bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distances and Radii of Classical Cepheids
Authors: Barnes T. G. , Moffett T. J.
Published: July 2016

We have used new BVRI photometry and radial velocities of a selection of bright classical Cepheids to determine their distances and radii through the surface brightness method. The improved photometry permitted, through the visual surface brightness relation, high-quality angular-diameter values for each Cepheid throughout its pulsation. The simultaneous radial velocities permitted the linear displacement curve to be phase-locked to the angular diameter variation. The results are individual distances and radii with considerably smaller uncertainty than could be obtained previously.
Light-Curve Parameters of Northern Galactic Cepheids
Authors: Moffett Thomas J. , Barnes Thomas G.
Published: July 2016

The BVRI light-curve parameters of 112 galactic Cepheids are determined by Fourier analysis using over 4,000 differential photoelectric observations. This catalog is similar to Schaltenbrand and Tammann's except that it is based on a homogeneous data set and the Fourier coefficients are given.
Duplicity among the Cepheids in the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Szabados G.
Published: July 2016

Cepheid variables in binaries are important from various points of view. These objects can in some cases provide direct information about the physical parameters of the system, can be used as tracers of stellar evolution, and the effect of the companions may influence the form of various relations (e.g. P-L-C, P-R) derived for Cepheids. While the first two advantages mentioned concern individual stars, the third involves the question of the frequency of binaries among the Cepheids. Systematic searches for binaries containing this kind of variable resulted in increasingly higher frequency of incidence: 2% (Abt 1959), 15% (Lloyd Evans 1968), >20% (Madore 1977), 25% (Pel 1978), 20%-40% (DeYoreo & Karp 1979), 35% (Madore & Fernie 1980). It was only in the early eighties that this trend ceased. The recent determinations of the incidence of binaries among the Cepheids are: 20%-40% (Gieren 1982), 18% (lower limit, Lloyd Evans 1982), 25% (Russo 1982), 25%-35% (Burki 1984). At the same time we have been going over to a qualitative era from the quantitative one, i.e. very thorough studies are now available on some individual cases of binary Cepheids (e.g. McNamara & Feltz 1981; Coulson 1983; Evans 1983; Bohm-Vitense et al. 1984).
On The Binary Nature of 89 Herculis
Authors: Arellano Ferro A.
Published: July 2016

The radial velocities of 89 Herculis (89 Her) between 1977 and 1981 show a clear periodicity of about 285 days. This periodic variation is interpreted as the orbital variation of 89 Her around an unseen companion. From the orbital elements no support is found for a low mass (M ~ 2Mʘ ) for 89 Her, but rather a high mass (13 < M/Mʘ < 24) is preferred.
The Quasi-Cepheid Nature of Rho Cassiopeiae
Authors: Percy John R. , Keith David
Published: July 2016

Rho Cassiopeiae (HR 9045, HD 224014) is a bright yellow supergiant (F8pla). If it is a member of the association CAS 0B5, it has an Mv of about -9.5, and is therefore one of the most luminous yellow supergiants known (Humphreys 1978).

The brightness of ρ Cas varies in two ways: (i) it undergoes semiregular cycles with amplitudes of about and time scales of about a year, perhaps due to pulsation, and (ii) in the 1940's, it faded by more than a magnitude for 660 days (Gaposchkin 1949); as a result, it is often classified as “R CrB?”. Although various writers have pointed to a dissimilarities between p Cas and the R CrB stars, it should be noted that R CrB itself undergoes semi-regular cycles as well as fadings. Thus the scientific interest of p Cas lies in the nature of its variations, their possible relationship to each other and to the mass loss and extreme luminosity of the star.
Kinematic Evidence For Fundamental Mode Pulsation in the Short-Period Classical Cepheid SU Cassiopeiae
Authors: Turner D. G. , Forbes D. W. , Lyons R. W. , Havlen R. J.
Published: July 2016

The short period and small amplitude of pulsation for the 1d.95 Cepheid SU Cas make it an excellent candidate for pulsation in a purely excited mode, and, as summarized by Gieren (1982), there is some evidence from recent radius determinations for this variable which suggests that it is indeed an overtone pulsator.
Cepheid Evolution
Authors: Becker S. A.
Published: July 2016

A review of the phases of stellar evolution relevant to Cepheid variables of both Types I and II is presented. Type I Cepheids arise as a result of normal post-main sequence evolutionary behavior of many stars in the intermediate to massive range of stellar masses. In contrast, Type II Cepheids generally originate from low-mass stars of low metalicity which are undergoing post core helium-burning evolution. Despite great progress in the past two decades, uncertainties still remain in such areas as how to best model convective overshoot, semiconvection, stellar atmospheres, rotation, and binary evolution as well as uncertainties in important physical parameters such as the nuclear reaction rates, opacity, and mass loss rates. The potential effect of these uncertainties on stellar evolution models is discussed. Finally, comparisons between theoretical predictions and observations of Cepheid variables are presented for a number of cases. The results of these comparisons show both areas of agreement and disagreement with the latter result providing incentive for further research.
Invited Review: Cepheid Variables as Extra-Galactic Distance Indicators
Authors: Madore Barry F.
Published: July 2016

The role of cepheid variables in establishing the inner distance scale to nearby galaxies is discussed. Emphasis is placed on the necessity for broad wavelength coverage in attempting to account for metalliclty differences and reddening internal to the parent galaxies. In addition linear detectors are essential in minimizing the effects of any unresolved background contibution to the photometry. Recent infrared observations of Cepheids in Local Group galaxies are surveyed and all published data on extragalactic Cepheids are presented for convenient access.
The LongTerm Behaviour of Two Pulsating Variables in M56
Authors: Wehlau Amelia , Rice Philip , Wehlau Marcia , Sawyer Hogg Helen
Published: July 2016

Of twelve variables known in Messier 56 in Lyra, two, V1 and V6 are the subject of this paper. VI was discovered by Shapley (1920) and first determined by Sawyer Hogg (1942) to be a Cepheid with a period of 1.5 days. V6 was discovered by Sawyer Hogg (1940) from her early plates at the David Dunlap Observatory. Later Sawyer Hogg (1949) showed it to be an RV Tauri type with a period of 90.02 days, one of the first such to be identified in a globular cluster. A.H.Joy (1949) determined spectral type and radial velocity for both of these variables.
Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Cometary Comae
Authors: Feldman Paul D.
Published: July 2016

During the past decade, vacuum ultraviolet spectra of over 30 comets have been obtained with theInternational Ultraviolet Explorer(IUE) satellite observatory. With few exceptions, the spectra of these comets appear to be similar, with OH and H produced by the photodissociation of water being the dominant species and emissions of C, O, S, CS and CO+2usually present. Although signs of variability of many kinds in comet spectra appear, the evidence from the ultraviolet observations suggests that all comets have the same basic chemical composition and that observed differences are due to evolution and ageing processes. The principal exception is S2, which was detected byIUEin comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock (1983 VII), but not in any other comet to date. During the 1985–86 apparition of comet Halley, ultraviolet spectra were also obtained by other spacecraft and by sounding rocket instruments, including a long-slit imaging spectrograph. Further advances await future ultraviolet observations of comets by theHubble Space Telescopeand other planned ultraviolet astronomy missions.
The Accumulation and Structure of Comets
Authors: Donn Bertram
Published: July 2016

The evidence for the accumulation of the terrestrial planets and comets from solid grains is reviewed briefly. The various proposals for formation of cometary nuclei are described and commented upon. With three exceptions, all hypotheses conclude or imply that a single compact object forms. It has been almost universally assumed that grain accretion produced compact aggregates as is the case with liquid drops, and that this process continued. Several hypotheses start with Goldreich-Ward-type gravitational instabilities. The collapse for this case also occurs at low velocities in the cm·s−1to m·s−1range. Experiment and theory show that under these conditions, low-density, filamentary clusters form that are fractal aggregates with a fractal dimension approximately equal to two. Agglomeration of these clusters produces larger, compressible planetesimals or cometesimals, which efficiently combine upon colliding. In order to form cometary nuclei, the initial temperature must be about 50 K and not undergo a significant temperature rise during the accumulation process. The collision process can be analyzed with some simplifying assumptions using the limited experimental data available for the compaction of low-density powders. The calculations show that accumulation will occur at low temperatures. For a more refined analysis, experiments to study impacts on low-density powders are required. Models of cometary nuclei are reviewed, and a simple model of the structure that results from the accumulation of fluffy aggregates is described.
Noble Gases in Terrestrial Planets: Evidence for Cometary Impacts?
Authors: Owen Tobias , Bar-Nun Akiva , Kleinfeld Idit
Published: July 2016

The possible role of comets in bringing volatiles to the inner planets is investigated by means of laboratory studies of the ability of ice to trap gases at low temperatures. The pattern of the heavy noble gases formed in the atmosphere of Venus can be explained by the impact of a planetesimal composed of ices formed in the range of 20 to 30 K. The noble gas patterns on Mars and Earth are less explicable by cometary bombardment alone.
Biological Implications of Organic Compounds in Comets
Authors: Marcus Joseph N. , Olsen Margaret A.
Published: July 2016

Organic chemicals — compounds that contain carbon — are the substance of life and pervade the universe. Is there a connection between comets, which are rich in prebiotic organics, and the origin of life? Current concepts of biomolecular evolution are first reviewed, including the important paradigm of catalytic RNA. At the very least, impacting comets appear to have supplied a substantial fraction of the volatile elements required for life shortly after the Earth formed. Some impacting material may even have survived chemically intact to directly provide necessary complex prebiotic organic chemicals. For life to originate and evolve in comets themselves, liquid H2O would be absolutely required: arguments for and against26Al radiogenic melting of cometary cores are presented. Cometary panspermia, if theoretically possible, is not necessary to explain the origin of life on Earth. The Halley spacecraft provide evidence against Earth-type microorganisms in this comet’s dust.
Dynamical History of the Oort Cloud
Authors: Weissman Paul R.
Published: July 2016

Dynamical studies during the past decade have resulted in an almost explosive increase in our understanding of the Oort cloud of comets, which surrounds the solar system. Cometary orbits in the cloud evolve under the complex interaction of stellar, galactic, and giant molecular cloud perturbations, as well as planetary and nongravitational perturbations when the orbits re-enter the planetary region. Evidence has continued to build for a dense, inner Oort cloud of comets which acts as a reservoir to replenish the outer cloud as comets there are stripped away. A ring of comets beyond the orbit of Neptune, which may be the source of the short-period comets, is also likely. Both the estimated number and mass of comets in the Oort cloud have grown such that the total mass may be comparable to the mass of the planets. Temporal variations in the flux of comets from the Oort cloud into the planetary region by a factor of 50% are typical, and by factors of 20 to 200 are possible. The most intense cometary “showers” may have serious implications for biological extinction events on Earth as well as for the impact history of planets and satellite systems. Comets in the Oort cloud are processed by galactic cosmic rays, heated by nearby supernovae, eroded by interstellar dust impacts, and disrupted by mutual collisions (in the inner cloud). A detailed estimate of the Oort cloud’s dynamical history is not possible because of the inability to reconstruct the Sun’s varying galactic motion over the history of the solar system, and because of uncertainty over where comets actually formed. However, it is likely that a substantial fraction of the original Oort cloud population has been lost to interstellar space. We are approaching the time when Oort clouds around other stars may be detectable, though searches to date have so far been negative.
A comprehensive phylogeography of the Hyles euphorbiae complex (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) indicates a ‘glacial refuge belt’
Authors: Mende Michael B. , Bartel Manuela , Hundsdoerfer Anna K.
Published: July 2016

We test the morphology based hypothesis that the Western Palaearctic spurge hawkmoths represent two species, the Eurasian H. euphorbiae and Afro-Macaronesian H. tithymali. It has been suggested that these species merged into several hybrid swarm populations, although a mitochondrial phylogeography revealed substructure with local differentiation. We analysed a three-gene mt-dataset (889 individuals) and 12 microsatellite loci (892 individuals). Microsatellite analyses revealed an overall weak differentiation and corroborated the superordinate division into two clusters. The data indicate that the populations studied belong to only one species according to the biological species concept, refuting the opening hypothesis. A future taxonomic revision appears necessary to reflect the division into two subgroups. Ancestral mitochondrial polymorphisms are retained in H. euphorbiae, indicating gene flow within a broad ‘glacial refuge belt’ and ongoing postglacial gene flow. Diverse patterns of extensive mito-nuclear discordance in the Mediterranean and the Middle East presumably evolved by more recent processes. This discordance indicates introgression of H. tithymali-related mitochondrial haplogroups, accompanied (to a lesser degree) by nuclear alleles, into Italian and Aegean H. euphorbiae populations as recently as the late Holocene. The complex mosaic of divergence and reintegration is assumed to have been influenced by locally differing environmental barriers to gene flow.
Integrin β6 serves as an immunohistochemical marker for lymph node metastasis and promotes cell invasiveness in cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Li Zequn , Biswas Siddhartha , Liang Benjia , Zou Xueqing , Shan Liqun , Li Yang , Fang Ruliang , Niu Jun
Published: July 2016

Cholangiocarcinoma is a devastating malignancy that is notoriously difficult to diagnose and is associated with a high mortality. Despite extensive efforts to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this neoplasm, limited progress has been made. Integrin β6 is a subtype of integrin that is expressed exclusively on the surfaces of epithelial cells and is associated with a variety of tumors. In the present study, we investigated the expression and roles of integrin β6 in cholangiocarcinoma. β6 upregulation in cholangiocarcinoma was correlated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. Moreover, integrin β6 was identified as a biomarker for the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma and an indicator of lymph node metastasis. Integrin β6 significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, integrin β6 increased Rac1-GTPase, resulting in the upregulation of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) and F-actin polymerization. Taken together, our results indicate that integrin β6 promotes tumor invasiveness in a Rac1-dependent manner and is a potential biomarker for tumor metastasis. Integrin β6 may help to improve the diagnostic accuracy and targeting β6 may be a novel strategy for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.
A new way towards high-efficiency thermally activated delayed fluorescence devices via external heavy-atom effect
Authors: Zhang Wenzhi , Jin Jiangjiang , Huang Zhi , Zhuang Shaoqing , Wang Lei
Published: July 2016

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) mechanism is a significant method that enables the harvesting of both triplet and singlet excitons for emission. However, up to now most efforts have been devoted to dealing with the relation between singlet-triplet splitting (ΔEST) and fluorescence efficiency, while the significance of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is usually ignored. In this contribution, a new method is developed to realize high-efficiency TADF-based devices through simple device-structure optimizations. By inserting an ultrathin external heavy-atom (EHA) perturber layer in a desired manner, it provides useful means of accelerating the T1 → S1 reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) in TADF molecules without affecting the corresponding S1 → T1 process heavily. Furthermore, this strategy also promotes the utilization of host triplets through Förster mechanism during host → guest energy transfer (ET) processes, which helps to get rid of the solely dependence upon Dexter mechanism. Based on this strategy, we have successfully raised the external quantum efficiency (EQE) in 4CzPN-based devices by nearly 38% in comparison to control devices. These findings provide keen insights into the role of EHA played in TADF-based devices, offering valuable guidelines for utilizing certain TADF dyes which possess high radiative transition rate but relatively inefficient RISC.
Direct detection of nitrotyrosine-containing proteins using an aniline-based oxidative coupling strategy
Authors: Sangsuwan Rapeepat , Obermeyer Allie C. , Tachachartvanich Phum , Palaniappan Krishnan K. , Francis Matthew B.
Published: July 2016

A convenient two-step method is described for the detection of nitrotyrosine-containing proteins.
Oxygen exchange at gas/oxide interfaces: how the apparent activation energy of the surface exchange coefficient depends on the kinetic regime
Authors: Fielitz Peter , Borchardt Günter
Published: July 2016

The model explains the range of apparent activation energies measured in different kinetic regimes of oxygen exchange at oxide surfaces.
A giant negative magnetoresistance effect in an iron tetrabenzoporphyrin complex
Authors: Nishi Miki , Ikeda Mitsuo , Kanda Akinori , Hanasaki Noriaki , Hoshino Norihisa , Akutagawa Tomoyuki , Matsuda Masaki
Published: July 2016

By measuring the electrical resistivity in TPP[FeIII(tbp)(CN)2]2 (TPP = tetraphenylphosphonium and tbp = tetrabenzoporphyrin) under the application of a static magnetic field, a giant negative magnetoresistance (MR) effect with high anisotropy is observed.
New N^C^N-coordinated Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) complexes of a tridentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligand featuring a 6-membered central ring: synthesis, structures and luminescence
Authors: Moussa Jamal , Haddouche Kamel , Chamoreau Lise-Marie , Amouri Hani , Gareth Williams J. A.
Published: July 2016

Photoluminescent pincer-like Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) complexes with a rare tridentate N^C^N ligand with a six membered NHC central core are described. Solid-state packing exhibits M(ii)⋯M(ii) and π–π interactions.
Phytosterol structured algae oil nanoemulsions and powders: improving antioxidant and flavor properties
Authors: Chen Xiao-Wei , Chen Ya-Jun , Wang Jin-Mei , Guo Jian , Yin Shou-Wei , Yang Xiao-Quan
Published: July 2016

Phytosterol structured algae oil nanoemulsions and powders were obtained using a one-pot sonification strategy and followed by spray-drying. β-Sitosterol and γ-oryzanol co-structured microencapsulation is a technique for burying fishy odor and preventing oil oxidation.
Isothiourea-catalysed enantioselective pyrrolizine synthesis: synthetic and computational studies
Authors: Stark Daniel G. , Williamson Patrick , Gayner Emma R. , Musolino Stefania F. , Kerr Ryan W. F. , Taylor James E. , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , O'Riordan Timothy J. C. , Macgregor Stuart A. , Smith Andrew D.
Published: July 2016

The isothiourea-catalysed enantioselective synthesis ofcis-pyrrolizines is explored synthetically and computationally.
Structural discrimination of nanosilica particles and mixed-structure silica by multivariate analysis applied to SAXS profiles in combination with FT-IR spectroscopy
Authors: Ruiz Y. P. , Ferrão M. F. , Cardoso M. B. , Moncada E. A. , dos Santos J. H. Z.
Published: July 2016

New methodology to quickly identify changes in the structural properties of mesoporous silica materials through simultaneous multivariate analyses applied to techniques with different principles as SAXS curves and FT-IR spectra.
The first 3D host–guest structure based on a three-fold interpenetrated Ag-pz coordination polymer network and Keggin-type aluminum tungstates with photo/electro-catalytic properties
Authors: Qi Xian-xian , Lv Jing-hua , Yu Kai , Zhang He , Su Zhan-hua , Wang Lu , Wang Chun-mei , Zhou Bai-bin
Published: July 2016

A 3-D POMOF host–guest structure based on {AlW12} and Ag-pz MOF units was prepared, which exhibit good photo- and electrocatalytic behavior.
N-Doped carbon decorated with molybdenum disulfide with excellent electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Liu Jinbao , Liu Yilin , Ai Yani , Chen Hongyan , Feng Chenqi , Yu Ningbo , Fu Ning , Han Sheng , Lin Hualin
Published: July 2016

Two-dimensional MoS2 nanoplates within N-doped carbon from polyaniline (PANI) were fabricated by a simple hydrothermal method.
Improvement on the high-rate performance of Mn-doped Na3V2(PO4)3/C as a cathode material for sodium ion batteries
Authors: Shen Wei , Li Hui , Guo Ziyang , Li Zhihong , Xu Qunjie , Liu Haimei , Wang Yonggang
Published: July 2016

Mn-Doped Na3V2−xMnx(PO4)3/C is prepared and evaluated as a cathode for sodium-ion batteries, and it was found that Mn-doping induced a remarkable improvement on unit cell volume as well as the electrochemical performance of host materials.
The impact of traditional fire management on soil carbon and nitrogen pools in a montane forest, southern Ethiopia
Authors: Kim Dong-Gill , Taddese Habitamu , Belay Abrham , Kolka Randy
Published: July 2016

We conducted studies to assess the impact of traditional fire management on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen pools. We compared organic carbon and total nitrogen pools in forest floor and mineral soil (0–100-cm depth) in three areas burned by local communities (B) with adjacent unburned areas (UB) (three paired sites; 1, 5 and 9 years since fire; hereafter B1-UB, B5-UB and B9-UB) in a montane forest in southern Ethiopia. Despite differences in time since fire and dominant post-fire vegetation, forest floor and mineral soil organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations and pools were not significantly different between burned and unburned pairs or across sites. However, mineral soil carbon : nitrogen ratio was significantly higher in the burned area of B9-UB (0–10 cm) and B5-UB (10–20 cm), indicating small losses of nitrogen relative to carbon, likely from plant uptake or possibly leaching of nitrogen post fire. Combined, the data suggest that traditional fire management did not dramatically affect forest floor and mineral soil organic carbon and total nitrogen dynamics at these sites.
Investigating typographic differentiation: Italics are more subtle than bold for emphasis
Authors: Dyson Mary C. , Beier Sofie
Published: July 2016

Text designers are likely to benefit from guidance on how to use typographic differentiation for emphasis. Three experiments use purposely-designed fonts to explore the size and nature of differences in the stylistic characteristics of fonts (weight, width, contrast, italic) which affect letter identification. Results indicate that words set in bold and expanded fonts, when alternated with words set in a Neutral test font, may impair performance, whereas changing to italic does not. Possible explanations are explored through measuring the physical and perceptual similarities of the test fonts.
Emotions in design: Considering user experience for tangible and ambient interaction in control rooms
Authors: Schaeffer Jennie , Lindell Rikard
Published: July 2016

Operators in highly automated control rooms are said to be constantly bored, and boredom is an emotional state that can have economic and environmental consequences. This article presents insights into users’ emotions and their role in the design of control rooms. The study focused on the users’ experience in two control rooms, where operators explored their emotions in relation to a situation, object, place, or action. Based on the results of the study and previous research, this article examines control room’s information design and makes recommendations on how it might be given a tangible and ambient form.
Optimization of assembly instructions for a low-cost housing solution
Authors: Torres-Sanchez Carmen , Huang Changxi , Steel Garry
Published: July 2016

Bamboo huts have been proposed as a low-cost housing solution in places like India, the Far East and South America. Successful building is strongly linked to the end-user’s ability to interpret and execute their assembly instructions correctly. This article reports a case study in which the planning of the structure of the instructions was carried out to decrease complexity and increase effectiveness so that the assembly could be interpreted and executed correctly by participants. A diagnostic test to assess their suitability was conducted. The results provided insight into the way in which end-users dealt with ambiguity and intrinsic cognitive load, and their preferences for sub-assemblies, action, colored diagrams and self-auditing steps.
Effects of magnetic ripple on 3D equilibrium and alpha particle confinement in the European DEMO
Authors: Pfefferlé D. , Cooper W.A. , Fasoli A. , Graves J.P.
Published: July 2016

An assessment of alpha particle confinement is performed in the European DEMO reference design. 3D MHD equilibria with nested flux-surfaces and single magnetic axis are obtained with the VMEC free-boundary code, thereby including the plasma response to the magnetic ripple created by the finite number of TF coils. Populations of fusion alphas that are consistent with the equilibrium profiles are evolved until slowing-down with the VENUS-LEVIS orbit code in the guiding-centre approximation. Fast ion losses through the last-closed flux-surface are numerically evaluated with two ripple models: (1) using the 3D equilibrium and (2) algebraically adding the non-axisymmetric ripple perturbation to the 2D equilibrium. By virtue of the small ripple field and its non-resonant nature, both models quantitatively agree. Differences are however noted in the toroidal location of particles losses on the last-closed flux-surface, which in the first case is 3D and in the second not. Superbanana transport, i.e. ripple-well trapping and separatrix crossing, is expected to be the dominant loss mechanism, the strongest effect on alphas being between 100–200 KeV. Above this, stochastic ripple diffusion is responsible for a rather weak loss rate, as the stochastisation threshold is observed numerically to be higher than analytic estimates. The level of ripple in the current 18 TF coil design of the European DEMO is not found to be detrimental to fusion alpha confinement.
Effects of energetic particle phase space modifications by instabilities on integrated modeling
Authors: Podestà M. , Gorelenkova M. , Fredrickson E.D. , Gorelenkov N.N. , White R.B.
Published: July 2016

Tokamak plasmas can feature a large population of energetic particles (EP) from neutral beam injection or fusion reactions. In turn, energetic particles can drive instabilities, which affect the driving EP population leading to a distortion of the original EP distribution function and of quantities that depend on it. The latter include, for example, neutral beam (NB) current drive and plasma heating through EP thermalization. Those effects must be taken into account to enable reliable and quantitative simulations of discharges for present devices as well as predictions for future burning plasmas. Reduced models for EP transport are emerging as an effective tool for long time-scale integrated simulations of tokamak plasmas, possibly including the effects of instabilities on EP dynamics. Available models differ in how EP distribution properties are modified by instabilities, e.g. in terms of gradients in real or phase space. It is therefore crucial to assess to what extent different assumptions in the transport models affect predicted quantities such as EP profile, energy distribution, NB driven current and energy/momentum transfer to the thermal populations. A newly developed kick model, which includes modifications of the EP distribution by instabilities in both real and velocity space, is used in this work to investigate these issues. Coupled to TRANSP simulations, the kick model is used to analyze NB-heated NSTX and DIII-D discharges featuring unstable Alfvén eigenmodes (AEs). Results show that instabilities can strongly affect the EP distribution function, and modifications propagate to macroscopic quantities such as NB-driven current profile and NB power transferred to the thermal plasma species. Those important aspects are only qualitatively captured by simpler fast ion transport models that are based on radial diffusion of energetic ions only.
Predictive nonlinear studies of TAE-induced alpha-particle transport in the Q  =  10 ITER baseline scenario
Authors: Fitzgerald M. , Sharapov S.E. , Rodrigues P. , Borba D.
Published: July 2016

We use the HAGIS code to compute the nonlinear stability of the Q  =  10 ITER baseline scenario to toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes (TAE) and the subsequent effects of these modes on fusion alpha-particle redistribution. Our calculations build upon an earlier linear stability survey (Rodrigues et al 2015 Nucl. Fusion
55 083003) which provides accurate values of bulk ion, impurity ion and electron thermal Landau damping for our HAGIS calculations. Nonlinear calculations of up to 129 coupled TAEs with toroidal mode numbers in the range n  =  1–35 have been performed. The effects of frequency sweeping were also included to examine possible phase space hole and clump convective transport. We find that even parity core localised modes are dominant (expected from linear theory), and that linearly stable global modes are destabilised nonlinearly. Landau damping is found to be important in reducing saturation amplitudes of coupled modes to below

δ

B

r

/

B
0

∼
3
×

10

−
4

. For these amplitudes, stochastic transport of alpha-particles occurs in a narrow region where predominantly core localised modes are found, implying the formation of a transport barrier at

r

/

a
≈
0.5

, beyond which, the weakly driven global modes are found. We find that for flat q profiles in this baseline scenario, alpha particle transport losses and redistribution by TAEs is minimal.
Interpretation of fast-ion signals during beam modulation experiments
Authors: Heidbrink W.W. , Collins C.S. , Stagner L. , Zhu Y.B. , Petty C.C. , Van Zeeland M.A.
Published: July 2016

Fast-ion signals produced by a modulated neutral beam are used to infer fast-ion transport. The measured quantity is the divergence of perturbed fast-ion flux from the phase-space volume measured by the diagnostic,

∇
⋅

Γ
∼

. Since velocity-space transport often contributes to this divergence, the phase-space sensitivity of the diagnostic (or ‘weight function’) plays a crucial role in the interpretation of the signal. The source and sink make major contributions to the signal but their effects are accurately modelled by calculations that employ an exponential decay term for the sink. Recommendations for optimal design of a fast-ion transport experiment are given, illustrated by results from DIII-D measurements of fast-ion transport by Alfvén eigenmodes. The signal-to-noise ratio of the diagnostic, systematic uncertainties in the modeling of the source and sink, and the non-linearity of the perturbation all contribute to the error in

∇
⋅

Γ
∼

.
Delayed puberty in the female patient
Authors: Trotman Gylynthia E.
Published: July 2016

Purpose of review

The purpose is to review current recommendations for the evaluation and management of delayed puberty in the female patient.

Recent findings

Kisspeptin activation has emerged as an important factor for initiation of pubertal development. Causes of delayed puberty can be considered in four main categories: constitutional delay of growth and puberty, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, permanent hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and transient/functional hypogonadism. The most common cause of delayed puberty is constitutional delay of growth and puberty; however, consistent differentiation from idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism remains challenging. Initial assessment with broad spectrum testing in an otherwise healthy adolescent is often of low clinical value. Treatment is aimed at the underlying cause of delayed puberty whenever possible and individualized to the patient.

Understanding the factors that contribute to delayed puberty and a thoughtful evaluation, structured to the patient, is important to identify the cause of delayed puberty and prevent unnecessary and often expensive investigations. Insuring appropriate pubertal progression, optimizing height and bone health, as well as preservation of psychosocial well-being are the ultimate goals of management of delayed puberty.
Prediction of Multidimensional Fatigue After Childhood Brain Injury
Authors: Crichton Alison J. , Babl Franz , Oakley Ed , Greenham Mardee , Hearps Stephen , Delzoppo Carmel , Hutchison Jamie , Beauchamp Miriam , Anderson Vicki A.
Published: July 2016

Objectives:

To determine (1) the presence of fatigue symptoms and predictors of fatigue after childhood brain injury and examine (2) the feasibility, reliability, and validity of a multidimensional fatigue measure (PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale [MFS]) obtained from parent and child perspectives.

Setting:

Emergency and intensive care units of a hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Participants:

Thirty-five families (34 parent-proxies and 32 children) aged 8 to 18 years (mean child age = 13.29 years) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) of all severities (27 mild, 5 moderate, and 3 severe) admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital.

Design:

Longitudinal prospective study. Fatigue data collected at 6-week follow-up (mean = 6.9 weeks).

Main Outcome Measures:

Postinjury child- and parent-rated fatigue (PedsQL MFS), mood, sleep, and pain based on questionnaire report: TBI severity (mild vs moderate/severe TBI).

Results:

A score greater than 2 standard deviations below healthy control data indicated the presence of abnormal fatigue, rates of which were higher compared with normative data for both parent and child reports (47% and 29%). Fatigue was predicted by postinjury depression and sleep disturbance for parent, but not child ratings. Fatigue, as rated by children, was not significantly predicted by TBI severity or other symptoms. The PedsQL MFS demonstrated acceptable measurement properties in child TBI participants, evidenced by good feasibility and reliability (Cronbach α values >0.90). Interrater reliability between parent and child reports was poor to moderate.

Conclusions:

Results underscore the need to assess fatigue and associated sleep-wake disturbance and depression after child TBI from both parent and child perspectives.
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21): Factor Structure in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Authors: Randall Diane , Thomas Matt , Whiting Diane , McGrath Andrew
Published: July 2016

Objective:

To confirm the construct validity of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) by investigating the fit of published factor structures in a sample of adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (posttraumatic amnesia > 24 hours).

Participants:

Archival data from 504 patient records at the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit at Liverpool Hospital, Australia. Participants were aged between 16 and 71 years and were engaged in a specialist rehabilitation program.

Main Measure:

The DASS-21.

Results:

Two of the 6 models had adequate fit using structural equation modeling. The data best fit Henry and Crawford's quadripartite model, which comprised a Depression, Anxiety and Stress factor, as well as a General Distress factor. The data also adequately fit Lovibond and Lovibond's original 3-factor model, and the internal consistencies of each factor were very good (α = 0.82–0.90).

Conclusion:

This study confirms the structure and construct validity of the DASS-21 and provides support for its use as a screening tool in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.
Factors Affecting the Upper Limit of the Methotrexate (MTX) CSF Levels Achievable in Children With Brain Tumors Treated With High-dose Intravenous MTX
Authors: Shkalim Zemer Vered , Toledano Helen , Ash Shifra , Cohen Eytan , Yaniv Isaac , Cohen Ian J.
Published: July 2016

Background:

Little has been published in the medical literature on serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) methotrexate (MTX) levels in children with brain tumors.

Methods:

Matched 24-hour serum and CSF MTX levels were studied after 113 treatments in 35 brain tumors patients.

Results:

A correlation between the 24-hour serum levels of MTX and MTX dosage was observed after 113 treatments in all 35 patients (r=0.39, P<0.001) but no statistical difference was found between CSF MTX levels in the irradiated and nonirradiated groups (P=0.12). Nonirradiated children received a lower dose of MTX (12.3±4.8 cf 14.8±3.7) (P=0.002). The 24-hour MTX CSF levels of these 2 groups were also found to be different (the nonirradiated group 7.6±9.8 cf 12.5±0.15.3). Using the Levene test for variances we found that these variances were not equal and therefore we used the Welch test which resulted in a P-value of 0.04. However, when an analysis of covariance was performed looking at evidence of CSF disease and MTX dose the radiation difference was no longer significant (P=0.15). The 24-hour CSF MTX levels in children without evidence of active CSF disease were consistently lower than those with active disease using a mixed-model analysis (P=0.002). Although a 24-hour CSF MTX level of at least 1 μM was observed after infusions of >5 g/m2 MTX in previously irradiated children and after infusion of ≥10 g/m2 in nonirradiated children this difference did not reach statistical significance. CSF MTX levels plateau at doses of MTX 15 g/m2 putting in doubt the value of administering even higher doses of MTX.

Conclusions:

The 24-hour MTX CSF levels are higher in patients with active CSF disease. Doses of <10 gm/m2 in children with brain tumors may not achieve a guaranteed 24-hour MTX CSF level of 1 μM. There may be little value in a given dose of >15 g/m2 MTX as CSF levels plateau at this dose.
Effects of wind direction on sportswear thermal insulation with various ease allowance
Authors: Hu Shurong , Zhao Mengmeng , Li Jun
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of wind direction and ease allowance on thermal comfort in sportswear.

Design/methodology/approach

– The effects of wind direction (front, side, back and calm (no wind) 1.5 m/s) and seven magnitudes of ease allowance on sportswear thermal insulation and surface temperature were investigated. An 11 zones’ thermal manikin was used to acquire the static thermal insulation. Surface temperature was captured by a thermal imager.

Findings

– The results showed that the wind was a significant effect on thermal performance, however, wind direction effect was only significant in the segment covered with multilayer fabric, such as the abdomen and hip (p=0.034). Although the ease allowance influenced the overall thermal insulation obviously, the difference between seven sizes suits was not significant. Nevertheless, the ease allowance affected the surface temperature of chest and back significantly (p=0.023, 0.007). Correlation between thermal insulation and surface temperature was negative, and correlation level was degraded when affected by wind factor.

Research limitations/implications

– Sportswear’s fabric and style did not discussed as effect factors. It would be taken into accounted in the future research.

Originality/value

– Wind direction impact thermal comfort in multilayer regions significantly. It is a reference to improve sportswear’s comfort design.
Key factors affecting the competence of quantity surveyors
Authors: Dada Joshua Oluwasuji , Musa Nofiu Abiodun
Published: July 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors affecting quantity surveyors’ competence with a view to reducing them to key components.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopts a data reduction system using the factor analysis statistical technique. A structured questionnaire was administered among major stakeholders in the Nigerian construction industry. The respondents were asked to give ratings on a 5-point Likert scale on factors affecting the competence of quantity surveyors. Based on the identified 11 factor variables, factor analysis was used to explore and detect the underlying relationship among the identified variables. Important measures such as Bartlett’s test of sphericity, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling accuracy and measure of sampling adequacy were used to test the appropriateness of the factor extraction.

Findings

The data reduction results in three key factor components: organization structure and team development, industrial exposure and route of educational training.

Practical implications

The findings provide a considerable insight into the issue of factors affecting quantity surveyors’ competence and could have considerable implications on the training of quantity surveyors in Nigeria.

Originality/value

The paper provides information on major factors influencing the competence of quantity surveyors and the resulting implications on the training, development and practice of quantity surveying in Nigeria.
Quality Characteristics of Wholemeal Flour and Bread from Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum L subsp. durum Desf.) after Field Treatment with Plant Water Extracts
Authors: Carrubba Alessandra , Comparato Andrea , Labruzzo Andrea , Muccilli Serena , Giannone Virgilio , Spina Alfio
Published: July 2016

The use of selected plant water extracts to control pests and weeds is gaining growing attention in organic and sustainable agriculture, but the effects that such extracts may exert on the quality aspects of durum wheat are still unexplored. In 2014, 5 plant water extracts (Artemisia arborescens, Euphorbia characias, Rhus coriaria, Thymus vulgaris, Lantana camara) were prepared and distributed on durum wheat cv Valbelice to evaluate their potential herbicidal effects. After crop harvesting, the major physicochemical and technological parameters of wholemeal flours obtained from each treatment were measured and compared with those from chemical weeding and untreated controls. A baking test was also performed to evaluate the breadmaking quality. In wholemeal flours obtained after the treatment with plant extracts protein and dry gluten content were higher than in control and chemical weeding. Wholemeal flours obtained after chemical weeding reached the highest Mixograph parameters, and that from durum wheat treated with R. coriaria extract demonstrated a very high α‐amylase activity.

We concluded that the treatments with plant water extracts may influence many quality traits of durum wheat. This occurrence must be taken into account in overall decisions concerning the use of plant extracts in pest and weed management practice.
Greener synthesis of indolizine analogues using water as a base and solvent: study for larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis
Authors: Sandeep Chandrashekharappa , Venugopala Katharigatta N. , Gleiser Raquel M. , Chetram Abeen , Padmashali Basavaraj , Kulkarni Rashmi S. , Venugopala Rashmi , Odhav Bharti
Published: July 2016

Greener synthesis of a series of novel indolizine analogues have been achieved by the cyclization of aromatic cycloimmonium ylides with electron‐deficient alkynes in the presence of water as the base and solvent at 80 °C. Yield of the title compounds was good and reactions performed were eco‐friendly. The structures of these newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed by spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, NMR, LC‐MS, and elemental analysis. Characterized title compounds were evaluated for larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis by standard WHO larvicidal assay using Temefos as standard at 4 μg/mL. Title compounds 2e, 2f, and 2g emerged as promising larvicidal agents.
Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7, nitrite content and sensory acceptance of low‐salt Chinese paocai fermented by screened lactic acid bacteria
Authors: Chi Yuanlong , Zhang Qisheng , Chen Gong , Zhao Jiayuan , Zhang Hongmei , Jia Dongying , Yao Kai
Published: July 2016

Starter cultures of low‐salt Chinese paocai were screened from 135 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) by evaluating their antimicrobial activity and growth characteristics. Furthermore, the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7, nitrite contents and sensory acceptability of the starter‐fermented paocai were evaluated. LAB BC92, which was identified as Lactobacillus pentosus, was used as a starter culture to produce paocai. In comparison with naturally fermented paocai, the disappearance time of E. coli O157:H7 in starter‐fermented paocai decreased from 5.29 to 3.82 days, and the maximum nitrite content decreased from 11.73 to 8.64 mg kg−1, and the nitrite reduction time decreased from 4 to 3 days. In addition, starter fermentations were able to accelerate the flavour formation and shorten the paocai ripening period. The paocai that was fermented naturally and fermented by BC92 all had good sensory acceptance, and no significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed.
The Science of Salt: A Systematic Review of Quality Clinical Salt Outcome Studies June 2014 to May 2015
Authors: Johnson Claire , Raj Thout Sudhir , Trieu Kathy , Arcand JoAnne , Wong Michelle M.Y. , McLean Rachael , Leung Alexander , Campbell Norm R.C. , Webster Jacqui
Published: July 2016

Studies identified from an updated systematic review (from June 2014 to May 2015) on the impact of dietary salt intake on clinical and population health are reviewed. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and meta‐analyses of these study types on the effect of sodium intake on blood pressure, or any substantive adverse health outcomes were identified from MEDLINE searches and quality indicators were used to select studies that were relevant to clinical and public health. From 6920 studies identified in the literature search, 144 studies were selected for review, of which only three (n=233,680) met inclusion criteria. Between them, the three studies demonstrated a harmful association between excess dietary salt and all‐cause mortality, noncardiovascular and cardiovascular disease mortality, and headache. None of the included studies found harm from lowering dietary salt. The findings of this systematic review are consistent with the large body of research supportive of efforts to reduce population salt intake and congruent with our last annual review from June 2013 to May 2014.