bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A revision of the species group of Xenochrophis piscator (Schneider, 1799) (Squamata: Natricidae)
Authors: VOGEL GERNOT , DAVID PATRICK
Published: April 2019

Morphological variation was investigated across the entire geographic range of the snakes of the Xenochrophis piscatorspecies group. Our results, based on morphological univariate analyses, show the existence of several well-definedclusters identified as species. Xenochrophis flavipunctatus (Hallowell, 1861) is distinct from X. piscator (Schneider, 1799)and sympatric with it over a large area. Xenochrophis tytleri (Blyth, 1863) is confirmed as the valid combination for thepopulation living on the Andaman Islands. Xenochrophis asperrimus (Boulenger, 1891) is confirmed, with species status,for populations from Sri Lanka. Xenochrophis melanzostus (Gravenhorst, 1807) is accepted, as a distinct species mostprobably endemic to Java. Xenochrophis schnurrenbergeri Kramer, 1977 is confirmed for populations from Nepal,southeastern Pakistan, and northern and eastern India. Tropidonotus sanctijohannis Boulenger, 1891 seems to be amontane colour morph of X. piscator and is not regarded here as valid. The second population of “X. piscator“ on SriLanka is regarded as different from that of the mainland, but it is not named here due to the uncertain relationships amongpopulations of southern India and Sri Lanka. The variation of X. piscator sensu stricto is discussed. All taxa areredescribed on the basis of new material. The history of all synonyms is discussed and neotypes are designated for Hydruspalustris Schneider, 1799, Coluber melanzostus Gravenhorst, 1807 and Amphiesma flavipunctatum Hallowell, 1861. The holotype of Hydrus piscator Schneider 1799 has been rediscovered and is discussed.
Advertisement call and colour in life of Allobates crombiei (Morales) “2000” [2002] (Anura: Aromobatidae) from the type Locality (Cachoeira do Espelho), Xingu River, Brazil
Authors: LIMA ALBERTINA P. , ERDTMANN LUCIANA K. , AMÉZQUITA ADOLFO
Published: April 2019

Allobates crombiei was described by Morales, “2000” [2002] based on specimens collected by Ronald I. Crombie from Cachoeira do Espelho, on the right bank of the Xingu River, Pará State, Brazil. The original description was short and did not include the call or colour in life. Rodrigues & Caramaschi (2004) suggested that the taxonomic status of this species need be clarified. We are confident that the species collected and recorded by us is Allobates crombiei (Morales) “2000” [2002] because this is the only species of Allobates found calling in forest near Cachoeira do Espelho, and the character diagnosis in preserved specimens is similar, except that, based on preserved specimens, Morales (2002) considered the ventrolateral and the oblique lateral stripes to be absent. This may be because they are imperceptible in preserved specimens. However, unlike recent authors, Morales (2002) also considered the oblique lateral stripe to be absent in Allobates brunneus, Allobates gasconi and Allobates ornatus, in which he illustrated diffuse spots.
Aulactinia sinensis, a new species of sea anemone (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria) from Yellow Sea
Authors: LI YANG , LIU RUI-YU
Published: April 2019

Aulactinia sinensis, a new species of sea anemone collected from the intertidal zone of Qingdao, Yellow Sea, is describedand illustrated. This species is elongated, becoming plump distally, has circumscribed sphincter, and with 48 vertical rowsof verrucae in upper column, 48 pairs of mesenteries and 96 short tentacles. It is similar in shape to A. capitata Agassizin Verrill, 1864, but distinguished by its smaller basitrichs in tentacles and larger microbasic p-mastigophores in actinopharynx and mesenterial filaments.
Ophichthus chilkensis Chaudhuri, 1916 (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae)—resurrection as a valid species from India, with re-description
Authors: MISHRA SUBHRENDU SEKHAR , MOHAPATRA ANIL , RAY DIPANJAN , MOHANTY SWARUP RANJAN , TUDU PRASAD C.
Published: April 2019

Ophichthus chilkensis Chaudhuri, 1916 has long been treated as a synonym of Pisodonophis cancrivorus (Richardson, 1848). O. chilkensis is hereby re-described on the basis of holotype from Chilika Lake, Odisha as well as ten fresh specimens from Talsari, Balasore district, Odisha and Digha, West Bengal. The present study confirms it belonging to the genus Ophichthus and resurrected as a valid species from the east coast of India. It is compared with its closest congener species, particularly with Ophichthus microcephalus Day, 1878, known from India.
Redescription of Milnesium alpigenum Ehrenberg, 1853 (Tardigrada: Apochela) and a description of Milnesium inceptum sp. nov., a tardigrade laboratory model
Authors: MOREK WITOLD , SUZUKI ATSUSHI C. , SCHILL RALPH O. , GEORGIEV DILIAN , YANKOVA MARIA , MARLEY NIGEL J. , MICHALCZYK ŁUKASZ
Published: April 2019

Intra- and interspecific variability, being at the very core of alpha taxonomy, has been a long-standing topic of debate among tardigrade taxonomists. Early studies tended to assume that tardigrades exhibit wide intraspecific variation. However, with more careful morphological studies, especially those incorporating molecular tools that allow for an independent verification of species identifications based on phenotypic traits, we now recognise that ranges of tardigrade intraspecific variability are narrower, and that differences between species may be more subtle than previously assumed. The taxonomic history of the genus Milnesium, and more specifically that of the nominal species, M. tardigradum described by Doyère in 1840, is a good illustration of the evolution of views on intraspecific variability in tardigrades. The assumption of wide intraspecific variability in claw morphology led Marcus (1928) to synonymise two species with different claw configurations, M. alpigenum and M. quadrifidum, with M. tardigradum. Currently claw configuration is recognised as one of the key diagnostic traits in the genus Milnesium, and the two species suppressed by Marcus have recently been suggested to be valid. In this study, we clarify the taxonomic status of M. alpigenum, a species that for nearly a century was considered invalid. We redescribe M. alpigenum, using a population collected from the locus typicus, by the means of integrative taxonomy, i.e. including light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ontogenetic observations, and genetic barcoding. Moreover, the redescription of M. alpigenum allowed us to verify the uncertain taxonomic status of two popular laboratory models that were originally considered to be M. tardigradum; though one was recently reidentified as M. cf. alpigenum. Our analysis showed that both laboratory strains, despite being morphologically and morphometrically nearly identical to M. alpigenum, in fact represent a new species, M. inceptum sp. nov.  The two species, being disnguishable only by statistical morphometry and/or DNA sequences, are the first example of pseudocryptic species in tardigrades.
An Extreme Precipitation Categorization Scheme and its Observational Uncertainty over the Continental United States
Authors: Slinskey Emily A. , Loikith Paul C. , Waliser Duane E. , Goodman Alexander
Published: April 2019

An extreme precipitation categorization scheme, used to temporally and spatially visualize and track the multiscale variability of extreme precipitation climatology, is applied over the continental United States. The scheme groups 3-day precipitation totals exceeding 100 mm into one of five precipitation categories, or “P-Cats.” To demonstrate the categorization scheme and assess its observational uncertainty across a range of precipitation measurement approaches, we compare the climatology of P-Cats defined using in situ station data from the Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily (GHCN-D); satellite-derived data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA); gridded station data from the Parameter-Elevation Regression on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM); global reanalysis from the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2; and regional reanalysis from the North American Regional Reanalysis. While all datasets capture the principal spatial patterns of P-Cat climatology, results show considerable variability across the suite in frequency, spatial extent, and magnitude. Higher-resolution datasets, PRISM and TMPA, most closely resemble GHCN-D and capture a greater frequency of high-end P-Cats relative to the lower-resolution products. When all datasets are rescaled to a common coarser grid, differences persist with datasets originally constructed at a high resolution maintaining a higher frequency and magnitude of P-Cats. Results imply that dataset choice matters when applying the P-Cat scheme to track extreme precipitation over space and time. Potential future applications of the P-Cat scheme include providing a target for climate model evaluation and a basis for characterizing future change in extreme precipitation as projected by climate model simulations.
Long-Duration Freezing Rain Events over North America: Regional Climatology and Thermodynamic Evolution
Authors: McCray Christopher D. , Atallah Eyad H. , Gyakum John R.
Published: April 2019

Freezing rain can cause severe impacts, particularly when it persists for many hours. In this paper, we present the climatology of long-duration (6 or more hours) freezing rain events in the United States and Canada from 1979 to 2016. We identify three focus regions from this climatology and examine the archetypal thermodynamic evolution of events in each region using surface and radiosonde observations. Long-duration events occur most frequently in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, where freezing rain typically begins as lower-tropospheric warm-air advection develops the warm layer aloft. This warm-air advection and the latent heat of fusion released when rain freezes at the surface erode the cold layer, and freezing rain transitions to rain once the surface temperature reaches 0°C. In the southeastern United States, a larger percentage of events are of long duration than elsewhere in North America. Weak surface cold-air advection and evaporative cooling in the particularly dry onset cold layers there prevent surface temperatures from rising substantially during events. Finally, the south-central United States has a regional maximum in the occurrence of the top 1% of events by duration (18 or more hours), despite the relative rarity of freezing rain there. These events are associated with particularly warm/deep onset warm layers, with persistent low-level cold-air advection maintaining the cold layer. The thermodynamic evolutions we have identified highlight characteristics that are key to supporting persistent freezing rain in each region and may warrant particular attention from forecasters tasked with predicting these events.
Preventive Effects of Nicorandil Against Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With Moderate Renal Insufficiency Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Zhang Peng , Li Wen-yuan , Yang Shi-Cheng , Fu Nai-Kuan , Liu Xiao-Gang , Zhang Xue , Cong Hong-Liang , Lin Wen-Hua , Tian Feng-Shi , Lu Cheng-Zhi , Zhang Jing
Published: April 2019

We investigated the preventive effect of nicorandil on contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with moderate renal insufficiency undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 250 patients with a creatinine clearance (crCl) ≤60 mL/min undergoing PCI were randomly assigned to either a nicorandil group (nicorandil 10 mg 3 times/d and hydration; n = 125) or a control group (hydration only; n = 125). The first end point was the incidence of CIN defined as an increase in serum creatinine (Scr) levels by ≥0.5 mg/dL or ≥25% within 72 hours after exposure to the contrast medium. The secondary end points were (1) changes in Scr, blood urea nitrogen, and crCl and (2) the incidence of major adverse events during hospitalization. The incidence of CIN was 1.6% (2/125) in the nicorandil group and 9.6% (12/125) in the control group ( P = .011). There was no obvious difference in the incidence of major adverse events during hospitalization between the nicorandil and the control group (4.0% vs 4.8%, P = 1.000). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that nicorandil was a protective factor for CIN (odds ratios = 0.126, 95% confidence interval: −19.996 to −0.932, P = .012). Prophylactic administration of nicorandil may prevent against CIN in patients with moderate renal insufficiency undergoing PCI.
Short- and Long-Term Incidence of Thromboembolic Events in Takotsubo Syndrome as Compared With Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: El-Battrawy Ibrahim , Gietzen Thorsten , Lang Siegfried , Ansari Uzair , Behnes Michael , Zhou Xiaobo , Borggrefe Martin , Akin Ibrahim
Published: April 2019

Thromboembolic events are a common complication in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). However, their long-term incidence compared with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is lacking. In-hospital and long-term incidence of thromboembolic events of 138 consecutive patients with TTS were compared with 138 sex- and age-matched patients with ACS. Predictors of events were analyzed. The incidence of thromboembolic events in TTS was 2-fold higher than ACS (21% vs 9%; P < .01) over a mean follow-up of 5 years. Although the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at event was significantly lower in TTS compared with ACS (38% [9%] vs 54% [11%]; P < .01), the follow-up LVEF was comparable. Patients with TTS suffering from thromboembolic events were more often treated with anticoagulation compared with ACS (44.8% vs 8.3%, P = .03). However, more patients presenting with ACS (100% vs 48.3%; P < .01) were discharged on aspirin. Only elevated C-reactive protein was a predictor of thromboembolic events using multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 1.1, 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.2; P < .01). In conclusion, the risk of thromboembolic events in TTS was significantly higher than the risk of thromboembolic events in ACS over a mean follow-up of 5 years.
Applications of Spatial Light Modulators in Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Sinjab Faris , Liao Zhiyu , Notingher Ioan
Published: April 2019

Advances in consumer display screen technologies have historically been adapted by researchers across the fields of optics as they can be used as electronically controlled spatial light modulators (SLMs) for a variety of uses. The performance characteristics of such SLM devices based on liquid crystal (LC) and digital micromirror device (DMD) technologies, in particular, has developed to the point where they are compatible with increasingly sensitive instrumental applications, for example, Raman spectroscopy. Spatial light modulators provide additional flexibility, from modulation of the laser excitation (including multiple laser foci patterns), manipulation of microscopic samples (optical trapping), or selection of sampling volume (adaptive optics or spatially offset Raman spectroscopy), to modulation in the spectral domain for high-resolution spectral filtering or multiplexed/compressive fast detection. Here, we introduce the benefits of different SLM devices as a part of Raman instrumentation and provide a variety of recent example applications which have benefited from their incorporation into a Raman system.
A Novel Approach Based on Two-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy to Determine the Stoichiometric Ratio of Two Substances Involved in Intermolecular Interactions
Authors: Li Xiaopei , Zeng Yiwei , Deng Gang , Xu Yizhuang , Ozaki Yukihiro , Noda Isao , Wu Jinguang
Published: April 2019

A novel technique called AOSD@Job’s, combining asynchronous orthogonal sample design scheme (AOSD) with Job’s method, is proposed to estimate the stoichiometric ratio of two substances that form a supramolecular aggregate under intermolecular interactions. First, a mathematical analysis was performed along with the procedure of the AOSD@Job’s method. Then, the validity of the AOSD@Job’s method was manifested by computer simulation on two model systems. Finally, the AOSD@Job’s method was applied on two real chemical systems. The stoichiometric ratio between the coordination complex of Ni2+ and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) was estimated to be 1.0. Benzyl alcohol (BA) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were determined to form a 1 : 1 host–guest complex. These values were consistent with the values reported in the literature. Compared with the traditional Job’s method, the AOSD@Job’s method has an evident advantage since it is still valid even if all the peaks of the supramolecular aggregate severely overlap with the peaks of the substances that form the aggregate.
Development of an In-Line Near-Infrared Method for Blend Content Uniformity Assessment in a Tablet Feed Frame
Authors: Li Yi , Anderson Carl A. , Drennen James K. , Airiau Christian , Igne Benoît
Published: April 2019

Process analytical technology (PAT) has shown great potential for in-line tableting process monitoring. The study focuses on the development and validation of an in-line near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic method for the determination of content uniformity of blends in a tablet feed frame. An in-line NIR method was developed after careful evaluation of the impact of potential experimental factors on the robustness and model accuracy and precision. The NIR method was validated according to the principles outlined in International Conference on Harmonization–Q2 for validation of analytical procedures and was demonstrated to be suitable for monitoring blend content for the formulation under evaluation. Reliable measurements of blend homogeneity rely on representative sampling. To reach the appropriate scale of scrutiny for a unit dose, the study assessed factors that influence the effective sample size measured by NIR. Spectral averaging, integration time, and feed frame paddle wheel speed were found to influence the effective sample size measured by the NIR probe. The effective sampling size was also estimated by comparing the distribution of predicted values with the reference values. The development of a robust, in-line PAT method was facilitated by thorough understanding of the sensitivity of PAT sensors to factors affecting pharmaceutical processes and products.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Studies of Disc-on-Pillar (DOP) Arrays: Contrasting Enhancement Factor with Analytical Performance
Authors: Velez Raymond A. , Lavrik Nickolay V. , Kravchenko Ivan I. , Sepaniak Michael J. , Jesus Marco A. De
Published: April 2019

The use of nanomachining methods capable of reproducible construction of nano-arrayed devices have revolutionized the field of plasmonic sensing by the introduction of a diversity of rationally engineered designs. Significant strides have been made to fabricate plasmonic platforms with tailored interparticle gaps to improve their performance for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications. Over time, a dichotomy has emerged in the implementation of SERS for analytical applications, the construction of substrates, optimization of interparticle spacing as a means to optimize electromagnetic field enhancement at the localized surface plasmon level, and the substrate sensitivity over extended areas to achieve quantitative performance. This work assessed the enhancement factor of plasmonic Ag/SiO2/Si disc-on-pillar (DOP) arrays of variable pitch with its analytical performance for quantitative applications. Experimental data were compared with those from finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations used in the optimization of the array dimensions. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of benzenethiol rendered highly reproducible signals (RSD ∼4–10%) and SERS substrate enhancement factor (SSEF) values in the orders of 106–108 for all pitches. Spectra corresponding to rhodamine 6G (R6G) and 4-aminobenzoic acid demonstrated the advantages of using the more densely packed DOP arrays with a 160 nm pitch (gap = 40 nm) for quantitation in spite of the strongest SSEF was attained for a pitch of 520 nm corresponding to a 400 nm gap.
Setting clinical performance specifications to develop and evaluate biomarkers for clinical use
Authors: Lord Sarah J , St John Andrew , Bossuyt Patrick MM , Sandberg Sverre , Monaghan Phillip J , O’Kane Maurice , Cobbaert Christa M , Röddiger Ralf , Lennartz Lieselotte , Gelfi Cecilia , Horvath Andrea R ,   for the Test Evaluation Working Group of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
Published: April 2019

Background

Biomarker discovery studies often claim ‘promising’ findings, motivating further studies and marketing as medical tests. Unfortunately, the patient benefits promised are often inadequately explained to guide further evaluation, and few biomarkers have translated to improved patient care. We present a practical guide for setting minimum clinical performance specifications to strengthen clinical performance study design and interpretation.

Methods

We developed a step-by-step approach using test evaluation and decision-analytic frameworks and present with illustrative examples.

Results

We define clinical performance specifications as a set of criteria that quantify the clinical performance a new test must attain to allow better health outcomes than current practice. We classify the proposed patient benefits of a new test into three broad groups and describe how to set minimum clinical performance at the level where the potential harm of false-positive and false-negative results does not outweigh the benefits. (1) For add-on tests proposed to improve disease outcomes by improving detection, define an acceptable trade-off for false-positive versus true-positive results; (2) for triage tests proposed to reduce unnecessary tests and treatment by ruling out disease, define an acceptable risk of false-negatives as a safety threshold; (3) for replacement tests proposed to provide other benefits, or reduce costs, without compromising accuracy, use existing tests to benchmark minimum accuracy levels.

Conclusions

Researchers can follow these guidelines to focus their study objectives and to define statistical hypotheses and sample size requirements. This way, clinical performance studies will allow conclusions about whether test performance is sufficient for intended use.
Building a school reading culture: Teacher librarians’ perceptions of enabling and constraining factors
Authors: Merga Margaret Kristin , Mason Shannon
Published: April 2019

A supportive school reading culture is an educative context in which there is availability, opportunity, encouragement and support for reading. Little is known about whether Australian schools actively foster reading cultures that are supportive of reading for pleasure. In their role as reading advocates, teacher librarians may be uniquely situated to provide valuable insights into the factors that enable and constrain the development of a whole school reading culture. Interview data from teacher librarians at 30 Western Australian schools were drawn upon to explore the factors and characteristics that are believed to both enhance and limit school reading cultures. Our research suggests that school leadership may play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of a school reading culture that positions reading as both valuable and pleasurable. More broadly, a school reading culture is supported by numerous additional factors that may be influenced by, but not wholly determined by leadership support.
Improved predictive functional control for ethylene cracking furnace
Authors: Song Han , Su Cheng-li , Shi Hui-yuan , Li Ping , Cao Jiang-tao
Published: April 2019

The objective of this paper is to show the design and application of pass temperature balance control system using an improved predictive functional control method in eight 800 tone/year USC ethylene cracking furnaces. The advanced pass temperature balance controller is developed using the proposed method and implemented in proprietary APC-ISYS software, which is connected to Yokogawa distributed control system via an OPC server. The advantage of it lies in the fact that the dynamics of pass temperature with nonlinearity and time delay are described by Takagi–Sugeno model and transformed into time-varying extended state space model, and thus, the proposed controller can regulate pass temperature based on the extended state space formulation. In addition, the control law with a linear iterative form, easily applied to industrial process, is derived. The robust analysis for the set point, input disturbance and output disturbance to the output verifies the ability of tracking and disturbance rejection of the proposed method. Application results from an industrial furnace are shown to be markedly better in terms of lower variability in the outlet temperature of both the passes compared to the current proportional–integral–derivative control scheme.
Machine vision–based measurement approach for transverse vibrations of moving hoisting vertical ropes in mine hoists using edge location
Authors: Wu Ganggang , Xiao Xingming , Yao Jiannan , Song Chunyang
Published: April 2019

Hoisting vertical rope is a continuum of one-dimensional movement during operation of hoist, and there are no appropriate ways to measure its vibration displacement at present. In this paper, a non-contact and unmarked machine vision measurement method is proposed for measuring the transverse vibration displacement of hoisting vertical ropes. First, we construct the background image to extract the ropes by the background difference method. Subsequently, a novel row-column data statistics filtering algorithm is proposed and applied to the edge detection image for removing the edges of the unmeasured rope. Finally, Hough transformation is used to locate the two edge lines at the boundary of rope and obtain the line parameters, which can be used to calculate the vibration displacement of the measured points at different times. The transverse vibration displacement of a moving hoisting vertical rope in a mine hoist was measured by using the reported machine vision measurement method, verifying the feasibility of the method. In order to verify the validity of the method, a simulation experimental system was built. The proposed method and the laser displacement sensor were used to measure the artificial transverse vibration displacement of a vertical rope simultaneously. The two results are in good consistency, which indicates that the proposed method can be fairly reasonable and accurate to measure the transverse vibration displacement of vertical rope in mine hoists.
British Black Power: The anti-imperialism of political blackness and the problem of nativist socialism
Authors: Narayan John
Published: April 2019

The history of the US Black Power movement and its constituent groups such as the Black Panther Party has recently gone through a process of historical reappraisal, which challenges the characterization of Black Power as the violent, misogynist and negative counterpart to the Civil Rights movement. Indeed, scholars have furthered interest in the global aspects of the movement, highlighting how Black Power was adopted in contexts as diverse as India, Israel and Polynesia. This article highlights that Britain also possessed its own distinctive form of Black Power movement, which whilst inspired and informed by its US counterpart, was also rooted in anti-colonial politics, New Commonwealth immigration and the onset of decolonization. Existing sociological narratives usually locate the prominence and visibility of British Black Power and its activism, which lasted through the 1960s to the early 1970s, within the broad history of UK race relations and the movement from anti-racism to multiculturalism. However, this characterization neglects how such Black activism conjoined explanations of domestic racism with issues of imperialism and global inequality. Through recovering this history, the article seeks to bring to the fore a forgotten part of British history and also examines how the history of British Black Power offers valuable lessons about how the politics of anti-racism and anti-imperialism should be united in the 21st century.
Attempting to transgress neoliberal value: Constructing a micro-foundation of social values of working-class youth in vocational schools in China
Authors: Lu Benny C. , Koo Anita , Pun Ngai
Published: April 2019

In contrast to the existing argument that the logic of capital has monetised almost every aspect of human relationships to the realm of exchange value, this article explores the social values that are practised by Chinese working-class youth as an alternative form of agency and everyday practice. Instead of understanding social values as a realm of value operating entirely outside the logic of exchange value, this article takes social values as the constitutive other of exchange value embodied in the neoliberalised form of capitalism. It attempts to develop a micro-foundation of social values or a social mechanism of values for understanding social protection and class solidarity. Employing in-depth interviews and ethnographic observations in vocational schools in China, at sites for the education and nurture of working-class youth, we ask what social values are, how they are perceived and exercised, and by whom. From students’ practices of care in schools, cooperation in the workplace and solidarity in the community, our goal is to build a micro-foundation of social values that challenges and goes beyond the logic of exchange value.
Whose justice? The ICC ‘Africa problem’
Authors: García Iommi Lucrecia
Published: April 2019

This article explores an understudied dimension of the International Criminal Court ‘Africa Problem’ – low contestedness. In a world of enduring cultural differences, norm contestation is inevitable. Yet, regular and institutionalized access to meaningful contestation for stakeholders (contestedness) can turn contestation into consensus instead of conflict. African stakeholders did not enjoy such access in the negotiation, diffusion and, most importantly, in the implementation of the Rome Statute. This helps explain the current normative crisis, which we reconstruct as a series of contestation moves. It also informs the path forward to resolve the crisis.
Reconceiving Judicial Office Through a Labour Law Lens
Authors: Blackham Alysia
Published: April 2019

Judges fulfil a fundamental constitutional role in democratic systems. Most research on judges, though, focuses on the public and constitutional significance of the judicial role, not the needs of individual judges. This article applies a labour law lens to help reconceive the judicial role in a way that balances the individual and collective needs of judges with the institutional and constitutional needs of the third arm of government, drawing on comparative analysis of Australia and the United Kingdom, and examples from common law countries. I argue that, while some progress has been made towards using labour law to structure and inform judicial roles, labour law offers new insights into how judges and judicial work might be supported. This may both assist judges in their individual capacity and support the judiciary as an institution. It therefore has significance for judges as individuals and the judiciary’s fundamental constitutional role.
Upper Esophageal Sphincter Dilation for Recalcitrant Dysphagia Secondary to Dermatomyositis
Authors: Raymond Mallory J. , McColloch Nancy L. , Hatcher Jeanne L.
Published: April 2019

Dermatomyositis is a rare multisystem autoimmune disorder occasionally accompanied by dysphagia. It is typically treated with immune modulating agents; however, dysphagia is often unresponsive to these. Previous reports have demonstrated the utility of videoflouroscopy and manometry in understanding the etiologies of dysphagia to inform a procedural target, historically the cricopharyngeus muscle. We present a case of dermatomyositis and dysphagia resistant to medical management in a patient found by videoflouroscopy and manometry to have severe oropharyngeal dysphagia, esophageal dysmotility and a cricopharyngeal web. We demonstrate the utility and safety of upper esophageal sphincter dilation by transnasal esophagoscopy even in the setting of multifactorial dysphagia.
Spontaneous Cholangiofibrosis in a Wistar Rat
Authors: Chen Tao , Chen Ke , Qiu Shaung , Mann Peter C.
Published: April 2019

In a 2-year carcinogenicity study, we identified a spontaneous cholangiofibrosis in a control male Wistar rat. This lesion has long been considered as a compound-related change, with no spontaneous cases reported in the Wistar rat. In addition to routine hematoxylin and eosin stains evaluation, we applied Masson’s trichrome staining, Alcian blue-periodic acid–Schiff staining, and OV-6 immunohistochemistry staining. The special staining demonstrated the fibrous component in the interstitium and intestinal metaplasia of the epithelium (presence of goblet cells), while the positive anti-OV-6 reaction indicated the bile duct origin of the epithelium. These results help to confirm the diagnosis of cholangiofibrosis in this case. We report this rare case to alert pathologists that spontaneous cholangiofibrosis does occur in Wistar rats.
Five-Year Outcomes and Return to Sport of Runners Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Labral Tears With or Without Femoroacetabular Impingement
Authors: Chen Austin W. , Craig Matthew J. , Yuen Leslie C. , Ortiz-Declet Victor , Maldonado David R. , Domb Benjamin G.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Recent evidence has demonstrated a high rate of return to running after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement at short-term follow-up. The midterm outcomes and rates of continued running of these patients are unknown.

Purpose:

To evaluate midterm rates of return to running and outcomes after hip arthroscopy.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Data were prospectively collected for patients who underwent hip preservation surgery between July 2008 and November 2011. Patients were excluded for preoperative Tönnis osteoarthritis grade ≥2, previous ipsilateral hip conditions or hip surgery, or workers’ compensation status. All patients who participated in mid- to long-distance running before their surgery and intended on returning after their operation were considered for inclusion. Preoperative and minimum 5-year postoperative measures for the following patient-reported outcome scores (PROs) were necessary for inclusion in the final cohort: the modified Harris Hip Score, Non-arthritic Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score–Sports Specific Subscale, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. All patients were counseled about the risks of continued running after hip arthroscopy.

Results:

Sixty patients (62 hips) were eligible for inclusion, of which 50 (83.3%; 52 hips) had minimum 5-year follow-up. There were 10 male hips and 42 female hips. Mean ± SD age at surgery was 32.4 ± 12.4 years (range, 14.9-62.4), and mean body mass index was 22.9 ± 3.2 (range, 17.7-30.1). Latest follow-up was recorded at a mean 69.3 ± 8.5 months (range, 60.0-92.1 months). Level of competition included 39 recreational, 7 high school, 4 collegiate, and 2 professional athletes. There were significant improvements in all PROs and VAS scores preoperatively to latest follow-up. Mean modified Harris Hip Score improved from 67.5 to 88.2; mean Non-arthritic Hip Score, from 65.9 to 88.3; mean Hip Outcome Score–Sports Specific Subscale, from 49.5 to 81.0; and mean VAS, from 5.2 to 1.5. At latest follow-up, patient satisfaction was 8.4. Thirty-nine patients (78.0%, 41 hips) had returned to running postoperatively. When stratified by level of competition, 79% (31 of 39) of recreational, 100% (7 of 7) of high school, 50% (2 of 4) of collegiate, and 50% (1 of 2) of professional athletes returned to running.

Conclusion:

Hip arthroscopy for all levels of runners is associated with a significant increase in PROs and a low risk of complications. The rate of return to running is moderately high after hip arthroscopy at midterm follow-up. Hip arthroscopy may be considered for runners presenting with symptoms of femoroacetabular impingement that fail nonoperative treatments. Patients should be educated on the rate of return to running over time and the risks of continued running after hip arthroscopy.
Evaluation of comparative soft tissue response to bone void fillers with antibiotics in a rabbit intramuscular model
Authors: Oliver Rema A , Lovric Vedran , Christou Chris , Walsh William R
Published: April 2019

Management of osseous and soft tissue dead space can be a significant challenge in the clinical setting. Calcium sulphate and calcium phosphate-based biomaterials are increasingly being used as alternatives to PMMA for local release of antibiotics, in particular to fill dead space following surgical debridement. This study aims to observe the in-vivo absorption characteristics and tissue response of three commercially available calcium sulphate-based materials combined with gentamicin in an established soft tissue rabbit model. The implant materials (1cc) were placed into four intramuscular sites in 18 New Zealand White rabbits (n = 6). In-life blood samples and radiographs were taken from each animal following implantation. Animals were sacrificed at 0, 1, 7, 21, 42 and 63 days post-operatively (n = 3) and implant sites analysed by micro-computed tomography and histology. Radiographically and histologically, recrystallized calcium sulphate (RCS) absorbed the fastest with complete absorption by day 21. Calcium sulphate/HA composite (CSHA) and Calcium sulphate/calcium carbonate (CSCC) absorbed slower and were detectable at day 63. Residual bead analysis revealed the presence of detectable gentamicin at 24 h and 7 days for CSHA and RCS but none in CSCC. Systemic levels of gentamicin were only detected between 1 h and 24 h. Serological inflammatory cytokine expression for IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β indicated no unusual inflammatory response to the implanted materials. Calcium sulphate materials loaded with gentamicin are effective in resolving a surgically created dead space without eliciting any adverse host response.
Border Trouble: Ethnopolitics and Cosmopolitan Memory in Recent Polish Cinema
Authors: Lewis Simon
Published: April 2019

The border shifts and population exchanges between Central and East European states agreed at the 1945 Potsdam Conference continue to reverberate in the culture and politics of those countries. Focusing on Poland, this article proposes the term “border trouble” to interpret the politicized split in memory that has run through Polish culture since the end of the Second World War. Border trouble is a form of cultural trauma that transcends binaries of perpetrator/victim and oppressor/oppressed; it is also a tool for analyzing the ways in which spatial imagination, memory, and identity interact in visual and literary narratives. A close analysis of four recent feature films demonstrates the emergence of a visual grammar of cosmopolitan memory and identity in relation to borderland spaces. Wojciech Smarzowski’s Róża (“Rose,” 2011) and Agnieszka Holland’s Pokot (“Spoor,” 2017) are both set in territories that were transferred from Germany to Poland in 1945. Wołyń (“Volhynia,” released internationally as “Hatred,” 2016) and W ciemności (“In Darkness,” 2011), also directed by Smarzowski and Holland respectively, are set in regions that were under Polish administration before the war but were transferred to Soviet Ukraine in 1945. All four productions break new ground in the memorialization of the post-war legacy in Poland. They deconstruct hitherto dominant discourses of simultaneity and ethnic homogeneity, engaging in Poland’s wars of symbols as a third voice: anti-nationalist, but also refusing to essentialize cosmopolitan identity. They show the evolution of border trouble in response to contemporary political and cultural developments.
Effect of section on absorption ability of composite-based tubular shock absorbers for the automotive sector
Authors: Niez Jeremy , Amara Mohamed Ben , Capelle Julien , Bouchart Vanessa , Schwab Frederic , Chevrier Pierre
Published: April 2019

This study shows the benefit of a new composite material in terms of energy absorption for the automotive application. The ability of a tubular structure made of a glass fibers–reinforced thermoplastic matrix to absorb energy has been studied in this work. The pseudoplastic behavior of ±45° orientation used to build the different specimens allows a great level of damage in the composite. In particular, the influence of the section of the absorber on the global response to the shock and so on the amount of absorbed energy has been checked. A continuum mechanics model on Abaqus is used to compare different kinds of sections too complexed to be manufactured by standard process at low cost. The use of an external conical trigger is studied and presents a more stable energy absorption, constant all along the crushing.
National Gross Domestic Product, Science Interest, and Science Achievement: A Direct Replication and Extension of the Tucker-Drob, Cheung, and Briley (2014) Study
Authors: Zheng Anqing , Tucker-Drob Elliot M. , Briley Daniel A.
Published: April 2019

We replicated the study by Tucker-Drob, Cheung, and Briley (2014), who found that the association between science interest and science knowledge depended on economic resources at the family, school, and national levels, using data from the 2006 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). In more economically prosperous families, schools, and nations, student interest was more strongly correlated with actual knowledge. Here, we investigated whether these results still held despite substantial changes to educational and economic systems over roughly a decade. Using similar data from PISA 2015 ( N = 537,170), we found largely consistent results. Students from more economically advantaged homes, schools, and nations exhibited a stronger link between interests and knowledge. However, these moderation effects were substantially reduced, and the main effect of science interest increased by nearly 25%, driven almost entirely by families of low socioeconomic status and nations with low gross domestic product. The interdependence of interests and resources is robust but perhaps weakening with educational progress.
Rotor vibration control studies with electrorheological fluid lubricant in floating ring bearings
Authors: Mutra Rajasekhara Reddy , Srinivas J
Published: April 2019

The high-speed rotors are usually supported on fluid-film bearings such as single film hydrodynamic bearings and floating ring type bearings to attain high damping capacity for minimizing the resonant vibration amplitudes. However, the bearing forces are highly nonlinear and are often prone to stability issues in the system. This work presents the use of an electrorheological fluid as a lubricant in floating ring bearings for rotor vibration control. The unbalance response of the rotor system is obtained from finite element approach by accounting gyroscopic effects and nonlinear bearing forces. By idealizing the electrorheological lubricant using Bingham model, the effective Reynolds equations for inner and outer films are formulated in terms of film pressures and thickness values. The coupled differential equations are solved numerically and the effect of external applied electric field on the dynamic response is studied in detail. A case study of automotive turbocharger rotor system is selected for illustration.
Effect of key parameters on knock suppression in a two-stroke spark ignition engine with aviation kerosene fuel
Authors: Chang Cheng , Wei Minxiang
Published: April 2019

This research work studies the impact of the mixture concentration, spark timing, and ignition energy on the knock suppression of a two-stroke spark ignition aviation kerosene-fueled engine. Bench tests on different working conditions were conducted and some related data including in-cylinder pressure, cylinder head temperature, exhaust temperature, engine power, and torque were collected to analyze the influence of different control parameters on the knock characteristics of the engine. The results show that the knock can be suppressed at leaner and richer (than the stoichiometric) mixtures, and the richer mixture has a more obvious effect on suppressing knock. Retarding the ignition advanced angle will reduce the knock intensity but will make the exhausted temperature exceed and the output power decrease. The use of a rich mixture with early spark timing has a better effect on the knock suppression as compared to the use of a lean mixture with late spark timing. Reducing the ignition energy can suppress the knock slightly, but experimental results show that it is not an effective way.
Sizing improvement of hybrid storage system composed with high energy and high power Li-ion batteries for automotive applications
Authors: Degaa Laid , Rizoug Nassim , Bendjedia Bachir , Saidane Abdelkader , Larouci Cherif
Published: April 2019

In this article, an algorithm has been developed to study the influence of hybrid energy storages system management on the performance of this last one in terms of weight, volume, cost and stresses applied to the two storage systems witch compose our source. The main storage system is composed with a high energy or ultra high energy density batteries. Otherwise, the secondary one can be an ultra high power, high power batteries or supercapacitor. Simulation results show that gains in weight and volume are obtained using ultra high energy cells as the main battery or/and an ultra high power as secondary source. The power management is improved to ameliorate the performances of storage system for automotive application.
Return to Sports and Physical Activities After First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis in Young Patients
Authors: Da Cunha Rachael J. , MacMahon Aoife , Jones Mackenzie T. , Savenkov Aleksander , Deland Jonathan , Roberts Matthew , Levine David , Elliot Andrew , Kennedy John , Drakos Mark , Ellis Scott J.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint has been shown to be effective in alleviating pain and correcting deformity in hallux rigidus. However, outcomes in specific sports and physical activities remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess sports and physical activities in young patients following first MTP joint arthrodesis and to compare these results with clinical outcomes.

Methods:

Patients between ages 18 and 55 years who underwent MTP arthrodesis were identified by review of a prospective registry. Fifty of 73 eligible patients (68%) were reached for follow-up at a mean of 5.1 (range, 2.2-10.2) years with a mean age at surgery of 49.7 (range, 23-55) years. Physical activity was evaluated with a previously developed sports-specific, patient-administered questionnaire. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS).

Results:

Patients participated in 22 different sports and physical activities. The most common were walking, biking, weightlifting, swimming, running, and golf. Compared to preoperatively, patients rated 27.4% of activities as less difficult, 51.2% as the same, and 21.4% as more difficult. Patients returned to 44.6% of preoperative physical activities in less than 6 months and reached their maximal level of participation in 88.6% of physical activities. Ninety-six percent of patients (48/50) were satisfied with the procedure regarding return to sports and physical activities. Improvements in the FAOS Symptoms subscore were associated with increased postoperative running and walking duration, and improvements in FAOS Pain subscores were associated with greater patient satisfaction.

Conclusion:

Patients were able to participate in a wide variety of sports and physical activities postoperatively. Some patients reported increased difficulty, but were nonetheless satisfied with the procedure regarding physical activity participation. These findings suggest that first MTP joint arthrodesis is a reasonable option in young, active patients, and may be used to guide postoperative expectations.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.