bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Communication: Influence of external static and alternating electric fields on water from long-time non-equilibrium ab initio molecular dynamics
Authors: Futera Zdenek , English Niall J.
Published: July 2017

The response of water to externally applied electric fields is of central relevance in the modern world, where many extraneous electric fields are ubiquitous. Historically, the application of external fields in non-equilibrium molecular dynamics has been restricted, by and large, to relatively inexpensive, more or less sophisticated, empirical models. Here, we report long-time non-equilibrium ab initio molecular dynamics in both static and oscillating (time-dependent) external electric fields, therefore opening up a new vista in rigorous studies of electric-field effects on dynamical systems with the full arsenal of electronic-structure methods. In so doing, we apply this to liquid water with state-of-the-art non-local treatment of dispersion, and we compute a range of field effects on structural and dynamical properties, such as diffusivities and hydrogen-bond kinetics.
Spherical harmonics analysis of surface density fluctuations of spherical ionic SDS and nonionic C12E8 micelles: A molecular dynamics study
Authors: Yoshii Noriyuki , Nimura Yuki , Fujimoto Kazushi , Okazaki Susumu
Published: July 2017

The surface structure and its fluctuation of spherical micelles were investigated using a series of density correlation functions newly defined by spherical harmonics and Legendre polynomials based on the molecular dynamics calculations. To investigate the influence of head-group charges on the micelle surface structure, ionic sodium dodecyl sulfate and nonionic octaethyleneglycol monododecylether (C12E8) micelles were investigated as model systems. Large-scale density fluctuations were observed for both micelles in the calculated surface static structure factor. The area compressibility of the micelle surface evaluated by the surface static structure factor was tens-of-times larger than a typical value of a lipid membrane surface. The structural relaxation time, which was evaluated from the surface intermediate scattering function, indicates that the relaxation mechanism of the long-range surface structure can be well described by the hydrostatic approximation. The density fluctuation on the two-dimensional micelle surface has similar characteristics to that of three-dimensional fluids near the critical point.
Robustness of edge states in topological quantum dots against global electric field
Authors: Qu Jin-Xian , Zhang Shu-Hui , Liu Ding-Yang , Wang Ping , Yang Wen
Published: July 2017

The topological insulator has attracted increasing attention as a new state of quantum matter featured by the symmetry-protected edge states. Although the qualitative robustness of the edge states against local perturbations has been well established, it is not clear how these topological edge states respond quantitatively to a global perturbation. Here, we study the response of topological edge states in a HgTe quantum dot to an external in-plane electric field—a paradigmatic global perturbation in solid-state environments. We find that the stability of the topological edge state could be larger than that of the ground bulk state by several orders of magnitudes. This robustness may be verified by standard transport measurements in the Coulomb blockage regime. Our work may pave the way towards utilizing these topological edge states as stable memory devices for charge and/or spin information and stable emitter of single terahertz photons or entangled terahertz photon pairs for quantum communication.
Electron-lattice energy relaxation in laser-excited thin-film Au-insulator heterostructures studied by ultrafast MeV electron diffraction
Authors: Sokolowski-Tinten K. , Shen X. , Zheng Q. , Chase T. , Coffee R. , Jerman M. , Li R. K. , Ligges M. , Makasyuk I. , Mo M. , Reid A. H. , Rethfeld B. , Vecchione T. , Weathersby S. P. , Dürr H. A. , Wang X. J.
Published: July 2017

We apply time-resolved MeV electron diffraction to study the electron-lattice energy relaxation in thin film Au-insulator heterostructures. Through precise measurements of the transient Debye-Waller-factor, the mean-square atomic displacement is directly determined, which allows to quantitatively follow the temporal evolution of the lattice temperature after short pulse laser excitation. Data obtained over an extended range of laser fluences reveal an increased relaxation rate when the film thickness is reduced or the Au-film is capped with an additional insulator top-layer. This behavior is attributed to a cross-interfacial coupling of excited electrons in the Au film to phonons in the adjacent insulator layer(s). Analysis of the data using the two-temperature-model taking explicitly into account the additional energy loss at the interface(s) allows to deduce the relative strength of the two relaxation channels.
Parameter estimation of a photovoltaic array using direct search optimization algorithm
Authors: Osheba Dina S. M. , Azazi Haitham Z. , Shokralla S. S.
Published: July 2017

This paper presents a parameter estimation technique to determine the photovoltaic (PV) cell parameters from experimental measurements, using the direct search optimization method. A double diode model is considered to represent a photovoltaic (PV) cell, and a Matlab simulation is built to demonstrate the effects of varying various parameters on the output performance. The direct search optimization technique is used to estimate the cell parameters by reshaping the simulated output characteristics to match similar experimental measurements. The procedures that illustrate the implementation of the proposed technique to estimate the PV cell parameters are detailed. The technique is implemented to estimate the parameters of SUNSET PV Module Model PX-170 from experimental measurements. The convergence characteristics of the most sensitive cell parameters are given. The validity of the proposed technique is verified by comparing simulated results obtained using the estimated parameters and their corresponding measurements. The techniques and methodology presented in this paper are of prime importance to power system engineers forming a useful tool for studying power systems including photovoltaic sources.
Demonstration of omnidirectional photoluminescence (ODPL) spectroscopy for precise determination of internal quantum efficiency of radiation in GaN single crystals
Authors: Kojima Kazunobu , Ikeda Hirotaka , Fujito Kenji , Chichibu Shigefusa F.
Published: July 2017

For rating unambiguous performance of a light-emitting semiconductor material, determination of the absolute quantum efficiency (AQE) of radiation, which is basically a product of internal quantum efficiency (IQE) and light-extraction efficiency, is the most delightful way. Here, we propose the use of omnidirectional photoluminescence (ODPL) spectroscopy for quantifying AQE of the near-band-edge (NBE) emission, in order to evaluate bulk GaN crystals and wafers. When the measurement was carried out in the air, the AQE showed a continuous decrease most likely due to the formation of extrinsic nonradiative recombination channels at the surface by photo-pumping. However, such an influence was suppressed by measuring ODPL in an inert ambient such as nitrogen or in vacuum. Consequently, AQE was revealed to depend on the photo-pumping density. The increase in AQE of the NBE emission caused by the increase in the excess carrier concentration was significant, indicating gradual saturation of nonradiative recombination centers in the bulk of GaN. The highest AQE value (8.22%) ever reported for the NBE emission of GaN at room temperature, which corresponds to IQE of 70.9%, was eventually obtained from the GaN wafer grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy on a GaN seed crystal manufactured by the acidic ammonothermal method, when the cw photo-pumping density was 66 W/cm2.
Single-file mobility of water-like fluid in a generalized Frenkel-Kontorova model
Authors: Ternes Patricia , Mendoza-Coto Alejandro , Salcedo Evy
Published: July 2017

In this work, we used a generalized Frenkel-Kontorova model to study the mobility of water molecules inside carbon nanotubes with small radius at low temperatures. Our simulations show that the mobility of confined water decreases monotonically increasing the amplitude of the substrate potential at fixed commensurations. On the other hand, the mobility of the water molecules shows a non-monotonic behavior when varying the commensuration. This result indicates that the mobility of the confined fluid presents different behavior regimes depending on the amplitude of the water–nanotube interaction. In order to qualitatively understand these results, we study analytically the driven Frenkel-Kontorova model at finite temperatures. This analysis allows us to obtain the curves of the mobility versus commensurations, at fixed substrate potentials. Such curves show the existence of three regimes of mobility behavior as a function of the commensuration ratio. Additionally, our study indicates a nontrivial and strong dependence of the mobility with a quantity that can be interpreted as an effective amplitude of the substrate potential, depending on the bare amplitude of the substrate potential, the commensuration ratio, and temperature.
Commercial equine production in New Zealand. 1. Reproduction and breeding
Authors: Gee Erica K. , Rogers Chris W. , Bolwell Charlotte F.
Published: July 2017

The Thoroughbred and Standardbred studbooks are the largest in New Zealand, where the production of horses is pasture based. Each racing studbook is closed, and both have well structured systems in place for recording breeding data. There are significant pressures on the Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding industries with declining broodmare numbers, and increasingly large book sizes for popular stallions. The breeding season for Thoroughbreds is very short, with disparity between the official breeding season and the physiologic breeding season for mares. These issues are confounded by variable gestation lengths of mares, making it difficult for mares to maintain yearly foaling patterns. However, the reproductive efficiency of Thoroughbred mares is improving, mainly due to veterinary and stud management practices such as those to ensure that dry mares are cycling at the start of the breeding season, foaling mares are bred on foal heat, and that mares are kept in good body condition at breeding. There is also a bias towards breeding younger mares with high fertility in preference to older mares, unless they have desired genetics or successful offspring. Careful management of popular Thoroughbred stallions ensures that large books of mares can be covered by natural service. In contrast, Standardbred stallions are collected every-other-day using an artificial vagina, allowing the breeding of mares at distant locations by artificial insemination, using chilled or frozen semen. Breeding horses kept at pasture under New Zealand conditions requires excellent stud management and veterinary management to achieve good outcomes.
Replacement of soybean meal by sunflower cake in heifers finished on pasture: meat quality
Authors: Goes Rafael Henrique de Tonissi Buschinelli de , Souza Kennyson Alves de , Guerrero Ana , Cerilo Sara Letícia Nochi , Fernandes Alexandre Rodrigo Mendes , Penha Diego dos Santos , Prado Ivanor Nunes do
Published: July 2017

Twenty heifers aged 24 months from the Nellore breed were finished on pasture and supplemented during 120 days at 0.8% bodyweight with sunflower cake, which replaced bran soybeans, at proportions of 0%, 20%, 40% and 60%. Concentrated diets for supplementation were isoproteic (28% crude protein), with ether extract levels of 3.68%, 5.65%, 8.82% and 11.00%, respectively. Longissimus muscle, between the 12th and 13th rib, from the left half carcass were removed and used for the analysis of meat quality. The pH, water-holding capacity, cooking loss, shear force, meat colour, chemical composition, sensory characteristics and fatty acids profile were assessed. There were no significant differences in the studied attributes by the replacement of soybean meal by sunflower cake. Only the fatty acid profile presented slight differences between diets (P ≤ 0.05) containing C15:0, C20:0 and C20:3n-6 fatty acids. In conclusion, the replacement of soybean meal by sunflower cake does not alter the qualitative and sensory characteristics of meat from Nellore heifers finished on pasture.
Rainforest-initiated wet season onset over the southern Amazon
Authors: Wright Jonathon S. , Fu Rong , Worden John R. , Chakraborty Sudip , Clinton Nicholas E. , Risi Camille , Sun Ying , Yin Lei
Published: July 2017

Significance

This analysis provides compelling observational evidence that rainforest transpiration during the late dry season plays a central role in initiating the dry-to-wet season transition over the southern Amazon. Transpiration first activates shallow convection that preconditions the atmosphere for regional-scale deep convection, rather than directly activating deep convection as previously proposed. Isotopic fingerprints in atmospheric moisture unequivocally identify rainforest transpiration as the primary moisture source for shallow convection during the transition. This “shallow convection moisture pump” thus depends on high transpiration rates during the late dry season, affirming the potential for climate and land use changes to alter or disrupt wet season onset in this region.
There’s grammar and there’s grammar just as there’s usage and there’s usage
Authors: McGregor William B.
Published: July 2017

Usage-based grammars have become increasingly prominent in recent years. In these theories usage is construed quantitatively and serves as a circumstance for the emergence and development of grammar. This paper argues that usage can go deeper than this, and may become a component of the semiotic resources of a language and a part of grammar. However, this semioticisation is restricted to interpersonal grammar, those semiotic resources of grammar that construe interpersonal meaning. Three apparently unrelated grammatical phenomena – optionality of grammatical markers, insubordination, and a range of repetition-based constructions – are shown to be unified by the notions of grammaticalised usage and interpersonal grammar. This has implications for the nature of interpersonal grammar: it represents the codification of the triadic actional frame, the basis of which is the idea that action on an interlocutor is effected via action on linguistic units.
Co-occurrence and iteration of intensifiers in Early English
Authors: Méndez-Naya Belén
Published: July 2017

This article focuses on an aspect of intensification which has not, so far, received due attention in the extensive literature on the topic: intensifier iteration (very very hot) and co-occurrence (very extremely hot), with a special focus on Old, Middle and Early Modern English as represented in the York-Toronto-Helsinki Parsed Corpus of Old English Prose and the Penn Parsed Corpora of Historical English. The results show that in earlier English, intensifier iteration is less frequent than co-occurrence; that while the former is clearly associated with emphasis, the latter also intersects with grammaticalization and renewal; and that co-occurrence is particularly salient in periods of instability when the competition of intensifiers is at its height. Iteration and co-occurrence of intensifiers are analysed in this article as cases of the widespread cross-linguistic phenomenon of accretion.
se-marked directed motion constructions
Authors: Armstrong Grant
Published: July 2017

This paper discusses the descriptive properties of se-marked directed motion constructions typically instantiated by verbs such as caer-se (fall-se), ir-se (go-se) or subir-se (go up-se). I argue that such constructions are surface representations of two distinct underlying syntactic configurations: an anticausative (Schäfer, 2008) and a figure reflexive (Wood, 2014). The anticausative analysis corroborates work on the same topic by Cuervo (2014), Jiménez-Fernández & Tubino (2014) and Pineda (2016) while the figure reflexive analysis is a novel contribution.
“Extraña uno lo que es la tortillas”
Authors: Mojedano Batel Andrea
Published: July 2017

Regarding studies of Spanish in contact with Latin American indigenous languages, there has been little research on contact between Spanish and Purépecha, a language isolate from western Mexico. The present paper addresses this lacuna by examining number marking and number agreement in the Spanish production of five L1 adult Purépecha speakers, and it contributes to both the fields of second language studies and contact linguistics studies, by detecting specific structural and semantic conditions under which Purépecha morphosyntactic patterns are incorporated into Spanish: Results show non-standard number marking and lack of number agreement across the noun phrase, between the subject and the verb, and between the noun and its predicative adjective, possibly due to a shift dynamic (Thomason, 2001).
Mothers’ use of F0 after the first year of life in American English and Peninsular Spanish
Authors: Sánchez-Alvarado Covadonga , Arias Alvarez Alba , García-Fernández Eduardo , McAlister Isaac , Armstrong Meghan E.
Published: July 2017

Infant-directed speech has been shown to be different from adult-directed speech in that it is generally characterized by short, acoustically exaggerated (e.g. higher F0 peaks, wider F0 range) utterances (Fernald et al., 1989; Kitamura et al., 2001, inter alia). Thus, at some point parents begin to change these acoustic parameters once the child is no longer an infant. The present study uses longitudinal data to compare F0 use in two language varieties, American English (AE) and Peninsular Spanish (PS), in an effort to understand how two prosodic aspects (mean F0 and F0 range) change after a child’s first birthday. Specifically, we asked how these parameters might change as a function of the child’s linguistic development, here defined as the children’s mean length of utterance (MLU). Results show that mothers show changes in their use of both of these parameters after the second birthday, with turning points between 28 and 31 months. MLU was not found to be a significant predictor for either language. Additionally, despite differences in how AE and PS exploit F0 for expressing focus, both AE- and PS-speaking mothers were shown to use more narrow F0 range for utterances not containing a focused element sometime after 30 months. Implications for language acquisition are discussed.
An initial examination of imperfect subjunctive variation in Catalonian Spanish
Authors: McKinnon Sean
Published: July 2017

While most Romance languages have only one morphological form for the imperfect subjunctive, Spanish exhibits variation between two morphological paradigms: -ra and -se. The present study investigated the distribution of these forms according to linguistic factors in Catalonian Spanish, a variety in close contact with Catalan. A corpus of 1,075 imperfect subjunctive tokens was compiled from the letters to the editor section of the regional newspaper La Vanguardia. Results show that the overall distribution of -se is slightly higher than what has been reported for European Spanish. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis revealed that structural priming, the existence of a cognate verb in Catalan and the combination of local frequency and morphological irregularity in the imperfect subjective significantly favor the use of -se.
Testing English influence on first person singular “yo” subject pronoun expression in Sonoran Spanish
Authors: Bessett Ryan M.
Published: July 2017

The present investigation seeks to explore the impact that contact with English has on the variation of first person singular “yo” subject pronoun expression in Sonoran Spanish by analyzing sociolinguistic interviews from sixteen monolinguals from Sonora, Mexico and sixteen bilinguals from Arizona, United States from Sonora born parents/grandparents. Based on previous research, it is expected that if there is English influence on the Spanish of the bilinguals, there will be an increased rate of expressed pronouns, the bilinguals will show decreased sensitivity to switch reference, there will be a decrease of expressed pronouns in coordinate clauses with the same referent, and community (Arizona/Sonora) will be a significant factor. These hypotheses are not born out and thus the results show a lack of evidence for English influence on the variable for the bilinguals in the study.
An automatic part-of-speech tagger for Middle Low German
Authors: Koleva Mariya , Farasyn Melissa , Desmet Bart , Breitbarth Anne , Hoste Véronique
Published: July 2017

Syntactically annotated corpora are highly important for enabling large-scale diachronic and diatopic language research. Such corpora have recently been developed for a variety of historical languages, or are still under development. One of those under development is the fully tagged and parsed Corpus of Historical Low German (CHLG), which is aimed at facilitating research into the highly under-researched diachronic syntax of Low German. The present paper reports on a crucial step in creating the corpus, viz. the creation of a part-of-speech tagger for Middle Low German (MLG). Having been transmitted in several non-standardised written varieties, MLG poses a challenge to standard POS taggers, which usually rely on normalized spelling. We outline the major issues faced in the creation of the tagger and present our solutions to them.
西班牙語母語者之漢語簡單句的理解策略發展與習得
Authors: Chen Jia-yi , Hsu Dong-Bo
Published: July 2017

抽象

本文檢視漢語母語者、西班牙語母語者漢語初級及中高級學習者在理解具有不同生命性對比的名詞組之下的漢語主動賓句以及主題句時所採用的模式。結果發現在主動賓句方面，三組均將第一個名詞組當成施事、第二個名詞組當成受事（即 NVN
捷思法），而名詞生命性的對比影響不大。至於主題句的理解，漢語母語人士及中高級的學習者隨機猜測其中一個名詞組作為施事，而初級的學習者則多運用 NVN
捷思法處理之。這三組漢語使用者的理解模式，符應了語法優先假說：運用語法結構進行語句理解，雖然名詞組生命性的對比影響了主題句的理解，但其影響力未大過語法結構。
《漢語的量詞結構》介評
Authors: Deng Haoxi
Published: July 2017

抽象

漢語中量詞的句法結構及其功能一直是學界關注的熱點問題之一。《漢語的量詞結構》(Classifier Structures in Mandarin Chinese) 一書為漢語量詞的句法結構、句法位置以及語義解讀提供了精細的描寫和分析。基於 [Numerability] 和 [Delimitability] 兩個具有雙值特徵的屬性，本書提出了名詞的四分法，通過名詞的四分法來對漢語的量詞進行重新審視，進而為漢語量詞的功能提出了新看法。雖然本書仍有一些值得商榷之處，但本書的確是一本研究語言量詞結構及其相關屬性的具有重要價值的文獻。
Talent stories in youth sports
Authors: Kilger Magnus
Published: July 2017

Success stories are a frequently investigated genre of shared cultural narratives. This paper will pay particular attention to success stories in sports and investigate how young participants in selection camps in soccer and hockey are using a set of shared narratives in order to produce their personal stories of success. By looking at narratives-in-interaction in this specific context, these interviews are investigated as a narrative genre. The analysis shows how a set of shared narratives are used in storylines in order to legitimize the personal story of success and how a number of dilemmatic spaces are addressed. This study shows how personal success stories are intimately tied to “discursively shared narratives” and how this context constitutes a specific narrative framework.
Narrating “Made in Italy”
Authors: Kohler Gregory , Perrino Sabina
Published: July 2017

In this article, we examine how executives in Italian family-owned firms use their corporations’ histories to associate particular moral discourses of cultural values, responsibility, and authenticity with the “Made in Italy” brand. These links render Made in Italy a national brand – a brand representing all goods produced in Italy and an “authentic” national treasure. Through an analysis of Italian executives’ oral narratives, this article explores how collective identities are constructed in interview settings and how Made in Italy emerges through the various stances that these managers take regarding certain topics. We focus on the ways Italian executives align their corporate narratives, family histories, and brand identities with circulating ideologies on the significance of Made in Italy. By looking at how Italian managers enact Made in Italy as a national brand with collective responsibilities, this article contributes to recent research on narrative discursive practices in the corporate world.
The dual reading of general conditionals: The influence of abstract versus concrete contexts
Authors: Wang Moyun , Yao Xinyun
Published: July 2017

A current main issue on conditionals is whether the meaning of general conditionals (e.g., If a card is red, then it is round) is deterministic (exceptionless) or probabilistic (exception-tolerating). In order to resolve the issue, two experiments examined the influence of conditional contexts (with vs. without frequency information of truth table cases) on the reading of general conditionals. Experiment 1 examined the direct reading of general conditionals in the possibility judgment task. Experiment 2 examined the indirect reading of general conditionals in the truth judgment task. It was found that both the direct and indirect reading of general conditionals exhibited the duality: the predominant deterministic semantic reading of conditionals without frequency information, and the predominant probabilistic pragmatic reading of conditionals with frequency information. The context of general conditionals determined the predominant reading of general conditionals. There were obvious individual differences in reading general conditionals with frequency information. The meaning of general conditionals is relative, depending on conditional contexts. The reading of general conditionals is flexible and complex so that no simple deterministic and probabilistic accounts are able to explain it. The present findings are beyond the extant deterministic and probabilistic accounts of conditionals.
The Causal Homology Concept
Authors: Otsuka Jun
Published: July 2017

I propose a new account of homology, according to which homology is a correspondence of developmental mechanisms due to common ancestry, formally defined as an isomorphism of causal graphs over lineages. The semiformal definition highlights the role of homology as a higher-order principle unifying evolutionary models and also provides definite meanings to concepts like constraints, evolvability, and novelty. The novel interpretation of homology suggests a broad perspective that accommodates evolutionary developmental biology and traditional population genetics as distinct but complementary approaches to understand evolution, prompting further empirical and theoretical research.
Regularity Comparativism about Mass in Newtonian Gravity
Authors: Martens Niels C. M.
Published: July 2017

Comparativism—the view that mass ratios are not grounded in absolute masses—faces a challenge by Baker which suggests that absolute masses are empirically meaningful. Regularity comparativism uses a liberalized version of the Mill-Ramsey-Lewis Best Systems Account to have both the laws of Newtonian gravity and the absolute mass scale supervene on a comparativist Humean mosaic as a package deal. I discuss three objections to this view and conclude that it is untenable. The most severe problem is that once we have reduced away the absolute masses, there is nothing that stops us from also reducing the mass ratios.
Mind the Gap: Boltzmannian versus Gibbsian Equilibrium
Authors: Werndl Charlotte , Frigg Roman
Published: July 2017

There are two main theoretical frameworks in statistical mechanics, one associated with Boltzmann and the other with Gibbs. Despite their well-known differences, there is a prevailing view that equilibrium values calculated in both frameworks coincide. We show that this is wrong. There are important cases in which the Boltzmannian and Gibbsian equilibrium concepts yield different outcomes. Furthermore, the conditions under which equilibriums exists are different for Gibbsian and Boltzmannian statistical mechanics. There are, however, special circumstances under which it is true that the equilibrium values coincide. We prove a new theorem providing sufficient conditions for this to be the case.
Faucet: streaming de novo assembly graph construction
Authors: Rozov Roye , Goldshlager Gil , Halperin Eran , Shamir Ron
Published: July 2017

Motivation

We present Faucet, a two-pass streaming algorithm for assembly graph construction. Faucet builds an assembly graph incrementally as each read is processed. Thus, reads need not be stored locally, as they can be processed while downloading data and then discarded. We demonstrate this functionality by performing streaming graph assembly of publicly available data, and observe that the ratio of disk use to raw data size decreases as coverage is increased.

Results

Faucet pairs the de Bruijn graph obtained from the reads with additional meta-data derived from them. We show these metadata—coverage counts collected at junction k-mers and connections bridging between junction pairs—contain most salient information needed for assembly, and demonstrate they enable cleaning of metagenome assembly graphs, greatly improving contiguity while maintaining accuracy. We compared Fauceted resource use and assembly quality to state of the art metagenome assemblers, as well as leading resource-efficient genome assemblers. Faucet used orders of magnitude less time and disk space than the specialized metagenome assemblers MetaSPAdes and Megahit, while also improving on their memory use; this broadly matched performance of other assemblers optimizing resource efficiency—namely, Minia and LightAssembler. However, on metagenomes tested, Faucet,o outputs had 14–110% higher mean NGA50 lengths compared with Minia, and 2- to 11-fold higher mean NGA50 lengths compared with LightAssembler, the only other streaming assembler available.

Availability and implementation

Faucet is available at https://github.com/Shamir-Lab/Faucet

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Jean-Luc Nancy and the Identity of a People
Authors: Ellison Matthew
Published: July 2017

Jean-Luc Nancy’s thought consistently positions itself against political forms grounded in ideas of essence or belonging. Accordingly, it sometimes portrays the concept of identity in a negative light, tending instead to gesture towards the ontological exposure at the heart of any political configuration. This tendency has led critics to claim that Nancy regards identity as a priori disastrous and to be dismissed outright. Nonetheless, a careful reading of Nancy’s work reveals a recurring preoccupation with the question of collective identity. As this article suggests, Nancy’s critique is directed less against identity as such than the ‘infinite identity’ that would bestow a totalizing ‘work’ on the collective. Indeed, Nancy constantly insists that politics cannot do without some degree of identity or figure, however skeletal. The question we must then ask is how we are to conceive this minimal figuration. One way of approaching such a figuration, I shall argue, lies in Nancy’s treatment of the proper name. This article develops Nancy’s thinking of identity and the name, showing how it allows us to think a limited coherence of the collective — here of a ‘people’ — in a way that nevertheless resists its closure, ultimately to think identity
as
this resistance.
Ultrasound Characteristics of Clinically Dislocated But Reducible Hips With DDH
Authors: Striano Brendan , Schaeffer Emily K. , Matheney Travis H. , Upasani Vidayadhar V. , Price Charles T. , Mulpuri Kishore , Sankar Wudbhav N.
Published: July 2017

Background:

Although ultrasound (US) is frequently used in diagnosis and management of infantile developmental dysplasia of the hip, precise ultrasonographic parameters of what constitutes a dislocation, subluxation etc remain poorly defined. The purpose of this study was (1) to describe the ultrasonographic characteristics of a large cohort of clinically dislocated but reducible hips and (2) to begin to develop ultrasonographic definitions for what constitutes a hip dislocation.

Methods:

A retrospective review of prospectively collected data from an international multicenter study group on developmental dysplasia of the hip was conducted on all patients under 6 months of age with hip(s) that were dislocated at rest but reducible based on initial physical examination (ie, Ortolani positive). Femoral head coverage (FHC), alpha angle (α), and beta angle (β) were measured on pretreatment US by the individual treating surgeon, and were recorded directly into the database.

Results:

Based on 325 Ortolani positive hips, the median FHC on presentation was 10% with an interquartile range of 0% to 23%. A total of 126 of the 327 hips (39%) demonstrated 0% FHC. The 90th percentile was found to be at 33% FHC. Of 264 hips with sufficient α data, the median α was 43 degrees with an interquartile range from 37 to 49 degrees. The 90th percentile for α was at 54 degrees. A total of 164 hips had documented β with a median of 66 degrees and an interquartile range of 57 to 79 degrees; the 90th percentile was at 94 degrees.

Conclusions:

Analysis of a large cohort of patients with dislocated but reducible hips reveals a median percent FHC of 10%, a median α of 43 degrees, and a median β of 66 degrees on initial US. Using a threshold at the 90th percentile, a sensible ultrasonographic definition of a dislocated hip seems to be FHC≤33%, implying that FHC between 34% and 50% may be reasonably termed a subluxation. Although these findings are consistent with previous, smaller reports, further prospective research is necessary to validate these thresholds.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—diagnostic study.
Nodular Lesion in Cheek With a Hair Tuft
Authors: Ayala David , Escandell Inés , Martin Jose M.
Published: July 2017

Trichostasis spinulosa is a rarely diagnosed disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, characterized by retention of telogen hairs within the dilated follicles. A hair tuft can be seen protruding from the follicles. We present a case of trichostasis spinulosa associated with intradermal melanocytic nevi, where dermoscopy helps to identify this entity.
Female athlete triad
Authors: Loveless Meredith B.
Published: July 2017

Purpose of review

The obstetrician/gynecologist (ob/gyn) may be the first provider to have the opportunity to recognize and diagnose female athlete triad. This review will help the ob/gyn to understand the female athlete triad and what is new on this topic, how to screen and diagnose the condition and the ob/gyn's role in treatment.

Recent findings

Female athlete triad, also known as relative energy deficiency in sports, involves an interrelationship among energy availability, menstrual function and low bone density. When these components are not balanced, the health of the athlete is at risk. By using menstrual cycle as a vital sign, a careful medical history may alert you to this condition. The mainstay of treatment is achieving optimal energy balance and resumption of menses. This may involve dietary invention by increasing caloric intake or activity modification by limiting or restricting participation in sports. A multidisciplinary team, including the ob/gyn, athlete, coach, parents, sport nutritionist and sometimes psychiatrist/psychologist, is optimal for management. Medication may supplement but not replace treating the underlying condition.

The female athlete triad is an important disorder to identify, as early diagnosis and intervention may prevent long-term consequences, some of which may not be reversible if not diagnosed and treated.
Individual- and Population-Level Impacts of Traumatic Brain Injury and Maternal Characteristics on Subsequent Offending Behavior
Authors: Wand Handan , Simpson Melanie , Malacova Eva , Schofield Peter W. , Preen David B. , Tate Robyn , Butler Tony
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To evaluate the individual- and population-level impact of a combination of factors, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and certain maternal characteristics, on subsequent criminal conviction.

Design and Participants:

A retrospective record linkage study involving a cohort of 30 599 individuals born between 1980 and 1985, with ratio of 1 (with TBI): 3 (no TBI), matched by sex and the year of birth.

Methods and procedures:

Cox proportional hazard regression models and population attributable risk percentages (PAR%) were used to assess the contribution of TBI and other risk factors on subsequent criminal convictions.

Main Outcomes and results:

Overall, individuals born to the teenaged mothers (<20 years) have significantly higher proportion of TBI than those born to older mothers (35% vs 22%; P < .001). In the gender-specific analyses, a history of TBI was associated with increased risk for criminal convictions (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36-1.60, and aHR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.22-1.73, for men and women, respectively). Maternal characteristics (maternal age, single parent, multiparity) were identified as the greater contributor to the criminal convictions (PAR%: 57% and 67% for men and women, respectively). The combined impact of mental illness, maternal factors, and TBI was estimated to be 67% and 74% (for men and women, respectively); with nonoverlapping 95% CIs for PAR%, these factors were estimated to have had a higher impact among females than among males.

Conclusion:

More than half of the criminal convictions were associated with a relatively small number of risk factors, including poor mental health, low socioeconomic status, and TBI as well as certain maternal characteristics.
Changes in the Nature and Severity of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Children Before and After the Seven-valent and Thirteen-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Programs in Calgary, Canada
Authors: Ricketson Leah J. , Conradi Nicholas G. , Vanderkooi Otto G. , Kellner James D.
Published: July 2017

Background:

Since the introduction of childhood pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence has decreased in children and the predominant serotypes causing disease have changed. This study describes changes in the clinical features of IPD in children (<18 years) before and after the conjugate vaccine introduction.

Methods:

The Calgary Area Streptococcus pneumoniae Epidemiology Research study collects information on all IPD cases in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to compare IPD in the pre-vaccine (January 2000 to August 2002), post-7-valent protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (September 2002 to June 2010) and post-13-valent protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (PCV13) (July 2010 to December 2015) periods; intensive care unit and inpatient admissions were outcome measures.

Results:

The incidence of IPD in children (<18 years) decreased from an average of 17 cases/100,000/yr in 2000–2001 to 4 cases/100,000/yr in 2015. The median age of children presenting with IPD shifted from 2.0 years (interquartile range: 2.5) in the pre-vaccine period to 3.9 years (interquartile range: 6.2) in the post-PCV13 period. The proportion of children with a comorbidity that is an indication for pneumococcal vaccination did not change. Invasive disease with focus (meningitis, pneumonia, empyema, peritonitis) compared with invasive disease with bacteremia only increased from 44.6% in pre-vaccine to 64.0% and 61.4% in the post-7-valent protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccine and post-PCV13 periods, respectively (P = 0.017). Having IPD in the post-PCV13 period compared with the pre-vaccine period was associated with an increased odds of hospitalization [Odds ratio (OR): 2.9; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.4–6.2].

Conclusions:

Clinical features of IPD have changed since pneumococcal conjugate vaccines were introduced, with a shift toward more focal infections requiring hospitalization. Although overall IPD cases have declined, disease that does occur appears to be more severe.
A National Seroepidemiologic Survey of Pertussis Among School Children in Taiwan
Authors: Lu Chun-Yi , Tsai Hsing-Chen , Huang Yhu-Chering , Huang Daniel Tsung-Ning , Liu Ching-Chuan , Huang Li-Min
Published: July 2017

Background:

In 2009, a booster dose of acellular pertussis vaccine for children at or before entry to elementary school was added to the national immunization program in Taiwan, which includes pertussis vaccination at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months of age. In 2013, a study to assess the level of humoral immunity against pertussis in elementary and junior high school children and adolescents was conducted.

Methods:

A multistage stratified systematic sampling method was applied to randomly selected grade 1 to 9 school children for testing. Serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies to Bordetella pertussis using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The study collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, vaccination history, sibling number and disease history of pertussis.

Results:

The study recruited 2782 school children from 58 schools around the country. By questionnaire, only 1% (28/2782) students had history of pertussis. The overall positivity rate of anti-B. pertussis IgG was 42.5%, and the rates were not different between the 5 geographical areas (range from 39.6% to 44.6%, P = 0.375). Age-stratified data showed that the positivity rates were 43.6–48.8% among grade 1–3 students, 26.6–28.7% in grade 4–5 students and increased progressively from 39.4% to 51.3% in grade 6–9 students. The overall positivity rate was significantly higher in the nonbooster group (46.4% versus 38.6%, P < 0.01).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of anti-B. pertussis antibody was 42.5% in grade 1–9 students under the current vaccination program in Taiwan. Antibody induced by the booster vaccination before entry of primary school waned rapidly in 3–4 years. Rapid waning of anti-B. pertussis antibody may explain the resurgence of whooping cough in recent decades. Additional booster doses should be considered in adolescents and adults.
Who is Responsible for What Happens Before, During, and After Colonoscopy? Results of a National Survey of Primary Care Physicians
Authors: Read Andrew J. , Weissman Arlene , Schoenfeld Philip S. , Saini Seema , Menees Stacy B. , Saini Sameer D.
Published: July 2017

Background and Aims:

Primary care providers (PCPs) play a critical role in colon cancer screening by initiating referrals to gastroenterologists for colonoscopy, but little is known about their role in pre-colonoscopy bowel preparation selection and pre-colonoscopy follow-up care. This study aimed to better understand coordination of care between PCPs and gastroenterologists as well as the current availability of “open-access” screening colonoscopy.

Methods:

A multiple-choice survey was developed to assess PCPs’ experiences with open-access colonoscopy, their involvement in the pre-colonoscopy process, and follow-up after colonoscopy. The survey was distributed electronically to a nationally representative sample of PCPs, via the American College of Physicians (ACP) Research Center’s Internal Medicine Insider Research Panel.

Results:

Of 442 PCPs invited to participate, 210 responded (response rate, 210/442, 48%), and 29 were ineligible (spent <25% of their time on clinical care or placed no referrals to colonoscopy), yielding 181 completed surveys. A total of 39% reported that open access was “rarely” or “never” available in their practice setting. The majority reported that pre-colonoscopy care was coordinated by gastroenterologists rather than PCPs. For example, 93% reported that gastroenterologists were responsible for bowel preparation selection in their practice setting. Post-colonoscopy, 54% of PCPs reported that they were responsible for ordering subsequent colonoscopies.

Conclusions:

PCPs frequently coordinate follow-up care postprocedure but play a relatively minor role in the pre-colonoscopy bowel preparation process. Open access availability for screening colonoscopy remains limited in this national sample of PCPs.
New Ways to Detect Pediatric Sickle Cell Retinopathy: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Pahl Daniel A. , Green Nancy S. , Bhatia Monica , Chen Royce W.S.
Published: July 2017

Sickle retinopathy reflects disease-related vascular injury of the eye, which can potentially result in visual loss from vitreous hemorrhage or retinal detachment. Here we review sickle retinopathy among children with sickle cell disease, describe the epidemiology, pediatric risk factors, pathophysiology, ocular findings, and treatment. Newer, more sensitive ophthalmological imaging modalities are available for retinal imaging, including ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and optical coherence tomography angiography. Optical coherence tomography angiography provides a noninvasive view of retinal vascular layers that could previously not be imaged and can be quantified for comparative or prospective analyses. Ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography provides a more comprehensive view of the peripheral retina than traditional imaging techniques. Screening for retinopathy by standard fundoscopic imaging modalities detects a prevalence of approximately 10%. In contrast, these more sensitive methods allow for more sensitive examination that includes the retina perimeter where sickle retinopathy is often first detectable. Use of these new imaging modalities may detect a higher prevalence of early sickle pathology among children than has previously been reported. Earlier detection may help in better understanding the pathogenesis of sickle retinopathy and guide future screening and treatment paradigms.
How Information Drives Complexity
Authors: Clancy Thomas R.
Published: July 2017

As systems evolve over time, their natural tendency is to become increasingly more complex. Studies in the field of complex systems have generated new perspectives on the application of management strategies in health systems. This article is the 2nd in a series of articles that focuses on why technological complexity is increasing and strategies nurse administrators can use to successfully implement change in the face of it.
Longitudinal Outcomes of an Institutionally Developed Nurse Residency Program
Authors: Cline Debbie , La Frentz Kelly , Fellman Bryan , Summers Barbara , Brassil Kelly
Published: July 2017

Nurse residency programs are widely implemented to enhance integration of new graduate nurses entering the workforce. This article presents a retrospective analysis of 10 years of residency data from an internally developed residency program that used the Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey. Outcomes of this program were similar to those from studies using commercially available products, suggesting that an internally developed residency curricula may be equally beneficial to the development of new graduate nurses.