bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CZTSe solar cells developed on polymer substrates: Effects of low‐temperature processing
Authors: Becerril‐Romero Ignacio , Acebo Laura , Oliva Florian , Izquierdo‐Roca Víctor , López‐Marino Simón , Espíndola‐Rodríguez Moisés , Neuschitzer Markus , Sánchez Yudania , Placidi Marcel , Pérez‐Rodríguez Alejandro , Saucedo Edgardo , Pistor Paul
Published: October 2017

Cu2ZnSn(S1−xSex)4 solar cells are well suited for roll‐to‐roll mass production since they are formed mainly by non‐toxic and earth‐abundant elements. Polyimide (PI) has proved to be a promising roll‐to‐roll compatible substrate yielding very high efficiency devices for Cu(In,Ga)Se2. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of using PI as a low‐weight and flexible alternative to soda‐lime glass for Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) solar cells. Two main concerns arise when working with PI. Firstly, its low thermal robustness limits process temperatures below 500°C. The second concern is the lack of alkali in PI in contrast to conventional soda‐lime glass fundamental for high efficiency devices. This work tackles both issues. First, different alkali doping strategies are investigated for the incorporation of Na and K into CZTSe absorbers prepared on PI substrates by sequential precursor sputtering and selenization at 470°C: pre‐absorber synthesis and post‐deposition treatment. Post‐deposition treatment does not lead to an improvement of performance. Pre‐absorber synthesis effectively dopes the CZTSe absorbers increasing the solar cell performance and carrier concentration of the devices. Cu2ZnSnSe4 devices are then fabricated on glass and PI at different temperatures (450°C‐490°C). A detrimental SnSe2 secondary phase is detected in most of these devices. The formation of this phase is proved to be strongly related to process temperature. Despite this, a 6.4% efficiency device is achieved at 490°C on glass. Finally, through further experimentation and the addition of a Ge nanolayer, we report a 4.9% efficiency flexible device on PI setting a new record for kesterite solar cells on a polymer substrate.
Caregiver knowledge and skills to safely care for pediatric tracheostomy ventilation at home
Authors: Amin Reshma , Parshuram Chris , Kelso Jeannie , Lim Audrey , Mateos Dimas , Mitchell Ian , Patel Hema , Roy Madan , Syed Faiza , Troini Rita , Wensley David , Rose Louise
Published: October 2017

Objective

Caregivers of children using home mechanical ventilation (HMV) via tracheostomy require appropriate knowledge and skills. Existing training curricula are locally developed and content variable. We sought to develop a competency checklist to inform initial training and subsequent assessment of knowledge and skills of family caregivers.

Methods

We used a 2‐step process. Candidate items were generated by synthesis of a scoping review, existing checklists, with additional items suggested by an eight member inter‐professional group representing pediatric HMV programs across Canada. Following removal of duplicate items, we conducted a three‐round Delphi to gain consensus on items for the KidsVent Checklist.

Results

The scoping review and checklists from five HMV programs identified 18 domains and 172 items; one additional domain and 83 additional items were identified by our expert group who also classified domains as mandatory or optional. We recruited 95 clinicians representing 12 Canadian paediatric HMV programs to participate in Delphi round 1 (response rate 72%; 84%, and 100% for subsequent rounds). Importance rating of the 255 items reduced them to 246 items. In the final checklist, the 19 domains comprised 14 mandatory (189 mandatory items) and 5 optional domains (57 optional items).

Conclusions

We have developed the KidsVent checklist using rigorous consensus building methods, informed by participants with diverse geographic and inter‐professional representation. This checklist represents knowledge and skills required to safely care for children using tracheostomy ventilation at home. Further study is required to explore the impact of this checklist on outcomes of this growing group of technology‐dependent children.
Can Superconducting Cosmic Strings Piercing Seed Black Holes Generate Supermassive Black Holes in the Early Universe?
Authors: Lake Matthew J. , Harko Tiberiu
Published: October 2017

The discovery of a large number of supermassive black holes (SMBH) at redshifts , when the Universe was only 900 million years old, raises the question of how such massive compact objects could form in a cosmologically short time interval. Each of the standard scenarios proposed, involving rapid accretion of seed black holes or black hole mergers, faces severe theoretical difficulties in explaining the short‐time formation of supermassive objects. In this work we propose an alternative scenario for the formation of SMBH in the early Universe, in which energy transfer from superconducting cosmic strings piercing small seed black holes is the main physical process leading to rapid mass increase. As a toy model, the accretion rate of a seed black hole pierced by two antipodal strings carrying constant current is considered. Using an effective action approach, which phenomenologically incorporates a large class of superconducting string models, we estimate the minimum current required to form SMBH with masses of order by . This corresponds to the mass of the central black hole powering the quasar ULAS J112001.48+064124.3 and is taken as a test case scenario for early‐epoch SMBH formation. For GUT scale strings, the required fractional increase in the string energy density, due to the presence of the current, is of order 10−7, so that their existence remains consistent with current observational bounds on the string tension. In addition, we consider an “exotic” scenario, in which an SMBH is generated when a small seed black hole is pierced by a higher‐dimensional string, predicted by string theory. We find that both topological defect strings and fundamental strings are able to carry currents large enough to generate early‐epoch SMBH via our proposed mechanism.
Half‐Maximal Supersymmetry from Exceptional Field Theory
Authors: Malek Emanuel
Published: October 2017

We study‐dimensional half‐maximal flux backgrounds using exceptional field theory. We define the relevant generalised structures and also find the integrability conditions which give warped half‐maximal MinkowskiDand AdSDvacua. We then show how to obtain consistent truncations of type II / 11‐dimensional SUGRA which break half the supersymmetry. Such truncations can be defined on backgrounds admitting exceptional generalisedstructures, where, andNis the number of vector multiplets obtained in the lower‐dimensional theory. Our procedure yields the most general embedding tensors satisfying the linear constraint of half‐maximal gauged SUGRA. We use this to prove that allhalf‐maximal warped AdSDand MinkowskiDvacua of type II / 11‐dimensional SUGRA admit a consistent truncation keeping only the gravitational supermultiplet. We also show to obtain heterotic double field theory from exceptional field theory and comment on the M‐theory / heterotic duality. In five dimensions, we find a new SO(5,N) double field theory with a‐dimensional extended space. Its section condition has one solution corresponding to 10‐dimensionalsupergravity and another yielding six‐dimensionalSUGRA.
On Inflation and de Sitter in Non‐Geometric String Backgrounds
Authors: Hassler Falk , Lüst Dieter , Massai Stefano
Published: October 2017

We study the problem of obtaining de Sitter and inflationary vacua from dimensional reduction of double field theory (DFT) on nongeometric string backgrounds. In this context, we consider a new class of effective potentials that admit Minkowski and de Sitter minima. We then construct a simple model of chaotic inflation arising from T‐fold backgrounds and we discuss the possibility of trans‐Planckian field range from nongeometric monodromies as well as the conditions required to get slow roll.
Deposition of Highly Crystalline Covellite Copper Sulphide Thin Films by SILAR
Authors: Ramírez‐Esquivel Obed Yamín , Mazón‐Montijo Dalia Alejandra , Montiel‐González Zeuz , Aguirre‐Tostado Francisco Servando
Published: October 2017

Thin films of the covellite phase of CuS are of special importance due to their properties for optoelectronic device applications. Their preparation by chemical solution methods could enable their deposition on flexible substrates at low temperature for large area applications. Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) is a promising option because it is simple, inexpensive, and allows the control of thickness and composition. However, low crystalline CuS thin films have been reported so far. In this work, highly polycrystalline CuS thin films were successfully grown at room temperature by SILAR using CuSO4 and Na2S as the ionic solutions without post‐deposition annealing. The films obtained at different SILAR cycles resulted in good appearance, uniformity, well adhered to the substrate, and presented the covellite structure as the predominant crystalline phase. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed important details about the films growth evolution, which were in agreement with results from atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry. All the films exhibited low electrical resistivity in agreement with the metallic behavior observed in the infrared region of their transmittance spectra. These results demonstrate a direct method of obtaining highly polycrystalline CuS thin films at low temperature, which could open a new range of applications.
Computational Simulation and Optimization of Functionally Graded Auxetic Structures Made From Inverted Tetrapods
Authors: Novak Nejc , Vesenjak Matej , Ren Zoran
Published: October 2017

Auxetic cellular materials show great potential for improved properties in case of impact loading. Due to this potential, auxetic structures made from inverted tetrapods are extensively analyzed experimentally and computationally. The built samples are compressed in two orthogonal directions to determine their base mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms. The lattice computational model is developed and validated using the experimental results. A new shape optimization procedure to develop new auxetic structures with functionally graded geometry is proposed and tested in a case study. With introduction of the functionally graded geometry the response of the auxetic structure can be tailored to a particular loading condition, which is especially important in impact or ballistic performance of modern composite materials.
The assimilation of Cross‐track Infrared Sounder radiances at ECMWF
Authors: Eresmaa Reima , Letertre‐Danczak Julie , Lupu Cristina , Bormann Niels , McNally Anthony P.
Published: October 2017

The operational assimilation of theCross‐track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) radiances in a fourdimensional variational framework at the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is presented. Currently onboard the Suomi National Polar‐orbiting Partnership (S‐NPP) satellite, CrIS provides radiance data on 1305 channels in three spectral bands. Based on the experience of radiance assimilation using earlier infrared sounders, the use of CrIS radiances relies strongly on CO2‐sensitive channels in the 15 μm absorption band. The overwhelming majority of data is assimilated assuming no significant contamination from cloud or aerosol, and use of data over land is limited to channels with primary sensitivity in the stratosphere. Observation‐error covariance specification is based on diagnostic methods and inter‐channel error correlations are explicitly accounted for. The use of CrIS radiances is demonstrated to have a consistent beneficial impact on shortand medium‐range forecasts, especially in the Extratropics.
Bayesian assurance tests for degradation data
Authors: Weaver B.P. , Hamada M.S. , Wilson A.G. , Bakerman J.E.
Published: October 2017

Assurance test plans are chosen to manage consumer's and producer's risks. We develop methods for planning Bayesian assurance tests for degradation data, ie, on the basis of the degradation data collected in the test, a decision is made whether to accept or reject a product. Bayesian assurance tests incorporate prior knowledge in the planning stage and use this information to evaluate posterior consumer's and producer's risks. We consider prior knowledge that takes the form of related degradation data. Assurance test plans are then found that meet the specified requirements for consumer's and producer's risks. We illustrate the planning of such assurance tests with an example involving printhead migration data. We also investigate the impact of measurement error on these assurance test plans.
Semiparametric accelerated failure time cure rate mixture models with competing risks
Authors: Choi Sangbum , Zhu Liang , Huang Xuelin
Published: October 2017

Modern medical treatments have substantially improved survival rates for many chronic diseases and have generated considerable interest in developing cure fraction models for survival data with a non‐ignorable cured proportion. Statistical analysis of such data may be further complicated by competing risks that involve multiple types of endpoints. Regression analysis of competing risks is typically undertaken via a proportional hazards model adapted on cause‐specific hazard or subdistribution hazard. In this article, we propose an alternative approach that treats competing events as distinct outcomes in a mixture. We consider semiparametric accelerated failure time models for the cause‐conditional survival function that are combined through a multinomial logistic model within the cure‐mixture modeling framework. The cure‐mixture approach to competing risks provides a means to determine the overall effect of a treatment and insights into how this treatment modifies the components of the mixture in the presence of a cure fraction. The regression and nonparametric parameters are estimated by a nonparametric kernel‐based maximum likelihood estimation method. Variance estimation is achieved through resampling methods for the kernel‐smoothed likelihood function. Simulation studies show that the procedures work well in practical settings. Application to a sarcoma study demonstrates the use of the proposed method for competing risk data with a cure fraction.
Small Molecule Antagonist of Cell Surface Glycosaminoglycans Restricts Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells in a Pluripotent State
Authors: Huang Mia L. , Michalak Austen L. , Fisher Christopher J. , Christy Mitchell , Smith Raymond A. A. , Godula Kamil
Published: October 2017

Recently, the field of stem cell-based regeneration has turned its attention toward chemical approaches for controlling the pluripotency and differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) using drug-like small molecule modulators. Growth factor receptors or their associated downstream kinases that regulate intracellular signaling pathways during differentiation are typically the targets for these molecules. The glycocalyx, which plays an essential role in actuating responses to growth factors at the cellular boundary, offers an underexplored opportunity for intervention using small molecules to influence differentiation. Here, we show that surfen, an antagonist of cell-surface glycosaminoglycans required for growth factor association with cognate receptors, acts as a potent and general inhibitor of differentiation and promoter of pluripotency in mouse ESCs. This finding shows that drugging the stem cell Glycome with small molecules to silence differentiation cues can provide a powerful new alternative to existing techniques for controlling stem cell fate.
Enhancing Teaching English as an Additional Language Through Playfulness: Seniors (Ethno)Drama Club in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
Authors: Balyasnikova Natalia , Higgins Sarah , Hume Matt
Published: October 2017

This article describes the process of using an ethnodrama while working with older adults learning English as an additional language. By examining a 4‐month‐long period of Seniors Drama Club, created to offer theatre‐based language learning experiences for Vancouver's immigrant senior population, the authors draw attention to the complex learning that occurs at the intersection of drama education and additional language learning. The aim of the article is twofold. First, the authors show the benefits of using adaptable and “living” texts—such as an ethnodrama—in language teaching. Second, the authors argue that framing of language learning as a collaborative theatre project empowers learners to take agency of their language learning and future use. In conclusion, the authors elaborate on some of the promising practices developed as the outcome of this community‐based project.
Effects of Rhei Undulati Rhizoma on lipopolysaccharide‐induced neuroinflammation in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Hwang Deok‐Sang , Gu Pil Sung , Kim Namkwon , Jang Young Pyo , Oh Myung Sook
Published: October 2017

Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Microglia are the major components of the brain immune system that regulate inflammatory processes. Activated microglia release pro‐inflammatory factors and cytokines, resulting in neuronal cell death. We focused on inhibiting the activation of microglia from a stimulus as a strategy to search for neuroprotective drugs. Rhei Undulati Rhizoma (RUR) is traditionally used to treat various inflammatory disorders. In this study, we investigated whether RUR modulates inflammatory processes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated BV2 microglia cells and the mouse brain. RUR exerted anti‐neuroinflammatory effects by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species induced by LPS via the downregulation of transcription factors such as inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) without causing cytotoxicity. RUR also regulated mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway by inhibiting phosphorylation of p38 and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases and translocation of nuclear factor kappa B. Moreover, RUR attenuated LPS‐induced glial activation and COX‐2 expression in the substantia nigra and hippocampus of the mouse brain. These results indicate that RUR is a potential candidate to treat neurodegenerative diseases by regulating neuroinflammation.
Inhibitory effect of GMI, an immunomodulatory protein from Ganoderma microsporum, on myofibroblast activity and proinflammatory cytokines in human fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts
Authors: Lee Ping‐Hui , Hsieh Pei‐Ling , Liao Yi‐Wen , Yu Cheng‐Chia
Published: October 2017

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) has been indicated as one of the oral potentially malignant disorders. Epidemiological studies have attributed this pathological fibrosis to the habit of areca nuts chewing, which causes chronic inflammation and persistent activation of myofibroblasts in the oral cavity. Hence, it is crucial to find an effective intervention to ameliorate inflammation in order to prevent the malignant progression of OSF. In this study, we assessed the anti‐inflammatory effect of the immunomodulatory protein, GMI, extracted from Ganoderma microsporum on the expression proinflammatory cytokines and the myofibroblast characteristics in human fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts (fBMFs). Our results demonstrated that the expression level of interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8 were decreased after exposure of GMI and the myofibroblast activities, including collagen gel contraction, migration, invasion, and wound healing abilities were inhibited as well. Furthermore, we confirmed these findings in the arecoline‐stimulated BMFs. Consistent with the above findings, the expression of the myofibroblast marker α‐smooth muscle actin and other fibrogenic markers, such as type I collagen, fibronectin, and vimentin in fBMFs were all reduced in a dose‐dependent manner. Collectively, our data suggested that GMI suppressed the proinflammatory cytokines and myofibroblast features in fBMFs, and could serve as a promising and natural antifibrosis agent.
Constructing Markov State Models to elucidate the functional conformational changes of complex biomolecules
Authors: Wang Wei , Cao Siqin , Zhu Lizhe , Huang Xuhui
Published: October 2017

The function of complex biomolecular machines relies heavily on their conformational changes. Investigating these functional conformational changes is therefore essential for understanding the corresponding biological processes and promoting bioengineering applications and rational drug design. Constructing Markov State Models (MSMs) based on large‐scale molecular dynamics simulations has emerged as a powerful approach to model functional conformational changes of the biomolecular system with sufficient resolution in both time and space. However, the rapid development of theory and algorithms for constructing MSMs has made it difficult for nonexperts to understand and apply the MSM framework, necessitating a comprehensive guidance toward its theory and practical usage. In this study, we introduce the MSM theory of conformational dynamics based on the projection operator scheme. We further propose a general protocol of constructing MSM to investigate functional conformational changes, which integrates the state‐of‐the‐art techniques for building and optimizing initial pathways, performing adaptive sampling and constructing MSMs. We anticipate this protocol to be widely applied and useful in guiding nonexperts to study the functional conformational changes of large biomolecular systems via the MSM framework. We also discuss the current limitations of MSMs and some alternative methods to alleviate them.WIREs Comput Mol Sci2018, 8:e1343. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1343

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Statistical Mechanics
Triangle counting in large networks: a review
Authors: Al Hasan Mohammad , Dave Vachik S.
Published: October 2017

Counting and enumeration of local topological structures, such as triangles, is an important task for analyzing large real‐life networks. For instance, triangle count in a network is used to compute transitivity—an important property for understanding graph evolution over time. Triangles are also used for various other tasks completed for real‐life networks, including community discovery, link prediction, and spam filtering. The task of triangle counting, though simple, has gained wide attention in recent years from the data mining community. This is due to the fact that most of the existing algorithms for counting triangles do not scale well to very large networks with millions (or even billions) of vertices. To circumvent this limitation, researchers proposed triangle counting methods that approximate the count or run on distributed clusters. In this paper, we discuss the existing methods of triangle counting, ranging from sequential to parallel, single‐machine to distributed, exact to approximate, and off‐line to streaming. We also present experimental results of performance comparison among a set of approximate triangle counting methods built under a unified implementation framework. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of future works in this direction. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2018, 8:e1226. doi: 10.1002/widm.1226

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Structure Discovery
Mechanisms of carbon nanotube‐induced pulmonary fibrosis: a physicochemical characteristic perspective
Authors: Duke Katherine S. , Bonner James C.
Published: October 2017

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) with numerous beneficial applications. However, they could pose a risk to human health from occupational or consumer exposures. Rodent models demonstrate that exposure to CNTs via inhalation, instillation, or aspiration results in pulmonary fibrosis. The severity of the fibrogenic response is determined by various physicochemical properties of the nanomaterial such as residual metal catalyst content, rigidity, length, aggregation status, or surface charge. CNTs are also increasingly functionalized post‐synthesis with organic or inorganic agents to modify or enhance surface properties. The mechanisms of CNT‐induced fibrosis involve oxidative stress, innate immune responses of macrophages, cytokine and growth factor production, epithelial cell injury and death, expansion of the pulmonary myofibroblast population, and consequent extracellular matrix accumulation. A comprehensive understanding of how physicochemical properties affect the fibrogenic potential of various types of CNTs should be considered in combination with genetic variability and gain or loss of function of specific genes encoding secreted cytokines, enzymes, or intracellular cell signaling molecules. Here, we cover the current state of the literature on mechanisms of CNT‐exposed pulmonary fibrosis in rodent models with a focus on physicochemical characteristics as principal drivers of the mechanisms leading to pulmonary fibrosis.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Respiratory Disease

Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials
Efficacy and Safety of Pleurodesis Using Platelet‐Rich Plasma and Fibrin Glue in Management of Postoperative Chylothorax After Esophagectomy
Authors: Alamdari Daryoush Hamidi , Asadi Mehdi , Rahim Ahmad Nejad , Maddah Ghodratollah , Azizi Shahariar , Shahidsales Soudabeh , Mehrabibahar Mostafa
Published: October 2017

Introduction

Chylothorax is by definition a collection of lymphatic fluids in the pleural cavity because of leakage from main thoracic duct or its tributaries. It is an uncommon but serious postoperative complication in esophageal cancer patients. There is no standard therapeutic algorithm for chylothorax because no prospective or randomized trials have yet been performed to evaluate the available treatment options. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pleurodesis with a combination of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) and fibrin glue to the treatment of chylothorax after trans‐hiatal esophagectomy.

Materials and methods

We randomly allocated 52 consecutive esophageal cancer patients with postoperative chylothorax who did not respond to conservative management to either PRP fibrin glue pleurodesis or surgical thoracic duct ligation. 26 patients in each group were treated with PRP fibrin glue pleurodesis or surgical thoracic duct ligation in order to control chylothorax. Perioperative data, including success rate and complications of both interventions, were analyzed.

Results

Two groups were similar in terms of patients’ demographics and tumor characteristics. All 26 patients in pleurodesis group (100%) and 20 patients in surgery group (76.9%) were successfully treated (p = 0.009). Seven patients (26.92%) in pleurodesis group required a second application of PRP fibrin glue after a week. The mean length of hospital stay was 53.50 ± 16.662 days in surgery group and 36.04 ± 8.224 days in pleurodesis group (p < 0.001). Although mortality rate in surgery group was higher than pleurodesis group, it was not statistically significant (p = 0.1621). There was no significant difference in complications between two groups either. No serious side effect occurred with PRP fibrin glue application.

Conclusion

In conclusion, pleurodesis using PRP and fibrin glue for chylothorax after trans‐hiatal esophagectomy was associated with significantly increased success rate, decreased ICU stay, decreased overall hospital stay, and decreased mortality compared with surgical thoracic duct ligation. No patient after PRFG required additional intervention including surgery. Thus, given the improved outcomes with PRFG pleurodesis, this technique may be considered in all patients with postoperative chylothorax after or during conservative management and before proceeding to more invasive interventions.
Extracellular Vesicles: Biomarkers, Therapeutics, and Vehicles in the Visual System
Authors: van der Merwe Yolandi , Steketee Michael B.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

We discuss recent advances in extracellular vesicle (EV) technology as biomarkers, therapeutics, and drug delivery vehicles in the visual system with an emphasis on the retina.

Recent Findings

Retinal cell-type specific EVs can be detected in the blood and in the aqueous humor and EV miRNA cargoes can be used diagnostically to predict retinal disease progression. Studies have now shown EVs can deliver bioactive miRNA and AAV cargoes to the inner retinal cell layers and, in some models, improve retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and axon regeneration.

EV molecular profiles and cargoes are attractive biomarkers for retinal and optic nerve disease and trauma and EVs offer a safe and tunable platform for delivering therapies to ocular tissues. However, EVs are heterogeneous by nature with variable lipid membranes, cargoes, and biologic effects, warranting stringent characterization to understand how heterogeneous EV populations modulate positive tissue remodeling.
Inspiration From the Classroom: A Mixed Method Case Study of Interdisciplinary Sustainability Learning in Higher Education
Authors: Noy Sue , Patrick Rebecca , Capetola Teresa , McBurnie Janine
Published: October 2017

Within higher education there is widespread support for developing students’ interdisciplinary skills. Despite this, evidence for, and practice of, cross-faculty interdisciplinary sustainability learning remains in its infancy. Recent articles have shown that Australia is no exception. This article provides a case study of interdisciplinary learning and teaching within a cross-faculty Education for Sustainability (EfS) undergraduate subject involving science, arts, business, and health students at an Australian university. A description of the subject and its theoretical context provides a platform for presenting the findings of a mixed method enquiry into how pedagogy supports interdisciplinary sustainability learning. The sequential explanatory research design involved a post-subject quantitative survey analysed using SPSS, augmented by qualitative student journal data (n = 67) using phenomenological analysis within NVivo. The study found that students, regardless of discipline background, valued the processes and pedagogy used to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and awareness. The experience left students feeling more skilled and confident of their ability to contribute to future interdisciplinary sustainability collaboration. This case study, replete with a subject description, theoretical context for an innovative pedagogical approach and study results, provides higher education professionals with a template for deliberative curriculum and pedagogy that promote interdisciplinary knowledge, skills and confidence that may contribute to transformative learning that supports EfS goals. The article presents a strong case for future EfS curriculum frameworks and strategic education policy to include deliberative interdisciplinary pedagogy. It also challenges higher education institutions to create flexible systems that facilitate cross-faculty interdisciplinary learning that is necessary for preparing students for the future.
Educating good decisions
Authors: PETERS ELLEN
Published: October 2017

Can we educate decision-makers to make better decisions? In the present paper, I argue that we can in at least two broad ways: (1) teaching concrete knowledge about a specific decision or decision type; and (2) teaching more abstract decision-making competencies that are thought to lead to better decisions. Teaching knowledge can be done using decision aids and similar techniques that provide important information about a specific choice (e.g. a medical treatment option). In these cases, information presented using evidence-based techniques to improve comprehension and use of information will have greater effects on judgements and choices. Teaching more abstract decision competencies, on the other hand, involves formal schooling (with the bulk of formal education falling during childhood) or training in a specific competency that is important to decision processes and outcomes; I use numeracy interventions as an exemplar.
Behavioural public policy: the constitutional approach
Authors: HARGREAVES HEAP SHAUN P.
Published: October 2017

One interpretation of the evidence on how people actually behave is that they sometimes/often do not have well-defined preferences. Although this makes public policy based on preference satisfaction problematic, it does not count against policy intervention per se. This paper argues instead that it shifts the object of intervention to the rules that constrain and enable action (away from the outcomes arising from those actions). This is the constitutional approach to public policy. Drawing on the constitutional tradition in political theory that values individuals for their individuality, the paper develops an argument for a basic income and a constitutionally constrained tax system. The key feature of this system is its simplicity. This should appeal on behavioural grounds to anyone who is concerned with using the tax and benefit system in public policy and not just those who are persuaded by the argument here for the constitutional approach to public policy.
Behavioural economics, consumer behaviour and consumer policy: state of the art
Authors: REISCH LUCIA A. , ZHAO MIN
Published: October 2017

Counter to the traditional assumption of neoclassical economics that individuals are rationalHomo oeconomicithat always seek to maximize their utility and follow their ‘true’ preferences, research in behavioural economics has demonstrated that people's judgements and decisions are often subject to systematic biases and heuristics, and are strongly dependent on the context of the decision. In this article, we briefly review the transition of research from neoclassical economics to behavioural economics, and discuss how the latter has influenced research in consumer behaviour and consumer policy. In particular, we discuss the impacts of key principles such as status quo bias, the endowment effect, mental accounting and the sunk-cost effect, other heuristics and biases related to availability, salience, the anchoring effect and simplicity rules, as well as the effects of other supposedly irrelevant factors such as music, temperature and physical markers on consumers’ decisions. These principles not only add significantly to research on consumer behaviour – they also offer readily available practical implications for consumer policy to nudge behaviour in beneficial directions in consumption domains including financial decision making, product choice, healthy eating and sustainable consumption.
Statistics of turbulence in the energy-containing range of Taylor–Couette compared to canonical wall-bounded flows
Authors: Krug Dominik , Yang Xiang I. A. , de Silva Charitha M. , Ostilla-Mónico Rodolfo , Verzicco Roberto , Marusic Ivan , Lohse Detlef
Published: October 2017

Considering structure functions of the streamwise velocity component in a framework akin to the extended self-similarity hypothesis (ESS), de Silva et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 823, 2017, pp. 498–510) observed that remarkably the large-scale (energy-containing range) statistics in canonical wall-bounded flows exhibit universal behaviour. In the present study, we extend this universality, which was seen to encompass also flows at moderate Reynolds number, to Taylor–Couette flow. In doing so, we find that also the transversal structure function of the spanwise velocity component exhibits the same universal behaviour across all flow types considered. We further demonstrate that these observations are consistent with predictions developed based on an attached-eddy hypothesis. These considerations also yield a possible explanation for the efficacy of the ESS framework by showing that it relaxes the self-similarity assumption for the attached-eddy contributions. By taking the effect of streamwise alignment into account, the attached-eddy model predicts different behaviour for structure functions in the streamwise and in the spanwise directions and that this effect cancels in the ESS framework – both consistent with the data. Moreover, it is demonstrated here that also the additive constants, which were previously believed to be flow dependent, are indeed universal at least in turbulent boundary layers and pipe flow where high Reynolds number data are currently available.
New treebank or repurposed? On the feasibility of cross-lingual parsing of Romance languages with Universal Dependencies
Authors: GARCIA MARCOS , GÓMEZ-RODRÍGUEZ CARLOS , ALONSO MIGUEL A.
Published: October 2017

This paper addresses the feasibility of cross-lingual parsing with Universal Dependencies (UD) between Romance languages, analyzing its performance when compared to the use of manually annotated resources of the target languages. Several experiments take into account factors such as the lexical distance between the source and target varieties, the impact of delexicalization, the combination of different source treebanks or the adaptation of resources to the target language, among others. The results of these evaluations show that the direct application of a parser from one Romance language to another reaches similar labeled attachment score (LAS) values to those obtained with a manual annotation of about 3,000 tokens in the target language, and unlabeled attachment score (UAS) results equivalent to the use of around 7,000 tokens, depending on the case. These numbers can noticeably increase by performing a focused selection of the source treebanks. Furthermore, the removal of the words in the training corpus (delexicalization) is not useful in most cases of cross-lingual parsing of Romance languages. The lessons learned with the performed experiments were used to build a new UD treebank for Galician, with 1,000 sentences manually corrected after an automatic cross-lingual annotation. Several evaluations in this new resource show that a cross-lingual parser built with the best combination and adaptation of the source treebanks performs better (77 percent LAS and 82 percent UAS) than using more than 16,000 (for LAS results) and more than 20,000 (UAS) manually labeled tokens of Galician.
The auditory and visual appraisal of emotion-related words in Spanish–English bilinguals
Authors: VÉLEZ-URIBE IDALY , ROSSELLI MÓNICA
Published: October 2017

Bilinguals experience emotions differently depending on which language they are speaking. Emotionally loaded words were expected to be appraised differently in the first versus the second language in Spanish–English bilinguals. Three categories of words (positive, negative, and taboo) were appraised in both languages in the visual and auditory sensory modalities. Positive word ratings were more positive in English than in Spanish. Negative words were judged as more negative in English than in Spanish. Taboo words were rated as more negative in Spanish than in English. Significant regression models were obtained for the visual and auditory positive words and auditory negative words with English and Spanish proficiency as the most significant predictors. Results support the view that there are differences in the appraisal of emotions in the two languages spoken by bilinguals; the direction of the difference depends on the emotion category of words, and it is influenced by language proficiency.
Trade Measures to Prevent Illegal Fishing and the WTO: An Analysis of the Settled Faroe Islands Dispute
Authors: AULD KATHLEEN
Published: October 2017

There has been increasing litigation in the WTO on environmental issues in recent years, much of it about fishing. Two cases,Chile–SwordfishandFaroes–Herring, brought to light the potential for conflict between trade and fisheries law through the imposition of port state measures by WTO members to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, although both cases were settled before reaching Panel stage. Port state measures aim to combat IUU fishing by allowing countries to close their ports to IUU fish. This includes using trade measures and trade-related measures, such as import bans and transshipment bans, which may violate WTO law. The potential for conflict is even more acute now that the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) has come into force. This paper takes as its studyFaroes–Herring, where the Faroes challenged certain EU regulations aimed at preventing IUU fishing through the use of port state measures. It examines whether these regulations comply with WTO law, and makes recommendations as to how a Panel or Appellate Body can resolve this type of dispute. Specifically, it focuses on ways in which international fisheries law can be incorporated in this process to avoid a conflict between international trade and fisheries law.
Control Recommendations for Black Medic (Medicago lupulina) Based on Growth and Development in Competition with Strawberry
Authors: Sharpe Shaun M. , Boyd Nathan S. , Dittmar Peter J. , MacDonald Greg E. , Darnell Rebecca L. , Ferrell Jason A.
Published: October 2017

Strawberries are an important horticultural crop in Florida. Black medic is among the most problematic weeds within the production system. To better coordinate control measures, black medic growth and development while in competition with strawberry was studied. Twelve plants were randomly selected at each of four field sites in Hillsborough County, FL, in 2014. Plants were repeatedly measured over the growing season for stem length and number of primary branches, flower buds, flowers, and seed clusters. Growing degree days (GDD) were calculated (Tbase=0 C) starting from the hole-punch application of the plastic mulch (October 8, 2014, to October 10, 2014) from weather station data generated from the Florida Automated Weather Network. Strawberry height and width increased consistently across all sites, but black medic growth and development varied considerably. Strawberry suppressed black medic growth up to 1,805 cumulative GDD at three of four sites where black medic remained beneath the strawberry canopy. After 1,805 GDD, the black medic stems still remained below but experienced exponential growth for total stem length and, in turn, flower buds, inflorescence, and immature seed clusters. Ideal clopyralid spray timing based on susceptible plant size was 890 to 1,152 GDD. Optimal hand-weeding time frames would likely occur as the plant stems expand beyond the strawberry canopy (to improve visibility) and before flower production to prevent seed return to the seedbank. First seed production was observed at 1,200 GDD at the earliest site and between 1,966 to 2,365 GDD across all the other sites. Overall, consistent trends were observed across sites, but between-site variability was observed that could not be accounted for by differences in temperature.
Einsatz der stakkatierenden Lesemethode für die Förderung leseschwacher Schüler
Authors: Hellwig Nina
Published: October 2017

Zusammenfassung. Eine Lesestörung, die nicht behandelt wird, wirkt sich negativ auf alle Lernfächer aus und stellt ein Handicap für den gesamten Lebensweg des Betroffenen dar. Eine therapeutische Methode für das Fördern der Lesekompetenz ist die Methode des stakkatierenden Lesens. Die Hauptmerkmale dieser Methode sind Syllabieren, Rhythmus, rhythmisches Mitsprechen, Feinmotorik, Visuomotorik. Es wird davon ausgegangen, dass nicht ein bestimmtes Zentrum im Gehirn für das Lesen zuständig ist, sondern mehrere, die miteinander vielseitig verknüpft sind und durch Anregung von außen ein funktionelles Lesenetz bilden. Durch das synchrone Sprechen und Klopfen der Silben und das Richten des Blickes auf das genaue Wortsegment bekommen aus unserer Sicht Schüler mit einer Lesestörung für das Lesen motorische, auditive und visuelle Stützen. Der Leseprozess geschieht dabei als eine Kombination aus kinästhetischer, visueller und auditiver Überwachung, die durch das motorische System unterstützt wird. Als erstes wird nach dieser Methode am Verständnis der Silbe und der Silbentrennung durch das Einzeichnen des senkrechten Striches gearbeitet. Danach kommt das synchrone Erkennen, Sprechen und Klopfen mit der Spitze des Zeigefingers in die Silbe. Zuletzt lernen die Schüler das Klopfen der Silben der Reihe nach mit einzelnen Fingern auf die Tischplatte. Wie die eigene Erfahrung zeigt, ermöglicht der Einsatz dieser Methode den Dyslektikern, das sichere, fehlerfreie Lesen im altersgemäßen Tempo zu gewinnen und selbstbewusst in die berufliche Zukunft einzusteigen.
Celebrating the 2017 Class of Fellows
Authors:   AGU
Published: October 2017

American Geophysical Union President-elect Robin Bell will present the newly elected class at the upcoming AGU Fall Meeting.
Bacteria alone establish the chemical basis of the wood-fall chemosynthetic ecosystem in the deep-sea
Authors: Kalenitchenko Dimitri , Le Bris Nadine , Dadaglio Laetitia , Peru Erwan , Besserer Arnaud , Galand Pierre E
Published: October 2017

Wood-fall ecosystems host chemosynthetic bacteria that use hydrogen sulfide as an electron donor. The production of hydrogen sulfide from decaying wood in the deep-sea has long been suspected to rely on the activity of wood-boring bivalves, Xylophaga spp. However, recent mesocosm experiments have shown hydrogen sulfide production in the absence of wood borers. Here, we combined in situ chemical measurements, amplicon sequencing and metagenomics to test whether the presence of Xylophaga spp.-affected hydrogen sulfide production and wood microbial community assemblages. During a short-term experiment conducted in a deep-sea canyon, we found that wood-fall microbial communities could produce hydrogen sulfide in the absence of Xylophaga spp. The presence of wood borers had a strong impact on the microbial community composition on the wood surface but not in the wood centre, where communities were observed to be homogeneous among different samples. When wood borers were excluded, the wood centre community did not have the genetic potential to degrade cellulose or hemicellulose but could use shorter carbohydrates such as sucrose. We conclude that wood centre communities produce fermentation products that can be used by the sulfate-reducing bacteria detected near the wood surface. We thus demonstrate that microorganisms alone could establish the chemical basis essential for the recruitment of chemolithotrophic organisms in deep-sea wood falls.
Designing solid-liquid interphases for sodium batteries
Authors: Choudhury Snehashis , Wei Shuya , Ozhabes Yalcin , Gunceler Deniz , Zachman Michael J. , Tu Zhengyuan , Shin Jung Hwan , Nath Pooja , Agrawal Akanksha , Kourkoutis Lena F. , Arias Tomas A. , Archer Lynden A.
Published: October 2017

Secondary batteries based on earth-abundant sodium metal anodes are desirable for both stationary and portable electrical energy storage. Room-temperature sodium metal batteries are impractical today because morphological instability during recharge drives rough, dendritic electrodeposition. Chemical instability of liquid electrolytes also leads to premature cell failure as a result of parasitic reactions with the anode. Here we use joint density-functional theoretical analysis to show that the surface diffusion barrier for sodium ion transport is a sensitive function of the chemistry of solid–electrolyte interphase. In particular, we find that a sodium bromide interphase presents an exceptionally low energy barrier to ion transport, comparable to that of metallic magnesium. We evaluate this prediction by means of electrochemical measurements and direct visualization studies. These experiments reveal an approximately three-fold reduction in activation energy for ion transport at a sodium bromide interphase. Direct visualization of sodium electrodeposition confirms large improvements in stability of sodium deposition at sodium bromide-rich interphases.