bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monte Carlo calculation of the mass stopping power of EBT3 and EBT‐XD films for protons for energy ranges of 50–400 MeV
Authors: Shi Chengyu , Chen Chin‐Cheng , Mah Dennis , Chan Maria F.
Published: November 2018

Objective

The goal of the present study was to calculate the continuous slowing down approximation (CDSA) ranges and derive mass stopping power for EBT3 and EBT‐XD films for therapeutic protons energy ranges of 50–400 MeV.

Methods

The MCNPX and TRansport of Ions in Matter (TRIM) Monte Carlo codes were used in this study. Utilizing the published International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurement 49 data for the water mass stopping power and CSDA ranges, the mass stopping powers of EBT3 and EBT‐XD films were derived using the approximation proposed by Newhauser and Zhang in 2009.

Results

The calculated CSDA ranges by MCNPX and TRIM in water were first benchmarked to International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurement 49 published data for water, and found to be within 1% with a 1.4‐mm maximum difference. The calculated CSDA values in EBT3 film, compared with the measured CSDA ranges in the EBT3 film, were within 2% of the calculated values with a 3‐mm maximum difference. The MCNPX and TRIM results for CSDA ranges agreed with each other to within 2.7% for EBT3 film and 4.4% for EBT‐XD film. The overall uncertainties of the MCNPX and TRIM‐derived CSDA ranges were 3% and 1.3%, respectively.

Conclusion

The mass stopping powers for Gafchromic EBT3 and EBT‐XD films were derived.
Orthogonal second‐order space‐filling designs with insights from simulation experiments to support test planning
Authors: Sanchez Paul J. , Sanchez Susan M.
Published: November 2018

Frequency‐based designs are presented for exploring large numbers of factors in simulation experiments. This approach yields completely orthogonal full second‐order space‐filling designs. We describe how they are generated, explore their space‐filling properties, and compare their performance to other designs of similar sizes. We illustrate their use for test planning on a simulation model of a live counter‐IED (improved explosive device) test event and present some ideas about ways in which simulation experiments can be used to support planning for live tests.
Forecasting value‐at‐risk in oil prices in the presence of volatility shifts
Authors: Ewing Bradley T. , Malik Farooq , Anjum Hassan
Published: November 2018

Recent evidence suggests shifts (structural breaks) in the volatility of returns causes non‐normality by significantly increasing kurtosis. In this paper, we endogenously detect significant shifts in the volatility of oil prices and incorporate this information to estimate Value‐at‐Risk (VaR) to accurately forecast large declines in oil prices. Our out‐of‐sample performance results indicate that the model, which incorporates both time varying volatility (without making any distributional assumptions) and shifts in volatility, produces more accurate VaR forecasts than several benchmark methods. We make a timely contribution as the recent more frequent occurrences of unexpected large oil price declines has gained significant attention because of its substantial impact on the financial markets and the global economy.
Beyond equidistant sampling for performance and cost: A loop‐shaping approach applied to a motion system
Authors: van Zundert Jurgen , Oomen Tom
Published: November 2018

Nonequidistant sampling potentially enhances the performance/cost trade‐off that is present in traditional equidistant sampling schemes. The aim of this paper is to develop a systematic feedback control design approach for systems that go beyond equidistant sampling. A loop‐shaping design framework for such nonequidistantly sampled systems is developed that addresses both stability and performance. The framework only requires frequency response function measurements of the LTI system, whereas it appropriately addresses the linear periodically time‐varying behavior introduced by the nonequidistant sampling. Experimental validation on a motion system demonstrates the superiority of the design framework for nonequidistantly sampled systems compared to traditional designs that rely on equidistant sampling.
Multivariable supertwisting fixed‐time approach for RLV re‐entry attitude control
Authors: You Ming , Zong Qun , Zuo Linxuan , Wang Xiao , Zhao Xinyi
Published: November 2018

The attitude control problem of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) is investigated based on multivariable supertwisting fixed‐time comprehensive control strategy. A novel multivariable supertwisting fixed‐time approach, which can guarantee that the states converge to zero within a fixed time, is proposed. According to the multiple time scale principle, the RLV attitude control system is divided into attitude angle subsystem and attitude angle rate subsystem. Based on multivariable supertwisting fixed‐time approach, comprehensive design of fixed‐time disturbance observer and controller is proposed to ensure that the attitude angle tracking error converges to zero within a fixed time. The features of the proposed control scheme contain that the settling time is independent of initial conditions and it has the better property of chattering reduction. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed method is verified through numerical simulation.
Recent Progress on Electrocatalyst and Photocatalyst Design for Nitrogen Reduction
Authors: Li Mengqiao , Huang Hao , Low Jingxiang , Gao Chao , Long Ran , Xiong Yujie
Published: November 2018

Ammonia is one of the most important chemicals due to its enormous applications in fertilizer production and as an energy carrier. The production of ammonia mainly relies on the traditional Haber–Bosch process under high temperature and pressure, leading to massive energy consumption and notable environmental issues. Recently, electrocatalytic and photocatalytic nitrogen (N2) fixation have emerged for achieving green production of ammonia owing to their features of environmental friendliness and cost‐effectiveness. However, ammonia production through electrocatalysis and photocatalysis is still far away from practical applications. To facilitate the practical applications, a thorough understanding of nitrogen fixation is highly desired for the future design of high‐efficiency catalysts. Here, the fundamental investigations on electrocatalytic and photocatalytic N2 reduction are summarized. Based on the fundamental understanding, the current approaches and design strategies for heterogeneous catalysts toward electrocatalytic and photocatalytic N2 reduction are then presented. Finally, the remaining challenges and future opportunities in this field are outlined, leveraging the existing understanding on structure–property relationships. It is anticipated that this review sheds some light on the development of advanced catalytic systems for ammonia production through N2 fixation.
Silver‐coated monolithic silica column for separation of trans fatty acids
Authors: Poškus Vilius , Vičkačkaitė Vida
Published: November 2018

A monolithic silica sorbent has been successfully synthesized and modified with aminopropyl groups. The modification was achieved by the reaction of (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane and silanol groups on the sorbent surface. For the formation of silver nanoparticles on the aminopropyl groups modified monolithic sorbent, silver nitrate was used as a precursor and formaldehyde as a reducing reagent. Prepared sorbent was tested for pre‐separation of trans fatty acids methyl esters followed by gas chromatography analysis. Due to the interaction between the silver nanoparticles on sorbent surface and double bounds of fatty acids methyl esters, fractionation based on a number of double bounds and on the configuration was achieved.
A comparative study of target reliability index derivation for reinforced concrete structures governed by serviceability limit state
Authors: Lenner Roman , Viljoen Celeste , van Nierop Stacey
Published: November 2018

Typical design of reinforced concrete structures is governed by the ultimate limit state (ULS), while serviceability limit state (SLS) is checked. The target reliability index for ULS is recommended based on cost optimization and back calibration of existing practice. Many design cases, such as prestressed concrete, are, however, governed by serviceability conditions and the background for the current recommendations for target reliability index of irreversible SLS as provided by ISO 2394 is unclear. This contribution reviews previously developed generalized framework for determination of SLS target reliability by taking into account a cost ratio and statistical parameters of action‐resistance variable. Target reliability index βt,SLS can be then obtained from the previously introduced table with a minimum effort. A case‐specific approach to the cost optimization with FORM analysis is introduced in order to validate the results of the generic approach. It is found that there is a discrepancy in terms of the obtained value of target reliability index. This can be attributed to the influence of the decision parameter d in the cost optimization process. It affects the probability of failure pf(d) at the different rates for different formulations of SLSs. The nearly linear assumption in the generic formulation may not necessarily apply in other cases, and care should be taken when specifying target reliability index βt,SLS as the effectiveness of the decision parameter must be observed.
Five Key Principles: Guided Inquiry With Multimodal Text Sets
Authors: Hoch Mary L. , McCarty Ryan , Gurvitz Debra , Sitkoski Ivy
Published: November 2018

Although many students spend a considerable amount of time online, teachers cannot assume that students have the skills necessary for online reading and writing. Instruction in locating, navigating, organizing, and producing information in the online world is integral to students’ mastery of digital literacy. The authors detail the use of guided inquiry to explore multimodal text sets in a meaningful and collaborative way as a means of providing this instruction. Synthesis of prior research and analysis of study data resulted in the identification of five key principles necessary for effective instruction with multimodal text sets: attending to motivation and engagement, thoughtfully selecting sources, framing instruction as inquiry, supporting student synthesis, and writing for an authentic audience and purpose. These principles can help transform teachers’ instructional practices to meet the needs of today's learners.
Climate data empathy
Authors: Brönnimann Stefan , Wintzer Jeannine
Published: November 2018

In the era of climate services, which provide globally complete data products in a ready‐to‐use form, the context of climate data is in danger of being neglected or forgotten. However, the historical and present‐day context imprinted on this climate data is important in its own right. The data depend on political, economic and technological factors, as we show with a range of data coverage maps. We term awareness of and sensitivity to this context‐dependence “climate data empathy,” and argue that context should be seen as a source of information to be communicated along with the data. Such context not only provides additional information about the data products, but may help in designing communication strategies and contribute more generally to raising awareness of the contingency of environmental data. Decision making should thus make use of both climate data and its context.

This article is categorized under:

Climate, History, Society, Culture > Technological Aspects and Ideas
Rapid analysis of Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Zn in breakfast cereals (granola type) by energy dispersive‐X‐ray fluorescence
Authors: Perring Loïc , Cotard Aurélien , Al Sayadi Sarah , Berrut Stéphane
Published: November 2018

Energy dispersive‐X‐ray fluorescence (ED‐XRF) is a well spread near‐line analytical technique, suitable for easy and rapid measurement of major elements and/or trace elements especially in many different food matrices. This study demonstrates the fitness for purpose of this method to ensure the correct addition of minerals during breakfast cereal production. Indeed, variations in process and in raw material compositions may lead to values out of legal tolerance, and thus quality controls need to be regularly performed to meet the release compliance criteria. Using such analytical technique close to production lines can allow controls that are more systematic as well as avoiding the shipment of numerous samples for reference method analyses often done to external laboratories. Thus, ED‐XRF allows to ensure finished products compliance with product declarations. A commercial ED‐XRF device was used during this study. Within 7 min of analytical time for two replicates/sample, the developed method gave accurate results for the quantification of Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Zn in breakfast cereals without any proportional biases between ED‐XRF and reference method (inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectrometry) results.
F‐bridged Anions of Bromine and Gold: Predictions of Unexpected Behavior
Authors: Linnera Jarno , Ivlev Sergei I. , Kraus Florian , Karttunen Antti J.
Published: November 2018

The significant similarity between MF3, MF4–, and M2F7– (M = Au, Br) is studied using quantum chemical methods. It is expected that compounds containing Au3F10– anions are likely to be stable. A theoretical background for the ongoing attempts of their synthesis is provided by calculations on the stabilities and molecular structures of various bromine and gold anions with the general composition of MnF3n+1– (n = 1, 2, 3, 4). The anions show unexpected differences and peculiarities in their energetically preferable molecular structures. Different chain‐like structures are predicted as the global minima for the hypothetical Au3F10– and Br4F13– anions.
‘We Are Recreating Bedlam’: A History of Mental Illness and Prison Systems in England and Ireland
Authors: Cox Catherine , Marland Hilary
Published: November 2018

This essay explores the historical relationship between mental health and the prison system in England and Ireland, from the introduction of the separate system of discipline in the 1840s. In doing so, we focus on the persistently high rates of confinement of prisoners with mental health problems as well as the impact of prison regimes in producing or exacerbating mental illness. Despite recognition of the harmful relationship between the prison and mental disorder, responses by prison medical officers were stymied by their complex tasks of managing and treating mental illness and preserving prison discipline. Our account concludes by drawing out continuities from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century in terms of the obstacles to the effective care of mentally ill prisoners.
Maximal flavour violation: a Cabibbo mechanism for leptoquarks
Authors: Di Luzio Luca , Fuentes-Martin Javier , Greljo Admir , Nardecchia Marco , Renner Sophie
Published: November 2018

Abstract

We propose a mechanism that allows for sizeable flavour violation in quark-lepton currents, while suppressing flavour changing neutral currents in quark-quark and lepton-lepton sectors. The mechanism is applied to the recently proposed “4321” renormalizable model, which can accommodate the current experimental anomalies in B-meson decays, both in charged and neutral currents, while remaining consistent with all other indirect flavour and electroweak precision measurements and direct searches at high-p

T
. To support this claim, we present an exhaustive phenomenological survey of this fully calculable UV complete model and highlight the rich complementarity between indirect and direct searches.
Decision‐Making in the Emergency Laparotomy: A Mixed Methodology Study
Authors: Hendra Louise , Hendra Tim , Parker Stephen J.
Published: November 2018

Introduction

More than 30,000 emergency laparotomies take place annually in England and Wales (Symons et al. in Br J Surg 100(10):1318–1325, 2013; Shapter et al. in Anaesthesia 67(5):474–478, 2012). They are associated with high morbidity and an average inpatient 30‐day mortality rate of 11%. Inextricably linked to outcomes is the decision‐making process of whether or not to operate (NELA Project Team First patient report of the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit. RCoA, London, 2015; Crebbin et al. in Aust N Z J Surg 83(6):422–428, 2013). A mixed‐methods study was undertaken to investigate decision‐making in the emergency laparotomy and influencing factors.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were undertaken amongst general surgeons, exploring the decision‐making process. Results helped guide design of an online survey, consisting of vignettes and subsequent questions. Respondents were asked to decide whether or not they would perform a laparotomy for each vignette and the results compared to grade, risk attitudes and reflective practice. Responses were analysed for effect of previous positive and negative experiences and for consistency.

Results

Interviews revealed multiple important factors when considering whether or not to perform an emergency laparotomy, broadly categorised into patient‐related, surgeon‐related and external factors. A total of 116 general surgeons completed the survey: 12 SHOs, 79 registrars and 25 consultants. Non‐consultants were 10.4% (95% CI ±9.7%) more likely to perform an emergency laparotomy than consultants (p = 0.036) on multivariate analysis. No association was observed between operative practices and risk attitudes (p = 0.22), reflective practice (p = 0.7) or previous positive or negative experiences in univariate (p = 0.67) or multivariate analysis. Surgeons were not proven to be either consistent nor inconsistent in their decision‐making.

Conclusion

The decision to operate or not in an emergency laparotomy directly effects patient outcome. This study demonstrates a difference in decision‐making and risk attitudes between consultants and their juniors. To address this, formal teaching of models of decision‐making, influencing factors and vignette‐based consultant‐led discussions should be introduced into surgical training.
Spatial–temporal evolution of the distribution pattern of customer sources in tea trade of Fujian enterprise supply chain
Authors: Zhang Shiliang , Chang Tingcheng
Published: November 2018

The temporal and spatial operation of commodity business activities is neither random nor accidental. It is characterized by inner laws and features. Based on spatio-temporal analysis in GIS, the objective of this study was to use spatial autocorrelation method and kernel density estimation to study the temporal and spatial distribution pattern of customer sources in tea trade extracted from enterprise supply chains in Fujian Province, China. Using data of Fujian tea business as an example, customer sources showed a typical clustered pattern overall that could be classified into several hot areas. The distribution of customer sources is dynamic along with time. These hot areas spread from coastal cities to inland cities, ranging from urban to suburban. Meanwhile, it showed a relatively irregular distribution in suburban areas with aggregation distribution near urban areas. This study applied GIS spatio-temporal analysis technology to the analysis of an enterprise supply chain, synthesizing both spatial and temporal information and successfully integrating business with geography.
Parental Origins, Mixed Unions, and the Labor Supply of Second-Generation Women in the United States
Authors: McManus Patricia A. , Apgar Lauren
Published: November 2018

This study examines the joint impact of parental origins and partner choice on the employment behavior of second-generation women in the United States. We find that endogamy (choosing a first- or second-generation partner from the same national-origin group) is associated with lower labor supply among second-generation women, net of the effects of parental origin culture as proxied using the epidemiological approach to cultural transmission. Parental origin effects are mediated by education, but endogamy curtails economic activity regardless of educational attainment. The findings are robust for married women. Findings for women in cohabiting unions are more heterogeneous, however: cohabitation appears to mute some of the relationship between parental origin culture and women’s economic behavior. In particular, the negative relationship between endogamy and women’s labor supply does not hold for women in cohabiting unions.
Nerve cells developmental processes and the dynamic role of cytokine signaling
Authors: Guidolin Diego , Fede Caterina , Tortorella Cinzia
Published: November 2018

The stunning diversity of neurons and glial cells makes possible the higher functions of the central nervous system (CNS), allowing the organism to sense, interpret and respond appropriately to the external environment. This cellular diversity derives from a single primary progenitor cell type initiating lineage leading to the formation of both differentiated neurons and glial cells. The processes governing the differentiation of the progenitor pool of cells into mature nerve cells will be here briefly reviewed. They involve morphological transformations, specialized modes of cell division, migration, and controlled cell death, and are regulated through cell‐cell interactions and cues provided by the extracellular matrix, as well as by humoral factors from the cerebrospinal fluid and the blood system. In this respect, a quite large body of studies have been focused on cytokines, proteins representing the main signaling network that coordinates immune defense and the maintenance of homeostasis. At the same time, they are deeply involved in CNS development as regulatory factors. This dual role in the nervous system appears of particular relevance for CNS pathology, since cytokine dysregulation (occurring as a consequence of maternal infection, exposure to environmental factors or prenatal hypoxia) can profoundly impact on neurodevelopment and likely influence the response of the adult tissue during neuroinflammatory events.
England and the Jews
Authors: Heng Geraldine
Published: November 2018

For three centuries, a mixture of religion, violence, and economic conditions created a fertile matrix in Western Europe that racialized an entire diasporic population who lived in the urban centers of the Latin West: Jews. This Element explores how religion and violence, visited on Jewish bodies and Jewish lives, coalesced to create the first racial state in the history of the West. It is an example of how the methods and conceptual frames of postcolonial and race studies, when applied to the study of religion, can be productive of scholarship that rewrites the foundational history of the past.
Enhancing Compliance under the General Data Protection Regulation: The Risky Upshot of the Accountability- and Risk-based Approach
Authors: QUELLE Claudia
Published: November 2018

The risk-based approach has been introduced to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to make the rules and principles of data protection law “work better”. Organisations are required to calibrate the legal norms in the GDPR with an eye to the risks posed to the rights and freedoms of individuals. This article is devoted to an analysis of the way in which this new approach relates to “tick-box” compliance. How can the law enhance itself? If handled properly by controllers and supervisory authorities, the risk-based approach can bring about a valuable shift in data protection towards substantive protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. While the risk-based approach has a lot of potential, it also has a risk of its own: it relies on controllers to improve compliance, formulating what it means to attain compliance 2.0.
High-Resolution Peat Core Chronology Covering the Last 12 KYR Applying an Improved Peat Bog Sampling
Authors: Hubay Katalin , Braun Mihály , Harangi Sándor , Palcsu László , Túri Marianna , Jull A J Timothy , Molnár Mihály
Published: November 2018

This work focuses on building a high-resolution age-depth model for quantitative palaeoclimate study from the Mohos peat bog, East Carpathian mountains. The investigated core presents a continuous peat profile for the last 12 kyr. The chronology was based on 36 accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS14C) analyses of the separatedSphagnumsamples from different depths of the profile. DrySphagnumsamples for AMS dating were prepared using the classic acid-base-acid (ABA) method followed with an oxidative bleaching step to get clean cellulose.Sphagnumcellulose samples were measured by AMS using the EnvironMICADAS at the ICER (Debrecen, Hungary). A high-resolution chronology was obtained with the use of Bayesian age-depth modeling. Peat accumulation rate has been calculated and the sections with variable accumulation rate values were observed along the profile.
Simple Calibration versus Bayesian Modeling of Archeostatigraphically Controlled 14C Ages in an Early Avar Age Cemetery from SE Hungary: Results, Advantages, Pitfalls
Authors: Gulyás Sándor , Balogh Csilla , Marcsik Antónia , Sümegi Pál
Published: November 2018

Recent advancements in accelerator mass spectroscopic (AMS) radiocarbon (14C) analytical methods and instrumentation offer us reliable conventional 14C ages with highly reduced analytical uncertainty for archeological bone collagen. However, after calibration this may be still too high for archeologists in periods where archeochronology is capable of attaining a resolution of 25–30 yr. Furthermore, there are cases when wiggles in the calibration curve yield wider age ranges than initially expected. For the Avar Age in the Carpathian Basin (568 to early 9th century AD) reliable archeotypochronology is available for the 7th century AD alone. The date of Avar invasion (568 AD) is precisely known. Precise archeological dating for the late 6th and the 9th centuries is lacking, calling for other methods to be introduced. This paper reports the first 14C dates for an Early Avar Age cemetery, Makó-Mikócsa. According to archeotypochronology, the cemetery was in use for three generations until the mid-7th century AD. The imprecision in 14C chronology arising from wiggles in the IntCal13 curve was significantly reduced by relative stratigraphy-controlled Bayesian modeling. Introduction of further age constraints from archeotypochronology into the model reduces broad absolute age ranges providing more constraint ages.
Diet and Radiocarbon Dating of Tollund Man: New Analyses of an Iron Age Bog Body from Denmark
Authors: Nielsen Nina H , Philippsen Bente , Kanstrup Marie , Olsen Jesper
Published: November 2018

Tollund Man is one of the most famous Iron Age bog bodies due to his well-preserved head. Since he was unearthed in 1950 in Bjældskovdal, Denmark, he has been subjected to several scientific investigations, but until now no attempts to reconstruct his general diet through isotope analyses have been conducted. Furthermore, previous radiocarbon (14C) analyses have only been able to date him broadly to the 3rd–4th century BC. In this study, stable isotope measurements (δ13C, δ15N) on bone collagen from Tollund Man’s femur and rib showed that the diet of Tollund Man was terrestrial-based and that the crops he ate probably were grown on manured fields. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dates were obtained on both the <30kDa and >30kDa fractions of ultrafiltered collagen. Results showed that the ultrafiltration removed contamination from older substances from the burial environment. The femur was dated to 2330±23 BP, the rib to 2322±30 BP. These dates statistically agree with a previously published AMS 14C age on skin. By combining the new dates with the previous date of his skin it was possible to narrow down the age of Tollund Man to the period 405–380 cal BC (95.4% confidence interval).
Investigation of Impurities of RBMK Graphite by Different Methods
Authors: Plukienė Rita , Lagzdina Elena , Juodis Laurynas , Plukis Artūras , Puzas Andrius , Gvozdaitė Rasa , Remeikis Vidmantas , Révay Zsolt , Kučera Jan , Ancius Darius , Ridikas Danas
Published: November 2018

Samples of graphite from a RBMK-1500 reactor at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant from different construction elements (stack, sleeve, and bushing) were analyzed by the instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) method (LVR-15 experimental reactor of the Research Centre Řež, Ltd.) using the prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) method (Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum) and with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) (CPST, Lithuania). These measurements were performed with the aim of obtaining the missing information on the impurity distribution in the RBMK-type nuclear graphite constructions as well as for intercomparison purposes, with the results measured in the graphite sleeve samples previously obtained by INAA & GDMS (Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry) at CEA Saclay, France, and ICP-MS (CPST, Lithuania) methods. Validation of the ICP-MS method for the nuclear graphite impurity concentration determination was proven. The experimentally obtained RBMK-1500 graphite impurity values in different graphite constructions were compared with other measurements and new limits of the possible maximal concentrations of nuclear RBMK graphite impurity concentrations were obtained.
Public Attitudes toward Young Immigrant
Men
Authors: WARD DALSTON G.
Published: November 2018

Young men often make up a large share of newly arriving immigrant
populations. How this impacts attitudes is unclear: young men have
the potential to make substantial economic contributions, meaning
attitudes toward them may be more favorable. However, young men may
be seen as security and cultural threats, exacerbating
anti-immigrant attitudes. I conduct a conjoint experiment on a
sample of 2,100 Germans, asking them to evaluate groups of
immigrants with randomly varying shares of young men. The results
show that groups of immigrants with a large share of young men
receive substantially less support. Further tests reveal that
respondents also perceive of these groups as likely to pose security
and cultural threats; there is no evidence that young men are viewed
as having high economic potential. These results have implications
for the importance of economic, cultural, and security concerns in
underpinning attitudes toward immigrants.
The ‘Estatuto del Peón’: A Revolution for the Rights of Rural Workers in Argentina?
Authors: Palacio Juan Manuel
Published: November 2018

The article addresses the history of the ‘Estatuto del Peón’ (peons’ statute or rural workers’ code), one of the most emblematic measures of the so-called ‘first Peronism’. It tries to weigh the importance of this legendary Peronist act for the actors directly involved and in particular to calibrate the magnitude of the Statute's impact on the everyday life and working conditions of Argentina's rural workers. I analyse in detail how the decree was conceived and the novelties it brought in terms of rights and regulations for rural workers. It also uses trial records to explore the implementation of the Statute and its concrete effects, in terms of both working conditions and the juridical protections offered to rural peons.
Phonologically determined nominal concord as post-syntactic: Evidence from Guébie
Authors: SANDE HANNAH
Published: November 2018

This paper brings novel data to bear on whether nominal concord relationships are formed in the narrow syntax or post-syntactically. In Guébie, a Kru language spoken in Côte d’Ivoire, nominal concord marking on non-human pronouns and adjectives is determined not by syntactic or semantic features of the concord-triggering noun, but by the phonological form of the noun. Specifically, concord marking on pronouns and adjectives surfaces as a vowel with the same backness features as the vowels of the head noun. Assuming that syntax is phonology-free (Pullum & Zwicky 1986, 1988), the fact that we see phonological features conditioning nominal concord in Guébie means that nominal concord must take place in the post-syntax. I expand on post-syntactic models of nominal concord in Distributed Morphology (Kramer 2010, Norris 2014, Baier 2015) showing that when combined with a constraint-based phonology, such an approach can account for both phonologically and syntactico-semantically determined concord systems. Additionally, the proposed analysis includes a formal account of ellipsis via constraints during the phonological component.
Not in the Least Concern: anthropogenic influences on a South-east Asian apple snail Pila scutata (Ampullariidae)
Authors: Ng Ting Hui , Tan Siong Kiat , Ahmad Amirrudin , Van Tu Do , Joshi Ravindra C. , Wang Wendy Y. , Tan Heok Hui , Yeo Darren C.J.
Published: November 2018

South-east Asian apple snails, Pila spp., have been declining since the introduction of globally invasive, confamilial South American Pomacea spp., yet Pila ecology remains poorly studied, with most occurrence records unconfirmed. Pila scutata, a previously widespread species, presumed native to the Malay peninsula and assessed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List, was formerly harvested for food, and may have experienced anthropogenic translocations. We surveyed the Malay peninsula (specifically Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore) to investigate the current distribution and genetic diversity of P. scutata. Six populations were found in Singapore, but only one in Peninsular Malaysia. Mitochondrial COI and 16S sequencing revealed that the Malaysian population shared a single haplotype of both genes with the Singapore populations (500 km distant). This low genetic diversity could stem from a recent anthropogenic introduction, which brings into question the true native range of P. scutata and, coupled with poorly resolved taxonomy of the genus, necessitates a reassessment of its IUCN Red List status. Introduced populations pose a dilemma, and the lack of genetic diversity is of concern in light of Pila decline throughout South-east Asia. Our results highlight that conservation management of P. scutata and its congeners must therefore be better informed by greater taxonomic resolution and more comprehensive investigations of their ecology, both in native and introduced ranges.
Contributions of vocabulary and discourse-level skills to reading comprehension among Chinese elementary school children
Authors: HO CONNIE SUK-HAN , FONG CATHY YUI-CHI , ZHENG MO
Published: November 2018

Decoding and language comprehension skills have been found to be the core components of reading comprehension across many writing systems. The present study examined the contributions of vocabulary and some discourse-level skills to reading comprehension in Chinese in addition to that of decoding. One hundred and seventeen Chinese second and third graders in Hong Kong were tested on decoding, vocabulary, discourse-level skills, and verbal working memory. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that the discourse-level skills contributed an additional 5% of variance to reading comprehension over decoding, vocabulary, and other control variables, and all factors accounted for a total of 70% variance in reading comprehension. Further path analysis showed that all the direct paths of word reading, vocabulary, text-structure knowledge, and topic knowledge to reading comprehension were significant. Vocabulary also contributed to reading comprehension through indirect paths to discourse-level knowledge. The present findings support the simple view of reading with elaborations on the language comprehension component, namely, (a) vocabulary is a foundational language skill for text comprehension through its role on discourse-level knowledge, and (b) some discourse-level knowledge also plays an important role in passage comprehension.
Meteorological factors and its association with hand, foot and mouth disease in Southeast and East Asia areas: a meta-analysis
Authors: Duan Chunxiao , Zhang Xuefeng , Jin Hui , Cheng Xiaoqing , Wang Donglei , Bao Cangjun , Zhou Minghao , Ahmad Tauseef , Min Jie
Published: November 2018

Since the late 1990s, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has become a common health problem that mostly affects children and infants in Southeast and East Asia. Global climate change is considered to be one of the major risk factors for HFMD. This study aimed to assess the correlation between meteorological factors and HFMD in the Asia-Pacific region. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data and Weipu Database were searched to identify relevant articles published before May 2018. Data were collected and analysed using R software. We searched 2397 articles and identified 51 eligible papers in this study. The present study included eight meteorological factors; mean temperature, mean highest temperature, mean lowest temperature, rainfall, relative humidity and hours of sunshine were positively correlated with HFMD, with correlation coefficients (CORs) of 0.52 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42–0.60), 0.43 (95% CI 0.23–0.59), 0.43 (95% CI 0.23–0.60), 0.27 (95% CI 0.19–0.35), 0.19 (95% CI 0.02–0.35) and 0.19 (95% CI 0.11–0.27), respectively. There were sufficient data to support a negative correlation between mean pressure and HFMD (COR = −0.51, 95% CI −0.63 to −0.36). There was no notable correlation with wind speed (COR = 0.10, 95% CI −0.03 to 0.23). Our findings suggest that meteorological factors affect the incidence of HFMD to a certain extent.
Geospatial cluster analyses of pneumonia-associated hospitalisations among adults in New York City, 2010–2014
Authors: Kache P. A. , Julien T. , Corrado R. E. , Vora N. M. , Daskalakis D. C. , Varma J. K. , Lucero D. E.
Published: November 2018

Pneumonia is a leading cause of death in New York City (NYC). We identified spatial clusters of pneumonia-associated hospitalisation for persons residing in NYC, aged ⩾18 years during 2010–2014. We detected pneumonia-associated hospitalisations using an all-payer inpatient dataset. Using geostatistical semivariogram modelling, local Moran'sIcluster analyses andχ2tests, we characterised differences between ‘hot spots’ and ‘cold spots’ for pneumonia-associated hospitalisations. During 2010–2014, there were 141 730 pneumonia-associated hospitalisations across 188 NYC neighbourhoods, of which 43.5% (N= 61 712) were sub-classified as severe. Hot spots of pneumonia-associated hospitalisation spanned 26 neighbourhoods in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island, whereas cold spots were found in lower Manhattan and northeastern Queens. We identified hot spots of severe pneumonia-associated hospitalisation in the northern Bronx and the northern tip of Staten Island. For severe pneumonia-associated hospitalisations, hot-spot patients were of lower mean age and a greater proportion identified as non-Hispanic Black compared with cold spot patients; additionally, hot-spot patients had a longer hospital stay and a greater proportion experienced in-hospital death compared with cold-spot patients. Pneumonia prevention efforts within NYC should consider examining the reasons for higher rates in hot-spot neighbourhoods, and focus interventions towards the Bronx, northern Manhattan and Staten Island.
Glacial–interglacial records from sediments in Powell Basin, Antarctica
Authors: Bak Young-Suk , Yoo Kyu-Cheul , Lee Jae Il , Yoon Ho Il
Published: November 2018

Palaeoenvironmental history is reconstructed from diatoms in two sediment cores, GC01-PW02 and GC03-PW02, recovered from Powell Basin, Antarctica. A total of 43 species belonging to 21 genera are identified from GC01-PW02. A total of 61 species belonging to 27 genera are identified from GC03-PW02. The number of diatom valves g-1 of dry sediment ranges from 0.1–48.3 × 106 valves g-1. Based on diatom abundance, six assemblage zones were identified from GC01-PW02, and five diatom zones were identified from GC03-PW02. Barren intervals represent glacial periods, while intervals with higher diatom abundances were deposited during interglacial periods and reduced sea ice cover. The occurrence of Rouxia leventerae only within the deepest zone of each of the cores indicates that the core sediments were deposited since marine isotope stage (MIS) 6.
Accuracy of self-reported weight in the Women’s Health Initiative
Authors: Luo Juhua , Thomson Cynthia A , Hendryx Michael , Tinker Lesley F , Manson JoAnn E , Li Yueyao , Nelson Dorothy A , Vitolins Mara Z , Seguin Rebecca A , Eaton Charles B , Wactawski-Wende Jean , Margolis Karen L
Published: November 2018

Objective

To assess the extent of error present in self-reported weight data in the Women’s Health Initiative, variables that may be associated with error, and to develop methods to reduce any identified error.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Forty clinical centres in the USA.

Participants

Women (n 75 336) participating in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS) and women (n 6236) participating in the WHI Long Life Study (LLS) with self-reported and measured weight collected about 20 years later (2013–2014).

Results

The correlation between self-reported and measured weights was 0·97. On average, women under-reported their weight by about 2 lb (0·91 kg). The discrepancies varied by age, race/ethnicity, education and BMI. Compared with normal-weight women, underweight women over-reported their weight by 3·86 lb (1·75 kg) and obese women under-reported their weight by 4·18 lb (1·90 kg) on average. The higher the degree of excess weight, the greater the under-reporting of weight. Adjusting self-reported weight for an individual’s age, race/ethnicity and education yielded an identical average weight to that measured.

Conclusions

Correlations between self-reported and measured weights in the WHI are high. Discrepancies varied by different sociodemographic characteristics, especially an individual’s BMI. Correction of self-reported weight for individual characteristics could improve the accuracy of assessment of obesity status in postmenopausal women.
Management of the dead from the Islamic law and international humanitarian law perspectives: Considerations for humanitarian forensics
Authors: Al-Dawoody Ahmed
Published: November 2018

This article discusses a number of contemporary issues and challenges pertinent to the management of the dead in contemporary armed conflicts and other situations of violence and natural disasters under Islamic law and international humanitarian law. Among the issues and challenges faced by forensic specialists in Muslim contexts at present are collective burial, quick burial of dead bodies, exhumation of human remains, autopsy, burial at sea, and handling of the bodies by the opposite sex. The article concludes that both legal systems have developed rules which aim at the protection of the dignity and respect of dead bodies, and that they complement each other to achieve this protection in specific Muslim contexts. The main objectives of this article are twofold: firstly, to give an overview of the Islamic law position on these specific questions and challenges, in order to, secondly, provide some advice or insight into how forensic specialists can deal with them.
The Sri Lankan Office on Missing Persons: Truth and justice in tandem?
Authors: Lassée Isabelle
Published: November 2018

In October 2015, by co-sponsoring United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1 entitled “Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka”, the Sri Lankan government formally committed to embarking on a transitional justice process following three decades of armed conflict. Several thousand people allegedly disappeared during this period, often in connection with the armed conflict or as a result of internal disturbances. It is in this context that the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) was operationalized in 2018. This article discusses the nature of tracing investigations into the fate and whereabouts of missing persons of the type to be carried out by the OMP. It argues that these investigations, while ostensibly pursuing a humanitarian approach, cannot be artificially and hermetically separated from criminal justice processes. Further, it seeks to demonstrate that an integrated approach whereby strong linkages with criminal processes are provided for and encouraged best serves the interests of truth and justice.
Validation of a Short Form of Job Crafting Scale in a Spanish Sample
Authors: Sora Beatriz , Caballer Amparo , García-Buades Esther
Published: November 2018

Applications of job crafting are widespread in the professional practice. In an attempt to measure this phenomenon, Tims, Bakker and Derks (2012) developed a Job Crafting Scale based on the Job Demand-Resources model (JD-R) and validated it in a Dutch sample. However, its application to other cultural contexts presented some difficulties. The present work aimed to validate a shorter version of scale by Tims et al. (2012) in a Spanish sample (n = 1,647). The data were randomly split in two independent subsamples (Sample 1: Explorative; Sample 2: Confirmative). The exploratory factor analysis showed a three-factor structure. Through a confirmatory factor analysis, the four-dimensionality structure of the original scale was replicated. In fact, the four-factor solution presented better goodness of fit indices than the alternative one-factor model, χ2(48) = 192.70, p < .01; AGFI = .94; NNFI = .93; RMR = .05; RMSEA = .06. Alpha reliabilities were acceptable for increasing structural job resources (α = .75), decreasing hindering job demands (α = .64), increasing social job resources (α = .78) and increasing challenging job demands (α = .77). Convergent validity was appropriate for three of the four dimensions, because each construct’s AVE were around .50 and each construct’s Composite Reliability were around .70. Decreasing hindering job demands presented more limited values (CR = .65; AVE = .40). In addition, the four job crafting dimensions presented significant correlations with job performance (range –.09 to .42) and personal growth (ranging from –.09 to .45). Finally, the squared correlations between factors were lower than the square root of AVE, which confirmed discriminant validity.
Venovo venous stent in the treatment of non-thrombotic or post-thrombotic iliac vein lesions – short-term results from the Arnsberg venous registry
Authors: Lichtenberg Michael K. W. , de Graaf Rick , Stahlhoff Wilhelm F. , Özkapi Ahmet , Rassaf Tienush , Breuckmann Frank
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Background: We sought to determine the patency and clinical symptom relief of the Venovo venous stent in the endovascular treatment of non-thrombotic (NIVL) or post-thrombotic venous obstruction (PTO) of the iliofemoral track over a period of 6 months. Patients and methods: A total of 80 patients (45 female, mean age 57 years) treated in 2016 and 2017 were included in the Arnsberg venous registry. Clinical improvement was determined by the revised venous clinical severity score (rVCSS) as well as the clinical, etiologic, anatomic and pathophysiologic (CEAP) score. Primary and secondary stent patency was evaluated using duplex ultrasound. Results: Overall 6-months patency rates were 98 % for primary and 100 % for secondary patency. For NIVL primary patency was 97 %, whereas for PTO primary patency was 96 %. Early stent re-occlusion occurred in 3 patients within 34, 59 and 156 days after intervention. Two of these patients were successfully treated by endovascular mechanical thrombectomy and stent in stent implantation. Clinical improvement with a gain of ≥ 2 rVCSS levels was observed in 51 %. CEAP scores decreased from 4.3 to 2.7. Conclusions: In this first time report the novel Venovo venous stent showed adequate patency rates associated with reasonable clinical improvement and low device-related complications throughout a 6-months-follow-up in both NIVL and PTO.