWE1-mediated allosteric ubiquitination of the Shoc2 scaffold and the RAF-1 kinase. Abrogated ATPase activity leads to augmented ubiquitination of Shoc2/RAF-1 and altered phosphorylation of RAF-1. We found that in fibroblasts from patients with inclusion body myopathy with Paget’s disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia (IBMPFD) that harbor germline mutations in VCP, the levels of Shoc2 ubiquitination and ERK1/2 phosphorylation are imbalanced. This study provides a mechanistic basis for the critical role of VCP in the regulation of the ERK1/2 pathway and reveals a previously unrecognized function of the ERK1/2 pathway in the pathogenesis of IBMPFD.
Contribution of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection to Permanent Hearing Loss in a Highly Seropositive Population: The Brazilian Cytomegalovirus Hearing and Maternal Secondary Infection Study
Authors: Yamamoto Aparecida Y , Anastasio Adriana R T , Massuda Eduardo T , Isaac Myriam L , Manfredi Alessandra K S , Cavalcante Juliana M S , Carnevale-Silva Adriana , Fowler Karen B , Boppana Suresh B , Britt William J , Mussi-Pinhata Marisa M
Published: May 2019

Background

The exact contribution of congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMVI) to permanent hearing loss (HL) in highly seropositive populations is unknown. We determined the contribution of cCMVI to HL and estimated the effectiveness of newborn hearing screening (HS) in identifying neonates with CMV-related HL.

Methods

A total of 11 900 neonates born from a population with ≥97% maternal seroprevalence were screened for cCMVI and HL. cCMVI was confirmed by detection of CMV-DNA in saliva and urine at age <3 weeks.

Results

Overall, 68 (0.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4–0.7) neonates were identified with cCMVI. Of the 91 (0.8%) newborns who failed the HS, 24 (26.4%) were confirmed with HL, including 7 (29.2%; 95% CI, 17.2–59.3) with cCMVI. Another newborn with cCMVI passed the HS but was confirmed with HL at age 21 days. Of the 62 neonates with cCMVI who underwent a complete hearing evaluation, 8 (12.9%; 95% CI, 6.7–23.4) had HL and most (7/8; 87.5%; 95% CI, 46.6–99.7) were identified by HS. The rate of CMV-related HL was 8 per 11 887 neonates (0.7 per 1000 live births). The prevalence ratio of HL among neonates with cCMVI compared to CMV-uninfected neonates was 89.5 (95% CI, 39.7–202.0). No late-onset cCMVI-related HL was detected during a median follow-up of 36 months.

Conclusions

cCMVI is an important cause of HL in childhood in all settings. Integrating targeted cCMVI screening among neonates who fail a HS could be a reasonable, cost-effective strategy to identify newborns with early-onset cCMVI-related HL.
Communication and (Un)Inspired Terror: Toward a Theory of Phatic Violence
Authors: Szpunar Piotr M
Published: May 2019

Terrorism has long been theorized as a communicative act. Absent in the array of theories is an adequate consideration of violence committed by third parties (e.g., lone wolves), individuals with no clear link to any group. Often, this complex mediated phenomenon is reduced to the “inspired” reproduction/transmission of a message. For a more nuanced understanding, I develop a theory of phatic violence centered on relation/mediation rather than information/intentionality. The violence of the ambiguous third party, in the first instance, produces a phatic exigency through which bonds might be created or sustained. Any subsequent communion (or its denial) with a group is the result of a mediated ritual process, one that is structured by and regenerates the bonds of antipathy that define the war on terror. Forefronting antipathy in phatic communication enables new understandings of dispersed violence and the horror of the war on terror.
SynMyco transposon: engineering transposon vectors for efficient transformation of minimal genomes
Authors: Montero-Blay Ariadna , Miravet-Verde Samuel , Lluch-Senar Maria , Piñero-Lambea Carlos , Serrano Luis
Published: May 2019

Mycoplasmas are important model organisms for Systems and Synthetic Biology, and are pathogenic to a wide variety of species. Despite their relevance, many of the tools established for genome editing in other microorganisms are not available for Mycoplasmas. The Tn4001 transposon is the reference tool to work with these bacteria, but the transformation efficiencies (TEs) reported for the different species vary substantially. Here, we explore the mechanisms underlying these differences in four Mycoplasma species, Mycoplasma agalactiae, Mycoplasma feriruminatoris, Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, selected for being representative members of each cluster of the Mycoplasma genus. We found that regulatory regions (RRs) driving the expression of the transposase and the antibiotic resistance marker have a major impact on the TEs. We then designed a synthetic RR termed SynMyco RR to control the expression of the key transposon vector elements. Using this synthetic RR, we were able to increase the TE for M. gallisepticum, M. feriruminatoris and M. agalactiae by 30-, 980- and 1036-fold, respectively. Finally, to illustrate the potential of this new transposon, we performed the first essentiality study in M. agalactiae, basing our study on more than 199,000 genome insertions.
Global Banking, Trade, and the International Transmission of the Great Recession
Authors: Born Alexandra , Enders Zeno
Published: May 2019

We employ a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model to investigate the transmission of the global financial crisis via the collapse of export demand (trade channel) and through losses on cross-border asset holdings (financial channel). Calibrated to German data, the model predicts the trade channel to be twice as important as the financial channel. In the United Kingdom, the latter dominates due to higher foreign-asset holdings, which, at the same time, serve as an automatic stabiliser in case of plummeting foreign demand. The financial channel leads to much longer-lasting effects. Stricter enforcement of bank capital requirements would have frontloaded the recession.
Association between physical, psychological and social frailty and health-related quality of life among older people
Authors: Zhang Xuxi , Tan Siok Swan , Franse Carmen Betsy , Alhambra-Borrás Tamara , Durá-Ferrandis Estrella , Bilajac Lovorka , Markaki Athina , Verma Arpana , Mattace-Raso Francesco , Voorham Antonius J J , Raat Hein
Published: May 2019

Background

Studies on the association between frailty and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are scarce and show contradictory results. This study aimed to evaluate the association between physical, psychological and social frailty and HRQoL among community-dwelling older people.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed with baseline data collected in 2015 from the Urban Health Centers Europe (UHCE) project in five European countries, the United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, The Netherlands and Spain. A total of 2325 participants were included in the baseline measurements of the Urban Health Centers Europe project; 2167 participants (mean age = 79.7; SD=5.6) were included in the analyses after excluding participants with missing data. The Tilburg Frailty Indicator measured overall frailty as well as physical, psychological and social frailty. The 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey was used to measured physical and mental HRQoL.

Results

Regarding physical HRQoL, a large difference (d=1.29) between physically and not physically frail participants was observed. Regarding mental HRQoL, a large difference (d=1.20) between psychologically and not psychologically frail participants was observed. In the full model with all three domains of frailty and the covariates to explain physical HRQoL, physical (P <0.001) and social frailty (P <0.001) remained significant. In the full model to explain mental HRQoL, all three domains of frailty remained significant (P <0.001).

Conclusion

Physical frailty had the strongest association with physical HRQoL, and psychological frailty had the strongest association with mental HRQoL. The associations between social frailty and both physical and mental HRQoL remain significant when controlling for physical and psychological frailty.
Incorporating costing study results into district and service planning to enhance immunization programme performance: a Zambian case study
Authors: Feldhaus Isabelle , Schütte Carl , Mwansa Francis D , Undi Masauso , Banda Stanley , Suharlim Chris , Menzies Nicolas A , Brenzel Logan , Resch Stephen C , Kinghorn Anthony
Published: May 2019

Donors, researchers and international agencies have made significant investments in collection of high-quality data on immunization costs, aiming to improve the efficiency and sustainability of services. However, improved quality and routine dissemination of costing information to local managers may not lead to enhanced programme performance. This study explored how district- and service-level managers can use costing information to enhance planning and management to increase immunization outputs and coverage. Data on the use of costing information in the planning and management of Zambia’s immunization programme was obtained through individual and group semi-structured interviews with planners and managers at national, provincial and district levels. Document review revealed the organizational context within which managers operated. Qualitative results described managers’ ability to use costing information to generate cost and efficiency indicators not provided by existing systems. These, in turn, would allow them to understand the relative cost of vaccines and other resources, increase awareness of resource use and management, benchmark against other facilities and districts, and modify strategies to improve performance. Managers indicated that costing information highlighted priorities for more efficient use of human resources, vaccines and outreach for immunization programming. Despite decentralization, there were limitations on managers’ decision-making to improve programme efficiency in practice: major resource allocation decisions were made centrally and planning tools did not focus on vaccine costs. Unreliable budgets and disbursements also undermined managers’ ability to use systems and information. Routine generation and use of immunization cost information may have limited impact on managing efficiency in many Zambian districts, but opportunities were evident for using existing capacity and systems to improve efficiency. Simpler approaches, such as improving reliability and use of routine immunization and staffing indicators, drawing on general insights from periodic costing studies, and focusing on maximizing coverage with available resources, may be more feasible in the short-term.
Bark in Woody Plants: Understanding the Diversity of a Multifunctional Structure
Authors: Rosell Julieta A
Published: May 2019

Most biological structures carry out multiple functions. Focusing on only one function to make adaptive inferences overlooks that manifold selection pressures and tradeoffs shape the characteristics of a multifunctional structure. Focusing on single functions can only lead to a partial picture of the causes underlying diversity and the evolutionary origin of the structure in question. I illustrate this discussion using bark as a study case. Bark comprises all the tissues surrounding the xylem in woody plants. Broadly, bark includes an inner and mostly living region and an outer, dead one. Of all plant structures, bark has the most complex anatomical structure and ontogenetic origin involving two (and often three) different meristems. Traditionally, the wide diversity in bark traits, mainly bark thickness, has been interpreted as the result of the selective pressures imposed by fire regime. However, recent research has shown that explanations based on fire regime cannot account for salient patterns of bark variation globally including the very strong inner bark thickness–stem diameter scaling, which is likely due to metabolic needs, and the very high intracommunity variation in total, inner, and outer bark thickness, and in inner:outer proportions. Moreover, explanations based on fire disregard that in addition to fire protection, bark carries out several other crucial functions for plants including translocation of photosynthates; storage of starch, soluble sugars, water, and other compounds; protection from herbivores, pathogens, and high temperatures; wound closure, as well as mechanical support, photosynthesis, and likely being involved in xylem embolism repair. All these functions are crucial for plant performance and are involved in synergistic (e.g., storage of water and insulation) and trade-off relationships (e.g., protection from fire vs photosynthetic activity). Focusing on only one of these functions, protection from fire has provided an incomplete picture of the selective forces shaping bark diversity and has severely hindered our incipient understanding of the functional ecology of this crucial region of woody stems. Applying a multifunctional perspective to the study of bark will allow us to address why we observe such high intracommunity variation in bark traits, why some bark trait combinations are ontogenetically impossible or penalized by selection, how bark is coordinated functionally with other plant parts, and as a result, to understand how bark contributes to the vast diversity of plant ecological strategies across the globe.