bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Pt on the phase formation sequence, morphology, and electrical properties of Ni(Pt)/Ge0.9Sn0.1 system during solid-state reaction
Authors: Quintero A. , Gergaud P. , Aubin J. , Hartmann J. M. , Chevalier N. , Barnes J. P. , Loup V. , Reboud V. , Nemouchi F. , Rodriguez Ph.
Published: August 2018

Ni-GeSn based materials are promising in order to obtain contacts in complementary metal oxide semiconductor and Si photonic devices. In this work, a systematic and comprehensive study of the solid-state reaction between NiPt thin films and Ge0.9Sn0.1 layers is carried out. A particular focus is given on the impact of the addition of 10 at. % of Pt in Ni thin films. In situ X-ray diffraction and in-plane reciprocal space map measurements reveal a sequential growth in which the first phase appearing corresponds to a Ni-rich phase: (Ni0.9Pt0.1)5(Ge0.9Sn0.1)3. Then, at 245 °C, the Ni-rich phase vanishes to the benefit of the mono-stanogermanide phase (Ni0.9Pt0.1)(Ge0.9Sn0.1), which is unstable. At 360 °C, a more stable (Ni1– yPty)(Ge1– xSnx) phase is obtained concomitantly to the formation of PtSnx compounds. Finally, Sn segregation occurs at even higher temperatures. Even if Pt addition in Ni thin films complicates the phase formation sequence, it positively impacts the surface morphology and roughness, delays film agglomeration and Sn segregation, and stabilizes the electrical properties of the stanogermanide in a wide range of temperatures.
Compact high energy x-ray spectrometer based on forward Compton scattering for high intensity laser plasma experiments
Authors: Singh S. , Versaci R. , Laso Garcia A. , Morejon L. , Ferrari A. , Molodtsova M. , Schwengner R. , Kumar D. , Cowan T.
Published: August 2018

This article describes the design and presents recent results from testing and calibration of a forward Compton scattering high energy X-ray spectrometer. The calibration was performed using a bremsstrahlung source on the photon scattering facility at the γ Electron linac for beams with high brilliance and low emittance accelerator at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, which provides high energy X-ray photons with energies up to 18 MeV. The calibration was conducted at different bremsstrahlung end point energies—10.5, 13, 15, and 18 MeV. Experimental spectra show a systematic increase in the maximum energy, photon temperature, and flux. The spectrometer is effective for an energy range of 4–20 MeV with 20%−30% energy resolution. The spectrometer operates in low vacuum with pressure less than 0.1 mbar. Experimental tests showed that operating such a spectrometer in air causes a spuriously enhanced high energy signal due to Compton scattering of photons within air. The article also describes the design and shielding considerations which helped to achieve a dynamic range greater than 30 with this spectrometer. The comparison between the experimental results and Monte Carlo simulations are also presented.
Elastic properties of Mn-rich α intermetallic phase in engineering aluminum alloys: An ab initio study
Authors: Ma Duancheng
Published: August 2018

The α intermetallic phase can be found in almost all aluminum alloys used in engineering, primarily because of the presence of unwanted but unavoidable impurities from primary production or recycling. There are ample examples showing that α intermetallic particles act as damage nucleation sites during forming operations. To achieve an in-depth understanding of these particles as damage nucleation sites, it is important to know their thermomechanical behavior, as well as their interactions with the matrix during production and service. Despite their importance, however, the mechanical properties of the α intermetallic phase, such as the elastic modulus and the thermal expansion, have not been very well studied. Here, we apply ab initio methods to study the mechanical properties of the α intermetallic phase, with the focus on two polymorphs of the Mn-rich α phase: Al114Mn24 and Al108Mn24Si6. Besides the ground-state elastic properties, the temperature-dependent thermal expansion coefficient and bulk modulus are also calculated. As a case study, these calculated properties are used as input to an Eshelby-type eigenstrain model to evaluate the thermal residual stress of a spherical α-phase particle in an aluminum matrix during a cooling process.
Modulate the direct-current and alternating-current transport properties of magnetic γ-graphyne heterojunctions by chemical modification
Authors: Yang Zhi , Shen Jiale , Li Jin , Ouyang Bin , Xu Li-Chun , Liu Xuguang
Published: August 2018

Using density functional theory and the non-equilibrium Green's function method, we theoretically investigated the direct-current (DC) and alternating-current (AC) quantum transport properties of magnetic γ-graphyne heterojunctions. For the DC case, we found that the γ-graphyne heterojunction has rich transport properties such as spin-filtering and magnetoresistance effects. As the marginal H atoms of the heterojunction are replaced by O atoms, an outstanding dual spin-filtering phenomenon appears and the magnetoresistance is enhanced. Meanwhile, after chemical modification, the heterojunction exhibits a noticeable rectification effect. For the AC case, depending on the frequency, the total and spin AC conductances can be capacitive, inductive, or resistive. At some given frequencies, the signs of the imaginary parts of the AC conductances for two different spins are opposite; thus, the two spin currents have opposite AC responses. A significant photon-assisted tunneling effect was found in the heterojunctions at high frequency range. More interestingly, after chemical modification in a wide frequency range, the imaginary part of the AC conductance changes the sign, indicating that the AC transport properties of the γ-graphyne heterojunction can be effectively modulated by chemical methods.
Energy dependent parity-pair behavior in NO + He collisions
Authors: Onvlee Jolijn , Vogels Sjoerd N. , Karman Tijs , Groenenboom Gerrit C. , van de Meerakker Sebastiaan Y. T. , van der Avoird Ad
Published: August 2018

Colliding molecules behave fundamentally differently at high and low collision energies. At high energies, a collision can be described to a large extent using classical mechanics, and the scattering process can be compared to a billiard-ball-like collision. At low collision energies, the wave character of the collision partners dominates, and only quantum mechanics can predict the outcome of an encounter. It is, however, not so clear how these limits evolve into each other as a function of the collision energy. Here, we investigate and visualize this evolution using a special feature of the differential cross sections for inelastic collisions between NO radicals and He atoms. The so-called “parity-pair” transitions have similar differential cross sections at high collision energies, whereas their cross sections are significantly different in the quantum regime at low energies. These transitions can be used as a probe for the quantum nature of the collision process. The similarity of the parity-pair differential cross sections at high energies could be theoretically explained if the first-order Born approximation were applicable. We found, however, that the anisotropy of the NO–He interaction potential is too strong for the first-order Born approximation to be valid, so higher-order perturbations must be taken into account.
Thermodynamics of the hard-disk fluid at a planar hard wall: Generalized scaled-particle theory and Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Martin Seth C. , Laird Brian B. , Roth Roland , Hansen-Goos Hendrik
Published: August 2018

A generalized scaled-particle theory for the uniform hard-disk mixture is derived in the spirit of the White Bear II free energy of the hard-sphere fluid [H. Hansen-Goos and R. Roth, J. Phys. C: Condens. Matter 18, 8413 (2006)]. The theory provides a very simple result for the interfacial free energy γ of the hard-disk fluid at a planar hard wall (which in d = 2 is a line) in terms of the equation of state. To complement and assess the theory, we perform Monte Carlo simulations from which we obtain γ using Gibbs-Cahn integration. While we find excellent overall agreement between theory and simulation, it also becomes apparent that the set of scaled-particle variables available in d = 2 is too limited, prohibiting a quasi-exact result for γ. Furthermore, this is reflected in the mixture equation of state resulting from our theory, which, similar to a previous attempt by Santos et al. [Mol. Phys. 96, 1 (1999)], displays a small but systematic deviation from simulations.
Experimental and numerical study of a dust cloud formation in the stratified positive column of a dc glow discharge in helium
Authors: Fedoseev A. V. , Salnikov M. V. , Demin N. A. , Sukhinin G. I. , Vasiliev M. M. , Petrov O. F.
Published: August 2018

The experimental and theoretical investigations of the formation of dust particle clouds in the stratified positive column of a dc glow discharge in helium were performed. The size and shape of a dust cloud that levitated in the strong electric field of the striations in a vertically oriented discharge tube were measured under different helium pressures. Axial electric field strength was also experimentally estimated. A model for radial distributions of all dusty plasma parameters of the positive column of the dc glow discharge was developed to describe the obtained experimental results. The model is based on the solution of a non-local Boltzmann equation for an electron energy distribution function, drift-diffusion equations for ions and dust particles, and a Poisson equation for a self-consistent radial electric field. The experimental and calculated results show that the size of the dust cloud decreases with the increase in the gas pressure, and the axial electric field strength pressure dependencies have minima. At low gas pressures, the dust particle charge number density increases and exceeds the electron density that strongly influences the plasma parameters.
Proposed circuit design could increase switching efficiency in wind energy grids
Authors: Leahy Rhys
Published: August 2018

Simulations show improved dynamic performance in wind energy grids that use dual parallel DC-DC chopper switching circuitry.
Arginine-deprivation–induced oxidative damage sterilizes
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Tiwari Sangeeta , van Tonder Andries J. , Vilchèze Catherine , Mendes Vitor , Thomas Sherine E. , Malek Adel , Chen Bing , Chen Mei , Kim John , Blundell Tom L. , Parkhill Julian , Weinrick Brian , Berney Michael , Jacobs William R.
Published: August 2018

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidative stress and DNA damage have recently been recognized as contributing to the efficacy of most bactericidal antibiotics, irrespective of their primary macromolecular targets. Inhibitors of targets involved in both combating oxidative stress as well as being required for in vivo survival may exhibit powerful synergistic action. This study demonstrates that the de novo arginine biosynthetic pathway in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(
Mtb
) is up-regulated in the early response to the oxidative stress-elevating agent isoniazid or vitamin C. Arginine deprivation rapidly sterilizes the
Mtb
de novo arginine biosynthesis pathway mutants Δ
argB
and Δ
argF
without the emergence of suppressor mutants in vitro as well as in vivo. Transcriptomic and flow cytometry studies of arginine-deprived
Mtb
have indicated accumulation of ROS and extensive DNA damage. Metabolomics studies following arginine deprivation have revealed that these cells experienced depletion of antioxidant thiols and accumulation of the upstream metabolite substrate of ArgB or ArgF enzymes. Δ
argB
and Δ
argF
were unable to scavenge host arginine and were quickly cleared from both immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice. In summary, our investigation revealed in vivo essentiality of the de novo arginine biosynthesis pathway for
Mtb
and a promising drug target space for combating tuberculosis.
Times of rest
Authors: Streeck Jürgen
Published: August 2018

This chapter discusses how multiple time-scales intersect in a particular unit of embodied communicative action, body postures that are held for a moment (beyond the single sequence of talk). These time-scales are the immediate moment and its position within the unfolding interaction sequence (its duration); the personal (‘historical’) relationship among the specific persons adopting it; the workday over whose course the body tires; and the life-course over which a bodily ‘habitus’ is formed. The specific shape of a socially meaningful posture is not only responsive to interactional circumstances and tasks, as well as the relational history of the parties, but also a result of the body’s ongoing adaptations to its own organic needs, a factor taken into account in everyday perceptions and descriptions of postures, but yet to be addressed in interaction research. The posture samples in this chapter are taken from interactions in an auto-shop and a high-school classroom.
Integrative pragmatics and (im)politeness theory
Authors: Haugh Michael , Culpeper Jonathan
Published: August 2018

In this chapter, we first discuss the role that pragmatics has played in the development of (im)politeness theory, and the recent move towards a middle ground that integrates classic and discursive approaches to (im)politeness. We outline the key tenets of integrative pragmatics that afford such a move, before illustrating how these can be implemented through a case study focusing on an incident in Big Brother UK where the (ostensibly) jocular use of a racial slur by a contestant caused offence and the subsequent removal of that contestant from the show. Our analyses draw from multiple methods, including those of interactional pragmatics and corpus pragmatics. In this way, we aim to both highlight the fundamentally pragmatic basis of (im)politeness, as well as the need for a nuanced and complex theorisation that integrates multiple perspectives and methods of analysis.
Testing the morphological congruency effect in offline comprehension
Authors: Cho Jacee
Published: August 2018

The Morphological Congruency Hypothesis states that non-target-like production or comprehension of L2 functional morphology is due to problems in activating L2 grammatical meanings that are not morphologically marked in L1 (Jiang, 2004, 2007). The present study examines whether the hypothesis holds true in L2 offline performance by comparing L1-English and L1-Korean speakers’ offline comprehension of the L2 Russian Genitive of Negation encoding specificity in negative sentences. Specificity under negation is morphologically encoded in Russian and Korean but not in English. In an acceptability judgment task, however, L1-English and L1-Korean speakers have shown similar judgment patterns. These results suggest that morphological congruency may not have the same effect in offline performance as in online performance.
Another look at L2 acquisition of French clitics and strong pronouns
Authors: Shimanskaya Elena
Published: August 2018

The present study investigated the L2 acquisition of French clitic and strong object pronouns by adult Anglophone learners. While most previous research has focused on French object clitics and acquisition of their placement, the current study reports on two experiments comparing acquisition of clitics with acquisition of strong pronouns, investigating how L2 knowledge of pronominalization is connected to knowledge of argument structure. A grammaticality judgment task with corrections was used to examine learners’ interlanguage in each experiment. Emerging knowledge of clitics appears not to be delayed when compared to knowledge of strong pronouns complements of prepositions. Additionally, acquiring target-like associations between argument structure and pronominalization in L2 French proved as challenging (if not more) as acquiring clitics’ non-canonical sentential position.
Animacy-based processing loads in anaphora resolution in (non-native) French
Authors: Dekydtspotter Laurent , Black Mark , Frimu Rodica , Panwitz Amber Rae
Published: August 2018

This article examines animacy-based processing loads in conceptual structure in native and non-native processing of French during the resolution of pronouns lui/elle ‘3p.sing.masc/fem’, son ‘3p.sing.gen,’ and le/la ‘3p.sing.masc/fem.acc’ in displaced constituents under reconstruction. Both lui and son in décision (à propos de lui)/(à son sujet) ‘decision about him’ involve complements, whereas le in décision le concernant ‘decision regarding him’ involves modification. In a group of advanced non-native speakers, animacy activations linked to lui differed from those linked to son relative to baseline le, despite complement status. This was not the case in native speakers. We argue that processing lui/elle vs. son in conceptual structure engages animacy at distinct levels, reflecting lexical selection and indicating that lexically defined interface representations are privileged.
The Bottleneck Hypothesis extends to heritage language acquisition
Authors: Montrul Silvina
Published: August 2018

The Bottleneck Hypothesis (Slabakova, 2008) aims to predict which aspects of the grammatical architecture are particularly problematic in second language grammars. When comparing the acquisition of the different linguistic modules, L2 learners appear to struggle more with morphology – the bottleneck of acquisition – than with syntax and semantics. The linguistic behavior of early bilinguals who are heritage speakers appears to be similar to L2 acquisition in many respects, and their apparent similarities have sparked substantial research comparing the linguistic abilities of L2 learners and heritage speakers. This chapter extends the Bottleneck Hypothesis to heritage speakers and examines how input and output factors may cause morphology to be the bottleneck in heritage language acquisition as well.
Testing the predictions of the Scalpel Model in L3/Ln acquisition
Authors: Clements Maria , Domínguez Laura
Published: August 2018

The Scalpel Model (SM) (Slabakova, 2017) argues that neither the L1 nor the L2 has a privileged status in L3 acquisition so transfer can occur from either the L1 or the L2 and on a property-by-property basis. We tested these predictions by examining the acquisition of Chinese null and overt subjects by twenty-five L3 Chinese learners divided into two groups: L1 English-L2 Spanish-L3 Chinese learners and L1 English-L2 non-null subject language-L3 Chinese learners. Results from a Written Production Task and a Pronoun Interpretation Task showed transfer from both background languages but for different properties supporting that transfer can, indeed, be partial in L3 acquisition. We argue that existing structural similarities between the background and the target languages are important as well.
Language dominance and transfer selection in L3 acquisition
Authors: Puig-Mayenco Eloi , Miller David , Rothman Jason
Published: August 2018

This study examines the role Language Dominance plays in determining the source of transfer in the Initial Stages of L3 processing by investigating Negative Quantifiers in L3 English to discriminate between two possible sources of transfer in the L3 grammar of Catalan/Spanish early bilinguals. Using a Self-Paced Reading technique, two groups of early bilinguals differing in their dominant language were tested: Catalan-dominant (n = 13) and Spanish-dominant (n = 9). Our results provide evidence that Language Dominance (LD) does not trump other traditionally-assumed variables in determining the source of transfer. Additionally, the data provide evidence that true beginners of an L3 are sensitive to morphosyntactic violations when their procedural knowledge of the L3 is examined, meaning that applying methodologies that tap procedural knowledge in L3 acquisition is viable and needed (cf. Rothman, Alemán Bañón, & González Alonso, 2015).
What is easy and what is hard
Authors: White Lydia
Published: August 2018

This chapter presents an overview of research, past and present, which has explored the extent to which linguistic theory and generative second language (L2) research offer insights for the language classroom. A number of issues are addressed, including the potential role of negative evidence, questions raised by linguistically misleading input, and linguistic accounts relating to acquisition orders. Consideration is given to proposals grounded in linguistic description (such as Slabakova’s Bottleneck Hypothesis) and how such proposals can help to pinpoint problem areas for L2 learners, as well as ways of making such descriptions accessible to language teachers. It is concluded that uncovering implications for language teaching is a bonus and not a requirement of research on second language acquisition.
Nutrition.
Authors: Creasy G. L. , Creasy L. L.
Published: August 2018

This chapter talks mainly about mineral substances that the vines need to grow and produce fruit. The nutrient analysis (including soil and plant analysis) and correction strategies and well as the different macronutrients (N, P, S, K, Ca and Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, B and Cl) are described. Oxygen, hydrogen and carbon, derived from water and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, are also vital but will not be discussed further.
Anti-nutrient components and their concentrations in edible parts in vegetable families.
Authors: Lo D. , HsinI Wang , WanJen Wu , RayYu Yang
Published: August 2018

Information on food composition including types and contents of nutrients and anti-nutrients is important for food and nutrition research. There is satisfactory information on established nutritive elements for various food groups. However, literature on anti-nutrient component generally scattered and scanty on few major food groups and commonly consumed plant parts. A better understanding of both the positive and negative qualities of vegetable component would help develop better evidence-based promotion and appropriate dietary strategies. This paper reviews seven types of anti-nutrient elements in vegetables: oxalates, phytates, nitrates, tannins, glucosinolates, saponins and alkaloids and their effects, mechanisms, content and processing methods. A total of 360 research papers were systematically identified and 123 were selected with acceptable anti-nutrient data. Vegetable families and plant parts with highest content of each anti-nutrient were identified, with the Leguiminosae family having highest content of phytate, tannins and saponins, and leafy vegetables having high oxalate. The simplest food processing methods to reduce anti-nutrients in vegetables are boiling and removal of certain plant parts. While consumption of vegetables with anti-nutrients do not normally cause adverse effects in the general population, future research to determine nutrient bioavailability based on diets will help increase awareness and improve recommendations on plant food intake.
Digital revolution and Big Data: a new revolution in agriculture.
Authors: Himesh S. , Rao E. V. S. P. , Gouda K. C. , Ramesh K. V. , Rakesh V. , Mohapatra G. N. , Rao B. K. , Sahoo S. K. , Ajilesh P.
Published: August 2018

This review considers the role of Big Data (BD), the digital revolution, the application of Internet of Things (loTs) and sensor technologies in the agriculture sector. The introduction is focussed on the ongoing research efforts on BD within agriculture sector, basic features of BD and latest development in BD analytics tools. In subsequent sections, the importance of BD applications in the agriculture sector and examples of their success stories in increasing farm productivity, current scenario on BD and digital agriculture, the future prospects of BD and bottlenecks in its implementation in agriculture sector are discussed. Agriculture sector is undergoing a new revolution and transformation, driven by IoT, sensor technologies, BD and cloud computing. This digital revolution in agriculture is very promising and will enable the agriculture sector to move to the next level of farm productivity and profitability. This transformation process looks irreversible and poised to revolutionize not only agriculture but the entire farm-to-food sector.
1. What is artificial intelligence?
Authors: Boden Margaret A.
Published: August 2018

Artificial intelligence (AI) seeks to make computers do the sorts of things that minds can do, which involves psychological skills such as perception, association, prediction, planning, and motor control. Intelligence is a richly structured space of diverse information-processing capacities. Accordingly, AI uses many different techniques, addressing many different tasks. ‘What is Artificial Intelligence?’ explains the two main aims of AI: one being technological and the other scientific. It looks at AI’s influence on the life sciences and philosophy. Can any AI system possess real intelligence, creativity, or life? It also considers how AI began, virtual machines, the major types of AI, and cybernetics.
3. Language, creativity, emotion
Authors: Boden Margaret A.
Published: August 2018

If AI cannot model language, creativity, and emotion, hopes of artificial general intelligence (AGI) are illusory. These quintessentially ‘human’ areas have been modeled, but only up to a point. ‘Language, creativity, emotion’ questions whether AI systems could ever appear to possess these areas. It first considers natural language processing (NLP). NLP generation is more difficult than NLP acceptance due to both thematic content and grammatical form. On the creativity front, AI technology has generated many ideas that are historically new, surprising, and valuable. AI concepts also help to explain human creativity by distinguishing three types: combinational, exploratory, and transformational. It concludes that if we are ever to achieve AGI, emotions such as anxiety must be included—and used.
Wormlions prefer both fine and deep sand but only deep sand leads to better performance
Authors: Bar-Ziv Michael A , Bega Darar , Subach Aziz , Scharf Inon
Published: August 2018

Wormlions are small fly larvae that dig pits in loose soil to trap their prey. Similar to other trap-building predators, like spiders and antlions, they depend on the habitat structure for successful trap construction and prey catch. We examined whether sites at which wormlions are present differ in sand depth and particle size from nearby sites, at which wormlions are absent. Next, in the laboratory we manipulated both sand depth and type (fine vs. coarse) to determine their joint effect on microhabitat preference, the size of the constructed pit, wormlion movement, and their latency to respond to prey. We expected better performance by wormlions in fine and deep sand, and the sand in wormlions’ natural sites to be finer and deeper. However, in only partial agreement with our expectations, wormlion sites featured finer sand but not deeper sand. In the laboratory, wormlions preferred both fine and deep sand, and moved more in shallow and coarse sand, which we interpret as an attempt to relocate away from unfavorable conditions. However, only deep sand led to larger pits being constructed and to a faster response to prey. The preference for fine sand could, therefore, be related to other benefits that sand provides. Finally, body mass was a dominant factor, interacting with the preference for both deep and fine sand: deep over shallow sand was more favored by large wormlions and fine over coarse sand by smaller ones. Our results suggest that several factors should be incorporated when studying microhabitat selection.
True dipole wander
Authors: Olson Peter , Landeau Maylis , Reynolds Evan
Published: August 2018

A fundamental assumption in palaeomagnetism is that the geomagnetic field closely approximates a geocentric axial dipole in time average. Here we use numerical dynamos driven by heterogeneous core–mantle boundary heat flux from a mantle global circulation model to demonstrate how mantle convection produces true dipole wander, rotation of the geomagnetic dipole on geologic timescales. Our heterogeneous mantle-driven dynamos show a dipole rotation about a near-equatorial axis in response to the transition in lower mantle heterogeneity from a highly asymmetric pattern at the time of supercontinent Pangea to a more symmetric pattern today. This predicted dipole rotation overlaps with a palaeomagnetically inferred rotation in the opposite direction and suggests that some events previously interpreted as true polar wander also include true dipole wander.
Predicting individual physiologically acceptable states at discharge from a pediatric intensive care unit
Authors: Carlin Cameron S , Ho Long V , Ledbetter David R , Aczon Melissa D , Wetzel Randall C
Published: August 2018

Objective

Quantify physiologically acceptable PICU-discharge vital signs and develop machine learning models to predict these values for individual patients throughout their PICU episode.

Methods

EMR data from 7256 survivor PICU episodes (5632 patients) collected between 2009 and 2017 at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles was analyzed. Each episode contained 375 variables representing physiology, labs, interventions, and drugs. Between medical and physical discharge, when clinicians determined the patient was ready for ICU discharge, they were assumed to be in a physiologically acceptable state space (PASS) for discharge. Each patient’s heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure in the PASS window were measured and compared to age-normal values, regression-quantified PASS predictions, and recurrent neural network (RNN) PASS predictions made 12 hours after PICU admission.

Results

Mean absolute errors (MAEs) between individual PASS values and age-normal values (HR: 21.0 bpm; SBP: 10.8 mm Hg; DBP: 10.6 mm Hg) were greater (p < .05) than regression prediction MAEs (HR: 15.4 bpm; SBP: 9.9 mm Hg; DBP: 8.6 mm Hg). The RNN models best approximated individual PASS values (HR: 12.3 bpm; SBP: 7.6 mm Hg; DBP: 7.0 mm Hg).

Conclusions

The RNN model predictions better approximate patient-specific PASS values than regression and age-normal values.
Building Ornament
Authors: Graves Margaret S.
Published: August 2018

This chapter scrutinizes the allusive potential of ornament and the two-dimensional paradigm that dominates ornament studies. Surveying the historiography of architecture-as-ornament, the chapter explores ornament’s relationship with the third dimension. In particular, it focuses on the potential for architectural motifs, especially arches and arcades, to confound two-dimensionality through the generation of fictive spaces that articulate and order form as well as surface. The chapter focuses first on the image of the arcade in various media and particularly on a group of inlaid metalwares with Christological scenes. Next, it moves to thirteenth-century Mosul and the surrounding area to explore the reciprocal relationship between plastic systems of three-dimensional ornament on buildings, metalwares, and a remarkable group of large architectonic earthenware water jars known as ḥabbs.
Jewish Displacement as Experience and Metaphor in 20th-Century European Thought
Authors: Liska Vivian
Published: August 2018

This chapter examines discursive developments in twentieth-century European thought with respect to the question of the reality, metaphoricity, and exemplarity of Jewish displacement. Throughout the centuries, the Jews have been the epitome of the displaced, wandering, and exposed stranger, the rootless intruders, or an example embodying the forfeiting of fixity, dominance, and ownership associated with territorial emplacement. In modernity, Jewish exile, beyond being a theological, historical, and political issue, became a discursive theme, a literary motif, and a loaded philosophical concept. As an embodiment of discreditable rootlessness, it appears in the antisemitic depictions of the wandering, homeless outsider rejected from the nations of the earth. The chapter considers the views of European thinkers such as George Steiner, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Emmanuel Levinas, Maurice Blanchot, Jean-François Lyotard, Jonathan Boyarin, and Paul Celan regarding displaced Jews.
Reading
Authors: Rivers Isabel
Published: August 2018

Many different aspects of reading are explored in this chapter: advice about how to read, reading lists, and recommendations; borrowing books from ministerial or society or private libraries, or from book clubs, or buying books; collections of books which functioned as virtual libraries, and accounts of libraries real or imagined; reading in the home, or place of work, or religious meeting or society, whether solitary or communal, by ministerial, lay, male, and female readers. Advisers include Isaac Watts, John Wesley, William Law, John Mason, Thomas Gibbons, Edward Williams, James Hervey, David Simpson, and William Wilberforce. Examples of parochial, Methodist, Quaker, and private libraries are described, as are collections such as Wesley’s Christian Library. Self-educated readers include James Lackington and Thomas Jackson. Accounts of reading by Anglican evangelicals, Methodists, Quakers, Baptists, and recipients of tracts are derived from journals, autobiographies, letters, and reports.
Vignettes
Authors: Stern Marc J.
Published: August 2018

Chapter 9 contains five vignettes, each based on real world cases. In each, a character is faced with a problem and uses multiple theories within the book to help him or her develop and execute a plan of action. The vignettes provide concrete examples of how to apply the theories in the book to solving environmental problems and working toward environmental sustainability in a variety of contexts, including managing visitors in a national park, developing persuasive communications, designing more collaborative public involvement processes, starting up an energy savings program within a for-profit corporation, and promoting conservation in the face of rapid development.
Putting it all together
Authors: Stern Marc J.
Published: August 2018

This synthesis chapter accomplishes two goals. First, it provides an overarching guide for matching theories to contexts, particularly with regard to the nature of conflict of different situations, in pursuit of persuasion, collaboration, and ultimately long-lasting and resilient solutions to environmental problems. Readers can use this guide to select appropriate theories to consider for the specific challenges they face. Second, the chapter distills a list of fifteen key principles that stretch across the social sciences to guide ongoing efforts toward environmental sustainability.
Lung cancer screening: does pulmonary nodule detection affect a range of smoking behaviours?
Authors: Clark Marcia E , Young Ben , Bedford Laura E , das Nair Roshan , Robertson John F R , Vedhara Kavita , Sullivan Francis , Mair Frances S , Schembri Stuart , Littleford Roberta C , Kendrick Denise
Published: August 2018

Background

Lung cancer screening can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20%. Screen-detected abnormalities may provide teachable moments for smoking cessation. This study assesses impact of pulmonary nodule detection on smoking behaviours within the first UK trial of a novel auto-antibody test, followed by chest x-ray and serial CT scanning for early detection of lung cancer (Early Cancer Detection Test–Lung Cancer Scotland Study).

Methods

Test-positive participants completed questionnaires on smoking behaviours at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months. Logistic regression compared outcomes between nodule (n = 95) and normal CT groups (n = 174) at 3 and 6 months follow-up.

Results

No significant differences were found between the nodule and normal CT groups for any smoking behaviours and odds ratios comparing the nodule and normal CT groups did not vary significantly between 3 and 6 months. There was some evidence the nodule group were more likely to report significant others wanted them to stop smoking than the normal CT group (OR across 3- and 6-month time points: 3.04, 95% CI: 0.95, 9.73; P = 0.06).

Conclusion

Pulmonary nodule detection during lung cancer screening has little impact on smoking behaviours. Further work should explore whether lung cancer screening can impact on perceived social pressure and promote smoking cessation.
Quantitative Genetics of the Maize Leaf Microbiome
Authors: Wallace Jason G. , Kremling Karl A. , Kovar Lynsey L. , Buckler Edward S.
Published: August 2018

The degree to which the genotype of an organism can affect the composition of its associated microbial communities (“microbiome”) varies by organism and habitat, and in many cases is unknown. We analyzed the metabolically active bacteria of maize leaves across 300 diverse maize lines growing in a common environment. We performed comprehensive heritability analysis for 49 community diversity metrics, 380 bacterial clades, and 9,042 predicted metagenomic functions. We find that only a few bacterial clades (5) and diversity metrics (2) are significantly heritable, while a much larger number of metabolic functions (200) are. Many of these associations appear to be driven by the Methylobacteria in each sample. Among these heritable metabolic traits, Fisher’s exact test identifies significant overrepresentation of traits relating to short-chain carbon metabolism, secretion, and nitrotoluene degradation. Genome-wide association analysis identified a small number of associated loci for these heritable traits, including two that affect multiple traits. Our results indicate that while most of the maize leaf microbiome composition is driven by environmental factors and/or stochastic founder events, a subset of bacterial taxa and metabolic functions is nonetheless significantly impacted by host genetics. Additional work will be needed to identify the exact nature of these interactions and what effects they may have on their host.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
His Wonderful Life
Authors: Buckley Elizabeth C.
Published: August 2018

A nurse is reminded that quality of life is in the eye of the beholder.
Recent developments in classification criteria and diagnosis guidelines for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
Authors: Oldroyd Alexander , Chinoy Hector
Published: August 2018

Purpose of review

The aim of this review was to summarize key developments in classification and diagnosis of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs).

Recent findings

The recently published European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria for the IIMs provide a comprehensive, accurate and data-driven approach to identification of IIM cases appropriate for inclusion in research studies. Further, recent studies have advanced understanding of clinical manifestations of the IIMs and delineated the role of imaging, particularly magnetic resonance.

The recent publication of the EULAR/ACR classification criteria will potentially greatly improve IIM research through more accurate case identification and standardization across studies.

Future inclusion of newly recognized clinical associations with the MSAs may further improve the criteria's accuracy and utility. Clear and comprehensive understanding of associations between clinical manifestations, prognosis and multisystem involvement can aid diagnostic assessment; recent advances include delineation of such associations and expansion of the role of imaging.
Diurnal Physical Activity Patterns in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Parwanta Zohra , Chan-Thim Emilie , Moullec Grégory , Pepin Véronique
Published: August 2018

Purpose:

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have reduced physical activity (PA) levels compared with healthy controls. The pattern of their PA level during the day is much less documented. A better understanding of these diurnal PA patterns could help optimize interventions targeting PA levels in this population. The aim of this study was to examine, in patients with COPD, diurnal PA patterns using accelerometer data and different approaches to data handling (arbitrary, mealtime, equal tertiles).

Methods:

Fourteen COPD patients (aged 71 ± 9 yr; forced expiratory volume in 1 sec [FEV1]: 58% ± 13% predicted) completed the study. Daily PA was assessed via accelerometry for 7 d, 24 hr/d. Diurnal PA patterns were evaluated using an arbitrary (08:00-12:00, 12:01-16:00, 16:01-20:00), mealtime (wake time-lunchtime, lunchtime-suppertime, suppertime-bedtime), and equal tertiles (tertiles 1, 2, and 3) approaches. Results were interpreted on the basis of descriptive statistics and effect sizes (Cohen f) for time-of-day changes in PA.

Results:

Regardless of the handling approach used, mean PA levels decreased in the evening and the effect size for time-of-day changes in PA level was large (f = 0.97; 1.82; and 1.66 for the arbitrary, mealtimes, and tertiles approaches, respectively). The observation of a decrease in the evening was highly homogeneous across our sample, particularly with the mealtime and equal tertiles handling approach.

Conclusion:

Results from this study support prior findings that PA levels decrease substantially in the evening in patients with COPD, thereby providing a better understanding of within-day PA behavior and offering valuable insight into interventions targeting PA.
A Review of Indoor and Outdoor Radon Equilibrium Factors—part II: 220Rn
Authors: Chen Jing , Harley Naomi H.
Published: August 2018

Radon exposure levels are given in terms of radon gas concentration in the air. However, in the calculation of radon dose to the lung, the radon equilibrium equivalent concentration is used. The measured equilibrium factor times the measured radon gas concentration estimates the equilibrium equivalent concentration. Therefore, equilibrium factor is an important factor in radon dose calculations. A review of published measurements of equilibrium factors shows a range of values reported in studies from more than 13 countries and regions measured in indoor residential, indoor public, and outdoor environments. Values for 220Rn are reported and discussed here as the second of a two-part series, with special attention paid to results from India and China, where measured equilibrium factors are reported for hundreds and thousands of households, respectively. The wide range of measured equilibrium factors suggests that location-specific values measured in the typical breathing zone are more appropriate than a worldwide average value in the calculation of lung bronchial dose.
Improvement in Functional Outcomes with the Infinite Socket
Authors: Isaacson Brad M. , Lin Stephanie C. , Rothberg David L.
Published: August 2018

Introduction

The prosthetic socket, which provides an important patient interface for weight bearing and mobility, cannot adequately account for the dynamics of the residual limb, and problems with pain, skin breakdown, verrucous hyperplasia, and bursitis are frequent. To address these issues, LIM Innovations, a prosthetics manufacturer, has developed the Infinite Socket, an adjustable, custom-molded modular socket made of a carbon fiber frame and a two-part tensioning system that can be adjusted by the user.

Materials and Methods

Patients with transtibial or transfemoral amputations were asked to participate in this study between the period of June 30, 2015, and January 1, 2017, if they had a standard-of-care thermoplastic socket and were dissatisfied. Patients were fit with an Infinite Socket, and functional outcome tests were performed at the time of the Infinite Socket fitting. It was hypothesized that the Infinite Socket would improve functional outcomes compared with the subjects' legacy prosthetic sockets.

Results

One hundred twenty-seven patients with limb loss (18 transtibial and 109 transfemoral) participated in this study. The mean age of participants was 48 years (range, 19–82) and 82% were male. Data indicate that the Infinite Socket had superior outcomes compared with legacy standard-of-care prosthetic sockets for socket comfort scores (7.64 ± 2.00 vs. 4.52 ± 2.22, P < 0.0001), 2-minute walk test (108.80 ± 31.28 vs. 101.53 ± 33.96, P = 0.007), and the Four-Step Square Test (17.01 ± 12.14 vs. 21.57 ± 18.52, P = 0.005). There was no statistically significant difference in the L Test (30.98 ± 27.51, 36.31 ± 45.64, P = 0.246).

Conclusions

A new modular, patient-adjustable prosthetic socket demonstrated improved functional outcomes compared with the legacy standard-of-care prosthetic socket. Participants reported higher socket comfort scores and mobility scores were improved for the two-minute walk test and Four-Step Square Test for those using the Infinite Socket.
Prediction and Management for Relapse of Type 1 Autoimmune Pancreatitis After Initial Steroid Treatment
Authors: Xin Lei , Meng Qian-Qian , Hu Liang-Hao , Lin Han , Pan Jun , Hao Lu , Liu Pei-Pei , Qian Wei , Wang Luo-Wei , Li Zhao-Shen
Published: August 2018

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the frequency, predictors, and management of relapse of type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) after steroid treatment.

Methods

One hundred one patients with type 1 AIP receiving steroid as initial treatment were enrolled. Predictors were identified by multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards model. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.

Results

Thirty-nine (41.1%) patients experienced relapse after steroid treatment during a median follow-up of 40 months. The cumulative rate of relapse reached a plateau at 57.6% (95% CI, 50.3%–64.9%) at 59 months. Without maintenance therapy (HR, 4.53; 95% CI, 1.35–15.17) and proximal bile duct involvement (HR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.07–4.14) were identified as risk factors. Repeated steroid treatment with the same initial dose but longer induction and tapering duration was given to 87.2% patients with relapse and obtained response (97.1%) during a short-term follow-up (median, 19 months).

Conclusions

Relapses are common in type 1 AIP after steroid treatment. Without maintenance therapy and proximal bile duct involvement were risk factors. Repeated steroid treatment with longer duration is effective for relapse.
The Role of Endoscopic Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography in Patients With Acute Pancreatitis After Negative Computed Tomography Findings of the Etiology
Authors: Kim Dae Bum , Paik Chang-Nyol , Song Do Seon , Kim Hyun A. , Kim Yeon-Ji , Lee Ji Min , Hwang Seong Su
Published: August 2018

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the roles of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in detecting the causes of acute pancreatitis after negative computed tomography (CT) findings.

Methods

Demographic characteristics, blood test results, the severity of pancreatitis, and definite or possible etiology of pancreatitis by EUS and MRCP were evaluated prospectively in 65 consecutively admitted patients after negative CT findings.

Results

Endoscopic ultrasonography and/or MRCP confirmed the definite causes of pancreatitis in 47.7% (31/65) (choledocholithiasis, 25; pancreatic divisum, 3; pancreatic cancer, 1; and pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, 1). The possible causes were cholelithiasis in 75.4%, pancreaticobiliary common channel (PBCC) in 70.8%, and both in 89.2%. The diagnostic values of EUS were higher than MRCP for choledocholithiasis (35.4% vs 12.3%, P < 0.05). Cholelithiasis and the common bile duct diameter were independent factors for the definite etiology of acute pancreatitis. Choledocholithiasis was inversely associated with PBCC, and the common bile duct diameter was the only independent factor associated with PBCC.

Conclusions

Endoscopic ultrasonography is a useful imaging modality for detecting definite or possible causes of acute pancreatitis. A PBCC as well as biliary lithiasis could be not uncommon causes of acute pancreatitis after negative CT findings.