bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Friendly Iterative Technique for Solving Nonlinear Integro-Differential and Systems of Nonlinear Integro-Differential Equations
Authors: Hemeda A. A.
Published: July 2017

In this work, a simple new iterative technique based on the integral operator, the inverse of the differential operator in the problem under consideration, is introduced to solve nonlinear integro-differential and systems of nonlinear integro-differential equations (IDEs). The introduced technique is simpler and shorter in its computational procedures and time than the other methods. In addition, it does not require discretization, linearization or any restrictive assumption of any form in providing analytical or approximate solution to linear and nonlinear equations. Also, this technique does not require calculating Adomian’s polynomials, Lagrange’s multiplier values or equating the terms of equal powers of the impeding parameter which need more computational procedures and time. These advantages make it reliable and its efficiency is demonstrated with numerical examples.
Optimal measurement locations for diagnosis of aortic abnormalities in a lumped-parameter model of the systemic circulation using sensitivity analysis
Authors: Gul R. , Bernhard S.
Published: July 2017

The basic theme of this work is to identify the optimal measurement locations for pressure and flow in the systemic circulation to detect aortic stenoses and aneurysms in early stages of a disease. For this purpose, a linear elastic lumped parameter model of the fluid dynamical simulator, major arterial cardiovascular simulator (MACSim), is considered and global sensitivity analysis is applied to identify the better measurement locations for pressure and flow in the systemic circulation. The obtained results of sensitivity analysis provide insight that enable the experimentalists to optimize their experimental setups for detecting aortic stenoses and aneurysms using parameter estimation process. From the results, it is observed that the stenosis in the thoracic aorta can be identified from both pressure and flow at the location itself, nearby nodes, aorta ascendens, arcus aorta, arteria subclavia and arteria axillaris. On the other hand, the preferable measurement locations for abdominal aneurysms are locations themselves, nearby nodes and left/right leg of the body.
On the genus of the graph associated to a commutative ring
Authors: Selvakumar K. , Subbulakshmi P. , Amjadi Jafar
Published: July 2017

Let [Formula: see text] be a commutative ring with identity. We consider a simple graph associated with [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], whose vertex set is the set of all non-trivial ideals of [Formula: see text] and two distinct vertices [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are adjacent whenever [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we characterize the commutative Artinian non-local ring [Formula: see text] for which [Formula: see text] has genus one and crosscap one.
Capital Structure Along the Supply Chain: How Does Customer Leverage Affect Supplier Leverage Decisions?
Authors: Chu Yongqiang , Wang Liying
Published: July 2017

The bargaining theory of capital structure implies that when firms raise their leverage, their suppliers will raise their own leverage in response, so as to maintain strength in negotiations with important customers. In contrast, the theory of firm-specific investments implies that when a customer raises its leverage, a firm will respond by lowering its own leverage to minimize the risk of bankruptcy. We test these theories by examining the relationship between the leverage decisions of suppliers and customers. We find that a firm’s leverage is positively associated with its customer’s leverage. Moreover, consistent with the bargaining theory, we find that the positive leverage relationship is stronger if the customer has a higher ex-ante bargaining power. We also find some support for the relation-specific investment theory of capital structure in that the positive leverage relationship is weaker if the supplier–customer relationship requires more relation-specific investments.
Renal hemodynamic effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist are mediated by nitric oxide but not prostaglandin
Authors: Thomson Scott C. , Kashkouli Ali , Liu Zhi Zhao , Singh Prabhleen
Published: July 2017

The incretin hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), is known for responding to dietary fat and carbohydrate. It elicits effects on pancreas, gut, and brain to stabilize blood glucose levels. We have previously reported that the GLP-1 agonist, exenatide, vasodilates the kidney and suppresses proximal reabsorption. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the renal effects of exenatide are mediated by nitric oxide (NO) and/or prostaglandins. Inulin clearance (glomerular filtration rate, GFR) and urine flow rate (UV) were measured in anesthetized rats before and during exenatide infusion (1 nmol/h iv). Animals were pretreated with cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor (meclofenamate), NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor ( NG-monomethyl-l-arginine, l-NMMA), NO clamp (l-NMMA + sodium nitroprusside), or placebo. Effectiveness of COX inhibition was tested by measuring urinary prostaglandin E2 (UPGE2). Effectiveness of NOS blockade and NO clamp was determined by urinary NO degradation products (UNOx). Exenatide increased GFR, UV, UPGE2, and UNOx. Pretreatment with meclofenamate reduced UPGE2 by 75% and reduced the effect of exenatide on UPGE2 by 30% but did not modify the effects of exenatide on GFR or UV. Pretreatment with l-NMMA reduced UNOx and the impact of exenatide on GFR and UV by 50%. Pretreatment by NO clamp did not prevent UNOx from increasing during exenatide but blunted the effects of exenatide on GFR and UV. In conclusion, exenatide is a potent renal vasodilator and diuretic in the rat. These effects of exenatide are insensitive to COX inhibition but are mediated, in part, by NO.
Plasma Treated Active Carbon for Capacitive Deionization of Saline Water
Authors: Zeng Aiping , Shrestha Maheshwar , Wang Keliang , Neto Victor F. , Gabriel Bárbara , Fan Qi Hua
Published: July 2017

The plasma treatment on commercial active carbon (AC) was carried out in a capacitively coupled plasma system using Ar + 10% O2 at pressure of 4.0 Torr. The RF plasma power ranged from 50 W to 100 W and the processing time was 10 min. The carbon film electrode was fabricated by electrophoretic deposition. Micro-Raman spectroscopy revealed the highly increased disorder of sp2 C lattice for the AC treated at 75 W. An electrosorption capacity of 6.15 mg/g was recorded for the carbon treated at 75 W in a 0.1 mM NaCl solution when 1.5 V was applied for 5 hours, while the capacity of the untreated AC was 1.01 mg/g. The plasma treatment led to 5.09 times increase in the absorption capacity. The jump of electrosorption capacity by plasma treatment was consistent with the Raman spectra and electrochemical double layer capacitance. This work demonstrated that plasma treatment was a potentially efficient approach to activating biochar to serve as electrode material for capacitive deionization (CDI).
Possible Involvement of Liver Resident Macrophages (Kupffer Cells) in the Pathogenesis of Both Intrahepatic and Extrahepatic Inflammation
Authors: Kakinuma Yuki , Kimura Takuya , Watanabe Yoshifumi
Published: July 2017

Liver resident macrophages designated Kupffer cells (KCs) form the largest subpopulation of tissue macrophages. KCs are involved in the pathogenesis of liver inflammation. However, the role of KCs in the systemic inflammation is still elusive. In this study, we examined whether KCs are involved in not only intrahepatic inflammation but also extrahepatic systemic inflammation. Administration of clodronate liposomes resulted in the KC deletion and in the suppression of liver injury in T cell-mediated hepatitis by ConA as a local acute inflammation model, while the treatment did not influence dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced colitis featured by weight loss, intestinal shrink, and pathological observation as an ectopic local acute inflammation model. In contrast, KC deletion inhibited collagen-induced arthritis as a model of extrahepatic, systemic chronical inflammation. KC deleted mice showed weaker arthritic scores, less joint swelling, and more joint space compared to arthritis-induced control mice. These results strongly suggest that KCs are involved in not only intrahepatic inflammatory response but also systemic (especially) chronic inflammation.
Reduction of Mosquito Survival in Mice Vaccinated withAnopheles stephensiGlucose Transporter
Authors: Couto J. , Antunes S. , Ferrolho J. , de la Fuente J. , Domingos A.
Published: July 2017

Despite the fact that recent efforts to control/eradicate malaria have contributed to a significant decrease in the number of cases and deaths, the disease remains a global health challenge. Vaccines based on mosquito salivary gland antigens are a potential approach for reducing vector populations and malaria parasites. TheAnopheles AGAP007752gene encodes for a glucose transporter that is upregulated duringPlasmodiuminfection, and its knockdown decreases the number of sporozoites in mosquito salivary glands. These results together with the fact that glucose is a vital source of energy suggested that a glucose transporter is a candidate protective antigen for the control of mosquito infestations andPlasmodiuminfection. To address this hypothesis, herein we investigate the effect of mice vaccination with an immunogenic peptide from mosquito glucose transporter onAnopheles stephensifitness andPlasmodium bergheiinfection. We showed that vaccination with a peptide of glucose transporter reduced mosquito survival by 5% when compared to controls. However, the reduction inPlasmodiuminfection was not significant in mosquitoes fed on vaccinated mice. The effect of the peptide vaccination on mosquito survival is important to reduce infestation by malaria vectors. These results support further research on developing glucose transporter-based vaccines to reduce mosquito fitness.
Former Very Preterm Infants Show Alterations in Thyroid Function at a Preschool Age
Authors: Posod Anna , Odri Komazec Irena , Pupp Peglow Ulrike , Meraner Dagmar , Griesmaier Elke , Kiechl-Kohlendorfer Ursula
Published: July 2017

Preterm birth is frequently associated with altered thyroid hormone levels in the newborn period. Recent data suggest a role of prematurity independent of birth size also in childhood thyroid dysfunction. Whether the high-risk population of former very preterm infants (VPI) is particularly susceptible to thyroid hormone alterations is currently unknown. The aim of the present study was to assess whether former VPI display changes in thyroid hormone status in comparison to term-born controls at a preschool age. Free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations were determined in former VPI and same-aged children born at term at five to seven years of age. 31 former term infants and 82 former VPI were included in the study. In comparison to children born at term, former VPI had lower fT4 (16.1±1.8 versus 17.0±2.1 pmol/l), higher fT3 (6.8±0.7 versus 6.5 pmol/l), and higher TSH levels (3.0±1.4 versus 2.3±1.0 μU/l), independent of major neonatal morbidities. As subclinical changes in thyroid hormone status are potentially associated with adverse health profiles, close follow-up of these children is warranted.
An Improved Finite Element Meshing Strategy for Dynamic Optimization Problems
Authors: Gong Minliang , Jiang Aipeng , Zhang Quannan , Wang Haokun , Hu Junjie , Lin Yinghui
Published: July 2017

The finite element orthogonal collocation method is widely used in the discretization of differential algebraic equations (DAEs), while the discrete strategy significantly affects the accuracy and efficiency of the results. In this work, a finite element meshing method with error estimation on noncollocation point is proposed and several cases were studied. Firstly, the simultaneous strategy based on the finite element is used to transform the differential and algebraic optimization problems (DAOPs) into large scale nonlinear programming problems. Then, the state variables of the reaction process are obtained by simulating with fixed control variables. The noncollocation points are introduced to compute the error estimates of the state variables at noncollocation points. Finally, in order to improve the computational accuracy with less finite element, moving finite element strategy was used for dynamically adjusting the length of finite element appropriately to satisfy the set margin of error. The proposed strategy is applied to two classical control problems and a large scale reverse osmosis seawater desalination process. Computing result shows that the proposed strategy can effectively reduce the computing effort with satisfied accuracy for dynamic optimization problems.
Angiogenesis Dysregulation in Psoriatic Arthritis: Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Cantatore Francesco Paolo , Maruotti Nicola , Corrado Addolorata , Ribatti Domenico
Published: July 2017

There is evidence that psoriatic arthritis is closely linked to angiogenesis. Morphological changes described in blood vessels of psoriatic arthritis joints suggest the presence of a dysregulated angiogenesis resulting in the formation of immature vessels. Even if the reason of this inefficient angiogenesis is still unclear, an imbalance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors is probably responsible for inducing a dysregulated angiogenesis in psoriatic arthritis, which seems to be involved in its pathogenesis and clinical features. Nevertheless, among chronic arthritides, while angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis has been largely studied with a great amount of literature data, limited data on angiogenesis role in psoriatic arthritis are available. This review article is focused on current knowledge on the mechanisms responsible for dysregulated angiogenesis in psoriatic arthritis.
Shape Completion Using Deep Boltzmann Machine
Authors: Wang Zheng , Wu Qingbiao
Published: July 2017

Shape completion is an important task in the field of image processing. An alternative method is to capture the shape information and finish the completion by a generative model, such as Deep Boltzmann Machine. With its powerful ability to deal with the distribution of the shapes, it is quite easy to acquire the result by sampling from the model. In this paper, we make use of the hidden activation of the DBM and incorporate it with the convolutional shape features to fit a regression model. We compare the output of the regression model with the incomplete shape feature in order to set a proper and compact mask for sampling from the DBM. The experiment shows that our method can obtain realistic results without any prior information about the incomplete object shape.
Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Characteristics of Single Fracture Stress‐Seepage Coupling considering Microroughness
Authors: Di Shengtong , Jia Chao , Qiao Weiguo , Yu Weijiang , Li Kang
Published: July 2017

Based on the results of the test among the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) of rock fracture, mechanical aperture, and hydraulic aperture proposed by Barton, this paper deduces and proposes a permeability coefficient formula of single fracture stress‐seepage coupling considering microroughness by the introduction of effect variables considering the microparticle size and structural morphology of facture surface. Quasi‐sandstone fracture of different particle size is made by the laboratory test, and the respective modification is made on the coupled shear‐seepage test system of JAW‐600 rock. Under this condition, the laboratory test of stress‐seepage coupling of fracture of different particle size is carried out. The test results show that, for the different particle‐sized fracture surface of the same JRC, the permeability coefficient is different, which means the smaller particle size, the smaller permeability coefficient, and the larger particle size, the larger permeability coefficient; with the increase of cranny hydraulic pressure, the permeability coefficient increases exponentially, and under the same cranny hydraulic pressure, there is relation of power function between the permeability coefficient and normal stress. Meanwhile, according to the theoretical formula, the microroughness coefficient of the fractures with different particle size is obtained by the calculation, and its accuracy and validity are verified by experiments. The theoretical verification values are in good agreement with the measured values.
Impact Localization Method for Composite Plate Based on Low Sampling Rate Embedded Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors
Authors: Pang Zhuo , Yuan Mei , Song Hao , Jiao Zongxia
Published: July 2017

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors have been increasingly used in the field of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) in recent years. In this paper, we proposed an impact localization algorithm based on the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and Particle Swarm Optimization‐Support Vector Machine (PSO‐SVM) to achieve better localization accuracy for the FBG‐embedded plate. In our method, EMD is used to extract the features of FBG signals, and PSO‐SVM is then applied to automatically train a classification model for the impact localization. Meanwhile, an impact monitoring system for the FBG‐embedded composites has been established to actually validate our algorithm. Moreover, the relationship between the localization accuracy and the distance from impact to the nearest sensor has also been studied. Results suggest that the localization accuracy keeps increasing and is satisfactory, ranging from 93.89% to 97.14%, on our experimental conditions with the decrease of the distance. This article reports an effective and easy‐implementing method for FBG signal processing on SHM systems of the composites.
Recurrence Based Similarity Identification of Climate Data
Authors: Bai Anita , Hira Swati , Deshpande Parag S.
Published: July 2017

Climate change has become a challenging and emerging research problem in many research related areas. One of the key parameters in analyzing climate change is to analyze temperature variations in different regions. The temperature variation in a region is periodic within the interval. Temperature variations, though periodic in nature, may vary from one region to another and such variations are mainly dependent on the location and altitude of the region and also on other factors like the nearness of sea and vegetation. In this paper, we analyze such periodic variations using recurrence plot (RP), cross recurrence plot (CRP), recurrence rate (RR), and correlation of probability of recurrence (CPR) methods to find similarities of periodic variations between and within climatic regions and to identify their connectivity trend. First, we test the correctness of our method by applying it on voice and heart rate data and then experimentation is performed on synthetic climate data of nine regions in the United States and eight regions in China. Finally, the accuracy of our approach is validated on both real and synthetic datasets and demonstrated using ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and z-statistics significance tests.
Chemical Chaperone of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Inhibits Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Induced by TGF-β1 in Airway Epithelium via the c-Src Pathway
Authors: Lee Heung-Man , Kang Ju-Hyung , Shin Jae-Min , Lee Seoung-Ae , Park Il-Ho
Published: July 2017

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that allows epithelial cells to assume a mesenchymal cell phenotype. EMT is considered as a therapeutic target for several persistent inflammatory airway diseases related to tissue remodeling. Herein, we investigated the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and c-Src in TGF-β1-induced EMT. A549 cells, primary nasal epithelial cells (PNECs), and inferior nasal turbinate organ cultures were exposed to 4-phenylbutylic acid (4PBA) or PP2 and then stimulated with TGF-β1. We found that E-cadherin, vimentin, fibronectin, and α-SMA expression was increased in nasal polyps compared to inferior turbinates. TGF-β1 increased the expression of EMT markers such as E-cadherin, fibronectin, vimentin, and α-SMA and ER stress markers (XBP-1s and GRP78), an effect that was blocked by PBA or PP2 treatment. 4-PBA and PP2 also blocked the effect of TGF-β1 on migration of A549 cells and suppressed TGF-β1-induced expression of EMT markers in PNECs and organ cultures of inferior turbinate. In conclusion, we demonstrated that 4PBA inhibits TGF-β1-induced EMT via the c-Src pathway in A549 cells, PNECs, and inferior turbinate organ cultures. These results suggest an important role for ER stress and a diverse role for TGF-β1 in upper airway chronic inflammatory disease such as CRS.
DIANA: A Machine Learning Mechanism for Adjusting the TDD Uplink-Downlink Configuration in XG-PON-LTE Systems
Authors: Sarigiannidis Panagiotis , Sarigiannidis Antonios , Moscholios Ioannis , Zwierzykowski Piotr
Published: July 2017

Modern broadband hybrid optical-wireless access networks have gained the attention of academia and industry due to their strategic advantages (cost-efficiency, huge bandwidth, flexibility, and mobility). At the same time, the proliferation of Software Defined Networking (SDN) enables the efficient reconfiguration of the underlying network components dynamically using SDN controllers. Hence, effective traffic-aware schemes are feasible in dynamically determining suitable configuration parameters for advancing the network performance. To this end, a novel machine learning mechanism is proposed for an SDN-enabled hybrid optical-wireless network. The proposed architecture consists of a 10-gigabit-capable passive optical network (XG-PON) in the network backhaul and multiple Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access networks in the fronthaul. The proposed mechanism receives traffic-aware knowledge from the SDN controllers and applies an adjustment on the uplink-downlink configuration in the LTE radio communication. This traffic-aware mechanism is capable of determining the most suitable configuration based on the traffic dynamics in the whole hybrid network. The introduced scheme is evaluated in a realistic environment using real traffic traces such as Voice over IP (VoIP), real-time video, and streaming video. According to the obtained numerical results, the proposed mechanism offers significant improvements in the network performance in terms of latency and jitter.
Lysyl Oxidase–like Protein LOXL2 Promotes Lung Metastasis of Breast Cancer
Authors: Salvador Fernando , Martin Alberto , López-Menéndez Celia , Moreno-Bueno Gema , Santos Vanesa , Vázquez-Naharro Alberto , Santamaría Patricia G. , Morales Saleta , Dubus Pierre R. , Muinelo-Romay Laura , López-López Rafael , Tung Jason C. , Weaver Valerie M. , Portillo Francisco , Cano Amparo
Published: July 2017

The lysyl oxidase–like protein LOXL2 has been suggested to contribute to tumor progression and metastasis, but in vivo evidence has been lacking. Here we provide functional evidence that LOXL2 is a key driver of breast cancer metastasis in two conditional transgenic mouse models of PyMT-induced breast cancer. LOXL2 ablation in mammary tumor cells dramatically decreased lung metastasis, whereas LOXL2 overexpression promoted metastatic tumor growth. LOXL2 depletion or overexpression in tumor cells does not affect extracellular matrix stiffness or organization in primary and metastatic tumors, implying a function for LOXL2 independent of its conventional role in extracellular matrix remodeling. In support of this likelihood, cellular and molecular analyses revealed an association of LOXL2 action with elevated levels of the EMT regulatory transcription factor Snail1 and expression of several cytokines that promote premetastatic niche formation. Taken together, our findings established a pathophysiologic role and new function for LOXL2 in breast cancer metastasis. Cancer Res; 77(21); 5846–59. ©2017 AACR.
EWS/FLI is a Master Regulator of Metabolic Reprogramming in Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Tanner Jason M. , Bensard Claire , Wei Peng , Krah Nathan M. , Schell John C. , Gardiner Jamie , Schiffman Joshua , Lessnick Stephen L. , Rutter Jared
Published: July 2017

Ewing sarcoma is a bone malignancy driven by a translocation event resulting in the fusion protein EWS/FLI1 (EF). EF functions as an aberrant and oncogenic transcription factor that misregulates the expression of thousands of genes. Previous work has focused principally on determining important transcriptional targets of EF, as well as characterizing important regulatory partnerships in EF-dependent transcriptional programs. Less is known, however, about EF-dependent metabolic changes or their role in Ewing sarcoma biology. Therefore, the metabolic effects of silencing EF in Ewing sarcoma cells were determined. Metabolomic analyses revealed distinct separation of metabolic profiles in EF-knockdown versus control-knockdown cells. Mitochondrial stress tests demonstrated that knockdown of EF increased respiratory as well as glycolytic functions. Enzymes and metabolites in several metabolic pathways were altered, including de novo serine synthesis and elements of one-carbon metabolism. Furthermore, phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) was found to be highly expressed in Ewing sarcoma and correlated with worse patient survival. PHGDH knockdown or pharmacologic inhibition in vitro caused impaired proliferation and cell death. Interestingly, PHGDH modulation also led to elevated histone expression and methylation. These studies demonstrate that the translocation-derived fusion protein EF is a master regulator of metabolic reprogramming in Ewing sarcoma, diverting metabolites toward biosynthesis. As such, these data suggest that the metabolic aberrations induced by EF are important contributors to the oncogenic biology of these tumors.

Implications: This previously unexplored role of EWS/FLI1–driven metabolic changes expands the understanding of Ewing sarcoma biology, and has potential to significantly inform development of therapeutic strategies. Mol Cancer Res; 15(11); 1517–30. ©2017 AACR.
Tolvaptan for the Treatment of Enlarged Polycystic Liver Disease
Authors: Mizuno Hiroki , Hoshino Junichi , Suwabe Tatsuya , Sumida Keiichi , Sekine Akinari , Oshima Yoichi , Oguro Masahiko , Kunizawa Kyohei , Kawada Masahiro , Hiramatsu Rikako , Hayami Noriko , Hasegawa Eiko , Yamanouchi Masayuki , Sawa Naoki , Takaichi Kenmei , Ubara Yoshifumi
Published: July 2017

A 44-year-old Japanese woman with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of abdominal distension. Her eGFR was 53.7 mL/min/1.73 m2. Total kidney volume was 2,614 mL. Tolvaptan (60 mg/day) was started to treat renal involvement. The patient’s abdominal fullness began to improve and liver volume, indicating advanced polycystic liver disease (PLD), decreased from 9,750 mL to 8,345 mL after 17 months of tolvaptan treatment, though there was no significant change in kidney volume. This case indicates that tolvaptan may be a therapeutic option for hepatomegaly in patients with symptomatic PLD.
Quasi-Aristotelians and Proto-Scotists
Authors: Duba William O.
Published: July 2017

In a seminal article, Simo Knuuttila and Anja Inkeri Lehtinen drew attention to a “curious doctrine” holding that contradictories can be true at the same temporal instant, and identified the major defenders of the doctrine as John Baconthorpe, Landolfo Caracciolo, and Hugh of Novocastro. Normann Kretzmann later asserted as fact the suggestion by Knuuttila and Inkeri Lehtinen that the doctrine comes from a misreading of a passage from Aristotle’s Physics. In fact, a study of the relevant texts reveals that Hugh of Novocastro first elaborated the doctrine by building on the Scotist doctrines of synchronic contingency and simultaneous causation. As these doctrines require at the same instant of time an order of priority and posteriority between possibility and actuality, cause and effect, so, Hugh says, there must be prior and posterior different states of affairs. Landolfo Caracciolo made this doctrine notorious outside the Franciscan convent by using it in his principia debates, directly engaging the circle of Cardinal Iacopo Stefaneschi (Thomas Wylton, John of Jandun, and Annibaldo di Ceccano). John Baconthorpe, the first to (mis)cite the Physics passage, did not have any noticeable effect on the development of the doctrine.
Change and Contradiction in Henry of Ghent
Authors: Knuuttila Simo
Published: July 2017

Hugh of Novocastro, Landolfo Caracciolo, John Baconthorpe, and some other medieval authors argued that there are real contradictions in nature. The background of this early fourteenth-century theory was the Aristotelian question of how to determine the instant of change between p and ~p. The argument was that these are simultaneously true at the temporal instant of change if it is an instant of changing. The author’s aim is to discuss the background of this view in Henry of Ghent’s theory of instantaneous change from potentiality to actuality at that very instant.
The Blessed Virgin and the Two Time-Series: Hervaeus Natalis and Durand of St. Pourçain on Limit Decision
Authors: Löwe Can Laurens
Published: July 2017

This paper examines the accounts of limit decision advanced by Hervaeus Natalis and Durand of St. Pourçain in their respective discussions of the sanctification of the Blessed Virgin. Hervaeus and Durand argue, against Aristotle, that the temporal limits of certain changes, including Mary’s sanctification, should be assigned in discrete rather than continuous time. The paper first considers Hervaeus’ discussion of limit decision and argues that, for Hervaeus, a solution of temporal limits in terms of discrete time can coexist with an Aristotelian continuous time solution because Hervaeus takes continuous and discrete time to be two non-intersecting, but correlated time-series. The paper next examines Durand’s account of limit decision and argues that Durand rejects Hervaeus’ correlation assumption as well as Aristotle’s continuous time solution.
Contradiction and the Instant of Change Revisited
Authors: Priest Graham
Published: July 2017

Instantaneous changes may well be thought to give rise to contradiction. If one endorses an explosive logic, where contradictions entail everything, this is entirely unacceptable. However, if one deploys a paraconsistent logic, which keeps contradictions under control, one may give perfectly coherent and precise models of such changes. In In Contradiction the author showed how and he explored the philosophical implications of the model. Here, the author revisits the issue in the light of a recent critique by Greg Littmann.
Perigomphus basicornis sp. nov. (Odonata: Gomphidae) from Anchicayá, Colombia
Authors: AMAYA-VALLEJO VANESSA , NOVELO-GUTIÉRREZ RODOLFO , REALPE EMILIO
Published: July 2017

The new sp. is described and illustrated based on adult males obtained from mature larvae collected in Anchicayá zone, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, and reared in Universidad de Los Andes laboratory, Bogotá, Colombia. The adult differs from the other described species of Perigomphus in the shape of the cerci and the size of the epiproct. Larvae are easy to collect in field but challenging to rear in the lab because of their habitat preferences. Adults are difficult to find in the field as they live high in the canopy. Holotype: reared male and exuviae, 22.xi.2016; deposited in Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa, Mexico.
On the Generation and Maintenance of the 2012/13 Sudden Stratospheric Warming
Authors: Xu Fen , San Liang X.
Published: July 2017

Using a newly developed analysis tool, multiscale window transform (MWT), and the MWT-based localized multiscale energetics analysis, the 2012/13 sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is diagnosed for an understanding of the underlying dynamics. The fields are first reconstructed onto three scale windows: that is, mean window, sudden warming window or SSW window, and synoptic window. According to the reconstructions, the major warming period may be divided into three stages: namely, the stages of rapid warming, maintenance, and decay, each with different mechanisms. It is found that the explosive growth of temperature in the rapid warming stage (28 December–10 January) results from the collaboration of a strong poleward heat flux and canonical transfers through baroclinic instabilities in the polar region, which extract available potential energy (APE) from the mean-scale reservoir. In the course, a portion of the acquired APE is converted to and stored in the SSW-scale kinetic energy (KE), leading to a reversal of the polar night jet. In the stage of maintenance (11–25 January), the mechanism is completely different: First the previously converted energy stored in the SSW-scale KE is converted back, and, most importantly, in this time a strong barotropic instability happens over Alaska–Canada, which extracts the mean-scale KE to maintain the high temperature, while the mean-scale KE is mostly from the lower atmosphere, in conformity with the classical paradigm of mean flow–wave interaction with the upward-propagating planetary waves. This study provides an example that a warming may be generated in different stages through distinctly different mechanisms.
The First-Time Fathers Study: A Prospective Study of the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Men during the Transition to Parenthood
Authors: Condon John T. , Corkindale Carolyn J. , Boyce Philip
Published: July 2017

Objective:

In comparison to its female counterpart, the transition of men to parenthood has been relatively neglected in previous research. The present paper argues that men may have gender-specific risk factors for perinatal psychological distress and may manifest distress in ways different from women. The prime objective of this research was to document changes in psychological, relationship and lifestyle parameters in a cohort of first time fathers from pregnancy to the end of the first postnatal year. The present paper reports on these changes.

Method:

Three hundred and twelve men were assessed at 23 weeks of pregnancy and followed up at 3, 6 and 12 months postnatally, using a battery of self-report questionnaires covering psychological symptom levels, lifestyle variables and relationship/sexual functioning. Two hundred and four men completed all four assessments.

Results:

The men exhibited highest symptom levels in pregnancy with general, through small, improvement at 3 months and little change thereafter. Lifestyle variables showed small changes over the first postnatal year. Sexual functioning appeared to deteriorate markedly from pre-pregnancy levels with only minimal recovery by the end of the first year. The results highlight that the majority of men anticipated return of sexual activity to pre-pregnancy levels; however, this failed to eventuate.

Conclusions:

Pregnancy, rather than the postnatal period, would appear to be the most stressful period for men undergoing the transition to parenthood. The results suggest that the most important changes occur relatively early in pregnancy. Thereafter, lack of change (rather than change) is the most noteworthy feature. These men appeared to be ill-prepared for the impact of parenthood on their lives, especially in terms of the sexual relationship. Further research to determine the timing and trigger of stress in pregnancy is recommended.
Suicide after Discharge from Psychiatric Inpatient Care: A Case-Control Study in Hong Kong
Authors: Yim Patty H.W. , Dunn Eva L.W. , Yeung W.S. , Miao Y.K. , Yip Paul S.F. , Li Raymond H.Y.
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To identify the risk period and the risk factors for suicide in Chinese psychiatric patients after discharge from inpatient psychiatric treatment. The nature of psychiatric aftercare provided to these patients was also explored.

Method:

A case control study with 73 patients who were discharged from a large psychiatric unit in Hong Kong between January 1996 and December 1999 and had received coroners' verdict of suicide or undetermined death within the same period. Controls were 73 surviving patients discharged from the same unit. They were individually matched for sex, age, psychiatric diagnosis, and date of discharge.

Results:

Post-discharge clustering of suicides was observed among the cases. Nearly 80% of them died within 1 year of discharge. The most common principal diagnosis among the cases was schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. Multivariate analysis showed that suicide was associated with: unemployment (OR = 12.2, 95% CI = 2.1 – 70.4), past suicidal attempts (OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.2 – 9.6), maternal mental illness (OR = 13.4, 95% CI = 1.0 – 170.0), and suicidal ideation or attempt before the last admission (OR = 5.0, 95% CI = 1.4 – 18.0). The psychiatric aftercare received by cases and controls were generally similar. However, cases were more likely to have had contact with health care services in the last week before death (OR = 4.0, 95% CI = 1.3 – 11.9).

Conclusions:

Suicidal risk is high in Chinese psychiatric patients soon after discharge. They share some common risk factors for suicide identified in Western studies but several differences are evident: the predominance of schizophrenia in the suicides; the lower prevalence of substance abuse and comorbidity; the low proportion of patients living alone; and the increased clinical contact before death but the less suicidal intent expressed in Chinese patients. It is necessary to consider these socio-cultural factors in assessment of suicidal risk and implementation of suicide prevention strategies in Chinese psychiatric patients.
Détente and Crisis1
Authors: Goldmann Kjell
Published: July 2017

Can a relationship of détente survive a crisis? This question is addressed as a problem of foreign policy stability. A framework of analysis is offered focusing on a number of factors in domestic politics, belief systems and international relations which may function as stabilizers of foreign policy, including détente policy, in times of crisis. It is emphasized that the protection of détente can be rendered difficult by the mechanism of negative interconnections. The slow pace of détente stabilization is another difficulty. Moreover, the stabilization of détente itself may be self-defeating by undermining the credibility of deterrence. The empirical illustration of these mechanisms has to do with Soviet–German relations during the Polish crisis. It is clear that a measure of détente survived the crisis. Even though it is difficult to estimate the exact amount of stress the Polish crisis created, it remains possible that even relatively limited stabilization of détente may have significant effects.
Assenting to Newman: Henri Bremond's Psychologie De La Foi
Authors: Talar Charles J.T.
Published: July 2017

It is a psychological mistake, issuing in serious drawbacks, to propose as a model to a people the religious orientation of another people, especially if they differ profoundly in temperament and customs, and to claim to conform and reform the religious conception of the one on that of the other.
De La Barre, Hébert and Newman
Authors: Talar C.J.T.
Published: July 2017

After 1864, the word ‘ evolution’ was not quite a neutral word. It was quite near the word ‘ progress’. From protoplasm to fish to mammal to ape to man, the world looked to be going one way.
Creating Innovative Student Projects with App Smashing
Authors: Young Donna
Published: July 2017

Although the iPad has many possibilities as a learning tool, its apps are limited in their functionality. By app smashing, or using multiple apps to complete a task, students can create cross-disciplinary projects that encourage higher-level thinking, collaboration, and innovation. The steps to getting started with app smashing are included, as well as examples of real-life student projects.
Leading with Technology
Authors: Barnwell Paul
Published: July 2017

Teachers can use technology to facilitate real, engaged teaching and learning, whether it’s through social media, cell phones, or tapping into the expertise of other teachers. No matter what tool is being used, it’s important to see how the technology helps the goal be reached and what learning experience is being promoted.
Why I Teach
Authors: Schermerhorn Melinda
Published: July 2017

This fifth-grade teacher explains many reasons why she teaches, not the least of which is that her students are game changers and she wants a front-row seat when they change the world one day.
Binocular Disparity and Head-Up Displays
Authors: Gibson Christopher P.
Published: July 2017

Collimation errors present in displays such as the head-up display (HUD) will produce retinal disparity on the retinae of the observer and will have the effect of altering the spatial location of the display. It is apparent that this can, in some instances, give rise to visual discomfort. Psychophysical methods were used to examine the sensitivity and the tolerances of the visual system to binocular disparity in HUDs. It was shown that, when left to their own devices, subjects preferred a small positive disparity to exist between the HUD and the outside world and that even small amounts of negative disparity can have a disturbing perceptual effect. The effect is discussed in relation to the contradictory depth cues which can exist in this kind of electro-optical display.
What Criteria Exist for Determining How Much Load Can Be Lifted Safely?
Authors: Garg Arun , Ayoub M. M.
Published: July 2017

A literature survey on recommendations for the maximum weight of the load and work loads is presented. Three different criteria are reviewed to determine the "safe" weight and permissible work loads that a person can lift. These are biomechanical, psychophysical, and metabolic/heart rate. A comparison of recommended load limits based on each of the three criteria is presented. Maximum weight of the load and work loads based on the three criteria are also compared. The comparison shows that (1) the recommendations based on a given criterion are not in agreement, (2) the maximum permissible weights of the load based on psychophysical studies are lower than those based on biomechanical criteria, and (3) the psychophysical fatigue criteria, as compared to physiological fatigue criteria, will result in greater work loads at higher frequencies of lifting. Load-pace tradeoff and effects of lifting technique and location of load on acceptable work loads are also discussed.
Predictor Operator in Pursuit and Compensatory Tracking
Authors: Jaeger Robert J. , Agarwal Gyan C. , Gottlieb Gerald L.
Published: July 2017

The predictor operator is a well established property of a human controller in manual control systems with a pursuit display. For periodic inputs, the human controller has been shown to use what is called a synchronous tracking mode to improve system performance considerably. The performance change is most evident in the phase portion of the system's Bode plot. The present study investigated the predictor operator in a manual control system with a compensatory display and compared it to a pursuit display. Four types of input signal were used: (1) single sinusoids, (2) narrow-band summed sinusoids, (3) variable-band summed sinusoids, and (4) wide-band summed sinusoids. The frequency range was from 0.04 to 1.5 Hz. The data from pursuit tracking were similar to data obtained in several previous studies. In this study the predictor operator in compensatory tracking was found to be similar to the predictor operator in pursuit tracking. This indicates the ability of the predictor operator to function in the absence of much important visual information found in the pursuit display and which the compensatory display lacks.
Efficiency of Output in Self-Paced Work, Machine-Paced Rest
Authors: Gustafson H. W.
Published: July 2017

The jobs of the modern-day telephone operator and repair service attendant afford instances in which work operations are self-paced but the rest intervals between successive cycles are machine controlled. The productive efficiency of workers in such jobs can be measured either by the volume of output generated per unit time (OPU) or by the average work time (AWT) consumed in producing that output volume. Intuitively, the two measures seem equivalent and traditionally have been so regarded. On the other hand, the resting time between work cycles is excluded when computing AWT and is included when calculating OPU. Thus, if the amount of resting time itself were a determinant of AWT, it is possible the two measures would exhibit dissimilar behavior. A model of worker performance analogous to the Weber-Fechner paradigm in psychophysics is developed to illustrate this dissimilarity.
Effects of Speech Rate and Pitch Contour on the Perception of Synthetic Speech
Authors: Slowiaczek Louisa M. , Nusbaum Howard C.
Published: July 2017

The increased use of voice-response systems has resulted in a greater need for systematic evaluation of the role of segmental and suprasegmental factors in determining the intelligibility of synthesized speech. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of pitch contour and speech rate on the perception of synthetic speech. In Experiment 1, subjects transcribed sentences that were either syntactically correct and meaningful or syntactically correct but semantically anomalous. In Experiment 2, subjects transcribed sentences that varied in length and syntactic structure. In both experiments a text-to-speech system generated synthetic speech at either 150 or 250 words/min. Half of the test sentences were generated with a flat pitch (monotone) and half were generated with normally inflected clausal intonation. The results indicate that the identification of words in fluent synthetic speech is influenced by speaking rate, meaning, length, and, to a lesser degree, pitch contour. The results suggest that in many applied situations the perception of the segmental information in the speech signal may be more critical to the intelligibility of synthesized speech than are suprasegmental factors.
Brake Lamp Photometrics and Automobile Rear Signaling
Authors: Sivak Michael , Flannagan Michael , Olson Paul L.
Published: July 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of lamp photometrics to differentiation between brake and presence signals. To assess this relationship, signal identification was evaluated as a function of lamp photometrics under simulated dusk/dawn conditions. The following were the main results: (1) Luminous intensity was a better predictor of signal identification than was average luminance. (2) The likelihood of identifying a signal as a brake signal was a monotonic function of lamp intensity. (3) Reaction time was positively related to the degree of subjects' uncertainty (as measured by the relative likelihood of “brake” responses): reaction time was slowest when the likelihood of “brake” or “presence” responses was close to 50%, and it decreased as the likelihood increased or decreased away from 50%. (4) Reaction time in a condition simulating typical U.S. rear-lighting configuration was significantly faster than in a condition simulating typical European configuration. The present results provide support for retaining luminous intensity as the relevant parameter of automobile brake-lighting specifications. Furthermore, these results argue against reducing the current minimum of 80 cd for the brake-lamp luminous intensity.