bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How does paraffin wax prevent evaporation of acrylic‐based syrups dedicated to fiber‐reinforced composite processing?
Authors: Charlier Quentin , Lortie Frédéric , Gerard Jean‐François
Published: November 2019

This study focuses on volatility and processing issues which can be faced when handling acrylic syrups designed for adhesive or composite applications. These reactive mixtures which are mainly constituted of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) can yield thermoplastic matrices through radical polymerization. However, the rapid evaporation of acrylic monomers when syrups are exposed to air raises serious manufacturing and H&S concerns, especially when relying on open‐mold processes. A common strategy to prevent this phenomenon is to add paraffin wax to the syrup. However the mechanisms which rule the inhibition of evaporation have never been clearly identified so far. In this context, confocal Raman microscopy has been used to perform depth profilings to evaluate the chemical composition of wax–acrylic syrups from surface to bulk. Results show that the wax content is much higher at the surface than in bulk which leads to the formation of a solid film. This concentration gradient results from two distinct phenomena: the migration of wax at the surface and, to a lesser extent, the evaporation of near‐surface MMA monomers. Thus, the capability of these syrups to impregnate reinforcing fibers is largely decreased which could be of prime concern regarding their application. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 137, 48685.
Director Obligations to Implement and Monitor Oversight Systems
Authors: Resnick Stephanie , Neff Carl
Published: November 2019

Stephanie Resnick is chair of the Directors & Officers Liability & Corporate Governance Group at Fox Rothschild LLP. Carl Neff is a partner in the Litigation practice at Fox Rothschild. In this article, they explore the oversight responsibilities of boards of directors in light of a major recent court decision.
Opportunity and Risk Often Arrive at the Party Simultaneously
Authors: Henman Linda
Published: November 2019

Dr. Linda Henman is the author of six books, including Tough Calls: How to Move Beyond Indecision and Good Intentions. She has more than 35 years of experience working with executives and boards in Fortune 500 companies and small businesses to help them exceed their strategic objectives by maximizing talent. In this article, Dr. Henman looks at what boards can do to better prepare their organizations for future changes that will impact them and their industries—even those completely unexpected.
AAP wants pediatricians to be better‐trained in mental health
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: November 2019

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a policy statement, “Mental Health Competencies for Pediatric Practice,” stressing the importance of pediatricians in improving the mental health of children.
Temperature, phenology, and turf macroalgae drive seascape change: Connections to mid‐trophic level species
Authors: Dijkstra Jennifer A. , Litterer Amber , Mello Kristen , O'Brien Brandon S. , Rzhanov Yuri
Published: November 2019

Landscape patterns created by the structure and form of foundational species shape ecological processes of community assembly and trophic interactions. In recent years, major shifts in foundation species have occurred in multiple ecosystems. In temperate marine systems, many kelp beds have shifted to turf macroalgae habitats with unknown consequences on seascape patterns or changes in the ecological processes that maintain communities. We investigated the effect of turf macroalgae on seascape patterns in three habitats dominated by kelp and turf macroalgae and those that have mixed species composition. We also examined decadal elevations in temperature with known growth and reproductive phenology of kelp and turf macroalgae to provide a mechanistic understanding of the factors that will continue to shape these seascapes. Our results indicate that turf macroalgae produce a more heterogeneous habitat with greater primary free space than those that are mixed or dominated by kelp. Further, we examined the relationship between seascape patterns and richness and abundance of fishes in each habitat. Results showed that patch size was positively related to the abundance of fish in habitat types, suggesting that turf‐induced heterogeneity may lead to fewer observed fishes, specifically the mid‐trophic level species, cunner, in these habitats. Overall, our results suggest that persistence of this habitat is facilitated by increasing temperature that shorten the phenology of kelps and favor growth and reproduction of turf macroalgae that make them poised to take advantage of free space, regardless of season.
Show me the money: Option moneyness concentration and future stock returns
Authors: Bergsma Kelley , Csapi Vivien , Diavatopoulos Dean , Fodor Andy
Published: November 2019

Informed traders often use options that are not in‐the‐money due to higher potential gains for a smaller upfront cost. Thus, trading activity by option moneyness should be a gauge of informed option trading. We construct a dollar volume‐weighted average moneyness measure to capture option trading activity at different moneyness levels. Stock returns increase with this measure, suggesting more trading activity in options with higher leverage predicts future stock returns. Our results hold cross‐sectionally and at the portfolio level yielding a Fama–French five‐factor α of 12% per year for all stocks and 33% per year for high implied volatility stocks.
Refractory fistula of bladder repaired with transurethral cystoscopic injection of N‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate
Authors: Mukai Sakurako , Shinmei Shunsuke , Muto Masayuki , Hatayama Tomoya , Shikuma Hiroyuki , Miyamoto Shunsuke , Fujii Shinsuke , Sadahide Kousuke , Sekino Yohei , Hieda Keisuke , Inoue Shogo , Hayashi Tetsutaro , Teishima Jun , Matsubara Akio
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Refractory fistulas of the bladder are not rare, but they can rarely be closed naturally. Bladder fistulas can be treated in various ways. We report the case of an old woman who had a refractory fistula of the bladder that was able to be repaired with transurethral cystoscopic injection of N‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate.

Case presentation

For decades after being treated for cervical cancer in 1970s, the woman frequently suffered from fevers. A computed tomography scan showed pelvic abscess at the left side of her bladder, and cystography showed urine leakage at the wall. Thus, we diagnosed her with a pelvic abscess due to a bladder fistula after radiation. Then, we treated her with drainage, antibiotic agents, and N‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate. After that, she no longer had fevers, and cystography showed no leakage of urine.

Conclusion

This result indicates transurethral cystoscopic injection of N‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate may treat bladder fistulas safely, minimally invasively, and quickly.
Crossing matchings and circuits have maximal length
Authors: Kupitz Yaakov S. , Last Hagit , Martini Horst , Perles Micha A. , Pinchasi Rom
Published: November 2019

Suppose , . A set of line segments is a matching of if is the set of endpoints of . The length of is the sum of lengths of . is called a crossing matching if every two segments cross. It is shown that a crossing matching (if it exists) is longer than any other matching of . In fact, if is a crossing matching of , and is an arbitrary matching of , then, within the union , we can find polygonal paths that connect to () and are pairwise almost disjoint. In the same vein: suppose . A Hamiltonian ‐circuit on is an asterisk if every two nonadjacent edges of cross. It is shown that if admits an asterisk , then is longer than any other ‐regular geometric graph on . This proves an old conjecture by the first author.
Gallai‐Ramsey number for K4
Authors: Liu Henry , Magnant Colton , Saito Akira , Schiermeyer Ingo , Shi Yongtang
Published: November 2019

Given a graph , the ‐colored Gallai‐Ramsey number is defined to be the minimum integer such that every ‐coloring (using all colors) of the complete graph on vertices contains either a rainbow triangle or a monochromatic copy of . Recently, Fox et al [J. Combin. Theory Ser. B, 111 (2015), pp. 75–125] conjectured the value of the Gallai‐Ramsey numbers for complete graphs. We verify this conjecture for the first open case, where .
Efficient simulation of DC‐AC power converters using multirate partial differential equations
Authors: Pels Andreas , Sabariego Ruth V. , Schöps Sebastian
Published: November 2019

Switch‐mode power converters are used in various applications to convert between different voltage (or current) levels. They use transistors to switch on and off the input voltage to generate a pulsed voltage whose arithmetic average is the desired output voltage of the converter. After smoothening by filters, the converter output is used to supply devices. The simulation of these switch‐mode power converters by conventional time discretization is computationally expensive since a high number of time steps is necessary to properly resolve the unknown state variables and detect switch events of the excitation. This paper proposes a multirate method based on the concept of multirate partial differential equations (MPDEs), which splits the solution into fast varying and slowly varying parts. The method is designed to work with pulse‐width modulated (PWM) excitation with a constant switching cycle and varying duty cycle. It is applicable to problems in which the circuit part generating the pulsed voltage, i.e., consisting of transistors, diodes, and voltage sources, can be approximated by an ideal PWM excitation. Switching‐event detection is no longer necessary and a much smaller number of time steps are required for a decent resolution, thus leading to a highly efficient method. The important case of varying duty cycles in the MPDE framework is addressed for the first time.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia caused by a large homozygous deletion including exons 1–4 of DRC1 in Japanese patients with recurrent sinopulmonary infection
Authors: Keicho Naoto , Hijikata Minako , Morimoto Kozo , Homma Sakae , Taguchi Yoshio , Azuma Arata , Kudoh Shoji
Published: November 2019

Background

Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) is a sinopulmonary disease mainly affecting Asian populations. Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder impairing ciliary structure and function. These two disorders are not easily distinguished by clinical signs and symptoms.

Methods

In 105 Japanese patients with recurrent sinopulmonary infection, initially diagnosed with DPB, and 37 patients with recurrent airway infection diagnosed in adulthood, the deletion allele of DRC1 or CCDC164, recently recognized as a pathogenic PCD gene variant, was searched using a multiplexed PCR‐based method, and the deletion breakpoints and other variants around the gene were determined by Sanger sequencing and targeted resequencing.

Results

A large homozygous deletion in DRC1 was identified in three of the 142 patients. Furthermore, heterozygous carriers of the deletion with the same breakpoint were found with the allele frequency of 0.002 in the healthy Japanese population, indicating that this loss‐of‐function variant may be acting as a common mutation causing PCD in Japanese.

Conclusion

PCD caused by the DRC1 defect is not readily identified by either high‐speed video‐microscopy or ciliary ultrastructure analysis, posing significant difficulties in reaching a correct diagnosis without the aid of genetic tests. Careful investigation of the causes of sinopulmonary diseases is warranted in Asian populations.
Association of fitness and body fatness with left ventricular mass: The Heart Health Study
Authors: Rogers Renee J. , Schelbert Erik B. , Lang Wei , Fridman Yaron , Yuan Nalingna , Jakicic John M.
Published: November 2019

Objective

Left ventricular mass (LVM) is a clinical prognostic indicator of cardiovascular disease. Left ventricular mass is associated with body size (body mass index [BMI], weight, and body surface area [BSA]). This study examined if the association between body size (weight, BMI, and BSA) and LVM is influenced by body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults who are overweight or obese.

Methods

This study included cross‐sectional baseline data from a randomized clinical trial. Participants included 379 adults (age, 45.6 ± 7.9 y) who were overweight or obese (BMI, 32.4 ± 3.8 kg·m−2). Measures included weight, height, BMI, BSA, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and LVM by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Results

Left ventricular mass was positively associated with weight, BMI, BSA, and fitness (P < .0001) and inversely associated with percent body fat (P < .0001). Stepwise multiple regression models showed that body fatness was inversely associated and cardiorespiratory fitness was positively associated with LVM even after considering weight, BMI, or BSA in the analyses.

Conclusions

These cross‐sectional findings support that in adults who are overweight or obese but otherwise relatively healthy, LVM is associated with both body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness. This may indicate the need to reduce body fatness and improve fitness for patients with obesity to enhance cardiovascular structure and function.
Biobehavioural approaches to prevention and treatment: A call for implementation science in obesity research
Authors: Kaiser Kathryn A. , Carson Tiffany L. , Dhurandhar Emily J. , Neumeier William H. , Cardel Michelle I.
Published: November 2019

Much progress has been made in the last 30 years in understanding the causes and mechanisms that contribute to obesity, yet widely available and successful strategies for prevention and treatment remain elusive at population levels. This paper discusses the biobehavioural framework and provides suggestions for applying it to enable greater progress in the science of obesity prevention and treatment, including an increased focus on implementation of science strategies. The objective is to promote a re‐evaluation of current views about preventing and treating obesity within a unified biobehavioural framework. Further integration of research exploring how both behavioural and biological components interact is a critical step forward.
Adverse childhood experiences and cognitive function among adults with excess adiposity
Authors: Hawkins Misty , Ciciolla Lucia , Colaizzi Janna , Keirns Natalie , Smith Caitlin , Stout Madison , Addante Samantha , Armans Mira , Erato Gina
Published: November 2019

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and obesity are independently associated with brain/neurocognitive health. Despite a growing emphasis on the importance of early life adversity on health, the relationship between ACEs and neurocognition in adults with overweight/obesity is unclear. The objective was to examine associations between self‐reported ACEs and measured neurocognitive domains in a sample of adults with overweight/obesity.

Methods

Participants were 95 predominantly white, highly educated adult women (76% female, 81% Caucasian, and 75% ≥ bachelor's degree) with excess adiposity enrolled in the Cognitive and Self‐regulatory Mechanisms of Obesity Study. ACEs and fluid/crystallized neurocognitive domains were measured at baseline using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale and the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery and Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metric, respectively.

Results

Higher ACEs scores were negatively correlated with fluid cognition (r = −.34, P < .001) but not crystallized cognition (r = .01, ns). Individuals with 3 and 4+ ACEs displayed significantly lower fluid cognition scores than those with fewer ACEs F4,89 = 3.24, P < .05. After accounting for body mass index (BMI), age, sex, race, and education, higher ACEs scores were still associated with poorer performance on overall fluid cognition (β = −.36, P < .01), along with the following subtests: Stroop Colour/Word test (β = −.23, P < .05), Go/No‐Go omissions (β = .29, P < .01), and Picture Sequence Memory task (β = −.30, P < .01).

Conclusions

The role of ACEs in health may be related to their associations with executive function and episodic neurocognitive domains essential to cognitive processing and self‐regulation. Obesity science should further examine the role of ACEs and neurocognition in obesity prevention, prognosis, and treatment using more rigorous, prospective designs and more diverse samples.
Disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates: Solvable or not?
Authors: Badal Simone , Aiken William , Morrison Belinda , Valentine Henkel , Bryan Sophia , Gachii Andrew , Ragin Camille
Published: November 2019

Prostate cancer (PCa) is recognized as a disease possessing not only great variation in its geographic and racial distribution but also tremendous variation in its potential to cause morbidity and death and it, therefore, ought not to be considered a homogenous disease entity. Morbidity and death from PCa are disproportionately higher in men of African ancestry (MAA) who are generally observed to have more aggressive disease and worse outcomes following treatment compared to men of European ancestry (MEA). The higher rates of PCa among MAA relative to MEA appear to be multifactorial and related to inherent differences in biological aggressiveness; a continued lack of awareness of the disease and methods of prevention; a lower prevalence of screen‐detected PCa; comparatively lower access to quality healthcare as well as systemic and institutionalized disparities in the administration of optimal care to MAA in developed countries such as the United States of America where high‐quality care is available. Even when access to quality healthcare is assured in equal access settings, it appears that MAA still have worse outcomes after PCa treatment stage‐for‐stage and grade‐for‐grade compared to MEA, suggesting that, inherent racial, ethnic and biological differences are paramount in predicting poor outcomes. This review has explored the different contributing factors to the current disparities in PCa incidence and mortality rates with emphasis on the incongruence in how research has been conducted in understanding the disease towards developing therapies.
Socio‐spatial inequalities and dynamics of rich and poor enclaves in three French cities: A policy of social mixing under test
Authors: Najib Kawtar
Published: November 2019

This paper analyses and compares the dynamics of sociospatial inequalities in districts of three cities located in the Northeast of France for the period 1990–1999–2006. The idea is to measure and track the dynamics of these inequalities that reveal significant urban fractures. Sociospatial disparities between districts and changes in them are measured using a multidate factorial statistical analysis. To do this, this paper collates 17 indicators from population censuses referring to characteristics of households and housing so as to compare not just the level of segregation but also the trajectory of neighbourhoods towards greater gentrification, pauperisation, or mixing. By analysing the selective processes of population distribution and urban change and monitoring them over time, this paper shows that inequalities have intensified in the three studied cities and that rich and poor segregated enclaves have become accentuated despite the objectives of social mixing of French urban policies. Other explanatory factors are therefore highlighted, such as the urban functions of the cities, residents' behaviours, and the “hidden” ethnic dimension, that all question the effectiveness of governmental actions, particularly on social mixing and diversity.
Growth of AlGaN/InGaN/GaN Heterostructure on AlN Template/Sapphire
Authors: Sumiya Masatomo , Kindole Dickson , Fukuda Kiyotaka , Yashiro Shuhei , Takehana Kanji , Honda Tohru , Imanaka Yasutaka
Published: November 2019

GaN films are grown directly on AlN templates/sapphire substrates without using low‐temperature (LT) buffer layers by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. AlN templates are complimentarily deformed at the initial growth of GaN, adjusting the a‐lattice constant and tilting crystal orientation slightly. Compared with the film on sapphire substrates using an LT buffer layer, the GaN on the AlN template forms a smoother surface and has better crystalline quality after a shorter growth time at a lower temperature. Higher‐quality InGaN films on the GaN/AlN template are subsequently grown to optimize the thickness exhibiting the minimum Urbach energy which is evaluated by photothermal deflection spectroscopy. A high‐quality AlGaN/InGaN heterostructure is fabricated in which the Shubnikov–de Haas oscillation can be clearly observed from the electron gas of the InGaN channel at the interface.
Eutectic Formation, V/III Ratio, and Controlled Polarity Inversion in Nitrides on Silicon
Authors: Roshko Alexana , Brubaker Matt D. , Blanchard Paul T. , Harvey Todd E. , Bertness Kris A.
Published: November 2019

The crystallographic polarity of AlN grown on Si(111) by plasma‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy is intentionally inverted from N‐polar to Al‐polar at a planar boundary. The position of the inversion boundary is controlled by a two‐step growth process that abruptly changes from Al‐rich to N‐rich growth conditions. The polarity inversion is induced by the presence of Si, which is incorporated from an Al–Si eutectic layer that forms during the initial stages of AlN growth and floats on the AlN surface under Al‐rich growth conditions. When the growth conditions change to N‐rich, the Al and Si in the eutectic react with the additional N‐flux and are incorporated into the solid AlN film. Relatively low levels of Al–Si eutectic formation combined with lateral variations in the Si incorporation lead to nonuniformity in the polarity inversion and formation of surprisingly narrow, vertical inversion domains. The results suggest that intentional incorporation of uniform layers of Si may provide a method for producing polarity engineered nitride structures.
Magnetic order and valence fluctuation in a PuGa intermetallic compound studied via a first principles calculation
Authors: Li Ru‐song , Lu Xing , Xin Du‐qiang , Wang Jin‐tao , Ao Bing‐yun
Published: November 2019

In order to reveal electronic properties of a plutonium‐gallium intermetallic compound (Pu3Ga), and its potential implication for microscopic mechanisms for effects of Ga doping on the electronic and structural properties, as well as the phase stability of delta‐phase PuGa alloy, a first principles calculation on the magnetic properties of this system is implemented by using density functional theory (DFT) plus on‐site Coulomb repulsion U with nonmagnetic, ferromagnetic, and antiferromagnetic (AFM) orders, while the intermediate correlation effect, which is beyond the scope of pure itinerant and localized electronic model, is investigated by using a many‐body technique combining DFT and dynamical mean‐field theory considering the dynamical correlation effect due to the incompletely filled Pu 5f orbitals and the relativistic effect by inclusion of spin‐orbit coupling (SOC). Our findings show that Pu3Ga is a bad metal with AFM order, which is in good agreement with the experimental magnetic measurement. SOC further splitting Pu 5f states into j = 5/2 and j = 7/2 manifolds, the former exhibits metallic character, while the latter insulating feature. Occupation analysis establishes that an average occupancy of Pu 5f electrons in Pu3Ga is nf = 4.9598, this result together with the spectrum function indicates that 5f electrons in this system might be a localized state with strong valence fluctuation. Additionally, optimization of lattice parameter, density of state, and momentum‐resolved electronic spectrum function are also presented.
A model‐based approach for clustering of multivariate semicontinuous data with application to dietary pattern analysis and intervention
Authors: Jiang Tao , Lu Yahui , Duan Huimin , Zhang Wei , Liu Aiyi
Published: November 2019

Semicontinuous data, characterized by a sizable number of zeros and observations from a continuous distribution, are frequently encountered in health research concerning food consumptions, physical activities, medical and pharmacy claims expenditures, and many others. In analyzing such semicontinuous data, it is imperative that the excessive zeros be adequately accounted for to obtain unbiased and efficient inference. Although many methods have been proposed in the literature for the modeling and analysis of semicontinuous data, little attention has been given to clustering of semicontinuous data to identify important patterns that could be indicative of certain health outcomes or intervention effects. We propose a Bernoulli‐normal mixture model for clustering of multivariate semicontinuous data and demonstrate its accuracy as compared to the well‐known clustering method with the conventional normal mixture model. The proposed method is illustrated with data from a dietary intervention trial to promote healthy eating behavior among children with type 1 diabetes. In the trial, certain diabetes friendly foods (eg, total fruit, whole fruit, dark green and orange vegetables and legumes, whole grain) were only consumed by a proportion of study participants, yielding excessive zero values due to nonconsumption of the foods. Baseline foods consumptions data in the trial are used to explore preintervention dietary patterns among study participants. While the conventional normal mixture model approach fails to do so, the proposed Bernoulli‐normal mixture model approach has shown to be able to identify a dietary profile that significantly differentiates the intervention effects from others, as measured by the popular healthy eating index at the end of the trial.
The influence of CEO risk tolerance on initial pay packages
Authors: Graffin Scott D. , Hubbard Timothy D. , Christensen Dane M. , Lee Eric Y.
Published: November 2019

Research Summary

Based on agency theory, CEOs with greater risk aversion should be given greater incentive‐based compensation to motivate risk taking. We explore whether new CEOs receive initial pay packages that follow this recommendation, or instead receive pay packages that mirror their risk preferences. Rather than finding support for the agency theory perspective, we find that new CEOs are compensated in the way that reinforces their existing risk preferences. Specifically, using a CEO's political orientation to capture relative risk tolerance, we find that conservative‐leaning CEOs receive relatively less performance‐based pay than their liberal‐leaning counterparts. Supplemental analyses suggest this occurs through both a matching and tailoring process, whereby boards offer similar pay packages from CEO‐to‐CEO, but modify them based on differences in risk tolerances.

Managerial Summary

When designing a new CEO's pay contract, what proportion of the total compensation should be guaranteed versus performance based? To encourage risk taking, most researchers suggest that CEOs with greater risk aversion should have a pay mix that is more heavily weighted toward performance‐based pay. We find that the opposite occurs; new CEOs who are more risk averse tend to receive relatively less performance‐based pay than new CEOs who are more risk tolerant. This appears to occur because CEOs are attracted to firms that offered the prior CEO a pay package that appeals to the new CEO's risk tolerance. Our results also suggest that risk‐seeking CEOs' strategic actions are more strongly influenced by performance‐based pay, while more risk‐averse CEOs seem relatively unaffected by pay mix.
Microfluidics for Production of Particles: Mechanism, Methodology, and Applications
Authors: Liu Zehua , Fontana Flavia , Python Andre , Hirvonen Jouni T. , Santos Hélder A.
Published: November 2019

In the past two decades, microfluidics‐based particle production is widely applied for multiple biological usages. Compared to conventional bulk methods, microfluidic‐assisted particle production shows significant advantages, such as narrower particle size distribution, higher reproducibility, improved encapsulation efficiency, and enhanced scaling‐up potency. Herein, an overview of the recent progress of the microfluidics technology for nano‐, microparticles or droplet fabrication, and their biological applications is provided. For both nano‐, microparticles/droplets, the previously established mechanisms behind particle production via microfluidics and some typical examples during the past five years are discussed. The emerging interdisciplinary technologies based on microfluidics that have produced microparticles or droplets for cellular analysis and artificial cells fabrication are summarized. The potential drawbacks and future perspectives are also briefly discussed.
Ordered clustering method and degradation trend analysis for performance degradation of tantalum capacitor
Authors: Zhao Jingying , Liu Jianmeng
Published: November 2019

The performance degradation trend of a tantalum capacitor has different characteristics in different degradation regimes with different temperatures and humidity. Clustering method and degradation trend analysis can be useful for early warning of life. In this paper, according to the degradation characteristics of the capacitance and the dissipation factor with different temperature and humidity, the experiment is designed, and the failure mechanisms of different degeneration regimes are analyzed. After the ordered clustering method is introduced, using the natural property and the change rate α(k) of the slope β(k) of the error function δ[p(m,k)], the determination method of the optimization clustering number is put forward. The Davies‐Bouldin Index is proposed as the evaluation method of the ordered clustering result, and the validation of the evaluation method was verified by the degradation data with other stresses. For the stable degradation regime, the degradation trend analysis is completed. The error result shows that the degradation fitting functions can be a good fit for the degradation trend with different stress. According to the degradation fitting analysis, the degradation prediction method is described to find the relationship between prediction life and different temperature and humidity to realize the failure time prediction with different stresses using the early degradation data. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Increase of major complications with a longer ischemia time in breast reconstruction with a free deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap
Authors: Hillberg Nadine S. , Beugels Jop , van Kuijk Sander M. J. , van der Hulst René R. J. W. , Tuinder Stefania M. H.
Published: November 2019

Background

The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap is one of the most used free flaps for postmastectomy breast reconstruction. Prolonged ischemia can result in (partial) flap loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between ischemia time and postoperative complications of DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

Methods

A retrospective study of all patients who received a breast reconstructionwith aDIEP flap atMaastricht University Medical Center in theNetherlands, between January 2010 and June 2017 (n = 677). The flaps were divided into two groups: flaps with an ischemia time less than 60 min and those with 60 min or more. Recipient site complications, in particular major complications equal to re-exploration, and partial or total flap loss were the primary outcome measures.

Results

In 23.9% of the 677 included DIEP flaps, the ischemia time was 60 min or longer. Within this group, a complication of the recipient site occurred in 30.9% of the flaps. A major complication occurred in 17.3% of the flaps with 60 min or more ischemia time.With regard to the flaps with less than 60-min ischemia time, a complication occurred in 22.1% of the cases of which 8.9%would be considered amajor complication. A significant association was found between ischemia time and major complications on univariate (p value = 0.003) and multivariate analyses (p value = 0.016).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that an ischemia time less than 60 min is associated with a significantly lower risk of major recipient site complications compared to an ischemia time of 60 min or more.

Level of evidence: Level III, therapeutic, risk/prognostic study.
The repeatability of bilateral diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the upper leg muscles of healthy adults
Authors: Monte Jithsa R. , Hooijmans Melissa T. , Froeling Martijn , Oudeman Jos , Tol Johannes L. , Maas Mario , Strijkers Gustav J. , Nederveen Aart J.
Published: November 2019

Objectives

Assessment of the repeatability of diffusion parameter estimations in the upper leg muscles of healthy adults over the time course of 2 weeks, from a simultaneous bilateral upper leg DTI measurement.

Methods

SE-EPI DTI datasets were acquired at 3 T in the upper legs of 15 active adults at a time interval of 2 weeks. ROIs were manually drawn for four quadriceps and three hamstring muscles of both legs. The following DTI parameters were analyzed: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd eigenvalue (λ1, λ2, and λ3), mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA). DTI parameters per muscle were calculated with and without intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) correction together with SNR levels per muscle. Bland-Altman plots and within-subject coefficient of variation (wsCV) were calculated. Left-right differences between muscles were assessed.

Results

The Bland-Altman analysis showed good repeatability of all DTI parameters except FA for both the IVIM-corrected and standard data. wsCV values show that MD has the highest repeatability (4.5% IVIM; 5.6% standard), followed by λ2 (4.9% IVIM; 5.5% standard), λ1 (5.3% IVIM; 7.5% standard), and λ3 (5.7% IVIM; 5.7% standard). wsCV values of FA were 15.2% for the IVIM-corrected data and 13.9% for the standard analysis. The SNR (41.8 ± 16.0 right leg, 41.7 ± 17.1 left leg) and wsCV values were similar for the left and right leg and no left-right bias was detected.

Conclusions

Repeatability was good for standard DTI data and slightly better for IVIM-corrected DTI data. Our protocol is suitable for DTI of the upper legs with overall good SNR.

Key Points

• The presented DTI protocol is repeatable and therefore suitable for bilateral DT imaging of the upper legs.

• Additional B1
+
calibrations improve SNR and repeatability.

• Correcting for perfusion effects improves repeatability.
Impact of free-living pattern of sedentary behaviour on intra-day glucose regulation in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Paing Aye C. , McMillan Kathryn A. , Kirk Alison F. , Collier Andrew , Hewitt Allan , Chastin Sebastien F. M.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To investigate how the pattern of sedentary behaviour affects intra-day glucose regulation in type 2 diabetes.

Methods

This intensive longitudinal study was conducted in 37 participants with type 2 diabetes (age, 62.8 ± 10.5 years). Glucose and sedentary behaviour/physical activity were assessed with a continuous glucose monitoring (Abbott FreeStyle Libre) and an activity monitor (activPAL3) for 14 days. Multiple regression models with generalised estimating equations (GEEs) approach were used to assess the associations of sedentary time and breaks in sedentary time with pre-breakfast glucose, pre-lunch glucose, pre-dinner glucose, post-breakfast glucose, post-lunch glucose, post-dinner glucose, bedtime glucose, the dawn phenomenon, time in target glucose range (TIR, glucose 3.9–10 mmol/L) and time above target glucose range (TAR, glucose > 10 mmol/L).

Results

Sedentary time was associated with higher pre-breakfast glucose (p = 0.001), pre-dinner glucose (p < 0.001), post-lunch glucose (p = 0.005), post-dinner glucose (p = 0.013) and the dawn phenomenon (p < 0.001). Breaks in sedentary time were associated with lower pre-breakfast glucose (p = 0.023), pre-dinner glucose (p = 0.023), post-breakfast glucose (p < 0.001) and the dawn phenomenon (p = 0.004). The association between sedentary time and less TIR (p = 0.022) and the association between breaks in sedentary time and more TIR (p = 0.001) were also observed.

Conclusions

Reducing sedentary time and promoting breaks in sedentary time could be clinically relevant to improve intra-day glucose regulation in type 2 diabetes.
Quasi-DNS Dataset of a Piloted Flame with Inhomogeneous Inlet Conditions
Authors: Zirwes Thorsten , Zhang Feichi , Habisreuther Peter , Hansinger Maximilian , Bockhorn Henning , Pfitzner Michael , Trimis Dimosthenis
Published: November 2019

A quasi-DNS of the partially premixed turbulent Sydney flame in configuration FJ200-5GP-Lr75-57 has been conducted using detailed molecular diffusion for multi-component mixtures and complex reaction mechanisms. In order to study flame dynamics like regime transition in this flame for the development of new combustion models and to directly compare the quasi-DNS to different LES models, the simulation results are compiled into a data base. Because the simulation was performed with OpenFOAM, we demonstrate the quasi-DNS capabilities of OpenFOAM by performing canonical test cases. They attest that OpenFOAM’s cubic discretization has lower numerical diffusion compared to classical central difference schemes and can reach higher than second order convergence rate in some cases. The quasi-DNS of the Sydney flame is conducted with a self-developed reacting flow solver which is able to accurately compute molecular diffusion coefficients from kinetic gas theory and employs a fast implementation for detailed reaction mechanisms. The computational mesh is shown to be able to resolve the flow as well as the flame front sufficiently for the quasi-DNS. Comparisons with experimental data also show that the simulation can quantitatively reproduce measured time-mean and time-RMS statistics.
Ethical Judgments About Social Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Influence of Spatio-Cultural Meanings
Authors: De Avillez Maria Margarida , Greenman Andrew , Marlow Susan
Published: November 2019

Within this paper, we adopt a qualitative process approach to explore how ethical judgments are influenced by spatio-cultural meanings applied to social entrepreneurship in the context of Mozambique. We analyse how such ethical judgments emerged using data gathered over a 4 year period in Maputo. Our findings illustrate three modes used to inform ethical judgments: embracing, rejecting and integrating. These describe how ethical judgments transpire as participants evaluate social entrepreneurship drawing upon related global normative meanings and those embedded within the local context. This analysis offers a critical contribution regarding how ethical judgments regarding social entrepreneurship evolve from negotiation and interaction within a context of multiple spatio-cultural meanings.
The Variation of Geomagnetic Storm Duration with Intensity
Authors: Haines C. , Owens M. J. , Barnard L. , Lockwood M. , Ruffenach A.
Published: November 2019

Variability in the near-Earth solar wind conditions can adversely affect a number of ground- and space-based technologies. Such space-weather impacts on ground infrastructure are expected to increase primarily with geomagnetic storm intensity, but also storm duration, through time-integrated effects. Forecasting storm duration is also necessary for scheduling the resumption of safe operating of affected infrastructure. It is therefore important to understand the degree to which storm intensity and duration are correlated. The long-running, global geomagnetic disturbance index, $\mathit{aa}$aa, has recently been recalibrated to account for the geographic distribution of the component stations. We use this $\mathit{aa}_{H}$aaH index to analyse the relationship between geomagnetic storm intensity and storm duration over the past 150 years, further adding to our understanding of the climatology of geomagnetic activity. Defining storms using a peak-above-threshold approach, we find that more intense storms have longer durations, as expected, though the relationship is nonlinear. The distribution of durations for a given intensity is found to be approximately log-normal. On this basis, we provide a method to probabilistically predict storm duration given peak intensity, and test this against the $\mathit{aa}_{H}$aaH dataset. By considering the average profile of storms with a superposed-epoch analysis, we show that activity becomes less recurrent on the 27-day timescale with increasing intensity. This change in the dominant physical driver, and hence average profile, of geomagnetic activity with increasing threshold is likely the reason for the nonlinear behaviour of storm duration.
BGP-15 Protects Mitochondria in Acute, Acetaminophen Overdose Induced Liver Injury
Authors: Sarnyai Farkas , Szekerczés Timea , Csala Miklós , Sümegi Balázs , Szarka András , Schaff Zsuzsa , Mandl József
Published: November 2019

Acetaminophen (APAP) induced hepatotoxicity involves activation of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK), mitochondrial damage and ER stress. BGP-15, a hydroximic acid derivative, has been reported to have hepatoprotective effects in APAP overdose induced liver damage. Effect of BGP-15 was further investigated on mitochondria in APAP-overdose induced acute liver injury in mice. We found that BGP-15 efficiently preserved mitochondrial morphology, and it caused a marked decrease in the number of damaged mitochondria. Attenuation of mitochondrial damage by BGP-15 is supported by immunohistochemistry as the TOMM20 label and the co-localized autophagy markers detected in the livers of APAP-treated mice were markedly reduced upon BGP-15 administration. This effect, along with the observed prevention of JNK activation likely contribute to the mitochondrial protective action of BGP-15.
Public Perceptions of a New MRT Service: a Pre-launch Study in Jakarta
Authors: Dahlan Ahmad Faisal , Fraszczyk Anna
Published: November 2019

Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is the first rapid transit system in Indonesia, built with the aim of alleviating the severe congestion in Jakarta by offering a travel alternative to people using private vehicles. Although Jakarta MRT is the most sophisticated inland transport mode in Jakarta, prior to its launch, there was no evidence or guarantee that the local community was willing to use it. Hence, the pre-launch study of a non-operational public transport system was introduced to better understand perceptions of the new MRT service in Jakarta from its potential future customers’ perspective as well as their willingness to use it. A survey was conducted on 516 respondents in Jakarta and three surrounding areas of Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi. The collected data was divided into two respondent groups: ‘MRT corridor areas’ (the MRT group), which includes Central and South Jakarta residents, and ‘other areas’ (the other group), which includes residents from all the other surrounding areas. The key finding of the study is that a great majority of the respondents from both groups declared a willingness to undertake a mode shift to Jakarta MRT services in the future. Various statistically significant differences were identified between the two groups. Moreover, respondents ranked six factors in the order of priority when selecting a transport mode, with reliability and safety issues identified as the most important. A set of key recommendations, addressed to the Jakarta MRT operator, is listed in order to optimize the MRT’s role in alleviating congestion in Jakarta. The study approach presented in this paper could be applied by other cities considering introduction of a new (transport or) metro system in order to understand its potential customers’ perceptions and expectations toward the new service.
The Best possible Time resolution: How precise could a Radiocarbon dating method be?
Authors: Svetlik I , Jull A J T , Molnár M , Povinec P P , Kolář T , Demján P , Pachnerova Brabcova K , Brychova V , Dreslerová D , Rybníček M , Simek P
Published: November 2019

Today, accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) technology enables us to carry out very precise measurements of radiocarbon (14C). Unfortunately, due to fluctuations in the 14C calibration curve, the resulting calibrated time intervals vary from decades up to centuries in calibrated age. Within a time scale of several decades, we can find several time intervals on the 14C calibration curve which correspond with periods of rapid increases in atmospheric 14CO2 activity. Some of these “high slope” parts of the calibration curve could be used for fine time resolution for radiocarbon dating of individual samples. Nevertheless, there are certain limitations owing to the properties of the samples measured. We have prepared a time-resolution curve for the 14C dating method, applying calibration curve IntCal13 and assuming an uncertainty of 14C analyses ±15 yr BP (for recent samples). Our curve of the time resolution covers the last 50 ka. We found several time intervals with time resolution below 50 yr BP for the last 3 ka. Several time intervals which can enable substantially better time resolution compared to neighboring parts of the calibration curve were also found for periods older than 3 ka.
Is informal care sufficient to meet the long-term care needs of older people with disabilities in China? Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey
Authors: Yang Wei , Tan Si Ying
Published: November 2019

Rapid demographic shifts and socio-economic changes are fuelling concerns over the inadequate supply of informal care – the most common source of care-giving for older people in China. Unmet long-term care needs, which are believed to cause numerous adverse effects on health, continue to increase. Drawing data from the 2015 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, this study explores the relationship between informal care provision and unmet long-term care needs among older people in China. We first examine the availability of informal care among older people with disabilities. We then analyse whether a higher intensity of informal care leads to lower unmet needs. Our findings suggest that the majority of older people with disabilities receive a low intensity of care, i.e. less than 80 hours per month. Besides, a higher intensity of informal care received could significantly lower the probabilities of unmet needs for the disabled older adults who have mainly instrumental activities of daily living limitations. Our study points out that informal care cannot address the needs of those who are struggling with multi-dimensional difficulties in their daily living. Our findings highlight a pressing need for the government to buttress the formal care provision and delivery systems to support both informal care-givers and disabled older people in China.
Negative Political Communication on Social Media and the Gender Gap: A Study of Men's and Women's Reactions to Presidential Candidate Attacks on Facebook in 2012 and 2016
Authors: Phillips Justin Bonest
Published: November 2019

Do men and women respond differently to negative political communication? Only a limited collection of studies into the effects of negative campaigns have investigated this research question, and the conflicting results produced from such studies have prevented the development of a widely accepted answer. As campaigns transition to new media environments, further problems arise, as any potential gender gap may be magnified on the new political communication battlefield of social media. The present article contributes to this sparsely investigated area through an empirical study of men's and women's reactions on Facebook to US presidential candidate attacks during two general election campaigns (2012 and 2016) and two primaries (2016 Democratic and Republican). Across nearly 400 million reactions and 40 million unique users, women demonstrate lower receptivity to candidate attacks than men. Two potential explanatory factors for the gap are examined, but neither fully captures the magnitude of the differences observed. Conceptualizing the gender gap composition in terms of differential receptivity most accurately explains these findings and potentially resolves the competing explanations for the gap within the existing literature.